Aretha Franklin -- Aretha Arrives

  Aretha Arrives is mostly a collection of cover songs from, the Stones, to Willie Nelson, even ? and the Mysterians, with a couple of traditional blues numbers and a tune written by her baby sister Carolyn.  What's most interesting is how she can take any song and totally Aretharize it.  The only chart topper and closing track on this record is the cool smooth Baby I Love you, as the record ends you kinda wish there were more songs like this one up ahead, but Aretha Arrives too late!

Elton John -- Tumbleweed Connection

  Personally regarded as Elton John's greatest effort, it might not have any killer hits, but all round as an album, it beats the rest.  Western culture influenced, conceptual, ode to Americana, with brief interludes of his usual Stonesy Stewart sound.  Come Down In Time and Love Song stick out, for being the most original.  Both numbers are prettily arranged slow vocal tracks.  Fun fact, Love Song is a cover tune, written by Lesley Duncan, yeah yeah who the hell is that, she sings background on this record, but previously released the song under her own name, and before that, she sang background for Dusty Springfield, who sings background on this record too!  I'm gonna get my six shooter and look around for a Tumbleweed Connection.

Bob Dylan -- Blonde On Blonde

  Blonde On Blonde the super classic.   The year was 1966, a time when the scene had shifted towards psychedelic music experimentation, Dylan took a trailblazing step ahead and pulls out a bluesy Americana double LP.  I wonder how this one fit in with your collection of that year's releases such as Pet Sounds and Revolver, maybe even some 60's psych punk, and then we have this pure American Rock 'n' Roll record.   Zimmy's contemporaries only started playing this style of music by 1968, as a sorta, "forget that psychedelic crap," type of protest, I guess Dylan had that in mind from its early conception.

  I do like this album, but there's an aspect about it that I can't stand.  The sound, lyrics and music give off a head inflated rockstar vibe and Dylan's voice sounds like he's parodying himself.  I found the first two sides kinda weak, although Visions Of Johanna did provide some interesting elements especially with the drum beat.  The third side redeems itself, it hits the mark just like his previous efforts ... back to back juxtaposing tracks closing the third side, 4th Time Around a lush relaxed mooder and Obviously 5 Believers a loud Stonesy rocker, steal the whole show!  I almost thought wow maybe I judged this record too soon, but then the harsh, long, droningly boring fourth side, 11 minute track Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands reminded and exaggerated everything I hated about the two first sides ... I remembered that I usually turn this track off or not play it at all, maybe this could have been my first sit through this entire number, I'm not entirely sure.

  It might not sound like it, but I still think Blonde On Blonde is a great album, but do I play it as much as Highway 61 ... f*ck no ...  but I do love the fact that Dylan always has surprises up his sleeve, the industry goes one way, Dylan goes the other, maybe he was parodying himself after all??  Having a joke to all the groups he influenced, they start to keep up, he banks left, now they all have to follow the leader all over again!

Chuck Berry -- Greatest Hits

  Here we go, Chuck Berry, the biggest influence on rock 'n' roll music there is!!  Now this greatest hits was released in 1964 and includes all the staple Berry tunes, no surprises there.  Berry's music didn't just have an impact on rock 'n' roll, he was a key figure in the integration of the United States, all because he was able to draw and relate to audiences of all races, not through political lyrics, but killer guitar riffs.  We all know the typical Berry hits, Johnny B Goode, Roll Over Beethoven, Rock 'n' Roll Music, yadda yadda ... My picks of interest are Maybellene, Thirty Days, and Memphis.  The first two are pretty much the same song, loud, fast rock 'n' roll numbers, makes me think of the Ramones of the 50's.  Memphis is in my mind Chuck Berry's greatest song.  Why?  For starters the eerie bass line that carries the whole tune, followed by brilliant Berry guitar picking.  The best part of the track are the great lyrics about a dialogue with the telephone operator trying to get in touch with his daughter, because his wife left him ... he goes on to describe they're last moment together and that the child, Marie, tried to contact him, he wasn't there, she left a message, but didn't leave her number, so he calls the operator, and all he knows is that she lives in Memphis, Tennessee.  Whoa!  It is a far cry from his usual tunes about teen culture or rock 'n' roll parties, but on Memphis Berry goes straight for the jugular of emotion and makes it work for him ... big time ... eerie sound and sad lyrics, done so well that none of the cover versions could ever touch it.  So all Hail Chuck Berry the king of Rock 'n' Roll!

The Everly Brothers -- A Date With The Everly Brothers

  Rock 'n' roll singing duo The Everly Brothers could have precursored the Beatle and the Beach Boys if they would have emulated the Chuck Berry sound rather than country.  The record features, one interesting Jimmy Reed classic blues cover, Baby What Do You Want Me To Do, a terrible version of Little Richard's Rock masterpiece Lucille, and two head turning numbers, Love Hurts, yes it's the tune that Nazareth murdered, and Cathy's Clown.  Love Hurts's main riff sets the somber mood with moody heartfelt vocals that confirms indeed ... Love Hurts.  Cathy's Clown at first glance just sounds like a stereotypical Everlys track, but if you break it up into parts you find something different, strange off beat drum, jangly piano, minimal guitar, harmonized vocals, the song turns out to be a very well arranged and thought-out, no wonder it was such a mega hit!  I suggest you all have A Date With The Everly Brothers!  (Ha ha they sound skanky now!)

The Jacks -- Jumpin' with the Jacks

  Rare swingin' doo wop group The Jacks were also known as The Cadets, and no they didn't have a simple name change, they actually recorded under both monikers at the same time, I guess they figured two chances are better than one.  They used the Jacks for the ballads and the Cadets for the uptempo rockers.  Although The best Jacks numbers are Rock 'n' Roll songs, Oo Wee Baby and Do You Wanna Rock.  Both tunes are great R & B tracks, Oo Wee Baby has a certain quality to it that grabs your attention, the sound of desperation where all he could sing is Oo Wee Baby, while  Do You Wanna Rock, which they later released under the Cadets, is basic Coasters style music.  The Jacks story is one strange one, they tried to hit two birds with one stone, and missed (twice), but even though they didn't hit it big they were a great doo wop group (or groups), and sure as hell could sing!

Sam Cooke

    The legendary Sam Cooke goes beyond being a music pioneer, maybe it's the mystique of his death, shot in a motel office in only his sports jacket and shoes, not really the end you'd think of when you hear the sound of his music and voice.  Furthermore was it murder, was it self-defense, who was the woman who left Cooke's room, did he rape her, was she a prostitute, the list goes on and on, we'll never know the real story.  I think the point is that an artist with his caliber of brilliance and talent never last too long, it's like they are so damn good that the stress of being  charismatic and loved just sends them into spiral of self-destruction, but who could really handle that?  It'd be great, I'm sure, as time goes on, a little too great, and then what??  Can you really keep up with yourself and be as wonderful as you were, in most cases it's bad ending to a good life, but Cooke was hardly a angel, he might have sounded like one, but sure as sh*t didn't act like one!

  As far as fully exploring this record, I'd would have had to listen to this album at least 10 times to ingrain it into my brain.  As soon as the needle hits you totally get sucked in, Cooke's cool smooth sultry voice is unlike anything else, with the beautifully arranged backups by Bumps Blackwell, takes you away into their world, nothing else really matters, except to keep listening.  Sam Cooke is an essential music legend, up there with Robert Johnson (also shot), putting the world on track and setting the course for the future.