Producer Bill Szymczyk

I read the Don Felder tell-all book a couple of summers ago but have never been the biggest Eagles fan, but they are fascinating and certainly one of the all-time great bands.  I think Joe Walsh is/was the perfect antidote to them.  This is One of These Nights, their 4th studio album, from 1975.  The gist of this post is about record producer by .  The Eagles were huge by then, and this was their last record with founding member Bernie Leadon.  On the song called "Visions," Don Felder sings lead vocals.  Unlike most record producers, Szymczyk dies not have a background as a musician.  He was originally a SONAR operator for the U.S. Navy and took some audio production classes as part of his Navy training. Besides his work with the Eagles, he has produced hit songs and albums for Bob Seger, The Who, B.B. King, the aforementioned Joe Walsh, and Elvin Bishop.  I think he worked often at Criteria Studios.  His long relationship with the Eagles began in 1974, working on their album On the Border, which he took over from Glyn Johns.  Bill would be the sole producer for the next three Eagles studio albums, including Hotel California, the first to feature Joe Walsh. Szymczyk was key in giving the Eagles a more "rock sound" and helping them to break free from their well-earned country rock roots.  Martin Turner of Wishbone Ash calls Bill his all time favourite record producer."

Tanya Tucker - TNT

Tanya Tucker - TNT.  Now that's what I'm talkin about.  This record has some fun songs on it - like Brown Eyed Handsome Man, a great version of Not Fade Away, and Heartbreak Hotel, Angel from Montgomery, and I'm the Singer, Your the Song.  It was recorded at a place called Kendun Recorders in Burbank CA.  There's some great guitar work on it by Jerry Swallow and Billy Joe Walker, Jr.  TNT is the ninth studio album by Ms. Tucker.  Working with producer Jerry Goldstein, this seems to veer off from the Nahsville sound to a more rock-based sound.  Critics think the best song on the album may be her original version of "Texas (When I Die)," which had never been previously recorded.  Tanya Denise Tucker was born October 10th, 1958, in Seminle Texas.  She had her first hit in 1972 with Delta Dawn - at age 13.

The Kiki Dee Band - her band

The Kiki Dee Band - I've Got the Music in Me. 

We know who Kiki Dee is - but who was in the Kiki Dee Band?  Well - some pretty awesome dudes, that's who.  Jo Partidge, Phil Curtis, Roger Pope, and Bias Boshell.  Keyboardist Bias Boshell whote the title song (and hit) I've Got the Music in Me," released in 1974.  The song charted in the UK in 1974, reaching 19.  Kiki was born Pauline Matthews, 6 March 1947, in Little Horton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.  With a career in music spanning more than 40 years, of course she is best known for her 1976 duet with Elton John, called "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", which went to Number 1 everywhere.  In 1993 she performed another duet with Elton John for his Duets album, a cover version of Cole Porter's "True Love", which reached #2 in the UK.

ELP - Tarkus, the inside

This is called this inside of ELP's Tarkus - see post below from yesterday to see the front cover.  I think the artwork ranks right up there.

ELP - Tarkus (part I)

Good example of why I collect record albums.  What a great cover.  The album is called Tarkus, it is the second album by British prog rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in 1971.  In 1993 the album was digitally remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio.  It was recorded in January 1971, at Advision Studios, London, England.  The album cover, commissioned to the graphic designer and painter William Neal, and made after the music was created and recorded - Tarkus is depicted as a half armadillo and half tank creature - born from an egg erupted from a volcano.  As for William Neal, he is an English painter/graphic designer born in Guildford in 1947, who grew up Bramley, Surrey.  Best known, really, this for his artwork on this albums and also for Pictures at an Exhibition.  He graduated in 1967 at the Guildford School of Art and gained a Diploma in Art and Design, following a career in graphic arts.

Name This Record

Can you Name This Record?  My guess is - no way.  If you get this one, you have either cheated, or b.) you need to start a vinyl record blog because you, my friend, are an expert.  This is the front cover of a record.  That's my only clue.  My other general comment is - just based on the front cover photo, this might me the scariest record cover of all time. 






OK, one clue - it was recorded and mixed at Caribou Ranch, Nederland, CO.

Nancy Sinatra - Boots

Boots. Nancy Sinatra. From 1966. Looks like an origninal pressign. Water damage or wear on the left side does not bother me. Produced by Lee Hazelwood. Arranged by Billy Strange. If you can possibly manage the time, look up William E. "Billy" Strange (born 1930). Wow - he should be in the RNRHOF for sure. But he is already in these two HOF's: the Rockabilly Hall of Fame for his pioneering contribution to the genre. He was inducted into the Musicians Hall Of Fame & Museum. This album was engineered by Eddie Brackett. On Reprise Records; in mono. She also does a cover of the Rolling Stones' As Tears Go By, which I think was on one of their very first records.

Waiting for Columbus: Best Double Live Album of All Time

This is the back cover of Waiting for Columbus, by Little Feat.  The iconic Tomato Lady on her hammock is on the front, but you've all seen that.
We all love "double live" albums and there are a small handful (10-12) that are the greats.  This one is the best.  I am so confident of that pronouncement that I would bet it is in your all-time top five DLA's.  It was produced by bandleader Lowell George.  Most great records are most commonly produced by record producers who are not in the band.  I remember working at the pool one summer (1979) when I heard sadly on 'XRT (Chicago's Finest Rock) that he passed away.  But why is this the best DLA ever?: because One, it rocks, B. the liner notes say "tight is right," (they dutifully adhere to that mantra), D. it captures a uniquely American roots jam band at their zenith, the lastly - the quality of live recording master tapes (many times if bad, a deal-breaker) is note and tonal quality as perfect as you'd want/expect in a DLA.  Oh, and the Tower of Power horns "joined the band."  By 1978, LF had completed a string of tremendous studio records: Little Feat, Sailin' Shoes, Dixie Chicken, Feats Don't Fail me Now, and Times Loves a Hero.  They parlayed that buildup into wonderful jam tunes that mostly ended up on WFC.   Each of the four sides has 3, 4, or 5 great songs and each side is a great listen.

American Bird Songs - Vol. II

Those of you who know me, know that when the weather is nice, I am outside - with eyes to the sky, and looking into the the trees - birding.  This is American Bird Songs, Vol. Two.  Authentic recordings of 51 bird voices, captured with a microphone in the birds' natural habitats.  High-fidelity 33 1/3 RPM Record.  Sounds of Nature produced by the Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University."  I played this record today and it is awesome!  A narrator's voice tells us the bird's name, and then we hear the voice song - utterly fantastic!  I will cherish the record and keep with my other instructional records on things like: how to bowl better, wine selection, duck calling, and the Sounds of Speed.  This weekend down in Athens, GA while making beer with my counsin David Little on his back deck - Nancy heard, then saw an Eastern Roufus-sided) Towhee, a strikingly marked, oversized sparrow of the East, feathered in bold black and warm reddish-browns – if you can get a clear look at it. Eastern Towhees are birds of the undergrowth, where their rummaging makes far more noise than you would expect for their size. Their chewink calls let you know how common they are, but many of your sightings end up mere glimpses through tangles of little stems.