The music that shaped my life.

[corkybstewart]

Three Dog Night doing a Nilsson tune. This was on the first album I ever bought with my own lawn mowing money

When I was 15 my swimming coach took me and his 2 sons to a 3 Dog Night concert in Mobile AL. The coach decided that except for being too loud, these new rock concerts were good, harmless fun. So a week later he just dropped us off to listen to the Alice Cooper woman, what coud possible go wrong? We were able to stand against the stage, 6 feet from Alice, and a guy next to us was dispensing herbal medication all night long. That was his Dead Babies tour, the first of his 3 concerts I saw while in high school. Welcome to My Nightmare was the last show I got to see, about the time I graduated from high school.

 

[Snuffy]

When I was 15 my swimming coach took me and his 2 sons to a 3 Dog Night concert in Mobile AL. The coach decided that except for being too loud, these new rock concerts were good, harmless fun. So a week later he just dropped us off to listen to the Alice Cooper woman, what coud possible go wrong? We were able to stand against the stage, 6 feet from Alice, and a guy next to us was dispensing herbal medication all night long. That was his Dead Babies tour, the first of his 3 concerts I saw while in high school. Welcome to My Nightmare was the last show I got to see, about the time I graduated from high school.

I saw some great shows in Mobile in the late 70s. Ted Nugent, Charlie Daniels, Nazareth, at the Civic Center. Canned Heat at the old Fort Whiting Armory. One of the worst shows I ever saw was in Mobile. It was Aerosmith in probably 77. They were trashed and there was a lot of stopping and starting. After about 45 minutes and 6 or 7 songs the booing started and they just left the stage. Frank Marino had opened and he had to come back out and play another set to finish up. I heard an interview with Steve Tyler years later and he said they had ruined some shows at the end of a long tour by shotgunning tallboys backstage. That must have been one of those.

 

[corkybstewart]

I saw some great shows in Mobile in the late 70s. Ted Nugent, Charlie Daniels, Nazareth, at the Civic Center. Canned Heat at the old Fort Whiting Armory. One of the worst shows I ever saw was in Mobile. It was Aerosmith in probably 77. They were trashed and there was a lot of stopping and starting. After about 45 minutes and 6 or 7 songs the booing started and they just left the stage. Frank Marino had opened and he had to come back out and play another set to finish up. I heard an interview with Steve Tyler years later and he said they had ruined some shows at the end of a long tour by shotgunning tallboys backstage. That must have been one of those.

I left mobile in 1976. At the bicentennial concert there were several big name Southern rock bands. The only 2 I am certain of were Charlie Daniels, who was too drunk to stand (but kept playing and singing) and Jimmy Buffet who played an incredible set.

 

[corkybstewart]

I saw some great shows in Mobile in the late 70s. Ted Nugent, Charlie Daniels, Nazareth, at the Civic Center. Canned Heat at the old Fort Whiting Armory. One of the worst shows I ever saw was in Mobile. It was Aerosmith in probably 77. They were trashed and there was a lot of stopping and starting. After about 45 minutes and 6 or 7 songs the booing started and they just left the stage. Frank Marino had opened and he had to come back out and play another set to finish up. I heard an interview with Steve Tyler years later and he said they had ruined some shows at the end of a long tour by shotgunning tallboys backstage. That must have been one of those.

My worst was Ted Nugent in Pensacola. The bar was in a Quonset hut and was just too loud. He played well by within a few songs we couldn't take it.

 

[sibelman]

Worst? Hot Tuna at Cole Field House, a basketball venue in College Park, MD. Horrible acoustics, even for a ball court. Somehow much better at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion (Zappa, Flo and Eddie). Far better at the Fabulous Forum (Supertramp). But, after seeing Sting at the basketball stadium at William and Mary, I swore off such venues.

 

[Snuffy]

My worst was Ted Nugent in Pensacola. The bar was in a Quonset hut and was just too loud. He played well by within a few songs we couldn't take it.

I can remember standing a few rows back from the stage at a Ted show and realizing that my clothing was moving around and there was no wind.

It was the ultimate testosterone freakout tho. Perfect for 15 yr old misguided stoners. He swung across the stage on a rope in a loincloth. There was no higher rock icon at that time.

 

[Snuffy]

I left mobile in 1976. At the bicentennial concert there were several big name Southern rock bands. The only 2 I am certain of were Charlie Daniels, who was too drunk to stand (but kept playing and singing) and Jimmy Buffet who played an incredible set.

I was there 76 to 79.

 

[BongoYodeler]

Worst for me was Bad Company, maybe 1979 or 1980. Acted like they didn’t even want to be there. Didn’t even come out for an encore. Warm up act was Climax Blues Band, they were awesome. The review in the paper the next morning shredded Bad Company, praised Climax Blues Band.

 

[corkybstewart]

Worst for me was Bad Company, maybe 1979 or 1980. Acted like they didn’t even want to be there. Didn’t even come out for an encore. Warm up act was Climax Blues Band, they were awesome. The review in the paper the next morning shredded Bad Company, praised Climax Blues Band.

I loved the Climax Blues Band, I still occasionally listen to FM Live on the turntable.
I can't remember a truly bad performance, and I went to a lot of concerts-at $6 it was cheap entertainment and Mobile got a lot of concerts in the 70s.

 

[Snuffy]

This may agitate some of the faithful, but THE worst show I ever saw was Grateful Dead at Boutwell Auditorium in Bham in 1980. I think they got busted and wrote "Alabama Getaway" and never played there again. It was seriously lame. They played nearly every song at a different tempo or with a different singer. The place was full of whirling, flailing, tripping, singing, smelly deadheads. We left halfway thru.

I saw Bad Company on that same tour with Climax Blues. Both bands were great tho. My favorite shows of all time were probably Nugent, Nazareth, AC/DC, and Rush. I took a date to see Firefall and Marshall Tucker. Did not expect much. Firefall was considered "chick music" at the time. Turned out to be a fantastic show.

I still go to shows. We have a pretty good set of venues here that get some great indy talent. Recent shows (last few years) were Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Son Volt, Superchunk, Sleep, Drive-by Truckers. We are kind of aging out of that stuff now, but sometimes you got easy tickets so... why not?

 

[BongoYodeler]

I saw Bad Company on that same tour with Climax Blues. Both bands were great tho.

Yeah, I really liked Bad Company back in the day. They may have just been off that night when I saw them. I suppose it can happen when you're living on the road, playing night after night.

 

[Broothru]

Worst? Hot Tuna at Cole Field House, a basketball venue in College Park, MD. Horrible acoustics, even for a ball court. Somehow much better at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion (Zappa, Flo and Eddie). Far better at the Fabulous Forum (Supertramp). But, after seeing Sting at the basketball stadium at William and Mary, I swore off such venues.

Cole Field House. You mean the "Hell in a Shell"?

U. of Md. basketball lost a lot of its history and cache when they moved to the new venue. At least my Alma Mater still plays in Allen Field House, aka: "The House that Phog Built, But Wilt Filt." Still one of the best venues for college hoops, since the late 1950s. I've still got a plank of wood from the original flooring.

 

[Broothru]

By the way, what ever happened to Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and 'Sing Along With Mitch?' Those were the days!

 

[corkybstewart]

By the way, what ever happened to Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and 'Sing Along With Mitch?' Those were the days!

I remember Sing Along with Mitch, my parents watched it every Saturday. I also was blessed with many hours of Liberace, Name that Tune, Ed Sullivan, and other musical gems from the 50s and early 60s. For me Hee Haw was such a wonderful diversion from Liberace.

 

[Brewskey]

My worst was Ted Nugent in Pensacola. The bar was in a Quonset hut and was just too loud. He played well by within a few songs we couldn't take it.

I grew up in Pensacola and I know which Quonset hut(s) (seems like it may have been two of them) you're talking about. Seems like it was a health food store when I was a kid in the 90's.

 

[corkybstewart]

I just re-read this thread and realized I didn't respond to so many posts made by the others. There are so many bands mentioned that I've never heard of. I moved to a small town in New Mexico where terrestrial radio was limited to late 70's Top 40 pop, then I moved to the oilfield and really lost track of the music industry and what was being produced. The crap available was mostly disco, soft rock and other stuff that didn't interest me. When I got my first Sirius radio in 2001 I started listening to music again. So there was essentially a 20 year period where new music was impossible to find for me.
Tonight I was reminded of one of my all time favorite albums, a truly revolutionary album: The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. When I say the name the music starts in my head.

 

[Broothru]

I remember Sing Along with Mitch, my parents watched it every Saturday. I also was blessed with many hours of Liberace, Name that Tune, Ed Sullivan, and other musical gems from the 50s and early 60s. For me Hee Haw was such a wonderful diversion from Liberace.

Yeah, but Hew Haw's costumes weren't as exotic as Lee Liberace's. A lot more pickin' and grinnin' though.

 

[sibelman]

what ever happened to Jimmy Dorsey

" Mikey, Whatever happened to the [expletive] Duke of Earl?"
-- Randy Newman

 

[Broothru]

Hey, that's what we named our RV. Well, except for the [expletive] part. Call me weird, but I like Randy Newman. And Lyle Lovett. And if I had a boat, I'd sail it on the ocean, and if I had a pony, I'd ride it on my boat!

 

[Snuffy]

 

[Snuffy]

 

[Snuffy]

 

[Ninoid]

The beginnings of MTV, computers (Spectrum, Commodore), playing the guitar and... drinking beer.

 

[Snuffy]

 

[Broothru]

Carole King and Sweet Baby James

 

[Snuffy]

 

[BongoYodeler]

This is gonna be a long one...

Probably the single musical group/individual that helped shape my interest in music is The Alan Parsons Project, and in particular Alan Parsons himself. I remember the night I heard my first song from them. I was 18 or 19, it was well after midnight one night in 1976, laying on the couch with headphones on and fading in and out of sleep when the song, "The Raven" came on. I was jolted into full consciousness. When it ended I immediately called the radio station, (DJ's were real back then, and most AOR DJ's were quite cool and into their craft). I asked if he could read come of the liner notes from the LP, as well as share any knowledge he had of this new band. It was late, he was cool, and happy to oblige. I found out Parsons had worked in the studio as a 20 year old assistant engineer on the Beatles' Abbey Road and Let it Be albums. He was also the engineer on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. The next day I ran out and bought their first album - Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Edgar Allan Poe).

Over the next few years I bought each album as soon as it was released. Ten albums between 1976 and 1987, (an 11th was released in 1990, but they'd broken up while recording it. It was eventually released and simply titled Freudiana). Unfortunately my favorite band never toured during their run of albums. But after they disbanded Parsons finally did begin touring, using some members of the Project, but not the name due to legal issues. I heard about an online fan club and joined that. As a perk members could request and receive after-show passes to any live show we attended. I began attending as many as I could, lost track of how many after 60 or so. My wife and I once received a private invitation to a recording session at XM Studios in DC, (before XM merged with Sirius). It was a Q&A with Parsons; he also had his touring band and they played a few songs as well. Over the years I've gotten to know Alan and his wife Lisa. Had dinner with them once before a concert. One afternoon, in the middle of a Parsons Live Project two night appearance at a Nevada casino, my wife and I were invited to his hotel suite for a catered lunch. (I have "incriminating" photos of Alan and Lisa partially clothed, in bed, à la John and Yoko, a joke they played on one of his band mates).

During three consecutive summers in the early 2000's Parsons and a few other big name musicians took part in Beatles tribute tours. Having after-show passes allowed us to meet and mingle with legends John Entwistle, Todd Rundgren, Jack Bruce, Denny Laine (of Moody Blues and Wings), Christopher Cross, Mark Farner (of Grand Funk), Joey Molland (of Badfinger) to name a few.

A little over a year ago we attended Parsons' 75th birthday party/concert in Santa Barbara. Also in attendance was Al Stewart, Joe Bonamassa, Michael McDonald, Terry Sylvester, and Laurence Juber, (probably forgetting a few others). It was a special night.

I've been fortunate over the years to get to know Alan Parsons and his family, and to meet all these great musicians, and also to be exposed to such great music - the soundtrack of my life.

 

[Broothru]

This is gonna be a long one...

Probably the single musical group/individual that helped shape my interest in music is The Alan Parsons Project, and in particular Alan Parsons himself. I remember the night I heard my first song from them. I was 18 or 19, it was well after midnight one night in 1976, laying on the couch with headphones on and fading in and out of sleep when the song, "The Raven" came on. I was jolted into full consciousness. When it ended I immediately called the radio station, (DJ's were real back then, and most AOR DJ's were quite cool and into their craft). I asked if he could read come of the liner notes from the LP, as well as share any knowledge he had of this new band. It was late, he was cool, and happy to oblige. I found out Parsons had worked in the studio as a 20 year old assistant engineer on the Beatles' Abbey Road and Let it Be albums. He was also the engineer on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. The next day I ran out and bought their first album - Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Edgar Allan Poe).

Over the next few years I bought each album as soon as it was released. Ten albums between 1976 and 1987, (an 11th was released in 1990, but they'd broken up while recording it. It was eventually released and simply titled Freudiana). Unfortunately my favorite band never toured during their run of albums. But after they disbanded Parsons finally did begin touring, using some members of the Project, but not the name due to legal issues. I heard about an online fan club and joined that. As a perk members could request and receive after-show passes to any live show we attended. I began attending as many as I could, lost track of how many after 60 or so. My wife and I once received a private invitation to a recording session at XM Studios in DC, (before XM merged with Sirius). It was a Q&A with Parsons; he also had his touring band and they played a few songs as well. Over the years I've gotten to know Alan and his wife Lisa. Had dinner with them once before a concert. One afternoon, in the middle of a Parsons Live Project two night appearance at a Nevada casino, my wife and I were invited to his hotel suite for a catered lunch. (I have "incriminating" photos of Alan and Lisa partially clothed, in bed, à la John and Yoko, a joke they played on one of his band mates).

During three consecutive summers in the early 2000's Parsons and a few other big name musicians took part in Beatles tribute tours. Having after-show passes allowed us to meet and mingle with legends John Entwistle, Todd Rundgren, Jack Bruce, Denny Laine (of Moody Blues and Wings), Christopher Cross, Mark Farner (of Grand Funk), Joey Molland (of Badfinger) to name a few.

A little over a year ago we attended Parsons' 75th birthday party/concert in Santa Barbara. Also in attendance was Al Stewart, Joe Bonamassa, Michael McDonald, Terry Sylvester, and Laurence Juber, (probably forgetting a few others). It was a special night.

I've been fortunate over the years to get to know Alan Parsons and his family, and to meet all these great musicians, and also to be exposed to such great music - the soundtrack of my life.

That is so cool.

Being ‘adjacent’ to culturally popular music icons, famous (and less so), can have a lifelong impact on how we view art as well as the world writ large. My wife grew up in a family that had a wide circle of friends, mostly upwardly mobile (conservative) professionals.

Among her parent’s circle of friends were the parents of a young musician named Pat Metheney who became quite renowned for his fusion jazz portfolio of music. The genre was not so mainstream popular in the U.S., except on late night FM radio stations, but Europe (especially pre-Unification Germany) was fertile ground for that sound, and that’s where Pat Metheny gained notoriety.

So, long story short, he asked young SWMBO’d to do some vocals on one of his recordings sessions, which became her claim to musical fame. Pat became an ex-pat living in Germany and was an integral part of the fusion jazz scene in Europe.

Fifteen or 20 years ago, he was touring the U.S. and was booked for a concert at Wolf Trap, just outside the D.C. beltway, and sent us two tickets for the performance. As luck would have it, I was ironically out of the country (in Germany) so my wife took our 20-Something son to the front row concert with backstage privileges and post concert reception. Our son still remembers the experience, and I’m sure SWMBO’d likely has a fleeting “what if” thought from time to time.

 

[Snuffy]

 

[seatazzz]

I never got to see Pink Floyd in concert, but a few years ago Pierce College in Tacoma put on a computer generated accompaniment show to Dark Side of the Moon, that was absolutely amazing, in their auditorium with layback seats like the old laser shows that were put on at the Seattle Center. Despite our companion's insistence on playing overly enthusiastic air drums throughout the show, it was amazing.