The Reprise Years (1970-1975)
With the Beach Boys’ almost entirely new sound and subsequent dwindling sales (despite a minor hit with 20/20’s “Do It Again”) Capitol Records decided to drop the Beach Boys from their label and let them coast into irrelevance somewhere else. The Boys quickly rebounded by signing to Reprise and got to work on a new album…
Every couple of weeks Vikings & Beekeepers will induct one album into its Hall of Fame (capitalization denotes legitimacy). The albums inducted into the V&BHOF (acronym denotes awesomeness) will not necessarily be a highly regarded classic (although it may be) and it will not necessarily be an overlooked gem (although it may be). The only defining characteristic of these albums will be high quality and the ability to inspire me to write about them. For our first induction I decided to go all the way back to the relative early days of rock n’ roll, back around the time rock started to get good. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s take look The Who’s 1965 debut, The Who Sings My Generation. (more…)
I’m probably not the best person to attempt to eulogize Lee Hazlewood. I’m not well versed in the minute details of his life and career, and I don’t have much more than a cursory knowledge of his music. My wife really enjoys his stuff and we are currently scouring record shops for his album Friday’s Child, but I’m a relative Hazlewood novice. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy immensely what I’ve heard from him. His work with Nancy Sinatra, in particular, is wonderful. Hazlewood’s haunting, reverb soaked vocals provided the perfect foil for Sinatra’s Go-Go ’67, “boots are made for walking,” white lipstick and miniskirts shtick. The little I have heard of Hazlewood’s work I’ve enjoyed. I want to share that with you. These are the songs that have peaked my interest in further pursuing Hazlewood’s work. Perhaps they will initiate some of you to hop on the Lee Train. If not, let these songs serve as a reminder of one man’s talent and artistry. Here’s to Lee. (more…)
Musical obsessions are seasonal. One minute I’m spazzing out about the workingman folk rock/glam metal guitar fusion of Thin Lizzy, the next I’m tripping over myself to spread the word about This Heat. I am always in the middle of/getting over/getting into a musical obsession. For example, right now I’m on the tale end of a King Crimson kick, fully immersed in a Guided By Voices fascination and I’m considering a love affair with either Frank Black or Gene Clark’s solo work. They come and go. The admiration stays forever, but the Pac Man-like gorging on anything and everything that links to these special artists eventually fades. There is one major exception, however: The Band.
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It’s an age old music nerd tradition: arguing over the public perception of our favorite and least favorite artists. For example, The Beatles: Overrated. The Trashmen: Underrated. That’s how it’s done. (more…)