Sara K. - Hell or High Water (2006)

Sara K.  - Hell or High Water, 2006

  Sara K. is not a common household name but I gotta tell you that this album and this artist simply is amazing.   Sara is very much in the Joni Mitchell school of folk pop music with strong lyrical attributes and some gentle acoustic influences. I also hear a little bit of Annie Lennox in her voice....especially when she hits the lower registers.  The songs are all very well crafted and interesting offering lots of tempo changes always keeping your interest.  There is honestly not a bad song on this album.....
  Order this CD today.....you will love it

Jimmy Smith - Midnight Special (1961)

Jimmy Smith - Midnight Special , 1961   SACD  Analogue Productions

    Midnight Special is part two of the same recording session that produced "Back to the Chicken Shack" album. Of course the line up is the same with Donald Bailey (drums), Kenny Burrell (Guitars), Stanley Turrentine (sax) and of course tonights draw Jimmy Smith on the organ.
Musically this album is a very gentle get groovy album perfect for those warm moonlight lights when you just want to chill. The music is bluesy, jazzy and funky with a great mix of guitar, organ, sax and drums.
Once again Analogue Productions has done a splendid job on the SACD mastering by the usual suspects Gray and Hoffman. This music deserves to be turned up to a good volume level so that you will hear the true character and speaker separation that this SACD offers. The tone quality is hugely impressive and nothing has been missed here.

Manfred Mann Earth`s Band - Nightingales & Bombers (1975)

Manfred Mann Earth`s Band - Nightingales & Bombers (1975)

  Nightingales and Bombers is one of personal favourite MMEB albums as the band clearly took a bold step towards what would become more of their signature sound with pop cross prog songs.  This also was the first  albums to feature a Springsteen written tune....and this would be a relationship that would continue on further albums.  Apparently the album was dedicated to an ornithologist who in England during the second world war was attempting to record nightingales but instead but both birds and bombers.
   This and Solar Fire are two most progressive albums that Manfred Mann and his Earth Band recorded.
Brilliant music !

Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Angel Station (1979)

Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Angel Station (1979)

  Growing up Manfred Mann and his Earth Band were always in the mix...I loved his keyboard work and the vocals of Chris Thompson....there was just something magic when these 2 guys were together.  I guess sadly Angel Station was the last full album with Thompson (Although he makes guest appearance on Chance).    The great thing about music like this is that it never goes stale or out of date!   "You Angel You" still resonates with the same magic as it did way back in 1979 for me.
    This album edges of Progressive rock with Mann`s usual predisposition for melody and choruses...all of which you get here with his proggy interludes and breakouts and keyboard space explorations.  Check out the Wakeman``esque jam on `Hollywood Town`as a great example.......a genius mix of pop melody and yet prog......
  And for the Conspiracy Theory advocates out there.........
 The very fact that there is odd symmetry on this album is not by accident......the Songs Hollywood Town and You Are - I Am are basically mirror images of each other...and strangely even occupy about the same groove location on opposite sides of the LP !    
   These albums are essential.......... 
   

Donovan - Sunshine Superman (1966)

Donovan - Sunshine Superman, 1966 Remastered

   1967 was an extra special and productive year for Donovan who released 3 albums with great reception from both sides of the ocean.   Released first `Sunshine Superman`was kind of the musical spokesperson for the emerging UK Flower-power generation.  Donovan was considered by many to be the UK`s version of Bob Dylan with his lyrically poignant folk style. 
  The remastered version of Sunshine Superman sounds pretty solid too and is a nice upgrade to earlier versions which great clarity and a great booklet full of great detail.
  If you still wear flowers in your hair then I would highly recommend you pick up this beauty which IMHO is pretty much an essential album from the golden age of psychedelia !

The Beatles - Help (1965)

The Beatles - Help, 1965  Mono Re-Master

     Help was the album that I just adored as a kiddy-boo-boo.....(along with Sgt Peppers and all their other albums :))  I played this LP over and over again on my cheap all in one portable record player with the built in speaker........... YIKES !
   This album also represents the turning point for the young blokes.....you can hear the Beatles in transition.   The opening chord is of course the most famous of all songs with the twang of "Help"...and then Ticket To Ride ......and then "Yesterday to top it all off ".....holy moly what an album
  Get the MONO mix .......just way tooooooo cool 
  

Esquivel - Infinity (1960)

Esquivel - Infinity (1960)

     Juan Garcia Esquivel  was a composer and an arranger who really was one of the Lounge-lizard king pins of his day...  He released a number of albums in the late 50's and 60's that are today highly sought after by the growing re-surgence in Lounge music.   Esquivel was very concerned about the sound quality of his albums and I think on the Infinity series he made his mark.    Found somewhere in between lounge, jazz, big band and a certain experimentalism these albums just dont stop !    You must mix up a cosmic cocktail when listening to this album.......and maybe pull out the suede suit coat too !  With an air or "cheesy-ness" and yet something still seems just so cool about this album that I cant stop pulling it off the shelf.

You will find this vinyl album sitting in your local Bi-Way or Salvation Army thrift store record bins! 

  The perfect album for those nostalgic evenings out by the pool

Miles Davis - In Concert (1972)

Miles Davis - In Concert , Remastered

  If you loved "Big Fun", "Pangea" , "Dark Magus" or "On The Corner" then you will adore this 1972 Concert from New York's Philharmonic Hall.   With a huge ode to "On The Corner" this is Miles doing the funk psych Electronic fusion thing.    Complete with electric piano, synthesizers, electric sitars this album is a stunning live 2 CD set that will change your life !    Very trippy and very grooovy, In Concert carries all the Davis-isms with huge sonic breakouts, trumpets a plenty fed thru a wah-wah pedal and tons of deep dark rhythms and beats.  This is one of only a few live snippets from the funk era-Miles Davis.  Clearly here he has totally moved away from the jazz influences and totally goes into the depths of the beats.
   If you are not really all that familiar with Miles Davis post jazz era then this may not be the best place (or easiest) to start with but this IS an album you must hear.     

Fania Alll Stars - Live At The Red Garter - Vol 2. (1972)

Fania Alll Stars - Live At The Red Garter - Vol 2. , 1972

  Areeeeeeeba Areeeeeeeeba.....wow this album is full of life and full of character!    If you want an album to absolutely groooooove out to then this is your recipe !     Salsa-city.......Afro-Cuban masterpiece recorded live featuring the hard hands of Ray Barretto !    Recorded live in the Red Garter Club in Greenwich Village ...this album simply smokes !   wow......
  If you are looking for one album to but for the your summer-salsa days then this might be one to get your hands on.   Lots of trumpet...lots of latino jangles and hand percussion...elements of early Santana...elements of Jorge Ben .....elements of that hot salsa sauce i consumed last night,.....

Areeeeeena Areeeeeena....essential album to own
 

Colin Hay - Gathering Mercury (2011)

Colin Hay - Gathering Mercury

  Colin Hay was the voice of The Men At Work and since those days has done nothing but write great music and release a handful of excellent albums....with perhaps here in review is my personal favourite one of the lot !    This guys just has the voice !  .....an exceptional one.........
   So Send Somebody ....cause I'm stranded............cries Colin Hay..........
  "Gathering Mercury" is a delicate album of deep lyrical meaning and personal conviction delivered in a timeless manner using all the emotional connections that are only thru thru voice of Colin Hay.
   The title track is perhaps my favourite ditty Hay ever released.......a tune that I can't stop playing....
 Fans of The Men At Work (unless I am still the only fan out there) will love this album to death......a very strong album full of excellent songs.
   For me this is already one of the "memory albums" as my pals Kevin, Anne and Luc were in Montreal with me recently and on Monday am I was standing all alone on the Rail Tracks listening to this album in amazement as I waited for the 10:10 am train to Toronto.     Although I was alone......I had Colin with me on my journey.....2 hours later I was listening to this album AGAIN..............
Needless to say I was gathering mercury all along the way..............
 

Von Kessels - Requiem (2003)

Von Kessels - Requiem

  Von Kessels Requiem is a neo-classical symphony created for wind gong by composer/cymbalist Von Kessels.   This may be in fact the closest I will personally ever get to space...unless I get Oprah cash somehow........
  Von Kessels' Requiem is a dark foreboding album that is the deepest exploration into the cold caverns of space.....well into the outer regions of time and space.    

Tinted Windows (2009)

Tinted Windows, 2009

   So you want to buy one great summer album eh !  Well power pop never sounded sooooo good as Tinted Windows.   Just roll down your windows.....crank up the tunes and let er all hang out to this great power-pop album.  Tinted Windows are a bit of a Supergroup really with a mix of Hanson, Cheap Trick , Fountains and the Smashing Pumpkins......One part Taylor Hanson (lead vocals)...one part James Iha (guitar)...one part Adam Schlesinger (bass) and one part Bun E. Carlos (drums).
   This is just straight ahead rock and will just totally remind you of the Knack and the late 70's......
   Tinted Windows is a GREAT way enjoy the up coming summer.....back with you !!!! 

Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke (1998)

Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke - Duality , 1998

 Mysterious, moody, theatrical and 100% captivating....this is the non-soundtrack soundtrack !   "Duality" is the second solo album released by ex Dead Can Dance lead singer Lisa Gerrard who again teamed up with Pieter Bourke to release a wonderful album full of deep vocals and percussion.    Fans of Loreena and Enya will likely love this album and if you have ever heard the Gladiator soundtrack then you know what Lisa Gerrard sounds like.
  As with all Lisa Gerrard albums you are taken into a whole new world where sounds and moods collide into the most captivating soundscape that you have ever heard.   You live her music more than you actually listen to it ...........
   I am a big fan of her work and think that "Duality" is a work of pure beauty.

  You have never heard music like this before......  

Gram Parsons - GP (1973)

Gram Parsons - GP, 1973 Remastered - The Complete Reprise Sessions

   Gram Parsons had just one of those voices that made a perfect cross over ......folk country rock you name it!   GP and Grievous Angel are both absolutely essential folk albums !   On his debut album after leaving The Flying Burrito Bros, he teamed up with his lover Emmylou Harris who sings harmony with Gram on this album.  The folks at Rhino did a great job in assembling this 3 disc set and offers Gram is vivid sound quality!   these CD`s sound amazing
   ``Streets Of Baltimore`` and `She` are just two of the greatest songs Gram ever did......it just takes me places ... ``She` could have easily been taken from the Beatles `Let It Be`album if it had been sung by Paul instead.   Gram puts a little twang on the song too so that it fits a bit more with the feel of the album.
Absolutely essential album !.......

Airborne - Songs For A City (1977)

Airborne - Songs For A City, 1977 Ocean Records

  I had a copy of this Canadian folk gem back when I was a kiddie-boo boo and about 10 years ago I found it again on vinyl in perfect shape so life is complete now.........   But seriously Airborne released as far as I know this one great album mixing folk, pop and even some slight prog elements into their music.  The title song "Song For A City" is killer and is a song I have played a million times and actually think this sounds a lot like the music YES used to do.
  A wonderful album that needs to be re-released again so that it does not remain a long lost hidden gem forever.

McKendree Spring - Spring Suite (1973)

McKendree Spring - Spring Suite , 1973

    McKendree Spring were a folk-prog band who released a number of excellent albums in their career with The Spring Suite hitting all the marks for me.   McKendree Spring were Fran McKendree (guitar and vocals), Christopher Bishop (bass and vocals) , Martin Slutsky (guitar) and Dr. Michael Dreyfuss ( violin).    Spring Suite was their fourth album released and sported a Roger Dean album cover which is why I originally bought this gem!   come on I wasnt the only person who did this.....  
   "The Madman" is a great song and every time I hear this I get that nostalgic feeling..not really all that far off of the work of CSNY and Seals and Crofts.
  Like many of McKendree albums this one does not feature a drummer! 
   Songs like "Equinox" and "Winter" carry a stronger prog vibe with some synth work to coincide with the acoustic guitar led songs.  These guys could really sing as well with some great vocal harmonies and all the songs on this album are excellent with great musicianship.

Gilberto Gil e Jorge Ben - Gil E Jorge (1975)

Gilberto Gil and Jorge Ben - Gil E Jorge , 1975

 Gil e Jorge is an excellent album featuring the collaborative talents of Brazilian musicians Jorge Ben and Gilbert Gil.   This double album is really a 2 disc improvisation featuring percussionist Djalma Correa.  The 15 Mins epic "Taj Mahal" is basically where Rod Stewart stole "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" from which in 2004 got ranked by Rolling Stone mag #301 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  
   A few years back I became aware of the music of Jorge Ben and have been hunting down his albums ever since.   This collaboration album has some great vocals, guitar work and highly addictive songs.   I also love the length of this album as it really lets these two guys stretch out which I dont think they could have done justice to on a single record.  Excellent sounding recording too...i have the Japan release on CD and the tone quality on this is very good !
  This album is full of great Brazilian inspired songs and features a high degree of improvisation which is very apparent ....a very loose approach which I think is why i love this album so much.
 less about the design and more about the hidden treasures !

The Who - Quadrophenia (1973)

The Who - Quadrophenia, 1973 Deluxe Edition Remaster

  4 years after the magnum classic rock opera "Tommy" Pete Townshend revisited the genre and wrote another fantastic rock opera.  This time his concept was to tell the story of a young mod's struggle to come of age in the mid-'60s.  Quadrophenia has some of Townshend's finest song writing and this deluxe edition has a second CD with some great home demo's that makes this pretty much an essential snag for fans of The Who.
  By the time of Quad. The Who were pretty much on top of their game sounding more and more powerful and what a great way to follow up on "Who's Next" which is another awesome Who album.  Why Should I Care ? 

Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (1959 - 1966)

Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (1959 - 1966), Remastered

    So I must tell you how sometimes things just connect...so here I am playing an early Guess Who album and then Johnny Kidd and the Pirates and suddenly I realize that these two things are connected!    So Chad Allan (who was the early leader of the Guess Who) and after recording the smash hit "Shakin' All Over" after UK born Johnny Kidd had done the same around the same time raised questions of who borrowed from who..........Allan knowingly submitted the name of the band as Guess Who on the single of "Shakin All Over".....i think as a wee joke, but it ended up sticking.........so how good is that eh !
  Canada's Guess Who and Johnny Kidd have a critical connection.
    Ok enough of the useless music trivia and lets get to the review of this treasury of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates.   This 2 CD collection released by EMI in 2008 is a real treasure.  Carefully remastered from the original masters this compilation pretty much has all the great Pirate tracks.
  This has some great early Rock N Roll.......a bit of Chuck Berry...Buddy Holly...and a lot of Bill Haley.  

The Guess Who - Wheatfield Soul (1968)

The Guess Who - Wheatfield Soul , 1969 Remaster

 Well This was really the start of The Guess Who phase II, with a quite angular, yet artistic album to mark the beginning with.  Opening with the timeless classic "These Eyes" through the ode to Gordon Lightfoot aptly titled "Lightfoot" this album really set the stage and the sound for Canada's Guess Who!
   I remember my dad coming home one afternoon asking me if I knew who sang the song "This Eye".....and I never forgot that as I laughed so hard.........
  But it was not my dad but my cousins from ThunderBay who really turned me onto The Guess Who.  My cousins were just passing thru and were all hippied out had this album with them on their trip and we listened to this while we washed their "Trip mobile".   In the morning they were gone and all I had to remember them was this crazy album.   "Friends Of Mine" is this great trippy ode to Jim Morrison the Burton Cummings....with some psychy lyrics featuring the Beatles' Walrus.     
  Without a question this is an excellent album and one of my personal favourite Guess Who albums....

McDonald and Giles (1970)

McDonald and Giles, 1970 Remaster HDCD

  During my university days I bought this album at the recommendation of The Record Store owner after talking about how much I Loved the First King Crimson album !  ...and he was right this was and still is one of the great hidden treasures of the progressive rock era IMHO.   Carrying all the sensitivities of the debut Crimson album and mixing a whole pile of other influences including the Beatles and Beach Boys.
  This catches Ian McDonald right in between Crimson and Foreigner era and he is at the height of his creativity on this album.  Ian and Mike handle the vocals and they sound great together with "Flight of the Ibis" being one of the great songs off this album very much influenced by the Beatles.  The harmony on this song still haunts me.
  Joining Ian McDonald is Michael Giles (drums, vox) , Peter Giles (bass), Steve Winwood (organ) who collaborated for the one-off gem of an album.
  Of course like all great Prog album there is a side long epic progressive rock track titled "Birdman" which is a 6 part number and is heavily influenced by King Crimson.
   Absolutely brilliant music ...food for your mind 

Alan Parsons Project - I Robot (1977)

Alan Parsons Project - I Robot , 1977   Mobile Fidelity Recording

   "I Robot" by Alan Parsons is a classic album that I can only hope will live strong forever.   Man.....they dont make em like this anymore do they !   "I Robot" was an album I grew up with and have never grown tired of this one.....today in fact I played the Mobile Fidelity remastered version which simply took me back to my early years!
  This might just be my favourite Parsons album .....and really in many ways reflects The Dark Side Of The Moon.....just told from a different perspective.     On this album we get it all too.......soft caressing vocals and gentle songs juxtaposed over heavier electronic nightmare'ish tracks of robotic invasion.......very cool album and a great headphone experience album !

Trimvirat - Spartacus (1975)

Triumvirat - Spartacus , 1975 Remaster

  Jurgen Fritz was a phenomenal keyboard player......and along with bandsmen Helmet Kollen (bass, guitars and compelling vocals) and Hans Bathelt (drums) created a masterpiece with Spartacus.  It is always a toss up which Triumvirat album I like the best between this one and "Illusions On A Double Dimple" but tonight it's Spartacus !
  Spartacus tells the story of the great Roman soldiers plight all put to music in a way on Triumvirat could.   One can not hear this album and not think of Emerson Lake & Palmer ....it must be the keayboards!   This was a great band and although overshadowed by ELP in the day, these guys really could write and play symphonic prog rock at its finest.

Donald Byrd - Stepping Into Tomorrow (1974)

Donald Byrd - Stepping Into Tomorrow (1974) Blue Note Remaster

    Stepping into Tomorrow is a funk-chill groove album that while softer in composition still carries Byrd's wild approach.   This album is full of Davis-like trumpets and flugelhorns with a huge mix of electro-funk bass and supporting percussion.   The funk era of Byrd is some of my personal favourite albums and "Stepping Into Tomorrow" is one of em!    The song "Think Twice" is the killer track on this album with is dirty groove and soft chill esoteric vibe.    Byrd calls on some old friends too to help out with drummer Harvey Mason, bassist Chuck Rainey, keyboardist Jerry Peters, and guitarist David T. Walker.  
  The end result is a killer jazz-funk -fusion album that compliments yet differs from "Black Byrd" and "Street Lady".
  Simply essential funk groove..............

Peggy Lee - Jump For Joy (1958)

Peggy Lee - Jump For Joy , 1958 Remastered

  Step right in and "Jump For Joy" my friends.........get ready to tap your toes and play some air trumpet !   Take the late 1950's era Peggy Lee and toss in Nelson Riddle and his orchestra and you have an album of greatness.     Originally released in mono in 1957 and then in stereo in 1958 this DRG remaster puts the stereo mix for the first time on CD now for us to all JUMP for JOY to !
   Peggy Lee had a voice.........listen to her on "Old Devil Moon" or "Just In Time" ...lots of style and grace with a great jazz flare....
      An essential album !

Enoch Light - Persuasive Percussion (1960)

Enoch Light - Persuasive Percussion Vol One, 1960

      If you have not ever heard an Enoch Light album then you have missed out.......definitely space age music for the cocktail lover in you ! This is THE ULPTIMATE Jet-age, bachelor Pad, Shagadelic music on Earth ! Persuasive Percussion was his first Command LP and was a huge hit reaching Number One on the U.S. Pop charts in 1960. Audiophiles fell in love with Enoch Light as his Command label and later Project 3 albums were sonically perfect. I have collected a ton of Command Sparton albums over the years simply because of the high quality recordings.

    Musically this is lounge exotica........pure lounge with some very cool instrumentation and brilliant percussion. Time to spark up the ol' lava lamp and incense everyone.........this one is gonna take to some exotic place where you have always wanted to go to ........but were afraid to ask........

This is some pretty cool music that is ideal for chilling out to !

Xylophones, marimbas, sax, hand percussion, cha cha cha's, cow bell.....holy god man !!

Bring back the shag carpet

Lemongrass - Drumatic Universe (1998)

Lemongrass - Drumatic Universe  (1998)

  For Roland Voss, aka Lemongrass it all started here......Dramatic Universe mixing his early jazz influences delivering a haunting trip-hop production!   If you are looking for an album to totally chill out to then this is a great album to play.   This album is totally a cross over of electronica and jazz....kind of a space theme created too..........and some wicked beats to totally groove out to .....
  Space travel never felt soooooo good.   If you look out the right window now you will see Jupitor and far off in the distant is Earth.......

Wow ...what a drumatic Universe we live in !

Long John Baldry - It Ain`t Easy (1971)

Long John Baldry - It Ain`t Easy (1971), Remaster

   Whats all the fuss about all this `Booooogee Wooogee``.     Dont try to lay no Booogie Wooogie On The Kind Of Rock n Roll........
  Before coming over to Canada , Long John Had a string of albums that showcased his Blues side but on ``It Aint Easy` Baldry shifted to a more pop hippie kind of blues that the psychedelic crowd would like equally as much as the R&B gang.   And yes this is one of the two Baldry albums where production duties were split 50%  Elton John and 50% Rod Stewart.
  I am right now in my kitchen cooking dinner and totally rockin out to this album.....wow !!

Jimmy Witherspoon with Brother Jack McDuff - The Blues Is Now (1967)

Jimmy Witherspoon with Brother Jack McDuff - The Blues Is Now (1967)

   Jimmy Witherspoon ....the voice and the blues......with Brother Jack !   Holy crap kids !

   Jimmy Witherspoon released a number of excellent albums on Verve in the mid-late '60s with "The Blues Is Now" being one of the good un's.   Fans of Blues will love this album......dark smokey atmospheres with heavy soul vocals, great organ and superb Guitar work from Melvin Sparks .  I also love the brass section which works so well with the organ grinds , guitar and soulful vocals of Witherspoon.

   After hearing this album Ì`m gonna move to the outskirts of town`......