Music For HumansMusic For HumansA music blog for a variety of music and music videos Articles
The Little Willies
2007-12-25 23:39:00 Norah Jones's first significant project after 2004's Feels Like Home, the Little Willies' self-titled debut finds the superstar vocalist/pianist playing band member and running through a laid-back set of country songs with other New York City-based musicians, including singer-songwriter Richard Julian, guitarist Jim Campilongo, bassist Lee Alexander, and drummer Dan Rieser. (The latter two are Jones's frequent collaborators.)The group is clearly having fun on this lighthearted outing, offering up a few originals (the tribute tune "Lou Reed") and plenty of twangy covers, including Townes Van Zandt's "No Place to Fall" and a breezy, bluesy rendition of "Night Life," one of Willie Nelson's signature songs. (Nelson apparently provided inspiration for the ensemble's tongue-in-cheek name.) While Jones has a strong presence on the record (handling country songs with the same assuredness and nuance of her more jazzy numbers), Julian is equally prominent, contributing vocals that reca...
Elliott Smith- Unreleased Demos
2007-12-22 05:52:00 See You In HeavenMr. Goodmorning (Instrumental)Coast To Coast (Instrumental)Elliott Smith .com *** Myspace *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype Machine More About: Unreleased , Demos
Christmas With The Rat Pack
2007-12-18 01:39:00 This CD has easily become my favorite one to listen to around Christmas time. It brings together some of the best Christmas songs each member of the Pack has done to one definitive collection. Hopefully you'll enjoy these songs as much as I have and be encouraged to by CD, it will bring you plenty of enjoyment over the coming holiday seasons.Dean Martin- Silver BellsFrank Sinatra- Hark! The Herald Angel SingsSammy Davis, Jr.- Jingle BellsSammy, Frank and Dean- A Marshmallow WorldDean Martin *** Myspace *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype MachineFrank Sinatra *** Myspace *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype MachineSammy Davis, Jr. *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype MachineThe Rat Pack *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype Machine
Counting Crows- Flying Demos
2007-12-17 00:14:00 At some point before signing to Geffen, Counting Crows recorded demo versions of a number of songs, known as the Flying Demos . Various songs from this tape would later resurface on the band's debut album August and Everything After; the songs contained on the tape featured different music and in some instances different lyrics.-Rain King-Omaha-Anna Begins-Einstein on the Beach-Shallow Days-Love and Addiction-Mr. Jones-Round Here-40 Years-Margery Dreams of Horses-Bulldog-We're Only Love-A Mona Lisa-Counting Crows (working title for 'A Murder of One')Click To DownloadCounting Crows.com *** Myspace *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype Machine
Leonard Cohen- Songs Of
2007-12-14 02:42:00 At a time when a growing number of pop songwriters were embracing a more explicitly poetic approach in their lyrics, the 1967 debut album from Leonard Cohen introduced a songwriter who, rather than being inspired by "serious" literature, took up music after establishing himself as a published author and poet. The ten songs on Songs of Leonard Cohen were certainly beautifully constructed, artful in a way few (if any) other lyricists would approach for some time, but what's most striking about these songs isn't Cohen's technique, superb as it is, so much as his portraits of a world dominated by love and lust, rage and need, compassion and betrayal. While the relationship between men and women was often the framework for Cohen's songs (he didn't earn the nickname "the master of erotic despair" for nothing), he didn't write about love; rather, Cohen used the never-ending thrust and parry between the sexes as a jumping off point for his obsessive investigation of humanity's occasi...
Harry Chapin-Verities & Balderdash
2007-12-10 21:37:00 Harry Chapin's fourth album, Verities & Balder dash, was his best studio effort and his most commercially successful, working its way up the US charts and eventually going gold. Its success is attributable, in part, to Chapin's excellent batch of tunes, which display his trademark narrative sensibility (Chapin's songs often unfold like short stories), literate wit, and knack for melody. Verities & Balderdash also works because its arrangements and production move away from the heavily orchestrated drama that mars some the artist's other studio work towards a cleaner sound that highlights the fine songwriting.Chapin's best-known song, "Cat's in the Cradle," is here. Based on a poem by the artist's wife, the tune is a year-by-year account of a father-son relationship plagued by the father's too-busy schedule (his negligence comes back to haunt him when his grown son becomes too busy to spend time with him). The song is one of Chapin's most affecting and emotionally... More About: Harry
Janis Joplin- Pearl
2007-12-07 02:17:00 Janis Joplin's second masterpiece (after Cheap Thrills), Pearl was designed as a showcase for her powerhouse vocals, stripping down the arrangements that had often previously cluttered her music or threatened to drown her out. Thanks also to a more consistent set of songs, the results are magnificent -- given room to breathe, Joplin's trademark rasp conveys an aching, desperate passion on funked-up, bluesy rockers, ballads both dramatic and tender, and her signature song, the posthumous number one hit "Me and Bobby McGee." The unfinished "Buried Alive in the Blues" features no Joplin vocals -- she was scheduled to record them on the day after she was found dead. Its incompleteness mirrors Joplin's career; Pearl's power leaves the listener to wonder what else Joplin could have accomplished, but few artists could ask for a better final statement.Get It While You CanCry Baby (Alternate)Me And Bobby McGee (Demo)Janis Joplin.com *** Myspace *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype Machine
Bert Jansch- Self Titled
2007-12-04 00:58:00 Recorded with a portable tape player on a borrowed guitar in the kitchen of his London flat, the impact of Bert Jansch's debut has been somewhat blunted by time, but it was a vastly influential work. His masterful acoustic picking, which blended elements of traditional British folk, blues, and jazz, inspired not just other folk players, but rockers who frequently used acoustic guitars. Specifically, Jimmy Page and Neil Young have gone on record as noting their heavy debts to Jansch's early material. He was also a talented songwriter, and all but one of the 15 tracks on his debut was an original composition (the set closes with his version of the instrumental "Angie," originally performed by fellow British folk guitarist Davy Graham, and popularized by Paul Simon). The artist sounds quite close to early Donovan with his Scottish inflections, though he is darker and less pop-oriented; indeed, Donovan recorded a couple of early Jansch tunes, and wrote a couple of songs directly inspi...
Tiny Tim
2007-11-30 08:12:00 11 years ago today the unique singer Tiny Tim passed away. Most people know him as the singer of the popular song "Tiptoe Through The Tulips", but he has a great collection beyond that song as well. I became a fan of Tiny Tim only a couple years ago when I found out he had lived only a few cities over from me in the last few years of his life, and in fact died in a hospital I had driven by many times. Naturally, being a curious person I decided to look more into his music and life, and discovered an amazingly unique and eccentric singer. During the 60's he hung out with the likes of Dylan, recorded music with The Beatles, and was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show (including having his marriage televised on the show). During the 70's until the end of his life his popularity decreased, but he was constantly touring in small clubs and even joined a circus act. Health problems severely hampered his ability to perform as often as he wanted, and eventually caught up to him on Novembe...
John Lennon- Alternate Mind Games
2007-11-25 23:45:00 A collection of studio outtakes/alternates and demos recorded for Mind Games .Quality: Excellent stereo quality probably from very low gen tapes. The studio cuts are obviously better quality than the demos. For demos they are still very nice quality and enjoyable to listen to.1. Mind Games 4:052. Tight A$ 4:143. Aisumasen (I'm Sorry) 4:374. One Day (At A Time) 3:175. Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple) 4:006. Nutopian International Anthem 0:047. Intuition 2:508. Out The Blue 4:099. Only People 2:3910. I Know (I Know) 3:4411. Meat City 2:2812. Make Love Not War 1:4713. Tight A$ 3:1914. Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple) 0:5815. Intuition 2:2216. Meat City 2:3117. Call My Name 3:4718. Here We Go Again 2:3219. I'll Make You Happy 3:5820. Rock'N'Roll People 4:50Alternate Mind GamesJohn Lennon .com *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype Machine
"I'm Not There" Soundtrack
2007-11-21 23:17:00 I haven't seen this movie yet, so I can't comment on how good or bad it may be, but as far as the soundtrack goes, it's very good. The premise for the movie as I understand it is there are 6 actors who play different characters throughout the movie. Now, while none of them have the name of Bob Dylan, the inspiration for their names and characters can all be pointed back towards him. The most interesting casting choice to me was Cate Blanchett, who really when you look at all the characters above, most resembles Dylan. Another interesting choice, but one that makes sense is the choice of Marcus Carl Franklin, an African American teenager. At first it may seem like an odd decision to put him into the movie, but when you think about it and realize the way Dylan has been outspoken for racial equality, be it through his music (Hurricane), or his personal life (marrying a black woman), throughout his career and life. Here is the tracklisting for the soundtrack to the movie, all covers... More About: Soundtrack
Gram Parsons- Live Archive, Vol. 1
2007-11-18 11:02:00 At the time of this incredible two-disc set's release in 2007, the Gram Parsons rarities well had been wrung so dry that Amoeba Records co-founder Dave Pinz had to nose around another band's vaults (the notoriously deep archives of the Grateful Dead) for these Flying Burrito Brothers tapes. The material--recorded by Bear Stanley, the Grateful Dead's legendary live engineer--comprises two honky tonk-heavy sets from April 4, 1969 and April 6, 1969, when the Brothers opened for the Dead at San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom.While the Parsons-era Burritos were never the tightest live band, Archive s, Vol.1 captures the one short era during which everyone in the band was together, getting along, and feeling great about the music they had discovered. You can hear it in the tracks: Chris Hillman's delicate harmony on "Dark End of the Street," Sneaky Pete Kleinow's pedal steel pyrotechnics on Waylon Jennings's "Sweet Mental Revenge," and Parsons's lovely tenor on a devastating version o... More About: Live , Gram Parsons
John Martyn- Solid Air
2007-11-17 05:36:00 Throughout his 30-year-plus career, Scottish musician John Martyn had touched on an eclectic range of sounds and styles. His continuous work in the jazz, blues, folk and rock fields has resulted in some fantastic music though, somehow, Martyn never really got his full props. The title track on Soli d Air is a tribute song to his then depressed friend Nick Drake, which immediately lends a sentimental streak to the LP. The rest of the album reveals its charms in a respectful manner, slowly but surely crystallising much of his earlier work into a coherent yet diverse whole. Using his soft, almost whispery vocal style and gifted guitar phrasing as connecting threads throughout the LP, Martyn offers up a sprawling mesh of dark blues, progressive electric guitar, deep, tribal rock and lighter jazz to make what was one of the biggest benchmark albums of his career.Solid AirMay You NeverJohn Martyn.com *** Myspace *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype Machine
Elton John- Songs From The West Coast
2007-11-13 01:34:00 The appearance of "Rocket Man"-era cohorts Nigel Olsson and Davey John stone as backing vocalists touches this CD with one of the trademark sounds of Elton John 's 1969-75 LPs. John has acknowledged those records--his most typically singer-songwriterish--occasionally, if mostly to revisit audience favorites in concert (1987's Live in Australia, a late-'90s VH1 show). But on Songs from the West Coast , his admiration of Ryan Adams and Rufus Wainwright (a guest here) inspires him to recall the stripped-down, lyric-driven sensibility of his early days. The tone of the words Bernie Taupin feeds this notorious diva is elegiac, rooted in a wearier version of the romanticism that fueled oldies as diverse as "Your Song," "Love Lies Bleeding," and "Burn Down the Mission." West Coast sidesteps bombast with a couple of exceptions; only "The Wasteland," with its invocation of Robert Johnson, is enough to provoke a dismayed "oy." The standout track is "I Want Love," a Lennon-esque rumination tha...
SNL Digital Shorts
2007-11-10 22:45:00 I'm not a big fan of the recent SNL casts, there really hasn't been a decent one since the early 90's, but the saving grace the last couple years has been the Digital Shorts . Here are a few of my favorite ones, they are pretty well known but definitely still hilarious.
Jimi Hendrix @ Woodstock
2007-11-09 04:22:00 Well it took a little longer than I expected, but the Woodstock journey is finally completed. This is the final set of the Festival, the amazing Jimi Hendrix performance. Hope everyone enjoyed a little nostalgia as much as I enjoyed being able to share it.Day FourPerformer Three8-16-69Jimi HendrixDisc 11. CHIP MONCK INTRO/JIMI INTRO2. MESSAGE TO THE UNIVERSE3. GETTING MY HEART BACK TOGETHER AGAIN4. SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC5. RED HOUSE6. MASTER MIND7. HERE COMES YOUR LOVER MAN8. FOXY LADY9. JAM BACK AT THE ROADHOUSE10. IZABELLADISC 21. JIMI CHAT2. GYPSY WOMAN3. FIRE4. VOODOO CHILD (Slight Return)5. STEPPING STONE6. STAR SPANGLED BANNER7. PURPLE HAZE8. WOODSTOCK IMPROVISATION9. VILLANOVA JUNCTION10. HEY JOE11. FINAL STAGE ANNOUNCEMENTS BY CHIP CHIP MONCKDownload--- Disc 1 ***** Disc 2
Happy Birthday
2007-11-06 07:46:00 November 5th was two of my favorite artists birthday's. Gram Parsons would have turned 61 yesterday had he still been alive, and Ryan Adams turned 33. Is it just a coincidence these two have the same birthday, or was it part of God's master plan? Both have similar musical styles, as well as both of them being under appreciated and misunderstood at times. One big difference is that Ryan thankfully has seemed to beaten the demons that sadly took Gram from us far too soon. The following is a show at the Seattle Pop Festival of Gram with his band, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and I have also included a couple MP3's of Ryan covering Gram at the bottom of the post. Take some time out to appreciate these two amazing and talented artists.Flying Burrito BrothersSeattle Pop FestivalSeattle, WA7-27-69-Close Up The Honky Tonks-The Dark End Of The Street-Sweet Mental Revenge-The Image Of Me-Christine's Tune-Sin City-Man In A Fog-Wake Up Little Suzie-You Win Again-We've Got To Get Ourselves ... More About: Happy , Birthday , Happy Birthday
Bob Dylan at Carnegie Chapter Hall- 1961
2007-11-05 00:19:00 Review: A great example of the early coffee house shows before Bob was picked up by CBS Records can be heard in the Chapter Hall concert. He was, of course, newly signed at this point, but was still doing the coffee house type show. He jokes and interacts with the small crowd, and sings his young heart out. Two songs of particular interest are Woody Guthrie's 1913 Massacre, (Bob stole this tune for his own 'Song to Woody') and Bukka White's 'Fixin' to Die'. This version is much the same as it would appear on the first album, as it would be only two weeks before the recording would be done. Although the show is a line recording directly from the soundboard, the early 1960's technology is evident in the sometimes muffled sound.Pretty Peggy-OIn The PinesGospel Plow1913 MassacreBackwater BluesA Long Time A-ArowingFixin' To DieClick To DownloadBob Dylan .com *** Myspace *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype Machine
Tim Buckley-Love From Room 109 At The Islander
2007-11-02 02:30:00 I got a chance to check out the Tim Buckley documentary "My Fleeting House" the other night and have since been obsessed with one song in particular (even though it's not even included on the DVD), a song called "Love From Room 109 At The Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)" from the album "Happy Sad". It's a pretty roaming sounding song, and doesn't really fit it any specific genre, but it is really one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Clocking in at just under 11 minutes, it might seem a little too long for some, but if you can just close your eyes and free your mind, it will take over every part of your mind and take you on a journey like nothing you've ever experienced.**Link FIXED**Love From Room 109 At The Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)Tim Buckley .com *** Myspace *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype Machine
Sha-Na-Na @ Woodstock
2007-11-01 01:55:00 Day FourPerformer Two8-18-69Sha-Na-NaTEEN ANGELWIPE OUTWHO WROTE THE BOOK OF LOVEDUKE OF EARAT THE HOP/NA NA THEMEClick To Download More About: Woodstock
Paste Magazine offer
2007-10-29 23:27:00 "For a limited time, name your own price for a one-year subscription to Paste . Yes, it's up to you. What is a good read and a good listen, delivered to your door once a month, worth to you? 11 issues and 11 CDs (roughly 220 songs) covering the best in music, film and culture—and we even made it easy for you to give gifts. For more about the Paste Magazine , including previous covers, CD samplers, awards and more, visit our overview."Paste Magazine.com More About: Offer
Bob Dylan- Blood On The Tracks NY Sessions
2007-10-28 08:58:00 Following on the heels of an album where he repudiated his past with his greatest backing band, Blood on the Tracks finds Bob Dylan , in a way, retreating to the past, recording a largely quiet, acoustic-based album. But this is hardly nostalgia --this is the sound of an artist returning to his strengths, what feels most familiar, as he accepts a traumatic situation, namely the breakdown of his marriage. This is an album alternately bitter, sorrowful, regretful, and peaceful, easily the closest he ever came to wearing his emotions on his sleeve. That's not to say that it's an explicitly confessional record, since many songs are riddles or allegories, yet the warmth of the music makes it feel that way. The original version of the album was even quieter --first takes of "Idiot Wind" and "Tangled Up in Blue," available on The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3, are hushed and quiet (excised verses are quoted in the liner notes, but not heard on the record) --but Blood on the Tracks remains an ... More About: Sessions
OiNK
2007-10-24 23:27:00 For the latest news on OiNK, check out some of these sites:OiNK on BlogspotTorrent FreakOiNK Temporary Forum More About: Oink
Rissi Palmer
2007-10-23 10:08:00 As the first black woman to land a single on the Billboard charts in nearly 20 years, Rissi Palmer knows that she stands out, but she's not complaining. "It's been a very interesting experience, but in good way, for the most part," she tells Newsweek. "I think initially everyone is really curious to see if I'm for real. Once they get past the 'Oh my God, you're black' phase, people are able to focus on the music. Let's face it, there aren't many 5-foot-9 black women with big curly hair performing country music in Nashville. It's a definite attention getter!" Rissi, who made her Grand Ole Opry debut in June, says the experience "was truly one of the most amazing moments of my life. I first came to Nashville when I was 19, and one of the first places I visited was the Opry. I swore that one day I was going to play there, and there I was, six years later, standing in the sacred circle, singing my single and a Patsy Cline cover in front of a full house that included my family,...
Jeff Buckley- Garbage Can Tape
2007-10-21 21:29:00 Sometime during fall of 1996, East Village resident Barry Paddock was walking down 2nd Ave. At 12th Street he spotted a pile of cassette tapes left on top of a garbage dumpster. Curious, he decided to sift through he tapes to see if there was anything worthwhile. Most of the tapes were pre-recorded stuff like the Beastie Boys, which he didn't particularly care for, but one tape he found was a blank tape with a hand written label that read "J. Buckley Stuff". Barry saved that tape from the trash and took it home. The tape is approx. 35 minutes long and consists of Jeff doing 7 solo acoustic covers. The best guess is that the tape was made circa 1992 or 1993.1. Parchman Farm2. If you see her, say hello3. I know it's over4. Hallelujah5. Let time stand still6. Madame George7. Killing timeClick To DownloadJeff Buckley .com *** Myspace *** CD's *** eMusic *** Hype Machine More About: Garbage
Joey Bishop
2007-10-19 03:07:00 Joey Bishop , the comedian who gained tremendous fame as a member of the 1960’s ‘Rat Pack’ gang, has died at the age of 89. Bishop had been the last surviving member of the ‘Rat Pack’ as Peter Lawford past away in 1984, Sammy Davis Jr. died in 1990, Dean Martin in 1995 and Frank Sinatra died in 1998. The comedian, who died on Wednesday, had been an integral component in the ‘Rat Pack’ during their music and comedy shows throughout the early 1960s. Sinatra had gone as far as to call Bishop “the Hub of a Big Wheel” in describing the funnyman. So popular was Bishop that he served as master of ceremonies at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration gala. Bishop became a regular fill-in for Johnny Carson after two of his own talk shows failed to generate large audiences. Despite his constant travels and involvement with the ‘Rat Pack’ Bishop moved through life with a sense of normalcy. He married Sylvia Ruzga in 1941 and the two were together until her ... More About: Joey
Billie Holiday-Storyville Club
2007-10-17 09:49:00 Billie Holiday Storyville Club Boston, MA10-29-511. Intro2. I Cover The Waterfront3. Too Marvelous For Words4. I Love You, Porgy5. Them There Eyes6. Willow Weep For Me7. Intro 28. I Only Have Eyes For You9. You Go To My Head10. He's Funny That Way11. Billie's Blues12. Miss Brown To You13. Lover, Come Back To Me14. Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do15. You're Driving Me CrazyClick To DownloadBillie Holiday .com ***** Billie Holiday CD's More About: Ville
CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG- Woodstock
2007-10-15 02:55:00 Day ThreePerformer Seven8-17-69Crosby , Stills, Nash, Young 1. SUITE JUDY BLUE EYES2. BLACKBIRD3. HELPLESSLY HOPING Source4. GUINNEVERE5. MARRAKESH EXPRESS6. 4 + 207. MR SOUL8. LONG TIME GONE9. SEA OF MADNESS10. WOODEN SHIPS11. FIND THE COST OF FREEDOMDownload Here More About: Woodstock
Yoav
More articles from this author:2007-10-13 22:11:00 Yoav is an up and coming artist that is touring with Tori Amos on her current tour. The first time I heard him the rawness of the music reminded me of Amos Lee, and the lyrics really struck me as beautifully honest. Yoav is the first artist signed to the new label Field Recordings, and if this artist is a sign of things to come, the label has gotten off to a step in the right direction.Beautiful LieClub ThingYoavmusic.com ***** Yoav on Myspace More About: Yoav 1, 2, 3 |
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