February 28

ON THIS DATE
1942 Brian Jones is born. Jones was a member of the Rolling Stones.
1970 Led Zeppelin had to change their name to the Nobs for a show in Copenhagen in order to avoid a lawsuit from the family of airship creator Ferdinand Von Zeppelin.
1976 At the Grammys: The Eagles - "Lyin' Eyes' Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
1984 At the Grammys: The Police - "Every Breath You Take" Best Pop Performance and Song of the Year, "Synchronicity" Best Rock Performance
1996 At the Grammys: Hootie And The Blowfish - Best New Artist, Allman Brothers Band - "Jessica" Best Rock Instrumental
2007 The Doors receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. John Densmore does not attend the ceremonies as he is still angry with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #72. The 13th Floor Elevators - Psychadelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators (1966)

The 13th Floor Elevators - Psychadelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators (1966)

Label – International Artists
Producer – Lelan Rogers
Art Direction – John Cleveland
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 35:43

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. You're Gonna Miss Me
2. Rollercoaster
3. Splash 1
4. Reverberation (Doubt)
5. Don't Fall Down
6. Fire Engine
7. Thru The Rhythm
8. You Don't Know
9. Kingdom Of Heaven
10. Monkey Island
11. Tried To Hide

I admit, as I have had to several times already reviewing these records, I had never heard of much less heard the 13th Floor Elevators. Believe me, I hadn’t missed anything. A track or two of inventive psychedelic rock is one thing. A whole record that seemed WAY longer than 35 minutes is just way WAY too much!
This was the groups debut. There are just too many twists of the melodies and down right psychobabble lyrics make it sound like these are just acid trips set to music. And you know – that’s probably exactly what they were trying to achieve. The REAL birth of acid rock is in the grooves of this record. It’s just not any good. The mix is bad as well. The Elevators sound like they are at the bottom of a well for the whole album.
Singer Roky Erickson's vocals are strong and mixed up high in the mix, and one wonders what he could do with some real songs of substance instead of these non melodic pointless meanderings.
It is not recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

Neal Schon from Journey is 55; Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden is 52; Johnny Van Zant from Lynyrd Skynyrd is 49; Mike Cross from Sponge is 44;

ON THIS DATE
1977 Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones is arrested in Toronto for heroin, cocaine and narcotics paraphernalia. Police believe his intentions are to traffic the drugs. He grtd off with a fine and community service.
1980 At the Grammys: Billy Joel - 52nd Street Best Pop Vocal Performance and Album of the Year
2002 At the Grammys: U2 - Best Rock Album for All That You Can’t Leave Behind, Record of the Year “Walk On”, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group “Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of”, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group “Elevation”.

CONCERT NEWS
Saturday, February 28 DR. JOHN Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Sarasota
Saturday, February 28 HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD Jannus Landing St. Petersburg
Saturday, February 28 PAT BENATAR Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando
Saturday, February 28 KASIM SULTON (formerly with Utopia) Rusty Pelican Tampa

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #71. Simon and Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme (1966)

Simon and Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme (1966)

Label – Columbia
Producer – Bob Johnson
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 28:30

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Scarborough Fair/Canticle
2. Patterns
3. Cloudy
4. Homeward Bound
5. Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine
6. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
7. Dangling Conversation
8. Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall
9. Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert MacNamara'd Into Submission)
10. For Emily Whenever I May Find Her
11. Poem On The Underground Wall
12. 7 O'clock News/Silent Night

Just an absolutely stunning record. A true Simon & Garfunkel masterpiece. It also was the first time that the duo was in total control from the beginning to the end, right down to the mixing. Isn’t it funny how when you leave artists alone to make their music, the results are usually so much better then when executives get involved and tell them how THEY think a record should sound.
It took all of a few weeks to rush together the “Sounds of Silence” album early in 1966 – but with “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme” Simon and Garfunkel took their time - about three months (an uncommonly long period in those days) but it gave them freedom to develop and shape the songs the way they wanted them.
The album opens with "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" which is a Paul Simon tune melded with a centuries-old English folk song. The effect mixes a hauntingly beautiful antique melody about love in a peaceful setting, with a message about war and death. Stunning. And Art Garfunkel’s voice is just so silky smooth!
Simon & Garfunkel were never really political but on this record they did bring the war of the times – the Vietnam war – to the subject matter of the record, but it’s the beautiful songs about the simple joys of living, like "Cloudy" and the bouncy "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)," that draw you in.
And oh – but the way, the album also includes the massive hit "Homeward Bound."
"7 O'Clock News/Silent Night," closes the set. It’s a conceptual work that was a comment on the state of the United States in 1966. It containes clips of a news broadcast about the Vietnam War. Based on the fact that the broadcast carries the news of the death of comedian Lenny Bruce that day, it can be dated from August 3, 1966. Looking back it dates the album somewhat, but also reminds you how far we have come since the 1960’s.
“Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme” (Its name comes from the second line of the album's first track) peaked on the U.S. charts at #4. Oddly "Homeward Bound" was excluded from the album in the UK. In 2003, the album was ranked number 201 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
It is HIGHLY recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 26
Fats Domino is 81; Paul Cotton from Poco is 66; Jonathan Cain from Journey is 59; Tim Commerford from Audioslave is 41;

ON THIS DATE
1985 At the Grammy's: Best Rock Male Performance - Bruce Springsteen "Dancing In The Dark"
1996 At the 38th Grammy's: Best Hard Rock Performance - Pearl Jam (“Spin The Black Circle”
2008 Buddy Miles dies at the age of 60. He had been the drummer for Jimi Hendrix. He had also performed with Carlos Santana and David Bowie.

CONCERT NEWS
Friday, February 27 ROGER McGUINN Largo Cultural Center Largo
Friday, August 14 DEF LEPPARD, CHEAP TRICK & POISON Ford Ampitheatre Tampa

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #70. The Rolling Stones - Aftermath (1966)

The Rolling Stones - Aftermath (1966)

Label – Decca
Producer – Andrew Loog Oldham
Art Direction – Sandy Beach
Nationality - UK
Running Time –53:58

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Mother’s Little Helper
2. Stupid Girl
3. Lady Jane
4. Under My Thumb
5. Doncha Bother Me
6. Goin’ Home
7. Flight 505
8. High And Dry
9. Out Of Time
10. It’s Not Easy
11. I Am Waiting
12. Take It Or Leave It
13. Think
14. What To Do

This is the first record by The Rolling Stones that featured all-original material and no coves. It was also the turning point and defining moment which defined them as the bad boys of rock & roll.
Classics included the jazzy "Under My Thumb," where Brian Jones added exotic accents with his playing of the vibes. There is the delicate Elizabethan style ballad "Lady Jane," where a dulcimer can be heard. True – not all of the material is this good (“Stupid Girl” stands out with some downright bad lyrics – but there is a great tune underneath) but Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were still finding their song writing footing. "Goin' Home," is an epic 11-minute blues jam that really goes nowhere. There is an overlooked Stones classic stuck in the last part of the record. The brooding and meditative "I Am Waiting." Just great stuff.
There has always been that standing argument about the greatness of the Beatles versus the Stones. No one need to look any further than the 1966 releases. The Beatles released ‘Revolver’ and the Stones ‘Aftermath’. While a good record, the Stones record is nowhere as fresh sounding or innovative in any way. Again – not saying it isn’t a good record as it IS – it’s just not GREAT.
One note of interest – the American version of this album has a slightly different set of tracks – most notably it included the hit single “Paint It Black”, but it is the fourteen-track UK version considered by many to be the definitive version. Issued between the non-LP single releases of "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "Paint It, Black", ‘Aftermath’ proved a big smash, spending eight weeks atop the UK charts.
It’s good stuff, It’s the Stones, It’s recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

February 25

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 25
Dennis Diken from The Smithereens is 52; Mike Peters from The Alarm is 50; Richard Liles, formerly with 3 Doors Down, is 36;

ON THIS DATE
1943 George Harrison is born in Liverpool, England
1963 VeeJay Records releases "Please Please Me" by the Beatles in the U.S. It does nothing.
1981 At the Grammys: Billy Joel-Glass Houses Best Rock Vocal Performance, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band-“Against The Wind” Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
1985 U2 begin their first U.S. tour. That same night Sting performed his first solo gig in New York City.
1986 At the 28th Grammys: Don Henley-“The Boys Of Summer” Best Rock Male Vocal Performance
1992 At the 34th Grammys: Bonnie Raitt-Luck Of The Draw Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo and “Something To Talk About” Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female
1990 At the 40th Grammys: The Wallflowers-"One Headlight" Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance By A Group. That same evening Roy Orbision is inducted into the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
2008 Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show. The topic: their failed marriage.

February 24

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 24
Paul Jones from Manfred mann is 67; Lonnie Turner, formerly with the Steve Miller Band, is 62; George Thorogood is 59;

ON THIS DATE
1969 The Jimi Hendrix Experience perforned their last concert in London at the Royal Albert Hall.
1993 At the Grammys: Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" is the big winner of the evening, Melissa Etheridge’s "Ain’t It Heavy" wins Best Rock Performance, Female.
2008 ZZ Top play a pre-race show at the '08 Auto Club 500, the debut West Coast event of the NASCAR season, at the California Speedway.

CONCERT NEWS
Friday, March 6 BLACKFOOT Broken Spoke Saloon Ormond Beach
Saturday, March 14 HOOBASTANK Coca-Cola Pavilion At Destination Daytona Ormond Beach
Saturday, October 17 FOGHAT Broken Spoke Saloon Ormond Beach

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #69. The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! (1966)

The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! (1966)

Label – Verve
Producer – Tom Wilson
Art Direction – Jack Anesh
Nationality -USA
Running Time – 60:05

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Hungry Freaks Daddy
2. I Ain't Got No Heart
3. Who Are The Brain Police
4. Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder
5. Motherly Love
6. How Could I Be Such A Fool
7. Wowie Zowie
8. You Didn't Try To Call Me
9. Any Way The Wind Blows
10. I'm Not Satisfied
11. You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here
12. Trouble Everyday
13. Help I'm A Rock
14. It Can't Happen Here
15. Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet

One of the longest debuts in rock history, ‘Freak Out!’ lasts over an hour. Unfortunately I will never get that hour back to do something better with! It took four LP sides (but just 1 CD) to deconstruct rock conventions right and left with music inspired by avant-garde classical composers.
I admit – you either LIKE Frank Zappa or you don’t. Or as some might say - you either GET Franz Zappa or you don’t. I can say that Frank is a damn fine guitarist. Hands down. But his musical meanderings leave me feeling empty and wondering whatthe hell did I just listen too each time I play something by him.
Opening with the call to arms "Hungry Freaks, Daddy," ‘Freak Out!’ quickly posits the Mothers of Invention as the antithesis of teen-idol bands, often with sneering mockeries of the teen-romance songs. There are some hilarious lyrics sprinkled throughout that you can’t help but laugh at, but the shifting time signatures, and studio effects seem to just cover the lack of good songs!!
The pieces just meander nowhere and are truly embracing the acceptance of differences and free individual expression in music that Zappa would spend much of his career developing and exploring.
In 1999, it was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award and in 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2006, The MOFO Project/Object, an audio documentary on the making of the album, was released in honor of its 40th anniversary.
This is definitely not an album for every one. I like the IDEA of Frank Zappa. His amazing compositional talent and love for experimentation are unparalleled in music. It’s just not any good and is therefore not recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

February 23

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 23
Johnny Winter is 65; Brad Whitford from Aerosmith is 57; Michael Wilton from Queensryche is 47; Jeff Beres from Sister Hazel is 38;

ON THIS DATE
1965 The Beatles begin filming their second movie Eight Arms To Hold You, later named Help!, in the Bahamas.
1978 At the Grammys The Eagles win Record Of The Year for "Hotel California" and Fleetwood Mac wins Album Of The Year for Rumours.
2005 Muscle Shoals Studio in Sheffield Alabama has to close due to lack of business. We've all heard music that was recorded there by acts such as the Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan and others.
2006 The Rolling Stones have a free concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 20 people are injured as the crowd becomes a little rowdy.

February 22

ON THIS DATE
1963 Northern Music Publishing Company is formed by the Beatles. Michael Jackson currently owns the company.
1965 The Beatles leave for the Bahamas to begin filming Help!
1967 "A Day In The Life" is finished by the Beatles, which would appear 4 months later on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

February 21

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 21
Jerry Harrison from the Talking Heads is 60; Eric Wilson from Sublime is 39; Tad Kinchla from Blues Traveler is 36;

ON THIS DATE
1968 The rights for Hunter Davies' authorized biography of the Beatles is given to McGraw-Hill Publishing.
1990 Bonnie Raitt wins big at the Grammys, Album of the Year (“Nick Of Time”), Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female (“Nick Of Time”), Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (“Nick Of Time”)
2007 Danny Carey, drummer for Tool, unbdergoes surgery for a torn bicep.

CONCERT NEWS
Sunday, February 22 JONNY LANG WHTQ’s Blues-B-Q Festival Grounds Orlando
Sunday, February 22 TESLA House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #68. Paul Revere And The Raiders - Midnight Ride (1966)

Paul Revere And The Raiders - Midnight Ride (1966)

Label – Columbia
Producer – Terry Melcher
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality -USA
Running Time – 27:38

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Kicks
2. There's Always Tomorrow
3. Little Girl in the 4th Row
4. Ballad of a Useless Man
5. I'm Not Your Stepping Stone
6. There She Goes
7. All I Really Need Is You
8. Get It On
9. Louie, Go Home
10. Take a Look at Yourself
11. Melody for an Unknown Girl

Another one of those artists who I know of – know the hits – and very little else. ‘Midnight Ride’ was released at the peak of Paul Revere & the Raiders' musical history as a serious source of music. Almost all of the music on ‘Midnight Ride’ was written by the band members themselves. What had every indication of a band catching it’s stride, sadly was actually the end basically.
The group began to disintegrate after the release of this record with Drake Levin leaving the group in a dispute on whose material would make it onto albums and get released as singles - and leaving Mark Lindsay to helm the ship.
"Kicks" is still the coolest song here, and easily the most popular track they ever released (Billboard Pop Chart #4), "Kicks" became their best-known song, an anti-drug message written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, but it’s hard not to think of the group as American TV's clowns doing those dreadful dance steps in the old videos.
A very uneven effort but pleasant enough and I do recommend you give it a listen.


You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 20
J. Geils is 63; Walter Becker from Steely Dan is 59; Jon Brant, formerly with Cheap Trick, is 55;

ON THIS DATE
1967 Kurt Donald Cobain from Nirvana was born.
1976 Kiss embedded their platform boots into wet cement outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
1980 Ronald Belford Scott of AC/DC is pronounced dead
In 2003, a fire broke out during a rock concert at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., killing 100 people and injuring about 200 others. Great White was performing that night. Ty Longley from the band was one of the 100 to die.

CONCERT NEWS
Saturday, February 21 JONNY LANG Coachman Park Clearwater
Saturday, February 21 SISTER HAZEL House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Saturday, February 21 THE GUESS WHO Private Function Orlando
Saturday, April 25 EARTH DAY BIRTHDAY SWEET 16 Tinker Field Orlando

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #67. The Mamas And The Papas - If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears (1966)

The Mamas And The Papas - If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears (1966)

Label – RCA
Producer – Lou Adler
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality -USA
Running Time – 34:10

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Monday Monday
2. Straight Shooter
3. Got A Feelin'
4. I Call Your Name
5. Do You Wanna Dance
6. Go Where You Wanna Go
7. California Dreamin'
8. Spanish Harlem
9. Somebody Groovy
10. Hey Girl
11. You Baby
12. In Crowd

Wow. What a change of pace this record was. Listening to the 1001 albums in a chronological order really lets you know how different some artists really were at the time these records were initially released. This is on of them. Can you imagine how in the spring of 1966 when ‘If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears’ was released how genuinely different and fresh to listeners it must have sounded! The record was released just as the single "California Dreaming" was climbing the charts with a bullet.
"Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin'" are familiar enough to anyone who's ever listened to the radio, as well as "Go Where You Wanna Go". But it’s the rest that is also mighty compelling and lets you know that the group was more then just the staple hit songs we’ve all come to associate them by.
The spacey "Got a Feelin'," the rocking tracks "Straight Shooter" and "Somebody Groovy," are worth mentioning. And then there is the torch song-style version of the Beatles track "I Call Your Name". Easily one of the best covers of a Beatles ever recorded, and one that brought a smile to my face.
The album wasn’t without a bit of controversy. All thanks to a toilet! The first cover pressings featured the group in a bathroom, sitting in a bathtub with a toilet in the corner. This cover was pulled from stores after the offending toilet was declared indecent. (the remaining covers featuring the toilet have since become collector's items.) A second album cover was then released with a scroll over the toilet listing the presence of "California Dreamin'" on the album. Two more songs were later added to the scroll/box over the toilet. Still later, a Gold Record Award blurb was added (in black) to the left of the group. Finally, a later album covers were released with a closely cropped shot of the band surrounded by a black border that removed any hint that the picture was taken in a bathroom.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 127 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, is a great listen and it is highly recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

February 19

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 19
Tony Iommi from Sabbath and Heaven and Hell is 61; Mark Andes from Heart is 60; Daniel Adair from Nickelback is 34;

ON THIS DATE:
1974 Kiss appear on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert


1980 Bon Scott from AC/DC goes out drinking on the town with friends. This is the night that Scott would end up passed out in a car and found unconscious the next day. Doctors were unable to help him.
1996 Oasis win a couple of awards at the BRIT Awards in London for Best Video ("Wonderwall") and Best Album (“(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?”). During one of the acceptance speechs they refer to record industry folks as "Corporate pigs."

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #66. The Kinks - Face To Face (1966)

The Kinks - Face To Face (1966)

Label – Pye
Producer – Shel Talmy
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality -UK
Running Time – 38:31

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Party Line
2. Rosie Won't You Please Come Home
3. Dandy
4. Too Much on My Mind
5. Session Man
6. Rainy Day in June
7. House in the Country
8. Holiday in Waikiki
9. Most Exclusive Residence for Sale
10. Fancy
11. Little Miss Queen of Darkness
12. You're Lookin' Fine
13. Sunny Afternoon
14. I'll Remember

Conceived as a loose concept album, The Kinks ‘Face to Face’ record shows Ray Davies fascination with English class and social structures. Each song creates a new and vivid character portrait of different classes and types of people. So while simular in theme – the songs can’t really be considered a story like say the Who’s “Tommy”. In its original inception, Ray Davies had wanted to join all the songs together with sound effects, but was forced to remove them by Pye Records before the album's release. Davies was also in conflict with Pye over the final album cover art, whose psychedelic theme he felt was inappropriate.
There are as many styles as there are songs on the record . The Hawaiian guitars of the rocker "Holiday in Waikiki," the Eastern droning of "Fancy," the dance music hall shuffle of "Dandy," the lazily sounding rolling "Sunny Afternoon." While not filled with the classic songs we’ve all come to know the Kinks by, this may be an their overlooked classic. It starts The Kinks move away from those hard-driving rock and roll riffs which had catapulted the group to international stardom. It is also the first Kinks album consisting entirely of Ray Davies compositions, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The only down side, unlike some other 60’s classic albums, age has not treated this record very well and it DOES sound very dated. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended.



You can purchase the CD here.

February 18

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 18
Dennis DeYoung, formerly with Styx, is 62; Robbie Bachman, formerly with Bachman-Turner Overdrive, is 56; Larry Rust, formerly with Iron Butterfly, is 56;

ON THIS DATE:
1968 David Gilmour, pictured right, becomes the guitarist for Pink Floyd, replacing Syd Barrett
1980 Bill Wyman announces he will be leaving the Rolling Stones. However, he doesn't do it until 1992.
1992 Vince Neil leaves Motley Crue. As we all know, he is with the band currently.
1995 Bob Stinson from the Replacements passes away.

CONCERT NEWS
Saturday, February 28 KASIM SULTON (formerly with Utopia) Rusty Pelican Tampa
Friday, March 27 TODD RUNDGREN Capitol Theatre Clearwater
Sunday, March 29 TODD RUNDGREN The Plaza Theatre Orlando
Sunday, May 17 GIN BLOSSOMS Private Function Orlando
Wednesday, August 12 DAVE MATTHEWS BAND Ford Ampitheatre Tampa

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #65. The Monks - Black Monk Time (1966)

The Monks - Black Monk Time (1966)

Label – Polydor
Producer – Jimmy Bowen
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality -USA
Running Time – 28:01

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Monk Time
2. Shut Up
3. Boys Are Boys And Girls Are Choice
4. Higgle-Dy-Piggle-Dy
5. I Hate You
6. Oh How To Do Now
7. Complication
8. We Do Wie Du
9. Drunken Maria
10. Love Came Tumblin' Down
11. Blast Off
12. That's My Girl

This is the Monks' only album, and may be the first punk album ever made. Packed with anthems of angst such as "Shut Up," "I Hate You," "Complication," and "Drunken Maria." This is perhaps one of the strangest recordings ever made. It starts of great with “Monk Time” but it gets really old really fast and I found myself with each passing track hoping it was the last.
The Monks were formed in the early '60s by American G.I.s stationed in Germany. Little did they know that the furious, minimalist original music they were making anticipated the punk era. And their look matched. The Monks shaved the top of their heads and performed their songs in actual monks' clothing. They disbanded in 1967, but their album has gained a cult following among collectors, and has ironically made them much more popular and influential on an international level than they were during their lifetime.
Unfortunately it’s not very good and is not recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

February 17

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 17
Billie Joe Armstrong (pictured) from Green Day is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1972 Pink Floyd perform the Dark Side Of The Moon album in a concert in London. The album would not be released for another year.
1973 In Hollywood, Florida Free performs their final concert.
1990 Aerosmith appear on Saturday Night Live in a "Wayne's World" skit.

CONCERT NEWS
Wednesday, February 18 J.D. SOUTHER The State Theatre St. Petersburg

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #64. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (1966)

Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (1966)
Label – Columbia
Producer – Bob Johnston
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality -USA
Running Time – 71:00

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Pledging My Time
3. Visions Of Johanna
4. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)
5. I Want You
6. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
7. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
8. Just Like A Woman
9. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)
10. Temporary Like Achilles
11. Absolutely Sweet Marie
12. Fourth Time Around
13. Obviously Five Believers
14. Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands

Here we have a double lp by Bob Dylan. Thought to be the first rock double record. It does however fit nicely on 1 compact disc. Basically it picks up where his ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ left off. There are a lot of varying styles on this record, blending blues, country, rock, and folk into a new wilder sounding Dylan. He also had replacing the searing guitar of Michael Bloomfield with the powerful, weaving guitar of Robbie Robertson from the Band – or as they were called at the time the Hawks. ‘Blonde on Blonde’ is comprised of songs driven by Dylan’s witty wordplay but the music takes center stage with cutting guitar riffs, liquid organ riffs, crisp pianos, and even woozy brass bands on "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35".
To me this is Dylan at his best. He would never release a studio record that rocked this hard, or had such great energy ever again.
It has come to be regarded as one of Dylan's greatest achievements, and "one of the greatest rock & roll albums ever made". It also marked the end of an era for Dylan, who would soon be involved in a motorcycle accident (significantly changing his musical approach).
The record peaked at #9 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart in the US, eventually going double-platinum, while it reached #3 in the UK. It is ranked as the ninth greatest album of all time by both VH1 and Rolling Stone.
It is recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

February 16

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 16
Andy Taylor from Duran Duran is 48; Dave Lombardo from Slayer is 44; Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1993 At the 12th annual BRIT Awards in London Nirvana is given the award for Best International Newcomer.
2005 In London Jimi Hendrix memorabilia go on auction. A 1965 Fender Stratocaster owned by Jimi goes for $190,000.
2007 Ian Astbury leaves Riders On The Storm, the band formed by Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger

February 15

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 15
Mick Avory from The Kinks is 65; John Helliwell from Supertramp is 64; Stevie Benton from Drowning Pool is 38; Brandon Boyd (pictured)from Incubus is 33;

ON THIS DATE
1998 The Rolling Stones wrap up their Bridges To Babylon tour in Las Vegas.
2006 The National Trust heritage organization declares the gravesite of Bon Scott of AC/DC in Fremantle, Australia a historic site.
2008 Don Henley of the Eagles and his wife donate $4,000 a piece to Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue of North Carolina, who is running for governor. Her rival, Richard Moore, holds a press conference apologizing for using "Life In The Fast Lane" in commercials without permission.

February 14

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 14
Roger Fisher from Heart is 59; Ricky Wolking from The Nixons (pictured, right)is 43; Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1970 The Who perform at Leeds University in Leeds, West Yorkshire in the UK. This turns out to be the Live At Leeds album, which totally will ROCK your butt off!!!
1972 John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin a week long stint as co-host of The Mike Dougles Show. An interesting week, indeed.
1984 Aerosmith performs in Boston. In attendance were original members Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. They rejoin the group after meeting the band backstage after the show.
2008 And ex membver of Boston, Barry Goudreau, had been performing the Boston classic "More Than A Feeling" at rallies for Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee. Tom Scholtz sends Huckabee a letter asking him to stop using "something of mine and using it to promote ideas to which I am opposed."

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #63. The Byrds - Fifth Dimension (1966)

The Byrds - Fifth Dimension (1966)

Label – Columbia
Producer – Jim Dickson and Allen Stanton
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality -USA
Running Time – 29:25

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. 5D Fifth Dimension
2. Wild Mountain Thyme
3. Mr Spaceman
4. I See You
5. What's Happening
6. I Come And Stand At Every Door
7. Eight Miles High
8. Hey Joe (Where You Gonna Go)
9. Captain Soul
10. John Riley
11. 242 Foxtrot (The Lear Jet Song)

This is a pretty uneven work by the Bryds, but on ‘Fifth Dimension’ its high points were as innovative as any other music being recorded in 1966. Yes, the arrangements still lean toward folk-rock, but they were branching out with this release. There are still some cover tracks, "Wild Mountain Thyme" and "John Riley" but there are – for the first time - no songs by Bob Dylan, whose songs had, along with Gene Clark’s songs, dominated earlier Byrds releases. Gene Clark had left the band by the time this album was released, but it’s still the original compositions here that are the real treat even though rest of the band scrambled to compensate for the loss of their main songwriter. (it is interestingly, however that this album contained fewer covers than either of their Clark-era albums did). With no Dylan covers and no Clark contributions beyond "Eight Miles High," Roger McGuinn and David Crosby stepped into the songwriting roles.
For the originals, they devised some of the first and best psychedelic rock, often drawing from the influence of Indian raga in the guitar arrangements. "Eight Miles High," with its out of this world lyrics, pumping bassline, and fractured guitar solo, was a Top 20 hit, and is truly one of the greatest singles of the '60s. They scored a minor hit with the title track and the country-rock-tinged "Mr. Spaceman" are among the best songs on the record. Also check out "I See You" which has a great 12-string psychedelic guitar solo.
On the downside the cover of "Hey Joe" (yes the Jimi Hendrix track) is just downright awful. There is another clunker called "What's Happening". These weak spots keep ‘Fifth Dimension’ from attaining truly classic status. It is very enjoyable listening, just an uneven one.
The album stayed on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart for 28 weeks, peaking at #24; it also reached #27 in the UK. The single "Eight Miles High," peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two additional singles pulled from the album, "5D (Fifth Dimension)" and "Mr. Spaceman," peaked at #44 and #36 respectively.
It is recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 13
Peter Tork from The Monkees is 67; Peter Gabriel is 59; Ed Gagliardi, formerly with Foreigner, is 57; Henry Rollins is 48; Todd Harrell from 3 Doors Down is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1955 Elvis Presley performs in Lubbock, Texas. Buddy and Bob open for Elvis. The Buddy is, yes, you guessed it, none other than Buddy Holly himself.
1970 Black Sabbath release the debut album Black Sabbath
1972 Government officials in Singapore refuse to let Led Zeppelin off of their plane simply because their hair was to long
2005 The Grammy Hall Of Fame inducts Let It Bleed by the Rolling Stones.

CONCERT NEWS
Tomorrow Night DAYS OF THE NEW Gasoline Alley Clearwater
Tomorrow Night BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Tomorrow Night GEORGIA SATELLITES Cuban Club Tampa
Wednesday, October 7 BETTER THAN EZRA Disney World Lake Buena Vista
Thursday, October 8 BETTER THAN EZRA Disney World Lake Buena Vista

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #62. Fred Neil - Fred Neil (1966)

Fred Neil - Fred Neil (1966)

Label – Capitol
Producer – Nick Venet
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 37:56

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Dolphins
2. I've Got a Secret (Didn't We Shake Sugaree)
3. That's the Bag I'm In
4. Badi-Da
5. Faretheewell (Fred's Tune)
6. Everybody's Talkin'
7. Everything Happens
8. Sweet Cocaine
9. Green Rocky Road
10. Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga

I must confess that I had never heard of Fred Neil before playing this – his second album. Fred Neil is an almost country album with tinges of electric folk-rock. And he sounds amazingly like Merle Haggard.
I was familiar with several of the tracks "Everybody's Talkin'”, "The Dolphins," and "That's the Bag I'm In" not because I had heard them by Fred Neil before but because of later cover versions of them by other artists. One of these cover versions was so popular that this record was re-released in 1969 under the title “Everybody's Talkin'” to capitalize on the international success of the new title track as performed by Harry Nilsson on the soundtrack to the movie ‘Midnight Cowboy’.
I enjoyed listening to it, but in truth – other than the songs that were later covered there isn’t a lot that makes the album stand out. I do recommend that you give it at least a listen.


You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 12
Ray Manzarek from The Doors is 70; Steve Hackett, formerly with Genesis, is 59; Michael McDonald is 57;

ON THIS DATE
1967 Keith Richard becomes the third member of the Rolling Stones to be arrested for “various substances of suspicious nature.”
1968 Jimi Hendrix receives the key to the city in his hometown of Seattle, Washington
1988 Axel Rose walks off the stage in Phoenix, Arizona at a concert where Guns 'N' Roses were the opening act for David Lee Roth. The rest of the shows with DLR are cancelled.
2005 Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and Jerry Lee Lewis receive the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award the day before the Grammys.
2007 Heaven And Hell announce that Vinny Appice will be their drummer instead of Bill Ward

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #61. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)

Label – Capitol
Producer – Brian Wilson
Art Direction – George Jerman
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 36:19

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Wouldn't It Be Nice
2. You Still Believe
3. That's Not Me
4. Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)
5. I'm Waiting for the Day
6. Let's Go Away for Awhile
7. Sloop John B.
8. God Only Knows
9. I Know There's an Answer
10. Here Today
11. I Just Wan't Made for Times Like These
12. Pet Sounds
13. Caroline, No

To many, this is considered THE best Beach Boys album, and one of THE best records to come out of the 1960’s. The group reached a whole new level in terms of both composition and production, layering tracks upon tracks of vocals and instruments to create an almost ‘symphonic’ sound. Conventional keyboards and guitars were combined with orchestrated strings, bicycle bells, buzzing organs, harpsichords, flutes, theremin, Hawaiian-sounding string instruments, Coca-Cola cans, barking dogs, and more. Everything but the kitchen sink – which actually MAY be in there somewhere. The problem is – it’s just not very good!
Paul McCartney spoke often about the album's influence on The Beatles and how it led to their next masterpiece “Sgt. Peppers” and Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham even went as far as placing unsolicited advertisements lauding the album in British music papers. I’ve always thought perhaps it was the drugs they were doing as they listened to the record. No offense to Sir McCartney, but the record is just really hard to listen to.
There are the upper-register male vocals (especially by Brian and Carl Wilson) that defined the Beach Boys sound on the two standout tracks "Wouldn't It Be Nice," and "God Only Knows," but the rest of the album is just a mess. It’s disjointed, with no flow to the tracks. It's often said that this is more of a Brian Wilson solo record than a Beach Boys recording (and in fact session musicians played most of the parts). Not helping matters was that "Caroline, No," released as the first single from the record was credited to Brian Wilson solo, leading to speculation that Wilson was considering leaving the band. Brian was on the border of being labelled ‘crazy’ around this time. What others call an advance in recording and an artist stretching to create new and original sounds, I call just dreadful.
On the charts, “Caroline, No” reached #32 in the United States. "Sloop John B" was extremely successful, scoring a #3 hit in the U.S. and #2 in Great Britain. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" reached #8 in the U.S. Its flip side, "God Only Knows," was another #2 single in Britain, but reached only #39 in the States. The LP broke into the Top Ten in the U.S., belying its reputation as a commercial failure there. ‘Pet Sounds’ greatest success was in the UK, where it reached #2 in the LP charts. It failed to reach gold status on its initial release, which disappointed Brian deeply. It eventually went gold in 2000.
For all the things it WASN’T to me perhaps George Martin, the Beatles producer, sums it up the best when he said "Without ‘Pet Sounds’, ‘Sgt. Pepper’ wouldn't have happened... Pepper was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds." That alone makes it’s existence ok – BUT I do not recommend it.


You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 11
Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park is 32;

ON THIS DATE
1963 The Beatles record their debut album Please Please Me in one day.
1964 The Beatles play their first concert in America in Washington, D.C.
2008 Lenny Kravitz has severe symptoms of bronchitis, therefore he is admitted to a hospital in Miami Beach, Florida

CONCERT NEWS
Tomorrow Night BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS Jannus Landing St. Petersburg
Tomorrow Night DAYS OF THE NEW Club Firestone Orlando
Friday, March 6 STEREOMUD Bourbon Night Club New Port Richey
Saturday, March 7 STEREOMUD The Plaza Theatre Orlando
Saturday, January 23 RICHIE HAVENS Mt. Dora Community Center Mt. Dora

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #60. The Beatles - Revolver (1966)

The Beatles - Revolver (1966)

Label – Parlophone
Producer – George Martin
Art Direction – Klaus Voorman
Nationality - UK
Running Time – 34:58

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Taxman
2. Eleanor Rigby
3. I'm only sleeping
4. Love you to
5. Here there and everywhere
6. Yellow submarine
7. She said she said
8. Good day sunshine
9. And your bird can sing
10. For no one
11. Dr Robert
12. I want to tell you
13. Got to get you into my life
14. Tomorrow never knows

Perfection. Plain and simple.
For the Beatles, there is everything that came before ‘Revolver’ and everything that came after. With this album all the rules were thrown out the window and the Beatles began exploring new sonic territory, mature lyrical subjects, and different styles of composition. And it was no longer the Lennon and McCartney show any longer either. George Harrison’s tracks, the cynical rocker "Taxman"; the powerful "I Want to Tell You" and of course "Love You To," (which was George's first and best foray into Indian music) were as good as anything John and Paul were writing.
John’s tracks were trippy kaleidoscopes of sound brought to life. The most straightforward number was "Doctor Robert," an ode to his drugdealer. Then there is "And Your Bird Can Sing" which is all but buried in a maze of multi-tracked guitars. Then there is his series of ‘bad trip’ songs. "She Said She Said"; the crawling "I'm Only Sleeping"; and "Tomorrow Never Knows," which can only be described as a sounds classic. John sings portions of the Tibetan Book of the Dead into a suspended microphone over Ringo's thundering, menacing drumbeats and layers of overdubbed, phased guitars and tape loops. Just light years ahead of it’s time.
McCartney's experiments were more formal when placed alongside Lennon's and Harrison's outright experimentations, but McCartney's songcraft became all the more impressive. “For No One”, “Got To Get You Into My Life” and the beautiful “Eleanor Rigby” are standouts. To top it off - Ringo was giving the charming child classic "Yellow Submarine" to sing.
The biggest achievement of the record is that the Beatles broke so much new stylistic ground on one record! The Beatles toured to support “Revolver” – but did not perform a single track from it as it was too difficult to reproduce live. Thankfully 8 of 14 tracks would be performed live by the solo Beatles over the years. John never did get a chance to tour - but you can be sure at some point he would have pulled out one of two of the tracks from “Revolver” for a set list.
In 1997, it was named the 3rd greatest album of all time in a Music of the Millennium poll conducted in the United Kingdom by HMV Group, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM. In 2006, Q magazine readers placed it at number 4, while in 2000 the same magazine placed it at number 1 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2001 VH1 named it the number 1 greatest album of all time, a position it also achieved in the Virgin All Time Top 1,000 Albums. In 2002, the readers of Rolling Stone ranked the album the greatest of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 3 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It was ranked 10th on Guitar World's (Readers Choice) Greatest 100 Guitar Albums Of All Time. In 2006, the album was chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 best albums of all time.
The Beatles are ahead of their time in every single track here, Revolver is like nothing you've heard before and is HIGHLY recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

February 10

ON THIS DATE
1969 the Beatles company "Apple" takes control of all of their business affairs. 1978 Van Halen release their debut album.
1979 Rod Stewart is at number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart with "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?".
2005 ZZ Top, along with Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Dickie Betts perform in West Hollywood at the Jam Sessions Concert, where proceeds benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.
2006 At the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy Yoko Ono took to the stage making a plea for peace, and afterwards Peter Gabriel performs Joh Lennon's "Imagine".
2008 At the 50th Grammy Awards The Foo Fighters won Best Hard Rock performance for "The Pretender" and Best Rock Album for "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace", Solo Rock Vocal Performance and Rock Song went to Bruce Springsteen for "Radio Nowhere", Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media went to the Beatles for "Love" and the Eagles won Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal for "How Long".

CONCERT NEWS
Tomorrow Night ART GARFUNKEL Youkey Thater Lakeland
Wednesday, March 11 STEPHEN PEARCEY The State Theatre St. Petersburg
Thursday, April 30 GIN BLOSSOMS Hard Rock Hotel Orlando

Grammy awards Album of the year: "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the big winners at the 51st annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles' Staples Center, tallying five trophies, including album of the year for the Rounder project "Raising Sand" and record of the year for "Please Read The Letter." The other wins were for best pop collaboration with vocals: "Rich Woman," best country collaboration with vocals for "Killing the Blues" and best contemporary folk/Americana album
I had given the record several spins last year and it just never did GRAB me. With all of the latest acclaim I decided to pull the record out for a fresh listen. Here is my review:

Label – Rounder
Producer – T. Bone Burnett
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 57:13

Track listing: Award wining track listed in bold

1. "Rich Woman" (Dorothy LaBostrie, McKinley Millet) – 4:04
2. "Killing the Blues" (Roly Jon Salley) – 4:16
3. "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" (Sam Phillips) – 3:26
4. "Polly Come Home" (Gene Clark) – 5:36
5. "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)" (Don Everly, Phil Everly) – 3:33
6. "Through the Morning, Through the Night" (Gene Clark) – 4:01
7. "Please Read the Letter" (Charlie Jones, Michael Lee, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) – 5:53
8. "Trampled Rose" (Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits) – 5:34
9. "Fortune Teller" (Naomi Neville) – 4:30
10. "Stick with Me, Baby" (Mel Tillis) – 2:50
11. "Nothin'" (Townes Van Zandt) – 5:33
12. "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" (Milton Campbell) – 4:02
13. "Your Long Journey" (Arthel Lane, Doc Watson, Rosa Lee Watson) – 3:55

In what certainly had to be the “what? Are you kidding me?” most unlikely pairing is the duo of former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant and bluegrass superstar Alison Krauss .
Many seem to think that this is actually one of the most effortless-sounding pairings in modern popular music, with producer T-Bone Burnett and the band he assembled for this recording. The tracks are, predictably, very laid-back. Burnett is know for his laid back music, so the material chosen by the three is mostly very subdued. The problem is – to me – it’s also quite boring.
The word I keep reading over and over about the record is that is it STELLAR. I must be missing something. As I mentioned, I played the record many times the week of it’s release and it just never grabbed me. Time (and a handful of awards) has not changed my opinion much.
Again – it’s not that it is BAD or anything such as that – it’s just so low keyed and sundued – that as a whole piece of work it’s pretty boring. Selected tracks I would consider as absolutely superb – and it’s not that I am opposed to the subdued nature of the music. Quite the contary. The standout track on Mr. Plant’s last record was the subdued “All The King’s Horses”. Now THAT is STELLAR! Unfortunately nothing here is a s good.
Two of the standout tracks to me are a pair of Gene Clark tunes "Polly Come Home" and "Through the Morning, Through the Night" . The first is a haunting ballad done in an old-world folk style, the latter is a wasted country love song told from the point of view of an outlaw.
The ‘heaviest’ and only by a bit — is the Everly Brothers' "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)." Nothing like the original it DOES however offer a refreshing change of pace near the middle of the disc while trying to stay awake.
The best track is a Plant cover of himself with "Please Read the Letter" is written by Plant and Jimmy Page and included on their ‘Walking into Clarksdale’ record. While slow, plodding - almost crawling along, Krauss' harmony vocal takes it to the next step, adds the kind of depth that makes this a song standout instead of just being another lost love song.
Townes Van Zandt's "Nothin'" done in a twilight Led Zeppelin style doesn't rock either. It plods and drifts, and crawls. This is what singer/songwriter heavy metal must sound like. And it is oh-so-slow.
Their two voices meld together seamlessly, but they are almost buried in the mix at times it’s hard to hear them with the production sometimes bigger than the song. They don't soar, they don't roar, they don’t rock. They are simply sing songs that go nowhere and leave you feeling empty. The only thing I can say is that it IS the best of the offerings up for album of the year – and THAT really IS sad.
I do not recommend it.


You can purchase the CD here.

February 9

On this date in 1964 The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.


On this date in 2005 Roger Daltry of the Who is given the honor of "Commander of the British Empire." On this date in 2006 Paul Stanley of Kiss appears at a New Jersey Gallery to promote exhibitions of his artwork. On this date in 2007 during Grammy Week in Los Angeles Don Henley of the Eagles is named the 2007 MusiCares Person of the Year.

CONCERT NEWS
Tomorrow Night ART GARFUNKEL Youkey Theater Lakeland
4431

February 8

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 8
Vince Neil from Motley Crue is 48; Phoenix from Linkin Park is 32;

On this date in 1988 The Who receive the Outstanding Contribution to British Music honor at the BPI Awards in London. On this date in 1990 Del Shannon commited suicide. He was 55. On this date in 2005 Keith Knudson, drummer for the Doobie Brothers dies due to complications with penmonia. He was 56.
4397

February 7

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 7
David Bryan from Bon Jovi is 47;

On this date in 1964, The Beatles began their first American tour as they arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. On this date in 1980 Pink Floyd play the first show of their 2 city tour for 'The Wall' in Los Angeles. On this date in 2008 the Rolling Stone's documentary 'Shine A Light' directed by Matin Scorsese premieres at the Berlin International Film Festival, which Scorsese and the band attend.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #59. The Who - My Generation (1965)

The Who - My Generation (1965)

Label – Brunswick
Producer – Shel Talmy
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality - UK
Running Time – 36:13

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Out In The Street
2. I Don't Mind
3. The Good's Gone
4. La La La Lies
5. Much Too Much
6. My Generation
7. The Kids Are Alright
8. Please, Please, Please
9. It's Not True
10. I'm A Man
11. A Legal Matter
12. The Ox

Another explosive debut, Surely the hardest ‘mod’ pop as they were calling it at the time – that had been recorded by anyone. The Who invented the noisier type of rock with this album. Pete Townshend's incredible chord crunches and control of the feedback and distortion jumps out of the speakers on "My Generation" and "Out in the Street"; Keith Moon attacks the drums with a uncontrolled lightning fast ruthless finesse. There are some "Maximum R&B" influenced James Brown covers, but it’s Townshend's original material with it’s power chords in "The Good's Gone," "Much Too Much," "La La La Lies," and especially "The Kids Are Alright" being some of the highlights. "The Ox" was instrumental mayhem that pushed the envelope of 1965 amplification with its guitar feedback and nonstop crashing drum rolls – and would be the nick-name that bassist John Entwistle would adopt. While they would go onto bigger and more ambitious projects – it’s fair to say that the Who never surpassed the pure energy level of this debut record.
The album was made immediately after The Who got their first singles on the charts and according to the booklet in the Deluxe Edition, it was later dismissed by the band as something of a rush job that did not accurately represent their stage performance of the time. On the other hand, critics often rate it as one of the best rock albums of all time: in 2003, the album was ranked number 236 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2004, the song My Generation was #11 in Rolling Stones Magazine's List of the 500 greatest songs of all time. In 2006, it was ranked #49 in NME's list of the 100 Greatest British Albums.
It Is highly recommended.



You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 6
Simon Phillips from Toto is 52; Axl Rose from Guns N' Roses is 47;

On this date in 1982 Van Halen's remake of Oh, Pretty Woman peaks on the Billboard Pop Singles chart at number 12. On this date in 2003 John Densmore of the Doors sues Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger, saying that the newly formed Doors with Stewart Copeland of the Police drumming and Ian Astbury singing was hurtful to their legacy. They eventually change their name to the Doors of the 21st Century.On this date in 2005 Paul McCartney performs the halftime show at the Super Bowl.

CONCERT NEWS

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #58. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Label – Columbia
Producer –Bob Johnson
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 51:34

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Like A Rolling Stone
2. Tombstone Blues
3. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
4. From A Buick 6
5. Ballad Of A Thin Man
6. Queen Jane Approximately
7. Highway 61 Revisited
8. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
9. Desolation Row

Basically picking up where the electric side of “Bringing It All Back Home” left off, Bob Dylan gathered a full straight ahead rock & roll band – which included guitarist Michael Bloomfield – for his next record “Highway 61 Revisited” . Right out the gate is a true Dylan classic epic "Like a Rolling Stone". What follows is a rapid fire assault through nine songs. They range from more traditional folk-rock on "Desolation Row", almost the blues on "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" to flat-out no holds barred garage band rock on "Tombstone Blues," "From a Buick 6" and the title track.
Many folk purists jumped ship with this record saying Dylan had ‘sold out. With other bands - like yesterday’s review of the Byrds - covering his songs with a rockier feel, it’s no surprise Dylan came to the natural conclusion that he could do the same.
Also with this album Dylan had not only completed the transformation of his sound from folk to rock, but his image was undergoing a major overhaul. When he ditched folk – he ditched that rambling troubadour image for a hippy. Sprinkled in the record are references to drugs and surreal ‘trippy’ images, that became Dylans 60’s trademarks.
In 1995 Highway 61 Revisited was named the fifth greatest album of all time in a poll conducted by Mojo Magazine. In 1998 Q magazine readers voted Highway 61 Revisited the 57th greatest album of all time; in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 22. Then in 2003, Rolling Stone magazine placed it fourth on its list of the greatest albums of all time and named "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Highway 61 Revisited" the first and 364th greatest songs respectively.
This is truly one of the great Dylan albums and is highly recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FGEBRUARY 5
Al Kooper is 65; Nigel Olsson, drummer for Elton John, is 60; Duff McKagan from Velvet Revolver is 45; Chris Barron from the Spin Doctors is 41;

On this date in 1962 Ringo Starr played his first ever gig with the Beatles, filling in for the ill Pete Best. On this date in 1993 Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood record an MTV Unplugged. On this date in 2008 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a guru to the Beatles who introduced the West to transcendental meditation, died at his home in the Dutch town of Vlodrop; he was thought to be 91.

CONCERT NEWS
Tomorrow Night 6 BB KING & BUDDY GUY UCF Arena Orlando
Saturday, March 21 Collective Soul Universal Mardi Gras Orlando

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #57. The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)

The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)

Label – Columbia
Producer –Terry Melcher
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 30:45

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Mr Tambourine Man
2. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better
3. Spanish Harlem Incident
4. You Won't Have To Cry
5. Here Without You
6. Bells Of Rhymney
7. All I Really Want To Do
8. I Knew I'd Want You
9. It's No Use
10. Don't Doubt Yourself Babe
11. Chimes Of Freedom
12. We'll Meet Again

Another great debut album. “Mr. Tambourine Man” by the Byrds was responsible for establishing folk-rock as a popular music form. It’s most defining sound being Roger McGuinn's very distinctive 12-string Rickenbacker ‘jangle’ and the band's great vocal harmonies of Gene Clark, McGuinn, and David Crosby. This "jingle-jangle" and smooth harmonies became the signature sound of the band.
The songs selection was a mix of originals and covers. They chose four Bob Dylan songs to cover – most notably the title cut and "All I Really Want to Do", a Pete Seeger track - "The Bells of Rhymney" and a Jackie DeShannon song "Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe". The originals while perhaps not as lyrically superior to the covers, are equally powerful musically. Gene Clark's tracks "I Knew I'd Want You," "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" stand our.
What this is actually is a very fun album. While The Byrds went on to write better music and to make some better albums, none of them had the impact of this one. It was also very popular. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, staying on the charts for 38 weeks; it also went to #7 in Great Britain.
The album is recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 4
John Steel from The Animals is 68; Alice Cooper is 61; Phil Ehart from Kansas is 58;

On this date in 1968 the Beatles record "Across The Universe." On this date in 2006 Tommy Lee gets beat up. The Motley Crue drummer is assaulted in Detroit for insulting Kid Rock, who is from Detroit. Rock had been engaged to Pamela Anderson, Lee's former wife. On this date in 2007 Billy Joel sang the National Anthem just before the Super Bowl.

CONCERT NEWS
Tomorrow Night BB KING & BUDDY GUY Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater
Tuesday, March 10 Bulletboys Garage Bar St. Petersburg
Friday, April 10 CHEVELLE, DISTURBED, DUFF McKAGAN'S LOADED, SALIVA, STAIND and STATIC X St. Pete Times Forum Tampa

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #56. Bert Jansch - Bert Jansch (1965)

Bert Jansch - Bert Jansch (1965)

Label – Transatlantic
Producer – Bill Leader
Art Direction – Brian Shuel
Nationality - UK
Running Time – 39:25

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Strolling Down The Highway
2. Smokey River
3. Oh How Your Love Is Strong
4. I Have No Time
5. Finches
6. Veronica
7. Needle Of Death
8. Do You Hear Me Now
9. Rambling's Gonna Be The Death Of Me
10. Alice's Wonderland
11. Running From Home
12. Courting Blues
13. Casbah
14. Dreams Of Love
15. Angi

Pleasant enough, but gets quite boring. This record was taped with a portable tape recorder on a borrowed guitar in the kitchen of Bert Jansch’s London apartment. And it sounds like it. Again, the playing is pleasant enough and it’s not that it’s bad or anything, it just doesn’t have any impact on the listener and I was quite bored with it by the time the record was over.
Perhap’s Jansch's debut has been somewhat diminished by the passage of time, because in reading about it, turns out it was a vastly influential work. His acoustic picking to be sure is excellent, and specifically, Jimmy Page and Neil Young have gone on record as noting their influence to Jansch's early material.
He also was a songwriter. All but one of the 15 tracks on his debut was an original composition (the set closes with his excellent version of the instrumental "Angi," popularized by Paul Simon). Oddly, that instrumental is my favorite track on the record.
Another person heavily influenced by Bert Jansch was Donovan. He has covered a couple of early Jansch tunes, and even wrote a couple of songs directly inspired by the artist ("Bert's Blues" and "House of Jansch").
The other standout track to me is a rambling compositions the somber "Needle of Death" (about the heroin-induced death of one of his friends). Perhaps Neil Young’s “Needle and the Damage Done” was influenced by this track?
Again, the most impressive thing here is the guitar playing, perfect stuff, beautiful and pure. It just gets old after a while and the songs are not strong enough to make this less than boring and tough to get thorough.
I CAUTIOUSLY recommend this record. Mainly for its influences that it would have on other artists more so than for the music included.

February 3

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 3
Dave Davies from The Kinks is 62;

ON THIS DATE
1959 a single-engine plane crashed shortly after midnight near Clear Lake, Iowa, claiming the lives of rock-and-roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson.
1969 Paul McCartney plays drums for the Steve Miller Band for the track "My Dark Hour."
1969 This Was by Jethro Tull has it's U.S. release
2002 "Rock And Roll" by Led Zeppelin is heard in a commercial for Cadillac during the Super Bowl. It is the first time a Zep tune is used in a commercial.
2003 Phil Spector is arrested in connection of the shooting death of Lana Clarkson.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #55. The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965)

The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965)

Label – Parlophone
Producer – George Martin
Art Direction – Robert Freeman
Nationality - UK
Running Time – 35:50

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)
1. Drive My Car
2. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
3. You Won't See Me
4. Nowhere Man
5. Think For Yourself
6. Word
7. Michelle
8. What Goes On
9. Girl
10. I'm Looking Through You
11. In My Life
12. Wait
13. If I Needed Someone
14. Run For Your Life

Back to the Beatles. And again – all the tracks here could be listed at standout tracks as they are all that good!! While these are still mainly love songs on ‘Rubber Soul’, the lyrics of John Lennon and Paul McCartney had developed in terms of thoughtfulness, maturity, and downright complex structure. Musically also was a another step forward. With intricate almost folk-rock type arrangements that reflected the new influences of Bob Dylan and the 12 string sounds of the Byrds, the group began to expand the instrumental boundaries of the rock group, by introducing a sitar on "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)." There was also Greek inspired guitar passages on "Michelle" and also on "Girl." There is a nasty fuzz bass and guitar sound on George Harrison’s "Think for Yourself." George Martin even gets into the act by adding a piano recorded at regular speed then sped up to sound like a harpsichord on the instrumental break of "In My Life." Just innovations far ahead of anything else being released at the time.
For the Beatles ‘Rubber Soul’ is the big turning point from just straight rock music into something else truly original. The entire record became part of the music ‘package’ with the odd title and the innovative cover setting a mood before a single note is even heard.
Obviously HIGHLY recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

February 2

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 2
Graham Nash is 67; Ross Valory from Journey is 60; Robert DeLeo from Army of Anyone and Stone Temple Pilots is 43; Ben Mize from the Counting Crows is 38;

On this date in 1959 Buddy Holly performed his last concert in Clear Lake, Iowa.

CONCERT NEWS
Saturday, March 21 DELBERT McCLINTON Vinoy Park St. Petersburg

The Eagles - Amway Arena - Orlando, Florida 1/31/2009

The Eagles - Amway Arena - Januaury 31, 2009

Set List: How Long / Too Busy Being Fabulous / I Don’t Want To Hear Anymore / Guilty Of The Crime / Hotel California / Peaceful Easy Feeling / I Can't Tell You Why / Witchy Woman / Lyin' Eyes / Boys of Summer / In the City / Long Run / No More Walks In The Woods / Waiting in the Weeds / No More Cloudy Days / Take It To The Limit / Long Road Out of Eden / Somebody / Walk Away / One Of These Nights / Life’s Been Good / Dirty Laundry / Funk 49 / Heartache Tonight / Life in the Fast Lane / Take It Easy / Desperado

The Eagles delivered last night at Orlando’s Amway Arena before a sold out crowd.
Dressed in suits the core quartet — Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit — performed new songs, old epic rock tracks, country-tinged ballads and everything in between.
Over the course of the night the band selected nine tracks from the band's Grammy-nominated Long Road Out of Eden CD and actually opened the nearly three-hour show with four new tracks. It had been 28 years since The Eagles' last studio album, and it has been nominated for a Grammy – a fact that Glenn Frey mentioned several times during the set. I actually found that I enjoyed the new songs much more than the old hits. "How Long" kicked off the set, proving to the audience that "Eden" carries at least a little of the breezy, road-trip atmosphere of the Eagles classic "Take It Easy." The bouncy "Busy Being Fabulous" followed. Frey then greeted the audience and told them to check their ticket stubs, a nod to the concert's official title: the "Assisted Living Tour". This banter continued throughout the show as Frey poked fun at the band's age.
Joe Walsh's "Guilty of the Crime" - the last of the opening new 4 songs flat our rocked. Later during the second set more "Eden" tracks were played with the title track easily being the highlight of them - and perhaps the best song all evening!
A single red spotlight on the trumpet player introduced "Hotel California," and as the audience cheer grew into a singalong it became clear the fans came out to hear the classics. But nobody comes to an Eagles concert expecting anything different.
Frey’s tracks "Peaceful Easy Feeling", "Lyin' Eyes", "Take It Easy" all sounded great. Exceptional backing all evening came from a 13-member band that included three keyboardists, a horn section, an extra drummer and two piano players.
Henley's material, "Boys of Summer", "The Long Run" and "Dirty Laundry" is still the Eagles' toughest stuff, although I would rather have heard some more Eagles tracks than the solo hits. Walsh's prankish behavior was pretty tamed (except for the video cam cap) but not his fingers: Walk Away earned one of the night's loudest cheers; In the City, Life's Been Good and of course his licks on Hotel California are as tasty as ever. Schmit's voice was weak but still pretty smooth on "I Can't Tell You Why". But he was visibly not feeling the greatest for the show – and one of his tracks was actually cut from the set.
Overall, the 27-song set list and three and a half hour length (there was an intermission that lasted about 20 minutes) seemed to satisfy the sold-out audience, proving the Eagles still have what it takes to soar.

Hotel California from Orlando - fan filmed video


ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 1
Don Everly is 72; Mike Campbell from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers is 59; Ron Welty, formerly with the Offspring, is 38;

On this date in 1964 The Beatles hit number 1 on Billboard's Pop Singles chart for the very first time with "I Want To Hold Your Hand". On this date in 1977 Led Zeppelin had to postpone their North American tour because Robert Plant is ill. On this date in 1988 the Cars call it quits. On this date in 2004 Aerosmith and Kid Rock both perform at halftime for Super Bowl XXXVIII. However, I bet you don't remember that because that's the year we got to see Janet's tit. On this date in 2006 a Hurricane Katrina benefit concert put together by former Eagle Don Felder occurs. Green Day drummer Tré Cool, ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and Alice Cooper perform. On this date in 2007 Don Henley says that that the Eagles business partnership with Walmart is good, stating "They can't be any more evil than a major record label."

CONCERT NEWS
Monday, February 2 SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY DUKES Hard Rock Orlando