LP #22 Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection (1970)

I really liked Elton’s “Your Song” when it came out in late 1970, and I remember in early 1971 going to Murphy’s 5&10 in downtown Harrisburg to check out the album. When I got there, however, I found two Elton John LPs: the self-titled one that had “Your Song” on it, and another one, called Tumbleweed Connection. I’m not sure exactly what made me decide to buy the latter instead of the former (which I picked up later) – probably the cover art, possibly the song titles. Something must have attracted a lot of purchasers in addition to myself, as the album managed to hit the top 10 on both the U.S. and U.K. album charts without having any of its tracks released as a single.

 

It’s pretty impressive that two Brits could come up with such a great concept album about the American West before either Elton or lyricist Bernie Taupin ever set foot in the States. Apparently the work of The Band was a major influence.

 

Favorite tracks:

Burn Down The Mission

Come Down In Time

Where To Now St. Peter?

Country Comfort

Lesley Gore

Lesley Gore died yesterday at the relatively young age of 68. Of course, she also got her musical start young, hitting #1 at the tender age of 17 with “It’s My Party”. While she was best known for that song, the follow-up “Judy’s Turn To Cry”, and the feminist-before-its-time “You Don’t Own Me”, my personal favorite was always “Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows” (which I learned just today was featured prominently in the hit animated movie Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs).

Was able to see her 8 years ago at BlackRock in Germantown, so I’ll have to add her to the list of performers I was fortunate enough to catch while they were still with us.

 

 

 

Shuffle #47 (February 17, 2015)

The Cheapest Key – Kathleen Edwards

How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees

Angel From Montgomery – John Prine

Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart – Stone Temple Pilots

No Smoke Without Fire – James Hunter

He’s A Rebel – The Crystals

Song For A Winter’s Night – Gordon Lightfoot

Gotta Travel On – Joe & Eddie

The White Collar Holler – Stan Rogers

Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones

Serendipity #30

Watershed – Indigo Girls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mut_T0GcehI

Heard 2/13/2015 around 12:30, at Wegman’s (Germantown)

Arlo Guthrie – Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Tour, Weinberg Center for the Arts (Frederick MD), 2/5/2015

Wonderful show by Arlo and band (including his son Abe) this past Thursday – highly recommended even if you’re not a huge fan. (You will come out a bigger fan.) Started by performing “Motorcycle Song” along with a cartoon version from the 60s that recently turned up. Anecdotes abounded, from Woodstock to Rambling Jack Elliott “keeping an eye on him” when he made his first trip to California to perform. Kicked off the second set with “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”, synced to scenes from the movie of the same name, and encored with a touching audience sing-along to “Peace Song”, for which Arlo had written a tune to go with his father’s lyrics. Other highlights included “Coming into Los Angeles”, “Me And My Goose”, “City of New Orleans” (which according to Arlo was turned down by Johnny Cash), and of course “This Land Is Your Land”.

 

We decided to go to the Weinberg rather than to one of the two shows at the Birchmere since they offered reserved seating. We were in the left orchestra section on the aisle in row T – not bad, but a little distant. Lucked out a bit dinner-wise at Sumittra, a nice Thai restaurant a block away, by getting two seats without having made a reservation. Hadn’t expected a big crowd on a Thursday evening, but it’s not a large place.

LP #23 Joni Mitchell – Hejira (1976)

I had a lot of trouble settling on a favorite Joni album, among this one, Ladies of the Canyon, and Court and Spark. I finally settled on Hejira despite the lack of radio hits due to the jazzy feel, most notably the bass work of Jaco Pastorius on a couple of the cuts. It hangs together nicely as a whole, without any weak songs in the bunch.

 

Favorite tracks:

Coyote

Hejira

Song For Sharon

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Strathmore, 1/30/2015

Really enjoyed the show at Strathmore last Friday night – good seats, which was fortunate because the performance was much more visual than we expected (you have to be able to do more than sing to join this ensemble!). Wondered whether or not they would do anything from Graceland – they didn’t in their first set, but started off after intermission with the first part of “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes” and later did all of “Homeless”. Other highlights included “Long Walk To Freedom” and “Rain Rain Beautiful Rain”. We decided to arrive early and eat at the Strathmore café; the prime rib was quite good.

Serendipity #29

See The World – Gomez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKJJRnuCwF4

Heard 1/27/2015 around 5:45, at Jerry’s Subs (Fallsgrove)

LP #24 Cold Blood (1969)

What’s wrong with this recipe?

Start with a great bluesy singer, Lydia Pense. (Think Janis Joplin without the death rattle.) Stir in some Latin percussion and a great horn section, add great material to work with, and hook the whole thing up with legendary rock promoter Bill Graham.

You’d think you would wind up with an act that was every bit as successful as, say, Santana, or Blood, Sweat & Tears. Instead, other than at a concert by the band I went to last year, nobody I mention them to has ever heard of them. This album did manage to reach a respectable #23 on Billboard’s sales chart when it came out, and they put out some good stuff afterwards as well.

Fortunately, the best of their music is easily available in digital form, although finding CDs can be hit or miss.

 

Favorite tracks:

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free

I’m A Good Woman / Let Me Down Easy (really need to be heard back-to-back)

If You Will

Shuffle #46 (January 25, 2015)

There’s No Other Like My Baby – The Crystals

Zydeco Dog – Zachary Smith & The Dixie Power Trio

Watershed – Indigo Girls

Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Dead And Gone – Gypsy

If I Wanted Someone – Dawes

Stay – Jackson Browne