Put On A Record

DIY. Do It Yourself. Eamon McGrath is no stranger to DIY. He has over 25 albums. countless singles and compilations to his name. His label Cassette Records is releasing music, promoting tours and shows, selling branded coffee, mugs, and even hot sauce, DIY to the core.
Hamilton City Bus Stop is as DIY as it could be too. This album is live set recorded at a street festival using an open air microphone in the audience. Not through the board. No added vocals or guitar layers. What the PA produced is what you hear. It completely feels like you are in the crowd in front of the stage. You hear crowd noises and and imperfections, just like being there.
This is an electric set for Eamon. He often plays solo, using a calmer arrangement of the same catalogue of songs. This is with a band so each song is a loud, heavy, and full energy rendition . The set is filled with songs spanning his career. An A list of songs tailored for a loud show. The emotional Guts, the power of Yellow Sticker and the bare openness on Vancouver Bound pulls my heart’s strings every time. It features an, at the time, unreleased song, Work and a blistering cover of Son House’s Death Letter. Absolutely rockin’.
Going back to the DIYness, this lp is a lathe cut lp. The grooves are literally cut into a hard platter and not made by squeezing molten plastic. Red Spade Records did a fantastic job of cutting these perfectly clear lps.
And, then the ultimate in DIY this record is was produced and released by Put On A Record
Yup. This is Put On A Record’s first release POAR-LP001. Extremely limited edition. You won’t find one, anywhere. I promise.
Thank you Eamon for being the amazing person you are. You deserve all, and more, of accolades you receive. Cheers.

https://www.discogs.com/release/29176525-Eamon-McGrath-City-Of-Hamilton-Bus-Stop

Eamon McGrath
Red Spade Records

Movember 1st, and I can't help but spin one of the best 'staches in the business.

Burton Cummings' second solo album, "My Own Way to Rock," was released in 1977.

"My Own Way to Rock" well-received by both fans and critics. The album helped Burton Cummings solidify his status as a successful solo artist following his departure from The Guess Who.
The album featured quite range of musical styles, flowing through rock, pop, and even some bluesy bits with ease. Burton Cummings' distinctive and powerful vocals remained a highlight. of the album.

The title track, "My Own Way to Rock," was one of the standout singles from the album and received significant airplay.

This is an original June, 1977 pressing. It still sounds smooth and powerful just like Burton Cummings still does today.

Note - Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's su***de. It is a portmanteau of the Australian-English diminutive word for moustache, "mo", and "November".

Rocktober 1st, my eldest brother's birthday. He, a huge Iron Maiden fan, and is partly to credit or blame for my musical tastes. Too honour him, and the fact this album was released 35 years ago last week, let's give this one a spin.

Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is the seventh full length studio album Iron Maiden, released in 1988. The album is almost a concept album. It tells, in pieces, loosely, the story of a prophetic child, the Seventh Son, of a Seventh Son with supernatural and clairvoyant powers. Musically, the album is a blend of Iron Maiden's typical 1980's sound with a little bit of progressive rock influences thrown in. It's the second Maiden album to features synthesizers. Some of more known tracks "Can I Play with Madness," "The Evil That Men Do," and the epic, almost ten minute long title track, "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son."

The album received critical acclaim world wide and is considered one of Iron Maiden's now classic albums, however, originally, it didn't do as well in the USA as expected with some reviews saying it sounded to English. Odd to think coming from a British band.

This is my 2014 Parlophone reissue. A great album and one I was definitely not allowed to borrow from my dear brother growing up. Ever. Happy Birthday.

This page isn't dead, it just seems like it. So to resurrect it I present to you The Zombies' – Early Days.

The are best known for their hit singles "She's Not There," which reached the top 20 on both the UK and US charts and "Time of the Season," which became a number one hit in the US. 
"Early Days" is a compilation album, released in 1968. The album features their first hit single "She's Not There," as well as other tracks from their first two albums.

Despite the Zombies disbanding in 1968, their music was deemed so popular at an unscrupulous Dallas based concert promoter billed a fake touring act in 1969. A four piece of local Texans, toured as The Original Zombies. If asked where member number 5 was, the excuse of him being in jail from being too rowdy the night before was given. Two of the masquerading musicians, Frank Beard and Dusty Hill would go on to form a band ZZ Top shortly after the failed The Zombies copycat band ended.

This is my original 1969 US pressed copy on London Records. A great listen, and intro to their small catalogue. Makes me want to listen more.

 


This one is for you Dad. I am home right now staying at my in-laws for the 2022/23 holiday season. It is the first one since both of my parents passed earlier in 2022. This is one of his lps. He was a traditional country and western fan. I remember listening to tons of Merle, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis, and others on the huge console stereo in the living room.

Although I am not a country and western fan, per se, a lot of his music is ground so hard into my core it will never leave. I think I could sing along to three quarters of this greatest hits compilation without missing a word

Merle Haggard was born in 1937, two years earlier than Dad, in California. Having a troubled youth and spending several stints in prison, he turned his life after being released from the legendary San Quentin State Penitentiary in 1960. Famous for penning songs about the blue collar, working man’s trials and tribulations. He also wrote about the changing times from the pre Vietnam War era and the rapidly changing social values of the late 60’s and 70’s. His music, at least the material I know, and Dad loved, were from the 60’s and 70’s releases, so this 1978 collection is a perfect play list for some memories.

Today would have Dad’s 84th birthday. I will always cherish my memories of listening to the old man from the mountain with my old man. Dad, we made it through December. Everything going to be alright, I know.


Put On A Record

For the first post in what seems like for ever, I need it to be an important one. One that truly matters to me. One that since the first drop of the needle hasn't left my head. Nor do I want it to.

Today's spin is a juggernaut of an album. WHOOP-Szo's lp Warrior Down from 2019. WHOOP-Szo, now known as Status/Non-Status, is an alternative-grungey-sludge-rock band lead by Anishinaabe-Canadian singer-songwriter Adam Sturgeon. The songs on this album reflect his family, experiences, and views on the history and current relations between the Indigenous and settlers. I am 9th generation settler of Germanic and English decent myself. Themes on this album covers some of Adam's family history, from his grandfather, who signed away his status to join the Canadian military, to his cousin Jerry who was killed in his own home by a police officer, and lasting affects and history of Canada's Residential School System.

The first time I saw WHOOP-szo live, opening for another act, I was caught, hook, line and sinker. The intense emotion behind every lyric and note. I quickly acquired every recording I could. When Warrior Down was released I was completely stoked to hear it. Still today, three years later, every spin has the same effect. This is not a happy, boppy, feel good album, When listening to it, it draws you in , it drags you down into the trenches with it. It is an emotional battlefield, some tracks tracks you'll feel yourself winning, some will make you feel like losing everything, others are just part of a seemingly constant battle. After the last spin of the stylus through the groove you feel exhausted, as if you had fought along with narrative of the tracks of this lp. Battle after battle, fight after fight. Who won? Is it over? I don't know, but by the end, you are mentally exhausted, you feel like taking a hint from the track Homemade Candles, “Go inside, put on a record, drift into the couch.” Sounds like good advice, what else could help you recover from this juggernaut of a spin? Flip the record over and drop the needle on side one. Experience it again. I know will again. And again.


Status Non Status
https://www.discogs.com/release/14464966-WHOOP-Szo-Warrior-Down

Sorry friends for my absence of late. No worries, it will soon be back to business as usual. I’ve got my men at work on it. A little reconstruction on the go. See ya soon.

In 2012 Sloan released a 7 inch single featuring two original songs written and performed like punk from the late 70’s and early 80’s. Jenny / It's In You, It's In Me was sold as a package with a tee shirt, vinyl, and a digital download of Sloan covering 12 punk songs from the same era.

Now they have pressed all 14 of those onto one lp called This One’s An Original. Get it, it’s mainly a covers album. This lp is yet to be announced or mentioned for online sales yet, I got this at a live show two days (at post time) ago from and at the merch table. So it’s not like I have the inside scoop on this.

It’s a good fun listen, beware of a few words you don’t normally hear Sloan use. A little rougher, less jangly, less friendly as radio Sloan, but it reminds me of back-in-the-day of the early-mid 90’s at the Double Deuce and Flamingo seeing Sloan at the “4 Bands, 4 Bucks” type nights. Yup, Sloan are celebrating their 30th birthday this year.

Sloan Music
https://www.discogs.com/release/20976820-Sloan-This-Ones-An-Original

In 2012 Sloan released a 7 inch single featuring two original songs written and performed like punk from the late 70’s and early 80’s. Jenny / It's In You, It's In Me was sold as a package with a tee shirt, vinyl, and a digital download of Sloan covering 12 punk songs from the same era.

Now they have pressed all 14 of those onto one lp called This One’s An Original. Get it, it’s mainly a covers album. This lp is yet to be announced or mentioned for online sales yet, I got this at a live show two days (at post time) ago from and at the merch table. So it’s not like I have the inside scoop on this.

It’s a good fun listen, beware of a few words you don’t normally hear Sloan use. A little rougher, less jangly, less friendly as radio Sloan, but it reminds me of back-in-the-day of the early-mid 90’s at the Double Deuce and Flamingo seeing Sloan at the “4 Bands, 4 Bucks” type nights. Yup, Sloan are celebrating their 30th birthday this year.
Sloan Music
https://www.discogs.com/.../20976820-Sloan-This-Ones-An...

Rest in peace to the hoopiest Frood ever to know where his towel was.
Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy, Douglas Adams wrote a story of an ordinary man who woke up one morning to find his home, and then his planet, were to be destroyed. His best friend turns out to be intergalactic traveler who got stuck on Earth by mistake. The pair hitchhike onto a alien space ship and the adventures never stop.

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy story became a radio production, lps, tv show, PC game, motion picture, and a trilogy of five books.

Also curse you, for the last 30+ years, I still screw up 6x9. Even when helping my kids in school. Adams passed away 20 years ago today, he will never be forgotten. So, raise your glass of Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster in honour of him, and so long and thanks for all the fish.

https://douglasadams.com/dna/bio.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Adams
https://www.discogs.com/Douglas-Adams-The-Hitch-Hikers-Guide-To-The-Galaxy/release/566422

Go Inside Put On A Record - Drift Into The Couch updated their business hours.

Well… I really don’t know how to categorize or genre-ize the music of Eiyn Sof. She oddly and wonderfully blends acoustic folk with spacey-psychedelic synth pop. Yah. She does. Bloodstreams from 2010 is her first release as Eiyn Sof, and since then self-released many digital and physical albums.
Recently she and Rick White released an album together which will take you further on your trip into other realms of outer space.
If you get a chance to see her preform do it, just don’t use flash photography unless you want a gentle tap on the shoulder and have her point you to the door. Trust me it happened to me. No warning, just a ‘You are outta here buddy’ look and a point to the door. Ha! Joking aside, Eiyn Sof is a one of a kind person, musician, and artist with a spirit that is unlike any you have known.

https://eiynsof.bandcamp.com/album/bloodstreams

https://www.discogs.com/Eiyn-Sof-Bloodstreams/release/9203087

My first true introduction to the animal that is Kate Boothman was about four and a half years ago. She had the daunting task of opening for Robyn Hitchcock in a small venue in Toronto. She nailed it. Solo, with a guitar and a set of only six songs. She had us captivated, listening to every word. I love being able to fall into a song's lyrics. That stays true with this lp too. I got this copy of I Am An Animal from her at the show that night. It is her first album under her own name having previously released music as Sunbear, Horse, and likely others. Her folk-rock solo sound expands on the lp into a journey through twelve wonderful psyche-folk rock songs that make you wish for a side three. She is an animal.

Kate Boothman Music

https://www.kateboothman.com/

https://www.discogs.com/Kate-Boothman-I-Am-An-Animal/release/12132759

I’ll be quick on this one. First there is no way I will attempt to summarize the impact of Blondie and Debbie Harry on music and pop culture over the last 45 years. After Blondie first disbanded, Harry continued as a solo artist as well as acting in and directing several films. Blondie has reunited and reformed a few times since the late 80’s and continue to be successful.

This is Blondie’s fourth album Eat To The Beat, following the highly successful Parallel Lines. Blondie some how blended punk, new wave, rock, pop, ska, and disco all into one album. It is a record that seems to be best played loud. So I did.

https://www.discogs.com/Blondie-Eat-To-The-Beat/release/13425325
Blondie

In 1979 A Taste Of Honey won a Grammy for this, their self-titled debut album. The band was formed seven years earlier by Janice-Marie Johnson. While working hard to obtain regional fame and doing several USO Tours, entertaining US troops serving aboard, A Taste Of Honey saw a few lineup changes before their break through song "Boogie Oogie Oogie" was released. This was a tougher one for me. This is not my style. However, the upbeat funky dancier songs did help me through some of my chores. Dishes, sweeping, and the laundry got started. Like my love of chores, A Taste Of Honey did not stay around long after this album. By 1982 they had dissolved went their own ways. Janice continued in music as well as on stage. She is still active today. Certainly, breaking through in a genre of music that had already climaxed didn’t help. Musically, for me, I am waiting for the 80’s new wave and hair and metal bands to come along.

https://www.facebook.com/janicemariej

https://www.discogs.com/A-Taste-Of-Honey-A-Taste-Of-Honey/release/1094436

Not so long ago two teenage sisters, along with friends played together, toured, and even themed a tv show, as a band called Done With Dolls . Around 2013 one friend left the band and another joined. A new name, The Beaches, was taken from the area of Toronto where three quarters of the members grew up.

Late Show is their debut full length album, released in 2017 it was produced by Metric’s Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw. The album helped The Beaches win the 2018 Juno for Breakthrough Artist Of The Year. The Beaches was the last live pre Co-vid live show I saw in February of 2020. One of three sold out nights of their first headlining tour at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. They are an amazing rock show and Late Show is a great straight up rock album. One by one and two by two. I'm gonna rock to the beat and hurt my shoes, and yes I do wanna go to the Late Show.

The Beaches

https://www.discogs.com/The-Beaches-Late-Show/release/11147081

https://www.thebeachesband.com/

Oh Whatcha do, whatcha do, wait, that’s a few more years away.

This is 1984’s Metal Queen, the second album by Lee Aaron. The follow-up to their ‘kind of‘ self titled album The Lee Aaron Project. At 15 years old, Karen Greening was asked to join a rock band called Lee Aaron. She soon assumed the band name as her own stage name.
I first listened to this album via my older brother’s cassette copy. He had the copy with the rerelease of her first album and on one side and Metal Queen on the flip side. I am not sure exactly when or where I picked up this European LP but it or its digitized version gets played often. 35+ years later it still sounds good, although I must admit Lee Aaron was one of my junior high / middle school crushes. Some things don’t fade I guess.

https://www.facebook.com/lee.aaron.7564

http://www.leeaaron.com/

https://www.discogs.com/Lee-Aaron-Metal-Queen/release/2848839

“To whom (womb?) it may concern. What you are holding in your hot, sticky, avaricious little hands is the first evidence of anything called Motörhead. It was recorded at Rockfield. S Wales in 1975, and is only very tenuously anything to do with the band as us It is badly mixed, indifferently played and does not have Dr. Clarke on it. But it (if you are a collector, no doubt you will) only with the awareness of these facts. Most of the songs were done better on the “MOTORHEAD” album. However, it is part of the story. So there.” - Lemmy
Motörhead’s first recorded, but fourth released album. It was recorded and shelved until after the success of their second and third album. On Parole features the beginnings of the dirtiest rock and roll band in the world. Showing a little softer, more bluesy sound than the future pounding the late 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s would bring. This is the 2020 On Parole - Expanded and Remastered release. Give it a spin, I promise you lawn won’t die.

https://www.discogs.com/Mot%C3%B6rhead-On-Parole/release/16034022

https://imotorhead.com/home/

This was to be James Newell Osterberg Jr and David Robert Jones’ third and final full writing and producing collaboration. Blah-Blah-Blah, is the seventh solo album by Iggy Pop.

Released in 1986, after a four-year absence in the studio, it remains his most commercially successful album to date. It has been said that Iggy virtually disowned the album saying that it was a Bowie album except for name and voice. Iggy was backed by some of Bowie’s band, Steve Jones of The S*x Pistols, and Bowie himself.

The lead off single Real Wild Child became Pop's first Top 10 hit in the UK. The song was featured on the soundtrack for the film Crocodile Dundee II, Pretty Woman, and several others since. I am sure I could say more, but I bet it is all starting to sound like blah, blah, blah……

https://www.discogs.com/Iggy-Pop-Blah-Blah-Blah/release/4114903

https://iggypop.com/

In came a boy with mid length greasy hair…

Elevator To Hell’s 1995 self titled, SubPop, debut. Sometimes referred to as Parts 1 and 2 due to future versions and other releases. This was their first of three full length album released through Subpop and many more independently.

It still sounds amazing to my ears as it did twenty-five, what!?! Twenty-five effing years ago. This lineup features Rick, backed by Chris, Tara, and Ron. The bird’s name was Roger. It is a beautiful trip of lo-fi psychedelic grungy acid rock. That’s a lot of sounds to cover on one album, but Elevator To Hell seamlessly makes it all work.

The heavy, grungy songs, to rock, or the dreamy soundscapes, they all fit together, sometimes through small sound artifacts, background noises, echoes, or murmurs. Sometimes a sound sneaks through that makes you wonder if it was on the record or in the next room or maybe outside. Avoid the outside. Roger attacked the boy, and pulled out half his greasy hair,

Ultimately, the perfect imperfections make you feel a little more there. Like you too are in a room, with walls covered with gig posters and art made by the band. There’s a single table lamp sitting on the floor with no shade. Bright, but still barely lighting the room. Through the haze you can see guitars, drums, keyboard and recording decks. A clink comes from a coke bottle on the floor as the music begins, you drift into the couch.

Roger couldn't move and all he could taste was greasy hair.

www.discogs.com/Elevator-To-Hell-Elevator-To-Hell/release/582824

https://rickwhitearchive.bandcamp.com/music

Eric's Trip Fan Universe

This is a journey into sound.

The 1993 Anthrax album The Sound Of White Noise sounded a fair bit different than 1990’s Persistence of Time. The first big difference was John Bush, ex of Armored Saint, replaced Joey Belladonna as lead vocalist. Joey’s operatic falsettos were gone. John’s deeper, more growly voice was in. Musically, the lighting fast thrash of Anthrax past had slowed slightly with a more melodic brooding grungy sound.

No sodium pentothal is required, I won’t lie. At first this change didn’t set well with me. I missed Joey’s vocals and the fun/playfulness of older Anthrax. It grew. With many listens walking to school and bus rides to university (I owned the CD then) my mind changed. The Sound Of White Noise now shone through as a fantastic album. It held up to, and still does, the onslaught of grunge music that not only kicked ‘80’s thrash, glam, and hair metal bands out of the house, but to the curb. Rolling Stone magazine described the album as "a powerful comeback from a group that never went away.”

This my 1993 UK/European released lp with the collage cover. My CD’s cover is the top middle panel from this lp’s matrix of images. The CD also has the song Black Lodge on it. This lp, sadly, does not. And with that all said, this is, in fact, an exit.

https://www.discogs.com/Anthrax-Sound-Of-White-Noise/release/2374541

Tonight, there was going to be a streaming live show that had to be postponed. Since I won’t see her there, I will instead listen to Evangeline Gentle‘s recently released self titled debut.

During a brief glimmer of live music during COVID, I was lucky enough to go see and meet her on the roof top of a parking garage that was converted to an open-air venue. She, solo, was opening for Lee Harvey Osmond. Impressive first introduction.

I will be honest, I only knew her name, a video, and not much more, through social media. On stage with just a guitar, her first impression was small and fragile. All of that was shattered once the lyrics began to follow. Her voice keeps a hold of some the small, fragile, notes, but belts them out to you with a strength and confidence you weren’t expecting.

The folky pop sounding album has a coming of age lust, love, breakup, and recovery, themes through the ten tracks. Side A starts with Drop My Name, a wonderful song celebrating someone who no longer will be kept down or taken for granted.

By the end of side B, she takes us along through love, hurt, and, bouts of self sabotaging actions, before finishing with the final track, a hopeful song about becoming a good person with a heart.

Don’t take Evangeline for granted, at 23 and still forming her career, this won’t be the last time you hear her name.

evangelinegentlemusic.com

https://fb.me/e/SOPKR1SZ - Livestream Fundraiser for Kawartha S*xual Assault Centre

https://www.discogs.com/Evangeline-Gentle-Evangeline-Gentle/release/15851300

Happy 77th Birthday James,

Debut albums. There good one, there are great ones. Some flop. Seldom does one alter the course of music forever. This one did.

1967’s Are You Experienced by the Jimi Hendrix Experience treats us with the many different sounds and styles of Jimi’s writing and playing. Psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll with a bluesy funk. Soft, mystic, melodies, blistering solos, psychedelic waves of sound rush like a waterfall out from grooves as the record spin. Starting off a career that only spanned about 5 years, Are You Experienced, was an experience that many would never be able to forget.

I feeI that I can’t celebrate Jimi’s amazing, ground breaking, talent without remembering his darker side. His drug and alcohol use not only influenced his art, but it also brought out an angry, confrontational, and some times violent person. He was known have attacked strangers and friends alike. He once hit his girlfriend with a bottle. That assault required stitches. I don’t know how to make a segue from there, and maybe I shouldn’t.

Jimi died after passing out during a night of drinking and taking sleeping pills in the early hours of September 18, 1970. He was taken to hospital, unresponsive, and died shortly after.

This is my 1970 stereo Canadian repress. A great afternoon spin.

https://www.discogs.com/The-Jimi-Hendrix-Experience-Are-You-Experienced/release/8390465

Madonna Louise Ciccone. Madonna. Madge. Whatever you call the Queen of Pop, it does not really matter. This, self-titled, debut album changed everything. Pop music would never be the same. Madonna, the album, lit the fuse to the rocket that propelled the 24 year-old singer from the New York City night club scene to being a national star, a international superstar, and finally an icon. This is an original 1983 Columbia House club edition is still in original shrink wrap.
Even if this is not really in my core musical choices, or genres even, it is still a fun listen. Lucky Star, Borderline, Holiday, and others are staples in pop-dance genre they created and helped Madonna become one of the first new music divas since the decline of disco 5 years earlier.

If we took a holiday, took some time to celebrate. Just one day out of life, it would be, it would be so nice.

https://www.discogs.com/Madonna-Madonna/release/2889190

This is a fun one.

Feltworth is all puppet four piece. They spent an entire lifetime in children’s music. After burning out on Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Rainbow Connection, they split from the children’s entertainment circuit to concentrate on adult music. Since then, their children’s catalog seems to have faded into nothing but Canadian TV legend. I personally can not seem to remember them existing at all. Searching online will turn up very little. An old photo with the original, five member line-up or a faint reference here or there. In 2015, Feltworth accused Tame Impala of scooping their style and look for the video for “Cause I’m A Man.” I don't recall if anything ever became of it.

Their debut adult release is this lovely carrot orange 7”. Both tracks are a power pop delight with tastes of Cheap Trick, Big Star, The Lemon Twigs, or even The Navy Blues Band. It certainly sounds like they left the children’s tunes behind. This a great first release from the new – old band you always loved but never knew.

https://feltworth.bandcamp.com/

Yes, that is former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger seen on this 1970 ROCK BUSTER compilation. Yes, 1970. Twelve years before Conan The Barbarian, fourteen years before he’ll be back, looking for his friend Sarah Connor, the first time. Twenty-three years before The Goven-ator takes office. It was fifty years ago this inhumanly muscle-bound young Arnie adorned the cover and labels.

Musically, this 28 song - 2lp, compilation is a sampler covering the top artists of the day from CBS Records. The songs seem to be loosely grouped together by genre/style. With a range of artists from The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Spirit, and Edgar Winter there is something for everyone listening in 1970. A good listen while running around the house catching up on some chores.

On a side note, Arnold recently had heart surgery to replace a faulty valve. Wishing him all the best and a speedy recovery. Until next time, Hasta La Vista, Baby. ( Sorry. )

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Rock-Buster/release/1909541