Yes - Fragile - 1972

Yes Fragile Record Album 1972 Record Cover

Fragile Yes Album 1972

Atlantic Record Company had a progressive rock band on their hands. This band, named Yes, had a unique blend of music melding both classical instruments with the more traditional rock staples of drums and guitars. That blend is the result of the Fragile album.

The left inside cover has the lyrics to the album. One of the hit songs, Round About was always clouded with incorrect lyrics. Below, is the exact lyrics taken from the album jacket.

I'll be the round about
The words will make you out 'n' out
You change the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley

The music dance and sing
They make the children really ring
I spend the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you

I will remember you
Your silhouette will charge the view
Of distance atmosphere
Call it morning driving thru the sound and even in the valley

Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching down on the land
Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land
The eagles dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand
Go closer hold the land feel partly no more than grains of sand
We stand to lose all time a thousand answers by in our hand
Next to your deeper fears we stand
Surrounded by a millions years

The right inside jacket noted the song titles.
Side One:
1 Roundabout
2 Cans And Brahms
3 We Have heaven
4 South Side Of The Sky

Side Two:
1 Five Per Cent For Nothing
2 Long Distance Runaway
3 The Fish
4 Mood For The Day
5 Heart of the Sunrise

Meet The Band:
John Anderson - Vocals
Bill Bruford - Drums, Percussion
Steve Howe - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocals
Chris Squire - Bass Guitars, Vocals
Rick Wakeman - Organ, Grand Piano

The back cover depicts the earth, some sort of ship... It reminds me of the album art of Boston's debut album in 1976. they had a giant space ship hurtling away from an exploding earth. I can only describe the air ship as a whale with sails attached to it.

The album protective sleeve advertises the other artists signed by Atlantic records. Some of the famous bands are the Rolling Stones,...

The flip side protective cover offers even more artists signed by Atlantic. I have a good many of these albums and they will appear in future updates.

Until then, I recommend buying the Yes CD or rescuing the old vinyl album from your basement as I have done. Slap it on the turntable and turn the volume up loud and let the album rock. Enjoy!

Yes Fragile Lyrics

Yes Fragile Liner Notes

Yes fragile Back Record Cover

Yes fragile Record Jacket Sleeve

Yes Fragile Jacket Sleeve

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Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive 1976

Frampton Comes Alive 1976

This album had it all. A live performance, a wild crowd, superb guitar play, and 90 minutes of music that could be played at ear bleeding volumes. Frampton Comes Alive debuted at the heart of the so called Disco Era but quickly found a strong following of fans screaming for more.

Frampton Comes Alive was released in 1976 and his signature song from the album, Do You Feel Like We Do is the song most identified with Frampton. It was the song that during his guitar riffs, he would make his guitar talk by using a device known as a talkbox. When the guitar started talking, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy cheering and screaming wildly. If you only listen to one Peter Frampton song, it is highly recommended that it be Do You Feel Like We Do as that one. You will come back for more.

Sidenote: The talkbox was a hidden device consisting of a clear tube that Frampton spoke into. The tube was connected to the guitar and in turn the guitar was connected to the talkbox on the stage. Whatever Frampton spoke into the tube, it would reverberate through the amplifier and sounded just like the guitar was talking. The rock band Aerosmith used this technique the previous year on it's hit single, Sweet Emotion but Frampton is most known for the wide use of the talkbox.

Second Sidenote: Frampton Comes Alive was recorded at Winterland, San Francisco and has sold over 16 million copies making it the best selling "Live" album to date. Show Me The way and Baby I Love Your Way were the album's hit singles that made it to the top 6 along with the 14 minute plus version of Do You Feel Like We Do earning Frampton more than 70 million dollars in 1976.

Peter Frampton honed his guitar skills playing lead in the band Humble Pie and The Herd. After several years, he recorded his own album, and two more before Comes Alive hit the mainstream of rock and roll. A rock and roll legend was born in San Francisco the night the album was recorded live on stage and 31 years later, only the lines on Frampton's face has changed. The music remains as strong and powerful as ever.

The back cover has Frampton with his signature guitar rocking on stage. The album didn't open as usual album jackets. This one opened from the top and when folded out completely, showed a full picture of Frampton jamming on stage with his guitar.
The album title tracks are printed on the right side.

Side One:
Introduction
Something's Happening
Doobie Wah
Show Me The Way
It's A Plain Shame

Side Two:
All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)
Wind Of change
Baby I Love Your Way
I Wanna Go To The Sun

Side Three:
Penny For Your Thoughts
(I'll Give You) Money
Shine On
Jumping Jack Flash

Side Four:
Lines On My Face
Do You Feel Like We Do


The left inside jacket pictured Stanley Sheldon, back up guitar, and Bob Mayo, guitar and keyboards. Framptons previous albums were listed on the bottom right side.


The right inside jacket pictured drummer John Siomos and a larger picture of Frampton on stage. Bob Mayo played keyboards and is the only band member mentioned in the performance other than Frampton.


Both album inner jackets picture 25 popular albums which included The Captain And Tennille, The Carpenters, Joe Cocker, Styx, The Tubes, Pablo Cruise, Supertramp, Cat Stevens, Herb Albert, Head East, Joan Baez, and Spooky Tooth.


The album itself with the hit song from the album, Do You Feel Like We Do showing.

Here are the lyrics to Do You Feel Like We Do

Well, Woke up this morning with a wine glass in my hand
Whose wine, what wine, where the hell did I dine
Must have been a dream, I don’t believe where I've been
Come on... lets do it again

Do you, you, feel like I do
How's it feel
Do you, you, feel like I do

My friend got busted just the other day
They said don't walk, don't walk, don't walk away
Drove him to a taxi bent the boot hit the back
Had to play some music otherwise he'd crack

Do you, you, feel like I do
How's it feel
Do you, you, feel like I

Do you, you, feel like I do
Yes I do
Do you, you, feel like I do

Champagne for breakfast and a sherman in my hand
Peached up, peach ale, never fails
Must have been a dream, I don't believe where I've been
Come on... lets do it again

Do you, you, feel like I do
How you'd feel
Do you, you, feel like I

Bob Mayo on the keyboards, Bob Mayo

Do you feel like we do
Do you feel like we do
Ohhh that's true
Do you feel like we do, get back
Do you feel, do you feel like we do

Talkbox Lyrics
Do you feel
Do you feel
Like I feel
I want to thank you

Do you feel like we do
That's alright, that's alright to feel you'd like
Feel you'd like, a good time
We'll goto bed and good night
Good time, good time, good time, good time, tonight
Well...........

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Jesus Christ Superstar - 1970

Jesus Christ Superstar A 1970 Rock Opera

Jesus Christ Superstar, A 1970 Rock Opera

Jesus Christ Superstar, 1970, a rock opera written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics written by Tim Rice. This double album told the story of the events of Christ leading up to the crucifixion. This record, at the time, was very controversial. The Catholic church condemned the album citing blasphemy with "Hippies" singing songs about Jesus. As always, the young teens who heard this flocked to the record stores to buy this "Banned" album.
Ironically, Jesus Christ Superstar kept very close to the New Testament version and helped the young people of the day learn about the crucifixion and Christ's teachings. Apparently, rock and roll is not always the devils music.

The front cover simply states JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR with golden angels linked in a circle bowing towards each other.

Yes, this is a double album but the inside jacket is simply a dark brown with absolutely no writing, art work, or pictures. Not even a list of songs or acts. It's the only album I can recall that has nothing on the inside jacket.

Second verse, same as the first. The right side of the jacket is the same, all brown with no writing except at the top right that has MCA2-10000 which is certainly an album code.

The backcover has the cast of Superstar :
Jesus Christ..........Ian Gillan
Judas Iscariot........Murray Head
Mary Maddalene........Yvonne Elliman
Pontius Pilate........Barry Dennen
King Herod............Mike D'Abo
Caiaphas..............Victor Brox
Simon Zealotes........Johnny Gustafson
Peter.................Paul Davis
Annas.................Brian Keith
High Priest...........Paul Raven

Performing in Superstar are members of Deep Purple, Joe Cockers Grease Band, Lord Sutch, Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, The Big Three, Juicy Lucy, Quartermass, Merseybeats, Gracious, Plastic Penny, Spooky Tooth, Manfred Mann, and Nucleaus. And the 85 piece orchestra and the strings of the city of London.



The album had an insert with the complete score, lyrics, acts, scenes, and cast, and crew. It provides an easy way to follow along with the opera. Of course, the most popular song from the album was Superstar and got plenty of airtime on the radio. However, there were two versions of the song, a short and long play version. Here is the long play version lyrics.

Judas:
Every time I look at you I don't understand
Why you let the things you did get so out of hand
You'd have managed better if you'd had it planned
Why'd you choose such a backward time and such a strange land?

If you'd come today you would have reached a whole nation
Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication
Don't you get me wrong (repeat)
I only want to know (repeat)

Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ Superstar
Do you think you're what they say you are?

Tell me what you think about your friends at the top
Who'd you think besides yourself's the pick of the crop?
Buddah was he where it's at? Is he where you are?
Could Muhammmed move a mountain or was that just PR?
Did you mean to die like that? Was that a mistake or
Did you know your messy death Would be a record-breaker?

Don't you get me wrong (repeat)
I only want to know (repeat)

Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ Superstar
Do you think you're what they say you are?
(repeat and fade out)

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The Buoys - Timothy 1971

The Buoys - Timothy - The Cannibal Song

God Why Don't I know

I played this song for about 50 people the past several days. I asked this simple question. What is this song about? Without the use of the Internet not one person knew. So, I pose the same challenge to you. Without the aid of Google to search the meaning, read the lyrics below and tell the Grassy Knoll Institute what the song is about. 

Sidenote: The following lyrics are the exact lyrics from the original single release. They have been altered and misunderstood many times over. Even the original recording was altered to change the meaning of the song along with the lyrics but the Institute has the original so there is no conspiracy going on here.

Timothy - Buoys - 1971

Trapped in a mine what had caved in
And everyone knows the only ones left
Was Joe and me and Tim

When they broke through to pull us free
The only ones left to tell the tale
Was Joe and me

Timothy, Timothy, where on earth did you go
Timothy, Timothy, God why don't I know

Hungry as hell, no food to eat
And Joe said that he would sell his soul
For just... a piece... of meat
Water enough to drink for two
And Joe said to me, I'll take a swig
And then... there's some... for you

Timothy, Timothy, Joe was looking at you
Timothy, Timothy, God what did we do

I must have blacked out just round then
Cause the very next thing that I could see
Was the light of the day again

My stomach was full as it could be
And nobody ever got around to finding... Timothy

Timothy, Timothy where on earth did you go
Timothy, Timothy god why don't I know

Timothyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Yeah
Timothy
Timothy

OK, before you read any further, add your answer in the comments section at the bottom of this page. OK, you can read on to find the meaning.

That's right kids! This song is about cannibalism. Trapped in a mine that caved in, three men survived. Two of the men apparently struck a deal to kill Timothy and eat him to survive. The Grassy Knoll Institute is not kidding. The song really is about cannibalism.

In 1971, Rupert Holmes, (Famous for his Pina Calada Song, Escape) formed a band in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. After a lengthy negotiation, Scepter Records caved in and allowed the band to record a single song. They were informed that the song would not be promoted and they were on their own with it.

Rupert and the band got together and decided to cut a record that would be so controversial that it would get banned. After all, if the record wasn't going to get promoted, they thought that perhaps if their song was banned, another record label would take notice and sign them to a real deal. And so Timothy was conceived and written.

The song got limited play time but soon the kids would call the radio stations and request the song to be played again and again. The station DJ finally listened to the record and realized the meaning of the lyrics and pulled the record from it's slotted airtime. But it was to late.

Timothy had become a hit and after several major radio stations began playing it, it quickly rose to a top 20 hit. The listeners were eating it up. (Pun intended) Unbelievable that a song about cannibalism had become so popular.

Today, parents are up in arms about suggestive lyrics in Britney Spears, Pink, and Beyonce songs plus the sometimes violent storytelling of some rap artists. To put this in perspective, not one of these artists songs tells the tale of three men trapped in a mine where two of them plot against the weaker, kill him, and eat him to survive celebrating cannibalism.

I'm hungry, who wants pizza?!

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Heart - Dreamboat Annie 1976

Heart Dreamboat Annie 1976 Record Album

Heart, Dreamboat Annie 1976

Ann and Nancy Wilson's debut album, Dreamboat Annie featuring Steve Fossen and Roger Fisher but the Wilson sisters were the true force behind the music. The front cover has the sisters back to back hinting that they are nude. Both are attempting to look sensual.

The Wilson sisters had many adults up in arms with the rumor that the sisters were witches and devil worshippers and that the lyrics in their songs were about the occult and the underworld. The albums hit song, Magic Man was supposedly about the devil and how he manipulated the innocent child to love him. Other songs on the album also were called out as well as future albums by the Wilson sisters. To this day, there are still whispers that Ann and Nancy Wilson worship the devil.

Whatever your belief, Heart had a powerful album with driving guitar and bass with potent lyrics which spawned, (Pardon the pun) monster hits, Magic Man, Dreamboat Annie, Crazy On You, and White Lightning And Wine.

Side One:
Magic Man
Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child)
Crazy On You
Soul Of The sea
Dreamboat Annie
Side two:
White Lightning And Wine
(Love Me Like Music) I'll Be Your Song
Sing Child
How Deep It Goes
Dreamboat Annie (Reprise)

The album's protective jacket had the lyrics printed on both side plus a little add on poem by Ann Wilson written in 1975.

Dreamboat Annie was powered by the hit single, Magic Man, and the mysterious man, (Or devil) the lyrics spoke about. You be the judge, here are the exaqct actual lyrics to the song.

Magic Man

Cold late night so long ago
When I was not so strong you know
A pretty man came to me
Never seen eyes so blue

I could not run away
It seemed we'd seen each other in a dream
It seemed like he knew me
He looked right through me

"Come on home, girl" he said with a smile
"You don't have to love me yet
Let's get high awhile
But try to understand
Try to understand
Try try try to understand
I'm a magic man."

Winter nights we sang in tune
Played inside the months of moon
Never think of never
Let this spell last forever

Summer lover passed to fall
Tried to realized it all
Mama says she's a worried
Growing up in a hurry

"Come on home, girl" mama cried on the phone
"Too soon to lose my baby yet my girl should be at home!"
"But try to understand
Try to understand
Try try try to understand
He's a magic man, mama
He's a magic man"

"Come on home, girl" he said with a smile
"I cast my spell of love on you a woman from a child!
But try to understand
Try to understand
I'm a magic man!"

The flip side had the album title lyrics and also another hit from the album.

Dreamboat Annie (Reprise)

Heading out this morning
into the sun
Riding on the diamond waves
little darlin' one

Warm wind caress her
Her lover it seems
Oh, Annie
Dreamboat Annie
my little ship of dreams

Going down the city sidewalk
alone in the crowd
No one knows the lonely one
whose head's in the clouds

Sad faces painted over
with those magazine smiles
Heading out to somewhere
won't be back
for awhile

Dreamboat Annie Heart Lyrics

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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

Glass Harp Back Cover Record Album

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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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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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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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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.

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Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies 1973
Alice Cooper - Love It To Death (1971)
Beach Boys - Endless Summer (1974)
Beatles - Abbey Road (1969) 
Beatles - Introducing The Beatles1964 
Beatles - Revolver 1966 
Bob Seger - Night Moves (1976) 
Bonzo Dog Band - Beast Of The Bonzo's (1971)
Boston - Debut Album (1976)
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run (1975) 
Buoys, The - Timothy (1971)
David Bowie - Alladinsane (1973)
ELO - Discovery -1979
Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender (1956)
Four Tops - Live - 1966
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac 1975 
Glass Harp - Glass Harp (1971)
Heart - Dreamboat Annie (1976)
Jesus Christ Superstar 1970  
Jethro Tull - Aqualung (1971) 
Jim Morrison And The Doors - Morrison Hotel (1970) 
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced  (1967)
Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy 1973
Led Zeppelin - Zoso (1971)
Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell (1977)
Peter Frampton - Comes Alive 1976 
Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
President Kennedy Vinyl (1963) 
Prince - 1999 (1982) 
Sam Kinison - Louder Than Hell (1986) 
Steely Dan - Aja 1977
Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks (1971)
U2 - The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
Yes - Fragile - 1972

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