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

I saw him in concert many, many years ago. He earned my undying respect a minute or two into the first song when he stopped proceedings in order to tell the audience to shutup and stop clapping along as it was ruining the song, and that they were out of time in any case. Respect. Loved him ever since.

Serkin/Abbado: Mozart Piano Concerto No.12  1981 digital recording

This is more genteel and polite rendition lacking his earlier playful attitude with Szell. Quite pleasant but awfully humourless. 

There was a "Legacy" 2 disc version of this released about 10 years ago.  The second disc has more of the Fillmore gig including a brilliant version of Miles Davis's In a Silent Way. Well worth tracking down for that track alone. You can find that track on youtube I believe.

regards,

Giles

Haskil/Fricsay/Bavarian State Mozart Piano Concerto No.27  1955 recording Mono.

Haskil's Mozart has a similar honesty and lively spirit I hear from Joao Pires. Lyrical but firm and intention is clear.

Larghetto is sweet and gentle as if looking into someone's soul. 

This Speakers Corner reissue has a steely dry strings but midrange region stays ok albeit piano is slightly veiled. I get the feeling they've done a rather aggressive clean up job from the original tape.

Gin Blossoms. New Miserable Experience. Original CD from 1992. A recent GB post prompted me to play this. It's a nice album and the music still sounds fresh to me.

Winky,

Interesting and certainly an atypical experience; a 'pop' performer asking his audience not to get involved in the music and sit rather like listeners at a classical concert while the music's being played. I guess JJ really does hold his PRaT in high regard.

ewe, Glad to hear he's got something new out soon. I'll be sure to check it out.

Neil Young. Old Ways (1983). On CD from 2000. I'm no fan of country music, but take Neil's songwriting talents and surround him with guys named Waylon, Willie, and Spooner, then throw in a steel-guitar, banjo, fiddle, and Jew's harp and it's a musical treat. Plus, Neil ain't gonna try to sing it like a Southern Man with any sort of twang

Meek'n'weak.

I am not a native speaker, what do you mean with that expression ?

Streaming | FLAC

(2000)

Their first film soundtrack and none the worse for that albeit a bit of a departure from the "Moon Safari" style it's  good. I notice that a 15th anniversary 2 CD version was released a couple of months ago with the seemingly obligatory remaster. It also has ten live tracks from a concert in 2000.

With guest appearances by Billy Gibbons, Alvin Youngblood Hart and Robert Randolph.

 Superb version of the ZZ Top number Jesus Just Left Chicago.

Thanks Giles, I have had a look for it and found it down by The River. The bonus tracks and extra CD does make this worthwhile so I have put it into my virtual basket. I'm hoping that this back cover will be legible as it shows what is on the "Legacy"

Streaming | FLAC

(1999)

Their singles from 1995-'97, to lighten up the mood after "Virgin Suicides".

Nirvana. Live At Reading. On CD from 2009. From the 1992 performance. I saw this posted recently by Stevee_S and realized it was one my son put on my shelf but I hadn't heard. Fasten your seatbelt! A completely loud, energetic, and uninhibited performance highlighting the band at its best. Twenty-five tracks and the seven encore songs give an indication of the audience's satisfaction.

Meat Loaf. Bat Out Of Hell (1977). On HDCD from 2001. A 'rock opera' if ever there was one. Every parent should sit their child down and have them listen to "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" before attending his or her first prom.

Unfortunately not an album that's stood the test of time IMHO. Like probably everyone else I played this to death back in the 70's but I listen to it now and the poor recording quality just grates a little too much.

Listening to it on Bandcamp....., something interesting, but in a way also a bit flowing in one flow...so will have to listen a couple of times...

Like this one more then the other one - all on Bandcamp...

Still and for ever a great recording.

Streaming | FLAC

Homework by Daft Punk (1996)

From memory this is one of those albums that likes being played at max volume, so here we go. 

Streaming | FLAC Download from Bandcamp

(2015)

Some more ambient electronic long form drone from Cousin Silas. This is about the only genre of music that I can actually enjoy being on in the background while I get about doing other things...

On original vinyl from 1975,

Fairport Convention - "Rising for the Moon"

Despite being from the post Richard Thompson era, this has always been one of my favourite Fairport albums. Sandy Denny in fine form as always, and some nice guitar work from Jerry Donahue.

... and a brilliant late night album as well.