Dear reader,
It is my hope that you have found this blog because you are either a friend or perhaps someone that should be my friend. If you found it because you typed in an artist or song into a search engine, you must be cool since we both like the same things.Whoever you are, I hope that you are having a lovely new year so far.
A lot has happened since I last wrote. I got engaged. I sold my house. I put my band on hiatus and am moving back to L.A. Now, I am in the middle of packing up my big house and trying to figure out how to fit it all inside a little POD that's sitting in my driveway. The only good thing, and I mean ONLY good thing, is getting rid of all of the the junk I've been lugging around for all of these years. Narrowing it down to the necessities is a struggle since somehow I've convinced myself that its ALL necessary. Basically, anything to do with cool clothes, music, art or photos is off limits. Unfortunately, it seems that's all I have. I am looking at 20 boxes of records, folders and folders of lyrics, guitar/music gear,cassette tapes with song ideas, Brothers and Sisters memorabilia, etc. etc. It seems all too important and so overwhelming. I guess I'll take a break and make a good mix to pack to. Here it is: I Think That You Should Hear This Vol. 2!
Nothing too obscure. First track is a prank call from the Howard Stern show. I played this for everybody in the van on one of our tours. One of the best prank calls I've heard in a long time.
Besides that, I mostly focused on "deep tracks" by artists you all probably know. A few surprises and a few HITS. Particularly awesome is the Al Stewart hit from 1976 "Year of the Cat". I have been listening to this a lot over the last couple of years. It seems that anytime I have a party at my house, at some point I pull out this record and there's always somebody that hasn't heard it before. It was his biggest hit, but sometimes songs get more play in certain regions (or countries). If you don't know it, you're gonna love it. Classic mid-70's production and engineering by Alan Parsons.
"Northbound Bus" by the Flying Burrito Brothers comes from their Airborne LP. I'm convinced its one of their best and the THE best post-Chris Hillman Burritos song. It was written by the keyboard player from the band Fanny who shared it with Gene Parsons. Gene recorded it as a farewell to the band as it was the last record he played on. Its just one of those tunes that makes my stomach hurt...in a good way.
"Ooh, Mother" by Unicorn is one of those songs that I just can't understand why it didn't shoot the band to stardom. They were so rad. I paid $35.00 for the Japanese reissue CD of their album to get this song a few years ago. Its since been reissued. I highly recommend it.
"Through A Window" by Euphoria is just Psych-Country-Rock at its finest. I just love the way the drums are recorded and the fuzzed out solo. A Gift From Euphoria is the only record these guys ever made and worth seeking out. I bought it in Hollywood a few years ago not knowing it was a bit of a cult record. I saw the cool cover with the two dudes on the front and something told me, "Buy me. I'm important". The record was right.
"Gypsy Rider" by Gene Clark is one of my favorite songs. Period. He had so many great songs in The Byrds and as a solo artist, that its hard to say which one's best. All I know is that I never get tired of this tune. Easily a "Top 5" Gene song.
Last song I'll bring to your attention is "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" by the late Larry Norman. God, what a talent. If you don't know him too well, definitely pick up a copy of Only Visiting This Planet, where this song comes from. Larry was one of the first Christian rock stars back when it was a very radical thing, and an oxymoron. Going to Christian private school as a kid, I learned to hate anything labeled "Christian rock". All that translated to me was crappy rock music that sounded like a watered down, shitty version of some other rock band. I know that my parents crossed paths with Larry several times when I was little, but I didn't pay too much attention. It wasn't until I was older that I realized how cool he was. Larry's different and it opened my eyes to another world of 60's and 70's fringe music made by people that followed Jesus and made real good music. Listen to this song. Its the Gospel Truth!
Check it out. Share it. Do yourself a favor and go buy the albums these songs come from.
Ok, well, enjoy. Next volume is coming soon...from California!
I Think That You Should Hear This Vol. 2
1 - Sal Orders Pizza While At A Train Station - PRANK (The Howard Stern Show)
2 - Soul Food - Asylum Choir (featuring Leon Russell)
3 - The Woman That Got Away - J.J. Cale
4 - Mr Siegal - Tom Waits
5 - Why Don't You Look Into Jesus - Larry Norman
6 - Something To Say - The Action
7 - Duchess - Scott Walker
8 - Trouble - Jon Brion
9 - A Face In The Crowd - Tom Petty
10 - Ooh Mother (Single Version) - Unicorn
11 - Through A Window - Euphoria
12 - Gypsy Rider (demo) - Gene Clark
13 - I'd Have To Be Crazy - Willie Nelson
14 - Break My Mind - Linda Rondstat
15 - Your Blue Shadow - Billy Bob Thornton
16 - Motion Pictures - Neil Young
17 - Northbound Bus - The Flying Burrito Brothers
18 - Down Along The Cove - Bob Dylan
19 - Only With You - The Beach Boys
20- Livin' In The Country - Cowboy
21 - Year Of The Cat - Al Stewart
