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     The "Ghost in the Machine" is a cryptic and plain image. The album cover borders on boring. Actually, it's boring, but it's symbolic of the times. In 1981, when Ghost was released, it was the beginning of dot matrix displays in alarm clocks and appliances. So, in that vein, the cover is apropos. It isn't just a haphazard digital inspired artwork though. The artwork depicts the three band members and when I think of it that way, it's pretty inventive.  Artist Mike Haggerty came up with the artwork after the band was unable to decide on a cover. I'll give you a guess which image is Sting. That's an easy one. Cover by Mike Haggery and Jeff Ayeroff, 1981

    Somehow, like many other things, I missed the brilliance of the "Green Eyed Lady" organ solo. It's like the Eddie Van Halen of organ solos.  Here's the thing: I am not into organ at all. Save for Jon Lord of Deep Purple, who gets a pass because he played through a distorted Marshall guitar amp to get his sound. That's just cool.     The band was Sugarloaf, and the tune "Green Eyed Lady" was released in 1970 on their debut album. I was nine at the time. The song has a killer bass hook with a menacing quality, made more prominent at times by the organ stabs and guitar playing the same notes at precisely the same time as the bass line. It's very effective.       The lyrics also hook you right in. The frontman and keyboardist who played the solo was Jerry Corbetta, and he was one of the song's three writers. Corbetta writes about his girlfriend at the time, who had green eyes. This, according to songfacts.com .     Anyway, the organ...

       First off, I am not the biggest Fleetwood Mac fan. I do love their music, though. I have to say that "Rumours" is, to me, the best "overall" rock album. But why? you might ask. Is it the music? Is it the lyrics? Is it the sound engineer? No, not exactly. It's all of that and more.     It's the commitment of all the members of Fleetwood Mac to honor the music above their own feelings.  The artistic and creative release of each artist's mangled emotions amidst their incredible vulnerabilities with each other during the recording of  "Rumours."  Save Mick Fleetwood, who was facing divorce with his wife Jenny Boyd, sister to the famous Patti Boyd, who was married to George Harrison and Eric Clapton and was the muse for many a tune such as "Layla," "Wonderful Tonight" by Clapton and "Something" by Harrison. At least Mick Fleetwood didn't have to be in the same room with Jenny while that was happening. I can...

We all have opinions on the best rock 'n' roll bands. This list will be short and in no particular order. These are my top three.  1. The Rolling Stones.       I was not a huge fan growing up. Still, as the years have gone by (not tears),  actually those too, I have to give them credit for their songwriting, commitment to the craft, and ability to accept their musical limitations and simply not have to be technical gods. This is what puts them in my top three. I mean they are not prodigies. They have, however, managed to take their influences and weave a very dare I say "formula" to reach the masses. They also have the business's most successful band logo and band image. Their perseverance is legendary at this point. It's time to give it up though. They have blessed us with so much incredible music. Thank You. Now get some rest! 2. The Beatles.      No shocker here. I wasn't a big fan of them growing up even though my older brothers were into...

Designed by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis Design Co., 1973      If you went to a party at a friend's house or a friend of a friend's house back in the 70s, you would invariably be listening to Pink Floyd's  "The Dark Side of The Moon,"  and you would run into this album cover.  The party's host would probably have a black light on with "The Dark Side of The Moon" as a fuzzy velvet poster on the wall, too. The colors on it would be lit up and fluorescent from the black light. Trippy stuff.     What is so alluring about this album cover? It's one of the most iconic rock album covers of all time. It's the simplicity of it. Prisms (represented by the triangle) were big in the 1970s. The image represents a spiritual journey and scientific reflection on how a prism works.      The image is hopeful and dark at the same time. What pulls it all together is that once you hear the music on this album, it becomes clear that the music and album...

     This is my opinion on the top twenty classic rock albums. I haven't ranked them, and I may not be the biggest fan of some of the bands, but they should be on this list. I am sure I missed some, but that would only be because I was not exposed to the band or artist. The albums are in no particular order of who is best. 1. Boston- Boston 2. Back in Black- ACDC 3. Led Zeppelin IV 4. Led Zeppelin II 5. Who's Next- The Who 6. Sticky Fingers-The Rolling Stones 7. Dark Side of The Moon- Pink Floyd 8. Abbey Road- The Beatles 9. Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen 10. Rumours- Fleetwood Mac 11. After the Goldrush- Neil Young 12. Pet Sounds- The Beach Boys 13. Van Halen-Van Halen 14. Machine Head- Deep Purple 15. Disraeli Gears- Cream 16. Hotel California- The Eagles 17. Master of Reality- Black Sabbath 18. Jimi Hendrix- Electric Ladyland 19. Peter Frampton- Frampton Comes Alive 20. Queen- A Night At The Opera