Body Heat
by Quincy Jones (1974)

https://album.link/i/1443141710

Example:

Bernard Purdie's voice is so sweet on this track. Discovering Quincy's transition from the Jazz side to the soul side. Of course he did it very well. Sad that it was his passing the was the spark for my discoveries, but happy to be here regardless. 

Breathing Space
by Hackberry (2023)

https://album.link/i/1667406320

Example:

New to me, a new band out of the Netherlands. Prog rock - but instrumental only. Liked the grooves, liked the solos, liked the transitions. All good.. (4 songs = 50 min)

One out of the archives.

 

Duets
by Kevin Eubanks & Stanley Jordan (2015)

https://album.link/i/960015276

Example:

I lost track of Stanly in the 90's he stopped for about 12 years or so, and I didn't pickup that he started again in the 2000's. Anyway my friend let me know that he listened to the "Friends" album (2011). Which I will get to, but I was more interested in this colab first. I really liked this mellow album. 

Complete Concerto Recordings
by Martha Argerich & Claudio Abbado (2015 box set)

https://album.link/i/1452345247

Example - No way to pic a sample - so here is the ad:

Just under 5 hours - includes:

• Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 (Sergei Prokofiev)
• Piano Concerto in G Major, M. 83 (Maurice Ravel)
• Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11 (Frédéric Chopin)
• Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S. 124 (Franz Liszt)
• Piano Concerto in G Major, M. 83 (Maurice Ravel)
• Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23, TH 55 (Pyotr Illitch Tchaïkovski)
• Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
• Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503 (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
• Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466 (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

I am not sure how many would rank at the top of my lists for these works, but all would be very high. The recordings from 1967,1968 are really fun. And I of course have to not spend my time listening to the mixing and mastering differences from DG over the decades. 

Yessonata
by Rick Wakeman (2024)

https://album.link/i/1776904691

Example - well there is only two songs 20min each - this is the first one:

Must be my birthday - again.. 

If you like Yes themes - which I do, on piano - which I do, you too might like - like I do. 

Linkin Park - From Zero

Bringing on Emily Armstrong is the best thing these guys have done in a long time, IMO. I very much enjoyed her contributions here.

Joni Mitchell - Shadows and Light (Live)

I'm not a fan of Joni, I'm sorry. She has a beautiful voice, her compositions are very original and personal, and I'm sure she deserves the recognition and following she earned, but for some reason she doesn't speak to me. However this album is something else. Still feels a bit like pretentious music to me, but that band... OMG!!

23 hours ago, mikeymad said:

Rick Wakeman ...well there is only two songs 20min each - this is the first one:

The only thing I have ever known about Rick Wakeman is the first line of this song ...

 

You know that I have quite a weakness for Bach and his cello suites... Lucia Swartz 

 

 

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Sr. Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (1969)

https://album.link/i/1440760209

Example: 

Classic version of a classic. I tend to forget Vivaldi lived during the baroque period with Bach. I think mainly that I hear too many modern recordings that change it too much. But getting back to this 1969 Sr Neville and the Academy, it sounds right, and sounds baroque. 

It works well when it looks like this outside. 

Trifonov taking on American music, classical, jazz, moderism, etc. 

The talent is obvious, decent sound quality. As you'd expect with the variety of genres, listening to the album straight through can feel clunky. 

 

Now

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by robm321

We've Just Begun
by Sinne Eeg (2020)

https://album.link/i/1494993623

Example:

New to me. Well recorded albums, I am poking around some of the others, I like the combo of big band and more intimate vocals. 

Wicked: The Soundtrack
by Wicked Movie Cast (2024)

https://album.link/i/1772364192

Example:

I have not seen the musical or the movie of the musical. But I thought I would check it out. I know the Defying song like most people. I like the music and I thought the cast and performances were good. There are a couple of tracks where it gets a bit shouty. I could see it in a stage production and it may work in the movie as well, where the character is fully committed and belting, but it does not work for me as well as a listening experience. Preferring Cynthia over Ariana performances. I don't know if I will see the movie, but I am not afraid to see it. 

All I know is Idina Menzel sang at work a month ago and co-workers came into the office this week in Wicked costumes like it's Halloween 2.0. Getting confusing adult Frozen vibes all around. 

Living in the Material World
by George Harrison (1973)

https://album.link/i/1767451756

Example:

A message I think we need. Anyway - 50yo release (not sure why, cause it was released in 73). I don't think I have every just listened to the album before, even though I can sing along with almost all the songs. Slight variations being a mix not remaster. It is packaged with a set of studio takes which of course are interesting, to a point. Now I am finding other 50yo releases in my queue. 

SACD

Amyl and the Sniffers’ Cartoon Darkness

I won’t link an example song here, but Jerkin’ On Your Squirter is fun.   

 

A little more on the PG side of life.

The Curtis Family C-notes weekly rehearsal. And for any Bay Area peeps that dig it, they play locally around the area. 

Checking out:

https://album.link/i/1757976285

From Zero
by Linkin Park (2024)

https://album.link/i/1766137049

Example:

I thought I should listen to this while it was still in the zeitgeist. I was looking for some new music here and it is there (like the example). I am more interested in a 2024 sound for them than rehashing a 2003 sound. A tight 31 minute album with some bangers. Well done.

Documentary Inspired. (thx ric)

Roxy Music
by Roxy Music (1972)

https://album.link/i/724922081

Example:

I had an idea of Roxy - but it was not this. I remember the polished 80s Avalon (more in my era, and way past the Eno version). But I really like this eclectic and more raw version of their musical ideas at the time. 

Also inspired by the documentary:

Brian Eno - Before and After Science

 

Opeth - Last Will and Testament

Not bad. Wife came to ask if I had joined some satanic cult.