Those Chicago-based musical archaeologists at the Numero Group are offering up a chance to own a slab of Kansas City Rock History. Three years ago they released a brilliant 2-CD set titled “Titan: It's All Pop!” It is 40 tracks of locally recorded, 1970s-vintage power-pop from the Titan label, which was headed by Tom Sorrells and Mark Prellberg. Now Numero has released a four-LP version. Says Numero: “The original 40-song double disc was sequenced as a kick-ass mix tape. For the 52-song, … [Read more...] about Own a piece of KC Rock History
The Day of the Locusts
Thirty-seven years ago this week, more than 100,000 young rock music fans descended on Sedalia, Mo., (population 22,000) for three days and nights of debauchery known as the Ozark Music Festival. The event held at the state fair grounds July 19-21, 1974, has been called the height -- or the nadir -- of decadence in a decadent era. The 22-act bill included several destined to become Rock Hall of Famers (Eagles, Skynyrd, Seger) performing at their peak. Yet critics called it a disaster, … [Read more...] about The Day of the Locusts
No posts
No posts for this category yet. This is here so I can add the new sub categories to the menu. … [Read more...] about No posts
Need info on Freedom Palace, 1970-72
Among the places about which I am sorely lacking information - photos, ticket stubs, etc. - is Freedom Palace, the former Pla-Mor Ballroom at 3140 Main St. As noted in this item (at left) from The Westport Trucker, during its 1970-72 lifespan, Freedom Palace played host to such acts as The Who, Sly & the Family Stone and It's a Beautiful Day. Please leave a comment comment below with your Freedom Palace memories, or contact rick@kcrockhistory.com directly if you can help with artifacts! … [Read more...] about Need info on Freedom Palace, 1970-72
World’s Happiest Broadcasters
I got a chance to talk to a boyhood idol this past weekend: Phil Jay, formerly the #2 on-air personality on WHB-AM, Kansas City's dominant #1 radio station during rock's golden era of the 1960s. As Phil and many other reference works tell it, WHB owner and Omaha, Neb., native Todd Storz was the inventor of Top 40 radio. WHB was one of the first to employ the format 24-7, starting soon after Storz bought the station in 1954. Phil Jay joined top dog … [Read more...] about World’s Happiest Broadcasters
Punk/new wave posters
Here are some posters I saved from the early 1980s punk/new wave scene. My faves, the Embarrassment, are represented with a poster from the same general time frame as the photos in the post below. Some of the other key punk venues are here, too: the VFW Hall, Louis Craig Post #18, 3027 Walnut St.; Parody Hall, upstairs at 811 W. 39th St., near Southwest Trafficway; and Lawrence, Kansas' fabled Outhouse, carved out of a corn field three miles west of the city limits. (See map detail on how … [Read more...] about Punk/new wave posters