Posts

Showing posts from July, 2020

TCCDM Dig and Flip: "They Thirst" - Robert R. McCammon (1981)

Image
"They Thirst" by Robert R. McCammon (1981) Paperback, 565 pages NO SPOILERS: This isn't your fancy dandy vampire Lestat bloodsuckers.  These vampires are much more grungy and a lot creepier.  They are led by a young vampire king planning to take over the city of L.A. turning the entire population into his own personal vampire suck-buddies.  The vampires adhere to most of the familiar lore of vampirism.  No sunlight, crosses, garlic, and other snafu's.  And with that, the game is on.  There are also plenty of creepy and memorable moments that Robert McCammon scatters throughout his story that are both disturbing and deliciously strange.  The undead wrapped in bedsheets.  The vampire king's human minion, Roach.  McCammon has a way of detailing scenes by catching the light from unexpected angles. There are a variety of characters thrown into the pot, as well.  Some good.  Some, not so much.  They all add a bit of flavor to the stew.  And yet,

TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Friar Tuck And His Psychedelic Guitar" (1967)

Image
"Friar Tuck And His Psychedelic Guitar" - Friar Tuck (1967) Friar Tuck was guitarist Mike Deasy , a longtime member of "The Wrecking Crew" with credits a mile long.  This one-off album was an early cash-in on the psychedelic train that was just beginning to get legs.  Remember, this was still only 1967 so the ground being covered was still mostly a road less traveled.  This is not a great album, but it is entertaining.  A fun, playful pop-psych spin with a few freak-outs thrown in to satisfy the mind-trippers.  And the songs are trippsh, if sometimes silly, but nothing sounds cheap or lacks for effort.  For a cash-in, there is still a piece of psych heart burning in the wax. Side One is all covers with a tracklist that look like real groaners...but Deasy and singer  Curt Boettcher , a very early shaker of the sunshine and psych-pop sounds that were yet to come, give the songs a fresh-take that rewards the listener.  I mean, if you're going to cover a so

TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Believe" - The Third Power (1970)

Image
"Believe" - The Third Power (1970 - Rei 2016) There must be something in the water.  The Third Power was a heavy trio from the same Michigan rock basket that gave us MC5, Grand Funk. The Frost, The Stooges, and the list goes on.  Their music swam in the acid rock pool but had a unique heavy melodic flavor and touches of psychedelic shade.  Tasty riffs and runs are found throughout.  And the vocals are especially strong.  The Third Power  was often compared to Cream or The Hendrix Experience, and you can hear hints of both, but not too much.  The Third Power played with their elbows off the table and their only album... "Believe"... is a solid and unique square on its own.  Favorites are the powerful opener... "Gettin' Together" and the psych-tinged " Feel So Lonely" ... the latter being a real grower.  " Persecution"  is probably my favorite track with axeman Drew Abbott and singer/bassist Jem Targal delivering the FedX. 

TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Head" - The Monkees (1968)

Image
"Head" - The Monkees (1968) "Head" was The Monkees 6th album and the soundtrack from their movie of the same name.  An unexpected psychedelic soiree for their non-experienced Teen Beat fans.  The album opens with a collage of sounds and phrases not unlike The Beatles “Revolution #9” ...but much, much shorter.  Less angry.  And segues into the floaty psych classic "The Porpoise Song."    By now, the album leaves little doubt that this train you're on ain't going nowhere near Clarksville.  Surprisingly,  “Head” only has six songs, but all of them are quite enjoyable.  Peter Tork's light shines especially bright with "Can You Dig It" and "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?" both pushing things forward.  (Peter left the band after this album.)  Only "Daddy's Song"   is an eye-roll.  And it isn’t exactly bad...it was written by Harry Nilsson after all...but Davy delivers the goods in that

Interview -- Ronny Cox (Actor, Singer-Songwriter)

Image
"We had been  on the water six or eight hours a day for four or five, 10 weeks already... we were ready for those." ~ Ronny Cox ~      They seldom are the ones chosen to host the big party, but they are part of a select group of actors who seem to always get that early invitation.  The ones who will help keep the party running smoothly.  The ones who always make the party better when they arrive.  Such is the case for longtime actor Ronny Cox who has graced the screen in roughly 150 movies and television shows.  Ronny Cox is one of those actors that make whatever you're watching a little more interesting.  Whether playing a warm understanding father or a coldhearted sumbeach... Ronny Cox brings it with equal measure.  And whenever I see him doing his thing, I put the remote down.  Ronny Cox .  Go get you some. Ronny Cox Interview -- July 2020 Ronny Cox Casey Chambers:   The terrifying backwoods thriller... "Deliverance" (1972) was al

TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Rudy Love & The Love Family" (1976)

Image
"Rudy Love & The Love Family" - Rudy Love & The Love Family (1976) Soulified and funkified and certified to satisfy.  Rudy Love has a warm voice that, at times, recalls the timbre of Sly Stone and yet is his very own.  His arrangements are smart with no discount and allow room for the rest of "The Family" to get their funk on.  The album is not a masterpiece, but it shines way more than shades and is a soulful and funky square that very much holds its own.  “Ain't Nuthin' Spooky” opens the album and grooves the schnikey outta the needle.  Great vocals all around, as well.  The slinky "Does Your Mama Know" takes it to the house and the lost gem closing track... "Come Back Home" answers the final bell nicely.  Funky and urgent. Rudy Love and The Love Family hail from Wichita, KS...and I can remember hearing stories about how people in the 70s would rush to a club when learning Rudy was playing in town.  And how Rudy w

TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Space Oddity" - David Bowie (1969)

Image
"Space Oddity" - David Bowie (1969 - Rei 1972) It was early February at a Wichita Record Swap that I found this Bowie square.  I was wanting to leave with something I didn't see every day and found this 1972 German pressing of “Space Oddity.”   (Originally titled "Man Of Words/Man Of Music")  Apart from the title track, I wasn't familiar with any of the songs.  This was David Bowie at the very edges of going glam and historically it's pretty cool knowing what delicious things were yet to come from him.  But he hadn't met The Spider quite yet.  That would have to wait until Bowie's next album when guitarist Mick Ronson would glitter into the picture.  And although Bowie looks very glam on the cover of this album, the songs...not so much.  Here we find mostly folk-rock given a light dusting of psych here and there.  Still, “Space Oddity” has its moments.  And if you don't let your expectations play tricks, you'll find early Bowie h