I go through this every dadblamed year but bear with me anyway. And considering the length of this post bear with the fact that it's just too dang hard to proofread this thing to a "T" so expect a misspelling or some other gaffe. Whatever you do...don't frown over it or your face just might freeze...look what happened to Anastasia Pantsios.
Where was I? Oh yeah...it is somewhat frightening to get through one's cranium that we are now (even as we speak!) In The Year of Our Lord 2026, a fact which is, especially for all of us finely aged high energy rock 'n rollers out there, downright impossible to cram into the ol' medulla obligation! Really, who amongst you readers just can't fathom the fact that the glory year for everything that was just custom made for us discriminatory suburban slobs, mainly 1966, was A GOOD SIXTY YEARS AGO! And for you downright picked olde tymey readers the rockin' (and morally correct) year of 1956 a good seventy solar spins as well! We can go on and on (like, 100 years since sound moom pitchers began comin' out) but it'll only make all of use feel older'n Methuselah and why should we get so Debbie Downer even if we ALL are ready for the boneyard in one capacity or another (it's just a matter of TIME...)! Of course I know that what I just wrote's pretty cornball and thus fitting for this blog, but seeing how far a distance it has been since the days of music as that power-packed "International Youth Language" (at least back when we really were youths) and the sorry sopping mess it has become it can get pretty soul-crushing when you get your mind down to it.
'66 undoubtedly was the last good year for real people like myself to exist ('63 was the last REALLY good 'un) and just the mere thought of it should make a true believer in all that's right and just downright shudder. It was a time when the Big Beat was at its height and the teenagers still had their heads on straight before the hippie and "relevant" right on movements blew any type of true youth expression out of the water and into some rather disturbing areas I prefer not to think about. Yes 1966, the year of punk rock supremacy (at least until '77) and the last year of what I would consider the REAL Golden Age of Television before the old shows began to peter out and the new ones made for a good reason to devote more time to music. Sheesh, you shoulda been there. Too be we all couldn't have STAYED.
But if you woulda told me back during my youthful days that there would even be a 2026 I undoubtedly woulda called you downright bonkers. Way back during my "formative" years I thought (at least in the dark reaches in the back of the ol' cavern) that this earth probably had a handful of years left in it and that by 1984 it was all kaput bye and gone. Or worse yet, perhaps this planet would turn into a place that was so disturbing and antiseptic it wasn't worth living in. Considering what eventually did happen, the feely-good happyhappy twinkle atmosphere and how the eighties were times that made one long for the dank grit that made groups like Suicide, the Stooges, Dolls and Throbbing Gristle possible, it was obviously the latter.
It would have been best if it all did come to a crash way back when mankind (not that all-inclusive "humankind" I keep hearing about) still had some deep-seated fortitude. At least this world of ours would have gone out with something dangling between its legs ifyaknowaddamean.
***I can't complain about 2025. At least this was the year that I finally got to hear a recording by the legendary if obscure beyond belief Cleveland avant garage band Harlan and the Whips which only left me hungering for more from that reel now in the possession of Paul Marotta. But as for 2026 well...it's another year another set of resolutions regarding this blog which it seems that I and only I really care about before tossing all of it into that spiritual wastebasket. Looking over the past year I do feel perhaps a tiny atom of remorse in the fact that I surely have been slacking --- ONCE AGAIN --- as far as delivering on them posts that I know a tiny minority really look forward to reading but wha' th' hey... I'll try slipping a few more'n the usual scant batch your way in '26, but given my current situation where a whole load of my spare time is still taken up with real life I doubt it'll be that many more, Lucky dog you.
***
Besides having a body that made more'n few teenbo boys request locks on bathroom doors, Bardot was perhaps thee toppest of top sex appeal-oriented actress of the fifties (way superior and classier than Monroe and Mansfield if I do say so myself) what with her attention getting appearance in the infamous AND GOD CREATED WOMAN (or, for you less the art house movie types, DEAR BRIGITTE). Besides appearing alongside such greats as Jane Birkin and Billy Mumy what tried and true fan could forget her singing career which bestowed upon us such unforgettable hits as her collab with Serge Gainsbourg "Bonnie and Clyde" which I sure wish got around more over here in the states.
We all know just how controversial to the hilt Bardot eventually became post-retirement what with her definitely against the tide of proper thought opines that got her into plenty of eau chaude. Before it became de rigour Bardot was out and about criticizing various slaughtering methods involving the throat-slitting and blood draining of animals (dunno if they stun 'em first or not), although her definitely non-Film Industry approved views on a whole variety of sociopolitical topics pretty much made her a somewhat loathed person especially in these prissier-than-prissy modern times. Which to all of that I say...well, you KNOW already so why repeat myself?
Bardot's numerous utterances on everything from Islam, cave dwellers/shrub scouts (despite a nude scene in some moom I forget the title of that had her kissing an equally nude Birkin!), the "MeToo" movement of a decade or so back not to mention her support for the only hope France has (Marine Le Pen) might make some of you readers all the more happy that she hit the carbon cycle. It sure makes the "to the right" of Atilla the Hun (or better yet, even to the right of Brigitte Bardot) me happy that not all of these big name stars were so on-the-ball insufferably righteous when it came to them causes du jour that sure got them more'n ample virtue signaling free publicity, savvy?
Comes as no surprise to me that a whole slew of the "tributes" pouring in totally ignore her acting career and even the work she has done for that pious cause of animal welfare which everybody pretends to believe in, instead concentrating on all of those things the lady said that were somehow so downright finger-wagging for shame even though I would consider them rather run of the mill everyday, at least amongst the work and slave kinda people I tend to be around! I know that not speaking ill of the dead went out with the Edsel, but I haven't seen this amount of frothing at the mouth hatred of any of the recently deceased since Charlie Kirk's jugular splatter a few months back! I guess that here in the bleak twenty-first century if you've committed one socio-political sin, you've committed 'em all, and Bardot sure committed more than just one offense against these terminally upnosed types.
Sheesh, some people have even called her that by-now meaningless denigration "fascist" as if you saw any of those kinda people exposing their beautiful bodies in various stages of undress for all to see (yeah I know...there was the German [they weren't fascists but try telling that to anyone these days] ideal of perfect feminine beauty on parade 'n all, but at least Bardot shaved her pits)! The meaning of words really do change as time, and those in control of the vocabulary, deem them to change. In these blacklist days when the slightest dissent can ruin one's life Bardot was a woman who spoke her mind, and I gotta say that in the here/now that takes a lot of courage if you want to be invited to cocktail parties with drinkies and little wieners wrapped in dough. And boy, this postmortem being performed on Bardot's legacy really does prove the old adage where people can go from liberal to conservative as time goes by without changing their opinions one bit!
If Brigitte Bardot was the Nazi some have been making her out to be all I can say is STENGTH THROUGH JOY, and you sure get a whole lotta joy watching some of her films, eh?
Maybe I should also mention the demise (at the hands of his own son no less, and not Joey Stivic as I originally thought) of Rob Reiner, who I guess is now dead from the neck down as well!
***
In 2024 I compiled a list of all the "extraneous" music, recordings not slated for any specific reviewing purposes that is, that I spun throughout the year, only the entire list got "blued" out into total extinction due to a few quick mis-keys on the computer keyboard. And dollars to douchebags you can bet that I was somewhat upset given how this all happ'd in November with only a few weeks left until completion and yes, I at first fathomed that perhaps that my split-second gaffe was an unconscious move on my brain's part telling me, in clandestine terms in order to not offend me, that such an idea was totally 'tardsville and should have been bud nipped as soon as I had conjured it up in whatever's left of my mind. Then again, sometimes if you want to remain fresh you GOTTA act young and stupid!
I mean, looking back at those playlists that loads of self-important types used to send with their letters to THE NEW YORK ROCKER and MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL did ooze out some snide airs of "I got this and you don't look how on-the-ball I am" one-upmanship, but then again I really enjoyed reading through the lists that not only Brian Doherty in the pages of his SURRENDER but Bob Moore in his VERSION blessed us with. Maybe it all wasn't kismet and all that I thought to give the idea of yet another playlist of my extracurricular spins a second go at it. By the way, I've been searching throughout boxes and boxes of the usual flotsam/jetsam for this not-quite-a-fanzine pamphlet Moore unleashed on us where he mentioned his recent spins, and I've been on the hunt for it for over forty years now! Naturally I've had no luck finding it along with a few wanna read over again items that have seemingly vanished, so if any of you have one you can jet my way well, ignore my plea as usual.
Here's what I've been spinning in chronological order roughly form mid-December 2024 until the very beginning of this year (actually up to the moment this is posted), mostly on days off and Sundays when I had some time to search through record piles and boxes of CDs trying to find those rarities that Bob Forward and Paul McGarry burned for me. In retrospect I gotta say that my choices for casual listening really did reflect my moods and tastes as they changed throughout the past 365, from avant to punk (and sometimes both were the same thing!) to whatever I dug up that I haven't played in quite some time. Maybe my playlist will spur you onto listening to some of the platters (tried to concentrate on my vinyl this year like I did last, more or less succeeding although not as much as I had hoped) that I've given the time of day to this past solar spin.
Some oft-ignored recordings as well as old pals pop up here, and who knows but maybe there'll be a few surprises to prove to you that I always was a way more eclectic aficionado of sonic miasma than you people'd ever give me credit for. Should mention that this list consists of material listened to all the way through with no halfway/somewhat played items (listened to in part and discarded) mentioned a-tall.
Maybe the mere sight of the following will inspire you to latch onto a few of these recordings to discover for yourself just how eclectic and all-encompassing I am when it comes to the realm of music! Maybe it's just a detailed study of a mind filled with all types of inexplicable musical obsessions. Then again, maybe this'll be the "new" NWW list. Then again, maybe who's really gonna bother reading it at all, even you devoted readers who've been with me through thick, thin, and even thinner.
Sheesh, you might even want to seek out actual copies, burn offa the internet or (heaven forbid) swipe a few! And it's all in chronological order too! (NOTE - this list does not necessarily connotate approval but to be honest about it mostly does.)
Amon Duul II-PHALLUS DEI LP (Sunset Records, England)
The Spotnicks-OUT-A SPACE - THE SPOTNICKS IN LONDON LP (Swe-Disc Records, Sweden)
Anais Nin-ATLANTIS INCEST ONE-SIDED LP (no label)
The Third Ear Band-EXPERIENCES LP (Harvest Heritage Records, England)
THE SUPERLATIVE DAVID BOWIE CD (Grove Music Records bootleg)
Hawkwind-THE TEXT OF FESTIVAL CD (Eastworld Records)
Oliver Lake-NTU : POINT FROM WHICH CREATION BEGINS CD (Freedom Records, Japan)
The Human Arts Ensemble-UNDER THE SUN CD (Freedom Records, Japan)
Limbus 3-COSMIC MUSIC EXPERIENCE CD (No Label)
Chick Corea-CIRCULUS CD (Blue Note Records, Japan)
Les Rallizes Denudes-BAUS 93 CD-r burn (originally on The Last One/Tuff Beat Records)
Crawlspace-DOGS BEGIN TO CRAWL, SNAKES BEGIN TO HOWL CD-r (Slippytown Records)
Art Ensemble of Chicago-REESE AND THE SMOOTH ONES CD (Charly Records, England)
Limbus 4-MANDALAS CD (Spalax Records, France)
Nucleus-HEMISPHERES CD (Hux Records, England)
Art Ensemble of Chicago-GO HOME + CHI CONGO CD (Free Factory Records, EU)
Crawlspace-CRAWLS PACE 2-CD-r set (Slippytown Records)
Cromagnon-ORGASM CD (ESP-disk/Calibre Records)
Ornette Coleman-SKIES OF AMERICA CD (Sony Records, Japan)
MY SOLID GROUND CD (Second Battle Records, Germany)
The Mothers of Invention-TRICK OR TREAT LP (Bizarre Records bootleg)
Patti Smith-TURN IT UP LP (Dog n Cat Records bootleg)
Really Red-REST IN PAIN LP (CIA Records)
Art Ensemble of Chicago-CERTAIN BLACKS LP (Inner City Records)
Various Artists-12 UK PROTO-PUNK TRACKS CD-r burn (via Youtube)
Tangerine Dream-ALPHA CENTURI LP (Ohr Records, Germany)
The Patti Smith Group-FREE MUSIC STORE LP (Brigand Records bootleg)
Tim Buckley-GOODBYE AND HELLO LP (4 Men With Beards Records)
International Harvester-SOV GOT ROSE-MARIE CD (Silence Records, Sweden)
Milford Graves-CHILDREN OF THE FOREST CD-r burn (originally on Black Editions Archives Records)
Bergerette-BEGUILED CD (Doc Plenty Products)
The Moogy Klingman Revue with Andy Kaufman, Max's Kansas City 1974/Patti Smith-Max's Kansas City 1974/Hot Lunch-Max's Kansas City 1977 CD-r burn
Philip Glass-TWO PAGES/CONTRARY MOTION/MUSIC IN FIFTHS/MUSIC IN SIMILAR MOTION CD (Elektra Nonesuch Records)
Luther Thomas-11TH STREET FIRE SUITE CD (Corbett Vs. Dempsey Records)
TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI CD (Love Records, Sweden)
Milk-"Boy Can I Dance Good" live at the Willoughby Ohio YMCA 1973 CD-r burn
Kikagaku Moyo-"At Here Present", "Green Sugar"/Amon Duul II Play "Phallus Dei" CD-r burn
Tuli Kupferberg and the Fuxxons-KNITTING FACTORY 1992 CD-r burn
Guru Guru-ESSEN 1970 CD (Garden of Delights Records, Germany)
Myriam Gendron-M*A D*E*L*I*R*E CD (Feeding Tube Records)
The Revolutionary Ensemble-MANHATTAN CYCLES CD-r burn (originally on India Navigation Records)
Smegma-LIVE AT THE NEW PARIS, '98 CD-r burn
The Astronauts-COMPETITION COUPE CD-r burn (originally on RCA Victor Records)
Jeffrey Shurdut's Impossible Beauty Orchestra with Bern Nix and Sabir Mateen-THE DREAM OF A RIDICULOUS MAN CD-r burn (No Label Record Label)
Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Co.-1970-1973 CD-r burn (originally on Cuneiform Records)
Syd Barrett- BARRETT CD (Harvest Records, England)
Amon Duul II-LIVE IN MUNICH 1969 CD-r burn
Syd Barrett-FINAL SESSIONS ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS 1974 7-inch 33 rpm EP (Magic Mushroom Records bootleg)
Can-WALDBUHNE JUNE 1971/Amon Duul II doing "Kanaan" 1969 CD-r burn
Lou Harrison-MUSIC FOR GUITAR AND PERCUSSION CD (Etcetera Records, Germany)
The Velvet Underground-EVIL MOTHERS LP (Skydog Records bootleg, France)
Amon Duul-LUA-LUA-HE LP (Trademark of Quality bootleg)
Ornette Coleman-ORNETTE COLEMAN BROADCASTS LP (J For Jazz Records
bootleg, France)
Wurm-EXHUMED 2 LP set (Org Music Records)
ALTER EGO PERFORMS PHILIP GLASS 2-CD set (Omm Music Records)
Roxy Music-WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG LP (Eli Records bootleg, Germany)
Lou Reed-ROCK 'N' ROLL ANIMAL LP (Phantom Records bootleg, France)
David Bowie-LOW LIVE LP (bootleg)
Swans-REAL LOVE LP (Mantra Music Records bootleg)
Philip Glass-MUSIC IN TWELVE PARTS 3 CD set (Nonesuch Records)
Michael Cousins-AKA MAGIC MICHAEL + BONUS TRACKS CD-r burn (no label)
MAGMA 2-CD set (Univeria Zekt Records, France)
ROCK FOLLIES CD (Virgin Records, England)
The Mothers of Invention-PIG MUSIC LP (Mr. Natural Records bootleg)
ANCIENT ROMAN MUSIC CD-r burn
Ornette Coleman-DANCING IN YOUR HEAD CD (Verve Records)
The Fabulous Wailers-THE ORIGINAL GOLDEN CREST MASTERS CD (Ace Records, England)
James Blood Ulmer-ARE YOU GLAD TO BE IN AMERICA? CD (DIW Records, Japan)
THE CRUMMY FAGS CD-r burn
Butch Morris-CURRENT TRENDS IN RACISM IN MODERN AMERICA CD-r burn (originally on Sound Aspects Records)
Robert Calvert-CAPTAIN LOCKHEED AND THE STARFIGHTERS CD (BGO Records, England)
Crawlspace-SPHEREALITY CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry Records)
Frank Zappa-A TOKEN OF MY EXTREME LP (Zapped Records bootleg)
Bernie and the Invisibles-ALL POSSIBILITIES ARE OPEN LP (My Mind's Eye Records)
LES IDOLES LP (Monster Melodies Records, France)
John Cale-ACADEMY IN PERIL LP (Reprise Records)
Amon Duul-COLLAPSING - SINGVOGEL RUCKWARTS & CO. CD (Spalax Records, France)
LINK WRAY CD (Polydor Records)
Alien Planetscapes-CBGB 4/27/90 CD-r burn
THE SAVAGE ROSE CD (Polydor Records)
The Guru Guru Groove-THE BIRTH OF KRAUTROCK 1969 CD (Purple Pyramid Records)
Siouxsie and the Banshees-THE SCREAM CD (Geffin Records)
Neu!-72 LIVE! CD (Captain Trip Records, Japan)
12-Cent Donkey-CASH VALUE CD-r burn (Slippytown Records)
Anthony Braxton-OPEN ASPECTS (DUO) 1982 CD (Hat Hut Records, Switzerland)
The Grateful Dead-CREAM PUFF WAR CD (Red Robin Records bootleg)
Sun Ra-WE TRAVEL THE SPACE WAYS/BAD AND BEAUTIFUL CD (Evidence Records)
Doug Brockie's Infinity-THE HIGH COUNCIL OF INTERGALACTIC BLUES CD (Arcturus Records)
Swell Maps-WHATEVER HAPPENS NEXT 2-LP set (Rough Trade Records, England)
Birdbrain-I FLY CD (Persian Cardinal Recordings)
Jatra-LIVE 1978 CD-r burn
Henry Flynt-YOU ARE MY EVERLOVIN'/CELESTIAL POWER 2-CD set (artist's label)
Various Artists-GODS OF HEAVY - UNRELEASED TRACKS BY ROCK'S HEAVY MASTERS CD-r (Full Seeing Eye Records)
Rashied Ali/Leroy Jenkins-SWIFT ARE THE WINDS OF TIME CD-r burn (originally on Survival Records)
Bob Dylan-HARD RAIN CD (Columbia Records)
Freedomland-YIA YIA'S SONG CD-r burn (Rent Control Records)
MONTAGE CD (Sundazed Records)
The Velvet Underground-LIVE AT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY DECEMBER 12TH, 1968 2-CD set (Keyhole Records, England)
The Great Imposters-DOLLARS IN DRAG, A TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE LP (Rare Records)
Marie et les Garcons-'76/'77 LP (Instant Records, France)
Alice Cooper-EASY ACTION LP (Straight/Warner Brothers Records, Canada)
The Gibson Brothers-PINE TOP BOOGIE LP (Homestead Records)
Stalingrad Symphony-STRUGGLE CD-r burn (no label)
Luther Thomas, Daniel Carter, Blaise Siwula, Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut-OUTCRY CD-r burn (No Label Record Label)
ANGEL IN HEAVY SYRUP IV CD (Monotremata Records)
The Red Krayola-COME ON DOWN CD (Drag City Records)
Dark Sunny Land-EMANATIONS FOR A RETURNING CD (Skachimawakee Records)
Big Brother and the Holding Company-TRIBAL STOMP CD (Head Records bootleg)
The Aliens-NYC CD-r burn
Melodic Energy Commission-MOON PHASE COMPENDIUM CD (Vapor Records, Canada)
Gavin Bryars, Christopher Hobbs-ENSEMBLE PIECES - ORIGINAL OBSCURE RECORDS RECORDINGS CD (GB Records)
THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THROBBING GRISTLE CD (Mute Records)
Muhal Richard Abrams-YOUNG AT HEART/WISE IN TIME CD (Delmark Records)
Kraftwerk-RADIO BROADCAST : 25 January 1974 HR1, Frankfurt CD-r burn
Klaus Schulze-IRRLICHT CD (Spalax Music, France)
Link Wray-SOME KINDA NUT : MISSING LINKS VOLUME 3 CD (Norton Records)
Amanaz-AFRICA 2-CD set (Now-Again Records)
Earth People-SIMPLE...ISN'T IT? CD (Undivided Vision Records)
Julius Hemphill-REFLECTIONS CD (Freedom Records)
Frank Lowe-FRESH CD (Black Lion Records, Germany)
Rashied Ali + Frank Lowe-DUO EXCHANGE CD (Survival/Knitting Factory Records)
The James Marshall Human Arts Ensemble-AUTONOMOUS OBLAST CD (Freedonia Music Records)
Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Co.-LIKE A DUCK TO WATER CD-r burn (originally on Cunieform Records)
Rocket From The Tombs-WMMS-FM "HEAVY METAL SHOWCASE" May 5th 1975 CD-r burn
Don and the Goodtimes-THE ORIGINAL NORTHWEST SOUNDS CD-r burn (originally on Beat Rocket Records)
The Red Crayola with the Familiar Ugly-THE PARABLE OF ARABLE LAND 2-CD set (Charly Records, England)
The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, Conductor-DVORAK - SYMPHONY NO. 5 IN E MINOR OP 95 "FROM THE NEW WORLD" LP (Epic Records)
Amon Duul-PARADIESWARTS DUUL LP (Ohr Records, Germany)
Philip Glass-MUSIC IN TWELVE PARTS PARTS 1 & 2 LP (Caroline Records, Italy)
Freedomland-AMUSEMENT PARK CD-r burn (Rent Control Records)
George Harrison-ELECTRONIC SOUND CD (Zapple Records, Japan)
Tyrannosaurus Rex-A BEARD OF STARS CD (Castle Classic Records, E.E.C.)
Annexus Quam-BEZIEHUNGEN CD (Ohr Records/Spalax, France)
Marc Bolan & T-Rex-ELECTRIC WARRIOR SESSIONS CD (Purple Pyramid Records, England)
Joseph Jarman-SONG FOR CD (Delmark Records)
Roscoe Mitchell Quartet-LIVE AT "A SPACE" 1975 CD (Sackville/Delmark Records)
Annexus Quam-OSMOSE CD (Spalax Records, France)
Roscoe Mitchell-DUETS WITH ANTHONY BRAXTON CD (Sackville/Delmark Records)
JOHN CAGE SHOCK VOL. 3 CD (Omega Point Records)
Tyrannosaurus Rex-A BEGINNING 2-LP set (A&M Records)
THE EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND LP (Harvest Records, Germany)
Sandy Gurvitz-SANDY'S ALBUM IS HERE AT LAST! LP (Verve Records)
THE BEST OF T. REX CD (A&M Records)
LARRY CORYELL & THE ELEVENTH HOUSE AT MONTREAUX CD (Vanguard Records)
T. REX CD (A&M Records)
Terry Riley, Pierre Marietan, Par Le Germ-KEYBOARD STUDY 2, INITIATIVE 1 CD (Tempel Records, France)
Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra-ATLANTIS CD (Evidence Records)
Music Revelation Ensemble-NO WAVE CD (Moers Music Records, Germany)
JOKERS CD (Underground Records, Japan)
Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart-PROVIDENCE COLLEGE, RHODE ISLAND APRIL 26th 1975 2-CD set (Keyhole Records)
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band-FRAMED CD-r burn (originally on Vertigo Records)
ELEPHANT'S MEMORY CD (the Buddah, not Apple one) (Collector's Choice Music Records)
Chrome-LIVE AT ON BROADWAY 1981 CD-r burn
Up-Tight-SWEET SISTER 1994-2003 CD-r burn
3/3-SANBUN NO SAN 2-CD set (P-Vine Records, Japan)
WILD MAN FISCHER MEETS SMEGMA, or WILD MAN FISCHER AND SMEGMA SING POPULAR SONGS LP (Birdman Records)
Crawlspace-THE SPIRIT OF '76 CD (Gulcher Records)
ALAN SILVA AND THE CELESTRIAL COMMUNICATION ORCHESTRA 2-CD set (Sunspots Records, Italy)
Kurt Schwitters-URSONATE UND ANDERE KONSEQUENTE DICHTUNG CD (Wergo Records, Germany)
THE 25-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE CONCERT OF THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE 3-CD set (Wergo Records, Germany)
The Mothers of Invention-WEASELS RIPPED MIAMI LP (Mr. Natural Records bootleg)
The Troggs-BLACK BOTTOM LP (New Rose Records, France)
Tiny Tim-LOST & FOUND LP (Secret Seven Records)
Kim Fowley-BORN TO BE WILD CD (Imperial Records)
Anthony Braxton-B-XO- NO-47A CD (Sunspots Records, Italy)
Blue Cheer-OUTSIDE INSIDE LP (Garageland Records, Sweden)
THE SIDEWINDERS LP (RCA Records)
Can-EGE BAMYASI LP (United Artists Records, New Zealand)
Amon Duul-EXPERIMENTE CD (Captain Trip Records, Japan)
Sadistic Mika Band-GOLDEN BEST CD (Toshiba EMI Records, Japan)
INTRODUCING THE ELEVENTH HOUSE WITH LARRY CORYELL CD (Vanguard Records)
THIS IS...THE SAVAGE YOUNG SONICS CD (Norton Records)
Can-Y(O)U LP (bootleg)
THE ESSENTIAL SANDY BULL 2-LP set (Vanguard Records)
FRANK VINCENT ZAPPA CONDUCTS THE ABNUCLEALS EMUUKHA ELECTRIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERFORMING LUMPY GRAVY PRIMORDIAL 12-inch 45 LP (Zappa Records)
Party Boys-NO AGGRO LP (Independent Project Records)
The Velvet Underground-PEEL SLOWLY AND SEE, DISC ONE CD (Polydor Records)
MUSIC REVELATION ENSEMBLE CD (IW Records, Japan)
Pharoah Sanders-TAUHID CD (Impulse Records)
FAIRPORT CONVENTION LP (Polydor Records, England)
JUKIN' BONE LP (RCA Victor Records)
The Sweet-DESOLATION BOULEVARD LP (Capitol Records)
Anthony Braxton-THIS TIME CD (Sunspots Records, Italy)
Amon Duul II-CARNIVAL IN BABYLON CD (Captain Trip Records, Japan)
Various Artists-YA GOTTA HAVE MOXIE VOLUME ONE 2-CD set (AIP Records)
The Sonics-BUSY BODY!!! CD (Norton Records)
Joseph Jarman/Anthony Braxton-TOGETHER ALONE CD (Delmark Records)
The Lollipop Shoppe-JUST COLOUR CD (Rev-ola Records)
Charles Gayle-UNTO I AM CD (Victo Records, Canada)
SOLDIERS OF ROCK 'N' ROLL - AN AUDIO DOCUMENTARY OF RADIO BIRDMAN LP (WEA Records, Australia)
The Move-MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY LP (Harvest Records, England)
Frank Zappa-ROAD TAPES VENUE #1/1 LP (bootleg)
KRAFTWERK + KRAFTWERK 2 2-CD set (Germanophone Records, Germany)
Von Lmo's Refrigerator-5-28-1980 Max's Kansas City/WHY YOU...MURDER ME?-1974/Blue Humans-6-23-1988 CBGB's NYC CD-r burn
Various Artists-WILDFLOWERS VOLUMES 2 AND 3 CD (Gravity Records)
Group Inerane-GUITARS FROM AGADEZ CD (Sublime Frequencies Records)
Sandy Bull-INVENTIONS CD (Vanguard Records)
Roscoe Mitchell-NONAAH 2-CD set (Nessa Records)
Original Motion Picture Sound Track Featuring THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-FRANK ZAPPA'S 200 MOTELS 2-LP set (MCA Records)
Savage Rose-YOUR DAILY GIFT LP (Gregar Records)
THE FUGS FIRST ALBUM 2-LP set (Akarma Records, Italy)
Roxy Music-BETTER THAN FOOD LP (Gravity Records bootleg)
CREME SODA CD (Radioactive Records)
Kraftwerk-KARUSSEL DER JUGEND LP (bootleg)
Can-UNLIMITED EDITION 2-LP set (Harvest Records, Germany)
The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, Conductor-BOLERO/LA VALISE 10-inch LP (Columbia Records)
AGENTS OF MISFORTUNE one-sided LP (bootleg)
ELEPHANT'S MEMORY LP (Apple Records)
The Electric Eels-AGITATED - 1975 LP (bootleg)
STAN KENTON CONDUCTS THIS MODERN WORLD 10-inch LP (Capitol Records)
Pink Floyd-"Interstellar Overdrive"/"Astronomy Domine", "Two of a Kind", "Flaming" 10-inch 45 rpm EP (bootleg)
Mose Allison-I LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE LP (Vinilissimo Records, Spain)
A CONDENSED HISTORY OF FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION FEATURING FLO & EDDIE LP (Mr. Natural Records bootleg)
Melted Men-JAW GUZZI CD-r burn (originally on Feeding Tube Records)
Frank Lowe-FRESH CD (Black Lion Records, Germany)
Mahogany Brain-WITH (JUNK-SAUCEPAN) WHEN (SPOON-TRIGGER) CD (Mellow Records, France)
Mahogany Brain-SMOOTH SICK LIGHTS CD (Spalax Records, France)
Tim Buckley-THE DREAM BELONGS TO ME CD (Manifesto Records)
James White and the Blacks-OFF WHITE LP (Ze Records)
MUSICA FUTURISTA 2-LP set (Modern Silence Records)
JOHN CAGE LP (Tomato Records)
NEU! 75 LP (United Artists Records, England)
David Toop/Max Eastley-NEW AND REDISCOVERED INSTRUMENTS LP (Obscure Records, England)
Various Artists-KRIS NEEDS PRESENTS DIRTY WATER 2 2-CD set (Future Now Music, England)
GOD BLESS THE RED KRAYOLA AND ALL WHO SAIL WITH IT CD (Charly Records, England)
Jackelope-SALTIER THAN EVER! CD (Challenge Records)
The Art Ensemble-1967/68 5-CD set (Nessa Records)
Kongress/Funeral of Art Part 2, Von Lmo 12-2-79 Max's Kansas City NYC, Von Lmo Radio Spots CD-r burn
Ornette Coleman Trio-LIVE 1965-1966/The Rice Miller Band-"Red House", "Shot in the Head"/The Guitar Bashers-"Don't Mess With The USA" CD-r burn
David Peel-LIVE AT CBGB CD (Captain Trip Records, Japan)
MUSICA FUTURISTA 2-CD set (a different collection than the 2-LP set listed above) (Cramps Records, Italy)
CARAMBOLAGE CD-r burn (originally on David Volksmund Produktions Records, Germany)
Fraction-MOON BLOOD CD (Phoenix Records)
Hawkwind-THE WEIRD TAPES NO. 1 --- SONIC ASSASSINS CD (Hawkwind Records)
Floh de Cologne-GEYER-SYMPHONIE CD (Spalax Records, France)
Zappa-AT THE OLYMPIC/200 MOTELS 2-LP set (Trademark of Quality Records bootleg)
Brian Sands-FIXATION LP (Bizart Records)
15-60-75-JIMMY BELL'S STILL IN TOWN LP (Water Brothers Records)
Sonny Sharrock-MONKEY-POCKIE-BOO CD (Sunspots Records, France)
Lord Buckley-A MOST IMMACULATELY HIP ARISTOCRAT CD (Collectors Choice Music Records)
Thy Byard Lancaster Unit-LIVE AT MACALESTER COLLEGE CD (Porter Records)
Various Artists-BEYOND THE CALICO WALL CD (Voxx Records)
The Art Ensemble of Chicago-AMERICANS SWINGING IN PARIS CD ((EMI Music, France)
JUMP CD (Kismet Records)
The Art Ensemble of Chicago-TUTANKHAMUN CD (Black Lion Records, Germany)
Ornette Coleman-THE EMPTY FOXHOLE CD (Blue Note Records)
Can-LIVE ROCKPALAST 1970 CD (Rox Vox Records, EU)
Michael Hurley, the Unholy Modal Rounders and Jeffrey Fredricks and the Clamtones-HAVE MOICY! LP (Rounder Records)
The Sonics-LIVE FOR FANZ ONLY LP (Etiquette Records)
Pere Ubu-DATAPANIK IN THE YEAR ZERO 12-inch 45 rpm EP (Radar Records, England)
The Fugs-TENDERNESS JUNCTION LP (Edsel Records, England)
Various Artists-AN AFFLICTED MAN'S MUSICAL BOX LP (United Dairies Records, England)
Kluster-ADMIRA CD (Important Records)
Frank Lowe-BLACK BEINGS CD (ESP/ZYX Records, Germany)
The Art Ensemble of Chicago-THE SPIRITUAL CD (Black Lion Records, Germany)
Harvester-HEMAT CD (Silence Records, Sweden)
DAKOTA CD (Radioactive Records)
The Stranglers-RATTUS NORVEGICUS/BLACK AND WHITE 2-CD set (Capitol Records, EU)
Black Oak Arkansas-KEEP THE FAITH CD (Sequel Records, England)
Cruel, Cruel Moon-STILL LIFE CD (Moonbase Records)
The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy Conducting-GROFE - GRAND CANYON SUITE LP (Columbia Records)
Karlheinz Stockhausen * Krzysztof Penderecki * Earl Brown * Henri Posseur * the Rome Symphony Orchestra Conducted By Bruno Maderna-THE NEW MUSIC LP (RCA Victrola Records)
Brian Sands-REHEATED CHOCOLATE TANGOES 12-inch 45 rpm LP (Bizart Records)
T. Rex-ELECTRIC WARRIOR LP (Reprise Records)
Turner and Kirwan of Wexford-ABSOLUTELY AND COMPLETELY LP (Peters International Records)
Various Artists-A BUNCH OF STIFFS LP (Stiff Records, Germany)
The Screaming Gypsy Bandits-IN THE EYE LP (Or Records)
LOU REED AND THE VELVET UNDERGROUND LP (Pride Records)
SONIC YOUTH LP (Neutral Records)
SUICIDE LP (version with additional live tracks released in 1980) (Red Star Records)
CLUSTER II CD (Spalax Records, France)
Mirrors/the Electric Eels/the Styrenes-THOSE WERE DIFFERENT TIMES CD (Scat Records)
Jukin' Bone-WHISKEY WOMEN LP (RCA Records)
Alan Snake-AXE PRESSURE LP (Bizart Records)
Malcolm Mooney and Tenth Planet-INCANTATIONS LP (Milvia Son Records)
THE TROGGS TAPES LP (Penny Farthing Records)
Twink-THINK PINK LP (Pirate)
ALAN VEGA LP (PVC Records)
WHITE LIGHTNIN' LP (Island Records)
Ilhan Mimaroglu/John Cage/Luciano Berio-ELECTRONIC MUSIC LP (Turnabout Records)
Robert Quine/Fred Maher-BASIC LP (Editions EG Records)
Ton Steine Scherben-WARUM GEHT ER MIR SO DRECKIG LP (Indigo Records, Germany)
Dark Sunny Land-KON TANN KOR CD (Gulcher Records)
Philip Glass-SYMPHONY NO. 4 "HEROES" FROM THE MUSIC OF DAVID BOWIE AND BRIAN ENO - SINFONIEORCHESTER BASEL CONDUCTED BY DENNIS RUSSELL DAVIES CD (Orange Mountain Music)
CREATIVE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY VOLS. 1 & 2 CD (Jazz District Records, Japan)
F/i-SPACE MANTRA/BOY DIRT CAR SPLIT LP CD (Koala Foreskin Retraction Records, Australia)
The Bizarros/The Rubber City Rebels-FROM AKRON LP (Clone Records)
The Beastie Boys-COOKY PUSS 12-inch 33 rpm EP (Ratcage Records)
Mars-N.N. END LP (Feeding Tube Records)
Kawaguchi Masami's New Rock Syndicate-CAT VS. DOG LP (Palindrome Records)
The Holy Modal Rounders-ALLEGED IN THEIR OWN TIME LP (Rounder Records)
Screamin' Jay Hawkins-A SPELL ON YOU : B SIDES AND RARITIES LP (Wax Love Records, Germany)
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band-LICK MY DECALS OFF, BABY CD (Reprise/Rhino Records)
Guru Guru-UFO CD (ZYX/Ohr Records, Germany)
Various Artists-THE AKRON COMPILATION LP (Stiff Records, England)
The Holy Modal Rounders-VOL. 1 LP (Prestige Records)
TRACTOR LP (Thunderbolt Records, England)
THE HOMOSEXUALS RECORD 12-inch 45 rpm album (Recommended Records, England)
The Good Rats-RATCITY IN BLUE LP (Ratcity Records)
F/i/Boy Dirt Car-SPLIT LP (RRR Records)
Elliot Murphy-THE MURPHYS - THE 1973 AQUASHOW DEMOS with the "ABRAHAM LINCOLN CONTINENTAL"/"HISTORY" single (Red Lounge Records, Denmark)
Kim Fowley-ANIMAL GOD OF THE STREET LP (Skydog Records bootleg, France)
CLUSTER & ENO LP (Sky Records, Germany)
Various Artists-NEW YORK EYE AND EAR CONTROL LP (Matador Records)
Philip Glass-"LOW" SYMPHONY CD (Point Music Records)
SUISHOU NO FUNE CD
Can-SOUNDTRACKS LP (Celluloid Records, France)
Ultravox-SYSTEMS LP (bootleg)
Various Artists-GROIN THUNDER - TROGGS PUNK NOIZE FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE! 2-LP set (Dog Meat Records, Australia)
Pink Floyd-FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES LP (bootleg, Germany)
The Velvet Underground-1966 LP version with all black cover and non-peelable banana (bootleg)
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band-THE SPOTLIGHT KID/CLEAR SPOT CD (Reprise Records)
John Cage-EARLY ELECTRONIC AND TAPE MUSIC CD (Sub Rosa Records)
The Grateful Dead-MASON'S CHILDREN CD (Scorpio Records bootleg, Italy)
Manster-ATLANTIC RECORDS DEMO CD-r burn
The Coba Seas-UNREFORMED LP (Norton Records)
BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY LP (Mainstream Records)
Joseph Jarman/Famoudou Don Moye-EGWU-ANWU (SUN SONG) 2-CD set (India Navagation Records)
Einstuerzende Neubauten-FUNF AUF DER NACH OBEN OFFENEN RICHTERSKALA CD (Indigo Records, Germany)
John Cage-LOLLIPOPS 3-CD set (El Records, England)
Dark Sunny Land-EMANATIONS FOR A RETURNING LP version (One Hand Records)
Fred Frith-SPEECHLESS (Ralph Records)
AN EVENING WITH WILD MAN FISCHER 2-LP set (Bizarre/Reprise Records)
DISCO TEX AND HIS SEX-O-LETTES LP (Chelsea Records)
Various Artists-ULTRA VIOLET'S HOT PARTS SOUNDTRACK LP (Kama Sutra Records)
Tim Buckley-STARSAILOR LP (Straight/Warner Brothers Records)
Pink Floyd-RELICS LP (Sounds Superb Records, France)
E. Power Biggs-FESTIVAL OF FRENCH ORGAN MUSIC LP (Columbia Records)
Rancid Vat-BURGER BELSEN LP (Brilliancy Prize Records)
Mahogany Brain-SOME COCKTAIL SUGGESTIONS LP (Fractal Records, France)
Mick Farren-VAMPIRES STOLE MY LUNCH MONEY LP (Logo Records, England)
Glenn Branca-SYMPHONY NO. 1 CD (ROIR Records)
Anthony Braxton-THE COMPLETE BRAXTON 1971 2-LP set (Arista Freedom Records)
THIS IS GURU GURU LP (2001 Records, Germany)
Frank Lowe-OUT LOUD 2-LP set (Triple Point Records)
The Velvet Underground-PROMINENT MEN LP (no label bootleg)
Ethix-"Bad Trip"/"Skins" 7-inch 45 rpm single (Mary Jane Records)
UFO-EARLY FLIGHT 1972 LP (Purple Pyramid bootleg)
MILES DAVIS/JOHN COLTRANE/SONNY ROLLINS LP (Ozone Records bootleg)
The Box Tops-THE LETTER/NEON RAINBOW LP (Bell Records)
Jonathan Halper-"Leaving My Old Life Behind"/"I Am a Hermit" 7-inch 45 rpm single (Puck Productions)
Alice Donut-BUCKETFUL OF SICKNESS AND HORRORS IN AN OTHERWISE MEANINGLESS LIFE LP (Alternative Tentacles Records)
Yoko Ono/John Lennon-TWO VIRGINS LP (Apple Records)
THE BLACK EARTH PERCUSSION GROUP LP (Opus One Records)
Les Rallizes Denudes-LE FESTIVAL DE FLEUR COMPLET A AVRIL 1975 GOTENBA CD (Ignitus Records)
Various Artists-THE BABY M TRIAL SIDE A CD-r burn
Tertiary Trio-TITLE GOES HERE CD-r (Rent Control Records)
T. Rex-ELECTRIC WARRIOR 30th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION CD (A&M Records)
NEW YORK DOLLS CD (Mercury Records)
THE SOUNDS OF THE JUNKYARD CD (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
15-60-75-20 CD (Reedurban Records)
Pierre Monteaux, Paris Conservatory Orchestra-STRAVINSKY - RITES OF SPRING LP (RCA Victor Records)
Lou Reed, John Cale & Nico-PARIS 29.1.72 LP (no label bootleg)
Paul Revere and the Raiders-GREATEST HITS LP (Columbia Records)
YOKO ONO/PLASTIC ONO BAND CD (Secretly Canadian Records)
T. Rex-UNCAGED CD (Pilot Records, England)
PHILIP COHRAN AND THE ARTISTIC HERITAGE ENSEMBLE CD (Katalyst Entertainment Records)
Metal Boys-TOKIO AIRPORT CD (Acute Records)
M. Bulteau-RINCURES CD (Fractal Records, France)
Steve Peregrine Took's Shagrat-LONE STAR CD (Captain Trip Records, Japan)
Fripp & Eno-(NO PUSSYFOOTING) CD (EG Records)
Philip Glass-MUSIC WITH CHANGING PARTS 2-LP set (Chatham Square Records)
Lou Reed-METAL MACHINE MUSIC 2-LP set (RCA Records)
Edgard Varese-THE VARESE RECORD LP (Finnedar Records)
Jan Steele/John Cage-VOICES AND INSTRUMENTS LP (Antilles Records)
Siouxsie and the Banshees-100 CLUB 1976 CD-r burn
The Tielman Brothers-TV SHOWS CD (Samsam Music, Holland)
Ruby and the Rednecks-LIVE COVENTRY 1973 CD-r burn
Manuel Gottsching/Ash Ra Tempel/Ashra-THE PRIVATE TAPES VOL. 6 CD (Maniken Records, Germany)
John Cage-SONATAS AND INTERLUDES - SUSAN SVREEK, PIANO CD (Centaur Records)
Earth People-NOW IS RISING CD (Undivided Vision Records)
The Velvet Underground-IN 1966 THERE WAS... 2-LP set (Velvet Records bootleg)
Siouxsie and the Banshees-LOVE IN A VOID LP (Banshee Records bootleg)
George Crumb-MUSIC FOR A SUMMER EVENING (MAKROKOSMOS II) LP (Nonesuch Records)
The Red Krayola-SINGLES CD (Drag City Records)
Joan LaBarbera-TAPESONGS LP (Chiaroscuro Records)
MUSIC OF EDGAR VARESE LP (Columbia Records)
RASPBERRIES LP (Capitol Records)
Hawkwind-HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL LP (United Artists Records)
The 13th Floor Elevators-LIVE "S.F. 66" LP (Lysergic Records)
Iggy Pop & James Williamson-KILL CITY LP (Bomp! Records)
Frank Zappa-PIGS AND REPUGNANCE CD (Flashback World Productions bootleg, Luxembourg)
Sirone Bang Ensemble-CONFIGURATION CD (Silkheart Records, Sweden)
Etron Fou Leloublan-BATELAGES CD (Belle Records, Japan)
Art Ensemble of Chicago-A JACKSON IN YOUR HOUSE/MESSAGE TO OUR FOLKS CD (Charly Records, Germany)
Rudolph Grey-MASK OF LIGHT LP (New Alliance Records)
BIZARROS LP (Mercury Records)
T. Roth and Another Pretty Face-FACE FACTS LP (Reflection Records)
Kim Fowley-THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL LP (MNW Records, Sweden)
The Leather Secrets-LIVE CBGB 1974 CD-r burn
Kluster-KLOPFZEICHEN CD (Hypnotic Records)
Magma-1.001 DEGREES CENTIGRADE CD (Le Chant Du Monde Records)
Kickbit Information-BITKICKS CD (ATM Records, Germany)
Roxy Music-CHAMPAGNE AND NOVOCAINE LP (The Amazing Korneyfone Record Label bootleg)
Various Artists-FUNF FIGUREN AUS VERSCHIEDENEM MATERIALIEN LP (Musikerinituative RE records bootleg, Germany)
The Cramps-1976 DEMO SESSION LP (bootleg)
Patti Smith Group-RADIO ETHIOPIA CD (Arista Records)
Lou Reed-WORDS & MUSIC MAY 1965 CD (Light in the Attic Records)
The Seeds-A WEB OF SOUND 2-CD set (GNP Crescendo/Big Beat Records, England)
D.o.A THE THIRD AND FINAL REPORT OF THROBBING GRISTLE CD (Mute Records)
Pere Ubu-390 DEGREES OF SIMULATED SOUND LP (Rough Trade Records)
Various Artists-LE ROCK D'ICI A L'OLYMPIA LP (EMI Pathe Records, France)
James Chance & the Contortions-LIVE AUX BAINS DOUCHES CD (Ze Record)
The Deviants-DISPOSABLE CD (Captain Trip Records, Japan)
Brian Colligan's Mad Science-REALIZATION CD (Sirocco Music Limited Records)
Various Artists-DO WHAT THOU WILT LP (no label)
Bob Dylan-PASSED OVER AND ROLLING THUNDER 2-LP set (The Amazing Kornyfone Record Label bootleg)
Good Rats-RATS TO RICHES LP (Radar Records, England)
James Chance-"That's When Your Heartache Begins", "Schleyer's Tires"/"McGraw Army Base", "Theme From Grutzi Elvis" 12-inch EP (Ze Records, France)
Stan Bronstein/The Elephant's Memory Band-OUR ISLAND MUSIC LP (Muse Records)
Various Artists-NEW YORK REALLY HAS THE BLUES VOL. 1 LP (Spivey Records)
Sandy Bull-FASTASIAS FOR GUITAR AND BANJO LP (Alternative Fox Records)
Pink Floyd-OUTTAKES FROM OUTER SPACE CD (Hippy Shit Records bootleg, Israel)
Alice Cooper-PRETTIES FOR YOU/EASY ACTION CD (Retro Records, Germany)
Well, one thing's for certain and that is I can sure gauge the ebb 'n flow of my tastes this year watching 'em veer from free jazz to pop to the classical avgarde in a variety of choppy waves! And (undoubtedly) you can tell what groups I've been drooling about by matching my reviews from last year's posts with other efforts by THIS WEEK'S OBSESSION who made the turntable grade (i.e. Bolan, Flipper...).
Gotta say that it is also interesting to note just how my own feelings regarding certain sounds can change as time goes on...f'r example during one listening sesh I found myself quite immersed in THE GRAND CANYON SUITE yet was not as up on Brian Sands' REHEATED CHOCOLATE TANGOES 12-inch 45 which is an all time top ten entry of mine. Maybe various environmental conditions had my nervous system re-aligned somewhat different than usual. The real unfortunate thing regarding my listening desires was my inability to find various efforts I was desperately needing to hear like the Black Oak Arkansas live album, Edgar Broughton's WASA WASA and the Kleiner's Kabalah Syringe burn which was one of my bigtime plays during the dreaded year of 2021.
But what I consider the best thing about this list is that most of the music that turns up is way way older than old, perhaps a good half-century at that which is fine considering how music as a heavy duty thrust ended for me when the hard-edged portion of the 1964-1981 generation of cataclysmic aesthetics gave way to a new era of glitz replacing blitz. In all it was sure fun digging through the collection glad in the fact that I own all of these wondrous slabs of sound, though pretty well miffed that I didn't have 'em all back when I was thirteen and really coulda used 'em!
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***
I managed to rope in some real sweeties for Christmas as well as actually purchased a number of pretty good lulus, all of which you can obviously read about directly below. Brad got me the Sweet LP while P.D. Fadensonnen was responsible for the Velvet Underground and Les Rallizes Denudes. (Still making my way through Robert Forward's various parcels which is a Herculean task as I love to say given how he splits 'em up and it ends up that I start off with one and can't find the other.) I snatched up the rest if only to prove that I'm really not as much of a grifter as many of you make me out to be. These reviews are gabbier than usual this time, but blame it on the cold weather forcing me to stay indoors more often.
Once I get Frank Zappa's condescending tone and egomania outta the way I find that I really can enjoy those early Mothers of Invention records despite knowing the fact that the guy sure wasn't one of the greater human beings to walk the fact of this earth. But then again are YOU??? Am """"""""I""""""""? Let's wait until all of the chips are cashed and maybe in 500 years look back and just see which of us were a finer example of humanity at its best.
Still, who reading this doesn't still enjoy those Zappa-related Bizarre-era trips into various sonic and societal reconstruction anyway? I sure do as the above list proves, and when it comes to Zappa I gotta admit that I find his last of the original Mothers/pre Flo and Eddie era the best era for the ol' stinkeroo. Of course I really like what Kaylan and Volman did for the act 'n all, but its platters like WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH that continue to get me throbbin' fifty years after first lending ear to 'em. HOT RATS as well, and like if you too were a fan of this particular trip into what would eventually go under names like "jazz rock" and "fusion" well, you just might be in Hog Heaven getting hold of this six-disque fiftieth anniversary effort commemoration from '19 which gets low down about the tracks and sessions that eventually made up that interesting bit of aural latex solar beef.
Only the biggest of big Frank Zappa fans are gonna be able to stand listening to this in one, two or even more sittings but strangely enough I really enjoyed the various jamz and early workouts to be heard even if they do tend to go on longer than I'm sure the casual Zappa aficionado could possibly stand. Loads of surprises such as the facts that Ian Underwood was just as much a part of this as Zappa and that part of these sessions were passed off (without proper credit) on WEASELS, BURNT WEENY SANDWICH and CHUNGA'S REVENGE are finally brought to light, undoubtedly because Zappa's been dead for over thirty years and like who's gonna come after him this late in the game. Betcha Zappa didn't even pay royalties to everyone who popped up on those 'un's either.
Even partial and basically unfinished numbers manage to sound whole and, at least for this shorter attention span than a flea's life scribe, they make for more than adequate backdrop for a variety of extracurricular activities from doing dishes to tidying up the house (and for you readers, less moral duties).
You also get the '87 remix which ain't as bad as those other late-eighties releases where Zappa redid most of the instrumental parts, as well as radio ads which I'll bet never aired in your local market and behind the scenes bric-a-brac relayed by Zappa and others. And to cap it all off the final dieque ties up loose ends the way I like complete with the story of Willy the Pimp as well as Captain Beefheart's vocal track for it and nothing but!
The whole shebang even comes with a "Zappaland" board game (based on the album) which you could say is a CANDYLAND for aged heads which I find somewhat neat even if I wouldn't play it in a million years. But still, it reminds me of the nineties when bootleg CD sets were coming out with all sorts of enclosures and inspiring gimmicks the big guys shied away from and yeah, a good half-century ago it woulda seemed strange that someone would have even conceived of a Zappa board game in the first place but it sure is a neet-o thing to know one exists. Sorta.
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People who are usually "in the know" and are thus to be looked up to by the rest of us used to kvetch about how the earlier portion of a decade was lousy for pop (or rock n roll if you so desire) but the later part was just gangbusters! Well, at least it was "true" as far as the fifties, sixties and seventies went...after that it was just a matter of the levels of unbearability that the music inflicted. NOTHING (at least of a up and in front of you value) was good anymore after that! But I do exaggerate...
I dunno if I really can follow the whole early part of decade bad/later part great line that's been passed off on us by many a rock critic who claims to know more that any of us do. Well, look at it through the mind of this definitely non-rockcrit expert...the early-sixties, oft used as an example of an era where teenbo pop was nothing but controlled and bland aural snooze, had some pretty hot records on and off the charts. By the latter portion of that decade things got kinda clogged up as anyone who was subjected to "Hey Jude" or "Aquarius" will tell you. Ditto the seventies...sure there were tons of exciting rock acts coming atcha during the latter part of the decade but you hadda really be in on the loop to know anything about even such commercial acts as the Ramones or Talking Heads, groups that were considered tres evil by the usual disco/AOR/slick country dolts I and undoubtedly you had to exist with! And living where I did, let me tell you that bands such as those might as well have been Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops as far as anyone around me was concerned because nobody I knew even knew who they existed, and if they did would have definitely loathed them!
These same nabobs will disagree, but there is no doubt that the early-seventies were more open to easily accessible rock n roll via the airwaves, with more top notch and downright lasting hits that anyone can imagine being played in somewhat heavy rotation. Sure you had the sudzy housewife music and Jesus Christ Superstar to contend with, but there were also the early glam rumblings, surprisingly good hard rock, pre-disco soul with passion and out-of-the-way surprises that made for a backdrop to some mighty fine comic book reading. And the Sweet really figured into it all, what with their singles that really hitcha in the ol' psyche and made channel shifting in the car oh so fun even if mom was getting more'n just irritated by it all.
This particular album was a Christmas gift from Brad Kohler and it sure is one present that really does make for some more than just passible listening pleasure even if I was expecting him to get me some Dinky Toys. Never had this 'un (sheesh, I don't even recall seeing it in the flea market piles of the day like I would the fantastic SUNSET BOULEVARD) so it is a welcome addition to my older than old collection. Besides, THE SWEET just goes to remind me that, although I once went into fits of rage hearing "Little Willy" over and over again when it first came out the song, the group and the entire glam punk genre really did say more to people like myself than the "safe" stuff that was being pushed ever did.
Really (no doubt about it), this is a non-stop example of what hard rock or heavy metal if you prefer was supposed to represent at the time, even more so than the fading Zep or Sabbath could hope to. Face it, those guys and the other metal mongers of the day were rusting away faster than a 1970 Thunderbird when the Sweet started to pop up, and for being a dreaded "bubblegum" group they sure proved that the pre-teenbo nose-picking suburban slobs who bought them records up were really hipper than alla them stoner boxboys ever were!
You get a whole buncha the biggies from "Little Willy" and "Blockbuster" to "Wig Wam Bam", and with these plus the unfamiliar yet potent sounds packing this such as the overlooked "Man From Mecca" you got an album from 1973 that stands with RAW POWER and the first Dolls as something that really does roar strongly against some of the more offal-like efforts many of you geriatric types hadda endure.
Only the swansong "You're Not Wrong For Loving Me" stenches on with its acoustic guitar strums and Orleans-like harmonies. Hate to know what the Sweet were thinking about including a track like that, but the rest of this just goes to remind me that for a spell some of the kids, and the ones you thought were total turds to begin with (y'know, straight "C" students) really were alright!
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Given the lack of live Alice tapes from the EASY ACTION period albums like this one are definitely more than just "welcome" here at the BTC offices. MICHIGAN 1970 sounds typical audience cassette quality warped but it still packs a wallop even though only two tracks from ACTION are performed and one of 'em, "Mr. and Misdemeanor", ain't exactly one of the better ones that appeared on that classic slice of 60s/70s cusp high energy. Still, getting over the disappointment over the fact that tracks like "Below Your Means" or "Refrigerator Heaven" weren't included but eh, this show's still a fine bit of raw power.
An early embryonic and strikingly different version of "Eighteen" pops up and we all know what a track like "Black Juju" would come off live after seeing the MIDSUMMER'S ROCK special, but you'll want to hear it all anyway because they sounded good to you then and they undoubtedly sure do now. By the way, "Black Juju" contains a load of "Lay Down and Die, Goodbye" making for a quite surprising and unique listening experience if I do say so myself.
Just give it a whirl and it's not hard to see why so many people "in the know" from Lester Bangs and Mick Farren to Greg Shaw were placing hefty bets on Alice being the Next Big Thing in this sphere we call hard-edged rock 'n roll. Like T. Rex, these guys were just too good to make it huge but they managed to helping to make the seventies a great place to tune into any decent local station. Like I said in the Sweet review above, were the early-seventies really inferior to the latter part of that decade?
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It is amazing that these Les Rallizes Denudes albums with fresh material are continuing to make their way out even a good twentysome years after the original Denudes onslaught of records began appearing, And hey, what else can anyone add to the litany or praise regarding this group and the plethora of primal pumping under-the-underground music that this group managed to unleash for almost three decades?
The recent release's as good as any true-blue fan'd hope what with Mizutani and company's amazing abilities to keep alive the psychedelic age well beyond what any reasonable person woulda thought was its natural lifespan, and it sure is swell to know that throughout this time the sound sway and style remained untouched, making me wish that many other acts remained stagnant in their original glory w/o progressing onto rather trite musical tangents the way too many once-vibrant aggros did. Worth it especially for the very upbeat prelude to the traditional set closer "The Last One" with an electronic repeato drone that reminds me of the conclusion of "Ladytron"!
The locked groove ending drone a la METAL MACHINE MUSIC is great too...just don't let it play on and on lest you cut straight through the vinyl right into your turntable!
***
It would figure that "Real Love" sounds more like post-Wood ELO than it does the Beatles. And fans were waiting decades for this? Only goes to show you just how numbed some of the more hippified peacenlove corners of the Beatles fan base could get. Y'know, the ones who for years looked like they coulda been characters in DOONESBURY 'r somethin' with their sports jackets that have the elbow patches. The kind that used to religiously watch 60 MINUTES and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CLASS OF '64. Real Garrison Keillor types.
The rest's a mix of Beatlemania-era television and studio efforts as well as a hunk of PEPPER stuff that'll thrill fans of that album (who look like they coulda been characters in DOONESBURY of course). Yeah it's an interesting selection of rarities and different versions that you've heard on bootlegs for years on end true, but frankly at this point in time I think I've heard enough Beatles to last me ten lifetimes.
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After reading more and more about that long strange trip I really couldn't give one whit about I gotta say that after all's said and done it really does seem as if Pigpen was the only real hero in the entire Grateful Dead saga! While the rest of the group were blowing their minds on illicit chemicals Pigpen was drinking himself to death (which some might think is a more romantic way to go...me, eh!), and when the guy refused to progress from his simple ? and the Mysterians-styled organ playing they hadda slowly phase him out with the more proficient Tom Constanten before the Pig's booze-related condition sidelined the guy for good. Fact is, the Pig was the de-facto head, face and even body of the Dead but Jerry Garcia and the rest just weren't letting his lack of proficiency keep 'em from explorin' alla them psychedelic journeys what with the guy's punk rock tendencies gettin' in the way!
You've probably already heard the first disque in this package. It's taken from those Scorpio and Autumn Records demos recorded '65 way that have been bootlegged to death, and if you don't think that I think this is the only Dead worth lending ear to you are most certainly in the wrong. This is the group at their most listenable, sounding more like contenders for inclusion on NUGGETS rather than the psychodouchebags they became what with the comparatively "primitive" teenybop tunes and naturally Pigpen's portable organ playing.
At this point the Dead's sound fit in perfectly with the jangly folk rockin' Autumn Records style, and to upset any of the more astrological types who may have tuned into this blog be aware that these guys were closer in spirit to the clean cut and matching suit and tie Beau Brummels which, if you were a resident of the Haight at the time, woulda been about as cool as sounding like Jan Garber. But for me songs like "Confusion's Prince" and "Can't Come Down" are primo examples of a whole load of the fun and jamz that the mid-sixties had to offer for suburban slob kids whose main connection with the outside world was daily viewings of WHERE THE ACTION IS.
The live 'un doesn't quite light me up...not that they're downright evil but these tracks, just like all of the other live tunes these guys were cranking out in the mid-sixties, really aren't that potent. Proficient maybe, but proficiency never did cut it with any of those scraggly mid-sixties (or later) punk types anyway. Face it, the Dead live weren't anything to really roar about...they were good and at times could produce energetic performances, but compared with an act such as the Thirteenth Floor Elevators or even those loathed "teenyboppers" the Seeds (an act who really had the teenbo guys and gals frothing at the mouth crazy...just ask John Cale) these toons do come off somewhat pedestrian. They're nice and worth keeping on the turntable but sheesh when you look at some of the competition these guys really do not stack up.
BIRTH OF THE DEAD is still a worthwhile pick up for any true blue BLOG TO COMM tuner-inner if only for those who haven't heard the demos. Live stuff...well, it does make for a somewhat toe-tapping time but kinda think of it as the free fortune cookie you get after a great Chinese meal...nothing special but it comes with the rest so eat 'em. In all these recordings prove that maybe Pigpen shoulda remained the head of the Dead and if so maybe the trajectory woulda gone in a quite different (and more rock 'n roll attuned) direction. But somehow I doubt it.
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And now for a completely different set of Warlocks! Crawling out of the woodwork are some more of these crucial early Velvet Underground recordings which surprisingly enough continue to be discovered long after we all thought the well went dry. Naturally this particularly primitive effort's something that all of you long-time Velvets maniacs will cherish hearing despite the Flintstones-level audience sound.
We get the familiar as well as some surprises (like two versions of "Little Sister", both unfortunately cut off before completion) as well as first album familiarities that still wiggle them nodes the way they did way back when you first heard them. Other beautiful moments include strange comments regarding the EPI visuals being shown while the music roars on, not forgetting some guy introducing the group while describing their attire as if some hip haberdashery was actually sponsoring 'em.
The chic mystique and general might that made the Velvet Underground such an under-the-counterculture force is evident despite all the complications. Arrhythmic and atonal instrumental music fills the gaps between songs taking off from where "Noise" began and, given just how much we ALL could have used this way back when the corpse was still fresh, these songs do have a certain spiritual affectation to them that is just as hit you in the ribs hard as it was back '80 way when albums like ETC. sure seemed like the missing piece in the puzzle for stranded suburban slobs such as myself! I'm sure that longtime fans already know what to do now, eh? Good luck searchin'---you'll need it.
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Never what you would call anybody's fave fanzine ever, BLACK TO COMM was a rag that didn't but shoulda gotten whatch'd call heavy duty hosannas as far as these olde tymey kitchen table-produced efforts go. Was it the lack of money (working on an extremely penny-pinching shoestring budget) or was it my propensity to irritate a good portion of my readership whether intentionally or not (usually the former). If you want to see why for yourself well, what is keeping you?
