April 12, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL...Creedence Clearwater Revival  (1968)
The debut album from Creedence Clearwater Revival was released 45 years ago in 1968.  It reached number 52 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  By this time of the 60's so many of the American rock bands were getting really heavy into the psychedelic sound, especially the bands from California.  But wait, Creedence is from California.  So many erroneously think CCR is from the South.  This record jams, starting off with a track I've always enjoyed "I Put A Spell On You."  "The Working Man" is a great guitar track, "Suzie Q" is quite cool, but if you're not in the mood it can seem a little long as it goes for eight and a half minutes.  I like how they use the backwards guitar trick in "Gloomy" and then kick it up a notch and just jam.  CCR were to put out some outstanding albums in the coming years and they still remain one of America's favorite bands.  I give this album a 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it as it is a very good debut album
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR APRIL 12
John Kay of Steppenwolf is 69; Pat Travers is 59; Will Sergeant of Echo and the Bunnymen is 55; Art Alexakis of Everclear is 51; Nick Hexum of 311 is 43; Guy Berryman of Coldplay is 35; Joe Rickard of Red is 26; Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco is 26;

ON THIS DATE
1954 At their first session for Decca Records Bill Haley and the Comets record "Rock Around The Clock", thus pretty much beginning the Rock 'N' Roll era
1979 Mickey Thomas becomes the lead singer for Jefferson Starship, replacing Marty Balin
1993 Lisa Bonet files for divorce from Lenny Kravitz
2000 The fight between Metallica and Napster gets underway as the band files a suit against the file sharing company
2006 Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix is chosen to be preserved in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry
2008 Lou Reed marries his longtime girlfriend Laurie Anderson
2010 Bret Michaels of Poison undergoes an emergency appendectomy at a hospital in San Antonio, Texas
2011 Wasting Light by the Foo Fighters is released