California [Explicit Lyrics]

California [Explicit Lyrics]

Track Listings

1. California
2. Brunching Britney and the Homeboy
3. Portrait
4. I Didn't Steal Anything
5. Clean
6. Small Map
7. Deathbed
8. She Gave Me a Bit of Heaven
9. Fight Me
10. The Passing of Time

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
Songwriter pc muñoz began making a buzz in the Bay Area in the early 90s, with Giant Step, an electronics-driven rap project. In the mid-90s, pc veered away from rapping with his new project, Watercolor, and began using a unique, speak-sing style over his funk beats, causing critics to call him a "cross between Leonard Cohen and Prince." During this time, muñoz spent his days teaching elementary school in the Bayview-Hunter’s Point district of San Francisco, and his nights working as a drummer, playing R&B, jazz, calypso, string-based goth, and gospel, including an exciting position for gospel legend Dorothy Morrison (original singer of "Oh Happy Day").

In 1998, pc released his debut CD, "the trouble i’d bring you"(on Beevine Records), a dark, minimalist-art-funk collection which was praised by critics, garnered college radio airplay on both coasts, and caught the attention of plenty of folks in the avant-garde/new music scene, including composer John Zorn and former Swans member Jarboe. In 2000, pc assembled the amen corner, a tight, improvisational group, which can lock into a monstrous funk groove at one moment, and at the next moment break wide open for sonic experimentation. In 2001, as the group continued to pack San Francisco clubs with their unique, gospel-fueled live shows (characterized by shouts of "Amen!" by audience members and pc’s mid-song monologues, or "sermons"), Beevine released "two", a CD single featuring two of the group’s hottest live tracks.

In 2002, pc muñoz and the amen corner unleashed "a good deed in a weary world", a 10-cut song cycle (again on Beevine Records) which captured the deep funk of the group’s stage shows, as well as the electro-quirkiness of pc’s earlier experimental work on "the trouble i’d bring you". Thanks to critical praise from every corner of the media, and college radio support from across the US and Canada, "a good deed in a weary world" entered the CMJ hip-hop charts at #35, and the Earshot (Canada) hip-hop charts at #20 in 2003. The success of "a good deed in a weary world" set the stage for this extraordinary new CD, "california."

Product Description
"california" finds pc munoz and the amen corner paying tribute to 80s funk, hip-hop, and new wave, while also bravely combining disparate sounds to create a new, 21st century electro-funk. Throughout "california", pc's trademark, multi-layered lyricism and eclectic songwriting style give the album a distinctive sound, unlike anything else in contemporary R&B. Exciting collaborations can be found all over "california": legendary songwriter Jackson Browne drops in to sing on the title track, former Prince and the Revolution keyboardist Dr. Fink serves up a classic synth solo on the creepy meditation "deathbed", world renowned conductor Yair Samet leads a revved-up string quartet through the stirring eroticism of "clean", and gospel-soul vocalist Carmelita Traylor (heard previously on records by rap mogul Master P) delivers powerhouse vocal turns throughout the album.

California,PC Muņoz & the Amen Corner,Beevine Records,Indie R&B from San Francisco: spoken word, funk and gospel


The Warmth of the Sun
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • My feel-good music
  • The WARMTH of the SUN~it won't ever die...
  • Recycled Package #102
  • Interesting Album
  • Lackluster
The Warmth of the Sun
The Beach Boys
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Sounds Of Summer - The Very Best Of The Beach Boys
  2. Memory Almost Full [Deluxe Limited Edition]
  3. Memory Almost Full
  4. Traveling Wilburys (2CD/1DVD, Deluxe Edition)
  5. Musicares: A Tribute to Brian Wilson

ASIN: B000FC2FUG
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

  1. All Summer Long (new stereo remix)
  2. Catch A Wave
  3. Hawaii
  4. Little Honda
  5. 409
  6. It's OK
  7. You're So Good To Me (new stereo remix)
  8. Then I Kissed Her (new stereo remix)
  9. Kiss Me, Baby
  10. Please Let Me Wonder (new stereo remix)
  11. Let Him Run Wild (new stereo remix)
  12. The Little Girl I Once Knew
  13. Wendy (new stereo remix)
  14. Disney Girls (1957)
  15. Forever
  16. Friends
  17. Break Away
  18. Why Do Fools Fall In Love
  19. Surf's Up
  20. Feel Flows (featured in the motion picture Almost Famous)
  21. All This Is That
  22. 'Til I Die
  23. Sail On, Sailor (featured in the Oscar-winning motion picture The Departed)
  24. Cool, Cool Water
  25. Don't Go Near The Water
  26. California Saga (On My Way To Sunny Californ-i-a)
  27. California Dreamin'
  28. The Warmth Of The Sun

Amazon.com

In a sense, The Warmth of the Sun is to 2004's double-platinum Sounds of Summer as 1975's Spirit of America was to the previous year's chart-topping Endless Summer. Both Summer compilations feature the obvious hits, and their followups collect less famous--though still worthy--tracks like "Hawaii," "409," and "Little Honda." But the 21st-century collections are sequenced by the Beach Boys themselves, and that means this volume's songs are second-tier in fame only. The casual fan whose curiosity was piqued by Sounds of Summer and picks this up for "All Summer Long" will be captivated by Brian Wilson's stops on the road to Pet Sounds ("Kiss Me Baby," "Please Let Me Wonder," "Let Him Run Wild," "The Little Girl I Once Knew"), moved by the father-son collaboration "Break Away" (in many ways the Beach Boys' farewell to the '60s), and floored by a string of five songs from the early '70s--a few of which had their genesis in the ill-fated Smile project--that are a perfect showcase for the maturity the group, especially Brian and Carl, managed to attain less than a decade after penning "Pom Pom Play Girl" ("Surf's Up," "Feel Flows," "All This Is That," "'Til I Die," "Sail On, Sailor"). Taken together, these two volumes provide an extraordinary portrait of a band attempting to straddle popularity and artistic vision, spotlighting each facet just long enough to make you want more. (Collectors note: many of these songs appear in new stereo remixes--they may not be the original Brian Wilson productions as he heard them, but being able to distinctly make out the vibraphone in "Let Him Run Wild" is worth it.) --Benjamin Lukoff

Amazon.com

Compiled and sequenced by The Beach Boys themselves, The Warmth Of The Sun offers a rich view of the artistry and complex legacy of a band that has produced some of the most brilliant music of all time. This new career-spanning, 28-track collection illuminates much of The Beach Boys' most accomplished work. The Warmth Of The Sun is the perfect complement and companion to 2004's double-platinum Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys.

Beach Boys Photos

More from The Beach Boys

Sounds of Summer

Pet Sounds

20 Good Vibrations, The Greatest Hits

Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys

Endless Harmony

Endless Harmony DVD

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars My feel-good music.......2007-07-21

Beach Boys music never fails to make me feel good and always brings great memories to mind.

5 out of 5 stars The WARMTH of the SUN~it won't ever die..........2007-07-18

The WARMTH of the SUN;SOUNDS of SUMMER;PET SOUNDS;& SMILE comprise the magnum opus of BRIAN WILSON and his legendary touring/recording session band,THE BEACH BOYS.Yes,Carole Kaye;The Wondermints;superb studio musicians;guest artists(like Roger McQuinn)and writers like Van Dyke Parks are more than pulling slack on some of these albums. But the above-named are America's greatest pop band's classics of classic Americana.The BEACH BOYS are to the USA what the Beatles were to Britain.Elvis remains King of Rock'n' Roll(nobody questions the hundreds of Presley comprises).Dylan remains America's pop Poet(with McQuinn of BYRDS renown still troubadour Prince of pop and electronic Folk)...

Brian Wilson is the genius who created a unique American music that is fun and sometimes JOYOUS to hear.If you never heard The BEACH BOYS in concert, seeing the Brian Wilson touring ensemble built-around The Wondermints is probably the best substitute.But give yourself a break~ The Beach Boys have been around more than 40 years,and made millions of listeners of all ages and musical "sophistication"happy: their WARMTH of the SUN...their choir-rich harmonies...won't ever die.


1 out of 5 stars Recycled Package #102.......2007-07-17

Do you know how long it has been since the Beach Boys released an album with new original material? I do. That would have been in 1992, fifteen years ago, when they released the totally execrable "Summer in Paradise," an album so bad that it could have been recorded by Aleutian Eskimos pretending to be the Beach Boys. Do you know how many compilations or collections of old material the band released since then? I do. If you include imports and all of the collections that they licensed to others, there have been 101 separate releases. That is not a misprint. In the past fifteen years, one hundred and one cd's have been issued containing recycled material. While Mike Love and his cohorts complain about (and sue) Brian Wilson in absentia, they write nothing of consequence, but repackage everything they can get their hands on, especially the stuff that features the real mainman, Brian Wilson. I can understand when an old band tries to coast on its reputation, but 101 re-packaged pieces of product is so far beyond the pale and so abusive of the band's core audience that it's a wonder anyone cares any more.
I, for one, cannot review "The Warmth of the Sun" on the merits of its songs, because it would be painfully redundant to do so. All that exists here are a few classic tracks intermingled with a few obscurities. As a rule (and especially when applied to the Beach Boys catalog), the more obscure the tune, the worse it is, and this collection practically screams that point. So, why would you buy this collection? I don't know. Maybe if you never bought a Beach Boys album in your life, this would be worthwhile, but with 101 other compilations to choose from, I see no particular advantage for this specific collection. Perhaps you are so masochistic that you feel compelled to buy anything that has the band's name attached. If so, I feel so truly sorry for you, as well as your ex-wife, your estranged children and your mortgage company.
Meanwhile, Mike Love is probably sitting at home right now, arranging the next batch of songs for next week's compilation. That can't be healthy for him, so let's do him a really big favor. Let's ban all future recycled collections credited to the Beach Boys. If our goal is achieved, we might force Mike to do something with an iota of creativity attached. Wouldn't that be nice? D- Tom Ryan

5 out of 5 stars Interesting Album.......2007-07-14

This album is not just another collection of Beach Boys Greatest Hits. These are alternate mixes (not remakes) of many of their best-known songs. A few are not quite as good as the original mixes while others are superior. In any case, it makes for an interesting experience, listening to our favorite Beach Boys tunes from a slightly different perspective, sort of like sitting in a different part of the auditorium at a concert. The recording quality is very good throughout. I was not disappointed with this CD.

1 out of 5 stars Lackluster.......2007-07-13

There are very few really good songs on this CD. Most of these songs must have been the "B" sides of thier hit records because neither I nor any of my friends had heard most of them. Even after listening to the CD several times, it still didn't "grow" on me. I real waste of money.
Hotel California
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • I don't mind checkin' in to this hotel
  • Welcome to the Hotel California
  • 4 1/2 stars.
  • This isn't Wasted Time
  • Can't check out
Hotel California
Eagles
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Eagles - Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975
  2. The Long Run
  3. Desperado
  4. Hell Freezes Over
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ASIN: B000002GVO
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Hotel California
  2. New Kid In Town
  3. Life In The Fast Lane
  4. Wasted Time
  5. Wasted Time (Reprise)
  6. Victim Of Love
  7. Pretty Maids All In A Row
  8. Try And Love Again
  9. The Last Resort

Amazon.com essential recording

It's no accident that The Eagles Greatest Hits might one day pass Michael Jackson's Thriller as the best-selling album of all time-- the Eagles made great singles. By contrast, their albums could be spotty and strained by self-conscious artistry. Hotel California was arguably the band's best single album--it was certainly the Eagles' biggest original disc-- and it also underscored the band's need to make a big statement. The title tune reflected the album's theme of paradise lost in California, painting this picture with a musical arrangement that punctuated strumming guitars with dramatic drums, and perhaps the band's most famous lyric: "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave." "New Kid in Town" was an equally fine albeit much more traditional Eagles ballad. "Life in the Fast Lane" aspired to hard rock but largely gunned its engine without taking off. The rest is okay, but nothing more than secondary Eagles songs that happened to be nestled into the album that came to define the `70s supergroup. --John Milward

Album Description

From the original master tapes on 24 karat Gold disc. Booklet includes complete original artwork. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars I don't mind checkin' in to this hotel.......2007-07-30

The title song has been played a million times, and yet, the guitar jam at the end never gets old. "New Kid in Town" is pretty awesome, isn't it? It's similar to the melody of "Tequila Sunrise" except longer and more interesting. I can't figure out WHY exactly it's more interesting.

I'm not a fan of "Life in the Fast Lane". It's an alright song, though. The songs on the album that weren't as popular as the ones I mention above are actually better. Seriously! "The Last Resort" is possibly the prettiest song I've ever heard the band do. Still, "Victim of Love" is my favorite song. I really like the riffs, vocals, and lyrics.

Well, you've heard at least half of this album before. Don't try telling me you haven't! Buy if you want to keep hearin' these songs some more.

5 out of 5 stars Welcome to the Hotel California.......2007-06-10

This is quintessential Eagles. The CD is chocked full of tunes that made the Eagles famous. A fine collection any fan of the Eagles would enjoy. One of my favorite CDs in college. You can check out, but you can never leave. A classic line that really brought back my days of struggling through my first year adjusting to college and being away from home. A great CD, in my humble opinion.

4 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars........2007-04-07

the hotel california, baby. in my neck of the musical woods (been listening to a lot of john coltrane lately) you are supposed to dislike the eagles. pure snobbery. i will have none of it. this is a fantastic album. the closing number, "the last resort," is reason enough alone to have this thing in your home. an absolutely beautiful song. seven minutes and twenty-five seconds of exquisite songcraft. not really a dud song anywhere on the album, in fact. this is the eagles masterpiece. no doubt. commercial music that is heartfelt, emotional, and fine. don't be a snob. check it out.

5 out of 5 stars This isn't Wasted Time.......2007-04-01

This is one of the Eagles two best albums(the other being Desperado) and that doesn't mean that their other albums weren't good, however, both of these albums really are great from beginning to end. Okay so the first three songs were/are played to death on the radio. This is another album that surprises me that it was a hit because it's so dark for the most part and doesn't sound like the other stuff that was being played on the radio at the time. A song like Wasted Time reminds me of an updated tourch song and not really anything like the Bay City Rollers or Tony Orlando And Dawn(big hits at the time). Originally this was going to be the last Eagles album but the record company had other ideas. This is also the first with Joe Walsh in the band and his main song on the album Pretty Maids All In A Row is the best song he's ever written. Randy should be pointed out for his tune Try And Love Again which is also the only song on here in which the band does it's country/rock thing. Once again, I would suggest going with the box set and getting the mini lp sleeve version.

5 out of 5 stars Can't check out.......2007-03-13

Time has passed Bachman Turner Overdrive, Ted Nugent and thankfully, The Hansens by, for reasons that only the gods and Robert Hilburn know. Bands may have their peak, but they don't often stay at the summit for decades to haunt the listener with a new nuance or an unheard overtone or a lyric that takes on new meaning or a vocal that pulls a tear when years before it generated a giggle. Time proves the mettle of the band in the maelstrom of public opinion and in the pop culture mindset of society.

A review of Hotel California in the classic sense of a track-by-track critique is folly. It's like going to the symphony to discover that Mahler should be capable of more subtlety, or to take issue with the color of the Golden Gate Bridge. The CD (or the "album" as we remember it) is now a part of us. To take it down to its component parts is like pulling the cornerstone from the Chrysler Building out for inspection. Pick it apart all you like, but there's no replacing a masterpiece of memory. It's not going anywhere. It's the Petrified Forest of rock.

Great music, music that transcends, that transports, is for all time, and messing with the components risks an awakening of evil spirits, a cacophonous clash of cultural traps, a probable trip to the edge of the abyss. DON'T GO THERE. The Eagles are as they were, an aural collection, and recollection for the ages.
Live at the Roxy, Hollywood, California, May 26, 1976 - The Complete Concert
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • if memory serves me correctly
  • Gift for a good friend
  • Long Live Bob
  • Poetry In Motion
  • Best live album ever!
Live at the Roxy, Hollywood, California, May 26, 1976 - The Complete Concert
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Babylon by Bus
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ASIN: B00009V7T0
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Tracks:

  1. Introduction
  2. Trenchtown Rock
  3. Burnin' & Lootin'
  4. Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)
  5. Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)
  6. I Shot The Sherif
  7. Want More
  8. No Woman No Cry
  9. Lively Up Yourself
  10. Roots Rock Reggae
  11. Rat Race

Tracks:

  1. Positive Vibration
  2. Get Up Stand Up/No More Trouble/War

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars if memory serves me correctly.......2007-07-21

then this CD is from the Babylon By Bus tour (1976), which really jump-started Bob Marley's popularity here in the USA. Like Babylon, this is also a live CD, although it is recorded in a much smaller venue, LA's Roxy, right up on Sunset Boulevard, right next to The Rainbow, and down the block from the Whisky A Go Go. anyone who likes Bob Marley will enjoy this CD, every song is great.

4 out of 5 stars Gift for a good friend.......2007-04-08

I was pleased how quickly this CD arrived. It was a birthday present for a dear friend, so I haven't heard it yet, however, I'm sure it's excellent. After all, it's by Bob Marley.

5 out of 5 stars Long Live Bob.......2007-02-03

This is an awesome CD. Many hours of listening pleasure to anyone who purchases this product.

5 out of 5 stars Poetry In Motion.......2007-01-11

With the pace of the arrangements adding even more powerful meaning to the vocals and music, Bob Marley & The Wailers deliver an astounding concert before an appreciative audience in a small club on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, during the Rastaman Vibration tour.

The pristine sound captures Marley at his poetic best, as his songs of protest & redemption draws the listener into the music. The performance touches the senses in highly subtle ways, which are uniquely found in Want More & No Woman No Cry. The vocal interplay between Marley & Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt tugs at your soul.

Even the obligatory - for American rock audiences - I Shot the Sheriff is delivered with an added punch. The extraordinary set (Disc One) culminates with Rat Race, with the band returning (Disc Two) for an encore of 28 minutes; Positive Vibration and Get Up Stand Up/No More Trouble/War.

This is Marley the artist at the peak of his creative powers and one of the best live performances ever captured on CD.

5 out of 5 stars Best live album ever!.......2007-01-10

When I look at my music collection in its entirety, my favorite albums tend to be the live ones, recorded at small halls or large arenas (think DMB, Zeppelin, U2, Frampton, Stones, Doors, etc). There is something unique, exhilarating, and almost unattainable about capturing the greatness mixed with spontaneity of live music. Live at the Roxy is my all time favorite live album. Incredibly good sound quality, just the right volume of crowd interaction, and Marley's poetic, lyrical leadership at the peak of his grasp of the power of his message and sound all combine to make this concert a priceless jewel. If you're like me, you'll put this double cd set in your car stereo and leave it in there for weeks. Makes you want to grow dreads and join the cause.
California
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • AH, album
  • to michael smith
  • California
  • Magnificant
  • just not feelin it
California
Mr. Bungle
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000JG41
Release Date: 1999-07-13

Tracks:

  1. Sweet Charity
  2. None Of Them Knew They Were Robots
  3. Retrovertigo
  4. The Air-Conditioned Nightmare
  5. Ars Moriendi
  6. Pink Cigarette
  7. Golem II: The Bionic Vapour Boy
  8. The Holy Filament
  9. Vanity Fair
  10. Goodby Sober Day

Amazon.com

Nobody ever accused Mr. Bungle of being suckers for a good melody. The syncopated blasts of cartoonish noise that fill 1991's Mr. Bungle and 1995's Disco Volante are one part speed metal and one part Speedy Gonzalez. Initially, the band served as a more aggressive outlet for singer Mike Patton, widely known for his work in Faith No More. But with Faith No More no more, Patton and Mr. Bungle decided to sweeten the Bungle batter with a little songcraft. California boasts harmonies (yes, harmonies!) that would make the Brothers Wilson proud. Opening with a chorus of seagulls and crashing waves that gives way to slide guitar, strings, and Patton singing (not screaming), the poppy yet symphonic "Sweet Charity" announces that this is not your bike messenger's Mr. Bungle album. Songs like the easy strummin' "Retrovertigo," the sultry Scott Walker-esque "Pink Cigarette," and the orchestral "Vanity Fair" make California 1999's golden-hair surprise. --Bill Crandall

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars AH, album.......2007-07-29

Falling in love with disco volante, brought to california. Which took me a while to adapt to, but i love it. The songs are probably more like real songs, then most of the skitzophrenic madness of the last album. And don't get me wrong. This album is quite mad at times.
Basically a mirage or rock/metal/siberian/60's/indecribable weirdness.
"the air conditioned
nightmare," is by far my favorite. That is one of the best songs ever written.
The opener is great. Which is very catchy.
"Pink cigarette," always struck me as tragic.
Also, "vanity feels like the lost stevie wonder song.
Mike pattons vocals range all over the place. The closer cracks me up. Around two minutes, you start hearing this monk chanting. And another voice(his) rolls in, the "chakchakchakachakachakachaka," which goes into a sudden burst of madness. Awesome.

5 out of 5 stars to michael smith.......2007-06-03

what a dumbass. the chanting has been around much longer than that. mike just borrowed the idea and incorporated it into an amazing song.... kind of like the new tomahawk album... native american songs were around long long ago... but patton took the ideas and made them into a metal/alternative/electronic album. there's a difference between copying something, and being influenced by something and creating your own genius music with those influences. you're probably too dumb to realize that though if you had to post a review just to say something so incredibly dumb and ignorant.

ps-california is a good album :)

5 out of 5 stars California.......2007-03-30

I love everything Mike Patton has done. Mr. Bungle is my favorite of all of his projects. When California came out I was completly blown away. They yet again had turned in a new direction and even though it is more along the lines of "Music" compared to the other albums California is a masterpiece of modern music.
The songs are all very easy to listen to but if you pay close attention you will notice that there is a huge amount of instrumentation and vocalism going on.
This is by fary my favorite Bungle album, even more than the self titled Debut. I just bought this for the third time (stolen twice now) and I am so happy to have it back in my collection. If you like Patton at all and have not heard California, get it.


Goodbye Sober Day

5 out of 5 stars Magnificant.......2007-03-13

'California' is definately a very different item in the Mr. Bungle catalouge. The unnervingly demented experimentation of 'Disco Volante' is watered down, and the unhinged, derranged circus vibe of the first self-titled release is completely gone with the exception of a couple of songs. So what makes this one a hit? What makes 'California' stand out?

'California' is by far the most listenable of the Bungle albums. Before you potential Bungle-heads (If you are a true Bungle-head you already own this) turn an run at the word 'listenable', please understand what I mean. Mr. Bungle truly reached their musical potential with this album. Rather than focusing on extreme and random noises, Mike Patton shows us that even though still delightfully bizzare and unconventional, he is a truly magnificant vocalist capable of carrying a very melodic and captivating tune. Matching Mike's more melodic vocal style, 'California' soars above most experimental music with soothing melodies, and well executed atmosphere. This more melodic and less nonsense approach is obviously going to make the music more 'listenable', but fear not, 'California' still visits every corner of the musical spectrum. With styles from salsa, to metal, to surf, 'California' is still unmistakably a Mr. Bungle release.

By far the most 'musical' (in the traditional sense) Mr. Bungle album, 'California' is a perfect place to start if you are new to the band, and is an essentual piece to any avant-garde musicians' collection.

1 out of 5 stars just not feelin it.......2007-02-20

I just cant see the whole Mike Patton thing,I mean yeah hes a great vocalist and i CERTAINLY THINK HIS BEST WORK IS BEHIND HIM. Faith No More had a COUPLE of good albums,and im not talking about Epic, but drivel is drivel is drivel. Maybe I have been spoiled by some real cutting edge music,or some of the vastly talented bands that metal has to offer,even on the progressive side. I'm sorry guys,this stuff to me while interesting,is just a complete cacaphony of noise. Perhaps Mike Patton should get together with another vocal icon who has long since run out of gas,Axl Rose,and can do some 50's doo-wop and perhaps some ballroom standards. Now THATS cutting edge.
Song of Home
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Song Of Home
  • A little too slick and a little too much Galway
  • Very Compelling Classy Classical Appalachian
  • Is it the music or the musicians?
  • A National Treasure
Song of Home
James Galway , Jay Ungar , and Molly Mason
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006IGQ0
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

  1. My Cape Breton Home
  2. Foster's Ladies
  3. Presidential Hornpipes
  4. A Roving On A Winter's Night
  5. The West Texas Waltz
  6. Oh Shenandoah/Shenandoah Falls
  7. The Lovers' Waltz
  8. Bound For California
  9. Heart Of The Heartland
  10. Pretty Saro
  11. The Mountain Ranger
  12. Themes From 'Harvest Home Suite'
  13. Amazing Grace

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Song Of Home.......2005-07-09

You can feel his pride in his heritage in the way he plays on this CD

3 out of 5 stars A little too slick and a little too much Galway.......2004-01-16


Based on the reviews I read about this album, I had high expectations. I am sorry to say that the album leaves me a little cold. The performances are superb, but unspontaneous. Another difficulty is with the orchestrations. In most cases on this album I think the flute just doesn't work. A case in point is Lover's Waltz, which is near perfect in the original Ungar/Mason version. Galway's flute just doesn't exude the same warmth. Another disappointment is Heart of the Heartland, which could have been an interesting conversation between Galway's flute and Ostroushko's mandolin. Instead we get another showcase for Galway with Ostroushko relegated to backup musician--what a shame! The only track I think that works well on this album is The West Texas Waltz, where we get a taste of how a really collaborative album might have sounded. I guess this album makes good easy listening, but it is certainly not the engaging album I would have expected of these folks.

After a year or two of owning this album, I have to say that the performances are even more stale that when I first reviewed it. I wish they'd let me take a star back.

Good for folks who like "easy listening". I like musicians who aren't afraid to challenge each other and themselves. This album had that potential, but falls flat.........

5 out of 5 stars Very Compelling Classy Classical Appalachian.......2003-02-08

I get home from a hard day at the office and put on my headphones and am transported to heaven. If I had only two hours left of life on earth, I would want to listen to this album for one of them and we won't discuss the other hour please! Galway, Ungar, and Mason are superb. My wife and I were already of fan of Galway. Garrison Keillor's recommendation of "Waltzing with You" by Ungar and Mason (Sony) turned me on to Jay and Molly. Then on to "The Lover's Waltz" and "Harvest Home". The subtle blending and play between Galway's Flute, Jay's Fiddle, and Molly's Guitar . . . . God, there is nothing like it. If you buy this CD and don't like, I'll buy it off you and give it to a friend! ... Thanks Sir James, Jay and Molly.

5 out of 5 stars Is it the music or the musicians?.......2002-12-07

During the many times I have listened to this album, I have posed myself the same question: is it the music I like best or the musicians that perform it? The music is compellingly rich for sure, music that makes the home a resonant place to live in the same way that a dancing wood fire speaks to the eyes of the soul. But the music sings with a penetrating warmth because of the seasoned artistry of the musicians who perform it. I have to give the tilt to the musicians who will forever haunt me with the flickering flames of their performance.

5 out of 5 stars A National Treasure.......2002-10-20

This meeting of musical minds was a stroke of creative matchmaking by RCA. James Galway, the renowned flutist blends but does not blur with two of American folk music's more deeply rooted musical thinkers -- Jay Ungar & Molly Mason. Right from the start, "My Cape Breton Home," the art and craftsmanship, the painstaking selection and arrangement is evident. And this CD continues to delight the mind with an hour of the most beautiful music. All tunes, whether old favorites, like Stephen Foster's "Gentle Annie," or new and original, like "West Texas Waltz" by Jay Ungar, come together as naturally as the confluence of many streams. It seems as if you know these songs so well, which in my case is surprising, but perhaps not so surprising from a CD with Jay Ungar on it, composer of the evocative song for all time, "Ashokan Farewell." This piece has become a de facto theme for millions of people who heard it played again and again in the Ken Burns documentary on The Civil War.

The instrumentation, as you might expect, is the main feature of the CD. Flute, fiddle, piano, mandolin, guitar. But at what seems to be exactly the right time, Molly Mason and Ruth Ungar (Jay's daughter) voices sing out in harmony. And there is a deep understanding of the music here too, and therefore, much beauty in the sound. The rendering of "Pretty Saro" could stand alone as a classic, but when you hear it in order and against the background meticulously prepared by these musicians, it has a presence that is truly haunting.

I think anyone with a taste for the roots of American folk music will enjoy this CD. It has deepened my appreciation of the folk music of America and even the rural environment where I live in America. The art and craft are impeccable. "A Song of Home" is from beginning to end, thoroughly enjoyable, much to think about, a heritage to keep.
Cold in California
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Cold in California
    Ingram Hill
    Manufacturer: Hollywood Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    1. Who We Are

    ASIN: B000SQLBQ8
    Release Date: 2007-08-21
    Gold In California: A Retrospective Of Recordings, 1975-1985
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • One of the finest voices in music.
    • Songs to remember, great band; but her voice grows dull
    • The music I listen to most......
    • The golden rolling hills of california oh kate we need you
    • Melancholy and Romantic
    Gold In California: A Retrospective Of Recordings, 1975-1985
    Kate Wolf
    Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
    1. Give Yourself To Love (Volumes 1&2) (Live In Concert)
    2. Close to You
    3. Weaver Of Visions: The Kate Wolf Anthology
    4. Treasures Left Behind: Remembering Kate Wolf
    5. Evening in Austin

    ASIN: B000003349
    Release Date: 1993-09-28

    Tracks:

    1. Full Time Woman
    2. She Rises Like The Dolphin
    3. Like A River
    4. Telluride
    5. Muddy Roads
    6. Across The Great Divide
    7. The Lilac & The Apple
    8. Unfinished Life
    9. Early Morning Melody
    10. Safe At Anchor
    11. The Redtail Hawk

    Tracks:

    1. The Sun Is Burning
    2. Brother Warrior
    3. Two-Way Waltz
    4. Eyes Of A Painter
    5. Emma Rose
    6. Here In California
    7. Poet's Heart
    8. Carolina Pines
    9. The Trumpet Vine

    Amazon.com

    Kate Wolf died of leukemia in 1986, and listening to this exceptional, two-disc retrospective reminds us of just how much we lost. Her voice had a palatable ache, a lonesome grace, and she wrote so many thoughtful, finely shaped songs. Every song her makes clear how well she understood the deepest aspects of both country and folk idioms: "Like a River" flows like a classic bluegrass ballad, "The Sun is Burning" is an intense political meditation, and her finest song, "Unfinished Life" is a heartbreaking premonition of death. Fans of Townes Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams, and Iris Dement must hear these songs. With Kate Wolf, the well is more than deep: it never seems to end. --Roy Francis Kasten

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars One of the finest voices in music........2007-07-16

    It's really impossible to go wrong with Kate Wolf.

    Wolf is much more mellow than most of the music I like, but her songwriting is lovely and her voice is one-of-a-kind. Different from, but easily as beautiful as Emmylou Harris or Judy Collins. It's only a pity we lost her so early.

    4 out of 5 stars Songs to remember, great band; but her voice grows dull.......2006-03-23

    The songs are richly varied and tuneful (classically American); imagery comes from a golden weathered, often New-Agey, bucolic idyll. Band is superb, and settings are well tailored to each song. But her vocal tone never varies, giving the album an overall monotonous feel despite the band and songs. She sings in an even, steady, close/engaged, but weary way that NEVER varies. Result: Her interminable melancholy yields a flat, dull affect that feels resigned to sadness, but determined to carry on. The even tone distances Wolf from her own affecting material.

    5 out of 5 stars The music I listen to most.............2006-01-11

    I can't possibly enlarge on the beautiful, accurate, and thoughtful other reviews already here, concerning Kate Wolf's music and awesome talents.

    Hers is the music I find myself playing most frequently, of ALL the hundreds of CDs I have, across all musical categories. This fact is the best statement I can make about Kate Wolf.

    There are other CDs of Kate's that you can find on her family's website, (katewolf.com), but I have to recommend two retrospectives that you must have, if you love Kate's music.

    One is called, "Treasures Left Behind, Remembering Kate Wolf", and the second is "A Kate Wolf Retrospective" (recorded live in 1996, in Sebastopol, California).


    5 out of 5 stars The golden rolling hills of california oh kate we need you.......2004-02-05

    Kate's "Red Tailed Hawk" will always be inscribed on my brain its beauty its realness, its aptness, and the reality of the golden rolling hills of California. So perfect and beautiful even though I never had a tape or LP or a CD of it until 12 years after it came out, until after we lost Kate. Still its power comes to me as it did on an old radio sitting in an Oakland apartment, the signal fighting its way all the way up from KFAT ("because we need the bucks) down in Gilroy.

    The vision of California that Kate weaves on all her records is preciseless, unique real, and a treasure even if much of it is sweetened myth.

    I feel so bad that I lived in San Fransisco and Oakland and travelled up and down California and the West Coast in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Kate was doing her best work and only saw her sing once. When I hear something like Sweet love on this CD, I wonder why I am not always listening to Kate. There is something to her voice that gets through to me, something pure. Now that I sing and play guitar and banjo and fiddle, I tend to listen to any singer or player that I hear trying to scope them out learn something, evaluate, figure out how to put what they do into my performance. Even though Kate plays the kind of music I have always wanted to play, I just sit there and listen to the song and receive its thoughts in my heart and mind.

    Part of Kate's magic is the superb arrangements and backup that she got from the musical genius Nina Gerber, her main accompaniest. Nina is now out there solo alot. If you like guitar and this kind music check out Nina too.

    Oh Kate, why didn't we realize how much of a golden treasure you were when you were among us. In her memory think of a performer you might miss like we all miss Kate--well that isnt fair because thats a big ideal to measure up to--how about someone you would miss half or a quarter as much as I miss Kate, and make sure you go see them while you can, and maybe bring a friend, bring two.

    5 out of 5 stars Melancholy and Romantic.......2002-08-22

    This CD, especially Volume 2, stayed in the CD alarm clock and became "wake-up" and "fall-asleep" music for about a year. Kate Wolf put this collection together as she was dying of leukemia. Songs like "Unfinished Life" allude to her coming to grips with mortality. Her lyrics are pure poetry infused with life wisdom. Her lovely voice is both soothing and tinged with a touch of sorrow.

    My favorite song, "Here in California," contains wonderful maternal advice about falling in love:
    "When I was young, my mama told mama told me,
    she said, 'Child take your time.
    Don't fall in love quickly,
    before you know your mind.'
    She held me 'round the shoulders,
    and in a voice so soft and kind
    She said, 'Love can make you happy
    and love can rob you blind.' "

    "Two-Way Waltz" evokes the pain and hope of the two lovers reuniting or considering a reconcilation after a difficult separation: "[T]he sweetest hello always comes after the hardest goodbye."

    If you believe that the only way to cure a broken heart is to listen to the blues*, or if you are a hopeless romantic who can't hear too many love songs, "Gold in California" is a must. * Note: Kate Wolf is not a blues singer. Her style is modern folk.
    In the Hills of California
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • In the Hills of California
    • Good stuff!
    • Outstanding!
    • What great Concert!
    • This is what music should sound like
    In the Hills of California
    Greg Brown
    Manufacturer: Red House
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    5. Further In

    ASIN: B0002O06Q2
    Release Date: 2004-09-07

    Tracks:

    1. For All
    2. Wash My Eyes
    3. Never So Far
    4. The Way My Baby Calls My Name
    5. Spring and All
    6. Slow Food
    7. Ina Bell Sale
    8. Tequila and Me
    9. China
    10. Introduction to Kates Guitar
    11. Kates Guitar
    12. Say a Little Prayer
    13. You Really Got a Hold on Me
    14. I Want My Country Back
    15. I Shall Not Be Moved
    16. Two Little Feet

    Tracks:

    1. Introduction to Lord I Have Made You a Place in My Heart
    2. Lord I Have Made You a Place in My Heart
    3. Poet Game
    4. Think About You
    5. Where Is Maria
    6. Lullaby
    7. Almost Out of Gas
    8. Livin In a Prayer
    9. Introduction to Mose Allison Played Here
    10. Mose Allison Played Here
    11. Rexroths Daughter
    12. Vivid
    13. Kind Hearted Woman Blues
    14. Just By Myself
    15. Your Town Now
    16. Dont Let Me Down

    Amazon.com

    Rare is the voice that is both as deep and as warm as Greg Brown's. Though the veteran troubadour boasts the most weather-beaten baritone this side of Johnny Cash, there's sunshine in the smile of his wry phrasing and a disarming playfulness in his work. This two-disc set includes recordings from six years of California's annual Kate Wolf Music Festival and, while it lacks the flow of a single performance, the easy intimacy that the Iowa bard enjoys with his audience offsets any disjointedness from track to track. The generous selection of material (more than two and a half hours) includes nine songs Brown has never recorded before. Highlights range from the sly sensuality of "The Way My Baby Calls My Name" and "Slow Food" to the social commentary of "I Want My Country Back" and the droll evocation of life's ironies in "Where Is Maria." The conviction he brings to Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got a Hold on Me" and the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" transforms familiar favorites into testaments of faith. --Don McLeese

    Album Description

    One of America's greatest singer/songwriters returns with one of the finest "live" CDs of roots music ever made...recorded at northern California's idyllic Kate Wolf Music Festival. The only artist to appear every year in the festival's history, he has a strong emotional connection to the event and these stunning performances reflect it. 9 tracks are previously unrecorded and the other 20 are classics with all-new and surprising treatments. Proceeds from this project go to support Jugalbandi, a "Music and Arts as Education" program in northern California.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars In the Hills of California.......2007-04-11

    If you've never heard Greg Brown's live performance, this at least gives you a taste of what he can do. As I see it, live shows are Greg's forte, and I thoroughly enjoy listening to this 2 disc album. Greg has such a wonderful stage presence. I think more than anything it just feels authentic and honest with a simplicity to it all.

    5 out of 5 stars Good stuff!.......2007-01-10

    The sound quality is not the same as his studio work, but for a live outdoor show it is very well done. The tradeoff is that you get an energetic, unscripted performance. Nice double CD set.

    5 out of 5 stars Outstanding!.......2005-12-09

    This cd is a staple in my diet of "soul food". I have had this cd for a year now and I can never play it enough. I have found a profound love for the message, meaning, and feeling of greg brown's music.

    4 out of 5 stars What great Concert!.......2005-11-02

    If you Love Greg's Studio Albums but have never seen him Live you Have to check this out. I sat down with my old friend the other day and threw this album on he had never heard of Greg Before but instantly loved it. Grab this album sit down with a bottle of good Whiskey and set the mood, and Greg Will do the rest.

    5 out of 5 stars This is what music should sound like.......2004-12-16

    Greg Brown's newest release has already embedded itself into my list of one of the best Cds I've ever listened to. I just saw Greg at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco and was left with a warm fulfilling feeling that only great music can give you. Greg Brown has a way with words and has a voice that just takes you over. The fact that this CD was recoreded at different performances dosent take away from the continuity of the album, but im my mind adds to it. You can really get a feel for Gregs deep connection with Kate Wolf and the festival. I recommend "Kate's Guitar," "Lullabye," and "Two Little Feet."
    King of California
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • King of Alvin Cds
    • A Must Have
    • Music That Grows On You
    • As genuine as it gets.
    • One of the best folk albums of the 1990s
    King of California
    Dave Alvin
    Manufacturer: Hightone Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    5. Blue Blvd

    ASIN: B0000005QQ
    Release Date: 1994-05-01

    Tracks:

    1. King Of California
    2. Barn Burning
    3. Fourth Of July
    4. Goodbye Again
    5. East Texas Blues
    6. Every Night About This Time
    7. Bus Station
    8. Mother Earth
    9. Blue Wing
    10. Little Honey
    11. (I Won't Be) Leaving
    12. What Am I Worth
    13. Border Radio

    Amazon.com essential recording

    Former Blaster Dave Alvin takes a break from bluesy rock & roll for a folk-country collection of his best-known songs and a few choice covers. Alvin's voice, a raspy and limited yet emotionally revealing baritone, is better served with some electricity at his back, but this unplugged set is still never less than charming. The spare, new versions of Alvin songs such as "Fourth Of July" and "Border Radio" place renewed emphasis on his detail-rich lyrics, although the most memorable moment comes when Syd Straw joins him for a rollicking duet of the George Jones classic "What Am I Worth." --David Cantwell

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars King of Alvin Cds.......2006-02-25

    I'm already a big Dave Alvin fan, and this is probably my favorite CD. A little more stripped down and straight forward than some of the later stuff. An all around great singer/songwriter CD.

    5 out of 5 stars A Must Have.......2005-08-23

    Whether you are a long time Dave Alvin fan, or only recently started listening to his music, King of California is a must have for your collection. Great CD!

    5 out of 5 stars Music That Grows On You.......2004-10-26

    I saw Dave Alvin perform at the Strand in Redondo Beach, CA in 1991 with the Blasters. My wife and I were sitting in the front row. The Blasters were over one hour late. They came in and within 1 minute launched the room into 'Marie, Marie'. Phil Alvin's contorted face still a distinct memory. After this, I lost track of Dave Alvin for about 5 years. I guess I was looking in the 'B's' at Best Buy and Borders and finding nothing (this was in the pre-Amazon days). One day, while in the A's at Best Buy, I stumbled onto Dave Alvin again. I bought this CD. At first, I was hoping for the Blasters, so I didn't give the CD too many listens. Then one day, while I was moving, I started listening. This CD was really great, just a different style. Dave Alvin is an acquired taste, like moving from sweet wines to a rich cabernet. After appreciating a cabernet or merlot, it is hard to have a glass of that sweet stuff anymore.
    It's very much like listening to Springsteen's Tom Joad or Nebraska after growing up on Born in the USA or Born To Run.

    5 out of 5 stars As genuine as it gets........2003-06-11

    A beautiful piece of work from the Blasters' hellcat guitarist. Alvin keeps the progressions and melodies simple while finding one devastating lyric after another. The title track will haunt me for years. It may falter a bit toward the end, but "King of California" is an excellent introduction to this roots-music master.

    5 out of 5 stars One of the best folk albums of the 1990s.......2003-03-19

    King of California is Dave Alvin's career-defining moment. Some songs are slowed-down versions of his old Blasters material (Border Radio, Bus Station), others are from his days in X or early solo ablums. Somewhere along the line Dave learned how his songs should be sung. This is no knock to Phil Alvin, the lead singer for the Blasters. It's just the truth. This album's is Dave's Highway 61 Revisited, and one of the best folk albums of the 1990s. It's sonic poetry.
    The Euro-American Years 1979-1983
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • I'M SO GLAD
    • Really Disappointed
    • Positively Astounding
    The Euro-American Years 1979-1983
    Randy California
    Manufacturer: Acadia Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000NA2U7I
    Release Date: 2007-03-12

    Tracks:

    1. You Stole My Heart
    2. California Man
    3. Song For Laura
    4. Thinking Of You
    5. Reeling In The Night
    6. Come On
    7. Trouble In Mind
    8. Cabin De Telephone
    9. Brittany
    10. Shane
    11. 1984
    12. Turn To The Right
    13. Five In The Morning
    14. Hungry Driver
    15. I Was Somebody
    16. Grossher Hescher
    17. Write You A Letter
    18. Trying To Get Closer To You
    19. Since She's Gone
    20. Past Love

    Album Description

    A four CD set covering a diverse amount of material recorded by Randy during a five year period commencing in 1979. Disc One features the Randy California Band on the first four tracks. Then Randy is joined by fellow Spirit members John Locke, Marke Andes and Ed Cassidy before we present the entire Euro American album. Disc Two features a plethora of previously unreleased and rare material and all tracks are produced by Randy. Disc Three features Spirit live from 1980 and 1981 with Ed Cassidy. Disc Four is a bonus disc with more previously unreleased and rare material plus a live show from Scotland recorded in 1979. Acadia. 2007.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars I'M SO GLAD.......2007-06-29

    This set of CD's reinforces just how prolific and amazing Randy California really was. The quality and sonic mastering are superb as the music equals or exceeds that of his SPIRIT catalog. If you love the many reincarnations of SPIRIT then you will surely want to add this to your collection; it is really exciting to listen to . . . (NO - it's not arena rock).

    1 out of 5 stars Really Disappointed.......2007-06-25

    I was hoping this would be similar to some of the later Spirit projects Randy California was involved in, but instead, it is lame 70/80's arena style rock. The recordings are pretty weak sounding as well. I really wasted my money on this one.

    5 out of 5 stars Positively Astounding.......2007-04-10

    If only all dead rock stars received such excellent treatment post mortum! Granted, Randy California and Spirit are about as cult as a musical act can get, but this rather obscure period in Randy's musical output is given the definitive treatment. This material stems from Randy's European solo career in the early 1980's and most - if not all - was never released in the US, which is a shame as some of it is pretty good if you like his Hendrix-lite style.

    Amazon's track listing is rather abbreviated as there are about 60 tracks on all four CDs. The first CD covers the "Euro American" album plus around 12 bonus tracks. This is excellent hard rock and Randy's guitar playing was never more to the forefront. The second CD covers most of "Shattered Dreams" but since that album was really patched together by the record company the producer does an excellent job of rounding up all variant tracks as well as around 10 additional tracks. The sound quality on the first two CDs is great and they are worth the price alone.

    However, it is CD 3 and 4 that make this package truly astonding. Producer Mick Skidmore has gone above and beyond the call of duty and should win an award for his dedication to the "spirit" of Randy California by unearthing some great live and obscure demo recordings. Some of the audio quality is a little challenged but I have heard much worse bootlegs.

    CD 3 is an all live collection and shows Randy again at the top of his considerable game as a guitar player. He tended to underplay but this is one period when he let it all hang out. There are one or two rambling cuts, but they are overshadowed by such remarkable performances such as "Shattered Dream" and "Magic Wand", which rank with the best live material I have ever heard by any artist.

    CD 4 is a bonus disc, which means the producer doesn't want to get your hopes up as far as sound quality. However, nothing sounds horrible, the demos are fabulous, and the short but manic concert from 1979 is a revelation. No wonder the Europeans regarded Randy California so highly!

    Mick Skidmore has produced a series of excellent releases in the last five years or so, each one giving us more and more info on Randy California and Spirit. With this release, he has created a sonic encyclopedia on a criminally overlooked period in the career of one of America's most under-rated performers. Keep up the great work, Mick!

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