What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Greatest Hits Plus -- CD

Ricky Van Shelton

1992 Sony Music

greatest, August 18, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Ricky Van Shelton - Greatest Hits Plus (Audio CD)

Rickey VAN SHELTON,S music is the best of all country music since Hank WILLIAmS,and Elvis. Country Music FAn,SINCE,1948

1. "Just as I Am" (Larry Boone, Paul Nelson) - 3:08
* previously unreleased
2. "Wild Man" (Rick Giles. Susan Longacre) - 3:17
* previously unreleased
3. "Somebody Lied" (Joe Chambers, Larry Jenkins)- 3:21
4. "I've Cried My Last Tear for You" (Tony King, Chris Waters) - 2:29
5. "I'll Leave This World Loving You" (Wayne Kemp) - 3:06
6. "Statue of a Fool" (Jan Crutchfield) - 3:04
7. "I Am a Simple Man" (Walt Aldridge) - 3:26
8. "Life Turned Her That Way" (Harlan Howard) - 3:23
9. "Keep It Between the Lines" (Russell Smith, Cathy Louvin) - 3:49
10. "Rockin' Years" (Floyd Parton) - 3:25
* duet with Dolly Parton
11. "From a Jack to a King" (Ned Miller) - 2:21
12. "Living Proof" (Steve Clark, Johnny MacRae) - 3:22
13. "Don't We All Have the Right" (Roger Miller) - 2:36
14. "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" (Bert Carroll, Moody Russell) - 2:11
* previously unreleased on studio album

 

[Dennie]

Gary's Greatest -- CD

Gary Stewart

1990 Hightone Records

The ghost of county music, April 19, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Gary's Greatest (Audio CD)

The is the real thing, songs that have been inspired by the same demons that pushed Hank Williams Sr. over the edge. This collection of hits is the perfect place to start with Stewart. A gravel scotch soaked voice, enough broken hearts to make you want to put a gun to your head, Stewart is one-of-a-kind. The way county music was once upon a time, before the business men and the radio consultants slashed out the heart. Buy this masterpiece and beg RCA to bring back all of his tragicly out-of-print records from the 1970s.

1. Your Place Or Mine
2. Whiskey Trip
3. Brand New Whiskey
4. Out of Hand
5. Ramblin' Man
6. In Some Room Above the Street
7. Ten Years Of This
8. Let's Go Jukin'
9. Little Junior
10. Drinkin' Thing
11. Flat Natural Born Good-Timin' Man
12. Stone Wall (Around Your Heart)
13. She's Got A Drinking Problem
14. Single Again
15. She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)
16. An Empty Glass
17. Quits

 

[Botch]

:music-listening:

 

[Dennie]

Hamp CD

Billy Marcus

1997 Contemporary Music

Marcus takes Lionel Hampton's vibraphone runs and transfers them very nicely to piano for this energetic outing. The opening "Flying Home" cooks very nicely indeed, and Marcus doesn't turn down the heat until the album ends. An excellent jazz album and a terrific dance set. ~ Steven McDonald, All Music Guide

1. Flying Home
2. Avalon
3. Red Top
4. Air Mail Special
5. Memories of You
6. Homeward Bound
7. Moonglow
8. Stompin' at the Savoy
9. Gone Again
10. On the Sunny Side of the Street

 

[Wardsweb]

Pat Metheny - Letter from home

 

[Dennie]

Diamonds and Rust -- CD

Joan Baez

1975/1990 A&M Records

Amazon.com essential recording

Perhaps the most outstanding folk album of the 1970s, this collection represents Baez's blossoming from a girlish folk icon into a mature interpreter of folk music. The title track (and, to a much lesser degree, "Dida" and "Children and All That Jazz") showcases her songwriting, but the intimate spin she puts on the music of others is what makes this the remarkable work it is. On Jackson Browne's "Fountain of Sorrow," Dylan's "Simple Twist of Fate" and John Prine's "Hello in There," the purity of Baez's clear soprano (deeper and mellower than on her early albums) expresses the gentle pains of nostalgia and what-might-have-been. The medley of "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair/Danny Boy" reminds us that no matter what other directions she moves in, Baez will always be a masterful singer of traditional folk music. --Barrie Trinkle --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

1. "Diamonds & Rust"
2. "Fountain of Sorrow" (Jackson Browne)
3. "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright)
4. "Children and All That Jazz"
5. "Simple Twist of Fate" (Bob Dylan)
6. "Blue Sky" (Dickey Betts)
7. "Hello in There" (John Prine)
8. "Jesse" (Janis Ian)
9. "Winds of the Old Days"
10. "Dida" (duet with Joni Mitchell)
11. Medley: "I Dream of Jeannie" (Stephen Foster) / "Danny Boy" (Frederick Weatherly)

 

[Dennie]

Film Noir -- CD

Carly Simon

1997 Arista Records
Amazon.com

Given its title and tone, this record is apparently an attempt to reflect the mood and feel of classic film noir through a musical medium, which it succeeds at admirably. It helps that Simon's coproducer for the project was renowned songwriter and arranger Jimmy Webb, whose own music is often awash in the kind of cinematic drama that defines this disc. Webb and Simon duet on "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year," and they cowrote the title track, the album's only original tune. Of the many standards covered, the best is Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye;" less successful on the duet front is "Two Sleepy People," which regrettably teams Simon with John Travolta. --Peter Blackstock

1. "You Won't Forget Me" (Kermi Goel, F. Speilman) — 2:52
2. "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" (Cole Porter) — 4:33
3. "Lili Marlene" (M. David, Norbert Schultze, H. Leip) — 3:41
4. "Last Night When We Were Young" (Edgar Yip Harburg, Harold Arlen) — 4:42
5. "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year" (Frank Loesser) — 3:34
6. "Film Noir" (Jimmy Webb, Carly Simon) — 3:35
7. "Laura" (Johnny Mercer, David Raksin) — 4:44
8. "I'm a Fool to Want You" (Frank Sinatra, Joel Herron, John Wolf) — 3:32
9. "Fools Coda" (Torrie Zito) — 1:13
10. "Two Sleepy People" (Frank Loesser, Hoagy Carmichael) — 3:37
11. "Don't Smoke In Bed (Willard Robison) — 2:54
12. "Somewhere In the Night" (Josef Myrow, Mack Gordon) — 3:29

 

[Dennie]

Soul '69 -- CD

Aretha Franklin

1969/1993 Atlantic Records

It should've been called "Jazz '69"..., September 24, 2007
By Olukayode Balogun (Leeds, England)

This review is from: Soul 69 (Audio CD)

... as that would've been a far more accurate title and might have alerted many jazz lovers to the fact that the Queen of Soul had made a jazz album. I suppose one can argue that anything Aretha Franklin does is soul but still...

According to the inner-sleeve info, Franklin finished recording this album (in September 1968) at the tail end of an eighteen month high. The period had begun with the release of "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)" in March 1967 and by the time it had ended, had included ten consecutive hit singles, seven of which were million-sellers and six topping the R&B charts. In other words, the lady was at the top of her game when she sat down at the piano surrounded by a "bevy of great musicians" to begin recording "Soul '69".

That said, the reaction to this particular piece of work was reportedly muted and I guess I can understand why. The album failed to produce any hit singles (but that has never bothered me anyway and hopefully doesn't bother anyone who reads this review) and in a second attempt to get the right folks to connect with this great music, five of the twelve songs on here were later re-released by Atlantic on a more fittingly titled album, Aretha's Jazz. They were included with three tracks from the Quincy Jones-produced Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky). I've had "Aretha's Jazz" for years and love it but I was still really happy to learn about this album and "Hey Now Hey", and a special shout out goes to my friend mackdiva for pointing both albums out to me.

Anyway, this particular album of big band arrangements and jazz instrumental improvisations was produced by Jerry Wexler and the music, especially the orchestration, was arranged and conducted by Arif Mardin. Personally, I think the album is awesome. Granted, Franklin is without peer when it comes to soul, R&B and probably even gospel but to hear her tackle jazz is a pure delight. She sounds vocally free, unfettered, unrestrained and sounds like she's enjoying every minute. It's perfect Sunday afternoon music. I love the entire album but "Ramblin'", "Today I Sing The Blues", "Crazy He Calls Me", "Elusive Butterfly" and "Pitiful" with its groaning horn refrain, will forever be my firm favourites.

If you're not into vocal jazz, I'd say approach with caution (unless you're a die-hard Aretha Frankin fan). But if you are into jazz you'll love this whether you're into Franklin or not. If you ARE a Frankin fan AND you enjoy jazz though, you'll be beaming from ear to ear. This one's an absolute winner.

1. "Ramblin' (Maybelle Smith) – 3:10
2. "Today I Sing the Blues" (Curley Hamner, Curtis Lewis) – 4:25
3. "River's Invitation" (Percy Mayfield) – 2:40
4. "Pitiful" (Rosie Marie McCoy, Charlie Singleton) – 3:04
5. "Crazy He Calls Me" (Bob Russell, Carl Sigman) – 3:28
6. "Bring It on Home to Me" (Sam Cooke) – 3:45
7. "The Tracks of My Tears" (Warren "Pete" Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin) – 2:56
8. "If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody" (Rudy Clarke) – 3:08
9. "Gentle on My Mind" (John Hartford) – 2:28
10. "So Long" (Remus Harris, Irving Melsher, Russ Morgan) – 4:36
11. "I'll Never Be Free" (Bennie Benjamin, George David Weiss) – 4:15
12. "Elusive Butterfly" (Bob Lind) – 2:45

 

[Dennie]

Ray Sings - Basie Swings -- CD

Ray Charles + Count Basie Orchestra

2006 Concord/Hear Music

Ray Sings, Basie Swings combines archival, never-before-heard Ray Charles vocal recordings with brand-new performances by the Count Basie Orchestra. This ground breaking CD gives listeners the unprecedented experience of hearing Ray Charles at the dazzling peak of his vocal prowess. Ray Sings, Basie Swings was created with the most up-to-date recording and mixing technology, offering sound quality that is state-of-the art.

A Project Summary….The producers of this CD discovered archival reels of Ray Charles and the Count Basie Orchestra performing live together in 1973. Although the vocals were superior, the remaining elements were of extremely poor quality. They decided to bring the current Basie Orchestra into the studio and, using the latest technology, they carefully and painstakingly laid down a new instrumental backdrop for Charles’ towering vocals.

“Ray Charles and Count Basie were two of the most charismatic personalities I’ve ever known. I loved them both. So to hear this amazing collaboration of their musical geniuses is a treat of the highest order. When 21st century technology and timeless soul come together, watch out! This one is for the ages.” --- Quincy Jones

Highlights:
*Marks the FIRST-TIME an entire album has been created using a pre-existing vocal track and a new instrumental backdrop.
*The FIRST AND ONLY RECORDING in which Charles is backed by the legendary bandleader’s orchestra, helping to fulfill one of Charles’ life-long musical dreams.
*Features AMAZING NEW ARRANGEMENTS and renderings of many Ray Charles classics, as well as the NEVER-BEFORE RECORDED song “Every Saturday Night.”
*Features arrangements by Quincy Jones and vocal arrangements by Patti Austin.

1. "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" (Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers) – 4:35
2. "Let the Good Times Roll" (Moore, Theard) – 2:57
3. "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 6:19
4. "Every Saturday Night" (Hogan, West) – 4:05
5. "Busted" (Harlan Howard) – 2:35
6. "Crying Time" (Buck Owens) – 3:53
7. "I Can't Stop Loving You" (Don Gibson) – 4:02
8. "Come Live with Me" (Bryant, Bryant) – 4:10
9. "Feel So Bad" (Johnson, Temple) – 4:10
10. "The Long and Winding Road" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 4:04
11. "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma" (Melanie Safka) – 2:51
12. "Georgia on My Mind" (Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell) – 4:40

 

[Dennie]

Music Is My Life -- CD

Diane Schuur

1999 Atlantic Records (Promo/NFS printed on back cover)
Amazon.com

After her long association with GRP Records, this is Diane Schuur's first recording for Atlantic. With label founder Ahmet Ertegun serving as one of the album's three producers, Schuur applies her powerful, free-ranging voice to a mostly quiet collection of familiar standards and a few lesser-known selections ("Good Morning Heartache") well suited to Schuur's emotive interpretations. In a romantic, late-night state of mind on most of the disc's 11 tracks, Schuur sounds as though she's enjoying herself from start to finish. She opens with playful vocalise on "Invitation" and concludes with a dramatic a cappella version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," where one moment her voice rattles windows, then seconds later shifts to a whisper. Her languid, nine-minute take on "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" is a sultry, beguiling confessional, and her sophisticated swing on Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" sets the piece aglow. The title track is a pleasant, pop-structured affair, likely designed with radio airplay in mind, and the blues, gospel, and R&B influences found in earlier works are not as evident in this, a more subdued, seductive, and consistently charming collection. --Terry Wood

1 Invitation 8:01
2 You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To Porter 3:13
3 That Old Devil Called Love Fisher, Roberts 4:36
4 Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered Rodgers 9:06
5 Keepin' Out of Mischief Now Waller 3:14
6 Good Morning Heartache 5:17
7 I Only Have Eyes For You Warren 3:58
8 Nardis Davis 5:43
9 Music Is My Life 4:12
10 If You Could See Me Now Dameron 6:17
11 Somewhere Over the Rainbow Arlen 3:20

 

[Botch]

 

[Dennie]

From Bessie To Brazil -- CD

Susannah McCorkle

1993 Concord Jazz

Elegy, May 26, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: From Bessie to Brazil (Audio CD)

I was in my car, listening to a program that plays "standards" on a local NPR affiliate on Saturday, 5/19/01, about noon-ish, east coast time. The host came on the air to say that he had just gotten word that cabaret singer, Suzannah McCorkle had died earlier that morning after having leapt out of her apartment window in NYC. (Until that point, I had never heard of her -- a NY Times article a few days later provided greater detail about Ms. McCorcle's life). The host played "Waters of March" as a sort of tribute -- a song (I later learned) which she used to use as an encore piece in her cabaret act...and sometimes left her crying. It is a song that, on the surface, sounds lilting and pleasant enough, but whose words seem to vacillate from cozy to ambivalent to somber. In a way, the song itself was rather like someone who fights their demons in private -- apparently cheerful on the outside, but quite troubled on the inside. Indeed, it is a song that haunts.

1. “Love” (Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane)
2. “The People That You Never Get To Love” (Rupert Holmes)
3. “Thief in The Night” (Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz)
4. “The Waters of March” (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
5. “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer)
6. “How Deep Is the Ocean?” (Irving Berlin)
7. “The Lady Is a Tramp” (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)
8. “Quality Time” (Dave Frishberg)
9. “My Sweetie Went Away” (Lou Handman, Roy Turk)
10. “Still Crazy After All These Years” (Paul Simon)
11. “Adeus America” (Geraldo Jacques, Haroldo Barbosa, Susannah McCorkle)
12. “That Ole Devil Called Love” (Allan Roberts, Doris Fisher)
13. “Hit the Road to Dreamland” (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer)
14. “You Go to My Head” (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie)

 

[Dennie]

Always On My Mind CD

Willie Nelson

1982/1990 Columbia Records

An all time favorite, December 24, 2004
By Smallchief - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE)

This review is from: Always on My Mind (Audio CD)

This is a CD I've been listening to for the last 20 years and I've never gotten tired of it. It's more mellow pop than it is country. Willie's voice is clear as a bell and the quality of the recording is amazing -- crisp and sharp with every instrument defined and audible.

"Always on My Mind" is, of course, one of the best known love songs of the 20th century. Almost as good are two other songs on the CD: "Old Fords and Natural Stone" and a song with a clever hook, "The last thing I needed the first thing this morning (was to have you walk out on me)." Most of the other songs are covers Willie performs adequately, if not with inspiration. But the three great songs on this CD put it in the must-have category.

1. "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (Moman, Penn) - 2:58
2. "Always on My Mind" (Christopher, James, Thompson) - 3:34
3. "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (Brooker, Reid, Fisher) - 4:01
4. "Let It Be Me" (M. Curtis, P. Delanoe, G. Becaud) - 3:33
5. "Staring Each Other Down" (Moman, Bobby Emmons) - 2:16
6. "Bridge over Troubled Water" (Paul Simon) - 4:39
7. "Old Fords and a Natural Stone" (Bobby Emmons, Moman) - 2:33
8. "Permanently Lonely" (W. Nelson) - 2:41
9. "Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning" (G.P. Nunn, D. Ciscle) - 4:22
10. "The Party's Over" (W. Nelson) - 2:52

 

[topper]

( rel. 2010 )

 

[Dennie]

Guess who's Pregnant? :scared-eek:

Goodbye Alice In Wonderland -- CD

Jewel

2006 Atlantic Records

Amazon.com

The word "confessional" is frequently applied to folk of all stripes, including folk-rock and folk-pop, which is where Jewel comes in. Even within the bounds of folk, however, her music is more nakedly confessional than most. (Too nakedly, some have carped.) Along with a coterie of Nashville pros, she began her latest musical journey by laying down another introspective song cycle in the vein of 1995's Pieces of You. Dissatisfied with the results, the Texas-based artist scrapped that effort and re-recorded with Rob Cavallo (Green Day). This lends her sixth album the expected rock edge, but Jewel hasn't changed her spots. If anything, she sounds more like, well, Jewel than she did on dance-oriented departure 0304. She’s still pop star ("Fragile Heart"), sensitive folkie ("Long Slow Slide"), and scrappy country gal ("Stephenville, TX"). Her Joni Mitchell-esque soprano soars as high as ever, with more of a sardonic Dylan chaser than before. What's changed is that maturity has granted Jewel, now in her early 30s, greater perspective--"Growing up is not an absence of dreaming," she states in the title track--and a sense of humor missing from her more earnest early work. On "Satellite," for instance, written when she was 18, but revamped since, she notes that "the Pope," "rock and roll," "Valium," even "Miss Cleo" can't fix her broken heart. In her statement about the album, Jewel claims that, after years of ups and downs, she's "not broken, just more myself." --Kathleen C. Fennessy

1. "Again and Again" (J. Kilcher/J. Shanks) – 3:57
2. "Long Slow Slide" (J. Kilcher) – 3:48
3. "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland" (J. Kilcher) – 5:55
4. "Good Day" (J. Kilcher/G. Wells/K. DioGuardi) – 3:46
5. "Satellite" (J.Kilcher) – 5:05
6. "Only One Too" (J. Kilcher/J. Shanks) – 3:04
7. "Words Get in the Way" (J. Kilcher) – 3:58
8. "Drive to You" (J. Kilcher/L. Mendez) – 4:14
9. "Last Dance Rodeo" (J. Kilcher) – 6:16
10. "Fragile Heart" (New Version-previously on 0304) [J. Kilcher/A. Bell] – 3:21
11. "Stephenville, TX" (J. Kilcher) – 3:56
12. "Where You Are" (J. Kilcher) – 3:28
13. "1000 Miles Away" (J. Kilcher) – 3:48

 

[Botch]

Allman Brothers, Live at Fillmore East, on 5.1 SACD! :music-rockout:

 

[topper]

Allman Brothers, Live at Fillmore East, on 5.1 SACD! :music-rockout:

......................
:handgestures-thumbup: . . . a Classic

litterally ** [bet the house is rockin' . . . .]

 

[Dennie]

Slow Down -- CD

Keb Mo

1998 Epic Records

Amazon.com

Guitarist and vocalist Keb' Mo' seems to be continuing in the direction suggested by his previous album, Just Like You, with this release. That is to say, mixed in with the country-blues style that dominated his self-titled debut are elements of soul, R&B, and rock (the opening "Muddy Water" sounds, in Keb' Mo's hands, a great deal like the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Woman"). When this works, as it does on Slow Down's title track, it works very, very well. Some of the ballads, though, sound a little bland, and when the album returns to the tight, rock-inflected "Soon As I Get Paid" or the funky "A Letter to Tracy," it's refreshing. The real treats, however, come late in the album. With "Love in Vain" and "God Trying to Get Your Attention," Mo' gets down to the roots, and the sheer simplicity of the closing "I'm Telling You Now" is nothing short of beautiful, allowing Mo's considerable talent as a singer and guitarist to shine through. --Genevieve Williams


1. "Muddy Water"
2. "I Was Wrong"
3. "Everything I Need"
4. "Henry"
5. "Soon As I Get Paid"
6. "A Better Man"
7. "I Don't Know"
8. "A Letter to Tracy"
9. "Slow Down"
10. "Rainmaker"
11. "Love In Vain" (Robert Johnson)
12. "God Trying to Get Your Attention"
13. "I'm Telling You Now"

 

[Dennie]

Discovering The Blues -- CD

Robben Ford

1972/1997 Avenue Records

Amazon.com

This powerhouse set of live recordings from early in Robben Ford's distinguished career boasts solo-laden 10-minute-plus versions of B.B. King's "Sweet Sixteen" and John Lee Hooker's "It's My Own Fault." Ford, who has worked with Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, and George Harrison, plays surprisingly sweet, agile saxophone on Don Raye's jazz ballad "You Don't Know What Love Is." His voice--if still that of a very young man--is throaty and melodic on the King and Hooker cuts. But it's his guitar that takes centerstage. Owing heaps to electric bluesmen B.B., Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Albert King, and Mike Bloomfield, Ford's rich tone, deliberate lines, and tuneful bends were world-class even in 1972. --James Rotondi

1 Sweet Sixteen Josea, King 12:33
2 You Drive a Hard Bargain Ford 5:42
3 It's My Own Fault Hooker 10:28
4 You Don't Know What Love Is DePaul, Raye 8:49
5 My Time After Awhile Badger, Feinberg, Geddins 3:34
6 Raining in My Heart Bryant, Bryant 10:33
7 Blue and Lonesome Little Walter 8:25

 

[Dennie]

Guitar Noir CD

Steve Hackett

2004 Camino Records (Import-UK)

Not only guitar., December 3, 2001
By Marcelo A. Soto Quiroga (Maracay, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Guitar Noir (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful work from a superb musician and brilliant guitar player. Hackett grew under the shade of the enormous talent of Peter Gabriel during the Genesis era. And maybe due to that his creativity was not so visible. Now we have here a mature young composer performing a set of excellent tracks that lets us close our eyes and fly in the soft musical mist he creates.

In a classical composers comparison, Joe Satriani's works are a kind of Richard Wagner at a full orchestra Lohengrin, while in these compositions Steve Hackett could be paralleled to the most poetic Puccini in, say, La Boheme.

1. Sierra Quemada
2. Take These Pearls
3. There Are Many Sides To The Night
4. In The Heart Of The City
5. Dark As The Grave
6. Lost In Your Eyes
7. Little America
8. Like An Arrow
9. Theatre Of Sleep
10. Walking Away From Rainbows
11. Paint Your Pictures
12. Vampyre With A Healthy Appetite
13. Tristesse
14. Sierra Quemada(Demo)
15. Take These Pearls(Rough Mix)
16. In The Heart Of The City(Original Version)
17. Vampyre With A Healthy Appetite(Demo)