Here's wishing Joey Spampinato a happy birthday. His old band, NRBQ, should've been a presence on the airwaves. Instead they showed up mostly on the college radio and NPR affiliates left of the dial. While the band had friends and admirers in high places - Keith Richards, Bonnie Rait, REM, the Simpson's, Dr. Demento, Captain Lou - they never managed a mainstream breakthrough. In part, perhaps, it was of their own making. They could play, play anything: and they did. Their first album, in 1969, includes covers of Sun Ra , " Hey Baby ", Eddie Cochran - that last, one of the best ever. With three songwriters contributing equally, they may've been too eclectic and radio didn't know what to do with them.  The debut also included a song of Joey's - " You Can't Hide " - which points the way to the the band's power pop of their late '70's - early '80's heyday. In fact the band would return to the song on 1980's " Tidd...

The Rolling Stones released Tattoo You on this day in 1981.  It was their last good album. Their last great album was probably Exile , maybe Some Girls . Sandwiched between the two,  Emotional Rescue   is almost as good. It wasn't even really recorded as an album. Its core is mostly comprised of outtakes stretching back to 1972.  The band needed a new album to tour, but the Twins weren't getting along, so associate producer, Chris Kimsey, went through the archives and found the best bits for the band to finish off in 1980-81.  "Little T&A" comes from a basic track cut during the  Emotional Rescue   sessions. "Start Me Up" originated during the  Some Girls . The band worked on "Hang Fire" during both.  It's a bit like  Physical Graffiti,  except that most of that album's tracks were new, whereas most of  Tattoo  consists of outtakes. It's a bit like  Odds & Sods  except that the tunes were worked on ...