What Are You Listening To?
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Dennie
Well-Known Member
Love's Been Rough On Me CD
Etta James
1997 RCA Victor
A Killer From A Legend, January 2, 2009
By Michael Neiss (Princeton, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Among his many observations that had a way of boring into your subconscious and never leaving, George Carlin once remarked that the Blues is the only musical form that requires absolute authenticity - "It's not enough to play the notes, you have to know why the notes need to be played." On this equally special and sadly neglected 1998 release, Etta James makes sure we know - that she knows.
During several interviews conducted around the record's release, Ms. James was very critical of the finished product that was originally conceived as a Country project but in her telling, wound up as an abortive, unfocused collection of everything - and nothing. Well, with all due respect to the artist, she couldn't be more wrong. Love's Been Tough On Me is a tough, searing and unapologetic Blues-Rock manifesto that is as far away from Nashville as Somalia is from Rodeo Drive.
Led by legendary Muscle Shoals front man Barry Beckett, every track alternately boils, simmers or steams, driven by a voice wizened and wearied by too much life and too little respect. It only takes a single listen to If I Had Any Pride left At All and I Can Give You Everything to smile at the thought of Tina Turner and Mick Jagger wishing they had gotten there first.
This is an exceptional release that proves with every listen why every note definitely needs to be played.
1. The Rock - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Jim Varsos and Russell Smith
2. Cry Like A Rainy Day - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Greg Barnhill and Kenny Greenberg
3. Love's Been Rough On Me - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Gretchen Peters
4. Love It Or Leave It Alone - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: John Keller and Will Jennings
5. Don't Touch Me - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Hank Cochran
6. Hold Me (Just A Little Longer Tonight) - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Troy Seals and Graham Lyle
7. If I Had Any Pride Left At All - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Eddie Setser and Troy Seals
8. I Can Give You Everything - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Terry Anderson and Al Anderson
9. I've Been Lovin' You Too Long - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Jerry Butler and Otis Redding
10. Done In The Dark - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Donto James and Etta James
Dennie
Well-Known Member
20th Anniversary Collection -- 2 CD Box Set
Various Artists
1997 Blind Pig Records
Amazon.com
One would expect a label's two-CD collection, no matter how assiduously picked, to have some low points. It's inevitable, one might think; even the most selective record labels have produced some duds. But on the 20th Anniversary Collection from Blind Pig Records, such low points are non-existent. It's a testimony to the label's exacting standards and the many reels of quality blues they've recorded over their first 20 years. There's something for everyone on this set, from traditional acoustic blues (check out Johnny Shines's rendition of "Blues Come to Texas"), to modern rockers (Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers' "Drive to Survive," for instance). Many up-and-coming artists are featured here, including Deborah Coleman ("My Heart Bleeds Blue") and Debbie Davies ("Howlin' at the Moon"), counterbalanced with plenty of old hands such as Carey Bell ("That Spot Right There") and John Lee Hooker ("Terraplane Blues"). There's even a rousing "La Vierge" from zydeco accordionist Al Rapone. All in all, while it's possible that not everything here will appeal to every taste, there's definitely something here for everyone. --Genevieve Williams
Disc: 1
1. Monkey See, Monkey Do - Coco Montoya
2. Drive To Survive - Jimmy Thachery & The Drivers
3. Think - Magic Slim & The Teardrops
4. That Spot Right There - Carey Bell
5. Howlin' At The Moon - Debbie Davies
6. Tricky Woman - Jimmy Rogers
7. She's Cold As ice - Roy Rogers
8. Terraplane Blues - John Lee Hooker
9. Don't Move The Mountain - Gospel Hummingbirds
10. I Need A Real Man - E.C. Scott
11. Had Enough - Tommy Castro
12. Right Place, Wrong Time - Otis Rush
13. Messin' With The Kid - Buddy Guy/Junior Wells
14. Wastin' Time - Chubby Carrier
15. Big Girl Blues - Joanna Connor
16. Worried Life Blues (Previously Unreleased) - Pinetop Perkins
17. Take Me Back - James Cotton
18. Should I Wait - Luther Allison
Disc: 2
1. Two Time Boogie - Studebaker John & The Hawks
2. My Heart Bleeds Blue - Deborah Coleman
3. Hey Sweet Baby - Chris Cain
4. Harpin' On A Riff - Charlie Musselwhite
5. Cold Chills (Previously Unreleased) - Henry Gray
6. La Vierge - Al Rapone
7. I Won't Be There - Preacher Boy
8. Blues Come To Texas - Johnny Shines
9. I Got Something On You Baby - Smokey Wilson
10. I Been Thinkin' - Eddie C. Campbell
11. That's My Baby - Eddy Clearwater
12. Bad Thing - Sarah Brown
13. If I Could Reach Out (And Help Somebody) - Otis Clay
14. Old Time Shuffle - Boogie Woogie Red
15. Crazy 'Bout My Baby - Snooky Pryor
16. I Wonder (Previously Unreleased) - Roosevelt Sykes
17. If I Get Lucky (Previously Unreleased) - Walter Horton
18. Let's Rock! - Commander Cody
Dennie
Well-Known Member
Blues On The Bayou -- CD :text-bravo:
B.B. King
1998 MCA Records
Amazon.com's Best of 1998
Opting for simplicity this time around, B.B. King gets by with a little help from his excellent backing band, producing an album that's evocative of the Louisiana countryside where it was recorded. After over half a century in the business, King knows what he's about: he makes playing good blues sound easy, and every track on Blues on the Bayou is a treat. --Genevieve Williams
Blues on the Bayou is a 1998 studio recording by B. B. King.
In the CD liner notes, B.B. King writes: "Of the many records Lucille and I have had the pleasure of recording over the years, this one is especially close to my heart. It's also one of the most relaxed and, for me, satisfying [...] No one was telling us what to do. No one needed to tell us what to do." He adds that he considers the band playing on this album as his best ever and that he got to the studio with the idea of keeping the music simple ("I've felt the urge to go back to basics."). With this state of mind, the record was cut in four days: "Found some old B. B. King songs. Wrote some new ones. [...] All live, all real. No overdubs, no high-tech tricks. Just basic blues."
The album won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.
1. "Blues Boys Tune" - 3:25 (B.B. King)
2. "Bad Case of Love" - 5:28 (B.B. King)
3. "I'll Survive" - 4:53 (B.B. King and Sam Ling)
4. "Mean Ole' World" - 4:29 (B.B. King)
5. "Blues Man" - 5:20 (B.B. King)
6. "Broken Promise" - 3:34 (B.B. King and Sam Ling)
7. "Darlin' What Happened" - 5:26 (B.B. King and Sam Ling)
8. "Shake It Up and Go" - 3:10 (B.B. King and J. Taub)
9. "Blues We Like" - 5:08 (B.B. King ?)
10. "Good Man Gone Bad" - 3:20 (B.B. King, J. Taub, and F. Walsh)
11. "If I Lost You" - 4:57 (B.B. KIng and J. Taub)
12. "Tell Me Baby" - 3:26 (B.B. King and Sam Ling)
13. "I Got Some Outside Help I Don't Need" - 4:37 (B.B. KIng and D. Clark)
14. "Blues in G" - 3:28 (B.B. King)
15. "If That Ain't It I Quit" - 3:20 (B.B. King)
Wow, this Nina Simone album is really good! As I understand it, it's her first one. She sold the rights for $3000 and thus lost over a million in royalties over the years! :shock: Her piano playing is very classical in some places. The title song mixes a well-known traditional Christmas melody under a completely jazz vocal number. Fairly sparse instrumentation - just her voice + piano, string bass, and drums. You can really hear everything. And it doesn't have the pretty heavy-handed message of some of her later work.
Dennie
Well-Known Member
Kern River
Merle Haggard
1985 Epic Records
01. Kern River
02. Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You
03. There I've Said It Again
04. You Don't Love Me Anymore
05. Natural High
06. Big Butter and Egg Man
07. Ridin' High
08. There's Somebody Else on Your Mind
09. I Wonder Where I'll Find You at Tonight
10. There Won't Be Another Now
11. Old Watermill
Dennie
Well-Known Member
PaulyT said:I love that BB King album! Great choice!
Just putting this one one for the first time - Little Girl Blue:
Nice One Pauly!
Did you get a Turntable???
Yeah, I didn't think so, but I can see one in your future!!
bscene-drinkingcheers: :handgestures-thumbup: That's a great Nina Album, hard to imagine it was recorded in 1959. Good Choice!
Dennie
Dennie
Well-Known Member
Wood -- CD :text-bravo:
Brian Bromberg
2002/2006 Artistry Records
Amazon.com
Perhaps his stint with Stan Getz rubbed off on him. As jazz bassists go, Brian Bromberg evokes a tender lyricism out of his instrument that few of his peers are capable of. On Wood, Bromberg performs 11 tunes in a trio, duo, and solo format, with his 300-year-old upright bass at the fore. From a bouncy bebop version of "Speak Low" to a funky take on the Beatles' "Come Together," this album is remarkably consistent. Bromberg performs Eddie Harris's "Freedom Jazz Dance" and Miles Davis's "All Blues" solo, and you forget you're hearing just a single bass. His technique is refined but soulful, and his take on the "Star Spangled Banner" is more understated than flashy (no small feat). Though Randy Waldman backs him ably on the piano and brother David on drums, Bromberg is clearly the star on this remarkable effort, and the warm studio sonics emphasize his instrument over all the others. You can hear the influence of Charlie Haden on his playing, but that's OK. Bromberg is a talent to watch, and this low-key album is a solid introduction to his many skills. --Jason Verlinde
Product Description
Brian Bromberg is a rare breed in 21st Century jazz. A proficient musician on both the acoustic and electric basses, on this 2006 re-issue of WOOD, he showcases his remarkable talent exclusively on the upright bass. Sonically enhanced for re-release using the 24 bit 96 KHZ hi resolution stereo mix from the DVD audio.
1. Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers [6]
2. Dolphin Dance [7]
3. Come Together [5]
4. Goodbye (For My Father) [4]
5. Speak Low [4]
6. Freedom Jazz Dance [3]
7. I Love You [5]
8. Straight, No Chaser [3]
9. All Blues [5]
10. Days of Wine and Roses [5]
11. Star Spangled Banner [2]
Dennie said:Did you get a Turntable???
Yeah, I didn't think so, but I can see one in your future!!
Nah, I think I'm too much of a "digital kid" to go that route, though it would be fun to play with. But I just don't have the patience, I think, and I'm too hooked on the convenience of the squeezebox and digital library to really be a turntable sort of guy. But I hope to hear a good vinyl setup someday...
I really like that "Wood" album, too! His solo "Come Together" from that album is one of my demo tracks, really good for LF tinkering.
"Spinning" (well, my HD platters are spinning, right?
) this one up now:
***
( released 2004 )
Though most think of Percy Heath as founding member of the influential group, Modern Jazz Quartet, on his record "A Love Song", this veteran bassist shows his skills as a leader and proves he is more than capable of producing great work on his own sessions.
Since the bass/cello work of Oscar Pettiford, many have tried the same combination; Ron Carter and here, Percy Heath have been two of the most successful. The unusual sound of solo pizzicato cello is immediately intriguing and addicting.
There is a lot to hear on this date from swing and funk to deep balladry. From Heath originals to MJQ standards, the tunes here all have much to offer. All selections are very personal. My favorite thing about this record is that, unlike many other bass solo feature discs, Love Song doesn't over compensate with too much bass. The natural richness of Heath's sound comes through, which is pleasant compared to other amplified, processed bass sounds. His improvisations and serious swing, I believe, should be held on the same page as the immortal Ray Brown.
( released 2004 )
Though most think of Percy Heath as founding member of the influential group, Modern Jazz Quartet, on his record "A Love Song", this veteran bassist shows his skills as a leader and proves he is more than capable of producing great work on his own sessions.
Since the bass/cello work of Oscar Pettiford, many have tried the same combination; Ron Carter and here, Percy Heath have been two of the most successful. The unusual sound of solo pizzicato cello is immediately intriguing and addicting.
There is a lot to hear on this date from swing and funk to deep balladry. From Heath originals to MJQ standards, the tunes here all have much to offer. All selections are very personal. My favorite thing about this record is that, unlike many other bass solo feature discs, Love Song doesn't over compensate with too much bass. The natural richness of Heath's sound comes through, which is pleasant compared to other amplified, processed bass sounds. His improvisations and serious swing, I believe, should be held on the same page as the immortal Ray Brown.