TCCDM Pulls One Out..."(Turn On) The Music Machine" (1966 - Rei 2017)

"(Turn On) The Music Machine" - The Music Machine (1966 - Rei 2017)

The Music Machine was a 60s garage rock band with pop-catchy songs, but with an edgier streetwise attitude.  Even the psych truck has dusted a few songs mostly with some mid-eastern guitar tones.  Not a whole lot, but you notice it when it comes around.  Very cool.  I like the clever cover with the lone gloved hand reaching up to twist the dial and always thought it stood out.  The band was cool, too.  Their clothes were all black. Their hair was all black. And they each wore one black glove on stage.  That was their thing and good for them.

There are seven original songs written by Sean Bonniwell, the band's singer/songwriter and they're all good.  “Talk Talk” was their killer break-out single, but not necessarily the best song on the album.  "The People In Me" is an edgy psych gem.  ”Masculine Intuition” (what a clever title) has a unique turn and “Trouble” rocks out.   The dude could write songs.   But for some reason, the record execs wanted the band to record some covers, too.  Five of them to be specific.  What a head-scratcher!  So yeah, there are a few covers.  But they're all done extremely well.  Especially, ”Hey Joe” which is one of the best versions I've heard.  What a surprise!  The only cover that made my eyes roll was “Taxman.”  It's good, but I've never been much of a fan of Beatle covers.  That's just me.  Besides, I think it does a bit of a disservice...having the band ride coattails when their own songs are strong enough to create their own identity.  As I said, The Music Machine is garage rock,  but it's not sloppy.  These guys could really play.  This album is a lot of fun.

Before I forget, my copy is a RSD Mono reissue found in a half-price box at our local shop.  Also, and this is pretty cool and I don't know if the original did this, but my vinyl copy has a neat feature added to the label.  There are little lines on the edge with the message, “WHEN LINES APPEAR TO STAND STILL RECORD IS REVOLVING AT EXACTLY 33 1/3 R.P.M."  Keeping it real.

"(Turn On) The Music Machine" (back)


Concord Bicycle Music label


Record Store Day hype sticker

"Trouble" - The Music Machine / "(Turn On) The Music Machine" (1966)

TRACKS:
A1  "Talk Talk" 1:56
A2  "Trouble" 2:11
A3  "Cherry Cherry" 3:12
A4  "Taxman" 2:33
A5  "Some Other Drum" 2:29
A6  "Masculine Intuition" 2:08
B1  "The People in Me" 2:53
B2  "See See Rider" 2:29
B3  "Wrong" 2:16
B4  "96 Tears" 2:17
B5  "Come On In" 2:54
B6  "Hey Joe" 4:12

 PERSONNEL:
Sean Bonniwell - vocals, guitar, horn
Mark Landon - guitar
Doug Rhodes - keyboards, tambourine, b-vocals
Keith Olsen - bass, b-vocals
Ron Edgar - drums

Good stuff.

 Casey Chambers
Follow Me On FACEBOOK



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview:-- Joan Staley (Actress - Classic Movies & Television)

Image
  "Elvis,  do you really want me to slap you?"  ~ Joan Staley ~     So my friends and I were talking about first crushes. First tv and movie crushes.  For me, it was easy.  It was Alma. (Joan Staley)   I broke into the double-digit age of 10 in 1993.  That was the summer I discovered my favorite Don Knotts movie while flipping thru cable one Saturday morning... "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Everyone has seen it.  It was a funny haunted house story similar to an episode on Andy G. with a cast of familiar characters, trippy organ music, and the prettiest girl I had ever seen...Alma. She was beautiful alright.  I was love-stung so bad, I swear I could smell flowers coming out of the TV set.  And best of all, she was nice.  She didn't like the smart alec, the wise guy, or the show-off.  Alma was digging Luther (Don Knotts) and that just made her that much prettier.  And from then on... But unfortunately, time and puberty wouldn't let her wait
Read more

Interview:--> Terry Kirkman (The Association)

Image
"...Not only learned to think, but to care.  Not only learned to think, but to dare." ~ The Association ~  With one of the most bad-ass songs about the herb that no one was quite sure about, yet everyone understood...to the anti-war homage that was both beautiful and pointed... The Association . From gentle psych pop spinneries that tease the mind...to the lush vocal and instrumental arrangements that melt the heart... The Association. The Association were all of these and none of these. Lead by co-founder Terry Kirkman, it was never an "either/or" about the music.  No pigeonhole here.  It was simply "all" about the music.  And having at least 3 of the most radio-played songs in history...I'd say The Association were on to something. TERRY KIRKMAN INTERVIEW  01/26/2015 Casey Chambers:  In the summer of '67, The Association had the opportunity to perform at the iconic Monterey Pop Festival.  How cool was that? Terry Kirkma
Read more

Interview -- Henry Lee Summer (Singer/Songwriter)

Image
"I just always have played music.  For better   or worse, I banked my whole life on it." ~ Henry Lee Summer ~     It's strange how music lets you travel through time as if there truly was no time.  I played the shit out of this album growing up.  Nothing deep or complicated.  Nothing outta bounds.  Nothing to get hung about.  It's deceptively simple.  But here's the thing... Henry Lee Summer  is serving aces all over this heartland square. This is the 35th anniversary of Henry Lee Summer's self-titled album and this one falls under that sweet spot between raucous and chill.  It's a large cup of iced coffee with a nice soulful blend.  Not usually my type of go-to and yet this album easily fills a void I didn't know I had.  Let this spin be your own private Idaho.  " Check it out, Leroy!"   Henry Lee Summer... Go get you some. Henry Lee Summer Interview -- August 2023 Henry Lee Summer Casey Chambers:  Well, this is the 35th anniversary of you
Read more