Long time no listen. “Good Times Bad Times,” the first song on the first Led Zeppelin album, is probably my favorite of all their music. When I see how young the guys look on the back it’s even more impressive how out there this record is. Another favorite is “Communication Breakdown.” It’s more punk than the punk music that would come along almost a decade later. I liked it so much as a punk rock teenager that I recorded my own cover of it on my Tascam Porta One cassette four track. I played all the tracks and did a good job on drums and bass. My guitar work was not uh… scintillating. And I’m pretty sure the vocals were an octave lower out of genetic necessity.

Note on the back cover:

This is a stereo recording. For best results observe the R.I.A.A. high frequency roll-off characteristic with a 500 cycle crossover.

But of course.

More about Led Zeppelin at Wikipedia

• Artist: The Decemberists
• Title: The Crane Wife
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 2006 – Christmas gift!
• Keeper: Yes

What? What is this? Sometimes The Decemberists remind me of The Zutons, The Shins, and maybe even Cake. Then there’s that second song “The Island: – Come and See – The Landlord’s Daughter – You’ll Not Feel the Drowning.” Yes, that is the title, and it’s befitting since this ditty is over twelve minutes and moves from sounding like a sea shanty to classic progrock a la Yes. What? The Crane Wife opens with a title track, “The Crane Wife, Part 3.” Later in the album there is “The Crane Wife, Parts 1 & 2″ which is also Freedbird-esque in its length. In between there are a number of more accessible, normal format songs, and they are all interesting.

I haven’t figured out the album concept entirely. All the not-of-this-time artwork (much more than shown here) and lyrics make it seem mysterious, and that keeps it interesting. Of course, there’s plenty of mystery in the music itself.

Help me figure it out:
Decemeberists.com
The Decemberists at Wikipedia

• Artist: Peter Case
• Title: Peter Case (Promo Cover)
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 – Got it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: No

This Peter Case record isn’t bad, but it isn’t my kind of music, which is a roundabout way of saying it’s boring. I would describe this as a singer-songwriter mash-up of most major forms of American music. The cover is interesting is some ways though. Certainly there’s nothing exciting about the graphic design, but a promo copy that displays Mr. Case’s ratings, reviews, rankings and scores from music critics should be of interest to a fan. Too bad I’m not, although I did like his previous band The Plimsouls.

So this one is a goner. Part of the reason of going through and playing every record is to trim some fat, but also to renew our relationships with some old favorites. I just finished packing most of the records today in preparation for our move in a couple weeks. Over 800 pounds of vinyl!

• Artist: House of Freaks
• Title: Tantilla
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1989 – I got it for her from our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

This music is better than I remember. My faves are the more bluesy cuts. This is the only other HoF record we have and so it concludes my little tribute to Bryan Harvey and his family. I still can’t believe their lives were ended that way. I’d like to get it out of my head.

Rest in peace.

• Artist: House Of Freaks
• Title: Monkey On A Chain Gang
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1988 – Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Today is supposed to be a “P” day. Instead, I’m playing House of Freaks records for the next couple days as my small personal tribute to Bryan Harvey who was one half of the band. Bryan, his wife Kathryn, and their two small children were brutally murdered in their home in Richmond, VA on January 1, 2006. An article in the Washington Post made me aware of this tragedy. The two pathetic creatures responsible have been caught, but not before killing more people.

Mary and I have seen the band in person a number of times. Kathryn Harvey owned World of Mirth, a fun toy and gift store in Richmond that we enjoyed.

This is good music. Hard to explain, but let’s say Surf/Roots/Blues Rock. It’s high energy and fun, but not silly.