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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2024 11:49:08 GMT -5
#8 - Doc Watson - Doc Watson Very nice, I liked these tracks. I may need to check this out more. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2024 11:54:37 GMT -5
I know little or nothing about Wes Montgomery's music, but I liked those two tracks you posted. There's a "showbizzy" flavour to the accompaniment that makes me think of movie soundtracks of the era. Yeah, it's a glitzy album for sure, totally agree on the soundtrack feel. For a more "pure jazz" introduction to his playing, something like The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery is a better starting point I think. |
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jul 12, 2024 15:24:51 GMT -5
I know little or nothing about Wes Montgomery's music, but I liked those two tracks you posted. There's a "showbizzy" flavour to the accompaniment that makes me think of movie soundtracks of the era. Yeah, it's a glitzy album for sure, totally agree on the soundtrack feel. For a more "pure jazz" introduction to his playing, something like The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery is a better starting point I think. Oh OK, I think I'll give that one a listen. Thanks. |
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Post by berkley on Jul 12, 2024 19:15:22 GMT -5
I'm gonna go first again today because I'm out all day with work. #8 - Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz & João Gilberto, featuring Antônio Carlos JobimThis won't be the last time we will see this one. One of my favourites too. Sometimes music or works in other arts are critcised for being too much of their time but I think it's one of the charms of this album. But most of all I just love the sound . |
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Post by berkley on Jul 13, 2024 1:03:05 GMT -5
I'm super busy with work today and away from the computer now until tomorrow morning, so I hope Slam_Bradley won't mind if I take the lead today and post my next pick in my Top 10 albums of 1964... #9 - It's My Way! by Buffy Sainte-MarieIn 2023, Cree folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie was outed as a prize bullsh*tter, having claimed to have been of Indigenous Canadian heritage for over 60 years (actually, turns out she was born to English and Italian parents in Stoneham, Massachusetts). But back in the Sixties and Seventies, she was an important spokesperson for Native Americans and Canadians, while her songs often dealt with the issues facing those peoples or explored Indigenous mysticism. While it's obviously not cool for Sainte-Marie to have claimed Indigenous ancestry and spoken on those people's behalf, while collecting awards intended for them, it doesn't change the fact that she was a gifted singer-songwriter who brought the plight of Indigenous peoples to the attention of an awful lot of folks who otherwise wouldn't have thought about it. Anyway, controversy aside, what about this album? Well, it's Sainte-Marie's debut and it's the one that is still most likely to be cited by critics and fans as her best and most influential. The songs run the gamut from anti-war protest and drug addiction songs through to religious material and, of course, songs about the plight of the Native Americans (there's even a song here sung in Cree). I find It's My Way! to be a slightly uneven album overall, but when it's good it's very good. The self-penned "Universal Soldier" (which was later a hit for Donovan) and "Cod'ine" are the two stand-out tracks (I perform a rendition of "Cod'ine" myself on occasion). But even when some of the material is a bit mediocre, Saint-Marie's chilling, vibrato-laden voice gives all the songs a powerful and disturbing sheen. Here's the song "Cod'ine" for your enjoyment…
I was never a huge fan but I liked what I heard of her stuff in a mild way and was completely caught by surprise by the reports of her having been a fraud all these years as far as her ancestry and cultural upbringing go. We had some of her song lyrics in our school books. It's amazing she could have gotten away with it in this day and age, when you'd think everything about a person's life would be so documented and easily investigated.
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Post by berkley on Jul 13, 2024 1:30:58 GMT -5
OK, then...top albums of 1964... #10 - Ramblin' Boy by Tom PaxtonFolk singer Tom Paxton was one of the leading lights of the early '60s Greenwich Village folk revival. Ramblin' Boy is basically his debut album, although he had previously released a live LP on the tiny Gaslight label in 1962. But this was Paxton's first studio album and the first album of his that anybody outside of the folkies who attended his coffee house shows in Greenwich Village took any notice of. It's a mixture of heartfelt ballads, comedy ditties, children's songs, and a bucket load of overly earnest political protest songs. The abundance of protest material is, from a modern perspective, one of the album's chief failings, since nothing dates faster than a topical song. Though the material is fairly strong throughout, and Paxton's attractive, understated voice is very inviting, the fact remains that an awful lot of this album is simply a period piece. Still, it's a decent enough album, which must've sounded pretty cutting edge back in 1964. But for me, it's the non-political songs that work the best – particularly the gorgeous "The Last Thing on My Mind", which would go on to become a folk music standard that has been covered by many, many different artists…
Like Doc Watson, a name I've been only very vaguely aware of until now. I like it. Based on this I'd like to hear the rest of the album. I'm curious about the political songs - even though I would likely know nothing about the specific incidents these topical songs were talking about I'm interested in the idea that someone felt an impulse to write about them.
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Post by berkley on Jul 13, 2024 1:34:10 GMT -5
I'll post my next one as well before work gets busy for me today: 9) John Barry - Goldfinger SoundtrackI love orchestral soundtracks, and at least the main title of this one needs no introduction. Shirley Bassey's performance is flat out legendary, I don't think anyone can hear the name of this movie without her singing instantly playing in their head. So the bigger question is, do you just enjoy that track on a Bond greatest hits album (like I did for many years) or is the full soundtrack compelling as well? Personally I find it to be the latter, John Barry did a superb overall job with both the classic Bond theme as well as Goldfinger main theme weaving throughout the soundtrack in various tasteful reprises. If you enjoy these types of soundtracks in general, this one is pretty snazzy overall I must say. It would be a crime not to post Shirley's performance in reference to the album even though we all know it, but I've followed with two more tracks that really highlight the wonderful instrumental aspects. I want to get this now, and probably all the other 60s Bond movie soundtracks, now I think of it. I had a cd once of the theme songs through to the late 70s or early 80s, but it's the incidental orchestral music that ID forgotten about. BTW, in that 3rd clip, was that the first time that particular theme had been used in the Bond series? |
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Post by berkley on Jul 13, 2024 1:40:30 GMT -5
Today's choice: 8) Wes Montgomery - Movin' WesOf the great jazz guitar legends out there, Wes is considered amongst the greatest or some say WAS the greatest. He is certainly among my favorites, and I love that he was a self-taught player with an unorthodox picking style. Which may somewhat explain that "extra little something" when I listen to him. While he had considerable technique, there's something just so tasty with his melodic approach that sets him apart for me. His Movin' Wes album was his debut on the Verve label moving from Riverside, and it's a blistering big band affair with plenty of horns and decidedly more pop in certain aspects. So much so that some critics feel it's "not jazz enough" and even cheesy in parts. Well, a little cheesy maybe at times, but easy on the ears and Wes' actual playing is still stellar. I would not recommend this album as a starting point to explore Wes, but to me it's a fun one with a little different flavor. And while Wes produced a modest amount of recorded work in his lifetime, we sadly lost him at only 45 so I have a little extra appreciation for everything we do have to enjoy. Maybe I'm being influenced by the other comments, but I too found the horns a bit too powerful and not a good setting for the Montgomery's guitar. But I find this was a failing in a lot of the popular, non-rock music of the 50s and early 60s - the arrangements tended to be very heavy on the brass and in a specific way - this sort of loud, punchy sound that for me really over-powered the over-all effect of the track. I think some of Ella Fitzgerald's songbook albums were marred by this, for example, with her vocals being, not drowned out - you can still hear them - but not presented in the best setting to appreciate them. |
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Post by Confessor on Jul 13, 2024 10:05:55 GMT -5
I'm heading out to my brother's stag-do in a bit, so I'm gonna go ahead and post today's pick in my Top 10 albums of 1964 run down... #7 - The Rolling Stones by The Rolling Stones One of the most interesting aspects of The Rolling Stones' self-titled debut album is that, for the most part, it captures the band as purist purveyors of authentic blues, rock 'n' roll and soul, rather than as pop stars, which they had recently become in the UK. Much of the material here is drawn from the repertoires of such blues and rock 'n' roll greats as Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Rufus Thomas. There is only one original Jagger/Richards composition: the frankly dire proto-folk rock of "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)", which sits rather uncomfortably among all the rootsy Americana. Still, it's a solid debut album overall, with a palpable hopped-up energy to many of the covers, and it made number 1 in the UK charts. In particular, the band do a damn good job of playing authentic Chicago rhythm & blues considering they were just a bunch of kids in their early 20s from Dartford! Stand out tracks for me would include the frantic versions of "I Just Want to Make Love to You" and "Carol", along with "Mona", and their swaggering, sexually-charged rendition of "Route 66". The Rolling Stones isn't anywhere near the best album the band would release, but it's a fascinating record of them in their earliest and purest incarnation. Check out the band's bristling cover of the Slim Harpo track "I'm a King Bee"… |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2024 10:39:22 GMT -5
Maybe I'm being influenced by the other comments, but I too found the horns a bit too powerful and not a good setting for the Montgomery's guitar. But I find this was a failing in a lot of the popular, non-rock music of the 50s and early 60s - the arrangements tended to be very heavy on the brass and in a specific way - this sort of loud, punchy sound that for me really over-powered the over-all effect of the track. I think some of Ella Fitzgerald's songbook albums were marred by this, for example, with her vocals being, not drowned out - you can still hear them - but not presented in the best setting to appreciate them. Yeah, there are times when I find it a little much on this album as well, but I love Wes' playing so much that even a less straight jazz album like this still gets a little more replay from me than a number of other albums from this year. You're right though, definitely something you find a good amount of during this era! It's like the synthesizer sounds of the 80's to me on a lot of material, it was everywhere a little too much at times IMO. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2024 10:50:45 GMT -5
I'm heading out to my brother's stag-do in a bit, so I'm gonna go ahead and post today's pick in my Top 10 albums of 1964 run down... #7 - The Rolling Stones by The Rolling StonesOne of the most interesting aspects of The Rolling Stones' self-titled debut album is that, for the most part, it captures the band as purist purveyors of authentic blues, rock 'n' roll and soul, rather than as pop stars, which they had recently become in the UK. Much of the material here is drawn from the repertoires of such blues and rock 'n' roll greats as Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Rufus Thomas. There is only one original Jagger/Richards composition: the frankly dire proto-folk rock of "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)", which sits rather uncomfortably among all the rootsy Americana. Still, it's a solid debut album overall, with a palpable hopped-up energy to many of the covers, and it made number 1 in the UK charts. In particular, the band do a damn good job of playing authentic Chicago rhythm & blues considering they were just a bunch of kids in their early 20s from Dartford! Stand out tracks for me would include the frantic versions of "I Just Want to Make Love to You" and "Carol", along with "Mona", and their swaggering, sexually-charged rendition of "Route 66". The Rolling Stones isn't anywhere near the best album the band would release, but it's a fascinating record of them in their earliest and purest incarnation. Check out the band's bristling cover of the Slim Harpo track "I'm a King Bee"… Yeah, I like this early incarnation offering as well. I also like this cover of "I'm a King Bee", but it always reminds me of John Belushi and the band in their bee outfits during their Blues Brothers/SNL performance of this song!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2024 11:05:42 GMT -5
Another guitar-oriented album today, and one my by favorite jazz guitar player of all time:
7) Joe Pass - For Django
Something in Joe's playing just speaks to me, that's the best way I can put it, a huge inspiration for me as a player. This album as one may guess from the title is a tribute to the great Django Reinhardt, and as I don't have much commentary to add this go around, I'll just let this track speak for itself:
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jul 13, 2024 12:22:59 GMT -5
Favorite albums of 1964 #7 - Chuck Berry - St. Louis to Liverpool
Chuck Berry's career did not end when he went to prison in 1962. Nor was he relegated to just playing his old stuff. He never hit the heights he had at his peak, but this album showed that Berry was still a great rock & roller. Side one of this album can stand with much of Berry's output at any time in his career. "No Particular Place to Go" is the best of Berry's late career records and doesn't have to take a back seat to any but his absolute best hits. "Promised Land" is a solid entry in to his list of singles. The real revelation here, though, is his cover of Guitar Slim's "The Things I Used to Do." Berry could sing and play the blues and do it damn well. This is a great rock & roll album at a time when rock & roll was on a respirator. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jul 13, 2024 12:33:58 GMT -5
Another guitar-oriented album today, and one my by favorite jazz guitar player of all time: 7) Joe Pass - For DjangoSomething in Joe's playing just speaks to me, that's the best way I can put it, a huge inspiration for me as a player. This album as one may guess from the title is a tribute to the great Django Reinhardt, and as I don't have much commentary to add this go around, I'll just let this track speak for itself: I wasn't familiar with Joe Pass, but I'm a big fan of Django Reinhardt. That's a quality track. I'll have to give that album a listen. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jul 13, 2024 12:36:00 GMT -5
I'm heading out to my brother's stag-do in a bit, so I'm gonna go ahead and post today's pick in my Top 10 albums of 1964 run down... #7 - The Rolling Stones by The Rolling StonesOne of the most interesting aspects of The Rolling Stones' self-titled debut album is that, for the most part, it captures the band as purist purveyors of authentic blues, rock 'n' roll and soul, rather than as pop stars, which they had recently become in the UK. Much of the material here is drawn from the repertoires of such blues and rock 'n' roll greats as Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Rufus Thomas. There is only one original Jagger/Richards composition: the frankly dire proto-folk rock of "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)", which sits rather uncomfortably among all the rootsy Americana. Still, it's a solid debut album overall, with a palpable hopped-up energy to many of the covers, and it made number 1 in the UK charts. In particular, the band do a damn good job of playing authentic Chicago rhythm & blues considering they were just a bunch of kids in their early 20s from Dartford! Stand out tracks for me would include the frantic versions of "I Just Want to Make Love to You" and "Carol", along with "Mona", and their swaggering, sexually-charged rendition of "Route 66". The Rolling Stones isn't anywhere near the best album the band would release, but it's a fascinating record of them in their earliest and purest incarnation. Check out the band's bristling cover of the Slim Harpo track "I'm a King Bee"… I considered this album and it would likely come in at around the 12-15 slot for me. Solid album by some guys who clearly loved great music that had largely been forgotten in the U.S. |
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