Fleetwood Mac - Jumping Shadows. 1985 Varrick (LP) (1969). From a local store in Monument (Sep). This archival concert from Boston is taken from the Then Play On tour with excellent sound. The first half is very good and energetic hard rock with raw guitar from Peter Green and crew. It bogs down into straight blues by the end. Nothing at all here would indicate this band would release Rumours one day.
Rare Earth - One World. 1971 Rare Earth (LP). From an estate sale (Sep). The big hit here is 'I Just Want to Celebrate' which is definitely the best song on the album for my tastes. This is a good album but somewhat "generic Rare Earth" sounding. They were to rebound nicely on Ma, but this title is a bit mundane.
*Heart - Dreamboat Annie. Capitol (MC) (1975). Grabbed this with the Neil Young and Bad Company below (Aug). I view Heart's debut as an album of missed opportunity. It could have been - perhaps should have been - one of the all-time great 70s hard rock / prog crossover albums. The two major hits from the album 'Magic Man' and 'Crazy on You' reference both genres brilliantly. I hadn't picked up on the excellence of 'Sing Child' until last night's listen, yet another strong prog number with flute. Much of the rest is folk rock or soft rock. I can understand hedging the bet that a female lead group in the middle 70s might not be accepted into the masculine world of hard rock, but they clearly were anyway. They were truly pioneers. I'm going to keep this tape. I've had the LP a few times, but I always go for the profit.
Queen - Queen II. 2011 Hollywood (CD) (1974). Thrift shop find (Aug). Queen II is usually the prog fans first choice when talking Queen. But to my ears they sound just as much like Queen here as anywhere else. To their credit, they had a unique sound. However that sound isn't for me. They needed to release Brian May off his leash and let him rip. The 20 minute EP bonus CD is better, demonstrating Queen in a more raw state. I was surprised at the quality of the B side 45 'See What a Fool I've Been' which looks difficult to score as an original.
REO Speedwagon - You Get What You Play For. 1977 Epic (2xLP). Garage sale (Aug). If there's ever been a band I should like but don't, it's REO Speedwagon. They're from the hardscrabble Midwest and their primary stock in trade is hard rock. But they also had this desire to play good times boogie rock, complete with pounding piano and dopey rock n' roll themes. Before disco, this was the music of choice for the party crowd. Styx did the same thing in the early to mid 70s. And that's what sinks this band for me. However the live version of 'Golden Country' - all by itself - almost had me keeping this. It's that good. More of that would have resulted in a monster outing. There were many bands in the Midwest that did just that, most privately released and very obscure.
Santana - Beyond Appearances. 1985 Columbia (LP). With the Chirco sale (Jul). I find it interesting that Carlos Santana never let go of his iconic psychedelic sound. He really could have been the tip of the spear at any kind renaissance of high quality psych and fusion in the 1980s. But he decided to play ball and follow the trends of the day. So most of the songs are boring, with cringeworthy 80s digitalitis sounds. ...And Carlos' beautiful tone when it's his turn. Oh well, he continued to stick with this formula, and it finally paid off for him personally about 15 years later.
Chirco - Visitation. 1972 Crested Butte (LP). This was from the very large garage sale south buy (Jul). One could argue that Chirco were influenced by the James Gang. Some hard rock, a little prog, boogie, and early 70s hippy-isms. Not bad. Despite the label name, the band aren't from the remote ski town of Crested Butte, but rather Denver.
James Gang - Live in Concert. 1971 ABC (LP). One more from the same sale (Jul). The best of the three, and James Gang were naturals for the live circuit. I do like that they improvise and add energy to tracks that weren't necessarily that way in the studio. But it's still a very typical early 70s styled concert, complete with drum solo.
James Gang - Straight Shooter. 1972 ABC (LP). Found with below (Jul). Better than I thought it would be. Troiano takes over guitar from Walsh and keeps the momentum. Hodge-podge of hard rock, funk, and country rock. The latter keeping me from full enjoyment.
James Gang - Rides Again. 1970 ABC (LP). From a large garage sale haul in Monument (Jul). I had this album once in the early 90s, but decided to try it again anyway. 'The Bomber' is a fantastic example of early metal and space rock jamming. 'Funk #49' is a well known hard rock track. But mostly it's fairly average 1970 styled eclectic classic rock. Had a +1 listen and curiosity satiated, but it can go.
Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Broken Arrow. 1996 Reprise (MC). Same find as Bad Company (Jul). I do like the fuzzy guitar tone of Crazy Horse, and when they jam it's very good. But the songs are not for me. Young is one of those artists that just bugs the crap out of me, not sure why. To date though, this is the best I've heard from him. But I still haven't heard his most classic albums beyond Harvest. I'll keep trying.
Bad Company - Bad Co. 198? Swan Song (MC) (1974). From a friend's garage sale (Jul). I've somehow managed to get this far in life without hearing Bad Company's debut in full. But I recognized over half of it anyway as they've been radio staples since I was a kid. What isn't played on the radio is inferior. Just not my band.
Eagles - One of These Nights. 1975 Asylum (LP). From the same thrift shop buy as below (Jun). For a short time in the 70s there were a lot of these countryish rock bands that went all in for soft rock. Think Atlanta Rhythm Section and Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Eagles were the king of them all. Side 1 is pretty good actually including the title track. Side 2 is difficult to get through.
Bad Company - Desolation Angels. 1979 Swan Song (LP). From a large thrift shop buy (Jun). This is the only one I should have left behind, as it's only a $5 record which surprised me. Musically that's what it's worth though. I never really understood the allure of Bad Company. A very ordinary 70s rock band with a little muscle, but not enough to qualify for hard rock. Their songs do tend to stick with you... in a bad way.
Golden Earring - Cut. 1982 21/Polydor (LP). From a local store for 25 cents (Jun). I always liked the song 'Twilight Zone' which seemed to revive Golden Earring. But that's really all that's here of interest. Fairly standard early 80s blandola.
*El Chicano - Celebration. 1972 KAPP (LP). Excellent Latin rock with all the usual trappings: Hammond, percussion, Santana guitar, soulful melodies. CDs are scarce but I'd be interested in supplementing this copy. From What's Left (Jun).
A Raincoat - Digalongamacs. 1975 EMI (LP). Very odd and unique UK Baroque pop / glam like a mashup of The Beatles, ELO, and Queen. Has a quirkiness that reminds me some of the sillier UK psych outfits. Out of time for 1975 - forwards and backwards. I can't imagine who the audience for this band was, and it's possible they didn't have one. Not really my thing either but I can appreciate the creativity applied. From Dr. Boom (May).
* - Keeping for the collection
No comments:
Post a Comment