ALBUMS

• THE BEATLES: BEATLES FOR SALE: 1964: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: An overlooked Beatles album- 1964 was a frantic year and this was released right before Christmas. They were running low on original material- 6 covers out of the 14 songs. Some original gems though- I’m A Loser, Baby’s In Black, Eight Days A Week and No Reply. Best cover- Rock and Roll Music.

• BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: BORN TO RUN: 1975: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Springsteen’s 3rd album and his breakout album. Born To Run one of the great singles of all times- but Thunder Road isn’t far behind. On my Mount Rushmore of Springsteen albums but not my #1 favorite. The best songs on the album- to me are the openers on each side- Thunder Road and Born To Run and the closers on each side- Backstreets and Jungleland. If the album has a turkey it’s Night.

• LOWELL GEORGE: THANKS I’LL EAT IT HERE: 1979: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The Little Feat frontman’s only solo album. He died at the age of 34 not long after it’s release. George died on a heart attack brought on by a cocaine overdose but according to Fred Tackett from his band it was his eating an entire pizza while on the New Jersey Turnpike.  Favorite songs – Two Trains, I Can’t Stand The Rain,  What Do You Want The Girl To Do and Easy Money. A nice mixture of different styles on the album. You don’t hear the name Lowell George much anymore and that is a shame.

• LEONARD COHEN: DEATH OF A LADIES MAN: 1977: 3 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Probably my least favorite Leonard Cohen album- mainly because if I were going to list my Top 20 Leonard songs I don’t know if anything from this makes my list. Produced by Phil Spector who also co-wrote the songs. Maybe that is part of the problem right there.