ALBUM OF THE WEEK / Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition (1971)

Pictures at an Exhibition is a live album by English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in November 1971 on Island Records. It features the group's rock adaptation of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky, performed at Newcastle City Hall on 26 March 1971.

The band had performed the Mussorgsky piece since their live debut in August 1970, after keyboardist Keith Emerson had attended an orchestral performance of the piece several years before and pitched the idea to guitarist and frontman Greg Lake and drummer Carl Palmer, who agreed to adapt it while contributing sections to the arrangement. The album concludes with the concert's encore, "Nut Rocker", a rock adaptation of The Nutcracker originally arranged by Kim Fowley and recorded by B. Bumble and the Stingers in 1962.

Pictures at an Exhibition went to number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and number 10 on the US Billboard 200. In 2001, it was reissued as a remastered edition that included a studio version of the piece recorded in 1993.

Full Album ELP: https://youtu.be/xWQct6D6HsM?si=kaczZ6TuY7QN77fZ

Modest Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition: 

https://youtu.be/S-At9tWyrLs?si=E3d29f8ig9Y2pm5I

Emerson, Lake & Palmer // Mussorgsky - Pictures At An Exhibition : 

https://youtu.be/cUal4MKFvPk?si=F-yNDK5-H_tY6flz

Emerson, Lake & Palmer:

Keith Emerson – Hammond C3 and L100 organ, pipe organ, Moog modular synthesizer, Minimoog, Clavinet

Greg Lake – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals

Carl Palmer – drums, percussion

Source: wiki, YouTube

Song of the day / Donovan - Lalena (1968)

 "Laléna" (also spelled "Lalena") is the title of a composition by Donovan. Billboard described the single as a "beautiful and intriguing original ballad."

https://youtu.be/K5bdJPvrbOw?si=fEfsc4c4roCVyzK2

Cash Box said that "sweet strings accent a hauntingly beautiful folk-flavored ballad which gets stronger with each listen." Record World said that Donovan "uses his reedy voice exquisitely."

History:

In 2004, Donovan revealed that the song was inspired by the actress Lotte Lenya and that the song's lyrics, addressed to a societally marginalized woman, were Donovan's reaction to Lenya's character in the film version of The Threepenny Opera:

She's a streetwalker, but in the history of the world, in all nations, women have taken on various roles from priestess to whore to mother to maiden to wife. This guise of sexual power is very prominent, and therein I saw the plight of the character. Women have roles thrust upon them and make the best they can out of them, so I'm describing the character Lotte Lenya is playing, and a few other women I've seen during my life, but it's a composite character of women who are outcasts on the edge of society.

Song of the day / Deep Purple - Lalena (1969)

Deep Purple  - Lalena   (1969)

Album: Deep Purple 

Lyrics:

When the sun goes to bed

That's the time you raise your head

That's your lot in life, Lalena

Can't blame ya, Lalena

Arty tart, la de da

Can your heart get much sadder?

That's your lot in life, Lalena

Can't blame ya, oh Lalena

Run your hands through your hair

Paint your face with despair

That's your lot in life, Lalena

Can't blame ya, oh Lalena

Run your hands through your hair

Paint your face, paint your face up with despair

That's your lot in life, Lalena

I can't blame ya, oh Lalena

When the sun goes to bed

That's the time you raise your head

That's your lot in life, Lalena

I can't blame ya, Lalena

Arty tart, oh so la de da

Can your part ever get, ever get much sadder?

That's your lot in life, Lalena

I can't blame ya, oh Lalena

Oh Lalena

No no no, Lalena

I can't blame ya, I can't blame ya, Lalena

Oh Lalena

So la de da

Lalena

Humble Pie (Hard Rock, Blues Rock, Boogie Rock / England)

Humble Pie are an English rock band formed by singer-guitarists Peter Frampton and Steve Marriott in Moreton, Essex,[not verified in body] in 1969. Often regarded as one of the first supergroups in music, Humble Pie experienced moderate popularity and commercial success during the 1970s with hit songs such as "Black Coffee", "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", "Hot 'n' Nasty" and "Natural Born Bugie" among others.

The original line-up of members featured lead singer/frontman and guitarist Steve Marriott of Small Faces, singer-guitarist Peter Frampton of the Herd, former Spooky Tooth bassist Greg Ridley and drummer Jerry Shirley from the Apostolic Intervention.

Origin: Moreton, Essex, England

Genres: Hard rock, blues rock, boogie rock

Years active: 1969-1975, 1979-1983, 1988-2000, 2001-2002, 2018-present.

Original members:

Steve Marriott – guitar, vocals, keyboards, harmonica (1969–1975, 1979–1983; died 1991)

Jerry Shirley – drums, keyboards (1969–1975, 1979–1981, 1988–1999, 2001–2002, 2018–present)

Greg Ridley – bass, vocals, guitar (1969–1975, 2001–2002; died 2003)

Peter Frampton – guitar, vocals, keyboards (1969–1971)

Current members:

Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion (1969–1975, 1979–1981, 1988–1999, 2001–2002, 2018–present)

Dave "Bucket" Colwell – guitar, backing vocals (2001–2002, 2018–present)

Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley – bass (2018–present)

Bobby Marks – drums, percussion (2018–present)

Jim Stapley – vocals, guitar, keyboards (2022–present)

Discography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humble_Pie#Discography

For Your Love (1970): https://youtu.be/1wOa0EzfxTo?si=jWqLujm0Ftj1Kc2-

Source: wikipedia

Song of the Day - Emerson, Lake & Palmer // Mussorgsky - Pictures At An Exhibition

Emerson, Lake & Palmer // Mussorgsky - Pictures At An Exhibition

Pictures at an Exhibition is a live album by English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in November 1971 on Island Records. It features the group's rock adaptation of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky, performed at Newcastle City Hall on 26 March 1971.

(In February 1971, Emerson, Lake & Palmer finished recording their second studio album "Tarkus". They resumed touring in the following month, which began with a UK leg that included a show at Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle on 26 March. The tour's setlist included their rock arrangement of the classical suite Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky, which had been performed since their live debut in August 1970. Keyboardist Keith Emerson had attended an orchestral performance of the suite several years before, and bought a copy of the score. He pitched the idea of performing the suite to singer/bassist/guitarist Greg Lake and drummer Carl Palmer, who agreed to adapt it. Both members contributed their own arrangements and additions to the suite).

https://youtu.be/cUal4MKFvPk?si=IAo20EajpwuyCmEs :

Source: Wiki

Song of the Day / White Lion - When the Children cry

 White Lion - "When The Children Cry" from the album 'Pride' (1987)

https://youtu.be/6tatKFXlYiY?si=7opDIxChk7cfP8cx : 

ALBUM OF THE WEEK / David Bowie - Hours (Pop Rock , Art Pop)

 David Bowie - Hours (1999)

 

Hours (stylised as 'hours...' ) is the 22nd studio album by the English musician David Bowie. It was originally released on 21 September 1999 through the Internet on the artist's website BowieNet, followed by a physical CD release on 4 October through Virgin Records. It was one of the first albums by a major artist available to download over the Internet. Originating as a soundtrack to the video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul (1999), Hours was the final collaboration between Bowie and guitarist Reeves Gabrels, with whom he had worked since 1988. The album was recorded in mid-1999 between studios in Bermuda and New York City. A song contest conducted on BowieNet in late 1998 resulted in a fan contributing lyrics and backing vocals to one of the tracks.

In contrast to the experimental nature of Bowie's other works throughout the decade, Hours presents a pop rock and art pop style reminiscent of Hunky Dory (1971), further evoking styles and ideals previously explored on Bowie's past works. The lyrics are introspective, detailing topics such as the collapse of relationships and subjects of angst. Also present are overtly Christian themes, which is reflected in the cover artwork. Inspired by the Pietà, it depicts the short-haired Bowie persona from the Earthling era, resting in the arms of a long-haired, more youthful version of Bowie. The title, originally The Dreamers, is a play on "ours".

Hours marked the final collaboration between Bowie and guitarist Reeves Gabrels , who departed following its release.

Track listing:

All tracks are written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels; except "What's Really Happening?", with lyrics by Alex Grant

(Standard edition)

1. "Thursday's Child" 5:24

2. "Something in the Air" 5:46

3. "Survive" 4:11

4. "If I'm Dreaming My Life" 7:04

5. "Seven" 4:04

6. "What's Really Happening?" 4:10

7. "The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell" 4:40

8. "New Angels of Promise" 4:35

9. "Brilliant Adventure" 1:54

10. "The Dreamers" 5:14

https://youtu.be/T8QOS4-zrwY?si=bfGmLaljsXwzoZz9 :

David Bowie: "The lyrics generally on the album are very simplistic, the simple things, I think, are expressed quite strongly. The music that we wrote for them is more of a supportive kind of music – it doesn't create two or three different focuses."

Source and more info:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hours_(David_Bowie_album)#Release