What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music....

Lonely At The Top - The Best of Randy Newman -- Remastered CD

Randy Newman

1987 Warner Bros. Records

All Hail King Randy, August 2, 2002
By Itamar Katz (Ramat-Gan, Israel) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Lonely at the Top (Audio CD)

'Lonely At The Top' is the best possible introduction to one of the most overlooked musical geniuses of the 20th century. If you're not familiar (or only briefly familiar) with the music of Randy Newman then this compilation will give you a fantastic selection of classics from the various stages of his career, from the charming pop ballads of his first album ('Love Story', 'Living Without You' and 'I Think It's Going To Rain Today'), through the cold, sharp sarcasm of Sail Away ('Political Science', 'God's Song', 'Sail Away'), and to the fantastic 80s guitar pop of 'Little Criminals' ('Jolly Coppers on Parade', 'Short People'). Eace and every one of the songs here is memorable, great songs like 'Rider In The Rain', 'My Old Kentucky Home', 'Rednecks', the disturbing 'Christmas in Capetown' and of course the unforgettable hit 'Lonely At The Top'. Slightly odd is the exclusion of the massive hit 'You Can Leave Your Hat On'; otherwise, for the casual listener, 'Lonely At The Top' is all the Randy Newman you should need (though, of course, it lacks his lovely 90s Disney themes like 'You've Got a Friend In Me' from Toy Story and 'If I Didn't Have You' from Monsters Inc.) If you enjoyed it, though, you are more than welcomed to make a stab at his wonderful albums (the best place to start would be either 'Sail Away', 'Good Old Boys', 'Randy Newman' or 'Little Criminals').

All tracks written by Randy Newman

"Love Story (You and Me)"
"Livin' Without You"
"I Think It's Going to Rain Today"
"Mama Told Me (Not to Come)"
"Old Kentucky Home"
"Sail Away"
"Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear"
"Political Science"
"God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)"
"Rednecks"
"Birmingham"
"Marie"
"Louisiana 1927"
"Baltimore"
"Jolly Coppers on Parade"
"Rider in the Rain"
"In Germany Before the War"
"Short People"
"Christmas in Cape Town"
"My Life Is Good"
"I Love L.A."
"Lonely at the Top" [Live]

 

[Dennie]

The Nightfly

Donald Fagen

1982 Warner Bros. Records

Donald Fagen's 1982 solo debut extends the sleek, smart pop craft of his work with Steely Dan into the realm of the concept album, taking the Dan's penchant for intricate plotting, evocative narrative voices, and allusive imagery to the logical next step. Fagen's connective thread is futurist nostalgia for the "New Frontier" as anticipated from the prosperous vantage point of late-'50s America. He romanticizes a brave new world of technology in the sultry diorama of "I.G.Y.," celebrating the coming glories of the Atomic Age. He then filters that view through his own suburban adolescence--a would-be seduction in a fallout shelter, the siren song of a graveyard-shift jazz DJ, a not-quite-hard-boiled noir adventure ("The Goodbye Look") that borrows its title from an early '60s Ross MacDonald mystery. Song for song, the set's a stunner and stands apart from Steely Dan thanks to a unique, poignant romanticism embodied in Fagen's yearning "Maxine" and a creamy update of Dion & the Belmonts' "Ruby Baby." --Sam Sutherland

"I.G.Y." – 6:05
"Green Flower Street" – 3:40
"Ruby Baby" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller), Arranged by Donald Fagen – 5:38
"Maxine" – 3:50
"New Frontier" – 6:23
"The Nightfly" – 5:45
"The Goodbye Look" – 4:47
"Walk Between Raindrops" – 2:38

 

[Dennie]

Maria Muldaur

Maria Muldaur

1973 Reprise Records

Amazon.com

Don't let the name fool you: this rare Italian songbird was born Maria D'Amato. Muldaur is to white female pop singers what Anita O'Day is to white female jazz singers--way hipper than the herd. She recorded in the '60s with the Even Dozen and Jim Kweskin jug bands and her then-husband, Geoff Muldaur, before going out on her own with this 1973 recording. Sidemen include people like Jim Dickinson, Spooner Oldham, Jim Keltner, Mac Rebennack, Ray Brown, and Dave Holland. Among the tunes are Jimmie Rodgers's "Any Old Time," Dolly Parton's "My Tennessee Mountain Home," and the album's hit, "Midnight at the Oasis." American music rarely gets better than this. --Stanley Booth

"Any Old Time" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 3:45
"Midnight at the Oasis" (David Nichtern) – 3:49
"My Tennessee Mountain Home" (Dolly Parton) – 3:32
"I Never Did Sing You a Love Song" (Nichtern) – 2:49
"The Work Song" (Kate McGarrigle) – 4:04
"Don't You Feel My Leg (Don't You Get Me High)" (Blue Lu Barker, Danny Barker, J. Mayo Williams) – 2:48
"Walkin' One and Only" (Dan Hicks) – 2:47
"Long Hard Climb" (Ron Davies) – 3:03
"Three Dollar Bill" (Nichtern) – 3:58
"Vaudeville Man" (Wendy Waldman) – 2:41
"Mad Mad Me" (Wendy Waldman) – 3:13

 

[Dennie]

Magic Man

Herb Alpert

1981 A&M Records

Magic Man continues in the plesant vibe that Beyond introduced. There are a few standout tracks here, including the lightly funky title track, a mechanized "Besame Mucho", a remake of "You Smile--The Song Begins" and "Manhattan Melody". There's also the expected vocal contribution, "I Get It From You". Again, the musicians are another studio who's who, including members of the rock group Toto, pop music songsmith David Foster, and old friend Julius Wechter in his usual vibes and marimba seat.

Track listing:

1. Magic Man (Herb Alpert, Michael Stokes, Melvin Ragin)
2. Manhattan Melody (Herb Alpert, Michael Stokes, Michel Colombier)
3. I Get It From You (Richard Page, Steven George, John Lang)
4. Secret Garden (Herb Alpert)
5. Besame Mucho (Consuelo Velazquez)
6. This One's For Me (Richard Kerr)
7. Fantasy Island (Herb Alpert)
8. You Smile--The Song Begins (Herb Alpert)

 

[Dennie]

Jazz Samba

Stan Getz - Charlie Byrd

1962 Verve Records

Jazz Samba is a bossa nova LP by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, released on the Verve label on February 13, 1962.

Jazz Samba was the first major bossa-nova album on the American jazz scene. It was the real start of the bossa-nova excitement in America, which peaked in the mid-1960s. Though Stan Getz was the featured star of the album, it was very strongly inspired and designed by the guitarist Charlie Byrd. They were joined by two bassists (Keter Betts and Charlie's brother Gene (Joe) Byrd), and two drummers (Buddy Deppenschmidt and Bill Reichenbach) for the recording at All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, DC on 13 February 1962, and it was released on 20 April 1962 as Verve LP V6-8432. Although it is often described as music by Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, only two of the seven tracks on the album are Jobim compositions ("Desafinado" [Slightly Out of Tune] and "Samba de Uma Nota Só" [One Note Samba]), the rest being by other Brazilian composers and by Charlie Byrd. Getz won the Grammy for Best Jazz Performance of 1963 for the track "Desafinado", and went on to make many other bossa-nova recordings, most notably with João Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto, and most famously The Girl From Ipanema.

Side one

1. "Desafinado" (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça) — 5:52
2. "Samba Dees Days" (Charlie Byrd) — 3:35
3. "O Pato" (Jayme Silva, Neuza Teixeira) — 2:34
4. "Samba Triste" (Baden Powell, Billy Blanco) — 4:44

Side two

1. "Samba de Uma Nota Só" (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça) — 6:12
2. "É Luxo Só" (Ary Barroso) — 3:43
3. "Baia" (Ary Barroso) — 6:49

 

[Dennie]

Getz/Gilberto -- SACD

Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto with Antinio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto

1964/2002 Verve Records

Buy this!, June 17, 2007
By R. White (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Getz Gilberto (Audio CD)

This is not only a pillar of Brazilian/American Jazz fusion, it a pillar of all great music in general. Play this for a romatic date & you will both be getting lucky that night guaranteed. So sensual, mesmorizing, just a flat out stunning piece of work.

1. "The Girl from Ipanema" Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Norman Gimbel 5:24
2. "Doralice" Dorival Caymmi, Antonio Almeida 2:46
3. "Pra machucar meu coração" Ary Barroso 5:05
4. "Desafinado" Jobim, Newton Mendonça 4:15
5. "Corcovado" Jobim, Gene Lees 4:16
6. "Só danço samba" Jobim, de Moraes 3:45
7. "O grande amor" Jobim, de Moraes 5:27
8. "Vivo sonhando" Jobim 3:04
9. "The Girl from Ipanema" (45 rpm issue) Jobim, de Moraes, Gimbel 2:54
10. "Corcovado" (45 rpm issue) Jobim, Lees 2:20

 

[Rope]

Magic Man

Herb Alpert

1981 A&M Records

Magic Man continues in the plesant vibe that Beyond introduced. There are a few standout tracks here, including the lightly funky title track, a mechanized "Besame Mucho", a remake of "You Smile--The Song Begins" and "Manhattan Melody". There's also the expected vocal contribution, "I Get It From You". Again, the musicians are another studio who's who, including members of the rock group Toto, pop music songsmith David Foster, and old friend Julius Wechter in his usual vibes and marimba seat.

Track listing:

1. Magic Man (Herb Alpert, Michael Stokes, Melvin Ragin)
2. Manhattan Melody (Herb Alpert, Michael Stokes, Michel Colombier)
3. I Get It From You (Richard Page, Steven George, John Lang)
4. Secret Garden (Herb Alpert)
5. Besame Mucho (Consuelo Velazquez)
6. This One's For Me (Richard Kerr)
7. Fantasy Island (Herb Alpert)
8. You Smile--The Song Begins (Herb Alpert)

You know the economy is suffering when Herb Alpert lays off the Tijiuana Brass. :happy-smileygiantred:

Rope

 

[Dennie]

Chapter Two -- CD

Roberta Flack

1970/1992 Atlantic Records

One of the 5 Greatest Albums of All Time, Period., May 28, 2003
By "jeremiah256" - See all my reviews
This review is from: Chapter Two (Audio CD)

I was a child when this album came out and it has haunted me ever since. Turn the lights out, light a fire in the fireplace, select your favorite bottle of wine, kick the kids out, curl up on the couch with your loved one, put this album on and enjoy. Hell, this albums so good you don't need anyone. Kick everyone out. "Reverend Lee", with good reason, is the classic of this album. You'll feel Roberta's warm breath on your neck as she sings of sin and lust. It'll take you back in time to that someone whom you couldn't resist, even though you knew better. Other favorites are "Do What You Gotta Do", "Gone Away", and "Until It's Time For You To Go". Those three songs along with "Just Like A Woman" are beautiful in their meaning and the mood they create. "Business Goes On As Usual" is placed last. It's a haunting anti-war song and you'd think it wouldn't fit in with the other songs of love and regret but it does. That's because it too is about love and the lose of that loved one. My personal favorite is "Let It Be Me". Like "Impossible Dream", Roberta's voice, the tempo, what I believe is a French Horn in the background, all combine to make you realize how beautiful songs can be, even songs you've heard a hundred times, when given to a vocal talent such as Roberta Flack. After you've recharged your soul with this album, let the spouce and kids back in and give them a hug.

"Reverend Lee" (Gene McDaniels) 4:31
"Do What You Gotta Do" (Jimmy Webb) 4:09
"Just Like a Woman" (Bob Dylan) 6:14
"Let It Be Me" (Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë) 5:00
"Gone Away" (Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, Curtis Mayfield) 5:16
"Until It's Time for You to Go" (Buffy Sainte-Marie) 4:57
"The Impossible Dream" (Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh) 4:42
"Business Goes on as Usual" (Fred Hellerman, Fran Minkoff) 3:30

 

[Dennie]

Magic Man

Herb Alpert

1981 A&M Records

Magic Man continues in the plesant vibe that Beyond introduced. There are a few standout tracks here, including the lightly funky title track, a mechanized "Besame Mucho", a remake of "You Smile--The Song Begins" and "Manhattan Melody". There's also the expected vocal contribution, "I Get It From You". Again, the musicians are another studio who's who, including members of the rock group Toto, pop music songsmith David Foster, and old friend Julius Wechter in his usual vibes and marimba seat.

Track listing:

1. Magic Man (Herb Alpert, Michael Stokes, Melvin Ragin)
2. Manhattan Melody (Herb Alpert, Michael Stokes, Michel Colombier)
3. I Get It From You (Richard Page, Steven George, John Lang)
4. Secret Garden (Herb Alpert)
5. Besame Mucho (Consuelo Velazquez)
6. This One's For Me (Richard Kerr)
7. Fantasy Island (Herb Alpert)
8. You Smile--The Song Begins (Herb Alpert)

You know the economy is suffering when Herb Alpert lays off the Tijiuana Brass. :happy-smileygiantred:

Rope

These are tough times, my friend...Tough Times indeed!

:laughing-rolling:


Dennie :text-goodpost:

 

[Dennie]

That's The Way Of The World -- CD

Earth, Wind & Fire

1975/1990 Columbia Records

The Right Way,
January 29, 2001
By Thomas Magnum
This review is from: That's the Way of the World (Audio CD)

That's The Way Of The World was the soundtrack to film that featured a young Harvey Keitel as a record producer and Earth, Wind & Fire as a band with big potential. The band is dropped in favor of what record company executives feel was more commercial group and they gone on to major success. The film mirrored EWF themselves as the album propelled them to the top of the charts. After several years of moderate success despite making excellent records, this soundtrack album showed all the band's talents and mixing of jazz, soul, funk and positive themes. "Shining Star" opens the album with a pumping beat that set it up to the number one position of the charts. The title track starts off with a slow, smooth beat and then erupts into a harmony-fueled explosion. "All about Love" has some jazzy elements while "Africano" explores some world rhythms. "Yearnin', Learnin'" is an underrated song in their catalog and "Reasons" is a powerful ballad. That's The Way Of The World tanked at the box office and was quickly forgotten, but the album hit number on the charts and made EWF superstars.

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Shining Star" Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White 2:50
2. "That's the Way of the World" Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White 5:45
3. "Happy Feelin'" Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White, Al McKay 3:35
4. "All About Love" Larry Dunn, Maurice White 6:35
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Length
5. "Yearnin' Learnin'" Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White 3:39
6. "Reasons" Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White 4:59
7. "Africano" Larry Dunn, Maurice White 5:09
8. "See the Light" Louise Anglin, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn 6:18

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

The Stranger -- CD

Billy Joel

1977/1990 Columbia Records

The Stranger remains frozen in time as a great album.,
April 25, 2000
By Leonard Fleisig "Len"
This review is from: The Stranger (Audio CD)

I have always suspected that certain musicians, Bill Joel and Paul Simon come to mind, resent being told by fans that one of their earlier albums remains a great favorite. Both Joel & Simon have graduated, apparently, from musician to artist and I imagine they would prefer that their fans share and appreciate their development and evolution. However, the album listener is not burdened by the pains of artistic growth. Rather, the music that I heard at a certain time in my life remains frozen in time and memory. For me, the Stranger is the best album Joel ever recorded. It has been a long time since I actually sat down and listened to the entire Stranger album. I had forgotten how good it was. Every song works. Even "Just the way you are" which became one of the all-time vomit inducing wedding songs of the '70s sounds good in the context of this album. I still care about Brenda and Eddie. I grew up in Queens at the same time Joel was growing up in Long Island. I knew Brenda and Eddie - or lots of people who could pass for Brenda and Eddie. Only the good die young still has that parochial school resonance and lust-driven undertones that it had almost 30 years ago. So sit down - have a bottle of red, have a bottle of white - it all depends on your appetite - and enjoy this great cd.

All songs written and composed by Billy Joel.

Side 1

"Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" – 3:30
"The Stranger" – 5:10
"Just the Way You Are" – 4:52
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" – 7:37

Side 2

"Vienna" – 3:34
"Only the Good Die Young" – 3:55
"She's Always a Woman" – 3:21
"Get It Right the First Time" – 3:57
"Everybody Has a Dream/The Stranger (Reprise)" – 6:38

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music...

Straight Shooter -- CD

Bad Company

1975/1990 Swan Song/Atlantic Records

Supergroup hits its stride, November 7, 2001
By Mons "Mons" (Norrpan) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Straight Shooter (Audio CD)

Released in 1974, Straightshooter is regarded by many as being Bad Company's strongest album. It has the bluesy feel of its predecessor (Bad Co) but has the band turning their amps up 11 and rocking out the strongest set of songs of the band's career. Do not forget that Bad Co was a supergroup with 2 guys out of Free (Rodgers and Kirke), the bass player from King Crimson (Boz Burrell) and Mott the Hoople's guitarist (Mick Ralphs). They should have been huge, of course, but suffered from having to play second fiddle to Swan Song stablemates Led Zeppelin. The songs were great, their sound: a sort of supercharged, sexy blues-rock without the pretention of Led Zep. What let them down perhaps was their lyrics, some of which make Spinal Tap look like Leonard Cohen, but if you can take that - and I can - this album is a great listen from beginning to end. Bad Company were also one of the few hard rock bands that wrote great ballads (Anna), though it was Straightshooter's high-octane rockers like Good Lovin' Gone Bad, Feel Like Making Love and Shooting Star that helped secure them a place in rock history. Bad Company were a good, tight band, but I would recommend anyone to listen to them purely to hear Paul Rodgers' masterful rock vocals. New to Bad Company? Get this one first, and then Bad Co.

Side one

"Good Lovin' Gone Bad" (Mick Ralphs) – 3:35
"Feel Like Makin' Love" (Paul Rodgers, Ralphs) – 5:12
"Weep No More" (Simon Kirke) – 3:59
"Shooting Star" (Rodgers) – 6:16

Side two

"Deal With the Preacher" (Rodgers, Ralphs) – 5:01
"Wild Fire Woman" (Rodgers, Ralphs) – 4:32
"Anna" (Kirke) – 3:41
"Call on Me" (Rodgers) – 6:03

 

[Dennie]

Some Girls

The Rolling Stones

1978 Rolling Stones Records

Some Girls introduced a whole new generation to the music of the Stones. The infectious dance groove of Miss You topped the US charts, as did the album in 1978. Both releases also made the Top 3 in the UK, where the country-flavoured Far Away Eyes, featuring Ronnie Wood on pedal steel guitar, enjoyed substantial airplay. Respectable, the follow-up single in Britain, proved that they could match the punks they had influenced so much. The US market preferred the mid-tempo Beast of Burden which went Top Ten there. A cover of The Temptations' Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), the driving When The Whip Comes Down, Keith Richards' vocal turn on Before They Make Me Run and the urgent Shattered - a US Top 30 single - make this a must-have album, which has already sold over 6 million copies worldwide, and still provides the group with concert highlights 30 years on. Peter Corriston's striking cover design, controversial at the time, remains a classic.

All songs written by Jagger/Richards, except where noted.
Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Miss You" 4:48
2. "When the Whip Comes Down" 4:20
3. "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong) 4:38
4. "Some Girls" 4:36
5. "Lies" 3:11
Side two
No. Title Length
6. "Far Away Eyes" 4:24
7. "Respectable" 3:06
8. "Before They Make Me Run" 3:25
9. "Beast of Burden" 4:25
10. "Shattered" 3:48

Original North American 8-track tape versions of the album contained edited versions of the songs "Far Away Eyes" and "Shattered".

 

[Dennie]

Tupelo Honey -- CD

Van Morrison

1971/1990 Warner Bros. Records

Amazon.com essential recording

Van Morrison's "Caledonia soul"--his unique blend of Irish mysticism and spiritual questing, literary allusion and blue-eyed R&B--can be as beautiful and deeply emotional as any music ever made. That's certainly the case on 1971's Tupelo Honey, one of the finest albums of Morrison's long career. Kicking off with the classic "Wild Night," Tupelo Honey is as completely joyous as the normally bitter Van gets, particularly on the title track and the unabashedly grateful, slow-building "You're My Woman," both among the most moving love songs he's recorded. --David Cantwell

All songs written by Van Morrison, unless otherwise noted.

Side one

"Wild Night" – 3:33
"(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" – 3:43
"Old Old Woodstock" – 4:17
"Starting a New Life" – 2:10
"You're My Woman" – 6:44

Side two

"Tupelo Honey" – 6:54
"I Wanna Roo You (Scottish Derivative)" – 3:27
"When That Evening Sun Goes Down" – 3:06
"Moonshine Whiskey" – 6:48

 

[Dennie]

Midnight Sun -- CD

Herb Alpert

1992 A&M Records

"Midnight Sun" . . . I Love This CD!, November 29, 2005
By Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Midnight Sun (Audio CD)

"This album is dedicated to my Forever "Friend" Stan Getz." ~ Herb Alpert ~

In the early seventies, Herb Alpert made his first hit single "This Guy's In Love With You." This is also the very first number one hit song by the talented songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. And yes, this is also one of the songs my high school classmates from an exclusive school for girls and I were crazy about back then.

My late father owned a good number of Herb Alpert's LP records from his vast collection, so the trumpet player's music is not new to me when I started my very own collection. A dear friend of mine knowing how much I appreciate exquisite trumpet playing unselfishly gave this delightful CD to me as a just-because-gift and we both loved this collection of beautiful tunes and its arrangements and flawless interpretations. I call it to-die-for music and I can't stop listening to it. It's one of my Desert-Island-CDs. The kind of music you want to hear for all seasons and will never tire listening to it. Many thanks to the very talented Herb Alpert, the brilliant arranger/conductor/pianist Eddie del Barrio, the legendary sax player Stan Getz and the rest of the finest musicians in the jazz scene for making this recording stunningly pleasing to the ears, Monty Budwig (bass), John Pisano, Barry Zweig and Larry Carlton (guitar), Jeff Hamilton and Harvey Mason (drums) and Frank Collett (piano).

This CD, which was released in 1992 opens up with the hauntingly beautiful and my very favorite "Midnight Sun," a tune composed by Lionel Hampton and Sonny Burke in 1947. One of the greatest and my all-time favorite songwriters who has written lyrics to more than a thousand melodies, Johnny Mercer, penned the wonderful lyrics seven years later in 1954. There's a delightful anecdote behind Mr. Mercer's discovery of this song. He was driving along the coast one night and heard this tune being played on the radio and was enchanted by its charming melody. He then called the radio station and asked the DJ about the artist (Lionel Hampton) and the title of the tune. The rest is history.

Two of my spotlighted tracks showcase not only Mr. Alpert's expertise in trumpet but also his soft and mellow vocals, Gershwins' "Someone To Watch Over Me," and Lerner & Lowe's "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face."

"Friends" featuring his "forever friend" Stan Getz is one of the very highlights and he co-wrote this tune with Eddie del Barrio. The tuneful "In The Wee Small Hours" is poignantly affecting as well as Charles Chaplin/John Terner/Geoffrey Parson's classic "Smile." The beauty of "All The Things You Are," "Mona Lisa," "A Taste Of Honey" and "Silent Tears And Roses" will leave any listener mesmerized.

These are the nice stuff that made this recording a special treat not only to all Herb Alpert fans but also to any music lover who appreciates charming instrumental music.

1. Herb Alpert's exquisitely beautiful trumpet playing.
2. A repertoire of impressive standards penned and composed by the most brilliant songwriters of all-time, Gershwins, Mercer, Hampton & Burke, Hammerstein & Kern, Hilliard & Mann, Lerner & Loewe, Livingston & Evans, Scott & Marlow, Chaplin, Terner & Parson, and Alpert & del Barrio.
3. A bevy of the finest back-up musicians, an outstanding arranger/conductor and a pianist, Eddie del Barrio and not to mention his special guest, Stan Getz.

Who could resist listening to this CD? Get it and enjoy it. This would be a great addition to your collection of the finest music ever recorded. You'll have a lifetime of listening enjoyment. It deserves not five but ten stars.

Very highly recommended!

Midnight Sun (Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer) 6:05
All The Things You Are (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) 3:53
Someone To Watch Over Me (George & Ira Gershwin) 5:16
In The Wee Small Hours (Bob Hilliard, David Mann) 5:53
Friends (Eddie Del Barrio, Herb Alpert) 4:21
A Taste Of Honey (Bobby Scott, Rick Marlow) 6:52
Mona Lisa (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans) 5:46
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) 5:07
Silent Tears And Roses (Eddie Del Barrio) 3:50
Smile (Charlie Chaplin, John Terner, Geoffrey Parsons) 4:13

 

[Dennie]

Q's Jook Joint -- CD

Various Artists

1995 Qwest Records

Reserve a table at the "Jook Joint" Tonight!!!, July 11, 2001
By Kenny King (Kaiserslautern, Germany) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Q's Jook Joint (Audio CD)

What a stunning set of songs by incredible artists!! I am a sucker for a good compilation cd! Quincy knew what he was doing with the release of "Q's Jook Joint". It was sad though, because I was almost a year late in getting this cd. I just happened to be over my cousin's house hanging out, heard Brandy's trademark voice on the Michael Jackson remake, "Rock With You", made her play the whole cd, then just up and left to buy it! If you like jazz, get this cd. If you like R&B get this cd. If you like rap, get this cd. If you don't like any of those genres of music, you still have to get this cd. It definitely satisfies! If for nothing else buy it for the wonderful collaboration, "Moody's Mood For Love", a wonderful duet between Brian McKnight and Rachelle Ferrell with Take 6 doing background vocals (pure heaven!!!). The whole cd hits the nail right on the head. I love the way it feels like you are really in an old skool meets new skool night club. Not just a cd, but an experience like no other! You better reserve your seat at the "Jook Joint" today! You don't want to get turned away at the door!

Just a few other artists featured on the cd include Gloria Estefan, Chaka Chan, Phil Collins, Tamia, Babyface, Ronald Isley (Mr. Bigg), R. Kelly, Naomi Campbell and Queen Latifah.

1 "Jook Joint" (Intro) Kid Capri, Funkmaster Flex, LL Cool J, James Moody, Coko, Stevie Wonder, Lester Young, Brandy, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Marlon Brando, Charlie Wilson, Barry White, Chaka Khan, Töne Löc, Queen Latifah, Ray Charles, Greg Phillinganes, Siedah Garrett, Patti Austin, Will Wheaton, Mervyn Warren, Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis, Gloria Estefan, Lelee, Charlie Parker, Shaquille O'Neal, Bono 1:32
2 "Let the Good Times Roll" Stevie Wonder, Bono and Ray Charles 2:55
3 "Cool Joe, Mean Joe (Killer Joe)" Töne Löc, Queen Latifah, Nancy Wilson 7:32
4 "You Put a Move on My Heart" Tamia 6:13
5 "Rock With You" Brandy and Heavy D 4:08
6 "Moody's Mood for Love" Brian McKnight, Rachelle Ferrell, Take 6 and James Moody 4:18
7 "Stomp!" Original Cast Members of "Stomp": Luke Cresswell, Fiona Wilkes, Carl Smith, Fraser Morrison, Everett Bradley; Mr. X, Melle Mel, Coolio, Yo-Yo, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, Shaquille O'Neal, Luniz 6:16
8 "Jook Joint" (Reprise) Ray Charles and Funkmaster Flex 0:56
9 "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" Phil Collins 3:57
10 "Is It Love That We're Missing" Gloria Estefan, Warren Wiebe 4:45
11 "Heaven's Girl" R. Kelly, Ron Isley, Aaron Hall, Charlie Wilson and Naomi Campbell 5:26
12 "Stuff Like That" Charlie Wilson, Ray Charles, Brandy, Chaka Khan and Ashford & Simpson 5:45
13 "Slow Jams" Tamia, Babyface, Portrait and Barry White 7:30
14 "At the End of the Day (Grace)" Toots Thielemans, Barry White and Mervyn Warren (Voices) 7:42
15 "Jook Joint" (Outro) Barry White, Tamia and Toots Thielemans 0:49

 

[Dennie]

Feels So Good -- CD

Chuck Mangione

1977/1990 A&M Records

The man with the flugel horn sure can play!!, December 15, 2000
By Glenn "Glenn98" (Bergenfield, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Feels So Good (Audio CD)

The Grammy winning title cut "Feels so Good" is what turned me on to Chuck Mangione's music. But this CD goes much further than that. ALL of the recordings here are excellent. And they are arranged alternating the fast and slow pieces in a pleasing way. "Maui Waui" and "Last Dance" are nice and relaxing. "Theme from Side Street" is short but meaningful. "Hide and Seek" is a catchy piece that will have you tapping to it. And "The XIth Commandment" is a brilliant end to this great CD.

This is by far Chuck's best recording. If you're in a qundary about which Chuck Mangione CD to buy, THIS IS THE ONE!

Feels So Good - 9:42 (edit: #4 pop, #1 AC)
Maui-Waui - 10:13
Theme From 'Side Street' - 2:05
Hide & Seek (Ready Or Not Here I Come) - 6:25
Last Dance - 10:54
The XIth Commandment - 6:36

 

[Dennie]

Heart Shaped World -- CD

Chris Isaak

1989 Reprise Records

Amazon.com essential recording

Chris Isaak managed to turn his videogenic visage and brooding masculinity to his advantage in a big way, becoming a sort of MTV-era cross between James Dean and Elvis. Heady stuff, but don't hate him because he's beautiful. In fact, Isaak had been plying his trademark latter-day rockabilly sound for some years before the inclusion of "Wicked Game" in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart jolted sales of Heart Shaped World. (But the stylish Herb Ritts video certainly didn't hurt, either.) Still, the album is a moody gem, featuring the pensive title track, the smoldering "Blue Spanish Sky," and, of course, "Wicked Game." If you still doubt Isaak's good intentions, though, check out the album's rockin' finale, a fine version of Bo Diddley's "Diddley Daddy." --Daniel Durchholz

All tracks composed by Chris Isaak; except where indicated

"Heart Shaped World" – 3:26
"I'm Not Waiting" – 3:15
"Don't Make Me Dream About You" – 3:30
"Kings of the Highway" – 4:44
"Wicked Game" – 4:46
"Blue Spanish Sky" – 3:57
"Wrong to Love You" – 4:17
"Forever Young" – 3:20
"Nothing's Changed" – 4:05
"In the Heat of the Jungle" – 6:20
"Diddley Daddy" (Bo Diddley/Harvey Fuqua) – 4:05

 

[Dennie]

Mothership -- 2 CD Set

Led Zeppelin

2007 Atlantic Records

Amazon.com

For years, as playlists and multidisc players put Led Zeppelin tracks into a mix, there was a perpetual need to adjust the volume when Zep came on. Their tunes languished in the haze of substandard remastering--until now, at least for the 24 tracks on Mothership and the final fullness of the new Song Remains the Same reissue. For its part, Mothership's crisper, warmer audio owes its heft to the troika of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, who helped oversee the mastering, bringing out untold shades even in the throes of "Heartbreaker" and the sinews of "No Quarter." It's an impressive sonic leap. Where tinny high-ends and muffled lows used to co-exist, fatter and louder depths prevail. It's ever more astonishing that Zep got on with just four blokes. You can quibble with the 24 tracks here (where's "The Ocean"?), but the band picked each track here, from the stone-cold locks ("Communication Breakdown" and "Stairway to Heaven," no, duh) to the robust throb of "When the Levee Breaks." As for "The Ocean," you can find that in fantastically full form, along with five other gems on the newly remastered Song Remains the Same, which shows up for 2007's holiday season on DVD, too. Only rarely have four lads from England made so memorable an auditory and visual blast. --Andrew Bartlett

Disc one
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Good Times Bad Times" (from Led Zeppelin, 1969) John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page 2:48
2. "Communication Breakdown" (from Led Zeppelin, 1969) Bonham, Jones, Page 2:30
3. "Dazed and Confused" (from Led Zeppelin, 1969) Page 6:27
4. "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" (from Led Zeppelin, 1969) Anne Bredon, Page, Robert Plant 6:42
5. "Whole Lotta Love" (from Led Zeppelin II, 1969) Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant, Willie Dixon 5:34
6. "Ramble On" (from Led Zeppelin II, 1969) Page, Plant 4:24
7. "Heartbreaker" (from Led Zeppelin II, 1969) Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant 4:14
8. "Immigrant Song" (from Led Zeppelin III, 1970) Page, Plant 2:27
9. "Since I've Been Loving You" (from Led Zeppelin III, 1970) Jones, Page, Plant 7:24
10. "Rock and Roll" (from Led Zeppelin IV, 1971) Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant 3:41
11. "Black Dog" (from Led Zeppelin IV, 1971) Jones, Page, Plant 4:58
12. "When the Levee Breaks" (from Led Zeppelin IV, 1971) Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant, Memphis Minnie 7:10
13. "Stairway to Heaven" (from Led Zeppelin IV, 1971) Page, Plant 8:02

Disc two
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "The Song Remains the Same" (from Houses of the Holy, 1973) Page, Plant 5:31
2. "Over the Hills and Far Away" (from Houses of the Holy, 1973) Page, Plant 4:50
3. "D'yer Mak'er" (from Houses of the Holy, 1973) Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant 4:23
4. "No Quarter" (from Houses of the Holy, 1973) Jones, Page, Plant 7:00
5. "Trampled Under Foot" (from Physical Graffiti, 1975) Jones, Page, Plant 5:36
6. "Houses of the Holy" (from Physical Graffiti, 1975) Page, Plant 4:03
7. "Kashmir" (from Physical Graffiti, 1975) Bonham, Page, Plant 8:31
8. "Nobody's Fault but Mine" (from Presence, 1976) Page, Plant 6:27
9. "Achilles Last Stand" (from Presence, 1976) Page, Plant 10:25
10. "In the Evening" (from In Through the Out Door, 1979) Jones, Page, Plant 6:51
11. "All My Love" (from In Through the Out Door, 1979) Jones, Plant 5:53

 

[Dennie]

My Mom use to yell "TURN IT DOWN"!!!!!!! :angry-tappingfoot:

This one got a lot of play on my turntable back in the day.... :music-rockout:

Montrose -- 24k Gold HDCD

Montrose

1973/2005 Warner/Audio Fidelity

A classic made even better, January 12, 2008
By R. H. (Hampton, VA USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Montrose (Audio CD)

I have both versions of this cd, the gold and the original cd.
The sound on the gold cd is much clearer, especially the treble on the guitars, snare drums, cymbals and vocals.
It doesn't do much for the bass side of things, but the overall effect is a clearer sound with more clarity in the individual instruments. If you're a Montrose fan and you can get a decent price on this cd, get it! You won't be sorry.

"Rock the Nation" (Ronnie Montrose) - 3:03
"Bad Motor Scooter" (Sammy Hagar)- 3:41
"Space Station #5" (Hagar, Montrose) - 5:18
"I Don't Want It" (Hagar, Montrose)- 2:58
"Good Rockin' Tonight" (Roy Brown) - 2:59
"Rock Candy" (Denny Carmassi, Bill Church, Hagar, Montrose)- 5:05
"One Thing on My Mind" (Hagar, Montrose, Sanchez) - 3:41
"Make It Last" (Hagar) - 5:31


Sammy Hagar – lead vocals
Ronnie Montrose – guitar
Bill Church – bass
Denny Carmassi – drums