What Are You Listening To?

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Where ya been girl? Born too late I guess. Never a huge fan of Linda's pop material. Not since the Stone Ponys anyway. But this I can sink my teeth into. Of course, this actually is pop music, in the 1920's, 30's amd 40's anyway. Think Linda did two other albums along these lines before reverting to current pop. She tried that country thing with Dolly and Emmylou, but Linda's not country. This style fits her best for me. Accompanied by Nelson Riddles Orchestra here, most of these tunes I was not familiar with which makes it all the better. There are a few standards, most notable being When I Fall In Love. Best for me is Can't We Be Friends with 3 others also making that top grade. Maybe these renditions are not as good as the originals, whoever they were done by. But when you haven't heard those originals, these work fine. Nothing I don't like here, making the album just shy of the love mark. This album was not a bad seller either making it to #13 on the charts and #8 on the jazz side, plus a grammy nomination alongside Madonna, Tina Turner, Pat Benatar and Whitney Houston. Linda didn't win.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Falling In Love Again

Best Track - Can't We Be Friends

I thought I found the man of my dreams
Now it seems
This is how the story ends
He's going to turn me down
And say "can't we be friends"

I thought for once it couldn't go wrong
Not for long
I can see the way this ends
He's going to turn me down
And say "can't we be friends"

Never again
Through with love
Through with men
They play their game without shame
And who's to blame

I thought I found a man I could trust
What a bust
This is how the story ends
He's going to turn me down
And say "can't we be friends"

Why should I care
Though he gave me the air
And why should I cry
Even sigh
Or wonder why

I thought for once it couldn't go wrong
Not for long
I can see the way this ends
He's going to turn me down
And say "can't we be
can't we be
can't we be
can't we be
can't we be
can't we be friends"

1) When I Fall In Love **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECI0RRV7RCw
2) Skylark ***
video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-eCLfzvLZg
3) It Never Entered My Mind **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Eld578fQ4
4) Mean To Me ***
5) When Your Lover Has Gone **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDWLRrj1_C0
6) I'm A Fool To Want You **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVCH_ylsaC0
7) You Took Advantage Of Me ***
video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJGaL63XR1E
8) Sophisticated Lady **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PljkLCR2bnE
9) Can't We Be Friends ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhg8LDeZMcg
10) My Old Flame **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoaaNqRq2cw
11) Falling In Love Again **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZwW1c6I2Kk
12) Lush Life **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcIfGkRZn2I

3's - 4
2's - 8
1's - 0

Grade - 2.3

[Tiggi]

On the laptop.

This is more Jazz-Rock than Jazz. Surprisingly, it's their third album, from 1970.

Some of the album is appealing, but much of it isn't for me. Won't be going onto the Buy List.

BTW this band originated from about 15 miles from where I live...


AllMusic 4+/5 stars.

[Tiggi]

Half live & half studio album from 1969 (in vinyl terms, one side live, & one studio).

Bill Szymczyk, who would later go on to produce the Eagles most successful albums among countless others, lobbied hard to be allowed to produce this (and it's successor Completely Well) which were instrumental in breaking BB out of relative obscurity.

BB's then-current live band play on the live side, but the studio side features session players - including Al Kooper - to great effect. I actually prefer the studio side, since BB's made better live recordings.

This is paired with Completely Well on my vinyl copy, so that will be spinning tonight.

Fine album.


AllMusic 3+/5 stars.

[Tiggi]

...and here it is.

Also from 1969, with the same studio band, excepting Al Kooper.

There's little to pick between the two albums, but this one shades it due to the inclusion of one of BB's signature tunes, The Thrill is Gone.

Great stuff.


AllMusic 4/5 stars.

[Tiggi]

On the laptop.

As recommended by Mr Soul.

1995 recording.

Stylistically very eclectic, but I'd characterise it as Folkish Blues.

This is an excellent album. Again, laptop listening often doesn't do music adequate justice, but this one leaps out, and I'm looking forward to getting a copy and listening "properly".

I second Soulman's recommendation.


AllMusic 4/5 stars.

[MoJoRaven]

Music to sweat by! You can almost feel the heat comin’ off this one! Every track is sweet. Only "criticism" I can force myself to come up with (and it's hardly that): while I Gotta Try You Girl properly steams, it's a bit long for me. I sometimes find myself wanting to move along to the next tune. Fantastic blues album. I can get lost in any track.
1. Done Got Old
2. Baby Please Don't Leave Me
3. Look What All You Got
4. Stay All Night
5. Tramp
6. She's Got The Devil In Her
7. I Gotta Try You Girl
8. Who's Been Foolin' You
9. It's A Jungle Out There

[SteveO]

Avant garde jazz / hard rock by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and guitarist Terje Rypdal...still sounds fresh 40 years later !

[MoJoRaven]

Gil Scott-Heron: I'm New Here

I'm New Here was released Feb. 2010. I was turned on to it by an acquaintance and taken with it instantly. Fraught with emotion, hard-won life experience, pride, and the courageous reclamation of self, this album is powerful and difficult to classify. Think James Earl Jones as John Trudell; Jazz with a splash of synth coming from a deep Blues soul...nope! Won’t work. Just listen to it. Some beautiful stuff here. Spoken poetry, songs; snapshot of a life reviewed and courageously shared just before it ended on May 27, 2011. R.I.P.

Go here: http://gilscottheron.net/news/28/listen-to-i-m-new-here and click "play all" to listen to entire album for free.

1. On Coming From A Broken Home (Pt. 1)
2. Me And The Devil
3. I'm New Here
4. Your Soul And Mine
5. Parents (Interlude)
6. I'll Take Care Of You
7. Being Blessed (interlude)
8. Where Did The Night Go
9. I Was Guided (Interlude)
10. New York Is Killing Me
11. Certain Things (Interlude)
12. Running
13. The Crutch
14. I've Been Me (Interlude)
15. On Coming From A Broken Home (Pt. 2)

[SteveO]

CHICK COREA & COMPANY ...first live recording since 1979 !

[Tiggi]

i-Pod listening in the garden this PM.

1955 Bop collaboration between two Jazz giants.

When I read the reviews of this album, I don't begin to understand what they're talking about. All I know is that it sounds good...

Rollins plays his Sax very well, & Monk plays his Piano very well, as do the rhythm section.

Lovely stuff.


AllMusic 4+/5 stars.