Rick Astley: Whenever You Need Somebody

Rick Astley - Whenever You Need Somebody is his first album, from 1987.  His best selling record, Rick is from Lancashire, England.  Check out the accoustic start to his smash hit, Never Gonna Give you Up, by clicking on this post's title.  It is a very catching pop tune which I like in small doses.  The record was produced by the trio known as Stock Aitken Waterman, aka SAW, who were a UK songwriting and record producing team of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Peter Waterman.  They had much success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s. The three are considered to be one of the most successful songwriting and producing partnerships of all time, scoring more than 100 UK top 40 hits, selling 40 million records.

Laura Branigan: Gloria!

It's outdoor summer concert season here in Chicago.  On the menu soon is Deep Purple, EW&F, and Peter Gabriel.  Reviews to follow forthwith.  So for now, here we have Laura Branigan's eponymous debut album, from 1982, with her smash hit Gloria on it.  We get to hear some all-time great session muscians playing on it: guys like Lee Sklar,  Steve Lukather, and Michael Landau on guitar.  Bob Glaub on bass, and the prodigious Michael Boddicker on keyboards.  It's a fun album and I like the cover.   I did not know she passed away in 2004.

Triumph's First Album

This is the first record from that other great, Canadian (Toronto-area), 3-man rock and roll band: Triumph.  In that unique and narrow category - they are my favorite, as my Rush fan pals all know.  Rush is a very close 2nd in that category.  Are there more than two?  But more accuartely and generally - they just happen to one of my all-time favorite bands of all time - regardless of size or country of origin.  This is the back cover, photo, right. Their eponymous and first album which came out in 1976, the year I stated high schoool.  But I had not caught on to them until my pal Greg played Hold On from their 1979 album, called Just a Game.  This album was later on re-titled In the Beginning (then remastered again in 2005).  The back cover shows a large, for the day, mixing board.  The drummer sings on some songs - but I like Rik Emmett best for that.  Hold On is one of the most underrated rock athems of all time.  Thanks Greg!

Pleasures of the Court

Pleasures of the Court.  Festive Dance Music by Susato and Morley from the times of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The early music Consort of London & The Morley Consort directed by David Munrow. Sounds like a party to me! Side one is Tielman Susato belting out Twelve Dances from The Danserye, 1551. Side two has Thomas Morley getting down with Dances for Broken Consort From First Booke of Consort Lessons, 1559.  Recorded live at All Saints Church, Tooting, London, England.  Covering all the bases.

Joe Cocker: With a Little Help from my Friends - and what friends he has!

This is Joe Cocker's With a Little Help from my Friends.  Could not believe I scored it for just fifty cents.  In great condition too.  Not, repeat not - a very flattering photo of Joe.  Joe invented playing Air Guitar - at Woodstock remember.  On the back cover of this record we see small photos of the people who play for Joe on this record.  He does a great version of Dave Mason's Feeling Alright.  On that song the credits are Backing Vocals: "Brenda Holloway, Merry Clayton and Brenda's Sister."  This cool.  On Bye Bye Blackbird, the awesome Chris Stainton is listed on Bass, Piano & Organ.  I saw Chris last summer at Eric's Crossroads fest.  How's this, on Marjorine, (co-written by Stainton) none other than Albert Lee & Jimmy Page on listed on Guitars.  You are kidding me - this is his first studio record, from 1969.  Joe Cocker makes greats songs his own, without ruining them in translation.

WAR - all day music and plug for vinyLPhile magazine

 

WAR - all day music. Eric Burdon was not in WAR for this record. This album has the song Slippin' into Darkness on it, which I have heard many times on Steve Dahl's radio (now podcast) show. I saw WAR at Ravinia a few years ago. If you are as into vinyl as I am, I want you to know about an excellent all-things Vinyl newsletter, called vinyLPhile (great title) published by Rich Teer. The sixth issue of Vinylphile magazine is now available for download, see link below. This issue marks their one year anniversary. I really like the format and writing in Vinylphile. It is well-indexed, and has lots of cool features like in-depth Feature stories, great hi-fi Equipment Reviews, and also - starting on page 24 (of my33) is my favorite part - the newsletter's many excellent Record Reviews.  Maybe Rich will allow for a Guest Review of a record in some future issue - like I do here from time to time.  Here is a direct download link to the current issue:  ww.vinylphilemag.com/pdf/vinylphile-006.pdf

Ambrosia: One Eighty

Ambrosia One Eighty.

Ambrosia - is it wrong?  This has How Much I Feel on it - and Biggest Part of Me (make a wish baby).   Joe Bellamy is listed at Co-producer and Recording Engineer.  I think he is a Bellamy Brother.  And Ernie Watts gives us that smooth tenor saxaphone tone.  Look that guy up - he's a jazz giant.  The album cover photo creeps me out some.  Not sure what they were try to convey - but who cares.  Man Hugs are back in I guess.  And on the back cover - there are more man hugs.  This album is produced by Freddie Piro.  This is from 1980.  No - Joe Bellamy is NOT one of the Bellamy Brothers.  So that's about it.  Best find on this record is tenorman Ernie Watts.