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Music DVD Review: The Moody Blues – Live at the Isle of Wight 1970
Eagle Rock | 2009 | 79 mins. | Not Rated
While most classic rock fans are familiar with the Moody Blues biggest hits, “Question,” “The Story in Your Eyes,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Ride My See-Saw,” “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock ‘n Roll Band),” “The Voice,” “Your Wildest Dreams” and their seductive epic “Nights in White Satin” courtesy of FM classic stations, few are familiar with the bands earlier work and the songs that filled out the albums from which those hit singles came.
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DVD Review: Charles Mingus – Epitaph
Eagle Rock Entertainment | 2009 | 131 mins. | Not Rated
Few would argue that Charles Mingus is one of the most important and influential jazz musicians and composers of our time. Dozens of musicians played in his bands and went on to their own successful solo careers. Epitaph was to be Mingus’ magnum opus; he says he wrote it for his tombstone. There had been one ill-fated attempt to record some of it back in 1962, at a Town Hall concert but the recordings didn’t result in the cohesive piece Mingus was looking for. As a result, Epitaph was not performed in its entirety before Mingus died in 1979.
While going through some papers after Mingus’ death, Andrew Homzy, director of the jazz program at Concordia University in Montreal found a trunkful of Mingus’ handwritten papers, which was meant to be Epitaph. At that point Homzy and Mingus’ widow Sue contacted Gunther Schuller, who put together an all-star orchestra to play what was a very demanding piece of music. Despite all the gathered talented, there were still many obstacles to overcome before the musicians felt comfortable playing the piece.
Music Review: The Woodstock Experience – Sly & the Family Stone
Formed in 1966, Sly & the Family Stone released their first album, A Whole New Thing in October, 1967. Despite much critical praise the album failed to make an impact on the charts. When CBS Records executive David Kapralik suggested that Sly actively try to write a hit record, Stone reluctantly penned “Dance to the Music”; when the single was released in December of 1967, the song was an instant success, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. On the heels of that success the band began touring across the country and soon gained dedicated following; due in large part to their energetic performances and funky costumes.
DVD Review: John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band – Live in Toronto ‘69
Shout Factory | 1969 | 56 mins. | Not Rated
In 1969, concert promoter John Brower convinced John Lennon to play a short set the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival Festival. Though Lennon’s performance lasts a mere thirty-five minutes (the last twelve of which are Yoko’s caterwauling), the impact was lasting. Thankfully, D.A. Pennebaker (Monterey Pop, Don’t Look Back), was on hand to capture the event on film. Originally titled Sweet Toronto–and still seen in the opening titles of the film proper–was previously available only as a bootleg-quality disc. On June 23, 2009, Shout! Factory finally gives this piece of musical history the proper DVD release it deserves.
Music Review: Serena Ryder – Sweeping the Ashes
Back in November of 2007, I reviewed Serena Ryder’s EP I Told You in a Whispered Song. That was my introduction to the Canadian born singer. Nearly two years later, Ryder is set to release a new three song EP titled Sweeping the Ashes that highlights her raspy delivery, emotional lyrics and impressive guitar skills.
Ryder is blessed with a three octave range, which allows her to express a range of emotions. She doesn’t use her voice like Mariah Carey to blow the roof off a building in the figurative sense, but in the way Carole King or Celine Dion have used their voices to draw audience’s right into their songs. Ryder said in a recent press release, “I think maybe the reason people are feeling detached from a lot of the music that gets played on the radio today is because everyone’s trying so hard to be their own island, their own original person.” While some may be reminded of luminaries like Melissa Etheridge, Joni Mitchell and maybe even Lyle Lovett because of her lyrical style, few will argue that Serena Ryder has a sound all her own.
Ragged Road’s Online Premiere
More than 750 people auditioned for the premiere season of the Ragged Road web series, but only five were chosen to take the ride of a lifetime. The group will travel over 5,000 miles around the country meeting music industry innovators as they make their own path towards achieving their goals.
Music Review: Peggy Lee – Make It With You/Where Did They Go
Having accomplished so much and with musical tastes changing so rapidly, Peggy’s fans probably would have understood if the singer had settled for singing hits from her large catalog of recorded music for the rest of her career.
The 100 Greatest Live Rock Albums – 100 – 90
As a music fan and collector, I’ve always enjoyed live albums. There’s nothing quite like a musician or a band playing at it’s peak, with the audience responding to the music. There are literally thousands of live recordings out there that would fall under the rock genre. As a result, picking the 100 greatest among them was a difficult task. This list ended up being the albums I would choose. Alongside each selection, I’ve tried to explain my reasoning, but please feel free to let me know if I’ve placed one in the wrong spot, or missed a great album all together.
Music Review: Peggy Lee – All Aglow Again
On May 27, 2008, Collector’s Choice Music will release a newly remastered version of All Aglow Again! which will also include six bonus tracks, three of which have never been on CD. The album starts out with the brilliantly smoldering “Fever.” The opening snaps of that song has to be one of the best known openings in music history. The single’s equally sultry but bluesy B-side, “You Don’t Know” is also on the album. The song was recorded at the same recording session as “Fever” and was one of Peggy’s favorite songs. She recorded “You Don’t Know” on two more occasions; once in the 1960’s and again in the 1980’s.
Music Review: Curt Smith – Halfway, Pleased
