What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Two Men With The Blues -- CD

Willie Nelson / Wynton Marsalis

2008 Blue Note Records

Historic: American Masters at Play July 9, 2008
By Dr. Debra Jan Bibel TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Everyone knew that this summit of master musicians would be special. The session was recently broadcast on National Public Radio's Jazz at Lincoln Center, and as we already have an Amazon video excerpt of the event, we can expect to see the entire meeting on PBS, with DVD as pledge gift. The CD, however, has had the opportunity for further electronic mixing and improvements by Delfeayo Marsalis and Jeff Jones. So what can we say about the quality of the music and the personalities? How many superlatives are there? But you first must be a Willie Nelson fan and you must be a jazz enthusiast who honors Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Jazz folk for their precision and urban sophisticated development of New Orleans roots. Thus if you are among that very large number of music lovers, you must own this recording. Even the insert notes and photos are nicely done. As for the selections, we have Nelson's own oft recorded theme song, Georgia on My Mind, and we also have Stardust, which was included in the album of the same title that demonstrated that Nelson was more than a country singer; indeed that album is his all-time best seller. I, however, enjoyed Rainy Day Blues and the other tunes that follow, which are what the album is supposed to be about: the blues. This album is simply fun. You will love it.


"Bright Lights Big City" – 5:20
"Night Life" – 5:44
"Caldonia" – 3:25
"Stardust" – 5:08
"Basin Street Blues" – 4:56
"Georgia On My Mind" – 4:40
"Rainy Day Blues" – 5:43
"My Bucket's Got a Hole In It" (Williams) – 4:56
"Ain't Nobody's Business" – 7:27
"That's All" (Merle Travis) – 6:08

 

[Botch]

On vinyl also.

 

[Botch]

:music-listening:

This album has "No Tell Lover" on it:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEevfhP0h64[/youtube]

The first bar band I was in did this song and I charted out this tune, seventeen different chords in that tune, iirc!
My dad listened to country, but my Mom listened to Big Band music, which I guess is where I got my love for complex chords. Took to Chicago, then in college discovered Steely Dan; and there you go. :handgestures-thumbup:

 

[Dennie]

Accentuate The Positive -- CD

Al Jarreau

2004 Verve Records

Amazon.com

Al Jarreau's style bridges Jon Hendricks's vocalese and Bobby McFerrin's incredible flights of fancy. This CD, with Diana Krall's rhythm section--guitarist Anthony Wilson, drummer Peter Erskine, and bassist Christian McBride--should please fans of albums like Jarreau's phenomenal 1977 live LP, Look to the Rainbow. Duke Ellington's "I'm Beginning to See the Light" is illuminated by Larry Goldings's down-home Hammond organ, while Lionel Hampton's "Midnight Sun" bops with hip-hop-friendly rim shots. Jarreau's tenor tones curve with saxophonic dexterity and pulse with percussive precision, especially on Dizzy Gillespie's "Groovin' High," where he slyly drops in a few words from the old show tune, "Whispering." --Eugene Holley, Jr.

"Cold Duck" (Harris, Jarreau)
"The Nearness of You" (Carmichael, Washington)
"I'm Beginning to See the Light" (Ellington, George, Hodges, James)
"My Foolish Heart" (Washington, Young)
"Midnight Sun" (Hampton, Burke & Mercer)
"Accentuate the Positive" (Arlen, Mercer)
"Betty Bebop's Song" (Jarreau, Ravel)
"Waltz for Debby" (Evans, Lees)
"Groovin' High" (Gillespie, Jarreau)
"Lotus" (Grolnick, Jarreau)
"Scootcha Booty" (Ferrante, Jarreau)


Al Jarreau
Keith Anderson – saxophone
Larry Williams – keyboards and arrangements
Russell Ferrante – piano
Larry Goldings – Hammond B-3
Tollak Ollestad – harmonica
Anthony Wilson – guitar
Christian McBride – bass
Dave Carpenter – bass
Mark Simmons – drums
Peter Erskine – drums
Luis Conte – percussion

 

[No-L]

:music-listening:

This album has "No Tell Lover" on it:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEevfhP0h64[/youtube]

The first bar band I was in did this song and I charted out this tune, seventeen different chords in that tune, iirc!
My dad listened to country, but my Mom listened to Big Band music, which I guess is where I got my love for complex chords. Took to Chicago, then in college discovered Steely Dan; and there you go. :handgestures-thumbup:

That's awesome! And hard work. What instruments do you play?

 

[Botch]

At that time, I played trombone. That band gave me a couple of drumsticks and a conga to play on the non-brass songs

My last band, I was playing primarily keyboards, with a bit of fiddle, harp and tenor sax.

 

[No-L]

Wow. Cool. What did you study in college?

 

[Dennie]

He Touched Me - The Gospel Music of: -- 2 CD Set

Elvis Presley

1999/2005 Sony-Coming Home Music

Essential Elvis Gospel, May 12, 2005
By Thomas A. Penny (Ellicott City, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: He Touched Me: The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley (Audio CD)
This is truly a superior Elvis Gospel Anthology. Everything you could want is here on two discs. But what sets it apart is on Disc 2. Tracks 5-9 are recordings of Elvis around the piano with, probably, the Stamps, casually singing gospel as he was so fond of doing after shows late into the wee hours of the morning. It is breathtaking. For true Elvis fans, or fans of great Southern Gospel, this is a must have for your collection.

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Crying In The Chapel
2. His Hand In Mine
3. Joshua Fit The Battle
4. So High
5. If We Never Meet Again
6. Milky White Way
7. Stand By Me
8. Somebody Bigger Than You And I
9. I Believe In The Man
10. In The Garden
11. Mansion Over The Hilltop
12. Farther Along
13. Where No One Stands Alone
14. I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs
15. Without Him
16. Working On The Building
17. You'll Never Walk Alone
18. Swing Down Sweet Chariot
19. Where Could I Go But The Lord
20. In The Ghetto

Disc: 2

1. (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)
2. I Believe
3. Take My Hand, Precious Lord
4. It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)
5. I, John
6. Bosom If Abraham
7. You Better Run
8. Lead Me, Guide Me/Turn Your Eyes Upon jesus/Nearer My God To Thee
9. He Touched Me
10. I've Got Confidence
11. Amazing Grace
12. A Thing Called Love
13. A Thing Called Love
14. Put Your Hand In The Hand
15. Reach Out To Jesus
16. If That Isn't Love
17. Bridge Over Troubled Water
18. An American Trilogy
19. Why Me Lord
20. How Great Thou Art

 

[Dennie]

Precious Memories -- CD

Alan Jackson

2005 ACR Records

Great Gospel Album March 16, 2006
By Melvin
Format:Audio CD

Alan Jackson performsthese songs the way they were meant to be sung. There seems to be some today who only want to hear contemporary Christian songs and some who only want to hear the older Christian songs. There is a place for both. Alan Jackson's rendition of these show just how great these old traditional hymns are. Simply sung, simply outstanding.

1. Blessed Assurance
2. Softly And Tenderly
3. I Love To Tell The Story
4. When We All Get To Heaven
5. 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
6. In The Garden
7. Are You Washed In The Blood?
8. I'll Fly Away
9. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
10. Standing On The Promises
11. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
12. Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
13. The Old Rugged Cross
14. How Great Thou Art
15. I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You

 

[Dennie]

The Wall -- 2 CD Set

Pink Floyd

1979 Pink Floyd Music/Columbia

Amazon.com essential recording

The Wall is less a collection of songs than a single work, which is sometimes frustrating; the plot lacks enough coherence to hold the snippets of music together. However, there are occasional flashes of brilliance on what arguably ranks as Pink Floyd's most ambitious project. Most of these come from the fully developed songs, which have become classics in their own right; "Hey You," "Mother," and especially "Comfortably Numb" are subtly incredible pieces of music. Though complex, they move at a relaxed pace, allowing the listener to absorb them slowly; this kind of pacing was something Pink Floyd excelled at. Also worth noting is the "Another Brick in the Wall/The Happiest Days of Our Lives" medley, which has become a staple of rock radio. --Genevieve Williams

All songs written and composed by Roger Waters, except where noted.

Side one
No. Title Music Lead vocals Length
1. "In the Flesh?" Waters 3:19
2. "The Thin Ice" Gilmour, Waters 2:27
3. "Another Brick in the Wall Part 1" Waters 3:21
4. "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" Waters 1:46
5. "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" Gilmour, Waters 4:00
6. "Mother" Waters, Gilmour 5:36
Side two
No. Title Music Lead vocals Length
1. "Goodbye Blue Sky" Gilmour 2:45
2. "Empty Spaces" Waters 2:10
3. "Young Lust" Waters, Gilmour Gilmour 3:25
4. "One of My Turns" Waters 3:35
5. "Don't Leave Me Now" Waters 4:16
6. "Another Brick in the Wall Part 3" Waters 1:14
7. "Goodbye Cruel World" Waters 1:13
Side three
No. Title Music Lead vocals Length
1. "Hey You" Gilmour, Waters 4:40
2. "Is There Anybody Out There?" Waters 2:44
3. "Nobody Home" Waters 3:26
4. "Vera" Waters 1:35
5. "Bring the Boys Back Home" Waters 1:21
6. "Comfortably Numb" Gilmour, Waters Waters, Gilmour 6:24
Side four
No. Title Music Lead vocals Length
1. "The Show Must Go On" Gilmour 1:36
2. "In the Flesh" Waters 4:13
3. "Run Like Hell" Gilmour, Waters Gilmour, Waters 4:19
4. "Waiting for the Worms" Waters, Gilmour 4:04
5. "Stop" Waters 0:30
6. "The Trial" Waters, Ezrin Waters 5:13
7. "Outside the Wall" Waters 1:41

 

[Dennie]

Well Botch, you motivated me to fire-up the turntable.... bscene-drinkingcheers:

My Maria - Includes Shambala

B.W. Stevenson

1973 RCA Records

The Very Best of B.W. Stevenson, November 22, 1999
By Martin G. Klein (Wichita, Kansas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Very Best of B.W. Stevenson (Audio CD)

Album brought back memories of an outstanding artist in the Texas Music Scene. The more popular songs like My Maria and Shambala overshadow the body of his work while he was alive. Some other songs that would be nice to hear would be On My Own and California Shores(El Camino take me Home).However, this CD has some great songs too like A Good Love is Like a Good Song and Sunset Woman. Anyone who likes good folk/rock/country music will enjoy hearing this CD.

1. My Maria
2. Be My Woman Tonight
3. Sunset Woman
4. A Good Love Is Like a Good Song
5. Grab on Hold of My Soul
6. Shambala
7. Lucky Touch
8. I Got to Boogie
9. Remember Me
10. Pass This Way

 

[Dennie]

The Nightfly

Donald Fagen

1982 Warner Bros. Records

Donald Fagen's 1982 solo debut extends the sleek, smart pop craft of his work with Steely Dan into the realm of the concept album, taking the Dan's penchant for intricate plotting, evocative narrative voices, and allusive imagery to the logical next step. Fagen's connective thread is futurist nostalgia for the "New Frontier" as anticipated from the prosperous vantage point of late-'50s America. He romanticizes a brave new world of technology in the sultry diorama of "I.G.Y.," celebrating the coming glories of the Atomic Age. He then filters that view through his own suburban adolescence--a would-be seduction in a fallout shelter, the siren song of a graveyard-shift jazz DJ, a not-quite-hard-boiled noir adventure ("The Goodbye Look") that borrows its title from an early '60s Ross MacDonald mystery. Song for song, the set's a stunner and stands apart from Steely Dan thanks to a unique, poignant romanticism embodied in Fagen's yearning "Maxine" and a creamy update of Dion & the Belmonts' "Ruby Baby." --Sam Sutherland

"I.G.Y." – 6:05
"Green Flower Street" – 3:40
"Ruby Baby" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller), Arranged by Donald Fagen – 5:38
"Maxine" – 3:50
"New Frontier" – 6:23
"The Nightfly" – 5:45
"The Goodbye Look" – 4:47
"Walk Between Raindrops" – 2:38

 

[Dennie]

Little Feat -- LP

Little Feat

1971 Warner Bros. Records

Little Feat was the eponymous debut by the American rock band Little Feat, released in January 1971. Cobbled together from a variety of recording sessions mostly between August and September 1970, its sound can be best described as the antithesis to any of the group's classic recordings (such as 1973's Dixie Chicken and 1978's Waiting For Columbus). Featuring the Mk. 1 line-up of the group, with Roy Estrada on bass, it was the first of eight albums by the group before their initial 1979 break-up.

The blues that accented the group's later recordings were in full force on Little Feat. Utilizing slide guitar legend Ry Cooder, the group knocked off a medley of two Howlin' Wolf songs, "Forty Four Blues" and "How Many More Years." The coming together of bizarre lyrics and superb instrumentation that dominated all Little Feat albums through Lowell George's tenure as leader were debuted with the dark "Hamburger Midnight." The brilliant slices of American life that were present on each album were debuted with "Strawberry Flats" and "Willin'" (the latter destined for a reworking on Sailin' Shoes). The tender side of the group was exemplified with tracks like "Truck Stop Girl" and "I've Been The One."

The cover shows a mural in Venice, California, painted by the L. A. Fine Arts Squad in 1970 - "Venice in the Snow".

"Snakes on Everything" (Payne) – 3:04
"Strawberry Flats" (Payne, George) – 2:20
"Truck Stop Girl" (Payne, George) – 2:32
"Brides of Jesus" (Payne, George) – 3:20
"Willin'" (George) – 2:24
"Hamburger Midnight" (George, Estrada) – 2:30
"Forty-Four Blues / How Many More Years" (Roosevelt Sykes, Chester Burnett) – 6:25
"Crack in Your Door" (George) – 2:16
"I've Been the One" (George) – 2:20
"Takin' My Time" (Payne) – 3:45
"Crazy Captain Gunboat Willie" (Payne, George) – 1:55

 

[Dennie]

Bare -- CD

Annie Lennox

2003 RCA Records

Amazon.com

Annie Lennox's first album of original songs in 11 years on is a stylish tour de force that showcases the former Eurythmics chanteuse in all her chilly, shimmering splendor. Her formidable voice is still a supple and intriguing instrument, lithely shape-shifting between emotions, personas, and musical forms. Lennox moves effortlessly from the sparse and pristine lament of "A Thousand Beautiful Things" to the deceptively simple "Pavement Cracks," a solemn ballad that is transformed by electro dance beats that recall some of the best of the Eurythmics. But Lennox's quixotic voice is best utilized as an old-school soul instrument; she makes a metaphoric journey to Motown on "Hurting Time," a reflective ballad could have been lifted off a Miracles album. "Honesty," shows the Scottish diva at her well-mannered best, occupying the same sophisticated space formerly held by Carly Simon. --Jaan Uhelszki

1. A Thousand Beautiful Things
2. Pavement Cracks
3. The Hurting Time
4. Honestly
5. Wonderful
6. Bitter Pill
7. Loneliness
8. The Saddest Song I’ve Got
9. Erased
10. Twisted
11. Oh God (Prayer)

 

[Dennie]

The Best of David Benoit 1987 -1995 -- CD

David Benoit

1995 GRP Records

During his years with the GRP label, pianist David Benoit became very popular among listeners who enjoy hearing melodic jazz-influenced pop instrumentals that groove in a generally quiet manner. This sampler has 14 selections including two previously unreleased numbers and tunes taken from ten of Benoit's earlier releases. Unfortunately the exact personnel is only given for the new tracks (a rather inexcusable omission). The music overall (which includes a couple of straight-ahead performances recorded for tributes to Bill Evans and Vince Guaraldi) is lightly funky and enjoyable if somewhat lightweight. Highlights include "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," "Linus and Lucy," "Freedom at Midnight," "Letter to Evan," and "Urban Daydreams." ~ Scott Yanow

Track Listing
1. Drive Time - (previously unreleased)
2. Every Step of the Way
3. Cast Your Fate to the Wind
4. Searching for June - (previously unreleased)
5. M.W.A. (Musicians with Attitude)
6. Linus and Lucy
7. Kei's Song
8. Key to You, The
9. Freedom at Midnight
10. Still Standing
11. Wailea
12. Letter to Evan
13. Urban Daydreams
14. Mediterranean Nights - (bonus track)

 

[Dennie]

City To City-- CD

Gerry Rafferty

1978/1990 United Artist/Capitol Records

Often mistaken with Night Owl, as they both had similar subject matter and beautiful Patrick Byrne covers, the main difference is that this is the one with 'Baker Street', probably the most flogged song of the past two decades, and one that now does his credibility no good. Missing out in the memory bank is the powerful 'The Ark', and the often ignored, radio-friendly title track. It also includes two of his finest open love songs - 'Right Down The Line' and the innocently profound 'Whatever's Written In Your Heart' (is all that matters), with the line 'so we agree to disagree, at least we got our memories.

All songs written by Gerry Rafferty.

"The Ark" – 5:36
"Baker Street" – 6:01
"Right Down the Line" – 4:20
"City to City" – 4:51
"Stealin' Time" – 5:39
"Mattie's Rag" – 3:28
"Whatever's Written in Your Heart" – 6:30
"Home and Dry" – 4:52
"Island" – 5:04
"Waiting for the Day" – 5:26

 

[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]

Arc Of A Diver -- CD

Steve Winwood

1980/1990 Island Records

Amazon.com

He wasn't Little Stevie, the 16-year-old phenom who set mid- '60s London blazing with his Ray Charles-like vocals, anymore. He was a half-forgotten ex-member of some of rock's most progressive (Traffic) and vilified (Blind Faith) bands, and he was considering leaving show business while recording this--his second album--alone and without a backup band. Arc of a Diver reflects a resigned-to-fate mood. It boasts a synth-heavy, dub-like ambience, with dirge-y tracks like "Spanish Dancer" and the wistful single "While You See a Chance" all but zoning out of your speakers. The fates were kind, though. Recording the single, Winwood inadvertently erased the drum intro. This spacey alteration, together with his catchiest tune since "Paper Sun," catapulted the song onto the charts. In a few years he would be among the top-selling vocalists in the world. His mood was lighter. He could afford to hire engineers that didn't make mistakes. --Don Harrison

"While You See a Chance" (Winwood, Will Jennings) - 5:12
"Arc of a Diver" (Winwood, Vivian Stanshall) - 5:28
"Second-Hand Woman" (Winwood, George Fleming) - 3:41
"Slowdown Sundown" (Winwood, Will Jennings) - 5:27
"Spanish Dancer" (Winwood, Will Jennings) - 5:58
"Night Train" (Winwood, Will Jennings) - 7:51
"Dust" (Winwood, George Fleming) - 6:20

 

[Dennie]

Clapton -- CD

Eric Clapton

2010 Reprise Records

Editorial Reviews

Co-produced by guitarist and long-time collaborator Doyle Bramhall II, ‘Clapton’ features an all star cast of musical collaborations started with the legendary JJ Cale, drummer Jim Keltner, bassist Willie Weeks, and keyboardist Walt Richmond - and the sessions later added guests including Steve Winwood, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Allen Toussaint, and Derek Trucks. Clapton created a collection that touches on everything from century-old traditional brass bands to little-known country blues to brand-new originals. The result is both relaxed and revelatory, and unlike anything the guitarist has done in his legendary career.

‘This album wasn't what it was intended to be at all,’ says Eric Clapton. ‘It's actually better than it was meant to be because, in a way, I just let it happen. It's an eclectic collection of songs that weren't really on the map - and I like it so much because if it's a surprise to the fans, that's only because it's a surprise to me, as well.’

"Travelin' Alone" (Lil' Son Jackson) – 3:56
"Rocking Chair" (Hoagy Carmichael) – 4:04
"River Runs Deep" (JJ Cale) – 5:52
"Judgement Day" (Snooky Pryor) – 3:13
"How Deep Is the Ocean" (Irving Berlin) – 5:29
"My Very Good Friend the Milkman" (Lyrics:Johnny Burke, Music: Harold Spina) – 3:20
"Can't Hold Out Much Longer" (Walter Jacobs) – 4:08
"That's No Way to Get Along" (Robert Wilkins) – 6:07
"Everything Will Be Alright" (Cale) – 3:51
"Diamonds Made from Rain" (Doyle Bramhall II, Nikka Costa, Justin Stanley) – 4:22
"When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful" (Harry M. Woods) – 2:51
"Hard Times Blues" (Lane Hardin) – 3:45
"Run Back to Your Side" (Bramhall, Eric Clapton) – 5:17
"Autumn Leaves" (Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert) – 5:40


Performers

Eric Clapton – vocals, guitar, mandolin
Doyle Bramhall II – guitar, percussion, vocals, vocal arrangement
JJ Cale – guitar, vocals
Jim Keltner – drums, percussion
Willie Weeks – bass guitar, double bass
Walt Richmond – piano, keyboards, hammond organ, wurlitzer electric piano
Derek Trucks – guitar, slide guitar
Paul Carrack – hammond organ
Sereca Henderson – organ
London Session Orchestra – strings
Allen Toussaint – piano
Wynton Marsalis – trumpet
Kim Wilson – harmonica on "Judgement Day" and "Can't Hold Out Much Longer"
Sheryl Crow – vocals
Nikka Costa – backing vocals
Terry Evans – backing vocals
Willie Green, Jr. – backing vocals
Lynn Mabry – backing vocals
Arnold McCuller – backing vocals
Debra Parsons – backing vocals
Steve Winwood - guitars, vocals, hammond B3

 

[Dennie]

Melancholy Baby -- CD

Jaimee Paul

2011 Greenhill Records

Jazz vocal maven, Jaimee Paul, lends her sultry, bluesy pipes to an eclectic collection of jazz, blues and pop standards. While delivering impressive tributes to the likes of Billie Holiday ("Don't Explain", "You've Changed"), Etta James ("Don't Cry Baby", "A Sunday Kind of Love"), Nina Simone ("I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl"), Paul also puts her unique spin on such contemporary classics as U2's, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", Curtis Mayfield's, "People Get Ready", and Bill Wither's "Ain't No Sunshine."


1 Don't Cry Baby
2 Ain't No Sunshine
3 Come Rain Or Come Shine
4 I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
5 You've Changed
6 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
7 A Sunday Kind Of Love
8 Big Spender
9 Don't Explain
10 What'll I Do
11 People Get Ready
12 Smile
13 My Melancholy Baby (feat. Beegie Adair)