|
BIFF ROSE
on Water Music
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BUDDY MERRILL
on Accent Records
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THE ASSOCIATION
on Collector's Choice
|
SUMMER
2006
MUSIC & RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
ACCENT
RECORDS - Between 1964 to 1973, guitarist Buddy Merrill recorded
more than 144 standards and 263 originals as well as working with
greats like Lawrence Welk. Much of Buddy’s instrumental guitar
recordings have been reissued on CD on Accent Records. Accent
has a number of Merrill reissues including World Of Guitars,
Guitars Express and Classic Guitars although
the best one yet is the 2005 reissue the 20 track Phases CD.
Assisted by drummers, John Klein and Bill Lewis,
Buddy’s playing on Phases evokes the spirits of greats
like Chet Atkins, Jimmy Bryant, Merle Travis and especially Les Paul.
The sound is orchestral in places and Merrill’s gift for combining
electric and acoustic guitars with otherworldly Les Paul inspired
studio effects makes it well worth hearing. In addition to playing
Strat on Phases, Merrill also sagaciously spotlights his work
on micro-frets Huntington electric, Music Man Stingray guitar, Emmons
D-10 pedal steel and Fender 6 and micro-frets bass. www.buddymerrillmusic.com
BFM - Covering a wide range of easy on the ears guitar sounds,
this Best Of from guitarist Brian Frederick samples
19 tracks taken from a range of self-produced albums recorded over
the past 5 years. The all instrumental CD features a number of tracks
that show the guitarist’s ability to effectively combine smooth
jazz and instrumental pop. Playing guitar and keyboards since 1959,
Frederick makes the most of his do it yourself spirit performing all
guitars, bass, synths and percussion. Frederick’s guitar tone
is pleasant and his songs reflect the guitarist’s unique ability
to tell stories without words. www.brianfrederickmusic.com
BM - The 2006 release of Six Strings marks the first
full length solo CD from Canadian classical guitarist Brad Mahon.
Aside from adding in some tasteful reverb in the mastering process,
all the sounds on Six Strings are as Mahon cut them live in
a studio setting. An outstanding classical guitarist, Mahon is clearly
in his element here, covering a wide ranging centuries old repertoire
of guitar masters—some from big names like Tarrega and Villa-Lobos
but all still deserving rediscovery. As this excellent sounding CD
intends, it’s good to know there’s still devoted classical
technicians such as Brad Mahon on the scene reminding everyone about
where the whole guitar world really began. www.bradmahon.com
BP - She may still be a 16 year old Ukulele and guitar prodigy,
but Hawaii’s new favorite daughter of the ‘Slack Key’
sound, Brittni Paiva is on to something cool on her 2006 CD, entitled
Hear... In addition to mellow, Brittni versions of “Take
Five” and “El Condor Pasa” are more traditional “Island
sound” Hawaiian style Slack Key guitar and ukulele instrumentals
co-written by Brittni and big names like Ozzie Kotani and Leonard
Kwan. Nice liner notes by Brittni makes Hear... a fine follow
up to her well received 2004 album, Brittni X 3. www.brittnipaiva.com
BLAZZ - Any guitarist that cites Django, Hank and Peter Green
as big influences gets my ear. On the 18 track, 2006 CD from the Australia-based
Ben Rogers’ Instrumental Asylum jettisons the gypsy jazz
intrigue of Django Reinhardt in favor of the excitement of trendy
beat group sounds of the Shadows and Sandals, Duane Eddy. Ben’s
nimble fretboard work on “Medina Wedding Blues” would put
a smile on Peter Green’s face! With his group’s new CD,
Welcome To Instrumental Asylum, guitar ace Ben
Rogers brings the rock instrumental sound solidly into the now. Guitar
instrumental music is and always was huge in Australia—Hank Marvin
lives there today—and interestingly over the past decade original
Aussie instro rockers The Atlantics, Kim Humphreys and other up and
coming bands are out there keeping the R.I. sound alive downunder.
Welcome To Instrumental Asylum is a real treat for ‘60s
guitar freaks. www.blazz.com.au
CB - Currently the guitarist in Heart, Craig Bartock
is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and he comes out swinging
with his 2006 CD. Perhaps the most amazing thing about The Finer
Points Of Instinct is that Craig handles all the instruments,
vocals and production. ‘60s pop influences like The Zombies and
the pop side of Al Kooper come to mind, but in a totally modern context
that conjures a dizzying demonstration of melody and instrumentation.
Bartock is an amazing guitarist, yet in his one man band pop masterpiece,
the guitar is simply one aspect in a symphony of sounds. www.craigbartock.com
CAPITOL RECORDS - America’s all time greatest country
pop diva, Linda Ronstadt is given excellent reissue treatment
by her first label. Her 2006 double CD retrospective—The
Best Of Linda Ronstadt: The Capitol Years pairs Ronstadt’s
first four solo albums including her 1969 Capitol solo debut, Hand
Sown...Home Grown and Silk Purse (1970)
on disc one while disc two teams Linda Ronstadt (1972)
with her most famous Capitol release and—the record that put
her on the map back in 1974—Heart Like A Wheel.
Among the songwriters Ronstadt covers here include Bob Dylan,
Fred Neil, Mel Tillis, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Paul
Anka, Livingston Taylor and more. The many fine musicians and guitarists
here include future Eagles Bernie Leadon, Glenn Frey
and Randy Meisner and top production of Peter Asher
and Andrew Gold.
With his revered legacy of tropical instrumental music, it’s
hard to believe that Martin Denny was born in New York City
in 1911, moving to LA before settling in Hawaii in 1954. Denny’s
forte was an uncanny ability to fuse a wild mix of Polynesian-style
exotica and space age instrumental pop that still fascinates 50 years
on. Sad to say Denny passed away in 2005, albeit at the ripe old age
of 94. Even at 94, two weeks before his death, Denny was performing
his most famous song, “Firecracker” at a fundraiser for
victims of the 2004 tsunami. His long time label Capitol Records honors
the king of instrumental Polynesian lounge music with a 19 track 2006
collection, The Best Of Martin Denny’s Exotica.
Complete with dazzling cover art and new notes from his daughter—this
best of CD is great place to rediscover the magic of Martin Denny.
www.capitolrecords.com www.capitolrecords.com
CIMIRRON / RAINBIRD RECORDS - Beatles songs continue be a
never ending source of delight among acoustic guitar technicians.
Guitar fans couldn’t do better than pick up Beatles - Acoustic
Guitar Solos from Virginia based Stephen Bennett. Paul
McCartney wrote many great songs on acoustic guitar, but beyond “Blackbird”,
Bennett cuts an with swath of Fab Four classics with George Harrison
represented by a a Merrill version of “Something.” As his
CD proves, Merrill is a true guitar aficionado ably employing a range
of classic vintage acoustic guitars including his famous Merrill harp
guitar. www.harpguitar.com
COLLECTOR’S CHOICE MUSIC – With all the vast numbers
of Beatles tribute albums that have come out over the past
ten years, it’s worth taking a look at one of the earliest albums
praising the music of the Fab Four. In 2006, Collector’s Choice
reissued the first ever CD of The Baroque Beatles Book.
Put together by orchestrator Joshua Rifkin, the album was
originally released in November 1965 by Elektra Records, who at the
time were no doubt looking to cash in on the enormous popularity of
Beatles music. Rifkin himself played harpsichord on the album and
was accompanied by some of the greatest freelance classical musicians
in NYC at the time. Rifkin had a volume two planned for recording
but it was not to be. With excellent liner notes, The Baroque Beatles
Book is the greatest classical adaptation of Beatles music ever
made and is well worth revisiting by both Beatles fans and classical
buffs.
One of the brightest, most gifted bands to emerge in 1966, The
Association were just that. Balanced by the vocals and vision
of lead singer Jim Yester and the vision of Jules Alexander,
the group were propelled on their first album And Then Along
Comes The Association Singing…Along Comes Mary by
the artistic songwriting of Tanden Almer and producer visionary
and Gary Usher protégé, Curt Boettcher, the group’s
burst on the scene with the now classic Almer-penned “Along Comes
Mary” and went on to pretty much define the hip California pop
sound circa ’66 / ‘67 Although CC has the whole Association
catalog out on CD, in 2006 they complete the catalog with the much
anticipated CD reissue of the first album Along Comes The Association.
Very much likewise for the Collector’s Choice reissue of
the back catalog of Beaver And Krause. Bernie Kraus
and his cohort Paul Beaver recorded some great electronic music
of the ‘60s as featured on new CC CD’s of their 1968 debut
The Nonesuch Guide To Electronic Music, and the
early ‘70s albums In A Wild Sanctuary, Gandharva
(featuring Ronnie Montrose and Mike Bloomfield on
guitars) and their final album together 1972’s excursion
into Van Dyke Parks inspired Americana, All Good Men. Following
the untimely passing of Beaver in 1975, Bernie Krause Ph.D. went on
to become one of the true innovators of 20th century electronic ambient
and naturesound music. As these superb Collector’s Choice CDs
demonstrate, the nascent innovations of Beaver & Krause in the
realms of electronic music, free jazz and pop Americana is still the
stuff of legends. www.ccmusic.com
DWM - Having studied classical and flamenco—while later
touring with Nuevo flamenco icon Ottmar Liebert between ’97 and
2000—New Mexico guitarist Daniel Ward stakes out his own
musical territory with the 2006 CD release of After The Storm.
Much like the scenery around and Santa Fe / Sedona area of the
desert southwest, Daniel Ward’s guitar music is both pastoral
and harmonically satisfying. Demonstrating a knack for composing Nuevo
flamenco, World beat jazz and soft samba sounds, Ward excels on nylon
string guitar, electric guitar, bass, percussion and keyboards while
receiving support from percussionist John Bartlet and a number
of side players. www.danielward.net
DOMO RECORDS - If the thought of a dozen beautiful Chinese
girls playing exotic Asian string and wood instruments in unison sounds
appealing than you could do far worse then to check out the 2005 CD
from the latest Chinese import from Twelve Girls Band. Entitled
Romantic Energy, the instrumental music
here is pretty much in the spirit of Domo Records New Age mastermind
Kitaro, yet the CD sound simply glistens. These gals not only look
the part, they are each virtuoso players and the accompanying DVD
gives a close up introduction to each player. In addition to the old
China vibe, there’s enough modern technical wizardry and rock
edge to make it a safe choice for fans of modern masters like Mike
Oldfield and Enya. In addition to the Romantic Energy, they
have also released an X-mas album, The Twelve Girls Of Christmas,
reworking a dozen Eastern-tinged, instrumental New Age
holiday favorites like “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” www.twelvegirlsband.com
DOVETAIL - Recorded several years back, the first duo CD from
Alan Korpady and Patrick Jennings is a classy introduction
to their guitar craft. With 13 instrumental tracks, the CD tastefully
merges a number of acoustic guitar forms. From finger style folk and
expansive New Age to a stately mix of meditative ragtime and bluegrass
tinged instrumentals, Traveler is a work of art from start
to finish. Korpady & Jennings even cover a pair of Leo Kottke
tracks, yet the CD clearly proves their all original guitar music
is just as intriguing as the Kottke covers. Adding further sonic depth,
several of the album’s more majestic pieces are enhanced by Jackson
Berkey, whose keyboard orchestrations work so well in Mannheim
Steamroller. www.cdbaby.com/cd/korpadyjennings
DREN RECORDS - One of the coolest guitar instrumental groups
across the land, guitarist Pete Weiss and his band The Weisstronauts
continue making fine CDs. Their 2006 CD, Featuring Perky
continues the band’s fine tradition of making atmospheric,
toe-tapping instro guitar music. Comparing the group’s latest
album with earlier efforts Weiss adds, “Well, there's a different
drummer on this CD than on the others; he has a much jazzier style
than our previous drummer. We also have an additional guitarist, George
Hall, who brings Belew-like effects and twang bar pyrotechnics
to the proceedings." With vintage guitars leading the charge,
The Weisstronauts are a modern tribute to the erstwhile ‘60s
sounds of The Ventures and Shadows and they come up with something
fresh and interesting in the process. www.weissy.com
ELEFANT DREAMS - Hardcore jazz with a groovin’ uptown
sound, Brightness Of Being is the best album
yet from NYC based guitarist Paul Bollenback. Among those who’ve
raved about Bollenback’s straight on jazz attack include the
late, great 20th Century Guitar editor Jim Fisch as well as guitar
legend George Benson. A jazz guitar master, Bollenback knows when
to swing out and when to kick back with some effective introspective
guitar musings. Well recorded and beautifully packaged with in depth
liner notes from Bill Milkowski, Brightness Of Being is best
listened to with the repeat button on. Combining the vintage sound
of veterans like Wes Montgomery and the modern hi-tech vibe of Pat
Metheny, Brightness of Being finds the guitarist in top form
backed up by great players including David “Fathead”
Newman (sax), drummers Teri-Lyne Carringtom and Art
Honnig and the ethereal voice of Chris McNulty, whose added
presence graces this mostly instrumental twelve track CD. Recorded
in Brooklyn during October 2005, Brightness Of Being is a modern
marvel filled with a vast range of appealing jazz guitar sounds. www.paulbollenback.com
EMI - Bowie’s eclectic musical genius comes shining through
on this 2006 DVD reissue of his 1983 Serious Moonlight
concert/ film documentary. Armed with a killer band, including
guitar greats Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick, the post-Lennon
‘80s Bowie dances through cross section of tracks from his 1983
release Let’s Dance and in addition to the concert, the
nearly 3 hour DVD—directed by David Mallett—also
pairs the September ’83 concert in Vancouver with a way cool
documentary of Bowie’s continent spanning Serious Moonlight
Asian tour complete, concert footage and great shots of the Asian
capital cities. www.davidbowie.com
EAGLE ROCK - Guitar hero Gary Moore cuts a wide swath
of new blues sounds with the 2006 release of his new CD Old
New Ballads Blues. Eagle have released a number of
Moore CDs and DVDs—including a new live DVD tribute to Phil Lynott
and his bandmates in Thin Lizzy called One Night In Dublin:
A Tribute To Phil Lynott. Fresh from the success of
his 2003 Eagle CD Power Of The Blues, Moore’s 2006 release
of Old New Ballads Blues is going to please long time fans
no end. With his band now including Don Airey (keyboards),
Jonathan Noyce (bass) and Darrin Mooney (drums), Moore’s
guitar never sound so red hot and sizzling in the studio. Moore’s
fretboard work on his cover of Willie Dixon’s “You Know
My Love” is sounds stunning as he takes it way over the top.
There’s even an instrumental track here called “Cut It Out”
and two newly recorded fan favorites from his album Still Got
The Blues—“Midnight Blues” and “All Your
Love”. As he proves on Old New Ballads Blues, Moore still
reigns supreme among the great modern guitar slinging blues rockers.
www.gary-moore.com
Formed in 1969 by guitarist Andy Powell, Wishbone
Ash are still going strong in 2006 and by every indication their latest,
and first for Eagle Rock, Clan Destiny will please fans no
end. Commenting on the follow up to their 2002 album Bona Fide,
Powell adds, “We went in the studio very well prepared. The
album has a lot of energy, a lot of creativity. It seems to my ears,
to be a natural followup to Bona Fide. Assisting Powell on
the twin guitar sound the band is so renowned for is Finnish guitar
slinger Muddy Manninen. The Finns are renowned for their guitar
flair and Manninenn sonic sound fits in well with the famous progressive
blues-rock Wishbone Ash guitar sound. More importantly,the songs on
Clan Destiny hold up quite well alongside the band’s best.
Assisted by Manninen’s driving guitar and long time band members
Bob Skeat (bass) and Ray Weston (drums), Powell shines
on both guitar and vocals. Clan Destiny is yet another shining
moment in the Wishbone Ash story. www.wishboneash.com
FABER AND FABER – One hub of the mid ‘60s pop scene
in L.A. was Laurel Canyon. John Mayall made Blues From Laurel Canyon
about it, but years before the eucalyptus-scented canyon
deep in the Hollywood hills was a mecca for groups like The Byrds,
The Mamas And The Papas, Frank Zappa, The Turtles and more. With new
interviews from Graham Nash, Chris Hillman, Gail Zappa and more, Laurel
Canyon: The Inside Story Of Rock And Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood
by author Michael Walker recalls the inside story of the
L.A. music scene in the ‘60s through the mid ‘70s. Walker’s
277 page book takes a rare inside look at the heyday of L.A. pop and
is enhanced by cool b&w pictures of rock royalty from the great
Henry Diltz. www.fsgbooks.com
FOSSIL RECORDS - Denver based Charles Brown is a fantastic
guitarist who can do it all. Hard rock, fusion, classical, soundtrack
type stuff—the guy is great. All his hard work over the past
few years of releasing critically acclaimed independent releases hits
a new pinnacle on his 2006 CD Atmospheric Journey. Of course,
this is just the type of stuff you’d never hear on the radio,
it’s too good and musically ‘out there’ for mass consumption.
So as a result, Brown has become a favorite of the underground guitar
instrumental scene. Although Brown clearly knows his way around a
classical guitar, he’s best known for exploring the sonic boundaries
of the guitar synth. Brown’s expertise at combining major guitar
influences like Metheny, Howe and Blackmore results in a most atmospheric
musical journey indeed. www.cdbaby.com/charlesbrown4
FUEL - Dig, this is a rock critics fantasy. Imagine your favorite
band of all time, going back in the studio and remaking their best
album. Well by all standards, Aqualung is clearly the album
that put Ian Anderson and his mates in Jethro Tull smack dab
on the map. Although early fans may tell you that Benefit was
the best early Tull album, it’s clear that track by track, Aqualung
is the one that people remember. The album that ushered in the
age of Gothic-prog rock, Aqualung was re-recorded live before
an audience in the studio during the Fall of 2005, by Ian Anderson,
guitarist Martin Barre and the current Tull lineup and was
released on CD by L.A. based Fuel Records. Anderson, Barre and company
went on to even greater heights in Tull, yet it’s undeniable
that played with their hands the album sounds better than ever. The
caught live in the studio sound is great with very minimal audience
noise. (they do of course clap at the end of each track, no hoots
japanese style) A great concept featuring a great album by everyone’s
favorite prog-rockers, the Aqualung Live features historic
notes by Mr. Anderson and to top it off all proceeds of the sale goes
to aid the homeless. Funny enough when Anderson is heard after “Slipstream”
saying, “Sounds just the same as the last one, didn’t it”
www.jethrotull.com
Although he passed away on May 16th, 1953, guitar innovator Django
Reinhardt left behind an amazing gypsy-jazz guitar legacy that’s
well worth rediscovering. Fuel Records makes the rediscovery enjoyable
with their 18 track Django retrospective entitled An Introduction
To Django Reinhardt. Backed by informative liner notes,
Fuel’s CD features Django recording in three different settings
between 1947-49. A fine representation of the period when Django started
playing bebop on the electric guitar, the CD features support by key
players, rhythm guitarist Eugene Vees and violinist Stephane
Grapelli. Also on Fuel are great Introduction To best of’s
from rock and roll pioneer, the late great Del Shannon (17
tracks like “Hats Off To Larry,” “Runaway” and
“Little Town Flirt”) and flamenco pop icon Jose Feliciano,
(18 tracks featuring “Light My Fire,” “Chico &
The Man” and “Feliz Navidad”) www.fuel2000.com
GK - A cool little do it yourself progressive instrumental CD,
Unspoken, by Glenn Kricher features a
wild range of instrumental tracks, from sonic New Age T. Dream style
guitar to a more rootsy instrumental rock sound. His budget may be
low but Kricher is rich with musical ideas. This is the kind of recording
that begs for the mind of a skillful producer. That said, the music
is really good with the beauty being it’s eclectic nature. Fans
of groups like Oregon and Ralph Towner or Steve Tibbetts should check
out Kricher. www.cdbaby.com/cd/kricher
GS
- Mixing straight ahead and smooth jazz, Brazilian and New Age music,
guitarist Greg Smith strives towards gaining his own voice in the
guitar world and finds it with his 2006 CD Above The Clouds.
In the spirit of some of Pat Metheny’s jazzier, less ethereal
acoustic moments, Smith’s instrumental guitar sound often defies
easy category but either way he grooves the spirit is quite strong
on Above The Clouds. Having studied in the early ‘70s
at Berklee with Metheny, Larry Coryell and Jeff Berlin, Smith is hardly
a novice and throughout the CD he demonstrate quite a masterful touch
on his PRS, Taylor, Gitane and Yamaha guitars. Above The Clouds
is a well recorded CD filled with memorable guitar sounds. www.gregsmithguitar.com
HIP-O - Long time fans of Pink Floyd may want to check out
the new David Gilmour CD, yet for a first hand account at how brilliant
Pink Floyd really were in their heyday check out the recent DVD release
of Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii – The Director’s Cut
on Hip-O Records. As the DVD indicates, the group line up with
both Dave Gilmour and Roger Waters remains the definitive Floyd who
recorded masterpiece after masterpiece. Skillfully shot in beautiful
sunlight and filmed in an ancient outside amphitheater around the
ruins of Pompeii, original movie was expertly filmed by Adrian Maben.
Among the greatest rock performance concept videos ever, Hip-O’s
nearly 3 hour DVD combines the original concert film with a new director’s
cut of the film and a documentary of the movie. Capturing Pink Floyd
at the height of their powers during the Meddle era, the DVD
also features startling color footage of Pink Floyd in the studio
recording parts of Dark Side Of The Moon and some amazing footage
of the Italian volcano itself. www.hip-o.com
HOLISTIC MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT - Originating out the Chicago
area, guitarist Eric Mantel is a rare player with a vivid musical
imagination who can do it all. Inspired by the Vai-Johnson-Satiani
school of guitar logic, Mantel sounds right at home blowing through
complex jazz-rock changes, blazing through red-hot blues-rock, ripping
through Nashville style country jazz licks as well as impressing with
the occasional nylon string classical piece. Another thing that sets
Mantel apart from many players is approach to rock vocals. One listen
to his “Why So Lonely,” and it’s obvious Mantel can
sing too. Assisted by John Falstrom (bass) and album co-producer
Pat Doody (drums), Mantel’s CD impresses on so many levels
that it’s a bit hard to keep tabs on him. Mantel is a fan of
Indian music and some tracks are flavored with the sonorous strains
of sitar. The text is a bit hard to read, yet the colorful CD booklet
is filled overall with excellent graphics. With 20 tracks clocking
in at 80 minutes, The Unstuck Melody is a cool introduction
to an artist that’s bound to cause quite a stir in the guitar
world. www.ericmantel.com
HUMAN NATURE - The new solo effort from America founding member
Gerry Beckley delivers on many levels. Horizontal Fall
is a testament to the craft of songwriting and a mature statement
by an artist comfortable in his own skin. The opening “3 AM”
informs the listener early on that this is not the product of youth
ridden angst. This is rather a well sung, well played set of music
that retains its relevance by staying true to itself. There are many
textures throughout the proceedings from the infectious pop of "Crying"
and "Keeping the Light On"; the image-laden "Saturday
Sky" and John Fields’ produced "Lazarus";
the poignant "Here and Now" to some of the most well crafted
ballads you're likely to hear in "I'll be Gone", "Arms",
and "Somewhere, Somehow". The vocal, guitar and keyboard
work are all Beckley with some notable guests, including Low's Alan
Sparhawk and Mimi Parker, drummer Russ Kunkel, and
Poco's Rusty Young. www.gerrybeckley.com
IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT - The artist known as E (aka Mark
Oliver Everett) burst on the scene back in 1992 with a great pop
CD entitled A Man Called E. Fourteen years later he’s
still at the top of his game with a 2006 DVD on Image Entertainment
entitled Eels With Strings Live At Town Hall. Instead
of his usual rockin’ band sound, E changes things around for
his 28 track in concert DVD featuring his music supported by a fine
sounding string quartet. Also in E’s latest band is an excellent
steel guitarist E calls The Chet as well as Big Al on bass/keyboards.
Not only has E improved both as a singer / songwriter, but as his
Image DVD points out, he’s also a fine guitarist and keyboard
player as well. Town Hall is one of the best theaters in NYC and there’s
also some great behind the scenes footage and E videos as bonus features
on the DVD. Another 2006 DVD on Image Entertainment is Gotta
Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan. A number
of artists including Dylan himself appear including Aaron Neville,
Shirley Caesar and The Mighty Clouds Of Joy. Inspired
by the 2003 Dylan gospel tribute album Gotta Serve Somebody, the
Image DVD documents the making of that album, weaving in performance
and interview footage along with artists such as Jim Keltner
and Spooner Oldham, who recorded with Dylan during his 1980
gospel period. The DVD also features an animated video of Dylan’s
grammy winning song “Gotta Serve Somebody.” Another live
music DVD worth checking out on Image Entertainment in 2006 is Glenn
Tilbrook: One for the Road. Remembered as the lead
singer in the U.K. post punk pop group Squeeze, Tillbrook is in rare
form, caught live on the DVD directed by filmmaker Amy Pickard as
he tours the U.S. state to state in an RV. In addition to featuring
Tilbrook ‘unplugged’ performing a number of Squeeze classics
live, the 70 minute DVD also tags on interviews with Tillbrook, Squeeze
lyricist Chris Difford and more. www.image-entertainment.com
Depending on your musical inclination and / or your age you either
think 90125 was the greatest thing since sliced bread
or the first misstep from a band that changed the direction of 20th
Century music back in the '70s. Either way, the 1983 Lp release from
Yes was a huge album—spawning a number of MTV related videos
and the band’s hit single "Owner Of A Lonely Heart."
Thankfully, that whole era of early '80s Yes was caught for posterity
on the Steven Soderbergh production of 9012Live, released
in early 2006 on DVD by Image Entertainment. Some, including
Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin, were a bit unhappy with the special
effects added to the original live video concert mix but thankfully,
this Image DVD features the original ten track live in concert movie,
complete with those special effects, as well as a special director's
cut of the movie, without those distracting special effects. The one
drawback is that this vaulted director's cut of the movie is one complete
tracks without the ability to skip tracks. That one minor quibble
aside, the superbly filmed DVD also features a bonus track of
"Roundabout" not featured in the original movie as well
as a cool 9012Live documentary on the making of the movie,
period piece interviews, making it the definitive look at the early
'80s Yes phenomenon. www.nfte.org
JENNY SOUND - Just like he indicates on the cover art and in the
CD title, Natural Ingredients is a mixture of
sounds from Long Island based guitarist Bruce Jenney. A multi-instrumentalist
adept on guitars, keyboards, drums, bass, vocals and even flugelhorn,
Jenney can and does do it on his ten track self-produced album. Several
players contribute including guitarist Ray Matuza, who also
contributes liner notes. Overall, Natural Ingredients is just
that; a smoothly produced set of vocals ala Steely Dan with touches
of elegant instrumental smooth pop and jazz. www.jenneysound.com
KR - Originally from New Jersey and now living in Portland,
Oregon, Ken Rubenstein is a masterful electric / acoustic guitarist
who sounds totally committed to exploring the most avant-garde aspects
of 20th Century music. His biggest influences include non-musicians
such as Stanley Kubrick, Frank Lloyd Wright, Salvador Dali, and fittingly,
Rubenstein’s 2005 CD Invert And Transcend is one of most
adventurous and articulate guitar albums in recent memory. A mostly
instrumental affair, the ten track CD finds the guitarist stretching
the outer limits of the electric guitar with the expert support of
Charlie Zeleny (drums), Ed Broms (Hammond B3) and the
gorgeous wordless vocals of Wendy Parker. www.zebox.com/kenrubenstein
LTM - Back in the mid ‘80s singer-songwriter Anna
Domino was one of the best and brightest new singers on the downtown
NYC scene. Her 1986 self-titled debut CD, Anna Domino
was a cult classic import and was a great introduction to her
unique singing style. In 1987 she joined forces with Belgian guitarist
Michael DeLory for her best ever album, This Time,
followed in 1990 by Mysteries Of America and
several EP CD’s which further cemented her reputation with long
time fans. Now in 2006 U.K. based LTM have reissued her three solo
albums as well as a compilation of early cuts entitled East And
West and a 16 track best of CD entitled Dreamback: The Best
Of Anna Domino, each with bonus tracks, liner notes
and track info. It’s been too long since Anna has released a
new album under her name, but as these LTM reissues prove, it’s
not too late to rediscover her magical muse. www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk
LEGACY / WINDHAM HILL - Back in the early mid ‘80s,
Windham Hill Records helped usher in the start of the New Age
boom of that crazy decade. Some say they went a little too far to
the center of easy listening, but the label’s grasp of meditative
music was undeniable. Artists like label founder and guitar icon Will
Ackerman, Alex De Grassi, world music expert George
Winston, late, great guitarist Michael Hedges, Tuck
Andreas, Hawaiian guitarist Keola Beamer, fusion pioneer
Mark Isham and groups like Shadowfax and Nightnoise
all benefited from the high visibility Windham Hill afforded their
releases. Going from a small iconoclastic label to a near brand name
in such a short time put Windham Hill on the map to stay. Twenty years
after their heyday, Sony Legacy has put together a really beautiful
CD box set dedicated to the magic of Windham Hill. Entitled A
Quiet Revolution: 30 Years Of Windham Hill, the superb
sounding set features all the above artists plus many more, unreleased
live tracks and a 50 page color booklet with liner notes by New Age
expert John Dilberto. www.windham.com
LONE OAK RECORDS - Great hands make for a fine set of sumptuous
sounding acoustic guitar instrumentals on Juliet’s Window
by Tom Smith. Among his influences, Smith credits Beethoven,
Monk and Mingus, while clearly drawing further inspiration from acoustic
legends like Fahey and Kottke. From jazz and country to blues and
classical, the diversity of the instrumental acoustic ‘Americana’
sound is alive and well in living in Tom Smith’s guitar. www.tomsmithguitar.com
LONELY PUPPY MUSIC - With a name like The Balls, and
a CD with a title like Come Out Swingin’ you better
be good or you’d never hear the end of it! Such is the case with
the CD debut from the Tennessee based Balls. Featuring the sizzling
fretboard work of Maverick’s guitarist Nick Kane—backed
up by Rick Taylor (bass) and Joe Scheibelhoffer (drums)—the
hard hitting Balls come across like Cream playing surf-rock music.
The group list other influences such as biker guitar god Davie Allan,
Link Wray as well hard rockers Deep Purple with a touch of Zappa all
mixed up into one ferocious biker-surf-blues-rock brew. The Balls
more than live up to their namesake and come out swingin’ hard
and heavy on their rockin’ 13 track CD. www.ballsrock.com
LOVE RECORDS - Being far flung to that wilderness known as
Finland, Jim Pembroke can single handedly take the credit for
introducing the English language into the mainstream of Finnish rock
culture. A master of the Queen’s English during his childhood
in London, Pembroke’s cryptic songwriting methodology didn’t
exactly help matters with the Finns right away, yet for some reason
he was able to bring his band, Wigwam into some international acclaim
in Finland, Scandinavia, England and Japan. Out of near a dozen cool
Wigwam albums between 1969-2005, the band’s 1976 album Lucky
Golden Stripes And Starpose was released in England
on Virgin with some excellent packaging, which was quite different
from the original Finnish cover art release. Inspired by Dylan, Zevon
and Richard Manuel of the Band, Pembroke was also a great fan of Procol
Harum and The Beatles, and on Lucky Golden Pembroke and company
strike a balance between most of those bands especially Harum and
The Band! As Wigwam, Pembroke, guitarist Pekka Rechardt and
drummer Ronnie Osterberg were an acquired taste back in the
heyday of the ‘70s but the taste proved to be clearly worth it
and now 30 years later—as a 2005 Love remaster with two bonus
track—the album maintains its dazzling vital signs. www.loverecords.pp.fi
MGM - Influenced early on by Hendrix and David Gilmour of
Pink Floyd, the 2006 CD from guitarist Michael Gabriel possesses
an elegant sonic edge. Bluesy and spatial at the same time, Visions
is a fine introduction to Gabriel’s tasteful guitar playing.
There’s also a spacey, retro-bent surf-rock vibe on hand that
mixes well with Gabriel’s potent approach to instrumental rock
fusion. With Gabriel writing and performing all the guitars, bass,
keyboards and drums—as well as producing, mixing and mastering
the entire CD—Visions offers a rockin’ surprise for
fans of adventurous electric guitar sounds. www. michaelgabrielmusic.net
MR. BIPPS RECORDS - The sound of world beat music meets jazz on
the late 2005 CD from Minnesota guitarist Bobby E. Strickland.
Simply called The Guitar, the eleven track instrumental
album features Strickland stretching out on a number of top guitars,
while receiving some fine side support from a number of players. Not
only is Strickland a virtuoso on both electric and acoustic guitars
but he somewhat of an guitar music connoisseur, citing a number of
worldwide influences in the liners notes such as Luiz Bonfa, Christopher
Parkening, Ry Cooder, Lenny Breau, Baden Powell and more. On this
tropical sounding and lush set of guitar sounds, Strickland even pays
tribute to his rock heroes with reconstructed covers of Cream-mates
Eric Clapton (“Layla”) and a brilliant, startling cover
of the ‘69 Jack Bruce classic “Rope Ladder To The Moon”.
Superbly recorded, The Guitar makes for some fine downtime
listening. www.bobby-e.com
MUTE - Commenting on the 2006 Goldfrapp CD Supernature,
the group’s lead singer Alison Goldfrapp says, “We’ve
stepped up a gear, It’s always good to break your own rules,
that’s the fun bit.” Her partner Will Gregory concurs,
“We’ve grown a lot, found other ways of expressing. We’ve
even got a couple of guitars on this album.” Tastefully influenced
by Euro-tinged synth music, Kate Bush. T. Rex and even Prince, Goldfrapp
hit their stride with the magical cosmic bop of Supernature. www.goldfrapp.co.uk
MVD - Guitar great Robin Trower celebrates 60 years on planet
earth with the release of a new CD / DVD entitled Living Out
Of Time - Live. Trower of course rose to fame as the
guitar sound, a key component of the brilliant late ‘60s art-rock
group Procol Harum. Sadly, he split from Procol after recording the
band’s heaviest album, Broken Barricades, and since 1971
he’s be burning up stages everywhere as a solo act. Recorded
live for German TV on March 9, 2005, Living Out Of Time - Live
is Trower’s 25 solo album and his first official DVD. Still
rockin’ at 60, Trower’s lost none of his ability as an electric
guitar innovator and in this setting more than lives up to his often
referred to legacy as the living heir to Hendrix, a fact that often
comes to mind on the DVD and companion CD. The CD is great spin and
the audio quality is excellent but to capture the full intensity of
Trower and his crack band live, check out the DVD, which also features
a bonus interview track and photo gallery. www.trowerpower.com
How and why did The Small Faces go from being an English
mod band possessed by American R&B artists like Otis Redding and
Booker T & the MGs to being a psychedelic wünderband espousing
the joys of smoking pot? Find out on The Small Faces: Under
Review released stateside on DVD in 2006 by Music Video
Distributors. Rarely seen promo films, interviews with some of
the biggest name journalists in England as well as live and studio
performances and more seals the deal on this best yet documentary
about one of the U.K.’s truly great ‘60s pop bands.
A true living legend of the 6 and 12 string acoustic guitar, Leo Kottke
is the subject of a fabulous 2006 DVD release available from Music
Video Distributors. Entitled Home & Away Revisited, the
DVD captures Leo’s original 1988 performance at Toronto’s
Bathurst St. Theater and is expanded to feature previously unseen
footage of Leo’s life on the road from that period including
amazing performance footage of Leo with the late, great fingerstyle
guitarist Michael Hedges as well as incredible performance
footage with Michael Johnson and a three way guitar jam with
Leo with both Chet Atkins and Doc Watson. In addition
to the ‘88 Toronto concert, Home & Away Revisited also
highlights intriguing segments of Leo and banjo wiz John Hartford
playing beautiful vintage guitars at Gruhn Guitars in Nashville.
At 106 minutes, the DVD provides more than a few reasons as to why
Leo Kottke is still considered the finest acoustic guitarist of a
generation. www.mvdb2b.com
Always one of the most creative U.K. rock groups following in
the footsteps of The Beatles, Stackridge temporarily split in 1976
with two of the main members going to form The Korgis. Guitarists
/ songwriters Andy Davis and James Warren were tops
in Stackridge and the music they made over the past 30+ years as The
Korgis, while a little more pop than rock, still maintained a high
standard. Interesting that both Stackridge and The Korgis released
new albums on Angel Air in 2005 and now The Korgis return with a 2006
‘unplugged’ studio DVD, released in the U.S.A. on MVD, that
features Davis and Warren in the studio wtih fellow Korgis member
John Baker serving up 14 classic Korgis cuts done living room
style acoustically. Even without the legendary studio sound of both
The Korgis and Stackridge (Stackridge were produced by Sir George
Martin), the music and illuminating commentary by Davis and Warren
shines through and the DVD of the proceedings is well worth seeing
and hearing. www.mvdb2b.com
MERCURY / CHRONICLES - First released in February 1972—in
the wake of Duane Allman’s death—Eat A Peach
featured a mix of studio cuts The Allman Brothers recorded
just before and after Duane’s death on October 29, 1971 with
live material recorded earlier at the Fillmore East. Mercury’s
2006 Deluxe Edition reissue of Eat A Peach combines the complete
original double album along a batch of unreleased June 27, 1971 recordings
from their Fillmore East shows. In another round of bad luck, following
the release of Eat A Peach, the Allman’s bass player Berry
Oakley was klled at the end of ’72 in another motorcycle
accident three blocks from the site of Duane’s accident. Regarding
the studio tracks on Eat A Peach—“Ain’t Wastin’
Time No More” and “Melissa” are among the finest ever
recorded by the group. Filling in for Duane as the band’s sole
lead guitar player, Dickey Betts also turned in a spectacular
performance on guitar, while also composing key tracks like the FM
radio classic “Blue Sky” (with Duane) and the instrumental
jazz-rock classic “Les Brers In A Minor.” Fine liner notes
and 70 minutes of rare live bonus cuts on disc two help this double
CD Eat A Peach edition live up to it’s Deluxe Edition
status. www.universalchronicles.com
MUCKLOW PRODUCTIONS - Following years of playing hard rock
and heavy metal, guitarist Michael Mucklow returned in 2006 with an
album that’s relaxing, calming and peaceful…even healing.
Mucklow adds, “Those styles really opened me to playing with
passion and intensity, and I later learned the same can be applied
to all forms of music – even very soothing music.” Mucklow’s
affinity for Acoustic Alchemy, William Ackerman, Alex De Grassi, and
Michael Hedges, Mucklow follows suit with an album bound to be of
interest to fans of those New Age favorites. Also featuring support
from Jon Gosen, (piano, synth, percussion) Clearly is a delightful
cross section of superbly performed, insightful acoustic guitar based.
You can detect some of his earlier rock and fusion influences but
overall, Muckow’s all instrumental guitar CD is ethereal finger
style acoustic guitar music at it’s finest. www.michaelmucklow.com
MUSIC FOR CULTURE – Described as ‘Leo Kottke writing
with John Zorn and producing with Brian Eno,’ guitarist Adam
Weinberg explores his Jewish roots themes on his 2006 CD On
The Seventh Year. Weinberg’s guitar ebbs and flow
on a mix of low key, finger style acoustic guitar instrumentals punctuated
by some neat electronic wizardry. Weinberg has played with Orthodox
Jewish rocker Matisyahu recently and throughout the course of On
The Seventh Year he explores his journey from the heartland of
America to the back alley streets of Jerusalem’s Old City. www.cdbaby.com/cd/adamweinberg
O.I.E. - On their quest for worldwide domination, Von Frickle
regroup in 2006 for the CD release of Arrhythmia. The
band's 2005 release of Mission 4.9 is taken one step beyond with Arrhythmia.
Joining forces and bouncing off founding vonFrickle guitarist Lee
Fehr, Ken Thornton now assumes a lion's share of the guitar
sounds here. As a unit, vonFrickle hit a new height with Arrhythmia.
Like vonFripp's King Crimson, the '70s Von Zamla, and composers
like Wendy Carlos and Luciano Berio before them, Von Frickle defy
the laws of music gravity and conjure an otherworldly, electrifying
instrumental rock sound all their own and with Arrhythmia you couldn't
ask for a better example, in fact it may be impossible top it but
it's impossible to stop them either. Surrender to vonFrickle. www.oierecordsltd.com
OMNI TONE - Wisconsin born guitarist Pete McCann has called
the NYC area his home for the past 15 years. McCann’s latest
CD, Most Folks, reflects the uptown jazz spirit of NYC. Although
his instrumental music is authentic bop-jazz, the guitarist adds,
“I like music; I like all different types of jazz—jazz-rock,
jazz fusion, old school jazz and nylon stringed Brazilian jazz.”
Recording in the studio and backed up by a band of like minded jazzers,
McCann’s guitar spirit echoes his two big guitar heroes, John
McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth. McCann has performed and recorded
with jazz giants like Kenny Wheeler and Pete Erskine so it’s
cool that he gets a chance to spread his wings on the jazz-flecked
sounds on Most Folks. www.omnitone.com
OVERNIGHT MUSIC - Inspired by pop heroes like Marshall Crenshaw
and Jules Shear, rising D.I.Y. pop maestro Allen Wentz establishes
some credentials with the 2005 release of Out Of Warranty.
Nicely produced solid indy pop with an edge, the ten track CD
a great spin from start to finish. Post punk pop influences like Elvis
Costello pop up as well but Wentz is at his best on strum and twang
marvels like “Hole In My House” and “Kathryn In Blue.”
The renowned Swedish guitarist George Wadenius appears on a
couple of tracks here including a cool cover of “Lucy In The
Sky With Diamonds.” www.overnight-music.com
PALM - Beautiful weather, beautiful beaches and beautiful
music. If that sounds like Hawaii, you’d be right. Hawaii’s
laid back musical vibe is personified in the instrumental guitar music
of the Big Island based Kohala. Hawaii’s Palm label have
been releasing a number of laid back guitar albums by Kohala featuring
the music of guitarist Charles Michael Brotman. Supported by
fellow guitarists Charlie Recaido and Rupert Tripp,
Kohala receive light percussion backing from Lopaka Colon. Mixing
nylon string and steel string acoustic guitar in a mix best described
as a mix of contemporary Hawaiian with a touch of slack key, folk
and jazz, the tropical Kohala guitar sound on Deeper Blue
is would make a great video soundtrack as you tour around
the scenic beauty of Hawaii. www.palmrecords.com
PARAD RECORDS - Fans of ‘60s pop culture who sit around
watching Star Trek episodes and spaghetti westerns and revel in the
swinging sounds of Mancini, Baxter and Esquivel should checkout the
2004 CD from Jet Set Swe. Entitled From Sweden To You,
the sound is pure retro, evoking the finest musical elements from
the ‘60s with a modern bent for the millennium. Sort of what
if Henry Mancini would have produced The Ventures or Booker T. &
The MGs, Jet Set Swe are one of the coolest instro bands coming out
of that often chilly Scandinavian paradise known as Sweden. In addition
to the lead off cover the “The Star Trek” theme, the group
comes alive on their own sounds and further covers of “A Man
And A Woman” and “Music To Watch Girls By.” Amazing
art work too. www.jetsetsweden.com
PROJECT OF HOPE - When it comes to redefining the classical
masterpieces of the ages, there’s nothing more beautiful than
the stately elegance of the solo guitar. Guitarist Mark Magnuson
puts his guitar prowess to good use on the 2006 CD release of Acoustic
Wedding. Subtitled, 20 Wedding Classics On Instrumental
Acoustic Guitar. Described as ’50 minutes of intimate instrumental
guitar selections to use in any part of a wedding ceremony’,
the CD features solo guitar versions of favorites like Bach’s
“Ode To Joy”, “Air On A G String”, “Sheep
May Graze Safely” and more. These 20 tracks prove that the solo
acoustic guitar is the greatest interpreter of classical music. Magnuson
cites players like Will Ackerman, John Michael Talbot and Michael
Hedges as big influences and on Acoustic Wedding he stakes
out some excellent acoustic guitar territory of his own. www.acousticwedding.com
PRIMROSE LANE MUSIC - Having studied jazz with Joe Diorio
and classical with William Kannengiser, guitarist Ken Song
gets his own sound out there with the 2006 CD release of Goin’
Wes. Backed by a full band, Song sounds very influenced
by Wes Montgomery yet he also works wonders with jazzy guitar covers
of Hoagy Carmichael, Fats Waller, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis.
Song’s eclectic batch of guitar ideas combines a smart jazz approach
to both mainstream and modern smooth jazz styles. Capping off a fine
jazz guitar covers set, Song leaves his tasty, self-composed title
track, “Goin’ Wes” for last. www.kensong.net
PURPLE PYRAMID RECORDS - Using the same bombastic, all-out
approach as the original Pink Floyd intended, producer Billy
Sherwood breaths new life his remake / remodel of Dark Side
Of The Moon. Drawing on a wealth of amazing feature
performers, Sherwood’s 2006 vision of Dark Side features
top players such as current and former Yes members Alan White,
Bill Bruford, Tony Kaye, Peter Banks, Steve
Howe, guitarists galore including Robbie Krieger, Robben
Ford, Dweezil Zappa, John Wetton, Gary Green
and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and loads more progressive
rock All-Stars. The beauty of this Sherwood’s latest production
is that he has ably reinforced the vocal sound drawing on singers
like Adrian Belew, Billy and his brother Michael Sherwood,
Colin Moulding and John Wetton. Sherwood’s treatment
of Dark Side sounds so fabulous, and is so well conceived it
can stand proud next to the original. www.cleopatrarecords.com
Yes bass ace Chris Squire is riding high with the
recently reformed SYN lineup and it’s also excellent that his
time spent with Billy Sherwood in Conspiracy is now
documented with the 2006 release of the Conspiracy Live DVD.
Released in 2006 on L.A. based Purple Pyramid, the 9 track
DVD features live in the studio Conspiracy renditions of tracks from
the two Conspiracy CDs—the 2000 self-titled Conspiracy and
their 2003 CD The Unknown—along with a unique cover of
“Universal Garden” from the late ‘90s Yes album Open
Your Eyes. Perhaps the most amazing thing here are live in the
studio Conspiracy tracks from Squire’s mid ‘90s Fish
Out Of Water album, which sound better now than ever. The DVD
is topped off by brief interviews and behind the scenes in the studio
footage with Squire, Sherwood and company. www.conspiracymusic.net
RCA - A breezy, sunny sounding CD of calypso flavored folk-jazz
recorded in the Bahamas, Sixty Six Steps is a
great combination of the finger picking acoustic guitar of Leo
Kottke with the jam-band bass style of ex-Phish member Mike
Gordon. Also featuring the very eclectic percussion of Neil
Symonette, the acoustic flavored set merges a wide range of guitar
instrumentals with original vocal tunes and smattering of covers version
of classics from Pete Seeger, Aerosmith and Fleetwood Mac. Commenting
on working with Kottke on the CD, Gordon explains, "There are
these syncopation's within Leo's guitar playing that twist around
in a way that remind me of calypso. So this album took form as an
experiment in my mind to see whether Leo's unique style of playing
could be mixed with this kind of music I discovered and really loved
when I was younger. And it worked far beyond my expectations."
There’s such a wide range of musical magic at work on Sixty
Six Steps, it’s impossible not to be impressed by the magic
these two master musicians conjure in the studio. Kottke continues
to beguile both as a fretboard technician and as a singer-songwriter,
who’s specialty is deadpan, tongue in cheek lyrics that work
so well with his spontaneous, train of thought approach to both vocal
and guitar instrumental music. www.rcavictor.com
RGF RECORDS - Very few guitarists attain the same depth and
sensitivity as U.K. based Brian Willoughby. He's rock electric
with folk rock great Dave Cousins and folk-rock legends The Strawbs.
Willoughby equally enchants on acoustic and his 2005 album Fingers
Crossed is simply stunning. Guitarists looking to see just
how effective the steel string acoustic can be on an album of all
original instrumentals should be out Willoughby. Sounding one minute
like the Hank Marvin of acoustic steel and the next down-home folk-jazzy
ragpicker like ala Chet and Tommy E, let's keep our fingers crossed
Willoughby gets to do something like this again. www.brianwilloughby.com
/ www.rgfrecords.co.uk
RZ - Much like the awesome cover art of his 2006 CD Phenomenation,
guitarist Richard Zeier has a pretty amazing musical imagination.
Except for the cosmic lyrics featured on the title track and several
tracks featuring multi-tracked choral vocals from Chi Coltrane,
the instrumental album demonstrates a daring cross section of guitar
/ keyboard smooth jazz New Age style tracks that would sound great
as film TV music, both serious drama and action type stuff. The rhythmic,
more modern sides of Tangerine Dream, Mike Oldfield and Jan Hammer
are some of atmospheric influences that weave in and out of Zeier’s
wide screen sound mix. Backed by some fine players, including drummer
Mike Ruiz, Phenomenation takes the scenic tour and serves
as a splendid introduction to the guitar magic of Richard Zeier. www.richardzeier.com
RAZOR & TIE - Before The Beatles turned into studio recluses
bent on forever changing the face of 20th Century music, they released
on last album that combined the innocence of Beatlemania with the
brave new world on sound they would soon be exploring on albums like
Revolver and beyond. The album we’re speaking about of
course was the late 1965 release called Rubber Soul. Honoring
40 years of Rubber Soul history and influence, NYC based Razor
& Tie released a fine tribute to the Fab Four classic called This
Bird Has Flown – A 40th Anniversary Tribute To The Beatles’
Rubber Soul. The fact that many of 14 different artists
appearing with a track here weren’t even born when The Beatles
released their late ‘65 classic only adds to the album’s
charm. Clearly, these great songs haven’t aged a bit like fine
wine, yet their innocence reflects an all too fleeting time in music
history that none of us will ever again. The CD kicks off with The
Donnas covering McCartney’s “Drive My Car”. Commenting
on the Fab’s mystique during the Rubber Soul era, Donnas
guitarist Allison Robertson states, “They got a little
more folky, they got a little more funky and more rocking…it
was so different, it was like heavy and light at the same time.”
Hats off to all these young artist putting a new spin on a turning
point in the history of pop music.
Another recent Razor & Tie CD worth checking out is a 2006 release
of new recordings from rock and roll pioneer Dion called Bronx
In Blue. Although he most well known for his super
early ‘60s doo-wop smashes like “Ruby Baby” and “Runaround
Sue”, Dion was first hugely influenced by the blues. Perhaps
he sums it up best himself when he says, “Some people think I
grew up on Rock & Roll (not so). When I was a kid, there was no
Rock & Roll.” In an interesting twist of Rock & Roll
fate, Dion’s 2006 R&T release finds him in the studio covering
authentic blues and roots rock classics from legends like Robert Johnson,
Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Rogers, Hank Williams, Lightnin’
Hopkins and Jimmy Reed. Recording last year in Florida studio with
only percussionist Bob Guertin, Dion sings these blues classics as
if they were his own—self-producing and accompanying himself
on his Taylor and Martin acoustic guitars. Dion knows; “If You
Want To Rock & Roll” (one of two Dion originals here) pick
up on Bronx In Blue. www.Diondumucci.com
REDTAIL RECORDS - One of Canada’s most promising acoustic
steel string finger style guitarists, Art Turner released his
fourth solo CD Sonora in 2006 and the accolades continue
coming in. Described as atmospheric, percussive, lyrical and tranquil,
Turner already being compared to greats like Hedges, Fahey and Basho.
Accompanying Turner’s spatial and potent acoustic finger style
guitar pieces are some top players including fretless bass ace Michael
Manring. www.artturner.com
REPRISE
- Anyone who thinks Neil Young's new CD is anti-American
is strongly advised to not only listen to Living With War, but
also to read along with the lyrics. Sure there are the stark realities
of Bush bashing in the double 0’s but there’s also strong
disdain for our so-called enemy as well. As he points out time and
again, Young knows all too well that no one can really ever win in
this war and he’s in rare Bob Dylan meets Phil Ochs mode on his
2006 state of the union audio rockumentary. Compared to the mournful
howl of his 2005 album Prairie Wind, Young comes out swinging
harder on No More War. The gentle twang of Ben Keith’s
steel is replaced by a stronger generational realism that Young first
introduced to everyone with his now famous protest song “Ohio”.
Among the strongest, most socially aware albums of any decade, the
ironically titled Living With War is the perfect sonic platform
for one of the planets’ most insightful artistic beacons. www.neilyoung.com
RHINO - Rhino continues as the preeminent reissue label in the
country. It seems a giant bulk of reissue CD / DVD these days is related
to the horn-headed conglomerate. A few years ago Rhino and their parent
company Atco / Atlantic put out an amazing box set from Buffalo Springfield.
History tells you that the Springfield, The Byrds and English pop
legend The Hollies were reincarnated in 1969 as Crosby Stills &
Nash. That first self-titled CSN album lives on as possibly
the most prominent debut by a band in ‘69. In 2006 Rhino reissues
the original ten track classic for the first time on HDCD. Playable
on all CD players, the latest remastered CD sound is great but collectors
will want it for the four bonus tracks one of which finds Stephen
Stills covering the Nilsson hit “Everybody’s Talking.”
Rhino also does the same top reissue treatment with the band’s
less than apocalyptic album 1982 album Daylight Again,
now featuring four bonus cuts. www.rhino.com
Though the original lineup of The Who ceased to exist with
the passing of both Keith Moon and John Entwistle, both
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend continue releasing
rare and live Who archival material. The 2005 Rhino triple DVD release
of Tommy And Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests pairs
a ‘97 live Quadrophenia with a live Tommy
filmed in 1989. The third DVD features Daltrey, Townshend and
Entwistle performing a veritable best of set of classic Who music
as filmed live on their ‘89 and ‘96/97 US tour. Bonus features
abound on each DVD including photo gallery, MX DVD interactive visual
commentary with Roger Daltrey & Pete Townshend, “The Quadrophenia
Story,” deluxe 8-panel DigiPak in Slip Sleeve and booklet with
extensive liner notes. www.petetownshend.co.uk / www.rhino.com
RYANETICS - Renowned for their rockin’ guitar based instrumental
approach, guitarists Jimmy Ryan, brother Johnny Ryan,
Bill Kopecky and drummer Johnny Mrozek have made some
great music together as The Flyin’ Ryan Brothers over the past
few years and they reach a new zenith with their 2005 CD Blue Marble.
Kicking off with the barn-burning Middle Eastern tinged “Baghdad,”
the Ryan brothers proceed to draw the focus on their rocking, dueling
guitar extrapolations while Kopecky on bass and Mrozek’s heavy
duty drum beat drives the proceedings to further sonic heights. With
their dueling electric lead guitar sound, some have compared the Ryan
Brothers to an instrumental version of Wishbone Ash, but with their
highly original, innovative and melodic approach to instrumental guitar
rock, The Flyin’ Ryan Brothers go boldly where few instro rockers
dare to tread. www.ryanetics.com
SH - The third album from master guitarist Scott Hughes, The
In Between Phase, features a diverse range of stellar guitar moves—from
laid back almost samba-like tracks to a hard hitting cover of the
Edgar Winter classic “Frankenstein,” full blown band and
all. The title track—a well recorded acoustic number with some
fine synth background—is so lushly recorded that wouldn’t
sound out of place on a mid ‘60s Jobim album. Other Hughes influences
here include Celtic instro rock in the spirit of Mike Oldfield, the
tasty accent on chops in the spirit of Steve Morse and the biting
guitar interplay reminiscent of early Allman Brothers albums. A bluesy
cover of the jazz classic “Blue Monk” is the funkiest thing
here. With liner notes by Hughes, the nine track CD features fine
support from Luc Bergeron on drums. MA36Scott@aol.com
SANCTUARY - Fleetwood Mac were a real conundrum. Lead by the
great guitar hero Peter Green, the band paid their dues live
and in the studio in Chicago with blues legends like Otis Spann. They
were also one of the best British rock groups when it came to blending
classic blues and rock with now legendary guitar instrumentals. Green’s
fellow guitarist Danny Kirwan could be as brilliant as McCartney
or Marvin. With the equally brilliant Jeremy Spencer on bass,
they were so great, so how did it all go from there to what it is?
Underscoring the innovative spirit of the early, gutsy and bluesy
Fleetwood Mac sound comes a fascinating 2005 triple CD compilation
on Sanctuary Records entitled Fleetwood Mac: Men Of The
World, The Early Years. Of course, for those who worshipped
the original band, it all ended way to soon but some great Mac studio
and live in concert moments are revived here. You couldn’t find
a stranger, sadder, more musically brilliant tale than the original
Fleetwood Mac, a band that changed music for the better back in the
late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Find out why this tale still wags
the dog on Men Of The World. www.fleetwoodmac.com
The trilogy of
recordings that Adrian Belew started with Side One and
Side Two, is now completed with the the 2006 release
of Side Three. As fabulous as he is live with
King Crimson and The Bears, Adrian Belew is in his element in the
recording studio. Recorded and mixed at Studio Belew, Side Three
features Belew in primo form backed up the ultra hot rhythm section
of Les Claypool (bass) and Danny Carey (drums) along
with select cameos by King Crimson mentor Robert Fripp and
early Crimson sax giant Mel Collins. Commenting on the diverse
nature of the final album in the trilogy, Belew adds, ”Side
Three is an eclectic variety of ideas that didn’t fit either
of the other two albums.” Aside from a wordy Zappa inspired track
called “Incompetence Indifference,” most of the tracks on
Side Three are near instrumental wonders—punctuated by
Belew’s minimalist lyrics—that serve to underscore Belew’s
gift as a studio wizard. The CD artwork offers further proof of Belew’s
genius as a painter. www.adrianbelew.net
SHOSE - New Orleans bred guitarist Shane Theriot has recorded
sessions with greats like Willie Nelson, Jewel, Boz Scaggs and he’s
now currently featured in the lead guitar slot on the debut DVD from
UK retro-rockers SYN. Shane is a fine player in his own right and
shoots high with his 2005 solo CD, The Grease Fire.
An all instrumental affair reminiscent of the guitar firestorm
of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Theriot’s group sound is magnified by the
strains of rock fusion but there something else going on with an added
Cropper-eseuqe influence of funky, jazzy R&B. Theriot’s ability
to shift time signatures and lay down daredevil electric leads, leaves
no doubt as to why Chris Squire asked him to fill the lead guitar
post in SYN. www.shanetheriot.com
SHOUT! FACTORY - A dream pop ticket taking part in a dream
pop project yields some tasty fruit on Under The Covers Vol.
1, released on Shout! Factory in early 2006. Complimenting
each other both vocally and with shared influences as well, Matthew
Sweet and Susanna Hoffs delve head first into a paisley
pop covers album of perennial ‘60s nuggets. Getting a chance
to reinvent classics tracks by their all time pop heroes like Arthur
Lee, Bryan MacLean, Mike Nesmith, Brian Wilson, Bob Dylan, John Philips,
Pete Townshend, Rod Argent, Lennon & McCartney, Neil Young and
more—plus getting backing from a top indy label like Shout! Factory—is
as as cool a tribute to the swinging ‘60s as we’ve got to
yet in the new millennium. Further justification for pop mavens to
check this out includes fine studio sound and key contributions from
‘60s hero Van Dyke Parks and more. www.shoutfactory.com
Guitar
Shorty (aka: David Kearney) is feted on a 2006 best of compilation
release on Shout! Factory Records. The Long And Short Of It:
The Best Of Guitar Shorty combines 14 tracks, including tracks
from his 1991 album, My Way Or The Highway as well as highlights
from his other four albums recorded for Black Top and Evidence Records
between '91 and '01. Carrying on the guitar slinging blues tradition,
Guitar Shorty is also currently riding high with his latest CD Watch
Your Back. In addition to their Guitar Shorty CD, Shout! Factory
keeps the blues rock genre alive and well with first ever CD compilations
from blues guitar heavyweights Anson Funderburgh - Blast Off:
The Best Of Anson Funderburgh and Ronnie Earl - Heart
And Soul - The Best Of Ronnie Earl. In addition Shout!
Factory's latest compilation from funk-rock guitar great Johnny
"Guitar" Watson is The Best Of The Funk Years.
Featuring well known Watson tracks that have been sampled numerous
times by the top names in hip-hop, the 55 minute CD brings together
11 classics jams under one roof. www.shoutfactory.com
SILVERY RECORDS - Recorded, produced and engineered in 2004 and
released on CD in 2006, Nylon… For Now introduces
the solo guitar mastery of U.K. based Si Hayden. Hayden’s
speciality is daredevil solo flamenco guitar tracks that he composes
himself. The music may sound vintage but on his CD Hayden puts a new
spin on a timeless art form. As he points out in his liner notes,
all tracks were recorded with one guitar and no overdubs and all percussion
is from the right hand on the guitar body while playing. A modern
flamenco master, Hayden makes excellent use of his Ivor Maraints and
Jose Ramirez guitars. www.sihayden.com
SOUTHWEST - When it comes that classic ‘60s pop sound,
few singer-songwriters can compete with the great Pete Townshend of
The Who. Long renowned among pop people in the know, Pete’s long-time
compadre Billy Nicholls is clearly in the same league as Pete. Billy’s
work as a solo artist and Townshend / Who accomplice is legendary
among Who fans and Billy continues on in style as a solo artist with
the release of his 2006 album Still Entwined. Assisting Billy
on these great songs are Billy’s son Morgan Nicholls (guitar,
mellotron), brother Mike Nicholls (guitar), slide ace Paul
Waller, drummer Ian Thomas and more. Timeless British pop
for new millennium—comparable to Townshend’s recent work
with The Who and say, Phil Manzanera’s stellar pop effort of
the past year—Still Entwined is a great work by any standards.
Those that missed Nicholls the first time around and long time fans
are advised to pick up on the legendary Nicholls pop sound in play
on Still Entwined. www.nicholls.co.uk
SUGAR HILL RECORDS - Commenting on his 2006 Sugar Hill release,
Albert Lee adds, “Road Runner really is
about where I am these days. It’s about everything I love to
do as a musician.” Performing his usual spellbinding electric
guitar licks and leads like a man possessed, Lee sings great and admirably
performs on mandolin and piano. He hits pay dirt on his self-composed
rocking instrumental “Payola Blues” although the meat of
the CD finds Albert and company reinvigorating classics from a number
of his favorite songwriters. Kicking off the CD with a title track
cover of the Motown classic “I’m A Road Runner” other
highlights on the ten track CD include Albert’s lead vocals on
“Rock Of Your Love” (written by John Hiatt), a versions
of “Julie’s House” (written by Leo Kottke) and “The
Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” (written by Jimmy Webb). Top players
help Albert add extra zing to these classics including pedal steel
legend Buddy Emmons, co-producer Steve Fishell (lap
steel and acoustic guitar), bass great Bob Glaub and drummer
Don Heffington. Backing up Albert’s lead vocals are Bekka
Bramlett and Albert’s daughter, Alexandra Lee. As
he does do well, Albert puts a new spin the roots of classic American
rock and roll, making Road Runner a great follow up to his
last studio set Heartbreak Hill. www.sugarhillrecords.com
SUNDAZED - Perhaps the Achilles Heel of Gary Usher
was that he could do it all and very often did. Starting off as a
cohort of Brian Wilson back at the dawn of the ‘60s, Usher went
on to co-write various songs with Brian and then move on to produce
some of the greatest rock albums of the ‘60s including now classic
late ‘60s Columbia Records titles from Chad & Jeremy and
The Byrds. Usher didn’t get freaked out all at once, rising
to fame in L.A. as the founder of The Super Stocks. Key albums
Usher made with the Super Stocks for Capitol Records in the early/mid
‘60s were reissued on CD by N.Y. based Sundazed in 2006.
Titles include their first album Thunder Road, followed
by Surf Route 101 and School Is A Drag.
No doubt riding the popularity of the teenage West Coast surf
and hot rod sound, these early Usher prototypes more importantly set
his famous producer winds in motion. For these early forays Usher
assembled and utilized the cream of the LA studio scene back then
including guitarists Billy Strange, Jerry Cole and Glen
Campbell, the great Leon Russell and drummer Hal Blaine
to name just a few. Not quite as brilliant Wilson’s mid ‘60s
Beach Boys sound, Usher’s early surf releases nevertheless demonstrate
his burgeoning genius in the studio. On a related note Sundazed has
also reissued a pair of 1963 albums from guitarist Richie Podolor
and his group Richie Allen And The Pacific Surfers. Much
more Ventures and Dick Dale than Usher’s vocal inspired Beach
Boys sound, Podolor was a buddy of guitarist Dick Dale, and the story
goes that Dale offered the Podolor the chance to be the first player
ever to test out the Fender Dual Showman amp. ‘60s surf/drag
fans should also keep their ears peeled for more ‘60s reissues
from Sundazed who are set to rerelease the back catalog of The
Rip Chords and The Hot Doggers (two early surf outfits
from Bruce Johnston and Terry Melcher) and more Gary
Usher productions from The Kickstands and The Knights.
www.sundazed.com
THAT PHILLY SOUND - Back in the early mid ‘60s Philadelphia
was cranking out tons of r&b and blue-eyed soul artists hitting
the Top 40 charts left and right. One blue-eyed soul singer who hit
it big was the great Len Barry who, first as the lead singer
with The Dovells, later hit the top 5 as a solo artist with his self-composed
“1-2-3” back in early ‘65. Len Barry’s release
of The Best Of Philly Soul Volume 1, chronicles
a range of songs he recorded between ‘63 and ‘70. After
“1-2-3” Barry disappeared off the charts but as this CD
points out he wasn’t inactive and that voice was as great as
ever. A great introduction to a historic soul pop sound. www.thatphillysound.com
THE LASERS’ EDGE - No doubt bowing to the wishes of fans
of progressive jazz-rock, N.J. based prog base, The Laser’s Edge
released a rare find from the Danish ‘70s jazz rock band Secret
Oyster. Featuring the great sax of group mastermind Karsten
Vogel, the band featured some great players including guitarist
Claus Bohling at their zenith they were mentioned favorably
alongside Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return To Forever, although the
Oyster source was truly Danish in nature. Melodic, old world, futuristic
and ornate are just a few words to describe this excellent ‘eurock’
band who, following the ‘74 release of Sea Son,
reached their apex with the 1976 release of evil looking cover art
of Straight To The Krankenhaus. Let’s hope Laser’s
Edge follows their innovative first ever reissue of Sea Son with
a first ever CD reissue of Krankenhaus. While we wait for that,
there’s plenty to like about this first ever CD of Sea Son.
www.lasercd.com
TOUGH STREAM MUSIC - A mainstay on the jazz fusion world for the
past few years, Rare Blend have a new album out and it’s another
winner. The 2006 TSM Productions release of Stops Along The
Way taps into a wealth of electrifying rock, jazz, fusion
and world beat flavored instrumentals. Guitarist Vic Samalot just
seems to improve with each release and—backed by some great players—he
dazzles on his Ibanez, Alvarez and Yamaha guitars. The 13 track Stops
Along The Way also benefits from a fine studio sound. www.rareblend.net
TM - Great guitar jazz can move both body and soul. Much has been
written about the superb fretboard style of guitarist Tim Miller and
on his 2005 CD, Tim Miller Trio, he proves much of it right.
A master of both the acoustic and electric medium, Miller’s freewheeling,
introspective guitar work is sometimes compared to guitar greats such
as Allan Holdsworth, Pat Metheny and Mick Goodrick and like those
players Miller also finds the value of blending other jazz influences
into his playing—in Miller’s case keyboard great Keith Jarrett.
You won’t find many easy listening or readily hummable tunes
on Miller’s Trio CD. What you will find is a 12 track,
40 minute set of superbly recorded instrumental guitar jazz that stretches
the parameters of the musical imagination. www.timmillermusic.com
UNIVERSAL CHRONICLES – Like spinning musical plates,
UME have a number of top rated reissue programs in the works—from
their double disc Gold series, the Deluxe Edition remasters,
a 3 CD box set series called Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums and
now the most recent Definitive Collection line of single disc
compilations. Both Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry made
numerous studio albums although their big hits is the stuff that stuck
through the years. Both released in 2006, the 30 track Chuck Berry
on Chess Records and 26 track Buddy Holly Definitive Collection
CDs on Decca pick the cream of the crop of these legendary
artists. The late great Roy Buchanan, was underrated
as both a Tele wielding guitar slinger and a singer-songwriter. Featuring
a wide range of blues rock tracks, jazz fusion instrumentals to set
closing covers of Hendrix and Neil Young, Buchanan’s Definitive
Collection is a fine introduction to the his phenomenal guitar
sound. Both John Lennon and the Stones tried to lure Buchanan into
the studio, without success, and Jeff Beck dedicated a track on Blow
By Blow to him. Starting with tracks from his unreleased 1969
debut through to his final late ‘70s recordings for Polydor,
this 75 minute collection is a musical time tunnel trip through Buchanan’s
early years. On Mercury / Universal, a 2006 Definitive Collection
CD from Belfast rockers Thin Lizzy takes a look at that
band’s early recordings. Although they started out at the dawn
of the ‘70s, Thin Lizzy hit it big with the 1976 release of Jailbreak
and their big hit “The Boys Are Back In Town. Spearheaded
by singer-bass player Phil Lyontt, Thin Lizzy featured a number
of great electric guitar players in their ranks including Gary
Moore and while Lynott died way too soon—at 35—he left
behind a kick-ass repertoire of bluesy, gutsy, R&B style rock
and roll music. Mercury also has a 19 track 2006 DVD on Thin Lizzy
entitled Greatest Hits. Dating back to the band’s early
performance on Top Of The Pops in 1973, the DVD features some great
video performances of Lyontt performing live the company bolstered
by the dueling Les Paul guitar sound of Gary Moore, Scott Gorham
and Brian Robertson.
Chronicles continues it’s Gold series
with two 2006 double CD retrospectives from rock legends Buddy
Holly and Cat Stevens. Kicking off with highlights from
his often overlooked mid ‘60s Deram catalog—including the
brilliant “Matthew And Son” and moving onto the best of
Steve’s A&M years—the double CD closes with a new 2005
song from the Cat man entitled “Indian Ocean.” Without sounding
prejudiced, this song is one of the most brilliant he’s ever
done—one that touches on his ‘60s sound but also bringing
his gifted musical vision up to date. One can only pray that Cat skips
the zealous religious thing and gets back to his true muse as one
of the great pop poets of the ‘60s. We need him back! On the
other hand, the late great guitar hero Buddy Holly died 47 years ago
this 2006 but his legacy as the most important pop influence on both
The Beatles and The Rolling Stones lives on with his double Gold
CD se on Decca/Chronicles. Both Gold titles from Cat and
Buddy feature cool artwork and extensive CD booklets to keep you busy
for hours of pleasure. www.universalchronicles.com
VARESE - A true legend of the ‘60s music world, Bob Crewe
rose to power as the man who signed the Four Seasons to VJ Records
and went on to producer and co-write many of their best known ‘60s
hits. Crewe worked with many musical legends back in the mid ‘60s
and he attained a rare and remarkable feat of having a top 10 chart
hit of his own with a 1967 instrumental called “Music To Watch
Girls By.” All this being back in heyday of miniskirts, early
psychedelia and the dawn of color TV. Back in ‘67, you could
hardly move without hearing the sensuous strains of Crewe’s remarkable
sound. A field day for ‘60s music fans, the Varese Sarabande
CD release The Best Of The Bob Crewe Generation: Music To Watch
Girls By features two versions of the big hit and an abundance
of Phil Spector-size instrumentals of ‘60s covers that sounds
like Herb Alpert meets The Ventures. Crewe’s 19 track best of
CD is a great tribute to his pop arranging genius as well as being
a tribute to the incredible sound of the ‘60s.
VOICEPRINT - Although they weren’t featured in the original
Woodstock soundtrack, Mountain were most definitely at the
historic Upstate N.Y. festival and a good chunk of their August 16th
performance there is caught on Woodstock Festival / New Canaan
H.S 1969. Volume 7 in the Official Live Mountain
Bootleg Series, these two 1969 shows, paired on one CD provides
a revealing sonic snapshot of Leslie West and producer icon
Felix Pappalardi at the start of their rise to the top. Made
in England by the progressive rock mavens at Voiceprint Records, the
Mountain live CD retrospective series with 13+ titles spanning the
early Mountain with Leslie and Felix up through to West’s current
Mountain configuration caught live on Volume 13 - Renfrew Ferry,
Glasgow, Scotland on February 26 2005. www.voiceprint.co.uk
WANDLAR - The 2006 CD from multi-instrumentalist Al Garcia
is a real step up in sound from the L.A. based player. Composed and
performed entirely by Garcia, Alternate Realities features
a very pleasant range of jazz-rock fusion, prog rock, classical, jazz,
Latin, space rock, electronica and cinematic instrumental music. Garcia
supplies some impressive work on 4, 5 and 6 string basses, all manners
of guitars as well as tasteful percussion. With all the melody, suspense
and rock vibes can hear Garcia’s self-proclaimed influences coming
through—icons like Jack Bruce and Felix Pappalardi from Cream
to the instrumental fusion approach of John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth.
www.algarciamusic.com
WATER - Buzzy Linhart knew how cool Fred Neil was.
Buzzy did a brilliant cover of Fred’s “The Bag I’m
In” on his fabled Music CD. And who can forget Nilsson’s
definitive take on Neil’s all time most famous pop composition
“Everybody’s Talkin’” back in ‘68. Find out
how cool Fred Neil still is on the 2006 reissue of his 1967 self titled
Capitol Records album, just reissued on the San Francisco based Water
label. Although he sadly passed away on July 8, 2001 at his Florida
home, Neil’s legacy as a brilliant singer-songwriter lives on.
His self-titled 10 track CD on Water—with detailed liner notes
and classic cover art—is an great place to rediscover one of
rock’s most valued originals. www.runtdistribution.com/water.html
David Bowie used to do selective covers on his albums, with
one of the coolest appearing on his ‘71 Lp Hunky Dory. It
was on this now celebrated album that Bowie covered a Biff Rose
song called “Fill Your Heart.” A one time musical genius,
out of the popular mainstrem for years and, who now is just plain
scary (see his anti-Israel web site), Rose is feted on this long overdue
and first ever two-fer reissue of his two 1968 Tetragrammation Records
classics The Thorn In Mrs. Rose Side and Children
Of Light. Two historic albums, original artwork and
all, the 24 track CD on Water features two bonus tracks and
in depth booklet. Goes to show you never can tell... www.biffrose.biz
/ www.buyrunt.com/water.html
Attention Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed
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Robert Silverstein, P.O. Box 630249, Little Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249
e-mail: rss54@mwe3.com
