Les bourgeois
release date: Apr. 1962
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Track highlights: 1. "Les bourgeois" (4 / 5) - 2."Les paumés du petit matin" (3,5 / 5) - 6. "Madeleine" (5 / 5) - 7. "Bruxelles" (4 / 5) - 9. "Les biches" (4,5 / 5) - 11. "La statue" (3,5 / 5)
6th studio album by Jacques Brel originally released on Philips aka "Jacques Brel 6". It was reissued on Barclay as part of the 2003 remaster box set Boîte à Bonbons. The album is yet another fine release with lyrics and music by Brel, or co-written with primarily Gérard Jouannest (track #3), François Rauber (track #3), or Jean Corti (track #2). The best track here is "Madeleine" written by Brel, Corti and Jouannest, and it's one of many modern classics by Brel. The album contains some of his strongest compositions and is one of his finest albums.
[ just music from an amateur... music archaeologist ]
"Dagen er reddet & kysten er klar - Jeg er den der er skredet så skaf en vikar!"
25 December 2010
05 December 2010
Ella Fitzgerald "Ella Swings Gently With Nelson" (1962)
Ella Swings Gently With Nelson
release date: Jan. 1962format: cd (1993 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Norman Ganz
label: Verve Records - nationality: USA
One of the best studio albums with Ella Fitzgerald released on Verve Records. Just prior to this, she released the double lp Ella Swings Brightly With Nelson (1962), an album that secured her the 1963 Grammy Award for best female performance. I haven't heard that album, but I really like this one 'cause it's not entirely a collection of standards but more songs of vocal jazz, which I guess the other album is too. 'Nelson' refers to Nelson Riddle and Orchestra. Both albums with Nelson were recorded in '61.
01 December 2010
The Band "Music From Big Pink" (1968)
Music From Big Pink [debut]
release date: Jul. 1, 1968
format: cd (2004 SHM issue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,98]
producer: John Simon
label: Capitol Records - nationality: Canada
Tracklist: 1. "Tears of Rage" (4 / 5) - 2. "To Kingdom Come" - 3. "In a Station" - 4. "Caledonia Mission" - 5. "The Weight" (4 / 5) - 6. "We Can Talk" (4 / 5) - 7. "Long Black Veil" - 8. "Chest Fever" (4 / 5) - 9. "Lonesome Suzie" (4 / 5) - 10. "This Wheel's on Fire" - 11. "I Shall Be Relased"
Studio album debut by Canadian quintet The Band consisting of Richard Manuel on lead vocals, piano, (Hammond) organ, (Jamie) Robbie Robertson on electric and acoustic guitars and vocals, Rick Danko on bass, lead vocals and violin, Garth Hudson on (Lowrey) organ, soprano and tenor saxophone, clavinet and piano and with Levon Helm on drums and lead vocals. Four Canadians and one American (Helm of Arkansas, US).
Already here they simply showcase their musicianship - how well they knew all of their many instruments. And on top of that it's so impressive to listen to their vocals. The Band didn't have one particular lead singer as both Levon, Rick and Manuel could fill this part, although, the latter is the only one who could sing almost any kind of song with his broad register and is the only singer of the band who could equal the best vocalist of the 1960s.
The story of The Band's earliest incarnation playing as Levon and The Hawks (sometimes just The Hawks), consisting of Helm, Danko and Robertson from Ronnie and The Hawkins - who goes even longer back - is also the story of how American/Canadian rock and roll turned into r&b, folk rock and roots rock in the early 1960s. When Bob Dylan went electric ("betraying" the folk world), his backing band was almost identical to what became The Band. Helm reveals in his autobiography "Wheels of Fire" how they composed these songs, convinced they were to be released under the name of The Crackers, but a management decision changed all that to what they were referred to: "The Band" - the (infamous) backing band of Dylan.
Stylistically, it's really hard to narrow down 'cause these guys play on so many musical traditions, which will have enlist most of modern contemporary genres and styles. The outcome has become known as rhythm and blues, roots rock and folk rock with elements of country and soul.
I didn't come across this album until after listening to, or rather: watching the famous live "documentary" film "The Last Waltz" from 1976 by Martin Scorsese. I knew nothing of The Band, but knew a great deal of the performers on that occasion, and I simply adored that film from the first moment on.
I think, my first impression of Music From Big Pink was a bit bland. I never was a big fan of r&b, country or folk, but I kinda appreciated it for what it was: a bunch of skilled musicians playing... American music. Of course, I came to redefine my initial verdict. Each time I went back and listened to the music, I became increasingly soaked into its... soul, I guess. Today, I find it a gem of the days. It's not psychedelic nor blues rock like many of those days' representatives, but The Band goes its own way and builds on the music of great masters. It may contain great singles hits but the album itself is simply nothing but adorable and without fillers. A year later they would even go on and better this on their follow-up.
The album is rightfully enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and it has been lauded as one of the most influential albums of modern popular music by contemporary and present magazines and artists around the world.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone, MusicHound Rock 5 / 5 stars ]
release date: Jul. 1, 1968
format: cd (2004 SHM issue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,98]
producer: John Simon
label: Capitol Records - nationality: Canada
Tracklist: 1. "Tears of Rage" (4 / 5) - 2. "To Kingdom Come" - 3. "In a Station" - 4. "Caledonia Mission" - 5. "The Weight" (4 / 5) - 6. "We Can Talk" (4 / 5) - 7. "Long Black Veil" - 8. "Chest Fever" (4 / 5) - 9. "Lonesome Suzie" (4 / 5) - 10. "This Wheel's on Fire" - 11. "I Shall Be Relased"
Studio album debut by Canadian quintet The Band consisting of Richard Manuel on lead vocals, piano, (Hammond) organ, (Jamie) Robbie Robertson on electric and acoustic guitars and vocals, Rick Danko on bass, lead vocals and violin, Garth Hudson on (Lowrey) organ, soprano and tenor saxophone, clavinet and piano and with Levon Helm on drums and lead vocals. Four Canadians and one American (Helm of Arkansas, US).
Already here they simply showcase their musicianship - how well they knew all of their many instruments. And on top of that it's so impressive to listen to their vocals. The Band didn't have one particular lead singer as both Levon, Rick and Manuel could fill this part, although, the latter is the only one who could sing almost any kind of song with his broad register and is the only singer of the band who could equal the best vocalist of the 1960s.
The story of The Band's earliest incarnation playing as Levon and The Hawks (sometimes just The Hawks), consisting of Helm, Danko and Robertson from Ronnie and The Hawkins - who goes even longer back - is also the story of how American/Canadian rock and roll turned into r&b, folk rock and roots rock in the early 1960s. When Bob Dylan went electric ("betraying" the folk world), his backing band was almost identical to what became The Band. Helm reveals in his autobiography "Wheels of Fire" how they composed these songs, convinced they were to be released under the name of The Crackers, but a management decision changed all that to what they were referred to: "The Band" - the (infamous) backing band of Dylan.
Stylistically, it's really hard to narrow down 'cause these guys play on so many musical traditions, which will have enlist most of modern contemporary genres and styles. The outcome has become known as rhythm and blues, roots rock and folk rock with elements of country and soul.
I didn't come across this album until after listening to, or rather: watching the famous live "documentary" film "The Last Waltz" from 1976 by Martin Scorsese. I knew nothing of The Band, but knew a great deal of the performers on that occasion, and I simply adored that film from the first moment on.
I think, my first impression of Music From Big Pink was a bit bland. I never was a big fan of r&b, country or folk, but I kinda appreciated it for what it was: a bunch of skilled musicians playing... American music. Of course, I came to redefine my initial verdict. Each time I went back and listened to the music, I became increasingly soaked into its... soul, I guess. Today, I find it a gem of the days. It's not psychedelic nor blues rock like many of those days' representatives, but The Band goes its own way and builds on the music of great masters. It may contain great singles hits but the album itself is simply nothing but adorable and without fillers. A year later they would even go on and better this on their follow-up.
The album is rightfully enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and it has been lauded as one of the most influential albums of modern popular music by contemporary and present magazines and artists around the world.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone, MusicHound Rock 5 / 5 stars ]
29 November 2010
Pink Floyd "A Saucerful of Secrets" (1968)
A Saucerful of Secrets
release date: Jun. 29, 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Norman Smith
label: EMI Columbia - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Let There Be More Light" - 2. "Remember a Day"
2nd studio album by Pink Floyd is almost as iconic as the debut. It's the last studio album to feature founding member Syd Barrett who took part in the initial composing and recordings but was replaced by new member David Gilmour as Barrett's behaviour became too troublesome for the band. Apparently, he was severely afflicted by heavy LSD use (reportedly as the only member of the band), and he purposely untuned his guitar while playing, or he would refuse to play at all. Waters, Wright, and Gilmour rewrote most tracks for the album, and only one composition, track #7 "Juggband Blues" is by Barrett. The album is highly experimental, which peaks on the almost 12 minutes long title track. Like its predecessor, the album withstands mostly as a musical document.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone Music Guide, The Daily Telegraph 3 / 5 stars ]
release date: Jun. 29, 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Norman Smith
label: EMI Columbia - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Let There Be More Light" - 2. "Remember a Day"
2nd studio album by Pink Floyd is almost as iconic as the debut. It's the last studio album to feature founding member Syd Barrett who took part in the initial composing and recordings but was replaced by new member David Gilmour as Barrett's behaviour became too troublesome for the band. Apparently, he was severely afflicted by heavy LSD use (reportedly as the only member of the band), and he purposely untuned his guitar while playing, or he would refuse to play at all. Waters, Wright, and Gilmour rewrote most tracks for the album, and only one composition, track #7 "Juggband Blues" is by Barrett. The album is highly experimental, which peaks on the almost 12 minutes long title track. Like its predecessor, the album withstands mostly as a musical document.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone Music Guide, The Daily Telegraph 3 / 5 stars ]
22 November 2010
Chet Baker Quintet "Groovin' " (1966)
Groovin'
Release date: 1966
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
This is released as The Chet Baker Quintet featuring Chet Baker (trumpet), George Coleman (tenor sax), Kirk Lightsey (piano), Herman Wright (bass), Roy Brooks (drums). The album is another mighty fine Chet collection in his heydays, and again a late hard bop jazz album.
Release date: 1966
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
This is released as The Chet Baker Quintet featuring Chet Baker (trumpet), George Coleman (tenor sax), Kirk Lightsey (piano), Herman Wright (bass), Roy Brooks (drums). The album is another mighty fine Chet collection in his heydays, and again a late hard bop jazz album.
07 November 2010
Jethro Tull "Stand Up" (1969)
Stand Up
release date: Aug. 1, 1969
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis
label: Island Records / Chrysalis (reissue) - nationality: England
Track highlights: 1. "A New Day Yesterday" - 3. "Bourée" (4 / 5) (live) - 6. "Nothing Is Easy" (3 / 5) - 9. "Reasons for Waiting" (3 / 5) - 10. "For a Thousand Mothers" (3 / 5)
2nd studio album by Jethro Tull originally released on Island Records, and reissued on Chrysalis in '73. Before this album founding guitarist and songwriter Mick Abrahams left the band due to conflicting ideas about musical direction with Ian Anderson. Abrahams was then replaced by one of the best known members, Martin Barre on guitar and flute, who is the only other member beside Anderson to be in the band from the early 1970s and throughout to modern times. The debut album This Was (1968) is blues rock and r&b-inspired, whereas this has a more progressive rock-styled blues and folk rock, which is more like the band's later albums' although, this is still much more blues rock based than any of their later albums. I have only come to know of this album within the last 10-15 years and didn't know that the album actually went as high as to number #1 on the UK albums chart list. One of the band's most famous instrumental arrangements, "Bourée" (by J.S. Bach) is found on an album that points in (too) many directions. The album starts out with "A New Day Yesterday", which clearly is inspired by blues rock by Jimi Hendrix, and continues in folk rock and psychedelic rock compositions blended with classical, celtic folk, and elements of progressive rock. All tracks are credited Ian Anderson.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
release date: Aug. 1, 1969
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis
label: Island Records / Chrysalis (reissue) - nationality: England
Track highlights: 1. "A New Day Yesterday" - 3. "Bourée" (4 / 5) (live) - 6. "Nothing Is Easy" (3 / 5) - 9. "Reasons for Waiting" (3 / 5) - 10. "For a Thousand Mothers" (3 / 5)
2nd studio album by Jethro Tull originally released on Island Records, and reissued on Chrysalis in '73. Before this album founding guitarist and songwriter Mick Abrahams left the band due to conflicting ideas about musical direction with Ian Anderson. Abrahams was then replaced by one of the best known members, Martin Barre on guitar and flute, who is the only other member beside Anderson to be in the band from the early 1970s and throughout to modern times. The debut album This Was (1968) is blues rock and r&b-inspired, whereas this has a more progressive rock-styled blues and folk rock, which is more like the band's later albums' although, this is still much more blues rock based than any of their later albums. I have only come to know of this album within the last 10-15 years and didn't know that the album actually went as high as to number #1 on the UK albums chart list. One of the band's most famous instrumental arrangements, "Bourée" (by J.S. Bach) is found on an album that points in (too) many directions. The album starts out with "A New Day Yesterday", which clearly is inspired by blues rock by Jimi Hendrix, and continues in folk rock and psychedelic rock compositions blended with classical, celtic folk, and elements of progressive rock. All tracks are credited Ian Anderson.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
01 November 2010
Joni Mitchell "Song to a Seagull" (1968)
Song to a Seagull [debut]
release date: Mar. 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,28]
producer: David Crosby
label: Reprise Records - nationality: Canada
Track highlights: 1. "I Had a King" - 3. "Night in the City" - 5. "Nathan La Franeer" - 6. "Sisotowbell Lane" - 10. "Cactus Tree" (live)
Studio album debut by Canadian folk and singer / songwriter Joni Mitchell [aka Roberta Joan Anderson]. The original vinyl album's A-side is labelled "I Came to the City" (tracks 1-5), and the B-side: "Out of the City and Down to the Seaside" (tracks #6-10). Mitchell wrote all songs herself, and she is only accompanied by few others on just a couple of tracks. Apparently, the album was released somewhat unnoticed despite the fact that Mitchell was already well-known for having written songs for other artist including Judy Collins, Fairport Convention, and Tom Rush, and the album peaked at number #189 in the US. I find it quite interesting, a little narrow in its sound, production, and arrangements, but definitely a fine album.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]
release date: Mar. 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,28]
producer: David Crosby
label: Reprise Records - nationality: Canada
Track highlights: 1. "I Had a King" - 3. "Night in the City" - 5. "Nathan La Franeer" - 6. "Sisotowbell Lane" - 10. "Cactus Tree" (live)
Studio album debut by Canadian folk and singer / songwriter Joni Mitchell [aka Roberta Joan Anderson]. The original vinyl album's A-side is labelled "I Came to the City" (tracks 1-5), and the B-side: "Out of the City and Down to the Seaside" (tracks #6-10). Mitchell wrote all songs herself, and she is only accompanied by few others on just a couple of tracks. Apparently, the album was released somewhat unnoticed despite the fact that Mitchell was already well-known for having written songs for other artist including Judy Collins, Fairport Convention, and Tom Rush, and the album peaked at number #189 in the US. I find it quite interesting, a little narrow in its sound, production, and arrangements, but definitely a fine album.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]
25 October 2010
Jethro Tull "This Was" (1968)
This Was [debut]
release date: Oct. 25, 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Terry Ellis, Jethro Tull
label: Island Records / Chrysalis (reissue) - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "My Sunday Feeling" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "Beggars' Farm" - 9. "A Song for Jeffrey"
Studio album debut by the English quartet Jethro Tull. In retrospect, the band is almost synonymous with Ian Anderson but on this the band was not entirely in the hands of Anderson, as there was no clear leadership yet. The two songwriters of the band were guitarist and vocalist Mick Abrahams and Ian Anderson on flute, piano and vocals. The latter is credited on seven of the album's original 10 compositions, and Abrahams on four. Aside from these two the band consists of Glenn Cornick on bass, and with Clive Bunker on drums. The style is clearly blues rock founded but with influences from jazz, r&b, and folk, which makes it somewhat lacking a direction. Some compositions has a bold Hendrix-inspired blues rock and psychedelic rock style, whereas others are a mix of influences, even with Bob Dylan, The Band, and / or Buffalo Springfield folk styled music, which makes it difficult to consume as one whole album. The jazz element doesn't really help much, and it's rather peculiar as how a track like "Serenade to a Cuckoo", a jazz standard has found it's way to the album.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]
release date: Oct. 25, 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Terry Ellis, Jethro Tull
label: Island Records / Chrysalis (reissue) - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "My Sunday Feeling" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "Beggars' Farm" - 9. "A Song for Jeffrey"
Studio album debut by the English quartet Jethro Tull. In retrospect, the band is almost synonymous with Ian Anderson but on this the band was not entirely in the hands of Anderson, as there was no clear leadership yet. The two songwriters of the band were guitarist and vocalist Mick Abrahams and Ian Anderson on flute, piano and vocals. The latter is credited on seven of the album's original 10 compositions, and Abrahams on four. Aside from these two the band consists of Glenn Cornick on bass, and with Clive Bunker on drums. The style is clearly blues rock founded but with influences from jazz, r&b, and folk, which makes it somewhat lacking a direction. Some compositions has a bold Hendrix-inspired blues rock and psychedelic rock style, whereas others are a mix of influences, even with Bob Dylan, The Band, and / or Buffalo Springfield folk styled music, which makes it difficult to consume as one whole album. The jazz element doesn't really help much, and it's rather peculiar as how a track like "Serenade to a Cuckoo", a jazz standard has found it's way to the album.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]
17 October 2010
Burt Bacharach "What's New Pussycat?" (OST) (1965)
Burt Bacharach
What's New Pussycat? (OST) (1965)
[ Main title track featuring Tom Jones from the score (and full debut album) by Burt Bacharach to the movie directed by Clive Donner and Richard Talmadge, written by Woody Allen, and featuring Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole, Capucine, Romy Schneider, Ursula Andress and Woody Allen. The title track has become pseudonymous with Tom Jones. ]
. . .
. .
.
. . .
. .
.
07 October 2010
Ella Fitzgerald "Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas" (1960)
Original cover |
release date: 1960
format: cd / vinyl (2017 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Verve / DOL - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Jingle Bells" - 2. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" - 3. "The Christmas Song" - 6. "Winter Wonderland" - 8. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" - 9. "White Christmas" - 11. "Frosty, the Snowman"
A Christmas studio album with Ella Fitzgerald released on Verve Records. My cd version is the Verve Master Edition remastered and released in 2002, and my vinyl edition is released on European label DOL with a frequently used alternative cover.
This is entirely Christmas songs but a rather fine collection. The original album contains 12 tracks, the remastered edition: 18 tracks. Normally, I prefer original releases to Expanded, Deluxe Editions, or Bonus tracks editions with new or additional songs, but with the cd issue, it somehow makes sense to have an expanded version 'cause they're are perfectly within the context of the original album, although, 3 of the 6 bonus tracks are basically 'only' alternate versions of the original recordings.
2002 Verve Master Edition | 2017 vinyl reissue |
24 September 2010
Toots & The Maytals "Sweet and Dandy" (1969)
Sweet and Dandy
release date: 1969
format: digital (1998 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]
producer: Leslie Kong
label: Jet Set Records - nationality: Jamaica
Tracklist: 1. "Monkey Man" (5 / 5) - 2. "Pressure Drop" (5 / 5) - 3. "I Shall Be Free" - 4. "Bla Bla Bla" (4 / 5) - 5. "Just Tell Me" - 6. "We Shall Overcome" - 7. "Sweet & Dandy" - 8. "Scare Him" - 9. "Alidina" (4 / 5) - 10. "I Need Your Love" - 11. "54-46 That's My Number" (4 / 5) - 12. "Oh Yeah"
3rd studio album by The Maytals - the first as Toots & The Maytals, and the first to feature material almost entirely written by vocalist Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert. The album was originally released on Beverley's Records founded and owned by [legendary] Chinese Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, and in 1998 reissued on cd by Jet Set Records.
This album is one of the absolute best ever studio releases of rocksteady and Jamaican ska. "Monkey Man" was a favourite cover song by The Specials and later Amy Winehouse, "Pressure Drop" has been covered by many including Robert Palmer and my personal favourite: The punk reggae version by The Clash. That song is together with the title track "Sweet & Dandy" and "I Need Your Love" music that forecast the genre of reggae.
release date: 1969
format: digital (1998 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]
producer: Leslie Kong
label: Jet Set Records - nationality: Jamaica
Tracklist: 1. "Monkey Man" (5 / 5) - 2. "Pressure Drop" (5 / 5) - 3. "I Shall Be Free" - 4. "Bla Bla Bla" (4 / 5) - 5. "Just Tell Me" - 6. "We Shall Overcome" - 7. "Sweet & Dandy" - 8. "Scare Him" - 9. "Alidina" (4 / 5) - 10. "I Need Your Love" - 11. "54-46 That's My Number" (4 / 5) - 12. "Oh Yeah"
3rd studio album by The Maytals - the first as Toots & The Maytals, and the first to feature material almost entirely written by vocalist Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert. The album was originally released on Beverley's Records founded and owned by [legendary] Chinese Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, and in 1998 reissued on cd by Jet Set Records.
This album is one of the absolute best ever studio releases of rocksteady and Jamaican ska. "Monkey Man" was a favourite cover song by The Specials and later Amy Winehouse, "Pressure Drop" has been covered by many including Robert Palmer and my personal favourite: The punk reggae version by The Clash. That song is together with the title track "Sweet & Dandy" and "I Need Your Love" music that forecast the genre of reggae.
19 September 2010
BEST OF 1962:
Jacques Brel "Olympia 61" (1962) (live)
Olympia 61 (live)
release date: 1962
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5]
Track highlights: 2. "Les bourgeois" - 3. "Les paumés du petit matin" - 4. "Les Flamandes" - 5. "La statue" - 7. "Marieke" - 8. "Les biches" - 9. "Madeleine" - 12. "La valse á mille temps" - 12. "Ne me quitte pas" - 14. "Le moribond" - 15. "Quand on n'a que l'amour"
Live album by Jacques Brel released by Philips Records and recorded Oct. 27–29, 1961 at l'Olympia in Paris. The album is a marvelous live recording showcasing the skills of Brel at the peak of his career.
1962 Favourite releases: 1. Jacques Brel Olympia 61 - 2. Chet Baker Chet Is Back! - 3. Dexter Gordon Go
release date: 1962
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5]
Track highlights: 2. "Les bourgeois" - 3. "Les paumés du petit matin" - 4. "Les Flamandes" - 5. "La statue" - 7. "Marieke" - 8. "Les biches" - 9. "Madeleine" - 12. "La valse á mille temps" - 12. "Ne me quitte pas" - 14. "Le moribond" - 15. "Quand on n'a que l'amour"
Live album by Jacques Brel released by Philips Records and recorded Oct. 27–29, 1961 at l'Olympia in Paris. The album is a marvelous live recording showcasing the skills of Brel at the peak of his career.
1962 Favourite releases: 1. Jacques Brel Olympia 61 - 2. Chet Baker Chet Is Back! - 3. Dexter Gordon Go
16 September 2010
Jacques Brel "Marieke" (1961)
Marieke
release date: 1961
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
5th studio album by Jacques Brel aka "Jacques Brel 5" released on Philips. The album consists of tracks composed by either Brel alone (5 tracks), Brel together with conductor François Rauber (two tracks), or Brel with Gérard Jouannest (8 tracks). The album contains some of his most well-known compositions: "Marieke", "Le moribond", "On n'oublie rien", "Le prochain amour", "Les prénoms de Paris", and "Les singes". The track "Le moribond" was transleated by Rod McKuen and covered by Canadian singer / songwriter Terry Jacks as "Seasons in the Sun" and that version became a big international hit in 1974.
release date: 1961
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
5th studio album by Jacques Brel aka "Jacques Brel 5" released on Philips. The album consists of tracks composed by either Brel alone (5 tracks), Brel together with conductor François Rauber (two tracks), or Brel with Gérard Jouannest (8 tracks). The album contains some of his most well-known compositions: "Marieke", "Le moribond", "On n'oublie rien", "Le prochain amour", "Les prénoms de Paris", and "Les singes". The track "Le moribond" was transleated by Rod McKuen and covered by Canadian singer / songwriter Terry Jacks as "Seasons in the Sun" and that version became a big international hit in 1974.
16 August 2010
The Highwaymen "Michael" (1961) (single)
release date: 1961
format: vinyl (67 007)
[single rate: 2 / 5] [2,16]
producer: Don Costa
label: United Artists - nationality: USA
Tracklist: A) "Michael" - - B) "Santiano"
Single release by American folk quintet The Highwaymen is a recording of a traditional spiritual, which had already been recorded by several other artists but this version peaked at number #1 on the national Billboard Top 40 singles chart, as it repeated on the UK singles hit list - a triumph they were unable to repeat later on. The title song is also known as "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore".
This record was part of my parents' record collection, and it's single I never really took any pleasure from.
~ ~ ~
This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.
05 August 2010
Bill Haley and His Comets "Rock'N'Roll Stage Show Vol. 1" (1956) (ep)
release date: 1956
format: vinyl (BME 9278)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Milt Gabler
label: Decca - nationality: USA
Tracklist: A) 1. "Hook, Line and Sinker" - 2. "Rudy's Rock" - - B) 1. "Calling All Comets" - 2. "Rockin' Through the Rye"
EP by Bill Haley and His Comets with four tracks from the band's '56 album Rock'N'Roll Stage Show with which it shares same front cover.
This seven inch comes from my parents' record collection. It's an ep I used to play on a portable turntable when 6-8 years old, and already then, I found it strangely oldish, although, still quite party-like.
This is one of my very first music memories that wasn't purely children's songs.
👉 Another one from that earliest stage.
~ ~ ~
This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.
03 August 2010
Pink Floyd "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" (1967)
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn [debut]
release date: Aug. 5, 1967
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Norman Smith
label: EMI Columbia - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Astronomy Domine" - 2. "Lucifer Sam" - 4. "Flaming" - 7. "Interstellar Overdrive" - 8. "The Gnome" - 10. "Scarecrow" - 11. "Bike"
Studio debut album by Pink Floyd formed and consisting of Syd Barrett on lead guitar and vocals, Roger Waters on bass and vocals, Richard Wright on organ, piano, and vocals, and with Nick Mason on drums and percussion. 8 out of 11 tracks here are composed and written solely by Syd Barrett, which basically was the case at the early stage of the band at a time when psychedelic rock was the predominant style of the band. The remaining tracks are credited the band and Waters (#6). The album is enlisted in a number of best of albums, and is alongside the bands second album A Saucerful of Secrets (1968) lauded for being the the first real psychedelic rock albums where Pink Floyd takes experimental rock to new territories. The US version of the album also included the band's first huge single success "See Emily Play", although, that track seems very much out of sync with the rest of the compositions except perhaps from "The Gnome". Today, the album is music history. I don't find it great nor very interesting but in a musical perspective, the album is outstandingly original, and therefore enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". Needles to say, the album has been reissued in a number of editions - most noteworthy, I recon, is the "40th Anniversary Edition", which comes in a 2 and 3-disc version of the album with disc 1 containing the mono mix and with disc 2 containing a stereo version of the original European edition of the album. The bonus disc edition (disc 3) also contains the band's first three singles alongside several outtakes.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone Album Guide, Q Magazine 5 / 5, The Daily Telegraph 4 / 5 stars ]
release date: Aug. 5, 1967
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Norman Smith
label: EMI Columbia - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Astronomy Domine" - 2. "Lucifer Sam" - 4. "Flaming" - 7. "Interstellar Overdrive" - 8. "The Gnome" - 10. "Scarecrow" - 11. "Bike"
Studio debut album by Pink Floyd formed and consisting of Syd Barrett on lead guitar and vocals, Roger Waters on bass and vocals, Richard Wright on organ, piano, and vocals, and with Nick Mason on drums and percussion. 8 out of 11 tracks here are composed and written solely by Syd Barrett, which basically was the case at the early stage of the band at a time when psychedelic rock was the predominant style of the band. The remaining tracks are credited the band and Waters (#6). The album is enlisted in a number of best of albums, and is alongside the bands second album A Saucerful of Secrets (1968) lauded for being the the first real psychedelic rock albums where Pink Floyd takes experimental rock to new territories. The US version of the album also included the band's first huge single success "See Emily Play", although, that track seems very much out of sync with the rest of the compositions except perhaps from "The Gnome". Today, the album is music history. I don't find it great nor very interesting but in a musical perspective, the album is outstandingly original, and therefore enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". Needles to say, the album has been reissued in a number of editions - most noteworthy, I recon, is the "40th Anniversary Edition", which comes in a 2 and 3-disc version of the album with disc 1 containing the mono mix and with disc 2 containing a stereo version of the original European edition of the album. The bonus disc edition (disc 3) also contains the band's first three singles alongside several outtakes.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone Album Guide, Q Magazine 5 / 5, The Daily Telegraph 4 / 5 stars ]
<
show alt. cover >
19 July 2010
Charles Mingus "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady" (1963)
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
release date: Jul. 1963
format: cd (1995 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Bob Thiele
label: Impulse! - nationality: USA
[ full album ]
Studio album by Charles Mingus originally released on Impulse!
This is a great album of highly original jazz by one of the most significant composers of the genre. The style here is avant-garde jazz with big band elements. The original vinyl version contains three tracks on the vinyl A-side and one track (in three parts) with the title(s): "Trio and Group Dancers (Stop! Look! And Sing Songs of Revolutions!) / Single Solos and Group Dance (Saint and Sinner Join in Merriment on Battle Front) / Group and Solo Dance (Of Love, Pain, and Passioned Revolt, Then Farewell, My Beloved, 'Til It's Freedom Day)" on the B-side.
The album is the only Mingus album to be enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
1963 Favourite releases: 1. The Beatles Please Please Me - 2. Charles Mingus The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady - 3. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas Heat Wave
release date: Jul. 1963
format: cd (1995 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Bob Thiele
label: Impulse! - nationality: USA
[ full album ]
Studio album by Charles Mingus originally released on Impulse!
This is a great album of highly original jazz by one of the most significant composers of the genre. The style here is avant-garde jazz with big band elements. The original vinyl version contains three tracks on the vinyl A-side and one track (in three parts) with the title(s): "Trio and Group Dancers (Stop! Look! And Sing Songs of Revolutions!) / Single Solos and Group Dance (Saint and Sinner Join in Merriment on Battle Front) / Group and Solo Dance (Of Love, Pain, and Passioned Revolt, Then Farewell, My Beloved, 'Til It's Freedom Day)" on the B-side.
The album is the only Mingus album to be enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
1963 Favourite releases: 1. The Beatles Please Please Me - 2. Charles Mingus The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady - 3. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas Heat Wave
18 July 2010
BEST OF 1960:
Miles Davis "Sketches of Spain" (1960)
Sketches of Spain
release date: Jul. 18, 1960
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Tracklist: A) 1. "Concierto de Aranjuez" (Adagio) (Joaquín Rodrigo) - 2. "Will o' the Wisp" (Manuel de Falla) - - B) "The Pan Piper" (aka 'Alborada de Vigo') (traditional) - 2. "Saeta" (Gil Evans) - 3. "Solea" (Gil Evans)
Studio album by Miles Davis released on Columbia Records and produced by Teo Macero and Irving Townsend. Initially, Davis went to the studio to do his and Gil Evans' version of "Concierto de Aranjuez" (classical concert by Joaquín Rodrigo), but in the rehearsal process the idea to make a Spanish album came up. This is great, beautiful, and really cool jazz with much Spanish tone to it.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone Album Guide 5 / 5 stars ]
release date: Jul. 18, 1960
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Tracklist: A) 1. "Concierto de Aranjuez" (Adagio) (Joaquín Rodrigo) - 2. "Will o' the Wisp" (Manuel de Falla) - - B) "The Pan Piper" (aka 'Alborada de Vigo') (traditional) - 2. "Saeta" (Gil Evans) - 3. "Solea" (Gil Evans)
Studio album by Miles Davis released on Columbia Records and produced by Teo Macero and Irving Townsend. Initially, Davis went to the studio to do his and Gil Evans' version of "Concierto de Aranjuez" (classical concert by Joaquín Rodrigo), but in the rehearsal process the idea to make a Spanish album came up. This is great, beautiful, and really cool jazz with much Spanish tone to it.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone Album Guide 5 / 5 stars ]
02 July 2010
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons / The Four Seasons "Sherry" (1962)
Sherry & 11 Others [debut]
release date: Oct. 1962
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Big Girls Don't Cry" - 2. "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" - 3. "Peanuts" - 4. "La Dee Dah" - 5. "Teardrops" - 6. "Apple of My Eye" - 7. "Never on Sunday" - 8. "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" - 9. "The Girl in My Dreams" - 10. "Oh Carol" - 11. "Lost Lullabye" - 12. "Sherry" (5 / 5)
The debut album released as The 4 Seasons. At this point of their early career they were also known as The Four Seasons, but from early 1970s they became known as Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons due to their eminent lead vocalist, Frankie Valli, who released his first solo album titled The Four Seasons Present (1967). From then on, he concentrated on his solo career, which had a boost in 1978 with his vocal appearance on the soundtrack album Grease with the homonymous song written by Barry Gibb. After the release of this debut album, the band shortly became the most popular vocal pop band, at least until The Beatles' debut in 1963.
release date: Oct. 1962
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Big Girls Don't Cry" - 2. "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" - 3. "Peanuts" - 4. "La Dee Dah" - 5. "Teardrops" - 6. "Apple of My Eye" - 7. "Never on Sunday" - 8. "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" - 9. "The Girl in My Dreams" - 10. "Oh Carol" - 11. "Lost Lullabye" - 12. "Sherry" (5 / 5)
The debut album released as The 4 Seasons. At this point of their early career they were also known as The Four Seasons, but from early 1970s they became known as Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons due to their eminent lead vocalist, Frankie Valli, who released his first solo album titled The Four Seasons Present (1967). From then on, he concentrated on his solo career, which had a boost in 1978 with his vocal appearance on the soundtrack album Grease with the homonymous song written by Barry Gibb. After the release of this debut album, the band shortly became the most popular vocal pop band, at least until The Beatles' debut in 1963.
01 July 2010
John Coltrane "Ballads" (1963)
Ballads
release date: 1963
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Studio album by John Coltrane Quartet released on Impulse! Records and produced by Bob Thiele. This is a fine melancholic cool jazz album by one of jazz' biggest icons.
release date: 1963
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Studio album by John Coltrane Quartet released on Impulse! Records and produced by Bob Thiele. This is a fine melancholic cool jazz album by one of jazz' biggest icons.
16 June 2010
BEST OF 1966:
Otis Redding "Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul" (1966)
Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul
release date: Oct. 15, 1966
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)" (5 / 5) - 2. "I'm Sick Y'All" - 3. "Tennessee Waltz" - 4. "Sweet Lorene" - 5. "Try a Little Tenderness" (5 / 5) - 6. "Day Tripper" - 7. "My Lover's Prayer" - 8. "She Put the Hurt on Me" - 9. "Ton of Joy" - 10. "You're Still My Baby" - 11. "Hawg for You" - 12. "Love Have Mercy"
5th studio album by Otis Redding. This was to be his last studio album release before his untimely death (Dec. 10, 1967) at the age of 26, and the second studio album in '66. This is his studio album with the highest percentage of his own songs (tracks #1, #2, #4, #7, #8, #9, #11), and the album is like his '65 album, enlisted on several 'All times best albums'.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5 stars ]
1966 Favourite releases: 1. Otis Redding Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul - 2. Dexter Gordon Gettin' Around' - 3. Astrud Gilberto Look to the Rainbow
release date: Oct. 15, 1966
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)" (5 / 5) - 2. "I'm Sick Y'All" - 3. "Tennessee Waltz" - 4. "Sweet Lorene" - 5. "Try a Little Tenderness" (5 / 5) - 6. "Day Tripper" - 7. "My Lover's Prayer" - 8. "She Put the Hurt on Me" - 9. "Ton of Joy" - 10. "You're Still My Baby" - 11. "Hawg for You" - 12. "Love Have Mercy"
5th studio album by Otis Redding. This was to be his last studio album release before his untimely death (Dec. 10, 1967) at the age of 26, and the second studio album in '66. This is his studio album with the highest percentage of his own songs (tracks #1, #2, #4, #7, #8, #9, #11), and the album is like his '65 album, enlisted on several 'All times best albums'.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5 stars ]
1966 Favourite releases: 1. Otis Redding Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul - 2. Dexter Gordon Gettin' Around' - 3. Astrud Gilberto Look to the Rainbow
14 June 2010
Jacques Brel "La valse à mille temps" (1959)
La valse à mille temps
release date: 1959
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Track highlights: 1. "La valse à mille temps" (5 / 5) live - 4. "Je t'aime" - 5. "Ne me quitte pas" (4 / 5) - 6. "Les flamandes" (4 / 5) - 10. "La colombe"
4th full-length studio album by Jacques Brel aka "Jacques Brel 4". Like many of his early albums this release is just a self-titled album but is also known as "La valse à mille temps" (taken from the first track). I also enjoy his three earlier albums from the '50s but this particular album is considered one of his best ever original releases, and his first big hit album. It's his second release featuring the great French conductor François Rauber with whom Brel wrote two of the original 10 songs, although, the album's strongest tracks are written by Brel only.
release date: 1959
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Track highlights: 1. "La valse à mille temps" (5 / 5) live - 4. "Je t'aime" - 5. "Ne me quitte pas" (4 / 5) - 6. "Les flamandes" (4 / 5) - 10. "La colombe"
4th full-length studio album by Jacques Brel aka "Jacques Brel 4". Like many of his early albums this release is just a self-titled album but is also known as "La valse à mille temps" (taken from the first track). I also enjoy his three earlier albums from the '50s but this particular album is considered one of his best ever original releases, and his first big hit album. It's his second release featuring the great French conductor François Rauber with whom Brel wrote two of the original 10 songs, although, the album's strongest tracks are written by Brel only.
15 May 2010
Dexter Gordon "Gettin' Around" (1966)
Gettin' Around
release date: 1966
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Manhã de Carnaval" - 2. "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" - 3. "Heartaches" - 4. "Shiny Stockings" - 5. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" - 6. "Le coiffeur" - 7. "Very Saxily Yours" (Bonus track) - 8. "Flick of a Trick" (Bonus track)
A studio album by Dexter Gordon. It was recorded in 1965 at the lengendary Van Gelder Studio and released in 1966. The 1987 remastered cd version contains two extra tracks from the same recording session. It's not my first Dexter Gordon album but it really falls in the great ones' category. He is one of my absolute favourite jazz artists, and perhaps the first I adored of the genre. The album is recorded and released in his home country but at this point he lived almost permanently, either in Paris or Copenhagen. It contains the type of music, I guess, people in Europe loved him for - cool, emotional, laid back, and... passionate. Absolutely wonderful.
1966 Favourite releases: 1. Otis Redding Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul - 2. Dexter Gordon Gettin' Around - 3. Astrud Gilberto Look to the Rainbow
release date: 1966
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Manhã de Carnaval" - 2. "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" - 3. "Heartaches" - 4. "Shiny Stockings" - 5. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" - 6. "Le coiffeur" - 7. "Very Saxily Yours" (Bonus track) - 8. "Flick of a Trick" (Bonus track)
A studio album by Dexter Gordon. It was recorded in 1965 at the lengendary Van Gelder Studio and released in 1966. The 1987 remastered cd version contains two extra tracks from the same recording session. It's not my first Dexter Gordon album but it really falls in the great ones' category. He is one of my absolute favourite jazz artists, and perhaps the first I adored of the genre. The album is recorded and released in his home country but at this point he lived almost permanently, either in Paris or Copenhagen. It contains the type of music, I guess, people in Europe loved him for - cool, emotional, laid back, and... passionate. Absolutely wonderful.
1966 Favourite releases: 1. Otis Redding Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul - 2. Dexter Gordon Gettin' Around - 3. Astrud Gilberto Look to the Rainbow
01 May 2010
Otis Redding "The Soul Album" (1966)
The Soul Album
release date: Apr. 1, 1966
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Just One More Day" - 2. "It's Growing" - 3. "Cigarettes & Coffee" (4 / 5) - 4. "Chain Gang" - 5. "Nobody Knows You (When Your Down & Out)" - 6. "Good to Me" (4 / 5) - 7. "Scratch My Back" - 8. "Treat Her Right" - 9. "Everybody Makes a Mistake" - 10. "Any Ole Way" (4 / 5) (tv performance) - "634-5789"
4th studio album by Otis Redding is almost as great as his 1965 album. The style is the same and Redding interprets soul and r&b tracks including three of his own songs (tracks #1, #6, and #10). Only six months later he would do even better.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]
release date: Apr. 1, 1966
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Just One More Day" - 2. "It's Growing" - 3. "Cigarettes & Coffee" (4 / 5) - 4. "Chain Gang" - 5. "Nobody Knows You (When Your Down & Out)" - 6. "Good to Me" (4 / 5) - 7. "Scratch My Back" - 8. "Treat Her Right" - 9. "Everybody Makes a Mistake" - 10. "Any Ole Way" (4 / 5) (tv performance) - "634-5789"
4th studio album by Otis Redding is almost as great as his 1965 album. The style is the same and Redding interprets soul and r&b tracks including three of his own songs (tracks #1, #6, and #10). Only six months later he would do even better.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]
28 April 2010
BEST OF 1961:
Ray Charles "The Genius Sings the Blues" (1961)
The Genius Sings the Blues
release date: 1961
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,28]
producer: Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler
label: Atlantic Records - nationality: USA
Studio album by Ray Charles produced by Ahmet Ertegün and Jerry Wexler. The album was his last on Atlantic Records.
1961 Favourite releases: 1. Ray Charles The Genius Sings the Blues - 2. Dexter Gordon Dexter Calling... - 3. Elvis Presley Something for Everybody
release date: 1961
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,28]
producer: Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler
label: Atlantic Records - nationality: USA
Studio album by Ray Charles produced by Ahmet Ertegün and Jerry Wexler. The album was his last on Atlantic Records.
1961 Favourite releases: 1. Ray Charles The Genius Sings the Blues - 2. Dexter Gordon Dexter Calling... - 3. Elvis Presley Something for Everybody
21 April 2010
Ella Fitzgerald "Hello, Love" (1959)
Hello, Love
release date: 1959
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
A 1950s studio album with Ella Fitzgerald with recordings made between 1957-1959. My cd edition is the 2004 remastered edition on the original label, Verve Records. I enjoy most albums with this great singer, although, I like her most when she sings vocal jazz only. But there's absolutely nothing wrong about her versions of the 'Great American Songbook' of standards, it's just that so many other good and great artists have made their versions, and it's sometimes hard to tell the big differences. And then again: singing the standards was what brought her fame! Several of the songs here, appear (in different versions) on previous albums including her two albums with Louis Armstrong, Ella & Louis (1956) and Ella & Louis Again (1957).
release date: 1959
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
A 1950s studio album with Ella Fitzgerald with recordings made between 1957-1959. My cd edition is the 2004 remastered edition on the original label, Verve Records. I enjoy most albums with this great singer, although, I like her most when she sings vocal jazz only. But there's absolutely nothing wrong about her versions of the 'Great American Songbook' of standards, it's just that so many other good and great artists have made their versions, and it's sometimes hard to tell the big differences. And then again: singing the standards was what brought her fame! Several of the songs here, appear (in different versions) on previous albums including her two albums with Louis Armstrong, Ella & Louis (1956) and Ella & Louis Again (1957).
15 April 2010
BEST OF 1965:
Otis Redding "Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul" (1965)
Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
release date: Sep. 15, 1965
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Ole Man Trouble" - 2. "Respect" (5 / 5) - 3. "A Change Is Gonna Come" - 4. "Down in the Valley" - 5. "I've Been Loving You Too Long" (5 / 5) - 6. "Shake" (5 / 5) - 7. "My Girl" (5 / 5) - 8. "Wonderful World" (5 / 5) - 9. "Rock Me Baby" - 10. "Satisfaction" (5 / 5) - 11. "You Don't Miss Your Water"
3rd studio album by Otis Redding. Most of the songs here are cover-versions of famous r&b songs but here personalized into soul. Redding wrote three songs for the album himself (tracks #1, #2, and #5) and it soon became his best selling album reaching number #6 on the UK album charts. The album "is included in a number of best album lists, including Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Time magazine's list of the "All-Time 100 Greatest Albums", and Robert Dimery's "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". (from wikipedia). Another great soul singer, Sam Cooke, wrote three of the songs (tracks #3, #6, and #8), but as it is with all tracks on this album, Redding has a different approach, giving each song an emotional depth and feel that the original songs didn't have. Otis Redding is my all-time favourite soul artist and this album is one of his best.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, Record Collector, Virgin Encyclopedia 5 / 5 stars ]
1965 Favourite releases: 1. Otis Redding Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul - 2. The Beatles Help! - 3. Frank Sinatra September of My Years
release date: Sep. 15, 1965
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Ole Man Trouble" - 2. "Respect" (5 / 5) - 3. "A Change Is Gonna Come" - 4. "Down in the Valley" - 5. "I've Been Loving You Too Long" (5 / 5) - 6. "Shake" (5 / 5) - 7. "My Girl" (5 / 5) - 8. "Wonderful World" (5 / 5) - 9. "Rock Me Baby" - 10. "Satisfaction" (5 / 5) - 11. "You Don't Miss Your Water"
3rd studio album by Otis Redding. Most of the songs here are cover-versions of famous r&b songs but here personalized into soul. Redding wrote three songs for the album himself (tracks #1, #2, and #5) and it soon became his best selling album reaching number #6 on the UK album charts. The album "is included in a number of best album lists, including Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Time magazine's list of the "All-Time 100 Greatest Albums", and Robert Dimery's "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". (from wikipedia). Another great soul singer, Sam Cooke, wrote three of the songs (tracks #3, #6, and #8), but as it is with all tracks on this album, Redding has a different approach, giving each song an emotional depth and feel that the original songs didn't have. Otis Redding is my all-time favourite soul artist and this album is one of his best.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, Record Collector, Virgin Encyclopedia 5 / 5 stars ]
1965 Favourite releases: 1. Otis Redding Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul - 2. The Beatles Help! - 3. Frank Sinatra September of My Years
14 April 2010
Dexter Gordon "Go!" (1962)
release date: Aug. 27, 1962
format: digital (1999 remaster) / vinyl (2021 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Alfred Lion
label: Blue Note / Ermitage (vinyl) - nationality: USA
Studio album by Dexter Gordon recorded by Rudy Van Gelder featuring Gordon on tenor sax with Sonny Clark on piano, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The album is one of Gordon's most acclaimed albums.
2021 vinyl reissue |
18 March 2010
The Maytals "The Sensational Maytals" (1965)
org. vinyl release |
release date: 1965
format: digital (1999 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: unknown
label: Jamaican Gold - nationality: Jamaica
Track highlights: 1. "It's You" (4 / 5) - 2. "Daddy" (4 / 5) - 7. "What's On Your Mind" (4 / 5)
2nd studio album by The Maytals originally released on BMN in Jamaica only and later that year in the UK by Doctor Bird Records, reissued by Jamaican Gold on extended cd edition as Sensational Ska Explosion in 1999.
The Maytals were formed in 1962 as a trio consisting of Nathaniel 'Jerry' Matthias, Henry 'Raleigh' Gordon, and Frederick Nathaniel 'Toots' Hibbert. All tracks here are credited the trio, but the band soon became famous as 'Toots & The Maytals' for his lead in the band, and he also wrote many of the trio's songs - later almost everything - and they then became Toots & The Maytals. In the early aftermath of this album, Hibbert spent 18 months in jail from '66 to '67, which explains an unwanted hiatus at a time when the band really was on top of music charts in Jamaica.
The production sound miss much in comparison with American and European releases from that time, but the music is simply golden. At this point reggae was not an "invented" genre but the music by Toots & The Maytals together with The Wailers and Peter Tosh, who all played Jaimaican ska in a combo with soul and r&b was fused into rocksteady, and later became known as reggae [from the 1968 single "Do the Reggay" by Toots and the Maytals].
'Toots' Hibbert has been compared to Otis Redding and this album really proves that analogy quite well. Hibbert doesn't have the same strength of vocal range but listening to this makes you wonder if Redding also listened to this and the debut by The Maytals to find inspiration. The album is stuffed with great tunes, and I have also found this much more inspiring than Bob Marley & The Wailers who experienced international fame in the 1970s when Toots & The Maytals were seen as 'just another' Jamaican band also playing reggae, when in fact they were among THE most important figures in shaping the genre.
1999 reissue |
12 March 2010
Jacques Brel "Au printemps" (1958)
Au printemps
release date: 1958
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
Track highlights: 2. "Au printemps" - 3. "Je ne sais pas" - 4. "Le colonel" - 8. "L'homme dans la cité?" - 9. "Litanies pour un retour"
3rd studio album by Jacques Brel originally released on Philips aka "Jacques Brel 3". This is another great album by Brel mostly consisting of his own compositions but also introducing 5 songs co-written with François Rauber who is also credited as orchestral conductor (tracks #2–3, #8–9, and #11–12) alongside André Popp (tracks #1, #4, #7, #10, and #13). The original lp contains tracks #1-10, with tracks #11-13 being bonus tracks on the 2003 remaster issued on Barclay Records as part of the 16-disc box set Boîte à Bonbons.
release date: 1958
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
Track highlights: 2. "Au printemps" - 3. "Je ne sais pas" - 4. "Le colonel" - 8. "L'homme dans la cité?" - 9. "Litanies pour un retour"
3rd studio album by Jacques Brel originally released on Philips aka "Jacques Brel 3". This is another great album by Brel mostly consisting of his own compositions but also introducing 5 songs co-written with François Rauber who is also credited as orchestral conductor (tracks #2–3, #8–9, and #11–12) alongside André Popp (tracks #1, #4, #7, #10, and #13). The original lp contains tracks #1-10, with tracks #11-13 being bonus tracks on the 2003 remaster issued on Barclay Records as part of the 16-disc box set Boîte à Bonbons.
12 February 2010
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong "Ella and Louis" (1956)
Ella and Louis [debut]
release date: Oct. 1956
format: digital (2007 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Can't We Be Friends?" - 2. "Isn't This a Lovely Day?" - 3. "Moonlight in Vermont" - 4. "They Can't Take That Away From Me" - 5. "Under a Blanket of Blue" - 6. "Tenderly" - 7. "A Foggy Day" - 8. "Stars Fell on Alabama" - 9. "Cheek to Cheek" - 10. "The Nearness of You" - 11. "April in Paris"
First collaboration album featuring Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong. My cd edition was remastered in 2007. This album is simply wonderful. I don't own a lot of music from the '50s but this is definitely one of the best of a decade. It's such a warm and positive album, and it just makes you wanna smile. I have several albums with Ella 'cause I simply love her fantastic voice but this is one of a few ones with Louis.
release date: Oct. 1956
format: digital (2007 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Tracklist: 1. "Can't We Be Friends?" - 2. "Isn't This a Lovely Day?" - 3. "Moonlight in Vermont" - 4. "They Can't Take That Away From Me" - 5. "Under a Blanket of Blue" - 6. "Tenderly" - 7. "A Foggy Day" - 8. "Stars Fell on Alabama" - 9. "Cheek to Cheek" - 10. "The Nearness of You" - 11. "April in Paris"
First collaboration album featuring Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong. My cd edition was remastered in 2007. This album is simply wonderful. I don't own a lot of music from the '50s but this is definitely one of the best of a decade. It's such a warm and positive album, and it just makes you wanna smile. I have several albums with Ella 'cause I simply love her fantastic voice but this is one of a few ones with Louis.
07 February 2010
Ella Fitzgerald "Lullabies of Birdland" (1955)
release date: 1955
format: vinyl (1960 reissue, DL 8149)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: various
label: Decca - nationality: USA
Early compilation album by Ella Fitzgerald with eleven tracks stemming from older recordings, which have all been previously issued for 78rpm singles during the late 1940s and early 1950s (track #11 is recorded in 1945, tracks #5 & #8 are from 1947, track #9 from 1949, tracks #2-4 & #10 from 1952, tracks #1 & #6 from 1954, and track #7 from 1955).
These recordings are a fine treat and despite some missing dynamics, mostly issues with vocal range, this compilation is remarkably good.
30 January 2010
Chet Baker "Chet Is Back!" (1962)
Chet Is Back!
release date: Jan. 1962
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Studio album by Chet Baker. It's one of his most well-renowned albums, and I think it's more than good, only, it's not the style that first comes to my mind when I'm thinking of Chet Baker. This is great jazz bop, which is a style much more in a field of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, and Charlie Mingus. Here, Chet shows how he's more than capable of that style as well. And well, I guess all great jazz artists just had to play music according to that style at some point from the mid 50s to mid 60s. It also contains one or two tracks in his real trademark: cool jazz but no vocal jazz or that fine combo of easy listening and standards that I love when played by Chet. The album's title refers to the fact that Chet had spent almost a year and a half in prison in Italy because of possession of drugs.
release date: Jan. 1962
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
Studio album by Chet Baker. It's one of his most well-renowned albums, and I think it's more than good, only, it's not the style that first comes to my mind when I'm thinking of Chet Baker. This is great jazz bop, which is a style much more in a field of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, and Charlie Mingus. Here, Chet shows how he's more than capable of that style as well. And well, I guess all great jazz artists just had to play music according to that style at some point from the mid 50s to mid 60s. It also contains one or two tracks in his real trademark: cool jazz but no vocal jazz or that fine combo of easy listening and standards that I love when played by Chet. The album's title refers to the fact that Chet had spent almost a year and a half in prison in Italy because of possession of drugs.
17 January 2010
Chet Baker
~ ~ ~
Chet Baker at the end of his career, and as a young photogenic star
~ ~ ~
15 January 2010
Charles Mingus "Mingus Ah Um" (1959)
Mingus Ah Um
release date: Sep. 14, 1959
format: vinyl (1987 remaster) / digital (2009 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Teo Macero
label: CBS Records - nationality: USA
Studio album by Charles Mingus originally released on Columbia - here in the digitally remastered series 'CBS Jazz Masterpieces'.
The album is an essential part of any jazz collection.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 5 / 5, Popmatters 4,5 / 5 stars ]
release date: Sep. 14, 1959
format: vinyl (1987 remaster) / digital (2009 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Teo Macero
label: CBS Records - nationality: USA
Studio album by Charles Mingus originally released on Columbia - here in the digitally remastered series 'CBS Jazz Masterpieces'.
The album is an essential part of any jazz collection.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 5 / 5, Popmatters 4,5 / 5 stars ]
12 January 2010
Jacques Brel "Quand on n'a que l'amour" (1957)
Quand on n'a que l'amour
release date: 1957
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
Track highlights: 1. "Quand on n'a que l'amour" - 2. "Qu'avons-nous fait, bonnes gens?" - 3. "Les pieds dans le ruisseau" - 5. "La bourrée du célibataire" - 7. "Saint-Pierre" - 8. "J'en appelle"
2nd studio album by Jacques Brel originally released on Philips aka 'Jacques Brel 2'. As the debut, this consists of compositions written by Brel (except track #4 co-written with Jacques Vigouroux). And much like the debut, this hardly contains superfluous songs - and the album itself is quite remarkable. Orchestra conductors here are: André Popp on tracks #1 and #4-10, Michel Legrand on #2-3, and François Rauber is credited on track #11 (which is an alternate recording of track #1) on the 2003 remaster cd edition.
release date: 1957
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
Track highlights: 1. "Quand on n'a que l'amour" - 2. "Qu'avons-nous fait, bonnes gens?" - 3. "Les pieds dans le ruisseau" - 5. "La bourrée du célibataire" - 7. "Saint-Pierre" - 8. "J'en appelle"
2nd studio album by Jacques Brel originally released on Philips aka 'Jacques Brel 2'. As the debut, this consists of compositions written by Brel (except track #4 co-written with Jacques Vigouroux). And much like the debut, this hardly contains superfluous songs - and the album itself is quite remarkable. Orchestra conductors here are: André Popp on tracks #1 and #4-10, Michel Legrand on #2-3, and François Rauber is credited on track #11 (which is an alternate recording of track #1) on the 2003 remaster cd edition.
01 January 2010
Jacques Brel "Jacques Brel et ses chansons" (1954)
release date: 1954
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
Tracks (org. album): 1. "La haine" - 2. "Grand Jacques (C'est trop facile)" - 3. "Il pleut (Les carreaux)" - 4. "Le diable (ça va)" - 5. "Il peut pleuvoir" - 6. "Il nous faut regarder" - 7. "Le fou du roi" - 8. "C'est comme ça" - 9. "Sur la place"
Studio album debut album by Jacques Brel aka 'Grand Jacques'. The tracks #1-9 represent the original vinyl lp recorded at Théâtre de L'Apollo, Feb. 15, 1954. The cd-version consists of 15 tracks, of which tracks #10-15 are bonus tracks on the 2003 remaster 'Velours Box Set', which is a part of the extensive 16-disc box set, Boîte à Bonbons. Aside Brel himself, the album also offers examples of the arrangements by André Grassis' (tracks #1-9). All compositions from the original album except two by Glen Powell are all credited Brel.
This first one out may not contain a long list of great classics but it still showcases Brel's gifts as songwriter, composer, and not least: singer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)