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Showing posts from 2009

New Years Eve Party @ The Shamrock

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"Happy 'Flippin' New Year! ...Already?" Just a quick shout to let everyone know I'll be performing at the annual New Years Eve Bash at the notorious Shamrock Lounge in Wichita, KS. They'll be plenty of good time friends. Great live music. Lots of tasty beers. And the always heady vibe of the Shamrock ...unlike anywhere you'll find. Be there to welcome in...2010! Good stuff. Casey

Lost Gem: "Autumn" - Edgar Winter Group

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"I can't demand... anything of myself now." ~ Edgar Winter Group ~ "They Only Come Out At Night" (1972) was Edgar Winter Group's fourth studio release. The line-up was stone solid with Ronnie Montrose ... Rick Derringer ...&... Dan Hartman ...along with other class musicians all helping Edgar Winter wail the wax. And yes...the awesome instrumental... "Frankenstein" was the driving force on this record. Able to overcome a shockingly bad album cover. (scaring off many would-be buyers, I'm sure!) Lost Gem... "Autumn"... is a gentle ballad gem buried deep on side two. Its beauty strikes sudden . And throws the listener into their own personal flashback. The contradiction from the raucous numbers surrounding this special track pushes the CD up an extra notch. Autumn ...(by Winter). Have you heard this one? Autumn... The wind blows colder than summer. Autumn... My love's gone with another. I can't demand anything of m

Lost Gem: "Heaven Tonight" - Cheap Trick

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"You can never come down. You can never come down." ~ Cheap Trick ~ "Heaven Tonight" (1978) was Cheap Trick's third album. And it is amazing how catchy and tight each song is...without being the least bit cotton.  A perfect meld of..." in your face rock and starburst pop". Thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end. The title track is a dreamy...eerie gem that brings to mind glimmery shades of...dare I say it... Abbey Road. Have you heard this one? Down the line. Don't go over. There's a limit. You went over. So much time. Time runs out. Time ran out. Make it down. Would you like to go to heaven tonight? Would you like to go to heaven tonight? Oh oh oh oh Downed the line. Couldn't get much. Couldn't get much...higher if you tried And tried and tried. You're as guilty. It's the crime. It's a crime. Would you like to go to heaven tonight? Would you like to go to heaven tonight? Oh oh oh oh

Lost Gem: "Epitaph" - King Crimson

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"Confusion... will be my epitaph. As I crawl... a cracked and broken path." ~ King Crimson ~ Released in 1969... "In The Court Of The Crimson King" ...is still held high upon the proverbial prog-rock pedestal. And an absolute must own for any classic rock collection. While the cranium-blowing songs - "Schizoid Man" and "Crimson King" - quickly come to mind when pulling from the album...the track that begs repeated play is... "Epitaph" "Epitaph" is stunning in its apocalyptic feel. Ian McDonald's mellotrone especially draws the listener in. And the plaintive underrated vocals from Greg Lake add an amazing sadness. A masterpiece. Have you heard this one? The wall on which the prophets wrote Is cracking at the seams. Upon the instruments of death The sunlight brightly gleams. When every man is torn apart With nightmares and with dreams, Will no one lay the laurel wreath When silence drowns the screams. Confusion will

Lost Gem: "What's Next To The Moon" - AC/DC

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"Heavenly body flying across the sky... Superman was out of town." ~ AC/DC ~ "Powerage" (1978) is AC/DC's fifth studio album. This wasn't their breakout album...that would come next year . But "Powerage" is certainly no slouch in the AC/DC poundage department. And who doesn't love the "wired out..plugged in" Angus! One of my all-time favorite covers. "What's Next To The Moon" ...is a fantastic Bon Scott gem. Add a wicked guitar line from Angus Young and thunder drums from Phil Rudd ...and ya got yourself a tough act to follow. "Bon" Voyage! Have you heard this one? Well I tied my baby to the railroad track Cannonball down the line Giving that woman just a one more chance To give it to me one more time Engineer wishing he was home in bed Dreaming about Casey Jones Wide-eyed woman heading a mile ahead Thinking about broken bones It's her love that I want It's her lo

Lost Gem: "Life Is A Lemon..." - Meat Loaf

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"What about your work? It's defective! It's a crock and then you die." -->Meat Loaf<-- "Bat Out Of Hell II" (1993) at face value...looked like a desperate attempt by Meat Loaf to try and recapture lightning in a bottle. Even naming the album after his triumphant debut (1977) begged for critical slings and arrows to be thrown. But Meat Loaf pulled it off. More or less. The CD is filled with the usual...grandiose...epic...over-the-top songs that only... The Meat ...could swing. "Life Is A Lemon..." is eight minutes of bombastic...up and down the court..slam-dunkage. Lots of stuff going on and better with each listen. Meat Loaf is Meat Loaf. Fuggedaboutit! Let the boy play! Have you heard this one? I want my money back. It's all or nothin' And nothin's all I ever get, Every time I turn it on, I burn it up and burn it out. There's always something, There's always something going wrong. That's the only guarantee, th

Lost Gem: "Cadence And Cascade" - King Crimson

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"Sad paper courtesan. They knew him just a man." ~ King Crimson ~ King Crimson's second album... "In The Wake Of Poseidon" (1970)...was initially met with disappointment by many fans/critics. But listening to this album with fresh ears...nearly forty years after its release...I find it inspiring and a great follow-up. Plus the music holds my interest all the way through...something King Crimson's classic debut never quite does. Lots of tasty ear candy float from the speakers. Flutes...mellotron...sax...piano...and wonderful Robert Fripp guitar. And the variety of drum strikes (courtesy of Michael Giles ) are wicked nice. Great prog. "Cadence And Cascade" is a gentle and beautiful ballad that never fails to calm. Dig the soothing...whimsical... flute of Mel Collins . Have you heard this one? Cadence and Cascade Kept a man named Jade; Cool in the shade While his audience played. Purred, whispered, Spend us too: We only

Lost Gem: "You Won't Change Me" - Black Sabbath

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"Still I wonder what it's like to be loved... Instead of hiding in myself. ~ Black Sabbath ~ "Technical Ecstasy" (1976) was Black Sabbath's seventh album. And one that is too often dismissed. If not for two stinkers in the mix...this Sabbath offering would be must own. But what is left is simply wicked Iommi guitar burns that beg repeated listens. "You Won't Change Me" catches one of Ozzy's best vocals ...ever...with awesome Tony Iommi laying down one of several great solos. Terribly underrated . Have you heard this one? I'm just a man and I am what I am, yeah Nobody will ever change my ways I don't need money and I Don't need no lies, yeah I only need to live for today But I'd like to talk things Over with you I want to hear the things That you say today Although you won't change me Anyway. Oh, no way. I wish you'd come and see me I'd like to hold you I want to set my mind all free You understand me, woman

Lost Gem: "Fates Right Hand" - Rodney Crowell (2003)

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"Trot-line Freddy's got his dogs in the trunk." ~ Rodney Crowell ~ "Fate's Right Hand" (2003) is just one of a long list of must-own CDs from the Houston Kid... Rodney Crowell . Filled with Americana roots attitude and honesty... Crowell is a good-ol'-hoss troubadour who leaves nothing on his plate. Cool as a rule. The title track is killer . Pick up this gem right away. Have you heard this one? Cool as a rule you don't learn in no school You can't brown nose the teacher from a dunce hat stool It's the hum and the rhythm of the birds and the bees The momma's and the poppa's and the monkeys in the trees It's the brothers and the sisters living life on the street Play a hunch pull the punch and you'll likely get beat By the junk food tattooed white dude true blued Honky with an attitude coming unglued Fate's right hand.....I don't understand at all Billy loves women like a junky loves dope

Lost Gems: "The Late Show" - Jackson Browne

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"I thought of all the empty miles ... And the years that I've spent looking for your eyes." -->Jackson Browne<-- Jackson Browne's third album... "Late For The Sky" (1974)...is filled with layers and layers of emotional watercolors. Like a surgeon, Browne exacts just the right words and tones for each song. And his dead-on observations of our feeble attempts at controlling the dice of love...reminds us... how clumsy and scared we truly are. "The Late Show"... is an honest endeavor of pointing out...that through all our aches and breaks along our journey for the perfect love...sometimes we just try too hard. Tasty guitar slide from David Lindley ...and dig the sound of two car doors shutting near the end. It's gonna be all right. Have you heard this one? Everyone I've ever known has wished me well Anyway that's how it seems, it's hard to tell Maybe people only ask you how you're doing 'Cause that's easier than let

Lost Gem: "Open Up The Door" - Head East

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" A reason to carry on ... is the feelin' when the music's done ." -->Head East<-- Head East's self-titled album (1978) was the band's fourth studio release and is often referred to as the..."Road Sign" album. Led by underrated vocalist... John Schlitt , this Midwest band churned out no-frills...straight ahead rock. Head East never quite achieved monster status...but they did earn a reputation for hitting the stage hard...as if every show might be their last. Definitely a workingman's band. "Open Up The Door" ...is a great feel-good rocker to start your day. Incredible vocals surrounded by Mike Somerville 's guitar spank and teasing keyboard from Roger Boyd . Seeing these RnR cartographers tear up this firebox would be slice. Have you heard this one? We started out a long time ago We didn't know what to do Knockin' our romances, we took the chances That a lot of us do Well, we've seen strange places We fell on

Lost Gem: "Black Licorice" - Grand Funk

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" She's got evil in her eyes... and catnip is her taste." ~ Grand Funk ~ In 1973, Grand Funk dropped...Railroad...from their name and released... "We're An American Band" . It was hugely successful...with the title track becoming a prideful rock anthem heard regularly on every classic rock station across the country. But among a couple of lost gems from this CD...is the oft-forgot... "Black Licorice" . "Black Licorice" is awesome highway driving fuel filled with wicked grinding keyboard (courtesy of newly added member... Craig Frost ). And excellent trademark Mel Schacher bass clearing the roads. And finally... Mark Farner's vocals is surprisingly burning ice! Have you heard this one? Whooo ... wheee! You there, comin' up the stair, the feelin' is ice-blue cold. Shake, it's more than I can take, I'm startin' to lose control. Watch out, what's that noise, there&#

Lost Gem: "Spin It On" - Wings

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" Off to the flicks with the piddle in her nicks, to the fair with her hair in curlers." ~ Wings ~ "Back To The Egg" ( 1979) would prove to be Wings' final studio album. And one of their more heavily criticized efforts, to be sure. Looking back...maybe they only dropped a... few ...shells into this rock and roll omelet. Maybe it was the climate of the times...new wave, punk, etc., but spinning this disc 30 years later...I find it a bit uneven, perhaps...but still pleasant enough. "Spin It On" is a great little Wings jammer. Fast-paced, loud and fun. Easy to dismiss until you notice how toolbox tweaked this band plays. Who knows...but they sure sound like they were having a good time. Silly, but solid. Have you heard this one? "Spin It On" (This is it) Spin it on, don't stop. Take it back to the top. 'Cos I got whole lotta love for you I wanna spin it on. Spin it on! Off to the fli

Lost Gem: "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" - ELO

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" Sweet Maid Marion, don't you do me no wrong. Stay on the right side, the Greenwood is your home." -->ELO<-- Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) released their fourth studio album in 1974. "Eldorado, A Sympho ny" was a concept album (don't be scared off) created all in the mind of the Swiss Army Knife of RnR... Jeff Lynne . In a nutshell, it revolves around a dreamer who'd rather live in his mind rather than be a part of the real world. It would become their first gold album. And sounds awesome through headphones. The last track on side one, "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" is a wonderful song about Robin Hood for crying out loud. It makes me want to drink some grog...grab my bow...and shoot apples off Alan Hale's head! (one of my favorite actors and my Little John in Robin Hood reference). Oh yeah...dig those frantic violin strings at the end! Have you heard this one? "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" Me, I'm just a poor boy fro

Lost Gem: Bloodrock - "Melvin Laid An Egg"

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"He's in a sideshow... making lots of dough. What can be said for Melvin and his egg?" ~ Bloodrock ~ Bloodrock's self-titled debut was r eleased in 197 0. And is a monster treat and a hugely underrated classic rock offering. Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas... Bloodrock need cower down to no band. As I've noted in an earlier post... On this one, Bloodrock ... O ut Steps...Steppenwolf. Out-Sabs...Black Sabbath. O ut-Funks...Grand Funk. I kid you not. And the epic closing track... "Melvin Laid An Egg" ...has one of the best axe riffs anywhere. Mindless heavy-metal poundag e...begging to be cranked. Bloodrock should have been huge...but have sadly and unfairly been relegated into the one-trick pony file... (remember "D.O.A." ). Pick this album up! Have you heard this one? "Melvin Laid An Egg" I ain't got the time to sit and let you play with my mind Crushing out m