2 Steps From The Middle Ages

 

Paisley Underground Power Pop from Scott Miller and Game Theory.  

Released in 1988, '2 Steps From The Middle Ages' was the fifth studio album by Game Theory, as well as the last album before Miller moved on to The Loud Family.  

The full album can be found here and here.

The Angry Young Them

 

Them were a band from Belfast, Ireland, best known for launching Van Morrison's career among those who still remember the band.  Never was much of a fan of Van's although I like a few of his songs, but the music he made with Them was the cat's meow. 

'The Angry Young Them' is their first album, released in 1965.

The full album can be found here or here.

Translucent Blues

 Ray Manzarek is best known as the keyboardist with The Doors.  

Roy Rogers is a master of the slide guitar.  

'Translucent Blues' is the second of three albums that Ray recorded with Roy.  It was released in 2011

The full album can be found here or here.  

Excitable Boy

 

 

In the mood for some Warren Zevon.  'Excitable Boy' is his third studio album, released in 1978.

The full album can be found here or here.

Fight Songs

 

With a name that was inspired by The Wreck of the Old 97, the Old 97s went from Texan bar band to one of the early pioneers of Alt-Country... or "Loud Folk", as some of the band members prefer to call their music.  'Fight Songs' is their fourth studio album, released in 1999.   

The full album can be found here or here.  

Showcase

 

Since I just moved my farm from Michigan to Tennessee, figure I might as well play some Country Music.  

'Showcase' is Patsy Cline's second studio album, recorded with The Jordanaires and released in November of 1961.

The full album can be found here and here.

Remote Control

 

In the mood for goofy.  That means The Tubes.  

'Remote Control' is their fourth studio album, released in 1979.  It's one of those concept albums.  Inspired by Jerry Kosinski's novel, 'Being There', it tells the story of a TV-addicted idiot savant.    

The full album can be found here and here.

Music for the Masses

 

In the mood for some electronica with Depeche Mode.  

'Music for the Masses' is their sixth studio album, released in 1987.

The full album can be found here or here.  

Ssssh

In the mood for some Alvin Lee and the fellas in Ten Years After.  

The band put out eight killer albums in seven years.  It was kind of hard to pick one, but after some deliberation I went with their third studio album, 'Ssssh', released in 1969.

The full album can be found here or here.

Hot Rats

 

'Hot Rats' is Frank Zappa's second solo album, released in 1969.  Along with Mr. Zappa, the musicians who contributed to masterpiece includes former Mothers multi-instrumentalist, Ian Underwood, Shuggie Otis, Lowell George, Don "Sugarcane" Harris and Jean Luc Ponty, with Captain Beefheart providing the vocals on "Willie The Pimp".  

The full album can be found here or here.

Bitches Brew

'Bitches Brew', Miles Davis' Jazz-Rock masterpiece, was released in 1970.  With Miles on trumpet, the other artists who contributed to this album include Wayne Shorter, Benny Maupin, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette.  And yes, Miles does indeed run the Voodoo down with some help from these wonderful musicians.  

The full album can be found here or here.

David Johansen and The Harry Smiths

 

David Johansen started off his career with one hell of a bang as the frontman for The New York Dolls.  His solo career has been more miss than hit in my opinion, although I found his Buster Poindexter persona to be mildly amusing.  And then in 2000 he seems to have hit his stride, putting together a band and an album that was inspired by a reissue of the 'Anthology of American Folk Music', a compilation of country and blues songs from the 1920s and 1930s that was put together by the musicologist Harry Smith.  

You can find the full album here or here. 

London Calling

 

It's been at least ten years since I've listened to this album.  

'London Calling' is the thrid studio album by The Clash, released in the USA in 1980.

The full album can be found here or here.

Liege and Lief

 

Fairport Convention is a British folk-rock band that formed in 1967.  One of the founding members is Richard Thompson, one of my favorite singer-songwriters.  

'Liege and Lief' is their third album, released in 1969.  It is also their last album to feature Sandy Denny, a woman whose life was destroyed by her demons.  In spite of those demons, her singing is a joy to listen to here.  

The full album can be found here and here.  

Monster

 

Going back in time to 1969.  'Monster' is the fourth album by Steppenwolf.  

Hard to believe it's been fifty-two years since this album was released.  

The full album can be found here or here.

Big Sexy Noise

 

Q: What do you get when you put Lydia Lunch together with Gallon Drunk?

A: Big Sexy Noise.

You can find the full album here.  

Love It To Death

 

In the mood for a walk down Memory Lane.

This is one of those albums that made doing time in high school seem a little more tolerable.  

The full album can be found here or here.

Relaxing With The Heads

 

Psychedelic Stoner Rock from Bristol, England.  Think The Stooges meet Hawkwind with a dash of Sabbath.  

Released in 1995, 'Relaxing with... The Heads' is their debut album.  

You can find the full album here or here.

Volunteered Slavery

 

Last December, I featured 'I Talk With The Spirits', an album by Rahsaan Roland Kirk that showcases his mastery of the flute.  On 'Volunteered Slavery', he plays the flute and the nose flute, the tenor saxophone, the stritch and the manzello, the gong and whistle, and does some singing too.  

Released in 1969, the first side features songs that were recorded in the studio.  The songs on the second side are from Mr. Kirk's performance at The Newport Jazz Festival in 1968.  

The full album can be found here or here.

Showdown!

 

One of my favorite Blues albums, 'Showdown' was released in 1986.  It features Albert Collins, Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland.  The album even won a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Recording.  Not that winning a Grammy means all that much.  Most winners tend to be pretty mediocre, if you ask me.  This is one of the exceptions to that rule.  

You can find the full album here or here.

Full Western Dress

 

The Derailers are an Alt-Country band based in Texas.  

Produced by Dave Alvin, and with a guest appearance by Buck Owens on the ninth track ('Play Me The Waltz Of The Angels'), 'Full Western Dress' is their fourth album, released in 1999.  

You can find the full album here and here.

If Walls Could Talk

Rumor has it that if an instrument has strings, Justin Johnson can play it.  On slide guitar, his playing would have made Duane Allman stand up and take notice if the latter were still around to do so.

Mr. Johnson has recorded five studio albums, plus several educational recordings on how to play roots music instruments.  'If Walls Could Talk' is his second studio album, released in 2016.  Produced by John Carter Cash, son of Johnny Cash and June Carter, and recorded at the Cash Cabin Studios, it showcases Mr. Johnson's skills on some twenty plus instruments, including the cigar box guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass fiddle and diddley bow.  

You can find the full album here or here.  

I Ain't Marching Anymore

Since it's the Fourth of July, I'm going to feature some history as sung by Phil Ochs.  

"I Ain't Marching Anymore' is Mr. Och's second album, released in 1965.

The full album can be found here and here.

Delta Momma Blues

 

Gonna feature another singer-songwriter on this Sunday evening.  

Townes Van Zandt was another one of those Texan fellas who knew how to set a good story to music.  'Delta Momma Blues' is his fourth album, released in 1971.

You can find the full album here or here.  

Globe of Frogs

 

Robyn Hitchcock has been one of my favorite singer-songwriters since his days with The Soft Boys.  'Globe of Frogs' is his sixth studio album.  It was released in 1988.

You can find the full album here and here.  

Kerosene Hat

 

Cracker was founded by Camper Van Beethoven frontman, David Lowery, and guitarist Johnny Hickman.  

'Kerosene Hat' is their second album.  It was released in 1993.

The full album can be found here or here.  

Cure for Pain

 

Morphine came out of the Boston area in 1989.  The band consists of Mark Sandman on bass and vocals, occasionally adding piano, organ or guitar; Dana Colley on saxophone, mostly the baritone, but also the tenor and the alto saxes; and Jerome Deupree keeping the beat on the dreams.  

'Cure for Pain' is their second studio album, released in 1993.  

The full album can be found here or here.

Hosannas from the Basements of Hell

 

Killing Joke have been described as Punk, Post-Punk, Goth, New Wave and Industrial Metal, but I just call 'em good ol' Rock 'N' Roll.  

'Hosannas from the 'Basements of Hell' came out in 2006.  It is their twelfth studio album.  

The full album can be found here or here.  

Mr. Wizard

 

When it comes to down and dirty Blues, it doesn't get much better than R.L. Burnside.  

Released in 1997, 'Mr. Wizard' is his eighth studio album.  

The full album can be found here or here.

Virgin Fugs

 

Legend has it that a note found in the FBI file on The Fugs described the band as the "most vulgar thing the human mind could possibly conceive". 

What's not to love?

Released in 1967, 'Virgin Fugs is their third studio album.

The full album can be found here.

Green River

              

Swamp Rock from Northern California and one of the best American bands to come out of the Sixties.  

'Green River' was the third album by Creedence Clearwater Revival, released in 1969.

You can find the full album here or here.  

The Big Eyeball In The Sky

Les Claypool is the goofball genius behind Primus.  Bernie Worrell began his musical career with Parliament and Funkadelic, also known as P-Funk.  Buckethead and Brian 'Brain' Mantia both played with Praxis and Guns 'N' Roses, among others.  Put them all together and you have Colonel Claypool's Bucket Of Bernie Brains.  Released in 2004, 'The Big Eyeball In The Sky' is their only studio album.  

You can find the full album here.

Roy Clark and Joe Pass play Hank Williams

 

Last week it was Vassar Clement's Hillbilly Jazz.  This week it's two masters of the guitar.  Roy Clark made a name for himself playing Country Music.  Joe Pass came from the world of Jazz.  Add the songs of Hank Williams and you have magic.    

The full album can be found here and here.  

Full Circle

The Father of Hillbilly Jazz, Vassar Clements was seven years old when he taught himself to play the fiddle.  His big break came at the age of twenty-one when he was hired to play with Bill Monroe and The Bluegrass Boys.  He went on to play with Flatt and Scruggs (that's Vassar you hear playing the fiddle on the theme to 'The Beverly Hillbillies'), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Hartford, The Grateful Dead, Stéphane Grappelli and Dicky Betts, among others.  He was also a member of Old And In The Way, a Bluegrass supergroup that included Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, John Kahn and Peter Rowan.  

'Full Circle' was released in 2001.  Along with Mr. Clements, the album features Jim and Jesse, Ricky Skaggs, John Cowan, Peter Rowan, JD Crowe and Sam Bush.  

The full album can be found here and here.

Born Under A Bad Sign

 

Albert King began his musical career in Osceola, Arkansas, a river town on the mighty Mississippi.  He spent a decade or more moving around the South and the Midwest before heading to Memphis, where he signed with Staxx Records. 

'Born Under A Bad Sign' is King's second studio album, released in 1967.  It consists of songs recorded during several sessions, with Booker T. and The MGs and The Memphis Horns providing the back-up.  Isaac Hayes also contributed some keyboards and piano on a few of the songs.  

The full album can be found here or here.  

Bloodbrothers

 

Gonna have some fun with The Dictators on this Sunday evening.  

Released in 1978, 'Bloodbrothers' is their third album.  

The full album can be found here or here.

Gorilla

The Bonzo Dog Band... also known as The Bonzo Dog Dada Band and The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band... started off as a goofball, avant garde jazz band with psychedelic overtones, eventually adding more rock 'n' roll influences to their repertoire.  

In 1967, they became the house band for a British comedy show called 'Do Not Adjust Your Set', which featured future Monty Python members Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.  They were also the only band besides The Beatles to appear in 'Magical Mystery Tour", performing the song 'Death Cab For Cutie'.  

'Gorilla' is The Bonzo's debut album, also released in 1967.

The full album can be found here or here.

Snake Farm

 

Ray Wylie Hubbard is another native son of Oklahoma, although his family moved to Texas when he was eight.

'Snake Farm' is his twelfth studio album, released in 2006.  

The full album can be found here or here.  

Troubadour

 

Think I'll stay in Oklahoma this week with J.J. Cale, another native son.  

'Troubadour' is Mr. Cale's fourth album, released in 1976.

The full album can be found here or here.  

Carney

 

This is one of those albums that doesn't need an introduction.  

The full album can be found here or here.  

Stoneage Romeos

Thought I'd feature another Australian band this week.  

The Hoodoo Gurus formed in 1981.  'Stoneage Romeos' is their first album, released in 1984.

You can find the full album here or here.

Highway To Hell

 

It's been said that Bon Scott was trying to sound like Sam and Dave when he sang.  I can hear their influence.  

'Highway To Hell' is AC/DC's fifth studio album and the last one that features Mr. Scott's vocals

.The full album can be found here or here.

In the Land of Grey and Pink

 

In the mood for some Prog Rock this Sunday.

Released in 1971, 'In the Land of Grey and Pink' is the third studio album by Caravan.  

The full album can be found here or here.

Nuclear War

             

Sun Ra may not have been an alien from Saturn who came to Earth on a mission of love and peace, but he was certainly one of the most interesting and innovative musicians.  He recorded 68 studio albums, give or take a few, another ten albums of material released after his death in 1993, plus 59 live albums.  'Nuclear War' was one of his later studio albums, recorded and released in 1982.

The full album can be found here or here.  

The Gilded Palace Of Sin

 

All these years after his death and I still have a bit of a crush on Gram Parsons.  That just don't seem right.  

After leaving The Byrds, Parsons and Chris Hillman founded The Flying Burrito Brothers.  Released in 1969, 'The Gilded Palace Of Sin' is their first studio album.  

The full album can be found here or here...

Northern Passages

                                         

The Sadies are a Canadian Alt-Country band from Toronto.  'Northern Passages' is their tenth studio album, released in 2017.  

The full album can be found here and here.

The Idiot

 

In 1976, Iggy Pop and David Bowie moved to Berlin, hoping the change of scenery would make it easier for both of them to kick drugs.  During their time in Berlin, Bowie would record the three albums that make up his 'Berlin Trilogy', and also collaborate on two solo albums with Iggy, the first one being 'The Idiot'.  

I was never crazy about Bowie's 'Berlin Trilogy', but 'The Idiot' would certainly make my list of Top 25 Best Rock 'N' Roll albums.  

The full album can be found here or here.

Forever Changes

   

I once read that Love was Jimi Hendrix's favorite band.  Released in 1967, 'Forever Changes' is their third album.

You can find the full album here or here.