Johnny Cash - Out Among the Stars

Johnny Cash - Out Among the Stars. Columbia/Legacy Records, 2014.

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that growing up my exposure to vinyl records was essentially the music that my parents had. Johnny Cash was one of those artists my parents listened to, and I heard a lot of his music growing up. It took me a while to fully appreciate artists like Johnny Cash, but he has certainly become one of my favorite artists. Out Among the Stars is a posthumous album, released 11 years after his death in 2003. Rather than try to describe how this album came about, I'll simply use the words of his son John Carter:

"My father had many visions. He was known for them. And like so many other great men, when he pursued them; he did so with all his heart. He only gave one hundred percent - no matter the endeavor. If it were a show tour, a new record, or a fishing trip, he gave his whole heart.

Dad had several primes in his life. Some were spiritual, some creative, some professional; sometimes all three came together for him. His beginning at Sun Records was one. Another was the time around the release of the live prison records. Also at the end of his life, his body frail, but his spirit determined and vibrant. Another of my father's primes occurred in the early 1980s. It is somewhat lesser known but Dad relapsed into pain pill addiction around 1980. It was a few years later in the first half of 1983 that he found recovery. Though his creativity at this time is not as highly regarded by some fans as other times, still he was of perfect voice, content, and of hopeful heart during this recovery.

When I heard these recordings for the first time in so many years what I immediately noticed was the joy in his voice - his spirit was soaring. I heard the vibrant joy. When these recordings were made he was as full of passion and love as any other time in his life - at a true prime.

I am honored to present this previously unreleased album, originally produced by the master Billy Sherrill; this record captures my father at a time in his life when he was wholly focused. These recordings have never been heard before now. So listen for his vision, listen for the essential delight of being alive, being free, and within you may find a true picture of who the man really was."
                                                   - John Carter Cash, December 2, 2013, Hendersonville, TN

One of the things that I most enjoy about Johnny Cash is his ability to mix both songs of very dark material and gospel and other more cheerful songs. This album is another fine example of that. In "I Drove Her Out of My Mind" Cash essentially tells his wife/girlfriend that he's going to drive them off of a cliff. But then you have songs like "I Came to Believe" that is just a beautiful gospel song. His ability to do this I think shows what kind of man he was - he dealt with a lot of demons, made a lot of mistakes, and was far from a perfect man - but his faith in God never wavered. He knew where to turn for healing of his soul. And that internal struggle has produced some of the finest music this country has ever produced. Long live the Man in Black.

Side note: Marie bought me the awesome sign earlier this week. 

Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick is one of those bands that I knew their radio hits - "Surrender," "I Want You To Want Me," "Dream Police," "The Flame," etc., but that was pretty much it. My first exposure may have been their song "Mighty Wings" from the Top Gun soundtrack (my parents had the soundtrack on cassette - I find it funny now that my parents listened to a soundtrack with Cheap Trick, Kenny Loggins, Berlin, Teena Marie, Miami Sound Machine, and Loverboy).Collecting vinyl has allowed me to delve more deeply into their catalog, and they have quickly become one of my favorite bands. They have some incredible songs that don't get radio play. I don't have all of their albums, but of what I have so far I have to say In Color is my favorite. The songs "Big Eyes" and "You're All Talk" are just two of the coolest songs you are going to hear anywhere - I really enjoy "Southern Girls" as well. "Gonna Raise Hell" off of Dream Police is another great one. Their early stuff from the late 1970s is their best in my opinion, but their music from the 80s is enjoyable as well. Rick Nielsen has become one of my favorite guitar players and has one of the most unique fashion styles in rock music - he makes bowties and cardigans cool. Just a great, fun band - they recently released Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello in 2016, with Rick's son Daxx on drums. Original drummer Bun E. Carlos (best name in rock?) remains a member of the band (according to the band) but hasn't been involved with any band activities since 2009-2010. It seems like a complicated situation, but whatever. They continue to put out good music, which can't be said for a lot of other bands from this era.

Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music

Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. High Top Mountain Records, 2015.

Sturgill Simpson is living proof that authentic, heartfelt country music still exists, but he also proves that he is not simply a clone of classic country acts. He may sound somewhat like Waylon Jennings, but he takes a very innovative approach to country - yes, it does have that old outlaw feel, but it's also been labeled by some as "psychedelic country." He is one of the leaders trying to take country music back to its roots but also move it forward in a different direction than what is being played on the radio. This is Sturgill's second album; the follow-up to this one, 2016's A Sailor's Guide to Earth has been nominated for album of the year at this year's Grammys, going up against Adele, Beyonce, Justin Bieber, and Drake. Most people watching the Grammys won't have a clue who Sturgill even is. But hey, Beck won last year, so maybe he's got a shot (I'd be cool with Adele winning too - she's an amazing talent as well).

This album has some great songs on it, and one of my all-time favorite song titles: "Turtles All the Way Down." My other favorites are "Living the Dream," "Long White Line," "A Little Light," and a cover of When in Rome's "The Promise." It takes a lot of talent for a country artist to turn an '80s new wave/pop song into a stripped down country ballad, but Sturgill pulls it off beautifully. If you are a fan of authentic music, and tired of the watered down "country" coming out of Nashville these days, give Sturgill a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Dio - A Decade of Dio: 1983-1993

Dio - A Decade of Dio: 1983-1993. Rhino Records, 2016.

When you look up the term "heavy metal," there should just be a picture of Ronnie James Dio. In my opinion he probably has the best metal voice ever. Sadly, Ronnie passed away in 2010 of stomach cancer. But what a legacy he left. He fronted the bands Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell (basically Black Sabbath under a different name), and of course, Dio. This collection contains the first six Dio studio albums: Holy Diver (1983), The Last in Line (1984), Sacred Heart (1985), Dream Evil (1987), Lock up the Wolves (1990), and Strange Highways (1993). Holy Diver is probably one of the ten best metal albums ever created. Vivian Campbell got his break as the original guitarist for Dio, playing on the first three albums. Vivian would later join Whitesnake and eventually replaced Steve Clark in Def Leppard, and continues to play with Def Leppard today. Drummer Vinny Appice has played with numerous acts, including Black Sabbath and Heaven and Hell. Bassist Jimmy Bain also played in Rainbow, among others. He passed away in January 2016.

Some bands, as the years go on, change their sound; Dio isn't one of them. They are pure metal all the way. This is a collection that will see a lot of use in the coming years.

Bob & Doug McKenzie - Great White North

Bob & Doug McKenzie - Great White North. Polygram/Mercury Records, 1981.

How's it going eh? Everybody's two favorite Canadians made an album. And it's glorious. The McKenzie brothers started off on SCTV, a Canadian SNL type skit show, which also helped launch the careers of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, and others. Two years after this album, perhaps one of the greatest achievements in cinematic history, Strange Brew, was released. It's an absolute masterpiece.

I'm listening to this on Christmas Eve because of the McKenzie brothers' wonderful rendition of the "Twelve Days of Christmas." Most of the album is just the brothers talking to each other, about back bacon, beer, donuts, coffee sandwiches, Star Wars, and other very important things. But the song "Take Off," featuring none other than the great Geddy Lee of Rush, is also on the album. You're going to want to check that out if you haven't already heard it.

I found this album at COAS in Las Cruces, and it's one of the most exciting finds I've had to date. Not that it's rare or anything, I just have always loved this album (I've had it on CD for years) and love to find my favorite albums on vinyl. Plus, as you can see, the inside sleeve doubles as an issue of "The Daily Hoser." Hard to beat that.

The Jeff Healey Band - See the Light

The Jeff Healey Band - See the Light. Arista Records, 1988. Canadian Pressing.

This was my thrift store pickup today. Jeff Healey was a blues/jazz guitarist who became blind at one year old. He began playing the guitar at the age of three and developed a unique style of playing the guitar on his lap. Unfortunately, Jeff passed away in 2008 at the age of 41. While not one of the more famous blues guitarists, Healey did leave his mark during his career. This album produced one of two American Top 100 hits for the band, "Angel Eyes," and is a good, solid blues rock album.

Fans of the Patrick Swayze film Roadhouse may recognize Jeff, as he and his band were the house band for the bar in the movie. While not on this album, he also did a great cover of the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Healey, along with B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, were my first introduction to blues music and it's become one of my favorite music styles - of course, there wouldn't be rock and roll without the blues.

Merle Haggard - The Best of the Best of Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard - The Best of the Best of Merle Haggard. Capitol Records, 1972.

"The Hag" passed away on April 6, 2016, on his 79th birthday, yet another legendary musician lost this year. Merle was born in California, a son of Oklahoma migrants looking for a better life amidst the Great Depression. This connection to Oklahoma would bring about his biggest hit, "Okie from Muskogee," but he kept true to his California roots as well, as he, along with Buck Owens, helped establish the "Bakersfield Sound," which artists like Dwight Yoakam have helped keep alive. Haggard, after struggling to get a music career going, spent time at San Quentin Prison, where he joined the prison band after Johnny Cash put on a concert at the prison. It didn't take long for Haggard to become a star after his release.

This album has some of his biggest hits, including "Okie from Muskogee," "Mama Tried," and "The Fightin' Side of Me." This is real country music. In an era where country has strayed from its roots, you could always count on Haggard to keep it true. His last album was another collaboration with Willie Nelson, "Django & Jimmie." Not a bad way to end a legendary career.