Prisoner

Robert Earl Keen - Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions (2015) {Dualtone Records 80302-01685-27}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 321 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 123 Mb
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© 2015 Dualtone Music | 80302-01685-27
Bluegrass / Country / Country Folk / Folk / Progressive Country / Americana

Robert Earl Keen has been playing the Texas singer/songwriter circuit for over three decades, and as a guy who often favors the acoustic side of the country and Americana music scenes, it's no kind of surprise that he's crossed paths with the bluegrass music community, and it certainly makes sense that he's a fan. What is a bit of a surprise is not that Keen has decided to cut a bluegrass album, but that the respected tunesmith has chosen to make it a collection of covers rather than writing a new set of songs.

James Brown - Prisoner of Love (1963) {Polydor Japan POCP-1849 rel 1990}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 155 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 81 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1963, 1990 King Records / Polydor Japan | POCP-1849 | Mono
Funk / R'n'B / Soul / Funky Jam

PRISONER OF LOVE. originally released in 1963 as KING K-851, in mono, was James brown's ninth album release. As usual, a few tracks had been released before on previous albums, and all but one track was previously released as a single. The lengthy instrumental closer, "Thing In G" is the only track that's "album only." Throughout the years the album has been reissued a few times and in a few countries, with all using the same artwork. It was preceded by the legendary LIVE AT THE APOLLO and followed by PURE DYNAMITE: Live at the Royal.

Herbie Hancock - The Prisoner (1969) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-4321 rel 1998}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 246 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
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© 1969, 1998 Blue Note / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCJ-4321 | The BN Works 4300 Series
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

A nice late Blue Note change from Herbie Hancock – a very different album than his previous sets for the label – in that it features a slightly larger group, and a sound that really points the way towards his directions in the 70s! There's a slightly ambitious feel to some of these cuts – not in a way that's over-arranged, but just a new sort of thinking for Herbie's kind of groove – a mode that's partially informed by the seriousness of 60s jazz soundtracks, but which also has the beginnings of some more righteous modes of expression too. Players are all great – and include Joe Henderson on tenor and flute, Johnny Coles on flugelhorn, Garnett Brown on trombone, Hubert Laws on flute, Jerome Richardson on bass clarinet, Buster Williams on bass, and Tootie Heath on drums. Herbie plays both acoustic and electric piano – using the latter here in one of his first recordings on the instrument.