Archive for August, 2016

The Beatles, “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” from Help! (1965): Deep Beatles

The Beatles, “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” from Help! (1965): Deep Beatles

Thematically and musically, “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” signals yet another stage in the Beatles’ artistic development.

Vinyl

Heart – Beautiful Broken (2016)

Heart’s new album Beautiful Broken demonstrates that some artists get better with age.

Olympics Tribute with Velvet Underground, Eric Clapton, Harry Nilsson + others: Odd Couples

Olympics Tribute with Velvet Underground, Eric Clapton, Harry Nilsson + others: Odd Couples

Performance enhancers became an early story line in the 2016 Rio Olympics. But which drug-related rock song provides the best soundtrack?

Yes, “Sound Chaser” from ‘Relayer’ (1974): YESterdays

Yes, “Sound Chaser” from ‘Relayer’ (1974): YESterdays

This is the closest Yes gets to sounding like the jazz-fusion of Mahavishnu Orchestra, rather than simply the world’s greatest progressive rock band.

Vinyl

Amendola vs. Blades Greatest Hits crowdfunding drive in final hours, make a pledge now!

San Francisco Bay Area drums/organ sensation Amendola vs Blades quest to finally putting out a record is near the end; please pledge to their crowdfunding project to put them over the top!

Vinyl

John Edwards, Evan Parker, John Russell + others – Making Rooms (2016)

‘Making Rooms’ has a connection, not only between the musicians but with the listener. It is real, emotive and altogether beautiful.

Alice Cooper – The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003): Shadows in Stereo

Alice Cooper – The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003): Shadows in Stereo

By accident or design, ‘The Eyes of Alice Cooper’ is as close as it comes to the classics from Alice Cooper’s glory days.

Vinyl

Jack DeJohnette, with Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison – In Movement (2016)

What you get when DeJohnette combines with guys named Coltrane and Garrison doesn’t exactly square up with the mental picture (or rather, mental music) most jazzbos might imagine when those three names are put together. Nonetheless, ‘In Movement’ is no less gratifying.

Chicago, “Memories of Love” from ‘Chicago II’ (1970): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Memories of Love” from ‘Chicago II’ (1970): Saturdays in the Park

“Memories of Love” is both an oddity and a perfect fit for ‘Chicago II.’

Vinyl

Charlie Parker – Unheard Bird (2016)

Come on a journey with Charlie Parker. Hear the trials, the outtakes and the false starts of some of his most memorable tunes.