Reel To Real (CD Reissue) By Love With Arthur Lee

Arthur Lee, 1945-2006, was a brilliant and eclectic musician, songwriter, and band leader. His work with Love expanded the boundaries of American music as he fused psychedelic west coast sounds with funky rhythms. His last studio album with the band, issued is 1974, has now been reissued on cd with 11 previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Love’s music is not for the faint at heart. It moves rock music to the edge of it structures. “Time is Like A River,” “Stop The Music,” “Be Thankful For What You Got,” and “Everybody’s Gotta Give” are testaments to his creative ability and are fueled by his guitar play and vocals.

The extra tracks are welcome for anyone interested in his work and legacy. There is an electric version of “Everybody’s Gotta Live,” studio rehearsals of “Wonder People (I Do Wonder)” and “Graveyard Hop,” plus the single mix of “You Said You Would.”‘

The album was not a commercial success and was out of print for decades. Maybe not of the quality of their Classic Forever Changes; it is nonetheless an excellent look inti the mind of an oft forgotten genius.

Slowhand At 70 (2 CD + DVD) By Eric Clapton

England’s Royal Albert Hall has been the home for thousands of concerts during its 144 year history. During 1965, The Yardb1rds with Eric Clapton played at the Hall during a taping for British television. Last May, just a couple of weeks after celebrating his 70^th birthday, he returned to the venerable hall for a series of concerts, which included his 200^th. The May 15th concert has now been released as a two-cd plus one-DVD set titled Slowhand At 70: Live At Royal Albert Hall.

Accompanied by keyboardist/vocalist Paul Carrack, drummer Steve Gad, keyboardist Chris Stainton, bassist Nathan East and backing vocalists Michelle John and Sharon White, Clapton presents a career spanning concert.

Now into his sixth decade as a musician, Clapton has one of the smoothest and technically adept guitar styles in rock history. His ability to bend the strings of his guitar to create a unique and signature sound is instantly recognizable. His guitar runs remain fluid, while his voice has acquired a nice patina.

He has performed many of the songs presented here hundreds of times and while there may be nothing dramatically new; they are like being visited by old friends. Many times the joy is in the details and here Clapton is relaxed and it’s difficult to find any miscues.

His pop/rock work spans the decades. “Pretending,” “I Shot The Sheriff,” “Layla,” “Wonderful Tonight,” a poignant “Tears In Heaven,” and a precise and rocking “Cocaine” all find him at the top of his craft. Blues numbers such as “Key To The Highway,” “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “Driftin’ Blues,” and “Crossroads” all have subtle surprises and textures. The DVD is a repeat of the CD’s except for the added “Little Queen Of Spades,” which is presented as a tribute to B.B. King.

The sound and the video are both crystal clear as the concert was recorded with the intention of releasing it as both a CD and DVD.

Clapton is one of those seemingly eternal superstars who celebrated his 70^th birthday in his home away from home. Through the technology of the day, he invited millions of his fans to join him. It is a party worth attending.

Somewhere Out There By Lesley Gore

Lesley Gore, (1946-2015), passed away several months ago at the age of 68. She is best remembered for a series of shiny 1960’s pop hits, including the number one “It’s My Party,” “Judy’s Turn To Cry,” “She’s A Fool,” “You Don’t Own Me,” and “Sunshine Rainbows And Lollipops,” all issued before the age of 20. The hits ran out during the late 1960’s but her career lasted until her death.

During the early 1970’s she recorded one album for the Motown subsidiary MoWest Label. Someplace Else Now received little commercial attention and quickly faded away. Now it has been released on CD for the first time and fills in a huge hole in the Lesley Gore legacy.

The album may not be as bright and catchy as her early hits; but it did show growth as an artist. She also wrote or co-wrote all 12 tracks, which gives it a very personal and reflective feel.

“For Me” is an apt song title for the album opener as the pensive lyrics and strings signal a new phase of her career. “Be My Life” and “The Road I Walk” both have gospel influences and find Gore moving away from her pop roots.

Lesley Gore always had a smooth and effortless vocal approach but “What I Did Wrong” forces her to stretch a bit. She sings with passion and seems connected to the lyrics.

“She Said That” tells a dark story and is very different from just about everything she ever produced.

As with all the Real Gone re-issue releases, the liner notes are excellent as they give a complete history of the music. The sound is also crisp and clean and was taken from the original masters. It helps that Motown usually had very good production values.

Someplace Else Now may not be Lesley Gore’s crowning achievement or most listenable album but it was a creative leap for her at the time and remains interesting when compared to the rest of her musical output.

Power In The Blood By Buffy Saint-Marie

Buffy Sainte-Marie is an iconic folk singer whose career stretches back to 1962. Always in the forefront of social activism and protest, she has now returned with her 16^th studio release Power In The Blood.

While her voice still takes some getting used too, it is fine for a folk artist interpreting, in this case her own songs. She has always been a talented songwriter who is best known for her incisive songs of protest, pride, environmental concerns, and anti-war themes. Often forgotten is the fact that she has produced a number of love songs, including the beautiful “Until Its Time For You To Go.” Her new release continues to visit these themes that have served her so well for the last half-century.

She was an important part of the folk protest generation of the 1960’s and the title track and chilling “The Uranium War” return her to that time period. At the other end of the spectrum is the beautiful “Love Charms (Mojo Bijoux),” which just about matches anything from her past.

She reaches back to her first album of over 50 years ago for a re-imaging of “It’s My Way” and then alters the words to another previous release “Generation.”

In some places she veers away from the simplicity of her past as her vocals are layered. It is also good to see an album of all original material.

Despite a couple of loves songs her new album is not as gentle as many in her past. The harder edge fits the world around her well as she continues to inter-act with her surroundings.

Power In The Blood continues Buffy Sainte-Marie’s legacy of strong songs that move in many directions. It shows some growth, which is always appreciated for an artist in her mid-70s. It is a good traditional folk album, which is what is expected for an artist of her stature.

Songs From The Road (CD + DVD) By The Spin Doctors

The Spin Doctors were formed during the late 1980’s and grabbed the brass ring with  their first release as Pocket Full Of Kryptonite sold in excess of five million copies in the United States. While they have not had any other releases reach that level, they have remained in the forefront of the music scene for the last two decades.

They have now returned as a part of Ruf Records Songs From The Road series. Their 14 song set was recorded live at the Harmonie Club in Bonn, Germany, on October 17, 2013. Released as a CD/DVD set,  it presents the modern day version of the band and their songs.

The set catches the band in a smaller venue. They come across as a gritty, hardworking band who are very in touch with their audience.

The material covers their career from their early big hits “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” to material from 2013’s If The River Was Whiskey.

The Spin Doctors may not receive the press of 20 years ago but The Road proves that they remain relevant nearly thirty years after their formation.

Ticket To Ride By The Beatles

“Ticket To Ride” may not have spent as many weeks at number one as the Beatles biggest hits but on May 22, 1965, it spent the first of seven days on top of the American Pop Chart.

Interestingly if you look at the fine print on the label of “Ticket To Ride,” you will see it as a release from the upcoming Beatles film, Eight Arms To Hold You. The name was ultimately changed to Help.

The Days Of Wine And Roses By Dream Syndicate

The Paisley Underground was an American music movement emanating from the West coast during the 1980’s. It combined a psychedelic sound with harmonies and rock/folk rhythms. Bands such as Game Theory, The Plimsouls, The White Rope, and Dream Syndicate were part of the movement, which began to fade away during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, leaving behind an indelible imprint on American music.

The Dream Syndicate was in the forefront of the Paisley Underground movement. Formed during 1981, they released their first album, The Days Of Wine And Roses, during 1982. That album has now been reissued with some excellent bonus tracks.

The original lineup of Steve Wynn, Karl Precoda, Kendra Smith, and Dennis Duck were feeling their way when they released their first album. They were creating music that was original rather than copied. There were no blueprints to be used when forming their music. It was dark, passionate, and energetic.

“That’s What You Always Say” is one of those songs that defy description. There are textures, tempo changes, and a number of twists and turns. “Halloween” is a song that builds throughout, propelled by a scintillating guitar solo that threatens to leave conventional music behind. The title track find the band in attack mode.

If you are a fan of the band, then the bonus tracks will be a treat. “Still Holding On To You” and “Armed With An Empty Gun” are early versions of songs that appeared on their sophomore album, 1984’s Medicine Show.  Kendra Smith left the band after the first album, so her participation on this tracks makes them different than the future finished versions.

The Dream Syndicate brought a tape recorder into the studio on December 9, 1982. The results are the previously unreleased shot jam “Is It Rolling Bob” and the complete song “A Reason,” which was probably ignored as it just doesn’t fit into their normal style.

The final two tracks are from early 1982, which was about two months after the bands formation. “Like Mary” has a jam quality but is a finished song. “Outside The Dream Syndicate” is a ten minute guitar jam that finds the band engaged in a relaxed creative process.

The Days Of Wine And Roses is an oft forgotten seminal album from the 1980’s. It has been out of print for close to a decade, and combined with the bonus tracks, makes for a nice trip back in time to a specific era and style of music. It is worth the trip.

Mind Gardens By Toulouse Engelhardt

The Takoma Label, from 1959-1976, was responsible for the resurrection of acoustic guitar music. Artists such as John Fahey, Leo Kottke, and more broadened the horizons of an increasingly lost art form. One of the last guitarists signed to the label was Toulouse Engelhardt.

Engelhardt’s career has now passed the four decade mark, and he remains on of the more creative guitarists alive. His finger picking style was ground breaking and his virtuosity with the 12-string guitar virtually unmatched.

His new release, Mind Gardens, carries on his tradition of excellence. Whether it be channeling Dick Dale on “The Wedge,” showing off his famous 12-string style on “Dom Perignon,” or exhibiting some classical flair, he has produced a versatile album of music centered around his guitar.

Engelhardt  has carried on the legacy he helped establish during the early 1970’s and remains one of the finer practitioners of his craft.

The Complete Concert By The Sea By Erroll Garner

Erroll Garner is many times a forgotten figure in the history of American jazz. The irony is he was not only commercially successful but also had a very distinctive style and sound, which ranks him among the greatest jazz pianists of the 20^th century.

While he usually recorded solo or in small combos, he approached the jazz idiom from a big band and swing perspective. His piano became the substitute for the brass section as he explored the song’s melodies. He also had the uncanny ability of playing different rhythms with each hand.

One of the highlights of his career was the release of his Concert By The Sea album. Backed by drummer Denzil Best and bassist Eddie Calhoun, who provided a tempo for his improvisations, he produced some of the most enduring music in jazz history.

The original concert was recorded September 15, 1955, in Carmel, California. Eleven tracks were culled from the performance for the original vinyl release. Now, to mark the 60^th anniversary of the event, the complete 22 song performance will be released for the first time. Spread over two discs it presents the concert as it happened. The third disc contains the original vinyl release plus interviews with the three participants following the concert.

As good as the original release was, it only presented unconnected parts of the concert. This new release has everything in order including announcer Johnny Lyons. It allows the listener to get into the flow of the music and enjoy the cohesive nature of the songs.

Cole Porter’s “Night And Day” and the Rodgers/Hart Tune “Spring Is Here” lead off the concert and neither appeared on the 1956 release. They are the tone setters as Garner settles into a groove that will continue throughout the concert.

Highlights include the intricate patterns of “Cover The Waterfront,” the improvisation of the swinging “Will You Still Love Me,” the changing tempos of “Sweet And Lovely,” and an extended version of the classic song “Caravan.”

Garner rarely presented introspective music; rather his music made a person happy. His melodies and improvisational excursions were not hard to follow despite his technical brilliance. He never learned to read music so he played by feel and memory, which set him apart from many of his contemporaries.

The original Concert By The Sea is considered the highlight recording of his career. Now the Complete Concert By The Sea has exceeded it. It resurrects some of the finest jazz music of the 20^th century and then some.