Whats playing on your system today?


Today I decided to listen to two of my favorite rock guitar heros and one great vocalist. Guitarist' Robin Trower, Ronnie Montrose and vocalist Davey Pattison.

I listened to Trower songs:
Bridge of sighs, Stitch in time, The fool and me, my personal favorite- Too rolling stoned and others.....

Then I pulled out "Gamma". 
I listened to: Razor King, Wish I was and Skin and bone and others.....

Davey Pattison hooked has also up with Michael Shenker also. I really enjoyed my day so far. Anybody else heard anything good?

N

 




nutty

Showing 50 responses by ghosthouse

Street Survivors - strong songs and a great reminder what good musicians the boys in 'Skynryd were.  Sonics from this "Deluxe Edition" on Tidal are very good too.
Glad y'all are liking Robin's stuff with Jack.  You might also like RT's work on Procol Harum's Broken Barricades LP.  (but you probably already know that one).  I'll have to look for his latest release.  Thanks for the heads up, radfrad.

Love Rory too....more than Robin, actually (no offense radfrad). Check out Irish Tour ’74, Nutty. It used to be uploaded to YouTube. If not, it is certainly worth getting although it’s not hi-res or anything but still a great concert movie. Really gives you a sense of who Rory was along with his live show and band. Lou Martin ex-of Killing Floor on keyboard is very good, I thought. I have a bunch of Rory’s stuff on CD. My favorite might be his first solo release after Taste (it’s self-titled).
[Really enjoy talking about the music, by the way.]
N - I was totally clueless about Glenn Hughes.  Had to look him up on Wikipedia and found a LOT of his stuff on the Spot (that's Spotify for all those Tidal-loving haters...hahaha)...anyway - WOW!  The dude has certainly got some pipes!  Volume, range and dynamics...not to mention able to handle quite a few different styles.  I jumped around a bunch on Spotify.  His From the Archives Vol 1- Incense & Peaches he has this sort of Bozz Scaggs R&B kind of sound.  I liked Jackie Got the Call Today.   Then he's got a Christmas album singing traditional carols pretty straight up.  Now I'm listening to Music for the Divine (a bit of Steven Tyler or maybe Lennie Kravitz style-wise) and I also sampled Building the Machine.  Anyway, glad you mentioned him.  Thanks.
Just finished Music for the Divine, all I can say is "Why was I not told about Glenn Hughes way sooner!"
Yup - Glenn Huges has quite a discography.  He's been in the biz since 1969 apparently...so that's nearly 50 years.  

I never followed DP closely.  Only spent time with their In Rock and Machine Head - missed GH's involvement with them. 

tune-man, I will check out Tommy Bolin...don't know his stuff either.   Was thinking Marc Bolan (T.Rex/Bang a Gong) until I looked him up!



Hey there 77...will do.  I'm a fan of James Gang...well at least while Joe Walsh was there.  Don't know them after Thirds.

Hello again 77....
Interesting you mention Bolin w/Cobham. I’m actually, as I write, listening to Bolin on Alphonse Mouzon’s "Mind Transplant" and, earlier today, saved Cobham’s "Spectrum" (all this courtesy of Spotify) - so I will listen to that later.

According to the All Music Guide write up on Mind Transplant, Cobham & Mouzon sort of parallel each other and the AMG reviewer has high praise for both of these recordings which happen to also share Bolin as guitarist.

So far, the sonics on just about everything I’ve listened to with Bolin are pretty attrocious and/or feature lame songwriting (at least to my ear) e.g., Zephyr, Deep Purple’s "Come Taste The Band". This made it hard for me to appreciate his playing. I do need to check out Teaser and Private Eyes. I did not get real far with the James Gang’s Bang. Zephyr’s Sail On is something I’d like to hear more of but it is hard to listen to...being hot and sizzly treble-wise.

You are preaching to the choir re Joe Walsh solo. I have Barnstorm, So What, ...the Player You Get, and But Serouisly Folks. BSF is probably my fav (with the exception of the OVEREXPOSED "Life’s Been Good...". Second Hand Store, Indian Summer, Tomorrow. Gorgeous melodies and great lyrics.

This Mind Transplant has good sound and I can hear the (genius?) in Bolin’s playing...wouldn’t a figured him for the speedy jazz fusion riffing he’s doing. He plays to some pretty complex time signatures too. Several of the "songs" on this MT are a little light on melody and development...being mainly a working over of a short phrase or theme and they do get a little repetitive. BUT I’m also hearing some deeper stuff that will be worth revisiting.

Looking forward to the Cobham. Nice chatting and I apologize to Nutty for monopolizing his thread. [BTW - Mr. N and all...please feel free to post over at The Minority Report (What’s in Your CDP Tonight). I’d welcome your comments there and seeing some of these artists and LPs getting even more exposure].

Slaw - the Russian Wilds and Elephant Stone duly noted. Thanks. Will sample them too.
Thanks, Nutty.  I will have to check out The Best of GHS.

Have listened to and enjoyed "Come On In" (Tone Center/Mascot 2004).  That's by Vital Information which is: 
Steve Smith – drumset and udu
Frank Gambale – guitar
Tom Coster – keyboards and accordion
Baron Browne – bass


Nutty - got the headphones on and GH's "The Way It Is" (Spotify) cranked.  Ohhh YEAH!  Glad somebody is still making music like this.
Hey Nutty - Don't miss John Wetton's band, UK.  Quite an illustrious cast of players.  S/T 1st & Danger Money are good, I think.  Hope you will check them out if you aren't already familiar with 'em.   

re Peter Green...yeah, we got plenty love for PG too.

BTW - adding further to this threads "sub-theme", if you will, of stellar but under-appreciated musicians and bands...how about Leslie West and Felix Pappalardi?  Talking Mountain of course and in that regard I also think Corky Laing is WAY overlooked when it comes to rock drummers.  Check out Track 3 from "Climbing"...Never in My Life.  He is just ferocious.  My 2 cents.  
Slaw - pleased you are checking out Leslie West.  I am not familiar with that one...my bet is the music will be good but I'm anxious the sound quality will be bad and turn you off.  I'm going to see if I can find it on Spotify (or YouTube).  Get a feel for what that ones about.  By the way - I definitely pay attention to your music posts.  Appreciate them.

Found it, Slaw. A 2015 release...sonics seem very good. Haven’t heard enough of it to know what I think of the music yet (does he still have the fire?). Do like his cover of You Are My Sunshine (several covers on this one).  From Track 6 (A Stern Warning) it seems like he still has decent chops.  His voice seems to have held up pretty well  which kind of surprised me.  Don't know how much auto-tune they had to use.  

As far as BAD sound quality, it’s some of the post-Mountain (archival?) releases of so-called Mountain recordings...from concerts etc. that are just plain terrible sound-wise. There oughta be a law (or a good lawsuit)! to prevent that kind of stuff.

I like reading record reviews while listening.  Here's one on Leslie and this Soundcheck release.  Love the fact that the closing track has Jack on vocals (but geez, couldn't they find a good sound guy to capture ANY of their live recordings???)

http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/leslie-west-soundcheck-album-review/
Doesn't disappoint me...not married to any one format.  I listen to CDs, HDCDs, SACDs, Vinyl and on-line/digital sources.  To me, the skill and care with which the actual recording was made seems way more important in terms of sound quality than playback medium.  
radfrad - just catching up with some of the earlier posts in this thread.  The original release of that self-titled Rory Gallagher you are talking about goes back to 1971 and is WELL recorded for sure.  That comes across very much even on CD.  It was his first solo release after his band, Taste, broke up.  Does your version have, "Gypsy Woman"?  That's a great track for bass (bonus on the CD).  Unfortunate that not all his later stuff is up to par sonically (though the music and playing are compelling).  Have you tried his, "Tattoo" yet?  Well worth it for A Million Miles Away alone.  Glad to see another RG fan made.  Wish he were still around. 
Repeating myself rad, but I definitely agree with you on how good that S/T Rory Gallagher sounds. It just makes me wonder why EVERYTHING can’t sound that good. A subject for a whole ’nother thread I suppose....
If you could find the CD used for cheap, might be worth it for that 1 track. Have fun.

Crickelwood Green - 10 Years After

Sounding very good, lo these many more than ten years after.
Trower is coming to our little college town.  Got a ticket.  Small venue.  Hope it is a good show.  

Listening to Glenn Hughes' "Addiction"...harrowing and powerful. 
Nada Surf, "You Know Who You Are".


Chris Stamey, "Euphoria".


Well-crafted pop albums and a nice change up from the intensity of Glenn Hughes.  Just leave either of 'em on repeat.
Hey Marty - 
Maybe not so odd, I've commented before about a "simpatico" in our listening tastes.  Thanks for the tip on Holsapple w/Stamey.  I will check out Mavericks.  Do not know much about that whole "jangle pop" renaissance, but I will throw out one song title and you tell me if it connects for you: "Needles & Pins" from back when it all started...
jangle pop indeed.
Hi Loomis - Always value your input.  Thanks for the info about Holsapple and the dBs.  There is some Holsapple/Stamey on Spotify and also the dBs first two:  Stands for Decibels & Repercussion.  Got the cans on listening to Stands for Decibels right now.
@slaw 
Just got done an hour or so ago listening to Pinback's "Information Retrieved".  Pokey77 turned me on to them some time ago.  Saw elsewhere you had posted listening to Paul Buttefield Blues Band.  That one, his (their) East/West along with Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw are albums I never get tired of.  Not enough talk about Paul Butterfield, IMO.
Bozzio, Levin, Stevens - Situation Dangerous...

here is track 2, Endless.  Be sure to set quality to 720HD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwmpiR16yDc
@slaw 

Excellent.  Happy you liked it.  There's a bunch of it on vinyl at Discogs.  BUT many are re-issues.  I do see some original Elektra and even a mono from a UK seller with 100% rating.  Not cheap!  Good luck.  I have it in vinyl from a local used record shop.  Not mint by any stretch so I bought it on CD too.

https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?sort=condition%2Cdesc&master_id=76233&ev=mb&format=Vin...

Led Zeppelin III - "Since I've Been Loving You". Sounds great and still fresh 47 years down the road.

Spinning Jennies - "Full Volume: The Best of....".  Crank it UP.
Hey @milpai - found that Human Remains on the Spot. Pretty fussy about the country I listen to but his songs are strong. Guy is kinda John Prine & Kris Kristofferson with a little Randy Newman thrown in. Can’t be a bad thing. Do I hear Lucinda Williams doing harmony vocals? Pretty sure I do. Another good thing.

Interesting guy as per the bio in Wikipedia...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Allen_(artist)
Hey arcam88 - A big AMEN to that!  (tried to @ ya but it wasn't working).

@reubent - Don't know Radio Paradise but certainly interested in checking it out.  The Aries Mini provides access to internet radio.  It's unexplored territory for me.  Have to say I do miss the great FM stations from when I lived on the east coast.  Does RP have DJ's...i.e. radio personalities with some reasonably intelligent commentary?  Either way, thanks for the recommendation
@reubent  - "Tuned in" Rado Paradise for a little bit last night.  Immediately hearing some different stuff (e.g., Shearwater) and not the same tired old classic rock.  You are right about Bill G having a great voice for radio.  Thanks again for the recommendation.  Will be revisiting the station soon.
Hi Nutty - Thanks for posting over on the minority report thread.  Turns out I had just come across LA Blues Authority today.  Listened to track 1 but did not get much further in that recording.  Have it saved in Spotify for a future listen.

By the way, saw Robin Trower this week.  It was an OK show.  A small venue with decent sound.  A couple hundred people at most.  He played from around 9 to 10:30 or so.  Love his guitar tone…it sounded as good as on the albums.  He’s no shredder but he does have a trademark style and sound. There’s an economy and good musical sensibility at work when he plays.  I call him Mr. Riffs R Us though I did find myself getting a little bored at points during some of the pieces with longer instrumental breaks.  He played a fair amount from Bridge of Sighs.  But since I don't know his latest stuff or his broader discography all that well, can't tell you much more about what he covered.  Did recognize "For Earth Below" as the final piece of his encore.  Two much younger guys with him on bass and drums.  Bass player doing most of the vocals.  Robin did a few but more a sort of "talking lyric".  You wonder what these guys think backing him…he’s been around so long and seen so much. What do they find to talk about on the bus? (assuming they travel together).  Skinny, little old white dude now but one thing I liked to see is he still seemed to enjoy playing.  Small crowd there loved him.  I think he felt that.      

   
Hi @slaw 
Yup...agree with you about Nine Lives.  Have that (though nothing of his more commercially successful releases like Arc of the Diver or Talking Back to the Night).  Steve Winwood gets a lot of respect from me...a darn good guitarist, not just a Hammond pilot, and one of the most distinctive voices in popular music.  

Here's video of SW at Eric Clapton's 2007 "Crossroads" doing Dear Mr. Fantasy.  If this don't give you chills....you be day-ed son!  The fun really starts at 5 minutes in...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYC61HzmtM
Throughout the day, various early Daryl Hall & John Oates recordings...
Whole Oats (1972)
Abandoned Luncheonette (1973)
War Babies (1974) [This one not really happening for me.  More like a Todd Rundgren LP (he produced it) - though I do like some tracks from Todd's uneven discography.]
Self-titled [aka "The Silver Album"] (1975)

Looking forward to getting into:
Beauty on a Back Street (1977)
Along the Red Ledge (1978)



jafant...if you are still looking and want them, Red Ledge and Back Street are available on Amazon.  
Hey, Nutty...hope it is nothing serious and you are back to full health soon.  
YAW :-) jafant.

Mapman - "Ain’t Got No Home"...I take it you are talking Moondog Matinee? Don’t know the version you are familiar with but the re-issue (black cover) includes a great Chuck Berry tune as a bonus track, "Back to Memphis". I really enjoy the lyrics. "You can walk down Beale Street, honey, wearing' your pajamas."

Ain't Got No Home is a good 'un too.  In fact thanks to you, listening to the whole thing right now.  
Thanks for the history lesson, bdp.  Whatever their motivation for making it, MDM is an enjoyable recording.  The Band on track after track in this recording and others displays excellent "musicality"...wonderful arrangements, soulful vocals, technical execution that illuminates the composition and, with the exception of the occasional "over the top" quirkiness of Garth's keyboards/organ registrations, restraint and good taste.  No wonder that going on 50 years now, their music still communicates.  
@bdp24 - I did not know you held The Band in that high regard.  I think we are on the same page as far as what makes them "special"...e.g., 
"technical execution that illuminates the composition" = "playing in a manner so as to benefit the song itself".  Exactly.

Not taking anything away from their individual talents but as with a certain other highly regarded group from England, I think a lot must be credited to the producer of their first two albums, John Simon. Based on the Wikipedia entry for him, he is very impressive.  If you happen to know of a good read about the recording sessions for "Pink"and "Brown", do please advise - I'd be very interested.  

By the way, it is post-Robertson but still great music (sound quality is a little uneven):  The Band - Live in Tokyo 1983.  Talk about three great singers, check out Rick Danko's performance of "It Makes No Difference".  One of my favorites.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSHzODm-Ik8

In addition to Richard Manuel's talent as a vocalist, he was capable of writing magical songs that were precious (in a good way) and ephemeral.  Whispering Pines and In A Station are two fine examples of this.  I wish he had lived longer and written more.

The Band deserves its own thread, I suppose.



  


Hi Mitch...I saw Robin a couple weeks back.  Wrote about it 4/22 in this thread.  Did seem like he still enjoyed playing.  His sound was spot on to the records.  He did quite a few songs from Bridge of Sighs.  Hope you enjoy the show.  
Thanks Nutty.  Looks interesting.  Now I gotta go track down that Jerry Lee Lewis recording (though I really don’t care that much for him).

Hope you are back to feeling 100%.
Hey there Nutty...for you and the other blues/rock fans...

Listened to Joe Bonamassa "New Day Yesterday Live"...pretty great live album.  Catch a buzz from the crowd...that guy going, "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah!"

Another good 'un: Kenny Wayne Shepherd.  Don't have a lot but his, "Trouble Is", I like quite a bit.  

Also, check out Ian Siegal "Meat & Potatos" he's got a great voice for the blues.  
Hey N - that's the great thing about Spotify (or Tidal, etc.)...the ability to check out so much different music.  The live "New Day Yesterday" (cover of a Jethro Tull song) is on Spotify.  Mind your spelling when searching for Ian, however...it is Siegal.    OK.  I need to try Tin Machine and also more KWS as in Ledbetter Heights.  

Later.
Back again, N.  OK, so I found Tin Machine (1st album) on Spotify.  I had heard about this when it came out but never listened.  Not much of a Bowie fan I guess.  Anyway gave it a listen...it's kinda tough to "hear".  A very hard edge to it...lot of anger.  Disturbing even.  BUT, while I'm not usually big on covers, their version of "Working Class Hero"....WOW.  Very impressed with that.  Did not finish the whole LP.  As I said, a tough listen for me though I think the writing and musicianship are very strong.  I know where it is.  Will try and go back to finish at some point.  

Moved on now to Ledbetter Heights.  More in my comfort zone.  This is probably better than "Trouble Is"...to me at least.  Great guitar and good vocals.  I have to read up on it.  Song writing is very good too.  If they are all KWS, it's like he hit the trifecta.   Thanks for the mention.  You be sure and check out that Ian Siegel "Meat & Potatoes".  You'll be glad (I think).  Here's a link to "Butter Side Up" (3rd track from the M&P album).

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&...
Looks like KWS "wrote or co-wrote" 8 or 12 tracks on his debut but apparently a Corey Sterling did lead vocals.

This is makes for an interesting read on th subject of Mr. Sterling as well as KWS' song writing credits.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/why-did-corey-sterling-leave-kws-band.1187062/

That should be 8 of 12 tracks.  How much of a contribution KWS made to the song writing seems to be a contentious issue (see above link).  (Pardon typos).