I recently received an invitation to contribute an essay to the National Recording Registry. The Registry, maintained by the National Recording Preservation Board of the U.S. Library of Congress, chooses certain recordings each year that reflect the richness of the American recorded sound heritage, to preserve that legacy for future generations. There were many great […]
“Are You Experienced”—The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
“Are You Experienced”—The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967) Added to the National Registry: 2005 Essay by Bill Hart (Text of Essay Published in National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress)* Link to Essay as it appears in the National Recording Registry Some reviewers of “Are You Experienced” at the time of its release recognized that Jimi Hendrix was changing the very language of popular music. But the significance of this album is probably even greater today, almost 50 years after its original release: the record and its individual tracks are enormously... Read More
John Martyn- Solid Air
Long associated with Chris Blackwell’s Island Records, John Martyn’s most enduring album, Solid Air, is now considered a classic representation of British folk-jazz fusion by a troubadour raised in Scotland who did not consider himself a folk artist. A troubled and mercurial character, Martyn worked with some of the best musicians and behind the scenes talent in the business—including Levon Helm and Stevie Winwood– but never seemed to achieve his due. By the time of this album, Martyn had parted ways with Joe Boyd, the preeminent producer of the English folk movement at the... Read More
TRUTH- Jeff Beck (Group)
There’s a lot of controversy, if not fallacy about this, an album (somewhat ironically) entitled “Truth”: often credited as the first heavy metal album; the record that Jimmy Page allegedly used as a template for Led Zeppelin 1, released a short time later; a “who is the better guitarist/innovator” meme that continues to polarize today, almost five decades later. It seems that you cannot approach Jeff Beck’s Truth without veering into Led Zeppelin 1 territory. For the record, I don’t regard either album as “heavy metal.” It’s blues, cranked up, distorted,... Read More
Fleetwood Mac- The Peter Green Era
Any catalog of the Warner-related labels during their golden years would necessarily include the early Fleetwood Mac albums on Reprise- self-titled and Rumours, which sold in staggering quantities. Those albums, released on Reprise in 1975 and 1977, brought a level of international recognition to the band that endures today. But of far greater interest to me is the early Fleetwood Mac, a different band, with a darker, bluesy sound that featured the brilliant Peter Green. Those records did not make much of a dent in the U.S. market, even though one of the songs- “Black Magic... Read More
Repo Man-Soundtrack
“There ain’t no difference between a flying saucer and a time machine…. People get so hung up on specifics they miss out on seeing the whole thing.” Miller, from Repo Man Where to start? This is a decidedly “lo-fi” album of a soundtrack to a quirky “cult” film that featured aliens, punk rockers and the great Harry Dean Stanton as a deadpan “repo man.” Want more? Otto, played by Emilio Estevez, learns that his stoned-out parents have donated all their money to a televangelist, and hits the streets, only to be enlisted by “Bud” (Stanton), to “repo” a car.... Read More
Warren Zevon- Excitable Boy
Warren Zevon wasn’t exactly a household name before Excitable Boy was released, but his recognition factor went through the roof thanks to this, his third album. Yes, it had the hit, “Werewolves of London”, but it also included a host of other noteworthy tracks including “Lawyers, Guns and Money, and “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.” His first album, on Asylum, was produced by Jackson Browne, who was on his way to becoming a multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter. Excitable Boy was also produced by Jackson Browne (and Waddy Wachtel) and is darkly humorous in what I think... Read More
Summary of Articles: Warner Records-The “Green Label” Era (and Beyond)
This contains a summary of links to various articles, reviews and other pieces concerning the Warner “Green Label” Era (and Beyond). Affiliated labels, like Reprise and Asylum, are also included. Atlantic will probably be covered separately at some point.
Vinyl LP Cleaning- A Photo Essay
Readers new to vinyl LP cleaning might benefit from this quick photo essay. Having just posted a capsule review of The Doobie Brothers- Toulouse Street on the site, I happened to notice another early copy in my “to be cleaned” pile. It was a cheap bin find from some record store in Texas that was shipped back to NY with several hundred other records of mine: It looks like I paid $4.99 for this one and it is a pretty early pressing from the Columbia Santa Maria plant. Under “normal” light, and in the kinds of photos you’ll often see on the web,... Read More
Summary of Articles Re: Island Records- The “Pink Label” Era
This collects in one place, the various articles, essays and interviews on the Island “pink label” and early “pink rim” era. It will be updated as additional, related pieces are posted, to make it easy for readers to find all articles on the subject in one place on the site.
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