What are you listening to? March 2024

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Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic (1974)

Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic - album cover
 
Billie Joe Becoat - Reflections From A Cracked Mirror (1969)

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Vinyl Spin of the Day.

Over at AMG, the redoubtable Richie Unterberger explains:

"Becoat made a little-known 1969 folk-rock album for Fantasy that leaned closer to folk than rock, although it did use a light rhythm section. Reflections From a Cracked Mirror was an apt title considering the rather scrambled, earnest reflections of the singer/songwriter. His vocal delivery is like a cross between Van Morrison and Dino Valenti, as odd as that combination might sound. Although there are full-band arrangements, the impression is that of a folky troubadour being dragged into the modern era, with bluesy and reasonably tuneful, well-sung compositions whose lyrics are considerably more downcast than the relatively upbeat music. The songs are those of a man approaching the edge, hounded by some internal demons and an external society with which he's finding hard to cope. It wouldn't have been at all surprising to come across him a few years later, scraping a living on the street as a busker, unable to adjust to any other job, after his album sold virtually nothing."

I enjoyed it a lot, reminding me of Richie Havens without all the histrionics.
 
Various Artists - The Song Is...Harold Arlen (rec. 1934-44, ASV Living Era comp. 1995)

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This volume in ASV's "The Song Is..." series spotlights Harold Arlen (1905-1986, ne Hyman Arluck). The son of a cantor, Harold took a decidedly secular approach to music, starting at age 15 as a singer on steam boats and in night clubs. Working with a series of partners that included Richard Arlen and Johnny Mercer, Harold soon topped the charts with his work for Broadway and film. This collection gathers 25 versions of his songs by artists from Cliff "Jiminy Cricket" Edwards to Judy Garland to Glenn Miller. There are even two vocals by Arlen himself.
 
Ojai Sam said:
Various Artists - The Song Is...Harold Arlen (rec. 1934-44, ASV Living Era comp. 1995)

NzYtNzk1My5qcGVn.jpeg


This volume in ASV's "The Song Is..." series spotlights Harold Arlen (1905-1986, ne Hyman Arluck). The son of a cantor, Harold took a decidedly secular approach to music, starting at age 15 as a singer on steam boats and in night clubs. Working with a series of partners that included Richard Arlen and Johnny Mercer, Harold soon topped the charts with his work for Broadway and film. This collection gathers 25 versions of his songs by artists from Cliff "Jiminy Cricket" Edwards to Judy Garland to Glenn Miller. There are even two vocals by Arlen himself.
Click to expand...
He wrote all of those songs everyone knows? Yet, nobody (ok......I) don't now his name? Impressive!
 
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