Record Reviews

CROSBY & NASH ~ WIND ON THE WATER MCA 008811204327 (Barcode: 008811204327) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1975 Released: 2000 This is the second album by the celebrated team of singer / songwriter friends, American David CrosbyFind albums by this artist and British Graham NashFind albums by this artist. It followed the debut after a three years gap, presenting a new set of songs performed by the same team of musicians that recorded the debut: guitarist Danny KortchmarFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Craig DoergeFind albums by this artist, bassist Leland SklarFind albums by this artist and drummer Russell KunkelFind albums by this artist. Multi-instrumentalist David LindleyFind albums by this artist and bassist Tim DrummondFind albums by this artist complete the band. Musical friends: Jackson BrowneFind albums by this artist, James TaylorFind albums by this artist, Carole KingFind albums by this artist and others, perform on some of the songs. Crosby and Nash are in charge of the vocals, Crosby plays guitars and Nash plays the piano. The album presents eleven songs, the last of which is in fact a two song medley. Crosby wrote four of the songs, Nash five songs and two (including the medley) are co-written by them both. This is the remastered edition of the album, first time on CD, with a much improved sound clarity, but with no bonus material. The songs are all exquisite, as expected from this talented team, definitely as strong as those on the stunning debut album. Considering the fact that the band accompanying the two singers is much tighter this time, the album overall sounds even better than the debut in many respects. As usual the stylistic, personal and cultural differences between Crosby and Nash create a unique amalgam, which combined with their fabulous vocal harmonies results in some of the best Classic Rock music ever recorded. They are simply one of the most perfect partnerships in Rock history. The album also emphasize the political / social opinions both these artists never feared to voice, standing firmly for the values of freedom, social justice, environment issues etc., continuing the "protest song" tradition cultivated in American music since the 1950s, sadly to disappear almost completely by the end of the 1970s. Overall in historic perspective this is a milestone album in every possible meaning of the phrase, which lost absolutely nothing over time in any aspect; it is still beautiful, relevant, and meaningful as a piece of an aesthetics that is long gone. Of all the Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungFind albums by this artist many sub-groups, Crosby & Nash have been the most consistently excellent outfit. I can´t imagine any decent Classic Rock collection not including this album. Beyond essential!

Updated: 29/06/2018Posted: 28/06/2018

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

DAVID CROSBY ~ OH YES I CAN A&M 600753650158 (Barcode: 600753650158) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1989 Released: 2015 This is the second album by the iconic American singer / songwriter David CrosbyFind albums by this artist, released eighteen years after the release of his epic debut album "If I Could Only Remember My NameFind albums with this title" in 1971. The prolonged silence, caused by the chaotic circumstances of his private and artistic life, was broken by a relatively short period of solo recording activity, which produced this album and the follow up album "Thousand RoadsFind albums with this title" (1993) as well as the live album "It`s All Coming Back To Me NowFind albums with this title" (1995), but then another long (nineteen years) period followed again until the resurrection of his recording career in 2014, which so far produced three new albums: "CrozFind albums with this title", "LighthouseFind albums with this title" and "Sky TrailsFind albums with this title". The album presents eleven songs, nine of which were written or co-written by Crosby, and a great support band featuring some of Rock´s most reliable studio players like drummers: Russell KunkelFind albums by this artist and Jim KeltnerFind albums by this artist, bassist Leland SklarFind albums by this artist, guest guitarists: Steve LukatherFind albums by this artist and Larry CarltonFind albums by this artist and guest vocalist and old buddies: James TaylorFind albums by this artist, Graham NashFind albums by this artist, Jackson BrowneFind albums by this artist and others. The album presents the usual mixture of Rocky songs and heartwrenching ballads that only Crosby is able to write. His vocal abilities are at their best and the superb instrumental (and vocal) support are as usual top rate, The album does not disclose any new facets in Crosby´s songwriting, but proves that his creativity remains intact. Of course Crosby´s figure has a meaning way beyond his musical activity. For people my age Crosby is a voice of a generation and in retrospect a symbol of the tragically short lived American cultural and social Revolution of the late 1960s, which is sadly almost completely forgotten by now. His recent activity is a proof that our generation is not completely dead yet, although the light at the end of the tunnel is getting dimmer. Everything Crosby touched during his lifetime eventually turned to gold, and this album is a classic of the genre, definitely worth returning to or being discovered by the generation of our children and grandchildren. Peace!

Updated: 03/06/2018Posted: 23/03/2018

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

AL JARREAU ~ WOW!: LIVE AT THE CHILDE HAROLD RESONANCE 2075 (Barcode: 617270123171) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1976 Released: 2024 This is an archival live album by American Jazz vocalist / songwriter Al JarreauFind albums by this artist, recorded in 1976 at the legendary Washington D.C. venue Childe Harold, in an intimate climate with Jarreau accompanied only by an electric piano trio, which comprised of pianist Tom CanningFind albums by this artist, bassist Ben AtkinFind albums by this artist and drummer Tom DrakeFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven tracks, seven of which are original songs by Jarreau and for are his unique interpretations of songs b others, including two Jazz standards and two Pop songs, one each by James TaylorFind albums by this artist and Leon RussellFind albums by this artist. The performance followed the release of his 2nd album “GlowFind albums with this title” and includes material from that album, as well as from the debut album “We Got ByFind albums with this title”. The album is accompanied by an extensive booklet, which interviews and background information, as is usual the case with the ResonanceFind albums on this label label releases. The performance is absolutely sensational and presents perfectly the early period of Jarreau’s early career, when his singing consisted primarily of a unique form of improvised vocalese, which was simply divine. His interpretation of Dave BrubeckFind albums by this artist’s “Take Five”, which is present here, illustrates that technique perfectly and I remember hearing him performing it live, it knocked me out completely. He was also blessed with an incredible sense of humor, which dominated his live concerts. The album also portrays the superb songwriting talent of Jarreau, which often was overlooked in view of his performing strength. This live recording is a beautiful tribute to Jarreau’s legacy and his tragically premature demise robbed the music lovers of his charm and incredible talent. Overall, this is a charming a most valuable document of the early period of Jarreau’s career, with the music performed in an intimate climate and perfectly recorded, for us to enjoy. It is definitely one of the best live albums in his recorded legacy. Not to be missed!

Updated: 18/05/2025Posted: 18/05/2025

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

JAMES TAYLOR ~ HOURGLASS COLUMBIA 5099748774828 (Barcode: 5099748774828) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1996 Released: 1997 This is the 14th studio album by legendary American singer / songwriter James TaylorFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve tracks (and a hidden track), ten of which were written by Taylor. On the album he is accompanied by some of the best American studio musicians, and other musicians, many associated with Jazz, like saxophonists Michael BreckerFind albums by this artist and Branford MarsalisFind albums by this artist. StingFind albums by this artist adds vocals on one track and cellist Yo-Yo MaFind albums by this artist plays on two tracks. Since his debut released in 1968 Taylor continues to create a steady stream of refined albums, mostly based on his own songwriting, which over time accumulated to one of the most significant American Rock songbooks. His personal musical style remains pretty unaffected over time and his sincere, heartfelt lyrics and beautiful melodies are all timeless gems. Overall, this is a beautiful collection of songs, sung with great emotion and accompanied by superb musicians, which for any Classic Rock fan is a no brainer. Once familiar with Taylor’s songwriting, one simply never gets tired of his creations!

Updated: 24/02/2024Posted: 24/02/2024

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JAMES TAYLOR ~ OCTOBER ROAD COLUMBIA 074646358429 (Barcode: 074646358429) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2001 - 2002 Released: 2002 This is the 15th studio album by legendary American singer / songwriter James TaylorFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve songs, ten of which were written by Taylor. On the album he is accompanied by some of the best American studio musicians, many associated with Jazz, like drummer Steve GaddFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Larry GoldingsFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Michael BreckerFind albums by this artist, guitarist John PizzarelliFind albums by this artist and others. Since his debut released in 1968 Taylor continues to create a steady stream of refined albums, mostly based on his own songwriting, which over time accumulated to one of the most significant American Rock songbooks. His personal musical style remains pretty unaffected over time and his sincere, heartfelt lyrics and beautiful melodies are all timeless gems. Overall, this is a beautiful collection of songs, sung with great emotion and accompanied by superb musicians, which for any Classic Rock fan is a no brainer. Once familiar with Taylor’s songwriting, one simply never gets tired of his creations!

Updated: 11/06/2022Posted: 11/06/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JAMES TAYLOR ~ THE WARNER BROS. ALBUMS 1970-1976 RHINO 603497852390 (Barcode: 603497852390) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 - 1978 Released: 2019 This Box Set offers a reissue of the six albums recorded by the iconic American singer / songwriter / guitarist James TaylorFind albums by this artist, released on the Warner Bros.Find albums on this label label. Following the recording of his debut album on the BeatlesFind albums by this artist´ owned AppleFind albums on this label Records, Taylor signed with Warner Bros. and released his second to seventh album on that label, which were hugely successful and established him as one of the voices of the Woodstock Generation. The albums were carefully remastered under the supervision of the Peter AsherFind albums by this artist, who was Taylor´s manager and produced the first three albums in this Box Set, which is carefully designed and includes detailed information about recording dates and personnel, which sadly is not always the case with Box Sets of this kind. This Box Set includes some of the most beautiful songs written by American music makers over time. Most of the songs were written by Taylor, but he also used a few songs by other songwriters. His idiosyncratic voice knows no equals to this date and his heartfelt singing lost nothing of its magic touch. He was accompanied by the absolute crème de la crème of instrumentalists and his albums were carefully arranged and produced. In retrospect these six albums are all absolute gems, which lost nothing of their power of expression and intrinsic delicate beauty during the years that passed since they were recorded. Taylor´s music impersonates American Classic Rock at its best, incorporating, mostly subconsciously, elements of Country & Western, Blues, Jazz and other indigenous American music sources with Pop and Rock, creating a unique style of his own, but one that corresponded to the music made in America at the time by many other Artists like Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist, Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist, Carole KingFind albums by this artist, Carly SimonFind albums by this artist (to whom he was married at the time), Simon & GarfunkelFind albums by this artist, Stevie WonderFind albums by this artist and others. Many of these artists made appearances on the albums included here, the most surprising being probably Jazz guitar virtuoso John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, who contributed one of the songs and played guitar on it. Overall this Box Set is a true treasure chest of superb music, which deserves a proud place in any serious music collection. For me this is of course a voice of my Generation, but the music is absolutely relevant also today and hopefully some young listeners will discover this timeless piece of Art. Beyond essential!

Updated: 10/08/2019Posted: 10/08/2019

CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend