What Are You Listening To?

[SteveO]

STEELY DAN - GAUCHO (1980)



From my beloved vinyl vault comes Gaucho, Steely Dan's excursion into jazz rock. The album took over a year to produce and featured forty-two jazz musicians including saxophonist Michael Brecker and guitarist Larry Carlton.

Steely Dan is comprised of two New York musicians - Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Both musicians are songwriters, vocalists and talented multi-instrumentalists.

The album clocks in at two seconds under 38 minutes with seven tracks featuring their single release Hey Nineteen and for me the best track of the album Babylon Sisters.

All in all this is a very good listen. Jazz critics took notice of this album giving it rave reviews in Downbeat Magazine, America's jazz journal.

AllMusic rating - 4/5

[Music Head]

nice review SteveO
keep 'em comin'

[CRAZY-HORSE]

yes... 10/10 for effort SteveO....well done mate!

Steely Dan are an act that rarely gets a mention here on MD, and they deserve more than that

[mtthwibrahim]

Excitable Boy-Warren Zevon

An under-appreciated genius. I find it funny how an album oozing with as much appeal as this one gets completely ignored but then albums like "The Wall" or "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" or "Never Mind the Bollocks", which are all just so unlikeable and hard to bear, get high critical honors. If your looking for a smart, likeable rock that doesn't take itself to seriously and has a great selection of songs, give this a listen

[bjgeiger]

Warren Zevon is one of the most under rated song writers of the past 30 years.

[SteveO]

Thanks Crazy and MH !!!! I'll try to get more reviews as sparse as they seem done in the future !!!!!,,,,and yes Steely Dan were or are???? a premiere band(duo). IMHO !!!

yes... 10/10 for effort SteveO....well done mate!

Steely Dan are an act that rarely gets a mention here on MD, and they deserve more than that

[SteveO]

HUNTERS & COLLECTORS - FATE (1988)




This album entitled Fate by the Australian rock group Hunters & Collectors is a re-release of the original Australian/European album "What's a Few Men" from 1987. Why the different versions exist for different continents I have no idea...as far as I can see even the track list and album covers are different.

Getting back to H&C, their songwriter and lead vocalist/guitarist Mark Seymour has crafted an excellent straight ahead rock album with memorable melodic songs and a crystal clear sound quality (on vinyl). Seymour has a very good singing voice which enriches this album. The use of a brass section also enhances the album.

I like all of the songs here, with the highlights being " Back on the Breadline", "What's a Few Men" and "Breakneck Road". This is a very enjoyable album to listen to for a quick pick-me-up !

All Music rating - 4/5

[SteveO]

Good on you, Mr. Tiggi !!! Lucinda has been a life long favorite of mine !!!!!Check out her "West" album !!!

Holiday i-Pod listening.

Country & Blues-tinged Rock from classy American vocalist.


AllMusic 4/5 stars.

[SteveO]

I can honestly say that this album is a masterpiece !!!! So far ahead of its' time !!!!!

Holiday i-Pod listening.

One of three more challenging albums that went with me to Turkey.

I'm slowly getting more familiar with this one, and it's paying rewards.


AllMusic 5/5 stars.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

HUNTERS & COLLECTORS - FATE (1988)




This album entitled Fate by the Australian rock group Hunters & Collectors is a re-release of the original Australian/European album "What's a Few Men" from 1987. Why the different versions exist for different continents I have no idea...as far as I can see even the track list and album covers are different.

Getting back to H&C, their songwriter and lead vocalist/guitarist Mark Seymour has crafted an excellent straight ahead rock album with memorable melodic songs and a crystal clear sound quality (on vinyl). Seymour has a very good singing voice which enriches this album. The use of a brass section also enhances the album.

I like all of the songs here, with the highlights being " Back on the Breadline", "What's a Few Men" and "Breakneck Road". This is a very enjoyable album to listen to for a quick pick-me-up !

All Music rating - 4/5

glad to see you have a H&C album SteveO!!!!!.....

Mark Seymour still travels the country on solo tours every once in a while, the last time i saw him was when he was support act for Elvis Costello several years ago,
he did his set totally acoustic, just him and an acoustic guitar...it was fabulous!.
the H & C were always on the outer fringes here and never really made it as a huge record selling band, guess they were just a bit too alternative back in the day, but they have gained a hell of a lot of respect over the last couple of decades.