Last night...
The Academy of St. Martin in the Field in Concert: Music of Albinoni, Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Pachabel (Marriner/ASMF, Brown -vn, EMI ASD 3017)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Overture from May Night; Christmas Eve Suite; The Tale of the Tsar Saltan Suite (Jarvi/SNO, Chandos DBRD 3004)
Piano Works of Milton Babbit (Taub -pf, Harmonia Mundi HMC 5160)
Tonight... Just back from live chamber music at the Curtis Institute of Music: student recitals with music of Dohnanyi, Chopin, Bruch, de Falla. They may be students, but they are world class performers. The Dohnanyi "Serenade for Vn, Va & Vc" was stunning, and the performance of the Bruch "Scottish Fantasy" (arr: piano and violin) matched the best of the performances in my record collection, and in far better sound because it was live, second row center.
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Telarcs 1979 "digital" soundstream recording of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.Imported Pressing.DG-10039
Right now it's my only Firebird...I like the Atlanta Symp. and Robert Shaws conducting of this version is very good..but, would like to get a copy of the Dorati/LSO for sure.
Next up was...Supertramp's Crime of the Century..MFSL 1005
and Breakfast in America.
Closed with "The very best of Poco" 1975 CBS.. not too bad. |
Steely Dan,Pretzel Logic,,Scissor Sisters,,Gene Ammons,Blue Gene,,hey Rob,if youd like ill bring my Scout over to see how it sounds in your system! |
Albert Collins - The Cool Sound Of... (TCF/Hall mono LP, 1965) The electric blues guitarist's rare debut long-player, and one of my nicest recent thrift store scores in excellent condition for the princely sum of $.80 cents. Among the several 'cool'-themed titles: "Frosty", "Sno-Cone", and "Don't Lose Your Cool". Albert's been a personal guitar hero of mine since I was in my teens and first dug his late-70's Alligator effort "Ice Pickin'", and I was glad to be able to catch him live at a small club back in '82 (just days after I turned legal :-) Though I've owned this music on an import reissue for many years, the original's cover-art pastel of a frosty highball on the rocks with an orange slice, maraschino cherry and a swizzle stick, plus the selection of hep-cat DJ endorsements on the back ("Albert Collins has got to become the next James Brown!" "AC's a bad motor-cycle!" "He puts the foxes away!" "This guitar-pluckin' fool from Texas is plumb out of his mind!" "Our 50,000 big watts aren't big enough for the big rockin' sound!") are a total hoot.
Billy Mure - Supersonic Guitars (MGM stereo LP, early 60's) Sessioneer leads a five-guitar army with three drummers in a set of accelerated, rocking dance instrumentals that recalls mid-period Ventures crossed with the studio wizardry of tape-echo multitrackers like Les Paul, Chet Atkins or Jorgen Ingmann, except that the liner notes claim everything was recorded live in the studio as you hear it: "...no tricks in the recording - no over-dubbing or re-tracking, no artificial sound effects - just pure actual sound of the widest spectrum caught as precisely as the recording mike ever has!" And: "Your living room becomes a miniature Cape Canaveral and your hi-fi rig a musical launching station as Billy Mure blasts off in sound!...Your passport into musical space - an album that will send you out of this world with each new play!" Cover photo of a Navy fighter jet in flight and titles like "Guitars In Space". Yeah baby!
Heifetz - Bach/Concerto For Two Violins in D Minor (w/Erick Friedman 2nd v., Sargent/New SO of London, RCA Living Stereo LP LSC-2577, 1961) Side One is Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Sonata with Brooks Smith p., recorded in a different space with lesser sound, but Bach is more my bag anyhow. Though there's an unobtrusive touch of coolish steel in the strings atypical of many earlier shaded dogs, this recording (Side Two) erects an immersive cathedral of sound that's immediate and enthralling, and the playing ain't shabby either.
Outkast - Big Boi & Dre Present... (LaFace/Arista CD, 2001) Compilation from their first four albums '94-'00 plus three new bonus tracks, released to consolidate the success of the hit single "Ms. Jackson" and paved the way for the Rap duo's superstar breakout to come. Smart, imaginative, idiosyncratic and fun in ways I find most modern hiphop is not, and works the ol' woofers well too. |
Right now: Marianne Faithful - Strange Weather. She kinda scares me a bit.
Preceeded by:
Tarentule - Atrium Musicae de Madrid(thanks Rushton!)
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
Velvet Underground - Loaded - Under-rated late lp from them after John Cale's departure. More pop, hummable tunes; not the stuff of legends, but a solid album
Jefferson Airplane - Flight Log - One of my fav "best of compliations" that proves the diversity of the band
Copland - Bernstein - 3rd Sym
Connells - Boylan Heights - Quintessential late 80s&90s bar band that will appeal to fans of REM, Jayhawks, and Fountains of Wayne. Lots of jangly guitars, sarcasm & harmonies( a lot like life)
Cheers,
Spencer |
Duran Duran, Astronaut
Jimmy D Lane, Legacy...SRV fans take note of this one. |
An evening of Debussy so far tonight:
Images I and II for Piano, Michelangeli -pf, DGG 2530 196
Preludes, Book I, Michelangeli -pf, DGG 2531 200
Estampes, Jacobs -pf, Nonesuch H 71365
Images II for Piano, Jacobs -pf, Nonesuch H 71365
La Boite a Joujoux
Printemps (Symphonic Suite)
..... Ansermet/OSR, Decca SXL 2136 (Speakers Corner reissue)
Coming up:
Images pour orchestra (Complete), Argenta/OSR, London CS 6013 (Speakers Corner reissue)
Danses sacree et profane for harp & strings, Slatkin/StLouisSO, Telarc 10071
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Spencer - glad you liked the Tarantule; all of the recordings by Paniagua and the Atrium Musicum Madrid are worth acquiring if you enjoy early music. They are all exceptional performances of interesting music superbly recorded. Here are a few to watch for:
Musique Arabo-Andalouse (Music of Arabic-Spain of the 9th-13th Centuries), Harmonia Mundi HM 389
La Folia (collection og Spanish Renaissance Dances, with some fun with chain saws and a Land Rover thrown in), Harmonia Mundi HM 1050
La Spagna (Music of Spain from the 15th-17th Centuries), BIS LP 163/164
Villancicos (collection of rural Spanish songs, 15th-16th Centuries), Harmonia Mundi HM 1025
Tarantella (collection of Italian ancient dances), Harmonia Mundi HM 379 - the recording you listed above.
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Today (before taking my daughter to see the Nutcracker):
Laurendo Alimeda and Ray Brown "Moonlight Seranade"
Sigur Ros "()" |
Catchin' up...
Barney Kessel & Friends - Barney Plays Kessel (Concord Jazz LP, 1975) All Kessel compositions. The friends include Victor Feldman, Jake Hanna, Milt Holland and Jimmy Rowles.
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Tamla LP, 1971) IMHO one of the few truly great *albums* - as unified works of art - to have been done in the medium (any genre), plus one of the most original.
Kenny Burrell - God Bless The Child (CTI LP, 1971) One of my favorite jazz guitarists, he's the antithesis of pro forma flash. With Ron Carter b., Billy Cobham d., Freddie Hubbard t., Hubert Laws f., Ray Barretto and Airto Moreira pc., Don Sebesky string arr.
Victor Feldman - ...Plays Everything In Sight (Pacific Jazz LP, mid-60's) British-born LA session stalwart is credited with 20 different instruments in this one-man show of lightweight upbeat instros.
Ramsey Lewis Trio - Another Voyage (Cadet LP, 1969) The latter-day version of the Trio with Maurice White d. and Cleveland Eaton b., plus Phil Upchurch g. I probably own between 20-30 of this guy's records. While some may not consider the popular piano trio cats like Lewis, McCann, Jamal, Bryant, etc. to be 'real' jazz artists, I defy them to stay seated when this combo in its prime starts to swinging the hits. This very fine acoustic/electric set is toward the end of the really meaty part of his run. BTW, I saw Ramsey live and acoustic around 1990, and he's actually a monster pianist and musician, pop hits or no, with a wider range then he generally showed off back in the day.
The Four Seasons - Genuine Imitation Life Gazette (Philips LP, 1969) The group's last album, they probably seemed an anachronism by this time. But the humorously entertaining double-gatefold jacket does the faux newspaper concept 3 years before Tull's "Brick", while the graphics and mock-topical 'articles' mixed among the lyrics are chocked with self-deprecating inside jokes. The music's trendily rococo psych-pop montage is influenced by the likes of The Hollies, The Association, The Cyrkle, and The Left Banke - certainly a far cry from their falsetto, neo-doo-wop take on Brill Building pop of a few years earlier, if not as distinctive, catchy, or hit-bound.
Dr. Feelgood - Malpractice (Columbia LP, 1975) The original lineup with Wilko Johnson on guitar, at their peak on their second album. Among the hardest-edged of the so-called 'pub-rock' British roots rockers of the era: driving, single-minded, revved-up rhythm & blues.
Flamin Groovies - Teenage Head (Buddha expanded reissue 1999 CD, orig. 1971) The apotheosis of their 'American Stones' period (think "Banquet" thru "Exile"), before original vocalist Roy Loney (who came off as more of a cross between early Elvis and Them-era Van Morrison than Jagger) split from the group. The bonus tracks are raw-sounding cover jams, spotty fun but nonessential, and should be programmed-out for maximum effect when playing the powerhouse 9-song album proper, which triumphs despite its inherent derivative-ness due to the timeless combination of great rocking performances of great rock and roll songs, simple as that.
Johnny Carroll - Rock Baby, Rock It (compilation, Bear Family import CD, 1996; Warner Bros, Decca, and Sun singles and unreleased outtakes orig. rec. 1956-60) Texas rockabilly wildman in the mold of Elvis and Gene Vincent was one of the best of the genre, but like literally hundreds of others never scored a national hit (top barn-burner "Wild Wild Women" has often been included on VA comps). The usual fantastic Bear Family job of providing excellent sound and annotation.
Simon & Garfunkel - Live From New York City, 1967 (Columbia/Legacy CD, 2002) Two voices, one guitar, 19 stone-classic songs (possibly give or take one or two), boatloads of offhand-seeming but jaw-droppingly precocious talent, and a perfect performance, topped with wonderful concert hall sound. Both intimate and grand, timeless yet profoundly evocative of a particular moment in time, this precious artifact is revelatory and compulsory for anyone calling themselves a fan. |
Bax, Symphony No. 1, Fredman/LPO, Lyrita SRCS 53
Stravinsky, Pulcinella,
Stravinsky, Appolon Musagate,
.....Marriner/ASMF, Argo ZRG 575
Stravinsky, Suite Italienne for Cello & Piano, Piatigorsky -vc, Foss -pf, RCA LM 2293
Stravinsky, Dumbarton Oaks, Davis/ECO, L'Oiseau Lyre SOL 60050
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Looks like somebody is having a Stravinsky kind of evening ;)
Ibert "Divertissement"
Saint-Saens "Danse Macabre"
Bizet "Jeux D'Enfants"
Saint-Saens "Le Rouet D'Omphale"
All four pieces by Jean Martinon/Paris Conservatoire Orchestra on Decca SXL 2252 Another great Decca recording reissued by Speaker's Corner
My daughter's violin teacher has gotten her excited about the "Danse Macabre" So we are playing this version quite a bit. |
Zaikes,
I loved your reference to The Cyrkle in your post above. "Red Rubber Ball", right? |
Slipknot1: Right-o, that was their first and biggest hit, and also happens to be a Paul Simon co-composition (seems one of the group had backed S&G on tour). They recorded two other Simon tunes not done by S&G, but inexplicably turned down Simon's offer of another: "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)", which of course went on to become a smash for its author's duo act. The only other Cyrkle hit you'll usually hear on oldies radio is the great "Turn Down Day", a tune they discovered but didn't write, however there are many fine self-penned tracks in their brief 2-album + singles catalog.
BTW, legend says it was Brian Epstein, friendly with the group's manager, whose urging was key in prompting Columbia to release the "Red Rubber Ball" demo as a single - and that it was John Lennon, through Epstein, who suggested the name "The Cyrkle" for the band. True or apocryphal, the connection did subsequently enable them to tour with The Beatles in the US. A couple of members were also notable jingle writers, repsonsible for coming up with the 'Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz' (Alka-Seltzer) and '7-Up, The Un-cola' (which the band recorded for the ad campaign) slogans and jingles, among others. And now - as Paul Harvey says - you know the rest of the story (courtesy the liner notes of their Columbia/Legacy comp CD; I've also got the original LP's and several singles too :-) |
Hard to spin vinyl when you're cooking up a storm in the kitchen - too much running up and down the stairs. But to help get in the spirit of the season (I don't happen to celebrate Xmas, but I do enjoy a lot of Xmas-themed music - and food):
James Brown - Santa's Got A Brand New Bag (Rhino compilation LP, 1988) Including the immortal "Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto".
VA - Soul Christmas (Atco compilation LP, 1968) Stax and Atlantic artists including Clarence Carter, King Curtis, Otis Redding, Joe Tex, Booker T. & The MG's, Carla Thomas, Soloman Burke, and William Bell.
Slap on a CD and you can flail away in the kitchen for longer without worrying about your needle skipping merrily along in the leadout groove while you try not to burn something:
Dyke & The Blazers - Funky Broadway/The Very Best Of (Collectibles CD, 1999) The heaviest of 60's deep funk.
The Smoke - High In A Room/Anthology (Castle/Sanctuary British Import CD, 2002) English 60's mod/psych/pop-rock/hard-rock group best remembered for their drug anthem "My Friend Jack" (especially, for some reason, in Germany).
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Youself: The Best Of (Warner Archives CD, 1993) Late 60's/early 70's loose groovin' soul/funk band filled the gap between Sly and bands like War and early EWF. I've noticed the title track being used in some TV commercial recently...
Otis Spann - The Blues Is Where It's At (Beat Goes On reissue, British Import CD 1994, orig. rec. 1966) The legendary Chicago pianist with electric touring band live-in-the-studio complete with audience, has Muddy Waters guesting on guitar, excellent sound and performance, loads of down-home atmosphere (Bob Thiele produced). Spann's resonant, laconic vocals somewhat recall Sonny Boy Williamson. Doesn't focus as much on the piano (but rather on the telepathically sympathetic g/g/b/d/h band) and is a little more rocking and up-beat than some of his better-known albums, though this wouldn't be a Spann record if it didn't boast a few nice slow drags.
Sam Cooke - Night Beat (Abcko reissue CD, 1995, orig. rec. 1963) A concept album of sorts, of intimate, late-night gospelly blues interpretations backed by a spare combo, roughly sequenced to build from hushed to exuberant through the set. Some of Cooke's best vocals and least distracting production on record, and very good sound too.
Joe Henderson - In 'N Out (Blue Note reissue CD, 2003 RVG edition, orig. rec. 1964) Tenor saxophonist leads the date with frequent collaborator Kenny Dorham t., plus Richard Davis b., and Coltrane's comtemporaneous rhythm section of McCoy Tyner p. and Elvin Jones d. The title is a pretty fair description of where this music is at in jazz terms. The used record store where I picked this up had both this RVG (Rudy van Gelder, the original recording engineer) remaster and the older 1994 CD version open for comparitive auditioning, which I did using their cheap DVD player through their equally cheap headphones. Despite the gear handicap, the sonic differences between the two redbook masterings were so stark they almost sounded like they weren't even the same recording. It's hard to know exactly what the differences really are, due to the inadequecy of the available playback system, but the older issue sounded much brasher, coarser, and more up-front, the new issue softer, smoother, more delicate, and considerably less in-your-face. In the store the old version almost sounded more exciting through that system, but through my own system the RVG sounds great (and not on the lean and bright side like some in the series) without lacking at all in excitement. That tells me something about all the non-RVG Blue Note re-ish CD's I've accumulated down the years, many of which seem to share a lot of fundamental characteristics shown by the older issue in the store.
Miles Davis - Sorcerer (Columbia/Legacy reissue CD, 1998, orig. rec. 1967) With Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. I don't have another version of this recording to compare with, but this remaster - which was also remixed, for a box set from which this release was culled - sounds even better than the RVG above, and probably even better than I recall the 20-bit remaster of Kind Of Blue sounding, though that comparison is inherently skewed by the several years between the original recording dates, not to mention the different band. This effort, which followed its Shorter-era predecessors ESP and Miles Smiles and preceded Nefertiti and Water Babies, didn't sell very well (in obvious contrast to KOB), but I really like the music here and recommend checking this out if you're a fan who hasn't heard it yet. |
Tonight...
Shostakovich: Age of Gold Ballet Suite
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1
.....Martinon/LSO, RCA LSC 2322-45 (Classic Records reissue) (Another J. Kenneth Wilkinson masterpeice of a recording. Simply superb. Almost as good in the 33 rpm pressing.)
Malcolm Arnold: Eight English Dances, Lyrita SRCS 109
....(Also recorded by Wilkinson)
Quantz: Flute Concerto in G
Stamitz: Flute Concerto in G
....Stoutz/ZurichChmO, Graf -fl, Claves P 808
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6
.....Norrington/London Classical Players, EMI EL 749746
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Zaikes, Otis Spann! You've inspired my next LP...
Rushton, think I'd like to hear the "Age of Gold" sometime. It sure is advertised a bunch lately.
Joni Mitchell - Miles of Aisles - super live album; what a songbook. Easy to take for granted how many great tunes she wrote.
Byrds Greatest Hits, the most-played $1 garage saler of the year for me
Renaissance - Novella - weaker effort of theirs, but still pretty good
Jacqueline DuPre & Stephen Bishop - Bethoven Cello Sonatas
Angel sound ruins nice performance
Mulligan Meets Monk - original pressing - SWEET!
This Mortal Coil - Intriguing 80s record w/guest spots by members of Dead Can Dance & Cocteau Twins. Not too many ~rock bands featuring viola and cello as main instruments. Dark, trancy, intoxicating
Ravel - La Valse/Bolero/rapsodie Espangnole - Osawa/BSO
Peter Gabriel - (Melt) - a classic, belongs in every rock collection
Ryan Adams - Rock 'n Roll - This guy has so many good songs that even his weak albums(i.e this one!)beat many bests of other contemporaries. Gets stuck in your head all day long...
Happy everything,
Spencer
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Spencer, I was thinking of playing part of this recording on the 15th for folks. It is a neat piece with really interesting counterplay among the instruments, and with lots of sly humor. Rushton, think I'd like to hear the "Age of Gold" sometime. It sure is advertised a bunch lately. . |
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" 88 Basie Street / Count Basie and His Orchestra " on Pablo 2310-901 - just fabulous
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"The Eagles - Their Greatest Hits " DCC 180 Virgin Vinyl pressing / Lacquer Cutting by Steve Hoffman. Boy was this record a pleasant surprise. I just opened the sealed copy tonight.
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Mahler Symphony No. 4 - Reiner / CSO / Lisa Della Casa - RCA Living Stereo LSC-2364, re-issue - great performance and recording - Thanks Doug !
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"Tea for the Tillerman" - Cat Stevens - A&M Records SP 4280 - Brown label - surprisingly great sounding for an old A&M - incredible performance and recording - Thanks Doug
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“Diamond Life” - Sade CBS / Portrait Records
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Merry, Happy, Healthy & Safe to you all.
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Rgds - Larry
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Bach: Mass in b minor, Gardiner/EngBarSol, MonteverdiChoir, Archiv R225 064
William Walton: String Quartet in a minor,
Elizabeth Maconchy, String Quartet No. 5
.....Allegri Str Qt, Argo ZRG 5329
Mendelssohn, Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano
R.Strauss, Sonata in F for Cello and Piano
.....Piatigorsky -vc, Pennario -pf, RCA LSC 3021
It's been a nice evening for music...
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Beatles: "let it be" Naked. No not me, them. |
Right before we left for the holidays...
VA - Phil Spector's Christmas Album (Warner re-ish LP, prob. late 70's/early 80's, orig. 1963) The heavyweight classic of all times and still champeen. Like the man says, Back To Mono! Darlene Love, The Ronnettes, The Crystals, Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans, and The Wall Of Sound - and that ain't no lump of coal. HoHoHo! |
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Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto/ Tartini Devil's Trill - Szeryng / Boston Symphony Orchestra / Munch RCA vics-1037
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Brahams Piano Concerto No. 2 / Richter Warshaw National Philharmonic / Wislocki - DG 138 076
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Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 / Gilels / Berlin / Eugen Jochum / DG 2530 259
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Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 - Rubinstein / RCA Victor Symphony / Krips
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Los Romeros / Vivaldi Guitar Concertos / Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Iona Brown - Philips 412 624-1
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Beatles / Sgt. Pepper - Mofi Master Recording.
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Fleetwood Mac / Fleetwood Mac - Mofi - Original Master Recording
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Larry, nice to see someone else posting some classical. Enjoyed reading your list - looks like it's been a nice day of great music for you! (Including the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac)
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Tonight...
Handel: Concerti a due cori, Numbers 2 & 3
...Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists, Philips 411 122
...Hogwood/Academy of Ancient Music, Decca 6.43008 (a beautifully engineered recording by John Dunkerley, marred by early digital sound)
Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks
...Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists, Philips 411 122
Rutter: Gloria, Rutter/CambridgeSingers, Collegium COL 100
...a lovely performance of this work that continues to be my favorite performance, but I'm also a sucker for that English choral sound. The early digital edge on this recording is neatly ameliorated, and the LP made eminently listenable, by the addition of just a touch of tonearm damping.
The Sound of King's, Willcocks/Choir of King's College (Cambridge), EMI SEOM 5 - absolutely marvelous choral singing. What else would you expect with Willcocks and King's College? Beautiful 1968 EMI recording that well captures the acoustic of King's College Chapel.
Last night...
"Porgy and Bess" (scenes from) with Leontyne Price, Paul Warfield, McHenry Boatwright and John Bubbles - was there ever a greater Sportin' Life than John Bubbles? RCA LSC 2679.
Bruckner, Symphony No. 6, Stein/VPO, London CS 6880 -- the luscious horns of the Vienna Philharmonic make this a special recording.
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Rushton - glad you liked the play list from yesterday. I always get some inspiration for new LP's from your listings. Please keep 'em coming
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Here is this afternoon's / night's list:
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Mendelssohn Violin Concerto / Henryk Szeryng / London Symphony Orchestra / Dorati - Mercury Living Presence 130-575 MLY
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Schumann Violin Concerto / Henry Szeryng / London Symphony Orchestra - Mercury Living Presence 130-575 MLY
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Dvorak Cello Concerto / Janos Starker / London Symphony Orchestra / Antal Dorati - Mercury Living Presence 35MM - SR90303
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Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto/ Tartini Devil's Trill - Szeryng / Boston Symphony Orchestra / Munch RCA vics-1037 (Second night in a row - just too good).
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Well I guess the party is over for now - back to work tomorrow.
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Rgds, Larry
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Brian Wilson - Smile - First full listen. So much hype to live up to, it will be a challenge. This was a xmas gift from my wife. She's great at picking up on pathetic hints.
Laurindo Almeida - Virtuoso Guitar - 45rpm white vinyl direct-to-disc WOW, OH MY GOD! This is on first couple of listens, one of my top 5 all time best sounding records.
Garr Karr - Adagio d'Albinoni - King/Cisco Super Analogue Disc; Just received vinyl to replace what had been a reference quality CD. Vinyl even better. Never before have I purchased two amazing sounding records at the same time. If you don't know this version, it is simply a ~1600 Amati double bass accompanied by an organ. The bass sounds like a giant cello, but deeper. It will silence a roomful of snooty audiofools in 10 seconds.
Borodin - Sym 2 & 3, Ansermet; London ffrr
Hot Tuna - First Pull Up, Then Pull Down
Oscar Peterson Trio w/Milt Jackson - Very Tall
Preceeded by with Slipknot1:
Charles Mingus Band - Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus (Impulse 180g import)
Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy/Freedom Sessions (180g Classic Rec.)
Bill Evans w/Jeremy Steig - What's New(verve)
Happy NewYear,
Spencer |
Sbank, agree with you about the Gary Karr - Adagio d'Albinoni on vinyl; that King SuperAnalogue pressing is awfully good. The double bass is alternately massively overwhelming, and then very delicate and subtle.
So, what did you think of "Smile" after all the Fremer-hype?
Tonight...
Deep-diving into the past with the Dave Grusin d-to-d Sheffield LP "Discovered Again", Sheffield LAB 5. Obsessively multi-miked, but with incredible detail. I just can't get into the music.
Albert Fuller playing some of Rameau's harpsichord music on Reference Recordings RR 27. You'd never hear this sound live because you're listening from practically inside the harpsichord, but this recording captures exceedingly well the tonality and texture of a superb sounding harpsichord. If you still don't care for the sound of a harpsichord after listening to this LP, then bless you and move on to something else.
Allison Kinnaird, "The Harp Key", Temple 001, traditional Scottish music for harp at its best, played by the great traditional music harpist, teacher and scholar. Kinnaird is considered one of the leading scholars of traditional Scottish/Celtic music today, and has been instrumental in rediscovering the Scottish music tradition and the Scottish harp and wire strung clarsach (which of course preceded anything going on in Ireland ;-) ).
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Spencer shared the Gary Karr LP with me last Saturday night. That giant pipe organ had me holding on to the arms of my chair during some of the low pedal notes. The double bass was played as smooth as chocolate. I'll have to get my hands on that one.
Tonight:
Arturo Delmoni "Songs My Mother Taught Me" (North Star DS0004) Rushton - Thank you for pointing me to this one! What an intimately recorded collection, played with such precise detail.
Delibes "Coppelia - Ballet Suite" von Karajan/Berlin (Deutsche Grammophon SLPEM 136257) Not too familiar with this work, typical DG "house sound"
Mahler "Symphony No. 1" Solti/London SO (London CS 6401)
Those who are afraid to explore Mahler may want to start out with this one. I am not a big fan of Mahler, but I find this Symphony very approachable.
Wei Li/Fei Song "Autumn Yearning Fantasia" (First Impression Music LP 003) Just released limited edition LP from Winston Ma. The sound quality of this all analog LP is some of the best I have ever heard. Two musicians projected into a soundstage with so much air and presence, you feel as though you can get up and walk around the players. The music may not be to everyones tastes, but the recording and the performances cannot be denied. If you are at all familiar with the FIM Asian music releases, get this LP while it is available. |
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Slipnot,
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When you have worked your way through the Mahler 1st, get a copy of the 4th with Reiner & CSO on RCA Living Stereo (re-issue). It only gets better and is quite addictive. I don't think it is possible to listen to the 4th too many times, but I am trying.
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Rgds,
Larry |
Larry,
Thanks for the tip on the Mahler No.4. I can see myself wanting to get deeper into his work. I do have the Gilbert Kaplan reading of the "Resurrection" on CD that I have enjoyed listening to.
Best,
Joe |
I like the Solti performance, but the most accessible recording of the Mahler #1 that I have is the Jascha Horenstein performance with the London Symphony Orchestra, on Unicorn RHS 301. Solti captures the drive and the energy (as only Sir Georg can do), but Horenstein captures the lilting grace and humor and more of the subtlety, while still keeping this a brisk affair. Mahler "Symphony No. 1" Solti/London SO (London CS 6401)
Those who are afraid to explore Mahler may want to start out with this one. I am not a big fan of Mahler, but I find this Symphony very approachable.
(Slipknot1, above) . |
Guys, thanks for the brief Mahler primer. I'm ready to improve upon my pathetic album entitled, "Mahler's Greatest Hits". Shouldn't that be illegal?
Rushton, Fremer certainly isn't the only Smile-lover out there, and I generally like Mikey's taste in music. His little "In Heavy Rotation" box is my favorite part of S'phile these days. However, after two listens, I'll still "take the fifth" on a final judgement of this LP. Initially, I hear some nice vocal arrangements, bad sound effects, and sporadic catchy melodies, intertwined w/filler.
Well, back to reading every thread about every cartridge ever written...Cheers, Spencer |
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Well, I guess I have to crack my still cellophane wrapped "Smile" LP open and see what the deal is.
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Jazz tonight...
Jazz at the Pawnshop, the ATR Audio Trade German reissue (so, I'm not a purist - I like this album when I'm in the mood, and I like Lars Estrand and Arne Domnerus. And I like the sound of this single-LP 1980 reissue.)
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse GR-157 Speakers Corner reissue. Hartman is simply incredible.
Antiphone Blues, Arne Domnerus playing his saxophone in a large stone church with organ accompaniment. It's an atmospheric sound in all respects. Proprius 7744.
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"Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim" (Reprise FS-1021) Early pressing in very good shape. One of those library book sale finds that actually is in good condition.
Sinatra's voice is in mellow form on this one. Large band behind them and interesting enough, the only session player mentioned in the liner notes is the drummer: Dom-Um Romao. Makes you wonder what other hot shots are backing these guys up. |
I've held off on 'Smile'. I have a friend, a veteran rock show-goer and sometime club booker, who went to the concert and proclaimed it the best show he'd ever been to in his life, period. That made me sorry I didn't take him up on his extra ticket offer despite the price.
But every time I see Wilson do some of this stuff on TV, I'm hung up by a few things. First, and last too for that matter, is that the man just can't sing anymore, at least on TV and I have to guess in concert either. Second, the instrumental backing quasi-sounds like the 60's studio orchestras they originally used in recording this material, but not quite; everything's just a little off, clearly not the real deal, no matter how much they may try to emulate the arrangements and use period instruments, etc. It makes me feel I'm listening to an imitation, both inauthentic and overly careful and reverent at the same time. The overall effect sounds somewhat stilted to me. Third, the backing vocals are not Beach Boys (even if the Beach Boys in this context were often just multiple overdubbed Brians). Forth, it keeps catching me out that the arrangements and lyrics for many of the Smile songs that did trickle out on other BB albums, and that I'm used to and like, are different as conceived for Smile. I'm not sure I want or need 'different' versions of these songs, even if the Smile versions were actually the originals. And fifth, I'm just not a huge fan of the Van Dyke Parks-style extended 'song-suite' method - Brian's tunes are so strong as stand-alone pop numbers, and I'm so accustomed to hearing many of these ones in that way, that the Smile settings often don't strike me as improvements, at least of what I've heard so far.
It took me a while to appreciate "Imagination", with it's extra handicap of over-reliance on contemporary digital-synth and reverb sounds that I abhor, and generally generic AOR backing band blandness. But though we weren't talking the second coming of Pet Sounds or anything, Brian's better songs still won me over in the end, taken on their own terms. That might be harder for me to do with Smile, since in my heart I'll always want it to be the Beach Boys, and it's just not. I'll be interested to hear what some of you guys think of it after several listens.
PS - Rushton: Why do folks so often feel they must make apologies for the sound of a harpsicord? What a cool-ass freakin' sound! I've always loved it to pieces, and really can't imagine anybody not liking it. Clanking of the mechanism and everything. And I never actually encounter complaining about it either - only acknowledging allusions to mysterious masses of people who allegedly can't stand it. But I will say that it's one instrument, perhaps above all others, that I never really heard a recording of reproduced properly (at least I *think* it's now properly) before my system reached a certain level of fidelity - quite recently actually. It's apparently very tough to do right, so maybe that has something to do with this supposed epidemic hatred of harpsicords (or at least harpsicord records?). But still, I've dug that sound even from when my system couldn't get it well, so I don't know. Just don't understand this one. |
Sorry. The least I should do to rehabilitate the instrument's image to the lurking legions of harpsichord-haters is spell it properly. Harpsichord! AG why can't we edit these posts so much anymore?... |
Zaikesman, I loved your musings about Smile and the Beach Boys sound. Thanks for that.
As to harpsichords... I find many people are just not fond of that hard edged transient that comes from the plucked string of the harpsichord. Even people who like and play a harp (also plucked) often don't care for the harder edged transients produced by harpsichords. And, since harpsichords are challenging to play with a good sense of dynamic shifts, many performances end up with a less flexible sound than gets pedantic. This is compounded by so many recordings that are bright and edgy to begin with, and systems that are not able to recreate the full harmonic envelope, and that's the way most people have experienced a harpsichord: in recordings and not live. My wife plays harp, but just doesn't care for harpsichord. It's taken a number of encounters with lovely sounding instruments played live to get her to at least appreciate the possibilities.
Editing these posts... We seem to have lost the "edit my post" capability on threads that are now being spread across multiple pages, like this one. It's still working on threads that fit within a single page. I've emailed Audiogon customer service about this, and the response is that they will have the programmers look at it.
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I have been following everyone's comments on Brian Wilson's "Smile". I eagerly purchased the LP when it was released, based mainly on the buzz it had generated. I have not considered myself a Beach Boys "fan" but I like their tunes and the good time, summer air feeling they always invoke when I hear them.
I just cannot get my head around this one. I have been reluctant to come out and say so up until now, thinking I must be missing the point, or am ignorant of the reasons for the Magnum Opus status it has been given by the press.
To me, the title is a good one. It does make you smile when you hear it. That being said, I liken its overall effect on me to an amusement park: It makes me smile for a short time, but the novelty wears off. There are those who REALLY like amusement parks.
The production values are right up there, there are quirky sound effects, interesting turns of phrase in the vocals, but Brian's voice and years of hard living really show.
Honest, I want to like it, I don't dislike it, but I am really only good for a side at a time before I find myself saying "well that was fun. What's next?" |
Q: "... before I find myself saying 'well that was fun. What's next?' "
A: The answer is Mahler, Joe. M A H L E R
;-)
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Tonight...
Holst: Savitri, a Chamber opera in one act
Holst: Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda
...Imogen Holst conducting the English Chamber Orchestra and Purcell Singers, with Janet Baker, Thomas Hemsley, Robert Tear. Argo ZNF 6, recorded 1965. I've owned this record for 25 years and enjoy it immensely. Harry Pearson had this on his list for many years for the Choral Hymns. They're nice, the Purcell Singers and harp accompaniment are excellently rendered, but it's the Savitri for which you need to get this record. This recording is one of the clearest examples in my collection of soundstage width, depth and layering - and it's great example of when excellent reproduction of soundstaging can really add to the realism of a recording because the three vocalists move up, down and across the stage during the course of the performance.
Copy number 2 of the above. Yep, its a duplicate and I need to decide to keep one and find a home for the others. So far, it's been a toss-up between identical pressings. Copy 3 is an older pressing, but I'll have to get to it later.
Piano Works of Debussy and Ravel, Ivan Moravec, Connossieur Society CS2010 (Athena reissue ALSY 10002). If you don't know these recordings Moravec made in the 1960s for the Connoisseur Society label, you really need to check them out if you have any love for piano, Debussy, Ravel or Chopin. The series includes some of the most intelligent piano playing of this (or the last) century by one of the greatest pianists, and they have some of the best and most natural recorded piano sound available. Moravec is certainly my favorite pianist.
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Rushton: RE your observation about most folks never having heard a harpsichord live, it is true that my earliest exposure to the instrument was an actual harpsichord, at the house of friends of my parents when I was a little kid. Though they didn't live in my neighborhood, their son and I were occasional playmates until maybe around age 8, so I had many opportunities so indulge my facsination for this instrument (which was how I felt from first sight/listen). I don't recall anybody from their family actually playing the thing though - it just looked so neat, and I would dink away on it until somebody got fed up and pried me off the bench. Contrast that with the piano (not that I don't love the piano today), which I was made to take lessons on and pretty much despised at around the same ages (except for jazz on my Dad's records).
I know a luthier in Paris - she's primarily reknowned for her period-style viola da gambas - who's made some awesomely beautiful Baroque harpsichords, but even if I could afford to commision one, I'm too late. She hasn't made one in probably close to 20 years; I think they're just too time-consuming, with too little demand, and she says she doesn't foresee ever doing another.
BTW, I'm a nut for harpsichord in pop contexts as well, which was a brief fad in the early-to-mid-60's. The Left Banke ("Walk Away Renee", known for its use of a string section) made a few good recordings featuring harpsichord. It remained popular as a movie soundtrack instrument through the late 60's and into the early 70's. One particular fav is a jazzy early-60's Henry Mancini bachelor-pad instro record called "Combo!, with lucsious RCA studio stereo sound, on which I believe Hank foregoes piano entirely in favor of harpsichord. It's the very definition of "ginchy"! |
Nostalgia for the rainy evening, Hiroshima's first two - Self-titled and Odori. |
Record Hop Time! I've been remiss to not list any of the 45's spun chez Zaikesman. Here's a good chunk of tonight's mostly 50's and 60's Rhythm'n'Blues stack, in no particular order. Set the preamp to mono and let 'em rip:
Willie West - Greatest Love b/w Hello Mama [Deesu]
Johnny Acey - I Go Into Orbit b/w What Am I Going To Do [Fling]
Lee Roy Little - Hurry Baby, Please Come Home b/w Let Me Go Home, Whiskey [Cee-Jay]
The Val-Chords - Candy Store Love b/w You're Laughing At Me [Gametime]
Mr. Bear and Jack Dupree - Walking The Blues b/w Daybreak Rock [King]
Bill Robinson and The Quails - The Cow b/w Take Me Back, Baby [American]
Chuck Leonard - Nobody But You Girl b/w Diddley Do [Crackerjack]
The Capers - Candy Store Blues b/w High School Diploma [Vee-Jay]
The Du Droppers - I Wanna Know b/w Laughing Blues [RCA Victor]
Rosco Gordon - Goin' Home b/w Just A Little Bit [Vee-Jay]
Freddie Bell and The Bellboys - I Said It And I'm Glad b/w Ding Dong [Wing]
Sam Hawkins - Hold On Baby b/w Bad As They Come [Blue Cat]
Billy Guy - Whip It On Me Baby b/w Women [Double L]
Lightin' Slim - Hoo Doo Blues b/w It's Mighty Crazy [Excello]
The Strollers - Crowded Classroom b/w We're Strollin' [Warner]
Gene and Eunice - Move It Over, Baby b/w This Is My Story [Aladdin]
Lee Edward and His Continentals - (I've Gotta Have Her) Need I Say More b/w (I'm Gonna) Be My Own Boss [Lantic Gold]
James Rivers - Bird Brain b/w Tighten Up [Eight-Ball]
The Four Tees - I Said She Said b/w Like My Baby [Vee-Jay]
Stoney Jackson and The V-Eights - Let's Take A Chance (And See) b/w Hot Water [Vibro]
Lula Reed - Rock Love b/w I'm Gone, Yes I'm Gone [King]
The Emperors - Karate b/w I've Got To Have Her [Mala]
"Candy" Phillips - Timber, Pts. 1 & 2 [Atlantic]
The Rivingtons - Weejee Walk b/w Fairy Tales [Liberty]
Bobby Marchan - Shake Your Tamborine b/w Just Be Yourself [Cameo]
The Sh-Booms - Short Skirts b/w Blue Moon [Atlantic]
The Pentagons - Down At The Beach b/w To Be Loved (Forever) [Donna]
Gil Blanding - La Ta Ta b/w Rules [Ready]
Barry and The Vikings - I Love You Yes I Do b/w Last Night [Jamie]
Bobby Moore and The Rhythm Aces - Hey, Mr. D.J. b/w Searching For My Love [Checker]
Barrett Strong - Yes, No, Maybe So b/w You Knows What To Do [Anna]
The Stokes - Young Man, Old Man b/w One Mint Julep [Alon]
PS - The occasional slow B-side might not get listened to all the way through... ;^) |
Lots of Gram Parsons for this evening. International Submarine Band, G.P., Grievous Angel, Another Side of This Life and Sweetheart of the Rodeo. All of them 180g re-issues except for the Byrds LP. Has Sundazed or another company re-released it on quality vinyl?
Can't get enough of the lonesome cosmic american music. |
Mahler "Symphony No. 1" Horenstein/LSO (Unicorn RHS 301)
Mahler "Symphony No. 3" Horenstein/LSO (Unicorn RHS 302/303) Thanks for the loan Rush!!
Holst "Choral Hymns From The Rig Veda" Imogen Holst/English Chamber Orchestra/Purcell Singers (Argo ZNF 6) |
Ella Fitzgerald, "Ella in Berlin", Verve 9008, just released Japanese reissue in a superb remastering from the original analog tapes. As Red Trumpet quotes on its web site: Her live performances are legendary and "Ella in Berlin" captures one of the greatest displays of jazz vocal improvisation in concert. Including her amazing rendition of "Mack the Knife", this recording showcases the virtuosity of Ella at the peak of her performing prowess. Believe every word of the above. If you like Ella, this is a must have LP and this is the reissue to have. Slipknot, glad you've had time to listen to the Mahler! Ah, and the Holst, as well. Has to be a good evening at your place. :-) . |
Sonny Rollins - Tenor Madness [Prestige reissue mono LP] With Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. John Coltrane guests on the title track.
Sonny Rollins - Newk's Time [Blue Note Japanese reissue stereo LP] With Jones, Wynton Kelly and Doug Watkins. I especially like the unaccompanied sax + drums only treatment of "Surrey With The Fringe On Top". Rudy van Gelder recorded this date, and the stereo presentation is realistically understated - somewhat atypically for the era - rather than being rhythm in one channel and solo in the other. |
