The Byrds - Live At The Fillmore

What do I know about the hippie generation? Not much. I was born in 1984 so I haven't lived through any of the golden eras of music. Luckily we have records, CDs, and tapes...

This Byrds album is amazing. Before deciding I wanted this album, I listened to a few sample clips and was immediately sold. I knew right away that this would be the album that would make my drive to work a whole lot better, and it sure did!


It starts off the way it finishes - smooth, soulful, and strong. The first few songs seem to blend together without more than a second break in between, I can't even imagine how awesome it would have been to be at this show. In between the beginning and end are tons of great songs, including a medley with their most famous hits - "Turn!Turn!Turn! - Mr.Tambourine Man - Eight Miles High." It's a great medley but the spotlight is easily stolen by less known songs as band leader, Roger McGuinn, narrates a few stories of how songs were created.


On "Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man," McGuinn explains that The Byrds went to Nashville before they were a proven group. After playing a few songs for a record executive, he quickly told them that he didn't like hippies and their music would never make it. They wrote this song about him. Ironically, the song is probably better known than the executive who didn't like it. I guess The Byrds got the last laugh on this one.


Another bonus surprise from this album is that The Byrds cover some good country songs. "Buckaroo" is an old Buck Owens & The Buckaroos instrumental that guitarist, Clarence White, burns up his B-Bender Guitar (http://www.stringbender.com/bender/classic.htm).


When you hear The Byrds rendition of Merle Haggard's "Sing Me Back Home" you'll get the chills. This is quality music from a group that appreciated good music as well as they played it.

If you like music, you will not be disappointed with the first Byrds live album ever released. I highly recommend this one!


Track Listing:
Nashville West
You're Still On My Mind
Pretty Boy Floyd
Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man
Medley:
Turn!Turn!Turn! - Mr.Tambourine Man - Eight Miles High
Close Up On The Honky Tonks
Buckaroo
The Christian Life
Time Between
King Apathy III
Bad Night at the Whiskey
This Wheel's on Fire
Sing Me Back Home
So You Want to Be a Rock'N'Roll Star"
He Was a Friend of Mine
Chimes of Freedom

The Best of The Elegants

You may not know who Vito Picone is but I can bet that you'd recognize his voice on some of the timeless classics that The Elegants put out.

It was a magic year... New York had three baseball teams, Don Larsen threw a perfect game in the World Series, doo wop was the soundtrack of life, and Chevy ruled the road. That same year, The Elegants began their journey from Staten Island to the top of the charts.

While this album surely serves its purpose in capturing their popular hits (which are very good) it doesn't satisfy my need for rare albums that dig deep.

Although I have just rated this album in somewhat of a negative way, let me add that that I do actually listen to this album a lot, especially in my car.

The most famous song of this album is "Little Star." Its a great song that has been used on a variety of movie soundtracks and played by many Doo Wop DJs. Because of the type of person I am, someone who likes the unheard classics, my favorite on this album is "Please Believe Me." It's similar to a Dion & The Belmonts-style probably because they all grew up within the New York City area. Either way, "Please Believe Me" is one of my all time favorite oldies and definitely my top pick from this album. Below, I've included the track listing, a bonus picture, and a link to The Elegants website. It has some great facts about this group that still performs concerts.


Track Listing:
Little Star
Getting Dizzy
Please Believe Me
Goodnight
True Love Affair
Pay Day
Little Boy Blue
Get Well Soon
Still Waiting
Rain, Rain
True Love Affair - (alternate take)
Little Boy Blue - (alternate take)


**** BONUS INFORMATION ****


Vito Picone (facing camera) played a role in the movie "Goodfellas"

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE ELEGANTS WEBSITE:

http://www.the-elegants.com/index.php

Wynn Stewart & Jan Howard

While I don't know much biographical information about either of these two artists, I do know that they made some classics in country music history.

If you like Buck Owens, you'll love this album. While many of the songs do sound similar, you can find some unique classics, like "Faded Love," "Above and Beyond," and "Playboy." Now I can't go on reviewing this album without mentioning steel guitar...

As I mentioned in my review of the Waylon Jennings Live album, Ralph Mooney played with many famous artists (Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Wynn Stewart). It seems like a coincidence that a steel guitar player was lucky enough to be in all of these great bands but I beg to differ. I wouldn't say that Mooney was along for the ride with these all time greats, I would say he WAS the ride and the reason for much of the sucess these artists would have in the future.

Check this album out for some old school classic country. You may not want to play this album over and over again but you will sure appreciate some of the vintage sounds that formed the foundation of country music.


Song List:
1. Wrong Company
2. We’ll Never Love Again
3. Wishful Thinking - Wynn Stewart
4. A World I Can’t Live In - Jan Howard
5. The One You Slip Around With - Jan Howard
6. Faded Love - Jan Howard
7. Above And Beyond (The Call Of Love) - Wynn Stewart
8. How The Other Half Lives
9. Make An Honest Woman Out Of Me - Jan Howard
10. Too Many Teardrops Too Late - Jan Howard
11. Playboy - Wynn Stewart
12. Big, Big Love - Wynn Stewart
13. Yankee Go Home
14. Let Me Know - Jan Howard
15. Ages and Ages Ago - Jan Howard
16. Uncle Tom Got Caught - Wynn Stewart
17. Bring It On Back To Me - Jan Howard
18. Heartaches For A Dime - Wynn Stewart

HOW TO GET THESE ALBUMS...

If anyone is interested in where and how to obtain any of these albums, please feel free to send me an email and I'll be sure to connect you with the right source(s).


jnastyproductions@yahoo.com

Waylon Live - The Expanded Edition

What can I say about this one? First of all, I never thought I'd love an album with songs about teardrops and love. Waylon does it in a rough way with soul. This is, by far, my favorite album of all time. The only album thats better than Disc 1 is Disc 2. I bought this CD a few summers ago and didn't take it out of my CD player once (no exaggeration). I have a good collection of Waylon Jennings Live albums and videos but none of them come close the quality and chemistry of this one. The main highlight of the album is the spontaneous steel guitar melodies of Ralph Mooney. "Mona" and "Rainy Day Woman" are some of the highlighted Ralph Mooney steel guitar solos of the album.

Many songs from this setlist were from past bands that Mooney played with, like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Wynn Stewart. He is known to be somewhat of a nut, and it shows (in a good way) in his style of play and nobody has ever been able to duplicate it. Whenever the song has an opening for a solo, Mooney plays some awesome stuff that will make you feel it. On "The Last Letter," Mooney plays one of the best steel guitar solos that I've ever heard, and the crowd even applauds his work when the solo finishes.

This live album really caputures the style and personality that made Waylon and his band such down to earth musicians. In between all of these great songs, you'll hear some conversation between Waylon and the crowd, including my favorite line to the crowd - "you all have a good time, do what you want to." I can't say that I've ever heard that at any concert I've been to.

Another great thing about this album is that you can really understand how funny Waylon was. Many critics gave him the reputation of being a bad ass, rebel, rough on the edges type of singer. While I don't doubt that he lived up to those titles, I do know that he was never really given the same attention for his jokes. On this album, he jokes about how he wrote a song but doesn't remember which wife it was about.

Whether you like country or not, give this album a listen and you'll walk away with a new appreciate for some straight up good music.


Song list:

Disc One
T For Texas (Blue Yodel No. 1)
Stop The World (And Let Me Off)
Lonesome, On’ry and Mean
You Ask Me To
Louisiana Women
I’m A Ramblin’ Man
Me And Paul
It’s not Supposed To Be That Way
Slow Rollin’ Low
Rainy Day Woman
Good Hearted Woman
Mental Revenge
Amanda
This Time Laid Back Country Picker
The Last Letter
Honky Tonk Heroes
Willie, The Wandering Gypsy And Me
Donna On My Mind We Had It All

Disc Two
Ladies Love Outlaws
Big Ball In Cowtown
Just To Satisfy You
Anita, You’re Dreaming
Big, Big Love
Me And Bobby McGee
If You Could Touch Her At All
Bob Wills Is Still The King
Look Into My Teardrops
Long Way From Home
The Taker
Mississippi Woman
Mona
Never Been To Spain
Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line
Freedom To Stay
Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)
Pick Up The Tempo
Ain’t No God In Mexico
House Of The Risisng Sun
Band Intros
You Can Have Her

Willie Nelson - Broken Promises

If you're into classic country, steel guitar, or just good listening music this album is definitely worth checking out. It's not extremely rare but you will have to do a little searching to get your hands on it. I found it for sale at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop website - http://www.etrecordshop.com/. The actual shop is in Nashville and basically has every country album that exists in the world.

After seeing Willie Nelson in concert a few times, I can confidently say that there are very few artists that feel the music more. The fact that he's still touring at his old age just shows that he's been doing it because he loves it. Here is an album from the earlier part of his career before he let his hair down (in more ways than one). This album was also from the time when Willie Nelson was trying to fit the mold of the stereotypical country singer. Nonetheless, he pulled it off and made a great album.

The tracks vary from slow to fast but all include great stories and mesmerizing pedal steel guitar. Part of what makes this a great album is Jimmy Day playing steel guitar on it. He is a Nashville legend and his best work is heard on my favorite track of the album, "Any Old Arms Won't Do." On my personal list of best steel guitar country songs, "Any Old Arms Won't Do" surely ranks in the top 10 - and I've heard a lot! I am an avid pedal steel guitar player and collector of steel guitar music, which is the main reason I started searching for this album. This is a great album that has contributed to Willie Nelson's stature as one of the top five men in country music history. Like always, I encourage email feedback on any information I've written above - jnastyproductions@yahoo.com .


Track Listing:

FOLLOW ME AROUND
WHO DO I KNOW IN DALLAS
DECEMBER DAYS
ASHAMED
EVERYTHING BUT YOU
SOME OTHER TIME
WILL YOU REMEMBER ME
GO AWAY
I DON'T FEEL ANYTHING
I'LL STAY AROUND
SHE'S NOT FOR YOU
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ME NOW
SO MUCH TO DO
PAGES
UNDO THE RIGHT
SLOW DOWN OLD WORLD
PRIDE WINS AGAIN
I'M GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF TEARDROPS
IS THERE SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND
SUFFERING IN SILENCE
A MOMENT ISN'T VERY LONG
ONE STEP BEYOND
WAITING TIME
TOUCH ME
RIGHT FROM WRONG
HALF A MAN
BROKEN PROMISES
I'M BUILDING HEARTACHES
YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE
I HOPE SO
THINGS TO REMEMBER
YOU WOULDN'T CROSS THE STREET
HEALING HANDS OF TIME
FACE OF A FIGHTER
END OF UNDERSTANDING
BLAME IT ON THE TIMES
AND SO WILL YOU LOVE ME
ANY OLD ARMS WON'T DO

So Why Do You Sing Like Me, Dion?

The albums slogan reads - "25 Dion Sound-A-Likes plus an unreleased track by Dion from 1963." At first glance, the cover has the exciting appeal of a diamond in the rough from an old record shop. When I heard the first few songs, I felt like I was back in the days of candy shops, bicycles, and poodle skirts. Believe me, as a true music lover and aficionado of all types, I was really impressed with these singers and groups that I had previously never heard of before coming across this gem of an album.

I'm 23 years old and somehow wound up as a diehard Dion DiMucci fan. I know its unusual and I don't have a good answer as to why but it has always been a goal of mine to obtain every song that Dion has ever recorded. "Teenager In Love", "Run Around Sue", and "The Wanderer" are some of the most popular songs of all time. With that said, they are also very easy to find. And while I do not underappreciate the hits that made him famous, I get far more satisfaction out of finding the songs that nobody else really knows about, especially when they're good. This album is a perfect example of that.

I was as much amazed after hearing this album as I was after finding it. Below is the track listing and album cover. I encourage email from anyone who reads this blog with questions, comments, or anything related to what I write about. jnastyproductions@yahoo.com

TRACK LISTING:

1 - Johnny Won't Run Around - The Crescents
2 - I'll Remeber Carol - Tommy Boyce
3 - Linda Lou Garret (Likes 24 Kara) - Nino & The Ebb Tides
4 - Will Love Ever Come My Way - Joey & The Continentals
5 - How My Prayers Have Changed - Buddy Clinton
6 - Heart Breaker - Dean Christie
7 - Joanne - Trode Martin
8 - Lonely Weekends - Curtis Lee
9 - A Kissin Friend - Rick & The Masters
10 - The Prettiest Girl I've Kissed Today - Jon Corey
11 - I'm Not The One For You - Sonny Dee
12 - Adam And Eve - Barry Darvell
13 - Dream Lover - Richie
14 - I Gotta Do The Latest Dance - Gene Montgomery
15 - Run Little Linda - Ral Donner
16 - Little Lover - Denny Diante
17 - I Saw Linda Yesterday - Dickey Lee
18 - Too Good To Be True - Tommy Manno
19 - Faded Roses - Matthew Reid
20 - Mi-A-Suri Talk - Mike Taylor
21 - Boom-Boom-Boomerang - Johnnie Shepherd
22 - I Hurt That Girl - Artie Wayne
23 - (Is There) Someone For Me - Don Dell w/ The Up Starts
24 - Bye Bye Love - Joe Ravel
25 - Gonna Make It Alone - Ronnie Dio & The Prophets
26 - Swingin' Street - Dion DiMucci