Mike’s Letter A

I’m without a turntable right now. This is having a negative impact on my life. A very negative impact. I’m not happy right now. So this is some stuff I remember as being really fing good, even if it really sucks to have to listen to it on a tinny goddamn computer. Or, I’ve got it on CD.

Songs

Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) (Arcade Fire). Don’t listen to this on youtube, please. You’ve got the album, play it. Don’t know how I forgot about this one as a side one track one. There may not be a better one.

Cuckoo Bird (Clarence Ashley). The version with Doc from the early 60s, although the first recording from the Anthology is pretty great too. When Ashley returned in the early 60’s he was asked to re-record this for his first release. He refused and said he’d have to practice it for a while to get it perfect. Here it is, perfect, a year and a half later.

Firebird Mail (Roy Acuff)

Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC)

Autumn Leaves (Cannonball Adderley)

Oh My Sweet Carolina (Ryan Adams)

Whatevershebringswesing (Kevin Ayers)

Hold Your Head Up (Argent)

Beautiful (Christina Aguilera)

Sleepwalker’s Timeless Bridge (Amon Duul II). I like a lot of their songs if not entire albums and this one benefits by the lack of vocals/lyrics for at least the first three minutes.

Albums

Albion Country Band–Battle of the Field (“New St. George/La Rotta“)

Akron/Family–Akron/Family.

Laurie Anderson–Big Science

Laurie Anderson–Homeland

Albert Ayler–Lorrach, 1966

Art Ensemble of Chicago–Urban Bushmen

Muhal Richard Abrams–1-OQA+19

King Sunny Ade–Ju Ju Music

Asleep at the Wheel– Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys

Albert Ayler–Spiritual Unity

Side one – Song One

“Side One – Song One” is a concept consisting of many perceptions, for me on some
albums it sets a definite mood and infinite memories. The first 3 chords of the
opening track Betray commands the way to the entire Out Of Step album. Or the
echoing, hollow guitar sound of Hungry Freaks not just set the tone for album, but
for a whole day – mother’s day. Hwy 61 kicks off with Like a Rolling Stone, a
subtle intro to such an intriguing album and even Rocks Off sets the dirty tone of
Exile. I remember feeling an exciting chill at the beginning of Hells Bells. First
song side one is not an overrated concept and not a producers miracle, but a piece
of a puzzle and a bit of an emotion.

Eric Dolphy – Iron Man (Iron Man)
Minor Threat – Betray (Out of Step)
AC / DC – Hells Bells (Back In Black)
Wire – Reuters (Pink Flag)
Rolling Stones – Rocks Off (Exile)
Die Kreuzen – Man in the Trees (October File)
Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone (Hwy 61 Revisited)
Mothers Of Invention – Hungry Freaks, Daddy (Freak Out)
Wilco – I am trying to break your heart (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
X – Your Phone’s Off The Hook, But You’re Not (Los Angeles)

1978 by moonra

1978

lp’s

1.  Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? Answer: We Are Devo!  listen
2.  Wire – Chair Missing listen
3.  Blondie – Parallel Lines  listen
4.  Television – Adventure listen
5.  Bob Dylan – Street Legal listen
6.  Cecil Taylor – Cecil Taylor Unit listen
7.  The Clash – Give “em Enough Rope  listen
8.  Lou Reed – Street Hassle listen
9.  Dead Boys – We Have Come For Your Children listen
10.  The Saints – Eternally Yours listen
* The Cars – The Cars (honorable mention)

songs

1.  Who Says A Funk Band Can’t Play Rock? – Funkadelic
2.  You Can’t Put Your Arm Around A Memory – Johnny Thunders
3.  Before They Make Me Run – Rolling Stones
4.  Radio, Radio – Elvis Costello
5.  What’s Next to the Moon? – AC DC
6.  One Hundred Punks – Generation X
7.  Take Me I’m Yours – Squeeze
8.  Sister Disco – The Who
9.  The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band
10.  New Precision – Be Bop Deluxe