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Posted: 30 Jul 2013 12:42 PM PDT
FLEETWOOD MAC - THEN PLAY ON
There were 2 different versions of this LP, each with slightly different tracks. The CD contains all tracks from both versions. Led by singer-guitarist Peter Green, the first version of Fleetwood Mac was one of England's premier bands and possibly the greatest white blues band ever to emerge from the '60s blues revival.1969's Then Play On is their best album and Green's pinnacle achievement. Musicians include: Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwin (vocals, guitar); John McVie (bass); Mick Fleetwood (drums), and Christine Perfect (background vocals) Heavily influenced by Otis Rush, Green had an unusually lyrical style for a blues musician, able to draw on flamenco, folk, even classical guitar--all of which make an appearance in the ambitious instrumental coda to his major opus, "Oh Well." Despite the inclusion of superior modern blues songs like "Rattlesnake Shake" and "Show-Biz Blues," Fleetwood Mac's Then Play On is notable for its instrumentals. Standout tracks range from the dream-like voyages "My Dream" and "Underway" to virtuosic three-guitar jams like "Searching For Madge" and "Fighting For Madge," both of which feature Green's inspired guitar work. ~ CD Universe
SOPHISTICATED BOOM BOOM - THE SHADOW MORTON STORY (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
This is a truely amazing batch of music that ranges from early rockers to glittery glam rock – from a legendary producer who worked with everyone from The Shangri-Las to The New York Dolls! George Shadow Morton was a key figure in changing the sound of the New York scene in the 60s and early 70s – and with roots in novelty rock and early studio tricks for rock music, he was very well poised to bring his own sort of special magic to later famous productions that make Morton as important a production force as Phil Spector, Kim Fowley, and Jack Nitzsche! Included with this collection is a special book that's so rich in detail, it warrants a different sort of package than other titles in this series – a perfect accompaniment to the range of sounds that includes "Only Seventeen" by The Beatle-ettes, "Sophisticated Boom Boom" by The Goodies, "Baby" by Ellie Greenwich, "Past Present & Future" by The Shangri-Las, "So Soft So Warm" by The Nu Luvs, "Stop The Clock" by The Shaggy Boys, "Too Old To Go Way Little Girl" by Janis Ian, "You Keep Me Hangin On" by Vanilla Fudge, "And When It's Over" by The Vagrants, "In A Gadda Da Vida" by Iron Butterfly, "Midnight Lady" by Mott The Hoople, and "Stranded In The Jungle" by New York Dolls. ~ Dusty Groove
KENDRA MORRIS - MOCKINGBIRD
Kendra Morris is no mockingbird here – no copycat singer or too-retro diva – and instead finds a great space on this album that really has her coming into her own! The album definitely draws on older soul modes – as do the arrangements by Jeremy Page – but the overall presentation is contemporary, in a style that's not Neo Soul, yet not rockish either – a special space that kind of slides in between genres, and which may well help push Morris over the top! The set features a really wonderful choice of tunes – including some tracks that we never would have imagined in a soulful setting – like "Space Oddity", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", "Black Hole Sun", and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" – plus titles that include "Miss You", "Ride The Lightning", "Walk On The Wild Side", "Walk On By", and "As Long As I've Got You". ~ Dusty Groove
 
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Posted: 30 Jul 2013 12:36 PM PDT
BUDDY GUY - RHYTHM & BLUES
Rhythm & Blues is the latest release from the guitar man himself, and it' another Buddy Guy studio classic and it features contributions from Gary Clark Jr., Keith Urban, and Kid Rock just to name a few. Buddy blazes brightly on this double dose of Rhythm & Blues – one disc titled Rhythm and the other Blues – and both are prime late-career work from one of the world's foremost electric blues players! The stylistic differences aren't incredibly vast between the Rhythm half and the Blues halves. Buddy's playing is boisterous on both – borderline ferocious, actually – with rhythmic rockers more prominent on the Rhythm half, and bluesy structures and subject matter deeper on the Blues half. His voice and guitar playing are as strong as they've been in years – it seems like 70 is the new 40 for the amazing Mr. Guy! Titles include "Best In Town", "Justifyin'", "What's Up With That Woman", "What You Gonna Do About Me" with Beth Hart, "The Devil's Daughter", "Meet Me In Chicago", "Too Damn Bad", "Evil Twin" with 3/4s of Aerosmith, "Blues Don't Care" with Gary Clark Jr., "Poison Ivy", "Whiskey Ghost" and more. ~ Dusty Groove
BAR-KAYS - DANGEROUS
Here's a reissue of a delightful album from the Bar-Kays, featuring a tighter sound than before from them – that lean approach to funky grooves that some of their contemporaries were hitting as the 80s moved on – yet still served up here by the full ensemble with a relatively fresh feel overall. Originally released on the Mercury label back in 1984, Dangerous eventually charted at number seven on the Billboard Soulc Charts. Amidst the beats and keyboards, there's still lots of nice funky inflections on bass and guitar – often handled in a skittish mode that energizes things nicely, especially alongside the more electro-styled vocals. The vibe of the record is definitely in keeping with the cover – but in the best way possible – and titles include "Dangerous", "Make Believe Lover", "Dirty Dancer", "Freakshow On The Dance Floor", and "Sexomatic". ~ Dusty Groove.
JEFF GOLUB WITH BRIAN AUGER - TRAIN KEEPS A ROLLING
Jeff Golub's got a new album out and it's definately one to check out. On Train Keeps A Rolling he's joined forces with Brian Auger for a terrific 11-song collection of soul, jazz, blues and rock which combines Golub's bluesy guitar sounds along with Auger Hammond B-3 organ - pure delight! Also featured on the album are drummer Steve Ferrone, who was an original member of the acclaimed jazz-rock ensemble Brian Auger & The Oblivion Express, and bassist Derek Frank, who also had a history playing with Auger. Augmenting the tracks were percussionist Luis Conte and a lively horn section comprised of Mindi Abair (alto sax), Nick Lane (trombone), Dave Woodford (baritone sax, flute) and Steve Madaio (trumpet). Making guest appearances on the vocal selections were Christopher Cross, Ambrosia's David Pack and Alex Ligertwood, who was also an original member of The Oblivion Express and also spent a years as a member of Santana.Golub's Train Keeps A Rolling includes the standout tracks: Pusherman (Curtis Mayfield); Walking On The Moon (Sting); How Long (Ace); as well as Train Keeps A Rolling; Whenever your're Ready; and others.
 
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Posted: 30 Jul 2013 06:39 AM PDT
 MONDAY MICHIRU - BRASILIFIED
Here's some really cool work from Monday Michiru – and a record that reminds us all over again why we love her music so much! The album's got Monday serving up all the Brazilian sounds you'd guess from the title – but always with that positive, upbeat style we've always dug in her music – a vibrant sort of energy that's very different than not only other singers of Brazilian music, but also from most of Michiru's contemporaries on the underground scene! The instrumentation is quite jazzy throughout – thanks to arrangements from Simone Giuliani and Alex Sipiagin – but there's also plenty of groove, too – a great mix of Brazilian roots and jazzier funk, of the sort you'd find on older projects from guys like Gilles Peterson or Patrick Forge. Monday's vocals sound better than ever in this setting – really reaching for the skies with a new sense of glory – and titles include "Sunrise", "Things I Say", "Zanzibar", "Bossamore", "Celebrate", "New Morning", "Beautiful People", and "Bedtime Story". ~ Dusty Groove
CHANTE MOORE - MOORE IS MORE
Chante Moore is back with a vengeance and she is doing what she does best – keeping it smooth and special, and really letting her great vocals stretch out and flow! The album's got a mostly laidback vibe – tunes that are well-produced, but without any too-commercial modes too – that special sort of space between the mainstream and underground that Chante's always inhabited – and which comes off well here with studio help from Chris Big Dog Davis, Kawme, Midi Mafia, Derrick Kinsey, and others. The tunes include a few surprising choices, but most of the numbers are right on the money for the well-tooled Chante Moore aesthetic – titles that include "Baby Can I Touch Your Body", "Alone", "Talking In My Sleep", "Don't Make Me Laugh", "Mrs Understood", and "On & On". ~ Dusty Groove
EYDIE GORME - BLAME IT ON THE BOSSA NOVA (INCLUDES BONUS TRACKS)
A classic has finally been reissued with additional bonus tracks! Easily the grooviest album that Eydie Gorme ever cut – a set that's well known for its classic title track, but which is filled with breezy bossa numbers throughout! Few other American singers ever got the light, lively spirit of bossa this right back in the 60s – and although Eydie could sometimes be an overly-expressive singer on other records, she's got a compact touch here that's perfect for the jazzy arrangements of Nick Perito and Billy May – which themselves often use a bit of Hammond organ from Dick Hyman to give the tracks lots of Walter Wanderley-ish sort of grooves! Other instrumentalists include Pacheco on flute and Mundell Lowe on guitar – and titles include the classic "Blame It On The Bossa Nova", plus "The Coffee Song", "The Message", "One Note Samba", "The Gift", "Almost Like Being In Love", "Moon River", "Desafinado", and "Dansero". CD features two bonus tracks – "Oba Oba" and "Sweet Talk" – both arranged by Deodato! ~ Dusty Groove
 
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