Tag Archives: Journey

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 8/11/18

12 Sunday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

Queensryche_-_Operation_Mindcrime_cover

©EMI

It was a great average Saturday for The BCPF and me. Sun was out mostly in the morning/early afternoon. We got home from Underdog Records and the bottom fell out. It was done before we went to Willows and stayed nice the rest of the evening. Here’s what happened at Underdog:

  • Queensrÿche – Operation: Mindcrime — I didn’t buy this from Underdog but I did get it from there. After looking for this album for a long while and through some negotiation, I finally was able to convince my friend Bill B-A to part with his copy. It sounds fantastic on vinyl and I actually heard things I hadn’t ever noticed. That happens with vinyl I have noticed. Once my favorite album of all-time, it moved down one notch when I realized the love I had for So by Peter Gabriel. Listening to this again, it can still be a contender. VG+ from Bill.
  • U2 – Achtung Baby — #63 on the RS list which brings me to 200 from that list. The search continues. One of my favorite U2 albums and the last before they went into “temporary insanity” state. “Mysterious Ways” and “One” are probably my two faves on this album, while “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” and “Even Better Than the Real Thing” are awesome, too. 2xLP New.
  • The Sisters Of Mercy – Floodland — This is solely a The BCPF thing. She went through (and still lives through some memories of) a goth stage when she was a bit younger. This is definitely “Dark Wave” material and I can see why she likes it. She is especially fond of “This Corrosion.” New.
  • Dio – The Last In Line — I couldn’t pass it up. VG.
  • Whitesnake – Whitesnake — One of my favorite hard rock albums of all time. There are no real clunkers on this album and I had hoped to get it on Record Store Day but while Jonathan ordered several copies, he only got two. Even being fourth in line didn’t get me that album. He had it this time. It was a label promo but that’s okay. It’s the full album. VG+.
  • Golden Earring – Moontan — Although there are only five songs on the album, it isn’t an EP because it still comes in at about 40 minutes. This is the “Radar Love” album. I didn’t know that Golden Earring were Dutch. VG.
  • George Harrison – George Harrison — A good album with some great tunes. It’s no All Things Must Pass, to be sure, but it is good nonetheless. “Blown Away,” “Faster,” and “Love Comes to Everyone” are on this album. VG+.
  • Nick Lowe – Labour Of Lust — Yes, I got this for “Cruel to be Kind.” No, the rest of the album isn’t as good as that tune. But, there are some good pop-music things going on in this album. It’s decent. VG+.
  • Journey – Look Into The Future — Journey’s second album and the penultimate to feature Gregg Rolie on vocals exclusively (which I think is a good thing, I’ve never really been a big fan of his). VG.
  • Various – The Story Of Great Music: Prelude To Modern Music and Various – The Story Of Great Music: The Romantic Era — Each from 1966 and are TimeLife collections, 4xLP each and the “Modern Music” one is VG++ in mono and the “Romantic Era” is NM in mono. I’m actually listening to the first one as I write this.
  • Traffic – The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys — Notable for its really strange die-cut cover, this is a really good album from Traffic. The title song is a great listen as well as the whole album, really. Better than I initially gave it credit for. VG+.
  • The Alan Parsons Project – The Turn Of A Friendly Card — Man, I really dig me some APP. Who’d-a-thunk when I was a young lad listening to music and only knowing “Eye in the Sky” that I would grow up to become such a fan of the other (and in many ways better) APP albums? “Games People Play” and “Time” are the two best tunes on here, in my opinion. VG.
  • Robert Palmer – Heavy Nova — $1 bin find. It has “Simply Irresistible” and I know not much more than that. I think I got it from Columbia House on cassette when it came out because I forgot to send in my card. I may have sent it back or considered sending it back. I think I kept it, though. Oh well, it was $1. VG.
  • The Voices Of Walter Schumann – Songs Of The Ivy League — I have no idea what this is other than college songs. School songs and such. So it will be interesting. The BCPF wanted it for some song that was on The Gilmore Girls and it was $1. 10″ and in VG.

It’s always fun just going into Underdog Records and hearing people say they were playing “Beat the Beemans.” Yeah, we get there and start grabbing stuff as this list shows but there is a method to the madness, but we shan’t divulge the method. Check out The Less Desirables for the weekly TLD/UDR special that runs.

Discogs is where I catalog my entire collection. It (usually) keeps me from getting duplicates and helps me figure what’s left to get for my collection. I recommend using them.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“Did I disappoint you? Or leave a bad taste in your mouth? You act like you never had love and you want me to go without. Well, it’s too late, tonight, to drag the past out into the light. We’re one, but we’re not the same. We get to carry each other. Carry each other. One.” – “One” (Evans/Hewson/Mullen/Clayton)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 7/14/18

15 Sunday Jul 2018

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was Bastille Day so happy birthday to our pals in France! Let’s hope they win the World Cup today, oui?

Fragile_(Yes_album)_cover_art

©Atlantic

It was a beautiful day yesterday, too. It was warm but not hot. The humidity was relatively low. Breakfast from Mary’s Gourmet Diner was good and the rekkid buying from Underdog Records was a load of fun. So, here’s what we got:

  • Eric B. & Rakim – Paid In Full — I got this album for a few reasons. One, it’s #228 on the RS List. Two, I used to play the bassline from the title track to impress the ladies when I was in high school; the dudes thought I was cool, too. Three, it’s a good album. This was back when I could listen to hip-hop and rap and think that the artists had something to say and said it to where you can understand it. Yeah, I know I’m sounding like a grandpa so get off my danged lawn! New
  • Ozzy Osbourne – Blizzard Of Ozz — Ozzy’s first solo album. This was a reissue from 2011 which was the 30th anniversary of the album. Great sounding 180g black vinyl. New.
  • The Magnetic Fields – Holiday — This was The BCPF’s choice. She is a fan of this band. She likes it a lot. His voice went between cool and really bad, but even when the really bad parts were happening, it worked with the music they were doing. So, I didn’t really mind it. It was a decent album, all things considered. New.
  • Journey – Journey – The debut album from the band from 1975. I knew from having the Time³ Box Set from Journey that their earlier stuff was more “proggy” and bluesier than their more popular mainstream-80s commercial albums. I have never really cared for Greg Rolie’s voice, or him really, but this album wasn’t bad. I enjoyed listening to it. Yeah, I liked it. It was an original pressing from 1975 in VG+ condition.
  • Crosby, Stills & Nash – CSN — The first CSN album without Young other than their debut album. Someone who owned this record before I did must have decided to keep the picture from the cover. Apparently, it was glued on and they removed it. Either that or it just fell off. So instead of a picture of them on a sailboat, there’s a big blank gray rectangle. Okay. It’s a decent album and we enjoyed it. It was in the $1 bin and is in VG shape.
  • Yes – Yesshows — A 2xLP live album from 1980 which consists of recordings from 1976-1978. I have a feeling that this will be a prog rocker’s dream come true because it’s two records and only 8 songs. The entire Side B is “The Gates of Delirium” and comes in at nearly 23 minutes. It was a $1 bin find and I’d rate it at about VG.
  • Yes – Fragile — Along with 90125, this is my favorite Yes album. “Roundabout” and “Long Distance Runaround” are probably two of Yes’ most popular and well-known songs. The bassline in “Roundabout” alone could have gotten them into the Hall of Fame, why did it take so long? Anywhat! Chris Squire was an amazing bassist and I love listening to his lines. I know a few of my bass-playing friends list him as an influence. I found this in the $1 bin but once I cleaned it up, I’d say it was VG+, but that’s my rating. I love this album.
  • Philharmonic Orchestra Of Monte Carlo, Lawrence Foster – Famous Adagios By Barber, Sibelius, Grieg, Rachmaninoff And Others — Because it’s from Monaco, I figure that’s why The BCPF wanted this, but it was in the $1 bin and it was in really good shape. I’ll go with VG+. Most of the deeper classical things like this are generally well-taken care of.
  • Britten, Arnold – The Philharmonia Orchestra Conducted By Robert Irving  – Matinées Musicales – Soirées Musicales / English Dances – Four Scottish Dances — The BCPF loves Benjamin Britten and it was $1. VG+.
  • Various – Flappers, Speakeasies, & Bathtub Gin – The BCPF and I both like the history around the 20s, flappers, speakeasies and the idea of bathtub gin. The BCPF’s grandmother was a flapper, so why not? VG and $1.
  • Michel Legrand And His Orchestra – I Love Paris — Just read the title and you’ll understand why we got it. Exactly. That’s right. Yes. We do. VG+ and $1.
  • Kiss – Crazy Nights — I didn’t get this from Underdog Records but from the Discogs Marketplace. It was in VG++ shape and sounds terrific. I love this album but it gets a lot of flack from many of my fellow KISSheads because it is a bit on the poppier-rock side. It is that hair band cheese of the late 80s, but I still love it.

Jonathan had some great reissues come in this week and he had some great looking equipment, too. You should go in and check out the inventory. And remember to check out Underdog Records’ social media to find out what new superdynawhoppin’ stuff Jonathan is adding.

And, Discogs is where I keep up with my collection and purchase the items that Jonathan doesn’t have or would be too expensive to order.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Here’s a little song for everybody out there…” – “Crazy Crazy Nights” (Stanley/Mitchell)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 5/4-5/18

06 Sunday May 2018

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Salutations™!!

First off, notice I changed the title of this one. It seems my Sunday posts are a bit verbose at times, and they’re usually about records. Neither of which really lends to the “silent” aspect of Silent Sunday. So, I think I’m changing the “haul” posts up a bit. I’ll still do Silent Sunday for non-record posts.

500x500

©A&M

 

Well, this is a little different in the record category, as well. I went to Underdog Records, three different times from Friday to Saturday. I went on Friday because I didn’t think I’d get there Saturday because of a party we were having with a dear friend of ours. That included a bus and beer. Yep. Bus. Beer. And, also, on Friday, I was given a few records by a friend of mine. She said, here you can have these. Some of them ended up crossing off a few entries off the RS List. So, here’s what we got:

  • Poison – Open Up and Say…Ahh! – Yeah, I know it’s cheesy “hair metal” but I don’t care. I love this album. I think Bret Michaels sings perfectly well for what they were. Still, when people talk hair metal, I’d say 17 out of 20 would say Poison first. This was a reissue, so new.
  • Dr. Dog – Critical Equation – A new album from a band that, to me, sounds like a mixture between Robert Smith of the Cure and Bob Dylan. It’s right up The BCPF’s alley and that’s why I picked it. New.
  • Liz Phair – Exile In Guyville – #327 on the RS List, this was a reissue on 180g vinyl to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It’s a great album. She’s ballsy for a chick. That’s a good thing. New.
  • Bob Dylan – Desire – #174 on the RS List. It was there in the used bin and in VG condition.
  • Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Welcome To The Pleasuredome – Yep, this is the “Relax” album, which is all most people know about. My second favorite song from the band is also on this album, “Two Tribes (For the Victims of Ravishment).” VG
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Johnny Mercer Song Book – Ella. ‘Nuff said. VG+.
  • Crosby-Nash – Live – Another rendition/combination involving any or all members of CSNY. Jonathan said it’s great so well see. VG+.
  • Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills 2 – Another in the CSNY shuffle.
  • The Motels – All Four One – “Only the Lonely” is on this one. I love that song and I want to hear more from them. VG+.
  • Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska – #226 on the RS List, it was a little more on the subdued side. That’s okay. I think I gave it a neutral review on the list. VG+.
  • Journey – Infinity – The first with Steve Perry singing and the last with Aynsley Dunbar on drums. I’d say “Wheel in the Sky” was the big hit on this one. VG+.
  • Stan Getz – Stan Getz I hope this is as good as the other Stan Getz things I have. I love his stuff. VG.
  • Squeeze  – Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti – I like Squeeze. It was there. I grabbed it. Done. VG+.
  • Fleetwood Mac – Heroes Are Hard To Find – Pre-Buckingham/Nicks Mac with Bob Welch still in the band. I like Bob Welch. Let’s see what we got. VG+.
  • The Alan Parsons Project – Eve – Another in the Alan Parsons Project cannon! VG++.
  • 10cc – Bloody Tourists – I love the song “Dreadlock Holiday” which is about reggae. I think it’s a great song. We’ll see what the rest of it sounds like. VG++.
  • Supertramp – “…Famous Last Words…” – I see a few of my friends talk about this album as something special. I like Supertramp, let’s see. NM.

These are the ones that were “gifted” to me:

So, a pretty big haul there. Thanks, Lori for the gifts. And thank you Underdog Records for providing me a “candy store” to be proud of. And thanks to Discogs for providing such a great place for me to catalog my stuff!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Winter is here again oh lord. Haven’t been home in a year or more. I hope she holds on a little longer. Sent a letter on a long summer day. Made of silver, not of clay. I’ve been runnin’ down this dusty road.” – “Wheel in the Sky” (Schon/Fleischman/Valory)

One After Another or: a Big Day for Releases

24 Saturday Mar 2018

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Salutations™!!

Joni_Chalk

@Geffen

 

Today in record release history has been the largest that I’ve had since I started doing the “X years ago today this album was released” posts. If it’s not something I have for releases, I move on to birthdays and today, I didn’t even get to that, much less the deathdays. So, let’s run down what I did have today first.

  • Elvis Presley —— Elvis Presley ► Rock n Roll >> 1956
    Genesis —— …And Then There Were Three… ► Prog Rock >> 1978
    Van Halen —— Van Halen II ► Hard Rock >> 1979
    Journey —— Departure ► Prog/Art Rock >> 1980
    ZZ Top —— Eliminator ► Blues-Rock >> 1983
    Ratt —— Out Of The Cellar ► Heavy Metal >> 1984
    Howard Jones —— Dream Into Action ► New Wave Synth-Pop >> 1985
    Depeche Mode —— Songs Of Faith And Devotion ► Synth-Pop >> 1993

That’s eight! However, I did find after posting that the Howard Jones album didn’t actually come out yesterday but March 11. The site that I use, mainly, had it wrong or at least had it right and I can’t find any evidence to corroborate it. It happens, but that’s not important. This was a big day for releases. But, beyond what I had there were more.

● Bobby Darin —— That’s All ► Pop-Rock >> 1959
● Dionne Warwick —— Dionne Warwick In Valley Of The Dolls ► Pop-Soul >> 1968
● King Crimson —— Lark’s Tongues In Aspic ► Prog Rock >> 1973
● Roxy Music —— For Your Pleasure ► Prog Rock >> 1973
● Judas Priest —— Sad Wings Of Destiny ► Heavy Metal >> 1976
● Bob Marley & The Wailers —— Kaya ► Roots Reggae >> 1978
● Rick Springfield —— Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet ► Power Pop >> 1982
● Fates Warning —— No Exit ► Heavy Metal/Progressive >> 1988
● Joni Mitchell —— Chalk Mark In A Rain Storm ► Folk-Rock >> 1988
● ZZ Top —— Recycler ► Blues-Rock >> 1990
● The Fall —— Code: Selfish ► Post-Punk >> 1992
● Dwight Yoakam —— This Time ► Alt Country-Rock >> 1993
● The Mothers Of Invention —— Ahead Of Their Time ► Art Rock >> 1993
● Everclear —— Sparkle And Fade ► Grunge-Punk >> 1995
● Iron Maiden —— Virtual XI ► Heavy Metal >> 1998
● A+ —— Hempstead High ► Pop-Rap >> 1999
● Elton John & Various Artists —— Elton John And Tim Rice’s Aida ► Pop-Rock >> 1999
● Gov’t Mule —— Live…With A Little Help From Our Friends, Vol. 2 ► Southern Rock/Jam Rock >> 1999
● Mark Knopfler —— Metroland [Sndtrk] ► Roots Rock >> 1999
● Peter Pan Speedrock —— Killermachine ► Punk Rock >> 2000
● Jerry Garcia Band —— Shining Star ► Roots Rock >> 2001
● Eddie Money —— Let’s Rock ‘N Roll The Place ► Album Rock >> 2003
● Eric Clapton —— Me And Mr. Johnson ► Blues-Rock >> 2004
● Guns N’ Roses —— Greatest Hits ► Hard Rock >> 2004
● Lou Reed —— Animal Serenade ► Album Rock >> 2004
● Ringo Starr —— Tour 2003 ► Pop-Rock >> 2004
● Triumph —— A Night Of Triumph ► Arena Rock >> 2004
● Kansas —— Miracles Out Of Nowhere ► Prog/Arena Rock >> 2015

Now, a lot of days there are a lot but I just don’t have many of them. But, today, I had eight and the rest of the list was pretty impressive, too. Anywhat I just thought it was interesting. Do you have any of these, Dear Reader? Tell me about them!

Note: I wrote this yesterday but had, just finished when I had to pick up 3B from school, I forgot to send it. So, I wrote it but forgot to post it, so sorry about that.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Stay with me, my love I hope you’ll always be. Right here by my side if ever I need you. Oh, my love. In your arms, I feel so safe and so secure. Every day is such a perfect day to spend alone with you.” – “Follow You Follow Me” (Banks/Collins/Rutherford)

 

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 12/23/17

24 Sunday Dec 2017

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Salutations™!!

Let me say, a brand new needle on your turntable makes all the difference in the world! Everything sounds so crisp and amazing. The BCPF and I have been enjoying a long week together observing the 3-Feet Rule (no farther than three feet from each other for most of the vacation). In that, we also went by Underdog Records about four times altogether. It was a great vacay. So, needless to say, this is from all week. Plus, I marked five off of the RS List this week. Let’s get started:led_zeppelin_-_led_zeppelin_II-front

So, a pretty good haul. And, again, with a new needle, it really all sounds great, even the older stuff. Underdog Records is open today until 2pm if you have a last minute thing to grab. He has specials, too. We use Discogs to archive our collection (hence the hyperlinks above).

From The BCPF and me, we hope your Christmas Eve is nothing shy of fantastic. It’s the day we do all the family stuff, traditionally and it’s my favorite of the two-day holiday. Love, happiness and lots of food for you all!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Now it’s a mighty long way down the dusty trail. And, the sun burns hot on the cold steel rails. And, I look like a bum, and I crawl like a snail all the way from Memphis.” – “All the Way From Memphis” (Hunter)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 7/22/17

23 Sunday Jul 2017

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Salutations™!!

Underdog Records had some good stuff this week and The BCPF and I rocked it, at least I think we think we did. Right, dear? Well, you decide. Here it is:

R-7896531-1451178579-3152.jpeg

©Rolling Stones Records

 

And, with the $1 records, the Underdog Records/The Less Desirables involved the extensive section of $1 if you mention you heard the ad on the podcast. That’s why you should listen to TLD every week and hear the special. I’ll not give that away, you’ll have to listen to hear what it was and what to do! Also, if you’re looking to get into vinyl, Underdog has a good bit of used, quality turntables to get you started, a plethora of selections to listen to on your new turntable and accessories to keep it in tip top shape. The list above is brought to you by Discogs, which you should use to archive your collection!

Until tomorrow, happy listening…
Scorp out!

—
“Where do you go when you’re lonely? Where do you go when you’re blue? Where do you go when you’re lonely? I’ll follow you when the stars go blue.” – “When Stars Go Blue” (Adams)

 

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 5/13/17

14 Sunday May 2017

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Salutations™!!

I don’t know how I missed it but there was a whole other section of $1 records at Underdog Records. We found it yesterday. Oh did we. It was 33% off all $1 records, too, so that was a bonus. Here’s what we walked away with:R-603114-1156732637.jpeg

Whew! 40 albums. Actually, 41 because there’s one I have to put into Discogs because there is no record of it. Ha! No record of it… Funny stuff. Anywhat! Jonathan has a fantastic selection of old, new, future, all kinds of records. And, if you don’t use Discogs for your record (and even CD) archiving and cataloging, then you’re missing out.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“And I’ve got such a long way to go (such a long way to go) to make it to the border of Mexico. So I’ll ride like the wind. Ride like the wind” – “Ride Like the Wind” (Cross)

Don’t Stop Believin’ or: The Less Desirables Movie Review

24 Saturday Jan 2015

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Salutations™!!

The movie of the week for January 21 was Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey. As you may expect from the title, it is about the band Journey.  Journey gets a lot of crap but, you know what? I dig them. I dig them the most.  I don’t really care for the old, old Journey; the pre-Steve Perry Journey.  But once Perry showed up, they were great.  I liked them.  I liked them with Steve Augeri, too.  He sounded a lot like Perry and that worked for them.

I’ve grown to like them even more as an adult and throughout adulthood.  Good rockin’ tunes and nothing to be ashamed of.  This film, though, is not really about Journey, the band.  It’s about the current lead singer, Arnel Pineda.

MV5BMTc3MDU4NTU0OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjg2NDYxOQ@@._V1_SY317_CR0,0,214,317_AL_

Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey

Pineda, 47, is a Filipino singer who was discovered via Neal Schon’s late night YouTube obsessing.  He was looking for a new singer and this was his find.  He and Jonathan Cain, the keyboard player, contacted Arnel and asked him to come do the audition thing.  Just like in the film Rock Star he didn’t believe it really was them calling.  He tried out and made it.  There’s no spoilers in that.

This is a documentary, or close-up look, at Arnel being in the band and how he’s handling it, how the rest of the band handles it and how he lives with his new-found celebrity.  He showed that he is a genuine, humble and hard working guy.  He takes his position very seriously and loves being in Journey.  It also shows his relationship with the other guys in the band, and they are really fond of him. Cain, really takes charge of conditioning Arnel and really is the musical director of the band, even though it’s always been Schon’s baby.

Arnel, when speaking, seems to have a little trouble with the language, which is totally understandable, but when he sings, it’s darned near perfect.  He’s energetic and has great stage presence.  The film briefly touches on all the other band members, including Deen Castronovo and original Journey bassist, Ross Valory.

I thought this was a great documentary and even made sure that I recommended it to Eugene on Netflix.  It was directed by Ramona S. Diaz and was released in 2012. I’m giving the film 4.5 Stars.  Watch it for yourself and see if you don’t love it, too.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit, he took the midnight train into the night!” – “Don’t Stop Believin'” (Cain, Perry, Schon) from Escape (1981)