My Music Collection #3: The Ventures Christmas Album by The Ventures

 

The Venture's Christmas Album hit the stores on November 1, 1965 in time for the Christmas shopping season. It's a collection of instrumental Christmas classics with snippets of guitar riffs blended in from their own hit songs or from other artists like the Beatles and Searchers. Throw in The Venture's distinct guitar sound makes this Christmas album special. There is a green pressing but I've got the standard black release with (presumably) the original Christmas $1.99 sale sticker on it. This was found last year at a used book sale at my local library. 

The Ventures (1965)

Don Wilson - Guitar

Bob Bogle - Bass Guitar

Nokie Edwards - Guitar

Mel Taylor - Drums

Billie Eilish - Getting Older (TIME ABC Performance 2021)

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My Music Collection #2: Bloodshot by The J. Geils Band

 

 

 Bloodshot was the third album by The J. Geils Band released on April 12.1973 by Atlantic Records. The band was first formed in 1967 in Worcester, Massachusetts.  This was the bands break-through album bolstered by the hit song "Give it to Me"(peaked at 30 on the singles chart) and rock radio staple "(Ain't Nothin' but a )House Party". Originally the album was pressed in red vinyl. It was produced by Bill Szymcyk(Eagles, Joe Walsh, James Gang, B.B. King, The Who, Bob Seger)

 

 

 

The J. Geils Band was:

Peter Wolf - Lead Vocal

J. Geils (1946-2017) - Guitar

Magic Dick - Harmonica

Seth Justman - Keyboards

Danny Klein - Bass

Stephen Jo Bladd - Drums

Rocks by Joe Perry

 

Rocks: My Life In and Out of Aerosmith by Joe Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An exciting look at one of the bad boys from Boston. I've listened to Aerosmith through the years but never dove that deeply into their history. As a native New Englander, the Aerosmith story is part of our rock and roll lore. Joe's memoir travels throughout the region even before the group hit worldwide star status. Even as I type this I'm just a few towns away from Joe's boyhood home of Hopedale.

Joe comes off as a dark brooding introvert whose main outlet is his electric guitar. He spends much of the early parts of the book pestering his parents for one. Then come the years since in small bands in Boston and the surrounding area. Eventually, the members of Aerosmith finally find each other and they ride the road to success. Along that road, they pick up drug habits, divorces, band breaking-up, falling off stages, addictions, therapists, success, non-stop touring, micromanaging manager, and all the while bitching about lead singer Steve Tyler. For as much as he whines about Steve, and he's no angel, they still stick together. They are the Boston version of Mick & Keith. Guess what Joe, if Steve hasn't changed by now he's not going to. No wonder they're all in therapy.

It's an entertaining book if you want to know more of Aerosmith's history there is no shortage of drama to go along with it.

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My Music Collection #1 : 99 Luftballons by Nena

 

99 Luftballons by Nena was a compilation  album of the groups first two albums following the international success of the single "99 Luftballons". It was released April 8, 1984 and enjoyed modest success. It also included an English version of the hit song "99 Red Balloons". 

I remember the song and the video being quite popular at the time. In the states, the English version was the one I heard the most but I think the original version sounds better and has more flow. Apparently, the translation wasn't a direct one so each version is a bit unique and the meaning behind it changes a little. Unfortunately, the group wasn't able to match the success and broke up a by the end of the 80's though the lead singer Nena(aka: Gabriele Kerner) still performs and makes music to this day. 

 

For More on Nena: New York Times 2016

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