Triumph - Just A Game (1979)

Whenever someone thinks of Canadian hair rock, Rush comes to mind, but what about Triumph? Triumph was the lesser known hard rock trio from the great north. To be honest, I'm not a fan of these guys. I just love their artwork. It's one of those bands where you see the album cover in a store & start imagining crazy solos & devil hands. For me, this album dosen't hold up to the epic gatefold design.  I really wanted to hear rockin' metal, but instead you get softer ballads & some spanish freakin' guitar. WTF!?! Anyway, I know a girl who occasionally busts out an old Triumph t-shirt. It automatically switches something on in my brains & turns me into a teenage boy getting sweaty thinking about the bands logo hanging off a pair of tits.

Eric Burdon & The Animals - The Twain Shall Meet (1968)

I'm a huge fan of early Animals records, but what about the later ones? In the mid-to-late sixties they up & moved to California, included Eric Burdon in their name & started making psychedelic rock records. I'm not completly sold on the idea, but it's still got Burdon's signature vocals & you can still hear bits of their earlier blues sound amongst the 7-minute experimental rock breakdowns. This album would probably be great while on a trip. Sky Pilot is a wierd anti-Vietnam War song. My favorites are the bassline heavy Monterey & Closer To The Truth.

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The Animals - Animalization (1966)

Animalization is The Animals fourth US full length release. The UK version, Animalisms had a slightly different track list & shouldn't be confused with Animalism, their fifth release. It's like they were trying to make it hard to keep track of everything. The album is a great collection of blues-inspired Animals songs, from the classic organ riffs in their hit, Don't Bring Me Down, to the chanting in Cheating. She'll Return It is sort of hidden on side one & isn't mentioned on the sleeve. The real winners are the B-side covers. From the classic See See Rider, to Chuck Berry's. Sweet Little Sixteen. Who can overlook Burdon's hollerin' version of Screamin' Jay Hawkins hit, I Put A Spell On You. Really good stuff.

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Roger Miller - Man Of Distinction (1969)

Roger Miller is known for his hit song "King Of The Road" but he's more of a king of the country novelty song. He's at his best when mixing the Nashville sound with his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. This album, Man Of Distinction, is a partial re-release of his 1965 Smash Records album "The 3rd Time Around", but the album art is reworked from his release "Words & Music". Released on Wing/Mercury it's missing the songs Water Dog & Swing Low Swingin' Chariot. You're left with a weird mix of songs. It's full of somber tracks like The Last Word In Lonesome Is Me & One Dyin' & A Buryin'. Kansas City Star & This Town return to his familiar light-hearted style. The hightlights of the album are Swiss Maid, a simple love song, & the foot tapping It Happened Just That Way.

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