Favorite music

Great thread Albert. These are artists dear to my musical taste and history.

Chris Whitley was truly special and I felt it the minute I heard the first notes of Living With the Law. I believe he was a roadie or guitar tech for Daniel Lanois around that time and Malcom Burn, Lanois protege, produced that record. It had southern blues swag and Hendrix licks...and magic. I was anxiously awaiting Din of Ecstasy and surprised at the ripping electric purple haze blaze. Those 2 were his finest moments and are up there in albums that most influenced me during that time. Around Terra Incognita he came to this little bar around the corner from me. It was a rainy night and I could not get anyone to go along so I went alone. There was maybe 100 people there and he proceeded to blast out a set that is up there with the best I have seen. It was tight,, intense and loud as hell. In fact it was the loudest show I have ever seen with exception of Twilight Singers at Webster hall a few months back. I swear he was channeling the ghost of Hendrix and had no idea he was that much of a guitar virtuoso. What a moment in life that was!

Brian Blade is easily one of my favorite drummers, right their with Danny Carey. So fluid and creative. Check out the Joni Mitchel video Shadows and Light for some great BB moments. Also some very cool footage of his Daniel Lanois sessions in the Here Is What Is video. Highly recommended for all Daniel Lanois fans!

I could go on and on about Daniel Lanois. I share Albert's love for The Collection of Marie Claire as one of my favorite Lanois moments. Im one to listen to more recent music these days but funny when I find myself reaching back to the past it's often Time Out of Mind or Wrecking Ball or Teatro or So or Acadie or Sling Blade OST....his name is on so many great records and I honestly cannot think of anyone who comes even close to those credits. Wow.

I was not hooked by Black Dub on the first few listens but lately have revisited it and the light came on for me. It's now worked it's way into pretty regular rotation and I think they have some real chemistry.

What amazing talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1vZ3NIuJ3s&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7YtO08WMCI&feature=related

Daniel Lanois opened my eyes to the creative process of production when I first encountered his work with Brian Eno when they transformed U2 on Unforgettable Fire. Then I kind of forgot about him until Wrecking Ball came along and for the first time I became a big fan of a producer as a great artist. After that I searched out other stuff he collaborated on and followed that path and discovered a bunch of other music and artists like those mentioned above as well as his solo works. I never appreciated the impact a producer had on the finished product until Daniel taught me all about it. He is responsible for the sound and feel and aura of some of my favorite music and may be a true audiophile but on the creative front so we get to enjoy the result of recreating it later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY0bhs4O6_w

Last one, thanks for letting me steer this off on Chris Whitley for a few....

Amazing you went to school with Chris Whitley, that made me look him up:

Yeah, Chris was a great guy. He hung with a rough crowd, but got along with everyone, and was well liked. He was one of those folks who was wise beyond his years. Smoked like a chimney, even back then, which I believe is what cut his life so short. He was pretty passionate about dirt bikes too - big Bultaco fan, which is what he was riding back then (late 70's). Being a rider, I loved the line from his debut album, from, Look What Love Has Done:

Used to be when things got tight
I could bid you a well bye bye
Riding some two-wheeled sex machine
Like I don't have to try

Of all his albums, that first one, Living with the Law, remains my favorite. Love the tune, Phone Call from Leavenworth. We actually had a second celebrity in our graduating class - along with Chris there was Melissa Leo who's gone on to become a truly great actress. Also mature beyond her years, and also well-liked. This was a "progressive" public school in Bellows Falls, Vermont. I say progressive because back then they had moved into a custom made building (that still houses the school) where the classrooms have no walls (just a big open warehouse like space that is divided with movable dividers). Other than that, it was just another public high school.