Change 1997

It's very difficult to listen to this posthumous album, reissued by EMI on CD in 1997 as part of its 100th anniversary series, without shedding a tear or two. Cogan's sense of release on the opening number, "Let Her Go," and her exuberant phrasing in front of an explosive, percussion-driven orchestral accompaniment, displays a glorious, tragic poignancy. Her version of "Trains and Boats and Planes" isn't much less beguiling, her radiant singing bringing an unexpectedly passionate joy to a song that's often tinged with sadness and angst.

Chronological development of popular music from 1960 to 1997, the impact of social change on the text and style of music. Immerse yourself in a nostalgic trip, remember how it was different before. For the older generation it - a memory, a wonderful meeting with the youth and for the young - a unique opportunity to hear music that is virtually nowhere is not sound.

Their union in the Boneshakers was fairly short-lived, but together guitarist/songwriter Randy Jacobs and vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson put together two powerful, rockin' funk and soul albums and entertained some lucky audiences who became Boneshakers themselves on dance floors across the U.S. Atkinson was born in Oberlin, OH. After working 14 years as a Chrysler assembly line worker, he left his job to pursue a music career, singing for such Detroit R&B groups as the Exquisites and Energy. While with Energy, he worked with Detroit producer Don Was (then unknown). He has also sung with industry heavyweights Elton John, Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Diamond, and Brian Wilson.

2002’s ESSENTIAL COLLECTION is basically an updated, new and improved version of FROM THE TOP. After a decade in the marketplace, Universal felt it could better the Carpenters box set, so Richard was asked to re-compile it, this time making sure that all of the hits were included – one of the weaknesses of FROM THE TOP. Richard added a couple of rarities to it as well – the Karen/Ella Medley, which hadn’t yet been issued in the States, and a Japanese Morinaga High Crown Chocolate commercial that had been an extra on a DVD release. ESSENTIAL COLLECTION marks the first appearance of a minor change to the album mix of “Solitaire” as a few mouth/saliva sounds are removed to make Karen’s vocal track sound smoother.

John Zorn & Masada - Vol. 8: Het (1997) {DIW Records Japan DIW-925}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 319 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 142 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 32 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1997 DIW Records Japan | DIW-925
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Klezmer / Post Bop / World Fusion / Ethnic Jazz

Recorded four months after the fragmented loose ends of Masada, Vol. 7: Zayin, Masada seems to be settling into a new – perhaps mature or more conventional – phase with Masada, Vol. 8: Het. The frantic frenzy that drove its early releases is largely reined in, a couple of actual ballads sneak in the repertoire, and there are some solos by John Zorn or Dave Douglas with just the rhythm section instead of their usual countermelody exchanges. "Shechem" opens with very loose-limbed, Ornette Coleman-influenced free bop, with the two horns playing off Joey Baron's light tom-tom touch before Zorn takes a very melodic, flowing soloing on his own until organically handing it off to Douglas.

Tete Montoliu - Boston Concert, Volume 2 (1980) {SteepleChase SCCD 31153 rel 1997}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 208 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 115 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 10 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1980, 1997 SteepleChase | SCCD 31153
Jazz / Modal Music / Post Bop / Piano

This solo recording of the blind Catalan Jazz Pianist Tete Montoliu was recorded in 1980 at Boston University, Massachusetts. The first thing to say about these recordings is that Piano sounds very good for a live recording. Montoliu is a verstile Pianist, one minute he'll be playing in a modern idiom, and in next moment bluesy or then maybe bebop. My favourite track on this album is his great reading of Parker's 'Confirmation'; not the easiest tune to play as a solo Piano piece! Montoliu makes it seem very easy and part of the way through one of trademark change of styles occurs when he starts a walking 4 to the bar left-hand.