One More Day Of Love For Glen Campbell

Yesterday's post originally went up before I had a chance to listen to the new Glen Campbell record. I had to go back and share my thoughts on what could possibly end up in the top three of my ten favorite records of the year, hence the "update." I spent 3 hours with "Ghost On The Canvas" yesterday and I am going back in today.

There are highlights everywhere on this record. There's even a track or two that wouldn't be out of place on "Pet Sounds," or at the very least, songs that seem inspired by "Pet Sounds." It helps that "Strong" sounds a lot like "Guess I'm Dumb."

This is the Paul Westerberg-penned title track.  Gush along with me.

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date: 8/30/11 (UPDATED)

RY COODER- PULL UP SOME DUST & SIT DOWN

I'm not sure this record will resonate with everyone, but by song #4 I was hooked, and by the finale, I was mesmerized. "These times," says Ry Cooder, "call for a very different kind of protest song. "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" We're way down the road from that." Boy, he ain't kidding. Cooder pulls no punches and minces no words, as he pretty much tells off everyone from Dubya to God, on this powerful new release.

Musically, Ry Cooder visits all of the places he likes best from acoustic blues (check out his dead-on John Lee Hooker impersonation on "John Lee Hooker For President") to mariachi and jazz, to pop and folk, and all of it works. Some of it even shocks, like "Christmas Time This Year," a song you won't be playing while stringing tinsel.

"Pull Up Some Dust..." is a keeper. Could be his best record since "Boomer's Story."

BUY IT BELOW
http://www.amazon.com/Pull-Some-Dust-Sit-Down/dp/B005BY8MSM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314706282&sr=8-1

LENNY KRAVITZ- BLACK & WHITE AMERICA

I like Lenny, but I can understand why many don't. Every record of his career sounds like a tossed-off pastiche of every record he's listened to. This new one is no different. I like the retro-soul, Zep-riffs, and occasional rap that appear on "Black & White America," but halfway through I realized, I could have been listening to any one of his last 5 releases.  Lenny Kravitz makes good records. He just doesn't write good songs.

BUY IT BELOW
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055EDBIE/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314706309&sr=1-1

SPIN DOCTORS- POCKET FULL OF KRYPTONITE (20TH ANNIVERSARY)

I spent countless hours watching these guys from the very early days when I helped print up flyers for their shows, to endless Saturday nights at the Nightingale Bar, to their rise as big time hitmakers. The Spin Doctors never quite reached the success of their debut, but that's okay. Three big singles, one hookier than the next, is nothing to blow off.

This new 2 CD set, remasters the debut and adds some earlier tracks, b-sides, and more.

GET IT BELOW
http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Full-Kryptonite-20th-Anniversary/dp/B005694Z6U/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314706341&sr=1-2

GLASSES MALONE- BEACH CRUISER

I don't know anything about this record, but I wish my name was Glasses Malone.

GLEN CAMPBELL-GHOST ON THE CANVAS

The legendary artist's swansong, "Ghost On The Canvas" is just fantastic. There are many heartbreaking moments, as Campbell sings often of his mortality, but the songs are also very uplifting. His voice is crisp and belies his 75 years. With help from Paul Westerberg, Robert Pollard, Chris Isaak, Jakob Dylan and Dick Dale for starters, Glen Campbell delivers a record that, to my ears sounds like an instant classic. It even feels as if it could have been recorded in 1971. Great stuff all around.

Get it below.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00571VYGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314706076&sr=8-1

AND, the Amazon Download is only $3.99
http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Canvas-Glen-Campbell/dp/B005G0DTKW/ref=sr_1_1_digr?ie=UTF8&qid=1314726417&sr=8-1


ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

 

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS- I'M WITH YOU

http://www.amazon.com/You-Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers/dp/B0054N73EY/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314706428&sr=1-1

                                                             TINARIWEN- TASSILI
    http://www.amazon.com/Tassili-Tinariwen/dp/B0055WXHO4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314706479&sr=1-1

Ten Years Gone

In June of 2001, I was interviewed for Celebrity Access, a website for "industry professionals." I was profiled as a retailer, a writer (at the time I was writing liner notes on a regular basis), and "a promoter's best friend: an industry-ite that even pays to go to concerts. He is not phased by the price of the ticket as long as he is not ticked off by the live experience."

Looking back, my answers are mostly cringeworthy. Plus, I don't agree with anything I said...mostly. The most hilarious? My take on B.B. King's Blues Club & Grill, which had just opened at the time.

You recently had a revelatory experience at B. B. King Blues Club & Grill.
I just went to B.B. King's for the first time. The room is beautiful and incredibly comfortable. Great sight lines, with an amazing sound system. Got there at 6 p.m. when the doors opened, and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. They let us sit and save a seat. The band (The Tubes) started at exactly 8 p.m. and played for 90 minutes. Kicked ass! Had a house salad, a couple of drinks and a filet mignon with mushroom risotto (which was voted unanimously by the table as "unbelievable!' And it was.) Truly good food. No one smoked, free mints in the Men's room, got home by 10 p.m.  I had a great experience.

I hate B.B. King's. The place is a tourist trap/fire hazard. They will NOT seat incomplete parties. (Why would that policy change? I guess because it was accomodating. Can't be caught accomodating anyone in NYC.) They overpack the room. The staff bites it. What happened in 10 years?


Check out this trifecta-

How do you feel about Napster?
I have never used it. All I can say is that as a fan of all music, I want as much music as possible as often as possible. So, the easier it is to get the music, the better. As a store owner and record collector, I can't understand how downloading and listening to three songs off of the new Radiohead CD via Napster is a replacement for owning it. I don't want to sit in my office, in front of my computer, listening to music. But, considering it costs 16 cents to make a CD that costs $18.98 to purchase, and the fact that radio does not exist for people over the age of 17, Napster isn't a bad idea.

 

As a concert-goer , what do you like about the live experience? The possibilities! Seeing and hearing something you may never again. Elvis Costello five nights in a row at The Broadway Theatre in NYC, playing five completely different sets, with different bands, covering material from Daryl Hall to Prince to Mose Allison to Tom Petty to The Hollies! It is something I still talk about 15 years later.

 
Do the rising ticket prices turn you off?
It depends on the artist and the surroundings. A good example is $85 to see Bruce and the E-Street Band play their hearts out for three hours. Bad example: Rod Stewart charging $140 to sit outdoors on a beach. If it's an artist I want to see, in a comfortable venue, with reserved seating and an early start, $150, while unnecessary is not unacceptable. But, to spend $30 to stand nuts-to-butts in a hot club, where the beer is $6 to watch a band take the stage at 11p.m. is totally unacceptable. Rock 'n' roll doesn't have to be late at night. It's bullshit.


"$150 is not unacceptable." What the hell was wrong with me? I guess when I had some money and a job, money was no object if it meant seeing rock and roll. Ten years on, I agonize over a $50 ducat. I'm also really amused by "I don't want to sit in front of my computer, listening to music."

I DO. I REALLY REALLY DO. LIKE, ALL THE TIME.

The interviewed ended with this: 

 

Career Disappointment
Watching the music industry go down the drain.

Best business advice received
"Ignore the imbeciles!"

Pet Peeve
People who ask questions, but don't really give a crap about your answers.

A lot has happened in ten years.

I thought of this interview a couple of weeks ago, when I received this email from my friend Jeff K.:


Saw Marshall Crenshaw last night with The Bottle Rockets. Crenshaw sort of mailed it in, but The Bottle Rockets cooked. Here they were playing in front of maybe a hundred people after being together what, twenty years? If i remember correctly, they were one of the first alt-country outfits and got a lot of good pub in the beginning, only to see their career kind of peter out. Made me think of a possible topic for discussion: 

Favorite band that never really made it.

Here's one more from the interview:

Do you foresee any breakout acts this year?
I'm still waiting for Marshall Crenshaw to break out, so I'm not a good person to ask.


Ten years on, and I am still waiting for Crenshaw to breakout. It's been only two years since "Jaggedland," his brilliant return to form. I thought that was the moment. Something inside of me still believes in songwriting. I still believe in talent.

There are a couple thoughts here, and maybe it would have better to have two separate posts. But, I'm running with it.

As Jeff posed:

Your Favorite Band Or Artist That Never Really Made It

And..

Big Changes In Feelings About Either A Band Or Music In General.

"Hello Irene" : THE WEEKEND MIX

It's been an exciting week for this New Yorker. First an earthquake, now this.

Next week, my Weekend Mix dedicated to plague. Until then...


TRACKLIST

Waiting For The End Of The World- Elvis Costello
Stormy- The Supremes
Loving A Hurricane- John Hiatt
Hurricane- Levon Helm
Rainin' In My Heart- Slim Harpo
Stormy Weather- Jeff Lynne
Wade In The Water- The Staple Singers
Hurricane Season- Trombone Shorty
Hurricane Waters- Citizen Cope
You're A Hurricane, I'm A Caravan- World Party
If It Ever Stops Raining- The Black Crowes
River's Rising- Edgar Winter Group
Hurricane- I Am Arrows
Before The Hurricane- Martin Newell
Hurricane (First Take)- Bob Dylan
Oh Babe, What Would You Say- Hurricane Smith
Goodnight Irene- Tom Waits

THE ZIP

My Favorite Rory Gallagher Moment

My friend Scott once let out an hilarious, profanity-laced tirade about Lonnie Donegan while I had been playing a compilation of Donegan's early hits in my store. Scott didn't care that without Donegan there'd be no Beatles...sorta. He just hated what he was hearing. And I wasn't enjoying the compilation that much either, so I didn't mind Scott's tirade. Too much skiffle music can bring out the profanity in anyone. But to this day, I can't think of one without the other. Not Scott without Lonnie. Not skiffle without profanity.

Back in 1978, I found an album at the legendary Titus-Oaks Record Store, on Flatbush and Church Avenues, near Erasmus High School in Brooklyn.  It was Lonnie Donegan, who I didn't care for at the time, backed by some of my rock and roll heroes. "Puttin' On The Style" featured Ringo Starr, Nicky Hopkins, Brian May, Ronnie Wood, Gary Brooker, Jim Keltner, Klaus Voorman, Peter Banks, Albert Lee, Mick Ralphs and Elton John. How could I pass this up?

Long story short, I hated the record. No amount of superstars was going to help me through 40 minutes of skiffle. But I always remembered the first track, a rerecord of Donegan's most famous song, "Rock Island Line," with Rory Gallagher on lead guitar.  My friend Phil would rave on about Rory, and I just never got it. But the playing on this track, the tone of the guitar...sucked me right in.

I just recently found a sealed copy of "Puttin' On The Style" for $4. Whatever bothered me, doesn't now. This album is a blast, and it seems like everyone is having fun, probably because, like The Beatles, all involved cut their rock and roll teeth on early Lonnie Donegan records.

I didn't realize it was released on CD with bonus tracks. It's HERE if you want it.

Verbatim

"Come on New York, raise your hands! This ain't f**king Jersey. Awright. Awright. Now, we've had a great summer, and we couldn't have done this without hardcore fans like you. You're the best. But, I want to send this next song out...we spent some time in South Dakota this summer...and...we met some really special people. People...our soldiers...(cheers)...that's right. F**KING USA! So this song is for the...our new special friends.  I wanna send this out to Battalion...(looks offstage)...what...this is for the Battalion...uh...f**k...whatever, like 68th Battalion or something."
--Sal Scoca, Lead singer of Sweet Cyanide.


The band satisfied all my hard rock and metal needs with their not-so-short, and sometimes unintentionally hilarious set. They even pulled off what would have been a perfect cover of Alice Cooper's "Go To Hell," except the singer changed the lyrics to first person

"I'd do this...I'd do that. I can go to hell."

Why? Ask Sal Scoca.

If I saw Sweet Cyanide listed again as an opening band, I think I'd show up late, even at the risk of hearing brilliant patter.

"Rockpile- Live In Montreux": Play That Fast Thing 1,000 More Times

Could they be the greatest rock and roll band of all time? I don't feel too ookey saying so. At least for their active period, there were few to rival Rockpile. This relentless new release from Eagle Rock took my breath away...literally. I tried typing out my review while listening, but Della Street I'm not. The band kicked my ass and took my name.

 It's funny that "Seconds Of Pleasure," the one record released under the Rockpile moniker, is only represented twice on "Live From Montreux." But as any fan of Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams knows, they had been playing on each other's records long before their 1980 debut, and this badass set of rock and roll covers all those bases.

I'd also like to point out that Terry Williams NEEDS to be mentioned, from this day forward, whenever "Greatest Drummers Of All Time" are discussed.

While you wait patiently for Nick's new LP, (leading the pack for best of 2011, I might add,) get your pile of rock on with "Live From Montreux."


Buy it below:
http://www.amazon.com/Live-at-Montreux-1980-Rockpile/dp/B0058U80XQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314060236&sr=1-1


Plus, the Amazon download is only $7!

Jerry Leiber: 1933-2011

This is a big one.

This is the man who, along with his partner Mike Stoller, pretty much cornered the market on rock and roll classics long before anyone was keeping tabs.

For starters:

Hound Dog
Stand By Me
Yakety Yak
On Broadway
Spanish Harlem
Love Potion #9

and one of my faves, Bam Balam.

"Nick Lowe At The Wetlands, 1/30/95" : THE WEEKEND MIX

Jim Farber, The Daily News: 2/1/95

NICK LOWE PICKED A STRANGE PLACE TO get serious Monday night. The famously whimsical rocker gave a decidedly sober performance at the Wetlands, an odd-shaped club that, packed as it was on Monday, blinds more than half the fans to the stage.
 
If such a setting lessened the intended intimacy, the Bottom Line would have been far more preferable, Lowe still fulfilled his basic goal: To charm in a performance without the usual smirks. In numbers like "Lover Don't Go" or "Shelly My Love," Lowe erased the cheeky defensiveness of his trademark rockabilly-pop, delivering these gorgeous ballads in remarkable earnest.
 
Lowe established this new direction with his latest album, "The Impossible Bird," released in November. Lowe deepened the connection live by playing acoustic guitar throughout and backing himself with the same four-piece band found on "Bird," and largely taking on material from the new record.
 
Unlike Lowe's animated bands of the past (like Little Village or Rockpile), The Impossible Birds took a more subdued route. Previously rousing numbers like "I Knew the Bride" or "Half a Boy and Half a Man" came closer to comfy shuffles. While fans may have missed the push-and-pull of a raging rock band, these renditions made up for it by emphasizing songcraft and vocal care.
 
In the process, the band found fresh nuance in many songs. Their take on Lowe's sole Top 40 hit, 1979's "Cruel to Be Kind," downplayed the song's soaring bubblegum harmonies to stress a Memphis soul organ and driving Motown beat.
 
Such rootsy influences offered the strongest link to Lowe's past. Though British-born, Lowe boasts an encyclopedic knowledge of American music, from R&B to C&W to Cajun blues. His only Celtic influence arrived in the old gem "Rose of England."
 
For all Lowe's musical breadth, his voice stole the show. Taking more time with his phrasing, he let notes shimmer in the air or swoop up for a vulnerable falsetto. For Lowe, such moves took a certain daring. Clearly, at 46, he finally has the nerve to play it straight. 


Sal Nunziato, Burning Wood: 8/19/11

In just a few weeks, Nick Lowe's new album "The Old Magic" will be released, and I can't remember the last record I was this excited about. He's been playing a few new tunes live over the last 3-4 years, including the stunningly beautiful "I Read A Lot" and "Stoplight Roses," two songs that render me useless each time I listen.

Needless to say, I'm prepping, and digging out some old Nick. I found this Wetlands show and it's a doozy of a performance and set list. When was the last time you heard "Bo-Bo-Ska-Diddle-Daddle" live?  Holy Shting-Shtang!

 Enjoy!

12 STEP PROGRAM
TRUE LOVE TRAVELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD
WITHOUT LOVE
LOVER DON'T GO
THE ROSE OF ENGLAND
TRAIL OF TEARS
DREAM GIRL
CRUEL TO BE KIND
WHERE'S MY EVERYTHING
I'M COMING HOME
14 DAYS
TOMBSTONE EVERY MILE
HALF A BOY, HALF A MAN
CRYING IN MY SLEEP
SOULFUL WIND
I KNEW THE BRIDE
BO-BO-SKA-DIDDLE-DADDLE
RAGING EYES
SHELLEY MY LOVE
ALLONS ROCK AND ROLL
YOU'RE MY WILDEST DREAM
I'LL BE THERE/PEACE LOVE & UNDERSTANDING
36" HIGH
BIG BIG LOVE

PART 1

PART 2

Thank You Friends

I want to thank all of you for your support and generosity and reacting so swiftly to Tuesday's post.

I love Burning Wood!

He's Sorry. Now Can We Just Listen?

Have you ever made that big mistake, the one where you wished for an immediate do-over? The ill-advised comment that sounded brilliant in your mind but not so much once it hit air? A decision, maybe, that changed the course of events in your life? You know, a perm? A Speedo? A drunken message left on an answering machine? Writing, releasing, and choosing "I'm In You" as your new single and your album title after the biggest selling record of your career?  We have all been Peter Frampton and we have, hopefully, all been forgiven.

I think Peter Frampton may still be paying the price.

If you've never been a fan, not even of "Frampton's Camel," or the almost perfect "Frampton" LP from 1974, then maybe this will be a waste of our time. But, I've been listening to a lot of Peter Frampton lately, and I've been hard-pressed to find any truly misguided or poorly executed material over the course of his 40 year solo career. Except, that one fercockta song.

"'I'm In You" is a damn good LP. There's a solid 1-2 Motown punch of "Road Runner" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," as well as one of my very fave Pete songs, "Tried To Love," a folky, R&B tune with special guest Mick Jagger adding harmony vocals. As Bruce Eder says over at All Music, "It was almost inevitable that I'm in You would be thought of as a letdown no matter now good it was. I'm in You was successful on its own terms, and had Frampton recorded it before the live album, it would probably be very fondly looked back on."

I spent more time than I expected with his universally panned Atlantic Records output of the 80s, and it wasn't so bad. I can't blame him. I have Rudy Vallee records that sound less dated than records produced in the 80s. Frampton didn't try to outsmart anybody. He played his guitar, and made some hook-filled rock and roll. He showed up for work at a company that no longer cared.

His most recent release, "Thank You Mr. Churchill" is a collection of songs that should not be listened to with a wink and a nudge. Fuck irony. Great rock music is not easy to come by these days. Why let a solid set of music go untouched because of one 30 year old blunder?

And why doesn't anyone ever mention his guitar playing? 

It seems to me that Peter Frampton has had a career. He's a class act. Look at the pic. He's wearing a Steve Marriott t-shirt! (I've had that album for 35 years and I only just noticed that.)

More of us should let the "I'm In You" punchline have a rest. It's about as funny these days as "Where's the beef."  (Ok, sorry. That just made me laugh.) But seriously, as bad as it was, there are far worse songs than "I'm In You," and many of them are by artists who have garnered more respect than Mr. Frampton.

Here's a six pack to possibly get you curious.


ALL NIGHT LONG
EVERYTHING I NEED
FANFARE
TRIED TO LOVE
ROAD RUNNER
SIGNED, SEALED, & DELIVERED

THE ZIP

Burning Wood Needs Your Help

The first week of September marks the third anniversary of Burning Wood.

Thank you all! I think it's come a long way.

The daily readership has grown, though it has its lulls. I'm still surprised by what does and does not get you all going, though I can always count on the mention of Bob Dylan or the Rolling Stones to get the crowd fired up.

Also celebrating its three year anniversary, is my membership to the website that hosts all the music files that I upload for your listening pleasure. Now there are plenty of sites who offer their hosting and storage services for free, but along with that free service comes more complications: time consuming downloads with passwords and wait times, limits, less space for me (and you), and more annoying pop-ups for massage therapy and Zoloft. I have listened to many of you who are still afraid to download music, or who simply can't be bothered with the inconveniences of the free sites. By paying for space, your tunes, including the CD length "Weekend Mixes" are one click away.

So it is with great humility that I ask this, if you'd like all the music that is posted- the "Weekend Mixes," the rare live concerts, unreleased tracks by your favorite artists, old rare vinyl, etc.--to continue, free of charge with no loop holes (except this one), and you feel like showing your appreciation, click on the Burning Wood Fund Donation button and show your support.

The donation button, by the way, is all the way down the page, on the right.


Three years of this and I am still not comfortable pitching for donations. But after to talking to some friends about this, they made me feel a little better about asking. I just can't afford it. NO amount is too small, not even nothing. I mean that.

Thank you again for all your support.

GROOVY MONDAY

Retro-soul acts out of the UK are about as novel as cockroaches in a tenement kitchen. But The New Mastersounds have been given the seal of approval by Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley of James Brown's J.B.'s and George Porter Jr. and Art Neville of The Meters, so I thought I'd give their just released album "Breaks From The Border" a go. I was not disappointed.

It's what you'd expect, funky grooves and badass breaks, but there's a bit more, like the Georgie Fame jazz and soul rave-up of "Free Man." Or, the classic organ trio sound of "Passport," which calls to mind the great Jimmy Smith, if Smith had a vocalist.

These guys have been making music for 10 years and yet this is really the first time I started paying attention. I'm inclined to start digging deeper, now that I've been suckered in. But, I think I'll wait a bit and just savor "Breaks From The Border." Something tells me, it might be their best work so far.

Check out "On The Border" below and the whole record HERE.

On The Border
http://www.divshare.com/download/15527549-4af

"A Sucker For Covers: : THE WEEKEND MIX

Hope you have some fun with this, the second or third WEEKEND MIX of covers.  Some of these tunes have appeared as their own posts and some I've only recently discovered, like Candi Staton's killer version of the Dolly Parton classic, which can be found on a wonderful new 2 CD set of her Fame Studio recordings. See link below.
http://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Complete-Fame-Records-Masters/dp/B004VV44HO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1313148228&sr=1-1

The first time I heard John Boutte deliver Neil Young's "Southern Man" was live in the Jazz Tent at the New Orleans Jazz Festival just 6 months or so after Hurricane Katrina, and I don't think I'm over it yet.
http://louisianamusicfactory.com/showoneprod.asp?ProductID=5854

Been on a Garland Jeffreys kick since the release of his fantastic new album, "The King Of In Between...see link below...so I dug out his big cover of the Junior Walker classic.
http://www.amazon.com/King-Between-Garland-Jeffreys/dp/B00550NL92/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1313148486&sr=1-1

Richie Havens doing 10cc? It works. I promise.

The Tin Men, featuring Alex McMurray, Matt Perrine and Washboard Chaz, are, as they say, "the premier guitar, washboard and tuba trio," and as I say, quite possibly more fun than any person should be allowed to have. I've seen them cover everyone from The Roches to Led Zeppelin, but I really love this. You can buy their music below.
http://louisianamusicfactory.com/showoneprod.asp?ProductID=4377




HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND


TRACKLIST

Washington Post March- Tin Men
Good Vibrations- Todd Rundgren
What Does It Take- Garland Jeffreys
I'm Not In Love- Richie Havens
Say Goodbye To Hollywood- Ronnie Spector
Spooky- Dusty Springfield
The Inner Light- Junior Parker
For What It's Worth- The Staple Singers
It's A Shame- Raphael Saadiq
Jolene- Candi Staton
Southern Man- John Boutte
To Sir With Love- Al Green
Be My Love- NRBQ
The Story In Your Eyes- Fountains Of Wayne
He's Got You- Dean Martin
Oklahoma, USA- Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris
You're Gonna Need Somebody- Continental Drifters
Secret Love- The Balham Alligators
Mona Lisa- Moon Mullican
Where The Boys Are- Get Wet
Stagger Lee- The McCoys

ZIP

A Good Example, Maybe, Of When To Hang Up Your Rock & Roll Shoes

New versions of sacred faves with guest artists such as Ray Manzarek, Johnny Winter and Ann Wilson?

For real.  Due 8/16.

Check out the samples here.

My friend Jeff M.on yesterday's post: "If the new material is no good, don't buy it and don't see the show. But I've grown a lot more tolerant of aging rock stars doing whatever they need to do to feed their muse or feed themselves."

I agree. But there are exceptions.

(Don't even get me started on the upcoming Todd Rundgren release "(re)Production." The 30 second samples may have already caused irreparable damage to my heart and soul.) 

Will The Real Steve Perry Please Sit Down?

If your favorite artist or band, long after their prime, decides to return to the spotlight either with a record or a tour, is this a good thing?

Of course, there are a few minor details and stipulations that would need to be discussed before giving a definitive answer. In the case of the Faces, two keys members are dead, and one obviously big member, might as well be. So, yes...play on? Or, no...go back inside and let the kids have fun.

How about the recent smattering of shows from the Left Banke, or who I'd like to call the Only Two Left Banke? I know people who went bananas over seeing these shows. Yet my first thought was, "You've got to be kidding?" 

Lead singer Steve Martin and main songwriter Michael Brown were both not involved. This left the bass player, who barely played on the original recordings (those duties were performed by Joe Mack and John Abbott), and the drummer, who from what I've seen in videos, didn't play the drums on too many songs live. So, here is "The Left Banke" and what...10 strangers on stage? Why do I want to see this? Why not just call yourself The Beatles? To me, that is just as offensive.

Or how about Journey, successfully selling out arenas with a lead vocalist look and soundalike?

The Lovin' Spoonful without Sebastian and Zal? That has been happening, you know.

At what point is any of this good news for the fans? Or is it all good news? Are we just being cranky?

As I've mentioned on these pages before, I am a huge Queen fan. And I loved Free, and liked Bad Company. But, seeing Paul Rodgers with Brian May and Roger Taylor (John Deacon brilliantly opted out) touring as Queen, really gave me the twitch. As IF anyone could replace Freddie Mercury.  But I'd like to add, I don't think Rodgers voice fit ANY of Queen's songs, so I just didn't like what I heard. It was a different band. Would I have enjoyed this lineup more if it was called "PBR?"

When Ian Hunter left Mott The Hoople, they carried on with a different guitarist and a lead singer who sounded not unlike Minnie Mouse, but at least they changed the name of the band...slightly.

I've listened to the Faces live reunion show 4 times. I can't get enough. What strikes me is how good it sounds. I think that's the key. It is also what some friends have said about The Left Banke. It just sounded so good. Yet, that doesn't seem to be enough.

Any thoughts on why?

Five Guys Walk Into A 日本語 巨大な石の祝祭

From just ten days ago, please...I beg of you...enjoy the Faces, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones, reunited, with Mick Hucknall of Simply Red on vocals (that's right!) and Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols on bass (BOO-ya), filling in for the two and only, late greats Rod Stewart and Ronnie Lane. (Oh wait, Rod Stewart may still be alive. I have to check Squanderedtalent.org.)

Personally, I can't get rid of the goosebumps, especially during the encore, where the boys pay tribute to the quintessential, rock and roll screamer, Steve Marriott.)


TRACKLIST:

Faces- Fuji Rock Festival, 7/30/11

Miss Judy's Farm
Had Me A Real Good Time
Silicone Grown
Ooh La La
I Wish It Would Rain
Maybe I'm Amazed
Flying
Debris
Gasoline Alley
Mona
Down Payment Blues
Cindy Incidentally
(I Know) I'm Losing You
I'd Rather Go Blind
Too Bad
Pool Hall Richard
Tin Soldier
All Or Nothing
Stay With Me


ZIP IT

"More Latter Day Gems" : THE WEEKEND MIX

Yet another rock and roll debate took place yesterday. This one was on the pages of Facebook and was started by a friend who posted a link from The Atlantic.  The article asked, "Did U2 just surpass the Rolling Stones as the greatest rock band ever?" Of course, the comments were fast, furious, and plentiful.

My two faves:

"Of course, the Stones haven't put out much worth listening to since "Exile on Main Street."
 (I am really tired of that one!) 

and

"That "Atlantic" piece is just about the most embarrassing, illogical, poorly-argued, extra-musical shite ever foisted upon us by a magazine with a glossy cover. Heinous doesn't come close to capturing sheer idiocy of that caliber! And, as ever, "Eff The Beatles!"

Ah yes! Opinions. We all got'em, but only the loyal readers of Burning Wood know, it's what I say that counts.  (~ahem~)

So to continue with what I started on this post, here is a "WEEKEND MIX" of some of my very favorite songs by my very favorite artists, all of which came long after the alleged peak years. I realize this mix doesn't prove anything. Loving anyone of these tunes won't necessarily make you love and appreciate any of the albums they are from, or suddenly make those albums better than "Exile On Main Street" or "The Who Sell Out." But, I would still put up a fervent argument that just because our legendary rock and roll heroes had more to say when they were younger, doesn't make what they have to say now any less musical or worthwhile.


TRACKLIST

Weight Of The World- Ringo Starr (1992)
Scattered- The Kinks (1993)
Mississippi- Bob Dylan (2001)
How Many Friends- The Who (1975)
Bedlam- Elvis Costello (2004)
Great Day- Paul McCartney (1997)
She'll Drive The Big Car- David Bowie (2003)
For Your Life- Led Zeppelin (1976)
Angel Come Home- The Beach Boys (1979)
Heaven's Falling- Cheap Trick (1983)
Past- Todd Rundgren (2004)
Girls In Their Summer Clothes- Bruce Springsteen (2007)
Leaving New York- R.E.M. (2004)
Slipping Away- Rolling Stones (1989)
Brainwashed- George Harrison (2002)


THE ZIP

They Just Don't Make'Em Like This Anymore

The first time I heard "Dance Girl" was on a CD mix of obscure soul and R&B put together by my friend and fellow Cool Jerk bandmate, Steve Feldman. I was dumbstruck.

First, it was the groove. Really greasey. Then, those brilliant background vocals.

"Shabba sha da, bop ba ba ba ba."

And those lyrics!

"Some people like to cheat and play/others like to lay all day,
Well, I'm the type, on my feet (?)/with my big-legged girl, with my big-legged girl.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."

It's really the "Stardust" of disco-funk.

At the time, I thought The Rimshots had to be some one-hit (?) wonders, but Steve Huey over at All Music says otherwise:


The Rimshots were the house band at Joe and Sylvia Robinson's All Platinum/Stang label family during the '70s, and also released their own records, mostly on the latter imprint. Led by guitarists and sometime composers and producers Walter Morris and Tommy Keith, their ranks also included drummer Clarence Oliver, bassist Jonathan Williams, and keyboardist Bernadette Randle. Their highest-profile backup appearances were with label flagship artists the Moments, whose Harry Ray and Al Goodman sometimes penned material for them. The Rimshots began releasing their own singles in 1972, when their brand of funk was harder than the disco-flavored sound they would later adopt. Early songs like "Soul Train, Pts. 1 & 2" and "Save That Thing" would go on to become rare collector's items, as would their 1972 debut LP Soul Train. Over the next couple of years, the Rimshots continued to release high-quality, non-LP singles -- "Dance Girl," "Harvey Wallbanger," "Who's Got the Monster" -- that cemented their future standing as a reliable source for hip-hop samples. By 1975, singles like "Do What You Feel, Pt. 1" and "(7-6-5-4-3-2-1) Blow Your Whistle" were beginning to move the Rimshots into smoother disco territory, and 1976's "Super Disco" and "We've Got You Singing" solidified the transition. 1976 also saw the release of the Rimshots' second album, Down to Earth, and the group contributed two tracks to the lesser-known blaxploitation soundtrack Patty. In addition to their work as the Stang house band, the Rimshots backed Etta James on her funky blues outing Etta Is Betta Than Evah. The 2000 Sequel compilation 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (Blow Your Whistle) reissued both Soul Train and Down to Earth, plus additional non-album material.


I hope you get the same pleasure out of "Dance Girl" as I do.

Going South For The Summer

Everyone knows "Games People Play" & "Walk A Mile In My Shoes," arguably Joe South's two most famous songs. Can't say I'm a big fan of either. But Joe South has been spinning on my turntable for a few weeks now. I picked up the album pictured above a couple of weeks ago, and it's turned me into a bit of an obsessive, if only temporarily.


It seems I missed out on South's not-so-famous stuff, which is this great mix of southern soul, country and blues. I've always loved "Hush" by Deep Purple and Linda Ronstadt's take on "I Knew You When," but Joe's versions of both, are by far, the winners. As for Lynn Anderson's monster hit, "Rose Garden," again, no contest.

From his self-titled LP of 1970, which by the way, is solid from top to bottom, check out "Leaning On You," followed by a version from The Yo-Yos.

You can buy the killer 2-FER, pictured on the left below.
http://www.amazon.com/Games-People-South-original-albums/dp/B000E115VI/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1312372825&sr=1-3









JOE'S VERSION





THE YO YO'S

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date: 8/2/11

JOHN HIATT- DIRTY JEANS & MUDSLIDE HYMNS

Some would argue that John Hiatt has never released an inferior record. (except maybe "Little Head.") For me, nothing after "Bring The Family"...and that's a long time ago...has ever hit that mark of excellence. I've always respected the man, and every release has been worth exploring for a bit, with "Beneath This Gruff Exterior" and "Crossing Muddy Waters" getting more airplay than the others. But mostly, I found myself saying, "This one sounds like the last one" more times than not.

But with the release of "Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns," a perfect record from head to tail, I've spent the last week rediscovering what so many of you already knew. John Hiatt is one of America's finest songwriters. When he offers up heartbreak as he does on "Don't Wanna Leave You Now" and "When New York Had Her Heart Broke," a song written and performed just days after 9/11 but never recorded, few can match Hiatt's emotional delivery. On tunes like "Damn This Town" and "I Love That Girl," Hiatt shows his skill for the hook. If we still had real radio, "I Love That Girl" would be blasting out of every car window for the rest of the summer.

Almost every song on "Dirty Jeans..." is an instant classic. I picked that up after the first run, just as I did when I first heard "Bring The Family." I'm thrilled now, that I can go back and listen with a new head, to so many of those records I casually dismissed as just more John Hiatt records...if I ever stop playing this new one.

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE- SKY FULL OF HOLES

Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood are clever songwriters. Tossing them off as one-hit wonders is a bit unfair, since only one album has been released since 2003's "Welcome Interstate Managers," the record that gave us the hit "Stacy's Mom." Over 4 records and 15 years, Fountains Of Wayne have been pretty perfect, delivering some of the finest and catchiest rock and roll music has to offer.

Now, we have "Sky Full Of Holes," a new record on a new label, and it too, has some pop gems that will keep you humming for days. "Someone's Gonna Break Your Heart," "A Dip In The Ocean," "A Road Song" and "Hate To See You Like This" are four songs with lyrics that beg for your attention and melodies so mellifluous, your teeth will hurt.

What bothers me though, and what keeps me from calling this a perfect pop record, are the first three songs. The opening punch of "The Summer Place," "Richie & Reuben" and "Acela" almost took me out of the game completely on my first pass through "Sky Full Of Holes." Adam's and Chris's specialties include the occasional pop culure reference, the real-life storytelling about their friends and acquaintances, and the wordless hooks like "whoa-oo -WHOA OH OHS" that seem to find their way into so many tunes. These tricks seem so obviously loaded into the first three songs, it almost feels like they sat down with a deadline to write some Fountains Of Wayne songs.

When I mentioned this to a friend, he replied, "Is that a bad thing?" I guess not.  I guess I'd prefer FOW songs on a FOW album over Queensryche songs on a FOW album, but to my ears, those opening tracks are the weakest on an otherwise wonderful record and they just sound forced, like aces up a sleeve that were pulled out too soon. I've heard these songs before and better.  Minor quibble, sequencing, but I never denied being a bit of a freak when it comes to this shit.


In the meantime, please enjoy a Japanese bonus track of FOW covering the Moody Blues, while buying both of these fabulous releases.

THE STORY IN YOUR EYES

Worst Album Ever

It would be selfish of me to keep this to myself. Please listen to the first song and an "exclusive Burning Wood" mix from Barb Jungr's "The Men I Love" CD, an album of covers that made my jaw drop so hard and so quick, I scraped my chin.

Now I understand "cabaret." I don't actively seek out singers of this genre, but I understand it. This misguided collection of tunes makes last week's covers release by America sound like "Abbey Road."


Look at this:


01. Once in a Lifetime (David Byrne/Brian Eno)
02. I’m a Believer (Neil Diamond)
03. Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache (Sandy Linzer/Denny Randell)
04. Night Comes On (Leonard Cohen)
05. Can’t Get Used to Losing You/Red Red Wine (Doc Pomus/Neil Diamond)
06. The River (Bruce Springsteen)
07. I Saw The Light (Todd Rundgren)
08. This Old Heart of Mine/Love Hurts (Holland-Dozier-Holland/ B&F Bryant)
09. Everything I Own (David Gates)
10. You Aint’s Going Nowhere (Bob Dylan)
11. My Little Town (Paul Simon)
12. Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb)


Seriously, words fail me, except for a few like...horrible, hilarious, and "are you kidding?" How about the genius of an Isley/Everlys medley? I mean, she even sings Bruce Springsteen's "The River" in first person.



Am I being mean?


Well, YOU listen to it.







ONCE IN A LIFETIME




THE MEDLEY