Today's Vinyl Spin - Fleetwood Mac

Today's Vinyl Spin goes back to the very successful Fleetwood Mac line-up of Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckinghman, John McVie, Christine McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Fleetwood Mac is the first album to feature the then new line-up of the group.

Fleetwood Mac enjoyed moderate success as a blues band and a mainstream rock group with numerous membership changes. In 1974 after former lead singer and guitarist Bob Welch left the group, the duo of Buckingham-Nicks were recruited to take his place. The two new members proved to be the best thing that happened to Fleetwood Mac in terms of a new music direction and commercial success.

The band paved its way to becoming a major concert draw with Stevie, Lindsey and Christine showcasing various songs while McVie and Fleetwood provided a solid foundation. It is one of the few bands that I personally saw in concert not once, but twice.

Their debut album Fleetwood Mac with the new line-up slowly crawled to the #1 position on the charts by 1976 while its singles garnered more and more radio airplay. These included "Over My Head", "Rhiannon," "Say You Love Me," and "Blue Letter". "Landslide" also became a hit after Fleetwood Mac recorded it again for their 1997 live album, The Dance.

I was first introduced to this album by an old college friend back in the day. I always knew of Fleetwood Mac but never paid much attention to them. I had only one track of theirs in my record collection which was "Stop Messin' Around" that appeared on a compilation LP. I later liked the song "Hypnotized" after hearing it on the radio. Was not enough for me to buy their records at the time (I was a starving high school student when this stuff first came out)....

Over the years I have owned 2 vinyl copies of Fleetwood Mac as well as 2 CDs of this. Made at least two cassette tapes off the vinyl and later the CD for portability before the digital age.

Fleetwood Mac is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time by them. It's an enjoyable, refreshing listen whenever I give it a spin.

The back cover of Fleetwood Mac with track list, group members Nicks, Fleetwood, McVie, Buckingham and McVie.

Fleetwood Mac would be the last of their albums to show up on the Reprise label.

Track List

Side 1

1. Monday Morning
2. Warm Ways
3. Blue Letter
4. Rhiannon
5. Over My Head
6. Crystal

Side 2

1. Say You Love Me
2. Landslide
3. World Turning
4. Sugar Daddy
5. I'm So Afraid

"Rhiannon" was one of 4 singles released from the album. All 4 singles have different mixes from the versions on the album. When Fleetwood Mac was issued in a special edition CD in 2004, the single tracks were included as bonus material. Nice move on Warner / Reprise's part.

"Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac....

Today's Vinyl Spin - "Carney" by Leon Russell

On the turntable today: Leon Russell's Carney - Shelter Records, 1972. This is a great album featuring the tracks "Tightrope", "Out in the Woods," "Roller Derby," and the original version of "This Masquerade" which became a hit later for George Benson. Strangest track? "Acid Annapolis". Russell must have been on something!

This is an enjoyable, casual period piece to listen to if you just want some music to kick back to with a carnival like twang.

Track List

Side 1:

1. Tight Rope – 2:59
2. Out in the Woods – 3:35
3. Me and Baby Jane – 3:52
4. Manhattan Island Serenade – 3:25
5. Cajun Love Song – 3:08
6. Roller Derby – 2:22

Side 2:

7. Carney – :47
8. Acid Annapolis – 2:47
9. If the Shoe Fits – 2:21
10. My Cricket – 2:55
11. This Masquerade – 4:22
12. Magic Mirror – 4:56

Gotta love the logotype that appears throughout the package of this LP. Side 1 features a lavender label while the label on Side 2 is green.

The back cover has no track list but a picture of Leon sitting in front of a camper trailer attached to a vintage Rolls Royce. Nice.

"Tightrope" on  YouTube:

Today's Vinyl Spin - Fleetwood Mac "Mirage"

Mirage is Fleetwood Mac's first studio album released in the 1980s that features the hits "Hold Me" by Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks' "Gypsy". Both singles became big hits in 1982 in an album that to me tried to harken back to 1977's Rumours LP that sold in the mega millions and also earned the band their only #1 single "Dreams" and a Grammy Award. 

However listening beyond the obvious singles, there are tracks on the album to love even more. My favorite is the retro sounding "Oh Diane" that features Lindsey Buckingham on lead vocals as well as his rollicking "Can't Hold Back". Christine is also solid with "Love in Store" and the ballad "Only Over You". There is a touch of country in Nicks' "That's Alright" while Buckingham's "Book of Love" reminds me of music from Tusk.

Overall a highly recommended but under-appreciated album from the Mac. :)

Giving Mirage a spin on the ol' Technics.

Artwork featured on the inner sleeve.

"Oh Diane" featuring Lindsey Buckingham, Top of the Pops.*

* video may be taken down without notice.

Today's Vinyl Spin: George Michael - Faith

Gotta have faith, faith, faith.... yes, this was the title track to George Michael's first solo album in 1987 after he broke up with Andrew Ridgeley and the duo known as Wham. The album came out on Columbia Records and yielded several top 10 hits including the number one records "Faith," "One More Try," "Monkey" and "Father Figure". 

Faith is a good album if you like cutting edge pop music with a beat that is typically 1980s. Michael at the time was regarded as a teen idol (especially when he was a part of Wham) as his videos were extensively played on MTV and other music channels of the time.

George Michael tried to break out of that mold with subsequent album releases that proved to be mostly successful.

This particular record was not played very often and is in very good condition. The album jacket is still shrink wrapped showing the original $5.00 price that I paid for it at Froggies Books and Records back in the day. I also owned the album on cassette but never got around to getting it on compact disc.

George Michael passed away on December 25, 2016 allegedly from heart failure. He was 53.

"Father Figure" was one of the #1 singles from Faith.

Today's Vinyl Spin - The Beatles "Let It Be"

I revive this blog with a new feature called "Today's Vinyl Spin" in which I highlight any one of my many LPs and 45s collected through the years. I'll try to post at least an album a day, but can't always guarantee that. 

For our first entry it is none other than The Beatles, which I and many others the world over consider the best rock band of all time. John, Paul, George & Ringo made a huge impact on the music scene when they became popular in the early 1960s and carried on as a group until announcing their dissolution in 1970. They released many memorable albums and singles through their all too short career as "The Fab Four".

For today's showcase, I am featuring the last released album of "new music" by The Beatles. It is the Phil Spector meddled recompilation of the "Get Back" sessions that became Let It Be.

On my iTunes this is the 2nd most played Beatles record I have other than the all digital "#1's" from 2004.  What do I like about Let It Be?

Well, all of the songs. The title track is a harder version than the single track, and "Get Back" is captured in its live recorded glory before it was fixed up for single release. Three #1 songs came off this album which included the title "Let It Be", "Get Back" and the group ending single "Long And Winding Road".

The album is perfectly packaged with individual photos on the front and back, track list and a gatefold inside. A red Apple label was issued for this release instead of the standard green one. Nice.

My favorite tracks are "Get Back", "Let It Be", "For You Blue," "Two of Us", "Across the Universe" and "I Me Mine". I always wondered why "Dig It" was so short. Come to find out there is a longer version but it was never officially issued.

My LP is in good, playable condition even though the cover is kind of worn. I also have it on CD and ripped to digital.

Vinyl-Disc - Vinyl & CD combined

Well here is something weird from the tech front. A vinyl CD. Imagine that. Thankfully this format never caught on because the vinyl side of the recording doesn't play very well on most turntables. The CD side is typical of any other standard CD.

According to the video's author the format was a gimmick. It was introduced in 2007 but never lasted very long. Check out the video above.

Nohelani's First Album to Be Re-released

From the Aloha Got Soul record label comes this in my email:

"Five years ago I launched this niche music blog simply because I wanted to document some of the cool music that came out of Hawaii during the 1970s. 

Nohelani Cypriano's 1979 debut is one shining example of such music.

It's 2015 and Aloha Got Soul is working with Be With Records to reissue Nohelani's debut for the first time ever on vinyl, available August 7th.

Be With founder Rob Butler and Aloha Got Soul ambassador Cedric Bardawil are hosting a release party at Brilliant Corners in London—and you're invited.

Join us as we celebrate on Friday, August 7th for a night of amazing tunes including Hawaiian grooves, summertime sounds and island jams.

Nohelani Cypriano Release Party

Brilliant Corners
470 Kingsland Road, E8 4AE 

Friday, August 7th

7:00pm - 1:30am
Free entry
All-vinyl"

First off I definitely remember this album being released on vinyl in 1978 or 79 about a year after Nohelani Cypriano hit it big in Hawaii with her Homegrown II  hit, "Lihue".

Certainly, the album has been out of print for a while. It is good to know that it is being re-released again on vinyl. The album has long been available on CD and digital formats.

Kind of odd that the record release party is in London, UK. I guess Nohelani is popular there or perhaps there are more vinyl fans in the British Isles. Regardless I am sure this record will be also available in Hawaii.

10 Minute Documentary: Buy Sell Trade

Over the years I have kept most of my vinyl records. Today vinyl has made a comeback and it is good to see that young people have rediscovered vinyl.

This short film has been out for about a year, published to YouTube in April 2013.

45 RPM Heaven - Grand Funk Railroad - We're An American Band

Grand Funk Railroad's "We're An American Band" was a loud, perfect rock n roll record. It was so great that it became their first #1 hit single. In 1973 this record certainly caught my attention as top 40 radio stations picked up on this song all over the place. They had a huge following for their live arena shows and had several albums that feature many rock anthems including "I'm Your Captain/Closer to Home," and "Inside Looking Out."

Many probably felt Grand Funk Railroad sold out with this highly commercial hit. Crass commercialism at its best signified the release of "We're An American Band." Capitol, Grand Funk's label probably felt so confident that this would be their breakthrough hit, issued the 45 on clear gold vinyl. It is one of the most beautiful looking records that I have in my collection.

Prior to the release of the "We're An American Band" single, Grand Funk did hit the charts with lower scoring records such as "Footstompin' Music," "Upsetter" and "Rock n Roll Soul".

Grand Funk Railroad followed "We're An American Band" with several more hit singles. These included "Walk Like A Man," "The Locomotion" which also went to #1, "Some Kind of Wonderful," "Shining On," and "Bad Time." They disbanded a few years after "Bad Time" charted.

The band has since regrouped with a new line-up in recent years.

Original post

AVAILABILITY: Widely available on various compilations as well as on Grand Funk Railroad's reissue of the "We're An American Band" album. CD and digital editions.

Grand Funk Railroad

"We're An American Band" b/w "Creepin'"
Produced by Todd Rundgren | Written by Don Brewer
Capitol | 3660 Stereo | Year of release: 1973

The Sweet Marie - Stella's Candy Store

This post commences the 45 RPM Heaven series to this blog. 45 RPM Heaven is a section on my original website that showcases select 45 RPM records. By bringing this to my blog, I hope to extend this feature and showcase more 45s that I have in my collection.

First up: The Sweet Marie - Stella's Candy Store from 1972.

Sweet Marie was a rock group that became popular in Hawaii in 1970s with their initial release entitled "Remember Mary." I know almost nothing about this group except that I really loved their 3 single hits. Sweet Marie was a heavy rockin, guitar laden combo that featured a lead singer who sounded somewhat like Jimi Hendrix. This is most apparent in their debut hit "Remember Mary," as well as on this featured 45, "Stella's Candy Store."

All of the Sweet Marie's records were issued on the Yardbird label out of Woodland Hills, California. I know nothing about this company and doubt that they exist today.

"Stella's Candy Store" was released in 1972 and received heavy airplay in Hawaii. What attracted me to this single was the fact that it was issued on colored vinyl.... clear red. It looked cool and the song was great! "Stella" made it to the top 10 of many local radio station charts, but as far as I know, was a hit only in Hawaii. The song was #1 on KPUA radio in Hilo Hawaii. I remember seeing Sweet Marie once on a local TV show performing this song. They rocked!

This single was issued on clear red vinyl and I am the happy owner of 2 copies of this 45. I think it is a most excellent record. The B-side to "Stella" is a track called "Another Feeling" and is somewhat laid back in contrast to the loud "Stella."

CD Availability: The album from which "Stella's Candy Store" and "Stuck in Paradise" was issued, became available on compact disc for a time a few years ago. It was issued on an independent label called Gear Fab Records, catalog number GF-172. "Stuck in Paradise" is the title of the album. This was Sweet Marie's 2nd album. The CD has since gone out of print. May still be able to find at used CD stores and possibly eBay. Used copies may also be available on Amazon.com.

The Sweet Marie (vinyl 45s)


"Remember Mary" b/w "Don't You Understand?"
Yarbird YDB-70-1314, Released 1970

"Stuck in Paradise" b/w "Hortense The Hippie"
Yardbird No. 8015, Released 1971

"Stella's Candy Store" b/w "Another Feeling"
Yardbird YDB-72-1321, Released 1972

YouTube Audio Link (with album graphic)

Original Post @ 45 RPM Heaven

Graphic Images: Top is the 45 rpm record of "Stella's Candy Store" in red vinyl. Below that is Sweet Marie's 2nd album, "Stuck in Paradise" on which "Stella" is featured.

LIGHTHOUSE! Pretty Lady

From Music Mike's YouTube channel comes this wonderful "new" video of the Lighthouse song "Pretty Lady." Lighthouse was a Canadian music band known for its brassy rock n roll, similar in style to Blood Sweat & Tears or Chicago. They were louder than both. They had a handful of hits, the most recognizable one being "One Fine Morning" form 1971.

"Pretty Lady" was a single track released in 1973 that only went to the mid 50's on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song however topped the local radio charts in Hawaii and to this day remains one of my favorites. Give "Pretty Lady" a listen by clicking on the video link above. It's a song you'll remember or wished you heard long ago.

MEL'S TOP 10 OLDIES FOR THE WEEK
As submitted to Plannine's Classic Top 30 site.

1. My Hawaii - The Rascals
2. Jennifer Eccles - The Hollies
3. Don't Ever Leave Me - Connie Francis
4. Arms of Mary - Sutherland Brothers & Quiver
5. Revolution - The Beatles
6. Sad Sweet Dreamer - Sweet Sensation
7. Nights are Forever Without You - England Dan & John Ford Coley
8. The Story in Your Eyes - The Moody Blues
9. Poor Poor Pitiful Me - Linda Ronstadt
10. Pretty Lady - Lighthouse

Super Oldie of the Week

I've been a music fan for nearly all my life. It started when I got my first transistor radio from an uncle. My Dad also had a friend that ran a jukebox business. Every once in a while (this was back in the mid 1960s) he'd unload a bunch of old 45s at our house, which I promptly listened to on our old phonograph stereo.

Those old 45 rpms included tracks by Elvis Presley, Shirley Ellis, The Beach Boys, Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, Brenda Lee, Clarance Carter, The Four Seasons, Gene Chandler and many others. The old Sony radio that I got from my uncle opened me up to a whole world of rock n roll music by those screamin' old disc jockeys on top 40 radio. It was fun listening to the old thing back in those days.. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and many others from the British Invasion, Motown and the rest of the pop music world blared out of the tiny AM radio speaker.

As I grew older and into the early 1970s, I became a regular purchaser of 45 rpm and 33 1/3 record albums. I amassed a large collection of singles and record albums that continue on to this day with CDs and digital music.

I like listening to many of the old songs that were played on the radio and 45s. Since I grew up in Hawaii, many songs in the 1960s and 70s were unique hits to the islands... we had traditional Hawaiian music, contemporary Hawaiian music and a lot of regular rock n roll records that came in from the mainland and abroad which became hits on local Hawaii radio stations. Often what would be a hit in Hawaii were unheard of on the mainland.

To start of this series of Super Oldies of the Week, I will feature a track that was a minor hit in Hawaii and in other places on the mainland.

Back in 1973 a little known group called Circus released "Stop Wait Listen" on Metromedia Records. It was a minor radio hit. I recently found this track posted to YouTube from "Music Mike's Flashback Favorites" page. Here is Circus and "Stop Wait Listen" for you to listen to in its entirety complete with commentary from the video's creator.



Also here are the songs that I voted for this week to Plannine's Classic Top 30 page.

• 1. The Lord's Prayer - Sister Janet Mead
• 2. La La La La La La - The Blendells
• 3. Beyond the Clouds - The Poppy Family
• 4. New Year's Day - U2
• 5. Jennifer Eccles - The Hollies
• 6. My Hawaii - The Rascals
• 7. You're Only Lonely - J.D. Souther
• 8. All the Tea in China - Susan Jacks
• 9. The Name Game - Shirley Ellis
• 10. Stop, Wait, Listen - Circus