Give it one (Maynard Ferguson) (LP 527)

Maynard Ferguson M.F. Horn Two (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1972) ***

Genre: Big Band Jazz 

Places I remember: A Country Traders second hand shop in Palmerston North 

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Mother (Yes - the John Lennon song is given a lively rendition by a jazz trumpeter - go figure, somehow it really works!)

Gear costume: Spinning Wheel (Yes - the Blood Sweat and Tears song) 

Active compensatory factors: I came across this mint copy amongst the usual dross in a second hand furniture shop on the outskirts of Palmerston North a few years ago.

I knew of Canadian trumpeter Maynard Ferguson but what really sold me was the cheap as chips price for a mint copy, the choice of cover songs (as well as the two named above, Maynard has a turn at Hey Jude, Theme From "Shaft", and Country Road) and the fact that this was recorded in 1972. Maybe the best year for my type of music, ever!

It doesn't really disappoint, goes without saying that the players are stellar musicians, but I'm not a huge fan of the trumpet (Jacky can't stand it), and there are FIVE other trumpeters on this album APART FROM Maynard! So, it doesn't get a lot of listens outside of ARF (Abbey Road Five, a.k.a the Shack, a.k.a. the vault).

Where do they all belong? Although I enjoy this album, I'm not searching for M.F. Horn One etc.

Electronic Lover (Ray Parker Jr) (LP 526)

Ray Parker Jr Woman Out Of Control (Vinyl, Arista Records, 1983) ** 

Genre: Soul 

Places I remember: Hastings' Record Exchange

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: I Still Can't Get Over Loving You

Gear costume: Woman Out Of Control 

Active compensatory factors: Ray Parker Jr with and without Raydio was a force in the seventies and eighties (Raydio broke up in 1981). Ghostbusters is of course what first comes to mind when his name comes up, but he's so much more than that mega-hit.

This is a very rewarding listening experience - Ray's smooth vocals and likeability, the sharp sounds (yes, of course it's dated but that's now part of the appeal) and the catchy tunes, all make Ray Parker Jr ripe for your reappraisal!

Where do they all belong? More Ray Jr to come when I cover  Raydio.

It must be a camel (Frank Zappa) (LP 525)

Frank Zappa Hot Rats (Cassette Tape, Vinyl and CD, Zappa Records and Ryko, 1968) ***** 

Genre: Alternative rock (but really Zappa is a genre unto himself) 

Places I remember: The cassette version came first, from my cousin Christine in the UK during the mid seventies, Vinyl reissue from JB Hi Fi in Palmerston North this year, CD from Real Groovy in between times.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Willie The Pimp (Beefheart lifts it to another level)

Gear costume: Son Of Mr. Green Genes

Active compensatory factors: Zappa called this a 'movie for the ears' on the sleeve and that's a good description of how this oral feast plays out.

I've written about it on Goo Goo previously and I won't add too much more here, aside from saying I still play this album regularly and I still hear new things every time.

If you haven't yet experienced Hot Rats, and you're maybe a little put off by Zappa's scatological approach at times, try it. You'll love it!

I especially recommend the reissue on pristine vinyl with all the original album art. It's beautiful!

Where do they all belong? Relax, there are many more Zappa albums to come in this countdown.

Roamin' amd ramblin' (The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation) (LP 521- 524)

The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (CD, Not Bad Records, 1968) ***

The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation Doctor Dunbar's Prescription (Vinyl, Not Bad Records, 1968) **** 

The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation To Mum From Aynsley And The Boys (CD, Not Bad Records, 1969) **** 

The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation Remains To Be Heard (Vinyl, Not Bad Records, 1970) **

Genre: Blues 

Places I remember: Slow Boat Records, Vinyl Countdown

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Let It Ride (To Mum)

 

Gear costume: Run You Off The Hill (To Mum); Change Your Lowdown Ways (DrD'sP)

Active compensatory factors: Aynsley Dunbar first came to my attention as the drummer in Frank Zappa's early seventies Mothers, then he turned up in Journey and Jefferson Starship (1979 to 81). Wow! A serious pedigree.

I did already know about The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation though - specifically Doctor Dunbar's Prescription, as I'd seen it in Marbecks record racks but I was a bit young and the cover was a bit freaky!

When I finally caught up I was astounded how good they were! Those two middle albums in particular are amazingly diverse and enjoyable. John Mayall's production of To Mum, is in particular, spectacular.

The fourth album is a barrel scraping affair (only two tracks feature Aynsley Dunbar, so the title is accurate). Side one is strong (features those two Dunbar appearances) but side 2 is quite weak - hence the two stars.

Where do they all belong? These four, the sum total of the albums The Aysnley Dunbar Retaliation released, are reissues from 2014 on Not Bad Records: great finds on recent trips to Wellington and New Plymouth.  

Rock that boogie (Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen) (LP 518 - 520)

Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen Country Casanova (Vinyl, Paramount Records, 1973) *** 

Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen (Vinyl, Warner Brothers Records, 1975) *** 

Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen Tales From the Ozone (Vinyl, Paramount Records, 1975) *** 

Genre: Country 

Places I remember: First two came from Real Groovy, third was from a second hand shop in Manchester.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Rock That Boogie (Country Casanova)

Gear costume: Smoke Smoke Smoke (That Cigarette) 

Active compensatory factors: I have a soft spot for Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. They don't take themselves too seriously; they are a lot of fun; they boogie and they swing in a down home country way; they don't sound slick and polished - more like a garage band than a bunch of Nashville cats; and their album covers are a real hoot!

Each album is a rewarding experience. The second one here (actually their 4th studio album) sounds more honed, and Willin' is the perfect song for the boys to do.

Tales From the Ozone was their fifth studio album and the last one to feature most of the original lineup. It continues the varied approach - from Minnie The Moocher to The Band like Lightnin' Bar Blues.

Where do they all belong? That wraps up the Commander's albums. If you want a great sampler - Too Much Fun has all the high spots.

The hustler (Baker Gurvitz Army) (LP 516 - 517)

Baker Gurvitz Army Baker Gurvitz Army (Vinyl, Vertigo, 1974) ***

Baker Gurvitz Army Elysian Encounter (Vinyl, Mountain Records, 1975) ***

Genre: Progressive rock 

Places I remember: Chaldon Books and Records (Caterham on the hill)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: 4 Phil

Gear costume: Mad Jack; People (EE)

Active compensatory factors: After Cream, Blind Faith, and Ginger Baker's Airforce (great first album, forgettable second), Ginger Baker hung out with the Gurvitz brothers for a few years in the mid seventies.

Part rock and part prog, the brothers could play but they weren't Jack Bruce or Eric Clapton. Well, nobody is, but you know what I mean.

The main issue with the first album (I don't have their third and final studio album) is the vocals. Ginger chimes in raspily from time to time (Mad Jack is his best vocal effort ever, by far), but the brothers are the main vocalists on the debut and they are just not distinctive enough for my money.

Stephen Parsons (a.k.a. Mr Snips) takes over lead vocals on Elysian Encounter and he's much better - with a more bluesy delivery. At times he sounds a little like Steve Winwood (especially on Time).

So, if you like seventies prog rock with the accent on rock, then these albums are a rewarding listen - especially the second one.

Where do they all belong? That's it for Ginger in my collection. R.I.P. Peter 'Ginger' Baker - quite a character.

Is this what you want? (Jackie Lomax) (LP 514 - 515)

Jackie Lomax Is This What You Want? (Vinyl, Apple Records, 1969) ****

Jackie Lomax Did You Ever Have That Feeling? (Vinyl, Capitol Records, 1977) ***

Genre: Apple Records/Dark Horse etc 

Places I remember: Marbecks Records (Auckland); Real Groovy (Auckland)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Fall Inside Your Eyes

Gear costume: Speak To Me, Sour Milk Sea

Active compensatory factors: The Apple Records one is a noteworthy album for Beatle completists as it was produced by George, and both Paul and Ringo also appear.

It's also a damn fine rock album. Jackie's vocals are drenched in soul and R'n'B and the songs are memorable and catchy, plus the musicians are all rock gods! How could it go wrong?

Well, it was probably too much of a good thing at the time, because it had little commercial appeal outside of Beatle obsessives. Weird.

Where do they all belong? After leaving Apple his records were good but not great so I only have this one from the late seventies to add to the collection.