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

There is supposedly a Kurt Cobain album due out either next month or the following. I will post further details at some point.

On vinyl:

Some relaxing 'Chill out' music from a master of his craft.

Hootie And The Blowfish - Cracked Rear View

Cracking debut album and not a duff track in sight, every other release of theirs never quite reached the same heights IMO

Superb country album. He's been around the Nashville scene for sometime writing hits for other people. 

Streaming | FLAC 

(2005)

On vinyl from 1968:

Walter Carlos - "Switched on Bach"

followed by vinyl from 1973:

Walter Carlos - "Switched on Bach II"

Probably heresy to most Classical music lovers, but as a young "Rock" fan in the early 70s with very little leaning towards classical music, I can remember being absolutely astonished by the first "Switched on Bach" album and the Walter Carlos music featured in the film "Clockwork Orange",

To this day, I think I still prefer Walter Carlos interpretation of these Bach pieces to any more traditional performance.  

Good but not revolutionary or special....

from bandcamp...

2 Box set on vinyl from 1972:

George Solti - "Beethoven Sympony No. 9" (Decca Silver Jubilee Recording)

Just to show that I do occasionally listen to more orthodox classical music performances.

Walter Carlos is now Wendy BTW.  I like my classical works by him /her also, I also have a very enjoyable version of Carmina Burana by Ray Manzarak.

BigH47 originally posted:

"Walter Carlos is now Wendy BTW.  I like my classical works by him /her also, I also have a very enjoyable version of Carmina Burana by Ray Manzarak".

Yes, I was aware of the Walter/Wendy gender change, although for many years (I guess I was too young to understand that sort of thing in those days - much less common than now), I assumed that Wendy must be Walter's partner or sister.

I haven't actually heard much of 'her' music, but I must see if I can dig some out.

I haven't heard the Ray Manzarak version of Carmina Burana, but will de definitely look it out. Of course, the obvious other contender is "Pictures at an Exhibition" by ELP. I will never forget the look on my music teacher's face when a classmate took a copy in to school for him to play.

Priceless!  

Sensitive playing..

Excellent album, Matt.

I have "Greenhouse" and another 4 or 5 Leo Kottke albums on vinyl, and a few more on CD. Been a fan of his acoustic guitar playing since the 70s.

New arrival, first spin.

Vinyl.

Carly Simon: Come Upstairs 1980 release.

It contains a hit 'Jesse' but alln'all', this is pretty weak album.

There was a similar transformation amongst 70s singer songwriters trying to make a transition into a synthetic 80s sound which I found them rather ugly.

Carly Simon: Hello Big Man 1983 release.

Another ho hum album out of Warner Bro era release, Torch was the only album I liked out of the lot.

I was slowly disenchanted with her work after 'Spy'. 

On vinyl.

Bert,

Definition of Meek in Webster:

having or showing a quiet and gentle nature : not wanting to fight or argue with other people

deficient in spirit and courage

The piano sounds too distant to connect to the music. This is even softer ( read: boring ) than Serkin/Abbado set. Everything is in a good taste, but perhaps too genteel missing an exuberant liveliness.

A rare live performance of Haskil and Klemperer recorded ( albeit in a bootleg quality ) in 1956.

Pity there is no studio recording of this as I prefer this combo over Fricsay version a year prior.

Haskil misses a few keys there at the end, but  She imbues more personality than her studio recording keeping it light hearted but still exuding confidence. This is a well integrated set Klemperer also adding a sense of humor. Neither party never get gets overly romantic either. Pity about ear piercing massed strings, however orchestra provides classy yet rhythmic backdrop. I would have loved to seen the video of this performance.

Maria João Pires/Armin Jordan/Chamber Orchestra of Lausanne: Mozart Piano Concerto No.27 1977 recording.

Between Perahia and Pires, they are polar opposite in style. 

Piano is lively, natural and simple. Pires is a straight shooter and keeps the melody without much of frills. 

She gives off a clear sense of rhythmic direction and structure of the music in a very compact package. 

Fluid cadenza wiht sparkling clarity in Allegro. On balance, her playing is plain yet her subtle phrasing keeps the tunes fresh and honest.

Thanks - I get it.

Bonnie Raitt. Luck Of The Draw. Original CD from 1991. My wife has a half-dozen BR cds on the shelf and this is the best to me. Raitt's slide guitar leads are velvety smooth yet concise, and on some tracks can even conger up images of George Harrison. I saw her concert at the foot of a ski-slope in Park City, Utah just after the release of this album. Very good. Not long after I saw Delbert McClinton, with whom she sings a duet on track 2, in a tiny venue in Salt Lake City. Also very good.