6 CD'S THAT GET OVERLOOKED!

Good Morning! Today's BLOG is on CD's that have magic in them, but are sometimes overlooked. So let's dive in.

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First of all, I have always had a thing for Emmylou Harris. An atractive lady, her voice is clear and cutting, her musicianship as a guitarist is terrific and she isn't afraid to "go for it". When she was advised to hire a "hot band", she basically drained her bank account and hired Elvis Presley's backup band (who toured with him from 1969-77) and actually renamed them "The Hot Band". Her financial gamble paid off with a great selection of albums along with "Elite Hotel", "Blue Kentucky Girl", "Luxury Liner" and the acclaimed "Wrecking Ball". Emmylou is a "Must See" in concert. I just ordered this CD (I buy them used). It is very ethereal and solid on all fronts. Emmylou herself is ageless. A fascinating lady who has worked with everyone in the business from the late Gram Parsons, the late Towns Van Zandt, Guitarist James Burton, Linda Ronstadt and The Nash Ramblers to name but a few. I don't think you could go wrong with any CD's in her portfolio. Okay, this CD has a mixed story to it. According to Peter Frampton, Grand Funk was the first sledge hammer arena rock band. Guitarist Mark Farner, drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher started out as a "Power Trio" garage band in Flint, Michigan who went on to sell out Shea Stadium in just 72 hours in 1970, sold over 30 million albums and somehow The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has failed to induct them. That my friends, is a travesty. Mark Farner has always been my inspiration for a true rock guitarist. At the time of this CD's release, the band was suffering from years of lawsuits with their late producer Terry Knight, who according to the band, made off with $57 million while paying the guys a stipend of $350 a week. After parting with Knight, the IRS put the band members through a living hell for years over a shelter corporation Knight set up with a dumb investment in speculative oil drilling using Mark, Don and Mels' money. They added Craig Frost on Keyboards and started all over again from scratch by produced their own LP "Phoenix"--appropriate as in "rising from the ashes"-- (with the hit "Rock and Roll Soul", and even invited fiddle player Doug Kershaw along on the title track). Next, the band hired Todd Rundgren to produce the albums "We're An American Band" and "Shinin' On. Then came the now-defunct Capitol Records, who forced the band to deliver two more albums and threatened to sue them if they resisted. Tensions in the band were strained beyond belief! This CD was their final obligation to Capitol. Despite all of these circumstances, the CD is a remarkable performance with all original music. The project would have been a huge commercial success were it not for two Public Relations miscues. During recording, Mark Farner's cousin lost his life in a tragic motorcycle accident and the morning after, a grieving Farner penned the song "Born To Die". The band later regretted using the song as the CD's title. Worse, famed photographer Lynn Goldsmith felt it would be cutting edge to photograph the band members laying in caskets--another move they regretted for the CD cover! In 1976, the album came and went virtually unnoticed. Only today, have devoted fans like myself come to embrace the music on this CD with the standout "I Fell For Your Love". Grand Funk was burned out, but managed to stay together long enough to have a dream realized when the late Frank Zappa produced "Good Singin', Good Playin'". But the magic was over and band broke up. A reunion concert benefitting war-torn Bosnia in 1996 with David Letterman band leader Paul Schafer and the Detroit Symphony (on the second CD Disc) brought the band back and today they are touring heavily with new music and performing all of their classic hits. Mark Farner left the band after the CD "Bosnia" and was replaced by singer Max Carl of 38 Special and ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick. Keyboardist Craig Frost was replaced with Terry Cashman, but founding members drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher remain. This is a great CD! Crank it!!!

When I visited Bud Buckley in Venice, Florida we set out for breakfast and coffee one morning and I cranked this CD up in my rental car. We agreed that Willie Nelson is a most understated guitarist--just an amazing musician. This LP was recorded in an old abandoned movie theater pictured on the jacket and the sound is all original. A new direction for the "Red Headed Stranger".





Jim Morrison was burned out by 1971 as lead singer for The Doors, but like Grand Funk, the band owed Elektra Records one more album. So, for this outing, they hired Elvis Presley's road band bassist Jerry Scheff instead of relying on Ray Manzarek to double on keyboards and bass. Marc Benno was also brought in as Rhythm Guitarist to Robbie Krieger's lead guitar work with John Densmore on drums. While "L.A. Woman", "Riders On The Storm" and "Love Her Madly" were huge FM Radio hits, the cut "L'America" is a knock out. An aside: To get the vocal sound on :Love Her madly", Jim pulled a microphone into a bathroom, shut the door and sang with tape rolling. Pay attention the next time you hear this one! Preliminary plans were made for the band to retain Benno and Scheff to go on the road and in at least one letter sent by Jim from France, he referenced a willingness to tour with it. Jim died at 27 in Paris.




This is a good example of Todd Rundgren "live" with his long time band Utopia and worth a listen. A master songwriter ("Hello, It's Me", "I Saw The Light", "A Dream Goes On Forever" and "Bang the Drum"), guitarist and studio producer, this is a nice way to experience the artist in concert.

Jesse Winchester's outing here has many gems aside from the cover song and includes "Bowling Green" and my personal Winchester favorite "You Remember Me". I feel this one is almost forgotten. Take it out for a spin!

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WISHING YOU A NICE WEEK!

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You are invited to visit my REEL Page Interview filmed in November, 2007

at: www.michaelmanning.tv