 |
|||||
|
   |
||||
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a thing called the 'album'.. A collection of songs written and played by artists with the intent of putting forth an expression of musical ideas, concepts and themes.. These 'albums' through the voodoo magic of large lumbering machines were pressed into large pizza pie shaped vinyl platters... The fact that this strange platter had SIDES, would come to play a major part in the construction of the album, and how it was put together as a whole entity.
So we here at Walrus Comix thought it might be a swell idea to celebrate the album side in a feature that we'll be regularly updating...
***
28 March
Side Two, Check Your Head by the Beastie Boys
This album easily makes the top 5 best of the 90s list. Check Your Head is raw and loud and their best effort. The sounds are organic and they are actually playing their instruments throughout.. a rarity on a rap record.. Its actually more of a hybrid.. whatever it is, its great.. I chose Side Two for the brilliant "Something's Gotta Give"..
 |
Side Two
Produced by Mario Caldato |
26 March
Side One, John , the Wolf King of LA by John Phillips
John Phillips was one of the greatest songwriters of the 60s... He was the brains behind the classic group the Mamas and the Papas and wrote many of their hits.. He was also a very tortured and troubled man... eventually dying of liver failure (his SECOND liver) from alcholism.. After the Mamas and the Papas broke up (they had a very brief run only about 2 years yet they yielded so many lasting hits) his solo career never really took off.. But he DID release this gem.. This is a beautiful album.. great songs full of lazy melodies that belie very dark lyrics.. disturbing even.. listen to them closely.. Eben the album's title is a bit creepy.. The phrase Wolf King is very evocative.. This album typifies the "Laurel Canyon' sound of the early 70s.. although this is actually the "Topanga Canyon"... the players on this album are some of the greatest studio players that ever lived... the great Hal Blaine on percussion (check out those cymbals on Malibu People), Larry Knetchel on keyboards, Darlene Love on vocals.. James Burton on guitar.. on an on.. The music is absolutely gorgeous on this album...The first side makes you feel like your walking on the beach on a brisk early fall day.. in California.. in 1970... with a joint in your hand... beautiful..
 |
Side One
Produced by Lou Adler |
24 March
CAN were the original and the best of the "Kraut Rock" bands of the 1970s (the band Kraftwerk being the best known of this genre)... They had an inimitable nightmarish quality to their music.. Driven by the insistent beats of Jaki Leibezit and the eerie vocals of Damo Suzuki (whose obsessive chess playing almost fucked up this album.. in fact they had to race to finish it.. cutting some tracks in one take out of necessity) this album is a masterwork of unsettling creepiness.. They scored a top 30 tune in Germany with the song "Spoon", but its the track "Vitamin C" that stands out as the strongest...
 |
All music & lyrics by Karoli, Czukay, Liebezeit, Schmidt and SuzukiSide two
Produced by Holger Czukay |
21 March
Side Two, Straight Up by Badfinger
Badfinger might have the saddest story in rock history... Not one but TWO of its members (and leading songwriters) committed suicide... This is what the music business will do to you.. Discovered by the Beatles roadie, Mal Evans, Badfinger were one of the first bands released on their Apple label.. They were even named by Paul McCartney who also wrote their first number one single Come and Get it.. But even their connection with the biggest band that ever was didn't help them in the end.. poor management, depression and lousy handling by the record label did them in... Still, 'Straight Up' is one of the best albums of the 70s.. Every song a gem.. I chose this side because of the gorgeous 'Day After Day'.. yes that's George Harrison playing lead slide on that baby... who else would it be?
 |
Side Two
Produced by Todd Rundgren and George Harrison |
19 March
Side One, Moondance by Van Morrison
Breaking out the big one for you today. All I can say is this might be the best side of an album ever... Van the Man's masterwork... Some pretentious twats will say his album Astral Works is his best, but I'm a Moondance man always have been these five songs in a row are perfection... this side never fails to stone me to my soul..
 |
Side one (All songs by Van Morrison)
Produced by Van Morrison |
18 March
Side Two, You Don't Mess Around With Jim by Jim Croce
I grew up listening to Jim Croce's music. Hearing his voice is one of my earliest memories. There isnt a time when I didn't know who he was or what he was about... Its very sad that if you stopped a random individual on the street and asked him/her who Jim Croce was, they would be hard pressed to tell you... Jim Croce might be the best singer/songwriter of his generation... His perfectly constructed melodies, gentle voice, lyrics the quality of brilliant spare short stories about people and workingman's approach set him miles apart from the pack... His music will endure even if his name night not... I chose side two of this classic album because it opens with two of the most heartbreaking songs ever written.. Operator and Time in a Bottle... these songs are crafted with the skill of a master craftsman... You could tell if Croce hadn't been a songwriter he would have been terrific at any other craft he took up.. Tragically he died in a plane crash a year after this album was released.. We lost a great one with him.. I'm certain if he had survived, today if you would ask ANYONE on the street they would for damn sure know who he was.. At least we have his music if we know where to look...
 |
Side Two (All songs by Jim Croce)
Produced by Terry Cashman |
17 March
Side One, Pure Pop for Now People by Nick Lowe
What can I say about "the Basher" Nick Lowe? Incredible Singer, songwriter and genius producer.. "Pure Pop for Now people" is the U.S. version of his first solo release "Jesus of Cool".. and that's exactly what it is PURE POP FOR NOW PEOPLE... Every song is jam packed with melody, power, beach boy harmonies.. unbelievably great production.. listen to that bass guitar on broken glass.. best sounding bass ever..the beautiful "tonight" is a highlight.. They are ALL outstanding..
 |
Side One (All Songs by Nick Lowe unless otherwise indicated)
Produced by Nick Lowe |
14 March
Side Two, Talking Heads '77 by the Talking Heads
Talk about an ultimate album side... I must have listened to this side about five hundred times in my life and I think I listened to the first side.. hmm, maybe twice... Oh what a side it is...Spare, catchy tunes, punchy rhythm section, soaring vocals.. They were never as pure as this album and this side... 1977 gold.
 |
Side Two
(All songs written by David Byrne, except where noted)
Produced by Tony Bongiovi, Lance Quinn, and Talking Heads
|
12 March
Side One, Freak Out! by The Mothers of Invention
To those of you that don't know, the Mothers of Invention was a classic group led by the legendary Frank Zappa. Freak Out! was their debut album... and rock's SECOND double album (Dylan's masterwork, Blonde on Blonde, pre-dates it by about 4 months). The unbelievably terrific tunes range from doo-wop to avante-garde craziness (or Freak Outs) to straight up 60s pop-rock.. I chose the first side because it just opens great and the song "Who Are the Brain Police?" is a must-listen.. maybe the creepiest song ever recorded.
 |
Side one (all songs by Frank Zappa)
Produced by Tom Wilson |
11 March
Side Two, Tunnel of Love by Bruce Springsteen
Tunnel of Love is significant in that it is (in my opinion) Springsteen's last great album. The Rising, Ghost of Tom Joad, Devils and Dust, Magic.. retreads all. Tunnel was Springsteen's final fully realized, original, masterwork and it happens to be the best break-up album of all time. Each song is an insightful commentary into the frailty of love, the brazen way we deceive the ones we love, and how in reality we're really just fooling ourselves. The final song Valentines day ties it all together on a note of redemption that is all at once heartbreaking and joyous. Love tears us apart, drives us to our knees, makes us confront our deepest fears and yet it's still the only thing worth a damn in this crazy life. Tunnel of Love captures all those emotions and dares us not to sing along.
 |
(All songs written by Bruce Springsteen) Produced by Bruce Springsteen |
10 March
Side Two, Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson is my all time favourite singer and Nilsson Schmilsson may be my favourite album of all time... Apart from sporting one of the best album covers in rocking history, the disc, in general, is a wonder... I choose side two because it begins with the heartbreaking tour-de-force Without You.. the song that made him a star of the time.. Originally written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of the band Badfinger, Nilsson's rendition is nothing short of miraculous.. His vocals soar with such a sadness its unbelievable... Mariah Carey tried her best to fuck up the memory of this recording with her own horrible version, but it's impossible, this is simply too good...
The side doesn't stop there.. one after the other of these little miracles.. His voice pleads and jokes and rocks and reaches notes never reached before.. and the band thats backing him are the best studio musicians of the time.. check out Herbie Flowers rubbery bass on Jump Into the Fire... There are no other words to add but.. Nilsson Schmilsson..
 |
Side Two
Producer Richard Perry
|
7 March
Side One, Moving Pictures by Rush
This is the definition of an ultimate album side... Every song is a set in stone classic... No matter how you feel about Rush, no one can take away the fact that for one side of one album they were as good as it gets... From the ominous Moog synthesizer and famous drumbeat opening of Tom Sawyer which kicks it off to fade-out of the radio-friendly Limelight, there is not one note out of place...
 |
All songs written by Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, and Neil Peart, except where noted Side One
Producer Terry Brown and Rush |
6 March
Side One, Argybargy by Squeeze
Squeeze is one of the most criminally underrated bands in all of rock history. Argybargy is one of the most criminally underrated albums of all time.. Why this isn't on any rock critics top 100 lists is a complete mystery... This album side is pure perfect pop-rock.. intelligent lyrics, full of melody, amazing guitar playing (another underrated aspect of this band), solid beat.. Squeeze was more than the song 'Tempted' as the following songs will so ably illustrate.. All I can say is a babysitter gave me a copy of this album when I was 10 years old.. and she's always held a special place in my heart because of it..
 |
Side One (all songs by Difford/Tilbrook)
Producer John Wood and Squeeze |
5 March
Side One, Clear Spot by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
What happens when Van Halen's poducer (Ted Templeman) gets together with musical maverick Captain Beefheart? Well, a masterwork is what happened... Templeman smoothes out the jagged edges but leaves enough of them in so that the music retains its teeth and wit.. This album is as close as Captain Beefheart came to releasing a legitimately commercial album... as such, this is the album that I would recommend first to anyone interested in exploring Beefheart's music... Side one contains the heartbreakingly gorgeous 'My Head is My Only House Unless it Rains' and 'Too Much Time' which to my ears is as good a single as there ever was..
 |
Side One (all songs written by Don Van Vliet)
Producer Ted Templeman |
4 March
Side One, Maggot Brain by Funkadelic
"Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time, for y'all have knocked her up"
These bizarre and evocative words kick off one of the greatest album sides ever. From there, you are immediate swept into the depths of sadness with ten minutes of some of the most mournful guitar playing ever put to tape (by the fantastic Eddie Hazel)... Then just when you are lulled into a state of strangely comforting despair, the side takes a 180 degree turn with some of the most exuberant and alive funk/gospel/rock music ever created... This music was created by masters.. MASTERS.. George Clinton.. Bernie Worrel.. 'nuff said.. before the Red Hot Chili Peppers permanently ruined the genre with their putridly horrible music there was once a thing called funk and this was it...
 |
Side One
Producer George Clinton
|
3 March
Side One, Stardust by Willie Nelson
This album of standards by Willie Nelson is one of his best... Listening to it makes you feel like you're walking under a blanket of stars... It's got some of Willie's best guitar playing on record and its also one of the best albums to sleep to of all time.. We pick side one of this disc because it contains the definitive version of the wonderful Hoagy Carmichael song 'Stardust' of which the album is entitled...
 |
Side One
Producer Booker T. Jones |
29 February
There was a time Gene Simmons was known for something other than being the world's biggest douchebag... This side proves it... Kiss' first album is arguably one of the great rock debuts of all time... Side one is ALL classics. Riffs, melodies and raw vocals, this is the sound of four musicians getting together, making their own sound and tearing it up. The production is spare and punchy and the guitars are slabby and licorice-chewy... Plus, you can't beat rock's best paean to anal sex in "Nothin' to Lose"..
 |
Side One
Produced by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise |
27 February
Side One, Emitt Rhodes by Emitt Rhodes
This debut album from this recluse is a gem. It has been called the "greatest album Paul McCartney never recorded"... and side one proves that in spades..
 |
All songs by Emitt Rhodes
Produced by Emitt Rhodes |
