What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music.....

Streetlights -- CD

Bonnie Raitt

1974/1990 ? Warner Bros. Records

Haunting, Moving, Her Best, January 18, 2001
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Streetlights (Audio CD)

I'm SHOCKED that anyone has rated this album anything lower than five stars. This album is haunting, moving, unexpected . . . and well worth having in your collection. It's a record you can listen to again and again, from start to finish, and with every rotation, you'll notice or feel something you missed the time before.

"That Song About the Midway" (Joni Mitchell) – 4:44
"Rainy Day Man" (James Taylor, Zachary Weisner) – 3:41
"Angel from Montgomery" (John Prine) – 3:59
"I Got Plenty" (Joey Levine, Jim Carroll) – 3:09
"Streetlights" (Bill Payne) – 5:05
"What Is Success" (Allen Toussaint) – 3:32
"Ain't Nobody Home" (Jerry Ragovoy) – 3:04
"Everything That Touches You" (Michael Kamen) – 3:28
"Got You on My Mind" (David Lasley, Allee Willis) – 3:50
"You Got to Be Ready for Love (If You Wanna Be Mine)" (Lou Courtney) – 3:08

 

[Dennie]

Ahhhh, home by noon......... :happy-cheerleaderkid:

Four Corners -- CD

Yellowjackets

1987 MCA Records

Where I always return..., January 30, 2000
By Paul Pomeroy (from somewhere left of Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Four Corners (Audio CD)

I slipped into jazz by way of Steely Dan back in the late '70s. Since then my collection has expanded to include a whole range of artists, from Adderley to Zawinul. But I always return to the Yellowjackets and, in particular, this CD. Why? Here's the short answer to that question: Buy the CD. Put track 1 on. Turn it up LOUD. You can lose yourself in just that one track for days, and then there's track 2 ...

And the long answer: this is all pretty subjective, of course, but the reason I like this CD so much has as much to do with what it isn't as what it is. First of all, it isn't some '80s version of '50s jazz or some jazzed up new age [stuff]. Most of the cuts on this CD are what was called "jazz fusion," the fusion of jazz and rock. The only "big success" (in terms of records sold) for jazz fusion is Steely Dan, mostly because they stayed on the "rock" side of the mix (to the extent that much of their music is better categorized as jazz influenced rock). But there were some great (artistically successful) jazz fusion groups back then (Weather Report being one of the best known). Of all of these groups, the Yellowjackets stand out as one that consistently got the spirit (the drive; the intensity) of jazz fusion right.

Beginning with their Four Corners CD, the Yellowjackets really got the fusion right (much more jazz than their earlier releases). Compared with their earlier releases, something magical is happening here. As magical as it is, the credit for how great it sounds is due to the incredible mix of talent the 4 members of the group bring to the music.

The music is grounded by William Kennedy on the drums, arguably the best jazz drummer of the '80s. On top of the drums is Jimmy Haslip's bass (both 5 string and fretless). Jimmy's style of playing owes much to Jaco Pastorius (the hugely influential bassist for Weather Report who reinvented the art of playing bass). There's no adequate way of describing how great a fretless bass can sound - you just have to listen to someone like Jimmy playing it (try track 7).

On top of the drums and bass is Russell Ferrante's piano and keyboard playing. If you want to hear what musicians mean by "fat chords" and "fat sounds," listen to Russell's playing - it's the reason that most of the cuts on this CD sound like there are 10 people playing instead of 4. Russell, who wrote or co-wrote most of the tracks on this CD has an incredible range, from gospel phrasing to syncopated African rhythms, and is equally adept at slow, achingly beautiful melodies as he is at lightening fast, jack-hammered runs. On top of all of it is Mark Russo's saxophone. When this guy gets going it's incredible - he gets an unbelievable amount of emotional mileage out of a saxophone without ever approaching the egotistical, plastic passion of players like Kenny G[ag]. Mark's range is just as impressive as Russell's - from flat out wailing (in track 2, for example) to the incredibly tender longing expressed in the melody of track 4.

Track List

01. Out Of Town 5:04
02. Wildlife 6:06
03. Sightseeing 5:55
04. Open Road 3:39
05. Mile High 4:14
06. Past Ports 5:33
07. Postcards 5:31
08. Room With A View 4:31
09. Geneva 2:28
10. Indigo 5:29

Russell Ferrante - aoustic piano and all synthesizers
Jimmy Haslip - five string bass and fretless bass,vocals
Marc Russo - soprano and alro saxes
William Kennedy - drums,percussion

 

[Dennie]

Tourist In Paradise -- CD

The Rippingtons Featuring Russ Freeman

1989 GRP Records

My First Rippingtons, August 15, 2005
By Armando M. Mesa (Chandler, AZ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Tourist in Paradise (Audio CD)

This cd was my introduction to the Rippingtons back in '89 (fresh out of high school---into college)...I then started to collect some of their other works. Without a doubt, from their classy Jazz Cat (retro beatnik?) mascot artwork to the actual musical material,as a whole, this cd is brilliant ! The vitality and the energy (even the subtle warmth and beauty of the slower tracks like One Night In Brazil) from this project renders each composition to be very special with absolutely no fillers. Styles range from contemporary smooth cool jazz, light pop rock (Earthbound) to a highly danceable salsa track (Aruba!) steeped in it's rich Latin ambience and rhythms really makes this an awesome and complete cd ! Tourist in Paradise is polished to perfection.

I happen to own both the cd version and the vinyl/record version (remember those?). The vinyl pressing is a trip to listen to and makes the music really come alive---now I know why jazz enthusiasts prefer the sound of vinyl over cd sometimes ! There's no elevator muzak here guys. The Rippingtons know how to really surprise and catch your attention by also creating beautiful Latin-jazz infused rhythms and tracks throughout some of their catalog releases; They do it with such genuine command and natural ease !

Out of the entire Rippingtons catalog I recommend these 4 titles: 1. Tourist In Paradise, 2. Moonlighting, 3.Life In The Tropics, 4. Wild Card.

"Tourist in Paradise" - 5:39
"Jupiter's Child" - 5:17
"Aruba!" - 4:15
"One Summer Night in Brazil" - 6:28
"Earthbound" - 4:37
"Let's Stay Together" - 4:47
"One Ocean Way" - 4:19
"Destiny" - 5:40
"The Princess" - 3:08

 

[Dennie]

Good To Go-Go -- SACD

Spyro Gyra

2007 Heads Up Records

Amazon.com

Spyro Gyra leader Jay Beckenstein credits the addition of Trinidadian drummer Bonny B with juicing the long-running contemporary jazz band's sound, making it more "live-sounding." Wherever the stimulus came from, Good to Go-Go is one of the more forceful albums by Beckenstein and company. The drummer's Caribbean-style "Jam Up," featuring Andy Narell on steel drums and Bonny B on vocals, is infectious in a tightly wound way and melodically flavorful. With its modern harmonies, "The Left Band," with Christian Howe's guesting on violin, has an edge most such music lacks. Elsewhere, Spyro Gyra's funk-based sound is boosted by Julio Fernandez's wired guitar and lyrically colored by Tom Schuman's unplugged piano. This is the band's 26th album. Three decades on, it would seem, it is entering a promising new phase. --Lloyd Sachs

"Simple Pleasures" (Jay Beckenstein) – 5:50
"Get Busy" (Tom Schuman) – 5:19
"Jam Up" (Bonny Bonaparte) – 4:15
"The Left Bank" (Jay Beckenstein) – 5:40
"Funkyard Dog" (Julio Fernandez) – 5:02
"Along for the Ride" (Julio Fernandez) – 6:45
"Island Time" (Scott Ambush) – 6:23
"Wassup!" (Tom Schuman) – 4:45
"Easy Street" (Jay Beckenstein) – 5:02
"A Winter Tale" (Jay Beckenstein) – 6:34
"Good to Go-Go" (Scott Ambush) – 6:41
"Newroses" (Jay Beckenstein, Julio Fernandez) – 6:46

 

[Dennie]

Into The Purple Valley -- CD

Ry Cooder

1972/1990 Reprise Records

Amazon.com essential recording

Ry Cooder may have been an in-demand session guitarist in the late '60s, but what set him apart in his early solo career was his extraordinary, if eccentric, taste in songs. Here he explores the repertoires of everyone from Johnny Cash to Bahaman folk master Joseph Spence to Leadbelly with enchanting results. While Cooder's vocal skills are no match for his slide guitar and mandolin talents (the latter showcased splendidly in "Hey Porter" and "Billy the Kid"), he's an amiable singer who resists the temptation to camp it up, even when essaying such antiquated oddities as "FDR in Trinidad" and "Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All." --Steve Stolder

"How Can You Keep Moving (Unless You Migrate Too)" (Agnes "Sis" Cunningham) – 2:25
"Billy the Kid" (Traditional) – 3:45
"Money Honey" (Jesse Stone) – 3:28
"FDR in Trinidad" (Fitz Maclean) – 3:01
"Teardrops Will Fall" (Dickey Doo, Marion Smith) – 3:03
"Denomination Blues" (George Washington Phillips) – 3:58
"On a Monday" (Leadbelly) – 2:52
"Hey Porter" (Johnny Cash) – 4:34
"Great Dream from Heaven" (Joseph Spence) – 1:53
"Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All" (Traditional) – 3:52
"Vigilante Man" (Woody Guthrie) – 4:15

 

[Dennie]

Dream Cafe -- CD

Greg Brown

1992 Red House Records

Greg lets his finest come to your ears...., January 3, 2003
By Peter Jackson (Spring Lake, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Dream Cafe (Audio CD)

If you are familiar with Greg Brown, you probably are familiar with this release. If you don't have it, get it and treat yourself to an experience that take you on a journey of loves lost and loves to come. For those who are curious about Greg's work, this is an excellent place to start. There is not a bad cut here, and in particular, "Dream Cafe", "Spring Wind" and "Laughing River" are a trio of songs that somehow work some sort of magic into allowing me to see into life a bit deeper for a period of time. Two other releases that go along well with this are "Further In" and "The Poet Game."

All songs by Greg Brown.

"Just by Myself" – 4:45
"Sleeper" – 4:28
"I Don't Know That Guy" – 4:51
"So Hard" – 2:38
"You Can Watch Me" – 3:37
"Dream Cafe" – 5:55
"You Drive Me Crazy" – 4:56
"Spring Wind" – 4:32
"Nice When it Rains" – 3:10
"Laughing River" – 4:16
"No Place Away" – 4:10
"I Don't Want to Be the One" – 3:24

 

[Dennie]

The Time Has Come -- CD

The Chamber Brothers

1969/2000 Sony Music

If you take gospel, blues, psychedelic and soul music, then shake them all together, you'd expect to make a musical mess. However, if you happen to be a talented bunch of brothers, what you create is something which continues to influence musicians today.

Side One:
1. All Strung Out Over You
2. People Get Ready
3. I Can't Stand It
4. Romeo and Juliet
5. In the Midnight Hour
6. So Tired

Side Two:
1. Uptown
2. Please Don't Leave Me
3. What The World Needs Now Is Love
4. Time Has Come Today

 

[Dennie]

Neck and Neck - CD

Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins

1990 Columbia Records

Amazon.com

Two generations of guitarists merge on this cleverly-titled album, with former Dire Straits virtuoso Mark Knopfler taking time off from scoring movies to join Chet Atkins, one of the fathers of electric guitar pickin'. And there's some mighty fine country pickin' on display here, with the duo joined by some of Nashville's all-time finest players, including the late, great Floyd Cramer, Mark O'Connor, Larry Londin, Vince Gill, and Steve Wariner. The material ranges from choice country covers (Doc Watson's "Poor Boy Blues," Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams") to rock 'n' roll ("Yakety Ax," a take on Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax"), jazz (Django Reinhardt's "Tears"), a Knopfler original, and even the old standard "I'll See You in My Dreams." It sounds like they had fun, too! --Bill Holdship

 

[Dennie]

Old Ways -- 24k Gold CD

Neil Young

1996 MFSL Ultradisc II

"Young is countrified & having a ball", August 8, 2000
By J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Old Ways (Audio CD)

A straight ahead country album from Neil Young featuring Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings - "OLD WAYS", originally released in 1985- is traveling down the road again with a country band International Harvesters.

Guest appearances by some notables as - Bela Fleck on banjo, Hargus "Pig" Robbins on piano, Rufus Thibodeaux on fiddle, Ralph Mooney on steel guitar, Marty Stuart on mandolin and Terry McMillan on harmonica, plus his usual sidemen Ben Keith, Spooner Oldham, Tim Drummond and Karl Himmel.

This re-mastered album is pure fun, sounds better than ever. Give a listen and see if you don't agree - "OLD WAYS" is a real down-home barn-raisin' time!

Side one

"The Wayward Wind" – (Herb Newman, Stanley Lebowsky) 3:12
"Get Back to the Country" – 2:50
"Are There Any More Real Cowboys?" – 3:03
"Once an Angel" – 3:55
"Misfits" – 5:07

Side two

"California Sunset" – 2:56
"Old Ways" – 3:08
"My Boy" – 3:37
"Bound for Glory" – 5:48
"Where Is the Highway Tonight?" – 3:02

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

Silvertone -- CD

Chris Isaak

1985 Warner Bros. Records

Isaak's Debut, April 5, 2001
By Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)


This review is from: Silvertone (Audio CD)

Chris Isaak's debut album takes its name from his backing band, Silvertone. The band's sound harkens back to the hey day of Sun Studios where artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and, most notably for Mr. Isaak, Roy Orbison ruled the day. There is a brooding, dark and eerie sound to the songs. "Dancin'" has an almost funky vibe to it, "The Lonely Ones" is a Roy Orbison redux and is an absolutely magnificent song and "Western Stars" is a lilting ballad. Mr. Isaak has a deep, smooth voice that adds a density to the songs while Silvertone plays songs in a way that seems on the surface to be quite simple but are full of nuances. This is a great debut record.

All songs written by Chris Isaak.

"Dancin'" – 3:44
"Talk To Me" – 3:04
"Livin' For Your Lover" – 2:56
"Back On Your Side" – 3:14
"Voodoo" – 2:44
"Funeral In The Rain" – 3:18
"The Lonely Ones" – 3:12
"Unhappiness" – 3:10
"Tears" – 2:44
"Gone Ridin'" – 2:36
"Pretty Girls Don't Cry" – 2:24
"Western Stars" – 3:12
"Another Idea" (US Editions) - 2:53

 

[Dennie]

Nice! That has to be good....

Dennie :eusa-clap:

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

Butterfly -- CD

Barbra Streisand

1974 Columbia Records

She turns in a distinctive performance of Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands," while the mid-tempo "Jubilation" continues the funky theme with an added choir. The highlight of the record is "Simple Man," beautifully arranged with acoustic guitar, piano, and cello. Streisand voices her longing, exclaiming "I just wanna hold you/I don't wanna hold you down/I don't wanna make it on my own." The album runs from humorous to deep, while showing a more spiritual side to the Funny Girl.

This record, possibly more than any other Streisand release, shows Streisand's soul. The songs have that extra bit of depth to them, showing that Babs can really dig deep and produce some powerful stuff. It's Barbra's turn at R&B done her way, and she hangs with the best of them. "Love In The Afternoon" is a sweet ballad, with the aforementioned soul ringing throughout. "Guava Jelly" is Barbra trying her hand at some tropical music, with excellent congas, percussion, and steel drums.

Personnel: Barbra Streisand (vocals); Ben Benay, Larry Carlton (guitar); Tom Scott (woodwinds); Clarence McDonald (keyboards); Max Bennett (bass); John Guerin (drums); King Errisson (congas); Gary Coleman (percussion).

"Love in the Afternoon" (Ben Geminaro, Evie Sands, Richard Wiseman) – 4:07
"Guava Jelly" (Bob Marley) – 3:17
"Grandma's Hands" (Bill Withers) – 3:27
"I Won't Last a Day Without You" (Paul Williams, Roger Nichols) – 4:19
"Jubilation" (Paul Anka, Johnny Harris) – 3:55
"Simple Man" (Graham Nash) – 3:03
"Life on Mars?" (David Bowie) – 3:11
"Since I Don't Have You" (Joseph Rock, James Beaumont, Lenny Martin) – 2:52
"Crying Time" (Buck Owens) – 2:52
"Let The Good Times Roll" (Shirley Goodman, Leonard Lee) – 4:54

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music....

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

 

[jomari]

Zombies - Time for the Season.

Everytime i listen to it i end up trying to sing the chorus, and yet dont know which 'vocal' to persue. Sunuvabitch man, that song rocks.

 

[No-L]

 

[Dennie]

Gershwin's World -- SACD

Herbie Hancock

2004 Verve Records

Majestic, a musical experience for body and soul, December 7, 1998
By kim_61@hotmail.com (Thailand) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gershwin's World (Audio CD)

I saw Herbie Hancock live for the first time in London in the early 80's, accompanying Winton Marsalis. He blew me away, for the range of his technique and conceptual genius.On this album, he soars on gilded wings, portraying his vision of Gershwin, aided by the stellar cast he has surrounded himself with.The sound of Wayne Shorter's Tenor horn brings back memories of that all -time great band of Miles in the 60's.The amazing vision that Herbie has, which he gathered under Miles, is shown at its fullest here, in the mental and aural concepts he explores.He takes Gershwin's compositions to their limits, expanding them with a subtle intensity which breaks into white flame on tracks like " Summertime", a piece now so common that one would think it impossible to reignite it with new life. But reignite it he does, with Joni's smoky,etheral/erotic vocals and that piano. The incorporation of African percussionists is a master stroke, and underpins the themes with a breathy freshness. It is marvellous to hear Stevie Wonder exploring those cadences which show here where Rap and Hip hop came from. There are no duds here-this is a coming together of all that is finest in American and world music, united in the vision of genius-Gershiwn and Herbie Hancock. If your are not a jazz fan, if you listen to one "jazz" album a year, but if you listen to musci of any sort, listen to this. Majestic,marvellous, this is a master work for all.

"Fascinating Rhythm Overture"
"It Ain't Necessarily So"
"The Man I Love"
"Here Come De Honey Man"
"St. Louis Blues"
"Lullaby"
"Blueberry Rhyme"
"It Ain't Necessarily So Interlude"
"Cotton Tail"
"Summertime"
"My Man's Gone Now"
"Prelude In C# Minor"
"Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In G, 2nd Movement"
"Embraceable You"

 

[No-L]

 

[No-L]