ERIC CARMEN- S/T, BOATS AGAINST THE CURRENT, CHANGE OF HEART
Raspberries' leader's first three solo LPs sprawled across 2 CDs. Each of these records features some pop gems and a full blown, overproduced stinker or two.
Personally, I like his solo stuff. No, it's not the crunchy, power pop of his former band, but if you could separate the two careers, Eric Carmen still had it for these three records, at least when he wasn't whining. Check out "No Hard Feelings," "She Did It," and one of my fave Eric tunes, "Nowhere To Hide."
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/Carmen-Boats-Against-Current-Change/dp/B003LUH5TU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1280229394&sr=1-2
ROBERT CRAY- COOKIN' IN MOBILE (CD & DVD)Live document of the Grammy winning singing/songwriting blues guitarist's February performance at Mobile's Saenger Theatre. Can't really pinpoint just what it is about Robert Cray that irks me, especially since I love the genre and so many love the man. But I've tried for years and nothing seems to work.
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JO88QC/ref=s9_simh_gw_p15_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=173192SBB15W6GBK66MV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
TOM JONES- PRAISE & BLUES
Produced by Ethan Johns, and featuring special guests Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Booker T. Jones, famed panty-catcher and powerhouse vocalist Tom Jones is back with an album of blues and spirituals, and holy moly, does it kick some ass!
He doesn't sound much different from his heyday on Parrot Records, and the bare-bones production leaves plenty of space for the listener to get inside. Tom Jones sounds strong and inspired on this soulful collection tunes from the likes of Bob Dylan, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Willie Dixon, among others.
1. What Good Am I
2. Lord Help The Poor & Needy
3. Did Trouble Me
4. Strange Things Happen Everyday
5. Burning Hell
6. If I Give My Soul
7. You Don't Knock
8. Nobody's Fault But Mine
9. Didn't It Rain
10. Ain't No Grave
11. Run On
12. Praise & Blame
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/Praise-Blame-Tom-Jones/dp/B003R4Z7EU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1280229698&sr=1-1
MARK OLSON- MANY COLORED KITE
Jayhawks co-founder is back with a collection of folky tunes that remind me a bit of what you'd hear on a Barry McGuire or We Five record. Interesting for a minute, mopey for about 40.
FYI--not sure if it's an Amazon glitch, but many copies are being sold for a penny.
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/Many-Colored-Kite-Mark-Olson/dp/B000008HTB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1280229466&sr=1-1
BILLY SQUIER- DON'T SAY NO (30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
Am I more amazed that "The Stroke" is 30 years old or that we are celebrating it? I'll get back to you.
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Say-No-30th-Anniversary/dp/B003PTP4Z4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1280229588&sr=1-1
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN- COULDN'T STAND THE WEATHER (2CD LEGACY EDITION)"Digitally remastered and expanded two CD Legacy Edition of the Blues guitarist's 1984 album. This edition contains 16 previously unreleased tracks, studio outtakes and the live recording of Vaughan & Double Trouble's 1984 performance at the Spectrum in Montreal. A 24 colour page booklet completes the package with liner notes by Guitar World Associate Editor (and Stevie Ray Vaughan authority) Andy Aledort as well as commentary by Double Trouble band mates Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon."
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/Couldnt-Weather-Legacy-Vaughan-Trouble/dp/B003MX5OOY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1280229618&sr=1-2
**ALSO OUT THIS WEEK**
AVENGED SEVENFOLD- NIGHTMARE
http://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Avenged-Sevenfold/dp/B003OF3R0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1280230105&sr=1-1
BRENDA & THE TABULATIONS- I KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE
http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Coming-Back-More-Expanded/dp/B003K7TMSQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1280230132&sr=1-1
DEAN & BRITTA- 13 MOST BEAUTIFUL:SONGS FOR ANDY WARHOL'S SCREEN
http://www.amazon.com/13-Most-Beautiful-Warhols-Screen/dp/B003P5AJLW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1280230176&sr=1-1
JESCA HOOP- HUNTING MY DRESS
http://www.amazon.com/Hunting-My-Dress-bonus-EP/dp/B003S6T5D6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1280230207&sr=1-3
15 comments:
Hey thanks for the heads up on the Mark Olson disc for a penny. I'm a huge Jayhawks fan and while not a big fan of Olson's solo stuff, I did really like his last one, 'Salvation Blues'. For a penny, I'm definitely going to give the new one a try.
On one of those Eric Carmen albums (forget which) there's a particularly ghastly overproduced power ballad with the line "We were young and still believed in 'A Hard Days Night.'"
I remember thinking at the time -- yeah, didn't we all.
On the other hand, isn't the original of Shaun Cassidy's terrific "Hey Deanie" on one of those records as well?
That line Steve, is from one of the songs I mentioned, "No Hard Feelings." But it is not a power ballad at all, just a flat out rocker.
And yes, 'Hey Deanie" is on "Change Of Heart" but I think Eric recorded it after Shaun.
I'm with you on Cray. Something's missing, it just doesn't work. I know lots of blues fans, nobody listens to him; there's something empty about his stuff.
I saw a Tom Jones concert on teevee a year or so back, just put it on for a second to have a laugh and ended up watching the whole 90 minutes. His band was exceptional and he was great. Even when he rapped - seriously. It was surprisingly fantastic.
Nice to see they continue to pick SRV's bones. The similarity to Hendrix continues even in his death.
Sal,
There is a big " bru ha ha " out there concerning next week's new Los Lobos release, " Tin Can Trust ".
There are some pretty good songs on those solo LPs by Eric Carmen. I saw him on 2 consecutive nights at the Bottom Line in 1975. He did the whole 1st solo album and all the Raspberries hits. He had 2 drummers, one was Jim Bonfanti from the old group. Very powerful sets, kind of blew me away at the time. Ahhh, those were the times.
Actually the Eric Carmen shows at the Bottom Line were summer of 1976. Sorry for the brain cloud.
Ah -- I knew that line was on one of those song.
:-)
I LOVED "She Did It." and totally forgot about it. Is Brian Wilson on backing vocals, or is it just fake?
NO Brian on "She Did It," but Eric was always good at the Beach Boys thing. Check out the Raspberries' "Driving Around."
With you all on Eric Carmen, clunkers agreed Sal!
I'm probably one step ahead of you on Robert Cray as I can tell you what irks me about him - everything.
I wouldn't say I'm a big fan of the genre, but I can listen happily to it when it's not the formulaic Gary Moore style grimacing.
Noam hits it on the end, there's a vacuum. It must piss him off how every one adores Bonamassa and just do not listen to him.
I'm a big fan of The Jayhawks but Mark's Tank Top tells you all you need to know about the album.
I've had it on pre-release for a couple of weeks and it's just hey nonny no, very dull.
Billy Squier - Just Say No, oops I just did.
I do like the legacy stuff.
I am a big fan of Avenged Sevenfold but I'm told off for it and made to feel dirty.
Great stuff as ever Sal!
Thanks ASH! Should I be listening to Avenged Sevenfold?
And Noam,
I saw Tom Jones about 3 years ago at the Nokia Theatre. I was expecting a lame Vegas act. (Actually, I was hoping for it.) I was surprised by how good the band was, and especially how great Tom was.
I would never even think of listening to Tom Jones. He was just the guy with a TV show and whose female audience members would throw various pieces of underwear at him during his concerts. A while back you included "Bama Lama Bama Loo" in one of your downloads. My ears perked up. Now based on your recommendation I took a listen at the new album. Completely changed my perception of him. Here's a 70 year old guy putting out some kick ass stuff, "Burning Hell" being my favorite. Thanks for opening my ears.
Avenged Sevenfold - not sure you'll like them Sal! Great metal but a tendency to aim for the Sepultura market.
Tom Jones - The only concert that I took my nan too. She wanted Green Green Grass Of Home, I wanted the Eighties stuff he was messing about with.
We got both and both of us enjoyed it immensely.
Can't say I'd buy many of his albums, but I can't think of another artist that could attract such a varied audience.
His cover of Kiss is ace.
There are far far worse around.
I am a closet metal head, ASH. I may have to give'em a go.
Post a Comment