BLUE NOTE RECORDS - Take a
trip to New Orleans with the latest from Gumbo rock legend Dr. John entitled
Creole Moon. The Doctor’s new Blue Note release, Creole
Moon follows last years funked-up Duke Ellington tribute entitled Duke
Elegant. The great keyboardist/songwriting great Mac
Rebennack receives ace support from a range of players including The
Local 9-11 featuring guitarist Rene Poche. www.bluenote.com
CMH RECORDS - California-based
CMH Records are renowned for their numerous, well recorded
instrumental Bluegrass tribute albums honoring the biggest names in
contemporary pop and rock. The Allman Brothers, The Beatles, Neil Young,
Carlos Santana and Simon & Garfunkel are just some of the big acts
already given the bluegrass music tribute by CMH. The label continues to
issue classy product and high on the list, and one we missed from last
year, is Only The Lonely - An Instrumental Country Tribute To Roy
Orbison. The great Roy Orbison, although deceased
for a number of years, continues to be a major influence on rock and roll
fans of all persuasions. Featuring a dozen instrumental covers of hits
like "Crying", "Blue Bayou" and "You Got
It", Only The Lonely features a number of top musicians
including guitarists Bryan Sutton, Mark Thornton and Andy
Reiss and drummer Larry Larue. Also on hand is renowned steel
guitar player Robby Turner. Topped off by incredible artwork, Only
The Lonely is worth it for all Orbison fans. Also recently released on
CMH is Moonshadow - The Bluegrass Tribute To Cat Stevens.
Featuring guitarist David West and pedal steel ace Jay Dee
Maness, the 13 track CD features a number of Cat classics including
his early hit "The First Cut Is The Deepest". David West and
guitarist Albert Lee also head up the list of players on the CMH
instrumental bluegrass tribute to the late great Grateful Dead leader Jerry
Garcia entitled Pickin’ On Jerry Garcia, which
features Garcia & Grateful Dead classics like "The Wheel"
and "Sugaree". More recent on CMH are Pickin’ On U2 - A
Bluegrass Tribute and Pickin’ On Peter Frampton - The
Bluegrass Tribute. Like most of the other CMH titles, both
the Frampton and U2 tributes spotlight a sublime mixture of guitars,
upright bass and pedal steel work layered with the down home country music
feel of 5-string banjo, mandolin, fiddle and dobro. CMH are constantly
putting out so many fabulous bluegrass-inspired cover albums that it’s
hard to keep up with all their releases. For more info go to their
website: www.cmhrecords.com
COLLECTOR’S CHOICE - The
rediscovery of so many pop nuggets from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s has
been one of the greatest things about the entire CD revolution of the past
15 years. One label still on the front line of the reissue movement is Collector’s
Choice Music. The latest, and one of the greatest compilations yet
from CC is the 2001 release Buried Treasure - Lost Gems From Deep In
the ‘60s Vaults. Pop mavens who think they’ve heard it
all will be amazed at the wealth of musical rediscoveries on Buried
Treasure. Compiled and annotated by Bob Hyde, Buried
Treasure might not be chock full of the huge names that dominated the
‘60s pop charts, but there’s still plenty of vintage, great sounding
pop gems scattered throughout the 40 track double CD set. Just a few
highpoints include tracks by singer Shelby Flint (a vocal of
"Cast Your Fate To The Wind"), The Neon Philharmonic ("Good
Morning Girl"), Tiny Tim (his classic "Tiptoe Through The
Tulips"), two tracks from The Association, Crabby Appleton (with
"Go Back") and a true to life cover of The Beatles’
"Lady Madonna" by the great Fats Domino. 40 fabulous,
almost long forgotten gems from the heyday of ‘60s pop, rock and R&B
(even novelties like "77 Sunset Strip" by Don Ralke)
provide good reasons to check out Buried Treasure, which also
features quite detailed liner notes. www.collectorschoicemusic.com
COLLECTABLES RECORDS - Back
in the ‘60s the teenyboppers controlled the U.S. pop charts. With The
Beatles leading the hit parade, it wasn’t hard to find an enormous
amount of vinyl goodies to satisfy the most ardent bopper. Case in point
were the Florida-based band, The Royal Guardsmen, who hit the big
time with their chart-topping hit "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron".
Inspired by the Peanuts cartoon hero dog Snoopy, the song hit the
number 2 spot on Billboard going on to sell over 3 million copies back in
1966. The Royal Guardsmen, featuring singer Barry Winslow, tried to
capitalize on their initial success with follow-ups like "The Return
Of The Red Baron" and "Snoopy For President", but by the
close of the ‘60s the group was history, leaving behind a nifty legacy
of teenybopper album classics. Featuring original album art and new and
original liner notes, the entire output of The Royal Guardsmen was
recently reissued on CD by PA.-based Collectables. Released on a
pair of two-fer CDs are Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron / Snoopy And His
Friends and The Return Of The Red Baron / Snoopy For
President. In addition to a bunch of group originals, both
Royal Guardsmen CDs find the group covering some of the greatest Top 40
hits of the ‘60s (like "Li’l Red Riding Hood", "Bonnie
& Clyde" and others) and should provide a wealth of memories for
those who lived through the golden days of Top 40 radio. Also recent on
Collectables are a pair of two-fer CDs from the noted ‘60s U.K. pop
group Manfred Mann. The two CDs, Pretty Flamingo / The Five
Faces Of Manfred Mann and The Manfred Mann Album / My Little
Red Book comprise a number of Top 40 hits that the group brought
over to the U.S. during the heyday of The British Invasion. Nowhere is the
Manfred Mann pop touch more skillful than on their incredible 1966
chart-topper "Pretty Flamingo" - an infectious ditty that
combines the best qualities of pop, skiffle and folk-jazz into a two and a
half minute flash of pop elegance. Also on the most wanted list of
Collectables releases is the recent two-fer CD from Merseybeat legends Gerry
And The Pacemakers entitled Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying
/ Second Album. Perhaps second only to The Beatles in
popularity during the Merseybeat pop craze coming out of Liverpool during
the early ‘60s, the group was sadly a short lived phenomenon. All of
Gerry And The Pacemakers big hits, "How Do You Do It", "A
Shot Of Rhythm And Blues", "Don’t Let The Sun Catch You
Crying" and more are all here on one great 23 track CD. Like usual
all these well done Collectables CDs feature original album art and new
liner notes. www.oldies.com
FAVORED NATIONS - New
on Steve Vai’s jazz-rock label are bass guitar ace and former David
Lee Roth sideman Billy Sheehan entitled Compression and
New Age and jazz acoustic guitarist Pierre Bensusan entitled Institute.
www.favorednations.com
FUEL 2000 - Devotion
is surely one of the albums that ushered in the coming of instrumental
jazz-rock fusion at the dawn of the ‘70s. Inspired by the fabled 1969
renaissance of progressive rock, the album introduced listeners to the
guitar talents of John McLaughlin. Already known in jazz circles
through his work with Miles Davis, McLaughlin was ready for prime time
with Devotion. Obvious on first listen is McLaughlin’s unique
rapport with support players Buddy Miles (drums), Larry Young (organ)
and Billy Rich (bass). Just like many artists of that fabled
‘69-70 period, McLaughlin was never able to completely recapture the raw
urgency of his first electric rock album, yet during the early ‘70s he
took the seeds of Devotion to new heights with his many Mahavishnu
Orchestra albums. This unique CD reissue of Devotion on Fuel
2000 is topped off by good liner notes and splendid cover art inspired
by the original release on Douglas Records. www.fuel2000.com
G RECORDS - His
guitar work is featured on a number of albums including recent titles from
S.F. bay area pedal steel guitarist Joe Goldmark and now guitar fans can
enjoy the first solo album by Garth Webber. A rocked out, ass-kickin’
record that dives head first into the blues, Man On A Mission
is a mostly vocal effort that finds Webber’s guitar work rounded out
by an array of talented side musicians and vocalists including an
appearance by guitarist Robben Ford. Not only does Webber knock you
out with his veteran guitar work, but as the album quickly proves, he’s
also quite an effective composer and vocalist. For a sound reference, a
quick comparison might be to some of the early albums from The Allman
Brothers, yet the colorful sound also reveals a number of influences and
musical styles. Released on the guitarist’s own G Records, Man
On A Mission also features a couple of rousing instrumental tracks
further allowing Webber to really flex his formidable guitar muscles.
email: Garthrr@aol.com
GOLLY GEE RECORDS - California-based
Golly Gee Records have been making waves in both the Rockabilly and
Surf Music genres. According to label honcho Mel Spinella,
"I wanted to release great rockabilly and surf music - music that
has outlived all the trends and fads. I felt that East Coast bands,
NYC/Long Island/New Jersey in particular, were not properly represented
with label releases." On the guitar instrumental front the label have
signed two of the best groups around - Ralph Rebel and NYC’s best
surf guitar group The Supertones. Described as a mixture of Elvis
Presley guitarist Scotty Moore and the great Dick Dale, Ralph Rebel takes
no prisoners on his new totally instrumental Golly Gee CD Surfin’
& Rockin’. Assisted by Jug Head (drums) and Strong
Arm Crugnale (Fender Bass), Ralph Rebel cuts loose and nearly sets the
place on fire with some stunning guitar pyrotechnics on his 1962 Guild
Starfire 3 and 1962 Fender Jazzmaster guitars. In addition to a number of
RR originals, Surfin’ & Rockin spotlights Ralph Rebel covers
of surf classics like "Perfidia", "Rumble" and
"Ghost Riders". Golly Gee can also lay claim to having one of
the greatest American guitar instrumental groups, The Supertones,
on their roster. The label plans to upgrade the entire Supertones back
catalog and first on the list and already out are the group’s 1991 album
The Big Wet Twang and The Supertones’ 2000 CD Surf
Fever 2000. Featuring the twin guitar sound of Tim
Sullivan and Ted Lawrence, The Supertones are certainly the
best guitar group to ever come out of NYC. The Tones’ 20 track Surf
Fever 2000 finds the quartet romping through standards like
"Exodus", "The Lonely Bull", "Baja", "A
Hard Day’s Night". Golly Gee also have quite a stake in the
Rockabilly music sound and right up there on the list of recent Golly Gee
Rockabilly CDs are smokin’ CDs from The Long Island Hornets - Road
Kill and Peter And The Wolves - Trouble With Girls.
For the lowdown on these and other fine Golly Gee titles go to their
web site. www.gollygeerecords.com
GUITARCHIVES - Randy
Bachman is well
known for his great guitar work with The Guess Who, but he also has his
own record label up in Canada. New on Guitarchives is a reissue CD
by the late, great jazz guitarist Lenny Breau entitled Pickin’
Cotten. Recorded in Nashville back in 1977, Pickin’
Cotten pairs Breau with guitarist Richard Cotten and was culled
from live performances over two nights at the Blue Bird Cafe. According to
Bachman, "The music on this CD is genius. Two friends and colleagues,
making the most beautiful, exciting and innovative guitar music." In
the CD liner notes Bachman relates the story of how these tapes came to
him. www.guitarchives.com
HIP-O - A
cult favorite pop group from a few years back returns with a convincing
new disc. Released on Hip-O / Universal, Gift is the latest
from Curve, featuring songstress Toni Halliday and
guitarist/studio wiz Dean Garcia. Somewhere in spirit between
Blondie and R.E.M., the electronic and menacing sonic barrage of Gift is
also underscored by a playful, rhythmic and throbbing beat. Halliday purrs
and growls her way throughout the 10 track set while Garcia’s uncanny
guitar, bass and programming pose the perfect match for Halliday. Known to
their listeners as one of the top cutting edge alternative rock groups
since their ‘92 classic Doppelganger, Curve come full circle on
what might be their best album yet. Produced by Curve and Ben Grosse,
Gift also features a number guest players who add to the sonic
surroundings. www.curve.co.uk
IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT - Chatsworth,
CA. - based Image Entertainment continues as one of the leading American
companies when it comes to DVDs. Among the most significant of the recent
Image titles is the new DVD from Electric Light Orchestra entitled Zoom
Tour Live. ELO were slated to take their great 2001 album Zoom
out on the road during the Summer of 2001, but it was never to be.
Falling smack into the middle of the horror show of September 11th, the
tour was (miraculously?) postponed, long before the fact, with long time
ELO fans still awaiting news of any rescheduling. As a prelude to the Zoom
tour, ELO recorded a 22 track live studio concert and that show has
just been issued on DVD by Image Entertainment. All the big ELO hits are
there ("Telephone Line", "10538 Overture", "One
Summer Dream") although the highlights for long time fans will be the
inclusion of the new songs from 2001’s Zoom CD. ELO
founder and mentor Jeff Lynne seems like he’s enjoying himself,
while the latest incarnation of ELO, including vocalist Rosie Vela,
guitar/keyboard wiz Marc Mann, and long time ELO keyboard great Richard
Tandy, provides fertile ground for the new ELO sound. Featuring just
about the same cover art as the Zoom CD, the new DVD of Zoom is
just the thing for long time fans to overcome the shock of the 2001 ELO
tour that just didn’t happen.
Another sure-fire winner
from Image is the first ever concert DVD of An All-Star Tribute To
Brian Wilson. Filmed and recorded live on March 29, 2001 at
Radio City Music Hall in NYC, the tribute CD brings together some of the
biggest names in modern pop music. Kicking off with a version of "Our
Prayer" by The Boys Choir Of Harlem, the 26 track, 96 minute
DVD features special appearances from Ricky Martin ("California
Girls", "Help Me Rhonda"), Vince Gill ("The
Warmth Of The Sun"), Paul Simon ("Surfer Girl"), Billy
Joel ("Don’t Worry Baby") and a stirring cover of what
some consider Wilson’s greatest composition ever, "Surf’s
Up" performed here by David Crosby and Jimmy Webb with
Vince Gill. Spliced in between the musical performances are some eloquent
spoken words from Sir George Martin and host Chaz Palminteri.
For the most part, the DVD captures all the glory and excitement of the
Radio City concert. Assisted by his fine backing band consisting of The
Wondermints and guitarist Jeff Foskett, Brian appears towards
the end of the DVD performing the Beach Boys’ classics
"Heroes And Villains" and "Wouldn’t It Be Nice" with
Elton John. The entire All Star Ensemble (including Wilson-Phillips,
Heart, Evan And Jaron, Matthew Sweet and Michael
Penn & Aimee Mann) joins forces with Brian for the set-closers
"Barbara Ann" and "Fun, Fun, Fun". All in all, An
All-Star Tribute To Brian Wilson stands as one of the best filmed and
recorded tribute concerts of all time. www.image-entertainment.com
JAMIE/GUYDEN - The
original home of guitar hero Duane Eddy, Jamie-Guyden has a number
of fine Duane Eddy CDs to their credit including the 2001 reissue of Eddy’s
1960 album The "Twangs" The "Thang".
Like the label’s other Eddy CDs, the sound quality is tops and the
informative CD booklet says it all. The "Twangs" The
"Thang" is a must for long time Eddy fans. Another Jamie
CD that delves even further into the vaults is a various artists
compilation called Twang Gang. Duane Eddy’s ‘twangy’
guitar sound is all over a number of fine tracks here including late ‘50s
sessions featuring singers such as Lee Hazlewood, Sanford Clark and
Donny Owens. Remixed from the original tapes, the 18 track CD
features rare photos and liner notes by John Dixon. www.jamguy.com
LION MUSIC - A
pair of recent releases from the Finland-based heavy metal and hard rock
instrumental Lion Music label are Cyril Achard’s Morbid Feeling entitled
In Constantia Constans and Hypnotica,
the album debut from melodic hard rock group Empire. www.lionmusic.com
MCA RECORDS - Papa John
Phillips may be
gone, but his spirit lives on through the many great songs he wrote and
recorded with ‘60s pop legends The Mamas & The Papas. So many
great songs, starting with the ‘66 evergreen "California Dreamin’"
to their ‘68 classic "Twelve Thirty" are all compiled here on
the recent double disc set from The Mamas & The Papas entitled All
The Leaves Are Brown - The Golden Era Collection on MCA Records.
Considering all the great songs they recorded, it’s hard to believe that
Phillips, Denny Doherty, Mama Cass Elliot and Michelle
Phillips only recorded four albums as a band during their three short
years together. Rounded out by detailed liner notes from group author Matt
Greenwald, All The Leaves Are Brown features 52 tracks
including all the band’s album cuts, a 16 page CD booklet with cool
color photos and a cross section of mono single versions. www.umusic.com
MUSE SICKLE PRODUCTIONS -
Singer-songwriter
and guitar ace Doug Powell made quite a few people happy with his
performance on the superstar SWAG (Yep Roc) album last year
and following some health setbacks he’s rockin’ out again with a new 4
song e.p. from Japan called Venus DeMilo’s Arms. The
CD booklet includes the lyrics. Four new tracks from the power pop hero
are a windfall for fans and serves as a good introduction to Powell’s
compelling pop songwriting craft. The e.p. features Powell along with a
number of fine musicians including drummer/bassist Steve Allen.
Keep an ear out for Powell’s double disc superstar production of the Jeff
Lynne tribute CD coming soon on www.notlame.com
/ www.dougpowell.com
NOW RECORDINGS - Sounding
inspired by the New Age music scene of the mid to late ‘80s, the 2001
solo album from U.K. acoustic guitarist Rob Jackson on Now
Recordings is tinged with a futuristic edge that often goes beyond it’s
rustic roots. A studio set that features various music Jackson often
performs live back in his native England, Wire, Wood & Magnets
is a highly atmospheric set of instrumental guitar tracks, ranging
from atmospheric celtic-tinged acoustic melodies to a more sweeping New
Age electric guitar sound. One thing that separates Wire, Wood &
Magnets from so many other acoustic guitar albums is the playful,
dreamlike way Jackson approaches his sound. There’s a definite
English-sounding approach at work here and at times Jackon’s guitar
sound echoes the work of guitar icon Mark Knoppfler. Recommended to anyone
who thought well crafted acoustic guitar albums were a thing of the past. www.nowrecordings.com
PARASOL - The
catalog of Illinois-based pop conglomerate Parasol is ever
increasing, adding in an abundance of mouth watering pop releases from
near and far. Among the latest additions to the Parasol family of pop
groups are three CD titles from the Swedish band The Soundtrack Of Our
Lives. Sweden, of course, takes credit for Abba and a number of other
great pop bands from the 70’s and 80’s. Recent albums from TSOOL just
added to the Parasol catalog include Welcome To The Infant Freebase (1996),
Extended Revelation (1998) and the group’s 2001 CD release
Behind The Music. Fans of vintage pop sounds of
groups like Led Zeppelin, Love and The Stooges should check out the
high-flying CDs from The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. www.parasol.com
PERMANENT PRESS - When
it comes to releasing cool pop albums, few labels have it as together as
California-based Permanent Press. Among the label’s latest and
greatest releases to date is the self-titled 2001 debut CD from L.A.-based
Maple Mars entitled Welcome To Maple Mars.
Spotlighting the talented singer-songwriter and guitarist Rick Hromadka,
Maple Mars cuts loose with a set of high octane cutting edge paisley-pop
that recalls the best spirit of bands like The Raspberries, Klaatu,
Jellyfish and Cheap Trick. Hromadka handles much of the guitar chores with
super backing from Matt McKenna (guitars), Mike Fletcher (drums)
and others. Featuring twelve vital tracks, many bursting with catchy
melodies that dance around your head, Welcome To Maple Mars signals
the arrival of an exciting new group while providing mucho sonic support
for power pop devotees. www.permanentpress.net
POLYDOR / UMG - Right
after he left Cream, rock legend Jack Bruce released his first two
brilliant solo albums. Both Songs For A Tailor and Harmony
Row set the standard for excellence at the dawn of the ‘70s.
Never one to be content with preserving the status quo in rock, Bruce has
secured a loyal fan base who must hear just about anything he records. His
new album on Sanctuary Records - Shadows In The Air
features a reunion with Cream guitar god Eric Clapton. Clapton, too
busy becoming a superstar artist with Derek & The Dominoes really
missed out on the incredible music Bruce was recording back then. Recently
reissued on Polydor/UMG Records, Willpower features
six tracks from Jack’s first two solo albums and mixes things up with
assorted Bruce classics from ‘68-88. Perfect examples of Cream’s
incipient progressive rock element are explored on a pair of tracks from Wheels
Of Fire. An array of superstars elevate the proceedings
including Clapton (in Cream and on the 1987 title track), George
Harrison (!), the late great Felix Pappalardi, drummer Jim
Gordon and of course there’s also those great freaked out lyrics of
long time Bruce collaborator and rock poet Pete Brown. Polydor’s
17 track Best Of CD (no liner notes but good track data) was
actually first issued 12 years ago, so that’s that for anyone who
already owns the first pressing, however it does make a compelling
argument for newly remastered expanded editions of Harmony Row and Songs
For A Tailor. www.umusic.com
/ www.jackbruce.com
POPTONES - U.K.-based
Poptones is tops when it comes to issuing and reissuing vintage
American and British works of pop art. In the past, Poptones have scored
high marks with pop fans with their reissue CDs from ‘60s California pop
trendsetters like Sagittarius, The Millennium, the late,
great pop icon Curt Boetcher, and more. In addition to those
CD reissues, Poptones have also been keeping a watchful eye on the current
state of Anglo-American pop-rock with new CDs from The Cosmic Rough
Riders, including recent releases of the group’s 2000 album Enjoy
The Melodic Sunshine and their latest e.p. Revolution (In
The Summertime?), and a great 2000 CD from Oranger (the
group’s 2000 album The Quiet Vibration Land). Poptones
have also licensed and released a U.K. CD release of the new album from Posies
front man Stringfellow entitled Touched. Other
2001 Poptones titles include Bahama from U.K. pop-rockers Arnold.
Much like the dreamy CD cover art, Arnold sound influenced by Pink
Floyd style spaciness (circa Meddle) and pop outfits like Squeeze
and XTC. Fans of vintage ‘60s West Coast pop as well as anyone looking
to find out about some of today’s best new British and American pop
bands owe it to themselves to check out the entire Poptones back catalog. www.poptones.co.uk
PURE MUSIC - When
it comes to jazz guitar albums with a convincing groove it doesn’t get
much better than the new Reunion Of Souls. Featuring
guitarists Sheryl Bailey and Chris Bergson, joined by
the rhythm section of Ashley Turner (bass) and Sunny Jain (drums),
Reunion Of Souls finds Bailey & company stepping out with a
batch of new original tunes filled out with covers of Charlie Parker ("Segment")
and Rogers & Hart ("There’s A Small Hotel"). The
liner notes state that the album is "a reflection on swing, blues,
influences, group improvisation and friendship". A grad of the
prestigious Berklee College of Music, Bailey earned her flawless
reputation working with a variety of modern jazz players such as Paul
Bollenback and Dennis Chambers. The CD liner notes also points out how
strong the influence of guitar master Jim Hall was in the musical
development of both Bailey and Bergson. A celebration of the positive
powers of guitar jazz performance, Reunion Of Souls is an upbeat,
solid and swinging instrumental album made by four passionate jazz guitar
lovers. www.sherylbailey.com
RCA RECORDS - With
the addition of Adam Schlesinger as group producer, The Verve
Pipe recently returned with their great new album Underneath.
With two indy albums and two other albums on RCA to their credit,
the album is arguably their best to date. Filled with the catchy, upbeat
songs of Brian Vander Ark (guitarist/singer) and Donny Brown (drums),
ably assisted by Doug Corella (keyboards) and A.J. Dunning (guitars),
Underneath is a real treat for modern pop enthusiasts as well those
who have given up hope for a mainstream revival of thoughtful, mature pop.
According to singer Vander Ark, "The intention always was to raise
the bar, melodically and lyrically." An album of hard-hitting rock,
with just the right amount of melodic pop edges, Underneath packs a
solid pop wallop from start to finish. www.thevervepipe.com
RHINO RECORDS - Rock
music icon Pete Townshend first hooked up with keyboard virtuoso Raphael
Rudd during the late ‘70s recording sessions for the Quadrophenia
film soundtrack, which Rudd helped to arrange and conduct. A mutual
affinity for the teachings of spiritual master Meher Baba only
helped bring the two closer in their thinking. In 1979 and 1980, Townshend
and Rudd recorded two invitation only concerts at the Meher Baba Oceanic
Center in London. The spiritual nature of the mostly acoustic concerts is
well represented on The Oceanic Concerts, just
released by Rhino. Rudd performs several acoustic piano and
harp-based tunes, while Townshend opens up his songbook of Who classics
serving up rousing acoustic revivals of favorites like "The
Seeker", "Bargain", "Tattoo" and an incredible,
set-closing cover of "O’Parvardigar" originally from his early
‘70s Baba-based solo debut Who Came First. An intriguing musical
revelation for Townshend and Who fans alike, the 18 track Oceanic
Concerts is packed with information, period piece photos and new liner
notes by Raphael Rudd. www.rhino.com
/ www.petetownshend.com
ROCKADILLO RECORDS - The
latest from Finland-based Rockadillo is the new one from New Age
techno space group RinneRadio entitled Nao. Led
by sax master Tapani Rinne, the mostly instrumental Nao is
best described as jazzy, spacy and mesmerizing music uniting the sax work
of Rinne with percussionists and various mixers. Nao serves up
union of ambient music, hip-hop and futuristic sounds that just won’t
quit. www.rockadillo.fi
SONY LEGACY - After
turning the rock world upside down with the first three Santana
studio albums, guitar icon Carlos Santana plunged head first into
the world of cosmic instrumental fusion. A sign of things to come in both
the New Age and World Music scenes, Santana’s innovative new sound
spotlighted guitar god Mahavishnu John McLaughlin on the
1971 album Love Devotion Surrender later evolving with John
Coltrane’s widow keyboardist Alice Coltrane on the 1973 album
Illuminations. Both albums were clearly influenced by
the early Santana sound, yet the spiritual nature of the instrumental
music was clearly more in tune with the burgeoning jazz-rock sound of the
mid ‘70s. Both LDS and Illuminations featured the greatest
names in jazz-rock fusion including McLaughlin, Alice Coltrane Jan
Hammer, Jack DeJohnette, Larry Young and various others.
For the Columbia Legacy release of Divine Light, Downtown
NYC re-mixmaster/producer Bill Laswell has reconstructed tracks
from both albums and the net result is a fascinating fresh look at two
pioneering recordings from the dawn of the ‘70s fusion movement. The
follow-up remix album to Laswell’s work on Panthalassa: The Music Of
Miles Davis 1969-1974, Divine Light is tastefully packaged with
radiant artwork, written words by John Coltrane and the Dalai Lama along
with track data about both original albums. www.legacyrecordings.com/billlaswell
Back in the ‘60s, Paul
Simon and Art Garfunkel could do no wrong. Hit after hit, album
after album, Simon & Garfunkel changed the way we listened to
music back during the heyday of pop, folk-rock and The Beatles. More than
that, the duo reinforced the belief that artists and singers should
perform and record their own songs, under their own names. It’s all been
said before, and quite rightly so, but the five studio albums S&G
recorded between ‘64-70 are among the all time classics of 20th Century
pop music. The original label home for Simon & Garfunkel was Columbia
Records, so it’s only fitting that Columbia oversee the recently
released five disc Simon & Garfunkel box set, The Columbia
Studio Recordings 1964-1970. Consisting of all five Simon
& Garfunkel studio albums, The Columbia Studio Recordings
features new remastering, a 75 page CD booklet complete with new liner
notes by Bud Scoppa, complete lyrics, track data along with
original album artwork with each CD topped off by assorted bonus tracks,
including a priceless demo of their all time classic "Bridge Over
Troubled Water" on the last S&G album. The five discs enclosed
are Wednesday Morning 3 A.M. (released 10/64), Sound
Of Silence (1/66), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (10/66),
Bookends (4/68) and Bridge Over Troubled Water (1/70).
In addition to the 2001 box set, which highlights mini album style
reproductions of each album, all of Columbia’s Simon & Garfunkel CDs
are also available separately as single edition expanded releases. With
all the political turmoil in the air, as it was back in the ‘60s,
revisiting these Simon & Garfunkel masterpieces is like revisiting the
past with old friends. www.simonandgarfunkel.com
VIRTUE RECORDS - Recorded
using cheap, pawnshop style guitars, House Of Guitars is
the seventh album from guitar master Ed Gerhard. Regarding the use
of these nearly forgotten, throw-away guitars, Gerhard adds, "I
always felt that it’s the player’s job to make guitar sound good, not
necessarily the other way around." Gerhard further states, "None
of the guitars on this album cost more than $200. None were modified. I
didn’t even change the strings even though some are decades old. There
is history there. There are stories inside each of these
instruments." Featuring 11 instrumentals, House Of Guitars is
an intriguing musical reflection of a gifted guitarist who clearly values
the substance of a well crafted song. While House Of Guitars does
reflect Gerhard’s two main influences - classical guitarist Andres
Segovia and Delta bluesman Mississippi John Hurt - the album is also
filled with memorable and accessible pop melodies including covers of Paul
McCartney’s "Junk" and Macca’s Beatles’ tune
"I Will". The recording may be somewhat sparse and in Gerhard’s
words "Zen like", but there’s no shortage of melody or emotion
here. Each cut has something to offer guitar fans, especially the gorgeous
"Because Of You, This" on which Gerhard is joined by electric
guitarist Randy Roos and drummer Ray Brunelle. Released on Virtue
Records, House Of Guitars features liner notes by Gerhard along
with a track by track lineup of the many nearly forgotten guitars featured
throughout the album. www.edgerhard.com
YEP ROC - They
may be known for their incredible guitar instrumental albums, but that
doesn’t mean Los Straitjackets can’t enjoy a good time
roots-rock rave up once in a while. The follow up to their last all
instrumental outing, the live concert CD Damas y Caballeros!,
Sing Along With Los Straitjackets finds the still masked instro
giants joined by thirteen guest vocalists including Ron Malo (on
the ‘60s pop nugget "Black Is Black"), the great Mark
Lindsey (from Paul Revere & The Raiders on the Roy Head
classic "Treat Her Right"), The Reverend Horton Heat (on
the Roy Orbison classic "Down The Line") and Leigh
Nash (on "The End Of The World"). With the addition of these
guest vocalists, Los Straitjackets pull out all the stops and sound fired
up by the twin guitar work of veteran axe-greats Danny Amis and Eddie
Angel who get mucho backup support from the ace rhythm section of Pete
Curry (bass) and Jimmy Lester (drums). Released by North
Carolina-based Yep Roc Records, the pleasantly playful rock and
roll trip of Sing Along With...will do nicely until the next Los
Straitjackets instro studio adventure. www.redeyeusa.com
SURF MUSIC NEWS - Finland’s
great surf-rock instrumental band The Lunatics recently released
their latest CD. Entitled Beware The Lunatics, the 11
track half hour CD features high energy versions of classics like
"James Bond Theme" and "The Twilight Zone" along with
several group originals. Beware is a superbly recorded, fresh spin
from a way talented guitar instro group. "Let’s Get Loonie!",
indeed. http://www.surf.to/lunatics
Another vital new
happening on the guitar instrumental front is That’s New Pussycat!
- Surf Tribute To Burt Bacharach. Burt Bacharach is
still considered one of the greatest pop songwriters of the ‘60s and
this mostly instrumental guitar-based tribute CD goes a long way towards
reviving his hipness. Produced by Robert Ruggeri and released on
the Italian-based Omom Music, this stylish looking tribute CD
features an array of today’s best guitar instro groups including Pollo
Del Mar, Susan & The Surftones, Fifty Foot Combo, Seks
Bomba, Cosmonauti along with a slew of other high-octane instro
groups. The 24 track disc is elegantly packaged and features detailed
liner notes and info on each group along with praiseworthy notes from the
producer. No matter how many times you’ve heard Bacharach’s great
melodies, you’ve never heard it played with this much drive and
enthusiasm. www.omomworld.com
S.F. Bay area surf-rock
comers Planet Seven recently issued their latest full length CD,
the ironically titled The Tomorrow That Never Was on Default
Records. Described by the band as a mix of surf music,
Motorhead and Milwaukee Power Tools, Planet Seven burst through the
stratosphere with an innovative hard-hitting instrumental guitar rock
sound. To show you more of where they’re coming from there’s also an
atmospheric instro of The Yardbirds’ classic "Heart Full Of
Soul". The five piece are fronted by the twin guitar attack of Eric
Keppeler and Steve Perrone. Borrowing from past masters like
Link Wray and producer wiz Joe Meek, Planet Seven take the guitar
instrumental sound a step further with their new 2001 album. www.planetseven.com
The influence of early
guitar instrumental groups like The Shadows and The Ventures spread near
and far during the ‘60s. In the South Asian country of Thailand
the spirit of The Shadows was carried forward thanks to Thai guitarist Chai
Komlertkul. Somewhat of a guitar hero in Thailand, Komlertkul is
responsible for starting up a Shadows community web site called Thaitwang.
Chai and his Shadows copy band called The Young Once regularly play
their instrumental guitar set throughout Thailand. Komlertkul recently
released an impressive four CD set, detailing his extensive repertoire of
guitar instrumental recordings, called Chai >> Time Out.
The package, featuring a number of fine Thai musicians, includes disc
one - Time To Play, disc 2 - Time To Begin,
disc 3 - Time To Grow and disc 4 - Time Out.
These all original instrumental tracks won’t be instantly familiar
to Western ears, but the style and content reflects Komlertkul’s 40 year
history as a trend-setting electric guitarist and instrumental music
composer. www.geocities.com/thaitwang/
email: chaikk@comnet.ksc.net.th
Last but not least, surf
guitar mavens should check out the 2001 CD from California-based Voodoo
Court entitled Nuclear Vacation. Released on the
group’s own Aggravated Marshmallow label, Nuclear Vacation glows
thanks to some way cool guitar work from Mark Kuhn, assisted here
by his four rockin’ band mates. With song titles like "California
Meltdown", "Heavy Water", "Holocost 2012" and
"On The Beach" you just know you’re in for one sonic sound
explosion. www.voodoocourt.com
Will You Read My Book? - Think
you know everything about The Beatles? Well, think again because
author Andy Babiuk has assembled and written Beatles Gear:
All The Fab Four’s Instruments, From Stage To Studio. Far
and away the most comprehensive book ever on all the instrumentation The
Fab Four used during their tenure as the world’s greatest rock and roll
band, Beatles Gear provides key answers on just how The Beatles got
their one of a kind sound. Babiuk explains, "I decided to write Beatles
Gear when I tried to emulate some of The Beatles’ recorded sounds
with my own band, The Chesterfield Kings." A six year project
that involved firsthand insights and anecdotes from musicians, instrument
and equipment manufacturers, roadies, managers, engineers and producers,
the 256 page Beatles Gear incorporates a wealth of richly detailed
color and b&w photos of many of the group’s original instruments
that are still owned by the surviving Beatles and their families. In
addition to the many fine interview excerpts featured throughout the book,
there’s also an incisive foreward written by Beatles historian and
author Mark Lewisohn. Just issued by the San Francisco-based book
experts at Backbeat Books, Beatles Gear is so well
researched and put together that it’s appeal clearly transcends that
genre of Beatles fans that just also happen to be musicians. Another
outstanding Backbeat book is their recent paperback edition of The
Story Of The Fender Stratocaster. Subtitled, A
Celebration Of The World’s Greatest Guitar, the 128 page
book charts the rise of the Strat from it’s genesis in the mid ‘50s to
it’s 2001 status as the world’s preeminent rock and roll guitar.
Featuring a wealth of information from former Fender employees and a slew
of incredible photos, the book is broken down into seven impressive
chapters. Chapter six, entitled The Modern Stratpack, tells it all
complete with revealing, history filled interviews from Stratocaster
mavens like Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, Keith Richards,
Dick Dale, Nils Lofgren, Jeff Beck, Robin Trower and
the first U.K. rocker to use the Strat, Hank B. Marvin. www.backbeatbooks.com
Finally, Perpetual
Change, written by U.K. author David Watkinson,
offers a compelling and richly detailed account of British prog-rock
superstars Yes. Recalling the entire story of Yes, including
detailed information about the group’s crucial formative years and
pre-Yes bands, the 192 page paperback edition is a vital investment for
long time fans as well as anyone interested in a comprehensive and vividly
illustrative history of the band that many still consider to be the
definitive progressive rock group. Charting the progress of Yes founders Jon
Anderson and Chris Squire all the way back to the 1950’s, Perpetual
Change arranges chronological information about all the Yes players
and recordings from the mid ‘60s all the way up until the group’s 2001
masterpiece Magnification. There’s also an impressive foreward by
the group’s most famous keyboardist, Rick Wakeman. The noteworthy
Perpetual Change will amaze even long time Yes fans with it’s
superb attention to detail. www.plexusbooks.com
/ www.yesbook.net
HOLIDAY MUSIC RELEASES -
High on the list of the many Christmas music titles too numerous to
mention here is Blue Xmas. Released by PA.-based Evidence
Records and produced by Carla Olson, the set features 16
Christmas Blues instrumentals performed by blues-rock greats like Otis
Rush, Kim Wilson, Barry Goldberg and guitarists Denny
Freeman and Tommy Castro. www.CarlaOlson.com
Guitar great B.B. King
recently issued his new X-mas set entitled A Christmas
Celebration Of Hope on MCA Records. Kicking off with
"Please Come Home For Christmas", the disc features a number of
King composed X-mas tracks along with several pleasant surprises including
a set closing instro of "Auld Lang Syne". www.bbking.com
/ www.mcarecords.com
It came out a few years
back, but one Yuletide goody worth reexploring is Surfin’
Christmas. Credited to The Wave Fenders (featuring
guitarist Vinnie Fazzari), the mostly instrumental 12 track set
(recorded on 50’s and 60’s guitars and amplifiers as well as the
theremin) serves up rockin’ instros of "The Twelve Days Of
Christmas" and "Little Drummer Boy". www.cmhrecords.com
Sanctuary Records have
a couple X-mas CDs out including A Wild-Eyed Christmas Night from
rockers 38 Special, (covers of "Jingle Bell Rock") and Christmas
Time Again from Lynyrd Skynyrd. www.38special.com
/ www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com
The all instrumental Hymns
Of Christmas from rock legend Leon Russell is a real treat.
Clocking in at just under a half hour, the ten track set offers some
sterling symphonic sounding covers of great holiday music. The CD was
produced by Leon and his son Teddy Jack and is dedicated to Leon’s
mother Hester. www.leonrussellrecords.com
Finally, a bunch of prog-mavens
calling themselves The December People get together to make a new
X-mas CD on Magna Carta Records. Sounds Like Christmas
features notable vocal performances from Robert Berry (album
producer), Steve Walsh, Trent Gardner, John Wetton and Kansas.
Seasoned with a classic prog-rock attitude, the 13 track CD features a
righteous selection of holiday music, culminating in a very Beatles
inspired cover of the John Lennon classic "Merry X-mas (War Is
Over)". Thanks for the guitars, Santa!! www.magnacarta.net
