Dr Robert Muller - 1960s Psychedelic Hippie Culture and Music

VIDEO: The Doors - An American Prayer [Full Album]

2012-01-28T12:29:00.000+10:30

Hi all,

If you haven't heard this, you're in for a treat - this is a great album, kind of a compilation of Doors music and Jim Morrison's musings! This is the entire album from 1978, 7 years after Jim died. Enjoy!

1. Awake - 0:00
2. Ghost Song - 0:36
3. Dawn's Highway/Newborn Awakening - 3:30
4. To Come of Age - 7:14
5. Black Polished Chrome/Latino Chrome - 8:17
6. Angels and Sailors/Stoned Immaculate - 11:39
7. The Movie - 16:00
8. Curses, Invocations - 17:34
9. American Night - 19:33
10. Roadhouse Blues (Live) - 20:01
11. Lament - 27:01
12. The Hitch-hiker - 29:21
13. An American Prayer - 31:36

VIDEO(S): History of Psychedelic Rock

2012-01-21T12:11:00.000+10:30

Hey everyone,

Here's a terrific TV documentary on the History of Psychedelic Rock. It's in 7 parts on Youtube, so I'm posting all 7 episodes here. Below the videos is a great blurb about psychedelic rock. Enjoy!

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that attempts to replicate the mind-altering experiences of hallucinogenic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among garage and folk rock bands in Britain and the United States.

Psychedelic rock is a bridge from early blues-based rock to progressive rock and heavy metal, but it also drew on non-Western sources such as Indian music's rāgas and sitars.

While the first contemporary musicians to be influenced by psychedelic drugs were in the jazz and folk scenes, the first use of the term "psychedelic" in popular music was by the "acid-folk" group The Holy Modal Rounders in 1964, with the song "Hesitation Blues."

The first use of the word "psychedelic" in a rock music context is usually credited to The Deep, and the earliest known appearance of this usage of the word in print is in the title of their 1966 album The Psychedelic Moods of the Deep. Roky Erickson, lead singer of The 13th Floor Elevators, coined the term 'psychedelic rock' in a 1966 interview.

In 1962, British rock embarked on a frenetic race of ideas that spread back to the U.S. with the British Invasion. The folk music scene also experimented with outside influences. In the tradition of Jazz and blues many musicians began to take drugs, and include drug references in their songs.

Beat Generation writers like William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and especially the new exponents of consciousness expansion such as Timothy Leary, Alan Watts and Aldous Huxley profoundly influenced the thinking of the new generation.

In late 1965, The Beatles unveiled their brand of psychedelia on the Rubber Soul album, which featured John Lennon's first paean to universal love ("The Word") and a sitar-laden tale of attempted hippy hedonism ("Norwegian Wood", written by John Lennon).

The British rock act The Yardbirds recorded the single "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" in 1966, another track frequently cited as the first psychedelic song, this one due to its frantic evocation of drug-induced paranoia.

Psychedelia began in the United States' folk scene with New York City's Holy Modal Rounders introducing the term in 1964. A similar band called Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions from San Francisco were influenced by The Byrds and the Beatles to switch from acoustic music to electric music in 1965.

Renaming themselves the Warlocks, they fell in with Ken Kesey's LSD-fueled Merry Pranksters in November 1965, and changed their name to the Grateful Dead the following month. The Dead played to light shows at the Pranksters' "Acid Tests", with pulsing images being projected over the group in what became a widespread practice.

WOMADELAIDE - Coming to Adelaide from 9 to 12 March

2012-01-19T17:56:00.000+10:30

Natalie Pa'apa'a from Blue King Brown - Image via WikipediaHi everyone,

For my Australian readers, get ready for the biggest explosion of World, Rock and Fusion music you have heard since ... well, Womadelaide last year!

Just some of the great acts this year include:

Baaba Mal (Senegal)

Since the eighties, Baaba Maal has been an icon of African music. His distinctive voice, exhilarating live shows and willingness to experiment with different sounds, while always retaining the beauty of the Senegalese traditions he grew up with, have seen him headline events from the BBC Proms to Damon Albarn’s Africa Express.

Blue King Brown (Australia)

Hailed by Carlos Santana as “The voice of the street and the band of the future”, Blue King Brown defines urban roots music empowered with fiery social messages. Built on a rock-steady foundation of reggae, their distinctly original sound unites Afrobeat, world and Latin influences with Natalie Pa’apa’a’s fiery vocals and political lyrics.

Chris Finnen (Australia - Adelaide boy!)

The raw honesty of the blues courses through Chris Finnen’s music. A guitar virtuoso, Chris has been an icon of Adelaide’s music scene for 40 years. His original blues songwriting always exhibits a wry humour and embraces a startling tapestry of cultural influences, from Indian and Celtic traditions to African flavours.

Johnny Clegg (South Africa)

Long before Paul Simon went to Graceland, Johnny Clegg flouted apartheid laws in South Africa by forming seminal mixed-race band Juluka in the 1970s. Establishing the template for fusing Western pop and English vocals with Zulu rhythms, Johnny has sold more than five million albums through 30 years of performing.

And heaps more! Go to: http://www.womadelaide.com.au/artists to view the line-up and schedule.

If you've never been to Womadelaide before, prepare to be blown away! See you there!

VIDEO: Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan [Full Album]

2012-01-17T11:18:00.001+10:30

by ak6475 on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ak6475?feature=watch

Highway 61 Revisited is the sixth studio album by singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. It was released in August 1965 by Columbia Records.

On his previous album, Bringing It All Back Home, Dylan devoted Side One of the album to songs accompanied by an electric rock band, and Side Two to solo acoustic numbers.

For Highway 61 Revisited, Dylan used rock backing on every track, except for the closing 11-minute acoustic song, "Desolation Row". Critics have written that Dylan's ability to combine driving, complex, blues-based rock music with the power of poetry made Highway 61 Revisited one of the most influential albums ever recorded.

Track Listing

1) Like a Rolling Stone - 0:00
2) Tombstone Blues - 6:09
3) It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - 12:05
4) From a Buick 6 - 16:11
5) Ballad of a Thin Man - 19:26
6) Queen James Approximately - 25:23
7) Highway 61 Revisited - 30:51
8) Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - 34:17
9) Desolation Row - 39:44

VIDEO: Jack Bruce and Friends, Live in 1970 at Fillmore East

2012-01-16T12:05:00.000+10:30

Hi all,

Another great video - this time by an "unknown" supergroup! There's an interesting oxymoron for ya!

This is actually Jack Bruce With Mitch Mitchell and Larry Coryell plus Harvey Mandel on organ. The group toured the US in early 1970, while Jimi Hendrix had the Band of Gypsies. A "lost supergroup" (as some people claim)? Decide for yourself. The tour started in January at the Fillmore East - where these songs and images were recorded - and finished up at the Fillmore West, 2 months later. The group line-up is below the video. Enjoy!

VIDEO: "Scatterbrain" by Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group

2012-01-15T16:46:00.001+10:30

Hi all,

Here's one of my favourites of the jazz fusion era. This is Jeff Beck Live with the Jan Hammer group from 1977. This is recorded and remixed in London, about 2 months after I saw the same great line-up in Adelaide, which is still (possibly) the best concert I've ever seen. For those Adelaideans out there - it was at Memorial Drive, a great live outdoor venue. The band line-up is below the video. Enjoy!

Jeff Beck - Guitars & special effects

The Jan Hammer Group comprising:

Tony Smith - Drums & lead vocal on "Full Moon Boogie"
Fernando Saunders - Bass, rhythm guitar on "She's A Woman" and vocal harmony
Steve Kindler - Violin, string synthesizer on "Darkness" and rhythm guitar on "Blue Wind"
Jan Hammer - Moog & Oberheim synthesizer; Freeman/Moog, string synthesizer, electric piano, timbales, and lead vocal on "Earth (Still Our Only Home)

The stereo spectrum of this album duplicates the stage set-up with guitar positioned center right, keyboards center left, violin right, & drums and bass center.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Man of Peace In a Time of War

2012-01-14T12:23:00.001+10:30

Hi everyone,

Here is a fascinating documentary, which has remained unseen for 40 years, about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. This is fascinating and I hope you enjoy it. I have posted it as it is a significant lead-in to the culture of the 1960s.

SYNOPSIS: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Man of Peace In a Time of War

A rare and candid TV interview with Martin Luther King, Jr. - unseen in 40 years - is the centerpiece of this timely tribute, featuring exclusive interviews with such notables as Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell that provide fresh insight into the life and personality of the late civil rights leader.

Film Credits

Executive Producer: Dante J. Pugliese
Produced by Steve Stoliar
Narrated by Obba Babatunde
Written by Henry Stephens
Edited by Kent Hagen
Art Director: Daryl Bailey

VIDEO: Enigmatic Ocean, Parts 1 to 4

2012-01-13T10:25:00.001+10:30

Hi all,

Continuing on with our jazz-rock, jazz-fusion theme, Here's a great title track from an album by Jean-Luc Ponty entitled "Enigmatic Ocean", released in 1977. It reached #1 on the Billboard Jazz album chart in 1977. The line-up is below the video, enjoy!

Jean-Luc Ponty - electric violin, five-string electric violin, violectra, bells
Allan Holdsworth - lead electric guitar
Daryl Stuermer - lead and rhythm electric guitar
Allan Zavod - organ, synthesizer, electric piano, grand piano, clavinet
Ralphe Armstrong - electric basses, fretless bass
Steve Smith - drums and percussion

VIDEO: Al Di Meola - "Suite: Golden Dawn" from "Land of the Midnight Sun" (1976)

2012-01-11T10:27:00.000+10:30

Hi all,

If you want to hear some great guitar work from the jazz-fusion master himself, Al Di Meola, this is the track - "Suite: Golden Dawn" from the great 1976 album "Land of the Midnight Sun". I highly recommend the entire album - enjoy! The monstrous line-up is included under the video for your pleasure!

Album Personnel:

Al Di Meola - Guitars, synthesizer, percussion, vocals
Stanley Clarke - Bass guitar, vocals (track 4)
Anthony Jackson - Bass guitar (tracks 1, 2)
Jaco Pastorius - Bass guitar (track 5)
Chick Corea - Piano, marimba (track 6)
Barry Miles - Keyboards, synthesizer (tracks 2, 5)
James Mingo Lewis - Keyboards, percussion (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5)
Steve Gadd - Drums (track 1)
Alphonse Mouzon - Drums (track 5)
Lenny White - Drums (track 2)
Patty Buyukas - Backing vocals (track 4)

VIDEO: Bill Bruford With Gong - Master Builder

2012-01-10T11:21:00.000+10:30

Hi everyone,

Here's another track from the Jazz Rock/Jazz Fusion explosion of the mid- to late 1970s. This is brilliant, it's Bill Bruford With Gong (interesting Australian connections), in Oslo Norway on December 15, 1974.

The line-up is: Daevid Allen, Didier Malherbe, Tim Blake, Steve Hillage, Mike Howlett, Miquette Giraudy and Bill Bruford. Enjoy!

VIDEO: Back to the Beginning by Bruford

2012-01-09T11:34:00.000+10:30

Hi everyone,

Here's another great track from the jazz fusion/jazz rock explosion of the mid to late 1970s. This is "Back to the Beginning" by Bruford from their debut album, Feels Good to Me, released in 1978. This track features the unique vocal style of Annette Peacock. You can read more about the album and the band below the video. Again, feedback and opinions are welcome!

The following information on the album Feels good to me by Bruford is from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feels_Good_to_Me

Feels Good to Me is the debut solo album by the British drummer Bill Bruford (ex- King Crimson and Yes). The band Bruford grew out of the line-up assembled for this album, which was released in August 1978.

Led by drummer Bill Bruford, the album also features guitarist Allan Holdsworth and John Goodsall, bassist Jeff Berlin, keyboardist Dave Stewart, and ECM flügelhorn stalwart Kenny Wheeler. He also enlisted singer and songwriter Annette Peacock.

Musically, the album is an extremely electronic affair that does not sound anything at all like the early Canterbury sound. In an attempt to merge new wave and progressive rock into a new genre, the record actually pioneers the sort of sound that would later be picked up by acts like Missing Persons. The album is also considered a "vanguard of progressive jazz improvised music".

VIDEO: Deadly Nightshade by Brand X

2012-01-08T11:54:00.000+10:30

Hi everyone,

Here is one of my favourites from 1978 - yes a bit later than usual on this blog. I'll be featuring more of the jazz-fusion, jazz-rock genre this year as it was a highly significant movement in the 1970s.

This track by Brand X, entitled Deadly Nightshade, features the great John Goodsall on lead. Here he demonstrates what I think is one of the greatest lead solos of any genre. Let me know your opinion - I'd love to hear it!

Under the video, you'll find the blurb on Brand X from Youtube. Enjoy!

Brand X - Deadly Nightshade - Masques (1978).

BRAND X is, no doubt about it, one the most original and well-known British groups of the seventies jazz/rock fusion scene. Made of musicians that are technicians at their respective instruments and that are as inspired as talented.

There are really 2 BRAND X formations ... the one from the mid 70s and the 1992 BRAND X.

The original line-up of the band was formed by drummer Phil COLLINS of GENESIS with John GOODSALL (former ATOMIC ROOSTER) on guitar, Robin LUMLEY (a David BOWIE collaborator) on keyboards and Percy JONES (ex-LIVERPOOL SCENE) on bass.

For them, the joy of playing and writing together was the main motivation. With various personnel permutations, they made typical progressive rock albums ... all worth hearing!

The 1992 BRAND X is GOODSALL, JONES and drummer Frank KATZ.

The band's discography starts in 1976 with "Unorthodox Behaviour" and goes on a year later with "Morrocan Roll", probably one of their best. "Is There Anything About" is the last release from this legendary jazz-rock band.

After almost ten years of absence during the Eighties, "Xcommunication" is the return of BRAND X under the economical format of a trio (GOODSALL, JONES, and KATZ). They released a CD that is almost as good as previous releases.

"The X-Files" is a disc of live recordings and a disc of unreleased material. What else can be said, apart from the fact that it is another masterpiece in the Legend's discography.

VIDEO: Return To Forever - Sometime Ago

2011-12-31T16:57:00.000+10:30

Hi all,

Here's a classic from 1972.

Flora Purim, Chick Corea ... 1972

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_to_Forever_(album)

Where Could The Door Of Perception Have Gone?

2011-12-24T17:27:00.000+10:30

Cover of The DoorsBy Seth Frank

Jim Morrison's voice was a firm stone of reality, like the rock of Gibraltar, in an era of overzealous peace and love.

He was raw sexuality and unashamed of his unabashed masculinity. For over forty years The Doors have been dissected and written about. They have left a deep and beautiful wound on the history of music. It is hard to find the same telepathic nuance in a collective consciousness that they held as a group.

Ray Manzarek was the true founding member and the keyboardist who set the psychedelic background stage for Morrison's vocal onslaught of poetry. Drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger joined after two other guys dropped out, one was Manzarek's brother, because they thought the band wasn't going to make it.

It was trying for The Doors to get recognized for their brilliance during an age of Beach Boys enthusiasts in LA. It just took a year for the intial Doors vinyl album to be released. The first Doors vinyl release had their haunting song "The End", as well as their two well-known hits and most recognized songs, "Light My Fire" and "Break On Through (To The Other Side)".

"The End" was always a crowd favorite because of the imagery that would spew forth from Jim's lips in a drug induced trance. The audience never knew what was to come at the real end of his rant. Would Jim kill his father and mother or would he commit unspeakable actions of treachery worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy? Or perhaps Jim would just faint before the end of the song.

Jim was the notorious poet in the group, but it was guitarist Krieger that penned the opening lines of the well-known hit, "Light My Fire". "Funeral pyre" was added by Jim, who claimed that the once uplifting love song required a bit of death added into it. Morrison believed that songs, much like life, must end in death.

A fairly true thought coming from a man who got the name of the band from a William Blake quote, "If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is - infinite."

Morrison died too soon in 1971 due to booze and drugs. The band never gathered the same audience after Jim's passing, and ended it for good in 1973. Too bad; who knows what may have been achieved through Jim's words and insight into the dark side of the unconscious.

The original Doors vinyl albums are one of the all time best selling collections for groups along with records by The Who and The Rolling Stones. The Doors sales are still going good, reaching 100 million plus worldwide in vinyl records. Not bad considering they only recorded six studio records with Morrison. The Doors will always be relevant because every year some new kid will connect with Morrison's deep soulful lyrics and realize they aren't alone in this world anymore.

SoundStage Direct, LLC is an online independent store based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. SSD has the largest selection of vinyl records online. And you don't want to miss amazing closeout deals available at our LP outlet! We have record albums in every genre (for example: Doors vinyl) and in a variety of formats available ready to be shipped at your doorstep.

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VIDEO: Spooky Tooth - Waitin' For the Wind

2011-12-17T12:01:00.000+10:30

Hey all,

Here's another fantastic track from Spooky Tooth - from their second album, Spooky Two - a classic track by the 60's rockers. A Hammond B3, an overdrive, and a Leslie Tower, what more could you want?

VIDEO: Spooky Tooth - Feelin' Bad

2011-12-10T11:42:00.000+10:30

Hi all,

Who remembers Spooky Tooth? They were a great progressive rock band in the late 1960s, featuring Gary Wright. This is a track called "Feelin' Bad" from their second album, "Spooky Two".

Enjoy!

The Spirituality of Rock and Roll

2011-12-03T11:38:00.000+10:30

Bob Dylan (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)By Neal R Warner

Why has rock and roll lasted over fifty-five years when since the 1950s people have said that it was just a fad that wouldn't last five years?

Specifically, why has Classic Rock lasted forty-seven years with its own radio station format and its artists still popular not only with its original audience but with their children and now their grandchildren?

Teenage angst, rebellion, social protest and sex eventually lose their appeal, at least as song topics, so what is it about Classic Rock that keeps on rockin'?

One of the defining elements of Classic Rock are the somewhat obscure lyrics. If a lyric is too abstract to be easily understood it is often thought to be "deep" or poetic. If the average listener can't tell just what exactly the song is about then it is assumed to represent something that can't be told in plain English.

Rock songs are well known for saying things "between the lines" that can't be said in polite society. Sex and drugs were taboo subjects once and so the slang of the counter cultures of the times was used as code within the song lyrics.

If someone didn't readily understand the words it was assumed he or she just wasn't "in the know" or cool enough. This put the public in a position where it felt the need to project their own meaning to songs that may or not have been originally intended. But this really doesn't explain Classic Rock's lasting appeal.

What might explain it is that many Classic Rock fans get from the music the feeling that some kind of esoteric knowledge is hidden within the lyrics. Much of the lyrical content of Classic Rock and particularly of Progressive or Prog Rock is based on visual symbolism.

Rather than tell you facts, the lyrics paint you a picture and a picture is worth a thousand words, or rhymes. You get the feeling you understand the song rather than think you understand and feeling something is always much more involving than thinking it. Thinking does not necessarily involve emotion while feeling almost always does. It reaches a deeper part of your consciousness and that is why you may feel a particular song is "deep" or important even if you really can't explain why.

Symbolism is the universal language of our dreams. We all perfectly understand what's going on in our dreams while we are wherever "there" is. It is only when we awaken and cannot translate the meaning of the visual symbols of our dreams but only remember the symbols themselves do we think our dreams weird or strange. They certainly weren't weird or strange to us while we were dreaming them.

Unconsciously we do understand the information we were given in the dream state and in other cultures these dream events are taken just as seriously as any event in "normal" waking reality. In the lyrics to some Classic Rock and Prog songs the abstract nature of the lyrics reminds us of the language of our dream state and we instinctively recognize their importance even if we can't consciously interpret their literal meaning.

It is because of this connection with a deeper consciousness that the lyrical content of a song provides combined with the musical and sonic accompaniment that often is also dreamy or "trippy" as well that makes this style of music so important not only to its original fans but to new generations.

Some great examples of Classic Rock lyrics are in the songs:

Hotel California - (The Eagles) This song about time spent in a mysterious hotel is about modern life in California yet never leaves the hotel.

All Along The Watch Tower - (Bob Dylan) The most famous version has Jimi Hendrix trying to phonetically sing the first line, "none of them along the line know what any of it is worth," that he obviously doesn't understand.

Almost anything by the band Yes. Jon Anderson claimed he chose his song lyrics according to the sound of the words, not the meaning yet most Yes fans will tell you their lyrics are very deep and full of meaning.

I Am The Walrus - (The Beatles) John Lennon claimed to have written this in response to the fans and the press continuously trying to interpret his lyrics. His famous quote was; "Let the f#$%kers figure this one out."

Neal Warner is an artist, writer, filmmaker, member of the multimedia band, The Tooners and founder of Director's Clip, The Internet and Music Video Sponsorship Site (http://www.directorsclip.com) and Rock & Roll Rehab, For The Control of Rock & Roll (http://www.rocknrollrehab.com).

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Jim Morrison's Rise And Failures As An American Singer

2011-11-26T14:11:00.000+10:30

Jim Morrison (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)By Seth Frank

During the 1960s, the Southern California community was taken by storm by a rock-and-roll band referring to themselves as The Doors, who combined a mixture of blues rock, hard rock and acid rock.

Despite their prosperity, the band received much criticism by the media because of Jim Morrison's often strange behavior both on and off the stage. However, despite Morrison's behavior, the band managed to witness worldwide success, releasing nine vinyl records during their eight-year existence.

Even after Morrison's tragic death in 1971, the band managed to live on, but the success of the band was short lived because Morrison was such an important member to the band's success.

Early History

The first individuals of The Doors were Morrison and Ray Manzarek, who would meet while at UCLA. Before the band got its start, Morrison found the inspiration to form a band when Manzarek was shooting a video for a project (which planted the idea in Morrison's head to start a rock band).

As the band became larger, Manzarek knew of a drummer who would be the best person for their band in John Densmore, and later, The Doors would hire Robby Krieger as their guitarist. Upon the start of the band, the title "The Doors" had yet to appear; it was not till the members saw inspiration from Aldous Huxley's book The Door of Perception that the title "The Doors" came into existence.

The band would create a name for itself while singing at the famous London Fog and soon after at the Whiskey a Go Go concert in Southern California. After experiencing success as a rock band performing around Southern California, the band would score a record deal and begin recording their first self-titled album.

Early Morrison Issues

During a show in New Haven, Connecticut, Morrison was arrested on stage after an officer had seen Morrison kissing a fan backstage. The event led the police officer to take Morrison into custody while on stage, making Morrison the first singer to ever be arrested while on stage.

In spite of their early success, Morrison would also become reliant on drugs and alcohol, leading to more issues with the band. His reliance on the two vices created tension among the band because it was difficult to record with a drunk or high Morrison. Despite Morrison's drug and alcohol issues, the band released their third Doors vinyl record and would continue their triumph as a group.

Death and End of an Era

Despite all the prosperity as a rock and roll band, Morrison was found dead in his Paris apartment with the cause of death considered as heart failure; however, this fact has yet to be proven. After Morrison's death, speculation started to form that there were other causes that may have led to his death, such as a drug overdose.

Despite what the cause of death was, the group would no longer retain the success they experienced while Morrison was alive. Without Morrison, the group lost the iconic voice he provided, and without him, the group only survived for two more years.

SoundStage Direct, LLC is an online independent store based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. SSD has the largest selection of vinyl records online. And you don't want to miss amazing closeout deals available at our LP outlet! We have record albums in every genre and in a variety of formats available ready to be shipped at your doorstep.

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VIDEO: Jim Morrison/The Doors - Soul Kitchen

2011-11-19T12:44:00.000+10:30

Hi all,

Here's a tribute to Jim Morrison and The Doors, with a variety of clips and Soul Kitchen playing in the background. Enjoy!

This is brought to you by shamrocklady on YouTube:

Great New Talent: Redeem Yourself by Luke James

2011-11-14T20:53:00.000+10:30

Hi everyone,

I don't do this very often, but I'd like you all to listen to a young man who I think is a great new talent. His name is Luke James, and he is the son of one of my close trusted colleagues, John James. Luke hails from Adelaide, South Australia, and as you will see, is a very talented musician and songwriter. The lyrics are powerful and match the strong visuals on the video.

It would be great to get some feedback, so ALL comments are very welcome indeed! Let's encourage local young talent!

VIDEO: Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin'

2011-11-12T12:11:00.000+10:30

by weissebrauen on YouTube

"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" is a pop song musically composed by Lee Hazlewood and first written and recorded by Nancy Sinatra. It was released in February 1966 and hit #1 in the United States and United Kingdom Pop charts. Subsequently, many cover versions of the song have been released in a range of styles: metal, pop, rock, punk rock, country, dance, and industrial.

You keep saying you got something for me
Something you call love but confess
You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'
And now someone else is getting all your best
Well, these boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
You keep samin' when you oughta be a'changin'
What's right is right but you ain't been right yet
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt (HAH)
Well, I've just found me a brand new box of matches (YEAH)
And what he knows you ain't had time to learn
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

[SPOKEN]

Are you ready, boots?
Start walkin'

Top 3 Greatest Progressive Rock Songs

2011-11-05T12:03:00.000+10:30

Cover of Frank ZappaBy Jared MacTavish

In the early part of the 19th Century, near the end of the Romantic era of classical music, composers were stretching the limits of our musical minds, using more, and more varied sounds in their works. The mantra was to 'break all boundaries' and they certainly succeeded.

As the Fifties waned and the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties took us all on a magnificent aural ride, the advent of bands such as Miles Davis, The Beatles, Gentle Giant, Frank Zappa, and other groups too numerous to mention showed the listeners that here, in very normal garages across the country, were musicians as brave as their predecessors.

Through the amalgamation of rock, jazz and blues, folk, classical, and experimental structures, they created some of the greatest progressive rock songs of all time. My favorites - what I consider my top 3 (for the moment), follow.

1. "2112" Rush

Not only is the lyrical premise (penned by drummer Neil Peart) of 2112 massive in its scope, so is the accompanying music. Of course this piece is actually a series of movements, but for our purposes, I'm considering side one of Rush's "2112" album as a single piece of music; that's how it was intended, and I happen to agree with the authors/composers.

This work is bombastic, sometimes terrifying, gentle, passionate, and has some of the best rock guitar solos ever recorded, thanks to Alex Lifeson's tasteful playing. Backed up by one of rocks most outstanding rhythm sections (Geddy Lee, Neil Peart), the musical journey to recover humanity's long lost musical ways contains a plethora of interesting parallels with our fight for the arts in society today

2. "Heart of the Sunrise" Yes

From the album "Fragile" (which arguably contains more than one great progressive rock song on it), this track is incorrigibly driven by Chris Squires bass groove, offset perfectly by Bill Bruford (on drums) throughout. The 3:40 intro is enough to set any music lovers stereo on fire. Yet when Jon Anderson's vocal line finally enters, Steve Howe's perfectly orchestrated electric guitar contrasts it beautifully against the previous sections.

No stranger to odd time signatures, Yes continued to explore the dynamic crossovers of classical, rock, and folk with this exquisitely written and produced track. With Rick Wakeman on keys and no fear on ballot, Yes are truly one of the most outstanding progressive rock bands to emerge from the post-60's musical blaze.

3. "Cosmik Debris" Frank Zappa

No list of progressive music is complete without an entry by the premiere experimentation specialist, Frank Zappa. With solid grounding in jazz, classical, rock (of course) and any other format one might care to mention, Zappa blew away all boundaries with his creative harmonic structures and arrangements; no one ever came close to the achievements in his extensive catalog.

Cosmik is a vocal track (the lead by Frank himself) with some excellent contrasting lines, both in range and phrasing. Additionally much of the track bounces between straight and swing feel and of course contains a signature Zappa guitar solo.

With so much amazing music out there, each listener should make his or her own choice about the greatest progressive rock songs. For me, these three songs set much of the standard for edgy progressive tracking.

If you dig this music you may also like Brent Magstadt. He's released a wonderfully dynamic disc that encompasses a number of edgy progressive grooves.

To download a free copy of his track Samba De Los Rockos, Click Here!

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Get Nostalgic With The Beatles And Enjoy Their Music On Vinyl

2011-10-29T19:28:00.000+10:30

Cover of The BeatlesBy Seth Frank

One of the most successful groups of all time, The Beatles continue to leave their mark on popular culture, proceeding to bring in additional fans with every new generation, showing that they posses the longevity to stand up to the test of time.

The band continues to sell millions of records every year, in each medium available, from vinyl to CDs, and now even in MP3s, discovering a means to be relevant throughout time, and with the power to re-master tracks, they sound better currently than they ever have before.

Not many groups possess the power to outlast their own union, also outliving some of its members, but The Beatles have done what other groups have only dreamed of. Allowing them to surpass their time as a group, short as it was, and in a lot of ways, ensure their immortality, their tracks have inspired fans, as well as other groups.

Their songs have been covered by thousands of assorted artists, and their records have been re-released multiple times, providing fans the chance to enjoy their songs in a variety of different ways, pretty much securing that whether you heard it performed by The Beatles or a cover of one of their songs, there's a Beatles song that speaks to everyone on some level or another.

Their vinyl records records could just be the best way to experience the band's tracks in such a way that is organic and true to the original method in which it was originally recorded, even though The Beatles have released multiple albums in various formats.

Sitting back and listening to one of the most inspirational bands of all time on a format that personifies the sound of their era is one of the best ways to actually enjoy the authenticity of the music itself.

Creating an experience that's unparalleled by any other format, record players have transformed into an exciting piece of furniture in any room, personifying the listener's taste, not just in music, but also in the method they enjoy it.

Many bands could be listened to in CD or MP3 format, but Beatles vinyl truly personifies the sound of the time by which it was born, and drastically surpasses any other format, providing a unique experience by which to enjoy any number of timeless Beatles songs in the comfort of your own home.

Vinyl records allow us to enjoy any genre of music in a unique way, preserving a medium that may be regarded as vintage, but timeless all the same.

SoundStage Direct, LLC is an online independent store based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. SSD has the largest selection of vinyl records online. And you don't want to miss amazing closeout deals available at our LP outlet! We have record albums in every genre and in a variety of formats available ready to be shipped at your doorstep.

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Where To Start - The Three Best Frank Zappa Albums To Hear First

2011-10-22T23:14:00.000+10:30

Frank Zappa, Apostrophe(') - Image via WikipediaBy Zach Charge

Frank Zappa is undoubtedly an icon. Musicians, artists and people-in-general all over the world credit him as a source of inspiration, insight and enjoyment. With over 60 albums released over the course of his lifetime, spanning multiple genres and styles, getting to know Zappa's music can be a daunting task.

For years before eventually getting into Frank Zappa I had heard his name and wondered what he was about, but didn't know where to start. In this article, I hope to give you a few pointers to enable you to effectively sample Frank Zappa's work and, hopefully, inspire you to check out more.

As such, I now introduce you to what I consider to be the best Frank Zappa albums to listen to first.

Apostrophe(') (1974)

I have to put Apostrophe(') first because it is the first Zappa album that I heard. It is also still the most-played album that I own. While Zappa's music is incredibly varied and ranking any of his albums as 'better' or 'best' is somewhat useless, I rate Apostrophe(') as one of the best Frank Zappa albums out there.

Firstly, I think it's accessible because of it's heavy blues and soul undertones and because it contains actual 'songs', with words and everything.

It also has a healthy dose of Zappa's humour and sense for inanity - the first four songs are a 'suite', vaguely linked together by a story about an eskimo and littered with dirty jokes and nonsensical imagery. The story-telling, wordplay, thematic nature and sense of excitement in this album grabbed me immediately. For a single, try Cosmik Debris.

Hot Rats (1969)

For the second entry, I think Hot Rats is worth a try. It's an instrumental album - think rock/classical/funk/jazz/awesomeness. This album is on the list to gently give you a sense of the diversity of Zappa's music - the structure of the songs within is completely different from those of Apostrophe(').

Peaches En Regalia is a good place to start, or perhaps try the vocals of Captain Beefheart on Willie the Pimp.

Zappa In New York (1978)

As the final entry in this short round-up, I submit Zappa in New York. This album contains a broad selection of Zappa's repertoire and also imparts a sense of the experience of Zappa's live shows.

It is heavily laden with dirty jokes and various other shenanigans but, humour aside, the music and performances of the band are incredible - this album is a great representation of how hard Zappa and his band worked to achieve amazing things live on stage.

For a lengthy blues jam and poo-poo jokes, try The Illinois Enema Bandit, for dramatic storytelling and titty jokes, try Titties and Beer, for insightful social commentary, try I'm the Slime and for orchestral-style musical virtuosity, try The Black Page #1 and #2.

So, if you are looking for the best Frank Zappa albums to hear first, I think these three are a pretty good place to start.

Alternatively, if you are interested in Frank Zappa, you might like the music of Ardeem - click here to download a copy of his latest single for free!.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zach_Charge
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Adelaide Custom Tours: The Adelaide Experience

2011-10-10T20:58:00.002+10:30

Old Government House, Belair National Park - Image via Wikipedia
Hi everyone,

If you are planning a visit to Australia, stop in to Adelaide which is a wonderful city. I operate custom walking and driving tours around the city and surrounds.

Experience #1: Adelaide's Universities - This is a half-day tour where you are driven to each university campus around Adelaide. As I have worked in all 3 universities here, I have a unique insight into the history, architecture and philosophy of each institution, and I know each campus intimately. Maximum - 4 people (A$50 per head).

Experience #2: Bushwalking in Belair National Park and Mount Lofty - This is a full-day tour where you will be picked up from the city to go bushwalking in the Park. I live about 5 minutes from Belair Park and so I know it intimately, the old buildings (Governor's residences, old railway stations and pavilions, the only cafe in the vicinity (included the best coffee in Australia, seriously!). I know the terrain and the story of much of the flora and fauna of the region. As for Mount Lofty, I know a number of trails, most of the cafes, the private Botanic Gardens, and the strange stories of the region (and there's a few). Maximum - 4 people (A$60 per head).

Experience #3: Cricket Adelaide style - This is a half-day walking tour for cricket fanatics! Being one of the spiritual homes of cricket, Adelaide has a great history and a great group of organisations who have recorded it's history. There's the Bradman Collection Museum, the South Australia Cricket Association Museum, Adelaide oval (of course), the State Library Bradman Collection, and the Bradman Digital Library. Also, having played cricket for many years and knowing lots of great cricket stories, this would be a very entertaining experience for people. Maximum - 25 people (A$40 per head).

Experience #4: The Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour at the Adelaide Botanical Gardens - This is a short walking tour lasting for 2 hours, through the Aboriginal Bush Tucker (tucker is food) tour in the Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Very few people (even locals) know that this exists. I have taken a number of visiting school groups through this tour and they love it. This is an interesting cultural experience. Maximum - 25 people (A$20 per head).

Experience #5: Mitcham and Springfield, the heart of historic Adelaide - This is a full-day walking tour after being picked up in the city. These are some of the oldest suburbs in Adelaide, nestled into the foothills, where some of the first settlers lived, with many old homesteads still standing. Great old churches, cafes, tea houses, hotels, picturesque streets, Carrick Hill (Adelaide's most famous stately mansion), and even the beautiful Brownhill Creek Recreation Park. Lots to see, all of which can be done on foot. Maximum - 4 people (A$60 per head).

If you are interested in seeing Adelaide with your own personal guide, just call me on 0433 354 383 or email me on: dr.robert.muller@gmail.com