Janis Joplin "Pearl" (1971)

Pearl

udgivet: 11. jan. 1971

format: cd (1999 remaster) / vinyl (2020 reissue)

[vurdering: 4 / 5] [4,02]

producer: Paul A. Rothchild

selskab: Columbia - nationalitet: USA

Udvalgte numre: A) 1. "Move Over" - 2. "Cry Baby" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Half Moon" - 5. "Buried Alive in the Blues"

B) 2. "Me and Bobby McGee" (4 / 5) - 3. "Mercedes Benz" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Trust Me" - 5. "Get It While You Can"

2. og sidste solo-studiealbum fra Janis Joplin er hendes fjerde i alt, hvis man medregner de to albums med Big Brother and the Holding Company. Pearl er et blues rock-album af ypperste karat, der følger lidt mindre end 1½ år efter den mindre succesfulde solodebut I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! (sep. 1969). Janis levede livet i overhalingsbanen, og hun var den ledende stjerne på to ikoniske studiealbums fra 1967 til 1971 - det andet store album er Cheap Thrills (aug. 1968) udgivet, mens Joplin endnu var en del af Big Brother and the Holding Company.

CD-remasteren fra 1999 indeholder fire live-numre fra den såkaldte Festival Express-turné - numre, der alle er optaget d. 4. jul. 1970 ved koncerten i Calgary. Denne særlige turné var arrangeret med en række forskellige kunstnere, der alle rejste med samme tog tværs gennem Canada fra øst til vest, fra Toronto via Winnipeg og med afslutning i Calgary, og med store navne som Buddy Guy Blues Band, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Grateful Dead, samt The Band. Turnéen var oprindeligt planlagt til at omfatte fem programsatte koncerter, men programmerne for Montreal og Vancouver endte med at blive aflyst.

Pearl blev udgivet tre måneder efter Joplins død (okt. 1970), som indtraf under indspilningerne til albummet, hvilket bl.a. betyder, at "Buried Alive in the Blues" ufrivilligt endte som et instrumentalnummer. Albummet er en naturlig del af "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" og er ligeledes at finde på Rolling Stones liste "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", og det er bestemt stadig et meget anbefalelsesværdigt album at kende.

[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stjerner ]

Brittany Howard "What Now" (2024)

What Now

release date: Feb. 9, 2024

format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]

producer: Brittany Howard, Shawn Everett

label: Island - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Earth Sign" - 2. "I Don't" - 3. "What Now" - 4. "Red Flags" - 5. "To Be Still" - 8. "Prove It to You" - 9. "Samson" - 11. "Power to Undo" - 12. "Every Color in Blue"

2nd solo album by Brittany Howard is the more than four year old follow-up to Jaime (Sep. 2019). Bassist Zac Cockrell of Alabama Shakes is credited on this, just as he featured on her solo debut, which also counts drummer Nate Smith as recurring musician. The album was generally made with only a handful of performers, which include the two keyboardists, Lloyd Buchanan and Paul Horton, and aside from these four only guitarist Brad Williams and trumpeter Rod McGaha feature on two songs each.

What Now is showcasing all the various styles Howard seems influenced by, but under her guidance it never feels as too many styles have been involved. Actually, to me, this is a bit like echoing how Prince used to arrange songs with that little detail that this is ever so much better. What Now simply appears as Brittany Howard's best release in her post-Alabama Shakes period. Now why doesn't she release music more often?! Ah well, better have a great album than one with only a few good songs, and this one is a most delightful release despite containing songs about negative aspects of life such as climate changes, global crisis, and political climate / turmoil of her home country, and then: these are appropriate subjects to address at the current time, so better deal with what's at stake. And thanks to Howard's musicality, she manages to wrap her songs up in great music and ultimately, simply hands us one of this year's best albums.

This is highly recommended and one to pay attention to.

[ allmusic.com Mojo, NME 4 / 5, 👍Pitchfork 8,3 / 10, Uncut 4,5 / 5, The Guardian 5 / 5 stars ]

Fats Domino "Fantastic Fats (Sixteen of the Greatest Tracks by Fats Domino)" (1965)

Sixteen of the Greatest Tracks by Fats Domino (compilation)

release date: 1965

format: vinyl (1968 reissue)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

producer: Felton Jarvis

label: Stateside / Columbia - nationality: USA

Compilation album by Louisiana-born Fats Domino (aka The Fat Man - Antoine Dominique Domino Jr.) (Feb. 26, 1928 – Oct. 24, 2017).

Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint "The River in Reverse" (2006)

The River in Reverse

release date: Jun. 6, 2006

format: digital (13 x Files, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]

producer: Joe Henry (exec. produced by Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint)

label: Verve Forecast: - nationality: England, UK / USA

Track highlights: 1. "On Your Way Down" - 2. "Nearer to You" - 4. "The Sharpest Thorn" - 5. "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?" - 6. "The River in Reverse" - 7. "Freedom for the Stallion" - 11. "All These Things"

Collaboration album by Elvis Costello and New Orleans-based songwriter, composer, record producer, pianist and composer, Allen Toussaint, who is a familiar name of traditional American rhythm & blues.

Toussaint had previously contributed as pianist on Costello's "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" for his Spike album, and the two had earlier discussed the possibility of a collaboration work, but it wasn't until the hurricane, Katrina flooded New Orleans in 2005 that Costello was concerned about Toussaint, as he was one of many affected artists of the disaster. Both was involved in benefit concerts and Costello initially thought of and performed with Toussaint's song "Freedom for the Stallion" after which the two was paired for live concerts, which ultimately led to Costello suggesting that they made an album together. And in that way The River in Reverse is a requiem on the New Orleans tragedy. Except for the title song, which is written and composed by Costello, the remaining 12 compositions are reworkings of songs composed by Toussaint - a few with new lyrics by Costello.

The result is actually really good. Toussaint has composed lively and traditional music, and Costello delivers some a vocal performance on the majority of the songs with warmt and emotions that at times make me think of Van Morrison. It's a quite different arena than Costello's recent collaborations: Painted From Memory (1998) with Burt Bacharach, and Deep Dead Blue (1995) with Bill Frisell, but it's by no means a left-handed work or a lesser experience - it's just... different, mostly because this album is a genuinely rhythm & blues album, which again shows us how easily Costello adapts to different styles. Not that he masters everything, but I don't think he believes there's a style or genre he cannot handle.

This is a warm and delightful album.

[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, 👍Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Pitchfork 6,1 / 10 stars ]

Amy Winehouse "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" (2011)

Lioness: Hidden Treasures (compilation)
release date: Dec. 6, 2011
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Salaam Remi
label: Universal Island - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Our Day Will Come" (5 / 5) - 2. "Between the Cheats" - 3. "Tears Dry" (Original Version) - 4. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2011)" - 6. "Valerie ('68 Version)" - 8. "Half Time" - 9. "Wake Up Alone" (Original Recording) - 10. "Best Friends, Right?" - 11. "Body & Soul (duet with Tony Bennett)" - 12. "A Song for You"

Compilation album by Amy Winehouse released posthumously is primarily produced by Salaam Remi, but it also feature two songs (tracks #4 & #6) produced by Mark Ronson.
The album title suggests a collection of well-hidden gems, and it may just be that but it's more of a mixed bag in the sense that it contains a big variety of songs - some that were undoubtedly meant to be prt of a never realised third album, and others that, well, weren't intended to be reeased as is but given the circumstances thankfully were revealed without having to fit in. "Our Day Will Come" and "Between the Cheats" are superb compositions that probably would have been included on that third studio album, but the remaining tracks come to define the album as something else. We find outtakes, demos, and rarities rather than future album songs 'cause Winehouse hadn't found time to compose that many more. Some tracks are alternate recordings, two songs are with other artists - Nas and Tony Bennett respectively, where the latter duet appears to have been her last studio recording, and then a couple of old classics make up the lot before it's all over in just around 45 mins. Apparently, the songs were selected by the producers, Sallam Remi and Mark Ronson, but apparently also with a say from one or two family members.
The album debuted at the top of the charts in the UK as it replicated in Austria, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, and in The Netherlands. It also became Winehouse's best charting standard album in the US making it to number #5 on the Billboard 200 (Back to Black peaked at #2 when it was re-issued). It spawned two single releases - track #11 "Body and Soul", a duet with Tony Bennett reaching number #40 and "Our Day Will Come" peaking at number #29 on the national singles chart.
Lioness... is an album without obvious fillers or poor songs, and it's more than nice to have these recordings as well, although, the collection appears more as an incomplete glimpse into a treasury, where the voice of Winehouse is the jewel that shines through it all.
Highly recommended.
[ 👍allmusic.com, Spin 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, 👎The Guardian, Q Magazine 3 / 5 stars ]

In 2015 "Amy", a British documentary by Asif Kapadia was released to mostly positive reviews, although, the Winehouse family and especially Amy's father Mitch Winehouse rejected the film as biased and misleading. 

EDIT 2025:

The Winehouse foundation (established by the family estate) approved the biopic "Back to Black" directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and featuring a strong lead role by Marisa Abela was released in 2024, and it shows another - much brighter and less controversial - family drama. Several other documentaries may be found about the life of Amy Winehouse but "Amy" stands out as a genuine attempt of showing the story of her life, as it was portrayed and told by the media, as well as people close to Amy. Now, the 2024 film does come with a fine soundtrack, which works quite nicely on its own terms.

Etta James "The Essential Modern Records Collection" (2011)

The Essential Modern Records Collection (compilation)
release date: Apr. 5, 2011
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
label: Virgin Records - nationality: USA

15 track compilation album by Etta James primarily focusing on the earliest sessions recorded by Etta James for Modern Records between 1955 and 1957, which means that the album is not a normal best of collection trying to embrace all of an artist's career.

Etta James "Blues to the Bone" (2004)

Blues to the Bone
release date: Jun. 8, 2004
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Etta James, Donto James, Sametto James
label: RCA Victor - nationality: USA

Studio album by Etta James in her autumn years. The album was to be her third last studio release as she passed away in 2012. The album is dominated by blues standards and rhythm and blues. She does very well, although, the songs are not new nor at her best level of performance but she's still able to add a certain soul and liveliness to every track. The album was handed a Grammy Award in 2005 for Best Traditional Blues Album of the year.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Etta James "Her Best - The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection" (1997)

"Her Best - The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection", compilation
release date: 1997
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: various
label: Chess - nationality: USA

20 track compilation album by Etta James.

Etta James "Losers Weepers" (1971)

2011 cover
Kent Soul

Losers Weepers
release date: 1971
format: digital (2011 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

producer: Ralph Bass

label: Kent Soul - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 2. "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" - 5. "Losers Weepers" - 6. "Weepers" - 9. "For All We Know"

10th studio album by Etta James originally released on Cadet Records (formerly Argo Records). The original album is an 11-track release but it comes as a 2011 cd version with 11 bonus tracks released on the Kent Records sublabel Kent Soul. Despite Etta was a serious heroin addict by the early 1970s, she really performs very well here.

org. '71 cover
Cadet Records

Elvis Costello "Kojak Variety" (1995)

Kojak Variety
release date: May 9, 1995
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,22]
producer: Elvis Costello and Kevin Killen
label: Warner Bros. Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Hidden Charms" ["Screamin' Jay" Hawkins] - 5. "Leave My Kitten Alone" [Little Willie John] - 6. "Everybody's Crying Mercy" [Mose Allison] - 9. "Must You Throw Dirt in My Face?" [Bill Anderson] - 11. "The Very Thought of You" [Ray Noble] - 15. "Days" [Ray Davies]

15th studio album by Elvis Costello following one year after Brutal Youth is an album consisting exclusively of cover versions of songs from traditional rhythm & blues, soul, beat and rock & roll - all songs from his youth. The album contains 15 tracks recorded in the period 1989-94 and they include songs (1-15) made famous by 'Screamin' Jay' Hawkins, Willie Dixon, The Supremes, Bob Dylan, Little Willie John, Mose Allison, Randy Newman, Little Richard, Louvin Brothers, James Carr, Nat 'King' Cole, Jesse Winchester, The Drifters, Aretha Franklin, and The Kinks. Costello's cover of "Days" by Ray Davies was recorded for the film "Until the end of the World" (1991) by Wim Wenders.

[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine 2 / 5, Rolling Stone 2,5 / 5, Blender, Mojo, Uncut 3 / 5 stars ]

Etta James "Tell Mama" (1968)

Tell Mama
release date: Aug. 21, 1968
format: digital (2001 reissue) / vinyl (2014 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Rick Hall
label: MCA / Bear Family - nationality: USA

Tracklist: 1. "Tell Mama" - 2. "I'd Rather Go Blind" (4 / 5) - 3. "Watch Dog" - 4. "The Love of My Man" (4 / 5) - 5. "I'm Gonna Take What He's Got" - 6. "The Same Rope" - 7. "Security" (4 / 5) - 8. "Steal Away" - 9. "My Mother In-Law" - 10. "Don't Lose Your Good Thing" - 11. "It Hurts Me So Much" - 12. "Just a Little Bit"

8th studio album by Etta James originally released on Cadet Records and produced by Rick Hall. This is a wonderful soul and r&b album by one of vocal jazz great voices. All tracks are credited various composers, which was a typical procedure of the 1950s and 60s, but Etta's gift is to understand and make them all her own. A must-have for lovers of soul. The extended 2001 MCA cd reissue with the added subtitle "The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions" comes with an additional 10 bonus tracks. The 2014 vinyl issue is a replica of the original album and with the same original 12 tracks.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

2014 vinyl reissue

Etta James "Rocks the House" (1964) (live)

Rocks the House (live)
release date: Jan. 23, 1964
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]

First live and 5th overall album release by Etta James released on Argo Records and produced by Leonard Chess and Etta James. The album is the recordings of a concerts held on the nights of Sep. 27 and 28, 1963 at the New Era Club in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The album is very fine r&b, soul album with one of the genre's best vocal artists and is considered one of her best live albums ever recorded.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5 stars ]

Best of 2006:Amy Winehouse "Back to Black" (2006)

original cover

Back to Black
release date: Oct. 30, 2006
format: cd (2007 Deluxe Edition) / 2 lp vinyl (2021 deluxe edition)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,48]
producer: Mark Ronson, Salaam Remi
label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: Disc 1) 1. "Rehab" - 2. "You Know I'm No Good" - 3. "Me and Mr. Jones" (live) - 4. "Just Friends" - 5. "Back to Black" - 6. "Love Is a Losing Game" (5 / 5) (live) - 7. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (live on Later) - 8. "Wake Up Alone"
Disc 2) 1. "Valerie" (5 / 5) - 2. "Cupid" - 3. "Monkey Man" (live) - 4. "To Know Him Is to Love Him" - 5. "Hey Little Rich Girl" (feat. Zalon & Ade) (live) - 6. "You're Wondering Now" - 8. "Love Is a Losing Game" (Original Demo)

2nd and final studio album by Amy Winehouse released three years after her debut album contains 6 tracks produced by Mark Ronson and the remaining 5 tracks on the standard album is produced by Salaam Remi. The Deluxe Edition released 13 months later is a double disc album with the standard album in a remastered edition and a bonus disc with a collection of B-sides and live recordings.
The original album peaked at number #1 on the UK albums chart list, just as it did in many countries world-wide including in Austria, France, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and in New Zealand. The album also went as high as to number #7 on the American Billboard 200, and when it was reissued as a double disc it peaked at number #2. It contains a number of great tracks and several singles made it to top-10 on the singles chart, although none ended up on top of the charts. The first single from the album was "Rehab", peaking at number #7 in the UK. This was followed by "You Know I'm No Good", which peaked at number #18, then the title track was released as a single, peaking at number #8, and then two more singles were released: "Tears Dry on Their Own" and "Love Is a Losing Game" peaking at number #16 and number #33, respectively.
Now, how do you pick a short list displaying only the best tracks from this album? It's an impossible task, and with the double disc edition it doesn't become any easier with a bonus disc full of gems including ska revival and rock steady tracks, e.g. "Hey, Little Rich Girl" (org. by The Specials), "Monkey Man" (by Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert) and "You're Wondering Now" (by Clement Seymour 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd). All songs here are wonderful examples of this woman's extraordinary gift and great potential, and although Frank is a mighty fine debut, it's nevertheless overshadowed by the strength of this very album. The songs here showcase Winehouse's songwriter qualities and most of all, it's produced and arranged to support her songs, which makes this a better album.
Despite rumours about a follow-up Back to Black remains the final Amy Winehouse studio album. Following the album release, the success almost appeared without an end, which meant that she kept touring after new nominations and awards, and then her physical conditions began to show when performing on stage. She had recorded some demos that were meant for a forthcoming album but all this was shelved when she passed away Jul. 2011, at age 27.
Back to Black is naturally included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" as it's one of the most evident top-of-year album releases, you may come across.
Highly recommended.

Edit 2021:

The 2021 2 lp vinyl Deluxe Edition is a really fine issue of this album. It's a repress of a 2016 reissue, which is a remastered version of the 2007 CD Deluxe Edition only with the original cover replacing the all black cover of the 2007 issue. The vinyl version of this is cut using half-speed recording technique as a way to detail the output and issued on 180g vinyl. The 2 LP vinyl format wasn't issued until 2016.

2006 Favourite releases: 1. Amy Winehouse Back to Black - 2. Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - 3. Band of Horses Everything All the Time

2007 2-Disc
Deluxe Edition

Robbie Robertson "How to Become Clairvoyant" (2011)

How to Become Clairvoyant
release date: Apr. 5, 2011
format: 2 cd (Deluxe Edition)
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Marius de Vries and Robbie Robertson
label: Macrobiotic Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Straight Down the Line" - 2. "When the Night Was Young" - 3. "He Don't Live Here No More" - 5. "This Is Where I Get Off" - 6. "Fear of Falling"

5th studio album by Robbie Robertson released more than thirteen years [!] after his most recent studio album Contact From the Underworld of Redboy (1998).

The album doesn't fall far from his previous albums in the sense that this is also a combo of preferred styles, a natural love for rhythm & blues, americana and traditional singer / songwriter folk rock blended with contemporary styles and influences from alt. rock and small dozes of electronic. The album features several guest musicians, e.g. Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello, Robert Randolph, Rocco Deluca, Angela McCluskey, and Taylor Goldsmith. Apparently, the album was initiated from Robertson and Clapton's jam sessions, which grew to the idea of a new album - Clapton features on three of the songs and is co-composer of two and is sole writer of the instrumental "Madame X" (track #8).

Although using bits of electronic elements, How to Become Clairvoyant is not the continued experience with electronica as was initiated most boldly on his fine '98 album - neither is it the return to his other solo releases. In fact, it shares much more with albums produced while playing in The Band. And then the songs with Clapton, well, they simply sound like Clapton featuring Robertson, which means r&b pop / rock in that unmistakably (ordinary) traditional British style of his.

The album is not one of his most spectacular solo efforts - in fact, I find it his least favourable. The songs are solid compositions but all sound like others and older compositions, and Robertson sound as if in doubt of who to lean towards: Clapton or Dylan? And sometimes he even sound like imitating John Mayer.

The album fared more than just well as it actually became Robertson's best charting album on the US Billboard 200 Albums list peaking at #13 (his solo debut is still his best-selling and only Platinum-selling album peaking at #38).

The Deluxe Edition comes with a bonus disc titled 'Deluxe Disc' containing five "songwriter versions", i.e.. demo takes and one outtake from the recording sessions.

Not really recommended.

[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

David McAlmont "Set One - You Go to My Head" (2005)

Set One - You Go to My Head
release date: Oct. 24, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: David McAlmont, Guy Davies, tommy.d [Tom Asher Danvers]
label: Blueport Recordings - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "You Go to My Head" (live) - 2. "Night and Day" - 5. "Never Never Never" (live) - 6. "Under My Skin" - 7. "A Certain Smile / The Shadow of Your Smile" - 9."How Long Has This Been Going On"

3rd solo studio album by David McAlmont is co-produced by Guy Davies (who also plays keyboards, piano and guitar) with whom McAlmont would later form the duo Fingersnap. It was originally released by Ether Records but as the label closed later in 2005, it was then reissued on Blue Port Recordings. The album follows his second solo work A Little Communication (1998) and more recently, the sophomore collaboration album by McAlmont & Butler, Bring It Back from 2002.
Set One... is a truly marvellous album. It's far from the pop soul and dance pop of his debut and follows closer to the sound of his '98 solo album, but as an even more quiet and sincere soul and r&b album - closely linked to the spirit of Otis Redding with a huge amount of vocal jazz. McAlmont's voice really shines through on this covers album entirely consisting of classic oldies composed by Cole Porter, the Gershwin brothers, Johnny Mercer, Alberto Testa, Paul Webster, and Rodgers & Hart. These predominantly standards songs are produced in a combination of soul and vocal jazz, and the album is unfortunately one of the most overlooked in the year 2005.
This is highly recommended.
[ The Guardian 3 / 5 stars ]

Amy Winehouse "Frank" (2003)

original cover

Frank [debut]
release date: Oct. 20, 2003
format: 2 cd (2008 reissue - Deluxe Edition)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,94]
producer: Gordon Williams; Salaam Remi
label: Universal Island - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: Disc 1) 1. "Intro / Stronger Than Me" - 2. "You Sent Me Flying" - 3. "Know You Now" - 4. "Fuck Me Pumps" - 5. "I Heard Love Is Blind" - 7. "(There Is) No Greater Love" (aol live session) - 8. "In My Bed" - 9. "Take the Box" - 11. "What Is It About Men?" - 12. "Help Yourself" - 13. "Amy Amy Amy / Outro" - 'Brother' (hidden track) / 'Mr Magic (Through the Smoke)' (hidden track)
Disc 2) 1. "Take the Box" (Original Demo) - 2. "You Sent Me Flying" (Original Demo) - 3. "I Heard Love Is Blind" (Original Demo) - 4. "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Original Demo) - 5. "What Is It" (Original Demo) - 6. "Teach Me Tonight" (live) (Hootenanny) - 9. "Stronger Than Me" (live) (Later with Jools Holland) - 10. "I Heard Love Is Blind" (Live at the Concorde, Brighton) - 11. "Take the Box" (Live at the Concorde, Brighton) - 12. "In My Bed" (Live at the Concorde, Brighton) - 13. "Mr Magic" (Janice Long Session) - 14. "(There Is) No Greater Love" (Janice Long Session)

Studio album debut by Amy (Jade) Winehouse (born Sep. 1983 in Southgate, London) originally released on Island Records is made with several producers where the two main forces are Gordon Williams (aka Commissioner Gordon) and Salaam Remi (aka The Chameleon), who are both credited as producers of six of the standard album's thirteen compositions either alone or together. Winehouse herself, Matt Rowe, Jimmy Hogarth and Jony Rockstar are all credited as co-producers.
Stylistically, the album represents a huge mix of styles and genres with vocal jazz, rhythm & blues, and soul at the core of most compositions, although, it's difficult not also to mention pop soul and neo-soul and perhaps the all-American standards of the 1950s and 60s as one of the major inspirational sources. Additionally, the album title both refers to Winehouse's lyrics as well as hinting at one of her childhood idols: Frank Sinatra.
Winehouse has written the majority of the lyrics and composed the songs in collaboration with either Salaam Remi (5 songs), Gordon Williams (3 songs), and Donovan Jackson (3 songs) plus a variety of others. The album also contains two classic jazz compositions (tracks #6 and #7). The Deluxe Edition contains a Bonus disc of 18 additional songs - consisting of B-sides, live recordings and extended mixes of songs from the album.
The album went as high as to number #13 on the UK charts, and although, none of the four single releases from the album made it any higher than #57 on the national singles chart, the album was nominated the Mercury Prize in 2004 and Winehouse was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for her songwriting and she was nominated British Female Solo Artist and British Urban Act at the Brit Awards also in 2004.
Following Winehouse's death, the album re-entered the albums chart and went to number #3.
Frank is the fine and yet somewhat incoherent debut by one of Britain's most talented songwriters and vocalists of the modern era. Winehouse sings with ease and so much soul that it's a thrill - despite, production-wise, being a bit messy, as if the people in charge were unable to decide whether it was made for the vast pop masses or for lovers of vocal jazz. Winehouse herself was left dissatisfied about the album production, which she among other things described "a shambles made by idiots". You really have to grant her that the included demos on the Bonus Disc support her by revealing the strength of several songs appear to have been over-produced beyond recognition. E.g. the brilliant demo recording of "You Sent Me Flying" has completely lost the strong tenderness and vocal power of the original, and the same quality may also be said about all the other four demos. Perhaps, too many chefs were involved in the making of her debut? They simply had no idea of the kind of magic they were holding in their hands, so they felt forced to re-arrange and produce raw material into something else. Unfortunately.
That said, Frank is still a very very fine debut by Amy Winehouse.
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com, The Guardian 4 / 5, PopMatters 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 2,5 / 5 stars ]

2008 2-Disc
Deluxe Edition

David Lindley "El Rayo-X" (1981)

El Rayo-X

release date: Apr. 1981

format: vinyl / cd (reissue)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,04]

producer: Jackson Browne and Greg Ladanyi

label: Asylum / Elektra - nationality: USA

Track highlights: A) 1. "She Took Off My Romeos" (4 / 5) - 2. "Bye Bye Love" - 3. "Mercury Blues" (4 / 5) (live 1981) - 4. "Quarter of a Man" - 5. "Ain't No Way" - 6. "Twist and Shout" (live 1988) - B) 1. "El Rayo-X" (4 / 5) - 3. "Don't Look Back" - 5. "Tu-ber-cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues" - 6. "Pay the Man"

Studio album debut by David Perry Lindley is a late but also much anticipated release. Lindley was co-founder of 1960s psychedelic folk band Kaleidoscope and later became renowned for his skills as multi-instrumentalist on all types of strings. He was an acclaimed studio musician and worked for and with artists like Jackson Browne, Crosby & Nash, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, and Ry Cooder before finally making music under his own name.

Stylistically, the album feels timeless with influence from various styles and genres. Only the title track and the closer "Pay the Man" are credited Lindley but really, all songs here are re-arranged according to Lindley's taste, and the result is a highly original coherent whole serving to document what a musical wizzard Lindley is.

This is absolutely and highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

The Blues Brothers "The Definitive Collection" (1992)

The Definitive Collection (compilation)
release date: 1992
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Bob Tischler, Paul Shaffer
label: Atlantic - nationality: USA

Compilation album by The Blues Brothers mainly produced by Tischler and compiled by Michael A. Mazzareila.
The album comprises many of the duo's better tracks and despite containing 20 tracks, I simply find that too many essential tracks are missing out, and it's also a bit strange to include two tracks from the original motion picture soundtrack The Blues Brothers - one (great track) by Ray Charles and another (fine song) by Aretha Franklin, when Aykroyd and Belushi do not feature on those tracks. The album simply doesn't match its title.

Mitch Ryder "Never Kick a Sleeping Dog" (1983)

Never Kick a Sleeping Dog
release date: Jun. 13, 1983
format: vinyl / cd (2012 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]
producer: 'Little Bastard' (aka John Mellencamp)
label: Mercury Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "B.I.G.T.I.M.E." (4 / 5) (live with John Mellencamp) - 2. "When You Were Mine" (4,5 / 5) (org. video) - 3. "A Thrill's a Thrill (Duet with Marianne Faithfull)" - 4. "Come Again" (4 / 5) - 6. "The Thrill of It All"

Studio album by Mitch Ryder produced by John Mellencamp org. released by Riva and Mercury Records - the 2012 remaster is released on Repertoire Records. Ryder doesn't write many songs himself, but he's one of those rocks' greats who masters the ability to pick almost any song written by someone else and just make it better. The first song on this album is written by Keith Sykes and was included on Sykes' own folk rock and rock & roll album I'm Not Strange, I'm Just Like You from 1979. The original song sounds like something from the 1950s, but here in Ryder's updated version it really comes to live in present times. The second song is sheer brilliance - originally a song by Prince for his album Dirty Mind (1980) in a disco, synth funk and dance-pop version. Now, with all respect for Prince and his contributions to modern pop music, the original song isn't exactly a mind-blowing tune; however, in Ryder's rock-version of the song, it shines like it never did before. And that's just what Ryder does. He has a great voice for rhythm & blues, rock & roll, and for music with a certain amount of soul. John Mellencamp has produced the album with a sense for what makes Ryder good and together it all becomes great. Mellencamp has co-written the song "Come Again" with Ryder, and that's another gem where everything falls into place. Overall, Mellencamp is the perfect producer for the album and his adoration for Ryder lifts this album above most releases in the year 1983 but only few know of its existence, which is crime in itself.
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Neil Young "Are You Passionate?" (2002)

Are You Passionate?
release date: Apr. 9, 2002
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,52]
producer: Neil Young, Booker T. Jones, Duck Dunn, Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro
label: Reprise Records - nationality: Canada

Track highlights: 2. "Mr. Disappointment" - 3. "Differently" - 6. "Are You Passionate?" - 10. "Two Old Friends"

26th studio album by Neil Young is an album where Young plays with the trio Booker T. & the M.G.'s consisting of Booker T. Jones on organ, vibes and vocal, Donald 'Duck' Dunn on bass, and with Steve Potts on drums and percussion. The album is one where Young plays soul music, and very much as usual all tracks are written by Young.
The album sold well but isn't regarded one of his better albums. Still, it made it to number #10 on the US album charts list and to number #24 in the UK. All tracks except track #7 are recorded with Booker T & the M.G.'s, which is a more traditional blues rock song by Neil Young with Crazy Horse. Yes, it does incorporate soul and r&b, but really, Neil, if you plan on making a styled album with another artist, then why this? Well, I really don't like the album that much. He's trying so hard to clone 1960s genuine soul with 1970s electric blues rock, r&b and folk rock using his characteristic soft mellow singing voice as glue, but I don't think he succeeds that well, which he might have done, had he stayed with the soul not trying so hard to mix styles.
I've really tried (hard) to like this album 'cause ya' know it's Neil Young, right. So it should be good. I just can't find the right moment when it sets in. Not one of his memorable releases, and I would say, if you're not a collector or true fan: just skip this one.
[ allmusic.com 2 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]