What Are You Listening To?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

CSN&Y  "American dream" cd, 1988

their fifth as a quartet...
Neil has seven of the fourteen tracks.
a lot of social commentary songs as you would expect....
three or four really good tracks, the rest pass the test also.
always nice to hear real music with real instruments and autotune free vocals.
I LIKE THIS ALBUM

thought id go for a Graham Nash tune this time round:






Clear blue skies, not too much to ask for,
They were here before we came,
Will they be here when we're gone?.


Clean water, not too much to hope for,
It's the basis of our lives
And without it we are done.

Well we can keep our eyes upon the skies
And see how the time goes by
Or we can find our fears among the tears
That fall when the meadows cry, cry cry.

Well we can keep our eyes upon the skies
And see how the time goes by
Or we can find our fears among the tears
That fall when the meadow cries.

Clear ideas, much too much to think of.
We need all the help we can get
(And I know) we need all the time that we've got
(And I know) we need all the love we can give,
It will be here when we're gone (clear blue skies)
It will be here when we're gone
It will be here when we're gone (clear blue skies)
Clear blue skies
Clear blue skies (clear blue skies)
Clear blue skies (clear blue skies)

[CRAZY-HORSE]

CSN&Y "looking forward" cd, 1999

thought i'd play another one after enjoying the previous one...
their fifth and so far final collaboration...
Uncle Neil gets four of the twelve tracks...
not their best by any of them by any means but still passable.
I LIKE THIS ALBUM

best by a long shot:






Something opened up the gates again
I can't control it, so I'm rushing in
Here comes a mermaid and a little girl
Some open drawers from around the world.


I got some medals hanging on my chest
I've seen some good ones but I missed the best
Lady Luck, don't you turn on me
I'm just a student of your history
I'm just a student of your history.

Slowpoke, I'm gonna run with you
Wear all your clothes and do what you do
Slowpoke we've got some things to find
When I was faster I was always behind
When I was faster I was always behind.

Something's pulling back the curtain again
The stage is darker and the crowd is in
The song is gentle and the song is long
Something's missing, but something is found
Something's missing, but something is found.

Slowpoke, I'm gonna run with you
Wear all your clothes and do what you do
Slowpoke, I've got some things to find
When I was faster I was always behind
When I was faster I was always behind

[Ruby]

I was busy trying to post this last night when the power went off without warning. Half the peninsula in darkness thanks to a blown junction. This year's surprises just don't stop! Lol!! Oh well - according to the revised interpretation of the Mayan Calendar, 21st December 2020 was the end of the world as we know it. I wonder if we've all been transported to a parallel universe???!

Right, now where was I?? Oh yes - fifty years after the release of Dave Mason's debut album, Alone Together, he has released a reimagining - Alone Together Again. I really wish these musos would stop this reimagining business - it only works if a person hasn't heard the original because with very few exceptions, we prefer the version we heard first (of anything, pretty much). I expect there are many who wouldn't have heard the debut though, so he'll probably be ok! Mason has the ability to put together a memorable song or two, no question about it, but I'm not sold on whole albumsfull - one or two tracks from each will do for me. 

The first "Sad and Deep as You", which is not perfectly produced, has a real pathos, IMHO - as well as Leon Russell on piano, while the second has morphed into a clever Flamenco driven song of no great feeling at all - again IMHO. Huge bias on my part of course - the second is not terrible but has lost something in translation, I think - too clever. 

The new ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhY-Wmeivxs

The old ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89uRgfOP-94

[Jerome]

Guess they will have a new calendar revised, printed and ready at a bookstore near you soon! No doubt they made a 'mistake' on the original.

---

Camel - The Single Factor - some nice tracks on this but not as good as their more conceptual albums.

One of my faves

https://youtu.be/LxSejMuqq5c

[Ruby]

^Yep - that's the second time now that the world hasn't ended!! According to that particular prophecy, that is.

Haven't listened to TSF in a while.

[Jerome]

And same as every year out comes Mark Knopfler's 'Screenplaying' and Mike Batt's 'Caravans'. Might listen to some Yo-Yo Ma as well later. Going to watch Kodachrome movie on Netflix later in the day.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
ive never even heard of Kodachrome?
just Wiki'd it,
Ed Harris, excellent actor!
ive made a note to watch it this upcoming week.

"screenplaying", good compilation...
reminds me, i should revisit the movies the songs are from again.

[Jerome]

Probably my favourite track from 'Screenplaying' - the finale from 'Last Exit to Brooklyn' - fantastic string section.

https://youtu.be/uhnABUpGVIA

[Ruby]

Strawbs - Hero and Heroine



Just felt like this today. Fantastic album - sounds that make everything feel ok. 

[Jerome]

You and I have very similar tastes. Hero and Heroine is my favourite Strawbs album. Used to play it non-stop at one point. Midnight Sun is one of their standout tracks. And Autumn as well.

https://youtu.be/n4tRv765vIs

https://youtu.be/Hu-q_6-aLoM

And of course the title track -  a brilliant opener for an album

https://youtu.be/Z2HwcRaANjw