Classic Album Discussion Thread: The Kinks-Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Pt. 1 (3 Viewers)

[Ilov80s]

yep... Was awesome last weekend when we rented a boat in Coeur d'Alene and went wake boarding and tubing.  Hooked up the Spotify to the bluetooth and we jammed for all four hours.

And I love how someone might be like, "oh what's that Jackson Browne song" or "I used to love Steve Winwood". Boom, just like that you can give the people what they want. 

 

[Zegras11]

And I love how someone might be like, "oh what's that Jackson Browne song" or "I used to love Steve Winwood". Boom, just like that you can give the people what they want. 

It was really cool when my son-in-law was singing "Drift Away" to our three year old grand daughter as we cruised back in while the sun was setting. I had no idea that he'd ever even heard the song.  It was the last 45 I ever bought.

 

[Ilov80s]

It was really cool when my son-in-law was singing "Drift Away" to our three year old grand daughter as we cruised back in while the sun was setting. I had no idea that he'd ever even heard the song.  It was the last 45 I ever bought.

That is fun. Unkle Kracker did a cover of "Drift Away" about 10-15 years ago that was a dead ### exact copy of the original and it got a lot of play. That Drift Away song is very popular. 

 

[Uruk-Hai]

That is fun. Unkle Kracker did a cover of "Drift Away" about 10-15 years ago that was a dead ### exact copy of the original and it got a lot of play. That Drift Away song is very popular. 

I HATED that version. That dude's "voice" drove me crazy. But at least Dobie got paid for his cameo. The original is probably a top 5 record for me.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

It was freshman sophomore year so my memory might be biased by that but I think combining Foreigner (77) Double Vision (78) for a discussion of the music might work. No reason to limit yourself with unnecessary rules. And yes, if some can love on Journey, Steve Miller and Rush, I was a fool for Foreigner when I first started kissing girls. Urgent from 4 is my favorite song because of the sax and a AA girl named Sin, but the first two albums are better.

Junior Walker in da house

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I also want to discuss, at some point, bands and artists who got on the radio during this era with one or two songs, like we already did with Ted Nugent. I’m not talking about one hit wonders; several of these guys had long careers, but they are most famously known for one or two songs that got played for years. 

For example, Gary Wright. 

Foghat

 

[shuke]

Question for you guys that are older than me.  What was radio like in the 70's?  I'm assuming there wasn't anything called "classic rock" then, right?  

 

[Zegras11]

Question for you guys that are older than me.  What was radio like in the 70's?  I'm assuming there wasn't anything called "classic rock" then, right?  

Just had "Oldies" stations that played music from 50's and early 60's.  KEarth 101 FM in LA

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Question for you guys that are older than me.  What was radio like in the 70's?  I'm assuming there wasn't anything called "classic rock" then, right?  

You had AOR, which includes a lot of the music we've been discussing here but it was "live" - they played mostly current music. AOR was a way for the music industry to co-opt the free form radio of the late 60s. "Classic Rock" as a radio format didn't start until the 80s and didn't play any new music - just stuff that was from the 60s/70s; oldies for rock fans.

Then you had country stations, black music, Lite channels (Manilow and stuff like that), Top 40, maybe a classical channel. Some channels went all-disco late in the decade. In larger markets, you might have multiple channels working the same format. I had both Baltimore and DC channels available where I grew up, so everything was doubled up and we used to argue which AOR channel was better or which channel played more funk or disco.

That's pretty much it for commercial FM. You also had college and independent  down at the left end of the dial.

 

[shuke]

You had AOR, which includes a lot of the music we've been discussing here but it was "live" - they played mostly current music. AOR was a way for the music industry to co-opt the free form radio of the late 60s. "Classic Rock" as a radio format didn't start until the 80s and didn't play any new music - just stuff that was from the 60s/70s; oldies for rock fans.

Then you had country stations, black music, Lite channels (Manilow and stuff like that), Top 40, maybe a classical channel. Some channels went all-disco late in the decade. In larger markets, you might have multiple channels working the same format. I had both Baltimore and DC channels available where I grew up, so everything was doubled up and we used to argue which AOR channel was better or which channel played more funk or disco.

That's pretty much it for commercial FM. You also had college and independent  down at the left end of the dial.

So the AOR stations, did they play the same recycled "hits" that are overplayed on classic rock stations now, or did they play deeper tracks?  

 

[Uruk-Hai]

So the AOR stations, did they play the same recycled "hits" that are overplayed on classic rock stations now, or did they play deeper tracks?  

They would go deeper. If it was a mega-hit album like Hotel California or Boston's debut, they play pretty much every song, though the bigger hits would get played more often. But it was almost all new music as it was released with a sprinkling of older music (aside from specialty shows like Beatles Brunch or Get The Led out kind of stuff).

 

[AAABatteries]

This has been a great thread so far and look forward to continuing - I’ve listened to a lot of classic rock this past week and re-introduced myself to some great songs/albums.  Thanks Tim!

 

[jamny]

This has been a great thread so far and look forward to continuing - I’ve listened to a lot of classic rock this past week and re-introduced myself to some great songs/albums.  Thanks Tim!

Same here. Listened to a lot of Floyd the other day and plan on checking out some Stones today.

 

[jamny]

I remember only having an AM radio as a kid and hearing a whole new world when I first discovered FM.

 

[KarmaPolice]

We live in grand times 

Yes/no

 

[AAABatteries]

Same here. Listened to a lot of Floyd the other day and plan on checking out some Stones today.

I listened to 3 of the most recommended PF albums in here and I’ve come to a definitive conclusion - I hate them.

 

[jamny]

I listened to 3 of the most recommend PF albums in here and I’ve come to a definite conclusion - I hate them.

 

[AAABatteries]

My son loves them and so does my FIL.  My son even has a Pink Floyd t-shirt he wears (he’s 17 today!).  I have four kids and he’s the only one of the four that has what I consider good taste in music.  The other 3 listen to nothing but modern pop, rap and country.  But the oldest listens to Floyd, Stones, Johnny Cash, Sinatra, Metallica, AC/DC - among a bunch of others. 

 

[Zegras11]

My son loves them and so does my FIL.  My son even has a Pink Floyd t-shirt he wears (he’s 17 today!).  I have four kids and he’s the only one of the four that has what I consider good taste in music.  The other 3 listen to nothing but modern pop, rap and country.  But the oldest listens to Floyd, Stones, Johnny Cash, Sinatra, Metallica, AC/DC - among a bunch of others. 

So you hate three of them also?

 

[zamboni]

I listened to 3 of the most recommend PF albums in here and I’ve come to a definite conclusion - I hate them.

You and Johnny Rotten should go bowling together.

 

[wikkidpissah]

My love is alive

 

[timschochet]

Meat Loaf- Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Side One

Bat Out of Hell

You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth

Heaven Can Wait

All Revved Up And No Place to Go

Side Two

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

Paradise By the Dashboard Light

For Crying Out Loud

Earlier I speculated that Queen’s A Night At the Opera might be the most grandiose rock album of all time, but I wasn’t considering this one, which might just top it in terms of extravaganza. Jim Steinman, the writer and creator, originally had a Broadway musical in mind (and he’s gotten his wish- “Bat Out of Hell” the musical debuted on stage in London in 2017 and is coming to a theater near you) with Wagnerian overtones. The producer, Todd Rundgren, saw it as a mockery of Bruce Springsteen’s early records. Lyrically, I’ve always thought of this album as reminiscent of August Strindberg in its hatred and contempt of females. At least 4 of its epic songs have the same theme: this guy is a total jerk who treats women terribly and then feels sorry for himself for doing so. 

But even so I’ve always loved this album. Rock and roll at its most bombastic. Favorite song is probably the gorgeous ballad “Heaven Can Wait”, but I’ve gone back and forth over the years. The two sequels to the album aren’t anywhere near the same quality. 

 

[Ranethe]

I remember only having an AM radio as a kid and hearing a whole new world when I first discovered FM.

This is my memory too. We were dirt poor, the only music I listened to was AM radio crap. It was a completely different world-I mean the impact really can't be exaggerated-once I began listening to FM. My first radio with FM was an old salvaged car stereo hooked up to a car battery (which sat on a towel in the corner of my (and younger brother) bedroom.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

In honor of this thread I blasted Led Zepplin II and Boston through my backyard while I was vacuuming my pool this morning.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Meat Loaf- Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Side One

Bat Out of Hell

You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth

Heaven Can Wait

All Revved Up And No Place to Go

Side Two

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

Paradise By the Dashboard Light

For Crying Out Loud

Earlier I speculated that Queen’s A Night At the Opera might be the most grandiose rock album of all time, but I wasn’t considering this one, which might just top it in terms of extravaganza. Jim Steinman, the writer and creator, originally had a Broadway musical in mind (and he’s gotten his wish- “Bat Out of Hell” the musical debuted on stage in London in 2017 and is coming to a theater near you) with Wagnerian overtones. The producer, Todd Rundgren, saw it as a mockery of Bruce Springsteen’s early records. Lyrically, I’ve always thought of this album as reminiscent of August Strindberg in its hatred and contempt of females. At least 4 of its epic songs have the same theme: this guy is a total jerk who treats women terribly and then feels sorry for himself for doing so. 

But even so I’ve always loved this album. Rock and roll at its most bombastic. Favorite song is probably the gorgeous ballad “Heaven Can Wait”, but I’ve gone back and forth over the years. The two sequels to the album aren’t anywhere near the same quality. 

I can't listen to this record - i get a chubb.

Y'know how people get, just playing a record they love over and over? And y'know how people get when they click physically so well that they get addicted to touching each other for like a week and turn every one of the day's activities into foreplay until the walls sweat with embarrassment? Well those two phenomena collided in the person of one Pauline Robinson. A nurse, a witch with a twitch in her switch, she had wiccan spells all over the house, mostly so she could catch a doctor (she did, but had to move from Santa Fe to Kansas to corral him), the two most opposite dogs i ever seen (a long-haired chihuahua and a bull mastiff, both of whom liked to watch) and the most flighty, hippie manner of all in NM, a kingdom of flighty hippies then.

And she looooved BOoH. As soon as she was up it was on, like that boy with Seger in Ozark and, since all household activities became foreplay, i ended up "slide"ing a lot to cheers of "what's it gonna be boy". After we realised we werent right for each other (mostly because i wasnt on the doc track), we became great friends and my favorite booty call because i got off work @ the psych hosp @ 7am and she was one of the few who didnt mind waking up for...........................gotta go.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I can't say I like all of Bat out of Hell, but the title track is really nice, and Paradise by the Dashboard Light, for all its bombast, is just a fun song. 

 

[zamboni]

I like the title track of Bat - great guitar work by Rundgren - but not a fan of the album or Loaf.

Paradise by the Dashboard Light is forever owned by drunk college chippies - and I mean that in a good way.

 

[timschochet]

I ended up "slide"ing a lot to cheers of "what's it gonna be boy”

 

[jamny]

This is my memory too. We were dirt poor, the only music I listened to was AM radio crap. It was a completely different world-I mean the impact really can't be exaggerated-once I began listening to FM. My first radio with FM was an old salvaged car stereo hooked up to a car battery (which sat on a towel in the corner of my (and younger brother) bedroom.

My only radio was my AM-only alarm clock. There was a radio in our kitchen that was AM only too. My parents weren't music lovers but my mom would listen to stuff like Engelbert and Tom Jones. My father had some albums, like Elvis, the Mamas and the Papa's, some Johnny Cash and of course "Sing along with Mitch"  Lots of singles. Whooly Bully, Roll over Beethoven were my favorites. And Ahab the Arab...lol

That was all I really knew of music, along with crappy AM. I don't know how I found out about FM. I think it I read about it in a newspaper or magazine. You are so right in saying that the impact can't be exaggerated. I asked for a radio for Christmas and got this little red thing, probably from Radio Shack, and could not stop listening. So much music I had never heard of. Just incredible. Not sure how old I was. Probably like 8 or 9, maybe a little older.

 

[jamny]

Man was Bat out of Hell a huge, huge album. I loved it when it came out until a friend, who had the biggest boombox (Quad, baby!) in the hood would play it over and over and over. And the radio stations played the hell out of it too. Good times though, fun album.

 

[jamny]

...and a great cover too!

 

[timschochet]

and of course "Sing along with Mitch"  

For those who don’t know, jamny refers here to Mitch Miller, head of CBS records in the 1950s and hater of rock and roll (mainly because he lost out on signing Elvis because he refused to pay what RCA offered). Despite this, Mitch was actually a very good guy and a visionary- he discovered, among others, Leslie Uggams and made her a star at a time when black artists could not get on major labels. And toward the end of his tenure Miller surrendered, hired music scout John Hammond, and gave him free reign to bring in talent. The rest was history. 

 

[jamny]

For those who don’t know, jamny refers here to Mitch Miller, head of CBS records in the 1950s and hater of rock and roll (mainly because he lost out on signing Elvis because he refused to pay what RCA offered). Despite this, Mitch was actually a very good guy and a visionary- he discovered, among others, Leslie Uggams and made her a star at a time when black artists could not get on major labels. And toward the end of his tenure Miller surrendered, hired music scout John Hammond, and gave him free reign to bring in talent. The rest was history. 

Never really knew the history...thanks.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

While the real debate was before my time, I would always pick the Stones over the Beatles when asked. I'm not a huge fan, I had a few albums, Sticky Fingers was one, and still like hearing them on the radio. Probably a band I should look deeper into at stuff I might not be as familiar with.

Pretty much my whole life (since 7th grade) I’ve been a huge Stones fan. Have every record, seen them many times, read books on them. In many ways they are a big part of my identity and my friends all associate The Rolling Stones with me.

Last year at my fantasy football draft I told a few friends that on my death bed I’ll admit that the Beatles were better.

 

[worrierking]

Bat Out of Hell.  In bad taste, overblown, inane.  I love every second of it!

 

[timschochet]

Something I did not know until I read the Wiki page-the female vocals on the album are sung by Ellen Foley, of Night Court fame- I always thought it was sexy Karla DeVito, who appears in the videos. Turns out Karla lip synced to Ellen. 

 

[worrierking]

Ellen Foley later was Mick Jones's (of The Clash) girlfriend.  He produced her second album.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Besides the 2 radio hits, I had never listened to this album until about 1 hour ago. 

That is a kick ### album!

Stones go punk and disco...love it or hate it they’ve always tried to adapt with the times and stay “hip”.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

It was freshman sophomore year so my memory might be biased by that but I think combining Foreigner (77) Double Vision (78) for a discussion of the music might work. No reason to limit yourself with unnecessary rules. And yes, if some can love on Journey, Steve Miller and Rush, I was a fool for Foreigner when I first started kissing girls. Urgent from 4 is my favorite song because of the sax and a AA girl named Sin, but the first two albums are better.

My friend from college’s older cousin, Ed Gagliardi, was the bass player for Foreigner. There’s a picture of him as a little kid sitting with Lou Graham and Mick Jones and Ed backstage in some rock magazine.

 

[zamboni]

Ellen Foley later was Mick Jones's (of The Clash) girlfriend.  He produced her second album.

IIRC, “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” was written about Jones’s relationship with Foley.

 

[Nipsey]

Paradise By The Dashboard Light

https://clyp.it/rnnz5pkb

 

[timschochet]

Paradise By The Dashboard Light

https://clyp.it/rnnz5pkb

OK you need to unpack these now. Are they you? Or a friend? Who’s singing here? 

 

[zamboni]

Something I did not know until I read the Wiki page-the female vocals on the album are sung by Ellen Foley, of Night Court fame- I always thought it was sexy Karla DeVito, who appears in the videos. Turns out Karla lip synced to Ellen. 

DeVito had a good tune from The Breakfast Club - “We Are Not Alone”. Played during the library scene after they all toke up.

https://youtu.be/YVtIMjnPkvg

 

[timschochet]

DeVito had a good tune from The Breakfast Club - “We Are Not Alone”. Played during the library scene after they all toke up.

https://youtu.be/YVtIMjnPkvg

There was something really sexy about her in those videos. 

 

[HellToupee]

OK you need to unpack these now. Are they you? Or a friend? Who’s singing here? 

He does a great rendition of Baby Blue 

 

[jamny]

OK you need to unpack these now. Are they you? Or a friend? Who’s singing here? 

link

 

[Ranethe]

My only radio was my AM-only alarm clock. There was a radio in our kitchen that was AM only too. My parents weren't music lovers but my mom would listen to stuff like Engelbert and Tom Jones. My father had some albums, like Elvis, the Mamas and the Papa's, some Johnny Cash and of course "Sing along with Mitch"  Lots of singles. Whooly Bully, Roll over Beethoven were my favorites. And Ahab the Arab...lol

That was all I really knew of music, along with crappy AM. I don't know how I found out about FM. I think it I read about it in a newspaper or magazine. You are so right in saying that the impact can't be exaggerated. I asked for a radio for Christmas and got this little red thing, probably from Radio Shack, and could not stop listening. So much music I had never heard of. Just incredible. Not sure how old I was. Probably like 8 or 9, maybe a little older.

Yeah, I can't really remember how old I was either. I want to say it was around 8th grade. Can't remember how I learned about FM either, thinking it was through friends

Speaking of Elvis, sheesh, don't know where to start. I don't want to ever hear another Elvis song for as long as I live. My father was the stereotypical 50's "greaser/motorhead". Hardass, some Napoleon complex, fought with everyone, hard drinking, trouble with the law fairly regularly, high school dropout. He worshipped Elvis. When they bought a turntable I heard Elvis 24/7, including on a regular basis, on school nights blasting until 2-3 am when he was drunk. I've heard every Elvis Christmas song a gazillion times too. Every freaking Christmas.

I had a chance as a kid to see Elvis live. I think it was around 6-7th grade. They had tickets to an Elvis concert and apparently someone couldn't go at the last minute. I was at a cousins house playing, parents called and wanted me to go with the spare ticket. I said no (was much more interested in playing sports with my cousins). Despite him being an iconic artist, etc., I don't regret missing it

 

[Zegras11]

Never really knew the history...thanks.

Crap.... Thought I'd never see this again in my lifetime.   My parents had that huge ### stereo system with the record player that took up the entire living room against the cork and glass walls.  Tom Jones, Humperdick, Dionne Warwick and the rest of that crew.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Seen the Stones 11 times. Have seen them peform everything off the album except Sway and I got the blues.

One of the best shows I ever saw by them was in 2002 at the Oakland Coliseum indoors. They finished with a blistering version of "Brown Sugar" and left the stage no encore. Great way to end.

I think I like Exile on Main Street a little better then Sticky Fingers. But either one is in the top 50 rock albums of all time

You and my wife will get along great. She's seen them 10 times. And she can come up with almost any fact about them.

Her and my daughter saw them in San Diego a few years ago and before the concert, they ran into a lady taking her granddaughter to the concert. My wife asked the little girl if this was the first time that she got to see them. The granddaughter replied "Yes.... Oh boy, we get to see them before they die!".  

 

[Gr00vus]

Meatloaf. One T Rex song is infinitely better than his whole catalog. This thread reminds me why I couldn't listen to AOR/"classic rock" stations. Can we just get the DJ to play Stairway To Heaven and sign off now? GB nascent KROQ.