What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

The Best Blue Note Album in the World.....Ever! -- 2 CD Set

Various Great Artists

1999 Blue Note Records

Wonderful, February 7, 2007
By Lemas Mitchell "Libertarian/ Empiricist" (Chengdu, Sichuan (China)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Best Blue Note Album in the World Ever (Audio CD)

There are not many CDs like this in the world. A lot of the albums from which these songs are taken would be worth the purchase price of the whole album just because of the one song.

"Watermelon Man" for example is Herbie Hancock's most memorable song and one could never go wrong buying a whole Herbie Hancock album. Ditto for Horace Silver ("Song For My Father").

So, these are all songs from groundbreaking albums that have stood the test of time. What more could you want in a compilation CD?

(One more thing that is good-- though trivial-- is that the CD has a track listing printed on the CD itself if you are not a person that likes to keep CD covers. I'm not.)

This CD is even worth the purchase price NEW.

Disc: 1
1. Song For My Father - Horace Silver
2. Blue Train - John Coltrane
3. Moanin' - Art Blakely And The Jazz Messengers
4. Blues Walk - Lou Donaldson
5. Autumn Leaves - Cannonball Adderley
6. Midnight Blue - Kenny Burrell
7. The Sidewinder - Lee Morgan
8. Waltermelon Man - Herbie Hancock
9. Amen - Donald Byrd
10. Born To Be Blue - Grant Green

Disc: 2
1. Cantaloop - Us3
2. The Turnaround - John Patton
3. Greasy Granny - Charlie Hunter Trio
4. Back At The Chicken Shack - Jimmy Smith
5. Soy Califa - Dexter Gordon
6. Girl From Ipanema - Eliane Elias
7. Thinkin' About Your Body - Bobby McFerrin
8. Tupelo Honey - Cassandra Wilson
9. At Last - Lou Rawls/Dianne Reeves
10. Because I Love You - Richard Elliot

 

[Dennie]

Hard Rain -- CD

Bob Dylan

1976 Columbia Records

Very underrated October 4, 2003
By Docendo Discimus
Format:Audio CD

If you sometimes find yourself shouting "Judas" at the radio when Bob Dylan comes on playing something band-backed, this record is probably not your thing.
Me, I love it. It's too short by far, but Dylan and the Rolling Thunder band rock like never before or since. In my opinion, the intense "Hard Rain" is just as great as the fabled "Live 1966" (the so-called Royal Albert Hall concert from the Free Trade Hall in Manchester).

Bob Dylan and his band play some of the hardest, rawest and most ragged rock n' roll music of his entire career - just listen to him tearing through a spiced-up "Maggie's Farm" or doing a melodic folk-rock interpretation of "One Too Many Mornings".
But the highlight of "Hard Rain" has to be the closing ten-minute rendition of the venomous "Idiot Wind". Dylan sneers and shouts his way through a magnificent version of one of his most memorable songs - that one cut alone is worth the price of admission. Powerful stuff!


All songs by Bob Dylan, except where noted.

"Maggie's Farm"– 5:23
"One Too Many Mornings"– 3:47
"Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again"– 6:01
"Oh, Sister" (Dylan, Jacques Levy)– 5:08
"Lay Lady Lay"– 4:47
"Shelter from the Storm"– 5:29
"You're a Big Girl Now"– 7:01
"I Threw It All Away"– 3:18
"Idiot Wind"– 10:21

 

[topper]

So Beautiful or So What

(2011 release)

editorial review ~
Produced by Phil Ramone and Paul Simon, with liner notes written by Elvis Costello, So Beautiful or So What is one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. Rolling Stone magazine recently declared it, "His best since Graceland," and National Public Radio affirmed, "...his new music balances great poetry and pop. Paul Simon is a national treasure." In their current issue, Filter Magazine calls the new album, "...a new masterpiece from the Picasso of music."
, , , ,

:twocents-mytwocents:
:handgestures-thumbup:

 

[Dennie]

I'm listening to Disc #2.....

The Essential Louis Armstrong -- 2 CD Set

Louis Armstrong

2004 Columbia Legacy

Pops-- The king of jazz trumpet, March 1, 2007
By Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Essential Louis Armstrong (Audio CD)

THE ESSENTIAL LOUIS ARMSTRONG is a sweeping overview of THE most influential jazz musician of the 20th Century. Disc one contains Armstrong's New Orleans-styled electrical recordings of the late '20's (note that he had made some acoustic horn stuff prior), while the second CD continues the early sides until midway through, and then offers brief glimpses of Satchmo's career from 1938 to '67.

To mention a single outstanding example, Armstrong's early beautiful tone is clearly evident on his trumpet intro to 1928's "West End Blues," as is his fine scat voice. Beyond that track, all of disc one is certain to be a revelation to those only familiar with Louis' "Hello Dolly" pop-type tunes.

Mastering of the antique 78s in particular is remarkable-- they all sound great! THE ESSENTIAL LOUIS ARMSTRONG is a set that belongs in everyone's collection, not just jazz afficionados. Buy with confidence!

TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --
DISC ONE -- 57:53
DISC TWO -- 63:33

Track listing

DISC 1:
1. Sugar Foot Stomp
2. Cake Walking Babies (From Home)
3. Pickin' on Your Baby
4. Heebie Jeebies
5. Willie the Weeper
6. Potato Head Blues
7. West End Blues
8. Basin Street Blues
9. Beau Koo Jack
10. St. James Infirmary
11. Tight Like This
12. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
13. Ain't Misbehavin'
14. Black and Blue
15. That Rhythm Man
16. St. Louis Blues
17. Bessie Couldn't Help It
18. I'm Confessin'

DISC 2:
1. Memories of You
2. Shine
3. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
4. Blue Again
5. You Rascal You
6. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
7. Lazy River
8. Stardust
9. Georgia on My Mind
10. Shadrack
11. On the Sunny Side of the Street
12. When the Saints Go Marching In
13. Rockin' Chair
14. Blueberry Hill
15. Mack the Knife
16. Aunt Hagar's Blues
17. Honeysuckle Rose
18. Fine Romance, A
19. What a Wonderful World

 

[Dennie]

So Beautiful or So What

(2011 release)

editorial review ~
Produced by Phil Ramone and Paul Simon, with liner notes written by Elvis Costello, So Beautiful or So What is one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. Rolling Stone magazine recently declared it, "His best since Graceland," and National Public Radio affirmed, "...his new music balances great poetry and pop. Paul Simon is a national treasure." In their current issue, Filter Magazine calls the new album, "...a new masterpiece from the Picasso of music."
, , , ,

:twocents-mytwocents:
:handgestures-thumbup:

Thanks Topper! :handgestures-thumbup:


Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Aretha In Paris -- Remastered CD

Aretha Franklin

1968/1994 Atlantic/Rhino

what is soul singing! December 25, 1999
By Frederick Barnes
Format:Audio CD

the title of this review is the jeopardyesque answer to the question that the music of this album brings forth. this album of music on cd format is soul music at it's zentith on display and should be considered a compulsary for music collectors and lovers. consider the first four songs performed on this album, they are not aretha's hit songs but they are aretha's best singing, also notice the background singers performance on satisfaction (i can't no) and come back baby, that's an example of soul musics church roots. i can't believe i'm the first one to review this cd, and i hope i am not the only who's looking for it, this performance is a gem and you will not be sorry for purchasing this cd. i gave it a 5 star rating with extreme partiality for a very good reason, if i may quote an old american folk saying: it's bad!


"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)
"Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" (Franklin, Teddy White)
"Soul Serenade" (Luther Dixon, Curtis Ousley)
"Night Life" (Willie Nelson, Walt Breeland, Paul Buskirk)
"Baby, I Love You" (Jimmy Holiday, Ronnie Shannon)
"Groovin'" (Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere)
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Jerry Wexler)
"Come Back Baby" (Ray Charles)
"Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)" (Franklin, Teddy White)
"(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (Franklin, Teddy White)
"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (Ronnie Shannon)
"Chain Of Fools" (Don Covay)
"Respect" (Otis Redding)

 

[mazersteven]

Jamming Old School tonight

1. Dreamin' Of Love
2. In My Eyes
3. Girl I Am Searching For You
4. I'll Be By Your Side
5. Love And Emotion
6. Spring Love
7. Broken Heart
8. I Wanna Be The One
9. Love Me For Life
10. Forever More
11. Party Your Body
12. Because I Love You (The Postman Song)

Stevie B (Steven Bernard Hill) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer who was influential in the Latin freestyle and High-Energy, mostly from Miami dance music scene of the late 1980s. Also known as the King of Freestyle, Stevie B is perhaps best known for his 1990 number-one hit "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)."

Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Stevie B worked a variety of jobs—from car washing to fast food—before gaining recognition for his 1987 national club smash "Party Your Body". It was also the title track of his 1988 debut LP, which eventually went gold. In 1989, he had his first top 40 hits with "I Wanna Be the One," "In My Eyes," and "Love Me For Life." With his 1990 album, Love & Emotion, he reached the height of his success, with the accompanying single "Because I Love You" enjoying four weeks at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in December 1990.[1] He had two subsequent top 15 hits with "I'll Be by Your Side" and the title track from the album.[1] In 1998, The Best of Stevie B was released, highlighting the light dance-pop sound that marked the start of his career. He has found new fame in Brazil, where he not only appears regularly on radio shows but continues to sell out concerts to tens of thousands of fans, many hailing from the favellas of both Rio and Sao Paolo, due to the popularity of his style of music with urban youth.

 

[Dennie]

Guitar Rock "The Early 80's" -- CD

Various Artist

1994 Time Life Music

 

[heeman]

I always liked John and his music, and once again I am pleased with this one, less commercial and poppy, but solid.

All songs written and composed by John Mayer.
No. Title Length
1. "Queen of California" 4:10
2. "The Age of Worry" 2:38
3. "Shadow Days" 3:53
4. "Speak for Me" 3:45
5. "Something Like Olivia" 3:01
6. "Born and Raised" 4:48
7. "If I Ever Get Around to Living" 5:22
8. "Love Is a Verb" 2:24
9. "Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967" 5:08
10. "Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey" 4:39
11. "A Face to Call Home" 4:45
12. "Born and Raised (Reprise)" 2:01

 

[Botch]

:music-listening:

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

That Day... -- CD

Dianne Reeves

1997 Blue Note Records

A warm and sunny "Day", July 17, 2000
By John Jones "Musician" (Chicago IL) -

Sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to go, and Dianne Reeves proves that notion on "That Day...," a warm and organic work that boasts subtle arrangements, tasteful vocals, and the most seductive of moods. Things are off to a sultry start with the most gorgeous arrangment of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" ever recorded; a Bossa Nova-esque rhythm and stellar piano and horns lay the foundation while Reeves' masterful vocal builds the track to the sky. The pop chestnut "Just a Little Lovin" lights a quiet fire and begs to be cuddled to, and the title track benefits from a racy-but-tasteful lyric and a seductive samba flavor.

Elsewhere, Joan Armatrading's "Dark Truths" gets a stately, elegant reading, and the jazz standards "Blue Prelude" and "Exactly Like You" manage to swing without breaking up the slow, even pace of the record. The back-porch blues of "Ain't Nobody's Business if I Do" is a bit of a surprise at the end, and you realize that the album could have used a little more guitar elsewhere (or even a Rhodes keyboard) to shake things up a bit. But with Reeves' vocals sounding this mature and skillful, this amounts to a petty argument about an otherwise strong outing. Fans of well-crafted jazz ballads in search of their next purchase need look no further.

1 - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
2 - Blue Prelude
3 - Close Enough For Love
4 - Just A Little Lovin'
5 - That Day
6 - The Twelfth Of Never
7 - Morning Has Broken
8 - Dark Truths
9 - Exactly Like You
10 - Ain't Nobody's Business (If I Do)

 

[Botch]

Seal - Human Being:

 

[Dennie]

Blue Light Til Dawn -- CD

Cassandra Wilson

1993 Blue Note Records

Amazon.com essential recording

Cassandra Wilson is a postmodern jazz singer, a conceptualist who sees no dividing lines between genres. If her career had commenced in the 1970s rather than the label-conscious 1990s she would have been marketed as a mainstream pop diva. Her magnificent voice and interpretive genius mark her as a jazz singer for the ages, however. She finds her material wherever her fancy takes her and remakes it in her own image, whether it be the country blues of Robert Johnson's "Come On in My Kitchen" and "Hellhound On My Trail," the soul of Ann Peebles's "I Can't Stand the Rain," the elegant R&B of Charles Brown's "Tell Me You'll Wait for Me," the melodic pop of Joni Mitchell's "Black Crow," and Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey," or her own "Redbone"--and the title track, accompanied by steel guitarist Gib Wharton. --John Swenson

"You Don't Know What Love Is" (Gene DePaul, Don Raye) — 6:05
"Come On In My Kitchen" (Robert Johnson) — 4:53
"Tell Me You'll Wait For Me" (Charles Brown, Oscar Moore) — 4:48
"Children Of The Night" (Thom Bell, Linda Creed) — 5:19
"Hellhound on My Trail" (Johnson) — 4:34
"Black Crow" (Joni Mitchell) — 4:38
"Sankofa" (Cassandra Wilson) — 2:02
"Estrellas" (Cyro Baptista) — 1:59
"Redbone" (Wilson) — 5:35
"Tupelo Honey" (Van Morrison) — 5:36
"Blue Light 'til Dawn" (Wilson) — 5:09
"I Can't Stand the Rain" (Don Bryant, Bernard Miller, Ann Peebles) — 5:27

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

I'm starting to get concerned Botch. Too much of one "artist" can have very negative repercussions! :confusion-seeingstars:

Dennie ...... :eusa-whistle:

 

[Dennie]

Harbor Lights -- CD

Bruce Hornsby

1993 RCA Records

Leaving behind the Range, Bruce Hornsby trades heartland rock for a cooler, jazzier sound with Harbor Lights, an album that nonetheless retains his affinity for sincere portraits of American life, love, and heartache. The title track is a humid, celebratory song that evokes a romantic summer evening in the South, setting the stage for a collection of humanistic songs. If the album has an underlying theme, it's the necessity of seeing yourself and the ones you love through the hard times as well as the good. The purely upbeat songs, like "Rainbow's Cadillac" and "What a Night," are counterbalanced by the sober "Fields of Gray" and "Tide Will Rise," and the cultural commentary of "Talk of the Town." The music is uniformly excellent, with Hornsby's piano work blending seamlessly into the rich arrangements. Each song usually ends with an extended instrumental section, but these flow naturally instead of feeling like tacked-on jam sessions. And Hornsby isn't just showing off here, as he lets other voices, like Branford Marsalis' sax and Pat Metheny's guitar, get their say. In later albums, Hornsby's focus on music would tend to overtake his lyrical content, but Harbor Lights marks the point at which he found the right balance between virtuosic playing and personal storytelling. ~ Skyler Miller, All Music Guide

All songs written by Bruce Hornsby

"Harbor Lights"
"Talk of the Town"
"Long Tall Cool One"
"China Doll"
"Fields of Gray"
"Rainbow's Cadillac"
"Passing Through"
"The Tide Will Rise" (Bruce Hornsby, John Hornsby)
"What a Time" (Bruce Hornsby, John Hornsby)
"Pastures of Plenty"

 

[Dennie]

Feels Like Home --CD

Linda Ronstadt

1995 Elektra Records

Laid Back, July 24, 2002
By J. M. Zuurbier (Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Feels Like Home (Audio CD)

Many of the songs from this album resulted from the TRIO II sessions with Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton, which Linda participated on. However TRIO II wasn't released until early 1999, and was recorded in 1994, so I'm sure Linda wanted to pick up a few of the songs and make them her own on FEELS LIKE HOME. "High Sierra", "After The Goldrush", "Feels Like Home", "Lover's Return" and "The Blue Train" also appear on TRIO II. There are once again some stunning covers, most notably a cover of Tom Petty's "The Waiting" which she tears it up on and makes it her own. That off the bat is a definite highlight here. She also covers Matraca Berg's "Walk On", and Neil Young's "After The Goldrush". Once again she does not disapoint, vocally she is up to par and sounds magnificent. Highlights include "The Waiting", "Blue Train", "High Sierra", "Feels Like Home", and "After The Goldrush", but there is no filler here to be found.

"The Waiting" (Tom Petty) – 3:58
"Walk On" (Matraca Berg, Ronnie Samoset) – 2:58
"High Sierra" (Harley Allen) – 4:24
"After the Gold Rush" (Neil Young) – 3:33
"The Blue Train" (Jennifer Kimball, Tom Kimmel) – 5:04
"Feels Like Home" (Randy Newman) – 4:50
"Teardrops Will Fall" (Eddie Deane) – 3:08
"Morning Blues" (Traditional) – 3:57
"Women Cross the River" (David Olney) – 3:33
"Lover's Return" (Traditional) – 4:01

 

[Dennie]

Restless -- CD

Shelby Lynne

1995 Magnatone Records

The Curb reissue of Shelby Lynne's 1995 album, Restless, is a compelling one. While Lynne has undergone almost continual -- and mostly positive -- reinvention since she resurfaced with I Am Shelby Lynne in 2000, it's interesting to hear her on this Brent Maher-produced slab of swinging-for-the-charts commercial country. Of course, her voice is a trademark; whether she's singing the new traditionalist honky tonk of Maher's own "Another Chance at Love," Jamie O'Hara's weeper "Talkin' to Myself Again," or the jazzy country-pop that is Rod McGaha's "I Wish I Knew," the commitment to excellence is total. But these tracks, fine as they are, offer no revelation of Lynne's true "restlessness," which resides in her own R&B-tinged hard country shuffle "Slow Me Down" and in the numbers she wrote with Maher and O'Hara, including the title cut, the Western swing of "Reach for the Rhythm," and the hot jazz gypsy swing of "Swingtown," which closes the set. Here, Lynne reveals in spades that her voice has no limitations when it comes to reaching for the margins in classic American music. She can sing jazz, blues, and R&B, and rock a honky tonk with the best of them. In its day, Restless was dismissed as gimmicky for its stubborn refusal to follow "the format." History has vindicated Shelby Lynne. That this set would get a second chance when so many of the recordings of her contemporaries have long since been deleted or hit the buck bin is proof of the album's elusive yet enduring excellence. ~ Thom Jurek

"Slow Me Down" (Stephanie Davis, Shelby Lynne, Brent Maher) – 3:14
"Another Chance at Love" (Maher, Allen Shamblin) – 2:25
"Talkin' to Myself Again" (Jamie O'Hara) – 3:18
"Restless" (Lynne, Maher, O'Hara) – 3:05
"Just for the Touch of Your Hand" (Lynne, Maher, O'Hara) – 3:56
"Hey Now Little Darling" (Lynne, Maher, O'Hara) – 3:02
"I'm Not the One" (Kent Blazy, Craig Wiseman) – 3:52
"Reach for the Rhythm" (Lynne, Maher, O'Hara) – 2:20
"Wish I Knew" (Rod McGaha) – 3:44
"Swingtown" (Lynne, Maher, O'Hara) – 2:34

 

[Dennie]

Matters of the Heart -- CD

Tracy Chapman

1992 Elektra Records

Possibly my favourite album of all time, January 24, 2000
By Adam (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Matters of the Heart (Audio CD)

After an international best selling first album, Tracy has allowed her musical integrity, and not commercial success, to dictate her subsequent career. Her four albums to date have been progressively more sophisticated and beautifully produced. Matters of the Heart (the third) is my favourite. Possibly my favourite album of all time. A deep, sophisticated, introspective, subtly melodic, intricately textured, album, with typically socially conscious lyrics, sung with Tracy's characteristically longing, passionate phrasing. Like many of the classic albums that truly endure, it may take many listens before you really appreciate it, but each new playing will reveal more of the beauty of this brilliant album.

All songs written by Tracy Chapman

"Bang Bang Bang" – 4:21
"So" – 3:26
"I Used to Be a Sailor" – 3:56
"The Love That You Had" – 4:11
"Woman's Work" – 2:01
"If These Are the Things" – 4:40
"Short Supply" – 4:23
"Dreaming on a World" – 5:03
"Open Arms" – 4:34
"Matters of the Heart" – 6:59