Cause It's There? ( #AtoZChallenge )

 

    When I think about the albums in my collection that I have sold already that begin with C I am reminded of the David Crosby album and all the other albums he made with those other guys. Then there was Cream, Colosseum, and Harry Chapin.  But look what I did keep from the letter C.  This post is gonna be epic...

      Music album collecting became an obsession with me in my adolescence and continued on until recent years.  If I had the money to spend and the space to put them in I'd probably still be buying albums.  What was my quest?  It was almost always about the music and the accumulation.  I love access to a good library of whatever it is that interests me.  Is it just having it because it's there for me to have?  No, it's a quest--for the perfect song, the most exquisite sound, or the most interesting album.  If it's there and I like it then some part of me wants it in my possession.  Even though I've stopped buying albums doesn't mean I wouldn't like to have more.  They beckon me. They haunt my memories.  And the ones that fit under the letter C fill up this blog post...

Links to the music are included throughout the post if you want to hear the music.

Bonus selection!   I bought this 8 track cartridge sometime around 1968.  Note that the tape is compatible with 4 track players.  I tried playing this a few years ago when I still had a working player and it still worked though the sound quality was not very good. I've since gotten rid of that player  This is one of 4 8 tracks that I still keep for the novelty.

        In the sixties The Candymen were mostly a regional success before they merged with members of The Classis IV and transformed into the group Atlanta Rhythm Section and hit national charts. Early on they often performed as Roy Orbison's back-up band.  They put out a couple of albums on their own as The Candymen.  One of the founding members of the group was Bobby Goldsboro who went on to a huge solo career.  

Caravan "Caravan"  (1968)   I found this album at some store in the Knoxville area probably in the early seventies.  Of course it was in the cut-out bin and it was very cheap.  It had likely been a return because the vinyl is slightly warped, but still playable. Believe me it got a lot of spins over the years.  Fortunately I've added a CD copy of the album to my CD collection so I can still play that one.  This is a very fine group from the tail end of the British invasion of the sixties.  Interesting organ driven sound with intelligent lyrics.  Link will take you to my favorite song from the album.  Couldn't find a link for the entire album.

Caravan "Cunning Stunts"  (1975) with another bonus entry of an 8 track cartridge.  I found this at a store that had been an old Big K before it transitioned into a Walmart before becoming Big Lots.  It was sometime around 1988 when I think it was Walmart when I found this tape, but I think it was from the old Big K stock.  In the past I had bought a number of 8 tracks at Big K.  I think it was old stock because they were closing out the 8 tracks at 10 for $1.00.  They didn't have a huge selection but I probably bought about 20 cartridges that I played maybe a few times each before putting them in storage until most were given away when I sold my console stereo that I'd been keeping in my garage for over 20 years. 

       This is another great album by Caravan.  They've been consistently good over the years with a pleasant wit.  I didn't ever realize that the album title is a naughty spoonerism until I was compiling this post.  I'm so innocent at times.  Or do I mean ignorant? 

Crazy Horse  "Crazy Horse" (1971) and "Loose" (1972)  This was Neil Young's back up band for many of his albums and tours.  Since I was a big Young fan back then it seemed natural for me to be interested in this band.  I do like their back up work for Young, but I also like them on their own. I saw them in concert with Rita Coolidge as the opening act at the Alumni Gym at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in about 1972.  Good concert as I recall.

       Bruce Cockburn  "Circles in the Stream"  (1977) and many more.    I discovered the music of Bruce Cockburn in 1985 when I was in Canada watching the Juno Awards show.  The next day I set out on a search of some of the artists who had gotten recognition during the show.  At that time I purchased my first Cockburn tape Stealing Fire.  It took many listens for the artist to click with me and by then I was back in the states where Canadian artists were not as easy to find..  As I would find more Cockburn albums on cassette (since I was traveling it was the medium that made the most sense for me) I kept buying them until the accumulation of Cockburn's albums became an obsession.  After I got off the road I bought new copies on vinyl and CD to replace those cassettes and add new albums to my collection. 

     Bruce Cockburn now occupies more spaces in my collection than just about any other artist.  I've seen him twice in concert--once in Portland OR in 1985 and later in Ventura CA in 1992.  I'm no longer as obsessed, but I still have a great fondness especially for his music prior to 1990.  The live album to which I linked is marvelous--one of my all time favorite live albums.

       

      Creedence Clearwater Revival  (1968)  I first heard CCR's version of "Suzy-Q" one Sunday evening early in the fall of my senior year of high school in 1968.  I'd never heard anything quite like it--the extended psychedelia was revelatory to me.  I put it on my 1968 Christmas list for my mother and she bought it for me.  My mother was such a cool person.  She willingly accommodated my musical obsessions by typically buying me about 10 new albums every Christmas until I was in my college years. 

      As the next few years went on, Creedence became hugely popular and my friends and I all had their albums and would listen to them often.  After getting off the road I added several CCR albums to my CD collection including the boxed retrospective that you see pictured above with my first album.  I don't listen to their music that much anymore, but when I do it still takes me back to those days of longer hair--or just having hair for that matter.  And "Suzy-Q" still casts a spell on me every time I hear it.  That version of that song is one of the great recordings of Rock and Roll history.

Crowfoot  (1970) is one of the albums I found at the strange maze of a discount store called Atlantic Mills in Knoxville TN.  They had a bunch of copies of the album for 25 cents each so it was an album find that I couldn't pass up.  Firstly there was that great Indian head album cover that drew me in.  The song titles sounded interesting so why not?   It was well worth the quarter I spent on it.  I've gotten a lot of listening pleasure for that pittance of an expenditure.  After I started blogging and doing more internet research I discovered that the guitar player of Crowfoot was the one who was also responsible for the iconic guitar riffs of Norman Greenbaum's hit "Spirit in the Sky".   Excellent album by a solid group that faded into the dustbins of the cut-outs.  This is a favorite album of mine that I just couldn't let go of.  

Colours    "Helping You Out"  (1968)  Another album I found somewhere in some cutout bin.  It's described as "Beatlesque" for good reason.  Not a particularly impactful album, but it's a pleasant listen that I often put on my turntable back in the seventies.  I felt it was somehow worth keeping.  There are some notable musicians on this one.

Chunky, Novi, and Ernie (First Album) (1973)  When I saw this album in a used record store I immediately noted the viola player.  Perusing the credits I recognized the female members of this group.  Ilene Novog (Novi) and Lauren Wood (Chunky) had been in an obscure sixties group called Rebecca and the Sunnybrook Farmers (you'll see them later in my R post) that I liked quite much.  Ernie Eremata also played bass in that same group.  You are undoubtedly familiar with Novi's work with the Doobie Brothers.  She played the viola on their hit "Black Water"--a fact that I had already discovered before buying this C,N,&E album in the early eighties and which made me want this new find.  It really is quite a good album.

Papa John Creach  "I'm the Fiddle Man"  (1975)  At one time I had and greatly enjoyed Papa John's self-titled debut album, but then I lent it to a friend and when it came back the album was unplayable.  Later I got the album I presently have--good, but not as good as that debut.  Papa John Creach first came to my attention as a member of Jefferson Airplane and their various offshoot bands.  In his 50s he was already an established blues and jazz violinist when he joined the popular rock band.  I had the privilege of seeing him in concert at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville TN.  If you click on his name you will find a compilation of various songs from all of his albums.  I couldn't find a video of the complete "Fiddle Man" album, but the video I chose provides a great overview of his music.

Vassar Clements Band---  I was already familiar with Clements from his work with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and various rockers.   But he had long been a legendary fiddle player.  Known as "The Father of Hillbilly Jazz, he had begun his career with a seven year stint in Bill Monroe's band. He then went on to be an acclaimed session musician.  You've heard him on the theme from The Beverly Hillbillies with Flatt and Scruggs.   In the seventies he began appearing with all sorts of country and rock acts as well as recording his own solo albums.   "Jessica"  comes from the 1977 album with his band but the earlier link will give you a retrospective overview of his music.   I saw Vassar Clements in an intimate concert experience at the Capitol Theater in Maryville TN in about 1980 or so where he played along with other great musicians.  He played on the violin that is pictured on the album--a violin that is said to have been made in the 1500s.

A Chorus Line (original Broadway cast) (1975) came out during the time when I was touring with theatrical productions so the subject matter of the show was of interest to me.   In late summer of 1981 my wife Susan and I went to see the touring production of the show in Edmonton Alberta Canada.  That's when we got the soundtrack and played it often. We caught up again with the show in September where it was playing at the Texas State Fair in Dallas.  This is an album that carries a lot of memories for me and music that I enjoy.

The Crusaders  "Pass the Plate"  (1971)  I heard the title cut of this album played on WUOT University of Tennessee NPR station probably in '71 or '72. It blew me away then and the album is still a great funky listening experience.  This album is a worthy keeper.

Captain Beyond   "Sufficiently Breathless"  (1973) was an album that got a lot of play in 1975 when I bought it. At the time some friends and I were sharing a sizeable old log cabin in Laurel Valley in the Smoky Mountains.  My friend Wendell had an audiophile's dream of a stereo that had a radio that picked up a station from Johnson City TN that played a tasteful selection of music.  One song that they played in rotation for a couple days was "Sufficiently Breathless"--a very nice groove of a song.  Soon after I bought the album and added it to my collection of music.  Everyone seemed to enjoy this album whenever I put in on the turntable.  We had a party house for a while and good music was essential.

Crowded House   "Temple of Low Men"  (1988) was an experimental purchase. I was very familiar with the band since they won me over with "Don't Dream It's Over".   After Crowded House caught my attention to realize their history, I bought all of the Tim Finn, Neil Finn, and Split Endz cassettes I could find.   I bought this vinyl in about 1990 to test out a music supplier that I had been working with.  I ordered something I knew I would like so I'd be happy to have the product.

Country Joe & the Fish  "Together"   This album dates back to 1969 when my mother joined the Columbia Record Club and got 12 albums for a penny.  She let me pick 6 I think, but she often let me order records to fulfill the obligation one made to join.  Country Joe and the Fish were a band from the psychedelic San Francisco Woodstock era.  I like this album though it always seemed like a bit more of a novelty album.  There's some pretty nifty trippy guitar and organ playing.

Judy Collins  "Wildflowers" (1967) & "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" (1968)  Speaking of Columbia Record Club, this duo of albums was part of a package deal from the club.  It probably got sent automatically when my mother didn't return the order card.  She didn't care for the albums and gave them to me.  They're are both superb albums if you're looking for relaxing beautiful music.  Hauntingly beautiful.  I'm glad I kept these.

Compton & Batteau  "In California" (1970)   This was an outstanding duo that had a short-lived career together before going separate ways.  I know I found this in a cut-out bin somewhere not remembered.  Robin Batteau plays violin so that caught my attention I'm sure.  No matter what were the physical attractions about the album cover (like the guy who kind of resembled me with a violin case), hearing the album was proof that the purchase was a wise one.  I've listened to this album many times and never tired of it.  To me, it's almost perfect. I wouldn't want to get rid of this one.

Clear Light   (1967)  I first heard of this group in Lillian Roxon's Rock Encyclopedia which was published in 1969.  I got that book when it was released and it became my go-to for all things popular music up to that time.  When I saw the Clear Light album in cut-outs I remembered reading Roxon's entry describing the line-up that included two drummers.  I grabbed the album when I saw it and listened to it often.  Another keeper.

The Chipmunks   'Sing the Beatles"  (1964)  I'm pretty sure that this is the first album I ever bought.  I would have been 13 at the time.  I had a growing curiosity about The Beatles though I still considered them "my sister's group".  Then I heard a cut from the new Chipmunks album and it totally grabbed me. The circumstances of hearing it were strange enough.  I was after midnight in Rochester NY after a massive snowfall.  My father had been driving the entire night and had gotten silly tired.  We were all laughing, but ready to find our hotel and collapse.  Sometime during our wanderings about the unfamiliar city the sound of "All My Loving" came over the radio. I loved it!  Then I bought it!  Now I've kept it!

         Thank you for hanging on for that long post.  There won't be any others quite like this.  This one was special.

        See any albums that you remember?   Any that particularly attracted your attention?  What was the first album you purchased?

Beat Goes On... ( #AtoZChallenge )

 

       Big deal--so I got rid of a bunch of my vinyl records.  In a way I wish I hadn't, but sometimes we just do things that we somewhat regret later.  My blogging theme for 2022 A to Z is "My Vinyl Collection"--what remains of it.  There's still some good stuff here.  Wanna take a look?

        I sold off many of my albums in two waves.  The first wave was around 1990 when I made up a catalog of all of my record collection and put an advertisement in Rolling Stone magazine selling the catalog for $3.  I didn't sell anywhere near the number of catalogs that I figured that I would, but of those that I sold I managed to get some customers who bought that first wave of albums that I had decided to liquidate.  Some of the earliest to go were my Beatles, Beach Boys, and Badfinger--albums that I treasured, but at the time the money seemed more important.  I later replaced several of those vinyls with CD versions.  The tangible memories were gone, but at least I had most of the music again.

        In 2014 I put up an ad on Craigslist in order to sell more vinyl LPs.  I boxed up 200 records and kept the remaining 300 or so.  There were some excellent albums in that 200 and I'm not sure what exactly I was thinking other than the ones that remained were ones that I felt a strong need to keep in my collection.  In that batch that I sold were all of my Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms albums--since I had them on CD I felt like those records could go.  There was a collectible David Bowie bootleg concert album that I probably should have kept.  I don't recall off hand if there were any other records in the B category, but there were albums that I somewhat wish I had kept.  But it's only stuff.  I was getting rid of stuff.  I'm always thinking about stuff I can get rid of.  At least I did keep a few of my B albums, a sampling of which follows...

   The Band "Music from Big Pink"  (1968)   My mother bought this album for me as a Christmas present in 1968.  I had seen it while perusing the albums at the small record department at my local J C Penney's store in Maryville TN.  There weren't many stores in town that had very big selections of music, but Penney's had a respectable small selection which included major current releases.  When I saw this album by The Band I didn't know anything about it or the group, but it seemed so mysterious that I figured it must be good.  I guess sometimes you can judge an album by its cover.  This is one of the best rock and roll albums of all time.  That's not just me saying that either--many critics have agreed.  This was an album I felt I had to keep in my collection.

Leonard Bernstein "Mass" (1971)  My mother gave me this boxed album set for Christmas of 1971.  I was attending University of Tennessee in Knoxville at the time and had read about this Bernstein musical production.  It was controversial at the time because of potential subversive messages in the musical.  From what I read about Mass I was put in mind of Jesus Christ Superstar which I already owned and liked a great deal.  Without knowing about the actual musical content I put it on my Christmas list for my mother.  It was a somewhat expensive box set that I didn't want to spend my meager funds on, but my mother was happy to buy it for me as a gift.  It's an interesting work of music, not Bernstein's best, but decent listening nevertheless.  Not that I've listened to it as many times as something like Music from Big Pink, but an album that provided me a number of hours of listening pleasure.

Dave Brubeck "In Amsterdam"  (1969)  The Allmusic web site calls this album "a bit of a collector's item" so I guess it was a good call for me to keep it.  I don't exactly recall how I came upon this album, but it was a cut-out that I quite possibly got from a mail clearance catalog that I used to get frequently in the mail.  Or I might have got it from someplace like the University of Tennessee bookstore.  At the time I certainly had an awareness of who Brubeck was and had some knowledge of his music so I figured the album was worth spending a pittance on.  This is a fantastic album of a 1962 concert.  I figure you can't go wrong with Dave Brubeck and this album is proof.  

J D Blackfoot "The Ultimate Prophecy"  (1970)  I can't say for sure, but I think I may have discovered this album in the cutout bin at the old Atlantic Mills discount store in Knoxville TN.  I know I found a number of interesting records at that strange store, a hodgepodge of values and closeouts contained in what had been some kind of old textile factory.  No matter where I found this record I'm sure glad that I did.  The band included Craig Fuller who later went on to found the country rock group Pure Prairie League and his song "Angel" has its first appearance on this Blackfoot album.  There are similarities to Pure Prairie League and well as Creedence Clearwater Revival and others.  The tour de force of this album is the rock epic "Ultimate Prophecy" suite which takes up all of side two.  The album title was likely what inspired me to buy this album.  I'm glad I did.  I have listened to this album many, many, and many times.

Buckwheat "Hot Tracks"  (1973)  This is a solid collection of funky, country, roots rock.  No specific personal memories that I can connect with this album.  I think I bought it at some discount book store in West Knoxville in the late eighties.  I probably saw the credits that included a violin player--that always catches my attention.  And then there's that cover illustration.  It's no whipped cream covered woman, but, heck, a stack of pancakes dripping with syrup--what's not to like about that?  The music matches those pancakes.

The Baroques  "The Baroques" (1967)  I picked this up from some cutout bin--possibly at the sprawling Green Acres discount store on Alcoa Highway in Louisville TN.  The store was only open for a few years and eventually became what it is today--a giant flea market.  Back in the discount store days they carried a lot of cutout records for $1 or less.  I bought a lot of unusual records there.  Listening to this album years later has made me reevaluate it.  Years ago I would have said it was among the worst records I have heard.  And it is a bit odd, but really it is a psychedelic artifact of its time.  And I do like psychedelic music.  And I like harpsichord and baroque style.  Now the music sounds better to me. Not great, but interesting and listenable.  Originally the group called itself  The Complete Unknowns.  They may have changed their name, but they have remained relatively unknown.  To their credit. they have managed to become a bit more appreciated by others like me who like this style of music. This album was repackaged in a compilation album in the nineties as the band experienced a mild resurgence of interest in their music.  Nostalgia perhaps?  Nevertheless the band remains fairly unknown.

Do you recognize any of these albums?   Did you buy many albums from the cutout bins?  Have you been gifted many record albums?  

Away We Go to the Record Shelves... ( #AtoZChallenge )( #BOTB )

       And so we begin another Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. It will be my 13th Challenge and maybe my favorite theme:   My vinyl record collection.  It won't all be vinyl--there will be a few surprises here and there--but it will all be music I currently own.   Along with perusing my record shelves will be stories about the music, how I acquired some of the albums, and links to the music itself.  There will be hours of music ahead. Maybe you can click a link and let the music play while you read or whatever else you might be doing.  I think it's all worth a listen.  I've been enjoying hearing these albums again as I've been compiling my posts.  I hope there is some music that you will also enjoy.  And away we go...

      Gone from my collection are great albums by America, the Association, and Brian Auger.  They are missed, but even more I miss the rarities of the two albums by David Ackles and the strange psychedelia of Autosalvage.  Those are all but memories now, but I still have some good music under the A category...

          

  Larry Adler "Again!"(1968)    The harmonica to me can be gratingly annoying at times, but in the right hands it is an instrument of great beauty.  Larry Adler is one such harmonica player.  In the early seventies when I saw this album advertised in a mailer catalog that specialized in clearance of cut-out mostly classical albums, I was not familiar with the artist, but the songs were all classic pop tunes that I had grown up listening to.  And the price was right so I ordered it.  This record was a great addition to my collection and one that I felt the need to hang onto.  Jazz fans take heed.  Beautifully presented popular standards by some outstanding players...

 

Darol Anger  "Fiddlistics" (1979)  I'm not sure the exact circumstances of my buying this album, but I know I bought it for full price in a standard record store.  If my memory serves me right I think I had heard about the album on an NPR radio program.  I was already familiar with The David Grisman Quartet of which Anger was a founding member and the fiddle player.  Since I had grown up playing the violin I had always been interested in violin music. You will be seeing this recurring theme throughout the coming weeks of A to Z posts.  There will be many albums that feature violin players.  I'd call this music of Darol Anger "jazz grass" or "new grass" or something like that.  It's a fusion style played by top notch instrumentalists.  Worth a listen!

Allman Brothers  "Dreams"  Box Set (1989)  So I got rid of my Allman Brothers "Brothers and Sisters" album as well as the Power of Love album by Hour Glass (an early incarnation of the brothers), but I replaced those with several Allman CDs and cassettes as well the tremendous Dreams box set.  The four CDs of the set give a overview of the history of Duane and Greg Allman with several hours of cuts from their various bands with primary focus on the most famous line-up.  Some great Allman classics as well as interesting nuggets of Southern Rock history are found in this set.  Not vinyl, but still a CD set that I'm proud to have in my collection.  The link takes you to disc 3, but if you want to hear more I think it can all be found on YouTube.

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass "Whipped Cream and Other Delights"   (1965) What can I say about this album that you can't see with your own eyes?   Just about any male who was an adolescent in the sixties likely had this album and daydreamed about that whipped cream covered woman.  But the real delight is the music.  At one time I owned just about all of the Tijuana Brass albums, but this is the one I kept.  It's probably Herb Alpert's best.  And the cover is a must for any respectable record collection.  And the music is fabulous fun for everyone.  This is among the earliest albums I owned. 

Do you own any of these albums?   What type of music do you mostly have in your own collection?   Which letter A albums are your favorites?   

Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.

Stormy Monday Blues

        This old blues standard written and first recorded by T-Bone Walker dates back to 1947. Since then it has been recorded by many artists and is a staple of any blues rock artist.  You might know best the version by the Allman Brothers.  I'm going to use versions by artists who will appear later on in my A to Z series.  Yes, both of these versions are on albums that I currently own.  Which do you like better?

The Candymen   "Stormy Monday Blues"   (1967)

The McCoys   "Stormy Monday Blues"   (1969)

Time to Vote!
        
         Which artist do you enjoy the most?   Of the two versions, which do you like better?  I hope you'll at least give the versions a listen to discern your favorite.    Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 



Winner of this Battle Announced Friday April 8th

   

           I'll be posting everyday (except Sundays) during April so I know that's a lot of blog reading and all, but for those who want to know the outcome of this Battle please be sure to stop back by on Friday.  But really I hope you'll be checking every post in April.  I've got a lot of music to share and talk about during this month.  Come on all you music loving folks!