Low Spark of High-heeled Boys; Traffic

Yes, Smack (my college pal now in Tennessee), of course this record jacket has those famous clipped corners.  The front cover is rather bland, so I went with the back cover.  My guess is, Steve Winwood is in the blue coat, on the right.  I tend to show albums covers (front or back) that have people on them, to be more interesting.  I am not sure how old (young?) Steve Winwood is.was when he played on this record, but I will guess 22.  He is listed on the back cover as this record's producer.  I saw Steve Winwood just last fall - when he was on tour with Eric Clapton and they played things from their joint Blind Faith era.  "My head is spinning, from a loud guitar,: a lyric.  I have also featured a solo record by one-time Traffic member Dave Mason here.  This record came out in 1971, when I was ten years old.  Jimmy Unger, from down the street was our babysitter and he would come over on Sat. nights and he would bring Cream and Jimi Hendrix records to play on my dad's hi fi.  Recall that Clapton's favorite drummer is/was Jim Gordon, who plays on this record.  Readers here will know that if you click on this post's title - you will get a  music video treat.  Thanks Smack!  Much more on Steve Winwood on later posts.

The New Christy Minstrels: Two Fer

Formed by Randy Sparks in 1961, the group had several famous members move on to big solo careers.  Gene Clark (The Byrds), Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes, and others.  I have since moved these records to another part of the basement since they are not often (ever?) played.  If anyone reading this has a tidbit about the band, their records, or their music - I would love to hear from you in the comment section below.  Thanks!

Molly Hatchet - Gimme Some Elbow Room

Their self-title debut album from 1978. Molly Hatch had some big shoes to fill coming up out of the south in the late seventies. This is the back cover of the record. Their front covers were typically the medieval-looking artwork done by science fiction artist Frank Frazetta. See below.  But back to the music.  A band coming out of Jacksonville FL in this era needed to sound new and solid, while at the same time, be respectful of the southern rock movement, which they do/did. This record contains one of the great cover songs of all time.  MH does a version of The Allman's song "Dreams" that is so different from the original (both are great songs), that it's hard to know they are the same songs.  This record, again, their debut effort, is an oddity for this reason: it is Molly Hatchet's best record. Their follow-up, Flirtin' with Disaster was very good. But I prefer this record's songs to even their mega-selling greatest hits record.  I read recently that founding member Dave Hlubek is back in the band as it exists today.

Genesis - The Lamb

One of my favorite albums, I bought this today at the Chicagoland Record Collectors Show.  The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.  I have not owned this record until today, but I heard it played a few hundred times in college.  I beleive Peter Gabriel left the group shortly after it was released in 1974, or just after their tour supporting it.  Much has been written about this record.  It is very hard to describe, but words like groundbreaking, epic and far-reaching come to mind.  If and when Gabriel comes back to Genesis for a grand finale tour, expect many of the songs on this record to be played.  The record collectors show I went to today was very cool.  As I expected, a large hotel ballroom full of vendors that were very helpful.  Prices ranged from fifty cents and up with most average used records priced at two dollars.   I like going to the local Half Priced Books Store better.