What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Now that looks interesting. :think:



Dennie

 

[Dennie]

I REALLY like this album....

All This Time -- CD

Sting

2001 A&M Records

Jazzier than typical Sting, but very beautiful, November 27, 2001
By Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)


This review is from: ...all this time (Audio CD)
Sting comes back with this live recording made on September 11 (he respectfully dedicates it to the victims of the tragedy). This time around he revisits tunes from all his periods (The Police, early and late solo material) but with a very jazzy feel to most of the songs.

What can be said about this album, that has not been said about Sting at some point? It's brilliant: he grabs his songs and virtually reinvents them, to the point where they sound almost like different songs. This is the case with almost all songs in this recording which, like all previous Sting works, is impeccably recorded and produced.

Particularly enjoyable I found his beautiful rendition of the Police classics "Don't stand so close to me" and "Roxanne" as well as the tracks included from his least popular album, 'Mercury Falling' and the mix of "A Thousand Years" and "PerfectLove... Gone Wrong," much in the same style of his earlier live double-album. Interesting results his Traffic-like version of his very own "If you love somebody set them free"... Grrrrooovy!!!! New tracks anyone? Yes! "Dienda" in the style of his interpretation of the Zappa song, "The Idiot *** song" which some lucky people were able to hear back during some sessions he played in Chicago several years ago.

Overall, one of those jewels that oughta become part of your musical collection.

All songs written by Sting, except where noted.

"Fragile" - 4:35
"A Thousand Years" (Kipper, Sting) - 3:02
"Perfect Love...Gone Wrong" - 4:11
"All This Time" - 5:20
"The Hounds of Winter" - 4:29
"Mad About You" (not included on the US edition)
"Don't Stand So Close to Me" - 2:15
"When We Dance" - 4:52
"Dienda" (Kenny Kirkland, Sting) - 3:12
"Roxanne" - 3:36
"If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" - 4:57
"Brand New Day" - 4:46
"Fields of Gold" - 3:50
"Moon over Bourbon Street" - 2:55
"If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" - 4:31
"Every Breath You Take" - 5:04

 

[Dennie]

Happy Easter everyone! This is my last one for the evening....

Here We Go Again - Celebrating The Genius of Ray Charles -- CD

Willie Nelson - Wynton Marsalis, featuring Norah Jones

2011 Blue Note Records

From Three Comes Magic, April 13, 2011
By J. D. Traiger (Milford, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)


Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Here We Go Again (Audio CD)

No three musicians could be more different than Wynton, Willie, and Nora. Yet, when they come together on this CD, the results are nothing less than magic. Before I first played the CD, I really didn't know what to expect. Then, from the first track, I knew this CD is special, and it just got better and better. There's so much to praise about this CD that it's difficult to know where to start, so here are the major areas that make this CD magic: (1) Performers -- fresh and alluring solos, duets, and trios, (2) Instrumentation -- supurb improvisations from the sax, trumpet, harmonica, drums, piano, and bass, (3) Set list -- excellent selection of tunes, styles and rhythms (remembering Ray Charles) and, (4) Production -- great job from Blue Note for its high sound quality and balance from a live performance. This CD truly needs to be a serious contender for an award; in fact, it needs to win one. We desperately need more of this kind of collaboration as, in this case, the results are indeed magic.
The track listing for Here We Go Again is as follows:

1. Hallelujah I Love Her So (Gospel 2-beat / Boogaloo / 4/4 Swing)
2. Come Rain or Come Shine (Walking Ballad)
3. Unchain My Heart (Bolero with Habanera bass)
4. Cryin' Time (Country Ballad)
5. Losing Hand (Dirge with Chain-Gang Shuffle)
6. Hit The Road Jack (Gospel 2-beat / 4/4 Swing)
7. I’m Moving On (Boogaloo with Afro-Latin Backbeat / 4/4 Swing)
8. Busted (Gospel 12/8 Shuffle)
9. Here We Go Again (Rhythm & Blues 12/8 Shuffle)
10. Makin’ Whoopie (Hard-Bop 2-beat / 4/4 Swing)
11. I Love You So Much (It Hurts) (Waltz)
12. What'd I Say (Boogaloo)

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

Happy Easter Everyone! :animals-bunny:

Devotion -- DVD-A

Aaron Neville

2001 DVD International

Product Description

The Grammy Award Winning voice of Aaron Neville is one of the most recognizable in popular music. He has performed for presidents and royalty, as well as the disadvantaged and prison inmates. His talent has transcended musical genres and trends. Aaron Neville is an American musical icon. Devotion, Aaron Neville's latest recording, is a collection of material that is very personal to the artist. A spiritual rather than a religious album, Devotion brings together popular songs like "Morning Has Broken", "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Let It Be" with gospel greats "Mary Don't You Weep" and Banks Of the River Jordan" that have always been favorites of Aaron.

With Devotion, listeners will be able to hear that unmistakable Aaron Neville voice as if they were in the studio with him while he made the record. This 24 bit/96khz, six channel surround disc brings amazing clarity to every note of the recordings. Additionally, the disc includes a very special video section that includes interviews with Aaron and many of the people who have been instrumental in his life. There is also footage of Aaron performing songs from this album live at Angola Penitentiary.

1. Morning Has Broken
2. Mary Don't You Weep
3. By Heart, By Soul (Guest vocals by Avalon)
4. Bridge Over Troubled Water
5. Singing You a Prayer (Duet with Ivan Neville)
6. Jesus Loves Me
7. Let It Be
8. What Would Jesus Do?
9. Banks Of the River Jordan
10. Were You There?
11. Any Day Now
12. Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine
13. I SHall Be Released


9263

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

Feel Like My Time Ain't Long - An A Cappella Gospel Collection -- CD

Various Bluegrass Artists

2006 Rebel Records

A cappella gospel is a Southern tradition, and a tradition that has lived on in the music of a number of traditionally minded musicians -- especially bluegrass musicians -- over the years. While groups occasionally specialize in the form, most are satisfied to include an a cappella number to show off their vocal prowess and express their religious faith. Feel Like My Time Ain't Long collects 15 a cappella gospel favorites from Rebel's vaults and includes both well-known performers like Ralph Stanley and Blue Highway along with a number of lesser known ones like Appalachian Express and the Marshall Family. The Forbes Family delivers the fabulous title cut. "Feel Like My Time Ain't Long" has never sounded fresher, with the family taking a complicated four-way arrangement and making it sound simple and beautiful. Several of these cuts go back to the '70s, when Doyle Lawson -- later to specialize in a cappella singing -- was still a member of the Country Gentlemen and Ralph Stanley was still performing with Keith Whitley. The real revelations here, however, are the names who may be less familiar like the Forbes Family and the Marshall Family. Feel Like My Time Ain't Long is a rock-solid collection that will please anyone who loves gospel, bluegrass, and traditional music. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Some Day -- (BLUE HIGHWAY)
Feel Like My Time Ain't Long -- (THE FORBES FAMILY)
When I Cross Over Jordan -- (IIIRD TYME OUT)
Gospel Train -- (LARRY SPARKS)
I'll Meet You in the Morning -- (APPALACHIAN EXPRESS)
Children, Go Where I Send Thee -- (THE MARSHALL FAMILY)
Calling My Children Home -- (THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN)
My Homeward Journey -- (PAUL WILLIAMS & THE VICTORY TRIO)
It's Heaven On Earth (To Walk With the Lord) -- (RALPH STANLEY)
Jesus, I'll Never Forget -- (THE FORBES FAMILY)
I Need Jesus -- (LARRY SPARKS & THE MARSHALL FAMILY)
I Can't Sit Down -- (STEEP CANYON RANGERS)
Gloryland -- (RALPH STANLEY & THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS)
Amazing Grace -- (THE MARSHALLFAMILY)
I'm Working My Way -- (THE VIRGINIA SQUIRES)

 

[Dennie]

Worship & Faith -- CD

Randy Travis

2003 Word Entertainment

It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This!, January 5, 2004
By
RTFan (Oklahoma City, OK United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Worship & Faith (Audio CD)
This is the third release of gospel music from Randy and, once again, there are no disappointments. It is a treasure to add to the growing collection of treasures from this wonderful artist! There are classic old traditional favorites as well as some newer praise and worship songs. This CD is beautifully done, and I can't stop playing it! There are 20 songs so it plays a long time!

I have loved Randy Travis since 1988 and have loved the Lord a whole lot longer than that! And to hear that wonderful voice singing such special music is one of the greatest blessings of my entire life! And to know that he means every word he is singing makes it priceless! It's country and gospel at the same time...and it doesn't get much better than this!

"He's My Rock, My Sword, My Shield" (Traditional) – 2:30
"Farther Along" (J.R. Baxter, W.B. Stevens) – 3:39
"How Great Thou Art" (Stuart K. Hine) – 4:29
"Just a Closer Walk with Thee" (Traditional) – 4:37
"Shall We Gather at the River?" (Robert Lowry) – 3:16
"You Are Worthy of My Praise" (David Ruis) – 4:18
"Love Lifted Me" (James Rowe, Howard Smith) – 3:11
"Softly and Tenderly" (Will L. Thompson) – 3:19
"Sweet By and By"(Sanford Filmore Bennett, Joseph Philbrock Webster) – 2:27
"Blessed Assurance" (Fanny J. Crosby, Phoebe Knapp) – 3:28
"I'll Fly Away" (Albert E. Brumley) – 2:59
"Turn Your Radio On" (Brumley) – 2:37
"Open the Eyes of My Heart" (Paul Baloche) – 3:55
"In the Garden" (C. Austin Miles) – 3:21
"Above All" (Baloche, Lenny LeBlanc) – 4:14
"Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" (Charles Gabriel, Ada R. Habershon) – 3:08
"We Fall Down" (Chris Tomlin) – 3:40
"Peace in the Valley" (Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey) – 3:58
"The Unclouded Day" (Josiah K. Alwood) – 2:56
"Room at the Cross for You" (Ira Stanphill) – 1:30

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

Higher Ground -- CD

Barbra Streisand

1997 Columbia Records

Beautiful And Inspiring, April 9, 2001
By "gemini_j" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Higher Ground (Audio CD)

This is an outstanding album. Released in November 1997, it was a project Barbra had been working on for many many years. It is a touching collection of inspirational songs. Barbra has never sounded so beautiful. These songs were meant for Barbra to sing, or so she proves by singing them. Her angelic voice powerfully sings the songs, that all have beautiful messages.

1. I Believe/You'll Never Walk Alone

A great song to kick off the cd. A touching song, very inspiring and uplifting for the soul.

2. Higher Ground

This is the title track, a very powerful song that you will love. Its very uplifiting and honest, in a belief about a higher power.

3. At The Same Time

This is a beautiful song that demonstrates how as people we are interconnected and are responsible for one another, and how we are all living together in the world, our hearts beating as one, at the same time.

4. Tell Him (With Celine Dion)

This is a great duet, it was about time the two collaborated. A song about a younger, less experienced woman, asking for help with her relationship, then the wiser more experienced woman giving her advice. Beautiful song.

5. On Holy Ground

A beautiful song that explains how we should celebrate and be thankful we are walking on Holy Ground.

6. If I Could

This song was done for her son Jason, it is a very touching song.

7. Circle

This song is simply how life is a circle, and the power of love and faith.

8. The Water Is Wide/Deep River

Another inspiring song about faith, and the connection between deep water and crossing over.

9. Leading With Your Heart

This is a beautiful song that Marvin Hamlisch and ALan & Marilyn Bergman wrote for Barbra, knowing how much she loved Virginia Kelley, titled after her autobiography by the same name. Very touching song.

10. Lessons To Be Learned

This is a beautiful, touching, uplifting song that explains how in life there are no mistakes, but lessons to be learned. It explores questioning our faith, when things happen that we do not understand.

11. Everything Must Change

This is a beautiful song about accepting change, as we grow older as people, and learning to embrace it and celebrate life.

12. Avinu Malkeinu

A song in request to ask God to treat us equally and fairly, even if we haven't lived up to his teachings.

This collection of music will soothe your soul, it will uplift your spirit, it will make you think about life, and why we are here, things like that. I am not a part of organized religion, but I do believe in higher powers and faith from within, and this collection of music will inspire you to believe in a beautiful life that is out there waiting for you. A must have collection.

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

Spirit of the Century CD

The Blind Boys of Alabama

2008 Real World Records

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Long known as the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, this venerable gospel institution has seen its ranks fluctuate in recent years. Rarely, however, have the soul-stirring harmonies of the group, recording here as a quartet, benefited from such stellar support. Producer John Chelew (best known for John Hiatt's breakthrough Bring the Family) has enlisted guitarists David Lindley and John Hammond, bassist Danny Thompson, drummer Michael Jerome, and harmonica ace Charlie Musselwhite for a set that celebrates the bluesy underpinnings of gospel.

The selection of material mixes the traditional spirituals the group has been performing for more than a half century ("Nobody's Fault but Mine," "Motherless Child") with soulful readings from the more contemporary songbooks of Tom Waits, the Rolling Stones, and Ben Harper. Harper's "Give a Man a Home" receives a majestic vocal from Clarence Fountain, while the album's most audacious cut pairs the lyrics to "Amazing Grace" with the melody from "House of the Rising Sun." --Don McLeese

Tracks:
01 - Jesus Gonna Be Here
02 - No More
03 - Run On For a Long Time
04 - Good Religion
05 - Give a Man a Home
06 - Amazing Grace
07 - Soldier
08 - Nobody's Fault
09 - Way Down in the Hole
10 - Motherless Child
11 - Just Wanna See His Face
12 - The Last Time

 

[Dennie]

For Him Who Has Ears To Hear

Keith Green
1977 Sparrow Records

Listen To This Album! It Will Change You!!!, June 8, 2008
By Roni (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)

This review is from: For Him Who Has Ears to Hear (Audio CD)
For Him Who Has Ears to Hear was Keith Green's first of many Gospel albums.

Essentially, Keith was a preacher and he preached the Word through his music. However, Keith was no ordinary preacher. Through songs like:

1. You Put This Love In My Heart
2. I Can't Believe It!
3. Because Of You
4. When I Hear The Praises Start
5. He'll Take Care Of The Rest
6. Your Love Broke Through
7. No One Believes In Me Anymore
8. Song To My Parents
9. Trials Turned To Gold
10. Easter Song

Keith Green conveyed God's love to us and in turn, showed us his love to God. Keith talked about hope, about patience, about leaving our cares up to God.

"For Him Who Has Ears" is Keith Green's first testitismony to the world about God.

It was the first of Keith's album that led me to journey with him and even after his death, I am still using Keith's music to continue with my journey with God.

Get it!
Listen to it!
It will change you.
It changed me.

 

[Dennie]

Amazing Grace 2 CD Set

Aretha Franklin

1972/1990 Atlantic Records

Amazon.com essential recording

Originally released as a double LP in 1972, Amazing Grace cracked the Billboard Top Ten upon its release, making it one of the bestselling gospel records of all time. Grace was recorded in a large Baptist church with an ultraenthusiastic, loving audience in the pews and a full, funky, band as well as the Southern California Community Choir under the direction of her mentor Rev. James Cleveland. Her voice is melismatic and intensely emotional, yet pure and controlled--as if she were directly channeling the Holy Ghost. Aretha's father, the brilliant preacher Rev. C.L. Franklin, makes a brief, proud appearance, remarking how "she has never left the church!" Highlights include the beautiful "Wholy Holy," an 11-minute, heart-stopping "Amazing Grace," and Inez Andrews's stirring song "Mary, Don't You Weep." Way more than a return-to-the-roots record, the set is an inspired gospel-soul workout that arguably showcases Aretha's strongest singing ever. --Mike McGonigal

Disc 1

"Mary Don't You Weep" (Inez Andrews)
"Take My Hand, Precious Lord" /"You've Got a Friend" (Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey, Frank Frazier) / (Carole King)
"Old Landmark"
"Give Yourself to Jesus" (Robert Fryson)
"How I Got Over" (Clara Ward)
"What a Friend We Have In Jesus" (Joseph Scriven, Charles Converse)
"Amazing Grace" (John Newton)

Disc 2

"Precious Memories" (Traditional)
"Climbing Higher Mountains" (Traditional)
Remarks by Reverend C.L. Franklin
"God Will Take Care of You" (Traditional)
"Wholy Holy" (Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson, Alfred Cleveland)
"You'll Never Walk Alone" (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II)
"Never Grow Old" (Traditional)

 

[Dennie]

That Lucky Old Sun

Brian Wilson

2008 Brimmel/Capitol Records

Seldom has an album had as much to live up to as THAT LUCKY OLD SUN. When Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks wrote the iconic song suite SMILE some four decades earlier, they created the definitive art-pop statement, inspiring countless imitators for years to come. It's a gutsy move for Wilson to create a new album-length suite in 2008 in collaboration with Parks and bandmate Scott Bennett, a work that will unavoidably be compared to the unmatchable SMILE.

LUCKY OLD SUN isn't SMILE's sequel; rather, it's an extended meditation on the pop myth Wilson and the other Beach Boys created in the '60s--L.A. as eternal summer-land, a surf-sand-and-hot-rod-heaven. Naturally, the music references the Beach Boys' classics, teeming with rich, close vocal harmonies, lilting, piano-driven song structures, and sunny, sophisticated melodic lines that will send a chill up the spine of anyone who's ever absorbed the sunshine-pop majesty of PET SOUNDS. Sure, Wilson's voice is a bit worn with age, but there's no attempt to duplicate the epic sweep of SMILE. THAT LUCKY OLD SUN succeeds on its own terms.

"That Lucky Old Sun"
"Morning Beat"
"A Room With a View" (narrative)
"Good Kind of Love"
"Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl"
"Venice Beach" (narrative)
"Live Let Live / That Lucky Old Sun (reprise)"
"Mexican Girl"
"Cinco de Mayo" (narrative)
"California Role / That Lucky Old Sun (reprise)"
"Between Pictures" (narrative)
"Oxygen to the Brain"
"Can't Wait Too Long"
"Midnight’s Another Day"
"That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise)"
"Going Home"
"Southern California"

 

[Dennie]

Tap Step

Chick Corea

1980 Warner Bros. Records

YEP! ANOTHER JUCY CD FROM COREA., September 28, 1999
By Örn Leifsson (Reykjavik Iceland.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Tap Step (Audio CD)

Tap Step is in my humble opinion one of Chick Corea's masterpieces, this is what great Fusion is all about, influences from all over the world fused through a talented musician into an individual style full of fun, beauty, power, passion and brains, I love it !

SAMBA L.A is, of course a samba, with the great Brazilian percussionis Airto Moreira on percussion. THE EMBRACE is influenced by Jazz and Classic.TAP STEP is a great modern Jazz piece with a fabulous rhythm pattern, played in the beginning of the piece on the Fender Rhodes electric piano and then repeated through the song as a riff, it's great. MAGIC CARPET begins with arpeggio patterns played on Moog synths with that great fat anolog sound, it's a jucy sound experience. THE SLIDE has some more Jazz and Brazil Fusion, with some great cuica plaing by Moreira. GRANDPA BLUES is dedicated to T. Monk and has a fun filled solo exchange between Chick on a vocoder and Stanley Clarke on a piccolo bass with a talk box. FLAMENGO is the last piece and is dedicated to Paco DeLucia and is a mix of Jazz and Flamengo.

All the player on the cd are superior musicians and Corea's compositions are excellent, no matter how you look at it, this is how it should be done. Side one

"Samba L.A." (Lyrics Tony Cohan) – 5:52
"The Embrace" (Lyrics Tony Cohan) – 5:52
"Tap Step" – 8:19

Side two

"Magic Carpet" – 6:51
"The Slide" – 6:47
"Grandpa Blues" (Vocoder Lyrics Chick Corea) - 4:03
"Flamenco" - 3:34

9280

 

[Dennie]

Behind The Sun

Eric Clapton

1985 Duck Records

After Eric Clapton's Warner Brothers debut MONEY AND CIGARETTES made such a small splash, the big guns were called out for the follow-up, BEHIND THE SUN. Phil Collins and Van Halen knob-twister Ted Templeman were called in to produce, and in some cases play along with a guest list that included Lindsey Buckingham and Steve Lukather. The rest of the line-up was like a class reunion of past, present and future Clapton bandmembers; Marcy Levy, Jamie Oldaker, Chris Stainton, Nathan East and Duck Dunn.

Although SUN dipped into the slick, synthesized style of the time, Clapton's guitar playing remains cutting and passionate. The militaristic beat of "She's Waiting" and the driving cadence of "Forever Man" both give way to spurts of Slowhand's guitar magic, displaying a hunger not diminished by time. Although songs such as "Tangled In Love" and a cover of "Knock On Wood" show off E.C.'s vocals as well as his playing, the eight-minute "Same Old Blues" allows the guitar legend to squeeze off some powerful licks among the swells of slick production.

She's Waiting – 4:55 (Clapton, Peter Robinson)
See What Love Can Do – 3:58 (Jerry Lynn Williams)
Same Old Blues – 8:15 (Clapton)
Knock on Wood – 3:19 (Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper)
Something's Happening – 3:23 (Jerry Lynn Williams)
Forever Man – 3:13 (Jerry Lynn Williams)
It All Depends – 5:05 (Clapton)
Tangled In Love – 4:11 (Levy, Richard Feldman)
Never Make You Cry – 6:06 (Clapton, Phil Collins)
Just Like A Prisoner – 5:29 (Clapton)
Behind The Sun – 2:13 (Clapton)



Eric Clapton - guitars, vocals, Roland guitar synthesizer
Lindsey Buckingham - guitar
Phil Collins - synthesizer, percussion, drums, background vocals, Fender Rhodes, Simmons drums
James Newton Howard - synthesizer
Peter Manning Robinson - synthesizer
Marcy Levy - background vocals
Jerry Williams - background vocals
Lenny Castro - percussion
Ray Cooper - percussion
Donald "Duck" Dunn - bass
Nathan East - bass, background vocals
Lee Herschberg - engineer
Nick Launay - engineer
Steve Lukather - guitar
Shaun Murphy - background vocals
Michael Omartian - synthesizer
Jamie Oldaker - drums, background vocals
Jeff Porcaro - drums
Greg Phillinganes - synthesizer, background vocals
John "J.R." Robinson - drums
Peter Robinson - synthesizer
Chris Stainton - synthesizer, piano, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes
Ted Templeman - percussion

 

[Dennie]

FYI: This is being reissued on Sundazed Vinyl next month!

John Wesley Harding

Bob Dylan

1967 Columbia Records

Amazon.com essential recording
Bob Dylan's remarkable first album after his debilitating 1966 motorcycle accident isn't as urgent as the ambitious folk and rock songs he wrote earlier in the decade. Even considering the rocking "All Along the Watchtower" (covered famously by Jimi Hendrix), the album's overall feeling is soft and laid-back, all gently strummed guitars, perfectly timed harmonicas, and some of Dylan's best pure singing to date. The 1968 release sounds as if the songwriter and his three sidemen set up a few tape recorders in a bedroom and began playing as soon as they woke up in the morning. They open with the title track (a folk fable), move into the piano-driven "Dear Landlord," and close with the sweet love song "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight." --Steve Knopper

"John Wesley Harding" – 2:58
"As I Went Out One Morning" – 2:49
"I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" – 3:53
"All Along the Watchtower" – 2:31
"The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" – 5:35
"Drifter's Escape" – 2:52
"Dear Landlord" – 3:16
"I Am a Lonesome Hobo" – 3:19
"I Pity the Poor Immigrant" – 4:12
"The Wicked Messenger" – 2:02
"Down Along the Cove" – 2:23
"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" – 2:34

 

[Dennie]

A New World Record

Electric Light Orchestra

1976 United Artists Records

ELO's best ever? It gets my vote!, November 18, 2004
By Dr. Emil "Tom" Shuffhausen (Central Gulf Coast) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: New World Record (Audio CD)

What more could one want in a pop/rock album... except perhaps more songs? Many (including ELO's guiding light himself, Jeff Lynne) count OUT OF THE BLUE as ELO's brightest moment. And while there's no arguing the brilliance of that long-play release, may I make a case for A NEW WORLD RECORD? "Tightrope" is sheer brilliance; a seemless melding of orchestral grandeur with driving rock and roll. "Rockaria!" is a thrill a second, over-the-top romp. "Mission (A World Record)" is sad, chilling, and profound, and oh so lovely. Perhaps you've heard of "Telephone Line," one of ELO's biggest singles, which wraps bitter loneliness in a sweet candy coating. "So Fine" is a quirky, bright, danceable confection. The classic "Livin' Thing," another huge hit, is the textbook definition of pure pop, and "Do Ya" is one of the great rockers of the 1970s. "Above the Clouds" is simply sublime, a heavenly slice of balladry that wafts in and out all too quickly. Then, there is the gorgeous and majestic closer, "Shangri La," which is absolutely heartbreaking and haunting. Overall, A NEW WORLD RECORD is the perfect art pop/rock album that sits quite high indeed in the realm of stellar 70s releases. You don't want to miss it.

Side one

No. Title Length
1. "Tightrope" 5:03
2. "Telephone Line" 4:38
3. "Rockaria!" 3:12
4. "Mission (A World Record)" 4:25

Side two

No. Title Length
1. "So Fine" 3:54
2. "Livin' Thing" 3:31
3. "Above the Clouds" 2:16
4. "Do Ya" 3:43
5. "Shangri-La" 5:32

 

[Botch]

Eric Clapton - guitars, vocals, Roland guitar synthesizer
Lindsey Buckingham - guitar
Phil Collins - synthesizer, percussion, drums, background vocals, Fender Rhodes, Simmons drums
James Newton Howard - synthesizer
Peter Manning Robinson - synthesizer
Marcy Levy - background vocals
Jerry Williams - background vocals
Lenny Castro - percussion
Ray Cooper - percussion
Donald "Duck" Dunn - bass
Nathan East - bass, background vocals
Lee Herschberg - engineer
Nick Launay - engineer
Steve Lukather - guitar
Shaun Murphy - background vocals
Michael Omartian - synthesizer
Jamie Oldaker - drums, background vocals
Jeff Porcaro - drums
Greg Phillinganes - synthesizer, background vocals
John "J.R." Robinson - drums
Peter Robinson - synthesizer
Chris Stainton - synthesizer, piano, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes
Ted Templeman - percussion

I'm unfamiliar with this album, and what a guest roster!
Added...