tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52903293857155637472024-03-05T23:43:24.771-08:00Mann's Music VaultWilliam Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-48647061790956967522013-07-18T11:22:00.001-07:002013-07-18T11:22:52.307-07:00Wish You Were HereOK and now we come to 1975's <strong>"Wish You Were Here"</strong>. Over the years this has clearly become my favorite Pink Floyd album. The music has a continuous other worldly sound to it. It also is the last Pink Floyd album with Roger Waters that you can truly put on for the simple purposes of relaxing to some truly great music. The next 3 albums (Animals, The Wall & The Final Cut) all carry some very bleak messages that you must want to listen to as opposed to simply chilling. Anyway we will get to those 3 entries next, but for now let's discuss this magnificent work.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cover depicts one business man being burnt by another.</td></tr>
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"Wish You Were Here" is really the last time that all 4 band members were actually working together, as a connected team. The album and Pink Floyd fans still benefit from this teamwork today and this release is a shining example of what Roger Water, David Gilmour, Richard Wright & Nick Mason could pull off before Roger Waters went on a ego trip that would forever change the band and their music.<br />
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Much of the music and lyric on this album revolve around the sad fate of their old friend and group leader, Syd Barret. In fact the first song, <strong>"Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Parts I - V)</strong> is clearly reflecting on the fate of Syd. This first song runs at 13:40 minutes and was originally attended to be the only track on side 1 but the original version ran at over 27 minutes so it had to be split into 2 tracks. Back in the day of vinyl there was about a 25 minute limit of music per side. Because of this limitation the song was split into 2 and the second half of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" runs another 12:31 minutes and is the final track on the album. This is simply an amazing piece of music that never grows old and is always a joy to listen to. The opening notes by David Gilmour are smooth and jazzy and could be from another world and float softly like the sea, slowing heading toward the shore. At about the 4 minute mark their is a change that moves the music at a quicker pace finally leading to Roger Waters on vocal at the 8:48 mark with the words, "Remember when you were young.....". Theres some great use of the sax in this song that has a magical jazz bounce. From the opening note of this first track the listener is captivated. This is a truly an album that must be heard through. <br />
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Next up is <strong>"Welcome to the Machine"</strong> which begins with the sounds of a huge machine, which if I remember correctly is Pink Floyd's opinion of the music industry at the time, which they often, and still do fight with. Gilmour is on vocal here and it is classic 1970's rock with a little message thrown in for flavor. I always imagine that this is the song which inspired the amazing album cover.<br />
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What follows next is <strong>"Have a Cigar"</strong> which with it's funk beat and guest vocalist, Roy Harper we are taken on a trip when Pink Floyd was signed to their first record deal. At least that's how I see it. Harper was used apparently because the band wanted an outside party to sing the lyrics as if he was an outsider. This was probably unnecessary as Harper really sounds a lot like Gilmour! The best line in this song is the record man asking, "Which one is Pink?" as he signs them to a "huge deal".<br />
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The final non "Shine On" number starts off with a FM radio playing in the background, followed by acoustic guitar and David Gilmour on vocal with <strong>"Wish You Were Here"</strong>. This is truly a great song and although this is once again about Syd we can all think of our lost loved ones as the song moves on with it smooth lyrics and soothing guitar. The FM radio we heard at the start over takes the song and it fades out.<br />
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The second part of<strong> "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"</strong> completes the album with another 12+ minutes of mystical music. Once again this track, like part 1 is simply enjoyable to listen to and is relaxing and refreshing to it's audience, No big themes here other then wonderful music.<br />
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To demonstrate how strong this material is David Gilmour's Pink Floyd would continue to open all their live performances with "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and of course treat each audience with "Wish You Were Here" (above). <br />
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This for me is the last great work done by the original 4 members of Pink Floyd. There is some good work to come from the 4 however trouble was brewing for the Floyd.<br />
William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-74982683406021350382013-07-17T11:26:00.002-07:002013-07-17T11:38:44.732-07:00Dark Side of the MoonAfter 1972 the music scene and perhaps the world would never be the same. It was in 1972 that Pink Floyd released their masterpiece, although there would be more to follow. One thing that's important that I don't think I mentioned before is that Pink Floyd was always experimenting and playing their music live before recording a note. This really helped the band to record some amazing music. <br />
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The band had been performing elements of <b>"The Dark Side of the Moon"</b> for about a year before finally hitting the recording studio at Abbey Road Studios in London. Especially in this case it helped to sharpen their skills and fine tune their collection of songs which would end up being the story of this album. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the greatest album covers of all time.</td></tr>
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Before I begin this look at DSOTM this is a great time to suggest that in my observations good music is timeless. When I sat down to listen to this particular album all the years between 1972 and today were washed away. Now my graying hair did not return to the vibrant black it used to be but that did not change the fact that the music, lyric and scope are just as meaningful and compelling today as the day it was written. </div>
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One last note before I move on. This particular album by itself sold millions of stereo hi-if systems in the 1970's. The engineering which was handled by the band and Alan Parsons is perfect and took stereo sound to levels never achieved before. The sound of this album is pure magic.</div>
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<em>Ok onto the music. </em>What remains so compelling here besides the amazing music is the story it tells. The album is basically about living in very stress filled times, full of pressures, dangers, fleeting time, sanity and death.<br />
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Each side of the album is a continuous piece of music. The five tracks on each side reflect various stages of human life, beginning and ending with a heartbeat, exploring the nature of the human experience, and (according to Waters) "empathy".<br />
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<strong><u>Side One</u></strong><br />
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The album opens with Nick Mason's short intro "<strong>Speak To Me"</strong> which includes many of the sound effects yet to come plus the beating heart of a baby. The sound then transitions into the simply peaceful and soothing <strong>"Breathe"</strong>. Gilmour's vocals are innocent capturing life just beginning. An instrumental is next titled, <strong>"On the Run"</strong> and the sounds of an airport and our main character running in order not to be late for the plane. The pressures of travel are captured in this song. The following song, <strong>"Time"</strong> is the only one on the album written by all four band members and it is excellent. The producer, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Parsons" target="_blank">Alan Parsons</a> decided to start the song with the recording of clocks from an antique clock store. The message here is a very relevant message to us as we all grow older, with time seeming to slip away out of our control. What is also amazing is that Roger Waters felt this way at the grand old age of 29! <br />
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Side one finishes up with Richard Wright's <strong>"The Great Gig In The Sky"</strong>. This one in particular is one that the band had been working on for at least a year, under several different titles. The song originally was tried with radio traffic from the crew of Apollo 17 but that was scrapped at the last minute and replaced by the amazing vocal talent of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_Torry" target="_blank">Clare Torry</a>. <br />
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<strong><u>Side Two</u></strong><br />
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Side two gets things started with a Roger Waters song, <strong>"Money"</strong> sung by David Gilmour. Once again sound effects are used with cashiers opening and closing to start the song. This song talks about how money controls everyone. The following song is probably my favorite on the album, <strong>"Us And Them"</strong>. Here you have a song where the music was written by Richard Wright and Waters penning the lyrics. David Gilmour handles the vocals. This is also the longest song on the album at 7+ minutes and has two great sax solos. The narrative here is the stress of war and ends with our character surviving (war) only to end up struggling with the monotony of entering the workforce. <br />
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<strong>"Any Colour You Like"</strong> is a short instrumental and perhaps the only filler here although it leads perfectly into Roger Waters' <strong>"Brain Damage"</strong>. This song touches on mental illness and the insanity that can effect us because of the pressures and stress of living. I am sure Syd Barrett was on his mind when writing this one. The album is complete with <strong>"Eclipse"</strong> and ends with a very quiet outro and the same heartbeat the album started out with. <br />
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The pacing of this album along with the high tech sound creation with the help of Alan Parsons cannot be disputed. The success of this album can be proven by the fact that it remained on the billboard charts from 1973 until 1988. That is a record 741 weeks. <strong>The Dark Side of the Moon</strong> is one of Pink Floyd's most popular albums among fans and critics, and is frequently ranked as one of the greatest albums of all time.<br />
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In 1994 Pink Floyd performed the entire DSOTM album live all over the world. Here you can see it from 2 angles.</div>
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William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0Cape Harbor Motor Inn 715 Pittsburg Ave, Cape May38.941217 -74.904657tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-27070360566752445482013-07-17T09:31:00.001-07:002013-07-17T09:34:23.100-07:00Obscured By CloudsThe 1972 album, <strong>"Obscured By Clouds"</strong> has no business being as good as it is. This release was written and recorded in only 2 weeks while the band was already working on their next album, "The Dark Side of the Moon". A film producer had asked the band to write music for his new film and so they did. The Floyd always wanted to work on soundtracks but it never seemed to work out for them. <br />
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Stanley Kubrick had previously approached the band to complete the soundtrack for his film, "2001: A Space Odyssey" a few years earlier but that idea crashed over "creative differences". So when French filmmaker, Barbet Schroeder requested their services for his film "La Vallee" the band "took a break" and recorded "Obscured By Clouds".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cover of <i>Obscured by Clouds</i> is an out-of-focus film still of a man in a tree.</td></tr>
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What you have here is a very relaxing and mood setting piece of music mixed in with a little jazz. <br />
This is actually a very nice little album but is often forgotten because it sits between "Meddle" and "DSOTM". <br />
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Mixed in with some very soothing instrumentals like the title song there are some excellent songs. </div>
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The best here can be found in two songs from David Gilmour. <strong>"The Gold It's the..."</strong>, and <strong>"Childhoods's End"</strong> which he wrote after reading the Arthur C. Clarke of the same name. Both of these are great rock 'n roll songs that would sound great on any rock album. <br />
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Of course Roger Waters is up to his usual self misery with <strong>"Free Four"</strong> which may be the most fun you will ever have with a song describing misery. This song actually bounces at it covers the death of Water's father in WWII and the evils of the record industry. <br />
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The Richard Wright song <strong>"Stay"</strong> is also a nice harmonizing song that we thought Pink Floyd had forgotten how to do. </div>
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There is some filler here, which is very unusual for Pink Floyd but they had very big things in the works and after all this was just for fun, and a forgotten film.</div>
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William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0Cape May Cape May38.935058 -74.90196tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-45943152344404787022013-07-17T07:53:00.000-07:002013-07-17T09:00:55.434-07:00MeddleFrom the opening notes of <strong>"One of These Days"</strong> on 1971's "Meddle" the listener is aware that something special is about to happen. It's hard to believe that the band had reported that they were a little "lost" for what to do after their previous effort when you listen to this LP. <strong>"One of These Days"</strong> has always been one of my favorite Floyd tracks. In fact it was brought back to their live shows for their last tour in 95-96 which was really cool. It actually went on to open their second act during their "Pulse" tour (video below).<br />
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The bass line on <strong>"One of These Days"</strong> is both weird and frightful. It was performed by Roger Waters and David Gilmour using two bass guitars, one on old strings. Nick Mason's abstruse "One of these days I'm going to cut you into little pieces" line was recorded at double speed using a falsetto voice, and replayed at normal speed. I still don't think this sound has ever been duplicated by anyone in Rock since. Ok well I need to move on from the opening track which as you can tell I really - really like.<br />
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As classic an LP as this there are really 3 forgettable songs on it. These are <strong>"Pillow of Winds"</strong>, <strong>"San Tropez"</strong> and <strong>"Seamus"</strong>. It is with "Seamus" that I agree. The Floyd were indeed somewhat "lost" for what to do next at this point. You see, "Seamus" is a dog and actually barks through the entire song. In fact "Seamus" is usually noted as Pink Floyd's worst song. I agree. <br />
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Now that we got those 3 songs out of the way lets love onto the final two. First up is the Waters/Gilmour tune, <strong>"Fearless"</strong>. The song's slow tempo and mellow acoustic sound bear along with an excellent vocal by Waters flows like a dreamlike state. Near the beginning and at the end of the song, a field recording of fans in Liverpool's Kop singing "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27ll_Never_Walk_Alone" title="You'll Never Walk Alone">You'll Never Walk Alone</a>" is superimposed over the music. If you listen to the 1996 live "Pulse" album you actually hear the crowd break out into this (on their own" after the band performs "One of These Days"! <br />
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Pink Floyd performing "One of These Days" in 1996.</div>
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The final song of course is the 24 minute <strong>"Echoes"</strong> which takes up the entire side 2. All four members of the band getting writing credit on this one, which is really the big brother of the earlier "Atom Heart Mother". Here their experimentation works to perfection. Right from the opening notes which are Rick Wright on keyboard creating a "ping" sound by amplifying a grand piano and sending the signal through a rotating speaker. Roger Waters has explained that the song's lyrics were an attempt to describe "the potential that human beings have for recognizing each other's humanity and responding to it, with empathy rather than antipathy." So very cool, and so very Pink Floyd. <br />
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This album was a huge success, however no one expected what to was to come next, after a very short diversion in the clouds of obscurity....<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br />William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0Cape May Cape May38.944134 -74.918187tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-78657787298226208352013-07-17T06:39:00.002-07:002013-07-17T06:46:23.301-07:00Atom Heart MotherIn 1970, with the release of <b>Atom Heart Mother</b> the Pink Floyd we would come to truly love was born. In fact it is one of my favorite albums of theirs. There are still a few musical elements from their earliest days such as "<b>Summer of '68"</b> and <b>"Fat Old Sun" </b>and I still have no idea what Nick Mason was thinking with <b>"Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast"</b> but the charm here is the opening 24 minute track, <b>"Atom Heart Mother"</b>. <br />
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From the opening moments of the title track the listener is taken for a smooth, weird and engrossing ride through several musical elements that range funk rock to motion picture soundtrack material. All of this is glued together by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Geesin" target="_blank">Ron Geeson</a>. To give you an idea of just how complex this work was the band had tried several times to perform it live in 1970 and it always ended in disaster and they finally gave up. There are so many complexities in this 24 minute piece that it is difficult to hear it all. A headset and quiet room is a must for this one. Your imagination will run away with you as you try to take in all that is offered.<br />
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<b>"Atom Heart Mother"</b> is broken into 6 suites and for the dedicated listener you can find it broken down in this order.<br />
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<li>Father's Shout (5:25)</li>
<li>Breast Milky (4:48)</li>
<li>Mother Fore (5:17)</li>
<li>Funky Dung (2:19)</li>
<li>Mind Your Throats, Please (2:02)</li>
<li>Remergence (3:54)</li>
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The "<b>Atom Heart Mother" </b>suite takes up side one while Side 2 finds more conventional music. Although it is all Pink Floyd, here on Side 2 the band is still somewhat stuck between what they were, and what they were to become.<br />
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The best of Side 2 is Rick Wright's <b>"Summer of '68"</b> and David Gilmour's <b>"Fat Old Sun"</b>. Also Roger Water's <b>"If"</b> is a sign of things to come in respect to his obvious self loathing issues. There is a line in this song, "<i>If I go insane please don't put your wires in my brain"</i> that still has a "WTF" moment for me. <br />
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This LP with a simple picture of a cow looking back at the owner of the record went to #1 in the UK and #55 in the US. This is very surprising due to it's content and it's unique musical style. This was a sign of things to come for Pink Floyd with the release of their next masterpiece. <br />
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<strong>Here is a gem</strong>. On November 28, 2011 David Gilmour performed the entire 24 minute "Atom Heart Mother" suite conducted by Ron Geesin . Enjoy and be mesmerized.<br />
<br />William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-89072135853293529822013-07-17T05:13:00.006-07:002013-07-17T05:13:55.146-07:00UmmagummaIf there is a mis-step during Pink Floyd's career it is probably 1969's "Ummagumma". This is a 2 disc set. The first disc is a "new" studio recording while the 2nd disc is a live set. The band was obviously trying to find themselves as Syd continued to fade into a non-factor. Each band member was obviously working hard at this point. The first disc is basically separated into 4 parts, with one "musical event" for each per band member.<br />
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At the time this album actually performed well and sold many copies. However, since then it is probably the least liked release by Pink Floyd. The album does have a great cover and the live disc somewhat saves it but it is by far the band's weakest entry. David Gilmour has been heard actually saying that "he just bullshitted through his part" on the album. The weakness of the first disc is probably the result of each band member simply working on their own to come up with their material. </div>
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The first disc is an example of the old saying that "the sum is greater then the parts". It was never more true then Disc 1 of "Ummugamma". </div>
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Things get a lot more interesting and enjoyable on the second disc which is a live set of their older material. Here you get live versions of <b>"Astronomy Domine"</b>, <b>"Careful With That Axe Eugine"</b>, <b>"Set The Controls For The Heart of the Sun"</b> and <b>"A Saucerful of Secrets"</b>. Each one of these make the album a must have for the Pink Floyd fan. I won't waste anyone's time talking about my favorite songs on this one as these 4 are it. The first disc is a challenge to get through.</div>
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<b>My Rating</b></div>
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As a whole the rating is a 2.5 however rated individually Disc 1 is a 2 while the live disc is a 4.5. </div>
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William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-63514961514851525882013-07-17T05:13:00.002-07:002013-07-17T05:13:08.979-07:00MoreWith 1969 upon Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett was relegated to visiting recording sessions and showing up at live shows truly not even aware that he had been replaced by David Gilmour. I believe it was during this time period that Gilmour has said that Syd would just sit in the front row during concerts watching his every move. This must have been a difficult time for the band and especially Gilmour, but they carried on. <br />
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Originally titled, <strong>"Soundtrack from the Film More"</strong> this is a strange album indeed. This can be forgiven because after all it is a soundtrack to an actual movie. What makes this such a strange trip is that there are some actual Pink Floyd acoustic folk ballads here something that Floyd rarely visited again. In addition, if you ever wanted to know what Pink Floyd would have sounded like as a heavy rock band in the style of Led Zeppelin you can find it here in, <strong>"The Nile Song"</strong> and <strong>"Ibiza Bar"</strong>.<br />
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Also unusual about this album is the David Gilmour who had really just joined the band is the only lead singer here. This would not occur again until 1987's <strong>"A Momentary Lapse of Reason"</strong>. I have always wondered if this was because many of the songs would appear on the "More" film and his vocal style is much more stylized and soothing then Waters. I have not really ever heard why this was the case on this album but it does work in it's favor. <br />
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This album also has a jazz sound that I kind of like and it's instrumentals have a flow that is peaceful and smooth. <br />
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I must also say that although Gimour gets front stage with all of the lead vocals Roger Waters wrote all but one song which is very impressive at this very early stage of their career. <br />
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<strong>My Favorite Songs</strong><br />
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<strong>"Green is the Color"</strong> - This is one of the folk songs mentioned earlier and it may not sound like the Pink Floyd we have all come to now and love but it works for me. <br />
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<strong>"Cymbaline"</strong> - Yet another jazzy folk song brought to you.... by yes "Pink Floyd". Very calm and soothing. Don't get to used to this because it won't happen very much in the future, except for perhaps, "Fat Old Sun" in 1970.<br />
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<strong>"The Nile Song"</strong> - This song simply rocks. You would almost think a great hard rock band like Led Zeppelin wrote this. But nope.. it was Roger Waters.<br />
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<strong>"Ibiza Bar"</strong> - Another true and rare blatant hard rock song from Pink Floyd. <br />
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<strong>My Rating</strong><br />
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It's a soundtrack and obviously was not the band's main focus at the time so it gets 3 out 5 stars. If you are a Floyd fan check it out, if not.. skip it for now, but someday you will be back to take a listen.William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-2722201517961506092013-07-17T05:12:00.003-07:002013-07-17T05:12:35.726-07:00A Saucerful of SecretsAfter their very successful debut LP things were looking up for the Floyd. It wasn't just "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" that had the band on rise but several single releases were hits as well. Singles such as, "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play" we're huge and great things were expected from the band.<br />
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However something was dreadfully going wrong with Syd at the time shortly after the release of their first album. It was the late 60's after all and drugs were everywhere, especially in the music circle. The band members, like many of those around them found themselves experimenting with anything that they could get their hands on. While the other band members were losing interest in drugs, Syd was stuck on LSD. He was quickly addicted and his drug use began effecting his mind and soon his quick wit and inventive and unique song writing came crashing to a halt. The band tried carrying on with him hoping his erratic behavior would fade away, but it simply got so bad he could barely perform live, let alone write meaningful songs. Roger Waters turned to David Gilmour for help. Gilmour joined the band and was asked to "mirror" Syd on stage. When Syd would stop playing Gilmour would carry on in his place. This was a struggle for the band and especially Gilmour but they worked at it as long as they could. The only album released during this time period was 1968's "Saucerful of Secrets". All five members of the Floyd are here for the first and only time. Syd is relegated to guitar on a few of the songs and only sings on the finale, "Jugband Blues". </div>
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<b>My Favorite Songs</b></div>
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Lets get on to the album now. It opens with <b>"Let There Be More Light"</b>. This is Roger Waters taking over for the mentally missing Syd and from this first song we know we are in good hands. There is a great space rock sound to this one. Obviously Waters and his band mates are not be feeling story for themselves. </div>
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Much like the previous LP this one is a little uneven as well. Mixed in with some great instrumental and experimental rock there a tunes like Rick Wright's <b>"Remember A Day"</b> that sound like typical late 60's radio single material. </div>
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Then there is <b>"Set The Controls for The Heart of the Sun" </b>once again by Waters. Typical Floyd and with the band we are taken in their spaceship for a flight to the sun. Very eerie and strange. </div>
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David Gilmour is truly in the background here, playing guitar and fading to the rear, probably hoping Syd would be OK. Anyway Syd was getting worse and he would be left behind by the band very soon, but not before writing and singing the last song on this album, <b>"Jugband Blues"</b>. This song is poignant and sad as Syd is obviously aware of his fate, just take a look at his lyrics.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>"Jugband Blues"</b><br />(Barrett)<br /><br />It's awfully considerate of you to think of me here<br />And I'm much obliged to you for making it clear that I'm not here.<br />And I never knew the moon could be so big<br />And I never knew the moon could be so blue<br />And I'm grateful that you threw away my old shoes<br />And brought me here instead dressed in red<br />And I'm wondering who could be writing this song.<br /><br />I don't care if the sun don't shine<br />And I don't care if nothing is mine<br />And I don't care if I'm nervous with you<br />I'll do my loving in the winter.<br /><br />And the sea isn't green<br />And I love the Queen<br />And what exactly is a dream<br />And what exactly is a joke.</span></div>
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<b>My Rating</b></div>
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<b>3.5 out 5.</b> While there is a lot to like here, if you a not a Pink Floyd fan it will fly high above you with little meaning. The band was still trying to find itself and Syd would soon be completely absent. With David Gilmour now firmly on board, the good ship Floyd would continue it's journey to find themselves musically with their next release. </div>
William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-30419522771247179982013-07-17T05:11:00.003-07:002013-07-17T05:11:15.796-07:00The Piper aat the Gates of DawnThis new venture is not exactly technology but it will cover perhaps the most technology and science related rock band of all time. That of course would be "Pink Floyd". If you are a well informed and dedicated reader you certainly are aware of my love of "Pink Floyd". Anyway sitting pool side on our Cape May summer vacation and reading "Pink Floyd - Uncensored On the Record" by Bob Carruthers a great idea or perhaps vision over whelmed me. <br />
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Why don't I attempt to listen to every single Pink Floyd album while on this vacation and write a short review of each one for you, my dedicated readers? Although I agreed to myself to attempt this It must be stated that I may not accomplish this Herculean task while actually at the shore as I thought of it about half way through the vacation. Of well, no problem.... I will complete it post vacation if it comes to that. </div>
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"<b>The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" (1967)</b></div>
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The Floyd's first release finds Syd Barrett in command along with Roger Waters, Rick Wright and Nick Mason. This album was created after quite a few single releases beforehand (which was very common at the time) so although there is much polish to it, it is a little uneven in presentation. While songs such as "Astronomy Domine" and "Power R. Toc H." are signs of things to come the majority of the songs are deep 60's freak out music. There is a lot to enjoy here and this LP will live on in history as a great example of the late 60's music scene as well as launching the career of Pink Floyd..... Although big changes were just around the corner and one that almost destroyed the band. </div>
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<b>My Favorite Songs</b></div>
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<b>"Lucifer Sam"</b> - one of my favorite Syd Barrett songs and it also has me thinking that this would be a great tune in a 007 film.</div>
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<b>"Power R. Toc H."</b> - Freaks me out every time I hear it.</div>
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<b>"Take Up The Slethoscope and Walk"</b>. - Oh Syd you were really one "out there" dude.</div>
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<b>"Astronomy Domine"</b> This one in particular demonstrates what is to come from Pink Floyd. This one would continue to be performed live by Pink Floyd until the end. David Gilmour still performs it from time to time. <i>A classic</i>. </div>
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5 out of 5. Not their best - but it started it all and the only Floyd showcase of Syd in album form.</div>
William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-29823949987789807762012-11-19T08:02:00.000-08:002012-11-19T08:02:00.131-08:00Pink Floyd's "Sorrow"On November 18 and 19, 2012 PBS aired the 2 part documentary, "The Dust Bowl". This excellent Ken Burns documentary describes the decade long American mid-west dust bowl of the 1930's. Because this is a music blog I feel it necessary to point out that one of my favorite Pink Floyd songs is "Sorrow" from 1989's "Momentary Lapse of Reason". <br />
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"Sorrow" was written to describe this tragic environmental story. It is believed that David Gilmour wrote this shortly after reading "The Grapes of Wrath". The opening guitar & constant drum beat both eerily set the tone of a dust storm rolling in while Gilmour's lyric perfectly describe a farmers desperation as his life goes up in a storm of dust. <br />
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<strong>"Sorrow"</strong><br />
<em>David Gilmour</em><br />
The smell of a great sorrow lies over the land<br />Plumes of smoke rise and merge into the leaden sky:<br />A man lies and dreams of green fields and rivers,<br />But awakes to a morning with no reason for waking <br />He's haunted by the memory of a lost paradise<br />In his youth or a dream, he can't be precise<br />He's chained forever to a world that's departed<br />It's not enough, it's not enough <br />His blood has frozen & curdled with fright<br />His knees have trembled & given way in the night<br />His hand has weakened at the moment of truth<br />His step has faltered <br />One world, one soul<br />Time pass, the river rolls <br />And he talks to the river of lost love and dedication<br />And silent replies that swirl invitation<br />Flow dark and troubled to an oily sea<br />A grim intimation of what is to be <br />There's an unceasing wind that blows through this night<br />And there's dust in my eyes, that blinds my sight<br />And silence that speaks so much louder that words,<br />Of promises brokenWilliam Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-30284680009301703822012-10-01T13:14:00.000-07:002012-10-01T13:23:27.451-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have to admit I have only been listening to Van Morrison recently. And that’s because of my youngest boy, Kevin who I heard recently referring to <i>“Van the Man”</i>. Don’t get me wrong friends. Van Morrison has always been on my musical radar. Very respected and one of the best. However I have always been more of a Pink Floyd man. However, once again thanks to Kevin I have been re-exploring the music of Van Morrison these past couple of months. I must say his soulful and introspective music at 47 really strike home.
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Kevin has often told me that Morrison’s 1968 “Astral Weeks” is not only Morrison's best release but one of the best albums ever released hands down. Kevin is right “Astral Weeks” is amazing and was no doubt far ahead of its time. Long introspective songs in which the lyrics never ever repeat themselves.
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However every time I hear 1979’s “Into the Music” I am moved. This to me is Morrison at his very best. Each and every song here is soulful, down to earth and spiritual.
I really love every single song on this release. However there are a couple standouts you should check out. I do however recommend purchasing the CD or iTunes version and listening to the entire album from start to finish.
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<b>1.</b> “Bright Side of the Road” – I have been listening to music since my earliest memories. This is perhaps the best “good feeling” song I have ever heard. No matter my mood or what is happening in my life this song always makes me feel better about things.
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<b>2.</b> “Troubadours” - I am not really well versed in “troubadours” but I can tell you this is one cool song.
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<b>3.</b> “And The Healing Has Begun” – Yes another example of Morrison not caring about the 3 minute song mark and simply taking his time telling a story with amazing music. This particular song also to me magnifies why Morrison is so far ahead of other musicians. At the 4:49 mark this song almost takes a “rap” turn. This is 1979 friends! Simply amazing.
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<b>4.</b> “Rolling Hills” – Van makes me want to visit England in under 3 minutes!
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As I reported this entire album is amazing. This is one great Van Morrison album and one of the highlights of the 34 he has released up onto now.
There is simply not one single wasted note here. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
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<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u92E-e0t5HY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-30544881538885921542012-09-29T12:32:00.001-07:002012-09-29T14:02:11.293-07:00Jefferson Starship's Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclW78B3daYDNtgJYZFDDbY-4LlGy2Pzw0mUKjCPdQY8BGvy96iGQFdwGIymF50aufS1E8_ntk7m6kHk1K6pCEygjsSSNDAyUQ0_5v3jT-_sB6aQrgK5etOadSUG2Rg95ABbeOZo14glX4/s1600/earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="199" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclW78B3daYDNtgJYZFDDbY-4LlGy2Pzw0mUKjCPdQY8BGvy96iGQFdwGIymF50aufS1E8_ntk7m6kHk1K6pCEygjsSSNDAyUQ0_5v3jT-_sB6aQrgK5etOadSUG2Rg95ABbeOZo14glX4/s200/earth.jpg" /></a></div>Rating the best rock music against your "favorite" are far different things. I believe that during the 1970's <i>Pink Floyd</i> was by far the best rock act hands down. However memories and feelings are a very funny thing. Every time I listen to Jefferson Starship's 1978 "Earth" my memories are flooded with teenage moments. How I loved Grace Slick and rock 'n roll at that time. This is really one great album and a true example of what 1970's rock was all about. Simply great music, awesome lyrics and LP imagery. <br />
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One of my complaints about Jefferson Starship was their musical inconsistency. Sharing song writing and vocal duties on each LP actually complicated things and hurt their standing among the greats of the time.<br />
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However with "Earth" everything works for me. From Grace Slick's "Take Your Time" to Marty Balin's "Fire" I simply love everything about this LP. <br />
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In addition Grace Slick's "Show Yourself" always blows me away and has me falling in love with her all over again. <br />
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If you want to visit what 1970's rock music was all about, the bad and the good check out this LP. It's available on itunes or at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Jefferson-Starship/dp/B000002WY3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348948855&sr=8-1&keywords=jefferson+starship+earth">amazon.com</a> for those of you without a LP player. <br />
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<b>"Take Your Time"</b><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XhNhyJu1Q1Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-46583626093495347612012-09-21T13:01:00.000-07:002012-09-21T13:07:37.615-07:00Van Morrison's "America"One of the most cool things about having children is eventually they will enlighten you and open your eyes to things you never would have seen otherwise. Now I have loved music from my earliest memories. Through my entire life music has played an important part. From KISS to Elvis to Pink Floyd and Van Morrison music surrounds me in so many ways.
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Anyway during the past few months my youngest boy, Kevin (21) has been heard praising <b>"Van and the Man"</b> and especially his 1968 album <b>"Astral Weeks"</b>. Hearing this I had proceeded to have many conversations with Kevin about Van Morrison. Although Van Morrison was always one of my most respected musicians I had kinda lost touch with him. That's until Kevin reminded me of his greatness and uniqueness.
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Van Morrison may be the most soulful and peaceful musician I have ever heard. Especially when times are tough, sad, depressing and during moments of happiness much of his music will find meaning and and bring comfort. <i>It is truly amazing.</i>
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Re-exploring Van Morrison's discology has been amazing and I thank Kevin for that. Anyway one of the little know gems I have found was <b>"Take It Where You Find It"</b> from 1978's <b>"Wavelength"</b> LP. What's very cool and enlightening is hearing Van Morrison, an Irishman singing about "America". In these months of a heated election it is probably a good idea to relax and look back at how other's see our great nation.... no matter who happens to be president or what party he is from from.
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Van the Man keeps the message simple and reminds us of the greatness of "America". In doing so we are, as my youngest boy reminded me why Van Morrison is simply referred to as "Van the Man".
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I especially appreciate the lyrics I have bolded.
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<b>"Take It Where You Find It"</b>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MYo9eyzJ2mE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<b>Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it</b>
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Take it where you find it
Cant leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
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Manys the road I have walked upon
Manys the hour between dusk and dawn
Manys the time
Manys the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
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Take it where you find it
Cant leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
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Chorus:
<b>Lost dreams and found dreams
In america
In america
In america
Lost dreams and found dreams
In america
In america
In america</b>
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And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
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Take it where you find it
Cant leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
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Repeat chorus
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Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
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Im gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
Im gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
Im gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
Im gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
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Repeat chorus two times & fadeWilliam Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-3481017744173404392012-09-12T16:06:00.002-07:002012-09-12T16:20:14.242-07:00Slick's "Starship"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmUUUkWUwF4ZmZ7NTr9V7khcj6C0p70vgP_gM2M01oxfSPB4gbRDwAEBFHYMyY7HIdLlsEj52AcyvMeaAoXuXfkAGEkGEWut5vA-5-KxZY5SeT9Dl0YXq1VWMDuRGjSNm8l9vLKdEkhet/s1600/slick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmUUUkWUwF4ZmZ7NTr9V7khcj6C0p70vgP_gM2M01oxfSPB4gbRDwAEBFHYMyY7HIdLlsEj52AcyvMeaAoXuXfkAGEkGEWut5vA-5-KxZY5SeT9Dl0YXq1VWMDuRGjSNm8l9vLKdEkhet/s400/slick.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Jefferson Starship.</b> My youth was surrounded by 3 of their albums. From 1975's <b>"Red Octopus"</b> to 1976's <b>"Spitfire"</b> and finally 1978's <b>"Earth"</b> I followed Starship without fail. Each of these LPs still hold special feelings to me. Jefferson Starship mixed Sci-Fi and the fairer sex with success and that <b>IS NOT</b> an easy task. Believe me - I tried and failed consistently. My personal problems aside I suggest you check each of these album releases out. Each one succeeds as great classic 1970's rock. If you have not heard these albums rush to itunes immediately.
The highlights of these 3 albums include:
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<b>"Fast Buck Freddie"</b>. Grace Slick at her best.
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<b>"Hot Water"</b> . OK I had a major crush on Grace Slick when I was a teenager.
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<b>"Dance with the Dragon"</b>. Simply a great song involving the entire band.
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<b>"Love Too Good"</b>.There goes Grace Slick again driving me crazy at 14.
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<b>"Take Your Time"</b>. At 14 or 47 this is probably my favorite Grace Slick song.
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<i>OK I admit it.</i> Grace Slick is not Jefferson Starship. She was only one part of the band, however she was one that caught my attention at 14.
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If you are not acquainted with "Jefferson Starship" check out these <b>3</b> albums. There is much more before (Jefferson Airplane) and afterward but these are my <b>3</b> favorites.
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<b>Note:</b> The photograph above of Grace Slick probably hung in my bedroom between the ages of 14 & 17 and she oddly stared up an my glow in the dark poster of "KISS".
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OK this is not one of the albums I mentioned above and it's actually "Jefferson Airplane" but I think it demonstrates why a 14 year old boy fell in love with Grace Slick.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WANNqr-vcx0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-77886010286731462432012-09-03T12:08:00.001-07:002012-09-03T12:14:46.927-07:00Enter Mr. Blue Sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VHDKlMw-zBpeRsXEYykZnTxLrQgCOIOHtS7uj8JSDccL6jvYeH6YHV8SRrmfvoedwmQQ_Sfg4vLy71I9T4CYFCX6u2pSBGGI3pnNxKGN0E8u7ii_uM6Li5VemsHR0dAGY9TcLZn2olU6/s1600/elo-out-of-the-blue-lp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="199" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VHDKlMw-zBpeRsXEYykZnTxLrQgCOIOHtS7uj8JSDccL6jvYeH6YHV8SRrmfvoedwmQQ_Sfg4vLy71I9T4CYFCX6u2pSBGGI3pnNxKGN0E8u7ii_uM6Li5VemsHR0dAGY9TcLZn2olU6/s200/elo-out-of-the-blue-lp.jpg" /></a></div>
On this rainy holiday Monday the wife went out to do what wives do... shopping. Once my chores were done I looked around with the rain pouring outside wondering what to do. I decided to grab a pint and play some vinyl.
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Not sure of what I was in the mood for I browsed through my LP Browser and selected 1977's <b>"Out of the Blue"</b> by <i>Electric Light Orchestra</i>. This LP holds a very special place in my music heart. That's because way back in 1977 as I was walking home from school (Saint Agnes) I walked into the Mad Platter with a few dollars to burn. Browsing the records (much like I did only today) I came upon this ELO album with a wonderful depiction of a space station and space ship on the cover. If you know me you know I love me some good science fiction. That is true now as it was true throughout my entire life. Anyway without ever hearing a note from this particular album I found myself at the record store counter making the purchase. Eagerly I arrived home, threw my school books to the ground, opened the album and placed record 1 (it's a 2 record set) and placed it on my turntable. From that first moment ELO has been one of my favorite bands. Their mix of science, space, complex orchestrated music and lyric has appealed to me. At 13 (as I was that day) or 47 ELO is amazing.
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Anyway this particular album is wonderful throughout. Today as it rained outside, Side 3 which is titled "Concerto for a Rainy Day" was appropriate. The last song on this side, "Mr. Blue Sky" is a great upbeat tune as it describes the sun appearing after a long period of rain. See the video below!
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If you have never heard this album check it out today. It is pure 1970's magic.
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<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fezrsTAf5x0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-65883882680697460282012-09-01T10:03:00.001-07:002012-09-01T10:36:02.644-07:00Loudon Wainwright III - Final Exam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjVNa_dV3E0p5KD4O5lx6BI_DBWE8Uh656DPg0MLpv51EyKuzKIDlRHuSSUMY6d3mX6jXQ4tPzC1m-5TQezZX3DbRVQuA2ddO9WpS3t86oR50qOoumVct2y9UV6fLSJkjT55a8c4sMYTn/s1600/finalexam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="199" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjVNa_dV3E0p5KD4O5lx6BI_DBWE8Uh656DPg0MLpv51EyKuzKIDlRHuSSUMY6d3mX6jXQ4tPzC1m-5TQezZX3DbRVQuA2ddO9WpS3t86oR50qOoumVct2y9UV6fLSJkjT55a8c4sMYTn/s200/finalexam.jpg" /></a></div>
Today a rare affordable Loudon Wainwright III LP was delivered by the postman. If you are not familure with LW III he arrived on the music scene in the late 1960s. He grabbed attention with his single, "Dead Skunk" (1972) and was praised by many including Rolling Stone Magazine who saw him as a new Bob Dylan type. On the surface you can certainly some simularity between the two. However very early into LW's career it became evident he simply did not have the star power of Mr. Dylan. This is not a slight on Mr. Wainwright. His unique brand of honest, humorous and often sobbering folk-rock music has thrilled many fans for the past 40 years.
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I have been following Wainwright for several years and I have seen him perform twice now and look forward to seeing him once again later this month (September 2012). Finding vinyl Wainwright is very difficult. He struggled from one label to another for much of his career. The LP which arrived today was 1978's "Final Exam" which was on Arista Records. Wainwright released 2 LPs wi th Arista with this being the second. Both of these releases ("T-Shirt" being the other) are more polished then the majority of his efforts, before or sense. This is a result of Arista trying to mold Wainwright into a more typical folk-rock musician. The result on both of these LP's is fairly weak and Wainwright took a break from recording after "Final Exam" to re-focus on his music, regardless of what the record producers wanted. <br /><br />That's not to say there is nothing worthwhile on "Final Exam". There is, including "Mr.Guilty", "Pretty Little Martha", "Two-Song Set" and "Watch Me Rock I'm Over Thirty". <br /><br />Wainwright is without a doubt a required taste but he is well worth checking out if you want to explore some great folk-rock.
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Below is "Pretty Little Martha" from "Final Exam". This is a song about Loudon's daughter, Martha Wainwright who is now a musician as well. His son mentioned in this song is "Rufus Wainwright" who is also a very successful musician in his own right.
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<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c25vmYtVul8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Artist: Loudon Wainwright II
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Album: Final Exam
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Year: 1978William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-14059294998578424652012-08-31T16:22:00.000-07:002012-08-31T16:27:59.784-07:00Van Morrison - "So Quiet in Here"One of the most profound elements of good music is the pure emotional impact it can have on the listener. For example this evening, playing on my car stereo was Van Morrison's <i>"So Quiet in Here"</i>. I remember listening to this song often as my dear father-in-law was struggling with cancer. After he passed I often listened to this song and thought of him and wished he was experiencing the "paradise" this song spoke of. Then my brother-in-law, Ernie lost his battle and passed on as well. This song's message grew even stronger for me at that moment. Each time I hear this song my thoughts return to each one of them and only the best musicians can accomplish that.
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The best of music brings an emotional element to it and this one certainly does. The song speaks of finding peace and quiet. If you have lost a loved love, take a moment, close your eyes and listen to this. The music and lyric can magically transport you to your lost loved ones, if only for a few fleeting moments.
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<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aGJOVPnLB1o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Artist: Van Morrison
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Album: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_(Van_Morrison_album)">"Enlightenment"</a>
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Song: "So Quiet in Here"
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Year: 1990William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-51602869860047066492012-08-31T14:03:00.001-07:002012-08-31T18:50:04.972-07:00My LP BrowserDuring the past year I started collecting vinyl again. This has proven to be a very fun if not somewhat expensive hobby. However the enjoyment of finding old classics that I grew up with plus discovering music I have missed out on the first time has proven to be a huge success. From finding old loved vinyl like Pink Floyd, Kansas and Yes to newly discovered gems like "Sam Cooke", "Van Morrison" and "Roy Orbison" has proven to be both exciting and enlightening.
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One problem. <i>What to do with all that vinyl?</i> Mrs. Mann was certainly loosing her patience with piles of LPs here and there. Enter <a href="mailto:jim@LPBrowser.com">Jim Overly</a>. While attending the Keystone Record Club I was lucky enough to strike up a conversation with this very skilled carpenter. You see Jim is an amazing carpenter and loves his vinyl music. His "LP Browser" is the perfect companion for the LP collector. I purchased one (see right menu) and I truly love it. It is already full of vinyl and I am crossing my fingers that Santa brings me another one. Jim custom makes these beauties so if you are interested send him an <a href="mailto:jim@LPBrowser.com">email</a> and say "Bill Mann sent you",
William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290329385715563747.post-18918025041289529632012-08-31T12:46:00.000-07:002012-08-31T12:46:05.269-07:00Welcome FriendsMusic has always played an important part in my life. My earliest memories don't exactly include music but what I do remember from the start is sitting in my bedroom listening to records of audio stories. My earliest memory of listening to an LP must date back almost 40 years when I would play Sesame Street Records and one particular album escapes me which played "the sounds of the city". I graduated to records that would follow comic books of my favorite superheroes and of course Star Trek, Space:1999 and Planet of the Apes.
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As I entered my teens I discovered "rock music". Music from "KISS", "Jefferson Starship", "Cheap Trick", "Thin Lizzy", "Elton John, "David Bowie" and "The Cars" grabbed my attention. From this point forward music has always has played an important part in my life, almost acting as a" soundtrack" from year to year.
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Finally as I travel through my mid 40's into the my late 40's (ugh) I still love my music. Which like life, changes and surprises me. I hope to, in this blog to discuss and capture some of my passion for music and pass it on to anyone who is curious and wants to explore the amazing universe of music.
William Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03299331166741783431noreply@blogger.com0