funoka

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Do You Like Any “Revivalist” Rock?

Posted by funoka

Jun 192012

Stray Cats in black and white.

I heard Brian Setzer on the radio this weekend. I started to think that here is a guy that has made a long career of being a musical revivalist. I loved the Stray Cats for a short time — dancing to “Rock This Town” ’til I was a sweaty mess.

I also saw the first incarnation of the Brian Setzer Orchestra in the early ’90s at DC’s 9:30 Club. At the time, I took my now-wife, we were just looking for something to do — and had no idea what we were in for that night. We saw them setting up the Lawrence Welk music stands with a “BSO” logo and I thought — “we might want to get up close for this.” It was a fantastic show — and one my wife still talks about.

Sure the schtick got old for both bands, but the first time you hear or see it, it can be kind of cool.

So my question is — what rock revivalists do you enjoy?

Submitted for Worst Follow-Up Album: Gary Wright’s The Light of Smiles

Posted by funoka

Feb 042012

In a recent All-Star Jam, I submitted the idea that, in the pantheon of horrible follow up albums, Gary Wright‘s The Light of Smiles may be the winner.

Of course, Peter Frampton‘s I’m In You was immediately mentioned and Cheap Trick‘s Dream Police also got a nod.

However, those albums at least had hits — and songs you’ve heard. Following The Dreamweaver — which like it or not — was kind of a big deal, The Light of Smiles is a true stinker. If you ever had a copy (probably from the cut-outs), you couldn’t help notice the lavish cover art and glossy packaging. Unfortunately for Warner Bros., and Gary Wright fans, the songs inside were pretty bad.

Gary made three albums from 1974 through 1977 — one was with a reformed Spooky Tooth (featuring Foreigner’s Mick Jones) that had a bad song on it called “Fantasy Satisfier” . . . then his solo hit “Dreamweaver” . . . then on The Light of Smiles, another crappy song called “Phantom Writer.” On The Light of Smiles — he finally went overboard with the other-worldly deity stuff — and the album killed any career momentum from The Dreamweaver.

So, what’s your nominee for worst follow-up album ever?

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