Woke XG

Kay Starr - Losers, Weepers (1960) {EMI Japan Cardboard Sleeve TOCJ-9742 rel 2012}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 206 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 76 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 34 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 2012 Capitol / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-9742 | 24bit remastering
Jazz / Female Jazz Vocal

Kay Starr was always a very underrated jazz singer. Because she had a few pop hits and gained a major name in the 1950s, Starr is often overlooked in the jazz world, but most of her vintage records are well worth investigating. This particular out-of-print LP from around 1957 (the date is approximate) features her backed by a string section arranged by Van Alexander. Although most of the songs have to deal with love, the emphasis is on ballads and the strings are heavy in spots, Starr gives a jazz feeling to each of her dozen interpretations. As usual, in spots she sounds eerily close to Dinah Washington. Highlights include "You Always Hurt the One You Love," "Don't Take Your Love from Me," "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" and "Into Each Rain Some Rain Must Fall." Superior singing.

Not long before he died, Odom made the album of his life with a combo called the Gold Tops, who provided precisely the right backing to properly spotlight his booming voice. A few overdone standards - "Rock Me Baby," "Woke Up This Morning," "Next Time You See Me" - intrude a bit, but Odom's own "Bad Feelin'," "Why Did You Leave Me," and "Come to Me" make impassioned amends. Steve Freund, best-known for his long stint with Sunnyland Slim, contributes stellar lead guitar.

Beautifully played & produced with an excellent song selection, there is no reason for any R&B/jazz lover not to have this in their collection. Both Sample and David T. Walker are hot, and have a great rappore. The horn section absolutely kicks. The only bad thing about this album is it ends to soon and leaves you hungry for more.

Pretty much exactly what it says it is – a combination of the two releases, the Bloodied But Unbowed compilation and the War On 45 EP, on one compact disc. The remastering job is fine, the cover art is all reproduced, and there are even complete lyrics, with one or two exceptions. Anyone wanting to give these guys a listen should start right here.

The 2005 released "The Inconsolable Secret" wasn't the best, but it was the most ambitious album of the two US-Retroproggers Steve Babb and Fred Schendel. The double CD was a monumental concept album, on which for the first time Fiauch used a real drummer. In the past, the two multi-instrumentalists had "drummed" or programmed corresponding machines themselves. They also put no less than fifteen guest musicians at the service of this epic work, including a four-piece "Girls Choir", a soprano and a tenor as well as various strings. The album was sold out for a long time - and is now coming back on the market in a deluxe edition. But what's special is probably CD 3, which contains "The Morning She Woke" as well as the four longest tracks of the original work in remix versions. Glass Hammer's current singer Jon Davison, who also serves on Yes, breathes new life into this track and "Long And Long Ago"…

Universally hailed as the reigning king of the blues, the legendary B.B. King is without a doubt the single most important electric guitarist of the last half century…

Simply one of the greatest live blues albums ever captured on tape. Cut in 1963 at the New Era Club in Nashville, the set finds Etta James in stellar shape as she forcefully delivers her own "Something's Got a Hold on Me" and "Seven Day Fool" interspersed with a diet of sizzling covers ("What'd I Say," "Sweet Little Angel," "Money," "Ooh Poo Pah Doo"). The CD incarnation adds three more great titles, including an impassioned reprise of her "All I Could Do Was Cry." Guitarist David T. Walker is outstanding whenever he solos.