11/11/09 -- SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES, SPANKY AND OUR GANG, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, STATUS QUO, STEPPENWOLF

Hello lovers of all things round, black, and 12-inches in diameter (get your mind out of the gutter!). EVANS back on the blog and rockin' your Wednesday!!


SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES -- HEARTS OF STONE (1978).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


Bought this one sealed for a buck. It's not a first press though, but rather one of those mid-80's "Nice Price" records. Still, the music works. The SPRINGSTEEN influence is all over this one -- late 70's blues-infused rock that probably sounded better at the Jersey Shore than anywhere else on the planet. There are some stunning moments on HEARTS. In addition to the SPRINGSTEEN-penned broken-hearted title cut and the more jumpin' "Talk To Me," we're treated to the soulful "This Time Baby's Gone For Good" and "I Played The Fool." HEARTS is both a record of its time and timeless all at once -- good R&B based rock 'n' roll that has aged rather well. Worth revisiting.


SPANKY AND OUR GANG -- ANYTHING YOU CHOOSE (1969).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


This is the third album from SPANKY -- purchased sealed -- which is good because MERCURY was kind of pressing crappy vinyl during the late 1960's. This is a weird disc because it's actually two "half-albums" sold together. You can call it ANYTHING YOU CHOOSE or WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON. There's also no Side 2 -- the two sides labeled "Side A" and "Side 1." Even the artwork is rather elaborate. You pull the record out of the top of the jacket, and the custom psychedelic art on each label matches the colors of each corresponding side of the inner sleeve. Musically, this is average SPANKY. "Give A Damn" was the album's biggest hit -- a dramatic number screaming for racial equality. It just missed hitting the top 40 the previous summer. The rest of the record is a pop band trying to make some bold musical statement, and reaching far beyond their limitations. The album isn't band, just "misguided." Although there are a few cool moments. "Yesterday's Rain" is smooth catchy SPANKY AND OUR GANG pop. "Leopard Skin Phones" is a funny bit of psychedelia about a guy pissing off his neighbors by cranking his elaborate stereo system. An oddity of its time, ANYTHING is a flawed but welcome addition to the collection.


BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- TUNNEL OF LOVE (1987).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


Bought her sealed -- cracked her open today -- an original first pressing with the inner sleeve intact. At the time, SPRINGSTEEN's proper follow-up to BORN IN THE USA couldn't have possibly lived up to its predecessor's hype. So SPRINGSTEEN went in a totally different direction -- producing a slightly more intimate and introspective record. Maybe that's why one doesn't often hear much from it anymore. Listening to LOVE over 20 years later though, you're reminded of how good the album actually is. Tunes about failed or troubled relationships may have been personal to THE BOSS at the time, but these songs really hit home if you've ever been involved in a painful or drawn out breakup. Musically, the record doesn't have much punch, but this isn't exactly SPRINGSTEEN "LITE" either. LOVE deserves to be revisited and "rediscovered" with fresh ears.


STATUS QUO -- STATUS QUO (1976).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


By 1976, STATUS QUO were no longer the psychedelic kids of "Pictures Of Matchstick Men." And while they may have been superstars in their native England, the guys simply turned into an average hard rock band as the 70's played on. In England, this album was called BLUE FOR YOU. Here in the States, it was self-titled. The American artwork is rather cool though -- a double layer cover with a hole cut in the middle, and a bright blue inner lyrics sleeve. There is also a custom label design boasting pictures of the band. Of course this particular copy has all that stuff intact.
Musically, this is average stuff at best. Although I do appreciate the bluesy title cut and the seamless cranking "Rolling Home." But I think these lads stood out more when they were doing the whole psychedelic thing. At least they could change with the times.


STEPPENWOLF -- STEPPENWOLF (1968).
Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.


Okay -- it's time to pick on the programmers at classic rock radio again. Ask any braindead consultant (and really, aren't they all braindead?) how many popular songs STEPPENWOLF had and they'll say two -- "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride." REALLY?? What about "Rock Me," "Sookie Sookie," "The Pusher," "Monster" and "Snowblind Friend?" IDIOTS!
Anyway, I only bring that up because I always thought STEPPENWOLF were a band that really never received proper respect. Pick any one of their original studio albums and you're bound to find some great songs you've probably never heard before.
This is their first -- a record that has eluded me for quite some time. And this copy is an absolute first pressing. It doesn't have the big "Includes 'Born To Be Wild'" square on the front cover. The music is brilliant -- loud and heavy bluesy hard rock with JOHN KAY'S vocal growl all over the tracks. In addition to the aforementioned "Born To Be Wild," "Sookie Sookie" and "The Pusher," you also get the softer (but still simmering) "Desperation," the Baroque pop of "A Girl I Knew" and my personal favorite -- "Everybody's Next One." Again, that tune was "Wild's" B-side. I had the 45 when I was a kid, and since I didn't know what a hit side was, that was the song I always played. An awesome album all around! Grab yourself a copy, because you won't hear 10 of its 11 songs on the radio.


Well, I need a breather. Catch you back here on FRIDAY!!!


EVANS

11/09/09 -- SCORPIONS, SHADOWS OF KNIGHT, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, JOE SOUTH, EMMYLOU HARRIS

Hey everybody!


EVANS back on the blog reminding you to turn your radios on tomorrow for another inspired edition of VINTAGE VINYL -- Tuesday from 10am until noon -- on the only station in Northeast Pennsylvania that doesn't outright suck -- VM-FM 91-7! Catch the stream at http://www.vmfm917.org/. Music from a local N.E.P.A. legend invades the show tomorrow. But first, let's see what's spinning TODAY!


SCORPIONS -- SAVAGE AMUSEMENT (1988).
Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.


This one's a super-clean first pressing with the inner sleeve and custom labels intact. Even though I've never been a huge metal fan (especially 80's metal), I've always liked the SCORPIONS. Even though they've never made a GREAT album, KLAUS and the boys have always delivered solid hard rock collections with plenty of riffs and hooks. And they're one of the few acts whose power ballads have actually aged well. AMUSEMENT has its share of great moments -- from the straight-up rocker "Don't Stop At The Top" to the subtle complexities of "Every Minute Of The Day" to one of those ballads that isn't bad at all -- "Believe In Love." Definitely worth a couple of spins.


SHADOWS OF KNIGHT -- GLORIA (1966).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


I paid dearly for this one, but it was worth every little penny -- an absolute mint DUNWICH first pressing in -- drumroll please -- MONO!!! There's nothing quite like a bunch of kids in the garage (average age 19) plowing through a bunch of blues songs, turning them into early punk nuggets, and creating some of the most important sounds of '66. Okay, so "Gloria" wasn't their song -- so what. Neither was "I Just Want To Make Love To You," "I Got My Mojo Working," and "You Can't Judge A Book By Looking At The Cover." And maybe these covers weren't as good as the originals. That's okay, because they were good. Damn good! GLORIA remains a solid garage rock collection -- a genre-defining moment that sounds as raw today as it did over four decades ago. It's kind of scary to think that the members of SOK will be eligible for social security in a couple of years. Doesn't matter -- this baby still holds up. And the original stunning DUNWICH mono kicks ass -- blows away the Sundazed re-issue (which is still sweet by the way). A must-hear classic in any form!

SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- A WHOLE NEW THING (1967).

Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.

SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE's first album found the band still trying to establish its signature sound. They didn't quite get it yet. In fact, there are times when THING sounds more like a Memphis soul album than a SLY STONE effort. That's not to say it's a bad set though. Actually, some songs hint at the unique brilliance that was yet to emerge. Check out the power and funky riffs of "Underdog." And dig the frantic "Turn Me Loose." LL COOL J fans will immediately recognize the psychedelic jam "Trip To Your Heart," later looped for "Mama Said Knock You Out." Not a perfect record, but a historically significant one. THING launched the recording career of a guy whose influence is still being felt today. Good stuff.

JOE SOUTH -- DON'T IT MAKE YOU WANT TO GO HOME (1969).

Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.

This is guy is truly a legend -- not only as a singer, but as a session guitarist and a songwriter. He's played on records by artists as diverse as ARETHA FRANKLIN and TOMMY ROE. He's written numerous hits for the likes of LYNN ANDERSON, BILLY JOE ROYAL and DEEP PURPLE. And the man has had a few hits totally on his own. But is he a country singer or a pop singer? I guess SOUTH could be considered both. He did it all.

HOME is SOUTH's third proper set for Capitol Records (this particular copy being a first pressing on the green "target" design label). In addition to the sweeping title cut, we're treated to everything from slightly psychedelic tracks to straight-up folk rock; wild studio experimentation to songs of inspiration. This album has a little bit of everything...and somehow SOUTH pulls it all off and makes it work. Let's just say that this one's an overlooked and sometimes forgotten gem that's worth seeking out. And speaking of those difficult to categorize...

EMMYLOU HARRIS -- CIMARRON (1981).

Purchased at -- Main Street Jukebox. Stroudsburg, PA.

This record reminds me of one little piece of my childhood. My parents and I used to take three-week cross-country trips when I was a kid. The last big one happened around the time I was 11 during the summer of 1982. We drove to Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Tetons, a little beyond that, and back home again. It was also the first trip we took with a cassette deck in the car -- an old Realistic purchased for 69 bucks (I think) at Radio Shack. It wasn't an auto-reverse deck, but it was an auto-eject model. By the time we took that trip, I had already collected a bunch of cassettes, both pre-recorded and dubbed from records on my home stereo system. Mom and dad were buying tapes too. But since mine far outnumbered theirs, we played the tapes on a 5 to 1 ratio -- 5 "Mike" tapes -- 1 "mom and dad" tape. Their tapes tended to repeat during that long drive. CIMARRON was one of my dad's early cassette purchases. Now back then, I didn't appreciate country, but I always liked the title cut of this album. So hearing it for the first time all these years later really took me back.

I discovered that CIMARRON was actually a collection of HARRIS out-takes, left off previous albums. If that's true, I must say that this record works surprisingly well for such a collection. In addition to the aforementioned gorgeous title cut (actually called "Rose of Cimarron"), you get to sample the stirring "Son of a Rotten Gambler," the pretty "Tennessee Rose," and even a decent take on BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S "The Price You Pay." Worth seeking out. By the way, snagged this one sealed. I must say she sounds better than that cassette from all those years ago. Finally got to see the back cover too.

Hey that's all we have time for today. See you on the radio TOMORROW! And right back HERE midweek.

Until then...EVANS

11/06/09 -- TODD RUNDGREN, TRACY CHAPMAN, RAINBOW, SGT BARRY SADLER, TOM T. HALL

Hey ever-faithful readers...


EVANS shaking things up before we head into another chilly N.E.P.A. weekend. Here's what we're spinning today...


TODD RUNDGREN -- TODD (1974).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


TODD RUNDGREN must have driven the suits at BEARSVILLE Records absolutely nuts by the mid 70's. Signed as a pop artist capable of writing stunning pop pieces ("I Saw The Light," "Hello, It's Me"), RUNDGREN's work became much more erratic as the decade wore on. TODD is a double album that still features a bevy of catchy little numbers. However, the majority of the record comes from a much stranger place indeed. Wild extended instrumental pieces are interspersed with RUNDGREN's slightly self-indulgent "novelty" tunes. But I guess the guy got away with it because the best stuff on this album (and a lot of TODD's other collections) are the weirder moments. Personal favorites include the guy's kooky version of GILBERT and SULLIVAN'S "Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song," the hard and heavy "Everybody's Going To Heaven" and the sweeping "Sons Of 1984."
This particular copy also has the original poster intact. TODD is odd, but it's still not a bad way to spend 75 minutes or so.


TRACY CHAPMAN -- TRACY CHAPMAN (1988).
Purchased at -- Circle Drive-In Flea Market. Dickson City, PA.


I must admit, when CHAPMAN was at the peak of her popularity back during my high school days, her modern inner-city folk style drove me up the wall. Listening to this record today with more mature ears, I could appreciate it a hell of a lot more.
This album is pure drama from start to finish -- from the poverty stricken girl looking to get out by means of her boyfriend's "Fast Car" to the tale of spousal abuse told during the stark and accapella "Behind The Wall," CHAPMAN paints vivid pictures with her lyrics and delivers them with stirring melodies. Even more lively moments such as the reggae tinged "She's Got Her Ticket" remain poignant. A great album all around, I'm glad I gave CHAPMAN another shot.

RAINBOW -- STRAIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES (1982).
Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.


One from the JOE LYNN TURNER era of RAINBOW, EYES features the classic "Stone Cold." The rest of the album is more of the same -- typical early 80's hard rock. While the album isn't necessarily bad, EYES doesn't contain the drive or passion of the DIO releases. This is simply RAINBOW trying to score a couple of AOR hits; although I will admit that closing track "Eyes Of Fire" does recover some of BLACKMORE's more "classical" leanings. EYES is good, but hardly mandatory.


SGT. BARRY SADLER -- BALLADS OF THE GREEN BERETS (1966).
Purchased at -- Some lady's garage in Justus, PA.


Bought this one on the cheap -- a nice original MONO RCA pressing. This is certainly a record of its time; SADLER singing of the fighting soldiers from the sky, the fearless men who jump and die. At the time of its release, Vietnam was going to be quick, and we were going to win. I guess things sometimes don't work out the way we plan.
After marching through the title cut, we get more ballads and (believe it or not) pop songs about various facets of a soldier's life in the new war. There are songs about the nurses, letters from home, a lullaby that a departing soldier sings to his 3-year-old son. However, my personal favorite cut is "Saigon" -- a slightly psychedelic tune about how a soldier blows all his money on hookers during a weekend pass. I'm sure the wives back home appreciated that one.
Even though SADLER'S delivery is quite awkward, the album remains a compelling curiosity. Worth seeking out. Just don't pay too much for it.


TOM T. HALL -- IN SEARCH OF A SONG (1971).
Purchased at -- Main Street Jukebox. Stroudsburg, PA.


Bought this baby sealed. She turned out to be an Red Label MERCURY first press -- nice. The album itself is pure perfection -- TOM T. HALL continuing his role as country music's master storyteller -- country's answer to HARRY CHAPIN (although HALL came first).
Here he spins various tales of rural America, and there are some downright compelling ones. The certified classic "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" is here -- the story of a guitar picker who never made it big, but made a big impact on the younger HALL (assuming the story is true). We also get to hear about "The Little Lady Preacher" who later discovered that practicing what she preached was not always easy. "Ramona's Revenge" offers up the biggest twist when a mute girl and assault victim brings her attacker to justice. But the entire collection is awesome -- great melodies, great pickin', great stories -- great all around! Worth seeking out.


Hey -- have a rockin' weekend...and we'll catch you back here on MONDAY!!!


Until then...EVANS

11/04/09 -- PRINCE, PROCOL HARUM, QUIET RIOT, CAMELOT SOUNDTRACK, BLUE OYSTER CULT

Hello readers and rockers...


EVANS making your mid-week just a little bit louder with another session inside the vault. Here's what we have for ya today...


PRINCE -- DIRTY MIND (1980).
Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.

This is the album where PRINCE really began to define his signature mix of new wave, rock, and R&B elements. MIND was an artistic breakthrough, but still a mere hint at the brilliance that was yet to come as the 80's progressed. Favorite cuts include the pure pop of "When You Were Mine" (later covered by CYNDI LAUPER), the smooth "Gotta Broken Heart Again," and the nasty one-two punch of "Head/Sister" -- PRINCE making both oral sex and incest incredibly funky. A landmark album definitely worth seeking out.

PROCOL HARUM -- PROCOL'S NINTH (1975).

Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.

By the time this record was released, the once great PROCOL HARUM were now the "eh...just okay" PROCOL HARUM. NINTH has its moments, but the album is still a far cry from past triumphs such as SHINE ON BRIGHTLY and A SALTY DOG. GARY BROOKER'S vocals still soar over tasteful guitar and organ flourishes. There is still a slight "chill out" vibe to this music. But by now the band are repeating themselves; the material a tad lackluster. Better moments include the sweeping "The Final Thrust" and the slight reggae tinge of "Without A Doubt." For the most part though, NINTH finds itself towards the bottom of the band's catalog.

QUIET RIOT -- QR 3 (1986).
Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.


I went into this one with extremely low expectations, and I was still disappointed. Rock 107 promotions guru Mark Hoover is a QUIET RIOT fan, and even he hates this album. Talk about your huge mis-fires -- power ballads, weak songwriting (well, weaker than usual), and what's with all the friggin' keyboards?!? It's as if someone at PASHA Records said, "See? Now that they have SAMMY HAGAR, VAN HALEN are doing okay with the ballads and the synths. You guys can too!" At least I hope that's what happened. I'd hate to think QUIET RIOT made all of these bad decisions on their own. Dreadful stinky shit -- stay away!

CAMELOT -- ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK (1967).

Purchased at -- Some guy's house in Dickson City, PA.

Mint condition -- 50 cents! First European pressing on WB/Seven Arts -- again, 50 cents! Can't beat it.

This is the film version of CAMELOT -- the one with RICHARD HARRIS and VANESSA REDGRAVE. It's a decent enough musical. Although I must say, unless you're an absolute fan of this work, you won't know any of the songs. Not exactly a lot of "crossover" pop hits in this one. And this really isn't one of those musicals currently being done to death by high school drama clubs. There are still a bunch of "tuneful" moments though. Personal faves include the charming "Simple Joys of Maidenhood" and the rather violent but cheeky "Take Me To The Fair" (perhaps one of the "bloodiest" songs ever written for a musical). In the end, not a bad record. Not great -- but hey -- 50 cents.

BLUE OYSTER CULT -- BLUE OYSTER CULT (1972).

Purchased at -- Circle Drive-In Flea Market. Dickson City, PA.

I got lucky once late last season at the Circle. Believe me, April and May were great for vinyl up there this year. By Memorial Day though, the place was tapped. But I kept the faith and the weekend after LABOR DAY, it finally paid off. A guy showed up with a collection of 70's and 80's rock that was pristine. He was selling all of it for a buck a pop. I showed up at his stand at about 9am, and walked away with 38 LP's for 38 bucks. 4 were duds, and the rest were gorgeous. I can only imagine what I missed out on.

Anyway, the debut album from BLUE OYSTER CULT was in that stack. ERIC BLOOM and his heavy sci-fi rockers were just getting started on this one...and it's typical early 70's hard rock. Not bad. I especially enjoyed the drug deal gone wrong in "They Came The Last Days In May" and the tumbling riffs of "Transmaniacon MC." Plus you get the classic "Cities On Flame with Rock 'n' Roll." All around -- a decent set. Not the band's best, but solid enough.

And with that I say "goodbye" until FRIDAY!!!

EVANS

11/02/09 -- THE OUTFIELD, THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, JOHN DENVER, THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY, PETER PAUL AND MARY

Hello devotees of the black wax...


EVANS back here on a MONDAY. Getting ready for another edition of VINTAGE VINYL on a TUESDAY! That would be tomorrow -- on the radio -- at VM-FM 91.7! Catch the stream at http://www.vmfm917.org/. Now, what do we have in the vault today?


THE OUTFIELD -- BANGIN'
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


Most people write off THE OUTFIELD as the mid-80's one-hit wonder who gave us "Your Love." But while the guys never produced any ground-breaking music, they did crank out some decent pop-rock. BANGIN' was the guys' second American album and featured the minor Top 40 hit "Since You've Been Gone." The entire affair is typical textbook OUTFIELD -- catchy 4-minute songs with good melodies, rich guitars and solid backbeats. And that's enough. Over 20 years on, the glossy production is a tad dated, but the songs themselves still sparkle. Chances are you can find this one in the 2-dollar bins somewhere. BANGIN' is definitely worth a couple of bucks.


THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT -- GAUDI (1987).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


The final album from the ALAN PARSONS PROJECT found the band making music "inspired by" the work of architect Antoni Gaudi. Perhaps that's a bit of a stretch for a concept. The songs within are decent enough (nothing too disagreeable here). But there's nothing that memorable either. Toward the end, PARSONS records were beginning to get a tad interchangeable -- their themes not as richly defined as on earlier efforts. GAUDI ends up being a pleasant collection of songs, and little more. It's hardly PARSONS' best...and the PROJECT packed it in shortly thereafter. I bought this one for two bucks. It's mint so I got my money's worth. GAUDI is still worth a spin or two...just don't pay too much for the privilege.


THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY -- SHOPPING BAG (1972).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


The PARTRIDGES' fourth album with the plastic shopping bag intact -- nice! The lady wanted 8 bucks for it. I got her down to 5.
Most people turn their noses up at PARTRIDGE FAMILY records. Big mistake. Okay -- so DANNY BONADUCE isn't actually playing bass on the tracks -- so what? DAVID CASSIDY had a decent voice, and take a gander at those songwriting credits -- TOMMY BOYCE AND BOBBY HART, WES FARRELL, CASHMEN AND WEST. Oooo and look who is actually playing on the backing tracks -- THE WRECKING CREW. Sounds like solid pop to me.
BAG was the family's fifth album (if you include the CHRISTMAS album) and was released during the second half of the TV show's second season in early 1972. It was also the final PARTRIDGE album of new material that would see any significant action on the Billboard charts. Better moments include "Girl, You Make My Day" and "It's One Of Those Nights (Yes Love)." However, pretty much the entire record is agreeable, and it still holds up surprisingly well over thirty years later. Now, speaking of "manufactured" groups...


PETER PAUL AND MARY -- PETER PAUL AND MARY (1962).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


This one was a steal -- an original Grey label WB pressing in MONO! Guy was liquidating what little records he had. Snagged it for about 5 bucks.
Despite what most people think, PETER PAUL AND MARY were manufactured -- put together by their manager ALBERT GROSSMAN. I mean, most folk singers don't come from Broadway -- MARY TRAVERS did. Put all that aside though, and the trio made some awesome music. This -- their #1 debut -- found the group singing their way through a handful of originals and tunes composed by some of folk's heavy hitters -- people like PETE SEEGER ("Where Have All The Flowers Gone") and HEDY WEST ("500 Miles"). Other fine moments include their debut single "Lemon Tree" and the rousing "This Train." Actually, this whole album is pretty sweet -- worth revisiting -- as is practically their entire WB catalog.


JOHN DENVER -- ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH (1972).
Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.


I bought this baby sealed -- an original RCA orange-label Dynaflex pressing in the Digipak gatefold. It's a decent album. DENVER tends to get a tad "disrespected" these days -- the guy seen as sort of an adult contemporary lightweight (must have been those albums he did with the MUPPETS). DENVER deserves better. HIGH is a fine example of a country/rock/folk record that I personally find more compelling than anything put out by say...THE EAGLES...or POCO. In addition to the soaring title cut, you get a fine rendition of the BEATLES' "Mother Nature's Son," a stomping take on JOHN PRINE'S "Paradise," and a sparkling ballad in the form of "Goodbye Again." Pretty much the whole record is good. The picture on the inner gatefold also gave me a chuckle -- DENVER with his back to the camera sporting a T-shirt that says "Be kind to animals -- Kiss a beaver." Yeah baby!


That's it. I quit. Until the radio tomorrow...and right back here Wednesday! See ya then.


EVANS

10/30/09 -- MICHAEL NESMITH, NILSSON, LYNN ANDERSON, ROY ORBISON, OZZY OSBOURNE

Hello dear readers...


And HAPPY ALMOST-HALLOWEEN to ya! I love HALLOWEEN and all things creepy. So before the celebrations begin at my house (and there will be plenty), let's have one more session in the vault...shall we?


MICHAEL NESMITH -- TANTAMOUNT TO TREASON -- VOLUME 1 (1972).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


Technically this is MICHAEL NESMITH AND THE SECOND NATIONAL BAND -- NES still doing the psychedelic progressive country rock thing in '72. His solo stuff really deserved more praise and recognition than it ever received -- the stigma of the "fake" MONKEES still fresh in the early 70's.
NESMITH was doing some pretty wicked stuff on his albums though way back then -- using tape effects, studio tricks, phasing, and a bunch of other "oddities" still new to country at the time. TANTAMOUNT features a bevy of great moments -- from the melancholy "Lazy Lady" to the way-out spacey version of PEE WEE KING'S "Bonaparte's Retreat." The record is both trippy and tasteful -- worth grabbing.
The other cool part about the album is the back cover. Instead of liner notes, NESMITH offers up a recipe for home-made beer. Read the recipe though, and you'll find the album credits interspersed within the brewing instructions. JOSE FELICIANO actually did some percussion work on the record. Very cool.


NILSSON -- SON OF SCHMILSSON (1972).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


First of all the packaging -- this baby has it all! The original gatefold cover, the two-sided lyrics poster, the shiny black inner sleeve and the custom labels on the Dynaflex record meant to look like an old VICTOR 78. The price? 6 bucks. Can't beat that.
The music? NILSSON at his most eccentric. But how can you argue with lyrics like You're breaking my heart/You're tearing it apart/So fuck you! Hey if you weren't in on the joke, Harry didn't care. Other highlights include the slightly glam hit "Spaceman" and the light-hearted "Lottery Song." RINGO played some drums, FRAMPTON offered up some guitar, long-time ROLLING STONES collaborator NICKY HOPKINS added some piano. The record has it all. Worth several spins.


LYNN ANDERSON -- NO LOVE AT ALL (1970).l
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


Her second album for COLUMBIA, LOVE is more awesome ANDERSON. As I've said in previous posts, I like ANDERSON'S records because her material tends to be a bit more upbeat than most female country singers. Yeah, she can do a weepy ballad too. However...most of the time...even when she's bitchin' about a cheating spouse...her stuff is fast and catchy. This is a damn near perfect tight collection. Highlights include the punchy "Husband Hunting," the soulful title cut, the happy-go-lucky "Heavenly Sunshine" and the soaring building ballad "Tomorrow Never Comes." But the whole album is worth checking out.


ROY ORBISON -- MYSTERY GIRL (1989).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


Bought this baby sealed -- cracked her open today. I will say this, by 1989, VIRGIN Records was probably one of the few labels out there still pressing GOOD vinyl while other companies were "cheapening" the formula, practically forcing us all into buying CD's.
GIRL was a great comeback that could have been even greater if the singer had been alive to enjoy it. For GIRL was released mere months after ORBISON's death. It's a fantastic album -- the BIG "O" collaborating with the likes of JEFF LYNNE (his buddy from the WILBURY'S), THE EDGE, and STEVE CROPPER. Songs on the record were written by the likes of BONO, ELVIS COSTELLO, and ALBERT HAMMOND. Production duties were handled by LYNNE, BONO, MIKE CAMPBELL and T-BONE BURNETT. Talk about your all-star album...and a fitting tribute to the legendary voice. Better cuts include lead single "You Got It" (before it was a Target commercial), the kicking "(All I Can Do Is) Dream You" and the lush dramatic "The Comedians." But again...the entire collection is damn near perfect. Worth grabbing.


OZZY OSBOURNE -- DIARY OF A MADMAN (1981).
Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.


Right now, the only solo OZZY record that "eludes" me is an original BLIZZARD. MADMAN is almost as good. The second and final album to feature the dual threat of OSBOURNE and guitarist RANDY RHOADS, DIARY is another early 80's metal classic.
I had the cassette when I was in sixth grade. I used to play it in my Sony Walkman 2 during art class. I'm amazed at how much of this album I still remember (beyond the hits of course). Favorite cuts include pretty much all of side 2 -- from the screaming "Little Dolls" to the almost operatic title track.
Now, we all know the history of this album. You can't get the original mix anymore because of a lawsuit filed by OSBOURNE's bassist and drummer at the time of its recording. The new version sucks. So it's nice to hear DIARY in its original ANALOG glory once again. It's also nice to hear "Flying High Again" and "Over The Mountain" without the FM compression.


WOW! What a fantastic session today! Let's quit while we're ahead. Have yourselves a great weekend -- HAPPY HALLOWEEN -- don't eat any spiked candy -- and we'll see ya back here in NOVEMBER!!!


EVANS

10/28/09 -- MOODY BLUES, ARCHIE AND EDITH, VAN MORRISON, NAZARETH, RICK NELSON

Hello lovers of wax and music everywhere...


EVANS back inside the vault for another mid-week session. Let's crank her up and see what she plays...


THE MOODY BLUES -- ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM (1969).
Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.


It took me awhile to find this one -- a super clean first pressing of THRESHOLD with the gatefold cover and lyrics booklet intact. Now the only album from the BLUES' classic seven that "eludes" me is EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOR.
Anyway, I like THRESHOLD -- not quite as much as its predecessor IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD, but it's certainly up there. The BLUES were always "guilty pleasures" of mine. Being a new wave and punk kid, I should hate their pretentious brand of "art rock." Truth be told -- I've always been a BLUES fanatic.
THRESHOLD'S best two moments belong to JUSTIN HAYWARD -- the lush "Never Comes The Day" which was released as a single and flopped...and the chugging "Lovely To See You" which should have been the single from the record. Another personal favorite is RAY THOMAS' "Lazy Day." However, in typical MOODIES fashion, the entire record flows rather nicely.


ARCHIE AND EDITH -- SIDE BY SIDE (1973).
Purchased at -- Salem Record Exchange. Salem, MASS.
Purchased at -- Woodlands Record Fair. Wilkes-Barre, PA.


Yes -- I'm ashamed -- I actually have two of these. One I scooped up "on the cheap" for three bucks though. The other I purchased SEALED.
I don't know whose idea this was, but...well let's just say it was a real stretch -- CARROLL O'CONNOR and JEAN STAPLETON singing standards in character as ARCHIE AND EDITH BUNKER. Let me just say that you haven't lived until you've heard ARCHIE BUNKER singing THE BEATLES' "When I'm 64." And EDITH's screechy rendition of "They Can't Take That Away From Me?" Gorgeous! And when the two get together on the title cut and "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)"...well...it's a wonder this record didn't go triple platinum.
Actually...the novelty wears off somewhere toward the end of side 1. SIDE BY SIDE is really an awful lot to ask from the listener. Pressed on flimsy RCA Dynaflex, this disc will be filed under "comedy/novelty" right before the BARNES AND BARNES albums...and will probably never see the light of day again. Oh well...


VAN MORRISON -- BLOWIN' YOUR MIND (1967).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


Recorded right after the lad left THEM, MIND was MORRISON's first solo outing -- this particular copy being an absolute pristine first pressing on BANG! MORRISON later disowned the record -- not having complete artistic control over its contents. I will say this though -- as a whole, it's a pretty sweet effort. There are some great bluesy cuts such as "He Ain't Give You None" and "Ro Ro Rosey." MORRISON also shows off his pop sensibilities on tunes like "Spanish Rose" (my favorite cut). Just about the only song I don't like on the album is...you guessed it..."Brown Eyed Girl."
I hate that fucking song! Why? 21 years working in oldies and classic rock radio! Because every time I go to a wedding or party or any event with a crappy band or DJ, I have to endure that song! Because there are too many people in this world who only know this one VAN MORRISON track! That's why!
Sorry...rest of the album is cool though.


NAZARETH -- RAZAMANAZ (1973).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


Their third record overall, and their first to be produced by ROGER GLOVER and to be released by A&M, RAZAMAZ finds the Scottish band getting louder and uglier...and it's divine! From the super-charged title cut to the drunken swagger of "Woke Up This Morning" to the seamless pumping "Bad Bad Boy," RAZAMANAZ is all about making the ears bleed...and nothing else. And sometimes that's enough. Early 70's hard rock worth seeking out...and I didn't even pick on the braind-dead radio consultants this time (see previous NAZARETH posts).


RICK NELSON -- LOVE AND KISSES (1966).
Purchased at -- WFMU Record Fair. New York City, NY.


By 1966, RICKY NELSON was horribly irrelevant. The cool thing about NELSON was the fact that he probably knew it. And eventually the man was willing to roll with the punches. For he would form the STONE CANYON BAND in the early 70's, grow out his hair, and refuse to become an "oldies" act.
LOVE AND KISSES though found NELSON starring in a movie directed by his dad OZZIE. And this album was part soundtrack -- part companion to the film. In 1966 -- at the height of AFTERMATH and YESTERDAY...AND TODAY -- this record probably sucked. Listening to it now though, KISSES really isn't a bad pop album. In addition to the bouncy title cut, you get RICK's super frantic take on the melodic classic "More" and a sweet rendition of "Try To Remember" amongst others. I think my mom actually had this album, which means I probably trashed it when I was really little. Well, it's nice to have the disc again. In the end, definitely worth a spin.

That's all I have for you today...until FRIDAY!!!

EVANS