Hidden Treasures - More Cowbell

This week I'm fixing a gaping hole in the Hidden Treasure playlist. A playlist so obvious that it should have arguably been the very first post ever done on this site. That’s right, this week we're finally getting more cowbell!

This "instrument" was made infamous due to a Saturday Night Live skit which was intended to be a parody of VH1's "Behind The Music" series. Here’s the skit...

Check Out Saturday Night Live: More Cowbell on Hulu.
( http://www.hulu.com/watch/536145 )

Problem is that I've never really thought of Don't Fear The Reaper as a "cowbell" tune. Seems Dickinson did in fact lose the cowbell battle in the final mix. So let’s fix it!

You've got a fever and this is the prescription! Click the playlist and feed your fever!

PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/CA69EFD9E8C/avpazfl8

	Jefferson Starship Freedom at Point Zero 1979 1 - Jane You know that I have a great love for the Kantner, Slick, and Balin lead version of Jefferson Starship. I really liked the lead single off this album as well, but I was confused what had happened to them. They released Earth a year earlier which was flawless IMO and then a shakeup? Hmm... If memory serves me correctly (and it usually does) I protested the change at first. No Slick, no Balin, no purchase! Anyway, time has proven me wrong. This is a fine album and nice reset by the band. Production could be better, and though the song writing is solid the band wouldn’t be "back" until Slick re-entered the picture. Luckily for us she came back on the next album.
	Bad Company Holy Water 1990 2 - Holy Water This ain't your grandmothers Bad Company! Though this is the third album with new singer Brian Howe, this was the first release from the band that I bought after Rodgers departure. And I loved it! Still do actually. I love the riffs Ralphs write (say that five times fast). And this album is full of cowbell! I think the success of the singles released off this one that the band became a little predictable and so I think this is the last great Bad Company album and easily the best Brian Howe voiced released.
	Toto Hydra 1979 3 - St. George And The Dragon Fans of the their first album were in for a shock when they bought this. I know I was surprised, this was nothing like what I was expecting. But it was so good! Probably my favorite Toto album. Its prog, its rock, it’s a songwriters dream, and it all works. I no longer listen to the critics of this band, they are always experimental and always interesting. If you’re a Toto hater (Gordon) - this album may be the one exception. So, here in all its cowbell glory, is one of my favorite Toto cuts of all time...
	Iron Maiden Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 1988 4 - Can I Play With Madness Long considered the last great Iron Maiden album, this album follows my personal Maiden favorite (Somewhere In Time), and does so very nicely. A concept album and progressive event! I was reading the Allmusic review of this album and it reads more like a slam of their previous - and best - album than a glowing review of this one, so I discounted it! Critics can be stupid!
	Rainbow Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow 1975 5 - Still I'm Sad Here's another album I stole from my brothers collection and scratched up. Sorry bro! I've read this was considered the first album of "Dragon Rock", hahaha, whatever you call, you can't call it anything less than stellar! I've since learned that this band was essentially Elf plus Ritchie Blackmore. Again, whatever, it’s simply a must have...

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Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on November 11, 2014 at 10:47pm

Jane - Geez Louise...I never realized that Jane featured a cowbell. Love the song. Still belt it out when it comes on the radio. But absolutely never noticed the cowbell. The keyboard riff is killer. Mickey Thomas at his finest on vocals. Flawless track.

Holy Water - Also never noticed the cowbell here. But I've certainly not heard this song nearly as much as I have Jane. It is kind of hard to pick up on this song. I can hear it, but I can see why I missed it as well. Definitely more noticeable on Jane, especially now that you have pointed it out. But there's nothin' wrong with this song.

St. George - Awesome pick. I don't have this album and had never heard the song until I bought the Toto 35th Anniversary Live album earlier this year. I thought it was killer live and I'm ecstatic to hear the studio version. I can hear the cowbell here, but I don't remember noticing it on the live recording. I'll have to check that out now. This is just a killer song. The vocals are terrific.

Madness - Yet another song that's new to me. I wasn't a Maiden fan growing up. I'm gaining a serious appreciation for them now. I heard this song somewhere, on the radio I think. Anyway, I thought it was killer. Cowbell is definitely driving the beat of this song. I love this song's hook. And how freakin' cool are those time signature changes?

Sad - Definitely have heard this, but only a few times. That is some serious cowbell percussion. I'd rate this the weakest of the five tracks here, but I'd rate the working of the cowbell best.

Song ranking (the number in parenthesis reflects my ranking of the actual cowbell playing:

1. Jane (2)

2. St. George (4)

3. Madness (3)

4. Holy Water (5)

5. Still I'm Sad (1)

Very nice post bro. Probably a Top 5 performance.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on November 12, 2014 at 9:07am

Thanks boss... Hydra is a great Toto album, a bit of an anomaly and it has more rock and prog (sans 99) tendencies than their more commercial efforts. I think I remember you saying that White Sister was a cool tune you liked on their live release as well, that song can also be found on Hydra....

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Permalink Reply by Jon on November 13, 2014 at 7:36am

Really? Did you actually read the review of SSOASS on allmusic.com? I'm thinking you read part of it but not the whole thing. The internet is just full of people trying to start problems when there isn't a problem. I am just shocked you're sitting at your computer with your Mountain Dew and Doritos and making up falsehoods like this. Think of the children, dammit!

My grandmother didn't listen to Bad Company! That was (and is) the devil's music. Why would you assume that dear ole mawmaw would listen to stuff like that? Mawmaw was a saint and she sure didn't listen to any music with cowbell.

Oh, and you're a thief as well? Not only that, you destroyed the stolen item? What kind of person are you??????

You promised an extra-special version of SHT, but I wasn't expecting this. Liar. Thief. Destroyer.

I must distance myself from this SHT.

5/5.