SCOTTS HIDDEN TREASURES #45 - Bi Polar

[Scott]

SHT has been down this road before.  We’ve taken a bands early work and paired it to another track from one of the band’s latest or last releases.  It’s a trick I used in high school when making mix tapes and putting together playlists for specific occasions.  It always seemed to work.

5 bands, two tracks.  The oldest track plays first followed by the newer track.  It's an interesting way to listen to the maturity, or not, of a band’s music.

Let get this party started...

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Playlist Vitals...
10 tracks
Length: 40 min 32 sec
Link: http://www.podsnack.com/playlists/0b36e3af8a47654a9659d5d78a600428

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The Doobie Brothers

Albums:  Stampede, World Gone Crazy
Year: 1975, 2010
Tracks: Sweet Maxine, Chateau
Stampede hit the streets in 75 and though it's not their earliest release, it is one of the best showcases for their early songwriting and musicianship.  I paired it up against the latest release from the band which has been featured in an NMC as well.  It’s a reunion of sorts with their longtime producer, Ted Templeton.  It also showcases their musicianship which at this point, is simply masterful!

Thin Lizzy
Albums: Johnny The Fox, Thunder and Lightning
Year: 1976, 1983
Tracks: Old Flame, Cold Sweat
76 seen two releases from Thin Lizzy, I chose Johnny The Fox because it’s the true hidden gem when paired up with Jailbreak from the same year.  Plus it’s the earliest year of release I have from them.  The band didn’t rest on the success of Jailbreak, they took steps forward, and the lyrical content and music is strong, while the attempt to weave a story may have fallen short, it’s the music that still stands today. When compared to their last release, Thunder and Lightning, the differences are pretty dramatic.  As the latter is very heavy compared to anything else they did.

Bad Company

Albums: Straight Shooter, Rough Diamonds
Year: 1975, 1982
Tracks: Deal With The Preacher, Painted Face
At least 8 tracks for Straight Shooter were recorded 3 months after they’re debut hit the streets.  They hit big on their first 3 releases and then showed some signs of wear and tear.  But they came back big with Desolation Angels.  Rough Diamonds came 3 years later and was not well received.  I think it was clearly not a great Bad Company album, but it has held up well over time.  What do you think?

 

ZZ Top
Albums: Tres Hombres, Mescalero
Year: 1973, 2003
Tracks: Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, What It Is Kid
That Little Ol' Band from Texas really nailed it with Tres Hombres.  Killer album top to bottom. ZZ Top would mess around with their formula often to different results, sometimes wildly successful and sometimes easily forgettable, until Mescalero.  The band finally went back to its thick, harsh geetars with heavy bass and laid down some real nice work.

Led Zeppelin
Albums: III, In Through The Out Door
Year: 1970, 1979
Tracks: Celebration Day, All My Love
After two huge releases, the band released III to mixed reviews.  Shame really, its classic from top to bottom, I pulled a track because it fits with their earliest work due to the fact that many of the songs featured on the album were conceived in 1970 at Bron-Yr-Aur, an 18th century cottage in Wales.  For their last studio effort, did you know that it was recorded at ABBA's Polar Studios? The band was in complete turmoil, Plants son dying, Page and Bonham’s addictions were at their peak, so I think what we got was a Plant/Jones album.  The two tracks when heard side by side is an interesting listen.

 

 

[Niels (Mod)]

Good guitar-solo in "Sweet Maxine", but "World Gone Crazy" is an 2010-album, I should had bought. The best track for me here is "Sweet Maxine", with a small margin. I was'nt aware, that they had the same producer as Van Halen.

The next one is pretty easy for me: "Cold Sweat" is the track I prefer. Maybe it's because it reminds me of my 18 year's old birthday party. I have'nt heard "Johnny the fox" much, and the song is a little bit booring. "Cold Sweat" is NOT booring!!

Bad Company is another band, that I don't really know that well. I definetly prefer the first track. It's a good riff, and of course a good performance by Paul Rodgers. "Painted face" ain't bad, but I would not had liked it back in '82, in the middle of NWOBHM.

I love good old ZZ Top-songs, but you're right, they sound good on "What it is kid". But I STILL prefer "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers". 

Led Zeppelin, huh? I don't really like "In through the out-door", and "LZIII" is a CLASSIC,classic album. Even though I love LZ, I'm a little annoyed by Robert Plant's voice sometimes, and he  annoys me a bit on "Celebration day", but still it's the best track I've heard today!!! "ITTOD" is the only LZ-album, I remember from when it was released, and I was SO dissapointed in it. I had heard how great this band was, and then I listened to the album!! It took 10 years before I really realized, that they indeed WERE great!!! 

[Scott]

Nice reviews Niels!   I had the same LS experience with ITTOD as you did.  Took me a long time to realize they were as stellar as they are.

[Jon]

Grab the vinyl album of ITTOD and do some painting. If you have no idea what I'm talking about...well, tough.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I love a good comparison test:

 

Doobie Brothers:

I'll go with the newer track.  The great thing about the Doobies is they still sound like they did 30 years ago, which is outstanding.  Especially Tom Johnston.  This is probably my second favorite track off of the new album.  Old Juarez is my favorite.  I did just pick up The Captain And Me from Wally World for 5 bucks, but haven't gotten around to listening yet.

 

Thin Lizzy:

I don't have much TL material, so these are truly new listens for me.  I'm gonna give the edge to the earlier track.  I just like the way it sounds.

 

Bad Company:

I had a chance to pick up the debut and Straight Shooter this past weekend from the used CD store for about 5 bucks each.  I didn't 'cause I thought I might could find 'em on Amazon a little cheaper, but I was wrong.  I need to go back and see if they are still there.  I like the first  track better.  It sounds like it would fit in real well on the Run With The Pack CD, which is the only one I own right now.

 

ZZ Top:

Tres Hombres is another CD on my want list.  I've never liked ZZ, but I want to go back and give 'em a chance.  I like the first track much better.  Outstanding guitar work.  I must get this and Deguello.

 

Led Zeppelin:

I'll take track number 2, although I tend to like the earlier work better as a whole. 

[Scott]

I love most everything the doobies have released, there is some killer geetar work to be found especially on the releases with Tom Johnston.  You will be happy with The Captain and Me, check out Tolouse Street as well, really good!  But starting with Stampede, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter joined them and the music just kept gettin better...

 

I love TL  startuing with Jailbreak.  I may end up gettgion around to posting more from the release titled RENEGADE which is my personal favorite.  You shoudl really check them out more...

 

And yes, you need to pick up Tres Hombres and Deguello also.

 

Thanks for the feedback!

[Jon]

I like all of these, except for the Firehouse tracks.

 

Oh, what? No Firehouse?

 

Crap. Thought I would get away with copying and posting previous comments. BUSTED!