View Full Version : Dinosaur Rock: Wally's greatest albums of the 60's and 70's
Probably been done before, but like to hear yer favorite 'dinosaur' albums of the 60's and 70's.
Mine:
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: 'Are You Experienced?', 1967:
'Discovered' by ex-Animal Chas Chandler, Hendrix is teamed up with two Pommy session musos, Noel Redding (bass), Mitch Mitchell (drums). Essentially a 'blues' player, Hendrix incorporates this with rock, jazz, feedback, wah,wah, and volume, Ahead of it's time, AYE takes the blues from the mud of the Mississippi delta to Venus. The most stunning debut album in rock history and regarded by many as the beginning of the 'heavy metal' genre.
Cream: 'Live Cream' Volume 1, 1968:
Upon leaving the great Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, with Jack Bruce (bass), and Ginger Baker (drums), both formerly of Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, form Cream, the world's first 'supergroup'.
This is high volume, supercharged blues at it's best. Clapton's guitar work is superb and the rthym section of Bruce and Baker, brilliant, although calling Bruce and Baker seems a misnomer, as they are soloing with the same virtuosity as Clapton. The masters of improvisation, Clapton once said of Cream "if one of us went off, the others would just follow, see you at the other end"
A great,great band.
The Rolling Stones: 'Let It Bleed', 1969:
The Stones are in fine form on this, one of their very best. Following his mysterious death, original guitarist Brian Jones is replaced by Mick Taylor. 'Let It Bleed' contains several classics, including, 'Gimme Shelter', 'Midnight Rambler' and 'You Can't Alaways Get What You Want' Despite continuing drug problems of various members, The Stones work in the period of '68-'74 is IMO their greatest.
Derek And The Dominos: 'Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs', 1970:
Inspired by his then 'unrequited' love for George Harrison's wife Patti, Eric Clapton, in the persona of 'Derek' and in the midst of hopeless heroin addiction, delivers his greatest work. 'Layla', is, my all time favorite song. Clapton's love for Patti, in his own words, contributed to the "paranoia and tension" in the Dominos music. The life of The Dominos was far too short, but, 'Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs' remains a masterpiece.
Black Sabbath: 'Paranoid', 1970:
The Sabs best album (although 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' runs a very close second) with Ozzy in the line up. From the air raid siren opening of 'War Pigs' to the final track 'Fairies Wear Boots', a dark, bleak, atmosphere emanates from within. 'Iron Man', the story about , according to Ozzy "a guy who travels in a time machine, goes a bit barmy and comes back and kills everybody" is my favorite track on the album.
Deep Purple: Deep Purple In Rock, 1970:
The first album recorded by the legendary MK II line up. For mine, this is THE heavy metal album. Ian Gillan (vocals) and Roger Glover (bass) are recruited and 'In Rock' is the result. The unique soloing and interplay between Jon Lord's keyboards and Ritchie Blackmore's guitar is awesome and the thing that sets Purple apart from other 'heavy' bands of the era. From 'Speed King' to ' 'Flight Of The Rat', from 'Into the Fire' to 'Hard Lovin' Man' (my favorite) this is early 70's heavy rock at it's very best.
With due respect to other lineups of this band, Blackmore, Lord, Gillan, Glover, Paice are unrivalled. Accept no substitute!
Deep Purple: 'Machine Head', 1972:
Purple's second best album, 'Machine Head' contains the classics 'Highway Star' , 'Space Truckin'' and 'Smoke On The Water' as well as the brilliant 'Lazy' and 'Pictures Of Home' .
The Rolling Stones: 'Exile On Main St'., 1972:
The Stones finest moment, Despite Keith's continuing heroin problems, his greatest work appears on this album. In spite of Jagger's significant contibutions to the band, Keith Richards is the real heart and soul of The Rolling Stones. Keith himself said his greatest achievement "as a junkie" was "making Exile on Main St." 'Tumbling Dice' remains my favorite Stones track.
KISS: 'Alive', 1975:
I'm not the biggest KISS fan around, but i love this ablum....in fact...and i know i'll probably get howled down for this, but, i think it's the only decent thing they've ever done. 'Destroyer' was OK, but after the shocking 'Dynasty' and the appaling 'Unmasked' i think i have a fair case. 'Alive' has some great tunes, 'Cold Gin' IMO is the best.
Ted Nugent: 'Double Live Gonzo', 1978:
A double live album of screaming guitar and screeching vocals, Ted Nugent is a maniac. This album cranks at 100 miles an hour from go to whoa. Ted's absurdly macho, sexist stage presence is a real hoot, check out his intorduction to 'Wang Dang Sweet Poontang', "This is a little love song, dedicated to all that Nashville pussy", or his 'ejaculating' at the climax (pun intended) of 'Motor City Madhouse', the album's closing tune.
Well, there's mine, got any others?
where's wally?
First, Wally, a few comments on your selections :
Deep Purple - In Rock
Personally I prefer the MK III line-up with Coverdale and Hughes, but MK II was definitely the most successful and the one that 99% of fans like the most. IMHO the material was better for the MK II albums, but I like the sound of the MK III grouping, even on the MK II standards.
One critique of your short blurb was that you failed to mention the magnificent Child In Time. That song, no, that SOLO alone doubles the worth of the album.
The 25th Anniversary edition, released in 1995, also contains some outtakes, and two versions of Black Night, the huuuuuge single which was previously a non-album track. The second version (track 20 on the CD) has an extra minute and a half of guitar ****ing at the end.
Deep Purple - Machine Head
Kudos to you for mentioning Pictures of Home. It's probably my favourite Deep Purple song, and I love the soloing in it, but it tends to go largely unrecognised as a true classic because of its subtle nature... it doesn't have the chugging riffs of Black Night, it doesn't have the screaming of Highway Star and to be truthful, as brilliant as the songs is, most people probably hit the skip button to get to Smoke On The Water. :(
Ted Nugent - Double Live Gonzo
Presumably you are also sick of having to explain who Teddles is when you mention him to the non-educated. Great White Buffalo is a masterpiece, the 16 minute instrumental Hibernation is a great tune played with a mixture of blistering speed & power and quaint subtlety, and there is nothing but pure energy on Yank Me, Crank Me and Gonzo. The screeching, screaming, widdly-widdly and guitar masturbation on the album's end piece Motor City Madhouse is also well worth giving that second CD a spin. All hail possibly the world's greatest showman, Mr Ted Nugent.
And, if I may, some of my own :
Rainbow - Rising, 1976
YOWSER!!!!!!! A finer album has never been made by any mortal man, and other than that, I don't think Jesus had the equipment.
Tarot Woman is an absoulte belter of a track - a great opener which keeps the listener begging to hear more and more and more.
Stargazer is Rainbow and Ronnie James Dio. Big guitars, big drums, and a little old fart singing about wizards and towers of stone. People, THIS is what it's all about.
A Light In The Black - Ritchie Blackmore's finest moment. This isn't one of those anthems that starts slow and builds to a climax... no, this is 8 minutes 12 seconds of pure f*cking climax. Cozy's drums pound their way through this as a frenetic pace, and the guitar solo seems to go on forever
In short, the world's greatest singer, the world's greatest guitarist, a sensational drummer in the Bonzo Bonham mould, and two hired hands who could match it with the three masters. The greatest line-up of Rainbow was this incarnation, and they recorded the album which proves it.
Deep Purple - California Jam (Live), 1974 - also on video!!!
My favourite DP line-up was MK III. This CD features sensational live renditions of both MK II and MK III songs, with lots of soloing, improvisation and some impromptu pyrotechnics at the end. The 6 tracks clock in at a combined 74 minutes.
The opener Burn and the second track Might Just Take Your Life set the scene, and provide a good solid warm up for what is to follow....
"It's really nice to be in California" says David Coverdale during the banter after the two songs. He is quickly cut off by Ritchie Blackmore playing a sole note, the first of an elongated intro for the CD's centrepiece Mistreated. Coverdale sings it with emotion, sweat and guts unparalleled on any other recording of the song, and after Coverdale is done, Blackmore takes ove rwith an emotion-charged solo. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow... but always moody with a bluesy hint of aggression, Blackmore has all eyes on him throughout.
Smoke On The Water follows, Coverdale sharing the vocals duties with Glenn Hughes. It's amazing how refreshing it is to hear someone other than Ian Gillan singing this, and it's made even better by the fact the two sing it so well. 10/10 for their "cover".
Blackmore kicks off with a slick guitar intro on You Fool No One, but after the song segues into The Mule, Ian Paice gets his chance at some of the limelight. A pounding flurry of arms, legs, hair, hi-hats & cymbals ensues, as Paice puts every last bit of energy into his solo. As expected, the crowd of 300,000 gues nucking futs.
The set closer is Space Truckin', all 20 minutes of it. Big closing numbers are nothing new in dinosaur rock, but the video has to be seen to be believed. Glenn Hughes's screaming characterises the vocal part of the song before Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore go nuts at the end, soloing and ad-libbing for over 10 minutes while all hell breaks loose on stage.
A TV cameraman had been getting too close to Blackmore all night, and Ritchie finally snapped, and stuck his guitar into the camera. Ritchie also manages to jump on his guitar, throw it into the air, smash it into the stage, and throw the pieces into the crowd. He'd also insructed his roadie to put some petrol at the back of his amps, to cause a small explosion for effect. The roadie was a bit liberal in his dousing of the amp, and the explosion blew Lord off his organ stool (from a good 20 metres away) and pushed Blackmore across the stage. Glenn Hughes and Ian Paice just kept playing while about a third of the stage and equipment caught fire. The song comes to an end not long after and the band is whisked off the festival's open-air premises in a helicopter to avoid arrest.
The only thing missing was a car chase!!!
Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny, 1976
Geez 1976 was a great year for music. After their impressive debut album Rocka Rolla at the end of 1974, Judas Priest followed up with Sad Wings of Destiny, a riff-fest if ever there was one.
Any song on this album could easily make a "Best of" compilation - they are all that good even in a 27 year back catalogue. Among all the double-bludgeoning guitar riffery, lies the mournful and sombre Epitaph, featuring only Rob Halford's vocals and Glenn Tipton swapping his guitar for a piano. It is so different from the gargantuan power chord onslaught, yet doesn't seem one iota out of place.
The album highlight IMHO is the subtle and intricate Dreamer Deceiver, with its dreamy and astral-themed lyrics and soft flowing soloing at the end.
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath , 1970
Quintessential Ozzy-era Sabbath, this album was and still is as doomy and mournful as anythign going around. The eponymous opener starts off with the sound of rain (stuff going to Burmingum for a holiday eh?) and Iommi's guitar crashing in resmbling a chiming church bell. Moody, slow and doomy are the next three to four minutes until the angry, confused and frightened end to the song. Ozzy shares with us every imaginable emotion (except joy & happiness), and simultaneously announces the arrival of the new phenomenon of heavy f*cking metal. YEAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!
The fourth track, N.I.B. is a song about the devil falling in love. Poor blighter. It was named after "nib" - apparently drummer Bill Ward's beard looked like a pen nib, and the name stuck ( I swear I am not making this up).
The highlight for me is the closing track, Warning. Pure blues, folks, pure blues. Essentially, Black Sabbath, and most other early forms of heavy metal were heavier distorted blues with a bit of aggression and power instead of melancholy and maudlin.
More to come.
Good to hear from ya Darky,
Yeah, the 25th Anniversary of 'In Rock', is a f*ckin' killer. Especially love the little instrumental 'Jam Stew'. Apologies for the 'Child In Time' oversight (silly me), i have a 17 minute version on a (rare?..dunno...you might've heard it?) live album 'Scandinavian Nights' recorded in Sweden '70, complete with jazzy little improvsation in the middle courtesy of Blackmore and Lord. A f*ckin' corker. Still, as far as 'In Rock' goes, Blackmore's riffing on 'Hard Lovin' Man' blows me away everytime.
'Pictures Of Home'?, yep, one of my all time Purple faves and for mine,one of the highlights when they performed it on the '99 tour As for 'Smoke', as great a song it is, i reckon it's one of the 'weaker' tracks on 'Machine Head'.
Deep Purple MK III did some great stuff...'Burn' especially....but got a little too 'funky'...re: 'Stormbringer'...for my liking. I've got the 'California Jam' on CD...'Mistreated'...is IMO Blackmore/Coverdale's finest moment.....but can't seem to find the video. I remember watching it at a mates place years ago, ripped off me t!ts.
Glad to see someone else appreciates the talents of Mr. Edward Nugent, Ted's dulcent tones are being spewed from my stereo as i type...'Stormtrooper's comin'......
Your right about 'Black Sabbath', i love Geezer's angry, thrumming bass solo (have you heard it?) leading into 'N.I.B.', although i once read this was deleted on later re-issues of the album (love the story behind the title btw)
Judas Priest almost made my list with 'Unleashed In The East, Live In Japan'....i love 'The Green Manalishi' and their 'cover' of Joan Baez's 'Diamonds And Rust' . 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' is one of the few Priest albums i don't own.
Ditto Rainbow's 'Rising', maybe i'll have to check 'em out.
Cheers man.
where's wally?
Smashing Pumpkins - best 70's band. :cool:
You guys all know that the Beatles brought out there albums in the 60's right??
Revolver
Rubber Soul
Sgt Peppers
Pet Sounds - Beach Boys.
No real explanation needed for the above.
Originally posted by jod23
You guys all know that the Beatles brought out there albums in the 60's right??
Revolver
Rubber Soul
Sgt Peppers
Pet Sounds - Beach Boys.
No real explanation needed for the above.
Do you even know what "dinosaur" rock is?
It's the stuff you're too narrow-minded to listen to.
Roylion
16 Dec 2001, 06:25
Some favorites of mine: (although not sure if it all qualifies as strictly "rock"
Paul McCartney - Band on the Run. (bit poppish perhaps)
Beatles - Abbey Road
Queen - "A Night at the Opera,
Queen - Queen II
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
KISS - Destroyer
David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Ignoring snide remarks about "dinosaur" rock whatever that is
I just enjoyed watching High Fidelity and am in the mood for a list so you want 60's/70's rock you got it:
Allman Bros: Eat a Peach
Little Feet: Sailing Shoes
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick
Led Zepellin: Houses of the Holy
Santana: Abraxas
Grateful Dead: Anthem of the Sun
Jefferson Airplane:Volunteers
The Who: Who's Next
Hendrix : are You Experienced?
Ten Years After: Watt
Paul Butterfield: East/West
Cream: Wheels of Fire
Humble Pie:Smokin'
Jeff Beck: Blow by Blow
Uriah Heap:Look at Yourself
Savoy Brown
Styx
Steve Miller Band: Fly Like an Eagle
Pink Floyd: Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Big Brother: Cheap Thrills
The Velvet Underground & Nico
King Crimson: At the court of the Crimson King
Rusty Brookes
17 Dec 2001, 08:01
I suppose the following would qualify as dinosaur rock:
Blue Oyster Cult-Tyranny and Mutation
Black Sabbath-Master of Reality
Alice Cooper-Love it to Death
The Who-Live at Leeds
The Rolling Stones-Sticky Fingers
Grand Funk Railroad-Live (Homer Simpson Special)
Kiss-Alive
Thin Lizzy-Live and Dangerous
Cheap Trick-Live at Budokan
How do the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, the MC5 etc fall into the scheme of things? Will they ever qualify as dinosaur rock?
Bloodstained Angel
17 Dec 2001, 11:28
ewwww - yeah Dinosaur Rock !
anything by these guys would qualify :
Toto
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Boston
Thin Lizzy
Yes
Electric Light Orchestra
The Band
Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Deep Purple
Hush :p
KISS
Cream
Queen
Steve Miller Band
America
The Eagles
Steely Dan
SkyHooks
get the picture ?
Rusty Brookes
17 Dec 2001, 12:39
Thanks-BSA. I'll add Neil Young and Crazy Horse-Everybody Knows This is Nowhere to my list
Originally posted by NYMets
Pink Floyd: Piper at the Gates of Dawn
I would have classed it as more of a psyched-out, drugged-out, pyschedelic adventure album . . . but's it's great none the less! :)
I was listening to "Dark Side of the Moon" today . . . hmm, also a bit hard to classify as dinosaur rock as it sounded as if it would still fit right into the top notch of contemporary art-rock outfits today (bar the production on the vocals)!
Perhaps "Wish You Were Here" could qualify as dinosaur rock.
Originally posted by Olmy
I would have classed it as more of a psyched-out, drugged-out, pyschedelic adventure album . . . but's it's great none the less! :)
I was listening to "Dark Side of the Moon" today . . . hmm, also a bit hard to classify as dinosaur rock as it sounded as if it would still fit right into the top notch of contemporary art-rock outfits today (bar the production on the vocals)!
Perhaps "Wish You Were Here" could qualify as dinosaur rock. So would most of the early early Dead. So is Dino Rock the beginnings of Heavy Metal like Led Zep? How 'bout IN-Gadda-da-Vida by the Iron BUtterfly? Ingaddadavida baby.........http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/laugh.gif
Or Blue Cheer..Summertime Blues.? aint no cure for the summertime blues....
Mooster7
18 Dec 2001, 13:48
I'm in with Wally & Darky.
My favorite Deep Purple album is 'Made in Japan.' I love the take of "Lazy" on that one.
I would add Led Zeppelin I- V on my list of dinosaur greats.
Also love Nugent. All you need is 'Double Live Gonzo.' Ted knows this. All of his concerts since that time have been basically that album plus one or two takes from whatever studio job he has recently put out. I've caught his show perhaps a dozen times. Loved it each time.
The great thing about Ted is that he is a genuine classic ****-sure rock star. Not one of these whiney dweebs you see these days. You know, with the shaved head, tattooes, piercings and all the drab, melodramatic tripe singing about self-doubt and misery. Rock & Roll got it's name, because it's practicioners are all about having a good time and picking up women in the audience. Not all this self-pity, and macabre poetic inner examination crap.
If you get the chance, pick up "Whiplash Bash" The video of Ted's 1989 New Years Eve show in Detroit. Ted at his aged best. He was still jumping around at the time. I'm afraid time has taken its toll on both Mr. Nugent & Angus Young in the frenetics department. Peace,
Mooster
The Hippie
18 Dec 2001, 21:36
1989, Mooster. That must have just before he formed Damn Yankees with Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw and Michael Cartelone.
Loved the 2 albums they did together, it's a pity they didn't do more.
Rusty Brookes
19 Dec 2001, 07:05
Originally posted by NYMets
So would most of the early early Dead. So is Dino Rock the beginnings of Heavy Metal like Led Zep? How 'bout IN-Gadda-da-Vida by the Iron BUtterfly? Ingaddadavida baby.........http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/laugh.gif
Or Blue Cheer..Summertime Blues.? aint no cure for the summertime blues....
I LOVE Blue Cheer. I didn't think anyone remembered those guys. They were the most psychotic band of the 60s (along with the Detroit Duo of Destruction-the MC5 and the Stooges). That stuff was definitely the beginning of heavy metal and it even helped create a blue print for punk rock with their attitude.
Stealth bomber
19 Dec 2001, 07:45
My favourite "dinosaur" albums:
Pink Floyd: Obscured by Clouds (1972) - Came out before "Dark Side". There's still some psychedelic and mellow 60s influences on it but also some hint of what was to come later. Some very trippy stuff.
Pink Floyd: Animals (1977) - This is a harder, less-jazzy album than either Dark Side or Wish You Were Here, and the songs are much longer and more in the progressive realm. Possibly even more depressing to listen to than any other Pink Floyd album, though. Favourite tunes are "Dogs" and "Sheep", both of which are over 10 minutes long but very interesting, with trippy keyboards and peaceful sound effects. I really think that Richard Wright didn't get enough credit for what he did in the band, considering Waters and Gilmour are such giants.
Rush: A Farewell to Kings (1977), Hemispheres (1978) and Permanent Waves (1979). Trilogy of progressive concept albums from a Canadian power trio. Incredible drumming and bass-playing.
More...
Van Halen - Van Halen, 1978
Metal for the 80s and it was only 1978. Has there ever been a debut album as good as this? I don't bloody well think so.
No duds on this baby, not a one. Running With The Devil, Eruption, You Really Got Me, Atomic Punk, Jamie's Crying, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, Feel Your Love Tonight, Ice Cream Man... all absolute gems.
Eddie's guitar pyrotechnics, Alex's chugga-chugga cymbal and hi-hat heavy drumming, Mike Anthony holding down the rhythm section on bass, and "Diamond" David Lee Roth, showman extraordinaire as upfront as a frontman could be.
THIS is Van Halen folks... not the power-ballad, cliched keyboard-ridden sh1t from the 80s. THIS is what you're after... Diamond Dave grabbing his balls and telling us all his flavours are guaranteed to satisfy.
Budgie - Budgie, 1971
Metallica were big on these guys and covered a few of their songs, so I'm surprised Metalli-cats haven't generally delved into Budgie the same way they did with other Metalli-influences like Diamond Head, The Misfits and Mercyful Fate/King Diamond.
Budgie were a heavy but very simple bluesy three piece, almost a precursor to the 1990s stoner rock arrival of bands like Kyuss, Orange Goblin and Electric Wizard (indeed it was Kyuss who supported Metallica on their tour in 1994).
You can tell it's primitive early 70s rock, but it's a very full sound for a three piece. If anything, bass has the strongest overtones but this is just a good hard, rockin' rollin' album. Their mixture of quiet passages mixed with loud blasts of noise sees them share a few similarities with Black Sabbath.
Standout tracks : Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman, Crash Course In Brain Surgery, Guts, Rape of the Locks, Homicidal Suicidal
Stealth bomber
24 Dec 2001, 12:20
THIS is Van Halen folks...
Amen to that. I could listen to the first four albums all day.
Originally posted by Darky
Budgie - Budgie, 1971
Metallica were big on these guys and covered a few of their songs, so I'm surprised Metalli-cats haven't generally delved into Budgie the same way they did with other Metalli-influences like Diamond Head, The Misfits and Mercyful Fate/King Diamond.
Budgie were a heavy but very simple bluesy three piece, almost a precursor to the 1990s stoner rock arrival of bands like Kyuss, Orange Goblin and Electric Wizard (indeed it was Kyuss who supported Metallica on their tour in 1994).
You can tell it's primitive early 70s rock, but it's a very full sound for a three piece. If anything, bass has the strongest overtones but this is just a good hard, rockin' rollin' album. Their mixture of quiet passages mixed with loud blasts of noise sees them share a few similarities with Black Sabbath.
Standout tracks : Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman, Crash Course In Brain Surgery, Guts, Rape of the Locks, Homicidal Suicidal
Ah yes, Budgie......
I love those guys, Budgie probably lacked the sophistication of other heavy bands of the time, but for power could match it with anyone. I really love 1974's 'In For The Kill'. the title track is a beauty, 6+ minutes of riffarama, despite Burke Shelley's nasally whining vocal, which, at times could get a little irritating. Other standouts include 'Crash Course In Brain Surgery' originally cut in '71, this appears on 'In For The Kill'. 'Zoom Club' is my favorite cut on the album. Clocking in at just under 10 minutes, 'Zoom Club' chugs along very nicely, slowly gaining momentum after a quiet intro. 'Hammer And Tongs' is a another highlight, despite it sounding very much like Zeppelin's 'Dazed And Confused'. 1973's 'Never Turn Your Back On A Friend' also contained some good stuff, 'Breadfan' especially. Budgie also gave us some of the coolest song titles. 'You're The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk' and 'In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand' are a couple that immediately spring to mind. Yep, Budgie were cool......
where's wally?
And a few more....
Led Zeppelin: IV: 1971:
No list of dino rock would be complete without these guys getting a mention. Without question Page and Plant's best work, everybody knows 'Black Dog', a classic. 'The Battle of Evermore' is one of the more interesting cuts on Zep IV. 'Stairway To Heaven' still stands up today. 'Rock'n'Roll', despite being flogged mercilessy over the years by Triple M is my fave Zep track. Side two has some fine moments, 'Four Sticks', and the quiet, gentle 'Goin' To California' are brilliant. The bluesy 7 minute 'When The Levee Breaks', the album's closing tune is another favorite.
Uriah Heep: 'Look At Yourself': 1971:
One of the more prolific bands of the era, 'The Heep's' work often varied from inspired, crap, and just bloody weird. 'Look At Yourself' has some fine moments and is my favorite Heep album. The title track, the album's opener is a tour de-force of organ and guitar. The climax of the title track is incredible, organ, guitars, drums, cowbells, everything bar the kitchen sink crashing together in unison. 'Tears In My Eyes' is another Heep classic, with interesting electric/acoustic guitar passages in the middle. The very heavy 'Shadows Of Grief', with it's guitar/organ is another winner. The stop/start tempo of the song adding to it's heaviness and intensity. 'Love Machine', the album closer is 3 minutes of guitar/organ thrash, great stuff. One gripe is the tedious 'July Morning', going on and on and on with it's infuriating la la la la........chorus.
The Who: 'Live At Leeds': 1971/1995:
Originally reased in '71 'Live At Leeds' contained only 6 tracks. Re-released in 1995, to include the entire performance, Pete Townshend is at his arrogant best. Their take on 'Shakin' All Over' is the heaviest, dirtiest version of this song to be heard. 'Young Man Blues' and 'Heaven And Hell' are tough and nasty and the chug-a-chug' tempo of 'Magic Bus' another winner despite bass player John Entwhistle's disdain for the repetitive bass line. The 14 minute 'My Generation' with Townshend improvising in the middle is the album's highlight. The Who were, in my opinion, a very underrated band.
Ten Years After: 'Recorded Live': 1973:
One of England's finest, Ten Years After arrived on the British Blues scene in the late sixties and over the course of 7 years delivered some of the finest blues/rock albums ever. 'Recorded Live' was taken from their '73 German tour and included their own classics in 'One Of These Days', 'Slow Blues In C', 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl' and Ric Lee's drum solo 'Hobbit'. The closing 'I'm Goin' Home' is the highlight. Guitarist/vocalist, Alvin Lee may not have had the profile of other 'guitar heroes' of the day, but was a lot better than given credit for. Lee also may've the 'fastest' guitarist of the era. Ten Years After were a great band.
Judas Priest: 'Unleashed In The East, Live In Japan: 1979:
Probably my favorite Priest recording. 'Unleashed' contains their classic material of the day. 'The Green Manalishi', is for mine, the best track on the album. 'Diamonds And Rust', 'Victim Of Changes' other highlights.
where's wally?
The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy, 1974
"I didn't wanna be here y'know. I coulda been baskin' in the sun in Florida. This is just a hobby for me. NOTHIN', YA HEAR?... A HOBBY!!!"
So begins the album, and so begin the liner notes on my edition (AuGoGo Records), and so begins this post. Why? Listen to the song and the album, and you'll know there's no other way to introduce it.
Is it punk? Maybe.
Is it metal? Possibly.
Is it pure, simple rock? Could be.
Is it good? F*CKEN OATH!!!
The Dictators were formed in New York in 1973, and while some discredit this album as a novelty, it's a damn good album by a band which commits no greater sin than not taking itself too seriously. And that can't be a bad thing.
The liner notes (by Lindsay Hutton) describe The Dickies as a "distillation of primo Who licks and Beach Boys harmonies". It's definitely a unique sound, yet it's so hard to pinpoint why. A band of the 1990s I could liken them to is the New Radicals, whose "Get What You Give" could easily have been the tenth track on this fine CD, such is the similarity.
The Dictators mix two covers (Sonny & Cher's I Got You Babe and the ubiquitoius California Sun) with seven anthemic originals.
This is a must for all rock fans, especially those who like a touch of humour in the delivery of classy verses and riffs. Without being as hard and heavy as some of the other stuff I listen to, this still comes pretty close to being a perfect rock'n'roll album.
Best Tracks :
THE NEXT BIG THING
Back To Africa
Teengenerate
California Sun
TWO TUB MAN
WEEKEND
I Live For Cars And Girls
Santana - Abraxas 1970
Forget the recent trendy collaborations with just about anyone sporting "tribal" tattoos, bandanas and body piercings... Carlos Santana was at his best for this largely instrumental album - an offering of moody pieces, sombre yet volatile, calm yet angry, but walking the tightrope of combining rock with Latin American influences, without ever looking like falling off it.
There are a few songs with English vocals, and a few with Spanish vocals, but it's the instrumental passages that are the highlights of this album. The opening piece, Singing Winds, Crying Beasts sets a relaxed tone, and segues beautifully into the album's (and probably the artist's) most well known piece, Black Magic Woman (ironically a cover, written by Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green).
Oyo Como Va originally by Tito Puente (saxophonist?) is given a guitar and drum re-working, with pretty darn good results. The other highlight is the original track Hope You're Feeling Better (written by Santana's singer/keyboardist Gregg Rolie), which is the strongest rock track on the album.
Ok I'm gonna try & list these in order of greatness
Rainbow - Rising (Brilliant nuff said!)
Deep Purple - In Rock (Sweet child in time...)
Kiss - Alive! (Listenin to it right now, superb)
Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon (Excellent)
Van Halen - Van Halen (Eruption!!!)
Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstacy (Killer riffs)
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy (Less raw than the earlier stuff, goes off)
AC/DC - Highway to Hell (R.I.P. Bon)
Kiss - Kiss (Almost all of these made it onto Alive, classics)
Deep Purple - California Jam (Prefer the Gillan Vox but great anyway)
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic (Sweet Emotion,Walk this way etc...)
Kiss - Destroyer (Loses points for "God of Thunder" still a classic)
Deep Purple - Machine Head (Lazy, one of my all time faves :))
Rainbow - On Stage (Has all the Rainbow songs I love)
bobbity2
30 Jan 2002, 14:13
Originally posted by Rusty Brookes
I suppose the following would qualify as dinosaur rock:
Blue Oyster Cult-Tyranny and Mutation
Rusty, just expressing my undying admiration for the fact that you have BOC's "Tyranny And Mutation" on your list. Way cool.
Rusty Brookes
30 Jan 2002, 15:31
Originally posted by bobbity2
Rusty, just expressing my undying admiration for the fact that you have BOC's "Tyranny And Mutation" on your list. Way cool.
Finally another BOC fan on Big Footy! Had the chance to see them play in 2000 while on holiday in the States and they were magnificant live. 90% of the set was off the first three albums and the rest of the set was the later songs you wanted to hear (Don't Fear the Reaper, Godzilla etc).
bobbity2
1 Feb 2002, 11:55
Rusty, I would kill to see BOC live- tell me, what size venue did they play, was the show well attended, or is their appeal becoming (as Spinal Tap would put it) "more selective"? Which members remain? Eric Bloom obviously, and Buck Dharma... who else?
And why was Donald Roeser called Buck Dharma anyway?!!!
Hope to get your reply soon!
Cheers
bobbity2
1 Feb 2002, 12:10
Now this is a great thread, and I've really enjoyed reading some of the replies, there's some people with great taste in bigfooty land. Right off the top of my head, some killer albums I survived high school with...
Led Zep IV (or Zoso, whatever you wanna call it)
Led Zep 1&2
Black Sabbath (any one of first 5-6 albums, esp. "Paranoid and "Vol.4"
Queen (1&2, "Sheer Heart Attack". "Brighton Rock", killer Brian May showpiece, plus "Now I'm Here", Stone Cold Crazy"-hard rock with sheer class!
Judas Priest ("Sad Wings of Destiny", "Sin after Sin", before they went a bit "comic book Heavy Metal"
Deep Purple (Made in Japan, "In Rock" -Mk 2 line-up with Blackmore and Gillan best IMO.)
Rainbow ("Rising", "long live Rock and Roll"
Blue Oyster Cult (S/T, "Tyranny and Mutation", "Secret Treaties", "On your feet or on your knees" etc- do yourself a favour!)
Motorhead- "Ace of Spades", "overkill" etc- ones with Philthy and Fast Eddie Clarke the best, but honourable mention to "Another Perfect Day"(with Brian Robertson)
Iron Maiden (S/T, Killers, no. of The Beast)
Pink Floyd (Meddle, Dark Side, Wall, WYWH, OBC but above all else...the masterpiece "Piper at the Gates of Dawn", penned by "the Adonis-looking genius", Syd Barrett.
TwiggyDunn
1 Feb 2002, 17:22
Gee some fantastic stuff listed there..Kudos to Darko and Rusty Brookes who suprized me with some of his choices..Cheap Trick Rock!
and Budgie..wow how cool to see those guys enter the spotlight. Very under rated!
And amazing to see Rainbow finally get some respect too
Id definately add Queen in my bunch. jazz, sheer heart attack, night at the opera, day at the races, killers live..what a band!
UFO - force it, lights out, no heavy petting, stangers in the night live..what a band! michael schenker, pete way and phil mogg..respect!
The Runaways - shock rock coordinated by Kim Fowley. They make my list for the total shock rock of their Cherry Bomb video clip!
New York Dolls - one of the most charisma filled outrageous bands of thier time. Johnny Thunders and David Johansen rock!
Aerosmith - drug infested and loving it.So much great stuff! Rocks - what an album! it dont get much better than that. The prototype for so many of the eighties hair bands! Hello Ratt - out of the cellar? lol
Alice Cooper - a master, say no more!
The Sweet - Another of the most under rated bands ever! Definately deserved more credit. Sweet Fanny Adams is an all out classic in my book!
Bad Company and Free - Paul Rogers, blessed with a superb set of pipes. And mighty respect to Paul Kossoff. RIP
Scorpions - One of Germany's finest. Uli John Roth deserves note for the early days!
The Babys - great pompous pop from John Waite and Co.
Angel - Very 70s! I love the pompousness of the early albums which change a great deal over their course be it the keyboard overload on the The Tower to the Cheap Trick influence of the Sinful album. All white image was poofy but they were the super hero good guys standing next to Kiss - also on the Casablanca label.
Kiss - cant go past Kiss! Legendary!
Cheap Trick - Power pop for-fathers!
Rush - One of my fave bands and the heavy ended style of the 70s still puts a smile to my face even if they wished they were Led Zep on the first album.
Starz - genuine US Rock. Collisseum Rock & Violation are fave albums of mine.
Montrose - CLASSIC! Sammy Hagar can take many bows for his time in Montrose.
Kansas - more pompous rock from the 70s! Point of No Return is a monster for that style.
Styx - more pompous pap but very feel good for its time. Favorites include Peices of Eight and Grand Illusion albums.
Judas Priest - as Darky pointed out awesome!! Metal Gods!
Heart - Wilson Sisters came up with the goods. Benetar also deserves some credit too.
Boston - HA more POMP! 8 years to make an album. But big sounding!
Motorhead- all hail Lemmy! bring the NOISE!
Thin Lizzy - another band and MAN that deserves a lot more credit. Phil Lynott was a master at his craft. RIP. Albums take your pick! Spectacular!
I guess theres lots more but those ones come to mind as faves of mine.
Blue Oyster Cult..yep great stuff. GODZILLA!!! killer!
Rusty Brookes
10 Feb 2002, 10:25
Originally posted by bobbity2
Rusty, I would kill to see BOC live- tell me, what size venue did they play, was the show well attended, or is their appeal becoming (as Spinal Tap would put it) "more selective"? Which members remain? Eric Bloom obviously, and Buck Dharma... who else?
And why was Donald Roeser called Buck Dharma anyway?!!!
Hope to get your reply soon!
Cheers
Great call on BOC's audience becoming 'more selective'. The venue was a theatre in the seaside town of Ventura in California. Good crowd (500 or so), the band really had a good time (joked around with everyone). Definitely NO laser show! Remaining members from the golden period were Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma and Allen Lanier. Sound was great.
Buck Dharma I think got his name from Sandy Pearlman from the Soft White Underbelly days.
By the way, the first four BOC studio albums have been re-released with extra tracks on CD. Great liner notes by Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith's guitarist) and at 20 bucks a pop an absolute bargain.
bobbity2
11 Feb 2002, 08:47
Rusty, thanks for the info. I would reply to you privately but because I am a humble pleb with no internet I have to use the one here at the library, and you can't do the private messagey thingy on it (sorry, everyone!)
Pessimistic
12 Feb 2002, 11:55
Apparently "Yes" was the ultimate Dinosaur band.
Some credit one particular album alone with causing a backlash which was Punk Rock (Although I blame Margaret Thatcher myself)
Originally posted by Pessimistic
Apparently "Yes" was the ultimate Dinosaur band.
Some credit one particular album alone with causing a backlash which was Punk Rock (Although I blame Margaret Thatcher myself)
Yes's Steve Howe released an acoustic guitar album last year which has some interesting stuff on it.
I forget what it's called. :p