Loggins & Messina - "On Stage"

Once again I must apologize for the long break between posts.  It has been a month since my last post about Gordon Lightfoot's "Gord's Gold" album (if you missed it check it out in my blog roll).  I shall not make statements that I am back on my weekly track because those haven't worked out on the previous four installments.  So let us just enjoy this post about Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina.

It may be hard to guess but Loggins & Messina are a pretty killer live act.  They were one of the most popular touring acts in the 1970s and have a massive range of musical abilities.  They can sit on stools with only an acoustic guitar and sing "Danny's Song" then pull out electric guitars and do a rocking ten minute "Angry Eyes," transition into a country hoedown with "Holiday Hotel" and then return to a band ballad "Another Road."

Released in 1974 Loggins & Messina are assisted by a crackling back up band made up of Jon Clarke on horns, Al Garth on fiddle/violin/horns, Merel Bregante on drums, and Larry Sims on bass.  All members of the group add immensely to the concerts and all get opportunities to show off their talents.  The album has a nice mix of country rock stylings and it feels like a big country jam sometimes.

The centerpiece of this double album is a spectacular 21 minute(!) version of "Vahevala" that opens disc 2.  It goes through several movements starting the way the studio version does then moving into a fiddle guitar battle, then slowing to a crawl in the center with barely audible notes, before revving back up for a rocking finish.  It's a spectacular version.

Compiled from five concerts two at Winterland San Francisco April 1972, two Carnegie Hall March 1973, and one at Boston's Orpheum Theater also March 1973. Released in a remastered Legacy "live from the vaults" edition in 1998 this CD version features a recreation of the inner artwork from the original fold out LP case.  It also features a brief paragraph essay about the album.  A must have for Loggins & Messina fans especially those interested in their live performances.  I had the opportunity to see them live in 2010 and I must say they are still quite excellent.

Emmylou Harris - "Pieces of the Sky"

This is a recent purchase of mine and I will return to my alphabetical posts on my next posting (Billy Joel Glass Houses).

I had been listening to John Denver's song "Wild Montana Sky" which Emmylou Harris duets on. Then I also watched The Band's "Last Waltz" film which Harris appears in. So I began researching her and this album sounded great in the music samples and it was on sale at my local Barnes and Noble so I picked it up.

This is a very excellent album, equal parts folk, country and pop. Harris has a beautiful angelic voice and an ear for good sounds. There is a nice nod toward Appalachian sounds as well as pop climate ("Coat of Many Colors" and "For No One") and old fashioned bar room country ("Bluebird Wine" and "Queen of the Silver Dollar").

There are also some songs that connect life with the natural world around us, the Gram Parsons tribute "Boulder to Birmingham" and "Before Believing." This last aspect made this album feel like a more countrified John Denver, now I am not sure about her other works but this one to me has a very Denver feel.

I will say this is a very good album, but if you do not like country or folk you should stay away. From my research, however, this is supposedly Harris' most open album even if it is not her most praised. The 2004 CD reissue adds two previously unissued bonus tracks and a wonderful booklet.

Billy Joel - "Piano Man"

Billy Joel is one of my all time favorite musicians, his "River of Dreams" album was the very first CD I ever owned. Joel is one of those artists that despite a massive amount of hits, great songs, awards, and huge fan base he is still not given the credit he really deserves (much like Sheryl Crow and Joel's idol Paul McCartney). Well all us Billy Joel fans know how great a musician he is and love him for it.

After listening to "River of Dreams" I went back into Joel's catalogue and started falling in love with his music. "Piano Man" was his second album and really the record that started his career. The autobiographical title track became Joel's signature song and he became know as The Piano Man.

Released in 1973 this album by and large takes a cue from other 1970s contemporaries by creating a series of characters and story style scenes, some of which Joel inhabits other times he is simply the narrator. His first album was firmly planted in the singer songwriter genre and this album employs some of those songwriter elements, "You're My Home" and "If I only Had the Words" but really he expands his sound into what would become Billy Joel trademarks. His excellent melody abilities are on massive display that make all the songs sound spectacular. He also employs Western/Cowboy theme through the album, such as the banjo hoedown of "Traveling Prayer," the "Magnificent Seven" style "Ballad of Billy the Kid" and the country tinged "Stop in Nevada."

Occasionally Joel sounds like Elton John, particularly on "Ain't no Crime," but by and large this is Billy Joel finding his musical voice and identity with three of his best songs, the title track, "Ballad of Billy the Kid" and the rocking album closer "Captain Jack."

This is one of his best albums even though it has a terrible and creepy cover that has nothing to do with the album. I almost did not put a picture up because the cover freaks me out. Billy Joel is one of the greatest pop/rock musicians of all time and this was his genesis.

Jefferson Airplane - "Volunteers"

I just want to say first off, I am not a huge Jefferson Airplane fan (or Starship for that matter) but I do think they have a handful of good songs, particularly "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit." I have always been interested in the late 60s and 70s counter culture rock arena and I think one of the best Anti-Vietnam songs ever is "Volunteers."

Released in 1969 this is a great bookend to the tumultuous decade. The band is in full revolution mode thumbing its nose at  the White House, calling the 60s youth to arms, and trying to instill a sense of Woodstock style brotherhood.

Airplane has fashioned a concept album of sorts that embraces the communal hippie lifestyle and return to nature over the confusing climate of the United States at the time. The opening track pop anthem "We Can Be Together" is a call for universal brotherhood and the country tinged "The Farm" blatantly calls up the wonders of living in a farming community. There are also the folky "Good Shepherd" which is a wonderful church/folk style song. "Eskimo Blue Day" is another virtues of nature song in which Grace Slick's chorus announces, "The human name doesn't mean shit to a tree."

Airplane returns to their psychedelic sounds on the over long and slightly weird "Hey Frederick" as well as their version of Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Wooden Ships" which Airplane singer Paul Kanter wrote with Crosby and Stills (who both appear here as back up). Though the lyrics are exactly the same in both versions CSN's, which I prefer, definitely links the song to the (at the time never ending) Vietnam War; but Airplane's version is more discomforting and focuses more on the Science Fiction elements that were the original basis of the song. It paints a bleak future in which all the war of the present day has led to a lawless state where people live in Wooden Ships, interesting and scar at the same time.

The album ends with the aforementioned title track, with its pounding surging fierceness that gets stuck in your head no matter what. One of the best protest anthems (even though it started simply because a "Volunteers of America" garbage truck woke Marty Balin one morning).

All members of Jefferson Airplane really shine on this album Kanter, Slick and Balin with their strong vocals, Spencer Dryden on drums, and Jack Cassady on bass. The real star of the album is guitarist Jorma Kaukonen with his killer razor sharp guitar lines and his wonderful interaction with guest pianist Nicky Hopkins.

The 2004 reissue has some great sound and an excellent booklet which features an essay/interviews by Airplane aficionado Jeff Tamarkin; as well as five live performances ("Somebody to Love" and "Plastic Fantastic Lover" included) as bonus tracks.

This album really marked the end to many era's: this is Jefferson Airplane's last really well received album in a string of hits, both Dryden and Balin left the group after this album, released in 1969 it was the end of the 60s, and shortly after the album's release Airplane performed at the now tragic and infamous Altamont Rock Concert (where Balin was knocked out by the Hell's Angel's "security") which essential put an end to the prolific San Francisco music scene of the 60s and ended the Summer of Love for good.

"Volunteers" is one of those wonderful time capsule albums, sure some of the songs have dated badly, but when you play this album it really takes you back to 1969 when Musicians were less interested in hits and more interested with creating music and speaking with their audience at a time when everyone believed music could change the world.

John Denver - "The Wildlife Concert"

In celebration of Earth Day 2011 (today April 22, which also is Good Friday) I shall write about the last John Denver album that I own. Mr. Denver loved the Earth more than most and it is only fitting I honor him and the planet we all love on this Earth Day.

This album was one of the last releases of Denver's career as he sadly passed away two years after its recording and release. It was recorded before a studio audience on two rainy nights in February 1995 to raise money for the Wildlife Conservation Society. The concert captured on this two CD set was the beginning of a resurgence in popularity for Denver after the 1980s, he was also embarking on his 25th anniversary tour and he had penned a bestselling autobiography.

He is in strong (matured) voice and he had returned to the top of his talent. He spreads his big hits throughout the two disc set but he also focuses on lesser known songs and later career highlights such as, "Dreamland Express," "Eagles and Horses" and "Amazon." The beautiful piano ballad "For You" is also only available on this album. The rendition of "Rocky Mountain High" that opens the set is spectacular.

The liner notes are excellent (as is the case with all Legacy Releases) and if you are a big fan of John Denver this is a must.

So on this Earth Day I praise John Denver and the beautiful planet we call home. Conserve your electricity, pick up some trash, recycle, plant some plants, help each other. In the words of John Denver, "Celebrate Earth Day, Everyday. Celebrate Land and Sea, Celebrate You and Me. Celebrate Earth Day Everyday."

John Denver - "An Evening with John Denver"

While John Denver was an acoustic guitar based folk pop singer, in his prime he gave one hell of a concert performance. "An Evening with John Denver" show that. This album was recorded during his 1974 concert tour at Seven consecutive sold out nights at the Universal Amphitheater. I believe this double CD album is a compilation from those seven nights though the album plays like one continuous concert.

Denver is at the height of his fame, popularity and skills at this point and the album really captures his presence and ability. He is charming, goofy, fun and sings terrifically. His rapport and his little story comments to the audience are wonderful and make the listener feel like they are in the audience and Denver is singing just for them.

He is backed by his trusty band from this period that worked on many of his best albums and there is also a 28 piece orchestra conducted by Lee Holdridge. He pulls out all his hits (save "Sunshine on my Shoulders") and some excellent album tracks. He also pulls out some of his sillier songs like "Toledo" and "Forest Lawn" which you can picture him singing with his Cheshire Cat grin. There is also the wonderful upbeat "Annie's Other Song" which is only available on this album.

For the CD there are six never before released performances added to the end that were recorded at Red Rocks Colorado. The songs which include "I'd Rather Be a Cowboy" and "Follow Me." But the last song ends the album with the awful and depressing "Amsterdam," which kind of leaves a bad feel to an otherwise joyous recording. Other than that the bonus tracks are a welcome addition.

As with all the Legacy label recordings there are excellent liner notes which not only provide a biography of Denver but also background on the concerts. Basically if you love John Denver this album should be in your collection.

John Denver - "Rocky Mountain High"

John Denver's most recognized album and one of the songs he is most identified with. This is one of Denver's few albums with a large concept behind the music. The songs all focus on nature and feeling the high that nature provides.

Each song focuses on some kind of Rocky Mountain experience from the title track to the destruction of the area in "Paradise," local tale/legends in "Darcy Farrow," and leaving the beloved family and Rocky Mountains "Goodbye Again." This last song, though written as a letter to his wife Annie, could easily be addressed to the Rocky Mountains as Denver treats them as a living being, rightfully so, as real as any person. He is sad that he has to leave but he will return and he has to see the people who want to hear him sing.

The eighth track on the CD (the entire side two of the original record) is really five songs each one focusing on a season (Summer, Fall, etc). This Suite is one of Denver's most well constructed pieces of music and often got the critics to give him some credit if not every bit that he was due.

While not essential to a record collection this is a very strong effort from an excellent artist and that title song is a pure classic. Great music.

John Denver - "John Denver's Greatest Hits"

This compilations is kind of an oddity because Denver only had three hits at the time of its release. Though this is one of the biggest selling records of John Denver's career. Released in 1973 after the massive success of the "Poems, Prayers and Promises" and "Rocky Mountain High," albums, this compilation gathers songs from 1969 up to 1973. His record company wanted him to release this album and Denver agreed on the condition that he could showcase and re-record some of his lesser known songs from his early albums. That became kind of common for compilations in the 1970s where an artist would re-record their earlier songs, Gordon Lightfoot did the same thing on "Gord's Gold."

"Rhymes & Reasons," "The Eagle and the Hawk," "Leaving on a Jet Plane" and "Starwood in Aspen" are all re-recorded most are not drastically different, faster pace or different guitar picking, "Eagle and the Hawk" adds an entire string section to the song though. Actually because of their inclusion on this compilation many of the unknown songs became hits as well.

When RCA/Legacy released this on CD in 2005 they added three fine songs "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado," "Daydreams" and "Friends with You." I purchased this CD because the sticker on the cover stated there were new extensive liner notes for the 2005 release. I thought, great there is some kind of booklet with an essay about the album or John Denver or Both. In reality there aren't really any liner notes. There is the little paragraph written by Denver himself (that was on the original LP) and then each song has a listing of the musicians that played on it. That is about it. This is still a fine compilation and really showcases Denver's Folk/Country/Pop prowess. This is the kind of music that makes me feel warm inside and that is nice feeling.

John Denver - "Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits"

"He was a Man Who Said Beautiful Things and He Said Them Beautifully" - Liner Notes to this album.

I discovered John Denver's music about three years ago. I had heard of him and knew his big songs but I never had one of his albums. My parents gave me this album for Christmas and I just loved his music and I now own a bunch of Denver CDs. He has become one of my favorite musicians. His lyrics are complex and catchy often linking everyday experiences to nature. He has a gift for catchy pop stylings that stay within his Folk/Country genre. His music is always honest and a large part of me wants to enter the magical world of Colorado that John Denver inhabits in his songs. The first song of Denver's that I ever heard was "Looking for Space." It was featured prominently in the "Magnum P.I." episode "Limbo." I loved that song and I often watched that episode simply to hear the song.

Denver has written some truly great great songs that are not given the appreciation that they deserve. He is often criticized for being too sentimental and overly earnest. I do not share those ideas. Denver always hits a chord inside my heart that makes me feel and that is what I want, sometimes, in my music. On one of the saddest days of my life, when my grandmother passed away, I sat in my room and listened to "Looking for Space" and "Sunshine on My Shoulders" because for those few minutes John Denver helped me feel better and made my heart calm.

This compilation is basically perfect. It collects his 20 finest and most popular songs, every track is golden and wonderful. This collects big hits like "Rocky Mountain High" and "Annie's Song" with lesser gems like "Wild Montana Skies" and "Shanghai Breezes." There are fine liner notes by fan David Wild as well as individual track memories by producer Milt Okum. There are a number of great photographs throughout the notes as well. There is also a second 4 track disc of early demos and a cover of The Band's "The Weight."

It saddens me that Denver passed away and when I was so young and before I had discovered his beautiful music. I am grateful that his music lives on to be discovered by old fans (like I shall become) and new converts (like I was). I am so grateful for his music and voice and for calming my heart and taking me on a trip through a magical world of Colorado. Thank you John Denver I hope you are riding on a Windsong through your beloved Rocky Mountains.

Country Comfort & Billy Kaui - "The Very Best of"

This one is a little bit of a cheat because I made my own compilation of the Hawaiian Music group Country Comfort. I took all 14 songs that are featured on the regular disc, pictured left, and then added nine more songs which basically gave me all of the group's music on one disc.

Country Comfort were a Contemporary Hawaiian Music band of the mid-1970s. Their music while linked to Hawaii was all sung in English language and is actually closer in style to the folk rock of Bread, James Taylor or Crosby, Stills, and Nash. They did mix in Hawaiian slack key guitar stylings into their arrangements and their songs often focused on issues facing Hawaii as well as universal love songs.

The group was a notoriously rowdy bunch and truly lived the rock and roll lifestyle. They were notorious for drinking heavily and using hard drugs like heroin and pills. Their live performances often ended in the band members passing out in the middle of songs and/or throwing equipment (like mike stands and guitars) at each other. Radio DJ and Concert promoter Tom Moffatt was their band manager and he vowed to never manage a band again after his experiences.

All of that aside they did make some great music including their 1974 debut "We Are the Children" which is considered by many to be one of the finest albums in Hawaiian Music. The music not only was catchy and well made but it also dealt with social problems facing Hawaii at the time like the big hit "Waimanalo Blues," which spoke of Hawaii's overdevelopment. The songs also connected with the era's disaffected college students and high schoolers who bought up the album in droves.

Due to all the bands internal problems it took them two years to record their second album "Country Comfort II" which at the time of release was considered a failure but in retrospect it is quite a strong album. The band broke up shortly after the album's release, unofficial leader of the group Billy Kaui cleaned up his act and released a self titled solo album in 1977. The album seemed to be his stepping stone to solo success but he tragically passed away from a brain hemorrhage a few months later.

This hits compilation collects some of the best songs from Country Comfort's two releases and Kaui's solo album. While it is an excellent compilation and a perfect introduction to the group as I said earlier it can easily be turned into a complete disc. Either way I think everyone needs a little Country Comfort to ease away their Blues, Waimanalo or otherwise.

John Denver - "Rocky Mountain Christmas"

Since this will probably be my last post before Christmas I wanted to break my alphabetical rhythm and write about one of my favorite Christmas Albums.

John Denver's "Rocky Mountain Christmas" was originally released in 1975 in conjunction with a TV special of the same name, sadly the TV film has yet to be released on DVD. The majority of the album consists of familiar Christmas Classics rearranged by Denver, including "The Christmas Song" and "Silver Bells." There are also some unfamiliar picks like the wonderful "Aspenglow" and "Christmas for Cowboys" as well as the true oddity on the disc "Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk this Christmas."

Denver's acoustic arrangements add warmth to the songs and the whole album brings out the feel of snowy mountains and sitting around the fireplace with a Christmas Tree. The CD reissue, part of Legacy Records Essential Holiday Classics series, includes excellent liner notes about the recording of the album. If you download the album (which is more expensive than buying the physical CD) you get three more tracks "The Music is You," "Perhaps Love (shortened version, I believe without Placido Domingo)" and "Dreamland Express." This is a wonderful Christmas album that will bring out the spirit of the season, even if you are not a fan of Denver's music this is a fine addition to anyone's Christmas Collection. Merry Christmas Everyone.

Buffalo Springfield - "Last Time Around"

The group's final album. By the time it was released they had already broken up and the whole band was not present for most of the tracks. In fact the cover picture is very telling, the first four members (Stephen Stills leading the group) are in perfect line all looking in one direction and then Neil Young is turned away looking in a different direction. This is very telling considering he left the group after performing on only two and a half songs.

This is actually my favorite of Buffalo Springfield's three albums. Stephen Stills' songs in particular are quite excellent "Pretty Girl Why," "Four Days Gone" and "Special Care." He also has "Questions" which sounds slightly unfinished but would eventually turn into the hit song "Carry On" for CSNY. "Uno Mundo" is one of Stills' catchiest songs and is the beginning of the latin rock that he would later explore with Manassas. Young's two contributions as songwriter "On the Way Home" and "I am a Child" would become more popular in solo versions but they are two of his best songs. Jim Messina provides "Carefree Country Day" which is in the same country/pop that would later popularize Loggins and Messina's work. Richie Furay provides several darkly textured songs, the best of which being "Kind Woman."

I like this album the best because all the members have grown into their own. They have found the musical ground that they want to cover. I also think Messina, who also produced the album, is an excellent producer and his talents bring out the best in each song which makes the album sound better than the other two records. This is an often over looked album that is actually quite a gem.

Buffalo Springfield - "Again"

For the group's second album, which I picked up recently with their other two albums, they have lessened the number of songs and made a more concise and more rewarding album. The album does not have an instant classic like "For What its Worth" but almost every track here is very good, "Mr. Soul," "Bluebird," "Hung Upside Down" and "Broken Arrow" to name a few. The group continues with the same rock/country sound that was on their debut album but they are refining and growing as musicians. All the songs feel like album tracks, though they are all equally good but none are a smash classic. Most consider this to be the best of their three albums, I personally like "Last Time Around" the best, but this is a good Buffalo Springfield album not really essential to a listeners music collection but still a good listen.

Buffalo Springfield - "Buffalo Springfield"

I bought this album a few months ago. I was considering getting the single disc retrospective for $13 but I found I could get all three of Buffalo Springfield's albums for $20, so I did that instead. This short lived group that spawned a number of far better groups (CSN, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Loggins & Messina to name a few) were never big hit makers but they did write a number of very good songs.

This album does contain their one and only hit in Stephen Stills' now classic "For What its Worth." But the majority of the album is quite good and written entirely by Stills and Neil Young. The album is strongly influenced by country music but is definitely is the beginnings of country/rock, with a greater focus on rock and pop. The music here is not as great as the individual members would later record but these are the seeds of a great musical tree that was beginning to grow. Other stand out songs include "Go and Say Goodbye," "Sit Down I think I Love you" and "Out of my Mind."