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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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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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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