March 31

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 31
Mick Ralphs of Bad Company is 61; Angus Young of AC/DC is 54; Sean Hopper of Huey Lewis And The News is 56;

ON THIS DATE
1967 Jimi Hendrix sets fire to his guitar for the first time as he began his first British tour in London
1982 The Doobie Brothers announce that they are calling it quits
1992 Bruce Springsteen releases two albums of all new material on the same day. the albums are Human Touch and Lucky Town
1994 Kurt Cobain of Nirvana walks out of drug treatment center in California after only 3 days

CONCERT NEWS
Thursday, April 30 SEVEN MARY THREE and SPONGE The Coliseum Daytona Beach
Saturday, May 2 SEVEN MARY THREE Bourbon Street Nightclub New Port Richey
Saturday, July 25 EDGAR WINTER BAND Shepherds Clearwater
Friday, Rocktober 9 U2 Raymond James Stadium Tampa

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #91. Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground And Nico

Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground And Nico

Label – Verve
Producer – Andy Warhol and Tom Wilson
Art Direction – Andy Warhol
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 48:34

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Sunday Morning
2. I'm Waiting For The Man
3. Femme Fatale
4. Venus In Furs
5. Run Run Run
6. All Tomorrow's Parties
7. Heroin
8. There She Goes Again
9. I'll Be Your Mirror
10. Black Angel's Death Song
11. European Son

When your are playing a record, and you shout out “for the love of god will this crap ever end?” – your listening to a really bad album. That is exactly what I screamed out around track 9 of this record as it played. The fact that I read where this is considered to be one of the most influential records ever made – makes me question everyone’s sanity. This is just a bad record. Dreadful. Awful.
It reportedly took over a decade for the album's sales to crack six figures. I feel sorry for those record buyers.
Recorded in 1966 during Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia event tour, “The Velvet Underground & Nico” is full of out of tune ramblings, disjointed melodies, bad lyrics and out of tune singing on EVERY single song. The album I reviewed of Nico’s and this record are equally as bad. By the way – this record features Nico as well!! Doing some reading on the record I came across this statement: “While the significance of Nico's contributions have been debated over the years, and if Andy Warhol's presence as ‘producer’ was primarily a matter of signing the checks, his notoriety allowed The Velvet Underground to record their material without compromise, which would have been impossible under most other circumstances.” Interesting – but what a shame it sucks so bad.
Though largely ignored upon release, (it’s chart peak was at #171) for some reason that I will NEVER understand the record has since become one of the most influential and critically acclaimed rock albums in history. It appears at number 13 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time as well as being added to the 2006 National Recording Registry by the Librarian of Congress. In April 2003, Spin put the album at the number one spot of their "Top Fifteen Most Influential Albums of All Time" list (though the list excluded albums by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis and The Rolling Stones). In 1997, Velvet Underground & Nico was named the 22nd 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 his 1995 book, "The Alternative Music Almanac", Alan Cross placed the album in the #1 spot on the list of '10 Classic Alternative Albums'. In 2006, Q magazine readers voted it into 42nd place in the "2006 Q Magazine Readers' 100 Greatest Albums Ever" poll, while The Observer placed it at number 1 in a list of "50 Albums That Changed Music" in the July of that year. Also in 2006, the album was chosen by TIME magazine as one of the 100 best albums of all time. It is, however, not recommended as it is just terrible.

"
You can purchse the CD here.

New Releases

NEW RELEASES

March 31
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
thenewno2...You Are Here
MUDDY WATERS...Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Fillmore Auditorium - San Francisco Nov 04-06 1966 (original recording remastered)
PAUL BUTTERFIELD...Rockpalast: Paul Butterfield (DVD)
STEVIE NICKS...Live In Chicago (DVD)
BOB DYLAN...New Morning (Original Recording Remastered)
BOB DYLAN and the BAND...Before the Flood (Original Recording Remastered)
BOB DYLAN and the GRATEFUL DEAD...Dylan & the Dead (original recording remastered)
BLACK SABBATH...Seventh Star (remastered)
UFO...Beginnings
REO SPEEDWAGON...TRIPLE FEATURE: REO Speedwagon (Slip Case Box Set)
SPIRIT...Vol. 3-Rockpalast: West Coast Legends (1978)(DVD)
HEART...Love Songs
QUEENSRYCHE...American Soldier
FILTER...The Very Best Things (1995-2008)
TED NUGENT...TRIPLE FEATURE: Ted Nugent (Slip Case Box Set)
DUFF McKAGAN'S LOADED...Sick
BILLY SHEEHAN...Holy Cow (UK Edition, Incl. 3 Bonus Tracks)
JEFF BECK...Performing This Week: Live at Ronnie Scott's (DVD) (blu-ray)
BOB DYLAN AND THE BAND...The Basement Tapes (original recording remastered)
LYNYRD SKYNYRD...Authorized Bootleg: Live at Winterland - San Francisco Mar. 07 1976
LYNYRD SKYNYRD...Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Cardiff Capitol Theater - Cardiff, Wales Nov. 04 1975
CINDERELLA...Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Tokyo Dome - Tokyo, Japan Dec. 31 1990
ASIA...Live Sao Paulo March 23rd 2007
TOTO...Playlist: The Very Best of Toto
CHEAP TRICK...Playlist: The Very Best of Cheap Trick
ASIA...Live at Pabst Theatre Milwaukee USA
Nazareth...Hair of the Dog - Live from London (DVD)
OUR LADY PEACE...Playlist: The Very Best of Our Lady Peace
TED NUGENT...Playlist: The Very Best of Ted Nugent
ARGENT...Original Album Classics (Box Set)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND...Original Album Classics (Box Set)

April 7
U2...The Lowdown Unauthorized
MUDDY WATERS...King Of The Blues
THE BAND...The Band (Original Recording Remastered)
BLACK SABBATH...Paranoid (Remastered LP, CD/DVD
WHITE LION...Live At The Bang Your Head Festival 2005
NEIL YOUNG...Fork In The Road
GRATEFUL DEAD...To Terrapin: May 28, 1977 Hartford, CT
HURT...Goodbye To The Machine
Bob Dylan Never Ending Tour Diaries: Drummer Winston Watson's Incredible Journey (DVD)
METALLICA...Broken, Beat and Scarred (Part 1) (3 Panel Digipack) [Single)
METALLICA...Broken, Beat and Scarred (Pt. 2) (Single)
FOREIGNER...Soundstage: Foreigner - Live (DVD)
DUFF McKAGAN'S LOADED...Sick
OASIS...I'm Outta Time EP (Japanese Tour Edition)
BUDDY HOLLY...Definitive Story/The Music of Buddy Holly and the Crickets (DVD)
BONO...Bono: Big Daddy (DVD)
EDDIE COCHRAN...Somethin' Else:The Ultimate Collection (Box Set)
MICHAEL SCHENKER...Greatest Riffs
EDDIE COCHRAN...Singin' to My Baby/Eddie Cochran Memorial Album
RANDY MEISNER...Live 1981
ROBERT PALMER...Classic
JERRY LEE LEWIS...Road Begins
BUDDY HOLLY...Blue Days Black Nights
SPENCER DAVIS GROUP...Classic
TEARS FOR FEARS...Classic
FREE...Classic

April 28
HEAVEN AND HELL...The Devil You Know

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 30
Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues is 68; Eric Clapton is 64; Dave Ball of Procol Harum is 59; Tracy Chapman is 45;

ON THIS DATE
1966 85 people are arrested at a Rolling Stones concert in Paris for misbehaving
1967 The cover for The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely hearts Club Band was photographed. That same day Jimi Hendrix makes an appearance on "Top Of The Pops" to lip sync "Purple Haze", however the tape operator put in another song
2008 Martin Scorsese and the Rolling Stones attend the Shine A Light New York premiere

CONCERT NEWS
Tuesday, March 31 COLIN HAY (OF MEN AT WORK) Largo Cultural Center Largo

March 29

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 29
Bobby Kimball of Toto is 62; Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction is 50; John Popper of Blues Traveler is 42;

ON THIS DATE
1975 Led Zeppelin have 6 albums on Billboard's Album chart, the first artist to do so. The 6 are: “Physical Graffiti” (No. 1), “Led Zeppelin IV,” “House of the Holy,” “Led Zeppelin II,” “Led Zeppelin” and “Led Zeppelin III”
2002 In Dublin, Ireland Bono is awarded an honorary knighthood, however he is not allowed to use the title "Sir"
2006 Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers Band is injured in a motorcycle accident. Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley of the band both were killed in motorcycle accidents. Also that day the Beatles' Apple Corps sues Apple Computer, stating that the computer company broke a 1991 agreement between the two companies of staying out of the music biz altogether and that iTunes breaks that agreement. Apple Computers later wins the suit

CONCERT NEWS
Monday, March 30 THIRD EYE BLIND House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista

March 28

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 28
John Evans formerly with Jethro Tull is 61;

ON THIS DATE
1958 Jerry Lee Lewis sets his piano on fire at a concert in Brooklyn, New York after he was told that Chuck Berry would be closing Alan Freed’s Big Beat Show
1964 London’s Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum announce that the first rock band to be cast in wax will be the Beatles
1982 David Crosby is arrested in Los Angeles for possession of quaaludes, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon
1994 Kurt Cobain enters rehad at SoCal Exodus Recovery Center, but he wals out 3 days later
1996 Phil Collins announcves that he is leaving Genesis
2000 Ministry magazine pays Jimmy Page an undisclosed amount of money and offers Page an apology after the mag announced that Page contributed to the death of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham by satanic rituals
2008 The Allman Brothers Band cancel some shows because Gregg Allman is having treatments for Heapatitis C

CONCERT NEWS
Sunday, March 29 TODD RUNDGREN The Plaza Theatre Orlando

March 27

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 27
Tony Banks of Genesis is 59; Andrew Farriss of INXS is 50; Johnny April of Staind is 44; Brendan Hill of Blues Traveler is 39;

ON THIS DATE
1967 A riot broke out at a Rolling Stones concert in Halsinborg, Sweden
1973 Carlos Santana changes his name to Devadip
1979 Eric Clapton married Patti Boyd in Tuscon, Arizona
1986 Sammy Hagar performed his first conbcert as a member of Van Halen
1987 U2 do their own version of a "Rooftop Concert" in Los Angeles on the roof of Republic Liquor, all of which is filmed and made into a video for "Where The Streets Have No Name"
1992 At a U2 concert in Auburn Hills, Michigan Bono calls a pizza parlor and orders 10,000 pizzas. Only 100 pizzas are actually delivered

CONCERT NEWS
Saturday, March 28 HEART House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Thursday, April 30 RANDY BACHMAN Jannus Landing St. Petersburg
November 6,7,8 LOS LOBOS Disney World Lake Buena Vista

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #90. The Who - The Who Sell Out (1967)

90. The Who - The Who Sell Out (1967)

Label – Track
Producer – Kit Lambert
Art Direction – David King and Roger Law
Nationality – UK
Running Time – 39:26

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Armenia City In The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans/More Music (Jingle)
3. Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand/Premier Drums/Radio London (jingles)
4. Odorono/Radio London (jingle)
5. Tattoo/Radio London (Church Of Your Choice Jingle)
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See For Miles/Charles Atlas (Jingle)
8. I Can't Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael 1

This the Who’s third release is an interesting album and lays down the foundation of the Who as we think of them today. Pete Townshend has said that the “Who Sell Out” is a concept album paying tribute to pirate radio stations. It’s not a ‘concept piece’ as we generally think of when we thing of Townshends later works (Tommy; Quadrophenia, etc) as there is not a story being told here - but the addition of fake jingles and commercials which link the songs gives the record an overall common ‘theme’.
If you overlook those jingles (not that they are bad or anything like that) this is a great set of songs and a great record overall. "I Can See for Miles", "Armenia City in the Sky" and “Tattoo" are all just excellent tracks. To cap off the record is "Rael" which is a mini-opera, with some music themes that would reappeared as part of “Tommy”.
The album's release was not surprisingly followed by a handful of lawsuits - due to the mention of real-world products in the fake commercials - and on the album’s cover art. They were also sued by the makers of the real Radio London jingles claiming The Who used them without permission.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 113 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. While not the version reviewed here – I advise you to seek out the CD reissue of the record which adds some alternate versions as well as some unused jingles. It is recommended.


"
You can purchase the CD here.

(LW)TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
(1)1. U2...No Line On The Horizon
(Enter)2. Various Artist...Twilight soundtrack
(2)3. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
(4)4. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN...Working On A Dream
(5)5. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
(8)6. THEORY OF A DEADMAN...Scars And Souvenirs
(7)7. HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD...Swan Song
(6)8. ROBERT PLANT/ALISON KRAUSS...Raising Sand
(9)9. SHINEDOWN...The Sound Of Madness
(10)10. METALLICA...Death Magnetic

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 26
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is 61; Richard Tandy od Electric Light Orchestra is 61; Fran Sheehan formerly with Boston is 60; Monte Yoho of the Outlaws is 57; James Iha formerly of the Smashing Pumpkins is 41;

ON THIS DATE
1965 The Yardbirds announce their replacement for Eric Clapton: Jeff Beck
1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their “Bed-in” at the Amsterdam Hilton
1975 The Who's film "Tommy" premieres in London
2002 Former drummer for Ozzy and Motley Crue, Randy Castillo, dies at the age of 51 due to cancer
2005 Paul Newell Hester of Crowded House commits suicide in Melbourne, Australia
2008 Clint Lowery returns to Sevendust

CONCERT NEWS
Friday, March 27 TODD RUNDGREN Capitol Theatre Clearwater

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #89. Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)

89. Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)

Label –Columbia
Producer – Norman Smith
Art Direction – Syd Barrett
Nationality – UK
Running Time – 41:52

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Astronomy Domine
2. Lucifer Sam
3. Matilda Mother
4. Flaming
5. Pow R Toc H
6. Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk
7. Interstellar Overdrive
8. Gnome
9. Chapter 24
10. Scarecrow
11. Bike

I really like Pink Floyd. They are easily in the list of my top 10 favorite bands of all time. What a shame this – their debut album - is just not very good. Indeed – the Pink Floyd that I’m referring to would be the group AFTER Syd Barrett lost his mind and was replaced by David Gilmour. We can thank Syd for putting the band together if nothing else – but the Floyd would not make great music until he was long gone from the group. This record DOES capture the psychedelic mood of the 60’s pretty well, but it’s just to ‘out there’ as it were. The lp title was taken from Syd Barrett's favorite children's book, “The Wind in the Willows”, and Barrett’s lyrics are indeed childlike, but more accurately LSD influenced.
I have played this record a handful of times over the years since I got it as a teenager and thought perhaps a new current listen to the record and my changing music tastes may have altered my opinion of the record. But not really. "Astronomy Domine" and "Interstellar Overdrive" are really the only tracks that I really enjoyed – and I really believe that is due to later versions of the songs that I have listened to which makes they more familiar to me. As an interesting side note. the album was produced by Norman Smith, an EMI staff member who had previously engineered all of The Beatles recordings up to 1965's Rubber Soul.
I have always held the opinion that Syd Barrett has always been somewhat overrated. His story is no doubt a sad one, but his Floyd work as well as his solo released are pretty much un-listenable. Regardless of my opinion, the record has been called one of the most influential records ever made. It reached #6 on the UK charts. In the U.S. it reached #131 on the Billboard charts. In 1999 Rolling Stone Magazine called it - "the golden achievement of Syd Barrett". Q Magazine described the album as "indispensable", and included it in their best psychedelic albums of all time. It was also ranked 40th in Mojo magazines, The 50 Most Out There Albums of all Time. In 2000 Q magazine ranked it at number 55 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2003, the album was ranked number 347 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Regardless of all of that - I cannot however recommend it.


"
You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 25
Elton John is 62;

ON THIS DATE
1966 Jeff Healey is born in Toronto, Ontario. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 41
1967 The Who perform their first concert in America in New York City
1968 The last original airing of the TV series "The Monkees", after 58 episodes
1986 Guns 'N' Roses signs to Geffen Records
2001 Bob Dylan wins an Oscar for "Things Have Changed" from the movie Wonder Boys
2005 A fire breaks out at Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's mansion in Buckinghamshire, England
2007 Elton John performs for the 60th time at Madison Square Garden on his 60th birthday
2008 Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi is arrested in Laguna Beach, California on suspicion of driving under the influence

CONCERT NEWS
Sunday, May 10 Saving Abel House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Thursday, July 16 THE OFFSPRING Hard Rock Cafe Orlando

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #88. Cream - Disraeli Gears (1967)

Cream - Disraeli Gears (1967)

Label – Polydor
Producer – Felix Pappalardi
Art Direction – Martin Sharp
Nationality – UK
Running Time – 33:30

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Strange Brew
2. Sunshine Of Your Love
3. World Of Pain
4. Dance The Night Away
5. Blue Condition
6. Tales Of Brave Ulysses
7. Swlabr
8. We're Going Wrong
9. Outside Woman Blues
10. Take It Back
11. Mother's Lament

Just a fantastic album – and most likely Cream’s best. Teamed up with producer Felix Pappalardi – this is Cream’s second record. It’s less blues and more psychedelic oriented than their debut lp - but it does show them as a truly massive, innovative power trio. The record contains the classics "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love," as well as the epic “Tales of Brave Ulysses." These tracks alone make this record a classic.
There are some interesting tracks suck as "Swlabr," and the schoolboy singalong "Monther's Lament," yet make no mistake, Cream is a heavy rock trio and “Disraeli Gears” is a great heavy rock album of the '60s – once again affirming that Eric Clapton was really a guitar genius. Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce all contributed songs to the record with the help of lyricist Pete Brown and Pappalardi.
The record upon it’s release reached #5 on the UK album chart, and it was also a massive seller in the US reaching #4 on the American charts. In 2003 the album was ranked number 112 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. VH1 also named it their 87th greatest album of all time the same year.
It is highly recommended.

"
You can purchase the CD here.

March 24

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 24
Dougie Thomson of Supertramp is 58;

ON THIS DATE
1958 Elvis Presley was inducted into the Army in Memphis, Tennessee
1973 A fan jumps on stage and bites Lou Reed on the butt in Buffalo, New York
1991 The Black Crowes are kicked off as the opening act for ZZ Top because they criticised the tour sponsor Miller Beer
2001 Kari Hagar, wife of Sammy Hagar, delivers their second child Samantha Pastel Hagar in California. Also that day John Connolly of Sevendust marries Lori Kirkley
2006 A movie based on the 1969 death of Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones premieres. The movie is called "Stoned"
2007 The Scorpions perform in Brussels, Belgium commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome
2008 Jimi Hendrix's estate, Experience Hendrix, wins a summary judgment in the U.K. against The Times of London who had inserted a CD with live Hendrix material into a September 2006 issue and the judge ruled the paper had not gained the right to do so

CONCERT NEWS
Saturday, Rocktober 3 METALLICA St. Pete Times Forum Tampa

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #87. Love - Forever Changes (1967)

Love - Forever Changes (1967)

Label – Elektra
Producer – Arthur Lee / Bruce Botnick
Art Direction –William S. Harvey / Bob Pepper
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 42:52

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Alone Again Or
2. House Is Not A Motel
3. Andmoreagain
4. Daily Planet
5. Old Man
6. Red Telephone
7. Maybe The People Would Be The Times
8. Live And Let Live
9. Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This
10. Bummer In The Summer
11. You Set The Scene

Another really good album. I have liked both albums by Love that have been on the 1001 list. When “Forever Changes” was released in 1967 it only made only a minor dent on the charts, rising only to #154 on the Billboard charts. (It did however reach the Top 30 in Britain.) But time has treated it well – and is often considered as one of the finest and most haunting albums to come out of the Summer of Love. The first thing that stuck our to me was the sound. This record just has a great sound to it. There are nice, sharp electric guitars on the tunes "A House Is Not a Motel" and "Live and Let Live," but most of the record is built around interwoven acoustic guitars with strings and horns punctuating the melodies. “Forever Changes” is most probably Love's masterpiece. The songs are simply good! The songs at time do sound dated – mainly with some topics of the era in which it was recorded - but not so much that you can’t enjoy them. Studio musicians performed nearly all of the tracks due to the regular line-up's alleged ‘inability to function’.
The album was the first to be produced by Arthur Lee, with assistance from Bruce Botnick. Originally, the album was to be produced by Botnick and Neil Young, but Young bowed out due to his commitments to Buffalo Springfield. However, Young did stick with the album project long enough to arrange the track "The Daily Planet" – one of the standout tracks on the record.
It’s enduring impact cannot be denied. The most notable praise came in 2003 from the British magazine, NME, who rated “Forever Changes” #6 on their list of greatest albums of all time!! In 1998 Q magazine readers voted Forever Changes the 82nd greatest album of all time. In Joe S. Harrington's “Top 100 Albums” it comes in at #69. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it 40th in its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in the December 11, 2003 issue. Mojo magazine ranked it the second greatest psychedelic album of all time, while in 1995 it made #11 in Mojo's list of the 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made. It ranked 83rd in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time. Finally – “Forever Changes” was praised by the British Parliament in 2002 as being one of the Greatest Albums of All Time.

"
You can purchase the CD here

New Releases

March 24
PEARL JAM...Ten (Original Recording Remastered) (Deluxe Edition, Collector's Edition, Legacy Edition, 2 Vinyl LP's)
GREEN DAY...Kerplunk [120g Vinyl w/ 1 7 inch single]
BIG COUNTRY...The Final Fling (DVD)
GREEN DAY...1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours [120g Vinyl w/2 7 inch singles]
ERIC GALES...Layin' Down the Blues
B.B. KING...To Know You Is to Love You/L.a. Midnight [IMPORT, Remastered]
BO DIDDLEY...Live 1984 [LIMITED EDITION]
VARIOUS ARTIST...Blues Bureau's Low Down and Dirty Blues
CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG...CSNY/Deja Vu Live [2 LP Vinyl]
JOHN McFEE, STU COOK AND KEITH KNUDSEN...Jackdawg
GENESIS...Selling England by the Pound (Import, Remastered)
IAN GILLAN...One Eye to Morocco [IMPORT, Extremely limited edition pressing, bonus signed seven inch vinyl single with two bonus tracks]
PAPA ROACH...Metamorphosis
MOTLEY CRUE, BUCKCHERRY, SIXX A.M., TRAPT...Motley Crue: Crue Fest 2008 (DVD)
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN...Live in Budokan
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN...Live Animal (DVD)
LITTLE RICHARD...Little Richard: Live at the Toronto Peace Festival 1969 (DVD)
EDDIE COCHRAN...Somethin' Else! The Ultimate Collection [BOX SET]
RICK WAKEMAN...Made In Cuba (DVD)
GENESIS...Foxtrot (Import, Remastered)
FLEETWOOD MAC...Black Magic Woman - Best Of (2 CD's) [IMPORT]
STEVE HOWE...Remedy Live (DVD)
GENESIS...Nursery Cryme [IMPORT, Remastered)
PAUL RODGERS...Live from Glasgow [Blu-ray RELEASE]
ASIA...Fantasia Live in Tokyo (Blu-Ray release)
GENESIS...The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway [IMPORT. Remastered]

March 31
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
thenewno2...You Are Here
MUDDY WATERS...Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Fillmore Auditorium - San Francisco Nov 04-06 1966 (original recording remastered)
PAUL BUTTERFIELD...Rockpalast: Paul Butterfield (DVD)
STEVIE NICKS...Live In Chicago (DVD)
BOB DYLAN...New Morning (Original Recording Remastered)
BOB DYLAN and the BAND...Before the Flood (Original Recording Remastered)
BOB DYLAN and the GRATEFUL DEAD...Dylan & the Dead (original recording remastered)
BLACK SABBATH...Seventh Star (remastered)
UFO...Beginnings
REO SPEEDWAGON...TRIPLE FEATURE: REO Speedwagon (Slip Case Box Set)
SPIRIT...Vol. 3-Rockpalast: West Coast Legends (1978)(DVD)
HEART...Love Songs
QUEENSRYCHE...American Soldier
FILTER...The Very Best Things (1995-2008)
TED NUGENT...TRIPLE FEATURE: Ted Nugent (Slip Case Box Set)
DUFF McKAGAN'S LOADED...Sick
BILLY SHEEHAN...Holy Cow (UK Edition, Incl. 3 Bonus Tracks)
JEFF BECK...Performing This Week: Live at Ronnie Scott's (DVD) (blu-ray)
BOB DYLAN AND THE BAND...The Basement Tapes (original recording remastered)
LYNYRD SKYNYRD...Authorized Bootleg: Live at Winterland - San Francisco Mar. 07 1976
LYNYRD SKYNYRD...Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Cardiff Capitol Theater - Cardiff, Wales Nov. 04 1975
CINDERELLA...Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Tokyo Dome - Tokyo, Japan Dec. 31 1990
ASIA...Live Sao Paulo March 23rd 2007
TOTO...Playlist: The Very Best of Toto
CHEAP TRICK...Playlist: The Very Best of Cheap Trick
ASIA...Live at Pabst Theatre Milwaukee USA
Nazareth...Hair of the Dog - Live from London (DVD)
OUR LADY PEACE...Playlist: The Very Best of Our Lady Peace
TED NUGENT...Playlist: The Very Best of Ted Nugent

April 28
HEAVEN AND HELL...The Devil You Know

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 23
Ric Ocasek is 60; John Humphrey of The Nixons is 39;

ON THIS DATE
1978 The Police sign with A&M Records
1985 Billy Joel and Chrisite Brinkley marry
2002 Dusty Hill of ZZ Top marries Charleen “Chuck” McCrory
2004 A "Greatest Hits" CD is released by Guns 'N' Roses despite a suit filed by Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan

March 22

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 22
John Otto of Limp Bizkit is 32;

ON THIS DATE
1943 Keith Relf of the Yardbirds is born in London. He died in 1976 at the age of 33 of electrocution
1956 While on his way to be on the "Ed Sullivan Show" Carl Perkins is injured in a car accident
1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono hold a 'Bed-In' for peace in Amsterdam
1971 Police find heroin and marijuana in the possession of The Allman Brothers Band so they are arrested in Jackson, Alabama
2004 Alex Lifeson of Rush is charged with two counts of battery due to an incident in Naples, Florida three months earlier on New Years Eve when he intervened when deputies were escorting his son off of a hotel property. That same day Pete Townshend of the Who admitted in an interview that he had considered suicide after he had been arrested in 2003 for suspicion of child pornography. Pete was later cleared of the charges. Still on that same day Limp Bizkit were forced to cancel a performance in Katowice, Poland due to a bomb threat
2005 Rod Price, guitarist for Foghat, dies at the age of 57 in Wilton, New Hampshire after suffering a heart attack and falling down some stairs

March 21

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 21
Eddie Money is 60; Roger Hodgson of Supertramp is 59; Conrad Lozano of Los Lobos 58; Andrew Copeland of Sister Hazel is 41;

ON THIS DATE
1961 The Beatles play the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England for the first of many times
1976 David Bowie and Iggy Pop are arrested for marijuana possession in New York City
1983 Also in new York City Strawberry Fields in Central Park is opened in memory of John Lennon
1994 "Streets Of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen wins an Oscar for Best Original Score
2007 Paul McCartney signs with Hear music, Starbucks label with Concord Records
2008 A lawsuit is filed by three men accusing Kid Rock of assault and battery and were seeking $15 million

Central Florida Absolute Rock Concert Datebook

Central Florida Absolute Rock Concert Datebook

Tuesday, March 31 COLIN HAY (OF MEN AT WORK) Largo Cultural Center Largo
Tuesday, April 7 SHINEDOWN House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Friday, April 10 CHEVELLE, DISTURBED, DUFF McKAGAN'S LOADED, SALIVA, STAIND AND STATIC X St. Pete Times Forum Tampa
Friday, April 10 DICKEY BETTS AND GREAT SOUTHERN State Theatre St. Petersburg
Saturday, April 11 DISTURBED Amway Arena Orlando
Friday, April 17 BLACKFOOT Titusville
Sunday, April 19 JOE COCKER Downtown Orlando
Monday, April 20 FLEETWOOD MAC Amway Arena Orlando
Wednesday, April 22 JOE COCKER Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater
Wednesday, April 22 FLEETWOOD MAC St. Pete's Times Forum Tampa
Thursday, April 23 COLD The State Theatre St. Petersburg
Friday, April 24 REO SPEEDWAGON Hard Rock Cafe Orlando
Friday, April 24 CANDLEBOX Jannus Landing St. Petersburg
Saturday, April 25 REO SPPEDWAGON/NIGHT RANGER Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater
Saturday, April 25 GREAT WHITE Leesburg Bikefest Leesburg
Saturday, April 25 EARTH DAY BIRTHDAY SWEET 16 Tinker Field Orlando
Sunday, April 26 NICKELBACK Ford Ampitheatre Tampa
Thursday, April 30 GIN BLOSSOMS Hard Rock Hotel Orlando
Thursday, April 30 RANDY BACHMAN Jannus Landing St. Petersburg
Thursday, April 30 SEVEN MARY THREE and SPONGE The Coliseum Daytona Beach
Saturday, May 2 SEVEN MARY THREE Bourbon Street Nightclub New Port Richey
Saturday, May 9 JANE'S ADDICTION & NINE INCH NAILS Ford Ampitheatre Tampa
Sunday, May 10 SAVING ABEL House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Sunday, May 17 GIN BLOSSOMS Private Function Orlando
Monday, May 18 GAVIN ROSSDALE Jannus Landing St. Petersburg
Tuesday, May 19 QUEENSRYCHE Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater
Tuesday, May 19 GAVIN ROSSDALE House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Wednesday, May 20 QUEENSRYCHE House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Saturday, May 30 LITA FORD Club Firestone Orlando
Friday, June 12 BETTER THAN EZRA Jannus Landing St. Petersburg
Saturday, June 13 BETTER THAN EZRA House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Saturday, June 27 KID ROCK and LYNYRD SKYNYRD Ford Ampitheatre Tampa
Thursday, July 16 THE OFFSPRING Hard Rock Cafe Orlando
Friday, July 24 RICK DERRINGER Clearwater
Saturday, July 25 EDGAR WINTER BAND Shepherds Clearwater
Wednesday, August 12 DAVE MATTHEWS BAND Ford Ampitheatre Tampa
Friday, August 14 DEF LEPPARD, CHEAP TRICK & POISON Ford Ampitheatre Tampa
Saturday, August 15 INCUBUS Ford Ampitheatre Tampa
Monday, August 17 EDDIE MONEY Marriott World Center Orlando
Friday, August 28 CRUE FEST w/MOTLEY CRUE, DROWNING POOL, GODSMACK, and THEORY OF A DEADMAN Ford Ampitheatre Tampa
Saturday, Rocktober 3 METALLICA St. Pete Times Forum Tampa
Wednesday, Rocktober 7 BETTER THAN EZRA Disney World Lake Buena Vista
Thursday, Rocktober 8 BETTER THAN EZRA Disney World Lake Buena Vista
Friday, Rocktober 9 U2 Raymond James Stadium Tampa
Saturday, Rocktober 17 FOGHAT Broken Spoke Saloon Ormond Beach
Thursday, Rocktober 22 BONNIE RAITT Ruth Eckerd Clearwater
Friday, November 6 LOS LOBOS Disney World Lake Buena Vista
Saturday, November 7 LOS LOBOS Disney World Lake Buena Vista
Sunday, November 8 LOS LOBOS Disney World
Saturday, January 23 RICHIE HAVENS Mt. Dora Community Center Mt. Dora

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #86. Tim Buckley - Goodbye and Hello (1967)

Tim Buckley - Goodbye and Hello (1967)

Label – Elektra
Producer – Jerry Yester
Art Direction –William S. Harvey / Guy Webster
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 42:41

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. No Man Can Find The War
2. Carnival Song
3. Pleasant Street
4. Hallucinations
5. I Never Asked To Be Your Mountain
6. Once I Was
7. Phantasmagoria In Two
8. Knight-Errant
9. Goodbye And Hello
10. Morning Glory

I enjoyed this record as well. It is often chosen as THE Tim Buckley musical statement in his canon, and “Goodbye and Hello” is indeed a really good album. Tim stated that it was inspired by the Beatles “Sgt Pepper's” experimentation spirit, and this helped him bring his musical vision onto the recordings. There are some fine songs here - particularly "Once I Was" and "Pleasant Street."
His voice can be a bit tiresome – but that is just a minor issue overall. This album should have made him a star but only peaked at #171 on Billboard. It made Tim re-think his music and he never delivered an album again as focused and as good as this one. Sadly, on June 28, 1975 after returning from the last show of a tour in Dallas he overdosed and died. Tim Buckley was 28.

"
You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 20
Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 59; Jimmie Lee Vaughan is 58; Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats is 48; Chester Bennington of Linkin Park is 33;

ON THIS DATE
1969 John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar
1970 David Bowie marries Angela Barnett
1977 The last concert ever by T. Rex is performed in Portsmouth, England
1984 On his 23rd birthday Slim Jim Phantom marries Britt Ekland
1991 Eric Clapton's son dies tragically at the age of 4 after falling out an apartment window in New York City

CONCERT NEWS
Saturday, March 21 DELBERT McCLINTON Vinoy Park St. Petersburg
Saturday, March 21 COLLECTIVE SOUL Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando
Tuesday, April 7 SHINEDOWN House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Friday, April 10 DICKEY BETTS AND GREAT SOUTHERN State Theatre St. Petersburg

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK

(LW)TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
(1)1. U2...No Line On The Horizon
(2)2. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
(Enter)3. CHRIS CORNELL...Scream
(3)4. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN...Working On A Dream
(5)5. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
(4)6. ROBERT PLANT/ALISON KRAUSS...Raising Sand
(6)7. HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD...Swan Song
(8)8. THEORY OF A DEADMAN...Scars And Souvenirs
(9)9. SHINEDOWN...The Sound Of Madness
(10)10. METALLICA...Death Magnetic

ON THIS DATE
1946 Paul Atkinson was born in Hertfordshire, England. He would become the keyboardist for the Zombies. He died in 2004 at the age of 58
1974 Jefferson Airplane becomes Jefferson Starship, officially
1976 Paul Kossoff of Free dies on a flight from Los Angeles to new York at the age of 25. He dies of a drug-induced heart attack
1982 Randy Rhoads dies at the age of 25 in Leesburg, Florida when the plane he was flying clips Ozzy Osbourne's tour bus and then flies into a house
1993 Drummer Jeff Ward commits suicide at the age of 30. Ward had worked with Nine Inch Nails
2001 Aerosmith, Paul Simon, Queen, Ritchie Valens, Solomon Burke and Steely Dan are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame. Also inducted that evening are Michael Jackson and The Flamingos

CONCERT NEWS
Friday, March 20 THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS Vinoy Park St. Petersburg

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #85. The Monkees - Headquarters (1967)

The Monkees - Headquarters (1967)

Label – RCA
Producer – Douglas Farthing Hatfield
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 36:14

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. You Told Me
2. I'll Spend My Life With You
3. Forget That Girl
4. Band 6
5. You Just May Be The One
6. Shades Of Gray
7. I Can't Get Her Off My Mind
8. For Pete's Sake
9. Mr. Webster
10. Sunny Girlfriend
11. Zilch
12. No Time
13. Early Morning Blues And Greens
14. Randy Scouse Git

The only Monkees record on the 1001 list. And it is a pretty good one. After several albums on which the band had little to no involvement beyond providing vocals and a couple of Mike Nesmith written songs, the group decided to take control of their recording destiny. Legend has it that a huge fight that ended with a well-timed fist through the wall of a hotel suite and many arguments (or negotiations) the groups music supervisor Don Kirschner was out - and the band was allowed to hit the studio by themselves. With producer Chip Douglas, the band spent some time learning just how to be a rock band. So this – the Monkees first REAL album turned out to be a energetic, exciting, and rather impressive record. First off – “Headquarters” does NOT contain any of the group's biggest hits, but it does contain some of their best songs, specifically Nesmith's "You Just May Be the One," and "For Pete's Sake," which became the closing music for the credits to the second season of the Monkees TV show. Tracks like "I'll Spend My Life with You," the ballad "Shades of Gray," and even the showtune style Davy Jones track "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" all work well. They DO benefit from the simple arrangements and stark production. No doubt because the band really was learning as they went. “Headquarters” doesn't show the band to be musical geniuses by any stretch, but it did prove they were legitimate musicians.
Along with the follow up “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.” , “Headquarters” constitutes what both critics and supporters alike believe to be the ultimate Monkees recordings. “Headquarters” sold nearly two million copies immediately upon its release. It charted at the number one position in the United States. It stayed at that position for only one week, when it was replaced by The Beatles' “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.” It then began a run of 11 consecutive weeks at the #2 position as “Sgt. Pepper's”remained at #1. It is recommended.

"
You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 18
Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains is 43;

ON THIS DATE
1947 Procol Harum drummer Barrie James “B.J.” Wilson is born in London. He died in 1990 at the age of 43
1975 Tommy, the film by The Who, premieres in New York
1994 Courtney Love calls police stating that her husband, Kurt Cobain, is suicidal, and police confiscate guns and ammo from their home
2002 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Talking Heads are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. Also inducted that evening are Brenda Lee, Gene Pitney, Isaac Hayes and the Ramones

CONCERT NEWS
Friday, August 28 CRUE FEST w/MOTLEY CRUE, DROWNING POOL, GODSMACK, and THEORY OF A DEADMAN Ford Ampitheatre Tampa

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #84. The Beau Brummels - Triangle (1967)

The Beau Brummels - Triangle (1967)

Label – Warner Brothers
Producer – Lenny Waronker
Art Direction – Ed Thrasher
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 26:08

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Are You Happy
2. Only Dreaming Now
3. Painter Of Women
4. The Keeper Of Time
5. It Won't Get Better
6. Nine Pound Hammer
7. Magic Hollow
8. And I've Seen Her
9. Triangle
10. The Wolf Of Velvet Fortune
11. Old Kentucky Home

Another enjoyable record and one that is considered the jewel in the Beau Brummels' recordings crown. Not having heard any of their music before I didn’t really know what to expect. I read that ‘Triangle’ was an departure from the band's earlier hit-making formula sound. The band's signature style - folk, country swing, and Brit-pop - are still heard on the record. Like many other albums of the summer of 1967, this record gets lost in the aura of the Beatles “Sgt. Pepper.” Any other time and it might have gotten more notice and critical praise when it was released. , The tracks on ‘Triangle’ are all loosely tied together by a simular theme - a dream cycle. Not that this is a concept album – because it is not. (though to call Triangle a concept album might be overstating the case). "Magic Hollow," with a delicate harpsichord is the records highlight – but issued as a single it barely made the charts. The album's first five or six songs are just a great listen. Basically ignored this is a fine record which deserves to be heard by a wider audience.
Interestingly, the group took its name from a 19th Century English dandy, Beau Brummell. Also they figured that since the record buying public was looking for Beatles records, having a name that naturally followed Beatles alphabetically would be a good move. They also began wearing British-influenced clothing and for many years they were often mistaken for an English band.
It is recommended.

"
You can purchase the CD here.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #83. Love - Da Capo (1967)

Love - Da Capo (1967)

Label – Elektra
Producer – Paul Rothchild
Art Direction – William S. Harvey
Nationality –USA
Running Time – 36:16

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Stephanie Knows Who
2. Orange Skies
3. Que Vida
4. Seven And Seven Is
5. Castle
6. She Comes In Colours
7. Revelation

This was the second release by Love. They were discovered by Elektra records who caught their act opening for the Doors and they were both soon signed by the label. This record was produced by longtime Doors producer Paul Rothchild.
This is again one of those albums where truly they are a tale of two sides and makes you miss the lp. ‘Side 1’ consists of six songs and are a great body of work, highlighted by a pre-punk rock track "Seven & Seven Is" which by the way was Love’s only hit single. Also of note is the track "She Comes in Colors," (which I read when looking up information on this record was reportedly the inspiration for the Rolling Stones' track "She's a Rainbow").
Sadly - it's only half a good record as ‘Side 2’ consists of only 1 track. The 19 minute jam titled "Revelation." This is just a dreadful and it keeps “Da Capo” from being a classic 60’s record.
Many blame producer Paul Rothchild for failing to capture the group's live energy and limiting the record by including the long track – widely criticized as being just plain bad.
Though "Seven and Seven Is" had been a minor hit for the group, the album was a comparative flop peaking at #80. ‘Side 1’ is recommended. ‘Side 2’ is not.


"
You can purchase the CD here.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #82. Moby Grape - Moby Grape (1967)

Moby Grape - Moby Grape (1967)

Label – Columbia
Producer – David Robinson
Art Direction –Uncredited
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 33:11

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Hey Grandma
2. Mr Blues
3. Fall On You
4. 8.05
5. Come In The Morning
6. Omaha
7. Naked If I Want To
8. Someday
9. Ain't No Use
10. Sitting By The Window
11. Changes
12. Lazy Me
13. Indifference

Heard of – but never HEARD them. Knew about but never KNEW about them. This is a pretty good record – and their story is pretty wild as well. Turns out that Moby Grape's career was a long, series of minor disasters, in which nearly anything that could have gone for a band, did go wrong. (such as: extremely poor handling by their record company, a wide variety of legal problems, a terrible deal with their manager, the standard creative and personal differences among the band members, and then there is the tragic breakdown of guitarist and songwriter Skip Spence). But even despite all of this, their self-titled debut album was easily their defining achievement. “Moby Grape” has been sited as many as one of the finest - perhaps THE finest record to come out of the 1960’s San Francisco psychedelic scene. And it is a fine record. With great songs and fresh ideas the songs are sharp and to the point. They avoid the typical psychedelic standards - long, unfocused jams, self-indulgent philosophy, attempts to sonically re-create the sound of an acid trip. None of that is here. Instead, Moby Grape built their sound around the guitar work and the crystal clear harmonies. There are several tracks - "Omaha," "Fall on You," "Hey Grandma," and "8:05" that definitely sound like obvious radio hits - and well might have been if Columbia hadn't released them as singles all AT THE SAME TIME. In a move that can make no rational sense – Columbia chose to release ten of the thirteen songs as singles which easily not only diluted the power of the individual songs – but the entire album at the time as well.
But time has been extremely kind to this record. “Moby Grape” is fresh sounding today as I’m sure it was upon it’s initial release. Fate prevented the group from building on these recordings and history will always remember the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane as being more ‘important’, but truth be told - neither of those groups ever made an album I think is as good as this one is.
The cover features one of the members giving the finger. It was banned in some places because of this.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 121 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It is recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

March 17

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 17
Paul Kantner is 68; Fran Byrne of Ace is 61; Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Supertramp is 58; Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins is 42; Van Conner from Screaming Trees is 42; Melissa Auf der Maur, formerly with Smashing Pumpkins, is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1966 Keith Moon of the Who marries Kim Kerrigan
1990 Ric Grech of Traffic and Blind Faith dies of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 43
2003 Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits breaks a collarbone and 6 ribs in a motorcycle accident in London
2007 At a comic book convention in Los Angeles Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley from Kiss participate in a panel discussion
2008 Paul McCartney's divorce from Heather Mills was settled for $48.6 million

CONCERT NEWS
Saturday, June 27 KID ROCK and LYNYRD SKYNYRD Ford Ampitheatre Tampa
Friday, August 28 MOTLEY CRUE Ford Ampitheatre Tampa
Thursday, Rocktober 22 BONNIE RAITT Ruth Eckerd Clearwater

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #81. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Safe As Milk (1967)

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Safe As Milk (1967)

Label – Buddah
Producer – Bob Kransnow and Richard Perry
Art Direction – Tom Wilkes
Nationality –USA
Running Time – 35:40

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Sure Nuff 'n' Yes I Do
2. Zig Zag Wanderer
3. Call On Me
4. Dropout Boogie
5. I'm Glad
6. Electricity
7. Yellow Brick Road
8. Abba Zaba
9. Plastic Factory
10. Where There's A Woman
11. Grown So Ugly
12. Autumn's Child

An interesting record. Following in the acts I had heard of but never actually HEARD before – Captain Beefheart's first proper studio album might have been called ‘Safe As Milk’ but it was anything but safe!! Featuring a 20 year old Ry Cooder on guitar, it’s hard to pin down exactly what type of music this actually is!! It’s blues-rock with jagged, fractured rhythms, soulful, twisting vocals and doo wop, soul, straight blues, and folk-rock. And that really doesn’t accurately describe it!!
"Zig Zag Wanderer," "Call on Me," and "Yellow Brick Road" are perhaps the most accessible riff-driven songs on the record, but there is plenty of experimentation on tracks like "Electricity" and "Abba Zaba." Reading up about Captain Beefheart it appears that this record is perhaps his ‘tamest’ but also features many of the features—such as surreal lyrics and odd time signatures—that would later become trademarks of Beefheart's music. (There is another Captain Beefheart record in the 1001 list – so I get the feeling I am going to get to find out).
The record did not achieve popular success on its release, failing to chart in either the United States, where none of Beefheart's albums would ever enter the top 100, or in the United Kingdom. It is a interesting album and one you should give a listen to.
It is recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.

NEW RELEASES

March 17
U2...7 [EP] [IMPORT]
OASIS...Dig Out Your Soul (2009 Asian Tour Edition)
Various Artist...The Blues Box [BOX SET]
THE WHO...Whos Sell Out (Import, Digitally remastered and expanded deluxe two CD edition)
THE MOODY BLUES...Octave (Import, Digitally remastered and expanded edition)
THE MOODY BLUES...Long Distance Voyager (Import, Digitally remastered and expanded edition)
THE MOODY BLUES...The Present (Import, Digitally remastered and expanded edition)
MICK FLEETWOOD...Blue Again
BLACK SABBATH...Heaven And Hell (LP record, original recording remastered)
BLACK SABBATH...Mob Rules (LP record, original recording remastered)
BLACK SABBATH...Live Evil (LP record, enhamced, original recording remastered)
BLACK SABBATH...Dehumanizer (LP record, original recording remastered)
ERIC BELL (formerly with Thin Lizzy)...Live Tonight...Plus! (Import, Digitally remastered)
THE KINKS...The Hits (Import)
SAVING ABEL...Saving Abel (Canadian Tour Edition, includes bonus CD, Import)
Various Artist...Twilight Soundtrack (Special Edition, CD/DVD, Enhanced, Extra Tracks)
Various Artist...Watchmen (LP release, Soundtrack)

March 24
PEARL JAM...Ten (Original Recording Remastered) (Deluxe Edition, Collector's Edition, Legacy Edition, 2 Vinyl LP's)
GREEN DAY...Kerplunk [120g Vinyl w/ 1 7 inch single]
BIG COUNTRY...The Final Fling (DVD)
GREEN DAY...1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours [120g Vinyl w/2 7 inch singles]
ERIC GALES...Layin' Down the Blues
B.B. KING...To Know You Is to Love You/L.a. Midnight [IMPORT, Remastered]
BO DIDDLEY...Live 1984 [LIMITED EDITION]
VARIOUS ARTIST...Blues Bureau's Low Down and Dirty Blues
CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG...CSNY/Deja Vu Live [2 LP Vinyl]
JOHN McFEE, STU COOK AND KEITH KNUDSEN...Jackdawg
GENESIS...Selling England by the Pound (Import, Remastered)
IAN GILLAN...One Eye to Morocco [IMPORT, Extremely limited edition pressing, bonus signed seven inch vinyl single with two bonus tracks]
PAPA ROACH...Metamorphosis
MOTLEY CRUE, BUCKCHERRY, SIXX A.M., TRAPT...Motley Crue: Crue Fest 2008 (DVD)
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN...Live in Budokan
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN...Live Animal (DVD)
LITTLE RICHARD...Little Richard: Live at the Toronto Peace Festival 1969 (DVD)
EDDIE COCHRAN...Somethin' Else! The Ultimate Collection [BOX SET]
RICK WAKEMAN...Made In Cuba (DVD)
GENESIS...Foxtrot (Import, Remastered)
FLEETWOOD MAC...Black Magic Woman - Best Of (2 CD's) [IMPORT]
STEVE HOWE...Remedy Live (DVD)
GENESIS...Nursery Cryme [IMPORT, Remastered)
PAUL RODGERS...Live from Glasgow [Blu-ray RELEASE]
ASIA...Fantasia Live in Tokyo (Blu-Ray release)
GENESIS...The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway [IMPORT. Remastered]

March 31
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;

April 28
HEAVEN AND HELL...The Devil You Know

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 16
Nancy Wilson from Heart is 55; Jimmy DeGrasso, formerly with Megadeth, is 46; Wolfgang Van Halen from Van Halen is 18;

ON THIS DATE
1975 T-Bone Walker dies of pneumonia at the age of 64 in Los Angeles
2008 Former lead sing of Bonham, Daniel MacMaster, dies at a hospital in Ontario, Canada of pneumonia.

March 15

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 15
Phil Lesh from the Grateful Dead is 69; Ry Cooder is 62; Preston Hubbard from the Fabulous Thunderbirds is 56; Dee Snider from Twisted Sister is 54; Bret Michaels from Poison is 46; Mark Hoppus from Blink 182 is 37; Joseph Hahn from Linkin Park is 32;

ON THIS DATE
1968 Jimi Hendrix is "the most spectacular guitarists in the world” according to Life magazine.
1999 Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Del Shannon and Dusty Springfield were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2004 Bob Seger, George Harrison and ZZ Top are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. That same day Guns 'N' Roses file a lawsuit against Geffen Records to stop a 'Greatest Hits' type release. The Governors Award from the San Francisco Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) goes to Metallica.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 14
Michael Bland, currently with Soul Asylum, is 40;

ON THIS DATE
1964 Billboard magazine reports that the Beatles own 60% of the current music charts
1981 Eric Clapton cancels his U.S. tour after he checks himself into the hospital in St. Paul for bleeding ulcers
1984 Rainbow perform their final concert ever in Japan. Ritchie Blackmore ended the band as he was about to rejoin with Deep Purple.
2005 U2, The Pretenders and Buddy Guy are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll hall of Fame
2006 The Rolling Stones play the Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the first time ever. That same day Flying High Again: The World's Greatest Tribute To Ozzy Osbourne is released, featuring Dee Snider, Lemmy Kilmister, Lita Ford, Judas Priest and Whitesnake, among others.

CONCERT NEWS
Sunday, March 15 BONNIE RAITT Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater
Sunday, March 15 MUDVAYNE The Ritz Ybor City

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 13
Adam Clayton from U2 is 49; Matt McDonough from Mudvayne is 40; David Michael Draiman from Disturbed is 36;

ON THIS DATE
1965 Eric Clapton leaves the Yardbirds
1972 The Eagles began recording sessions in London for their first album
2006 Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Sex Pistols and Blondie are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame
2007 At a concert that I attended in Tampa, Florida Roger Daltrey walked off the stage after singing only one line in the opening song. Pete Townshend then casme on stage a few minutes later saying the Roger was very ill and the concert would be rescheduled for a few weeks later.

CONCERT NEWS
Saturday, March 14 HOOBASTANK Coca-Cola Pavilion At Destination Daytona Ormond Beach

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #80. Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield Again (1967)

Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield Again (1967)

Label – Atco
Producer – Buffalo Springfield and Jack Nitzche
Art Direction – Loring Eutemey
Nationality –USA
Running Time – 33:10

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Mr Soul
2. Child's Claim To Fame
3. Everydays
4. Expecting To Fly
5. Bluebird
6. Hung Upside Down
7. Sad Memory
8. Good Time Boy
9. Rock 'n' Roll Woman
10. Broken Arrow

This is another one of those bands that I feel like I should know more about than I do – and I should have heard this record before now! I of course knew ABOUT them but had no clue their story. And an interesting story it is.
Personnel problems saw Bruce Palmer and Neil Young in and out of the group, so Buffalo Springfield's second album ‘Buffalo Springfield Again’ was not the unified release that their debut album was. And yet - it doesn't really suffer because of that. In fact – this record stands as their greatest triumph. Stephen Stills' "Bluebird" and "Rock & Roll Woman" are bold rockers that one thinks should have been big hits (they did manage to be small ones); even the non-single contributions "Hung Upside Down" and the jazzy "Everydays" are just fine songs. Neil Young contributed "Mr. Soul," "Expecting to Fly" and "Broken Arrow," all three are great tracks with layered psychedelic textures throughout. Richie Furay (who had not written any of the songs on the debut and would go on to form Poco) wrote three songs but only "A Child's Claim to Fame," is really worth mentioning. So it is a uneven record that due to the conflicts doesn’t feature the entire band on many of the tracks (a number of Los Angeles session players are featured – including future Elvis Presley guitarist James Burton), but the high points are great AND plentiful enough that this is a good record and is highly recommended. In 2003, the album was ranked number 188 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.


You can purchase the CD here.

(LW)TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
(Enter)1. U2...No Line On The Horizon
(1)2. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
(3)3. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN...Working On A Dream
(2)4. ROBERT PLANT/ALISON KRAUSS...Raising Sand
(4)5. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
(5)6. HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD...Swan Song
(Enter)7. RUSH...Retrospective 3:1989-2008
(6)8. THEORY OF A DEADMAN...Scars And Souvenirs
(Re-enter)9. SHINEDOWN...The Sound Of Madness
(7)10. METALLICA...Death Magnetic

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 12
Bill Payne from Little Feat is 60; Steve Harris from Iron Maiden is 53;

ON THIS DATE
1969 Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in London. That same day George and Pattie Harrison are arrested for possession of cannabis resin
1974 John Lennon and Harry Nilsson are kicked out of a Smother's Brothers show in Los Angeles
2003 The Rolling Stones are told by the Chinese Ministry of Culture what songs of theirs they are NOT allowed to perform while touring their country. They are: “Brown Sugar,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Beast of Burden” and “Let’s Spend The Night Together.”
2007 Van Halen is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame by Slash and Scott Weiland from Velvet Revolver. Eddie Vedder inducted R.E.M.

CONCERT NEWS
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