Grassy Knoll Institute: vinyl

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12/10/2007

Beach Boys - Endless Summer 1974

Beach Boys Endless Summer album Cover

The 1960's music world was dominated by the British invasion of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones as they churned out number one hit after number one hit. But the tide slowly turned starting on the West coast and steadily spreading throughout the nation. The Beach Boys and their "Surfer Sound" gathered a following of teeny boppers not just from California, but the entire nation. In 1974, Endless Summer, a double album greatest hits on Capital records was released. It was a must have rock and roll album with almost all the best Beach Boys tunes.

The left inside jacket is a cartoonish depiction of the California beach with a row boat, life preserver, a cartoon picture of one of the band members, and the listing of the album track titles.Side One:
Surfin Safari
Surfer Girl
Catch A Wave
The Warmth Of The Sun
Surfin U.S.A.

Side Two:
Be true To Your School
Little Deuce Coupe
In My Room
Shut Down
Fun, Fun, Fun

Side Three:
I Get Around
The Girls On The Beach
Wendy
Let Him Run Wild
Don't Worry Baby

Side Four:
California Girls
Girl Don't Tell Me
Help Me Rhonda
You're So Good To Me
All Summer Long

The right side of the inside cover is a continuation of the cartoonish California beach scene with a tanned muscle bound weightlifter and a hot dog stand.

The back cover has two more cartoon pictures of the band members, a bi-plane, penguin, and a Sgt. Rock comic book plus another listing of the album tracks.

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12/01/2007

Alice Cooper - Love It To Death 1971

Alice Cooper Love It To Death Record Album

Alice Cooper - Love It To Death - 1971

In 1971, Alice Cooper released Love It To Death which contained his smash hit, I'm Eighteen that quickly turned into a teenage anthem that still rocks today 35 years later. Last year when my son turned 18, he was blasting 18 on the stereo just as I did many year ago.As you can see on the front cover, Alice is dressed to thrill, or at least entertain. Alice Cooper was the first band to bring showbiz and entertainment into their tours.

Although the shows were graphic and gruesome, (Plenty of fake blood, theatrics, wild gory scenes) they were also packed with great rock and roll music. The audiences every night were not just treated to Alice Cooper singing and playing, but were also entertained with mini Broadway type shows.

And oh yea, Alice Cooper is the artist formerly known as Vincent Damon Furnier. Alice had his name legally changed in the early 1970's.

The left side album jacket is dominated by a giant eye with heavy bushy eyebrow with streaked mascara. The eyeball has a picture of the band Alice Cooper. The bottom left side has the song tracks and credits.
Album Tracks Are:
Side One:
Caught in a dream
I'm eighteen
Long way to go
Black juju
Side Two:
Is it my body
Hallowed by my name
Second coming
Ballard of Dwight Fry
Sun Arise

The right side of the inside album jacket had another giant eye with yet another picture of Alice Cooper.

The back cover shows the Alice Cooper group with guitars ready. Alice is dressed in a leopard type cape and heavy mascara. The classic Alice cooper look.

If you put the inside jacket pictures together, you get a freaked out frantic Alice Cooper in mascara looking out at you. Marilyn Manson has nothing on Alice.

I'll leave you with the lyrics to the albums smash hit, I'm Eighteen.

Lines form on my face and hands
Lines form from the ups and downs
I'm in the middle without any plans
I'm a boy and I'm a man

I'm eighteen
and I don't know what I want
Eighteen
I just don't know what I want
Eighteen
I gotta get away
I gotta get out of this place
I'll go runnin in outer space
Oh yeah

I got a
baby's brain and an old man's heart
Took eighteen years to get this far
Don't always know what I'm talkin about
Feels like I'm livin in the middle of doubt
Cause I'm

Eighteen
I get confused every day
Eighteen
I just don't know what to say
Eighteen
I gotta get away

Lines form on my face and my hands
Lines form on the left and right
I'm in the middle
the middle of life
I'm a boy and I'm a man
I'm eighteen and I LIKE IT
Yes I like it
Oh I like it
Love it
Like it
Love it
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen and I LIKE IT

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11/27/2007

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire 1984

U2 The Unforgettable Fire 1984 Record Album

U2 The Unforgettable Fire, 1984

You knew it wouldn't be to long before a U2 record showed up on the Grassy Knoll Institute. If you didn't know, U2 is from Ireland and has Bono as the lead singer and "Edge" as lead guitarist. You can hear the distinct sound from Edge's guitar from the first album, Boy, to the latest CD, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

The album did not have an inside cover, just a jacket sleeve. The sleeve front had a black and white photo of the group with an old Irish castle in the back ground.

The back sleeve has the album title and the credits for the album. Very sparse, no lyrics, no band info, background, just the title and credits.

The back cover has a small picture of the Irish castle, the song titles, and the lyrics to track one of the album, A Sort Of Homecoming.

Song Titles: Side 1
A sort of homecoming
Pride (In the name of love)
Wire
The unforgettable fire
Promenade

Side 2
4th of July
Bad
Indian summer sky
Elvis Presley and America
MLK

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11/25/2007

Jethro Tull - Aqualung 1971

Jethro Tull Aqualung Record Album Cover

Aqualung My Friend

Jethro Tull released their fourth album in 1971 titled Aqualung. The title song was Aqualung, a song about a dirty old man, or perhaps, about god. Either way, the sound was hard hitting, and the flute haunting. It took some time to follow along with the lyrics as Ian Anderson, lead singer and songwriter of the band, (No, there is no one named Jethro Tull in the band) bridged choppy lyrics changing tempo mid sentence. This is best on Aqualung and Locomotive Breath.

The lyrics of Aqualung, title song from the album.

Sitting on a park bench
Eyeing little girls with bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Hey, Aqualung

Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Hey, Aqualung

Feeling like a dead duck
Spitting out pieces of his broken luck.
Oh/Hey, Aqualung

Sun streaking cold
An old man wandering lonely.
Taking time
The only way he knows.
Leg hurting bad,
As he bends to pick a dog end
He goes down to the bog
and warms his feet.
Feeling alone
The army's up the rode
Salvation a la mode and
A cup of tea.

Aqualung my friend
Don't you start away uneasy
You poor old sod, you see, it's only me.

Do you still remember
December's foggy freeze
When the ice that
Clings on to your beard is
Screaming agony.
And you snatch your rattling last breaths
With deep-sea-diver sounds,
And the flowers bloom like
Madness in the spring.
Ohhh, Aqualung

The album inside covers had no information about the band or the album itself. The artwork depicted five men, seemingly from old London, in a meeting, one holding a lamp, one a cross, one crouched and looking leftward, one sitting playing a piano, and one drinking wine.

The back ground looks like a cathedral, or large church. Perhaps a monastery.

The backcover has a picture of an old vagrant, sitting almost in the gutter, beard and clothes ragged, with his faithful dog with him.
At the top left, the song titles:
Side One
Aqualung
Cross Eyed Mary
Cheap Day Return
Mother Goose
Wond'ring Aloud
Up To Me

Side Two
My God
Hymn 43
Slipstream
Locomotive Breath
Wind Up

At the top right, Ian Anderson wrote a little verse, a sort of spin off from bibles book of Genesis. He is comparing Aqualung to God. I happen to notice that the CD version does not have this on the back cover. Nor do the releases in the 80's or the 25th anniversary edition. Perhaps the words were to powerful. Here are the verses.

1. In the beginning Man created god:
and in the image of Man created he him.

2. And Man gave unto god a multitude of names.
That he might be lord over all the earth when it was suited to Man.

3. And on the seventh millionth day Man rested and did
lean heavily on his god and saw that it was good.

4. And Man formed Aqualung of the dust of the ground.
And a host of others likened unto his kind.

5. And these lesser men Man did cast into the void.
And some were burned,
And some were put apart from their kind.

6. And Man became the god that he had created
and with his miracles did rule over all the earth.

7. But as all these things did come to pass,
the spirit that did cause man to create his god,
lived on within all men,
even within Aqualung.

8. And man saw it not.

9. But for Christ's sake he'd better start looking.

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11/24/2007

Sam Kinison - Louder Than Hell 1986

Sam Kinison Louder Than Hell Comedy Album

Sam Kinison, Shock Comedian, Debut Album, Louder Than Hell

You know this kid ain't filming a letter from home with a Betamax?

Come here, see, see, this is sand....Yea......You know what it's going to be in 100 years? ITS GONNA BE SAND!!! You live in a desert. Nothing grows out here. Nothing's gonna grow out here.

This album debuted during the height of comedian Sam Kinisons popularity. he debuted on David Letterman, appeared on Rodney Dangerfield's young comedians show, and countless gigs at halls and shows throughout the country.

His humor was raunchy, loud, to the point, and sexual. His famous line was "I just love women." His act would usually start out with him calm and slowly pacing on stage. Soon his voice would escalate, and then he would begin screaming. It always brought the audience to their feet.

Alas, Sam passed away in 1992, killed by a teenage drunk driver on a highway in Needles, California. His humor is missed.

Sam Kinison Album Art

The back cover had a close up of Kinison in his trademark overcoat and beret cap. A smug smile adorns his face.

Titles on the album are:
Side One:
Blind
Big Menu
Libya
Relationships
Alphabet
Sexual Therapy
Side Two:
Manson
Jesus
Devil
World Hunger
Letter From Home
Love Song

You lyin whore
You used me
You never loved me
I hope you slide under a gas truck and taste your own blood
Die! Die! I want my records back. I want my records back

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11/23/2007

Bob Seger - Night Moves 1976

Bob Seger Night Moves

Strange how the night moves, With Autumn closing in.

The year was 1976, and Bob Seger, one of the hardest working rock and roll men in Detroit had finally broke the top 40 barrier with his "Night Moves" album. During the infancy of the so-called disco era, Night Moves was more than a refreshing change, it was a hard hitting rock album that captured the souls of millions of rabid rock fans searching for salvation disco balls and polyester pants. Night Moves didn't disappoint. The album title track, Night Moves was a slow almost ballad type song of teenage angst experimenting with love, life, and rock and roll.

The back cover displayed the album titles, a photo of the Silver Bullet Band, and instruments played.

Song Titles:
Side One:
Rock and roll never forgets
Night Moves
The fire down below
Sunburst
Side Two:
Sunspot baby
Mainstreet
Come to poppa
Ship of fools
Mary Lou

The album jacket is a black and whit photo of the front cover at a farther distance. Seger is standing with his hands in his pockets with a light behind him. The Capital records logo on the bottom right side.

The flip side of the album jacket has the song lyrics. Here are the lyrics to Night Moves, the albums #1 hit.

I was a little too tall
Could've used a few pounds
Tight pants points hardly reknown
She was a black haired beauty with big dark eyes
And points all her own sitting way up high
Way up firm and high

Out past the cornfields where the woods got heavy
Out in the back seat of my 60 Chevy
Workin on mysteries without any clues
Workin on our night moves
Trying to make some front page drive-in news
Workin on our night moves in the summertime
In the sweet summertime

We weren't in love, oh no, far from it
We weren't searching for some pie in the sky summit
We were just young and restless and bored
Living by the sword
And wed steal away every chance we could
To the backroom, the alley, the trusty woods
I used her, she used me
But neither one cared
We were getting our share
Workin on our night moves
Trying to lose the awkward teenage blues
Workin on our night moves
And it was summertime
And oh the wonder
Felt the lightning
And we waited on the thunder
Waited on the thunder

I awoke last night to the sound of thunder
How far off I sat and wondered
Started humming a song from 1962
Ain't it funny how the night moves
When you just don't seem to have as much to lose
Strange how the night moves
With autumn closing in

Bob Seger Night Moves Lyrics

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11/20/2007

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run 1975

Bruce Springsteen Born to Run Iconic Record Album

Tramps like us, baby we were born to run

Bruce Springsteen was somewhat of an underground rock and roll legend before his Born To Run album hit the charts in 1975. In 1973 Springsteen released his first album, Greetings From Asbury Park and followed that up just months later with The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle. Both albums scored minimal success in the top 40 yet the word spread and Springsteen was ready to emerge from the velvet underground.
Born To Run opened with the tune Thunder Road, a ballad that quickly turned into a hard rock almost ghostly tale of a high school romance on the verge of going sour. The boy decided to make one more attempt to win Mary's heart as he sang.....

Well I got this guitar
And I learned how to make it talk
And my cars out back
If you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The doors open but the ride it ain't free

The album jacket revealed a candid photo of Springsteen with his hand in his hair and the lyrics to all the songs. The following is the beginning of Thunder Road.

The screen door slams
Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch
As the radio plays
Roy Orbison singling for the lonely
Hey that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside
Darling you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking
That maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty buy hey you're alright
Oh and that's alright with me

The right side of the jacket continued with the rest of the lyrics of the songs. The albums hit song, Born To Run, ended with these powerful lyrics.

Someday girl, I don't know when
We're gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go
And we'll walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us
Baby we were born to run

The back cover of Born To Run has a photo of saxophone player and E Street band member Clarence Clemons and also displayed the song titles of the album.

Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Free Out
Night
Backstreets
Born To Run
She's The One
Meeting Across The River
Jungleland

Band members and associates are....
Garry Tallent, Max Weinberg, Roy Bittan, Clarence Clemons, Suki Lahav, Danny Federici, Steve Van Zandt.

This album had all the ingredients to become a blockbuster album and it did not disappoint. Born To Run stayed on the top 40 for many weeks and continued to build the reputation of the rocker from New Jersey.
Hey Eddie, can you catch us a ride?

Born To Run Lyrics

Lyrics To Born To Run Album

Born To Run Album Back Cover

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11/15/2007

Boston - Debut Album 1976

Boston Vinyl Debut Album 1976

Boston, Self Titled Debut Album 1976

In 1976, at the height of disco music, a rock and roll band burst onto the scene that would take the rest of the 1970's by storm. That band was Boston, a five man band that brought some fast and furious hard hitting riffs that echo still today. This album was designed to be played as loud as your stereo permitted and then some. And I had just the tools to do it.

The front cover is a depiction of city sized spaceships hurling away from an exploding planet. The largest ship is aptly named "Boston" and it is in search of a new home.

This album, or 8-Track tape, has 8 classic rock tunes each better than the previous tune. I fondly remember being in my car, my 1968 Camaro, equipped with my Motorola 300 watt power booster, with Clarion stereo with 8-Track player, and 14 heart stopping, blood pumping speakers positioned all around the car featuring my 6X9 triax 180 watt Arthur Fulmer speakers.

I would turn the volume up until all the red lights on the power booster were shining bright and then pop in the Boston 8-Track. The song, Foreplay/Long time was a great tune to begin with cruising up the avenue. The song would slowly build up to its peak and then a thumping bass and guitar riff would ring out. It wasn't loud enough unless your ears bled. Everyone in the neighborhood knew I was coming and going, depending on one's perspective.

Boston Record Album Back Cover

The back cover lists the song titles,
SIDE ONE
More Than A feeling
Piece Of Mind
Foreplay/Long Time

SIDE TWO
Rock And Roll Band
Smokin
Hitchin A Ride
Something About You
Let Me Take You Home Tonight
The album liner notes simply ask you to "Listen to the record." They also give a brief history of the band members and how they came together. Tom Scholz was lead guitar, Brad Delp, lead vocals, Barry Goudreau lead guitar, Fran Sheehan, Bass, and Sib Hashian, drums.

I have to agree with the liner notes. Listen to the record. It is an album that became a classic overnight and sustained the test of time and is one of the most popular records of all time. After all, it was more than a feeling.....

Brad Delp, the lead singer of the 1970's rock band Boston was found dead March 9th, 2007. He lived in New Hampshire and apparently died in his home. Delp was 55 years old.

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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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10/13/2007

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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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.