Richard Thompson- City Winery, Night 1: "THE WEEKEND MIX"

Please enjoy the first night of three all request shows from Richard Thompson, Live At City Winery, 10/21/09.


I'll be out of town for a few days, so posting may be sporadic.


TRACKLIST

INTRODUCTION
Cooksferry Queen
Why Must I Plead
Turning Of The Tide
Glad All Over
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Night Comes In
Just The Motion
Both Sides Now.....(aborted)
Sam Jones
Persuasion
I Feel So Good
She Sings Angels To Rest
I Misunderstood
Willy O'Winsbury
Easy There, Steady Now
It Wont Be Long
Borrowed Time
Guns Are The Tongues
She May Call You Up Tonight
Waltzing's For Dreamers
When I Get To The Border
Jet Plane In A Rocking Chair
Wall Of Death


ZIP FILE

Dimming Of The Day

Please enjoy three wonderful versions of one of my favorite Richard Thompson songs, as I prepare tomorrow's "Weekend Mix."

Jason Falkner- All Quiet On The Noise Floor

Being a Jason Falkner fan requires a lot of patience and some friendly connections in Japan, of which I have neither. Not quite as popular as the Kardashians, keeping up with Falkner's career demands a lot of "googling" and some extra yen, since he is one of those artists who somehow managed to slip through the US cracks and become somewhat big in Japan.

I thought I had read some months ago about a new record. It felt like enough time had passed since his last release, 2007's good, but not great "I'm OK, You're OK," so I started scouring the net. I stumbled upon ART INTO DUST, a great blog covering some of my favorite and obscure power pop artists and more. This is where I first heard of "All Quiet On The Noise Floor," the just-released new record from Falkner. (As a matter of fact, there seemed to be more info about Jason Falkner there, than on his own site.)

Logn story short, I ordered the CD through CD Japan, they sent it to the wrong address, I ordered it again through Amazon, and have now invested almost 7800 yen for this collection of tunes, which thankfully is excellent. Not necessarily 7800 yen worth of excellent, but I have faith that my friend (?) in Japan will re-ship the lost CD back to me, once it reappears in his hands. (Then I will have two and can play them both at the same time if I need to.)

Take a listen to "Jet Silver & The Dolls Of Venus." This is not the best song on the record, which is filled with the powerful pop and mellifluous melodies Falkner seems to write so effortlessly. It IS though, a cover of a Be Bop Deluxe tune from their brilliant debut "Axe Victim," and covering Be Bop Deluxe is a rarity in itself. I couldn't control my excitement. Plus, I really wanted to use the wonderfully photoshopped artwork by Mick over at Art Into Dust.

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date: 10/27/09

WARNING:
THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SOME QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14, AND PEOPLE WITH STICKS UP THEIR ASSES, GO BACK.






DEVENDRA BANHART- WHAT WILL WE BE

Indie darling, folk-hippie, greatest thing since Pringles, Devendra Banhart releases his second album with the same crew that recorded "Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon." This is being cited as his most accomplished work yet. We'll SEE about that.






CREED- FULL CIRCLE

First record in 7 years from the kings of the big, grungy, rock radio anthem. As J. Phoenix says in his Amazon review, "It's finely polished Creed."







ROSIE FLORES- GIRL OF THE CENTURY

The rockabilly filly is back with her first release for Bloodshot Records. Rosie is solid as usual, and "Girl Of The Century" is thankfully, more of the same country swing with a whole lotta cool that Flores has been pumping out for years.









GARAGE A TROIS- POWER PATRIOT

GAT started out as a late night jam session during the weeks of the New Orleans Jazz Festival, and featured the hardest working man in New Orleans, Stanton Moore on drums, jazz mainstay Charlie Hunter on guitar and Seattle's horn blowing treasure, Skerik on sax and anything else that got in the way. With the addition of Mike Dillon on percussion, two records were released, the equally brilliant, funky, strange and beautiful "Emphasizer" & "Outre Mer," each containing music that was driven by the impossible rhythms of one of my favorite drummers, Mr. Stanton Moore, and the melodic but never boring melodies and arrangements of the aforementioned band members. One minute you were wiggin' out to psychedelia meets Coltrane and the next you were pounding your feet to some heavy delta blues. All of it was completely original, with sounds and textures coming at you like a Nolan Ryan curveball.

Out goes Charlie Hunter and in comes keyboardist and jam band cult hero, Marco Benevento, and their first recording together sounds like a Marco Benevento solo project, with melodies on the back burner, and the rest of the band playing second fiddle to Benevento's treated keyboard noodling. "Power Patriot" lacks the necessary ingredient to make a jammy record stand out from all other jammy records; the tune. It's fun to hear some of the best musicians in the game get off, but it's more fun when you know why. I've been waiting awhile for this record, and I plan on sticking with it. I love these guys too much. But first listen left me cold.








GOV'T MULE- BY A THREAD

I don't know if anyone remembers this, but back in February, the 19th I believe, between the hours of 2:15 and 3:45, Warren Haynes was NOT on the road. I'm guessing it was at that moment, he and the boys found the time to record "By A Thread," a better than usual studio recording from a band who has been touring incessantly since their inception. Billy Gibbons guests on the best track on the record, "Broke Down On The Brazos."








JACK JOHNSON- EN CONCERT

The "21st century kingpin of beachside pop/rock" releases a live record with some special dude guests, like Ben Harper and G. Love.








PINK MARTINI- SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS.

''The fourth album from the celebrated and beloved 12-piece little orchestra Pink Martini is the follow-up to the band’s wildly successful 2007 release Hey Eugene! (which debuted at #30 on the Billboard Top 200, #1 on Amazon and #9 iTunes Top Albums).'' Pink Martini’s three previous albums have sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Long-awaited fourth album features several songs in a classic Pink Martini style alongside excursions into 1970s, modernist minimalism, classic ranchera, and swing." It's about time someone played a little "classic ranchera."








CHUCK PROPHET- LET FREEDOM RING

"The studio was state-of-the-art...for 1957. Surgical masks were as common as sunglasses. Earthquakes shook the streets." This was Mexico City, 2009, the city that was the muse for Chuck Prophet's new album ¡Let Freedom Ring! Needing a vantage point outside his home country to make what he calls, ''a political album for non-political people,'' Chuck and his band found themselves at the epicenter of the biggest pandemic scare of the new century. Swine flu was in the air, literally and figuratively, yet underneath the paranoia of H1N1 lay something more, something even larger. A cultural sea change was stirring. Brought on by the democratizing power of the internet, traditionally poverty stricken youth all over Mexico City were being exposed rapid-fire to music and art that had always been hidden from them. Inspired by this renaissance ¡Let Freedom Ring! billows with primal color and sound, evidenced by Prophet's return to the direct ''two guitars, bass and drums'' rock music of his past.






R.E.M.- LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA

Early versions of songs from "Accelerate" and a whole lot more on this 2 CD live set recorded in Ireland.

Full Set List

Disc: 1
1. Living Well Is The Best Revenge
2. Second Guessing
3. Letter Never Sent
4. Staring Down The Barrel Of The
5. Disturbance At The Heron House
6. Mr. Richards
7. Houston
8. New Test Leper
9. Cuyahoga
10. Electrolite
11. Man-Sized Wreath
12. So. Central Rain
13. On The Fly
14. Maps And Legends
15. Sitting Still
16. Driver 8
17. Horse To Water
18. I'm Gonna DJ
19. Circus Envy
20. These Days
Disc: 2
1. Drive
2. Feeling Gravity's Pull
3. Until The Day Is Done
4. Accelerate
5. Auctioneer
6. Little America
7. 1,000,000
8. Disguised
9. The Worst Joke Ever
10. Welcome To The Occupation
11. Carnival Of Sorts (Boxcar)
12. Harborcoat
13. Wolves, Lower
14. I've Been High
15. Kohoutek
16. West Of The Fields
17. Pretty Persuasion
18. Romance
19. Gardening At Night








CARLY SIMON- NEVER BEEN GONE

Newly recorded, stripped down versions of older songs from Miss Simon's long, respected, and very uneven career.







ROD STEWART- SOULBOOK

The once great, but now painfully pathetic Rod Stewart absolutely fucking ruins all your favorite soul tunes, with his passionless, gutless rasp and by the book arrangements, on this new sham of a series, which by the way has about as much zest as Sunny Von Bulow in late 2006. Otis Redding could make a better record NOW! This is an abomination, an insult to anyone who has ever put a quarter in a jukebox, did The Jerk, or simply enjoyed "Maggie May." This record will no doubt sell millions, thanks to the lazy fools who have given up making their own decisions. I implore you, search out the originals. You do NOT need this record. This is only the first volume. THERE WILL BE MORE VOLUMES OF THIS SHITE!






STING- IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT

Speaking of sad, pathetic shite, the once respected but now abhorred Sting, pays tribute to his favorite season...oh joy...winter, with some lute-loving, harpsichord- tinkled tunes. Features such toe-tappers as "Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming" and "The Snow It Melts The Soonest." (The Sting He Blows Ith The Most'est.)





SWELL SEASON- STRICT JOY

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova won our hearts in the 2007 film, Once, and brought the couple a Best Original Song award at that year's Oscars. This is their highly-anticipated new record.




U2- THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE- 25TH ANNIVERSARY REMASTERED EDITION

The classic, with lots of b-sides and bonus material.


FULL TRACK LIST:

Disc: 1
1. A Sort of Homecoming
2. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
3. Wire
4. The Unforgettable Fire
5. Promenade
6. 4th Of July
7. Bad
8. Indian Summer Sky
9. Elvis Presley and America
10. MLK
Disc: 2
1. Disappearing Act
2. A Sort of Homecoming (live)
3. Bad (live)
4. Love Comes Tumbling
5. The Three Sunrises
6. Yoshino Blossom
7. Wire (Kervorkian Remix)
8. Boomerang I
9. Pride (In The Name of Love)
10. A Sort of Homecoming
11. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock (single version)
12. Wire (Celtic Dub Mix)
13. Basa Trap
14. Boomerang II
15. 4th of July
16. Sixty Seconds in Kingdom Come
Disc: 3
1. The Unforgettable Fire
2. Bad
3. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
4. A Sort Of Homecoming
5. The Making Of The Unforgettable Fire - documentary
6. MLK (at A Conspiracy Of Hope Concert 6-15-86)
7. Pride (In The Name Of Love)(at A Conspiracy Of Hope Concert 6-15-86)
8. Bad(at A Conspiracy Of Hope Concert 6-15-86)
9. Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2 at Live Aid 7-13-85)
10. Bad (U2 at Live Aid 7-13-85)
11. Pride (In The Name Of Love) - Sepia version
12. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock (Bootleg versionLive 6-29-85)

I Love Baseball

WARNING:
I was up late and slept very little. This is not my best work.


Here is my video tribute to the New York Yankees, a fine ball club who just last night, advanced to the World Series.

"Spectrum Night 3" : THE WEEKEND MIX

I couldn't decide on which of these four spectacular nights in Philly would make you the happiest. Unfortunately, 3 of the 4 contain "Bobby Jean." Still, I'm quite sure this set will NOT disappoint.

Remember, oh impatient ones, it's a long show, so the zip file may take awhile.

Enjoy.

And remember, Soupy.



Setlist:

When You Walk in the Room
Two Hearts
My Love Will Not Let You Down
Hungry Heart
Working on a Dream
Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out (with Curt Ramm)
Night
Backstreets
Born to Run
She's the One
Meeting Across the River (with Curt Ramm)
Jungleland
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Raise Your Hand (with Curt Ramm)
It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
I Wanna Marry You
All Shook Up/Blue Suede Shoes
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Badlands
No Surrender
* * *
Land of Hope and Dreams
American Land (with Curt Ramm)
Bobby Jean
Dancing in the Dark
Rosalita (with Curt Ramm)
You Can't Sit Down

ZIP FILE

Soupy Sales, R.I.P.

Richard Thompson-By Request

The first two songs selected from the pewter soup tureen that had its own stool on stage were "Cooksferry Queen" and "Why Must I Plead," and my immediate thought was, "Damn! Why didn't I think of Why Must I Plead?" Silly, I got to hear it anyway, as this very special all request, solo acoustic show began in perfect style.

A Richard Thompson show always leaves me feeling the same way, stunned by the beauty of his guitar playing, so much so that I drift off and tend to lose sight of what he is singing. No one can play an acoustic guitar quite like RT.

The requests kept coming, two or three being removed at a time, for "pacing purposes." "We wouldn't want 15 wrist-slashers in a row," Thompson explained. "Turning Of The Tide," "Persuasion," "She Sang Angels To Rest," and an aborted, but still quite good version of "Both Sides Now," all being performed from the heart, even if Thompson gave the hairy eyeball to just about every song he pulled.

Someone requested "She May Call You Up" by The Left Banke, which Thompson performs live often. He offered up some info that will forever haunt me. "I could play the whole Left Banke first album." WHEN?

Someone else requested "Peace, Love, & Understanding," to which Thompson replied, "You should try that at an Elvis Costello show. You may have better luck."

I didn't get to hear my request, "The Way That It Shows," but I did have to leave a bit earlier than expected. Nothing personal, Richard. Well actually, yes it was.

Here are both "Why Must I Plead" and "The Way That It Shows," both in live settings.

Richard Thompson has two more nights of this at City Winery and if I was a rich man, I'd be at both. Get there if you can!

WHY MUST I PLEAD


THE WAY THAT IT SHOWS

James Booker- "Witchcraft"

Because I can't get enough of James Booker, and because everytime I stumble upon something new, he never fails to take my breath away, and because not enough people really know James Booker, and because James Booker is arguably the greatest piano player who ever lived, here is a version of "Witchcraft," that SHOULD blow your mind.

Speaking Of Texas

I have had Delbert McClinton's new record, "Acquired Taste" since early summer and only just got around to giving it a spin. Nothing against Delbert, who has stayed true to his Texas roots and has been making solid music, with the occasional misfire since the early 60s. It was mostly producer Don Was' fault, who for the most part has produced some fantastic records, none of which is Bob Dylan's "Under A Red Sky" or anything by the Rolling Stones since 1989. I just saw his name on the credits and for some reason gave up immediately. (I really hated "A Bigger Bang," though AMG gave this Stones record 4 1/2 stars.)

Finally in the mood, I listened to "Acquired Taste," and man, is it a doozy, thanks to who else, Mr. Don Was. I just love when a record leaves you enough room to just get inside and feel everything. It's so important to understand the artist, and Don Was does, with production that is big but never too much. Delbert's voice is better than ever, and the band effortlessly wraps itself around a little over a baker's dozen worth of Texas funk, with a little bit of New Orleans R&B. But it's not all a party, as McCinton can really break a heart, and does so with class on "Never Saw It Comin'" and "Until Then."

Check out these two tracks, "Mama's Little Baby" & "Do It," then go buy "Acquired Taste" over HERE.

ZIP FILE

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date: 10/20/09

LEONARD COHEN- LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT

The legendary artist captured live at the Isle Of Wight in 1970, back when Cohen was a mere 63 years old. Available as a separate CD or DVD, and a CD/DVD combo. Unfortunately, no Leonard Cohen "Rock Band" yet.








JAY FARRAR & BEN GIBBARD- ONE FAST MOVE AND I'M GONE

Soundtrack to the film of the same name, "One Fast Move or I'm Gone- Kerouac's Big Sur," takes us back to the cabin he retreated to in the Big Sur woods, the Beat haunts of San Francisco and New York City for an unflinching look at the compelling events his book is based on. Original music composed and performed by recording artists Jay Farrar of Son Volt and Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie.








LYLE LOVETT- NATURAL FORCES

The always consistent Lyle Lovett pays tribute yet again, to great Texas songwriters such as Townes Van Zandt, David Ball, and Robert Earl Keen to name a few, on his strong new release. My vote for Lovett's best record since "Joshua Judges Ruth."

TAKE NOTE: full album available for download on Amazon for $3.99 Offer expires at midnight tonight.




JUST IN TIME FOR THE DEPRESSION....






PIXIES- MINOTAUR

"Special Order Only. (5-CD + 6-Blu-ray + 6-DVD + 54 Page Book set) Minotaur is curated by legendary graphic designer, Vaughan Oliver with photographer Simon Larbalestier, who created the album artwork for all five Pixies' studio albums. Oliver and Larbalestier have teamed up once again on Minotaur, to create their largest Pixies body of work to date. Includes all five Pixies' studio albums (Come on Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova, and Trompe le Monde) in the following formats: 24k gold plated CD's; Blu-ray audio mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/192; DVD mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/96. Unreleased Pixies 1991 live performance from Brixton, on both Blu-ray and DVD, mastered for 5.1 surround sound at 24/192 and 24/96, respectively. All discs are housed in a custom designed folio. Also included is a 7.75'' x 8.25,'' 54-page book featuring the duo's work. Weighs approximately 6 pounds."

I'm not sure I even understand what that said, but it DOES weigh 6 pounds, so that's good, right?

By the way, the list price is $230.99!

BUT WAIT! There's more....

How about the even more deluxier edition:

In addition to reinterpreting all of the original album covers, Oliver's and Larbalestier's extensive work is featured in a 96-page fine art book, measuring 22" x 14" inches, and an additional 54-page book, measuring 7.75" x 8.25". Also included is a 12" x 19.5" giclee print of the duo's work, and two double-sided fold-out posters measuring 48" x 36." Each copy of the Limited Edition is individually numbered, and hand-signed by every member of the Pixies and Vaughan Oliver. Additionally, at random, 25 of the 3000 Limited Edition sets will include test pressings of the vinyl albums. Housed in an oversized clamshell case and weighing over 25 pounds. List price, $629.99.

Pssst....all 5 Pixies CDs can be bought on Amazon for a grand total of $30, $18 if you buy'em used. (I hope all involved, "at random," end up in hell.)






LOU REED REISSUES

2 of Sweet Lou's later, not so great LPs, although Robert Christgau gave each of them 4 stars if that means anything, "New Sensation" and "Legendary Hearts" get remastered with expanded packaging.






SUFJAN STEVENS- BQE

"Sufjan Stevens is proud to present The BQE, a cinematic suite inspired by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the Hula-Hoop. Commissioned by Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), The BQE was originally performed in the Howard Gilman Opera House in celebration of the 25th anniversary Next Wave Festival in October of 2007."

In these desperate financial times, I recommend saving your money for the upcoming 2 CD set "JRP," Stevens' all polka tribute to the Jackie Robinson Parkway. KILL ME NOW. (How's "Point Of Know Return" looking to you NOW?")




PICK OF THE WEEK




KRISTINA TRAIN- SPILT MILK

I raved about this back in August and it is still as strong as it was then. Kristina Train channels Dusty Springfield with strong material, heartbreaking melodies, and absolutely perfect production. BUY THIS NOW! (Weighs a lot less than 6 pounds.)

"Oh, I Can't Take Another Heartache..."

Many years ago, I was the same amiable zany I am now, but with a few less issues in my magazine rack. (And maybe I was cuter.) As I got older, wiser, fatter and shorter, I learned stuff.

Among my revelations:

Charlie Parker is not a hack.
Andrew "Dice" Clay is not funny.
It is the same time in Ohio as it is in New York.
Jersey deserves all the jokes, but it is still not as bad as Staten Island.
Madonna is a bad actress, but Theresa Russell is worse.
There is no such thing as band comraderie.
The people of New Orleans deserve better.
I still hate A-Rod.
I hate Starbucks even more.
Mr. Nunzabello is a totally acceptable alternate to my name, depending on who says it and how.
And my tolerance for music snobs has become lower than a road.

I had a crap week. Wait. I've had a crap 2009, but this weekend really sucked the life out of me like a brand new Hoover and it was capped off not just by the New York Jets and the worst fake field goal I have ever witnessed, but by a certain commercial running 3-4 times during the broadcast. It's from our "good neighbors" at State Farm Insurance.

Here. Take a look.




Why is it a "guilty pleasure" to like "Point Of Know Return" by Kansas? A song with enough hooks to snag a flounder, great vocals, and that killer "debba dooba dooba, debba dooba dooba" keyboard riff, all clocking in at 3:09? How many of YOU can write one of those? Hmmmm?

I've never seen Kansas perform live and I don't own anything but a few tunes by the band, all sitting comfortably in my iPod. What I do know is that the 4-5 hits I do listen to occasionally, hook for hook, melody for melody, squash most of the "superstars" that seem to get 4 and 5 stars tossed their way by critics, like fisherman toss chum into Long Island Sound. Hey Bright Eyes!! Yeah you! And you, guy from The Editors (or is it simply "Editors?" Douche.) And you, Devendra. And you, bearded indie guy. Show me one song I can hum, or get all crazy to like my good buddy behind the wheel in that State Farm commercial and I'll buy you a new pocket protector and some new tape for your black frames.

In the last 16 months, Burning Wood has received more support than I could have ever imagined. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. But along with the fan mail comes the naysayers, most with the same complaint. People don't like my passion. I gush, either for, or against. Gushing is apparently not welcome. Unless of course you're gushing over something everyone else is gushing over, then it's fine. (Sorry. I'll try to get my timing right. Maybe we should all hang out in the same room together.)

Angry? Yeah, a little. But I'll get over it...maybe.

Let me ask this---

If I get too excited because I love something and that is offputting, and if I get too excited because I dislike something, and THAT is offputting, what kind of reaction would suit you? What would you trust?

Wouldn't you rather passion, either way, than some kiss-ass label whore, who just loves everything and piles the polite praise on any and everything sent his way? What good is that? Plus, I don't need 1000 words to say what could be said in 50. (Well, except now)

To paraphrase writer Dan Baum, "Writing about music should be like a woman's dress: long enough to cover the essentials and short enough to keep it interesting."

I refuse to tone it down or pad it out. But I digress.

As you can see, I'm discouraged. I'm gushing again, and that damn State Farm commercial is not helping.

But wait...you know what's worse?

That fercockta Direct TV commercial with the Black Eyed Peas. The old Alpo commercials with Ed McMahon seem like Kurosawa shorts compared to this crap.

Please bring back quality. It is sorely missing in art, music, television, and occasionally, human beings. And speaking of quality...




Phew...

So how 'bout them Yanks?

xoxox

"October '09" : THE WEEKEND MIX

"Your head will collapse
If there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself...Where is my mind"


Damn straight, Charlie. Those words are from The Pixies, "Where Is My Mind," which is nowhere to be found on this "Weekend Mix," but expresses where I've been the last two days.

My plan for this "Weekend Mix" was to share a playlist of songs that has been on repeat the last week on my iPod, AND give you a litte background on each. But I got caught up in some...stuff...and only managed to get the music up.

That's what counts, right?

Briefly:

A fantastic track from the new Avett Brothers CD

One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite John Cale albums, the painfully out of print "Honi Soit."

A very hip and very new re-working of The Beatles by the very new and very hip Depreciation Guild

A killer track from early 80's rock radio, Nazareth's "Holiday," with its perfectly infectious chorus

One of a dozen ELO covers wonderfully reconstructed by Parthenon Huxley.

A cool Leiber & Stoller rocker from The Du Droppers

The just as cool rarity from Philip & The Faithfuls, courtesy of the Goldwax label

Mick Ronson does Moby Grape

Ron Wood does George Harrison

And "The Boss" with his live farewell tribute to Giants Stadium.

(Did I miss anything?)


I hope to be back in full swing soon.



TRACK LIST


Cold Cold Cold - Little Feat
Grown So Ugly - The Black Keys
Because - The Depreciation Guild
Love Me - Philip & The Faithfuls
Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise - The Avett Brothers
Hey Grandma - Mick Ronson
Dead Or Alive - John Cale
Mr. Blue Sky - Parthenon Huxley
Holiday - Nazareth
Far East Man- Ron Wood
Downstairs - Plas Johnson
Bam Balam - The Du Droppers
Love Itis - The Sonics
The Last Time - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band


ENJOY THE MUSIC.

ZIP FILE

"A Restaurant Scene"

Enjoy this wonderful song by Jules Shear & Susan Cowsill while I get my act together.

Nick Lowe At City Winery

It was about 8:30 PM when I walked by the subway station that would have taken me home and away from Nick Lowe's 9:00 performance at City Winery last night. I hadn't felt great, and though I was just a hundred yards away from the venue, I was ready to blow it off. But I didn't and I'm glad.

For 80 minutes, Nick Lowe honored the mostly attentive crowd with song after brilliant song, engaging yet brief between song banter, and a voice which was not at all "wonky" as he claimed.

I don't believe the acoustic set was much different the sets he has been playing the last 5 or so years, but it's been longer than that since I had seen him, so when he played, "I Read A Lot," a new and unrecorded song, I was not part of the majority who had heard this very special piece of music before.

Yes, last night's performance was near-perfect, but right now, I am all about "I Read A Lot."

Here is a video from 2008. You'll have to trust that it is indeed Nick Lowe on the stage, as the video itself is not that great. But the audio is, and that's what counts.






Two more songs, that to me complete a trilogy of genius and melancholy that I will go on record as saying, are worthy enough to be included on a list of greatest songs of all time, "Lately I've Let Things Slide" and "What's Shakin' On The Hill," follow.

Please enjoy all three.

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date: 10/13/09

BOB DYLAN- CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART

Not sure if it's me, Sony, or Bob Dylan, but someone is out of their mind. It's hard to listen Dylan squawking "Adeste Fideles" with the finesse of Lyle Alzado and not laugh hysterically.

"Uh-dest-AY, fee' DELL- uss/Lay-DEE, try UMPH-fence." Still, I loved every second of this quite traditional and good-hearted surprise.







FLAMING LIPS- EMBRYONIC

One of the most unnecessarily popular bands of this century, The Flaming Lips are back with a new record that is sure to have way too much going on, quirky production, annoying vocals, and one or two genuinely amazing songs ruined by all the stuff I just mentioned.






DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES- DO WHAT YOU WANT, BE WHAT YOU ARE (4CD BOXED SET)

Very nice career retrospective from the biggest selling duo of all time. My interview with H&O can be found HERE.


FULL TRACK LIST

Disc One
1. Girl I Love You - The Temptones
2. I Need Your Love - The Masters
3. Say These Words Of Love - The Temptones
4. Perkiomen
5. I'm Sorry
6. Fall In Philadelphia
7. Waterwheel
8. Lilly (Are You Happy)
9. Had I Known You Better Then
10. Las Vegas Turnaround
11. She's Gone
12. You're Much Too Soon
13. Is It A Star
14. It's Uncanny
15. Love You Like A Brother
16. Lady Rain - Live
17. Bennie G. And The Rose Tattoo - Live
18. Better Watch Your Back - Live
19. Abandoned Luncheonette - Live
20. When The Morning Comes - Live

Disc Two
1. Camelia
2. Sara Smile
3. Alone Too Long
4. Gino (The Manager) - 2009 remix
5. Ennui On The Mountain
6. Out Of Me, Out Of You
7. Back Together Again
8. Rich Girl
9. Crazy Eyes
10. Have I Been Away Too Long
11. August Day
12. It's A Laugh
13. I Don't Wanna Lose You - 7" remix
14. Wait For Me
15. Time's Up (Alone Tonight)
16. The Woman Comes And Goes
17. How Does It Feel To Be Back
18. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
19. Kiss On My List
20. Everytime You Go Away - Live

Disc Three
1. You Make My Dreams
2. Private Eyes
3. Head Above Water
4. Did It In A Minute
5. Your Imagination
6. I Can't Go For that (No Can Do)
7. Don't Go Out - previously unreleased
8. Maneater
9. Family Man
10. One On One
11. Go Solo
12. Say It Isn't So
13. Adult Education
14. Out Of Touch
15. Method Of Modern Love
16. Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid
17. Possession Obsession - Live
18. A Nite At The Apollo Live! The Way You Do The Things You Do/My Girl - Live

Disc Four
1. Everything Your Heart Desires - video mix
2. Missed Opportunity
3. Keep On Pushin' Love
4. Storm Warning - previously unreleased
5. Change Of Season
6. Starting All Over Again - Live
7. So Close - Live
8. Do It For Love
9. Forever For You
10. Heartbreak Time
11. All The Way From Philadelphia - previously unreleased
12. Have You Ever Been In Love - previously unreleased demo
13. Me & Mrs. Jones - Live
14. I Want Someone - Live from Daryl's House/previously unreleased
15. Do What you Want, Be What You Are - Live/previously unreleased
16. Dreamer - redux







LOS LONELY BOYS- 1969

Los Lonely Boys, or who I like to called Los Ersatz Lobos, revisit one of the most hallowed years in rock music, with a 5 track collection of covers featuring takes on Santana, The Beatles, The Doors, Blind Faith, and of course, Tony Joe White. WTF?






NELLIE MCKAY- NORMAL AS BLUEBERRY PIE: A TRIBUTE TO DORIS DAY

The always quirky and occasionally off-putting Miss McKay pays tribute to Hollywood legend, Doris Day. This is actually a very sweet collection of tunes, handled with love, respect, and bounce by the talented McKay.






JAMES MCMURTY- LIVE IN EUROPE

Singer/songwriter/storyteller McMurtry's live document of his first ever European tour.

My Interview with Daryl Hall & John Oates

As seen on ALTERCATION


Do What You Want, Be What You Are, is the new 4 CD boxed set from the biggest selling duo of all time, the oft misunderstood Daryl Hall & John Oates. For almost 40 years, Hall & Oates have been recording together, topping the charts with hit after hit, while getting hit for their string of unfortunate MTV videos during the eighties. As a longtime, pre-MTV fan of the band, I've made a second career out of trying to convince the non-believers, that Daryl & John are so much more than "Maneater" & "No Can Do." This wonderful boxed set covers it all, from the pre-H&O material of Daryl & John's first bands, The Temptones and The Masters, to the early folk material found on their first two albums, to the middle 70s where they were finding themselves as rock 'n' soul artists, through their most successful period in the 80s, right on up to their most current achievements.

I had the pleasure of talking to both Daryl Hall and John Oates, (separately) and here's what they had to say.

ME:
So let's talk about the box. How difficult was it for you guys to decide on the final track list for this set?

DARYL:
Well, I did most of it, which is not unusual, and I had to listen. That was the only way to do it...to sit down, take every song, analyze it and listen to it in a big giant gulp. I'm not a nostalgic person, I don't go back and listen to my stuff. I don't think most artists do. But I had to and it was a real eye-opening experience, like getting a perspective on your whole life.

JOHN:
It was difficult. There were a lot of choices. How do you do it? How do you distill 450 songs into 74, or whatever it is? Obviously the hits had to be included, and they are. But we wanted to create a package for the hardcore fan who really knows us, give them some surprises...create something that maybe they never had, which we did with the unreleased selections. But for the casual fan who may only know us because of the hits, we wanted to show the depth of the material, the songwriting, and the production, the uniqueness of some of the things that we did that were above and beyond those songs that were so famous.

ME:
As I look at every Daryl Hall & John Oates record, each subsequent release seems so diverse from the one prior. It seems so natural for you, like you guys never experimented and failed. But as the biggest selling duo of all time, do you feel that your hits truly represent what you and Daryl originally set out to do?

JOHN:
No, not really. I mean, they represent a part of what we are. We came up as pop songwriters. Pop music to us was really the singles that we grew up with as kids. We were never really into the long, involved rock operas, the instrumental excursions and things like that. We were pretty succinct, pretty direct. But at the same time, we created a lot of adventurous things, in our...not only our songwriting but in our production and our record-making. And I think that they are the things that this box set gets to showcase.




ME:
Live From Daryl's House could be the best hour of television not on television. The last episode featured Todd Rundgren as a guest. You guys go way back, with Todd producing 1974's War Babies, a record that he says he "took the blame for," because the public perception was that he took you and John away from your soul roots. It's a record that sounds nothing like the record before it, 1973's Abandoned Luncheonette or its follow-up, the self-titled Silver Album from 1975, which included at that point, the biggest hit of your career, "Sara Smile." With three albums so radically different from each other, what was your mindset heading into the studio to record your next record, Bigger Than Both Of Us?

DARYL:
Well, I like to bust out. I've always tried to break the barriers. I have no creative fears, you know? Most people pay at least some kind of service to what they've been doing, and try to be a little more careful. They try to repeat their successes. We never really thought that way. Neither John or I, though he's a little more like that than I am. When we went in after the The Silver Album we were just looking ahead, man. We called the album Bigger Than Both Of Us, because we saw what we were doing and in some ways it WAS bigger than the both of us. We went into it with the idea that we were making some noise and people were responding to us.

JOHN:
I think we were trying to find ourselves. And you really have to include the first record as well, which is Whole Oates. It's a real, singer-songwriter, organic kind of record. I think if you take all four of those records...well actually it's the first three, Whole Oates, Abandoned Luncheonette, and War Babies...you take those three records and combine those various style elements, the singer-songwriter folky thing, the kind of R&B thing we got into, and the more experimental rock thing we got into with Todd, you take those elements, and then you listen to The Silver Album with "Sara Smile" on it, I think you'll hear all three of those on that record. And I think The Silver Album was the first time our sound started to coalesce into something. The Silver Album really brought it together."

ME:
The Silver Album got the most representation on this boxed set with 6 songs. Was that a conscious decision, or did that just happen?

DARYL:
(surprised) No, it wasn't a conscious decision. You're the first person to point that out. Really? Six songs from that album?

JOHN:
No it wasn't conscious. It was exactly the reasons I just mentioned. The Silver Album is really where, in the seventies, we really found ourselves. The three albums that followed, Bigger Than Both Of Us and unfortunately Beauty On A Back Street...if you look very carefully, there's not one song from Beauty On A Back Street on this box set. I hated that album. And for the rest of the seventies, for rather extenuating circumstances, the reasons being we were recording in L.A., we weren't comfortable, we were recording with Chris Bond and our relationship with him was deteriorating...that all came to its nadir at Beauty On A Back Street. It's probably the album I like...well, it's the album I hate. But then, from that point on, you look at "Red Ledge" and "X-Static," we started to rebuild and to lead ourselves to producing ourselves, which is where we had our most commercial success, so...it kind of went up and went down and went up again.

ME:
Now that the boxed set is finished, is there anything that was removed last minute that you wish could have made the final cut?

DARYL:
Yeah. Off hand I couldn't tell you what, because there are so many songs. We realized we had a 4 CD set to deal with and I came up with...at least...10, 12, maybe even more songs that could have easily gone on there and we had to whittle it down for time. But sure, there's a lot that I could have, or would have put on. But I am really happy with what I DID put on. Put it this way, nothing significant was left off. I fought and fought for anything that I thought was important. And Sony was really great. They really were on the same page.

JOHN:
Yeah, there are some things that could have gone on there, but then there are a few hundred things that could have gone on there. Where do you draw the line? What's gonna be really cool, what I think could be the highlight of this particular box set is the 7 or 8...I can't remember if it's 7 or 8 tracks from our first English appearance at the Victoria Theatre. (Ed. note: It's 5 tracks.) I can't remember if it was '74 or '75. I had that stuff on an old videotape which I transferred to a DVD and I started looking at it and I was really blown away by it. The band was young...and...when I think back as to the history of our amazing musicians and bands who have played with us over the years, that band, that particular ensemble never really stuck out in my mind as ever really being one of our better bands. But when I heard it now, as time has gone on, that band was unbelievable. The way they played and the way we played together...I was just actually amazed. I had completely forgotten about it. When you hear that, I think the hardcore fans are really gonna freak out.

ME:
"Storm Warning." Tell me about that.

DARYL:
That was an outtake from Change Of Seasons. "Storm Warning was a song by The Volcanoes, a band that was on Arctic Records, which was my first label. And one of the guys in The Volcanoes ended up being in The Trammps, you know, "Disco Inferno," and he also played on The Temptones records. John and I always loved that song. And we were fooling around in the studio during Change Of Seasons and we just cut that song.

JOHN:
That track was recorded live in the studio. We just about got it.

ME:
It's a killer! So what's next? Boxed set out, hopefully that's not the swansong.

DARYL:
Right now, I'm doing a Daryl solo record. I just signed with Verve Records. And of course, Daryl's House. As far as me and John, we don't have any immediate plans. John and I work together all the time, so we're never that far apart.

JOHN:
My next record is going to be a traditional, finger-picking folk album. No drums, just guitars and mandolins. I'm gonna do some Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson, all the stuff I loved when I was a kid. I'm gonna do that this winter and see where that takes me.

John Oates and I talked a bit about his recent solo release, the very moving and very folksy "1000 Miles Of Life," a record that takes you right back to the very beginning, with personal songs not unlike what can be found on the first two Daryl Hall & John Oates records. I asked Daryl Hall if there were any plans on releasing audio from "Live From Daryl's House." His reply, "Well, yeah. But you can only imagine the loopholes with all the labels involved."

I highly recommend "Do What You Want, Be What You Are," for both the casual and hardcore Daryl Hall & John Oates fans. Just skip "Maneater," if you really can't deal. There are 73 others to choose from.

American Idol

"Nice Job!" : THE WEEKEND MIX

So, Dave...what's up?

I thought I'd cash in a few chips while the playing was hot. You know?

Back in the day of VCRs and DAT machines, I obsessively taped musical guests on late night TV, then transferred the audio onto a DAT (Digital Audio Tape.) I thought, back in 1994, that this was a fantastic idea, and that someday I would have amassed hours and hours of exclusive live music for...what? A blog, maybe? (It turned out to be just hours, not hours and hours...by the way.)

Here's a dozen of my fave live moments from David Letterman's first 2 years on CBS, with the exception of the XTC performance, which I believe is from 1989 and worthy of inclusion.

And for the curious, I think I still may have that cardboard cut out of myself.

TRACK LIST


Angels - David Byrne
Feelin' Alright - The Black Crowes
You Don't Know How It Feels - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
You're My Favorite Waste Of Time - Marshall Crenshaw
Bama Lama Bama Loo - Elvis Costello
Sick Of Myself - Matthew Sweet
Delia's Gone - Johnny Cash
King For A Day - XTC
Love Is The Drug - Bryan Ferry
I Count The Tears - Rosanne Cash
Crescent City - Emmylou Harris
This Is A Call - Foo Fighter


ZIP FILE

Steve Ferguson, R.I.P.

Yes, we all know about Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, but Steve Ferguson was really something else.

Details are HERE

Rosanne Cash: The List

My expanded review of this incredible record can be found at Altercation.

BIG TRAIN: Surreal & Absolutely Hilarious

In three parts, here are Hall & Oates addressing the problems suffered at a British housing project, courtesy of the absolutely brilliant sketch comedy of "Big Train."

God Only Knows

I was reminded in an early morning email of this wonderful bit of music. When "The Juliet Letters" was released, the collective groan of Elvis Costello fans was heard around the world. Did we really need "a song sequence for string quartet and voice," recorded with the Brodsky Quartet and inspired by a Verona professor who responded to letters addressed to Juliet, of Romeo and Juliet? What we all really wanted was "Imperial Bedroom Part Two."

It turned out to be pretty..pretty..pretty good. Some of it sounds forced, with Elvis never really sounding comfortable singing these occasionally clumsy and dramatic classical pop pieces. But there are some truly moving moments, including this song here.

"Jacksons, Monk, & Rowe" would not have sounded out of place on "Revolver," "Odessey & Oracle," or ""Shazam." (These are records by The Beatles, The Zombies, and The Move, by the way.)

And as a bonus, here is a zip file of Elvis & The Brodskys doing "God Only Knows," live from NYC's "Town Hall." Quite daring and quite beautiful, if you ask me.

Thanks to DH on the left coast for pointing out one more "good" Brian Wilson/Beach Boys cover.

GOD ONLY KNOWS

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date: 10/06/09

AIR- LOVE 2

French, electro-pop duo made a splash with their 1998 debut "Moon Safari," a record that seemed to strike a chord with everyone, even those not too fond of the electro-pop genre. (I liked it. Really.) Ten somewhat quiet years later, they are back with "Love 2," which is supposedly a return to form. Haven't received a copy, so I can't say too much.





BACKSTREET BOYS- THIS IS US

Jeez, they must be in their thirties by now. Haven't received a copy of this either, but I'm not complaining. Although, you'd be a fool not to recognize the pop perfection of their first few singles, especially "I Want It That Way." (Really. Take a look.)








BUILT TO SPILL- THERE IS NO ENEMY

One of the most popular indie-rock acts of the 90s is back with their first new release in three years. Nice, spacey-but-accessible production. BTS fans will not be disappointed.




PICK OF THE WEEK




ROSANNE CASH- THE LIST

This collection of songs, culled from a list of essential songs given to Miss Cash by her father, Johnny Cash, not only shows the warmth and soul of Rosanne Cash's voice, but the brilliance of her husband and producer, John Leventhal. Guest spots from Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Jeff Tweedy and Rufus Wainwright only add to the already magical album. This is NOT just another covers record. Look for my expanded review later this week at Altercation.







EXENE CERVENKA- SOMEWHERE GONE

First solo album in 18 years from the punk princess, "Somewhere Gone," based on the snippets I've heard (wasn't sent a copy), is an acoustic-based collection of dreamy, alt-country tunes, very reminscent of Neko Case's earlier work. (Or does Neko's early work sound like Exene's latest?)






KRAFTWERK REISSUES

5 of the German duo's classic LPs get the long-awaited upgrade, with a boxed set featuring their entire output due one month later. Records available this week: "Autobahn," "Radioactivity," "Trans-Europe Express," "Man-Machine" and "Tour de France." Ja!




THIS JUST IN!

NO NEW WILLIE NELSON ALBUM THIS WEE....WAIT...WAIT...SCRATCH THAT.




WILLIE NELSON- SOUVENIRS

30 tracks from his early hits and rarities, to greatest hits recorded live, courtesy of Varese Sarabande.







JOE PERRY- HAVE GUITAR WILL TRAVEL

5th solo release from the Aerosmith axeman, "Have Guitar Will Travel" has some exciting riffage going on, but still suffers from not having a good vocalist, just like his previous four solo efforts. It's one thing to make a conscious effort to not have someone who sounds like Steven Tyler, but it would help if the guy you got had a bit of a personality. And Joe, I love ya, but you make Lou Reed sound like Sarah Brightman.






THE RAVEONETTES- IN AND OUT OF CONTROL

The Shangri-La's meet the Jesus & Mary Chain, that's what you'll hear on this new release from the Danish Duo.



ALSO OUT THIS WEEK:









THE ALIENS- LUNA
Ex-Beat Band members get psychedelic...sort of.





DURAN DURAN- RIO 2 CD COLLECTORS' EDITION
Expanded to include demos, b-sides and remixes and a 52 page booklet. 52 PAGES!!

TRACKLIST
Disc: 1
1. Rio
2. My Own Way
3. Lonely In Your Nightmare (U.S. 12" Carnival EP)
4. Hungry Like The Wolf
5. Hold Back The Rain (U.S. album remix)
6. New Religion
7. Last Chance On The Stairway
8. Save A Prayer
9. The Chauffeur (U.S. Album & EP Remixes)
10. Rio (U.S. album remix)
11. My Own Way(Carnival Remix & U.S. 12" Carnival EP)
12. Lonely In Your Nightmare (U.S. album remix)
13. Hungry Like The Wolf (U.S. album remix)
14. Hold Back The Rain (U.S. album remix)
Disc: 2
1. Last Chance On The Stairway (Manchester Square Demos, Recorded August 28, 1981)
2. My Own Way (Manchester Square Demos, Recorded August 28, 1981)
3. New Religion (Manchester Square Demos, Recorded August 28, 1981)
4. Like An Angel (Manchester Square Demos, Recorded August 28, 1981)
5. My Own Way (original 7" version - U.K. single A-side, released Nov. 1981)
6. Like An Angel (U.K. single B-side, released Nov. 1981)
7. Careless Memories (live - U.K. single B-side, released May 1982)
8. The Chauffeur (Sing Blue Silver) (U.K. single B-side, released Nov. 1982)
9. My Own Way (Night Version) (U.K. 12" single A-side, released Nov. 1981)
10. Hungry Like The Wolf (Night Version) (U.K. 12" single A-side, released May 1982)
11. Rio (Night Version) (Dutch 12" Carnival EP, released Sept. 1982)
12. New Religion (Carnival Remix) (Japanese 12" Carnival EP, released Sept. 1982)
13. Hold Back The Rain (Carnival Remix) (U.S. 12" Carnival EP, released Sept. 1982)





MORPHINE- AT YOUR SERVICE
2 CDs of unreleased material from the late Mark Sandman's unique trio.