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Listening: Two from David Gilmour

Even though these two CD sets were released two years apart, they share a common theme and compliment each other.  On An Island was released as Gilmour’s third solo studio album in 2006, Live In Gdansk in 2008.

Many know David Gilmour as the lead guitarist, vocalist and writer for seminal rock band Pink Floyd.  Gilmour chose to do more solo projects with his interest in continuing to work as a band waned.  Since fellow band mate Richard Wright passed away in 2008 Gilmour continues in this direction.  As On An Island proves he is playing better than ever.

If Pink Floyd fans are disappointed that the band is no longer a functioning unit (for now), have no fear.  On An Island is as close to a Pink Floyd sound as you can get.  Wright plays on the album and the combination of his keyboards musically complements Gilmour’s vocals and guitar, making for a very enjoyable listen.  Topping it off is hearing David Crosby and Graham Nash add background vocals to the title track.

Gilmour's final 2008 live performance was held at the Gdansk Shipyard in Poland celebrating the anniversary of the Polish Solidarity Movement headed by Lech Walesa in 1980.  In addition to four Pink Floyd songs, On An Island is performed live and included on this two-CD set is the selection of A Great Day For Freedom.  50,000 people attended this show to celebrate their freedoms from non-communist trade unions. The Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra is a nice addition to the overall recording. Richard Wright joined Gilmour on this tour and recording before his death. The recording quality and musicianship here are both superb.

Listening: Cowboy Junkies

Whites Off Earth Now, Mobile Fidelity Remaster

Canadian band Cowboy Junkies released their first album in 1986.  They had no fat record company deal, only their instruments, a garage named Studio 547, a single microphone with a digital tape machine and Margo's voice.  This re-mastered CD version from Mobile Fidelity’s Original Master Recordings series and has been re-released on a hybrid CD/SACD disc.  The audio quality is outstanding.

The Cowboy Junkies tradition of sparse, blues-based songs is fully evident here.  Margo Timmins vocals are quietly expressive on this collection of covers from blues artists as Lightning Hopkins and Robert Johnson and rocker Bruce Springsteen.  Brothers Mike (lead guitar) and Pete Timmins (drums) along with long time friend Alan Anton (bass) complete the foursome. Sparse guitar, bass and drums support her quiet vocal style perfectly.  Example, the the final song, Robert Johnson’s Crossroads. Its so quiet its almost scary.

Since this album was released the Cowboy Junkies have continued to tour and to release many albums.  Some such as The Trinity Session have been ground-breaking albums.  They moved into a bit more mainstream direction with the top-selling Lay It Down but have never left their preference for slower country and blues based tunes.  As many band have experienced though, the Cowboy Junkies broke true new ground with their first album.  This remastered version is a blues and musical masterpiece. 

#cowboyjunkies #hearmoremusic #music

Listening: Chase

In 1971 a new jazz-rock band burst on the music scene with the top ten hit.  Get It On spent thirteen weeks on the Billboard charts and became a gold selling album, a rare occurrence by jazz-rock acts in the 1970s.

Bill Chase grew up playing the trumpet in school and became a fan of jazz greats Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson.  He later played for lead trumpet with Ferguson and Kenton as well as with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd.

In 1970 Chase joined up with three more additional veteran jazz trumpeters.  The uniqueness of this band is that Chase then mixed this jazz-foursome up with a rock ‘n roll rhythm section of guitar, keyboards bass and percussion.  Once this group was assembled the search for a vocalist began and in late ’70 singer Terry Richards was brought on board.  Chase, the band, was born.

Chase were unique for its time.  Groups in the early ‘70s tended to have either a jazz or rock focus, but this band had both.  With the jazz chops of the four horn players and the hard-charging rock rhythm section they chose a decidedly up beat  rock ‘n roll sound.  Richard’s gravely vocalists gave the jazzy group an edgy sound that complemented the horns and rhythm section. Another rock jazz band at the time, Blood, Sweat & Tears, had a similar focus but tended to have an overall smoother and more mellow sound.

This first album was certainly driven by the hit Get It On but the remainder of side one is made up of songs that were more instrumental and showed off the chops of the various horn players.  Side two of the vinyl album is made up of the fourteen-minute opus ‘Invitation To A River’.  Made up of five chapters, ITAR shows off the trumpet skills of the band.  There are parts of side two in which the jazz section ‘echos’ there notes and sound.  You’d swear they were done by remixing but these sounds were all done live.

Ennea

After selling 500,000 copies of their first album, Bill Chase and the band released two more albums, Ennea and Pure Music.  1972s Ennea shifted away from the horn-heavy sound and featured another suite on side two based on Greek Mythology.  While Ennea sold well it did not meet expectations.

Pure Music

Pure Music kept the spotlight on the same horn section but the backup members changed and a more jazz-focused sound emerged.  Pure Music sold well, supported by both jazz and rock audiences.

The life of Chase was brief both as a person and a band.  In 1974, while traveling to a live performance, Bill Chase, band members and some friends were killed in a plane crash in Minnesota. 

Listening: The British Are Coming & Chicago at Carnegie Hall Box Sets

As time marches on I find myself revisiting classic artist’s albums.

This first one is classic 1960s British Invasion.  “The British Are Coming” is a nicely packaged 3-CD box set of A and B-side classics from the mid-60s era.  There are some classic hits here by bands such as the Hollies, Kinks and Searchers but the real fun is found in unheard treasures from these less known British garage bands.

Aside from loving the music from this era, I enjoy the ‘sound’ of these songs.  Each recording engineer and studio had a certain vibe to it and that feeling was transmitted into these records, known as ‘that 60s sound’.  Back then many songs were recorded in one take and the immediacy of the moment translates into the music.  A very enjoyable box set complete with background booklets on each band.

"Chicago At Carnegie Hall" was Chicago’s fourth album.  Their first three albums were all two record releases…most bands have nothing to say after their first!  In 1972 Chicago played at Carnegie Hall and released the show as a live four album set.  This set released by Rhino Records in 2005 is on three CDs and contains a bonus CD with eight previously unreleased songs from that concert.  All loving re-mastered and released in original artwork and mastering by the folks at Rhino Records.

Many think of Chicago as Top 40 hit makers.  True, the band did have many hit records but his set helps one to realize just what a talented group of musicians they were.  Chicago was always eager to play extended versions of their songs and this set is full of jam-band cuts.  This set shows Chicago at their absolute live best.  Enjoy.

Listening: Band Of Joy

Band Of Joy by Robert Plant

Robert Plant’s ‘Band Of Joy’ album is inspired from the name of the first band he played in.  His main goal with this selection of songs was to recreate the musical styles he loved in the mid-60s.  This collection of folk, blues, celtic and rock tunes harkens back to his musical roots very effectively with production values that give it that ‘60s vibe while still sounding current and fresh. The Band Of Joy from the '60s and '70s included John Bonham, later a fellow band member of Led Zepplin, and Dave Pegg who later would be a member of Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull.

In this version of Band Of Joy Plant is joined by Patti Griffin on guitar and backing vocals, Byron House on bass, Darrell Scott plays acoustic guitars along with mandolin, pedal steel guitar. Mark Giovinno on drums and percussion along with Buddy Miller on guitars round out the band.

Band Of Joy starts off with an up-tempo groove and rumbling guitar work on ‘Angel Dance’.  The album is made up of twelve roots-based songs with it’s country-rock, bluesy and lo-fi sound.  Silver Rider is a nice slow rocker and pop rocker You Can't Find My Love could have been written in the 1960s. It all comes together with a cohesive, raw sound.

Since leaving Led Zeppelin, Plant has carved a unique place in music.  He has repeatedly released albums that are unique from one release to the next.  His three albums Mighty ReArranger, Raising Sand (with Alison Krause) and Band Of Joy showcase his versatility as an artist.

What I like about each Robert Plant album is that you never know what you are going to get.  Each release is unique and an adventure.  He easily could have continued his hard-rock career as a rock god but chose a much more interesting path.  His voice has only improved as he has aged and is much more expressive and emotional now than ever before.

Band Of Joy is a worthy addition to any music collection.

#music #hearmoremusic

Listening: Keys To Ascension One & Two

Yes

Keys To Ascension & Keys To Ascension 2

As the liner notes from Keys To Ascension state this is the classic and quintessential Yes line-up playing live.  As many Yes fans unhappily realize, making the seemingly easy task of simply playing music together was nothing short of a miracle for this original group of independent and at times disagreeable band members.

Many only know Yes music from their classic ‘Roundabout’.  Their millions of fans worldwide have longed been plagued with uneven shows, hit-and-miss albums and numerous personnel changes over the years.  Maybe that is what makes recordings like these so special…the entire original band back together again playing early classic songs, live for the fans.

Formed in 1968 London, Yes became the leading progressive rock band ever.  They have had so many band member changes over the years that one needs a spreadsheet to keep everyone’s timeline connected.  In 1996 the original band of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman and Alan White reunited to play a live 1996 show in San Luis Obispo, CA for eager fans.  The show was recorded and partially released as the two-CD Keys To Ascension.

In 1997 Keys To Ascension 2 was released as a companion two-disc set.

As confusing as their legendary line-up changes, KTA has seven songs from the concert plus two studio cuts.  KTA2 has the remaining six live cuts plus 5 new studio songs.  Confused?

 However the music is anything but confused, Yes shines when playing live.  Many bands use sound effects to great advantage but Yes showcases their musicianship and talent.  Side One of KTA is especially amazing when you realize everything you hear is being played and song by the six band members on stage.  If you want a live version of the ‘classic’ Yes lineup pick up these two sets double CD sets.

Doug Campbell

Listening: 2010 A Music Odyssey

It's interesting to look back and review what I was listening to ten years ago. Below I have reposted the Hear & Now column published in the January 5 Rockford Register Star newspaper. While I enjoy many other styles and artists ten years later I still listen to these personal gems. 

In addition to the music that I listen to now the way in which I listen has also changed. I listen much more frequently on my two channel stereo system. I also listen to my iTunes library while on the Mac computer. We also now have a full house Sonos system so we can enjoy music in all the rooms of the house. And, in addition to listening to CDs and iTunes as I did in my column ten years ago I also now stream music using high quality services such as Deezer. I store our CD collection on a 2TB hard drive, listen to vinyl on a new turntable from UTurn Audio and even listen to music via YouTube. So many choices. 

All of these choices plus my renewed interest in my two channel stereo in my dedicated music room has enhanced my interest in listening to music and the fun of discovering new music and artists.

Have a read below. I'll have to post my top 10 most listened to from 2020 next January for comparison.

Doug Campbell 

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Hear & Now

January 5, 2011

Most Listened To Albums of 2010

This isn’t a ‘Best Albums of 2010’ list. Instead of listing what I think are the best albums of last year, I thought I would share the albums that I listened to most frequently throughout 2010, regardless of release date. In no particular order...

Margo Timmins – The Ty Tyrfu Sessions.  Why this isn't released as a quality download or on CD and vinyl is beyond me. http://www.jeffbird.com/margotytyrfu.html9.

Mark Knopfler – Screenplaying.  Known as both a solo artist and with Dire Straits, Knopfler is also an accomplished movie soundtrack musician.

Madonna – Confessions On A Dance Floor.  My guilty pleasure.  Great disc for running on the treadmill.

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass – Lost Treasures. An early influence on me. Lost Treasures proves he could have released even more great albums back in their heyday.

The Fireman – Strawberrys Oceans Ships Forest. The cute Beatle and artist Youth remain inventive and experimental together.

Thomas Crown Affair soundtrack – Bill Conti’s soundtrack of this classic movie remake is every bit as enjoyable as the movie itself.

Cheap Trick – The Latest.  As I said in my original RRS review, the band just keeps getting better.  Stay away if you don’t like to rock.

Bourne Supremacy soundtrack – Movie soundtrack by John Powell is every bit as powerful as the movie itself.

The Raveonettes - In And Out Of Control.  Guitar twang and noise along with this duo’s harmonies make this a fun, noisy rocker.

The Orb and David Gilmour Metallic Spheres.  Moody, eclectic and mellow.  Perfect for that snowy Saturday at home.

I enjoy music while on the computer, on my iPod and on the CD player.  Regardless of how you listen to your music try out a few of the albums listed above.  Enjoy!