What Are You Listening To?

[Tiggi]

I've always liked Dire Straits despite their desperately uncool status.

Unlikely UK arena Rockers, who are now decidedly defunct.

Romeo & Juliet is a sublime song IMHO...

[martymar]

This is SHOCKINGLY good.

[Jerome]

Today I'm starting with Mr Oldfield's 'The Songs of Distant Earth' Apparently written with the blessing of one Arthur C Clarke. My favourite album by him. Wish he would do another like this.

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Strange, allmusic doesn't even mention this album, and wiki has no details. Not like it's some off the wall label (A&M). Believe it's his third album, and a pretty decent effort from Gino and brother Joe. Two standout tracks and two sitin tracks. I think I remember Mama Coco as a single.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Love Is A Night

Best Track - Where Am I Going

1) Storm At Sunup - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvGMgJmrfMk
2) Love Me Now - *** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMdyDEnAQHI
3) Mama Coco - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29xfb3kRDWs
4) Father And Son - *
5) Where Am I Going - *** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIb5_8cszNQ
6) Keep On Walking - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ixrdqmGMT4
7) Love Is A Night - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfqtK3CxKlY
8) Gettin' High - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efqEqxop5FI

3's - 2
2's - 4
1's - 2

Rating - 2.0

[Music Head]

from my library (cd)



Is this the only Beatles album I can honestly say I don't love? Could be, although it's borderline. Their last release, so they didn't go out with a bang. Maybe from a cap gun. Still lots of good stuff here. Just that filler rubbish that kept it down. Could have done without the chatter on/between some tracks. Can't really decide on Phil Spectors wall of sound. Like it on some, not so much on others. However, an average Beatles album is still superb to most other groups. I guess they did pass the audition.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Dig It

Best Track - Two Of Us

Two of us riding nowhere
Spending someone's
Hard earned pay
Two of us Sunday driving
Not arriving
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

Two of us sending postcards
Writing letters
On my wall
You and me burning matches
Lifting latches
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

You and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead

Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing so low
In the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

You and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead

Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing so low
In the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

We're going home
Better believe it

1) Two Of Us - *** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Y3PlmwnRM
2) Dig A Pony - * - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnRIQhH-evo
3) Across The Universe - *** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj-4t9drUlM
4) I Me Mine - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvDHwVM-PJI
5) Dig It - * - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqrwXcOFotw
6) Let It Be - *** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEogJacjLTE
7) Maggie Mae - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdrVwZ1JKFw
8) I've Got A Feeling - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJPmB6HqcTY
9) One After 909 - *** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXt9ShJsAIo
10) The Long And Winding Road - *** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cUaO1P2mfo
11) For You Blue - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWMrsnAHpr4
12) Get Back - *** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6G7MkBMVxE

3's - 6
2's - 3
1's - 3

Rating - 2.3

[Jerome]

Yo-Yo Ma plays Ennio Morricone

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Not much rock on here. You can always count on ol' JT to mellow you out. Him and my friends Mary and Jaun were chillin' today. This is the third album from the well respected man about town. Doin' the best things so conservatively. Not his best album, but close to it. Guest vocals with Carole King and Joni Mitchell throughout. Nothing on here I don't like and four I love. It reached #2 on the U.S. charts with Carole King's You've Got A Friend hitting the top and winning a grammy. I prefer her version to James.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Let Me Ride

Best Track - Highway Song

1) Love Has Brought Me Around - **
2) You've Got A Friend - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6fEwCnTDBs
3) Places In My Past - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=400Ije_Erpc
4) Riding On A Railroad - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-EaYIwzwI8
5) Soldiers - **
6) Mud Slide Slim - *** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC2B0oaGZZ4
7) Hey Mister, That's Me Up On The Jukebox - *** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjiPr1jxVZ4
8) You Can Close Your Eyes - ** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkIiaaXUjlE
9) Machine Gun Kelly - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtvEzgmWBB0
10) Long Ago And Far Away - *** live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvO2Vw-M2Y
11) Let Me Ride - **
12) Highway Song - *** - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI7G5M03HU0
13) Isn't It Nice To Be Home Again - **

3's - 4
2's - 9
1's - 0

Rating - 2.3

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Prog rock, but not at its finest. Former member of Gong who I vaguely remember. Went solo in '75, and this is his third solo album. After a few more efforts, that career didn't do so hot so Steve ended up doing some producing. Most notably Robyn Hitchcock and Simple Minds. The guy might be a good guitarist, but he should have stayed with that. I see he is into the ambient sound now. Ended up liking four tracks here, with five total bombs. All those 70's prog rock bands sounds sneak in here, primarily Yes imo. My favorite track I ended up choosing because it sounds like Syd Barrett. Don't see where the album even charted here in the states. Very nice live clip closing this out, which almost made me change my grade. If I didn't have the Stones version in my head, I probably would have.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Not Fade Away

Best Track - Wait One Moment

1) Hello Dawn - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmPKEOh7SiY
2) Motivation - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWWnH0BZG5g
3) Light In The Sky - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsR-iVo8yEQ
4) Radio - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijPNhTKeh0Y
5) Wait One Moment - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtUYRBhlnkI
6) Saucer Surfing - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_-HOdO36wQ
7) Searching For The Spark - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12SGXxVbAg
8) Octave Doctors - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOwPsEhcHAw
9) Not Fade Away - * - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlrEY2jkxOU

3's - 0
2's - 4
1's - 5

Rating - 1.4

[Iota]

Hella - Republic of Rough and Ready

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



I never know where to put artists like this. Coulda gone for pop I guess. I still think we need an Easy Listening. Here he is with his second solo album. His best selling album with singles of, the title track and I Only Have Eyes For You, which topped the chart in the U.K. I prefer the Flamingos version of 1959 which only made it to #11 in the states. Those 2 singles only made it to #39 and #18 here. Didn't care at all for the title track as I thought it was too Stephen Bishop. The song that no doubt boosted the sales of this album was the S&G reunion single of My Little Town. I believe this song was also included on Paul Simons solo album Still Crazy After All These Years, that was out at the same time. Never thought the song was all that. Strange there are no clips for it. It was released as a single and peaked at #9, with the album going to #7. A very nice song selection by producer Richard Perry I think, with Bruce Johnstons Disney Girls being just a beautiful song, along with 99 Miles From L.A.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Break Away

Best Track - Disney Girls

Clearing skies and drying eyes now I see your smile.
Darkness goes and softness shows a changing style.
Just in time, words that rhyme, well bless your soul.
Now I'll fill your hands with kisses and a Tootsie Roll.
Reality, it's not for me and it makes me laugh.
But fantasy world and Disney Girls, I'm comin' back.

Patti Page and summer days on old Cape Cod.
Happy times and making wine in my garage.
Country shade and lemonade, guess I'm slowin' down.
It's a turn-back world with a local girl in a smaller town.
Open cars, and clearer stars that's what I lack.
But fantasy world and Disney Girls, I'm comin' back.

Mom! Hi, Rick and Dave! Hi, Pop! Well Good Mornin', Mom!
Love, get up! Guess what? I'm in love with a girl I found.
She's really swell 'cause she likes church bingo chances and old time dances.

All my life I spent the nights with dreams of you.
The warmth I missed for the things I wished are comin' true.
I got my love to give and a place to live, guess I'm gonna stay.
It'd be a peaceful life with a forever wife and a kid some day.
It's early nights and pillow fights and your soft laugh.
But fantasy world and Disney Girls, I'm comin' back.

1) I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8-FnibcoaA
2) Rag Doll - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKm6jSsieQ0
3) Break Away - * - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hssuv2KaaM
4) Disney Girls - *** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QBRwj3kzno
5) Waters Of March - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A3W5v1dNNI
6) My Little Town - **
7) I Only Have Eyes For You - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9C53IEcg_0
8) Lookin' For The Right One - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVDv7RwmZic
9) 99 Miles From L.A. - *** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJca07HLqw0
10) The Same Old Tears On A New Background - ** - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE7yoCBLHHM

3's - 2
2's - 7
1's - 1

Rating - 2.1