Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this music junkie as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. Compact Discs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no files.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

The Best Of The Square (1987)


Japanese import

I am completely unfamiliar with The Square. I just purchased this 'best of' CD on the cheap based not on the objectionable objectification of the front cover photo, but the fact that it looks like it might be some '80s city pop. However, this disc was placed in the jazz section of the used CD store so maybe it's more fusion-ish? Hoping for something along the lines of Noriki, Casiopea, Masayoshi Takanaka, and/or Takako Mamiya. Let's find out:

Tracks, and my first impressions upon today's initial spin:
  1. It's Magic (1981)
    Young Mark would have loved this in 1981. It's like a more pop-disco version of Sembello's Maniac single that would pop up on the US charts a few years later. Tasty slap bass solo followed by the requisite sax solo.
  2. Too Young To Love (1983)
    Mostly instrumental cut featuring breathy-tone flute. It's got a catchy chorus and the tune isn't terrible, but very repetitive.
  3. Make Me A Star (1979)
    Disco-tinged instrumental featuring saxophone and synth laser effects. Despite the fact there's not much improv here, this is the jazziest track yet.
  4. Banana (1980)
    With that title, I was expecting something a little more wild, but it's another sax-driven instrumental disco-funk tune. Great groove, electric piano solo, plus the most interesting percussion break I've heard in a while.
  5. Midnight Lover (1978)
    I'm beginning to think the vocals on the first track were an outlier and this is mainly an instrumental group. This smooth, mid-tempo number sounds like it could have come off any late '70s/early '80s smooth jazz album (long-time readers of this blog know I mean that remark as a compliment). Saxophone player is putting out a real David Sanborn vibe while the piano player is reminding me of Joe Sample.
  6. Change Your Mind (1982)
    And we've taken a sharp turn to a more aggressive and driving - almost New Wavey - accompaniment for our saxophone soloist, complete with synth bass. My apologies for not being able to properly identify the saxophonist, but the liner notes are in Japanese.
  7. Tomorrow's Affair (1980)
    Ballad featuring electric guitar with overdrive pedal. Not much to the tune; sounds like it could have been lifted from a 1980 movie soundtrack.
  8. A Feel Deep Inside (1978)
    I went back and looked up the tracks' release dates and quickly realized I prefer the group's earlier releases, such as this upbeat disco smooth jazz cut.
  9. Mr. Coco's One (1979)
    Straight-up disco bass line with the saxophone playing through some sort of phase shifter. And the back-up vocals return. Despite being so dated, it's a catchy little thing.
  10. Texas Kid (1979)
    Hey! I was a Texas kid in 1979! This cut is a fast-paced Scottish piece. And by Scottish, I mean Tom Scott-ish. Now that I've read that pun, I must apologize. That was a stinker, but this track is not, it's fun with a high-energy boogie piano solo.
  11. Memories Of Alice (1982)
    And we end peacefully with a tasteful waltz featuring solo saxophone over strings and piano.
Preliminary verdict after this initial spin: good, not great. Won't stand up to much active listening but perfect music around the house on a warm, spring day (I know it isn't officially spring until next week, but the temperature here in South Central Texas is about 80°, so close enough). It looks like the group rebranded itself as T-Square and is still around today. If you'd like to venture down this rabbit hole with me, here's where I'm starting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Square_(band).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Change - The Glow Of Love (1980)


Note: the CD I listened to was the 1992 reissue with one bonus track.

A fantastic disco album. Instruments recorded in Italy, vocals (including a couple of tracks featuring Luther Vandross) recorded in NYC. Highly danceable and hooks abound. What more could you ask for? Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be hitting the dance floor instead of hitting this computer keyboard.

Press of the time:

Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard 200: #29
  • Billboard R&B: #10
  • CashBox: #27


Tracks: The fact that the dancelicious lead track, A Lover's Holiday, peaked on the Hot 100 at only #40 seems almost criminal. However, that track hit the #5 spot on the R&B chart and topped the chart with its target audience on the dance charts for 9 weeks:
The other two tracks mentioned also hit the R&B singles chart: The Glow Of Love (#49) and Searching (#23). Those both feature lead vocals from Vandross and are outstanding. But there's nothing to skip here, especially if you like your disco in the same vein as Chic and Giorgio Moroder.

Bonus track: a needless '90s remix of Searching.

A quick mention of the striking graphic design by Greg Porto on the cover and the fact that the musicians are humorously credited as the "Goody Music Orchestra." 

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but...

I'm headed to my high school reunion next month - I won't say how many years it has been since I graduated, but the number rhymes with "shorty" - and instead of my mind wandering to remembrances of the final year of school, it has been going back to 1980 and the wonderful summer that separated my middle school and high school experiences. And while I wasn't spinning this album that particular summer (my favorite of the time was Glass Houses), I sure wish I'd had it. As it stands, I'll just have to add it to the 'woulda coulda shoulda' LP pile of the time that also includes releases from M, Airplay, and Linda Ronstadt.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Randy Newman - Trouble In Paradise (1983)


For years, I listened to covers of the song Same Girl from smooth jazzers David Sanborn and Chris Botti so I picked up this disc to hear the original version. I was also familiar with the ironic, iconic anthem I Love L.A. from the radio and (far more likely) MTV back when it bubbled under the pop charts at #110 in April 1983. I like the album overall, but its themes of excess and hedonism written in character get to be a little depressing after awhile. (What else would you expect with an album title like that, Mark?) I would have loved the themes back in the '80s, however, mainly because I wouldn't have fully understood the deadpanned facetiousness back then. And from what I read elsewhere, there's still plenty of adults who don't pick up on the subtlety of the lyrics, perhaps fooled by the upbeat music. There's no denying Newman can write hooks in practically any genre, and there's lots of familiar studio greats in the back up band, including Nathan East, Paulinho Da Costa, Neil Larsen, Ernie Watts, and Dean Parks, plus Steve Lukather, David Paich, and Jeff Porcaro of Toto. This is one of those CDs that I'm glad I picked up and I'm happy to finally become familiar with the songs on the album, but it won't go into rotation here at blog headquarters.

In 1989, Rolling Stone magazine listed Trouble In Paradise at #67 on its list of the Top 100 Albums of the '80s:


Press of the time:
  • Stereo Review: "He may be the king of wit in pop music today, but that's mainly because he is a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind."
  • High Fidelity: "Another strong pop work originally recorded on digital gear."
  • Rolling Stone (★★★★): "both humorous and heartfelt"
  • Robert Christgau: A- 


Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard 200: #64
  • CashBox: #54
  • Rolling Stone: #30

Tracks: My top picks on this listening are I Love L.A. (which includes a typically fantastic solo from Lukather), The Blues (a duet with Paul Simon, #51 pop, #36 AC), the hilarious My Life Is Good, and the aforementioned Same Girl, a ballad about being in love with a junkie, is hauntingly beautiful.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. You didn't ask, but my all-time favorite Newman song is When She Loved Me, recorded by Sarah McLachlin for the movie Toy Story 2.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Paul Desmond - Desmond Blue (1962)


Japanese import

"This album is a listening experience unlike any you have ever enjoyed. And enjoy it you will - it is rich, subtle, varied, exquisitely tasteful, and masterfully performed"
-from the album's original liner notes

Two out of five ain't bad? The album is indeed subtle plus Desmond and guitarist Jim Hall deliver solid performances. However, bland arrangements are a dime a dozen.

Desmond is best known for his work in the Dave Brubeck Quartet and composer of their signature tune, Take Five. He also put out over a dozen albums under his own name, including this 1962 RCA release. I enjoy the music and performances, but the Bob Prince string arrangements aren't working for me. The contemporary review in DownBeat magazine put it this way: "The strange suicidal urge that drives jazz musicians relentlessly toward sessions with strings will probably never be satisfactorily explained." It's not terrible or unpleasant by any means; it would simply have been a more interesting album with a combo setting.

Reviews/ratings:
  • Stereo Review: "Desmond is excellent in his Victor debut, but the backgrounds too often caress when they should challenge."
  • High Fidelity: "seems relatively uninspired"
  • Billboard: "shows Desmond off at his lyric best against a sweeping string background."
  • CashBox: "LP is composed of mostly sturdies and Desmond offers proof of genius of lyric improvisation."
  • DownBeat: ★★★
  • The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★
  • The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★★


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

Tracks: The best track is the take on the 1936 Cole Porter standard, I've Got You Under My Skin. My least favorite track is My Funny Valentine, in which Desmond duets with an unnamed oboe player.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I purchased this CD - along with Matchbook - after absentmindedly looking online for random lists of top/best/favorite jazz albums. I was searching for something beyond the usual answers (Kind Of Blue, Somethin' Else, Idle Moments, Blue Train, etc.). Side note: there sure are a lot of jazz albums with the word "blue" in the title, aren't there?


Saturday, February 24, 2024

Dave Stryker - Eight Track (2014)


Stryker, a jazz guitarist who played with organist Jack MacDuff then Stanley Turrentine in the '80s and '90s, wanted to put out an album of covers of '60s and '70s tunes he heard on the 8 track tapes of his youth. Stryker's thoughts from the liner notes:

Tasty, retro, jazz-funk. If you like jazz that goes down easy and are of a certain age, I believe you'll like at least a few of these covers. It all grooves and I dig the way the group often doubles the guitar with the vibes. Not to mention the tracks are perfectly sequenced. There are other "Eight Track" albums available, but apparently all those CDs sold out so the albums are currently available for purchase only as digital files. However, the CDs are sometimes available on the secondary market, which is where I found this one. (And where I hope to find the other 8 Track CDs)

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

Tracks, including the artist that originally made them famous, year of release, and peak on the pop chart:
  1. I'll Be Around (The Spinners, 1972, #3)
    Transforms into a swing tune complete with walking bass. Lots of trading licks, so there's no extended soloing. Nevertheless, a great album opener.
  2. Pusherman/Superfly (Curtis Mayfield, 1972, #8)
    A fairly straight cover that loses some if its grit in this smoother setting, but I like the way Stryker's solo builds and drummer McClenty Hunter comes up with some fun bits to keep things interesting.
  3. Wichita Lineman (Glen Campbell, 1968, #3)
    Probably my favorite Jimmy Webb tune, Stryker and crew turn this into a Metheny-esque jazz waltz (maybe 6/8 instead of 3/4?). Great cover - it's not a competition, but my favorite solo on this track comes from organist Jared Gold.
  4. Aquarius (The Fifth Dimension, 1969, #1)
    This tune gets a fast-paced straightahead groove and Hunter again brings the goods. Lots of soloing and chord substitutions in a Coltrane hard bop vein. If this one wears out me as a listener, I can only imagine how the players feel afterwards.
  5. Never My Love (The Association, 1967, #2)
    After a tasty intro from Gold, this beautiful ballad gets the light touch it deserves.
  6. Superwoman (Stevie Wonder, 1972, #33)
    The group plays this cover staright and, to be honest, why mess with anything that has emerged from the mind of Stevie Wonder? Reminds me jazz-pop covers from George Benson and that's a good thing.
  7. Never Can Say Goodbye (The Jackson 5, 1971, #2)
    Another swinger with its fair share of chord substitutions and just a touch of Latin groove in the verse. Contains the best vibes solo on the album.
  8. Make It With You (Bread, 1970, #1)
    About what you'd expect: a laid-back arrangement over lots of organ pads from Gold and subtle cymbal work from Hunter. The quartet takes their time with this one and it pays off.
  9. Money (Pink Floyd, 1973, #13)
    My least favorite track on the Dark Side album becomes my least favorite track on this album. They make it swing while keeping it in 7, so I'll give them credit for that.
  10. That's The Way Of The World (Earth, Wind & Fire, 1975, #12)
    One of those album closers that leaves you wanting more. Dadgum this take is smooth.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Eight Track Christmas (2019)

Monday, February 19, 2024

Bangles - All Over The Place (1984)


Note: this release was originally purchased as an LP, later replaced by a CD.

Here's some brief background on the group and album, from a press release published in the August 25, 1984 issue of Billboard:

I heard Hero Takes A Fall and it was all over. The band had a great sound and I was immediately a fan - and possibly in love. For this album, the band's playing made the '60s influences obvious. They later moved to slightly different, more contemporary sound, but I was nevertheless happy to see them hit it big. Hero Takes A Fall is still my favorite Bangles song (although In Your Room and Eternal Flame are right up there, too). This album is brief (10 tunes in 31 minutes) so it plays much better on CD than it did on my old vinyl copy. After reuniting with this album, I was understandably kicking myself for a good while for not (re)purchasing it sooner.

Press of the time:
  • Stereo Review: "If the idea of reviving the garage band in the electronic age seems pointless to you, the Bangles will surely change your mind."
  • Rolling Stone (★★★½): "All Over the Place will surely have you shaking all over."
  • Musician: "These girls are not pushovers."
  • Billboard: "'80s updating for that '60s signature"
  • Record Mirror (2 out of 5): "the tracks have about as much clout as a two day old kitten."
  • Robert Christgau: A-


Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard 200: #80
  • Billboard Rock: #48
  • CashBox: #64


Tracks: It's all a fun ride top-to-bottom, but let's count these down to my favorite cut.
  1. Restless
  2. He's Got A Secret
  3. More Than Meets The Eye
  4. James
  5. All About You
  6. Dover Beach
  7. Silent Treatment
  8. Tell Me
  9. Live
  10. Going Down To Liverpool
  11. Hero Takes A Fall

From my personal collection

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I didn't discover this album until the summer of 1985, even though I'm sure the above Rolling Stone review in which the words "Beatle-esque pop" caught my eye. Summer of '85 is one of my all-time favorite summers which I've recapped several times, including this post over at MFD.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Various Artists - Blue Valentines: From Blue Note With Love (1999)


Nice mix of styles, artists, decades, instrumentation, etc. We're treated to delicate ballads, lite bossa, hard bop, big band, torch songs, and early '60s pop. All with the common theme of love, of course. I will say, however, having the word "love" in the title doesn't necessarily make the song romantic or appropriate for February 14 (e.g., Falling In Love With Love, Loverman). I'm not wild about My Funny Valentine, but here we get three different takes on that standard. Sequencing is off and leads one to think this was just thrown together without much thought. There are much better choices for a romantic evening (from Linda Ronstadt, for example.) A good, not great, compilation despite the star power: an interesting idea, poorly executed.

Part of Blue Note's "Blue Series" CD compilations from the 1990s:


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

Tracks:
  1. My Funny Valentine - Dinah Shore/Andre Previn (1960)
  2. Let There Be Love - Nat King Cole/George Shearing (1962)
  3. Lover - Sonny Clark (1958)
  4. Falling In Love With Love - Hank Mobley (1957)
  5. So In Love - Peggy Lee (1961)
  6. What Is This Thing Called Love - George Shearing (1956)
  7. Love Letters - Julie London (1962)
  8. Loverman - Stan Kenton Orchestra (1957)
  9. At Last - Lou Rawls (1989)
  10. Like A Lover - Dianne Reeves (1991)
  11. My Funny Valentine - Chico Hamilton (1955)
  12. I'm In The Mood For Love - King Pleasure (1961)
  13. Like Someone In Love - Duke Pearson (1959)
  14. As Time Goes By - Hugh Lawson (1990)
  15. I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling - Mel Torme (1949)
  16. My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker (1954)

I'm partial to the instrumentals; my favorites today are Lover, Falling In Love With Love, What Is This Thing Called Love, and Like Someone In Love. Of the vocal tracks, I dig Dianne Reeves singing Like A Lover (first made familiar to me by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66) plus The Velvet Fog crooning I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling, which contains my favorite lyric of the album: "Hey, Mr. Parson, stand by." Reeves and Lou Rawls share a tasty duet on At Last over a wonderful string arrangement.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Blue Bacharach (1999) Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999) Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Break Beats (1992) Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991) Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999) Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)Midnight Blue (1999)
So Blue So Funky (1994)Blue 'N' Groovy, Vol 2