And your ears shall hear…

More Tales From The Cut Outs, but first, a book about Radiohead that I snagged from Sulzer Regional library in North Center, Chicago.

Steven Hyden’s book, This Isn’t Happening – Radiohead’s Kid A, And The Beginning of the 21st Century, is a smooth read, packed full of fun facts and stories that you might have missed as a Radiohead fan growing up in the 90’s. The author is also a huge fan who pieces together how Yorke and company ushered in the new mellenia with a Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 synthesizer, which is what was used to record “Everything In Its Right Place.”

Another great story, in particular, from the tome had Thom Yorke nearly being electrocuted after jumping into a pool during an MTV Beach House performance of “Anyone Can Play Guitar.” Lore has it that the Jim-Morrison-wanna-be climbed out of the pool and tried to grab a live mic, which was quickly kicked away, by a fast-thinking fan who realized it would have been a shocking finish to the song and an early end to the performers career. Whew, close call, Thom!

This Ella Fitzgerald album looks a little rough around the corners but sounds warm on the turntable and has a lot of great cuts, including something I’ve never previously heard, “So In Love.” I grabbed this copy for my niece out in Bloomington, Illinois who plays one heck of a piano and has a beautiful voice to boot.

My good friend James just came through with a handful of Spyro Gyra discs last week, but Point Of View was not one of them, so I had reason to grab this disc. Spyro Gyra is an American jazz fusion band that was formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1974, the same year I was born. It would take me nearly 50 years to understand the band’s music, and it’s something I can now appreciate and enjoy.

Des Plaines Theatre will be hosting the band on May 17th, 2024, for their 50th Anniversary tour. “They’ve played over 10,000 concerts on six continents and maintained their standard of jazz excellence for 50 years,” according to their bio.

I had no idea Lindsey Buckingham produced this 1978 album, though, how would I, I was four at the time. I simply pulled it from the dollar bin because my wife has an affinity for the gold status hit single “Magnet and Steel” which she remembered from childhood and reconnected with during her Yacht Rock phase, which is still alive and kicking. This was the second release, Not Shy, from the one-hit-wonder and American rock musician Walter Egan. Produced with the help of Buckingham and Richard Dashut, the song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #18 on the Easy Listening chart.

I’m excited to hear this record in full. Chicago’s WXRT has played “Rough Boys” frequently over the years, and we all know the charming, “Let My Love Open The Door.” Empty Glass was the second solo album from The Who’s guitar player who was still struggling with the loss of his friend and former drummer, Keith Moon, who died in 1978.