Emerson, Lake, and Palmer- In Concert

DSCN4175Keith Emerson is dead, of an apparent suicide.  He passed on Thursday.  He was 71.emerson2_3593553bObit from Rolling Stone

Obit from the Telegraph

Obit from New York Times

Emerson was one of the most talented pianists / keyboardists to play music period, not just within the prog rock genre.  His flair or showmanship along with his technical ability made him stand out from his peers.

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Personally, I think this early performance at the Isle of Wight, which put them collectively on the map.  It was only 6 days after their first performance as Emerson, Lake, and Palmer.

This album was one dollar.  The record says it was recorded at Olympic Stadium in Montreal in 1977 although Wikipedia suggests not all songs were from the Montreal show.  It is a decent album and has some very good moments from the tour. It was released in 1979.DSCN4177

From the album, here is the show intro followed by ELP’s take on Henry Mancini’s “Peter Gunn”.keith-emerson-projects-tempts-the-facts-interview-004RIP. Keith.

Johnny Cash- Live at San Quentin

DSCN1237This was 80 cents.  I know this will pander to most. Is it pandering if a lot of people like it?  That is in the eyes of the panderer.johnnycashquentin_2668234k

This is Johnny Cash’s second live prison album.  Released in 1969, a year after his first, Live at Folsom Prison, this album would go # 1 on the US Top Chart as well as the US Country Chart.  It would eventually go 3x Platinum and lead Cash to two Grammy’s; one for Album of the Year and one for Best Male Country Vocal for “Boy Named Sue”.  Cash would complete his jail trilogy with Live in Pa Osteraker in 1973, (Pa Osteraker is a lock up in Sweden).

With Carl Perkins (right)
With Carl Perkins (right)

This performance was recorded by Granada TV in the UK for broadcast.  According to Wikipedia, Cash grew tired of the TV crew giving him direction and getting in the way.  That is where this famous picture originated.cash-frontThis album marks the first live performances of “San Quentin” and “A Boy Named Sue”.  For Sue, the decision to play this was made sponatously by Cash dung the set.  He had to read the lyrics off a sheet while performing while guest Carl Perkins improvised with the band.

Although no relation, it should be noted that longtime Cash guitar player, Luther Perkins died two months before recording. Cash pays tribute to him on the album.  Cash is also joined by his wife, June, the Carter Family ( although I am unsure what configuration) and the Statler Brothers.

Cash with the Statler Brothers
Cash with the Statler Brothers

Is this album good?  Undoubtedly yes.  Is it better than Folsom?  Again, I would say yes, it is but that is a tough call.  I guess Sue is probably what sways me towards San Quentin.

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As a sample, I went with the second version of “San Quentin”.  It was decided before taping to do the song twice although the album makes it sound like a spontaneous encore.  I left the banter on the track, where Cash asks the prison guards for a glass a water along with the boos from the prison crowd.  Jan1

Top Rated album. I aim to pander.

Roy Buchanan- Livestock

DSCN1166This was a dollar.

104153-original-RoyBuchananRoy Buchanan has been called the greatest Unknown Guitarist.  Born in Ozark, Arkansas in 1939, he would work as both a sideman and a solo artist, scoring two gold records and two Billboard charting albums.  A master of the telecaster, he pioneered his own guitar tone as well as his work with “chicken picking”, pinch harmonics and double stops.  He also used effects minimally as compared to his peers,  getting his sound from more basic means.  Although huge success eluded him, he is generally regarded well among other guitar players.  Tragically, he was found hung in a prison cell in Virginia in 1988.  He was 42.  After controlling his drinking habit for some time, he was arrested for public intoxication.  Although ruled a suicide, his family has expressed doubts.

Roy Buchannan Web Page

An Excellent Guitar Player Article

There are three interesting Zelig-esque stories about Buchanan that have him involved with some of the biggest names in rock royalty, depending on who you believe. First, during one of his early gig’s, playing with Ronnie Hawkins, Ronnie enlisted Buchanan to instruct a young guitarist and take him under his wing.  That guitarist would be Robbie Robertson, later of The Band.  Secondly,  according to Buchanan, the guitarist would challenge Jimi Hendrix to a “pick-off” competition which Hendrix would refuse.  This claim is somewhat dubious but not completely impossible.  Although the two had respect for each other, Buchanan was dismayed at the sight of Hendrix achieving the same sound with effects that Buchanan had painstakedly gained thru his hands.  Finally,  again according to Buchanan, the guitarist was asked to join the Rolling Stones at one point but refused.  Again,  there is not a whole lot of collaboration but it is not impossible either. In the end, Buchanan did not want gross fame and the pitfalls it brought, which is ironic considering the way he died.

This album is a live one form 1975 .  Recorded mostly in New York City, this album was done to finish out Buchanan’s contract with Polydor before moving to Atlantic.  The songs are okay and showcase Buchanan’s playing to a point.  However, it also greatly come off for what it is, an attempt to put out a record to oblige a contract.  That being said,  this album greatly influenced Jeff Beck’s work at the time from what I am told.DSCN1167

For a sample, I was stuck between a few songs.  I wanted to do “Roy’s Bluz” but I really do not like doing songs over 4 minutes on this web page.  I then was leaning towards “I’m a Ram” but in the end, decided to go with “Hot Cha”, an instrumental made famous by Junior Walker.  In this version, Buchanan trades licks with keyboardist Malcom Lukens.

Meh.  The album is good and all at times.  Again,  the guitar sound on “Roy’s Bluz” is mesmerizing.  However, I got what I could after a few listens.

Judy Collins- The Judy Collins Concert

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This was a dollar and had a lot of good songs on it.

cb7fcfa932I was heavily tempted to play “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” last month during the Baltimore riots.  My aim of this site was to keep it devoid of overtly political material so I struggled with this until it became irrelevant.  However, tragedy is never too far away in this day and age, and again, the idea of playing this song came up again with the South Carolina killings.  Again,  I am resisting the urge to post this.  As I am always interested in how information disseminated before the internet,  I was struck by how quick this went from Bob Dylan’s mouth to Judy Collins live show. p3_0054_Layer_50Judy’s Webpage

This album comes early in Judy Collins’ career during what would have been her pure folk period. It was her fourth and her first one live. It was recorded and released in 1964.  It is a good mix of folk tunes both traditional and contemporary.  Along with the Dylan tune listed above, there are songs by Tom Paxton and Billy Edd Wheeler.  Except for “Hey Nelly, Nelly”, none of the songs were previously recorded by Collins.  The album is quite good and presents a good cross section of what has happening in folk music at the time. Of course,  like everything, it all really comes down to one source for me.

Do they still use Laugh tracks today?  I feel like an anthropologist hearing it in the above clip.  Regardless, Collins would later move from guitar based folk songs into more diverse and complex arrangements leaning more into pop while not completely leaving her folk roots. Many accolades later, Judy still performs a handful of shows here and there.  A slightly short and not real complete bio on my part I know, but that is not what I aim to do here.  There is a link above to her webpage if you want something more complete.

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There are a number of good folk songs on this album and after some thought, I decided to go with “Wild Rippling Water”.  This tune is a cowboy version of “The Nightingale”, an Irish tune I posted last month from the Brothers Clancy.

This is a satisfactory record for me.  It is Monday so I am keeping it brief.

 

King Curtis- Live at Fillmore West

DSCN1140This was a dollar.  I have heard a couple songs on this so I knew it was a good album.1106200

King Curtis, born in Fort Worth, was a musical genius and a legend of saxophone.  Starting with Lionel Hampton’s band, he began his career playing jazz.  He would move to New York in 1952 to become a session musician.  He realized the future of music (or at least the money) was in rhythm and blues and later rock and roll.  Thus, he started moving towards that direction. His best known work is on the Coasters’ “Yakety Yak”.  Curtis worked with Buddy Holly, Wilson Pickett, Don Covay, Bobby Darin, Andy Williams, John Lennon and Duane Allman among others.king-curtis-john-lennon

He also led the Kingsmen, a band of session musicians who backed up Aretha Franklin among others. The Kingsmen opened for the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965.  Curtis would die a week after this album’s release in 1971.  He was stabbed by a drug dealer at the age of 37. Biographers note a drug dealer, not his drug dealer. Atlantic Records closed their offices on the day of his funeral . He would be inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

The Kingsmen backing up Esther Phillips in 1966.  In the back, it is King Curtis, Cornell Dupree, and some other guitarist who would later leave the band for England.
The Kingsmen backing up Esther Phillips in 1966. In the back, it is King Curtis, Cornell Dupree, and some other guitarist who would later leave the band for England.

Hall of Fame Bio

This album was recorded in March of 1971 where the Kingsmen were opening for as well as backing Aretha Franklin.  The album not only showcases King’s sax but also the playing of the Kingmen who at this recording included Cornell Dupree on guitar, the Memphis Horns, and on keyboards, one of the dozen people to hold claim to the fifth Beatle moniker, Billy Preston (although the fifth Beatle title is as exclusive as Al-Qaeda #2).  The songs showcase a mix of 1960’s rock and RnB.  “Memphis Soul”, “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, “Whole Lotta Love”, and “Ode to Billie Joe” illustrate this.  There are some slower soulful numbers as well.DSCN1141

 

I went with Buddy Miles’ classic “Changes” because it has extended solos by Curtis, Preston, and Dupree as well as a driving horn section by the Memphis Horns.

This is a Top Rated album for me.  Enjoy the weekend.

Sonny James- The Astrodome Presents In Person

DSCN1136This was a dollar.  Being from Houston, I had to buy this.

IMG_5301Last month, they sold off another lot of seats from the Astrodome.  This is the weekend for the pick up of said seats.  I picked up my seats yesterday. After much wait in line and hauling this up my apartment, here they are.

DSCN1170Astrodome, oh Astrodome.  Opened in 1965 and officially closed in 2006, I have seen countless baseball, football. rodeos, thrill shows, concerts, demolition derby’s, and motorcross events there.  To me, it brings back an era when events and concessions were still greatly affordable  (On that note, it is worth mentioning just how skunky the draft beer was there).  One thing that isn’t affordable is the fate of the Dome. No one can quite agree what to do with it or how to pay for what to do, so there it sits.

Programs from the 1989 Oilers-Steelers playoff, 1986 MLB Allstar Game, 1989 NBA Allstar Game, and 1986 NL playoffs vs the Mets
Programs from the 1989 Oilers-Steelers playoff, 1986 MLB Allstar Game, 1989 NBA Allstar Game, and 1986 NL playoffs vs the Mets

This was not the first concert in the Dome.  That claim would go to Judy Garland who played in 1965 with the Supremes opening.  Sonny James, however, was the first concert recorded and released on album format.

Sonny-James-235x300I am not sure when this was recorded but it was released in 1969.  It contained a number of Sonny’s hits (and he had a lot of them).  He thanks the Houston Astros a couple times so I imagine this happened after a ball game.  The songs are good.  A lot of energy.  A bit medley heavy for my liking but there are some good songs on the album.  He gives some space to his band in terms of singing and instrumentals.  He also has a sing along with “The Eye’s of Texas/ Deep in the Heart of Texas”.  A lot of people like “Running Bear”.  I don’t but it is on this album.DSCN1137

For a sample, I went with the Intro followed by a medley of “Ill Never Find Another You/Born to Be with You” to give a sense of history to this.  I also went with “A World of our Own” which is my favorite Sonny James song.astrodome

This is a satisfactory record for me. Enjoy your seats if you got a pair. Be sure to drink a flat beer in a popcorn sized cup when you listen to these songs.