See Album review Number 7 way back in May 2006.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
1027 - Mojo 5. Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the Cole Porter Songbook (1956)
Track Listing
Disc 1:
1. All Through The Night
2. Anything Goes
3. Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today)
4. Too Darn Hot
5. In The Still Of The Night
6. I Get A Kick Out Of You
7. Do I Love You?
8. Always True To You In My Fashion
9. Let's Do It
10. Just One Of Those Things
11. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
12. All Of You
13. Begin The Beguine
14. Get Out Of Town
15. I Am In Love
16. From This Moment On
Disc 2:
1. I Love Paris
2. You Do Something To Me
3. Ridin' High
4. Easy To Love
5. It's All Right With Me
6. Why Can't You Behave?
7. What Is This Thing Called Love?
8. You're The Top
9. Love For Sale
10. It's DeLovely
11. Night And Day
12. Ace In The Hole
13. So In Love
14. I've Got You Under My Skin
15. I Concentrate On You
16. Don't Fence Me In
17. You're The Top
18. I Concentrate On You
19. Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)
Review
A long, long time ago... somewhere in 2006 I reviewed Ella's recording of the Gershwin songbook, which was much too long split between 6 albums and frankly a bit of an overkill not matter how good the versions were. Now we get a different item in her collection of songbooks... and it's much better.
It is not only better because it is more manageable at two CDs, but because Cole Porter was simply an endlessly amusing and interesting song writer, while I admire the Gershwins more for their compositional skills, even if Ira was indeed a great lyricist.
Each and every track here is precious, Cole Porter is at the same time touching and transgressive, often in the same song (Miss Otis Regrets), often extremely funny while still transgressive (Let's Do It), and just generally a free spirit. Ella brings to this a genuine enjoyment of the lyrics as well as her perfect diction which really shines with such great lyrics. The arrangements are standard, however, Ella is so amazingly expressive and clear as a singer that a majority of the songs here are definitive version. Highly recommended.
Track Highlights
1. You're The Top
2. Night and Day
3. Let's Do It
4. It's De-Lovely
Final Grade
10/10
Trivia
From Wikipedia:
This album inaugurated Fitzgerald's Songbook series, each of the eight albums in the series focusing on a different composer of the canon known as the Great American Songbook. Fitzgerald's manager, (and the producer of many of her albums), Norman Granz, visited Cole Porter at the Waldolf-Astoria, and played him this entire album. Afterwards, Porter merely remarked, "My, what marvellous diction that girl has".
You're the Top:
Track Listing
Disc 1:
1. All Through The Night
2. Anything Goes
3. Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today)
4. Too Darn Hot
5. In The Still Of The Night
6. I Get A Kick Out Of You
7. Do I Love You?
8. Always True To You In My Fashion
9. Let's Do It
10. Just One Of Those Things
11. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
12. All Of You
13. Begin The Beguine
14. Get Out Of Town
15. I Am In Love
16. From This Moment On
Disc 2:
1. I Love Paris
2. You Do Something To Me
3. Ridin' High
4. Easy To Love
5. It's All Right With Me
6. Why Can't You Behave?
7. What Is This Thing Called Love?
8. You're The Top
9. Love For Sale
10. It's DeLovely
11. Night And Day
12. Ace In The Hole
13. So In Love
14. I've Got You Under My Skin
15. I Concentrate On You
16. Don't Fence Me In
17. You're The Top
18. I Concentrate On You
19. Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)
Review
A long, long time ago... somewhere in 2006 I reviewed Ella's recording of the Gershwin songbook, which was much too long split between 6 albums and frankly a bit of an overkill not matter how good the versions were. Now we get a different item in her collection of songbooks... and it's much better.
It is not only better because it is more manageable at two CDs, but because Cole Porter was simply an endlessly amusing and interesting song writer, while I admire the Gershwins more for their compositional skills, even if Ira was indeed a great lyricist.
Each and every track here is precious, Cole Porter is at the same time touching and transgressive, often in the same song (Miss Otis Regrets), often extremely funny while still transgressive (Let's Do It), and just generally a free spirit. Ella brings to this a genuine enjoyment of the lyrics as well as her perfect diction which really shines with such great lyrics. The arrangements are standard, however, Ella is so amazingly expressive and clear as a singer that a majority of the songs here are definitive version. Highly recommended.
Track Highlights
1. You're The Top
2. Night and Day
3. Let's Do It
4. It's De-Lovely
Final Grade
10/10
Trivia
From Wikipedia:
This album inaugurated Fitzgerald's Songbook series, each of the eight albums in the series focusing on a different composer of the canon known as the Great American Songbook. Fitzgerald's manager, (and the producer of many of her albums), Norman Granz, visited Cole Porter at the Waldolf-Astoria, and played him this entire album. Afterwards, Porter merely remarked, "My, what marvellous diction that girl has".
You're the Top:
Thursday, December 03, 2009
1026 - Mojo 4. Four Freshmen and 5 Trombones (1956)
Track Listing
1. Angel Eyes
2. Love Is Just Around The Corner
3. Mam'selle
4. Speak Low
5. The Last Time I Saw Paris
6. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
7. I Remember You
8. Love
9. Love Is Here To Stay
10. You Made Me Love You
Review
Again a choice by Mojo that I can hardly find fault with. Again we stay in the realm of the standards, but this time played in a very different way. Somewhere between barbershop and quite avant-garde music sit the Four Freshmen.
As you start listening to this album you'd be forgiven to think that this is some kind of forgotten early Beach Boys album, the vocals sound uncannily like them, and it is not hard to see how inspired Brian Wilson was by this. Of course their harmonies are not as complex as what the Beach Boys would come up with, but the line is completely straight between this and the Beach Boys.
Their approach to well known songs is so original that sometimes it is hard to understand what music is being sung unless you pay attention to the lyrics. So it sounds like a jazzier, swingier, Beach Boys years before they came to be. Great stuff.
Track Highlights
1. Love is Just Around the Corner
2. Last Time I Saw Paris
3. Angel Eyes
4. Love Is Here To Stay
Final Grade
9/10
Trivia
From Wikipedia:
The Four Freshmen influenced many vocal groups. These groups include from the beginning — The Hi-Lo's, The Hilltoppers, and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross — to later on — The Lettermen, The Four Preps, The Skyliners, Spanky and Our Gang, The Mamas & the Papas, The Association, The Four Seasons, ABBA, The Swingle Singers, Take 6, New York Voices, The Manhattan Transfer, and The Bobs. In his autobiography, Brian Wilson attributes the success of the Beach Boys' initial sound to the harmonic chord choices found in Four Freshmen arrangements. In concert, the Beach Boys honors the Four Freshmen verbally and illustrates the Four Freshmen's voicing with an a cappella version of its hit, "In My Room".
Love Is Just Around the Corner:
Track Listing
1. Angel Eyes
2. Love Is Just Around The Corner
3. Mam'selle
4. Speak Low
5. The Last Time I Saw Paris
6. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
7. I Remember You
8. Love
9. Love Is Here To Stay
10. You Made Me Love You
Review
Again a choice by Mojo that I can hardly find fault with. Again we stay in the realm of the standards, but this time played in a very different way. Somewhere between barbershop and quite avant-garde music sit the Four Freshmen.
As you start listening to this album you'd be forgiven to think that this is some kind of forgotten early Beach Boys album, the vocals sound uncannily like them, and it is not hard to see how inspired Brian Wilson was by this. Of course their harmonies are not as complex as what the Beach Boys would come up with, but the line is completely straight between this and the Beach Boys.
Their approach to well known songs is so original that sometimes it is hard to understand what music is being sung unless you pay attention to the lyrics. So it sounds like a jazzier, swingier, Beach Boys years before they came to be. Great stuff.
Track Highlights
1. Love is Just Around the Corner
2. Last Time I Saw Paris
3. Angel Eyes
4. Love Is Here To Stay
Final Grade
9/10
Trivia
From Wikipedia:
The Four Freshmen influenced many vocal groups. These groups include from the beginning — The Hi-Lo's, The Hilltoppers, and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross — to later on — The Lettermen, The Four Preps, The Skyliners, Spanky and Our Gang, The Mamas & the Papas, The Association, The Four Seasons, ABBA, The Swingle Singers, Take 6, New York Voices, The Manhattan Transfer, and The Bobs. In his autobiography, Brian Wilson attributes the success of the Beach Boys' initial sound to the harmonic chord choices found in Four Freshmen arrangements. In concert, the Beach Boys honors the Four Freshmen verbally and illustrates the Four Freshmen's voicing with an a cappella version of its hit, "In My Room".
Love Is Just Around the Corner:
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
1025 - Mojo Special 1. Various - Shufflin' on Bond Street: Jamaican R&B and Ska Instrumentals (1959-1966)
Track Listing
1. Watermelon Man - Brooks, Baba & Band
2. Duck Soup - Drumbago's Orchestra
3. Green Door - Alphonso, Roland
4. What Makes Honey - Reid, Duke Group
5. Joker - Reid, Duke Group
6. Blackberry Brandy - Alphonso, Roland
7. Rude Boy - Reid, Duke
8. Country Town - Brooks, Baba & Band
9. Thunderball - McCook, Tommy & His Supersonics
10. Rainfall - Brooks, Baba & Band
11. Cotton Tree - Skatalites
12. Nuclear Weapon - Skatalites
13. Western Flyer - Brooks, Baba & Band
14. Froggy - Brooks, Baba & Band
15. Mad World - Brooks, Baba & Band
16. Storm Warning - Lynn Taitt and The Comets
Review
Here we go with an album which is outside the main Mojo list, every three albums or so you will get one under the heading Mojo Special, and that will either be something from their Jamaican music list, Movie Soundtrack list or musical compilation list. We start with some Jamaican Ska.
If one is not very knowledgeable about Jamaican music it is natural to think that Ska is something like the Police or even some Clash tracks... but really when talking about it in the context of Jamaican music it is more akin to big band jazz music than to any kind of rock. What it does have in common with the Ska of the West in the 80s is the constant insisting rhythm at the back, like a faster walking rhythm.
This collection of tracks shows us an evolution of Ska up until the mid 60s when it started changing into Rocksteady, and there is great music here, at the beginning too close to Big Band music to be particularly original, it does start transforming itself into a completely unique style with the use of burru drumming and elements particular to Jamaica. The music is fun, fast and funky and it should be mandatory listening to anyone who wants to know where Jamaican music actually comes from.
Track Highlights
1. Nuclear Weapon - Tommy McCook and the Skatalites
2. Duck Soup - Drumbago's Orchestra
3. Storm Warning - Lynn Taitt and The Comets
4. Rude Boy - Reid, Duke
Final Grade
9/10
Trivia
From Wikipedia:
There are different theories about the origins of the word ska. Ernest Ranglin claimed that the term was coined by musicians to refer to the "skat! skat! skat!" scratching guitar strum. Another explanation is that at a recording session in 1959 produced by Coxsone Dodd, double bassist Cluett Johnson instructed guitarist Ranglin to "play like ska, ska, ska", although Ranglin has denied this, stating "Clue couldn't tell me what to play!" A further theory is that it derives from Johnson's word skavoovie, with which he was known to greet his friends. Jackie Mittoo insisted that the musicians themselves called the rhythm Staya Staya, and that it was Byron Lee who introduced the term 'ska'.
Nuclear Weapon - Tommy McCook and the Skatalites:
Track Listing
1. Watermelon Man - Brooks, Baba & Band
2. Duck Soup - Drumbago's Orchestra
3. Green Door - Alphonso, Roland
4. What Makes Honey - Reid, Duke Group
5. Joker - Reid, Duke Group
6. Blackberry Brandy - Alphonso, Roland
7. Rude Boy - Reid, Duke
8. Country Town - Brooks, Baba & Band
9. Thunderball - McCook, Tommy & His Supersonics
10. Rainfall - Brooks, Baba & Band
11. Cotton Tree - Skatalites
12. Nuclear Weapon - Skatalites
13. Western Flyer - Brooks, Baba & Band
14. Froggy - Brooks, Baba & Band
15. Mad World - Brooks, Baba & Band
16. Storm Warning - Lynn Taitt and The Comets
Review
Here we go with an album which is outside the main Mojo list, every three albums or so you will get one under the heading Mojo Special, and that will either be something from their Jamaican music list, Movie Soundtrack list or musical compilation list. We start with some Jamaican Ska.
If one is not very knowledgeable about Jamaican music it is natural to think that Ska is something like the Police or even some Clash tracks... but really when talking about it in the context of Jamaican music it is more akin to big band jazz music than to any kind of rock. What it does have in common with the Ska of the West in the 80s is the constant insisting rhythm at the back, like a faster walking rhythm.
This collection of tracks shows us an evolution of Ska up until the mid 60s when it started changing into Rocksteady, and there is great music here, at the beginning too close to Big Band music to be particularly original, it does start transforming itself into a completely unique style with the use of burru drumming and elements particular to Jamaica. The music is fun, fast and funky and it should be mandatory listening to anyone who wants to know where Jamaican music actually comes from.
Track Highlights
1. Nuclear Weapon - Tommy McCook and the Skatalites
2. Duck Soup - Drumbago's Orchestra
3. Storm Warning - Lynn Taitt and The Comets
4. Rude Boy - Reid, Duke
Final Grade
9/10
Trivia
From Wikipedia:
There are different theories about the origins of the word ska. Ernest Ranglin claimed that the term was coined by musicians to refer to the "skat! skat! skat!" scratching guitar strum. Another explanation is that at a recording session in 1959 produced by Coxsone Dodd, double bassist Cluett Johnson instructed guitarist Ranglin to "play like ska, ska, ska", although Ranglin has denied this, stating "Clue couldn't tell me what to play!" A further theory is that it derives from Johnson's word skavoovie, with which he was known to greet his friends. Jackie Mittoo insisted that the musicians themselves called the rhythm Staya Staya, and that it was Byron Lee who introduced the term 'ska'.
Nuclear Weapon - Tommy McCook and the Skatalites:
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
1024 - Mojo 3. Julie London - Julie is Her Name (1955)
Track Listing
1. Cry Me A River
2. I Should Care
3. I'm In The Mood For Love
4. I'm Glad There Is You
5. Can't Help Lovin' That Man
6. I Love You
7. Say It Isn't So
8. It Never Entered My Mind
9. Easy Street
10. 'S Wonderful
11. No Moon At All
12. Laura
13. Gone With The Wind
Review
Another album, another great one. In comparison with the early albums on the previous list, this one is definitely taking the cake up until now. Haven't heard a less than excellent album, if it keeps going this way I might have to stop giving grades as it will all be on the 9/10s category, making it a bit pointless.
Julie London gives us more standards in a different style from either Sinatra or Peggy Lee, while Sinatra was touching and depressed and Lee was fiery and exciting, Julie London is at the same time melancholy and sultry.
The arrangements here are quite minimalist, guitar and bass are enough to flesh out all the tracks around her beautiful voice. A completely perfect album for rainy afternoons, Julie is Her Name is another great discovery... I'm glad I'm doing a new list.
Track Highlights
1. Cry Me a River
2. 'S Wonderful
3. Easy Street
4. I'm In The Mood For Love
Final Grade
9/10
Trivia
From Wikipedia:
The first track, Cry Me a River, was so popular that it was released as a single record and became London's first charting hit.
Cry Me a River:
Track Listing
1. Cry Me A River
2. I Should Care
3. I'm In The Mood For Love
4. I'm Glad There Is You
5. Can't Help Lovin' That Man
6. I Love You
7. Say It Isn't So
8. It Never Entered My Mind
9. Easy Street
10. 'S Wonderful
11. No Moon At All
12. Laura
13. Gone With The Wind
Review
Another album, another great one. In comparison with the early albums on the previous list, this one is definitely taking the cake up until now. Haven't heard a less than excellent album, if it keeps going this way I might have to stop giving grades as it will all be on the 9/10s category, making it a bit pointless.
Julie London gives us more standards in a different style from either Sinatra or Peggy Lee, while Sinatra was touching and depressed and Lee was fiery and exciting, Julie London is at the same time melancholy and sultry.
The arrangements here are quite minimalist, guitar and bass are enough to flesh out all the tracks around her beautiful voice. A completely perfect album for rainy afternoons, Julie is Her Name is another great discovery... I'm glad I'm doing a new list.
Track Highlights
1. Cry Me a River
2. 'S Wonderful
3. Easy Street
4. I'm In The Mood For Love
Final Grade
9/10
Trivia
From Wikipedia:
The first track, Cry Me a River, was so popular that it was released as a single record and became London's first charting hit.
Cry Me a River:
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