Thursday, May 31, 2018

Jimmy Giuffre - 7 Pieces (2011)


Jazz | FLAC | 458 Mb

Originally released as a Verve LP in 1959 and reissued by Essential Jazz Classics in 2007 with four live bonus tracks, 7 Pieces qualifies as a definitive early Jimmy Giuffre recording. Beautifully conceived and realized, this is a friendly album of cool, creative jazz that is easy to groove to without ever becoming predictable. Giuffre, who blew tenor and baritone saxophones on this date as well as the clarinet, was joined by guitarist Jim Hall and bassist Red Mitchell. This meeting of minds bore fruit that still has the power to soothe, rejuvenate, and transform the listener. Mitchell and Hall were ideally suited to this project, which resulted in some of the best jazz any of the three would ever come up with. An extraordinarily comfortable early modern offering, 7 Pieces was the first of numerous Verve recordings by Giuffre, and would be closely followed by "The Easy Way," "Ad Lib," and the ambitious "Piece for Clarinet and String Orchestra/Mobiles." Strong and very tangible parallels can and should be drawn with contemporaneous work by Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, Warne Marsh, John LaPorta, and Buddy DeFranco. [The 2011 reissue was amended with four precious bonus tracks recorded live at the Teatro Adriano in Rome three months after the studio recording, on June 19, 1959. On that occasion, which took place on a summer tour organized by producer Norman Granz, Mitchell was replaced by Red Norvo's bassist Buddy Clark.]

1. Happy Man (7:23)
2. Princess (9:23)
3. Song of the Wind (5:55)
4. Lovely Willow (4:21)
5. The Little Melody (7:07)
6. The Story (7:29)
7. Time Machine (4:41)
8. Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (8:05)
9. Four Brothers (8:22)
10. Princess (4:52)
11. Careful (11:19)


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Roxy Music - Singles, B-Sides And Alternative Mixes (2012)


Rock | Mp3 320 kbps | 2 CD | 318 Mb

CD 1
1. Virginia Plain (2:56)
2. The Numberer (3:39)
3. Pyjamarama (Island Mix) (2:58)
4. Pyjamarama (Polydor Remix) (2:51)
5. The Pride And The Pain (4:12)
6. Do The Strand (USA 7'' Mix) (3:20)
7. Hula Kula (2:35)
8. Your Application's Failed (4:42)
9. The Thrill Of It All (Edit) (4:18)
10. The Thrill Of It All (USA 7'' Mix) (3:19)
11. Love Is The Drug (USA 7'' Mix) (2:57)
12. Sultanesque (5:22)
13. Both Ends Burning (7'' Mix) (3:57)
14. For Your Pleasure (Live) (4:57)
15. Trash 2 (3:07)
16. Dance Away (7'' Version) (3:44)
17. Dance Away (Canadian Extended 12'' Version) (6:27)
18. Angel Eyes (7'' Version) (2:49)
19. Angel Eyes (12'' Version) (6:34)

CD 2
1. Oh Yeah (7'' Version) (4:10)
2. Manifesto (Remake) (3:58)
3. South Downs (5:10)
4. Lover (4:25)
5. Jealous Guy (6:07)
6. To Turn You On (1981 B-Side Version) (4:08)
7. More Than This (7'' Version) (4:32)
8. Avalon (7'' Version) (4:11)
9. Always Unknowing (5:17)
10. Take A Chance With Me (7'' Version) (3:36)
11. Take A Chance With Me (USA 7'' Mix) (2:44)
12. The Main Thing (12'' Version) (7:40)
13. The Main Thing (Remix) (3:43)


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Nina Simone - Original Album Classics (2009)


Jazz, Soul | Mp3 320 kbps | 5 CD | 499 Mb

The Original Album Classics series by Sony BMG in Germany is an attempt to clear shelves of catalog titles that are lying about, but it inadvertently provides a great opportunity for those who have developed a sincere interest in an artist or band via a greatest-hits comp but have yet to score any actual titles, or for hardcore fans looking to fill in holes in their CD collections. These budget-priced, (loosely) chronologically compiled, completely remastered collections feature full-length albums -- in this case the five of the last seven albums from Nina Simone's RCA period: ’Nuff Said! (1968), Nina Simone and Piano! (1969) To Love Somebody (1969), Black Gold (1970), and It Is Finished (1974). What is missing here chronologically are two records: Here Comes the Sun, issued in 1971, and her classic, Emergency Ward!: In Concert album from 1972. The records contained in this slipcase box are, for many, a mixed bag, as Simone was branching out into much more adventurous terrain and simultaneously interpreting pop songs of the era in her own inimitable way. These are for the seasoned Simone fans who are well aware of her unpredictability and can celebrate it. For the novice who might be looking for more than a best-of, try her Colpix or Philips sides first for context.

CD 1 - 'Nuff Said! (1968)
1. In The Morning (2:29), 2. Sunday In Savannah (3:25), 3. The Backlash Blues (2:48), 4. Please Read Me (2:52), 5. Gin House Blues (3:07), 6. Why? (The King Of Love Is Dead) (5:44), 7. Peace Of Mind (2:45), 8. Ain't Got No - I Got Life (2:07), 9. I Loves You Porgy (3:28), 10. Take My Hand, Precious Lord (1:52), 11. Do What You Gotta Do (3:00)

CD 2 - To Love Somebody (1969)
1. Suzanne (4:22), 2. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) (3:40), 3. Revolution Part 1 (2:52), 4. Revolution Part 2 (1:54), 5. To Love Somebody (2:43), 6. I Shall Be Released (3:56), 7. I Can't See Nobody (3:09), 8. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (4:50), 9. The Times They Are A-Changin' (5:55)

CD 3 - Black Gold (1970)
1. Introduction / Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair (5:58), 2. Black Is The Color Of My True Love`s Hair (4:00), 3. Ain't Got No - I Got Life (5:28), 4. West Wind (9:30), 5. Who Knows Where The Time Goes (8:09), 6. The Assignment Sequence (6:57), 7. To Be Young, Gifted And Black (9:34)

CD 4 - It Is Finished (1974)
1. The Pusher (5:02), 2. Com` By H`Yere-Good Lord (5:50), 3. Funkier Than a Mosquito Tweeter (5:19), 4. Mr. Bojangles (4:48), 5. I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl (5:52), 6. Dambala (6:51), 7. Let It Be Me (3:27), 8. Obeah Woman (6:22)

CD 5 - Nina Simone and Piano! (1969)
1. Seems I'm Never Tired Lovin' You (3:02), 2. Nobody's Fault But Mine (3:02), 3. I Think It's Going To Rain Today (3:29), 4. Everyone's Gone To The Moon (3:08), 5. Compensation (1:39), 6. Who Am I (4:11), 7. Another Spring (3:34), 8. The Human Touch (2:10), 9. I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes) (4:56), 10. The Desperate Ones (4:43), 11. Music For Lovers (4:23), 12. In Love In Vain (2:29), 13. I'll Look Around (5:12), 14. The Man With The Horn (3:39)



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VA - Stone Soul ~ San Fransisco's Loadstone Label (1999)


Soul | Mp3 320 kbps | 170 Mb

Loadstone, run by bus driver Walter Curry Stone, issued sporadic soul singles in the 1960s and 1970s without getting any strong sellers, although "Country Woman" by the Cals (which is not on this anthology) saw some regional action in 1962. This is a 24-track collection of the label's output, with just one effort by the relatively well-known singer Jean Knight (whose 1976 cut was done long after her sole big hit "Mr. Big Stuff"). Sly Stone to the contrary, the San Francisco area did not have a large or notable soul scene. This collection would not hold water as part of a convincing argument that the Bay Area contained its share of lost soul nuggets. It's average-to-below-average period soul, stepping from girl group, doo wop-styled efforts by the Chandeliers (some of the highlights, actually) and middle '60s soul to somewhat more funky, bluesier-edged outings from the early '70s and partial-disco tunes from the mid-to-late 1970s, some of which are pretty mediocre. There's a mild chuckle to be had, perhaps, from Charles Leonard's "A Funky Driver on a Funky Bus," written by Walter Curry Stone and based on his experiences as an employee of San Francisco's public transit system. Jacqueline Jones does a decent job with her Southern-flavored, early-'70s soul outings (a couple of which were likewise penned by Stone), and Paula Lamont's previously unissued "Swimming Partners" has a nice bluesy moodiness. On the other hand, Herman H. Harper II's "Inseparable" -- from the late 1970s, according to the liner notes, although it sounds like urban contemporary crud of a much later vintage -- is as lousy a cut as any that have graced Kent compilations, which is really saying something given how many of them there have been. By the way, the sole Loadstone single by Sly Stone, "I Can't Turn You Loose"/"I Ain't Got Nobody" (actually licensed from 1967 demos made at Golden State Recorders), is not included.

1. Jacqueline Jones - A Frown On My Face (3:00)
2. Celeste Hardie - You Touched The Inner Part Of Me (4:12)
3. The California Playboys - Just Say A Four Letter Word (Love) (4:34)
4. Herman H Harper Il - Headed For The Streets (3:48)
5. Eugene Jefferson - A Pretty Girl Dressed In Brown (2:36)
6. The Chandeliers - Fading Day (2:17)
7. Eddie & Ernie - It's A Beautiful World (2:13)
8. Paula Lamont - One Monkey Can't Stop The Show (2:25)
9. Curtis Lawson And The Unforgettables - Too Much Trouble (2:38)
10. Lee Rogers - Love Bandit (2:23)
11. Charles Leonard - A Funky Driver On A Funky Bus (Part I) (3:23)
12. Jean Knight - Rudy Blue (2:57)
13. Celeste Hardie - Thank You Love (2:53)
14. The California Playboys - She's A Real Sweet Woman (Edited Version) (3:34)
15. Eddie & Ernie - Indication (2:10)
16. The Chandeliers - It's A Good Thought (2:24)
17. Paula Lamont - Swimming Partners (2:18)
18. The Cals - Get To Stepping (2:32)
19. The Chandeliers - Double Love (2:21)
20. The Chandeliers - Stop Dragging My Heart Around (2:22)
21. Jacqueline Jones - You Make My Life A Sunny Day (3:54)
22. Peter Johnson - Fading Day (3:14)
23. Herman H Harper Il - Inseparable (4:16)
24. Jacqueline Jones - My Sweet Lover (3:13)


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Bobby Vee - The Legendary Masters Series (1999)


Vocal Pop | Mp3 320 kbps | 157 Mb

This 26-song compilation has a lot more going for it than "Take Good Care of My Baby" or "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" -- indeed, some of Bobby Vee's less-well-known singles are more interesting than certain of the hits, with "Suzie Baby" and "What Do You Want" leading the pack, the latter especially, for emulating the sound of Buddy Holly's final single, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore." And "One Last Kiss" is an unexpectedly strong rendition of the song from Bye Bye Birdie. Beyond that point, the disc goes into the familiar territory of his hits ("Devil or Angel," "Rubber Ball," etc.), most of them mastered in their stereo versions, which, given the polish of Snuff Garrett's production, isn't a bad thing. Some of the teen pop, such as "Stayin' In" -- a song about after-school detention and affairs of the heart -- and "How Many Tears," don't hold up except as artifacts of their era, but they're not too obtrusive in the overall scheme of this CD, which covers a lot of territory, occasionally in unexpected ways. "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," for instances, is mastered from a source that includes the four-second count-off before the song actually begins and has a sound so close and loud that it actually ends up rocking quite a bit harder than it ever did as a single on the radio. Even his plunge into pop around 1964-1965 gets its best possible face, with the opulently produced and beautifully sung "Be True to Yourself." And the songs extend to Vee's post-1966 reshaping of his sound with "Look at Me Girl," "Come Back When You Grow Up" (which was, in fact, his biggest selling if not his highest charting single), and so on. Among the non-single tracks included, incidentally, is Vee's excellent version of Buddy Holly's "Everyday," but among the pieces promised but not present is the supposed 26th track, a Bobby Vee radio spot that's listed but is nowhere to be found on the disc. The sound is generally of a very high standard, though one suspects that a new compilation done by a competent producer and engineer could get better results today. And the annotation is very thorough, providing a good introduction and overview of this underrated artist -- anyone seeking more should go to Beat Goes On's reissues of Vee's individual albums, two-on-one to a CD.

1. Suzie Baby (2:50), 2. It's Too Late (2:22), 3. Love Must Have Passed Me By (1:50), 4. Everyday (1990 - Remastered) (2:10), 5. Someday (2:11), 6. Buddy's Song (1:53), 7. Devil Or Angel (2:20), 8. Rubber Ball (2:21), 9. It Might As Well Rain Until September (2:04), 10. Stayin' In (2:05), 11. More Than I Can Say (2:28), 12. Walkin' With My Angel (2:18), 13. The Opposite (2:03), 14. Take Good Care Of My Baby (2:30), 15. Run To Him (2:09), 16. Don't Ever Take Her For Granted (3:03), 17. Sharing You (2:02), 18. Punish Her (1:57), 19. Please Don't Ask About Barbara (2:03), 20. Do I Really (2:05), 21. Charms (2:12), 22. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes (2:35), 23. A Letter From Betty (2:30), 24. I'll Make You Mine (1990 - Remastered) (2:24), 25. Come Back When You Grow Up (2:17), 26. Beautiful People (2:19), 27. Maybe Just Today (1990 - Remastered) (2:08), 28. My Girl/Hey Girl (Medley) (1990 - Remastered) (2:32)


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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

The Stranglers - All Twelve Inches (1992)


Pop, Rock | FLAC | 520 Mb

1. Midnight Summer Dream (Extended Version) (10:38)
2. Skin Deep (Extended Version) (7:14)
3. No Mercy (Cement Mix) (6:47)
4. Let Me Down Easy (Extended Version) (6:32)
5. Nice In Nice (Porridge Mix) (6:13)
6. Always The Sun (Hot Mix) (6:00)
7. Big In America (Texas Mix) (5:00)
8. Shakin' Like A Leaf (Jelly Mix) (4:17)
9. All Day And All Of The Night (Jeff Remix) (4:32)
10. Was It You? (Extended Version) (5:22)
11. 96 Tears (The Tearaway Mix) (5:01)
12. Sweet Smell Of Success (Indie-Pendence Mix) (5:09)


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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

VA - The Roots Of Bob Dylan (2006)


Jazz, Blues, Folk, Country | Mp3 320 kbps | 128 Mb

1. Sonny Terry And Brownie McGhee - You'd Better Mind (2:07)
2. Julia Lee - Mama Don't Allow It (2:53)
3. Lightnin' Hopkins - Baby Please Don't Go (2:47)
4. Muddy Waters - Rollin' Stone (3:04)
5. Karen Dalton - How Did The Feeling Feel To You (2:49)
6. Richie Havens - High Flying Bird (3:33)
7. Josh White - Good Morning Blues (4:23)
8. Hank Williams - Lost Highway (2:39)
9. The Country Gentlemen - House Of The Rising Sun (3:22)
10. Cisco Houston - Dark As A Dungeon (2:50)
11. Charlie Poole with The North Carolina Ramblers - White House Blues (3:25)
12. Staple Singers - Uncloudy Day (2:57)
13. Highway Q.C.'s - Working On The Building (2:22)
14. Big Bill Broonzy - When The Sun Goes Down - Going Down This Road Feeling Bad (7:24)
15. Thelonious Monk - Ruby, My Dear (7:44)


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Monday, May 28, 2018

Steve Harley - The Cockney Rebel ~ A Steve Harley Anthology (2006)


Glam Rock, Rock'n'Roll | Mp3 320 kbps | 3 CD | 471 Mb

CD 1, 1. Sebastian (6:56), 2. Rock 'N' Roll Parade (2:53), 3. Hideaway (3:48), 4. Loretta's Tale (4:10), 5. Death Trip (9:52), 6. Judy Teen (3:39), 7. Spaced Out (2:58), 8. Psychomodo (4:00), 9. Bed In The Corner (3:34), 10. Ritz (7:12), 11. Mr Soft (3:17), 12. Sling It (2:38), 13. Tumbling Down (5:46), 14. Big Big Deal (4:31)

CD 2, 1. Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) (3:53), 2. The Best Years Of Our Lives (5:42), 3. Mr Raffles (Man, It Was Mean) (4:31), 4. Mad, Mad Moonlight (4:24), 5. Red Is A Mean, Mean Colour (4:30), 6. Understand (7:11), 7. All Men Are Hungry (4:43), 8. (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna (4:07), 9. (Love) Compared With You (4:18), 10. Here Comes The Sun (2:53), 11. Innocence And Guilt (7:13), 12. Roll The Dice (3:23), 13. Living In A Rhapsody (4:19), 14. Riding The Waves (For Virginia Woolf) (4:27)

CD 3, 1. Freedom's Prisoner (3:46), 2. One More Time (4:26), 3. I Can't Even Touch You (3:59), 4. Irresistable (Remix) (5:07), 5. Star For A Week (Dino) (4:31), 6. The Lighthouse (5:55), 7. New Fashioned Way (7:18), 8. All In A Life's Work (4:51), 9. That's My Life In Your Hands (3:43), 10. The Last Time I Saw You (5:06), 11. The Coast Of Amalfi (5:13), 12. Journey's End (A Father's Promise) (4:00), 13. A Friend For Life (4:40), 14. Only You (Live) (5:11)


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J.J. Cale - Roll On (2009)


Folk, Country, Rock | FLAC | 462 Mb

While songwriter J.J. Cale has established himself as an elusive and even reluctant legend in popular music with his sporadic string of releases over the last 38 years, he's never drastically changed his approach. Cale is a workmanlike songwriter whose roots in blues, Okie folk, and roots rock music have been informing his tales of travel, nocturnal pleasure, and everyday life all the while. Even the acclaimed but spaced out Travel Log (which was Cale's equivalent to Neil Young's Trans) never managed to root his sound that far afield from its wellspring. 2009's Roll On, is more strange, laid-back grooves and road-weary tales of quark strangeness and charm from an inveterate master. Where the erratic but acclaimed Road to Escondido with Eric Clapton reeked of laziness and kitsch, Roll On is steeped deep in slow boogie, slower jump jazz, swampy blues, and minor-key laid-back guitar workouts. Cale not only plays guitar and sings here, but on almost all of these cuts he does double and triple duty on drums, bass, and even Rhodes piano! His guests -- including Dave Teegarden and Jim Keltner on drums on a track each, and Clapton on one number -- only appear on four of these dozen tracks. Check, "Who Knew?," the jazzy shuffle that opens the set. Cale plays everything but the drum kit (Teegarden), and lays down a smoking set of Wes Montgomery-esque chords as well as some funky Rhodes. His syncopated vocals all slip right down the backbone of the blues with lyrics worthy of Louis Jordan. "Where the Sun Don't Shine" commences with some spooky synth loops (that could have come from Travel Log), and beefy guitars, with a rudimentary snare and hi-hat keeping the I-IV-V progression moving and popping. The guitars are pure Cale choogle and the bassline is just off enough from the main rhythmic progression to add a freaky twist. Other standouts include the acoustic electric boogie "Strange Days," with some mutant five-string banjo and mandolin work from the artist; the triple-time, space groove of "Fonda-Lina" that feels like it was taken from a B-movie soundtrack during a motel lounge scene, and the popping roots rock of the title track with Slowhand and Keltner. This is a set that proves that Cale is still a vital artist who has a few interesting tricks up his sleeve, even if he doesn't change his attack all that much. Hell, he doesn't need to, he's got weight, sleight of hand, and the Okie soul in every cell of his being, and it all comes out in the tunes. This one is solid from top to bottom.

1. Who Knew (3:30)
2. Former Me (2:48)
3. Where The Sun Don't Shine (3:07)
4. Down To Memphis (3:05)
5. Strange Days (3:10)
6. Cherry Street (3:44)
7. Fonda-Lina (3:21)
8. Leaving In The Morning (2:37)
9. Oh Mary (3:34)
10. Old Friend (3:56)
11. Roll On (4:43)
12. Bring Down The Curtain (2:54)


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Friday, May 25, 2018

Elvis Presley - The Complete '62 Sessions (2013)


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J.J. Cale - To Tulsa And Back (2004)


Folk, Country, Rock | FLAC | 530 Mb

On his first studio outing in eight years, the mythical Okie troubadour turns in a solid set of his trademark dusty blues tunes. What is not so typical, as with Travel Log from 1990, is that Cale steeps himself in technology and evokes the moods and frameworks of music that intersect with the blues or stand in opposition to them. The keyboards, drum loops, and horns on this record are as pervasive as the guitars. Needless to say, this requires an attitude adjustment on the part of the listener. This is not to say there aren't plenty of live musicians here; there are. It's just that the sheeny beats and clean synth lines feel odd when juxtaposed against the murky lyrics and Cale's wispy, smoke-weathered voice. His stinging Stratocaster lead lines, spare and razor taut -- especially when ringed with distortion -- are plentiful, as are his tight-knit song constructions. Standouts on this set include the new West funk of "New Lover," the shuffling "New Step," the skittering "The Problem," the delightfully rambling "Fancy Dancer," the burning road-dog rock of "Motormouth," and the jazzy, gypsy swing in "These Blues." There are a couple of ballads on the set that are unconventional, as well, in "Homeless," and in the beautiful "Blues for Mama." There is even a Latin track on "Rio" that feels more like a merengue than a samba. The album closes with Cale playing a lone banjo on "Another Song," a mournful Appalachian ballad that feels like it comes from out of the heart of the Dust Bowl, it's full of ghosts and shadows and aches with the weight and displacement of longing as history. A fine effort.

1. My Gal (4:23)
2. Chains of Love (3:37)
3. New Lover (3:12)
4. One Step (3:20)
5. Stone River (3:42)
6. The Problem (4:31)
7. Homeless (3:25)
8. Fancy Dancer (4:50)
9. Rio (3:46)
10. These Blues (3:49)
11. Motormouth (3:17)
12. Blues for Mama (4:07)
13. Another Song (3:23)


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Thursday, May 24, 2018

VA - 17-Track Guide To The Month's Best Music (2002)


Rock | Mp3 320 kbps | 191 Mb

1. Teenage Fanclub & Jad Fair - Crush On You (5:17)
2. The Sound - Judgement (5:01)
3. Eileen Rose - Good Man (6:05)
4. Ian Dury & The Blockheads - The Ballad Of the Sulphate Strangler (5:28)
5. The Arlenes - Lonely Won't Leave Me Alone (5:26)
6. Joey Ramon - Maria Bartiromo (3:58)
7. Willard Grant Conspiracy & Telefunk - Grun Grun (5:00)
8. Brian Wilson - Love & Mercy (2:31)
9. Departure Lounge - King Kong Frown (2:57)
10. Cornershop - Heavy Soup (3:21)
11. Edwyn Collins - Jonny Teardrop (4:06)
12. Giant Sand - Red Right Hand (4:38)
13. Morrissey - Late Night, Maudlin Street (7:40)
14. Free - Fire & Water (4:03)
15. John Matthias - Three Chord Trick (3:28)
16. 1 Giant Leap - Racing Away (5:58)
17. The Rat Pack - Me And My Shadow (2:52)


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Elvis Presley - The Complete '59 & '60 Sessions (2011)


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Elvis Presley - The Complete '58 Sessions (2009)


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Elvis Presley - The Complete '57 Sessions (2008)


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Elvis Presley - The Complete '56 Sessions (2008)


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J.J. Cale - Guitar Man (1996)


Folk, Country, Rock | FLAC | 418 Mb

J.J. Cale's albums usually sound interchangeable, and his 12th release, Guitar Man, is no exception. Although he has recorded Guitar Man as a one-man band effort, it sounds remarkably relaxed and laid-back, like it was made with a seasoned bar band. That doesn't mean there's much excitement on the album, but Cale's music has never been about excitement -- it's more about laying back and letting the music flow. Of course, that approach results in remarkably uneven records, and Guitar Man is no exception. There's a handful of very good songs, but there's nothing on the level of his previous classics. It's just another pleasant J.J. Cale album, nothing more but nothing less, either.

1. Death In The Wilderness (4:57)
2. It's Hard To Tell (2:39)
3. Days Go By (3:27)
4. Low Down (2:47)
5. This Town (2:54)
6. Guitar Man (4:01)
7. If I Had A Rocket (3:02)
8. Perfect Woman (2:10)
9. Old Blue (2:42)
10. Doctor Told Me (3:12)
11. Miss Ol'St. Louie (2:32)
12. Nobody Knows (3:51)


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Wednesday, May 23, 2018

VA - Living The Nightlife (1993)


R&B, Soul | FLAC | 244 Mb

Kent Records has set the standard for various-artists CDs in the U.K., displaying as much care with the packaging as they do compiling the songs, and this compilation features another sterling line-up of soul rarities and classics. Jack Montgomery's excellent "Dearly Beloved," for instance, is worth a fortune on 45, and you'll search long and hard to find a copy of Walter Johnson's obscure "Love Keeps Me Crying." Fred Hughes' "Send My Baby Back" was a mild R&B hit and Maxine Brown's "It's Torture" should have been. Big Maybelle is always magic, and the Shirelles' "Groovy Guy" is one girl group gem that you've probably never heard, featuring some male group sounds too. Living the Nightlife's 24 tracks offer plenty for the ears, and the packanging is easy on the eyes as well.

1. The Just Brothers - Carlena (2:47)
2. Jack Montgomery - Dearly Beloved (2:39)
3. Billy Thompson - Black Eyed Girl (1:59)
4. The Charts - Livin' The Nightlife (2:39)
5. The Shirelles - Groovy Guy (2:18)
6. Maxine Brown - It's Torture (2:44)
7. Benny Gordon - Gonna Give Her All The Love I Got (3:06)
8. Clarence Reid - I Refuse To Give Up (2:27)
9. Freddie Hughes - Send My Baby Back (3:11)
10. Chuck Jackson - Good Things Come To Those Who Wait (2:56)
11. The Masqueraders - Do You Love Me Baby (2:13)
12. The Ivories - Please Stay (2:31)
13. Tommy Hunt - The Pretty Part Of You (2:25)
14. The Esquires - My Sweet Baby (2:43)
15. The Diplomats - Love Ain't What It Used To Be (2:39)
16. Big Maybelle - Yesterday's Kisses (2:24)
17. Betty Lavette - (hapiness Will Cost You) One Thin Dime (2:41)
18. Judy Clay - I Want You (2:22)
19. Sandy Hadley - Since I Found A Love (2:31)
20. Walter Johnson - Love Keeps Me Crying (2:36)
21. The Gentlemen Four - You Can't Keep A Good Man Down (2:32)
22. Mel Wynn - I Don't Want To Lose You (2:42)
23. Maurice Williams - Look My Way (2:09)
24. Jimmie Raye - You Must Be Losing Your Mind (2:12)


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Tuesday, May 22, 2018

J.J. Cale - Closer To You (1994)


Folk, Country, Rock | FLAC | 405 Mb

On the two albums that preceded CLOSER TO YOU, TRAVEL LOG and NUMBER 10, J.J. Cale adopted a more basic musical approach. This album continues the trend. Cale plays a few songs alone (though the overdubbed parts sound remarkably spare), including the title track. "Closer to You" finds him electronically treating his vocals, a technique that surprisingly makes him sound as down-to-earth as ever. The set ends with the hypnotically grooving instrumental "Steve's Song." The set is bolstered by two bass players (electric and acoustic), three percussionists (including Jim Keltner), three guitarists (including Cale), two keyboardists (Spooner Oldham and Bill Payne), and three horn players. With the dazzling CLOSER TO YOU, J.J. Cale finds ever-newer surprises in his own remarkable corner of the musical world.

1. Long Way Home (2:56)
2. Sho-Biz Blues (3:46)
3. Slower Baby (5:06)
4. Devil's Nurse (3:50)
5. Like You Used To (3:06)
6. Borrowed Time (4:17)
7. Rose In The Garden (3:05)
8. Brown Dirt (3:32)
9. Hard Love (4:25)
10. Ain't Love Funny (2:50)
11. Closer To You (2:52)
12. Steve's Song (4:02)


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Monday, May 21, 2018

Nazareth - The Naz Box (2011)


Rock | Mp3 320 kbps | 4 CD | 715 Mb

Scotland’s premier rock export, Nazareth are famed for their brilliant interpretations of other people’s songs as well as their crunching originals and phenomenal live show. This collection is the most extensive overview of their career to date. It takes in highlights from 40 years of albums, adding a wealth of previously unreleased recordings, both premium concert material and studio sides. The fully illustrated 64-page book that accompanies it features extensive notes and rare photos to complete the definitive Naz package.

CD 1
1. Dear John (3:47)
2. Friends (3:40)
3. Woke Up This Morning (3:12)
4. If You See My Baby (3:00)
5. Razamanaz (3:50)
6. Bad Bad Boy (3:58)
7. Broken Down Angel (3:45)
8. Go Down Fighting (3:06)
9. This Flight Tonight (3:24)
10. Shanghai'd In Shanghai (3:44)
11. Loved And Lost (5:12)
12. Hair Of The Dog (4:11)
13. Love Hurts (3:53)
14. My White Bicycle (3:26)
15. Vancouver Shakedown (4:05)
16. I Want To Do Everything For You (4:19)
17. Expect No Mercy (3:26)
18. Place In Your Heart (3:00)
19. New York Broken Toy (3:36)
20. Star (4:54)

CD 2
1. May The Sunshine (Single Mix) (3:31)
2. Holiday (3:37)
3. Heart's Grown Cold (4:14)
4. Every Young Man's Dream (3:17)
5. Crazy (A Suitable Case For Treatment) (3:26)
6. Boys In The Band (3:05)
7. Dream On (3:26)
8. Whippin' Boy (4:42)
9. Where Are You Now (3:55)
10. Sweetheart Tree (3:02)
11. Cinema (4:43)
12. Hit The Fan (3:37)
13. Piece Of My Heart (4:26)
14. Hire And Fire (5:12)
15. Every Time It Rains (4:12)
16. Cry Wolf (4:14)
17. Can't Shake Those Shakes (3:22)
18. Light Comes Down (3:29)
19. A Day At The Beach (4:56)
20. Big Dogz Gonna Howl (4:00)

CD 3
1. Turn On Your Receiver (Bob Harris Jingle) (1:11)
2. Called Her Name (BBC Live Track) (4:31)
3. Country Girl (BBC Live Track) (4:19)
4. Black Hearted Woman (BBC Live Track) (9:59)
5. Goin' Down (BBC Live Track) (4:29)
6. Alcatraz (BBC Live Track) (4:56)
7. Vigilante Man (BBC Live Track) (4:51)
8. Ruby Baby (BBC Live Track) (4:41)
9. Woke Up This Morning / Boogie (BBC Live Track) (9:46)
10. Changing Times (BBC Live Track) (6:12)
11. Honky Tonk Downstairs (BBC Live Track) (4:07)
12. What You Gonna Do About It (BBC Live Track) (5:09)
13. You Got Me Hummin' (BBC Live Track) (4:22)
14. Guilty (BBC Live Track) (4:14)

CD 4
1. Telegram (BBC Live Track) (5:59)
2. Night Woman (BBC Live Track) (7:32)
3. Born To Love (BBC Live Track) (4:35)
4. Gone Dead Train (BBC Live Track) (3:59)
5. Kentucky Fried Blues (BBC Live Track) (4:05)
6. Teenage Nervous Breakdown (BBC Live Track) (3:40)
7. Paper Sun (Previously Unreleased) (5:22)
8. Storm Warning (Previously Unreleased) (3:48)
9. Mexico (Demo) (Previously Unreleased) (2:45)
10. Laid To Wasted (Previously Unreleased) (3:42)
11. Read The Book (Previously Unreleased) (3:22)
12. SOS (Previously Unreleased) (4:11)
13. Sunshine Of Your Love (Previously Unreleased) (4:41)
14. See You See Me (Previously Unreleased) (4:35)
15. Heatwave (Previously Unreleased) (2:32)


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The Creation - Our Music Is Red With Purple Flashes (2015)


Rock, Beat | Mp3 320 kbps | 173 Mb

1. Making Time (2:56), 2. Try And Stop Me (2:27), 3. Painter Man (2:52), 4. Biff Bang Pow (2:26), 5. If I Stay Too Long (3:23), 6. Nightmares (3:13), 7. I Am The Walker (2:47), 8. Can I Join Your Band (3:05), 9. Cool Jerk (2:20), 10. Like A Rolling Stone (2:59), 11. Hey Joe (4:10), 12. Life Is Just Beginning (2:59), 13. Through My Eyes (3:07), 14. How Does It Feel To Feel (US Version) (3:04), 15. Ostrich Man (2:58), 16. Sweet Helen (3:01), 17. How Does It Feel To Feel (UK Version) (2:59), 18. Tom Tom (2:57), 19. Midway Down (2:46), 20. The Girls Are Naked (1:59), 21. Bony Maronie (3:28), 22. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (2:34), 23. For All That I Am (3:06), 24. Uncle Bert (2:22)


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Sunday, May 20, 2018

Elvis Presley - The On Stage Season (2013)


Rock'n'Roll | Mp3 320 kbps | 2 CD | 299 Mb

CD 1, 1. All Shook Up (2:28), 2. That's All Right (2:37), 3. Proud Mary (3:09), 4. Don't Cry Daddy (2:42), 5. (Let Me Be Your)Teddy Bear-Don't Be Cruel (2:41), 6. Long Tall Sally (1:48), 7. Let It Be Me (4:02), 8. I Can't Stop Loving You (2:47), 9. Walk A Mile In My Shoes (2:59), 10. In The Ghetto (3:18), 11. True Love Travels On A Gravel Road (3:17), 12. Sweet Caroline (4:33), 13. Polk Salad Annie (5:36), 14. Introductions (1:59), 15. Kentucky Rain (3:27), 16. Suspicious Minds (6:25), 17. Can't Help Falling In Love (2:04)

CD 2, 1. All Shook Up (2:36), 2. I Got A Woman (2:28), 3. Long Tall Sally (2:49), 4. Don't Cry Daddy (2:44), 5. Hound Dog (3:04), 6. Love Me Tender (2:52), 7. Kentucky Rain (3:10), 8. Let It Be Me (3:16), 9. I Can't Stop Loving You (2:19), 10. See See Rider (2:42), 11. Sweet Caroline (2:30), 12. Polk Salad Annie (6:32), 13. Introductions (2:30), 14. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (2:04), 15. Heartbreak Hotel (2:24), 16. One Night (2:42), 17. It's Now Or Never (2:20), 18. Suspicious Minds (4:48), 19. Dialogue (1:21), 20. Can't Help Falling In Love (2:05)


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Bobby Wills - In Comes The Night (2018)


Country | FLAC | 214 Mb

1. Ride Out The Rain (3:37)
2. Before I Knew Better (3:43)
3. A New Day (3:23)
4. Spend The Night (3:08)
5. Get While The Gettin's Good (3:29)
6. Out Of Your Mind (3:01)
7. In Comes The Night (3:38)
8. Out Of Your Mind (Radio Edit) (3:05)
9. Out Of Your Mind (Live) (2:57)


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Saturday, May 19, 2018

VA - Southern Rock Uprising (2008)


Rock | Mp3 320 kbps | 154 Mb

1. Milestone - Ragged Lies (3:20)
2. Nashville Pussy - Nutbush City Limits (3:22)
3. Shooter Jennings - Slow Train (3:41)
4. Black Stone Cherry - Hell And High Water (4:03)
5. Old Union - Deadline (4:00)
6. Pride And Glory - Lovin Woman (3:49)
7. Blackfoot - Good Morning (5:46)
8. Santeria - Come On Baby (3:17)
9. Dixie Witch - Set The Speed (4:34)
10. Black Oak Arkansas - Hold Me Down (4:12)
11. Willie Stradlin - Living For The Weekend (4:00)
12. Down - On March The Saints (4:12)
13. Pig Iron - Golden (7:13)
14. Molly Hatchet - Fall Of The Peacemaker (5:06)
15. Draven - You Wont Taker Me Down Again (4:57)


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VA - Soul ~ The Collection (2012)


Soul | Mp3 320 kbps | 3 CD | 429 Mb

Rhino's 60-track Soul: The Collection is a budget compilation that compiles many of the best-known '60s and early-'70s R&B hits. It's presented cheaply, but it makes for an affordable way to dive into the era with nothing in the way of re-recordings or second-rate live material. Many of the selections are drawn from the Stax and Atlantic catalogs. Among the enduring classics are Aretha Franklin's "Respect," Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour," Ben E. King's "Stand by Me," Booker T. & the MG's' "Green Onions," the Spinners' "I'll Be Around," and Dionne Warwick's "Walk on By."

CD 1
1. Aretha Franklin - Respect (2:25)
2. Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour (2:40)
3. Otis Redding - The Dock Of The Bay (2:43)
4. The Bar-Kays - Soul Finger (2:21)
5. The Coasters - Poison Ivy (2:42)
6. Ray Charles - What'd I Say (6:29)
7. The Mar-Kays - Last Night (2:38)
8. Sam & Dave - Hold On! I'm Coming (2:34)
9. Percy Sledge - The Dark End Of The Street (2:48)
10. Darrell Banks - Angel Baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me) (2:56)
11. Archie Bell - Tighten Up (3:12)
12. King Curtis - Memphis Soul Stew (2:58)
13. The Detroit Spinners - I'll Be Around (3:12)
14. Jackie Moore - Time (3:28)
15. Donny Hathaway - The Ghetto (6:51)
16. Soloman Burke - If You Need Me (2:34)
17. Soul Brothers Six - Some Kind Of Wonderful (2:40)
18. Mary Wells - Dear Lover (2:11)
19. Tami Lynn - I'm Gonna Run Away From You (2:49)
20. Betty Wright - Clean Up Woman (2:45)

CD 2
 1. Sam & Dave - Soul Man (2:38)
2. Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music (2:22)
3. Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood (3:06)
4. Wilson Pickett - Mustang Sally (3:09)
5. The Capitols - Cool Jerk (2:33)
6. Soloman Burke - Stupidity (1:57)
7. Booker T & The MG's - Blue On Green (2:28)
8. Aretha Franklin - Think (2:17)
9. Soul Clan - That's How I Feel (3:34)
10. The Astors - Candy (3:02)
11. Doris Troy - Just One Look (2:30)
12. Clarence Carter - Looking For A Fox (2:17)
13. The Drifters - Save The Last Dance For Me (2:35)
14. Mel Torme - Coming Home Baby (2:41)
15. Laura Lee - What A Man (2:56)
16. Otis Redding - Hard To Handle (2:18)
17. The Persuaders - Thin Line Between Love And Hate (3:26)
18. Ben E. King - What Is Soul? (2:23)
19. Esther Phillips - Mojo Hannah (2:23)
20. Doris Troy - What'cha Gonna Do About It? (1:49)

CD 3
1. Ben E. King - Stand By Me (2:57)
2. Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman (2:51)
3. Aretha Franklin - I Say A Little Prayer (3:33)
4. Soloman Burke - Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (2:47)
5. Otis Redding & Carla Thomas - Tramp (3:00)
6. Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles - Groovy Kind Of Love (2:11)
7. The Charmels - As Long As I've Got You (2:40)
8. Willson Pickett - Land Of 1000 Dances (2:26)
9. Ben E. King - Supernatural Thing (3:24)
10. Eddie Harris - It's All Right Now (3:58)
11. Booker T & The MG's - Boot-Leg (2:07)
12. Darrell Banks - The Love Of My Woman (2:56)
13. Don Covay - Seesaw (2:59)
14. Booker T & The MG's - Green Onions (2:55)
15. The Drifters - Under The Boardwalk (2:45)
16. Bettye LaVette - Your Turn To Cry (3:15)
17. The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Bertha Butt Encounters Vadar (6:01)
18. Major Harris - Love Won't Let Me Wait (5:34)
19. Ray Charles - Night Time Is The Right Time (3:29)
20. Dionne Warwick - Walk On By (2:53)


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Elvis Presley - Sunrise (2004)


Pop, Rock, Rock'n'Roll | FLAC | 2 CD | 191 Mb

CD 1
1. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (2:05)
2. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine (2:31)
3. Milkcow Blues Boogie (2:41)
4. You're A Heartbreaker (2:14)
5. I Forgot To Remember To Forget (2:32)
6. I Love You Because (2:46)
7. Harbor Lights (2:38)
8. Blue Moon (2:43)
9. Tomorrow Night (3:02)
10. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') (2:27)
11. Just Because (2:36)
12. When It Rains, It Really Pours (4:03)

CD 2
1. That's When Your Heartaches Begin (acetate) (2:50)
2. I'll Never Stand In Your Way (acetate) (2:04)
3. It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You (acetate) (2:06)
4. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (alternate take, slow version) (2:49)
5. Fool, Fool, Fool (acetate) (1:54)
6. Money Honey (live, acetate) (2:40)
7. Tweedlee Dee (live, acetate) (2:13)
8. Hearts Of Stone (live, acetate) (1:56)


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Bob Dylan - Triplicate (2017)


Folk Rock | Mp3 320 kbps | 3 CD | 227 Mb

CD 1, 1. I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans (2:26), 2. September of My Years (3:25), 3. I Could Have Told You (3:39), 4. Once Upon a Time (3:37), 5. Stormy Weather (3:05), 6. This Nearly Was Mine (2:48), 7. That Old Feeling (3:38), 8. It Gets Lonely Early (3:10), 9. My One and Only Love (3:23), 10. Trade Winds (2:36)

CD 2, 1. There's a Flaw in My Flue (2:41), 2. Braggin' (2:44), 3. As Time Goes By (3:22), 4. Imagination (2:34), 5. How Deep is the Ocean (3:23), 6. P.S. I Love You (4:17), 7. The Best Is Yet to Come (2:57), 8. But Beautiful (3:22), 9. Here's That Rainy Day (3:27), 10. Where Is the One (3:14)

CD 3, 1. Why Was I Born (2:49), 2. Day In, Day Out (3:01), 3. I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night (3:15), 4. Sentimental Journey (3:11), 5. Somewhere Along the Way (3:18), 6. When the World Was Young (3:47), 7. These Foolish Things (4:11), 8. You Go to My Head (3:06), 9. Stardust (2:34), 10. It's Funny to Everyone but Me (2:38)


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Friday, May 18, 2018

VA - Forever Changing ~ The Golden Age Of Elektra Records 1963-1973 (2006)


Pop, Rock | Mp3 320 kbps | 5 CD | 901 Mb

CD 1
1. Judy Collins - Turn! Turn! Turn! + To Everything There Is A Season (3:41)
2. Dian & The Greenbriar Boys - He Was A Friend (3:02)
3. Judy Henske - High Flying Bird (2:59)
4. Bob Gibson - Dink's Song (Fare Thee Well) (2:36)
5. Dick Rosmini - Casey (2:00)
6. Dick Rosmini - Shady Grove (1:12)
7. Dick Rosmini - Little Brown Dog (2:00)
8. Koerner, Ray & Glover - Linin' Truck (2:18)
9. The Even Dozen Jug Band - The Even Dozens (2:55)
10. Vince Martin & Frank Neil - Wild Child In A World Of Trouble (2:19)
11. 'Spider' John Koerner - Good Luck Child (2:10)
12. Geoff Muldaur - Downtown Blues (2:31)
13. Phil Ochs - I Ain't Marching Anymore (2:36)
14. Tom Paxton - The Last Thing On My Mind (3:08)
15. Hamilton Camp - Pride Of Man (2:11)
16. Judy Collins - Tomorrow Is A Long Time (4:11)
17. The Dillards With Byron Berline - Black Mountain Rag (2:20)
18. Kathy And Carol - Green Rocky Road (2:30)
19. Phil Boroff - Cocaine (3:03)
20. Richard Fariña - House Un-American Blues Activity Dream (3:28)
21. Dave Ray - West Egg Rag (1:32)
22. Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis - Two Trains Running (2:27)
23. Oliver Smith - Breeze (2:37)
24. Tom Rush - Joshua Gone Barbados (4:12)
25. Fred Neil - Other Side To This Life (2:57)
26. Dino Valente - Birdses (2:35)
27. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Blues With A Feeling (4:24)
28. The Doors - Moonlight Drive (Early Version) (2:30)

CD 2
1. Love - My Little Red Book (2:33)
2. Tim Buckley - Wings (2:34)
3. David Blue - So Easy She Goes By (3:33)
4. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - I Got A Mind To Give Up Living (5:00)
5. Pat Kilroy - The Magic Carpet (2:02)
6. The Incredible String Band - First Girl I Loved (4:54)
7. Alasdair Clayre - The Invisible Backwards Facing Grocer Who Rose To Fame (2:31)
8. Tom Paxton - One Time And One Time Only (Electric Version) (2:59)
9. Phil Ochs - Changes (4:42)
10. Judy Collins - Hard Lovin' Loser (2:41)
11. Love - She Comes In Colours (2:46)
12. The Doors - Light My Fire (7:11)
13. Clear Light - Black Roses (2:12)
14. Tim Buckley - Once I Was (3:24)
15. The Zodiac Cosmic Sounds - Virgo (3:10)
16. Steve Noonan - Buy For Me The Rain (2:46)
17. Eclection - Nevertheless (2:52)
18. Ars Nova - Fields Of People (2:55)
19. The Holy Modal Rounders - Dame Fortune (2:55)
20. Bamboo - Girl Of The Seasons (3:35)
21. 'Spider' John Koerner And Willie Murphy - Magazine Lady (2:50)
22. Earth Opera - The Red Sox Are Winning (3:32)
23. The Waphphle - I Want You (2:47)

CD 3
1. Love - Alone Again Or (3:18)
2. Judy Collins - Both Sides Now (3:17)
3. Tom Rush - No Regrets (3:55)
4. Tom Paxton - Jennifer's Rabbit (1:45)
5. The Incredible String Band - Swift As The Wind (4:52)
6. Nico - Frozen Warnings (4:04)
7. David Ackles - Down River (3:59)
8. Earth Opera - Mad Lydia's Waltz (3:51)
9. Tim Buckley - Sing A Song For You (2:42)
10. David Stoughton - The Sun Comes Up Each Day (4:02)
11. Diane Hildebrand - Early Morning Blues And Greens (3:13)
12. The Dillards - She Sang Hymns Out Of Tune (2:34)
13. Stalk-Forrest Group - Arthur Comics (3:10)
14. The Doors - Five To One (4:31)
15. Rhinoceros - Apricot Brandy (1:58)
16. Delaney & Bonnie And Friends - When The Battle Is Over (3:36)
17. Lonnie Mack - Mt. Healthy Blues (6:46)
18. MC5 - Kick Out The Jams (2:52)
19. The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog (3:13)
20. Crabby Appleton - Go Back (3:07)
21. Bread - Dismal Day (2:22)
22. Love - August (5:03)

CD 4
1. The Stooges - Down On The Street (Single Version) (2:43)
2. Paul Siebel - Louise (3:44)
3. Judy Collins - Amazing Grace (4:07)
4. Carly Simon - That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be (4:18)
5. The Doors - Riders On The Storm (7:14)
6. Mickey Newbury - The Future's Not What It Used To Be (4:33)
7. Farquahr - Start Living (2:43)
8. Harry Chapin - Taxi (6:46)
9. Plainsong - The Story Of Amelia Earhart (4:33)
10. The Wackers - I Hardly Know Her Name (1:51)
11. David Ackles - Ballad Of The Ship Of State (4:21)
12. Bread - The Guitar Man (3:47)
13. Carly Simon - You're So Vain (4:19)
14. Courtland Pickett - You Don't Grow Old (3:56)
15. Cyrus Faryar - Dolphins (5:39)
16. Skymontors With Hamid Hamilton Camp - Shadows On The Wall (4:33)
17. Dennis Linde - Burning Love (3:00)
18. Queen - Keep Yourself Alive (3:49)

CD 5
1. Elektra Sound Effects Library - Wind Chimes (0:27)
2. The Beefeaters - Don't Be Long (1:56)
3. Joshua Rifkin - I'll Be Back (1:43)
4. The Dry City Scat Band - Baldheaded End Of The Broom (2:10)
5. Joseph Spence - We Shall Be Happy (2:55)
6. The Lovin' Spoonful - Good Time Music (3:09)
7. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Born In Chicago (3:20)
8. Eric Clapton & The Powerhouse - Crossroads (2:19)
9. Judy Collins - I'll Keep It With Mine (3:10)
10. The Charles River Valley Boys - She's A Woman (2:39)
11. Tom Rush - Sunshine Sunshine (2:59)
12. The Holy Modal Rounders - Bird Song (2:40)
13. Clear Light - She's Ready To Be Free (1:58)
14. Tim Buckley - Wayfaring Stranger (4:25)
15. David Ackles - Laissez-Faire (1:37)
16. David Peel & The Lower East Side - Alphabet Song (2:28)
17. Simon Stokes & The Nighthawks - Voodoo Woman (2:30)
18. Eclection - Please (Mark II) (2:58)
19. Leviathan - Flames (3:48)
20. Show Of Hands - No Words Between Us (4:12)
21. Jack S. Margolis - Listening To Music (2:10)
22. The Rainbow Band - Lotus (5:33)
23. Aztec Two-Step - The Persecution And Restoration Of Dean Moriarty (On The Road) (4:17)
24. Goodthunder - P.O.W. (6:52)
25. Andy Roberts - All Around My Grandmother's Floor (3:11)
26. Jobriath - World Without End (3:43)


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Thursday, May 17, 2018

Roy Orbison & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - A Love So Beautiful (2017)


Pop, Rock, Rock'n'Roll | FLAC | 377 Mb

Roy Orbison's old Sun labelmate Elvis Presley wound up scoring an international hit in 2015 with If I Can Dream, an album where the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra played over old Elvis recordings. With an audience established, other artist estates stepped into the breech, including Orbison's, who endorsed pairing old Roy recordings with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Given that Orbison's hits often verged on the symphonic, this pairing might seem to make more sense than Presley, but A Love So Beautiful contains a considerable amount of rockers -- "Oh, Pretty Woman," "Dream Baby," "Uptown," "Mean Woman Blues" -- that do not lend themselves well to ornate arrangements; they sound pretty silly with the strings sawing. Odder still, Orbison's lush classics -- "In Dreams," "Crying," "It's Over," "Running Scared" -- do not benefit from the orchestral reinterpretations; they sound sticky and heavy. What was once elegant has curdled into something syrupy, and while the technological achievement is admirable -- the seams can't be heard between the old and new recordings -- the resulting record does a disservice to the imagination of the original Orbison recordings and his gorgeous voice.

1. In Dreams (3:47)
2. Crying (3:00)
3. I'm Hurtin' (2:47)
4. Oh, Pretty Woman (3:08)
5. It's Over (3:19)
6. Dream Baby (2:54)
7. Blue Angel (2:58)
8. Love Hurts (2:40)
9. Uptown (2:17)
10. MeanWoman Blues (2:26)
11. Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel) (2:32)
12. Running Scared (2:48)
13. I Drove All Night (4:15)
14. You Got It (3:36)
15. A LoveSo Beatiful (4:12)
16. Pretty Paper (3:23)
17. I Drove All Night (4:03)


pass: polarbear

Ray Davies - Americana (2017)


Pop, Rock | FLAC | 688 Mb

Ray Davies published a memoir chronicling his life-long affair with America in 2013. Naturally, it was called Americana, and that's also the title of this 2017 musical adaptation of the book. Davies plays a little fast and loose with his facts, which is perhaps a detriment in an autobiography but suits the condensed nature of songwriting. He doesn't tell a story with Americana -- it's not a song cycle along the lines of Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) -- but rather offers a series of vignettes, some torn from the pages of his book, others expanding upon its themes. Images of highways, cowboys, and movies dance through the songs, as do sly allusions to the Kinks. It's not just that there's an echo of "All Day and All of the Night" on "The Man Upstairs," either: "Poetry" recalls the pastoral jangle of Village Green Preservation Society and "The Great Highway" stomps like a Low Budget outtake. This is the key to understanding Americana. While there are a few nods to classic American music -- "A Place in Your Heart" rambles like an old country & western tune -- Americana is Davies examining how America has changed him, so it fits that his own work is threaded into the album. Backed by the Jayhawks -- an Americana band raised on the British Invasion -- Davies manages to skillfully pull off such subtle shifts in tone. Collaborating with a working band enlivens him -- there's snap and muscle here that were missing on the otherwise fine Working Man's Café -- and for as good as the songs are, what's initially so absorbing about Americana is this limber musicality. What makes it last are the songs, which are wry, moving, and truthful, which wasn't always the case in his book.

1. Americana (4:01)
2. The Deal (5:03)
3. Poetry (5:05)
4. Message from the Road (2:56)
5. A Place in Your Heart (5:03)
6. The Mystery Room (3:51)
7. Silent Movie (1:11)
8. Rock 'N' Roll Cowboys (4:21)
9. Change for Change (3:23)
10. The Man Upstairs (1:36)
11. I've Heard That Beat Before (4:03)
12. A Long Drive Home to Tarzana (4:59)
13. The Great Highway (4:43)
14. The Invaders (3:47)
15. Wings of Fantasy (4:17)


pass: polarbear

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

VA - 100 Hits ~ The Girls (2018)


Pop | Mp3 320 kbps | 5 CD | 880 Mb

CD 1
1. Anastacia - Left Outside Alone (4:17)
2. P!nk - Just Like a Pill (3:57)
3. Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down (3:27)
4. Paloma Faith - Never Tear Us Apart (3:06)
5. Alicia Keys - You Dont Know My Name (6:06)
6. Nicole Scherzinger - Your Love (4:05)
7. Ke$ha - Your Love Is My Drug (3:11)
8. Jordin Sparks - S.O.S - (Let The Music Play) (3:36)
9. Kelly Clarkson - Because of You (3:40)
10. Leona Lewis - A Moment Like This (4:38)
11. Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah (3:44)
12. Rebecca Ferguson - Nothings Real but Love (2:50)
13. Jennifer Lopez - Baby I Love U! (4:28)
14. Amelia Lily - You Bring Me Joy (3:49)
15. Avril Lavigne - Complicated (4:09)
16. Meja - All Bout the Money (2:52)
17. Natasha Bedingfield - These Words (3:34)
18. Delta Goodrem - Born to Try (4:13)
19. Lissie - Go Your Own Way (3:34)
20. Christina Aguilera - Beautiful (3:58)

CD 2
1. The Weather Girls - Its Raining Men (3:43)
2. Taylor Dayne - Tell It To My Heart (3:42)
3. Aretha Franklin - Whos Zoomin Who (4:25)
4. Joyce Sims - Come Into My Life (3:42)
5. Dionne Warwick - Heartbreaker (4:17)
6. Donna Summer - State of Independence (4:26)
7. Diana King - Aint Nobody (3:47)
8. Phyllis Nelson - Move Closer (4:08)
9. Dee C. Lee - See the Day (4:39)
10. The Pointer Sisters - Slow Hand (3:53)
11. Liza Minnelli - Losing My Mind (3:58)
12. Patti Smith - Because the Night (3:27)
13. Martika - Toy Soldiers (4:47)
14. Belinda Carlisle - I Get Weak (4:19)
15. Kim Wilde - Kids in America (3:36)
16. Kiki Dee - Star (3:15)
17. Mel & Kim - Respectable (3:18)
18. Sinitta - Cross My Broken Heart (3:52)
19. Sonia - You To Me Are Everything (3:23)
20. Kirsty MacColl - Days (3:01)

CD 3
1. The Emotions - Best of My Love (3:37)
2. Frantique - Strut Your FunkyStuff (3:34)
3. Cheryl Lynn - Got To Be Real (3:42)
4. Baccara - Sorry, Im a Lady (3:40)
5. Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Shame (4:42)
6. Melba Moore - This Is It (3:33)
7. The Nolans - Im In the Mood for Dancing (3:18)
8. Tina Charles - I Love to Love (3:10)
9. Lulu - The Man Who Sold The World (3:50)
10. Clout - Substitute (3:29)
11. The Bangles - Eternal Flame (3:52)
12. Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden (2:59)
13. Mary MacGregor - Torn Between Two Lovers (3:49)
14. Dana - Fairytale (3:09)
15. Brotherhood of Man - Angelo (3:16)
16. The Pearls - Guilty (3:08)
17. Erma Franklin - Piece of My Heart (2:50)
18. Labelle - Lady Marmalade (3:54)
19. Freda Payne - Band of Gold (2:53)
20. Deniece Williams - Free (2:51)

CD 4
1. M People - One Night In Heaven (4:21)
2. Rozalla - Everybodys Free (3:31)
3. Mis-Teeq - All I Want (Sunship Radio Edit) (3:28)
4. Kym Mazelle & Jocelyn Brown - No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (4:36)
5. Strike - U Sure Do (3:47)
6. Urban Cookie Collective - The Key, The Secret (3:38)
7. The Tamperer feat. Maya - If You Buy This Record (3:27)
8. SWV - Right Here (Human Nature Radio Mix) (3:47)
9. Sophie B. Hawkins - As I Lay Me Down (4:19)
10. TLC - Unpretty (4:37)
11. Kelly Rowland - Stole (4:11)
12. Jennifer Hudson - Spotlight (4:50)
13. Toni Braxton - I Dont Want To (4:17)
14. Sam Bailey - Skyscraper (3:49)
15. Sarah McLachlan - Angel (4:15)
16. Natalie Imbruglia - Torn (3:56)
17. Sara Bareilles - Love Song (4:11)
18. B-Witched - Cest la vie (2:54)
19. Shakira - Underneath Your Clothes (3:37)
20. Dido - Here With Me (4:05)

CD 5
1. Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All (4:58)
2. Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World (4:21)
3. The Three Degrees - Woman In Love (4:16)
4. Kate Robbins And Beyond - More Than In Love (3:27)
5. Heather Small - Proud (3:45)
6. Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart (4:15)
7. Gloria Estefan - Dont Wanna Lose You (4:10)
8. Jennifer Rush - The Power of Love (4:18)
9. Beverley Craven - Promise Me (3:34)
10. Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time (3:58)
11. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me (3:45)
12. Shawn Colvin - I Dont Know Why (3:56)
13. Marianne Faithfull - Its All Over Now Baby Blue (3:50)
14. Dolly Parton - I Will Always Love You (2:55)
15. Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man (2:40)
16. Little Peggy March - I Will Follow Him (2:25)
17. Reparata and The Delrons - Captain of Your Ship (2:24)
18. Doris Day - Move Over Darling (2:35)
19. Skeeter Davis - The End of The World (2:36)
20. Bette Midler - You'll Never Know (1:44)


pass: polarbear

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