The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? (1967)

"Are You Experienced" was released 45 years ago in 1967.  It reached number 5 on the US Billboard Album Charts.  Easily one of the most incredible debuts in rock and roll history. Seemingly out of nowhere there was Jimi Hendrix with is mind blowing guitar work and his cutting edge brand of rock and roll, blues, pop, and soul all rolled into one. His guitar work captured everyone’s attention, but without great songs that wouldn’t have been enough. Fortunately the material is excellent. There are the rock staples "Foxy Lady," "Manic Depression," "Purple Haze," “Hey Joe”. An instrumental jam "Third Stone From the Sun", blues at it’s finest "Red House", a ballad "The Wind Cries Mary". Just top notch stuff!!
It’s easy to focus on Jimi but drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding’s contributions to the Experience cannot be underestimated. They truly were a power trio. While personally I think Hendrix made some higher quality music in the last year of his life there is no denying this first release is his masterpiece. True to the times - the British and American versions of the album differed substantially when they were initially released in 1967 but CD reissues do everyone a favor by gathering all of the material from the two records in one place, adding the few B-sides from the early singles as well and makes for the complete ‘experience’. 
The TV channel VH1 named it the fifth greatest album of all time in 2001. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #15 on it’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list having been ranked as number 5 in their twentieth anniversary listing The Best Albums of the Last Twenty Years published in 1987. In 2005 it was selected for permanent preservation in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in the United States.
Highly recommended.
(CD/DVD, vinyl, Allmusic review)

The Rock Show 086

Check out this week's "The Rock Show" with Michael David, where the rock music does all the talkin'.  This week you'll hear a new entry into the Top 3 Rock tracks in America, a new track from Bruce Springsteen, we'll visit the Boneyard with all things hard rock/heavy metal, the Album Spotlight of the Week is the debut album from the Jimi Hendrix Experience "Are You Experienced?", we'll open the Vintage Vinyl Vault and our Artist Spotlight of the Week is Linkin Park.  An excellent show, and you can download the zip file here

Rush - Clockwork Angels

Rush is one of those bands that force you to listen to them again...and again...and again!  That was the case with "Clockwork Angels", their 20th studio album.  At first listen it doesn't really grab you, at all.  As with so many other Rush albums experience had taught me that you gotta hear it again...and again.  I'm well into my 20+ listen now and this album JAMS!!  It is quite good, to say the least.  For one, you have 3 musicians who are masters at their instruments. For another, you have 3 guys who are quite capable of writing fantastic music and lyrics.  The album tells the story of a young man who is ready for more to his life than his small peaceful hometown has to offer.  The album begins with the two songs that they had released in 2010 so those were very familiar, "Caravan" and "BU2B", which has a new opening to it now.  Some of the best tracks are "Seven Cities Of Gold", "Headlong Flight" and "The Garden", which features a beautiful string and piano arrangements.  This is Rush in their usual excellent form.  Highly recommended

(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)

The Rock Show 085

Check out this weeks "The Rock Show" with Michael David.  This week we'll hear some new music, the Album Spotlight of the Week is the new CD from Rush "Clockwork Angels", we'll hear some music from vinyl in the Vintage Vinyl Vault and we hear a listener's request.  You can download the zip file here

The Rock Show 084

Check out this week's special edition of "The Rock Show" with Mr. Rock 'N' Roll Michael David, where the rock music does all the talkin'.  This week it's a show we call 'The Boneyard', with all things hard rock/heavy metal.  We'll hear the top 3 Rock tracks in America for this week, new music from Pop Evil, Van Halen, Soul Asylum and Aerosmith, the Album Spotlight of the Week is Machine Head from Deep Purple, and we'll jam to Kiss, 3 Doors Down and Slash.  A lot packed into just an hour!  You can download the zip file here:

DEEP PURPLE - Machine Head

It doesn't hurt to have one of the most popular guitar riffs of all time included on your album.  I am talkin about "Smoke On The Water". which reached number 4 on the US Billboard Pop Singles Charts.  The album is Machine Head, which reached number 7 on the US Billboard album charts when it was released 40 years ago in 1972.  Anyone interested in the history of hard rock/heavy metal should definitely check this one out.  In fact, you should own it.  Absolutely a terrific album from start to finish.  It was about this time that Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were the leaders in this genre, and Machine Head is as strong an album as anything those guys were putting out at the time.  It has withstood the test of time very well, thank you.  I think it's on this album that Ian Gillian was in top form as the vocalist.  I could be biased since I do think this is the best album he's ever been involved with.  And there's that riff (we keep coming back to the riff) from Ritchie Blackmore.  It seems every budding guitarist learns this riff while practising in their bedrooms.  "Smoke On The Water" is the best track on the record, not because of the "riff" or it's popularity. It has a great lyric (autobiographical) but has a great melody, as well.  "Highway Star" is a fantastic album opener...in your face pounding sound from the band, and two fantastic solos, one from Blackmore, one from orgainist Jon Lord, who is a master at his instrument.  The day I bought this album I had my future wife and her best friend with me.  As I'm standing in line to checkout they both started telling me I should buy something worth buying, like The Eagles or Fleetwood Mac, to which I replied "I already have those records."  Check this one out again, and if you never have before wait no longer.

(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)

Play "Machine Head" HERE. (A Spotify account is required)

Former Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Bob Welch Dead at 65

R.I.P. Bob Welch

Vintage Vinyl Vault

Even more suggestions for the next time you go vinyl shopping.

PAUL McCARTNEY AND WINGS...London Town (1978) McCartney and his band crammed over 50 minutes of music onto this album (a bit long for records which made the volume lower on this one) but it's 50 minutes of some very cool music. Includes the number 1 hit "With A Little Luck", "I've Had Enough" and "Deliver Your Children." It's kinda laid back and McCartney's bass playing is outstanding. 

STEVIE NICKS...Bella Donna (1981) By far her best solo album, we're giving this one a 4 out of 5 stars. Of course, Stevie's vocals are magnificent and her songwriting is brilliant. Fleetwood Mac would have benefitted if any of these had been on their record. Guest vocal apperances from Don Henley and Tom Petty just add to the quality of the package. Tom sings with Stevie on "Stop Draggin' My Hear Around", Don sings with her on "Leather And Lace". "Edge Of Seventeen" is also another standout. 

ROBERT PLANT/ALISON KRAUSS...Raising Sand (2007) If you find a new never been opened copy of this record snatch it up immediately. What an incredible album from these 2. Slow and bluesy, and ddifferent than anything Robert had ever been involved with. "Please Read The Letter" is the album's best track. Other gems are "Rich Woman" and "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)". T Bone Burnett produced this one, yet another attraction to it. 

THE ROLLING STONES...Hot Rocks 1964-1971 (1971) A double album containing 21 of some of the most recognizable Stones early hits. If you have very little or no Stones musio this is a decent album to start off with. It was the first of many compilation albums to be released throughout the years. In 1971 this was a fantastic collection, today it's a nice piece of history

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die #175. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory (1970)

175. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory (1970)

Label – Fantasy

Producer – John Fogerty

Art Direction – Bob Fogerty

Nationality - USA

Running Time – 42:40

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

Side one

    "Ramble Tamble" – 7:09

    "Before You Accuse Me" (Ellas McDaniel) – 3:24

    "Travelin' Band" – 2:07

    "Ooby Dooby" (Wade Moore, Dick Penner) – 2:05

    "Lookin' Out My Back Door" – 2:31

    "Run Through the Jungle" – 3:09

Side two

    "Up Around the Bend" – 2:40

    "My Baby Left Me" (Arthur Crudup) – 2:17

    "Who'll Stop the Rain" – 2:28

    "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong) – 11:05

   "Long as I Can See the Light" – 3:33

What a fantastic record. “Cosmo's Factory” was the fifth studio album by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and it is the first of the 1001 reviews from the 1970’s. The sound of the record is what hits you first. It could have been recorded yesterday it sounds that good. Then the hits just keep coming. "Travelin' Band," a flat out rocker with a blistering  horn section, "Up Around the Bend" is a another, the eerie guitar sounds of "Run Through the Jungle", the almost ballad "Who'll Stop the Rain", the bouncy shuffle of "Lookin' out My Back Door," and the cherry on top is "Long as I Can See the Light” complete with a soulful, laid-back groove. A little something for everyone. What’s not to like!!

There are several cover songs on the record of which while most are ok, there is the meandering jam that brings CCR's version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" to 11 minutes. It gets tedious.

In 2003, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Cosmo's Factory 265 on its list of 500 Greatest Albums. When the album was released it became a world-wide hit, topping the album charts in six countries. The album was certified 4 times platinum with sales of over four million units sold.

It is HIGHLY recommended.

You can play "Cosmo's Factory" HERE. (A free Spotify account is required).

CD, vinyl

The Rock Show 083

Check out this week's "The Rock Show" with Mr. Rock 'N' Roll Michael David, where the rock music does all the talkin'.  This week is a special edition of "The Rock Show" we call the Vintage Vinyl Vault, where all the music comes from vinyl.  The Album Spotlight of the Week is "Never A Dull Moment" from Rod Stewart, we have a listener's request and the Artist Spotlight of the Week is AC/DC.  Also from vinyl we'll hear Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Blue Oyster Cult, Poison, that familiar duet with Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty, another duet with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, plus the Rolling Stones.  You can download the zip file here

Vintage Vinyl Vault

Did you know you can have an extensive music collection relatively cheaply?  You don't have to buy your music from iTunes, Best Buy or Walmart at their full prices.  If you take the time to travel to a brick and mortar building that sells used records and CD's it's easy to do.  However, at the same time, you can get into some serious money if you wanna play with the big boys.  For example, a Beatles "Yesterday...And Today" butcher cover on Capitol Records released in 1966 in mint condition, first pressing, can fetch up to $47,000.  Another example:  Bob Dylan's "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" released in 1963, stereo, first pressing on CBS Records can run you $35,000, simply because it contains 4 tracks deleted from subsequent releases.  We're not talkin' about that kind of collecting.  You probably won't lay eyes on those much less your hands.  We're talkin' about just thumbing through the bins and looking at all your old favorites and titles and artist you've never heard of.  If you're a serious music listener this can be an extremely fun endeavour, AND frustrating at the same time if you're as broke as most folks.  Here are four suggestions that you might consider picking up on your next journey...that is, if you don't already own them. 

FOREIGNER...Double Vision (1978)  A "Hot Blooded" record indeed.  Contains the title track, plus "Hot Blooded", "Blue Morning, Blue Day" and "Tramontane".  The band is on fire on this their second album.  Highly recommended for those who really like 70's rock.

ZZ TOP...Fandango  (1975)  Half of this album is new studio tracks, while the other half is the band live.  This is ZZ in top form, bluesy, rockin', jammin'...just an excellent record from those Texans.  Contains perhaps their most widely known track "Tush", along with "Blue Jean Blues" and "Heard It On The X".  It also contains the worst ZZ Top song ever "Mexican Blackbird".  What a freakin' waste of 3 minutes in your life, otherwise this record is highly recommended.

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT...Agents Of Fortune  (1976)  Easily their most popular of all their albums, simply because of the hit single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", which is by far the best track on the record.  Another highlight is "E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)"  The rest of the album is good but not near as noteworthy as these two tracks.  Recommended, but you might check out other less known BOC albums, you might find something you like even better

STEPPENWOLF...16 Greatest Hits  (1973)  Steppenwolf had a long and illustrious career by singing these songs for an eternity.  Not a bad job, tho.  I wouldn't complain.  Steppenwolf is one of those bands who had a handful of songs that were fantastic but then the rest were just album fillers.  This record gathered 16 of the good ones, including the biggies "Born To Be Wild", "Magic Carpet Ride" and "The Pusher"  (even tho the lyrics to this are awful it has a very cool melody and groove to it).  Recommended for us aging 70's kids.

Check 'em out!!

Playlist: Elvis in the 70’s

To many, Elvis Presley’s music career ended when he became a movie star and went into the Army. While there is some validity to that argument, I present to you today’s playlist highlighting what I consider to be some of the finer moments in his career – all from the 1970’s and the records that I found them on. Sync and enjoy.

Way Down – Moody Blue

Polk Salad Annie – Live at Madison Square Garden

Promised Land – Promised Land

Steamroller Blues – Aloha From Hawaii

See See Rider – On Stage (February 1970)

Burning Love – Walk A Mile in My Shoes

T-R-O-U-B-L-E – Today

Raised On Rock – Raised on Rock./For Ol’ Times Sake

Got My Mojo Working/Keep Your Hands Off Of It – Love Letters From Elvis

My Boy – Good Times

Hurt – From Elvis Presley Boulevard

Always On my Mind – The Essential

Separate Ways – Burning Love

You play this playlist here. A FREE Spotify account is required.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die #174. Frank Zappa - Hot Rats (1969)

174. Frank Zappa - Hot Rats (1969)

Label – Bizarre/Reprise
Producer – Frank Zappa
Art Direction – Cal Schenkel
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 47:05

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

Side one  
1. "Peaches en Regalia" 3:38  
2. "Willie the Pimp" 9:25
3. "Son of Mr. Green Genes" 8:58

Side two
1. "Little Umbrellas" 3:09
2. "The Gumbo Variations" 12:55
3. "It Must Be a Camel" 5:15

“Hot Rats” is the second solo album by Frank Zappa after he disbanded the Mothers of Invention. It was released in October 1969. It is the last album of the 1001 to be released in the 1960’s.
To be honest, when I saw this was the selection of the day I was bummed out, knowing the previous Zappa records reviewed here were tedious listening at best. That’s what makes this such a fun endeavor however, because along the way you run into so pleasant surprises. This would be one of them.
Five of the six songs on the record are instrumental ("Willie the Pimp" features a short vocal by Captain Beefheart). Gone are the wild meanderings of Mr. Zappa and they are replaced with a focused, jazz-heavy, extensive soloing record. And make no mistake – love him or hate him, Frank could flat out PLAY the guitar! . "Willie the Pimp" (a blues –rock tune), "Son of Mr. Green Genes" (featuring both intricate horn charts and extended guitar solo sections), and "The Gumbo Variations" (complete with a tenor saxophone and violin solos) are showcases for his powerful and unconventional solo guitar performances and flat out jam!
The song "Peaches en Regalia" is widely recognized as a modern jazz fusion standard and is one of Zappa's best known tunes and became a concert staple of his for decades to come.
In the Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition, the album came #13 in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums". It is surprisingly HIGHLY recommended.

(“Hot Rats” is not available on Spotify)
CD, vinyl

Rod Stewart - Never A Dull Moment

Rod Stewart's 4th solo album "Never A Dull Moment" was released 40 years ago in 1972 and reach number 2 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  "Never A Dull Moment" is exactly right.  This album is a stellar release from Stewart back in the day when all of his albums were stellar.  It is fantastic from start to finish. 
I had not heard the album in years and so therefore it sounded pretty fresh to my mind.  The opening track, "True Blue", could be the best track on the record, followed by "Los Paraguoyas", which is some really nice folk-rock type music.  Then there is a Bob Dylan cover "Mama You've Been On My Mind".  Rod does a nice job on this one.  "Italian Girls" rocks, followed by an excellent cover of the Jimi Hendrix track "Angel."  Stewart's vocals are just excellent on this track.  A short instrumental "Interludings" lands us into the single "You Wear It Well," which only reached number 13 on the US Billboard pop singles charts (it should have been a top 10).  "I'd Rather Be Blind", a slow bluesy number originally recorded by Etta James, is worth the price of the album alone.  It is captivating, it will grab your attention.  The album ends on a rockin' good note with another cover, this one of the Sam Cooke hit "Twistin' The Night Away".  Absolutely a brilliant rocker to end yet another brilliant Rod Stewart album.  Most folks feel this was the last of the great Rod Stewart albums (I certainly disagree).  It is highly recommended. 

Allmusic review, CD, vinyl

You can play the record "Never A Dull Moment" here. A FREE Spotify account is required.

Playlist: Joe Bonamassa

Joe Bonamassa is one of the best kept secrets in music today. He began his career playing guitar in the band Bloodline. He released his first solo album in 2000, and has since released nine more solo studio albums, four live albums and three live DVDs, along with two albums with the band Black Country Communion and one album in collaboration with vocalist Beth Hart. Today’s playlist features 10 tracks showcasing his excellent guitar playing and the records I found them on. Sync and Enjoy.

Long Distance Blues – Blues Deluxe

Black Lung Heartache – Dust Bowl

Takin’ The Hit – So it’s Like That

Driving Towards The Daylight – Driving Towards The Daylight

The Battle For Hadrian’s Wall – Black Country Communion 2 by Black County Communion

Third Degree – Unusual Suspects – Leslie West

Miss You, Hate You – A New Day Yesterday

The Ballad of John Henry – The Ballad of John Henry

Blues Deluxe – Blues Deluxe

Sloe Gin – Live From The Royal Albert Hall

This playlist can be played here.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die #173. Alexander Spence - Oar (1969)

173. Alexander Spence - Oar (1969)
Label – Columbia Producer – Alexander Spence
Art Direction – Lloyd Ziff
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 44:03

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

Side One
"Little Hands" – 3:44  
"Cripple Creek" – 2:16
"Diana" – 3:32
 "Margaret/Tiger Rug" – 2:17  
"Weighted Down (The Prison Song)" – 6:27
"War in Peace" – 4:05

Side Two  
"Broken Heart" – 3:29
 "All Come to Meet Her" – 2:04
 "Books of Moses" – 2:42
 "Dixie Peach Promenade (Yin for Yang)" – 2:53
"Lawrence of Euphoria" – 1:31
 "Grey/Afro" – 9:38

“Oar” is a 1969 album by the late Alexander “Skip” Spence. It is Spence's only solo album, and he plays all of the instruments. His claim to fame is being a one time member of Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Moby Grape. In June of 1968, Spence was admitted into the Psychiatric Ward of New York's Bellevue Hospital for a 6 month stint Bellevue following a delusion-driven attempt to attack Moby Grape bandmates Don Stevenson and Jerry Miller with a fire axe!! Oddly, it also signaled the beginning of his most prolific writing cycle. This is a strange record. The songs are pleasant enough – quiet, stark production, interesting lyrics – but his vocals are so bad it was tough to listen to the entire thing. Not an easy listen! Some of the more straightforward songs such as the love ballad "Broken Heart" or "Cripple Creek" are easily the stand out tracks, while the rest are full of unusual chord sequences and lyrical meanderings which make the record sound like it’s teetering on going out of control. Likely it all made perfect sense in his own head. Legend has it that Spence said that the sessions were intended by him to only be a demo, which he gave to his producer David Rubinson to get ideas on how to flesh out the tracks with full production, and instead the demo recordings were submitted for released by Columbia Records. When first released, the record was not promoted by Columbia Records and it was at the time the lowest-selling album in Columbia Records history, and was deleted from the Columbia catalogue within a year of its release. It is not recommended.

Listen to the record "Oar" here!
You can purchase the vinyl here