Grateful Live

Three Hundred Fifty-Three

Artist - Grateful Dead
Album - History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice)
Released - 1973
Label - Warner Bros
Genre - Jam/Folk Rock

Tracks:
Side I
Katie Mae
Dark Hollow
I've Been All Around This World
Wake Up Little Susie
Black Peter
Side II
Smokestack Lightnin (Howlin' Wolf)
Hard to Handle

So after listening to this record, I fell in love with Black Peter.  A slow, quaint song that hypnotized me under its spell.  A lovely live version of songs from the Grateful Dead, History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice) is the bands ninth album and fourth live album.  Jerry Garcia plays one MEAN guitar and when I mean MEAN, I mean awesome.

Enjoy!

Sticks

Two Hundred Ninety-Two

Artist - Styx
Album - Styx II
Released - 1973
Label - Wooden Nickel
Genre - Progressive/Hard Rock

Tracks:
Heads
You Need Love
Lady
A Day
You Better Ask
Tails
Little Fugue in "G"
Father O.S.A.
Earl of Roseland
I'm Gonna Make You Feel It

Enjoy!

Birthday Part One

Two Hundred Sixty-One

Artist - David Bowie
Album - Aladdin Sane
Released - 1973
Label - RCA
Genre - Rock/Glam Rock

Tracks:
Side One
Watch That Man
Aladdin Sane
Drive-In Saturday
Panic In Detroit
Cracked Actor
Side Two
Time
The Prettiest Star
Let's Spend The Night Together
The Jean Genie
Lady Grinning Soul

What perfect way to celebrate David Bowie's birthday than playing this fantastic record.  The sixth album by glam rocker David Bowie, his rendition of Let's Spend The Night Together is my favorite.  David Bowie is a man to respect, since he has had a lot of changes in his style throughout the years.  So for today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. BOWIE!!

Enjoy!

Sweet Southern Sounds

Two Hundred Seven

Artist - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Album - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Released - 1973
Label - MCA Records
Genre - Southern Rock

Tracks:
Side One
I Ain't The One
Tuesday's Gone
Gimmie Three Steps
Simple Man
Side Two
Things Goin' On
Mississippi Kid
Poison Whiskey
Free Bird

I'm guessing I've been on a Southern Rock-ish kick lately, so here you have it -- Lynyrd Skynyrd!!  Their debut album, this is such a classic, timeless record.  With songs like Tuesday's Gone, which perfectly outfits today, Gimmie Three Steps and the infamous Free Bird are what makes this album golden.  No matter where you are, when you hear Free Bird on the radio or in a store, you should automatically pause and think to yourself how amazing the song is, which is pretty much a timeless classic.

Enjoy!

Revisiting

One Hundred Sixty-Seventh

Artist - Neil Young
Album - Time Fades Away
Released - 1973
Label - Reprise
Genre - Rock/Southern Rock

Tracks:
Time Fades Away - Oklahoma City
Journey Thru The Past - Cleveland
Yonder Stands the Sinner - Seattle
LA - Oklahoma City
Love in Mind - UCLA
Don't Be Denied - Phoenix
The Bridge - Sacramento
Last Dance - San Diego

Neil Young's first live album, Time Fades Away is a mix of live songs throughout his 1972 tour.  It's 2012 and Neil Young will be in the city I am in next weekend.  Too bad he's playing at ACL (Austin City Limits Music Festival).  I myself refuse to spend money on a ticket to enter that not so amusing festival, but I will take my bike to Zilker Park, sit outside and listen to him from afar.  There is no need to look, but just listen.  I have a lot of love for this album and Neil Young in general and I think this happened about 3 years ago.  I always liked his music, but for some reason or another, I LOVE IT.  Just another fantastic record for me to use to express my admiration for Neil Young.  I'm a little biased in a sense that I love all these songs and of course the way he sings them and his guitar playing.

Enjoy!

Surfer Rock? Why Not!

One Hundred Sixty-Four:

Artist - The Beach Boys
Album - Surfer Girl
Released - 1973
Label - Capitol Records
Genre - Surfer Rock, Rock

Tracks:
Side A
Surfer Girl
Alley Oop
Your Summer Dream
Spirit Of America
Side B
Hawaii
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
All Summer Long
Wendy
Be True To Your School

Since Kevin is a huge fan of the Beach Boys and they have been playing everywhere that I know of as of late, and let's not forget to mention they are TOURING, here is today's choice.  This record is an unrelated 1973 release of the Beach Boys early 1960 tracks, plus the cover is different from the 1963 original Surfer Girl release.  One of the most influential bands of all time, the songs on this record are just so happy to me.  When I hear songs like Hawaii, Surfer Girl and Wendy, they remind me of a surfer motown type of sound. You have a little blues and jazz mixed in with some rock or as they would classify it, "Surfer Rock!"  I always enjoy a good Beach Boys record from time to time and since I was in the mood, this was it.

Enjoy!

Personal Motto...Maybe?

A friend recommended this next pick and I dedicate it to him.  My old friend Jeremy, who I met at Cutler Ridge Middle School back in 1992 and he loved Prince.  For my one hundred seventh:

Artist - Sly and the Family Stone
Album - Fresh
Released - 1973
Label - Epic
Genre - Soul/Funk


Tracks:
In Time
If You Want Me To Stay
Let Me Have It All
Frisky
Thankful n' Thoughtful
Skin I'm In
I Don't Know (Satisfaction)
Keep on Dancin'
Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)
If It Were Left Up To Me
Babies Makin' Babies

The sixth album by Sly and the Family Stone, Fresh has a personal motto I pretty much live by.  Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be) is very true.  How much of a coincidence can writing about my personal motto and watching one of my favorite movies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  I believe they both tie in together, somehow, or maybe I just want to believe that they do.  Anyway, this album was ranked 186 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 albums of all time.  

Enjoy!

Relaxation

My one hundred fifth pick put me in a relaxing mood.

Artist - Roberta Flack
Album - Killing Me Softly
Released - 1973
Label - Atlantic
Genre - R&B/Soul


Tracks:
Side One
Killing Me Softly
Jesse
No Tears (In The End)
I'm The Girl
Side Two
River
Conversation Love
When  You Smile
Suzanne

A very soothing, relaxing album by Roberta Flack, Killing Me Softly will put you at ease.  With the soulful sound of her voice and the piano playing that accompanies it, this album is worthwhile.  Nonetheless, we all know Killing Me Softly was covered by the Fugees and even though that rendition is a good one, you cannot go wrong with the original. 

Enjoy!

All that Remains

Upon request by my ATX (Austin, Texas for you non-acronym people) bestie Robbie, here is my forty-fifth pick:

Artist - Led Zeppelin
Album - Houses Of The Holy
Released - 1973
Label - Atlantic
Genre - Rock


Tracks:
Side One
The Song Remains The Same
The Rain Song
Over the Hills and Far Away
The Crunge
Side Two
Dancing Days
D'yer Mak'er
No Quarter
The Ocean


Why did I not play this album sooner?  Well I literally have a long way to go, but this request was made and I had to fulfill.  As I'm listening and writing this, I can't help but think how amazing this album is.  Each song on here is so good, I mean beyond what has been out there for years.  Hearing this is like enjoying your first moment of happiness.  Speaking of happiness, a friend of mine, well two to be exact, made me so very happy today.  One is a friend from Europe who just gave me such great encouragement and I really thank him for that because I had a rough few days.  The other is my best friend from Miami who I absolutely love more than anything.  Talking to her today always makes me feel that no matter the distance, when we talk, it feels like not a day has passed.  I love those friendships and I keep all my good, true friends really close to my heart.  So what better way to bring in such a great, productive and happy day than Houses of the Holy.

Houses of the Holy is Led Zeppelin's fifth album and with songs like The Song Remains The Same, The Rain Song, Dancing Days, D'yer Mak'er and The Ocean, you can see why Led Zeppelin has had so much success.  My cousin had a poster of Led Zeppelin in her room and it was the one where the band was standing by the airplane.  Man, what a sexy group of rock stars.  Robert Plant's voice is just so piercing and memorizing as well as Jimmy Page's guitar playing.  Let's not forget John Paul Jones on bass and the greatness behind the kit, John Bonham, who I think is one of the best drummers EVER!!  Ahh, so many good things from this album come to mind that it makes me want to stay in a state of Zeppelin.  I totally made that up!!  It's insane to think such greatness started so long ago and is much appreciated today.

Enjoy!

It's just been that kind of day

Per Kevin's request, this will be my ninth showcase. This album was released before I was born.



ZZ Top - Tres Hombres (Spanish for Three Men)
Released in 1973, Label - London

Tracks:
1. Waitin' For the Bus
2. Jesus Just Left Chicago
3. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
4. Master Of Sparks
5. Hot, Blue and Righteous
6. Move Me On Down The Line
7. Precious and Grace
8. La Grange
9. Shiek
10. Have You Heard?

The most popular being La Grange, this album is a classic yet still serves to be one such a great record in our time. Even though it's a mere 34 minutes long, it delivers a good sound of blues and southern rock.