Boston's Third Album. Where they should've stopped.

A crime, I paid just forty nine cents for this record.  It rounds out my Boston collection.  I don't count their 4th and 5th ablubs.  Did they have a 6th?  By now (then, really), noted genius and recluse Tom Sholz had/has jumped the shark.  The bulk of the liner notes on the this record are about 1.) how awesome Tom is (OK, he actually IS quite awesome; has a masters degree in mechanical engineering from MIT) for having invented the Rock Man, and 2.) OK - we get it Tom, absolutely no synthsizers were harmed [used] during the making of this record.  I think the bad used a girl bass player after this record.  Nice.  And guys I just saw play drummer Sib Hashiam and guitar great Barry Godreau were not longer in the band.  This album has the hit Amanda on it, plus Cool the Engines.  By the way - the Rockman is Rockman is a highly-praise invention in rock and roll technology.  Like the name suggests (think Sony Walkman) it is a guitar amplifier and headphone unit.  The original Rockman was developed and built by Tom's Scholz Research & Development, Inc.  Tom later sold Scholz Research & Development to Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. in 1995.  Dunlop continues to manufacture the Rockman Ace, and Tom Scholz's signature still appears on the unit.

AHH..THE NAME IS BOOTSY, BABY! - and Funk University

Bass player, the funkalicious Bootsy Collins.  This record was produced by George Clinton and William "Bootsy" Collins.  Credited on this record are the Horny Horns, with Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Rick Gardner, Richard "Kush" Griffith.  And also on Horns: the Brecker brothers, Randy & Michael.  Bootsy is also famous for his original "Space Bass" guitar, made in Warren, MI by Larry Pless of Gus Zoppi's music store.  His first Space Bass had a mahogany body and maple neck, white finish and mirror pick guard.  His current signature instrument is a custom-built star-shaped bass guitar he calls the "Space Bass," built for him by Manuel "Manny" Salvador of GuitarCraft in 1998.  Recently - Collins launched Funk University ("Funk U"), an online bass guitar school.  And of course he himself is lead professor.  Funk University "offers an intense curriculum tailored for intermediate to advanced bass players as well as anyone interested in a deeper understanding of funk."  Wow, really - did not know that.  I wonder if Professors Emeritus should be James Jamerson, Jimmy Williams, John Entwhistle, Stanley Clarke, Michael Anthony, Bernard Edwards, Robert Bell, and Aston Barrett - just to name some of my favorite bassmen.

Frankie & the Knockouts: with Oscar Winner Frankie Previte

To get a feel for this band, try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5NTd363Svc&feature=related

The song is Without You.  This band shocked me.  We all heard their songs, but I had no idea who they are/were.  Frankie & the Knockouts.  Really?  OK, I think they had a couple of hits.  Cartoon drawings on the frong and back covers?  Most bands in this ear would never have done that.  They would always go with actual photos of the band.  And since I don't know anything about them, I will let Mr. Wiki tell us.  "Franke and the Knockouts was a short lived, early 1980s band formed in New Jersey, and fronted by singer/songwriter Franke Previte. Originally there were five members in the band. Franke and the Knockouts were signed by Millennium Records in 1981 and had three U.S. Top 40 singles and two Top 50 albums. Franke and the Knockouts' biggest single, "Sweetheart," (video clip on title above) was written by Previte and Guitarist Billy Elworthy and became a Top 10 hit in 1981, peaking at #10 in the U.S.  They also wrote and released the original versions of Eric Carmen's 1987 hit single "Hungry Eyes" as well as the song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," (both of which were featured in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing). Previte would later be an Academy Award winner.  His Academy Award was won for Best Achievement in Music; Best Song for 1987 for Dirty Dancing's "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" with co-composers John DeNicola and Donald Markowitz.  The band switched to MCA in 1984 and had several album releases but they disbanded in 1986. The group's other two Top 40 hits were "You're My Girl" and "Without You (Not Another Lonely Night)."

Lunch at Buddy Guy's Legends; and buying vinyl in the Gift Shop

Start with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3arjxjGThY  Recorded live in 1974 at Montreux Jazz Festival.  Buddy Guy & Junior Wells Drinkin TNT 'n' SMOKIN' DYNAMITE LP on 180g Vinyl.  This is a new pressing of an old record.  Produced by Bill Wyman.  Here is who plays on it:  Buddy and Junior of course.  Plus Pinetop Perkins on piano.  Wyman on bass.  Terry Taylor on rhythm guitar.  And Dallas Taylor on drums.  I played it last night - what a great recording of a legendary performance.  I know now why this is one of just four vinyl albums for sale at Buddy's gift shop.  He wants you to only buy the best and he is sheer genius on this record.  Subtle, powerful, playful, and hurt.  He also tells the audience that when he is away from home on long tours, it's them that make him feel like he IS home.

Try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXJ-YPKqguA  From the liner notes by Peter Shertser:  Bill was bakcing Muddy at Montreaux when Mud finished, Buddy and Junior were to go on but seemed unhappy with the back band provided.  Having played with Bill previously in the US on a Stones tour, they asked him (Bill), if he could assemble a rhythm section.  Wyman jumped at the chance, and the results have all the fire and spontaneity of a Chicago "Blue Monday" session.  Yes, I bought this record, new - right at Buddy Guy's Legends blue club on Chicago's near southside.  Walked there and back from my office for lunch with Mac, a good pal and blues afficienado.   During lunch we caught an accoustic blues set by Chicago's own Harmonica Hinds.  http://harmonicahinds.com/6.html

Ain't No Stoppin' McFadden & Whitehead now...

The coolest - McFadden & Whitehead.  The string arrangements, the deep bass pocket, the tight vocals.  What a nice song.  My lp version - the song comes in at 10:45 on the full lp version whittled down to a lame 3:38 min. for the sing and radio edit.  The second half of the song soars with hand claps, a lushly arranged techno-synth wall, and that gorgeous and full signature Philly Sound.  It seems to have spawned the Shalamar sound with The Second Time Around.  "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" is by McFadden & Whitehead, on their debut and eponymous album, photo shown above of my copy.  They wrote and produced this along with keyboard player Jerry Cohen.  Released from their self-titled (that is the same as eponymous) debut album in 1979, ANSUN spent a week at number one on the R&B singles chart. It was also a successful crossover hit, peaking at number 13 on Billboard's Hopt 100.  And topping out at number 5 in the UK. The single also made it to number ten on the disco charts.  The bass hook was played by Philadelphia International  Records house musician Jimmy Williams.  Dig this off the hook edit remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obNZpMmmvO8&feature=related

American Bird Songs, Vol. I and II. Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology

American Bird Songs, Vol. I and II.  Cornell University.  This was a great, recent find.  I already have American Bird Songs, Vol. II, but it was an empty feeling to have vol. 2, and not vol. one.  But then - voila - I found Vol. II.  There are really special records to me.  I love watching birds, and identifying them to add my my Life List.  But after the cardinal and chickadee and few others, using just the bird's call or song to ID the bird is difficult for non-experts like me.  These records are gems.  The format is - an announcer tells the listener the name of the bird and then we hear a recorded-in-the-field recording of that bird's song or call for a few repeats.  These records are not rare - a few on eBay at the moment.  They were produced by the world famous Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a member-supported unit of Cornell University.  According to their website, "The lab is housed in the Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity in Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary.  Approximately 250 scientists, professors, staff, and students work in a variety of programs devoted to the Lab's mission: interpreting and conserving the Earth's biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Work at the Lab is supported primarily by its 40,000 members.  The Cornell Lab issues two quarterly publications, Living Bird magazine and the BirdScope newsletter, and manages numerous citizen-science projects and websites, including the Webby Award-winning All About Birds.

Buddy Miles: We got to Live Together (Them Changes)

The great Buddy Miles - We got to Livc Together.   Buddy Miles - played at Woodstock, I think.  I am guessing that because be was in Jimi's Band of Gypsies.  George Allen Miles, Jr. (September 5, 1947 – February 26, 2008), known as Buddy Miles, was an American rock and funk drummer, most known as a founding member of The Electric Flag in 1967, then as a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970.  I bought this record last week for forty nine cents.