Zeeba Neighba
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The Black Keys - Thickfreakness (2003)
What are you listening to? May 2024
- Thread starter Unsomnambulist
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I really like it. Songs like Aire have a strong Jazzy feel to them. After dabbling with their hits and an album or two, I went all-in on the Chicago experience a couple of years ago and got a cheap box set of their first ten albums. Actually through XI because one release was a greatest hits album. I really enjoy their sound, mixing so many different genres and bending them to a unique band vision. From my perspective, it also helps that every album has a couple (or even several) instrumental songs, which allows the band to get more jazzy than straight ahead rock bands. And with me, it never hurts to have a lot of horns in a band!
It probably also helps that Chicago was one of the rock/pop bands I really enjoyed in my early teens. I think I liked every radio single I heard. I'd like to get the box set with their next ten albums, but apparently it had a low production run (or has high demand) and is crazy expensive right now.
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Ojai Sam
Staff member
Thanks a lot, Randy. This is really helpful. I'm in the midst of reacquiring their early albums on vinyl. I was going to stop at VI but will tack this one on.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Russell Sherman - Liszt: Transcendental Etudes (Complete) (1976)
Vinyl Spin of the Day.
I ran across this gem quite by accident. "1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die" listed Earl Wild's electrifying collection of Liszt's small piano pieces The Demonic Liszt which I will soon post. The CD they recommend is a Vanguard Classics twofer CD pairing Wild's album with this one. I couldn't locate the CD but found the original vinyl easily.
Russell Sherman (1930-2023) is undeservedly obscure. In a long and varied career, he served as performer, teacher and writer who undertook a "lifelong battle to reconstitute Liszt as a serious composer". He certainly succeeded with this delightful collection. Liszt was a masterful technician whose works are fiendishly challenging to realize. The twelve "Transcendental Etudes" are especially hard. The liner notes capture the essence of this remarkable performance perfectly:
I've played this album three times in the last month and each time found a new facet of this complex work to enjoy. Sherman's achievement here represents a triumph of both sparkling technique and penetrating intellect.
Vinyl Spin of the Day.
I ran across this gem quite by accident. "1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die" listed Earl Wild's electrifying collection of Liszt's small piano pieces The Demonic Liszt which I will soon post. The CD they recommend is a Vanguard Classics twofer CD pairing Wild's album with this one. I couldn't locate the CD but found the original vinyl easily.
Russell Sherman (1930-2023) is undeservedly obscure. In a long and varied career, he served as performer, teacher and writer who undertook a "lifelong battle to reconstitute Liszt as a serious composer". He certainly succeeded with this delightful collection. Liszt was a masterful technician whose works are fiendishly challenging to realize. The twelve "Transcendental Etudes" are especially hard. The liner notes capture the essence of this remarkable performance perfectly:
I've played this album three times in the last month and each time found a new facet of this complex work to enjoy. Sherman's achievement here represents a triumph of both sparkling technique and penetrating intellect.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Red Buttons, Art Carney. Abe Burrows. Molly Goldberg, Robert Q. Lewis – Fun House! (1959)
Vinyl Spin of the Day #2.
This budget release gathers ten hard-to-find sides by five fine comics who (other than Art Carney) are sadly unknown today. Not to be confused with this guy, of course.
Vinyl Spin of the Day #2.
This budget release gathers ten hard-to-find sides by five fine comics who (other than Art Carney) are sadly unknown today. Not to be confused with this guy, of course.
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
Shellac - To All Trains (2024)
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Maria Cole - A Girl They Call Maria (Kapp 10" 1954)
Vinyl Spin of the Day #3.
Nat's wife and Natalie's mom had a singing career long before she met Nat at Club Zanzibar. She performed with the bands of Benny Carter, Count Basie and Duke Ellington as Marie Ellington. This excellent album, her debut, showcases her warm, intimate and occasionally wistful voice with a sympathetic small jazz group. Unfortunately she recorded very little over the years. This one is hard to find but eventually I found a gorgeous copy in Japan.
Vinyl Spin of the Day #3.
Nat's wife and Natalie's mom had a singing career long before she met Nat at Club Zanzibar. She performed with the bands of Benny Carter, Count Basie and Duke Ellington as Marie Ellington. This excellent album, her debut, showcases her warm, intimate and occasionally wistful voice with a sympathetic small jazz group. Unfortunately she recorded very little over the years. This one is hard to find but eventually I found a gorgeous copy in Japan.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Ingrid Haebler - Mozart: Complete Variations For Piano (1976)
Viennese Ingrid Haebler (1926? - 2023) was considered one of the foremost interpreters of Mozart. In1990, one critic said "in a concert world rife with pianists of dazzling technique who seemed forced by competition and cavernous concert halls to demonstrate their mettle at every turn, the poise and simplicity of Ms. Haebler’s Mozart is a rare treat.” This is even more true today when technical virtuousity and the ability to look good in an off-the-shoulder gown seem to be the most important criteria for success. At least, if you are female.
www.nytimes.com
Viennese Ingrid Haebler (1926? - 2023) was considered one of the foremost interpreters of Mozart. In1990, one critic said "in a concert world rife with pianists of dazzling technique who seemed forced by competition and cavernous concert halls to demonstrate their mettle at every turn, the poise and simplicity of Ms. Haebler’s Mozart is a rare treat.” This is even more true today when technical virtuousity and the ability to look good in an off-the-shoulder gown seem to be the most important criteria for success. At least, if you are female.
Ingrid Haebler, Pianist Known for Her Mastery of Mozart, Is Dead (Published 2023)
In concerts and on dozens of recordings, she applied a delicate touch that critics said set her apart from other performers.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Richard Strauss - Elektra (Staatskapelle Dresden / Karl Böhm et al)
Ojai Sam
Staff member
The Buckaroos - America's Most Wanted Band (1967)
Buck used his own band both on the road and in the studio, an unusual arrangement at the time. Even more remarkable, The Buckaroos started releasing their own albums on Capitol right along side those of the boss man. This was their first one and it demonstrates the high level of talent Buck had assembled, led by the "good right arm" of Don Rich on lead Telecaster and young steel guitarist Tom Brumley.
Buck used his own band both on the road and in the studio, an unusual arrangement at the time. Even more remarkable, The Buckaroos started releasing their own albums on Capitol right along side those of the boss man. This was their first one and it demonstrates the high level of talent Buck had assembled, led by the "good right arm" of Don Rich on lead Telecaster and young steel guitarist Tom Brumley.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Earl Wild - The D(a)emonic Liszt (1968)
Here's the other outstanding Liszt piano record I promised you. Earl Wild (1915-2010) was a child prodigy who just kept growing artistically throughout his long life. He was chosen by Herbert Hoover (age age 15!) and five other presidents to perform at the White House and by George Gershwin to record the first complete version of "Rhapsody In Blue". He was also the first pianist to perform on television and the first to stream a concert on the Internet. Earl worked comfortably in both jazz and classical as a prolific performer, recording artist, composer and transcriber.
Wild is as Wild does, and these performances of Liszt piano pieces combine fire and steel to bring out the raw emotion that lies at their heart. This album has stayed in print in one form or another for decades, although it did get a major image makeover and a slight title adjustment to reflect the changing times.
Here's the other outstanding Liszt piano record I promised you. Earl Wild (1915-2010) was a child prodigy who just kept growing artistically throughout his long life. He was chosen by Herbert Hoover (age age 15!) and five other presidents to perform at the White House and by George Gershwin to record the first complete version of "Rhapsody In Blue". He was also the first pianist to perform on television and the first to stream a concert on the Internet. Earl worked comfortably in both jazz and classical as a prolific performer, recording artist, composer and transcriber.
Wild is as Wild does, and these performances of Liszt piano pieces combine fire and steel to bring out the raw emotion that lies at their heart. This album has stayed in print in one form or another for decades, although it did get a major image makeover and a slight title adjustment to reflect the changing times.
Nickyboy
Staff member
I'm here for the Buckarette.Buck Owens & His Buckaroos - Your Tender Loving Care (1967)
axolotl
Nunquam non paratus
I am not too sure. Judging by the eyes, she's not even alive.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
She seems to be very discreet. :nunja:
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
The Janitors - An Error Has Occurred (2024)
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
The Janitors - Horn Ur Marken (2017)
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Ned Washington & Leigh Harline - Pinocchio (soundtrack 1956)
Vinyl Spin of the Day.
Walt Disney was that rare genius who was able to see both the forest and the trees. The music for his animated classics doesn't draw attention to itself. But this soundtrack is itself an outstanding work of art. The familiar songs are of course brilliant, but Leigh Harline's instrumental interludes are startling in their freshness and creativity when heard apart from the film.
Vinyl Spin of the Day.
Walt Disney was that rare genius who was able to see both the forest and the trees. The music for his animated classics doesn't draw attention to itself. But this soundtrack is itself an outstanding work of art. The familiar songs are of course brilliant, but Leigh Harline's instrumental interludes are startling in their freshness and creativity when heard apart from the film.
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