The College Crowd Digs Me

"The Tiger And The Lamb" - The East Side Kids (1968)      You rarely stumble upon a lesser-seen vintage psych album under $20 anymore, but here you go.  For $15, this vg+ psych square just jumped into my hand for me to take home.  Pop-psych and psych rock both to feed the palette.  The vocals are strong and the band sounds like they know the score.  On the cool UNI label, The East Side Kids' one-and-done album is filled with variable doses of studio hopscotch that nicely hold up the psychedelic chalice.       And why not?  The front cover photos more than hint that the band knew their way around a lazy Susan bong snake.  Nothing heavy or groundbreaking, but it held my interest and certainly belies the lower price tag.  The more you listen, the more you appreciate the ideas and efforts.  The only track that dampens the dance is the country-esque  "Ask The Box"  on side two, not because it is bad, but b...

"Catch A Rising Star Live At Pogos April 3, 1978" - Van Halen (2016)       Van Halen had dropped one of the best debut albums ever just two months prior to the band introducing themselves to Wichita.  Not at the 12,000-seat Coliseum.  Not at the 10,000-seat Henry Levitt Arena.  But at a much, much smaller venue named Pogos...a popular dance club in the city.  What a lucky bunch that crowd.  Because on the night of April 3, 1978, in Wichita, KS... Van Halen brought their rock-bark to the house.  The group was young, hungry, and still friends back then...just trying to climb their way to the top.  And whether they knew it or not, they were well on the way.         "Catch A Rising Star Live At Pogos" captures the band performing nine songs from their just-released debut album along with a classic Blue Cheer encore.  And this square has it all.  David Lee Roth's goofy frontman bantering and vocals...

The Feud: The Hatfields & McCoys The True Story by Dean King (2013) Softcover, 430 pages NO SPOILERS:      When we think of feuds, our minds quickly think of the Hatfields and the McCoys.  Television has been parodying the infamous feud for years.  Songs have been written.  But Holy Schnikes!  The conflict between the West Virginia Hatfields and the Kentucky McCoys' was a complex flustercluck of stealing, pay-backs, grudges, revenge, murders, maiming, Romeo-Juliet romances, shunning, and a whole lot of sneakery.  Both sides.  It involved close family members, cousins, uncs, friends, and neighbors.  All seemed to have a dog in the fight whether they wanted one or not.  It was blood for blood and don't ever go against the family.   Surprisingly, both families had members in rather important positions of employment.  Sheriffs.  Deputies. Politicians. Church leaders.  Author Dean King brings it all out and ...

"The Age Of Plastic" - Buggles (1980)      Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn were the Buggles .  The duo delivered some cool electronic new wave with a tasty synth-pop bend.  Their first album,  "The Age Of Plastic" has a very cool futuristic aura, but not cold.  The songs thread their way around the room in a spacey, dream-filled fashion with added hints of tension throughout.  Subtle, not jarring.  The mix is sweet with groovy sound effects and the vinyl really brings it all out.  Nothing wasted.  The square is a cool snapshot vibe-of-the-times and it still tastes great.  The album's most famous track, "Video Killed The Radio Star" became a time-stamp for the introduction of video music and is still one of the best pop songs to come out of the eighties.  I never tire of it.  But "The Age Of Plastic" is much more than just that song.  I was surprised by how entertaining this album was.  It's a spin for fun...

"Pyramid" - Alan Parsons Project (1978 )      In 1978, Tutankhamun and the pyramids were a huge buzz.  Definitely the flavor of the year. (Just ask Steve Martin .)  And the Alan Parsons Project  also jumped into the sands, adding their two cents with a "Pyramid" of their own.  And another ear-candy square to enjoy.  This was APP's third album following their killer "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" and "I Robot" and though not as strong, it is still a hoss.  APP released eleven albums total and I have  "Pyramid" slipping into my top favorite five.        The music is mostly chill with a mysterious vibe dusted all around.  A nice spin for the late evenings.  Catchy and clever, the album's concept of death and the great mystery hold together well, and Parsons' fine-tuned production is again outstanding. The instrumentals are cream and the vocals are butter with plenty of subtle and not-so-subtle ef...