Buckingham McVie- On with the Show

this one catches my ear the most. It would have made a great Fleetwood Mac summer single. I can picture Stevie Nicks joining in on the chorus, maybe a little more spacious production. Lindsey's production these days can seem a bit confined and claustrophobic. On tour for a brief run this Summer. I'm looking forward to the concert, so "on with the show"!...

Jeff Beck- The Revolution will be Televised

Jeff Beck's new album and track come at a timely point.  Once again his playing is passionate and fearless.
Some are complaining about the female lead vocals, but I think it lifts his work above and appeal beyond the "guitar nerd" level of expression.
The lyrics are topical and current. This isn't a guy just resting on his laurels.

Vinyl Exams: 1981: A busy time for Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale & Bill Szymczyk

By the end of 1980, the Eagles had broken up under a cloud of strained relations and fatigue, but 1981 began to see the members get back into the music scene.
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Joe Vitale had been playing with Joe Walsh since the Barnstorm days and toured with the Eagles on their last tour as an auxiliary musician
Wikipedia lists the recording of Vitale's solo album "Plantation Harbor" as 1979-80 (probably in spurts around Eagles/Walsh commitments). Produced by Bill Szymczk , longtime Eagles/ Walsh producer. more on this album later...


Szymczk also stayed busy taking on the monumental task of producing The Who's first album since Keith Moon's death "Face Dances". 

Criticized at the time for not rocking enough and sounding more like a Townshend solo album, the album still has some moments. "You Better You Bet" is still in their live setlist today and Entwistle's contributions provided the most energetic moments.
The Who "You"


1981 also saw the release of Mickey Thomas (from Jefferson Starship) solo album "Alive Alone", also produced by Bill Szymczyk. This is was a contractual album Thomas owed Elektra Records. 

Musicians include Vitale on Drums, keyboards and percussion, Don Felder, & George "Chocolate" Perry. It features a Henley/Frey song "Too Much Drama". I enjoy the cover of Cream's "Badge" and 
               the title track written by Jules Shear, "Alive Alone".

Add to that Vitale and Walsh's extensive involvement with John Entwistle's 1981 solo album "Too Late the Hero". 
While not a commercial success, it featured the rock radio track "Talk Dirty' and the epic title track (one of Enwistle's best).
                                       "talk Dirty"

                           "Too Late the Hero"

                       
                        
Of course Walsh, with heavy involvement from Vitale and producer Bill Szymczyk , also released his solo album "There Goes the Neighborhood" in the Summer of 1981 . 
It featured the single "a Life of Illusion" and the album rock radio track "Rivers of the Hidden Funk" . I'd also recommend "Made Your Mind Up", one of Walsh's greatest ballads, and "Things", combining his humor with bittersweet feelings.
                             "A Life of Illusion"

                    

                         "Rivers of the Hidden Funk" w/ Don Felder

                              

                              "Made Your Mind Up"

                    

I highly recommend the previously mentioned "Plantation Harbor" album. I discovered in the late 90's. (I found an album in great shape and later sold on EBay for around $75!)

It was like getting extra Joe Walsh record. 

There are some strong memorable songs and features some great guest appearances from Mickey Thomas, Don Felder, the Chicago horn section, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Timothy B. Schmit. Marilyn Martin, probably best best known for her #1 duet with Phil Collins "Separate Lives' contributes some excellent backing vocals reminiscent of Stevie Nicks. 

                                            "Man Gonna Love You" 

with Marilyn Martin & Don Felder

                                    
                      " Never Gonna Leave You Alone"   
                  with Mickey Thomas & Joe Walsh 

                                        

   "The Lady on the Rock" 

w/ Joe Walsh, Don Felder. co-written by Stephen Stills

If you want to stretch out the timeline a little, in 1982 Joe Walsh contributed one of the iconic guitar solo's to ex-bandmate Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry". All of the Eagles, except Glenn Frey contributed songs to the "Fast Times at Ridgemont high" soundtrack. Walsh's "Waffle stomp" was a silly romp that Summer. 
1982 also saw Walsh and Vitale (on one track) record with Ringo Starr for his "Old Wave" release. Walsh produced and played on most tracks.  Released in certain countries in 1983, the album didn't get released in the US until the 90's. 

                          "Waffle Stomp"

 

                       Ringo Starr "In My Car"

                     

I was fortunate enough to see Joe Walsh live last week in Washington,D.C. Joe Vitale was back playing drums and keyboards with him. 

Joe Vitale 2015 interview

Some thoughts on concert live streaming..

It’s a Tuesday night. You’ve worked a hard day. There’s a show 45 miles from home that you’d be more apt to attend if it was on a weekend . Too bad there’s not an alternative way to see the show... Wait! There is!

Seconds and minutes...5 songs: Human League, U2, The Outfield, John Mellencamp, Don Henley

Heard this one on Sirius today. The Human League had a few really good deeper cuts (also check out "louise" and "life on Your Own").

 Phil Oakley has a great voice and I think really sings with honesty and conviction.

Human League "Seconds"

                                              

                                                      
        Pretty much every song on "War" is a winner. 
      The Edge shares lead vocals with Bono on this one.
                                          
                                                   U2 "Seconds"(live)

                       

                
                           

  Yes, we still constantly hear the ubiquitous "Your Love", but these guys had some other decent songs....
Producer/Engineer William Wittman had a recognizable sound.
He also worked with The Fixx,  Patty Smyth and Scandal, The Hooters and more.


                                          The Outfield "61 Seconds"

 I admit, as a person that was a big John Cougar Mellencamp fan in the 80's, I've been disappointed as he has been moving away from Rock into Folk and Americana styles of writing and performing, but I've realized he's older and it's his choice... He's probably not going back to the "Crash boom bam" anytime soon. 
Upon acceptance, his new album has some very thoughtful lyrics and gentle tunes running thru it. 
He often performs older hits in this style(with mixed results). Here's a 2014 performance of  an old fan favorite/album cut from the "Scarecrow" days. The song does lend itself to the folky arrangement

                              John Mellencamp Live 2014
                     "Minutes To Memories"

                                     


In this song, the protagonist has loved and lost; won and been defeated..but ,the song has hope.... Just as things can go bad in a "new york minute", things can turn around for you just as fast. You have to hang in and be open to new opportunity....


                           Don Henley "New York Minute"
                 (live 1994 with the Eagles)


The Eagles - New York Minute by 0Ztaylovic0

Orignal Vs. Cover(s) "Rosalie" Bob Seger vs Thin Lizzy, Andy Taylor

"Rosalie" is an obscure old Bob Seger song from his "Back in '72 album. I say 'album" because, strangely it has NEVER been released on even though it contains the studio version of his beloved "Turn the Page"

                                

Irish hard rockers Thin Lizzy covered the tune on their 1975 release "Fighting". The Lizzy boys add some distortion and speed the song up a little.

 


Ex- Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, always a rocker at heart, covered the tune live and even thru in Thin Lizzy's "Cowboy Song" for good measure. Taylor has always professed his love for Lizzy and is essentially covering their version.

Phil Lynott's raspy voice  really captures the energy needed to sell the song, so I think you've got to give the "win" to Thin Lizzy for dusting the song off and making it a great rockin track.

"Do these songs sound alike?" Aerosmith "Jaded", John Hiatt "My Baby Blue"

 There has always been litigious activity when it comes to songwriting. There are only so many chords and notes..

I tend to notice when songs have the same chords or melodies, etc.

So these songs are in different keys but the chord progressions are the same to my ears. Not complete throughout, but there are enough similarities. The "Jaded" chorus goes from A-F#m-C#m-D
"My Baby Blue" goes from F-Dm-Am-C. 
 When transposed to the other key, the progressions are the same. Those who know theory could explain better (Major to relative Minor to ?, etc..)

The Aerosmith song came out first. Hiatt's song came out in 2003. I think it is entirely possible John Hiatt heard this song and unconscionably "borrowed" from it.

Even taking the "my baby blue" from the chorus of "Jaded"! He seems to take the chord progression from the chorus as well and use it for the verses and choruses of his song.


You be the judge:


                                  Aerosmith "Jaded"

                                            John Hiatt "My Baby Blue"

Rock n Roll Tonite- TV show 1983

So does anyone remember watching a late night concert show called "Rock n Roll Tonite" that started in early '83?

Feels like a Sunday to me: tunes from The Dream Academy, John Entwistle, Pete Townshend Doobie Brothers

I'm off today, so it feels like Sunday morning to me....

5 tunes for the morn: The Bible Alan Parsons Project Patrick Simmons

5 for today: Hoodoo Gurus , The Pretenders, Golden Earring , #TheWho , Paul McCartney

5 tunes for a chilly Fall night: Joni Mitchell , Ben Orr, Scott Merritt, Frozen Ghost, Gregg Alexander

Fall weather like this always evokes certain feelings in me. Here are some tunes that fit that vibe/slight melancholy I get...

5 energetic 80's tunes- Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, The Romantics, Michael Stanley Band, Rolling Stones

5 power pop tunes: Richard X Heyman, #TheBeatles, Pursuit of Happiness, The Romantics, Bill Lloyd

5 songs Sunday- Genesis, David Rhodes , Paul Weller , Roger McGuiin

Just some random songs I've listened to today...

ZZ Top Pier Six Concert Pavillion 5-19-13

All Photos by me

                   a short clip of "TUSH"

Paul Weller : 9:30 Club 7-30-13

I confess, I really haven't listened to Paul Weller on a regular basis since the mid-late 90's. His trifecta of great solo albums: "Wild Wood", "Stanley Road" and "Heavy Soul" were some of the better albums of authentic music released in that decade...

After that, he lost me a bit. Things started sounding a bit repetitive, hooks not as strong..
I did give a quick listen to 2010's "Wake up the Nation", liking the title track...

I've always liked some of his Jam songs and a couple of Style Council singles were guilty pleasures....

I recently won tickets to see him at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC. I have never seen him and figured this would be a great opportunity.

Sting Pier Six Pavillion Baltimore (some quick thoughts,Pics and vids)

It was a warm and humid evening last night. Just after 8pm Sting and  his band hit the stage to a packed house at Pier Six Pavillion in Baltimore.

 

Ebay sale of the week: Pentax K1000 camera

Digital cameras have really made the old Film cameras obsolete. I haven't used mine since the mid 90's. 
No more developing film, or wondering what your shots look like. (Remember the anticipation of waiting for the 1 hr photo ?!)
 With digital it's all instant gratification!

I got my Pentax K1000 as a gift in 1984, (I think). 
If you ever took a photography class, this was the camera usually recommended. Affordable, fairly easy to use, solidly constructed, etc.

She was only Human on the inside.... R.I.P Christina Amphlett

                                             "Human on the Inside"

Was sad to see that Divinyls lead singer Christina Amphlett succumbed to cancer. I had read she had MS a few years ago. She was a true "rock star" and an 80's icon.

It's a shame that most only remember for one song, that seems like a bit of a novelty hit. The Divinyls had better songs than that.
Guitarist Mark McEntee was Chrissy's main collaborator and partner for the duration of the group's life and they were in a relationship for at least some of that time.