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Tag Archives: ABBA

Now Normal Chronicles or: Winners Taking It All

03 Tuesday Nov 2020

Posted by TGBII in Video

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ABBA, Music, Video

Salutations™!!

Today is the 40th anniversary of ABBA’s seventh studio album, Super Trouper. I know of a lot of ABBA songs but that’s now, not then. I like them, just never got into them. This is a good cover. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I don’t wanna talk about things we’ve gone through. Though it’s hurting me, now it’s history. I’ve played all my cards and that’s what you’ve done, too. Nothing more to say, no more ace to play.” – “The Winner Takes It All” (Andersson/Ulvaeus)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Rough

21 Tuesday Apr 2020

Posted by TGBII in Video

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ABBA, Bananarama, Beastie Boys, David GIlmour, Music, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, The Cure, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Video

Salutations™!!

Today is the anniversaries of several albums: ABBA’s ABBA (45th), Pete Townshend’s Empty Glass (40th), Bananarama’s Bananarama (36th), Accept’s Russian Roulette (34th), Siouxsie And The Banshees’ Tinderbox (34th), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough) (33rd), Beastie Boys’ Check Your Head (28th), and The Cure’ Wish (28th). This is the tune I had to go with, though. Lots of mystery around it when it was released and obviously too much for Roger Daltrey to handle. Cool that this version features Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour on lead guitar. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Tough boys. Running the streets. Come a little closer. Rough toys. Under the sheets. Nobody knows her. Rough boys. Don’t walk away. I very nearly missed you. Tough boys. Come over here. I wanna bite and kiss you.” – “Rough Boys” (Townshend)

Spinning Monday or: The Haul 2/2/19

05 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by TGBII in Records, Spinning Sunday

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ABBA, Cherry Glazerr, Discogs, Donovan, Green Day, John Waite, Joni Mitchell, Mott the Hoople, Music, Rainbow, Records, Rick Wakeman, Rod Stewart, The Less Desirables, Traffic, U2, UB40, Underdog Records, Weezer

Salutations™!!

Yes, this is usually a Sunday thing but Sunday and yesterday were either an important day or just something I had to rant about instead. So, here’s the haul from Saturday from Underdog Records.

Bent_out_of_shape_rainbow

©Mercury

  • Cherry Glazerr – Stuffed & Ready — Another try at introducing The BCPF to a group that I think she’d like. I’m usually successful and this another triumph. It’s a little Riot Grrl ish but that’s okay because she likes that stuff. Girl power! Jonathan said this was a little heavier than their past stuff but he also said he likes everything they do. Win! New.
  • Green Day – Kerplunk! — This is the second album from Green Day, the last indie release before signing with Reprise Records and the massive hit album Dookie was released and it’s the first with Tré Cool on drums. This is the 2009 reissue, VG+.
  • Donovan – Sunshine Superman / In Concert At The Anaheim Convention Center — As the title suggests, it’s a 2xLP/true Double Album as it is Sunshine Superman and a live album packaged together. VG+.
  • Weezer – Raditude — Weezer’s last on Interscope/DGC/Geffen. The title was suggested by Dwight Schrüte from The Office. Actually, it was Rainn Wilson who played Dwight, but still… VG.
  • Rainbow – Bent Out Of Shape — I’m trying to expand my classic hard rock repertoire beyond just what Eugene introduced me to in 2017. I’m trying. I’m trying. I don’t know much about the album. It was there. I purchased it. VG+.
  • U2 – Under A Blood Red Sky (Live) — Live album from the Irish lads that featured songs from their first three albums and was the soundtrack to a companion film of (almost) the same name. Great versions of the tunes, too. It was right before The Unforgettable Fire which was still before “my U2 time.” But, I really like that album, and the next few, a lot. VG+.
  • Rod Stewart – The Rod Stewart Album — Stewart’s debut solo record. I don’t know that I cared for his “Man of Constant Sorrow” but I did like the rest of the album. I like the elegant sleek yellow cover. In the UK it was called An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down which was one of the songs on the album. Lots of Faces and other special guests on the album. VG+.
  • Joni Mitchell – Mingus — A collaboration with Charles Mingus prior to his passing, we get to hear a shload of Jaco Pastorius on this record. It’s very experimental and some of it is “out there,” but it’s worth every second. Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Peter Erskine (along with Jaco) on one album? Wow! VG+.
  • UB40 – Labour Of Love — Yes, the whole thing sounds like “Red Red Wine.” But, it’s reggae with electronica sprinkled in and some of it is really “slow jammy” which is cool with me. It’s not a great record but it’s a decent record. VG+.
  • John Waite – Mask Of Smiles — The lackluster follow-up to No Brakes which had “Missing You.” It was there and I thought the picture on the back was funny. VG+.
  • ABBA – Voulez-Vous — “Chiquitita”, “Does Your Mother Know” and “I Have a Dream” were the singles of this album which saw the group embracing disco. I didn’t know they ever didn’t embrace it…? VG+.
  • Traffic – Mr. Fantasy — Traffic’s debut album. The cover and tracklisting the US got were different than the UK release which was fairly common at that time. It’s a decent record. The band was a four-piece but Dave Mason left before the album was released. VG.
  • Mott – Drive On — Mott the Hoople after Ian Hunter left. I don’t know anything about the album, but I like the Mott the Hoople stuff I’ve heard. Let’s hope it wasn’t all about Hunter. VG.
  • Rick Wakeman – Journey To The Centre Of The Earth — Yes’ keyboardist extraordinaire doing his composition based on the Jules Verne novel of the same name. I want to hear it. It’s in rough shape but I still have it as VG, but the cover is really rough (G/F+). It was a $1 bin find.

Jonathan had sold a couple of speakers when we were there and there were a lot of other speakers to choose from. A lot of cool stuff in there. I meant to ask him about the Curated by Underdog program. I kind of want to know how he’d curate music for me. Listen to The Less Desirables every Wednesday (or when you get to it) and hear the TLD/UR special of the week. Also, I highly recommend you use Discogs to catalog and track your music collection (no matter the format).

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Under a blood red sky a crowd has gathered in black and white. Arms entwined, the chosen few. The newspapers says, says… Say it’s true, it’s true and we can break through. Though torn in two, we can be one. I will begin again.” – “New Year’s Day” (U2)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 1/12/19

13 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by TGBII in Records, Spinning Sunday

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ABBA, Curated by Underdog, Discogs, Heart, Jay Ferguson, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, Music, Neil Young, Old Sea Brigade, Records, Rush, The Less Desirables, Tom Waits, Underdog Records

Salutations™!!

Underdog Records was jumping yesterday with people coming in and Jonathan was only playing local artists in the store for the first part of the day. He sold a good bit of local music, including selling out of a few, with that. I like when he does that. I had gone in and set some stuff back on Friday but we picked up the stuff yesterday. Here’s what we got:

tomwaits-mulevariations

©Anti-/Epitaph

  • Old Sea Brigade – Ode To A Friend — I call it my “husbandly duty” to find new music that my lovely bride, The BCPF will enjoy; stuff that is “up her alley.” When I record the weekly advert for Underdog Records on The Less Desirables, I use portions of new releases or whatever Jonathan has sent me to highlight and a lot of the time, I’ll find stuff that I think is really good, either that I will like, The BCPF will like or we both would. This is one that I thought she’d love. I had Jonathan get me one and we brought it home and she was very pleased with it. It’s laid back folky stuff and she loved it. I recommend listening to it. New.
  • Tom Waits – Mule Variations — #414 on the RS list, this is a 2xLP that is completely co-written with Waits’ wife and songwriting partner, Kathleen Brennan. I’m hit and miss with most Tom Waits stuff. The songs are beautiful and sometimes dark but his singing is what is the determining factor in my like/dislike. He sounds like he had a cocktail of gravel, concrete, and sandpaper whilst smoking two packs of Camels concurrently and saving cats from a burning building. It’s rough. EX/VG++.
  • Neil Young – After The Gold Rush — #71 on the RS list and while I feel that should be about 100 positions higher, it’s still a great album. Neil Young is another that I’m hit or miss with. VG++.
  • Rush – Signals — The follow-up to Moving Pictures, in 1982, Signals has “Subdivisions,” “New World Man,” “The Weapon,” and “Countdown.” Not my favorite Rush album but it’s still a good one. VG+.
  • Jay Ferguson – Thunder Island — I know the title track and that’s about it. I like the title track and it was only a few bucks so I decided to buy it with the picture of him in his fabric toe shoes. It’s just funny. VG+.
  • ABBA – Super Trouper — With “Super Trouper” and “The Winner Takes It All.” Their next album was the last studio album prior to their hiatus, which is still going on. VG+.
  • Heart – Private Audition — Released in 1982 and is the last Heart album to feature Mike DeRosier and Steve Fossen, who left after the recording of this album. VG+.
  • John Fogerty – Centerfield — Put me in coach! The title track, “The Old Man Down the Road” and “Rock and Roll Girls.” It was $1, so why not? VG+.
  • Joni Mitchell – Clouds — “Chelsea Morning,” “The Fiddle and the Drum” and “Both Sides, Now” are the tunes that The BCPF are most excited about. This is Mitchell’s sophomore effort and we have 10 of the first 11 of her albums. It was $1. VG.

I told you about Curated by Underdog Records, right? I think so. De is also digging out a lot of backstock of used equipment that Jonathan hasn’t had time to go through and they’re cleaning them up and getting some really great stuff up for sale. I really wanted that Sansui (as I wrote about). They have a lot of great stuff for those looking to break into or update their record collecting experience. Listen to The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week.

Discogs is how Curated by Underdog keeps track of what you have and how you do, as well!

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning and the first thing that I heard was a song outside my window. And, the traffic wrote the words. It came a-reeling up like Christmas bells and rapping up like pipes and drums. Oh, won’t you stay? We’ll put on the day and we’ll wear it ’till the night comes.” – “Chelsea Morning” (Mitchell)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 3/24/18

25 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by TGBII in Records, Silent Sunday

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A Flock of Seagulls, ABBA, Air Supply, Brahms, Broadway, Built to Spill, CSNY, Dire Straits, Discogs, Francois Couperin, Gary Numan, James Bond, John Barry, Judy Collins, K-Tel, Mozart, Pete Townshend, Poco, Records, Rickie Lee Jones, Roberta Flack, Scorpions, Silent Sunday, Stills-Young Band, The Beatles, The Decemberists, Underdog Records

Salutations™!!

The_Scorpions_LatFS

@Mercury

 

Yesterday was a cold, snotty, sleety, crappy-weathered day. But, I had my best gal and we had each other to keep warm and enjoy some record listening. That means, of course, that we went by Underdog Records! And, here is what we got:

  • The Decemberists – I’ll Be Your Girl – The BCPF is a huge fan of The Decemberists and this was their latest release, which came out last week but by the time we got there, Jonathan was already sold out. He got replacements, though, and this is the fruits of that.
  • Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms – This is my favorite Dire Straits album. It was the first I ever heard of them in 1985 when “Money for Nothing” came out. A few things to note about this album. It was one of the first to be recorded, mixed and mastered digitally (anyone else remember the DDD on CDs?). It was also the first to sell one million copies and the first to outsell its LP version. This is an original UK pressing. Another thing to know about the LP version is that the CD and cassette copies had longer versions of every song on the first side except “Walk of Life,” which should have been the one truncated. Because of the digital media and almost endless length capabilities of cassettes, they didn’t have to worry about constraints whereas the LP certainly did. “So Far Away,” “Money for Nothing,” “Your Latest Trick” and “Why Worry” were all cut short on the LP. That sucks especially for “Your Latest Trick” as it truncates that awesome sax solo. But, the lush sound of vinyl is hard to ignore. VG+.
  • Built To Spill – Untethered Moon – Another band that The BCPF is a huge fan of. We even saw them in concert in Carrboro a few years at Cat’s Cradle. VG++.
  • The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Rostal & Schaefer, Ron Goodwin – The Beatles Concerto – Orchestral Beatles, what could be better? Not a lot. VG+.
  • John Barry – Somewhere In Time (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – I really dig John Barry, I mean, I am a James Bond fan (he scored 11 of the films). I had the sheet music to this when I was younger. VG+.
  • Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle – Yep, the “Cars” album. The whole album is pretty much “Cars” in different forms. That’s an exaggeration but that’s what I kept saying to myself. It’s a good album, though. VG.
  • Mozart: Quartetto Italiano – Six String Quartets Dedicated To Haydn – 3xLP set. The box is a little frayed but the vinyl is NM!
  • A Flock Of Seagulls – Listen – Their second album that had some hits. VG+.
  • Scorpions – Love At First Sting – The first stuff I ever heard from them. “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” which I’ve played in several bands. “Hurricane” was the first song I ever played in a band in front of a crowd. So, that means something to me. VG/VG-.
  • Brahms – The Fine Arts Quartet – Quartet In C Minor, Opus 51, No. 1 / Quartet In A Minor, Opus 51, No. 2 – VG+.
  • Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones – This is an awesome album. RLJ has tremendous talent and what a great voice. It was fun to listen to. VG++.
  • Pete Townshend – All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes – I never know what to expect from Pete. He changes styles and theme like the wind and it’s up and down. So, it was there, in good shape (VG+) and a good price. So, I got it.
  • Various – Songbird – VG+ addition to my K-Tel collection featuring artists like Air Supply, Poco and ABBA. It’s soft rock stuffs.
  • The Stills-Young Band – Long May You Run – Another reiteration of the whole CSNY family tree. VG.
  • Roberta Flack – First Take – Adding another to the Roberta Flack discography collection, this being her debut, from the $1 bin. VG. And…
  • Roberta Flack – Chapter Two – Her second album. Also VG and also $1.
  • François Couperin, L’Ensemble Alarius De Bruxelles – Les Nations – VG condition and $1 bin find.
  • Judy Collins – Living – VG $1 bin find.
  • Various – The Original Sounds Of Broadway, Limited Edition – 4xLP of Broadway classics performed by original casts. VG+ and $1 bin find.

So, a pretty good haul. I was especially excited about the Dire Straits album even with the truncated first side. That and the Rickie Lee Jones were worth the whole thing. Good stuff.

New to vinyl? Want to get into vinyl? Returning to vinyl? Don’t go spend a ton of money on brand new equipment when you can get quality used stuff from Jonathan at Underdog Records. If you decide you want to get deeper into the “lifestyle” then you can go spend big bucks. But, don’t just jump in. My two cents.

Discogs is also a great way to catalog your collection, see your friends’ collections and even purchase used and new vinyl in the marketplace. It’s a great site and a great resource.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Is that her? What’s her name? Oh, it’s never going to be same. But that’s not her. I know what’s wrong – Chuck E’s in love with the little girl who’s singing this song.” – “Chuck E’s in Love” (Jones)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 9/16/17

17 Sunday Sep 2017

Posted by TGBII in Records, Silent Sunday

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.38 Special, ABBA, Art Garfunkel, Bangles, Black Sabbath, Blondie, Carly Simon, Carole King, Dan Fogleberg, Discogs, Duran Duran, Eddie Money, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Costello, George Harrison, Haircut One Hundred, Haydn, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Jim Croce, Joan Baez, Laura Branigan, Metallica, Miles Davis, Mozart, Nat King Cole, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Paul Simon, Pete Townshend, Peter Paul and Mary, Player, Quiet Riot, Ratt, Red Rider, Sting, Styx, The BCPF, The Kingston Trio, The Moody Blues, Underdog Records, Van Halen, Werner Müller

Salutations™!!

Underdog Records was jumping yesterday but The BCPF and I didn’t see most of our “regulars” friends that we usually get to hang with. That was sad, but it was a great day otherwise. We filled in some “collection” gaps, I added to my hard rock genre, The BCPF got one of her favorite albums of all time. It was a great day. Here it is:R-3555769-1481559753-1737.jpeg

  • Paul Simon – Graceland (Top 5 for The BCPF, had it special ordered for her, new)
  • Sting – …Nothing Like The Sun (The BCPF nearly squealed when I presented it to her)
  • Metallica – Kill ‘Em All (NM used copy)
  • Metallica – Master Of Puppets (on RS Top 500 of All Time, I never cared for it before now, it’s a fave, NM used)
  • Metallica – …And Justice For All (2xLP, NM used)
  • Quiet Riot – Metal Health (Dutch pressing, VG+)
  • Bangles – Different Light
  • George Harrison – Cloud Nine
  • Player – Player
  • Miles Davis – Decoy (VG+ clean copy)
  • Ratt – Ratt
  • Eddie Money – Can’t Hold Back
  • Elvis Costello And The Attractions* – The Best Of Elvis Costello And The Attractions (VG+)
  • Black Sabbath – Master Of Reality (1974 pressing, VG+)
  • Art Garfunkel – Fate For Breakfast (with what has to be the silliest back cover photo ever)
  • Art Garfunkel – Scissors Cut
  • The Moody Blues – The Other Side Of Life
  • Duran Duran – Notorious (still sealed, will change that soon)
  • Dan Fogelberg – The Innocent Age
  • Styx – Kilroy Was Here
  • Carly Simon – Anticipation
  • Van Halen – Fair Warning
  • Haircut One Hundred – Pelican West
  • Red Rider – As Far As Siam
  • Jim Croce – Photographs & Memories: His Greatest Hits
  • Pete Townshend – Empty Glass
  • Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
  • Nat King Cole – When You’re Smiling
  • The Nat King Cole Trio – The Vintage Years
  • 38 Special – Strength In Numbers
  • 38 Special – Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
  • Carole King – Simple Things
  • Carole King – Touch The Sky
  • Carole King – One To One
  • Carole King – Rhymes & Reasons
  • Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – S.R.O.
  • Laura Branigan – Branigan 2
  • Peter, Paul And Mary – Album 1700
  • Kingston Trio – The Best Of The Kingston Trio Vol. 2
  • Werner Müller – O, Tannenbaum (Christmas On The Rhine)
  • Joan Baez – Joan Baez Vol. 2
  • Mozart*, Haydn*, N.W.D.R-Orchester, Hamburg*, Leopold Ludwig – Symphony No, 41 “Jupiter”, Symphony No. 94 “Surprise”
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Ella In Hollywood
  • Blondie – The Hunter
  • ABBA – Greatest Hits

In addition, there is another jazz album that is from the 1930s but it’s not in Discogs so I will have to put it in, I suppose. It should be in soon. Getting back into vinyl? Then Underdog Records is your place! Whether you’re getting new stereo/turntable equipment, looking for the best accessories for your equipment or to buy a shload of vinyl, this is it. And Discogs is where I do all my cataloging and archiving.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I don’t take coffee, I take tea, my dear. I like my toast done on one side. And you can hear it in my accent when I talk. I’m an Englishman in New York.” – “Englishman In New York” (Sumner)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 4/9

09 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by TGBII in Silent Sunday

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A View to a Kill, ABBA, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Electric Light Orchestra, Freddy Fender, John Barry, KISS, Steely Dan, The Less Desirables, The Mountain Goats, Underdog Records

Salutations™!!

This week, we got some really good stuff from Underdog Records (the Official Vinyl Sponsor of The Less Desirables). unnamed (1)

  • Kiss – Dressed To Kill – the first time I’ve really ever owned this on vinyl. (new)
  • Kiss – Alive! – not the first time I’ve owned this. I wore it out as a kid. (new)
  • Kiss – Destroyer – the first time I’ve owned this on vinyl. (new)
  • The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride – Something The BCPF has been looking for. (new)
  • Daryl Hall & John Oates – H2O
  • Daryl Hall, John Oates* – Private Eyes
  • Freddy Fender  – Rock ‘N’ Country – something my father used to listen to.
  • Billy Squier – Signs Of Life
  • Daryl Hall – Sacred Songs
  • Steely Dan – Gaucho
  • John Barry – A View To A Kill (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  • ABBA – The Singles / The First Ten Years (double album)

And, from my pal Clay Howard:

  • Electric Light Orchestra – Out Of The Blue

Not only did we get that pile of awesome, but we finally purchased a LP storage cabinet (picture). It was a great Saturday (and some from earlier in the week). Listen to The Less Desirables and hear what the weekly special is for Underdog Records and head over and tell Jonathan, and take home some records!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I feel uptight on a Saturday night. Nine o’clock, the radio’s the only light. I hear my song and it pulls me through. Comes on strong, tells me what I’ve got to do. Get up! Everybody’s gonna move their feet. Get down! Everybody’s gonna leave their seat. You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City.” – “Detroit Rock City” (Simmons/Ezrin)

I Saw the Light or: The World is a Toll-free Toilet (RS Part 33)

21 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by TGBII in Music Review

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ABBA, Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions, Funkadelic, Rod Stewart, Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums, The Byrds, The Carpenters, The Rolling Stones, Todd Rundgren

Salutations™!!

Man, it’s going to be hard to top the last section, I mean Quicksilver Messenger Service!? Oh, that and some album called, So or something? I don’t know. But, let’s make a move on the next section of Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time.

#180 – The Rolling Stones, Now! by The Rolling Stones. I know they’re still in their “infancy” here, but I have to say, I don’t like this era of the Stones. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing that excites me. Then again, the Stones aren’t that high on my list 1Rollingstonesnowanyway. Give me the Beatles anyday. Speaking of which, Chuck Berry’s “You Can’t Catch Me” (recorded here) features the lyric, “Here come old flat top” just like “Come Together” from Abbey Road. There was some stink about that but it was settled. Some of why I don’t care for this record is the blues aspect. We know how I am about that. I like the more polished late-60s-through-early-90s Stones, if I’m going to listen to them at all. Another thing, twelve songs and only four are written by them. Again, I know it’s still really, really early in their careers, but that perplexes me. I have to say that I do not mind the RS originals but their covers on this, drives me up the wall. Meh.

#179 – The Definitive Collection by ABBA.

#178 – The Anthology 1961 to 1977 by Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions.

#177 – One Nation Under a Groove by Funkadelic. Had to listen to this one on YouTube because it’s apparently not available any other way, any longer. But, you know what? It’s George Clinton, it’s Funkadelic and it’s funktastic! Back when you could write 1OneNationsongs about dancing and it not only not be cheesy but be relevant and serious. ‘Cause really, who doesn’t just want to funk out? “Groovallegiance” features a very rare bass solo, but I didn’t find clarification if it’s “Bootsy,” “Boogie” or “Skeet” that’s playing said solo. All three as listed as personnel but nothing is necessarily denoted as who does what where. It’s awesome no matter whom it is. “Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock?!” is truly a rock song. The whole album is about breaking through to something more. This song proves exactly what the title suggests, wrong. “Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)” wins the award for the longest song title on the countdown (at least that I can tell). It’s pretty much saying that the world can be a “shite hole” and there are those that perpetuate that assumption. We’ve all gone in the crapper, if you will. A great (almost) 11 minute song, that. I am pretty certain that “Bootsy” is playing the bass on “Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll)” as he’s a co-writer. All in all this is a great funk/rock album. I have really gotten in to most everything in that genre that I’ve heard in this countdown, thus far. Yay, me and dug!

#176 – Rocks by Aerosmith. Ugh. Dear (enter deity here), I hate Aerosmith. Truly. Not unlike the feeling when I listen to 12-bar blues, either. I don’t mind “Rats in the Cellar” and “Combination.” “Nobody’s Fault” is pretty rocking, too. I would even say I really like that one. The chorus to “Lick and a Promise” is good, the rest of that song is only meh. “Home Tonight” wasn’t bad, either. Overall, it’s still just a meh for me. I found myself asking: “how long until it’s over?”

#175 – Close to You by Carpenters. I don’t care how sappy it may be, I’ve enjoyed what I’ve heard from the Carpenters. Karen had a great voice and for that, I’m not going to say anything other than she was lost too soon about her being gone. Okay, that’s done. Her voice is so strong here. It’s very early-70s, too. It’s three months and one day older than me. According to the album credits, it’s all Richard and Karen doing all the vocals, lead and backup. Well-written songs, really, even though most of it is covers of others’ music. There are some originals on here. And, for all the good things to say, I really found nothing exciting about it. I certainly don’t dislike it, but I also like vanilla ice cream. It just doesn’t excite me. I’ll give the benefit of a dug, but it’s barely over a meh.

#174 – Desire by Bob Dylan. Dang! “Hurricane” rocks and there’s cursing and the “N” word that somehow wasn’t offensive, at least to this pasty white boy. This isn’t the 1Bob_Dylan_-_DesireDylan I know and that’s a good thing. “Isis,” “Mozambique” are mesmerizing. They are so easy to listen to but strangely complex. “One More Cup of Coffee” which I believe has Emmylou Harris singing backup is sad and beautiful. Although, the story isn’t bad, I don’t really care much about “Joey.” It drags, it’s whiny and it’s eleven minutes long. It seems that one got some negative attention for glorifying gangsters. Yikes! I do like the Mexican-style of “Romance in Durango.” Reminds me of some stuff Ma Père would listen to when I was a child. He’s not Mexican but liked Marty Robbins and such. “Sara” is an almost pleading, directly personal direction of songwriting as it was about his wife. It wasn’t often, at least that I can figure, that he did that. That’s one of my favorite songs on this album. I’d own this album if I could skip “Joey.” Dug!

#173 – Something/Anything? by Todd Rundgren. Rundgren’s third release and it was a whopper! A double album in which for the first three sides it’s all him: instruments, vocals, everything. It’s quite the pop album. “I Saw the Light” is the first song and was 1Somethinganythingcoverthe first single. I have that on a Time-Life compilation, which I’m sure is Sounds of the 70s. You can hear the imperfections in the drumming and other instruments, but I think that adds to the uniqueness. At the beginning of side two, he gives a small tour of studio sounds like hum and hiss. It was odd hearing it. “Marlene” has xylophones and such on it and at one point sounds just like that new chime that Facebook uses for it’s Instant Messenger and I kept thinking someone was messaging me. Side four is comprised of songs that were done with full ensembles. Musicians include Mark Klingman, Rick Derringer, Vicki Sue Robinson and Edward James Olmos (yes, that Edward James Olmos, vox). The third released single was “Hello It’s Me” which is a side four song. The second was “Couldn’t I Just Tell You” and the fourth was “Wolfman Jack” which is probably the worst song on the album and it was released TWO years after “Hello It’s Me.” There was another album released before “Wolfman Jack” came out. I don’t understand that. Anywhat! Overall I thought the album was fantastic, but really, Rundgren could have cut that down to about eleven songs and left it as an LP. Most of it was filler, some of which sounded very much like other songs on the album and could have been done away with or released two separate albums. It was too much. But, because I liked the material, I’m still going with a “dug” here.

#172 – Every Picture Tells a Story by Rod Stewart. The boogie blues version of Rod Stewart. Some of it I like. Some of it I don’t really care about. I like the title track, pretty well. Although I’m not really a fan of “That’s All Right,” I do like the arrangement of “Amazing Grace” at the end of it. The Dylan song “Tomorrow is a Long Time” is done beautifully here, violins and all. The “Henry” part of “Maggie May” is a nice Celtic-sounding classical guitar piece. And “Maggie May,” while not a bad song, has never been a favorite of mine. I can’t tell you why, either; it seems right up my alley. Now, I do like “(I Know) I’m Losing You.” Something about the dirty sound makes it groovy. That’s my fave on this album. Then, probably, would be “Reason to Believe.” Overall, the hits are good, the Dylan song is a welcome listen but overall, I just don’t see the big deal. Okay, it’s a decent album and perhaps does need to be on here, but why is it this high on the list. I dig it but it’s over listed, in my opinion and hey it’s my countdown, eh?1ByrdBros

#171 – The Notorious Byrd Brothers by The Byrds. I’m putting the daisy behind my ear and I’m going to drop that funny square of paper and dance in the high weeds, barefoot in my bell-bottomed pants, silk shirt and cowhide vest. Dance, dance, dance. Spin. Spin. Spin. Okay, dude, wake up! Sorry about that. Some well-executed tunes on here. I’ve listened to The Byrds more and more lately, I like their stuff. This, however, doesn’t really move me, but, like I said, there’s some well-written stuff here. Very short songs, I have few moments to spare between songs going through. Of the “official” 11 songs on the original release, the longest songs is 3:52 but most are around two and a half. To the point, so I can get behind that. It seems that David Crosby was fired during the production. I wonder why (that’s sarcasm)? Like I said, I liked it okay. I don’t know, though, that I’d really want to listen to this one again. But, it was decent so I will give it a “dug.”

Wow, a very disappointing segment, to me. Even though several of them received a “dug” from me, for the most part, they were barely passing that line. Aerosuck was a true downer and two compilations. The only true shining lights in this segment were Dylan and Funkadelic. Rundgren would have made it had the album been about 6-8 songs shorter. Well, here’s hoping that the next batch is very much better.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Your breath is sweet. Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky. Your back is straight, your hair is smooth on the pillow where you lie. But, I don’t sense affection. No gratitude or love. Your loyalty is not to me but to the stars above. One more cup of coffee for the road. One more cup of coffee ‘fore I go.” – “One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)” (Dylan)

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