Soundtrack - Sahara (2005)

The soundtrack is replete with pop songs, most of them even showed up in the film. From "Stay With Me" by The Faces, to standards like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Magic Carpet Ride", the songs don't really serve the film except to provide filler music. There was even a point where a sequence that was ripe for an orchestral score cue was instead covered with Dr. John's "Right Place Wrong Time". That isn't to say that there was no score, in fact, Clint Mansell's score was quite good, in a big orchestral James Bond kind of way. Unfortunately, the album doesn't even give us a taste of that, instead providing us with the African percussion (and vocal) filled "Boat Montage".

As this is a "Music from and Inspired By" album, with the tracks "In a Foreign Land" by The Kings (because they're in Africa), "On the Road Again" by Canned Heat (because it's a traveling song), "Time Loves a Hero" by Little Feat, "Fire on the Mountain" by The Marshall Tucker Band and "I'm On Fire" by Dwight Twilley.

Track listing

01.  The Faces - Stay With Me  - 4:40

02.  Grand Funk - We're An American Band  - 3:27

03.  Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama  - 4:46

04.  Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride  - 4:21

05.  Dr. John - Right Place Wrong Time  - 2:54

06.  Head East - Never Been Any Reason  - 5:12

07.  The Kinks - In A Foreign Land  - 3:04

08.  Dwight Twilley - I'm On Fire  - 3:16

09.  Canned Heat - On The Road Again  - 3:27

10.  Little Feat - Time Loves A Hero   3:47

11.  The Marshall Tucker Band - Fire On The Mountain  - 3:56

12.  Boat Montage  - 2:20

Release Date:  April 5, 2005

Label:  Rykodisc

Genre:  Soundtrack, World Music

Total Time:  45:10

Ali Farka Touré with Ry Cooder - Talking Timbuktu (1994)

"Talking Timbuktu" is the 1994, Grammy award-winning collaboration between Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré and American guitarist/producer Ry Cooder.

Ali Farka Touré has repeatedly bridged the gap between traditional African and contemporary American vernacular music, and this release continues that tradition. The Album features him singing in 11 languages and playing acoustic and electric guitar, six-string banjo, njarka, and percussion, while teaming smartly with an all-star cast that includes superstar fusion bassist John Patitucci, session drummer Jim Keltner, longtime roots music great Ry Cooder (who doubled as producer), venerable guitarist Gatemouth Brown, and such African percussionists and musicians as Hamma Sankare on calabash and Oumar Touré on congas.

The guitar riff from the song "Diaraby" was selected for the Geo-quiz segment of The World PRI-BBC radio program and was retained by popular demand when put to a vote by the listeners.

Track listing

01.  Bonde  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 5:28

02.  Soukora  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 6:05

03.  Gomni  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 7:00

04.  Sega  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 3:10

05.  Amandrai  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 9:22

06.  Lasidan  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 6:06

07.  Keito  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 5:42

08.  Banga  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 2:32

09.  Ai Du  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 7:09

10.  Diaraby  (Ali Farka Toure)  - 7:25

Released:  March 29, 1994

Recorded and mixed at:  Ocean Way Recording Studio, Los Angeles, September 1993

Genre:  African Folk, World Fusion

Length:  59:59

Label:  World Circuit

Producer:  Ry Cooder

Personnel

Ali Farka Toure - Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Percussion, Fiddle 

Ry Cooder - Slide Guitar, Mandoguitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Cümbüş, Mbira, Tambora, Mandolin, Marimba, Accordion

Oumar Toure - Bongos, Congas, Chorus

John Patitucci - Acoustic Bass, Bass Guitar 

Jim Keltner - Drums

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - Electric Guitar, Viola 

Hamma Sankare - Percussion [Calabash], Vocals

Mother Earth - The People Tree (1993)

Mother Earth were a acid jazz outfit based in London, basically comprising Matt Deighton on guitar and vocals, Bryn Barklam on Hammond organ, Chris White on drums and Neil Corcoran on bass.

Mother Earth's second album "The People Tree" was a masterful mix of soul, funk and rock. The original 1994 album was beautifully recorded in analogue and featured incredibly soulful vocals pitched somewhere between Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder.

From the Acid Jazz stables, Mother Earth could almost be described as the Small Faces for a new generation: uplifting organs and body-moving bass carve a steady groove that carries a poignant message of harmony and peace. Their love for Steve Marriott and the Small Faces is apparent on "Dragster", a vocal rendition of their guitar funk instrumental originally from the "Grow Your Own" EP. The Modfather and the Samba King join the band on "Mr. Freedom" when Paul Weller meets Snowboy for a latin rock extravaganza. The pace slows for the beautifully moving "Jesse" a tale of unrequited love and guardian angels that is filled with tearful strings and gospel harmonies. When an album can boast a number of guest appearances, including James Taylor (without his Quartet), it's hard to imagine a time or place where The People Tree is not an essential for any devotee of original Acid Jazz.  

Track listing

01.  Institution Man  (Matt Deighton)  - 5:26

02.  Jesse  (Shauna Greene, Matt Deighton)  - 5:01

03.  Stardust Bubblegum  (Matt Deighton)  - 4:00

04.  Mister Freedom  (Matt Deighton)  - 4:44

05.  Warlocks of the Mind Part 1  (Mother Earth)  - 3:05

06.  Dragster  (Matt Deighton)  - 2:40

07.  Find It in the End  (Bryn Barklam)  - 5:13

08.  The People Tree  (Matt Deighton)  - 3:40

09.  Apple Green  (Shauna Greene, Matt Deighton)  - 4:24

10.  Time of the Future  (Matt Deighton)  - 6:17

11.  Saturation 70  (Matt Deighton)  - 4:23

12.  Illusions  (Neil Corcoran)  - 3:02

13.  Warlocks of the Mind Part 2  (Mother Earth)  - 3:13

14.  A

Trip Down Brian Lane  (E.Piller, M.Deighton, M.Kenton)  - 11:10

Released:  1993

Label:  Hollywood

Genre:  Acid Jazz, Funk, Soul

Length:  1:06:18

Producer:  Edward Piller

Personnel

Matt Deighton - vocals, acoustic, electric guitars

Bryn Barklam - piano, Fender Rhodes, Mellotron, Hammond organ

Neil Corcoran - bass

Chris White - drums, percussion

Meryl Kenton - vocals

Simon Bartholomew - guitar, Mini-Moog, percussion

Chris Lawrence - lap steel guitar

Simon Bartholomew - mandolin

Michael Smith - saxophone

Gerrard Presencer - trumpet

Dennis Rollins - trombone

James Taylor - Fender Rhodes

Greg Boraman - Mini-Moog

Pablo, Snowboy - percussion

DC Lee, Destry, Obe, Sherine, Paul Weller, Shauna Greene - background vocals

Jimi Hendrix - Blues (1994)

"Blues" is probably the best packaged, richest sounding, most coherent post-mortem release from the Hendrix archives. Fleshed out by Michael J. Fairchild's detailed, informative essay, "Blues" portrays Jimi Hendrix as a classic bluesman, a devout student of the tradition from down home delta stylings to sophisticated urban forms.  Framed by his poignant 1967 acoustic 12-string rendition of "Hear My Train 'A Comin'" plus Hendrix's own tributes to some of his blues forefathers, including Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy" and Booker T. Jones' "Born Under A Bad Sign."

These 11 rough and ready tracks illustrate Hendrix's deep spiritual connections to his blues roots.

Track listing

01.  Hear My Train a Comin' [Acoustic]  (Jimi Hendrix)  - 3:05    

02.  Born Under a Bad Sign  (William Bell, Booker T. Jones)  - 7:37    

03.  Red House  (Jimi Hendrix)  - 3:43    

04.  Catfish Blues  (Robert Petway)  - 7:47    

05.  Voodoo Chile Blues  (Jimi Hendrix)  - 8:48    

06.  Mannish Boy  (Mel London, Ellas McDaniel, McKinley Morganfield)  - 5:21    

07.  Once I Had a Woman  (Jimi Hendrix)  - 7:49    

08.  Bleeding Heart  (Elmore James)  - 3:26    

09.  Jam 292  (Jimi Hendrix)  - 6:24    

10.  Electric Church Red House  (Jimi Hendrix)  - 6:12    

11.  Hear My Train a Comin' [Electric]  (Jimi Hendrix)  - 12:09

Released:  April 26, 1994

Label:  MCA

Genre:  Blues Pop, Rock

Length:  72:21

Producer:  Alan Douglas, Bruce Gary

Personnel

Jimi Hendrix - electric, acoustic guitar, vocals

Steve Winwood - organ

Jack Casady - bass

Billy Cox - bass

Noel Redding - bass

Buddy Miles - drums

Mitch Mitchell - drums

Ozzy Osbourne - Randy Rhoads Tribute (1987)

Tribute is a live album by Ozzy Osbourne. It was released on March 19, 1987, five years after the death of guitarist Randy Rhoads.

The album was released in memory of Rhoads, guitarist for Osbourne's band between 1979 and 1982 who died in a plane crash while on tour in Florida in 1982. It showcases Rhoads' outstanding technical ability on lead guitar. Particularly notable is the song "Suicide Solution", which features an unaccompanied guitar solo by Rhoads. The album also includes studio outtakes of Rhoads recording the classical-influenced acoustic guitar piece, "Dee", which Rhoads wrote for his mother Delores, and which was originally included on Osbourne's debut solo album "Blizzard of Ozz". These outtakes include Rhoads talking.

Track listing

01.  I Don't Know  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley)  - 5:40

02.  Crazy Train  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley)  - 5:19

03.  Believer  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley)  - 5:08

04.  Mr. Crowley  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley)  - 5:37

05.  Flying High Again  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley, Kerslake)  - 4:17

06.  Revelation (Mother Earth)  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley)  - 5:58

07.  Steal Away (The Night) [with Drum Solo]  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley)  - 8:04

08.  Suicide Solution [with Guitar Solo]  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley)  - 7:46

09.  Iron Man  (Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, Ward)  - 2:50

10.  Children of the Grave  (Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, Ward)  - 5:57

11.  Paranoid  (Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, Ward)  - 2:59

12.  Goodbye to Romance  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley)  - 5:33

13.  No Bone Movies  (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley, Kerslake)  - 4:02

14.  Dee [Randy Rhoads studio out-takes]  (Rhoads)  - 4:22

Released:  March 19, 1987

Recorded:  1980/1981

Genre:  Heavy metal

Length:  70:28

Label:  Epic

Producer:  Max Norman, Ozzy Osbourne

Personnel

Ozzy Osbourne - vocals

Randy Rhoads - guitar

Rudy Sarzo - bass

Bob Daisley - bass

Tommy Aldridge - drums

Lee Kerslake - drums

Don Airey - keyboards

Andrew Ridgeley - Son Of Albert (1990)

"Son of Albert" is the debut solo album of Andrew Ridgeley. Originally released in May 1990, Ridgeley's effort was a sharp turn away from his former pop image with Wham! years earlier. Focusing more on guitars and drums, the critical reaction to Ridgeley’s attempt at a solo record was mixed. After rather unimpressive revenue sales from 'Son of Albert', Ridgeley slowly but surely quit playing music professionally.

In addition, two singles from the album, "Red Dress" and "Shake", were released in 1990 with little success. Another song, "Mexico", was scheduled to be released as the album's third single, but was dropped for reasons unknown.

Andrew Ridgeley was last seen four years ago as half of the bouncy pop duo Wham! His partner, George Michael (present here as background vocalist in a song called ''Red Dress''), went on to multiplatinum fame. Now Ridgeley, too, has a song on the charts: ''Shake,'' the second cut on this album, in which, to the tune of fake-raunchy rock & roll, he imagines he's shaking his sexy woman ''like a rag doll.'' Nothing in his eager, tiny voice convinces us he could ever do such a thing, though there is verve in his music and, thanks to his band, snatches of fine, snarly guitar. But you've heard it all a hundred times before. Ridgeley seems to have redefined himself as a kick-in-the-pants rock & roller, but his songs still come out sounding like manufactured pop. Ridgeley's album is named after himself, as the Son of Albert Ridgeley.

Track listing

01.  Red Dress (Additional vocals: George Michael) (Bromham, Ridgeley)  - 4:09

02.  Shake  (David Austin, Ridgeley)  - 3:29

03.  The Price of Love  (Don Everly, Phil Everly)  - 4:08

04.  Flame  (Austin, Ridgeley)  - 4:58

05.  Hangin'  (Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers)  - 3:21

06.  Mexico  (Bromham, Cummings, Ridgeley)  - 5:46

07.  Big Machine  (Bromham, Ridgeley)  - 4:24

08.  Kiss Me  (Burns, Ridgeley)  - 4:30

09.  Baby Jane  (Cozzi, Ridgeley)  - 5:09

10.  Shake (Hardcore)  (Ridgeley, Bromham, Martyn "Max" Heyes)  - 6:03

Released:  May 22, 1990

Recorded at:  Comforts Place, Lingfield; Compass Point, Nassau; Eden Studios, London, England; EMI/Pathé Studios, Paris, France; Galaxy Sound Studio, Los Angeles; Ground Control, Los Angeles; Great Linford Studios, Great Linford; Maison Rouge, London; Mayfair Studios, London; Olympic Studios, London; Terminal 24, London and Skylight Studios, London

Label:  ColumbiaGenre:  Pop, Rock

Length:  46:22

Producer:  Andrew Ridgeley, Gary Bromham, Martyn "Max" Heyes

Personnel

Andrew Ridgeley - Lead vocals, Voice Box

George Michael - Guest Vocal

Mary Cassidy - Background Vocals

Lauren Fownes - Background Vocals

Brie Howard - Background Vocals

Miss Johnny - Background Vocals

Tessa Niles - Background Vocals

Dan McAfferty - Spanish Vocals

Mark "Bobby" Robinson - Spanish Vocals

Robert Ahwai - Guitars  

Phil Palmer - Guitars

Tony Barnard - Electric guitars, Guitars

Mike Cozzi - Electric guitars, Guitars

Hugh Burns - Spanish Guitar, Guitars

Gary Masters - Keyboards

Mark Felthan - Harmonica

Graham Edwards - Bass guitars

Deon Estus - Bass guitars

David Faragher - Bass guitars

Jerry Ferguson - Bass guitars

Paul Gray  Bass guitars

Danny Thompson - Bass guitars, Double Bass

Gary Bromham - Drums, Guitars, Spanish Vocals

Pat Torpey - Drums

Laurence Cottell - Horns

David O'Higgins - Horns

Paul Spong - Horns

Danny Cummings - Percussion, Spanish Vocals

Richard Gibbs - Voice Box

Franke & The Knockouts - Franke & The Knockouts (1981)

Franke and the Knockouts was a short-lived band, formed in New Jersey, USA and fronted by singer/songwriter Franke Previte. They had released their self-titles debut album in 1981.

Best known for the smash hit “Sweetheart”, the melodic rock group also landed a minor hit with “You’re My Girl”. Other catchy standouts are “She’s a Runner”, “Don’t Stop”, and the Boston-esque “Tonight.

Led by singer Franke Previte, the New Brunswick, NJ, band Franke & the Knockouts scored several pop hits in the early ’80s. Previte, who had played in local bands since his teens, formed the group with guitarist Billy Elworthy in 1981 and they were quickly signed to Millennium Records. Rounding out the original quintet were keyboardist Blake Levinsohn, bassist Leigh Foxx, and drummer Claude LeHenaff. Their self-titled debut, which showcased their light pop/rock leanings, was a surprise success. Personnel changes would occur when LeHenaff left in late 1981 (future Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres would appear on their next couple albums) and keyboard player Tommy Ayers joined early the following year.

Track listing

01.  Come Back  (Franke Previte, Billy Elworthy)  - 4:02

02.  Sweetheart  (Franke Previte, Billy Elworthy)  - 4:11

03.  She's A Runner  (Franke Previte, Blake Levinsohn)  - 4:07

04.  You're My Girl  (Franke Previte, Benny Harrison, Billy Elworthy)  - 3:05

05.  One For All  (Franke Previte)  - 3:11

06.  Tonight  (Franke Previte, Blake Levinsohn)  - 3:46

07.  Running Into The Night  (Franke Previte, Friedson)  - 3:44

08.  Tell Me Why  (Franke Previte, Blake Levinsohn)  - 3:47

09.  Annie Goes Hollywood  (Franke Previte, Benny Harrison)  - 4:09

10.  Don't Stop  (Franke Previte, Blake Levinsohn)  - 3:04

11.  (I've Had) The Time Of My Life  (F. Previte, J. DeNicola, D. Markowitz)  (Bonus Track)  - 5:22

Released:  1981

Recorded at:  Media Sound N.Y. C., The Village Recorder, LA

Label:  Millennium

Genre:  Rock

Length:  42:34

Producer:  Steve Verroca

Mixed by:  Warren Dewey

All Arrangements by:  Franke And The Knockouts

Personnel

Franke Previte - Lead vocal
Billy Elworthy - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Blake Levinsohn - Keyboards
Leigh Fox - Bass
Claude LeHenaff - Drums
Tommy Ayers - Synthesizers, Organ, Background vocals
Charlie Dominici - Background vocals
Jimmy Maelen - Percussion
Brooklyn Dreams (Joe Esposito, Eddie Hokenson & Bruce Sudano) - Background vocals

Ike Turner feat. Tina Turner And Home Grown Funk - The Edge (1980)

Ike Turner's first post-Tina Turner release, 1980's "The Edge", ironically featured recordings with Tina.

I have to think the Tina tracks (making up the first side of the LP) were left over from 1976 or thenabouts. Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom" and Sylvia Robinson's "Shame Shame Shame" are pure pop-disco, while Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed" expresses all of Tina's ragged sentimentality; there are also two Bill Withers tunes: "Use Me" and "Lean On Me."  Like Tina's first solo efforts, Ike failed to find a hit and, by his own admission, his behavior had grown increasingly erratic. Unlike Tina, who was able to carry on her career as a successful live performer, Ike struggled with his own band with live performances as his cocaine use increased.

Track listing

01.  Shame, Shame, Shame  (Sylvia Robinson)  - 3:03  

02.  Lean On Me  (Bill Withers)  - 3:36  

03.  Philadelphia Freedom  (John Taupin)  - 4:12  

04.  Use Me  (Bill Withers)  - 3:12  

05.  Only Woman Bleed  (Alice Cooper, Dick Wagner)  - 3:57  

06.  Party Vibes  (Ike Turner)  - 4:39  

07.  Lum Dum   (Ike Turner)  - 3:35  

08.  No Other Woman  (Ike Turner)  - 3:34  

09.  I Can't Believe  (Ike Turner)  -  3:35  

10.  I Don't Want Nobody  (Ike Turner)  - 3:45 

Release:  1980

Label:  Fantasy Records

Genre:  Funk, Soul

Length:  37:04

Producer:  Ike Turner

Personnel

Ike Turner - Vocals, Guitar

Tina Turner - Vocals

Grow Some Funk