MICK JAGGER
WANDERING SPIRIT
1993-ATLANTIC
Produced By RICK RUBIN & MICK JAGGER
1. Wired All Night
2. Sweet Thing
3. Out of Focus
4. Don't Tear Me Up
5. Put Me In The Trash
6. Use Me
7. Evening Gown
8. Mother Of A Man
9. Think
10. Wandering Spirit
11. Hang On To Me Tonight
12. I've Been Lonely For So Long
13. Angel In My Heart
14. Handsome Molly
The question is, what is the best Rolling Stones album of the last 35 years? The answer is, you're looking at it right now. Wandering Spirit is Mick Jagger's 3rd solo album, and had it been a Stones record, it would have been the greatest comeback in rock history. Unlike his other solo efforts, Jagger keeps the guest musicians to a minimum (Lenny Kravitz on the great remake of Bill Withers' "Use Me"...and that's about it). His voice is sharp, and the album is a rock guitar collection rather than synths and the faux disco that the Stones had been doing.
There are plenty of highlights: the first 6 tracks will have you happy that you discovered this. The title track is great, and even the ballads later on "Hang On To Me Tonight", "Angel In My Heart") are worthwhile. The traditional "Handsome Molly" is like nothing you've ever heard from Jagger. It does get a little strained in the middle. He sounds strong, confident, and like he's having a lot of fun making a record for the first time since Exile. This is, really, by far, the best Stones album since Some Girls. You won't be disappointed.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
DAVID SYLVIAN
SECRETS OF THE BEEHIVE
1987-VIRGIN
Produced By STEVE NYE
1. September
2. The Boy With The Gun
3. Maria
4. Orpheus
5. The Devil's Own
6. When Poets Dreamed Of Angels
7. Mother And Child
8. Let The Happiness In
9. Waterfront
10. Forbidden Colours
David Sylvian is the former lead singer of the early 80's band Japan. As a solo artist, he has been quite prolific. Secrets Of The Beehive is his fourth album, and is quite a somber affair...think American Music Club on downers. However, that's not to say it's bad. As a mellow mood piece, this is actually quite interesting, and quite good. Sylvian's main collaborator here is Ryuichi Sakamoto, and the results are pretty breathtaking. These songs are beautiful, and beautifully played. This is the kind of album you want around for a quiet evening alone with a good book or a fire. Not for everyone, but if you can handle mellow, this will do the trick for you.
Later editions of the album omit the last track, which is a shame, because it's really all part of one piece of work. As for Sylvian, he's still at it: very active, and very prolific.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
JOHN LENNON & YOKO ONO
DOUBLE FANTASY
1980-CAPITOL
Produced By JOHN LENNON, YOKO ONO & JACK DOUGLAS
1. (Just Like) Starting Over
2. Kiss Kiss Kiss
3. Cleanup Time
4. Give Me Something
5. I'm Losing You
6. I'm Moving On
7. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
8. Watching The Wheels
9. Yes I'm Your Angel
10. Woman
11. Beautiful Boys
12. Dear Yoko
13. Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him
14. Hard Times Are Over
15. Help Me To Help Myself
16. Walking On Thin Ice
17. Central Park Stroll (Dialogue)
Before you get all defensive and say that this was a great Lennon album and all that, let's look at the facts. This was his first album of original material since 1974's Walls & Bridges, and yet he contributed less than half of the material here. And yes, there were several big hits on the record. But, at the time of his death less than a month after its release, Double Fantasy was already being hailed as a failure. Most of the singles were released posthumously, and likely would have never seen the light of radio under different circumstances. Double Fantasy is half filled with songs written and sung by Yoko Ono, which are not up to Lennon's level. So, if you want to rate this higher for the sake of nostalgia, knock yourself out.
Double Fantasy features only 8 songs by Lennon. Some are very good: "(Just Like) Starting Over", and "Watching The Wheels" rank among his better solo songs, and earn it a higher rating. But, there's also the silly and wretched "Dear Yoko", and while his sincerity is admirable, songs like "Beautiful Boy", "Cleanup Time" and "Woman" are a bit too personal and descriptive of a rock star turned stay at home dad. And don't forget..this album is half Yoko. Don't get me wrong...John is an inspiration to me, and one of my heroes. But this album is highly overrated, mainly due to a horrible tragedy. But overrated nonetheless.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
BOB DYLAN & THE BAND
THE BASEMENT TAPES
1975-COLUMBIA
Produced By BOB DYLAN & THE BAND
1. Odds And Ends
2. Orange Juice Blues (Blues For Breakfast)
3. Million Dollar Bash
4. Yazoo Street Scandal
5. Goin' To Acapulco
6. Katie's Been Gone
7. Lo And Behold!
8. Bessie Smith
9. Clothes Line Saga
10. Apple Suckling Tree
11. Please Mrs. Henry
12. Tears Of Rage
1. Too Much Of Nothing
2. Yea! Heavy And A Bottle Of Bread
3. Ain't No More Cane
4. Crash On The Levee (Down In The Flood)
5. Ruben Remus
6. Tiny Montgomery
7. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
8. Don't Ya Tell Henry
9. Nothing Was Delivered
10. Open The Door, Homer
11. Long Distance Operator
12. This Wheel's On Fire
Back in 1967, Bob Dylan and The Band holed up in a house called Big Pink in rural New Yorkand recorded what was for years music that could mostly only be speculated about. There were bootlegs, and cover versions of some songs emerged, but the real thing was kept under wraps until 1975. 9 of the tracks had never been heard or rumored to have existed...and there is still speculation to this day that there is more. This is music that makes you wonder if Big Pink wasn't so much a house as a time warp. It's music that could have been recorded in 1867 as easily as 1967 (except for the whole electricity thing).
Dylan sounds great, and the interplay, both instrumentally and vocally, is outstanding. Every song is a highlight in its own way. The Basement Tapes is simply a hugely important musical document, one of the most important albums in rock. You simply have to have it. This is Dylan and The Band at their best: unhurried, without pressure, just doing what they love. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
ELO'S GREATEST HITS
1979-CBS ASSOCIATED
Produced By JEFF LYNNE
1. Evil Woman
2. Livin' Thing
3. Can't Get It Out Of My Head
4. Showdown
5. Turn To Stone
6. Rockaria!
7. Sweet Talkin' Woman
8. Telephone Line
9. Ma-Ma-Ma- Belle
10. Strange Magic
11. Mr. Blue Sky
Between 1975 and 1981, ELO had 17 top 40 hits. Of all the ELO collections out there, even though it's pretty incomplete, this is the best one you'll find. Why? Because it ends at the Out Of The Blue album, which means that it doesn't include the horrible 1980 "Don't Bring Me Down", or any of their lesser material from that period on. It does collect the biggest hits, but it also misses out on tracks like "So Fine", "Do Ya", "Boy Blue", and their first single "10538 Overture", as well as their longer gems like "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Kuiama".
ELO is a tough band to collect, as many of their albums are loaded with filler, and their collections are either predictably hit heavy or way to expansive. This is probably the best place to start, as it has all the major hits from their best period and won't break you at the bank.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
You are quite right. Especially about "Don’t bring me down". I really felt personally betrayed when that came out.
(Nearly as bad as Stevie Wonder’s "I just called...").
I would pick this one, though instead of the greatest Hits:
First, sensational title. How many palindrome records do you know? Second: Great Cover and third it contains some of the songs you are missing. _________________ When the stewardess is near do not show any fear.
You are quite right. Especially about "Don’t bring me down". I really felt personally betrayed when that came out.
(Nearly as bad as Stevie Wonder’s "I just called...").
I would pick this one, though instead of the greatest Hits:
First, sensational title. How many palindrome records do you know? Second: Great Cover and third it contains some of the songs you are missing.
The only problem I have with Ole ELO is that the later releases contain highly inferior and pretty much unlistenable edited verions of Kuiama and Roll Over Beethoven (especially...they really butchered almost four minutes off of it). Boy Blue is also shortened. The original release of this album is much better...and hard to find, and vinyl only. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
TONI CHILDS
THE WOMAN'S BOAT
1994-DCG
Produced By TONI CHILDS & DAVID BOTTRILL
1. Womb
2. Welcome To The World
3. Predator
4. I Just Want Affection
5. I Met A Man
6. The Woman's Boat
7. Wild Bride
8. Sacrifice
9. Lay Down Your Pain
10. Long Time Coming
11. Death
The Woman's Boat is the third solo album from Toni Childs. Guys, be prepared to get in touch with your feminine side. The album is a spiritual journey through the life and death of a woman, but there's nothing sisterhoodly or traveling pantslike about it. Childs uses a mixture of world beat rythyms, rock, and her harsh voice, and the results are solid. The album has spots where it drags, but it's overall very well done. Guest spots from Peter Gabriel & Robert Fripp help out as well.
Despite the fact that Childs was nominated for a Grammy for this album, it sold very poorly (unfortunately...), and she was virtually unheard of for the next 14 years. This is one that should pleasantly surprise you if you can find it...it's been out of print for several years now.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
BLIND MELON
FOR MY FRIENDS
2008-WISHBONE
Produced By BRAD SMITH, CHRISTOPHER THORN & BLIND MELON
1. For My Friends
2. With The Right Set Of Eyes
3. Wishing Well
4. Sometimes
5. Tumblin' Down
6. Down On The Pharmacy
7. Make A Difference
8. Harmful Belly
9. Last Laugh
10. Hypnotized
11. Father Time
12. So High
13. Cheetum Street
For My Friends is the first Blind Melon album after a twelve year hiatus following the death of singer Shannon Hoon. And like pretty much everything else in this band's catalog, it's a so-so accomplishment. (This band has fans, however, who will certainly bark up my tree for saying that.) They were saved from obscurity by the accidental (and only) hit "No Rain", and likely would have never had the chance to record at all had Hoon not been able to land a gig as a backup singer on the Guns 'N' Roses Use Your Illusion albums. After a poor second album, Hoon died of an overdose, and they released the terrible collection of scraps, Nico, in his honor, then faded away.
In 2008, For My Friends came from nowhere and sounds like they just finally got around to making their 3rd album. New singer Travis Warren sounds like a cleaned up version of Hoon, and the songs are typical Blind Melon. Nothing that would ever threaten their one hit wonder status, and nothing that would make you bummed if you never saw them play it live. It's not a bad sounding record, there's just nothing that jumps out at you and makes you want to turn it up. In other words, nothing has changed since the first album. Except the singer's name. It's not a great comeback...it's just an okay sounding album.
Warren was booted out of the band for questionable reasons, and Blind Melon went right back on hiatus and looking for a singer again. And not many have really noticed at all.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
QUEEN
JAZZ
1978-HOLLYWOOD
Produced By ROY THOMAS BAKER & QUEEN
1. Mustapha
2. Fat Bottomed Girls
3. Jealousy
4. Bicycle Race
5. If You Can't Beat Them
6. Let Me Entertain You
7. Dead On Time
8. In Only Seven Days
9. Dreamer's Ball
10. Fun It
11. Leaving Home Ain't Easy
12. Don't Stop Me Now
13. More of That Jazz
Bonus Tracks
14. Fat Bottomed Girls (1991 Bonus Remix by Brian Malouf)
15. Bicycle Race (1991 Bonus Remix by Junior Vasquez)
Jazz is the followup effort to News Of The World, and it's generally considered to be a poor album. I say no! Jazz is actually the last of the creative period Queen album, the last to contain no use of synthesizers, and is actually much stronger than New Of The World in terms of songs. It was critically blasted at the time, and with the exception of "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Bicycle Race", went mostly unheard.
However, you should take this back out for a spin. This may be the heaviest Queen album. Songs like "Mustapha", "Fun It", and "If You Can't Beat Them" are heavy fun, and "Dead On Time" is Brian May at his rocking best. Even the slower material is covered in great Queen harmonies, and "Don't Stop Me Now" may be the most fun Queen track ever. Only "Bicycle Race", with its dated Star Wars and Jaws references, sounds bad. It's not perfect, but it's a lot better than people remember it. Play it loud, and give it a chance.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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