THE WHO
ENDLESS WIRE
2006 – POLYDOR
Produced By PETE TOWNSHEND WITH BOB PRIDDEN & BILLY NICHOLLS
1. Fragments
2. A Man In A Purple Dress
3. Mike Post Theme
4. In The Ether
5. Black Widow’s Eyes
6. Two Thousand Years
7. God Speaks Of Marty Robbins
8. It’s Not Enough
9. You Stand By Me
10. Sound Round
11. Pick Up The Peace
12. Unholy Trinity
13. Trilby’s Piano
14. Endless Wire
15. Fragments Of Fragments
16. We Got A Hit
17. They Made My Dream Come True
18. Mirror Door
19. Tea & Theatre
20. We Got A Hit (Extended)
21. Endless Wire (Extended)
As comebacks go, this one ranks as pretty big. The last studio album from The Who had been their tenth, It’s Hard. That was in 1982. John Entwistle played on that one (he died twenty years after), as did Keith Moon’s replacement, Kenney Jones. Endless Wire was released twenty four years later. By this time, The Who was the duo of Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey with a cast of musicians filling the spots once held by Moon and Entwistle. Of course, Endless Wire is not the same Who that blurred the edges of rock in the sixties and seventies. Daltrey still has great range, although he sounds much older. And while Townshend’s genius is on full display, his songwriting is no longer cutting edge. But you can’t blame the guys for trying, and you can’t fault their effort.
Tracks ten through nineteen are under the umbrella of Wire & Glass: A Mini-Opera, and much of it was released on an EP a few months before the album. The album has also been adapted (by Townshend) as a rock musical for stage. Much of this album is acoustic, and Townshend plays most of the instruments, as well as singing lead on seven songs. “Black Widow’s Eyes”, “Mirror Door” and “It’s Not Enough” are the best songs here. Endless Wire is not, by any means, on a par with The Who’s best work. This is not the group who barreled through albums like Tommy and Who’s Next and Quadrophenia like the rock and roll superstars they were. But what Endless Wire does do is show that their spirit lives on. That makes this worthwhile…just not great.
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B.B. KING
DEUCES WILD
1997 – MCA
Produced By JOHN PORTER & CHRIS LORD-ALGE
1. If You Love Me
2. The Thrill Is Gone
3. Rock Me Baby
4. Please Send Me Someone To Love
5. Baby I Love You
6. Ain’t Nobody Home
7. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere
8. Confessin’ The Blues
9. Payin’ The Cost To Be The Boss
10. Dangerous Mood
11. Keep It Coming
12. Cryin’ Won’t Help You Babe
13. Night Life
For his 35th studio album, the legendary B.B. King made a duets album. The power of his name drew a very impressive list of guests…that list is the best thing about Deuces Wild. There aren’t many in the history of recorded music who could get the likes of The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Dr. John and Tracy Chapman under one roof, but King did just that. But unfortunately, the results are as much of a mixed bag as the lineup. These songs had all been done before, and with King in the spotlight, done better as well. This is an artist who was loved and respected, and who certainly didn’t need any help. Some of the versions here are tired (particularly the longest track, “Rock Me Baby”, on which King trades vocals and solo lines with Eric Clapton). There’s just no need.
There’s also enough here to make it worth your time. The Stones all play on “Paying The Cost To Be The Boss”, while the vocal duets with the likes of Mick Hucknall (Please Send Me Someone To Love”), Marty Stuart (“Confessin’ The Blues”), and Bonnie Raitt (“Baby I Love You”) are very good. The playing here is mostly bland, and that includes King’s guitar work. Appearances by D’Angelo, Joe Cocker, Heavy D and David Gilmour are interesting enough. In all, Deuces Wild is a great idea that was never going to be as great as it could have been…but simply because of the level of talent here, it’s good…above average. The UK version adds four more songs, featuring Paul Carrack, Dionne Warwick, Jools Holland and the Italian singer Zucchero. A nice but not great collection.
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DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
THE BEST OF WHAT’S AROUND VOL. 1
2006 – RCA
Produced By JOHN ALAGIA, STEVE LILLYWHITE, GLEN BALLARD, STEPHEN HARRIS & MARK BATSON
1. The Best Of What’s Around
2. What Would You Say
3. Crash Into Me
4. Too Much
5. Rapunzel
6. Crush
7. So Right
8. The Space Between
9. Grey Street
10. Grace Is Gone
11. Hunger For The Great Light
12. American Baby
1. Don’t Drink The Water (Live)
2. Warehouse (Live)
3. Say Goodbye (Live)
4. Stay (Wasting Time) (Live)
5. Everyday (Live)
6. Louisiana Bayou (Live)
7. Ants Marching (Live)
8. Two Step (Live)
A good time to release a compilation album is usually after ten years. That’s what the Dave Matthews Band did here. This covers the first six albums by the band, from their debut (Under The Table And Dreaming) thru 2005’s Stand Up. And not all of the songs are hits. The album is, after all, titled The Best Of, not greatest hits. The album is also split between studio versions on disc one, and live tracks on disc two, with no songs repeated. Also, the studio disc is in chronological order, which is always a plus for me. If you’re a fan, you get well over two hours of music here, which should make you very happy. This is a fine (and pretty underrated) showcase of what Matthews and his band does best. Not easy to find fault with any of those things.
Keep in mind also that this remains the only Matthews Band compilation out there, so it carries value in that respect as well. The strength of the band has always been its live shows, so splitting this down the middle between live and studio is a pretty savvy move. (The Live Trax series is at 66 volumes and rising). And those tracks are well chosen and perfectly executed. You may want to take this one disc at a time because it is so long, but this collection is ultimately worth taking the time for. This is a band that gives 100 percent all the time, and that is all about the fans. This album was made with the fans very much in mind, and that’s what makes it a winner. Even if there is a second compilation in their future, this will still be worth having. Well done.
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NELLY FURTADO
WHOA, NELLY!
2000 – DREAMWORKS
Produced By GERALD EATON, M BRIAN WEST, NELLY FURTADO & JON LEVINE
1. Hey, Man!
2. Shit On The Radio (Remember The Days)
3. Baby Girl
4. Legend
5. I’m Like A Bird
6. Turn Off The Light
7. Trynna Finda Way
8. Party
9. Well, Well
10. My Love Grows Deeper (Part 1)
11. I Will Make U Cry
12. Scared Of You
Nelly Furtado is a Canadian born Portuguese singer who changed the face of pop music at the turn of the century. Her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, was a major hit, and opened the door to pop music being music more diverse as far as exploring different genres. Her Portuguese roots are on full display, and is what ultimately made her different. Her blend of Latin, trip-hop, and pop was different, yet she was also catchy enough to light up the radio. The record was more of a hit in Europe and Canada than it was in the States, but songs like the excellent “I’m Like A Bird” and “Turn Off The Light” were enough to make American audiences take notice. Her voice is grating at first, but once you adjust to her, it’s actually very good. This was an artist poised for very big things.
Other highlights from Whoa, Nelly! Include “Shit On The Radio” and “Hey Man”. Her ability to create songs around both hip hop beats and acoustic guitars is impressive, but there is a bit more filler than you’d like to hear. She did stumble on her second album, Folklore, but she came back even bigger with 2006’s Loose and a slew of hits. After the 2000’s, though, Furtado has slowed to a crawl, having released just a pair of albums in a decade and a half. The two albums to have from Furtado are Whoa, Nelly and Loose, for sure. Whoa Nelly is the weaker of the two, but there are enough great moments to make it a winner. She does reportedly have a new album in the works…it will be interesting to hear what this most interesting pop singer doers next.
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GRETCHEN WILSON
ALL JACKED UP
2005 – EPIC NASHVILLE
Produced By JOHN RICH, GRETCHEN WILSON & MARK WRIGHT
1. All Jacked Up
2. California Girls
3. Full Time Job
4. Skoal Ring
5. He Ain’t Even Cold Yet
6. One Bud Wiser
7. Politically Uncorrect (Feat. Merle Haggard)
8. I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today
9. Rebel Child
10. Raining On Me
11. Not Bad For A Bartender
12. Good Morning Heartache
Gretchen Wilson came out of the gates on fire. Her debut album, Here For The Party, went straight to number one on the heels of the single “Redneck Woman”, with another three top ten hits. So the expectations for her follow up were high indeed. That second album was All Jacked Up, which opened up in 2005 at number one. But the critical response was not very good, and the album quickly tumbled down the charts. The title track was the lead single, and it became her last top ten hit. The single was ultimately a radio dud, and word was that Gretchen was trying too hard…whatever that means. But it was clear that despite her cannon of a voice, and the expert playing on the record, that this sudden start was already beginning to fall. Too bad, because there are some good moments here.
“All Jacked Up” is better than people said it was, but it also rocked a bit too hard for the country crowd of 2005. “Politically Uncorrect” is a good duet with Merle Haggard. “I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today” is a gorgeous country ballad, and “California Girls” is catchy but falls just short. There’s more filler than you’d like, and even the old Billie Holiday standard (“Good Morning Heartache”) can’t save the day. The strengths are strong, but there just aren’t enough of them to lift All Jacked Up above the line of average. Her next record, One Of The Boys, fared better, but since then she’s been chasing that next hit. She is also famous for her renditions of songs by Heart, who she has shared the stage with. She’s been quiet since being arrested in 2018 for a minor disturbance. Her big voice is always worth a listen.
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PORTISHEAD
1997 – GO! / LONDON
Produced By PORTISHEAD & DAVE MCDONALD
1. Cowboys
2. All Mine
3. Undenied
4. Half Day Closing
5. Over
6. Humming
7. Mourning Air
8. Seven Months
9. Only You
10. Elysium
11. Western Eyes
This is the self titled second album from the English group Portishead. Following up their very successful debut, Dummy, they made some changes to their approach. Most notable, they decided not to use any samples on the record, which resulted in a dark and almost horror movie type of atmosphere. So, unlike the cool trippy vibe of Dummy, what you get here is music that’s more in your face and scary. Depending on how you like your Portishead, this can be a very good thing. The vocals of Beth Gibbons are otherworldly and immediate, and decidedly less pretty than on the previous outing. So, while this one isn’t on the same plane as Dummy or their next album Third, it’s still a pretty terrific and important album in the development of Portishead.
There isn’t a hit on the level of “Glory Box” here, but there are some really great moments. “All Mine”, “Only You”, and “Over” are great: in fact, “All Mine” became their only top ten single. Gibbons sings like a woman possessed, and the playing of guitarist Adrian Utley and drummer / turntablist Geoff Barrow is powerful and creative. The stage was set for more exciting music from them, but it would be another decade before Third came out. And since then, it’s been sixteen years and counting with no new music from Portishead, which is a sad thing indeed. But what we do have from them are three very unique albums, all of which show unique sides of the band. This one is not perfect, but it’s more than worth taking at least a listen to. You might just love it.
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MIKA
THE BOY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
2009 – CASABLANCA / UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC
Produced By GREG WELLS, IMOGEN HEAP, MIKA & REDONE
1. We Are Golden
2. Blame It On The Girls
3. Rain
4. Dr. John
5. I See You
6. Blue Eyes
7. Good Gone Girl
8. Touches You
9. By The Time
10. One Foot Boy
11. Toy Boy
12. Pick Up Off The Floor
His name is Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., but you can call him Mika. Born in Lebanon, he grew up in Paris and London, and has had quite the career. A prolific songwriter, his debut album, Life In Cartoon Motion, drew comparisons to the likes of Freddie Mercury and Elton John. It was also a massive hit everywhere in the world except for the US. His second album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much, was not as big a hit everywhere in the world except for the US. It was still very successful. Mika’s music carries a huge sound, is mostly upbeat, and has great vocals. Like Mercury’s band Queen, there are layers of everything. Also like Queen, he’s not afraid to switch styles from song to song. He does sell more albums in France than anywhere else. His music does compare well to French pop.
But this record was something of a sophomore slump. “We Are Golden” and “Blame It On The Girls” make for a powerful 1-2 punch. And “Good Gone Girl” sounds like Freddie at his pop best. But while everything is catchy, the rest of the tracks aren’t as strong. After the first half, the songs start to become less noticeable, and by the end, it’s become almost completely invisible. He’s made better albums since, but each of his four since this one has sold fewer than the one before it. Ultimately, the best of Mika is Life In Cartoon Motion with it’s huge hit “Grace Kelly”, and a handful of singles after, including the ones from this album. The Boy Who Knew Too Much is worth a listen, but the question is…will you want to ever hear it again?
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PLACEBO
SLEEPING WITH GHOSTS
2003 – VIRGIN / HUT
Produced By JIM ABBISS
1. Bulletproof Cupid
2. English Summer Rain
3. This Picture
4. Sleeping With Ghosts
5. The Bitter End
6. Something Rotten
7. Plasticine
8. Special Needs
9. I’ll Be Yours
10. Second Sight
11. Protect Me From What I Want
12. Centrefolds
The London based band Placebo has been around since 1994, with a good measure of success in countries not called the United States (been seeing this a lot lately). Sleeping With Ghosts is their fourth album, viewed by some as maybe their best work, but by others as a treading water kind of record. They sound great here, especially on the first half, but many of the songs seem less than inspired. Relationships are a recurring theme here, and not the most positive ones. Placebo is at their best when the stinging guitars are in full force, but songs like “Something Rotten”, a dark, moody, and almost guitarless track, are fine as well. This album is pretty steady, without any really high peaks, and no really low valleys. Interesting as always, but not too exciting.
The best tracks here are “English Summer Rain”, “This Picture”, and “The Bitter End”, making the first half more interesting. “Special Needs” is also pretty great, but everything else is just average. Much more interesting is the bonus disc that comes with the special edition called Covers, which is a collection of really interesting covers that Placebo had recorded over the previous decade. That disc isn’t included in my copy…too bad. Placebo has soldiered on and remained popular in Europe (but not the US), despite the fact that they have released just two albums in the last decade and a half. Sleeping With Ghosts is good, but it’s far from great. Still a worthwhile listen from a band that American audiences have missed out on for thirty years and counting.
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THE ORNETTE COLEMAN QUARTET
THIS IS OUR MUSIC
1961 – ATLANTIC
Produced By NESUHI ERTEGUN
1. Blues Connotation
2. Beauty Is A Rare Thing
3. Kaleidoscope
4. Embraceable You
5. Poise
6. Humpty Dumpty
7. Folk Tale
Saxophonist Ornette Coleman was a genius, pure and simple. He was a main inventor of free jazz and jazz fusion, and was a king of the avant-garde. His recording career began in the late 1950’s, and for the next four decades, he made some of the most innovative jazz records ever recorded. This Is Our Music is his fifth album, and the first to be openly credited to his Quartet. The title alone is a major statement: this was not a solo album. This was a collaboration between four of the greatest jazz musicians on the planet, with eyes on a few things. The album is very listenable, and even contains a rare standard (“Embraceable You”). It’s loaded with breathtaking turns of improvisation. And Coleman and trumpeter Don Cherry (the father of both Eagle-Eye and Neneh Cherry) trade solos like it’s the easiest thing in the universe.
The upbeat material here, particularly “Blues Connotation” and “Poise”, is lively and flawless. The moody slower tracks are perfectly executed. The rhythm section of Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell are as good as any you will ever hear. The greatness in the playing is spread evenly between all four members…it is absolutely a group effort. This may not be held in as high regard as his Coleman’s greatest record (The Shape Of Jazz To Come), but it is really almost impossible to find a single flaw. Coleman made studio records through 1996, and live recordings up through 2009. But his earliest work, including This Is Our Music, remains groundbreaking and special. This flawless record should stand as one of the greatest in the history of jazz. Check it out.
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FRANK SINATRA
THE DORSEY YEARS
1993 – CLASSIC POPULAR
No Production Credit
1. I’ll Never Smile Again
2. Fools Rush In
3. Imagination
4. Our Love Affair
5. Oh, Look At Me Now
6. All This And Heaven Too
7. I’ll Be Seeing You
8. You’re Lonely And I’m Lonely
9. Without A Song
10. Let’s Get Away From It All
11. Love Me As I Am
12. I Never Let A Day Pass By
13. The Sunshine Of Your Smile
14. Pale Moon
15. Daybreak
16. You Lucky People You
17. Blue Skies
18. Street Of Dreams
19. Be Careful, It’s My Heart
20. There Are Such Things
This may not be a big time release, but it is an interesting look at what may have been Sinatra’s most important early period. Between 1939 and 1942, Frank was a rising star, and became the singer for Tommy Dorsey’s band. He had his first chart successes with Dorsey, and recorded many songs with the band. This is a period when Sinatra’s voice sounded different. The Dorsey recordings are brighter, and Sinatra’s tone was much different than it would be in later years. He would quickly outgrow his place with Dorsey, and was famously let out of his contract in 1942. It was rumored that Dorsey was convinced by mobsters at gunpoint to do so. The rest was history…Sinatra would go on to be Frank Sinatra and have one of the greatest musical careers in what is ever.
The music. This set was released by Classic Popular, a subsidiary of the British label Charly Records (which folded in 2001). They specialized in re-issue packages like this one. But as budget as this may be, it’s tough to find fault with any of the material. The pairing of Dorsey and Sinatra is markedly different than his later work with Nelson Riddle, and you can hear Sinatra’s star beginning to really shine here. This was before the age of albums, but the singles are staggering: “I’ll Be Seeing You”, “I’ll Never Smile Again”, “There Are Such Things”, and so many more of these were hits. As good as this is, though, there are sets that are much more thorough at documenting this period of Sinatra’s career (the four volume RCA set from 1988, for example). Still, this is a great listen.
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