What CD are you listening to right now?

[bigburner]

Now... have you heard the Root Down record I keep hounding Bluespower to listen to?

Sadly no. I'll add it to the list.

So much music and so little time.

[JudyLou]

Josh Groban – AWAKE. Allover, a very nice album. Two tracks especially appealing to me – Lullaby & Weeping. The combination with a South African choir called Ladysmith Black Mambazo is just amazing, very well done – excellent harmony. Paul Simon used them quite a while back in one of his albums – they are very good.

[dknightd]

Fela Kuti, Live! With Ginger Baker

[Thelonious Funk]

Fela Kuti, Live! With Ginger Baker

All right! A Fela Kuti fan!

[David Meek]

Genesis - And Then There Were Three. . .

The last truly great Genesis album, before they succumbed to Phil Collins' direction and went more into pop.

[Thelonious Funk]

The Beatles Love album.

I can't believe none of you have talked about this cd on the site!

(Just kidding.)

Glad I finally listened to you all and it.

I love Love.

[David Meek]

Jethro Tull - Aqualung

What an album! With songs like

Hymn 43
Locomotive Breath
Aqualung
My God
Cross-eyed Mary

you can't help but like Ian Anderson's musings on man, his relationship with God, the institution of religion. A thought-provoking album as well as a great listen.

[Ovation]

The Beatles Love album.

I can't believe none of you have talked about this cd on the site!

(Just kidding.)

Glad I finally listened to you all and it.

I love Love.

Just finished spinning the DVD-A. Some great stuff on this one (love the harmonies in surround). :T

[David Meek]

Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna

What can I say? I'm on a classic rock kick today.

[H.Donald]

I hope I don't lose my bluesman card over this,but....I found the cd,'Amplified heart' by Everything but the Girl yesterday,it was in my collection.
I had not played it in a few years.But Tracy Thorn's haunting voice showed me what I have been 'MISSING'.
I have already played the cd twice today.

[Thelonious Funk]

And... if you thought that Booker T did "Green Onions" well you ain't heard nothin' yet. I bought this album because I heard that version of Green Onions at a party and was blown away. I've had the album for over a year and yesterday was the third time that I've listened to it. All this talk about Super Session made me get it out again. The album is a mix of new and old, mellow and up-tempo. Will I pull it out again? Yup.

This is an awesome cover of Green Onions. Woo a Hoo.

[bigburner]

"Ballad of the Broken Seas" by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Two very different voices. Unusual.

[Alloroc]

Jethro Tull - Aqualung

What an album! With songs like

Hymn 43
Locomotive Breath
Aqualung
My God
Cross-eyed Mary

you can't help but like Ian Anderson's musings on man, his relationship with God, the institution of religion. A thought-provoking album as well as a great listen.

Yep. a great album. I have it original on vinyl from '71 (my dad's) and on CD.

Once of my favourite lines is the opening line of Aqualung...

'Sitting on a park bench
eyeing little girls with bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.'

Paints a vivid picture of his antihero.

[Evil Twin]

Marvin Sewell's "The Worker's Dance".

An eclectic combination of Zydeco, R&B, blues, Jazz, classical, and other influences in an EXTREMELY natural sounding recording...

Available at CDBABY


More info here...

Marvin Sewell at All About Jazz

The Force is strong in this one....

[David Meek]

ET, I recently ran across another reference to this album but I can't recall where. It was positive, too. Looks like one I'm going to have to pick up. Thanks for the recommendation.

[bigburner]

''Kal David & the Real Deal: Live At Blue Guitar'' by Kal David

I heard this for the first time tonight. It's too late to compose a review so I nicked this one from Amazon:

The first 8 tracks of this constitute the best string of blues rock on any album of all time. Between Kal's incredible voice and searing but tasty guitar riffs, Tony Padlers unbelievable Hammond B3 organ, Alan Diaz's steady beat, and Kal's wife Lori Bono's backup vocals, there isnt a better recording made. Since Kal and Lori sold their club Blue Guitar, that makes this recording all the more special since you cant go find them live much anymore. This cd I give to people who like good music and they always say WOW that was great, where did you find this, who is this guy. Its hard to pick the best track but if forced Shadows Across the Land is the topper. Turn this on and amaze your friends.

I can't argue with that. Lovely B3 that you might like Eric, and a band that's as tight as a sparrow's @rse. I'll buy this CD tomorrow.

[natural]

Still breaking in my new DIY subwoofer. Bach for organ, Blue Man Group for percussion, Jackyl, Lennie Kravitz, and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer rounding things out are doing it for me right now. :twisted:

[Evil Twin]

ET, I recently ran across another reference to this album but I can't recall where. It was positive, too. Looks like one I'm going to have to pick up. Thanks for the recommendation.

You will find it to be most impressive...

[Alloroc]

Colin Hay : Going Somewhere

I really love this guy's voice. He played Dublin a couple of years back and it was a great gig. Spends most of his time in LA now.

[David Meek]

I've got The Beatles - Love on here at work. It's playing over the store's PA system.

[natural]

Puddle of Mudd....... Whoo hoo! She Hates Me

[r100gs]

Another winner by this guy . For those who enjoy smooth jazz with that guitar flavor, Nils "Ready to Play". All of his albums are a joy to listen to recording wise ;x( . HDCD to boot. :W

[bigburner]

Now... have you heard the Root Down record I keep hounding Bluespower to listen to?

So would you recommend "Root Down" or "Root Down Live" Eric?

[Thelonious Funk]

I think they are the same CD, Nigel. I know my CD is live, so if there is a difference, go with the live one.

[bigburner]

I think they are the same CD, Nigel. I know my CD is live, so if there is a difference, go with the live one.

Good, because I got the live one today!

There is a big difference between the two CDs...

Root Down (Live!)

01. Sagg Shootin' His Arrow 11:47
02. For Everyone Under The Sun 5:54
03. After Hours 7:46
04. Root Down (And Get It) 12:29
05. Let's Stay Together 6:26
06. Slow Down Sagg 10:30
07. Root Down (And Get It) 12.12

Root Down

01. Sagg Shootin' His Arrow 7:09
02. For Everyone Under The Sun 5:56
03. After Hours 7:45
04. Root Down (And Get It) 7:44
05. Let's Stay Together 6:30
06. Slow Down Sagg 6:43

[vatulele]

BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge Album

Great chance to hear some bands playing small scale live. Like having them in your own living room ! Not sure about the quality as its a compilation thing and 40 tracks on 2 discs, which to me rings alarm bells. But I have not yet sat down and truly studied its quality cos I'm so busy enjoying the music. I am desperately hoping they will release it as a box set on vinyl so we can really enjoy it ! ! !

[bigburner]

Derek Trucks Band - “Joyful Noise” (Audio CD - 2002)

The most descriptive word for this album is *eclectic. It includes blues, soul, Eastern music, and even jazz (in particular track 9 “Lookout 31” which reminded me that I gave up liking some styles of jazz a long time ago). That slightly negative comment has nothing to do with the quality of the songs or the musicianship on this album, which are both sublime, including track 9!

Track 8 “Baby, You're Right”, featuring his wife Susan Tedeschi singing, is a gem among many. Track 3 “Home In Your Heart” and Track 6 “Like Anyone Else” feature Solomon Burke who I rate as the best soul (and sometimes country) singer alive.

Derek has three jobs: he’s the guitarist in the Allman Brothers Band, he’s been on tour with Eric Clapton as second guitarist for the past year (playing mainly slide guitar), and he has his own band who are responsible for this album. He has excelled in all three jobs. In between he has a wife and two young children, which must have made his time on the road quite difficult at times. We are the benefactors of Derek’s hard work.

I rated “The Derek Trucks Band - Songlines Live!” (2006) just about the best DVD I saw last year. The songs on that DVD are eclectic too.

Make no mistake – Derek Trucks is a star and the sooner you chaps get onto him the better. Heavy hitting musicians want to be near him and so do I.

Nigel.

*eclectic – a mixture of styles; composed of material gathered from various sources

[wkhanna]

I heard him interviewed as part of a review of his latest album. It is on my ‘to get’ list. Gald to hear you liked it.

[David Meek]

Nigel, if you like Derek Trucks then there's a good chance you'll like the band Gov't Mule. It's a "power trio" made up of guitarist Warren Haynes, bassist Allen Woody (both of Allman Brothers fame) and drummer Matt Abts. The best way I can describe the music is the Allman Brothers mixed in with a serious dose of power blues ala Robin Trower and an occasional hard rock guitar riff. Add in some of those whiskey-soaked, gravelly vocals and there you have it.

I have their self-titled debut and Life Before Insanity with Live. . . With A Little Help From Our Friends on order. It's good stuff! :T

[bigburner]

Nigel, if you like Derek Trucks then there's a good chance you'll like the band Gov't Mule. It's a "power trio" made up of guitarist Warren Haynes, bassist Allen Woody (both of Allman Brothers fame) and drummer Matt Abts. The best way I can describe the music is the Allman Brothers mixed in with a serious dose of power blues ala Robin Trower and an occasional hard rock guitar riff. Add in some of those whiskey-soaked, gravelly vocals and there you have it.

I have their self-titled debut and Life Before Insanity with Live. . . With A Little Help From Our Friends on order. It's good stuff! :T

Thanks David, I'll seek out one of their albums.

Looking through my mp3 collection I see that I have only one of their songs - "I Can't Quit You Baby" - which is a Willie Dixon song if I'm not mistaken. It's a 12 minute live track and it sounds great!

Nigel.

[chinets]

Bigburner,
The Beatles DVD-A LOVE album was mesmerizing. Never heard the beatles so good on an album. Thanks for the review. :T
I thought the 6 CD 24 bit package Album of John coltrane fearless leader was excellent what do you think?? :roll:
Does Morph the cat come in SACD or DVD-A ,because I see that Donald Fagen nightfly is on DVD-A ?? Which out of the 3 top by Donald Fagen albums would you buy? Morph the Cat, Nightfly or Kamakiriad , and which are In SACD or DVD-A for me to buy??? :W .
Sorry ,tall order here Bigburner, but thanks in advance!! ;x(
Cheers!

[bigburner]

Bigburner,
The Beatles DVD-A LOVE album was mesmerizing. Never heard the beatles so good on an album. Thanks for the review. :T
I thought the 6 CD 24 bit package Album of John coltrane fearless leader was excellent what do you think?? :roll:
Does Morph the cat come in SACD or DVD-A ,because I see that Donald Fagen nightfly is on DVD-A ?? Which out of the 3 top by Donald Fagen albums would you buy? Morph the Cat, Nightfly or Kamakiriad , and which are In SACD or DVD-A for me to buy??? :W .
Sorry ,tall order here Bigburner, but thanks in advance!! ;x(
Cheers!

Hi chinets,

I don't have the John Coltrane CD I'm afraid.

I have "The Nightfly", "Kamakiriad" and "Morph the Cat" all on CD only. My favourite by far is "The Nightfly" - a wonderful album.

A quick check using Google shows that all 3 Donald Fagen albums are available on DVD-A. I couldn't see any references to SACD, but as I say, it was only a quick look.

Best wishes,
Nigel (Buzzzzz).

[chinets]

Thanks Bigburner,
I could ONLY find Nightfly on DVD-A so far, but I will search to see if the rest are In DVD-A too. I always take your word as done deal ,so maybe all three are IN DVD-A. If they are I'll buy all three in DVD-A..I love DVD-A !! :T
Thanks for your kind help, I appreciate it. ;x(
If you don't have that John Coltrane 6 CD package ,I would certainly recommend it, as it is remastered in 24 bit ,and is awsome, that is if you like John Coltrane music of course!!! :W
Thanks again Bigburner for all your kind and sweet help my friend. ;x( :T
God Bless and Cheers! ;x(

[chinets]

Sorry Nigel ( Bigburner)
What is the Buzzzz after your name stand for?? Just curious!!

[Bluespower]

By all means, snarf up the Donald Fagen titles on DVD-A while you can. If you like Donald Fagen then there are three Steely Dan titles you can also get on DVD-A:

Everything Must Go
Gaucho
Two against Nature

Amazing mixes!

[Burke Strickland]

Alison Kraus + Union Station "Live" on SACD

There's a reason the audience was so enthusiastic and it's not because she said the performance hall was pretty. It's because she and the group are talented and sound great! The multichannel SACD almost makes it seem like "you were there", and inspires just about as much enthusiasm, too.

Concerti "per l'orchestra Dresda" played by Musica Aniqua Koln directed by Reinhard Goebel on an Archiv CD -- selections by Heinichen, Varacini, Quante, Pisendel, Fasch and Dieupart

In addition to providing delightful renditions of some less well known Baroque works (than, say, the music of Vivaldi with which it was contemporaneous) this disc is a good test of your system's resolving capability. Not a test of bombastic SPLs, but rather, layered detail and distinctive tonal characterstics of individual instruments. Superb recording quality!

Burke

[r100gs]

Pau Brown & Friends, "White Sand", I would say for a studio musician/producer going out on his own, this guy has done a great job ;x( . This is his third album. All the acoustical tracks are fantastic :T . The recording, as with his past two, is fantastic. Smooth jazz all the way. :P

[bigburner]

Sorry Nigel ( Bigburner)
What is the Buzzzz after your name stand for?? Just curious!!

It's a reference to your comments in this thread yesterday http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=24967

How's your memory chinets???!!!

Nigel.

[bigburner]

Alison Kraus + Union Station "Live" on SACD

There's a reason the audience was so enthusiastic and it's not because she said the performance hall was pretty. It's because she and the group are talented and sound great! The multichannel SACD almost makes it seem like "you were there", and inspires just about as much enthusiasm, too.

Have you watched the DVD of that same concert Burke? It's wonderful.

Being able to see the artists work their magic triples the experience for me.

Nigel.

[chinets]

OK !! Bigburner,
We are getting old here, and the memmory is fading fast!! :W
Sorry, when you gave me the hint, it came to my brain like lightning!! Oops forgot about that thread!! ops:

Thanks bluespower for your kind help on these Donald fagen titles in DVD-A !! ;x( I am grateful and appreciate it!

Thanks guys and have a wonderful day!!

[Bluespower]

You are very welcome. The three Fagen DVD-As are some of my most treasured recordings and ones that I use to show off the system with. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

[Burke Strickland]

Have you watched the DVD of that same concert Burke? It's wonderful.

Yes, and I agree it's wonderful. Perhaps our adulation for the DVD probably belongs in another thread (however that won't stop me from responding here). :>) There are times I like to "just listen" and other times I want to be "more involved". Last night was a "listening" night and the SACD has arguably better sound than the DTS or DD 5.1 soundtracks on the DVD. (Of course, it is hard to do a double blind test when the DVD is so much fun to watch.) :>) And the multichannel SACD is the only way to get a true hi-rez surround performance. Hmmm.. maybe I could synch up the DVD with the SACD... or maybe not. Either one "works for me".

Another example of enjoyable music being enhanced even more by watching the performers do their thing is the "Eric Clapton Unplugged" DVD. Although I had already enjoyed the CD before the DVD even became available, seeing the group interact with each other and with the audience helped make sense of some things that "just happened" on the CD, and made the whole thing a lot more fun. Now I don't have to actually watch the DVD every time to "get the picture".

Same magic at work here with Alison Krauss and Union Station. The performers take their work very seriously and yet are having a great time doing it. The music is enhanced by the visuals. The producers showed a lot of restraint in filming the concert without a lot of gimmicky camera work or distracting split screen nonsense during the show.

Of course it also helps that they are not only a great recording group, but that they don't mess up their music when they play it live on stage with banter such as "let me hear you put 'em together one more time" in the middle of the song like that which mars the Marshall Tucker Band's live concert DVD. Or the "cute" spoken comments about the lyrics in the midst of singing them that destroys some of Joan Baez's live recordings.

Now if Alison and U.S. would come to Houston to play a complete concert (instead of just doing a couple of numbers in a multiple-performer show) then I'd add "live" the way I've enjoyed "Live". :>)

Burke

[wkhanna]

Robbie Robertson (you know, that one guy from ‘The Band’) - ‘From the Underworld’

Robby has American Indian genealogy, and used ths album to honor his heritage. As such, he has delivered a unique fusion of rock, folk, new age and a hint of Jazz within traditional American Indian music to create a very unique, spiritual and IMHO pleasing album. If you are expecting traditional ‘Band’ like sound, stay away. For those that like to explore, and see what an old friend who you have not heard form in a while has been up to, I highly recommend this one.

[bigburner]

"We Want MOORE!" by Gary Moore (Audio CD - 2003)

This is the original recording remastered from the 1984 concert.

Fairly heavy...

[bigburner]

Hammond Gamble - "Plugged In And Blue"

Hammond Gamble plays guitar and sings, and is an R&B legend in New Zealand.

This album was recorded live one wild Friday night in 1995 at Auckland's infamous Gluepot tavern shortly before it was knocked down.