Rick Nelson - In Concert; not a DLA...with the Stone Canyon Band

Rick Nelson...In Concert.  This is a tremendous record.  And Ricky Nelson - what a talent, and like many others before and after - a sad, tragic, and premature ending.  This SLA is from 1970. It is called In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969 is a live country rock album by Rick Nelson recorded at The Troubadour in Los Angeles on December 13, 1969.  The cover of the album I own is slightly different (rarer?) than the more common one that actually has the words "at the Troubadour 1969."  But it is the same record nonetheless.  It would have been cool to see a band play there live, of at the Whiskey.  It was the debut of his Stone Canyon Band, which included established and future country rock legends Randy Meisner, (on bass), Tom Brumley, (Steel Guitar - look that guy up!), Allen Kemp, (on Guitar) , and Patrick Shanahan (Drummer).  This album was recorded two years before his very famous comeback album Garden Party, and was his highest-charting release in three years.  The album contains four songs written by Nelson, three Bob Dylan compositions, as well as other songs by Eric Andersen and Tim Hardin.  Hey a Tim Hardin song!  Loyal readers know I LOVE knowing that because - all together now:  Tim Hardin Played at Woodstock.  The Troubadour performance that night was attended by many fellow musicians and songwriters.  Try the Tim Hardin song here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2nGXfh2wU0

Thomas Dolby - Blinded by Science, Mini LP/5 Songs

Thomas Dolby.  This is a 5-song mini LP.  Could be rare - not likely. The original and full LP was originally released in the UK and US that included the songs "Europa and the Pirate Twins", "Airwaves", and "Radio Silence," - however - from what I just read on wiki - "the first releases of Dolby's first solo album, The Golden Age of Wireless (Harvest, 1982) did not include the album's signature hit, "She Blinded Me With Science."  After this album - photo above - the five-song EP titled "Blinded By Science" introduced that catchy single, the lp "The Golden Age Of Wireless,"  was subsequently re-released with the single that, combined with its accompanying video, became Dolby's most commercially successful single, reaching #5 on The Billboard Hot 100.  The album was released a total of five times, each with changes in song order and included songs, or even including a different version of "Radio Silence" or an extended remix of "She Blinded Me With Science."  Dolby's debut album, Wireless peaked at #13 on the Billboard Album Chart.  It juxtaposed themes of radio technology, aircraft, and naval submarines with those of relationships and nostalgia.  While much of the album's instrumentation is synthesizers and samplers, the album credits a long list of guest musicians as well, with instruments ranging from harmonica and violin to guitar and percussion."

Laura Nyro - 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee

Laura Nyro - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, class of 2012.   I really should know more about her - but I don't.  Laura Nyro (1947 - 1997) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist.  She achieved critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and this one that I own shown above - New York Tendaberry, and she had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th Dimension recording her songs.  Her style was a hybrid of Brill Building-style New York pop, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, show tunes, rock and soul.  Between 1968 and 1970, a number of artists had hits with her songs: The 5th Dimension with "Blowing Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", "Save The Country" and "Black Patch";  BS&T and Peter Paul & Mary - "And When I Die," and Three Dog Night and Maynard Ferguson with the classic Eli's Coming.

For an updated version of 3DN, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znaYWPIM72A

And Streisand's take on "Stoney End", "Time and Love", and "Hands off the Man (Flim Flam Man)."  Nyro's best-selling single was her recording of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Up on the Roof."

Paul Shaffer - solo record EP

Paul Shaffer  - When the Radio is On.  With an all star lineup that includes Dion Dimucci, Will Smith, Ellie Greenwich, Carole Kane, Johnny Maestro, Daddy O...and others, from 1989 David Letterman Show.  Actually the video is the best when to find out about this record.

Here it is:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVAxOFgvvf4

Little River Band - ever had a Diamantina Cocktail?

Little River Band...the Australian Air Supply meets Pablo Cruise?  Or Firefall-ish and Toto-esque?  Those are cheap and lazy comparisons, I know, that might be too harsh.  But I think many readers here may have liked (and played) perhaps some of their songs.  This blogger confesses to having really liked Lonesome Loser when it came out, and still does:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ6T7mWeNho

An even better clip is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xYEVp2p2l4&feature=related

This is Diamantina Cocktail, their third album.   I read that a "diamantina cocktail" is a drink invented in the area of the Diamantina River in Queensland, Australia.  It consists of Bundaberg Rum, condensed milk and an emu's egg.   You will know the song on this record - Help is on its Way.   The U.S. version of the album was actually a partial compilation of the Australian versions of After Hours and Diamantina Cocktail.  In the 1980's, Capitol Records released the remaining tracks on a U.S. version of After Hours.  The album was the band's breakthrough in the United States, reaching #49 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart in 1977 and containing two top 20 singles in "Help Is on Its Way" and "Happy Anniversary."

John Sebastian - a Son of Woodstock

I just about feinted. I snagged this gem last year for .49 cents.  If you are old enough to remember Woodstock - then John Sebastian is the prodigal son thereof.  This cover photo was selected by Woodstock creator Michael Lang to grace the front cover of his fine book.  On the right side - you can see the list of The Players.  They are: Dallas Taylor, Stephen Stills, The Ikettes, Reinol Isaac Andino, Danny Weiss, Gayle Levant, Buddy Emmons, Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Beutens & friends, David Crosby, Bruce Langhorne, Buzz Linhart and Graham Nash.  Some names we know - some we don't.  You might also know John from the band he was in and fronted - the Lovin' Spoonful.  They are in the RNRHOF.  John Sebastian came on at Woodstock, on the 2nd day, Saturday, at about 3:30 pm, when the weather seemed OK, in the unenviable spot right after Carlo Santana.  John's 5-song set was filmed and has been described at mellow and playful.  Before his one-song encore, John allegedly commented, "Just love everybody all around ya, and clean up a little garbage on your way out and everything's gonna be alright."  This is a great interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq2IVpkBikE&feature=related