Just Listening to Some Records

 Posted by
Mar 122008
 


As my oldest son slowly approaches adolescence and I begin to get a taste of the moodiness and angst that’s characteristic of teens, I’ve been having a recurring vision of coming home from work one day to hear the stereo in his bedroom cranked up, with one of two albums blasting through his closed door: Who’s Next or Dark Side of the Moon. If you’ve learned anything about me, you can probably guess which of the two albums I’d feel more comfortable hearing him blast to calm his worried, confused mind. You can probably guess why. But how ’bout you?

Put yourself in my hypothetical shoes: Would you feel more assured hearing one of these albums blasting from his bedroom over the other? Why?

Better yet…As a parent, have you ever walked into your house to hear your child blasting an album that either put at ease or troubled your parental instincts?

I look forward to your responses!

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All-Star Jam: Ja-Bru Edition!

 Posted by
Mar 112008
 

Alexmagic, you asked for it, we’ve got it! Let’s revisit the world premiere of Ja-Bru, also featuring an attempted infiltraton by Mike Love and Paul Schaffer on keytar!


I’ve got to give it up for Jagger. The man’s surrounded by possibly the largest and most powerful collection of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers for this All-Star Jam, and he only shares lead vocals for a line or two with The Boss. Who’s the woman with a free mic, Tina Turner? How badly does she want to get the nod to do her thang, yet Jagger remains in charge. Who’s The Boss now, Bruce?

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Overlooked Gems of My Lifetime: The Prisoners, A Taste of Pink

 Posted by
Mar 112008
 

Pinker and prouder

Some of you may be aware of my Overlooked Gems of My Lifetime blog, which has been inactive since – not coincidentally – the launch of this blog version of Rock Town Hall. It’s time I put a little work into that concept again – and make sure to celebrate some things I love wholeheartedly, with no intent to confuse and educate readers.

Recently I pulled out my lone album by The Prisoners, A Taste of Pink. It sounded as rockin’ and fun as ever, and the vinyl was still pink. It’s hard to find the space between songs when placing the needle on a particular song on a pink-vinyl album, but the tracks on this album make the effort worthwhile.

I never bothered to find out much about this ’80s garage-mod band from somewhere in England. A friend owned another album by them, but it was not as good as the one I happened to take a chance on. I never bothered hearing another note by these guys. One great album by any ’80s garage-mod band is enough. (God, as I type that sentence I sense myself looking in the mirror, holding an unopened box of my band’s second record!) Honestly, though, I can only take so much garage and mod rock, especially when the lyrics and fuzz-guitar solos are nothing special. This album, however, is together! Simply put, it works. The guitars are chunky. The organ player cooks up that Deep Purple “Hush”/Steppenwolf stew. The singers pull no punches. I have FUN while listening to it. It’s a good time to get my lab coat pressed.

Since this is a rare album I’ve never spent much time thinking about, I’m going to do nothing more but share some tracks with you. Send your lab coat to the cleaner and check out The Prisoners!

“Better in Black”

“Maybe I Was Wrong”

“Threw My Heart Away”

“Come to the Mushroom”

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Eddie Money Lauds Steve Miller’s Self-Referential Descent into Pleasant, Critical Irrelevance

 Posted by
Mar 102008
 

Eddie Money inducts Steve Miller

Following is a transcript of Eddie Money’s induction speech for Steve Miller.

In three simple, self-referential steps, Steve Miller‘s early promise as a riff-heavy, Chuck Berry-quoting, San Francisco hippie cum Chicago blues-rocker would descend into pleasant, critical irrelevance.

The promise and partial lifetime achievement of Steve Miller that we celebrate with his entry into the Rock Town Hall Rock and Roll Foyer of Fame were established by “Living in the U.S.A.”, that bluesy, groovy tune with the danceable rebel charm of early Sly and the Family Stone hits. Other early recordings of note would include “Gangster of Love”; “Space Cowboy”, which refers back to his first single and tipped his hand as an incurable craftsman of no particular point of view; and “My Dark Hour”, which the studio-savvy Miller (whose godfather was Les Paul) cut on the fly one night with only Paul McCartney on drums, bass, backing vocals! Miller’s start was the stuff of cult worship and overpaying for used copies of hard-to-find albums!
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The Rock World Reacts to Seger and Miller’s Induction into the RTH Rock and Roll Foyer of Fame

 Posted by
Mar 102008
 

A recent search on Google confirms our suspicions at Rock Town Hall that this partial honor is long overdue for both Bob Seger and Steve Miller. Click on the link at each artist’s name for full context.

Motor City Madness!

Peter Holsapple, The dB’s:

“If you think Bob’s all about ‘Night Moves’, this’ll be as disquieting as seeing Andy Griffith in A Face in the Crowd!”

Tight!

From Julian Cope Presents Head Heritage (on 1972’s Recall the Beginning…A Journey from Eden)

“Sadly Recall The Beginning…Journey From Eden was not the huge hit it deserved to be and has been all but forgotten over the years. This is a fucking tragedy man!!!”

For more on these artists, click here and here.

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RTH Exclusive: Paul Rodgers’ Seger Induction Speech Notes

 Posted by
Mar 102008
 

Paul Rodgers wraps up his stirring Seger tribute at the Foyer of Fame induction ceremonies

Editor’s note: While we normally print transcripts of our Rock and Roll Foyer of Fame induction ceremony speeches after they’ve been delivered, this year, Paul Rodgers‘ management gave us a copy of Paul’s Seger induction speech before it was taped. Our intention in printing these notes is not to reveal any secrets or cast Mr. Rodgers in a negative light; rather, we do so to show you a side of the typical rock and roll honorific not often seen in public. We thank Paul Rodgers and his management for allowing us this glimpse “behind the scenes.”

WIPE NOSE!

RUN TONGUE OVER TEETH — TWICE!

REMOVE SUNGLASSES!

WAIT FOR APPLAUSE

GOO…I CAN’T BELIEVE…

HELLO, MY NAME IS PAUL RODGERS, AND I USED TO BE IN A LITTLE BAND CALLED BAD COMPANY. (WAIT FOR LAUGH!)

NOW I’M IN A LITTLE BAND CALLED QUEEN. (WAIT FOR LAUGH)

AND I’M HERE TO TELL YOU WHY BOB SEGER IS THE FIRST ROCK STAR TO BE INDUCTED IN TO THE RTH FOYER OF FAME.
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