Record Reviews

JONATHAN GEFFEN / DANNY LITANI ~ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NMC (ISRAEL) 70144 (Barcode: 7290003299102) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 1993 This album documents the second cooperation project between writer / poet / satirist Jonathan GeffenFind albums by this artist and singer / composer Danny LitaniFind albums by this artist, combining forces and presenting a live show, which included music, sketches, standup comedy and a lot of political satire, which also proved to be immensely successful with the Israeli public. This album presents a live recording of the show, with the leaders supported by excellent musicians and friends, including ex-ChurchillsFind albums by this artist bassist Miki GavrielovFind albums by this artist and guitarist Haim RomanoFind albums by this artist. Litani wrote all of the original music in the show except one song by Gavrielov and one by Leon RussellFind albums by this artist, with lyrics translated into Hebrew by Geffen, who wrote also all the original lyrics and spoken texts. This is a great document of the time and a great fun, with most of the satire being completely relevant today, so many years later.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

SHMULIK KRAUS ~ A CRIMINAL RECORD MIO 007 ~ ISRAEL ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 Israeli singer / songwriter Shmulik KrausFind albums by this artist is one of the founders of Israeli Pop / Rock. A member of the first legendary Israeli Pop group - The High WindowsFind albums by this artist - he wrote scores of tunes, many of which are considered as classics today. He still continues to write and record. This album was his second solo effort and was written entirely while Kraus was imprisoned after a drug related trial. Accompanied by some first rate musicians (like Haim RomanoFind albums by this artist - the guitarist of The ChurchillsFind albums by this artist and Aharon KaminskyFind albums by this artist - later of The PlatinaFind albums by this artist) he delivers a fiery set of songs which mix pop, rock and psychedelia. A piece of history!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SHEM TOV LEVY ~ IN THE MOOD (EXPANDED EDITION) PHONOKOL 4257 (Barcode: 7296134425724) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2008 1st album by Israeli flautist / pianist / composer Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist – finally released on CD 32 years after it was originally recorded. Levy was of course one of Israel’s best and most talented musicians at the time and a bold innovator, pushing the boundaries of early Israeli Rock, mostly in the Prog direction. After this brilliant debut album, Levy was to join forces with Shlomo GronichFind albums by this artist and Shlomo YdovFind albums by this artist to form the legendary No NamesFind albums by this artist, and soon after another legendary ensemble SheshetFind albums by this artist. Levy composed and arranged all the music on this album, which includes 4 vocal tracks and 5 instrumentals. He also wrote the lyrics for two of the vocal tracks. On the two other vocal tracks Levy used poems written by famous Israeli poets Lea GoldbergFind albums by this artist and Dalia RabikovitchFind albums by this artist, as was quite customary in Israeli Prog on the 1970s. The brilliant melodies, which Levy composed, are perhaps the only truly “Israeli” music written at the time, full of Jazzy chord changes, polyrhythmic pulsation and clever incorporation of Middle Eastern motifs. The instrumental performances are brilliant, as he used the best players on the local scene at the time, like guitarist Yitzhak KlepterFind albums by this artist (ChurchillsFind albums by this artist, KaveretFind albums by this artist), bassist Ehud IngerFind albums by this artist, drummer / guitarist Haim RomanoFind albums by this artist, drummer Meir IsraelFind albums by this artist and many others. His flute playing is absolutely mind-blowing of course. He also arranged the music for the string ensemble, used on some of the tracks. In retrospect, this is an extraordinary debut album, full of exquisite music and endless timeless gems and definitely on of the best albums recorded in Israel in the 1970s. This new editions adds four bonus tracks, all great examples of Levy’s superb talent as composer and arranger, including an extra-rare live recording of a live No Names performance, singing a medley of Beatles songs with a typical humorous twist. An absolute classic!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend