Dance Party

Two Hundred Ninety-Five

Artist - David Bowie
Album - Space Oddity
Released - 1969
Label - Phillips/Mercury
Genre - Folk/Progressive/Psychedelic Rock

Tracks:
Side 1
Space Oddity
Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed
Letter to Hermione
Cygnet Committee
Side 2
Janine
An Occasional Dream
The Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud
God Knows I'm Good
Memory of a Free Festival

"Everything we are is engaged here.  We have only to let it in."

Enjoy!

On The Wire

Two Hundred Eighty-Eight

Artist - Leonard Cohen
Album - Songs From A Room
Released - 1969
Label - Columbia
Genre - Folk

Tracks:
Bird On The Wire
Story of Isaac
A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes
The Partisan
Seems So Long Ago, Nancy
The Old Revolution
The Butcher
You Know Who I Am
Lady Midnight
Tonight Will Be Fine

If you don't know much of Leonard Cohen, then it's not too hard to get involved.  Leonard Cohen is one smooth singing guy and his voice is just as calm as can be.  Songs From A Room is Leonard Cohen's second album, which in 1969 it reached #63 on the US Billboard Charts and #2 on the UK Charts.  I am starting to think I need a little bit more Leonard Cohen in my life to calm me down, bring me back to reality.

Enjoy!

Vibin'

Two Hundred Twenty-Ninth

Artist(s) - Diana Ross & The Supremes with The Temptations
Album - Together
Released - 1969
Label - Motown
Genre - Pop/Soul

Tracks:
Stubborn Kind of Fellow
I'll Be Doggone
The Weight
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Sing A Simple Song
My Guy, My Girl
For Better or Worse
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Why (Must We Fall In Love)

A fantastic and soulful record, Together is an album with nothing but covers sung by the greatest musicians from Motown.  Such delight to have, this record is really a delight to listen to.

Enjoy!

Meeting of the Minds

Two Hundred Fourteen

Artist - The Doors
Album - Soft Parade
Released - 1969
Label - Elektra
Genre - Psychedelic Rock

Tracks:
Side One
Tell All The People
Touch Me
Shaman's Blues
Do It
Easy Ride
Side Two
Wild Child
Runnin' Blue
Wishful Sinful
The Soft Parade

The fourth studio album by The Doors, Soft Parade is an interesting album.  A lot different from their previous records, this album has a bit of a different vibe.  Tell All The People is a soft song, with more of an instrumental type sound.  Maybe a lot of people didn't agree with it, since it is considered one of their more "creative" albums.  When listening to Touch Me, it leans more along the same sound as their previous album with the exception of the saxophone solo towards the end of the song.  Heavy bass lines in Shaman's Blues, gives this song a blues-y feel, which I like.  

Enjoy!

Satisfying a Need, a Craving

My one hundred thirty-fourth pick:

Artist - Led Zeppelin
Album - II
Released - 1969
Label - Atlantic
Genre - Rock

Tracks:
Side One
Whole Lotta Love
What Is and What Should Never Be?
The Lemon Song
Thank You
Side Two
Heartbreaker
Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)
Ramble On
Moby Dick
Bring It On Home

One of the BEST records in rock, HANDS DOWN.  Led Zeppelin's II is the bands second album and each song on this album is to die for.  This is the record that you want to listen to loud and on vinyl and I'm so glad I have it within my reach.  Lately, I've been on a Led Zeppelin high.  They are just such a great band and believe it or not, I can listen to each one of their records back to back to back.  Regardless of what I write about this band and this album, it will not do justice with how amazing their music is and their sound.  Something worth purchasing, picking up and playing on repeat.

Enjoy!

That's a Wrap

One Hundred Twenty-Fifth:

Artist - Neil Diamond
Album - Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
Released - 1969
Label - UNI
Genre - Pop/Rock

Tracks:
Side One
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
Dig In
River Runs, Newgrown Plums
Juliet
Long Gone
And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind
Side Two
Glory Road
Deep in the Morning
If I Never Knew Your Name
Memphis Streets
You're So Sweet Horseflies Keep Hanging 'Round Your Face
Hurtin' You Don't Come Easy
Sweet Caroline

SWEET CAROLINE!!  Enough said!  This album is great, but Sweet Caroline is my favorite.  I do have to admit, that is the real reason I bought this record, but after listening to whole album, it's not that bad.  A bit on the mellow side, it was very enjoyable.

Enjoy!

Something to think about

I feel accomplished every time I post a vinyl record.  Not only is it a great feeling, it leads me to believe that 365 is coming sooner than I thought.  We are in the 8th month of the year and after December, April is just 4 months away.  My whole goal is to post one record a day, from Record Store Day 2012 to Record Store Day 2013.  So here, my one hundred fourteenth pick.

Artist - Santana

Album - Santana

Released - 1969

Label - Columbia

Genre - Psychedelic Rock, Blues Rock, Jazz-Fusion

Tracks:

Side 1

Waiting

Evil Ways

Shades of Time

Savor

Jingo

Side 2

Persuasion

Treat

You Just Don't Care

Soul Sacrifice

Santana are one of the bands that I've always enjoyed, especially when I would listen to them with my father.  Since this is pretty much an unusual Sunday for me, I wanted to play something that would put my mind at ease and this album is definitely it.  There are so many ways to classify this record, as described up above next to Genre, but I'd like to say it's has an exotic sound with some great guitar playing.  I've always admired Carlos Santana and just how his roots have influenced his sound and the sound on many of his records.  A great record to listen to, you will definitely need to play it loud.

Enjoy!

Doubling Up Part II

Back to back posts, you should be so lucky -- just kidding.  For my fifty-ninth pick.

Artist - The James Gang
Album - Yer' Album
Released - 1969
Label - Bluesway/ABC
Genre - Rock, Hard Rock


Tracks
Side I
Introduction
Take A Look Around
Funk #48
Bluebird
Lost Woman
Side II
Stone Rap
Collage
I Don't Have The Time
WrapCity in English
Fred
Stop

After listening to this album, I think the best thing about it is that when side I ends, there is a loop that says "Turn Me Over" and on side II it says "Play Me Again."  When I first heard that, I laughed.

This is the first album by The James Gang and their second debut on my blog.  I just had to put them on again because not only do I like The James Gang, but I bought this record while I was in South Florida and it was in the DOLLAR BIN.  Sometimes I feel like people don't recognize the greatness of an artist, let alone a record, but to find this album, it was a MUST BUY for me and I'm very happy with my purchase.  Plus I absolutely love Funk #48, Lost Woman, and I Don't Have The Time. I almost forgot an absolute favorite of mine, which is Fred.  Something about the sound of the voice and guitar with the light drums and bass.  EARGASM!!! I do think I have an old soul because I LOVE music from the 60's/70's.  I can't help it.

Enjoy!

A Little SPICE In Your Life

At the gym and on shuffle on my iTunes, Latin (Spanish) music has been invading my ears.  In honor of this almighty coincidence, here is my twenty-fifth pick:

Artist - Tito Puente and his Orchestra
Album - Dance Mania
Released - 1969
Label - RCA
Genre - Latin


Tracks
Side One
El Cayuco
Complicacion
3-D Mambo
Llego Mijan
Cuando Te Vea
Hong Kong Mambo
Side Two
Mambo Gozon
Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe
Varsity Drag
Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti
Agua Limpia Todo
Saca Tu Mujer

I grew up listening to Tito Puente and a whole slew of Latin artists, so when I went to the record store looking for old Spanish music and I found this one, I was extremely happy.  Though I'm not as fluent as I should be in speaking and understanding Spanish, I feel like I know enough to get by.  Playing this record reminds of me of my childhood  and how my Dad, brothers and sisters would go over to my Uncle and Aunt's house and have these parties where everyone would be dancing all night.  Those memories will always be there.

Back to the subject of this record and Tito Puente, who debuted his own band in 1940 and became an iconic Latin artist till his death in 2000.  This record became known by word of mouth (which I happen to think are the best ways to know about a record) and was one of the best dance music albums in the Latin America field.  For what it's worth, even though you don't understand Spanish, the sound and rhythm will get you dancing and moving your hips.

Enjoy!

Friendships are Beneficial

As the days go by, so do my picks.  With this selection, number twenty-four definitely has the kinds of friends I want.

Artist - Joe Cocker
Album - With A Little Help From My Friends
Released - 1969
Label - A&M Records
Genre - Rock, Blues


Tracks
Side One
Feeling Alright
Bye Bye Blackbird
Change In Louise
Marjorine
Just Like A Woman
Side Two
Do I Still Figure In Your Life?
Sandpaper Cadillac
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
With A Little Help From My Friends
I Shall Be Released

What do you call an album that has  musical greats such as Jimmy Page, Carol Kaye, Tony Visconti, Matthew Fisher, Henry McCullough and BJ Wilson?  You call it SUPERB!!  This is singer Joe Cocker's first album and with the musical greats mentioned above that contributed to these tracks definitely makes for one hell of a record.  When I hear Joe Cocker sing, I immediately think of The Wonder Years, since the track With A Little Help From My Friends (which is originally performed by The Beatles) was the theme song.  Oh how time flies between then and now.  Surprisingly, this record is has Blues written all over it, with a dash of rock.  Each song has a soulful sound as Joe Cocker sings with his very different sounding voice.