The Soul Sessions

Amazon.com
Not every 16-year-old white, English girl can hang with the likes of Betty Wright ("Clean Up Woman") and Angie Stone. Joss Stone (no relation), however, is blessed with a strong voice and a will to sing old-school soul. This debut CD is worthy of more than novelty status, though. Wisely avoiding iconic songs by the genre’s biggest names, Stone and a production team that includes Wright opt for lesser-known tunes more often by the likes of Laura Lee, Joe Simon, and the Soul Brothers Six--not to mention their digging out (with guest co-producer ?uestlove from the Roots) the great soul lyric in the White Stripes’ "Fell in Love with a (Boy)." Joss Stone occasionally misses a connection; her "Some Kind of Wonderful" is listless, and when she develops a bit more subtlety, it’ll be welcome. But The Soul Sessions has a spark beyond the album’s obvious good taste. --Rickey Wright

The Soul Sessions,Joss Stone,S-Curve Records,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Contemporary R&B,Neo-Soul,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Soul,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues

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Average customer rating: Skill way beyond her years The real deal! Relaxing Too Raw? She's Fantastic!

The Soul Sessions Joss Stone Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music $8.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $8.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mind, Body & Soul Introducing Joss Stone Spoiled Mind, Body & Soul Back to Black ASIN: B0000C0FKA Release Date: 2003-09-16

Tracks:

1. The Chokin' Kind
2. Super Duper Love
3. Fell In Love With A Boy
4. Victim Of A Foolish Heart
5. Dirty Man
6. Some Kind Of Wonderful
7. I've Fallen In Love With You
8. I Had A Dream
9. All The King's Horses
10. For The Love Of You

Amazon.com

Not every 16-year-old white, English girl can hang with the likes of Betty Wright ("Clean Up Woman") and Angie Stone. Joss Stone (no relation), however, is blessed with a strong voice and a will to sing old-school soul. This debut CD is worthy of more than novelty status, though. Wisely avoiding iconic songs by the genre's biggest names, Stone and a production team that includes Wright opt for lesser-known tunes more often by the likes of Laura Lee, Joe Simon, and the Soul Brothers Six--not to mention their digging out (with guest co-producer ?uestlove from the Roots) the great soul lyric in the White Stripes' "Fell in Love with a (Boy)." Joss Stone occasionally misses a connection; her "Some Kind of Wonderful" is listless, and when she develops a bit more subtlety, it'll be welcome. But The Soul Sessions has a spark beyond the album's obvious good taste. --Rickey Wright

Amazon.com

Joss Stone Photos

More from Joss Stone

Mind, Body, & Soul

Introducing Joss Stone

Mind, Body, & Soul Sessions [DVD]

Customer Reviews:

Skill way beyond her years.......2007-05-31

I am a Joss Stone fan. I didn't purchase her first two albums until recently, after buying her current release. To hear her voice and the feeling she adds to the old soul covers on this album makes you think she came up in the 60's or 70's.

The guidance of Betty Wright (The Clean-Up Woman) can be heard throughout the album, particularly on Super Duper Love. Her rendition of For The Love of You is something made for candlelight and wine. All in all this was one hell of a debut album. Please check out her other releases to notice her development.

The real deal!.......2007-01-17

I've been a longtime fan of this wonderfully talented Brit for some time now, and have reviewed her album of original material but have as of yet to write my thoughts down for her debut cover album. First of all, before one can even say a word about her musical selection one must mention the fact that this young girl was merely 16 when recording this album so when one first hears the maturity and sincerity in her voice from the start there's an extra layer of admiration for this talented artist. She's not some manufactured beauty displayed in navel bearing shirts and hip-hugging jeans in order to send teen boys into overdrive and teen girls into frenzy but has no actual talent besides the ability to act ten years older than she should.

No, Joss actually has the vocals, the devotion and the maturity to outsing and outperform some of the more powerful voices in the music industry today. Oh yeah, and she is utterly gorgeous, but that my friends is just a perk! `The Chokin Kind' and `Fell in Love With a Boy' are two standouts from the get-go, but she shines on every track here. `Dirty Man' retains all the greatness of the original while `Super Duper Love' seems to surpass its predecessor. This is highly recommended, but if you want a real treat pick up `Mind, Body & Soul' for it showcases everything that makes this genuine talent so utterly brilliant!

Relaxing.......2007-01-12

I cannot say enough good things about Joss Stone. To be so young and to have such a soulfull voice...

Too Raw?.......2006-08-07

I enjoyed this CD, BUT because of her raw sound...sometimes the throaty breathing/rasps do rub the wrong way and if you have the volume up way loud (like I usually do with this quality of voice), you can occasionally hear her smacking, maybe before she takes a breath...it's slightly unnerving. I'm looking forward to more albums to come though!

She's Fantastic! .......2006-06-14

I can't believe some of the reviews here. When I first heard Joss I was blown away by her beautiful, soulful voice. I don't hear anything screetching about it at all and in fact it is very smooth. I also don't think she is trying to imitate anyone. She's got her own style and she's is better than anyone out there right now in my opinion. Certainly much, much better than Brittany Spears who I believe has very little talent and her voice sounds tinny and immature. Also, I don't care if Joss is black or white. She's extremely talented....period. I have this CD and Mind Body & Soul. I listen to them over and over again and I can't wait until she comes out with a new CD.

Average customer rating: One of my favourite Hendrix albums. Stellar quality. A must have. Simply amazing THIS IS NOT THE RYODISC RADIO ONE LIVE SESSIONS One of the best Definatly worth the money.

BBC Sessions The Jimi Hendrix Experience Manufacturer: Experience Hendrix ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Guitar Gods | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music Rock Guitarists | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Blues South Saturn Delta Jimi Hendrix: Live At Berkeley First Rays of the New Rising Sun Live at the Fillmore East ASIN: B000007OJ9 Release Date: 1998-06-02

Tracks:

1. Foxey Lady
2. Alexis Korner Introduction
3. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?
4. Rhythm And Blues World Service
5. Hoochie Coochie Man, (I'm Your) - (Alexis Koerner)
6. Traveling With The Experience
7. Driving South
8. Fire
9. Little Miss Lover
10. Introducing The Experience
11. The Burning Of The Midnight Lamp
12. Catfish Blues
13. Stone Free
14. Love Or Confusion
15. Hey Joe
16. Hound Dog
17. Driving South
18. Hear My Train A Comin'

Tracks:

1. Purple Haze
2. Killing Floor
3. Radio One
4. Wait Until Tomorrow
5. Day Tripper
6. Spanish Castle Magic
7. Jammin'
8. I Was Made To Love Her
9. Foxey Lady
10. A Brand New Sound
11. Hey Joe
12. Manic Depression
13. Driving South
14. Hear My Train A Comin'
15. A Happening For Lulu
16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
17. Lulu Introduction
18. Hey Joe
19. Sunshine Of Your Love

Amazon.com

Some of Jimi Hendrix's live radio broadcasts for the BBC were released by Rykodisc in 1988 on Radio One, but The BBC Sessions, remastered and fleshed out into a two-disc completist's dream, is perhaps the best document of how the Experience sounded live in 1967. From blues stomps such as Muddy Waters's "Catfish Blues" to surly R&B vamps such as the three takes of Curtis Knight's "Driving South," Hendrix explores his roots with hardscrabble passion. Meanwhile, he pushes the psychedelic-pop spectrum with surprisingly rich versions of studio-tweaked numbers like "The Burning of the Midnight Lamp." There's plenty of slop--a stumbling jam with Stevie Wonder on "I Was Made to Love Her"--and lots of horsing around and awkward interview fragments. But in its balance of pop form, interstellar improv, R&B pedigree, and sheer charm, The BBC Sessions is about as accurate and honest a snapshot of the charismatic, still-pimply 24-year-old phenom as you're likely to hear. --James Rotondi

Customer Reviews:

One of my favourite Hendrix albums. Stellar quality. A must have........2007-02-08

Jimi Hendrix first became a hit in Europe before he was noticed in the U.S. The BBC radio in England had a policy of airing a specific amount of live music broadcasts. This gave Jimi, along with Noel Reading and Mitch Mitchell, an opportunity to perform live in the BBC studios. Thus, this recording combines the best of a studio recording and a live recording by having the band perform live in the studio. The result is an amazing recording.

First of all, the quality of the recording is fantastic, especially considering the technology back then. The sound is crisp and clean. Second, the band is having a lot of fun playing and it comes through in the performances. Third, because they performed live to tape, there are no overdubs, studio effects etc. so you get to hear the band in its purest form. I own many Hendrix albums, but this is the one I listen to most often because the performance are so fresh sounding. Highly reccomended!

Before the Hendrix family got the rights to Jimi's recordings, select songs from the BBC studio recordings were previously released on a single CD, called Radio One. However, this recording contains the complete sessions, including all songs and the DJ chatter, and so is a better, more complete recording than Radio One. The BBC Sessions also contains a very informative booklet. Get it, its worth it.

Simply amazing.......2006-12-08

Never heard this before, just great stuff. How is it this guy's leftover tapes are just mind bogglingly good compared to others' pinnacle albums. If you like blues, you'll love this....

THIS IS NOT THE RYODISC RADIO ONE LIVE SESSIONS.......2006-06-24

these are pre-canned radio shows with the ever unbearable alexis korner talking on top of the songs as wow cool groovy DJ "intro". the old Radio One was a real live in studio show that was GREAT. THese are mostly studio released cuts from the first and second album mixed with DJ chatter and one HEndrix interview with a phoney, well let's hear that song now shall we intro to the recorded album version! As one who has been seriously burned by repackaged Hendrix stuff in the past, and as a loong time fan (I remember when he lived and died) it takes alot for me NOT to recommend all things Hendrix, but I cannot recommend this. Find the actual LIVE RAdio One recording, not these packaged cut and pasted radio shows

One of the best .......2005-12-28

I was pretty impressed with the perfomances of Jimi Hendix in this album. He, as usual puts his soul into all of his songs, but also is able to just fool around and jam like in his cover of "Hound Dog". Jimi gets to experiment with the blues as well in this album and I personally think that is where Jimi is most talented. I am also impressed with BBC as a whole, first because I have the Led Zeppelin BBC sessions, and they were equally as awesome. Second because in BBC sessions, the artists get to just have fun with the music and play with raw talent. I highly suggest this album if you are a Hendrix fan and you should look for other BBC versions of your favorite artists as well.

Definatly worth the money........2005-12-17

This is an awesome Hendrix album I connot complain about it in one way except for the fact that the sound quality could be better but besides that this thing can't get much better. It is cool because you get to listen to Hendrix play live at the BBC Studio. If you're thinking about buying it my opinion to that question would be definatly yes I have no idea how you couldn't like this album it is well worth the money and I highly reccomend this Hendrix 2 disk set!

Average customer rating: Hidden gems from the great Dusty Springfield A Wonderful Gift to Starved Dusty Fans LIVE DUSTY MAGIC

Complete BBC Sessions Dusty Springfield Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Girl Groups | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Duets Complete A and B Sides 1963-1970 The End Of The World/The Wonderful World of Julie London Can't Sit Down ... 'Cos It Feels So Good! The Complete Modern Recordings Live at the BBC: 1967-1970 ASIN: B000OONPIQ Release Date: 2007-06-11

Tracks:

1. Swahili Papa (Bbc Russ Conway Show 26/7/62)
2. Dear John (Bbc Russ Conway Show 26/7/62)
3. Say I Won't Be There (Bbc Ken Dodd Show 14/7/63)
4. La Bamba Bbc Top Gear 16/7/64
5. Tossin' And Turnin (Bbc Top Gear 16/7/64)
6. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (Bbc Top Gear 16/7/64)
7. I Can't Hear You (No More) (Bbc Top Gear 10/11/64)
8. Wishin' And Hopin (Bbc Top Gear 10/11/64)
9. Losing You (Bbc Top Gear 10/11/64)
10. I Can't Hear You (No More) (Bbc Saturday Club 5/7/65)
11. In The Middle Of Nowhere (Bbc Saturday Club 5/7/65)
12. Mockingbird (Bbc Saturday Club 5/7/65)
13. Little By Little (Bbc Saturday Club 24/1/66)
14. Uptight (Everything's Alright) (Bbc Saturday Club 24/1/66)
15. Chained To A Memory (Bbc Saturday Club 24/1/66)
16. We're Doing Fine (Bbc Saturday Club 12/4/66)
17. Every Ounce Of Strength (Bbc Saturday Club 12/4/66)
18. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (Bbc Saturday Club 12/4/66)
19. Good Lovin (Bbc Saturday Club 12/4/66)
20. To Love Somebody (Bbc Dlt 5/1/70)
21. Son Of A Preacher Man (Bbc Dlt 5/1/70)
22. (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher (Bbc Dlt 5/1/70)

Album Description

Dusty Springfield was the finest female vocalist of her era, a performer of remarkable emotional resonance whose body of work spans the decades and their attendant musical transformations with a consistency and purity unmatched by any of her contemporaries. This wonderful collection compiles her complete surviving BBC sessions onto one CD for the very first time. The first three tracks, by The Springfields, includes their first single `Dear John' alongside two follow up singles `Swahili Papa' and `Say I Won't Be There'. This session and the following solo session in 1964 have only recently surfaced at the BBC, having been considered `lost' for a number of years. The album racks up five Top 10 hits alongside a string of album tracks and b-sides but most excitingly includes 'To Love Somebody', a cover of the Bee Gees classic that was originally recorded in Atlanta for inclusion in the seminal Dusty In Memphis album however that version was destroyed in a fire. This track and 'Tossing and Turning', 'Up Tight (Everything's Alright)', 'We're Doing Fine', 'Good Loving' and 'Higher and Higher (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me)' only exist in the BBC's archives. 22 tracks. Mercury.

Customer Reviews:

Hidden gems from the great Dusty Springfield.......2007-07-30

As the cupboard is scraped bare of all studio recordings by the late great Dusty Springfield, this live set from the BBC is a great find. The majority of these songs previously appeared on a Dusty Springfield Bulletin, fanclub-only CD release. That CD included interview segments which are not included here. In exchange there are several more previously unavailable tracks, including 3 early performances by Dusty's folk group The Springfields and her solo take on "Tossin' and Turnin'," which she never recorded in the studio. Highlights of this collection include three other songs that were either never recorded in the studio by Dusty or have been lost: Stevie Wonder's 'Uptight (Everything's Allright),' the Bee Gee's 'To Love Somebody,' and Jackie Wilson's '(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher.' Top-notch vocals throughout. Highly recommended.

A Wonderful Gift to Starved Dusty Fans.......2007-06-17

Whenever any lost song by the great Dusty Springfield turns up, it's an event for her fans, but when an ENTIRE ALBUM of rare or previously unreleased material hits the marketplace, well, it's a cause for celebration. Okay, so the sound quality on some of these tracks isn't the best, and the performances by the backing musicians might be a bit muddy here and there, or the arrangements similarly cluttered, but none of this takes away from the superb vocal performances. Dusty didn't think of herself as one of the Great Ones, and she was a notorious perfectionist in the studio, but the songs included here show her to be a gifted live performer. There's a rawness and a spontaneity here that makes listening to this a real treat for those of us who mostly know the studio album versions of many of these tunes, and have heard them so many times we have memorized every second of every sound and syllable.

The first three tracks, by The Springfields, did not overwhelm this listener, and impatience began to set in almost immediately. Then, a rushed, almost frantic rendition of "La Bamba" (with poorly pronounced Spanish lyrics) threatened to sink expectations for a sublime Dusty experience. But what followed was a surprising, energetic Motown-styled version of "Tossin' And Turnin'," and these ears began to perk up. An emotionally bare and intimate reading of "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" set up the rest of the CD, and from there it never let up.

Two very different performances of "I Can't Hear You No More" are included here, and it's a toss-up as to which is better. On the first one, the band really gets it going, The Echoes do their backup vocals just like they do on the record, but Dusty's singing is just shy of breaking apart. It's a powerful moment. The second version is a tad slower and more laid back, and has less of a wall of sound behind the vocals. It's also more like the album version. In between, a perfunctory "Wishin' & Hopin'," never a particular favorite of mine, manages to gain some interest by having a slightly kickier beat than the original single, and after that a beautifully sung version of her hit song, "Losing You" keeps this collection on the beam. The bass and drums on this one almost make it better than the original recorded studio version, and the backup vocalists are perfection itself. Another song that doesn't add any new ground is "In The Middle Of Nowhere," but it's typically well done by Dusty, and then she follows it up with a fun performance of the Charley & Inez Foxx hit, "Mockingbird," which features one of the Echoes in place of the second Dusty heard on the album version.

The final ten songs bump this CD up to the stratosphere. "Little By Little" is crystal clear and, I think, much better than the hit single version, which always sounded to me like it was recorded in a bathtub. Soul classics never put to vinyl by Dusty, "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," "We're Doing Fine," "Good Lovin," and (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher" are all given the typical, devoted Springfield treatment. She clearly loved doing this kind of music. Two of Dusty's best known hits also come in this final stretch, an impassioned "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me," and "Son Of A Preacher Man," which may not include the perfection of the Memphis musicians, but Dusty sings it even better here, if that's possible.

For me, there are two transcendent moments on this CD: "Chained To A Memory," which is sung with heartbreaking immediacy, and Robin Gibb's "To Love Somebody," which was recorded during the Memphis sessions but lost in an infamous Atlantic warehouse fire (that also robbed the world of many other great artists' master recordings). It's a truly wonderfu gift to starved Dusty fans everywhere, not only to have this song at last, warts and all, but to have each and every one of these recordings.

I'm sure I'll wish that I could get rid of the announcer's voice at the beginning of many of these tracks, after I've listened a few times, but on the other hand, this is pop music history, so I guess I really don't mind too much. The mono and sometimes mirky recording quality of this CD made me tempted to only give it four stars, but that would be unfair, since these imperfections were anticipated. The songs, and Dusty's one-of-a-kind voice are what make THE COMPLETE BBC SESSIONS so special.

LIVE DUSTY MAGIC.......2007-06-08

Having collected Dusty's records since the 60's, it's always great to have something different to add to your collection.

Most of Dusty's solo tracks on this cd were released exclusively through the Dusty Springfield Bulletin some years ago but on this new commercially released cd we had the addition of some of The Springfields hit rsongs and how well they sound LIVE!

All the tracks on the cd are from radio broadcasts and the quality is excellent, there are some of Dusty's huge hits like Son Of A Preacherman, Losing You, I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myselfg and her worldwide smash You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.
Tracks that Dusty never recorded in a studio such as Tossin' & Turnin' have a great early rawness that really adds to the performance, we also have The Bee Gees hits To Love Somebody - Dusty did record this but it was lost when there was either a fire or flood in the Atlanic studios.
Another point of interest is the inclusion of two different versions of I Can't Hear You (No More).
The Jackie Wilson hit (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher is also another great performance from Dusty and the whole cd is such a welcome release.
Look out for the companion dvd to this set, it should be released late August so go ahead and treat yourelf to both!

Average customer rating: Craftsmanship at its Finest! Fantastic blend A musical masterpiece! Superb! Destined to become a classic

Body and Soul Sessions Philippe Saisse Trio Manufacturer: Rendezvous ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: My Favorite Songs Playin' Favorites Ultrablue Soul Express X ASIN: B000EQHX9Q Release Date: 2006-04-18

Tracks:

1. Do It Again
2. September
3. Lady Madonna
4. Harley Davidson
5. Lovely Day
6. Fire And Rain
7. Constant Rain (Chove Chuva)
8. Dolphin
9. Comment Te Dire Adieu
10. Body And Soul
11. We're All Alone
12. If I Ever Lose This Heaven

Customer Reviews:

Craftsmanship at its Finest!.......2007-03-19

I have hundreds of CDs, and dozens of cool jazz, but ONE favorite--"Body and Soul Sessions"! The craftsmanship these three players exhibit on this album is of the highest caliber, and if you listen to just three tracks, "Do It Again", "September", and "Lovely Day", you will find all of the inspiration you need for a day! Philippe's inspired playing of both acoustic AND Fender Rhodes pianos illustrates the reason he is a much sought after session player; David Finck's acoustic bass performances comprise a study in precision and artisanship, and almost excruciatingly perfect playing; Scoota Warner's flexibility, and his ability to adapt to wherever the others take the song, makes him a more than worthy complement to their musicality (my favorite phrase of the entire album is the final few measures of "September", where Philippe breaks into a Latin flavor, and Scoota switches from the rim of the snare drum to full snare; that sound adds so much to what the other two are playing that it is almost a percussionist's "triumph".

Please try this album; if you love cool jazz, you will find something you like!

Fantastic blend.......2007-01-05

This CD is a fantastic blend of Classic and Smooth Jazz. If you like Ramsey Lewis you'll love this CD.

A musical masterpiece!.......2006-08-25

A truly top class album topped-off by the first track "do it again" - for me one of the best smooth jazz tracks I have ever heard.

An absolute must for any contemporary jazz fans across the world

Superb!.......2006-05-31

This is a magnificent jazz CD, both artistically and technically. I have been a Philippe fan for about 5 years, with this being the third of his albums that I've purchased. I have always admired his eclectic blend of songs on each CD. This one is a bit more consistent, yet is remarkably fresh, with incredible phase shifts within some of the songs--a Philippe trademark in my opinion.

Don't let the "Trio" moniker fool you--the efforts on this CD skillfully punch out contemporary grooves, without betraying the trio instrumentation!! I was playing it in the car (by the way, sounds veerry nice on my Mark Levinson system), and I even caught my adolescent son bobbing his head and tapping his feet while listening to it.

I could rave on all day, but this CD is better experienced than discussed. You won't be disappointed!

Destined to become a classic.......2006-04-25

I first heard Do It Again as I was driving in Orange Co., California. It was played by on-air personality Dave Koz. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. IMHO this track is destined to be a jazz classic. This was the best jazz track I have heard in a LONG time. The PS Trio plays with a joyful exuberance that we haven't heard since the late great Vince Guaraldi. These guys sound as if they are having a blast playing - which of course they are. Every track is a treat. Sharp, clean, and precise on each of the 12 songs. If you appeciate great jazz played by extremely talented musicians then this CD is for you.

Average customer rating: Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions Lord Have Mercy 4 1/2 stars. A wonderful, varied soul record What a re-issue should be! Blistering, bluesy R&B

Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions Etta James Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Etta James Rocks the House At Last! The Chess Box Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday Blues to the Bone ASIN: B00005B7GT Release Date: 2001-04-24

Tracks:

1. Tell Mama
2. I'd Rather Go Blind
3. Watch Dog
4. The Love Of My Man
5. I'm Gonna Take What He's Got
6. The Same Rope
7. Security
8. Steal Away
9. My Mother In Law
10. Don't Lose Your Good Thing
11. It Hurts Me So Much
12. Just A Little Bit
13. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
14. You Took It
15. I Worship The Ground You Walk On
16. I Got You Babe
17. You Got It
18. I've Gone Too Far (Previously Unreleased)
19. Misty (Previously Unreleased)
20. Almost Persuaded
21. Fire
22. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (Alternate)

Customer Reviews:

Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions.......2006-11-10

Not my favorite piece, but Etta always pleases.

Lord Have Mercy.......2006-03-16

Tell me mamma... I love this CD. I think it should come with a warning label. "Caution: You will wake up the neighbors". Buy it. I can't play it quiet... I can't not sing along with it... I can't stop dancing when it is on.

4 1/2 stars. A wonderful, varied soul record.......2005-06-11

More soul than blues, Etta James' "Tell Mama" originally came out in 1968 as a twelve-track LP. And here it is in its remastered 2001 incarnation, bolstered by no fewer than ten bonus tracks which earns the reissue the subtitle "The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions".
The sound is terrific, clear and realistic, as is the production by Rick Hall. And those who feel that Etta James' Chess recordings featured too many violins and not enough power need to pick up "Tell Mama" right away!

The original album was top-notch in its own right, featuring the all-time classic soul ballad "I'd Rather Go Blind", excellent covers of Ed Townsend's "I'm Gonna Take What He's Got", Otis Redding's "Security" and Jimmy Hughes' "Don't Lose Your Good Thing", and a couple of driving up-tempo numbers, most notably Don Covay's "Watch Dog" and the magnificent title track.
Etta James never sounded better than during these four 1967-1968 sessions, and the various musicians never set a foot (or a finger) wrong.

There really isn't a single weak track among the twelve songs originally issued. Even practically unknown songs like the swaggering soul stomper "My Mother In Law" and the slow "It Hurts Me So Much", which have never been covered by anyone and don't appear on any of Etta James' compilation albums, are highly enjoyable, and Etta's rendition of "Just A Little Bit" (AKA "I Just Want A Little Bit") is a supremely funky slice of soul-blues.

And the bonus tracks aren't rejects by any means. They include "Almost Persuaded", "Misty", the rocking "You Took It", a very good interpretation of Sonny Bono's "I Got You Babe", and two soulful takes on "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", a song which has been interpreted by everybody from Aretha Franklin to the Flying Burrito Brothers.
I'm no big Etta James fan, actually, but this album is something special. I completely fell for it the first time I put it on, and to me "Tell Mama" is the best record Etta James has ever made, one of the finest, most cohesive soul and R&B records of the late 60s.
You really ought to give it a listen.

What a re-issue should be!.......2005-02-23

In addition to the 12 re-mastered original tracks, there are 10 more (including 2 versions of "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"). There are some good songs here that are not included on either "Her Best" or "The Chess Box", including "Watch Dog", "My Mother In Law", "It Hurts Me So Much", "I've Gone Too Far", and her funked-out Soulful rendition of "I Got You Babe". This is a must-have for Etta fans.

Blistering, bluesy R&B.......2003-01-15

The ever-vivacious Etta James is one of R&B's true greats, an artist whose work will always stand the test of time and this album, originally released in 1968, is one of her best-known and most powerful. More dynamic than expressive, James was a gal who clearly knew how to rock, capable of the same sort of expansiveness as Jimmy Rushing or even jump blues shouters such as Wynonie Harris, but also with a touch of the sleekness seen in Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald. The "Tell Mama" album is a flawless, timeless crowd pleaser, packed with upbeat, compact material, a tailormade showcase for James' mousy snarl. Backed by the best of the Muscle Shoals crew, this is music that can't easily be faulted; with ten bonus tracks added on for good measure, this CD edition is pretty hard to resist.

Average customer rating: Unbelievably Good A REVELATION; AN UNDISCOVERED CLASSIC; A MUST OWN

Proud Mary: The Bell Sessions Solomon Burke Manufacturer: Sundazed Music Inc. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Indie Music | Stores | Music Soul | R&B | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Solomon Burke Nashville Don't Give Up on Me Make Do With What You Got Home in Your Heart: The Best of Solomon Burke ASIN: B00004W1FV Release Date: 2000-08-01

Tracks:

1. Proud Mary
2. These Arms Of Mine
3. I'll Be Doggone
4. How Big A Fool (Can A Fool Be)
5. Don't Wait Too Long
6. That Lucky Go Lucky Old Sun
7. Uptight Good Woman
8. I Can't Stop
9. Please Send Me Someone To Love
10. What Am I Living For
11. She Thinks I Still Care (Previously Unreleased)
12. I'm Gonna Stay Right Here
13. The Generation Of Revelations
14. In The Ghetto
15. God Knows I Love You
16. The Mighty Quinn (Previously Unreleased)
17. Change Is Gonna Come (Previously Unreleased)

Album Description

First time CD release from the King Of Rock n Soul with thebonus tracks 'She Thinks I Still Care', 'I'm Gonna Stay Right Here', 'Generation Of Revelations' 'In The Ghetto' 'God Knows I Love You', 'The Mighty Quinn' and 'Change Is Gonna Come'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

Unbelievably Good.......2001-06-07

I couldn't agree more with the previous reviewer, and have little to add, besides my agreement that this is an extraordinary album. Everyone who's heard it knows it as a masterpiece immediately. When I was purchasing it, the guy in the shop (sorry, Amazon) stopped and raved about it for five minutes or so before he'd let me take my new acquisition home. I've played it in my apartment and have had friends literally stop in their tracks, begging to know who's singing. There's also little more I can say about particular tracks themselves--John Fogarty's notes themselves shed considerable light. But while it's easy to tell which songs are genuine miracles, it's harder to tell just how Burke manages to get inside the lyrics and the melody to bring out meaning. On "That Lucky Ol' Sun," for example, I was prepared for the Louis Armstrong classic, full of joy and vim. Of course, when you actually listen to the lyrics, they're full of pathos and Burke brings this out without laying it all on too thick. Same with "In the Ghetto," a syrupy tune in Elvis's memorable but sappy rendition. But Burke sings it with restraint, and still has managed actually to make me cry several times listening to it. "Quinn the Eskimo" sounds far, far, FAR more revolutionary than Dylan--DYLAN!!--ever did. There is a fair sprinkling of Burke's trademark sad love ballads, but each is affecting in its own way. I love the uptempo tunes; not just "Generation of Revelations" but also "I'm Gonna Stay Right Here" will make you want to dance. The only song that to my ears falls seriously short of what it should be is, strange to say, Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come." For reasons unknown to me, Burke seeks to improve on Cooke's lyrics (instead of "I was born by a river, in a little tent," Burke substitutes the unwieldy "I was born by the river, in a little shack like a tent." What??) I suppose it's just that Cooke is unsurpassable in his own right, but the rest of the album is pure gold. Buy it, buy it, you won't regret it!!

A REVELATION; AN UNDISCOVERED CLASSIC; A MUST OWN.......2001-05-10

I first discovered Solomon Burke from Nick Honrby's novel "High Fidelity." In the novel, a Burke song "Why Can't We Stay Together" features prominently and since main character Rob has such a breadth of knowledge about music, I sought it out hoping to discover something new. This track can be found on Burke's "Definition Of Soul" album which has a 70's/Al Green kind of vibe to it. It's a swell song, and that album is quite good, worth owning, but it in no way prepared me for the power, and genius, and purity of purpose in "The Bell Sessions," which I've been listening to over and over and over for a few weeks now.

The back of the CD has liner notes by John Foggarty who writes that he feels Burke's recording of "Proud Mary" is definitive - that no one before had ever captured the true essence of the song as Burke did... and he's right. For the first time, I actually listened to, and heard the lyrics of this American classic. It's also the first version I've ever heard to completely erase my memory of Tina Turner's bravura rendition.

Burke has a preacher's background, so his sound is steeped in the Gospel tradition which seems the likely source for his greatest gifts - drama, pacing, and rhythm. The man knows how to build a song from the ground up. He starts slowly, gradually sucks you in, and then gives you the release you're begging for, while beautifully serving the lyric the whole way through. No song demonstrates this better than Track #6, "That Lucky Ol' Sun." In the liner notes Foggarty singles out this tune, and boy is he right. Discover this brilliant recording for yourself before some insurance company or The Gap puts it in an ad sure to give goose-bumps. After listening to Burke's version over and over, I was surprised to stumble on it in other parts of my record collection. Ray Charles does it. So does Johnny Cash on his newest "American Legend III." Obviously I'd heard the song before but I'd never heard the song. Classic doesn't even come close to describing it.

"The Bell Sessions" is made up of two distinct albums, and there's a decided shift in sound mid-way through from a stripped down, more acoustic sound to more fully produced tracks complete with enormous gospel chorus. However both styles work wonderfully - it's impossible to choose a preference. Among the fine tracks in the later half, "Generation of Revelations" will have you dancing around your living room.

Why Burke's work in this era isn't better known is a mystery to me. While you could never actually equal the thrill of discovering Aretha Franklin for the first time, listening to the "The Bell Sessions" will be its own kind of revelation. A classic.

Average customer rating: The Father of the Delta Blues Desert Island CD of the first rank! HoosierDaddy Son House is the real deal. Listen and learn Better Son House Exists

Father Of The Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Sessions Son House Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Slide Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Complete Library of Congress Sessions, 1941-1942 Complete Recorded Works of Son House & the Great Delta Blues Singers The Complete Recordings Complete Recordings 1929-34 The Complete Blind Willie Johnson ASIN: B000002877 Release Date: 1992-06-30

Tracks:

1. Death Letter
2. Pearline
3. Louise McGhee
4. John The Revelator
5. Empire State Express
6. Preachin' Blues
7. Grinnin' In Your Face
8. Sundown
9. Levee Camp Moan

Tracks:

1. Death Letter (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take)
2. Levee Camp Moan (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take)
3. Grinnin' In Your Face (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take)
4. John The Revelator (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take)
5. Preachin' Blues (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take)
6. President Kennedy (Previously Unreleased)
7. A Down The Staff (Previously Unreleased)
8. Motherless Children (Previously Unreleased)
9. Yonder Comes My Mother (Previously Unreleased)
10. Shake It And Break It (Previously Unreleased)
11. Pony Blues (Previously Unreleased)
12. Downhearted Blues (Previously Unreleased)

Amazon.com

According to legend, it was Son House's blistering bottleneck guitar that prompted Robert Johnson to pick up a six string. House's potent early recordings from 1930 and 1941 to 1942 showcased his raw, emotionally powerful style, but never received the acclaim of Johnson's. When he was rediscovered during the '60s blues revivalist movement, House's voice still possessed wall-shaking intensity and his idiosyncratic slide guitar still had bite. These 21 recordings (including five alternate takes) offer superior fidelity and significant room for House to stretch out. The first disc features his classic "Preachin' Blues," a stirring a capella "Grinning in Your Face," and a nine-minute "Levee Camp Moan," with Canned Heat's Al Wilson on harp. Disc two (outtakes and alternates) includes an odd homage to President Kennedy and a riveting version of the spiritual "Motherless Children." --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

The Father of the Delta Blues.......2005-08-20

I`ve written reviews for releases by Charley Patton and Robert Johnson,the importance of those recordings are well understood and that leads us to Edward"Son"House.Although others made their mark no one had more influence over the blues scene in the 30`s than this man.A combination of preacher and bluesman,Son was always in conflict because of his secular upbringing and the freedom and experiences that being a traveling blues singer could and did offer.
Although he only recorded a few sides in the early 30`s and then again in the early 40`s,that was it.Soon after he moved up north taking a job as a porter on the railways of the northeast.Fast forward to the early 60`s when he was tracked down and asked to perform,which he did,basically re-learning the guitar and then landing gigs at coffee houses and colleges then later festivals around the U.S. and Europe.In 1965 when he recorded these tracks he was at the height of his powers....with a hard often violent playing style and powerful voice he brought the delta blues style he helped create into the present with powerful performances of such classics as Death Letter,Grinnin in Your Face,Preachin Blues,Pony Blues and the list goes on.
With sound quality as an excuse for not wanting to listen to recordings of 78`s from 60 or 70 years ago,these discs are of the highest fidelity so the choice is yours.
Essential and worth every penny,you should make this part of your collection....the blues has never sounded better than this.

Desert Island CD of the first rank!.......2005-02-09

The Blues- either you get it or you don't. If you're one of the ones who does and you don't have this, then you need to stop whatever you're doing and get this. NOW. It's just that damn good. It's just that damn great! This is one of the CDs that gets me through the high times, the low times and all time in-between.

For me it ultimately comes down to two guys: Skip James and Son House. The two embody the differing poles of early blues aesthetic: James' eerie falsetto keen, odd/moribund lyrics (I'd rather be the Devil) minor key-tuned guitar and intricate finger work, under-stated and introspective; then you got House's deep and (utterly masculine) hollerin' vocals, his combative slide work on his National Steel resonator, his frenetic performances- visceral.

Both men had a deeply spiritual bent.

Now then, there are purists and then there are PURISTS. Some reviewers may say that the later Son House (these studio recordings) is lacking the ferocity and skill and power/delivery of his earlier self (the Lomax Library of Congress recordings and the Paramount recordings from the 30's). They may be right but I don't think so. I'm not knocking his earlier recordings- I swear by everything the man did. It's a tradeoff, basically- sound quality vs. intensity is one way of putting it, though, again I disagree: I think the man was just as gigantic on these two CDs as he was back in the day... And you can tell that his soul, his voice, his anima, had been tempered by the passing years. His intensity seems focused and buttressed to me, not worn out. He sounds like the most alive man I have ever heard.

These two CDs beyond are great, though I like the first better. The classic, "Preachin Blues," puts fire in your guts. "Death Letter," (maybe the best blues tune ever crafted) is jilting and hair-raising. Both takes. The same for "Levee camp Moan." The a capella versions of "John the Revelator" are marvelous. "Louise McGhee" is sublime.

Now- On some of the later alternate takes, House loses a bit of luster... The man coughs a little towards the end, but so what. Alan Wilson's harp never gets in the way, and works well. The Charley Patton cover is a fine time.

I've blathered about enough. I hope I've persuaded you a little- read on. My two cents: All of this is essential. ALL. You just don't hear stuff this good. It will have you humming along, singing at work, tapping your foot. It will make you want to learn to play the blues (and there's hope for you! Incidentally, House didn't learn guitar 'til he was 24- picked it up in a matter of weeks, so they say).

Pick this up.

HoosierDaddy.......2004-05-23

When it comes to the delta blues,this is it!Son House(Eddie James House Jr.)These recordings are a major plus for your collection.I'm trying too find the words to express this review but I can't, just buy it and injoy!

Son House is the real deal. Listen and learn.......2004-03-03

Son House taught Robert Johnson the slide blues. Son House taught Muddy Waters. When Son House started performing at Blues festivals again in the mid 1960s, some of Muddy's younger band members would start to go off for a smoke or whatever when the old man came on stage. Muddy wouldn't let them. Muddy Waters would tell all his band members to be quiet and pay attention when the man played because even compared with Muddy, this was the real deal.

Rediscovered in Rochester, New York, relearning to play the guitar, (how this country abuses the masters that come from its people, particularly its Black people), put back on the stage by the folk revival's blues section.

People outside of the blues life focus on the guitar playing or the rhythm of the singing, but where the power comes from is the feeling and the words that are put together, the life and the meaning of the blues. Son House in his youth and his old age, on this and his other sides, always gave it.

So Like Muddy Waters, I would like you to know that
Son House is the real deal.
Listen and learn

Better Son House Exists.......2002-12-06

These 1965 recordings by Blues elder Son House are decent. This powerful and compelling singer is aged, but still at the top of his form. The song selection is great, and the sound quality is also good, but better recordings exist. Fans should specifically look at the 1941 Library of Congress recordings capture a younger Son House, and Masters of the Delta Blues, for even earlier Son House songs.

Average customer rating: More essential than you might think.... The best of early bowie in one inspiring collections CHANGESBEEBOWIE A sprawling triple CD effort CD 2 still the best, but CD3 doesn't disappoint/Bowie Rocks!

Bowie at the Beeb: The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions David Bowie Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Proto Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Glam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Heavy Metal | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Bargain Box Sets | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Bargain Box Sets | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Tin Machine II Black Tie White Noise David Bowie The Man Who Sold the World Low ASIN: B00004Y7WV Release Date: 2000-09-26

Tracks:

1. In The Heat Of The Morning
2. London Bye Ta Ta
3. Karma Man
4. Silly Boy Blue
5. Let Me Sleep Beside You
6. Janine
7. Amsterdam
8. God Knows I'm Good
9. The Width Of A Circle
10. Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed
11. Cygnet Committee
12. Memory Of A Free Festival
13. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
14. Bombers
15. Looking For A Friend
16. Almost Grown
17. Kooks
18. It Ain't Easy

Tracks:

1. The Supermen
2. Eight Line Poem
3. Hang On To Yourself
4. Ziggy Stardust
5. Queen Bitch
6. Waiting For The Man
7. Five Years
8. White Light/White Heat
9. Moonage Daydream
10. Hang On To Yourself
11. Suffragette City
12. Ziggy Stardust
13. Starman
14. Space Oddity
15. Changes
16. Oh! You Pretty Things
17. Andy Warhol
18. Lady Stardust
19. Rock 'N' Roll Suicide

Tracks:

1. Wild Is The Wind
2. Ashes To Ashes
3. Seven
4. This Is Not America
5. Absolute Beginners
6. Always Crashing In The Same Car
7. Survive
8. Little Wonder
9. Man Who Sold The World
10. Fame
11. Stay
12. Hallo Spaceboy
13. Cracked Actor
14. I'm Afraid Of Americans
15. Let's Dance

Amazon.com

Comprehensiveness isn't always a virtue, as this three-CD set proves. It gathers together everything David Bowie recorded for the BBC between the years referenced in its title, plus a third disc taken from a June 2000 London concert for the famed British radio broadcasting company. Head first to disc two, which focuses on Bowie's in-studio recreations of material from Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust, and marvel at the glam-rockabilly heat generated by Bowie's Spiders from Mars band. By comparison, the other two discs are a disappointment. The first reveals a musical chameleon uncomfortably changing his spots, from music-hall entertainer to free-festival folkie to sub-Dylan sage. The third and final disc betrays a different problem. By 2000, Bowie had calcified into a very slick entertainer. His performances here, particularly of later material such as "I'm Afraid of Americans" and "This Is Not America," are technically fine but a little bloodless--disappointingly human instead of wonderfully alien. --Keith Moerer

Customer Reviews:

More essential than you might think...........2005-11-05

`Beeb' is a British affectation for the BBC, the state-run media which plans (or planned) all television and radio for Great Britain. Bowie was around when the BBC was implementing its 4-station radio broadcasting, and he became one of the first guests in early 1968. BBC rules were strange and archaic by American standards, insisting that pre-recorded music represent only a fraction of airtime, the point being that this would provide employment for professional musicians. So it was that David Bowie appeared with a crew of musicians to perform his songs live a number of times over a four-year period.
I'm a very big fan of Bowie's early work (reference my review of Images 1966-1967 if you're interested), but the earliest sessions on this collection are the least fulfilling. Disk one holds interest to Bowie-philes for historic reasons, but it is disk two that presents the artist in full flight. Working with Mick Ronson, his Ziggy Stardust-era songs shine brilliantly here, in some cases rivaling the album versions. "Hang On to Yourself," "Suffragette City," and "Ziggy Stardust" all rock with authority and grace. "Queen Bitch" has more energy than the version on Hunky Dory, while the songwriting brilliance of songs like "Changes" and "Oh You Pretty Things" come through loud and clear. Most telling are the two Velvet Underground songs performed here. Both "White Light/White Heat" and "Waiting For My Man" are definitive, surpassing all Bowie versions that were previously available and perhaps even surpassing Lou Reed's original versions.
For those of you who are lucky enough to find it, a limited edition of this package comes with an extra disk of Bowie performing live at the BBC radio theatre in June of 2000. Search it out! The extra disk is extraordinary, featuring some of the best live Bowie ever recorded. The band is phenomenal, playing each song to perfection without sacrificing any energy. This version of "Stay" blew me away, forcing me to recognize the sheer funky power of this band. Just as mind-boggling are the versions of "Fame" (a new, `improved' version!), "Absolute Beginners" and "Man Who Sold the World". Every track on this extra disk is exceptional, making it an absolute must for even casual fans of David Bowie. A- Tom Ryan

The best of early bowie in one inspiring collections.......2004-11-23

David Bowie is indisputibally on of the most talented artists in music ever. His songwriting is always at a peak, and was always excellent in his early days, and that is proved on this fantastic collection from the BBC. All live, but you wouldn't know it because it's sounds as clear as his studio recordings. And how about those lyrics? Bowie is so inventive, and he's never gotten the due he's deserved. Look at the amount of work he's accomplished, and look how good he can still be; even better than most. He's amazing. One listen to this collection and you'll realize he's amazing too, i hope. If you're still in doubt listen to all of ziggy stardust, but trust me you'll love it.

CHANGESBEEBOWIE.......2004-09-09

CD2 - The first CD could be a symphony of (flatus) and I'd still give this 5 stars for the nearly immaculate performances on the second disk. In particular, "Hang Onto Yourself" (track 3), "White Light/White Heat," and "Suffregette City" (featuring Mick Ronson making this totally hot kissing noise with his guitar)crackle with energy. It is truly a thrill to hear these old favorites in such a new (as such) and exciting light. Bowie and Co. burn down the BBC studios. Repeatedly. Any rock fan (but especially an old Bowie fan, of course) is likely to meltdown in ecstacy upon hearing this.

CD1 - Many hardcore fans will surely (sweet milk) over CD1 as well although I'm not personally crazy about all of it. Some of David's early Brittish folk period is represented which can be a bit hippy-dippy at times. The first 4 tracks, recorded in May of '68, fit that description although they do feature brilliant in-studio orchestral accompaniment.

Much of CD1 does in fact rock. "Let Me Sleep Beside You" and "Janine" are very good, easy-going rockers recorded with Junior's Eyes who had a short-lived collaboration with Bowie and the session was never broadcast. Bowie delivers a stunning solo performance of Jacques Brel's "Port of Amsterdam" (vocal and guitar). The same session shows off Mick Ronson just a few days after hooking up with Bowie for the first time. They perform an intriguing, half-written version of "Width of a Circle." Ronson really cuts loose on "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" and "Cygnet Committee" is positively intense. Some studio hum can be heard on the session, an atmospheric reminder of the electric nature of these proceedings (that may or may not appeal to the listener). "Memory of a Free Festival" had sadly been edited for time and remains so.

Recorded in June of '71, the last session on CD1 features all of the future Spiders From Mars as well as some friends on vocals and guitarist Mark Carr-Pritchard who played for a phantom Bowie project called Arnold Corns. Early embryonic versions of "Moonage Daydream" and "Hang Onto Yourself" were recorded and released under that name. The group stomps through "Bombers," a rare HUNKY DORY-era cut that sounds better (and less cheesy) than the studio version which I have as a bonus cut from the RYCODISK release of HUNKY DORY. "Looking For A Friend" is a country-ish, Stones-y rocker and they also turn in a rousing cover of Chuck Berry's "Almost Grown." And Bowie performs "Kooks" solo on vocal and guitar which he had just written for newborn son Zowie.

Note: Those concerned about excessive voice-overs from BBC radio hosts (like the ones that marred the Jimmy Hendrix BBC release) can relax. There's very little talking over the songs and quite a bit of interesting Bowie banter on CD1. CD2 has nothing but back-to-back songs. Tracks begin with actual songs, not the preceeding dialogue.

Bonus Disk (June 27, 2002 live at BBC Radio Theatre) - ****1/2 Excellent line-up (Earl Slick, Mike Garson), great choice of songs, Bowie in top form. Still, something's missing. A little too slick and professional, maybe? But this is great stuff. "Seven" comes off really well. "Always Crashing In The Same Car" is excellent and much more organic than the album version. The studio wizardry of "Little Wonder" and "Hallo Spaceboy" is expertly reproduced. This album takes on more definition with repeated listens and sounds better over time too. (Many live recordings can initially sound "same-y" from song to song due to same background vocalists, etc.)

We can probably thank Kurt Cobain for reviving Bowie's interest in the post-apocalyptic "Man Who Sold The World," wonderfully played here. "Fame" is vamped-up with a slightly altered rhythm, still funky as ever. "Stay" rocks out. And on the final cut, "Let's Dance" is reimagined as a Carribean breeze before, suddenly, the beat kicks in and the audience "trembles like a flower."

This entire package is most worthy. Highly recommended!

A sprawling triple CD effort.......2004-05-16

I rarely listen to this although having said that I have been listening to it a lot more recently. The fact is is that this is a hard thing to recommend. You might not have some of the songs that are on here and for that you might want to top up. I bought it as an overview of Bowie's earlyish career ( I'm not going anywhere near The Laughing Gnome ). Which in hindsight was probably a bit of a mistake but I wouldn't buy this album if it didn't have the extra CD - call me banal if you will but that's what happens when you have collector tendancies in you!

Bowie's early stuff ( pre-Ziggy ) sounds anodyne and twee. The conversations you hear on the CD make Bowie seem genuinely nervous but pleasantly friendly. Of course he might not do one song " because to do it would be possibly over everyone's budget." You could take that as nerves if you will but this is the BBC we're talking about. Their budgets at the time were not astronomical.

I've said this before that when you see " Live At The BBC " it doesn't really mean it's really *live* if you've ever heard BBC radio presenters like John " that was quite tasty " Peel or any others you'll know that they say " and we have [musician's name] here live in the studio." It's in a studio and it will never give you a live feel for the songs. It's just BBC engineers working on Bowie's songs and in return you could I suppose think of them as session outtakes from his album. But one thing should be made clear - if you haven't got Bowie's version of Jacques Brel's Amsterdam, this is where you can get it. It's passion almost matches Le Grand Jacques in it's intensity

As the second CD moves and the classics come in you begin to think " this is more like it " and Bowie seems more at ease with everything. Notice his covers of White Light/White Heat ( " make me sound like Lou Reed ")

Now the third CD becomes even more sprawling since it tries to fill in all the places that the first two CDs left out. And it's not always a winner. Little Wonder and I'm Afraid of Americans are terrible songs but actually sound better than what they sounded like on their original album. Still doesn't make it good but at least you can probably tolerate it this time. But overall it didn't capture the gig very well since I saw this on TV when I was 15 and I thought the gig was fantastic. Bowie really had them going ( but then that was to be expected right? ), the CD just doesn't capture the songs well and though I like nearly all of the songs, it lacks the cohesion that the show actually had. Still, for the money I paid for this it's not too bad. But then, there's always a nagging feeling that it could be improved but whatever about that, the sheer amount of material you have here you can be somewhat happy if you want to buy this.....of course that is if you are a diehard fan. If you're not - try figuring out which compilation you want to get of Bowie. There's a lot of them around!

CD 2 still the best, but CD3 doesn't disappoint/Bowie Rocks!.......2003-02-11

I did track down this version that has the fine recently recorded third CD, HOWEVER, I would have been happy to have just heard the original two CD collection. On Disc 3, I was impressed with some of the old songs that were chosen such as "Man Who Sold The World" and some classics I have never heard done live like "Ashes To Ashes" and "Stay." The biggest and best surprise is the closer: "Let's Dance." Sweet!

This is certainly an interesting collection of songs! I can't say I love DISC 1 in general, but there are some nice surprises. "Kooks" is a lovely little song! The band playing with Bowie is quite good in "The Width Of A Circle" and "Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed." I heavily prefer Disc 2 because I have loved the "Ziggy Stardust" material for many years. The familiar songs sound different but as enjoyable as the released versions. Bowie was great at reworking good songs into even better songs, which is quite apparent on "I'm Waiting For The Man" and "White Light/White Heat." I can't say enough positive things about Disc 2 other than "Freak out, in a Moonage Daydream! Oh yeah!"

Average customer rating: Been A Long Time... The Dawning Of The Philadelphia Sound !

The Philadelphia Sessions Jerry Butler Manufacturer: Island / Mercury ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Philly Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Very Best of the Vee-Jay Years The Sweetest Soul Jerry Butler - Greatest Hits The Best of Jerry Butler - The Millenium Collection Best of Jerry Butler & The Impressions ASIN: B00005PJ9W Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

1. Hey, Western Union Man
2. Can't Forget About You, Baby
3. Only The Strong Survive
4. How Can I Get In Touch With You
5. Just Because I Really Love You
6. Lost
7. Never Give You Up
8. Are You Happy
9. (Strange) I Still Love You
10. Go Away, Find Yourself
11. I Stop By Heaven
12. Moody Woman
13. A Brand New Me
14. Been A Long Time
15. Close To You Love
16. Since I Lost You Lady
17. What's The Use Of Breaking Up?
18. When You're Alone
19. I Forgot To Remember
20. Got To See If I Can't Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)
21. Don't Let Love Hang You Up
22. Walking Around In Teardrops
23. Beside You
24. I Could Write A Book
25. No Money Down

Customer Reviews:

Been A Long Time..........2002-08-03

For fans of Jerry Butler, and for soul music fans in general, the wait for this release was interminable. The Mercury anthology
on Jerry gave us a little taste of what we needed, but this CD is
the Real Deal: a feast for the heart, the ears, and the feet! "The Ice Man Cometh" was a masterpiece that deserves to be on people's 10-best lists. It was chocked-full of hits (five charting singles, two of which topped the Soul chart), memorable B-sides, and other standout performances. The album celebrated the union of Butler with the production team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff; a union that made pure magic. Gamble and Huff had been
established via associations with The Soul Survivors and The Intruders, among others, but they jumped at the chance to write with Jerry, a pro's pro of a singer with a long-and-strong pedigree, dating back to his days with The Impressions. The first
single they put out, "Lost" hit the Soul top 20 and was impressive enough as a debut. Then came, "Western Union Man," which shot to #1 and became an instant classic. "Never Give You Up" was a classic in its own right, with Jerry instructing his moonlighting girlfriend, to tell the new guy that "Jerry said he'll never let you go!" "Are You Happy" was a breezy reflection
on the "what goes around comes around" theme. The final single release was forced, since the jockeys started playing it right off of the album to satisfy requests. "Only The Strong Survive" had a strong message, indeed; a universal message, whether your trouble is with the opposite sex, unemployment, racial prejudice,
or what have you. "You gotta be strong; you gotta hold on" was a powerful statement at the end of the turbulent sixties, especially for Black Americans both male and female. "The Ice Man Cometh" was a huge step for Gamble and Huff and their Philadelphia Sound. Their trademark elements are on full display here, like Huff's gospel-drenched piano on "I Stop By Heaven" or Vince Montana's vibes all over the album; and the streetwise lyrics with Whopper-sized messages. The album did so well that the association could only continue. So included in this package is the entire "Ice On Ice" album, with its own slew of memorable
tracks ("Moody Woman" "A Brand New Me" "Don't Let Love Hang You Up" "Walking Around In Teardrops"), and the couple of Gamble-Huff-Butler tracks that survived for the next album. This hit-making team was broken up due to a dispute over royalties (Gamble
and Huff claiming that Mercury held out on them). Kenny and Leon
moved on to other outside projects (Archie Bell), inside projects
(The O'Jays on the short-lived Neptune label), and finally, to the establishment of Philadelphia International Records. Jerry continued to record for Mercury for several more years, became even more involved in producing, songwriting, and developing new talent, and, eventually, wound up on Philly Int'l himself. One of

the albums he recorded at P.I.R., "The Best Love," is easily his best work post-Mercury. Jerry is, today, a very successful politician in his native Chicago.

The Dawning Of The Philadelphia Sound !.......2002-01-14

This is a long overdue cd containing two albums Jerry Butler released in the late Sixties . The albums are " The Ice Man Cometh " and " Ice On Ice " and they`re rightly regarded as underground soul classics . The songs on these albums are the equal to any of the Jerry Butler classics that he recorded in the early Sixties for Vee-Jay records , but what marks them out as important recordings is the fact that Jerry Butler co-wrote the songs with the young , up and coming songwriting duo , of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff , who also produced the albums .

The following decade would see Gamble and Huff dominate the airwaves and charts with the classic Philadelphia sound . Bands such as The Ojays , Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes and many others would have countless hits throughout the Seventies with the Gamble/Huff midas touch . This cd is the blueprint for everything that was to follow , the Gamble and Huff sound is already in place , the songs are bona-fide Philadelphia classics , and if there was any justice they should have catapulted Jerry Butler to superstardom alongside The Ojays , Billy Paul etc , but alas , it was not to be .

This essential release also has three added bonus tracks that are as majestic as the rest of the material found on this cd . It deserves to sell a million , but somehow I doubt it !

Average customer rating: Her Name Is Maybelle Big Maybelle on Okeh Look No Further - Big Maybelle is the Real McCoy! Great Maybelle one of the best

The Complete OKeh Sessions 1952-55 Big Maybelle Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music East Coast Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music New York Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Jump Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Blues General | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Blues General | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | R&B General | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | R&B General | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 R&B | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings Ball N' Chain With the Muddy Waters Blues Band 1966 Soul on Fire: The Best of LaVern Baker The Very Best of Big Joe Turner ASIN: B0000028ZN Release Date: 1994-08-09

Tracks:

1. Just Want Your Love
2. So Good To My Baby
3. Gabbin' Blues (Don't Run My Business)
4. My Country Man
5. Rain Down Rain
6. Way Back Home
7. Please Stay Away From My Sam
8. Jinny Mule
9. Send For Me
10. Maybelle's Blues
11. I've Got A Feelin'
12. You'll Never Know
13. No More Trouble Out Of Me
14. My Big Mistake
15. Ain't No Use
16. I'm Getting 'Long Alright
17. You'll Be Sorry
18. Hair Dressin' Women
19. One Monkey Don't Stop No Show
20. Don't Leave Poor Me
21. Ain't To Be Played With
22. New Kind Of Mambo
23. Ocean Of Tears
24. Whole Lot Of Shakin' Goin' On
25. The Other Night
26. Such A Cutie

Customer Reviews:

Her Name Is Maybelle.......2007-01-11

She was born Mabel Louise Smith in 1924; she became the singer Big Maybelle in 1952 after Fred Mendelsohn "discovered" her (something Dave Clark had previously done in 1936) and re-named the singer.

THE COMPLETE OKEH SESSIONS 1952-'55 consists of the 26 songs Big Maybelle recorded for the OKeh label October 1952 thru March 1955; songs are in chronological order. Disc packaged in black jewel case; total running time: 73:44. Booklet includes an essay by Peter Grendysa, two black & white photographs, musician personnel, and recording dates. Sound quality is very good.

Big Maybelle is most comparable to LaVern Baker, but she also has similarities to Bessie Smith. Her voice is definitely "Big"; she is not afraid to growl, moan, and wail; in that respect she is similar to Koko Taylor. The music is fun `50s Rhythm & Blues, much like LaVern Baker or Ruth Brown.

Music on the last 4 tracks was conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones. Also of note is her playful (and amusing) Mae West-like dialog on "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" and the "Maybelle vs. the female hater" of "Gabbin' Blues (Don't Run My Business)" where Maybelle sings in response to the dialog by Rosemarie McCoy, the song's co-writer, who is basically talking trash about Maybelle. (From essay: "The song itself was based on the traditional "Dozens" or "Dirty Dozens" put-down rap from black vaudeville of the 1920s.")

Not included here are her early recordings on Decca or her three singles on King Records in the late 1940s. After OKeh she recorded for Savoy and Brunswick labels, as well as having a pop hit with a version of the rock song "96 Tears" in 1967. Diabetes and years of drug addiction brought her life to an end in 1972.

Big Maybelle is an under-recognized talent. This is a great CD for anyone who enjoys classic Rhythm & Blues and/or big-voiced divas.

Big Maybelle on Okeh.......2006-06-17

Mabel Smith (1924 -- 1972) learned music as a child singing gospel in Jackson Tenessee. She was a large woman, over 250 pounds, with a big voice to match. She received the nickname "Big Maybelle" at the time of the recordings on this CD.

Big Maybelle made a few recordings in the 1940s, but became well-known only during her years of recording for the Okeh label from 1952 -1955. Following her years with Okeh, she recorded for a number of other labels, appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958, and acquired a large following among lovers of the blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, and,near the end of her career, rock and roll. Big Maybelle's career was hampered throughout and cut short by a severe drug addiction.

This recording includes the 26 tracks Big Maybelle released for Okeh during 1952 -- 1955 and shows the singer at the height of her powers. The songs are in a variety of styles, but they are predominantly the "jump" or "swing" blues, that became popular in the later 1940s and early 1950s for dancing. These songs include a back-up band of 5 to 7 musicians featuring piano, guitar, bass, drum, and sax. The back-ups for Big Maybelle on these recordings are excellent, especially the wailing sax on many tracks.

But the main attraction of this CD is Big Maybelle herself. She was gifted with a powerful, gravelly voice that she projected with her ample heart and body in whatever she sang. She could be gritty and forceful, a woman version of a "shouter" and yet could sing with sweetness and tenderness. Her voice was full of vibrato, purring, growling, and passion. Big Maybelle was a lady blues singer in the worthy line of Bessie Smith.

The tracks I particularly enjoyed on this CD includeed "Rain Down Rain", with Big Maybelle's passionate singing accompanied by a honking sax, the slow, wailing "Maybelle's Blues", the uptempo and rhythmical "I've got a feeling (somebody's trying to steal my man)", "Ain't no use," another slow ballad, and "Don't Leave Poor Me." Some of the songs on this CD that achieved popularity include the "Gabbin' Blues" with its trading of insults (called dirty dozens), "One Monkey Don't Stop no Show" which has been covered many times and "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going on" which, with honk-tonk piano not prominent on Maybelle's recording, Jerry Lee Lewis made famous.

This CD is deservedly included in a list of 50 essential blues CDs in a recent excellent overview of the blues,"The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Blues" by David Evans. In addition, Evans includes Big Maybelle's recording of "My Country Man" from this CD as one of 50 individual essential blues recordings. Evans offers a detailed account of Maybelle's rendition of this song and concludes that "[t]he performance is tight and professional representing the best of jump blues." (p.180)

I am pleased to see many thoughtful and appreciative reviews of this CD and this site. This CD is an excellent introduction to a great lady blues singer who remains too little known and a good way to expand your knowledge of the the unique American art form of the blues. The CD includes detailed liner notes by Peter Grendysa.

Robin Friedman

Look No Further - Big Maybelle is the Real McCoy!.......2005-12-23

These 26 essential tracks that Big Maybelle recorded for Okeh records are the real McCoy. Her reputation as one of the most exciting female vocalists to ever sing the Blues is more than ably demonstrated here, and these tracks are the purest Blues she ever recorded. Unlike some of her pop and jazz records - and Big Maybelle excelled in all of these styles - almost all of these tracks have the distinction of bearing the unmistakable stamp of pure Blues music, something that is mighty rare among female practitioners of the art. The music world abounds with many female vocalists who were labeled "Blues" singers without their ever fully indulging in the form. While Big Maybelle herself made some excellent R & B and even pop records, when she sang the Blues, she went all the way, as some others did not. And if you want proof, one listen to these excellent tracks is all you will need.

Her sound is as big as she was, and her phrasing and delivery are as earthy as the Blues can get. At times, she sounds quite a bit like her mentor, Bessie Smith, whose style she clearly loved and emulated - if you listen carefully to her rendition here of Please Stay Away From My Sam, you could almost swear you're listening to the Empress, come back and recorded on better equipment. But Big Maybelle also bears the marks of a true original - she is always true to her own voice and vision, which is every bit as powerful as her phrasing is divine.

If you are not familiar with her, these tracks will grow on you immediately. If you have any of her other recordings, you will understand why these sessions are essential. The musicians who back her up are excellent, and all are totally in sync with her style.

In reality, anyone who loves Jazz, R & B or Blues can appreciate Big Maybelle. The few "pop" numbers among the material presented here showcase her diversity brilliantly. Her rendition of "You'll Never Know" is quite unlike any other version I've ever heard before, in both style and presentation, and a prime example of what a true "torch" singer can do with a sad song. The same is true of the wonderful ballad Ain't No Use, which seems to have an identical first bar to Percy Mayfield's Please Send Me Someone to Love, then veers off into one of the most effective torch songs I've ever heard. Ditto for You'll Be Sorry, a tune that sound like something Irma Thomas may have done in her early years, which of course came after these tracks. And Ocean of Tears is pretty much in a class by itself; a true Blues song that doubles as a torch song, Big Maybelle's wailing will convince you that she has the pain in her heart that the lyrics say she does. But I don't mean to get caught up on the ballads; the barrelhouse Blues numbers are the real attraction here - just one listen to Ain't To Be Played With, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show or even Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On will confirm that. The more I listen to Big Maybelle, the more she surprises me with every phrase of every song.

The tracks contained on this album showcase one of the most sadly neglected artists of all time, at her prime. Music like this is priceless, but priceless doesn't necessarily mean expensive. This album is modestly priced, and considering it contains 26 glorious tracks of one of the greatest blues singers who ever lived, it's a downright bargain.

Highly recommended.

Great Maybelle.......2005-10-09

To hear a great voice (I try to avoid the superlative)in a wonderful setting look no further : this is IT! I think this is the best compilation of Maybelle(or any other singer in the R&B/jazz/Blues field) EVER!

one of the best.......2005-09-15

If you don't already know about Big Maybelle, brother, are you in for it. She had it all, but messed up her life with an addiction to heroin, but boy, could she belt out a song. She was a big influence on Aretha, another all time great. The CD Blues, Candy & Big Maybelle is also a great one to get.

Meditation Music:

1. The Threepenny Opera [Cast Recording]
2. Una furtiva lagrima
3. Under My Skin
4. Verdi: Aida
5. Verdi: Aida; Un ballo in maschera
6. Verdi: Il Trovatore
7. Verdi: La Traviata
8. Verdi: Le trouvère (Highlights)
9. Verdi: Un Ballo In Maschera
10. Very Best of Gilbert & Sullivan

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

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