What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XI)

Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2014

On the cusp of 2015, we start a new thread...

Anyway, links:

Volume X: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...-be-interested-vol-x

Volume IX: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...16#22826037054683416

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by kuma

Peter Gabriel: So

This album epitomises the sound of 80s containing the mega hit 'Sledgehammer'.

I remember this wacky MTV video.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by patk

Earlier:

Bill Evans Trio - Sunday at the Village Vanguard

Currently:

Both on XRCD

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by joerand

The Greatest Hits Of Eric Burdon & The Animals. Original vinyl from 1969. An enjoyable collection of songs from the group's psychedelic period. Nice to relax with vinyl after a busy weekend spent mostly in my shop listening to CDs and FM radio on a boombox.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by kuma

Continuing on Garfunkel stream, this is a 1978 release 'Waternark'.

it's a bit too pastelly and low energy for me but there are some beautiful vocal harmonization including the all star cast cover of Sam Cooke's '(what a ) Wonderful World' with Paul Simon and James Taylor.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by patk

(2015) CD

Debut solo album from one of The Carolina Chocolate Drops.

First listen. I really enjoy her voice, and this album certainly displays that. Good first impression, but I need to give it a few more listens.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by kuma

The last of Garfunkel album. 1981 release. This is the first of digital recording for Garfunkel discography.

This album was dedicated to Laurie Bird who committed suicide in his apartment in 1979.

From wiki:
Garfunkel was devastated by Bird's death in his New York apartment in June 1979 while he was in Europe filming Bad Timing. Garfunkel was quoted at the time, "Laurie was the greatest thing I ever knew in my life, now I've lost it." In 1988, he added, "I took her death terribly and remained moody over it through much of the 80's." He became somewhat of a recluse following the tragedy and wouldn't release another solo album until 1988's Lefty.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by winkyincanada

Originally Posted by MDS:

Originally Posted by dayjay:

Originally Posted by MDS:

Strange Little Girls. Another enjoyable album from Tori. She's very talented but some of her songs suggest she's also a bit, well, strange.

She's a nutter but when my wife and I saw her she was lovely, and perfectly happy to pose for photographs for a pair of drunken fans

Nice to know she's good to her fans. Would like to see her live one day myself, though I guess her concerts are not for those who need cheering up

She's always been odd, but a class act. Nothing bad to say.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by winkyincanada

Originally Posted by Tony2011:

Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as a northern star"
And I said "Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar"

On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh Canada
With your face sketched on it twice....

One of the most poignant lyrics in popular music.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by kuma

Erroll Garner: Contrast 1955.

Beat up original EmArcy copy.

This album contains his famous 'Misty'.

Versatile Garner was capable of writing such a pretty tune like Misty.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by EJS

Originally Posted by kuma:

Originally Posted by EJS: Mendelssohn's piano concertos, with Murray Perahia and Neville Marriner.... Recorded sound is OKish, spotlighting the soloist Columbia-style, but with hints of tape wow, and the orchestra swimming behind Perahia as a result (a remastering rush job?)

... Sound wise, overall balance is a bit more forceful on the orchestra but piano still is clear and pitch is solid to my ears...

...

If you hear the piano is spot lit, they must have done some remastering for the digital release cuz, I don't hear that on my record.

Did they give any credits to remastering engineers?

Nope - no documentation besides what's on the back of the sleeve, which is likely the same as yours. No doubt there is some mastering magic going on - I'd be curious to hear the complete Perahia edition and the original CBS issue (short of buying them, for this recording at least).

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by patk

(2012) CD

Mercyland - Hymns For The Rest of Us

First listen. Was intrigued by the artists participating on the album.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by joerand

Originally Posted by patk:

Sleeter-Kinney The Hot Rock

(1999) AIFF

@patk,

Have you heard their recent release. If so, what do you think of it?

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by ewemon

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by joerand

Eric Clapton. 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974). 20-bit remastered CD from 1996. A great album mixing soul, blues, rock, reggae and oozing with jive. This is a nice sounding CD, but I still prefer the original vinyl.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by EJS

My first Beethoven. Not my dearest but still one I listen to every once in a while. This morning the Appassionata. A surprising number of missed keys (which adds to the set's signature - from the good old days before digital botox) and Kempff's image of a quiet pianist notwithstanding, this is one of the best sonatas from his '65 cycle.

On the sound - again. I've long held that Kempff was recorded as if he was playing an upright, and I also felt newer remasterings improved on this, a little. But today the system is sounding exceptionally fine and I actually find myself enjoying the sound. Who knew...

Cheers,

Posted on: 16 February 2015 by joerand

Beck! Odelay. On CD from 1996. For what Grammys are worth, I was glad to see Beck garner several for 'Morning Phase'; well deserved and one of my favorite LPs of 2014. That in mind, revisiting 'Odelay' is an interesting retrospective. Beck is quite the uninhibited musician, an artist to be sure.

Posted on: 16 February 2015 by solwisesteve

Originally Posted by Clive B:

MP3 through noise cancelling headphones from iPhone.

I seem to be going through a Genesis revival phase at the moment and my Genesis buying had stopped at Wind and Wuthering/Seconds Out, but I'd bought this for a girlfriend long ago and seem to remember it being quite enjoyable, so I bought it from the river today. Hence the free ripped MP3 copy.

Like you I've traditionally seen W&W as the end for Genesis but 'and then there were three' came in the vinyl box set so I thought I'd give it a whirl and, you know what, I secretly quite like it. In fact maybe not so secretly because SWMBO has started saying things like "not again!" whenever I play it now ;-)

Posted on: 16 February 2015 by apye!

From last night...