October eMusic downloads By Amanda on November 11, 2008 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)
These first three I discovered from the new African music hub. Had a lot of them already from my last African phase but these three are great. The first two are extremely eclectic collections of funk/soul/jazz/rock -- sort of feel sad I don;t have the liner notes. Zimbabwean George Sibanda sounds like Jimmie Rodgers or someone. It's rather wonderful. "Over the course of 11 years, the Bulawayan native enjoyed a string of hits, only to vanish into alcoholic obscurity -- even the date of his death remains unknown. But he was extensively recorded by pioneering musicologist Hugh Tracey, and a number of those tracks appear here. The surprise, perhaps, is how much his work sounds like American country music, whether in the jaunty, happy-go-lucky lope of "Mami" or "Dali Ngiyakuthanda Bati Ha-Ha-Ha," or the slower and more heartbreaking pieces"
Various Bilongo by Various
Various Ouelele by Various
The Legendary George Sibanda
Run Rudolph Run / Pressure Drop by Keith Richards / Toots & The Maytals
I believe this was Keef's first non-Stones release.
Mariachi Music of Mexico by Various
Exceptionally atmospheric, "authentic" and irresistable. Another win from Smithsonian/Folkways.
ELGAR: Cello Concerto / Falstaff - Symphonie Study in C minor, Op. 68 by Ralph Kirshbaum
I periodically search for the perfect sad cello music. This isn't it (nice though).
Carter Family, Vol. 2: 1935-1941 by The Carter Family
Right On Brother [ RVG Remaster ] by Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones
Clinch Mountain Sweethearts by Ralph Stanley and Friends
Had some of this, got the rest. Lots of very tasty country/bluegrass as Dr. Ralph duets with various twangy laydeez.
Level of Intent by Babatunde Lea
I think I will end up getting all Babtunde Lea's stuff. This has a more bebop sound (to my untrained ear) than last month's "The March of the Jazz Guerillas"
Brazilian Duos by Luciana Souza
Stripped back jazzy type bossa nova, bracing vocals.
I Can't Be Satisfied: Early American Women Blues Singers - Town & Country by
Various Artists
Angola Prisoners' Blues by Various Artists
Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog (Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists
I only cherrypicked my favourite songs but many days can be found quietly singing "Everyone's a Hero" to myself.
Masquerade of a Fool by Danni Leigh
Sister Rosetta Tharpe Vol. 2 1942-1944 by Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Cruel Sun by Rusted Root
Randomly surfed to this page ... somehow (such is the beauty of eMusic's labyrinthine structure), apparently they've been around for ages but never heard of them. I REALLY like this album, rock-"world" jam type fusion thing which sounds awful when I put it that way, but isn't.
Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium featuring Pharoah Sanders by Kenny Garrett
This One Is Two by Ralph Stanley II
New Orleans Street Singer by Snooks Eaglin
I want a cat so I can call it Snooks. If I had two cats, I would call the other one Berzilla, after Berzilla Wallin on this collection.
Sings Lady Day by Etta Jones
Working my way through every Etta Jones album too.
Black Pearls by John Coltrane
Ultimate New Orleans by Various
This is a GREAT collection of top shelf originals, covering all manner of NOLA music.
The Wham of that Memphis Man! by Lonnie Mack
Never heard of him, but like it.
The Money Recordings by Bettye Swann
Release Me - Reflections Of Country & Western Greats by Esther Phillips
Another one for my soul singers do country songs things. Pretty standard Nashpolitan arrangements but her voice is something else.
From the Heart by Etta Jones
Live in London and Paris by Otis Redding
Live by Ronny Elliott
Hard Times Come Again No More: Early American Rural Songs Of Hard Times And Hardships Vol. 1 by Various Artists
Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels by Whitey Morgan and the '78s
One of these tracks was a freebie so I got it anded ended up getting the whole album. Waylon Jennings type honky tonk outlaw country.
By jo
on November 11, 2008 6:09 PM
Hey Amanda - good to meet you at the Warren View.
Just a quick one, the supermarket beckons.. Toots Hibbert is my all time favourite reggae artiste - Every song on Funky Kingston is a winner including Pressure Drop.
Just noted on LP, that Miriam Makeba died yesterday at 76. Not a bad innings.
By David Irving (no relation)
on November 12, 2008 11:20 PM
Jesus. That Angola's prisoner blues was chilling. It made Skip James' "Devil Got My Woman" sound upbeat.
By Amanda
on November 13, 2008 5:43 AM
Hi, Jo! Thanks for commenting. I can't really at all get into reggae but when I searched for "Funky Kingston" on eMu I found this record by Hopeton Lewis which I quite like. I think its the soul touches. And I've been listening to Miriam makeba's "Keep Me in Mind" which is wonderful.
Hi David, that whole Angola recording is pretty great but yeah the RPW is the centrepiece. He got a pardon from a life sentence based on the pleas of the musicologists who recorded the song so I guess it ended up OK. ;-)
By jo
on November 13, 2008 6:47 PM
Hey Amanda - have some time tonight to go thru your selections...as for Toots - Funky Kingston was a Chris Blackwell produced album in the early 70's.
Funky Kingston
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1sz1hXawwxM&feature=related
and he's still real good all these years later..
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=H56EWMpDmbc
I'll try to convert you into a reggae and dub fan...
dave & ansell collins
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=WO8ia38wpBE
By Francis Xavier Holden
on November 13, 2008 11:04 PM
floppy - I have to agree with jo - Toots' Funky Kingston is an all time great record with Pressure Drop the all time great single.
By Amanda
on November 14, 2008 5:23 PM
Yeah, I don't hate it or anything .. I'm trying to work out what it "lacks" compared to allied styles and why it fails to move. Too much "chugging" not enough ... swing? Dunno.
By jo
on November 15, 2008 2:57 PM
Like some other allied styles it makes a whole lot more sense when you are dancing - all that upbeat.
But darn, I forgot the one song on Funky Kingston which I shoulda linked...or may be not:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=co5Av5EK5Y8
The v. last Toots link I'll inflict upon Mule town :)
By Francis Xavier Holden
on November 16, 2008 5:47 PM
jo - don't give up - floppy is as stubburn as a .......mule. She needs to be cajoled, smarmed, charmed, and led into a varied diet.
Pressure Drop is so great - big speakers up loud - print out the words - NO one can understand what its about - but up loud it all makes sense. Skanking on. Mon. I&I. Jah.
By jo
on November 17, 2008 11:49 PM
sorry Amanda - my last comment came out wrong - some days I just shouldn't comment.
By Amanda
on November 18, 2008 6:55 AM
Eh? Your last comment was great. I was going to invote you to keep inflicting Toots in me, you can even do a guest post if you wish. ;-)
I got this http://www.amazon.com/Darker-Than-Blue-Jamdown-1973-1980/dp/B00005LEW1
which is kinda reggae but soul so I can ease myself into the genre.
Also, I have not danced sober since my formal so that might explain things!
By jo
on November 19, 2008 12:45 AM
cool.
I liked the wee bits I could listen to of the tracks on Soul from Jamdown - a little MOR - and NTTIAWWT at all. Be good to listen to the tracks all the way through, and they are probably better 'listening' music than the track I'm gunna link to.
This track is like the Dave & Ansell Collins tune from first comment.
sorta mad, inspired, authentic source bits of music that sustain whole genres.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SXHg2z7QOg8
As for Toots, I think he's a rare superstar, like a Jamaican Otis.
And that's enuff for awhile...I'm voting myself off the island!