ALBUMS

• THE KINKS: THINK VISUAL: 1986: 1 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: After a string of good albums in a ten year period- this album which is very forgettable. Their first album with MCA records- at this point it sounds like Ray Davies had nothing to say and was saying it. The best song on the album is by brother Dave- Rock N Roll Cities.

• HARRY NILSSON: PUSSY CATS: 1984: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Produced by John Lennon- this album was done during John’s infamous Lost Weekend – in LA that lasted 18 months in 1973-74. Maybe John and Harry shouldn’t have been hanging out so often together. Keith Moon was hanging out with them too- you can already guess how things were going. Anyway- in making this album- Harry blew out his voice and never really recovered. The album is a mixture of covers and Nilsson originals. I’ve always liked this album maybe for its strangeness as much as anything else.

• ELVIS COSTELLO: MIGHTY LIKE A ROSE: 1991: 3  STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Elvis is on my Mount Rushmore of music artists- so I have grabbed each new release as it came out. This one -his first since Spike in 1989- has never been one I’ve really gotten into for some reason. Some good songs- The Other Side Of Summer,  How To Be Dumb,  So Like Candy are favorites. The production is terrible and makes it a difficult listen. There seems to be too much going on.

• ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE BRODSKY QUARTET: THE JULIET LETTERS: 1993: By this point- Elvis getting together and recording an album with the Brodsky  Quartet- didn’t surprise me- not like his doing a country album a dozen years earlier did. The album was recorded live in the studio with no overdubs. The songs are imaginary letters to Juliet Capulet. A lot of strings involved. Although not a favorite by any means- I like it. A single was even released “Jackson, Monk and Rowe” but it didn’t chart. An interesting detour.

• JEFFERSON AIRPLANE: VOLUNTEERS: 1969: 3 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: This album- considered a ‘classic- the songs sound very dated to me in subject matter. Talk of revolution in the air. I honestly never cared much for Jefferson Airplane- except for White Rabbit and Somebody To Love- great singles- neither on this album. The album is pretty good though- and has a number of distinguished guests- Jerry Garcia, David Crosby,  Stephen Stills and the great session player Nicky Hopkins. The album does smell like hippie though.

• FAIRPORT CONVENTION: UNHALFBRICKING: 1969: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Fairport Convention released three albums in 1969- one in January, this one in July and one in December. This is my favorite of the three- it is a transitional album that is moving the band more towards the English folk songs that they are best remembered for. The first song Sandy Denny ever wrote- was a classic “Who Knows Where The Time Goes? Percy’s Song, A Sailor’s Life, Genesis Hall and Si Tu Dois Partir- which was a hit in the UK- favorites.

• PRINCE: AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY: 1985: 3 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Coming after two of the best albums of the 1980’s- 1999 and Purple Rain- this album came as a disappointment. Raspberry Beret though is one of my favorite Prince songs though. The albums isn’t as much bad- it isnt- just a let down. My expectations at the time were high. Decent but not great.