Category Archives: music

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Fire and Rain: the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor and the lost story of 1970

From  Ellen Druda
Author:  David Browne
Fire and Rain: the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor and the lost story of 1970
1970 was a pivotal year for me too, so I was really looking forward to enjoying this behind –the-scenes look at some of my favorite musicians from that time.   Browne does a good job of interweaving the groups’ careers and personal lives, how they intersected and splintered, and rose and fell.  Despite my affection for the subject matter and time period, I found the writing a bit dry. Not much fire and rain, but an interesting read if you remember the year.

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The Beatles [sound recording CD] : the rock biographies : the world’s greatest music performed by top musicians

From Jackie Cantwell
Author:  various performers
The Beatles [sound recording CD] : the rock biographies : the world’s greatest music performed by top musicians
One has to have audacity to produce an album of cover versions of the Beatles music. Musicians as diverse as Little River Band and Molly Hatchet to Dweezil Zappa and Air Supply tried to bring something new or different to classic Beatles tunes. I think they all failed miserably with the exception of Jackson Browne who brings an ethereal and lilting voice to the song ”Across the Universe”. Ordinarily I’m floored by the talents of Fee Waybill of The Tubes, but his version of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” was dull and uninspired. Some of these songs are even painful to listen to. Leave me with my memories of the Beatles!

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Up close [sound recording]

From Chris Garland
author: Johnson, Eric
Up close [sound recording]
 Texas guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson returns with his latest album, Up Close. If you are fan of guitar music, this album delivers. The album has a more spontaneous feel than previous Johnson efforts which tend to strive for sonic perfection. Thematically the album is pop/rock with a touch of blues and country, a departure for Johnson since on past albums he delves into all musical genres. Guests include Steve Miller on the blues classic “Texas” where Johnson and Jimmie Vaughn trade solos. Another standout track is the autobiographical tune “Austin” where Johnny Lang takes the lead vocal. Eric shines on the pop instrumental “Gem” and adds one of his greatest guitar solos to the song “Arithmetic”. The album concludes with Johnson paying tribute to his father on the tune “Your Book” where Sonny Landreth add his poignant slide guitar. Up Close is a terrific disc that stands up well to the artist’s best work.

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Carolina Christmas [sound recording]

From Jackie Cantwell
Carolina Christmas [sound recording] / The Marshall Tucker Band     
You may know the Marshall Tucker Band from their 70’s hits such as “Heard it in a Love Song” and ”Fire on the Mountain.” They’re known for Southern rock, with R&B, blues and country influences.  You probably don’t know they recorded a Christmas album.  There are standards such as “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells” sung by Chris Hicks and Doug Gray respectively. On “Christmas in Carolina,” there’s a fantastic saxophone solo by David Muse.  A beautiful rendition of “I’ll be home for Christmas” is sung by Gabrielle Gray Leopard (Doug’s daughter), with acoustic guitar by Clay Cook (Doug’s nephew). “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” features a saxophone solo by Jerry Eubanks. “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” is a jazzed up version with lead vocals by Clay Cook. “Jingle Bells” features lead vocals by Doug Gray (who also did the arrangement) and a chorus of family members. Nothing says a redneck Christmas like time in the county lockup.  And in this case, it’s Spartanburg, SC for a DWI on the track “Christmas in Custody,” written and sung by Barry “B.B.” Borden. Borden also plays drums on this track. (You kind of have to wonder who the intended audience was for this disc).  There is a bluesy version of “Merry Christmas Baby” with lead guitar by Stuart Swanlund. “Snowfall in Georgia” features David Muse on flute, which reminds me of all the classic tunes by this band. “Leave the Christmas Lights On” has a country feel, owing to the lead vocals of Doug Gray and Chris Hicks. The album concludes with a sober reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Doug Gray. There are also some well-researched liner notes by Barry Alfonso. Although it’s a bit of a motley collection, I’ll give it an A- for putting me in the Christmas mood in June!

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A Life

From Ellen Druda
author: Richards, Keith
Life [sound recording]
While Keith may just think it’s “a life” like any other musician’s, clearly his experiences have been way over the top.  His candid recollections about drugs and other bad behavior while being a huge celebrity, his brushes with death, and his narrow escapes from legal entrapments make this memoir seem
almost fictional in the telling.  The audiobook version is told in three different voices (Johnny Depp & Joe Hurley, and Keith himself) and seem to switch for no logical reason, making jarring transitions.  While I longed for more Rolling Stones backstory and gossip and less details about the different kinds of smack available to a rocker, Richards comes across as a likeable and decent guy.

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Musical Mysteries: From Mozart to John Lennon

From Edna Susman
author: Borowitz, Albert
Musical Mysteries: From Mozart to John Lennon
Author Albert Borowitz, a graduate of Harvard and a true crime historian, presents us with a fascinating interplay between crime and music.  The book is divided into two parts: the first explores eight famous crimes and crime legends including the alleged killing of Mozart by Antonio Salieri and the murder of John Lennon by Mark Chapman. The second part examines crimes within various musical settings including Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.  True crime aficionados as well as students of music history will enjoy this book.

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Fantasy [sound recording] : a night at the opera.

From Edna Susman
author: Pahud, Emmanuel
Fantasy [sound recording] : a night at the opera
This new classical CD is sure to please opera lovers, flutists as well as classical music lovers. Emmanuel Pahud, the award winning French-Swiss flutist, is joined by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin and assisted by flutist Juliette Hurel in a wonderful collection of well-known operatic themes that have been  transcribed for solo flute and orchestra.  With his exceptional tone and technique, Pahud presents fantasies on themes from Rigoletto, Der Freischutz by Weber, Bizet’s Carmen, Gluck’s Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orfeo and Euridice, Mozart’s Magic Flute and more.

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Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions

From Edna Susman
author: Horowitz, Marc Eden
Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions
Published 8 years after the first edition, this expanded edition includes a new chapter discussing Sondheim’s entire career. It presents an updated song listing and discography which include all works composed and recorded since the previous edition. In the interviews in this edition, Sondheim discusses the art of musical composition, lyric writing, the process of musical theater and his own thoughts regarding his work. An interesting section was added to this edition entitled: “Songs I Wish I’d Written (At Least in Part)” which Sondheim expounded on at a Library of Congress concert in honor of his 70th birthday in 2000.

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Just Kids

From Ellen Druda
author: Smith, Patti
 Just Kids
Patti Smith’s evocative memoir recounts her early days in New York City and her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe. This National Book Award winning work is an accessible, easy read, yet full of imagery that stirs the imagination.  From her childhood in New Jersey, we follow her across the river to a bohemian city life in the psychedelic 60′s, mingling with soon- to- be famous painters, writers, and musicians.  This book will especially appeal to baby-boomers and music fans.