PROCOL HARUM
on BGO Records
|
SCHOLA MUSICA
on XXI Records
|
THE MINX
on Sundazed |
JULY
/ AUGUST 2003 MUSIC & RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
ACTION
MUSIK -
Recorded at Matthew Sweets home studio in L.A., the 1999
album of Free Expression by power pop favorites Velvet
Crush was remastered with a bonus disc of demos from the sessions
on the groups own Action Musik through Parasol Label
Group. Covering a wide array of Beatles-inspired sounds, the album
shows why the group is often considered a modern day version of Badfinger
or the Raspberries. Theres also a solid jingle jangle folk-rock
Byrds influence at work. Featuring the crisp drumming of Ric Menck
and the baritone vocals of Paul Chastain, Velvet Crush
continue on today releasing new and archive material on their Action
Musik label. www.velvetcrushrockgroup.com
ARTEMIS - Released by the NYC-based Artemis Records at
the close of 2002 on both stereo CD and 5.1 DVD audio versions, Songs
For Survivors carries on the Graham Nash tradition
of writing fine songs which began way back in the 60s with The
Hollies and CSN&Y. To make the record Nash joined forces with
longtime music pal, famed drummer Russ Kunkel. Recorded in
Hawaii and California, Songs For Survivors features the Nash
knack for writing catchy pop songs like the buoyantly heartfelt Lost
Another One and Where Love Lies Tonight with another
highlight being the progressive reaches of Pavane. Fine
guitarists Dean Parks, Steve Farris and pedal steel
/ banjo from Dan Dugmore further enhance Nashs retro-modern
folk rock vision. www.grahamnash.com
BGO RECORDS - Englands best reissue label BGO (Beat
Goes On) continues reissuing musical masterpiecesincluding many
two on one CDsby legends like Buddy Holly, Johnny Rivers, Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band, Man and guitar god Robin Trower. High on their 2003
reissues schedule are new CDs from Canned Heat, Procol Harum and 50s
rocker Johnny Burnette. BGOs latest Canned Heat title
pairs their 1968 CD Hallelujah with their best-of
from the waning days of the 60s, The Canned Heat Cookbook.
Featuring classics like Same All Over, Time
Was and Canned Heat, Hallelujah remains one
of the Heats great studio albums, while The Canned Heat Cookbook
was their first greatest hits collection, and a good
one that featured their biggies On The Road Again and
Going Up The Countrytwo songs often associated with
their late, great singer-guitarist Alan Wilson. The extensive
CD booklet goes far in explaining the bands perpetual popularity.
BGO also continue releasing great CDs from Procol Harum including
a new double CD set pairing A Salty Dog with Home.
Once again, 2003 liner notes by John Tobler puts these
unique albums into a fitting perspective. Home, from 1970 is
often considered Procols benchmark album while the their third
studio album, A Salty Dogfeaturing that classic title
track described by Harums keyboardist Matthew Fisher as
Procols Citizen Kaneremains one of
the highlights of 1969. Also on tap from BGO in 2003 is a two-fer
CD release from 50s rocker Johnny Burnette entitled Johnny
Burnette Sings / The Johnny Burnette Story. Although
hes associated with the mid 50s rockabilly music phenomenonalong
with his brother Dorsey Burnette and guitarist Paul BurlisonBurnette
went on to record huge, string-swept pop hits like Youre
Sixteen along with a cover of The Fool, two tracks
on this single disc 24 track CD. Although he passed away back in 1964,
Johnny Burnette left behind an incredible musical legacy of classic
rock and roll, a part of which can be heard on BGOs latest Burnette
CD reissue. www.bgo-records.com
CAPITOL / EMI - Comparable to their successful Beatles 1 CD,
Capitol released the 30 track Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best
Of The Beach Boys CD just in time for Summer 2003. With a
flurry of activity, including a Summer 2003 tour by the (un)official
Beach Boys fronted by the irascible Mike Love, (with the great
Bruce Johnston in tow) it looks like theyre still trying
to revive the moniker. With all the ongoing activities of founder
Brian Wilson, in addition to the July 2003 DVD audio version
of Wilsons masterpiece with the Boys, Pet Sounds, it
wont be hard to tempt listeners with Capitols new SOS
best of. Theres also Beach Boys 40 Top 40s
collection coming in September. Fittingly, 2003 is also the 40th
anniversary of the Boys' first summer breakthrough hit Surfin
USA in 1963. The excellent sound quality of Sounds Of Summer
will be a prime factor among those who care about owning this
latest Beach Boys best of set. www.brianwilson.com
COLUMBIA LEGACY - Truly ground breaking sounds that had instantly
impacted the pop culture of the early 70s, the first three Santana
albums were classics that transformed Latin rock into a new breed
of Latin jazz-rock fusion. By the time guitar king Carlos Santana
and company set out with their fourth, 1972s Caravanserai
they were already among the biggest American bands on the
scene. Superbly exploring the boundaries of rock, jazz and all sorts
of pioneering Latin vocal and instrumental sounds, the ten track Caravanserai
remains an absolute masterpiece. Among their brilliant originals is
the bands innovative cover of the Antonio Carlos Jobim
favorite Stone Flower. Right after the release of
Caravanserai, (and at the behest of Clive Davis) Carlos
Santana joined forces with another Sri Chinmoy disciple,
Mahavishnu John McLaughlin andtogether with various Santana
and Mahavishnu members like Jan Hammer (interestingly on drums)
and Billy Cobham and Tony Williams organist Larry
Youngthey recorded the June 1973 release of Love Devotion
Surrender. In another twist, prior to Carlos recording
with McLaughlin, Santana founding vocalist-keyboardist Gregg Rolie
left Santana with the groups second guitarist Neil Schon
to form the commercial rock sound of Journey so for Santanas
November 1973 album release Welcome, Carlos and
drumming wiz Mike Shrieve brought in players like singer Leon
Thomas and John Coltranes widow, Alice Coltrane.
All three Santana albums were reissued in early August 2003along
with Moonflower (a 1977 double Lp mixing live and studio
tracks) on Columbia Legacy. In addition to the bonus tracks
on Love Devotion Surrender (two alternate takes), Welcome
(with the unreleased Mantra) and Moonflower
(now with bonus single versions of Black Magic Woman
and Shes Not There) Legacys 2003 Santana reissues
add in expert liner notes from fusion guru Hal Miller. www.legacyrecordings.com
CURB RECORDS - Sounding inspired by the Stax pop sound and
and any number of R&B gospel flavored singer-songwriters Laura
Nyro and even Stevie Nicks, Anna Wilson released her 2003 debut
album on Nashville-based Curb Records. Even if radio doesnt
pounce on it, these ten tracks will be probably be heard in no time
piped into malls everywhere from Miami to Seattle. Off to an interesting,
impressive start, Wilsons upbeat groove and pleasantly effective
vocals come across well on The Long Way. www.annawilson.com
FUEL 2000 - Despite the deaths of founders Alan Blind
Owl Wilson and Bob Bear HiteWilson
a suicide in 1970 and Hite in 1981 in L.A.the blues rock legend
of Canned Heat continued on through the years with founding
member and drummer Fito de la Parra at the helm. Having recorded
over 30 albums since their late 60s heyday, the group remain
true to their roots on their 2003 album on Fuel 2000 entitled Friends
In The Can. With Fito still banging the skins, the
current lineup is filled out by Greg Kage (bass), Dallas
Hodge and John Paulus (guitars) and Stanley Behrens
(harmonica). Another Canned Heat founder, Henry Vestine,
who passed away in 1997, appears on a track here that also features
vocals from the late great John Lee Hooker. And the album features
two versions of the groups trademark anthem Lets
Work Together, featuring guest appearances by former Heat members
Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor. Hats off to Fito for
keeping the Canned Heat legacy alive now 34 years after Heats
legendary Woodstock appearance. www.cannedheatmusic.com
Released in the wake of pioneering British rock concept albums
like Sgt. Peppers and The Whos early mini rock operas,
Ogdens Nut Gone Flake by The Small Faces,
was almost as well known for its imaginative Lp packaging
as it was for the music. Featuring a stellar selection of songs from
the bands two late great singer-songwriters Steve Marriott
and Ronnie Lane, the album also benefited from fine engineering
of Glyn Johns. Interestingly the first side of the original
vinyl Lp featured some catchy hit tracks including Lazy Sunday,
Afterglow (covered to great effect in the early 70s
by Flo & Eddie) and the astounding, fuzzed out instrumental title
track which kicked off the album. Side two was somewhat of a mixed
bag of a concept piece mixing songs and narration by the late Stanley
Unwin. This 2003 remastered reissue of Ogdens comes
complete with bonus live tracks from one of the original Small Faces
last live shows on November 18, 1968 and a rare alternate mix of The
Autumn Stonea song released after the group broke up.
Expert liner notes by Kent Benjamin adds further fuel to the
fact that they simply dont make albums like this anymore. www.Hitfile.com
HIP-O RECORDS - Indian music is among the most wildly animated
World music. India produces over 800 movies a year and many have some
truly remarkable film soundtracks. Thanks to their affiliation with
Universal Pictures, Hip-O Records secured the right to release
this Indian movie music compilation entitled The Best Of Bollywood
- 15 Classic Hits From The Indian Cinema. In India,
film soundtracks routinely hit the top of the charts and this 75+
minute CD compilationcomplete with provocative cover art and
Indian film factsputs together 15 music tracks from some of
the biggest Indian films from past 30 years. The place where
Bombay meets Hollywood, The Best Of Bollywood is a fine introduction
to the phenomenon of Indian film music soundtracks. Its doubtful
many Americans will recognize any of these tracks, but its colorful,
fun stuff, filled with those ultra-exotic Indian instruments, hypnotic
vocals and rhythms. www.hip-o.com
INSIDE OUT MUSIC AMERICA - In a weird way, the first album
Spocks Beard recorded without founding vocalist and songwriter
Neal Morse is a little like when Peter Gabriel left Genesis.
With the emergence of Spock drummer Nick DVirgilio as
the lead singer, drummer and guitarist, the group released Feel
Euphoria during the Summer 2003 on IOMA. Nick
claims, Losing Neal was kind of a surprise at the beginning,
something none of us really expected, thats for sure.
Apparently after the release of their 2002 classic Snow,
Neal left the band due to an increasing focus on his Christian
beliefs. Neals music and lead vocals (were/are) such an
important factor that its going to be tough to measure up easily.
Which is to say that Feel Euphoriawhile not easily comparable
to the fantastic melodic ideas on Snowis expertly performed,
with fine tracks and is basically filled with its share of progressive
rock vibes. With DVirgilio stepping into the light, Neal's brother,
guitarist Alan Morse, Dave Meros (bass) and Ryo Okumoto
(keys) put on a brave face and give it a good shot with Feel
Euphoria. www.insideoutmusic.com
KOCH ENTERTAINMENT - Their political leanings aside, Chumbwamba
have been making brilliant, innovative music since 1989 and theyve
released their 12th album, Readymades And Then Some
in 2003. Best known for their 97 hit Tubthumping,
Chumbawamba continue mixing breakbeat dance rhythms and music samples
with sweeping male and female vocals and depth-defying synth-laden
hooks. Distinctly British, in a weird sort of Art Of Noise meets Fairport
Convention way, the group remains a collective with eight musicians
including guitarist Boff, who makes some nice appearances including
adding some solid riffs on After Shelly and the ultra
sleek All In Vein. The CD also features numerous guest
players who are listed in the impressive CD booklet. Also paired on
the new U.S. Koch CD version of RATS is an accompanying DVD
featuring footage from the video history of the band called Well
Done, Now Sod Off. www.kochentertainment.com
MUSTANG
MUSIC - Over in the U.K. 16 year old Zoe McCulloch has released
her latest mostly instrumental guitar CD entitled Never Give
Up Never Give In. Shes been at it a few years now still
sounding inspired by U.K. guitar legend Hank Marvin and Chet Atkins
cohort Tommy Emmanuels brother Phil. Slated to appear early
next year on a concert cruise with The Ventures and Los Straitjackets,
Zoe is moving in the right direction and theres something kinda
cool about her wailing out on her custom shop red Strat on tunes like
Pinball Wizard, Suspicion and her moving rendition
of Angel Of The Morning. Backed by some fine players and
some occasionally obtrusive back-up (cameo) singers, the 2003 album
Never Give Up Never Give In is Zoes most, accomplished,
mature sounding work to date. www.zoemcculloch.com
OMOM RECORDS- The Italian-based OmOm Records never does anything
half way. Among the labels latest masterworks are 2003 double
CD adaptations of Jesus Christ Superstar, entitled Jesus
Christ Surferstar as well as a unique take on the famous American
Graffitti movie entitled American Graffitti Revisited.
OmOms double CD JC Superstar is a truly innovative
work. Decked out with cool cover art, the mostly instrumental album
features some of best guitar-based instro groups around todayincluding
Susan & The Surftones, El Ray, Hypnotic IV,
Crime Factor Zero and 3 Piece Suitserving up new
renditions of music from the original JC Superstar production.
Unlike the mostly instrumental-based Jesus Christ Surferstar,
OmOms American Graffitti Revisited features a range of
vocal tracks with a few instrumentals featuring new recordings of
vintage R&R classics from Moto Litas, Voodoo Court,
Paul Johnson and The Bikini Men, to name just a few.
Well worth hearing by fans of the original releases, both double CDs
are topped off by eye-catching artwork. www.omomworld.com
RED TRUMPET - From hardware to software, PA.-based Red Trumpet
has it all covered for purveyors of audiophile stereo equipment and
collectors of rare import, domestic and collectible Japanese only
CDs. The Red Trumpet catalog features only the finest equipment and
cool graphics of their prestige stereo amps, speakers, and CD and
DVD audio and video players provides an illuminating, up to date look
at some truly state of the art equipment. Red Trumpet is also a great
source of CDs and rare vinyl. Their extensive CD catalog features
a number of import CDs including the TOCP line of imported Japanese
Toshiba / EMI Beatles CDs. www.RedTrumpet.com
REV-UP - Discovered by rock legend Peter Framptonwho also
produced his 2001 album Blue, Dressed In BlackNYC singer-songwriter
Eric Stuart finally released his long awaited new album. Packed
with ten insightful rock tracks, the release of BombShellShocked
on the newly established RevUp Records is clearly
among the major musical highlights of 2003. A three time winner of
the coveted John Lennon Songwriting Award, Stuarts earlier album
releases were critically acclaimed albums that successfully distilled
the essence of early Springsteen and even some of Cat Stevens
penetrating folk-rock, yet on BombShellShocked Stuart has
really staked out a unique musical terrain of his own. Solid examples
of his expressive songwriting, songs like Revelation and
Second Time Around are as good as it gets and supported
by fine players like Phil Nix (guitars), Kevin Merritt (keyboards)
and Jagoda (drums), Eric Stuart continues to refine his songwriting
art. www.ericstuart.com
RHINO
RECORDS -The first rock band signed to Elektra Records
back in 1966, Love burst out of the L.A. music scene with a
series of albums that still amazes. Never mind that their stuff hardly
made it to the top of the Billboard charts...they were the ultimate
critics choice band. In fact their third album, 1967s Forever
Changes is still consideredalong with Sgt.
Pepper's and Pet Soundsone of the finest albums from
the golden days of rock. Although the groups founding member,
rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Bryan MacLean, sadly
passed away at the end of the 90s, Arthur LeeLoves
main vocalist and prime songwriterreemerged to everyones
delight, during the early 2000s with a 2003 version of Love.
Although Elektra released the ultimate version of Forever Changes
last year, they now put it all together with a single disc 22
track 2003 CD, The Best Of Love, combining
a stellar variety of tracks from their four Elektra albums and the
final Summer 68 single from the original band with Lee and MacLean.
With so much mystique and a wealth of groundbreaking music still surrounding
the Love legacy, Rhinos Best Of Love is a first class
introduction to one of the great 60s rock icons. www.rhino.com
STEREORIFFIC - When its played right, guitar-based instrumental
rock and roll not only rocks but it also has a great sense of humor
as well. As the leader / guitarist of the Boston-based Weisstronauts,
Pete Weiss is well aware of that. On the groups third
CD, Featuring Spritely, Weiss and his merry band
superbly combine a rockin mid 60s Ventures / Shadows vibe
while blending in massive guitar influences from fretboard giants
such as Les Paul and Chet Atkins. Take a look at the CD booklet and
youll be amazed at all the vintage guitars Weiss and his band
matesincluding guitarists Ken Lafler and Aaron Tapimplement
so proficiently. And yes, with song titles like Dr. Sanchez
(I Presume), Hot Dog City and the superb Spritley,
the album also has a cool sense of humor. www.Stereorrific.com
/ www.weissy.com
SUNDAZED - Despite the great harmonies and songwriting of founder
members Tom Dawes and Don Dannemann, The Cyrkle
broke up in 1968, but not before recording an intriguing soundtrack
for an X-rated, b-movie entitled The Minx. Filled
with that catchy Cyrkle pop sound, the Minx soundtrack was
reissued on CD in 2003 by NY-based Sundazed, who already reissued
the Cyrkles first two studio albums Red Rubber Ball and
Neon. In addition to the albums original twelve tracks,
Sundazed have added in eight unreleased tracks. Featuring a detailed
booklet describing the history surrounding The Cyrkles involvement
in the movie, The Minx is essential for 60s pop culture
devotees. There were hundreds if not thousands of surf and hot rod
groups playing instrumental guitar music all round the world back
in the early and mid 60s. Upstate New York-based Sundazed
takes the bull by the horns and attempts to shed some coherent
light on the vast amount of rockin groups playing the genre
here in the U.S.A. with two 2003 CD releases Lost Legends Of
Surf Guitar I & II. The voluminous liner notes
on both 20 track titles are quite well researched, with Lost Legends
I featuring interview bits with two of the genres biggest exponentsproducer
Terry Melcher and the late, great Gary Usher. Track
wise, Lost Legends i - Big Noise From Waimea! features a smokin
instro track from 63 by future Buffalo Springfield member Jim
Messina and his group The Jesters, along with lesser known
So-Cal rockers like The Pyramids, The Surf Teens and
others. Lost Legends Of Surf Guitar II - Point Panic!with
liner note clips from surf-rock legends Nokie Edwards and John
Blaircompiles another 20 near forgotten 60s
surf-rock relics from Beach Boys member David Marks and his
group David Marks & The Marksmen, The Surfaris,
Jerry Cole & His Spacemen, the still great Jan Davis,
The Trashmen and many more. Track by track notes filled with
related trivia and way cool period piece photos make the Lost Legends
Of Surf Guitar series vital for instro-rockers from coast to coast.
www.sundazed.com
TAKOMA RECORDS - Another classic from the Takoma catalog,
Old Fashioned Love by acoustic guitar great John
Fahey was reissued on CD in early 2003 by Takoma through Fantasy
Jazz. Recorded in NYC and LA back in 1975, the album featured
8 hypnotic guitar instrumentals featuring Fahey joined by fellow guitarist
Woody Mann. Three tracks feature Fahey backed by a Dixieland
jazz orchestra complete trombones, clarinets, banjos and more. The
album was superbly recorded and with some cool sounding Leslie reverb
on the two acoustic guitars, the overall sound is quite full-bodied.
The liner notes by Sam Charters adds in some reflective memories
of the sessions. On Old Fashioned Love Faheys exquisite
solo guitar pieces straddle the gamut of Americanafrom folk
and blues to jazzy Ragtimeall played with that unmistakable
Fahey edge and mystique. www.fantasyjazz.com
TIMBRELINE
MUSIC - Dedicated to the memory of guitarist Michael Hedges and
guitar maker Tom Beeston, the latest CD from Michael Gulezian covers
a remarkable range of instrumental acoustic guitar-based music. Recorded
in 2001 but finally released in 2003, Language Of The Flame
is a skillful and mature work by an artist who was discovered
early on by the legendary John Fahey who signed him to Takoma Records.
Described as maybe the best solo guitar album since Leo Kottkes
justly renowned first effort, Gulezians first major label
release, 1980s Unspoken Intentions received a fine reissue
last year on Fantasy Records. Now with the release of his latest album
Language Of The Flame, Gulezian takes his place among the great
acoustic guitar innovators of the 20th Century. Featuring a mind-boggling
composite of folk and jazz-based acoustic guitar tracks, the 9 track
CD features one vocala sterling cover of Stephen Fosters
Oh Susannahand the startling set-closer Michael
Hedges Goes To Heaven. www.timbrelinemusic.com
TROPO RECORDS - Subtitled Folk Songs For The 21st Century,
the 2003 CD release of Now And Then from California-based
acoustic guitarist Alex De Grassi finds him in a playful mood
putting a unique spin on a variety of American folk melodies recognizable
to just about everyone. According to the guitarist, I have come
to appreciate the maxim that folk music is a living tradition
and in that spirit, I have arranged traditional melodies to reflect
the musical idioms and social climate of todays multicultural
landscape. On Now And Then, De Grassis acoustic
guitar wizardry blends nicely with his jazzy, improvisational approach
to long time folk tunes like When Johnny Comes Marching Home,
Laredo, Oh Susannah (featuring Michael
Manring on bass and Joe Craven on percussion) and Shortnin
Bread. Inspired by fingerstyle guitar greats like Leo Kottke,
John Renbourn and John Fahey, De Grassi recorded his debut album,
Turning: Turning Back, way back in 1978 for Windham Hill and
he carries on his distinctive approach to solo instrumental guitar
music on Now And Then. www.troporecords.com
XXI
- Montreal-based XXI, (21 Records) released what
has to be one of the strangest records of the new millennium with
their 2001 CD entitled The Beatles Gregorian Songbook - The
Liverpool Manuscripts. Divided up into four Cantus
segments and displaying a near religious vibe, the whole thing is
a real treat. Performed by Schola Musica, with Martin Dagenais
as the soloist and conductor, Beatle fans with an open mind will
be in for a celestial time with this CD featuring Gregorian chant
renditions of Beatles favorites. Another Beatles-related CD out on
XX1-21 is a reissue of Chant And Be Happy by George
Harrison and The London Radha Krishna Temple. Recorded
at Apple Studios and released on Apple in 1970, the album was yet
another groundbreaking Harrison production featuring his work on guitar,
bass and harmonium backing a number singers and assembled devotees.
Like his incredible Wonderwall soundtrack, the George-produced
Radha Krishna Temple album was a very influential album that, even
today makes for a rather spiritual listening experience. With the
sublime lead off track Govinda, XXI's CD reissue features
different cover art than the original and closes out with a bonus
track called Room Conversation (excerpts) featuring George,
John Lennon and Yoko Ono having a discussion with Swami
Prabhupada on September 11, 1969. Another recommended title is
XXIs Marc Bolan: Tales From The Book Of Time.
Using early Bolan songs as a backdrop, the neoclassical / medieval
approach is sort of Enya inspired and as a quasi modern neoclassical
work its quite interesting. Performed by Catherine Lambert
& The Lore Liege Ensemble, the double set features a CD Rom
and theres a fabulous booklet in English that even adds in further
liner notes from original T.Rex producer Tony Visconti. www.XXI-21.com
Attention Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed in
mwe3.com and 20th Century Guitar. Send to P.O. Box 630249, Little
Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249 e-mail: info@mwe3.com