The College Crowd Digs Me

"...but then they started playing the whole side  of the Zazu album.  For some reason, that became our trademark whenever the radio played us." ~ John Melnick ~      This is the 50th anniversary of the little-known 1975 " Zazu"  album filled with tasty prog-rock and prog-pop nuggets.  Led by John Melnick , Zazu's self-titled square fries and bakes while still maintaining a slice of pop sensibility.  Add the lightest of lysergic dustings, and it's a fun spin.   Upon its release, radio stations in Chicago, St. Louis, and New York, among other places, began spinning  Zazu  on their after-midnight airfare, and the album became a staple of late-night radio.   Then disaster.  Zazu's debut album had barely started shipping out the door before their record label, Wooden Nickel, suddenly closed up shop.  No forewarning.  No heads up.  Wooden Nickel was gone faster than 'Hey, Hi you.'   And unfortunat...

"Diamantina Cocktail" - Little River Band (1977 )      This was a bit of a nostalgic pick-up.  A good one, however, and a cheap one.  I readily admit I am not a serious Little River Band connoisseur.  I'm mostly just a cherry-picker of their singles. However,  "Diamantina Cocktail"  has staked out a piece of shelf at my abode.  The album strikes an emotional chord for me that continues to satisfy.  My Dad used to play this in his car aplenty, and he especially liked the song  "Days On The Road."    He liked'em all, but that was the one.  That song meant something to him.  I'd ask him about the song, and he'd give the smallest of smiles and shake his head.  The song got to him.  And he kept it close.  And, of course,  the song has since gotten to me.  But all the songs here play nicely together.  The better-known songs with the lesser-known.  And though the American tracklist fo...

"The Farm Band" - The Farm Band (1972 )      The self-titled debut album by The Farm Band is a bit of a rarity.  Probably 1,000 copies, give or take, were pressed.  Originals can sometimes get pricey and are not easy to come by.  I was lucky to find an original back in early July at a garage sale on the east side of College Hill, closest to the VA  Hospital.  Only a few records in a box, and I recognized it right away.  Unfortunately, the seller knew what he had, as well.        There was a $75 price tag on it, and he showed me how shiny and clean the vinyl was.  While talking, we learned that we both had spent some time in West Virginia.  Shady Springs, for him; Peterstown, for me.  It was the kind of coincidence that makes people instant friends.  After we shared a few stories, he decided he could let the square go for $50.  Still, a pony-up for this short-pocket fella, but way more than f...

"Mob Rules" - Black Sabbath (1981 )       "Heaven And Hell" with Ronnie James Dio helped rescue Black Sabbath from a damaged ship.  Their 10th album follow-up, "Mob Rules,"  was full steam ahead.  Sabbath storms right outta the gate from the needle drop and takes names.  No arguments.  There are moments while spinning this album when  Ronnie James' vocals simply make you shake your head with satisfaction.  Of course, Dio's vocals are awesome.  Everyone knows that.  But on this square, his "chill-out to rage-out" vocals are on full display and show just how special the song-cat really was.  This is some of Dio's best work ever, and it's all in one delicious place.        And the same can be said for the talents of Tony Iommi .  Iommi fires off one blistering lead after another.  One crunchy riff after another.  And dares anyone to ask him who shot John.  His solos are ...

"Younger Than Yesterday" - The Byrds (1967 )       "Younger Than Yesterday"  falls into the middle of what I like to think of as the band's psych-dust trilogy, which includes  "Fifth Dimension"  and  "Notorious Byrd Brothers."   These are the squares I spin most often.  It's a coin flip which one is my favorite, but "Younger…" captures the hippie-trippie westcoast elements the best.  The album expands your mind, blows your love-happenings, and carries you away long after the needle has returned to its resting place.       The album's vibes are warm to the touch and cool to the mind.  Roger McGuinn's vocals and cool  jangly psych-rock 12-string are delivered perfectly.   David Crosby is at his hedonistic best, throwing floaty, dreamlike thought-bubbles into the air like incense.  You can get high just taking the album outta the jacket sleeve.      But it's quiet Chris Hillman who step...

"In The Garden" - Gypsy (1971)      I really like Gypsy , and this was the album I was missing from my collection.  "In The Garden" was Gypsy's sophomore effort following their fantastic double LP debut, and it picks up pretty much right where they left off.  Not quite as strong, but there's very little drop-off.  Enjoyable spin front to back.  Only an ill-advised drum solo causes aspersions to be cast.  Not bad, but certainly unnecessary.  As for the rest of the spin, I'm cool.        Out of Minnesota,  Gypsy  was a progressive rock band with melodic flavors lightly dusted in psych affectation.  The band has always had a unique and identifiable sound.  The gorgeous B3 Hammond, along with the guitars, vocals, and harmonies, pleases the senses like a thousand marbles bouncing their way through the East River Tunnel .  Not non-stop, but there are moments throughout the square that defini...

"Tonto's Expanding Head Band" - Tonto's Expanding Head Band (1971 )      The music is spacey electronic splashes of very early Moog synth that tip-toe through the fields of prog-psych trippiness.  Tonto's Expanding Head Band , created by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff , offers a weird and experimental mind game on their debut.  The album has been credited as being a big influence on numerous musical acts, from Stevie Wonder to Devo.        I didn't love this square initially, but it's definitely been a grower.  Tonto's Expanding Head Band is a spin that requires active listening free from distractions.  Being in the right frame of mind matters.  Headphones are your friend, and though I don't listen to this a lot, the album still gives more than it takes.   "Tonto's Expanding Head Band" - Tonto's Expanding Head Band (back) Favorites include: "Aurora" "Riversong"      My copy is a 1...