What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Tales From The Hudson -- CD

Michael Brecker

1997 GRP Records

TALES FROM THE HUDSON won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual Or Group. "Cabin Fever" won the 1997 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo.

Though Brecker made his name as a pioneer in jazz-rock fusion, TALES FROM THE HUDSON is a different story altogether. On this one, Brecker brings together some of the finest modern jazz players for a round of bracing, intelligent post-bop compositions, and the results are miles away from you might have expected.

Brecker tastefully cedes much of the spotlight to guitarist Pat Metheny, whose warm, fluid solos move gracefully through Brecker's tunes and through Metheny's own "Song For Bilbao," which features McCoy Tyner's piano. Drummer Jack DeJohnette's polyrhythmic undercurrent puts the wind in the band's sails throughout the album, combining with Dave Holland's bass to create a constantly shifting underpinning for Brecker's elegant lines. Often, Brecker's phrasing suggests nothing so much as human laughter, erupting with a natural, buoyant feel. That buoyancy fuels this album and makes it a consistently rewarding work.

"Slings and Arrows" — 6:19
"Midnight Voyage" (Joey Calderazzo) — 7:17
"Song for Bilbao" (Pat Metheny) — 5:44
"Beau Rivage" — 7:38
"African Skies" — 8:12
"Introduction to the Naked Soul" — 1:41
"Naked Soul" — 8:43
"Willie T." (Don Grolnick) — 8:13
"Cabin Fever" — 6:59


Michael Brecker — tenor saxophone
Pat Metheny — guitar, guitar synth
Joey Calderazzo — piano
Dave Holland — bass
Jack DeJohnette — drums
McCoy Tyner — piano (Tracks 3 and 5)
Don Alias — percussion

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

The Classic Rosemary Clooney -- CD

Rosemary Clooney

2001 RCA Records
Rosemary at her best!, March 15, 2005
By John Dziadecki (Louisville, CO USA)

This review is from: The Classic Rosemary Clooney (Audio CD)

This is a treasure throve selection of Clooney's RCA 1958-1962 recordings. Rosemary is in her vocal prime. Abetted by Bob Thompson, Billy May, Perez Prado and Nelson Riddle, this diverse grouping of styles works well for this disc. The main thing here is the voice and Rosemary's voice is breezy, bouncy and personable. Two tracks from the Crosby/Clooney "Fancy Meeting You Here" are infectous highlights on this toe-tapping excursion. This, indeed, is the classic Rosemary Clooney.

Packaging and presentation are great. The four page insert has very informative liner notes and six photos. My only complaint here is the short playing time of 35 minutes. RCA has 100 years of music and they couldn't include a few more of their own Rosemary tracks? Still, what's here sounds great. Really great. Highly recommended.

1 You Took Advantage Of Me
2 Give Me The Simple Life
3 It Could Happen To You
4 By Myself
5 Fancy Meeting You Here
6 Too Marvelous For Words
7 I Only Have Eyes For You
8 April In Paris
9 I Get Along Without You Very Well
10 Something's Gotta Give
11 It Happened In Monterey
12 Magic Is The Moonlight
13 Anytime
14 This Ole House

 

[Dennie]

Okay, one more....

Normal As Blueberry Pie - { A Tribute to Doris Day } -- CD

Nellie MeKay

2009 Verve Records

Product Description

Producing, arranging and performing this album is for McKay the natural outcome of years of enraptured listening to Ms. Day's music. "She was - and still is - ahead of her time". Nellie handpicked these songs from over 600 recordings. McKay has a very special connection to this cultural icon - the # 1 female box office star of all time and one of the most prolific recording artists in history - Nellie received the Doris Day Music Award in 2005 and is one of the few people in the last 30 years to be granted an interview with Ms. Day. Nellie's Verve debut is a sophisticated but accessible recording with spare and tasteful arrangements that clearly put the focus on the songs and McKay's exquisite vocal stylings. McKay's fresh take on this music is smartly delivered with a curtsy to Doris, a nod to convention, and a unique twist all her own. An actress (Theater World Award-winner in Three Penny Opera on Broadway), writer and activist (sharing Ms. Day's passion for the animal welfare movement) Nellie is a welcome addition to the rich legacy of great women artists on Verve.

"The Very Thought of You"
"Do Do Do"
"Wonderful Guy"
"Meditation"
"Mean to Me"
"Crazy Rhythm"
"Sentimental Journey"
"If I Ever Had a Dream"
"Black Hills of Dakota"
"Dig It"
"Send Me No Flowers"
"Close Your Eyes"
"I Remember You"

 

[Botch]

I'm Joking, I like Barb, Neil, The Bee Gees, Abba, etc.... Hell, you guys know what I like, you've seen some of it.

I happen to have the Biography channel on right now, and they're featuring the Bee Gees. Those guys were actually performing on TV when Barry was 9, and Maurice and Robin were 6, and they smoked!! Wow! They were also being interviewed very recently, and the interviewer would mention a song and the three guys would just jump into it, perfectly. I am extremely impressed! :bow-blue:

 

[Dennie]

I'm Joking, I like Barb, Neil, The Bee Gees, Abba, etc.... Hell, you guys know what I like, you've seen some of it.

I happen to have the Biography channel on right now, and they're featuring the Bee Gees. Those guys were actually performing on TV when Barry was 9, and Maurice and Robin were 6, and they smoked!! Wow! They were also being interviewed very recently, and the interviewer would mention a song and the three guys would just jump into it, perfectly. I am extremely impressed! :bow-blue:

I agree, these guys had a lot of talent and were so much more than their "Hits"! :text-bravo:

I encourage you to look more into their catalog, I don't think you'll be disappointed.


Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music......

Shaft - Soundtrack -- CD

Isaac Hayes

1971/1991 Stax Records

Amazon.com

The "Theme from Shaft" is now so ingrained in popular consciousness as the blaxploitation-movie track that it's hard to listen to it without a faint smirk. ("Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?"!!) But if you can get past the inadvertent humor, it's still a devilishly exciting piece of music--all hi-hat 16ths, wah-wah guitar, strings, and woodwind, like a Norman Whitfield Motown production taken to a baroque extreme. The rest of the album consists mainly of incidental mood music of no great worth: "Walk from Regio's," "Ellie's Love Theme"--you know the sort of thing. Only two other tracks feature the Black Moses pipes, while the endless "Do Your Thing" takes its place in the catalog of Hayes epics that began with Hot Buttered Soul. --Barney Hoskyns
Side one

"Theme from Shaft" (Vocal Version) – 4:39
"Bumpy's Lament" – 1:51
"Walk from Regio's" – 2:24
"Ellie's Love Theme" – 3:18
"Shaft's Cab Ride" – 1:10

Side two

"Cafe Regio's" – 6:10
"Early Sunday Morning" – 3:49
"Be Yourself" – 4:30
"A Friend's Place" – 3:24

Side three

"Soulsville" (Vocal Version) – 3:48
"No Name Bar" – 6:11
"Bumpy's Blues" – 4:04
"Shaft Strikes Again" – 3:04

Side four

"Do Your Thing" (Vocal Version) – 19:30
"The End Theme" – 1:56

 

[Dennie]

Tourist In Paradise -- CD

The Rippingtons

1989 GRP Records

This CD Rips!, January 25, 2000
By
Robert E. Bleier - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tourist in Paradise (Audio CD)

I was introduced to Jazz during my college days (In the late 80's) when I was a DJ for my college station. I was given the Jazz shifts. My previous experience with Jazz was Sting's Dream of the Blue Turtles, so I was in for an experience. Right away the Rippintons stood out and I knew these guys were hot. Tourist in Paradise was my first Jazz CD to buy. Even thou I now own almost every CD the Rippingtons have released Tourist in Paradise is still my favorite Rippingtons CD. On there other Rippington's CD's I love about 2 or 3 songs on each of them, but on this one I love the whole disk. It's a very uplifting and positive CD. It sets a very uplifting mood. It's great for road trips. My particular Favorites on this Cd are Tourist In Paradise, Earthbound, Jupiter's Child, and Destiny.

"Tourist in Paradise" - 5:39
"Jupiter's Child" - 5:17
"Aruba!" - 4:15
"One Summer Night in Brazil" - 6:28
"Earthbound" - 4:37
"Let's Stay Together" - 4:47
"One Ocean Way" - 4:19
"Destiny" - 5:40
"The Princess" - 3:08

8741

 

[Botch]

Shaft - Soundtrack -- CD

Isaac Hayes

1971/1991 Stax Records

Amazon.com

The "Theme from Shaft" is now so ingrained in popular consciousness as the blaxploitation-movie track that it's hard to listen to it without a faint smirk. ("Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?"!!) But if you can get past the inadvertent humor, it's still a devilishly exciting piece of music--all hi-hat 16ths, wah-wah guitar, strings, and woodwind,

Guy didn't mention the low trombone part! :angry-cussingblack:

My junior-high school had a pretty kick-ass "stage band", and our guitarist had a wah and nailed that guitar part, so cool! :music-rockout:

 

[Dennie]

"When We Was Fab".....

Cloud Nine -- CD

George Harrison

1987 Dark Horse Records

George's Best Work, December 28, 2010
By Jesse Ross (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cloud Nine (Audio CD)

It seems to me that the chief complaint about this album is the production. That, however, is the least of my concerns. I prefer to listen to the music itself, and pay close attention to the lyrics. The song "Just For Today," for instance, speaks to me. It is a song that I can relate to. George seems to bring that quality out in a lot of his work.

And the rest of the album is wonderful too. "Fish on the Sand," "Devil's Radio" and "When We Was Fab" are excellently rocked out. It just kicks, plain and simple.

This album is one of the few that I can listen to, beginning to end, without skipping a single song. This is George's masterpiece. I'm sure I'll take heat for this but I like it better than "All Things Must Pass." I am not in to religious music that much; I like good, old-fashioned rock and roll. And on this album, George delivers just that, with flying colors.

This album is a joy to listen to. If you listen to it, you too will be on cloud 9.

All songs by George Harrison, except where noted.

"Cloud 9" – 3:15
"That's What It Takes" (George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Gary Wright) – 3:59
"Fish on the Sand" – 3:22
"Just for Today" – 4:06
"This Is Love" (George Harrison, Jeff Lynne) – 3:48
"When We Was Fab" – (George Harrison, Jeff Lynne) - 3:57
A celebration of The Beatles and the 1960s.
"Devil's Radio" – 3:52
Masters of Reality recorded their version of the song for "Songs from the Material World: a Tribute to George Harrison" album
"Someplace Else" – 3:51
An earlier version of this song appeared in the 1986 film Shanghai Surprise.
"Wreck of the Hesperus" – 3:31
"Breath Away from Heaven" – 3:36
An earlier version of this song appeared in the 1986 film Shanghai Surprise.
"Got My Mind Set on You" (Rudy Clark) – 3:52

 

[Dennie]

Shaft - Soundtrack -- CD

Isaac Hayes

1971/1991 Stax Records

Amazon.com

The "Theme from Shaft" is now so ingrained in popular consciousness as the blaxploitation-movie track that it's hard to listen to it without a faint smirk. ("Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?"!!) But if you can get past the inadvertent humor, it's still a devilishly exciting piece of music--all hi-hat 16ths, wah-wah guitar, strings, and woodwind,

Guy didn't mention the low trombone part! :angry-cussingblack:

My junior-high school had a pretty kick-ass "stage band", and our guitarist had a wah and nailed that guitar part, so cool! :music-rockout:

It just goes to show......Good reviewers are hard to find!


Dennie :angry-tappingfoot:

 

[Dennie]

HELP! -- CD

The Beatles

1965/2009 Parlophone/EMI Records

Amazon.com

How John Lennon's confessional song became the title for a silly James Bond spoof I really don't know. The funny thing is, it works both ways--as a young man's personal statement about learning to open up to others, and as the frantic theme for an exotic espionage chase comedy starring those lovable mop-tops (this time in color). Like A Hard Day's Night, only the first "side" of this album actually contains songs from the movie--the biggest hits being the eponymous cry for assistance and "Ticket to Ride." But part 2 has a few nice tunes as well, like "It's Only Love," "I've Just Seen a Face," and a little ditty called "Yesterday." And I always love it when they do an all-out screamer like "Dizzy Miss Lizzy," which sounds like John's raucous answer to Paul's "Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey" vocal on Beatles for Sale. Of course, it's essential--as are all the Beatles' soundtracks (all the Beatles' albums), with the possible exception of Yellow Submarine. --Jim Emerson

1. Help!
2. The Night Before
3. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
4. I Need You
5. Another Girl
6. You're Going To Lose That Girl
7. Ticket to Ride
8. Act Naturally
9. It's Only Love
10. You Like Me Too Much
11. Tell Me What You See
12. I`ve Just Seen a Face
13. Yesterday
14. Dizzy Miss Lizzy
15. Help! Documentary

 

[Dennie]

Metro -- CD

Mitchel Forman - Chuck Loeb - Anthony Jackson - Wolfgang Haffner

1994 Lipstick Records

Cracking stuff, September 23, 2009
By Julian Stevens (BRISTOL, UK United Kingdom)
(REAL NAME)


This review is from: Metro Featuring Loeb Forman Jackson & Hafner (Audio CD)

Chuck Loeb, Mitchell Forman, Anthony Jackson & Wolfgang Haffner ~ a phenomenal combination of rock and jazz, recorded in Germany at the same studios (& with the same crew) as Acoustic Alchemy used to use. All four members are brilliant, especially Anthony Jackson, whose 6 string contra-bass playing is as masterful as ever.

Two tracks are updates on arrangements which first appeared on Chuck Loeb's 1991 solo album Life Colors, one of which (Gravity) is better and the other (Snow Song) is, um, about the same, just different. Track 3, Nimbus, written by Mitchel Forman, is a classic of the genre, whilst the fast and ferocious Earthplak ain't far behind. His work in this context is certainly a lot better than on either of his two solo albums I've heard so far. They were awful. Oh yeah ~ the recording itself is a stonker too, particularly the bass, which is superbly deep, clean, firm and articulate. Funnily enough, it sounds a bit bright at first, until you realise just how seriously loud you can play it without distress.

For those who've enjoyed Chuck Loeb's earlier albums but, like me, feel that the best of his creative years are now rather a long way behind him, this is an excellent addition to his work of the early/mid nineties. However, none of the Metro projects should be billed as a Chuck Loeb album, as they're all part of a group project quite separate from his solo career. The Metro albums all have an altogether more hard-edged rock feel.

Premonition - Chuck Loeb/ Mitchel Forman
Metro - Chuck Loeb
Nimbus - Mitchel Forman
Jazzy Move - Chuck Loeb
Gravity - Chuck Loeb
Earthplak - Mitchel Forman
Old Faces In Windows - Mitchel Forman
Grand Slam - Wolfgang Haffner
Third Person - Chuck Loeb/ Mitchel Forman
Snow Song - Chuck Loeb
The Flow - Mitchel Forman

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

Come As You Are -- CD

Mindi Abair

2004 GRP Records

Smooth jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair delivers a laid-back and sensual performance on Come As You Are. More pop than jazz, Abair plays mostly melody lines and the occasional bluesy aside. The album consists largely of dance- and groove-oriented numbers, although Abair does take some charming vocal turns on the mellow ballads "Every Time," "I Can Remember," and the Latin-inflected "You'll Never Know." To these ends, Abair has a soft and elfin voice reminiscent of the Cardigans' Nina Persson, and the combination of her vocals, sax chops, and cover girl good looks makes for a compelling package. Fans of similarly inclined artists such as Candy Dulfer and Dave Koz should find much to enjoy here. ~ Matt Collar

1. Come as You Are
2. Shine
3. Every Time
4. Head Over Heels
5. Make a Wish
6. Sticks and Stones
7. I Can Remember
8. New Shoes
9. High Five
10. You'll Never Know
11. Cyan
12. 26 Hemenway (hidden track)*



* When smooth jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair releases her new album called Come as You Are in September, it will contain a “hidden track” that clocks in at six minutes and nineteen seconds. On the song, “26 Hemenway,” Mindi displays her traditional jazz skills as she pays homage to one of her favorite players, the late Cannonball Adderley. The song gets its title from the address where Mindi lived while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston.



Bonus Picture.....

8752

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music....

Greatest Hits -- CD

Eurythmics

1991 Arista Records

Amazon.com essential recording

One of the earliest things that we learned about Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart was that the duo had style. In their first few MTV videos, including "Sweet Dreams" and "Love Is a Stranger," they were just as notable for their androgynous suits and rubber utility coverall, as they were for their ice box synthetic dance beats. But as Eurythmics continued to churn out one hit after another, something else became refreshingly apparent: In the midst of all of the impersonal drum machines and frozen electronics, Lennox displayed both rhythm and soul. With a voice powerful enough to hold its own against genre queen Aretha Franklin ("Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves"), Lennox added another dimension to the haunting moodiness of "Who's That Girl" and "Here Comes the Rain Again." Changing personas and musical stylings with every release, Eurythmics blasted out horn-infused rockers ("Would I Lie to You"), country-fied twangers ("Thorn in My Side"), and melodic brilliance ("When Tomorrow Comes"). Greatest Hits captures the band's most inspired moments and justifies all of the original fuss. --Steve Gdula

1. "Love Is a Stranger" 3:40
2. "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" 4:50
3. "Who's That Girl?" 3:44
4. "Right by Your Side" 3:49
5. "Here Comes the Rain Again" 4:54
6. "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" 4:41
7. "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (with Aretha Franklin) 4:53
8. "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)" 3:43
9. "When Tomorrow Comes" Lennox, Stewart, Patrick Seymour 4:15
10. "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" 3:46
11. "The Miracle of Love" 4:35
12. "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" 3:52
13. "Thorn in My Side" 4:11
14. "Don't Ask Me Why" 4:13
15. "Angel" 4:47
16. "Would I Lie to You?" 4:22
17. "Missionary Man" 3:45
18. "I Need a Man" 4:21

8757

 

[Dennie]

Breakfast In America

Supertramp

1979 A&M Records

Amazon.com

After a shaky start followed by several critically acclaimed releases, the English group Supertramp hit the commercial jackpot in 1979 with Breakfast in America. The album combined the band's FM radio, AOR-rock style with an almost carnival-like nature. Breakfast gave the band major hits with "The Logical Song," "Goodbye Stranger," and "Take the Long Way Home." The plinking piano and dramatic clarinet runs of "The Logical Song" imparted a comic, yet bittersweet tone to the release as a whole. In another example of the band's devotion to alternative ways to carry their melody lines, "Goodbye Stranger" rings with some of the purest whistling ever recorded. There's also a healthy dose of cynicism running through the 10 tracks with "Just Another Nervous Wreck." --Steve Gdula

All songs credited to Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, actual writers listed below.

"Gone Hollywood" – 5:20 (Davies)
"The Logical Song" – 4:10 (Hodgson)
"Goodbye Stranger" – 5:50 (Davies)
"Breakfast in America" – 2:38 (Hodgson)
"Oh Darling" – 3:58 (Davies)
"Take the Long Way Home" – 5:08 (Hodgson)
"Lord Is It Mine" – 4:09 (Hodgson)
"Just Another Nervous Wreck" – 4:26 (Davies)
"Casual Conversations" – 2:58 (Davies)
"Child of Vision" – 7:25 (Hodgson)

 

[Botch]

 

[Botch]

Breakfast In America

Probably :text-tmi: , but I lost my virginity to this album. It was a cassette I'd recorded from a dorm-mate, minus The Logical Song, which, to this day, I despise... :angry-banghead:

 

[Dennie]

Breakfast In America

Probably :text-tmi: , but I lost my virginity to this album. It was a cassette I'd recorded from a dorm-mate, minus The Logical Song, which, to this day, I despise... :angry-banghead:

No, not :text-tmi: , that is exactly the picture I wanted in my head after finishing a fine dinner. :eusa-whistle:

But, I did want to congratulate you on finally losing your virginity! :laughing-rolling:


Dennie :teasing-tease:

 

[Botch]

No, not :text-tmi: , that is exactly the picture I wanted in my head after finishing a fine dinner. :eusa-whistle:

Hey, I looked mighty fine back in college... bscene-birdiedoublered:

 

[Dennie]

Dark Side of the Moon :text-bravo:

Pink Floyd

1973 The Gramophone Company - MFSL

Amazon.com essential recording

Dark Side of the Moon, originally released in 1973, is one of those albums that is discovered anew by each generation of rock listeners. This complex, often psychedelic music works very well because Pink Floyd doesn't rush anything; the songs are mainly slow to mid-tempo, with attention paid throughout to musical texture and mood. The sound effects on songs like "On the Run," "Time" and especially "Money" (with sampled sounds of clinking coins and cash registers turned into rhythmic accompaniment) are impressive, especially when we remember that 1973 was before the advent of digital recording techniques. This is probably Pink Floyd's best-known work, and it's an excellent place to start if you're new to the band. --Genevieve Williams

Side one

No. Title Music Lead vocals Length
1. "Speak to Me" Mason Instrumental 1:30
2. "Breathe" Waters, Gilmour, Wright Gilmour 2:43
3. "On the Run" Gilmour, Waters Instrumental 3:30
4. "Time" (containing "Breathe (Reprise)") Mason, Waters, Wright, Gilmour Gilmour, Wright 6:53
5. "The Great Gig in the Sky" Wright, Clare Torry[nb 12] Clare Torry 4:15

Side two

No. Title Music Lead vocals Length
1. "Money" Waters Gilmour 6:30
2. "Us and Them" Waters, Wright Gilmour, Wright 7:51
3. "Any Colour You Like" Gilmour, Mason, Wright Instrumental 3:24
4. "Brain Damage" Waters Waters 3:50
5. "Eclipse" Waters Waters 1:45