Neil Diamond - RNR HOF Class of 2011

Neil Diamond, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member-elect.  Leon Russell is also in this class.  Chic should have been in too.  Maybe next year.  It's a bit hard to tell this, but these are the two gatefold photos on the inside of his classic Hot August Night double live album.  I am sort of an expect on that sub-genre (double live albums) and I think I need to elevate this record up into my Top Five.  Hot August Night is a 1972 live double album by Neil Diamond. The record got its name from the opening lyrics from Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show.  This record is from a live concert of August 24, 1972, "one of ten sold out concerts that Diamond performed that month at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles."  On it - Cherry, Cherry is one of the finest versions of any song, ever recorded at a live concert for use on a live record.  It captures the best use of a a featured accoustic guitar to go along with the other, electric ones.  It just pure smokes, cranked.  When Neil says, "Take it, Alan," he is speaking to Alan Lindgren - on keyboards.  And, the Hanmond B3 and violin strings we hear at the beginning of Crunchy Granola Suite is an epic opening to a record.  Here Neil uses guitar session god Richard Bennett as his featured touring sideman, who has worked with and for Mark Knopfler, Billy Joel, Rodney Crowell and Vince Gill.  Bennett has produced Grammy award winning artists like Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and Marty Stuart.

Bertie Higgins - Key Largo

Bertie Higgins - Key Largo.  He had it all, just like Bogie and Bacall.  Born Elbert Joseph Higgins, he is best known for doing the song Key Largo, from 1982.  Well, had I had this record when I was actually in Key Largo last month, I would have posted it.  I was there on a SCUBA diving trip with my dive pals.  It was great.  We had great weather and great dive conditions.  We dove part of the nearby reef system, and some of the famous shipwrecks in the area.  This record, called Just Another Day in Paradise, was made at Pyramid "Eye" Recording Studio, in Lookout Mountain, GA, and also at Southern Tracks Recording Studio, in Atlanta, GA, in 1981.

Leon Russell - American Legend

The great Leon Russell, pure genius.  I bet if you asked most '60's - '70's rock legends who they'd want at the piano, most'd say Leon.  And Elton has recently elevated his profile with their new record out - but it really should not have taken that level of effort.  Leon's canon of work is revered on its own.  This record; I bought it last week for .49 cents.  First song on side one is A Song for You, which has been done by just about everybody.  The back side credits say this is record was Engineered by one of the great record producers of all time "Glyn Johns, M.B.E."  That stands for Member of the British Empire.  Also on the back cover, Leon writes, "This album is dedicated to Chris Stainton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, BJ Wilson, Alan Spenner, Jim Gordon, Greg Dempsey, Stevie Winwood, Jim Horn, Mr. & Mrs. Bramlett, Bobby Whiplash, Clyde King, Merry Clayton & Joe Cocker, for their inspirational music."  I have never heard of a person called Bobby Whiplash, so I bet he means Bobby Whitlock, since he played with Clapton, Winwood, and Gordon during this time period.  I photo-merged the front and back covers into one photo.  I hope to continue doing that for these single lp albums.

Name this Record (2)

I totally forgot about this guy.  I got this record for .49 cents at a record store in Chicago I just re-discovered, called Reckless Records.  This is a Name this Reocrd post.  For bonus points - please also tell readers what the asrtist's real (born with) name is, the name of the album, and his one and only hit song.  As you can see- I am using the inner photo of this unfolded single-record jacket.  Please use the Post a Comment option below for your answer.  Everyone can play, just don't peak at the comment until you have your answer.