Enlightened Rogues

The Allman Brothers Band - "Enlightened Rogues" (1979) - Capricorn Records

Hello Friends,

Listening to the one Allman Brothers Band album in our collection tonight.

A staple of 70's FM rock, we probably should have more than this one record, obviously, but we never really got around to it I guess.

That being said, this probably isn't the one Allman Brothers record you want in your collection.  Its alright.  Nothing really jumps out at you.  The southern rock roots are definitely there, but it teeter-totters a little too close to a polished "jam band" sound.

The lead-off track, "Crazy Love" is pretty great and features background vocals by singer and Roseanne star, Miss Bonnie Bramlett.

Also, Gregg Allman's ballad on side two, "Just Ain't Easy" is a killer.

Of course, there's some fine Dickey Betts guitar work throughout, if you're into that sort of thing.

Definitely not as bluesy, or as big-sounding or as shit-kickin' swampy as their earlier stuff. 

This record is the sound of one of the great 70's bands losing a little off their fastball. 

RATING: 3.0 Enlightened Rogues and Religious Fools out of 5

The Allman Brothers Band - "Dreams" (Live 9/23/1970) & RIP Gregg Allman

Southern rocker, Gregg Allman, passed away this weekend.

Here's a clip of The Allman Brothers Band playing "Dreams" at the Fillmore East in 1970.

Shit-kickin' & Swampy!

RIP Gregg Allman!

Waylon Jennings - "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit Done Got Out Of Hand" (1979)

Howdy Friends,

Here's a clip of Waylon Jennings performing his hit song "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit Done Got Out of Hand" on Cheryl Ladd's Television Special from 1979-- back from an era where just about anyone who was anyone on t.v. had some sort of variety show special!

"The Cheryl Ladd TV Special" is notable for a couple of reasons.  First, in 1979, Cheryl Ladd was at the peak of her Charlie's Angels' hotness.  And a close second, of course, is because the hour long special features three fantastic Waylon Jennings' tunes, who was also at the peak of his powers in 1979.

Here's a link to the entire specials if you're innerested.

I've Always Been Crazy

Waylon Jennings - "I've Always Been Crazy" (1978) - RCA Victor

Hello Friends,

There's two great bits of trivia in regards to the life and career of Waylon Jennings.  The first is, did you know that Waylon Jennings gave up his seat on Buddy Holly's plane the night of the infamous crash which killed Holly, Richie Valens, the Big Bopper, etc.?

The other is that he sang the Dukes of Hazzard theme song!

This is a great, late 70's outlaw country record by the world-weary and coked-addled Jennings.

It kicks off with the great title track, "I've Always Been Crazy" where Jennings confesses:

I've always been crazy and the trouble that it's put me through
I've been busted for things that I did, and I didn't do
I can't say I'm proud of all of the things that I've done
But I can say I've never intentionally hurt anyone


Awesome!

Also on the record is a cover of a Tony Joe White song ("Billy"), a Shel Silverstein-penned tune ("Whistlers & Jugglers"), a medley of Buddy Holly hits, a Merle Haggard cover ("Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down") and a cover of Johnny Cash's early hit, "I Walk The Line" (which in Jennings's hands takes on a whole new, more somber tone!)

A must listen if you're into the boozy & druggie outlaw country movement of the late 70's.

Extra points for Jennings's coked out stare on the album's cover!

RATING: 4.5 close watches on this heart of mine out of 5

Serena - "I'll Blow You A Kiss In The Wind" (1970)

Happy Friday Friends!

Here's Samantha Stephen's much hotter cousin, Serena, serenading with her twin cousin with a wonderfully suggestive Boyce & Hart song.

Blow away!!!

Soundgarden - "Rusty Cage" (1992)

Hello Friends,

Another one bites the dust.  Soundgarden/Audioslave/James Bond Theme Singer Chris Cornell died in his hotel room last night after a Soundgarden reunion show in Detroit.

Apparently its being investigated as a suicide by strangulation.  You know what that means, friends...

RIP Chris Cornell.

We never really liked you.  But we never really hated you either.

R.E.M. - "Country Feedback" (1991)

Still probably our single favorite R.E.M. song.

A real stunner!

J. Geils Band - "Must Of Got Lost" Live 11/5/1977

Too much talking Pete Wolf!  Shut-up & play!

Nightmares... and other tales from the vinyl jungle... also, RIP Mr. J Geils

J. Geils Band - "Nightmares... and other tales from the vinyl jungle" (1974) - Atlantic Records

Hello Friends,

Jamming out to the J. Geils Band sixth record (in four years), 1974's "Nightmares... (and other tales from the vinyl jungle)".

We're also lamenting the death of band's founder, namesake & lead guitarist, Mr. J. Geils, who passed away in his Groton, Mass home last month at the ripe old age of 71.  RIP J!

The big hit here on this record is the FM radio staple, "Must of Got Lost", but the rest of the record is pretty okay as well.  

"Detroit Breakdown" is a solid opener and became a decent live staple.  "Givin' It All Up" is our favorite album track.  Outstanding. The trippy "Nightmares" and the super-funky "Funky Judge" are just meh.

Also, we wonder if the song "Stoop Down # 39" is a dig or a tribute to The James Gang's "Funk # 49"?  hmm?

RATING: 3.5 lots of kisses but not like yours honey out of 5

Chicago Transit Authority - "I'm A Man" (1969)

These guys could really rock.

I know, I know... no one was as surprised as we were!

The maniac on guitar with the guttural vocals is the amazing Terry Kath-- supposedly one of Jimi Hendrix's favorite guitarists!

Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago Transit Authority - "Chicago Transit Authority" (1969) - Columbia

Hello Friends,

Chicago Transit Authority is the very first album by the band Chicago Transit Authority (after its initial release the band was threatened by legal action by the actual Chicago Transit Authority which lead to them shortening their name to just plain, old "Chicago").

Our reaction to this record could be best described by the immortal words of Gomer Pyle, "surprise, surprise, surprise!" 

First off, its a double album which is completely nuts for a debut record! What's even nuttier is how there's really not a stinker among the bunch.

As one might expect from a Chicago record, there's lots of horns & jazzy-stuff going on, but at this early stage in the game, the music is both heavy-sounding and incredibly soulful.  It's very bass and guitar heavy with some nice psychedelic touches thrown in for good measure.  There's definitely stuff on here to please the stoners in the audience (check out the guitar solo at the beginning of "Poem 58", it sounds like Blue Cheer!) 

Of course, there's the head-bobbing hits that helped propel Chicago into one of the 70's most successful bands (songs like "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Beginnings", "Questions 67 and 68" and their cover of The Spencer Davis Group's "I'm A Man"), but there's some mind-meltingly good guitar work courtesy of guitarist and occasional singer, Terry Kath.  There's even a feedbacky, experimental guitar noise track ("Free Form Guitar") that, according to legend, features no overdubbing or electronic gimmicks. This sounds a heck of a lot more like the music on "Space Ghost: Coast to Coast" than it does "Saturday in the Park".

This is a Chicago record for people (like us) who don't even like Chicago.

Its very 60's in its sound and approach.  Its all over the place sonically and we mean that in the best way possible!

In the spirit of the times, there's even an element of social awareness to be found on the record.  On Side Four's "Prologue (August 29, 1968)" & "Someday (August 29, 1968)", the band samples the "The Whole World Is Watching" chant from the protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention (in Chicago) who were about to get their skulls knocked in by the local coppers.  Goddamned Hipsters!
   The album's opener, "Introduction" pretty much sets the stage for the entire album. Heavy and funky with a throbbing organ, a killer guitar solo and a driving (though economical) horn section.  There's great drumming, some great bass-playing, and throughout the song several shifts in both time-signatures and mood.  Its complex without being complicated. A theme that continues pretty much throughout the record.  Who woulda thunk it?

RATING: 4.5 men come up to me and ask me what the time was on my watch out of 5

Pretenders - "Don't Get Me Wrong" (1986)

Here's a fun little throwback to help pass the time on this shitty, shitty Friday!

Enjoy!

Oh Hi Chrissie Hynde!

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires - "Changes" (2016) (Live on KEXP)

Hello Friends,

We've posted the video for this song last year, but we felt the need to post this as well for its pure emotional power punch.

Wow... is it getting dusty in here?