Do You Think This Artists Would Have Gotten a Record Deal if They Didn't Have a Famous Family Member #3

Edgar Winter.

I'll probably get a lot of flack for this one from fans of daft '70's arena rock.  Edgar would be nowhere without Johnny.  He started out as a sideman in Johnny's band.  From there he got 'noticed'

Edgar Winter Group - They Only Come Out at Night (Epic 1972)

A while back, I put on this record and had to take it off.  This album was a huge hit.  Gawd it's awful.  We can blame Edgar for that silly keyboard/guitar thing so popular in the '80's. 

There I've said it.   The albino army is coming at me with Tiki Torches and plenty of sun screen.  Extreme White Lives Matter!

Do You Think This Artist Would Have Gotten a Record Deal if They Didn't Have a Famous Family Member #2

Chris Jagger.

Blessed with a megastar brother, Chris Jagger managed to release two albums before slipping into obscurity.

Here's the first, simply titled Chris Jagger.

It's unclear why someone chose to put a big X over his face.

Although his recording success doesn't come near his brother's, he has managed to surpass him in the marital fidelity department.  He's been married to Keri-Ann Muller, the model who graces the first Roxy Music album and Mott the Hoople's Mott, for more than 25 years.

Peter Gunn

Quite simply one of the coolest albums to come out of the '50's.  

The Music From Peter Gunn (RCA 1959)

This may (or may not be) the first soundtrack album to a TV show.  The mood of this is cool jazz, but the title track has a persistent riff that's pure rock and roll.  It's been covered by Duane Eddy and Jimi Hendrix.  They don't get much cooler than this.

This is an 'orthophonic' recording - which means they used electric microphones instead of acoustic horns for recording.   RCA was the first company to do this - IN 1925!   The term stuck until stereo and Dynagroove took over.

This was the first ever record to win a Grammy as album of the year - a category they got horribly wrong in years to come.  Christopher Cross comes to mind.  (apologies to those who like cupcakes).

Do You Think This Artist Would Have Gotten A Record Deal if They Didn't Have a Famous Family Member? #1

Actually, this guy went on to score such classic films as Scream Blacula Scream, Count Yorga Vampire and Act of Vengeance (aka Rape Squad).  Sadly, there were no Academy Award nominations.

Roxy Music Cover Models #2 - Amanda Lear on For Your Pleasure.

As threatened/promised when I did my post about Keri-Ann Muller on The First Roxy Music Album, I'm going to feature their albums one by one.

With their second album, For Your Pleasure, the band carried on with cheesecake covers that harkened back to another era.

Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure - The Second Roxy Music Album (Island 1973).

 The cover model this time out is Amanda Lear.  Amanda was Salavador Dali's muse at the time  - and - as is the case with most of Roxy Music cover models - having a fling with Bryan Ferry.  Amanda is featured wearing a leather dress walking a black panther just outside of Las Vegas.  According to legend, the panther was so sedated he could hardly stand.   The eyes and mouth were drawn in later.

Bryan Ferry peers out from a limousine on the back.

This is one of Roxy Music's best records.   When Bryan Ferry did solo gigs last summer, no less than three tunes from For Your Pleasure were performed.

The inside gatefold shows all band members playing guitar.  Only one of them was the guitarist.

Three Tracks!

Enoch Light and Command Records came up with some pretty goofy concepts to show off hi-fi equipment.  Techniques from recording on 35MM tape to ping pong stereo effects dominate the catalog.

Here's a goofy attempt.

Enoch Light and the Light Brigade - Dimension '3'  (Command 1964)

The 'gimmick' here is the simulation of three tracks.  Everything is hard panned left, right or center.  This gives the illusion of having three speakers.

Like any of the Enoch Light/Command records, this one is a fairly fun listen.

Post Tanx T Rex

T. Rex was a big deal in the UK.  Stateside, there were a few hits on Reprise, then they disappeared from release schedules.  But wait, there were more.  At the time these  were reissued, I had no idea they existed.  So yes, American kiddies, there were T. Rex albums after 1973.s Tanx.

Here they are.....

Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow (1974)

Bolan's Zip Gun (1975)

Futuristic Dragon (1976)

Dandy in the Underworld (1977)

By the time we got to Dandy in the Underworld, Marc Bolan has sobered up and making some sort of comeback.  He was killed shortly thereafter in a car crashed and (assumedly) ascended to the heavens with a hub- capped diamond star halo.

Groped by Nancy Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra - How Does Than Grab You (Reprise 1966)

Nancy's second LP on Daddy's label.

Is she hot or is she cold.  She can't seem to make up her mind.   Thick sweater and no pants.    And she looks a bit pissed off.  I would be too if someone stole my pants.  Those boots are made for walking, but she ain't going anywhere dressed like that

I was wondering about the origins of this phrase popular in the '60's.   The internet has some pretty funny 'scholarly' answers.

This expression employs the verb 'grab' in the sense of "excite one's interest."

Used to ask someone if they would be interested in doing a particular thing.


Here's how Nancy sums it up:

You came by at two o'clock, 
You shoulda been by at ten
I said bye at three o'clock 
And I ain't coming back again 
Whoa! 
How does that grab you, darlin'? 
How does that mess your mind?
How does that grab you darlin'?
This girl is leavin' you behind.
You smart alec tom cat you!

When the sun goes down 
And the moon comes up 
I'm gonna go out and prowl oh ya! 
Don't come lookin' for your pussy cat, 
'Cause I won't be here