Kate Bush
by Alex on January 27, 2012
Kate Bush has released her third music video from 50 Words for Snow. “Eider Falls at Lake Tahoe” is of course based on “Lake Tahoe” from the album. “It is all done in camera with shadow puppets, one of my favourite art forms because of its simplicity and something I have really wanted to do for a long time now,” Kate writes. Bush, who directed the video herself, trimmed down the song to an excerpt which exists as a self-contained piece.
The story in the song involves an old dog dreaming of it’s owner. Throughout the gorgeous video, the dog wanders through the forest looking for it’s owner. The video is brilliant and subtle. The slow movement and contrasting black and white visuals compliment the dreamlike nature of the song. For a thorough review, take a look at NPR. Enjoy this visual treat below.
The Doors
by Alex on January 26, 2012
This week saw the release of the Doors’ L.A. Woman: 40th Anniversary Edition. The two-disc set features eight previously unreleased alternate versions of “L.A. Woman,” “Love Her Madly,” “Riders On The Storm” and more. The most notable addition to this re-release is the previously unheard song, “She Smells So Nice.” According to an issued press release, the recording was discovered by producer Bruce Botnick while reviewing session tapes for L.A. Woman.
The new edition will also be available as a double LP titled L.A. Woman: The Workshop Sessions. With the nine tracks comprising the first three sides of the vinyl, the fourth side features a laser etching of the original “Electric Woman” art included with the L.A Woman album. If that’s not enough, the band has announced the release of a behind-the-scenes documentary, titled Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman. The film includes new interviews with band members Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore, as well as footage of live and studio performances.
It’s nice to see this final Doors album with Jim Morrison get the deluxe treatment. It seems hard to believe “She Smells So Nice” remained hidden for forty years, but it’s quite the gem. Jim’s voice is worn and craggy, which adds to the mix. Listen for yourself below.
Etta James
by Alex on January 25, 2012
Today we take a look at the late, great Etta James whose birthday is today. Born Jamesetta Hawkins in 1938 to a 14 year old mother, Etta spent most of her time growing up among friends and relatives. Her singing career began when she entered the church choir. Although she was still young, she became a soloist and performed with the group on local radio stations. When her foster mother died when she was 12 years old, Etta went to live with her real mother in San Francisco under minimal adult supervision. This led her into trouble, but at the same time her fondness for music continued to grow
Etta got together with a group of her friends and started the Creolettes. The girls caught the eye of the late Johnny Otis when he heard them sing “Roll With Me Henry,” – a racy answer song to Hank Ballard’s infamous “Work with Me Annie.” He got them a record deal under the name of the Peaches, and although they had a couple of hits in the 1950s, the group dissolved and Etta began to pursue a solo career.
Although it took some time for her solo records to gain an audience, Leonard Chess signed her to a new record deal in 1960. This helped Etta’s career take off and she scored several hits with “All I Could Do Was Cry,” “My Dearest Darling,” and “Trust in Me.” Unfortunately as her fame grew, so did her problems with drugs. By the time she was 21, Etta was addicted to heroin. She found it difficult to balance her professional life with her habit, but by 1967 she began recording with producer Rick Hall at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama where she rocked back onto the R&B charts with “Tell Mama” and “I’d Rather Go Blind.”
While Etta’s career went through ups and downs during the 1970s, the quality of her recorded work was always something special. She gave life to many famous songs and one of my favorites has always been “I Just Want to Make Love to You” from her famous 1961 release, At Last! I love her growling voice on this song. She belts out this passionate tune like nothing you’ve ever heard before. The song is timeless and is a fitting reminder to how much we will miss Etta’s amazing vocals. Listen to this great track below.
Latest Albums – 01/24/2012
by Alex on January 24, 2012
Rodrigo y Gabriela got their start playing heavy metal, but eventually ditched their amplifiers to form their unique acoustic sound. The duo burst onto the world music scene with their third album, 2006′s Rodrigo y Gabriela. Their pulsating guitar work accompanied with chopping strums have electrified audiences everywhere. For their latest record, Area 52, Rodrigo y Gabriela decided to take a different approach in the studio. Recorded entirely in Havana with a 13-piece Cuban ensemble collectively known as C.U.B.A., Area 52 features nine of the group’s favorite original songs rearranged for orchestral performance. In addition to C.U.B.A., Carles Benavent, Anoushka Shankar, Samuel Formell, Carlota Teresa Polledo Noriega, John Tempesta and Le Trio Joubran lend a hand on the record.
Rodrigo y Gabriela’s compositions paired with these full band arrangements are outstanding. They have adapted the songs to serve as a jumping off point to explore the dynamic sound of the band. The tunes are so full of twists and turns, you can’t help but be surprised when you listen to them. Be sure to check out the fantastic trailer for Area 52. Take a listen to “Juan Loco” below to hear the amazing work the group has done to expand their sound outside of the acoustic duo setting. The group will set off on a European and North American tour with C.U.B.A this Spring. You won’t want to miss it.
Some other titles released today:
Dion – Tank Full of Blues
Jazzanova – Upside Down
Joe Cocker – Hard Knocks
New York Gypsy Allstars – Romantech
Seal – Soul 2
V/A – Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan
V/A – Istanbul 70: Psych, Disco, Folk Classics
Johnny Otis
by Alex on January 20, 2012
Today we remember the late, great Johnny Otis. Mr. Otis passed away this week at the age of 90 and is widely recognized as the “godfather of rhythm and blues.” Johnny was a musician, bandleader, songwriter, impresario, disc jockey and talent scout. He brought together the discipline of big band jazz with the raw urgency of gospel music and the blues. This would end up serving as the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll.
Johnny was born the son of Greek immigrants who ran a grocery store in Vallejo, California. Although not black, he found himself a part of the African-American community and considered himself “black by persuasion.” “Genetically, I’m pure Greek,” he told The San Jose Mercury News in 1994. “Psychologically, environmentally, culturally, by choice, I’m a member of the black community.” His first hit came in the form of “Harlem Nocturne,” an instrumental song written for a 16-piece big band in 1945. As big bands went out of fashion, Otis stripped his band down to a few horns and a rhythm section. Within no time, he and his band began to pulsate on the rhythm and blues scene. In 1948 he and a partner opened a nightclub, the Barrelhouse, in the Watts section of Los Angeles.
From 1950 to 1952 Mr. Otis had 15 singles on Billboard’s rhythm and blues Top 40, including “Double Crossing Blues,” which was No. 1 for nine weeks. Otis’ biggest hit came with 1958′s “Willie and the Hand Jive,” which has been covered by many artists. Johnny also turned to radio and became a D.J. on the Los Angeles-area radio station KFOX. He was an instant success, and soon had his own local television show as well. He had a weekly program on the Pacifica Radio Network in California from the 1970s until 2005. In later life, he became a political activist and minister, as well as an organic farmer. His son, Shuggie Otis, is an accomplished guitarist with several albums to his name.
“Society wants to categorize everything, but to me it’s all African-American music. The music isn’t just the notes, it’s the culture — the way Grandma cooked, the way Grandpa told stories, the way the kids walked and talked.” – Johnny Otis
Johnny performed for many years and ushered in talent from around the country with his radio and television programs. He helped promote Etta James, Jackie Wilson, Esther Phillips and Big Mama Thornton — whose hit recording of “Hound Dog,” made in 1952, four years before Elvis Presley’s, was produced by Mr. Otis and featured him on drums. Below is a nice clip of Johnny Otis from the early 70s with his teenage son, Shuggie and Roy Buchanan playing “Sweet Home Chicago / Bye Bye Baby.” Unfortunately the video is a bit out of sync, but it’s worth it for the performance.
