Tag Archives: Rush

KISS Off! or: Are You Sirius?

14 Thursday Feb 2019

Posted by in KISS, Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

This will be brief but I just wanted to say that I found the absolute best SiriusXM channel, ever. It is called KISS Army Radio and it is 95% KISS and 5% their influences or bands that may have opened for them, like Rush, AC/DC, The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, etc. kissarmyradio-v1-1117-1920x1080

I found it late last week and I haven’t turned the channel since. There are live performances, deep cuts, and more. Yes, I have to sit through 17 versions of “Rock and Roll All Nite” every three or four hours, but it’s worth it. Yes, I also have all of these songs and almost all of the versions on some kind of medium, but as I’ve always maintained, there’s nothing like hearing it on the radio.

Plus, you get some tidbits here and there from all four current members about many things throughout KISStory; the earliest and the latest.

This past Tuesday, they broadcast a special SiriusXM-guest-only concert at the Whiskey A Go Go. It is probably one of the smallest crowds they ever played to. Not because no one was there, but because the venue is small. Gene sounded great. The music all sounded great. Paul was there. I have nothing to say about that, I’m reserving judgment. Or voiced judgment, really.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that my love for KISS is fully realized with this channel. I love it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Oh, oh, ’cause anytime is KISSin’ time, USA. So treat me right, don’t make me fight. And we’ll rock and roll tonight.” – “Kissin’ Time” (Lowe/Mann)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 1/12/19

13 Sunday Jan 2019

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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:

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©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 2/10/18

11 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in Records, Silent Sunday

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Salutations™!!

R-1107963-1192591186.jpeg

©A&M

Last night there was a shindig at Finnigans for the anniversary of The Less Desirables. However, that’s a post for tomorrow. Yesterday, before the “gala,” we did our usual “Saturday Thang” which included, of course, Underdog Records. It was a rainy and miserable day (much of like today’s forecast), but we got some good records. Like…

  • George Harrison – The Best Of George Harrison – Side 1 is his Beatles greatest hits and Side 2 is his solo stuff. VG+.
  • Stan Getz / Eddie Sauter – Focus – Original mono pressing in VG condition. I love Stan Getz.
  • Rush – Exit…Stage Left – 2xLP live album, mostly recorded during their Moving Pictures tour (some of it was on the tour prior), in which I love the track listing but I thought some of the Side 1 was muddy. It seemed to clear up, or I just got used to it. VG+.
  • The Alan Parsons Project – Pyramid – I have really loved getting into the Alan Parsons Project. Everything is a little ethereal, a little rocking and a little pop. It’s difficult to explain but I dig it. Great album. VG/VG+.
  • Stray Cats – Built For Speed – This album rocked. Two of their biggest hits, “Stray Cat Strut” and “Rock This Town,” are on here. The whole album is pretty cool. I have to say that I get tired of the “rockabilly” thing after a bit but what I liked, I really liked. VG+.
  • Isaac Hayes – Truck Turner (Original Soundtrack) – The copy of this once belonged to WFDD here in WSNC. There’s a big orange sticker that says so and I can’t get that off, I don’t think. Even with Goo Gone. I’m not going to try. It adds to its charm. Wh doesn’t dig some Isaac Hayes, right Chef? VG+.
  • Tim Curry – Fearless – So, I saw this and I know that I love Tim Curry. I figured I have to have it, right? So, we got it. VG+ condition. It is not bad… but it is some weird stuff. Not weird in the songs. Some are ballads and some are heavy rockers. But, if you can imagine Frank-N-Furter standing in the studio recording an album. This is that.
  • The Beatles – The Beatles’ Second Album – So, this is technically their third US album because Capital released some after Vee-Jay Records did which coincided with the EMI stuff in the UK and… if you could see me right now, I’d be waving my hand and saying, you know what, that’s not important. It’s in Fair condition but it is The Beatles and it is an amalgamation of several of their UK albums, which, to me, is the better discography. But, this is mono and yadda yadda yadda.
  • Emmylou Harris – Pieces Of The Sky – VG+ copy of this Emmylou classic. The BCPF is really getting into her and I’ll admit, I don’t mind it.
  • The Moravian Festival Chorus And Orchestra, Thor Johnson – Music Of The American Moravians – The BCPF worked at Old Salem for eight years. She loves her some Moravian history and culture and all that mess. I don’t know what this will be but she certainly wanted it and well, that means she gets it. VG+.
  • Simon & Garfunkel – Sounds Of Silence – As far as I can tell, this is an original pressing. It’s in VG shape and we have to have anything that says S&G on it, or just Simon or just Garfunkel.
  • Frank Loesser – Guys & Dolls: A Musical Fable Of Broadway – I love musicals and I loved the film version of this, so let’s hear the original cast do it. This was an NM copy.
  • Various – 50 Years Of Film – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Recordings Of The Great Scenes And Stars From The Warner Bros. Classics, 1923 To 1973 – I love soundtracks and film scores. This is 50 years of it from the Warner Bros classics. It’s 3xLP in VG/VG+ condition.
  • Various – Music Machine – Another K-Tel compilation. It’s pretty beat up but from 1977/78 or so. G? I dunno.
  • Santana – Abraxas – #207 on the RS list. This is pretty beat up. I’m going to give it a listen and see if it’s worth keeping. If not, I’ll look for a better copy. It was in the $1 bin and is in F+/G shape, at least before I play it.
  • Luciano Pavarotti – Pavarotti On Pavarotti – Tony DiLisio calls me Pavarotti because I’m fat and I sing to him. Also, I love his voice, so when I come across stuff by him, especially the $1 bin stuff. I grab it. VG.
  • Loggins And Messina – The Best Of Friends – I have this on CD and it has the songs I care about from them. I’m not a huge fan, but I do love the two or three songs that I bought both the CD and this for. $1 bin find. VG.
  • Herb Alpert – Wild Romance – $1 bin find and it’s Herb Alpert. His 80s stuff may not be the same classics as his earlier stuff, but it’s Herb Alpert. ‘Nuff said! VG.

So, a decent haul. We also purchased a new album that we totally didn’t know we already had. We’ll have to turn that back in, trade it for something else. Jonathan is usually good with that. You need to follow the Underdog Records social media pages because Jonathan is always posting what’s just arrived in the store, both new and used. Sometimes that is several times a day. Usually, though, it’s maybe once a day, twice a day. Not too inundating. But, trust me, it’s worth it if you’re into vinyl (or just want to be into it).

Also, use Discogs to catalog your collection. They have a great marketplace, too. I have been really happy with my buying experiences on there.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Hello, darkness, my old friend. I’ve come to talk with you again. Because a vision softly creeping left its seeds while I was sleeping, and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains, within the sound of silence.” – “The Sound of Silence” (Simon)

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)

Highway to Tomorrow or: Progressions of Power (Eugeology Entry 47)

30 Thursday Nov 2017

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Salutations™!!

I let Eugene down on the last one, but I had to be honest, right? Let’s move on to this week’s entry. Jon will be along, eventually, right?

Progressions_of_Power_(Triumph_album_-_cover_art)

©Attic/RCA/TML

 

#47 – Progressions of Power by Triumph.

Note: I only listened to this one four times as opposed to the usual six spins per album.

I didn’t need six spins to talk about this one, even though I had never heard it before being assigned it from Eug. I know there have been things said about Triumph. The poor man’s Rush, the other rock trio from Canada, etc. I have certainly come around on Rush. I used to really get annoyed listening to them, but I have learned that it was some really good songs, mechanical or not. I had heard less of Triumph, musically. Of course, I had heard “Fight the Good Fight” and “Lay It on the Line,” those were hits here and got some play on the local classic rock channel. I even have a live album from them on CD.

But, I never really paid attention to them. I passed on them. That was dumb. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to know more, I just had other things to listen to. I can hear some similarities between Triumph and Rush much of which I won’t get into. But, this is especially the case in the vocals. Now, only about half of the songs are sung by guitarist Rik Emmett, but he has that high shrill voice that is much more melodic and smoother than Geddy Lee’s. I like his voice. I like his voice better than Gil Moore, the drummer and co-lead vox. Not that there’s anything wrong with Moore’s vocals. I just prefer the higher registers that Emmett throws at us. Also, Triumph is less proggy than Rush tends to be.

This album starts off slow with me, though. “I Live for the Weekend” is a boogie-rock type song that I just can’t get into. I was afraid the whole album was going to be like that and then I’d have to disappoint Eug for a second week in a row. I also thought it was a live album from the way the production sounded. It wasn’t. I also liked that fact, that it wasn’t. Luckily, the rest of the album was awesome and fan-frickin’-tastic.

I love the gritty riff rock of “Nature’s Child.” It gets to highlight the drum work of Moore, as well. Great flange/phaser effect there, too. I know Eug love a good flange. “Woman in Love” is just in your face rocking. It reminds me of some Foreigner and that’s not a bad thing, at all. The harmonies in the chorus are typical of the time but so well executed. The guitar solo is also on point.

So, in probably the least “rock” thing I can say about this album, “Take My Heart” is my favorite song on the album. I am a sucker for a good ballad but this gets really syrupy and sappy and I love it. The vocal melody, chord progression and instrumentation are amazing!! Again, I love it! Love! It! So, there.

“Finger Talking” into “Hard Road” is a great segue combination. “Hard Road” is a great way to rock the album out. It shows Emmett’s guitar prowess and vocal ability, well. Great song to end a great album.

I do like that it kept a little prog rock qualities but really it was a straight-up rock album that for the most part, I really dug. I have to give a shout to Michael Levine. He’s a great bass player that I think gets lost in the Emmett/Moore Machine. He has great riffs but they’re subtle and not blaring or flashing. Solid.

My least favorite tunes are “Tear the Roof Off” and “I Live for the Weekend,” but even those aren’t bad. They’re just not my favorites. All in all, I think this was an excellent album and I thank Eug for introducing us to it. If you’re not familiar with Triumph, Dear Reader, or you are a Rush fan, give this a try. I’m not comparing them to Rush, I just think fans of that band would like this one. This is a good album to intro them.

I can see Eug trying to catch up on his own list and I think I see Jon way back in the distance. He’s just had a lot going on this year. Perhaps he’ll at least listen to the albums even if he doesn’t write about them. I hope he writes about them, though. Okay, that’s all.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I wear a song to mask my awkward face. The music helps to fill the empty space. I wish that I could hide it all away. Instead, it shows in every note I play. And I play. And I play…” – “Take My Heart” (Emmett, Levine, Moore)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 10/7/17

08 Sunday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I had a great day yesterday and that included a great haul from Underdog Records. The quantity was lower than normal but the quality was dyn-o-mite! So, let’s not even wait:

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©Virgin Records

 

So, as you can see, it’s not a long list today but we really enjoyed the haul. Jonathan is always getting in, cleaning and putting out new used inventory and every day is a new adventure in Underdog Records. Records have become one of my new passions (along with cooking) and I love listening to them. I hear things on albums I’ve owned on CD for years that I never even knew existed. Good stuff, indeed. Also, not to throw in a shameless plug for The Less Desirables, but there is a weekly Underdog Records/TLD special, every week. To hear what that special is, you have to listen to TLD to find out. Sneaky, I know, but hey, it’s my job (literally). I also keep all my personal collection logged into Discogs.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been. Lives in a dream. Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door. Who is it for? All the lonely people. Where do they all come from? All the lonely people. Where do they all belong?” – “Eleanor Rigby” (Lennon/McCartney)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 8/26/17

27 Sunday Aug 2017

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Salutations™!!

After a week off from records to absorb deliciously fermented grape juice, we made up for it at Underdog Records on Saturday. I’m sure Jonathan wasn’t complaining. Let’s just do it!

COTN_album_cover

©Casablanca/Island Def Jam/UMe

 

That’s quite the haul. It’s hard to tell what I missed yesterday because we were a little late getting there and I know Clay had already been through. We were quite excited with this haul and it’s already been good listening. If you’re thinking of getting into vinyl, getting back into vinyl or just want to expand your vinyl collection, then you need to get by Underdog Records. They have turntables, receivers, speakers, cleaning accessories and more. Listen to The Less Desirables each week to hear what the Underdog/TLD special is for that week. And use Discogs to archive and log your vinyl collection so you always know what you have.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The road is long with many a winding turn that leads us to who knows where. Who knows where? But I’m strong. Strong enough to carry him. He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.” – “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” (Russell, Scott)