Three favorite new al***s ...

Jimmy Webb caused a deal of youthful angst.

On the one hand the songs he wrote were clearly (at the time) written for the pop/schmaltz crossover market (I know, I know, but I was young once). On the other hand he wrote a bucketload of amazing tunes, including the ones you quoted.

And then there was the curious case of Richard Harris. I adored (still do - bought the 18 minute Donna Summer version recently) MacArthur Park, and the second album Webb did for him - The Yard Went On Forever is simply amazing, teetering between genius and schlock, sometimmes note by note, but with the weirdest (sometimes chilling) lyrics sung (well sort of) by Richard quavering away sometimes standing on tip-toe to reach the notes, backed by the most gorgeous baroque/psych arrangements

If you have Spotify and are brave try The Yard Went On Forever itself and The Hive (wrongly labelled by Spotify as Lucky Me) about a wedding "The altar crouches silently, waiting for the virgin to arrive, You can almost hear the buzzing of the hive", plus the stunning Watermark. Once you're there and are caught, then there's Interim ("Your mother had a sofa and she rode it like she thought it was a coach and four").

That compilation has the two Webb/Harris albums, though MacArthur Park (title track apart) doesn't have the magic and glory of the second (Yard Went On Forever).

Great recommendation on "The Listening Booth" Fred - not only are the songs beautifully sung, arranged and played but the recording itself is quite superlative.

I have a copy of this By Jimmy Webb -



His hits sung and played by himself and also an excellent recording. I notice the cost of this CD has soared (a new copy on Amazon, yours for £58.24p!) but if you can find a copy for a reasonable price and you enjoy Mr Webb's music it's well worth acquiring.

Having this CD I don't think I'll bother with "Just Across the River" but I'll treat myself to your other recommendation - sounds right up my street.

Thanks Fred (and Gary), as ever very worthwhile recommendations. I love anything produce by Leventhal - A Few Small Repairs continues to be one of my all time top 5 albums.

Keep em coming

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:

Having this CD [Ten Easy Pieces] I don't think I'll bother with "Just Across the River" but I'll treat myself to your other recommendation - sounds right up my street.

Actually, Ten Easy Pieces is the only other Webb album I have, and Just Across the River compliments it wonderfully, not redundant in any way. If you love TEP you'll love this, too.

Fred

Yeah, Stu, I just heard about the reissue of Ten Easy Pieces with the extra tracks.

Although, strangely, Amazon lists the album as "10 Easy Pieces Plus 4" even though the album cover clearly shows "+6" ... and the track listing shows only 14 songs. I wonder what the "+6" on the cover is all about?

In any case, this looks to be yet another CD I'll buy again and give away my other copy!

Fred

quote:

Originally posted by Dave J:

Thanks Fred (and Gary), as ever very worthwhile recommendations. I love anything produce by Leventhal - A Few Small Repairs continues to be one of my all time top 5 albums.

Keep em coming

My pleasure, Dave. A Few Small Repairs is one of my all-time faves, too. Shortly after it came out I posted an explication of all the Beatles references buried within, and somehow my post was forwarded to Levanthal and he emailed to tell me that I was one of the few (at that time, at least) to have heard and identified all the Beatles "Easter eggs" he had mixed in. That was cool!

By the way, I love Shawn's album with Levanthal Whole New You almost as much as AFSR. And as is the case in not only both those albums, but also her classic debut Steady On, Levanthal not only produced but had a major contribution in writing the music.

Also, by the way, anyone who is a fan of Levanthal's production should check out Joan Osborne's How Sweet It Is ... radical reworkings of Motown, soul, and other classics ... fantastic!

Fred

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
Great recommendation on "The Listening Booth" Fred - not only are the songs beautifully sung, arranged and played but the recording itself is quite superlative.

I have a copy of this By Jimmy Webb -



His hits sung and played by himself and also an excellent recording. I notice the cost of this CD has soared (a new copy on Amazon, yours for £58.24p!) but if you can find a copy for a reasonable price and you enjoy Mr Webb's music it's well worth acquiring.

Having this CD I don't think I'll bother with "Just Across the River" but I'll treat myself to your other recommendation - sounds right up my street.

It is be re-released I think later this month or maybe already out with some bonus tracks.

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

quote:

Originally posted by Dave J:

Thanks Fred (and Gary), as ever very worthwhile recommendations. I love anything produce by Leventhal - A Few Small Repairs continues to be one of my all time top 5 albums.

Keep em coming

My pleasure, Dave. A Few Small Repairs is one of my all-time faves, too. Shortly after it came out I posted an explication of all the Beatles references buried within, and somehow my post was forwarded to Levanthal and he emailed to tell me that I was one of the few (at that time, at least) to have heard and identified all the Beatles "Easter eggs" he had mixed in. That was cool!

By the way, I love Shawn's album with Levanthal Whole New You almost as much as AFSR. And as is the case in not only both those albums, but also her classic debut Steady On, Levanthal not only produced but had a major contribution in writing the music.

Also, by the way, anyone who is a fan of Levanthal's production should check out Joan Osborne's How Sweet It Is ... radical reworkings of Motown, soul, and other classics ... fantastic!

Fred

I am a great fan of A Few Small Repairs- truly excellent disc though I never took to Whole New You much Fred.

Thanks again, Fred. How Sweet It Is is now on order (£2.99, which is less than $5.00 delivered from Amazon).

You know I never twigged the Beatles references... I'll have a closer listen this evening.

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:

Having this CD [Ten Easy Pieces] I don't think I'll bother with "Just Across the River" but I'll treat myself to your other recommendation - sounds right up my street.

Actually, Ten Easy Pieces is the only other Webb album I have, and Just Across the River compliments it wonderfully, not redundant in any way. If you love TEP you'll love this, too.

Fred

Actually, I'd changed my mind and ordered it about ten minutes after my first posting Fred...

quote:

Originally posted by Dave J:

You know I never twigged the Beatles references [in A Few Small Repairs] ... I'll have a closer listen this evening.

Headphones will help!

Fred,

Given my enjoyment of your previous recommendations I shall order them all.

I also have everything that Shawn Colvin has recorded. Great artist.

Ny recommendation for you, if you dont know it already, Bill Frisell, "Gone, just like a train" If a CD could be worn out, mine would have been.

Colin

quote:

Originally posted by Colin Lorenson:
Fred,

Given my enjoyment of your previous recommendations I shall order them all.

I also have everything that Shawn Colvin has recorded. Great artist.

My recommendation for you, if you dont know it already, Bill Frisell, "Gone, just like a train" If a CD could be worn out, mine would have been.

Colin

Colin, I appreciate your faith in my taste! Hope you dig the albums.

I do have and love Gone, Just Like A Train, with the great Jim Keltner. And I assume you have and love one of my Frisell faves, Blues Dream.

ALl best,
Fred

Fred,

Yes, got that and just about everything since "Have a little faith" from a bit before then. I'm a bit of a Bill completist

Cheers Colin

Hi Music Fans-

If you have enjoyed some of John Leventhal's excellent recordings as listed above, I will add my personal favorite of his many fine productions: Rosanne Cash's Ten Song Demo, which is among the most natural, transparent recordings of popular music in my whole collection. Of course, since she is his wife, he would have to do a nice job with Rosanne's work, but that wasn't even recorded with the intention of being an album, they intended it as a demo tape when she was shopping for a new label, and it was released as is once someone at her new label heard how fully formed and yet intimate it was.

Good listening,

Bruce

After waiting 30+ years it's finally released:
The Deep (OST) by John Barry

A superb double album being the first CD release of the original 1977 vinyl album and the first ever release of the OST - highly recommended (though already sold out by the main distributors).

On the classical front:
Dvorak & Smetana - Piano Trios - Guarneri Trio Prague
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/i...aL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
I'm warming to this very nicely!

and:
Handel - Water Music / Music for the Royal Fireworks - Roger Norrington
ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I...SL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Very lively ... the bass certainly works the system!

quote:

After waiting 30+ years it's finally released:
The Deep (OST) by John Barry

Does it come with a picture of Jacqueline in that t-shirt? (leer smiley)
For some reason I don't remember the music from the film.
Idea for a thread.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:

quote:

After waiting 30+ years it's finally released:
The Deep (OST) by John Barry

Does it come with a picture of Jacqueline in that t-shirt? (leer smiley)

Not the famous (infamous?) shot (which was printed on the back of the vinyl album sleeve) but there is a shot of her climbing into the boat ...

quote:

For some reason I don't remember the music from the film.
Idea for a thread.

Many people don't recall {film score} music other than perhaps the really famous tunes and title songs. Whilst Donna Summer recorded a song (two versions) for the score it wasn't particularly successful.

If you want to experience what it must be like to be underwater this is the score to play. Only problem is, just as you're drifting nicely the horror of the moray eel strikes! Not for the faint-heated ...

I am also a fan of Mr Leventhal. A good marker of my interest! One of my favourites is 'Little Ship' by Loudon Wainwright III with the masterful 'Primrose Hill'

Fred, The Marc Cohn and the Joan Osbourne are on order! Thank-you.
atb
james

quote:

Originally posted by bdnyc:

If you have enjoyed some of John Leventhal's excellent recordings as listed above, I will add my personal favorite of his many fine productions: Rosanne Cash's Ten Song Demo, which is among the most natural, transparent recordings of popular music in my whole collection. Of course, since she is his wife, he would have to do a nice job with Rosanne's work, but that wasn't even recorded with the intention of being an album, they intended it as a demo tape when she was shopping for a new label, and it was released as is once someone at her new label heard how fully formed and yet intimate it was.

Speaking of Levanthal's wife, Rosanne Cash, I always love her album The List, which Levanthal also produced.

quote:

Originally posted by lutyens:
I am also a fan of Mr Leventhal. A good marker of my interest! One of my favourites is 'Little Ship' by Loudon Wainwright III with the masterful 'Primrose Hill'

Fred, The Marc Cohn and the Joan Osbourne are on order! Thank-you.
atb
james

James, you're more than welcome ... hope you enjoy!

I'll have to check out Little Ship ... I dig Loudon and with Levanthal in the mix it can't go wrong.

Thanks,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by Colin Lorenson:
Fred,

Given my enjoyment of your previous recommendations I shall order them all.

I also have everything that Shawn Colvin has recorded. Great artist.

Ny recommendation for you, if you dont know it already, Bill Frisell, "Gone, just like a train" If a CD could be worn out, mine would have been.

Colin

With you on that too, Colin. "East West" is also a favourite.

Fred, to whet your appitite:

Living on the side
Of Primrose Hill
Drinking cans of Tennants
Just can't seem to get my fill
Got a beat up guitar
And a dirty old sleeping bag
And this mangy dog
Whose tail don't wag
Sun's been shining down
On my hillside bed
That's not the only reason
My face is so red
This nasty cut on my nose
Is not from no fight
I just fell down yesterday
Or maybe it was last night
And I used to sing and play
Down in the underground
But a few years back
They started cracking down
Now I'm living on the side
Of Primrose Hill
I'm no tourist attraction
But I give them a thrill

Yeah I see you
Riding by on your flash bicycle
Yeah they can do you for that on Primrose Hill
A pretty young mother goes by
She's pushing her pram
Her little baby leans out
Just to see what I am
From the top of the hill
There's a hell of a view
Houses of Parliament and London Zoo
Those politicians all chatter
They trumpet and roar
That must be what those hyenas all
Are laughing for
When you come up to London
It sure is something to see
It's somewhere to go
But it's no place to be
And there's two things
Keeping me from going 'round the bend
I got my music
And this dog for a friend

'Cause life gets slippery
When you're living on the side
Yeah I know I should quit drinking
But I haven't even tried
My mutt's licking my fingers
And I'm wetting my lips
I got a can of extra strong
And a bag of chicken and chips
If I had a little money
I'd get a few things
Like a bottle of vodka
And a pack of new guitar strings
I guess I could die here
On the side of this hill
I'm no tourist attraction
But I'd give them a chill
And I'm living on the side
Of Primrose Hill
Drinking cans of Tennants
Just can't seem to get my fill
Got a beat up guitar
And dirty old sleeping bag
This mangy dog
Whose tail won't wag

just wonderful
atb
james

Fred
Marc Cohn has arrived! Playing now and so far so fab!

quick aside...(unlike Mr Santana's latest collection of covers! I can't work out why he did it? I am a huge fan and like some of his more dodgy efforts but this one....I just can't see what he has brought to it. His guitar is mixed down and the songs just seem to virtually copy the original right down to the guitar licks!)

just got to 'Maybe I'm Amazed'..... wonderful. It sounds so grown up now.
atb
james

Several listens in and Listening Booth is proving to be an absolutely wonderful album. Maybe it's down to being a certain age and being familiar with all of the tracks in their original format but this one really works. Essential listening and a first class recommendation.