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

Before going to bed..., quite powerful and entertaining.....

I'm actually a bit shocked at how good this is sounding.  A black Harvest CD ripped to NAS and being played back through Sonos Connect with W4S Reclocker into Hugo.

Very very nice before bed.

G

Saw this band live a couple of times in Sydney about the time this album came out.  they were a great live act.  Brings back some great memories.

Ben E King: Music Trance 1980 Release.

Up tempo rhythmic funk. He's still on his disco phase. 

Yes, one of the best sounding records I have. Incredible dynamics. I also love "Pop Pop". A great deal of her music is VERY well recorded and produced in my view. She's also a great artist. The clip of "Last Chance Texaco" at Farm Aid is worth a watch/listen.

Carole King: Writer 1970 Release.

King has been writing tunes since early 60s for others but this album was her solo debut.

In many ways, this album sounds a bit like her mega hit Tapestry but the direction wise not so linear. Throughout the album a touch of country, a dash of jazz, a sprinkle of R&B and rock'n'roll all wrapped up in King's husky folksy voice. 

Familiar back up musicians including James Taylor playing guitar on some tunes and the album closes with 'Up on the Roof' which he did the cover later on.

Awadagin Pratt's Beethoven Sonata No.7.

Not so keyed up and laid back entrance in a cruising speed. 

Straight away I have noticed that he's missing the focus perhaps clarity and articulation are less for Beethoven program.

He seems to be limited in range of expressions making the slow movement monotonous. Menuetto and Allegro do not have the lyrical rhythmic feel. The final movement is rather uneven and disjointed. Missing esprit and sense of fun. There are no creative moves or tension management anywhere.

Playing like this makes me realise why pianists like Horowitz or Richer are highly unique and naturally gifted artists.

Now this is different...

Very good indeed

And then moved to this. Been up with a touch of the arabians. This made me feel much better!

She is truly a prolific, gifted tunesmith. I believe she began publishing songs at the age of 16. I most enjoy her Tapestry LP. Given her talent for writing I wonder if the husk in her voice you note didn't result in her best-known tunes being covers?

And thanks for mentioning Up On The Roof. I didn't know that was hers. Love the Drifters version and Mellencamp does it great live.

Joe,

Here's Carole with Paul Simon in 1960.

I sort of ODed on Tapestry ( I would put this up there with DSOTM as the most overplayed album ) but I used to sing all of her songs on piano. Her tunes were easy to remember and sing. I still have all of her music books. 

Most people and critics would agree that she does not have the most beautiful singing voice. 

But I found her singing honest. It's a kind of voice perfect to deliver her sometimes poignant lyrics.

Re: Up on the Roof

I think this is one of those rare instance that her original isn't as great as later covers.

I like James Taylor version from his album 'Flag' which I also did not realise King wrote it. 

 Aretha Franklin made a hit out 'Natural Woman' but I find Carole King's original version just as powerful.

Funnily enough I played this through yesterday evening. Poor recording of a nice performance.

G

I'll let it decant for a while.

PS: "I'll leave it on the floor......."

The vocal piece doesn't appeal so much to me, not because of it's quality by the way..

Just scanning through this one. This number the singer is out of tune...

Just scanning quickly through this one as well. They did an amazing job in pimping this recordings without destroying them, really like it...

FLAC stream Deezer Elite. When 'full-throttle' Alanis is too much this set suffices.

G

Streaming | CD FLAC

Tangerine Dream ~ Ricochet (Live) (1975)

"Live" but its really more like a studio album in the way in which it was recorded and presented but no less enjoyable for that. Remastered on this one in '95.

I have this hanging under jazz - as the first album fitted in that category. Now I would have to hang it under electronic, the music is still exciting

One of the better modern jazz albums ....

It never really seemed to me that Yes with Trevor Rabin was truly Yes. Rabin was more a pure rock guitar player whereas Steve Howe seemed to embrace a wide range of styles. Although I played this a lot when it came out, I haven't played this for years (actually decades), and I was never persuaded to buy it on CD. But I played it this morning and really enjoyed it, especially 'Changes' and 'Hearts'.

BTW does anyone know where the title '90125' came from?

The song 'Get Out Alive' from the upcoming album "Until All The Ghosts Are Gone" by Anekdoten

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzv69ZwyKPo 

The full album download and the CD-edition will be available April 10 and the vinyl-edition (including CD) a few weeks later through their own label, Virta in Europe and North America and Disk Union in Japan.

Streaming |16/44.1 FLAC Download

Retrochet III ~ Michael Neal & Graham Getty (2011)

Excellent ambient Berlin School, downloaded from Bandcamp a while ago.