Grassy Knoll Institute: record albums

Showing posts with label record albums. Show all posts

11/03/2007

Beatles - Abbey Road 1969

Beatles Abbey Road Conspiracy Record Album

Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly
He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker he just do what he please

The Beatles, the most popular rock band in the world, created their biggest selling album, Abbey Road, as their last album ever recorded. In 1969, the Beatles fab four were nothing of the sort. Bickering and infighting over Yoko and where the band was heading had Paul and John constantly fighting. However, the music did not suffer as Abbey Road produced classic hits such as Come Together, Something, Here Comes The sun, Octopus's Garden, and The End.

This album also is shrouded with conspiracy as the Paul is dead hoax was at its pinnacle of popularity. Supposedly the album cover, showing the Beatles crossing Abbey Road, depicted an English burial scene. John, dressed in white was the angel leading the way. Ringo, dressed in black as the minister. Paul, dressed in a blue suit, the dead corpse, and George, dressed in jeans, as the grave digger. Also, Paul was left handed but was holding his cigarette in his right hand. Paul is also out of step with the other Beatles. And the license plate on the Volkswagon on the left, it says 28IF, as in Paul would 28 if he were still alive. In the background, three lads look on, depicting the surviving Beatles, and the four are walking to the graveyard. You can see the grave yard fence in the background.

The back of Abbey Road had several clues as well. The letter S in the Beatles has a crack through it signifying the Beatles are broken up with Paul being dead. And if you count up all the bricks on the wall, it is the number of songs released by Lennon and McCartney. (Not really, I just made that up.)

The back cover also has the song titles and the famous Apple logo.

The actual vinyl record, with the famous green Apple logo. The front side had the entire label in green while side B had the Apple slice, as in the Apple cut in half. The Album is numbered, mine is SO-383 and the album is produced by George Martin.

It is such a pity that the Beatles never got back together again. They finally found their groove and Yoko split up the band.

Beatles Abbey Road Paul Is Dead Hoax

Beatles Abbey Road Vinyl Album Apple

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11/01/2007

Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell 1977

Meatloaf Bat Out Of Hell Record Album

On a hot summer night, would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?
Will he offer me his mouth? Yes!
Will he offer me his teeth? Yes!
Will he offer me his jaws? Yes!
Will he offer me his hunger? Yes!
Again, will he offer me his hunger? Yes!
And will he starve without me? Yes!
And does he love me? Yes!
Yes!
On a hot summer night would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses? Yes!
I bet you say that to all the boys

Bat Out Of Hell was a rock and roll album released in 1977 by a relatively unknown rocker and songwriter.

The album was a collection of teenage angst songs smartly choreographed to fit together nicely in a tight theme. The Grassy Knoll Institute recommends listening to Bat right away.

Meatloaf, who had a bit part in the cult classic film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, literally burst onto the music scene with his debut album with such classics as the title theme, Bat out Of Hell, Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad, Paradise By The Dashboard Lights, and You took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth. This album only has 7 songs, but all are classic tunes that fit right in the theme. The song lyrics were printed on the inside jacket cover protecting the record.

The back cover has the song titles, Meatloaf in tux and shades, Jim Steinman, who wrote all the songs, and an unidentified woman rumored to be Ellen Foley who sang on the Paradise By the dashboard Light and You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth tracks.

Bat Out Of Hell Album Lyrics

Bat Out of Hell Record Album Back Cover

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10/16/2007

Glass Harp - 1971

Glass Harp Classical Rock Band

Glass Harp. The classical rock band consisting of Phil Keaggy, lead vocal, guitar, (Our neighbor when we were growing up) John Sferra, drums and vocals, and Dan Pecchio, bass, vocals and flute.

Glass Harp was a Youngstown, Ohio band that gained an almost cult status years after the band's initial debut album simple title, Glass Harp. The album got plenty of air time here in Youngstown, but no actual hit single for the rest of the nation to latch onto.

This album does not have an inner jacket, just the protective paper sleeve that fits inside the album. The lyrics of the songs were printed on the album.

The back cover showed the band members, standing against a brick wall, in leaves. The album songs list is also posted. I believe this album will be a collector album some day. It is 35 years old already. Damn, I'm old.

If perhaps Phil or Bobby ever stumble upon this site and read this... If you do, Hello, its Jack and George's little brother, Patrick.

Glass Harp Album Lyrics

Phil Keaggy, John Sferra, and Dan Pecchio Glass Harp

Glass Harp Back Cover Record Album

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10/13/2007

Elvis Presley - Love me Tender - 1956

Elvis Presley Love Me Tender Vinyl

The King, Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley, the undisputed king of rock and roll, has had more hit records than any other artist. I found this one, the 1956 release of his number one single, Love Me Tender, piled in a stack of records I inherited from my aunt Libbs and Mary.

Love Me Tender, also the title of Presley's first motion picture, was originally sung on the Ed Sullivan show September 9th, that at the time had a record viewing audience of 54 million people.

This record is not a 33 1/3, or LP, nor is it a 45 RPM, but a 7 inch vinyl single. The flip side song is, Anyway You Want Me.

RCA Victor is the brand label, the one with the little dog looking into the victrolo.

The record touts "New Orthophonic" high fidelity.

I wish I had a record player capable of playing it. Its in OK to good condition. No gouges, a few smudges, but if cleaned, should look and play pretty good.

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Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon - 1973

Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon Record Album

There really is no dark side of the moon

The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path.

Those are the beginning lyrics to the ever popular song title "Brain Damage" which happened to be the Grassy Knoll Institutes high school class song. Pretty appropriate song for the 1970's.

The album cover was unique in that there was no title on the front or the back. Just the triangle in the center with the light refracting spectrum against a dull black background. Remember folks, this was 1973, a time way before MTV and music video's. An album title was critical in the sale of records, no, not CD's, records. The title and artwork played a big part in sales.

Pink Floyd abandoned the norm and went for the stand out unique concept. And if you look at sales, it is one of the best selling albums of all time.

The inside jacket continued with the light prism with a heart beat rhythm resonating through.

The inside jacket also had the song lyrics and the only mention of Pink Floyd is the top left of the inside right jacket where it says the album was produced by Pink Floyd. The album was also produced at Abbey Road studio, owned by the Beatles in London, England.

The back cover is simply an upside down triangle with the light prism passing through forming a single white light.

The Grassy Knoll Institute recommends you to break out the old vinyl and take a listen to the Dark Side Of The Moon. Especially if you intend to watch the Wizard Of Oz anytime soon. A hint: At the second roar of the lion roars at the beginning of the movie, start the album. Hard to explain, but very interesting.

Pink Floyd Light Prism

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10/10/2007

David Bowie, Aladdin Sane, 1973

David Bowie - Aladdin Sane

And you thought Marilyn Manson was an original. David Bowie at the height of glitter rock in the late 60's and early 70's.

David Bowie brought plenty of sax, sex, and sass to rock and roll. His flamboyant look from his jet red hair to his gender bending make-up style brought attention to him but his music kept people coming back for more.
Favorite tracks on this album are:
The Jean Genie, who lives on his back,
Lets spend the night together, (Written by the Stones)
Aladdin Sane, great music on this one and you get to know the real Bowie in the lyrics.

David Bowie Album Art

The centerfold is quite remarkable. No words, lyrics, no ads. Just a picture of a very thin Bowie in full body make-up. Sort of looks like the Marilyn Manson costume that he sometimes wears.

David Bowie Aladdin Sane Back Cover

The back cover is a silhouette of bowie outlined in red and blue clearly showing off his famous hair. One look and you would guess Bowie.

Addendum: Rest In Peace Ziggy (January 10, 2016)

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10/07/2007

Bonzo Dog Band - Beast Of The Bonzos

Bonzo Dog Band

Beast Of The Bonzos

The album liner notes begin: In my own pink half of the drainpipe, the Bonzo Dog Band (Doo Dah) is unaminously regarded as the bee's knees, if not the greatest rock and roll romance group of all eternity!

Alrighty then. In reality, the Bonzo's were a rock band living in obscurity never reaching billboards top 10 records. Perhaps their only "Hit" song was "The Intro And The Outro" that introduced the band members and many other famous people in history. I'd like to introduce Legs Larry Smith......

The album jacket inside has some very wild art and graphics. It seems to tell a story of a war leading to destruction of humanity. Or something like that..... Here are the inside jacket photos and the back cover.

Beast Of The Bonzo's Inner Cover

The inside jacket tells a story of a super dog that is destined to save the world if only people would heed his warning and listen to him. But all the people feel like doing is clowing around and do not take the dog seriously.

Bonzo Album Inside Art

As the story continues, the world is in peril and ready to explode if the people do not heed the warning of superdog. Alas, they do not and the world explodes leaving only the superdog alive.

Bonzo Dog Band Back Cover

The back cover shows the band members in a circle photograph in various disguise. The album title tracks are also shown.
This One's for you George

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11/16/2003

Vinyl Record Albums Of The Past

These vinyl record albums were rescued from the basement of the secret lair of the Grassy Knoll Institute. These old vinyl albums haven’t seen the light of day in more than a decade. It took me quite awhile to find a turn table (Yes, turn table) with a working needle to play them once again. Enjoy the nostalgia.