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.
"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 myself now. So I guess I'll stay here in New England... for Autumn.
Buildings... look tall and gray. Birds flying... haven't much to say. They all know that it's coming again. So I guess they'll stay here in New England... for Autumn. Autumn.
Did you ever lose something that you thought you knew? Did you ever lose someone who was close to you? Well I lost my lover... and my summer too.
To Autumn... the wind blows colder than summer. Autumn... my love's gone with another. I can't demand anything of myself now. So I guess I'll stay here in New England... For Autumn. Autumn.
"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
You can never come down. You can never come down. You can never come down. You can never come down.
Down inside. You're getting nervous. You've never been this high before.
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 be my epitaph. As I crawl a cracked and broken path If we make it we can all sit back and laugh. But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying, Yes I fear tomorrow I'll be crying.
Between the iron gates of fate, The seeds of time were sown, And watered by the deeds of those Who know and who are known; Knowledge is a deadly friend if no one sets the rules. The fate of all mankind I see Is in the hands of fools.
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 love that I need It's her love got to have It's her love
Heavenly body flying across the sky Superman was out of town Come on honey, gotta change your tune Cause it's a long way down Clark Kent looking for a free ride Thinking about Lois Lane It's a bird, it's a plane, it's - a suicide And that'd be a shame.
It's her love that I want It's her love that I need It's her love got to have It's her love. But what's next to the moon?
Long Arm looking for a fingerprint Trying to find the mystery clue Hitting me with the third degree Working on a thumb screw Alright, officer, I confess Everything's coming back I didn't mean to hurt that woman of mine It was a heart attack.
They'll be plenty of good time friends.
