Whats on your turntable tonight?

Turntable:

Rodrigo - Conciertos: Andaluz, de Aranjuez/The Romeros/Alessandro & San Antonio SO (Mercury Golden Imports) The composer himself adds a liner note affirming that The Romeros' "...color, authentic musicianship, and virtuosity on guitar...permits them to present truly extraordinary interpretations." (The Concierto Andaluz was commisioned by Celedonio Romero and dedicated to his guitar-playing sons.) All fans of Miles Davis'/Gil Evans' "Sketches Of Spain" need a good version of the Concierto de Aranjuez around, and this one is.

Manfred Mann - Mann Made (Ascot, 1966) The Mann and his band (as opposed to the Earth Band), post-Do Wah Diddy Diddy and pre-Quinn The Eskimo. The best original tune here is titled "L.S.D.", and its lyrics make (what appears to be) no further references whatsoever to what those letters normally stand for (but a band I used to play in did cover it). Also includes a cover of hometown DC blues guitar hero Bobby Parker's seminal "Watch Your Step".

Chad & Jeremy - Of Cabbages & Kings (Columbia, 1967) One of those quintessential '67 albums, with everything including the kitchen sink thrown in, along with a credit line informing us that the whole affair was "Arranged and scored by Chad Stewart" (Jeremy Clyde wrote the songs). If their psychedelic cover pic raiment and love beads don't let you know what you're in for, then how about the song titles that comprise Side Two?: "The Progress Suite, Movements 1 thru 5 - 1)Prologue 2)Decline 3)Editorial 4)Fall 5)Epilogue". Great production by Gary Usher.

Ravi Shankar - Charly (Soundtrack, World Pacific 1968) I really need to see the movie (a Sterling Silliphant adaptation of the Daniel Keyes novel "Flowers For Algernon", which I haven't read either). For one thing, it's got Claire Bloom in it. For another, the Main Title theme, written (but not on paper scores) like all of it by Ravi himself, rips off Erik Satie. Jazzy West Coast session cats galore, like Bud Shank, Tom Scott, Ray Brown, Laurindo Almeida, Bob Bain, Bill Plummer, Milt Holland, and more, all mixed up with sitar and tabla, mmmmm....

Diskolater:

John Coltrane - Coltrane (Impulse!, rec. 1962, Deluxe 2-disk 2002 reissue) Almost literally "Out Of This World". Makes your system sound ten feet tall - which is not incidentally also about how tall this music will make *you* feel (or at least me). With McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones.

The Fleshtones - More Than Skin Deep (Ichiban, '98) Only if you can proudly claim "I'm Not A Sissy" anymore! Or don't be and go see 'em live, to get real rock'n'roll again.

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Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die
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Rubinstein / Beethoven Piano CTO # 5 / Leinsdorg - RCA German pressing - SOA 25038-R/1-4 , 26.35033 (4 lp)

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Recent excursions into the good(live music) & the bad(CDs) have taken my attention away from this, my favorite thread.
Small venue shows by both Shivaree and Rickie Lee Jones remind why we're in this hobby in the first place. Amazing artistry on both counts. Shivaree is a definite band to keep your ears & eyes on.
Recent CD hunt reminds me that there's still far too much good stuff not yet on vinyl...a shame.
Regardless, Tindersticks - Can Our Love is serving as the perfect accompaniment for a rainy day. Spooky sounds reminiscent of The Blue Nile, with disturbed vocals lamenting over strings, staccato horns & brooding keyboards. Wanna segue into some dark Joy Division LP, but I don't own any. Will probably keep the mood w/Velvet Underground or turn back the clock to Billie Holliday.
Keep this thread humming, musical diversity rules! Cheers,
Spencer

Sonic treats, leftover after Halloween:

Hank Garland - Jazz Winds From A New Direction [Introducing The Modern Guitar Of] (Columbia [mono], 1961) Nashville C&W studio legend goes to swingsville, with Gary Burton on vibes, Joe Benjamin on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. I wish all of you could hear this record: not, I suppose, the type of sound that's considered accurately realistic today, but talk about your ear-candy - this toothache-sweet aural truffle practically sounds like it was recorded in a bonbon factory! Turn up this hugely atmospheric confection and instantly transform any system into big'ol corner horns powered by vintage zero-feedback SET tubes - lucsious and exciting are two words that come to mind. And that describes the music as well, which never sacrifices inventive arrangements or genuinely soulful artistry in getting its hot-licks thrills; my only complaint is that it's too short! Snap this one up if ever you come across a copy. (Cover photo is also tres cool for those into Gibson archtops - not to mention MG drop-tops.)

The Jacques Loussier Trio with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #5/Air On The G String/Prelude #2 In C Minor (London Phase 4 Stereo, 1969) Maybe the most successful combination of the trends of piano trios playing jazz arrangements of Bach plus small jazz groups fronting symphony orchestras? Or maybe just the only attempt at it? Whatever, this really works, being at least as good as the earlier Loussier Trio 'Play Bach' series. Somewhat unbelievably, the orchestra and group never step on each other's toes, and swing hard together right through some very complex arrangements. The alternately jazzy and bluesy cadenzas integrate perfectly with the orchestral movements, tying together time signature changes with a lot of dynamic variety and structural interest. The balances are about ideal, the strings and woodwinds sounding lush and spacious while the trio is satisfyingly present and yet part of the whole. The overt sound of the record is quite pleasing like most Phase 4's, yet even though my copy is pristine, there perhaps seems to be something a slight touch 'off' about it in a 'modulated' sort of way, as if possibly there may have been a subliminal-level tape-flutter, disk-cutting, or amplifier power-supply breakthrough problem in the mastering chain, but not enough to preclude listening enjoyment, or for me to even really be sure of for that matter.

Last night:

Arturo Delmoni: "Songs My Mother Taught Me" John Marks Records, originally issued on NorthStar. Romantic works for violin and piano marvelously rendered by a master violinist. If you don't know this record, and you enjoy chamber music, seek it out! Beautifully recorded, beautifully performed (as is all of Delmoni's work).

"Popular Masterworks of the Baroque" Tafelmusik Baroque Orch, Reference Recordings RR13 (45 rpm, half-speed mastered by Stan Ricker). IMO, one of the great Reference Recordings LPs by the (then young) Canadian group.

"Music of Pachabel, Gluck and Handel" Hogwood/Academy of Ancient Music, L'Oiseau Lyre DSLO 594. A beautiful analog recording of music performed in Hogwood's typically light, delicate and lively style. Nicely recorded and quite good sound even through the rigors of DMM mastering.

Pink Floyd, "Wish You Were Here" Columbia PC 33453 - hey, we all have to have some fun!
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