[SMiLE]

The CD I burned of my favourite SMiLE mix (see my signature).

I got mixed feelings from it today. It's as uplifting as ever because of its youthful enthusiasm and all-inclusiveness (and its beauty as sheer sound) but saddening too as these days I have little contact with its maker. Nothing acrimonious--far from it. Situations change. It's all part of it, I guess.

I'm actually a pretty big fan of classic animation. I'll warn you, I could easily give you a few dozen links! 

Please do! It's great to see others posting in the non-BB section of the forum besides JK.

[Lady and the Tramp]

Okay, this is probably the first full-length cartoon film I ever saw, back in the '50s. Lady and the Tramp looks just as good today.

This sequence never fails to bring tears to my eyes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nWNXO3CZkU

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_and_the_Tramp

I always wondered why they did the double-tracking. It was done on a couple of other JLH songs as well, but I can't find a reason for that other than trying to offer a different view on his sound. Very strange. That said, I really like the sound of the double-tracked foot stomping you mentioned. 

Perhaps they were looking for a hit. The ragged talking bit is clearly him overdubbing his voice a second time, maybe the sung portions as well. I see some commenters conjectured that the double-speed guitar is actually a normal-speed mandolin! One even thought it might be Yank Rachell, who played with Sleepy John Estes. H'mm. Sounds seriously speeded up to me.

Talking of Sleepy John... "Street Car Blues" features YR on mandolln and Jab Jones on piano. An extraordinary sound, all told.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMD76FGX_K8

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleepy_John_Estes

If you want to hear a good example of early r&b, check out the original version of "Cherry Pie" by Marvin and Johnny, from 1954. Skip & Flip had a bit with it in 1961 I believe, but in my opinion it can't touch the original.

Here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tPjZOXNEXo

What an atmosphere! That counted for a lot in those days. Thanks for that, Jay.

I just bought a small CD boxset of John Lee Hooker that features 16 of his original Albums plus a CD of bonus material. All in all 10 CDs. I got it for little over 10 € (Euro). I guess this is possible because of the copyright stuff. Some very, very good albums and great music.

This is the set:

https://www.amazon.de/Hooker-Original-Albums-Bonus-Tracks/dp/B00XZKT4P4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=29TJRSXT05YLI&keywords=john+lee+hookerjr&qid=1565026316&s=music&sprefix=john+lee+hooker%2Caps%2C165&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1

One track that really got me comes from "John Lee Hooker plays & sings the blues", called "Lonely boy boogie"; almost Chuck Berry-esque guitar licks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieTp9ORIuFE

That's a lot of John Lee Hooker!  I did like the track you linked--who else could do what he did with one or two notes and a stomping foot?!

This is my favourite JLH track, the totally over-the-top "Walkin' The Boogie". Those double-speed guitar licks, the insane echo on the foot-stomping, the double-tracked vocals... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbezj9W2dXQ

Oh, while I'm here, this is my favourite Carl P song and one of my all-time favourite r'n'r tracks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYH_SS_aYtA

Probably my favorite intro in Rock!

Wow yes! For someone who's hardly a household name, Mr P has produced so many classics!

[Living the Blues]

Motown is welcome too. And white artists in these genres. In fact the first post is a track by Canned Heat, one that is close to my heart. Love the brass, arranged by Miles Grayson, on "Sandy's Blues". That's Joe Sample guesting on piano.

I bought Living the Blues in early 1969 soon after its release, sold it in 1972 (long story) and rebought it three or four years later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh8NqafmK9k

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_the_Blues

[OCA.]

I love Palm Desert, it's one of my all-time favorite songs. The rest of it is kinda boring to me. Not to downplay how creative, brave (in how uncommercial it is) and avant garde it is. It just doesn't click with me. It's not fun or particularly thought provoking to me when I listen to it.

I've tried to like it, god how I've tried! But all I get out of it is a headache. Odd in a way, as I love OCA.

[BoJack Horseman,]

This is such a vast area going back to the beginnings of cinema that I'll stick my neck out and give it a topic of its own. (The first half of the title comes from a Captain Beefheart song, "Pachuco Cadaver"). Folks, please feel free to post your own favourite animations, preferably short excerpts or trailers.

Having a much younger online penfriend has not only worked wonders in my rejuvenation department but has introduced me to areas of culture I would never have touched upon otherwise. These include computer games soundtracks, the videos of intelligent and creative YouTube bloggers like Matt Boman (aka BoDiddy) and Taylor Marie and more recent younger people's TV shows, including animated series.

One shining example in the last-named category is BoJack Horseman, which stars "a self-loathing alcoholic horse currently in his 50s" (an anti-hero in his own show!!) but please read the wikipage. It's certainly engaging and hilarious but as an older viewer I must admit to occasionally having trouble keeping up. Highly recommended all the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1eJMig5Ik4



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BoJack_Horseman

I think "Thoughts of You" perhaps should have been the closer. TOY is one of those songs that leaves me totally drained, emotionally and spiritually, you know? I always quit listening to the album as soon as that song is over. I just can't hear anything else after that.

I see where you're coming from--those ascending strings at the end... But I'm happy with the way things are. So you only ever listen to side one!     

I'm not familiar with Ultimate Bamboo, as far as I know. I have a boot of songs from the sessions, and some of them are quite interesting. My favorite is the "dirty" ending of Wild Situation. 

Sorry, got the spelling wrong--this Bamboo/Bambu business is utterly confusing at times.

I think it's a fascinating compilatlon. With notes by Jason Penick--what more could one wish for?  

http://www.danaddington.com/denny/newbamboo.html

I dont own it, but c'mon. 'Nuff said.

5/5

I'm seeing this topic for the first time...

I do own it--it was my last big BB outlay. As you say: 'Nuff said.

5/5

indefatigable 

JK, you've just expanded my vocabulary.

Glad to be of service, sir!

This is what happens when you disenfranchise people and create a system of massive wealth inequality and then mask the reasons why this is happening by offering up standard boogiemen: Muslims, Mexicans, women, liberals, PC snowflakes, deadbeats, welfare cheats, etc.

When you give exploited people with an already distorted view of the world another massive distortion, then inevitably bad things will happen.

Politics is not my strong point (I had to read this a few times) but I understand exactly what you're saying, Choc.

I hope RangeRover is having a good trip to San Francisco and elsewhere. I was relieved when she had posted that a friend would be traveling with her. Looking forward to reading her comments upon her return.

Yes, I hope she has fun too. It's a pity we don't get on better but that's life, I guess.

Good to see you around anyway, Lizzie.

Lacewing's lone 1971 album is tucked away towards the end of CB's "Wasn't Impressed With"s. She didn't single out "Paradox" as the standout track, which it most definitely is. It's understandable, as a gruelling three-year session of listening to some 300 albums would probably become more of an ordeal than a pleasure towards the end. It certainly shows stamina!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQKTs4JZsZA



http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/LACEWING.htm

I must add that it was great fun going through these lists (for my own pleasure), standardizing the layout and checking dates and spelling. And most informative!

Wonderful anecdotes, m27 and PF.

Thoughts going out to El Paso, thoughts going out to Dayton. Where in the name of heck are we heading?

[Symphony No. 5]

"Stunning, stunning, stunning. Have just heard the BBC proms convert and want to hear it again and again. The dissonances are uplifting. I find the whole thing inspiring. (I am a writer.) Thanks for uploading it."

Thus YT commenter Nick Ashton-Jones earlier this morning. He was describing the early (1915) version of Sibelius's Symphony No. 5 as performed at last night's Proms. I heard it too. I've never warmed to this work in its final (1919) version and now I know why. It had been sanitized, admittedly by its composer, but such operations are not always for the good. (Think of Zappa's later meddlings with albums that were fine as they were.) This is indeed stunning. Long may it be performed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4XuOPgHC9Y

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._5_(Sibelius)

[Producer and music historian, Shawn Pitts and Hank Davis just made a startling discovery that will rewrite rockabilly history. Carl Perkins recorded at least two years earlier in a small studio in rural Tennessee. Those records make it clear that he was far from the clueless hillbilly who had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the rockabilly revolution. In fact, one of the four songs he recorded was Good Rocking Tonight, perhaps two years earlier than Elvis Presley cut it at Sun!]

Carl Perkins, one of the founding fathers of rock & roll, began his legendary recording career for Sun Records in 1954. After two fairly undistinguished hillbilly outings, he created Blue Suede Shoes, which changed the face of American popular music. It was the first song to top all three charts at once: pop, hillbilly and R&B.

Wow, I never realized there was a hillbilly chart. I was always under the impression that hillbilly like redneck was vaguely derogatory!
 

Producer and music historian, Shawn Pitts and Hank Davis just made a startling discovery that will rewrite rockabilly history. Carl Perkins recorded at least two years earlier in a small studio in rural Tennessee. Those records make it clear that he was far from the clueless hillbilly who had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the rockabilly revolution. In fact, one of the four songs he recorded was Good Rocking Tonight, perhaps two years earlier than Elvis Presley cut it at Sun!

That is indeed amazing!

Oh, while I'm here, this is my favourite Carl P song and one of my all-time favourite r'n'r tracks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYH_SS_aYtA

[POB]

I have this album a 5, only because 10 was not an option. 

Ha, yes. This album was the recent subject of the indefatigable Watamushi's discussion of BB songs at Hoffman, where the general opinion was that "Farewell My Friend" would have made a better album closer. "EOTS" to me sounds much more final and appropriate.

I bought the Deluxe reissue of POB to help ease Dennis into the UK album charts but I soon gave it away to a friend. The bootleg version burnt for me by a Capitol Board poster years earlier says it all and my precious copy of Ultimate Bambu easily takes care of the rest.     

[Dennis' damaged voice is actually an asset. I take it as him saying "Life has hurt me, I've tried to escape with drugs and drink but that's hurt me too. I don't want to hide anymore, this is who I am, take it or leave it."]

I give it a 4/5. Really cool album, it's great Dennis got his songs out there since the Beach Boys were seemingly ignoring his talent. It's a very personal collection of music, and with that in mind, Dennis' damaged voice is actually an asset. I take it as him saying "Life has hurt me, I've tried to escape with drugs and drink but that's hurt me too. I don't want to hide anymore, this is who I am, take it or leave it."

Beautifully put, M, as always. Actually I came here to say that "End Of The Show" features one of the most heart-rending moments in pop, that high instrumental sixth at 1:09 in the linked version. In terms of sheer mournfulness I'd rank it with Richard and Levon's call and response in The Band's "Whispering Pines" and Gilmour's four-note chiming motif in "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". The perfect closer for POB.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxvv-vE8k88

[Killing Eve.]

Giu La Testa (Duck, Your Sucker)  - Ennio Morricone

Steve, you've mentioned this OST twice now, so I'm off to investigate it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8DzB090GG4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck,_You_Sucker!

Pretty cool! But it's probably a lot cooler when you've seen the film.

Right now I'm listening to the fantastic soundtrack to the first series of Killing Eve. Wow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ke4480MicU&list=PLkLimRXN6NKxz-hr8UOxKBZ3LwMg7BGNY&index=1



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Eve

[Also Sprach Zarathustra]

Some years ago I discovered this take on Richard Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra and posted it at a now-defunct forum. I rediscovered it last night with a lucky spell of googling and here it is again (now on two forums for safety's sake).

I remember giving the debut album by Ars Nova a brief listen in a record shop in 1968--it was on Elektra so I was immediately intrigued. I gave up after two or three tracks--it was too eclectic for my tastes in those days (and perhaps too frivolous). So I never got as far as "Zarathustra".

It seems this album and 2001: A Space Odyssey were released pretty well simultaneously so there was little question of the Kubrick film being an influence. As if to confirm this, the Ars Nova track includes a bizarre passage from Strauss's work that is nowhere to be found in Kubrick's OST, namely the twelve-tone "Of Science" fugue (here at 0:32; see the Strauss link).

This album by Ars Nova never made my friend's lists, probably because, being somewhat out on a limb, there were no YouTube comments that would have led her to it. Fifty years later, I can appreciate it more than I did then, having mellowed with age (or something). "Zarathustra" was the last track on side one of the original LP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RzNgjWg2Zw



http://therockasteria.blogspot.com/2017/10/ars-nova-ars-nova-1968-us-magnificent.html [please read but don't click on any links on this page!]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Also_sprach_Zarathustra

[Once Upon a Time in the West.]

I've lost count of the number of times I've seen Once Upon a Time in the West. I know there are some who prefer The Good, the Bad and the Ugly--I suppose it depends on which film you saw first... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XkHsinz7oU

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_the_West