What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Back To Back -- Remastered 20 Bit CD

Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges Play The Blues

1959/1997 Verve Master Edition

The Duke is most often remembered leading his large orchestras, yet throughout his career he would take "breaks" to record many fine small-group sessions. This gem features long-time Ellington player Johnny Hodges, who, in the '50s, struck out on his own. His solo career produced fine music but little financial success, so he rejoined Duke's organization. On this session, the blues forms the common ground on which both men meet.All of these songs were composed between 1910 and 1930, and these cats slip in and walk about in them like a comfy pair of bedroom slippers. Ellington's piano is spare and understated; he gives the spotlight to Johnny. Hodges wails the late-night blues with a combination of gentility, passion and sly wit. Harry Edison's trumpet (he played on many Frank Sinatra sessions in the '50s and '60s) is a joy. Hodges was truly one of a kind--after all, how many saxophonists were admired by both tenor sax innovator John Coltrane and easy-listening bandleader Lawrence Welk? All in all, a richly rewarding collaborative project.


"Wabash Blues" (Fred Meinken, Dave Ringle) – 6:22
"Basin Street Blues" (Spencer Williams) – 8:05
"Beale Street Blues" (W. C. Handy) – 7:40
"Weary Blues" (Artie Matthews) – 6:50
"St. Louis Blues" (Handy) – 5:45
"Loveless Love" (Handy) – 6:05
"Royal Garden Blues" (Clarence Williams, Spencer Williams) – 5:20

Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Harry"Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Les Spann (guitar); Al Hall, Sam Jones (bass);Jo Jones (drums).Original producer: Norman Granz.Reissue producer: Michael Lang.Recorded at Columbia Studios, New York, New York, February 20, 1959. Originally released on Verve (6055). Includes liner notes by Leonard Feather and Michael Ullman.Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by Chris Herles (PolyGram Studios)

 

[Dennie]

Gemini -- Remastered CD

Les Spann

1960/2001 Jazzland/OJC Records

Les Spann was a perfect example of a jazz artist who had an impressive list of sideman credentials but never got very far as a leader. Although he played with heavyweights like Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Hodges, and Ben Webster, the guitarist/flutist didn't record on his own extensively -- which is regrettable because Spann was an intriguing musician. How many guitarists are equally proficient when it comes to playing the flute? Spann's two instruments get equal time on Gemini, an excellent hard bop date that was produced by the ubiquitous Orrin Keepnews. This album, which Fantasy reissued on CD on its Original Jazz Classics imprint in 2001, was recorded at two different sessions in December 1960. One finds Spann on flute, while the other finds him on guitar. Both sessions employ Julius Watkins on French horn, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Sam Jones on upright bass, but there are two different drummers -- Al "Tootie" Heath at one session, Louis Hayes at the other. Spann gives 100 percent at both sessions. As a guitarist, he is bluesy and expressive on material that ranges from Quincy Jones' "Stockholm Sweetnin'" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" to the standard "There Is No Greater Love." But he is equally impressive when he picks up the flute on tracks that include the melancholy "Afterthought" and a lyrical performance of the standard "It Might as Well Be Spring." One thing Spann doesn't do on this album is play both flute and guitar on the same tune; he is careful to keep them separate. And while it would have been interesting to hear him play a flute solo right after a guitar solo, Gemini is still excellent. It's too bad that Spann didn't do a lot more recording as a leader. by Alex Henderson

Tracks:

01. Smile
02. Con Alma
03. Q's Dues Blues
04. It Might As Well Be Spring
05. Stockholm Sweetnin'
06. Blues For Gemini
07. Afterthought
08. (There Is ) No Greater Love

Personnel:

Les Spann (fl, g)
Julius Watkins (frhn)
Tommy Flanagan (p)
Sam Jones &, Albert “Tootie” Heath (b)
Louis Hayes (d)

Recorded in New York, December 8 & 16, 1960.

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music......

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

2010 Hollywood Records

For five years, Grace Potter & Nocturnals have been hammering it out on stages large and small, playing 200 shows a year, and impressing audiences in the U.S. They've recorded two previous albums -- 2005's rightfully acclaimed Nothing But the Water, and their Hollywood Records debut This Is Somewhere. The sophomore effort failed musically; its songs were unfocused and sloppy, and its production lethargic. Three years later, with two new bandmembers in bassist Catherine Popper and rhythm guitarist Benny Turco, and the aid of super producer Mark Batson (Jay-Z, Snoop Dog, Beyonc‚, Alicia Keys), the Nocturnals sound like a band reinvigorated. This self-titled set is very polished -- from cover photo to last note it's designed to scale the Billboard charts -- yet it offers a representative showcase of the band's strengths. And while it doesn't come off as spontaneously as their live gigs, it's not supposed to. The glammed-up Nocturnals are still a tough, few-frills rock band, and despite his pedigree, Batson -- who co-wrote six of 13 songs with Potter here -- gets that. "Paris" kicks off the set. It's introduced by a mean grunt from Potter, and a twin guitar blast. With Scott Tournett's lead guitar slicing through Matt Burr's drums, and Popper's funky bassline, the singer -- with power and pitch -- lays down the brazen lyric: "If I was a man, I'd make my move/If I was a blade I'd shave you smooth . . . " On "Medicine," another rocker, Potter stakes claim to her man though she's competing with a mysterious seductress. The riff and refrain are instantly memorable. The dual guitar leads are balanced by her B-3, and the tune's bluesy feel is seductive. "Hot Summer Night" is a nasty roots jam with Potter beating the hell out of an upright piano over trashy guitars and handclaps … la the Faces. "Low Road," influenced deeply by Memphis soul, puts Potter's stellar voice, the meld of B-3, guitars, and rhythm section inside the bellybone of the listener, and it's sexy as hell. The midtempo numbers -- the soul-drenched "That Phone" and the blazing "Only Love," with its infectious bassline and distorted guitars -- work to fine effect. In sum, this the most representative outing from Grace Potter & the Nocturnals to date, and displays, however slickly, a heady quotient of strut, crackle, and groove. ~ Thom Jurek

Track Listing
1. Paris (Ooh La La)
2. Oasis
3. Medicine
4. Goodbye Kiss
5. Tiny Light
6. Colors
7. Only Love
8. Money
9. One Short Night
10. Low Road
11. That Phone
12. Hot Summer Night
13. Things I Never Needed
14. [CD-ROM Track]

 

[Dennie]

Phantom Blues -- CD

Taj Mahal

1996 RCA Victor

PHANTOM BLUES was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

An eclectic bluesman would seem to be a contradiction in terms, but Taj Mahal, who has moved through the worlds of folk, rock, and pop to reach his present categorization, fits the description, and here he takes several pop and R&B oldies that came from blues roots -- "Ooh Poo Pah Doo," "Lonely Avenue," "What Am I Living For?," "Let the Four Winds Blow" -- and returns them to those roots. He also calls in such guest stars as Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt, who have more than a nodding acquaintance with the blues, to assist him. The result is progressive blues hybrid that treats the music not as a source, but as a destination. ~ William Ruhlmann

Track listing

1. Lovin' in My Baby's Eyes
2. Cheatin' on You
3. Hustle Is Om, The
4. Here in the Dark
5. Fanning the Flames
6. I Need Your Loving
7. Ooh Poo Pah Doo
8. Lonely Avenue
9. Don't Tell Me
10. What Am I Living For?
11. We're Gonna Make It
12. Let the Four Winds Blow
13. (You've Got to) Love Her With a Feeling
14. Car of Your Dreams, The

 

[Dennie]

Some Girls -- Mini LP - CD

The Rolling Stones

1978/1994 Virgin Benelux B.Y.


Amazon.com essential recording

A fresh, uncompromising attempt to incorporate 1978 pop techniques into the band's familiar sound, Some Girls opens with the disco sass of "Miss You" and closes with the self-destructive punk of "Shattered." (Both songs, especially "Miss You," with its distinctive Mel Collins sax solo, remain live showstoppers.) So the Stones declared credibility in the dance circuit without sacrificing their hard-rock reputation. Though the anti-love "Beast of Burden" and the stylishly slow "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" continue to rack up the most airplay, the obscurities stand up surprisingly well. Worth replaying: Keith Richards's rickety rocker "Before They Make Me Run." --Steve Knopper


1. "Miss You" 4:48
2. "When the Whip Comes Down" 4:20
3. "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong) 4:38
4. "Some Girls" 4:36
5. "Lies" 3:11
6. "Far Away Eyes" 4:24
7. "Respectable" 3:06
8. "Before They Make Me Run" 3:25
9. "Beast of Burden" 4:25
10. "Shattered" 3:48

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music...

Kamakiriad -- CD

Donald Fagen

1993 Reprise Records

Fagen's Cool Concept Album, July 24, 2002
By Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Kamakiriad (Audio CD)

Donald Fagen's 2nd solo album, 1993's "Kamakiriad," came darn close to being released as a Steely Dan album---Fagen's old Dan co-hort, Walter Becker, produced the album, plays guitar on it, and co-wrote the song "Snowbound," t'boot. But since Fagen practically wrote everything else for the album on his own, "Kamakiriad" was ultimately released as a Donald Fagen solo album (and the official return of Steely Dan would have to wait until 2000's "Two Against Nature"). But no matter---this "almost Steely Dan" album is simply terrific, filled with all of the high trademark qualities you'd expect in the music of a Dan man. It's a cool mixture of cocktail jazz/pop, featuring Fagen's hip vocals, cookin' guitars, fat drums, smooth keyboards, happenin' horns, and, for the cherry on top, great sound & production that's very crisp. Not only that, but "Kamakiriad" is a cool *concept* album, telling the story of an Everyman living sometime in the future, who takes off for a spin in his technological wonder car of the 21st century, the Kamakiri, and has several adventures along the way. Being a single album rather than a double, the storyline for "Kamakiriad" may be a lot thinner than, say, The Who's "Tommy" or Pink Floyd's "The Wall," but I don't think Fagen was trying to compete with these double-album rock epics, and the story he tells here is nice & simple, to the point, and a lot of fun, just like the songs themselves.So, hop in the car, hit the "Trans-Island Skyway," admire the "Countermoon," take your pick of "Tomorrow's Girls," chill out "On The Dunes," and head out to that "Teahouse On The Tracks." Donald Fagen's "Kamakiriad" is a wonderful ride.

"Trans-Island Skyway" (Fagen) – 6:30
"Countermoon" (Fagen) – 5:05
"Springtime" (Fagen) – 5:06
"Snowbound" (Walter Becker, Fagen) – 7:08
"Tomorrow's Girls" (Fagen) – 6:17
"Florida Room" (Fagen, Libby Titus) – 6:02
"On the Dunes" (Fagen) – 8:07
"Teahouse on the Tracks" (Fagen) – 6:09

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music...

Jailbreak -- CD

Thin Lizzy

1976 Vertigo Records

Jailbreak, what a fantastic recording!, July 13, 2005
By Hellion Zephreid (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jailbreak (Audio CD)

I remember buying this in the summer of 1976 after hearing "The Boys Are back in Town" on the radio a few times. That song is one of the top 10 songs ever! When I bought it as an LP (remember those?), I was so excited and distracted that I put the wrong side on the turntable. Instead of that song, out of the speakers came the title track JAILBREAK. Another timeless classic. Needles to say, the entire record of 9 songs was fantastic and there truly isn't a dud on here. Since then I have bought these songs on cassette, CD, and now the remastered version. Great story in the liner notes too. Buy it and read it for yourself. It is almost hard to believe the recorded output Lizzy put out in the years of 1975 through 1977. Quality too. Hell, "Johnny the Fox" also came out later that year in '76 and is every bit as good as this, unfortunately overlooked because of the lack of a hit. Personal favorites on here are "Romeo and the Lonely Girl", "Emerald", and "Warriors". I love them all. If you want some great rock songs with excellent twin guitar breaks, this is for you. See where Maiden, Leppard, and The Darkness got it from in the first place!

All songs written by Phil Lynott except where noted.

Side one

"Jailbreak" – 4:01
"Angel from the Coast" (Lynott, Brian Robertson) – 3:03
"Running Back" – 3:13
"Romeo and the Lonely Girl" – 3:55
"Warriors" (Lynott, Scott Gorham) – 4:09

Side two

"The Boys Are Back in Town" – 4:27
"Fight or Fall" – 3:45
"Cowboy Song" (Lynott, Brian Downey) – 5:16
"Emerald" (Gorham, Downey, Robertson, Lynott) – 4:03

On the 1996 Mercury CD reissue, "Angel from the Coast" and "Running Back" are listed as the second track with only one running time, making it appear to be a single song called "Angel from the Coast Running Back", and there is no third track listed. However, all the songs are sequenced as on the original LP release.

 

[heeman]

First time in over 20 yrs that I have listened to this complete album, Thanks Cmonster!!

:music-rockout: :music-rockout:

 

[Dennie]

Happy Independence Day everyone... :text-welcomeconfetti:

Deguello -- CD

ZZ Top

1979 Warner Bros. Records

Amazon.com

First released in 1979, Deguello was three years in the making. Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard had disappeared into the sagebrush to recharge their batteries following their grueling World Texas Tour. They returned with a new antic sense of themselves that first appeared in songs like "Cheap Sunglasses," "She Loves My Automobile," and "Esther Be the One" and came to fruition almost four years later with Eliminator. Deguello forges the last link to the band's early blues-rock years, before they became the sleeker, less threatening entity that graced MTV during the '80s. Tunes like their rendering of David Porter and Isaac Hayes's steamy "I Thank You," the salacious "Hi Fi Mama," and the boastful "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" careen on the edges of good taste, but these guys didn't give a *** who they offended as long as they entertained. And, of course, they did entertain legions of fans with their ribald lyrics, off-kilter timing, and Gibbons's daredevil guitar wizardry. But ZZ Top isn't all hard edges and pinup fantasies; the heartbreakingly beautiful intro to their eccentric love song, "Fool for Her Stockings" rivals the lyricism of Jimi Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary." --Jaan Uhelszki

All songs by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, except where noted.

Side A

"I Thank You" (Isaac Hayes, David Porter) – 3:23
"She Loves My Automobile" – 2:24
"I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" – 4:46
"A Fool for Your Stockings" – 4:15
"Manic Mechanic" – 2:37

Side B

"Dust My Broom" (Robert Johnson) – 3:06
"Lowdown in the Street" – 2:49
"Hi Fi Mama" – 2:23
"Cheap Sunglasses" – 4:48
"Esther Be the One" – 3:31

 

[v8peters]

Hawks & Doves

Neil Young

1980 Reprise

 

[Dennie]

Madman Across The Water -- CD

Elton John

1971 Polydor Records

The first of the best, April 27, 2011
By L. Lawhead "LSquared" (SW Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Madman Across the Water (Audio CD)

This was the first Elton John album I owned (on vinyl), and there was no doubt about upgrading to CD/digital. A very solid offering from what I consider his peak period. From Madman, to Honky Chateau, into Don't Shoot Me, culminating with Goodbye Yellow Brick. All excellent, all worth having. Looking back over 35+ years, I'd rate this as the least excellent of that quartet, but all are worthy. But Madman (which peaked at only #8) laid the groundwork for the subsequent string of #1 albums.

Levon was the hit, peaking at #24, and Tiny Dancer just missed the Top 40 (peaked at #41). Both were mainstays of AOR radio, as was the title track. All are classic songs.

The rest of the album is not quite as as memorable. Holiday Inn & Rotten Peaches are certainly solid. But Indian Sunset always seemed a little overblown, and I never quite got the whole think about an Englishman singing (fisrt person) about the plight of the Native Americans... All The Nasties and Goodbbye are pretty much forgettable. Not bad, but certainly not essential.

1. "Tiny Dancer" 6:15
2. "Levon" 5:22
3. "Razor Face" 4:44
4. "Madman Across the Water" 5:56
5. "Indian Sunset" 6:45
6. "Holiday Inn" 4:17
7. "Rotten Peaches" 4:56
8. "All the Nasties" 5:08
9. "Goodbye" 1:48

When this album was issued on cassette MCA swapped the places of "Razor Face" and "Rotten Peaches" on side one and two of the tape. The SACD version of the album contained a longer version of "Razor Face" which extended the song-ending jam to 6:42 instead of the early fade on the original album.

The song "Holiday Inn" was written for Adam Diaz. An additional verse in the recorded version that was originally part of the song was either omitted during recording or edited out of the final album version. It can, however, be heard on "unofficial" live recordings of the song from some of his concerts during this period, which have circulated among collectors.

 

[Dennie]

Hawks & Doves

Neil Young

1980 Reprise

Welcome V8, we're glad you are here. :text-welcomeconfetti:

Lot's of good people here, so check out the site and get to know the folks. None of them bite...... Hard. LOL I'm sure they will make you feel welcome.

I'm really glad you are here my friend. I enjoy seeing what you are listening to.




Dennie bscene-drinkingcheers:

 

[Dennie]

Wish You Were Here -- SACD

Pink Floyd

1975/2011 Pink Floyd/EMI Records

Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here on Hybrid 5.1 SACD

Pink Floyd's 1975 Classic Finally Arrives on Stellar-Sounding SACD: Stereo and Surround Options are the Best of All Worlds

Mixed for 5.1 from Original Multi-Track Master Tapes by Pink Floyd Engineer James Guthrie

An Essential Counterpart to Dark Side of the Moon–The Biggest-Selling SACD in History

Shine on You Crazy Diamond: Reflective Landmark Ranked #209 on Rolling Stone List of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

You Will Never Hear a More Immersive, Realistic Digital Version

This one requires no introduction. But it's deserving of constant celebration. The legendary English psychedelic rock band's 1975 masterpiece, Wish You Were Here remains a staple of poignant emotion, pioneering arrangements, clever wit, and timeless performance. Forever an audiophile and music staple, the blockbuster is finally available on an incredible-sounding digital version, courtesy of this Hybrid 5.1 SACD.

Mixed for 5.1 from Original Multi-Track Master Tapes by Pink Floyd Engineer James Guthrie, Wish You Were Here reveals countless new layers of information, detail, and dynamics. We'll stake our reputation on it: You will never hear a better digital edition, and for that matter, whether you opt to listen in stereo or surround, you'll never be closer to the music. The stereo version is transferred from the original analog master tapes.

Anchored by the longing title track, heartfelt tribute to founder Syd Barrett "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," and nervy takedown of music-business hypocrisy "Have a Cigar," the follow-up to Dark Side is equally great and just as iconic. As much as any multiplatinum album in history, Wish You Were Here employs cutting-edge studio effects and unimaginable atmospheric techniques to paint an impossibly broad canvas.

On this SACD, the enormous soundscapes, introspective echoes, and brazen guitar washes take on a life of their own. Airy, complete with full frequency extension and unparalleled realism, the disc drops Pink Floyd into your listening room. This is reach-out-and-touch-it quality, the kind of perspective and experience for which all audiophiles crave.

DO NOT MISS THIS LANDMARK DISC! Anyone who has a high-end system needs to hear it.

Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here Track Listing:

1. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part One)
2. Welcome To The Machine
3. Have A Cigar
4. Wish You Were Here
5. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part Two)

Pink Floyd: David Gilmour (vocals, guitar); Richard Wright (vocals, keyboards, VCS3 syntheszier); Roger Waters (vocals, bass); Nick Mason (drums).Additional personnel: Roy Harper (vocals); Dick Parry (saxophone); Venetta Fields, Carlena Williams (background vocals).Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England from January-July 1975.Digitally remastered by Doug Sax (The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, California).

 

[v8peters]

Thanks Dennie!

 

[Dennie]

America Remembers.... -- CD

Johnny Horton

1992 TeeVee/Sony Records

Rally 'round the flag, boys! February 8, 2002
By Kevin Cook
Format:Audio CD

This collection showcases Johnny Horton's fantastic voice and wide range - he could sing it all, from stirring patriotic songs and historical mini-epics to moving ballads and even rockabilly. Of course, all the hits are here, like the irresistible "Battle of New Orleans" (which I listened to incessantly as a kid in the Sixties) and "North to Alaska," to name two personal favorites.

They just don't write `em like this any more, and more's the pity. You won't be able to resist singing along, I guar-an-tee it!

I regret this collection doesn't include a sentimental favorite of mine, "The Same Old Tale that the Crow Told Me," the flip side of "Sink the Bismarck." Despite that very minor quibble, this is a rousing CD, chock-full of unabashed pride and patriotism. You'll love it.

1. North To Alaska
2. Battle Of New Orleans
3. When It's Springtime In Alaska (It's 40 Below)
4. Johnny Reb
5. I'm Coming Home
6. Honky Tonk Man
7. Sink The Bismark
8. All For The Love Of A Girl
9. The Mansion You Stole
10. I'm Ready If You're Willing
11. The Jim Bridger Story
12. I'm A One-Woman Man
13. Sleepy-Eyed John
14. They'll Never Take Her Love From Me
15. Old Slewfoot
16. All Grown Up
17. Sal's Got a Sugar Lip
18. Whispering Pines
19. Johnny Freedom ('Freedom Land')
20. Comanche

 

[v8peters]

Born in the U.S.A.

Bruce Springsteen

1984 Columbia

 

[Dennie]

^^^ Nice, classic Bruce. :handgestures-thumbup:

CSN -- CD

David Crosby, Stephen Still & Graham Nash

1977/ 1995 Atlantic Records

Adult music, March 21, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: CSN (Audio CD)

Some people prefer the youthful flash of this trio's first album, some the rocknroll flash of the first one where "Y" was part of the mix, but I've always found CSN to be the most satisfying of Crosby, Stills and Nash' efforts in that particular formation. The main reason is that it sounds like three ADULTS really giving their all together; in the songwriting, in the harmonies, in every respect. Particular high points are Still's "See The Changes," a sort-of cousin musically to his earlier "Helplessly Hoping," but whose world-weary lyrics are some of the most penetrating the man ever wrote; Nash's "Cold Rain," about returning to where you originally came from and remembering why you left in the first place, with some wonderful close harmonies; Nash again with "Cathedral," a dramatic high point in the group's arrangements; and Crosby's "Shadow Captain," as potently evocative of sailing on the open seas as a song can get. This album doesn't have the "gosh-wow" factor of CSN's 1969 debut, but it's just as rewarding an album---maybe more.

Side One

"Shadow Captain" (Crosby, Craig Doerge) – 4:32
"See the Changes" (Stills) – 2:56
"Carried Away" (Nash) – 2:29
"Fair Game" (Stills) – 3:30
"Anything at All" (Crosby) – 3:01
"Cathedral" (Nash) – 5:15

Side Two

"Dark Star" (Stills) – 4:43
"Just a Song Before I Go" (Nash) – 2:12
"Run from Tears" (Stills) – 4:09
"Cold Rain" (Nash) – 2:32
"In My Dreams" (Crosby) – 5:10
"I Give You Give Blind" (Stills) – 3:21

 

[v8peters]

America Remembers...Johnny Horton

Johnny Horton

1992 Tee Vee

 

[Dennie]

6 and 12 String Guitar -- SACD

Leo Kottke

1969/2004 Takoma Records

Amazon.com essential recording

For decades, Leo Kottke would inspire generations of fingerpicking acoustic guitarists (and help pave the way for New Age and contemporary instrumental music), but this 1969 album is the one that started it all. Kottke's brilliant debut was released, fittingly, on John Fahey's Takoma label. Showing the influence of Fahey himself (and Takoma labelmate Robbie Basho), Kottke performs impossibly difficult solo compositions that meld blues, bluegrass, and jazz techniques. Whether surefooted and quick ("The Driving of the Year Nail," "Jack Fig," "The Fisherman") or slow and reflective ("Ojo," "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"), Kottke's instrumental work is simply awe-inspiring. He'd forge an entire career out of this music and eventually incorporate singing onto his albums, but this gem is Kottke at his very best. Essential. --Jason Verlinde

All songs written and composed by Leo Kottke, except where noted.
No. Title Kottke's notes Length
1. "The Driving of the Year Nail" From an old Etruscan drawing of a sperm cell 1:54
2. "The Last of the Arkansas Greyhounds" A terror-filled escape on a bus from a man fired from Beaumont ranch 3:18
3. "Ojo" Ojo Caliente where Zuni hid from Esteban, the Moor, and the Spaniards 2:14
4. "Crow River Waltz" A prayer for the demise of the canoe and the radar trap without which Federal prisons will have to be rebuilt to accommodate prepubescence 3:20
5. "The Sailor's Grave on the Prairie" Originally written to commemorate Nedicks and a Minneapolis musician's contempt for the three a.m. cheeseburger with a nickel slice of raw 2:34
6. "Vaseline Machine Gun" 1) for waking up nude in a sleeping bag on the shore of the Atlantic surrounded by a volleyball game at high noon, and 2) for the end of the volleyball game 3:11
7. "Jack Fig" A reluctant lament 2:14
Side Two
No. Title Kottke's notes Length
1. "Watermelon" While at Watermelon Park Music Festival I had the opportunity to play banjo in the middle of the night for a wandering drunk. When I finished he vomited — an astute comment on my playing. Made me feel very distinguished 3:12
2. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (J.S. Bach) The engineer called this the ancient joy of man's desire. (Bach had twenty children because his organ didn't have any stops) 2:24
3. "The Fisherman" This is about the mad fishermen of the North whose ice fishing spots resemble national shrines 2:32
4. "The Tennessee Toad" Who made an epic journey from Ohio to Tennessee 2:40
5. "Busted Bicycle" Reluctance 2:48
6. "The Brain of the Purple Mountain" From A.L. Tennyson 2:11
7. "Coolidge Rising" While rising from the sink, cupboard doors opened and engulfed his head; while turning to the right to avoid the whole incident he walked into a refrigerator — which afforded a good chin rest for staring at some bananas in a basket

 

[v8peters]

Stars & Stripes Forever - Quadraphonic

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

1973 Columbia