Christopher Neil - Happy Head 7 70 w Where I Belong LP 72 w Here We Go 7 72 w Kiss Of Life 7 75 w Bring Back The Love 7 76 w Working Girl 7 79 w Bonus earlier bands Christopher - Demo 69 & 7 70 & The Chuckles 7's 68 69 w Live

Almost forgot to post my oldest request for this U.K. artist.  Per Discogs:  Singer, songwriter, actor and pop producer. Born in 1948. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, but settled in Manchester, UK before moving to London.  NOTE ADDED:  I held off a month in buying any vinyl on this request because it was all in U.K. with large shipping costs but finally conceded to do the post.   All singles requested showed available but the 'Kiss Of Life" 7 only had two listings.  The one I bought happened to be some Discogs schemer who was selling only the generic sleeve and no vinyl which I missed.  I caught it before he shipped so he let me chose some other 7 which I did but not by this artist.  The other more money 7 I immediately bought but it got lost in shipping so I ended up waiting a few months for another to pop up but never did and posted the youtube post with a minute or so less of filler after the core song.  THUS I ASK, DOES ANYBODY HAVE THE 'KISS OF LIFE' 7 they could rip and share?  I could also do it for you if sent and sent it back as I have done a handful of times.  

Has produced among others Paul Nicholas, Sheena Easton, Dollar, Celine Dion, a-ha etc.

https://bestfile.io/en/dYMtocZcqHhrNxa/file

A few reposts but still catching up.  I left original posts in place that can be searched in upper left:

CHUCK MANGIONE:  https://bestfile.io/en/SceL4U3e5CTd8qp/file

ESTHER PHILLIPS (check Urban Aspirines blog for post last week for rare Esther Phillips! here is the link  https://urbanaspirines.blogspot.com/2025/09/esther-phillips-best-of-esther-phillips.html )

https://bestfile.io/en/436ai8sRF9SoYiw/file

Ardo Dombec- st CD 71 -cc:  https://bestfile.io/en/sSwoFOozVbYUTu0/file

Asoka - st CD 71 -cc:  https://bestfile.io/en/pn2V9FOMz05z9VF/file

Ferris Wheel - Supernatural Girl CD 74 - cc:  https://bestfile.io/en/UjAxsAjXii5uZLx/file

BABE RUTH:  https://bestfile.io/en/XfAZnCbZlefXTOk/file

Dr. BUZZARD'S ORIGINAL SAVANNAH BAND:  https://bestfile.io/en/MjStKgVdAGIsoJM/file

The Statler Brothers - The Best Of CD 75 w The Best Of Their Greatest Hits and Finest Performances 5LP 83

REPOST and ADD ON:  Another from the vinyl boxset theme and a great compilation for a popular collector country band the Statler Brothers.  The songs took me back to the TV-watching days of Captain Kangaroo and Sunday newspaper reading that they sing about.  Quite interesting the Discogs:  The Statler Brothers were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group formed in 1955. Despite the name, only two members of the group (Don Reid and Harold Reid) are actual brothers and none has the surname of Statler. They named themselves after a brand of facial tissue they had noticed in a hotel room. In 1964, they began singing backup for Johnny Cash. In the mid-1970's, they ceased performing with Cash and began a successful recording career in their own right. The group disbanded and retired after completing a farewell tour on October 26, 2002

https://bestfile.io/p1Vm9y6zDtrmPVq/file

NORMA JEAN - Pretty Miss Norma Jean LP 65 w The Country's Favorite LP 66 w The Porter Wagoner TV Show featuring Norma Jean, Curly Harris and the Wagonmasters 63

REPOST and ADD ON:  Thought I should add a female country star to go with the Statler Brothers right above.  I had heard some rumbling about more country a couple weeks ago at some blog so I thought I should oblige.  And on that note, I have a full box of country compilations I will start into as a new theme as well.  Regarding Norma Jean, she did the original 'Why Don't You Love Me' that one of my old favorite bands the Red Hot Chili Peppers covered!  Per Discogs:  Real Name:  Norma Jean Beasler        Profile:  American country music singer who was inducted into the America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame (2005).  Born January 30, 1938 in Wellston, Oklahoma, USA.

Was a member of The Porter Wagoner Show from 1961–1967. She had a number of country singles in the Top 40 between 1963-1967, including 'Let's Go All The Way' and 'The Game Of Triangles', and was an important figure as to opening doors for other female country singers.

https://bestfile.io/en/7uMhoCFPwbBejUv/file

TOM JOHNSTON - Everything You've Heard Is True CD 79 w Still Feels Good LP 81 w JOIN FORCES - Veteran Tribute song on youtube with The Doobie Brothers

Pulled this one out of the old Goodwill piles having no idea he was a Doobie Brother vocalist and a founder having wrote most of their killer hit songs.  Only had his last album so got the first on youtube.  Per Discogs:  Real Name:  Charles Thomas Johnston

Profile:  American musician, guitarist and vocalist and co-founder of The Doobie Brothers, born 15 August 1948 in Visalia, California, USA.

https://bestfile.io/IyFpotnzMRAvvvy/file

VA - Mar Y Sol 2LP 72

REPOST Request:  What I wrote last time:  Since we had the 1972 Stax double compilation last week how about another from the same year with more great bands including:  J. Geils Band, The Mahavishnu Orchestra With John McLaughlin, Dr. John, B.B. King, Osibisa, Cactus, The Allman Brothers Band, Emerson, Lake And Palmer, Nitzinger, Jonathan Edwards, John Baldry and Herbie Mann (getting to be high time I harvest this guy's vinyl I have from Goodwill!).  Enjoy!

https://bestfile.io/UiZyWjKBTlERSbv/file

STRETCH - Elastique CD 75 w "You Can't Beat Your Brain For Entertainment" LP 77 w Lifeblood CD 77 w Forget The Past CD 78 w Live At The BBC (Peel Sessions) CD 16 w related band- Curved Air - Retrospective The Anthology (1970-2009) 2CD 10

REPOST Request:  Going to combine the Curved Air related band to the old Stretch post.  Per Discogs:  With lead singer Elmer Gantry of Velvet Opera fame and former Curved Air guitarist Kirby forming a dynamic front line, Stretch was always a band with great power and potential. They were one of the hottest ‘live circuit’ bands born out of the fury of the 1970s rock scene. Armed with powerful songs and fronted by top class performers, Stretch epitomized the best of the UK’s touring and recording outfits in an era when great ‘live’ rock ruled. They released a succession of fine albums that helped launch their career, but one of their great strengths were their ‘live’ shows, and where better to showcase their talents than at the BBC, recorded by some of the world’s finest engineers? These performances were part of respected BBC DJ John Peel’s sessions. The ‘behind-the-scenes’ reminiscences are recounted in the comprehensive CD liner notes by Stretch biographer Campbell Devine, which includes new interviews with original band members Elmer and Kirby.

Curved Air is a British, progressive rock band, formed in 1970 and still active today.

https://bestfile.io/en/tUpGfO2kzCmaMlV/file

 

SHROCK BROTHERS - TELL YOUR CHILDREN LP

 Another cool one for the Jesus Music theme.  I do apologize for last weeks as first song was pock marked with some nasty cuts I had to do.  I have said in the past that I can always redo a rip as playing the vinyl more often does smooth out some of that.  Nothing on Discogs per usual with this neglected genre.  Enjoy!

https://bestfile.io/oFBUbgvCygYM38f/file

CHILD'S WORLD OF SOUND LP 63

15 WEEKS OF KIDS MUSIC CHRISTMAS:  Continuing on with this theme another lacking music but has 5 stories from female narration:  The Busy Man And The Night Time Noises, Listen To My Seashell, Do You Hear What I Hear, The Loudest Noise In The World (my kind story) and The Great Big Noise.

https://bestfile.io/en/yfhIjLyQxDcfsak/file

Crying Wood - Back To The Mountains CD 74 -cc

COLLECTOR'S CHOICE:  Per Discogs:  Dutch prog rock band.

In the mid sixties the band The Goldstar Brothers was formed by singer Andre Groote, guitarist Henk Groote and drummer Ben Groote. Later they changed their name to G-Brothers and finally to Geebros. They were joined by organ player Lol Nijhuis, who was replaced by Hennie Backers in 1968. The music was somewhat psychedelic. In 1969 their musical interest changed and they choose yet another name: Crying Wood. By this time they made heavy progressive music. The band toured intensively and even recorded an album in 1970, which was called “Back To The Mountains”. Several line up changes follow, and the band finally ends in 1976.

Members:

Hennie Backers - Organ, Piano

Ben Groote - Drums, Vocals

Cor Mestebeld - Bass Guitar

Andre Groote - Vocals

Henk Groote - Guitar, Vocals

https://bestfile.io/en/4JwTaC7unFAHuF3/file

Cruciférius! – A Nice Way Of Life CD 70 75 12 -cc

COLLECTOR'S CHOICE:  Per Discogs:  Real Name:   Cruciférius!

Profile:  Cruciferius were a French jazz-rock/psych band. Founded in Paris in 1967 by Bernard Paganotti (bass, vocals) and Christian Vander (drums) with the name Cruciférius Lobonz De Prazdek. At the beginning they played psychedelic soul. A few months later, however, Vander left to form Magma and Patrick Jean took his place. In 1968 the name was shortened to Cruciférius. After an intense live activity (among which three months in Japan) the band in May 1969 recorded at the Studios Barclay & Studio Davout, both in Paris, their only one album "A Nice Way Of Life" (1970). Disbanded in the early months of 1970.

The line-up on the LP "A Nice Way Of Life" (1970) :

François Breant — keyboards, vibraphone

Marc Perru — guitar

Bernard Paganotti — bass, vocals

Patrik Jean — drums

https://bestfile.io/en/zxItL9kJMAbxWqe/file

Gary Wright - The Dream Weaver LP 75 w Touch And Gone LP 77 w The Light Of Smiles LP 77 w his sister Lorna Wright - Circle of Love LP 78

REPOST Request:  My oldest request at this point but I could only add one fresh vinyl rip to last post--this is the Touch And Gone album.  However, I need to add much more to this post and part of the reasons I was holding on to the request.  At any rate gettin' 'er done today so I can beef up the post later one.  Per Discogs:  Real Name:  Gary Malcolm Wright

Profile:  American born singer/songwriter & keyboard player and founding member of UK sixties rockers Spooky Tooth.

Born on April 26, 1943 in Cresskill, New Jersey, USA.

Died on September 4, 2023 in Palos Verdes Estates, California, USA.

Brother of Beverly Wright and Lorna Wright

Not to be confused with New York City based producer / mixer Gary Wright (Gary Thomas Wright).

A former child actor, he performed on Broadway in the hit musical "Fanny" before studying medicine and then psychology in New York City and Berlin. In 1959, he made his first commercial recording, with Billy Markle, credited to Gary And Billy. After meeting Chris Blackwell (of Island Records) in Europe in 1967, het moved to London, where he formed Spooky Tooth. He also served as the band's principal songwriter on their recordings. His solo album "Footprint" in 1971 coincided with the formation of his short-lived band Wonderwheel. Wright made classic solo albums in the Seventies and became an in demand session musician with artists like George Harrison, Joe Cocker, Elton John, Steve Winwood as well as Busta Rhymes, Salt 'N' Pepa, Eminem and Joan Osborne. He worked with Jimmy Miller Productions, Inc. and Jimmy Miller as a producer after the break up of Spooky Tooth. He turned to film soundtrack work in the early 1980s. He produced his own and his son's albums.

He was married to Tina Wright. Brother of Lorna Wright, father of Justin Wright. He was the piano player on Splinter - The Place I Love

https://bestfile.io/en/3kXHs1BLTpMoqun/file

AL KOOPER - I Stand Alone LP 69 w The Live Adventures Of Mike Bloomfield And A.K. LP 69 w Super Session w Stephen Stills & Mike Bloomfield LP 68 w Kooper Session Introducing Shuggie Otis CD Vol. 2 CD 69 w 12-13-68 CD Lost Concert Fillmore CD w Easy Does It CD 70 w New York City (You're A Woman) LP 71 w A Possible Projection Of The Future: Childhood's End CD 72 w Naked Songs CD 73 w Act Like Nothing's Wrong LP 76 w Championship Wrestling CD 82 w Al's Big Deal Cd 84 w Black Coffee CD 05 w Rekooperation CD 94 w WNEW Studios NYC 3-13-96 CD w Rare 1964-2001 2CD 01 w LIVE 2CD 94 w reposts

REPOST and ADD ON:  Fresh rips for the NY and ACT albums above to add to my previous posted rips of two sessions and first album.  They both sounded great and opened my eyes to his genius as well as finding out he produced the first three Lynyrd Skynyrd albums which I gathered at youtube and added to the previous boxset I had posted.  I left all his projects that I had posted in place and will list the links below.  Here's the Discogs skinny about him:  Real Name:   Alan Peter Kuperschmidt

Profile:  American keyboardist, songwriter and producer born on 05.02.1944, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.

Inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, in Nashville, in 2008.

Selected for a 2023 “Musical Excellence Award” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Father of Sam Kooper

AL KOOPER MEGAPOST:  https://bestfile.io/en/FMDzwsNxvUVj4xG/file

THE BLUES PROJECT MEGAPOST (go to Urban Aspirines blog on lower right blogroll to get the MONO versions of the CD's I obtained from Kostas over at his excellent blog from Greece):

https://bestfile.io/en/RfdmLkBIsfaSiWh/file

THE FABULOUS RHINESTONES (added two albums):  https://bestfile.io/en/ZV51CotkS9vFjVY/file

BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS:  https://bestfile.io/en/e9mZBKWfaWbbePj/file

FRANKIE & JOHNNY::  https://bestfile.io/en/5G7UwanHkJdxkOD/file

LYNYRD SKYNYRD (added first three albums):  https://bestfile.io/en/EzhddIoGapkQwFw/file

VA- NON-SKID ROCK with Al:  https://bestfile.io/en/Z8BR2KfbLTg7dFI/file

BATMAN & ROBIN:  https://bestfile.io/en/pRMEgMUca1CbfSB/file

APPALOOSA:  https://bestfile.io/en/ZwbQtScaVFvKhHc/file

FOR SHITS AND GIGGLES, I re-upped the Johnny Rivers as well: 

https://bestfile.io/en/M9so4eOIVZOw3fO/file

VA - THE GREATEST SONGS AND STARS LP 64

 This was to go with the Peter Nero post below as it has his theme from the movie 'Summer & Smoke" which I might add goes with the tropical blow out below.  This is a great compilation with some new artists for me to explore in the future (if I ever get a vehicle to shop in the wild for vinyl as it's been over three years I've been pedal-only (for empowerment) bicycling.  Other artists include:  The Limeliters, Delta Reese, Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra & Chorus, Chet Atkins (a fine guiter only Mr. Sandman), Al Hirt with Henri Rene AHO, Dinah Shore, Floyd Cramer, Ann-Margret and Lou Monte with Hugo Winterhalter AHO.  Enjoy!

https://bestfile.io/en/0LxIu0ryVMNAHk3/file

Peter Nero - Greatest Hits CD 74 w The Colorful LP 62 w Reflections LP 64 w Career Girls LP 65 w Tender Is The Night LP 67 w If Ever I Would Leave You LP 68 w I've Gotta Be Me LP 69 w Peter Nero! LP 70 w Wives And Lovers LP 76 w Summer Of '42 LP w DU comp tracks

REPOST and ADD ON:  Well, as promised here are the boat load of Nero from the Goodwill that I am adding to the lone prior post of Summer of '42.  Some good later albums with Beatles covers.  Compilation posted right above has a bonus track that I forgot to add to this post with my other DU comp. songs added.  Per Discogs:  Real Name: Bernard Nierow

Profile: American pianist and conductor.

Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra "Pops" from 1979 to 2013.

Born: May 22, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, USA

Died: July 6, 2023, in Eustis, Florida, USA

Though Nero's family was non-musical, he began piano lessons at age seven and from the start showed a remarkable natural ability. By age eleven, he could play Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D Major from memory; in his early teens he was performing at small, local engagements. In 1960 he was signed to a three-year contract with RCA Victor records, which was then renewed for another five years, producing more than 26 albums. He won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1961 for his first album followed by another Grammy Award in the next year.

https://bestfile.io/en/jPlzAg2RsOqx4ui/file

PRAISE SEVEN - st LP 84

 This week some more great Jesus Music and this one with a fantastic cover shot!

https://bestfile.io/en/GPAI6MQFwTxBOJg/file

XAVIER CUGAT AHO - VIVA CUGAT! LP 61

REPOST and ADD ON:  O.K. setting the record straight here as I had just reposted for last week when Cuba's Perez Prado named Xavier as his main influence.  Well it turns out I was sittin' on a double album of all his great's as shown right above which is a goldmine of his tunes made famous like:  La Bamba, Guantanamera, Soul Sauce and Adios for example.  Per Discogs:  Real Name Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deulofeu

Profile: Born: January 1, 1900, Girona, Spain, Died: October 27, 1990, Barcelona, Spain.

Catalan-Cuban-American bandleader whom many consider to have been very influential in incorporating Latin music into popular music in the United States. Perez Prado followed in Cugat's footsteps.

Cugat was born in Girona, in Catalonia (Spain). He emmigrated with his family to Cuba when he was five, and trained as a classical violinist, playing with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana. On 6 July 1915, Cugat and his family arrived in New York. Entering the world of show business, he played with a band called “The Gigolos” during the tango craze. Later, he went to work for the Los Angeles Times as a cartoonist, and his caricatures were later nationally syndicated.

In the late 1920s, as sound began to be used in films, he put together another tango band that had some success in early short musical films. By the early 1930s, he began appearing with his group in feature films, and Cugat took his band to New York for the 1931 opening of Waldorf Astoria Hotel and it became the hotel's resident band. One of his trademarks was to hold a small Chihuahua dog while he waved his baton with the other arm. He shuttled between New York and Los Angeles for most of the next thirty years, alternating hotel and radio dates with movie appearances in films such as Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) and Neptune's Daughter (1949).

In 1940, he recorded the song Perfidia with singer Miguelito Valdés which became a big hit. Cugat followed trends closely, making records for the conga, the mambo, the cha-cha-cha, and the twist when each was in fashion. His first marriage was to Rita Montaner, his second to Carmen Castillo (1929 – 1946), his third to Lorraine Allen (1947 – 28 April 1952), and his fourth to singer Abbe Lane in 1952. He and Lane performed together until their divorce in 1964. He married salsa dancer Charo on 7 August 1966. The two were the first couple to marry in the newly opened Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. Cugat did not lose sleep over artistic compromises: “I would rather play Chiquita Banana and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve.” Cugat died of heart failure at age 90 in Barcelona in his native Catalonia, Spain.

https://bestfile.io/XIbNyvawXxz3xWf/file