What Are You Listening To?

ESavinon

Sting-The soul cages.
One of his darkest recording and one of his best.

Dark angels follow me...over a godless sea...Mountains of endless falling, for all my days remaining.....

DAGLJAM6

ESAVINON wrote:

Sting-The soul cages.
One of his darkest recording and one of his best.

+1, excellent sound quality to boot.

first capital

My neighbors #$^@%^(@# leaf blower @ 20:00!

shack

In the changer tonight....

James Gang - Thirds
Duran Duran - Greatest
Alison Krauss and Union Station - Live
Jackson Browne - Looking East
Stevie Wonder - Definitive Collection

DAGLJAM6

Back from the mountains of Asheville , N.C. with some new(old) vinyl.
Al Dimeola- "Splendido Hotel" then on to Chet Baker-"You can't go home again" Dimeola is of course Dimeola but dammit if Chet wasn't the shiznitz on trumpet...fine stuff to unwind to.

shack

DAGLJAM6 wrote:

Back from the mountains of Asheville , N.C. with some new(old) vinyl.

I'm heading that way in a couple of weeks. Going to do the Biltmore Candlelight Christmas Tour and stay at the Grove Park Inn for a couple of nights. There is a great shop in the area (Audio Incorporated) that carries B&W, Vienna Acoustics, Sonus Faber, Paradigm, REL, Bryston, Krell, Arcam, McIntosh, and a few more. I will definitely have to get by there. Probably too cold for golf by the time we get there (but you never know with the heat wave we've been having). The Mountains of Western NC and East TN are a great place to visit this time of year.

audiobliss

I LOVE the guitar in Bob Seger's Like A Rock!!

ESavinon

Finding Neverland Soundtrack.

DAGLJAM6

Finally, an excellent LP of: "Organ Grinder Swing" - The incredible Jimmy Smith featuring Kenny Burrell and Grady Tate.
The CD of this was one of the SRT demos during the Polk tour bought that and now i'm enjoying it on vinyl. Jimmy absolutely rocks on this and Burrell does some of his best session work.

BlueMDPicker

Romp
Chris Duarte Group
Rounder Records 2003

In your face Texas blues/rock with his Coltrane roots mixed in smoothly. This guy plays with the complete abandon of Hendrix and can ride a tone that would make SRV grin ear to ear.

Tour2ma

Warming up already, eh Mike?

Spinning a little Joe Jackson (the Jackson I can play at F1's place) tonite modestly cranked. Actually spinning a lot as the release is his dbl disc complilation:
"This is It - The A&M Years 1979 - 1989"

Very good stuff.... really all the JJ you need, but you may well want more...

BlueMDPicker

Jackson Browne - Solo Acoustic Vol. 1
2005

An intimately personal feeling is rendered between artist and listener in these live recordings, featuring Browne's haunting and challenging lyrics with only his own guitar and piano work as accompaniment. His self-effacing candor and humor with the audience is delightful and proves what we fans always knew -- he's a bright and personable individual with something to say and a heartfelt respect for this earth and all its citizens.

His tasteful slide work on "Your Bright Baby Blues" and powerful piano work on "For A Dancer" are the standout performances for me. But, there's not a bad cut on the album. Highly recommended!

1. The Barricades of Heaven
2. These Days
3. The Birds of St. Marks
4. Fountain of Sorrow
5. Your Bright Baby Blues
6. For A Dancer
7. Too Many Angels
8. For Everyman
9. Lives In The Balance
10. Looking East
11. The Pretender
12. Take It Easy

BlueMDPicker

Randall Bramblett - Thin Places
2004 - New West Records

Soul, pop, jazz and blues expertly woven through the musings of a true American poet and storyteller. Randall has his finger on the pulse of the human condition, dancing slowly (madly at times) on the edge of despair while hope, love, faith and compassion anchor him solidly from sliding.

His B3 fills throughout this album are exquisite. Edging a bit more toward the jazzy side of his talents than the marvelous "No More Mr. Lucky", this release is so well arranged and entertaining that you'll just say "WOW" and spin it again.

Keep 'em coming, Randall! And, thanks to Dave James for the introduction to this unique talent!

BlueMDPicker

Relentless
Ruf Records 2003
I've been a huge Walter Trout fan for years, but I'd never heard this import. WOW! He really brings home the bacon in this release. His power with the guitar is palpable and, as the title suggests, relentless. Highly reminiscent of SRV and Double Trouble after the addition of Reese Wyans on B3. But, Walter also shows his polish on a couple of tracks playing acoustic lead.

There's not a track worth skipping on this one. Highly recommended!

1. I'm Tired
2. The Life I Chose
3. Jericho Read
4. Work No More
5. Talk To Ya
6. Cry If You Want To
7. Chatroom Girl
8. My Heart Is True
9. Lonely Tonight
10. Helpin' Hand
11. Collingswood
12. Empty Eyes
13. The Best You Got
14. Mercy

BlueMDPicker

Buddy Guy - "Bring 'Em In"

I bought this one at the suggestion of F1nut, and it's been a pleasant surprise. Critics have panned it for being "the last throws of a blues elder statesman" which, BTW is horseshit. Buddy has got his groove on solid and covers some material even he thought he never could/would. At 69, he still has the sweetly unique vocal range that has always made him a standout. And, no one can match his tone up and down the neck of a Strat -- including his "buddy" EC. Buddy made his mark, from the ground up in Chicago, covering Top 40 juke hits to keep bread on the table. He can still cover anyone -- from the Beatles to Curtis Mayfield -- and this album showcases that talent in a thoroughly listenable manner.

BlueMDPicker

Mem Shannon - "Memphis In The Morning"
(Shanachie 9031)
Released May 8, 2001

Imagine the vocal stylings of Riley B. King and Brook Benton rolled into one. Then back that magic with solid, soulful, funky arrangements and you've got an album I rate as a "must have" for you blues lovers. His cover of King's "Why I Sing the Blues" is without equal in the genre, and the only non-original track.

1. Drowning On My Feet Listen Now
2. Why I Sing The Blues
3. Memphis In The Morning Listen Now
4. S.U.V. Listen Now
5. Invisible Man
6. Tired Arms
7. I Smell Something
8. You Belong To Him
9. I Love The Way You Love
10. Unconditional Love
11. Shake Up The Floor
12. Doing The Best That I Can

BlueMDPicker

Mem Shannon - Spend Some Time With Me
(Shanachie 9013)
Released February 16, 1999 (Fat Tuesday)

1. Who Are They
2. Paying My Dues
3. Not My Friend
4. Don't Talk About My Mama Listen Now
5. The Last Time I Was Here (Millenium Blues) Listen Now
6. Pray for the Children
7. Dirty Dishes
8. A Certain Shade of Blue
9. Spend Some Time with Me
10. Mother's Love
11. Born in the Time
12. No Such Thing (My Humble Opinion: 2nd Movement)

Blues, as a unique American art form, can be so much more than tales of the down and out, or laments about love gone bad. It takes a unique talent and Mem Shannon is in full possesion of such a talent.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Mem Shannon stirs the saucy spice of The Big Easy into a rich gumbo of personal experience, pointed social observation, and unabashed love for music -- on a burner stoked with funk. Whether in his recordings or a live set playlist, you'll be hearing 99% original material from one of the very best songwriters in the genre. Couple that with a voice that ranges from pure silk to gravel and growl, and guitar licks all his own, and you've got a contemporary, triple threat artist with few peers.

If this album won't get your **** shakin', your **** is broken!

BlueMDPicker

Eric Bibb - Painting Signs
(Hatman - 2005)

I first caught up with Eric live as an opener for Robert Cray in the summer of 2001. He's a hard act to follow and Cray brought him back for three duets at the end of his set--mesmerizing!

Bibb has "a voice to die for" and is so firmly in touch with his musical roots (gospel, blues, jazz, folk and rock) that he transitions from one to the next seamlessly with exquisite acoustic guitar stylings. This release, IMO, best showcases that versatility.

Although born and raised in NYC into a famous musical family, Eric had to go to Europe (and co-found his own record label, Manhaton Records) to find the artistic freedom with his studio sessions that he needed. He's toured the world and amassed a huge following of loyal fans. But, his US tour dates are often infrequent. You can catch him from now through Thanksgiving touring with John Mayall and Robben Ford, mostly in university venues. Catch him if you can.

BlueMDPicker

Lee Gates and the Alabama Cotton Kings
Music Maker Relief Foundation - LG100

Another "unknown" starving artist with buckets of talent, found and fostered by the Music Maker Foundation, Lee has an unrelenting drive to his guitar work and a voice built for the blues.

This album, Lee's first, was recorded in three hours and has the "get down and get it" feel of a live set. If you enjoy an artist that can leave you breathless and wishing the album had twice as many tracks, this is for you. If you're in the Milwaukee area, you can catch up with Lee and the group live at local venues.

shack

BlueMDPicker wrote:

Jackson Browne - Solo Acoustic Vol. 1
2005

An intimately personal feeling is rendered between artist and listener in these live recordings, featuring Browne's haunting and challenging lyrics with only his own guitar and piano work as accompaniment. His self-effacing candor and humor with the audience is delightful and proves what we fans always knew -- he's a bright and personable individual with something to say and a heartfelt respect for this earth and all its citizens.

His tasteful slide work on "Your Bright Baby Blues" and powerful piano work on "For A Dancer" are the standout performances for me. But, there's not a bad cut on the album. Highly recommended!

1. The Barricades of Heaven
2. These Days
3. The Birds of St. Marks
4. Fountain of Sorrow
5. Your Bright Baby Blues
6. For A Dancer
7. Too Many Angels
8. For Everyman
9. Lives In The Balance
10. Looking East
11. The Pretender
12. Take It Easy

Blue, you out-drew me on this one. I had planned on doing this album on the Part II thread (but it sort of disintegrated). As a Jackson Browne fan I thought this might be just another compilation album with nothing new. To date I have his entire catalog sans compilations. I bought this one and am glad I did. The music is great. I'm not so fond of all the crowd noise and intros. For that stuff I would rather see the video like with VH-1's "Storytellers" series.

BlueMDPicker

Not unlike "Running On Empty" which (correct me if I'm wrong) was his last live release and its rock concert vibe (totally cool and contemporaneous), this offering has the feel to me (still totally cool and contemporaneous) of fans that have followed and matured with him for decades. I enjoy the crowd interaction and insights into these tunes he provides with the intros. His narrative regarding a fan call-out for "Peaceful Easy Feeling" made me laugh outloud.

Tour2ma

And here I thought Mike had just deleted all of his Mk II posts. Seems they moved here... either that or he's speed listening today...

BIZILL

jimmy buffett's margaritaville. now i need me a frozen concoction to help me hang on.

BIZILL

Matisyahu - King Without a Crown: some new jewish reggae singer.

gright

I just picked up a CD by the Transsiberian orchestra called "The Lost Christmas Eve". The music is more rock with Electric guitar than classical. It kind of reminds me of Meat Loaf type music. I would defintely recommend it for anyone looking for some new and somewhat different Christmas music from the usual fare.

BlueMDPicker

Johnny A. - "Get Inside"

A guitar player's guitar player. A few covers, mostly original, rock/jazz/blues fusion instrumental album. His arrangement of "The Wind Cries Mary" is inventive and highly enjoyable (with some funk in the back beat.) Good stuff.

DAGLJAM6

New pick ups from the music store:

The Rolling Stones-"Let it Bleed" and "Exile On Main St."
Johnny Cash-"American III:Solitary Man"
Kenny Burrell/Jimmy Smith-"Blue Bash!"
Jimmy Smith-"Root Down-Jimmy Smith Live!"

I'm more than a little impressed with how really good the last few Cash albums are. The Stones cds just screamed to be added to the library, been years since i've had a good sit down listen to both of these albums.
If nothing else i've got something to carry me through the holiday weekend as far as tuneage...

W WALDECKER

Frank Zappa - theme from the third movement of sinister footwear. from the album You Are What You is

shack

Stephen Stills - Man Alive
TITAN / PYRAMID - Catalog No.: 501022
Release Date: Aug 9 2005

Stephen Stills' first solo release since 1991, and that CD is so obscure that even many Stills fans aren't aware that it exists...Stills Alone. I have and like it, but obviously it was not a hugh commercial success. Before that you have to go back to the first two Self titled albums and Manassas from 1970, 1971 and 1972 respectively to find Stills at his best. It has been a long dry spell for Stephen between "good" solo efforts. He occasionally did some work with CSN but I really don't know where he has been. Whatever it was he has put together a very good effort in 2005. He still has excellent guitar skills and his acoustic work is as good as ever. The voice is showing the effects of years of the "rock and roll lifestyle" but soul is still there in fingers. There are several very good cuts and a few so-so efforts but overall the album is pretty good...especially if you are a Stills or CSN(Y) fan. Some of his old pals show up on the album...Neil Young, Graham Nash, Russ Kunkel and Herbie Hancock.

1 Ain't It Always
2 Feed the People
3 Hearts Gate
4 'Round the Bend
5 I Don't Get It
6 Around Us
7 Ole Man Trouble
8 Different Man
9 Piece of Me
10 Wounded World
11 Drivin' Thunder
12 Acadienne
13 Spanish Suite

audiobliss

Elvis Presley - Great Country Songs.

It's been too long since I've had this CD out. Lots of great songs.

Some of my favorites:
There Goes My Everything
Kentucky Rain
From A Jack To a King
Make the World Go Away
You Asked Me To
Always On My Mind