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Meat Loaf — 326

ALBUM: Bat Out of Hell (1977)

MVC Rating: 4.0/$$$

Meat Loaf motorcycle appears to be flying out of my computer keyboard.

Meat Loaf. That’s Mr. Loaf to you sonny.

Meat Loaf was who he was/is.

What he was was: A powerful singer, who produced a highly entertaining album as I was a senior in high school. Collaborator Jim Steinman wrote the songs and Todd Rundgren threw some of his magic potion in.

And man, did the Meat Loaf album capture a teen moment with humor and dumbed down imagery so that even the slowest among us could get it. A play-by-play featuring former baseball player and announcer Phil ‘Scooter’ Rizzuto.

Bombastic. Sure it was. World changing. Surely it wasn’t.

Unless you are the one being asked in a backseat moment:: ‘What’s it going to be boy, yes or no? … Do you love me, will you love me forever? Do you need me? Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life …”

And we know what rhymes with ‘life.”

Wiki says the album is one of the best selling of all time with 43 million copies sold. It was 343 on a top 500 greatest albums list by Rolling Stone.

Entertaining. Yes. It is like a teen movie, cinematic in scope. American Graffiti with a Springsteen reach for grandeur and a Rocky Horror Picture Show reach for vamp.

Cool fact: It was rejected several times and was really was a slow starter coming out of the garage. But it picked up big support in the UK and Canada before going nuts in the U.S.

Speaking of Ellen Foley –– she was back-up singer and sang the part of the young woman asking those hard questions: Yes, yes, yes, or no?

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Flea Market vinyl: let MVC be your guide (blog version)

Reed Books has an interesting and eclectic mix of inexpensive used records including those going back into the 40’s and 50’s.

I love going to the flea market when there’s records involved. On the Fourth of July I pleaded with Catherine to take me to a 50 percent off sale.

To those just catching up: She thinks I have too many records and that I should be giving/selling records, not buying small stacks every time I walk by a bargain bin.

But, alas, my idea of counting down my childhood and young adult record picks has now morphed into something new. After a couple of decades in boxes, I now have my albums in a perfect ‘man-cave’ venue.

I am becoming (dare I say it) a collector. A bargain collector. Although there are new reissued vinyl records that I have bought or received as gifts, my big thing is going through dozens of Herb Alpert and Ferlin Husky and 101 Strings and Mantovani records to find a hidden gem.

I listen to something on vinyl every morning. I have become in my wife’s words: obsessive. Maybe so but at a dollar a record, i’m not putting too much of a dent in my bank account.

AL.com Version of this story

And I think music helps my condition: Lewy body dementia. Not only the music but the sorting, the alphabetizing, the checking for value — the highly entertaining event of learning of a new artist or song that you love and had never heard before.

Music collecting, if you are that way inclined, is a perfect supplement to the medications that those of us with dementia take. (as is exercise).

I didn’t intend to pick up my old records and become a collector — it just turned out that way with the added benefit of telling folks about dementia from one who has it.

Of course I’m biased but I think my blog might steer you to some albums that can be found as great bargains. See the ratings and expected ‘for sale price’ on many of my 300-plus I have already posted.

 

From Stevie Wonder’s ‘Hotter than July’ album:

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John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucia — 330

ALBUM: Passion, Grace and Fire

MVC Rating: 4.0/$

Although this is totally different music then the Chet Atkins instrumental buddy guitar group I reviewed earlier in the countdown (See No. 666) there are similarities: Guitar, instrumental tracks all.

The difference is that Atkins put on a jazzy folksy feel feel with a little twang left in. Some of the guitarists on that venture were Larry Carton, Mark Knopfler and George Benson.

McLaughlin, leader of the super prog group, Mahavishnu Orchestra, snagged two of the best guitarists and guitar technicians and put on a concert that needs a quiet room.

Paco de Lucia making Spanish guitar fireworks with finger-picked explosions of sound (fury included).

Not necessarily easy music to listen to. It requires direct attention. But to be honest, I did listen and I still get the feel of ‘look what I can do now show me what you can do’ vibe. It might be me projecting.

The guitar playing is fantastic, that’s for sure. The blending of three highly skilled players coming at the guitar was an idea that, once again, I think looks better on paper.

But they sure can pick. Sitting here listening, it goes across my mind. What would it have been like if they put Glen Campbell into the mix? Just a thought.

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His and Hurricanes Pt. 10 (a serial story)

The 10th in a serial story of great expectations.

(SCENE: Boybando a wasteland of abandoned theme parks, restaurants and squatter filled hotels. The Creekers controlled most of the southern part of what used to be Orlando where the tourists stops once flourished. But Prosby was looking to the north, to the woods, to the Ocala National People’s Reserve.”

Prosby was less than two miles from Burnees, but he didn’t know that.

Staying in the shadows, he still felt a presence, like somebody tailing him.  Who’s there? He stopped and asked. He’d seen a figure in black garb, an overcoat maybe. Before you could say ‘Show time’ a Light came on, mostly in Prosby’s face. He knew he was circled by four men but they were shadows.

Suddenly in one melodramatic breath, that really was quite professional sounding, the four young man sang in unison: Bye Bye Bye.

Then broke it down: “I’m doing this tonight,” they sang: “You’re probably gonna start a fight.”

Now Prosby by this time had calculated his odd (singular because he could only come up with one). He needed to get the leader. Take him out and the rest will run like boys to the backstreet: Bye Bye Bye.

“Hello I’m Justy”, the leader said, walking over hand extended.

They shook hands and Prosby palms out said “Who are you and what do you need from me? If nothing, then I’ll be on my way.’

“Hold on cowboy,’ Justy laughed, sending the others into a odd cycle of giggles that sounded like chirpin’ crickets. “We’re not through here. I  need a little dialogue here.”

“And then it’s Bye Bye Bye,” the way they sung it on queue was freaking Prosby out.

So what do you want to do. Prosby had managed to slip very close to Justy. Unafraid, Justy turned and they were nose-to-nose.

“No, I’m not going to kill you. You maybe useful to us later on,” Justy said.

Justy started to walk away. They all had leather jackets, the dressy kind. But most were barefoot and their feet were dirty and scraped.

“Oh, I understand you’re trying to find Burnees,” Justy said with a smile.

Prosby jerked his head up and began advancing — “Where is she? Where? If you have her I swear I’ll………..ZZSSTZZZZZZ77STZZ

The stun gun deposited the big spark in the back of  his neck. Prosby went down in a crumple.

After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and one-inch from his face was Justy.

“Don’t fuck with us,” Justy said. “We have an interest in seeing Burnees alive — but you? You? We are only interested in you as you can help us find her. Get it?”

Justy softened: “Listen, not looking to hurt you for real. But we need you to deliver.”

“Where is she?” Prosby was feeling out of sync with this young man.

“We believe she’s in federal custody in the Underground.  She was set for trial and will probably get death. Have not heard word one about what’s going on.”

“Where’s the portal?” Prosby asked.

“Best one to use is Alexander Springs. Once you get in, it’s easy. But be careful, it’s loaded on the surface with gators and Dizz Bots.”

Just last week, they say a man named Vanilla Ice Cream was attached to a kite by the Ben Franklin Diz Bot.

He was immediately sailed into the air and promptly electrocuted when the key taped to his forehead was struck by lightning. He still hangs in a tree. He was reported missing by his employer, MacyMart, where he did seasonal work during Christmas with packages.

He was a wrapper.

Justy stared at Prosby, then smiled: “We’ll be watching Prosby. Don’t make us find you.”

TO BE CONTINUED

Read the others in the series here.

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Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – — 331

ALBUM: United (1967)
MVC Rating: 4.0/$$

Early Motown soul by two talented soul singers. Of course Marvin Gaye is one of the genre’s all time greats.

Sadly they both had careers cut short by tragedies.

Terrell, sadly was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had eight surgeries before dying in 1970 at age 24. Gaye was a close friend and some say he never got over her death and battled depression and drug abuse all his life, according to Terrell’s Wikipedia page.,Gaye was shot and killed by his father in an argument in 1984.

Their biggest song together ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ was huge. The song had a second life when Diana Ross and the Supremes covered it. The songs are tasty and make for easy soul listening but Mountain is clearly the best song here.

There is a song in here called ‘Somethin’ Stupid’ which took me aback as Marvin sounded like he had changed voices. He sang the song like one of the Herman’s Hermits. Now I don’t mean that disparagingly to either the Hermits or Gaye, it just doesn’t sound like Gaye. Listen below.

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Taj Mahal — 332

ALBUM: Anthology Volume 1

MVC Rating: 4.0/$$$$

This album is like a folk-blues version of Dr. John’s ‘Gumbo’ album.

Whereas Gumbo featured a lot of classics and standards of the various music styles surrounding New Orleans (zydeco, e.g.) Taj is doing the same thing with blues.

Both musicians are such well studied students of their music that each of those albums could be used as examples in a 101 class of their respective music interests.

This has Blind WIlie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues” and “Six Days on the Road” leading off side 1 and side 2.

A classically trained musician, Mahal can play multiple instruments. His father was an African/Caribbean singer. His mother, too, was musical. Taj said he realized over time that the music in his house wasn’t what was coming over the radio in the outside world. So he did what all good cooks do, he blended songs, layered on his influences — everything from hip-hop to jazz to old blues and country.

This isn’t on the album but if this obscure 1990s track from Mahal doesn’t get you up on the dance floor, gyrating like their is no tomorrow, then nothing will.:

Squat that Rabbit

Like Dr. John or maybe more than Dr. John, Mahal, sprinkles a few originals and they are good (see Corrina). Most selections, however,,. are old classics such as Statesboro Blues or ‘Fishing Blues.’

Wikipedia says: Mahal often incorporates elements of world music into his works and has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music over the course of his more than 50-year career by fusing it with nontraditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa, and the South Pacific .

Early in hi s career — 1964 — the three-time Grammy Award winner played in a band with Ry Cooder called Rising Sons. The album was not released at the time but apparently was reissued in the 1990s on Legacy.

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Daily journal: 6-29-2019 Brummies REO Speedwagon edition

From Left David Oliver, Mike Oliver, Susan Schneider Williams and Catherine Oliver.

Been a wild week, much of it spent in Las Vegas. More on that in this column at AL.com: Susan Schneider Williams.

Just got through playing one of my favorite albums of the past year or so: The Brummies’ “Eternal Reach.” You know why I am listening to it? Because I saw one of the best concerts I’ve seen in recent memory last night. The Brummies at the Saturn. Even ate one of those gigantic hamburgers from the man outside. The Brummies deny classification except I guess I’d put them under Beatlesqe. I’ve said it here before, they are a band to watch (and listen to). Dang that was tight last night.

So two days earlier I was at the Lewy body dementia international conference in Las Vegas (see Susan Williams story above).. After one long day, they had a pool party and they had listed (Live Music) in the schedule. We had no idea the live music was going to be REO Speedwagon as represented by lead singer and songwriter Kevin Cronin. Now this midwestern band had a huge career in the 70s, 80s and 90s. They were from Illinois but they were huge in my 1970 Junior High School named Klondike in West Lafayette, Ind. We took a picture and as we parted ways,he told me to ‘Roll with the Changes,’ and I told him to ‘Keep on Pushing.’ Seriously that’s true. So cool.

They became this big Top-40 band with the release of High Infidelity but they had been cranking out hard rock singles since 1972, Kevin came to the event because his mother had Lewy body dementia. His voice after 40 years of rock n roll singing, is not as strong but he entertained with another REO member dipping into the group’s deep bag of hits.

Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon with Mike Oliver of myvinylcountdown.com

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Marvelettes — 333

ALBUM: Anthology (`1975)

MVT Rating: .4.0/$$$

The Marvelettes were the first all female group at Motown to obtain a No. 1 record.

‘You gotta waitaminute waytaminute Wait Mr. Postmasman.”

They were pioneering but now seemingly lost in history.

I am going to do something, however small, to correct that. First off publishing this blog post.

And in this blog I’m going to name the names of the Marvelettes. Least I can do for such an amazing talent.

Here they are from: Wikipedia: They consisted of schoolmates Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson (now Schaffner), Georgeanna Tillman (later Gordon), Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins, who was replaced by Wanda Young (now Rogers) prior to the group signing their first deal. They were the first major successful act of Motown Records after the Miracles and its first significantly successful girl group after the release of the 1961 number-one single, “Please Mr. Postman“, one of the first number-one singles recorded by an all-female vocal group and the first by a Motown recording act .

These early ‘girl-group’ and boy groups were super smooth at Motown.

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Paul McCartney (solo career and Wings) — 334

For this McCartney review I am going to rank the records I own (4) and comment on them. First off, John Lennon’s work after the Beatles was socially conscious, powerful and heartbreaking, critics said. While mostly true, it set up a false dichotomy with McCartney losing in the side-by-side comparison.

Paul’s stuff was good, excellent and silly silly. But his records contain enough good songs out there to show that he’s better than most on the radio — or at least then during the 70s.

With no further ado, the rankings in ascending order.

4. Red Rose Speedway (1973) — This has the best cover and goodies of the four McCartney albums.. A multi page booklet connected to gatefold. But album has much fewer great moments. I do like ‘When the Night.’ ‘My Love’ is big hit here, yawn. MVC Rating: 3.5/$$$

3. Venus and Mars (1975) …are more than all right tonight. Almost edged out Ram. MVC Rating: 4.0/$$

2. Ram – (1971) and overly criticized as Beatle break-up anger is still in the air. Critics chose Lennon as the genius at the expense of clear headed reviews of McCartney’s music. Paul’s stuff was easier to make fun of. Silly Songs, et.al. On this record Uncle Albert seemed like more silly fluff but I really grew to love that Abbey Road kind of song switch-up (kinda like Queen in Bohemian Rhapsody.) ‘Too Many People’ is a fan favorite. Me being the fan. MVC Rating: 4/0/$$$

1. Band on the Run: (1973) This is best. Best writing. Best song for song. Best thinly disguised metaphor for a put upon Paul. Just what do you do when laden with mountains of expectations. RUN!

Even a characteristically silly song, such as Mrs. Vanderbilt, is good. MVC Rating: 4.5/$$$

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MC5 — 335

ALBUMS: ‘Kick Out the Jams’ (1969)

MVC Rating: 3.5/$$$ (I don’t think you are going to be able to get this for under $10 and maybe not under $15.)

There’s no other way to describe this band. They are punk.

Loud shouted vocals, thrashing, loosely played, guitars and an ideology bordering on anarchy.

The only thing about MC-5. They formed their band Motor City 5 in 1964. Yes that’s right, they were screaming their heads off and playing relatively sloppy G and A chords while the Sex Pistols were getting out of Kindergarten.

It would be another decade before the Sex Pistols, often called the first punk band ,would start doing their thing. Don’t believe me check em out. I saw this used in great condition and snapped it up at WUXTRY in Athens as a teenager. So I was prepared when the Sex Pistols and the Clash, Black Flag and Dead Kennedy’s. et al. began their angry and cathartic outbursts — about 10 years later.

In 1969 MC5 put out their signature song: ‘Kick Out the Jams.’

Because they often started that song with an obscenity, the Hudson Department store chain refused to stock and sell their records. Another omen of things to come.