Record Store Day: Joe Jocker - One Night of Sin

Joe Cocker - One Night of Sin.  With the awesome song called When the Night Comes.  Check it out.  I had a blast this afternoon celebrating Record Store Day.  I was in Chicago - on South State Street - at Record Breakers.   This record store had two local bands play live: a younger Green Day-ish act with plenty of fans clogging up the aisles of vinyl, but they moved around to allow me to flip through the records.  And a 3-piece accoustic group which I video taped.  I bought this one - and there is no such thing as too much Joe Cocker.  And I just love When the Night Comes. which I read in the liner notes was written by Bryan Adams, and he jacks that awesome solo out two-thirds into the songs.

Record Store Day: The Babys - Isn't it Time..?

The Babys - Isn't it Time. What an awseom song. Do you remember it? John Waite had a hit as solo artist and another guy (Jonathan Cain) went off to join Journey. But at the moment this song came out - it was the kind of rocker that had it all: bright, major chords, harmony, awesome backup singer chicks, mullets. Love it...here's to vinyl.

Today is National Record Store Day!

Get to your local record store today!  I will be at Record Breakers in Chicago, at 2109 South State Street.  It is very cool.  It is a above a live music bar called Reggie's Music Joint.  Record Breakers will have live bands, great sales, and be thee place to hang and browse records.  Look for me there.  Other record stores in and around the Chicago area that are touting the dayt and the event are Dusty Groove America, Reckless Records (3 locations!), and Val's Halla.  I am planning on doing a morning circuit at some of these stores and will bring my video camera.

Similar Names of Two Bands: Climax Blues Band vs. Klymaxx

The Climax Blues Band was originally known as the Climax Chicago Blues Band, was formed in Stafford, England in 1968. The original members were guitarists Peter Haycock and Derek Holt; keyboardist Arthur Wood; bassist Richard Jones; drummer George Newsome; and vocalist and harmonica player, Colin Cooper.  And - that guy in the video is the sax player AND the lead vocalist.  This is how I like my rock and roll.  In 1970, the group shortened its name to the Climax Blues Band due to pressure from the American band, Chicago Transit Authority. The band has released at least seventeen albums and had a Top 10 hit in the UK with "Couldn't Get It Right."  That song and "I Love You" were American hits as well; "Couldn't Get It Right" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, and "I Love You" peaked at #12 in 1981.
...and the other one - Klymaxx was conceived and formed by Bernadette Cooper, who also chose the name. The dream of an all girl band became a quest she pursued after leaving college. Through many auditions and temporary members the group that became successful consisted of drummer/vocalist Bernadette Cooper, vocalist Lorena Porter (Stewart), bassist/vocalist Joyce Irby, guitarist Cheryl Cooley and keyboardists Lynn Malsby and Robbin Grider.

Lovely Ladies: Crystal Gayle and Barbara Mandrell

A couple of lovely  ladies: Crystal Gayle and Barbara Mandrell.  Today's too-young pop starlet C&W vocalists should take a few notes on how it's done from these two gals.  Best one dollar I've ever spent on vinyl.  Yup - got these two these two for just fifty cents each - from my secret record shopping store (called Half-priced Books).  Crystal's album has the great Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue.  And Babs does one of the all-time great county ballads: If Loving You is Wrong (I don't Want to be Right).  Plus song two on side one is Sleeping Single in a Double Bed.

.... and I am gearing up of National Record Store Day - tomorrow.  Look for me at Broken Records after 10 am on south State Street in Chicago.  I will have mu pocket  video camera with me to document the festivities.

Grand Funk: Closer to Home

This is the inside cover photo of course.  It is an totally awesome live concert photo.  I could not tell in the album credits who took the photo.  But - I am honored to own this record.  It is Grand Funk Railroad's Closer to Home.  Containing the uber classic, I'm Your Captian - the last song on side two, coming in at a whopping 9 min. and 47 seconds.  Closer to Home is their third studio album, and was released in July 1970 on Capitol Records. It was produced by Terry Knight. This album reached gold status.  In 2002 "Closer To Home" was remastered on compact disc with bonus tracks and also released in a limited edition box set "Trunk of Funk" that contained the bands first four albums. The "trunk" has slots for twelve CD's to house the future release of the remaining eight albums that were released by Capitol records. Also included is a pair of "Shinin' On" 3-D glasses, guitar pick and a reproduction copy of a concert ticket.  We know that they also did the 1973 hit, "We're an American Band." The band's name is a play on words of the Grand Trunk Railroad, a railroad line that ran through the band's home town of Flint, Michigan.

Canadian Rock comes to Hawkeytown: Rush Concert Review

My pals the Cortwright Brothers should really co-author this post because besides beings good friends of mine, they are experts on both of today's topics: NHL hockey and the band Rush.  See comment below.  But I hope they will each comment, below.  It's not unusual for those on stage to announce something like, "we'd like to dedicate this next song, ________, to _________.   But last night at the United Center, two songs were each so dedicated.  One song each to two NHL legends and Hockey Hall of Famers; former Blackhawks Stan Mikita and Pierre Pilote.  Canadian rock stars know their hockey first, then their music.  And my guess is, when these three North York Torontoans play in large North American indoor arenas - during or before afternoon sound checks, they scan the rafters and see the retired numbers/sweaters of their childhood heroes.  Most know Slovak-born Ontarian, Stan Mikita, but during the show's intermission, people around out seats asked about Pierre Pilot.  I explained that he was one of the all-time great defense men, playing almost 900 games in the NHL, and many (13) seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks, and later for the Maple Leafs.  Back to the concert.  On this, their Time Machine tour, they play a 75-minute set of classics and nuggets, take a 20 min. break, and come out and play Moving Pictures in its entirety.  Then blast though another 6-8 songs ending the 3-hour show with their perfect coda, Working Man (off their 1974 eponymous debut album).  I am rather late to this band, only catching on to them since the last 15 years, unlike most true Rush fans who've been with them since 1975's Fly by Night album.

This is part of Spencer's review from last night:  We sat in the upper reaches of UC, but still enjoyed the show. After ca. 40 Rush concerts, nowadays I just like to be in the hall (or on the lawn). I enjoyed mostly the songs they don't play as often (Presto, Marathon, Time Stand Still, The Camera Eye, Witch Hunt), but did get renewed vigor on Freewill and Closer to the Heart (2112 felt good too). Of the newer songs, Far Cry is an impressive song considering it's on their most recent album (Workin' Them Angels is solid too, and has a great story for how Neil chose the title).  I look forward to their next cd, whenever they get it done!

All the World (will be) a Stage

First off - please click on this post's title for a tasty Youtube clip of Rush doing a unique studio version of Closer to the Heart.  At one min. 12 sec. watch for a studio hand swapping out Alex's guitar from accoustic to his Fender (what appears to be a) Telecaster.  Enjoy!  I have that clip from the R30 anniverary DVD.  This is also a pre-concert teaser.  Me and her and another couple TJ and Jennifer are seeing Rush on the final leg of their Time Machine tour.  They play a varied 75 minute set, take an intermission and come out and come out to a perform, in its entirety, and songs in order, their classic and epic Moving Pictures album.  Can. Not. Wait.  We don't normally post live albums here (well, acutally - we do) - but this is All the World's a Stage of course.  See you there!