Wednesday, September 23, 2009

1001 Albums (341-355): Group Sex - Headquarters

Note: We're a little top heavy with this bunch. I guess will test my theory on what's better – A group with a couple great albums and nothing else, or a group like last time with a bunch of average, but generally known groups. I can't wait to see how America votes. I get a little goofy at times here.

In Red’s Collection

A Hard Day’s Night (1964) by the Beatles

Finally an album that I own. As much as the Beatles had already garnered world-wide acclaim, the opening clang by George on his 12-string Rickenbacker proclaimed they were there to stay. While I won’t rank this album (or subsequent movie) at the top of my favorites Beatles list, this is really the first major transition in the group’s careers. It’s the first album where all the tracks were written by Lennon and/or McCartney.

Harvest (1972) by Neil Young

This is amazing, two albums that I have. I am glad I am sitting down. If this isn’t Young’s best album, it is at least his most recognizable and most successful. I am sure Snake will talk this one up a little more. I have this on CD and on Vinyl and it’s perfect to listen to this time of year. There’s just something right about popping this in and driving by golden (although that’s on now just starting to happen) fields of corn.


The Good

Guero (2005) by Beck

Beck reunites with the Dust Brothers (who he worked with on Odelay). It’s seems like I remember there being songs on this that I knew, but I can’t seem to figure out which songs those were. I generally enjoy Beck songs.

Headhunters (1973) by Herbie Hancock

Who could forget “Chameleon” after they heard it once? This music if funky before it became popular. It’s also jazzy and a hundred other things that Hancocks weaves into his tunes.

Headquarters (1967) by The Monkees

Tired of being called puppets, The Monkees released this album containing mostly original songs that they wrote and played. I used the word mostly, because they couldn’t quite fill the whole album.

The Middle

Guitar Town (1986) by Steve Earle

Well here’s about the fourth guy or group to be listed as the originator of alt. country. I’d call it the poor man’s John Mellencamp from what I’ve listened to.

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs (1959) by Marty Robbins

A country western album if there ever was one. I think most people from this era of with parents from this era know the tune “El Paso.”

Something for Snake

Happy Trails (1969) by Quicksilver Messenger Service

I put this here because the first six tracks are a psychedelic live recording (reworking) of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love.” They breathe new life into it that I think Snake would appreciate.


The Best of the Rest

Group Sex (1980) by The Circle Jerks

Well this probably wins the best album title and band name of the week award for no other reason that both make me laugh. Yea, I have the sense of humor of 12-year-old. This is a punk band formed by members of various better bands like Black Flag.

The Rest

Hail To The Thief (2003) by Radiohead

I thought for sure when I saw this album title (they don’t give band names in the index, just albums) that this would be a rap album. For once, I wish this were a rap album.

The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter (1968) by The Incredible String Band

Apparently this group was coveted by every group rock band in the UK and U.S.A. Mostly because they could play pretty much any instrument. I listened to one tune “Waltz of the New Moon,” parts of it reminded me of “Mr. Kite” from Sgt. Peppers.

Happy Sad (1969) by Tim Buckley

Do you ever get the feeling that there are certain movements in pop culture subtly trying to make something of nothing? I don’t remember why that question came to me just now.

Hard Again (1977) by Muddy Waters

This is redemption for the legendary blue guitarist who had lost some of his luster early in the 70s. This won him his fourth Grammy and shut up his critics.

Haunted Dancehall (1994) by The Sabres of Paradise

Techno music. You know what I like? Techmo Superbowl. There’s no correlation between the two.

Haut De Gamme – Koweit, Rive, Gauche (1992) – by Koffi Olomide

I am tired after trying to spell all that right. If you want to know about this guy, do a google search or something.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I really want to get an Encore done this week but it is continuing to be difficult to find time and enough thoughts. It might be short but it will appear today, I hope.

I think I agree with you on the quantity over superior quality. There is 3-4 good albums on here and the rest kinda blow. I would rather have many decent albums to sort through.