Robert Palmer - two solo albums...

Robert Palmer - solo albums.  He's on my Saw him play live List.  He has a ton a great songs!  What a shame to have lost him.  Once of the great voices of rock.  Right up there with Paul Rodgers.  The one on the left, Secrets, came out when I was a freshman in college and I got very sick of Bad Case of Lovin' You, (Doctor, Doctor, Gimme the News) - so that song is ruined for me to this day.  On the right is his epic monster Riptide, with the deeply pounding Addicted to Love.  Hey - it was produced by my all-time favorite bass player - Bernard Edwards.  Tony Thompson drums on it too!  Try to listen to more of Robert Palmer's songs and find his other gems.

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.

Santana - Abraxas

Santana - Abraxas.  This is a request post.  Over on my Linkedin group that I moderate (Vinyl Record Collectors), a guy - Randy - mentioned that this great album has two song pairs best played in order. They are: Black Magic Woman & Oye Como Va.   The great Michael Shrieve drums on this album.  His was perhaps the finest bit (from a techincal standpoint) of playing captured on the feature-length Woodstock movie/documentary.   The once and future Journy keyboard player - Greg Rolie - is on this record.  As for the above album cover artwork: Abdul Mati Klarwein (April 9, 1932 – March 7, 2002) was a painter best known for his works used on the covers of music albums.

The inside of the record album cover.

David McCallum - Music, a Part of Me, Conducts Personal Impressions of

Illya, Kuryakin - aka David McCallum.  Yes, he was in the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E.  He was actually Scottish - born to Glaswegians.  Duh.  A friend of mine also told me that David is on a wildly popular TV (have never seen it), called NCIS.  McCallum made this record in 1966, according to the jacket.  He plays no instruments on it nor sings any tunes on it.  Rather, he conducts.  OK, fine.  From the back cover - I read and transcribe here, these are songs he states that are "a part of me."  They are Turn Turn Turn, The IN Crowd, A Taste of Honey, Yesterday, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, We Gotta Get out of this Place, Downtown, The Far Side of the Moon, Louise, Insomnia, and The Sugar Cane.  The back cover liner notes, David writes, "Eight of the 12 songs need no introduction.  Of the other 4, one was written by my arranger H.B. Barnum.  Another by the producer of this album David Axlerod.  Two of them are very much a part or me.  I hope you like it."  David McCallum.

Kenny Rogers and the First Edition: Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town

Kenny Rogers and the First Edition.  Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town.  I have some newly found and rather huge level of respect for Kenny Rogers.  After viewing some old video clips of him - many with this band, the First Edition - we can see Kenny playing the bass guitar while singing in many of those videos.  I really thought he was just a "microphone in the face" vocalist, albeit with a great voice.  But he really had some nice bass chops back in the day and he looked very cool with that Fender 4-string (Jazz or P Bass) strapped to his shoulder!  Just sayin'.  Since his hey day (Gambler are), I don't think I've seen him play the bass guitar while singing since his First Edition days.  Try this one:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yReKOy6QP_s&feature=related

New Year's Day - U2: WAR

New Year's Day, from U2's WAR.   To paraphrase..."All is quiet on new year's day.  A world in white (not here) gets underway.  A crowd has gathered in black and white, arms entwined, the chosen few.  And so we are told in this golden age, and gold is the reason for the wars we wage.  Nothing changes on new year's day."