Lou Reed: Original Album Classics + Rock 'n' Roll Animal 1974 + Street Hassle 1978 + The Blue Mask 1982 | URBANASPIRINES A KOSTAS SPECIAL [of course!]

 A KOSTAS SPECIAL

[of course!]

Lou Reed: Original Album Classics + Rock 'n' Roll Animal 1974 + Street Hassle 1978 + The Blue Mask 1982

Kostas says: "Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the guitarist, lead singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. While he flirted with mainstream success between 1970 (when he left the Velvet Underground) and 2013 (when he succumbed to liver disease), he most often played to a large cult following that only occasionally expanded into mainstream visibility. However, his songwriting -- unusually literate and often embracing themes that flouted society's conventions, especially in terms of drugs and sex -- broke fresh ground that other artists would follow, and his willingness to confront his audience made him a vitally important precursor to the punk revolution of the mid- to late '70s. “ 

His eponymous solo debut, Lou Reed, was released in January 1972, with members of Yes in the line-up. Success came when David Bowie and Mick Ronson produced his next album Transformer.

It included the songs "Walk on the Wild Side," "Perfect Day", and "Satellite of Love." An important album for the LGBT community, Transformer put Reed on the map. However, the fame that came with it worsened his pre-existing alcoholism. He released his next album, the bleak story cycle titled Berlin and produced by Bob Ezrin, in 1973. The album was trashed by rock critics, frustrating Reed. Subsequent years saw opinion on the album slowly change, and the record is now considered one of Reed's major works.

                               

• Lou Reed - The Raven on Urban Aspirines HERE 

PLAY IT F***ING LOUD!

window rattlingly loud!

We once lived in an apartment over an alcoholic neighbour who insisted upon playing Bat out of Hell depressingly loud every time he got drunk at all and any time of day or night  until one day I had had enough and turn my little Leak .1 valve amp Goldring deck, (built like a Russian Tank! Thanks Andy!) and BIG Wharfedale sound system speakers face down onto the carpet and turned this 

RIGHT UP

never heard another squeak outta him!!

WORKED WONDERS

Thanks Uncle Lou!

The Velvet Underground - I’m Set Free | HERBERG DE KELDER

 another from albums bought when they came out . . . . . . . 

I'm Set Free

“I’ve been set free and I’ve been bound
Let me tell you people
What I found
I saw my head laughing
Rolling on the ground”

I’m Set Free by The Velvet Underground

HERBERG DE KELDER

Billy Strings - Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY, 2-18-2021 | Albums That Should Exist

Is this a first? Think so! our first Billy Strings boot . . . . . !!!

Billy Strings - Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY, 2-18-2021

Paul says: Here's another concert from the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. It's not actually from the April 2026 Port Chester leak. But I came across it while searching for more from that leak. It appears to have been some kind of webcast, so the sound quality is an excellent soundboard. The star this time is Billy Strings.

Strings occupies an unusual spot in terms of musical styles. He is typically called a bluegrass artist, and there is definitely a heavy aspect of that in his music. His father was a bluegrass musician and he developed a love for that kind of music from an early age. But he also grew to love rock and even heavy metal, and played in those kinds of bands as a teenager. 

He especially has found an audience with fans of "jam band" music, for instance sometimes playing entire concerts of Grateful Dead covers. Consider that when he got married in 2023, Trey Anastasio of Phish, Les Claypool of Primus, and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead played at the marriage reception. That's not what you'd expect of a typical bluegrass musician! 

And while this concert contains a lot of bluegrass songs, it also contains some left field choices, such as a cover of "Dark Star," probably the Grateful Dead's most praised psychedelic jam song, as well as "Bird Song," also by the Dead. Most of the rest of the songs are originals, except for "Home of the Red Fox," "Ole Slewfoot," "Sorrow Is a Highway," "Dusty Miller," and "Takin' a Slow Train."

Note that this concert took place during the social distancing phase of the Covid pandemic. So, while it took place in the Capitol Theatre, the venue was entirely empty. That's why there's no audience response at the ends of songs.

Here's his Wikipedia entry if you want to know more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Strings

This album is an hour and 58 minutes long.

01 The Fire on My Tongue (Billy Strings)
02 talk (Billy Strings)
03 In the Morning Light (Billy Strings)
04 talk (Billy Strings)
05 Long Forgotten Dream (Billy Strings)
06 Bird Song (Billy Strings)
07 talk (Billy Strings)
08 While I'm Waiting Here (Billy Strings)
09 talk (Billy Strings)
10 Home of the Red Fox [Instrumental] (Billy Strings)
11 Ole Slewfoot (Billy Strings)
12 talk (Billy Strings)
13 Sorrow Is a Highway (Billy Strings)
14 talk (Billy Strings)
15 Everything's the Same (Billy Strings)
16 talk (Billy Strings)
17 Must Be Seven (Billy Strings)
18 talk (Billy Strings)
19 Dusty Miller [Instrumental] (Billy Strings)
20 Dark Star (Billy Strings)
21 Love and Regret (Billy Strings)
22 Dark Star [Reprise] (Billy Strings)
23 talk (Billy Strings)
24 Takin' a Slow Train (Billy Strings)
25 Love like Me (Billy Strings)
26 talk (Billy Strings)
27 Pyramid Country [Instrumental] (Billy Strings)
28 Hide and Seek (Billy Strings)
29 talk (Billy Strings)

The cover image shows Billy performing at the Capitol Theatre in February 2021, but on a different date. It's from February 23, 2021, a few days after this concert.

Forest - The Midnight Hanging of a Runaway Serf [Full Circle] | jt1674

  . . . . and I can see why TM posted this one right next to the Mike Heron . . .

https://www.tumblr.com/jt1674/830540901183094785/forest-the-midnight-hanging-of-a-runaway-serf

Mike Heron - Flowers of The Forst [Smiling Men With Bad Reputations] | jt1674

from a favourite album  . . . regularly in my top ten and always my top 30

https://www.tumblr.com/jt1674/830541205214543872/mike-heron-flowers-of-the-forest

Rory Gallagher appearing on the Old Grey Whistle Test on July 19, 1975 intro by Bob ‘Bomber’ Harris

Rory Gallagher appearing on the Old Grey Whistle Test on July 19, 1975

intro by Bob ‘Bomber’ Harris

Townes Van Zandt - If I Needed You Oslo 92

 

Townes Van Zandt

If I needed You Oslo 92

Dime Store Radio

Valerie June : Angle From Montgomery

 again the algorithms threw this one at me and I LIKE it . . . .its a John Prine Classic cover what’s not to like?

Still floating after singing “Angel From Montgomery” at the Chicago Theatre in celebration of John Prine’s 80th birthday. What an honor to be part of a night celebrating a songwriter who gave us so much. 

This song has always held a special place in my heart because I was named after my mama, June.

Y’all wanna hear that third verse?

and Valerie this answer is yes!

Valerie June

 

Valerie June & Mick Flannery - Angel From Montgomery (Live on eTown)

eTown

Bonnie Raitt on her first Stratocaster | Don’s Tunes

 Bonnie Raitt: In college, I developed my own style. I switched to a Stratocaster – I got a really good deal in the middle of the night for $120 – and then a few years later, in 1972, Lowell George of Little Feat showed me his MXR compressor pedal. I’d asked him how he got the tone to last so long – whether it’s a ferocious kind of dirty sound, or a beautiful clean sound on a ballad, the compressor really squishes the sound and makes it last longer. The rest of it is just imitating something that you love until you feel like you’ve got it; just playing with all your heart and soul every time you pick up the guitar. I was trying to make it as close to the human voice as I could.

Source: Rachel Keenan / The Guardian

Photo: David Gahr

Van Morrison ' Bulbs ' Live at Montreux 1974

 Bulbs Van Morrison Live at Montreux 1974