We're All Together Again

Ever since I started releasing records in 2007 (10 years ago now!), people have contacted me periodically to ask if I’d be interested in making music to accompany their projects. Most of these projects have been things like films, dance pieces and theatre plays . . . but every so often I get the odd request for something a little different. Peter, would you write a song for my wedding? My one year anniversary? A ferry boat ride?

On the five tracks of Together Again!, recorded with three separate lineups in 1959-1960, the Willis Jackson-Jack McDuff-speared combo offers respectable early soul-jazz, if not too different from many other Prestige-overseen sessions of the early '60s. They show their bop chops to good advantage on "Three Little Words" and "Tu' Gether"; take a slightly bluesier groove on "Glad 'a See Ya'"; and slow way down for a make-out mood on the cover of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "It Might as Well Be Spring.

When Buck Owens took over co-hosting duties on Hee Haw in 1969, he brought along singer Susan Raye who he had also featured on his earlier television program The Buck Owens Ranch Show. As Buck’s popularity reached a new audience, the hits kept coming including hits for other artists associated with Buck, and Susan Raye emerged as a viable county artist in her own right. With 3 Top hits of her own in 1971, she certainly had her fans, but in addition to her solo work, she also recorded multiple albums with Buck in the first half of the decade.

A little while ago, the British 'Guardian' wrote that ACT was on a mission to sign the best European pianists to its label. Creative virtuosos like Yaron Herman, Leszek Mozdzer and Gwilym Simcock bear witness to the fact that these pianists do not have to come from Scandinavia. And that they don't have to be young is now proven by the Emil Viklicky ACT debut 'Together Again'. The 65 year-old Czech national has perhaps stayed too down-to-earth for us to have discovered him earlier for what he is: the 'patriarch of Czech jazz piano', as the London Evening Standard put it. And 'one of the best contemporary pianists, whose touch, voicing and chords have a lot in common with the grand masters of taste the likes of Tommy Flanagan and Jimmy Rowles,' as the American periodical Jazz Time wrote of him in 2004.

It is extremely feasible of any project John Fogerty has been associated "Deja Vu All Over Again" may be the one that even the hardcore fan isn't impacted on the first listen the same level as they will be during subsequent. While "Eye Of The Zombie" was met with a certain amount of hostility (Unjustly) those were from the critics poison pen and not the typical Fogerty/CCR fan.
As the consumer gives Fogerty's release from 2004 a larger workout on the CD Player suddenly their initial reaction increases between 1 and 1.5 stars. In it's disjointed fashion you need to comprehend what is going on and its contents can't be heard with half an ear and the TV on.
An interesting note is how Fogerty used a beloved baseball reference for the title track. "Déjà vu All Over Again" is one of several famous quotes from legendary catcher Yogi Berra. A Hall of Famer that played with the New York Yankees. The track with a bit of "Who'll Stop The Rain" poses the all too similarities between Vietnam and Iraq. "Sugar-Sugar In My Life" mixes a country and folk feel. Fogerty was approximately 59 years old when the record was released so how about some of the critics that wanted to swoop down like a vulture on pray pay homage to how his voice has held up through the rock and roll battles. "She's Got Baggage" has been referred to by many as Fogerty plays the Ramones. A bit of fun as some punk/new wave sounds emanate from the speakers. "Rader" could be a Dire Straits tune. Fogerty is certainly covering the rock and roll years as the journey unfolds. "Honey Do" is a take off on the legendary Carl Perkins track "Honey Don't." "Nobody's Here Anymore" can be the strongest cut on the album. It offers success on two levels. For those that like the mixture of Fogerty's music and lyrics the tune will be a keeper and for those that are analytical in their song interpretation listen to the loneliness in the vocal inflection. John's been at this a long time and has seen a plethora of friends in the entertainment industry leave the earth far too early. "I Will Walk With You" could be easily placed in the realm of the genius from Paul McCartney with the Beatles ("Blackbird"). "Rhubarb Pie" gives the feeling of a bunch of friends gathered together with acoustic guitars. "Wicked Old Witch" is "Green River" slowed down a notch and well done in its modern day construction. "In The Garden" ends the festivities as Fogerty shows for a guy nearing sixty he can still rock out!
Fogerty invited Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) to play on the CD and at times if the drums are familiar it is Kenny Aronoff. He was John Mellencamp's drummer for numerous years and his ten page resume includes the Jefferson Airplane 1989 reunion tour, Bob Dylan, Meatloaf, and Stevie Nicks to name a few.

All Together Now is a two volume Beatles bootleg series. It compiles items from different promotional records, including flexi-discs, radio spots, and other ephemera. These CD's were made by Remasters Workshop in 2011.