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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 23, 2024 15:03:25 GMT -5
I recommend checking out The Doors album which came out after Jim Morrison's death. Titled Other Voices (1971) it had some killer tracks. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek supplied most of the lead vocals but it is easy to imagine Jim Morrison belting these out. The song Tightrope Ride was a top 40 single. Ships With Sails was a great extended Doors Jam Their final album, Full Circle (1972) was not as good but had a weird, catchy song, The Mosquito Do you know the American Prayer album that the three surviving Doors completed in tyhe late '70s using archival recordings of Jim Morrison reading his poetry and a couple of previously unissued full band tracks? That to me is every bit as essential as the Doors' six regular studio albums. Sure, I knew about American Prayer but to me it just sounded like a cash grab by the former members. Well you and Tartanphantom praising it will have me download a copy and check it out |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 23, 2024 15:12:10 GMT -5
4. Badfinger - Straight UpI'll have to fill in my explanation later tonight but this wasn't an album I bought myself - it was my older brother's - but it was one of the first rock or pop albums in our household that I remember getting really into. Before this he had bought almost exclusively 45s. My favorite Badfinger album of them all A little personal story for this album. I had a friend who worked for The Beatle's Apple Records office in NYC in the early 70s. When it was announced it was shutting down, all the employees began grabbing some keepsakes to take home. My friend grab some things as well but he gifted me with that Badfinger album they had. It wasn't a normal retail album. It came in a white unmarked cover with just the band name and album title in black marker. The vinyl itself was very thick, maybe twice as thick as a normal LP. It had the normal green apple logo and song listings in the middle of the album sides. I don't know what you call this vinyl version, a master copy perhaps and no idea of it's value. Sounded great on the turntable. |
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Post by impulse on Oct 23, 2024 15:14:44 GMT -5
I don't know The Crow soundtrack album, actually, but looking online, there are a few bands on it who I like, such as The Cure, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Violent Femmes and The Nine Inch Nails. A fair bit of it is the more "metally" side of alternative rock though, such as Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine, and the Rollins Band. I see it also has Pantera on there too and they are really, really not my bag. Yeah, it’s a bit of a stretch, and I know exactly what you mean with your concerns. If it’s any help, of those metally bands, it’s their less metally material. More mellow, subdued and groove oriented than blaring rock. The selections were definitely going for the more alternative vibe throughout. No problem whatever if it ends up not being in your bag, just seemed like some potential overlap there. Except the Pantera song. It’s a cover, but I don’t think there’s any chance you’ll enjoy that one. |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,202 
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Post by Confessor on Oct 23, 2024 17:21:23 GMT -5
Do you know the American Prayer album that the three surviving Doors completed in tyhe late '70s using archival recordings of Jim Morrison reading his poetry and a couple of previously unissued full band tracks? That to me is every bit as essential as the Doors' six regular studio albums. Sure, I knew about American Prayer but to me it just sounded like a cash grab by the former members. Well you and Tartanphantom praising it will have me download a copy and check it out It's a great album to drive at nighttime to. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Oct 23, 2024 17:31:19 GMT -5
#3 - Synchronicity by The Police (1983) This came out the summer before my Sophomore year of high school. So I have heard this music quite a bit. I was never a big fan of The Police, but it's perfectly fine. Well, after all my blather about posting on time, life happened, and here we are. We've had a lot going on this week, and company arrive tomorrow, so we will see when I can get them in. Next for me...
3. Mortal Kombat: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1995) Never played that game. Never seen that movie. And I suspect that listening to that Soundtrack would be slightly worse than putting knitting needles in my ears. |
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Post by berkley on Oct 23, 2024 18:24:56 GMT -5
It's not traditional Mexican music, but two of the best alternative Mexican rock bands of the 80s and 90s were Caifanes and Café Tacvba. Thanks, I'll have a look for them. |
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Post by berkley on Oct 23, 2024 18:26:43 GMT -5
#2 - Swinging Doors and The Bottle Let Me Down by Merle Haggard (Capitol 1966) Is there anything left for me to say? Another one of Dad's albums, another one that I will pull up and listen to very frequently. This was Hagg's second album, but the first one that really showcased him as a songwriter of both hits and of album tracks. The hits on his first album "Strangers" were all written by other people (Liz Anderson, Wynn Stewart, and Tommy Collins). Hagg did some nice album tracks on that album, but this is where his song-writing really began to shine. He had really worked hard with Fuzzy Owens to hone his writing skills and all but two tracks on this one came from Haggard's pen. As much as Waylong and Willie defined country in the early 70s, Haggard defined late 60s country. So let's have those two hits that gave the album it's name. I definitely would like to get this one for myself. I don't know Haggard's music well but I like all the things of his from the 60s that I've heard. |
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Post by berkley on Oct 23, 2024 18:37:21 GMT -5
Some brief comments on other folks' recent picks... King Crimson-In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969) I don't know any King Crimson at all. I'd long regarded them as being impenetrably overblown prog nonsense, but just the week before last, a friend of mine who I think has great taste in music was saying that I should check them out because they are excellent. He also said he's not sure if he would describe them as being "prog", per se. I'll have to give this album a listen sometime and find out. 4. Badfinger - Straight Up Muso friends have been telling me for years that I need to listen to Badfinger more. I only really know the Paul McCartney-penned single "Come and Get It". I need to check them out properly sometime.
I think you should definitely check out King Crimson. I wonder if your friend is thinking of their later records when he questions whether they're really prog because I think their earlier albums would fall under that category for most listeners.
My favourite Badfinger songs are probably Baby Blue and No Matter What, to which Tartanphantom posted a video. In fact, much as I love Straight Up, I might agree with Tartanphantom that No Dice (which I didn't get to know in full until much later in life) is the album to try out by them first, as it's the earlier record and perhaps reflects more accurately how they saw themselves and their music as a band - reportedly they weren't entirely happy with Todd Rundgren's influence on Straight Up, though I think it's a great sounding record. But if you like that one you'll undoubtedly want to try Straight Up as well.
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Post by impulse on Oct 23, 2024 19:07:43 GMT -5
Well, after all my blather about posting on time, life happened, and here we are. We've had a lot going on this week, and company arrive tomorrow, so we will see when I can get them in. Next for me...
3. Mortal Kombat: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1995) Never played that game. Never seen that movie. And I suspect that listening to that Soundtrack would be slightly worse than putting knitting needles in my ears. I would be shocked if there were even two seconds on this album that you would enjoy. |
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Post by berkley on Oct 23, 2024 21:28:56 GMT -5
#3 - Synchronicity by The Police (1983) As a child in the late '70s and early '80s, I had enjoyed a few of The Police's singles, but Synchronicity was the first of their albums that I had bought. My best friend back then got this album before me, and it was while listening to it in his bedroom that I realised I really wanted a copy myself. He did me a cassette tape copy, which I had for around a year before I'd managed to save up enough pocket money to afford my own copy of the LP. This was the band's commercial peak, with the hit singles "Every Breath You Take", "Wrapped Around Your Finger", "King of Pain", and "Synchronicity II" all being taken from the record. But I also regard it as their artistic peak, though the earlier albums had been brilliant too. The reggae influences of their earlier career had been eradicated because they were alienating the middle-American market, and in its place came subtle world music touches and a new sharpness and sophistication to Sting's songwriting. Not that there weren't odd and quirky moments on this album too: Stewart Copland's "Miss Gradenko" is a fabulously tongue-in-cheek song about an illicit workplace romance, while Andy Summer's "Mother" is a maniacal-sounding, Psycho-influenced song that never fails to produce a grin when I hear it. The sophistication, complexity, and soulfulness of Sting's lyrics really made an impact on me at the time. This was a good few years before I encountered Bob Dylan's music, so at this point, I hadn't come across anybody who wrote such thought-provoking song words as the ones found on Synchronicity. The album's lyrics were an education, and some of the concepts and ideas presented here certainly changed the way I thought about the world forever. Here's the wonderfully poignant deep cut, "Tea in the Sahara" for you to check out… This is one of those albums I've never owned myself and have never known really well but I did hear it all the way through a few times back in the day because a friend had it. It's been many years since then but I did recognise this song you included, Tea in the Sahara, once it got to the chorus. The only Police album I owned myself was Regatta de Blanc. I'll probably have to go out and find that now that I'm reminded of it, and Synchronicity too. Also Ghost in the Machine, which I remember someone having at the time. |
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Post by berkley on Oct 23, 2024 21:32:41 GMT -5
4. Badfinger - Straight UpI'll have to fill in my explanation later tonight but this wasn't an album I bought myself - it was my older brother's - but it was one of the first rock or pop albums in our household that I remember getting really into. Before this he had bought almost exclusively 45s. My favorite Badfinger album of them all A little personal story for this album. I had a friend who worked for The Beatle's Apple Records office in NYC in the early 70s. When it was announced it was shutting down, all the employees began grabbing some keepsakes to take home. My friend grab some things as well but he gifted me with that Badfinger album they had. It wasn't a normal retail album. It came in a white unmarked cover with just the band name and album title in black marker. The vinyl itself was very thick, maybe twice as thick as a normal LP. It had the normal green apple logo and song listings in the middle of the album sides. I don't know what you call this vinyl version, a master copy perhaps and no idea of it's value. Sounded great on the turntable.
Great story. I've never seen a record like that so no idea what the extra thickness signifies.
Any particular tracks you especially like from Straight Up? I like hearing these details from anyone who likes a favourite record of mine.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 23, 2024 21:43:15 GMT -5
John Lennon- John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (December 1970) Recorded 2 months after the official breakup of The Beatles . I had never heard anything like this album up to this time no one has equaled it since. Especially coming from someone who was already world famous for many years and watched him for close to a decade evolve. Lennon does not hesitate to reveal all his fears and anxieties, insecurities, deep love for his wife. He's brutally honest, his childhood background is painful. He was undergoing psychological "pain therapy" before the recording of this album and it's used for chilling effect The music is sparse but raw and effectively makes his lyrics and vocal delivery totally up front. "Working Class Hero" and "God" are 2 of it's most well known songs. I chose "Mother" the opening album cut as the album sampler. 
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 23, 2024 21:55:07 GMT -5
Any particular tracks you especially like from Straight Up? I like hearing these details from anyone who likes a favourite record of mine.
To my ears, there was no throwaway, filler songs on this LP. Sure-"Baby Blue" and "Day After Day" were power pop rock masterpieces. When I was listening/ playing albums to myself or friends back then, you'd generally play just one side of the album and then move on to the next album. Never could decide which side of this LP was the best. And such a shame that subsequent LPs from Badfinger never came close |
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Post by berkley on Oct 23, 2024 22:17:15 GMT -5
Any particular tracks you especially like from Straight Up? I like hearing these details from anyone who likes a favourite record of mine.
To my ears, there was no throwaway, filler songs on this LP. Sure-"Baby Blue" and "Day After Day" were power pop rock masterpieces. When I was listening/ playing albums to myself or friends back then, you'd generally play just one side of the album and then move on to the next album. Never could decide which side of this LP was the best. And such a shame that subsequent LPs from Badfinger never came close Agreed, I never was tempted to skip any tracks. But as a young kid I would usually be listening to records on my own and would play both sides all the way through anyway. I've picked up their later albums on cd over the years but haven't listend to them enough to form any strong opinions. No Dice, the one before Straight Up, I have got into in a big way, probably because I already knew a few of the songs. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Oct 24, 2024 9:52:05 GMT -5
#1 Golden Hits by Roger Miller (Smash 1965)  This came out right as Miller was tearing up the country charts, the AC charts, and was crossing over to and occasionally tearing up the pop charts. It is, I believe, his best-selling album ever. This was one of Mom's records and it wasn't unusual for it to go on before or after Trini Lopez. It also, apparently, had my first favorite song on it. Legend has it that as a toddler I would sing along You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd...which mostly consisted of shouting "Do it do it do it" at the top of my lungs. Miller was a charismatic performer and an amazing songwriter, the depth of whose work tends to get buried under his reputation as a novelty act. But a lot of the lyrics underlying what might, on the surface, seem to be approaching a novelty song are a whole lot deeper. Dang Me is about a guy who knows he's destroying himself and his family, but can't (or simply won't) stop himself. But you have to actively listen for it, because on the surface it's a pretty breezy little ditty. King of the Road...well that is simply 2:25 of absolute brilliance. I have loved this album since I was able to form words. And I still do. I know and love every track and honestly if I hear one of the tracks come on satellite radio or on a streaming feed...I automatically expect the next song to be whatever came after it on this album. So what do we go with here...since I love all these songs? How about my first favorite (which is a pure novelty song) and one of Miller's more serious (and underrated) songs.
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