Having been a long-time Neil Young fan, I guess I’m in for the duration. After all, his back catalogue is one of the richest in rockpop.
But, though I’ve dutifully bought the last few studio albums, I’ve hardly listened to any of them. Greendale (2003), Prairie Wind (2005) and Living With War (2006) have disturbed my hi-fi a mere once or twice each. If I want to listen to shrill preaching, I can go to a nasty little church.
But the trio of heritage dadrock releases - Live At the Fillmore East (1971>2006), Live At Massey Hall (1971>2007) and Greatest Hits (2004) – have fared rather better. They remind me why I like Young.
Chrome Dreams II (2007) sounds as if it’ll get some play, too. But I’m bemused by the Chrome Dreams II de luxe release. Disc 2 has the album repeated in “DVD” format; the DVD pictures are stills of cars in Young’s garage.
What’s he up to? Should someone tell him that tape/slide presentations had become redundant 35 years ago?
Wakey, wakey, Shakey.
Gerry Smith
Thursday 28 February 2008
Friday 22 February 2008
Coffee bar chain to release new Dylan influences compilation
A well-known chain of foreign-owned coffee bars is to release Artist’s Choice - Bob Dylan, next week. The new CD assembles 16 tracks of the type Dylan has played on Theme Time Radio Hour, by musicians of the Stanley Brothers, Junior Wells and Billie Holiday vintage.
But, as with its Dylan Live At The Gaslight 1962 CD release, the “global” coffee bar company doesn’t supply online outside the US/Canada. How terribly quaint!
I assume the new CD won’t be available from local coffee bar outlets, either - I failed to find any evidence of the Gaslight CD in its central London branches last year.
I’d start to boycott the chain if I hadn’t been doing so for years. I never darken the doors of their coffee bars. Not for any ideological reasons, though – I just can’t bear to drink coffee from grossly oversized mugs, or to sit amongst serried ranks of shiny happy customers with too much time and money to waste. I choose to waste mine in Caffe Nero or Coffee Republic.
Gerry Smith
But, as with its Dylan Live At The Gaslight 1962 CD release, the “global” coffee bar company doesn’t supply online outside the US/Canada. How terribly quaint!
I assume the new CD won’t be available from local coffee bar outlets, either - I failed to find any evidence of the Gaslight CD in its central London branches last year.
I’d start to boycott the chain if I hadn’t been doing so for years. I never darken the doors of their coffee bars. Not for any ideological reasons, though – I just can’t bear to drink coffee from grossly oversized mugs, or to sit amongst serried ranks of shiny happy customers with too much time and money to waste. I choose to waste mine in Caffe Nero or Coffee Republic.
Gerry Smith
Thursday 21 February 2008
Billy Fury – Liverpool’s foremost poprocker for grown-ups
The Beatles: Liverpool’s foremost poprockers for grown-ups, yeah?
Naaaah: not even the foremost 1960s Scouse beat band (The Searchers, if you’re wondering).
No, Music for Grown-Ups’ favourite Scouse poprocker, by a country mile, is Billy Fury, best known for a slew of hit singles like Halfway To Paradise, which elevated the classic Goffin-King ditty into pop art.
Until recently, though, Fury’s rich legacy was hidden, thanks to a confusing multiplicity of sub-standard compilation albums. Whenever I’ve attempted to play The Collection, a disappointing album in my collection, I’ve quickly switched it off, wondering why I ever thought so highly of Billy Fury in the first place.
Pap like covers of Hippy Hippy Shake and Glad All Over are not where it’s at, pretty baby. Fury was a powerful singles artist, but what’s been available hitherto have been compilations juxtaposing a few singles with filler.
Thankfully, Fury’s catalogue has now been massively improved by His Wondrous Story: The Complete Collection, a high quality compilation which has been in the Anglo album charts for weeks. It’s a complete collection of Fury's singles, for the first time on a single CD.
Play.com is selling it for £8.95 delivered – bargain of the month, I’d say.
Track List
Halfway To Paradise
Maybe Tomorrow
Margo
Colette
That's Love
Wondrous Place
A Thousand Stars
Don't Worry
Jealousy
I'd Never Find Another You
Letter Full Of Tears
Last Night Was Made For Love
Once Upon A Dream
Because Of Love
Like I've Never Been Gone
When Will You Say I Love You
In Summer
Somebody Else's Girl
Do Really Love Me Too
I Will
It's Only Make Believe
I'm Lost Without You
In Thoughts Of You
Run To My Loving Arms
I'll Never Quite Get Over You
Give Me Your Word
Love Or Money
Devil Or Angel
Forget Him
Gerry Smith
Naaaah: not even the foremost 1960s Scouse beat band (The Searchers, if you’re wondering).
No, Music for Grown-Ups’ favourite Scouse poprocker, by a country mile, is Billy Fury, best known for a slew of hit singles like Halfway To Paradise, which elevated the classic Goffin-King ditty into pop art.
Until recently, though, Fury’s rich legacy was hidden, thanks to a confusing multiplicity of sub-standard compilation albums. Whenever I’ve attempted to play The Collection, a disappointing album in my collection, I’ve quickly switched it off, wondering why I ever thought so highly of Billy Fury in the first place.
Pap like covers of Hippy Hippy Shake and Glad All Over are not where it’s at, pretty baby. Fury was a powerful singles artist, but what’s been available hitherto have been compilations juxtaposing a few singles with filler.
Thankfully, Fury’s catalogue has now been massively improved by His Wondrous Story: The Complete Collection, a high quality compilation which has been in the Anglo album charts for weeks. It’s a complete collection of Fury's singles, for the first time on a single CD.
Play.com is selling it for £8.95 delivered – bargain of the month, I’d say.
Track List
Halfway To Paradise
Maybe Tomorrow
Margo
Colette
That's Love
Wondrous Place
A Thousand Stars
Don't Worry
Jealousy
I'd Never Find Another You
Letter Full Of Tears
Last Night Was Made For Love
Once Upon A Dream
Because Of Love
Like I've Never Been Gone
When Will You Say I Love You
In Summer
Somebody Else's Girl
Do Really Love Me Too
I Will
It's Only Make Believe
I'm Lost Without You
In Thoughts Of You
Run To My Loving Arms
I'll Never Quite Get Over You
Give Me Your Word
Love Or Money
Devil Or Angel
Forget Him
Gerry Smith
Wednesday 20 February 2008
Asda supermarket keeping me out of HMV
I used to be a habitual HMV customer – and a strong advocate of the retailer on this site - but I gradually kicked the habit. Because, while CD prices have been plummeting from online suppliers and supermarkets, HMV’s prices look stubbornly high.
I was reminded of the gap last weekend after leaving my local HMV branch empty-handed (again), after recently visiting Asda, Wal-Mart’s English subsidiary.
Sample price comparisons of product currently interesting me were startling:
* Morrissey Greatest Hits De Luxe: HMV £19, Asda £14
* Van Morrison Best Of v3: HMV £13, Asda £5
* Morrissey Who Put The M in Manchester DVD: HMV £18, (has been widely available elsewhere @ £5)
* Led Zep DVD: HMV £30, (has been widely available at Asda and elsewhere @ £13)
HMV might well manage to turn round its ailing chain, but until its prices are back in line with the marketplace, I won’t be contributing.
Gerry Smith
I was reminded of the gap last weekend after leaving my local HMV branch empty-handed (again), after recently visiting Asda, Wal-Mart’s English subsidiary.
Sample price comparisons of product currently interesting me were startling:
* Morrissey Greatest Hits De Luxe: HMV £19, Asda £14
* Van Morrison Best Of v3: HMV £13, Asda £5
* Morrissey Who Put The M in Manchester DVD: HMV £18, (has been widely available elsewhere @ £5)
* Led Zep DVD: HMV £30, (has been widely available at Asda and elsewhere @ £13)
HMV might well manage to turn round its ailing chain, but until its prices are back in line with the marketplace, I won’t be contributing.
Gerry Smith
Tuesday 19 February 2008
Stunning rock photography in Birmingham
Birmingham’s Snap Galleries has an exciting season of rock photography coming up:
1. Art Kane - Visionary Portraits 1958-68 now on show
2. Eric Meola - New Bruce Springsteen photographs
3. Elvis Presley from 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
4. Lawrence Watson - Britpop icons and more
5. Art Fairs in London and Harrogate in March 2008
6. Bob Dylan from 1966 by Barry Feinstein - next exhibition
Snap Galleries Limited, Unit 7 - Ground Floor, Fort Dunlop, Fort Parkway, Birmingham B24 9FD. Tel: 0121 748 3408/from US: 011 44 121 748 3408.
www.snapgalleries.com
Gerry Smith
1. Art Kane - Visionary Portraits 1958-68 now on show
2. Eric Meola - New Bruce Springsteen photographs
3. Elvis Presley from 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
4. Lawrence Watson - Britpop icons and more
5. Art Fairs in London and Harrogate in March 2008
6. Bob Dylan from 1966 by Barry Feinstein - next exhibition
Snap Galleries Limited, Unit 7 - Ground Floor, Fort Dunlop, Fort Parkway, Birmingham B24 9FD. Tel: 0121 748 3408/from US: 011 44 121 748 3408.
www.snapgalleries.com
Gerry Smith
Tuesday 12 February 2008
You heard it here first: #1 Amy Winehouse
Congratulations to London chanteuse Amy Winehouse on her success in landing a fistful of Grammys on Sunday night.
The jazz-inflected pop vocalist has long been a favourite of Rockpop for Grown-Ups.
Here’s what we said long before she became a global sensation:
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Amy Winehouse: music for grown-ups
If you’re reading this outside the UK, the name Amy Winehouse will probably be new you – the word is that she has yet to be promoted overseas.
If you’re in the UK, you can hardly have escaped Ms Winehouse. Back To Black, her chart-topping second album, her colourful lifetyle, and triumph at last week’s Brits awards, have made her the best-publicised English pop persona since, er, Oasis.
Back To Black, the new album, released before Xmas, has already stacked up 700,000 sales. Frank, her fine debut album, was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2003.
A fine, ballsy, songwriter, an authentic soul/jazz/r&b voice, and on-stage charisma, Winehouse is a massive new talent. Lovely tone. Fine range. Convincing actress. And – bonus – she swings.
But, because she was cross-promoted to the supermarket market with a bunch of less talented Brit “jazz” singers at launch, I’d dismissed her along with the rest of the wannabes. Mistake. Amy’s the first pop star to have made me pay serious attention for many years.
Music for grown-ups? From a boozy, potty-mouthed, loose-lipped 23 year old? You bet. Best check out Amy Winehouse - rapido!
Gerry Smith
The jazz-inflected pop vocalist has long been a favourite of Rockpop for Grown-Ups.
Here’s what we said long before she became a global sensation:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Amy Winehouse: music for grown-ups
If you’re reading this outside the UK, the name Amy Winehouse will probably be new you – the word is that she has yet to be promoted overseas.
If you’re in the UK, you can hardly have escaped Ms Winehouse. Back To Black, her chart-topping second album, her colourful lifetyle, and triumph at last week’s Brits awards, have made her the best-publicised English pop persona since, er, Oasis.
Back To Black, the new album, released before Xmas, has already stacked up 700,000 sales. Frank, her fine debut album, was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2003.
A fine, ballsy, songwriter, an authentic soul/jazz/r&b voice, and on-stage charisma, Winehouse is a massive new talent. Lovely tone. Fine range. Convincing actress. And – bonus – she swings.
But, because she was cross-promoted to the supermarket market with a bunch of less talented Brit “jazz” singers at launch, I’d dismissed her along with the rest of the wannabes. Mistake. Amy’s the first pop star to have made me pay serious attention for many years.
Music for grown-ups? From a boozy, potty-mouthed, loose-lipped 23 year old? You bet. Best check out Amy Winehouse - rapido!
Gerry Smith
Friday 8 February 2008
Morrissey mania for grown-ups
Following a very lucky break at the third, and what turned out to be the final, gig in Morrissey’s week-long London residency – Moz’s bad throat forced him to curtail then cancel the last three shows – I’ve been marvelling at the power of the Manc Miserablist’s PR machine.
With the new single released last Monday and the Greatest Hits album due next Monday, Morrissey’s everywhere: Russell Brand show on E4, Jools Holland and Culture Show on BBC2 …
The most visible press I’ve seen is the Smiths cover of the new (“March”) issue of MOJO. It advertises several articles about Mr Gloomy of Manchester. And MOJO’s sitting on the news-stand shelves right next to the Mozza cover on the front of the Feb issue of The Word.
The de luxe 2CD Greatest Hits and the new MOJO are must-buys for those who get it (and those wondering what all the fuss is about).
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLES:
Coming very soon - Morrissey Week in London!
Morrissey, one of the most revered of rockpop artists in his native land, returns to London next week with a six night residency at the recently reopened Roundhouse. Watch this space for the exclusive Music for Grown-Ups concert review - I’m due at the Wednesday gig.
I expect the setlist to include a sizeable selection of the songs on Greatest Hits, Morrissey’s first compilation from his post-1997 releases (track list below), due on 11 February. Plus some earlier solo material and the odd Smiths classic.
Greatest Hits (de luxe version) tracklist:
1. First Of The Gang To Die
2. In The Future When All's Well
3. I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
4. Irish Blood English Heart
5. You Have Killed Me
6. That's How People Grow Up
7. Everyday Is Like Sunday
8. Redondo Beach
9. Suedehead
10. Youngest Wat The Most Loved
11. Last Of The Famous International Playboys
12. More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get
13. All You Need Is Me
14. Let Me Kiss You
15. I Have Forgiven Jesus
16. Alma Matters
Disc: 2 – Live at Hollywood Bowl
1. The Last of the Famous International Playboys
2. The National Front Disco
3. Let Me Kiss You
4. Irish Blood, English Heart
5. I Will See You in Far-off Places
6. First of the Gang to Die
7. I Just Want to See the Boy Happy
8. Life is a Pigsty
Whooppee! I can hardly wait. Rave on, Mozza!
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Morrissey in London – pop for grown-ups
Last night’s Morrissey gig at London’s Roundhouse – his third in a six night residency – was pure pop for grown-ups.
The setlist was a mixture of recent and new solo material, with Irish Blood/English Heart, First Of The Gang To Die and Last Of The Famous International Playboys the standouts. The forthcoming single, That’s How People Grow Up, will justify careful scrutiny.
Mozza’s unique talent is pungent, wittily original lyrics, allied to an unmissable on-stage charisma: very few performers give good gig better than he. His rapport with the faithful is wondrous to behold.
Last night’s music was nothing to get excited about, though. Trenchant lyrics apart, Morrissey’s solo work sounds pedestrian to my ears: too little variety in melody, tempo or dynamics. No variation. No improv.
So his musos are in a straitjacket to start with. But this crew sounded dull anyway. And the sound, from stage left, 20 metres from the front, was muddy, too bassy, and Il Mozzo was too low in the mix.
Morrissey was my first gig at the refurb’d Roundhouse. Very impressive – it easily reclaims its traditional status as London’s premier rockpop venue. Big enough for a 2,000 stand-up audience; small enough for intimate communion.
Pity about the audience, though. They’ve had to stop smoking (Hallelujah!), but most still yak incessantly, sing along as if they’re in the bath, and shuffle backwards and forwards to the bars all night long, spilling expensive beer from plastic mugs over innocent bystanders.
All music venues, from the Royal Opera House to Ronnie Scott’s, attract more than their fair share of stiffs. But rockpop gigs are notoriously bad: fully 50% of last night’s Roundhouse crowd were boneheads.
Gerry Smith
With the new single released last Monday and the Greatest Hits album due next Monday, Morrissey’s everywhere: Russell Brand show on E4, Jools Holland and Culture Show on BBC2 …
The most visible press I’ve seen is the Smiths cover of the new (“March”) issue of MOJO. It advertises several articles about Mr Gloomy of Manchester. And MOJO’s sitting on the news-stand shelves right next to the Mozza cover on the front of the Feb issue of The Word.
The de luxe 2CD Greatest Hits and the new MOJO are must-buys for those who get it (and those wondering what all the fuss is about).
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLES:
Coming very soon - Morrissey Week in London!
Morrissey, one of the most revered of rockpop artists in his native land, returns to London next week with a six night residency at the recently reopened Roundhouse. Watch this space for the exclusive Music for Grown-Ups concert review - I’m due at the Wednesday gig.
I expect the setlist to include a sizeable selection of the songs on Greatest Hits, Morrissey’s first compilation from his post-1997 releases (track list below), due on 11 February. Plus some earlier solo material and the odd Smiths classic.
Greatest Hits (de luxe version) tracklist:
1. First Of The Gang To Die
2. In The Future When All's Well
3. I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
4. Irish Blood English Heart
5. You Have Killed Me
6. That's How People Grow Up
7. Everyday Is Like Sunday
8. Redondo Beach
9. Suedehead
10. Youngest Wat The Most Loved
11. Last Of The Famous International Playboys
12. More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get
13. All You Need Is Me
14. Let Me Kiss You
15. I Have Forgiven Jesus
16. Alma Matters
Disc: 2 – Live at Hollywood Bowl
1. The Last of the Famous International Playboys
2. The National Front Disco
3. Let Me Kiss You
4. Irish Blood, English Heart
5. I Will See You in Far-off Places
6. First of the Gang to Die
7. I Just Want to See the Boy Happy
8. Life is a Pigsty
Whooppee! I can hardly wait. Rave on, Mozza!
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Morrissey in London – pop for grown-ups
Last night’s Morrissey gig at London’s Roundhouse – his third in a six night residency – was pure pop for grown-ups.
The setlist was a mixture of recent and new solo material, with Irish Blood/English Heart, First Of The Gang To Die and Last Of The Famous International Playboys the standouts. The forthcoming single, That’s How People Grow Up, will justify careful scrutiny.
Mozza’s unique talent is pungent, wittily original lyrics, allied to an unmissable on-stage charisma: very few performers give good gig better than he. His rapport with the faithful is wondrous to behold.
Last night’s music was nothing to get excited about, though. Trenchant lyrics apart, Morrissey’s solo work sounds pedestrian to my ears: too little variety in melody, tempo or dynamics. No variation. No improv.
So his musos are in a straitjacket to start with. But this crew sounded dull anyway. And the sound, from stage left, 20 metres from the front, was muddy, too bassy, and Il Mozzo was too low in the mix.
Morrissey was my first gig at the refurb’d Roundhouse. Very impressive – it easily reclaims its traditional status as London’s premier rockpop venue. Big enough for a 2,000 stand-up audience; small enough for intimate communion.
Pity about the audience, though. They’ve had to stop smoking (Hallelujah!), but most still yak incessantly, sing along as if they’re in the bath, and shuffle backwards and forwards to the bars all night long, spilling expensive beer from plastic mugs over innocent bystanders.
All music venues, from the Royal Opera House to Ronnie Scott’s, attract more than their fair share of stiffs. But rockpop gigs are notoriously bad: fully 50% of last night’s Roundhouse crowd were boneheads.
Gerry Smith
Tuesday 5 February 2008
Yet another Doors compilation?
The Future Starts Here: The Essential Doors is just hitting the shops. Some readers might share my puzzlement at the appearance of yet another Doors compilation.
The Future Starts Here comes hot on the heels of last year’s slew of highly praised reissues, which included a choice of three compilations, all called The Very Best Of The Doors.
The explanation must be that last year’s wonderful compilations weren’t released in the USA, and are now being rolled out in North America under a different name.
It’s all very puzzling for this Doors fan.
Gerry Smith
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EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
The Doors – rock release of 2007
A very strong contender for rock release of 2007 has to be the 40th Anniversary compilation, The Very Best Of The Doors.
There are three versions: a single CD, in the supermarkets now; a better buy is the 2CD version; easily the best buy is the Limited Edition 2CD/DVD/book.
Both of the 2CD versions have virtually everything you need by the Doors:
Disc: 1
1. Break On Through
2. Strange Days
3. Alabama Song
4. Love Me Two Times
5. Light My Fire
6. Spanish Caravan
7. Crystal Ship
8. The Unknown Soldier
9. The End (full version)
10. People Are Strange
11. Back Door Man
12. Moonlight Drive
13. End Of The Night
14. Five To One
15. When The Music's Over
Disc: 2
1. Bird Of Prey
2. Love Her Madly
3. Riders On The Storm
4. Orange County Suite
5. Runnin' Blue
6. Hello I Love You
7. The W.A.S.P. (Texas Radio & The Big Beat)
8. Stoned Immaculate
9. Soul Kitchen
10. Peace Frog
11. L.A. Woman
12. Waiting For The Sun
13. Touch Me
14. The Changeling
15. Wishful, Sinful
16. Love Street
17. The Ghost Song
18. Whiskey, Mystics And Men
19. Roadhouse Blues
The packaging of The Very Best Of The Doors, with a naked torso shot of Mr Mojo Rising pointing at the camera, is stunning. If, like me, you already own all the audio tracks, the Limited Edition is worth buying for the booklet, DVD and the packaging alone. It’s available online for about £16, delivered. Bargain!
Gerry Smith
The Future Starts Here comes hot on the heels of last year’s slew of highly praised reissues, which included a choice of three compilations, all called The Very Best Of The Doors.
The explanation must be that last year’s wonderful compilations weren’t released in the USA, and are now being rolled out in North America under a different name.
It’s all very puzzling for this Doors fan.
Gerry Smith
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
The Doors – rock release of 2007
A very strong contender for rock release of 2007 has to be the 40th Anniversary compilation, The Very Best Of The Doors.
There are three versions: a single CD, in the supermarkets now; a better buy is the 2CD version; easily the best buy is the Limited Edition 2CD/DVD/book.
Both of the 2CD versions have virtually everything you need by the Doors:
Disc: 1
1. Break On Through
2. Strange Days
3. Alabama Song
4. Love Me Two Times
5. Light My Fire
6. Spanish Caravan
7. Crystal Ship
8. The Unknown Soldier
9. The End (full version)
10. People Are Strange
11. Back Door Man
12. Moonlight Drive
13. End Of The Night
14. Five To One
15. When The Music's Over
Disc: 2
1. Bird Of Prey
2. Love Her Madly
3. Riders On The Storm
4. Orange County Suite
5. Runnin' Blue
6. Hello I Love You
7. The W.A.S.P. (Texas Radio & The Big Beat)
8. Stoned Immaculate
9. Soul Kitchen
10. Peace Frog
11. L.A. Woman
12. Waiting For The Sun
13. Touch Me
14. The Changeling
15. Wishful, Sinful
16. Love Street
17. The Ghost Song
18. Whiskey, Mystics And Men
19. Roadhouse Blues
The packaging of The Very Best Of The Doors, with a naked torso shot of Mr Mojo Rising pointing at the camera, is stunning. If, like me, you already own all the audio tracks, the Limited Edition is worth buying for the booklet, DVD and the packaging alone. It’s available online for about £16, delivered. Bargain!
Gerry Smith
Friday 1 February 2008
Ella profile on radio tonight – not to be missed
With tonight’s programme, the excellent Jazz Library series (BBC Radio 3, Fridays 2230 GMT, then for seven days afterwards on the web) reaches the mighty Ella Fitzgerald.
It promises to be one of the highlights of early 2008: not to be missed!
www.bbc.co.uk/radio3
Gerry Smith
It promises to be one of the highlights of early 2008: not to be missed!
www.bbc.co.uk/radio3
Gerry Smith
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