Derb on Boyd

JOHN DERBYSHIRE has a new "diary" column up that features a nice bit about PATTI BOYD. Here's a short excerpt:

"There are plain women, there are pretty women, there are attractive women, and there are beautiful women. High above them all, in a realm of their own, there are those women. I think every guy knows what I mean: women who, without necessarily being beautiful in a conventional way, or having any specially iridescent qualities of intelligence or personality, cause our knees to tremble, our eyeballs to lock, and our poor tongues to lose the power of speech."

There's more, and you can read the whole column here:

http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=NDBkZWUxZmU5NmFiZTQwNjA4MTM3ZmQ0NjRiM2E1M2Q=

Good ol' Monkey Grip

Love Extractions

One of the coolest things about this here digital age of music, in my opinion, is the ability (of some folks, anyway) to do these 5.1 extraction things, extracting the "discrete" channels from 5.1 mixes. This allows us to hear the same old songs in some totally new ways.

Currently floating around is a 10-disc set called "Loveology", a collection of all the discrete channels extracted from the 5.1 mix of the recent BEATLES "Love" CD.

I think its all fun to hear, but 10 discs is a lot to download, so here are a couple of tracks that I thought really stood out. If you like 'em, you might want to look around for the full set.

These are both "center-channel" extractions from Disc 1, which give us a loud and clear vocal track along with some of the musical backing. Its almost like LENNON and MCCARTNEY were right there singing in your ear!

BACK IN THE USSR (CENTER CHANNEL)

I AM THE WALRUS (CENTER CHANNEL)

And be sure to listen for Lennon's shout of "Nyet!" during the solo in "Back In The USSR".....

What's new.....

What do Ringo, Patti, Astrid, Mick, Elton, Eric, Ronnie, and Paul all have in common?

They all have new product either just out or coming out soon. Here's a quick run-down, with links:

8/28 - CD + DVD / RINGO STARR - Photograph: The Very Best Of Ringo

8/28 - Book / PATTI BOYD - Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me

10/1 - Book / ASTRID KIRCHHERR - Yesterday: The Beatles Once Upon A Time

10/2 - CD / MICK JAGGER - The Very Best Of Mick Jagger

10/2 - CD + DVDs / ELTON JOHN - Elton 60: Live At Madison Square Garden

10/9 - Book / ERIC CLAPTON - Clapton: The Autobiography

10/16 - Book / RONNIE WOOD - Ronnie Wood: The Autobiography

11/13 - DVD / PAUL MCCARTNEY - The McCartney Years

Maybe I should get started on my "Dear Santa" letter.....

Michael

Born August 29th, 1958, today is MICHAEL JACKSON's 49th birthday.

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Here's a great track that I've already posted before, about a year and a half ago. Its the "CCC" mash-up of Michael's vocal from the JACKSON FIVE's "I Want You Back" and the music from GEORGE HARRISON's "Isn't It A Pity". And like I said before, check out little Michael's vocals. Excellent.

CCC - I WANT PITY

Happy birthday Michael.

Disco Floyd

".....goody goody goody bullsh*t....."

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of ROSEBUD's classic disco versions of PINK FLOYD's "Have A Cigar" and "Money". Released as a 12-inch "Disco Single" on Warner Brothers Records, the A-side "Have A Cigar" did actually get some airplay on my local FM "rock" station at the time.

I did my own needle-drop, and since I know you'll all want these for your next Disco Dance Party, I ripped them at 320 kbps. They're separate MP3s, but they're both in the same RAR file.

http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/3195435410/Rosebud.rar

Too Many Cooks!!!

Yes its true - finally an official release of "Too Many Cooks". Coming in October, on "The Very Best Of Mick Jagger":

"The sizzling "Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup)," was produced by John Lennon and recorded by Jagger in 1973 in Los Angeles. The track features an all-star lineup that includes guitarists Danny Kortchmar and Jesse Ed Davis, keyboardist Al Kooper, bassist Jack Bruce, drummer Jim Keltner, and, on background vocals, singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson. It has never previously been released."

Read all about it here:

http://mickjagger.com/

2007 Magazine of the Week #17

Maybe I should just start calling it the "Magazine of the Month".....

(.....yeah, I know. Its been two months.....)

Anyway, here's a look at the June 1969 issue of HIT PARADER.

(Click images to enlarge)

There's a story on the "Current Problems of THE ROLLING STONES". We learn that BRIAN was "now happily back in the social circulation", and "took a great fancy to the ten-foot-high cut-out of Tiny Tim at the Playboy Club reception. So taken with it was Brian that he took it with him when he left and on to a party at photographer DAVID BAILEY's next evening, where it was apparently a great success". MICK pops in for a quick interview and briefly (very briefly) discusses "Beggars Banquet", "Performance", "Barbarella", MOTHERS OF INVENTION, and his new "moog-synthesiser".

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In "PAUL MCCARTNEY on THE BEATLES", Paul talks about the recently-released Beatles' "White Album". Here's a bit where he talks about writing "Rocky Racoon":
"I was with John on the roof, and we were just sitting around playing guitar and we were with DONOVAN and just enjoying ourselves. I started playing the chords and originally the title was "Rocky Sassoon". And then the three of us started making up the words and they came very quickly, and eventually it became "Racoon" because that was more like a "cow-ie"."

"Words To Your Favorite Hits" includes the lyrics to "Crossroads (as recorded by the Cream)" and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (as recorded by Arthur Conley)".

There's a nice article on the SPECIALTY record label, plus TRAFFIC, JIMI HENDRIX, ARETHA FRANKLIN, and "Have We Misjudged THE MONKEES?".

And then there's THE HOLLIES, BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE, THE IMPRESSIONS, MARTHA REEVES, JOHNNY TAYLOR, and a lot more.

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Not bad for 35 cents!

DC5 redux

By popular demand, here's a re-posting of the DAVE CLARK FIVE tracks that I posted a while back, this time all in a single file:

http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1099690015/DC5.rar

These are the songs included:

Glad All Over
Bits And Pieces
Do You Love Me
Can't You See That She's Mine
Because
Reelin' And Rockin'
Everybody Knows
Having A Wild Weekend
Catch Us If You Can
Try Too Hard
At The Scene
I've Got To Have A Reason
I Like It Like That
Over And Over

And here are links to my original posts:

CULPA DIRECT - THE DAVE CLARK FIVE

CULPA DIRECT - THE DAVE CLARK FIVE, PART 2

Tracking Townshend

There's an excellent interview with PETE TOWNSHEND over at EQ Magazine. Pete talks about recording, making home demos, equipment, Pro-Tools, mic placement, the recent "Endless Wire" CD, etc - fascinating stuff.

Here's a brief excerpt:

"It is a long time since I have mixed in an analog desk. I have had my big Synclavier since 1984 — me and Frank Zappa, Sting, and the rest. That had a built-in 16-track hard disk recorder that still sounds pretty incredible, I have to say. So often a lot of simple level adjustments could be made right inside the Synclavier with ease. On Endless Wire, I would have mixed analog, but my Focusrite desk from 1986 was on its last legs (it is now being broken up into modules), and I simply didn’t have enough reliable working channels to give it a try. I wasn’t about to go into someone else’s studio to mix. I have to say I think mixing in Pro Tools is a joy. The ability to keep tweaking a good mix, and to strip it down for TV backing tracks, to offer elements to remix engineers, to be able to email track groups across the globe for overdubs, etc. — all this is what makes it so great. The sound? I have heard recordings made by Myles Clarke on Pro Tools at 48/24 that sound as good as those I record to tape. I can’t do what he does with it. He uses some of the techniques I’ve demonstrated on the studio floor, but also has his own unique approach. So we learn from each other. "

Read the whole thing here:

EQ ONLINE - TRACKING TOWNSHEND

50 years ago.....

Yesterday, July 6, was the 50th anniversary of, as Dinsdalep put it, "what's-his-face meeting the other guy".

If you haven't already, check out the excellent new Beatlegs Podcast. Here's the page:

BEATLEGS PODCAST - TO DESERVE SUCH A FETE

Happy Birthday Ringo!

July 7th - today is RINGO STARR's 67th birthday. Here are a couple of solo-Beatle mash-ups to celebrate with.
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First there's a duet with Ringo and JOHN LENNON on John's song "Goodnight Vienna", from "Fab Forgeries Vol 3":

GOODNIGHT VIENNA - RINGO AND JOHN

Then from "Fab Forgeries Vol 1", there's Ringo with GEORGE HARRISON on Ringo's "It Don't Come Easy":

IT DON'T COME EASY - RINGO AND GEORGE

Happy birthday Ringo!

Bill Haley

Born July 6th, 1925, today would have been BILL HALEY's 82nd birthday.

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A champion yodeller who went from C&W and Western Swing through Rockabilly territory into some nice clean and tight Rock 'n Roll, Haley never really seems to get the respect he deserves. Both classic versions of BILL HALEY AND HIS COMETS (and the pre-Comets SADDLEMEN) featured some excellent musicians, real top-notch pros. (The "original" Comets morphed into THE JODIMARS, who eventually had one of their songs covered by THE BEATLES).

I'll have more Haley-related posts in the next few weeks, with some great stuff from that era and the whole JACK HOWARD scene. I've got some pretty interesting things coming up.

But for now, to celebrate Bill's birthday, here's a very rare recording from my personal collection. Its a demo of "Haley's Comet", a song that was written for Haley in the 1950s by EDDIE KHOURY and RONNIE BONNER. Haley never recorded it though, and there has never been a commercially released version of the song. This demo is sung by the legendary cowboy singer DICK THOMAS, who had a big hit with "Sioux City Sue" in 1945. ("Sioux City Sue" was co-written by MAX FREEDMAN, who also co-wrote "Rock Around The Clock"). Dick also recorded for REX ZARIO's Arzee label, but that's a whole other story, for another time.

Happy birthday Bill!

HALEY'S COMET - DICK THOMAS

The Dave Clark Five, part 2

By popular demand, here are two more DAVE CLARK FIVE tracks. How could I have not posted these the first time???

"Everybody Knows (I Still Love You)" was a top-20 hit in 1964. "Having A Wild Weekend" was the title track from their 1965 film and soundtrack LP.

HAVING A WILD WEEKEND - DC5

EVERYBODY KNOWS - DC5

All This And T-Shirts, Too

2007 Magazine of the Week #16

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Yes, its The Sudden Return Of The 2007 Magazine of the Week!

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Click on images to enlarge.

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Thought by many to have disappeared for good with absolutely no prior notice, the MOTW is back, with a look at the July 1985 issue of RECORD. Its got a cover story on ERIC CLAPTON, who was promoting his new LP "Behind The Sun". He's interviewed by JEFFREY PEISCH.

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Here's an excerpt with Clapton discussing how the PHIL COLLINS-produced LP ended up with three songs produced by TED TEMPLEMAN and Warner Bros president LENNY WARONKER:

"Well, Phil went on to his next project and I was doing some film music and that was the end of that. Then we got this message from Warner Bros saying that the record wasn't strong enough. I asked why, and they said because it needed more songs that would be able to be taken off as potential hit singles. I was very upset of course, because I'd never considered that to be a priority in my life, and still don't. But I suppose I had to bend with it and I wanted to know from them what they thought hit single material was. So they sent me some songs [by Texas songwriter JERRY LYNN WILLIAMS], which I liked a great deal. I said yeah, sure, I'll do them, and we'll see how it works out. But I think it would be best if you produced them, I told them. Phil couldn't do it; he was already locked into something else. I thought it would be best if Warners produced the songs and provided the musicians. So if any mistakes were made it would be in their camp; it was kind of a little tactical game, you know. So I went back to America and did those songs in Los Angeles with what they call the A team." [The songs, including the first single, "Forever Man", feature such studio heavyweights as TOTO's JEFF PORCARO and STEVE LUKATHER, MICHAEL OMARTIAN and GREG PHILLINGANES.]

Also in this issue is a review of JULIAN LENNON at the Palmer Auditorium in Austin, Texas on March 25th, 1985, and a cool article on REM by ANTHONY DECURTIS.

Happy Birthday Woody!

Happy belated birthday to RONNIE WOOD, who turned 60 yesterday.

Here's SON VOLT with their beautiful version of Woody's "Mystifies Me", from their 1995 debut "Trace":

MYSTIFIES ME - SON VOLT

Wings Over Philly - new link for Part 3

Here's a new link for Part 3 of WINGS OVER PHILLY. I had posted the whole show in 5 parts on Tuesday (click here), but there was a problem with part 3. So I updated with a new link to it, but that doesn't seem to be working either, so I'm trying it again. Hopefully this one will work:

www.gigasize.com/get.php/3194709147/Wings_19760514_3.mp3

The Dave Clark Five

THE DAVE CLARK FIVE was one of the most successful of the British Invasion groups.

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They had a string of American hit singles that placed them, for a time, in a league with THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES.
But for some reason there are no Dave Clark Five CDs currently in print. The way I understand it, drummer Dave Clark owns the rights to the original recordings, but has yet to find a deal he's happy with. Long-overdue for induction into the Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame, the DC5 missed out again this year when JAN WENNER stepped in following the death of AHMET ERTEGUN and stiffed them in favor of GRANDMASTER FLASH (or so they say).

Anyway, there was an official compilation CD available briefly several years ago, but it seems to be rather hard to find these days. So here is my own compilation of tracks, including a bunch of the major hits, plus a couple of personal favorites, like "Try Too Hard" and their excellent take on CHUCK BERRY's "Reelin' and Rockin'"(which I think is one of the two all-time best Chuck Berry covers - the other being The Stones' studio version of "Around And Around"). As far as I can tell, all of these tracks are from 1964 to 1966.

Here's hoping for an induction next year - they certainly deserve it!

GLAD ALL OVER

BITS AND PIECES

DO YOU LOVE ME

CANT YOU SEE THAT SHE'S MINE

BECAUSE

REELIN' AND ROCKIN'

CATCH US IF YOU CAN

TRY TOO HARD

AT THE SCENE

I'VE GOT TO HAVE A REASON

I LIKE IT LIKE THAT

OVER AND OVER

Steve Earle - Live In U.K.

Here's a 2-CD STEVE EARLE boot called "Live in U.K.", recorded in Lancashire on May 26, 2000. The show includes Steve's versions of THE BEATLES' "No Reply" and THE ROLLING STONES "Before They Make Me Run". (I had posted this version of "Before They Make Me Run" a little while back).



DISC ONE:
www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1100345454/Earle_1.rar
01 Transcendental Blues
02 Everyone's In Love With You
03 Another Town
04 Taneytown
05 Hardcore Troubador
06 My Old Friend The Blues
07 Someday
08 Telephone Road
09 More Than I Can Do
10 No Reply
11 I Can't Wait
12 The Boy Who Never Cried
13 Steve's Last Ramble
14 Lonelier Than This
15 I Don't Want To Lose You Yet
16 Wherever I Go
17 Nowhere Road
18 Fearless Heart

DISC TWO:
www.gigasize.com/get.php/3194677874/Earle_2.rar
01 The Devil's Right Hand
02 Halo 'Round The Moon
03 I Feel Alright
04 Band Intros
05 The Galway Girl
06 Copperhead Road
07 All Of My Life
08 N.Y.C.
09 The Unrepentant
10 Bread
11 Guitar Town
12 Before They Make Me Run

What's Good?

"She married Ringo / and she could have had Paul....."

Sorry I haven't been posting very much lately, but I do have some interesting stuff lined up for the next week or so. And right now I thought I'd just post some of the miscellaneous things I've been enjoying recently.

First up are a couple of videos at YouTube. There's a fantastic JOHN LENNON video that I'd never seen before - its a home video of John playing acoustic guitar and singing "Dear Yoko", filmed on April 20, 1980 in Cold Spring Harbor. Absolutely wonderful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi0C3kH6TxE

This one here is my new second-favorite video. Its from 1972 (I think) - MARC BOLAN with ELTON JOHN and RINGO STARR doing "Children of the Revolution". Much fun:

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

And here are a couple of MP3s that I've had in heavy rotation.

During the recording of "Double Fantasy", CHEAP TRICK was brought in to record John's "I'm Losing You" and Yoko's "I'm Moving On". Those versions weren't used on the finished LP, but "I'm Losing You" ended up on the "John Lennon Anthology". Here's "I'm Moving On", from the bootleg "Double Fantasy - Working Version":

I'M MOVING ON - (CHEAP TRICK VERSION)

This is a real odd item. Its FRANK SINATRA singing "Maureen Is A Champ", an ode to RINGO STARR's wife MAUREEN, to the tune of "The Lady Is A Tramp". The story is that it was done for her birthday in 1968 and was actually the first (and very limited) Apple acetate. The new lyrics were written by SAMMY CAHN, and that's BILL MILLER on piano.

MAUREEN IS A CHAMP - (FRANK SINATRA)

And finally, if you haven't already, go check out the "Classic Rock In The Refectory" photo sections at the University of Leeds website. Lots of great photos from some of the shows held there in 1970 and 1971, including the ROLLING STONES, THE WHO, and others.

CLASSIC ROCK - LEEDS UNIVERSITY

Wings Over Philly

I had hoped to post this yesterday for the 31st anniversary, but what the heck, better late than never.

It's an audience recording of PAUL MCCARTNEY AND WINGS, live at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, May 14th, 1976. This is ripped from an old bootleg cassette, and broken into five files. Anyone have artwork for this one? I wasn't able to find any.....

www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1100970171/Wings_19760514_1.mp3

www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1100939377/Wings_19760514_2.mp3

www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1100347572/Wings_19760514_3.mp3

www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1100899656/Wings_19760514_4.mp3

www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1100885944/Wings_19760514_5.mp3

UPDATE: The link to part 3 has been fixed.

Wings Over Toronto

I'll be posting a WINGS show soon, but in the meantime, MACCA BELGIUM has the complete show from Maple Leaf Garden, Toronto, 31 years ago today - May 9th, 1976:

MACCA BELGIUM - WINGS - TORONTO '76

Happy Birthday Rick Nelson

Born May 8th, 1940, today would have been RICK NELSON's 67th birthday.

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Here's PAUL MCCARTNEY's great version of "Lonesome Town", from the LINDA MCCARTNEY tribute at the Royal Albert Hall, London, April 10th, 1999:

LONESOME TOWN - PAUL MCCARTNEY

And here's Rick with the STONE CANYON BAND (featuring RANDY MEISNER on bass) with his classic "Hello Mary Lou", live at The Troubador in 1969:

HELLO MARY LOU - RICK NELSON LIVE 1969

New Lennon boot!

"Not a hoax!"
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"Not an imaginary story!"



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Yes, its true - a new JOHN LENNON bootleg! Just when you thought the well had run dry, here comes another heapin' bucketful, sploshin' all over your shoes.

Its a 2-disc bootleg from Yellow Dog called "It's Gonna Be Alright", featuring more than two hours' worth of previously unheard stuff from the sessions for the 1970 "Plastic Ono Band" LP with John, Ringo, Klaus, and of course, PHIL SPECTOR. There are a few rough mixes, some rehearsals, and nice big chunks of session tapes. I don't know how these recordings got out at this point in time, but I'm sure glad they did. The sound quality is excellent - this really is some beautiful stuff, and a must-have for Lennon fans. And its very very cool to hear "Love" being rehearsed with Ringo and Klaus!

I'm sure that if you hunt around a bit, you can find it at a higher bitrate, but here it is as I downloaded it, at 128 kbps:
www.gigasize.com/get.php/1304508/Its_Gonna_Be_Alright_1.rar
www.gigasize.com/get.php/1305072/Its_Gonna_Be_Alright_2.rar
And many many thanks to the original uploader.

Here are links to the BOOTLEG ZONE pages with artwork, track listings, and some details:

BOOTLEG ZONE - ITS GONNA BE ALRIGHT 1
BOOTLEG ZONE - ITS GONNA BE ALRIGHT 2

re-ac-tor

Keef

Mahoney's Last Stand

Here's one I'd been hoping would turn up: the out-of-print "Mahoney's Last Stand" soundtrack by RON WOOD and RONNIE LANE, with bonus tracks! A great LP from 1976, which also features an appearance by IAN STEWART.

Here's the page at RAMBLER'S PLACE (or is it THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW?):

RON WOOD AND RONNIE LANE - RAMBLER'S PLACE

And thanks to jagger72 for the heads up!

Illustration by John Youssi

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Here's a great illustration by JOHN YOUSSI. I don't know what magazine this came from (maybe CIRCUS or CREEM - anyone know for sure?), but it accompanied an excerpt from TONY SANCHEZ's memoir "Up And Down With The Rolling Stones", so I'm assuming its from 1979.

Click to enlarge.

2007 Magazine of the Week #15

This week we take a quick look at the April 1988 issue of MUSICIAN magazine, with a JOHN LENNON cover story by SCOTT ISLER.

Click on images to enlarge.

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The Lennon story is mainly about the upcoming "Lost Lennon Tapes" radio series. Isler gives us the run-down on some of the tapes and previously unreleased recordings that would likely be heard on the radio show.

Here's a little excerpt that is still tantalizing, even 19 years later:

"A two-note electric guitar ostinato over a rippling bass tone creates a musical ebb-and-flow. This is not a solo tape. "I can hardly raise my head / I'm lying in my lazy bed / I haven't got a care." The ethereal, high-pitched voice - over wordless falsetto backing - comes from the land of tangerine trees and marmalade skies. The tempo is that of molasses. "Everybody's rushing 'round but me / I'm dreaming." These are THE BEATLES performing "Lullabye For A Lazy Day", a song you've never heard. And you won't hear it on The Lost Lennon Tapes either. Official co-writer Paul McYou-Know-Who is unlikely to give clearance to allow the finished (but not incredible) song to be broadcast. This one is truly lost."

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And as usual with Musician Magazine, there's plenty of other cool stuff in here too: particularly "ROBYN HITCHCOCK - On The Trail Of The Gelatinous Blindfish", a great interview in which we get the basic Hitchcock story, from his days with THE SOFT BOYS up through his new "Globe Of Frogs" LP.

Meet Elton John!

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The year was 1976:

"CREEM Celebrates The American Revolution With A ROCK REVOLUTION CONTEST!"

Readers were invited to "tell us in 25 words or less, 'just what is Rock 'n' Roll anyway?'".

The Grand Prize - "A Trip To England To Meet Elton John!"

At The Speed Of Sound

Before They Make Steve Run

If anyone deserves to cover "Before They Make Me Run", it's STEVE EARLE.

Hey wait a minute.....!

No, no, that's a compliment! Honest!

Here's the legendary Earle from May 26, 2000, closing the show with a great live version of the song. And check out those guitars!

BEFORE THEY MAKE ME RUN - STEVE EARLE

Leon and Mary Russell

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For some reason, not all of LEON RUSSELL's old LPs have been released on CD. For instance, the two "Leon and Mary Russell" LPs: "The Wedding Album" from 1976, and "Make Love To The Music", from 1977.

I recently got my hands on a nice clean vinyl copy of "Make Love To The Music", which I had never heard before. Its a fun LP, with lots of vocal interplay. A couple of the tracks are in the then-emerging disco sort of style, and there's also some nice classic Leon piano type stuff. Overall, very enjoyable. Here's my rip:

www.gigasize.com/get.php/1159815/MLTTM.rar

1 Easy Love
2 Joyful Noise
3 Now Now Boogie
4 Say You Will
5 Make Love To The Music
6 Love Crazy
7 Love Is In Your Eyes
8 Hold On To This Feeling
9 Island In The Sun

.....so does anyone have "The Wedding Album" to share?

2007 Magazine of the Week #14

TROUSER PRESS #27, the April 1978 issue.

Its got a great cover story on PETE TOWNSHEND by DAVE SCHULPS. Townshend goes on and on about how THE WHO is never going to tour again.

Click images to enlarge.

Also in this issue, DEVO, NICK GILDER, and "A Power Pop Primer".

Record reviews include BLONDIE, WIRE, STATUS QUO, and THE RUTLES.

Ride A Rock Horse

Metal Machine Music

Get Your Licks

Whistle Rymes

Klaus Speaks

I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but there's a free download of a recent half-hour long interview with the legendary KLAUS VOORMAN. Its from Radio 2 in The Netherlands, and its in English.

Here's the page (which is not in English):

http://schiffersfm.omroep.nl/page/artikel/204095

Elton John, part 7

Elton John, part 6

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Yet another ELTON JOHN post. I had forgotten about this one - I downloaded it a year or so ago, and of course I don't remember from where. I wish I did, because as I recall they had a pretty nice description of it.

This one really is cool - its a children's sing-along LP called "Pinball Wizard and Other Elton John Hits", by THE WILD HONEY SINGERS. For each song, a friendly female voice invites us to read along while she speaks the lyrics with a spacey guitar accompaniment. Then we're told to sing along and the band kicks in. The spoken-word tracks are hilarious, particularly "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word".

Here's the link:

www.gigasize.com/get.php/1116379/Pinball_Wizard.rar

1-2 Your Song
3-4 Pinball Wizard
5-6 Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
7-8 The Greatest Discovery
9-10 Don't Go Breaking My Heart
11-12 Friends

(There are two tracks for each song - first the spoken-word reading, then the full-band treatment).

And thanks to the original uploader!

2007 Magazine of the Week #13

The April 1989 issue of MUSICIAN magazine featured a cover story on LOU REED and JOHN CALE, who had just reunited to perform their new tribute to ANDY WARHOL, "Songs For 'Drella" at St. Ann's in Brooklyn (though the 'Drella CD wouldn't be released until the following year).

There's an interview with Lou, who talks at length about his new LP, "New York". Then there's an article on Cale, and an interview with the two of them where they discuss "Songs For 'Drella" and ANDY WARHOL.

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Here's an excerpt from "The Devil and JOE SATRIANI", where Joe talks about working with MICK JAGGER:

MUSICIAN: How different was it in Mick Jagger's band, with him calling the shots?

SATRIANI: He's really a complex musician, but a straight-ahead guy at the same time. Mick assembled the craziest bunch of players in the world. During rehearsals in New York, he would jam with us in small groups or sometimes all together. But he would often just leave us alone, and you know how musicians are: Soon there would be this big jam session going on. And he would just listen while he walked around working on the staging or lighting. He'd walk up to you while you're jamming and check out what you're doing and smile.

Then, as we started getting into the songs, he'd remind you of something that he'd heard in the middle of some tech-rap-bebop jam and say, "You can do that if you want".

MUSICIAN: Was it a blast playing those classic Stones songs?

SATRIANI: It's fantastic. It was like a rock 'n' roll dream come true. Of course it would be fun for all of us to see Keith and Mick get back together again.

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Also in the issue is an article about the recent Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, in which THE ROLLING STONES were inducted. The story notes that Keith "wasn't exactly chummy with Jagger".

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Click on images to enlarge.

Elton John, part 5

In May 1977 ELTON JOHN played six shows at The Rainbow in London with percussionist RAY COOPER. Elton had temporarily split with his longtime songwriting partner BERNIE TAUPIN and did not release an LP that year.

This is a wonderful double CD of the May 7th show called "Rainbow Rock":

Disc One:

www.gigasize.com/get.php/1104465/Rainbow_Rock_1.rar

01 Your Song

02 The Greatest Discovery

03 Border Song

04 Daniel

05 Sweet Painted Lady

06 Rocket Man

07 I Heard It Through The Grapevine

08 Candle In The Wind

09 Roy Rogers

10 Dan Dare

11 Cage The Songbird

12 Where To Now St. Peter

13 Ticking

14 Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Disc Two:

www.gigasize.com/get.php/1100524/Rainbow_Rock_2.rar

01 Take Me To The Pilot

02 Funeral For A Friend

03 Tonight

04 Better Off Dead

05 Idol

06 I Feel Like A Bullet

07 I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself

08 Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

09 Crazy Water

10 Bennie And The Jets

11 Saturday Night's Alright

12 Goodbye

Artwork is included in the Disc One file.

Destroy All Rational Thought

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Can't get enough of the MASTER MUSICIANS OF JOUJOUKA?

Then check out JOE AMBROSE and FRANK RYNNE's "Destroy All Rational Thought", the new DVD that, according to THEHANDSTAND.ORG, contains "performances from the extraordinary to the sublime, including such influential Beat scenesters as William Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Hamri (the Moroccan national painter) and the Master Musicians of Joujouka, amongst many, many others connected to the Gysin/Burrough`s Tangier Beat Axis. The DVD contains one of the last interviews given by William Burroughs as well as previously unseen footage of him from the 50`s and 60`s, a slide show of paintings exhibited by Gysin and Burroughs, the music of Bill Laswell, Frank`s band the Baby Snakes, Islamic Diggers as well as texts and contributions by key writers Terry Wilson, Ira Cohen and Gysin and Burroughs."

For more info, and an interview with Joe and Frank, click here.

The Lennon Sessions

I read this book today (oh boy) - "The Lennon Sessions" by TONY DAVILIO with MARY VICARIO, published in 2004 in Canada. Its a short (139 pages) account of Davilio's stint as "Arranger" for JOHN LENNON's "Double Fantasy" sessions in 1980.
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Davilio was right there in the middle of the studio throughout the recording sessions, writing out chord charts, lead sheets, horn arrangements, etc, and received a Grammy as Arranger when "Double Fantasy" won the Album of the Year award.

There are really no great revelations here, but the book is fun and light, and its nice to have an account by someone who was right smack dab in the middle of the action. (Although I think he may have gotten mixed up with some dates). And believe it or not, there is no mention of any drug use!

For more info on the book, check out Davilio's site:

WWW.TONYDAVILIO.COM

2007 Magazine of the Week #12

I guess its time to get caught up on the Magazines, so here, from 1975, is ROCK SUPERSTARS POSTER MAGAZINE #3, published by Penthouse Poster Press Ltd.

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Its a magazine that folds out into a "36" x 22 1/2" GIANT POSTER OF THE WHO". And The Who take up just about all of the magazine. (Click here to see the issue that featured THE ROLLING STONES.)

Inside, we get the basic history of The Who. And a bit about ROGER DALTREY, who, we're told, "after his starring role in the "Tommy" movie, has transcended normal "rock super star" mold to become a multi-faceted star. Lead singer, successful solo artist, and now an actor who KEN RUSSELL has said will be the most important new actor of the late seventies".

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There's also a short article about ROD STEWART, who had recently released a solo LP, "Atlantic Crossing". Here's an excerpt:

"It looks as if Rod will continue to record on his own, although he'll still tour with the band [THE FACES]. Since his last attack on his mates, when he called them sloppy musicians, he's admitted that "we're playing better together, I think we'll stay together." But this time he has shown that he's more than happy with his decisions, both to leave England, which upset The Faces as much as anything, and record with different back-up people."

Click on images to enlarge.

Elton John, part 4 : Sixty Years On

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Many, many, many thanks to the kind soul who sent me the links to these files.

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ELTON JOHN played his 60th show at Madison Square Garden last Sunday, March 25th, his 60th birthday. I was told this was downloaded from another site, so I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes here. I wanted to get this posted here while it's still fresh. Its an excellent recording of a great show, and it includes Elton's tribute to JOHN LENNON, "Empty Garden".

Its three rar files containing individual MP3s, and totals more than three hours:

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ELTON JOHN 60th BIRTHDAY - PART ONE:
www.gigasize.com/get.php/1029074/EJ_60_1.rar

01 Sixty Years On

02 Madman Across The Water

03 Where To Now St. Peter

04 Hercules

05 Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun

06 Take Me To The Pilot

07 High Flying Bird

08 Holiday Inn

09 Burn Down The Mission

10 Better Off Dead

11 Levon

12 Empty Garden

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ELTON JOHN 60th BIRTHDAY - PART TWO: www.gigasize.com/get.php/1032424/EJ60_2.rar

13. Daniel

14. Honky Cat

15. Rocket Man

16. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

17. The Bridge

18. Roy Rogers

19. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters

20. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

21. Bennie And The Jets

22. All The Girls Love Alice

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ELTON JOHN 60th BIRTHDAY - PART THREE:
www.gigasize.com/get.php/1027692/EJ60_3.rar

23. Tiny Dancer

24. Something About The Way You Look Tonight

25. Philadelphia Freedom

26. Sad Songs (Say So Much)

27. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

28. I'm Still Standing

29. The Bitch Is Back

30. Crocodile Rock

31. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

32. Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding

33. Your Song

Bootleg Zone Returns!

Yes, its true - Bootleg Zone is back!

What a relief. Head on over and read all about it:

BOOTLEG ZONE

Thank you, Francois!

Elton John, part 3

I know I'm behind on the Magazines of the Week, but I'm on a roll with this ELTON JOHN stuff so try to bear with me.

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Here's another excellent live boot. This one's a double CD called "First Visit 1971", from Elton's show in Tokyo on October 1, 1971. Features "Honky Tonk Women". And its nice to hear a live version of Elton's "Friends".

DISC ONE:
www.gigasize.com/get.php/1022187/EJ71_1.rar

01. It’s Me That You Need
02. Your Song
03. Rock Me When He’s Gone
04. Come Down In Time
05. Skyline Pigeon
06. Rotten Peaches
07. Indian Sunset
08. Band Intro
09. Ballad Of A Well Known Gun
10. Friends
11. The King Must Die
12. Holiday Inn
13. Can I Put You On
14. Country Comfort

DISC TWO:
www.gigasize.com/get.php/1021687/EJ71_2.rar

01. Honky Tonk Women
02. Border Song
03. Madman Across The Water
04. Amoreena
05. Take Me To The Pilot
06. My Baby Left Me
07. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

Artwork is included in the Disc Two file.

Elton John, part 2

Here's a great ELTON JOHN bootleg called "Rock of the Fillmore Westies", recorded live at the Fillmore West in November 1970. This is some classic Elton, recorded right around the time of the official "11-17-70" LP. You can really hear the LEON RUSSELL influence. Its an excellent soundboard recording, and features a very nice version of "Honky Tonk Women", and a "Rock'n' Roll Medley" that includes a bit of "Give Peace A Chance".

Here's the tracklisting:

1. Country Comfort
2. Sixty Years On
3. Border Song
4. Amoreena
5. Honky Tonk Women
6. Burn Down The Mission
7. My Baby Left Me > Shotgun > Give Peace A Chance > I Want To Take You Higher
8. Can I Put You On

And here's the link:
www.gigasize.com/get.php/953870/EJ_1970.rar

Artwork is included in the file.

Elton John, part 1

In honor of ELTON JOHN's 60th birthday the other day, I'll be posting a bunch of the Elton stuff that I've been accumulating.

Starting off with "Reg Dwight's Piano Pops Up" (or something like that), a collection of Elton's pre-superstardom recordings of contemporary covers done for budget labels, 'round about 1969 and 1970. This has been available in various forms under various titles, sometimes with slightly different tracklistings, but its my understanding that this collection was never really a legitimate release, and is therefore no longer available anyway.

So check out Elton singing songs by PAUL MCCARTNEY, CAT STEVENS, JOHN FOGERTY, and others.

Here's the tracklisting:

1. My Baby Loves Lovin'
2. Cotton Fields
3. Lady D'arbanville
4. I'm A Natural Sinner
5. United We Stand
6. Spirit In The Sky
7. Travellin' Band
8. I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top
9. Good Morning Freedom
10. To Be Young And Gifted
11. In The Summertime
12. Up Around The Bend

13. Snake In The Grass
14. Neanderthal Man
15. She Sold Me Music
16. Come And Get It
17. Love Of The Common People
18. Signed Sealed Delivered
19. It's All In The Game
20. Yellow River

And here's the link:

www.gigasize.com/get.php/953518/Reg_Dwights_Piano_Pops_Up.rar

Fab Sounds

Fans of the "Flabby Road" CD should head on over to the incomparable "Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else" blog. They have few songs about THE BEATLES, including "The Invasion", plus a great version of "Rocky Raccoon" by NEW VINTON COUNTY FROGWHOMPERS.

Here's the page:

FAB SOUNDS - MY(P)WHAE

2007 Magazine of the Week #11

This week we take a look at the April 1978 issue of CREEM, featuring a cover story on THE SEX PISTOLS.

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Click on images to enlarge.

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There's lots of gossip in "Rock 'n' Roll News:

"More marital merry-go-rounds: Mr. and Mrs. Jagger appear to be travelling on different astral planes now; Mick with Jerry Hall (Bryan Ferry's ex-sweetie) while Bianca has cut in on Princess Margaret's waltz with young Roddy Llewellyn."

And this:

"Those alimony checks can be hell: Bob Dylan's having a mighty hard time lining up a band for his tour since the offered wage is only 300 dollars a week. Only? How about an official keeper of the dewrags, Bob?" .

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In "The Beat Goes On" we learn that "The Kids Are Alright" is just the first in a series of projects planned by The Who to make use of their new $700,000 film complex in Shepperton".

In Simon Frith's "Letter From Britain", he contrasts Sid Vicious with Paul McCartney, and has this to say about Paul (and his recent huge hit "Mull Of Kintyre"):

"You've got to hand it to old Paul. While Rod is puking his way around the airways and Mick is running off with Bryan Ferry's missus and David Bowie is kidnapping his own son and Elton John is speculating in hair, McCartney is working quietly and efficiently at being the People's Beatle."

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There's "Eric Clapton: Return of the Reluctant Hero", "Queen's Royal Flush", and Robert Christgau's "Punk Guide: A Consumer Manual To New Wave Wax".

And there's a review of Dylan's film "Renaldo and Clara" ("despite its excesses of length and false heroics, Renaldo and Clara is not the ego-tripping nightmare most critics have made it out to be").