Anajonda's Stash

Public Image, Ltd. - Commercial Zone (1983)

2012-02-10T07:54:00.000-03:30

Public Image, Ltd. - Commercial Zone (1983)

Public Image, Ltd. - Commercial Zone (Wikipedia Entry)

Public Image, Ltd. - Commercial Zone (Allmusic Guide Entry)

While at Sally Ann a few weeks ago, I was shocked to learn that the store's record rack had been obliterated. Apparently, due to the fact that only one person was coming in to buy the vinyl (Guess who? =P), and there was a pileup of religious records that were gathering dust, all the albums had been shipped out to another store.

I took at look and found that there were only a handful of discs in the rack (obviously stuff that had come in since the clearout), but lo and behold, in the back sat a very nice second pressing of PiL's Commercial Zone. Needless to say, this was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up. 99 Cents later, I was the proud owner of this wonderful album.

The album's story is equally fascinating: in 1983, John Lydon and Keith Levine (you know, the two guys from PiL) apparently decided to dissolve their musical partnership. Lydon erased Levine's contributions from the master tapes of the band's upcoming album, This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get. Levine, meanwhile, got a copy of the unaltered masters and had this, the original mix, pressed privately. Lydon and Virgin were apparently not offended by this, probably because it would allow their fanbase to decide which mix was superior. In fact, in the initial reviews, CZ actually got better critiques when compared to TIWYW.

Among the highlights are the openers of each side, the suprise hit single This Is Not A Love Song, and the Copkiller soundtrack contribution The Slab. Another highlight: the two parter Lou Reed. Remember, tho, these are merely the highlights, as the whole disc is utterly fantastic.

Public Image, Ltd. - Commercial Zone (39 mb)

The Move - Split Ends (1972)

2012-02-10T07:35:00.000-03:30

The Move - Split Ends (1972)

The Move - Split Ends (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Today, English power-poppers The Move (1965-1972) are better remembered for the group they evolved into: Electric Light Orchestra. While the band didn't get the respect or sales they deserved in their lifetime (tho that's certainly not true about ELO), they went on to have a surprising amount of influence on later 70s art-rock combos.

The group are also remembered for the release of the 1967 single (and #2 UK hit) Flowers In The Rain, the sleeve of which seemed to picture British PM Harold Wilson in bed with his personal secretary, resulting in a defamation lawsuit wherein the band forfeited all royalties to Wilson's favourite charity (so at least it wasn't a total loss). Subsequent evidence, however, suggests that the band's joke may have been closer to the truth than anyone suspected at the time...

Finally, in 1971, the group managed a genuine (albeit minor) international hit, Do Ya (which ELO would later re-record several years later and turn into an international top-10), but by this time it was too late, as the team of Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood had decided to convert the group into a full blown Progressive Rock outfit. That's a story for another time, Tho.

This album is long out of print, but if you desperately want a CD copy, don't fret: Just buy the remastered version of the band's final LP, Message From The Country, and all the missing songs (all singles, natch!) are included as bonus tracks1

For this transfer, I was forced to replace one track (#3, Chinatown, also possibly the best song among many great ones!) with a digital copy flown in from a CD, due to the fact that the track is almost unplayable due to scratches. I guess the previous owner of the LP either loved that song too much, or possibly not enough. =)

The Move - Split Ends (59 mb)

Pink Floyd - Live: The Best Of The Bootlegs 1968-1994 (2011)

2012-02-10T07:11:00.000-03:30

Pink Floyd - Live: The Best Of The Bootlegs 1968-1994 (2011)

Pink Floyd (Wikipedia Entry)

Pink Floyd (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Okay, so from what I understand, my beloved Pink Floyd is the second most bootlegged band in the world (#1: The Grateful Dead), and I've noticed that I have a few dozen full concerts (as well as loads of partial ones) in my collection. While some of these are of shockingly poor quality, most are quite good; as a result, I've taken it upon myself to create this collection of tunes from various shows over the years.

Now, I will admit that the title, "Best Of The Bootlegs", is probably not entirely correct. However, I was going for as much variety as possible and I admittedly chose stuff from what were mostly my favourite shows (this is a warning for the fans who are downloading and getting ready to listen to Another Brick In The Wall and Comfortably Numb, which are mostly below the quality of the other tracks), so caveat auditor. (note: That last one is a little joke for Latin Majors) =P

Further Information on the quality of these individual recordings can be found at The Pink Floyd ROIO Database.

Contents:
Disc One
1. One Of These Days (Boeblingen, Germany, 15 November 1972) / 2. Hey You (Pittsburgh, 31 May 1994) / 3. Time (Miami, 1 November 1987) / 4. Money (Los Angeles, 26 April 1975) / 5. Fat Old Sun (London, 12 October 1971) / 6. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun (Philadelphia, 26 September 1970) / 7. Echoes (Boston, 18 June 1975)

Disc Two
1. The Embryo (Montreux, 21 November 1970) / 2. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Philadelphia, 19 September 1987) / 3. Careful With That Axe, Eugene (Oakland, 9 May 1977) / 4. Cymbaline (Amsterdam, 17 September 1969) / 5. Learning To Fly (Turin, 13 September 1994) / 6. Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (Foxboro, MA, 6 May 1988) / 7. Interstellar Overdrive (Rome, 6 May 1968) / 8. Brain Damage/Eclipse (London, 20 February 1972) / 9. Comfortably Numb (Meadowlands, Nj, 18 July 1994).

Pink Floyd - Live: The Best Of The Bootlegs 1968-1994 1/2 (96 mb)
Pink Floyd - Live: The Best Of The Bootlegs 1968-1994 2/2 (88 mb)

James Gang - The Best Of The James Gang, Featuring Joe Walsh (1973)

2012-02-09T22:45:00.003-03:30

James Gang - The Best Of The James Gang, Featuring Joe Walsh (1973)

James Gang - The Best Of The James Gang, Featuring Joe Walsh (Allmusic Guide Entry)

After the departure of Joe Walsh in 1971, one might've thought the James Gang were finished. Nonetheless, they plowed on, unphased, altho they would never again have the same success as during his membership. Apparently, the group's label, ABC/Dunhill, already suspected this and, to buy some time during rebuilding, released this splendid little package, featuring highlights from the group's first four LPs.

While it's not going to please absolutely everyone (come on, Ashes, The Rain And I with the first half edited out? Really?), it does feature most of that era's highlights, including Funk 49, Walk Away, and the group's magnificent cover of the old standard Stop. Also included is the edited version of The Bomber, dictated by an infringement suit that wasn't settled for several years. While that may disappoint some, it's still a great piece nevertheless.

James Gang - The Best Of The James Gang, Featuring Joe Walsh (54 mb)

More updates...

2012-01-31T07:05:00.000-03:30

Okay, so here's the news, for all those who have asked...

I'm been busy reupping everything, but it's taking alot longer than I expected. About 50-60% of the files are back up (maybe more, that's a conservative estimate) on a new server. I'm going through my backups looking for the original files, but in some (a few) cases they seem to be missing, so I also have had to rearchive some of the albums.

Umm... I don't know what to say beyond that, other than thanking everyone for their patience.

Okay, once again... With feeling!

2012-01-20T21:26:00.000-03:30

With the recent shutdown of MEGAUPLOAD, every post for this blog went with it. I am in the process of slowly putting everything back using alternate servers.

Once again, I appreciate everyone's patience in this matter, and remind everyone that the USA is okay with breaking international law, except when it goes against them. A few examples involve Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Afghanistan, Iraq, Chile, Guatemala, and so it goes.

Anyway, enjoy!

You've got to be (BEEP)in' kidding me!

2012-01-20T11:27:00.002-03:30

American tax dollars at work, invested in pure fertilizer. Read more ahead:

http://qualitybootz.blogspot.com/2012/01/not-joke.html

http://venenosdorock.blogspot.com/2012/01/palhacada-entramos-pelo-cano-bad-news.html

http://voodoowagon.blogspot.com/2012/01/megaupload-busted.html

Various Artists - Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2 (1987)

2012-01-08T04:24:00.001-03:30

Various Artists - Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2 (1987)

Various Artists - Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2 (Wikipedia entry)

Pro Wrestling is a joke... and it's not even a funny one; at least not anymore.

Here's an example when it actually was: Back in the 80s (just like now, 20+ years later), the WWF (now WWE) was always looking for ways to expand it's horizons. Remember, this was years before guys like The Rock (who actually is a pretty good actor) or John Cena were making action flicks, or Chyna was posing for Playboy. The Rock And Roll/Wrestling connection of the time was pretty strong, and music seemed pretty logical.

Unfortunately, just like how Cena is no Larry Olivier, Mean Gene and Coco B. Ware won't exactly be mistaken for Elvis (altho the Honky Tonk Man just might... =P). Jimmy "Mouth Of The South" Hart at least has some credentials, being the first artist (as frontman of The Gentrys, back in 1970) to score a #1 hit on a Neil Young song (Cinnamon Girl, which charted way higher than Neil's original version).

Rick Derringer did all of the production work, which also explains why he contributes two songs, including a butchering of his classic Rock 'N Roll Hoochie Koo with announcer/colour commentator "Mean" Gene Okerlund (actually one of the friendliest guys connected to the whole movement). If you're old enough to remember this, you're old enough to get a cheap laugh from it.

Various Artists - Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2 (38 mb)

Andy Griffith - Somebody Bigger Than You and I (1972)

2012-01-08T04:08:00.003-03:30

Andy Griffith - Somebody Bigger Than You and I (1972)

Andy Griffith - Somebody Bigger Than You and I (AllMusic Guide entry)

(or: What It Was, Was Gospel.)

An interesting item I came across in a local Sally Ann store: An album by Mayberry's own Sheriff himself. The title, contrary to expectations, refers not to Don Knotts, but to God (which in TV Land is sort of like Don Knotts).

Basically, the album is an album of Southern homespun Gospel standards, with some pretty uptempo backing including a choir. If you're keen on Jesus, chances are you've probably heard at least one version of some of the tunes. Andy's got a rich baritone voice, and the production is great, so there will definitely be some out there who love the sound of this; I'm just not one of them myself. As far as I'm concerned, Actors, Athletes, and Politicians should stay out of music, and vice versa.

Andy Griffith - Somebody Bigger Than You and I (37 mb)

Various Artists - Super Star Collection (1978)

2012-01-08T04:01:00.001-03:30

Various Artists - Super Star Collection (1978)

Various Artists - Super Star Collection (discogs.com entry)

Imagine this: it's 1978; you're having people over for a few drinks, some party favours, and so on, and so forth; what do you play?

If you're like many, this is one possibility; nearly two hours of music ranging from Andy Gibb to Kiss, Glen Campbell to Meco, Anne Murray to the Bay City Rollers. Basically, a little something of everything on the radio at the time (no, no Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, or Queen),designed to reduce the number of LPs stacked up next to your turntable.

While this is not my favourite K-Tel compilation, it's still got alot of good stuff (and, unfortunately, alot of bad stuff, too), and should prove pleasing to those in the mood for a trip 30+ years down memory lane.

As a side note, I've noticed a disturbing number (four) of songs written by the Bee Gees on this. Unless it's the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack, no compilation should suffer this.

Various Artists - Super Star Collection 1/2 (96 mb)
Various Artists - Super Star Collection 2/2 (41 mb)

Claire Lawrence - Leaving You Free (1973)

2011-12-16T02:53:00.004-03:30

Claire Lawrence - Leaving You Free (1973)

Claire Lawrence (Wikipedia Entry)

And now, my latest acquisition: the rare solo debut from Singer/Songwriter/Producer Claire Lawrence. Released on the Haida Records label (owned by Claire and his brother Keith, and best known as the home of Valdy), it doesn’t, contrary to expectations, resemble a Chilliwack album all that much, which may be a good thing. It’s a nice mix of Rock, Folk, Jazz, Blues, and Country.

While it doesn’t sound like a Chilliwack album, the songs remind one of other acts, especially the near-Jethro Tull of Village In The Green. The musicianship is great, too, which drums by Jim “16 to life” Gordon (a sad story that I’ll cover another time) and guitar by Larry “Uncle of Vanessa” Carlton (also known for the theme song from Who’s The Boss).

As a comparison, it’s definitely superior to Claire’s later The Claire Lawrence Band, but at the same time remains a product of it’s era (just as that album does).

Contents:
1. Hungry For The Good / 2. Leaving You Free / 3. Village In The Green / 4. Long Long Time / 5. Country Mover / 6. Rain, Trane And Afterwords.

Claire Lawrence - Leaving You Free (43 mb)

Jackie Lomax - Home Is In My Head (1971)

2011-10-31T06:08:00.001-02:30

Jackie Lomax - Home Is In My Head (1971)

Jackie Lomax (Wikipedia Entry)

Jackie Lomax - Home Is In My Head (Allmusic Guide Entry)

A prime example of someone who could've been a great rock star, but instead wound up being a footnote.

Jackie Lomax is a guitarist/Bassist/Vocalist from Liverpool, where, early on, he became close friends with another Liverpudlian lad by the name of George Harrison. Jackie's band, The Undertakers, also toured alongside The Beatles in Hamburg in the early 60s. When the group formed Apple Records in 1968, Lomax was one of the first acts signed to the label, and his debut, Is This What You Want?, featured no less than Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and Nicky Hopkins.

The album was expected to generate great interest and sales, but alas, due to the poor financial condition of Apple, the album sunk with barely a glance on Billboard, peaking at #145. A non-LP single, How The Web Was Woven b/w Thumbin' A Ride, failed to make any impact whatsoever, and a planned single release of a Lomax/Harrison original, Goin' Back To Liverpool, was scrapped and didn't see the light of day until the 1990s when ITWYW? finally saw a remastered CD release.

Following this fiasco, along with a brief membership in supergroup Heavy Jelly (which released nothing in Lomax's time with the group), Jackie relocated to New York, where he recorded this, his second LP. While the musicianship is quite good, the songwriting is unfortunately mediocre. Alas, a promising start once again became a missed opportunity.

In spite of all this, it's still an interesting curio, although there's nothing spectacular on the album. If this album had been good as the first one, it would've definitely, IMHO, sold well. As it is, it managed to bubble under on Billboard at #211.

This has since been remastered with four bonus tracks in the UK. I haven't seen it around for sale anywhere, tho, so it may rare. It has been reissued by Warner Bros., tho, so the remastering should be legit at least.

Jackie Lomax - Home Is In My Head (51 mb)

Various Artists - Nettwerk Sound Sampler-Food For Thought (1987)

2011-10-31T05:34:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - Nettwerk Sound Sampler-Food For Thought (1987)

Various Artists - Nettwerk Sound Sampler-Food For Thought (1987) (Amazon Catalog Entry)

For those of you who aren't familiar, Nettwerk is one of Canada's most (if not the most) successful indie labels. While many acts have remained obscure in the long run, some have found worldwide success (such as The Grapes Of Wrath, Skinny Puppy, and Sarah McLachlan).

As well, Nettwerk also maintained a large stable in management, including the above acts, as well as Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, Jars Of Clay, Ron Sexsmith, and Sixpence None the Richer, amongst others. With all this talent under the hood, it only made sense to release a sampler album, and here it is.

The album is a surprisingly pleasant mix of Pop, Rock, Industrial, Electronic, and Proto-Alternative. While I'm not sure if the album is still available, I do know that Nettwerk still advertises it in their Amazon Store (the link above, the only place I could find an entry on it). I do know that it was issued on Vinyl and Cassette, and possibly also CD. I definitely recommend it for any fans of the 80s indie movement. Other than that, there's not much more I can add.

Contents:
1. The Grapes Of Wrath - Seem's Like Fate / 2. Dole - Slumberland / 3. The Water Walk - Colours / 4. Pretty Green - This House Producer / 5. The Tear Garden - Ophelia / 6. Moev - Wanting / 7. Skinny Puppy - First Aid / 8. SPK - Off The Deep End / 9. Chris & Cosey - Obsession / 10. Single Gun Theory - Halo/Halo / 11. Severed Heads - Nature 10 (Bad Mood Version).

Various Artists - Nettwerk Sound Sampler-Food For Thought (58 mb)

Herman's Hermits - The Best of Herman's Hermits (1965)

2011-10-31T05:10:00.001-02:30

Herman's Hermits - The Best of Herman's Hermits (1965)

Herman's Hermits - The Best of Herman's Hermits (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Although I've never been a big fan of the hermits, they did admittedly have quite a few good songs. In fact, all four of the songs that I can name are included on this album...=P

While they were no Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks, or Floyd, The Hermits had some undeniably catchy tunes. I was lucky enough to pick up three LPs by them for $1 (Canadian, natch!) each at the local Sally Ann. The original vinyl sounded better than it looked (although it looked like the rink at MSG shortly after gametime), and I was lucky enough to get them done off.

Now that the albums are being posted again, they still won't be up as frequently as before due to the fact that I no longer have internet access and have to post these from places other than my home. I'll still be writing the reviews and filing them on my computer so I can post a few at a time. Hopefully this won't last too long as I'm planning on being back online ASAP.

Welcome back!

Herman's Hermits - The Best of Herman's Hermits (31 mb)

Giving thanks... Should be back online soon!

2011-10-09T00:48:00.000-02:30

Okay, let's try this...

I'm posting this from a Wii, mostly for the fun of it, so depending on how it comes out, I might delete it and start again. =P

After doing a thorough inspection of my collection, it appears I may have slightly overracted; although there was quite a bit of data loss (for example, all my assignment and thesis material from Film School was destroyed), the MP3 collection appeared to have lost very little. Probably under 10 gigs(!)

Anyway, I'm still figuring out some of my internet stuff, so it may still be a few days, but my turntable's hooked up again and I'm got a stack of new (well, NEW to me anyway) vinyl.

Once again, I give thanks to you, the reader, for your Job-like patience with me over the last 5 weeks or so. I expect new posts to be up within the next few days or so.

Remember, I'm still taking requests. Feel free to post 'em here or email me.

Thanks,
Jon.

BAD NEWS!!!

2011-08-31T23:02:00.000-02:30

Okay, nobody panic!

My new 2TB hard drive has decided to stroke out on me and die at the tender age of 5 months. While I was able to backup some of my music database, most of it seems to be gone. I still have my receipt for that piece of junk, so I'm going to march back to FutureShop and demand they give me back my money.

At this point, I'm not sure where I go from here. While I don't see an end to The Stash, it certainly will have to go on (at least) a temporary hiatus. I'm hoping to have it back soon. Hopefully, I'll have a new (working) hard disk and internet connection, and I can try to restore what I can.

I thank everyone for their patience and patronage, and hope to be able to entertain you again in the near future.

Jon.

BY REQUEST: Lon & Derrek Van Eaton - Who Do You Out Do (1975)

2011-08-17T23:23:00.004-02:30

Lon & Derrek Van Eaton - Who Do You Out Do (1975)

Lon & Derrek Van Eaton - Who Do You Out Do (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Some time ago, I posed another album by L&DVE (Their debut album, Brother). After at least one reader asked for it, I finally broke down and bought their followup on eBay.

While the first album is definitely in a George Harrison motif, this one sounds more like Paul McCartney. Produced by Richard Perry (Ringo Starr, The Pointer Sisters) and Bill Schnee (The Eagles), the album is definitely more commercial sounding than it's predecessor. I actually liked this one more, as the songwriting is much more mature, but, unfortunately, like their debut, it sank without a trace, this time because of the fact that it was released just as disco began to take off.

The inner photography (it is a gatefold, after all!) looks like it came out of some bizarre upscale men's fashion magazine. I don't know how much they spent on the cost of the album (which includes appearances by Perry, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Martha Reeves, Gary Wright, and Klaus Voormann, who produced Brother), but it appears to be about a third or so of what they spent on their wardrobe. Still, I stand behind the 11 bucks I paid for it; WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Contents:
1.Who Do You Out Do / 2. You Lose / 3. Do You Remember / 4. Music Lover / 5. Let It Grow / 6. Wildfire / 7. Dancing In The Dark / 8. All You're Hungry For Is Love / 9. Baby It's You / 10. The Harder You Pull... The Tighter It Gets.

Lon & Derrek Van Eaton - Who Do You Out Do (37 mb)

Various Artists - Rock Sizzlers (1984)

2011-08-16T04:50:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - Rock Sizzlers (1984)

Another Polystar release, this one focuses on the early 80s. The 80s was a surprisingly good decade for music, because alot of crap came out of that decade as well. For a start, for every classic song from that era, there was also crap like Air Supply, Culture Club and Christopher Cross. For completers, (not a word, I know, but...) most of the best acts were holdovers from earlier decades (including AC/DC, The Kinks, Genesis, and the like).

Which brings us to this. Overall, a very good summing up of 1980-1983. with classics like Come On Eileen, Come Dancing, Tainted Love, Lick It Up, and Maniac. A delightful hodgepodge that also includes the decade's lesser acts (did they really need to put a song by Frank Stallone, or two by Boy George???).

And now the caveat: She Works Hard For The Money has a few skips about 1:15 or so into it that I couldn't remove, and I Melt With You seems to be in mono for some strange reason. If you can put up with those, this should be a real treat. Enjoy!

contents:
1. Culture Club - Church Of The Poison Mind
2. Tears For Fears - Change
3. Michael Sembello - Maniac
4. Kiss - Lick It Up
5. Frank Stallone - Far From Over
6. Dan Hill - Helpless
7. The Kinks - Come Dancing
8. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
9. UB40 - Red Red Wine
10. Culture Club - I'll Tumble 4 'Ya
11. Donna Summer - She Works Hard For The Money
12. Air Supply - Making Love (Out Of Nothing At All)
13. ABC - The Look Of Love
14. Agnetha Fältskog - Can't Shake Loose
15. Modern English - I Melt With You
16. Freeez - I.O.U.
17. Soft Cell - Tainted Love.

Various Artists - Rock Sizzlers (71 mb)

Various Artists - Super 60's (1984)

2011-08-09T02:19:00.003-02:30

Various Artists - Super 60's (1984)

At a Garage Sale last summer, I picked up this compilation for my mom, who wanted a selection of songs to burn off for listening to in her car. I only got around to ripping it last week, but I was pleasantly surprised by the result.

I like to think of this as sort of an Appendix, or Addendum, to another entry here, Dick Clark's 20 Years Of Rock And Roll. While there is a small amount of overlap between both of these released, as well as a lack of anything by The Beatles, Stones, Dylan, or Who, they nonetheless make for a pleasing presentation of a great era of rock and pop.

contents:
1. The Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In The City
2. The Box Tops - The Letter
3. The Zombies - She's Not There
4. Lou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes
5. Bobby Lewis - Tossin' And Turnin'
6. Terry Stafford - Suspicion
7. The Young Rascals - Groovin'
8. The Righteous Brothers - Soul And Inspiration
9. The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
10. The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man
11. Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
12. Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
13. The Bee Gees - (The Lights Went Out In) Massachusetts
14. Bobby Hebb - Sunny
15. The Association - Cherish
16. The 5th Dimension - Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In

Various Artists - Super 60's (55 mb)

Patsy Cline - The Patsy Cline Story (1963)

2011-08-01T15:17:00.001-02:30

Patsy Cline - The Patsy Cline Story (1963)

Patsy Cline - The Patsy Cline Story (Wikipedia Entry)

Patsy Cline - The Patsy Cline Story (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Those who know me know that I'm not a big Country fan. That being said, I feel that it's unfair and short sighted to look at Patsy Cline as merely a Country singer; given the era, her music was more pop than anything else (which is probably more obvious half a century on, given what Country has since evolved into), in spite of the instrumentation.

Patsy is also an artist that I am always willing to make time for (which also explains why although I hate Rap, I will always make time for NWA or Westside Connection), and while the grossly undernourished Greatest Hits album her label issued in 1967 came as something of a disappointment to me, this delightful two record set (released within months of her tragic death) is a great way to remember her by. It even struck me as being compiled quite carefully: I never even knew she covered South Of The Border (best remembered as a Frank Sinatra standard).

Whether you're a lifelong fan looking for a really great anthology, or a first time listener looking for a great introduction, this set will definitely please you.

Patsy Cline - The Patsy Cline Story (71 mb)

Minglewood Band - Movin' (1980)

2011-07-30T00:48:00.002-02:30

Minglewood Band - Movin' (1980)

Minglewood Band (Canadian Pop Encyclopedia Entry)

Minglewood Band - Movin' (Allmusic Guide Entry)

The third Minglewood Band album, while not quite on the same level as it's two predecessors, is still a great listen, almost three decades on.

This time, Mat himself writes all of one side, while leaving the other side to covers and input from other band members (ain't Democracy great?). Once again, Claire Lawrence is on hand with his great production and Sax work (aided, this time, by Paul Northfield, best known for his work later on with Rush). The transfer here is not the greatest, as the album was obviously well loved prior to my ownership of it. That being said, it sounds great enough to overlook some minor noise and a skip or two. Also, the band takes a few minutes (well, four and a half, to be precise) to revisit one of their live classics, East Coast Blues (previously featured on the Red Album), in a rousing and rocking version that many purists have spent years debating for and against it's superiority to it's original counterpart.

Unfortunately, this and it's followup, Out On A Limb, were the last albums by the original Minglewood band, which disbanded not long after. A fairly good compilation was released of the group's four LPs in 1982, but it remains difficult to locate today. On the other hand, if you have these four LPs, it's basically superfluous. Enjoy!

(ps God love eBay!)

Contents:
1. Ain't Got That Much To Lose / 2. Me And My Baby / 3. Tight Rope / 4. Rocket Fuel / 5. Price He Pays / 6. Countin' On You / 7. Dorchester / 8. Jed / 9. Don't Give It Up / 10. If You Really Need Me / 11. East Coast Blues.

Minglewood Band - Movin' (48 mb)

Minglewood Band - Minglewood Band (1979)

2011-07-30T00:35:00.002-02:30

Minglewood Band - Minglewood Band (1979)

Minglewood Band (Canadian Pop Encyclopedia Entry)

Minglewood Band - Minglewood Band (Allmusic Guide Entry)

After putting out a critically acclaimed debut album (sometimes erroneously listed as 1975 or 1976, although the label states 1978), The Minglewood Band put out their second eponymously titled album (and major label debut) in 1979 on RCA records. Produced by Claire Lawrence (ex Chilliwack, ex Valdy), this album gave the group something that most Atlantic Canadian bands are not well known for: an actual (Canadian) Top 40 hit!

The band had by this time added an extremely energetic cover of Marshall Tucker's hit Can't You See, taking the original song, applying the chord progressions of The Velvet Underground's classic Oh! Sweet Nothin', and adding a long spoken word intro detailing an East Coast expatriate's sad story of lost love in Toronto.

Also included is another cover, this one of the melancholy Irish ballad The Patriot Game, which is extremely well executed as well. Several originals that share space with these two songs are also wonderful, as is the production, which only begs the question as to why you're still reading this instead of listening to the album.

Contents:
1. Rockin' The Blues / 2. Ain't What It Used To Be / 3. Whiz Kids / 4. Hook, Line And Sinker / 5. Long Way From Texas / 6. Can't You See / 7. Patriot Game / 8. Don't Fool Yourself.

Minglewood Band - Minglewood Band (1979) (46 mb)

Minglewood Band - Minglewood Band (1978)

2011-07-30T00:12:00.003-02:30

Minglewood Band - Minglewood Band (1978)

Minglewood Band (Canadian Pop Encyclopedia Entry)

Hailing from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, The Minglewood Band were a blues rock group fronted by Guitarist/Keyboardist/Vocalist Mat(t) Minglewood. The group's brand of rowdy east coast rock was extremely popular in Canada in the late 70s and early 80s, earning them much airplay in their home country.

Presented here is their eponymous first album (commonly referred to as the Red Album in order to distinguish it from it's similarly titled followup) was released in 1978 on Solar Records of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and remains a highly prized collector's item. The album is great to listen to, reminding a fellow Atlantic Canadian of sweaty nights at the pub having a beer while listening to great blues tinged hard rock from acts that you simply don't see much around here anymore.

The band broke up around 1982, with Minglewood going on to a modestly successful solo career, including a fantastic live album (2003's Live At Last) wherein he jams with the late, great Jeff Healey. Don't miss this genuine Canadian musical legend!

Contents:
1. Door To Door Salesman / 2. Dan Willie / 3. Stood Up / 4. Run You Off The Hill / 5. Caledonia / 6. East Coast Blues / 7. Funk City / 8. Same Old Blues / 9. Cadillac.

Minglewood Band - Minglewood Band (1978) (45 mb)

WHEW!

2011-07-14T15:59:00.000-02:30

Okay, so, I haven't really been active for a few weeks. I've been really busy. Got a new turntable ($230, marked down to $14.95(!) at Circuit City), new computer (got in a trade for two DVDs!), some new vinyl, and also new (ie OLD) cassettes.

While I take the time to get through all of this and fit it into my shoebox sized room, I am making big plans on what to post next. I appreciate everyone's patience in this situation and thank you all for browsing and listening. And remember, any requests, send 'em in and I'll do my best to find and fill 'em!

Jon.

Various Artists - Somethin' Else Again! (1970)

2011-06-28T11:10:00.003-02:30

Various Artists - Somethin' Else Again! (1970)

Coming up next, yet another great CBS/Columbia sampler, this time from 1970, and similar but distinctly different from Fill Your Head With Rock.

Somethin' Else Again! is mostly the same argument as it's predecessor on vintage CBS acts, except it's an American sampler with different songs, tho it shares a great many artists in common. In fact, most of the songs are from the same source albums, which are mostly great ones, so there's no problem there.

Once again, it's a wonderful hodgepodge of various Pop, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Folk and the like. Beyond that, there's not really much I can add. It's a great album and, once again, if you come across it in your travels, I highly recommend it!

contents:
Disc One
1. Santana - Persuasion
2. Big Brother And The Holding Company - Summertime
3. Laura Nyro - Sweet Blindness
4. Chicago - Questions 67 And 68
5. Spiral Starecase - More Today Than Yesterday
6. Pacific Gas And Electric - She's Long And She's Tall
7. Sly And The Family Stone - Everyday People
8. Al Kooper And Mike Bloomfield - No More Lonely Nights
9. NRBQ - Stomp
10. Aretha Franklin - Without The One You Love
11. Gary Puckett And The Union Gap - Lady Madonna
12. The Arbors - The Letter
13. Paul Revere And The Raiders - Kicks

Disc Two
1. The Byrds - Wasn't Born To Follow
2. Taj Mahal - Ain't That A Lot Of Love
3. Tim Rose - Where Was I?
4. The Chambers Brothers - I Can't Turn You Loose
5. Linda Divine - Same Time, Same Place
6. The Electric Flag - Killing Floor
7. The Jeff Beck Group - You Shook Me
8. Blood, Sweat And Tears - Smiling Phases
9. Kaleidoscope - Lie To Me
10. Johnny Winter - Good Morning Little School Girl
11. The Zombies - Time Of The Season
12. Raven - Howlin' For My Baby
13. Moby Grape - Right Before My Eyes.

Various Artists - Somethin' Else Again! (111 mb)

Rod McKuen - Pastorale (1972)

2011-06-25T03:42:00.002-02:30

Rod McKuen - Pastorale (1972)

Rod McKuen (Wikipedia Entry)

Rod McKuen (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Rod McKuen is an American Poet and Singer. We're not talking "Poet" like Jim Morrison-type poetry, but the real deal actual poetry. Anyway, he's released, like, 60 albums, most of which consist of his singing his songs in a folk or orchestral setting.

While the musicianship's pretty good (and IMHO superior to his singing), the music is mixed pretty far back in the track, which means Rod's voice is at least twice as loud as the music, which doesn't compliment his naturally raspy voice. A few tracks consisting of spoken word pieces intermixed with said music tracks, while not really out of place, feel somewhat uncomfortable, almost like trying to do a Shatner impression in a room full of people who simply don't understand it.

Now, that all having been said, his lyrics are actually really good. Songs about any and every subject (with most of the writing by McKuen in one for or another), plus a handful of interesting covers (including two by The Beatles!) that are well executed. The style may have dated considerably, but it's still a relaxing release, great to listen to on a quiet evening at home with your favourite Wine or Cigars.

As a final observation, if this guy traded places with Larry "Wild Man" Fischer for one day, they'd lock him up, too!

CONTENTS:
Disc One
1. Fly Me To The North / 2. Three / 3. Pastorale (Part One) / 4. Love Let Me Not Hunger / 5. Make It With You / 6. The Green Hills Of England / 7. Before The Monkeys Came / 8. I Think Of You / 9. Something / 10. Fields Of Wonder / 11. Pastures Green/Pavements Grey / 12. The Railroad Song / 13. Kill The Wind

Disc Two
1. The Silver Apples Of The Moon / 2. I've Saved The Summer / 3. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother / 4. Find Another Rainbow / 5. When Am I Ever Going Home / 6. The Wind Of Change / 7. Nothin's Gonna Change My World (Across The Universe) / 8. Some / 9. Long Long Time / 10. Moving Day / 11. Yet Another Sunset / 12. The Single Man / 13. Fly Me To The North/I'll Fly Northward.

Rod McKuen - Pastorale (100 mb)

Todd Rundgren - No World Order (1993)

2011-06-24T05:04:00.003-02:30

Todd Rundgren - No World Order (1993)

Todd Rundgren - No World Order (Wikipedia Article)

Remember every time you see something that it seems no person could ever want, or need, or accept as a gift? Here's Todd Rundgren's contribution.

Released in May 1993, NWO must've sounded incredible on paper: A brand new TR album where if you weren't happy with his mix, you could get a different producer's take on it. You could even remix it yourself. Or so it would seem. Basically, you could feel what it's like to work in a tape room, wherein there are sometimes an abundance of alternate mixes for tape operators to play around with.

The biggest problem (for starters!) is the technology used for delivery into the consumer's hands, which was completely wrong, even for this particular period. First of all, if you didn't own a PC or a CD-i (and in 1993, alot of people didn't!), you couldn't run the software. Period. For those unfortunates, there was a standard CD version (containing all 10 songs plus a selection of remixes featured in the software version) released, which sold rather poorly. A later CD release, titled New World Order Lite, cut things down even further, with just Rundgren's 10 basic songs included.

Next, you couldn't just (for example) strip down everything to just one instrument and then rebuild around it from scratch. You had the various overdub tracks from the different contributing producers, which limited what you could do overall, although it was still possible to come up with quite a few different ways to do the same song.

Finally, let's suppose you get a song just the way you like it; now it's time to save a copy for yourself. Tough Noogies: there's no save feature. It strikes me like they just forgot to put this in, and only realized this after the software was in stores.

So, while it's not entirely terrible (remember, it *IS* a Todd Rundgren album, so at least it's interesting), it's almost more trouble than it's worth going through. On the other hand, it's also a great conversation piece, which is why it's here now. I couldn't get it to run on Windows 98SE or Windows XP, but oddly, it runs pretty good on Windows Vista(?!) The file can simply be unrar'd to any folder and installed from there (tho there may or may not be an advantage from running it as a disc image), and all installation files and scans are included. ENJOY! (if you dare!)

Todd Rundgren - No World Order 1/7 (96 mb)
Todd Rundgren - No World Order 2/7 (96 mb)
Todd Rundgren - No World Order 3/7 (96 mb)
Todd Rundgren - No World Order 4/7 (96 mb)
Todd Rundgren - No World Order 5/7 (96 mb)
Todd Rundgren - No World Order 6/7 (96 mb)
Todd Rundgren - No World Order 7/7 (66 mb)

Pepper Tree - You're My People (1971)

2011-06-23T18:58:00.001-02:30

Pepper Tree - You're My People (1971)

Pepper Tree were a flower power-ish Psych Rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Their sound was fairly popular on the East Coast at the time and landed them with Capitol Records where some whispered that they might be the next Guess Who.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen and after numerous changes in personnel, the band quietly disbanded around 1973 or 74. In time, it's members would come and go through such acts as Edward Bear, Chilliwack, and The Wonderful Grand Band. The residue of this project was a splendid LP and a couple of not-bad singles.

To borrow a line from the mouth of James William Guercio, "This Endeavour Should Be Experienced Sequentially".

contents:
1. You're My People / 2. Carry On / 3. How Many Times / 4. Try / 5. Airplane / 6. Oh Yeah / 7. Yellow Man / 8. Turn Around / 9. I Could Not Control It / 10. From a Candle / 11. Workin' / 12. Everywhere / 13. Love Is A Railroad / 14. Mr. Pride / 15. Put a Smile Upon Your Face.

Tracks 1-11, Original LP, cleaned up and speed corrected.
Tracks 12-15, Non-Albums singles, 1971-1973

Pepper Tree - You're My People (60 mb)

Various Artists - Rock '81 (1981)

2011-06-18T03:53:00.002-02:30

Various Artists - Rock '81 (1981)

Recently, I went into my favourite record store, Fred's Records, and look at what I found in the bin of stuff not yet filed. This is a great entry in the popular series, as it captures it in the prime of it's life, when it was young and strong. Actually, if it was legitimately possible to use New Wave as an Adjective instead of a Noun Phrase, then this could be called a Newwaveish album.

A lot of these songs are enjoying a healthy afterlife thanks to classic rock radio and various cover bands around the world. It's a good thing too, because when compared with much of the music today, it sounds like the voice of god. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Overall, the usual treat for the followers of this series. For everyone else, it helps if you lived through this era. Note that there is a skip that apparently made it onto the first two songs. I apologize for this, but admittedly, they're not on the stronger side compared to some of the other stuff. There's even two(!) Pat Benatar songs on it that are better.

contents:
1. Stars On - Stars On 45 (Medley 1)
2. The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays
3. The Flying Lizards - Money
4. XTC - Life Begins At The Hop
5. Pat Benatar - Treat Me Right
6. The Babys - Turn And Walk Away
7. The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me
8. Loverboy - Turn Me Loose
9. Blondie - The Tide Is High
10. The Knack - Good Girls Don't
11. Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot
12. The Monks - Drugs In My Pocket
13. Heart - Straight On
14. Rush - Limelight
15. The Outlaws - (Ghost) Riders In The Sky
16. Michael Stanley Band - He Can't Love You.

Various Artists - Rock '81 (67 mb)

Various Artists - Soundwaves (1980)

2011-06-18T02:11:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - Soundwaves (1980)

Another great K-Tel for which I have no idea how I came into contact with it. I mean, I know I bought it somewhere, but I couldn't tell you if I thought about it for a year.

Soundwaves is yet another cross section of AM/FM samplings chosen with above average care by those great folks up on Inkster Boulevard in Winnipeg. What brought this back to my attention as of recent was several requests I had seen in various places for Graham Shaw And The Sincere Serenaders. Beyond seeing them on this album, I cannot honestly say I'm at all familiar with them. Even their song here doesn't ring any bells. According to Wikipedia, Shaw won(?) the 1981 Juno for Most Promising Male Vocalist (which I thought B.B. Gabor won, but that might've been 1980).

Other oddities include a 1980s Gerry Rafferty Song, a mutilated version of Meat Loaf's ten minute epic Bat Out Of Hell, and a song by Klaatu(!). It sort of starts to look like what started out as good intentions had ultimately misfired. As you may or may not have been able to tell by my subliminal presentation, I find this album disappointing.

Nonetheless, it is an interesting listen (at times), so I present it here for the public at large to judge it, fair and true. It may not be the best compilation out there, but there are definitely worse ones, some of which I probably still own (and if you don't buy that, at least it has an awesome Prism song on it!) =P

ps Keep a lookout for Graham Shaw. I'm sure he's still out there, entertaining fans, wherever they might be.

CONTENTS:
1. Rocky Burnette - Tired Of Toein' The Line
2. Pat Benatar - We Live For Love
3. Prism - Young And Restless
4. Graham Shaw & The Sincere Serenaders - Can I Come Near
5. Gerry Rafferty - Get It Right Next Time
6. Dan Fogelberg - Heart Hotels
7. Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Anymore
8. Blondie - Call Me
9. The Knack - Good Girls Don't
10. Little River Band - Cool Change
11. The Dirt Band - An American Dream
12. Klaatu - Knee Deep In Love
13. Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell
14. Journey - Walks Like A Lady
15. Billy Joel - My Life
16. SOS Band - Take Your Time (Do It Right).

Soundwaves (73 mb)

Various Artists - The World Of Private Music (1986)

2011-06-18T01:42:00.002-02:30

Various Artists - The World Of Private Music (1986)

Private Music (Wikipedia Entry)

Various Artists - The World Of Private Music (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Private Music was a New Age record label founded by Peter Baumann (late of Tangerine Dream) in 1984. The label made several exciting signings early on, landing the likes of Eddie Jobson ( Curved Air, Roxy Music, U.K., Jethro Tull, Frank Zappa), Jerry Goodman (The Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Flock), Philip Glass, Ravi Shankar, Dan Hartman, Nona Hendryx, James Newton Howard, Leo Kottke, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Andy Summers, Taj Mahal and Ringo Starr(!)

Needless to say, this is the all-time greatest lineup a new label with an extremely esoteric fanbase could ever hope to sign. The label's sales weren't half-bad, either, which eventually led to the label being bought outright by it's distributor, RCA/BMG.

In the meantime, the label released two somewhat hard to local samplers, 1986's The World Of Private Music, and 1987's The World Of Private Music, Vol. 2. On these, you get your typical platter of treats from great musicians and composers at the top of their game. The only real downside is (once again) The Fact The New Age Is An Extremely Esoteric Genre.

Nonetheless, I found this to be a not unpleasant listen. Unfortunately, it's so low-key that it almost disappears into the background, which can be extremely frustrating when a track fades out in midstream and then comes back or goes into a new section; it makes it seem as if you've listened to 4 or 5 songs, when in fact you've only heard two.

The World Of Private Music (45 mb)

Various Artists - Radio Active (1982)

2011-06-13T02:36:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - Radio Active (1982)

K-Tel, a continuing series of important classic and contempory compilations, presents... RADIO ACTIVE!

One thing frightened me when I compared this to several other K-Tels of the same period: A disturbing amount of overlapping. I found no less than four songs that appeared on the label's other compilations of the same period.

Is this a way of implying that the label was too lazy (or too cheap) to put more variety into their albums? Probably, but I'm more concerned about having to clean up the same song multiple times. But I digress...

Remember that pond you used to skate on as a kid? That's what the surface of this resembled when I started. I've cleaned up the disc and filtered the recordings multiple times, and this was honestly the best I could come up. There's a few skips that I couldn't remove at all in spite of myself, so... Caveat Emptor.

CONTENTS:
1. Journey - Who's Cryin' Now?
2. REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run
3. Sheena Easton - Morning Train (Nine To Five)
4. The Tubes - Don't Want To Wait Anymore
5. Michael Stanley Band - Falling In Love Again
6. Alabama - Feels So Right
7. Rick Springfield - I've Done Everything For You
8. Hall And Oates - Private Eyes
9. Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
10. Blondie - Rapture
11. The Alan Parsons Project - Time
12. Pat Benatar - Fire And Ice
13. Gary U.S. Bonds - This Little Girl
14. Little River Band - The Night Owls
15. The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
16. The Go Go's - Our Lips Are Sealed

Radio Active (61 mb)

Various Artists - Rockin' With The Hits (1984)

2011-06-13T02:17:00.003-02:30

Various Artists - Rockin' With The Hits (1984)

Once again, Sally Ann comes through with unfailing entertainment.

Rockin' With The Hits is a 1984 sampler from CBS Direct, featuring a rich gathering from what was then the cream of the crop (not including, of course, Most of the label's veterans, such as Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, etc.) of then current holdings of the CBS/Sony Empire. While there are a few selections that are barely remembered today (including tracks from Dan Fogelberg, KC, sans the Sunshine Band, and Jimmy Cliff), many tracks are still considered classics today.

Admittedly, as with most CBS samplers, there is a wide-range of talent assembled. It's probably the only place outside someone's iPod where you'll see Herbie Hancock (doing the proto-hip hop favourite Rockit) next to "Weird Al" Yankovic (performing the hugely influential Michael Jackson parody Eat It), with the duo preceded by Billy Joel (and his Motown tribute Tell Her About It).

Now, my critique: Summed up, there are a hell of a lot of worse things to spend 67 minutes sitting through.

CONTENTS:
1. Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
2. Nena - 99 Red Balloons
3. The Romantics - Talking In Your Sleep
4. Bonnie Tyler - Holding Out For A Hero
5. Jimmy Cliff - Reggae Night
6. KC - Give It Up
7. Paul Young - Come Back And Stay
8. Night Ranger - Sister Christian
9. Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It For The Boy
10. Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride
11. Billy Joel - Tell Her About It
12. Herbie Hancock - Rockit
13. ''Weird Al'' Yankovic - Eat It
14. Dan Fogelberg - The Language Of Love
15. Platinum Blonde - Doesn't Really Matter
16. Slade - Run Runaway.

Rockin' With The Hits (77 mb)

Various Artists - Rock's Greatest Hits (1972)

2011-06-07T13:25:00.005-02:30

Various Artists - Rock's Greatest Hits (1972)

Dating back to the 1950s, CBS, through Columbia House, issued hundreds of great samplers and box sets designed to show off it's gigantic roster, and Rock's Greatest Hits (issued in 1, 2, 3 and 4 LP configurations) is no exception. Covering virtually every genre of popular music, from Reggae to Folk, Progressive Rock to Baroque Pop (and everything in between!), it's all here. This particular version is the Triple LP set, three albums of ten cuts apiece.

Being a Columbia Musical Treasury product (better known for their gargantuan compilations of Classical and Jazz), the sound and manufacturing quality is second to none. I only paid 3 bucks for this (plus $9 S+H), but it was definitely worth every penny! My only regret is that it's not the four LP version, but all in all it's no big deal. It's also nice to have (mostly) all the original album versions, but for some reason a woefully hacked-up version of The Byrds' Turn Turn Turn is spliced on to the end; Makes you really wonder what audience they had in mind for that particular track.

CONTENTS:
Disc One
1. Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now
2. The Hollies - Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)
3. Loggins and Messina - The House At Pooh Corner
4. Santana - Oye Como Va
5. Blood, Sweat and Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy
6. Janis Joplin - Me And Bobby McGee
7. Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show - The Cover Of The Rolling Stone
8. Laura Nyro - Wedding Bell Blues
9. Scott McKenzie - San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)
10. David Bromberg - Sharon
11. Looking Glass - Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)
12. Redbone - Witch Queen Of New Orleans
13. The Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
14. Argent - Liar
15. Chi Coltrane - Thunder And Lightning

Disc Two
1. Mac Davis - Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me
2. The Yardbirds - Heart Full Of Soul
3. Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles - Them Changes
4. Sly And The Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
5. Mark Lindsay - Silver Bird
6. Argent - Hold Your Head Up
7. The Zombies - Time Of The Season
8. The Addrisi Brothers - We've Got To Get It On Again
9. Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes
10. Delaney And Bonnie - Only You Know and I Know
11. Pacific Gas And Electric - Are You Ready
12. Santana - Evil Ways
13. Paul Revere and The Raiders - Indian Reservation (Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)
14. Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man
15. The Byrds - Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There Is A Season).

For the terminally curious:
Here's the missing ten songs from the 4 LP version:
1. Donovan - Atlantis
2. Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show - Sylvia's Mother
3. Laura Nyro - Eli's Coming
4. Big Brother And The Holding Company - Piece Of My Heart
5. Ten Years After - I'd Love To Change The World
6. Sweathog - Hallelujah
7. Chase - Get It On
8. Poco - Pickin' Up The Pieces
9. The Buckinghams - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
10. Al Kooper and Stephen Stills - Season Of The Witch

Various Artists - Rock's Greatest Hits (131 mb)

Alexis Rose Radlin - Alexis (1974)

2011-06-03T12:01:00.001-02:30

Alexis Rose Radlin - Alexis (1974)

Alexis Rose Radlin (CANOE JAM! Music article)

Another great Diamond In The Rough. Alexis "Rose" Radlin was born in Windsor, Ontario (just south of Detroit) and was an accomplished Singer/Keyboardist/Guitarist. This, her debut album, features a surprising amount of talent: Robbie King (Keyboards, a well known sessioner), Clydie King (No relation, Vocals, known for her work with Dylan, Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, and others), Hal Blaine (Drums, who played on most of the Beach Boys' studio sessions in the early-mid 60s), Howard Leese (Guitars, best know as a longtime member of Heart), Mike Flicker and Rolf Henneman (Engineering, known for their work with Heart, Chilliwack and others). This is just a partial listing, but this speaks for itself nonetheless.

Many different styles are covered, from Blues, to Jazz, to Roots Rock, to Gospel, to a traditional Basque folk song. While the album itself was nominated for a Juno (Canada's Grammy) in 1975, Radlin's careet never reached such a height again. A couple of albums followed in the next several years (1978's similarly titled Alexis, recorded for RCI Records, and Fishing For Sanity, released on Moksa Records in the early 1990s), but virtually nothing was heard from her on the radio.

Unfortunately, Alexis "Rose" Radlin passed away on 28 February 2001. Her recorded legacy is sparse, but is nonetheless quite entertaining. If only there was an anthology or box set to honour her memory. Some years back, Alexis' brother Eric Radlin started a blog in her memory. While it's been slow moving, it still provides a small yet fascinating insight into her brief career.

contents:
1. Hands Across The Dining Room Table / 2. Everybody Knows / 3. Canada, You're A Lady / 4. Hey, I'm Just Crazy / 5. Do As You Will / 6. War Baby's Lament / 7. St. Loretta's Blues / 8. When I'm Dead And Gone / 9. Grandma's Song / 10. Provencal Patois.

Alexis Rose Radlin - Alexis (37 mb)

Vos Voisins - Holocauste à Montreal (1971)

2011-06-03T11:35:00.002-02:30

Vos Voisins - Holocauste à Montreal (1971)

Vos Voisins (Quebecois French for Your Neighbours) were a prog rock group from Montreal. Holocauste à Montreal is their first and only album, released by Polydor in 1971. The first editions feature a phony version of the tabloid Allo, Police with a pic of the band on the cover. Apparently this was considered controversial and Polydor withdrew the album, reissuing it with an innocent looking pic of a spray painted wall of a Montreal apartment complex. The title Holocauste à Montreal (Holocaust In Montreal) was also dropped and the album became self-titled.

Aside from that, the album is quite enjoyable. The music is heavy prog-rock, reminiscent of Atomic Rooster or Deep Purple. The lyrics are interesting (a lot of Quebec rock has Punk-ish lyrics, even when the music itself isn't!) and the musicianship is startlingly good, considering that the group put out this one LP 40 years ago and haven't been heard from since.

While there's nothing on the album that's disappointing, the true highlight of the album (for me, anyway) is the closing track, Le 3/4 De L'Archevèque (In English: The Archbishop Waltz), which is truly a stunner! The song bears more than a passing resemblance to ELP or Yes, and hardly sounds like something that might be associated with La Belle Province (or, for that matter, The Great White North).

contents:
1. Voisins (Mon Chum) (Neighbours) / 2. Sous La Lune (Under The Moon) / 3. L'Instrumental (The Instrumental) / 4. Tania / 5. Le Monstre De La Main (The Main Monster) / 6. Y'a Just De T'ca (There's Just That) / 7. Le 3/4 De L'Archevèque (The Archbishop Waltz).

Note: I don't speak French very well. I did my best getting the titles translated, but I'd still appreciate some feedback, preferably from Quebec or thereabouts, on this exercise.

Vos Voisins - Holocauste à Montreal (38 mb)

Various Artists - Canadian Gold (1987)

2011-05-28T17:02:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - Canadian Gold (1987)

If you loved Canadian mainstream radio in the mid 1980s, this is definitely the album for you!

Much of this album features songs that are still played on Classic Rock radio today, in Canada as well as various pockets of the USA and Europe. Some artists are still well known today (Tom Cochrane, Kim Mitchell, Honeymoon Suite, etc.), while others seem obscure by latter-day standards (Joey Gregorash, Idle Eyes, and Haywire, to name a few).

Listening to this gives me a distinct feel of being back in 1987, listening to most of these acts on OZ-FM (CHOZ, 94.7, St. John's), at the same time it wasn't what I was listening to at home, as those standards were perceived as quite mature for that age and era (Chicago, The Beatles, Yes, and The Police).

Here is a (partial) map of Canada that shows the origin of all the acts (numbered by album track) contained here. Placings are approximate but generally correct. (note: CLICK TO ENLARGE!)

contents:
1. Tom Cochrane And Red Rider - Boy Inside The Man
2. Rock And Hyde - Dirty Water
3. The Partland Brothers - Soul City
4. The Pursuit Of Happiness - I'm An Adult Now
5. Idle Eyes - Tokyo Rose
6. The Northern Pikes - Teenland
7. Kim Mitchell - Easy To Tame
8. Haywire - Dance Desire
9. The Box - Closer Together
10. Honeymoon Suite - What Does It Take
11. The Nylons - Kiss Him Goodbye
12. Luba - How Many (Rivers To Cross)
13. Zappacosta - Nothing Can Stand In Your Way
14. Billy Newton-Davis - Right Beside You
15. Rita MacNeil - Flying On Your Own
16. Joey Gregorash - Together (The New Wedding Song).

Various Artists - Canadian Gold (72 mb)

Syd Barrett - Wouldn't You Miss Me: The Best Of Syd Barrett (2001)

2011-05-26T18:33:00.003-02:30

Syd Barrett - Wouldn't You Miss Me: The Best Of Syd Barrett (2001)

Syd Barrett - Wouldn't You Miss Me: The Best Of Syd Barrett (Wikipedia Entry)

Syd Barrett - Wouldn't You Miss Me: The Best Of Syd Barrett (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Remember the weekend that Princess Diana was killed in a car accident? I do for three reasons: 1. The aforementioned auto wreck; 2. I started high school that following week; and 3. That weekend was when I first discovered the mastery of Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett.

As someone who grew up in a household that played alot of music from the 60s and 70s, I was kinda surprised to have not encountered anything quite like Syd's music. David Bowie, one of Barrett's biggest fans, tried to emulate him on his second album, 1969's Man Of Words, Man Of Music (Better known as Space Oddity), combining psychedelic visions with gentle folky roots.

In early 1968, Barrett had been asked by the other four members of Pink Floyd to stop performing on stage, in the hope that an enforced studio presence would result in a lower drug intake and a restoration of his creative powers. Initially, this appeared to work, but by March of that year Barrett had quit the group, apparently feeling stifled by this "studio-only" arrangement, reminiscent of one of Barrett's idols, Brian Wilson.

Several months of solo sessions followed soon after, resulting in three albums: The Madcap Laughs, Barrett, and Opel (a collection of out-takes from the firs two albums), all of which sold rather modestly, mostly to Pink Floyd fans. By 1972, Barrett had all but retired from professional music. A late-1974 session at Abbey Road (while Pink Floyd were next door recording Wish You Were Here), which rumours link Bowie and David Gilmour to, produced almost nothing, and certainly not enough for either singles or an album. Unfortunately, this would be the last material recorded by Barrett in his lifetime. Barrett passed away from Cancer and Diabetes at his home in Cambridge, England on 7 July 2006.

While a number of licensed (by EMI) compilations have appeared over the years, this is apparently the first real career retrospective that the label itself released. two tracks had never been released to the public at large, taken from the personal tape collections of Gilmour and John Peel (who himself passed away in 2004), make their album debut here. A truly great collection to introduce anyone to the Crazy Diamond himself.

Syd Barrett - Wouldn't You Miss Me: The Best Of Syd Barrett (81 mb)

Squeeze - Singles-45's And Under (1982)

2011-05-26T18:12:00.001-02:30

Squeeze - Singles-45's And Under (1982)

Squeeze - Singles-45's And Under (Wikipedia Entry)

Squeeze - Singles-45's And Under (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Nowadays, Squeeze are basically remembered for four songs: Take Me, I'm Yours; Cool For Cats; Pulling Muscles (From The Shell); and Tempted. This compilation, made just as the group were coming apart at the seams, contains all four, plus eight others, highlighting their first era from 1978-1982.

While I do love this album (my vinyl copy does get played quite a bit, in spite of the fact that I've only owned it for a couple of months), I'm the first to admit that it's not the group's best compilation (that's The Big Squeeze, a two disc set with 20 or so singles on one disc and their corresponding b-sides on the other). and, of course, given that it came out in 1982, Squeeze's second (1985-1999) and third (2007-present) eras are obviously absent. Consider this one more of a taster or introduction to an extremely entertaining group.

Squeeze - Singles-45's And Under (49 mb)

Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man (1972)

2011-05-26T17:49:00.001-02:30

Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man (1972)

Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man (Wikipedia Entry)

Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man (Allmusic Guide Entry)

In the late 60s-early 70s, a popular activity for established acts was to try composing soundtracks for films, and Marvin Gaye was no exception. As an established multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, soundtracks seemed the next logical step for Gaye, and Trouble Man was his first attempt.

Admittedly, the album songs less like I Heard It Through The Grapevine than, say, a Miles Davis LP. Gaye's classic soul sound is largely absent in favour of a style combining Blues, Funk and some light Jazz, with no love songs and only one full track with vocals (tho several have vocal flourishes). Given these factors, many fans didn't know exactly how to react to it's release. Initially, it was found that many listeners (ie Top 40 fans) had a hard time staying with it, while other listeners (especially musicians, classical and jazz fans, and the like) had latched onto it from the get-go.

The album also captured the critics' imaginations, unlike the film, which, while it turned a small profit, was no different than a dozen other blaxpoitation flicks of the same era. Today, Trouble Man, along with it's predecessor, What's Going On, are among Gaye's best transitional catalog entries, and with good reason, and he had begun to flex his creative muscles like never before.

Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man (43 mb)

Private Eye - Private Eye (1979)

2011-05-26T17:30:00.001-02:30

Private Eye - Private Eye (1979)

Private Eye - Private Eye (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Although Toronto's Private Eye were by no means an extremely popular act, they did produce at least one memorable single (Your Place Or Mine, #51 US Pop, 1980), and had links to two extremely culty Canadian groups, A Foot In Coldwater (for which vocalist/guitar Hughie Leggat played bass in the early 70s) and The Wonderful Grand Band (which drummer Paul "Boomer" Stamp would join following P/E's breakup)

Apart from YPOM, the album is a surpisingly spry group of hard rockers with a few gentle ballads thrown in for good measure. Given the highs and lows of Canadian Rock around this time (think Chilliwack for the former and Parachute Club for the latter), this could've been both a lot better and a lot worse, but is fairly entertaining, nonetheless.

Private Eye - Private Eye (39 mb)

Various Artists - Midnight (1985)

2011-05-26T17:18:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - Midnight (1985)

And now, a companion piece to This Is Rock, dedicated primarily to love songs.

Midnight is one of the better Polytels of this period, with a strong lineup including Bryan Adams, Amy Grant, REO Speedwagon, Kool And The Gang, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow (Twice!) and (GASP!) Hall And Oates.

Admittedly, I didn't like most of these acts the first time around, 20+ years ago, but music tastes often do change. I've got a cousin who grew up on Metallica, The Clash, Megadeth and Suicidal Tendencies, but who is now a Dwight Yoakum fan. I guess there's simply no accounting for taste. =P

Once again, special thanks goes to my brother, who lent this for the rip.

UPDATE (31 JAN 2012): I finally figured out who Baron Longfellow is. It's Andy Kim(!) Guess he was trying out a porn name in case his career finally bit the dust... =P

contents:
1. Kool And The Gang - Cherish
2. Bryan Adams - Heaven
3. Sade - Smooth Operator
4. Amy Grant - Find A Way
5. Dionne Warwick with Barry Manilow - Run To Me
6. Katrina And The Wave - Do You Want Crying
7. Aretha Franklin - Freeway Of Love
8. Godley And Creme - Cry
9. REO Speedwagon - One Lonely Night
10. Ray Parker Jr. - Jamie
11. Dennis De Young - Desert Moon
12. Baron Longfellow - Hold Me
13. Barry Manilow - Paradise Cafe
14. Hall And Oates - Method Of Modern Love.

Various Artists - Midnight (66 mb)

Various Artists - This Is Rock (1985)

2011-05-24T15:17:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - This Is Rock (1985)

Once again, we are forced to confront a possible case of false advertising. Fortunately, this album passes with flying colours!

An LP's worth of great mid-80s fodder for all to enjoy. From the songs that are still classics today (Dire Straits, Supertramp, The Kinks and Hall & Oates, who are apparently on every Polytel compilation album!) to the releases that remain obscure even now (John Cafferty, who did the Eddie & The Cruisers soundtrack, and Blende Metz, who I don't even remember at all!), there's some really great listening here.

Special thanks to my brother, who allowed me to borrow this out of his collection. This one's for you, Dave.

contents:
1. Dire Straits - Walk Of Life
2. Hall and Oates - Out Of Touch
3. Paul Hyde and The Payola$ - You're The Only One
4. Kim Mitchell - Go For Soda
5. Platinum Blonde - Not In Love
6. Triumph - Follow Your Heart
7. The Kinks - Do It Again
8. Supertramp - Cannonball
9. Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
10. John Cafferty - On The Dark Side
11. Bryan Adams - Run To You
12. Survivor - High On You
13. Blende Metz - What About Me
14. The Alan Parsons Project - Prime Time
15. Steve Perry - Oh Sherrie
16. Pat Benatar - We Belong.

Various Artists - This Is Rock (66 mb)

Various Artists - Rock '91 (1991)

2011-05-24T15:02:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - Rock '91 (1991)

By 1991, the Rock series from K-Tel/Polytel was in the throes of death, and yet managed a more-than-respectable lineup of songs, even the ones by artists I didn't like!

As far as I can tell, the Rock series ended with this entry, but at least it went out with a bang rather than a whimper. Considering how banal the talent on the go at that time was, it's really a wonder than this album actually did work. EVEN WITH VANILLA ICE!

As a final note, it's always nice to see the veterans (Hall & Oates, Styx, Robert Palmer) performing alongside the rookies (Lenny Kravitz and a pre-Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette)

contents:
1. Glass Tiger - Animal Heart
2. Robert Palmer - Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You
3. .38 Special - The Sound Of Your Voice
4. Susanna Hoffs - My Side Of The Bed
5. World On Edge - Wash The Rain
6. Paul Young - Oh Girl
7. Alias - Waiting For Love
8. Glenn Frey - Part Of You, Part Of Me
9. Lenny Kravitz - It Ain`t Over `Til It`s Over
10. Styx - Show Me The Way
11. Wilson Phillips - Impulsive
12. Hall & Oates - Don`t Hold Back Your Love
13. Candi and The Backbeat - Friends Forever
14. Alanis Morissette - Too Hot
15. West End Girls - Not Like Kissing You
16. Vanilla Ice - Play That Funky Music.

Various Artists - Rock '91 (80 mb)

Various Artists - Rock '85 (1985)

2011-05-24T14:51:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - Rock '85 (1985)

Rock '85 was one of the strongest entries in the (then) seemingly never ending series from K-Tel/Polytel. It was also (IMHO) the beginning of the end of this once great brand. The next couple of entries would be tough slogging through for many fans (although, in it's defense, it did bring forth a whole new generation of fans in itself), reminding people just how good this one (and it's predecessors) were.

As usual (remember the year!), this is an above average compilation of various Pop and New Wave acts with a little of everything for everyone. Tune out the world and tune in this relaxing trip back 25+ years. You'll be glad you did!

contents:
1. Duran Duran - The Reflex
2. The Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
3. Kenny Loggins - Footloose
4. The Thompson Twins - Doctor! Doctor!
5. The Go Go's - Head Over Heels
6. Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
7. Ray Parker, Jr. - Ghostbusters
8. Quiet Riot - Cum On Feel The Noize
9. Steve Perry - Oh Sherrie
10. Nik Kershaw - Wouldn`t It Be Good
11. The Fixx - One Thing Leads To Another
12. Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride
13. The Romantics - Talking In Your Sleep
14. Nena - 99 Red Balloons
15. Corey Hart - Sunglasses At Night
16. Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run).

Various Artists - Rock '85 (65 mb)

Elton John - The Superior Sound Of Elton John (1970-1975) (1983)

2011-05-24T14:42:00.001-02:30

Elton John - The Superior Sound Of Elton John (1970-1975) (1983)

Elton John - The Superior Sound Of Elton John (1970-1975) (Allmusic Guide Entry)

In 1983, with the emergence of Digital Technology, Gus Dudgeon attempted to remix several personal favourites of his and Elton's on DAT, which, while not entirely successful, did create a unique package that soon went out of print. As a result of this, the finished product was only available for a limited time, back over 25 years ago.

While a few of the songs just sound a bit clearer, others have noticeably (make that VERY NOTICEABLY) different mixes. If you're looking for something completely groundbreaking and unexpected, you're probably not going to find it here, but you do end up with a refreshingly different (well, at least in 1983) album that is quite entertaining.

Oh, and PS Check out some of the deep cuts included!

Elton John - The Superior Sound Of Elton John (1970-1975) (71 mb)

Nirvana - BBC Sessions (1992)

2011-05-24T14:34:00.001-02:30

Nirvana - BBC Sessions (1992)

Nirvana (Wikipedia Entry)

Nirvana (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Between 26 Oct 1989 and 9 Nov 1991, Nirvana record four sessions for BBC radio:

26 Oct 1989, John Peel Session, Broadcast 22 Nov 1989
21 Oct 1990, John Peel Session, Broadcast 3 Nov 1991
3 Sept 1991, John Peel Session, Broadcast 3 Nov 1991
9 Nov 1991, Mark Goodier Session, Broadcast 18 Nov 1991

These sessions were all archived at the BBC and thus have managed to leak to the public at large, which is fantastic!

The Oct 1990 and Nov 1991 sessions wound up being released on the Nirvana compilation Incesticide and on a B-Side, so at least those fans know what they're in store for. Clocking in at 50 minutes, it's simply time well spent. Sound quality is great, the performances are excellent, and the group is really on top of their game here.

Contents:

1. Love Buzz / 2. Spank Thru / 3. About A Girl / 4. Polly / 5. Molly's Lips / 6. Son Of A Gun / 7. Turnaround / 8. D-7 / 9. Aneurysm / 10. Been A Son / 11. Something In The Way / 12. (New Wave) Polly / 13. Dumb / 14. Drain You / 15. Endless, Nameless.

Nirvana - BBC Sessions (56 mb)

Various Artists - High Voltage (1981)

2011-05-14T09:32:00.005-02:30

Various Artists - High Voltage (1981)

Front

Back

Chris Evans

*SIGH* Oh, where did they come up with these names? The reason I ask is because with a title like High Voltage, it seems to imply some kind of hard rock or heavy metal compilation, which this certainly isn't! Not that it's completely terrible, because there are some truly entertaining songs here, including material by The Police, XTC, Split Enz, Prism, and Alan Parsons.

Previously, this album was apparently owned by Chris Evans. I don't have a clue who that is, but evidently he (or she) really must have loved it, as she (or he) managed to write his (or her) name on it over two dozen times on the front and back (pic, right). Fortunately, the disc is in far better shape than the jacket, which looks like a wall in an alley in Detroit.

Anyway, needless to say, I was sufficiently impressed enough with this that I just had to share it with the world. Enjoy!.

contents:
1. Martha And The Muffins - Echo Beach
2. Split Enz - I Got You
3. The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me
4. The Babys - Turn And Walk Away
5. XTC - Making Plans For Nigel
6. The Outlaws - (Ghost) Riders In The Sky
7. Michael Stanley Band - He Can't Love You
8. Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot
9. Blondie - The Tide Is High
10. Cliff Richard - Dreaming
11. Anne Murray - Could I Have This Dance
12. Kim Carnes - Cry Like A Baby
13. Prism - Cover Girl
14. Neilsen Pearson Band - If You Should Sail
15. Alan Parsons Project - Games People Play
16. Air Supply - All Out Of Love.

High Voltage (62 mb)

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Another One Rides the Bus (1980)

2011-04-30T23:16:00.002-02:30

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Another One Rides the Bus (1980)

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Another One Rides the Bus (Wikipedia Entry)

For fans of the great "Weird Al", I dug this interesting item up. It's Yankovic's first EP, plus both sides of his debut single as bonuses.

The sound is crude and rudimentary, but is nonetheless very entertaining. Of the six tracks included here, four have never officially been reissued. Judging from the sound it's painfully obvious that this was recorded on an extremely low budget, but fortunately the delivery more than makes up for it.

It's also interesting to note that three songs were recorded for Yankovic's debut album in 1983, which also included the title track was also in it's raw original form. The closer, High School Cafeteria, is truly one of the all-time great lost tracks!

CONTENTS:

1. Another One Rides The Bus / 2. Happy Birthday / 3. Gotta Boogie / 4. Mr. Frump In The Iron Lung / 5. My Bologna / 6. High School Cafeteria.

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Another One Rides the Bus (16 mb)

Various Artists - 24 Electrifying Hits (1970)

2011-04-23T03:18:00.001-02:30

Various Artists - 24 Electrifying Hits (1970)

At a garage sale last summer, I picked this up for A Buck. Initially, my mother asked me to rip it for her to listen to, which I did, but, I was impressed at some of the acts being so obscure as to make one question why K-Tel would ever put them on an album in the first place. Obviously, tho, it's not true of all of the acts, with some major hits included.

After posting a couple of K-Tels over the last month or two, I came across this again and decided that it definitely needs to be heard, so without further adieu, here's 24 Electrifying Hits, not to be confused by any other K-Tel compilations featuring a double digit number and overly positive Adjective preceding the word Hits.

contents:
1. Shocking Blue - Venus
2. The Tee Set - Ma Belle Amie
3. Tommy James and The Shodells - She
4. The Cufflinks - When Julie Comes Around
5. Jay and The Americans - Walkin' In The Rain
6. Bill Deal and The Rhondels - What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am
7. The Illusion - Together
8. Oliver - Sunday Mornin'
9. Harlow Wilcox - Groovy Grubworm
10. Andy Kim - So Good Together
11. The Clique - Sparkle and Shine
12. The Guess Who - Laughing
13. Tommy James and The Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion
14. Gainborough Gallery - Life Is A Song
15. Dionne Warwick - Walk On By
16. The Rascals - Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore
17. The Righteous Brothers - You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
18. The Cowsills - The Rain, The Park And Other Things
19. The Bee Gees - To Love Somebody
20. The Turtles - Lady-O
21. The Clique - I'll Hold Out My Hand
22. The Animals - House Of The Rising Sun
23. The Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In The City
24. Vanilla Fudge - You Keep Me Hangin' On.

Various Artists - 24 Electrifying Hits (73 mb)

Michael Giles - Progress (1978)

2011-04-23T02:25:00.001-02:30

Michael Giles - Progress (1978)

Michael Giles - Progress (Wikipedia Entry)

Michael Giles - Progress (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Most of the early King Crimson side/solo projects sound little like the group. Robert Fripp's album are very Ambient flavoured, Greg Lake's work in ELP is far louder, while Ian McDonald and Boz Burrell's outside work (Foreigner and Bad Company, respectively) are not even of the Progressive Rock genre.

The one exception to all of this has been original drummer Michael Giles, first with McDonald/Giles (including Ian McDonald, Peter Giles and Steve Winwood, among others) and later on this exceptionally good solo outing, recorded in 1978 but not released until 2002. This album sounds like a lost Crimson album, and yet manages to avoid collaboration with other former KC bandmates, with the exception of kid brother Peter, who plays bass on half the songs. Another bit worth mentioning is that Michael Giles also provides the lead vocals, unusual for a progressive rock drummer, save for Phil Collins.

The reason for a two dozen year lapse in release is equally interesting. Apparently, after the album was completed and mixed, Michael Giles apparently decided to shelve it, waiting for when the time was Just Right for it to be released. Personally, the only thing that seems wrong is that it was a prog album made at the height of Disco and Punk. If the album had been recorded in, say, 1972, it would've been great right on completion, but by the late 70s, most of art-rock's zing had long since passed, with only a few of the genre's great acts still at their peak.

This album, when I came across it, proved to be a quite pleasant surprise. Any fan of the 1969-1974 lineups of King Crimson will definitely love this. It's still mind-boggling that it took over two decades to get to stores, but it was definitely worth it!

Michael Giles - Progress (48 mb)

Howard Shore - Scanners (1980)

2011-04-22T15:52:00.003-02:30

Howard Shore - Scanners (1980)

Howard Shore (Wikipedia Entry)

Howard Shore (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Howard Shore is a prolific composer of movie soundtracks. In his career, he has been a member of Lighthouse, the original musical director of Saturday Night Live from 1975-1980, eventually working his way up to multiple Oscars for the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. But before all of this mega-fame, Shore composed an intriguing soundtrack to a little film with exploding heads called Scanners

It has often been told of how fellow Canuck Lorne Michaels lured him to New York with the promise of some work on a late-night variety show shortly after the disbanding of Lighthouse, but by 1979 David Cronenberg had lured him back North to write his soundtracks. This, then, was his second film score (after The Brood). Mixing electronica with orchestral music, this has long been a favourite of mine and led me to discover just how many films Shore has participated in.

Since then, of course, Shore has tallied up Four Grammys, Three Oscars, and Two Golden Globes, and has worked with everyone from Martin Scorsese and Tim Burton to Kevin Smith and David Fincher. This early work contrasts nicely with his full orchestral works of recent.

Contents:
1. Main Title/Public Scanning / 2. Head Full of Strangers / 3. An Explosive Demonstration Part 1 / 4. An Explosive Demonstration Part 2 / 5. An Explosive Demonstration Part 3 / 6. Revok in Custody / 7. Doctor Ruth / 8. Keller Observing / 9. Train Station / 10. Secret Meeting / 11. Rehabilitation Through Art / 12. The Exhibition / 13. Assassins in the Barn / 14. Vale's Lonely Walk / 15. Welcome / 16. The Focus Group / 17. Record Shop / 18. Vale Calls Doctor Ruth / 19. Helicopter / 20. Interrogating Kim / 21. Ripe Program / 22. Vale and Kim Escape / 23. Scanning the Computer / 24. Initiate Self-Destruct / 25. Countryside / 26. Scanned by an Embryo / 27. Captured / 28. Scanner Duel/End Title.

Howard Shore - Scanners (65 mb)

David Bowie - Dallas, 27 April 1983 (1983)

2011-04-22T05:08:00.001-02:30

David Bowie - Dallas, 27 April 1983 (1983)

David Bowie (Wikipedia Entry)

David Bowie (Allmusic Guide Entry)

In 1983, David Bowie recorded what many regard as his finest album of that decade, Let's Dance (some argue for Scary Monsters, which is equally good in a totally different way), and, Like You Would, hit the road to promote it. In Dallas, someone was smart enough to record the Sound Check and Rehearsal so that one can appreciate the band's sound without having to listen over 60,000 screaming fans.

Bowie (on Vocals, Guitar, and Sax) is joined by frequent collaborators Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick (Guitars), Chic's Tony Thompson (Drums), Carmine Rojas (Bass), Dave Lebolt (Keyboards), the three prong attack of Steve Elson, Stan Harrison and Tower Of Power's Lenny Pickett (Saxophones), rounded out by George and Frank Simms (Backing Vocals).

This would've made a terrific release, but at the same time one has to remember that a live album seems pretty pointless when there's no audience to appreciate it, with the possible exception of Pink Floyd's Live At Pompeii, although admittedly that was a much different situation.

Also, for die-hard Bowie fans, the lineup is practically a fan's dream list.

Contents:
DISC ONE
1. Star / 2. Heroes / 3. What In The World / 4. Look Back In Anger / 5. Joe The Lion / 6. Wild Is The Wind / 7. Golden Years / 8. Fashion / 9. Let's Dance / 10. Red Sails / 11. Breaking Glass / 12. Life On Mars? / 13. Sorrow / 14. Cat People / 15. China Girl / 16. Scary Monsters / 17. Rebel, Rebel / 18. I Can't Explain

DISC TWO
1. White Light/White Heat / 2. Station To Station / 3. Cracked Actor / 4. Ashes To Ashes / 5. Space Oddity / 6. Young Americans / 7. Soul Love / 8. Hang On To Yourself / 9. Fame / 10. TVC 15 / 11. Stay / 12. The Jean Genie / 13. Modern Love / 14. Life On Mars? (Take 1).

David Bowie - Dallas, 27 April 1983 (155 mb)

Bob McBride - Here To Sing (1978)

2011-04-22T04:36:00.003-02:30

Bob McBride - Here To Sing (1978)

Bob McBride (Wikipedia Entry)

Bob McBride was a kid who grew up in Toronto and was tapped to join Lighthouse in 1970 as lead vocalist. From there, McBride's voice graced such tunes as One Fine Morning, Sunny Days, Take It Slow (Out In The Country), You Girl, and Can You Feel It. McBride's voice was an essential component of the group's sound, as much as Paul Hoffert's Piano, Howie Shore's Sax, or Skip Prokop's Drums.

Unfortunately, McBride became addicted to drugs, which led to missed sessions, erratic behaviour, and his eventual dismissal from the lineup. Addiction-fuelled health problems would plague McBride for the rest of his life, leading to a premature death from heart failure at the relatively young age of 51.

In between Lighthouse's disbanding in 1974 and their first reunion (featuring McBride back on lead vocals) in 1982, McBride teamed up with Hoffert (serving as arranger), and the Production/Engineering team of Jack Richardson and Brian Christian (The Guess Who, Alice Cooper, Kiss, and many MANY others!), and put together this nice solo album. At least two songs on it (the two covers, of the Beach Boys hit Sail On, Sailor and the 60s classic My World Is Empty Without You), could almost be mistaken for lost Lighthouse tunes. While the sound of some of the album has inevitably dated (check out the Disco-meets-Burton Cummings of Moonlight Dancer!), it remains an intriguing mix of AM and FM friendly stuff, including the doo-wop number You Send Me, which sounds like an out-take from Frank Zappa's Cruising with Ruben & the Jets.

Given the fact that I got this for 49 Cents(!) at my local Sally Ann store, I feel that I definitely got my money's worth!

This one's for you, Bob... Wherever you are!

Contents:
1. Mother's Upbringing / 2. My World Is Empty Without You / 3. You Send Me / 4. The Day The Flowers Left / 5. Light Of Love / 6. Sail On, Sailor / 7. Love Is A Four Letter Word / 8. Moonlight Dancer / 9. Quiet Moments.

Bob McBride - Here To Sing (43 mb)

Various Artists - Country Legends (1987)

2011-04-21T21:34:00.005-02:30

Various Artists - Country Legends (1987)

It's a fact: I hate the dreck that is played on today's Country Music stations, and it's no wonder! Some jerk in a cowboy hat talking about how his woman left him, burned down his house, shot his dog, and stole his boots. or, some girl who's lonely and wondering when her baby's coming back (probably never if he's the guy from the previous song!)

Here I present a One Dollar purchase at the local Sally Ann store. A two record set of the Country equivalent of a classic rock station. The album certainly lives up to it's title, with Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Marty Robbins, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Waylon Jennings, amongst others (tho Hank Williams and Dolly Parton are suspiciously absent!).

With these two dozen acts lined up perfectly, it sure beats crap like Garth Brooks (should've retired decades ago!), Taylor Swift (best pornstar name on a non-pornstar) and Lady Antebellum (I don't care how many grammys they won, that whole ceremony is a sham, and here's why: Elvis Presley only won for gospel recordings, tho it was 3 years in a row, and The Beatles managed a single measly award, Sgt. Pepper for 1967's Album Of The Year).

Contents:
1. Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
2. Charley Pride - All I Have To Offer You (Is Me)
3. Waylon Jennings - Good Hearted Woman
4. George Jones - The Grand Tour
5. Loretta Lynn - Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
6. Conway Twitty - Hello Darlin'
7. Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man
8. Jim Reeves - He'll Have To Go
9. Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
10. Hank Snow - I Don't Hurt Any More
11. Freddie Fender - Wasted Days And Wasted Nights
12. Eddy Arnold - Cattle Call
13. Johnny Cash - Ring Of Fire
14. Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans
15. Stonewall Jackson - Waterloo
16. Webb Pierce - Slowly
17. Kitty Wells - Heartbreak U.S.A.
18. Bobby Helms - Fraulein
19. Ray Price - Crazy Arms
20. Marty Robbins - El Paso
21. Don Gibson - Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Hank Locklin - Geisha Girl
23. Bill Anderson - Still
24. Lefty Frizzell - Saginaw, Michigan.

Various Artists - Country Legends (72 mb)

Al Stewart - Love Chronicles (1969)

2011-04-20T21:42:00.004-02:30

Al Stewart - Love Chronicles (1969)

Al Stewart - Love Chronicles (Wikipedia Entry)

Al Stewart - Love Chronicles (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Years before making a splash with 1976's Year Of The Cat, Al Stewart came up with this intriguing little album (his second). It featured Jimmy Page on guitar and walked away with Rolling Stone's Folk Album Of The Year award, but the most interesting part about it is the lyrics.

Every song tells a little story, with the trials and tribulations of love and romance in a modern context. Best of all, the 18 minute title track, basically a summing-up of the protagonist's romantic (and eventual sex) life, from the first girl he ever crushed on, up to fairly recently (covering the early 50s onward). The song is quite frank, and frankly has him revealing what probably amounts to more than you'd want to know about Al Stewart's bedroom experience.

Also included are some pretty sad love songs, and Velvet Underground-meets-Fairport Convention of Life And Life Only, on which Fairport members Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol and Martin Lamble back Stewart incognito!

In any case, this is the album that initially established him, back in the days when he recorded for CBS and apparently hadn't met Alan Parsons yet. The music is softer but the lyrics are rougher than his better known late 70s output. At least I enjoyed it.

Update (1 May 2011): I have replaced the CD version with my own vinyl rip, having rediscovered that (GASP!) I own this LP. Actually, what intrigued me is that the separation and placement of the instruments is clearly different that on the CD version. Any insights into this?

Al Stewart - Love Chronicles (48 mb)

Hey Cats!

2011-04-16T12:52:00.000-02:30

What's up?

I apologize for being tardy on posts in the last few days.

I've been busy going through a couple of dozen new albums and singles I've come into possession of. Most of 'em will be up eventually, it's mostly a matter of what order to proceed in. Here's a sample of what's here:

-M/A/R/R/S - Pump Up The Volume cassette, containing both the single and extended mixes of both tracks (Pump Up The Volume and Anitina).

-Rod McKuen - Pastorale vinyl. Found this double set at Sally Ann, paid 99 Cents for it. The 12 page full-picture book inside is in immaculate condition, and the vinyl's pretty quiet (if a bit dusty =P

-Bob McBride - Here To Sing vinyl. McBride (1946-1998) was the longtime lead singer of Lighthouse. This solo album is apparently long OOP and remains a favourite of Canadian collectors.

-Various Artists - Canadian Mint 8-track cartridge. This 1974 K-Tel compilation has gotten a few requests already this year and will be one of the first posted as soon as I finish refurbishing the tape. (remember, this is a format notorious for physical damage and decomposition, and the tape itself is at least 35 years old besides!)

-Various Artists - Rock's Greatest Hits vinyl. This triple vinyl Columbia Music Treasury was released in 1976 and contains 30 classic hits (all on various CBS labels, natch!) from the late 60s and early 70s. When I got this and saw the condition, I nearly fainted! It looks like it just came out of the original plastic! Even the original (paper) inner sleeves are intact! WOW!

-Various Artists - A LOT OF K-TEL'S on vinyl! This one's definitely going to be an eenie-meanie-minie-mo. There's quite a few good ones here, including High Voltage, Full Tilt, and another generic name that escapes me for the moment.

I do have other stuff ready to go, but I just haven't had the chance to finish the reviews. Once again, I thank you for your patience in this matter, and hope you will continue to enjoy the contents of this blog for future generations to come.

(Oh, and P.S. Thanks for letting me get away with those goofy "definition" links. I'm bored to death here on a friday night and I need a cheap laugh!)

(P.P.S. The Album I forgot was Radio-Active. Who came up with these names, anyway??)

Weather Report - Live In Tokyo (1972)

2011-04-11T20:06:00.002-02:30

Weather Report - Live In Tokyo (1972)

Weather Report - Live In Tokyo (Wikipedia Entry)

Weather Report - Live In Tokyo (Allmusic Guide Entry)

In 1972, Weather Report released their second LP, I Sing The Body Electric, which consisted of one side of new studio tracks, and one side excerpting a live set recorded 13 Jan 1972 in Japan. While the editing is seamless on the live set, it truly was a concert that is best heard in it's entirety.

The complete concert was released (in Japan only!) around the same time as ISTBE, and many people feel that it's actually the superior album. A great album consisting mostly of jams, or regular songs stretched into jams, the entire set consists of only five tracks. Although it would be a few years before Jaco Pastorius would join as bassist, the group are in top form here, playing very tightly, in spite of the average song length topping 17(!) minutes.

If (like yours truly) you never got the chance to see them in concert, you can do a lot worse than this. If this intrigues you, I also highly recommend Live And Unreleased, an excellent compilation of live sides recorded at various venues between 1975 and 1983. While it is somewhat different than this, it gives a good look at the Jaco years on stage.

Weather Report - Live In Tokyo (101 mb)

REO Speedwagon - Live: You Get What You Play For (1977)

2011-04-05T12:21:00.001-02:30

REO Speedwagon - Live: You Get What You Play For (1977)

REO Speedwagon - Live: You Get What You Play For (Wikipedia Entry)

REO Speedwagon - Live: You Get What You Play For (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Remember when REO Speedwagon were good? You'd be surprised by how many people have said NO! to this question.

The sad fact here is that a once great hard rock band decided to make a stylistic change that, while it did secure them financially, cost them any critical standing they once had. A great run from 1971-1978 with lots of great rock songs and some pretty decent jamming contrasts somewhat uncomfortably with 1979-1990, filled with gushy ballads and whiny lyrics.

REO's first live album, YGWYPF was originally released as a double LP on Epic in 1977. In the late 80s, an edited version was issued on CD, disappointing fans everywhere. In observance of this fact, I've included a cleaned up version of the vinyl that I found on Usenet several years ago. This version restores the group's cover of Chuck Berry's Little Queenie and includes a complete Side Three, with all the solos intact. These things are what made the original album great in the first place.

REO Speedwagon - Live: You Get What You Play For (91 mb)

The Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid (1978)

2011-04-05T12:02:00.001-02:30

The Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid (1978)

The Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid (Wikipedia Entry)

The Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid (Allmusic Guide Entry)

This was one of the first albums I remember buying as a kid.

Several years back in St. John's, there was an excellent antique shop called The Curiosity Shop (photo courtesy of Butler Framing Gallery), located at the corner of Gower and Prescott. Although many remember it chiefly as a treasure trove of old household goods and Super-8 projectors, it also boasted one of the largest vinyl collections for sale on the island.

Over the years, I purchased everything from The Beach Boys' Spirit Of America to King Crimson's In The Wake Of Poseidon from their excellent selection, as well as several really fun 45s that I still listen to regularly. From my Buddah copy of Genesis' Nursery Cryme to my rare Apple pressing of Lon And Derrek Van Eaton's Brother, they all saw the light of day there.

Around 1990, I walked in one day after school with a couple of bucks that I begged out of my mom, and came across this bizarre-looking album with all this stuff about Pyramids. I'd heard of The Alan Parsons Project by this point, and the price ($2) was right, so I brought it home and listened to it. I was so amazed by the minimalist approach to the album, which I'd never heard before. I was also awestruck by the perfect seguing between songs, which seem to make bizarre stylistic jumps but did so in a dream-like fashion.

Over the years, this has remained my favourite of APP's albums and has resulted in a since-wise critical admiration of the collective. And, of course, Parsons' work in the employ of The Beatles and Pink Floyd has cemented that reputation ever further.

The Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid (71 mb)

Mushroom Records

2011-04-01T01:06:00.004-02:30

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!!
(*cough*) (*cough*) Ahem. Okay, now to some more serious business.

I have been working for some time on putting together a compilation of a vastly under appreciated record label, Vancouver, BC's Mushroom Records.

Set up initially as the business arm of Vancouver's Can-Base studio (soon to be renamed Mushroom), the label is probably best remembered today as the original label of Seattle hard rockers Heart. Mushroom released around 15 albums and probably around 40 or so singles during it's lifespan of 1973-1980.

The story of the label's demise is both sad and true: label head Shelley Siegel had signed Heart in 1975 to a two record deal that apparently carried a very low rate of return on song royalties (remember, this was a Western Canadian indie label in the mid 1970s), which would soon cause a major interpersonal scuffle between the label and the group when Mushroom refused to renegotiate the group's contract in the wake of their best-selling debut, Dreamboat Annie.

Heart, meanwhile, signed a new contract with LA-based Portrait Records, a subsidiary of CBS. In retaliation, Mushroom rush-released Heart's then unfinished Magazine album, in turn resulting in a legal case and a large recall of the LP. The court defeat and the recall effectively killed the label, with many albums, if they managed to reach stores, barely being promoted, if at all.

Shelley Siegel died on 17 January 1979 from a brain aneurysm at the age of 32. Many have speculated that the stress from the court case and impending closure of the label led to his premature death.

Another casualty of the label's sudden demise: Most of the label's master tapes have apparently been missing for decades. A half-dozen of so of Chilliwack's songs were remastered for the group's 1983 Greatest Hits anthology, Segue. Heart's two albums were claimed on behalf of the group by Capitol Records when they moved there in 1985. According to one story, Heart's masters were saved when label Producer Mike Flicker departed the label and apparently took the tapes with him.

In the meantime, I have been trying to collect as many recordings issued by the label as I can lay my hands on, but there are still a few that seem to be nowhere in existance. Here's a partial list of what I'm seeking:

Singles:
~~Alexis - Everybody Knows b/w Canada You're a Lady. Mushroom M 7004, 1974~~
Songbird - Dirty Work b/w Bonus Plus. Mushroom M 7005, 1974.
Richard Stepp - Chasing a Dream b/w You on My Mind. Mushroom M 7010, 1976.
Spring - I Wish I Could Forget b/w Strut McGurk. Mushroom M 7012. 1976.
Chilliwack - California Girl b/w Reach. Mushroom M 7022. 1976.
Heart - Heartless b/w Just the Wine. Mushroom M 7031, 1978.
~~Rick Dees - Chantilly Lace. Mushroom M 7048, 1979.~~

LPs:
~~Alexis - S/T. MRS 5001. 1974.~~
~~Paul Horn - A Special Edition. MRS 5502. 1975.~~
New World Electronic Chamber Ensemble - Switched on Beatles. MRS 5003. 1976.
~~Paul Horn - Inside the Great Pyramid. MRS 5007. 1977.~~
Heart - Magazine. MRS 5008. 1978. (Withdrawn First Printing with disclaimer).
~~Paul Horn - Dream Machine. Mushroom MRS 5010. 1978~~

Anybody out there who might have good quality transfers of these, if you could let me know, it would be greatly appreciated. (or, if you're feeling really generous, you could lend me the original discs for transcription. =)

Once again, if anyone has copies of these and can make a transcription of them or (like I said, if you're feeling really generous) can lend me a copy, I would be forever wholly grateful.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide.

(oh, and we now return you to your regularly scheduled blog entry.)

Toto - Toto IV (1982)

2011-03-30T05:30:00.001-02:30

Toto - Toto IV (1982)

Toto - Toto IV (Wikipedia Entry)

Toto - Toto IV (Allmusic Guide Entry)

And now, a brief trip back to my childhood.

Growing up, my family had this on vinyl twice (a feat ironically matched only by Chicago 13), and both albums received a lot of play in those years. It was (literally) the music I was raised on.

Toto was founded in Los Angeles in the late 1970s by a group of musicians who had played together in various bands throughout their youth and high school years. In due time, all had served as sessioners in various acts around the LA music scene, when they found themselves as a group for the first time, officially, on Boz Scaggs' 1976 album Silk Degrees (also an album of my childhood), on which they most notably backed the singer on the album's two major hits, Lowdown (which would win a Grammy for Scaggs and Toto keyboardist David Paich) and Lido Shuffle.

Following this, the group landed a contract with Columbia, which issued three LPs (Toto, 1978; Hydra, 1979; and Turn Back, 1981) that, with the exception of their debut, were criticized for a lack of consistency before the fourth album came along and secured the group several hits (including Rosanna and Africa), six(!) grammies, and an extension of their contract with Columbia.

While the lineup that recorded Toto IV would soon fragment (with various lineup changes occurring until the band called it quits in 2008, save for a reunion tour in 2010), the album continues to sell well to this day, despite being only the second highest selling album of 1982 (a consequence of being released the same year as Michael Jackson's Thriller).

Toto - Toto IV (48 mb)

Philip Glass - Music With Changing Parts (1994)

2011-03-21T03:00:00.001-02:30

Philip Glass - Music With Changing Parts (1994)

Philip Glass - Music With Changing Parts (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Okay, I'm going to make this short and sweet. This is minimalist music. It is very pleasant to listen to. I wish I could explain it better than that, but in all honesty, it really is something you have to experience yourself.

If I was going to recommend an album that might be described as New Age, this one would certainly be a good candidate.

Philip Glass - Music With Changing Parts (70 mb)

Bruce Palmer - The Cycle Is Complete (1971)

2011-03-21T02:50:00.002-02:30

Bruce Palmer - The Cycle Is Complete (1971)

Bruce Palmer - The Cycle Is Complete (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Bruce Palmer came to (brief) fame as one fifth of Buffalo Springfield, from which his frequent deportations often negatively affected the group's touring schedule. Prior to this he reached almost-fame in The Mynah Birds, which also included Rick James, Neil Young and Goldy McJohn.

Following his return to Canada in 1968, Palmer began playing locally in Toronto again, and eventually he was offered a record deal with Verve, the result of which is The Cycle Is Complete.

Sounding like early Krautrock efforts in a similar vein to Tangerine Dream, Can and Kraftwerk, the album is nonetheless structured far more loosely than it's German cousins. I like it, even if it does seem a tad bit pretentious. It will quite likely come as a total surprise to fans of Buffalo Springfield, even if they've enjoyed the band's occasional branching out into Psychedelia.

Bruce Palmer - The Cycle Is Complete (42 mb)

David Bowie - Images 1966–1967 (1973)

2011-03-21T02:28:00.002-02:30

David Bowie - Images 1966–1967 (1973)

David Bowie - Images 1966–1967 (Wikipedia Entry)

David Bowie - Images 1966–1967 (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Before the Thin White Duke, before Ziggy Stardust, before Major Tom, there was... Images 1966-1967.

Although it's 21 tracks are all contained on the later Deram Anthology, the advantage here is that they're all in (apparent) True Stereo. Many of the songs were only issued on singles that had all long since gone out of print, and when the anthology appeared in 1997, Universal chose instead to use the original mono single versions rather than the 1973 stereo remixes.

Over the years, Bowie has admitted feeling a little embarrassed when the label chose to issue the novelty song The Laughing Gnome as a single and, by the strangest surprise, it actually made it's way up the charts in London. In 1990 when Bowie planned his Sound+Vision tour, a hotline was made available to fans to request their favourite song for the tourlist. This unique experiment ended when a British media outlet tried to convince fans to vote for TLG so it would be included as a standard tour song.

The album's best known song aside, there are actually several good tunes here. The wide range of genres that get treated strongly suggests that Bowie's extreme eclecticism later on was no fluke.

If you enjoy this, you can also take a peek at the Rhino compilation Early On (1964-1966), which goes back further to uncover 16 songs recorded during Bowie's Teenage Years for Pye Records.

David Bowie - Images 1966–1967 (68 mb)

Boston - Boston (1976)

2011-03-15T01:12:00.001-02:30

Boston - Boston (1976)

Boston - Boston (Wikipedia Entry)

Boston - Boston (Allmusic Guide Entry)

And now, the story behind the greatest demo tape ever made.

Boston was formed in the early 1970s by two friends, Tom Scholz and Brad Delp, who were part time musicians when not working away at their dull day jobs. Scholz, in particular, had a distinguished career at a senior product engineer at Polaroid (in other words, one of the nerdy science-type guys who designs and builds electronics). The duo began work on what was initially only intended as a demo tape, recording in Scholz' 12 track studio located in his basement in the suburbs.

Epic heard the tapes and signed the duo and their completed band lineup, now christened Boston, but insisted that the demos be re-recorded, something that Scholz objected to as a lot of work had gone into the originals. To solve this problem, Sholz finished the recordings while the other band members went off to LA with producer John Boylan in order to produce a single that would temporarily distract the A&R department at CBS.

The end result combined the new "single" (Let Me Take You Home Tonight) and seven "originals" (including More Than A Feeling, Smokin', Foreplay/Long Time and Peace Of Mind) to produce the top selling album of 1976. The punchline is even better: By 1978, the band had not yet completed recording their sophomore disc, when Epic forced them into court to get the LP issued. That album (1978's Don't Look Back) topped the US charts but sold only half as much as it's predecessor, yet managed to move a still not-too-shabby 8 million. Soon after, the band parted ways with Epic and went on hiatus in order to sort out contract disputes with the label. By the mid-80s, Boston was on MCA and a massive lawsuit was settled in the band's favour, with Epic having to pay out millions in withheld royalties.

The band would continue to soldier on for another two decades, but that's another story.

Boston - Boston (43 mb)

Queen - The Works (1984)

2011-03-15T00:48:00.002-02:30

Queen - The Works (1984)

Queen - The Works (Wikipedia Entry)

Queen - The Works (Allmusic Guide Entry)

In the mid-80s, Queen had basically ceased to be a commercial mega-entity in the USA, while still regularly doing well back in their native UK. Their music had, in a bizarre case of Kammererian Genetics, acquired the traits of their 1980 album The Game by streamlining in favour of dancably funky material.

Even the album's harder rocking material (Hammer To Fall, Tear It Up) seemed aimed more at club play than radio play. If you're Queen, however, this isn't a problem

In this Ultimate Edition, the album is accompanied by a what amounts to an almost complete alternate version made from the various 12" remixes of the tracks, as well as a couple of other choice rarities. Enjoy!

Contents:
Disc One:
1. Radio Ga Ga / 2. Tear It Up / 3. It's A Hard Life / 4. Man On The Prowl / 5. Machines (Back To Humans) / 6. I Want To Break Free / 7. Keep Passing The Open Windows / 8. Hammer To Fall / 9. Is This The World We Created?

Disc Two:
1. I Go Crazy / 2. Radio Ga Ga (12" Mix) / 3. It's A Hard Life (12" Mix) / 4. Man On The Prowl (12" Mix) / 5. Machines (12" Extended Mix) / 6. I Want To Break Free (12" Mix) / 7. Keep Passing The Open Windows (12" Mix) / 8. Hammer To Fall (12" Headbangers Mix) / 9. Machines (12" Instrumental Mix) / 10. Radio Ga Ga (12" Instrumental Mix).

Queen - The Works (104 mb)

The B-52's - The B-52's (1979)

2011-03-12T09:44:00.001-03:30

The B-52's - The B-52's (1979)

The B-52's - The B-52's (Wikipedia Entry)

The B-52's - The B-52's (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Another one of my picks for the greatest debut album of all time. The Athens, GA, quintet unleashed Rock Lobster on this one, and also contributed a odd-sounding cover of the Petula Clark hit Downtown. The flow of the songs is quite smooth, and it's surprisingly good for dancing, too.

Made at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas with Chris Blackwell (the founder of Island Records, later Sir Chris Blackwell) behind the board, the sound intentionally invokes memories of the mid-to-late 1960s, with a style that's like a Pysche/Surf mix.

Besides Rock Lobster, there's some great listens in 52 Girls, 6060-842, and Planet Claire as well. If you like the 60s, you'll love this!

The B-52's - The B-52's (45 mb)

BY REQUEST: Various Artists - 22 Fantastic Hits (1973)

2011-03-04T20:58:00.003-03:30

Various Artists - 22 Fantastic Hits (1973)

Now, by Special Request (Yes, those requests that readers send in are read and, if possible, filled!), 22 Fantastic Hits (aka Fantastic: 22 Original Hits, 22 Original Stars, although it Elton John is on it twice, and Les Emmerson has one solo tune and one as a member of Five Man Electrical Band, but that's not really important right now.)

As usual, K-Tel once again show their expertise at compiling a great cross-section of AM (and some FM!) radio fodder. Many of these selections struck me as downright intriguing, as it's probably the only place (apart from someone's iPod) where you'll find Vicki Lawrence (you know, Hannah Montana's Mamaw), Focus, Bill Withers, and The Stampeders rubbing elbows. Personally, I pick Jim Stafford's Swamp Witch as the low point on the record, as it reminds me of Marilyn Manson trying to cover Convoy.

As a final note, there is a couple of slight skips on It Sure Took A Long, Long Time by Lobo. Other than that, playing quality doesn't seem to be affected.

contents:
1. Stories - Brother Louie
2. Elton John - Crocodile Rock
3. Tony Orlando and Dawn - Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree
4. Focus - Hocus Pocus
5. The Sweet - Little Willy
6. Bill Withers - Lean On Me
7. Lobo - It Sure Took A Long, Long Time
8. Vicki Lawrence - The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
9. The Incredible Bongo Band - Bongo Rock
10. New York City - I'm Doin' Fine Now
11. Barry White - I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More Baby
12. Maureen McGovern - The Morning After
13. Chester - Make My Life A Little Bit Brighter
14. Les Emmerson - Cry Your Eyes Out
15. Charlie Daniels - Uneasy Rider
16. Albert Hammond - The Free Electric Band
17. Foster Sylvers - Misdemanor
18. Five Man Electrical Band - I'm A Stranger Here
19. The Stampeders - Minstrel Gypsy
20. Peter Foldy - Bondi Junction
21. Jim Stafford - Swamp Witch
22. Elton John - Rocket Man.

Various Artists - 22 Fantastic Hits (62 mb)

Queen - A Kind Of Magic (1986)

2011-03-04T03:18:00.002-03:30

Queen - A Kind Of Magic (1986)

Queen - A Kind Of Magic (Wikipedia Entry)

Queen - A Kind Of Magic (Allmusic Guide Entry)

In 1986, Queen released this wonderful album, an unofficial soundtrack to the film Highlander, starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. Not only were several of the songs used in that movie, but the leadoff track (One Vision) was featured in the action flick Iron Eagle.

For an overly commercial album of the mid 80s released by a group that had a long running backlog of hits, this album performed surprisingly poor in the US. Although it was certified gold, it failed to reach the top 40 and performed poorer than the group's previous two releases, Hot Space (1982) and The Works (1984).

On the other hand, it topped the charts in the UK and produced no less than five hit singles (One Vision, A Kind Of Magic, One Year Of Love, Friends Will Be Friends, and Who Wants To Live Forever), plus Princes Of The Universe, itself the theme song from Highlander film and TV Series.

A number of 7" and 12" Singles were released from this album with many different mixes of the original songs, plus several unique b-sides. For this Ultimate Edition, the album is reproduced along with a bonus disc of those singles tracks, as well as the film version of the title track.

Contents:
Disc One:
1. One Vision / 2. A Kind Of Magic / 3. One Year Of Love / 4. Pain Is So Close To Pleasure / 5. Friends Will Be Friends / 6. Who Wants To Live Forever / 7. Gimme The Prize (Kurgan's Theme) / 8. Don't Lose Your Head (with Joan Armatrading) / 9. Princes Of The Universe

Disc Two:
1. A Kind Of 'A Kind Of Magic' / 2. Friends Will Be Friends (12" Version) / 3. Forever / 4. One Vision (Extended Vision Remix) / 5. A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling / 6. A Kind Of Magic (12" Version) / 7. Blurred Vision / 8. Pain Is So Close To Pleasure (12" Version) / 9. A Kind Of Magic (Film Version).

Queen - A Kind Of Magic (96 mb)

SIDE BY SIDE SERIES, VOLUME 10: Deep Purple - Machine Head (1972)

2011-02-22T00:22:00.002-03:30

Deep Purple - Machine Head (1972)

Deep Purple - Machine Head (Wikipedia Entry)

Deep Purple - Machine Head (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Starting several years ago, Rhino began issuing a fine set of Deep Purple remasters that not only boasted fantastic transfers but also included excellent bonus materials. The treasure trove mostly consisted of B-Sides, Out-Takes, Demos, Live Performances, and, in a few cases, brand new mixes of some songs, remixed by bassist Roger Glover.

Tracking down a copy of Machine Head, I had a listen. Before I continue, I must admit that I've always found the sound of the original Warner LP release of this to leave much to be desired. The sound is pretty muddy and sounds like it was mixed on a cassette deck, with a lot of compression present which serves to bury the bass. That being said, the remaster is a definite improvement, and also includes quad mixes of Lazy and Maybe I'm A Leo, as well as both the original and remastered version of the B-Side When A Blind Man Cries, taken from the Never Before single.

All this was fine and dandy, but I was struck by how much wetter the sound of Glover's 1997 remix was versus the original 1972 mix. He also has reedited fades and appears to have utilized somewhat different takes, as well. While I still prefer the old configuration with the new remastering, the new remix is, in itself, an alternately entertaining collection of songs.

For contrasting purposes, only the original 7 base tracks and their corresponding remasters (edited accordingly to match the originals as close as possible) have been included. Like what you hear here? You'll love this and the other remasters as well!

Deep Purple - Machine Head (86 mb)

Genesis - Calling All Stations (1997)

2011-02-17T15:15:00.002-03:30

Genesis - Calling All Stations (1997)

Genesis - Calling All Stations (Wikipedia Entry)

Genesis - Calling All Stations (Allmusic Guide Entry)

As British Rock's dictionary entry for "All That Could've Been", here's another album that was unfairly ignored by a fickle record buying public. Even skeptics who doubted the legitimacy of calling the group Genesis following the departure of frontman Phil Collins were quick to admit the songs were far more reminiscent of the Peter Gabriel era than anything else, which meant that while the album sold modestly well in Europe, it basically tanked in North America.

As singles were released and various non-album tracks began to appear, many argued that some of the B-Sides, of which there were 7(!), were superior to the material that appeared on the LP. The group had (apparently) recorded enough material for a double, but chose to make the album a single instead. To fix this problem, I have created my Ultimate Edition of this unfairly neglected album. Included are all the b-sides (save for the EP Genesis - Live At NASA), as well as one out-take and several live cuts from the subsequent tour.

Now wonder no more: You decide what the album lineup should've been. Also, you can critique Ray Wilson's interpretations of vintage Gabriel and Collins material.

contents:
DISC ONE:
1. Calling All Stations / 2. Congo / 3. Shipwrecked / 4. Alien Afternoon / 5. Not About Us / 6. If That's What You Need / 7. The Dividing Line / 8. Uncertain Weather / 9. Small Talk / 10. There Must Be Some Other Way / 11. One Man's Fool / 12. Anything Now / 13. Sign Your Life Away

Tracks 1-11, Original Album. Tracks 12-13, B-Sides.

DISC TWO:
1. Run Out Of Time / 2. Banjo Man / 3. Nowhere Else To Turn / 4. 7/8 / 5. Phret / 6. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway / 7. The Carpet Crawlers / 8. Hold On My Heart / 9. The Dividing Line / 10. Domino (In The Glow Of The Night) / 11. Domino (The Last Domino) / 12. Not About Us / 13. Invisible Touch / 14. Congo

Tracks 1-2, 4-5, B-Sides. Track 3, Out-Take. Tracks 6-14, Live, 1997-98 European tour.

Genesis - Calling All Stations 1/2 (96 mb)
Genesis - Calling All Stations 2/2 (87 mb)

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen - You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It (1971)

2011-02-17T12:44:00.003-03:30

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen - You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It (1971)

You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat (Wikipedia Entry)

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen - You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Before forming Steely Dan, Becker and Fagen warmed up by composing the soundtrack to this delightfully obscure comedy and a hippy's search for the meaning of life. Helmed by Peter Locke (who would go on to produce The Hills Have Eyes in 1977) and featuring the aforementioned soundtrack, as well as a cast boasting the combined talents of Zalman King (prior to his massively successful career as a producer of soft core porn), Richard Pryor (who had yet to hit his full potential as a comedian), and Robert Downey (not yet known as the comic maverick that he is today), it's a shame that the film isn't better known. To give you an idea of how much financial trouble resulted prior to the film's completion, it was sitting in the studio vault for over two years without any music before enough money was gathered up to finish it.

While it's not a Steely Dan album per se, it does feature Becker, Fagen and Denny Diaz. Gary Katz had not yet joined the fold, so Kenny Vance (of Jay And The Americans fame) produces and also provides vocal on one song (the beautiful If It Rains.) The songwriting is like a primitive version of the group's later classics, but it's still pretty enjoyable. Originally released in 1971, the album soon went out of print, but was fortunately reissued several times since, most notably by Visa Records in 1978 with extensive liner notes and interviews with Becker, Fagen, Vance and others in which the events leading up to and during the sessions are discussed at great length. I had actually bought this for my brother for his birthday, and was so amazed at the condition of the LP when I received it that I couldn't resist ripping it before giving it to him. (Yeah, I know... it takes all kinds!)

Even tho the album itself barely cracks a half-hour in length, it's still 31 minutes well spent!

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen - You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It (34 mb)

SIDE BY SIDE SERIES, VOLUME 9: The Rolling Stones - Flowers (1967)

2011-02-16T08:36:00.001-03:30

The Rolling Stones - Flowers (1967)

The Rolling Stones - Flowers (Wikipedia Entry)

The Rolling Stones - Flowers (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Another fine example of what happens when your American and British record companies can't decide on what order to release your songs in.

After releasing the more mature Aftermath and Between The Buttons in 1966-67, the stones found themselves with a mountain of out-takes from the American versions (which were always pressed with a few less songs, as a rule), so the decision was made to collate them into a new album to clean up the mess. On one hand, it could be seen as exploitative to hold back a few songs from a record just so you can press a new record containing those songs, but the songs themselves are good ones at least, so one could look at it as an "investment".

Interestingly, while the Stereo version was distributed everywhere the album was sold, the Mono version was apparently limited to a few territories. It should be pointed out that in 1967, Mono releases were starting to wind down, with more albums being released only in Stereo at that point due to the fact that electronics manufacturers were beginning to stop making Mono sets and were, by this point, only releasing Mono LPs mostly for backwards compatibility (remember, a lot of these sets could not play Stereo LPs without damage to the record, stylus, or both!)

Anyway, some interesting comparisons exist here: Ruby Tuesday is mixed slightly slower on the Stereo mix; Out Of Time is almost two minutes longer on the Mono version; and Let's Spend The Night Together fades early on the Mono version. Add ten Bonus Tracks (including a couple of B-Sides and several Backing Tracks) to that mix, and you've got a really nice listen, even for those (like me) who aren't Stones fans.

The Rolling Stones - Flowers (85 mb)

Heart - Greatest Hits/Live (1980)

2011-02-15T16:48:00.002-03:30

Heart - Greatest Hits/Live (1980)

Heart - Greatest Hits/Live (Wikipedia Entry)

Heart - Greatest Hits/Live (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Okay, here's the deal: You're one of the biggest bands in the USA, with five great LPs and a half-dozen years of touring under your belt; Do you: A. Release a Greatest Hits LP?; or B. Release a live disc?

If you're Heart, you do both! Combining nine great previously released songs (tho one of my absolute favourites, Kick It Out, is conspicuously absent, but that's neither here nor there!), seven live cuts from the group's 1980 US tour, and three newly recorded songs (two of which are completely without consequence), Heart truly created the ultimate gift for fans.

Several years later, Epic decides to release the 78 minute album onto compact disc, but, THE HORROR!, CDs are only 74 minutes at this point. The solution is to delete the three new studio tracks, thereby reducing the length to about 69 minutes, and ostensibly restore them at a later date when better CD technology becomes available. The problem is that said time came and went but the tracks were never restored. Although they're all now available on various other compilations, most notably the limited edition 3 disc version of The Essential Heart (tho, once again, two of the songs are hardly "Essential"), it would probably be better to hear them as they were originally intended: buried deep in the back of side three of a best-selling early two disc compilation.

I was lucky to have a close kin who was able to lend me his extremely clean vinyl copy of the album for the needle drop, and I am eternally indebted to him for this. I'd have to admit I'm doing this for him as much as for me, so thank you, anonymous (to the readers of this blog) stranger. Hopefully he'll enjoy seeing this here as much as many others will.

Heart - Greatest Hits/Live (87 mb)

UPDATE: Various Artists - The New Spirit Of Capitol (1970)

2011-02-13T16:58:00.002-03:30

Various Artists - The New Spirit Of Capitol (1970)

This album has recently made me discover that (GASP!) I'm not perfect.

When I originally posted this, way back when, I was forced to do a digital reconstruction of the album due to the fact that my original vinyl copy was far below the quality needed to do a good needle drop. Recently, I attempted this again, as my equipment and techniques are far superior to what they once were, but was again foiled by a lack of a good, clean copy.

During this revision, I discovered that I inadvertently made one track about a minute longer than it should've been. I have fixed this track and re-upped the album. This is about as close as the album is going to sound to be a full digital restoration. I hope you all enjoy it.

(PS, the original post of this album is available HERE, although the original download link has been replaced with the new one.)

Various Artists - The New Spirit Of Capitol (52 mb)

Various Artists - Electric North (1983)

2011-02-02T23:08:00.002-03:30

Various Artists - Electric North (1983)

After showing how K-Tel does a Canuck best of in 1975 with Canada Gold, here's the 1983 perspective on the same subject. The mastering is better, and the song selection less eclectic, but unfortunately, I did run into problems with this. The record itself looks like the rink at the Air Canada Centre, which has resulted in quite a bit of surface noise. If you can overlook some defects in sound, this should prove a pleasing experience.

Also of note, this album shares in common with it's predecessor songs by April Wine and Rush.

contents:
1. Bryan Adams - Cuts Like A Knife
2. Harlequin - I Did It For Love
3. Sheriff - When I'm With You
4. Luba - Everytime I See Your Picture
5. Strange Advance - She Controls Me
6. Streetheart - What Kind Of Love Is This
7. Aldo Nova - Fantasy
8. Rough Trade - Crimes Of Passion
9. The Payola$ - Eyes Of A Stranger
10. Chilliwack - Whatcha Gonna Do (When I'm Gone)
11. Toronto - Your Daddy Don't Know
12. The Headpins - Don't It Make 'Ya Feel
13. Loverboy - When It's Over
14. Coney Hatch - Hey Operator
15. April Wine - Enough Is Enough
16. Rush - New World Man.

Various Artists - Electric North (65 mb)

Various Artists - Appetizers (1973)

2011-02-02T07:13:00.002-03:30

Various Artists - Appetizers (1973)

Various Artists - Appetizers (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Yesterday I got another Warner Brothers Loss Leaders set in the mail. This one's a later one than the two other entries I've written on, The Big Ball and Schlagers!, by about three years.

In addition to the obvious influx and outflow of artists to the label in said three years, Warner also became distributor to several other labels (including Capricorn, Chrysalis, and Bearsville), giving them much more to choose from on this release. As if that wasn't enough, it was compiled by a certain Barry Hansen, soon to be known to the world at large as Dr. Demento.

Given the good doctor's reputation as a musicologist, the lineup shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, nor should the well-annotated bio entries on the artists. What is a surprise (well, sort of... remember who compiled the album!) is the fact that random skits, apparently sourced from gramophones, are randomly inserted from place to place. Side two of the disc features uncontrolled laughter in the entire lead-in groove.

Definitely one of the better label samplers out there, for ANY label!

contents:

DISC ONE:
1. Little Feat - Dixie Chicken
2. Arlo Guthrie - Lovesick Blues
3. Bert Jansch - The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
4. Linda Lewis - Rock-a-Doodle-Doo
5. Paul Butterfield - Baby Please Don't Go
6. Seals and Crofts - Jessica
7. Van Morrison - Warm Love
8. The Faces - Borstal Boys
9. Todd Rundgren - Is It My Name
10. Fanny - All Mine
11. Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies
12. John Cale - Paris 1919
13. Procol Harum - Toujours L'Amour

DISC TWO:
1. Incredible String Band - Second Fiddle
2. Steeleye Span - Misty Moisty Morning
3. The Doobie Brothers - Dark Eyed Cajun Woman
4. Wet Willie - Airport
5. T.Rex - Born To Boogie
6. Deep Purple - I'm Alone
7. Lorraine Ellison - Many Rivers To Cross
8. Martin Mull - Licks Off Of Records
9. William Truckaway and Magic - Roller Derby Starr
10. Flo And Eddie - Another Pop Star's Life
11. Seatrain - Bloodshot Eyes
12. The Beach Boys - Susie Cincinnati
13. Foghat - What A Shame.

Various Artists - Appetizers (97 mb)

Anajonda's Top 20...???

2011-02-01T04:04:00.003-03:30

Okay, here's the scoop: To help drum up business, I've decided to give my quick two cents worth on stuff posted on the blog. Basically, it works like this: These are my alphabetical random Top 20 albums here that would catch my eye right away if I suddenly found this blog out of nowhere.

Let me know what you think!

Also, feel free to respond with your own lists of the blog posts, requests, etc.

John Foxx - The Garden (1981)

2011-02-01T02:56:00.004-03:30

John Foxx - The Garden (1981)

John Foxx - The Garden (Wikipedia Entry)

John Foxx - The Garden (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Here's one for the fans of early British synth-pop. John Foxx is the original lead singer/keyboardist for Ultravox (or Ultravox! as it was known in his day). After leaving the group, they suddenly got their biggest hit of their career (1981's Vienna, a #3 UK hit that produced four top 40 hits), which is sort of ironic if you consider it, since he's the only one who's managed to make a respectable living as a solo artist. (See also: Hall without Oates)

Foxx's music resembles the Krautrock-influenced synth-pop of Gary Numan and David Bowie, but personally struck me as less distinct sounding. It's still got some good tunes, tho, including the British top 40 (barely, as it actually peaked at #40 in 1981) hit Europe After The Rain.

It's also probably worth noting that this is sourced from the 1981 Canadian edition (Metal Beat META 1103, distributed by PolyGram, now known as Universal) and has a different song listing than the current CD editions (which are based on the original UK edition).

Contents:
1. Walk Away / 2. Europe After The Rain / 3. Pater Noster / 4. Dancing Like A Gun / 5. Night Suit / 6. This Jungle / 7. Systems Of Romance / 8. When I Was A Man / 9. You Were There / 10. The Garden.

John Foxx - The Garden (46 mb)

The Damned - The Black Album (1980)

2011-02-01T02:33:00.002-03:30

The Damned - The Black Album (1980)

The Damned - The Black Album (Wikipedia Entry)

The Damned - The Black Album (Allmusic Guide Entry)

WOW! Can the band that performed Curtain Call be the same band that did New Rose just a scant 3 years earlier?

Yes, it's true, this double was truly the album where the coming of age of The Damned completed, playing a dark style of Alternative that separated them from Punk altogether. This being said, tho, it was also a case of the record company f**king up ROYALLY!

First, the issuing label, Chiswick Records, apparently almost went out of business shortly after the original release. British indie Big Beat then apparently took over distribution, but insisting on cutting the release to a single disc, minus the second LP which includes a live in the studio performance (for the group's fan club), and the side-long piece Curtain Call, which lasts for 17 minutes but still holds together very nicely!

If you feel inclined to buy at least one Damned LP, skip over the first two and go after Machine Gun Etiquette or This One instead. You'll definitely be glad you did, as the group matures greatly on these two albums.

The Damned - The Black Album (88 mb)

The Dave Clark Five - The Hits Of The Dave Clark Five (1966)

2011-02-01T02:19:00.005-03:30

The Dave Clark Five - The Hits Of The Dave Clark Five (1966)

The Dave Clark Five (Wikipedia Entry)

The Dave Clark Five (Allmusic Guide Entry)

It's a fact that, as big as the Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks, etc. etc., got, none managed to top DC5 for Ed Sullivan appearances. Appearing a record 18(!) times on the really big shew between 1964 and 1967, the band charted with such hits as Glad All Over, Catch Us If You Can, and Bits And Pieces, and were described in at least one tome as The Loudest Band In The World Until The Who Appeared.

Earlier this evening, I took a free bus trip down to my favourite record shop and came across this for $2. I bought it, brought it home, cleaned it, and ripped it, in roughly that order. The sound isn't bad, tho it is in Mono. As best I can tell, this was a Canadian-only compilation released by EMI's local branch (as they often did with British groups, especially The Beatles). These discs are often referred to as the "6000 Series", set aside primarily for British Invasion groups and other import acts.

For the 27 minutes or so that this disc entertains with, the cost was clearly outweighed by the benefits. A great lineup and a great introduction to DC5, although one might be better off picking up the History Of The Dave Clark 5 anthology, with contains a whopping 50 songs to this single disc set's 12.

Contents:
1. Having A Wild Weekend / 2. Because / 3. Do You Love Me / 4. Come Over / 5. Glad All Over / 6. I Like It Like That / 7. Bits And Pieces / 8. Everybody Knows / 9. Reelin' And Rockin' / 10. Can't You See That She's Mine / 11. Anyway You Want It / 12. Catch Us If You Can.

The Dave Clark Five - The Hits Of The Dave Clark Five (30 mb)

The Ventures - 20 Greatest Hits (1977)

2011-01-28T22:07:00.001-03:30

The Ventures - 20 Greatest Hits (1977)

The Ventures - 20 Greatest Hits (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Assembled by TeeVee International and distributed by EMI, this great LP appeared in the late 1970s as the Ventures were considered to be past their prime in the American market (tho that was far from true in Japan, where they were still considered superstars). The set collects 16 Ventures classics and adds four newly recorded songs (the theme songs from "Young And The Restless", "SWAT", "Starsky And Hutch" and "Charlie's Angels".

The selections are well chosen and the mastering is quite good. Since these are generally the two criteria that make a great compilation, I don't really need to say much more beyond that. Enjoy!

Contents:
1. Walk, Don't Run / 2. Hawaii Five-O / 3. Apache / 4. Wipe-Out / 5. Percolator / 6. Perfidia / 7. Sleepwalk / 8. Telstar / 9. Theme from S.W.A.T. / 10. Nadia's Theme (The Young And The Restless) / 11. Let's Go / 12. Pipeline / 13. More / 14. Penetration / 15. Tequila / 16. Ram-Bunk-Shush / 17. Out Of Limits / 18. Raunchy / 19. Theme from Charlie's Angels / 20. Theme from Starsky And Hutch.

The Ventures - 20 Greatest Hits (55 mb)

Various Artists - Let The Children Play (1981)

2011-01-28T05:48:00.002-03:30

Various Artists - Let The Children Play (1981)

Another 50¢ vinyl purchase with an interesting story behind it.

In 1981, Peace Activists in Great Britain organized a charity album consisting of an LP of New Wave music and an LP of Comedy routines. It retailed for £3.99 and contained, among other things, a map of all weapons bases in the U.K. and a list of phone numbers for Peace Camps.

Evidently, quite a bit of thinking when into this. By combining music and comedy, the album emulates such releases as the Secret Policeman's Ball series, which is not as strange a concept as some might see it at first. The comedy is hilarious, if a tad bit esoteric (it helps if you know anything about Thatcherite Britain) and the music ain't half bad, either.

contents:
Disc One
1. Peter Gabriel - Exposure
2. John Cooper Clarke - Nothing
3. Poison Girls - Take The Toys From The Boys
4. Madness - Wings Of A Dove
5. Billy Bragg - Between The Wars
6. Mari Wilson - What's Going On
7. Panic Allstars - Change Is Gonna Come
8. Pauline Black - It's A Pity
9. General Public - Burning Bright
10. Hi-Jinx - Out Of Their Hands
11. Captain Sensible - Seal Requiem
12. Flying Pickets - Masters Of War
13. Martin Ansell - Flagday
14. Amazulu - Greenham Time
15. Tom Robinson - Merrily Up On High

Disc Two
1. Arnold Brown - Daughter/Mrs. Thatcher/Erection/Hamstead/Lift
2. Emma Thompson - Jermaine
3. Jim Barclay - Toilet/Submarines
4. Ben Elton - The Bomb
5. Andy De La Tour - Trendy Bastards
6. Mark Miwurdz - Mother
7. Rik Mayall - Martin
8. Simon Fanshaw - Kingston
9. Jennie Lecoat - Men And Women
10. John Dowie - Gweneth's Engagement
11. Norman Lovett - Slow Comedian
12. Nick Revell - Americans
13. Paul Martin - Terry
14. Oscar McLennon - Secondary School
15. Alexei Sayle - Wine Bars
16. Pauline Melville - Trip To Greenham
17. The Joeys - World Gentleweight Championship

Various Artists - Let The Children Play (109 mb)

Various Artists - Rock '87 (1987)

2011-01-27T03:13:00.004-03:30

Various Artists - Rock '87 (1987)

From the makers of Rock '80-'86, comes... (drumroll please!) Rock '87! After the previous entry in the series, it's amazing, frankly, that Rock '87 doesn't turn into the train wreck that it's predecessor, Rock '86, ended up as. The song selection is still far from perfect, but at least it has a few really good tunes.

The extra emphasis on Rock over Pop is a bit muted. What amazes me is the fact that one of the best rock songs of 1987 is missing: Fight For Your Right by the Beastie Boys. I even remember this song appearing on another Polytel compilation, Rap Traxx!

Special thanks to my brother for digging this tape out. I'm glad to get it for this transfer.

contents:
1. Bruce Hornsby and The Range - The Way It Is
2. Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie
3. Tom Cochrane and Red Rider - Boy Inside The Man
4. Billy Ocean - When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
5. Paul Lekakis - Boom Boom (Let's Go Back To My Room)
6. Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
7. Sly Fox - Let's Go All The Way
8. Glass Tiger - Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)
9. Amazulu - Montego Bay
10. The Jets - Crush On You
11. Daryl Hall - Dreamtime
12. Heart - Never
13. OMD - (Forever) Live And Die
14. Timex Social Club - Rumors
15. Timbuk 3 - The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades
16. Doctor and The Medics - Spirit In The Sky

Various Artists - Rock '87 (77 mb)

ooooooo! Updates!

2011-01-25T02:40:00.000-03:30

Just to let everyone know, some issues with some earlier posts have been resolved. Therefore, here is a list of older entries that have been updated. Enjoy!

Status Quo - Piledriver (1972) (Link Fixed)

John Lennon - Walls And Bridges (1974) (Link Fixed)

Chilliwack - Chilliwack (1970) (New transfer from Needle Drop)

The Who - Hooligans (1981) (New transfer from Needle Drop).

Any other issues (links, spelling mistakes, etc.), just let me know!

Thanks.

Various Artists - Different Strokes (1971)

2011-01-23T19:51:00.004-03:30

Various Artists - Different Strokes (1971)

Various Artists - Different Strokes (Allmusic Guide Entry)

A great Columbia Records sampler album, circa 1970. A great lineup is assembled, but to fit everyone on the album, some early fades had to made; We're not talking 15-20 seconds, we're talking several minutes in some cases.

Nonetheless, as a rule, samplers are only marketed with one purpose in mind: Promotion of acts (well, obviously!). By giving info and "free" samples of acts on the label, the theory is that people will buy these albums and listen to them (remember, this was 30 years before Napster!).

Contents:
1. Johnny Winter - Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo
2. Tom Rush - Merrimac County
3. Poco - A Man Like Me
4. Dreams - New York
5. Big Brother And The Holding Company - Mr. Natural
6. Miles Davis - Saturday Miles
7. Spirit - Morning Will Come
8. It's A Beautiful Day - Soapstone Mountain
9. The Chambers Brothers - Going to the Mill
10. Laura Nyro - Blackpatch
11. Ballin'jack - Found a Child
12. The New York Rock Ensemble - Fields of Joy
13. The Hollies - Too Young to Be Married
14. Redbone - Maggie
15. The Elvin Bishop Group - Don't Fight It (Feel It)
16. Fraser & Debolt - All This Paradise
17. Bill Puka - Nothing at All
18. Soft Machine - Out-Bloody-Rageous
19. The Flock - Big Bird

Various Artists - Different Strokes (62 mb)

The Kinks - The Kinks' Greatest: Celluloid Heroes (1976)

2011-01-23T19:34:00.002-03:30

The Kinks - The Kinks' Greatest: Celluloid Heroes (1976)

The Kinks - The Kinks' Greatest: Celluloid Heroes (Allmusic Guide Entry)

As a rule of thumb, a band's sampler of their least commercially and critically successful period probably shouldn't be referred to as their "Greatest". While The Kinks' five and a half year tenure at RCA (1971-1976) started out surprisingly good, with the cult favourites Muswell Hillbillies (1971) and Everybody's In Show-biz (1972), by the end it had proven a largely unsuccessful experiment, with only one major chart hit on either side of the Atlantic (1972's Supersonic Rocket Ship, which made the UK Top 20 that year).

In 1976 the label assembled this album, which at first might just look like a throwaway compilation with nothing unique on it at all, but a closer examination reveals more: Most of the cuts are unique mixes/edits exclusive to this disc; not even the CD version (which was completely redone from scratch as a general sampler of the group's RCA years) contains these tracks.

Thanks to kindakinks.net, I am able to give a brief rundown of the album's rough matrix notes:

1. Everybody's A Star (Starmaker)
Shortened Stereo Remix created for radio play, slightly sped up. Recorded Aug 1974, additional overdubs done Oct 1974 at Konk Studios, Hornsey, London

2. Sitting In My Hotel
Alternate Stereo Mix with less organ. Recorded May-Jun 1972 at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London

3. Here Comes Yet Another Day
Recorded live 14 Jun 1975 at New Victoria Theatre, London. Previously unreleased

4. Holiday
Shortened Stereo Edit. Recorded 3 Mar 1972 at Carnegie Hall, New York

5. Muswell Hillbilly
Shortened Stereo Edit. Recorded Aug-Sep 1971 at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London

6. Celluloid Heroes
Recorded May-Jun 1972 at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London

7. 20th Century Man
Shortened Stereo Edit. Recorded Aug-Sep 1971 at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London

8. Sitting In The Midday Sun
Alternate Stereo Mix. Recorded May 1973 at Konk Studios, Hornsey, London

9. One Of The Survivors
Alternate Stereo Mix with different final verse. recorded Mar 1973 at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London

10. Alcohol
Shortened Stereo Edit. Recorded 3 Mar 1972 at Carnegie Hall, New York

11. Skin And Bone
Shortened Alternate Stereo Mix with additional vocals. Recorded 3 Mar 1972 at Carnegie Hall, New York

12. (A) Face In The Crowd
Recorded Aug 1974, additional overdubs done Oct 1974 at Konk Studios, Hornsey, London

(Original page notes on this album here!)

The CD version contains a different lineup of songs, taken straight from the CDs of the RCA reissues (on the group's own Konk Records label). That version contains three tracks a piece from each of the group's six RCA albums, giving a superior song lineup to this version, with the drawback being that they are the regular album versions with nothing unique to that release. If you're not a huge Kinks fan, I'd probably honestly recommend buying that version instead of tracking down this one. But it all depends on which Kinks era you fancy most.

The Kinks - The Kinks' Greatest: Celluloid Heroes (49 mb)

Various Artists - California Dreaming (OST) (1978)

2011-01-21T00:46:00.003-03:30

Various Artists - California Dreaming (OST) (1978)

California Dreaming (Wikipedia Entry)

Various Artists - California Dreaming (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Another film soundtrack needle drop, this one from a film I've still yet to see. The film is basically about a kid who goes to California for the summer, hoping he'll figure everything out in the end and get his life together. or something like that.

I got this for 50 cents at Goodwill, and when I played it, I was amazed how well side one played. Unfortunately, that's not entirely true of side two, which is a mess of crackle and scuffs. Rest assured I cleaned it up as best as I could. On the other hand, maybe you'll enjoy the album's content more than I do, which may lead to some being more forgiving than I am on the overall quality.

Various Artists - California Dreaming (OST) (35 mb)

Various Artists - The Last American Virgin (OST) (1982)

2011-01-20T05:08:00.002-03:30

Various Artists - The Last American Virgin (OST) (1982)

Various Artists - The Last American Virgin (Wikipedia Entry)

Produced by the notorious team of Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus over at Cannon Films, this alternately funny and heartbreaking coming of age comedy hit theatres in 1982. The storyline was essentially recycled from Golan and Globus' earlier Israeli film series Eskimo Limon (Lemon Popsicle).

Although there are 23 songs in the film (which apparently didn't have an original score), only 10 make the cut for the album, possibly due to financial issues: Cannon constantly struggled through the 1980s to complete films that were box office bombs in return. By the end of the decade, the company would only be a shadow of it's former self, a victim of Regan and Bush's recession.

As for the album, not bad overall, but there are definitely songs that were left off the album that I would've included, and songs on the album that I would've dumped from the finished product. The movie's pretty cheap to buy, so why not rush out and get it. and rekindle those sweet 80s memories!

Various Artists - The Last American Virgin (OST) (41 mb)

Miriam Martin pbvm. - Moments In Between (1983)

2011-01-19T21:35:00.002-03:30

Miriam Martin pbvm. - Moments In Between (1983)

Please find enclosed a cassette transfer done by myself of a surprisingly entertaining Christian Pop album. The tape originated at a garage sale where a past acquaintance purchased it for 25 cents, figuring he might sell it on eBay eventually. Long story short, it wound up sitting in a closet for several years before it made its way into my possession.

Miriam Martin is a member of the PBVM (Presentation Of The Blessed Virgin Mary) order, often shortened to just the Presentation order. The few facts I have been able to confirm are that she is apparently from Newfoundland (like myself!), and has apparently recorded at least two other albums, long after this one.

The musicianship is very pleasing and sister Miriam's vocals are better than average. Even if you're not a fan of Contemporary Christian Music (I'm Not!), I'd still recommend this.

Contents:
1. Sing / 2. Be My Gift / 3. Take Down Your Lantern / 4. Freedom Song / 5. I Heard The Lord / 6. Woman Of Earth / 7. Moments In Between / 8. Welcome / 9. Remain In My Love / 10. The Greatest Gift / 11. Abbie's Song / 12. Alleluia.

Miriam Martin pbvm. - Moments In Between (47 mb)

Bacon Fat - Grease One For Me (1970)

2011-01-19T21:24:00.002-03:30

Bacon Fat - Grease One For Me (1970)

Bacon Fat - Grease One For Me (Allmusic Guide Entry)

WOW! What a revelation. Being from Canada, I'm extremely familiar with Pat Travers' extremely well-known rendition of Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights) from it's frequent programming on classic FM radio, but discovering this older, more relaxed version from almost a decade earlier blew my mind!

For those of you who aren't familiar, Bacon Fat was an L.A. based blues band consisting of Rod Piazza (vocals, harmonica), J.D. Nicholson (piano), Jerry Smith (bass), Dick Innes (drums), and Buddy Reed and Gregg Schaefer (guitars). Based out of the City Of Angels and produced by veteran British tape jockey Mike Vernon (Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, and many, MANY others!), the unique blend of hi and lo-fi sounds even better now than it did 40 years ago.

Listening to Bacon Fat gives one the feeling of sitting in any one of a million or so small blues clubs around the world, where the stages are the size of your living room and the cramped atmosphere serves to enhance the intimacy of the performance. If this doesn't come to mind after listening to this album, it may be a case of You Had To Be There.

Also of possible interest: This Los Angeles based band should not be confused with another similar but more electrified group named Bacon Fat, a great group of blues revivalists are from (If I remember correctly) Belgium. I similarly recommend their album, Boogielicious Baby. As they used to say, "Heavy Sh*t, man!"

Bacon Fat - Grease One For Me (47 mb)

Various Artists - Canada Gold (1975)

2011-01-19T21:09:00.003-03:30

Various Artists - Canada Gold (1975)

A surprisingly off-beat compilation by K-Tel for Canadians and those that just love Canada. Unfortunately, the mastering isn't the best and all the songs are slashed to the bone in an effort to squeeze more material onto the record. Was it worth it? Have a listen and judge for yourself.

contents:
1. Bachman-Turner Overdrive - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
2. Shooter - I Can Dance (Long Tall Glasses)
3. Ian Thomas - Painted Ladies
4. April Wine - Oowatanite
5. Fludd - What An Animal
6. Steppenwolf - Straight Shootin' Woman
7. Andy Kim - Rock Me Gently
8. Anne Murray - What About Me
9. Paul Anka - Jubilation
10. Rush - In The Mood
11. Bond - Dancin' (On A Saturday Night)
12. Keith Hampshire - Big Time Operator
13. Jayson Hoover - She's My Lady
14. Stampeders - Hit The Road, Jack
15. Edward Bear - Last Song
16. Terry Jacks - Rock N' Roll
17. Wednesday - Last Kiss
18. Miles And Lenny - Can You Give It All To Me
19. Mood Jga Jga - Turn Around
20. Tinker's Moon - Ooh Baby, Baby
21. Ray Materick - Linda Put The Coffee On
22. Lighthouse - One Fine Morning

Various Artists - Canada Gold (63 mb)

David Borden - Music For Amplified Keyboard Instruments (1981)

2011-01-19T20:59:00.003-03:30

David Borden - Music For Amplified Keyboard Instruments (1981)

David Borden (Wikipedia Entry)

David Borden (Allmusic Guide Entry)

David Borden is an American composer, specializing in minimalist keyboard music. At the beginning of the 1970s, he was a founding member of Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company, a group of composers dealing with minimalism, avant-garde, and 20th century classical motifs.

Following the group's breakup near the end of the 1970s, Borden began working on solo projects, most notably The Continuing Story Of Counterpoint, premiering it in twelve parts between 1976 and 1987. This album, his solo debut, contains two parts of Counterpoint, Part 6 (1978) and Part 9 (1980), plus two other compositions, composed in 1980 and 1981.

For those of you that have never had the pleasure, enjoy!

Contents:
1. Esty Point, Summer 1978 / 2. The Continuing Story Of Counterpoint, Part 9 / 3. Enfield In Winter / 4. The Continuing Story Of Counterpoint, Part 6.

David Borden - Music For Amplified Keyboard Instruments (45 mb)

Johnny Rivers - Homegrown (1971)

2011-01-19T19:32:00.001-03:30

Johnny Rivers - Homegrown (1971)

Johnny Rivers - Homegrown (Allmusic Guide Entry)

For those of you who only associate Johnny Rivers with Secret Agent Man and Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu, this album should come as something of a revelation.

Here, Johnny gets folky and preaches about how much he loves the lord. Sounds a little odd for the guy who practically put the Whisky A Go Go on the map, but the sound is great. JR seems pretty comfortable settling into a James Taylor type motif (almost literally, as he even manages to successfully cover Fire And Rain!)

Perhaps as a bit of an afterthought, this album shouldn't be confused with Neil Young's identically titled mid-70s album which was completed but remains unreleased to this day.

Johnny Rivers - Homegrown (45 mb)

Neil Young - Trans (1982)

2011-01-19T19:21:00.003-03:30

Neil Young - Trans (1982)

Neil Young - Trans (Wikipedia Entry)

Neil Young - Trans (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Here's my pick for the most undeservedly dumped on Neil Young album: Neil's synth album, Trans.

Released in December 1982 to a mostly hostile audience, the tour went massively over budget due to Neil's insistence on a full embrace of the latest technology. In short: concentrate more on electronic rhythm than the heavy guitar rock or gentle country rock that Neil Young's name has been universally associated.

A typical concert involved drum machines, seven piece lineups, and vocals drenched in Vocoder (which, not surprisingly, turned a lot of fans off). In spite of this, it was Neil's biggest charting album of the 1980s (#19 US Pop, 1983). The garbled vocals, as Neil explained later, were a sort of metaphor for the communication problems he had with his son Ben, who was born with severe Cerebral Palsy and was unable to communicate orally.

To this day, this album has not been released on CD in the USA, although it is available as a European import (get really to shell out some $$$ for it). In addition, two songs have been altered from the original LP version: Like An Inca, which plays for an additional 1:42 before fading out (nothing major there, as the mixes are identical); and Sample And Hold, which substitutes the extended (and IMHO inferior) "dance mix" for the original version. To solve this problem, I've included both versions of Sample And Hold (along with it's b-side, an extended "dance mix" of Mr. Soul.) Even with these alterations, it's still a great disc!

Neil Young - Trans (63 mb)

Various Artists - Dick Clark: 20 Years Of Rock N' Roll (1973)

2011-01-19T18:01:00.010-03:30

Various Artists - Dick Clark: 20 Years Of Rock N' Roll (1973)

Various Artists - Dick Clark: 20 Years Of Rock N' Roll (Allmusic Guide Entry)

An above average sampling of the first two decades of Rock & Roll music. Included is everything from 50s doo-wop and rockabilly to 60s girl groups to 70s funk and country rock, and so it goes (tho the British Invasion is conspicuously absent!).

Apparently the song lineup was chosen by America's Oldest Teenager (no, not Drew Barrymore) himself, Dick Clark (hence the name of the album). Overall, this should please most who are into the early years of rock as it continued to mature into adulthood.

Also, as a final thought, the original US pressing of this set came with a bonus interview record (if I recall correctly, it may have been a flexi). ~~Anyone who can locate a copy of this and put me in contact with it (MP3 or FLAC preferably), I would be awesomely grateful!~~ (UPDATE, 31 Jan 2012: Since writing this review, I've gotten a recording of the flexi. It's DC praddling on for several minutes about all the acts he can name who appeared on American Bandstand. While it's nothing to write home about unless you're a completely rabid fan, I'm happy to provide the link right here.).

contents:
DISC ONE:
1. Sonny Till And The Orioles - Crying In The Chapel
2. The Crew Cuts - Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream)
3. Bill Haley And The Comets - Rock Around The Clock
4. Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes
5. Johnny Cash - I Walk the Line
6. Fats Domino - I'm Walkin'
7. Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
8. Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser
9. The Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
10. Paul Anka - Put Your Head On My Shoulder
11. Frankie Avalon - Why
12. Brenda Lee - Sweet Nothings
13. Dion And The Belmonts - Runaround Sue
14. The Shirelles - Soldier Boy
15. Joey Dee And The Starliters - Peppermint Twist
16. The Kingsmen - Louie, Louie

DISC TWO:
1. The Shangri-La's - Leader Of The Pack
2. Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs - Wooly Bully
3. The Righteous Brothers - You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
4. The McCoys - Hang On Sloopy
5. The Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe In Magic
6. The Young Rascals - Good Lovin'
7. Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
8. Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
9. Tommy James And The Shondells - Crimson And Clover
10. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day
11. Melanie - Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)
12. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
13. Al Green - So You're Leaving
14. Gallery - Nice to Be with You.

Various Artists - Dick Clark: 20 Years Of Rock N' Roll (95 mb)

The Black Dyke Mills Band - The Black Dyke Mills Band (1964)

2011-01-13T09:05:00.002-03:30

The Black Dyke Mills Band - The Black Dyke Mills Band (1964)

The Black Dyke (Mills) Band (Wikipedia Entry)

The Black Dyke (Mills) Band (Allmusic Guide Entry)

The world's most famous brass band, The Black Dyke Band (aka The Black Dyke Mills Band, and The John Foster And Sons Black Dyke Mills Band) formed in 1855(!) as a brass band sponsored by John Foster And Sons, a British textile manufacturer. The group's repertoire ranges from Classical music, to Military Marches, to Pop classics. Their reputation comes very honestly, as they still practice regularly twice a week as they have for over 150 years.

This is their debut album, released by HMV/EMI in 1964 in Great Britain. While it's not as well known as their 1968 single "Thingumybob/Yellow Submarine" (produced by Paul McCartney!), it shows superior musicianship in tackling vintage Classics.

Now sadly (and long) out of print, copies are known to fetch extortionate sums on auction sites and in used record stores. I got my copy at goodwill for $1. I was very happy with the results.

Contents:
1. Knight Templar / 2. "Poet And Peasant" Overture / 3. Carnival De Venice / 4. Can-Can (from "Orpheus In The Underworld") / 5. Thunder And Lightning - Polka / 6. The Mikado - Selection / 7. Chianti Song / 8. Spanish Harlequin / 9. 1812 Overture.

The Black Dyke Mills Band - The Black Dyke Mills Band (50 mb)

The Phil Collins Big Band - A Hot Night In Paris (1999)

2011-01-13T08:50:00.000-03:30

The Phil Collins Big Band - A Hot Night In Paris (1999)

The Phil Collins Big Band - A Hot Night In Paris (Wikipedia Entry)

The Phil Collins Big Band - A Hot Night In Paris (Allmusic Guide Entry)

Phil Collins jumping on the bandwagon of the briefly popular big band/swing revival might sound a bit strange to some people, but considering his 4+ decades in the music industry, it's not really that strange at all.

First of all, besides Genesis and his solo career, Collins was a long-tenured member of British jazz-rockers Brand X. He's also known as a first-rate arranger of music, as well. Consider this a break from the brilliantly complex musicianship of the two aforementioned bands and his mushy solo love songs.

This is also notable as possibly the only Collins solo album to miss the pop charts altogether (tho it went all the way to #3 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart), which in the case of his solo albums is probably a good thing! For those that still prefer his better known songs, don't fret: he still manages to tackle four Genesis songs and three solo songs, plus a not-bad cover of AWB's Pick Up The Pieces.

But is it any good? There's only one way to find out!

The Phil Collins Big Band - A Hot Night In Paris (80 mb)

Anajonda's Stash

Public Image, Ltd. - Commercial Zone (1983)

The Move - Split Ends (1972)

Pink Floyd - Live: The Best Of The Bootlegs 1968-1994 (2011)

James Gang - The Best Of The James Gang, Featuring Joe Walsh (1973)

More updates...

Okay, once again... With feeling!

You've got to be (BEEP)in' kidding me!

Various Artists - Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2 (1987)

Andy Griffith - Somebody Bigger Than You and I (1972)

Various Artists - Super Star Collection (1978)

Claire Lawrence - Leaving You Free (1973)

Jackie Lomax - Home Is In My Head (1971)

Various Artists - Nettwerk Sound Sampler-Food For Thought (1987)

Herman's Hermits - The Best of Herman's Hermits (1965)

Giving thanks... Should be back online soon!

BAD NEWS!!!

BY REQUEST: Lon & Derrek Van Eaton - Who Do You Out Do (1975)

Various Artists - Rock Sizzlers (1984)

Various Artists - Super 60's (1984)

Patsy Cline - The Patsy Cline Story (1963)

Minglewood Band - Movin' (1980)

Minglewood Band - Minglewood Band (1979)

Minglewood Band - Minglewood Band (1978)

WHEW!

Various Artists - Somethin' Else Again! (1970)

Rod McKuen - Pastorale (1972)

Todd Rundgren - No World Order (1993)

Pepper Tree - You're My People (1971)

Various Artists - Rock '81 (1981)

Various Artists - Soundwaves (1980)

Various Artists - The World Of Private Music (1986)

Various Artists - Radio Active (1982)

Various Artists - Rockin' With The Hits (1984)

Various Artists - Rock's Greatest Hits (1972)

Alexis Rose Radlin - Alexis (1974)

Vos Voisins - Holocauste à Montreal (1971)

Various Artists - Canadian Gold (1987)

Syd Barrett - Wouldn't You Miss Me: The Best Of Syd Barrett (2001)

Squeeze - Singles-45's And Under (1982)

Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man (1972)

Private Eye - Private Eye (1979)

Various Artists - Midnight (1985)

Various Artists - This Is Rock (1985)

Various Artists - Rock '91 (1991)

Various Artists - Rock '85 (1985)

Elton John - The Superior Sound Of Elton John (1970-1975) (1983)

Nirvana - BBC Sessions (1992)

Various Artists - High Voltage (1981)

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Another One Rides the Bus (1980)

More Fixed Links!

Various Artists - 24 Electrifying Hits (1970)

Michael Giles - Progress (1978)

Howard Shore - Scanners (1980)

David Bowie - Dallas, 27 April 1983 (1983)

Bob McBride - Here To Sing (1978)

Various Artists - Country Legends (1987)

Al Stewart - Love Chronicles (1969)

Hey Cats!

Weather Report - Live In Tokyo (1972)

REO Speedwagon - Live: You Get What You Play For (1977)

The Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid (1978)

Mushroom Records

Toto - Toto IV (1982)

Philip Glass - Music With Changing Parts (1994)

Bruce Palmer - The Cycle Is Complete (1971)

David Bowie - Images 1966–1967 (1973)

Boston - Boston (1976)

Queen - The Works (1984)

The B-52's - The B-52's (1979)

BY REQUEST: Various Artists - 22 Fantastic Hits (1973)

Queen - A Kind Of Magic (1986)

SIDE BY SIDE SERIES, VOLUME 10: Deep Purple - Machine Head (1972)

Genesis - Calling All Stations (1997)

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen - You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It (1971)

SIDE BY SIDE SERIES, VOLUME 9: The Rolling Stones - Flowers (1967)

Heart - Greatest Hits/Live (1980)

UPDATE: Various Artists - The New Spirit Of Capitol (1970)

Various Artists - Electric North (1983)

Various Artists - Appetizers (1973)