Rock Music and More...

Rock Music Post II: Male Artists of the 70's

2012-02-12T08:08:00.000-08:00

The 70's was a fun and diverse era in which we saw singer-songwriters come to the forefront. Punk rock and disco had their heyday in the mid and late 70's. Funk brought out the quirky and sometimes freakish side of R&B and adult contemporary was a force with which to be reckoned. This post focuses on some of the male musicians that made a mark in the 70's spanning many of these genres.

In this post I have purposely left out the major mega-stars stars such as Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie wonder, etc as I will do a feature on these guys in a future post called "Superstars of the 70's".

Paul Anka

Paul Anka - His All time Greatest Hits

Paul Anka's career began in 1957 with the #1 hit "Diana" from there he consistently made Top 20 hits until 1962. After that the hits slowed down and then in 1974 he made a huge comeback with the song "(You're) Having My Baby" which rose to #1 on the U.S. singles chart and was a top 10 hit in the UK. This was the beginning of a string of 5 consecutive top 15 hits from 1974 to 1976.

Paul Anka Stats:
Top 40 Hits: 33
#1 Hits: Diana (1957), Lonely Boy (1959), "(You're) Having My Baby (1974)
Biggest Hit: Lonely Boy (1959)
Career span: 1957-1984
Trivia: The song "(You're) Having My Baby", gained criticism for its chauvinistic undertones.Among other issues, the song was criticized for declaring the child was the man's, rather than the couple's. Anka defended his linguistic choice in a 1974 interview, saying, "it's not meant to alienate anyone. I could have called it 'having our baby', but the other just sounded better. It's not a male ego trip—'my baby.' It's not that at all."However, Anka did sometimes sing the line as "you're having our baby" while performing in concert.While reviewing a 2005 concert, Dan MacIntosh of Popmatters noted that while Anka had "covered most of his career highlights", he had "wisely neglected to include 'You're Having My Baby.'" Others criticized a line stating that while the woman could have "swept it from [her] life", she had not because it was "a wonderful way of showing how much she loves him".In response to feminists, Anka said the song was "a love song". He also explained in 1974, "what I'm saying in the song is that there is a choice. The libbers will get on me; I can't help that. I am into the antihuman thing, and I do understand the other side of it. There are those who can't cope, and it's not in the cards for them to have kids. I'm a libber myself, in the sense that ... if you've got to abort, you do. Some people just can't cope."
The National Organization for Women gave Anka the satiric "Keep Her in Her Place" award during "its annual putdown of male chauvinism" in the media on Women's Equality Day. Ms. magazine "awarded" Anka their "Male Chauvinistic Pig of the Year" award in 1974.

Paul Anka - Times Of your Life (1975)

David Bowie

Best of Bowie

David Bowie (Born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947) is a staple on the landscape of popular music, glam-rock, alt-rock and post-punk. He is a trendsetter, a pioneer and a guidepost of which other bands and artists are reviewed and critiqued.

David Bowie Stats:
Top 40 Hits:13 (U.S.), 60 (UK)
#1 Hits: Fame (1975 U.S.), Let's Dance (1983 U.S. & UK), Space Oddity (1969 UK), Ashes To Ashes (1980 UK), Under Pressure (with Queen 1981 UK), Dancing In The Street (with Mick Jagger 1985 UK)
Biggest Hit: Fame (1975 U.S.), Let's Dance (1983 UK), Let's Dance (1983 Worldwide)
Top Ten Albums: 6 (U.S.), 28 (UK)
# 1 Albums: 8 (UK)
Studio Albums Recorded: 25
Total Albums Sold: 150 million (worldwide)
Awards: Nominated for nine Grammy Awards, won two Nominated for seven Brit Awards, won two.
Bands: The Konrads (1962-1964), The King Bees (1964), The Mannish Boys (1965), The Lower Third (1965-1966)
Career span: 1962 to present
Trivia: Through perpetual reinvention, he has seen his influence continue to broaden and extend: music reviewer Brad Filicky writes that over the decades, "Bowie has become known as a musical chameleon, changing and dictating trends as much as he has altered his style to fit", influencing fashion and pop culture." Biographer Thomas Forget adds, "Because he has succeeded in so many different styles of music, it is almost impossible to find a popular artist today that has not been influenced by David Bowie."

David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust (1972)

David Bowie - Life On Mars (1972)

Jackson Browne

The Very Best Of Jackson Browne

Browne (born in 1948 in Germany where his father was an American serviceman) shot to prominence during the early-mid 70's emergence of singer-songwriters along with others of the like such as James Taylor and Cat Stevens. Browne's earliest songs were recorded by artists such as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Nico, Gregg Allman, Joan Baez, the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds and many others before going on to a recording career of his own.

Jackson Browne Stats:

Top 40 Hits:13 (U.S.), 60 (UK)

Biggest Hit: Doctor My Eyes (1972), Somebody's Baby (1982)

Top Ten Albums: 4 (U.S.)

# 1 Albums: 1 (U.S.) Hold Out (1980)

Studio Albums Recorded: 13

Total Albums Sold: 20 million (U.S.)

Awards: Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.

Bands: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1966), Tim Buckley (1967-68), Nico (1967-68)

Career span: 1966 to present

Trivia: Browne's 1978 hit "Running On Empty" was recorded onstage, backstage, in 3 different hotel rooms, and on a Continental Silver Eagle tour bus during a cross-country tour in 1977, "Running on Empty" is an ode to life on the road.The song reached #11 on Billboard's Top 100 chart in the spring of 1978 and placed at #492 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time.

Jackson Browne (1977)

Here Come Those Tears Again (1977)

Alice Cooper

The Best Of Alice Cooper: Mascara and Monsters

Born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948, Alice Cooper took his stage name from a 16th century witch. His career has now spanned 5 decades and continues to thrive. With his stage show which features guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, boa constrictors and baby dolls Cooper is considered a pioneer of "shock rock". Cooper is credited with helping to shape the sound and look of heavy metal and is regarded the first musician to feature horror imagery in his stage show. Coopers most recent album release (in 2011) was a sequel to his classic 1975 album "Welcome To My Nightmare" simply titled "Welcome 2 My Nightmare". The album is a theatrical concept album about the nightmares of a young boy named Steven.

Alice Cooper Stats:

Top 40 Hits:11 (U.S.), 12 (UK)
#1 Hits: Schools Out (1972 UK)

Biggest Hit: Schools Out (1972 U.S. and UK)

Top Ten Albums: 5 (U.S.), 6 (UK)

# 1 Albums: 1 (U.S. and UK) Billion Dollar Babies (1973)

Studio Albums Recorded: 26

Total Albums Sold: 50 million (Worldwide)

Awards: Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 (Original Alice Cooper Band)

Bands: The Earwigs (1964), The Spiders (1964-1966), The Nazz (1967-68), Alice Cooper Band (1968-73)

Career span: 1964 to present

Trivia: In the mid 70's Cooper took a daring shift in his music career and decided to try his hand at recording a ballad. this proved successful with his 1975 hit "Only Women bleed" a song about a woman in an abusive marriage. He followed that one with 1976's "I Never Cry" a powerful ballad which was written about Cooper's drinking problem, this was his first U.S. certified Gold single. In 1977 he scored with his third straight ballad, "You and Me", which was simply a cozy love song which received heavy airplay on easy-listening and pop top 40 radio stations across the U.S. His fourth and last ballad was a hit in 1978 called "How You Gonna See Me Now?" a depiction of Alice Cooper's life after checking himself into a sanitarium for alcoholism rehab. The lyrics for the song were written by Elton John's frequent collaborator Bernie Taupin. "How You Gonna See Me Now?" is Alice's ruminations on his wife's likely response after he is released from the sanitarium. Cooper has said this is his most personal song.

How You Gonna See Me Now? (1978)

Jim Croce

Jim Croce Photographs and Memories: His Greatest Hits

Jim Croce is an American singer-songwriter whose career was just taking off in a very hot way when tragedy struck. It was August 3, 1973 and his hit "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" had just finished 2 weeks topping the U.S. singles chart. Life was looking great for Croce his career was in full throttle. On September 20, 1973 ABC Records released his follow-up single to "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" called "I Got A Name", this song was expected to become a huge hit. On that same day Croce and fellow bandmates boarded a jet leaving Natchitoches, Louisiana (where they just finished a concert appearance) and were on their way to Sherman, Texas for another concert. They never made it. The plane took off downwind and hit a pecan tree near the end of the runway which impaired the plane and caused it to crash, leaving no survivors.

Jim Croce Stats:

Top 40 Hits: 8 (U.S.), 8 (Canada)
#1 Hits: Bad Bad Leroy Brown (1973 U.S., Canada), Time In A Bottle (1973 U.S., Canada)

Biggest Hit: Bad Bad Leroy Brown (1973 U.S., Worldwide), Time In A Bottle (1973 Canada),

Top Ten Albums: 4 (U.S., Canada)

# 1 Albums: 1 (U.S.) You Don't Mess Around With Jim (1972), 3 (Canada) You Don't Mess Around With Jim (1972), Life and Times (1973), Photographs and Memories: His Greatest Hits (1974)

Studio Albums Recorded: 5

Awards: Inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1990. Received 2 Grammy Award nominations in 1973.

Career span: 1966 to 1973

Trivia: "Time In A Bottle" entered the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending December 1, 1973 and reached #1 the week ending December 29, a little over 3 months after he died. The song was originally written for Croce's son Adrian when he was a baby. Adrian grew up to become the singer-songwriter A.J. Croce. It was never intended to be a single and was released on Croce's first major-label solo LP You Don't Mess Around With Jim in 1972. The album had already yielded the #8 title track and #17 "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)." His second LP, Life And Times (released in 1973), had given Croce his first #1 single, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown." "Time In A Bottle" became a hit over a year after it was first released when it was used in the ABC made-for-TV movie She Lives, about a woman dying of cancer. The song's producer, Terry Cashman, wasn't excited about recycling an old song, but ABC Record's management loved the idea and ok'd it's use in the movie.

Al Green

Al Green - Greatest Hits

Born Albert Greene (he dropped the last "e" in his last name in 1968) in Forrest City, Arkansas, is an American Gospel and soul music legend. Al Green's music has influenced generations of musicians spanning all genres of music. In 2005, Rolling Stone Magazine named him #65 in their list of the '100 Greatest Artists of All Time'.

Al Green Stats:
Top 40 Hits: 14 (U.S.), 7 (UK)
#1 Hits: Let's Stay Together (1971 U.S.)
Biggest Hit: Let's Stay Together (1971 U.S.), Tired Of Being Alone (1971 UK)
Top Ten Albums: 3 (U.S.) Let's Stay Together (1972), I'm Still In Love With You (1972), Call Me (1973)
Studio Albums Recorded: 29
Total Albums Sold: 30 million (worldwide)
Awards: Inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2004. He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 BET Awards on June 24, 2009 .On August 26, 2004, Green was honored as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI Urban Awards. Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
Bands: Al Greene and the Creations (1962-66), Al Greene and the Soulmates (1967)
Career span: 1962 to present
Trivia: Al Green wrote and recorded the classic "Take Me To The River" in 1974 and was included on his album "Al Green Explores Your Mind". Green never released the song as a single but it ended up being recorded by several other artists. Syl Johnson took the song to #48 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100 Singles chart. Talking Heads recorded the song in 1978 for their album "More Songs About Buildings and Food. The Heads released the song as a single which reached #26 on the U.S. singles chart and the Top 40 in several other countries around the world. The Talking Heads turned this little known song into a classic and put their own indelible twist on it. Al Green's original version was ranked number 117 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

Al Green

Al Green - Let's Stay Together (1971)

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot - Complete Greatest Hits

Canadian born singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot is credited as helping to shape the folk-pop sound of the 60's and 70's. Many of his songs have been recorded by legendary musicians such as Bob Dylan, Dan Fogelberg, Gene Clark, Jim Croce, John Mellencamp, Barbra Streisand, Anne Murray, Elvis Presley, Johnny mathis, Johnny Cash and several others. Lightfoot has been referred to as Canada's greatest songwriter.

Gordon Lightfoot Stats:
Top 40 Hits: 6 (U.S.), 22 (Canada) 3 (UK)
#1 Hits: If You Could Read My Mind (1970 Canada), Sundown (1974 Canada and U.S.), The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald (1976 Canada)
Biggest Hit: Sundown (1974 U.S. and Canada)
Top Ten Albums: 2 (U.S.), 8 (Canada)
# 1 Albums: 3 (Canada), Don Quixote (1972), Sundown (1974) and Summertime Dream (1976) 1 (U.S.) Sundown (1974)
Studio Albums Recorded:19
Total Albums Sold: 9 million (worldwide)
Awards: He has won 16 Juno Awards and nominated for 5 Grammy Awards. Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998. In 2007 Canada Post honored Lightfoot and three other legendary Canadian music artists (Anne Murray, Paul Anka, and Joni Mitchell) with postage stamps highlighting their names and images.
Bands: The Swinging Eight (1960), Gino Silvi Singers (1960)
Career span: 1958 to present
Trivia: "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" was written, composed and performed by Gordon Lightfoot to commemorate the sinking of the bulk carrier SS Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior on November 10, 1975. It was inspired by the Newsweek article on the event, "The Cruelest Month", which appeared in the issue of November 24, 1975. Lightfoot considers this song to be his finest work.In order to give the song it's musical flow Lightfoot's mega-hit contains a few artistic omissions and paraphrases. According to the song, the Fitzgerald was bound "fully loaded for Cleveland". In fact she was heading for Detroit, there to discharge her cargo of taconite iron ore pellets before docking in Cleveland for the winter. Lightfoot refers to Mariners' Church of Detroit as "The Maritime Sailors' Cathedral" in the lyrics.

The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald (1976)

Billy Preston

Billy Preston - Ultimate Collection

Billy Preston's career was filled with many highlights including work as a session musician for Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Sly and the Family Stone. He is featured on several later Beatles tracks including "I Want You (She's So Heavy", "Something" and "Get Back", the latter which was credited as The Beatles featuring Billy Preston. In 1956 (at the young age of ten) Preston played organ for Gospel music great Mahalia Jackson and was in Little Richard's touring band in 1962. Finally in 1969 his solo career took off with his seventh studio album "That's The Way God Planned It", which was released on The Beatles' Apple Records and was his first to feature his lead vocals.

Billy Preston Stats:
Top 40 Hits: 7 (U.S.)
#1 Hits: Will It Go Round In Circles (1973 U.S.), Nothing From Nothing (1974 U.S.)
Biggest Hit: Will It Go Round In Circles (1973 U.S.)
Studio Albums Recorded: 30
Awards: 1 Grammy Award in 1972 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for the song "Outa-Space".
Career span: 1956 to 2005
Trivia: One of Preston's most famous songs is the ballad "You Are So Beautiful", which became a huge hit for Joe Cocker in 1975. Preston originally recorded the song and released it on his 1974 album "The Kid's & Me", later he released it as the b-side to his 1974 U.S. Top 40 hit "Struttin'". Many websites list the song as being the b-side to his 1974 #1 hit "Nothing From Nothing", this is incorrect, as the b-side to that single is "My Soul Is A Witness". It is rumored that Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys contributed to the lyrics. Wilson never received any songwriting credit for the song but has performed in many Beach Boys concerts from 1975 to 1983.

James Taylor

The Best Of James Taylor

Singer-songwriter and guitarist, James Taylor is an American icon and a living legend. His first big break came in late 1967 when he decided to try being a solo act. He recorded a demo which ended up in the hands of Peter Asher (half of the duo Peter and Gordon). At the time Asher was head of A&R for the Beatles' newly formed Apple Records. Asher took the demo to Paul McCartney, who was immediately impressed with Taylor voice and guitar work. Taylor was quickly signed to Apple Records becoming the labels first non British act. His debut album "James Taylor" was released in December 1968 and sold fairly well. The album included the single "Carolina In My Mind" in which both Paul McCartney and George Harrison participated, as well as the song "Something In The Way She Moves", which provided George Harrison with a starting point for the Beatles classic "Something".

James Taylor Stats:
Top 40 Hits: 14 (U.S.), 13 (Canada) 2 (UK)
#1 Hits: You've Got A Friend (1971 U.S.), How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You (1975 Canada), Handy Man (1977 Canada)
Biggest Hit: You've Got A Friend (1971 U.S.), How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You (1975 Canada), You've Got A Friend (1971 Worldwide)
Top Ten Albums: 11 (U.S.), 5 (Canada), 2 (UK)
Studio Albums Recorded:16
Total Albums Sold: 35 million (U.S.)
Awards:Taylor has won 5 Grammy Awards. He was inducted into both the rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2004 he was ranked 84th in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Career span: 1966 to present
Trivia: Carole King played a huge role in the shaping of Taylor's early career. In 1969 Taylor moved to California he continued working with Peter Asher. It was during the recording of his second album (1970's "Sweet Baby James"), producer Asher asked Carole King to play piano on the album. King agreed instantly as she was a huge fan of Taylor's debut album on Apple Records. Taylor and King formed a mutual musical bond and King joined Taylor on the road and played piano for him during his live concert performances. Taylor's 3rd album "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon" included the classic Carole King penned "You've Got A Friend" which zoomed to #1 on the charts and won 2 Grammy Awards. King also played piano and sang backing vocals on the album.

James Taylor and Carly Simon (married from 1972-1983)

Thank you friends for visiting my blog - Randall Webb

Rock Albums Post X: 15 Favorite Albums of 2011

2011-12-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

The following are the 16 album I enjoyed the most throughout 2011, these are the one's that kept me listening.

Yep, this post is titled the Top 15, but I added an extra album after originally posting this.

- Randall Webb

16. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’

Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'

Genre: R&B
Favorite Tracks: Heart Attack, Stone Rollin’, Day Dreams

Trivia: Saadiq spent approximately one year recording thisalbum, including writing the music and lyrics. On the majority of the songsSaadiq played most of the instruments, including bass, keyboard, guitar, Mellotron,percussion, and drums. He also produced the album.

15. Joe Henry -Reverie

Joe Henry - Reverie

Genre: Alt-Folk, Acoustic

Favorite Tracks: Heaven’s Escape, Sticks and Stones,Deathbed Versions

Trivia: The bulk of this album was recorded in 3 days inJoe’s basement studio. In the mix the listener can hear bird chirping to themusic through the open windows in the basement. Joe describes this album as a“raw and raucous and messy affair”.

14. The Cars -Move Like This

The Cars - Move Like This

Genre: Alt-Rock

Favorite Tracks: Blue Tip, Sad Song, Free

Trivia: “Move Like This” is the Cars 7^th studioalbum and their first release since 1987’s “Door To Door”.

13. Deerhoof – Deerhoof vs. Evil

Deerhoof - Deerhoof vs. Evil

Genre: Art Rock, Indie Rock, Noise Rock

Favorite Tracks: Behold A marvel In The Darkness, The MerryBarracks, Super Duper Rescue Heads, Must Fight Current

Trivia: This album was part of a project called “GlobalAlbum Leak” in which 12 blogs from the internet premiered a song from the albumone week at a time. The first song to be premiered was “The Merry Barracks” onOctober 8, 2010 on the U.S. website Pitchfork.

12. Battles – Gloss Drop

Battles - Gloss Drop

Genre: Experimental, math rock, post-rock, new prog

Favorite Tracks: Africastle, Inchworm, Wall Street, My Machines(featuring Gary Numan)

Trivia: Midway through the recording of the album bandmember Tyondi Braxton left the band to pursue a solo career. The remaining bandcontinued as a trio and rewrote and rerecorded the entire album with in 4months. Considering the band’s relative obscurity the album was a moderatesuccess reaching #48 in the UK, #73 in Belgium and #98 in the U.S.

11. Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What

Paul Simon - So Beautiful Or So What

Genre: Classic Pop, World Music, Folk

Favorite Tracks: Dazzling Blue, Rewrite, So Beautiful or SoWhat

Trivia: This is Simon’s first album in 5 years and his mostsuccessful since 1991’s “The Rhythm Of The Saints”. Simon released a Christmassong from the album called "Getting Ready for Christmas Day", whichpremiered on National Public Radio on November 16, 2010. The song samples a1941 sermon by the Rev. J.M. Gates, also entitled "Getting Ready forChristmas Day". Simon performed the song live on The Colbert Report on December 16, 2010.

10. Neil Young – Le Noise

Neil Young - Le Noise

Genre: Folk rock, experimental, garage rock

Favorite Tracks: Walk With Me, Love and War, Peaceful ValleyBoulevard

Trivia: Okay so this one was released at the end ofSeptember 2010, but I didn’t buy it until the beginning of 2011. Neil Youngreceived his second Grammy Award for the song “Angry World” which won for BestSolo Rock Vocal Performance. Producer Daniel Lanois (who has also worked withU2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Brain Eno and many others)brought a fantastically layered sonic soundscape to Neil Young. Thus moving Young’ssound into a new and uncharted territory. Young has always been one toexperiment with new and unique sounds.

9. She Wants Revenge – Valleyheart

She Wants Revenge - Valleyheart

Genre: Alt-Rock, Modern Rock, Post-Punk Revival

Favorite Tracks: Up In Flames, Reasons, Little Star

Trivia: A product of Los Angeles, California “Valleyheart”is a concept album of sorts following the trials and tribulations of life inthe San Fernando Valley.

8. Stefon Harris, David Sanchez and

Christian Scott – NinetyMiles

Stefon Harris, David Sanchez, Christian Scott - Ninety Miles

Genre: Jazz

Favorite Tracks: City Sunrise, The Forgotten One, BlackAction Figure

Trivia: “Ninety Miles” was recording entirely in Havana,Cuba. The result is a breaking of cultural barriers by bringing togethermusicians from varying cultures. The album’s producer, John Burk says,"This record is about the power of music to communicate, and break downsome of the barriers that result from language and politics and culture."

7. Florence and the Machine – Ceremonials

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

Genre: Indie Rock, Art rock, Baroque Pop

Favorite Tracks: What The Water Gave Me, Breaking Down,Lover To Lover

Trivia: Florence has stated that much of “Ceremonials” isbased on scientific ideas, as several of her family members are doctors or arein school to become doctors so she is usually around a lot of medical andscientific conversations.

6. My Morning Jacket – Circuital

My Morning Jacket - Circuital

Genre: Indie, Space Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Favorite Tracks: Victory Dance, Circuital, Outta My System,First Light, You Wanna Freak Out

Trivia: The song “Wonderful” was original written by MyMorning Jacket founder Jim James (aka Yim Yames) for the Muppets rock bandDoctor Teeth and Electric Mayhem. The song was to be performed live on stage byMy Morning Jacket and the Muppets. “Outta My System” and the former song wereboth to be performed in the Muppets tour, which was being planned and producedby Disney. Jim James commentedthat twice Muppet glory was with in his grasp but eluded him both times.Shortly after the release of “Circuital” MMJ recorded the Muppets song “OurWorld” for the Muppets tribute album called “The Green Album”. “Circuital” hasbeen nominated for the Best Alternative Rock Album Grammy Award of 2011.

5. Keb’ Mo' – The Reflection

Keb' Mo' - The Reflection

Genre: R&B, Jazz, Adult Pop, Urban Soul

Favorite Tracks: The Whole Enchilada, Inside Out, Crush OnYou (w/ India.Aire), Just Lookin’

Trivia: “The Reflection” is the first album released by Keb’Mo” (a former A&M staff songwriter) on his own Yolabelle Internationallabel. He also self produced the album.

4. Bjork – Biophilia

Bjork - Biophilia

Genre: Electronic, Experimental, avante-gard

Favorite Tracks: Moon, Crystalline, Dark Matter, Mutual Core

Trivia: “Biophilia” is an experiment of sound. How thesounds blend together, how they bounce off the walls and between objects. It’san experiment in physics similar to how planets and microscopic organisms worktogether. It’s an experiment of sound without humans. The album has made itinto the Top 20 in more than 20 different countries around the world includingTaiwan, Russia, Greece, Spain, Japan and Croatia.

3. Booker T. Jones – The Road From Memphis

Booker T. Jones - The Road From Memphis

Genre: Blues, R&B

Favorite Tracks: Progress (with Yim Yames of My MorningJacket), Down In Memphis, Everything Is Everything, Representing Memphis (withSharon Jones), Harlem House, The Bronx (with Lou Reed)

Trivia: “The Road From Memphis” works as a who’s who ofmusic for Booker T. Jones. Musicians include Dennis Coffey on wah wah guitar.Coffey is best known for the 1971 instrumental hit “Scorpio) which reached #6in the U.S. and was certified Gold for sales of more than one million. Also onthe album are current day soul/funksinger Sharon Jones, My Morning Jacket’s frontman Yim Yames (Jim James), thejazz-rap outfit The Roots and even Lou Reed (Velvet Underground) guests onvocals for the song “The Bronx”.

2. Adele - 21

Adele - 21

Genre: Pop, Soul, Indie, Roots

Favorite Tracks: Rolling In The Deep, Rumor Has It, Set FireTo The Rain, He Won’t Go

Trivia: “21” has spent 13 weeks at #1 on the U.S. Billboardchart and has also reached #1 in 24 other countries around the world. As ofDecember 2011 “21” has sold over 16 million copies worldwide. Adele’s busdriver who was playing contemporary Nashville music while she was touring theAmerican South inspired the sound of this album.

1. Gang OfFour – Content

Gang Of Four - Content

Genre: Post-Punk, Rock, Punk-Funk

Favorite Tracks: She Said You Made A Thing Of Me, I PartyAll The Time, A Fruitfly In The Beehive, Do As I Say

Trivia: With “Content”, Gang Of Four recaptures theiryouthful rebellious values and energy. Several of the albums songs touch on theeconomic hardships our world faces. GO4 takes a jab at capitalism, in the song “I Party All The Time”,citing its lack of compassion. Many of the album’s tunes touch on the band’snotions of value and freedom.

2011 was a good year!

Looking forward to an even better 2012!

The 70's: Guilty Pleasures Part I

2011-12-06T09:10:00.001-08:00

The 70's was (in it's way) quite a diverse decade in music. hard rock came into fashion with groups such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and AC/DC. Classic rock hit huge with Boston, Styx and Fleetwood Mac. Punk, glam rock, country, disco, pop, adult contemporary and singer-songwriters all soared to the top of the charts in the 70's.

This series focuses on the (somewhat) guilty pleasures of the 1970's. I say "somewhat" because each person's idea of a "guilty pleasure" is different.

These are a few of my guilty pleasures...

Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting (1974)

Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting (1974)

Release Date: August 1974

Record Label: Pye Records

Chart Positions: U.S. #1, UK #1, Canada #1, Holland #1, France #1, Germany #1, Austria #1, Australia #1, Switzerland #2, South Africa #2

Certifications: U.S. - Gold

Sales: Worldwide 11 million

Trivia: "Kung Fu Fighting" was originally recorded to be a b-side to "I Want to Give You My Everything". They spent two hours recording the a-side and only ten minutes on the b-side. When both songs were played for the executives at Pye Records, it was suggested that Kung Fu Fighting should be released as the a-side.

Carol Douglas - Doctor's Orders (1974)

Carol Douglas - Doctor's Orders (1974)

Release Date: October 1974

Record Label: Midland International (distributed by RCA)

Chart Positions: U.S. #11, Canada #1, France #4, Italy #8, New Zealand #6, Spain #2

Sales: Worldwide 2 million

Trivia: "Doctor's Orders" was produced by Meco, the American producer/musician who is best known for his 1977 space disco version of the Star Wars Theme. Although due to contractual complication Midland International VicePresident, Ed O'Loughlin is credited as the song's producer.

David Dundas - Jeans On (1976)

David Dundas - Jeans On (1976)

Release Date: August 1976

Record Label: Chrysalis

Chart Positions: Germany #1, UK 33, South Africa #3, U.S. #17

Sales: Worldwide 1 million

Trivia: "Jeans On" originally appeared as a television advertising jingle for Brutus Jeans (the words used in the jingle - "I pull my Brutus jeans on" - were replaced with "I pull my old blue jeans on" for the single release).

Michael Franks - Popsicle Toes (1976)

Michael Franks - Popsicle Toes (1976)

Release Date: July 1976

Record Label: Reprise

Chart Positions: U.S. #43

Trivia: "Popsicle Toes" is one of the greatest innuendo songs ever recorded. The song was recorded with some of the finest jazz musicians of the 70's (and of all-time). Including Wilton Felder on bass, Larry Carlton on guitar and Joe Sample on keyboards.

Steve Martin - King Tut (1978)

Steve Martin - King Tut (1978)

Release Date: April 28, 1978

Record Label: Warner Brothers

Chart Positions: U.S. #17

Certifications: U.S. - Gold

Sales: U.S. 1.3 million

Trivia: The "backup group" Martin used for "King Tut" was credited as The Toot Uncommons (Tutankhamen), but was really The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The NGDB is best remembered for their hits "Mr. Bojangles" (1970), "An American Dream" (1979) and "Make A Little Magic (1980).

Meco - Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (1977)

Meco - Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (1977)

Release Date: July 1977

Record Label: Millenium (distributed by RCA)

Chart Positions: U.S. #1, UK #7

Certifications: U.S. - Platinum

Sales: Worldwide 5 million

Trivia: To date Meco's "Star Wars/Cantina Band" is the biggest selling instrumental single in the history of recorded music. It is the only single to be certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of more than two million copies.

The Poppy Family - Which Way You Goin' Billy? (1970)

The Poppy Family - Which Way You Goin' Billy? (1970)

Release Date: December 1969

Record Label: London

Chart Positions: U.S. #2, Canada #9

Certifications: U.S. Gold

Sales: Worldwide 11 million

Trivia: The Poppy Family was a duo comprised of Terry and Susan Jacks (a husband and wife duo).Terry and Susan divorced in 1973 and a few months later Terry released his first solo single "Seasons In The Sun" which reached #1 in the U.S., UK and Canada and has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.

Meri Wilson - Telephone Man

Meri Wilson - Telephone Man (1977)

Release Date: April 1977

Record Label: GRT Records, PYE Records

Chart Positions: U.S. #18, UK #6

Certifications: U.S. Gold

Sales: Worldwide 3 million

Trivia: Meri Wilson earned a masters degree in music theory from Georgia State University. for a short while she worked as a model before becoming a singer specializing in double entendre novelty songs. In the 1990's she worked as the director of elementary education in Georgia. She also recorded other novelty songs including "Dick the DJ", "Peter The Meter Reader" and her last release in 2001"The Internet Man" (an update of "Telephone Man". Sadly, Meri Wilson died on December 28, 2002 in a car accident on Georgia State Route 377.

Rock Albums Post IX : Ramblings...

2011-11-17T20:25:00.001-08:00

Some of the albums in this post have already been featured in other posts on this blog. This is from a document I recently found on my previous computer (Sony Vaio). I transferred the doc to my current computer and decided to use it on this blog. I wrote this about 2 years ago for an old facebook page but never put it up. This is a recollection of my memories of these albums. This is more personal instead of fact filled.

Adrian Belew - Lone Rhino

Adrian Belew - Lone Rhino (1982) - (Yep, I know I just did a comprehensive review of Belew's music on this blog... but what can I say).I first recognizedAdrian Belew in 1981 on Tom Tom Club’s classic debut album. I was mesmerizedwith Belew trippy guitar work on song such as “L’Elephant”, “On, On, On, On”and of course “Genius Of Love”. Shorty after that discovery I paid moreattention to his work on Talking Heads’ albums “Remain In Light” and “Fear OfMusic” which I bought a few years prior. It was only natural that when Belewreleased his debut solo album that I buy it. Fortunately his debut was outstanding. “Big Electric Cat” is one of thosesongs I still play to this day. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002HM6AQW/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Bjork - Homogenic

Bjork - Homogenic (1997) - With this album Bjorkbecame one of my favorites. I love the songs “Hunter” , “All Is Full Of Love” and“All Neon Like”. “Homogenic is one of modern rock’s leading edge album’s of the90’s which has helped to shape todays sound in music. This album can require abit of getting used to, especially if you are not familiar with Bjork. But onceyou get the meaning and feel the feel of “Homogenic” you will be gripped.

The following is part of a review Ifound on amazon.com:

For starters, "Homogenic" is the completeopposite of the Euro-friendly, house-filled "Debut," which foundBjork bringing fire on the dancefloor at four in the morning. Instead, we findher as the hunter, looking for the next kill, or as the screaming numbed soulexcusing herself for being about to explode. Complete with wavy beats andminimalist industrial crunch fading in and out throughout the whole album, thisis a difficult heart-renching listen that's filled with everything that isBjork: beauty, love, despair, loneliness, and finally defeat with hope.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002HM6AQW/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Blondie - Eat To The Beat

Blondie - Eat To The Beat (1979) - In early 1979 Ibought Blondie’s “Parallel Lines” and just loved that album. Debbie Harrybecame a quick favorite. When “Eat To The Beat” came out I was first in line tobuy it. I played both albums countless times, but it was “Eat To The Beat”which became my favorite Blondie album. I equate this album with my youth… somany great memories. “Die Young Stay Pretty” and “Accidents Never Happen” weremy favorites back and still are today.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005MNP7/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

David Bowie - Scary Monsters

David Bowie - Scary Monsters (1980) - There are otherBowie albums which are considered classics, but this is the Bowie album whichreally caught my attention. I first bought it because for the song “Ashes ToAshes”, which was a fantastic sequel to “Space Oddity”. But than the album includes classicBowie such as “Fashion”, “Up The Hill Backwards” and my favorite “ScaryMonsters”. This was Bowie successfully moving into a new wave sort of technopunkish sound.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001OH7Y/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Brian Eno - Here Come The Warm Jets

Brian Eno – Here Come The Warm Jets (1974) - I hadheard about Brian Eno for since the mid 1970’s but never really ventured intohis music until around 1983. At that point I had several Talking Heads, DavidBowie, Roxy Music and other albums he worked on. Finally in ‘83 I bought someof his classic albums from the 70’s and wondered why I didn’t latch on to himsooner. I began with “Here come The Warm Jets” and soon after purchased all ofEno’s pop and rock releases (at the time). Eno completely appeals to theoddball yet dark side of me.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00022M518/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold As Love

Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold As Love (1967) - This onehas a fantastic sense of color and artistry along with some totally awesomeguitar, bass and drum work. This is one of those albums that not only grows onyou but pretty much becomes an extension of yourself for a while. There are somany levels of emotions expressed in different ways (primarily throughHendrix’s inspiring guitar work. Each song has a depth that only escalates witheach song until we reach the penultimate “Bold As Love”, with this song thecolors of the spectrum come alive with every emotion experienced throughout thealbum. Emotions of confusion, sadness and even jealousy. “If you love rock andyou don’t own this album, you gotta go ahead and get it. It is worth owning.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00328G4Y8/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

The Kinks - Low Budget

The Kinks - Low Budget (1979) Originally, I boughtthis one for the song “(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman”. After a few listensit ends up the entire album was great from beginning to end. My favorite songfrom the album is “Moving Pictures” with a cool upbeat new wave feel the songfit well with others like The Cars and Gary Numan.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000IM7J/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother

Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother (1970) - This onecaught the dark side of my emotions. It has an acoustic nature with anunderstated atmosphere of electronic emotion. Roger Waters’ “If” and DavidGilmour’s “Fat Old Sun” are amongst the most beautiful and deep reaching songsPink Floyd ever recorded. This album is specifically important in my life. Ibought it back in 1982 and it became part of my life. It was like another limb,part of my own body. When I listened to this album not only did I hearfantastic music, but I also able to see the colors of the emotions from thisalbum in my mind. I could feel this music in my bones.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004ZN9OTG/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Renaissance - Camera Camera

Renaissance - Camera Camera (1981) – “Camera Camera”,appeals to a level of superficiality we all have hidden in ourselves. Throughoutthe 1970’s Renaissance gained acclaim for their symphonic prog rock stylings.“Camera Camera” found them exploring a harder edged new wave style, which atsome points had similarities to Lene Lovich, while still maintaining a hint oftheir earlier prog rock days. Surrounded with excellent musicianship AnnieHaslam’s lead vocal is as always out of this world fantastic. I practicallyplayed the grooves off of this album and especially hooked on “Tyrant-Tula”,“Ukraine Ways” and the title track “Camera, Camera”.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000013I/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure

Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure (1973) - This wasn’tthe first album I owned by Roxy Music and it’s not the album that got me hookedon them. I discovered Roxy Music in 1979 with the album “Manifesto”, I lovedthe album cover and the new wave-dance sound was excellent. It is with“Manifesto”, that Roxy Music became a staple in my music listening life. Butit’s “For Your Pleasure” that made the biggest impression on me. I first bought“For Your Pleasure” in 1982. The first thing to strike me was the dark albumcover. It somewhat fit with my persona at the time. The music blew me away. Thealbum was 9 years old when I bought it, but was still relevant to a certainculture of music listeners of the time. On the technical side of music (in1973) FYP was light years ahead of their contemporaries. With it’s strangely charmingyet dark and eerie songs, the album appeals to my ghoulish side. I must haveplayed “In Every Dream Home A Heartache” at least 10,000 between 1983 through88. It is through Roxy Music that I discovered Brian Eno.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000256KE/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

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Rock Albums Post VIII: Adrian Belew

2011-10-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

Adrian Belew has gone on to become a legend of sorts in the world of rock music including; alt-rock, modern rock, new wave, classic rock and prog rock. He is highly influential within the rock music inner circle, yet to the general public his name is virtually unknown. Despite this he has had his share of major/minor successes which have afforded him the ability to continue recording and releasing music for over 30 years now.

Wikipedia describes Belew as follows: Adrian Belew is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is perhaps best known for his work as a member of the progressive rock group King Crimson (which he has fronted since 1981) and for his unusual impressionistic approach to guitar playing (involving arresting yet frequently melodic sounds more akin to animals and machines than to standard instrumental tones).

His career began in 1977 (he was 27 years old) when Frank Zappa discovered him while he was playing a gig with his cover band named Sweetheart. Shortly Belew began touring with Zappa and appeared on his 1979 album "Shiek Yerbouti". He also appeared in Zappa's 1979 concert film "Baby Snakes". From there Belew's career blossomed until he became a leading man in the world of rock guitar genius.

Let's follow Belew's career. The following albums are highlights in Adrian Belew's career. These are not all the albums he's worked on. The solo albums listed here are not the only ones he's released but a few that have really made an impression. To date Belew has released 16 studio albums and 6 albums with King Crimson.

1979

Frank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti (1979): CLICK HERE

This is where it all began for Adrian Belew.
Frank Zappa first noticed Belew in 1977 and by 1979 appeared on a Frank Zappa album. But it wasn't just any Frank Zappa album, it was "Sheik Yerbouti", Zappa's best selling album in his entire career. This album represented a new )sort of) beginning for Zappa in that it was the first release on his own Zappa Records.The album even brought Zappa his first Grammy nominations for the songs "Dancin' Fool (Rock Male Artist) and Rat Tomango (Rock Instrumental). Adrian Belew features prominently in this album as his named was listed 2nd in the credits. Belew played rhythm guitar to Zappa's lead guitar. He also sang lead vocals on three tracks including "City Of Tiny Lites", "Jones Crusher" and most notably his Bob Dylan impression on "flakes". It's easy to say Adrian Belew was on his way to bigger and better things. But how could it get any better than Frank Zappa?

Album Chart Stats: U.S. #21, UK #32, Norway #5, Sweden #4, Austria #6
Singles Chart Stats: "Dancin" Fool" U.S. #45, "Bobby Brown Goes Down" Germany #4, Switzerland #5, Austria #2, Norway #1, Sweden #1

City Of Tiny Lights (Frank Zappa band w/ Adrian Belew on lead vocals)

1979

David Bowie - Lodger (1979)
Bowie was so impressed with Belew after seeing him on tour with Zappa that he poached him for his album "Lodger". this is the first and only very few instance of both Adrian Belew and Brian Eno on the same work. It is here where Belew was introduced to Robert Fripp who later invited Belew to join King Crimson.

Adrian Belew plays some incredible guitar all over "Lodger". Belew's lead guitar work especially shines in "Boys Keep Swinging" in which his animalistic emotions take charge in the tones and groans of his guitar. In "Look Back In Anger" Belew comes in with fierce energy and sets the song afire. "Red Sails" brings us Belew's glory, his guitar work screams with a chaotic beauty that travels mysteriously into the avante-gard while maintaining a sense of melody.
Album Chart Stats: U.S. #20, UK #4, Norway #11, Australia #11, Austria #13, New Zealand #3, Sweden #9
Singles Chart Stats: "Boys Keep Swinging" UK #7, Ireland #19. "DJ" UK #29.

David Bowie and Adrian Belew

1980

Talking Heads - Remain In Light (1980) CLICK HERE

Belew's next stop was with Talking Heads. "Remain In Light" represents Talking Heads at their highest artist peak along with Adrian Belew's synthesized guitar solos and all produced by musical genius. It was a triple attack on the senses. Belew took the guitar to places even Jimi Hendrix had not discovered.

It was upon the request of David Byrne, Jerry Harrison and Brian Eno that Adrian Belew joined the band in recording this album. Recording of the album was sagging until Belew was brought in. His eclecticism and energy brought a renewed verve and interest in the recording sessions for the album.

belew's influnece is found on every song in the album and most prominently in "The Great Curve" which includes Belew's extended guitar solos.

Album Chart Stats: U.S. #19, UK #21, Australia #25, New Zealand #8, Norway #26, Sweden #28
Certified Gold in U.S. and Canada, Certified Silver in UK
Singles Chart Stats: "Once In A Lifetime" U.S. #103, UK #14Australia #23, Canada #28, Ireland #16, Netherlands #24. "Houses In Motion" #50 UK, #26 Ireland

The Talking Heads - The Great Curve

Tina Weymouth and Adrian Belew

1981

Tom Tom Club (1981) CLICK HERE
Belew's next turn was with Talking Heads off shoot band Tom Tom Club. The group includes Talking Heads husband and wife team Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth along with Adrian Belew and Tina Weymouth's sisters (Lani, Laura and Loric).

This time around Belew's guitar work was featured heavily throughout the entire album. He took his guitar in several directions, most of which emulated animal sounds or (if possible) animal emotions. In "As Above So Below" Belew give a mystery filled performance giving the emotion of a lonely rhinoceros. In "Booming and Zooming" his guitar portrays an understated sense of bounce, it's a booming and zooming in the confines of electric synthesis. Best of all is bold and brave elephant speak on "L' Elephant.

This album became a highlight in music of 1981. The single "Genius Of Love" became one of the most played club hits of 1981 and 1982 as well as going on to become a dance club classic.

Album Chart Stats: U.S. #23, UK #78, New Zealand #18
Singles Chart Stats: "Wordy Rappinghood" UK #7, New Zealand #35. "Genius Of Love" U.S. #31, UK #65, New Zealand #28.

1981

King Crimson - Discipline (1981) CLICK HERE

Just when you think it couldn't get any better Belew outdoes himself with King Crimson. This time getting top bill as lead vocalist and guitarist, as well as co-writing all the songs."Discipline" was a gateway album for King Crimson having blended the current day New Wave sounds with the dark heavier sounds of 1970's prog rock. The result was one of King Crimson's most adventurous and complex albums at the time.

The song "Indiscipline" was based on a letter written by Belew to his then wife Margaret concerning a sculpture she had made. With "Elephant Talk", Belew again displays his interest in the animal and gives a totally awesome futuristic guitar performance. Belew seemed to have a liking to Elephants.
Album Chart Stats: U.S. #45, UK #41, Canada #18, Sweden #37

1982

Adrian Belew - Lone Rhino (1982) CLICK HERE

Finally after three years of working with the best of the best in alternative rock and having contributed to five iconic albums, Belew decided to go solo. He released his first of 16 studio album (with his most recent being 2009's "e") in 1982.For those anticipating this release it was everything they waited for and more.

In researching this album I came about Ted Mills' review on the album at AllMusic. His review was so spot on that I decided to share it in it's entirety.
Here's the review:
The first solo album from monster alternative guitarist Belew comes in the middle of Robert Fripp's early-'80s reformulation of King Crimson, so it's no surprise that many a Crimson-esque herky-jerky guitar run and melody line pops up among Belew's other trademark sound, that of the animal-turned-guitar wail. Songs similarly explore Belew's fascination with raw animal nature: "Big Electric Cat" (the album's obvious single) is exactly that, howling five-stringed felines over a propulsive Afro-funk beat, and "Animal Grace" is its less frazzled companion. But Belew can also be gentle, exploring guitar synth ambience on "Naive Guitar" and even performing a duet with his four-year-old daughter Audie Belew, who plays acoustic piano on "The Final Rhino."

Album chart Stats: Sadly none of his albums have made it on to any charts.

Over the next few years Adrian Belew remained extremely busy touring with King Crimson as well as touring for his solo material. When he wasn't on the road he was busy recording. In the next few years he recorded 2 more solo albums and 2 King Crimson albums. As well as contributing to half a dozen other albums (some of which will be listed at the end of this article).

King Crinson - Beat (1982)

Adrian Belew - Twang Bar King (1983)

King Crimson - Three Of A Perfect Pair (1984)

Adrian Belew - Desire Caught By The Tail (1986)

Now we take a stop at Belew's next super project. In 1985 Belew formed a power pop group named The Bears. The Bears consist of Adrian Belew, Chris Arduser, Rob Fetters and Bob Nyswonger.In 1987 they released the first of 4 studio albums.

1987

The Bears (1987) CLICK HERE

The sound of the Bears was more devoted to pop chords and melodies than any of Adrian Belew's bands. They gave a modern spin to the Beatles' melodic moments. The album is filled with well-defined guitar driven pop gems. Belew and Fetters share the lead vocal duties, and their vocal harmonizing is up to the standards set by Lennon and McCartney, yet maintaining their own unique flare.

Within the music you can hear the joy and excitement of these band members as they performed together. It's evident that shared comrade was present during the recording of the album, which makes this all the more an enjoyable listen.

Between The Bears debut album and the next album in this feature Belew released another ten albums between his solo work, King Crimson and The Bears.

As well as working on and contributing to an additional half dozen or so other albums (some of which will be listed at the end of this article). Belew just never stopped, he has continuously worked on recording music for 35 years.

In 1998 came one of Belew's most innovative collaborative works...

1998

ProjeKct Two - Space Grooves (1998) CLICK HERE

"innovative", "out of this world", "spacey", "eclectic", "atmospheric"...
With Robert Fripp and Trey Gunn on guitars and Adrian Belew on V-Drums, this league of gentlemen creates an indisputable classic with "Space Groove". Purely instrumental there are thrill-filled challenges for the listener around every corner. Belew's electronic v-drums capture the bass and beat of the music which borderlines experimental prog and improvisational jazz. Needless the say this album isn't for everyone - but for those who enjoy this sort of atmospheric sound it is an extremely enjoyable listen.

The following are links to a few other highlights in Adrian Belew's repertoire

King Crimson - Three Of A Perfect Pair (1984)
The Bears - Rise and Shine (1988)
Adrian Belew - Op Zop Too Wah (1996)
King Crimson - The ConstruKction of Light (2000)
Adrian Belew - Side One (2005)
"Side One" is the first of a series of 3 studio albums recorded by Adrian Belew which include Les Claypool (Primus) and Dan Carey (Tool)

The following are some of the other albums Belew has contributed to over the years

Laurie Anderson - Mister Heartbreak (1983) - guitar on "Sharkey's Day", "Gravity's Angel", "Blue Lagoon" and "Sharkey's Night"
Jean Michel Jarre - Zoolook (1984) - guitars, synthesizer effects
Paul Simon - Graceland (1986) - synthesized guitar on "Boy In The Bubble", "You Can call Me Al" and "Crazy Love", Guitar on "Under African Skies"
Mike Oldfield - Earth Moving (1989) - lead vocals on "Holy", guitar throughout
Caifanes - El Silencio (1992) - Producer, guitar on "Piedra"
Nine Inch Nails - Downward Spiral (1994) - texture generating guitar (on "Mr. Self Destruct"), ring mod guitar (on "The Becoming")
Jars Of Clay (1995) produced the songs "Liquid" and "Flood" as well as playing bass and mandolin on both songs. "Flood" reached #37 in the U.S.
Back Against The Wall (Pink Floyd Tribute")(2005) - guitars and vocals on "In The Flesh", "Mother", "Is There Anybody Out There" and "The Show Must Go On"
Jaguares - Cronicos de un Laberinto (2005) - guitar, koto and keyboards as well as chorus vocals
Man On Fire - Habitat (2005) - heavy guitars throughout
Return To The Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Floyd Tribute)(2006) vocals on "Speak To Me"
Nine Inch Nails - Ghost I - IV (2007) - co-writer on "25 Ghosts III" and "27 Ghosts III", played guitar on 13 tracks from the album, Electronics on "25 Ghosts III" and Marimba on "30 Ghosts IV"

"The Block" by Man On Fire (2005)

Rock Music Post 1: Ladies of the Dark

2011-09-24T22:21:00.000-07:00

This post includes women in music who shaped and molded the punk, goth and other related post-punk genres.

These ladies often sing and write songs with themes that are of a dark nature. Siouxsie Sioux sings "Happy House" a song with a sarcastic twist. Kate Bush's yearning "Army Dreamers" is a chilling song about the effects of war and a mother's grieving her sons death during military maneuvers.

In their own unique way each of these ladies are trendsetters in music and have influenced several women in music today.

Alice Bag

Born in Los Angeles, California Alice Bag fronted the punk band The Bags. Alice took her stage name and band name (as well as other member Pat Bag) from an early gimmick they used early in their career in which they would wear a grocery bag over their head when they performed a gig.

The Bags - We Don't Need The English (1978)

Kate Bush

The English born Kate Bush got her start at the young age of 16 when she was signed to EMI Records in 1975. Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. Gilmour received a Kate Bush demo from a friend. He was impressed with what he heard and recommended that EMI give her a listen. Kate Bush's eclectic vocal, lyrical and musical style have made her one of the UK's most successful female performers of the past 40 years.

Kate's most successful album is 1985's "Hounds Of Love", which includes her classic hit "running Up That Hill (A Deal With God). Other big hits include "Wuthering Heights" (1978) (Pat Benatar remade this song in 1980) and "Don't Give Up" ( duet with Peter Gabriel)(1986).

Dinah Cancer

For the past 30 years Dinah Cancer has been a driving force in the punk rock, horror and death rock genres of music. cancer is best remembered as the vocalist for the Los Angeles punk rock band 45 Grave. The original band was together from 1979 to 1985. The band reformed in 1989 though due to the death of Rob Ritter better known as Rob Grave (bass player) in 1990 the band disbanded again. finally in 2004 reunited again for an anniversary tour. Dinah Cancer was the only original member in this lineup which includes Rikk Agnew (formerly of Christian Death). In 2010 Rikk's brother Frank Agnew (TSOL, Social Distortion, The Adolescents) joined the band.

In their original lineup, 45 Grave released only one studio album which was 1983's "Sleep In Safety". All the songs were written by Dinah along with her band members. The album, with songs steeped in topics of death and dark spirits, has become a goth and deathrock classic. It contains the hit "Partytime".

Before forming 45 Grave, Dinah played in Castration Squad a band formed by Alice Bag of The Bags. In the early 80's Cancer dated Nikki sixx of Motley Crue, but ended up marrying Paul Cutler band member of 45 Grave.

Exene Cervenka

In 1977, 21-year-old vocalist Exene Cervenka met 23-year-old bass player John Doe at a poetry workshop in Venice, California. Very shortly afterwards --along with guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer D.J. Bonebrake--they would form X, a band as representative as any of early '80s Los Angeles punk.

X released their first album "Los Angeles" in 1980. The album's title track was deemed controversial in mentioning the hatred the song's main character had for varying races, lifestyles and cultures.

In 1985 Exene along with X band members John Doe and DJ Bonebrake and Dave Alvin (of the Blasters and Flesh Eaters) formed the country punk band The Knitters. The Knitters released two albums including 1985's "Poor Little Critter On The Road" which is considered a country-punk classic.

To date Exene has released 5 solo albums and one collaboration album with Lydia Lunch. Exene's solo albums have all touched on folk tinged country sounds with hints of punk. Her lyrical themes range from alcohol addiction to social injustice, women in trouble, and white trash culture. Her first solo album "Old Wive's Tales" was released in 1989. Her second solo album 1990's "Running Sacred" is considered her best by many.

Nina Hagen

Nina Hagen is one of the most outlandish female rockers in the history of music. Her vocal styles mixes operatic undertones with screams of rage and gothic moans and groans.

Nina a German singer/songwriter and actress (born in 1955) and was an opera prodigy by the age of nine, began her career in Poland singer cover tunes of Tina Turner and Janis Joplin songs. In 1977 Nina formed the Nina Hagen Band and released their debut album in 1978. The debut album included a German version of the Tubes' "White Punks On Dope". The song brought critical acclaim to Nina Hagen and helped to grow her fan base.

The second album Unbehagen included a German remake of Lene Lovich's "Lucky Number", this song also helped to further expand Hagen's fan base.

In all Hagen has released 16 studio albums with her most successful being 1983's "Fearless" also released as "Angstlos" in Germany. Fearless contains Hagen's biggest hits "New York, New York" and "Zarah". Both of which were huge dance club hits. "New York, New York" reached #9 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Chart and "Zarah" reached #45 on the same chart later in '83.

New York, New York - English Version

New York, New York - German Version

Lene Lovich

Lene Lovich was one of the most revered new wave/goth singer/songwriter/musicians in the late 70's and early 80's. Her quirky vocals and upbeat music scored a non-stop parade of dance club hits from 1979-1982 including "Lucky Number", "Home", "New Toy", "It's You, Only You" and "Blue Hotel".

Lovich was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Hull, England. She formed her first band (a funk outfit) in 1975 but did not achieve success so she moved on. In 1977 Lene wrote lyrics to music composed by French musician Cerrone. The outcome was the disco classic "Supernature". By now Lene's career was off to a good start. She was signed to Stiff records in 1978 and her first official single was released "I Think We're Alone Now" ( a cover of the Tommy James and Shondells classic) with "Lucky Number" on the b-side. "Lucky Number" ended up garnering more attention so the single was rereleased in early 1979 this time with "Lucky Number" as the a-side. The song ended up reaching #3 in the Uk and #18 in Austria. Lene had her first legitimate hit. The song also fared extremely well in many underground and disco dance clubs in the U.S. and has become a dance club classic.

Lydia Lunch

Born in 1959, New York native Lydia Lunch is a poet, singer, songwriter and actress who got her start in the New York No Wave post-punk era. Her work typically features provocative and confrontational delivery and has maintained an anti-commercial ethic, operating independently of major labels and distributors.

Lydia earned her surname "Lunch" when she lived in a communal household of artists and musicians in new York City. Lydia would steal lunches for her starving artist friends. While living in this commune she met and friended Kitty Bruce the daughter of Lenny Bruce.

lunch recorded several singles with her band Teenage Jesus and the Jerks in 1978 and 1979. Toward the end of 1979 she released her first solo album "Queen of Siam". The album sold poorly but did achieve cult status for Lunch. The album features her off-key and snarling vocals, especially on her cover version of the pop song "Spooky".Lunch has remained active on the music scene releasing an EP with Mars Volta musician Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in 2007.

Lunch has released 13 spoken word albums and EP's.

Siouxsie Sioux

Siouxsie Sioux is the Goddess of Goth and the Queen of Post Punk. Her voice and music have inspired a generation like no other singer of her time. Siouxsie Sioux is not only a singer but a lifestyle and a guide of glam fashion and attitude.

Sioux was born Susan Janet Ballion in 1957 in London, England. As a young teenager her earliest musical influences were David Bowie, Lou Reed, Marc Bolan, Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music and Iggy Pop. She was a loner who found solace in her music and art.

In 1976 Siouxsie and friend Steve Severin decided to form a band. They played a few punk festivals and other gigs and by 1977 they formed Siouxsie and the Banshees. Severin played bass in the band. In 1978 they released their first single "Hong Kong Garden" which was an instant hit reaching #7 on the UK singles chart and was the beginning of an amazingly successful career in which Siouxsie and her Banshees recorded 11 studio of which 9 reached the top 20 in the UK and 6 charted in the U.S. Their biggest hit in the UK was a 1983 cover of the Beatles "Dear Prudence" which reached #3. In the U.S. their biggest hit was 1991's "Kiss Them For Me" which made it all the way to #23.

Poly Styrene

Poly Styrene is a trendsetter in many ways. She is one of the first and very few black female singers in punk rock. Born Marianne Joan Elliot-Said in 1957 the British punk rock singer, songwriter and musician fronted the pioneering punk rock band X-Ray Spex.

As a teenager, Marianne was a "barefoot hippie". At age 15, she ran away from home with £3 in her pocket, and hitchhiked from one music festival to another, staying at hippie crash pads. She thought of this as a challenge to survive. The adventure ended when she stepped on a rusty nail while bathing in a stream and had to be treated for septicaemia.

Poly recorded her first demo with producer Ted Bunting in 1975, when she was just 16 years old, and released her first, reggae, single, "Silly Billy"/"What A Way", as "Mari Elliott" in 1976. After that Poly formed X-Ray Spex with Jak Airport (Jack Stafford) on guitars, Paul Dean on bass, Paul 'B. P.' Hurding on drums, and Lora Logic (born Susan Whitby) on saxophone. This latter instrument was an atypical addition to the standard punk instrumental line-up, and became one of the group's most distinctive features. Although the groups most extraordinary feature was Poly's voice. Her voice has been variously described as "effervescently discordant" and "powerful enough to drill holes through sheet metal".

Unorthodox in appearance, she wore thick braces on her teeth and once stated that "I said that I wasn't a sex symbol and that if anybody tried to make me one I'd shave my head tomorrow". She later actually did at Johnny Rotten's flat prior to a concert at Victoria Park.

X-Ray Spex released only two studio albums 1978's classic "Germ Free Adolescents" and 1995's "Conscious Consumer" by a newly reformed X-Ray Spex. Poly released three solo albums including 1980's "Translucence", which featured a quieter jazzy sound as opposed to X-Ray Spex's raucous thrashing punk rock.

Sadly Poly Styrene passed away at the young age of 53 on April 25, 2011. She had been treated for breast cancer which ended up spreading to her spine and lungs. RIP Poly your legacy will live on in our memories.

Rock Albums Post VII: Brothers of Vibe

2011-08-27T22:33:00.000-07:00

This post includes black male musicians who have contributed to the landscape of popular music in the genres of blues, jazz, R&B, soul, pop, rock and funk.

Louis Armstrong - Louis and the Angels (1957)

Born in New Orleans Louis Armstrong is known as one of the premiere innovators of New Orleans styled jazz trumpet. Armstrong is instantly recognized for his deep and distinctive gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. He was also greatly skilled at scat singing, vocalizing using sounds and syllables instead of actual lyrics. Armstrong's career in music began in 1918 and continued until his death in 1971.

"Louis and the Angels" was released in 1957 and is one of many many studio albums released by Armstrong. His musical output is so vast that it is hard to say how many albums he actually recorded.

Scott Yarrow wrote the following review for AllMusic:
This obscure set by Louis Armstrong has its strange appeal. The great trumpeter/vocalist performs a dozen songs, all of which have "heaven" or "angel" in their title or lyrics, while backed by the Sy Oliver Orchestra plus a heavenly female choir. Satch gets off a few good trumpet solos and is quite cheerful throughout, even joking during "The Prisoner's Song" when the word "angel" finally shows up. Among the highlights are "When Did You Leave Heaven," "I Married An Angel" and "I'll String Along With You." Although more commercial than Armstrong's usual recordings of the era, this set is more memorable than one would expect and is worth searching for.

James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good) (1966)

Known as the Godfather of Soul James Brown has influenced many musicians from all genres of music. His legend stands as one of the most durable in popular music history. Brown put the shake, rattle, roll and scream into soul music. After James Brown soul music was never the same. He paved the way for artists such as George Clinton, Afrika Bambaataa and many others.

His hit songs such as ''Papa's Got a Brand New Bag'' and ''Cold Sweat'' helped make him one of the most influential singers of the second half of the 20th century and an icon of African-American pride. Ninety-four of his recordings reached the Top 100, and he had more Top 20 singles than any other recording artist. Even though he had his last chart single in 1985, his popularity endured. The churning polyrhythms of such songs as "Cold Sweat" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)" imbue them with a freshness that has kept them a mainstay of classic hits radio formats and even commercials.

"I Got You (I Feel Good)" was Brown's 15th album and was released on January 1, 1966. At the start of 1966, James Brown was at his peak as a crossover star, having hit the pop Top Ten twice in a row in the last six months, first with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," and then with his biggest-ever pop success, "I Got You (I Feel Good)." But Brown was a singles artist almost exclusively; for him, LPs simply constituted a different configuration in which to re-sell his singles. So, his '60s LPs consisted of his current hit plus previously released singles tracks. The I Got You (I Feel Good) LP was no exception: Leading off with the title track, it included songs that dated back to 1959's "Good, Good Loving." Of course, some of these tracks, such as "Lost Someone," "Night Train," and "Think," were among Brown's classics, so the collection on the whole is appealing, even if arbitrary.

The album was a reasonable success reaching #36 on the U.S. Billboard album chart. It was the title track that really fueled the album sales. The song "I Got You (I Feel Good)" ended up becoming Brown's all-time biggest hit reching U.S. #3 and UK #29.

The song, with almost identical tune and words, had first been recorded and released in 1962 by Yvonne Fair, as "I Found You" (King 5594). Fair was one of Brown's back-up singers, and released several singles in her own right produced by him, none of which were hits. Brown then reworked the song three years later as "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and recorded at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami, which was their first Billboard hit.

Fats Domino - Carry On Rockin' (Rock and Rollin' with Fats Domino) (1955/1956)

Fats Domino had seven years' worth of recordings behind him when Imperial Records released his first LP, which was made up of songs dating back as far as 1950 -- "Ain't It a Shame" was the current hit, and his 1950 hit "The Fat Man" is also here, but there was a lot more to recommend this album. Fats' singing on "Poor Me" is some of the most expressive R&B of its era, and the worth of this LP is defined by his performance as well as the songs themselves. The latter also include the pounding ballad "Rose Mary," the bouncy "Please Don't Leave Me" with its infectious vamping by the singer and his rippling piano arpeggios, and the bluesy lament "You Said You Love Me."

The album reached #17 on the U.S. album charts under it's 1956 alternate title.

The album contains Domino's first U.S. pop hit "Goin' Home", the song hit #30 on the charts and was his first #1 hit on the U.S. R&B charts.

Domino first attracted national attention with "The Fat Man" in 1949 on Imperial Records. This song is an early rock and roll record, featuring a rolling piano and Domino doing "wah-wah" vocalizing over a strong back beat. It sold over a million copies and is widely regarded as the first rock and roll record to do so.

"Ain't That A Shame" burned up the charts to reach #10 in the U.S. and #23 in the UK. this song gave Domino his big break and made him a household name. The song was recorded in New Orleans and eventually sold more than a million copies. Pat Boone recorded the song in 1955 and went all the way to #1 on the U.S. charts and #7 in the UK. Boone had originally wanted to change the song title to "Isn't That A Shame" to appeal to a broader audience, but was dissuaded by his producers. Pat Boone and Fats Domino both had the song on the charts are the same time during July and August of 1956.

The legacy of "Ain't That A Shame" continued to live on throughout the decades with artists such as Cheap Trick covering the song in 1979, John Lennon in 1975, the Four Seasons in 1963 and several others. The song is ranked #431 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced (1967)

Jimi Hendrix is perhaps the greatest guitarist to ever live. Certainly he is the most innovative having used his guitar not only as an instrument but also as tool to convey his emotions. for Jimi Hendrix the guitar was a lifestyle for him, almost a body part. Influenced by blues artists such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Albert King and Elmore James, Hendrix has stated, that wants to do with his guitar what Little Richard does with his voice. It's easy to say that Hendrix succeeded in that goal.

Released in the UK on May 12, 1967 and in the U.S. on August 23, 1967, Hendrix's debut "Are You Experienced" reached #5 on the U.S. album chart, #2 in the UK and #3 in Norway. In the UK it was the Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's" album that kept Hendrix's "Are You Experienced" from reaching the top of the charts.

The sessions for "Are You Experienced" began in 1966 with the recording of three singles, "Hey Joe"/"Stone Free", "Purple Haze"/"51st Anniversary" and "The Wind Cries Mary"/"Highway Chile". All three singles (released between December 1966 and May 1967 reached the top 10 on the UK singles chart. In the original UK and international release non of these singles were included on the album although while these singles were being recorded Hendrix and his group recorded the tracks which ended up becoming the album comprised the album "Are You Experienced". When the album was released in the U.S. the A-sides of each of these singles were all included, which resulted in the removal of "Red House", "Can You See Me" and "Remember" which were all on the original UK release. In 1993 the album was reissued with all the original songs from the UK release and the 3 singles plus their b-sides.

This classic album has retained it's popularity through the decades and has received many accolades including being ranked at #15 on the 2003, Rolling Stone magazine 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. VH1 named it the fifth greatest album of all time in 2001. Guitarist magazine named the album number one on their list of "the most influential guitar albums of all time" in 1994 and Mojo magazine similarly listed it as the greatest guitar album of all time in 2003. Creem magazine named the album number six on the Top Ten Metal Albums Of The 60s. Vibe (12/99, p. 156) included it in its list of 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century. NME (10/2/93, p. 29) ranked it #29 in its list of the "Greatest Albums Of All Time". In March 2000 a poll from Guitar World Magazine named Are You Experienced the greatest album of the Millennium.

"Hey Joe" was Hendrix's debut single released in December 1966. The song was written by Billy Roberts a California based folk singer/guitarist/ harmonica player. The song reached #6 on the UK charts in January 1967 and #10 in Norway and #34 in Australia. This was the last song Hendrix performed during Woodstock in 1969.

"Purple Haze" was Hendrix's second single release and was a hit worldwide reaching #3 in the UK, #7 in Austria, #17 in Norway, #53 in Australia and 365 in the U.S. This was Hendrix's debut on the U.S. charts. Written by Hendrix, the song came into being after the band's producer Chas Chandler heard him playing the riff backstage and suggested that he write lyrics to go with it. There is some dispute about the lyrics: supposedly written in the dressing room of the Upper Cut Club on Boxing Day, 1966, Chandler claims that the lyrics were never cut in any way (though he admits that this was done on general principle with Hendrix's lyrics), while Hendrix stated that the original song contained much more text. Hendrix originally wrote the chorus as "Purple Haze, Jesus Saves," but decided against it. Hendrix himself denied the drug relation of the song claiming it to be merely another love song. He said that the line "What ever it is, that girl put a spell on me" is the key line to the lyrics.

In reference to "Purple Haze" Hendrix has said in a 1969 interview with the new Musical Express, "I dream a lot and I put a lot of my dreams down as songs. I wrote one called 'First Around the Corner' and another called 'The Purple Haze', which was all about a dream I had that I was walking under the sea." The term "purple haze" has been used to refer to LSD, due to the form sold by Sandoz, called Delysid, which came in purple capsules. The phrase itself appears in print as early as 1861, in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, chapter 54: "There was the red sun, on the low level of the shore, in a purple haze, fast deepening into black..." Although, Hendrix himself stated that the song was partially in reference to a sci-fi story.

The third single (still before the album was released) was "The Wind Cries Mary". with this release Hendrix change up his style a bit to showcase a his mellower side. this beautiful song reached #6 in the UK and #18 in both Austria and Australia. The song was recorded at the end of the "Fire" sessions. It is said to have been inspired when Hendrix and his then girlfriend, Kathy Etchingham, had an argument over her cooking; after she stormed out of their apartment, Hendrix wrote "The Wind Cries Mary", as Mary was Etchingham's middle name. Billy Cox, who was the bassist for the Band of Gypsys and long-time friend of Hendrix has stated Curtis Mayfields' influence on the song.

Written by Hendrix, he was quoted as saying "Foxy Lady" was the only happy song he had ever written. He said that he usually just doesn't feel happy when writing songs. The song was his 5th single release. This song, although regarded a Hendrix classic did not do to well on the charts reaching #27 in Australia and #67 in the U.S.

Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings (1990)

Born in 1911 Robert Johnson was a blues musician who recorded from 1960-1937. He didn't release any official albums during this time but recorded about 29 songs which were released on 78 rpm records (there are also 12 alternate takes which were released on The Complete Recordings compilation). Legend has it that there are several lost songs which would bring Johnson's total number of songs recorded to 59. Johnson died in 1938 at the young age of 27. He was in a juke joint one night and was offered an open bottle of whiskey which he drank. The bottle was laced with strychnine. After drinking the whiskey Johnson began feeling ill. Over the next three days his condition worsened and he died in a convulsive state of severe pain. His records sold poorly during his lifetime, and it was only after the first reissue of his recordings on LP in 1961 that his work reached a wider audience. Johnson is now recognized as a master of the blues, particularly of the Mississippi Delta blues style. He is credited by many rock musicians as an important influence; Eric Clapton has called Johnson "the most important blues singer that ever lived." Johnson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an "Early Influence" in their first induction ceremony in 1986. He was ranked fifth in Rolling Stone 's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

The compilation album "The Complete Recordings" won a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Historical Album and also won a Blues Foundation Award in 1991 for Vintage or Reissue album. The album which was released on August 28, 1990 reached #80 on the U.S. album chart and has sold more than a million copies.

The following four songs have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These are part of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.

"Sweet Home Chicago" is a popular blues standard in the twelve bar form. It was first recorded and is credited to have been written by Robert Johnson. Over the years the song has become one of the most popular anthems for the city of Chicago despite ambiguity in Johnson's original lyrics. Both California and Iowa are mentioned in the song. Chicago is only mentioned once. California Avenue is a thoroughfare which runs from the far south to the far north side of Chicago. The original road predates Johnson's recording and may have been the subject of the "land of California" references.

"Cross Road Blues" was released on a 78 rpm record in 1936 by Vocalion Records, catalogue 3519. The original version remained out of print after its initial release until the appearance of The Complete Recordings in 1990. In 1961, producer Frank Driggs substituted the previously unreleased alternative take on the first reissue of Johnson's work, the long-playing album King of the Delta Blues Singers. The lyrics tell of the narrator's failed attempts to hitch a ride from an intersection as night approaches. Historian Leon Litwack and others state that the song refers to the common fear felt by blacks who were discovered out alone after dark; that Johnson was likely singing about the desperation of finding his way home from an unfamiliar place as quickly as possible because of a fear of lynching. In addition, the lyrics could be allusion to the curfews that were then imposed on blacks in the South. The imagery of the singer falling to his knees and the mention of his failure to find a "sweet woman" suggests that the song is also about a deeper and more personal loneliness.

"Hellhound On My Trail" was recorded in Texas on Sunday, June 20, 1937, one of ten songs recorded in his second and last recording session for RCA. Although this is a twelve bar blues song in structure, it is unique in melody and verse form. The first and last verses may be the finest found in the blues, according to music historian Samuel Charters. The poetic imagery is brilliant and intense with a feeling of personal frenzy. The song's lyrics reflect an agonized spirit for whom there is no escape. The vision of the hounds of hell coming to catch sinners was prevalent in southern churches at that time, and this may have been the image in Johnson's mind.

"Love In Vain" is noted for its sad lyrics, tone, and style. In the 1991 documentary film The Search for Robert Johnson, John P. Hammond plays Robert's recording of "Love in Vain" for the elderly Willie Mae Powell, the woman for whom it was supposedly written. Johnson moans "Oh, Willie Mae" in his last verse. Johnson was an admirer of blues singer/pianist Leroy Carr. "Love in Vain" takes its musical structure from Carr's classic "In the Evenin' When the Sun Goes Down". Both songs express a yearning and sorrow for the loss of a lover. In 2011 the song was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame of the Blues Foundation.

B.B. King - Indianola Mississippi Seeds (1970)

B.B. King is a blues singer/songwriter and guitarist whose career spans from 1949 to 2011 and will cotninue as long as he is alive. King is known for his expressive singing and fluid, complex guitar playing. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the "100 greatest guitarists of all time". As of 2009, he has won an impressive total of 15 Grammy Awards.

"Indianola Mississippi Seeds" was released in 1970 and is his 18th studio album. The album reached #6 on the U.S. billboard album chart and is his highest charting album to date. It also made it to #8 on the U.S. Billboard Black Albums chart and #7 on the U.S. Billboard Jazz Albums chart. The album won one Grammy Award for Best Album Package.

B.B. King views the album as one of his greatest achievements. When asked about his best work, King has said, "I know the critics always mention Live & Well or Live at the Regal, but I think that Indianola Mississippi Seeds was the best album that I've done artistically."

The album title is a tribute to King's upbringing near Indianola, Mississippi. Although King was born on a plantation between two smaller towns, Itta Bena and Berclair, which are actually closer to Greenwood, King has always considered Indianola his hometown. The album package includes what appears to be a copy of B. B. King's birth certificate with official registration in Indianola. The liner notes also contain a note that reads, "Congratulations Albert and Nora on your son Riley, September 16, 1925." Over time, King's hometown has paid respects back to him. In 2008, the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center will open in Indianola, with the mission to "preserve and share the legacy and values of B. B. King, to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta, and to promote pride, hope, and understanding through exhibitions and educated programs.

The album reads like a who's who in popular music including Joe Walsh (James Gang, Eagles) on guitar, Carole King on piano, Leon Russell also on piano and Russ Kunkel (James Taylor and Jackson Browne) on drums.

"Indianola Mississippi Seeds" features King's only recorded turn on the piano in the 1 minute and 26 second long (or shall we say short) song "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother".

Three hit singles were produced from this album including "Hummingbird" a classic Leon Russell penned tune which King added his musical charm and made it sound like a composition all of his own. The single reached #48 on the U.S. Billboard Singles chart and #25 on the U.S. Billboard Black singles chart. The album's 2nd single was "Ask Me No Questions", written by B.B. King the song made into the U.S. Top 40 at #40 and also reached #18 on the Black Singles chart. His 3rd and final single from the album "Chains and Things" written by B.B. King and Dave Clark (not to be confused with Dave Clark from the Dave Clark Five) reached #45 on the U.S. singles chart and #6 on the Black Singles chart.

Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um (1959)

Charless Mingus is one of America's most respected jazz musicians of all-time. His influence has spread far and wide through the musical spectrum of the world. Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music. Yet Mingus avoided categorization, forging his own brand of music that fused tradition with unique and unexplored realms of jazz.

His album "Mingus ah Um" was released in 1959 and was his 16th studio album. Mingus' compositions and arrangements were always extremely focused, assimilating individual spontaneity into a firm consistency of mood, and that approach reaches an ultra-tight zenith on Mingus Ah Um.

There are very few albums in the history of music that open with two such strong and utterly distinctive tracks as "Better Git It In Your Soul" and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" and it is no surprise that they are known to a wider audience than just to Mingus freaks. These two songs as well as the rest on this album more than suitably showcase Mingus' emotional and musical complexity.

"Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is a slow, graceful elegy for Lester Young, who died two months before the recording sessions. It is one of Mingus' best-known compositions and has been recorded by many jazz and jazz fusion artists. Joni Mitchell added lyrics to the song for her album Mingus, recorded in collaboration with Mingus during the months before his death.

Keb' Mo' - The Reflection (2011)

His full name is Kevin Moore, Keb' Mo' is a blues singer, guitarist and songwriter. From a very young age Mo' has had an appreciation for blues and gospel music. By his early teens he was already an accomplished guitarist. Early on Keb' Mo' was heavily fheavily influenced by the old styled country-blues of Robert Johnson. He started his career playing steel drums and upright bass in a calypso band and spent the 70's and 80's playing in a variety of blues bands. In the 1970's Mo' played in an R&B group with Papa John Creach (Jefferson Airplane). He also appeared on 4 of Creach's albums. In 1980 Mo' released his debut album called "Rainmaker" under his full name Kevin Moore. It took 14 years until he released his second album which was his debut as Keb' Mo'.

"The Reflection" is Mo's 9th studio album and his 13th if you include the 2 live albums and 2 compilations he's released. "The Reflection" was releasedon August 2, 2011. "The Reflection" showcases the many genres of music Mo' enjoys including rock guitar lines, jazz riffs and hints of R&B and funk all tops with Mo's soulful crooning. The sound on this release is crisp and warm, smooth as honey, and never jarring, as Mo' muses on love and its difficulties in different settings, his vocals full of sincerity and good will. The Reflection was written and recorded over a period of three years, that included his relocation from Los Angeles to Nashville. Self-produced, the 12-song set features duets with India.Arie and Vince Gill, as well as performances by Dave Koz, Marcus Miller, Mindi Abair and world-renowned studio musician David T. Walker.

The opening tune “The Whole Enchilada” is an enjoyably smooth, mid-tempo soul tune that features some fluid guitar work and Keb Mo’s smooth-as-syrup vocals. There’s plenty going on: between the guitars and percussion, the noodling bassline and vocals both upfront and backgrounded, there is a lot of sonic meat for your ears to dig into.

“Inside Outside” (which is my personal favorite) benefits from a quietly urgent bassline and sophisticated percussion. Written by Mo', "Inside Out" contains a smooth rock/jazz urgency that should be explored a bit more deeply by Mo' in his future releases. With it's infectious guitar chords one might almost think they are listening to a Steely Dan produced tune.

“My Shadow” ramps up the funky bass a notch or two and is much the better for it. Mo' sings the mysterious lyrics with a deep bluesy soul feel that let's you know he's more than just a flash in the pan and bring us some solid tunes that will resonate for years to come.

Usher - Confessions (2004)

Born in 1978 he released his debut album at the young age of 16 and by the age of 19 he hit worldwide multi-platinum status with his 2nd album "My Way". Usher is considered to be the reigning "King of R&B". To date he has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide.

Released on March 23, 2004, "Confessions" is Usher's 4th studio album. Currently this is his biggest selling album having sold more than 20 million units worldwide (in the U.S. alone the album has sold near 10 million copies). The album hit #1 U.S, UK. Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. It also reached #2 in Australia and Germany and #3 in The Netherlands and Switzerland. It also reached the Top 20 in Denmark, Belgium, Finland and Sweden as well as reaching the Top 40 in Austria and Poland.

The album ranked at #2 in Billboard's decade end chart of best selling albums between 2000-2009. Only Nsync's "No Strings Attached" sold better in the first decade of the 2000's.

Confessions showcases Usher as a crooner and incorporates musical elements of hip hop and crunk. The album's themes generated controversy about Usher's personal relationship; however, the album's primary producer Jermaine Dupri claimed the record reflects his personal story. Confessions earned Usher numerous awards, including four American Music Awards, two MTV Europe Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and three World Music Awards. At the 47th annual Grammy Awards ceremony in 2005, Usher won three awards, including: R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals for "My Boo", which he shared with Keys; Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Yeah!"; and Contemporary R&B Album for Confessions. At the 2004 Billboard Music Awards, Usher was recognized Artist of the Year, in addition to receiving 10 other accolades.

The album contains five hit singles with the first being "Yeah!" featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris. The song was a #1 worldwide smash hit reaching the top spot in the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hnugary and Norway. It also made the Top 5 in Italy and Sweden. Like it's parent album "Yeah!" ranks as the #2 best selling song on Billboard's decade-end chart for 2000-2009. The song won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 47th Grammy Awards. After Lil Jon leaked "Yeah!" to street DJs across the United States, Usher opted "Burn" as the lead single of the album and was already planning for its music video. The song was not intended to be a proper single and only a teaser for Usher's fans after waiting for years. However, the responses of "Yeah!" were overwhelmingly favorable, and "Yeah!" was released as the first single instead of "Burn", which became the second single from the album.

'Burn" is about a guy who breaks his girlfriend's heart by breaking up with her and then later regrets it. He feels like he is burning without her but she isn't coming back.The 2nd single from "Confessions". This was the first instance of a four-letter title to succeed another four-letter title (Usher's "Yeah!") atop the Billboard Hot 100. With this transatlantic #1, Usher broke the record for most consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100. When "Burn" reached its seventh week in pole position, following directly on the heels of the 12-week chart-topper "Yeah!," Usher had spent 19 consecutive weeks on top. Prior to Usher's feat, the record was 16 weeks by Boyz II Men.
Usher's record was overtaken by The Black Eyed Peas 26 week chart-topping run in 2009 with "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feelin'.""Burn" reached #1 in the U.S., UK and new Zealand as well as reaching #2 in Australia and Ireland.

"My Boo" with Alicia Keys was the 4th single from "Confessions". Usher and Alicia Keys had previously collaborated with the remix of Keys' 2004 single "If I Ain't Got You", which was released in the United Kingdom. During the production of Usher's fourth studio album, Confessions, they thought of various female singers to pair him with on the song, including Beyonce Knowles. Usher and Beyonce's rare demo version can be found floating on the internet. However, Jermaine Dupri, who co-wrote the song including, felt that he had established a good relationship with Keys and decided to release this version instead of the recording with Beyonce.

Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)

Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key of Life" is one of the most revered albums of all-time. In it's time it was a trendsetting album. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard album charts. This was only the third album to complete this feat. Elton John's "captain Fantastic" and "Rock of the Westies" were the first and second albums in U.S. history to enter the billboard chart at #1. "Songs In The Key Of Life" surpassed all expectations by remaining #1 for 14 weeks (and 80 weeks total on the album chart) as well as being a worldwide hit. This was a big accomplishment as in 1976 it was still uncommon for a black artist to sell well anywhere other than the U.S. Stevie Wonder was one of the first black artists to achieve worldwide success. The album managed to block four albums from reaching the #1 spot including "Silk Degrees" by Boz Scaggs, "Spirit" by Earth Wind and Fire, "The Song remains The Same" by Led Zeppelin and "A Night On The town" by Rod Stewart.

"Songs In The Key Of Life" (Wonder's 18th studio album) was #1 in the U.S., #2 in the UK, #6 in Norway, #9 in Sweden, #9 in the Netherlands and #15 in Austria. To date the album has sold more than 10 million copies in the U.S.

On February 19, 1977, Wonder was nominated for seven Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, an award that he had already won twice, in 1974 and 1975, for Innervisions and Fulfilligness' First Finale. Since 1973, Stevie's presence at the Grammy ceremonies had been consistent – he attended most of the ceremonies and also used to perform on stage. But in 1976, he did not attend as he wasn't nominated for any awards (as he hadn't released any new material during the past year). Paul Simon, who received the Grammy for Album of the Year in that occasion (for Still Crazy After All These Years) jokingly thanked Stevie "for not releasing an album" that year. A year after, Wonder was nominated for Songs in the Key of Life in that same category, and was widely favored by many critics to take the award. The other nominees were Breezin' by George Benson, Chicago X by Chicago, Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs, and the other favorite, Peter Frampton's Frampton Comes Alive!, which was also a huge critical and commercial success. Wonder was again absent from the ceremony, as he had developed an interest in visiting Africa. In February he traveled to Nigeria for two weeks, primarily to explore his musical heritage, as he put it. A satellite hook-up was arranged so that Stevie could be awarded his Grammys from across the sea. Bette Midler announced the results during the ceremony, and the audience was only able to see Stevie at a phone smiling and giving thanks. The video signal was poor and the audio inaudible. Andy Williams went on to make a public blunder when he asked, "Stevie, can you see us?" In all, Wonder won four out of seven nominations at the Grammys: Album of the Year, Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Male Rhythm and Blues Performer, and Producer of the Year. This was the third and last time he won the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Wonder, who was blind since shortly after his birth, was ready to retire from the music business in 1975 to move to Ghana and work with handicapped children. He was very distraught and angered with the way that the United States Government was running the country. At that point in time Gerald Ford was president after Richard Nixon had resigned before being impeached for his part in the watergate scandal. Fortunately, Wonder changed his mind and continued his career in music as it was at this time he went in to the studio to record the classic "Songs In The Key Of Life". The album reflects his heritage, his religious feelings and his general love of music and life. The title, "Songs In The Key Of Life", represent the formula of a complex "key of life" and the proposals for indefinite success.

The album contained four hit singles and one song that charted although it was not an actual single release. "Isn't She Lovely" written by Wonder celebrates the birth of his daughter, Aisha. The song opens with the audio of a baby being born, and a lengthy outro featuring samples of Aisha playing with Wonder. In the end of the song, Stevie says, "Come on, Aisha. Get out of the water, Baby," which is a memorable moment with Stevie and his daughter. Wonder had Aisha with Yolanda Simmons, who he mentions near the end of the song: "Londi it could have not been done, without you who conceived the one."Although the song was very popular and has received much radio airplay, it did not chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 because Stevie Wonder would not allow it to be released as a 45 RPM single even though requested to do so by Motown. The song did, however, make it to #23 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.

The first single released from the album "I Wish" reached #1 on the U.S. singles chart as well as #5 in the UK. Written and produced by Wonder, the song focuses on his childhood.
Lookin back on when I, was a little nappy headed boy,
Then my only worry, was for Christmas what would be my toy,
Even though we sometimes, would not get a thing,
We were happy with the, joy that they would bring

The album's most popular song and a classic of all-time is the smash hit "Sir Duke". The song was a #1 hit in the U.S. and #2 in the UK. Wonder wrote the song (which opens with that classic and highly recognizable trumpet and saxophone line) as a tribute to Duke Ellington, a jazz pianist who had an influence on him as a musician. Wonder had already experienced the passing of two of his idols (Dinah Washington and Wes Montgomery) after attempting to collaborate with them. After Ellington died in 1974, Wonder wanted to write a song acknowledging musicians he felt were important. He later said, "I knew the title from the beginning but wanted it to be about the musicians who did something for us. So soon they are forgotten. I wanted to show my appreciation." Also mentioned in this song are "Satchmo" Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Sodarisa Miller. Later tributes included "Master Blaster" in 1980 (dedicated to Bob Marley) and "Happy Birthday", which pleaded for commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday.
Music knows it is and always will
Be one of the things that life just won't quit
But here are some of music's pioneers
That time will not allow us to forget
For there's Basie, Miller, Satchmo
And the king of all Sir Duke
And with a voice like Ella's ringing out
There's no way the band can lose

Rock Albums Post VI: Pop Music

2011-08-09T14:52:00.000-07:00

This post includes albums which cross the lines of pop music, ballads, jazz, R&B and other lite and easy styles of music. All these albums, in their own way, are pop music classics and have generated influence and inspiration on musicians and music listeners alike.

Anita Baker - Rapture (1986)

Anita Baker has been on the music scene since 1975 first with the Detroit based soul group Chapter 8. But it wasn't until 1986 that Baker finally reached fame with her soulful silky contralto. Her second solo album "Rapture" focused on romantic but gospel-influenced R&B/pop ballads and catapulted Baker to international success, reaching #11 in the U.S., #13 in the UK, 332 in Sweden and #35 in Australia. To date the album has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide (with 5 million in the U.S. alone). The album won two Grammy Awards including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and a Best R&B Song Grammy for the song "Sweet Love". In 1989 "Rapture" was listed #36 in Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980's.

The first single released from the album "Watch Your Step" failed to spark interest with the public, although it did reach #23 on the U.S. R&B chart. Finally it was "Sweet Love", the album's 2nd single (and her 6th single overall) that hit the upper portions of the charts. The song hit #8 on Billboard's U.S. Singles chart, #2 on the R&B chart and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart as well as reaching #13 in the UK.

After "Sweet Love" became a huge hit the album scored 3 more hits with "Caught Up In The Rapture Of Love", "Same Ole Love (365 Days A Year)" and "No One In The World". At this point in time Baker was destined to continue her wave of hits to become one of the most cherished vocalists of the 80's and onward. "Caught Up In The Rapture Of Love" proved to be as durable a hit as "Sweet Love" as it became an anthem for many a lovestruck couple. The song made it to #37 on the U.S. pop charts but reached the top 10 on both the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts as well as #51 in the UK.

Bobby Darin - That's All (1959)

That's All, Bobby Darin's second LP, is his most important record. Darin's reputation as a teen idol was established in 1958 and 1959 with the Top Ten hits "Splish Splash," "Dream Lover," and "Queen of the Hop." Later in 1959, That's All broadened his appeal and secured his immortality. The LP begins with Darin's trademark song, Threepenny Opera's "Mack the Knife" which was number one for an impressive nine weeks. That's All won Grammy awards for Record of the Year and Best New Singer. In his first attempt to select more mature material, Darin chose songs like Ira and George Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So" from Porgy and Bess and the Hammerstein song "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise." That's All is an album of pop standards but also includes the Top Ten hit "Beyond the Sea." Much is made of Frank Sinatra's band leader Billy May, but Richard Wess shines on Darin's early LPs. His orchestration in "I'll Remember April" is a brassy and swinging success. That's All was on the Billboard charts for 52 weeks and peaked at number seven. The album also reached #9 on the Cashbox momo albums chart and #16 on the Cashbox stereo album charts. There were spearate Cashbox charts for mono and stereo albums until 1965.

"Mack The Knife" was first introduced to the United States by Louis Armstrong in 1956 but it was bobby Darin who turned the song into a classic. Darin took the song to #1 in October 1959 and stayed there for an impressive 9 weeks. It also reached #6 on the Black Singles chart, and earned him a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. The song was certified gold in the U.S. for selling more than 1 million copies. The song also reached #1 in the UK. Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht wrote "Mack The Knife" in 1928 for the German play The Threepenny Opera. "Mack" is Macheath, the title character, portrayed as a criminal. The light melody can make this feel like an upbeat song, but it contrasts sharply with the lyrics, which are about a murderer. Darin took a chance when he recorded this. His previous hits like "Splish Splash" and "Dream Lover" were aimed at a teenage audience, and this song had very dark subject matter. Darin's management didn't want him to record this, but he ignored their advice and it paid off: it introduced him to a wide audience of adult listeners.

Continuing his streak of top ten hits, "Beyond The Sea" reached #6 in the U.S. and #8 in the UK. "Beyond the Sea" is a 1946 contemporary pop song with music taken from the song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet and lyrics by Jack Lawrence. In English La Mer translates to The Sea. Beyond The Sea was also the title for the 2004 movie about Darin's life starring Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin. Spacey himself performed most of the songs in the movie.

David Gray - White Ladder (1998-2000)

David Gray is an English singer-songwriter who released his first album in 1993 before reaching worldwide acclaim seven years later with his classic album "White Ladder". Initially "White Ladder" was released in November 1998 on Gray's own label IHT Records, but failed to garner any attention and slowly faded into obscurity. In an effort to promote the album Gray toured the U.S. opening for the Dave Matthews Band. It was Matthews who recognized the potential in "White Ladder" and released the album in the U.S. on his label ATO. "White Ladder" was the first album released on Matthews label which was distributed by RCA Records.

The album's first single "This Year's Love" released in March 1999 failed to captured very little attention but did manage to reach #25 on the Irish singles charts. The 2nd single "Babylon" released in July 1999 failed to chart anywhere. The 3rd single "Please Forgive Me" fared a bit better reaching #26 in Ireland and #72 in the UK. Despite his minor showings on both the UK and Irish charts Gray had eluded any enduring chart success.

Finally after Matthews took hold of Gray's career "Babylon" was re-released as a single in June 2000 and that's when the major breakthrough happened. This time around the song showed solid chart positions reaching #5 in the UK, #31 in Ireland and his chart debut in the U.S. at #57. He also made it to #8 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart. Gray was finally on his way to a permanent residence on the landscape of popular music. "babylon" remains Gray's biggest hit to date.

From here "White Ladder" was also re-released in several countries around the world between March and October of 2000. The album became a universal hit selling over 7 million copies worldwide. It reached #1 in both the UK and Ireland as well as making it to #4 in New Zealand, #18 in Norway, #34 in Australia, #35 in the U.S., #51 in the Netherlands and #59 in France.

Jack Johnson - Sleep Through The Static (2008)

Before making music Jack Johnson was a professional surfer. He was born and raised in Oahu, Hawaii, the son of well known surfer Jeff Johnson. Jack took an interest in surfing at the young age of five. At age 17, he became the youngest invitee to make the surfing finals at the Pipeline Masters on Oahu's north shore. One week later, however, his stint as a professional surfer ended when he suffered a surfing accident at the Pipeline that put over 150 stitches in his forehead and knocked a few of his teeth out.

After graduating from high school he moved to California to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, and graduated with a degree in film. While in college, he developed his passion for music, and in 1993 played rhythm guitar for the party band Soil. Johnson got his first break in music when G. Love recorded his song "Rodeo Clowns" in 1999 for his album Philadelphonic. 2 years later Johnson began recording his own albums.

"Sleep Through The Static" is Johnson's 5th studio album and was released on February 1, 2008. The album has reached the top 3 in more countries around the world than any of his other albums. It's chart performance is staggering as follows; the album reached #1 in the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. It peaked at #2 in Germany and Switzerland, #3 in Austria and Portugal, #4 in Holland, #5 in Denmark, #6 in France, #8 in Belgium, #9 in Greece, #13 in Sweden, #14 in Spain and #17 in Norway. The album also did very well in Japan but chart data in Japan is not available at this moment.

In the album's liner notes it states that the album was recorded with 100% solar energy, printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, and carrying the 1% For The Planet logo. It's easy to say that Jack Johnson is an advocate of "green" technology.

"Sleep Through The Static" is Johnson's most personal album to date having been recorded at the time of the death of his cousin Danny Riley (who sang backup vocals on "If I Had Eyes"). Johnson has commented, "Some of the songs on this album are about making babies. Some of the songs are about raising them. Some of the songs are about the world that these children will grow up in; a world of war and love, and hate, and time and space. Some of the songs are about saying goodbye to people I love and will miss."

The first single from the album "If I Had Eyes" is a bluesy somewhat upbeat number which was released in December 2007 via his MySpace page. "If I Had Eyes" is about the break-up of a longterm relationship, he had some good friends who were in the middle of a divorce. Johnson attributes his song Moe (3years old at the time) for giving him inspiration to write this song. Moe is a helpful source of ideas for his songs, and he contributed to the chorus of "If I Had Eyes." Johnson told the interviewer with a smile, "I'll have to give him a songwriting credit. The little conversations we're having are ending up as the basis for a lot of songs, because he's always asking me, 'Why?' He's at the 'Why?' stage."

"Hope" is the 2nd official single from the album having been released in May 2008 for digital download. The third single "Sleep Through The Static" contains Johnson's classic acoustic style electro-groove that is effective in getting a crowd swaying to the music. Johnson is an enthusiastic eco-warrior and he explained to the Sun newspaper January 25, 2008 how this song reflected his concerns, "'Sleep Through The Static' is about how we have the ability to turn off the war whenever we please. Or you can use a plastic bag to bring home all your groceries. You throw it in the waste and then you don't see what happens but it sits there for 2,000 years. A lot of things are out of sight, out of mind for us and it's easier to 'sleep through the static'."

The song "Go On" is the album's most poignant moment with emotions running deep. In 2007, Johnson's wife's cousin Danny Riley tragically died at age 19 from a brain tumor. He had spent his final few months living with Johnson and his family. The album "Sleep Through the Static" is dedicated to Riley, and the song "Go On" juxtaposes coming to grips with Riley's death and watching his own son grow up and learn to tread water for the first time. Johnson told Rolling Stone magazine, "It's about learning how to let go of someone you love, watching them swim away."

Norah Jones - Come Away With Me (2002)

Norah Jones' debut album "Come Away With Me" released on February 26, 2002 is one of the world's most celebrated albums. To date the album has sold more than 23 million copies worldwide making it one of the 70 best selling albums of all-time in the world.

It took a while for the album to catch on. It first entered the U.S. charts in early 2002 but took an entire year to finally hit #1. "Come Away With Me" was released on the predominantly jazz-based label Blue Note and recorded with several jazz musicians, and has been noted by music writers for its acoustic pop style and incorporation of jazz, folk, soul, and country music elements. The album has enjoyed phenomenal success reaching #1 in many countries around the world including the U.S., UK, Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Ireland, Sweden. Additionally the album reached #2 in Austria and Switzerland. #3 in Poland and Portugal. #4 in Norway. #5 in Finland and finally #61 in Spain and Italy.

In 2003 the album"Come Away With Me", Norah Jones, related songs and album personnel won an amazing total of 8 Grammy Awards. The awards include:

Best New Artist: Norah Jones

Album of the Year: Come Away With Me

Best Pop Vocal Album: Come Away With Me

Record of the Year: Don't Know Why

Song of the Year: Don't Know Why

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Don't Know Why

Best Engineered Album - Non Classical: Come Away With Me

Producer of the Year - Non Classical: Arif Mardin

Although she was happy about her success, Jones felt bad about sweeping the Grammy Awards. In an interview for 60 Minutes, Jones told Katie Couric: I felt like I went to somebody else's birthday party and I ate all their cake. Without anybody else getting a piece. That's how I felt. —Norah Jones

The genre of "Come Away with Me" was the subject of much debate, especially within the vocal jazz community. Many artists held that because Norah Jones made few changes to the original melody and rhythm of the covered tracks, such as "Turn Me On" and "The Nearness of You", that the album did not qualify as jazz, which entailed some degree of interpretation and improvisation. Still, the presence of accomplished jazz musicians Bill Frisell, Adam Rogers, Brian Blade, and Sam Yahel, as well as the complex and sophisticated jazz-influenced compositions of Jesse Harris, gave the album an overall jazz feel. Critics have viewed the music of "Come Away with Me" as a blend of vocal jazz and acoustic pop with soul and country music overtones.

"Don't Know Why" was Norah Jones' first single released in July 2002. Quickly it began receiving radio, internet and music video airplay. with in a month after it's release Norah Jones and the album "Come Away With Me" began sweeping the world. The song was written by Jesse Harris and originally appeared on his 1999 album, Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos. Harris had a big role on Norah's album writing and/or co-writing 4 other tunes for the album along with playing acoustic and electric guitar. Although the song received a good amount of airplay and was received positively by the music listening public it only reached #30 on the U.S. singles chart.

The subsequent singles "Feelin' The Same Way", "Come Away With Me", "Turn Me On" and "Nightengale" also failed to spark high chart positions in the U.S. but continued to generate mega sales for the album.

Jones did however score fairly well on the singles charts in various countries. In Australia "Don't Know Why" reached #5. "Come Away With Me" reached #2 in Canada and #3 in Italy. Finally "Turn Me On" hit #10 in Canada.

Also included on the album Jones does a tasty rendition of the Hank Williams classic "Cold Cold Heart". The song begins with a simly infectious deep bass line soon accompanied by Jones' tinkling keyboard prowess. Jones sings the song with a Rickie Lee Jones sort of feeling and gives it a downbeat sort of soul. In it's simplicity Jones' rendition of "Cold, Cold Heart" is effective in reaching out to pull the listener in to the rustic emotion of the song.

About her music Norah Jones says, "I'm not soft-spoken and romantic, at all. I must be, somewhere deep down, otherwise I wouldn't like that kind of music. But I'm only like that when I'm on stage. I'm pretty much just loudmouthed, obnoxious, and silly."

John Mayer - Heavier Things (2003)

Heavier Things is John Mayer's 2nd studio album released on September 9, 2003. The album was a worldwide hit reaching #1 in the U.S., #3 in Canada, #4 in Australia, #5 in Denmark, #15 in New Zealand, #19 in the Netherlands, #72 in the Ireland and #74 in the UK.

The title of the album is a response to critics having called his music somewhat "lite". "heavier Things" featured Mayer's guitar magic along with an emphasis on loops and horns giving the music a layered sound with hints of funky rhythms.

The first single from the album the midtempo pop/rocker "Bigger Than My Body" was a marginal hit reaching #21 in New Zealand, 333 in the U.S., #38 in Australia and #72 in the UK. Despite it's lukewarm chart performance the song is considered one of Mayer's signature tunes. Mayer composed the song after going to a Coldplay concert. He wrote it to explain his desire to write both moving and great music, like what he found in artists like Coldplay, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Pearl Jam. At the same time, he commented on the frustration of not being able to get the music outside of his own body.

Someday I'll fly
Someday I'll soar
Someday I'll be so damn much more
Cause I'm bigger than my body

Following "Bigger Than My Body", John Mayer released "Clarity" as the album's 2nd single. This song fared even worse on the singles chart regardless Mayer considers this song to be one of the best he's done, in that it's the best in portraying his thoughts and feelings. The song is arranged with piano and drums provided, in part, by The Roots drummer Questlove.

The third single "Daughters" in many ways was the albums most successful song having reached #19 in the U.S. and #29 in the Netherlands. Many critics have called the song Mayer's best yet. Mayer earned two Grammy awards for the song Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Song of the Year. In a February 9, 2009 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Mayer said that he thought he should not have won the Grammy for Song of the year because he thought that Alicia Keys' If I Ain't Got You was the better song. Because of this, he removed the top half of the Grammy and gave it to Keys, and kept the bottom part for himself.

"Daughters" is a song with a dual meaning. The first one is explicit - "Fathers be good to your daughters, daughters will love like you do." In this particular instance, he's talking about a girl who was abandoned by her father as a child and who has trouble with relationships as an adult. The second message in this song isn't quite so explicit - he explains this in concerts. The song isn't simply about fathers and daughters. It's about history, and how what happens to someone in their past affects who they are now.

Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)

Paul Simon is a living American legend. Having first come to fame in 1965 in the duo Simon and Garfunkel who brought hits such as "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "The Sounds Of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", "I Am A Rock" and several other classic tunes. Paul Simon went onto a successful solo career when S&G broke up in 1970.

"Still Crazy After All These Years" is Simon's 4th studio album (released in October 1975) and is one of his most celebrated. It is his first and only album to reach #1 in the U.S. Throughout the world the album sold very well reaching #6 in the UK, #8 in Norway, #9 in Sweden, #11 in Holland, #24 in New Zealand, #29 in Finland and #39 in Australia.

The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1976. In Simon's acceptance speech for the Album of the Year award, on February 28, he jokingly thanked Stevie Wonder, who had won the award the two previous years for Innervisions and Fulfillingness' First Finale, for not releasing an album that year . (Wonder won the award again for Songs in the Key of Life in 1977.) The album also won a second Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.

A stellar lineup of musicians of musicians perform on the album including Art Garfunkel (vocals on "My Little Town"), Patti Austin (backup vocals), Phoebe Snow (vocals on "Gone At Last"), Michael Brecker (saxophone), Bob James (electric keyboards), David Sanborn (saxophone), Ralph MacDonald (percussion), Tony Levin (bass), Valerie Simpson (backup vocals). The Phil Ramone produced album was almost a who's who of 70's musicians.

The first single from the album is a duet he did with Phoebe Snow called "Gone At Last". "Gone At Last" is a gospel tinged rollicking tune featuring the Jesse Dixon Singers. The song was only a minor hit in the U.S. reaching #23 on the singles chart. A remarkable song with some excellent vocal harmonies.

The song "My Little Town" reunited Simon with former partner Art Garfunkel on record for the first time since 1970. This was the album's second single release. It fared well on the charts reaching #9 in the U.S., #17 in Holland, #24 in New Zealand and #46 in Australia. The song was included on both Simon's solo album "Still Crazy After All These Years" and Garfunkel's 1975 album "Breakaway". The song starts off very quietly, beginning with a piano solo (by Garfunkel), and almost non-existent drumwork. They begin to sing together (there are no solo parts) which further showcases their vocals, with Paul Simon providing a subdued bass-guitar line. The choruses of "nothin' but the dead and dyin' back in my little town" are played with an increased intensity, especially the final repeat-and-fadeout section following the last verse, with some horns and backing vocals added to the mix.

The third single, "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover", is the one that propelled the album to #1. The song was an immediate hit worldwide receiving radio airplay on every top 40 format radio station in the world including several AOR FM stations in the U.S. The song reached #1 in the U.S. and Canada, #2 in France, #18 in New Zealand, #23 in the UK and #42 in Germany.

"50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" creatively starts off with a fantastically all-embracing linear drum lead by Steve Gadd which became the hook and color for the song. Simon wrote this song shortly after his divorce from first wife Peggy Harper, the song is a mistress's humorous advice to a husband on ways to end a relationship: Just slip out the back, Jack/Make a new plan, Stan.

The fourth single release is the title track "Still Crazy After All These Years" which (along with "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover") has gone on to become a modern day pop music standard. Although the song was not much of a hit on the worldwide scale as it only charted in the U.S. at #40 and in France at #10. Simon came up with the phrase "Still Crazy After All These Years", he then created a story to go with it. The song's unusual chord changes were inspired by a bass player and composer named Chuck Israels that Simon was studying with at the time. Pop singer Karen Carpenter loved the song so much that she recorded a lightly jazz inflected version of it for her solo album along with "I Do It For Your Love" which was the b-side of Simon's single release. The latter song did not make it on Carpenter's solo album, but is widely available on the internet as a bootleg download.

Julieta Venegas - Limón y Sal (2006)

Julieta Venegas is a Mexican singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter, who performs Spanish-language rock and pop music.She was born in 1970 in Long Becah, Califronia in the U.S. but was raised in Tijuana, Mexico. She began studying music at age eight and was a member of the popular Mexican band Tijuana No!. In addition to singing and writing her own songs, she plays instruments including acoustic guitar, accordion, and keyboards. She has won five Latin Grammys and one Grammy. She has sold more than 8 million albums worldwide.

Limón y Sal (Lemon and Salt) is Julieta's first and so far only album to place on Billboard's U.S. Top 200 Albums chart. It reached #177. The album was released on May 30, 2006 and has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. This is Julieta's 4th studio album. To date it is her most successful album reaching #1 in Mexico and Argentina, #4 in Spain, #9 in Italy and #14 in Switzerland. It also made it to #65 on the European albums chart.

The album was nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards in 2006, including Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music Album. she won the latter of the two. The album's producer, Cachorro Lopez, won the Latin Grammy for Producer of the Year. Along with winning the two Latin Grammy Awards the album also won a regular Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.

Some notable songs are "Primer Día" and its reggae rhythm, sung in a duet with Dante Spinetta. In "De Qué Me Sirve" she plays the accordion in a tango and "bolero" fashion. "Eres Para Mí" is a duet with Chilean singer Anita Tijoux. The song "Canciones de Amor" was used in the 2007 film The Heartbreak Kid.

The 1st singled released from the album, "Me Voy" is Venegas' most successful single to date having reached #1 on the U.S. Latin music charts and #1 in Mexico, Italy, Spain, Brazil and Switzerland and reached #6 on the European Hot 100. The song was especially huge in Mexico retaining the #1 spot for 12 amazing weeks. The song is a Ranchera styled pop tune about the breakup of two lovers.

The 2nd single "Limón y Sal" wasn't quite as successful as the first single but captures an optimistic view on love and relationships and loving a person for who they are including their strengths and weaknesses.

"Eres Para Mi" featuring French/Chilean rapper Anita Tijoux. The reggae influenced song is one of Venegas's most successful songs in the U.S. Hot Latin Charts, reaching a peak of 5 in just a few weeks. The song reached the top 10 throughout Latin America and has already managed to top the charts in Argentina and Colombia; in Perú it peaked at #11. The song has a catchy rhythm that strikes a good sunshiny feeling as you listen to it.

Julieta Venegas went for one last single from this very successful album in releasing "Primer Día"to radio station and internet download sites. Although not quite as big a hit as the previous three singles the song did manage to catch the attention of the music listening public garnering airplay throughout Mexico, South America and several region in Europe. The song features rapper Dante Spinetta.

Rock Albums Post Five

2011-07-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

Joan Armatrading - Me, Myself, I (1980)

Joan Armatrading is a British singer, songwriter and guitarist. She is a member of the Order of British Empire (MBE). Joan was awarded her MBE at Buckingham Palace in 2001 from Prince Charles. She began her career in music in the early 70's when she performed in a stage production of the musical "Hair". "Me, Myself, I" is her 8th studio album released in May 1980 (so far she has released 21 albums).

Her previous albums were more along the lines of folk oriented confessional songs. In 1980 she hired Richard Gottehrer to produce a rock edged sound for her. Gottehrer had produced albums for Blondie and the Go-Go's.The album featured Anton Fig on drums (he's from David Letterman's house band), Chris Spedding on guitar, Clarence Clemons on saxophone, Paul Shaffer (Saturday Night Live, David Letterman) on keyboards as well as other well known musicians.

"Me, Myself, I" went on to become Armatrading's best selling album in both the UK and U.S. The title track was released as a single and reached #21 in the UK and received a fair amount of radio airplay in the U.S. The second single release was "All The Way From America".

The Cult - Love (1985)

The Cult is a British rock band which formed in 1983. Lead singer Ian Astbury had formed the Southern Death Cult in 1981. The band was very short lived and disbanded in early 1983. Astbury than formed The Cult which went on to achieve mulit-platinum success.

"Love" was their 2nd studio album and was released on October 18, 1985. This is the album which brought The Cult commercial on the worldwide music scene. It reached #4 in the UK and #87 in the U.S. and was certified Gold in both countries. The album has been described as equal parts psychedelic, hard rock and new wave goth.

The songs on this album emanate a bright guitar sheen, tight arrangements, crisp drumming and an outstanding performance by vocalist Ian Astbury.

The first single from the album, "She Sells Sanctuary", widened their following in the UK reaching #15 and was the start of their popularity in the U.S. The song has been covered by several artists including the British band Keane. The intro to the song was used in a Nissan commercial a few years back.

The second single "Rain" followed in the success of "She Sells Sanctuary" and reached 317 on the UK singles chart. for a brief period of time (during recording) the song was known as "Sad Rain". The lyric is inspired by a Hopi rain dance.

Containing great rock riff and big choruses, "Revolution" was the 3rd single from the album. It reached 330 in the UK.

"Big Neon Glitter" was one of the album's more popular album tracks garnering huge airplay in both the UK and U.S. In the U.S. it was played on alternative music and album oriented FM radio such as the popular KROQ. With it's U2-like guitar intro "Glitter" was probably more popular in the states than any of their singles.

"Love" is one of those few albums in music history which has aged very well and sounds better today than it did in it's original release. Every song is outstanding with "Nirvana", "Brother Wolf, Sister Moon", "Phoenix" and "Hollow Man" also being highlights.

Florence + the Machine - Lungs (2009)

It's rare to see an artists debut album garner as much attention as Florence + The Machines "Lungs" has. From 2009 to 2011 the album and the artist have received countless award nominations throughout the world. Some of the awards they've won include 2009's Critics Choice (Brit Awards), Best Breakthrough Artist of 2009 (UK Festival Awards), Mastercard Album of 2010 (Brit Awards), Best International Band (2010 Meteor Music Awards), Best Female (2010 Q Awards), Best Newcomer (2010 European Festival Awards) and several other wins. It's easy to say "Lungs" touched on the pulse of a generation of music listeners.

I mulled over this album for several weeks before buying it. I wasn't sure if this would be my "cup of tea". I didn't want to buy it and get it home and hear something like Britney Spears or Selena Gomez. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the music and the inbred soul in Florence's powerful voice. her voice is somewhere in the league of Joss Stone meets Janis Joplin meets Kate Bush but quite a bit more refined and versatile. Florence has a bright future ahead of herself.

"Lungs" is Florence + The Machine's first (and so far only) album released on July 6, 2009. the album has sold extremely well throughout the world reaching #1 in the UK, #2 in Ireland, #3 in Australia, #3 in New Zealand, #8 in Portugal, #14 in the U.S. and chart positions in several other countries in the world. Thus far the album has received gold and platinum certifications in 9 different countries throughout the world.

The album has spawned 8 singles (one of them being a remix of "You've Got The Love" called "You Got The Dirtee Love". Her biggest hits worldwide are "Dog Days Are Over" and "You've Got The Love".

"You've Got The Love" is only one of two songs on the album not written or co-written by Florence Welch. The song (written by Anthony B. Stephens) was originally titled "You Got The Love" and was recorded in 1986 by Candi Staton (and her band The Source). In 2008 Joss Stone recorded the song for her album "Colour Me Free". Finally it was Florence + The machine that brought this soulful tune to international prominence. Florence first released the song in December 2008 as the b-side to her single "Dog Days Are Over". The song was quickly released as a digital only download single in January 2009 when it began gaining more attention than it's A-side. Finally in November 2009 the song was officially released as single (along with a music video) and stormed up the charts around the world.

Another highlight on the album is "Cosmic Love". Florence said "Cosmic Love" was a joke title which ended up sticking. She wrote this song after having been at a party and drinking far too much). The song just wasn't working out and then she hit on one note )on the paino) and the rest came together. they ended up writing the song in about a half hour. Many critics have praised the song calling it the best track on the album.

"Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" featured Florence's voice overdubbed with so many harmonies that she sounds like a massed choir of one. In an interview with The Independent in June 2009 Florence commented that Cenzo Townshend (the guy who mixed the song) nearly had a nervous breakdown. The track includes elements of "House Jam" by Gang Gang Dance who originally were not credited on the album but since have been added to the album credits as well as receiving royalties. "Rabbit Heart" was written after her label asked her for something more upbeat, but ended up with a chorus about ritual sacrifice. In an interview for Steve Lamacq on his BBC Radio In New Music We Trust show, she explained: "I've been doing all this heavy dark stuff and I just wanted something to express that sort of joyful sort of side to the music. But then again once I started doing that, the lyrics started getting dark again and then it became all about like ritual sacrifice and like who is the lamb and who is the knife? And I think it was just all about me about to jump into the limelight and being in the music industry stuff like that. But it is sort of joyful in a way because its all about giving yourself up and letting it go and you start off being a sort of timid rabbit heart and you have to become courageous and become a lion heart."

Moody Blues - Days Of The Future Passed (1967)

What makes an album a classic? There are many aspects that make an album a classic. A set of great songs that the music listening public can get a hold of and relate to. Musical arrangements that are intense and precisely crafted. An overall theme that resonates in the heart of the culture of a universal community. A timelessness in the songs that only sound better as time progresses. There are many factors involved and Moody Blues' "Days Of The Future Passed" possesses many of these elements and much more.

"Days of the Future Passed" was The Moody Blues' 2nd studio album and the first to include lead singer Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge. Hayward and Lodge were instrumental in shaping the sound of which Moody Blues became famous.

The album sold extremely well throughout the world and reached #27 in the UK in 1967/68. It wasn't until 1972 (after the re-release of "Nights In White Satin" as a single) that the album took off in the U.S. when it reached #3 on the Billboard chart and experienced a minor resurgence in the UK.

The album was an epic work of art using the London Festival Orchestra to create otherworldly instrumental interludes between the songs. The album flowed together in a simple concept tracing an "everyman's day" from dawn to night, from awakening to sleep.

The London Festival Orchestra was a fictitious orchestra of musician assembled expressly for the recording of the album. The orchestral parts were performed separately and edited between and around the Moody Blues parts, so the orchestra did not actually accompany the group.

The English musical arranger, conductor and composer Peter Knight was employed to orchestrate the album. Before working with The Moody Blues Knight produced numerous vocal scores and eventually assembled his own orchestra called The Peter Knight Orchestra. it was his richly textured orchestration on "Days of the Future Passed" that brought him to international acclaim. Knight built the orchestral parts around themes written by The Moody Blues.

The first single released from the album was the classic "Nights In White Satin". In it's original 1967 release the song hit #19 in the UK and soared all the way to #1 in the Netherlands. In 1972 the song was re-released and it was then that it hit the status of "classic" reaching #9 in the UK, #1 in Canada and #2 in the U.S.

"Nights In White Satin" was written by Justin Hayward in 1965 at the age of 19. He got the idea for the song after someone gave him a set of white satin sheets. Hayward told the Daily Express Saturday magazine May 3, 2008: "I wrote our most famous song, 'Nights in White Satin' when I was 19. It was a series of random thoughts and was quite autobiographical. It was a very emotional time as I was at the end of one big love affair and the start of another.

The second single was "Tuesday Afternoon" which did not fare as well only reaching #12 in the UK and #24 in the U.S. Regardless the song is still considered a classic. The song gets it's unusual sounds from the use of the mellotron, which is a keyboard that triggers taped loops of a chosen instrument recorded at different pitches. Justin Hayward wrote the song originally intending to name it "Tuesday Afternoon". At the insistence of producer Tony Clarke, it was named "Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)" for its release on Days of Future Passed. However, when it was released as a single a year later, its name was changed back to "Tuesday Afternoon", and it has been more commonly known by this name ever since. Some of the Moody Blues compilation and live albums list the song as "Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)" to reflect both titles. Hayward wrote this song on a beautiful spring afternoon, in a field near his home in England, after he smoked a funny African cigarette, the song just came to him.

Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It (2008)

Raphael Saadiq reaches back to old school R&B classics such as the Stylistics, Temptations and Stevie Wonder to craft his appealing blend of music. Listening to any one of his albums one might think it's a long lost Stylstics album finally being released. He stays true to the genre.

"The Way I See It" is Saadiq's 3rd studio album. It was released by Columbia records on September 16, 2008 and sold fairly well throughout the U.S. and parts of Europe. It charted at #19 in the U.S., #15 in France, #24 in Finland and #69 in Belgium.

There were six singles released from the album and although not one of them charted on the Top 100 Billboard Singles chart several of them made it on to the R&B chart with the biggest hit being "Never Give You Up" (featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica and CJ Hilton on vocals). CJ Hilton is a 22 year old R&B singer who's main influence is Marvin Gaye. Hilton shared lead vocals and co-wrote the song with Saadiq. The song reached #26 on the U.S. R&B chart (and #4 on the U.S. adult R&B chart). The song also received a Grammy award nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Saadiq's approach to producing his music is refreshing. In a time period when many current R&B artists use synthesizers and stripped down bass and beat Saadiq employees a full band complete with horn players, guitarists, keyboards and the full spectrum of musicality. It's like Earth, wind and fire meets Smokey Robinson.

Saadiq first came to fame in the 80's as a member of the neo-soul group Tony! Toni! Toné. then followed that up in the 90's with R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl (which included members from En Vogue and A Tribe Called Quest). Finally in 2002 he released his first solo album.

"Love That Girl" was the album's second biggest hit reaching #45 on the U.S. R&B chart (and #13 on the U.S. adult R&B chart). On his website Saadiq commented on the song: "Man, that's all about the swing... the way girls swing their hips! It's the type of song that will make people move and that shuffle beat reminds me of those ladies I used to see playing drums in church!". "Love That Girl" was also nominated for a Grammy award in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category.

Along with the two Grammy nominations for "Never Give You Up" and "Love That Girl", the album was nominated for Best R&B Album. Due to the success of "The Way I See It" Saadiq got a Soul Train Award nomination for Best R&B/Soul Male Artist.

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Kaleidoscope (1980)

Released on August 1, 1980 "Kaleidoscope" was Siouxsie and the Banshess 3rd studio album and their first to breakout throughout other parts of the world outside of England. The album reached #5 in the UK (their first out of two UK Top 10's), #10 in Switzerland, #30 in New Zealand and #66 in Australia.

Following the departure of Kenny Morris (drummer) and John McKay (guitarist), the band regrouped and shifted the focus of their sound. Budgie (Big In Japan, The Slits) joined the band in late 1979 on drums and guitarist extraordinaire John McGeoch (Magazine, Visage) joins in early 1980. They experimented with synth based electro-dance sounds.

The album was released to immediate critical praise. Many critics dubbed the album a classic. Allmusic's David Cleary described it as a "strong record" with "extraordinarily imaginative production values featuring intricate synthesizer-flecked arrangements; psychedelic touches in "Christine," spaceship synthesizer swoops in "Tenant," and rhythmic camera clicks in "Red Light" all enliven their respective songs".

Two singles were released from "Kaleidoscope" although the album achieved chart success in various areas in the world the two singles only charted in the UK. The first single "Happy House", with a chilling beat and John McGeoch's classic atmospheric guitar riff, made it into the UK top 20 reaching #17.

The second single "Christine" begins with a distinctive riff played on an acoustic guitar. The chorus is topped with synthesizers and psychedelic touches throughout. The close of the song utilizes a strong flanging effect. The song was inspired by the story of Christine Costner-Sizemore, whose battle with dissociative identity disorder was dramatized in the film The Three Faces of Eve. Two of Christine's identities, the Strawberry Girl and the Banana Split Lady, are mentioned in the lyrics of the song. The two most extreme characters of this woman were named "Eve White" and "Eve Black" : that is the title of the B-side recorded for that single. Bassist/composer Steve Severin wrote the lyrics that told of the 22 personalities that had at the time emerged throughout Christine's life. This song reached #22 on the UK singles chart and was played heavily in underground clubs in greater metropolitan sections such as Los Angeles, New York City, Orlando and their neighboring areas.

Billy Squier - Don't Say No (1981)

"Don't Say No" was Billy Squier's 2nd studio album released on April 13, 1981. The album performed extremely well on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. It reached #5 and stayed on the chart for an amazing 111 weeks. By 1992 "Don't Say No" was certified triple platinum for selling over 3 million copies (in the U.S.).

Many music critics considered this to be a solid hard rock album and several FM rock radio stations would play the entire side one on rock block weekends. In the days of vinyl albums side one consisted of "In The Dark", "The Stroke", "My Kinda Lover", "You Know What I Like" and "Too Daze Gone". The songs "Lonely Is The Night" and "Don't Say No" also received rock radio airplay.

The first single released from the album was the classic "The Stroke" was a hit worldwide and reached #17 in the U.S., #7 in Canada and #52 in the UK, #3 in Austria and #32 in new Zealand. It also reached #3 on the U.S. rock tracks chart. Squier admits a Queen influence in this song, and Queen's guitarist Brian May was at one point slated to produce the album. When May backed out because of scheduling conflicts, Reinhold Mack, who produced Queen's album The Game, stepped in. The distinctive drum sound was created by recording the snare drum backwards and playing it just ahead of the real drum. Despite popular belief, according to Squier "The Stroke" is about the music industry.

The album's 2nd single "In The Dark" with it's spiraling guitar chords barely made the U.S. Top 40 peaking at #35 but it received extensive rock radio airplay and reached #7 on the Rock Tracks chart. "In The Dark" was a great opening song to the album and features fat guitar riffs and rockin' drum work. The song is considered a rock music classic.

The 5th single from the album "My Kinda Lover" reached #45 on the U.S. singles chart and was released after it had already been receiving extensive rock radio airplay for the better part of a year.

Rock Albums Post IV: Smart Music Part I

2011-07-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

This is Part One in a continuing series 

Battles - Gloss Drop (2011)

Battles is an experimental rock group from New York City. Their music includes fragments of Math Rock and Prog Rock all bundled in their own uniquely creative sound. "Gloss Drop" was released on June 6, 2011. The album has reached #98 in the U.S. and #48 in the UK. "Gloss Drop" is the 2nd studio album released by Battles.

"Gloss Drop" is primarily an instrumental album with a guest vocalists singing on four of the tracks. The lyrics are minimalist at best and don't really dig in as deep as the music. It's the music here that challenges the mind and stimulates our intellect. "Gloss Drop" is music's equivalent to a 3D movie. The music is flexed out in all areas. It jumps out of your media player right into your very existence. The music takes on it's own life in the way your mind processes this auditory treat. The music is artfully and skillfully performed with a measure of beauty meets urgency and an underlying sense of dry humor.

"Sundome" hints of reggae blended into layers of keyboards, echoing voices and a myriad of sounds. Midway through the tempo changes and the song takes on a prog feeling pop rhythm with the many various sounds intertwining and meeting with captivating effect.

In it's complexity "Inchworm" delivers a punch and rhythm that simply delights the listener into the passion of the music yet keeping it all somewhat distant and dark wrapped in a sunshiny sort of mania.

"Ice Cream" sports a witty yet very understated sense of humor. It's a dry sort of humor which may not be realized by most listeners. I especially love the organ sounding effects added to the mix which is full of a multi-layer of finely tunes bings, bangs, bells, whistles and chimes. The song fills the mind with layers of music while entertaining the body with rhythm and beat. The lead vocal is performed by Chilean singer Matias Aguayo.

My favorite track on the album is "My Machines". There are many reasons I like this song but the most prominent is Gary Numan supplying the lead vocal. He has always been a huge favorite of mine and still is to this day. The song starts with a propulsive unrelenting waterfall of percussion and a funk-filled bass line which really drives the song. Numan's lyrics speak of the inner mind of dreams and taking a look inside of them. Like the other songs on the album, the lyrics are vague and minimal, but in this case do have a deeper meaning. Numan brings a force to the album which adds to an already near perfect album of songs which each have the strength to stand on their own.

In the end the album brings a sense of jubilation only captured if you're paying attention to the layers of emotion spread throughout the music.

Bright Eyes - The People's Key (2011)

"The People's Key", the 7th studio album by Bright eyes was released on February 15, 2011 (band founder, Connor Oberst's 31st birthday). The album sold well in the U.S. reaching #13 and also #38 in Canada, #46 in the UK and #55 in Australia.

In this album Oberst ponders the existence of faith and science as an intermingling unit or force. The brings forth his thoughts and ideas forth in a relaxed soundscape of sincere beats and electrified keyboards, guitars and bass.

"A Machine Spiritual (In The People's Key)" brings forth an alien sort of earth in which all it's inhabitants walk through life on autopilot. Their life is relegated to It's a sort of we all get a little to comfortable in our lives and take advantage of it. Connor Oberst explained in an interview with NME; "It's the idea of when in the not so distant future, artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence and humanity as a notion is just kind of quaint".

Opening with a crunchy guitar line "Haile Selassie" speaks to the heart of freedom from evil and liberation from darkness. Haile Selassie was the Ethiopian Emporer from 1930 - 1974. He was considered a messiah in the Rastafarian movement of the New Golden Age. it was believed that Selassie would lead followers into the realm of the new day of light. Although Oberst does not follow the tenets of Rastafarianism, he does believe that their are forces of good and evil in this world. Oberst encourages the growth of love, peace and human equality.

"Shell Games" finds Oberst confronting his evil way. he talks about change and putting away the selfish and flashy ways. Oberst is ready to come down to earth and face reality - real life. He reaches out for a loving hand to share. He's opening his doors to the inclusion of others in life. There's an emptiness in life which we will never overcome alone.

"The People's Key" is a bright fresh breath of hope and introspection wrapped in smart electric infused acoustic sounds. Bright eyes offers today a new breed of folk fused pop music. It's thoughtful with a good catchy beat.

Brian Eno - Here Come The Warm Jets (1974)

After recording two albums with Roxy Music Eno released his debut solo album, "Here Come The Warm Jets",in January 1974. At this point in time Eno already had the reputation of taking synthesized electronic sounds to a new level. With this album he cemented his reputation and diverged into many different aspects of the music world.

"Here Come The Warm Jets" showcases the deeper thoughts and complex humor that lives inside the intellect of Brian Eno. He wrapped his intellect inside some of the decades most enticing rock music sounds. Probably the most captivating aspect in Eno's music is his element of chance. While his music is intricately produced and arranged he will throw a curve ball and leave an instrumental interlude to chance in it's progression. Eno let's his music take on it own life throughout the process. His music not only contains his own personal touch but also an element in which the music becomes that of the listener. The listener not only identifies with Eno's music but becomes part of the music itself. Eno has infused so many layers and complexities in his music that it becomes an extension or another dimension of the creators and the listeners of the music.

The album was only a minor success on the charts reaching #26 in the UK and #151 in the U.S. The album's biggest success came from the buzz created by numerous positive reviews from music critics throughout the world.

Several guest musicians performed on the albim including John Wetton and Robert Fripp (both from King Crimson), Simon King (Hawkwind), Bill MacCormick (Matching Mole), Paul Rudolph (Pink Fairies), Chris Spedding and Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson (all three from Roxy Music).

The title track "Here Come The Warm Jets" ponders the emptiness of life. The longing to be somewhere or something. The heavy layered music support the lyrical theme by foreshadowing with dark cloudy sounds of emotion through the condensed and precisely mixed instrumentation.

"Baby's On Fire" has become one of the album's main highlights. The song opens with a foreboding bass line that would fit perfectly in a James Bond chase scene. The coolly works into a dazzling frizzle of musical electronics. Eno's vocal performance accents the music in an understated yet macabre way. It's Rocky Horror meets prog rock (this was a year before Rocky Horror made it's debut). Critics have noted Robert Fripp's guitar solo as an outstanding feature of the song.

In 1973 Eno split from Roxy Music due to Bryan Ferry's dominance and authority with the band. He wrote the song "Dead Finks Don't Talk" as a slight (yet pungent) jab at Ferry, using terms such as "naughty sneaky" and "oh perfect master" in the song's lyrics. The song displays the intensity of Eno's humor combined with his anger for Ferry. Though the songs lyric is grim the music itself has a happy sort of feel to it giving it the irony which Eno felt during his time with Roxy Music.

"Blank Frank" is my favorite tune from this album. I like it for it's aggressiveness. Eno growls his words out with an attitude of doom and despair. The song speaks of an always present danger. A darkness which forever lurks. The first musical solo (about 1 minute into the song) features a Robert Fripp guitar solo sounding quite a bit like a machine gun. This effect conjures thoughts and visions of social unrest and world dominating wars. This could be reflective of a person (an emotion or feeling) that has experienced some sort of life changing trauma.

Eno did not write light cheerful pop tunes for that perfect sunny summer day (oh, how I love those perfect pop tunes of the 70's). Instead Eno wrote songs which challenged the mind. Songs which caused a bit of discomfort. He touched on feelings and thoughts that others generally stayed away from. After the mental challenges, the social awkwardness and eye opening, Eno gives his unfailing gratitude and artistry over to the music and to those who take the time to dig a bit deeper into his creations.

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)

Joy Division was an English post-punk band which formed in 1976. They released their debut album "Unknown Pleasures" in June 1979. The buzz was huge for Joy Division. Although the album did not sell very well it did manage to reach #1 in New Zealand and critics rated this one of the 100 best albums of 1979. The future held quite a bit for Joy Division. But, fate prevailed and the life of Joy Division was cut short on May 18, 1980 when lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide. Only 2 months before the release of their second studio album "Closer".

"Unknown Pleasures" has gone on to become a post-punk classic. The mood is bleak, clouded and somber. The songs speak of doom, disaster and despair without any real chance of hope or redemption.

In an article on allmusic Ned Ragget states as much as this producer Martin Harnett's album it's the songs and performances that are the true key. Bernard Sumner redefined heavy metal sludge as chilling feedback fear and explosive energy, Peter Hook's instantly recognizable bass work at once warm and forbidding, Stephen Morris' drumming smacking through the speakers above all else. Ian Curtis synthesizes and purifies every last impulse, his voice shot through with the desire first and foremost to connect.

"New Dawn Fades" pictures a man who's hopes are shot down by his desire of wanting more and feelings of never being satisfied. Moby recorded an excellent cover of the song in 1995 for the movie soundtrack "Heat".

In 2007 the Killers recorded a version of the song "Shadowplay", which was used in the movie "Control" and is played during the credits of the film. The Killers also released the song as a single to promote their 2007 compilation titled "Sawdust".

"She's Lost Control" is one of Joy division signature tunes and was the inspiration for the title of the 2007 biopic referencing lead singer Ian Curtis' life and death. This song is about the vulnerabilities of living in confusion with no escape. Not knowing whether you're alive or dead. The song is driven by bassist Peter Hook's prominent yet minimalist bass line structured with Stephen Morris' mechanical perfectly syncopated percussion. "She's Lost Control" is like walking into an expansive winding tree lined forest during the darkest night of the year. If you get lost there's no way back home.

In a dark tone singer Ian Curtis sings his feelings of lost control. In the song "Disorder", he has a hold of one part of his life but has lost control of another part.

The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute (2005)

"Frances The Mute" is the Mars Volta's 2nd studio album and was released on March 1, 2005. The mars Volta's first album "Deloused in the Comatorium opened the door for the band with "Frances the Mute" they experienced global success. The album is their first and only to achieve GOLD status in the U.S. and reached #4 on the U.S. Billboard chart (this is their 2nd highest charting album). In the UK the album made it to #23 and is their highest charting UK album. In New Zealand the album reached #21. It also reached the Top 20 in several European countries including #1 in Norway.

Many fans consider the Omar Rodriquez-Lopez produced album to be The Mars Volta's best work. The album is full of out of this world guitar work and a mesh of music that inspire and moves the listener. The Mars Volta is not your average rock band - they are one of the "best of the best" and belong in the ranks of artists as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, Jimi Hendrix and all the other great and influential rock bands.

The album contains 3 pieces which I call suites. The first is the four part "Cygnus.. Vismund Cygnus". Cygnus, the blind and deaf mute, follows a world in which reality is the illusion. The world is looked at through the lens of birth and death. It's lyrics are poetic in a dark and detached manner. The second suite is "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore", which is also written in four parts. With"Miranda" The Mars Volta creates it's own world in which human and inhuman meet. Again the topics of life and death arise. The Mars Volta questions our mortality. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) steps in to play the trumpet on the "Miranda" suite. The crowing jewel in this album is the five part "Cassandra Gemini". The band performs beyond all expectations on this suite. The subject in this song experiences the feeling of losing his (or her) identity or way in this world. The person experiences a sense of feeling lost and out of touch. This suite has a fascination with breaking the skin, whether it's piercing, stabbing or biting the skin, they speak of blood and death (or maybe the living dead or life after death). The topic can be debatable, but that is how The Mars Volta styles their songs - they leave an element up to the listener to decide how they interpret the meaning of the songs.

"The Widow"is the album's highlight track. The song was released as a single The song was dedicated to Jeremy Michael Ward (a founding member of The Mars Volta) who died of a heroin overdose in May 2003. Released as a single, "The Widow", reached #95 on the U.S. billboard singles chart as well as #20 in the UK. This is the only Mars Volta song to make it on any charts in the U.S.

Much of the inspiration for "Frances The Mute" came from a journal which Jeremy Michael Ward found while he was working in the repossession business in Los Angeles.

Rush - Grace Under Pressure (1984)

This album is about pressure and how people react under different kinds of pressure.

"Grace Under Pressure" is Rush's 10th studio album (released April 12, 1984) and their 4th after their shift from hard rock to progressive rock. With this album Rush took the opportunity to further experiment in melding different genres to form a fresh forward leaning sound. They took elements of ska, pop and synth rock and fused them with in their prog rock framework.

"The Enemy With In" is about how fear works inside our minds and bodies. It's Neal Peart's look inside his own soul. The ska influenced guitar chords drive the song into a frenzy of intensity. This song is part one of the Fear Trilogy (which as of 2002 is a quadrilogy). Part 3 of the Fear Series, "Witch Hunt" was the first to be released in 1981 on the album "Moving Pictures". Part 2 was "The Weapon" from 1982's "signals" album. "The Enemy with In" is part yet released third. In 2002 Rush added to the trilogy with "Freeze" included on their album "Vapor Trails".

"The Body Electric" describes a robot who struggles to break free from the growing dominance of the robots' social structure. The theme of this song seems to have some influence from the George Lucas film THX1138.

Lyricist Neal Peart states that the lyrics in "Red Sector A" intentionally evokes imagery of the concentration camps during the Holocaust. The lyric, "I clutch the wire fence until my fingers bleed", intensifies the pain felt by the prisoners of war. Peart fashioned the lyrics so as to relate to any similar prison camp scenario.

"Afterimage" was written in tribute to Robbie Whelan, a friend of the band (most prominently Neal Peart) who worked as an assistant engineer on some of Rush's earlier albums, most notably "Moving Pictures". Robbie died in an accident on his way to Le Studio (in Quebec) where he worked.

Talking Heads - Remain In Light (1980)

Released on October 8, 1980 "Remain In Light" (Talking Heads' 4th studio album) is the third in a trilogy of Talking Heads albums produced by the legendary Brian Eno.

The album was released to instant critical acclaim garnering praise from almost every rock critic on the music scene. The album ended up in many critics "best of"list. Michael Kulp (The Daily Collegian) stated the album deserves the tag "Classic" attached to it like each of the band's three previous full length albums. Ken Tucker of Rolling Stone Magazine commented the album was full of songs to which you can dance and think, think and dance, dance and think in to an infinity.

During the months of recording this album the process lagged as David Byrne was struggling with writer's block and Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth were busy with the Tom Tom Club. It looked like momentum on the album stopped and it was wondered if it would be completed. At the request of Byrne, Harrison and Eno guitar virtuoso and musician extraordinaire Adrian Belew joined the band. Belew was brought in to add guitar solos by using his unique Roland guitar synthesizer. Even at this early stage Belew's resume was quite impressive having worked with Frank Zappa and David Bowie in the previous few years. The band's enthusiasm rebounded after Belew joined in and recording of the album accelerated.

Belew's inclusion spiked the band's sound and added to the overall effect. Belew shined throughout the entire projected but most prominently on the song "The Great Curve". The song's lyric is greatly influenced by the African culture as Byrne has cited Robert Farris Thompson's book "African Art In Motion" and John Dean's testimony to African American former slaves during the Watergate trials in the 1970's. Byrnes interest in African art rings through in the chant-like vocals and enmeshed polyrhythms. Belew gives us one of his finest guitar solos taking the song to a dramatic and grand end with his synthesized and electrifying treatment. As an extra added bonus Robert Palmer was brought in to play bongos.

David Byrne has stated that the song "Once In A Lifetime" is meant to be taken literally. He's said, "We're largely unconscious. You know, we operate half awake or on autopilot and end up, whatever with a house and family and job and everything else, and we haven't really stopped to ask ourselves, 'How did I get here?'." The song only reached #103 on the U.S. singles chart, but made it to #14 in the UK and #16 in Ireland.

Funky bass with soulful African rhythms and beats drive "Houses In Motion" as well as Adrian Belew's ever present synthesized guitar work. The musical interludes include a tasty blending of Jon Hassell's electronically manipulated trumpet performance and Belew's altered guitar sounds topped with a fantastic percussion section. "Houses In Motion" was the album's 2nd single and received a fair amount of rotation in the underground club scene.

As started with the song "I Zimbra" from 1979's "Fear Of Music, the Talking Heads scored their 2nd (and biggest of 3) U.S. Dance Club hit with "Crosseyed and Painless" which reached #20 on the Billboard Dance Music chart. Their 3rd dance club hit was 1985's "And She Was". Byrne's influence for this funk-filled song comes from old school rappers especially Kurtis Blow's "The Breaks".

U2 - War (1983)

With "War" U2 was still at the beginnings of what turned out to be a magnificent career which has endured through 4 decades now. "War" drew upon the direction which was finely honed on their 2nd album "October". Their musical ability and vision evolved far beyond anybodies expectations. U2 proved musically that they were ready to stand with the greats of all-time. This time around with their Released on February 28, 1983, "War" is U2's 3rd studio album.

"War" has the interesting distinction of having knocked Michael Jackson's "Thriller" out of the #1 spot on the UK album chart, only to give the spot back to Jackson the following week. It was their first UK #1 as well as being their first Top 15 album in the U.S. reaching #12. The album was certified quadruple platinum for sales of more than 4 million in the U.S.

The album opens on a very strong note with "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and continues from there victoriously and thrillingly right to the end of the album. The opening militaristic machine-gun drumwork helped set the pace and theme of the song. Denise Sullivan commented for AllMusic that Larry Mullen's opening drumwork "helps set the tone for the unforgiving, take no prisoners feel of the song as well as for the rest of the album". In the U.S. the song received a large amount of radio airplay on album oriented FM radio. It made it's biggest impact in the Netherlands where it reached #3 on the singles chart.

"New Year's Day" is the song that started the fast paced explosion into rock and roll super-stardom. This was their first song to make it into the Top 20 in more countries than their 2 previous albums and was the start of an international boom of popularity. The song became an anthem of freedom and love to fans around the world. The song is a blending of a love song and a commentary on the Polish Solidarity movement.

As with all the songs on "War", "Two Hearts Beat As One" is driven by Adam Clayton's propulsive and affective bassline. The song moves with an intensity of anguish, confusion and love. Bono wrote the lyric while on his honeymoon in the Caribbean.

Rock Albums Post Three / 1979

2011-06-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

This post features albums released in 1979...

1979 was a great year in music with albums by groups such as Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, The Cars, Donna Summer, Supertramp, Styx, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and many other favorites. Rock music was once again in a transition period. Classic Rock (which was still very much alive) was sharing the spotlight with New Wave, an increasingly popular new sub-genre and hybrid of rock, punk and dance music. Groups such as Blondie, Talking Heads, The Cure, The Cars, Gary Numan and others were beginning to make a huge impression on the face of popular music.

Each album is given a rating ranging from 1 star to 10 stars
(10 stars is the best)

Please add your comments and ratings on each album

The Cars - Candy-O
Released in June 1979 exactly one year after the release of their hugely successful debut album the Cars continued in a trend of success. Their second album hinted more at an electronic KROQ new wave style while their first album featured a classic rock sound.

Candy-O, like their debut, featured female on the album cover. This cover was painted by Alberto Vargas, an artist known for his paintings of pin-up girls which showed up in Esquire and Playboy magazines from the 40's to the 60's. The model who posed for the painted coincidentally was named Candy.

With Candy-O the Cars proved they were not a one hit wonder. The album reached #3 on the US chart as well as #6 in New Zealand and #7 in Australia it also hit #30 in the UK.

The first single from the album was the classic "Let's Go", which was written by Ric Ocasek and featured lead vocals by the band's bassist Benjamin Orr. The song was a huge hit in many countries around the world reaching #14 in the U.S., #5 in Canada and #6 in Australia. The song featured a signature clapping sound which was derived from a 1962 instrumental called "Let's Go" recorded by the Routers. The second single "It's All I Can Do" wasn't quite as successful on the charts but was certainly a big favorite by fans of the Cars and AOR music listeners. This song is described as a romantic new rock ballad. The third single "Double Life" failed to chart but received heavy airplay on classic rock radio stations across the U.S.. This song featured the lead vocal of Ric Ocasek with backing vocals by the entire band. "Double Life" embraces a fresh modern rock sound as it's lyric speaks of the alienation of infidelity in a relationship. "Lift me from the wondermaze, alienation is the craze".

Besides the three singles the albums also features several outstanding album cuts including "Since I Held You", "Candy-O", "Nightspots", "Lust For Kicks", "Got A Lot On My Head" and "Dangerous Type" - all of which received a good amount of airplay on classic rock and new wave radio stations.
Rock Music Rating: 9 stars

Eagles - The Long Run
After releasing five consecutive album one right after the other it took the Eagles 3 long years to record and release "The Long Run". Released on September 24, 1979 the album reached #1 in the U.S. and stayed their for 8 weeks. It dethroned Led Zeppelin's "In Through The Out Door" (of which you can read later in this post). The album also reached #1 in Australia, Canada and Sweden. It was Top 5 in Norway, New Zealand and the UK.

The track "The Geeks Don't Want No Freaks" included Jimmy Buffett on backing vocals. The moody "Sad Cafe" featured jazz musician David Sanborn playing saxophone.

The album included three U.S. top ten hits with "The Long Run", the ballad "I Can't Tell You Why" and the classic "Heartache Tonight". The latter of which went #1. "In The City", "Sad Cafe" and "Those Shoes" also received radio airplay on classic rock stations.

"Heartache Tonight" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. This was their fourth out of six Grammy Awards.
Rock Music Rating: 8 1/2 stars

Electric Light Orchestra - Discovery
"Discovery" was a big hit worldwide charting in Japan, New Zealand, Italy, Austria and Canada as well as reaching #1 in the UK, Austrailia and Norway. In the U.S. the album made it up to #5.

Released in May 1979 their were five singles released from the album. The first was "Shine A Little Love", contained a bit of a disco beat and gave ELO a huge boost in universal sales. The song reached the Top Ten in 8 different countries around the world including #1 in Poland and Canada. In the UK the song reached #6 and in the U.S. #8.

The second single was the big sounding "Don't Bring Me Down", which ended up being ELO's biggest worldwide hit (barring movie songs and/or duets). It charted in the Top Ten in 12 countries around the world, which is more than any of their other songs. The song placed the best in Australia and Canada where it reached #2 and in the UK it was #3. In the U.S. the song made it to #4 becoming their biggest U.S. hit.

The third single didn't fare to well. "The Diary of Horace Wimp" was a curious song obviously influenced by the Beatles with the added electronic technology of the late 70's. The song was patterned after one of their hits from 1978 "Mr. Blue Sky". Despite it's catchy feel good sound the song failed to catch on in most parts of the world, although it did hit #8 in Ireland and #10 in England.

The fourth single "Confusion" brought ELO back into the Top 20 throughout many countries around the wrold. By the time the fifth single, "Last Train To London" was released the album had run it's course and the song did not chart in many countries although fared well in France reaching #3 there. It also reached the Top Ten in the UK and Ireland. In the U.S. the song just squeezed into the Top 40 at #39.

The song "On The Run" received a fair amount of classic rock radio airplay and could have been a single had there not already been five releases.

As with other ELO releases the album featured an entire orchestra including instruments such as cello and violin. The orchestral and choral arrangements were composed by Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy and Louis Clark . Clark also conducted the orchestra. Louis Clark is best remembered for his "Hooked On Classics" albums released in the early 80's.
Rock Music Rating: 7 1/2 stars

Journey - Evolution
In 1979 Journey was just on the brink of taking an already hugely successful career into worldwide super-stardom with in the next 2 and 3 years.

"Evolution" brought Journey their first legitimate U.S. hit single with "Lovin' Touchin', Squeezin'". The album was their first to chart in the UK reaching #100.

"Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" was written by Steve Perry and was influenced by Sam Cooke's 1962 classic "Nothing Can Change This Love". "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" hit #16 in the U.S. as well as #6 in Canada and #37 in New Zealand.

"Just The Same Way" was the album's first single release but did not chart so well. It reached #58, but still showed an upward progression in the records sales and chart positions. "Just The Same Way" was co-written by Journey band members Gregg Rolie, Neil Schon and Ross Valery. The leads vocals were shared by Gregg Rolie and Steve Perry.

"Too Late" was a third single that showed poorly on the charts but received a good amount of classic rock radio airplay.

"City of the Angels" was a highlight from the album which some claim may be the album's strongest track. The song received radio airplay on FM classic rock station throughout the U.S. and Canada.

With Steve Perry now firmly fronting the band, "Evolution", their fifth studio album, found Journey sounding stronger and more focused then ever. They incorporated many elements of romance and radio friendly hooks in the album's songs. This was the prototype for future albums such as "Departure", "Escape" and "Frontiers".
Rock Music Rating: 8 stars

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn The Torpedos
"Damn The Torpedoes" was one of those albums that became part of the culture of many rock music listeners. Each song contained the electric power of the current music of the day, yet with a sense of going back to roots in rock with hints of country and blues. The album felt comfortable from first listen and became a staple at most house parties throughout 1979 and 1980.

Their 3rd studio album, "Damn The Torpedoes", was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers U.S. breakthrough having reached #2 (for seven weeks) and selling over 2 million copies. Pink Floyd's "The Wall" kept Petty from reaching #1. The album was released on October 19, 1979.

The first single "Don't Do Me Like That" received heavy rotation on FM classic rock radio including KROQ, KLOS and KMET as well as some Top 40 radio. The song reached U.S. #10 and generated enthusiastic interest and strong sales for the album. Tom Petty was firmly poised for worldwide super-stardom.

Two other singles "Refugee" and "Here Comes My Girl" both received heavy airplay and reached #15 and #59 respectively. "Refugee" became an anthem of sorts with it chant like chorus..."Everybody's had to fight to be free. You see, you don't have to live like a refugee". The song gave a feeling of freedom and release for those locked up in the torments of love.

"Even The Losers", "Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid)", "Century City" and "Louisiana Rain" all received critical acclaim as well as heavy airplay on album oriented rock stations.

Rock Music Rating: 9 stars

Pink Floyd - The Wall
1973's "Dark Side of the Moon" was a turning point for Pink Floyd, both in sales and musical growth. "The Wall" released on November 30, 1979 became a classic upon it's release. This was their crowning moment. It just didn't get any better than this. It went on to become one of the Top 30 biggest selling albums worldwide having sold over 30 million copies to date.

The album delivered a theme of isolation and loneliness in it's songs. Pink Floyd asked Is there anybody out there? Was this a cry for help. In the song "Another Brick In The Wall", the author (Roger Waters) is tormented by his schooling in 1950's Britain. The school was extremely controlling and as Waters said, rebellion was needed. To escape the loneliness Waters built a wall around himself.

"Another Brick In The Wall (Part Two)" was released and the song immediately rose to #1 in more than ten different countries around the world as well as Top 3 in several others. The song brought out a sense of unity as the chorus shouts "we don't need no education". It was a means of speaking out against discipline as a means of control. The North London Islington Green School students provided the school choir type vocals. The choir included 23 kids aged 13 to 15. They were overdubbed 12 times to give them a larger and haunting choral sound.

Two other singles were subsequently released "Run Like Hell" and "Comfortably Numb". Both received heavy airplay while "Comfortably Numb went on to become an all-time classic and has been covered by many acts including radically re-arranged Bee Gees disco styled version which reached #10 in the UK in 2004 by Scissor Sisters.

Roger Waters vision was that of a momentous musical experience. The result was well beyond the band's wildest expectations. The album was one in which multitudes of people felt a type of identification in the philosophical statements in the album. It was a connection with the dark side of loneliness and isolation.

Many musicians from various musical genres participated in the making of the album. Bruce Johnston (Beach Boys and Rip chords), Toni Tennille (Captain and Tennille) both contributed background vocals in a few songs. Lee Ritenour (guitar) and Jeff Porcaro (Toto, drums ) were only a few of many uncredited musicians who participated in the recording of "The Wall".

The double album, Pink Floyd's 11th studio album includes many classic tracks such as "Mother", "Goodbye Blue Sky", "Young Lust", "Hey You", "Is There Anybody Out There" and "In The Flesh".

The album is created to be listened to as an album instead of a set of individual songs - although each song holds up well on it's own strength and as a thematic whole.

In 1982 the spectacular British film, "The Wall", which incorporated live action and animation was released and based on the classic 1979 album "The Wall". All the songs from "The Wall" were featured in the movie with the exception of "Hey You" and "The Show Must Go On".
Rock Music Rating: 10 stars

The Police - Regatta de Blanc
Preceded by the single release "Message In A Bottle" the release of "Regatta de Blanc" was emphatically anticipated. "Message In A Bottle" was the perfect teaser for the upcoming album. The song had all the trademarks of classic written all over it. A chant like chorus. A message of a cry out for help, a plea to be noticed. Right from the opening guitar chords the song hits on strong and keeps a driving momentum with Stewart Copeland's always fantastic drum work. The song was a huge European hit reaching #1 in England, Ireland and 32 in the Netherlands. In the U.S. it didn't fare as well, it only reached #74, but received very strong radio airplay and became a classic Police track.

One month later, in October 1979, "Regatta de Blanc" was released to a welcome reception. The album flew to #1 in the UK, Australia, France and the Netherlands. As well as reaching #3 in Canada and #4 in New Zealand. The U.S. seemed to be the hard sell, the album fared decently reaching U.S. #25 and eventually sold over a million copies. The album recharted on the U.S. billboard chart at #153 in 1983, after the release of "Synchronicity". This was the Police's 2nd studio album.

The reggae influenced "Walking On The Moon" was the second single and it sold just a s well as "Message In A Bottle" with the exception of not charting in the U.S. The video for the song was filmed at the Kennedy Space Center and features footage from NASA.

The instrumental "Regatta de Blanc" brought the Police their first Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. This was their first of 6 total Grammy Awards wins.

The song "Bring On The Night" was written about the execution of Gary Gilmore who was found guilty of robbing and murdering two men in Utah. He was executed by a firing squad on January 17, 1977.

Five of the eleven songs were written by Sting. Stewart Copeland wrote 3. Copeland and Sting co-wrote one song together, while the last two were written by the entire trio of Sting, Copeland and Summers.
Rock Music Rating: 8 1/2 stars

Supertramp - Breakfast In America
"take a look at my girlfriend. she's the only one I got," echoed the halls of many high school campuses and college age dorm parties. Supertramp's 6th studio album, "Breakfast In America", was their peak both commercially and artistically. The album reached #1 in seven countries arround the world including Canada, Australia and the U.S., where it stayed at #1 for six weeks.

Several of the songs on the album are played on a wurlitzer electric piano, creating a distinctive sound. The album's first single "The Logical Song" was driven by this sound. Right from the very opening of the song the Wurlitzer is prominently featured and is a dramatic constant throughout until the end. "The Logical Song" was released a month and a half after the album's March 29th release. The song was an instant hit commanding heavy airplay in both the U.S. and UK, where it reached #6 and #7 respectively.

The second single, "Breakfast In America", didn't do as well in the U.S. reaching only #64, but became a staple on classic rock radio. In the UK it reached #9.

"Goodbye Stranger", the album's third single, took Supertramp back into the U.S. top 15 reaching #15, but only made it to #57 in the UK. It was somewhat a reversal of the chart history of their previous single. This song, like the others, is supported by the Wurlitzer and propels forward with electric guitar and rhythmic bass lines in the chorus.

The band decided to release a fourth single, which was somewhat uncommon during this time. Three singles from one album was the industry norm. Though as we moved into the 80's four to five singles from an album became commonplace. The fourth single was the classic "Take The Long Way Home, which was already well known both from it's inclusion on the phenomenally successful "Breakfast In America" and from the heavy airplay it had already received at this point in time. Despite the fact the song brought Supertramp back into the U.S. Top Ten reaching #10, though it did not chart in the UK. It did however reach #9 in Germany.

"Breakfast In America" won two Grammy Awards. One for Best Recording Package and the other for Best Engineered Album, Non Classical. The album was nominated for Album of the Year but lost out to Billy Joel's "52nd Street".
Rock Music Rating: 8

Talking Heads - Fear Of Music
This was the second of three Talking Heads albums produced by the maestro Brian Eno. Eno brought Robert Fripp (of King Crimson fame) to play guitar on "I Zimbra". During this time Eno was also working with David Bowie and Devo. Eno was becoming a heavily sought after producer and musician.

"Fear Of Music" contained funk based rhythms which looped back and forth with electronic sounds constructed by Eno. Tina Weymouth (the band's bass guitarist) has commented that David Byrne has an insane but fantastic sense of rhythm.

The album was a minor but worldwide hit having charted in the Top 30 in the U.S., Canada, UK and New Zealand, where it reached #11. Three singles were released as follows; "Life During Wartime", "I Zimbra" and "Cities". None of them charted well anywhere, but all of them became alt-rock classics and also garnered airplay in dance clubs. Talking Heads entered a new phase in their career - dance music.

"I Zimbra" was the first of three Talking Heads to place on the U.S. Dance chart reaching #28. "I Zimbra" capitalized on a prominent disco beat and funk filled bass lines which pushed the song forward to become an underground dancefloor classic.

"Life During Wartime" is the prominent track on "Fear Of Music". The song is a grim look of a recruit on the front-line. Byrne's lyric speaks of gunfire, grave sites, roadblocks and disease. Byrne shouts out, "this ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around," (which became an anthem in the clubs and at house parties). In one round of the chorus Byrnes names Mudd Club and CBGB, both popular underground clubs in New York.

Critics have hailed "Fear Of Music" as one of rock music's finest moments. In a Rolling Stone Magazine review, John Pareles commented, "Fear of Music is often deliberately, brilliantly disorienting. " He continued to say, "The album is foreboding, inescapably urban and obsessed with texture." Other critics described it as an unconventional rock release and praised the album's gritty weirdness.

In the Rough Guide to Rock published in 1979, Andy Smith commented that the album was a strong contender for Best Album 70's because it's "bristling with hooks, riffs and killer lines."
Rock Music Rating: 9 1/2