A fantastic band, fully agree with Luther's words. These guys could play, and when they played together they brought out the best in each other. With Helm, Danko and Manuel they had three exceptional singers in the band, which only added to the diversity and variety of their material.

However, Sheriff, if I were you I'd start with "Music From Big Pink" (1968) or "The Band" (1969), the "Best-Of" & "Hits" collections that are circulating aren't always the best place to start, as they omit a lot of key albums tracks, and the two albums I mention are both classics, must-haves, "The Band" being my favourite.

I'm sure you already know "The Basement Tapes" too, as a Dylan fan. As far as I know Robbie Robertson was the only one to score a couple of minor "solo hits", such as "Somewhere Down The Crazy River" in 1988, but I have to admit that I only have a couple of Rick Danko solo albums, and I still haven't picked up the latest one by Levon Helm, so that makes it impossible to say anything about the strength of their solo output.

Personally I also like "Stage Fright" (1970, engineered by a young Todd Rundgren), which is often overlooked, and "Northern Lights Southern Cross" (1975), which is also excellent (and features "Acadian Driftwood"!), and probably their last truly great offering.

They're great, especially live. But I've found out that I need to be in a certain mood to be able to fully appreciate the quality of their music, it's very atmospheric, it can take you places.

I only have three of their albums, "Agaetis Byrjun" (excellent album), "(  )" and the new one with the catchy title, but I've only heard it once, so I can't say much about it. I like what they're doing though.

I thought John Phillips only released one solo album, 'Wolf King of LA' in 1970 and then dropped out. When did he make these other records?

"Wolfking Of L.A." was his first solo album, "Pay Pack & Follow" features songs recorded (but never released) in the mid/late 1970s with his pals Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and the two Micks (Jagger & Taylor), the album finally came out a few years ago.

"Phillips 66" was recorded just before his passing, aged 65, in 2001. Finally, "Jack Of Diamonds" was pieced together from material recorded in 1972 and 1973 and intended for his second solo album, that never saw the light of day either. Also included are two tracks he contributed to the soundtrack of "Brewster McCloud" and a few other 'bonus' cuts.

These are all very enjoyable records, but I'd say that "Wolfking Of L.A." stands out as his greatest solo collection, an underrated classic.

Has the 3rd part of this podcast been posted? I don't think so, but I could be wrong.   If not, it seems that there has been a long delay since the 2nd segment (May 30th).  Now that the album is out it would be perfect timing for them to release the 3rd and final segment.

Yes, it has been posted:

http://blogs.legacyrecordings.com/podcast/dennis-wilson-3/

That said, I was really moved by "Mexico."  Not sure why, it just grabs me.  I don't really want words on that one.  It's just beautiful.

Me too. What a gorgeous track!

Can't find any weak spots on the whole set, except maybe the short pauses between the tunes.

Maybe they need to reunite to get the wheels in motion.....

Then again, that would probably only bring us another Kinky Kompilation.....

So yes, I'm with you, like the mighty Jabberjaw, they could do with some more respect. The sooner the better.

My advice: get it, you'll love it. A masterpiece. Really.

One thing though: there's several different reissues of the album going around, one has the album in stereo and mono, then there's the inevitable "40th Anniversary Edition" (stereo & mono versions of the album plus a handful of extra tracks) but there also a version that has 16 extra tracks (mostly songs recorded shortly after the release of "Odessey & Oracle" and intended for the never-released follow-up "R.I.P.", on the Repertoire label, German import I think), and that's probably the best of the three.

Woohoo! Got it! The only copy they had, and therefor probably the only copy in town! 

D-Day has come!!

Okay thanks a lot, I'll be on the lookout tomorrow......

Friday the 13th bad luck? Yeah right!   

Now if we could only beat the French too tomorrow, that would make it a perfect day. 

I'm in the Netherlands, so I should be able to get my copy tomorrow (albums are released here the Friday prior to the US/UK dates).

Race yer!

I'm Dutch too. Are you sure of that? Would be really cool.

Did you order your copy online or are you planning to go to a record shop tomorrow?

So sad to hear this, he surely was a true original, in every sense of the word.

His heart has stopped, but his beat will last forever. R.I.P.

Just bought 'Papa' John Phillips' "Jack Of Diamonds", which came out last year.

I have all his other solo albums ("John The Wolfking Of L.A.", "Pay Pack & Follow" and "Phillips 66"), as well as the Mamas & Papas catalogue, so I decided to get this one too.

A troubled soul, but an ace songwriter. 

Peerke's compilation is fantastic, would be really difficult for me to add anything, except for maybe "Let Me Die In My Footsteps" and some more "Nashville Skyline" cuts ("To Be Alone With You").

Good to see the 'alternate' "You're A Big Girl Now" on it though, which outshines the "Blood On The Tracks" version. 

More Bambu snippets up at pacificoceanblue.net

Wow, "Love Remember Me" is interesting. First the pianobit which reminds me of "Time" (from POB), then the sudden chane into the part that some among us have known as "Our Love", or "My Love Keeps Tumbling/Falling Down On You"....

This makes me anxious to hear this whole song.

Seconded.

Really like the harmonica on "Wild Situation" too, sounds great!

Oh, I forgot to ask, how did those two Queen guys get involved? Does anyone know?

They are huge BB's fans, Roger is reportedly a DW fan...and friends of Taylor Hawkins. And anyone who hears Holy Man seems to be deeply moved by it.

Aha I see, thanks Jon. Really look forward to that song (and all the others of course....), after reading how all pieces eventually fell into place. I mean, you gotta love Dennis' words: "Gregg, don’t worry about it. It’ll happen."

Oh, I forgot to ask, how did those two Queen guys get involved? Does anyone know?

Great to hear Roger Taylor and Brian May are on that track!

And both tracks on that site ("River Song" and "Under The Moonlight") sound better than ever!!

I'd say that "Queen II" and "Sheer Heart Attack" are my two favourite Queen records, excellent rock records. Great band.

Side note: Freddie, as "Larry Lurex", even recorded "I Can Hear Music". For those of you who haven't heard it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5tr6O1XvjM

 

"Sara" is one of my favorites of this period...

Question for Dylan fans....Was Blood On The Tracks about Bob & Sara's breakup? But the song "Sara", which is a love song, came right AFTER Blood On The Tracks. Anybody have any clarification?

Sheriff, this is what Wikipedia makes of it:

Sara Dylan has inspired several of Bob Dylan's songs, at least two directly. The first was "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" (from "Blonde On Blonde"), and the second the eponymous "Sara" (from 1976's "Desire"). This song was an attempt to reconcile with Sara after their estrangement around 1975:

I can still hear the sound of the Methodist bells
I had taken the cure and had just gotten through
staying up for days in the Chelsea Hotel
writing "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" for you

Bob Dylan's 1975 album "Blood On The Tracks" is widely viewed as the most potent of Sara's inspirations, as many fans assume the songs refer to her. The album was recorded soon after the couple's initial separation. Bob Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin has argued that Sara Dylan's influence on the lyrical content of the album is often exaggerated. Bob Dylan himself denied at the time of the album's release that "Blood On The Tracks" was autobiographical. However, the couple's son Jakob says: "The songs are my parents talking".

Other Bob Dylan songs believed to be inspired by Sara Dylan include "Abandoned Love," "Down Along The Cove", "Wedding Song", "On A Night Like This", "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight", "To Be Alone With You", "If Not For You", "Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat)" and "Love Minus Zero/No Limit".

Hope this helps....

Yeah, I heard the remaining members are back together.

Same with Alice In Chains (very dear to me), as good as they are now, I miss Layne Staley, it's just not the same. 

I remember seeing a documentary about it a few years ago. Good for a laugh.

The song that first made me aware of the power of music, and how great it can be was Eddie Cochran's "C'mon Everybody". I must've been six years old when I put on a compilation of (mainly) old R&R hits my parents had in their collection, and Eddie's tune was the opening track. The intro blew me away, I must've played it ten times in a row, and I still love it. The other artists on that record weren't bad either: Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, etc. etc.

I can safely say that that song (and the album as a whole) put me on the right track. Thanks Eddie!! 

Alright, here's my list, I can say that these are my ten (plus one bonus!) favourite Dylan records (in no particular order, but no live stuff or compilations included):

Bringing It All Back Home (the perfect bridge between early, acoustic Dylan and his 'electric' years)
Blonde On Blonde
Highway 61 Revisited
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Nashville Skyline (the one I play most, easy to digest, especially when compared to "BOB", which is like a full meal!)
John Wesley Harding
Blood On The Tracks
The Basement Tapes (track down the "Tree With Roots" boot if you like this one)
Desire
Oh Mercy
Bonus: Self Portrait (usually gets a lot of stick, but I like it, Bob's own "Smiley Smile" in a way)

"Time Out Of Mind" would be my favourite album of his recent trilogy.

Other albums I listen to on a regular basis: the "Biograph" compilation, "The Bootleg Series 1-3: Rare & Unreleased 1961-1991" and "The Bootleg Series 4, Live 1966" of course, a classic.

Favourite 10 tracks? Tough one. Have to think it over. 

....plus the new Thank You Friends: The Ardent Records Story compilation (great stuff by Big Star, Chris Bell, Icewater, Terry Manning, etc. etc. etc.).

I read about that one, looks very promising! I love Big Star (as well as Chilton's and Bell's solo stuff.....).

I'm listening to Pearls Before Swine: "One Nation Underground", another forgotten gem from 1967.

Is Barry Kornfeld related at all to Artie Kornfeld?

Good question, but I don't think he is.