Henry Gross - Plug Me Into Something (1974)

Henry Gross is an American singer-songwriter best known for his association with the group, Sha Na Na and for his hit song, "Shannon".

"Plug Me Into Something" is a gem of an album from back in 1974 and it contains the best song Henry ever laid down on tape, "Southern Band". This song proves that the man can rock, as does the song "Dixie Spider Man". So many people only know of him via the song "Shannon" from 1976, and it's a good song, but Henry's taste of the limelight should've come one year earlier upon this release. Other notables on this album "Tomorrow's Memory Lane", "All My Love" and "One More Tomorrow". The album also reflects a transitional era in American popular music. The 1960s were dead, done in by political cynicism, rock stars choking on their own vomit, and the realization that singing “All you need is love” didn’t change a damn thing. Rock and roll was dying. So what was a rock musician to do? Keep the fire burning. Plug Me Into Something veers from style to style from Black Oak Arkansas-style Southern-tinged rock on “One More Tomorrow” and “Southern Band,” to straightforward country-rock on “Evergreen,” to Beatlesque pop on “All My Love.” In sum, this is American rock ’n’ roll music.

 

01.  "One More Tomorrow"  - 3:04  

02.  "I'll Love Her"  - 3:00  

03.  "Southern Band"  - 3:35  

04.  "The Driver's Engine"  - 2:50  

05.  "Travelin' Time"  - 3:16  

06.  "All My Love"  - 3:10  

07.  "Only One"  - 3:35  

08.  "Evergreen"  - 3:02  

09.  "Dixie Spider Man"  - 3:05  

10.  "Tomorrow's Memory Lane"  - 4:14  

Released:  1974

Genre:  Pop, Rock

Label:  A&M Records

Length:  33:08

Producer:  Terry Cashman, Tommy West

 

Credits

Henry Gross - Guitar, Vocals

Warren Nichols - Guitar, Bass, Steel Guitar, Banjo, Organ

Alan Schwartzberg - Drums

Michael Kamen - Keyboards, Synthesizer, Oboe

Tommy West - Keyboards, Piano 

Alan Schwartzberg - Percussion, Drums

Performer [Barking] – Henry's Irish Setter "Shannon"

Phil Aaberg - Piano, Keyboards

Backing Vocals – Ann E. Sutton, Carl Wilson, Carlos Munoz, Marty Nelson, Richie Schmierer, Ricky Fataar, Tasha Thomas, Terry Cashman, Tommy West

Jorma Kaukonen & Vital Parts - Barbeque King (1981)

Jorma Kaukonen is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.

"Barbeque King" is an album that Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane recorded in 1980 with his then-current band Vital Parts. It was the last album Kaukonen recorded on the RCA label. One year after launching himself as a solo artist with Jorma, Kaukonen returned in a group context, co-billing this record to the rhythm section of drummer John Stench and bassist Denny DeGorio under the name Vital Parts. The result was far more of a pop-rock album than anything Kaukonen had done before, with faster tempos and tighter arrangements. There was even a cover of "Love Is Strange." But no one seems to have told RCA that they had a potentially commercial album on their hands, and when this album failed to sell, Kaukonen and the label parted company. He would not return to the majors until the Jefferson Airplane reunion in 1989. You’d suspect after hearing “Barbeque King” that he holds some terrible secret over the heads of several RCA Records executives and in exchange for his silence, they let him make records like this. With his band Vital Parts hanging in tough behind him, guitar master Kaukonen turns in one of the most distinctive albums of mainstream rock in many moons. The music is bristling with energy, at times so powerful it’s difficult to listen to. And there is no denying the brilliance of the playing of Kaukonen and sidemen bassist Denny DeGorio, and drummer John Stench. But some of the material, and the strong way it is recorded is almost enough to knock the breath out of you. It is provocative and decidedly different rock and roll. Kaukonen sings with a great deal of echo in his vocals, and the drums are heavily emphasized in the recording. As a result, with Kaukonen’s mad genius keeping things boiling, the album at times will dazzle you. It is forceful and demanding, a powerful album unique to Kaukonen. His guitar and vocal talents range from deep, forboding rock to screaming blues, and he’s hot at both extremes. The title song is the album’s most commercial tune, perhaps one to make radio.

 

01.  "Runnin' with the Fast Crowd"  (Wilcey, Denny DeGorio)  – 2:52

02.  "Man for All Seasons"  (Jorma Kaukonen, DeGorio)  – 3:34

03.  "Starting Over Again"  (Kaukonen, DeGorio, David Kahne, John Stench)  – 3:16

04.  "Milkcow Blues Boogie"  (Kokomo Arnold)  – 3:02

05.  "Road and Roads &"  (Kaukonen)  – 4:23

06.  "Love Is Strange"  (Ethel Smith, Mickey Baker)  – 3:32

07.  "To Hate Is to Stay Young"  (Kaukonen)  – 3:02

08.  "Rockabilly Shuffle"  (Kaukonen)  – 2:42

09.  "Snout Psalm"  (Kaukonen, DeGorio)  – 3:12

10.  "Barbeque King"  (Kaukonen, John Stench)  – 3:57

Released:  January 13, 1981

Recorded:  at The Automatt, San Francisco

Genre:  Folk-Rock, Psychedelic

Length:  33:32

Label:  RCA Records

Producer:  David Kahne

Credits

Jorma Kaukonen - guitars, vocals

Denny DeGorio - bass

John Stench - drums

Hilary Stench - bass on "Starting Over Again"

Mike Butera - sax on "Love Is Strange"

Larry Whitman, Steve Huff - back-up vocals on "Runnin' with the Fast Crowd" and "Starting Over Again"

Production

David Kahne - producer, engineer

Wayne Lewis, La'ertes Lee Muldrow - second engineers

Recorded at:  The Automatt, San Francisco

Mastered by:  John Golden at Kendun Recorders

Bill Thompson - manager

Jacky Kaukonen - secretary

Lora Lovrien - publicity