Scar tissue (Red Hot Chili Peppers) (LP 3615 - 3617)

Red Hot Chili Peppers   Californication (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 1999) ****  

Red Hot Chili Peppers   Greatest Hits (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 2003) *****  

Red Hot Chili Peppers   Stadium Arcadium (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 2006) ***  

Genre: Rock, Alt rock 

Places I remember: The Warehouse, Hope's Collection (Stadium Arcadium)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Californication

Gear costume: Otherside

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: I used to own a few other RHCP albums on cassette but got rid of them when CDs appeared and the Greatest Hits album covered all the important territory like Suck My Kiss, Under the Bridge, and their cover of Higher Ground.

Californication is their seventh studio album and their most successful one commercially. It's chock-a-block with now classic Red Hot Chili Peppers' songs: Around the World; Parallel Universe; Otherside; and the title track.

 

John Frusciante's reappearance is a crucial factor, along with a more melodic approach. His guitar skills and variety of approaches is one x-factor, along with Flea's funky bass, Chad Smith's fluid drums and of course Anthony Kiedis' distinctive vocal style. 

Stadium Arcadium was their ninth studio album - a double. The problem with double CD albums is they are like triples in old money - so huge and sprawling. In fact, this was supposed to be three different albums released one after the other, but they decided on a double CD package instead. 

I find it hard to listen to a triple CD album. There are 28 songs on Stadium Arcadium. As AllMusic pointed out - it's a long, winding path of alternately spacey and sunny pop, ballads, and the occasional funk workout that used to be the Chili Peppers' signature but now functions as a way to break up the monotony.

Where do they all belong? Good to have these, but that's enough already!  

Tuff enuff (Otis Redding) (LP 3614)

Otis Redding  Here Comes Some Soul From Otis Redding and Little Joe Curtis (Vinyl, Hallmark Music, 1967) ***  

Genre: Soul

Places I remember: Keegan's collection

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Tuff Enuff (Otis) 

Gear costume: Bring Back My Love (Little Joe)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: This is a reissue of a compilation, but I'm not sure where the songs come from - maybe some singles and B sides? I'm not up with the play regarding soul in general as a genre and Otis specifically. 

I like, but don't love his strident, impassioned delivery, so a little goes a long way. Keegan left this album behind when he went to live in China some years ago. I kept it because that way I have at least one album by this soul icon.

Where do they all belong? It's in safe keeping in the collection.

Soup of the day (Chris Rea) (LP 3612 - 3613)

Chris Rea Expresso Logic (CD, East West Records, 1993) **

Chris Rea New Light Through Old Windows (CD, East West Records, 1998) *** 

Genre: Pop rock, AOR

Places I remember: Shona Walding collection

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles/ Gear costume: Julia (Expresso Logic)  

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: An album by Chris Rea is not something I'd normally listen to, but I kept this copy from Shona's collection. 

His 13th studio album, Expresso Logic's adult-oriented rock style isn't really to my taste but it's a jazzier-bluesier album than most of his catalogue, featuring some fine slide guitar, particularly on the title track. He also has a smooth singing style that is easy on the ear.

One of my problems is that the pace doesn't vary much and the sloooooow songs are really sloooooooooooow. Aside from that it's pleasant music without taxing the brain at all. So, if that's what you're after - go for Expresso Logic.
 
Where do they all belong? Good to have that one in the collection along with a Best of album - New Light Through Old Windows. It was his first compilation and includes songs from his earlier years.

Get down (Raydio) (LP 3610- 3611)

Raydio  Raydio (Vinyl and CD, Arista Records, 1978) *** 

Raydio  Rock On (Vinyl and CD, Arista Records, 1979) ***   

Genre: R&B, pop 

Places I remember: Vinyl Countdown, Slow Boat Records, The Warehouse.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: You Can't Change That (Rock On)

Gear costume: Jack and Jill (Raydio)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: The two hits dominate these two early albums for Raydio. There were a couple more in the eighties before Ray Parker Jr went solo. Albums, that is.

The band have two modes really - the Prince style sexy dance floor fillers and the love ballads - I prefer the latter.

The nice thing about Raydio is the harder edged singing on offer thanks to the combination of Vincent Bonham, Arnell Carmichael, and Ray. The harmony mix of the three is a strong feature of their sound.

Where do they all belong? I have no intention of buying their third album - I'll stick to these two and the Ray Parker Jr solo stuff.

Go all the way (Raspberries) (LP 3604 - 3609)

Raspberries  Raspberries (Vinyl, Capitol Records, 1972) ****  

Raspberries  Fresh Raspberries (Vinyl, Capitol Records, 1972) *****  

Raspberries  Side 3 (Vinyl, Capitol Records, 1973) *****  

Raspberries  Starting Over (Vinyl, Capitol Records, 1974) ***  

Raspberries  Raspberries Live on Sunset Strip (CD/DVD, Ryko Records, 2007) ****

Raspberries  The Raspberries - Capitol Collector Series (CD, Capitol Records, 1991) *****   

Genre: Power pop 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records, Marbecks Records, HMV

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Go All The Way (Raspberries)

Gear costume: Ecstasy (Side 3), Drivin' Around (Fresh)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: I love a wide range of power pop bands. These tend to be bands heavily influenced by The Beatles (songcraft), The Who (those power chords), The Small Faces, The Beach Boys (those harmonies) and The Hollies amongst others.

Two of the best power poppers were Badfinger and Raspberries. They have a few similarities in that they had a range of different writers and singers to carry the load and in Pete Ham and Eric Carmen they had two amazing talents - both great singers/ writers who, incidentally are both the rhythm guitarists who also play piano in their bands (like Lennon). 

Raspberries and Fresh Raspberries are both from 1972. Eric Carmen's Go All The Way is the first song on the debut and it's also one of their best. It does tend to dominate the album but the eight minute long closing number - I Can Remember is also a brilliant song.

Wally Bryson (lead guitar, vocals) and Dave Smalley are great foils for Carmen and they contribute some excellent songs to the band's catalogue. Combined with Jim Bonfanti on drums, they stop things getting overly sentimental (Eric's big problem post Raspberries).

Fresh Raspberries built on the debut and featured the hits Let's Pretend, Drivin' Around and I Wanna Be With You. The rest of the album contained songs that could also have been hit singles.  

Side 3 was a second five-star effort. The guitars are meaty and the songs varied because of the three distinctive writing styles. Everything about this album is great, including the cut-out cover in the shape of a bucket of raspberries. The big hits from Side 3 were Tonight, I'm a Rocker and Ecstasy.

 

The el cheapo cover to Starting Over says it all. Gone are Smalley and Bonfanti, replaced by a new bassist and drummer. The album does contain Overnight Sensation and Cruisin' Music but there are too many lacklustre songs. It would be their last album. The final track (Starting Over) is a neat bridge to Carmen's solo career.

That just leaves a couple of post career CDs in my collection. First is the three disc set of Raspberries Live on Sunset Strip. There is a bonus DVD with 5 songs being performed - coincidentally their 5 best songs: I Wanna Be With You, Tonight, Overnight Sensation, Ecstasy, Go All The Way.

The set was performed by the classic Raspberries band - Carmen, Bonfanti, Bryson, Smalley. It's really good - nice and meaty. Not exactly like the records, but with some grit and texture that is absolutely appropriate.

The Capitol Collector Series is a greatest hits compilation that is a really vital addition to my collection. It cherry picks all their greatest moments and is probably all a casual fan needs.

Where do they all belong? Eric Carmen's solo albums have their moments. I've already reviewed them here.

Obsession (Jean-Luc Ponty) (LP 3602 - 2603)

Jean-Luc Ponty  A Taste For Passion (Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1979) ****  

Gerry Rafferty  Can I Have My Money Back? (Vinyl, Passport Records, 1971) ****  

Genre: Jazz fusion, pop-rock 

Places I remember: New record shop (Palmerston North)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Beach Girl (Jean-Luc Ponty)

Gear costume: Sunset Drive (Jean-Luc Ponty)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: Here-to-which, I continue with my seventies' obsession, vinyl obsession and mild Jean-Luc Ponty/ Gerry Rafferty obsessions.

Has Jean-Luc ever made a poor album? If so, I've yet to hear it. The jazz rock moves on A Taste For Passion aren't as frenetic and experimental as his earlier albums so it gets into some lovely mid-paced grooves instead.

Gerry Rafferty's debut solo album was 1971's Can I Have My Money Back? The AllMusic review sums this album up well: This record harnesses the cosmic production presence prevalent in the latter discs of the decade, when Rafferty's commercial Renaissance arrived with City to City, but returns to earth with intrinsically fluid melodies, facile poetry, and folksy playing. Simply superlative, Can I Have My Money back is the first of too few full-lengths from a sporadic but splendid talent.

Where do they all belong? Always keen to pick up any Jean-Luc Ponty albums. So far, I've never been disappointed. Joe Egan was onboard for Rafferty's debut and the two would head off together to produce Stealer's Wheel and mega single success.

Spieluhr (Rammstein) (LP 3597 - 3601)

Rammstein  Mutter (CD, Motor Records, 2001) ****  

Rammstein  Reise, Reise (CD, Universal Records, 2004) ***  

Rammstein  Rosenrot (CD, Universal Records, 2005) ***  

Rammstein  Liebe ist für alle da (CD, Universal Records, 2009) ****  

Rammstein  Völkerball (CD and DVD, Universal Records, 2006) ****  

Genre: Heavy metal, Prog metal

Places I remember: The Warehouse, Real Groovy Records, JB Hi Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Adios (Mutter)

Gear costume: Wiener Blut (Liebe ist für alle da); Du Hast (Völkerball) on YouTube.

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: I've written about a few of their albums so far - Herzeleid, Live Aus Berlin, and Sehnsucht. We now pick up the story with their third studio album - Mutter. Quality dial remains on high for this album. You pretty much know what you're going to get with Rammstein and Mutter doesn't disappoint in the slightest. I have no idea what they are singing about and I don't care to find out especially.

Reise, Reise tried to vary the formula a bit, but introducing a girl chorus isn't a great move and Amerika with some English lyrics is a low point from my pov.

Rosenrot was a bit better, in that its experimentation worked more amid the usual Rammstein moves. Even though they verge on Nightwish style prog on a couple of tracks, I tend to play this album as much as I do their first three. 

By this stage I tended to buy Rammstein albums automatically on release. They are great albums for car journeys because Jacky likes them!

Liebe ist für alle da was next and it was a major return to form. They mean it maan (again). This time the beats are more urgent, harder hitting, and more melodic. It became their bestselling album in many areas, even America!

Völkerball is the second live album I have by Rammstein. It's a lavish CD and DVD package (like Live Aus Berlin). They are a very visual band and they put on a real performance, so the DVD component is very welcome. This show was recorded during their 2005 world tour.

The band members have remained unchanged since 1994, so these guys know what they are about. Live is Rammstein in their element. The peaks and highlights are many as they make show! And they do a mighty version of Du Hast!

Where do they all belong? That's it for this band - a lot of metal there I know, and yet - I haven't kept up to date since Völkerball. That means a couple of albums to look out for: Untitled album (2019) and Zeit (2022).