sábado, 29 de outubro de 2016

Ian Hunter & The Rant Band - Fingers Crossed


















Ian Hunter & The Rant Band - Fingers Crossed - 2016

Ian Hunter’s latest studio album, Fingers Crossed unveils ten new, self-penned songs including his much-anticipated homage to David Bowie ‘Dandy’. Recorded at HOBO Studios in New Jersey, and co-produced by Hunter and Andy York, the record features his magnificent Rant Band and is the follow-up to 2012’s acclaimed When I’m President.

As leader of ‘70s British rock legends Mott the Hoople and as a hugely influential solo artist, Ian Hunter is widely revered as one of rock’n’roll’s most compelling performers and one of its most articulate songwriters. As author of such immortal anthems as, “All The Way From Memphis”, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and “Cleveland Rocks” and the voice of such landmark albums as, “All The Young Dudes”, “Mott”, “Ian Hunter” and “You’re Never Alone With A Schizophrenic”, he remains a hero to fellow musicians and fans around the world.

The compositions on Fingers Crossed see Hunter covering typically wide-ranging subject matter. ‘Dandy’, his fond tribute to David Bowie reflects on a relationship cemented in 1972 when Bowie produced Mott’s album All the Young Dudes and provided its hit title track. “I think ‘Dandy’ might be my favourite track on the album,” Ian admits “I like the line – ‘and then we took the last bus home’. David was an incredible artist with an insatiable curiosity for everything.”

Ghosts’ was inspired by a November 2014 visit to Union Avenue in Memphis where Ian and the Rant Band were invited to jam in rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Sam Phillips’ legendary Sun Studio. Title track ‘Fingers Crossed’ is a 1750’s sea-faring tale of impressment, when men were taken into the Navy by compulsion and forced recruitment.

“’Fingers Crossed’ was not inspired by a book” Ian comments, “actually it wasn’t inspired by anything material. I’ve no idea where it came from as I simply woke up one day with the line – ‘I was pressed into service, through no fault of my own’ – and from there the song took its own course. It could only go one way. It’s great when you get a strong opening line!”

White House’ injects a fun element, based on real-life and a real beaver while ‘Bow Street Runners’ tells the 18th Century tale of the Fielding Brothers. Hunter explains: “In the 1700s half-a-million people lived in London and there were no cops, so crime was rampant. It was crazy. One of the Fielding brothers was known as Blind Beak – he couldn’t see but he could smell crime and recognized thousands of criminals by the sound of their voices – so the story goes. The brothers Henry and John Fielding formed the Bow Street Runners … Britain’s first Bobbies!”

Morpheus’ is framed around the Ancient Greek god who had the ability to mimic human form and shape people’s dreams and has proved “the instant favourite of many people who have heard the album,” Hunter reveals. “I’m delighted with ‘Fingers Crossed’,” he adds; a sentiment sure to be shared by fans far and wide!

01. That's When Trouble Starts
02. Dandy
03. Ghosts
04. Fingers Crossed
05. White House
06. Bow Street Runners
07. Morpheus
08. Stranded in Reality
09. You Can't Live in the Past
10. Long Time

+@320

quinta-feira, 27 de outubro de 2016

The Good Old Boys - Live At The Deep Purple Convention (Re-Post)


















The Good Old Boys - Live At The Deep Purple Convention - 2009

review by Stuart A Hamilton
A concert staged for a convention commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the formation of Deep Purple saw The Good Old Boys taking the stage of Esquires in Bedford. In case you don't know, The Good Old Boys feature original Deep Purple bassist Nick Simper along with his former Warhorse / Fandango colleague Pete Parks on guitar. Add in former Strawbs drummer Richard Hudson, ex Renaissance guitarist Simon Bishop and one time Jo Jo Gunne vocalist Alan Barratt, and you've got a fair pedigree going on.

However, nowadays they're largely content to play other peoples songs in the manner of a glorified bar band, as they tackle blues, soul and rock'n'roll chestnuts from the likes of Eddie Cochran, former Simper employer Johnny Kidd, ZZ Top and Fleetwood Mac. They do tip their hat to Deep Purple with their version of 'Hush', and a fine version it is too. It's the sound of a really great night out, and if you stumbled into one of their shows, then you're pretty much guaranteed a good time. My favourite was their take on The Temptations classic, 'Shakey Ground', a tune also covered once upon a time by Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden on his "Look At Me Now" album (as well as being issued as a single).

Whether this translates onto CD is another matter altogether, although the musicians involved do put on a fine performance, and I'm quite happy to have it sitting here in my collection. The CD comes with a 12 page colour booklet with band biographies and photos from the soundcheck and show, including one of Simper alongside his replacement's replacement, Glenn Hughes.

Alan Barratt  - Vocals (Jo Jo Gunne)
Simon Bishop - Guitar, Vocals (Renaissance)
Peter Parks - Guitar, Vocals (Warhorse and Fandango)
Nick Simper - Bass, Vocals (Deep Purple)
Richard Hudson - Drums (Strawbs)

01. I'm Ready
02. A Fool For Your Stockings
03. My Way
04. Shakey Ground
05. Sleepwalk
06. Twenty Flight Rock
07. Somebody To Love
08. Don't Worry Baby
09. C'mon Everybody
10. Shakin' All Over
11. Oh Well
12. Hush
13. All My Rowdy Friends Are Comin' Over Tonight



+@320


quarta-feira, 19 de outubro de 2016

Dell Richardson - Pieces Of A Jigsaw (Repost)


















Dell Richardson - Pieces Of A Jigsaw - 1972

The acclaimed multi-instrumentalist first found fame in the African-rhythm rock band Osibisa. His involvement in with the group from 1969-1973 helped catapult Osibisa to the upper reaches of the UK album charts. Sales of Osibisa (’71), Woyaya (‘71), and Heads (‘72) reflected a slow but steady migration of audiences moving towards acceptance of their unusual blend of jazz and rock amid African beats. Dell briefly left Osibisa in 1973 to tour with UK favorites Free in a trek across the US. He recorded his first solo  for MCA in 1972  and then returned to Osibisa in 1975.

01. Do What You Can
02. Gypsy Girl
03. Jig-saw
04. Kodjo
05. Road Song
06. Good Morning World
07. Mama Jane
08. A Song For Two

Del Richardson - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
Alan Spenner - Bass
Chilli Charles - Drums
Jean Roussel - Keyboards
Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan - Horn
Remi Kabaka - Percussion
Rosetta Hightower, Donny Perkins - Vocals



+@192

sábado, 15 de outubro de 2016

Robey, Falk & Bod - Kentucky Gambler


















Robey, Falk & Bod - Kentucky Gambler - 1973

Bill Robey, Don Falk and Bod Noubarian formed this trio and released this album on Epic in 1973. Back in those days I was living in Alexandria, VA and used to shop at a cool record store in Georgetown called Orpheus.

When I first saw this LP I had no idea who these guys were but that never stopped me back then as long as the cover looked interesting. And as usual, I was right about this album. It quickly became one of my favorite records - and it still is.

If you like Poco and all the “Country-Rock” gems that came out in the early 70s then you’re gonna love this album. Their cover of “Magic Woman Touch” (which you may know from the Hollies’ ‘Romany’ album or the original from the band "The Greatest Show on Earth") is even better than those. And ’Free Blue’ (track one) is a quintessential specimen of the genre.

Two of these guys went on to form a band called Iguana and released an album on United Artists soon after the demise of R,F&B. and you really need to hear that too.


01. Free Blue
02. Magic Woman Touch
03. Brown Skin Blues
04. Woman Child
05. Playin' up to You
06. Kentucky Gambler
07. Lonesome Road
08. Call on You
09. City Pride
10. Denver Daydream
11. Walk Away Renee
12. That's Alright I Don't Mind
13. Free Blue (Mix)




+@192

Update : Iguana ‎- The Winds Of Alamar HERE

quarta-feira, 12 de outubro de 2016

Jamestown Revival -The Education Of A Wandering Man



Jamestown Revival -The Education Of A Wandering Man - 2016

From AMG
Lone Star State-based Americana duo Jamestown Revival formed in 2011 around the talents of childhood friends Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance. Growing up together in the small Texas town of Magnolia, Clay and Chance spent their formative years listening to artists like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Willie Nelson, the Everly Brothers, Guy Clark, and John Prine, each eventually carving out his own unique niche as a solo artist. The duo's debut long-player, a highly autobiographical collection of harmony-laden, Western-tinged indie folk songs in the vein of Shovels & Rope, the Avett Brothers, and the Lumineers, was recorded to tape in a log cabin in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, and released via Republic Records in 2014. The duo kept things closer to home for its much anticipated sophomore outing. Recorded in Austin, the rootsy, more rock and pop-oriented Education of a Wandering Man dropped in October 2016. 

01. Company Man
02. Love Is a Burden
03. Journeyman
04. American Dream
05. Airliner
06. Always Been Wild
07. Back to Austin
08. Midnight Hour
09. Poor Man's Gold
10. Almost All the Time
11. Done Me Wrong
12. Head On




Zach Chance - Piano, Vocals
Jonathan Clay - Guitar, Vocals
Ed Benrock - Drums
Nick Bearden - Bass

+@320

sábado, 8 de outubro de 2016

Bob Weir - Move Me Brightly - Live From Tri Studios


















Bob Weir - Move Me Brightly - Live From Tri Studios - 2014

In August of 2012, Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir hosted a five-hour celebration entitled Move Me Brightly, in honor of what would have been Jerry Garcia’s 70th birthday.

The revolving line-up of performers included fellow Grateful Dead members along with many guest artists who joined together to celebrate Jerry Garcia’s life and work. This 2-CD set is comprised of highlights from the 5 hour webcast event.

CD 1

01. The Wheel
02. Cumberland Blues
03. Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad
04. Mission in the Rain
05. Shakedown Street
06. He’s Gone
07. Eyes of the World
08. Terrapin Station

CD 2

01. Friend of the Devil
02. Tennessee Jed
03. Ship of Fools
04. Bird Song/New Speedway Boogie
05. Days Between/Franklin’s Tower
06. U.S. Blues

+@320

quarta-feira, 5 de outubro de 2016

Charles Bradley - Live From SXSW (The Spotify Sessions)


















Charles Bradley -  Live From SXSW (The Spotify Sessions) - 2016

Soul singer Charles Bradley’s star has been on the rise since the release of his widely praised 2011 debut album No Time For Dreaming, and his ascent has continued long after the release of his triumphant second album, 2013’s Victim of Love. Dubbed “The Screaming Eagle of Soul,” the singer just announced his anticipated third album Changes, out April 1, 2016 on Daptone Records imprint Dunham Records.


Those emotions are what lead to the final cut of the intimate and spare video for the song. Charles was originally set to sing along to the track and film in Times Square but, in the editing room, director Eric Feigenbaum (Remedial Media) says he “kept coming back to the take of Charles looking straight at the camera, telling the story with his eyes and reacting in the moment to the song. We only did that once. By the end of the take, everybody in the room was holding back tears.”

01. Intro & You Put a Flame on It
02. The World (Is Going Up In Flames)
03. Nobody But You
04. Loving You, Baby
05. You Think I Don't Know (But I Know)
06. Ain't It a Sin
07. Changes



+@192

domingo, 2 de outubro de 2016

Bob Weir - Blue Mountain


















Bob Weir - Blue Mountain - 2016

Blue Mountain is a solo album by former Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Bob Weir, released on September 30, 2016. The album was inspired by his time working as a ranch hand in Wyoming when he was fifteen years old. 

READ MORE HERE


01. Only a River
02. Cottonwood Lullaby
03. Gonesville
04. Lay My Lily Down
05. Gallop on the Run
06. Whatever Happened to Rose
07. Ghost Towns
08. Darkest Hour
09. Ki-Yi Bossie
10. Storm Country
11. Blue Mountain
12. One More River to Cross





+@320