(guest blogged by Howie Klein)

The Blue Oyster Cult were old friends of mine from school days-- when they were still the Soft White Underbelly and, briefly, the Stalk Forrest Group. I'm probably one of the only people in the world who realizes he saw them when Jackson Browne was, even more briefly, their lead singer. Anyway, "Astronomy" is a Blue Oyster Cult classic, a song penned by one of my closest and oldest friends, Sandy Pearlman, who was also the BOC's producer and manager. The song was first released on SECRET TREATIES in 1974. But Sandy always talked about his dream of a rock opera of his poetry which finally came out as IMAGINOS in 1988. The stand-out cut, by far, was a re-recorded version of "Astronomy." I never saw this promo video for it before:

If you want to win tonight's prize, put together a radio playlist of 5 songs. Each song must have been produced by Sandy Pearlman and no two songs can be done by the same group. And each song should be-- at least arguably-- the best song that band has ever done. And what's the prize? A 3 CD set from SONY called ROCK ON! with songs from Mott the Hoople, Wet Willie, Argent, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Ted Nugent, Roy Orbison... Send you entry to downwithtyranny@aol.com

Amnesty International: Make Some Noise is about music with a message.

This ground-breaking venture from Amnesty International mixes music, celebration and action to protect individuals wherever justice, freedom and equality are denied.

With exclusive Lennon covers, artist videos and opportunities to make an impact, it's time to inspire a new generation to stand up for human rights

Green Day performing Working Class Hero:

Your purchase of tracks from Make Some Noise will benefit Amnesty's efforts for Darfur.

Congratulations to C&Ler Adam for his winning Dylan album entry and C&Ler Paul for his winning Springsteen album entry.  Thanks for being part of the LNMC community!

 "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat / Brush With the Blues"

(guest blogged by Howie Klein)

I love this Offspring song so much. Totally forget the video. Just keep the song in mind and write a treatment whose story line could make a Crooks & Liars or Down With Tyranny post. I'm looking for the kind of passion you feel in the beat.

What's in it for you? Glad you asked. SONY just sent us a beautiful box set (3 discs) celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's BORN TO RUN. The killer treatment wins the box set. What are we lookin' for? PASSION. Send your short essay to downwithtyranny@aol.com

(guest blogged by Howie Klein)

Take a look at this very old video by the Jefferson Airplane and tell us who the lady is singing behind Marty Balin.

Easy, right? We have 3 CDs to send the first person who correctly answers that question plus these 4:

Who's the lady who was married to both a Beatle and a Yardbird?

Who's the lady whose great-uncle wrote the book Lou Reed read before writing Venus in Furs? (Hint: Mick Jagger ex-girlfriend)

Name all the original ladies in America's #1 girl group of all time.

Name the lady from Ohio who led a British punk band that had a strong of mainstream hits.

Send your answers to downwithtyranny@aol.com and include who you think is the most talented woman musician ever (and why). The winner gets THE VERY BEST OF ROSANNE CASH, RARITIES by the Indigo Girls and THE POWER OF PINK (with songs by Evanescence, Sarah McLachlan, Avril Lavigne, Pink, the Fugees, and more)

(guest blogged by Howie Klein)

You know what happens when a band breaks up and the members start doing solo projects. Usually they're not as good, to put it mildly, as the original band.

The Smiths were on my label and they were an awesome band. I had some real anguish about Morrissey going out on his own. But how many years has it been? And he's still doing some of his BEST WORK EVER. Tonight's song is "First of the Gang To Die," although there are over a dozen incredible Morrissey solo songs that are better than anything that most songwriters ever get close to in a whole career.

And tonight's contest-- tell me your favorite solo artist who left a band and did great work. The winner will be someone who does more than just mentions Peter Gabriel or that drummer from his band. The winner will give us some good rationale why his or her answer merits the rare (not for sale) Bob Dylan Victoria's Secret LOVESICK compilation CD. Answers to downwithtyranny@aol.com

This band was huge during the Fusion/Rock and Roll days of the '70's.

"Romantic Warrior"

It was forty years ago today...

The masterpiece "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was released.

(guest blogged by Howie Klein)

The word "hippie" was just coming into common currency and as chairman of the Student Activities Board at my college I had a six-figure concert budget I was expected to spend on "adult music" like Dave Brubeck and... well, I never quite figured that out; didn't try hard enough. Instead I booked all these bands from California and England no one had ever heard of like the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, Big Brother, The Who, the Doors, Moby Grape, and these guys, Country Joe & the Fish. About a third of the students always wanted to kill me and a third thought I was cool and the rest... were studying. I was always just a few votes from being impeached.

Back then long hair, weed, abhoring segregation and the war in Vietnam were all tied up with rock'n'roll. Here are Country Joe & the Fish doing three live songs: "Fixin' to Die Rag," "I Got Love, "Who Am I?"