The Beginning....Days 1, 2, 3.

I have built up a pretty good collection of records. My problem is I find myself playing the same 10 records over and over. So, here's the plan...once a record is played, it will be removed from my playlist.  NO REPEATS until the whole collection has been played. Time to rediscover my collection.


Record #1- Van Morrison: Tupelo Honey
Van the Man does not disappoint. It's the end of a fantastic weekend outside, I've sunburned, tired, and all I want to do is relax. My wife is out with a friend, and the tired seems just as exhausted as I am.  The problem with putting on a mellow album when you're exhausted is that it usually takes about 2 songs to fall asleep. To avoid this common fault in vinyl listening, I just put the mellow record on VERY LOUD.

After an energetic start on "Wild Night" side 1 settles into its mellow tone with the three remaining tracks. The side concludes with "You're My Woman" which almost puts me to sleep, fortunately I'm saved by the need to flip the record. Side 2 takes the opposite approach, one mellow tune followed by three energetic. After the sudden end of "Moonshine Whiskey" I'm finally free to fall asleep.

Strongest Song: Old Old Woodstock
Weakest Song: Starting a New Life (only because its too short)
Song You Know: Wild Night
Buy It?  On Vinyl...every song is terrific and they fit together in their intended order.


Record #2- Cat Stevens: Tea for the Tillerman
Its dinner time and I've gotta cook something...all recipes should begin with the instruction: put on a good soundtrack.  While making some seasoned chicken, stuffing and beans, I've chosen some Cat Stevens.  I first heard this album when I was probably 3 years old, my Dad loves it.

Side 1 Starts out with a great tune, "Where do the Children Play", my MP3 version gets plenty of plays on my iPod. After a 3 more song, Side 1 concludes with "Miles from Nowhere", the best track on the album. A great song for someone in need of a vacation...sometimes its just nice to be away from everything. Side 2 of the album is good, but really isn't quite as strong on the first. "Father and Son" is a great song that really should conclude the album, the short track "Tea for the Tillerman" comes after and for some reason seems a little out of place.

Strongest Song: Miles From Nowhere
Weakest Song: Tea for the Tillerman
Song You Know: Wild World
Buy It? Most listeners will probably just need a few tracks, Wild World, Miles from Nowhere, and Father and Son should have all you need. The rest of the album is good, so if you find a vinyl copy for cheap, hey, why not?

And now up to date...

Record #3- Deep Purple: Machine Head
Well its Thursday night which for me means its time for the weekend. Time to rock out and get cranked up for four days of Memorial Day weekend fun. After thumbing through and considering some of the usual suspects for a good kick off (INXS? Queens of the Stone Age?) I decide to throw on Machine Head. Well dig out your oversized brown headphones and join the fun...

This album starts out with FM Rock Gold..."Highway Star". As a guitar player, there's something very satisfying hearing a Hammond Organ through a Marshall amp. The first side is solid, plenty of guitar solos and pounding riffs. Side two, with only three songs doesn't have much, but whats there is fantastic. Of course "Smoke on the Water" kicks off the second half, a song that got thousands, maybe millions of teens to play the guitar. Next comes two songs I'm not familiar with, because honestly, I bought this album for only two tracks.  "Lazy" offers some great clean organ playing (if you're into that kind of thing) then kicks on the Marshall overdrive which creates basically a Hymn from Hell. Eventually a nice bluesy rhythm kicks in and the band has some fun with Guitar/Organ solos.  The album ends with "Space Truckin'" which is another I wasn't that familiar with by name, but wait...I've heard this track before! I think I gotta pick up my bass, put on the fuzz pedal and learn this one.  Yeah, I'm ready for the weekend now.

Strongest Song: Space Truckin
Weakest Song: Smoke on the Water (overplayed is an understatement)
Song You Know: You already know the answer to this.
Buy It?  A couple MP3's show cover it...You've probably heard Smoke on the Water so many times you're ready to stab the next guy who walks into Guitar Center starts playing it....so do yourself a favor and get the final two songs on the album...Lazy and Space Truckin'.