Hi-Fi Holidays: Merry Christmas Johnny Mathis

Johnny Mathis - "Merry Christmas" (1958) - Columbia Records

Hello Friends,

No doubt that this record was a mainstay on many suburban household hi-fi console systems in the late 1950's/early 1960's.  I'm pretty sure it was on constant rotation at my grandparents' house during the holidays.

There's really not much to not like about Johnny Mathis and this album features some fine velvety vocals and some lush, string-heavy arrangements courtesy of Percy Faith.

No real surprises on the record.  Twelve standard holiday selections with Side One containing more of the fun/secular tunes ("Winter Wonderland", "Sleigh Ride", "Blue Christmas", etc.) while leaving Side Two the more reflective/religious side.

"Winter Wonderland" would be a modest hit for Mathis.

The best thing about the record?  There's no "Twelve Days of Christmas" to be found! We're sort of done with that here at the Vinyl in the Valley HQ.

Also, we're pretty sure after a few highballs and a few listens of Mathis' sultry take on "A Christmas Song" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" gramps would start to get a little handsy with nana!

RATING: 4 Holiday Highballs out of 5

Kenny Rogers & The First Edition - "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" (1972)

T.G.I.F. Friends,

2015 is rapidly winding down and we're not only getting ready for the weekend but getting ready for Hi-Fi Holidays on Vinyl in the Valley.

This weekend we're planning on decorating the tiki bar, setting up the tree and mixing up some festive cocktails.  We'll be spinning a few classic records to help set the mood as well.

For some reason, this extremely sad Kenny Rogers tune seems appropriate for this drizzly December Friday.

Enjoy!

P.S. Nice Mullet Kenny!

Here I Come Again Now Baby, Like a Dog in Heat

Ted Nugent - "Ted Nugent" (1975) - Epic Records

Hello Friends,

We've got some vintage Nuge on the turntable tonight.

Ted Nugent is his first solo record (since disbanding The Amboy Dukes) and its a killer.

In addition to Nugent, the record features Derek St. Holmes on rhythm guitar & lead vocals, Rob Grange on bass & Cliff Davies on drums.

Side One is solid all the way through with the eight-minute epic opener, "Stranglehold" kicking things off in a super-aggressive fashion.  Its probably the most Nugenty of all of Ted Nugent's songs.

The criminally underrated and underplayed "Snakeskin Cowboys" kicks off the record's second side.

Great, straightforward and riff-heavy guitar work throughout.  Some catchy choruses and memorable solos to boot.  Politics aside, this album will rock your face off.  Close the curtains, dim the lights and play it loud (while cleaning your guns!)

RATING: 4.5 Tickets to the Gun Show out of 5

#where's_blitzen?

 

Dead Lord - "When History Repeats Itself" (2015)

Good tune and great video!

Sounds like Swedish Thin Lizzy.

From their 2015 release, Heads Held High.

This is the day of the expanding man...

Steely Dan - "Aja" (1977) - ABC Records

Hello Friends,

We're chilling out on this cool November evening with some strong red wine and some Steelies on the turntable.

Steely Dan's sixth album is also probably their best album and its biggest claim to fame is being the "go to" record for audiophiles in the late 70's & early 80's for testing/showing off their Hi Fi systems.

(Personally, I think this was just a ploy to lure a young lady back to your apartment to "hear your sound system"... the 70's were so f'ing creepy!)

Seven songs in Steely's signature soft-rock/jazz style.  "Black Cow", "Aja" & "Deacon Blues" on Side One; Side Two is home to "Peg", "Home at Last", "I Got The News" & "Josie".

Sonically, the album does bring you back to a certain time and place: a dark-lit, late 70's love den, a whiff of incense, a hanging tapestry painted with a stalking puma and a box of Chinese medicine balls sitting atop a coffee table.

Lyrically, its literally insane what these guys were able to get away with:

Learn to work the saxophone
I'll play just what I feel
Drink Scotch Whisky all night long
And die behind wheel
They got a name for the winners in the world
I want a name when I lose
They call Alabama the Crimson Tide
Call me Deacon Blues

Wow!

RATING: 4 chinese music under banyan trees here at the dude ranch above the sea out of 5

Eagles of Death Metal - "Complexity" (2015)

Hello Friends,

Great new song by the Palm Desert California band, Eagles of Death Metal.

Last week, EODM were at the center of International attention when ISIS terrorists attacked the Parisian nightclub Le Bataclan while the band headlined.

89 concert goers and music fans were killed with many more injured.  Among the dead was 26 year old Nick Alexander, who was working the merch table for band's European tour.

Sad.  And fucked up.

It just goes to show you that in a single moment you can go from having the night of your life enjoying a rock & roll show in one of the world's great cities to an absolute fucking nightmare for reasons as random, unwarranted and illogical as deluded religious fervor fueled by anger, violence, envy & fear.

Rhett Miller - "Most in the Summertime" (2015)

Hello Friends,

Here's some new stuff by Old 97's frontman and resident hunk, Rhett Miller.

The temperature outside is dropping so some Summer lovin' seems pretty good right about now!

Winter is coming and there'll be no picnics on blankets waiting for the sun to go down for quite a few months!

Don't give up on me, friends, don't give up on me!

Dictators - "The Next Big Thing" (1977)

T.G.I.F Friends,

Here's some classic Dictators to help put you in the mood for the weekend!

Handsome Dick is still our favorite Dick!

Roky Erickson - "Bloody Hammer" - Live Rockpalast 2010

Hello Friends,

Another Halloween has come and gone and we're left with the damp, drizzly Novembers of the soul.

Good thing we still have Roky Erickson to help us through our Halloween hangovers!

Enjoy!