What Are You Listening To?

[heeman]

Breakfast In Bed -- CD

Joan Osborne

2007 Time Life Music

Amazon.com

On Breakfast in Bed, her first release on Time Life Records (yes, that Time Life) Joan Osborne tackles a crop of hand-picked soul and R&B favorites with equal parts sass and sensitivity. Long an underappreciated artist, Osborne is a performer with the wisdom to exercise vocal restraint for an effect that's more Dusty Springfield than Christina Aguilera. Her fine previous outing interpreting soul standards was aptly titled How Sweet It Is, and witness her contribution to the terrific 2002 film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, where Osborne's astute readings of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and "Heatwave" outshone performers like Ben Harper and Gerald Levert (happily, both songs are included here). The title track and Hall and Oates' "Sara Smile" are both canny choices that play to her strengths in delivering credible blue-eyed soul, and six new Osborne-penned songs fit neatly into the record. If her compositions pale a bit next to the classics she covers (with the sultry and slithery exception of the excellent "Eliminate the Night"), give Osborne credit for bravely placing herself side-by-side with songwriting luminaries like Holland-Dozier-Holland and Bill Withers. Breakfast in Bed makes for a leisurely listen on a sunny Sunday morning, so put up your feet and stay awhile. --Ben Heege

Track listing

1. I've Got to Use My Imagination
2. Ain't No Sunshine
3. Midnight Train to Georgia
4. Baby Is a Butterfly
5. Breakfast in Bed
6. Cream Dream
7. Natural High
8. Heart of Stone
9. Sara Smile
10. Eliminate the Night
11. Break Up to Make Up
12. I Know What's Goin' On
13. Alone with You
14. Kiss and Say Goodbye
15. Heat Wave
16. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted [From Standing in the Shadows of Motown]

Dennie, how is this one?

 

[Dennie]

Luck Of The Draw -- CD

Bonnie Raitt

1991 Capitol Records

Amazon.com

As its title makes clear, the 1991 sequel to Bonnie Raitt's platinum breakthrough on Nick Of Time takes nothing for granted. Raitt had achieved sobriety, renewed commercial focus, and then the payday that the prior album yielded, but Luck Of The Draw mirrors an even fiercer determination to make music as if her life depended on it. Again teamed with producer Don Was, Raitt surpasses herself with her best album to date: her wonderfully lush, blues-rimmed voice and sinuous slide guitar wrap themselves around a dozen potent songs culled from a typically shrewd mix of writers including Paul Brady, John Hiatt, Bonnie Hayes, Shirley Eikhard, and Billy Vera, and Raitt herself turns in her most generous batch of originals yet. Sympathetic guests include Brady and Delbert McClinton on harmony vocals, Richard Thompson on guitar, and Heartbreaker Benmont Tench on organ, in a program including the sassy "Something to Talk About," the sultry "Slow Ride," a soaring "Not the Only One," and the heartbreaking "I Can't Make You Love Me." This isn't luck, it's artistry. --Sam Sutherland

1. Something to Talk About
2. Good Man, Good Woman
3. I Can't Make You Love Me
4. Tangled and Dark
5. Come to Me
6. No Business
7. One Part Be My Lover
8. Not the Only One
9. Papa Come Quick (Jody and Chico)
10. Slow Ride
11. Luck of the Draw
12. All at Once

 

[Dennie]

Breakfast In Bed -- CD

Joan Osborne

2007 Time Life Music

Amazon.com

On Breakfast in Bed, her first release on Time Life Records (yes, that Time Life) Joan Osborne tackles a crop of hand-picked soul and R&B favorites with equal parts sass and sensitivity. Long an underappreciated artist, Osborne is a performer with the wisdom to exercise vocal restraint for an effect that's more Dusty Springfield than Christina Aguilera. Her fine previous outing interpreting soul standards was aptly titled How Sweet It Is, and witness her contribution to the terrific 2002 film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, where Osborne's astute readings of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and "Heatwave" outshone performers like Ben Harper and Gerald Levert (happily, both songs are included here). The title track and Hall and Oates' "Sara Smile" are both canny choices that play to her strengths in delivering credible blue-eyed soul, and six new Osborne-penned songs fit neatly into the record. If her compositions pale a bit next to the classics she covers (with the sultry and slithery exception of the excellent "Eliminate the Night"), give Osborne credit for bravely placing herself side-by-side with songwriting luminaries like Holland-Dozier-Holland and Bill Withers. Breakfast in Bed makes for a leisurely listen on a sunny Sunday morning, so put up your feet and stay awhile. --Ben Heege

Track listing

1. I've Got to Use My Imagination
2. Ain't No Sunshine
3. Midnight Train to Georgia
4. Baby Is a Butterfly
5. Breakfast in Bed
6. Cream Dream
7. Natural High
8. Heart of Stone
9. Sara Smile
10. Eliminate the Night
11. Break Up to Make Up
12. I Know What's Goin' On
13. Alone with You
14. Kiss and Say Goodbye
15. Heat Wave
16. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted [From Standing in the Shadows of Motown]

Dennie, how is this one?

If you like Joan, you'll like this one! :text-bravo:

Also, if you haven't seen "Standing In The Shadows of Motown", I highly recommend it also! :handgestures-thumbup:


Dennie

 

[heeman]

Breakfast In Bed -- CD

Joan Osborne

2007 Time Life Music

Amazon.com

On Breakfast in Bed, her first release on Time Life Records (yes, that Time Life) Joan Osborne tackles a crop of hand-picked soul and R&B favorites with equal parts sass and sensitivity. Long an underappreciated artist, Osborne is a performer with the wisdom to exercise vocal restraint for an effect that's more Dusty Springfield than Christina Aguilera. Her fine previous outing interpreting soul standards was aptly titled How Sweet It Is, and witness her contribution to the terrific 2002 film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, where Osborne's astute readings of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and "Heatwave" outshone performers like Ben Harper and Gerald Levert (happily, both songs are included here). The title track and Hall and Oates' "Sara Smile" are both canny choices that play to her strengths in delivering credible blue-eyed soul, and six new Osborne-penned songs fit neatly into the record. If her compositions pale a bit next to the classics she covers (with the sultry and slithery exception of the excellent "Eliminate the Night"), give Osborne credit for bravely placing herself side-by-side with songwriting luminaries like Holland-Dozier-Holland and Bill Withers. Breakfast in Bed makes for a leisurely listen on a sunny Sunday morning, so put up your feet and stay awhile. --Ben Heege

Track listing

1. I've Got to Use My Imagination
2. Ain't No Sunshine
3. Midnight Train to Georgia
4. Baby Is a Butterfly
5. Breakfast in Bed
6. Cream Dream
7. Natural High
8. Heart of Stone
9. Sara Smile
10. Eliminate the Night
11. Break Up to Make Up
12. I Know What's Goin' On
13. Alone with You
14. Kiss and Say Goodbye
15. Heat Wave
16. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted [From Standing in the Shadows of Motown]

Dennie, how is this one?

If you like Joan, you'll like this one! :text-bravo:

Also, if you haven't seen "Standing In The Shadows of Motown", I highly recommend it also! :handgestures-thumbup:


Dennie

Thanks Dennie, on the new list!

 

[Dennie]

Thunderstorms and Neon Signs -- CD

Wayne Hancock

1995 DejaDisc

The real deal, July 18, 2002
By Thomas More (Billings, MT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thunderstorms & Neon Signs (Audio CD)

I first heard Wayne on the Prairie Home Companion radio show News Years Eve Gala in Dallas, TX. I was in the audience that night and heard several of these songs performed live. I've owned the CD now for several years and have listened to it countless times. There's something simply extraordinary about the simple arrangements. Stan Smith's clarinet and Bob Stafford's trombone being brought in for some of the tracks lends it a crossover feel. I've even come to accept Wayne's abrasive take of "Summertime" at the CD's end. It's country that gets at the heart of the tradition. And there's a lot of heart packed into this CD's contents. The title track and "Cold, Lonesome Wind" highlight the melancholy elements wonderfully. They may be my favorites, though songs like "Juke Joint Jumping" and "Double A Daddy," with their driving, danceable rhythms, are brilliant. I highly recommend this to anyone.

All Songs Written By Wayne Hancock Except Were Noted

"Juke Joint Jumping" – 3:18
"Poor Boy Blues" - 2:20
"Thunderstorms and Neon Signs" - 3:42
"She's My Baby" - 2:31
"Big City Good Time Gal" - 2:57
"Ain't Nobody's Blues But My Own" - 4:06
"Double A Daddy" - 3:25
"Why Don't You Leave Me Alone" - 2:50
"Tag Along" - 2:18
"Cold Lonesome Wind" - 4:24
"Locomotive Joe" - 2:11
"No Loving Tonight" - 1:39
"Friday and Saturday Night" - 2:36
"Summertime" - 5:42 (D. Hayward, G. Gersbwin and I. Gersbwin)

 

[Dennie]

Sunrise -- CD

Shelby Lynne

1989 Epic Records

The first album of an eventful career, February 14, 2004
By Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Sunrise (Audio CD)

When Shelby first signed a recording contract, George Jones was quick to recognize her talent and asked her to record a duet with him. The song, If I could bottle this up, was a minor country hit and was included on George's album, Friends in high places (the title was a pun on Garth Brooks' hit, Friends in low places). Shelby then recorded this album. She was still a teenager but demonstrated great maturity and depth. Shelby has a classic country voice with a bluesy edge.

In the liner notes, Shelby cites Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Barbara Mandrell and Barbra Streisand as her inspirations. She clearly has impeccable taste but of the four, Barbara Mandrell is the strongest influence here. One of the songs, This time I almost made it, is a cover of one of Barbara's country hits of the seventies, while the style of music here is contemporary country, so although Shelby does not sound like Barbara, the influence is clear. The influence of the other three is less obvious, if it is there at all, on this album.

Apart from This time I almost made it, there are two other oldies (I love you so much it hurts, I'm confessing) and seven other excellent songs, which are all originals as far as I know. Shelby is particularly good on the ballads that make up most of this album.

As we all know, Shelby's career has taken many twists and turns since this album was released, but if you want to hear her sing country music, this is the album to buy. Country music has remained a major influence on her music ever since but this album is definitely a country album. If you like Shelby for her more recent music, you may not like this. To enjoy all Shelby's albums, your musical taste has to be as eclectic as mine.

1. The Hurtin' Side
2. Little Bits And Pieces
3. Thinking About You Again
4. This Time I Almost Made It
5. What About This Girl
6. Till You Were Gone
7. I Love You So Much It Hurts
8. That's Where It Hurts
9. I'm Confessin'
10. Your Love Stays With Me

 

[Dennie]

Duke Elegant -- CD

Dr. John Performing The Music Of Duke Ellington

1999 EMI Records

"Pure Fonk-I-Fied", February 22, 2000
By "hoglips" - See all my reviews
This review is from: Duke Elegant (Audio CD)

Wow! This is a fun, happy cd. Whenever I listen to it I feel a smile on my face & a glow. Dr. John has taken some of Ellington's best-known compositions & flavored them with his New Orleans spice to come up with a sublime concoction. Some of the previous reviews have better expressed the joys of this cd so I won't reiterate them. I'd just like to add that this cd is a worthy addition to the collection of any fan of jazz, blues, the Duke or Dr. John. It has been excellently recorded, the band is tight & Dr. John's piano is perfect. His voice on the non-instrumental tracks is at its' raspy best.

What I particularly enjoyed was the funkiness. Never has the Duke sounded so fun!

The year each song was originally written is given with the composers' names.

"On The Wrong Side of the Railroad Tracks" (1947; John Latouche, Duke Ellington) - 5:42
"I'm Gonna Go Fishin'" (1959; Duke Ellington, Peggy Lee) - 5:04
"It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (1932; Duke Ellington, Irving Mills) - 5:32
"Perdido" (1942; Ervin M. Drake, Hans Longsfolder, Juan Tizol) - 5:50
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (1942; Bob Russell, Duke Ellington) - 2:47
"Solitude" (1934; Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLango, Irving Mills) - 5:06
"Satin Doll" (1953; Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington) - 4:46
"Mood Indigo" (1931; Irving Mills, Duke Ellington, Barnard Bigard) - 6:55
"Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me" (1943; Bob Russell, Duke Ellington) - 5:31
"Thing's Ain't What They Used To Be" (1942; Mercer Ellington) - 6:25
"Caravan" (1937; Juan Tizol, Irving Mills, Duke Ellington) - 6:24
"Flaming Sword" (1940; Duke Ellington) - 5:45

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening...

Come Dream With Me - DVD - A

Jane Monheit

2004 Silverline

Jane Monheit's lush vocals do right by the songs on COME DREAM WITH ME. Influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, she has gained legions of fans with her warm, rich voice and wise-beyond-her-years, expressive style. Ably assisted by saxophonist Michael Brecker and Monk-influenced pianist Kenny Barron, Monheit continues her path to becoming one of the best-known contemporary female jazz vocalists with this collection, which contains standards such as "Over the Rainbow," "I'll be Seeing You," and "Blame It On My Youth."

Track Listing

1. Over the Rainbow
2. Hit the Road to Dreamland
3. Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most
4. Waters of March
5. I'm Through With Love
6. I'll Be Seeing You
7. Something to Live For
8. So Many Stars
9. If
10. Blame It on My Youth
11. Case of You, A
12. (Untitled) - (hidden track)

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music....

Greatest Hits -- CD

Janis Joplin

1973/1990 Columbia Records

Amazon.com essential recording

More than Cheap Thrills or even Pearl, Greatest Hits has helped keep Janis Joplin's short-lived recording career alive for listeners who came along after her 1970 death. "Me and Bobby McGee" is the biggest draw, of course--it was a posthumous No. 1 single--but the rest is equally exciting. Despite the familiarity of the titles here, this goes far beyond the merely serviceable. Finally, the cover photo of Janis smiling in a sunny park is as poignant a shot of her as exists. --Rickey Wright

"Piece of My Heart" (Bert Berns, Jerry Ragovoy) – 4:14
"Summertime" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward) – 4:02
"Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" (Ragovoy, Chip Taylor) – 3:57
"Cry Baby" (Berns, Ragovoy) – 4:00
"Me and Bobby McGee" (Fred Foster, Kris Kristofferson) – 4:34
"Down on Me" (Janis Joplin) – 3:09
"Get It While You Can" (Ragovoy, Mort Shuman) – 3:27
"Bye, Bye Baby" (Powell St. John) – 2:37
"Move Over" (Joplin) – 3:44
"Ball and Chain" (Big Mama Thornton) – 7:59

 

[PaulyT]

Time to order that one - I need to hear some Janis, not familiar with her work at all except by reputation.

 

[topper]

Time to order that one - I need to hear some Janis, not familiar with her work at all except by reputation.

Her voice will take a little getting used to.

But nobody ever sang with more feeling/soul.
The Greatest Hits is a good one for a first timer . . . .

 

[putty34]

 

[putty34]

I will never get sick of Sam's music.

 

[Dennie]

East of The Sun -- CD

Scott Hamilton

1993 Concord Jazz

"Hamilton's playing is an inspiration - from the heart", February 12, 2001
By J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: East of the Sun (Audio CD)

When you thought you heard the best album Scott Hamilton had recorded, this release gives you a kick - "East Of The Sun", truly an astonishing confident performance. Hamilton appeared in the mid '70s with his appealing swing-style on tenor sax, mixing Zoot Sims, Ben Webster and Lester Young during the fusion era before settling on now his-own distinctive style. Moved to New York in 1976, toured and has recorded over thirty albums for Concord Jazz, as sideman and solo...with Gene Harris, Ray Brown, Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Charlie Byrd and Cal Tjader.

Supported by Carl E. Jefferson (executive producer), Scott seized the opportunity to fulfill a cherished ambition to record with his regular British trio - Brian Lemon (piano), Dave Green (bass) and Allan Ganley (drums) - like Scott, Dave and Allan are self-taught and learned while they earned. Recorded at Lansdowne Recording Studios Ltd., London, England...August 31, 1993.

Of course there stand outs - "IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU" (Burke/Van Heusen), great standard recorded by many crooners Crosby and Sinatra, this bossa-nova Hamilton arrangement is rhytmically-intoxicating..."IT NEVER ENTERED MY MIND" (Rodgers/Hart), magnificent version of a like-minded team who work together regularly, so natural...and the highlight is - "BERNIE'S TUNE" (Miller/Lieber/Stoller), completely fresh interpretation, shades of Henry Mancini come to mind - every jazz player's dream is to swing, and swing it does!

Total Time: 63:13 on 11 Tracks...Concord Jazz CCD-4583...(1993)

Track Listing

1. Autumn Leaves
2. Stardust
3. It Could Happen to You
4. It Never Entered My Mind
5. Bernie's Tune
6. East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)
7. Time After Time
8. Setagaya Serenade
9. That's All
10. All the Things You Are
11. Indiana

 

[Dennie]

Warm Your Heart -- CD

Aaron Neville

1991 A&M Records

Aaron Neville at his Best, August 15, 2001
By Robert Kall "Rob Kall of Opednews.com" (Newtown, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Warm Your Heart (Audio CD)

Aaron Neville has been around a long time. This CD is an extraordinary creation, which combines some original songs and some classics. Produced by Linda Ronstadt and George Massengill, it offer lush, rich sounds which really do Warm Your Heart.

Neville's voice is at it's best. Several songs include duet vocals with Linda Ronstadt or Rita Coolidge. Ry Cooder plays guitar on several tracks.

This was the first Aaron Neville album I purchased, after first becoming a fan of his from hearing him sing on one of Linda Ronstadt's albums that he did duets on. Since then, I've purchased many more and my family knows they can't go wrong buying me an Aaron Neville CD for a gift.

As I listen to this album, writing this review, I get chills. It is by far my favorite of all his albums. I even bought a back-up copy. Maybe it's the orchestration and production of Linda Ronstadt. Maybe he just found his peak performance mode when recording these songs.

Whatever it is, this CD is one I have listened to at least 50 times, and I expect it will continue to have its staying power for me.

"Louisiana 1927" (Randy Newman) – 3:04
"Everybody Plays The Fool" (J.R. Bailey, Rudy Clark, Ken Williams) - 4:25
"It Feels Like Rain" (John Hiatt)- 4:56
"Somewhere, Somebody" (Max Gronenthal, Andrew Kastner, Larry John McNally) - 3:01
"Don't Go, Please Stay" (Burt Bacharach, Bob Hilliard) - 2:40
"With You In Mind" (Allen Toussaint) - 3:32
"That's The Way She Loves" (Allen Toussaint) - 4:45
"Angola Bound" (Aaron Neville, Neville Brothers) - 4:32
"Close Your Eyes" (Chuck Willis) - 3:10
"La Vie Dansante" (Jimmy Buffett, Will Jennings, Michael Utley) - 3:21
"Warm Your Heart" (Tom Dowd, Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler) - 3:49
"I Bid You Goodnight" (traditional) - 4:00
"Ave Maria" (Franz Schubert)- 4:41


Musicians

The album utilises many guest vocalists, musicians and session musicians. Producer Linda Ronstadt sings on four songs on the album and Grammy Award winning Rita Coolidge sings on three. Other guests include slide guitarist Ry Cooder, saxophonist Plas Johnson, Bob Seger, Dr. John, Bob Glaub and Dean Parks

 

[Dennie]

I will never get sick of Sam's music.

:text-+1:

BTW, Good to see you posting Putty, I hope to see you more! :handgestures-thumbup:



Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Telling Stories -- CD

Tracy Chapman

2000 Elektra Records

Amazon.com

With Telling Stories, her first album since 1995's New Beginnings, Tracy Chapman returns to the spare, unsentimental feel of her early work. In doing so, she recaptures some of the urgency and simple melodiousness that made her debut a soulful folk-rock classic. There's maturity here, exemplified by recurring spiritual metaphors. On "Unsung Psalm" she imagines her funeral, singing, "I'd have a halo and flowing white robes / If I live right." "Wedding Song" offers the plainspoken, devotional line, "I reach out for your hand / For you I'd don a veil." The musical arrangements, too, are pared-down, with ghostly banjo, silvery fiddle, and guitar woven into subtle drum loops. Though not as immediately captivating as her debut, Telling Stories is a focused return to form for Chapman. --Lucy O'Brien

All lyrics and music written by Tracy Chapman

"Telling Stories" – 3:58
"Less Than Strangers" – 3:20
"Speak the Word" – 4:30
"It's Okay" – 4:00
"Wedding Song" – 4:36
"Unsung Psalm" – 4:20
"Nothing Yet" – 4:04
"Paper and Ink" – 4:52
"Devotion" – 2:48
"The Only One" – 3:08
"First Try" – 3:33

 

[topper]

 

[putty34]

 

[Dennie]

October Road -- CD

James Taylor

2002 Columbia Records

Amazon.com

There's a comfortable sense of the familiar to James Taylor's first collection of new songs since 1997's Grammy winner Hourglass; such is the curse of being a decades-spanning cultural icon. But, as on his best work, there's also an almost stealthy sense of musical restlessness that seeps into Taylor's songs here, as he colors some with deft jazz and international influences. The reunion with producer Russ Titelman (they last collaborated on 1976's In the Pocket) seems to have gratifyingly inspired as much gentle reassessment as retrenchment. Longtime Titelman compatriot Ry Cooder guests on the title track, a song whose autumnal comforts fit the Taylor canon and other album tracks like "September Grass," "Baby Buffalo," "My Traveling Star," and "On the Fourth of July" (the story of Taylor's romantic meeting with current wife Kim) like an old slipper. However, "Belfast to Boston" cries for peace in Ireland and elsewhere with some surprising Gaelic flourishes, while "Whenever You're Ready" throws some Brazilian rhythms and jazzy horns into the mix, and Dave Grusin's slick orchestral arrangement turns "Mean Old Man" into an elegant cabaret surprise. A little more of this musical adventure amidst the familiar romantic ballads and paeans to the comfort of home and family--including a gorgeously spare cover of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"--certainly wouldn't hurt.

All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.

"September Grass" (John I. Sheldon) – 4:51
"October Road" – 3:57
"On the 4th of July" – 3:25
"Whenever You're Ready" – 4:14
"Belfast to Boston" – 4:16
"Mean Old Man" – 3:44
"My Traveling Star" – 3:55
"Raised Up Family" – 4:40
"Carry Me on My Way" – 4:30
"Caroline I See You" – 4:58
"Baby Buffalo" – 4:50
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (H. Martin, R. Blane) – 3:50