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;
Tiger Lou - The loyal
Vinyl - Sly-Stone influenced debut from 1971:
From the first time I heard it to the current day, this has been my favourite Bowie album. Within a few seconds of pressing play and hearing the opening piano of Changes, I'm reminded of the magic which continues to the fading out of the chorus at the end of The Bewlay Brothers. An album I never tire of.
Kevin-W posted:
EW&F Gratitude, double vinyl. A couple of boring ballads, but mostly state-of-the-art funk-soul-jazz.
As far as the live album is concerned, this later 1995 Japan concert is the best of all.
Very little *sappy* ballads and mostly high energy stuff!
I'm sure i saw this album mentioned by Peter Swain on here. Sounded intriguing as i'm a fan of Yello so i ordered it. Arrived today, ripped to the Melco earlier and it's turning out to be rather good on its first play. Great SQ too.
The more I play this, the more I like it. I've probably already done so on one of my earlier plays but I definitely recommend this.
CD rip :WAV
Still sounds great.
Last one this evening - fantastic album.
Steely Dan - Royal Scam
1976 was a great year!
Another brilliant 1976 release
In memory...
Serkin/Ormandy/Philly: Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 1965 recording
Comfortable large enveloping orchestra. Matured Serkin also not as incissive as his earlier 50's set ( again with Ormandy) as if the sharp corner is slightly rounded off. But still plenty of guts left than his later effort. However his diction is clear as a bell.
2nd movement lost an introspective feeling and rather became more of outpouring drama and sophisticated Rondo finale.
Quite a few SFA classics on this one. Compressed recording but who cares. :-)
Tony2011 posted:
Prompted by Steve's post, on original vinyl.
Just listened to this one. Mine is a Dutch lp. What an incredible music scene it was back then in the UK.
You gotta move
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Southern Accents. On vinyl from 1985. Fantastic album.
Neil Young. Live At Massey Hall 1971. On 2LP from 2012. One of my favorite live recordings.
Arrau/Haitink/Concertgebouw: Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 1964 recording
Less spark and playfulness than Serkin/Ormandy even! The piano strikes have no edge as if played with a mallet. The orchestra has a tremendous weight and presence but equally soft and lush. Rhythimically dull as there are no defined start of notes. Entirely lacking in Beethoven’s cocky attitude this set is almost like a generic rendition with no emotional connection. Piano is just moping around in Andante agaisnt *beuocratic* orchestra. A sighlty ringy piano with more obvious use of rubato. Rondo does not get any livelier. Timid and gentle feels all wrong far from my ideal.
Ashkenazy/Solti/CSO: Beethoven Piano Concerto NO.4 1972 recording
This is a completely 180° shift in direction from Arrau/Haitink.
A huge tub of textures and thunderous lower strings created by Solti feels like being inside of a cave. Piano is played direct and straight. Bold and granite like solidity showing temperamental side of the composer. 2nd movment is somewhat ostentatious with deliberately slowed down tempo and extra dramatic orchestra. Yet tension is missing. Orchestration in Rondo seems to be too overwhelming. It's like using a 2 ton hammer to kill a fly.
Side 1 is awesome
