The Lettermen were one of the premier pop vocal groups of the 1960s and 1970s. Their harmonies were simply amazing. No fan of harmony groups should be without a Lettermen CD in their collections. The only one I currently own is Capitol Collectors Series, a 23-track collection that compiles most of their major hit singles which I was in the mood to revisit tonight.
Perhaps one of the reasons I love the Lettermen so is that they sound convincing on a wide range of material. Their hit remake of "Come Back Silly Girl" is just as quality as their beautiful rendition of "Put Your Head on My Shoulder." They handle John Lennon's "Oh My Love" flawlessly, taking the song to a whole new level.
Their biggest hits: "When I Fall in Love," "The Way You Look Tonight," "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You," and "Hurt So Bad." All of these songs have been recorded by many artists, but they all hold up very well in their Lettermen versions.
Perhaps spurred by the success of the GooMH/CTMEoY single, the Lettermen would release a few more medley singles throughout their careers. One of my favorites is the only other present on this disc, combining "Traces" and "Memories," two songs which seem like they were destined to be together when you hear the way they've been woven.
One of the most interesting song selections is a Motown remake: "Everything Is Good About You." I believe the Supremes version is the original one, although I show others by Barbara McNair and Chris Clark. I don't know those very well, but this rendition is good. It's not one of the best tracks on here, but it's still high quality.
The closing track, "If You Feel the Way I Do," is one of those that I find inexplicable as a non-hit. It's really a great song, in my opinion. Offhand, I can't find if there were any other recordings before The Lettermen's from 1975. The only other version I can find, by Love Generation, was released in '76.
To conclude, I'll simply say that every track on here has some merit and is worth hearing at least once. If you like vocal harmony, you'll be playing most of them more than that.
Tracks:
1. The Way You Look Tonight
2. That's My Desire
3. When I Fall in Love
4. Come Back Silly Girl
5. How Is Julie
6. Turn Around, Look at Me
7. Silly Boy (She Doesn't Love You)
8. Be My Girl
9. Theme from "A Summer Place"
10. Sealed with a Kiss
11. Secretly
12. I Only Have Eyes for You
13. Our Winter Love
14. Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You
15. Sherry Don't Go
16. Put Your Head on My Shoulder
17. Hurt So Bad
18. Shangri-La
19. Traces/Memories Medley
20. Everything Is Good About You
21. Love
22. Oh My Love
23. If You Feel the Way I Do
Showing posts with label spotlight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spotlight. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Spotlight: Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (George Michael)
My recent acquistion of Twenty Five caused me to break out my copy of Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1, his 1990 album. This was, as I recall, the first Michael album I ever purchased. It had been a while since I'd listened to it, so this was a bit of a rediscovery for me as far as just how great it is. I've fallen in love with "Heal the Pain" all over again, but that's just one of the love-worthy tracks on the album. Also included are the major hits "Praying for Time" and "Freedom," both of which the general public seem to remember fondly. Then there's "Waiting for That Day," the song which should have been way bigger than it was. There're also the haunting "They Won't Go When I Go" and the great "Something to Save," the latter of which probably could have been a single in its own right. "They Won't Go When I Go" is a remake of a Stevie Wonder track from his 1974 album Fulfillingness' First Finale. I must admit to being unfamiliar with the Wonder version, but I love Michael's version, and it works very well in the context of the album. "Cowboys and Angels" was a single in the UK that inexplicably underperformed, but it's a cool track in its own right. "Mothers Pride" is a beautiful track and ended up garnering unsolicited airplay as many looked to it as musical comfort during wartime. The closing tracks, "Soul Free" and "Waiting (reprise)," leave one (or me, at least) with the feeling that one hasn't just heard a great album, but that one has just been taken on a sentimental journey. The exact sentiment isn't the same each time, but the album never fails to evoke strong feeling, which I believe is one of its greatest strengths. It may not be as fondly remembered as the megasmash Faith, but Listen Without Prejudice is an album which, if ever I endeavored to make a list of "essential albums," would definitely be included.
Tracks:
1. Praying for Time
2. Freedom
3. They Won't Go When I Go
4. Something to Save
5. Cowboys and Angels
6. Waiting for That Day
7. Mothers Pride
8. Heal the Pain
9. Soul Free
10. Waiting (reprise)
Tracks:
1. Praying for Time
2. Freedom
3. They Won't Go When I Go
4. Something to Save
5. Cowboys and Angels
6. Waiting for That Day
7. Mothers Pride
8. Heal the Pain
9. Soul Free
10. Waiting (reprise)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Spotlight: Version (Mark Ronson)
One of my favourite albums of 2007 was Mark Ronson's Version. It's got to be one of the best cover albums ever made. Some of the songs are reinvented more dramatically than others, but all make for enjoyable listens.
Tracks:
1. God Put a Smile Upon Your Face (feat. The Daptone Horns)
Here we get a peppy instrumental remake of the Coldplay tune. The Daptone Horns also supplied some instrumentation for Amy Winehouse's Back to Black and I believe are part of The Dap-King which back Sharon Jones. This is a great album opener, but just a taste of what's to come.
2. Oh My God (featuring Lily Allen)
Songstress Lily Allen does good work with her vocals on this remake of the Kaiser Chiefs' song from their excellent album Employment. It's not better than the original, but it's still damned good.
3. Stop Me (featuring Daniel Merriweather)
This one is amazing. It's a remake of The Smiths' "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" with a bit of "You Keep Me Hanging On" thrown in at the end. The arrangement is quite different, but it's frickin' awesome. As great as the original is, this one rivals it. One of the best singles released in 2007, easily. Daniel Merriweather's vocals are perfect for this song.
4. Toxic (featuring Tiggers)
This track isn't one of my favourites. It's a remake of the Britney Spears song and it's okay, better than the original but still not a wonderful listen. Still, I wouldn't call it bad either. It's just not too exciting compared to most of the other tracks, which are of extremely high quality.
5. Valerie (featuring Amy Winehouse)
This is another one that rivals the original, which was performed by The Zutons. It's hard to pick one over the other, but at the moment I'm writing this I would lean toward the Ronson and Winehouse version. Truly a wonderful listen, this!
6. Apply Some Pressure (featuring Paul Smith)
The Maxïmo Park vocalist helps remake his own song here. This is one that I don't find too different from the original, but as that is a highly enjoyable listen, so is this.
7. Inversion
A nice instrumental interlude here
8. Pretty Green (featuring SantoGold)
A remake of The Jam with a unique but in the end highly enjoyable sound. This one is a bit addictive.
9. Just (featuring Phantom Planet)
Not thrilled that this saw a single re-release over some of the great unreleased tracks, but I do still very much like it. It's a remake of the Radiohead tune.
10. Amy (featuring Kenna)
This is definitely my favourite track on the album that hasn't seen single release. Truly amazing work here. It's a remake of the Ryan Adams track.
11. The Only One I Know (featuring Robbie Williams)
I really like Robbie Williams, but when I saw that he was the vocalist on a Charlatans remake, I couldn't help but wonder if it turned out all that well. However, I think it ended up top notch. I never should've doubted Mr. Williams.
12. Diversion
Another cool instrumental interlude
13. L.S.F. (featuring Kasabian)
This one is also not amongst my top tracks from the album, but it's still a good listen. The original was by Kasabian, and here they remake themselves with Ronson. I don't believe I've heard the original, so I can't compare the two.
14. Outversion
And with this brief bit, it ends.
Listen to a tune or two, and if you like what you hear, then trust that the rest of the album is just as good.
Tracks:
1. God Put a Smile Upon Your Face (feat. The Daptone Horns)
Here we get a peppy instrumental remake of the Coldplay tune. The Daptone Horns also supplied some instrumentation for Amy Winehouse's Back to Black and I believe are part of The Dap-King which back Sharon Jones. This is a great album opener, but just a taste of what's to come.
2. Oh My God (featuring Lily Allen)
Songstress Lily Allen does good work with her vocals on this remake of the Kaiser Chiefs' song from their excellent album Employment. It's not better than the original, but it's still damned good.
3. Stop Me (featuring Daniel Merriweather)
This one is amazing. It's a remake of The Smiths' "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" with a bit of "You Keep Me Hanging On" thrown in at the end. The arrangement is quite different, but it's frickin' awesome. As great as the original is, this one rivals it. One of the best singles released in 2007, easily. Daniel Merriweather's vocals are perfect for this song.
4. Toxic (featuring Tiggers)
This track isn't one of my favourites. It's a remake of the Britney Spears song and it's okay, better than the original but still not a wonderful listen. Still, I wouldn't call it bad either. It's just not too exciting compared to most of the other tracks, which are of extremely high quality.
5. Valerie (featuring Amy Winehouse)
This is another one that rivals the original, which was performed by The Zutons. It's hard to pick one over the other, but at the moment I'm writing this I would lean toward the Ronson and Winehouse version. Truly a wonderful listen, this!
6. Apply Some Pressure (featuring Paul Smith)
The Maxïmo Park vocalist helps remake his own song here. This is one that I don't find too different from the original, but as that is a highly enjoyable listen, so is this.
7. Inversion
A nice instrumental interlude here
8. Pretty Green (featuring SantoGold)
A remake of The Jam with a unique but in the end highly enjoyable sound. This one is a bit addictive.
9. Just (featuring Phantom Planet)
Not thrilled that this saw a single re-release over some of the great unreleased tracks, but I do still very much like it. It's a remake of the Radiohead tune.
10. Amy (featuring Kenna)
This is definitely my favourite track on the album that hasn't seen single release. Truly amazing work here. It's a remake of the Ryan Adams track.
11. The Only One I Know (featuring Robbie Williams)
I really like Robbie Williams, but when I saw that he was the vocalist on a Charlatans remake, I couldn't help but wonder if it turned out all that well. However, I think it ended up top notch. I never should've doubted Mr. Williams.
12. Diversion
Another cool instrumental interlude
13. L.S.F. (featuring Kasabian)
This one is also not amongst my top tracks from the album, but it's still a good listen. The original was by Kasabian, and here they remake themselves with Ronson. I don't believe I've heard the original, so I can't compare the two.
14. Outversion
And with this brief bit, it ends.
Listen to a tune or two, and if you like what you hear, then trust that the rest of the album is just as good.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Spotlight: The Best of Tompall Glaser & The Glaser Brothers
The spotlight feature is me discussing an album not because it's a new acquisition, but just because it's something I own and about which I feel like blogging.
This spotlight is of The Best of Tompall Glaser & The Glaser Brothers, the title of which is a good description of the content. The tracks include a good retrospective of the early Glaser Brothers sound, which is country music with folk elements. You also get some of Tompall Glaser's biggest solo hits as well as the Glaser Brothers' less folky ones. The only songs missing are some of their later hits. Still, this is a great CD with many highly-enjoyable tracks. I'd recommend it for both fans of the folk side of country and fans of outlaw country. Tompall Glaser is one of the heroes of outlaw country, after all.
Track listing (songs by Tompall & The Glaser Brothers unless otherwise noted):
1. Streets of Baltimore
2. Gone, On the Other Hand
3. Gentle on My Mind
4. Through the Eyes of Love
5. The Moods of Mary
6. One of These Days
7. California Girl (And the Tennessee Square)
8. All That Keeps Ya Goin'
9. Walk Unashamed
10. Wicked California
11. Gone Girl
12. Faded Love
13. Rings
14. Sweet, Love Me Good Woman
15. Ain't It All Worth Living For
16. A Girl Like You
17. Charlie
18. Bad Bad Bad Cowboy (by Tompall Glaser)
19. Texas Law Sez (by Tompall Glaser)
20. Musical Chairs (by Tompall Glaser)
21. Put Another Log on the Fire (by Tompall Glaser)
22. Wild Side of Life (by Tompall Glaser)
23. T for Texas (by Tompall Glaser)
24. Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)
Some of my favorite tracks are the early tunes, especially those written or co-written by the legendary Jack Clement. One of these, "California Girl," is the reason I bought this CD in the first place. It's a great, great song. Others of his include "The Moods of Mary," "Wicked California," "Gone, On the Other Hand" and "Gone Girl." All excellent. Other highlights include the Shel Silverstein penned "Musical Chairs," a countrified version of Cymarron's hit "Rings," and the version of the Kris Kristofferson composition "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)." Jim Glaser's own composition, "Walk Unashamed," is also not to be missed. Really, though, there's not a single track on here that I skip. If you don't want to take my word for the caliber of the music, listen to a fan video of "Lovin'..." here.
For chart fans, here is a comprehensive look at Glaser placements on Billboard's country chart. GB denotes a Glaser Brothers hit. JG denotes a Jim Glaser hit. TG denotes a Tompall Glaser hit. CG denotes a Chuck Glaser hit.
1967
-Gone, On the Other Hand: #24 (GB)
-Through the Eyes of Love: #27 (GB)
1968
-God Help You Woman: #32 (JG)
-One of These Days: #36 (GB)
-The Moods of Mary: #42 (GB)
1969
-California Girl (And the Tennessee Square): #11 (GB)
-Wicked California: #24 (GB)
-Please Take Me Back: #40 (JG)
-I'm Not Through Loving You: #52 (JG)
-Molly: #53 (JG)
1970
-Gone Girl: #23 (GB)
-Walk Unashamed: #30 (GB)
-All That Keeps Ya Goin': #33 (GB)
1971
-Rings: #7 (GB)
-Faded Love: #22 (GB)
1972
-Ain't It All Worth Living For: #15 (GB)
-Sweet, Love Me Good Woman: #23 (GB)
1973
-A Girl Like You: #46 (GB)
-Charlie: #47 (GB)
-I See His Love All Over You: #67 (JG)
-Bad Bad Bad Cowboy: #77 (TG)
1974
-Musical Chairs: #63 (TG)
-Fool Passin' Through: #68 (JG)
-Gypsy Queen: #81 (CG)
-Texas Law Sez: #96 (TG)
1975
-Put Another Log on the Fire: #21 (TG)
-Woman, Woman: #43 (JG)
-Forgettin' Bout You: #51 (JG)
-One, Two, Three (Never Gonna Fall in Love Again): #88 (JG)
1976
-T for Texas: #36 (TG)
-She's Free but She's Not Easy: #66 (JG)
1977
-It'll Be Her: #45 (TG)
-Don't Let My Love Stand in Your Way: 86 (JG)
-Chasin' My Tail: #88 (JG)
-It Never Crossed My Mind: #91 (TG)
1978
-Drinking Them Beers: #79 (TG)
1980
-Sweet City Woman: #34 (GB)
-Weight of My Chains: #43 (GB)
1981
-Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again): #2 (GB)
-Just One Time: #17 (GB)
1982
-It'll Be Her: #19 (GB)
-I Still Love You (After All These Years): #28 (GB)
-Maria Consuela: #88 (GB)
1983
-When You're Not a Lady: #16 (JG)
-The Man in the Mirror: #17 (JG)
-You Got Me Running: #28 (JG)
1984
-You're Gettin' to Me Again: #1 (JG)
-If I Could Only Dance With You: #10 (JG)
-Let Me Down Easy: #16 (JG)
1985
-In Another Minute: #27 (JG)
-I'll Be Your Fool Tonight: #54 (JG)
1986
-The Lights of Albuquerque: #40 (JG)
-If I Didn't Love You: #53 (JG)
Several of the later Glaser Brothers hit are available on the 2-albums-on-1-CD release Lovin' Her Was Easier/After All These Years, but I don't own that yet, so I can't comment. Jim Glaser's solo work is hard to find on CD, as is Chuck's lone hit. The Tompall solo hits not included on the CD discussed here are available on a set entitled The Outlaw which I don't currently own.
This spotlight is of The Best of Tompall Glaser & The Glaser Brothers, the title of which is a good description of the content. The tracks include a good retrospective of the early Glaser Brothers sound, which is country music with folk elements. You also get some of Tompall Glaser's biggest solo hits as well as the Glaser Brothers' less folky ones. The only songs missing are some of their later hits. Still, this is a great CD with many highly-enjoyable tracks. I'd recommend it for both fans of the folk side of country and fans of outlaw country. Tompall Glaser is one of the heroes of outlaw country, after all.
Track listing (songs by Tompall & The Glaser Brothers unless otherwise noted):
1. Streets of Baltimore
2. Gone, On the Other Hand
3. Gentle on My Mind
4. Through the Eyes of Love
5. The Moods of Mary
6. One of These Days
7. California Girl (And the Tennessee Square)
8. All That Keeps Ya Goin'
9. Walk Unashamed
10. Wicked California
11. Gone Girl
12. Faded Love
13. Rings
14. Sweet, Love Me Good Woman
15. Ain't It All Worth Living For
16. A Girl Like You
17. Charlie
18. Bad Bad Bad Cowboy (by Tompall Glaser)
19. Texas Law Sez (by Tompall Glaser)
20. Musical Chairs (by Tompall Glaser)
21. Put Another Log on the Fire (by Tompall Glaser)
22. Wild Side of Life (by Tompall Glaser)
23. T for Texas (by Tompall Glaser)
24. Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)
Some of my favorite tracks are the early tunes, especially those written or co-written by the legendary Jack Clement. One of these, "California Girl," is the reason I bought this CD in the first place. It's a great, great song. Others of his include "The Moods of Mary," "Wicked California," "Gone, On the Other Hand" and "Gone Girl." All excellent. Other highlights include the Shel Silverstein penned "Musical Chairs," a countrified version of Cymarron's hit "Rings," and the version of the Kris Kristofferson composition "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)." Jim Glaser's own composition, "Walk Unashamed," is also not to be missed. Really, though, there's not a single track on here that I skip. If you don't want to take my word for the caliber of the music, listen to a fan video of "Lovin'..." here.
For chart fans, here is a comprehensive look at Glaser placements on Billboard's country chart. GB denotes a Glaser Brothers hit. JG denotes a Jim Glaser hit. TG denotes a Tompall Glaser hit. CG denotes a Chuck Glaser hit.
1967
-Gone, On the Other Hand: #24 (GB)
-Through the Eyes of Love: #27 (GB)
1968
-God Help You Woman: #32 (JG)
-One of These Days: #36 (GB)
-The Moods of Mary: #42 (GB)
1969
-California Girl (And the Tennessee Square): #11 (GB)
-Wicked California: #24 (GB)
-Please Take Me Back: #40 (JG)
-I'm Not Through Loving You: #52 (JG)
-Molly: #53 (JG)
1970
-Gone Girl: #23 (GB)
-Walk Unashamed: #30 (GB)
-All That Keeps Ya Goin': #33 (GB)
1971
-Rings: #7 (GB)
-Faded Love: #22 (GB)
1972
-Ain't It All Worth Living For: #15 (GB)
-Sweet, Love Me Good Woman: #23 (GB)
1973
-A Girl Like You: #46 (GB)
-Charlie: #47 (GB)
-I See His Love All Over You: #67 (JG)
-Bad Bad Bad Cowboy: #77 (TG)
1974
-Musical Chairs: #63 (TG)
-Fool Passin' Through: #68 (JG)
-Gypsy Queen: #81 (CG)
-Texas Law Sez: #96 (TG)
1975
-Put Another Log on the Fire: #21 (TG)
-Woman, Woman: #43 (JG)
-Forgettin' Bout You: #51 (JG)
-One, Two, Three (Never Gonna Fall in Love Again): #88 (JG)
1976
-T for Texas: #36 (TG)
-She's Free but She's Not Easy: #66 (JG)
1977
-It'll Be Her: #45 (TG)
-Don't Let My Love Stand in Your Way: 86 (JG)
-Chasin' My Tail: #88 (JG)
-It Never Crossed My Mind: #91 (TG)
1978
-Drinking Them Beers: #79 (TG)
1980
-Sweet City Woman: #34 (GB)
-Weight of My Chains: #43 (GB)
1981
-Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again): #2 (GB)
-Just One Time: #17 (GB)
1982
-It'll Be Her: #19 (GB)
-I Still Love You (After All These Years): #28 (GB)
-Maria Consuela: #88 (GB)
1983
-When You're Not a Lady: #16 (JG)
-The Man in the Mirror: #17 (JG)
-You Got Me Running: #28 (JG)
1984
-You're Gettin' to Me Again: #1 (JG)
-If I Could Only Dance With You: #10 (JG)
-Let Me Down Easy: #16 (JG)
1985
-In Another Minute: #27 (JG)
-I'll Be Your Fool Tonight: #54 (JG)
1986
-The Lights of Albuquerque: #40 (JG)
-If I Didn't Love You: #53 (JG)
Several of the later Glaser Brothers hit are available on the 2-albums-on-1-CD release Lovin' Her Was Easier/After All These Years, but I don't own that yet, so I can't comment. Jim Glaser's solo work is hard to find on CD, as is Chuck's lone hit. The Tompall solo hits not included on the CD discussed here are available on a set entitled The Outlaw which I don't currently own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)