Hey, thanks for stopping by to hang out. You're in the right spot for discussions about my favorite pop culture topics. Subjects may include vinyl, '70s sitcoms, cosmic super hero adventures, arena rock, conspiracy theories, thrift stores, '80s horror flicks, VHS culture, all things retro, lovely ladies, and the latest happenings in my world.
So come on down the steps (watch your head), pass through the rec room, and pull up a bean bag...you're hanging in my "bedroom in the basement!" EST. 1979
I apologize for the scarcity of posts lately, I've found that as the days grow longer the list of things that compete for my spare time increases. I recently bought a new TV and blu-ray player (with wireless internet capabilities), and have had fun playing with those new toys. Don't worry fellow old-schoolers, I still have love for VHS, and my basement man-cave will always exclusively feature video tapes viewed on an old tube tv/vcr combo (over the weekend I watched "The Legend of Boggy Creek," "Dazed and Confused," and a bootleg copy of the Beatles "Let It Be"). I do have to admit though, this new technology is pretty fun (it's cool being able to watch Youtube clips of my favorite old bands on a 47" screen)!
Speaking of old bands, the Beach Boys first new album of original material in 20 years was released today, and is called That's Why God Made the Radio. I went to the record store to pick up a copy but discovered only the cd version is available and the vinyl version (which I wanted) should be out within the next week or two. The trip wasn't a total loss though, as I picked up a copy of The Beach Boys Today! on vinyl in very decent shape for only $5. Released in 1965, the production and lyrics (particularly on side 2) hinted at what Brian and the Boys would be doing the following year on their landmark Pet Sounds album.
Here's a pic of the album and a clip of my favorite tune from it...it's funny, this song has been stuck in my head for the past day or so, and then I came across a copy of the record it appeared on!
And tonight begins...Lovely Ladies of the '70s
Lastly, while watching reruns of "Dallas" lately, I have developed yet another celebrity crush. The crushee is actress Victoria Principal, who portrayed Pamela Ewing on that show. I think she is simply GORGEOUS. Tonight's post will debut a new semi-regular feature for famous pretty ladies of the '70s that will be slightly different than my "Is This Your Mom" feature. Whereas the pics I post under that heading feature nude, anonymous models, this new feature will showcase celebs (A-list and under) from back then. I decided to start off with a series of pics I found of Victoria, and I will feature a different one each night this week. Enjoy!
Now this is what dreams are made of. Where's my time machine?
Well folks, there's only 2 days left in this month, and it looks like I won't be getting as deep into Maiden's discography as I intended. But fear not, as I will do more next May (barring an apocalypse in December 2012). Today and tomorrow I plan on posting videos from 1986's Somewhere In Time lp (which has one of the most detailed album covers...check it out!)
Today's song is "Wasted Years," a track written by rhythm guitarist Adrian Smith, who also sings lead vocals on the chorus. It's an example of a poppier '80s hard rock/metal sound, making it one of my favorites. The video rocks too, as it features clips of the band's older videos. It's funny they were already being nostalgic for their past only 6 years after their first album dropped!
Today's selection is my favorite song from their phenomenal fifth album, Powerslave. The footage is from their video compendium for their double Live After Death album which documented the World Slavery Tour of 1985. This tour was their biggest and most elaborate production to date, and showed the band playing at the peak of their performance.
Ok, there's only one week left in May, so I have to step up my Maiden posts! While going through their albums in chronological order, I realized how much I love the Piece of Mind album. Here's one more from that one.
It's been a while since I wrote a post about what I was currently listening to, so I thought it was high time I did. I have listened to a decent amount of records (by Steely Dan and the Allman Brothers, just to name a few) since the last column, so I thought I would showcase tonight's selections.
RUSH
Now that cover is cosmic
I was lucky enough to find their first album in excellent condition for only $4 at my favorite local store. Now this album ROCKS! It does have some mellow moments, but most of it is ass-kicking blues-based rock similar to Zeppelin or Blue Cheer (both bands that they used to cover in their early days). The lyrics are quite different on this album as well as their main lyricist, drummer Neil Peart, did not join until their second album.
This clip features the lead-off track "Finding My Way." Right from the get-go, these guys brought the jams!
This next clip features their more well-known track from this LP, "Working Man." This song was another staple on my favorite hard rock station as a kid. I love the Zeppelin-esque breakdown in the middle. This was a song that my old band Fretbusters used to jam. It was a fun one to play!
Jeff Beck Blow By Blow
I first heard about this album on a radio request show that airs every Saturday night on Lansing's classic rock station 94.9 WMMQ, which purports to be the first classic rock station in the nation. "Larry Allen's All Reqest Saturday Night" airs from 7PM to midnight and is know for playing eclectic rock and deep cuts. During one show I heard an instrumental tune by Jeff Beck called "Freeway Jam" and loved it.
Jeff really creates the atmosphere and feel of leisurely driving down the freeway on that song. Blow by Blow is the seventh album by Jeff but the first one to consist of all instrumentals. He had some help from some fellow legends on this one, including Stevie Wonder (who wrote and played on two tracks) and the legendary Beatles producer George Martin, who turned the knobs in the control room. For $1, I got more than my money's worth. I heard Jeff Beck backed-up Mick Jagger on the recent season finale of SNL. I was unable to see it as I recently got rid of cable (plus I'm usually busy being social Saturday nights). I will have to see if it's on Hulu or NBC's web site.
Jefferson Starship Red Octopus
Released in 1975, this was the second official release by Jefferson Starship (the first being 1974's Dragon Fly). You may remember a while back I reviewed the proto-Jefferson Starship album Blows Against the Empire, which was more of a solo album by Paul Kantner than a true new band.
Two bands formed out of the ashes of Jefferson Airplane, who ceased existence in 1974. One featured members Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, and was called Hot Tuna. Jefferson Starship was the other, and featured previous Airplane members Paul Kantner (guitar), co-singers Grace Slick and Marty Balin, and a host of new faces. One of the new members, an African-American fiddle player named Papa John Creach, had jammed with the last Airplane line-up. The band also featured guitar wunderkind Craig Chaquiso, bassist David Freiberg (ex-Quicksilver Messenger Service), drummer John Barbata (formerly of the Turtles), and keyboardist Pete Sears. Here's a group photo from the back cover:
This album is solid if not spectacular, and features one very well-known track, "Miracles." Here's a clip. This song can best be described as dreamy and MELLOW. Marty and Grace's vocals are soft yet powerful...it's a tune to make love to for sure.
I hope you enjoyed this sampler of tunes I've been digging on as of late. As always, drop that needle and keep rockin'.
Here's my other favorite song off of '83's Piece of Mind, "The Trooper!" You can smell the smoke on the battlefield when you hear this one...the music and lyrics paint a very vivid scene!
Today's selection comes from their second album with Bruce Dickinson on vocals (their fourth LP overall), Piece of Mind. Recorded live in 1983 on their "World Piece Tour," this video features their performance of the lead-off track for Piece of Mind, "Where Eagles Dare." Bruce's vocals are totally rapid-fire on this one, with some crazy high notes.
I just learned of the passing of one of the Bee Gees, Robin Gibb. He sang lead on many of their songs, and sadly after his death there's only one Bee Gee left, Barry. Here's a clip of him from the early days. We will miss you Robin.
With this entry the Bruce Dickinson era begins. Except for a 5 year hiatus with the band from '93-'98, Bruce has been a fixture of Iron Maiden 30 years. What a voice! This selection is from the tour supporting his first album with the group (and what a first album!) The Number of the Beast, and is my personal favorite off of that release..."The Prisoner!"
In non-Maiden news, tomorrow I'm attending the Motor City Comic Con. I have not been to a comic book convention in 6 years and I'm super excited. Me and my good friends John, Ben, and Julia will be attending. My goal is to get some pictures taken with Dean Cain and Peter Tork. Look for a blog about what transpires on Sunday.
This clip features the title track Killers album. This shit is INTENSE! Clanging guitar, impassioned vocals, and a propulsive beat drive this song to the top of my list of favorite Maiden songs.
Starting tomorrow, and for the second half of May, we will be seeing Maiden videos featuring their second vocalist Bruce Dickinson (and maybe a clip of brief third singer Blaze Bayley). Enjoy this last clip of Di'Anno, and if you're brave enough, find a recent picture of him. Scary!
Another selection from Killers, this one is called "Innocent Exile." I love Steve Harris' bass intro...he is one of the top bass players of all time, in my opinion.
This might be my favorite track off of the legendary Killers album. I love the fast, frantic pace of Di'Anno's vocals on the chorus. The vocals are both punk sounding and pop sounding at the same time...very impressive. And the musicianship is of course top notch. This band accomplished more on their first 2 albums then a lot of bands do in their whole catalog. The lyrics are an early example of the band using an old horror movie as inspiration.
I couldn't find a clip of Paul singing it live, so this one from 1982's "Beast On the Road" tour feat. Bruce Dickinson will have to do. Enjoy "Murders In the Rue Morgue!"
I just learned that Eric Burdon (singer for the Animals and War) turned 71 today. Holy crap I didn't realize he was that old, but if you do the math I guess it all adds up. I dig all of his stuff with the Animals but I think this is my favorite performance of his...enjoy.
Ok, I warned you all this one was coming...in this edition of "Guilty Pleasures" I'm letting the whole world know: I like the Carpenters.
The legendary light rock duo's career spanned 14 years, from 1969-1983. The act consisted of brother Richard and sister Karen Carpenters, with Richard playing the piano and providing back-up vocals while Karen sang lead.
Which one's the sister?
Karen's voice is nothing short of incredible...rich, deep, and considered by many to be one of the best in popular music. Not only was she an amazing singer, but she was also an accomplished drummer.
Richard was the backbone of the group, and his piano playing was integral to their sound, as were his low-key backing vocals. I don't remember when I first heard this band...it's like they've been there, in the background, my whole life. One distinct early memory I do have of one of their songs is Rick Moranis's off-key but touching rendition of "(They Long to Be) Close to You," written by Burt Bacharach, one of my favorite song writers of the '60s (now there's another idea for a blog post!).
This video pretty much sums of the Carpenters for me. It's a live performance that features their trademark vocals, shows off their lighthearted interaction with each other, and even has some country twang thrown in for good measure.
Call them cheesy, call them gay, call them lame as hell, but don't call them untalented or uninteresting. I dig these two a lot, and it's a shame that Karen isn't around to show some of these auto-tuned pop stars how to really sing.
The first of many sweet instrumentals by the band, this one is from a show in 1981 and also features a solo by Dave Murray (a very underrated guitarist in my opinion).
I've been planning this theme month since the week I started this blog, so I'm very excited that May is finally here. Iron Maiden are not just one of my favorite bands of the metal genre...they're also easily in my top 10 bands EVER. At times I don't even think of them as metal, as I feel that label stifles their amazing abilities and variety of sounds. They are at times metal, at times prog, at times virtuosic punk...I really dig everything they did primarily from 1980-1993.
I especially dig on the early stuff...those first 2 albums with original singer Paul Di'Anno totally ROCK. They have such a raw, primal energy. That band came screaming out of the gate on those first 2 albums, and when Bruce Dickinson became their singer in 1982 they didn't lose any momentum...they took it to the next level, and started trading in the punk-on-the-street lyrics for dungeons & dragons style imagery. And they pulled it off very successfully.
I will try and post at least a video a day by them, starting out from the very earliest stuff all the way to...well, we'll see how recently I get. Will infamous third singer Blaze Bayley make an appearance? He might...he just might.
For now, here's some really old footage of the first song from their first LP, a number entitled "Prowler." CRANK IT!
I just finished listening to another record from the massive St. Paddy's day pile I purchased (try saying that 5x fast), Ace Frehley's second solo release, Frehley's Comet.
When I was in my early 20s I had heard of this record but never heard anything from it until about 5 years ago. I was listening to my all time favorite station for AOR/Hard Rock/Metal, 92.5 WZUU, when they played this next song:
"Into the Night"
Good tune, and very in keeping with the times. It was written by Russ Ballard (ex-Argent, ex-Rainbow), who has written many hits for others, including Three Dog Night, Santana, and America. He also wrote Ace's first solo hit, "New York Groove."
Here's some trivia: Ace's backing band featured Anton Fig, the drummer for the house band on Late Night and Late Show with David Letterman. This album was also released on Johnny Zazula's Megaforce Records, notable for releasing the early Metallica albums. Here's another good song:
"Rock Soldiers"
I love Ace's guitar playing, which is really on display in this last track, an instrumental called "Fractured Too"
If you dig '80s hard rock with a spritz of hair spray, then this is an album worth checking out. Speaking of hair spray, check out the band pic on the back of the record!
Aerosmith
I recently picked up copies of Toys In the Attic and Rocks, released in 1975 and 1976 respectively. Many regard these albums as the apex of the early part of their career, and I would have to agree with them. I haven't heard their first two albums (Aerosmith and Get Your Wings) in full, but from what I have heard it seemed like they were still "getting their sea legs" in terms of finding their sound. By the time Toys and Rocks came out, they were in full form.
Toys In the Attic features such classics as the title track, "Walk This Way," "Big 10 Inch Record," "Sweet Emotion," and "No More No More." Most of these songs were staples on 101 WRIF, a hard rock station out of Detroit I listened to during my formative years as a music lover. They never get old to me, and hearing them transports me back to my basement hang-out in middle school, when I played video games and listened to my dad's ancient 1970s stereo, with the broken turntable and cassette player. "Sweet Emotion" also has the added attraction of reminding me of the intro to one of my all-time favorite flicks, "Dazed and Confused." Rocks is another rockin' record, and features the tunes "Back In the Saddle" and "Last Child," two more songs I used to love when they were played on the WRIF. This album has been a big influence on many people in the hard rock and metal community, with bands like Guns N' Roses and Metallica citing it as influential.
Allmusic, a music review website I find to be an invaluable resource when deciding on albums to buy, gives each of these records 5 stars. Unfortunately their next two albums would not be as well-received, and would be the last ones to feature the original line-up until their mid '80s comeback.
Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project, a duo consisting of Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson (along with various musicians and vocalists) are a band I've liked for a while but had yet to really get into. Until recently I was only familiar with the handful of hit singles they had in the '80s ("Eye In the Sky," "Don't Answer Me," "Time"). On the recommendation of my old co-worker/friend Greg from Kalamazoo, I picked up the I Robot album and liked it a lot. It has a lot of different sounds going on...early electronic, prog, disco, soul, and funk, which keeps definitely keeps it interesting.
The album cover photo features the band members using the escalator tubes in the circular Terminal 1 building of de Gaulle Airport outside Paris.
A concept album loosely built around the idea of robots, the following was written on the cover inlay. It sets the mood for the album:
"I ROBOT...THE STORY OF THE RISE OF THE MACHINE AND THE DECLINE OF
MAN, WHICH PARADOXICALLY COINCIDED WITH HIS DISCOVERY OF THE WHEEL...AND
A WARNING THAT HIS BRIEF DOMINANCE OF THIS PLANET WILL PROBABLY END,
BECAUSE MAN TRIED TO CREATE ROBOT IN HIS OWN IMAGE."
Heavy stuff right?
Here's a few of my fave songs:
"I Wouldn't Wanna Be Like You"
"Breakdown" (feat. Allan Clarke, lead singer of the Hollies, on vocals)
My pal Greg has this to say about the album when he recommended it recently:
Coming
up on the 35th anniversary of the release of this masterpiece. If you
have never given this album a listen, I seriously urge you to.
Especially, on a night when you have a good view of the stars and sky.
Those should be your only distractions, and then all will be known. I am
not accountable for any pleasant out-of-body experiences you most
likely will have, nor the frequent U.F.O. flybys that will occur...
Thanks again Greg, I think I may have to try that next time I listen...
