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

GraemeH posted:

Stevee_S posted:

(1975)

Steely Dan - Katy Lied

Some lovely Dan from an original '85 MCA CD. The Dan always did themselves great justice by recording their material so very well. 

The MCA cd’s of the classic albums are indeed the ones to get. Gorgeous SQ.

G

Agreed. The 4 CD set 'Citizen Steely Dan' remastered by Glen Meadows sounds very good too. It chronologically replicates all tracks on the Dan albums up to 1980, and incorporates a few rarities too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Steely_Dan

John.

Deep Purple

Stormbringer - CD Rip

Edward

J.N. posted:

GraemeH posted:

Stevee_S posted:

(1975)

Steely Dan - Katy Lied

Some lovely Dan from an original '85 MCA CD. The Dan always did themselves great justice by recording their material so very well. 

The MCA cd’s of the classic albums are indeed the ones to get. Gorgeous SQ.

G

Agreed. The 4 CD set 'Citizen Steely Dan' remastered by Glen Meadows sounds very good too. It chronologically replicates all tracks on the Dan albums up to 1980, and incorporates a few rarities too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Steely_Dan

John.

IMHO their best album 38 Special

If you hadn't already guessed I had a bit of a Southern States Rock day today. 

(1980 | 2007)

Roxy Music - Flesh And Blood

More great music by RM another of those well recorded albums sounding particularly fine in hi-res. 

Contains the majestic Southern Rock anthem 24 Hours at a Time

Bert Schurink posted:

Have been a fan of the trio longer now, unfortunately never seen them live. The collaboration with Andy Sheppard works...

 

Just saw a review for the album....

Espen Eriksen Trio with Andy Sheppard – Perfectly Unhappy
(Rune Grammofon RCD 2199. CD review by Peter Bacon)

The sound of surprise – that’s what jazz is supposed to give us. But what happens when everyone is constantly surprising us with a new rhythm change, the new use of a scale, a new mash-up of styles. Is there not a point when the previously unsurprising becomes, once more, the unexpected.

There are melodies on this album of original compositions by Norwegian pianist Espen Eriksen which you can sing along to on first hearing, because you know where they are going, how they will resolve. And it’s that ability to predict which becomes a new surprise. These are melodies with the rock-solidity of folk tunes.

The trio – Lars Tormod Jenset is on double bass, Andreas Bye on drums and they have been with Eriksen since 2007 – does a lot with the obvious, and their guest UK saxophonist buys in fully to that melodic and harmonic and rhythmic logic.

The opener, Above The Horizon, has a distinctive folk music feel, and Andy Sheppard brings a gently Celtic skirl to his phrasing. The title track has him blowing so gently that we get a breathy gust from the serpentine tube of the tenor with little actual reed note. Suburban Folk Song has Bye using his hands, I think, on the drums for a gently motoring bass-and-drums groove, and again Sheppard is in lilting mood. Sheppard's and Erksen's interacting lines on Naked Trees are simply lovely.

The trio take a lot of their inspiration – it sounds to these ears anyway – from the likes of fellow travellers like Tord Gustavsen and from e.s.t. Eriksen uses some subtle electronics to sometimes double his piano lines with a muted marimba echo, but in the main the acoustic sound is sufficient.

As a unit of four this band is completely “in the zone” throughout the eight tracks that make up this delightful, slightly melancholy but ultimately thoroughly contented album. The album title fits a treat.

I suppose the remaining surprise is that such a thoroughly un-avant-garde album is on the usually adventurous Rune Grammofon label. Or maybe this is the new “out there”.

Also heard another album of this guy, very enjoyable for multiple hours now

The Gates of Delerium from Yesshows. The interplay between Moraz and Howe is astounding. Alan White does an amazing job to propel the music along and Chris Squire is rather understated to give room for everyone else. My vinyl copy has seen better days but absolutely amazing.

Stu.

John Mayer - Paradise Valley

I think this has now edged ahead as my favourite Eddi Reader album.

Cheers James - You have inspired me get it off the rack - sounding fabulous  ( when does it not    ) Playing on Vinyl on Island Records 1978........Technics SL 1210 digging deep in those bass lines   

Frank Sinatra - Sinatra and Swingin' Brass

The Crusaders - Images

Being on the funkier side of The Crusaders Jazz-funk period, this has always been one of my favourites and probably one of their most underrated (criticised) albums. Anyway, what do I know.

Cosmic Reign is just a belter of a track off this fine album from when these gentlemen were at the peak of their powers.

I should also add that the recording and production on this one is superb, better than the usual 'modern' standard we all suffer these days.

(1974)

One of my favourite Zappa albums coming out here for a walk around the house.

Donald Fagen - Morph The Cat

Unashamed crowdpleaser :-)

Big part of the day listened to him, great...

A favourite from my teenage years and still sounding marvellous today. 

Roxy Music - Avalon

First listen to this very enjoyable debut album from 1986.

First play, on vinyl...