Two of classic rock's all-time greatest masterpieces released on the same day!!! (It's really rather quite unreal.) -- How about a birthday that links King Crimson to David Bowie...

"Blonde On Blonde" album cover, 5/16/1966. (Courtesy of Columbia Records)
"Blonde On Blonde" album cover, 5/16/1966. (Courtesy of Columbia Records)
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5/16/1966 (53 years ago today) - Definition Of An Iconic Album If There Ever Was One (Pt. 1): Bob Dylan released the double-LP behemoth "Blonde On Blonde", putting in place a whole new set of rules and standards for what rock albums are capable of -- "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35", "I Want You", "Just Like A Woman", "Visions Of Johanna", "Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine", "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat", and we've only mentioned half the titles on here -- It remains (arguably) his pinnacle, and like all the best art, it captivates and mesmerizes in a very unique way, still capable of inducing your psyche into a hypnotic state. A perfect record.

5/16/1966 (53 years ago today) - Definition Of An Iconic Album If There Ever Was One (Pt. 2): The Beach Boys released their 11th studio effort "Pet Sounds" to, initially, a lukewarm response at best -- The passage of time has proven otherwise. Brian Wilson went full-throttle on this one, taking the band into a sonic adventure wonderland by mixing their superbly lush vocal harmonies with sound effects and highly unusual instrumentation: bicycle bells, harpsichords, buzzing organs, Hawaiian-sounding strings, Coca-Cola cans and barking dogs! Their finest work, no doubt, look at what's on here: "God Only Knows", "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Caroline, No", "Sloop John B", "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" -- Astonishing to think it came out the same day as "Blonde On Blonde"...

5/16/1946 - Happy Birthday to one of music's most beguiling guitar talents, Robert Fripp, 73 years old today. His resume is one-step-beyond all right: in addition to what's likely the scariest debut album in rock, King Crimson's "The Court Of The Crimson King" (1968, with Greg Lake on bass and lead vocals), he's also recorded with Daryl Hall, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Talking Heads, most notably with Brian Eno on his first post-Roxy Music solo album, the classic "Here Come The Warm Jets" (1973, and way, way, way ahead of its time), and we're leading the standing ovation for the amazing guitar-work he came up with for David Bowie's "Heroes" (1977). Wicked talent, follows no one as you're about to see...

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"Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're tryin' to be so quiet?...", xoxo!

 

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