Rounder / Umgd
1983
Tapdancin' Bats: The Anniversary Edition
About This Album
This is without question one of the 'Q's [read: NRBQ's] best compilations -- displaying many facets of the band's instrumental agility and uncanny sonic reinventions. Chronologically, Tapdancin' Bats represents the quartet during the mid- to late '70s. However, a number of the tunes -- most notably "Ain't It Alright" and "Trouble at the Henhouse" -- date as far back as 1972's Scraps album, which was the first to feature "Big" Al Anderson (guitar). The disc also represents the final chapter in their association with the Bearsville record label -- which was owned and administered by Albert Grossman (of Bob Dylan fame). Regarding the talents and musical interests of the band itself, the album's contents run the full gamut of pop music -- making pit stops into avant-garde jazz ("Tapdancin' Bats") and even classical ("Capriccio") along the way. However, it is their undeniable sense of humor and meticulously crafted straight-ahead pop and rock songs that comprise the vast majority of this title. Several of the more notable tracks include the duet between Joey Spampinato (bass/vocals) and the self-proclaimed guiding light of professional wrestling, "Captain" Lou Albano, on the tune "Captain Lou.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,8 and 10)

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