LABEL
SPOTLIGHT
NOVEMBER
2002
MUSIC & RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
BACKBEAT
BOOKS -
Before Hendrix, Clapton and Beck there were the masters of classical
guitar. In fact, centuries before I Want To Hold Your Hand
and Whole Lotta Love, the classical guitar was the only
instrument for anyone seeking to learn the guitar. San Francisco-based
Backbeat Books have done a great job on their 132 page book
The Classical Guitar: A Complete History. Edited
by John Morrish, the bookadorned with hundreds of classical
guitar record album coversis one of the most comprehensive pictorials
to date on the history of classical guitar and the players and guitar
makers whose names are now legends of the guitar world. From the more
than 350 striking color photos and ten fold out spreadsfeaturing
the finest European and American guitarsto detailed essays on
legends like Segovia, Bream, Williams and Parkening and topics such
as technique and playing styles, wood analysis, amplification, flamenco,
and the contemporary classical guitar scene, The Classical Guitar:
A Complete History covers it all. www.backbeatbooks.com
CALLISTO RECORDS - On his latest CD, 3 Guitars: Solos
For Vihuela, Baroque And Classic Guitar, Oregon-based
guitarist David Rogers skillfully performs a variety
of elegant solo Renaissance and Baroque guitar music originally written
between 1516-1944. The earliest music, written by 16th Century composer
Luis Milan and performed by Rogers on the Vihuela, fits in
well with manifold guitar music here written by various composers
such as Fernando Sor (1778-1839) and Agustin Barrios Mangore
(1885-1944). Rogersclassical guitarist and lutanist with
The Terra Nova Consortbrings a wealth of guitar-based knowledge
and expertise to these venerable compositions. In addition to his
liner notes, the 70+ minute CD release on the Italian-based Callisto
Records incorporates a enhanced computer tracks featuring all
the scores plus insights on the music and pictures. A master of the
classical guitar, David Rogers has a remarkable grasp of 16th Century
Baroque guitar music.
http://callisto-records.com
DREAMWORKS - Funnyman and Brooklyn native Chris Rock amazed
the comedy world with his 1996 HBO special Bring The Pain
which was released for the first time in 2002 on DVD by L.A.-based
Dreamworks Records. The show made Rock a major hit in the comedy
world and he adds, Im shocked to this day that Bring
The Pain did what it did. Looking at it now, the show is
one hell of a comic roller coaster andfollowing in the
footsteps comic legends like Richard Pryor and Redd Foxxthe
DVD confirms Rock as the funniest man in America today. Recorded live
in Washington D.C. in 1996, the 80 minute DVD finds Rock blowing away
the crowd with a number of hysterical diatribes with titles like Marion
Barry, Colin Powell and O.J., I Understand.
The set also adds in an interview with Rock and some truly funny Rock
music videos like No Sex and Bad Phone Sex.
Not for the faint of heart and filled with some of the most startling
topics imaginable, Bring The Pain is prime-time Rock. www.dreamworksrecords.com
EMI RECORDS - Best known for writing those great songs for the
early James Bond films as well as his all time classic Midnight
Cowboy, the early music of U.K. music titan John Barry is
reexplored on a pair of recent compilations from EMI Records in England.
The 2001 release of The Ultimate John Barry features
24 instrumental and vocal tracks including early Barry group versions
of Walk Dont Run (from 1960), Beat For Beatniks,
The James Bond Theme, The Magnificent Seven
and of course Midnight Cowboy. Another fine Barry collection
on EMI is the 1999 25 track CD John Barry - The Best Of The
EMI Years. With extensive liner notes and color photos,
99 EMI CD is even more detailed then the 2001 release but both
CDs sound amazing and put Barrys 60s music into a fitting
perspective. As is well documented on both CDs, Barrys early
group, The John Barry Seven featured the outstanding guitar
work of Vic Flicksometimes referred to as the Sean Connery
of the electric guitarwho has recently released his own CD entitled
James Bond Now. Flick, like fellow U.K. guitar
hero Hank Marvin, was a major influence on so many "budding"
English musicians at the dawn of the 60s. While Barry would
go on to become one of the greatest film music composers of the 20th
Century, his early work with guitarist Vic Flick and the John
Barry 7 featured on the EMI CDs, is still the stuff of legends. www.filmtracks.com/composers/barry.shtml
/ www.vicflick.com
EAGLE
EYE MEDIA
- NYC-based Eaglevision / Eagle Eye has a critically acclaimed
DVD series called Classic Albums which has already released
rockumentaries on album classics like Electric Ladyland and
The Band. Recent Classic Album DVDs on Eaglevision shine
a light on titles from Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley,
Lou Reed - Transformer and Elton John
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. With hits like
Blue Suede Shoes and Heartbreak Hotel, the
first Elvis Presley album on RCA Record was an incredible success.
The link to Presleys groundbreaking recordings on Sun Records,
his self-titled Elvis Presley album almost single-handedly
introduced rock and roll to mainstream America. The 100 minute DVD
recasts the vital facts behind the making of the Elvis Presley
album with rare footage from the mid 50s as well as fairly
recent interviews with Presley band members Scotty Moore and
DJ Fontana along with insights from the man who discovered
Elvis, Sun Records founder Sam Philips.
Another great Classic Albums DVD on Eagle Eye depicts the making
of Lou Reeds 1972 album Transformer.
From his early days as the leader of the NYC band Velvet Underground,
Lou Reed was at the cutting edge of the NYC rock and roll scene. The
DVD spotlights detailed performances and recollections from Reed and
Transformer co-producers David Bowie, the late, great
guitarist Mick Ronson and engineer Ken Scott. Transformer
still rates among Reeds most popular albums and the 80 minute
DVD is filled with historic interviews as well as abundant bonus segments.
Yet another Classic Albums DVD on Eagle Eye is the making of
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road from U.K. singer-songwriter
Elton John. Retelling the story behind the making of one of
rocks most popular albums, the 90 minute DVD features interviews
from Elton, songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, guitarist Davey
Johnston along with other Elton cohorts like the late, great producer
Gus Dudgeon and engineer David Hentschel.
In addition to their Classic Albums series Eagle Vision also
have numerous music DVDs in their catalog including No One Here
Gets Out Alive - The Doors Tribute To Jim Morrison.
Its been over thirty years since the untimely passing of
Jim Morrison, yet his legend burns brighter than ever, no doubt
thanks to the great Doors albums he made during his short but intense
life. The 60 minute DVD features a wealth of vintage film footage
relating to The Doors including interviews with group keyboardist
Ray Manzarek and the bands long time producer Paul
Rothchild. In addition to the interview and historic backdrops,
the DVD features some fine Doors music videos including the
groups superb big band version of their Soft Parade classic
Touch Me and their famous version of Light My Fire
shown on the Ed Sullivan show. www.eaglevisionusa.com
GEOMETRIC RECORDS - In the liner notes of his 2002 album Looking
Forward Looking Back, guitarist Carl Filipiak writes,
I have been on a lifelong journey in music that started the
moment a friend played George Bensons Cookbook album
for me. Kicking off with the driving, bouncy Montgomery-flavored
One For Wes, Filipiak and his groupfeaturing drummer
Dennis Chambers and keyboardist Paul Soronkapull
out the stops on nine, jazzy, guitar-based instrumentals including
classic covers of John Coltrane (Giant Steps),
Milton Nascimento, Charlie Parker and Charles Mingus.
Drawing inspiration from his guitar heroes of the past, Filipiak has
also written some excellent originals that are right in sync with
his choice of covers giving Looking Forward Looking Back a
tuneful elegance and solid sound. On his earlier albums like Peripheral
Visiona compilation of his best recordingsFilipiak
confirmed his knack for covering guitar greats like Jeff Beck (a cover
of Becks cover of Stevie Wonders Cause Weve
Ended As Lovers) and Jimi Hendrix (Little Wing) while
also proving his worth as a composer of smooth jazz and jazz-rock.
Filipiaks impressive electric guitar and compositional skills
once again rise to the top on Looking Forward Looking Back. www.carlfilipiak.com
IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT - 1969 remains the turning point year for
20th Century music. Perhaps the biggest event of 69 was the
breakup of The Beatles and release of the first album from John
Lennons Plastic Ono Band, Live Peace In Toronto.
The events unfolding around Lennons amazing concert in Toronto
and his anti Vietnam war happenings that partly inspired it are captured
in sharp detail on John & Yokos Year Of Peace,
a 2002 DVD release on Image Entertainment. Its such
a shame Lennon is no longer with us to enjoy this nearly one hour
documentary, but Yoko Ono offers her own fresh perspectives
from that crazy time in music and world history. Filled with vintage
color and b&w film footage from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,
the DVD is quite well done and very moving. Featuring fifteen scene
selections like The Montreal Bed-In, The Toronto
Rock n Roll Revival 1969 and Hangin
With Hawkins (a touching glimpse into Lennons friendship
with rock and roll legend Ronnie Hawkins), the DVD offers some
stunning insights into the late, great Beatles legend.
Amazing
to think its been 48 years since Elvis Presley recorded
Thats All Right at Sun Studios in Memphis back in
July 1954. That historic pairing of Elvis Presley and Sun Records
producer Sam Phillips remains among the most magical of musical
moments. Although Phillips started Sun Records in the early 50s
with the intent of recording of early R&B and blues pioneers like
B.B. King, Howlin Wolf and Rufus Thomas,
the recordings he started making in 1954 with Elvis, Roy Orbison,
Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins still remains his calling
card. A nearly two hour rockumentary that pays tribute to much of
the great music Phillips recorded with his legendary Sun Records roster
of artists, Good Rockin Tonight: The Legacy Of Sun Records
brings together surviving Sun Records legends like Scotty
Moore and DJ Fontana (from Elvis group), Charlie
Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis performing their music classics
alongside rock legends and major Sun Records fans like Paul McCartney,
Mark Knopfler, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Jeff
Beck, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan,
Van Morrison and more. Produced in 2000 and released on DVD
in 2002 by the L.A.-based music video experts at Image Entertainment,
Good Rockin Tonight is an eye-opening, quite entertaining,
made in the studio film that succeeds as a tribute to Sam Phillips
and his Sun Records roster.
www.image-entertainment.com
MEECH MUSIC - Described by the artist as being a little
bit less silly and quite a bit more polished than its
predecessor, Sauce, the 2002 release of Fred
is the latest CD from Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Mitch
Friedman. On his latest outing Friedman is assisted by legendary
New Jersey rocker R. Stevie Moore and XTC guitar great Dave
Gregory. In the credits Friedman thanks the Kinks mentor Ray
Davies who obviously influenced Friedmans muse alot over
the years. Like Davies, Friedman excels at writing and singing
whimsicle, off-center, catchy, progressive pop ditties that sometimes
sound inspired by cabaret pop singer-songwriters like Biff Rose and
even some of Bowies quirkier moments. With several of his musician
buddies in tow, Friedman performs much of Fred himself, yet
the home-grown, spunky little album never sounds labored or mundane.
Topped off by bizarre cover art, Fred is guaranteed to make
you crack a smile and get your toes tapping. www.mitchfriedman.com
www.cdbaby.com/mitchfriedman
TIVERTONE RECORDS - The spirit of surf-rock instrumental music
is alive and well in Boston on the 14 track 2002 from The Nebulas
entitled Nebula One. The quartet are powered
by the driving guitar sounds of Mike Rudy Dominguez
and Dan-O Ware, who perform their high octane guitar chores
on vintage Mosrite and Fender equipment. The pair are superbly backed
up by the rhythm section of Too Fast Jim Nichols (drums)
and Eric Grammer (bass). Transporting their vintage 60s
surf-rock sound from the West Coast to the East Coast, The Nebulas
hit hard and hit fast and their latest all instrumental surf-rock
extravaganza. www.thenebulas.com
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