Few people today know that Fleetwood Mac was a band. After all, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined the band back in the 70's. By the 80's they were playing former hits in concert. Even fewer people know that Fleetwood Mac was started in the 60's. One of the founding members was a man named Peter Green. He was the author of the song "Black Magic Woman" which Carlos Santana had a big hit with.
Mick Fleetwood (drummer) and John McVie (bass) were also founding members, and the only members who stayed through the whole history of the band. I've heard it said that they were also the two members who had the least influence on the sound. They had 10 albums before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined the band, and they then started become famous, with hit albums and tabloid attention , with their heavy drug use and get-togethers and breakups. With each other.
Be that as it may, the album that I have listened to the most and find the most consistent, and a joy to listen to is "Mystery To Me".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uFCN3TGre8
I find "Emerald Eyes" and "Hypnotized" to be my favorites on this album.
This incarnation of the band was John, Mick, Bob Welch (the most influential on this album) and Christine McVie (wife of John McVie at that time). Christine originally went by the name of Christine Perfect when she joined the band .
Peter Green, had by this time left the band and spent time in and out of mental institutions, at least partly because of his heavy hallucinogenic use. As well as authoring "Black Magic Woman", he was the author of "Oh Well"... one of the best rock and roll songs of all time. It has been covered by quite a few artists.
Although many of their albums are excellent, "Mystery to Me" is the by far the most consistent
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Perfect Albums - American Beauty
Yes, of course, I must include the Grateful Dead. They have been one of my most favoritest bands ever. If things had turned out a little differently, I might have been one of those guys who spent my life in a rolling commune, following them around in a school bus for years.
But , things didn't turn out that way. And I can't say that I have any regrets! 😎
Of all their albums that I truly love, I have to put American Beauty at the top. The first time I heard it, I said, "Shit, this is COUNTRY music! WTF!? "... a lot of people don't know that Jerry Garcia was in a jug band a few years before The Dead formed up.
This IS a studio album, and as such should be highly-polished.
There are no missteps on this album, and it all fits together. So, IMO, this is THE perfect album for the Grateful Dead.
You can hear it on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwmuYCnilkk
But , things didn't turn out that way. And I can't say that I have any regrets! 😎
Of all their albums that I truly love, I have to put American Beauty at the top. The first time I heard it, I said, "Shit, this is COUNTRY music! WTF!? "... a lot of people don't know that Jerry Garcia was in a jug band a few years before The Dead formed up.
This IS a studio album, and as such should be highly-polished.
There are no missteps on this album, and it all fits together. So, IMO, this is THE perfect album for the Grateful Dead.
You can hear it on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwmuYCnilkk
Perfect Albums - Linda Ronstadt
This album used to be almost impossible to find. I believe she recorded it with a different record company than the one she used later.
It has been difficult to find any of the songs from this album on any of her greatest hits compilations, as well.
She covers songs written or recorded by the likes of Jackson Browne, Hank Williams, Patsy Kline, Eric Anderson and Johnny Cash.
More info on AllMusic Guide website
List of Songs:
- Rock Me on the Water
- Crazy Arms
- I Won't Be Hangin' Round
- I Still Miss Someone
- In My Reply
- I Fall to Pieces
- Ramblin' Round
- Birds
- I Ain't Always Been Faithful
- Rescue Me
Fantastic Musicians - Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins is one of those musicians who has had a great career in Nashville, and he truly deserves it. I have listened to him off and on for years on TV shows, but the follow YouTube video showed me how truly great he is.
See, he plays in this video with Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, another of my favorite bands. Mark credits Chet as one of his great influences , and you can hear it in this video. If you watch the entire concert, you will see other true greats, Waylon and Willy, Emmy Lou Harris, the Everly Brothers.
Chet Atkins with Mark Knopfler
The whole PBS show , which I highly recommend watching. A lot of just plain pretty music.
... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEJOily0AcA
notice Michael McDonald plays keyboard with Chet!
I love "Wake up Little Susie"... not that it ever happened to me.
Some of the vocal harmonies on this show, where , for example, Emmy Lou joins the Everly Brothers just to sing backup vocals are just amazing.
I love the fact that although Mark Knopfler is quite a star in his own right, is not too egotistical to just move to the 2nd row of the band and just accompany the other guests. Quite a genteman as well as a musician.
See, he plays in this video with Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, another of my favorite bands. Mark credits Chet as one of his great influences , and you can hear it in this video. If you watch the entire concert, you will see other true greats, Waylon and Willy, Emmy Lou Harris, the Everly Brothers.
Chet Atkins with Mark Knopfler
The whole PBS show , which I highly recommend watching. A lot of just plain pretty music.
... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEJOily0AcA
notice Michael McDonald plays keyboard with Chet!
I love "Wake up Little Susie"... not that it ever happened to me.
Some of the vocal harmonies on this show, where , for example, Emmy Lou joins the Everly Brothers just to sing backup vocals are just amazing.
I love the fact that although Mark Knopfler is quite a star in his own right, is not too egotistical to just move to the 2nd row of the band and just accompany the other guests. Quite a genteman as well as a musician.
Perfect Albums - Dixie Chicken
Little Feat. Lowell George's unique slide guitar style and songwriting. The rest of the band were great musician's as well, but it was Lowell George who "put them on the map".
These albums, while Lowell was still alive, "Sailin Shoes", "Dixie Chicken", "Feats Dont Fail Me Now", "The Last Record Album", "Time Loves a Hero", "Waiting for Columbus (live, I saw them on this tour) ... well, none of them had any filler. Lowell George's influence was said to have waned as the other members of the band wanted to head in a more Jazz-Fusion direction. I have not listened to any of the albums that they released after his death, so they could all be great. I don't know.
To me, "Dixie Chicken" is the best of all of the above albums. It showed the strongest influence of Lowell and had their unique blend of honky-tonk, New Orleans, Country and just plain Rock and Roll. The title song, Dixie Chicken, is I think their best song. Hard choice, with so much great music. But there you go.
Studio Version of Dixie Chicken on YouTube
Live version from "Waiting for Columbus"
These albums, while Lowell was still alive, "Sailin Shoes", "Dixie Chicken", "Feats Dont Fail Me Now", "The Last Record Album", "Time Loves a Hero", "Waiting for Columbus (live, I saw them on this tour) ... well, none of them had any filler. Lowell George's influence was said to have waned as the other members of the band wanted to head in a more Jazz-Fusion direction. I have not listened to any of the albums that they released after his death, so they could all be great. I don't know.
To me, "Dixie Chicken" is the best of all of the above albums. It showed the strongest influence of Lowell and had their unique blend of honky-tonk, New Orleans, Country and just plain Rock and Roll. The title song, Dixie Chicken, is I think their best song. Hard choice, with so much great music. But there you go.
Studio Version of Dixie Chicken on YouTube
Live version from "Waiting for Columbus"
Fantastic Musicians - Glen Campbell
Not a lot of people know that Glen Campbell started his musical career as a studio musician. He was a member of that group nicknamed "The Wrecking Crew". They played the music for bands whose members were not necessarily world-class, and the record company wanted the best sound they could put down on vinyl. If you've heard any music by the Beach Boys, for example, you've heard Glen Campbell play guitar.
The Beach Boys could play their instruments, but the Wrecking Crew played them exceptionally well. Feel free to Google "Wrecking Crew".
Glen Campbell could PLAY a guitar. For some proof, check out this YouTube video:
Galveston live
The great solo begins around 2:37
That boy can shred on a guitar.
The Beach Boys could play their instruments, but the Wrecking Crew played them exceptionally well. Feel free to Google "Wrecking Crew".
Glen Campbell could PLAY a guitar. For some proof, check out this YouTube video:
Galveston live
The great solo begins around 2:37
That boy can shred on a guitar.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Perfect Albums - Wish You Were Here
When you talk about Pink Floyd, it's really hard to pick one that you think is perfect.
There are so many great ones. I think "The Wall" is my actual favorite, but the cohesion and quality , simple and complex at once , of "Wish You Were Here" , makes this my choice.
There are so many great ones. I think "The Wall" is my actual favorite, but the cohesion and quality , simple and complex at once , of "Wish You Were Here" , makes this my choice.
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