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Not all sides were created equal. Here is the first of many blog entries on the evaluation of album sides, starting with a few favorites from the 1970's:
David Bowie - Heroes (1977) - Side A
No disrespect to the synth instrumentals that dominate Side B, as "V-2 Schneider" is one of Bowie's best, or the drum-heavy "Secret Life of Arabia", either. The songs on side A are deeply layered, offering some of the strongest collaborations from Eno-Bowie; I would opt for this over Low's A-side, anyday.
Gerry Rafferty - City to City (1978) - Side A
A near-perfect side filled with solid song writing and radio favorites: "The Ark", "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", "City to City" & "Stealin' Time".
Van Morrison - St. Dominics Preview (1972) - Side B
Both sides of this album are enjoyable, however, side b offers a trio of oustanding songs that reflect his time spent living and recording in Northern California: the inspired "St. Dominic's Preview", the sublime "Redwood Tree" & the epic "Almost Independence Day".
David Bowie - Heroes (1977) - Side A
No disrespect to the synth instrumentals that dominate Side B, as "V-2 Schneider" is one of Bowie's best, or the drum-heavy "Secret Life of Arabia", either. The songs on side A are deeply layered, offering some of the strongest collaborations from Eno-Bowie; I would opt for this over Low's A-side, anyday.
Gerry Rafferty - City to City (1978) - Side A
A near-perfect side filled with solid song writing and radio favorites: "The Ark", "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", "City to City" & "Stealin' Time".
Van Morrison - St. Dominics Preview (1972) - Side B
Both sides of this album are enjoyable, however, side b offers a trio of oustanding songs that reflect his time spent living and recording in Northern California: the inspired "St. Dominic's Preview", the sublime "Redwood Tree" & the epic "Almost Independence Day".
"Ghoul Favorites" was perhaps the title of this 45 rpm that actually contained much more than most 45's do. I discovered an ad for the disc in the back of a late-70's comic book, so the graphic and description sold me on the purchase. Side one featured short segments of various noises: torture chamber, banshee howling, screams. Side two was a narrative about a few boys, lost in a creepy dungeon or house, who were eventually eaten alive amid screams and laughter. A most effective disc that I wish I still had.
"Disney's Haunted Mansion" was an LP that featured a narrative of a boy and a girl attempting to escape from the Haunted Mansion; the voice of the boy was performed by Ron Howard. The sound effects and story were quite compelling, especially on head-phones.
"Ronco's Funky Favorites" featured such classics as Monster Mash, Purple People Eater & Shimmy Shimmy Coco Bop. Great, cornball favorites.
"Halloween" soundtrack by John Carpenter - the synth soundtrack effected me in a weird way as a child. A high creep factor.
"Bad Music for Bad People" by The Cramps - Very short disc filled with b-side howlers and has since been replaced in my Halloween rotation with the live & rare double disc "How to Make a Monster".
"Disney's Haunted Mansion" was an LP that featured a narrative of a boy and a girl attempting to escape from the Haunted Mansion; the voice of the boy was performed by Ron Howard. The sound effects and story were quite compelling, especially on head-phones.
"Ronco's Funky Favorites" featured such classics as Monster Mash, Purple People Eater & Shimmy Shimmy Coco Bop. Great, cornball favorites.
"Halloween" soundtrack by John Carpenter - the synth soundtrack effected me in a weird way as a child. A high creep factor.
"Bad Music for Bad People" by The Cramps - Very short disc filled with b-side howlers and has since been replaced in my Halloween rotation with the live & rare double disc "How to Make a Monster".