Show 122 - "Awakening Frampton's Toad"

[Rick and Roll]

Airing Sunday March 18 from 8-11 PM EST and Monday March 19 1-4 PM EST.....

Now that I have your attention!

Before we begin the XTC orgy the next two weeks, let's hear a CD you have never heard, songs from a CD you know but haven't heard for ages, and a band you may have known, but long forgotten.

"Awaken" (2000)

Here's a band from the Boston area, with their only CD. Chris Ferrara (aka Aramedius III to the Moonies) sent this to me. He wrote the lyrics for "Mistaken Entity" and was involved in the making of the record....Chris please chime in.....

The Musician
Mistaken Entity
No One's Listening
Rulers of the World
Cry In The Wilderness
Madness In The Jester's Court
2B1
Common Ground
Ocean Talk
If Eyes Could See
Left Alone (ballad of Syd Barrett)
Sea of Tranquility - appropriate for the Moon I say!
Avant Garde

The recording is as good as you can expect from a limited budget, and the some of the songs are a bit forced. But mostly is very well done - lots of keyboards, and the jumpier songs (especially "No One's Listening" remind me of Saga). The acoustic passages are nice (especially on the Syd tune).

Peter Frampton - cuts from "Frampton" (1975)

One of my favorite records, his third I believe....I like how the CD says "features the hits Show Me the Way and Baby I Love Your Way"...and we'll hear neither!

Frampton is one of the most tasteful players ever, even at a young age...side 2 of the record just gets me going. "Apple of Your Eye" contains the best work I've heard this side of Steve Morse. Now if he can only explain the lyric, "When someone drops a cup I submerge" we'll be all set!

Looking forward to the Teerminator (speaking of Chris's )burning me the latest Frampton (and I owe you the live CV, right?)...I've heard from multiple sources that it's aces.

Day's Dawning
One More Time
The Crying Clown
Nowhere's Too Far (For My Baby)
Apple of Your Eye
Penny For Your Thoughts
(I'll Give You) Money

Toad -

from "Toad" (1971)

Cotton Wood Hill
Life Goes On
Pig's Walk
The One I Mean
Animals World

Ever since Cozy played this band on his show last year, I've been on a mission to get them. I finally bought the boxed set which has their three CD's. Blistering guitar work by Vic Vergeat highlights this exciting band. Unabashed shades of Hendrix, it's a perfect bridge between the late 60's greatness and the unmatched prog of the early 70's. Very heavy and bluesy, yet as prog as it comes for that time.

"Cotton Wood Hill" has a few twists and turns, and is a great song. Also awesome is "Life Goes On", over 11 minutes of acoustic bliss and buildup similar to "Stairway to Heaven". And "Pig's Walk" is 7 minutes of a drum/bass/guitar workout that's simply unbelievable.

from "Dreams" (1975)

Dreams

That's it. It's the only good cut on the record. Sometime between 1972 and 1975 they took a wimpy pill.......but the first two CD's easily offset this stinker.

from "Tomorrow Blue" (1972)

Thoughts
Tomorrow Blue
Blind Chapman's Tales
No Need
Change In Time
Fly

Universally hailed as the best Toad CD, this second release kicks ass and takes a name or two. "Thoughts" could wake the dead, with its hanging minor chord after each line. The title cut is a six minute guitar lead sandwiched between two verses. "Tales" is acoustic, with a nice violin addition. A top-shelf tune. "No Need" is a flat-out rocker. "Change In Time" is a 12 and 1/2 minute epic that has a hard 5 minutes, 2 minutes of quietness, another 2 of guitar dissonance, then a strong finish...very meaty song. And "Fly" takes us home, with vocals similar to the great band "If".....

See you there!

[Rick and Roll]

moving the thread into range....