Old Enough to Forget

Obladi obla dah. This month has a double shot of The Knack a band I've gotten into lately. They were so much more than a one hit wonder. I also figured four was enough this time. Rick Wakeman - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974) The Knack -  ... But the Little Girls Understand (1980) The Knack - Round Trip (1981) Foreigner - Inside Information (1987) Rick Wakeman - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974) I bought this as a curiosity, and it was a curiosity I got. I'd seen so many copies in the dollar bin it just seemed too interesting to pass up. I'll be the first to admit this would have been an astounding show to see live; however, hearing it as a stand alone experience is a little more disconnected. While there were parts that were certainly engaging, and I was particularly enamoured with the narration by David Hennings, there there were quite a few sections where in the cold light of day you hear the imperfections evident in the performance. While it can b...

This was my first and for a long time only Aerosmith album. Growing up my older cousin Jeff had an 8-track copy of Toys in the Attic, and that album was a greatest hits album on its own. However, as a kid my record buying was sporadic and my small collection was played to death. I got Rocks in 1979 (I love how I can remember this, but I will forget to buy eggs when I'm out shopping) at the thrift store where I got my comics and Robert A. Heinlein paperbacks. They didn't have a lot of records, but I did find a copy of the Beatles White Album on white vinyl, the first two Prism albums, April Wine Live , and Rocks . Probably all in the same year - I lost them all to water damage, but have replaced most of them - although I'll likely never find that Beatles album, and if I did couldn't afford it. I almost bought Tour of Japan by Teaze several times ... but never did. I recently picked it up, and it is the shit! I should have bought it as a kid. Back on topic ... So here w...

Here we are, five months in and holding steady. I'm not sure this is worth continuing, but for me these little snack size tidbits are perfect when I don't have a lot to say, but there was something worth jotting down. Whether it was worth your time or not is a separate issue, and I make no guarantees this will be a worthwhile. For all you know, this is a cheese shop, or I could just be deliberately wasting your time, and I don't have any cheese. Five for Fighting No.5 Dave Loggins - Apprentice (In a Musical Workshop) (1974) Rick Derringer - Sweet Evil (1977)  Cliff Richard - I'm Nearly Famous (1976) Little River Band - First Under the Wire (1979) Harlequin - Harlequin (1984) Dave Loggins - Apprentice (In a Musical Workshop) (1974) I still find it strange looking at cover pictures from the early '70s, everyone looked so wise and world weary - and old. Looking at the stylized photo of Dave Loggins on the cover you'd think you were looking at an elder statesman...

I had always wanted to pick up a copy of this album, but I didn't. Not because I didn't like John Lennon, it's because I didn't want to hear the Yoko Ono songs. Yeah, I know it's a shitty reason, but it is what it is. We all know the history here, and that's what makes this so sad. I remember when this came out, and "Watching the Wheels" and "(Just Like) Starting Over" were getting some airplay and I really liked those songs - still do. I also remember reading there was disappointment in how John's "come back" wasn't doing as well as some had expected, and a lot of the early reviews pretty much shit on it. Everything changed December 8, 1980. Let's address the elephant in the room right off. The Yoko songs. I guess in terms of being artistic and taking chances and playing against the conventions of crafting listenable pop she was a master. Heck, I'll even grant that "Give Me Something" has a certain cha...

One of the first albums I bought was Harlequin's 1979 debut mainly because my friend Andrew, who was a great guitar player (this is how I remember him), wanted me to learn "You are the Light" so we could play it together. Victim of a Song would become one of my favourite albums, and I did learn how to play "You are the Light". The combination George Belanger's distinct vocals, and Glen Willows' searing guitar work was a one - two punch that seemed to deliver over and over on that album. When the band dropped their new album in 1980 I was primed and eager to hear what the band had to offer. They didn't disappoint - the legendary Jack Douglas produced the album, and the first cut "Innocence" perfectly encapsulated everything that Harlequin brought to the table. Killer vocals, a killer guitar solo, and a killer hook. It was, and remains probably one of the best songs the band ever recorded. The bar was immediately set pretty freakin' high...