The Classic Vinyl Record

The title seems a bit redundant, but it is the self-title debut album of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Released in 1970, Emerson, Lake and Palmer was the first album from ELP. It is basically a solo album for all three members as only the first song was a combined effort. Extended solos and songs, complex [...]

I have already talked about the Journey album Escape, so here is Frontiers, which was the next album released by Journey after Escape in 1983. Frontiers was Journey’s second biggest selling album. I am not a big fan of American Idol. I am one of those people who watch the auditions just to see how [...]

I have always been a moderate fan of Rush. I say moderate, because regular Rush fans (usually drummers) tend to be extremely passionate about them. Rush is one of those bands that dabbled in progressive music, but never fully became progressive, especially in their later years. This album, though, is considered to be an essential [...]

In 1986, Graceland by Paul Simon was one of the biggest albums released. It hit #3 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the UK charts. It also got a Grammy for Album of the year, and one for Graceland as song of the year. After not having much success, Paul Simon came out with [...]

Here is a staple of classic rock radio. Billy Squier’s ‘The Stroke’ has been played and played so much, it is almost one of those songs you start to tune out. However, this doesn’t change the fact that it is a good song, and a great album. The Stroke went to #3 on the Mainstream [...]

Wish You Were Here is probably my favorite Pink Floyd Album. I love Dark Side of the Moon, but Wish You Were Here just edges it out with Shine On You Crazy Diamond. WYWH is the 7th album by Pink Floyd. Recorded in 1975, much of the subject matter is about Syd Barrett. His drug [...]

I am a big fan of progressive rock, and no prog-rock collection is complete without Yes. I have already reviewed Relayer by Yes. Yessongs is a 3 disc (vinyl record discs) collection of live concert recordings. It was recorded during the Close To The Edge tour, and was released in 1973. Yessongs features extended solos [...]

With the passing of Michael Jackson, an musical legend and era has ended. You didn’t have to really like Michael Jackson or his music, but you had to respect what he accomplished in his musical career. My brothers and I all remember where we were when we first saw the Thriller video. It was in [...]

Led Zeppelin is one of those bands that I just don’t listen to very often. I haven’t played this record in probably over 2 or 3 years. Don’t get me wrong, I like Zeppelin, but they are a band that has a few songs that get massively overplayed by classic rock radio stations. Led Zeppelin’s [...]

Yes! You gotta love Uncle Ted. I love his music, and crazy enough, agree almost totally with his political views. But this blog isn’t about politics, it’s about music, and I don’t think anybody loves playing music as much as Ted Nugent. From playing with The Amboy Dukes, solo, Damn Yankees, and then solo again, [...]