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Rating: *** (3 stars) Artist: Gram Parsons Title: GP Company: Reprise Catalog: MS-2123 Year: 1973 Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: minor ring wear; gatefold sleeve Available: 2 Price: $20.00
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Since
his untimely death in 1974, singer/songwriter Gram Parsons' reputation
has continued to grow, reaching the point where many people now credit
him as one of the founders of modern country-rock. Ironically, Parsons
remains best known for his work with The International Submarine Band,
The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers. In contrast, Parsons'
abbreviated solo career largely fails to live up to his posthumous
legend. Signed by Reprise, Parsons made his solo debut with 1973's "GP". Co-produced with Ric Grech (of Blind Faith and Family fame), the collection highlighted Parson's sweet voice while underscoring his country roots. Musically the set proved enjoyable, if somewhat erratic. Originals such as "How Much I Lied", "She" and "The New Soft Shoe" were first-rate, while other tracks ("Streets of Baltimore" and "A Song for You") succumbed to pedestrian ideas and bland country arrangements. Other highlights included Emmlou Harris' sterling backup work ("We'll Sweep Out the Ashes In the Morning" and "That's All It Took") and excellent support from members of Elvis Presley's old band. (The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.) Unfortunately, at the end of a brief tour in support of the album, Parsons suffered a sudden and fatal heart attack. Only 26, years of alcohol and drug abuse (including a nasty heroin problem) apparently caught up with Parsons. In one of rock's odder tales, following Parsons death, manager Phil Kaufman and longtime friend Michael Martin stole his body; transported it to Cap Rock national monument; burned it; and scattered the ashes over the area. Prosecuted, the two claimed they were following Parsons wishes, were fined $750 and released. |
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Rating: ** (2 stars) Artist: Ian Whitcomb Title: Yellow Underground Company: Tower Catalog: T 5071 Year: 1967 Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: minor ring wear Available: 1 Price: $15.00 |
In spite of the 'happenin'' cover art, clearly uninterested in fame as a rock and roll star, 1967's "Yellow Underground" found Whitcomb continuing his exploration of English music hall. Like earlier efforts, it offered up a mix of period pieces, interspersed with a couple of authentic-sounding originals ("I've Been Ill" and "Purple Passage"). Be warned this isn't for everyone. Whitcomb didn't have much of a voice and much of the material ("College Life", "They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Aroun'" and "Sadie Saloem Go Home") was simply too weird for most Americans. Elsewhere, sounding like he'd overdosed on episodes of Masterpiece Theater, the narrative "Memories of an Old Soldier" was enough to make anyone nod off, or at least skip to the next selection !!! File under weird ... |
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Rating: ** (2 stars) Artist: Wildweeds, The Title: Wildweeds Company: Vanguard Catalog: VSD 6552 Year: 1970 Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: -- Available: 1 Price: $35.00
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Singer/guitarist
Al Anderson occupies a special place in the heart of NRBQ fan. That
said, Anderson's pre-NRBQ career remains unknown to scores of his NRBQ
devotees. Growing up in Windsor Connecticut, Anderson wasn't even in his
teens when he started forming bands, including The Visuals, The Altones,
The Blues Messengers and The Six-Packs. Sporting a lineup consisting of
Anderson, drummer Bob Dudek, bassist Andy Lepak Jr. , percussionist
Martin 'Skip' Yakatis and keyboardist Ray Zeiner, by 1966 The Six-Packs
had morphed into The Wildweeds. Playing local talent shows, battles of
the bands, clubs and frat parties quickly generated a large regional
following. The band's big break came in the summer of 1967 when Chess Records' Cadet subsidiary picked up rights to Anderson's "No Good To Cry". Released as a single the song was a gigantic hit throughout the Northeast, even hitting the national top100 charts (it peaked at #88). Over the next two years the band released a string of five poorly selling follow ups. By the time the band signed with Vanguard, Lepak (replaced by his brother Al) and Zeiner had tendered their notices. Produced by Maynard Soloman, Jack Lothrop and David Wilkes (the latter two credited as 'associate producers'), 1970's "Wildweeds" served as a showcase for Anderson. Credited with penning 11 of the 12 selections, he also provided lead vocals on the majority of the set. In the wake of the band's first six singles, musically the set came as somewhat of a surprise. Exemplified by tracks such as "Baby Please Don't Leave Me Today", "And When She Smiles", "Can't Sit and Watch Little Susie Laugh" and "And When She Smiles" (just missing the top-100 as a single), the majority of the album reflected a distinctive country flavor. Mind you, we're not talking Buck Owens, but it was certainly a change in direction. |
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Rating: *** (3 stars) Artist: ZZ Top Title: World Wide Texas Tour Company: London Catalog: PS-X-1001 Year: 1976 Grade (cover/record): VG/VG- Comments: radio station promo; minor ring, edge and corner wear; pop on 1st side, 1st band Available: 1 Price: $20.00
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As a
promotional tool London also saw fit to release a radio-only sampler.
"World Wide Texas Tour" pulled together 12
tracks from the band's first four studio sets. Sure, you've heard all of
these tracks before, but it made for one dandy "best of" set
!!! As for the asking price, we've only seen two copies in 20 years ... |
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Rating: **** (4 stars) Artist: various artists Title: Attack of the Killer B's Company: Warner Brothers Catalog: 23837-1 Year: 1983 Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: minor edge and corner wear Available: 1 Price: $15.00
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To be honest, we've never been big on buying compilations. This is one of the exceptions. The title "Attack of the Killer B's" pretty well sums it up - a dozen lost "B" sides from late-'70s and early-'80s Warner Brothers artists. Actually, if you wanted to get technical about it, not all of these were "B" sides. The Talking Head's "Love Goes To a Building On Fire" was their debut "A" side single, while T-Bone Burnett's "Amnesia and Jealousy (Oh Lana)" and The Ramones' "Babysitter" were previously unreleased efforts. While all 12 songs were worth hearing, to our ears the highlights included Marshall Crenshaw's insidiously catchy "You're My Favorite Waste of Time", John Hiatt's bluesy cover of "Take Time To Know Him", Peter Gabriel's goofy German version of "Shock the Monkey" (he apparently recorded the entire parent album in German) and Roxy Music's "Always Unknowingly" (one of their prettiest compositions). The set actually managed to sell a couple of copies, peaking at #205. |
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