70’s rock – michael jarmer

#776: K is for King Crimson (72-74)

After making five albums with Yes, Bill Bruford, drummer extraordinaire, migrates in 1972 to King Crimson, John Wetton joins on bass guitarand vocals, and a new lyricist showsup, one Richard Palmer-James, the guy who would eventually co-foundthe supergroup Supertramp. On their first outing together, the strangely titled Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, it appears that RobertContinue reading “#776: K is for King Crimson (72-74)”

#775: K is for King Crimson (70-71)

There are certain recordsI have bought, entire collectionssometimes, in boxes no less, costing hundreds of dollars, of music that I have never heard, but nevertheless feel compelled, not only to hear, but to hold, to own, to possess. The literary equivalent: I’ve never read Moby Dick, say, but believe I should have, and vow toContinue reading “#775: K is for King Crimson (70-71)”

#771: K is for Kansas

It may be a kind of cursefor progressive rock bands to have big hits. “Carry OnMy Wayward Son” is arguablyone of the greatest and most catchy prog rock songsin history, rivaled only by maybe “Roundabout” from Yes. But what’s also clearis that after Leftoverture and Point of No Return anda sequence of a couple ofContinue reading “#771: K is for Kansas”

#707: F is for Foreigner

I“I guess it’s just the woman in youthat brings out the man in me,”an objectively dumb lyric. I’m not looking forward to this. I have five, that’s right, five Foreigner albums, inherited by my older brother who hasn’t plugged in a turntablefor decades now. Like the Flashdancesoundtrack, but in a very differentstylistic direction, I don’tContinue reading “#707: F is for Foreigner”

#704: F is for Fleetwood Mac

I picked up this box set, not because I loved Fleetwood Mac, but because, growing up, their music was ubiquitous, everywhere, all the time, and I hated none of it, and in 2019, felt someobligation to have them in the collection. Having owned as a youngperson none of their records, I neverthelessknew almost every songContinue reading “#704: F is for Fleetwood Mac”

#634: B is for Bread

First of all, “Baby I’m-A Want You”is an objectively funny name for an album. You would think, evenin the early seventies it would be funny, but you would probably be wrong about that. After all, ironyhadn’t been invented yet, so everysappy and sentimental thing was taken as absolutely sincere and earnest. Purveyors of the earlysoftContinue reading “#634: B is for Bread”