Don McLean - Tapestry. The other tapestry...his debut album

Don McLean - Tapestry.  The other tapestry...his debut record.  I will let Don take this one himself.  If you like, click on the title line of this post, and you will see and Don doing a very nice version of the title track of this, his debut record.  The song's message hold up quite well and seems more than appropriate and relevant in today's world and times.  It was produced by Jerry Corbitt, of The Youngbloods.

BTO - Freeways

BTO...Freeways.  Here are the TLA (three letter acronyms) bands that should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Starting with BTO.  Then, REO, UFO, ELO, ELP, and XTC.  More on that list later, but back to BTO.  This is Freeways, the sixth studio album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1977.  It was the last album that Randy Bachman would be a part of with BTO, until the "reunion" in 1983.  This is also the last studio album to be made with the classic and successful "Not Fragile" line up.  It was the first BTO studio album to become a commercial failure, featuring the first BTO single that did not chart ("My Wheels Won't Turn").  Randy Bachman wrote every song besides "Life Still Goes On."  Many of BTO's core fans did not like the album as it was not the heavy, guitar driven rock n' roll that BTO was known for.  Fred Turner was reportedly so unhappy with this album that he wouldn't allow a straight-on picture of himself to be used on the cover, saying he felt like a "side man."  This album was one of the last albums to reach the charts by any formation of BTO.  The 8-track tape version of this album has the distinction of being one of the few 8-tracks that is arranged exactly like the album, with no song breaks.

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes - In the Heat...

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes...over in my Vinyl Record Collectors group on LinkedIn, some of us have been discussing "regional" bands.  I think SSJ & the AJ's, sadley, could be lopped into that category.  The Michael Stanley Band, and many others.  SSJ was in the large and ever darkening shadows of his New Jersey brothers-in-arms, the Boss and Jon.  I have a few of Johnny's albums, 4 or 5, and one of my personal theme songs is All I Want is Everything.  It has a hard-driving beat, crisp monster horns, and a large-band Blues Brothers-esque type sound.  Try it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l_2UfWvrpQ

The SOS Band...SOS

The SOS Band...I also have their lp called On the Rise, from my still-intact college collection.   We thought we were pretty cool playing this hip post-disco stuff.  From the On the Rise album, we really liked the song called Just be Good to Me.  Above is their debut album.  S.O.S. is the debut album by the R&B group The SOS Band, released on Tabu Records in 1980.  The album spawned three singles, including their debut single "Take Your Time (Do It Right)."  The song was a crossover success, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Hot Black Singles chart and the Hot Dance Club Play chart.  It also reached #51 on the UK Singles Chart.  Other singles released from the album included "S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit)" (#20 R&B) and "What's Wrong with Our Love Affair?" (#87 R&B).  The album was reissued by The Right Stuff Records in 2002.  I also have their third album, aptly titled "III."  The song I like off that one is called High Hopes.  Good stuff indeed.

The Michael Stanley Band - You Break it...You bought it!

This is the first lp out from the The Michael Stanley Band...and my second post on this unique band. From his own website, we can read: "You Break It You Bought It" - The first track "I'm Gonna Love You" served notice that the Michael Stanley Band was here to rock.  Driving drums and bass, great harmonies and a nice guitar solo on the "fade" make this the perfect tune to kick off the album. Other rockers include "Face The Music", "Highway Angel", and "Lost In The Funhouse" which was the first home to Tommy Dobeck's drum solo in concert. Balanced by a few beautiful ballads like "Dancing In The Dark", Jonah's hit single 'Waste A Little Time On Me", "Sweet Refrain", and the album closer "Where Have All The Clowns Gone"/ “Song For My Children", this album was the perfect introduction to the Michael Stanley Band. Paul Harris again lent his talent on keyboards and the project was produced by Bill Szymczyk."

You may recall the hit they had back in the seventies, He Can't Love You.  For more here, see my post from Sunday, August 7, 2011:

http://curtiscollectsvinylrecords.blogspot.com/2011/08/michael-stanley-band-according-to-music.html

Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads - Tribute...post II

Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads - Tribute...post II.

And here is a photo of the inside cover of this album.

Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads - Tribute...most expensive record in my collection

Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads - Tribute.  OK, so this one earns the Most I Ever Paid for a Used Record prize.  (Don't ask).  But having met the gentleman who took this iconic photograph - I just had to have it.  I speak of professional rock concert photographer Paul Natkin.  A couple of years ago - I saw a special on our local Chicago public television station (WTTW Ch. 11) on Paul.  Watching it, I found out Paul lives in Chicago.  So I tracked down his email address and invited Paul to come out and give a talk over lunch at my photography and camera club meeting.   Paul gave a slide show talk about all of the great rock concert photos he has taken over the past 30 years.  Read more about Paul here http://natkin.net/about-me