Halloween Edition of the Album Listening Experience

Ok everyone, now that I have you gathered together, you need to know that overall, I don't care much for Halloween. It really is another manufactured "holiday" that has gotten out of control. Sorry if I offend. That being said, I know there will be many parties this upcoming weekend and my goal here is to make sure that you get some music in the mix that goes with the theme of the holiday but a little different and maybe a little cooler than the requisite songs like: The Theme from Halloween, Monster Mash, Purple People Eaters, Thriller, or Werewolves of London (a cool song, just a little overplayed).

Let's start with the writer of "Werewolves". Make sure that you have Exitable Boy and Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner in the mix. For more about those songs, see my blog about the Exitable Boy album posted previously. Believe me, these songs fit.
Pink Floyd is an excellect source of cool yet appropriate music for the bash. Be Careful With That Axe Eugene, and One Of These Days and both lyrically sparce but come with eerie music. These songs also clearly make a point about using sharp objects to get the job done. The iconic Album, Dark Side of the Moon includes a song called Brain Damage.

Throw in I'll Be Watching You by the Police and Jump Into the Fire by the late/great Harry Nilsson. These songs sound like songs of devotion and love on the surface but are really about creapy obsessions and stalking.

Lord Sutch was a late 60's early 70's British rock star. Little known here, he did reach some level of stardom on the other side of the pond. The album Hands of Jack The Ripper contributes the title song for this list of Halloween tunes. Overall the album is awful but with with contributors such as Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page. Keith Moon, and others, the music tends to overpower his general lack of talent.

Let's add Alice Cooper to the Halloween song mix too. The undisputed king of shock rock would contribute songs like Sick Things, I Love the Dead. Halo of Flies, Dead Babies, and Killer.

Finally, I had to add the album cover below. The title of Who bassist John Entwistle's solo effort, "Rigor Mortis Set's In" is a bit misleading but the cover art is kind of cool. The album is mostly reworkings of 50's type rock and roll but Entwistle still contributed the song Boris the Spider while with The Who. This song is a must for your music mix.

Almost forgot...special thank to Robin for reminding me of this topic

Cover Versions-How To Do Them Right

I've been tossing around the topic of cover songs for a little while. There are those who believe that unless a song is done by the original artist, it's gonna suck. There are those that tend to think that it's an easy way to fill the content of an album. Keep in mind that many of the greats covered their contemporaties both very early in their careers and others that continue to include cover versions of songs as part of their work throughout their careers. The Beatles covered Twist and Shout and Roll Over Beethoven. The Stones covered Not Fade Away and Route 66. The Byrds practically built their career by covering Dylan songs like Mr. Tamborine Man, Chimes of Freedom, My Back Pages and others. Obviously, not all cover versions should be made. Just try listening to William Shatner's Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds or Behind Blue Eyes by Limp Bizkit.

There are some really fine albums of cover songs worth a listen. These albums usually come in two catagories: One artist who covers a variety of written by others or compilation albums of one artist's songs covered by a variety of artists. Here are some that I think are notable and worth a listen.

David Bowie-Pinups

There are some very fine versions of some great songs. Bowie is as much as a song stylist as a singer and and one of the most unique performers rock music has ever seen. Don't expect Pinups to have the flash of earlier works such as The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, or Alladin Sane. Bowie treats songs like Friday On My Mind (Easybeats), See Emily Play (Pink Floyd), Shapes of Things (Yardbirds), Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (The Who) with respect then adds his usual flair. There more songs originally done by artists like The Kinks, Them (Van Morrison's original band), and The Pretty Things. This album also is the last studio album featuring members of Bowie's band The Spiders From Mars which features the great Mick Ronson on guitar.

Todd Rundgren-Faithful

Really, only side one features cover songs. On this album, Rundgren, the studio wizard, turns to Rundgren, the musician, who gives us spot-on versions of some great music. Try distinguishing his version of Good Vibrations from the Beach Boy's original. The other songs on side 1: Rain and Strawberry Fields (Beatles), If 6 Was 9 (Jimi Hendrix), Happenings Ten Years Ago (Yardbirds), Most Likely You Go Your Way (Dylan) are all performed with meticulous care, making sure he stays true to the original version. For me, this an enjoyable listen.

Dwight Yoakam-Under The Covers

While I'm not a fan of much of country music, I am a fan of Dwight Yoakam. This album shows that Yoakam is far from just a country artist. He runs the gamut; performing songs by artists as diverse as Roy Orbison, Sonny Bono, The Rolling Stones and The Clash. The album leads off with Orbison's Claudette then follows with Train in Vain (Clash). Other highlights for me are Things We Said Today (Beatles), Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb), and The Last Time (Stones). Dwight really is a fine singer and does a great job with these and the rest of the songs on this album.

Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon

I recently wrote about Zevon's Exitable Boy album. As I said there, I think Warren Zevon was a unique and great songwriter. Just as really notable artists showed up to help with the recording of Zevon's final album, The Wind, they also showed up for Sandwich. How's this for a lineup...Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me (Jackson Browne/Bonnie Raitt), My Ride's Here (Springsteen), Lawyers, Guns, and Money (Wallflowers), Reconsider Me (Steve Earle) and...wait for it...Werewolves of London performed by Adam Sandler. I hate to keep repeating myself but there are great songs performed by great artists (Yes, even Sandler does a great job). Warren's son Jordan gets to perform the previously unreleased compsition, Studebaker and other artists such as Don Henley, Bob Dylan, and long time friend Billy Bob Thorton make contributions. This is a fine compilation album that highlights songs from a cross section of Warren Zevon's career.

One Step Up, Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen is a prolific song writer who (like him or not) is right up there with people like Dylan, Paul Simon, and Lennon/McCartney as the greatest of the last 50 years or so. It's well known that he writes more songs than can ever make it to his albums. There's even been a multiple disc cd issued of great songs that just didn't make the cut on other albums issued. Well, One Step up is a 28 song, 2 disc compilation of Springsteen songs performed by a wide variety of artist both well known and obscure. With all the songs on this album, I can only mention a few here. Just like the Zevon compilation noted above, the diversity of artist is truly a tribute to the songs and artist that wrote them. The lineup of artists is staggering and includes John Hiatt, Joe Cocker, David Bowie, Richie Havens, Nils Lofgren, The Knack, Marshall Crenshaw, Ben E. King, Gary "U.S." Bonds, Donna Summer, Gene Clark, and more. Some of my favorites are Johnny 99(John Hiatt), Don't Look Back (The Knack), and Protection (Donna Summer). Just give it a listen.

Covers can be really bad...what could be worse than Shatner's spoken word version of Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds...or they can be great. There are plenty of the "great" variety mixed in on the albums mentioned here.

Led Zeppelin III: You Know...the "Acoustic One"

One of my major goals for the A.L.E is to go beyond the playlist classic rock radio presents to the listener. There is no shortage of Led Zeppelin on classic rock radio...there is however a shortage of "deep cuts". That brings me to Led Zeppelin III.

1970 brought a different Led Zep to the record buyers of the day. Zep I and II were powerful blues based heavy rockers. Those first two Zeppelin albums were the very definition of Hard Rock. Keep in mind, that those first 2 albums reached huge sales without the benefit of hit singles. Zeppelin was not dependent on the sales of singles (you know...45's) to push the album sales. In fact, AOR (album oriented radio or rock) thrived with Led Zepplin as a major artist for their programming philosophy. The legions of Led Zep fans who were waiting for the next Dazed and Confused or Whole Lotta Love would have to wait. What III did bring those fans was a more mature sound with Robert Plant emerging as a stronger song writing partner for Jimmy Page. What that also meant is that a different sound meant less than stellar reviews and lower sales.

In researching this album for this blog, I found that the music for III was heavily influenced by where the music was written and rehearsed. Page and Plant spent time at an 18th century cottage in Wales called Bron-Yr-Aur. That cottage did not have electricity so composing was restricted to the use of acoustic guitars. Rehearsal was at Headley Grange a rural mansion that provided a relaxed atmosphere for perfecting the songs written at Bron-Yr-Aur.

Despite the luke warm reviews, the music stands strong 40 years later. Side 1 features the harder edge songs. While III is the "acoustic Zep album" there is still heavy and electric included. With Immagrant's Song opening side 1, the listener no doubt finds the familiar driving guitars of Page, the powerful drums from John Bonham, and the wail of Plant much to their liking. The next song, Friends, is primarily acoustic and lets you know that this album isn't I or II. Celebration Day gets electric again. Since I've Been Loving You follows and is a Blues through-and-through...for me a highlight of the album. Side 1 ends with Out On the Tiles. One more shot of heavy rock.

Side 2 starts with Gallows Pole. I mentioned this song in my blog post "So You Think You Can't Rock On An Acoustic Guitar?" With the bass guitar as the only electric instrument, this is a great example on how you don't need electric guitars turned up to 11 to rock. Tangarine may be the best song on the album. Page's beautiful acoustic intro riff, sets the stage. Plant shows he can really sing and the addition of a pedel steel guitar adds to the atmosphere. That's The Way, Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp and Hat's Off to Roy Harper all show Page's skills with different acoustic guitar styles. Simpy put, this is a great album side...unfortunately, not enough people have heard anything past Gallows Pole.

Led Zeppelin were a unique and influential force in Rock Music. Their style was unmistakable. Their talents undeniable. Few will list Led Zeppelin III as their favorite or their best album. Their isn't a Stairway to Heaven among the songs but then, maybe that is part of it's strength and among the reasons that I appreciate that album. Strong songs performed well in a variety of styles. I was reacquainted to this album when I borrowed my son's car for an errand and Zep III was in the CD player. I'm glad that was in the player that day.