What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

The Marshall Tucker Band -- CD

The Marshall Tucker Band

1973 AJK Music

Product Description

The Marshall Tucker Band, acknowledged as one of the founding fathers of the Southern rock movement, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with an ongoing catalog restoration and release program. One of the first releases is their eponymous 1973 TMTB debut. It comes augmented with a live bonus track from the band’s early days on the road and has been remastered from the original analog tapes produced by Paul Hornsby.

The Marshall Tucker Band was originally released by Capricorn Records in March of 1973 (Billboard #29). The album included "Can’t You See," a song considered the band’s "anthem."

"The buying public never really cared whether we were country or rock and roll" says founding member Doug Gray. "They called us a Southern rock band, but we have always played everything from country to blues and all things in-between."

1. "Take the Highway" (Toy Caldwell) - 6:15
2. "Can't You See" (Toy Caldwell) - 6:05
3. "Losing You" (Toy Caldwell) - 5:10
4. "Hillbilly Band" (Toy Caldwell) - 2:35
5. "See You Later, I'm Gone" (Toy Caldwell) - 3:08
6. "Ramblin'" (Toy Caldwell) - 5:07
7. "My Jesus Told Me So" (Toy Caldwell) - 5:32
8. "AB's Song" (Toy Caldwell) - 1:15

 

[Dennie]

Electric Ladyland -- CD

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

1968/1993 MCA Records

Amazon.com essential recording

Bursting with ideas and energy, Jimi Hendrix's second album release of 1968 (following Axis: Bold as Love) was a double-LP set that showcased virtually everything the guitar genius had to offer: blistering blues ("Voodoo Chile"), galaxy-patrolling space jams ("1983... A Merman I Should Turn to Be"), psychedelic soul ("Crosstown Traffic"), and skyscraping rock ("Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"). In the midst of all this was even a hit song--Hendrix's remarkable reading of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," featuring a series of baton-passing guitar solos, all distinct and brilliant. Seemingly diffuse when first released; in hindsight, kaleidoscopically eclectic. --Billy Altman

Track list:
1. ...And the Gods Made Love
2. Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
3. Crosstown Traffic
4. Voodoo Chile
5. Little Miss Strange
6. Long Hot Summer Night
7. Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)
8. Gypsy Eyes
9. Burning of the Midnight Lamp
10. Rainy Day, Dream Away
11. 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)
12. Moon, Turn the Tides... Gently Gently Away
13. Still Raining, Still Dreaming
14. House Burning Down
15. All Along the Watchtower
16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

 

[Dennie]

***

(released 1996)


** a REVIEW of "Come On In This House"
that I think is rather long, but accurate . . . . .

"Come On in This House, recorded by Junior Wells in 1996 is just plain fun - it's sitting out on the porch steps sipping lemonade on a hot summer day, it's laughing and joking with friends, and most of all it's good times and good music. Take a cd packed with songs, fourteen in all, make most of them classic blues, take a veteran bluesmen with impeccable timing, an awesome understated blues voice and add some of the best slide guitarist in the business, oh say about six and you have the makings of a great blues cd. Make it one of the last recordings of the great Junior Wells and it's unforgettable and a necessary component for the serious blues collector.
But please don't think this is music only for the serious blues listener, this is music that is wonderful and accessible to anyone. It is honest understated music, with depth and soul. There's no flash here, nothing strained or pretentious - no this is music of integrity that is fun to listen to.

Junior Wells, born Amos Blackmore in 1934 in Memphis Tennessee, teamed up with some of the best blues guitarist to record Come on In This House for Telarc. On this cd are Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Sonny Landreth, Bob Margolin, John Mooney and Derek Trucks. Each of these gentleman have a career of some repute in the blues genre, but if you haven't heard of them this cd is a perfect opportunity to get to know them.

Standards recorded for this cd include songs by Tampa Red, Sonny Boy Williamson, Arthur Crudup, Robert Nighthawk, Junior Parker and Little Walter as well as Junior Wells originals. The one new song Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman is worth the price of the cd. The interplay between Well's vocals and Landreth's National Steel Guitar are perfect.

It is little wonder that Come On In This House won the W.C. Handy award for best Traditional Blues Album in 1997, because every song is marvelous. It starts swinging it with That's All Right with young Derek Trucks, 16 on guitar and John Cleary on piano backing up Junior. It's all right now momma, yes indeed!- tasty guitar licks and the smoothest most mellow vocals by Junior Wells.

From the upbeat to the skeptical, melancholy blues of Why People Like that. Sonny Landreth and Derek Trucks exchange fire power on guitar while Junior continues his wonderful harmonica playing and sings:

They take your house and your home
They take the flesh from your bone
They take the shirt off your back
Why people like that.

Other songs of note include Tampa Red's She Wants to Sell My Monkey, Mystery Train, I'm Gonna Move to Kansas City and the title song an original by Junior Wells and brought out of retirement for this cd. It is a worthy addition, with Wells singing:

If I had a million dollars
I'd give you every dime
To hear you call me daddy
One more time.

I was lucky enough to see Junior Wells in person a few years before his death and remember his dynamism, swaggering confidence and extraordinary understated way of delivering a song. He made it seem so easy. This cd is a great reminder of what a wonderful performer he was. I think it is also a good introduction to traditional acoustic blues and will provide the listener with the opportunity to get to know some great blues players and some outstanding traditional blues songs."

Thanks for posting this one, Topper. I'm going to look for it.

It sounds like a great album and those TELARC 20 Bit CD's sound quality is outstanding! :handgestures-thumbup:


Dennie

 

[topper]

***

(released 1996)


** a REVIEW of "Come On In This House"
that I think is rather long, but accurate . . . . .

"Come On in This House, recorded by Junior Wells in 1996 is just plain fun - it's sitting out on the porch steps sipping lemonade on a hot summer day, it's laughing and joking with friends, and most of all it's good times and good music. Take a cd packed with songs, fourteen in all, make most of them classic blues, take a veteran bluesmen with impeccable timing, an awesome understated blues voice and add some of the best slide guitarist in the business, oh say about six and you have the makings of a great blues cd. Make it one of the last recordings of the great Junior Wells and it's unforgettable and a necessary component for the serious blues collector.
But please don't think this is music only for the serious blues listener, this is music that is wonderful and accessible to anyone. It is honest understated music, with depth and soul. There's no flash here, nothing strained or pretentious - no this is music of integrity that is fun to listen to.

Junior Wells, born Amos Blackmore in 1934 in Memphis Tennessee, teamed up with some of the best blues guitarist to record Come on In This House for Telarc. On this cd are Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Sonny Landreth, Bob Margolin, John Mooney and Derek Trucks. Each of these gentleman have a career of some repute in the blues genre, but if you haven't heard of them this cd is a perfect opportunity to get to know them.

Standards recorded for this cd include songs by Tampa Red, Sonny Boy Williamson, Arthur Crudup, Robert Nighthawk, Junior Parker and Little Walter as well as Junior Wells originals. The one new song Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman is worth the price of the cd. The interplay between Well's vocals and Landreth's National Steel Guitar are perfect.

It is little wonder that Come On In This House won the W.C. Handy award for best Traditional Blues Album in 1997, because every song is marvelous. It starts swinging it with That's All Right with young Derek Trucks, 16 on guitar and John Cleary on piano backing up Junior. It's all right now momma, yes indeed!- tasty guitar licks and the smoothest most mellow vocals by Junior Wells.

From the upbeat to the skeptical, melancholy blues of Why People Like that. Sonny Landreth and Derek Trucks exchange fire power on guitar while Junior continues his wonderful harmonica playing and sings:

They take your house and your home
They take the flesh from your bone
They take the shirt off your back
Why people like that.

Other songs of note include Tampa Red's She Wants to Sell My Monkey, Mystery Train, I'm Gonna Move to Kansas City and the title song an original by Junior Wells and brought out of retirement for this cd. It is a worthy addition, with Wells singing:

If I had a million dollars
I'd give you every dime
To hear you call me daddy
One more time.

I was lucky enough to see Junior Wells in person a few years before his death and remember his dynamism, swaggering confidence and extraordinary understated way of delivering a song. He made it seem so easy. This cd is a great reminder of what a wonderful performer he was. I think it is also a good introduction to traditional acoustic blues and will provide the listener with the opportunity to get to know some great blues players and some outstanding traditional blues songs."

Thanks for posting this one, Topper. I'm going to look for it.

It sounds like a great album and those TELARC 20 Bit CD's sound quality is outstanding! :handgestures-thumbup:


Dennie

***********

Yeah they are great sonding discs.

I bought this cd about a year or so ago after soundhound mentioned it in a post of his. I was already a Junior Wells fan . . .

 

[PaulyT]

There's an SACD of this Junior Wells album as well, though I don't know if it's surround, or just high-rez stereo...

 

[Dennie]

The Greatest Hits of Maze -- CD

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly

1989 Capitol Records

Probably The Best Compliation on Maze...here's why?, May 31, 2003
By J. Cobb "prayzehymn" (Birmingham, AL United States)
(REAL NAME)

When it comes to music full of funk and fun...and if you wanna locate one of the baddest R&B/soul bands of all time, look no further...Frankie Beverly & Maze is the group. Their music featured that raw, Southern soulful funk, flared with a double dose of sizzling soul. Few "greatest hits" compilations of Maze are rocking the music stores, but this 1989 Capitol project, featuring 10 tracks in all, probably remains the most popular and the most acceptable.

It's not a complete experience - if you want to feature some of Maze's underground and successful R&B hits such as "I Wish You Well", "I Love You Too Much", "Changing Times" and "I Wanna Thank You" but the remix contributions of the "Joy and Pain" (featuring rapper Kurtis Blow) and "Before I Let Go" (featuring Woody Wood) are unsurpassed - giving Maze a modern updated look that is sure to open the ears of generations to come. Don't be afraid old skool lovers - the original version are still on here. Plus, with "Running Away", "Golden Time of Day", "Southern Girl" and the late 80s jam, "Back In Stride offered here, you can't be upset at all.

A1 Joy And Pain 8:38
Featuring - Kurtis Blow
A2 Golden Time Of Day 5:33
A3 Happy Feelin's 7:10
A4 Back In The Stride 7:04
B1 Before I Let Go 7:08
Featuring - Woody Wood
B2 Running Away 5:58
B3 While I'm Alone 4:36
B4 Southern Girl 6:50

Bonus Tracks:

Joy and Pain (Original Lp Version)

Before I Let Go (Original Lp Version)

 

[Dennie]

There's an SACD of this Junior Wells album as well, though I don't know if it's surround, or just high-rez stereo...

I just checked Amazon and it is Surround Sound. Funny, the CD and the SACD are both $14.99. :think:

I think I'll choose the SACD. I don't listen to much music in surround, but it has the Hi-Res 2 channel layer also.

Thanks Topper and Pauly!

Dennie

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

The Essential Bob Dylan -- 2 CD Set

Bob Dylan

2000 Columbia Records

Amazon.com

Two discs of music don't exactly provide for a thorough overview of four decades of recording, particularly if the subject of the retrospective is one of the most important and prolific performers of his time. So The Essential Bob Dylan definitely skates over the leagues-deep oeuvre of Dylan, summarizing his monumental first half-dozen years in disc one and skirting over the following 34 years in disc two. Delving into Columbia's three Dylan greatest-hits packages (though curiously purging "I Want You," a genuine hit single in its day), Essential offers only a few surprises, opting for The Basement Tapes version of "Quinn the Eskimo" over the Self Portrait remake that made it onto Greatest Hits Volume II and tossing in "Things Have Changed" from the Wonder Boys soundtrack for completists. But this 30-track overview is designed with newcomers, not Dylanologists, in mind. --Steven Stolder

Disc one

1. "Blowin' in the Wind"
2. "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
3. "The Times They Are a-Changin'"
4. "It Ain't Me, Babe"
5. "Maggie's Farm"
6. "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"
7. "Mr. Tambourine Man"
8. "Subterranean Homesick Blues"
9. "Like a Rolling Stone"
10. "Positively 4th Street"
11. "Just Like a Woman"
12. "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"
13. "All Along the Watchtower"
14. "Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)" - recorded in 1967 w/ "The Band"
15. "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"

Disc two

1. "Lay, Lady, Lay"
2. "If Not for You"
3. "I Shall Be Released"
4. "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere"
5. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
6. "Forever Young"
7. "Tangled Up in Blue"
8. "Shelter from the Storm"
9. "Hurricane"
10. "Gotta Serve Somebody"
11. "Jokerman"
12. "Silvio"
13. "Everything Is Broken"
14. "Not Dark Yet"
15. "Things Have Changed"

 

[Dennie]

Fruitcakes -- CD

Jimmy Buffett

1994 MCA Records

Amazon.com

Fruitcakes is Jimmy Buffett's best recording in some time, for he has a better handle on the Caribbean flavors in his Gulf Coast beach-bum music than ever before. The Grateful Dead's "Uncle John's Band," for example, is completely recast as an easygoing calypso tune, thanks to Robert Greenidge's steel drums and Angel Quinones' congas. Even more radical is the tranformation of "Sunny Afternoon," the Kinks' satire of upper-class luxury which Buffett restates as a celebration of his own lifestyle. On the other hand, Buffett can be pretty insufferable when he waxes sentimental about his beach house, his childhood library and his daughter on the ballads "Lone Palm," "Love in the Library" and "Delaney Talks to Statues." --Geoffrey Himes

1. "Everybody's Got a Cousin in Miami" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Tschudin) – 7:19
2. "Fruitcakes" (Jimmy Buffett, Amy Lee) – 7:40
3. "Lone Palm" (Jimmy Buffett) – 4:28
4. "Six String Music" (Jimmy Buffett, G.E. Smith) – 3:25
5. "Uncle John's Band" (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter) – 4:30
6. "Love in the Library" (Jimmy Buffett, Mac McAnally) – 4:40
7. "Quietly Making Noise" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Tschudin) – 5:51
8. "Frenchman for the Night" (Jimmy Buffett, Roger Guth) – 4:30
9. "Sunny Afternoon" (Ray Davies) – 4:12
10. "Vampires, Mummies and the Holy Ghost" (Jimmy Buffett, Roger Guth, Peter Mayer, Jim Mayer) – 4:53
11. "She's Got You" (Hank Cochran) – 2:46
12. "Delaney Talks to Statues" (Jimmy Buffett, Mac McAnally, Amy Lee) – 3:41
13. "Apocalypso" (Matt Betton) – 3:56

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

A GRP Chirstmas Collection Vol. 1 -- CD

Various Artists

1988 GRP Records

A cool Christmas for hep jazz cats!

November 20, 1999 By Elizabeth M. Cole "kentuckyliz" (Pikeville, KY United States)
(REAL NAME)

...or something like that. Makes you want to trade in your black turtleneck and beret for green and red ones. Seriously, all three volumes of the GRP Christmas collection are very good and balance out a classical and popular Christmas music collection nicely. Very accessible to someone who is not ordinarily a jazz fan. Sometimes the same old Christmas standards can fade out of our attention because of familiarity...but on the GRP collections, they get fresh new treatments and it makes you pay attention and hear new possibilities. Also, since most are instrumental, I play them in my office as background music. Many people visiting my office have been curious about the music, and want to get it. These collections are not easily available in retail stores, so send 'em to amazon dot com! (I do not get paid a commission for saying so!) Enjoy, hep cats!

01. The Little Drummer Boy (Daryl Stuermer)
02. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Tom Scott)
03. Carol Of The Bells (David Benoit)
04. The Christmas Song (Diane Schuur)
05. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Dave Valentin)
06. White Christmas (Lee Ritenour)
07. O, Tannenbaum (Gary Burton)
08. This Christmas (Yutaka)
09. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Chick Corea)
10. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Bela Lakatos Szakcsi)
11. Sleigh Ride (Eddie Daniels)
12. What Child Is This? (Greensleeves) (Mark Egan)
13. Silent Night (Special EFX)
14. Silver Bells (Kevin Eubanks)
15. Some Children See Him (Dave Grusin)

 

[Dennie]

Holly & Ivy -- CD

Natalie Cole

1994 Elektra Records

JOY TO THE WORLD!!!, December 12, 2002
By Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)

All of the songs are great on this, but Natalie's gospel like "Joy To The World" is the most rousing and uninhibitedly joyful rendition I've heard. I won't say it's the best, because there are several outstanding recordings of the carol, each of which bring out different perspectives. But this one is guaranteed to lift anybody's spirits.

The CD starts on a joyful note, and on the very first cut, you might find yourself singing "Jingle Bells" right along with her. However, she will touch your heart with her soft rendering of "Silent Night" and "The First Noel" among others. Two of the songs are closely identified, of course, with her father: The sentimental "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot" and "The Christmas Song". Both are very beautifully presented here.

This is an essential Christmas CD.

Track Listing

1. Jingle Bells
2. Caroling, Caroling
3. First Noel, The
4. No More Blue Christmas'
5. Christmas Medley: Jingle Bell Rock / Winter Wonderland / Little Drummer Boy / I'll Be Home For Christmas
6. Merry Christmas, Baby
7. Joy to the World
8. Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot, The
9. Song for Christmas, A
10. Silent Night
11. Christmas Song, The
12. Holly and the Ivy, The

 

[Botch]

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

Graceland -- CD

Paul Simon

1997 Warner Bros. Records

Amazon.com essential recording

The melding of South African styles and Simon's trademark sensibility made for one of the most intriguing albums--not to mention commercial hits--of the '80s. At once lively, thoughtful, gorgeous, and tough, Graceland acknowledges splits both in South Africa's social fabric and in Simon's personal life (the title track is a clear descendant of the earlier "Hearts and Bones," a song about the singer-songwriter's brief marriage to Carrie Fisher). Humor is hardly absent from the mix, though; witness the addled "I Know What I Know" and the fable-like "You Can Call Me Al." --Rickey Wright

1. "The Boy in the Bubble" (Forere Motloheloa/Paul Simon) - 3:59
2. "Graceland" - 4:48
3. "I Know What I Know" (General MD Shirinda/Simon) - 3:13
4. "Gumboots" (Lulu Masilela/Jonhjon Mkhalali/Simon) - 2:44
5. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" (Joseph Shabalala/Simon) - 5:45
6. "You Can Call Me Al" - 4:39
7. "Under African Skies" - 3:37
8. "Homeless" (Shabalala/Simon) - 3:48
9. "Crazy Love, Vol. II" - 4:18
10. "That Was Your Mother" - 2:52
11. "All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints" - 3:15

 

[Botch]

 

[topper]

*
Great ol' Paul Simon recording! ... :handgestures-thumbup:

I'll have to dig that out today and give it a spin . . .
(haven't listened to Graceland for a very long time)

 

[Dennie]

GRP Christmas Collection Vol. 2 -- CD

Various Artists

1995 GRP Records

Open your ears to some new styling of old faves!, November 20, 1999
By
Elizabeth M. Cole "kentuckyliz" (Pikeville, KY United States)
(REAL NAME)


This review is from: GRP Christmas Collection, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

I wrote a general review of the GRP Christmas Collections CD's on the vol. I page. My faves on this one are Blue Christmas , which is a new song to me, and Christmas Time is Here. There's also fresh, jazzy treatments of standards. I Wonder as I Wander really comes alive. Highly recommend this CD and the other two volumes.

01. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (Nelson Rangell)
02. Angels We Have Heard On High (Don Grusin)
03. The First Noel (George Howard)
04. Blue Christmas (Laima)
05. O Come All Ye Faithful (Arturo Sandoval)
06. O Holy Night (Carl Anderson)
07. The Earl Of Salisbury's Pavane (Acoustic Alchemy)
08. Christmas Time Is Here (Patti Austin)
09. I'll Be Home For Christmas (Spyro Gyra)
10. I Wonder As I Wander (New York Voices)
11. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Russ Freeman)
12. Let There Be Peace On Earth (Voyce Boxing)
13. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Deborah Henson-Conant)

 

[Dennie]

A GRP Christmas Collection Vol. 3 CD

Various Artists

1993 GRP Records

Get all lit up like a Christmas Tree with B.B. King!, November 20, 1999
By
Elizabeth M. Cole "kentuckyliz" (Pikeville, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)


Listen to the sample of Feliz Navidad, I beg you. Too bad you can't hear the whole thing...but it is excellent, as are the other songs on this CD. I have also written reviews on the other two volumes of the GRP Christmas Collection CD's. Everyone with whom I share this music loves it. If you have all classical or pop Christmas CD's, these will add a nice variety to your collection. Some are jazzed up and funky, some are mellow and atmospheric. Highly recommend whole collection, and I beg GRP to issue more volumes! Dave Grusin, phone your office!