"…Throughout the record, the music matches the inventiveness of the songs, filled with cutting guitar riffs, liquid organ riffs, crisp pianos, and even woozy brass bands ("Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"). It's the culmination of Dylan's electric rock & roll period – he would never release a studio record that rocked this hard, or had such bizarre imagery, ever again." ~allmusicguide
This mid-'90s DCC Jazz edition of the John Coltrane (tenor sax)/Paul Quinichette (tenor sax) title Cattin' with Coltrane and Quinichette (1959) contains the same excellent remastering and bonus tracks as its standard silver pressing - without the superfluous expense of a 24-karat gold disc. Audiophile pressing or naught, what remains as the centerpiece are the selections that the co-leads cut during a mid-May 1957 session with Mal Waldron (piano), plus a rhythm section consisting of Julian Euell (bass) and Ed Thigpen (drums). Waldron - who penned all the album's originals - proves why he is one of the best composer/arrangers for Coltrane…
West Side Story was a bit of an unusual session for several reasons. First, the popularity of both the Broadway musical and the film version that followed meant that there were many records being made of its music. Second, rather than woodshed on the selections prior to entering the studio, the Oscar Peterson Trio spontaneously created impressions of the musical's themes on the spot. "Something's Coming" seems like a series of vignettes, constantly shifting its mood, as if moving from one scene to the next. Ray Brown plays arco bass behind Peterson in the lovely "Somewhere," while the feeling to "Jet Song" is very hip in the trio's hands…
Music of My Mind is widely hailed as Stevie Wonder's artistic rebirth, the beginning of his "classic period." The1972 release is a breathtaking exploration of soul, sound and the sonic possibilities of the recording studio, shaped as much by his roots in R&B as it is by his interest in electronic instrumentation. Compared to his earlier work, this music feels worlds away, the texture of the album was different from anything he had released. Performing almost entirely solo, Stevie ties overdubs of keyboards, drums, harmonica as well as his mastery of traditional song structure and his immense musical personality into well-woven audio tapestries. Standout tracks include "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)," "Happier Than The Morning Sun," "Keep On Running" and "I Love Every Little Thing About You…
Two welcome changes in style made Blue Valentine a fresh listening experience for Tom Waits fans. First, Waits alters the instrumentation, bringing in electric guitar and keyboards and largely dispensing with the strings for a more blues-oriented, hard-edged sound. Second, though his world view remains fixed on the lowlifes of the late night, he expands beyond the musings of the barstool philosopher who previously had acted as the first-person character of most of his songs. When Waits does use the first-person, it's to write a "Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis"…
After the breakup, Beatles fans expected major statements from the three chief songwriters in the Fab Four. John and George fulfilled those expectations - Lennon with his lacerating, confessional John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Harrison with his triple-LP All Things Must Pass - but Paul McCartney certainly didn't, turning toward the modest charms of McCartney, and then crediting his wife Linda as a full-fledged collaborator on its 1971 follow-up, Ram.
Where McCartney was homemade, sounding deliberately ragged in parts, Ram had a fuller production yet retained that ramshackle feel, sounding as if it were recorded in a shack out back, not far from the farm where the cover photo of Paul holding the ram by the horns was taken…
One of the finest of the Southern rock bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1974 album follows the success of "Free Bird" and "Gimme Three Steps" from their 1973 debut and features their biggest hit single, "Sweet Home Alabama", an answer song to Neil Young's "Southern Man" and "Alabama". The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1974. Second Helping also featured "Don't Ask Me No Questions," "Workin' for MCA," and "Call Me the Breeze," the latter of which includes an acclaimed piano solo…
Limited 24kt Gold disc pressing of this collection from the Classic Rock band led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. Focusing on the years 1975-83, this chronological collection features tracks culled from hit albums like Dreamboat Annie, Dog & Butterfly and Bebe Le Strange. Also includes a live cover of Led Zeppelin's 'Rock And Roll' and a 1998 studio track.
It was big news in 1969 when former key members of the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and the Hollies–three of the finest bands of the '60s-splintered off to form their own trio. Despite their already-proven talents, few could have imagined the gossamer vocal blend that would become the trademark of supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash. The band's debut effectively provided the soundtrack to the summer of '69…