MY MUSIC LISTENING JOURNAL: DAY 354: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2019

· by · in Album Covers, Albums, Country Music, Entertainment, Music, Pop Music, Radio, Rock Music. ·

ALBUMS

 

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  • THE CLASH: LONDON CALLING: 1979: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The Clash’s third album and their greatest. A double album. Released at the end December 1979- just over 39 years ago- and I don’t think there has been a better album released since this one. Great album cover also. On the 1001 Albums To Hear list. In my all-time Top 10. Greatest double album ever?

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  • CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY: CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY: 1969: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS:  The debut album by the group we know as Chicago. They won the Grammy that year for Best New Artist. The rock band with horns. This album stayed on the Billboard album chart for 171 weeks which was a record at the time for a rock album- the album peaked at #17. Interesting that it didn’t chart higher. Does Anybody Know What Time It Is? and Beginnings both peaked at #7 and Questions #67 and #68 at #24. I liked some of Chicago’s singles over the years but never a big fan of the group. They were a lot better than Blood, Sweat and Tears. The only Chicago album to make the 1001 Albums To Hear list.

Blue Heaven

  • TRENT WAGLER AND THE STEEL WHEELS: BLUE HEAVEN: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Trent Wagler’s early solo albums were good but I like The Steel Wheels albums better- and the mid tempo songs better than the ballads since they employ the full talents of the band. Great live band if they ever come to town I’d recommend you see them. Favorite songs- Miller’s Hill, Shady Grove, Alaska, Until The Summer Comes.

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  • NICK DRAKE: PINK MOON: 1972: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Drake released only three albums in his short life- all were virtually ignored by the record buying public. The other day Badfinger replied that he can’t listen to Nick Drake just anytime – and you do have to be in a mood for his melancholy offerings. It was a damp, dark and rainy day- a perfect kind of day for some Nick Drake. On the 1001 Albums to Hear list.

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  • NICK DRAKE: TIME OF NO REPLY: 1987: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: This was released a decade and a half after Drake’s passing. A collection of outtakes and alternative versions of his songs. His catalog is so small it’s nice to have this extra album- although its not essential- as the three studio albums are.

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  • ARLO GUTHRIE: AMIGO: 1976: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: A hidden gem of an album- it only got to #133 on the album charts but deserves to be heard. I have heard a number of Arlo albums and this is the best. The song Massachusetts- a real beauty of a song was named the state song of the commonwealth. In My Darkest Hour, Victor Jara, Patriots Dream,  Guabi Guabi and the cover of The Rolling Stones “Connection” are other standouts.

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  • MERLE HAGGARD: PRIDE IN WHAT I AM: 1969: 4  1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The first of three Merle Haggard albums released in 1969.  I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am, The Day The Rains Came, I Can’t Hold Myself In Line, and a cover of Jimmie Rodgers “California Blues” among the highlights. The late 60’s and early 70’s Merle ruled!

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  • CAPTAIN BEEFHEART: TROUT MASK REPLICA: 1969: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: A great double album- 28 songs at nearly an hour and 20 minutes. If you haven’t introduced yourself to Captain Beefheart what are you waiting for? A unique listening experience. The album was produced by his friend Frank Zappa. In comparison to Beefheart- Zappa’s work would seem mainstream. Beefheart and Zappa were teenage friends- I can’t even imagine. A very experimental , avant-garde album. Not everyone will appreciate Captain Beefheart. This album will rank high in my 1969 year end countdown no doubt- I can reveal it will be the highest ranked double album of 1969. On the list of 1001 Albums To Hear.

14 responses to “MY MUSIC LISTENING JOURNAL: DAY 354: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2019”

  3. No, no, no…no more Beefheart. No more Zappa. I had an ex that was a Zappa & Beefheart nut. Had ALL their albums. ALL of them. OY.

    “The Tubes, Todd or Iggy, please. Shut that s*** off!”

    The only Zappa song I could ever stand was “Stink Foot”. And, I hate Xylophones because of him.

    • He had six years on me & his older sister was, like, 14 years older then he was. SHE introduced him to Zappa’s albums, lovingly displayed in the “cut-out bin” (remember those?). She had a couple of Zappa’s albums & when he got into him, he went crazy. And, he had a collection/hoarding habit, too. Zappa lead him to Beefheart.

      He actually met The Tubes. However long ago, The Tubes had a contest for Halloween. The one with the best costume got to come on stage with them & got prizes. My ex & his first wife won. They were Gomez & Morticia Addams. He carried a shoebox around with his hand playing “Thing”. On stage, he stuck “Thing” out and waved @ the crowd. They went crazy & Fee was blown away.

      He was very proud of that.

    • He was pissed when they released “She’s A Beauty”. He swore they had sold-out and went mainstream. He claimed that ‘core’ Tube fans didn’t like it. I never met any of his ‘core’ fans so, I can’t verify that.

      It was through his knowledge of The Tubes that I found out that Journey’s original drummer was Prairie Prince.

    • Prairie Prince and Fee Waybill those are two odd names… How many core Tubes fans could there have been? I heard She’s A Beauty the other day on the radio.. I can’t think of another one of their songs. They were no Captain Beefheart that is for sure!!

  4. CTA yes, except for the “experimental bits” with the guitar. The Nick Drakes needs to be gotten. If Zappa is mainstream compared to the Capn, no thanks. Hinoeuma, lol on hating the xylophone d/t Zappa. I didn’t like Zappa’s music or his arrogance. The music may be classified as eternally avant garde — not a place I want to go at this time.

  5. I once heard that Julian Cope understood the importance of Trout Mask Replica more than he actually liked listening to it. So, knowing it was a record that deserved to be played but not having the temperament for it, he’d put it on and go out…

    This is one of my favourite rock and roll anecdotes.

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