God damn, is Howlin Rain good! Buy both their albums and see them on tour. It’s mandatory!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QSI85G3MDM&rel=1]
Name the first song Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote together.
Who recorded “Here Comes the Flood” (1977)?
*the picture is Greenhills, Ohio’s Winton Lake early this March!
I was pretty blown away when I found New York’s super-hip independent paper, the Village Voice, writing up the recently remastered and rereleased Emerson, Lake & Palmer live document, Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends. Then I almost swallowed my eyeballs when I saw that the review was resoundingly positive! Check it out HERE.
We’re talking about what was a triple live album when it was originally released in the 70’s, which has a 27-minute long song, AND a 35-minute long song (and there’s still 7 other songs)! It is nice to see that someone has listened to the music before writing a review, in this age of albums which are super-rushed to press, and the reviews are even more rushed to print. Here are some of the quotable accolades that Phil Freeman thrusts upon these ‘bloat-tastic motherfuckers’…
- …the band’s brand of epic, classical-soaked prog was actually tight as hell
- Simply put, Emerson, Lake & Palmer fucking rocked.
- Revisiting this catalog 35 (!) years later, it’s amazing how little music has “progressed.” Snip 20 random seconds of Emersonian Moog-frenzy from the live album and play it for a Wolf Eyes fan—see if he can tell the difference.
- These six studio albums and two live discs are the gateways to a world of balls-out craziness the likes of which is nowhere to be found in rock circa 2008.
Mr. Freeman ends the review with that last line which not only compliments the Welcome Back My Friends live release, but the entire rereleased catalog that our friends at Shout Factory! have done such a beautiful job at remastering and packaging. Believe me, I’ve heard them all! But if you don’t believe me, here’s a couple samples so you can hear for yourself (but listen now, for they will soon be removed)…
Emerson Lake & Palmer – Hoedown (Live), kicks off the album
Emerson Lake & Palmer – Tiger In A Spotlight (from the oft-everlooked Works, Vol. 2)
So, what do you think? Are today’s music fans beginning to embrace progressive rock again. It does seem to be slipping into the rock music scene, as we’ve seen with a lot of newer indie bands. I think the one thing that most bands have to embrace about it, is it’s limitlessness. If you’re a going to be a band with staying power, you’re definitely not going to want to limit yourself to making the same album over and over, and I think that’s where the spirit of progressive rock will probably always live on. Have you been hearing any newer bands rocking the prog style lately?
Groovy Kind of Love (1966)
I’ve got some stuff for you today, as I’m still getting back into the swing of things from the big cruise. We had a great Easter dinner upstate with the Fam this weekend, and got to watch some March Madness basketball. I am currently numero uno in the NCAA pool that I’m in, thank you very much! And tomorrow I have the distinct honor of interviewing Jon Anderson of Yes. I’ll let you know how it goes! Have a nice one today, umm-kay?
Elvis heard me! Check out the new business model…
You must see and hear Of Montreal rockin’ Shakedown Street. And wow, this!
‘A Raven With A Broken Wing’… as one reader describes her.
What are YOUR favorite Beatles covers?
Classic Vinyl Record explores what it means to be an ‘audiophile’.
Take the classic rock lyrics quiz and report your score below. I got 14 out of 15.
What else is up, cats?
More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978)
Here are some great albums that are just laying around on the internet, tits full out…
*Rocksoul gives you the amazing Roger Glover solo album featuring super-early Dio and Coverdale. A treasure. Dig this example!!!
*The inimitable Otis Redding with Carla Thomas on their live King & Queen album from a nice bacony vinyl rip, brought to you via Musicology. Essential listening!
*No Wind here, just Earth & Fire at Chris Goes Rock…satisfying your prog yearnings.
*Masterpiece brings you some killer Budgie. Rock!
*Do you need some true modern garage rock, Detroit-style? Crossroads Club 27’s got the cure for what ails ya.
*Feelin’ trippy? Get some Gong hits at Black Acid.
*MOJO’s Heavy Nuggets rocks your face off, even if you didn’t know it! Steal it at 8 Days In April.
*The Heat Warps David Byrne’s The Catherine Wheel.
In 1976, who opened for Patti Smith on her British tour?
What color are the eyes on Rainbow’s Straight Between the Eyes?
…East Village Radio