Dungen - Stadsvandringar (2002)

Dungen - Stadsvandringar 

 Stadsvandringar was the second album released by Sweden's artrock-psychers who insuppose were in transition having just signed to Virgin records and were under some expectations to write a more pop infused album than their stunning debut album.   The end result is yet another excellent Dungen album with way too cool psycheyness and alternative art rock venting.

  Standout track is "Solen stiger upp Del 1 & Del 2" which takes the music of CAMEL and fuses it with JETHRO TULL into one amazing song. 

Every song on this album is great and offers quite a wide variety of moods throughout.

Bill Nelson - Practically Wired (1995)

Bill Nelson - Practically Wired 

  Since his Be Bop Deluxe days, Bill Nelson has been a very prolific musician!   In 1995 he released this instrumental gem totally devoted to showcase his guitar skills.  Of course in typical Bill Nelson styling there are plenty of interesting and edgy bits, lush atmospheres and drabs of rock and funky art rock pieces all intertwined.  

 One thing about Bill Nelson albums is that they are never static or boring and seems endlessly creative.

  There are some superb songs on this album and some amazing guitar, dub and electronic moments.....even a sonic nightmare or two along the way

 Although there is not any singing on this album there is plenty of vocal dubs and talking bits tossed in giving the impression that this album is made up of a series of short vingettes and story boards.

  Everything is left up to your imagination,.......

Gordon Lightfoot - Sit Down Young Stranger (1970)

Gordon Lightfoot - Sit Down Young Stranger 

  Originally titled "Sit Down Young Stranger" and almost immediatly after re-titled as the better known "If you could read my mind" following the success of this song from the album.   I would hope that everyone has heard this album and is as much in love with this classic folk album as I have been!  

  Lightfoot hit his peak on this album with each song getting that special magic touch as each story is unfolded.   Highlight for me are "Approaching Lavender" and perhaps my favourite folk song of all time "If You Could Read My Mind".

The album was recorded with the trio of Lightfoot, Red Shea (guitar) and Rick haynes (bass) with string arrangements by Randy Newman and Nick DeCaro and guest assistance from Ry Cooder, Van Dyke Parks and John B. Sebastian.

 This is a beautiful album that I still adore as much now as when I first heard it.......

An essential album

Maceo and All The King's Men (1970)

Maceo and All The King's Men  180g vinyl

  Ex-James Brown Funk'ers under the working title of Maceo and All The King's Men released this gem in 1970.   Doing their own thing was aptly titled and the 8 musicians had all left James Brown and ventured into their own paths.   

  Funk-a-holics will love this album !  

Of course led by tenor of Maceo Parker, Melvin Parker (drums), Jimmy Nolen (guitar), Elvonzo Kellum (guitar), Bernard Odum (bass), Joseph Davis (trumpet), Richard Griffith (trumpet) and L.D. Williams (sax) push out some deep down groovy grooves!

  My favourite is "Funky Women" where Maceo and the lads get to really wind this thing fully out..".and each member of the band gets their chance to add to this musical funk exploration.

  Maceo once said that this album is 2% jazz and 98% funk.....

They even do a soul ballad titled "dont waste this world away" which is fantastic and breaks the funk mold for a few mins.

This is a fun record to listen to and fans of FUNK will need to own this piece of music history.

 

Lee Morgan - City Lights (1957)

Lee Morgan - City Lights 

    As I get older I keep digging deeper into the wonderful Blue Note vaults and this time we are graced by the clever trumpet of lee Morgan.  City Lights was recorded six years before the classic THE SIDEWINDER.

  On this groovy jazz album Morgan hooks up with some of the usual suspects including Curtis Fuller (trombone), George Coleman (sax), Ray Bryant (piano), the very well used Paul Chambers (bass) and Art Taylor on the drums.

 The whole album is fantastic and i think my fav is "Tempo de Waltz" which previously was known as "Waltz Fantasy" originally written by Benny Golson.   

  Morgan plays in mood very fitting to a cool jazz relaxed City Lights never getting to complex or loud for my liking.   All the music on this tempered album were hand picked by Lee Morgan and together they exude a mood that only the lonely late night urban crowd would fully understand.

The 180g Blue Note vinyl sounds superb and presents this album in the richest of possible tones for you to enjoy.

David Byrne - Rei Momo (1989)

David Byrne - Rei Momo

   Rei Momo was Ex Talking Heads lead singer's first solo album breaking away very much from his past.    This album explores Latin and South American tempos and structures, yet carries that unmistakeable "Bryne" vision.

  In fact Byrne brought in quite an array of  South American musicians and native instruments to help create this wonderful album.  The one element that still carries a heavy Talking Heads aspect is the lyrics and vocals.  Bryne wrote a set of lyrics as equally inane as anything he and the Heads ever released.

  Congas, bongos, timbals and paint cans......along with Willie Colon, Johnny Pacheco and Celia Cruz of Fania Records, Herbert Vianna of EMI Brazil and producer Steve Lillywhite's wife Kirsty MacColl.

  Overall Rei Momo is a fun and very cool album to do the Limbo to on Saturday nights !

Chet Baker - Sings...It Could Happen To You (1958)

Chet Baker - Sings...It Could Happen To You

   Every trumpet player is really a singer...they just sing thru their instrument but on "It Could Happen To You" Chet actually uses his voice!

   This album is way too cool and relaxed.......lounge meets cool jazz !  On this album Chet picked 10 standards of the day and used his voice as a trumpet!   But there are no "Bla Bla's or nonsense syllables here just Chets soft voice singing as if he was playing trumpet  .