October 21, 2020 Playlist

"Van Halen" by Van Halen (1978)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Van Halen "Van Halen"  1978 (USA/Netherlands)
E.V.H. R.I.P. Dutch-born Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen was one of the most innovative guitarists of the rock era, arguably second only to Jimi Hendrix himself. The band he started with his drummer/brother Alex was one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time: like Led Zeppelin, they were a group where every member of the quartet was an iconic musician. Their first six albums with frontman David Lee Roth were superlative hard rock records sweetened but not softened by a pop sheen (they are a rare metal band that sings a lot of harmony vocals). Their biggest record was the synth-laden 1984, released the same year (1983) that Eddie made one of the great cameos in pop playing the guitar solo on Michael Jackson's enormous hit "Beat It". After that, DLR "quit or was fired" and the polarising "Van Hagar" era began (but hey, those records are still better than the "Van Halen III" period with Gary Cherone.) The most important record of their career was arguably the 1978 debut album. At a time when punk was raging and the heavy metal underground was beginning to heat up, classic 70's-style hard rock was already facing plenty of challenges. After the blazing Van Halen came out, those old groups had to step aside or step up their game (as Judas Priest did in the 80's, and Ozzy Osbourne after he left Black Sabbath to make solo albums with Vanhalenesque guitarist Randy Rhoads). Ironically, in the early 90's Van Halen faced a similar challenge as the grunge era quickly killed off the "hair metal" style that they were the primary progenitors of.
(N) = New Release
(R) = Listener Request
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
Eric Burdon & The AnimalsPoem By The Sea
   / Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones)		Winds Of Change1967UK
Os MutantesAve Genghis KhanOs Mutantes1968Brazil
Akira Ishikawa & Count BuffalosThe Earth (Ardhi)African Rock1972Japan
Brigid Dawson & The Mothers Network Heartbreak JazzBallet Of Apes (N)2020 (Castle Face)USA
X All The Time In The WorldAlphabetland (N)2020 (Fat Possum)USA
 
 
Osees
(formerly (Thee) Oh Sees) 		Gong Of CatastropheProtean Threat (N)2020 (Castle Face)USA
Guided By Voices I Touch Down
   / Haircut Sphinx		Mirrored Aztec (N)2020 (GBV Inc.)USA
DISQ GentleCollector (N)2020 (Saddle Creek)USA
Sparks I'm ToastA Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (N)2020 (BMG)USA
Chicano Batman The ProphetInvisible People (N)2020 (ATO)USA
Mastodon HalloweenMedium Rarities (N - compilation)2020 (Reprise)USA
   
 
Van HalenRunnin' With The DevilVan Halen
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1978USA/Netherlands
Van HalenEruption
   / You Really Got Me (The Kinks)		Van Halen
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1978USA/Netherlands
Van HalenOn FireVan Halen
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1978USA/Netherlands
Van HalenLittle GuitarsDiver Down1982USA/Netherlands
Judas PriestInvaderStained Class1978UK
Bad BrainsHired GunI Against I1986USA
   
 
Droids Attack (R)Scythe In The FireFatal Error2007USA
DMBQ (R)TasteThe Essential Sounds From The Far East2005Japan
KyussUn Sandpipersingle (Muchas Gracias: The Best Of Kyuss compilation)1995USA
SleepJerusalem (part 2)Jerusalem1999USA
MotörheadCapricornOverkill1979UK
Frank ZappaWaka/JawakaWaka/Jawaka1973USA
   
 
Wolfgang Dauner (with Jean-Luc Ponty)Sketch Up And DaunerFree Action1967Germany
David AxelrodThe Human AbstractSongs Of Experience1969USA
Jazz Sabbath Hand Of Doom (Black Sabbath)Jazz Sabbath (N)2020 (Blacklake)UK
Bill Frisell Baba Drame
   --> Hour Glass		Valentine (N)2020 (Blue Note)USA
   
 
Quin Kirchner Pathways
   --> Sahara		The Shadows And The Light (N)2020 (Astral Spirits)USA
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