YOU
One of my fave George Harrison singles was released 40 years ago this week. Thanks to all of you who have helped me get my film shown this week in Monterey. Continue reading “”
Category: Vinyl / Tunes Blog
BORN TO RUN TURNS 40
The cover of Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 album Born to Run is one of rock music’s most iconic images. It was made by Eric Meola, who reportedly shot 900 frames with his Nikon during a three-hour photo session. Meola’s image shows Springsteen holding a Fender Telecaster and leaning against the late saxophonist Clarence Clemons.
Continue reading “”
THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS
Released 40 years ago, this folk/jazz album by singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell remains intriguing.
“Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow”, “Shades of Scarlett Conquering”, and “Harry’s House / Centerpiece” continue to be some of my favorites. Eclectic for sure, and not for everyone – just the way I like it.
U.S. original LPs sound great, as do the 180 gram reissues.
Get well soon, Joni. Happy 90th Mom!
ON THE ROAD TO HWY 61 REVISITED
When Bob Dylan was growing up in the 1950s, Highway 61 stretched from Duluth, Minnesota (his birthplace) down to St. Louis, through Memphis, into the Mississippi Delta, and eventually ending in New Orleans. Along the way, the route passed the home towns of influential musicians like Muddy Waters, Son House, Elvis Presley, and Charley Patton. Blues legend Robert Johnson allegedly sold his soul to the devil for mastery of the blues. The location? Where Route 61 (now known as the “Blues Highway”) crosses Route 49 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Continue reading “”
BURMESTER AND PORSCHE
German based Burmester offers a “High-End Surround-Sound-System” for the ultimate high-end music experience in the latest Porsches. Sixteen separate amplifier channels totaling 1000 watts distribute audio for up to sixteen loudspeakers. Included is an active subwoofer with integrated 300-watt-amplifier. Continue reading “”
CHET
“Chet is an album by jazz trumpeter Chet Baker featuring performances by Baker with Herbie Mann, Pepper Adams, Bill Evans, Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers, and Connie Kay recorded in December 1958 and January 1959 and released on the Riverside label.” -From Wikipedia
LOOKING FORWARD
2015 is sure to be an interesting year. The Porsche community has a lot to look forward to with Rennsport Reunion V scheduled for the fall in Monterey. Held every four years, it is a must see event for any car enthusiast. I will be producing a documentary film on Roger Grago to debut there, and I’ll be revisiting Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats for a future book. Also, there are some amazing editorial stories to come as well – Pre-A 356s, early 911 racing cars, an iconic 914-6, and many others.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
LAYLA AND DUANE ALLMAN
A certifiable all-time classic, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is a blues-rock album by the pseudo-group “Derek and the Dominos”. It is best known for its eponymous title track, “Layla,” inspired by Eric Clapton’s infatuation with Patti Boyd (then George Harrison’s wife). It seems the perfect winter listen for the end of this year. Continue reading “”
R.I.P. Ian McLagan and Bobby Keyes
Two of the best sidemen for Faces and The Rolling Stones passed away in the last two days. Bobby Keyes, saxophonist, was 70 and Ian McLagan, keyboardist, was 69. Continue reading “”
REMEMBERING JACK BRUCE AND CREAM
Jack Bruce passed away today at age 71. He was a founding member of the influential British psychedelic power rock trio Cream – along with Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton. In the two short years they played together (1966-1968), Bruce sang and co-wrote most of Cream’s singles, including the hits “Sunshine of Your Love”, “White Room”, and “I Feel Free”. Many consider him one of the greatest bass players of all time. Cream was the world’s first successful supergroup – a group that foreshadowed Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
(Photographer: Unknown)
THE BEATLES IN MONO VINYL BOX DONE RIGHT
Apparently all the complaints from last year about The Beatles stereo LP box pressings got through to EMI. Optimal and analog tapes were enlisted for this new Mono box. Even Michael Fremer (and a respected mastering engineer) are saying good things about it on Analog Planet. I’m buying this John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr set on wax… Yeah, I’m a Beatles completist. Continue reading “”
NEW LED ZEPPELIN VINYL REISSUES
The long awaited Led Zep LPs are on record store shelves sealed in cellophane or spinning on young listeners USB turntables now.
The up side is they’re not scratchy or noisy, the down side is they don’t sound as good as originals or the Classic vinyl reissues from a few years ago. Continue reading “”
NOTHING IS EVERYTHING
Who Came First was a 1972 release created by Pete Townshend, songwriter and guitarist of the rock group The Who. It included demos from the aborted album Lifehouse, some of which appeared on the chart busting Who’s Next. These tracks were recorded at Townshend’s home studio and payed tribute to his avatar, Meher Baba. Continue reading “”
THE BEATLES – AGAIN
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the The Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. I remember it distinctly, even though I was just a kid, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. My favorite Beatle? George. Continue reading “”
FROM COURT AND SPARK TO NIGHT RIDE HOME
Released 40 years ago this month, Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark was her first album in almost two years.
Mitchell infused her singer-songwriter folk-rock music with jazz inflections played by session musicians. The result was her most successful commercial effort ever. The album reached No. 2 in the United States in 1974 and eventually sold over 2 million copies. The recent WB 180 gram LP is a sublime reissue. Continue reading “”
NEVER BE SWALLOWED BY THE CRACKS
David & David was a mid-80s L.A. band that put out one album, Boomtown. It happened to be great. Here’s a catchy pop tune they composed that was arguably as good as anything done at the time. Continue reading “”