James Gang Rides Again/Alone Together
This weekend is our nation’s birthday – And, as a treat, On The Turntable will feature two more long playing vinyl albums that are celebrating 50 years since their release. The show will begin with “James Gang Rides Again” and will conclude with “Alone Together” from Dave Mason. Happy Birthday America!
James Gang Rides Again
James Gang Rides Again, also alternately known as simply “Rides Again” is the second studio album by American rock band James Gang. The album was released this very month in 1970, on the label ABC Records, and is now celebrating 50 years since its release. I have owned a copy of this lp for about 48 of those 50 years and still have my original copy .. the program will air a 180 Gram Vinyl Master Recording I picked up just for this program …
Side two of “Rides Again” features two of my favorite songs penned by Joe Walsh …. “Tend My Garden” and “Ashes, The Rain And I” … Music critic John Swenson named the album “one of the most important rock records of the Seventies.” … Best Ever Albums Dot Com does not seem agree, considering “Rides Again” the 171st best lp of 1970 and 1,571st of the 1970’s … Digital Dream Door gives the lp much more love … ranking it 57th on it’s top 100 of 1970.
Notable Songs – “Funk 49” “Tend My Garden” “Ashes, The Rain and I” “The Bomber”
Alone Together
Alone Together is the debut solo album by former Traffic Member Dave Mason, released in July 1970 … and as far a debuts go … they do not get much better than this one … Mason was joined on the album by a roster of guest musicians, including Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell, Jim Capaldi, Rita Coolidge, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. This lp has been a part of my collection for the past 50 years … though this weekend you will enjoy another Master Recording on 180 Gram Vinyl.
The Leon Russell/Delaney & Bonnie collaborations in 1970 created some pretty incredible lps … three of which you will experience right here On The Turntable … Alone Together … Eric Clapton’s solo debut and Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen … Alone Together has the same feel, for me anyway, as the Eric Clapton debut and includes some very well done guitar work … I especially like “Look At You, Look At Me” … Best Ever Albums Dot Com considers Alone Together the 99th best lp of 1970 … again, when you consider what was released in 1970, top 100 is pretty damn good … The website also considers the lp the 645th best of the 1970’s … Side two, concludes with what I consider to be Dave Mason’s signature song … Look At You, Look At Me.
Notable Tracks – “Only You Know And I Know” “Look At You, Look At Me” “Waitin’ On You” “Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave”