What Are You Listening To?

BlueMDPicker

Ken Saydak - Love Without Trust
2001, Delmark DE-751



I first caught Ken as part of Lonnie Brooks' backing group in the late 70's. His career since then has taken him to concert and festival stages on four continents, including tours and appearances in Israel, South Africa, France, and Switzerland. The list of artists who have enlisted his talents, both in the studio and on the road, include Johnny Winter, Otis Rush, Willie Kent, Lonnie Brooks, John Primer, Mighty Joe Young, Billy Boy Arnold, Sam Lay, Dave Specter, James Wheeler, Tad Robinson, Lurrie Bell, Johnny B. Moore, and Karen Carroll.

All of his recordings, this being no exception, showcase his instantly recognizable vocal and piano styles as well as his insightful and engaging songwriting.

heiney9

BlueMDPicker wrote:

Buddy Guy & Junior Wells - Last Time Around: Live At Legends
Silvertone, 1998


The title says it all. Buddy's sidekick for decades passed away shortly after this live set at the club. There was magic afoot every time this duo took the stage and this album is a great example of it.

I almost picked this up recently. Is this with a full band or more like Buddy Guy & Junior Wells-Alone and Acoustic? Which is just the two of them up on stage Buddy with an Acoustic and Junior with his Harmonica.

H9

BlueMDPicker

heiney9 wrote:

I almost picked this up recently. Is this with a full band or more like Buddy Guy & Junior Wells-Alone and Acoustic? Which is just the two of them up on stage Buddy with an Acoustic and Junior with his Harmonica.

H9

It's an acoustic set. What really shines here is the blending of vocals.

heiney9

BlueMDPicker wrote:

It's an acoustic set. What really shines here is the blending of vocals.

Blue, do you own Alone & Acoustic? Just wondering how they compare and if it would be worth it to have 2 similiar types of recordings.



10,000 Maniacs- MTV Unplugged.



When it was recorded, nobody knew that MTV Unplugged would be 10,000 Maniacs' last album with Natalie Merchant. As it stands, it's a quiet, gentle way for her to bow out, offering no new revelations but several solid versions of the group's signature songs (mainly concentrating on Our Time in Eden) and a cover of Patti Smith's "Because the Night." It's nothing new, but for fans it's a graceful way to say goodbye.

This is one of my favorite Unplugged performances. Recording quality is top notch, lots of instruments and Natalie's voice is excellent. Vocals are right up front and well recorded, great demo for female vocals. It's such a laid back enjoyable performance. A must for all Natalie Merchant fans. The 10,000 Maniacs were never the same after she departed.

H9

BlueMDPicker

heiney9 wrote:

Blue, do you own Alone & Acoustic? Just wondering how they compare and if it would be worth it to have 2 similiar types of recordings.

I don't own, nor have I heard, "Alone & Acoustic". Worth it to have? You can't have too much Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, or cowbell.

starchaser

Claptons Slowhand

heiney9

Journey - Captured

Slightly above average 80's pop rock. Sure does bring back some memories though. A bit too slick and polished for my taste, but Neil Schon is in good form. Still enjoyable. Did I mention the memories!!

heiney9

AC/DC - Highway To Hell remaster

Nothing like a little jaw jarring AC/DC to get you going in the morning. Just another trip down memory lane too. Damn these guys were good; hard driving minimalistic crunch rock. The re-master is just fantastic. Hard driving but not compressed, lots of breathing room. Good thump too. Great epitaph for Bon Scott



When I bought this album in around 1980 I was just a freshman in high school. I remember my parents just shaking their heads when they saw the cover. Then when they heard it I'm sure they thought I was going to be a devil worshipper (LOL). It was a big contrast to all the Kiss memorabilia plastered on my bedroom walls............Ah the memories

H9

BlueMDPicker

Yusef Lateef - Psychicemotus
Impulse AS-92, 1965 - LP

DAGLJAM6

Vince Guaraldi-"Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus" Still sealed and unplayed LP from '62 (until this a.m.)
Followed by "I'm Movin' On"- Jimmy Smith and "Desmond Blue"- Paul Desmond

BlueMDPicker

Oscar Peterson Trio and Orchestra - With Respect to Nat
Limelight LS 86035, LP

No one but Oscar could have successfully pulled-off this collection of covers that define the early part of Cole's career. The similarities in their vocal styling and piano are remarkable.

tonyb

OK,you guys,there are alot of Jazz freaks here,and I am starting to get into it
so if there is one cd that is well recorded,upbeat,nice chords,what do you guy's recommend I pick up?Allready have Krall,Botti,Kenny g,Ray Charles,I'm
looking for the "wow" factor.What should I go pick up?

DAGLJAM6

tonyb wrote:

OK,you guys,there are alot of Jazz freaks here,and I am starting to get into it
so if there is one cd that is well recorded,upbeat,nice chords,what do you guy's recommend I pick up?Allready have Krall,Botti,Kenny g,Ray Charles,I'm
looking for the "wow" factor.What should I go pick up?

Pick up a copy of Joe Sample- "Carmel"It's piano based and an easy step from what you're listening to now. Also, try Chet Baker- "Chet" if you like the Botti then check out one of the "old school" trumpet masters.

BlueMDPicker

Coco Montoya - Can't Look Back
Alligator B000066NYI, 2002



I enjoyed his on-the-edge guitar work with Albert Collins and John Mayall, but almost lost interest in his solo career after the 2000 release of "Suspicion". I recently got a chance to catch him live with Tommy Castro and realized what I'd been missing. This follow-up, and his last release to date, is (for me) the pick of the litter of his five solo albums since 1995. Solid blues/rock originals and tight covers of such tunes as Collins' "Same Old Thing". Good stuff.

TroyD

Sinatra:

The September of My Years
Cycles
Greatest Hits, Vol II

All on vinyl. Talk about a dude that oozes testosterone. Listening to Frank is manly.

BDT

DAGLJAM6

E. Power Biggs-"Plays Bach in the Thomaskirche" Excellent organ work and an eye opener for me.
Beatles-"Rubber Soul" mid '70s reissue nm vinyl and really great sounding lp earlier this evening.

audiobliss

Alan Jackson - The Greatest Hits Collection

audiobliss

Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II...the first disc...

Why? Because the first disc comes before the second disc.

Shizelbs

Dilated Peoples - 20/20

DAGLJAM6

"Young, gifted and black"-Aretha Franklin On now ,just finished Dusty Springfield-"You don't have to say you love me" and before that
Lena Horn-"Lena on the Blue side" The Aretha simply kicks **** of the bunch seriously dynamic recording and her vocals at her peak IMO.

DAGLJAM6

Now for some testosterone Allman brothers band-"S/T"

BlueMDPicker

Benny Valerio and Texas Thunder - Surrounded By The Blues
1997 Wolftrax Records, WT-1002



Rockin', solid blues without a cover in the works. **** kickin' horns, B3, slide and vocals! He cut his teeth and paid his dues playing with such notables as Jimmy Reed, Lightnin' Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, John Mayall, and Albert Collins. Sadly, we lost Benny earlier this year to cancer. RIP brother.

mutelight

Pendulum - Hold Your Colour

Meanwhile driving my neighbors nuts with the rediculous bass.

DAGLJAM6

Schwing....Miles Davis all evening "In a Silent Way" on now and "Sketches of Spain" on deck... I'm thinking "IaSW" is far better than i'd originally believed no real structure just a melange of grooves loosely kept together....doesn't sound like it but it does work.

PolkThug

Summer Breeze by Seals & Croft

heiney9

Getting my Beatles fix.

Beatles - 1967-1970 (Blue Album)

This is one quote that pretty much sums up the Beatles. I'm not what you call a fanatic for the Beatles, but you can't deny their impact on popular music.

So much has been said and written about the Beatles -- and their story is so mythic in its sweep -- that it's difficult to summarize their career without restating clich

BlueMDPicker

Listening to Teddy Lee Hooker on the XM tuna. Yep, he's the son of John Lee, but a different blues artist all together. Excellent lyricist, vocalist, and arranger. Now, I have to find a source for some of his music. He apparently works out of the South Bay area. If any of you CA folks know where to grab a CD I'd appreciate it.

audiobliss

Simon & Garfunkel - The Best of

mesquitehead

.... Storyville.....

shack

Warren Zevon - The Wind



This album isn't for everyone. It is for the fans of Warren Zevon. If you don't know the background many would listen to HIS vocals on this album and think "this guy sounds like death"...and you would be right. He was diagnosed with an incurable lung cancer before he started this album and he recorded it knowing it would be his last. There is something erie and powerful about a man facing death singing "Knocking On Heaven's Door". If you know his musical history you immdeiately recognize many of the greats who he helped throughout his careers joining him in tribute. You would swear you were listening to a 70's Jacksone Brown album when David Lindleys guitar solos start on "Numb As A Statue" and Joe Walsh's slide is immediately recognizable on "Rub Me Raw". Emmylou Harris' distincitve harmony is readily apparent on "Please Stay" as is Timothy B. Schmit on "She's Too Good For Me". Throw in a few more "guest vocalists" like Jackson Browne, T-Bone Burnett, Tom Petty, Tommy Shaw, Bruce Springsteen, John Waite, Don Henley, Dwight Yoakam as well as a host of great musicians, you have an album that is a composite of Zevon's musical influlences over the past 35 years or so. The album doesn't really focus on the fact that Zevon is dying, but the final cut "Keep Me In Your Heart For Awhile" is his good-bye...and very touching.

This album wasn't made for money or for the charts but it is a musician doing what he loved....one last time....with the people who he influenced and who influenced him. If you are a fan of Warren Zevon you NEED to have this album. If not a fan....it is certainly worth a listen if for no other reason to hear the group of great musicians who were.