TheDA1 14th Sep 2023 | | Vinyl AlbumThe 5th Dimension - The Magic Garden | This LP ranks in my top 100 albums of the 1960’s. I purchased it solely on the basis that it was written and arranged by Jim Webb. From the moment that the opening "Prologue" melded into “The Magic Garden”, I knew for sure this was going to be a great ride. As a writer, Jim Webb could practically do nothing wrong during this period, and the arrangements here are all top of the line. Excellent production by Bones Howe. The 5th Dimension are given room to stretch, and never sounded better. If you like pop music, this one’s a keeper.
|
TheDA1 14th Sep 2023 | | Vinyl AlbumBob Lind - Don't Be Concerned | ReviewBob Lind is a name that is probably not familiar to anyone except hard core 60’s music fans. However, his one big hit, the self-penned “Elusive Butterfly” is one of the most outstanding singles of that decade. In late 1965, the pop world was captivated by the opening strains of “You might wake up some morning to the sound of something moving past your window in the wind.” The song is filled with one evocative phrase after another, and still sounds as fresh today as it did back then.
Generally speaking, one hit wonders do not usually release albums with any particular merit. “Don’t Be Concerned” is a complete exception to that rule. Mr. Lind not only has the soul of a poet, but also a strong melodic sense that serves each of the selections well. Aside from the throwaway “The World Is Just a B-Movie”, there’s not a weak cut among the other eleven.
Excellent production and arrangement by Jack Nitzsche.
3 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
|
TheDA1 7th May 2020 | | Music MemorabiliaThe Beach Boys - Guitar Sounds Of The Beach Boys Featuring Carl Wilson | The folio has a note written by Murry G. Wilson that contains the longest run-on sentence I've ever read. It's a brutal 132 words or so.
"The success story of The Beach Boys starting from scratch and not knowing how to play instruments to any great degree, and to become one of the most famous all time rock and roll great instrumental and vocal groups is a success story in itself, but when one knows that Carl Wilson was only 14 1/2 years old when he started to play a battered up six string guitar and who made so many bad mistakes in the fingering of tough chords, but who later practiced religiously from three to four hours each day, with firm determination; and the result was he established after beats and guitar rift runs which became what was known to the world as Surfin' guitar sounds and which actually helped The Beach Boys distinctive band style sound different."
|
TheDA1 26th Apr 2020 | | Music Memorabilia[no artist listed] - Coral Sea | Cover seems surprisingly racy for a 1920 publication.
|
TheDA1 22nd Apr 2020 | | 78 RPMNelson Eddy - The Magic Of Your Love / At The Balalaika | sheet music added
|
TheDA1 27th Jun 2018 | | Vinyl AlbumLou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes | ReviewThis is probably the Lou Christie album that would appeal to the widest range of listeners. Side one covers an excellent group of contemporary songs from the mid-60s, and Lou handles both ballads and uptempo numbers in fine fashion. Of particular note is an interesting and effective rendition of the Lennon-McCartney classic, “If I Fell”.
Side one is good, but the real fireworks start on side two with all six songs written by Lou and his partner Twyla Herbert. Five of the six feature his distinctive falsetto, and are filled with one killer hook after another. Aside from the falsetto, Lou has one of the great voices in pop music with an exciting sense of urgency. Both he and his partner knew how to tailor a song to his vocal strengths, and were at the top of their game here.
Side two is not just the the monster hit “Lightning Strikes” and five other also rans. There are at least two other selections on this side that have the word “hit” written all over them, plus three other very worthy album cuts (“Jungle”, “Baby We’ve Got To Run Away”, and “Diary”). Of particular note is Christie’s use of female background singers who play an essential part in his overall sound. This is as much of his trademark as is the falsetto, and adds an exciting element that is rare in most male vocals. The background harmonies on all songs are every bit as good as they are on “Lightning Strikes.” They are creative in ways that truly move a song along, and a pleasure in their own right.
Unfortunately MGM was a record company with lots of money coupled with almost no clue how to effectively promote an artist. The potential follow-up hits (“Trapeze” and “Cryin’ in the Streets”) got criminally buried on the b-side of Lou’s first two releases, and he was never able to build the kind of momentum necessary to sustain a singles artist back then for more than a couple hits at a time. Also, the failure to release and promote another a-side off the album undoubtedly did nothing to increase album sales.
This is my favorite Lou Christie album. On the strength of Side two alone, I would give the album a 9.
5 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
|
TheDA1 1st Mar 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaSteely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill/Countdown To Ecstacy | Front cover and contents page added.
|
TheDA1 1st Mar 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaThe Association - The Best Of The Association Vol. 1 | Contents:
Cherish
Wasn't It a Bit Like Now
No Fair At All
Enter the Young
We Love Us
When Love Comes to Me
Songs in the Wind
Angeline
All Is Mine
Requiem for the Masses
Standing Still
Sometime
|
TheDA1 28th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaSammy Fain - The Sammy Fain Songbook | Front cover and contents page added.
|
TheDA1 28th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaElvis Presley - Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, 48 World-Wide Golden Hits | Front cover added.
|
TheDA1 28th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaVarious Artists - Music Of Today, Sheet Music Previews | Front cover added.
|
TheDA1 28th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaHarry Nilsson - Nilsson Sings Newman | Contents:
The Beehive State
Caroline
Cowboy
Dayton, Ohio 1903
I'll Be Home
Living Without You
Love Story (You and Me)
So Long Dad
Vine Street
Yellow Man
|
TheDA1 28th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaDoc Pomus And Mort Shuman - Doc Pomus And Mort Shuman Songs | Contents:
Can't Get Used To Losing You
Go, Jimmy, Go
His Latest Flame
Hound Dog Man'
Hushabye
I Count the Tears
I Need Somebody To Lean On
I'm a Man
Its a Lonely Town
Kiss Me Quick
Little Sister
Lonely Avenue
A Mess of Blues
No One
Save the Last Dance for Me
Sorrow Tomorrow
Suspicion
Sweets for My Sweet
A Teenager in Love
This Magic Moment
Turn Me Loose
You Be My Baby
Your Other Love
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaVarious Artists - Still Pop Chart Winners | Front cover added.
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaVarious Artists - History Of Rhythm And Blues, Volume 1 | Front cover added.
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaVarious Artists - Top Hits Of 1967 And Great Standards | Front cover added.
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaThe Bee Gees - Best Of The Bee Gees | Contents:
First of May
Holiday
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
I.O.I.O
I Started a Joke
I've Got To Get a Message To You
Jive Talkin'
Lonely Days
Man for All Seasons
Massachusetts
My World
New York Mining Disaster
Nights On Broadway
Run To Me
To Love Somebody
Words
World
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaVarious Artists - Good Old Pop Songs | Front and back covers added.
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaAlec Wilder - American Popular Song | Front cover and contents page added.
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaBarry Mann And Cynthia Weil - The Mann-Weil Songbook | Front and back covers added.
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaHal David And Burt F. Bacharach - Songs By Hal David And Burt F. Bacharach | Front cover and contents added.
Folio contains a number of Bacharach-David compositions/obscurities whose sheet music is extremely hard to find. Front cover reads "For Promotional Purposes Only, Not for Sale". Unclear to me who this folio was being distributed to.
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music Memorabilia10cc And Godley And Creme - Changing Faces | Front and back covers added.
|
TheDA1 27th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaJohn Sebastian - Anthology | Front and back covers added.
|
TheDA1 26th Feb 2018 | | Vinyl AlbumLou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes | ReviewThis is probably the Lou Christie album that would appeal to the widest range of listeners. Side one covers an excellent group of contemporary songs from the mid-60s, and Lou handles both ballads and uptempo numbers in fine fashion. Of particular note is an interesting and effective rendition of the Lennon-McCartney classic, “If I Fell”.
Side one is good, but the real fireworks start on side two with all six songs written by Lou and his partner Twyla Herbert. Five of the six feature his distinctive falsetto, and are filled with one killer hook after another. Aside from the falsetto, Lou has one of the great voices in pop music with an exciting sense of urgency. Both he and his partner knew how to tailor a song to his vocal strengths, and were at the top of their game here.
Side two is not just the the monster hit “Lightning Strikes” and five other also rans. There are at least two other selections on this side that have the word “hit” written all over them, plus three other very worthy album cuts (“Jungle”, “Baby We’ve Got To Run Away”, and “Diary”). Of particular note is Christie’s use of female background singers who play an essential part in his overall sound. This is as much of his trademark as is the falsetto, and adds an exciting element that is rare in most male vocals. The background harmonies on all songs are every bit as good as they are on “Lightning Strikes.” They are creative in ways that truly move a song along, and a pleasure in their own right.
Unfortunately MGM was a record company with lots of money coupled with almost no clue how to effectively promote an artist. The potential follow-up hits (“Trapeze” and “Cryin’ in the Streets”) got criminally buried on the b-side of Lou’s first two releases, and he was never able to build the kind of momentum necessary to sustain a singles artist back then for more than a couple hits at a time. Also, the failure to release and promote another a-side off the album undoubtedly did nothing to increase album sales.
This is my favorite Lou Christie album. On the strength of Side two alone, I would give the album a 9.
Recommend that you purchase the stereo album which provides a fuller highlight of the background vocals.
9 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
|
TheDA1 26th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaJohnny Tillotson - Souvenir Song Album Of Hits | Front cover and contents page added.
|
TheDA1 26th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaManassas - Manassas I | Front and back covers added.
|
TheDA1 26th Feb 2018 | | Live MusicThe Blues Brothers @ Concord Pavilion | "Aykroyd and Belushi are introducing a great style of music to a group of people who might otherwise have spent their whole life listening to Sammy Hagar and Pat Travers."
How true! Excellent review Cameron McMenemy. Did you write it?
|
TheDA1 25th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaEddie Rabbitt - The Best Of Eddie Rabbitt Songbook | Front cover and contents added.
|
TheDA1 25th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaStephen Stills - Stephen Stills | Front cover, back cover, and contents page added.
|
TheDA1 25th Feb 2018 | | Music MemorabiliaSimon And Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water | Front and back cover added.
|