The Alan Parsons Project - I Robot (1977)

Year: 8 July 1977 (CD )
Label: Ariola Records (Germany), 259 651
Style: Progressive Pop, Soft Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 41:06
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 235 Mb

The album was intended to be based on the I, Robot stories written by Asimov, and Eric Woolfson spoke with Asimov himself, who was enthusiastic about the idea. As the rights already had been granted to a TV/movie company, the album's title was altered slightly by removing the comma in "I," and the theme and lyrics were made to be more generically about robots rather than to be specific to the Asimov universe. The cover inlay reads: "I Robot... The story of the rise of the machine and the decline of man, which paradoxically coincided with his discovery of the wheel... and a warning that his brief dominance of this planet will probably end, because man tried to create robot in his own image." The title of the final track, "Genesis Ch.1 v.32", follows this theme by implying a continuation to the story of Creation, since the first chapter of Genesis only has 31 verses.
According to the band's website, Paul McCartney unintentionally helped to inspire the song "Some Other Time". When Parsons had asked if McCartney could read a line of poetry for the band's first album in exchange for a favor Parsons had previously done him, McCartney replied by saying; "Some other time Alan, some other time". This gave the band an idea for a song title.
By pure coincidence, the album was released shortly after Star Wars came out in the United States. The group acknowledges that part of the album's success came from it being the only album with a robot on the cover during a time when robots were suddenly "all the rage".
The artwork was created by the English art design group Hipgnosis. The album cover photo features Storm Thorgerson's assistants in the escalator tubes of the circular Terminal 1 building of the Charles de Gaulle Airport outside of Paris. The picture was taken without the permission of the airport management. Over this is superimposed a painting of a robot with a stylised atom for a brain. The robot also appears on the label of the record. The original vinyl release has a gatefold-style cover; the inside spread has the lyrics and a monochrome photograph of Parsons. The pose and angle of the photograph echoes that of the robot on the front cover.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Robot_(album))

01. I Robot (06:02)
02. I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You (03:23)
03. Some Other Time (04:05)
04. Breakdown (03:52)
05. Don't Let It Show (04:21)
06. The Voice (05:23)
07. Nucleus (03:31)
08. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (03:49)
09. Total Eclipse (03:09)
10. Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32 (03:28)

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Rock Generation Volume 6 - The Steampacket (Or The First Supergroup) (1970)

Year: 1965 (CD 1997)
Label: Spalax Music (France), SPALAXCD14555
Style: Rock, British Rhythm & Blues 
Country: London, England
Time: 29:47
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 116 Mb

Recorded December 1965, London. Personel: Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and more.
Steampacket (sometimes shown as Steam Packet) was a British blues band formed in 1965 by Long John Baldry with Rod Stewart, Julie Driscoll, and organist Brian Auger.
A musical revue rather than a single group, Steampacket was formed in 1965 by Long John Baldry after the break-up of his previous group the Hoochie Coochie Men. It included Rod Stewart who had been with Baldry in the Hoochie Coochie Men, vocalist Julie Driscoll, organist Brian Auger, guitarist Vic Briggs, Richard Brown aka Ricky Fenson on bass guitar and Micky Waller on drums. They were managed by Giorgio Gomelsky, who had previously been involved with the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds.
Steampacket played at various clubs, theatres and student unions around the country, including supporting the Rolling Stones on their 1965 British tour. Because of contractual difficulties, however, they never formally recorded a studio or live album. Tracks from some demo tapes they recorded at a rehearsal in the Marquee Club were released in 1970 on the French label BYG as Rock Generation: Volume 6 - The Steampacket (Or the First Supergroup). The same material was later re-released under other titles, including First of the Supergroups: Early Days and The First Supergroup: Steampacket Featuring Rod Stewart, to cash in on Stewart's success.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampacket)

01. Back At The Chicken Shack (03:51)
02. The In-Crowd (03:42)
03. Baby Take Me (02:12)
04. Can I Get A Witness (03:35)
05. Baby Baby (02:26)
06. Holy Smoke (03:28)
07. Cry Me A River (02:46)
08. Oh Baby,don't You Do It (03:29)
09. Lord Remember Me (04:16)

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Nazareth - Hair Of The Dog [Japanese Ed. 5 bonus tracks] (1975)

Year: 3 April 1975 (CD 2006)
Label: Air Mail Archive (Japan), AIRAC-1205
Style: Hard Rock
Country: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Time: 63:27
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 428 Mb

Charts: US #17, CAN #20, AUT #7, GER #27, NOR #5. CAN: Gold; US: Platinum.
01. Hair Of The Dog will immediately grab your attention with its memorable riff and swaggering attitude. Dan McCafferty's raspy vocal perfectly complements the heavy, bluesy instrumentation, that sets the tone for the rest of the album. Plus, who doesn’t love their famous refrain "Now you're messin' with a son of a bitch,” for it’s a masterstroke of lyricism and ensures Hair Of The Dog is a quintessential hard rock anthem.
Guns N’ Roses would cover Hair Of The Dog on their 1993 covers album, The Spaghetti Incident? and as much as I love the original, I’ve got to say that I prefer the slightly more rhythmic presentation that Guns N’ Roses were able to bring to the tune as it further emphasises the undertone of aggression that is present within the song.
02. Miss Misery launches with a killer riff before McCafferty’s soaring vocal enters the mix with the rest of the band launching into an incredibly rhythmic thunderous performance. Filled with passion and intensity, that is highly addictive, Miss Misery is a monster of a song that will have you coming back for more as it’s a flawless hard rock tune.
03. Guilty slows down the pace with its bluesy groove and soulful vocals. Featuring a memorable guitar riff and a laid-back vibe, Guilty will appeal to those of us who appreciate a diverse styling throughout our hard rock albums. Some may dislike it because it is considerably different to the songs that have come before it, but McCafferty's raw and emotive vocal delivery is simply magnificent and the sign of an exceptional hard rock vocalist is often found in slower-styled ballad recordings such as Guilty.
04. Changin' Times sets the pace back to that of a driving rhythm featuring a catchy melody and infectious rhythm. As solid as Changin' Times is, the most notable aspect is McCafferty’s vocal prowess as the man could certainly belt out a tune, with clarity and finesse, like few others within the hard rock and metal genres can.
05-06. Beggars Day/Rose In The Heather is a hard-hitting rocker with a driving rhythm and infectious energy. McCafferty's vocals are, as is the case throughout the entire album, full of attitude and swagger, while the band's tight musicianship keeps the song charging forward with unstoppable momentum.
07. Whiskey Drinkin' Woman is a blues-infused track featuring a gritty vibe. The song's laid-back groove and soulful instrumentation make it a standout on the album, but as you listen to the song you’ll soon come to realise that it would be perfectly played in any drinking establishment, anywhere in the world.
08. Please Don't Judas Me features a stripped-down haunting atmospheric presentation that blends some incredible musicality with McCafferty's emotive vocal presentation. As McCafferty pleads, "Please Don't Judas Me," the song builds to a powerful climax, leaving a lasting impression long after the music fades away. Masterpiece, while often overused, is the only way to describe this sensational song.
09. Love Hurts (Single Edit) is one of my all-time favourite Nazareth tunes and while there will be some that dislike ballads, I love them. This one, in particular, showcases McCafferty's vocal prowess with its poignant lyrics and haunting melody that will strike a chord with music lovers and is a core reason why this version has become a timeless classic.

It is, however, a cover that first appeared on the Everly Brothers’ 1960 release, A Date With The Everly Brothers. Their original is lovely but as with other renditions, I feel that Nazareth took the song, added their unique styling to it, and made it their own. Granted, there isn’t a bad interpretation to be heard, but Love Hurts is an ideal closing tune for the album; even if it wasn’t the closer for the record in all regions.
Hair Of The Dog, subsequently, is a must-have for any hard rock music fan. Its combination of hard-hitting rockers and heartfelt ballads makes it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences decades after its release and Nazareth's signature sound and powerful performances ensure that this album remains a standout in their discography and a cornerstone of 1970s rock music.
(subjectivesounds.com/musicblog/nazareth-hair-of-the-dog-album-review)

01. Hair Of The Dog (04:09)
02. Miss Misery (04:42)
03. Guilty (03:38)
04. Changin' Times (05:59)
05. Beggars Day (03:45)
06. Rose In The Heather (02:44)
07. Whiskey Drinkin' Woman (05:29)
08. Please Don't Judas Me (09:51)
09. Love Hurts (03:53)
10. Down (B-side to 'Love Hurts' single) (03:55)
11. Holy Roller (single A-side) (03:25)
12. Railroad Boy (B-side to 'Holy Roller' single) (04:08)
13. Hair Of The Dog (single edit) (03:22)
14. Holy Roller (extended alternate mix) (04:20)

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