Tags Matching: Classic Rock

Wicked Lester!

By Josh | Published 08/12/2011

After my early morning filled with lots of classic rock I decided to keep it going with Wicked Lester! If you dont know Wicked Lester was the foundation of Kiss before Kiss. It was the first band that Gene Klein (Gene Simmons) and Stanley Eisen (Paul Stanley) were in together. Wicked Lester got signed to Epic Records in 71, but the album was never released and the band fell apart. Gene & Paul recruited Peter Criss and played as a trio before adding Ace Frehley and the rest is Rock & Roll Kisstory!

In the mid 70′s Epic was going to release the Wicked Lester LP to cash in on the success of Kiss, but gene quickly bought the master tapes for $137,500 so they couldnt put it out. They were somewhat afraid that the proggy/folky/psych rock would turn away Kiss fans but the biggest fear was that Epic would include photos of Gene & Paul with no make-up on in the Wicked Lester artwork.

Only 3 Wicked Lester songs were ever released (on a Kiss box set) so if you’re curious about the roots of Kiss or you’re a fan of weird 60′s/70′s prog/folk/psych then pick up this bootleg LP which also includes some Kiss & Ace Frehley demos.

I have this same LP that elder* is selling and it always annoyed me that the artwork names no sense for the album! Oh well…

worldofautographsinc has an autographed photo of Wicked Lester from right before the transformation to Kiss. Its Gene, Paul, Ace & Peter with no make-up from about 1972 and its signed by all four. Pretty cool, but pricey!

CLASSIC VINYL NOIZE!

By Josh | Published 08/12/2011

Ok… so on this Friday morning I’m going to share with you the vinyl versions of some stuff I have been rocking on my iPod so far today. For you New England guys its like shades of 1980′s WHJY in my office!

I started out with a little bit of Alice Coopers ‘Greatest Hits’ but I present to you the ‘Killer’ album. I remember my dad having this one and how I was drawn to the giant snake on the cover. ‘Under My Wheels’ is still a bad ass song!! This LP is cool because it comes with the original calendar insert… Bonus!

Next up was a little power trio called Cream. I’m psyched that the version of this on my iPod is the original mono version (like this LP) because thats how it was recorded so its how I want to listen to it. Best track on the album ‘Swlabr’. I dont know what it means, but you cant go wrong with a lyric like “You’ve got that rainbow feel but the rainbow has a beard”

I think that pretty much everyone likes AC/DC. Really the only debate is Bon or Brian. I’m not trying to take anything away from what Brian has acomplished with the band, but I’m a Bon Scott guy and you can not go wrong with ‘Highway to Hell’!

I’m a HUGE Kiss fan and have been since the first time I saw a picture of them in the late 70′s. I got tickets to see them in 1980 for Christmas and I saw them a few times with no make up after that and then a few times since they geared up again. I am NOT a fan of them dressing up other guys as Peter & Ace, but I still geek out over the classic stuff. The original self titled is my 2nd favorite Kiss LP, but I didnt feel like listening to Alive II this morning. If you’re a collector its pretty cool that this is an original promo copy!!

I’ve been a big fan of The Who almost as long as I’ve loved Kiss. I actually got to see them do Tommy with my dad and one of his friends at the old Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, MA when they ‘reunited’ years ago. ‘Who’s Next’ is a classic album… fan or not its hard to deny how great ‘Baba O’Riely’ and ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ are, but my pick is ‘Behind Blue Eyes’. It’s such a sinister song!! “When my fist clenches, crack it open. Before I use it and lose my cool. When I smile, tell me some bad news. Before I laugh and act like a fool. If I swallow anything evil. Put your finger down my throat. If I shiver, please give me a blanket. Keep me warm, let me wear your coat”

Lastly I give you Zeppelin I (a blue vinyl reissue copy). I’m not s huge Led Zeppelin fan, in fact I like the Coalesce versions of these songs better, but if it came up on the radio I would not change the station on “Communication Breakdown” or “Good Times Bad Times”.

Uncrushed!

By Josh | Published 08/05/2010

I was totaly unaware of these guys until a few moths ago when Chris at Armageddon Shop recomended them to me. I had already bought stuff by Pentagram, Warpig & Atomic Rooster and he thought I might like Crused Butler too. Since Chris is usually dead on with his recomendations I bought it without question.

Crushed Butler formed in the UK in 1969 and only lasted until 1971 before swaping out members and going through various name changes, but in that time they recored 6 songs that range from early punk to classic hardcore to slightly dirgy Sabbath style ‘metal’. If you’re a fan of any early 60′s/70′s semi obscure stuff give these guys a shot!

*bonus, I love that this looks like it could be a photo from a really early Melvins record!

gethiprecordings has over 1000 other auctions for vinyl, CDs and some clothes so give this record a shot and grab some other stuff to save on shipping!

SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE

By Josh | Published 06/19/2010

If you’re looking for some delightfull records perhaps you should check what recordelite has to sell!

I enjoy some classic rock from time to time and in the realm of that genre Cream is definitly one of the Classics! Disraeli Gears is the second album by Cream, but its probably the best one.

Heres a little story about the album title… The title of the album was taken from an inside joke. Eric Clapton had been thinking of buying a racing bicycle and was discussing it with Ginger Baker, when a roadie named Mick Turner commented, “it’s got them Disraeli Gears”, meaning to say “derailleur gears,” but instead alluding to 19th Century British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli. The band thought this was hilarious, and decided that it should be the title of their next album. Had it not been for Mick’s turn of phrase, the album would simply have been entitled “Cream.”

With vinyl this old I dont know how you can know if its a first press beyond taking the word of the seller. Does anyone know of any websites that might have pressing info on 60′s-70′s vinyl?