Alice Cooper’s music always makes me think of my dad, and this song was his anthem when he was 18/19. Lol.
Alice Cooper — “I’m Eighteen,” from the album Love It to Death (1971).
Music I Blame My Parents For
Flashback Friday: Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out”
On this day in 1972, Alice Cooper was at number one in the UK with “School’s Out.” Considering that I just saw him this past Tuesday with my dad, it seemed appropriate he should be featured in my Flashback Friday post 🙂 Keep an eye out for my review of the show!
Rest in Peace, Glenn Frey and Dale Griffin
I’m sure you’ve all heard about the passing of Glenn Frey, guitarist/vocalist and co-founding member of The Eagles. He had multiple health issues, including rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia. From what I read, it was the intestinal issues that troubled him the most. He was 67.
I feel lucky that I saw The Eagles in 2002. It was an amazing show that I will never forget. ❤
What you may not know is that we also lost Dale Griffin, the drummer for Mott the Hoople. He, too, was 67 and died due to complications of Alzheimer’s. He actually passed on Sunday, one week after David Bowie…who wrote Mott the Hoople’s biggest hit, “All the Young Dudes.”
In non-music news, Bob Denver, the star of “Gilligan’s Island,” died recently as well.
WTF, 2016?
In Loving Memory of David Bowie
I can’t even begin to explain how heartbroken I am upon hearing that David Bowie lost his battle with cancer at the age of 69. So I won’t waste any more words. Instead, I will listen to his music and watch The Labyrinth and invite all of you to do the same.
Happy Birthday, Jimmy Page!
The great Jimmy Page turns 72 today! So jam out to some Led Zeppelin in his honor 🙂 Below are three of my favorite songs by LZ.
I know some of you may consider it base treachery that “Stairway to Heaven” didn’t make my top three. Lol. 😉 I’ve just always loved these in particular.
Bands I Have to Thank My Parents For: The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project consisted of two core members–Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons–as well as various session musicians and a few repeat performers. Woolfson was a songwriter, composer, and pianist while Parsons was a producer and engineer. In fact, Parsons had worked with a few big artists at the time The Project was formed, including The Beatles and Pink Floyd.
While I like basically everything I’ve heard by The Alan Parsons Project, my favorite album will always be their first, Tales of Mystery and Imagination. It was my introduction to the band. I can remember being very young, not even school age, and my mom putting on the record. We used to dance around the living room to “The Raven” with her singing along. She now recalls that that was the song I always requested by The Alan Parsons Project, which more often than not led to us listening to the entire album.
So, if you didn’t know, Tales of Mystery and Imagination consists of songs that retell certain stories and poems by Edgar Allan Poe. The track list on the original album is as follows:
Side One
1. “A Dream Within a Dream” (instrumental)
2. “The Raven”
3. “The Tell-Tale Heart”
4. “The Cask of Amontillado”
Side Two
1. “(The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether”
2. “The Fall of the House of Usher” (instrumental)
3. “To One in Paradise”
In 1987, The Alan Parsons Project “revamped” the album to be released on compact disc. Two of the most notable additions are the new guitar passages in “The Raven” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.”
I can’t really describe this album. It has a bit of everything, but overall can be categorized as rock. Orson Welles narrates “A Dream Within a Dream” and as the passage comes to an end, a simple bass line begins. Bom, bom, bom … bom, bom, bom … bom, bom, bom … This transitions straight into “The Raven,” and the moment that song starts, I get chills. The song quickly progresses from that repeating bass line and vocals performed through an EMI vocoder into an epic piece of rock music, complete with an orchestra and a choir. It’s just fantastic!
“The Tell-Tale Heart” opens with a bloodcurdling scream, which sets the tone for the entire song. The way the vocals are handled, you can practically hear the storyteller losing his mind. “The Cask of Amontillado” is a piece full of piano and beautifully haunting vocals, contributed by John Miles, and then, there is “(The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether.” This is my favorite track on the album. A funky guitar riff is intertwined throughout the entire song, then emphasized in the short solo near the end. The music is fun with a great beat, and the rhyming lyrics make singing along easy and enjoyable.
“The Fall of the House of Usher” is a sixteen minute, ten second instrumental divided into five parts–“Prelude,” “Arrival,” “Intermezzo,” “Pavane,” and “Fall.” With nothing but music, this track shares the story of the weary traveler approaching the House of Usher, the storm that wails outside, and the destruction of the house itself as the traveler rides away, glancing back once to see the house sinking out of sight.
The album closes with the slower tempo and gentle lyrics of “To One in Paradise.” Some have theorized that this song is more about Poe himself than any of his works.
This is an album that everyone should definitely listen to at least once.
Mostly Music 