This was posted on that other blog I worked on (DigitalMeltd0wn) back in September of 2010. It is no longer available there (or anywhere else that I could find). I guess I grabbed it back then so I'm re-posting it here.
The rock opera California '99 is set in a dystopian future of a bankrupt America. It is a lawless apocalyptic country where survivors live on a diet consisting mainly of cannabis-addicted insects.
The rock opera was created by renowned composer/arranger Jimmie Haskell (producing artists like Ricky Nelson, The Grass Roots, Blondie... writingThe Hollywood Squares theme... soundtracks for more than 25 movies including The Jericho Mile & Night of the Lepus...Grammies for arranging "Ode to Billie Joe", "Bridge Over Troubled Water" & more) based on a story by Tom Gamache.
Some great guest performances (like blues great Jimmy Witherspoon doing an intense version of the Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"; Joe Walsh; Denny Doherty).
The album cover unfolds to a poster sized map of the US with alternate history - 1975 to 1998.
Side 1 –
Overture
Appopopoulisberg
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
To Claudia on Thursday
Side 2 –
Intro & Prelude
Jessica Stone
California Fairy Tale
Barbara
Underture
Enjoy,
NØ