Kalapana - "In Concert"

A live double album recorded during four sold out shows, two in Japan and two in Guam.

The band is in good form.  It is the same line up from their two previous albums Malani Bilyeu, DJ Pratt, Kirk Thompson, Randy Aloya, Alvin Fejerang, and Michael Paulo. For these concerts Hiroshima keyboardist Kimo Cornwell joined the group.

Most of the tracks come from the albums "Kalapana II," "Kalapana III" and "Many Classic Moments." Most of the performances do not differ greatly from the studio versions aside from more energy, or changes in instrumentation.

Some of these performances, however, are pretty killer including the opening medley of "Jamaica Farewell/Banana Boat Song/When the Morning Comes," the jamming on "Nathen's Lament" and the jaw dropping guitar work by Pratt on "Can you See Him." This is a great time capsule as Kalapana disbanded shortly after these concerts. This is also the only live recording from their heyday, the other two records/videos are from later in their career. This shows how popular they were because very few Hawaii artists have the popularity to release double albums without losing money. Kalapana could do it. Finally many of these songs are no longer in Kalapana's live repertoire so it is neat to hear them in a concert setting.

Like their two previous studio albums this one is only available as a Japanese import CD. I got it as a Christmas gift one year. It is not entirely essential especially considering the import price but it is nice to have for the die hard Kalapana fan. Long live Kalapana.

Kalapana - "Many Classic Moments"

Kalapana's final studio album (discounting the Japanese "Northbound") before breaking up in 1979. Released in 1978 this is the soundtrack for the surfing documentary of the same name (the movie was recently released on DVD for the first time after never being put on VHS).

The same group line up from "Kalapana III," Malani Bilyeu, DJ Pratt, Kirk Thompson, Randy Aloya, Alvin Fejarang and Michael Paulo, are present on this album. They continue the Jazz Pop fusions that they started on the previous album.

The title track is a winner one of the finest songs Bilyeu ever wrote. "The Ultimate" is a pounding instrumental that makes the listener feel like they are inside a wave. The closer a cover of Batdorf and Rodney's "Can You See Him" is a seven minute acoustic guitar solo with three minutes of lyrics. DJ Pratt's guitar skills are on ample display and show that he is one of the great guitarists out there. "The Water Song" has some poor lyrics but soars on excellent music and Bilyeu powerful vocals. "Sunny Days" is Pratt going for a Mackey Feary vibe and doing a pretty good job. "Uptown Country" and "Down By The Sea" are enjoyable but they take a few listens to really get into. The album is short with only eight tracks (one of them being "Naturally" from their first album) so really there are only seven new songs. Nevertheless this is another winner from Kalapana and will certainly please their fans.

Some of these songs appear on Kalapana's "Best of Vol. 2" collection but most are only available on this album. Like their previous album, "Kalapana III," this one is something of a collectors item. Originally released on Vinyl everywhere but when CD's came around this was never released on CD in the United States. It is only available as a super expensive Japanese Import. My great friend Laurel lived in Japan for a while and sent me this CD, which I treasure.

Kalapana -"Kalapana III"

Kalapana's third album originally released in 1977 has become something of a collectors item. Originally available internationally on vinyl record, the album was only released on CD in Japan. This makes it very hard to come by in the US or even Kalapana's home state of Hawaii. My very good friend Laurel lived in Japan for a while and generously got this album for me.

After the massive success of "Kalapana II," group leader Mackey Feary left the band for a solo career. Malani Bilyeu the other band leader took over the reigns as lead singer. Guitarist DJ Pratt also began writing and singing here with two songs. Randy Aloya was added to the group on bass guitar and vocals. Saxophonist Michael Paulo and drummer Alvin Fejarang, who had been sidemen on the previous two albums, were now listed as band members.

This album features a stronger jazz fusion component than their previous albums. The arrangements and stylings are also more experimental and ambitious. The songs are excellent especially for fans but because of their stylings they are not as instantly memorable as the work on their first two albums. The best songs are dominated by Bilyeu: the hit "Girl," "Inarajan," "Another Time" and "Dilemma." Other winning tracks are the haunting "Alisa Lovely" by Pratt and Fejarang and "Songbird" by Bilyeu and Pratt.

Overall this is a great album for Kalapana fans but unless you want to pay a high import price or find a friend in Japan this will be hard to come by. Some of the songs have appeared on various greatest hits collections. It is sad that the record company cannot at least make it available in Hawaii since this is a pretty good album but oh well.

Kalapana - "Kalapana II"

My Dad used to have this cassette tape in the car when I was little. I bought the CD for myself when I was a junior in High School.

Kalapana's second album was another success coming just one year after their debut. This album plays up their Jazz Rock stylings with tracks like "Freedom" and "Black Sand."

There are the lovely acoustic ballads as well, "Dorothy Louise" and "Lost Again." The group expands their sound incorporating blues "Wandering Stranger" country "Way That I Want It To Be" and flawless pop "Moon and Stars."

The band shows immense growth in their lyrics and music compositions. If you are a fan of Kalapana this is another winner for your collection.

Kalapana - "The Best Of: Vol. 1"

Hello readers, if there are any of you left out there, sorry for the long absence.  It was unexpected and unintentional.  But now I am back for you dear readers.

This is the first "Hawaiian" music CD I ever bought. I put Hawaiian in quotes because technically this is not traditionally Hawaiian music. All the lyrics are in English and the music style is closer to 1970s American pop/rock. Kalapana is closer in style to The Eagles or Loggins & Messina than other Hawaiian musicians like Gabby Pahinui. The band is from Hawaii though and gained their fame and following in the Hawaiian islands before branching out to Japan and the rest of the pacific.

Kalapana were arguably the most successful group in Hawaiian music in the 1970s, possibly second only to Cecilio & Kapono.

This 1992 thirteen track compilation contains many of the biggest hits from Kalapana's mid 70s heyday. This disc relies heavily on their debut album with seven of that albums songs appearing here. Three tracks from their second release and two tracks from their third album round out the compilation. The two tracks from the third album are something of a rarity because the band's third release is not available on CD in the USA, it is only on CD in Japan and thus can be found only as a very expensive import.

"Best of Vol 1" focuses largely on the band's acoustic folk/pop/rock and not featuring their more Jazz based rockers. Nonetheless the album contains many of their best songs and is a great introduction to the band. Either pick this album up or if you would like a more complete overview check out their first two albums (Kalapana 1 and 2). Like I said earlier this is the only USA available CD to have the songs "Inarajan," and "Alisa Lovely."

This is the first Hawaiian music CD I ever bought and I have been a Kalapana fan ever since.

Elton John - "11-17-70"

As a music listener there are a number of Elton John songs that I love, yet despite his excellent songs his albums often leave me unimpressed. This is the only Elton John album I own and it is a live showcase recorded shortly before "Your Song" became a number one smash. It is a live in studio concert (with a small audience) that was broadcast on live radio at the time.

By and large John performs like a rock and roll/blues/soul animal. This features his simple killer live trio of John on piano and vocals, Nigel Olsson on drums, and Dee Murray on bass. Many non-John fans seek out this album; not because of its rarity, it is readily available on CD and iTunes though it is a lesser known album. The song choices are why they seek it out.

He tears through a number of his lesser known songs with excellent readings of "Take me To the Pilot" and a killer cover of the Rolling Stones "Honky Tonk Women." All the tracks are either early album tracks, covers, or B-sides that did not appear on his albums. There is also that rock and roll jam style with all the seven tracks at least going five minutes, one over seven minutes and the closer an 18 minute medley that includes a section of The Beatles "Get Back."

The 1995 CD reissue, (the version I own) on John's Rocket Records as part of "Elton John The Classic Years" reissue series, has a decent booklet with historical notes but the sound is a bit softer than you would expect. Many Amazon reviewers prefer the out of print British CD import reissue from the same 1990s period.

Most fans will be happy with a good Greatest Hits compilation. Overall "11-17-70" is not necessary but a fun good live record and a wonderful showcase of Elton John before his massive success and before all his excess of the 1970s.

Billy Joel -"2000 Years The Millennium Concert"

On December 31, 1999 Billy Joel held a sold out concert at Madison Square Garden to celebrate the new millennium and he also labeled it his last concert (that didn't stick as about ten years later he went back on tour). The event lasted nearly four hours and acted as a history of his recording career and a great encapsulation of the 20th century and a warm welcome to the 21st. Equal mixes of heartfelt performance and sheer spectacle abound.

Two hours of that concert were released in May 2000 as this live album. It is not a bad album but not a great one either. At this point in his career Joel had released two live albums: the powerhouse 1981 release "Songs in the Attic" which shined a light on his lesser known great songs and thus made them big hits. Then there was the 1987 release "Kohuept" a document of his touring of the U.S.S.R. that was more of a historical release.

Here Joel tries to combine the two concepts. "I've Loved These Days," "My Life" and "Summer Highland Falls" all take on a special quality not only because it is the new millennium but also considering Joel's decision to retire from music and not tour for many years; they reach the "Songs in the Attic" feel. Many of those moments appear throughout the two discs but there are also lots of pure spectacle and average runs of a number of songs. Occasionally Joel's voice is pretty weak, the end of "New York State of Mind" really strains.

All in all this is a decent if unspectacular live album, better as capturing a moment in time and probably better if you were in the audience that night.  This is really for the most die-hard fans. His more recent concert album "12 Gardens Live" a compilation of his record setting 12 simultaneous sold out shows at Madison Square Garden is a far better live album with Joel in great energy and spirits. I keep this album because I became a Billy Joel fan right when he retired and this was his first non-Greatest Hits release between 1993 and 2000, so I picked it up.  Billy Joel is one of my favorites.