Shaun Cassidy (eponymous)

Released in Europe and Australia in 1976,

and in the US in 1977,

this was Shaun Cassidy's debut album,

and his most successful.

"Da Doo Ron Ron"

was his only #1 hit single.

Honestly, I am not quite sure how this LP

arrived in my collection.

I know I did not specifically seek it out

and purchase it 'back in the day.'

Shaun Cassidy was a short-lived teen phenom in the late '70s.

Read more about Shaun Cassidy HERE.

Cover and Poster Photography: Michael Montfort

Back Cover Photography: Claude Maugin

Art Director: Ed Thrasher

Design: Ron Coro, Norm Ung / Gribbitt!

Billy Vaughn: "La Paloma"

Released in 1952,

this is one of Billy Vaughn's earliest recordings.

Billy Vaughn was a staple for the "easy listening"

and "mood music" crowd.

This entire LP is available as one continuous 'video' on YouTube:

La Paloma

Read more about Billy Vaughn HERE.

Stevie Wonder: "Talking Book"

Released in 1972,

this was Stevie Wonder's fifteenth (15th) album.

Includes the mega-hits

"Superstition"

and

"You Are the Sunshine of My Life."

Many say this recording is when Stevie Wonder

'hit his stride' as an artist.

Read more about Stevie Wonder HERE.

Photography: R. Margouleff

Vincent Lopez and his Orchestra: "Nola & Other Piano Instrumentals"

This LP was released in 1959,

when Vincent Lopez and his Orchestra

had already been household names

for nearly forty years.

"Nola," written by Felix Arndt,

was Vincent Lopez' theme song

from his earliest days on radio.

Vincent Lopez' orchestra was among

the first true "big band/swing" ensembles.

Here's a nice "soundie" compilation from 1939:

Vincent Lopez and his Orchestra with Betty Hutton

Read more about Vincent Lopez HERE.

Sammy Davis, Jr.: "I've Gotta Be Me"

Released in 1968,

the title song became

one of Sammy Davis, Jr.'s signature songs.

This song was covered by numerous artists.

"I've gotta" believe this one song set Walter Marks (composer)

up for life.

Cover photo: Ron Joy

Art Director: Ed Thrasher

Back Cover: B. Tanenbaum

Fifth Anniversary!

It is in the very nature of the strangeness of this past year (2014) that I 'accidentally' stumbled upon the fact that today is the fifth anniversary of the launching of FastEddie's Wax Museum.  I was idly noticing how few posts I managed to post in 2014 when I saw an entry titled 'Fourth Anniversary!'

On a personal level, much has happened in 2014 that I can truthfully say I am glad to have in my past.  Multiple health issues, for example.  I burned up more 'sick leave' on behalf of myself, my son, and my wife than I have probably used in the previous ten years combined.  The result of those events was that I went for months without giving any attention to this blog.

Hooray for blogging! Blogs are patient creatures. They wait. They don't go anywhere. I mean, it's not like I have thousands of 'followers.' That is not even an ambition of mine, truly.  I actually have something like seven or eight different blogs.  I have not literally counted them.

I know my first blog - PostPonderance - has not seen the ministrations of my mind and fingers for nearly five years. Nevertheless, it is still there waiting for me, and I can make a new post there anytime I like.  Ironically, the posts I have made there were mostly efforts to convince myself to write more blog posts.

Well, in any case, 'Happy Anniversary!' to me!  I sincerely hope that 2015 will be a more positively productive year, and that FastEddie's Wax Museum will see plenty of action.

Cheers! and Shalom to one and all.

Blood, Sweat & Tears: "Blood, Sweat & Tears"

Released in 1968,

this was Blood, Sweat & Tears' second LP.

I believe the primary reason it was self-titled

is because the line-up was almost

entirely different from their first album.

In particular,

they boasted a new front man,

David Clayton-Thomas,

who replaced Al Kooper.

This album was hugely successful,

with major hits

"Spinning Wheel,"

"You've Made Me So Very Happy,"

and

"And When I Die."

It even won the Grammy

for Album of the Year,

beating out the Beatles'

"Abbey Road,"

Crosby, Stills, & Nash's debut LP,

Johnny Cash's "At San Quentin,"

and

The Fifth Dimension's "The Age of Aquarius."

This was an influential recording

for the world

and for me personally.

The stunning musical complexity,

the songwriting, and the vocals

had a lasting impact on my approach

to music composition and appreciation.

Cover Art: Timothy Quay

Back Cover Photo: Harrie George

Inside Art: Bob Cato

Design: John Berg

Steppenwolf: "Steppenwolf"

Released in 1968,

this was Steppenwolf's

highly successful debut LP.

Includes their mega-hit, "Born to Be Wild,"

plus "Sookie, Sookie" and "The Pusher."

"Berry Rides Again" is also a great track!

If you are not already a fan,

I'm not sure there is much I can say

to convince you of this group's

iconic role in the late '60s

progression of rock music.

If you ARE already a fan,

there's not much I could say

that would change your mind

or add to your knowledge,

probably.

How 'bout this:

a) the silver cover made it difficult for an

amateur photographer like myself to get a clean shot of the cover;

b) this album came to me second-hand (garage sale, I think),

so the disturbing, unfortunate red enhancements are not mine.

Read more about Steppenwolf HERE.

Art Direction, Cover and Liner Design: Gary Burden

Photography: Tom Gundelfinger

Michael Omartian: "White Horse"

Released in 1974,

this was Michael Omartian's first solo LP.

By that time,

he had already begun to build an amazing

career as a session artist,

and this album marks the beginning of 

what became a super-stellar career

as a producer.

Honestly,

this album changed my life.

Everything about it was mind-blowing

(at least to me, at the time).

From this point forward,

I would always be on the lookout

for Michael Omartian's name

in any album credits.

My favorite

was when I found his name among

the dozens of names listed

on the credits for the soundtrack,

"Jonathan Livingston Seagull";

but I have found his name

on many, many, many album credits.

Read more about Michael Omartian HERE.

My favorite track from this LP:

"Jeremiah"

Album Cover Concept: James Fitzgerald

Album Cover Art: Dave Jarvis

Photography: Harry Langdon

The Jazz Crusaders: "Old Socks New Shoes, New Socks Old Shoes"

Released in 1970,

this was "The Jazz Crusaders" eighteenth (18th) album,

thirteenth (13th) studio recording

(plus five live releases);

and their last

as "The Jazz Crusaders."

After this album,

they dropped the "Jazz"

from their name

and were known simply as

"The Crusaders."

This is an entertaining album

nice, easy but soulful and funky,

a great mix of original tunes

and memorable covers of a few then-recent

pop hits.

Here is their version of "Thank You Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Agin"

Read more about The Crusaders HERE.

Photography: Barry Feinstein and Tom Wilkes

Led Zeppelin: "Led Zeppelin" (debut)

Released in early 1969,

this LP was destined, seriously,

to ROCK 

rock music.

Personally, after 45 years,

this album remains on my Top Ten Albums List.

Every track is a gem,

from their stupendous originals

such as "Good Times, Bad Times,"

"Communications Breakdown,"

"How Many More Times,"

and the iconic

"Dazed and Confused,"

to their stunning interpretations

of Willie Dixon blues classics

"You Shook Me"

and

"I Can't Quit You, Baby."

Then and now = Fantastic!

Back Liner Photo: Chris Dreja

Cover Design: George Hardie

Black Sabbath: "Heaven and Hell"

Release in 1980,

this was the ninth studio LP for Black Sabbath,

but the first to feature Ronnie James Dio

as the lead vocalist.

He had just replaced Ozzy Osbourne in that role.

Artwork by Lynn Curlee and Harry Carmean

Read more about Black Sabbath HERE.

Placido Domingo: "Be My Love"

Released in 1976,

this is one of only a few among the hundreds

of Domingo's recordings that is not

strictly opera.

Read more about Placido Domingo HERE.

Jimmy and Carol Owens: "Tell the World in '73"

Released in 1973,

this album was greatly

influential in many young people's lives,

not the least my own;

but that is a tale for another blog.

Read more about Jimmy and Carol Owens HERE.

Cover by Woody Woodward Grafix

Pablo Cruise: "Worlds Away"

Released in 1978,

this was Pablo Cruise's fourth (4th) album.

This was also their most successful recording

in terms of total sales,

due mostly to the huge hit

"Love Will Find a Way."

Read more about Pablo Cruise HERE.

Art Direction: Roland Young

Design: Chuck Beeson

Mirror Etching: Karen Louise Haskins

Photography, Back Cover: Jim McCrary, Aaron Rapoport

Photography, Inner Sleeve: Mark Hanauer

The Atlantics: "Big City Rock"

The Atlantics were a Boston New Wave band.

"Big City Rock" was their debut album,

and the title track the only song

that caught a bit of national attention,

unfortunately.

Read a bit more about The Atlantics HERE.

Art Direction/Concept/Design: Stuart Kusher

Photography: Earl Miller

Lettering: Rod Dyer, Inc.

Tin Huey: "contents dislodged during shipment"

Released in 1979,

this was Tin Huey's third (3rd) studio LP.

Part of the experimental rock scene that has been called "The Akron Sound."

Read more about Tin Huey HERE.

Cover Art: Mike Holmes

Back Cover Photo: Jeff Day

Airbrushing on Back Cover Photo: Stephen Nicol Price

Bee Gees: "Trafalgar"

Released in 1971,

this was the Bee Gees ninth (9th) album.

Includes the hit

"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?"

Read more about the lives and times of the Bee Gees HERE.

Cover Art: "The Battle of Trafalgar" by Pocock

Inside Liner Photo: Roger Brown

Album Design: Hamish Grimes

Andy Williams: "In the Arms of Love"

 

Released in 1966,

this is Andy Williams' nineteenth (19th) studio LP.

Read more about Andy Williams' life and career HERE.

Photography: Bob Cato

Perry Como: "Dream Along With Me"

Released in 1957,

this LP is one of dozens recorded by Perry Como

over the course of his 60+ year career.

Read more about Perry Como HERE.