December 28, 2012 Playlist

"Artificial Paradise" by The Guess Who (1973)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
The Guess Who  "Artificial Paradise"  1973 (Canada)
It's time for the final Kosmik Radiation show of the year, and also the final musical birthday of the year:  my favorite RAWK singer, Burton Cummings, was born on New Year's Eve 1947.  When he was 19 he became the lead singer and keyboardist for Winnipeg's hottest band The Guess Who.  Within three years they had become the hottest band in all of Canada and by 1970 were one of the best selling groups in the entire world.  Although they are hailed as legends to this day in their home country, The Guess Who seem to be considered little more than a second rate "classic rock hit machine" by most rock writers these days.  On the one hand, it is true that their many hit singles betray a chameleon-like quality that masks their originality (they variously sound like The Beatles, The Doors, The Who, Led Zeppelin, etc.) -- but on the other hand, they recorded nearly a dozen albums from 1969-1976 that are chock full of eclectic less-heard material that reveals they actually always had tons of character and originality.  Artificial Paradise is one of the overlooked gems in their discography, a hitless album with ridiculous packaging where they dabble in such styles as metal, blues, country, calypso and raga.
I couldn't find contemporaneous clips from this record, but here's one of their last hit singles "Star Baby" performed in late 1973, and a 2000-era rehearsal of the flop single from Artificial Paradise,  "Follow Your Daughter Home".   Here's the classic quartet in 1970 with the full length version of one of their greatest hits "No Time", and finally, get to know one of Canada's greatest rock legends in this TV documentary from the 1990's on birthday boy Burton.
(N) = New Release
Artist Song Album Year (label) Country
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Live It Up
Mature Themes (N)2012 (4AD)USA
Sly & The Family Stone
Plastic Jim
 		Life 1968
USA
Gang Of Four
Return The Gift
 		Entertainment! 1980
UK
Trin TranNo Thanks, OK
Dark Radar EP (N)2012 (Drag City)
USA
Mercy Whip
On The Lamb
Mercy Whip EP (N)2012 (self release)USA
Wife
I'm Sorry Man
Demo (N)2012 (self release)USA
 
  
The Guess Who
(Happy 65th Birthday Burton Cummings!)
All Hashed Out
 		Artificial Paradise
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1973
Canada
The Guess Who Orly
 		Artificial Paradise
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1973
Canada
The Guess Who Those Show Biz Shoes
 		Artificial Paradise
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1973
Canada
The Guess Who Hand Me Down World
 		Share The Land
1970
Canada
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Second Hand
 		Not Fragile
1974
Canada
 
  
Ash Ra Tempel Light: Look At Your Sun
 		Shwingungen
1972
Germany
Eternal Tapestry When I Was In Your MindA World Out Of Time (N)2012 (Thrill Jockey)USA
Sun ArawThe Summum (Pharoah Sanders)
The Inner Treaty (N)2012 (Sun Ark/Drag City)
USA
Golden DonnaPaulding Light
Golden Donna (N)2012 (Not Not Fun)
USA
 
  
Scott Walker SDSS14+13B (Zercon, a Flagpole Sitter)Bish Bosch (N)2012 (4AD)USA/UK
Jesus On MarsGalactic Pot Healer
Jesus On Mars (N)2012 (Dissolving)
UK
Can Private NocturnalThe Lost Tapes (N - previously unreleased tracks)rec. 1975 (2012 Spoon/Mute)Germany
Blues Control
Open Air
Valley Tangents (N)2012 (Drag City)USA
 
 
Nico Facing The Wind
 		The Marble Index
1969
Germany
Gentle Giant Isn't It Quiet And Cold?
 		Gentle Giant
1970
UK
Solus 3 Unfold (Lucidity Nocturnal Mix)Corner Of The Dub (N - remix album)2012 (Solus 3 Recordings)UK
Sonic YouthKat 'n' Hat / Brother James / Kill Yr Idols (live)
Smart Bar Chicago 1985 (N - archival live recording)rec. 1985 (2012 Goofin')USA

 
Brian Eno
Lux 3
Lux (N)2012 (Warp)UK
                 
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