Today’s catch, all from my two neighborhood shops:
- Ian & Sylvia: Greatest Hits (Vanguard, 2-LP set). $9. Includes the Ian Tyson song Neil Young talks about in Johnathan Demme’s documentary film about Neil, Heart Of Gold, entitled "Four Strong Winds".
Another is the Bob Dylan/Rick Danko song "This Wheels On Fire", first heard on the Basement Tapes, then on Music From Big Pink. On Ian & Sylvia’s version we hear Fred Carter Jr.---in the group of musicians The Hawks knew in Toronto, Canada, while they were backing Ronnie Hawkins---on guitar, and Kenny Buttrey---the superb drummer on Neil’s Harvest album.
- Mark O’Connor: National Junior Fiddle Champion (Rounder Records). $4.99. In the field of Bluegrass (no pun intended ;-), musicians earn their props by entering competitions. Just like a Battle Of The Bands, but on an individual basis. They are also referred to as "cutting sessions", each player attempting to outplay the other, the loser finally admitting defeat. Very humiliating.
Mark O’Conner has been a 1st-call Nashville session player for many years, but at the time this album was recorded (August 4th, 1974) he was 12 years old! On the front of the cover in hand-written ink this is written: "John F. Rone. May 8-76". John took real good care of this LP, the only copy I’ve ever seen.
- John Sebastian: John B. Sebastian (Reprise, 1st pressing, with textured cover). $3.99. I was a big fan of The Lovin’ Spoonful, so of course bought this album when it was originally released. Then I saw John in the Woodstock movie, and OMG, his hippie raps are SO corny! He’s wearing a tie-dye jean jacket on the back cover of the album, and the lyric sheet is on tie-dye paper. Oy!
So I got rid of my original copy in the early-70’s, wanting nothing to do with that kind of silliness. But today I saw this in the rack, and thought "What the heck, let’s give it a listen." I mean, it’s too bad he (and Eric Burton) got swept up in the "Woodstock Generation" movement (it was a "movement" all right ;-), but he WAS a good songwriter and singer. We shall see. Years later John was involved with a great band, NRBQ.
- Tom & Jerry: Guitar’s Greatest Hits (Mercury, mono). $2.99. I couldn’t believe it when I saw this LP in the bin! This album was one of my first LP purchases, a couple of years before The British Invasion reached America. In 1962-3 I was really into instrumental Surf Bands, but that doesn’t explain why I would buy this album, it’s cover adorned as it is with pics of three beautiful Gibson acoustic guitars.
I loved this album, but I ditched it and many others when I got mt first quality table (a Garrard) in ’68. My old albums had been chewed up by my "kiddie" record player, so I started my LP collection anew. I never again saw a copy of this LP until today.
While Tom & Jerry was also the name Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were going by a few years later, THIS Tom & Jerry was the team of Jerry Kennedy and Tommy Tomlinson. Jerry signed his first record deal at the age of 10 (!), and when on to become one of Nashville’s most in-demand session players. Tommy’s first pro gig was as lead guitarist in Johnny Horton’s band (my first LP was Johnny Horton’s Greatest Hits), playing on the well-known songs "North To Alaska", "Sink The Bismark", and "Battle Of New Orleans". This must sound like ancient history to you youngins!
- Ian & Sylvia: Greatest Hits (Vanguard, 2-LP set). $9. Includes the Ian Tyson song Neil Young talks about in Johnathan Demme’s documentary film about Neil, Heart Of Gold, entitled "Four Strong Winds".
Another is the Bob Dylan/Rick Danko song "This Wheels On Fire", first heard on the Basement Tapes, then on Music From Big Pink. On Ian & Sylvia’s version we hear Fred Carter Jr.---in the group of musicians The Hawks knew in Toronto, Canada, while they were backing Ronnie Hawkins---on guitar, and Kenny Buttrey---the superb drummer on Neil’s Harvest album.
- Mark O’Connor: National Junior Fiddle Champion (Rounder Records). $4.99. In the field of Bluegrass (no pun intended ;-), musicians earn their props by entering competitions. Just like a Battle Of The Bands, but on an individual basis. They are also referred to as "cutting sessions", each player attempting to outplay the other, the loser finally admitting defeat. Very humiliating.
Mark O’Conner has been a 1st-call Nashville session player for many years, but at the time this album was recorded (August 4th, 1974) he was 12 years old! On the front of the cover in hand-written ink this is written: "John F. Rone. May 8-76". John took real good care of this LP, the only copy I’ve ever seen.
- John Sebastian: John B. Sebastian (Reprise, 1st pressing, with textured cover). $3.99. I was a big fan of The Lovin’ Spoonful, so of course bought this album when it was originally released. Then I saw John in the Woodstock movie, and OMG, his hippie raps are SO corny! He’s wearing a tie-dye jean jacket on the back cover of the album, and the lyric sheet is on tie-dye paper. Oy!
So I got rid of my original copy in the early-70’s, wanting nothing to do with that kind of silliness. But today I saw this in the rack, and thought "What the heck, let’s give it a listen." I mean, it’s too bad he (and Eric Burton) got swept up in the "Woodstock Generation" movement (it was a "movement" all right ;-), but he WAS a good songwriter and singer. We shall see. Years later John was involved with a great band, NRBQ.
- Tom & Jerry: Guitar’s Greatest Hits (Mercury, mono). $2.99. I couldn’t believe it when I saw this LP in the bin! This album was one of my first LP purchases, a couple of years before The British Invasion reached America. In 1962-3 I was really into instrumental Surf Bands, but that doesn’t explain why I would buy this album, it’s cover adorned as it is with pics of three beautiful Gibson acoustic guitars.
I loved this album, but I ditched it and many others when I got mt first quality table (a Garrard) in ’68. My old albums had been chewed up by my "kiddie" record player, so I started my LP collection anew. I never again saw a copy of this LP until today.
While Tom & Jerry was also the name Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were going by a few years later, THIS Tom & Jerry was the team of Jerry Kennedy and Tommy Tomlinson. Jerry signed his first record deal at the age of 10 (!), and when on to become one of Nashville’s most in-demand session players. Tommy’s first pro gig was as lead guitarist in Johnny Horton’s band (my first LP was Johnny Horton’s Greatest Hits), playing on the well-known songs "North To Alaska", "Sink The Bismark", and "Battle Of New Orleans". This must sound like ancient history to you youngins!