What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2016
2016 has arrived today, so time to start this thread afresh.
Last year's thread (and links to previous years) can be found here;
Unconventional and fascinating playing by the Polish pianist Leszek Mozdzer:
Paul Simon. Eponymous debut from 1972. I've got several formats of this album. Listening tonight to the 2004 CD remaster. A fantastic album in any format and my second favorite to his "Graceland". Eagerly anticipating making it to the record shop and getting ahold of the "Stranger To Stranger" LP.
Don Henley live on his 2015 tour. An Official recording.
The Byrds Greatest Hits (1967). On the "Columbia 360 Sound Series" CD from 1999. Revisiting one of the 'go-to' vinyl listens from my youth in digital format. A nice remaster that well captures the band's jingle jangle sound.
Next up Bryan Adams live from earlier this year. An official live recording.
Wow! Having listened to the forementioned Byrds' album for so long and also being a big Petty fan I'm just now taken aback at how strongly Petty was influenced by Roger McGuinn. Listening to "Mr. Spaceman" you could almost convince me it was Petty singing. Any fan of either band please take a listen to the video and see if you don't agree 
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Streaming | Tidal
(15th July 2016)
Only one track available to try at the moment Live in the Dark but its a cracker which bodes well for his forthcoming new album.
Thanks to Nick From Suffolk for introducing me to this band. Seriously heavy rock, with a stonking version of The Zep's "No Quarter"
First spin of the first in a series of Dvorak's chamber music, with the Israeli/Dutch Busch Trio. I initially found the performances to be powerful, almost too powerful, but as the disc continued, the style loosens up, and I was carried by the sweep of the performances. The recording is good not great, with good balance of instruments (piano not artificially held back) but a slight nasal quality to mid and upper strings.
I don't have other recordings of the Dvorak to compare, so a qualified recommendation.
EJ
Streaming | Tidal
Folklore by Big Big Train
(27th May)
My first listen to this and I'm pleased to say it's a return to form after the dreadful "too folksy" Wassail last year, I was one of those (disappointingly) who could not get on with that EP. Folklore is more in the image of their previous work which includes the excellent English Electric (Full Power). Once again the lyrics and storytelling within each track and album as a whole are evocative and obviously heartfelt . Big Big Train, once again continuing with their nostalgic themes of England's lost industries, lost pastoral landscapes and older ways of life and living. Excellent old school prog rock .
Ripped from the early MCLD CD releases which I still think sound best.
G
New one for me - knowing nothing about the Grateful Dead - this is making doing the ironing (just) bearable 
Tidal
Borders Nick posted:New one for me - knowing nothing about the Grateful Dead - this is making doing the ironing (just) bearable
Whatever you do, don't listen to American Beauty: you'll be hooked for the rest of your life. You've been warned!
Tony2011 posted:Borders Nick posted:New one for me - knowing nothing about the Grateful Dead - this is making doing the ironing (just) bearable
Whatever you do, don't listen to American Beauty: you'll be hooked for the rest of your life. You've been warned!
Oh dear - that's been added to the playlist for later ......
Fantastic 2-CD compilation of the work of the late great Allen Toussaint. A new purchase:
GraemeH posted:
Ripped from the early MCLD CD releases which I still think sound best.
G
Played this along with Pretzel Logic just the other day, great stuff as ever.
Borders Nick posted:Tony2011 posted:Borders Nick posted:New one for me - knowing nothing about the Grateful Dead - this is making doing the ironing (just) bearable
Whatever you do, don't listen to American Beauty: you'll be hooked for the rest of your life. You've been warned!
Oh dear - that's been added to the playlist for later ......
Ok, just watch out for the foot tapping. Once you start, you won't be able to stop. Good luck!
1971 - Original vinyl...
Nice & loud...Oh yes!
G
Streaming | Tidal
On Tidal until the CD lands, more melancholy than their recent albums but that is not a criticism of another good release from Airbag.
Think it was the last BB King new release I ever bought as I didn't like the direction he was heading in.