What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

The Greatest of The Guess Who -- Remastered CD

The Guess Who

1990 RCA Records

A good collection, but. . . ., May 13, 2000
By John A. Kuczma "RogueUlfric" (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Greatest of (Audio CD)

This is a very satisfactory collection of The Guess Who's hit recordings, highlighted by the extended version of American Woman and the classic Clap for the Wolfman. The mastering is excellent. The only drawback is that a few of the group's popular earlier efforts, must notably, No Sugar Tonight, are missing. For a truly good collection of Guess Who hits, add both this disc and the Best of the Guess Who to your collection.

Track listing

1. These Eyes
2. Laughing
3. Undun
4. No Time
5. American Woman
6. Hand Me Down World
7. Albert Flasher
8. Glamour Boy
9. Star Baby
10. Clap for the Wolfman
11. Dancin' Fool
12. When the Band Was Singin' "Shakin' All Over"

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening.....

Change Of Season -- CD

Daryl Hall & John Oates

1990 Arista Records

Great Songs from a Great Duo, March 2, 2001
By ryan paulander (Sherman Oaks, Calf.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Change of Season (Audio CD)

When I first heard "Don't Hold Back Your Love", I was totally blown away. I find myself still after a couple of years, playing it over and over again.I recently discovered that David Tyson and Kevin Doyle who were responsible for the classic Alannah Myles "Black Velvet" were also responsible for this masterpiece. Also check out the acoustic version of "So Close".

So Close (Daryl Hall, George Green, with additional music by Jon Bon Jovi and Danny Kortchmar; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers/Full Keel Music-EEG Music; additional music copyright New Jersey Underground Music-PolyGram Music/Kortchmar Music) 4:40
Starting All Over Again (Phillip Mitchell; Copyright Muscle Shoals Sound Publishing) 4:06
Sometimes A Mind Changes (Hall; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers Music) 4:09
Change Of Season (John Oates, Boby Mayo; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers Music/Copyright Control) 5:43
I Ain't Gonna Take It This Time (Hall; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers Music) 3:55
Everywhere I Look (Hall; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers Music) 4:24
Give It Up (Terry Britten, Graham Lyle; Copyright Warner-Chappell Music/Good Single Ltd.-Almo Music Corp.) 4:02
Don't Hold Back Your Love (Richard Page, Gerald O'Brien, David Tyson; Copyright WB Music & Ali-Aja Music/O'Brien Songs-Sold For A Song/David Tyson Music-EMI Blackwood Music) 5:14
Halfway There (Hall; Copyright Hot Cha Music Corp-Careers Music) 5:31
Only Love (Oates, Jo Cang; Copyright Hot Cha Music Corp-Careers Music/Jo Cang Music-Hidden Pun Music) 4:37
Heavy Rain (David A. Stewart; Copyright Eligible Music Ltd.-BMG Music-Careers Music Ltd.) 5:26
So Close-Unplugged version 4:54

 

[heeman]

Sometimes I ask myself "Self, what the hell is Dennie Playing?" Then he comes thru with favorites of mine like this one!!!

Heart - one of the Best Bands Ever!!! :bow-blue:[/quote]

I often ask myself that same question..... "Self, what the hell am I playing?" But, when you have a "used music" dealer as a neighbor and he's been into the music "scene" all his life, I take his recommendations! He's very knowledgeable and I greatly benefit from that. He just sold me that "Danny Gatton" CD and said he was tickled to find it for me. I love it! You would probably like it! :handgestures-thumbup:

I don't always enjoy what I'm listening too the first or second listen. Sometimes I'll shelf a piece of music for months or even a year and try again then. It was that way for me with Jazz, but I kept trying and trying and trying, eventually I learned to love Jazz. Well, most of it. :confusion-scratchheadyellow:

I hope to open your mind to other genres'. Look at the fun Pauly is having.

He owned a couple dozen CD's before we met, now he's adding on to the house, to make room for his Music Collection!

................. :laughing-rolling:

Thanks Keith, as you know..... I love this stuff! :happy-partydance:


Dennie :music-listening:[/quote]

Dennie,

As you are well aware, I have quite a diverse collection, much different when I was a young rock guy! However, music is a great adventure and I am open to all suggestions.......

This thread is great and you appear to be the KING!! :bow-blue:

Keith

 

[heeman]

My last one for the evening.....

Change Of Season -- CD

Daryl Hall & John Oates

1990 Arista Records

Great Songs from a Great Duo, March 2, 2001
By ryan paulander (Sherman Oaks, Calf.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Change of Season (Audio CD)

When I first heard "Don't Hold Back Your Love", I was totally blown away. I find myself still after a couple of years, playing it over and over again.I recently discovered that David Tyson and Kevin Doyle who were responsible for the classic Alannah Myles "Black Velvet" were also responsible for this masterpiece. Also check out the acoustic version of "So Close".

So Close (Daryl Hall, George Green, with additional music by Jon Bon Jovi and Danny Kortchmar; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers/Full Keel Music-EEG Music; additional music copyright New Jersey Underground Music-PolyGram Music/Kortchmar Music) 4:40
Starting All Over Again (Phillip Mitchell; Copyright Muscle Shoals Sound Publishing) 4:06
Sometimes A Mind Changes (Hall; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers Music) 4:09
Change Of Season (John Oates, Boby Mayo; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers Music/Copyright Control) 5:43
I Ain't Gonna Take It This Time (Hall; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers Music) 3:55
Everywhere I Look (Hall; Copyright Hot Cha Music-Careers Music) 4:24
Give It Up (Terry Britten, Graham Lyle; Copyright Warner-Chappell Music/Good Single Ltd.-Almo Music Corp.) 4:02
Don't Hold Back Your Love (Richard Page, Gerald O'Brien, David Tyson; Copyright WB Music & Ali-Aja Music/O'Brien Songs-Sold For A Song/David Tyson Music-EMI Blackwood Music) 5:14
Halfway There (Hall; Copyright Hot Cha Music Corp-Careers Music) 5:31
Only Love (Oates, Jo Cang; Copyright Hot Cha Music Corp-Careers Music/Jo Cang Music-Hidden Pun Music) 4:37
Heavy Rain (David A. Stewart; Copyright Eligible Music Ltd.-BMG Music-Careers Music Ltd.) 5:26
So Close-Unplugged version 4:54

Ya See, there you go again, I played the shit out of this back in 1990 when it came out! Gotta give it a listen in the near future!

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music.....

On And On -- CD

Jack Johnson

2003 Umvd Records

Something of a slacker renaissance man, prototypical mellow surfer-dude Jack Johnson is not only a BILLBOARD-charting recording artist, but also a world-champion athlete and award-winning documentary filmmaker. On his second full-length album, ON AND ON, the sandy-toed singer/songwriter delivers a bare bones set of acoustic folk rock as soft and soothing as the Hawaiian breezes that serve as his inspiration.

As on his debut disc, BRUSHFIRE FAIRYTALES, Johnson serves up a groovy, yet slightly melancholy stew in his trademark breathy voice, which at its best recalls everyone from Steve Miller to Chet Baker to Evan Dando of The Lemonheads. This time around, however, the vocalist/guitarist isn't afraid to gently stir pinches of reggae, hip-hop, and Harry Belafonte style pop-calypso into his usual hippie jam-band roux. Mario Caldato Jr.'s ultra-sparse, live-sounding production carefully reveals the subtle sadness that lurks behind even Johnson's poppiest tunes, making ON AND ON the perfect album for a midnight beach party on the last night of summer vacation.

"Times Like These" – 2:22
"The Horizon Has Been Defeated" – 2:33
"Traffic in the Sky" – 2:50
"Taylor" – 3:59
"Gone" – 2:10
"Cupid" – 1:05
"Wasting Time" (Johnson, Adam Topol, Merlo Podlewski) – 3:50
"Holes to Heaven" – 2:54
"Dreams Be Dreams" – 2:12
"Tomorrow Morning" – 2:50
"Fall Line" – 1:35
"Cookie Jar" – 2:57
"Rodeo Clowns" – 2:38
"Cocoon" – 4:10
"Mediocre Bad Guys" – 3:00
"Symbol in My Driveway" – 2:50

 

[heeman]

All songs written and composed by Alanis Morissette.
No. Title Length
1. "Eight Easy Steps" 2:52
2. "Out Is Through" 3:52
3. "Excuses" 3:32
4. "Doth I Protest Too Much" 4:03
5. "Knees of My Bees" 3:41
6. "So-Called Chaos" 5:03
7. "Not All Me" 3:58
8. "This Grudge" 5:07
9. "Spineless" 4:15
10. "Everything" 4:36

This one is not horrible, however no where near Jagged Little Pill........

 

[Batman]

 

[PaulyT]

Wow! I had no idea about Danny Gatton..... WOW, WOW, WOW what a gifted Guitar player! :bow-blue:

And guess who's primary mentor was Danny Gatton? Another guitarist I've mentioned once or twice...

 

[Botch]

Wow! I had no idea about Danny Gatton..... WOW, WOW, WOW what a gifted Guitar player! :bow-blue:

And guess who's primary mentor was Danny Gatton? Another guitarist I've mentioned once or twice...

C. C. deVille?!?!? :music-rockout: :music-rockout: :music-rockout:

 

[Botch]

Hmm, been so long since I listened to that one I can't remember if I liked them or not. Waiting for the news to finish...

 

[Rope]

Wow! I had no idea about Danny Gatton..... WOW, WOW, WOW what a gifted Guitar player! :bow-blue:

And guess who's primary mentor was Danny Gatton? Another guitarist I've mentioned once or twice...

Lemme guess... Bert Jansch?

Rope

 

[Rope]

Sometimes I ask myself "Self, what the hell is Dennie Playing?" Then he comes thru with favorites of mine like this one!!!

Heart - one of the Best Bands Ever!!! :bow-blue:

Some times I ask myself what the hell Dennie hasn't played?

Rope

 

[Dennie]

McGriff Avenue -- RVG Edition 24-Bit CD

Jimmy McGriff

2002 Milestone Records

Still relaxed and wailing on his modified Hammond XB-3 organ, Jimmy McGriff continued to manufacture solid soul-jazz tracks in the 21st century -- although these sessions caused him a bit more trouble than most due to circumstances beyond his control. Originally booked for noon on September 11, 2001, the sessions for this album obviously had to be rescheduled for the following month -- and as a result, the two dates have somewhat different personnel. The main difference between the two lies in the drumming; the work of Don Williams on three tracks is not as firmly anchored in the McGriff soul-jazz groove as those powered by the inevitable Bernard Purdie (who had to catch a plane to Spain after the first session). In any case, "McGriff Avenue" cruises easily through mostly blues country, highlighted by a few inspired remakes of early McGriff hits like the classic 1963 shuffle, "All About My Girl," and the fatback funk of 1968's "The Worm." Even the predictably gospel-drenched 6/8-meter treatment of "America, the Beautiful" -- though a conspicuous nod to the patriotic mood of the time -- was something that McGriff had recorded before. The ten-and-three-quarter-minute workout on Jimmy Forrest's "Soul Street" is pure shuffling blues, nothing fancy, with everyone getting plenty of solo time -- and the title track harks back to the percolating funk grooves of James Brown's JB's circa 1969 ("Give It Up or Turn It Loose" comes to mind). Ronnie Cuber bumps around agreeably on baritone sax, the tenor sax spots are shared by Bill Easley and Gordon Beadle, Melvin "Sparks" Hassan and Rodney Jones alternate on guitar, and Wilbur Bascomb is the funky electric bass player throughout. Though this CD doesn't have the ecstatic super-grooves of some of McGriff's earlier milestones, it still keeps the customers satisfied. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Track Listing
1. All About My Girl
2. McGriff Avenue
3. Soul Street
4. Answer Is in the Blues, The
5. Great Unknown, The
6. Dissertation on the Blues
7. Worm, The
8. America the Beautiful

 

[Dennie]

Sometimes I ask myself "Self, what the hell is Dennie Playing?" Then he comes thru with favorites of mine like this one!!!

Heart - one of the Best Bands Ever!!! :bow-blue:

Some times I ask myself what the hell Dennie hasn't played?

Rope

Classical! I'm just not there.......yet! I have hundreds of "classical" albums, so hopefully someday, I'll get it, but not yet! :confusion-shrug:


Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Wow! I had no idea about Danny Gatton..... WOW, WOW, WOW what a gifted Guitar player! :bow-blue:

And guess who's primary mentor was Danny Gatton? Another guitarist I've mentioned once or twice...

I dunno! :confusion-scratchheadyellow:


Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Swiss Movement -- Montreux 30th Anniversary Edition CD

Les McCann & Eddie Harris

1969/1996 Atlantic/Rhino Records

Ages well, May 6, 2001
By Tyler Smith (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Swiss Movement: Montreux 30th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

This is one of those recordings that seemed always to be on someone's stereo when I went to college. Lots of people who ordinarily didn't listen to much jazz had it and loved its mixture of funk, soul and jazz improvisation.

Sometimes these recordings don't age well, and I picked up this CD with just a bit of wariness, thinking its hipness might have gone the way of tie-dyed shirts and bottles of Mateus. I'm happy to report that the 1969 concert still packs plenty of punch.

This 30th anniversary edition in particular is worth buying because it contains detailed notes on how pianist McCann, saxophonist Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey came to be on the same stage that night in Montreux. Turns out it was very impromptu -- to the point that Bailey didn't even know most of the tunes and had to follow Harris's lead as he searched for the changes.

Given that, Bailey's performance is especially impressive. His solos not only are crisp, they crackle. He's particularly effective on the date's best known tune, "Compared to What," on which he delivers a very sharp plunger mute solo that adds spice to an already very hot performance.

Harris is in fine form throughout, delivering plenty of unforced soulfulness on each track, especially "You Got It in Your Soulness." His solos have a fluidity that makes the tunes sound rehearsed, although they really weren't.

The date is not long on compositional surprises (there's no way it could have been; bassist Leroy Vinegar's "The Generation Gap," was so new it didn't even have a title on that night), and that makes it a four-star release for me. McCann's piano is funky but not particularly inspired -- although his vocal on "Compared to What" is -- but overall the group displays some genuine fire that I think many listeners will find just as enjoyable as I did when I first heard it.

"Compared to What" - (Gene McDaniels)
"Cold Duck Time" - (Eddie Harris)
"Kathleen's Theme" - (Les McCann)
"You Got It in Your Soulness" - (Les McCann)
"The Generation Gap" - (Les McCann)
"Kaftan" - (Leroy Vinnegar) - Bonus track on the 1996 reissue

------

Les McCann: Piano, Vocals on "Compared to What"
Eddie Harris: Tenor Sax
Benny Bailey: Trumpet
Leroy Vinnegar: Bass
Donald Dean: Drums

 

[Dennie]

Swiss Movement -- Montreux 30th Anniversary Edition CD

Les McCann & Eddie Harris

1969/1996 Atlantic/Rhino Records

Ages well, May 6, 2001
By Tyler Smith (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Swiss Movement: Montreux 30th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

This is one of those recordings that seemed always to be on someone's stereo when I went to college. Lots of people who ordinarily didn't listen to much jazz had it and loved its mixture of funk, soul and jazz improvisation.

Sometimes these recordings don't age well, and I picked up this CD with just a bit of wariness, thinking its hipness might have gone the way of tie-dyed shirts and bottles of Mateus. I'm happy to report that the 1969 concert still packs plenty of punch.

This 30th anniversary edition in particular is worth buying because it contains detailed notes on how pianist McCann, saxophonist Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey came to be on the same stage that night in Montreux. Turns out it was very impromptu -- to the point that Bailey didn't even know most of the tunes and had to follow Harris's lead as he searched for the changes.

Given that, Bailey's performance is especially impressive. His solos not only are crisp, they crackle. He's particularly effective on the date's best known tune, "Compared to What," on which he delivers a very sharp plunger mute solo that adds spice to an already very hot performance.

Harris is in fine form throughout, delivering plenty of unforced soulfulness on each track, especially "You Got It in Your Soulness." His solos have a fluidity that makes the tunes sound rehearsed, although they really weren't.

The date is not long on compositional surprises (there's no way it could have been; bassist Leroy Vinegar's "The Generation Gap," was so new it didn't even have a title on that night), and that makes it a four-star release for me. McCann's piano is funky but not particularly inspired -- although his vocal on "Compared to What" is -- but overall the group displays some genuine fire that I think many listeners will find just as enjoyable as I did when I first heard it.

"Compared to What" - (Gene McDaniels)
"Cold Duck Time" - (Eddie Harris)
"Kathleen's Theme" - (Les McCann)
"You Got It in Your Soulness" - (Les McCann)
"The Generation Gap" - (Les McCann)
"Kaftan" - (Leroy Vinnegar) - Bonus track on the 1996 reissue

------

Les McCann: Piano, Vocals on "Compared to What"
Eddie Harris: Tenor Sax
Benny Bailey: Trumpet
Leroy Vinnegar: Bass
Donald Dean: Drums

A Comment on Amazon to the above review.....


B. Tweed DeLions says:

Your'e exactly right, Tyler. I had the same experience.

Les McCann and Eddie Harris are typically categorized as "hard bop". And I can't think of a better example of it.

Yes, this was definitely a crossover album. I think it became popular by word of mouth. My friends and I were mostly into acid rock when this album came out (in 1969, I believe). But almost everyone I knew had this record, even if it was the only jazz record they had.

Pretty much everyone I play this for loves it, even people who say they don't like jazz. Typically, they'll say that if all jazz was like this, they would like it.

And guess what? At you tube there is a video of the performance of "Compared to What" that's on this album, live at the Montreaux Jazz festival. Go check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRONbnyNpu8

Another interesting thing; these musicians hadn't really got a chance to rehearse this material. They were all flying blind on this. They had the charts to go by and they had a few quick discussions about what to do, but this was pretty much the first take.

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

Forget About It -- CD

Alison Krauss

1999 Rounder Records

Amazon.com

When you possess a great pop voice, it's inevitable that you'll someday make a pop album, and Alison Krauss has finally made hers. Instead of bidding for radio airplay with the extravagant, extroverted pop of Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, or Celine Dion, Krauss has crafted an intimate, understated chamber-pop album reminiscent of Joni Mitchell's Blue or Rosanne Cash's Interiors. The material comes from such mainstream-pop writers as Michael McDonald, Todd Rundgren, Allen Reynolds, and Danny O'Keefe, but Krauss the producer gives the songs a distinctive spin. She layers the harmonies of her regular Union Station band, the Cox Family singers, pianist Matt Rollings, drummer Jim Keltner, and mandolinist Sam Bush to create a lush, hushed sound that's neither traditional bluegrass nor electric country-pop. Krauss multitracks her own fiddle parts and blends them with Jerry Douglas's Dobro to create an unorthodox string-quartet sound. In this setting her tender, translucent vocals capture that moment when a relationship is unraveling before the lovers are ready to let it go. --Geoffrey Himes

"Stay" (Larry Byrom, Allyson Taylor) – 3:25
"Forget About It" (Robert Lee Castleman) – 3:30
"It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" (Todd Rundgren)– 4:28
"Maybe" (Gordon Kennedy, Phil Madeira) – 3:47
"Empty Hearts" (Michael McDonald, Michael Johnson) – 3:24
"Never Got Off the Ground" (Danny O'Keefe) – 3:40
"Ghost in This House" (Hugh Prestwood) – 4:04
"It Don't Matter Now" (Michael McDonald) – 2:50
"That Kind of Love" (Pat Bergeson, Michael McDonald) – 3:43
"Could You Lie" (Ron Block) – 2:54
"Dreaming My Dreams With You" (Allen Reynolds) – 4:28

------

Alison Krauss – fiddle, vocals, harmony vocals
Viktor Krauss – bass
Barry Bales – bass, harmony vocals
Jim Keltner – drums
Kenny Malone – drums
Pat Bergeson – guitar
Ron Block – guitar, harmony vocals
Sam Bush – mandolin, slide mandolin, harmony vocals
Lyle Lovett – harmony vocals
Evelyn Cox – harmony vocals
Sidney Cox – harmony vocals
Suzanne Cox – harmony vocals
Dolly Parton – harmony vocals
Jerry Douglas – dobro, lap steel guitar
Joey Miskulin – accordion
Matt Rollings – piano
Dan Tyminski – guitar, harmony vocals

 

[Dennie]

Soul 69 -- Remastered CD

Aretha Franklin

1969/1993 Atlantic Records

MUSICAL REINVENTION AT ITS BEST, June 30, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Soul 69 (Audio CD)

Easily my favorite Aretha Franklin recording, Soul '69 combines the singer's great jazz, blues and pop instincts to produce a fusion that sounds like nothing in her extensive catalogue. The recording's title is oddly misleading, providing little clue as to what this remarkable song package really offers. The wailing vocals, bluesy and jazzy, echoed by the screaming horn arrangements, and the big band productions offer some remarkable interpretations and rearrangements to a list of some well chosen contemporary -- 1969? -- songs . Aretha has never sounded so inspired. I have returned to this masterpiece many times. In an odd way, it has a seamless feel, much like Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks", that sets a consistent tone -- heartbreak? discontent? The character in these songs may be lamenting, but with a fierceness and toughness (and ocassional tenderness) that makes each song soar. The singer's reworking of Smokey's classic "Tracks of My Tears" transforms sadness into defiance. If someone has ever really done you wrong, put on this record. Believe me, you will not cry. You'll CELEBRATE having everpienced the pain. You will won't walk away from these songs feeling like anyone's victim. These songs are bewitching chants on LOVE.

"Ramblin' (Maybelle Smith) – 3:10
"Today I Sing the Blues" (Curley Hamner, Curtis Lewis) – 4:25
"River's Invitation" (Percy Mayfield) – 2:40
"Pitiful" (Rosie Marie McCoy, Charlie Singleton) – 3:04
"Crazy He Calls Me" (Bob Russell, Carl Sigman) – 3:28
"Bring It on Home to Me" (Sam Cooke) – 3:45
"The Tracks of My Tears" (Warren "Pete" Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin) – 2:56
"If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody" (Rudy Clarke) – 3:08
"Gentle on My Mind" (John Hartford) – 2:28
"So Long" (Remus Harris, Irving Melsher, Russ Morgan) – 4:36
"I'll Never Be Free" (Bennie Benjamin, George David Weiss) – 4:15
"Elusive Butterfly" (Bob Lind) – 2:45

 

[topper]