What Are You Listening To?

[topper]

*

 

[Botch]

Botch, tell me more about this one..........PLEASED!!

Ambient pieces/tone poems, that kind of thing (Frippertronics and loops, if you're familiar with that). A couple of the pieces were okay, but a lot of them (especially "An Index of Metals" which comprised Side 2 of the vinyl issue) is just unsettling to listen to. It was remastered on CD but still has a lot of tape hiss.
Probably won't listen to it again. :|

 

[No-L]

Frank Sinatra
The Very Best of Frank (1997)
2 cd set

Quite FRANKLY, it's awesome!!

 

[heeman]

Botch, tell me more about this one..........PLEASED!!

Ambient pieces/tone poems, that kind of thing (Frippertronics and loops, if you're familiar with that). A couple of the pieces were okay, but a lot of them (especially "An Index of Metals" which comprised Side 2 of the vinyl issue) is just unsettling to listen to. It was remastered on CD but still has a lot of tape hiss.
Probably won't listen to it again. :|

Thanks..............

 

[No-L]

 

[No-L]

 

[No-L]

 

[No-L]

 

[Dennie]

Workingman's Dead -- CD

Grateful Dead

1970/1990 Warner Bros. Records

The Grateful Dead were already established as paragons of the free-form, improvisational San Francisco psychedelic sound when they abruptly shifted gears for the acoustic Workingman's Dead, a lovely exploration of American roots music illuminating the group's country, blues, and folk influences. The lilting "Uncle John's Band," their first radio hit, opens the record and perfectly summarizes its subtle, spare beauty; complete with a new focus on more concise songs and tighter arrangements, the approach works brilliantly. Despite its sharp contrast to the epic live space jams on which the group's legend primarily rests, Workingman's Dead nonetheless spotlights the Dead at their most engaging, stripped of all excess to reveal the true essence of their craft.

1. Uncle John's Band
2. High Time
3. Dire Wolf
4. New Speedway Boogie
5. Cumberland Blues
6. Black Peter
7. Easy Wind
8. Casey Jones

 

[Dennie]

Guitar Rock 1974 - 1975 -- CD

Various Artists

1993 Time Life Music

1. The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
2. Slow Ride - Foghat
3. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Bachman Turner Overdrive
4. Radar Love - Golden Earring
5. Love Hurts - Nazareth
6. I'm on Fire - Dwight Twilley Band
7. Must of Got Lost - The J. Geils Band
8. Welcome To My Nightmare - Alice Cooper
9. Jessica - The Allman Brothers Band
10. Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo - Rick Derringer
11. Takin' Care of Business - Bachman Turner Overdrive
12. Smokin' in the Boys Room - Brownsville Station
13. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
14. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me) - The Doobie Brothers
15. Can't Get Enough - Bad Company
16. Bad Time - Grand Funk
17. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

 

[Dennie]

MTV Unplugged -- CD

Alanis Morissette

1999 Maverick Records

Though Morissette is known for songs driven by big, hard-hitting production, her larger-than-life sound translates surprisingly well to a stripped-down, acoustic-based approach. Backed by acoustic guitar, piano, and strings (and a tasteful rhythm section), Alanis scales down the grand scale of her arrangements for a more intimate, directly communicative effect. Listening to the almost gentle version of the formerly piledriving "You Oughta Know" will provide something of a revelation for Morissette's fans. The scathing lyrics achieve an even more cathartic effect with the contrasting feel of the music, and the singer/songwriter is revealed as a folk-rocker at heart.

Her previously noted preference for the confessional mode is further underlined here by an earnest version of the Police's soul-searching plaint "King of Pain." Thankfully, Morissette has enough common sense to avoid changing it to "Queen of Pain." The unfettered swoops and glides of her vocal style have more room to flow here as well, and Morissette sounds a bird in full flight throughout.

"You Learn" (Glen Ballard, Alanis Morissette) – 4:21
"Joining You" (Ballard, Morissette) – 5:09
"No Pressure over Cappuccino" (Nick Lashley, Morissette) –4:41
"That I Would Be Good" (Ballard, Morissette) – 4:14
"Head over Feet" (Ballard, Morissette) – 4:22
"Princes Familiar" (Ballard, Morissette) – 4:37
"I Was Hoping" (Ballard, Morissette) – 4:53
"Ironic" (Ballard, Morissette) – 4:13
"These R the Thoughts" (Ballard, Morissette) – 3:25
"King of Pain" (The Police) – 4:05
"You Oughta Know" (Ballard, Morissette) – 5:01
"Uninvited" (Morissette) – 4:37

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening.....

The Chicago Transit Authority -- CD

The Chicago Transit Authority

1969/1990 Columbia Records

Amazon.com

Formed in 1967, the Chicago Transit Authority echoed the concepts of Blood, Sweat & Tears by adding a jazzy horn section to their rock sound. Before shortening their name due to pressure in their hometown, the CTA released this impressive debut album. Featuring the vocals of keyboard player Robert Lamm, guitarist Terry Kath, and bassist Peter Cetera, Chicago's sound was smoothly orchestrated one minute and overtly raucous the next. The late Terry Kath indulged himself in "Free Form Guitar" and wailed aggressively in the cover of the Spencer Davis Group's hit, "I'm a Man." Robert Lamm wrote most of the original material, including the successful "Beginnings" and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is." This record shows Chicago fully formed and sounding great. --Mitch Myers

1. "Introduction" Kath Kath 6:35
2. "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" Lamm Lamm 4:35
3. "Beginnings" Lamm Lamm 7:54
4. "Questions 67 and 68" Lamm Cetera/Lamm 5:03
5. "Listen" Lamm Lamm 3:22
6. "Poem 58" Lamm Lamm 8:35
7. "Free Form Guitar" Kath 6:47
8. "South California Purples" Lamm Lamm 6:11
9. "I'm a Man" Winwood/Miller Kath/Cetera/Lamm 7:43
10. "Prologue (August 29, 1968)" Guercio 0:58
11. "Someday (August 29, 1968)" Pankow/Lamm Lamm/Cetera 4:11
12. "Liberation" Pankow Kath 14:38

 

[Dennie]

Tissues and Issues -- CD

Charlotte Church

2005 Sony/BMG Records

'Tissues And Issues' is the first full-on pop album by former child opera star Charlotte Church. Combining elements of soul with a sassy pop sensibility, 'Tissues And Issues' is proof positive that Charlotte Church can turn her spectacular vocal abilities to any genre. Includes the single 'Crazy Chick'.

Track listing

1. Call My Name
2. Crazy Chick
3. Moodswings (To Come at Me Like That)
4. Show a Little Faith
5. Finding My Own Way
6. Let's Be Alone
7. Easy to Forget
8. Fool No More
9. Easy Way Out
10. Casualty of Love
11. Even God
12. Confessional Song

 

[Botch]

Whoa, sumbody grew up...

 

[topper]

, , :handgestures-thumbup:

 

[Dennie]

Only Trust Your Heart -- CD

Diana Krall

1995 GRP Records

Amazon.com

Diana Krall, here with her first GRP album, expands on the delights that populated her 1992 debut, Stepping Out. Again, her talents are simply remarkable: she sings with feeling, emotion, and nuance--she invests a lyric with believability--and plays marvelous piano, no matter the tempo. The program pleases on so many levels: slip the disc into the player, hit any track at random, and you'll be moved. Take the oh-so-slow, heartfelt groover "Squeeze Me," on which her alto is both breathy and demonstrative and her accompaniments are sly, and which features a winsome solo by bass maestro Ray Brown. On another gut-wrenching crawler, "All Night Long," Krall tears you up with her emotive, intimate vocal, interspersing her singing with telling, shimmering piano notes, then delivering a solo full of wry confidences. The succulent title track is a deliciously slow bossa where Krall's vocal is partly whispered, as if sung in your ear. More upbeat is the finger-popping "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby," where the artist sings with grit and life then solos with an economical drive. Tenor saxophone giant Stanley Turrentine adds a trademark saucy improvisation. "I Love Being Here with You" is a romping shuffle where Krall's voice hits some notes on the head and stretches others like pulled taffy. "Broadway" is another vibrant outing that includes a singing, fat-noted solo from bassist Christian McBride and Lewis Nash's deft brush work. Aces all around. --Zan Stewart

"Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" (Bill Austin, Louis Jordan) – 4:57
"Only Trust Your Heart" (Sammy Cahn, Benny Carter) – 5:19
"I Love Being Here with You" (Peggy Lee, William Schluger) – 3:40
"Broadway" (Billy Bird, Teddy McRae, Henri Woode) – 7:27
"The Folks Who Live On the Hill" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) – 4:18
"I've Got the World on a String" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) – 5:20
"Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)" (Duke Ellington, Lee Gaines) – 5:37
"All Night Long" (Curtis Lewis) – 6:41
"CRS-Craft" (instrumental) (Ray Brown) – 3:30

 

[Dennie]

Rockferry -- CD

Duffy

2008 Mercury Records

Amazon.co.uk

Rockferry, the Welsh singer's lovingly constructed debut album, has already succeeded beyond expectations, and although Duffy may not quite be the ingénue portrayed by a clever press campaign (she nearly won a local television talent show a few years back while a single credited to Aimee Duffy is still available on iTunes) she is surely the most appealing of the current flood of young soul sirens. The astonishing title track, co-written by Bernard Butler, sounded like a lost transmission that had taken decades to get through as soon as it hit radio last year. But the gently rolling soul ballad "Stepping Stone", that strapping, inescapable monster hit "Mercy", the ice cool "Serious" (the one time she really does channel the spirit of Dusty Springfield) and the wistful, elegant "Warwick Avenue" are similarly effective. Suggestions by some that Rockferry is little more than sixties pastiche are churlish. Butler's previous work with David McAlmont (featured here as a backing singer) showed his skill at writing and arranging the dramatic, while her other collaborators such as Steve Booker and the team of Jimmy Hogarth and Eg White are hardly lightweights. But despite some wonderful orchestral settings, it's Duffy's terrific voice that makes this so satisfying, even overpowering Butler's exquisitely underplayed guitar work on "Rockferry" itself. Growling the blues on "Syrup & Honey" or belting it out over his lovingly arranged wall of sound on "Distant Dreamer", she sets the tone throughout, several of her songs dealing with escape, both physical and romantic. The sound of someone singing herself to stardom, Rockferry is at times genuinely amazing. --Steve Jelbert

1. "Rockferry" Duffy, Bernard Butler 4:14
2. "Warwick Avenue" Duffy, Jimmy Hogarth, Eg White 3:46
3. "Serious" Duffy, Butler 4:10
4. "Stepping Stone" Duffy, Steve Booker 3:28
5. "Syrup & Honey" Duffy, Butler 3:18
6. "Hanging on Too Long" Duffy, Hogarth, White 3:56
7. "Mercy" Duffy, Booker 3:41
8. "Delayed Devotion" Duffy, Hogarth, White 2:57
9. "I'm Scared" Duffy, Hogarth 3:08
10. "Distant Dreamer" Duffy, Butler 5:05

 

[Dennie]

Whoa, sumbody grew up...

Yeah, but I still like listening to POP music every now and then!

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

 

[No-L]

:text-lol:

 

[Dennie]

Blue Lights In The Basement -- CD

Roberta Flack

1977/1995 Atlantic Records

Released in 1977, Blue Lights in the Basement is Roberta Flack's follow-up to 1975's Feel Like Makin' Love. Of course during the space between the two efforts, R&B and pop had certainly changed immensely. This album finds Flack responding to the changing times with a batch of smooth tracks and a polished and accomplished production. Of course by this time, she seemed to be divorced from the intelligent and recondite work that typified the early part of her career. Some of the tracks here do come close to that style; "25th of Last December" and "Love Is the Healing" throw in some nice changes to complement Flack's sweet and patient vocals. What caused this album to be such a big seller was the Flack and Donny Hathaway duet, "The Closer I Get to You." The track easily attains the grace and gorgeous sound that a lot of the like-minded songs here just miss. The dramatic "Where I'll Find You" appropriately closes the album and has a great echo effect on her voice during the chorus. Flack is indeed in great voice here, but Blue Lights in the Basement is most notable for its hit single rather than the tracks that surround it. ~ Jason Elias

01. Why Don't You Move In With Me 4:54
02. The Closer I Get To You 4:42
03. Fine, Fine Day 4:51
04. This Time I'll Be Sweeter 4:27
05. 25th Of Last December 4:34
06. After You 3:53
07. I'd Like To Be Baby To You 4:40
08. Soul Deep 2:24
09. Love Is The Healing 3:45
10. Where I'll Find You 3:10