John Philip Sousa

What could be a better record to feature this weekend? John Philip Sousa (November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) an American composer and conductor, known best for his American military and patriotic marches. Known as "The March King," and we refer to him by his full name. My dad saw him “live, in concert” at the Minnesota state fair one year. Sousa served in both the Marines and later in the US Army. An expert trapshooter, he was one of all-time greats, and is enshrined in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame. Who knew? He organized the first national trapshooting organization, now known as the Amateur Trapshooting Association.

Three Dog Night

The first record I ever bought was the 45 RPM of TDN’s One – from a girl down the street. That was probably when I was 9 or 10 in the early ‘70’s. This record, called Golden Biscuits, is their first compilation album, of hits from their first four studio albums. It is not on this album, but The Road to Shambala is one of my favorite songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9-TshSLjao&feature=related I think they sounded so great back then (today?) because as an 8-piece band, they had three lead singers. They are still touring today with many of the originals members.

10cc - Deceptive Bends

10cc is an English "art rock" band from the 1970’s. First with a line-up of four musicians, three of whom were boyhood friends from Manchester. Most unique for one band – is they actually had two two-person song-writing teams. one the more pop-related and the other more artsy duo. Plus each guy in the band played multiple instruments. Just before this album, called Deceptive Bends, was released in 1977, two guys split the band. Recorded at Strawberry Studios in Surrey - it reached No. 3 in Britain and No. 31 in the US and produced 3 hit singles most famous one being , “The Things We Do For Love." They then added a drummer, Stuart Tosh, who used to be in Pilot. (think Ho Ho Ho It's Magic). 10cc may be more famous for their (UK) top #1 single, the reggae-infused "Dreadlock Holiday." Watch that clip at link shown above.

Hey - What about 45 RPM's?

It is time to talk about 45 RPM records. Most of the 45's I have were "toss-in's" at garage sales. This is a very intersting site: http://www.45rpmrecords.com/index.html I think the John Lennon + the Plastic Ono Band 45, with paper cover, is rare. The one in front is George Harrison's My Sweet Lord, with the B side of Isn't it a Pity. Those were played by an all-star band at the Concert for George a few years ago at Royal Albert Hall. The one on the left is the 1973 B side of Band on the Run, by Paul McCartney & Wings. Get this - the Lennon record, Power to the People was co-produced by Phil Spector. The Plastic Ono Band, a quasi super group, was made up of John and Yoko of couse, (and it was formed in 1969, before the The Beatles broke up!), plus Eric Clapton, two other Beatles (George and "Uncle Ringo" - as Dhani Harrison refers to him!), bass player Klaus Voorman, future Yes drummer Alan White, members of Delaney and Bonnie (more on them in another post), Keith Moon, the late great Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins, Phil Spector, and another drummer Jim Keltner.

High Fidelity - Simplified!

Trying to stay abreast of today's modern technology, I am reading this book. In chapter VIII, the author covers the improvements in recordings made on vinylite records, with increased frequency ranges - and corresponding improvements in phonograph pickups.
The linked article states, "High fidelity is the faithful electromechanical reproduction of an original musical performance. Among the necessary ingredients of high fidelity are wide frequency response (the ability to capture and recreate tones from deep bass notes to high treble) and wide dynamic range (a breadth of sound levels from thunderous fortissimos to hushed pianissimos). Noise that is not part of the music, such as the hiss endemic in traditional analog tape recording, must be kept to a minimum, and distortion—inaccuracy that changes the shape of musical wave forms and consequently their sound—must be restricted to near inaudibility."

Back to the book - and the records themselves, the book says - there are about 100 groves per inch on a standard 78 RPM record and 325 groves per inch on microgroove 33 1/3 RPM records. Fascinating stuff, huh?

Bob Seger's Live Bullet

My pal and fellow musicologist Doug and I were exchanging emails about Live Bullet the other day. Released in 1976, this record was a veritable soundtrack of my high school years ('75 - '79) at good old R-B. I think George was the first person I knew who had the album and I “taped” it to cassette (that was legal back then, as it is now) and wore out the connected 2-song blend of “Travelin' Man” and “Beautiful Loser” in the under-seat tape deck player I rigged in the Fiat 124 Spider Sport. It is an iconic album and arguably the finest double-live rock album of all-time. Sort of in reverse, this live album created more national sales for Seger's studio efforts at the time - such as the Night Moves record, which in turn, increased the sales of this live record. I know all the advantates of iPods and digital music files, but these are photos I took of record albums I own.

K-tel Records

If you are of a certain generation and my blog fans/readers probably are - then you have likely owned a K-tel Record, "as seen on TV!" All original songs - performed by the original artists. I got this one for fifty cents and my local Half Priced Books and Records store. The back cover is great. And this is a 2-record, double album. The first have passed away: Andy Gibb, Robert Palmer, Rick James. That's too many. And who is Toby Beau?