Fork 1.9

“[These suites] have rarely been recorded or promoted by harpsichordists during the most recent revival of interest in ‘early music.’” I realize that Richard Egarr is entitled to his own opinions—his liner notes on an earlier release, for example, likened the humor in Purcell’s harpsichord music to that of the wonderful old 1950s BBC comedy The Goon Show —but he’s not entitled to his own facts. Christopher Brodersen pointed out in a 2011 review of these works featuring Laurence Cummings ( Fanfare 34:5) that ArkivMusic listed nine complete sets played on the harpsichord, with several others on the piano. I find some of the suites have considerably more recordings than that, in 2014: 26 for the Suite in A Major, 28 for the Suite in D Minor, 25 for the Suite in E Minor, 47 for the Suite in E Major. If such numbers reflect rare recordings, I have to wonder what Egarr would consider a moderate number, let alone a frequent one.

The Complete Motown Singles has been a dream project of Motown and soul fanatics for many years, ever since the first decade of Stax/Volt singles was compiled in an impressive nine-disc box set in 1991. Prior to that, no soul label had its output as thoroughly documented as that set – there had been the Atlantic R&B box, which collected highlights, but it never attempted to capture the label's entire run – and while The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 missed a B-side or two, it was an exceptional piece of music history, and pretty damn entertaining to boot.

Charlie Walker - Four Original Epic Albums (2019) {2CD Set, Morello Records MRLL89D rec 1965-1971}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 659 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 242 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 36 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1965-71, 2019 Epic / Morello Records / Cherry Red | MRLL 89D
Honky-Tonk / Country / Country-Pop / Nashville Sound

Like so many country entertainers of his era, Charles Levi Walker (born in Copeville, Texas on November 2nd 1926) grew up in rural surroundings, spending his early years picking cotton and being inspired by the sounds of country music. After short spells with Imperial, Decca and Mercury Records he secured a deal with Columbia in mid-1958 and on his first session, June 5th 1958, recorded a new song from the up-and- coming songwriter Harlan Howard, then a fork-lift driver in California. Produced by Don Law, ‘Pick Me Up On Your Way Down’ brought success for both singer and writer. The record climbed to #2 in the US country charts during a 22 week chart run. It also set Charlie Walker’s direction in the many recordings that followed. A honky-tonk hero was born!

After Neil Young left the California folk-rock band Buffalo Springfield in 1968, he slowly established himself as one of the most influential and idiosyncratic singer/songwriters of his generation. Young's body of work ranks second only to Bob Dylan in terms of depth, and he was able to sustain his critical reputation, as well as record sales, for a longer period of time than Dylan, partially because of his willfully perverse work ethic…