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

Streaming | WAV

S

Side one of these live recordings courtesy of Tangerine Tree.

Rush. Eponymous debut (1974) on remastered CD from 1997. Geddy's vocals are crisp and to the fore while Alex's guitar is powerful yet with a rather heavy, plodding sound. Neil's arrival on subsequent albums would signal a more refreshing equilateral triangle to the band's sound. Rush was always big in Cleveland, Ohio where I grew up and there's a credit on this album to Donna Halper of WMMS radio in Cleveland for "getting the ball rolling". Nice to see a tie-in there to the favorite old radio station of my youth where the anthemic "Working Man" always got its fair share of play in a blue collar city.

Very pleasant Saturday morning listening . Recently acquired this - the more I play it the more I like it.  CD rip : WAV

James McMurty - Complicated Game.  Not played this for a while.  One of his best albums I think.  CD rip

 Highly recommended.

Continuing with Mr McMurty - another cracking album.  CD rip

Streaming | WAV

(1980)

Just by way of a change, its interesting to hear classical musicians writing and playing "modern" music. These early SKY albums have always been very enjoyable. 

Second pressing. I was afraid that I could be dissapointed in this (i.e. all the praise would have been circumstantial) but that was not the case. This indeed is an interesting record.

This was delivered this morning, and have just finished the first side, and all I can say is... good grief! What a recording - and it's from December 1950, barely into the LP and analogue tape era. Not only is the music incredible, but it's presented so well in this Analogue Productions 200g pressing. Gobsmacked - thanks to G (Quad 33) for the heads up.

Very good modern jazz trio.  Bert Schurink's recommendation - thanks Bert !   Via Tidal

Kevin-W posted:

This was delivered this morning, and have just finished the first side, and all I can say is... good grief! What a recording - and it's from December 1950, barely into the LP and analogue tape era. Not only is the music incredible, but it's presented so well in this Analogue Productions 200g pressing. Gobsmacked - thanks to G (Quad 33) for the heads up.

Glad you like it K. It is rather special.

Enjoy G

Really enjoy the interplay of the various ensemble instruments - Each with its own space in the mix. This is a stellar recording.

G

I can't stop playing this vinyl LP. Sounds wonderful, a great choice of material (plus some stunning originals penned by Ms G herself), brilliantly played and exsquisitely sung with that soulful Southern drawl:

Chants du Sud et du Nord

Arianna Savall: voice, Gothic harp, Italian triple harp
Petter Udland Johansen: voice, hardingfele, mandolin
Sveinung Lilleheier: guitar, Dobro, voice
Miquel Àngel Cordero: double-bass, voice
David Mayoral: percussion, voice

Hirundo Maris is Latin for “sea swallow” and, like that bird’s flight, harpist Arianna Savall’s quintet – part early music ensemble, part folk group – drifts on musical currents between Norway and Catalonia, and adds its own songs, created on the wing. Savall and co-leader Petter Udland Johansen have shaped a band with a bright, glistening timbral blend, capped by Arianna’s ice-clear voice, well-equipped to address songs of the north and the south. (ECM)

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

joerand posted:

The Best Of Carly Simon. On original vinyl from 1975. Pretty much everything I care to hear from Ms. Simon contained on one album. "You're So Vain" is among the best pop/rock singles of 70's.

While you are listening to "You're So Vain", listen closely to the choruses not including the first (or better, use headphones) and you might recognize one of the most famous voices in rock and roll singing the background vocals...unless you know who it is already.

An enchanting mix of Jazzy acoustic world smorgasbord. 

SJB

Masterful Martyn.

G

Well, I'm having fun.

G

Soaking up some beautiful jazz-rock fusion at the moment from the Fillmore East on 17 June 1970:

Cheers

EJ

Picked this up at Bristol show last week. 

King Size posted:

Jeff Anderson posted:

 

re: Ray LaMontagne

 

All of Ray's albums have been released on RCA, which is a Sony Music label.  Admittedly his earlier ones were licensed to the likes of Echo or 14th Floor for the UK, but they were Sony for the rest of the world, so in effect he has always been a Sony Music artist.

With downloads as opposed to physical media, it is harder to access information readily available on album covers and lesser so on cd booklets.

Ray's first three albums were produced by Ethan Johns and EJ also played many instruments on those recordings.  I saw Ray live three times during this period and did not enjoy him live.  His musical career is relatively short and as of the time I last saw him live, circa 2005, he was nowhere near a polished performer.  Very shy and introverted on stage then.  The "sound" then was as much Ethan Johns as RL.

Not sure who produced the Pariahs record but I believe Ray has been producer or co-producer on his more recent releases.

Jeff A

Yes, I do think choice of producers is the more likely cause for not liking how an album sounds and that Ethan Johns was very much a key component of Ray's 'sound'.  As far as I know the Pariahs album was self-produced while Supernova was produced by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) and the latest by Jim James (of My Morning Jacket). 

Interesting. I didn't know that Sony owned Ray L's earlier album labels.  As you say, King Size, this must be down to the producer then.

Mike