What Are You Listening To?

[Rope]

Rope

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening.....

Two Against Nature -- CD

Steely Dan

2000 Giant Records

Amazon.com essential recording

Never so much a band as the slyly crafted specter of one, Steely Dan's mid-1990s "return" to live performance was as surprising as it was perverse. They'd previously toured only once, round about the era of Watergate, pet rocks, and Shaft. A half-decade after their concert comeback and a mere 19 years after Gaucho seemingly closed out their recording career, the jazz-pop conceit of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen deliberately dropped back into a recording landscape where they weren't so much seasoned vets as alien ambassadors. Two Against Nature, indeed. The tack is instantly familiar: a musical/lyrical reconciliation of Monk and Newman, with familiar harmonic flourishes, nimble studio chops, and an icy, world-class cool, as willfully insulated from hip-hop and techno as it was from disco and Top 40. Less concerned with melodic hooks than a canny sophistication of mood and manner, Becker and Fagen never let a trite melody get in the way of a good story, whether their protagonists are plotting some nefarious obliquity ("Gaslighting Abby"), Southern-fried incest (the deliciously funky "Cousin DuPree"), or bleakly confronting dashed expectations ("What a Shame About Me"). A little more musically languorous perhaps, its trademark cynicism now undercut by hints of sadness and regret, this is nonetheless a Steely Dan album worthy of the name, and like the best of them, one whose subtle charms reveal themselves in surprising ways. -Jerry McCulley

All songs written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

"Gaslighting Abbie" – 5:53
"What a Shame About Me" – 5:17
"Two Against Nature" – 6:17
"Janie Runaway" – 4:09
"Almost Gothic" – 4:09
"Jack of Speed" – 6:17
"Cousin Dupree" – 5:28
"Negative Girl" – 5:34
"West of Hollywood" – 8:21

 

[Dennie]

Wind On The Water -- CD

David Crosby & Graham Nash

1975/2000 ABC/MCA Records

Supernova Effort from a remarkable Friendship, March 24, 2003
By o dubhthaigh (north rustico, pei, canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE)


This review is from: Wind on the Water (Audio CD)

Well, this is the gem of the entire CSNY catalogue! Crosby and Nash never sounded better, never played better, never wrote better, and their back up band was spot on from the first note to the last. I remember walking down Bloor Street when I first heard this from a record shop. I was hooked. I wore out 6 vinyl copies of this.

Crosby and Nash seemed positively liberated from the chains that went with being in the Supergroup that was more ego than substance. For all of Neil's posturings, at this point in their career, Cros and Nash were the best songwriters in rock music, touching on themes of life, death, love and environment with a poignancy any writer would sell their soul for.

"Carry Me" has come back to me as a source of comfort several times when I've lost friends to Aids/Cancer/Tragedy. "Mama Lion" is a wonderful tribute to a lover who has so affected your life that even though you are no longer with him/her, it is their positive influence, not the negative that lives with you, eh Nina? "Wind on the Water" is the quintessential environmental track, and Nash hit his zenith here as a creative writer. Sheer profundity as Cros would often comment. "Cowboy of Dreams" would reference Neil more accurately than anything I've ever heard or read. The musicianship is a wonder to behold on this: looser, now that they were both free of Stills' maniacal control issues and Neil's passive aggressive mind games, this is the essence of what David and Graham were capable of.

Live, they were tremendous during this period. That probably fed Crosby's ego enough to convince himself that he was handling his drug problems. Six to nine months after this, he was teetering on becoming useless as a creative songwriter. Well, this was still to come.

At this point, with this release, they were brilliant. It is evident in the confidence seen on their faces in the cover photo, and it carries all the way through every single track. Well done, a true diamond.

"Carry Me" (Crosby) – 3:35
"Mama Lion" (Nash) – 3:17
"Bittersweet" (Crosby) – 2:39
"Take the Money and Run" (Nash, Rafferty) – 3:23
"Naked in the Rain" (Crosby, Nash) – 2:27
"Love Work Out" (Nash) – 4:45
"Low Down Payment" (Crosby) – 4:54
"Cowboy of Dreams" (Nash) – 3:30
"Homeward Through the Haze" (Crosby) – 4:06
"Fieldworker" (Nash) – 2:47
"To the Last Whale... (A. Critical Mass/B. Wind on the Water)" (Crosby, Nash) – 5:33


David Crosby - guitar, vocals
Graham Nash - guitar, vocals, keyboards
Danny Kortchmar - bass, guitar
David Lindley - violin, guitar
Craig Doerge - keyboards
Joel Bernstein - guitar
Ben Keith - guitar
Russell Kunkel - drums
Stan Szeleste - keyboards
Levon Helm - drums
James Taylor - background vocals
Carole King - background vocals
Jackson Browne - background vocals

 

[Dennie]

Greatest Hits Plus -- CD

Ricky Van Shelton

1992 Columbia Records

Wonderful country ballads, November 9, 2007
By Ronald Van Scherpenzeel (Madrid, Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)


Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Ricky Van Shelton - Greatest Hits Plus (Audio CD)

Ricky van Shelton is one of those artists that are rather unknown
in Europe, although if they were promoted correctly, he could have
reached the same popularity as others did like Garth Brooks or The
Mavericks. Here we have 8 wonderful ballads most of which went to #1
+ two good old rockers (Elvis' "Wear My Ring... and Ned Miller's
"From A Jack To A King"), a duet with Dolly Parton that also became
a number one hit and the remaining three songs made it into the
top 5. This really deserves the "greatest" hits mentioning! If you
don't possess this beauty, GET IT!!

"Just as I Am" (Larry Boone, Paul Nelson) - 3:08
previously unreleased
"Wild Man" (Rick Giles. Susan Longacre) - 3:17
previously unreleased
"Somebody Lied" (Joe Chambers, Larry Jenkins)- 3:21
"I've Cried My Last Tear for You" (Tony King, Chris Waters) - 2:29
"I'll Leave This World Loving You" (Wayne Kemp) - 3:06
"Statue of a Fool" (Jan Crutchfield) - 3:04
"I Am a Simple Man" (Walt Aldridge) - 3:26
"Life Turned Her That Way" (Harlan Howard) - 3:23
"Keep It Between the Lines" (Russell Smith, Cathy Louvin) - 3:49
"Rockin' Years" (Floyd Parton) - 3:25
duet with Dolly Parton
"From a Jack to a King" (Ned Miller) - 2:21
"Living Proof" (Steve Clark, Johnny MacRae) - 3:22
"Don't We All Have the Right" (Roger Miller) - 2:36
"Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" (Bert Carroll, Moody Russell) - 2:11
previously unreleased on studio album

 

[Dennie]

Our Shangri-La -- CD

Rick Shea & Patty Booker

2003 Tres Pescadores Records

Country Music The Way It Should Be, December 30, 2003
By "zorrowitz" (Columbia, MO) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Our Shangri-La (Audio CD)

A magnificent album from start to finish, and every cut is a gem. Patty Booker has an incredible voice and range from the depths of sorrow to sheer joy and the best of honky tonk. Rick Shea is an outstanding musician, song writer and vocalist. The pairing of their soulful and distinctive voices gives an added dimension to the songs that make them duets in the best sense of the word, as their voices wonderfully compliment each other. The material and performances are all first rate with outstanding original songs and terrific interpretations of classics.

Track listing

1. When Will I Ever Learn
2. I'm No Good Without You
3. Summer Wine
4. Just a Matter of Time
5. I Know What's Wrong (But I Just Can't Get It Right)
6. Our Shangri-La
7. There's Fewer Things All the Time
8. You Take Me For Granted
9. Bull and the Beaver, The
10. You
11. Baby That Ain't True
12. Fat Daddy
13. House That We Once Lived In, The

 

[Dennie]

Simpatico -- CD

Suzy Boggus & Chet Atkins

1994 Liberty Records

Too bad this one's Out Of Print, January 18, 2007
By J. M. Jacobs "Just one man's opinion..." (East Helena, MT, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)


Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Simpatico (Audio CD)

Here is a disc that will remind you why just about everybody loved Chet Atkins. Like so many other artists, Chet helped Suzy Bogguss get her start. From working together, Chet tried to help her get a recording contract. No takers. So one day he called her up and asked her if she'd like to tour with him. After her exposure on the tour, she was offered a recording contract almost immediately. Then Chet and Suzy decided they'd like to do an album together and what an effort it turned out to be!

The smoothness of Suzy's voice is in perfect harmony with Chet's smooth playing in that spare, "just right" style he had. The production allows Suzy's singing and Chet's playing to be present in the mix and even to an untrained ear they sound exceptional.

This album is a good example of what's happening to high quality older recordings in the music industry today. As good as this one is, it should be judged a classic and never go out of print. However because not many people even know about it, you have to do like I did and search it out from a second hand source. By my humble judgment, it was easily worth the effort.

"In the Jailhouse Now" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 3:11
"When She Smiled at Him" (Joanie Beeson, Michael Johnson) - 3:06
"Forget About It" (R. L. Kass) - 4:22
"Wives Don't Like Old Girlfriends" (Shane Fontayne, Randy VanWarmer) - 4:12
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) - 3:59
"Two Shades of Blue" (Deborah Allen, Bobby Braddock, Rafe VanHoy) - 3:25
"One More for the Road" (Atkins, Bogguss, Doug Crider) - 4:26
"I Still Miss Someone" (Johnny Cash, Roy Cash Jr.) - 3:40
"You Bring Out the Best in Me" (Bogguss, Crider, Steve Dorff) - 3:34
"This Is the Beginning" (Pat Donohue) - 5:12

 

[Dennie]

Live In Texas -- CD

Lyle Lovett

1999 MCA Records

Amazon.com

One decade's oddity is the next decade's institution. Or at least that's been the case with Lyle Lovett. The Lone Star eccentric emerged in the 1980s ostensibly as a country artist, but it became clear pretty quickly that a Southern accent and a pair of cowboy boots does not a Nashville favorite make. In time, however, Lovett's free-range brand of swing, blues, gospel, folk, and whatever has been embraced by a coterie of fans who have as little interest in genres as their hero. Live in Texas is something of a valentine to them--as well as an in-concert 13-year career summary for the uninitiated. Rife with live staples ("That's Right," "If I Had a Boat," "She's No Lady," and "North Dakota," which features an appearance by Rickie Lee Jones), the 14-track showcase certifies what loyalists have known for years: Lovett is one of the best bandleaders around. He and his crack crew get big and get small as needed, punching up uptempo numbers with brass or stripping down to the bare essentials for ballads. Taking it all in, one can't help concluding there's absolutely nothing odd about that. --Steven Stolder

All songs composed by Lyle Lovett except as indicated.

"Penguins" – 2:35
"I've Been to Memphis" – 4:35
"That's Right (You're Not from Texas)" (Lovett, Ramsey, Rogers) – 5:06
"Nobody Knows Me" – 3:07
"If I Had a Boat" – 3:19
"North Dakota" featuring Rickie Lee Jones (Lovett, Ramsey) – 6:28
"She's No Lady" – 3:43
"Here I Am" – 4:16
"What Do You Do?" – 2:57
"Wild Women Don't Get the Blues" (Cox) – 4:54
"M-O-N-E-Y" (Cox) – 3:29
"You Can't Resist It" – 5:36
"Church" – 5:40
"Closing Time" – 4:34

 

[Dennie]

65th Birthday Celebration -- Live at the Blue Note in New York City -- CD

Herbie Mann

1997 LightYear Records

To celebrate his 65th birthday, the influential flutist Herbie Mann played for a week at the Blue Note in New York, along with some of his favorite musicians. Among the many guests on this CD are such notables as trumpeters Claudio Roditi and Randy Brecker, altoists David "Fathead" Newman, Paquito D'Rivera and Bobby Watson, fellow flutist Dave Valentin, Tito Puente on timbales and several rhythm sections. Alternating between Brazilian music, vintage funk jazz (such as "Memphis Underground"), a catchy boogaloo blues ("Dippermouth") and a few straight-ahead tracks ("Au Privave" and "Jeep's Blues"), the flutist sounds as if he had a great time. The diverse music is consistently infectious and joyful, with all eight selections well worth hearing. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow

Track Listing
1. Batucada
2. Sonhos
3. Jungle Fantasy
4. Au Private
5. Give and Take
6. Jeep's Blues
7. Memphis Underground
8. Dippermouth

 

[Dennie]

Ladies and Gentleman, Live from SACRAMENTO, California..... TOWER OF POWER... :music-rockout:

Live and in Living Color -- CD

Tower of Power

1976/1990 Warner Bros. Records

A Rolls Royce With a Ferrari Engine November 17, 2002
By Chris Astier
Format:Audio CD

To put it lightly, this has to be one of the most devastating funk albums of all time. Changes in tempo and mood, played with feeling and groove. This album should be mandatory for every American, it should be given to each citizen on their 18th birthday! Presidential debates should include cut-by-cut commentary on what the politicials feel about this album.


"Down To The Nightclub" - 2:30
"You're Still A Young Man" - 5:14
"What Is Hip?" - 6:35
"Sparkling In The Sand" - 8:12
"Knock Yourself Out" - 23:08

 

[Dennie]

In Modern Times -- SACD

Spyro Gyra

2001 Heads Up Records

Absolutely amazing. Great music, awesome recording, January 25, 2003
By Theodore Hyatt "bronxer" (Bronx, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: In Modern Times (Hybr) (Audio CD)

Absolutely must hear this sacd! I was floored by the clarity, fluidity of sound. I felt like I was almost able to touch it! Especially the fourth song (can't remember the name. I do not own it yet -- buying it online and waiting for delivery, but my friend has it).
I consider this one of the best of anything I ever heard! If it wasn't sacd, it would still be great, but the sound reproduction is flawless, and the harmonics and tonal purity make it a MUST HAVE!!!
By the way, I listened to it on a Yamaha RX V1 with Pioneer Elite DV45A with Polk RT11's.
Buy this sacd and you will NOT be sorry.

"After Hours" (Jay Beckenstein/Chuck Loeb) - 5:08
"Feelin' Fine" (Jay Beckenstein) - 4:23
"Julio's Party" (Julio Fernandez) - 5:08
"The River Between" (Scott Ambush) - 6:45
"Groovin for Grover" (Tom Schuman) - 5:50
"Open Door" (Julio Fernandez) - 4:38
"Florida Straits" (Jay Beckenstein) - 4:18
"Feelin' Fine Pt. 2" (Jay Beckenstein/Chuck Loeb) - 4:04
"East River Blues" (Jay Beckenstein) - 6:14
"Your Touch" (Jay Beckenstein/Tom Schuman) - 5:10
"Lucky Bounce" (Jeremy Wall) - 4:18
"Planet J" (Joel Rosenblatt/Phil Magallanes) - 4:42

 

[Dennie]

Enlightenment -- CD

Van Morrison

1990 Mercury Records

After spending most of the '80s delving deep into Celtic imagery, Van Morrison made ENLIGHTENMENT, using the early rock 'n' roll and R&B of his youth for inspiration. "Real Real Gone" quotes lines from songs by James Brown, Wilson Pickett and Solomon Burke to reflect getting squarely hit by Cupid's arrow, while "In The Days Before Rock 'N' Roll" is where Morrison gets truly nostalgic about the music of his youth. As usual, the imagery used by the Belfast Cowboy is sharp and buttressed by gorgeous string arrangements.

Morrison's ruminations on love and life traipse some of the same dark corners as Frank Sinatra's more melancholy '50s work. The near-whispered vocals and low rumble of harmonica on "See Me Through" are soaked with a spiritual restlessness that contrasts the sweetness of "She's My Baby" and the upbeat spirit of "Youth Of 1,000 Summers" (a song ripe to be used as a comeback by any number of '60s soul vets).

All songs by Morrison unless noted otherwise.

"Real Real Gone" – 3:43
"Enlightenment" – 4:04
"So Quiet in Here" – 6:09
"Avalon of the Heart" – 4:45
"See Me Through" – 6:13
"Youth of 1,000 Summers" – 3:45
"In the Days Before Rock 'N' Roll" (Durcan, Morrison) – 8:13
"Start All Over Again" – 4:10
"She's My Baby" – 5:14
"Memories" – 4:14

 

[Dennie]

Killin' Time -- CD

Clint Black

1989 RCA Records

Classic Debut June 23, 2004
By Westley TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD

Clint's debut was a huge breakout hit (selling over 3 million copies to date) and still sounds fantastic today. Some of his all-time best songs are here, and the CD yielded four #1 country songs - "A Better Man" (1 week), "Killin' Time" (1 week), "Nobody's Home" (3 weeks), and "Walkin' Away" (2 weeks). In addition, "Nothing's News" went to #3; however, every song on the CD sounds like it could have been a hit. Clint's voice sounds terrific, and the sound is classic country replete with twangy guitars and steel bass. His voice was initially compared to Merle Haggard, although he also developed his own style right off the bat. In fact, "A Better Man" made history as the first debut single in 13 years to hit #1, since Freddy Fender with "Before the Next Teardrop Falls."

What I admire most is that the collection is remarkably cohesive and the songs flow together so well. At the same time, a variety of styles are represented, including the playful honky-tonk of "Straight from the Factory," the bluesy "Nothing's News," and the danceable "A Better Man." I still frequently listen to this collection, although I rarely listen to Clint's other CDs. Unfortunately, the "Killin' Time" CD is so great that it somewhat overshadowed his subsequent releases, but just sit back and enjoy some great country music. Most highly recommended.

All songs written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas, except where noted.

"Straight from the Factory" – 2:18
"A Better Man" – 3:03
"Nobody's Home" (Black) – 3:29
"Walkin' Away" (Black, Nicholas, Dick Gay) – 2:47
"You're Gonna Leave Me Again" – 3:43
"I'll Be Gone" – 2:28
"Nothing's News" (Black) – 3:02
"Winding Down" (Black) – 3:38
"Killin' Time" – 2:48
"Live and Learn" (Black) – 3:14

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

Another Country -- CD

Tift Merritt

2008 Fantasy Records

Just discovered Tift, February 27, 2008
By Knopfler720 (Quincy, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Another Country (Audio CD)

Listening to Boston's folk radio station (WUMB) is the place where I can hear the gamut of new and old musicians. I must say I was pleasantly surprised after hearing 'Something to Me.' So surprised that I bought this new cd yesterday, the day of it's release. I definitely recommend this cd/artist to anyone who enjoys Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith or Patty Griffin. The melodies are great and the lyrics are poetic and accessible. I'm very happy to have found a new artist to follow. Now all I need to do is listen to her whole catalog.

Thanks Tift! Hope to see you live when you come to the Northeast.

All songs written by Tift Merritt.

"Something to Me" - 4:11
"Broken" - 3:45
"Another Country" - 4:44 (soundtrack in New in Town, 2009 film)
"Hopes Too High" - 3:34
"Morning Is My Destination" - 3:19
"Keep You Happy" - 5:08
"I Know What I'm Looking for Now" - 3:59
"Tell Me Something True" - 3:01
"My Heart Is Free" - 3:32
"Tender Branch" - 3:34
"Mille Tendresses" - 3:10

 

[No-L]

 

[No-L]

 

[No-L]

 

[Dennie]

Ken Burns Jazz -- CD

Louis Armstrong

2000 Columbia Legacy

Amazon.com

For much of his life, Louis Armstrong was the embodiment of jazz for millions of people, both a great creative artist and a beloved popular entertainer. Whether playing trumpet or singing, adding his own definitive touch to a ballad or spearheading a hot New Orleans-style band, Armstrong was a uniquely compelling figure. It's hard to compress such a career into a single CD, but this one includes many of the milestones, reaching back to 1923 for "Chime Blues" with Armstrong playing in the band of his mentor, King Oliver. At the opposite end of Armstrong's life is 1967's "What a Wonderful World," which only became famous decades after it was recorded. In between are the creative peaks, including a good sampling of Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven bands from the late 1920s--the most influential of his recordings--and a superb small-group version of "Old Rockin' Chair" from 1947. Armstrong's 1931 version of Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" retains its special luster seven decades later, and there's also a good selection of trademark hits from his later career, like "Mack the Knife" and "Hello, Dolly!" --Stuart Broomer

Track Listing
1. Chimes Blues
2. Cake Walking Babies (from Home)
3. Heebie Jeebies
4. Potato Head Blues
5. West End Blues
6. Tight Like This
7. Mahogany Hall Stomp
8. Ain't Misbehavin'
9. Black and Blue
10. St. Louis Blues
11. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
12. Blue Again
13. Lazy River
14. Chinatown, My Chinatown
15. Stardust
16. Shadrack
17. I Double Dare You
18. When the Saints Go Marching In
19. Marie
20. Rockin' Chair
21. Blueberry Hill
22. Mack the Knife
23. Fine Romance, A
24. Hello, Dolly!
25. What a Wonderful World

 

[No-L]

 

[No-L]

 

[PaulyT]

My first album of hers... her most recent one, I gather. It's really good, some nice playing on here, and I love the last track especially (God Only Knows), very soulful - by my definition, anyway.