What are you listening to?

[Savonarola]

Freak Out! has a lot of really good songs. Something which cannot be said about all his records.

Yes, I had burned out on the music collages, but listening to the first LP again it does have a number of good songs.  He probably could have had a hit with some of them with more commercial oriented production and different lyrics.

[Admiral Yi]

Somebody sang an Ed Sheeran song t'other night at karaoke. 

Lyrics sounded like they were written by a five year old. 

[Eddie Teach]

"Alexa, play Jai Ho."
"Playing Jive Talking by the Bee Gees."
/facepalm

"Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire" worked though.

[Savonarola]

The Yardbirds - The Yardbirds (1966)

Also known as "Roger the Engineer" and "Over Under Sideways Down."  The Yardbirds were now Jeff Beck's band and were moving away from the blues towards rock and psychedelia.  The album is a hit or miss affair, a lot of the blues instrumentals are forgettable.  Still it's a marked improvement from "Having a Rave Up."

[The Minsky Moment]

Ellington - At Newport 1956 (complete)

The first 3 CDs I ever bought were Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus, the Miles Davis/Milt Jackson Bag's Grove Session, and the Ellington Newport recording.  What I didn't know then was that other than the last track Ellington CD wasn't really the Newport performance, most of it was recorded later in studio and the audience noise spliced in.  Partly because Duke was a perfectionist and partly because the Columbia live recording had some issues.

Turns out there was another live recording by Voice of America, and the Sony people did some technical wizardry to create a stereo recording combining those tapes and the Columbia masters.  Against expectations, it really does sound good, and the genuine live set is there in its full if flawed glory just as it was played back in July 56.

Ellington's own reservations aside, it's a good snapshot of his band at or near its peak level of performance.  The recording is most famous for a long Paul Gonsalves tenor solo that drove the crowd in a frenzy.  The solo is fine, but the ensemble playing is the star here.  That and Johnny Hodges on alto.

[Duque de Bragança]

Alan Silvestri - Delta Force Theme

after

Megaforce theme 

[garbon]

Betsy - Little White Lies

[Savonarola]

Ellington - At Newport 1956 (complete)

The first 3 CDs I ever bought were Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus, the Miles Davis/Milt Jackson Bag's Grove Session, and the Ellington Newport recording.  What I didn't know then was that other than the last track Ellington CD wasn't really the Newport performance, most of it was recorded later in studio and the audience noise spliced in.  Partly because Duke was a perfectionist and partly because the Columbia live recording had some issues.

I've read that one of the biggest problems is that Paul Gonsalves microphone wasn't wired for recording.

Turns out there was another live recording by Voice of America, and the Sony people did some technical wizardry to create a stereo recording combining those tapes and the Columbia masters.  Against expectations, it really does sound good, and the genuine live set is there in its full if flawed glory just as it was played back in July 56.

Ellington's own reservations aside, it's a good snapshot of his band at or near its peak level of performance.  The recording is most famous for a long Paul Gonsalves tenor solo that drove the crowd in a frenzy.  The solo is fine, but the ensemble playing is the star here.  That and Johnny Hodges on alto.

I'd like to hear that; where is it available?

[Josephus]

Tom Petty. Full Moon Fever. A classic

[Tamas]

Alan Silvestri - Delta Force Theme

:worship:

The first Delta Force movie was formative in young Tamas' life.

I mean, rocket launchers on motorbikes. Come on.

[Savonarola]

Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (1966)

I think this is the best British blues album I've heard (admittedly that's not a real high bar) even their cover of "What'd I say"  sounds great.  I didn't know John McVie was in the Blues Breakers.  Mick Fleetwood was too, but he joined after this album.

[The Minsky Moment]

I've read that one of the biggest problems is that Paul Gonsalves microphone wasn't wired for recording.

The VOA had their own microphone which caught it more clearly.

I'd like to hear that; where is it available?

It's available on the streaming services - look for "complete" or a long track list that starts with the Star Spangled Banner played live
Or get the CD: https://www.amazon.com/Ellington-At-Newport-1956-Duke/dp/B00000IMYA

[The Minsky Moment]

(admittedly that's not a real high bar)

Not a Led Zep fan generally, but always had a soft spot for "When the Levee Breaks".  It may not be the most authentic presentation, but as a creative reinterpretation it's got moxie.

[Savonarola]

I've read that one of the biggest problems is that Paul Gonsalves microphone wasn't wired for recording.

The VOA had their own microphone which caught it more clearly.

I'd like to hear that; where is it available?

It's available on the streaming services - look for "complete" or a long track list that starts with the Star Spangled Banner played live
Or get the CD: https://www.amazon.com/Ellington-At-Newport-1956-Duke/dp/B00000IMYA

Awesome, thanks.

[Savonarola]

(admittedly that's not a real high bar)

Not a Led Zep fan generally, but always had a soft spot for "When the Levee Breaks".  It may not be the most authentic presentation, but as a creative reinterpretation it's got moxie.

I like "When the Levee Breaks," but I don't think Led Zeppelin IV is a blues album.  I think you could make the case for Led Zeppelin I being blues but, well, see my original post.