**Rock and Roll Reminiscing - SSSS**

db,
Let’s keep it to two per day M-F, OK?

That said, Santana, as in Carlos, is one of the legendary guitarists of our time. Supernaural was great, if only for one reason, it alerted a new generation to his existence. Old farts, like me, have known him since the late 60’s starting with his band’s 1969 self-titled debut, through Abraxas, …III, Caravanserai, and on and off since then. He’s also released albums with Buddy Miles and John McLaughlin.

Saw him is ’71 in Cleveland (where else) and they rocked the old Public Auditorium. Extended jams on all the material they’d released to that point. Only time I can remember people boogieing their asses off standing on the backs of the floor seating. For a bit of the energy they could produce, check out “Woodstock”. Their performance of “Soul Sacrifice” was perhaps the ultimate showstopper of that fabled concert. At the time they featured a 17-year old, whiz-kid drummer, Michael Shrieve…. Awesome power and speed on a standard kit.

A few Carl Perkins fans might take issue with your Stray Cats comment…

Simply Red – Good one. Quite a few of their “hits” are off of the debut, Picture Book. It’s very soulful stuff, with beautiful lead vocals by Mick Hucknall.

GG,
Sly Stone… Yassir, great, early funk that bridged the musical rock vs. soul racial barrier that sprouted after the great Motown works of the early 60’s began to fade from memory. But what was up with the Doris Day thing? Que Sera, Sera????

My first “S” offering.
Spirit
Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus – CD (1973 Epic – EK 30267)
Spirit’s 4th release is the only one owned here. I’d be interested in hearing recommendations on their first three. This is a flat-out, great album, another of the 20 or so in Tour’s Top Ten, both the album and album side lists. So, of course, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

College roomie put me onto this group as he did may others including Dave Mason, Poco, Pure Prairie League, Jackson Browne and many others… (I owe you “Rook”}. Spirit’s line-up included Jay Ferguson, who has been mentioned a couple times previously in this string of threads, and co-founders, Randy (Wolfe) “California”, who was given his name by Jimi Hendrix, and Ed “Mr. Skin” Cassidy. Cassidy, an early head shaver, came from a solid jazz background and a career that included playing with greats Thelonious Monk and Art Pepper.

Side one’s line-up, my favorite is: “Prelude – Nothing to Hide”, “Nature’s Way”, “Animal Zoo”, “Love Has Found a Way”, “Why Can’t I be Free”, “Mr. Skin”. “Mr. Skin” was the AM near hit; “Nature’s Way” was an FM favorite.
Rook always favored side two, which included: “Space Child”, “When I Touch You”, “Street Worm”, “Life Has Just Begun”, “ Morning Will Come”, and “Soldier”.

I always enjoyed our debates about which side of the album was better. I think you owe it to yourself to own the CD and join in. It is available as a reissue that adds four bonus tracks.

paxil,
Missed your earlier post. Agreed, Rod rocked on Every Pic....
"(I Know) I'm Losing You" was the first track played on the first "decent" rig I owned.

This is for your contributions...

Joe, give shack a break…. I don’t know of anybody that could listen to that one…
But Steppenwolf nice 70's band there. Saw them in my Cleveland days as well. John Kay, who did some decent solo stuff later, was high energy. "Sookie Sookie Sookie Sookie Sookie Sookie Sue" Unfortunately the group that preceded them in the concert, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks was anything but high energy.... got booed off the stage.

Favorite Spinal Tap moment… http://www.spinaltap.com/video/11_bg.mov
Thanks for the link, paxil.

Tonite I’d like to unveil another obscure little gem that I truly love…
Seatrain
Seatrain – Vinyl (1970 Capitol/ EMI – SMAS-659)
Marblehead Messenger – C-90 (1971)
Seatrain/ Marblehead Messenger – Dbl CD Import (1999 BGO – BGOCD465)
Seatrain is another of my many music gifts from my college friend, “Rook”.

Spawned from the demise of The Blues Project, an early Al Kooper group, Seatrain’s first effort was actually released under the previous group’s name. To add to the confusion their first release under the new group name was Sea Train. I guess a space makes all the difference. After this, the first of their two “self-titled debuts”, the group did a bit of realigning and found a new producer, of whom you may have heard, George Martin, and traveled to UK to record their 3rd release.

Seatrain is a phenomenal piece of Country Rock with Blues and even Bluegrass influences. I doubt any of the members names will mean anything to you. The line-up starts with the standard guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and adds violin, viola, and flute. They even credit the group lyricist, who did not perform, but rates a back cover shot and a place in the cover photo.

The album starts off with an up tempo cover of “Willin’”, by our old friend Lowell George (again), and continues with seven originals, “Song of Job”, “Broken Morning”, “Home to You”, “Out Where the Hills”, “Waiting for Elijah”, “13 Questions” and “Oh My Love”. The album wraps with medley of an uncredited, traditional song, “Sally Goodin’”, a cover of “Creepin’ Midnight” by Jerry Goffin and Carol King and “Orange Blossom Special”. It’s a wonderful line-up. Personal favorites are “13 Questions” and “Oh My Love”, but they are all very good and fit together very, very well.

Gotta say it…. Seatrain is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and another in the Tour Top Ten list…

Marblehead Messenger, the group’s final album, is not bad either. Many actually prefer it, but for me it takes a backseat. But you can decide for yourself as the double CD import is about the only way to nab Seatrain, and is fairly economical at $15 at amazon.com.

It’s late, but I think I’ll spin it one more time before bed…

shack... the announcement of your Saturday dump list popped in as I was nearly the end of mine… Was afraid you’d scooped me out of a two-hour effort, but not much overlap as it turned out…
BTW, I was waiting on your earlier Sting post ... BION, I do like Sting's work for many of the reasons you state. He reaches and succeeds more times than not.

Jeff, Squeeze’s sweets from a stranger wasn’t too bad either as I recall.

Have to comment on ab’s Supertramp mention. I’ve been waiting on a boxed set by them for a long time. Have all three he lists on vinyl, but only Even in the Quietest Moments on CD. “Fools Overture” is a great track IMO. When folks take issue with me about whether rock can be considered compositions, I play this track for them.

Well, it’s the weekend so it’s time for tour to take a RnR dump….

Joe Sun – A former co-worker put me onto this “country” artist. One of those country “outlaws” that crosses over whenever he feels like it. A little surprise joe6 didn’t post him. Anyway I ended up with three late 70’s albums by Joe, Livin’ on Honky Tonk Time, Out of Your Mind, and Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You) . Been a long, long time, but pretty good stuff as best I can recall.

Styx – may have made the thread earlier, but if it did I missed it. I’ve got Kilroy was Here – 1983 which includes Mr. Roboto. It was their attempt at a concept album, but it’s no Tommy. The group did have their share of hits. While I liked some of them, I was never really a big fan

Strider – Exposed (1973 – One of the tracks got some airplay, but I’ll be damned if I can remember which one.

Cat Stevens – “OOOh Baby baby it’s a wild world…. And it’s hard to get by just upon a smile… ” Monster artist in the early 70’s then he did go Muslim and there was that whole Salmon Rushdi bounty thing… :rolleyes: … Two biggest albums were Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat. Subsequent releases, Catch a Bull at Four and Foreigner fell off some, but were still quite good. Best I know there is really not a good hits collection to be had… pity cause he had plenty of them. Somebody call Rhino…

Michael Stanley Band – As much as I’ll hate myself for slighting a true fellow Clevelander, the week’s run out on me. Do yourself a favor and get hold of a copy of Stagepass. Recorded live in ’77 it’s covers most of his best stuff and damn good stuff it is. For his studio versions there’s a very good 1992 compilation, Right Back at Ya. A local legend, Michael ended up in Cleveland broadcasting and then became Mayor of a major suburb. GOOD STUFF HERE FOLKS…

Special AKA was an 80’s British ska band that struck a chord with the track, "Free Nelson Mandela", off of their album in the studio. Pretty good listen with a message to boot.

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes – The Jukes (1979) Always in Bruce’s NJ wake, this group included Steven van Zandt in the original line-up. And although he was gone by this release, he still worked on their albums’ production. Decent stuff.

Southern Pacific is a collection of former rockers that went country-ish. Members came from the Doobies, CCR and even Pablo Cruise. The vinyl I have is Killbilly Hill. It has its moments.

Phoebe Snow has one of the more distinctive female voices I have heard. Her ’76 release, Second Childhood, is very strong, but her self-titled, first release produced her biggest hit, "Poetry Man". She’s still recording today.

The Smithereens – Especially for You (1986) When I first heard this group I thought they were British, just had that sound. But fooled me unless NJ is still part of the UK. This is a strong effort with several good tracks.

The Patti Smith Group – Patti was near the front of the stateside punk movement pack in the mid-70’s. Horses was the group’s '75 debut and is very raw. Wave, produced in 1979 by Todd Rundgren, was the group’s last effort and was too polished for many’s taste, but it is more accessible. They played SNL while at the height of their popularity.

Sugarloaf – Pretty much a one hit wonder with “Green-Eyed Lady”, but it was a big one.

John Sebastian – in John we have a pure, 100% dyed in the wool hippie here. He played Woodstock and actually said, “Far out,” more than once in his screen time. After his Lovin’ Spoonful days John craved out a decent solo career, but was always best known for his Lovin’ Spoonful songs… that is until he wrote “Welcome Back” for the TV show, “Welcome Back, Kotter.”

Sad Café – Kinda bluesy, but will never be confused with in your face blues rockers in spite of the lead singer often imitating Mick. This is soft rock. I have two albums here, Misplaced Ideals and Facades. Although Façades is pretty good, Misplaced… is the better of the two and is quite listenable, if you’re in one of those moods.