Frank Zappa Song By Song Thread (1966-96)*

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Zoot Marimba, Aug 21, 2018.

  1. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Page 196 and beyond, here I am!
    1. The Everly Brothers, Beat & Soul (Jim Gordon) [1965]
    2. Mel Tormé, Right Now! (Gordon) [1966]
    3. Gene Clark, Gene Clark with Gosdin Brothers (Gordon) [1967]
    4. Van Dyke, Song Cycle (Gordon) [1967]
    5. The Stone Poneys, Evergreen, Volume 2 (Billy Mundi, Gordon) [1967]
    6. Canned Heat, Canned Heat (Henry Vestine) [1967]
    7. Judy Collins, Who Knows Where The Time Is (Gordon) [1968]
    8. Harry Nilsson, Aerial Ballet (Gordon) [1968]
    9. Harry Nilsson, Skidoo Soundtrack (Gordon) [1968]
    10. Randy Newman, Randy Newman (Gordon) [1968]
    11. Canned Heat, Boogie With Canned Heat (Vestine) [1968]
    12. Canned Heat, Living The Blues (Vestine) [1968]
    13. Canned Heat, Hallelujah (Vestine, Elliot Ingber) [1969]
    14. The Hamilton Face Band, Hamilton Face Band (Ruth Komanoff-Underwood) [1969]
    15. Bread, Bread (Gordon) [1969]
    16. Hoyt Axton, My Griffin Is Gone (Gordon) [1969]
    17. Dave Mason, Alone Together (Gordon) [1970]
    18. Randy Newman, 12 Songs (Gordon) [1970]
    19. Canned Heat, Vintage (Vestine) [1970]
    20. Hamilton Face Band, Ain’t Got No Time (Ruth) [1970]
    21. John Mayall, USA Union (Sugarcane) [1970]
    22. Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Sugarcane (Sugarcane) [1970]
    23. Joe Cocker, Mad Dogs And Gentlemen (Gordon) [1970]
    24. Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Keep on Driving (Sugarcane) [1971]
    25. Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Fiddler On The Rock (Sugarcane) [1971]
    26. Nolan Porter, No Apologies (Lowell George, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black) [1971]
    27. Bob Smith, The Visit (Don Preston) [1971]
    28. T. Rex, Electric Warrior (Mark Volman, Howard Kaylan) [1971]
    29. Canned Heat and John Lee Hooker, Hooker n Heat (Vestine) [1971]
    30. Canned Heat, Live At Topanga Corral (Vestine) [1971]
    31. Canned Heat, Historical Figures And Ancient Heads (Vestine) [1971]
    32. B.B. King, B.B. King in London (Gordon) [1971]
    33. Leon Russell, Leon Russell And The Shelter People (Gordon) [1971]
    34. Traffic, The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys (Gordon) [1971]
    35. Maxayn, Maxayn (Andre Lewis) [1972]
    36. Nolan Porter, Nolan (George, Estrada, Black) [1972]
    37. Domenic Troiano, Domenic Troiano (Bunk Gardner, Buzz Gardner) [1972]
    38. Nicholas Greenwood, Cold Cuts (Bunk) [1972]
    39. John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Sometime In New York City (Live Jam/tracks 3-6 featuring Frank, Mark and Howard, Ian, Don Preston, Bob Harris #1, Jim Pons, Dunbar) [1972]
    40. T. Rex, The Slider (Mark And Howard) [1972]
    41. Pure Food & Drug Act, Choice Cuts (Sugarcane) [1972]
    42. New Violin Summit (Sugarcane, Ponty) [1972]
    43. Albert Hammond, It Never Rains in Southern California (Gordon) [1972]
    44. Bobby Whitlock, Bobby Whitlock (Gordon) [1972]
    45. Bobby Whitlock, Raw Velvet (Gordon) [1972]
    46. Skip Battin, Skip (Mundi) [1972]
    47. Roxy Music, Stranded (Jobson) [1973]
    48. Buddy Miles, Chapter VII (Lewis) [1973]
    49. Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Listen (Lewis) [1973]
    50. Maxayn, Mindful (Lewis) [1973]
    51. Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Sugar Cane’s Got the Blues (Sugarcane) [1973]
    52. Canned Heat, The New Age (Vestine) [1973]
    53. Canned Heat, One More River to Cross (Vestine) [1973]
    54. Art Garfunkel, Angel Clare (Gordon) [1973]
    55. Donovan, Essence to Essence (Gordon) [1973]
    56. The Incredible Bongo Band, Bongo Rock (Gordon) [1973]
    57. Albert Hammond, The Free Electric Band (Gordon) [1973]
    58. David Gates, First (Gordon) [1973]
    59. The Hues Corporation, Freedom for the Stallion (Gordon) [1973]
    60. John Cale, Paris 1919 (Lowell) [1973]
    61. Happy Ends, Happy Ends (Lowell) [1973]
    62. Gordon Lightfoot, Stallion (Gordon) [1974]
    63. Tom Waits, The Heart Of Saturday Night (Gordon) [1974]
    64. John Sebastian, Tarzana Kid (Lowell, Gordon) [1974]
    65. Robert Palmer, Sneakin Sally Through the Alley (Lowell) [1974]
    66. Mick Ronson, Slaughter on 10th Avenue (Dunbar) [1974]
    67. Roxy Music, Country Life (Jobson) [1974]
    68. Howdy Moon, self titled album (Lowell George, Roy Estrada) [1974]
    69. Luis Gasca, Born to Love You [1974]
    70. Billy Cobham, Crosswinds (George Duke) [1974]
    71. Maxayn, Bail Out For Fun! (Lewis) [1974]
    72. Roger McGuinn, Peace on You (Mark And Howard) [1974]
    73. Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Sal Marquez) [1974]
    74. Herbie Mann, London Underground (Dunbar) [1974]
    75. Freddie Hubbard, High Energy (Ian Underwood) [1974]
    76. Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Cup Full Of Dreams (Sugarcane) [1974]
    77. Don “Sugarcane” Harris, I’m On Your Case (Sugarcane) [1974]
    78. Junior Hanson, Magic Dragon (Lewis) [1974]
    79. Jack Bruce, Out Of The Storm (Gordon) [1974]
    80. Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band (Gordon) [1974]
    81. John Stewart, The Phoenix Concerts (Gordon) [1974]
    82. Roxy Music, Siren (Jobson) [1975]
    83. Freddie Hubbard, Liquid Love (Ian) [1975]
    84. Billy Cobham, A Funky Thide Of Sings (Walt Fowler) [1975]
    85. Down And Dirty Duck Soundtrack (Preston, Mark Volman, Howard Kaylan, Pons, Dunbar) [1975]
    86. Mick Ronson, Play, Don’t Worry (Dunbar) [1975]
    87. Nils Lofgren, self titled (Dunbar) [1975]
    88. Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Keyzop (Sugarcane) [1975]
    89. Mallard, Mallard (Art Tripp) [1975]
    90. The Carpenters, Horizon (Gordon) [1975]
    91. Minnie Riperton, Adventures in Paradise (Gordon) [1975]
    92. Art Garfunkel, Breakaway (Gordon, Max Bennett, John Guerin) [1975]
    93. Joan Baez, Diamonds And Rust (Gordon) [1975]
    94. Darryl Hall and John Oates, Darryl Hall And John Oates (Gordon) [1975]
    95. Richard “Groove” Holmes, Six Millionare Dollar Man (Gordon) [1975]
    96. Thelma Houston, I’ve Got the Music In Me (Gordon) [1975]
    97. Gordon Lightfoot, Cold on the Shoulder (Gordon) [1975]
    98. Robert Palmer, Pressure Drop (Lowell) [1975]
    99. Joan Baez, From Every Stage (Gordon) [1976]
    100. The Carpenters, A Kind Of Hush (Gordon) [1976]
    101. Alice Cooper, Alice Cooper Goes To Hell (Gordon) [1976]
    102. Neil Diamond, Beautiful Noise (Gordon) [1976]
    103. Journey, Look Into The Future (Dunbar) [1976]
    104. Jean-Luc Ponty, Aurora (Ponty, T. Fowler) [1976]
    105. Roxy Music, Viva! [1976]
    106. Spirit, Farther Along (Ian) [1976]
    107. Jean-Luc Ponty, Imaginary Voyage (Ponty, T.Fowler, Allan Zavod) [1976]
    108. Grand Funk, Good Singin, Good Playin (Produced by Zappa) [1976]
    109. Air Pocket, Fly On (T. Fowler, Bruce Fowler, W. Fowler, Thompson) [1976]
    110. Stephen Stills, Illegal Stills (Mark And Howard) [1976]
    111. Ian Hunter, All American Space Boy (Dunbar) [1976]
    112. Flo and Eddie, Moving Targets (Mark, Howard, Ian) [1976]
    113. T. Rex, Futuristic Dragon (Mark and Howard) [1976]
    114. Nils Lofgren, Cry Tough (Dunbar) [1976]
    115. Carmen MacRae, Can’t Hide Love (Ian) [1976]
    116. Sammy Hagar, Nine On A Ten Scale (Dunbar) [1976]
    117. Alphonso Johnson, Moonshadow (Ian) [1976]
    118. Marathon Man Soundtrack (Ian) [1976]
    119. George Duke, Liberated Fantasies (Duke, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Ruth) [1976]
    120. Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Flashin’ Time (Sugarcane) [1976]
    121. Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band, Bat Chain Puller (Beefheart, Denny Walley) [1976]
    122. Seals & Croft, Sudan Village (Ralph Humphrey) [1976]
    123. Joan Baez, Gulf Winds (Gordon) [1976]
    124. Phil Keaggy, Love Broke Thru (Gordon) [1977]
    125. Chunk, Ernie, & Novi, Chunk, Ernie, & Novi (Ian) [1977]
    126. George Duke, From Me to You (Duke, Glenn Ferris) [1977]
    127. Demon Seeds Soundtrack (Ian) [1977]
    128. Journey, Next (Dunbar) [1977]
    129. Jean-Luc Ponty, Enigmatic Ocean (Ponty, Zavod) [1977]
    130. Little Feat, Time Loves A Hero (Lowell) [1977]
    131. Genesis, Seconds Out (Thompson) [1977]
    132. Quincy, Jones, Roots (Ian) [1977]
    133. Mandré, Mandré (Lewis) [1977]
    134. Alphonso Johnson, Spellbound (Thompson) [1977]
    135. Journey, Infinity (Dunbar) [1978]
    136. U.K., self titled (Eddie Jobson) [1978]
    137. Lynda Carter*, Portrait (Humphrey) (*yes, the same one who played Wonder Woman) [1978]
    138. George Duke, Reach For It (Duke) [1978]
    139. George Duke, Don't Let Go (Duke) [1978]
    140. The Brecker Brothers, Heavy Metal Be-Bop (Bozzio) [1978]
    141. Jean-Luc Ponty, Cosmic Messenger (Ponty, Zavod) [1978]
    142. Steve Hackett, Please Don’t Touch (T.Fowler, Chester Thompson) [1978]
    143. David Bowie, Stage (Adrian Belew) [1978]
    144. Alice Cooper, From the Inside (Mark And Howard) [1978]
    145. Ambrosia, Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled (Ian, Ruth) [1978]
    146. Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela, Herb Alpert/Hugh Masekela (Ian) [1978]
    147. Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band, Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (Beefheart, B.Fowler, Tripp) [1978]
    148. Lao Schifrin, Gypsy (Ian) [1978]
    149. Barbara Streisand, Songbird (Ian) [1978]
    150. Little Feat, Waiting For Columbus (Lowell) [1978]
    151. Mandré, Mandré Two (Lewis) [1978]
    152. Karen Alexander, Voyager (Humphrey) [1978]
    153. The Grateful Dead, Shakedown Street (Lowell) [1978]
    154. U.K., Danger Money (Jobson, Terry Bozzio) [1979]
    155. Jean-Luc Ponty, Live (Ponty, Zavod) [1979]
    156. David Bowie, Lodger (Belew) [1979]
    157. Big Sonny and the Lo Boys, In Heat (Black) [1979]
    158. Apocalypse Now Soundtrack (Preston) [1979]
    159. The Residents, Eskimo (Preston) [1979]
    160. Jefferson Starship, Freedom at Point Zero (Dunbar) [1979]
    161. Lowell George, Thanks, I’ll Eat It Here (Lowell) [1979]
    162. Peggy Lee, Close Enough For Love (Ian) [1979]
    163. Little Feat, Down On The Farm (Lowell) [1979]
    164. George Duke, Follow the Rainbow (Duke, Nappy) [1979]
    165. George Duke, Master Of The Game (Duke, Nappy) [1979]
    166. Tony Banks, A Curious Feeling (Thompson) [1979]
    167. Jean-Luc Ponty, A Taste for Passion (Ponty, Zavod) [1979]
    168. Freddie Hubbard, The Love Connection (Thompson) [1979]
    169. Lalo Schifrin, No One Home (Ian) [1979]
    170. The Warriors Soundtrack (Ian) [1979]
    171. Mandré, M3000 (Lewis) [1979]
    172. Ray Pizzi, The Love Letter (Humphrey) [1979]
    173. Leroy Hutson, Unforgettable (Thompson) [1979]
    174. David Pritchard, City Dreams (Thompson) [1979]
    175. The Muppet Movie Soundtrack (Gordon) [1979]
    We have about 47 albums left to cover, so let’s get it on!
     
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  2. Cherrycherry

    Cherrycherry Forum Resident

    Location:
    Le Froidtown
    Gary Coleman was one year old when the Hoyt Axton was released; and he played percussion?
    Wonder what else Gary played on.
     
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  3. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Bobby Whitlock, Raw Velvet:
    [​IMG]


    Raw Velvet is the second studio album by Bobby Whitlock, released November 1972 on ABC-Dunhill. Produced by Jimmy Miller and Joe Zagarino, the album once again features contributions by Whitlock’s former Derek & The Dominoes bandmates, which is referenced in the dominoes on the inner sleeve. Whitlock plays guitar, keyboards, and sings, and backing him is our very own Jim Gordon on drums, George Harrison and future Fleetwood Mac member Rick Vito on guitars, Carl Radle on bass, Jim Price on trumpet, and Bobby Keys on saxophone. In addition, Clapton appears on “Hello LA, Bye Bye Birmingham” as an uncredited guitarist.
    Overall, another really solid set of rock and roll by Bobby Whitlock. The band is, of course, excellent in chops and execution. Whitlock, his voice is one that so called “vocal experts” would slam, but he conveys real feeling and passion in his performances. Giving that I know he and Gordon had quite a few issues, I’m surprised that Jim contributed so heavily to both these records. Then again, nobody could deny the dude could play. What can you say? Jim Gordon is always a win.
    Solid record, and Derek and The Dominoes fans will dig it.
     
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  4. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Skip Battin, Skip:
    [​IMG]

    Skip is the solo debut album by former Byrds bassist Skip Battin, released in 1972. Produced by Eric Malamud, Battin (vocals/acoustic guitar/piano/bass) is backed here by our very own Billy Mundi on drums alongside John Guerin (who of course played on Hot Rats), fellow Byrds Roger McGuinn on twelve-string guitar and Clarence White on electric and acoustic guitars/mandolin/dobro, and Spanky McFarlane from Spanky & Our Gang on backing vocals.
    I do know Skip from his work with The Byrds. I like him as a bassist, but generally didn’t find the albums he played on with them all that remarkable other than the Untitled Album. This album, it’s alright. In the pantheon of the Byrds’ outside work, this falls fairly short. I’ll put it this way-it’s not Gram or Gene solo, CSN(Y), or The Flying Burrito Brothers. It’s a listenable album, mostly passable, but it won’t really stick afterwards. The songs are largely average, though the musicians involved make it somewhat succeed. Basically, if I were to go all Robert Christgau and give letter grades, this would be a C-.
    I don’t really recommend it, either to listen to or avoid. It’s just sort of there.
     
  5. Mookielagoo

    Mookielagoo Marky-mark Vinyl Nut

    Location:
    UK
    Great GOOGLY-MOOGLY!
     
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  6. M2225

    M2225 Nebulus 7 intergalaxy eclipse

    Location:
    Helsinki, Finland
    Just listened to the impossible guitar parts on The Jazz Disharge Party Hats from the below album, I have no idea where you guys are at in this thread, but this is where I'm at:
    [​IMG]
     
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  7. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    We finished up the seventies catalogue, so Joe’s Garage down are the albums you can discuss, as well as particular tracks. Happy to know there has been interest.
     
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  8. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Art Garfunkel, Angel Clare:
    [​IMG]


    Angel Clare is the debut solo effort by Art Garfunkel, released September 11, 1973 on Columbia. Produced by Garfunkel and longtime Simon & Garfunkel producer Roy Halee, the album is notable for containing Garfunkel’s only solo Top 10 hit in the U.S., “All I Know”. Backing Garfunkel is our very own Jim Gordon on drums alongside Hal Blaine, guitarists J.J. Cale, Larry Carlton, Fred Carter Jr, Louis Shelton, and Dean Parks, Joe Osborn and Carl Radle on bass, Larry Knetchel and Michael Ormation on keyboards, Tommy Tedesco on bouzouki and mandolin, Jack Schroer on saxophone, Mark Friedman on recorder, Stuart Canin on violin, Milt Holland and Jorge Milchberg on percussion, Ernie Freeman, Jimmie Haskell, and Pete Matz on strings, and Dorothy Morrison, Sally Stevens, and the Jackie Ward Singers on vocals. In addition, Paul Simon and Jerry Garcia both appear on Track 2, while Jules Broussard played saxophone on Track 3 and the St Mary’s Choir are on Track 8.
    As a fan of Simon & Garfunkel, I was naturally at least somewhat interested. And I am very pleased with what we got. While I am here to review an Art Garfunkel solo effort, it’s hard not to mention Simon & Garfunkel, even putting aside Paul’s involvement on one track. There is some truth to the notion of Art being the “junior partner” so to speak, giving that Paul Simon was the songwriter. But it tends to be forgotten that the vocal harmonies and arrangements were largely Garfunkel’s territory, and that knack is on full display here. When you give Art Garfunkel good songs to work with, he’s unbeatable. And here, he’s got a lot of the top pop songwriters of the day-Paul Williams, Jimmy Webb, Van Morrison, Randy Newman, and Albert Hammond- as well as some traditional pieces. And of course, Art is not only in fine voice, but he’s also got a lot of the Wrecking Crew on here as well. Needless to say, we have a really good record here. It’s just a shame that he and Simon often have their spats, because they are better together than separately. Even when I hear Paul solo, it’s a lot like with Sting solo where I can still hear there’s a good song there, and of course, both had top notch players behind them. But I still think “Imagine what Andy & Stewart/Art could do with this.” Then again, Simon & Garfunkel and The Police both had that sibling rivalry dynamic, the former even more so given how long they’ve known each other.
    With all that said, I definitely recommend this album to pop fans and fans of Simon & Garfunkel.
     
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  9. Fastnbulbous

    Fastnbulbous Doubleplus Ungood

    Location:
    Washington DC USA
    I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the variety of material "our very owns" have played with. Some serious talent backing Art on that record. Alas, I'm not a big fan of S&G, even less of G.
     
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  10. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Just wait til we start digging into the films that Ian and the Fowlers have done. People would be surprised how many they actually know.

    A while ago on the Zappa subreddit, somebody did a Sox Degrees with Zappa. After seeing Ian’s name show up on a Barbara Streisand album and “We Are The World”, not to mention Jim Gordon’s career, I’m now convinced literally anyone in popular music can be connected to Frank in some way.
     
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  11. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product

    Man I admire your intestinal fortitude with this.
    I don't love all these albums, but there are some great ones indeed.
     
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  12. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Indeed. That Man From Incognito one, that was a real stinker. And needless to say, I’m not really looking forward to the Korn album that Bozzio played on.

    But I’ve gotten to talk about some albums I really love, and look into artists I never got around to.
     
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  13. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product

    It is an intrepid learning experience.
    I've found even albums I don't really like can teach me something.
    Good for you mate, I'll try and chip in with anything I'm familiar with :righton:
     
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  14. Fastnbulbous

    Fastnbulbous Doubleplus Ungood

    Location:
    Washington DC USA
    It's not just rock either. Think how many jazz greats Michael Brecker is connected with. He's only a couple degrees removed from Ornette Coleman, Jaco Pastorius and Miles Davis.
     
  15. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Donovan, Essence to Essence:
    [​IMG]

    Essence to Essence is the eleventh studio album by Donovan, released December of 1973 on Epic. Produced by Donovan and former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, the album shows Donovan returning to his folk sound after the glam detour of Cosmic Wheels. , Backing Donovan on here is our very own Jim Gordon and all these other people:
    Donovan is an artist I mainly know from his connection to other artists (teaching Lennon and McCartney fingerpicking techniques as well as marrying one of Brian Jones’ girlfriends and adopting her son with Brian). I will say I do enjoy some Donovan, particularly the Sunshine Superman album, though I’m more of a casual fan. This album is a decent listen for people that already like Donovan, though it won’t convert any newcomers by any means.
    This album, I give it a middling recommendation.
     
  16. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    The Incredible Bongo Band, Bongo Rock:
    [​IMG]

    Bongo Rock is the first album by the Incredible Bongo Band, released in 1973 on MGM. Produced by Michael Viner, the album was created out of MGM’s need of Viner to produce music for The Man With Two Heads. Though stories vary over who appeared on which tracks, the core band as per Sample This (great doc on the making of this record that you can still find on Netflix as I’m typing and posting this) is our very own Jim Gordon on drums alongside Kat Hendrikse and Ed Greene, King Errisson on bongos, Steve Douglas on saxophone and arrangements, Mike Melvoin on keyboards, Joe Sample (really) on piano, Robbie King on organ, Mike Deasy, Dean Parks, and David T. Walker on guitar, Wilton Felder and Jerry Scheff on bass, and Bobbye Hall on percussion.
    It’s pretty amazing to think that something that really only existed to fill up a soundtrack, “Bongo Rock” and maybe one or two other tracks, would go on to leave such a mark. This album is not really a great, great album, it’s pretty much a hodge podge type of deal. With that said, the performances are impeccable throughout (then again, look at who’s involved), and it’s a pretty listenable record by and large. Certainly “Apache”, which was by the Shadows before anyone jumps on me for forgetting that, because you know someone will. Excellent track, fantastic arrangement-dynamic, exciting, funky, engaging, and of course, Gordon and Errisson bring the groove throughout. But the album as a whole lends itself well to sampling, as it contains many grooves and sounds. The thing that most hurts it as a listening experience is also what’s given it it’s staying power. Go figure.
    As a stand alone record, it’s good but inessential. But as a piece of history, it’s pretty monumental, needless to say. How strongly I recommend it depends on what you’re interested in.
     
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  17. Fastnbulbous

    Fastnbulbous Doubleplus Ungood

    Location:
    Washington DC USA
    TBH I've never heard of the band, the album, the movie, or the doc. I only listened to the first minute of the YT clip but it could be the soundtrack of almost any movie from that era. I think I've already mentioned I'm a sucker for music docs so maybe I'll check that one out!
     
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  18. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Albert Hammond, The Free Electric Band:
    [​IMG]

    The Free Electric Band is the second studio album by Albert Hammond, released in 1973 on Mums (a subsidiary of Columbia). Produced by Hammond himself, the album’s lineup consists of Hammond himself on lead vocals/guitar, our very own Jim Gordon on drums alongside Hal Blaine, Larry Carlton and Jim Lewis on guitars, Michael Omartian on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass, Carol Carmichael and Friends on backing vocals, and the Sid Sharp Strings.
    Going into this, it’s another solid slice of singer-songwriter pop. I will say it sounds tighter than the first album, at least in part because of the more stable lineup than Hammond’s debut. I also find the writing to be stronger here than on the debut, even if it didn’t fare as well commercially. Tracks like “SMOKEY FACTORY BLUES”, “The Peacemaker”, and “Who’s For Lunch Today” certainly make for an engaging listen. That the arrangements also have a little more bite than the debut also helps.
    Overall, I can give this a good recommendation. If you like folk rock type of stuff, this is definitely a good one to have.
     
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  19. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Want to wish a great 71st birthday to Mr. Jeff Simmons himself! While his stints with Frank tended to be brief, his contributions were always impressionable. Besides being a great stage personality with a haircut foreshadowing the likes of Sideshow Bob and Buzz from the Melvins, he was also a great singer and songwriter, being one of the few Zappa/Mothers alumni to share writing credits with Frank. After that first single from the Mothers 70 set came out, I also realized “wow, he really was a good bass player.” Certainly a great rock bassist with a nice, fat, greasy sound that perfectly suited the Flo and Eddie Band. I also want to say, Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up is a great rock album and I can easily see why Frank would think Jeff would be a great addition to his band. I’m also glad that Dweezil invited him on stage a while back, and he seemed to be doing well.
    Wherever Jeff is, I hope all is well in his world, hope he is safe and well, and I hope he has a kickass birthday.
    [​IMG]
     
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  20. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    David Gates, First:
    [​IMG]


    First is the debut solo album by ex-Bread member David Gates, released in 1973 on Elektra. Produced by Gates himself, the album features our very own Jim Gordon alongside Gates’ former Bread bandmate Mike Botts, Larry Carlton, Jimmy Getzoff, John Guerin, Jim Horn, Russ Kunkel, and Louie Shelton.
    As I mentioned before, I never looked into Bread prior to this thread, and needless to say, I never looked into any of the members’ solo efforts. Listening to this album, I will say it’s easily one of the better stabs at soft rock. Certainly Gates and his former bandmates were among the more creative artists in what can and often seems to be a very formulaic genre. From some nice country rock to symphonic pop to even rock and roll, this album has a nice mix along with some top notch performances by all involved.
    If you like 70s soft rock and Bread in particular, this is a pretty good listen.
     
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  21. mBen989

    mBen989 Senior Member

    Location:
    Scranton, PA
    Bongo Rock

    One of hip-hop's source texts.
     
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  22. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    No way I could let May 22nd pass without wishing an awesome Happy Birthday to the Straight Member Of The Group himself, Mr. Ian Underwood. Graduate of Berkley and Yale, specialist in classical piano and Mozart. The man that could play seemingly anything and everything that you put in front of him, and on any keyboard or wind instrument you gave him. The Becker Watson to his Holmes (the smart, badass one from the novels, not the doofus you saw in the movies) and essentially the closest thing The Mothers had to a Becker figure. On stage, he provided an intense discipline that grounded the madcap energy of the Mothers, as well as

    Any standard Frank Zappa set, Ian always met it. In all the madness of Zappa and the Mothers’ music, Ian’s sense of calm provided stability even when there seemed to be none. He was the group’s glue and backbone, catching every curveball thrown at him and unflappable to the end. He proved the ideal lieutenant to Frank, as well as somebody for Frank to bounce ideas off. Not only did this greatly enrich Frank, it was seeing Frank and Ian work together that inspire Beefheart to get a piano, which resulted in his greatest works.
    As if his time with Frank wasn’t enough of a legacy, Ian would go on to work with people like Quincy Jones, Barbara Streisand, Herb Alpert, The Brothers Johnson, Spirit, Flo and Eddie, Dolly Parton, Freddie Hubbard, Janet Jackson, Chicago, Peggy Lee, programmed synths on “We Are The World”, and played on the theme to Knight Rider.
    As if THAT wasn’t enough, let me list some films he worked on you might have heard of: Apocalypto, Honey I Shrunk The Kids, Braveheart, Titanic, Avatar (so yes, for over twenty years, Ian could truthfully say he worked on the highest grossing film of all time), Blade Runner, and Marathon Man.
    What I’m saying is that Ian Underwood is a badass, and that he made it to 80 shows that there may very well be a God. Happy birthday Ian, and thanks for the music.

     
  23. Fastnbulbous

    Fastnbulbous Doubleplus Ungood

    Location:
    Washington DC USA
    Was it Ian who played alto on "Dwarf Nebula Processional March"? That's one of my favorite pieces by Frank, even though it only lasts 45 seconds.

     
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  24. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    The Hues Corporation, Freedom for the Stallion:
    [​IMG]

    Freedom for the Stallion is the debut solo effort by The Hues Corporation, released in 1973 on RCA. Produced by John Florez, the album is best known for featuring “Rock the Boat”, which would be remixed and released as one of the first disco tracks to hit #1 on the charts. Besides the group themselves (consisting of St. Clair Lee, Fleming Williams, and Hubert Ann Kelley), The lineup features our very own Jim Gordon alongside the following:
    This was an album I had no awareness of prior to this thread, but finding out that one of disco’s first hits came from it made me curious. I can’t really say the album is all that remarkable, with a fair bit of filler padding out the album. However, select tracks do stand out, with “Rock the Boat” being a prime example.
    Generally, this is an album that you can skip, it’s fairly forgettable by and large.
     
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  25. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    As far as I can tell, the track features Ian, Frank, Bunk, and Art. So probably.
     

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