AP, London - The rumors, it appears, are true. In a hastily called press conference this afternoon at Abbey Road Studios, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr announced the holy grail of concert tours. This summer, in select cities across Europe and throughout the United State, The Beatles will reunite for one last time. Entrepreuneur Alki David and the surviving Beatles are planning a concert tour utilizing holograms of John Lennon and George Harrison culled from thousands of hours of existing video footage and the latest in real animation technology.
David made a splash earlier this year by announcing a posthumous world tour by the image of Amy Winehouse, and apparently has not stopped working behind the scenes to bring other artists back to life.
News of the Beatles announcement has been dogged by the fact that the press conference was held on April first, traditionally known as "April Fool's Day". Several major media outlets have refused to cover the story, but a press release from David's office counter signed by Sir Paul himself insists it's all true.
Dates and venues are currently being negotiated, but early word is that there will be approximately 10 dates across Europe and 25-30 across the United States and Canada.
Showing posts with label George Harrison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Harrison. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
George Harrison/Ravi Shankar - Collaborations
George Harrison/Ravi Shankar - Collaborations
2010, Dark Horse Records/Rhino Entertainment
In honor of Ravi Shankar's 90th birthday, Dark House Records has released a limited edition box set entitled Collaborations, documenting the studio and live work the pair collaborated on starting in 1973 and on-and-off in the late 1990's. The numbered, limited edition collection includes three classic Ravi Shankar albums, a 56-page book with foreword by Philip Glass and a numbered certificate.
Collaborations includes the 1974 album Shankar Family & Friends, 1976's The Ravi Shankar Music Festival From India and the 1997 album Chants Of India. Also included is a DVD featuring a concert performance of Ravi Shankar's Music Festival From India recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1974. The most compelling album here is Shankar's first, Shankar Family & Friends, which not only features Ustad Alla Rakha, Lakshmi Shankar and Shivkumar Sharma, but also Harrison, Ringo Starr, Tom Scott, Billy Preston, Klaus Voorman and Jim Keltner.
Skepticism aside, Collaborations is really a collector's piece. The draw here is the lack of availability of Shankar's music. Music Festival From India and Shankar Family & Friends have never before appeared on CD, each having been out of print for thirty years or more. Chants Of India sold over 100,000 copies on its release in 1997 but has been out of print for five years now. The live performance of Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival From India has never before been released, and also features the audio of the concert remixed by Ravi and Anoushka in 5.1. Nevertheless, it's hard to imagine the individual albums and concert not appearing in a year or so in standard, stand-alone editions. This would make a great holiday gift for fans of Shankar or Harrison fans, and probably will have collector value as well.
Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)
Learn more about Ravi Shankar at www.ravishankar.org. Learn more about George Harrison and about Collaborations at www.georgeharrison.com. Collaborations is available from Amazon.com as a Limited Edition Box Set
or Audio Download.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Review: Paul McCartney - Good Evening New York City
Paul McCartney - Good Evening New York City
2009, Hear Music/Concord Music Group
Between July 17th and July 21, 2009, Paul McCartney performed three shows at Citi Field in New York City, adjacent to the site of The Beatles first US concert (Shea Stadium). McCartney was inspired by the crowd, the location and the history; and all in attendance could hear him this time around. Folks who attended the show have acclaimed it one of his most brilliant solo performances, and the shows have taken on an almost legendary air. On November 17, 2009, Hear Music will be releasing the concert on CD/DVD in standard and deluxe editions as Good Evening New York City. The standard edition features 2 CDs plus a DVD of the show shot from 75 flip-cameras distributed throughout the crowd over 3 nights. The Deluxe edition features a second DVD of McCartney's July 15, 2009 performance on the Marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theatre (previously only available as a stream on David Letterman's website).
The CD recording of the show(s) is a testament to an unparalleled recording career. Highlights from the Beatles' catalogue include Let It Be, Drive My Car, Got To Get You Into My Life, Hey Jude and Blackbird. McCartney's version of Let It Be is particular inspired, and he and the band totally let go on a rocking version of Helter Skelter. McCartney's re-working of Something on a mandolin he was given by George Harrison is absolutely magical, giving a different flavor to the song without losing the spirit of the original. McCartney digs into Wings classics such as Band On The Run, Live And Let Die and Let Me Roll It. He also works in a tribute to John Lennon with a medley of A Day In The Life and Give Peace A Chance. Perhaps the most magical moment of the recording however is Here Today. You have to wonder about the ghosts and memories that stood beside McCartney throughout this moving number. The other highlight for me was Calico Skies, a McCartney song I had managed to miss before now.
The DVD covers all 33 tracks presented on the 2 CDs, running 2 hours and 40 minutes. The HD shot show features both stereo and 5.1 audio tracks, each produced by Paul Hicks. Because of the crowd-shot techniques used the DVD manages to accurately recreate the concert experience better than live-to-DVD releases.
There's little left to be said about Paul McCartney. What becomes more and more clear with time is how vital a creative force he's been, both with the Beatles and on his own in various forms. McCartney will never fade into the Rock N Roll limelight; his contributions and influence are so pervasive as to be iconic. Good Evening New York City is a testament to this fact. It's not just another a live album, but an exclamation point on a career that, amazingly, just keeps getting better.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Paul McCartney at http://www.paulmccartney.com/ or http://www.thebeatles.com/. Good Evening New York City drops on November 17, 2009. You can pre-order the standard edition from Amazon.com on CD, Vinyl or a Download. The Deluxe Edition with the Sullivan Theater performance will also be available. The CD will also be available in Starbucks stores in the US and Canada.
2009, Hear Music/Concord Music Group
Between July 17th and July 21, 2009, Paul McCartney performed three shows at Citi Field in New York City, adjacent to the site of The Beatles first US concert (Shea Stadium). McCartney was inspired by the crowd, the location and the history; and all in attendance could hear him this time around. Folks who attended the show have acclaimed it one of his most brilliant solo performances, and the shows have taken on an almost legendary air. On November 17, 2009, Hear Music will be releasing the concert on CD/DVD in standard and deluxe editions as Good Evening New York City. The standard edition features 2 CDs plus a DVD of the show shot from 75 flip-cameras distributed throughout the crowd over 3 nights. The Deluxe edition features a second DVD of McCartney's July 15, 2009 performance on the Marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theatre (previously only available as a stream on David Letterman's website).
The CD recording of the show(s) is a testament to an unparalleled recording career. Highlights from the Beatles' catalogue include Let It Be, Drive My Car, Got To Get You Into My Life, Hey Jude and Blackbird. McCartney's version of Let It Be is particular inspired, and he and the band totally let go on a rocking version of Helter Skelter. McCartney's re-working of Something on a mandolin he was given by George Harrison is absolutely magical, giving a different flavor to the song without losing the spirit of the original. McCartney digs into Wings classics such as Band On The Run, Live And Let Die and Let Me Roll It. He also works in a tribute to John Lennon with a medley of A Day In The Life and Give Peace A Chance. Perhaps the most magical moment of the recording however is Here Today. You have to wonder about the ghosts and memories that stood beside McCartney throughout this moving number. The other highlight for me was Calico Skies, a McCartney song I had managed to miss before now.
The DVD covers all 33 tracks presented on the 2 CDs, running 2 hours and 40 minutes. The HD shot show features both stereo and 5.1 audio tracks, each produced by Paul Hicks. Because of the crowd-shot techniques used the DVD manages to accurately recreate the concert experience better than live-to-DVD releases.
There's little left to be said about Paul McCartney. What becomes more and more clear with time is how vital a creative force he's been, both with the Beatles and on his own in various forms. McCartney will never fade into the Rock N Roll limelight; his contributions and influence are so pervasive as to be iconic. Good Evening New York City is a testament to this fact. It's not just another a live album, but an exclamation point on a career that, amazingly, just keeps getting better.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Paul McCartney at http://www.paulmccartney.com/ or http://www.thebeatles.com/. Good Evening New York City drops on November 17, 2009. You can pre-order the standard edition from Amazon.com on CD, Vinyl or a Download. The Deluxe Edition with the Sullivan Theater performance will also be available. The CD will also be available in Starbucks stores in the US and Canada.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Why I love the Beatles, and why I won't be buying the box set.
When I four or five years old, my Aunt gave me a gift certificate from Record Town (now known as FYE). Record Town still sold primarily vinyl albums back then (1975 or 1976), but also sold cassettes. My parents took me to the store thinking to find something for me and asked what would be a good album for a little kid like me. The clerk there at the time recommend The Beatles Yellow Submarine. We took it home and I hated it. It was tossed unceremoniously in a cardboard box and forgotten for eight or nine years.
When I was thirteen I was bitten by the Rock N Roll bug. I was on a church choir retreat (where flashing the female head chorister and the playing of kissing games all occurred) and was introduced to three albums by a guy named Aaron Richmond. The first was a comedy album by Eddie Murphy entitled Comedian. To a thirteen year old kid the F-Bomb is just about the funniest thing in the world. But more degradation at the hands of the Episcopal Church aside, Aaron also let me hear The Police's Synchronicity and Styx' Kilroy Was Here. My life-long fan-hood of Styx was born, as was my lifelong fan-hood of Sting and the Police. Perhaps more importantly, these introductions opened my ears to a wider world of music than I'd paid attention to before. (Up until then I had listened to Yankees baseball and Adirondack Red Wings Hockey, and when I couldn't find that I'd listen to Bill Miller on WGY out of Albany, NY.
Not long afterward I came across the Yellow Submarine cassette bought so many years before, dusted it off and popped it into my GE Cassette player. Even in tinny mono I was floored. What the heck were they doing? This was amazing stuff! It wasn't long before I found a copy of Abbey Road and simply devoured that. The Beatles haven't always been an integral part of my musical life, but they've always been there somewhere, from bopping along to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on trips to Choral Competitions in Montreal to singing a solo of Yesterday in 10th Grade to the way they keep popping up at odd times at significant points in my life. The Beatles wrote music that was silly, essential and nearly timeless (and occasionally quite weird: Number nine, anyone?)
If you are young enough to not really know the Beatles you probably can't read this yet, but if I'm talking to you, go find out where most of today's edgy music originated. There isn't an artist in mainstream rock who isn't either directly influenced by the Beatles or isn't influenced by someone who is. Today, September 9, 2009, Capitol/EMI releases remastered versions of all the Beatles Albums, culminating in two box sets (Stereo and Mono). The box sets are pricey and out of the price range of most people in difficult economic times. Still, there will be a strong contingent of Beatles fans who will lay their money down, particularly for the Mono box set, which is a limited edition.
Each individual album is also available in a remastered edition. This is the first time these albums have been re-mastered since the late 1980's when they were first carried over to CD. (I believe remasters were done in the mid-90's, but I don't count those as the technology wasn't radically different and there is little or no sound difference.
I personally won't be buying them. I have five Beatles albums currently, and am sentimental about the ones I have. The sonic difference between the old and new editions won't make that much difference to me because I don't have good enough equipment to make a difference at this point (and I can't afford them anyway!). It would be fun, though, to unwrap the mono box set and hear the songs as The Beatles originally wanted them heard. I have provided links below to all the releases out today if you're interested, using Amazon.com as the destination. Be sure to check around for price variations (particularly on the box sets). I suspect these will be hot sellers this holiday season.
If you'd like to learn more about the Beatles, check out http://www.thebeatles.com/.
Out today:
Monday, July 27, 2009
Review: Benjamin R - The Other Side Of Nowhere
Benjamin R - The Other Side Of Nowhere
2009, Benjamin R
Robert Selvaggio plies his musical trade under the name Benjamin R, these days. The Florida native is a singer/songwriter who took a professional detour into the production booth after an Indie release he boarded got significant praise for its sound. One thing led to another and before he knew what was happening Selvaggio was producing projects for the likes of Jewel, Eagle Eye Cherry and Puddle Of Mudd. After seven years in production, Benjamin R decided to take a step back, build his own studio and work on his own material. Aside from an ill-fated snow boarding trip that ended in a broken wrist, Benjamin R worked tirelessly to produce The Other Side Of Nowhere, a collection of 11 of the many songs he's written over the years.
Benjamin R reminds me of an extremely mellow version of The Cars' Ric Ocasek crossed with late-career Tom Petty, in a mish-mash of slick geek pop crossed with grizzly Pop/Americana. The Other Side Of Nowhere makes a very slow start, not really hitting stride until the fifth song. Not Gonna Let You Go grabs the listener with a catchy Americana arrangement with distinctive Pop hooks. Benjamin R keeps it up with Fool Myself and its vaguely urgent emotional qualities. Time Is Running Out brings to mind some of George Harrison's more Pop-oriented Folk/Rock. Benjamin R hits the heights on I Don't Need This Anymore and This Time (I Hope You're Happy). The two songs could track the same relationship at different stages, with Benjamin R realizing he just can't stay in this relationship anymore in the former, and recapturing that realizing after falling off the relationship wagon some time later in This Time. Letter has a couple of awkward moments lyrically, but has a distinctive Celtic/British feel that will draw you in.
Benjamin R spent a lot of time producing music for others, knowing that an outsider can often find the hidden gems in music that the folks who write it and live with it can't always see. Like many producers he may not feel this applies to him, leading him to produce his own album. While Benjamin R is well-renowned behind the boards, a doctor should never treat himself and a producer should never self-produce his own solo-effort. There are some strong songs here (particularly the second half of the album), but the lack of creative tension leaves some of that potential in the studio instead of bring it out on The Other Side Of Nowhere. It's a decent album in its own right; I was just left with an impression that it could have been much more.
Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Benjamin R at http://www.benjaminrmusic.com/. You can purchase The Other Side Of Nowhere as either a CD or a download at www.cdbaby.com/cd/benjaminr.
2009, Benjamin R
Robert Selvaggio plies his musical trade under the name Benjamin R, these days. The Florida native is a singer/songwriter who took a professional detour into the production booth after an Indie release he boarded got significant praise for its sound. One thing led to another and before he knew what was happening Selvaggio was producing projects for the likes of Jewel, Eagle Eye Cherry and Puddle Of Mudd. After seven years in production, Benjamin R decided to take a step back, build his own studio and work on his own material. Aside from an ill-fated snow boarding trip that ended in a broken wrist, Benjamin R worked tirelessly to produce The Other Side Of Nowhere, a collection of 11 of the many songs he's written over the years.
Benjamin R reminds me of an extremely mellow version of The Cars' Ric Ocasek crossed with late-career Tom Petty, in a mish-mash of slick geek pop crossed with grizzly Pop/Americana. The Other Side Of Nowhere makes a very slow start, not really hitting stride until the fifth song. Not Gonna Let You Go grabs the listener with a catchy Americana arrangement with distinctive Pop hooks. Benjamin R keeps it up with Fool Myself and its vaguely urgent emotional qualities. Time Is Running Out brings to mind some of George Harrison's more Pop-oriented Folk/Rock. Benjamin R hits the heights on I Don't Need This Anymore and This Time (I Hope You're Happy). The two songs could track the same relationship at different stages, with Benjamin R realizing he just can't stay in this relationship anymore in the former, and recapturing that realizing after falling off the relationship wagon some time later in This Time. Letter has a couple of awkward moments lyrically, but has a distinctive Celtic/British feel that will draw you in.
Benjamin R spent a lot of time producing music for others, knowing that an outsider can often find the hidden gems in music that the folks who write it and live with it can't always see. Like many producers he may not feel this applies to him, leading him to produce his own album. While Benjamin R is well-renowned behind the boards, a doctor should never treat himself and a producer should never self-produce his own solo-effort. There are some strong songs here (particularly the second half of the album), but the lack of creative tension leaves some of that potential in the studio instead of bring it out on The Other Side Of Nowhere. It's a decent album in its own right; I was just left with an impression that it could have been much more.
Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Benjamin R at http://www.benjaminrmusic.com/. You can purchase The Other Side Of Nowhere as either a CD or a download at www.cdbaby.com/cd/benjaminr.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Review: Steve McCormick - Lowlights And Footnotes
Steve McCormick - Lowlights And Footnotes
2008, Steve McCormick
I have to admit that the United Kingdom isn't exactly the first locale to pop into my head as a place to find great Country or Americana music. Steve McCormick doesn't claim to be either of those things, although Waylon, Hank and Merle have had a fair amount of influence on his songwriting (as have Randy Newman, Leonard Cohen, Tim Buckley, The Squeeze and even AC/DC). The Carlisle, Cumbria native released his debut album in late 2008 entitled Lowlights And Footnotes to critical accolades and a slow-growing but significant amount of worldwide airplay. Lowlights And Footnotes was mastered by Simon Heyworth (Tubular Bells, George Harrison, Nick Drake) and is played entirely by McCormick with the exception of Pedal Steel Guitar, provided courtesy of Dave Midgely.
Lowlights And Footnotes opens with Another English Cowboy, rocking right down to the roots of Country in a diatribe about not fitting the country mold. You'll be driven to dance and sing along to a song that could chart on American Country Radio if given the chance. McCormick gets a bit of Southern Rock flavor on the mid-tempo If Only She Were Lying. McCormick gets a bit trite in the chorus here, but the arrangement is a great listen. Making Light (Of Being Kept In The Dark) brings a touch of British humor to the honky-tonk on a mid-tempo number that walks the line between classic Country and the Eagles brand of California Country. On I'm Alright, Jack, McCormick celebrates his state of being at the expense of a friend who's down in the dumps, all set against a vibrant classic Rhythm & Blues fueled Honky Tonk sound. Back To The Booze hits the R&B fueled Country sound another try with a kicking guitar solo in the middle to really spice things up. McCormick lights the lamp with a song that might just be a party anthem in the States.
McCormick sounds a bit like Lyle Lovett on The Other Man, pointing out that no matter which point you are in a triangle, the other guy is always The Other Man. The song is well written, with a plaintive, Tex-Mex country ballad feel. My Woman Doesn't Give A Damn deals with stereotypical country heartbreak with uncharacteristic wit and panache. Like much of the rest of the album, McCormick is a classic story-teller. When he's funny it's not because he's trying to be funny, but because real life is sometimes dotted with humor and wit. Black And White Photographs is about family, memories and how gateways to the past often pave the way to understand who we are. It's moving and heartfelt without sounding sappy and may just be the best songwriting on the disc. McCormick closes out with Living In Loserville is a tongue-in-cheek song about being happy with yourself. It's a great closer for an album that plays the country game without giving over it's essential character to Nashvillian Zombification.
Steve McCormick is a story teller in the vein of Randy Newman (although perhaps no one has the chutzpah that Newman manages). McCormick's songs work because the characters and events he portrays are honest and real; even the fictional ones are written like a good character, and the choices they make are convicted ones. McCormick's stories come to life in songs based in Country Music but ranging from Rock to Tex-Mex and every possible blending of those styles. Lowlights And Footnotes should be the darling of Country Radio. Let's hope McCormick gets the right breaks.
I have to admit that the United Kingdom isn't exactly the first locale to pop into my head as a place to find great Country or Americana music. Steve McCormick doesn't claim to be either of those things, although Waylon, Hank and Merle have had a fair amount of influence on his songwriting (as have Randy Newman, Leonard Cohen, Tim Buckley, The Squeeze and even AC/DC). The Carlisle, Cumbria native released his debut album in late 2008 entitled Lowlights And Footnotes to critical accolades and a slow-growing but significant amount of worldwide airplay. Lowlights And Footnotes was mastered by Simon Heyworth (Tubular Bells, George Harrison, Nick Drake) and is played entirely by McCormick with the exception of Pedal Steel Guitar, provided courtesy of Dave Midgely.
Lowlights And Footnotes opens with Another English Cowboy, rocking right down to the roots of Country in a diatribe about not fitting the country mold. You'll be driven to dance and sing along to a song that could chart on American Country Radio if given the chance. McCormick gets a bit of Southern Rock flavor on the mid-tempo If Only She Were Lying. McCormick gets a bit trite in the chorus here, but the arrangement is a great listen. Making Light (Of Being Kept In The Dark) brings a touch of British humor to the honky-tonk on a mid-tempo number that walks the line between classic Country and the Eagles brand of California Country. On I'm Alright, Jack, McCormick celebrates his state of being at the expense of a friend who's down in the dumps, all set against a vibrant classic Rhythm & Blues fueled Honky Tonk sound. Back To The Booze hits the R&B fueled Country sound another try with a kicking guitar solo in the middle to really spice things up. McCormick lights the lamp with a song that might just be a party anthem in the States.
McCormick sounds a bit like Lyle Lovett on The Other Man, pointing out that no matter which point you are in a triangle, the other guy is always The Other Man. The song is well written, with a plaintive, Tex-Mex country ballad feel. My Woman Doesn't Give A Damn deals with stereotypical country heartbreak with uncharacteristic wit and panache. Like much of the rest of the album, McCormick is a classic story-teller. When he's funny it's not because he's trying to be funny, but because real life is sometimes dotted with humor and wit. Black And White Photographs is about family, memories and how gateways to the past often pave the way to understand who we are. It's moving and heartfelt without sounding sappy and may just be the best songwriting on the disc. McCormick closes out with Living In Loserville is a tongue-in-cheek song about being happy with yourself. It's a great closer for an album that plays the country game without giving over it's essential character to Nashvillian Zombification.
Steve McCormick is a story teller in the vein of Randy Newman (although perhaps no one has the chutzpah that Newman manages). McCormick's songs work because the characters and events he portrays are honest and real; even the fictional ones are written like a good character, and the choices they make are convicted ones. McCormick's stories come to life in songs based in Country Music but ranging from Rock to Tex-Mex and every possible blending of those styles. Lowlights And Footnotes should be the darling of Country Radio. Let's hope McCormick gets the right breaks.
Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Steve McCormick at www.myspace.com/stevemccormickuk or http://www.stevemccormick.co.uk/, where you can purchase a copy of Lowlights And Footnotes using PayPal. You can download the full album from iTunes, or a free four song sampler from McCormick’s website.
You can learn more about Steve McCormick at www.myspace.com/stevemccormickuk or http://www.stevemccormick.co.uk/, where you can purchase a copy of Lowlights And Footnotes using PayPal. You can download the full album from iTunes, or a free four song sampler from McCormick’s website.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Review: George Harrison - Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison
George Harrison - Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison
2009, Capitol/EMI
On June 16, 2009, Capitol/EMI released the first career-spanning collection of hits from two-time Rock N Roll Hall Of Famer George Harrison entitled Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison. Harrison is a Hall Of Famer as a solo artist as well as for his work as a member of those legendary Liverpoolians The Beatles. Let It Roll encapsulates nineteen of Harrison's best-known songs, all of which were re-mastered for this release by Giles Martin at Abbey Road Studios.
Let It Roll opens with Got My Mind Set On You, perhaps the best known of Harrison's songs to the under-35 set. The song has a distinctive Beatles feel to it and was something of a return to his roots for Harrison. Let It Roll also contains three other #1 hits, My Sweet Lord, Isn't It A Pity and Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth). Also featured are live versions of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Something and Here Comes The Sun performed live from his 1971 Concert For Bangladesh. Other highlights include All Things Must Pass, Rising Sun, When We Was Fab and Isn't It A Pity.
George Harrison has 11-Grammy's on his shelf for his work with The Beatles and The Traveling Wilburys as well as for his solo work. Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison is a snapshot of his solo catalogue and, if anything, shows that eleven might not have been enough. Let It Roll is the perfect introduction to George Harrison if you somehow are not familiar with his solo work, and a wonderful set of memories if you've been following along.
Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn all about George Harrison at http://www.georgeharrison.com/. You can purchase a copy of Let It Roll at Amazon.com, or you can download the album from iTunes.
2009, Capitol/EMI
On June 16, 2009, Capitol/EMI released the first career-spanning collection of hits from two-time Rock N Roll Hall Of Famer George Harrison entitled Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison. Harrison is a Hall Of Famer as a solo artist as well as for his work as a member of those legendary Liverpoolians The Beatles. Let It Roll encapsulates nineteen of Harrison's best-known songs, all of which were re-mastered for this release by Giles Martin at Abbey Road Studios.
Let It Roll opens with Got My Mind Set On You, perhaps the best known of Harrison's songs to the under-35 set. The song has a distinctive Beatles feel to it and was something of a return to his roots for Harrison. Let It Roll also contains three other #1 hits, My Sweet Lord, Isn't It A Pity and Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth). Also featured are live versions of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Something and Here Comes The Sun performed live from his 1971 Concert For Bangladesh. Other highlights include All Things Must Pass, Rising Sun, When We Was Fab and Isn't It A Pity.
George Harrison has 11-Grammy's on his shelf for his work with The Beatles and The Traveling Wilburys as well as for his solo work. Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison is a snapshot of his solo catalogue and, if anything, shows that eleven might not have been enough. Let It Roll is the perfect introduction to George Harrison if you somehow are not familiar with his solo work, and a wonderful set of memories if you've been following along.
Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn all about George Harrison at http://www.georgeharrison.com/. You can purchase a copy of Let It Roll at Amazon.com, or you can download the album from iTunes.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Review: Rhett May - Calcutta Boy
Rhett May - Calcutta Boy
2008, Rhett May Music
Music's Prodigal Son, Rhett May, has come home. After three decades climbing Jacob's Ladder in the corporate world, this Calcutta, India born, Australian based rocker has returned to music. Formerly of the Flint Stones, one of India's most popular pop groups at the time (and catching the eyes/ears of George Harrison and Apple Records), May followed as part of a series of popular Australian Garage bands (Oz, Shakespeare Sarani, Prodigy and Lucifer). Influenced by Carnatic and Hindustani musical traditions as well as the pop music of the time (The Monkees, Cream, Hendrix, Ricky Nelson), May developed a musical style that was all his own. Now, with longtime collaborator James Payne, May returns to the music scene with the four song E.P. Calcutta Boy.
Calcutta Boy opens with There's A Little White Powder, a song that tackles cocaine addiction. The song has a strong pop feel to it and sounds like something that might have come out of England in the early 1990's. Lyrically the song is a bit awkward at times, but there's a definite quality to it that would play well in a dance club. African Queen has a unique sound, opening with some unusual harmonies and a standard yet catchy dance beat. The vocals are mixed too low here, being swallowed up by the electronic instrumentation. Have Your Arms Been Missing Me suffers from a similar problem. The vocals are essentially buried under the music. The musical arrangement is pleasant and somewhat catchy but is also fluff, to speak plainly. Mirror Mirror is the most musically interesting piece on Calcutta Boy, but the mix here again undervalues the vocals. The Calypso arrangement is fun and carries the song for the most part, but doesn't entirely save the song from itself.
Rhett May has a definite pop sensibility in the music he writes. His melodic creations are generally interesting and catchy. Lyrically he's awkward at times. The real problem with Calcutta Boy is the mixing. Vocals are buried within or underneath instrumental parts, making it very difficult at times to really get what May is singing. At the end of the day Calcutta Boy is an interesting listen, but probably not a regular one.
Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Rhett May at http://www.rhettmay.net/. You can purchase a copy of Calcutta Boy at www.cdbaby.com/cd/rhettmay2.
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