April 26, 2016

Racing Cars - Downtown Tonight (1977)

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Racing Cars are a Welsh pop band, formed in the Rhondda Valleys, Wales in 1973.

1977, and a South Wales band called Racing Cars appears on primetime TV show Top Of The Pops for the first and last time, playing their unexpected minor hit single, the maudlin ballad “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”, inspired by Sydney Pollack’s 1969 film on the marathon jitterbug dance contests of the thirties’ depression. The lead vocalist and principal songwriter is a stubby, bearded Welshman called Morty, or Gareth Mortimer to give him his full moniker. Aside from Morty the most notable name amongst these assorted sons of the Rhondda is that of Ray Ennis, sometime trad jazz banjoist and member of the celebrated sixties Merseybeat ensemble, the Swinging Blue Jeans.
Racing Cars came together in 1973 and belatedly joined the London Pub Rock circuit early in ‘76, playing with a degree of sophistication and instrumental virtuosity that marked them out above most of their contemporaries. Landing a contract with Chrysalis Records, they cut their first album Downtown Tonight just in time to see it swept away by the punk explosion. Very much the right product at the wrong time, it deserved better treatment: the single was briefly in vogue a year on, but the album predictably failed to set the record shop tills alight. Residual popularity on the college circuit kept the band going for four further years and two further albums, but the one-hit-wonders tag would stick till the end.
Apart from the atypical, string-quintet-laden “Horses”, Downtown Tonight features the honest, solidly-constructed sort of electric guitar-based music that the Pub Rock genre is still regarded with affection for: rocking mid-tempo songs mixing blues, country, soul and funk inflections, a powerful twin-lead attack, solid rhythm section, occasional guest piano, and warm rough-cut vocal harmonies. Ennis in particular plays mean slide and crafts some fine harmony runs with partner Graham Hedley Williams on “Pass The Bottle”, as well as exhuming his banjo for some rapid three-finger picking against Williams’s Albert Lee-style Telecastering on the unashamedly honkytonk “Get Out And Get It”. The stirring opener “Calling The Tune” offers some fine pentatonic widdling over its simple riff structure, whilst “Four Wheel Drive” is a butt-kickin’ funk instrumental right out of the Average White Band’s fakebook. Add in the languid ballads of the title track and “Horses” and the unassuming, lo-fi production and all in all it’s a set that would have been a modest pleasure heard live and loud one evening in some smoky tavern.

01.  Calling the Tune (4:17)
       Written-By - Gareth Mortimer    
02.  Hard Working Woman  (4:13)  
03.  Ladee-Lo   )4:32'  
04.  Downtown Tonight  (5:55)
       Written-By - Gareth Mortimer   
05.  Pass the Bottle (4:41)
       Written-By - Gareth Mortimer    
06.  Moonshine Fandango (3:51)
       Written-By - Gareth Mortimer     
07.  Four Wheel Drive  (3:10)  
08.  Get Out and Get It (3:04)
       Written-By - Gareth Mortimer  
09.  They Shoot Horses Don't They? (3:40)
       Written-By - Gareth Mortimer
10.  They Shoot Horses Don't They? (6:12)
       Written-By - Gareth Mortimer  

Companies, etc.

Credits
Notes

Genre: Soft Rock
Length: 43:35

Label - Chrysalis Records

April 24, 2016

The Old 97's - Satellite Rides (2001)

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The Old 97's are an alternative country band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1993, they have since released ten studio albums, two full extended plays, shared split duty on another, and have one live album. Their most recent release is Most Messed Up. They are recognized as pioneers of the alt-country movement during the mid to late 1990s along with bands such as Uncle Tupelo, Drive-By Truckers, Whiskeytown, The Jayhawks, and The Bottle Rockets.

Satellite Rides is the fifth studio album by American country/rock band Old 97's, first released in the second quarter of 2001. Though track 9, "Weightless", refers to outer space while the chorus croons "ride on, ride on" to an unspecified audience, the album's title does not appear in the lyrics but was later used for the song "In The Satellite Rides A Star" on the band's follow-up album, 2004's Drag It Up.
Lyrically, the songs have lead singer and songwriter Rhett Miller writing about characters other than himself, albeit personal references remain. "Rollerskate Skinny" is a song about actress Winona Ryder, whom Miller very briefly dated; the title refers to Holden Caulfield's description of his sister in the novel The Catcher in the Rye, while "Buick City Complex" refers to workers affected by General Motors' decision to close its failed mega-factory in Flint, Michigan. Miller wrote the song "Am I Too Late" for his grandmother, Ahnece Pugh. The album features two songs sung by bassist Murry Hammond, "Up The Devil's Pay" and "Can't Get A Line".
"Question" is often performed live with a French verse. Miller re-recorded "Question" and "Singular Girl" with a full band for his 2006 solo album, The Believer.
"Satellite Rides" is also a pseudonym under which the band plays, including a show at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle, Washington on August 31, 2008.

  1. "King of All the World" - 2:52
  2. "Rollerskate Skinny" - 3:52
  3. "Buick City Complex" - 3:39
  4. "Bird in a Cage" - 3:48
  5. "Up the Devil's Pay" (vocals by Murry Hammond) - 3:49
  6. "What I Wouldn't Do" - 3:47
  7. "Question" - 2:15
  8. "Am I Too Late" - 2:32
  9. "Weightless" - 3:45
  10. "Can't Get a Line" (vocals by Murry Hammond) - 2:52
  11. "Designs on You" - 3:49
  12. "Book of Poems" - 3:32
  13. "Nervous Guy" - 3:56
Credits
Notes

Released: March 20, 2001 
Recorded at: Peternales Studios in Austin, Texas 
Genre: Alternative country 
Length: 44:26 

Label - Elektra Records

April 22, 2016

Prince - Indigo Nights / Live Sessions (2008)

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Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016), known by the mononym Prince, was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor. Prince was renowned as an innovator, and was widely known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, and wide vocal range. He was widely regarded as the pioneer of Minneapolis sound. His music integrates a wide variety of styles, including funk, rock, R&B, soul, psychedelia, and pop.

21 Nights--a first book by Prince and celebrated photographer Randee St. Nicholas is a stunning multimedia volume offering a rare glimpse into the life, lyrics and mystique of one of the most notable and prolific musicians of our time. This beautifully designed photographic essay flows from Prince's sensational, unprecedented, record-breaking, sold-out 21 concerts in 21 Nights at London's 02 Arena in 2007. Giving insight into his dueling worlds of performance and solitude, 21 Nights incorporates Prince's evocative poetry and lyrics to new songs and other selections, and 124 full-color, sumptuous never-before-published images by Randee St. Nicholas. As part of the multi-dimensional experience, it will also include "Indigo Night," a CD--available only with the book--capturing Prince's after-hours, live after-show sessions--rare and profound moments of musical genius.

21 Nights takes the reader from the passenger seat of a limousine zipping through the streets of London to his sleeping quarters in a luxury hotel. In between we see him and his phenomenal band of musicians, singers and dancers backstage in the make up room to onstage, bathed in purple lights and a fog of gray smoke. Like a movie-in-a-book, readers are taken on his journey from London to Prague, in a style that takes glam rock to a new level.

Then there is poetry and lyrics that reveal the heart and soul of Prince--in addition to his incomparable talent. Going beyond the catchy hook, he expresses himself on everything from the destructive forces of war, greed and superficiality the life giving energy of love, beauty, and--of course--music.

 Indigo Nights is a live album by Prince, mainly comprising songs played live during some of the aftershows at the indigO2 night club in London in 2007. It contains eight live versions of previously released Prince songs, four cover songs, two new songs, and a monologue. The CD is only sold coupled with the 21 Nights coffee table book which was released on September 30, 2008. The book reached number 9 on The New York Times best selling Hardcover Nonfiction titles.

  1. "3121" – 7:44 (contains interpolation of The Entertainer, Scott Joplin's 1902 composition, and "D.M.S.R." from 1999)
  2. "Girls & Boys" – 4:05
  3. "The Song of the Heart" – 1:39
  4. "Delirious" – 2:01
  5. "Just Like U" (Monologue) – 2:49
  6. "Satisfied" – 6:19
  7. "Beggin' Woman Blues" (previously unreleased song) – 6:43
  8. "Rock Steady" featuring Beverley Knight (Aretha Franklin cover) – 6:37
  9. "Whole Lotta Love" (Led Zeppelin cover) – 4:42
  10. "Alphabet St." – 6:09
  11. "Indigo Nights" (previously unreleased song) – 3:41
  12. "Misty Blue" featuring Shelby J. (Dorothy Moore cover) – 4:25
  13. "Baby Love" featuring Shelby J. (Mother's Finest cover) – 3:54
  14. "The One" (with guitar solo from the Graffiti Bridge track, "The Question of U") – 9:08
  15. "All the Critics Love U in London" (variation of "All the Critics Love U in New York" from 1999) – 7:05
Companies, etc.
Record Company – Simon & Schuster
Manufactured By – www.copycatsmedia.com
Phonographic Copyright (p) – NPG Records
Copyright (c) – NPG Records

Credits 
Design – Meat And Potatoes, Inc.
Music By, Lyrics By [Poetry / Music / Lyrics By] – Prince
Photography By – Randee St. Nicholas
Producer - Prince

Notes 
The album is only available with the book "21 Nights"
"A Full-Color Photographic Essay - 21 Nights was inspired by Prince and the NPG's groundbreaking reign of 21 consecutive performances at London's O² Arena during the summer of 2007. It is a book that transcends the conventions of form as it includes stunning photography by Randee St. Nicholas, poetry and lyrics by Prince throughout, and Indigo Nights, a live sessions CD from O² after-parties at the O²'s Indigo Club which also includes new music by Prince."
Released: September 30, 2008 (21 Nights supplement)
Recorded: Summer, 2007 at IndigO2 arena, London
Genre: Pop, rock, funk
Length: 76:51

Label - NPG Records

April 21, 2016

Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Ray Price - Last Of The Breed (2007)

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Last of the Breed is a two-disc album by American country music artists Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price, released in 2007.

The title Last of the Breed speaks with a defiance that, for the most part, the music on this album does not, and that's just as it should be -- while Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price are indeed among the last functioning practitioners of pure, unadulterated Western swing, honky tonk, or countrypolitan blues in the classic manner, on this album they seem less concerned with fighting the changing face of country music than with playing this music with the easy confidence and quiet conviction that's been the hallmark of their respective careers. For the most part, Last of the Breed finds these three friends and occasional collaborators working through a set of old-school country classics (Haggard is the only member of the trio to bring any original material to the sessions, and delivers one of the album's best performances on his new song "If I Ever Get Lucky"), and they treat chestnuts like "Heartaches by the Number," "I Love You Because," "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine," and "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down" with both strength and familiarity -- these guys could probably sing these numbers in their sleep after all these years, but they also approach them like pros, realizing these old standards gained their status as classics because they endure and people love them, and they give them the respect and care that they deserve. Haggard is in fine voice on this set, and Nelson sounds good though his phrasing occasionally lags behind the melodies a shade more than is comfortable. As for Price, time has added a slight wobble to his instrument, once one of the most impressive in country music, but he still projects a dignity and commendable emotional warmth, and when he joins voices with his pals Willie and Merle, it's a stirring reminder of just how much these artists still have to offer. Legendary producer Fred Foster supervised these sessions, with a band of seasoned Nashville veterans backing the singers (and the Jordanaires adding harmonies on several numbers), and at its best Last of the Breed really sounds the way these things did in the old days, and Nelson, Haggard, and Price achieve something more than nostalgia -- they offer a stirring reminder of the strength of this music when country music spoke to something deeper than just a marketing demographic.


Disc 1

  1. "My Life's Been a Pleasure" (Jesse Ashlock) – 3:03
  2. "My Mary" (Jimmie Davis, Stuart Hamblen) – 3:14
  3. "Back to Earth" (Willie Nelson) – 3:25
  4. "Heartaches by the Number" (Harlan Howard) – 3:04
  5. "Mom and Dad's Waltz" (Lefty Frizzell) – 3:26
  6. "Some Other World"(Floyd Tillman) – 3:26
  7. "Why Me" (Kris Kristofferson) – 3:44
  8. "Lost Highway" (Leon Payne) – 2:54
  9. "I Love You a Thousand Ways" (Frizzell, Jim Beck) – 2:57
  10. "Please Don't Leave Me Any More Darlin'" (Ashlock) – 3:34
  11. "I Gotta Have My Baby Back"(Tillman) – 3:12

Disc 2

  1. "Goin' Away Party" (Cindy Walker) – 3:25
  2. "If I Ever Get Lucky" (Merle Haggard, Lou Bradley) – 4:11
  3. "Sweet Memories" (Mickey Newbury) – 3:24
  4. "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down" (Howard) – 3:16
  5. "I Love You Because" (Payne) – 3:03
  6. "Sweet Jesus" (Haggard) – 3:38
  7. "Still Water Runs the Deepest" (Ashlock) – 2:40
  8. "I Love You so Much it Hurts" (Tillman) – 3:10
  9. "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine" (Gene Autry, Jimmy Long) – 3:25
  10. "I'll Keep on Loving You" (Tillman) – 3:05
  11. "Night Watch" (Walker) – 2:47
Personnel
Production and additional personnel
  • Fred Foster – producer, mixing
  • Hank Williams; mastering
  • Brent Maher – engineer, mixing
  • Charles Yingling – engineer, mixing assistant
  • Brian Krause – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
Notes

Released:  March 20, 2007 
Recorded at:  Soundkitchen, Franklin, TN; The Blue Room Studios, Nashville, TN
Mixed at:  Soundkitchen, Franklin, TN
Genre:  Folk, World, & Country 
Style:  Country 
Length: Disc 1 – 34:00
             Disc 2 – 35:44 

Label - Lost Highway Records

April 20, 2016

AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)

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AC/DC are an Australian hard rock band, formed in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who continued as members until Malcolm's illness and departure in 2014. Commonly referred to as a hard rock or blues rock band, they are also considered pioneers of heavy metal and are sometimes classified as such, though they have always dubbed their music as simply "rock and roll".

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap is an album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was the band's second internationally released studio album and the third to be released in Australia.
There's a real sense of menace to "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," the title song of AC/DC's third album. More than most of their songs to date, it captured the seething malevolence of Bon Scott, the sense that he reveled in doing bad things, encouraged by the maniacal riffs of Angus and Malcolm Young who provided him with their most brutish rock & roll yet. But for as glorious as the title track was, the entire album served as a call to arms from a group that wanted nothing more than to celebrate the dirtiest, nastiest instincts humans could have, right down to the insurgent anti-authority vibe that runs throughout the record. Take "Big Balls" -- sure, it's a dirty joke, but it's a dirty joke with class overthrow in mind. There's a sense on Dirty Deeds that AC/DC is storming the gates -- they're problem children sick of waiting around to be a millionaire, so they're gonna make their own money, even if they take down others as they go. That's what gives Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap its supercharged, nervy pulse; there's a real sense of danger to this record, something that can't be hidden beneath the jokes. Maybe that's why the album wasn't released in the U.S. until 1981, after Bon's death, after AC/DC had become millionaires -- if it arrived any earlier, it would have been too insurrectionist for the common good.

Australian Edition

1. "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"  - 4:13
2. "Ain't No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire)"  - 7:31
3. "There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'"  - 3:17
4. "Problem Child" -  5:46
5. "Squealer"  - 5:18
6. "Big Balls"  - 2:40
7. "R.I.P. (Rock in Peace)"  - 3:36
8. "Ride On"  - 5:53
9. "Jailbreak"  - 4:41

All songs written and composed by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott. 

 Personnel
Notes

Released:  20 September 1976 
Recorded:  December 1975–March 1976 at Albert Studios in Sydney, Australia 
Genre:  Hard rock, blues rock, rock and roll 
Length:  42:24 (Australia)

Label - Albert Records

April 19, 2016

Willie Nile - Willie Nile (1980)

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Willie Nile (born Robert Anthony Noonan on June 7, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter. In 1980 Nile released his self-titled debut album which according to one critic remains “one of the most thrilling post-Byrds folk-rock albums of all time”. His early career was interrupted by various problems, but he eventually returned to recording and performing in the US and Europe, establishing himself as a respected singer-songwriter.

Willie Nile (1980) is the self-titled debut album by the New York singer/songwriter of the same name. Released by Arista in early 1980 to much critical praise , it was produced and engineered by Roy Halee and featured Jay Dee Daugherty, formerly with Patti Smith, on drums. The album immediately created a buzz among critics and quickly drew the attention of other rock stars such as Pete Townshend and The Who, who invited Nile to join them on their Summer of 1980 US tour.
When Willie Nile first appeared on the scene in 1980, some folks seemed to think he was new wave since he wrote declarative songs that were often three minutes in length, a notion that had fallen out of fashion through much of the '70s (the same thing happened to John Hiatt and Marshall Crenshaw for a spell), while others lumped him in with Bruce Springsteen and other heartland rock acts who were breathing new life into traditional rock & roll forms. With over 25 years of perspective, Nile's self-titled debut now sounds like nothing so much as a strong dose of smart but straightforward rock from a writer who is in love with words but doesn't trip over them as he lays them out. Willie Nile is a lean and wiry set, with the singer brimming with energy even when he slows down the tempos on songs like "They'll Build a Statue of You" and "Across the River" or strips the arrangement down to a single acoustic guitar on "Behind the Cathedral," and when Nile and his band opens up on the edgy "Old Men Sleeping on the Bowery" and the witty "She's So Cold," this is great stuff, with literate but street-smart lyrics, hooky and muscular tunes, and a tight, simpatico band bringing it home. If the album has a flaw, it's the production and engineering from Roy Halee. While Halee's approach is thankfully unobtrusive, the sound is a bit too thin to give the music the force and body it needs (especially the electric guitars), and some of the tracks sound more like demos than finished product. Still, Willie Nile documents some great performances of 11 fine songs, and was an impressive debut for this underappreciated talent.

01. "Vagabond Moon"  - 4:07
02. "Dear Lord"  - 2.54
03. "It’s All Over"   - 3:34
04. "Across the River"  - 4:17
05. "She’s So Cold"   - 2:37
06. "I’m Not Waiting"  - 2:35
07. "That’s the Reason"  - 2:27
08. "They’ll Build a Statue of You"  - 3:38
09. "Old Men Sleeping on the Bowery"   - 3:33
10. "Behind the Cathedral"  - 3:06
11. "Sing Me a Song"  - 5:23

all songs written-by Willie Nile

Personnel
Willie Nile – Electric and Acoustic guitar, piano, vocals
Clay Barnes – Electric Guitar, background vocals
Peter Hoffman - Electric Guitar
Tom Ethridge - Bass
Jay Dee Daugherty – Drums, Percussion
Mark Johnson – Background vocals

Production
Producers - Roy Halee
Engineering - Roy Halee
Remixing - Phil Jamtaas, Record Plant, Los Angeles
Mastering - Greg Calbi, Sterling Sound, New York, NY
Cover photo - Christine Olympia Rodin
Photography - John Noonan, Ron Kellum
Art Direction - Ron Kellum

Notes
Released:  February, 1980
Recorded:  Record Plant - New York, NY
Genre:  Rock
Length:  38:38 LP

Label - Arista Records

April 17, 2016

Taja Sevelle - Taja Sevelle (1987)

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Taja Sevelle (born Nancy Richardson, January 7, 1962 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known for her 1987 single, "Love Is Contagious".
Sevelle signed a record contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records in 1992.

From the Prince Vault Website, the following information about her recording history with Prince may be known: "Taja Sevelle is the first studio album by Taja Sevelle, and is her only album to feature writing input by Prince.
Two of the album's ten tracks were written (or co-written) by Prince, although the album was produced by Minneapolis musician Chico Bennett. Although Taja Sevelle had signed to Paisley Park Records when it was formed in 1984, she mainly worked with Warner Bros.
executives on the album, and Prince's involvement was minimal; he submitted the songs in late 1986 after Michael Jackson had rejected Wouldn't You Love To Love Me? for his album "Bad".

 Recording process
Both songs with Prince involvement were not initially designed for Taja Sevelle and had initially been recorded earlier in his career. Wouldn't You Love To Love Me? was first recorded in 1976-1977, before Prince had even recorded his first album For You, and If I Could Get Your Attention was first recorded in May 1986.

 Promotion
The album produced four singles, Love Is Contagious (released shortly before the album), Wouldn't You Love To Love Me?, Popular and Take Me For A Ride.
It failed to chart in the US, but reached number 48 in the UK." During the 1990s, Sevelle wrote several songs for Warner Music.

01. Love Is Contagious - 4:35
02. Wouldn't You Love To Love Me? - 4:01
03. Popular - 5:06
04. How Could You Do Me So Bad? - 4:24
05. Take Me For A Ride - 4:27
06. If I Could Get Your Attention - 3:41
07. Infatuation - 4:31
08. Baby's Got A Lover - 3:03
09. Mama 16 - 4:33
10. Fly For Your Painted Rainbow - 3:50

Credits 
Vocals [All Vocals] – Taja Sevelle
Synthesizer [Synclavier Assistance] – Todd Yvega
Instrumentation By [All Instrumentation] – Bennett
Engineer – Larry Ferguson
Engineer [Additional Overdub Engineering] – Clark Germaine, Joel Stoner, Mark Linett
Engineer [Mix Engineer] – Tommy Vicari
Management [Personal Management] – Cavallo, Ruffallo & Fargnoli
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman, Chris Bellman
Other [Back Cover: Crop Fashions] – Todd Reid
Other [Back Cover: Mug Paint] – Fritz
Other [Back Cover: Pilot] – Taja
Other [Back Cover: Rag Arrangement] – Michelle Cole
Other [Front Cover: Make-up] – Joanne Gair
Art Direction, Design – Jeri McManus Heiden
Artwork [Inner Sleeve Drawing] – Julie Daul (Picasso's Guru)
Coordinator [Production Coordinator] – Ivy Skoff
Photography By [Back Cover: Captured The Moment] – Jeff Katz
Photography By [Front Cover] – Bonnie Lewis
Executive-Producer – Benny Medina, Michael "Mi" Ostin
Producer – Bennett

Notes
Release Date: September 22, 1987
Recorded at The Enterprise, Hollywood Sound
Overdubs: Wildcat Studios, Image Recording
Mixed at Sound Castle, Lion Share
Originally Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering
Duration: 42:11
Genre: R&B
Styles: Dance-Pop, Soul, Urban

Label - Paisley Park Records

N.E.R.D. - Fly Or Die (2004)

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N*E*R*D (a backronym of No-One Ever Really Dies) is an American rock, funk, and hip hop band. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo were signed by Teddy Riley to Virgin Records as a duo, The Neptunes. After producing songs for several artists throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the production duo formed the band with Shay Haley as a side project of The Neptunes in 1999.

Unlike In Search Of..., originally made primarily on N.E.R.D.'s various machines and then reconfigured with assistance from funk-rock band Spymob, Fly or Die is kept almost entirely in-house. The ridiculous cover, along with first single "She Wants to Move" -- and its accompanying video, including a literal translation of the line "Her ass is a spaceship I want to ride" -- thankfully provide little indication of the album's true makeup. And the moments where the Star Trak hand sign gets flipped to a set of devil horns are mercifully fleeting, though "Backseat Love" is undoubtedly problematic -- it plays Dumberer to "She Wants to Move"'s Dumber. ("Lapdance" was Dumb.) The rest of the album isn't just noteworthy for subject matter that skips through child-parent relationship sketches, ecological reveries, and protest songs; the bright, bold Neptunes glaze that normally coats their chart-aimed singles of all stripes is applied to material that will leave many people baffled. The album sees N.E.R.D. rummaging through parts of their record collection that don't normally bubble to the surface in their production work. Most disarming of all is "Wonderful Place," a seven-minute trip divided into halves. The first shows a chipper Pharrell striding through a sunny meadow, marveling at the natural wonders of the planet in spite of its troubles; with a horn-punched chorus ("My soul's in my smile/Don't frown, just get up get up") and other subtle splashes of Baroque pop elements, it owes equally to Burt Bacharach and the Left Banke. This dissolves into a fading whistle, only to give rise to a dramatic, synthetically orchestral and acoustic-folk tale about a near-fatal family fishing trip. Any parent of the past, present, or near future will be stirred, especially once Pharrell goes falsetto to emphasize the relief of the nearly drowned baby being rescued by his mother. Instead of pausing for effect, the album goosesteps into "Drill Sergeant," yet another two-parter. Half power pop bounce and half tumbling, doomsday pummel, the song pulls no punches with antiwar sentiments that target the government and media, and when a teeth-clenched Pharrell talks about his fear of blowing up, you know he's not talking about fame. Despite the heavy subject matter in a third of the songs, the album nonetheless carries a lighthearted, fun-loving lilt. At face value, Fly or Die is a rather straightforward rock record. To N.E.R.D.'s credit, no one else could've made this particular rock record. Ideas come by the bushel, hooks arrive when least expected, embedded jokes get discovered like Easter eggs. Nobody can tie all of these things together and make them glow quite like this. Apart from a ploy to get some rotation at your local mall's Hot Topic (Good Charlotte's Madden brothers make an appearance), they didn't appear to make this record for anyone but themselves. So while Fly or Die is one of the most creative and ambitious moments of the Neptunes' career, it might also be their least understood.

01. "Don't Worry About It"  - 3:41
02. "Fly or Die" -  3:30
03. "Jump" (featuring Joel Madden & Benji Madden) - 3:55
04. "Backseat Love"  - 2:48
05. "She Wants to Move"  - 3:33
06. "Breakout"  - 3:47
07. "Wonderful Place" / "Waiting for You"  - 7:09
08. "Drill Sergeant" / "Preservation"  - 6:54
09. "Thrasher"  - 2:51
10. "Maybe"  - 4:22
11. "The Way She Dances"  - 4:05
12. "Chariot of Fire" / "Find My Way"  - 8:15

All songs written and composed by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo; produced by The Neptunes.

Credits
Companies, etc. 

 Phonographic Copyright (p) – Virgin Records America, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Virgin Records America, Inc.
Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Mixed At – MixStar Studios

Notes

 Release date: March 23, 2004
Recorded: 2003
Genre: Funk Rock, Hip Hop
Length: 61:01

Label - Virgin Records

April 15, 2016

Tracy Nelson / Mother Earth - Poor Man´s Paradise (1973)

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Tracy Nelson/Mother Earth (also known as just Mother Earth) is an album that was released in 1972 by the blues rock group Mother Earth. The band's fifth studio album, it was distributed by the label Reprise Records. The release's title reflects the growing separation between performer Tracy Nelson and the rest of the band, who had grown into something of a mere backing vehicle for Nelson.

With their roots in blues, country and gospel, Mother Earth came out of Texas in the late 1960s but established themselves in San Francisco with Tracy Nelson's voice as their prime strength.
Anyone who is a Tracy Nelson fan knows that she is the greatest R & B / Roots / Country / Rock singer of the 20th Century, and this album demostrates one of the reasons why she has a reputation as a "singer's singer".
 He gospel influenced love song WHATEVER I AM YOU MADE ME is my personal favorite of all the songs she recorded in her 36 year 20 album career.
Other great tracks include the wistful love song WHEN I NEED YOU MOST OF ALL (with the most gorgeously understated lyrics I've ever heard) and the wonderful JACK'S WALTZ. This album also contains her first (and best) recording of her repertoire staple GOING BACK TO TENNESSEE

01.  "Poor Man's Paradise"  (J. Micheal Lee)  - 3:53  
02.  "Cruel Wind"  (Eric Kaz)  - 3:56  
03.  "When I Need You Most of All"  (David Buskin)  - 4:11  
04.  "I Hate to Say Goodbye"  - 3:00  
05.  "You and Me"  (Dr. W.A. Jennings / T.J. Seals)  - 4:05  
06.  "Jack's Waltz"  (J. Micheal Lee)  - 5:35  
07.  "I Just Can't Seen to Care"  - 4:31  
08.  "Going Back to Tennessee"  (J. Micheal Lee)  - 4:23  
09.  "Whatever I Am, You Made Me"  (Willie Dixon)  - 4:26


Companies, etc.


Credits


Notes

Recorded at Ray Stevens Sound Laboratory, Nashville, Tennessee 
Release: 1973 
Length: 38:00 
Genre: Blues Rock, Folk Rock
Styles: Contemporary Blues

Label - Columbia Records

Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times (2007)

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Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000.  The band's early music was a blend of Southern rock and blues influences, but it has gradually expanded throughout the years to include a variety of genres and a more alternative, arena rock sound.

Leaning even further toward a kind of post-punk meets prog rock aesthetic than on their first two albums, Nashville-based Kings of Leon have crafted a darker, less pop-oriented and somewhat cerebral affair with 2007's Because of the Times.
In fact, if Alan Parsons lent the Allman Brothers his spaceship, Because of the Times would be the resulting space odyssey.
While that leads to some intriguing moments, the general move away from strong, hooky choruses to a focus on expansive, intricate and percussive arrangements may challenge casual and even some longtime fans of the band's catchy, Southern garage rock twang. That said, cuts like the atmospheric and brooding lead-off track "Knocked Up" showcase lead-singer Caleb Followill's growing maturity as a singer and lyricist, and bring to mind favorable comparisons to such artists as Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. Similarly, the moody single "On Call" and the roiling, dramatic "McFearless," while not immediately hummable, do sink into your memory, revealing layers of melody and emotion on repeated listens.

01. "Knocked Up"  - 7:10
02. "Charmer"  - 2:56
03. "On Call"  - 3:21
04. "McFearless"  - 3:09
05. "Black Thumbnail"  - 4:00
06. "My Party"  - 4:10
07. "True Love Way"  - 4:02
08. "Ragoo"  - 3:00
09. "Fans"  - 3:35
10. "The Runner"  - 4:16
11. "Trunk"  - 3:57
12. "Camaro"  - 3:09
13. "Arizona"   4:50

US iTunes, Japanese and deluxe edition bonus track
14. "My Third House"  - 4:03

UK iTunes bonus track
15. "On Call (AOL Music Sessions)"  - 3:21

Companies, etc. 
Phonographic Copyright (p) – RCA Records
Copyright (c) – RCA Records
Distributed By – Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Recorded At – Blackbird Studio
Mixed At – Blackbird Studio
Recorded At – Sunset Sound
Mixed At – Sunset Sound
Mastered At – Sterling Sound

Credits 
A&R – Steve Ralbovsky
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jared Followill
Drums, Backing Vocals – Nathan Followill
Engineer [Second] – Clifton Allen, Lowell Reynolds
Guitar – Matthew Followill
Guitar, Vocals, Backing Vocals – Caleb Followill
Management – Andy Mendelsohn, Ken Levitan
Mastered By – Ted Jensen
Producer – Angelo Petraglia, Ethan Johns
Written-By – Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill

Notes
Released: March 30, 2007
Recorded: 2006 at Blackbird in Nashville; Sunset Sound in Hollywood
Genre: Alternative rock, garage rock, Southern rock
Length: 59:04

Label - HandMeDown, RCA 

April 14, 2016

Keith Moon - Two Sides Of The Moon (1975)

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Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 – 7 September 1978) was an English drummer who played with the English rock band the Who. He was noted for his unique style and his eccentric, often self-destructive behaviour. His drumming continues to be praised by critics and musicians. He was posthumously inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1982.

Two Sides of the Moon is the only solo album from the drummer for English rock band The Who, Keith Moon. It peaked at #155 on the Billboard 200.
Moon was inspired to release a solo album after bandmate John Entwistle had released Smash Your Head Against the Wall (with Moon playing percussion and singing backing vocals) and Whistle Rymes (also with Moon), and Roger Daltrey released his hit album Daltrey.[citation needed] With Pete Townshend soon to do his own solo album, Moon decided to make one as well. Moon, a big fan of The Beach Boys-style surf rock decided to make a cover album, with help from Ringo Starr of The Beatles.
Rather than using the album as a chance to showcase his drumming skill, Keith Moon sang lead vocals on all tracks, and played drums only on three of the tracks ("Crazy Like A Fox", "The Kids Are Alright" and "Move Over Ms. L"), although he played percussion on "Don't Worry Baby". The album features contributions from Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, David Bowie, Joe Walsh of The Eagles, Jim Keltner, Bobby Keys, Klaus Voorman, John Sebastian, Flo & Eddie (Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of The Turtles), Spencer Davis, Dick Dale, Suzi Quatro's sister Patti Quatro and future actor Miguel Ferrer. Originally recorded for his own album, but not released on it, John Lennon gave Moon the track "Move Over Ms. L" and later did his own version.

01. "Crazy Like A Fox" (Al Staehely) - 2:06
02. "Solid Gold" (Nickey Barclay) - 2:47
03. "Don't Worry Baby" (Brian Wilson, Roger Christian) - 3:29
04. "One Night Stand" (Dennis Larden) - 3:36
05. "The Kids Are Alright" (Pete Townshend) - 3:02
06. "Move Over Ms. L" (John Lennon) - 3:!1
07. "Teen Age Idol" (Jack Lewis) - 2:!7
08. "Back Door Sally" (John Marascalco) - 2:31
09. "In My Life" (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:40
10. "Together" (Harry Nilsson, Moon, Richard Starkey) 3:03

Credits
Vocals – Keith Moon, Ricky Nelson
Acoustic Guitar – Spencer Davies, Al Staehely, Mike Condello
Backing Vocals – Flo & Eddie, Jay White, Dennis Larden, Julia Tillman, Lorna Willard, Sherlie Matthews, Fanny, lydie King, Howard Kaylan, James Gilstrap, Mark Volman
Choir – Andra Willis, August Johnson, Carolyn Willis, Clydie King, Gerald Garrett, Greg Matta, Ira Hawkins, Irma Routen, James Gilstrap, Julia Tillman, Lorna Willard, Ron Hicklin
Bass – Jimmie Randall, Paul Stallworth, David Birkett, Klaus Voormann
Bass, Backing Vocals – Jean Millington
Electric Guitar – Jesse Ed Davis, John Staehely
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Steel Guitar – Skip Edwards
Piano – Jay Ferguson, Blair Aaronson, David Foster, Norman Kurban
Drums – Miguel Ferrer, Mickey McGee, Curly Smith, Keith Moon, Ron Grinel, Jim Keltner
Drums, Backing Vocals – Cam Davis
Steel Drums – Robert Greenidge
Guitar – Danny Kootch, James Haymer, Jesse Ed Davis, John Sebastian, Steve Adamick, Paul Lenart
Guitar [Solo] – Beau Guss
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Patti Quatro
Guitar, Synthesizer [Arp], Electric Guitar – Joe Walsh
Guitar [Surf], Guitar [Solo] – Dick Dale
Voice [Announcer], Drums, Rap – Ringo Starr
Horns – Ollie Mitchell, Steve Douglas
Organ – Norman Kurban
Saxophone [Solo] – Bobby Keys
Percussion – Keith Moon

Production
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Jimmy Haskell
Arranged By [Horns] – Mal Evans
Art Direction – George Osaki
Artwork By [Cover Concept] – Gary Stromberg, Bruce Reiley, Skip, John And Keith
Concept By [Album Title] – Ringo Starr
Engineer – Don Wood, Gary Kellgren, Gary Ladinsky, John Stronach, Lee Kiefer, Michael "Homeboy" Verdick, Mike Stone
Mastered By – Kent Duncan
Other [Styling And Location] – Larry Marmorstein
Photography – Jim McCrary, Robert Failla
Producer, Directed By – John Stronach, Skip Taylor
Producer(s) - Keith Moon, Mal Evans, Skip Taylor, John Stronach, Steve Cropper

Notes
Released: March 1975
Recorded: August–December 1974 Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles
Mastering at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California.
Genre: Rock and Roll, surf rock ·
Length: 32:21

Label - Track Records

Modern English - Stop Start (1986)

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Modern English are a new wave band from Colchester, Essex, England best remembered for their songs "I Melt with You", "Hands Across the Sea", and "Ink and Paper". The group disbanded twice, in 1987 and 1991, but reunited again in 1989 and 1995.

Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1979 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), Modern English were originally known as The Lepers. The group expanded to "Modern English" when Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards)  were subsequently added to the lineup of the band.
Picked up by Sire Records, Modern English found it difficult to break free from perceptions of them as a de facto 4AD band (a situation which also occurred with the Cocteau Twins). So they made this rather regrettable, overtly commercial album which impressed no one. Songs such as "Night Train" and "Love Breaks Down" were all sheen and polish rather than substance. Others, like "The Greatest Show," simply meander endlessly. An interesting footnote is that ex-Rubinoo Tommy Dunbar co-wrote "Ink and Paper."
The album Stop Start (1986) was the last Modern English record released by Sire, with the band splitting up after its release. During 1983–84 time Grey, McDowell and Conroy were also involved with This Mortal Coil

01.  The Border - 4:04
02.  Ink And Paper - 3:58
       Written-By – Kelly Solloum, Tommy Dunbar   
03.  Night Train - 3:10
04.  I Don't Know The Answer - 3:08
05.  Love Breaks Down - 5:29
06.  Breaking Away - 4:00
07.  The Greatest Show - 4:52
08 . Love Forever - 3:16
09.  Start Stop Stop Start - 5:42

Companies, etc.
Credits
Notes
Release: 1986
Recorded at Genetic and Trident Studios.
Mixed at Trident Studios.
Length: 37:54
Genre: Synth-pop
Styles: New Wave

Label - Sire Records