The DVD of this June 2, 2004, Austin show is over twice the length of the CD equivalent, but it's not just quantity that makes it an important item in the Mavericks' catalog. Eight extra tracks add depth and breadth to the band's already eclectic mix of Americana, Cuban, Tex-Mex, classic honky-tonk, and bluesy '50s-styled rock & roll. Nine additional musicians, including a terrific four-piece horn section and two keyboardists, bolster but never overwhelm the quartet. Guitarist/songwriter/frontman Raul Malo is not surprisingly the star of the show, with lead guitarist Eddie Perez the only other bandmember to attract substantial camera time….
One of the most popular funk groups of the '70s, War were also one of the most eclectic, freely melding soul, Latin, jazz, blues, reggae, and rock influences into an effortlessly funky whole. Although War's lyrics were sometimes political in nature (in keeping with their racially integrated lineup), their music almost always had a sunny, laid-back vibe emblematic of their Southern California roots. War kept the groove loose, and they were given over to extended jamming in fact, many of their studio songs were edited together out of longer improvisations.
Freddie King, hard-driving and perhaps driven, was only 42 when he died on December 28, 1976. The intensity of the performances in this video suggest an artist who burned at full throttle every time he played. Guitarists as diverse as Eric Clapton and Jerry Garcia have cited King as a formative influence. Most of the clips in this collection come from a unique time warp, a fleeting moment when Southern R&B collided with mid-60s "Mod" and rendered a show called The!!!!Beat. Freddie King was 31 at the time of The!!!!Beat, playing and singing in prime form.
Ace’s flagship “Golden Age” series continues to be among our best selling and most highly respected releases. After a short hiatus, we’re pleased to announce this new volume featuring 28 country recordings that made the Billboard Hot 100 between 1955 and 1963. As “More Country Hits” is in the “Golden Age Of American Popular Music” series, the content is more melodic overall than a “Golden Age Of American Rock’n’Roll” edition might be. Nevertheless, there’s a generous helping of up-tempo hillbilly and borderline rockabilly among the straight-ahead country to give listeners a bit of light and shade. As usual, the CD comes with a generously illustrated and copiously annotated booklet.