I think the pic I took of this record is a little out of focus. Or, maybe it’s just the psychedelic hangover I have from Wonder Wonderful Wonderland by Plasticland. I never have played this record much, but I thought I would like it more than I did. And I gave it at least a couple spins all the way through on both sides. Wonder Wonderful Wonderland has its moments, but I just can’t get into it, again. There are other “neo-psychedelic” records in our collection that I think have held up better.
Title: Best Of The Music Machine (Featuring Sean Bonniwell)
Year: 1984
Format: Vinyl 12 in.
Rating (1-10): 7
Owner: Tracy
Acquired: 1984 – Probably mail order from some place like Midnight Records in NYC.
Keeper: Yes
Since I mentioned The Music Machine in my last post I thought I would post this Best Of The Music Machine (Featuring Sean Bonniwell) record next. It’s been a while since I’ve heard it and it’s more rocking than I remembered.
This album was released by Rhino in 1984. That’s like some label today re-releasing music that was popular, or at least existed, in the late 1980s, for a new audience. I was in high school when I bought this re-issue, so it’s not like I was being nostalgic. I suppose there may be some teenagers out there who would be excited to discover music from 1988, but it seems weird to me.
Most people think the seeds of heavy metal were sewn in the late 1960s, but I think The Music Machine got there a few years earlier. They have some heavy riffs, tricky song structures, dark lyrics, and –best of all– they wore all black clothing, dyed their hair black, and wore a black glove on one hand only. The notes on the back cover describe them as being “in the vanguard of the punk rock boom.” Maybe, but after another round of listening I’m convinced The Music Machine was proto-metal. And that’s what I’m talking about.
I’m throwing out a lot of “10” ratings but these records all deserve it. This right here is the greatest band you’ve probably never heard of. Nine Nine Nine. Concrete is one of the most fun, sing-along, punk pop rock and roll records ever. It includes two great covers: “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Fortune Teller.” But the best songs are the originals. A couple favorites are “So Greedy” and “Break It Up.” The musicianship and song craft are tops. Every song leaves me wanting more. Hearing damage or blown speakers, which will come first?
Nine Nine Nine is still kicking it. I need to get their latest.
That’s one cool dude on the cover. And speaking of cool dudes, this album was a birthday present from my Dad, a/k/a “Mr. Cool.” Just ask my Mom. I had some singles, you know, vinyl seven inches, that I had accumulated, but this was my very first full length album. That’s right, the first of thousands of records. And I can’t think of a better album or artist to start a record collection. I’m eternally grateful for my father pointing me in the right music direction. I liked Hendrix from what I heard on the radio, but this record was not something I asked for. It was his idea.
For me, Hendrix brings together everything I love most about music. Art, innovation, guitar mastery, blues, funk, acid rock, and the moments of cathartic heaviness that I just need to survive. Smash Hits by the Jimi Hendrix Experience is one of the most played records I own, and the vinyl shows the wear and tear. But it still sounds great. I did a decent job maintaining it for a 13 year old.
My favorite from this collection is a song I think was less of a hit than the others, “Stone Free.”
Acquired: 1989 – At a record I owned with my brother
Keeper: No
Here’s another record that’s really “for fans only.” I only have it because I was running a record store with my brother when it came out. I’m a big fan of Jane’s Addiction and even I don’t want to keep The Shocking E.P. As you can see from the cover it’s a “limited edition” and I’ll tell you why. The only thing “shocking” is Perry Farrell’s larger than life face on the cover. There’s another pic on the back of the whole band, you know, for fans. The only non-album cut is “Had a Dad – Live!” and it’s pretty forgettable. “Mountain Song” and certainly “Jane Says” are rock classics, but all of us fans already have those tracks. This is an import from Englandia.
Acquired: 1986 – Probably when I worked at Mother’s Records
Keeper: Yes
The great one from the great ones. Some, people smarter than me that is, consider this the greatest heavy metal album of all time. I wouldn’t argue with that.
I was listening to Rodrigo y Gabriela‘s version of Metallica’s “Orion” this Saturday and decided I should play the original, which ended up turning into a Metallica history lesson for my son Mars. Then, coincidentally on Sunday I got another, and unexpected, dose of Master of Puppets. We were at our kids’ music recital where most of the tunes were seasonally-correct holiday stuff. But then this one middle-school-age-looking youngster came up to play the title track, “Master of Puppets.” He was even wearing the t-shirt. He has the same cool teacher as my kids, and his teacher accompanied him on bass. There is nothing simple about this music. It’s intense in every way, but the kid did a solid job getting pretty far through the song then stopped somewhat abruptly before the pretty bridge and solos.
I was looking around the room at the faces of the parents and relatives wondering if anyone else in the room was getting it. As great as this music is, it’s not for everyone. And even for metal aficionados it takes some adaptation just to digest what’s going on. I’ve played “Master” more than you can imagine and I was still surprised how fast, intense and sophisticated it is when I spun it again this week. I was talking to the kids’ teacher yesterday and as he put it, “it still holds up.” Indeed. Side one alone qualifies it as a “10” in my book.
Check it out:
“Battery”
“Master of Puppets”
“The Thing That Should Not Be” (for you fans of H.P. Lovecraft)
“Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”
Also worth mentioning about “Master” is that it was the last album with bassist Cliff Burton. He would die in a bus accident while on tour. OK, everybody knows that. But do you know this? Tipper Gore’s PMRC had it in for the title tack, which they apparently said was about “getting kids hooked on drugs.” Any moron could read the lyric sheet and see that the song was about the nightmare of drug addiction. I remember reading an interview with James Hetfield some time after the flare up. He might have even had to testify at a Senate hearing, can’t remember for sure. When he was asked about the whole thing he just said “people are going to believe what they want.” He didn’t need to explain anything.
Smashing through boundaries
Lunacy has found me
Cannot stop the Battery!
I’m back! And what brought me back? Too many chocolate chip cookies and an awesome dance single.
Mary and I heard Dead Or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” on the car radio yesterday, and I just had to hear it again. The version on this 12 inch is the “Performance Mix” and you can believe I was doing a performance all three times I blasted it today. I did move to turn it down a bit when I saw the UPS guy outside, but fortunately he went to another house. I was able to complete my dance routine mostly without interruption. And pretty much everybody has to dance when they hear this classic. It’s so punchy!
The performance by singer Pete Burns is so complete and uninhibited that I can’t imagine it being more entertaining. And I’m only talking about his singing, see the video for more. Life lesson from Pete Burns: If you going to do something, do it all the way and don’t hold anything back. Except maybe when it comes to body mods. I saw Pete on some strange TV show a while back and I think he’s overdosed on plastic surgery.
Like a record baby!
Dead Or Alive – You may be surprised who has been associated with this band over the years. Pete Burns
Here’s another 12 inch from those former Human League-ers, Heaven 17. “Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)” is pretty enjoyable, but I can’t really remember the mixes on the other side. Even if you don’t dig this early electronic music, you gotta love the cover art by Jill Mumford.
(GI) is the only the studio album The Germs ever recorded. It’s been a long long time since I last played it, and to be honest I never played that much. I probably wouldn’t be playing it now if it weren’t for this site, which is really just an exercise I concocted to make me play everything we own at least one more time.
I was surprised how hardcore punk it sounds; this was only 1979. Reading about it I saw that (GI) is considered one of the first records of the hardcore genre. There are a number of well-known folks with a Germs connection, including guitarist Pat Smear (later in Foo Fighters), very briefly Belinda Carlisle, and it was produced by Joan Jett. Singer Darby Crash is probably best known for dying in a sad, deliberate and stupid heroin suicide.
There aren’t many memories for me associated with The Germs other than going to see the excellent movie The Decline of Western Civilization. It’s by director Penelope Spheeris and it’s about the early LA punk scene. I went with my friend Jeff Arthur, and maybe some other folks, to see a late night showing of it at the Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk, VA. The audience was full of teenagers looking as punk and hard as possible, and generally acting stupid. We blended right in.
(GI) is just one of those records a punk (rocker) of my vintage feels obligated to have, and keep, so I guess I will.
Acquired: 2005 – Another one I got from Bob Bobala
Keeper: Yes
Fastway was a hard rock/metal super group with members from Motörhead, Humble Pie, and UFO. Believe it or not, the then-unknown singer Dave King went on to found Flogging Molly. Believe it.
I have always loved the song “Say What You Will” but I never got around to getting the album. Bob Bob’s record collection to the rescue again. (I guess it’s just the luck of the draw but it seems like his old records are popping up more than my own lately.) Some of the songs are highly mediocre, but when they’re good they’re great. Another favorite is “Another Day.” Included with Bob’s copy of Fastway is a one-sided 7 inch with a Zeppelin-style dirge titled “Far Far From Home.” I don’t know what the story is with that song, but I dig it.
Want to know what it's like to have brain surgery? Well here's the long version of my experience. Complete with pictures and videos! Read all about the Brain Surgery Experience.
![Dead Or Alive -- You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) 12\"](http://imheavyduty.heavydutyincorporated.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/deadoraliveyouspin12.jpg "Dead Or Alive -- You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) 12\\"")
