The Krayolas - Little Fox (2007)

When I learned of the passing of Augie Meyers earlier this month, I was reminded that I had this 4 track EP sitting on my shelves. Meyers, as a founding member of the legendary San Antonio group the Sir Douglas Quintet, helped invent Tex-Mex roots rock music back in the 1960's. The Krayolas were heavily influenced by SDQ, so this collaboration more than makes sense, it was practically predestined.

With a few clicks, I quickly found an article about the release from the San Antonio alt-weekly, the Current: Fox Force Five. But since the leader of The Krayolas, Hector Saldana, is a friend o' the blog, I simply reached out to him for his memories of Augie Meyers and the story of how this EP came about. So I'll shut up now as we go directly to the source for more info:

Augie Meyers was as pure a musician as they come. He was known for his sound on the Vox Continental combo organ, but he was also excellent and very musical on the accordion, could play rhythm and lead guitar and was downright elegant on the piano. He was also a really good singer.

Augie was a fan of the Krayolas since our teenage years. He had a show or segment on KEXL-FM radio in San Antonio where he spun local records and I remember going over there with our bassist and organ player Barry Smith with our 45 “All I Do Is Try”/”Sometime” – and he played it, which was a big deal. In the mid-1970s, the Krayolas always included “She’s About a Mover” and “Mendocino” in our sets.

“Little Fox” was completely out of the blue. Augie had listened to “Best Riffs Only” – the compilation of our old 45s – and really liked it and the cover artwork. I ran into him, and he told me he had heard it and that he had a demo of a song from the Sir Douglas Quintet days that was never released called “Little Fox.” He said he would play on it and gave me a cassette of a song that didn’t have the word “fox” in it, didn’t have a chorus, had horns and was kind of long. When I mentioned this to Augie after listening to it, he just said, “Make it sound like the Krayolas.” I arranged it. I turned the horn melody into the Rickenbacker 12-string riff, shortened it and wrote a chorus with “Little Fox.”

Augie is the one that took us to Blue Cat Studios. We recorded it live and listened to Take 1, which sounded great but I thought it could be shorter, so I cut a verse and we did it again. It sounded great. I remember during the first playback, I told my brother that I was going to say, “Take it, Augie!” before the organ solo just like Doug Sahm. We laughed. I almost lost my nerve during the take, but I went for it. It’s a cherished memory. We cut a handful of other songs that I had written for the Krayolas. “Little Fox” was originally in English. I asked my mom to write an additional set of Spanish lyrics for it, and that made it perfect.

Augie had so much fun, too. He said we should make an album. That’s how “La Conquistadora” album¹ came about. He played Vox organ, accordion and piano during the sessions. We also made a Christmas video with Augie to my arrangement of the Rudolph song -- “Tex-Mex Rudolph.” Augie played accordion and Vox organ on it. Of course, “Catherine” and “Alex” were soon played on Little Steven’s Underground Garage on SiriusXM channel 21 – and we ended up playing showcases together at SXSW – including the only time Little Steven Van Zandt broadcast from SXSW. Augie came up for a couple of numbers on that one, including the Kinks “Who’ll Be the Next in Line” and “Little Fox.” At our first SXSW, the crowd went nuts when the Krayolas and Augie Meyers tore into the Dave Clark Five’s “Any Way You Want It.”

One of my favorite memories is Augie playing Vox organ with us at my birthday party at a club called The Cove.² We did a lot of fun gigs and recording sessions together. I visited with Augie quite a few times near the end of his life, and I cherish those visits, too. We talked about his childhood and music and the many musicians he loved. On one of my last visits, I played him a mix of the Krayolas newest Christmas song, “Maria Believes in Christmas Again.” He had hoped to play Vox organ on it but it just couldn’t happen. But as he listened to it he was telling me what he would overdub on it when he felt better.

I was there for his last public gigs and helped him on and off the stage. I cherish that so much. We all loved the guy. He remained humble, down to earth and always with a joke at the ready. It’s a huge loss for San Antonio. He was one of the greatest musicians Texas ever produced.

A song I wrote that Augie played Vox organ on called "Exit Salida" is currently in Top 100 Most Played Songs ranking on SiriusXM Outlaw Country. They started playing it in rotation last week in tribute to Augie. The Krayolas and Augie again.

Thanks, Hector. As for the music on this 10 minute CD, check it out for yourselves as the other tracks are quite good as well; I particularly enjoy Rescue Roses. Samples here: https://thekrayolas.com/music/little-fox/

¹La Conquistadora is also on my shelves and will appear here in the future. Check this space.
²The Cove is the one of my favorite eateries and the only combination organic restaurant/bar/car wash/laundromat/live music venue that I'm aware of.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but I sure wish I could have been at that SXSW show.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Happy Go Lucky (2022)
Savage Young Krayolas (2020)
Best Riffs Only (2007)

Nick Lowe - At My Age (2007)

At my age. Literally. Lowe released this album when he was 58 years old, which happens to be the current age of your humble blogger. However, after a generous number of spins, this collection of similar mid-tempo, minor-keyed tunes does almost nothing for me and the "clever old guy" lyrics are depressing at best. I'll stick with Lowe's '70s and '80s output, thanks.

Metacritic has it rated at 82, so everybody else must be hearing things I'm not. My thoughts are more aligned with former Village Voice critic Robert Christgau who gave the album a letter grade of 'C' and wrote "Reborn as a crooner because he can't rev up the rock anymore, he can't rev up the croon either. Wit: Shot. Insouciance: Shot. Romantic prospects: On this evidence, shot."

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

Tracks: 12 tracks in 33 minutes. I doubt I'll revisit them once I place this digipak on the shelves, but the better cuts here are Long Limbed Girl, The Man In Love, and Not Too Long Ago.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Basher: The Best Of Nick Lowe (1989)
The Abominable Showman (1983)
Nick the Knife (1982)

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra - Christmastime Is Here (2007)

Erich Kunzel, conductor

It doesn't do anything to set itself apart, but a decent enough Christmas release. On 12 of the 14 tracks, the orchestra is joined by vocalists. The performances are up to par and the recording is up to Telarc's standards, I just wince when I hear pop tunes sung by operatic voices. It works fine for Silent Night, but not I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Also, the choruses sing a majority of unison lines instead of harmony, which seems like a waste.

Tracks: The album starts off with a tasteful medley of tunes sung by the Indiana University Singing Hoosiers. The disc then hits a rough patch as we're offered childrens' choirs and one of my least favorite carols, I Wonder As I Wander, an adapted folk tune with lyrics that concern Christ's death moreso than his birth. Things get better in the middle of the disc: the Hoosiers are back for a straight-ahead take on It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, followed by the King's Singers version of Silent Night (bonus points for the sparse, tasteful accompaniment and German lyrics), then a Bolero-inspired take on Little Drummer Boy, one of two instrumentals on the disc and the best cut on the disc. (Mark, your bias is showing.) The rest of the disc is just okay - nothing offensive, but not much to get excited about, either. A lot of it comes off as a soundtrack for a Christmas movie set in a bustling department store. (That last comment most likely a product of my wife having The Hallmark Channel on 24/7 this past month.)

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Michael Bublé - Let It Snow! (2007)

A six song EP of familiar Christmas tunes, produced by David Foster.

Classic tunes, great singer, clean production, tasteful arrangements, top shelf performances - what's not to like?

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #32
• Billboard Holiday: #4

Tracks: All good. For whatever reason, this year I've been enjoying I'll Be Home For Christmas more than ever and the stellar rendition included here does nothing to deter that trend. And Grown-Up Christmas List rarely fails to make me emotional.

Bonus track: This EP was original released in 2003 with 5 tracks. In 2007, it was re-released with a live version of Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! tacked on to the end as a bonus track. The band is cookin' and the live version is better than the earlier studio cut.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but I sure wish Bublé could produce a Christmas variety show every year - he's a fantastic entertainer.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Christmas (2011)

The Smithereens - Meet The Smithereens! (2007)

A rote cover of the 1964 US album from The Beatles. I'm a fan of The Smithereens but find this CD completely unnecessary.

Press of the time:

• Slant (★★½): "utterly superfluous"
• New York Times: "balances fidelity to the original with a projection of the interpreter’s style"
• Pop Matters (7 out of 10): "a success in its own right, simply in that it’s a fun record and a welcome return from a once-great band"
• Rolling Stone (★★★): "inessential but fun"

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

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
2011 (2011)
Blown To Smithereens: Best Of The Smithereens (1995)
Blow Up (1991)
11 (1989)
Green Thoughts (1988)
Especially For You (1986)

Jane Monheit - Surrender (2007)

I've always enjoyed Ms. Monheit's pure, seductive voice on other artists' recordings, so I didn't think twice when I saw this disc sitting in the clearance bin at the local resale shop. And I can't figure out how it got there. This is a wonderfully arranged offering of contemporary and Brazilian late-night torch songs. Guest stars include the likes of Ivan Lins, Toots Theilemans, and Sergio Mendes.

Suggested pairings/groupings: The Heart Speaks, Late Night Guitar, and Just Passing Through: The Breithaupt Brothers Songbook, Vol. II. And a roaring fire, beverage, main squeeze, etc.

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

Tracks: They're all good (even her take on Moon River has grown on me), but I'll single out a few top tracks: Like A Lover, Só Tinha De Ser Com Você, and holy cow a cover of Stevie Wonder's Overjoyed.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: NSFW

Marc Broussard - S.O.S.: Save Our Soul (2007)

An album of soul/R&B covers and one original song. The covers are fairly straight ahead, which I normally don't care for, but Broussard is such a fantastic performer I don't mind much. This boy was obviously raised right and this album comes off more as a love letter to the past rather than cultural appropriation and I enjoy taking it for a spin every now and then. Still, I have to agree with Richie Unterberger when he writes that "if you made a mixtape of the originals, though, it would blow this out of the water..." but you could say that about most cover albums.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #96
• Billboard R&B: #59

Tracks: My top tracks include You Met Your Match, Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul, Love And Happiness, and Yes We Can, Can.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I've got one, but I'll keep this one to myself.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Carencro (2004)

Norah Jones - Not Too Late (2007)

We love us some Norah Jones round here but this album is hovering around the middle of her œuvre. Overall, very quiet and melancholy, it's her first album to feature all original compositions. Stretching out like an artist should without totally alienating her audience - that's a tough fence to straddle and Jones has done a fine job of it here. There isn't much variety and there are a few bland tunes that sound like they weren't ever fleshed out, but the high points are good enough that I can overlook those bland tunes.

Metacritic has this album rated at 68/100, which is a little low for me but not by much. In a review that gives the album 3 out of 4 stars, the Boston Phoenix offered: "Too good to hate, not exciting enough to love, she still makes most of what’s out there sound like phony baloney." Perfect.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #1 (3 non-consecutive weeks)

Tracks:  The lead track, Wish I Could, is absolutely gorgeous and when the cello and overdubbed vocals come in it just gets better. Also good are Until The End, Thinking About You, Wake Me Up, Be My Somebody, and the title track. I don't care for Sinkin' Soon and Little Room. The rest fit in the bland tune category I mentioned earlier.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Unfortunately for the general public, I think my voice fits comfortably an octave below Norah's so I often sing loudly along with this CD in my truck. Maybe they'd prefer I belt out some gospel tunes?

Previously revisited for the blog:
Day Breaks (2016)
...Little Broken Hearts (2012)
The Fall (2009)
Feels Like Home (2004)
Come Away With Me (2002)

Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full (2007)

Not Sir Paul's best effort. The first release on Sixbucks' Starbucks' Hear Music label, Metacritic has it at 69/100 which is more than I'd give it, but even then it's better than Starbucks' coffee.

"This collection is filled with half-baked ideas and shallow reminiscences, a pair of dated rockers, and one meditation on mortality that manages to be maudlin and bubble-headed at the same time. It smacks of Wings at its goofiest." - The Boston Globe, June 4, 2007

Cool jewel case, but what's this nonsense all about?

A 10 page liner note booklet and 6 of those are pics of McCartney? I'd rather have lyrics at hand. And no track listing to be found anywhere. It's almost as if they'd rather we downloaded files instead of buying a CD.

Say it ain't so.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #3
Peak on the US Billboard Digital Albums chart: #2
Peak on the US Billboard Top Rock Albums chart: #1
Peak on the US Billboard Tastemaker Albums chart: #3

Tracks: Best songs are Dance Tonight. Gratitude, and That Was Me. Not-the-greatest songs include You Tell Me, Mr. Bellamy, and House of Wax.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
New (2013)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
Flaming Pie (1997)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)
All The Best! (1987)
Pipes of Peace (1983)
Tug of War (1982)
Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Band On The Run (1973)

Najee - Rising Sun (2007)

One of the smooth jazzer's stronger releases. As with most Najee albums, I prefer the tracks with saxophone over those where he plays flute. Don't get me wrong, he's a fine flautist, I just don't particularly care for that sound, especially when compared to his soprano sax sound (which improves with each outing). Not as many ballads on this one, which may be why I like it a little better than his earlier stuff.

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

Tracks:  My top picks are Clarity (a John Mayer cover), Brazilian Affair, Out Of A Dream, and Still In Love. Even the take on the standard Moody's Mood For Love is good. The only track I'm tempted to skip is Romance The Night.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Morning Tenderness (1998)
Najee Plays Songs From The Key Of Life (1995)
Share My World (1994)
Just An Illusion (1992)
Najee's Theme (1986)

Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight (2007)

Indie bands aren't usually my thing and, to be honest, I have no idea what prompted me to purchase this disc. After I bought it, the disc stayed in my truck's CD player for a while, then was quickly forgotten. I know absolutely nothing about this group. For the most part, it sounds like Edie Brickell singing Fleetwood Mac filler to me. It's not bad at all, but this group isn't breaking any ground here and it just doesn't grab me. Maybe it's the writing, maybe it's the lack of variety, maybe it's the production, I can't put my finger on it. When songs come around on a shuffle, I usually don't hit the skip button, but the CD hasn't left the shelf in years. Maybe that means these songs are better taken one bite at a time instead of as a 38 minute meal.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #22

Tracks:  The best track is Dreamworld, but I also like The Moneymaker and the '90s pop of Breakin' Up (which bears more than a passing resemblance to The Cardigans' Lovefool). The skippable track is 15, possibly the only alt-country-neosoul pop song with a theremin solo.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

The Stance Brothers - Kind Soul (2007)

Finnish import.

On the (now defunct) record company website, this trio claimed to "represent raw garage jazz in its purest form." I'm not exactly sure what that means, but this Finnish group play a nice combination of acid jazz, trip-hop, and downbeat and mix it together with some fresh beats in what becomes a timeless tribute to early '70s jazz/funk. Now that I look at what I just wrote, it makes about as much sense as "raw garage jazz." It also sounds like a lot of sampling and looping, but the music is all played by a band with no production tricks. It's a hard to describe sound so I'll stop trying. It's different and I like it. It's one of those albums you own and brag about because you think it makes you way hipper than people who don't own it: "What? You've never heard of the Stance Brothers?!?"

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

Tracks: My favorites are Steve McQueen, Jay's Lament, Upside The Head, and She May Be Moody (which grooves a lot like the song California Soul, except with harpsichord and vibraphone). There's also a nice cover of George Duke's Capricorn. Don't skip any tracks.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. Even though this was released in 2007, it took me 5 years to hear about it and purchase a copy.

Bebel Gilberto - Momento (2007)

Probably my least favorite Bebel Gilberto CD, but that doesn't mean it's bad, it simply has a few weak tracks and is uneven. Bebel is in fine voice, the slick production is here, but the material is weaker than what I'm accustomed to. Fortunately, this wasn't the beginning of the end as Gilberto bounced back in 2009 with another strong CD, All in One. She remains one of the few artists that I continue to follow, buying each new CD upon its release without previewing it first. Speaking of which, isn't it about time for a new release?

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #169 (May 12, 2007)

Tracks: The best cuts are the title track, Azul, Um Segundo, and Cadê Você. I never thought I'd skip tracks on a Bebel CD, but I'm not fond of Bring Back The Love or Close To You. There's a great cover of the lovely Chico Buarque tune, Caçada followed by her laid back take on Cole Porter's Night And Day. It's a good CD, but I was hoping for a great CD.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Every time I listen to Bebel Gilberto, I inevitably think, "I need to listen to Bebel Gilberto more often."

Previously revisited for the blog:
All in One (2009)
Bebel Gilberto (2004)
Tanto Tempo (2000)

The Commitments - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Deluxe Edition) (2007)

Ah, The Commitments. Loved the movie, loved the soundtrack, but I found the book too difficult to read (pick up a copy and you'll see what I mean). The movie isn't currently available through Netflix streaming or on Blu-ray (what up, Fox?). Great concept: an all white Irish soul band plays the music of Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, etc. Kinda like the Blue Brothers without the Stax house band, but with better singers. Most of the actors/musicians perform the tracks, but they are occasionally helped out by session pros. The soundtrack isn't as gritty as the movie, but I'm okay with that. Just when I think the production is too smooth, Andrew Strong's fantastic voice roughens things up a bit (was he really just 16 years old when he was cast?). In 1991, I wasn't the soul music fanatic I am today, so some of this music was new to me and was introduced to me through this movie/soundtrack. This led me to seek out the originals, which was probably the point in the first place.

This Deluxe Edition combines the first soundtrack album (1991) which I originally owned on cassette, with the follow-up soundtrack album (1992), along with five tracks taken from Andrew Strong's 1993 solo album. The remastering is top-notch.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Vol. 1 #8, Vol. 2 #118

Tracks: All are great, but the take on Al Green's Take Me To The River may be the best version of that song, coming close to besting Talking Heads and even Al himself. My other favs include I Can't Stand The Rain, Treat Her Right, Mr. Pitiful, Hard To Handle, and Show Me. From the Strong solo album, the best track is Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup).

For more information on the brief life of the CD longbox,
go visit The Legend of the Longbox.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I had not yet seen the movie when I purchased the first soundtrack album on cassette at a Sound Warehouse in Pasadena. Living on the coast, I often listened to I Can't Stand The Rain during frequent rain storms.

The Eagles - Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

"OLD DOGS, NEW TRICKS" WEEK (MAY 1-7, 2011)

This is the only Eagles CD currently I own and, to be honest, I'm not sure how it ended up in my collection. It's almost like someone broke into my house, drank all my rum, and left this CD lying around. I'm fairly positive this is the first time I've listened to it in its entirety. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the band on the radio during their heyday in the '70s, I just never bought any of their stuff. I enjoyed the band the most when they leaned on the rock side of their signature country-rock (Life In The Fast Lane, etc.), but this double disc set is pretty much straight-ahead country music, which I don't normally listen to. So I'm not qualified to trash it, but I can't rave about it either. Go read other reviews about it. I'm going to listen this once and be done. As Sputnik Music says in their review, "So it's simple. Like The Eagles? You'll like this. Don't like The Eagles? The Eagles don't care." Even though I'm not a fan of this particular CD, I won't take it as far as The Dude:

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #1 (1 week, Nov 17, 2007)

Tracks: These songs aren't really my thing, but I didn't mind listening to What Do I Do With My Heart, No More Cloudy Days, Fast Company, Frail Grasp On the Big Picture, Last Good time in Town, and, ironically, I Don't Want To Hear Any More. However, none of this music will get ripped to my iTunes.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, not surprisingly.

Down To The Bone - Supercharged (2007)

This album is a little funkier than the group's usual acid jazz. They slow down the dance grooves and add The D.C. Horns. Like most DTTB albums, all the songs are very similar and the CD doesn't require much active listening. Great background music for parties, answering email, or doing chores, though.

Tracks: My favorites are Parkside Shuffle and Hip City; least favorite is Cosmic Fuzz.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Spyro Gyra - Good to Go-Go (2007)

No, I didn't buy the CD just for its cover (although that sounds exactly like something I'd do). After eyeballing my collection, I'm going to say that I have more CDs by this band than any other act. For purposes of this blog, this is the 5th of 23 CDs in the collection that I've listened to (and I figure the band has 5 more releases that I somehow don't own). I've liked this group since the late 70's and, even though they've gone through some rough spots, they can still put out a quality CD when they want to. For this release, the addition of drummer Boney B has upped the energy of the band, even on the ballads. The band hasn't sounded this good in years. Boney is a native of Trinidad and brings some authenticity to the group's sound, even adding some reggae influenced toasting vocals in places. A lot of this music reminds of the band's late-80's work. According to the Wikipedia, "Many songs on the album have been featured on The Weather Channel's Local On The 8s segments" so that should give you an idea of what the music sounds like.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Peak on Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart: #4

Tracks: 12 tracks, most of it the usual solid, upbeat Latin/Caribbean fare, but it's all very listenable. No track skipping here. I normally don't like electric jazz violin, but it is handled in a tasteful way on The Left Bank. Andy Narell's steel drums are a nice touch on Island Time. Best tracks are the title track, Simple Pleasures, and Jam Up.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: If you order CDs directly from the band's website, group leader and saxophonist Jay Beckenstein will autograph the CD booklet:

Asia - Fantasia: Live in Tokyo (2007)

"LIVE IN CONCERT" WEEK (FEBRUARY 7-13, 2011)

Recorded in Tokyo, Japan, March 8, 2007.

I was never a big progressive rock fan, but I was an immediate Asia fan when I heard their debut album in 1982. No, I didn't start playing Dungeons & Dragons, making chainmail, or go out and buy a cape and monocle, but I did listen to their music a lot while I was in high school. Band members started leaving the group after their second album and I lost interest. The band eventually became a convenient punchline (see the movie, The 40 Year Old Virgin). But the original members got back together in 2006 and toured, releasing this Tokyo concert as a DVD (which I haven't seen) and this 2 disc CD. Hearing that the original members were together again rekindled my interest in the band, so I picked this up and found that the musicians hadn't lost a step (except for Wetton's voice, which shows its age at times). Even if the band's setlist isn't great, for a live CD, the sound quality is stellar (although sometimes the mix is uneven and muddy).

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

Tracks: 18 tracks, 9 on each disc. All nine songs from the band's 1982 debut album are here as are 3 from their 1983 follow-up, Alpha. The band also plays songs from the band member's past bands: Yes, King Crimson, Buggles, and Emerson, Lake, & Palmer. Add one B-side, Ride Easy, and you've got an interesting set. Most of the band's original songs sound almost exactly like their studio versions with the exception of two songs, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes and Don't Cry, which are done in stripped-down versions. Also, The Heat Goes On gets the concert's obligatory extended drum solo. Palmer is an excellent drummer, but I've never been a fan of the drum solo, although I think that puts me in the minority. The band (especially Geoff Downes) does a great job with Roundabout, originally recorded by Yes. Howe's solo piece, Intersection Blues, is a fun diversion as is Video Killed The Radio Star, which is almost as far away from an Asia song as you could get. I always thought ELP's butchering of Copland's Fanfare For The Common Man was ridiculously cheesy and, unfortunately, Asia has decided to play it just as ELP did. Selecting King Crimson's In The Court Of The Crimson King is an interesting choice because none of the members of Asia performed on the original recording, although Wetton was briefly in the band after the song was recorded. If I had been at this concert, I would have gone to the bathroom then bought a beer while they were playing that song. Also, I would have preferred that the band play Heat Of The Moment straight up, but I'll give them some leeway with that one. Two of my favorite Asia songs are Wildest Dreams and Here Comes The Feeling; the band plays both well here.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: After purchasing this CD set in early 2008, I was listening to it in my truck one day when I picked up my youngest son from school. He heard Roundabout and just absolutely loved it from the first listen. When we got to the house, he immediately put it on his iPod. Interesting choice for a 10-year-old.