What Are You Listening To?

[Tiggi]

^ Haven't played that one for an eternity, J.

Must stick it on the Listen List.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

PAUL McCARTNEY "flowers in the dirt" cd,1989. #1 UK, #18 AU, # 21 US

Paul's fifteenth solo effort since the Beatles split, and a very good one IMO, much better than most of his 1980s album output(except "tug of war").
this one contains four collaborations between himself and another of my favourite artists in Elvis Costello(the other tracks co-written with Elvis appear on either b-sides of singles or on Elvis' album "spike"),
the Elvis tracks work really well IMO, as he has the same subtle sarcastic negativity in his songs as does Macca's previous partner in crime...Lennon.
during the writing process, both PM and EC sat opposite eachother on acoustic guitars bouncing ideas off eachother in much the same fashion as John and Paul did back in the day, the album also has Paul using his Beatles Hoffner Bass guitar for the first time since the old days..courtesy of Elvis nagging him to pick it up and play it!. history also suggests that Elvis told Paul he should not worry about trying to avoid his Beatle past and "just let the songs flow out"....which he did, thus on here we have several Beatle-ish sounding tracks, none more so blatant than the lead off single "my brave face".
then there is the trading lines tune "you want her too" which has Paul singing relatively upbeat positive lines followed by the negative Elvis lines..in much the same style as "getting better" from Sgt Peppers.
a classic ballad here also in the acoustic "put it there".
also, is "distractions" which Paul has often described as his favourite post Beatle track.
also of note is the addition of Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour on several tracks....
all-up a very nice piece of work, in fact one of Macca's best solo albums and his last UK #1 album and his second last album to make the top20 here in Australia(the follow up album "off the ground" was the last one to do so).
platinum in the UK, Gold sales just about everywhere else according to wikkipedia.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: ou est le soleil
best track: this one

"THIS ONE"
Did I Ever Take You In My Arms,
Look You In The Eye, Tell You That I Do,
Did I Ever Open Up My Heart
And Let You Look Inside.

If I Never Did It, I Was Only Waiting
For A Better Moment That Didn't Come.
There Never Could Be A Better Moment
Than This One, This One.

The Swan Is Gliding Above The Ocean,
A God Is Riding Upon His Back,
How Calm The Water And Bright The Rainbow
Fade This One To Black.

Did I Ever Touch You On The Cheek
Say That You Were Mine, Thank You For The Smile,
Did I Ever Knock Upon Your Door
And Try To Get Inside?

If I Never Did It, I Was Only Waiting
For A Better Moment That Didn't Come.
There Never Could Be A Better Moment
Than This One, This One.

The Swan Is Gliding Above The Ocean,
A God Is Riding Upon His Back,
How Calm The Water And Bright The Rainbow
Fade This Swan To Black.

What Opportunities Did We Allow To Flow By
Feeling Like Like The Timing Wasn't Quite Right?
What Kind Of Magic Might Have Worked If We Had Stayed Calm,
Couldn't I Have Given You A Better Life?

Did You Ever Take Me In Your Arms,
Look Me In The Eye, Tell Me That You Do?
Did I Ever Open Up My Heart,
Let You Look Inside?

If I Never Did It, I Was Only Waiting
For A Better Moment That Didn't Come.
There Never Could Be A Better Moment
Than This One, This One.

The Swan Is Gliding Above The Ocean,
A God Is Riding Upon His Back,
How Calm The Water And Bright The Rainbow
Fade This Swan To Black.

tracks:

1. my brave face ***
Paul McCartney - My Brave Face (live '1990) - YouTube live
2. rough ride **
Paul McCartney - Rough Ride - YouTube audio
3. you want her too ***
Paul McCartney - You Want Her Too - YouTube audio w-/Elvis Costello
4. distractions ***
Paul McCartney - Distractions - YouTube audio
5. we got married ***
Paul McCartney - "We Got Married" - YouTube video
6. put it there ***
Paul Mccartney- Put I t There- (From Put It There-Making of Flowers In The Dirt) - YouTube live & short interview
7. figure of eight **
Paul McCartney - Figure Of Eight (live '1990) - YouTube live
8. this one ***
Paul McCartney - This One - YouTube video
9. dont be careless love **
Paul McCartney - Don't Be Careless Love - YouTube audio
10.that day is done ***
Paul McCartney- That Day Is Done - (From Put It There-Making of Flowers In The Dirt) - YouTube live
11.how many people **
Paul McCartney - How Many People - YouTube audio
12.motor of love **
Paul McCartney - Motor Of Love - YouTube audio
13.ou est le soleil *
Paul McCartney - Ou Est Le Soleil - YouTube audio

3s=7
2s=5
1s=1

rating: 2.4

[Music Head]

I knew that would be hot on your buy list
No fair moving them up in the stack

[CRAZY-HORSE]

actually this one came out in the random order by coincidence, actually picked out "wings over america" also today...but only managed to get to hear one of the two discs,will post that one when i re-listen to disc two...eventually?!

yep, the new Macca will be purchased next week, have heard a couple of tracks from it...his voice sounds tired and weary, mind you he is pushing 70 this year, but as with you with your Cohen collection...i have to get it to keep my collection intact!....
dont hold your breath for a good assessment of it as from what ive already heard its a dissapointment so far ....and as for the dumbass title "kisses on the bottom", enough said IMO!

[Music Head]

actually this one came out in the random order by coincidence, actually picked out "wings over america" also today...but only managed to get to hear one of the two discs,will post that one when i re-listen to disc two...eventually?!

yep, the new Macca will be purchased next week, have heard a couple of tracks from it...his voice sounds tired and weary, mind you he is pushing 70 this year, but as with you with your Cohen collection...i have to get it to keep my collection intact!....
dont hold your breath for a good assessment of it as from what ive already heard its a dissapointment so far ....and as for the dumbass title "kisses on the bottom", enough said IMO!

duh! I'm so stupid.
When I posted that I had just got done reading about McCartneys new album, and was thinking that was it.
sorry mate. brain freeze

on the new one, I was going to give it an online listen till I saw what it was.
only two original tracks with a bunch of oldies
not for me I'm afraid

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Surprised this comes out as good as it does with Yoko's screeching taking over side 2. Only two tracks on that side
though, which saves it. Her performance was not really a surprise, just the fact that John would let her.
Performance art I guess. It's just so friggin bad. Side 1 holds up pretty good. John rocking out on a few. The best
were the Beatle tunes. Always liked Cold Turkey, but again, Yoko ruins this one. Give Peace A Chance was never that
great for me. Just not much there. I did like the single better than this live sersion. I knew Clapton was part of
this but had forgotten about Alan White. Other acts performing at this rock festival event were Chuck Berry, Jerry
Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Gene Vincent, Bo Diddley, Alice Cooper, Chicago, and The Doors. Quite a
lineup. The album Peaked at #10 here. For some reason, my copy looks a lot more worn on side 1 than side 2.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - John, John

Best Track - Yer Blues

Yes I'm lonely
Want to die
Yes I'm lonely
Want to die
If I ain't dead already
Oh girl you know the reason why.

In the morning
Want to die
In the evening
Want to die
If I ain't dead already
Oh girl you know the reason why.

My mother was of the sky
My father was of the earth
But I am of the universe
And you know what it's worth.

I'm lonely
Want to die
If I ain't dead already
Oh girl you know the reason why.

The eagle picks my eye
The worm he licks my bone
I feel so suicidal
Just like Dylan's Mr. Jones

Lonely
Want to die
If I ain't dead already
Oh girl you know the reason why.

Black cloud crossed my mind
Blue mist round my soul
Feel so suicidal
Even hate my rock and roll

Want to die
Yeah
Want to die
If I ain't dead already
Oh girl you know the reason why.

1) Blue Suede Shoes **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuEMdfwmQTM&ob=av2e
2) Money **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEnRVaDxQE0&ob=av2e
3) Dizzy Miss Lizzie ***
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGB2jY223JI
4) Yer Blues ***
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPA8TGNjqjs&ob=av2e
5) Cold Turkey **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu3_2w4ff6Q&ob=av2e
6) Give Peace A Chance **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqrypsYtHkE
7) Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow) *
audio - The Plastic Ono Band- Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow) (live) - YouTube
8) John, John (Let's Hope For Peace) *

3's - 2
2's - 4
1's - 2

Grade - 2.0

so many albums, so little time

[CRAZY-HORSE]

ZZ TOP "greatest hits", cd,1992.

got this one some time ago, stiull not convinced about the so-called greatness of these guys.
sure, they have some real fine boogie-woogie rock n roll in their artillary but also have some real monotonous boring repeatetive crap also.
had "eliminator" on vinyl when it came out in the mid 1980s, wasnt too rapt on that one, but like MH, these guys are overall a pretty good singles band.
been around since the very early 1970s and still rockin' it up, had reasonable success in The States but really only had three big hits away from home in Sharp Dressed Man,Legs, and Gimme All Your Lovin'...with a lower moderate hit in an Elvis cover..Viva Las Vegas.
saw them interviewed by Jools Holland a while ago also...not sure whether they were under the influence or simply slow witted dumbasses...either way, they let themselves down bigtime IMO.
overall though, not a bad album scoring a 2.1 from me here.

[SteveO]

ZZ's first album Rio Grande Mud (Just Got Paid Today, etc.) is still a favorite of mine...very raw and much less "commercialised" as their subsequent releases.

ZZ TOP "greatest hits", cd,1992.

got this one some time ago, stiull not convinced about the so-called greatness of these guys.
sure, they have some real fine boogie-woogie rock n roll in their artillary but also have some real monotonous boring repeatetive crap also.
had "eliminator" on vinyl when it came out in the mid 1980s, wasnt too rapt on that one, but like MH, these guys are overall a pretty good singles band.
been around since the very early 1970s and still rockin' it up, had reasonable success in The States but really only had three big hits away from home in Sharp Dressed Man,Legs, and Gimme All Your Lovin'...with a lower moderate hit in an Elvis cover..Viva Las Vegas.
saw them interviewed by Jools Holland a while ago also...not sure whether they were under the influence or simply slow witted dumbasses...either way, they let themselves down bigtime IMO.
overall though, not a bad album scoring a 2.1 from me here.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

JOHN LENNON "lennon" four cd boxset.

disc 3:

this disc pretty much covers the years 1974-75, from "whatever gets you through the night" through selected tracks from the "rock n roll" album, plus includes three live performances at the end from a guest appearance on stage with Elton John, this was to be his last live concert performance ever.
some very tunes on this one, some average ones also, by John's standards and a couple i simply just do not like...overall though, this is an excellant four disc anthology of the solo works of John Ono Lennon.

worst track: bless you
best track: stand by me

tracks:

1. whatever gets you through the night ***
2. goin down on love **
3. old dirt road *
4. bless you *
5. #9 dream ***
6. surprise,surprise(sweet bird of paradox) **
7. steel and glass **
8. nobody loves you(when youre down and out) ***
9. stand by me ***
10.aint that a shame ***
11.do you want to dance **
12.sweet little sixteen **
13.slippin and slidin **
14.angel baby **
15.just because **
16.whatever gets you through the night
17.lucy in the sky with diamonds
18.i saw her standing there
19.scared **

3s=6
2s=8
1s=2

rating: 2.4

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



This would have been so fine if not for them blasted instrumentals. Sorry instrument lovers, I gotta have meat with
my taters. Four of those instrumentals on here, one each for Bruford Wakeman, Squire and Howe. Three love tracks to
go with it with Roundabout one of my Yes all time favorites. What turned me on the the band I think, although that
would have been edited in length for the single. The groups fourth album and the first to feature keyboardist Rick
Wakeman who replaced Tony Kaye, who was dumped in the middle of recording this, for his refusing to include Moog
synthesizer, as he preferred his Hammond organ. Can't say I fault him for that. Of course his replacement proved to
fit the bill. The album was a hit for the band on both shores, #7 there, #4 here, with the single of Roundabout
hitting #13 here.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Five Percent For Nothing

Best Track - Roundabout

I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out
I spend the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley

The music dance and sing
They make the children really ring
I spend the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you

I will remember you
Your silhouette will charge the view
Of distance atmosphere
Call it morning driving thru the sound and even in the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you

Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching down on the land
Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land
The eagle's dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand

Go closer hold the land feel partly no more than grains of sand
We stand to lose all time a thousand answers by in our hand
Next to your deeper fears we stand surrounded by a million years

I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out
I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
Twenty four before my love and I'll be there

I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out
You spend the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you

1) Roundabout ***
live - Roundabout - YouTube
2) Cans And Brahms *
audio - Yes - Cans and Brahms - YouTube
3) We Have Heaven **
audio - Yes - We Have Heaven - YouTube
4) South Side Of The Sky **
audio - Yes - South Side of the Sky - YouTube
5) Five Percent For Nothing *
audio - Yes - Five Per Cent For Nothing - YouTube
6) Long Distance Runaround ***
audio - Yes - Long Distance Runaround - YouTube
7) The Fish *
audio - Yes - The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) - YouTube
8) Mood For A Day *
audio - Yes - Mood for a Day - YouTube
9) Heart Of The Sunrise ***
audio - Yes - Heart of the Sunrise - YouTube

3's - 3
2's - 2
1's - 4

Grade - 1.9

so many albums, so little time