Uncharted territory

For the first time in the short history of The Midnight Tracker, we have the other side of an album for you.

Last month, we fulfilled the Hose’s somewhat inexplicable request for the soundtrack to “Where the Buffalo Roam,” the 1980 film with Bill Murray as gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. We offered Side 1.

Tonight, for the Hose, for all you Neil Young completists and for all you fans of bad cinema, we have Side 2.

As noted last time, Young contributed seven cuts to the soundtrack, all riffs and variations on “Home on the Range.” Young and David Blumberg also did the orchestral arrangements. The rest of the soundtrack consists of what even then were classic rock tunes.

“Straight Answers,” “Highway 61,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” “Ode to Wild Bill #3 With Dialogue,” “Keep On Chooglin’,” “Ode to Wild Bill #4,” “Purple Haze” and “Buffalo Stomp Reprise,” various artists, from “Where the Buffalo Roam” soundtrack. It runs 19:38.

The soundtrack is out of print. Also, apparently only the VHS release of the film has the original soundtrack. Later DVD releases substitute sound-alike tracks for all artists but Neil Young.

By request … really

We do requests here at The Midnight Tracker, and we finally are getting around to this one.

Our old pal, The Hose, has for no apparent reason been wanting to hear again the soundtrack from “Where the Buffalo Roam.” That’s the 1980 film starring Bill Murray as gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

The soundtrack is noteworthy primarily for Neil Young’s involvement. He contributed seven cuts to the soundtrack, all riffs and variations on “Home on the Range.” Young and David Blumberg also did the orchestral arrangements.

Whether that’s a good thing, you be the judge.

Aside from Young, the soundtrack consists of what even then were classic rock tunes from Jimi Hendrix, the Temptations, Bob Dylan, the Four Tops and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

As you listen to Side 1, that’s Murray and fellow actor Rene Auberjonois, in character, singing “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.” Really.

“Buffalo Stomp,” “Ode to Wild Bill #1,” “All Along the Watchtower,” “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “Ode to Wild Bill #2,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and “Home, Home on the Range,” various artists, from “Where The Buffalo Roam” soundtrack, 1980. It runs 19:02.

The soundtrack is out of print. Also, apparently only the VHS release of the film has the original soundtrack. Later DVD releases substitute sound-alike tracks for all artists but Neil Young.

Let the debate resume

It’s been too long since we rolled out an album side here on The Midnight Tracker. So tonight, let’s cue up a classic side from the early ’70s.

As we listened to free-form FM radio in central Wisconsin at that time, we heard a lot of tunes from REO Speedwagon’s second album, “R.E.O. T.W.O.”

Last year, we posted a couple of those tunes over at our other blog — AM, Then FM — and they always sparked debate. REO has passionate defenders and passionate detractors.

REO is playing a gig at a nearby performing arts venue next month. The top ticket is an astonishing $77.50. This, for a band you usually can see for $20 at a fair or a festival almost every summer.

If I were assured REO would play only tunes from the ’70s, when it rocked, I might pop for that $77.50 ticket. But that ain’t happening. The faithful want to hear all those power ballads.

So this will have to do. Side 2 of “R.E.O. T.W.O.” It’s the first album on which Kevin Cronin was REO’s lead singer. Most of the tunes were written by guitarist Gary Richrath, including the last three on this side.

“Music Man,” “Like You Do,” “Flash Tan Queen” and “Golden Country,” REO Speedwagon, from “R.E.O. T.W.O.,” 1972. It runs 20:55.

Power pop’s enduring power

Cheap Trick usually is mentioned first when the phrase “Midwestern power pop” is thrown around. And rightly so.

Tonight, though, we have a somewhat more obscure, but no less tasty sampling of Midwestern power pop for you.

The Elvis Brothers — Rob, Graham and Brad — came out of Champaign, Ill., in 1981. They made a name for themselves in the early ’80s on the Midwest college and club circuit, playing early Elvis covers and their own songs.

With Rob on lead guitar and vocals, Graham on bass and vocals and Brad on the stand-up drum kit, the lads put on legendarily good-natured and energetic shows. Those shows deftly mixed original, Beatlesque pop and early Elvis-era rockabilly.

Graham Elvis offers some entertaining stories from their touring days in the notes about “Analog 88,” his 2006 solo release.

One remarkable show — an opening set for the Clash at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago during the Combat Rock tour — drew the attention of Cheap Trick manager Ken Adamany. So, of course, the Elvis Brothers started touring in support of Cheap Trick. Adamany also helped get them a record deal with CBS’ Portrait label.

In 1983, they debuted with “Movin’ Up.” Side 1, which we have for you tonight, is as bright, as energetic, as charming, as good as power pop got in the early ’80s. It received good reviews, radio airplay and some MTV exposure.

The Elvis Brothers did those two albums on Portrait — the other was “Adventure Time” in 1985 — and then an indie release, “Now Dig This,” in 1992. That was it.

I have only the debut album, but it’s a good memory from that time. I played it often. Give it a spin, and maybe you’ll dig it, too.

“(I Know You) Shake It,” “It’s So Hard,” “Hidden in a Heartbeat,” “Hey Tina,” “Red Dress” and “Fire in the City,” the Elvis Brothers, from “Movin’ Up,” 1983. It runs 18:26.

“Movin’ Up” is out of print. Both of the Portrait albums were released on one CD in 1995, but that also is out of print. Six of the 12 cuts on “Movin’ Up” are available on “The Graham Elvis Brothers,” a 2007 release.

Under the covers

I hit the used record store the other day, but I was on the clock.

I was traveling with my dad, who doesn’t get around all that well. Fortunately, it was a sunny winter day, and he was cool with waiting in the car while I ducked into the Book Cellar for a few minutes to check out the vinyl in the basement.

The great thing about the Book Cellar is that it’s well organized by genre and most everything is in alphabetical order. So I went right to the soul/R&B/funk and started digging.

I came up with “Givin’ It Back,” by the Isley Brothers, a 1971 album of covers. Most of the tunes are familiar and the Isleys’ vocal and guitar work is outstanding as always. As is the work of their backing band.

The Wikipedia entry on this album rather curiously casts the Isleys’ decision to cover tunes by Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young as a black/white thing. As in, white guys are covering our tunes, so we’re covering theirs. Could be, but I’m skeptical.

However, Mojo’s Andrew Male said last month that the Isley Brothers “give masterclasses in the art of the soul cover of the white pop hit” on this album. Most of his comments, however, are directed toward Side 1.

In any case, enjoy Side 2, with covers of tunes by Eric Burdon and War, Bill Withers and Stephen Stills. Withers plays lead guitar on his “Cold Bologna” with Ernie Isley on rhythm guitar.

“Spill the Wine,” “Nothing To Do But Today,” “Cold Bologna” and “Love the One You’re With,” the Isley Brothers, from “Givin’ It Back,” 1971. It runs 16:35.