What Are You Listening To?

[Jerome]

^I recall a few Newlands haunts. Another lifetime.

Lee Clayton ... his Border Affair has been re-released but isn't anywhere to be found for listening aside from a few crappy live clips which really don't do him justice - mind you, none of these are that great soundwise. I have Naked Child which I found by mistake many moons ago and which is his tour de force IMHO - probably ranks as one of my favourite albums ever. I also have The Dream Goes On which while not at all shabby isn't quite as appealing as Naked Child - mysterious to me that he didn't get more attention ... I could pick any song from Naked Child ... 

always loved "I Ride Alone" ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsanF9wZbn8

"10,000 Years / Sexual Moon" ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LxFSo3r3do

"If I Can Do It" ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t56lasp7Jo





A truly magnificent piece of work. So sad he did not create more albums. Jaded Virgin is a classic track.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

NEIL YOUNG  "hawks and doves"  cd,  1980

his tenth solo album.
hints of country in places.
top 10 in Australia and New Zealand, barely made the top40 everywhere else...
the start of the '80s starts his downward slide.
not a great album by any means but still passable
I LIKE THIS ALBUM

favourite:

[Ruby]

Alan Parsons - Try Anything Once. It was the first thing that came to eye so it got played. Never noticed the autostereogram in the liner notes before - lol! Not very observant!!  His first album after the dissolution of the project, but it's not dissimilar. All the songs are well crafted, whether you like them or not. Yes - it's dated but that's ok - still enjoy a listen now and then - all the musos knew what they were doing and he always selected really good vocalists. These later albums aren't a patch on the earlier APP's but aren't entirely devoid of merit. Mr Parsons will no doubt be glad to hear!   

Ok - what track to link ... hmmm ... I actually like the instrumentals on this album, but for a change - 

[Ruby]

Premiata Forneria Marconi - The World Became The World


This is the English version of their L'isola Di Niente which I might try to listen to out of curiosity. One of two vinyl freebies that came my way today courtesy of Fred de Vries - a thanks for some knowhow. So nice to exchange in ways other than monetary. 

Absolutely love the first three tracks (there are six altogether) and the final three are not terrible. Released in 1974 on the Manticore label who also had ELP under their wing (they're still going, incidentally). Peter Sinfield wrote PFM's English lyrics - he of King Crimson and ELP renown, in terms of his writing. Might just wallow in the first twenty minutes of this album for a while. Italian prog is a very fine thing when done well. English translation of their name - Award-winning Marconi Bakery.

The opener - "The Mountain" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_89-LVVy8kU

The beautiful and lyrical "Just Look Away" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pmMFShZMvY 

... and the title track ... 


 

[Ruby]

CURVED AIR – Second Album
 
Well that title needs no interpretation! Feels like a wasted opportunity - strange considering they are seemingly otherwise imaginative. The second freebie. Released in 1971, It contains their one and only hit single “Backstreet Luv” which made it to number 4 on the UK singles charts. I think I was threatening to listen to more Curved Air not so long ago – best be careful what you give voice to! Lol! 

They are an interesting bunch for sure – Sonja Kristina has a pristine voice and they are incredibly musical if somewhat muddly. Francis Monkman is well-known in the biz for his prowess and of course, who could ever forget the fantastically named Florian Pilkiington-Miksa. Difficult to peg, exactly – it’s proggy alright, with substantial classical influences and components, and there also always seems to be a dreamy quality about their stuff – oh ok – I see it’s called eclectic prog in some circles. Not sold on all of it, it gets a bit too busy, but I can still listen and be drawn in, to a degree. There’s a fair amount of orchestration on this album, and I tend to notice a violin which in this instance is wielded by one Darryl Way. (To digress completely, I ended up listening to Jethro Tull’s Heavy Horses after this – Mr Way is on a couple of tracks on that too – the very fabulous title track being one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRHATZzMh-g).

Could have been better produced IMHO, the sound quality is not great and it’s a tad murky, but hey – it’s nearly half a century old. The aforementioned single … 

[Jerome]

Ruby, don't know if you have heard these two before. Both recorded during the Heavy Horses sessions. Did not make it onto the final album but should have.

https://youtu.be/nMVzrCATwQk

https://youtu.be/Mty7BSh5vvI

[Jerome]

Probably my favourite Golden Earring track - https://youtu.be/mbJYPDjV030

[Ruby]

Ruby, don't know if you have heard these two before. Both recorded during the Heavy Horses sessions. Did not make it onto the final album but should have.

https://youtu.be/nMVzrCATwQk

https://youtu.be/Mty7BSh5vvI

Yes I have - and yes they should. They're on the disc I have now - had to buy a new one a little while ago as the old one wore out. Superb album.

[Jerome]

Been listening to Simon Phillip's Protocol Boxset in the car over the last few days. There is some seriously complex drumming on this. A mix of prog rock, fusion, jazz and many other styles as well. On some tracks his playing seems almost superhuman. There is one track in particular where I thought - how in God's name can one person be THIS good. I am blown away by some of the stuff he does. Very good guitar work as well. Production is superb as well.

There are many musicians who play their instruments well, there are some who actually master them and then there is Simon Phillips. He is in a different league altogether.

A sample - https://youtu.be/NW2iofQtRIM

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
that's one of the clips I watched when I checked him out a while ago when you said you were using his services on your own music.