TG wrote:And now for my insanely late review. All apologies and all that. I've tried twice to get this done and both times got inadvertently logged off the site and lost everything I'd written. And such prose! Alas, it will have to live on in my memory.
You were my first mixee for Mix Club and I'm glad you liked most of it. Choosing tracks for people you don't know is a challenge. Everything pretty much comes from my cd collection as I rarely download any music.
1) What would happen if War made a record with Terry Kath era Chicago? I don't have a clue but I bet it would sound like this. It has an almost Mardi Gras Indian feel to it. Think of the Wild Magnolias. It does break down into a lengthy and rocking solo section with heavier riffing and mucho soloing before a brief reprise of the verse chorus section from the front. I'm very curious about who this might be.
This is the late 60's/70's funk band Mandrill with "Fencewalk." They never made it very big but you probably know the name.
2) The first of several tracks here where I can (I'm pretty sure) name the artist but don't know the song. This pretty much has to be Buddy Guy. What an incredible guitarist.It's no wonder he wielded the influence he did on Hendrix and others in the 60s. This man can really play. At least that's what I'd say if this really is Buddy Guy.
This is indeed Buddy Guy with "She's Out There Somewhere." It's probably my favorite Buddy Guy track.
3) One of my favorite songs ever. The Flying Burrito Brothers' Hot Burrito #1. A beautiful and beautifully sung track that has gotten me through some tough times. A fine choice.
One of my favorites too.
4) Again, I'm sure this has to be Lee Dorsey but I don't know this track. It has a more 70s funk thang going on than his early hits and I'd guess that there is more than one of the Meters playing on this track. It just goes to show you that you can never own too many Lee Dorsey records.
It is Lee Dorsey with "When The Bills Paid." Written by Allen Toussaint and from Dorsey's Tourssaint produced 1970 album Yes We Can. The Meters are the musicians on the track/album.
5) I recognized Carlos Santana's tone almost immediately on this instrumental medley. I don't recognize much of this but I know he breaks into George Benson's Breezin' at one point. This one doesn't really do much for me.
It is Santana from their live album Sacred Fire: Live In South America. Track is "Samba Pa Ti." I second guessed myself on this choice and rightfully so it turns out.
6) A few years ago I would have quickly dismissed this sort of thing but I've found myself getting more into the likes of Townes Van Zandt and Jimmie Dale Gilmore and the like. This is one such troubadour with an acoustic guitar and voice in a small room and while it's not something I'd put on Friday night before leaving for a party it would sound just fine on a Sunday morning as accompaniment to The NY Times crossword and several cups of coffee. It's the small things as I get older.
Your ear is hard to fool. It is TVZ with "The Quicksilver Daydreams Of Maria." I don't like everything he did but this is a favorite. Every time I hear this I'm whistling the simple melody for the rest of the day.
7) Here we go again. It's gotta be John Lee Hooker but I don't know the song. He had more power with just an acoustic guitar than many bands with Marshall stacks could muster in an entire tour. This is tremendous. And I need more John Lee Hooker in the racks.
Right again, it's John Lee with "Hobo Blues." One of my favorite Blues track.
8) This is an amazing find. I know the song (Temptation's 'Bout To Get Me) from the Knight Brothers original. I listened to this track a great many times before the penny dropped - this is The Rascals! One of my favorite bands from my youth and a band I just saw live a few weeks back and fell in love with all over again. I know the singles and some album tracks but not this. Thanks so much to the mixer for hipping me to this version. It's an instant favorite.
You're right, it's the Rascals off their album See. I am also a big Rascals fans and for all the great cuts they did this is one of their best IMO. Great singing, great arrangement, great song!
9) Lucinda Williams doing Robert Johnson's Ramblin' On My Mind. I know this from the studio version.This is a live version and it is smokin' hot. Lucinda is an amazing talent.
Right again, it's Lucinda from a live date in 1981. William Hyatt on guitar and Champ Hood on fiddle playing with her.
10) Cheesy fuzz guitar and a chick singer doing ESL vocals. I don't really like this but I have to admit that the
hook -
Send me a postcard, darling
Send me a postcard, now
gets stuck in my head every time I hear this. Shocking Blue, maybe?
What an ear, yes it's Shocking Blue. This was a hit in the Netherlands but not the U.S.
11) One of my favorite rock hits from the past decade or so - Jet doing Are You Gonna Be My Girl? A great riff, snarly vocals and a hook that you can beat with a stick and it still comes out hummable. What's not to love?
Thought you might have missed this one. I love it too.
12) Is this Gene Pitney? A very operatic, Orbison-esque big, big ballad. I know and mostly love Pitney's hits but don't know this. It's really grown on me with each listen. At least that's what I'd say if this were Gene Pitney.
It is Gene. I am a Gene Pitney fanboy and have all his 60's output. He didn't really make any great albums but there are a lot of good tracks scattered among them.
13) Yeah, baby. Smokey understands. Is this Motown's greatest artist? You could make that argument and win. More Love is an astonishing lyric. And the track - it's worth the price of admission just to hear the string arrangement. I went on a Smokey & the Miracles binge several Fridays ago and it sounded soooo good. Smokey understands...
Right again, of course. This was one of their more minor hits but a really good one.
14) Live Kinks from their 80 stadium days. I love this song (Victoria) but would prefer the studio version to this.
I'm the reverse, I like this version better.
15) The opening riff put me in mind of Thelonius Monk but it soon takes a turn to one of the craziest piano workouts I've ever heard. A little Boogie Woogie, a little barrelhouse and very jazzy at all times. The playing is so fast and so precise that it almost makes me dizzy. Who is this?
This is Art Tatum with "Tiger Rag." I've also got almost every note Tatum played. Just one of the best pianists ever, Jazz or otherwise. Listening to Tatum will humble any piano player.
16) Some sort of pre Prog Beatles damaged string laden pop. It's very pretty and well produced and I feel like I probably own this but can't place it. The song is a bit slight so it doesn't completely hold me but I'm curious to know if I own this and have forgotten it.
This is "Sing Little Bird Sing" by the Left Banke. I read about your attachment to "Walk Away Renee" in the Desert Island Discs and wanted to include one of their cuts. They have 8 or 10 really good songs.
17) A rocked up Peter Gunn theme. Seems like it might be a Brian Setzer solo jam or something. Probably not him but it is an interesting take.
This is Roy Buchanan, a name I'm sure you know. Roy always makes the underrated guitarist lists.
18) And speaking of The Meters! What a great, great band. At nearly eleven minutes long it gives everyone a chance to stretch out and play. And I have to say that Leo Nocentelli is one under rated guitar player. Everything they do seems so seamless and they make it sound so easy. It sure ain't easy to be this funky or this tight. They have few equals.
The Meters with "It Ain't No Use." It's one of my favorite Meters songs. I'm not usually a fan of long songs but this one is an exception.
Thanks for the kind review for this first timer. I am not surprised you figured out so many voices. As a first time mixer I was probably trying to please and entertain you more than challenge you. I should have cut out a couple and made it shorter too. It was a lot of fun to make.
Tracklist-
1. Fencewalk - Mandrill
2. She's Out There Somewhere - Buddy Guy
3. Hot Burrito No. 1 - The Flying Burrito Brothers
4. When The Bills Paid - Lee Dorsey
5. Samba Pa Ti - Santana
6. The Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria - Townes Van Zandt
7. Hobo Blues - John Lee Hooker
8. Temptation's Bout To Get Me - The Rascals
9. Ramblin' On My Mind - Lucinda Williams
10. Send Me A Postcard - Shocking Blue
11. Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
12. I'm Gonna Be Strong - Gene Pitney
13. More Love - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
14. Victoria - The Kinks
15. Tiger Rag - Art Tatum
16. Sing Little Bird Sing - The Left Banke
17. Peter Gunn - Roy Buchanan
18. It Ain't No Use - The Meters