Shriekback - Nemesis, from Big Night Music plus Oil and Gold (for Greg)

Shriekback - Nemesis.  Really?  Sorry, I had to.  My pal Greg, my first pal with his own apartment - it was very cool, had records by this band and played them frequently.  He should be doing the guest post here, but he won't if I ask.  Too busy.  All I know is that I had to buy these records when I saw them in the fifty cent bin.  Since I only know that I don't care for the band - I will let Mr. Wiki write the guest post here:  "Shriekback are an English rock band, formed in 1981 in Kentish Town by Barry Andrews, formerly of XTC and League of Gentlemen (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals), and Dave Allen, formerly of the Gang of Four (bass), with Carl Marsh, formerly of Out On Blue Six (guitars/vocals) soon added to the line-up. They were joined by Martyn Barker on drums in 1983.  Other members included: Linda Nevill, Emma Burnham, Brian Nevill, Pedro Ortiz, Clare Hirst, Lu Edmunds, Wendy and Sara Partridge (from Electric Guitars), Steve Halliwell, Eve Moon, Ivan Julian, Mike Cozzi, and Jessica Palin/Jose Fina Cupido."  With all that talent - I think they were a bust, but hey - they made it in to my blog, so they got that going for them I guess.

Name This Record (it is Don McLean's Homeless Brother)

No clues on this one...

Chicago (Transit Authority) - their eponymous debut album

Chicago (Transit Authority).  This their eponymous (sort of) debut album.  Right after it came out - they were forced to drop the Transit Authority from their name.  I forgot how great this record is.  It was recorded in 1969 at Columbia Recording Studios in New York.  This a unique and rare (not from a collector's perspective) record album for a couple reasons.  One - this being the band's first album is what I will call a DDA - a Debut Double Album.  [I am an expert on DLA's - the ubiquitous Double Live Album.] That 2-record format for a debut is unheard of - and risky.  Who else had a debut album with 2 records? And - B. for my money - it was Chicago's finest album.  And they've had many - perhaps 35, using goofy Roman Numerals, like the Super Bowl.  Thus, Chicago makes it onto a list that a band really does not want to be on.  The "Their First Album was their Best Album" list.  They join The Cars, Boston, Molly Hatch, The Allman Brothers, Clint Black, and the Marshall Tucker Band - on that list.

Stealers Wheel - stuck in the middle with the great Leiber & Stoller

Stealers Wheel.  After reading their co-autobiography I just had to get this record.  Leiber & Stoller, they of a storied 5-plus decade song-writing and record-making career as partners, produced this record.  If not for reading the book, I would never have known that.  That famous duo wrote tons of hits - Hound Dog for Big Mama Thornton, Elvis, etc.  Songs like KAnsas City, On Broadway and many others for groups like The Coasters and the Drifters, and Ben E. King.  But the reason you know this record is for Stuck in the Middle with You.  Gerry Rafferty of course is singing lead vocals.  Study the album cover and see how many times you can see the band's name appear.