Search 'Bearsville'
Live (Album of the Day)
The 1970s represented a golden age for both arena rock and live albums, and the two intersect to magnificent effect on FOGHAT LIVE. The half-dozen songs on the Bearsville collection push blues 'n' boogie into overdrive, offering plenty of room for "Lonesome" Dave Peverett's rafter-rattling vocals and Rod Price's slide guitar to stretch out. Recorded at the peak of Foghat's popularity, the concert included all their best-known songs, with fresh arrangements that often surpass the studio versions: “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” “Fool For The City” and “Slow Ride,” which hit the Billboard singles chart on this day in 1976. The double-Platinum FOGHAT LIVE was the U.K. quartet's best-selling album, and one listen makes it easy to hear why.
Back to the Bars (Album of the Day)
When the president of Bearsville Records asked Todd Rundgren for a live best-of collection, he delivered – and then some. BACK TO THE BARS includes such classics as “Hello It's Me,” “Couldn't I Just Tell You” and “I Saw the Light” but digs much deeper than the hits to capture the dizzying variety of Rundgren's solo releases. The 1978 album was drawn from shows at The Bottom Line in New York, The Roxy in L.A. and The Agora in Cleveland, and for a man thought of as a studio wizard, Todd proves a convincing concert performer. He's also sometimes thought of as a one-man show but here benefits from the support of bands Utopia and Hello People and such guests as Spencer Davis, Hall & Oates and Stevie Nicks. We'll wish Todd Rundgren a happy birthday by going BACK TO THE BARS.
Todd Rundgren's Utopia (Album of the Day)
Todd Rundgren is famed as a solo hitmaker and producer, but his tenure in bands The Nazz and Utopia is equally impressive. Largely drawn from musicians he'd played with on past albums (and including no less than three keyboardists), Todd Rundgen's Utopia was designed to scratch the man's progressive rock itch, and the group's eponymous debut emerged in 1974 on Bearsville. The opening “Utopia Theme” was recorded live at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, and while the punchy “Freedom Fighters” recalls Rundgren's earlier output, both “Freak Parade” and “The Ikon” are ambitious epics – the latter passing the 30-minute mark. Featuring memorable melodies, arrangements ranging from symphonic to hard rock and terrific instrumental performances throughout (Todd's guitar work really shines), TODD RUNDGREN'S UTOPIA is a paradise for prog fans.
Sparks (Album of the Day)
Rock's favorite pair of oddballs, Sparks was formed in the late 1960s by brothers Ron and Russell Mael, on keyboards and vocals, respectively. The duo started out as Halfnelson, and it was under that moniker that they entered the studio with producer Todd Rundgren to cut their eponymous debut for Bearsville. The 1971 album failed to connect in the marketplace until the boys changed their name to Sparks, signed with Warner Bros. and reissued the set a year later – at which point SPARKS earned a minor regional hit (in Alabama, of all places) with “Wonder Girl.” Guitarist Earle Mankey, his bassist brother Jim and drummer Harley Feinstein fill out the sound on these 11 originals, and the band is as tight as it is quirky. The clever lyrics, falsetto singing and willingness to mash-up pop genres that would make the Maels cult heroes are in full bloom on SPARKS.
Resident Alien (Album of the Day)
Though the members of Spacehog all hailed from Leeds, the group only formed after they'd each moved to Manhattan, a situation that likely inspired the title of their debut, RESIDENT ALIEN. The 1995 Sire/Elektra collection also reflects the quartet's British roots in its neo-glam sound; press materials form the day describe the boys as “the band who fell to earth.” Cut at Bearsville in New York, these 13 originals (plus the hidden track that was de rigueur for mid-'90s alternative rockers) have a live immediacy that lets frontman Royston Langdon and guitar hero Richard Steel strut their stuff like spiders from Mars on such standout tracks as “Never Coming Down,” “Cruel to Be Kind” and Top 40 single “In the Meantime.” The Gold-certified RESIDENT ALIEN is Spacehog's most successful album and still delivers a kick.
Initiation (Album of the Day)
One of rock's greatest multitaskers, Todd Rundgren released his sixth solo album, INITIATION, hot on the heels of his debut with Utopia. The 1975 Bearsville set continues the synthesizer-driven prog of his then-new band, with Todd leading the charge on keyboards and innumerable other instruments (he's joined in places by Utopia's Roger Powell; Rick Derringer, David Sanborn and Edgar Winter also make appearances). The collection is split between a side of shorter songs highlighted by such gems as “Real Man,” “Eastern Intrigue” and the title track, and the virtuoso instrumental suite “A Treatise on Cosmic Fire” that fills Side Two. The musical craftsmanship, boundary-pushing use of technology and probing spirituality that has brought Rundgren legions of followers can be heard throughout INITIATION's 68-minute running time, and as it celebrates its 45th anniversary, the album is sure to initiate new fans as well.
Resident Alien (Album of the Day)
Though the members of Spacehog all hail from Leeds, the group only formed after they'd each moved to Manhattan, a situation that likely inspired the title of their debut, RESIDENT ALIEN. The 1995 Sire/Elektra collection also reflects the quartet's British roots in its neo-glam sound; press materials from the day describe the boys as “the band who fell to earth.” Cut at Bearsville in New York, these 13 originals (plus the hidden track that was de rigueur for mid-'90s alternative rockers) have a live immediacy that lets frontman Royston Langdon and guitar hero Richard Steel strut their stuff like spiders from Mars on such standout tracks as “Never Coming Down,” “Cruel to Be Kind” and Top 40 single “In the Meantime.” The Gold-certified RESIDENT ALIEN remains Spacehog's most successful album and it still delivers a kick.
Sparks (Album of the Day)
Rock's favorite pair of oddballs, Sparks was formed in the late 1960s by brothers Ron and Russell Mael, on keyboards and vocals, respectively. The duo started out as Halfnelson, and it was under that moniker that they entered the studio with producer Todd Rundgren to cut their eponymous debut for Bearsville. The 1971 album failed to connect in the marketplace until the boys changed their name to Sparks, signed with Warner Bros. and reissued the set a year later – at which point SPARKS earned a minor regional hit (in Alabama, of all places) with “Wonder Girl.” Guitarist Earle Mankey, his bassist brother Jim and drummer Harley Feinstein fill out the sound on these 11 originals, and the band is as tight as it is quirky. The clever lyrics, falsetto singing and willingness to mash-up pop genres that would make the Maels cult heroes are in full bloom on SPARKS, and we'll give the set another spin now to wish Russell a happy birthday!
Tight Shoes (Album of the Day)
The bright, day-glo colors on the cover of TIGHT SHOES are somewhat of a giveaway that Foghat had discovered new wave. While the British band hadn't entirely checked out of the boogie motel - “Slow Ride” guitar hero Rod Price was still bending the strings here, though he would depart after this 1980 Bearsville set – there was definitely a bit more pop added to their trademark blues-rock. Produced by the band with Don Berman and Tony Outeda at Foghat Studios in Port Jefferson, New York, the collection features top-notch musicianship and such appealing tracks as single “Stranger in My Home Town,” “Baby I Can Change Your Mind” and “No Hard Feelings.” Frontman Dave Peverett penned all eight songs here; “Lonesome Dave” passed away on this day in 2000, and in his honor we'll put on TIGHT SHOES one more time.
King For A Day (Deluxe Edition) (Album of the Day)
Following the Grammy-nominated ANGEL DUST, Faith No More returned in 1995 with KING FOR A DAY...FOOL FOR A LIFETIME. Recorded at Bearsville Studios near Woodstock, New York, it was the first album following the departure of longtime guitarist Jim Martin, and the addition of replacement axeman Trey Spruance and producer Andy Wallace resulted in one of the group's most stylistically diverse collections. "We wrote and recorded some of our most radical, out there songs,” recalls keyboardist Roddy Bottum, “like 'Cuckoo For Caca' and 'Ugly In The Morning,' some of our mellowest like 'Take This Bottle,' 'Caralho Voador' and then some of our most high-drama, like 'Just A Man.'" The new Deluxe Edition of KING FOR A DAY...FOOL FOR A LIFETIME adds a second disc filled with related rarities including B-sides "Spanish Eyes" and "Absolute Zero," as well as the band's cover of the Bee Gee's "I Started A Joke."