SCOTT WALKER
IT'S RAINING TODAY: THE SCOTT WALKER STORY (1967-70)
1996-RAZOR & TIE
Produced By JOHN FRANZ
1. Big Louise
2. Jackie
3. The World's Strongest Man
4. It's Raining Today
5. Montague Terrace (In Blue)
6. Through A Long And Sleepless Night
7. Next
8. The Seventh Seal
9. Plastic Palace People
10. Rosemary
11. Yhe Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated To The Neo-Stalinist Regime)
12. Joe
13. Lights Of Cincinnati
14. Cowbells Shakin'
15. Thanks For Chicago Mr. James
16. Little Things (That Keep Us Together)
17. Joanna
The first question has to be: is this real? It is. The best way to decribe the music here is Tony Bennett on acid. Literally. American Scott Walker (his last name is not Walker) and his band The Walker Brothers (none of them are named Walker, and none of them are brothers) went to London and found immediate and huge success. Scott Walker went solo in 1967, and became almost as big as The Beatles (he actually had a bigger fan club). Singing in an MOR Tin Pan Alley style complete with lush orchestrations, these are songs that sound like they were soaked in acid before being recorded. Between 1967 and 1970, Scott Walker, American crooner, was the biggest hit in England, and completely unknown in his native land.
This compilation covers his first 5 solo albums and gives a glimpse of the genius of Scott Walker. You simply have to hear it to believe it. It took almost 20 years for his music to hit the states, but he's still a big deal in London, and cited by several major acts as highly influencial. But the bottom line is, this is just weird. And it just works.
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THROWING MUSES
HUNKPAPA
1989-SIRE
Produced By GARY SMITH
1. Devil's Roof
2. Bea
3. Dizzy
4. No Parachutes
5. Dragonhead
6. Say Goodbye
7. Fall Down
8. I'm Alive
9. Angel
10. Mania
11. The Burrow
Stepsisters Kristen Hersh and Tanya Donelly formed Throwing Muses in high school. Their third studio album, Hunkpapa, showcases a Lennon-McCartney style partnership. Hersh's punk driven, harder rocking songs are the Lennon to Donelly's sweeter melodic McCartney side. It works very nicely, as the sisters, along with drummer David Narcizo and his non-use of cymbals create a cool indie sound. The album was not a huge hit, but it's a very good effort. "Dizzy" was the single, but there's some worth on all of the tracks. A decent, if not excellent, recording.
Donelly left the band in 1992 to play in The Breeders and later formed her own band, Belly.
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CHRIS STILLS
100 YEAR THING
1998-ATLANTIC
Produced By ETHAN JOHNS
1. 100 Year Thing
2. Lucifer & Jane
3. Voyeur
4. Last Stop
5. Razorblades
6. If I Were A Mountain
7. Rattlesnakes
8. Desert Sands
9. God Won't Make You A Man
10. Trouble
11. Countryside
12. Tears Of Envy
13. Doors To The World
One of the great crimes of the 90's is that nobody ever heard this album. The son of French singer Veronique Sanson and Stephen Stills, Chris Stills made one of the best debut albums ever at the age of 23. 100 Year Thing is not just good...it's downright amazing. Every bit as talented as his father, Stills sounds like him, too, and in one try, outdid any solo album Stephen has ever made. He jumps from rockers to acoustic songs effortlessly, and from song to song that should have been hit after hit, he shines. "If I Were A Mountain" was written when he was 16.
If you can find this, pick it up. This album deserves to be heard. You'll thank me later. You really will. This is a truly great gem of an album.
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Of dying history
LEONARD COHEN
I'M YOUR MAN
1988-COLUMBIA
Produced By LEONARD COHEN
1. First We Take Manhattan
2. Ain't No Cure For Love
3. Everybody Knows
4. I'm Your Man
5. Take This Waltz
6. Jazz Police
7. I Can't Forget
8. Tower Of Song
For Leonard Cohen's eighth studio album, he incorporated Euro disco beats, not necessarily the best idea. He also used female backup singers. But, as is usually the case with Cohen, a lot can be forgiven because of the quality of his songs. "Everybody Knows" is a classic (later recorded beautifully by Concrete Blonde), and "First We Take Manhattan" and "Tower Of Song" are first rate. Not as excellent as his earlier work, but still a fine album from Sir Cohen. Definitely worth having.
Cohen has released only 5 albums since this one (although 2 in the last 4 years), making his output all the more desireable. An artist who is always worth repeated listens.
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ADAM & KRIS
IN THE GARDEN
1993-HANSEN
Produced By ADAM & KRIS
1. Falling Stars
2. Hard To Forget
3. What Is In Your Mind
4. The Coming Of St. Peter
5. In The Garden
6. Where Have I Heard That Before
7. Open Your Arms
8. A Sort Of Goodbye
9. Avalanche
10. Lullaby
The music scene in the Los Angeles South Bay in the late 80's and early 90's was pretty awesome. I got to be a part of it and play with and see some great talent there. One of the better acts was Adam & Kris, who used to play the stages on the Hermosa pier, among others. My former lead guitarist did a stint with them as well. In The Garden is a very strong album, thanks in large part to the great voice of Kris Deelane. She has a wonderful voice, and she sounds like she means every note she sings. The harmonies with Adam Gailiunas (now Adam East) are perfect. The two switch lead vocals on every other song. which gives a nice balance. No offense to Adam, who is great, but the Kris songs carry the album. In particular, "Falling Stars" is stunning.
Adam & Kris now live in Oregon, where they continued to play as a duo as well as fronting their band Sweet Juice. Kris Deelane is very active in the Portland music scene.
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RYAN ADAMS
GOLD
2001-LOST HIGHWAY
Produced By ETHAN JOHNS
1. New York, New York
2. Firecracker
3. Answering Bell
4. La Cienega Just Smiled
5. The Rescue Blues
6. Somehow, Someday
7. When The Stars Go Blue
8. Nobody Girl
9. Sylvia Plath
10. Enemy Fire
11. Gonna Make You Love Me
12. Wild Flowers
13. Harder Now That It's Over
14. Touch, Feel & Lose
15. Tina Toledo's Street Walkin' Blues
16. Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd.
Not to be confused with Bryan Adams...but if he is, it's his own fault. His first name is David. Gold is the second album from former Whiskeytown leader Adams. He's extremely prolific, and he seems to record absolutely everything. Which is the negative about this album...just a bit too much filler. But the stuff that's good is very, very good. "New York, New York" put him on the map, with the album being released just 2 weeks after 9/11. Gold actually gets stronger in the second half, with "Harder Now That It's Over" (co-written by Chris Stills), "Enemy Fire", "Touch Feel & Lose", and "Goodnight Hollywood Blvd.". "When The Stars Go Blue" and "Nobody Girl" are excellent as well. Guest musicians include Stills, Benmont Tench, and Adam Duritz. While a great listen, it may be the weakest overall of his earlier albums.
Despite having taken a couple of years off, Adams is back and remains very prolific, with sixteen album releases since Gold in 2001.
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ZZ TOP
TRES HOMBRES
1973-WARNER BROTHERS
Produced By BILL HAM
1. Waitin' For The Bus
2. Jesus Just Left Chicago
3. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
4. Master Of Sparks
5. Hot, Blue And Righteous
6. Move Me On Down The Line
7. Precious And Grace
8. La Grange
9. Shiek
10. Have You Heard?
ZZ Top has accomplished something very rare in rock...they have been together without a single personell change for going on 50 years. Tres Hombres is their third album, and their big breakthrough. The album boasted "La Grange" and the 1-2 punch of "Waiting For The Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago". "Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers" and Hot, Blue And Righteous" are terrific as well. But one of the downfalls of early ZZ Top was filler, and as good as those songs are, the rest brings it right back down to earth. Still, it holds up pretty well, a good example of Texas boogie.
The band is still together, beards and all (beards...for everyone except for the guy named Beard). They've carved out a nice career with plenty of ups and downs. This was the first of the ups.
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ETTA JAMES
AT LAST
1961-CHESS
Produced By PHIL & LEONARD CHESS
1. Anything To Say You're Mine
2. My Dearest Darling
3. Trust In Me
4. A Sunday Kind Of Love
5. Tough Mary
6. I Just Want To Make Love To You
7. At Last
8. All I Could Do Is Cry
9. Stormy Weather
10. Girl Of My Dreams (Rendered aAs Boy Of My Dreams)
Bonus Tracks
11. My Heart Cries
12. Spoonful
13. It's A Crying Shame
14. If I Can't Have You
Aretha Franklin's only real competition in the 60's was Etta James. At Last, her debut album, was actually a comeback for her. She'd had a number one hit in 1955, and then nothing until this came out in 1961. The title track is a song that she will own forever...no one will ever outdo what she did with it, and it's a song that will live forever. But this isn't a one song wonder. "Stormy Weather" is just as great, and there are many other stunning tracks. And it's not just blues ballads...check out her gritty performance on "I Just Want To Make Love To You", which sounds like it may be the version the Rolling Stones decided to cover. Etta James gets lost in the shuffle sometimes, but she should not be forgotten. And At Last deserves to be heard.
The bonus tracks are all duets with Harvey Fuqua, and are all worthwhile, particularly Willie Dixon's "Spoonful".
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Of dying history
MARK EITZEL
60 WATT SILVER LINING
1996-WARNER BROTHERS
Produced By MARK EITZEL
1. No Easy Way Down
2. Sacred Heart
3. Always Turn Away
4. Saved
5. Cleopatra Jones
6. When My Plane Finally Goes Down
7. Mission Rock Resort
8. Wild Sea
9. Aspirin
10. Some Bartenders Have The Gift Of Pardon
11. Southend On Sea
12. Everything Is Beautiful
Mark Eitzel is the former leader of the band American Music Club. His second solo album, and his first after the breakup of AMC, is a collection of songs he had written but never used with the band. The addition of Mark Isham on trumpet gives the music a jazzier feel and keeps things from bottoming out emotionally...something Eitzel is prone to do. The songs are very good, and having Isham and former AMC bandmate Bruce Kaphan (who also played slide on earlier Black Crowes albums) makes the music always interesting."Southend On Sea" sounds outright chipper, and everything has something to offer. A well crafted and very good album.
Eitzel has since released 13 solo albums, including 2010's Brannan Street, the most recent two without the benefit of a label.
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Of dying history
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
WE SHALL OVERCOME: THE SEEGER SESSIONS
2006-COLUMBIA
Produced By BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
1. Old Dan Tucker
2. Jesse James
3. Mrs. McGrath
4. O Mary Don't You Weep
5. John Henry
6. Erie Canal
7. Jacob's Ladder
8. My Oklahoma Home
9. Eyes On The Prize
10. Shenandoah
11. Pay Me My Money Down
12. We Shall Overcome
13. Froggie Went A Courtin'
Springsteen had recorded the title track back in 1997 for a Pete Seeger tribute album, and he bagan listening to his work. He was so inspired that he recorded this album almost ten years later. Using mostly unknown musicians, this collection of old folk tunes is pretty fun. Bruce sounds like he's having fun like the old days, an his interpretation of most of the material is great. This is a cool listen, and a great way to hear some very, very old (some are from the 19th century: the oldest is over 450 years old) yet timeless material.
The album comes with a DVD that includes 6 live performances. The album won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2007.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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