Monday, December 21, 2009

Blue Yule: Christmas Blues and R&B Classics (1991)












Blue Yule: Christmas Blues and R&B Classics
Various Artists
Blues
1991


1 Santa's Messin' with the Kid 03:22
2 Merry Christmas 02:45
3 Christmas Blues 02:35
4 Christmas Time Blues 03:04
5 Christmas Day 02:14
6 Merry Christmas, Baby 03:02
7 Please Come Home for Christmas 02:54
8 Jingle Bell Boogie 02:40
9 Christmas Time-Pt. 1 03:40
10 Santa Claus, Santa Claus 02:19
11 Santa Claus 03:21
12 Merry Christmas Darling 02:29
13 Blues for Christmas 02:40
14 Happy New Year 02:43
15 Christmas Holidays [#] 03:08
16 Santa Claus Baby 03:28
17 I Want My Baby for Christmas 02:31
18 I'll Be Home for Christmas 03:14

Saturday, December 19, 2009

VA - Motown Christmas [1999]


















1. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - The Jackson 5
2. What Christmas Means To Me - Stevie Wonder
3. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Temptations
4. My Favorite Things - Diana Ross & The Supremes
5. Deck The Halls/Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabelle - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
6. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Jackson 5
7. Ave Maria - Stevie Wonder
8. Silent Night - The Temptations
9. Little Christmas Tree - Michael Jackson
10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
11. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) - The Jackson 5
12. Joy To The World - Diana Ross & The Supremes
13. The Little Drummer Boy - The Temptations
14. Silver Bells - Diana Ross & The Supremes
15. Someday At Christmas - Stevie Wonder
16. Frosty The Snowman - The Jackson 5
17. Jingle Bells - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
18. My Christmas Tree - The Temptations
19. White Christmas - Diana Ross & The Supremes
20. One Little Christmas Tree - Stevie Wonder
21. Give Love On Christmas Day - The Jackson 5
22. It's Christmas Time - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
23. Children's Christmas Song - Diana Ross & The Supremes
24. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - The Jackson 5
25. I Want To Come Home For Christmas - Marvin Gaye

Friday, December 18, 2009

B.B. King - A Christmas Celebration of Hope (2001)































Now that Charles Brown is gone, it's up to B.B. King to uphold the blues for Christmas. If this first collection of holiday music is any indication, he deserves his own igloo in the North Pole. Self-produced with his touring band in New Orleans during a spring heat wave, A Christmas Celebration of Hope finds King overcoming both the heat and Yuletide music clichés, turning out an inspired and rollicking album that is lit from within by King's generous spirit and gracious heart. Like others before him, King dipped into the blues and R&B holiday canon, but instead of just recycling well-worn classics, he plucked gems like "Blues Decorations" and "Backdoor Santa" out of obscurity and polished them to a high gloss. When King does cover standards, like "Merry Christmas, Baby" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas," he imbues them with his own earthy personality and sleek, restrained playing. King also includes two originals in this surprise package: "Celebration," which he first released in 1960, and the new instrumental, "Christmas Love." This record not only will make Christmas merrier for the listener, it will also help people suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes, as King has donated the proceeds to the City of Hope, the world-renowned biomedical research and treatment center. --Jaan Uhelszki

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Beatles - Love


Love is a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack remix album of music recorded by The Beatles, released in November 2006. It features music compiled and remixed for the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name. The album was produced by George Martin and his son Giles Martin, who said, "What people will be hearing on the album is a new experience, a way of re-living the whole Beatles musical lifespan in a very condensed period."

The DVD-Audio has longer versions of "Revolution" and "Back in the U.S.S.R.", increasing the total running time by about two minutes. The track listing for both discs is as follows: All tracks written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted (see also: Lennon/McCartney).

1. "Because" – 2:44
2. "Get Back" – 2:05
3. "Glass Onion" – 1:20
4. "Eleanor Rigby" (with "Julia" transition) – 3:05
5. "I Am the Walrus" – 4:28
6. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" – 1:22
7. "Drive My Car"/"The Word"/"What You're Doing" – 1:54
8. "Gnik Nus" – 0:55
9. "Something" (with "Blue Jay Way" transition) (George Harrison) – 3:29
10. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!"/"I Want You (She's So Heavy)"/"Helter Skelter" – 3:22
11. "Help!" – 2:18
12. "Blackbird"/"Yesterday" – 2:31
13. "Strawberry Fields Forever" – 4:31
14. "Within You Without You"/"Tomorrow Never Knows" (Harrison, Lennon/McCartney) – 3:07
15. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" – 4:10
16. "Octopus's Garden" (Richard Starkey) – 3:18
17. "Lady Madonna" – 2:56
18. "Here Comes the Sun" (with "The Inner Light" transition) (Harrison) – 4:18
19. "Come Together"/"Dear Prudence" (with "Cry Baby Cry" transition) – 4:45
20. "Revolution" – 2:14 (CD version) / 3:23 (DVD version)
21. "Back in the U.S.S.R." – 1:53 (CD version) / 2:34 (DVD version)
22. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Harrison) – 3:46
23. "A Day in the Life" – 5:08
24. "Hey Jude" – 3:58
25. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" – 1:22
26. "All You Need Is Love" – 3:39

Track elements

Love contains elements from 130 individual recordings of The Beatles. While a complete list has not been disclosed, highlights of how the elements were mixed have been noted by the press.

* "Because" – An interview in Entertainment Weekly revealed that the opening track includes the bird sounds used in the World Wildlife Fund version of "Across the Universe". In addition, a new recording of a Wood Pigeon was implemented "to make it more British," according to George Martin.
* "Get Back" – As reported, the track utilizes the opening guitar from "A Hard Day's Night", the drum and guitar solos from "The End", percussion from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)", and the orchestral swell from "A Day in the Life".
* "I Want to Hold Your Hand" – An interview with George and Giles Martin stated that elements from both the studio recording and the Hollywood Bowl live performance were mixed to create this version.
* "Drive My Car"/"The Word"/"What You're Doing" – As reported, the medley features the guitar solo from "Taxman" and the horns section from "Savoy Truffle".
* "Gnik Nus" – As suggested in its title, the track contains the vocal arrangement of "Sun King" played in reverse.
* "Something" (with "Blue Jay Way" transition) – The track contains vocal elements from "Nowhere Man".
* "Strawberry Fields Forever" – A review of the album noted that this version builds from an acoustic demo.It includes the orchestral section from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", the solo piano from "In My Life", the brass included in "Penny Lane", the cello and harpsichord arrangement from "Piggies" and the coda of "Hello, Goodbye".
* "Within You Without You"/"Tomorrow Never Knows" – This track combines the vocals from "Within You Without You" with the bass and drums from "Tomorrow Never Knows."
* "Octopus's Garden" – According to USA Today and PopMatters, this track contains the string arrangement from "Good Night", sound effects used in "Yellow Submarine" and elements from "Lovely Rita" and "Helter Skelter".
* "Lady Madonna" – The song includes the guitar riff from "Hey Bulldog", Eric Clapton's guitar solo from "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and Billy Preston's organ solo from "I Want You (She's So Heavy)".
* "Here Comes the Sun" (with "The Inner Light" transition) – As mentioned by Giles Martin, the track includes backing vocals from "Oh! Darling" and a bass line from "I Want You (She's So Heavy)".
* "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" – A BBC article reported that George Martin chose to use an early version of the recording for the album and wrote a new orchestral backing for the track.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood - Live from Madison Square Garden Disc 2


1 After Midnight 04:45
2 Split Decision 06:25
3 Rambling on My Mind 04:01
4 Georgia on My Mind 05:05
5 Little Wing 06:42
6 Voodoo Chile 16:23
7 Can't Find My Way Home 05:33
8 Dear Mr. Fantasy 07:41
9 Cocaine 06:41

Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood - Live from Madison Square Garden Disc 1













1 Had to Cry Today 07:47
2 Low Down 04:10
3 Them Changes 05:10
4 Forever Man 03:33
5 Sleeping in the Ground 04:50
6 Presence of the Lord 05:23
7 Glad 04:13
8 Well All Right 05:35
9 Double Trouble 08:06
10 Pearly Queen 06:10
11 Tell the Truth 06:42
12 No Face, No Name, No Number 04:09

Friday, December 11, 2009

Let It Roll: The Best of George Harrison



Let It Roll: The Best of George Harrison








1 Got My Mind Set on You 03:52
2 Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) 03:35
3 Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) 03:48
4 My Sweet Lord 04:40
5 While My Guitar Gently Weeps [Live][Version] 04:46
6 All Things Must Pass 03:46
7 Any Road 03:52
8 This Is Love 03:47
9 All Those Years Ago 03:46
10 Marwa Blues 03:41
11 What Is Life 04:24
12 Rising Sun 05:27
13 When We Was Fab 03:51
14 Something [Live][Version] 03:10
15 Blow Away 03:59
16 Cheer Down 04:06
17 Here Comes the Sun [Live][Version] 02:54
18 I Don't Want to Do It 02:54
19 Isn't It a Pity 07:07

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III (1970) {1994 Remaster}



Led Zeppelin III is the third album by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded between January and July 1970 and was released on 5 October 1970 by Atlantic Records. Composed largely at a remote cottage in Wales known as Bron-Yr-Aur, this work represented a maturing of the band's music towards a greater emphasis on folk and acoustic sounds. This surprised many fans and critics, and upon its release the album received rather indifferent reviews. Although it is not one of the highest sellers in Led Zeppelin's catalog, Led Zeppelin III is now generally acknowledged as representing an important milestone in the band's history.





Side one

1. "Immigrant Song"
2. "Friends"
3. "Celebration Day"
4. "Since I've Been Loving You"
5. "Out on the Tiles"

Side two

1. "Gallows Pole"
2. "Tangerine"
3. "That's the Way"
4. "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp"
5. "Hats Off to (Roy) Harper"

The Super Super Blues Band: Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf (1967), Checker


















Howlin' Wolf / Muddy Waters & Bo Diddley - The Super Super Blues Band

1 Long Distance Call
2 Medley: Ooh Baby & Wrecking My Love Life
3 Sweet Little Angel
4 I'm a Man
5 Spoonful
6 Diddley Daddy
7 The Red Rooster
8 Goin' Down Slow

Guitar, Vocals - Muddy Waters
Vocals, Guitar - Bo Diddley
Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar - Howlin' Wolf
Producer - Willie Dixon

Recorded: September, 1967 at Ter Mar Studios, Chicago