Wes Montgomery - Classics, Volume 22 (1987)

Guitarist Wes Montgomery recorded only three albums for the A&M label before his untimely death at age of 45 in 1968:

• A Day In The Life, 1967
• Down Here On The Ground, 1968
• Road Song, 1968

All three albums were recorded at the Van Gelder Studio and produced by Creed Taylor with arrangements by Don Sebesky or Eumir Deodato. This early CD compilation collects tracks from those three albums in addition to five previously unissued selections. Notable musicians on these tracks include Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Hubert Laws, among others.

Most cuts are brief covers of pop tunes with little room for improvisation, but they proved to reach more of an audience and even if Montgomery's old jazz purist fans didn't care much for it, his accountant certainly did. As mentioned in the CD's liner notes by Peter Keepnews of The New York Times, "he was happy to be making big money for the first time in his life." The entire compilation, like most Creed Taylor productions, is easy on the ears and I enjoy all 67 minutes of it.

Following this 1987 edition released as part of the A&M Records 25th Anniversary Series, the compilation was reissued two additional times featuring the same track selection and sequence, but with different album art. In 1991, it was reissued as part of the A&M Gold Series, and again in 1996 as part of the A&M Backlot Series.

Peak on the US Billboard 200 album chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

	Title	Album
1	California Nights	A Day In The Life
2	Windy	A Day In The Life
3	Switchin'	previously unreleased
4	I Say A Little Prayer For You	Down Here On The Ground
5	Yesterday	Road Song
6	Pata Pata	previously unreleased
7	Wind Song	Down Here On The Ground
8	Butterfly	previously unreleased
9	Georgia On My Mind	Down Here On The Ground
10	Hello Young Lovers	previously unreleased
11	Fly Me To The Moon	Road Song
12	Road Song	Road Song
13	A Day In The Life	A Day In The Life
14	Down Here On The Ground	Down Here On The Ground
15	When A Man Loves A Woman	A Day In The Life
16	Eleanor Rigby	A Day In The Life
17	Where Have All The Flowers Gone?	Road Song
18	Know It All (Quem Diz Que Sabe)	Down Here On The Ground
19	My Favorite Things	Previously unreleased
20	Scarborough Fair (Canticle)	Road Song

My top picks today are Windy, I Say A Little Prayer for You, Butterfly, and Know It All.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
A Day In The Life (1967)

Previously revisited in the A&M Records 25th Anniversary Series:

Volume 1, Herb Alpert
Volume 6, Chuck Mangione
Volume 18, Sergio Mendes

Talking Heads: 77 (1977)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 1988 reissue.

I've written plenty about Talking Heads on this blog and there's still more to come. So, instead of discussing the band, I'll write about how unfairly I treat this album. In 1977, 11 year old Mark was an AM radio junkie with no connection to this sort of stuff. My first memory of Talking Heads is seeing David Byrne jerk around in the video for Once In A Lifetime when it aired on MTV in late '82/early '83. From there, I heard Remain In Light, then Speaking In Tongues helped soundtrack my senior year of high school, then I caught on to the live albums, and so on. So I didn't hear the music on Talking Heads: '77 until I was already deeply immersed in the band's later œuvre. As such, these songs didn't have the impact on me as they might otherwise have. Is that fair? Probably not. Is that way it is? Yup. Shrug.

Comparisons to Marquee Moon are common and not without merit. This album met with more critical success than commercial success, possibly because the press didn't know how to classify the eclectic rock/funk/pop/new wave sound of the music. As the CashBox review (below) states: "this band has been tagged with the 'punk' label, which fits them about as well as a tux at the beach." I'll leave you with this blurb taken from the CD booklet, also printed on the back of the CD longbox:

It is indeed a masterful debut, but today I'd place it either 5th or 6th if I was ranking the group's eight studio albums.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "a style that crosses precise and lightly funky arrangements with a shade of avant-garde/modal progressiveness that's neither hard, soft nor punk."
  
• CashBox: "An interesting and highly appealing band that bears watching."
• Record World: "The Heads are really far removed from this mainstream."
• Robert Christgau: A-
• Rolling Stone: "one of the definitive records of the decade."
• Trouser Press: "This album will test your capacity for wonder."
• Roadrunner: "it will get inside your head and it won't leave you alone. You have been warned."
• Record Mirror (++++): "An impressive debut."
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave (1998): ★★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #97
• CashBox: #169

The album was voted the year's seventh best album in The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll. It was also included in the 2005 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, where it was written that the band "had taken elements of punk, funk, and disco and convincingly created a unique sound of their own." In 2013, Rolling Stone ranked the album at #68 on their list of "100 Best Debut Albums of All Time;" however, it was dropped from the 2022 revision of said list.

Tracks: Let's rank 'em!

11. Tentative Decisions
10. No Compassion
9. New Feeling
8. The Book I Read
7. Happy Day
6. First Week/Last Week...Carefree
5. Don't Worry About The Government*
4. Pulled Up
3. Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town
2. Psycho Killer
1. Who Is It?

*Note: I'm really worried about the government.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:

The Best Of (2004)	Speaking In Tongues (1983)
Little Creatures (1985)	The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads (1982)
Stop Making Sense (1984)	Remain In Light (1980)
	Fear Of Music (1979)

John Williams - The Empire Strikes Back: Original Soundtrack (1980)

Note: This release was originally given to me as a 2 LP set, later replaced by a CD (sorta). The CD I listened to was the very first CD issue, pressed in (then) West Germany for the international market.

A great soundtrack from the best movie of the ever expanding Star Wars saga. We not only get the famous theme from the original 1977 movie, we also are treated to a new Vader's theme - officially titled 'The Imperial March' - plus an immediately recognizable motif for my favorite SW character, Yoda. Yes, Williams borrows a lot from himself and Gustav Holst's The Planets, but it all comes together quite nicely and, in the end, who cares where he gets his inspiration? The score won the Grammy award for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score, eventually losing to Michael Gore's score for Fame.

I've written before about my youthful desire to become a film composer; perhaps this soundtrack was the impetus?

Press of the time:

• High Fidelity: "a more complex and functional score"
  
• CashBox: "thoroughly engrossing soundtrack"
• Record World: "you're swept away"
• Billboard: "in the same vein as its predecessor"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #4
• CashBox: #6
• Rolling Stone: #18

Tracks: Outside the US, Canada, & Japan, this soundtrack was initially released as a 10 track single LP, a condensed version of the 17 track double LP I originally owned. This CD, however, follows that condensed 10 track sequence and clocks in around 42 minutes in length.

	Intl.		US
1	The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)	1	Star Wars (Main Theme)
2	Yoda's Theme	2	Yoda's Theme
3	The Asteroid Field	3	The Training Of A Jedi Knight
4	Han Solo And The Princess (Love Theme)	4	The Heroics Of Luke & Han
5	Finale	5	The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)
6	Star Wars (Main Theme)	6	Departure Of Boba Fett
7	The Training Of A Jedi Knight	7	Han Solo And The Princess (Love Theme)
8	Yoda And The Force	8	Hyperspace
9	The Duel	9	The Battle In The Snow
10	The Battle In The Snow	10	The Asteroid Field
		11	The City In The Clouds
		12	Rebels At Bay
		13	Yoda And the Force
		14	The Duel
		15	The Magic Tree
		16	Lando's Place
		17	Finale

While this isn't the familiar sequence and length I grew up with, I prefer this disc's condensed version. It's the perfect length for my nostalgic needs plus it starts off with Imperial March and Yoda.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I wouldn't consider myself a Star Wars fanatic (I've maybe seen 5 of the movies), but I've owned this 2" Yoda figure since 1980 - he even went to college with me.

I think he once had a cane?

My mother gave me the 2 LP set of this soundtrack for Christmas, 1980 and I listened to it often. It is only one of three times I can remember her buying a recording for me (the others were Barry Manilow's If I Should Love Again and, many years later, a CD by Pete Townshend & Raphael Rudd, which has since been misplaced).

And I am always on the lookout for this interpretation of the score by the likes of Ron Carter, Jon Faddis, Hubert Laws, Bob James, Billy Cobham, and Ralph MacDonald. For a physical copy, I'll have to look for a "vintage" vinyl copy to purchase as it has never been reissued on CD, but there's always hope.

One wonders what Lord Vader thinks about improvisation.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Joy To The World (1992)
JFK Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1992)
By Request (1987)

The Corrs - In Blue (2000)

A very enjoyable release from this family group, one of Ireland's most successful musical exports. Above average adult contemporary soft rock with just a touch of edge on several tracks. A little more popish than folkish, although I also like the slightly more traditional folk sound of their 1995 release. The change paid dividends for the quartet as the album sold platinum and hit #1 in several countries plus gave the group their only Top 40 hit in the United States with Breathless.

Breathless was nominated for a Grammy award in the category Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, eventually losing to Cousin Dupree by Steely Dan. Track 15, the more traditional Rebel Heart, was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, eventually losing to Caravan by The Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Peak on the US Billboard 200 chart: #21

Tracks: The disc kicks off with three strong tracks: Breathless (#7 adult pop, #34 pop), Give Me A Reason, and Somebody For Someone. Other top tracks include All The Love In The World (#24 adult pop), Irresistible, No More Cry, and Rebel Heart. I don't think it's a coincidence that Breathless, All The Love In The World, and Irresistible are the three cuts on the album produced by Mutt Lange (and, yes, I'll admit they sound like Shania Twain releases of the time). I think the album would have been a fantastic, tight CD if they'd pared it down to about 10 cuts, but with 15 tracks it goes on a bit long for me.

But the music isn't even the most interesting thing about this CD to me. This is the only CD I currently have on my shelves labeled as a "HyperCD."

From what I can tell, this short-lived brand of software was designed to work by simultaneously utilizing data from three separate locations: 1) downloaded software stored on the users' computers, 2) data contained on the disc itself, and 3) the Internet. This technology was marketed to consumers as "an exciting new hybrid CD technology that delivers high quality video and CD-quality audio via the Web without any of the quality loss of streaming or the lengthy download times associated with the Web at large." However, to the record labels, it was marketed as offering "fully trackable offline/online marketing solutions." In other words, direct marketing plus offline data collection opportunities.^[source]

And while date mining is commonplace now, it was relatively new and controversial at the time. So consumers got wind of the suspect data collection and there goes your HyperCD (along with the increased availability of broadband service plus there was a problem with forgetting to renew the registration of the HyperCD domain name. Oops. See Broadbridge Media, L.L.C. v. Hypercd.com (2000)). Anyhoo, here's an archived list of HyperCD releases as of July 9, 2001: http://www.broadbridgemedia.net/partners.html. Maybe there's a few on your shelves right now?

The HyperCD bonus content on this particular disc was apparently the video for the song Breathless. I couldn't get the thing to play on my desktop, but I didn't put in much effort because the video is readily available on YouTube if ya need it.

Thanks to longtime friend o' the blog Dirk Digglinator for alerting me to the existence of the HyperCD format. Go raibh míle maith agat! ☘

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Forgiven, Not Forgotten (1995)

Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 5 (1989)

André Previn conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded in Walthamstow Town Hall, London on July 6-7, 1988. Previn was principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic from 1985–1992.

I inherited this CD from my father and I'm hoping he purchased it for track 5, Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis and not for the headlining symphony. As I mentioned in a previous post:

Aaron Copland is reported to have commented, "Listening to the Fifth Symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams is like staring at a cow for forty-five minutes" That may be a little extreme, but this work softly meanders about for the first 3 movements, very rarely utilizing any instruments other than strings. Things get better in the final movement, but only slightly... This piece's quiet serenity makes it perfect for relaxing, but as Copland suggests, it doesn't hold up to active listening.

But as for that Tallis Fantasia, chef's kiss. It's a wonderful, flowing piece that utilizes the simple theme below as its basis and is expertly scored for scored for double string orchestra plus a string quartet. There's much interplay between the three string groups, and if the groups are properly separated in the stereo mix - as they are here - headphones are a plus.

Phrygian mode, if you're into that sort of thing.

It's all very well performed and recorded, as was the norm for Telarc at the dawn of the compact disc age.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The 9 Symphonies (2003)
Eastman Wind Ensemble - Works by Husa, Copland, Vaughan Williams, & Hindemith (1989)
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1981)

Doc Severinsen & The Tonight Show Band - Once More...With Feeling! (1991)

Severinsen was the leader of The Tonight Show Band from 1967 until Johnny Carson retired in May 1992. Much like they had with similar releases in 1986 and 1987, Amherst Records got the band to record (mostly) big band classics and jazz standards. Hence the album title - one last hurrah for the band before permanently dissolving. This time, however, it's an analog recording (AAD) and they invited guest artists Tony Bennett and Wynton Marsalis to sit in on a couple of cuts.

As one would expect: great arrangements, stellar solos, and, of course, solid performances. The album was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, eventually losing to Live At The Royal Festival Hall by Dizzy Gillespie.

Even though he is a legend, I don't think Doc ever got the respect he deserved from the jazz community. Was it jealousy of a steady jazz gig or simple envy of his trademark ultra-cool wardrobe? We may never know.

Peak on the US Billboard 200 album chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. Honeysuckle Rose (Thomas "Fats" Waller, 1929) 3:40
2. Poor Butterfly (Raymond Hubbell, 1916) 3:41
3. Body & Soul (Johnny Green, 1930) 5:27
4. Just Friends (John Klenner, 1931) 3:54
5. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (Duke Ellington, 1938) 3:59
6. Three Shades Of Blue (Tommy Newsom, 1990) 5:12
7. St. Louis Blues (W.C. Handy, 1914) 3:50
8. I Can't Get Started (Vernon Duke & Ira Gershwin, 1936) 5:33 with Tony Bennett
9. Avalon (Al Jolson, Buddy DeSylva and Vincent Rose, 1920) 4:15 with Wynton Marsalis
10. My Old Flame (Arthur Johnson, 1934) 2:40
11. Things Ain't What They Used To Be (Mercer Ellington, 1942) 5:15
12. What Is This Thing Called Love (Cole Porter, 1929) 5:49
13. Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder, 1976) 3:48
14. Bugle Call Rag (Carey Morgan, Eubie Blake, 1916) 2:53

My favorite tracks are 1, 4, 7, 9, 11, and 14.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: When I hear big band recordings, it reminds me how much I miss playing in those groups. It's been a long while since I sat in one - my best guess is 27 years - but I still remember the rush. And, for reasons that have nothing to do with the slightly-above-average trumpet playing abilities of my earlier life, my daughters-in-law and grandchildren call me "Doc." I realize that fact has nothing to do with the music on this CD, but I like to mention my beautiful grandchildren whenever the opportunity arises. 😎

Previously revisited for the blog:
Merry Christmas from Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Orchestra (1991)
The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen, Vol. II (1987)
The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen (1986)

Liz Story with Joel Di Bartolo (1996)

Described on the back cover as "Melodic piano voicings of romantic standards from the 1920's and '30's [sic] including classics by Gershwin, Johnny Mercer and Cole Porter - along with enchanting contemporary ballads."

Classy dinner party music. You can't go wrong with standards - that's why they're standards - and bassist Joel Di Bartolo adds some nice touches to the arrangements (Story and Di Bartolo were married at the time of recording). Still, I'm putting this one in the "good, not great" category and will probably stick with Story's solo improvisation releases, especially Speechless. For more about this self-titled release, here's an article about the album from Billboard magazine: Windham Hill's Liz Story Reaches Beyond New Age (Oct 5, 1996) or you can visit the 1996 Windham Hill website thanks to the Internet Archive Wayback Machine: windham.com.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard New Age: #22

Tracks with composer and year of publication:

1. The Very Thought Of You - Ray Noble, 1934 ✔
2. Memories of You - Eubie Blake, 1930
3. Someone To Watch Over Me - George Gershwin, 1926 ✔
4. Church of Trees - Liz Story, 1990 ✔
5. Mack The Knife - Kurt Weill, 1928
6. I Thought About You - Jimmy Van Heusen, 1939
7. In The Still Of The Night - Cole Porter, 1937
8. Elm - Richard Beirach, 1979
9. I Can't Get Started - Vernon Duke, 1936
10. Ana - Liz Story, 1986

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Gift (1994)
Escape of the Circus Ponies (1990)
Speechless (1988)
Part Of Fortune (1986)
Solid Colors (1982)