Tag Archives: Frank Sinatra

Spinning Tuesday? or: Morgan Bonus!

29 Tuesday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

The good thing about people knowing that you’re into records, and collect them and play them and so on, is that people come to you first when they’re ready to part with their collections.

styx_-_man_of_miracles

©Wooden Nickel

Yesterday, when Ray Morgan came over to the Lab at Industry Hill, he had “candy” with him! And, by “candy,” I mean records! He had a shload of Styx albums in there and he was just ready to part with them. I guess he was mad at them or something. I’m kidding about that, but he did bring me a stack. So, to keep them separate from the usual Saturday haul, I’m going to tell you what I cleaned and what I’m keeping. I also had some from the “bonus stack” from last year (or was it the year before? I can never keep that straight) and I go through when I have time and clean a few of those. So, there are a few here, too. Here’s what we got:

  • Styx – The Serpent Is Rising — This is Styx’s third album. It is on Wooden Nickel Records and John Curulewski is still with the band at this time. “Winner Take All” was the only single released and did practically nothing. It does have Styx’s version of Handel’s Messiah. VG.
  • Styx – Man Of Miracles — The fourth album. The last on Wooden Nickel. “Best Thing” was the only single from this album, but their sound did start to diversify from what it started as. This was the German pressing. VG+.
  • Styx – Equinox — Their A&M Records debut, their fifth studio album and the last with Curulewski who left to spend more time with his family and control more of his own musical direction. “Lorelei” and “Light Up” were released as singles, but “Suite Madame Blue” got a good bit of play, too. VG+.
  • Styx – Crystal Ball — Their sixth album and the first with Tommy Shaw. “Mademoiselle,” the title track and “Jennifer” were released as singles. I have a copy of this but this is the 1984 reissue. It hasn’t been filed on/in the shelves yet, so I haven’t been able to compare to see if I’m going to keep one or the other or keep them both, according to what versions I have. VG+.
  • Styx – Best Of Styx — With the success of The Grand Illusion (Ray gave it to me, but I had it already), Styx’s seventh album, and mainly on the singles “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)” and “Come Sail Away”, Wooden Nickel went back and released a greatest hits from when they were on their label. This is the German pressing of the album. VG+. Ray brought me Pieces of Eight, Cornerstone and Paradise Theatre but I already had those and my copies were either in better shape or the issue was better. Ray, however, took good care of his vinyl.
  • Styx – Kilroy Was Here — I already have this but, this was the British/European release so, I kept both of them. I am a collector, eh? Yeah, this album gets a lot of flack but, I still dig it. “Mr. Roboto” and “Don’t Let It End” were the big hits on this album. VG+.
  • Styx – Caught In The Act Live — 2xLP live album to support Kilroy. This tour had a mini-movie at the beginning to try and make sense of the concept album that Kilroy was supposed to be. Tommy Shaw left the band after this album was released. It was the last of the classic Styx lineup as John Panozzo was too sick to tour when they reunited and died in 1996. VG+. In addition to the Styx, Ray also brought me some Moody Blues.
  • The Moody Blues – A Question Of Balance — This was their sixth album and was an attempt to get away from their overly psychedelic roots and move into stuff they could reproduce better live. “Question” was the only single released. VG+.
  • The Moody Blues – Every Good Boy Deserves Favour — Their seventh studio album. The title is the mnemonic for the lines of the treble staff in music. I was taught it was “every good boy does fine” but this is a British band, after all. “The Story in Your Eyes” was the single. VG+.
  • The Moody Blues – Seventh Sojourn — I actually bought this a few weeks ago, but this was in much better shape. VG+.
  • The Moody Blues – Long Distance Voyager — Their 10th album and the first of the 80s. “Gemini Dream,” “The Voice” and “Talking Out of Turn” were the singles. This is the Canadian pressing. VG+.
  • Randy Crawford – Rich And Poor — I know nothing about this artist or album. Randy is a female, so I suppose it’s short for Miranda. The album is signed by Randy and is to Ray. VG+.
  • Foster And Lloyd – Foster And Lloyd — I know nothing of F&L. But, he said it’s a really good album, so, we’ll go with it! VG+.
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Webb On The Air — Ella was part of Chick Webb’s band and this is highlights of his and hers. VG+.
  • Frank Sinatra – Sinatra’s Swingin’ Session!!! — Nelson Riddle conducted and Frank sang. Much of this was previously released. VG+.
  • Herbie Hancock – Round Midnight – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack — Herbie, Bobby McFarren, Wayne Shorter and a long list of folk are featured on here. Ray was excited about it, so I am, too. VG+.
  • The Sugar Bears – Presenting The Sugar Bears — Yes. That Sugar Bear (and his many personas). Featuring songs written by Baker Knight and sung by Kim Carnes and Mike Settle. It was a real-life group that performed the songs under the persona of the cereal mascot. It’s as cheesy as you’d think it would be, but you know what? I dug it. VG+.

So, I decided that I would make two different posts about this “haul.” One for the ones that Ray gave me and another for the “bonus stack.” I didn’t get these from Underdog Records, but I certainly would have if they’d been there. Thank you, Ray! I enjoyed going through them and look forward to listening to my new Styx collection!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto. Mata ahoo Hima de. Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto. 
Himitsu wo Shiri tai.” – “Mr. Roboto” (DeYoung)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 6/30/18

01 Sunday Jul 2018

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I were up early to head to Mary’s Gourmet Diner and then over to Underdog Records, yesterday. We were actually home before noon and that gave us over six hours of record listening before heading to Willows Bistro last night. That was great! Here’s the haul:

skidrow

©Atlantic Records

  • Skid Row – Skid Row – I have always been a fan of Sebastian Bach’s voice. He’s got power and soul. His range is amazing, too. This is a VG++ copy of the album was priced at about $20, so it was in magnificent shape and it was so fun listening to it on vinyl after years of CD listening. Great pickup!
  • Extreme – Extreme II: Pornograffitti – I wore the CD out for this album when I discovered it back in the very early 90s. I hate Gary Cherone’s voice outside of Extreme (like in Van Halen), but in Extreme, it fits darned-near perfectly. This was a VG++ copy. Now, my beef with the vinyl version of this album is the exclusion of “Hole Hearted.” I understand there are space limitations on vinyl (see my post a few months back about Dire Strait’s Brothers in Arms) but “Hole Hearted” made it to #4 on the charts! They could have left off “It (‘s a Monster)” or something else. Oh well. I also think this is the Canadian version of the album.
  • Polvo – Shapes – I had never heard of this band before but The BCPF says that they were a staple of the Chapel Hill scene in the early- and mid-90s. I know that it was mixed and partially recorded at my pal Mitch Easter’s Fidelitorium in K-Ville. It was a lot of soft to heavy stuff and I enjoyed listening with her. It was in VG++ shape.
  • Various – Lost In The Stars (The Music Of Kurt Weill) – Kurt Weill was a German/American composer and songwriter active in the 1920s through to his death in 1950. Perhaps his best-known work was The Threepenny Opera which featured the song “Mack the Knife.” This tribute has Sting, Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Marianne Faithfull, Todd Rundgren and others doing his songs. I loved all of it. The BCPF liked some of it. It was great stuff, to me. VG+.
  • Chris Stamey Group Special Guests The dB’s – Christmas Time – Chris Stamey is a Chapel Hill, NC native that spent a lot of time in WSNC. He was in bands with Alex Chilton of Big Star and he was also in Sneakers with Mitch Easter. He later formed the dBs with Peter Holsapple, which along with REM and Let’s Active (Easter’s band) led the charge for guitar bands in the southeast. It’s a Christmas album. That’s what I know of it other than what I’ve already said. VG+.
  • The Dream Academy – The Dream Academy – Yes, “Life in a Northern Town.” But, this album was so much more than just that song. The whole album is in that vein but it’s just as good as that song. This was in the $1 bin and there was a skip here and there but very little. I’m going to say VG.
  • Van Halen – Van Halen – the awesome first VH album and I got it for $1. After cleaning it up, it was in really good shape. Not much surface noise at all and not a single skip. I was quite pleased with that acquisition. I’ll go with VG.
  • The J. Geils Band – Ladies Invited – I don’t recognize any songs on here, but it was $1, so why not? VG.
  • Go-Go’s – Beauty And The Beat  – Yep, “Head Over Heels,” “This Town,” and “We Got the Beat.” No skips and it was only $1. VG.
  • Various – Top Gun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – $1 bin find. You don’t pass this soundtrack up. VG.
  • Michel Legrand And His Orchestra – The New I Love Paris – I’ve said it before but The BCPF and I are obsessed with French music from the 50s and 60s. It was $1 so there you go. VG-.

So, a while back, Jonathan had given me a crate of “warped” records that he was going to let me do some experimenting with because I wanted to play with flattening them. I went through some of them yesterday and while there was a little bit of warble on the turntable, none of the ones I pulled were too awfully bad. So, here’s what I cleaned from that stack:

  • Christopher Cross – Another Page – It’s the album with “All Right” and “Think of Laura.” The LP itself was in pretty good shape with the slightest warp. I would say it’s about VG.
  • Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim – Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim – Ol’ Blue Eyes. Not too bad. VG-.
  • Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch and Bruce Springsteen – Lucky Town – Sister releases, ninth and tenth of Springsteen’s studio albums, released on the same day. Lucky Town was still sealed. They each had a little warble but all in all, VG/VG+.
  • The Beach Boys – Endless Summer – 2xLP compilation album. I had to do some serious washing on this album and there were some spots on the album that I have no idea what it is. I washed it extra long and most but not all of that scum came off of the wax. I’d say G+, and that’s being generous.
  • Richard Marx – Rush Street – I’m a huge fan of Richard Marx, whether I should be or not. I dig him. One of my favorite tunes from him and this album is “Hazard.” I love the story. Not much warp, either. VG/VG+.
  • K.T. Oslin – 80’s Ladies – Still sealed and not much warpage. VG/VG+.
  • Various – Happy Days – Fonzie Favorites – Yeah, I don’t know. It was there and I couldn’t resist cleaning it to see what came of it. I’ve not listened to it but it’s mostly Doo-wop and old rock and roll. Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin, Bill Haley & the Comets, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Coasters, The Chantels, etc. VG.
  • Bee Gees – 1st – The guys, including the non-Brothers Gibb, look way young. It’s the coolest that Barry Gibb has ever looked, I’d say. It’s called 1st and for a major label, it is their first, but it’s third in their actual discography. It has the tune “New York Mining Disaster 1941” on it. VG. Mono.
  • Tom Jones – What A Night – I love me some Tom Jones. According to its Wikipedia page, “the album was promoted by Epic as showing a more sensitive and thoughtful side to the singer.” Okay. G+.

So, that’s a pretty good haul or at least a pretty good addition. Jonathan had a pretty good selection of receivers and turntables in Underdog Records yesterday. It’s a great way to start your record collecting (besides having something to play them on), having good and decent equipment.

Thanks to Discogs for providing a place to keep a record of what I have in my collection. Last night at Willows I was able to compare notes and collections with my good friend Michael. Discogs is great.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“A Salvation Army band played and the children drank lemonade and the morning lasted all day, all day. And through an open window came, like Sinatra in a younger day, pushing the town away, away. Life in a northern town.” – “Life in a Northern Town” (Laird-Clowes/Gabriel)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 4/28/18

29 Sunday Apr 2018

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day and it was really relaxed since The BCPF and I didn’t have to camp out for the hectic scene that was Record Store Day. We walked, ate at Mary’s Gourmet Diner, bought records at Underdog Records, listened to records, and ate at Willows Bistro before getting home before 10:20p. A good day. Here’s our haul:

R-1560033-1363118457-6629.jpeg

©A&M

 

  • Okkervil River – In The Rainbow Rain – When I make the commercials for Underdog Records on Wednesdays, I try to incorporate some of the music that is being released in said commercial to give a little taste (observing ‘fair use’ rules, of course) and this was one that I used. I liked it and it sounded like something The BCPF would like. I’m always on the lookout for new stuff she may like. New.
  • The Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out – A live Rolling Stones album that was released originally about two and a half months before I was born. This, however, is the 1986 reissue. It was considered to be an audiophile copy at that time. This is in NM condition.
  • Weezer – Pacific Daydream – The latest album by Weezer that was released around Halloween last year. This is a really good album. It was fun to listen to. NM.
  • Tim Curry – Simplicity – The last of Tim Curry’s solo albums, this one from 1981. I liked listening to the other one I have, Fearless, even if it wasn’t great it was fun. I hope this one is. VG++.
  • A Flock Of Seagulls – A Flock Of Seagulls – The eponymous debut album featuring what is probably their most famous song “I Ran (So Far Away)” as well as “Space Age Love Song.” It was in great shape and I can’t wait to listen to it. VG++.
  • Frank Sinatra – Strangers In The Night – $1 bin find that we just couldn’t pass on. I love me some “Ol’ Blue Eyes” and here it was in VG shape.
  • Sinatra – Basie – Sinatra-Basie (An Historic Musical First) – Another $1 bin find for the same reasons above. Plus, it was the first time Frankie and Count Basie recorded together. VG.
  • Mungo Jerry – Mungo Jerry – The listing on Wikipedia shows no trace of “In the Summertime” but the copy I have does. I know it was released as a single the same year as this, so I am thinking that it was an album-independent single that did well and any subsequent releases of the album included it. That’s what I have, I think. It’s in VG condition and was a $1 bin find.

So, here, I have to say when I played in GSO on Friday, we went to another record store, CFBG Records. Jonathan says we weren’t cheating on him but I feel like we were. But, we got some cool stuff, even if the prices were crazy expensive for used stuff. I guess we’re just spoiled by Jonathan. Here’s that haul:

  • The Byrds – Younger Than Yesterday – #127 on the RS List and containing one of my favorite Byrds (well, Dylan) songs, “My Back Pages.” It’s in VG++ condition.
  • The Fixx – Phantoms – I have grown to love The Fixx and I was excited to find this here (well, The BCPF found it). VG+.
  • Bob Dylan – Blood On The Tracks – #16 on the RS List (I need five to finish the top 25). From what I remember I didn’t much care for it, but The BCPF is a sucker for Dylan. Plus, I needed it for the list. VG+.
  • INXS – Listen Like Thieves – The INXS album with “What You Need,” the title tune and “This Time.” Very excited about it. VG+.
  • Midnight Oil – Diesel And Dust – The one with “Beds Are Burning” on it. We got that one for free. There is a long scratch all the way across the first side but I’m hoping it will still play. If not, I will use it as the first of my vinyl repair experiment that I plan on doing. I’ll say VG, but that may not be true.

So, a pretty good haul and we’re excited about it. Lots of good stuff in there. Jonathan is back in the saddle after getting caught up from Record Store Day. So, follow Underdog Records on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and you’ll see what he is putting out each day. They’re open Tuesday to Saturday, 11a to 7p. Also, you can shop during off-hours by visiting their website.

Discogs lets me keep up with my collection so I don’t buy a lot of multiples and its Marketplace lets me find those hard-to-get items that Jonathan just never sees come through. It’s fun.

Until tomorrow, happy listening…
Scorp out!

—
“Crimson flames tied through my ears, rollin’ high and mighty traps pounced with fire on flaming roads using ideas as my maps. “We’ll meet on edges, soon, ” said I, proud ‘neath heated brow. Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” – “My Back Pages” (Dylan)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 7/29/17

30 Sunday Jul 2017

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I had a shorter haul this week but it had some great stuff in it. Underdog Records was accommodating as usual in our “habit.” Thanks to Jonathan for having a fantastic store. Here’s the haul:R-1864031-1270451320.jpeg

So, even though the haul was lighter, the enjoyment has been fantastic! Go grab some vinyl from Underdog Records, or a turntable – he has a good bit of affordable ones, along with speakers, receivers and other accessories – and archive your collection with Discogs and share your collection with me. My username is tldtim.

Until tomorrow, happy listening…
Scorp out!

—
“You say yes, I say no. You say stop and I say go go go, oh no. You say goodbye and I say hello. Hello hello. I don’t know why you say goodbye, I say hello. Hello hello. I don’t know why you say goodbye, I say hello.” – “Hello Goodbye” (Lennon/McCartney)

The Wrecking Crew or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

29 Saturday Oct 2016

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Salutations™!!

a/perture cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Less Desirables Movie of the Week, The Wrecking Crew (2008) starring members of the famous group of LA session musicians of the same name.

Per IMDb: “A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as “The Wrecking Crew”, a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby.”wrecking-crew-dvd-cover

Tommy Tedesco is a name you’ve probably never heard unless you’re one to read the inner sleeve of vinyl records from the late sixties, on. Even then, the name may have not been seen or known. But, you’d know him with your ears, even if you’re not born of that time; I wasn’t born until 1970. You can listen to theme songs for Bonanza, Green Acres or Batman (just to name a few) and instantly say, “well, yeah, I know that.”

Tedesco was a guitarist that was part of a group of session musicians in Los Angeles that were called “The Wrecking Crew” or sometimes they were known as “the Clique Band” or “First Call Band” or even “Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound Orchestra.” It wasn’t a dedicated lineup, it was a group or pool of musicians that producers could pull from to piece together for a session. This group also included names like Glen Campbell (yes, Mr. Rhinestone Cowboy, himself) and Bill Pitman, the world-famous bassists Carol Kaye and Ray Pohlman, drummers Hal Blaine and Joe Porcaro (whose three sons would go on to form the band Toto, also from studio musicians), pianists Leon Russell and Mac Rebennack (also known as Dr. John), horn players like Plas Johnson and Steve Douglas and countless more. That list isn’t even close to complete.

What did these players play? Well, a very truncated list would include: “Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home),” “Surf City,” “I Get Around,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “California Dreamin’,” “I Got You Babe,” “Good Vibrations,” “Monday Monday,” “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” “The Beat Goes On,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “The Boxer,” “Bridge over Troubled Water,” “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu,” “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Love Will Keep Us Together.” But, that’s not all, Plas Johnson is the sax player in the Pink Panther Theme, Carol Kaye plays in so many pieces that your head would spin to know what they were.

As I said, there were little credits on the albums, usually. That was for several reasons, one it would confuse the snot out of the general public seeing that many credits on so many different artists’ albums. On top of that, the musicians that were actually in these bands (like Beach Boys, Byrds, Gary Lewis and the Playboys) didn’t want the public to know they weren’t actually playing on the records. So, they’d just not put who played what, band or not, on the credits. These people were also the musicians for The Monkees. Soon, the advent of true self-contained bands who really did play their own instruments led to the phasing out of the Wrecking Crew and other studio session musicians. When studio musicians were or are needed in the mid-to-late 70s and so on, they had younger, hipper, more rock and roll or pop-infused musicians to take their place.

The Wrecking Crew, many of which are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, are and will forever be ingrained in the intricate history of popular music. Nothing can or will ever change that. Many have passed on, including Tommy Tedesco. Remember him? The reason I brought him up was because his son, Denny, is the producer and director of this documentary called, The Wrecking Crew.

Denny follows the careers and history of many of the studio musicians in this little society. He talks of the rise and fall, the good times, the sessions, the artists they’ve played with and plenty of other aspects of the group. Very interesting, especially when you find out the things they played on and how much what we know of 50s and 60s music is really their doing.

Tommy went on to do a lot with television and film as well. Titles like: The French Connection, The Godfather, Jaws, The Deer Hunter, Columbo, The Deep, Dallas, Caddyshack, Batman, Cocoon, Cheers, Dirty Dancing, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Starsky & Hutch and his guitar is what you hear playing in the intro of what I have said is my #1 television show of all time, M*A*S*H. He passed away in 1997 at the age of 65.

I thought the film was highly entertaining and I’m a big fan of “behind the scenes” documentaries. Also, being a musician, I love finding who played on what for albums and popular songs. One of the highlights when I research the Rolling Stone Top 500 albums is who played on what. I have a better understanding of who those people are, now. I really enjoyed watching this. There is no Rotten Tomatoes rating but IMDb has it at 7.7 stars out of 10. It’s available on Netflix, which is where I watched it. I rate it 4.5 out of 5. Have you seen it? What did you think? What would you like to read/hear me review?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“”You leave the house at seven o’clock in the morning, and you’re at Universal at nine till noon; now you’re at Capitol Records at one, you just got time to get there, then you got a jingle at four, then we’re on a date with somebody at eight, then the Beach Boys at midnight, and you do that five days a week … jeez, man, you get burned out.” – Bill Pitman, guitarist

Mood Indigo or: All You Have To Do Is Call (RS Part 40)

12 Monday Sep 2016

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Salutations™!!

Wow, we’ll get down to the last hundred after this segment of Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time. They’re clicking on by. And yes, I know it’s been since June since I posted the last one. I’ve been busy with the move and work. I’m getting back to it. The last segment was really split down the middle: three I hated, three I liked and four that I loved. Let’s see how this segment works out, shall we? Let’s get the 390th to 400th done, starting now!

#110 – Loaded by Velvet Underground. Well, it couldn’t have started much worse. I am so over Velvet Underground even being on this list. I’m about tired of reviewing the albums because it’s the same thing over and over: “it’s awful.” I’m thinking, though that if you had the same songs with others singing and performing it, it may be a whole different story. It’s not the songs that I don’t like, it’s the band. I’ve heard covers of some of their tunes (before knowing they were VU) and liked it, then I found out who it was. That’s not bad. And, again, the kicker is… I like Lou Reed albums solo, but this is enough to make me want to put my head through the laminated glass on the front of the new studio. “Sweet Jane” is on this album as is “Rock & Roll.” Both are decent songs. Lots of energy. I’m actually going to give the caveat that I actually thought all of the songs are decent, I just wish someone else was performing it. I think there was a lot of politics on the record, not political as in social sense but within the band, the production crew and so on. It was loadedalbummeant, from what I can tell to be more mainstream and that’s perhaps why I like it. That being said, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, I actually didn’t mind this record. I’m going to actually give it a “dug” but still wish it was someone else.

#109 – Aftermath by The Rolling Stones. This, according to Rolling Stone is the US version, which is a bit different. A different cover, a different, shorter track listing. They added “Paint It Black” at the beginning because it was the current single. Rhapsody (now called Napster) didn’t even include that on their listing. I had to add it from the Hot Rocks compilation. This was the first Rolling Stones album to feature all original music – no covers. “Paint It Black” has always sounded ominous to me and I’ve always dug it. Dark and foreboding; it reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 (where your Top 40 comes from). I do love me some “Lady Jane” which made #24. It’s a sweet tune with some serious harpsichord happening. “Under My Thumb” always reminded me of some lounge singer until they kick in. I know it’s because of the marimba work. I picture smoking jackets, thin jeans and loafers. I could be totally off on that visual’s time frame but it’s what I see. In my mind everything is faded like in the “Nashville” setting on Instagram. Some of the album is really good and some of it is filler, to me. Overall, it has it’s high points and meh points. It’s entertaining nonetheless. 81cyxn16akl-_sl1300_I dug it, for the most part.

#108 – Hunky Dory by David Bowie. This is good Bowie. Good Bowie, indeed. The album starts with one of my favorite Bowie songs, ever: “Changes.” A new fave, “Oh! You Pretty Things” is next. I never knew how much I dug “Life On Mars?” until just recently. The music hall feel of “Kooks” and the awesome piano stylings of Rick Wakeman on “Quicksand” and “Fill Your Heart.” I love “Andy Warhol,” too. It’s as weird as he was. Love the harmonies in that, too. I said it at the beginning of this paragraph and I’ll say it again – This is good Bowie. Now, I’ll amend it and say that this is great Bowie! Mick Ronson’s guitar work is solid and Bowie’s songwriting is shining. From the front to the back… genius. I LOVE this album. LOVE it. And this was the first time listening to it.

#107 – Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 by Sam Cooke.

#106 – Rocket to Russia by The Ramones. I was doing something else and thought that it was one song that went on for 32 minutes. Good news/bad news? Bad news is it was The Ramones. The good news is that it was only 32 minutes. The longest song was 2:49. For the win. Seriously, I didn’t mind “Cretin and/or Blitzkrieg Bop” whichever one that was on here. And “Rock rock rock rock and roll High School/Rockaway Beach..?” I don’t know what people see in this, it bores me to tears. At least, though, it doesn’t turn my stomach like sad, 12-bar blues does. I do really like “Sheena is a Punk Rocker.” The rest of the r-1102923-1261699035-jpegalbum? Nah, didn’t dig.

#105 – Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music by Ray Charles. Glad I could cleanse my palate from the last album on this. Having recently watched and review Ray, I have a new appreciation of Ray Charles. Now, I don’t know how accurate that film is, but it did reintroduce a younger generation to Ray Charles. So, these tunes are right in line for that film. That being said, this is more R&B styled standards than it is C&W music, which is great to me. I prefer this style, and yes I get that it was very much country and western. It doesn’t have to be twangy to be C&W. I have become a huge fan of this style of music and Ray just takes it to such high places. I had to piece this one together on YouTube because it wasn’t available on Napster. Faves on this album were “Bye Bye Love,” “I Love You So Much It Hurts,” “Just a Little Lovin’ (Will Go a Long Way),” “It Makes No Difference Now” and “Hey, Good Lookin’.” I really enjoyed this album. Big DUG!!

#104 – Sweet Baby James by James Taylor. This album gets a lot of recognition and comparison to Carole King’s Tapestry (still to come, much later in the countdown) and while I do know that Stringbean plays all the acoustic guitar on that album and they were good friends, this doesn’t, at all, compare to that album. Wait until we get to that one to find out my thoughts on it. This has some good songs on it, “Sweet Baby James,” “Fire and Rain.” However, I’ve grown completely over James Taylor, NC boy or not. “Sunny Skies” is like Sesame Street’s theme, which is okay. “Steamroller” is that junky 12-bar blues that I loathe so much, but this rendition really isn’t too awful. I do like the inclusion of the horns. He does a pretty good rendition of the Stephen Foster tune, “Oh, Susannah.” That is immediately followed by “Fire and Rain” which is, in part, about a childhood friend committing suicide when he was in London recording his first album (this was his second) with Apple Records. Carole King did play all the piano parts on the album. “Anywhere Lies Heaven” sounds like he struggled with the song. It almost sounds high schoolish and it seems like he’s pitchy the whole time. I don’t understand why it was included on the coltrane_giant_stepsalbum. “Oh Baby, Don’t You Loose Your Lip on Me” drives me crazy from the moment he starts it. Overall, it’s a decent album but I find very little about it remotely remarkable. I didn’t not dig it…?

#103 – Giant Steps by John Coltrane. Oh, sweet, jazzy yumminess. This horn is talking. There’s no lyrics and there doesn’t have to be. The lyrics are implied and formed whimsically from Coltrane’s seasoned reed. The horn tells the story, vividly. And he had some killer cats playing with him, too. I mean, Tommy Flanagan – Ella Fitzgerald’s main-most-man on the keys, the gone-too-soon Paul Chambers on the double bass and Art Taylor on drums. Most of those instrumentalists were mainstays with Miles Davis, as well. The thing about Coltrane is that I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a sax like that. I’m thinking  about some melodic and rolling stuff that I’ve heard but don’t know that I’ve heard a sax actually talk to me; sing to me; speak to me. I love the dynamics, the ebbs and the flows. I think this is a fine and fantasmic piece of music history and I will say that I loved it. DUG!

#102 – Fresh Cream by Cream. There are things that I go into on this list that I just “hope” that I’ll like since it’s iconic and all that mess, but Cream is just something I cannot get into. I know they’re “great musicians” and all that, and I can’t argue that they’re good. I just don’t get it. It’s too bluesy for me, I guess. I will say the production is fantastic. The sounds are all lush and (until “Toad,” the last song) vibrant. I do like a few songs on the album, “I Feel Free” (yes this was the later US version with the original UK track listing with this song added at the beginning), “I’m So Glad,” and “Dreaming.” The aforementioned questioning of “Toad” was that while the extra-long drum solo is happening, there’s a sudden drop in sound quality. It may have been my stream, I’m notwee_small_hours_album_cover_high_definition sure. But, it was quite noticeable. Overall, like I said, there are parts that I dig about it but for the most part? Meh. I’ll just never get Cream, I guess. Meh, again.

#101 – In the Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra. I can listen to Ol’ Blue Eyes any day of the week, any amount of time, and be ecstatic. I have loved listening to Frank since I was in my late teens/early 20s. This is one of his finest pieces of work and was recorded in a tumultuous time in his life. Who am I kidding? That was almost all the time. His lifestyle, while grand, was also quite chaotic. You can almost hear the ache in his heart. I make fun of Morrissey for “talking” his way through songs, but really, Frank does it, too. Yes, he sings, but it sometimes is a bit of of spoken word. However, it’s smooth and relaxing. I find I can work well, writing posts, working up plans, just working… when I listen to him (and this style). It’s good background music, but it’s also good to straight up listen to, as well. They’re called “standards” for a reason and that reason is because they were a standard inclusion for many people in the recording industry in the ’30s-’50s. There’s songs here by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz, Alec Wilder and the great, great, great Hoagy Carmichael. Some wonderful stuff, here. I’d own it on vinyl and I really, really dug it!!

So, this round had it’s share of ups and downs, eh? A few “loves,” a few “likes,” a few “mehs,” a compilation. Some of it all. I’m glad I heard the Bowie, Ray, Frank and Coltrane albums. Wow, the more I look at it, that’s Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and John Coltrane in one segment with some of Bowie’s best work thrown in there, too? Hey, and I didn’t hate the Velvet Underground album. I could have done without the Ramones, Stones and Cream albums, though. I guess I need to do a recap of this past 100 albums and I’ll get to that when I can. I’ll try to make it fairly soon, I promise. Listen to good music for the sake of listening to good music and I’ll see you next segment and I’ll see you tomorrow…

Until then, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“And these children that you spit on, as they try to change their worlds, are immune to your consultations. They’re quite aware of what they’re going through.” – “Changes” (Bowie)

Poet and a Prophet or: Got You Under My Skin (RS Part 20)

12 Tuesday May 2015

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Salutations™!!

The “Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time” segments are getting tight now. The higher it gets the better, theoretically, they should get even better. I say higher. Is it higher or lower? The numbers get lower but I think of it as higher on the list. #1 is the highest, right?  So let’s go with that. The higher, the better. And, this segment will close out the 300s. We’re moving along nicely. Enough yakking, let’s hit it!

1BSSM

“Blood Sugar Sex Magik” by RHCP

#310 – Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Caveat: I didn’t listen to this in order or for the list. That’s not a bad thing, I’m not “skipping” it. I didn’t realize it was coming on the list at this time but I’d already listened to it, in its entirety about a month ago. If I think Chili Peppers, I think this album. I’ll say it, I know I’ll get flogged for it, but I had never heard of them before seeing the video for “Give It Away.” At that time it was mostly played on 120 Minutes and I stayed far away from that. I just did, sorry. But, “Give It Away,” “Breaking the Girl,” “Under the Bridge” and “If You Have to Ask” are great songs, but to me the gem and jewel of this album is “Suck My Kiss.” I’m partial to that one because I played it in probably the first real band I was in after my move to NC. Flea is a beast and to play his bass lines are quite difficult. Especially when you’re a pick player and he does all his stuff finger style. There are advantages and disadvantages to both it’s just style, plain and simple. That just means he’s hard to duplicate, even if I was a finger picker.  It’s a great album and I’m surprised it’s this low on the list. Dug!

#309 – Willy and the Poor Boys by Credence Clearwater Revival. Every time I hear CCR I think of my uncle Curt. He is a big fan. After being part of the CCD Vagabond Saints Society show a few years back, I gained a new respect for them. I didn’t really care about them when I was younger, I don’t turn it now. I do find it funny they have this bayou sound when they’re from Southern California. Oh well. “Down on the Corner” has an iconic riff. You know exactly what that is when you hear it. Follow that up with “It Came Out of the Sky” and it’s that straight forward rock and roll. Actually, that is what I’d call rock and roll. Sixties at its heyday. I’d say outside of Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin, this is some heavy stuff. At least some of it. Still rock and roll, though. This rolls more than some rock. I really like it. They get that southern shuffle happening in “Feelin’ Blue.” Not necessarily a shuffle beat but the ambiance of the song itself is groovy like a shuffle. The anti-war anthem and Forrest Gump staple, “Fortunate Son” is a fave of mine.  Although, it seems Fogerty was waiting to burst a vein singing it. Sign of the times, I guess. I don’t think I ever knew how short that song is coming in at just under two and a half minutes. “Don’t Look Now” reminds me of some Elvis song. And then finish it off with a very dark song, “Effigy” about a funeral pyre or something as Fogerty asks “Who is burnin’?” A little noir, but that’s ok, again, so were the times. Great album, I dug it!

1Songsforswinginlovers

“Songs for Swingin’ Lovers” by Frank Sinatra

#308 – Songs for Swingin’ Lovers by Frank Sinatra. Oh, my first Frank on the list, I do believe. One of the oldest albums on this list, I believe, too. There was some Robert Johnson I think and that would probably be older, but this style of popular music was still a relatively new thingy back in 1956 so I can see why this is included. I’m a big fan of Frank, too. Ol’ Blue Eyes was the consummate gentleman’s crooner back then. He’s incredible. It’s classic Frank, too. “You’re Getting to be a Habit with Me,” “Pennies from Heaven,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Makin’ Whoopee.”  I know a lot of people do these standards but while some may be staples for others, to me, if Frank put his stamp on it, then it’s his, no matter what. No offense, to Louis, Sammy, Deano, Ella, Etta, Tony, Vic, Mel or Nat. Dug!

#307 – A Hard Days Night by The Beatles. Another one that I didn’t actually listen to for the list. I’m a huge Beatles fan (second favorite band) and I have them on constant shuffle on my iPod. All the Beatles albums are on there so while I may not get it in order, I do get it often. Heavens Sake used to do the title track as our show closer, it was always fun to play. “And I Love Her” is a sweet little song as is “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You.” You know a song’s powerful when they name a movie after it, á la “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Not saying the movie was as good as the song, though. I’ll never forget “I’ll Be Back” because, being a KISS fan, Gene and Paul did that on the “mockumentary” KISS EXposed (1987). That was the first time I heard it. I’ll say it’s not my favorite Beatles album but it’s still a darned fine one. Dug!

1Odelay

“Odelay” by Beck

#306 – Odelay by Beck. I don’t know that I knew this was so electronic. Lots of his and scratches along with the hyper-spacious ‘verb along with some surf-a-billy stylings, at least in the first song, “Devil’s Haircut.” There’s some hints of hip-hop/alternative that was popular in the mid-’90s. From what I can tell, this album was spot on for the times. There is also no shortage of noise on this disc. I’m not three songs in and I don’t know how to categorize this. I like that. I don’t want to be held to a genre, I want to listen to enjoy. It’s all rock (well, “Lord Only Knows” is mostly rock) as far as I can tell. Still, the hints of hip-hop are prevalent. Samples are prevalent and that’s not a bad thing. I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard anything on this album I’m thinking maybe something will pop out on me whilst listening, but thus far, nothing. Nice jack-ass sounds on “Jack-ass.” I also love that they have an actual track dedicated to sounding like the end of a side on a vinyl album. And the intro to “Where It’s At” sounds like a record actually being needled. I believe my favorite song is the ’70s esque “Sissyneck.” It’s pretty great with it’s laid back groove, melody and lyrics. This is a great album and I recommend it! Dig!

#305 – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road by Lucinda Williams. Alt-country and I mean ALT country. I can’t tell if I think she was drunk for the whole thing or if that’s just her way of doing things. To me, it sounds like listening to people sing from some small church in the backwoods somewhere in Rural America. Maybe it sounds good to (insert deity of choice here)?  I’m not saying she’s bad, just that it kind of sounds week with some over-exaggerated country accent. Perhaps that’s really how she does, but “cawfeeee, ayggs and baycun” sounds a bit contrived. It’s decent country music, I just can’t get past that accent. And I’m from the country. I’m going to be ridden hard for this review, but I just don’t get past some aspects of this album and, I suppose, Ms. Wiliams. Again, the songs aren’t bad, well written and mostly well played. I can’t tell if it’s a joke. She’s just annoying me. Reminds me of “Mercedes Benz” from Janis Joplin and I always felt that was a little bit tongue-in-cheek. There are bright spots, though. “I Lost It” is a pretty good song. I also didn’t hate “Lake Charles.” Granted both of those songs are later in the set, perhaps I grew accustomed to her voice? Don’t think so. Didn’t dig..,

1Grace

“Grace” by Jeff Buckley

#304 – Grace by Jeff Buckley. Laid back but powerful. That’s my first impression of the opening track, “Mojo Pin.” Buckley lets it rip in some Zeppelin-like instrumentation during that tune. The title track which follows is a shuffle beat with great instrumentation. Hearing this song, I kept saying, “what does this remind me of?” I
figured it out and wonder if Jon Witteveen was at all inspired by Buckley when he was writing tunes for Creamy Velour’s Angel’s Guise album? If so, well played, sir, well played! The BCPF says she’s conflicted with this album. She rants and raves about his version of “Hallelujah” which is pretty fantastic. However, I’m not hearing anything that I don’t like. I especially love his guts to use that rich and powerful falsetto on “Corpus Christi Carol.” That’s some awesome stuff; so emotional. I really like this album, wonder why it’s not higher and would like to have it on vinyl. I definitely DUG this one!

#303 – John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan. Oh Jeff Buckley, I thank you for being the rock stuck between two horrible singers. The upside? The two bookends were actually great songwriters, I just hate to have to listen to them sing it. Plusses and minuses here? I hear the stories that he’s telling and I’ll catch glimpses of greatness (excepting the vocals) but other than “The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest” and “All Along the Watchtower” I’m not finding anything that really grabs me. Wait, for some reason, “Down Along the Cove” is grabbing me. Not inappropriately, mind you, but it’s grabby anyways. But, overall the “recently gone electric” Dylan wasn’t really doing it for me. Meh.

“Fear of a Black Planet” by Public Enemy

#302 – Fear of a Black Planet by Public Enemy. A pivotal album in the hip-hop world. It embodies all the things I think of when I think of “classic” hip-hop. Lots going on and social, accessible, activist lyrics like in “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” and the highly successful single, “911 is a Joke,” which I think is a great song. Hello Vincent Price. “Incident at 66.6 FM” pretty much tells the tale of struggles, scrutiny and negative press the group had to endure. The rap is good, the tunes are good, the album is good. This is one of the early days of sampling’s finest hours. Almost all of the album’s music is made up of samples from a very wide array of tunes and genres. Oh and Flavor Flav is hilarious both in real life and on here.  Chuck D is pointed and takes charge. The flow of the songs is quite rapid, it just moves. It doesn’t linger, it doesn’t need. Not hard to pick out Ice Cube on “Burn Hollywood Burn.”  A lot of anti-racism and “take control of your situation” talk in these songs. I think they pulled it off perfectly, at least in the beginning. I think this album is about 7 or 8 songs too long. It gets redundant after the title track. The tracks seem to lose substance and just be a bunch of samples and effects. It ends with a (pun intended) powerful “Fight the Power.” Overall, a landmark album that I think was great, albeit a bit long. Dug.

#301 – Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton. Talk about stark contrast.  From Public Enemy straight to Dolly Parton.  The title track is one that Dolly says is one of her favorites she’s ever written. One thing I love about Dolly is she does write most of her own stuff. On this album there are three songs written by Porter Wagoner, her long-time collaborator and close friend. I personally thought they were “together” but I don’t see any real evidence of this. Anywhat! Back to the title track, it’s basically a retelling of the Joseph and his coat of many colors from the Bible, as told by her mother. “Traveling Man” is funny and I wonder if it doesn’t have something to do with Wagoner, at least a bit? There’s Americana-laden pop in here, too. Not really even country as I’d categorize it. I think the Porter Wagoner aspect always led me to believe that she was more country. It’s her accent, too, maybe? Dolly’s voice is really strong and amazing on this album. I know ma père was a big fan of hers and I listened some but not really in depth, as a child. I’m actually taken aback a bit listening.  She’s really great. Powerful voice, powerfully written songs, powerful storytelling. What more could you want? Definitely dug!

So we’re down another hundred. I’ll be writing a post next week that will serve as a retrospective of this 100 albums. But, that’s next week. This segment had a lot of good stuff; only one I didn’t like and one I was mostly indifferent about. I’m looking forward to the next segment as well as the next 100 set. What do you think of the albums on this section? What do you think of my views? Do you agree or disagree? Drop me a line and let me know!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
– “Corpus Christi Carol” by Anon., Britten, Buckley from Grace