What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIV)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2017
On the eve of a new year, it's time for a new thread.
Last year's thread can be found here:
BTO. Not Fragile. On original LP from 1974. Continuing on listening to my BTO vinyl holdings. This, their third album. is probably my favorite.
dave marshall posted:
Howlin' Wolf - 1951 - 1962.
Another great remastered box set from the folks at Real Gone Music ............. cheap as chips, and the remastering really does work.
Sounds good Dave - ordered!
Original vinyl from 1982 - great album with a stellar cast including Bernard Fowler, Nile Rodgers, Archie Shepp, Fred Frith, Yogi Horton, nona Hendrix and a very young Whitney Houston, making her recording debut...
Simone Dinnerstein - Bach: Goldberg variations
Allmusic.com:
2007 has been a banner year for Goldbergs; no less than five recorded versions of the piece had appeared by the end of July, including a digitally reinterpreted incarnation of Glenn Gould's famous 1955 recording and Wilhelm Middelschulte's bizarre, psychedelic 1924 transcription of the work for organ. In the face of such circumstances, no one would blame music critics for throwing up their hands and saying something like "enough already!" Nevertheless, thankfully the Goldberg Variations is not that kind of a piece, its appeal is both immutable and universal. Ultimately it comes down to the personality of the keyboard player to make something out of the Goldberg Variations that stands apart from the pack, and young pianist Simone Dinnerstein has managed to do that with her glorious rendering of Bach's cycle for Telarc. Her rendering of the Aria is slower than the norm and her approach to tempo throughout is very elastic; there is nothing rigid about her interpretation of the work. Dinnerstein's reading involves a great deal of give and take, seeking to deepen the expressive potential of Bach's music without losing sight of its basic shape. Dinnerstein's Goldbergs might be a tad bit Dionysiac for those who like them at a more Apollonian pace, but if one is willing to let go and luxuriate in her romantically inclined performance, played on a 1903 Steinway model "D" concert grand with a rich, generous tone, then this will prove highly satisfactory. Telarc hasn't made very many solo piano recordings to date, and this one has excellent sound -- perhaps this is the beginning of a new trend? If so, it's certainly a welcome one.
Stevie Wonder, Hotter Than July should play this more often.
Genesis - A trick of the tail
Now Playing......
James Taylor - Hourglass
Streaming on NAS........ James starting off the morning with Line 'Em Up..... it works for me since I need some instructions this morning to get moving.
UK first press vinyl. Because I fancied some Canadian pomp-rock. 
From the excellent Cheap Xmas vinyl box. Not his best album, but it sounds great...
Boz Scaggs - Memphis
I have bought a of few Boz's (or is that Boz' for possessive ending in z?) albums recently. Received this CD in the post today, ripped and listening to it now. Love it. Not sure how to describe this particular album - how about.......'laid back Rock 'n' Soul' with a respectful nod to the Blues. Yes, happy with that.
(26th January)
Calexico - The Thread That Keeps Us
Released today so giving it a try on Tidal
Now Playing.......
Norah Jones - Day Breaks
Streaming on TIDAL...... Mention from MDS yesterday had me place this in the TIDAL queue and now taking it out for a spin. Norah, as usual, is sounding mighty fine!
Rush - A Farewell To Kings (1977) - vinyl
I got this from the British Heart Foundation charity shop for £5.99 along with 2112 (1976) for £9.99. I think they are quite collectible. Really quite innovative music.
Same era as Pink Floyd and Dire Straights. My wife does not like the volume up high.
Phil
Stevee_S posted:
(26th January)
Calexico - The Thread That Keeps Us
Released today so giving it a try on Tidal
curious to know what you think to this one Steve; I have had a very quick listen & it looks to have got the typical Calexico elements but it might take some more listens I think to see if it really grows & stays or whether it will remain on the fringes of selections.
PaulM160 posted:Stevee_S posted:
(26th January)
Calexico - The Thread That Keeps Us
Released today so giving it a try on Tidal
curious to know what you think to this one Steve; I have had a very quick listen & it looks to have got the typical Calexico elements but it might take some more listens I think to see if it really grows & stays or whether it will remain on the fringes of selections.
Hi Paul, I've got the deluxe version going with seven 'bonus' tracks which turns it into a double album. I have to say I am disappointed with a first listen, it is recognisably Calexico of course but doesn't have that down and dirty hot desert vibe going which they nailed on their early albums. I think they are at their best when they get that Enrico Morricone thing going. As you say, it's going to take at least another listen or two to get what they are trying to do on this one. The bonus tracks are more promising than the album most people will get to hear.
Metallica
Metallica - CD Rip
Edward
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa - Black Coffee
(26th January)
Another one released today and getting a first listen via Tidal.
Beethoven: Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
The complete wartime 78-rpm piano sonata recordings
Sixteen of the piano sonatas here and all recorded from 1940 - 1943. Due to the war, these may be among his last recordings as after 1943 there is nothing again until 1949.
There is quite a lot of surface noise noticeable here but once you get listening and focus on the music it seems to become more acceptable. In 1940, Kempff would have been 45 years old already and his first recordings actually started around 1924. Most today would know him only from about 1950 onwards in mono and stereo. Generally though, his DNA is set and his playing and style is recognizable even in these early recordings. Neither hard nosed nor sappy he aims for a certain non-distinct innocent sweetness which is non confrontational and free from constraint. Maybe this is the centre point between Apollonian and Dionysian?
Stevee_S posted:PaulM160 posted:Stevee_S posted:
(26th January)
Calexico - The Thread That Keeps Us
Released today so giving it a try on Tidal
curious to know what you think to this one Steve; I have had a very quick listen & it looks to have got the typical Calexico elements but it might take some more listens I think to see if it really grows & stays or whether it will remain on the fringes of selections.
Hi Paul, I've got the deluxe version going with seven 'bonus' tracks which turns it into a double album. I have to say I am disappointed with a first listen, it is recognisably Calexico of course but doesn't have that down and dirty hot desert vibe going which they nailed on their early albums. I think they are at their best when they get that Enrico Morricone thing going. As you say, it's going to take at least another listen or two to get what they are trying to do on this one. The bonus tracks are more promising than the album most people will get to hear.
thanks Steve, I thought it was just me
Stevee_S posted:
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa - Black Coffee
(26th January)
Another one released today and getting a first listen via Tidal.
I've got my fingers crossed for this one...
PaulM160 posted:Stevee_S posted:
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa - Black Coffee
(26th January)
Another one released today and getting a first listen via Tidal.
I've got my fingers crossed for this one...
I don't think you'll be disappointed it's a belter IMHO. For some reason I thought it might have been yet another live album from the pair but it's all in studio.
(26th January)
Django Django - Marble Skies
Diana Krall - Love Scenes
Oh my........