I'm A Loser- UFO
I Knew You When- Linda Ronstadt
So You Want To Be Rock N Roll Star- Patti Smith
New Mysteries- Be-Bop Deluxe
A Whole New Thing- Big Star
Harry Hippie- Bobby Womack
Ms. Martha- Curtis Mayfield
I'm A Loser- UFO
UFO has been around for 50 years and has mostly been labelled a heavy metal band. That is not completely true. I'd like to use singer-songwriter Chris Church's term, "heavy melody." This track is full of heavy melody and a killer guitar solo.
I Knew You When- Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt...or as my old school pal's father use to call her, Rhonda Linstadt...nails this Joe South tune.
So You Want To Be A Rock N Roll Star- Patti Smith
I might have featured this as a daily cover, but it's still in the back of my mind, so out it comes again.
New Mysteries- Be-Bop Deluxe
Big Be-Bop fan here, and for years "Drastic Plastic," their last as a band, was my least favorite. For that reason, it was always my least played. Then a few years back, I listened and it sounded really fresh. It has become a new favorite and the current deluxe version of this set made it sound better than ever. This track has some terrific guitar lines and melodies that could have made it a Bond theme contender.
A Whole New Thing- Big Star
Alex & Jody plus Jon & Ken of The Posies equals a whole new Big Star. Love this one.
Harry Hippie- Bobby Womack
I listened to some Bobby this week as it was his birthday. This is a personal fave, written by Jim Ford, a major influence on many, including Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe. Click for a bonus ZIP of Elvis performing a very cool surprise medley from the "Elvis Sings Nick/Nick Sings Elvis" benefit in 2010.
Ms. Martha- Curtis Mayfield
The good people of Rhino Records have reissued some classic soul and R&B records for Black History Month. Very solid pressings on various colors of vinyl, with terrific mastering, including an Aretha or two and some Curtis Mayfield. Listening to some of the Mayfield's, I was reminded of this amazing track from his very last record "New World Order."
And in remembrance of Michael Stanley, a Cleveland legend who passed away this week, here are a few of my personal faves.
6 comments:
Many thanks for the SOTW zip. Love all and everything by Linda Ronstadt and the Be Bop Deluxe track is exactly that, a New Mystery to me as it's a tune I've forgotten. Also something of a mystery to me is Michael Stanley as he's not well known this side of the world (at least not by me) so thanks for the clips. Cheers!
I love that final Curtis record soooo much. As good as any of his career, IMHO, which is saying a lot.
I assume the two Michael Stanley Band tracks are the ones Todd Rundgren worked on!
The first of the three has Rundgren on it.
Damn, that Byrds cover is AMAZING. How have I never heard it before now? An instant favorite.
Sal: Thanks for remembering Michael Stanley. I spent 2 years in the 1980s at a college in Ohio and MSB was everywhere. Saw them in concert with Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. Stanley wrote a ton of good songs even after the MSB heyday. Cheers, Michael D.
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