Wednesday 26 December 2012

My Favourite Christmas Album: Bob Rivers and Twisted Radio- I Am Santa Claus


220px-Bob_Rivers_-_I_Am_Santa_Claus_cover
With the Christmas Holidays coming up fast and everyone posting about Christmas albums, I thought I would post my favourite Christmas album of all time. The winner for me is "I Am Santa Claus" by Bob Rivers and Twisted Radio. For those who have never heard of Bob Rivers, he is a radio personality famous for his parodies, especially around Christmas time. "I Am Santa Claus" is the second of three Christmas parody albums by him; the other two are "Twisted Christmas" and "More Twisted Christmas."
The majority of the tracks on the album, not all of them are songs, always make me hysterical even after all of these years and the ones that don't send me into hysterics at least bring a smile to my face. There is the track "Walking Round in Women's Underwear," not that I have ever done this, that is just hilarious. Then take the title cut, "I Am Santa Claus" sung to the tune of none other than the famous Black Sabbath song "Iron Man." I can't help thinking that Ozzy and the lads give a thumbs up to this one.
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
That isn't the only metallised song on the album. "Jingle Hells Bells" is sung in the form of AC//DC from the Bon Scott era and is a good funny metal song. There is one line from that song that I haven't ever done and still would love to do. I would love to be "Drinking Jack Daniels while getting a back rub." Maybe my wife will indulge me at Christmas.
AC/DC
AC/DC
Needless to say there many other amusing tracks which are parodies of Christmas carols like "I Came Upon a Roadkill Deer" and "Teddy the Red Nosed Senator" and although it's not a song, I do love the "Letter to Santa" in the theme of The Godfather. But the one song that I have always thought was genius was the carol "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" sung to the tune of that famous Animals classic "House of the Rising Sun."
Track Listing:
1. There's Another Santa Claus
2. Walking Round in Women's Underwear
3. I Am Santa Claus
4. Manger 6
5. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
6. I Came Upon a Roadkill Deer
7. Teddy the Red Nosed Senator
8. Grahbe Yehbalz
9. Letter to Santa Claus
10. Jingle Hells Bells
11. The Kids
12. The Magical Kingdom of Claus
13. What's It To Ya
14. Didn't I Get This Last Year
15. The Under the Tree World of Jacques Cousteau
16. Oh Christmas Tree
So if you want something different to listen to this holiday season, have a good listen to "I Am Santa Claus." I guarantee you will laugh your rear end off. I don't think I'll be able to get on here again before Christmas, they got me working a 48 hour shift from the 23rd to Christmas Day and then there's all the other pre- Christmas stuff that needs to be done. So, I would like to wish everybody reading this a very Merry Christmas and keep rocking on!
Next post: Meatload- Bat Out of Hell
To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London
p.s. It makes a good Christmas present

Monday 17 December 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978: Joe Walsh- But Seriously Folks


Back in 1978, I only had a small AM clock radio that only had a range as for as I could throw a baseball. Therefore, I had to encounter a lot of disco tunes and other top 40 rubbish in order to hear the occasional good song. Then one night I heard the killer riffs from an electric guitar. Stunned, I had to turn up the volume of that clock radio and what I heard blew me away, the song "Life's Been Good" by Joe Walsh.
"But Seriously Folks" was the first solo album from Joe Walsh since he had joined the Eagles two years earlier when they put out the famous "Hotel California." This solo album was considered more melodic than Walsh's previous album but it is still a good rock album as it carries many of the traditional guitar licks he was known for.
Track Listing:
1. Over and Over
2. Second Hand Store
3. Indian Summer
4. At the Station
5. Tomorrow
6. Inner Tube
7. Theme from Boat Weirdoes
8. Life's Been Good
This album was a welcome relief from the onlsaught of disco in the summer of 78. However, it is still probably one of the best albums by Joe Walsh and still a good listen these days.
Next post: My Favourite Christmas Album
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Tuesday 11 December 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978: The Cars

Originally, I wasn't going to visit this album until I reached the end of 1978 because I didn't know of it until early 1979. It was sort of the same thing that happened to me in January 1978 with the "Out of the Blue" album by ELO. The first weekend in 1979, I was driving home from hockey practice (street hockey) and the song "My Best Friend's Girl" came on the radio. That became my first official song I liked for the year. So you may be asking why am I visiting this album now and there are still a lot of great 1978 albums left to see. Well the honest answer is, "I don't know." I just felt the urge to visit this album here and now.
Like in the case of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Patty Smith, some ill informed numpties branded The Cars a punk band. I remember back in the year, many disco lovers simply shrugged it off as such and The Cars were probably easy targets for the narrow minded. Their look was something I would definitely call unique for 1978 as was the sound on the album. It was definitely something I had never heard before, but what I did know was that I liked it. Ric Ocasek has a vocal that is truly unique and at the same time familiar. Definitely his talents are underrated.
Track Listing:
1. Good Times Roll
2. My Best Friends Girl
3. Just What I Needed
4. I'm In Touch With Your World
5. Don't Cha Stop
6. You're All I Got Tonight
7. Bye Bye Love
8. Moving In Stereo
9. All Mixed Up
The Cars
Ric Ocasek- rhythm guitar, lead vocals
Elliot Easton- lead guitar, backing vocals
Benjamin Orr- bass, lead vocals
Greg Hawkes- keyboards, saxophone, percussion, backing vocals
David Robinson- drums, electric percussion, backing vocals
As I continued writing this post, I remembered my incentive for posting this album now. A few days ago, I listened to their classic hit "Just What I Needed" on the car's CD player. Hearing that made me want to visit the album. Another song on the CD is also behind the next post. The debut album from The Cars established them as a serious act in the rock world. This is the first and arguably the best of many cool records from this memorable band.
Next post: Joe Walsh: But Seriously, Folks
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Monday 3 December 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978: REO Speedwagon- You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish


Forget about the ballads form the 1980s because back in the 70's REO Speedwagon were a true hard rock outfit. Their seventh album, "You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish" is a prime example of this. This album exudes rock all the way through with some great rocking tunes like "Roll With the Changes." In this song, Gary Richrath shows exactly why I included him as one of the great guitarists of the 70s and his talents are still under appreciated today. I dare any true rocker to listen to this song and not say that they had a rocking vibe throughout.
In my last post, I stated that "How You Gonna See Me Now" was the first true power ballad. If that's the case, then "Time for Me to Fly" would be the second. The problem was that I didn't hear the song until 1980. Like your traditional ballad, it starts with the accoustic intro and builds up before exploding with heavy chords and reinforced by a killer solo from Richrath. Another triumph that makes this album so cool.
Track Listing:
1. Roll With the Changes
2. Time for Me to Fly
3. Runnin' Blind
4. Blaze Your Own Trail, Again
5. Sing to Me
6. Lucky For You
7. Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight
8. The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot
9. Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight
REO Speedwagon
Kevin Cronin- vocals, rhythm guitar
Gary Richrath- lead guitar
Bruce Hall- bass
Neil Doughty- keyboards
Alan Gratzer- drums
Before they found the billboard singles charts, REO Speedwagon was a true hard rocking band. This classic album proves this.
Next post: The Cars
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Sunday 25 November 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978: Alice Cooper- From the Inside


If I could call any album from 1978, my favourite for that year, it would have to be this one. "From the Inside" by the legendary Alice Cooper was one of the first albums that I can say that had me rocking to the rafters. Me and this album went through a lot of things together and I can identify with many of the songs on it personally. It got me through my military days, although I was more fortunate than the topic in the song "Jackknife Johnny." Living among the gambling scene of Atlantic City, I could definitely identify with "Wish I Was Born in Beverly Hills" and for the three years between my discharge from the military and going to England, I really did feel I was on the inside looking out.  "From the Inside" and I rode many miles together and no one could have done it better than Alice Cooper.
It's not uncommon knowledge that Alice Cooper got the inspiration for the album when he was admitted to a sanitarium for his alcoholism. Every song is based on people he knew there, so insanity is the running theme of the entire album. However, Alice being the genius that he is, was able to put those feelings down to some good music and make it all come alive. I know he had great help from Elton John's song writer Bernie Taupin and I give him the credit he deserves here, but it was Alice who performed and lived these songs.
Track Listing:
1. From the Inside
2. Wish I was Born in Beverly Hills
3. The Quiet Room
4. Nurse Rosetta
5. Millie and Billie
6. Serious
7. How You Gonna See Me Now
8. For Veronica's Sake
9. Jackknife Johnny
10. Inmates (We're All Crazy)

When I first introduced 1978, I said that in that year, the gods of rock were busy at their anvils forging a genre called heavy metal. I still believe this to be the case and I further believe that when they were doing this, they had a copy of this album on their home entertainment centres to give them their inspiration. One song they would have definitely taken note of from this album was the single "How You Gonna See Me Now." This was the first true power ballad in the very sense of the word. The other tracks make this a true rocking bang your head album, great with a few beers.
Next post: REO Speedwagon- You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish
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Thursday 15 November 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978: Wings- London Town


Once again, I am forced to include another album I left out in the last chapter of great rock albums of the 1970s. This time it's the "Band on the Run" album from Wings. This is particularly surprising for me because the title track to this album was my favourite song throughout most of 1974. Furthermore, I like the song "Jet" almost as much. So I can't explain why such a classic album was missed, so here it is now. "Band on the Run" is a classic rock album in the true sense of the word.
First, let me clarify something I mentioned in a previous post, "1978: The Year the Rivers of Rock Began to Overflow." I said that Paul McCartney and Wings were going disco that year. Not quite, the 1978 Wings album "London Town" is not a disco album, that applies to the next album they put out, which I won't be visiting when I cover 1979. Saying that, "London Town" is not quite as good as "Band on the Run" although some may disagree with me.
In spite of that, there are some good moments on "London Town." Many will remember the pop single "With a Little Luck," an average song that is somehow improved on by the talents of McCartney. However, it is the track, "I've Had Enough" that makes the album for me. I remember watching a clip of this song on the old "Midnight Special" show in the 70s and found myself moving my head the way they were. You could say it was the first song I head banged to.
Track Listing:
1. London Town
2. Cafe on the Left Bank
3. I'm Carrying
4. Backwards Traveller
5. Cuff Link
6. Children Children
7. Girlfriend
8. I've Had Enough
9. With A Little Luck
10. Famous Groupies
11. Deliver Your Children
12. Name and Address
13. Don't Let It Bring You Down
14. Morse Moose and the Grey Goose
Wings:
Paul McCartney- bass, vocals, guitar, drums, percussion, flageolet, keyboards, violim
Linda McCartney- keyboards, vocals
Denny Laine- guitar, bass, vocals, flageolet
Jimmy McCulloch- guitar
Joe English- drums
Comapred to "Band on the Run," it's not the greatest Wings album, but "London Town" is still a good listen.
Next post: Alice Cooper- From the Inside
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Thursday 8 November 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978: Bob Dylan- Street Legal


I am convinced that Bob Dylan took note of going electric on "Hard Rain" and used it in the making of "Street Legal." This album marked a major departure for Dylan as he used a complete rock style band and included female backing singers. For some, including many critics in the American press, this was too much and many slammed him for it. Some even accused Bob Dylan of selling out. However, I definitely don't agree with that. Back in 1978, there was disco and there are no disco sounding tracks on "Street Legal." If anyone went disco that year, it would have been the Rolling Stones with "Some Girls."
All I know was when I heard the album back then, I liked it. I believed it was a natural progression from "Hard Rain" and his rocking performance in "The Last Waltz." Furthermore, I did read some good reviews in some good music magazines and others I talked to liked the album as well. Since, I have concluded that critics of this album were stuck in the mind of seeing Bob Dylan standing alone by the microphone, playing an accoustic guitar and singing through his nose. This was a bold change in direction and I think it was good.
Track Listing:
1. Changing of the Guards
2. New Pony
3. No Time to Think
4. Baby, Stop Crying
5. Is Your Love in Vain?
6. Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)
7. True Love Tends to Forget
8. We Better Talk This Over
9. Where Are You Tonight (Journey Through Dark Heat)
Musicians
First, Bob Dylan will never don denim and leather and totally rock out, but "Street Legal" shows a different side to him. His willingness to pick up an electric guitar and incorporate it in his songs shows that he could adapt. This album is a good cross for die hard Dylan fans who also love a little rock.
Next post: Wings- London Town
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Sunday 28 October 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978: Todd Rundgren- Hermit of Mink Hollow


I know this cover isn't the one for "Hermit of Mink Hollow," it's for an earlier album from 1972, "Something/Anything?." The reason, I'm putting this album on the post as well is because the "Something/Anything?" album is one of those that got left out in the last chapter "Great Rock Albums of the 70s." Therefore, I thought I would say a few words about it here.
"Something/Anything?" is considered by many Todd Rundgren fans as one of his very best and I'm not one who's going to debate that. While it's pop oriented, including hit singles "Hello It's Me" and "I Saw the Light," there are some great rocking moments on it. Songs such as "Black Maria," "Little Red Lights" and "Couldn't I Just Tell You" are some very powerful rocking hits. Todd Rundgren also shows a sense of humour similar to Warren Zevon in songs like "Piss Aaron" and "You Left Me Sore." At the end, he takes both the hard rock sound and humourous lyrics to make the song "Slut" which leaves you in no doubt of his versatility. With all that said, let's look at the 1978 offering "Hermit of Mink Hollow."
The first thing I noticed when I first heard this album was that Rundgren follows the blue print from the "Something/Anything?" album. But he takes it one step further by playing all the instruments and furnishing all vocals himself. While past albums have large portions of them featuring Todd Rundgren alone, this is the first album to totally feature no other musicians. "Hermit of Mink Hollow" was totally created, arranged and produced by him.
The tracks on the album prove that working solo was a good idea for Todd Rundgren. True, it is also a pop oriented album, the single "Can We Still Be Friends" bears witness to it, there are some good rock moments and tracks which show his humourous side as well. "Out of Control" and "Determination" show that Rundgren can rock with the best of them and even after all these years, I still burst out laughing when I hear "Onomataopoeia." Tracks "Bread" and "Bag Lady" show his aversion to social inequality, while the former song has a good rock edge as well, once again proving his versatility.
Track Listing:
1. All The Children Sing
2. Can We Still Be Friends
3. Hurting For You
4. Too Far Gone
5. Onomataopoeia
6. Determination
7. Bread
8. Bag Lady
9. You Cried Wolf
10. Lucky Guy
11. Out of Control
12. Fade Away
There are not many artists out there who can play all the instruments, supply all the vocals and arrange production all themselves on an album and there is, in my humble opinion, no one who can do it better than Todd Rundgren. The two albums mentioned here are proof of that.
Next post: Bob Dylan- Street Legal
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Friday 19 October 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978: Warren Zevon- Excitable Boy


Back in the days of 1978, my idea of humour in music was Frank Zappa and songs that I listened to on the Dr Demento show on a Sunday evening. I listened to songs from the latter because I was amused by the funny lyrics and not because I thought the song rocked. In my mind, Frank Zappa was the only person whom I thought could rock and and be humourous at the same time. Then in June of that year, a friend of mine played the title track of Warren Zevon, "Excitable Boy" and my views then changed.
Warren Zevon brought a fresh new sound to rock with this album and showed that you can have funny lyrics and a rock sound. I wonder if the likes of Steel Panther were influenced here but there is no evidence to suggest this. Back to the topic, the single "Werewolves of London" paved the way to commercial success as hit reached number 21 in the charts allowing me and others to sample the other delights the album has to offer. Most of his songs were parodies, such as "Lawyers, Guns and Money," which takes a rip out of Cold War paranoia. This album provides a good laugh as well as a good listen.
Track Listing:
1. Johnny Strikes Up the Band
2. Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner
3. Excitable Boy
4. Werewolves of London
5. Accidentally Like a Martyr
6. Nighttime in the Switching Yard
7. Veracruz
8. Tenderness on the Block
9. Lawyers, Guns and Money
Warren Zevon- organ, synthesiser, piano, guitar, bass and vocals
Jorge Calderon- harmony vocals, Spanish vocals on Veracruz
Danny Kootch Kortchmar- guitar
Russ Kunkel- drums
The album also included many guest artists such as Jackson Browne and Mick Fleetwood. "Excitable Boy" has always been one of my favourite humourous musical album, probably second to Weird Al Yankovick who I'll be visiting much further down the line. Later in 1978, Dr Demento began playing songs from this album on his show, which just shows how good it is.
Next post: Todd Rundgren- Hermit of Mink Hollow
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Saturday 6 October 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978:Jefferson Starship- Earth


It was said that long ago, God created Jefferson Starship and then Jefferson Starship created Earth. At least that was what the television advert said back in 1978. This album was the follow up to their platinum 1976 album, "Spitfire" and it was one of the few Starship albums to feature the same line up on consecutive albums. Throughout, their turbulent history, the band have had so many changes, if all former members of Jefferson Airplane/Starship got together for a charity softball game, they would have enough people to fill both teams.
"Earth" was symbolic for the supposed mellow sound of Jefferson Starship through the mid to late seventies. Most notable were the chart hits "Count On Me" and "Runaway." These songs, combined with most of the other keyboard dominated tracks do give the album a sort of mellow out feel. However, to me, they also showcase the keyboard skills of Pete Sears, who in my humble opinion, was one of the most underrated all around musicians in rock at the time.
Ok, you're probably thinking, why is someone who is so heavy metal enriched, speaking about an album that is considered mellow? Well, "Earth" marked the end of Jefferson Starship's mellow out period and would progress to a more harder sound. However, that will be mentioned in a future post. But in spite of the mellow nature of this album, there are some hints of a rocking sound in it. The track "Skateboard" bears witness to this and "Show Yourself" does have a rocky edge and features the political lyrics of the old Jefferson Airplane. However, the hidden gem is the supposed top 40 ballad "Runaway." Yes it is what it says, however, "Runaway" contains a killer solo by guitarist Craig Chaquico. The solo makes the song for me. Finally, few albums have that final track that once you finish listening to it, leaves you with a feel good factor about the album. "All Night Long" is one of my favourite album ending songs of all time.
Track Listing:
1. Love Too Good
2. Count On Me
3. Take Your Time
4. Crazy Feeling
5. Skateboard
6. Fire
7. Show Yourself
8. Runaway
9. All Night Long
Jefferson Starship
Grace Slick- vocals, piano
Marty Balin- vocals
Paul Kantner- guitar
Craig Chaquico- lead guitar
Pete Sears- bass, keyboards
David Freiberg- bass, keyboards
John Barbata- drums
If you fancy a good mellow out trip down memory lane, give "Earth" a listen. It shows why Jefferson Starship were such a versatile band.
Next post: Warren Zevon- Excitable Boy
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Monday 24 September 2012

Great Rock Albums of 1978: The Band- The Last Waltz


There were many movie soundtracks before 1978, I know, I had to endure my sister listening to such soundtracks as "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and "Lady and the Tramp." Even in this pivotal year of 1978, there was "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease," but for me, it was the soundtrack from the film, "The Last Waltz" that made me ever want to listen to a soundtrack.
I went to see this film when it came out, only one cinema in the area even showed it and I must concur with the friend who I went to see it with. The movie sucked, the music was great. Seeing such great legends as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, the guitar talents of Eric Clapton and the finale with Bob Dylan rocking away on "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" totally blew my then seventeen year old mind.
                     
The Last Waltz was the final concert by The Band after sixteen years on the road. Eight years in bars, the other eight years playing arenas. The concert actually took place on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 and there were numerous guest stars in addition to the ones pictured here, to help them take it home. From what I saw from the film, it was a great night of music and the soundtrack bears witness to it.
Track Listing:
1. Theme From the Last Waltz
2. Up On Cripple Creek
3. with Ronnie Hawkins Who Do You Love
4. with Neil Young Helpless
5. Stagefright
6.  wtih Joni Mitchell Coyote
7. with Neil Diamond  Dry Your Eyes
8. It Makes No Difference
9. with Dr John Such a Night
10. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
11. with Paul Butterfield  Mystery Train
12. with Muddy Waters  Mannish Boy
13. with Eric Clapton  Further On Up the Road
14. The Shape I'm In
15. with Bobby Charles Down South In New Orleans
16. Ophelia
17. with Van Morrison   Tura Lura Lura (It's an Irish Lullabye)
18. with Van Morrison Caravan
19. Life is a Carnival
20. with Bob Dylan  Baby Let Me Follow You Down
21  with Bob Dylan  I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Met)
22. with Bob Dylan  Forever Young
23. with Bob Dylan  Baby Let Me Follow You Down (reprise)
24. with all the guests plus Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood   I Shall Be Released
The Last Waltz Suite
25. The Well
26. with Emmylou Harris  Evangeline
27. Out of the Blue
28. with The Staples  The Weight
29. The Last Waltz Refrain
30. The Last Waltz with Orchestra
The Band:
Robbie Robertson- guitar
Rick Danko- bass
Garth Hudson- keyboards
Richard Manuel- organ, piano, dobro guitar
Levon Helms- drums
This album definitely changed my view of movie soundtracks and since then, I have purchased and listened to a good number since. The Last Waltz is definitely a piece of music history which I would encourage everyone to listen to at least once in their life time.
Nest post: Jefferson Starship- Earth
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