28 June 2009

Robben Ford - Talk To Your Daughter (1988)

The late '70s and early '80s were a fertile period for guitarist Robben Ford, with session work with everyone from Little Feat to Michael McDonald, David Sanborn and a stint with jazz giant Miles Davis."This was the period of time when people first started hearing about me," states Ford. "So consequently I was labeled 'fusion guitar player Robben Ford,' or 'L.A. session man.' and it just wasn't true, not in my heart, anyway, and it wasn't until my second album, Talk To Your Daughter, in 1988, that I got to make my first blues offering. That album received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Recording." The promotional tour for Talk To Your Daughter ultimately led to the formation of a full time blues-based band, Robben Ford & The Blue Line, with Roscoe Beck on bass and Tom Brechtlein on drums.

Robben Ford - Guitars, vocals
Roscoe Beck - Bass, vocals
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums
Russell Ferrante - Keyboards

4:06 Talk To Your Daughter
3:46 Wild About You (Can't Hold Out Much Longer)
5:37 Help The Poor
4:34 Ain't Got Nothin But The Blues
3:45 Born Under A Bad Sign
3:22 I Got Over It
6:21 Revelation
4:17 Getaway
5:36 Can't Let Her Go

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Bruford - Feels Good To Me (1977)

(Review by Jon Byrne) A year before churning out UK, Bill Bruford had assembled another talented foursome to makes this solo album. The result is something that has a very familiar ring to it if you know UK, but takes that prog and fusion melding and pushes it further into the jazz arena. It makes for a very exciting album.
Toko notes: This album is a must for Allan Holdsworth fans!






Bill Bruford, drums and percussion
Dave Stewart, keyboards
Allan Holdsworth, guitar
Annette Peacock, vocals
Jeff Berlin, bass
Kenny Wheeler, flugelhorn
John Goodsall, guitar

1. Beelzebub — 3.22
2. Back to the Beginning — 7.25
3. Seems Like a Lifetime Ago (Part One) — 2.32
4. Seems Like a Lifetime Ago (Part Two) — 4.29
5. Sample and Hold — 5.13
6. Feels Good To Me — 3.53
7. Either End of August — 5.24
8. If You Can't Stand the Heat . . . — 3.27
9. Springtime in Siberia — 2.45
10. Adios a la Pasada (Goodbye to the Past) — 8.42

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27 June 2009

10cc - Meanwhile (1992)

Meanwhile is the 10th studio album by BRITISH ART-POP band 10cc. It was recorded at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York, The Hit Factory, New York, River Sound Studios, New York, Bill Schner Studio, Los Angeles and Village Recorders, Los Angeles and released in 1992. The album was the band's first in nine years and marked the brief comeback of original 10cc members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme: Godley performed lead vocals on "The Stars Didn't Show" and backing vocals on two songs, while Creme supplied backing vocals on six songs. It also featured appearances by singer Andrew Gold and blues pianist Dr. John. The album's closing song, "Don't Break the Promises", was co-written by Paul McCartney.


* Eric Stewart — vocals, guitars, Rhodes piano, grand piano, slide guitar, strings
* Graham Gouldman — guitars, vocals
* Jeff Porcaro — drums, percussion
* Freddie Washington — 5 string bass guitar
* Lol Creme — backing vocals
* Michael Landau — guitars
* David Paitch — Hammond B3 organ, melody synth
* Mac Rebenack (Dr John) — grand piano ("Fill Her Up", "Something Special", "Charity Begins at Home")
* Kevin Godley — lead vocals ("The Stars Didn't Show"), backing vocals
* Paul Griffen — synths
* Bashiri Johnson — percussion, tambourine
* Frank Floyd, Fronzie Thornton, Curtis King, Tawatha Agee, Vaneese Thomas — backing vocals
* Jerry Hey — horn arrangement, trumpet
* Gary Grant — trumpet
* Dan Higgins — saxophone
* Kim Hutchcroften — saxophone
* Bill Reichenbach — trombone
* Gordon Gaines — lead guitar
* Andrew Gold — 12 string guitar ("Charity Begins at Home")

1. "Woman in Love" (Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman) — 6:11
2. "Wonderland" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:53
3. "Fill Her Up" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:08
4. "Something Special" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 3:23
5. "Welcome to Paradise" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 6:14
6. "The Stars Didn't Show" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:51
7. "Green Eyed Monster" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:44
8. "Charity Begins at Home" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 4:55
9. "Shine a Light in the Dark" (Stewart, Gouldman) — 5:42
10. "Don't Break the Promises" (Stewart, Paul McCartney, Gouldman) — 6:22

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Heart - Heart (1985)

Heart's multi-million seller, eighties come-back album containing their biggest hit "These Dreams" with the lead vocal (ironically) not by Ann but by Nancy.









* Nancy Wilson: Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Vocal and Background Vocals
* Ann Wilson: Guitar, keyboards, Violin and Vocals
* Mark Andes: Bass Guitar, Vocals
* Denny Carmassi: Drums
* Gary Clark: Drums
* Johnny Colla: Vocals and Background Vocals
* Holly Knight: Keyboards
* Howard Leese: Guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin, Synthesizer, Vocals and Background Vocals
* Scott Olson: Guitar
* Grace Slick: Vocals and Background Vocals
* Frankie Sullivan: Guitar
* Mickey Thomas: Vocals and Background Vocals
* Lynn Wilson Keagle: Vocals and Background Vocals
* Peter Wolf: Keyboards, Piano and Synthesizer

1. "If Looks Could Kill" – 3:42
2. "What About Love" – 3:41
3. "Never" – 4:07
4. "These Dreams" – 4:15
5. "The Wolf" – 4:03
6. "All Eyes" – 3:55
7. "Nobody Home" – 4:07
8. "Nothin' At All" – 4:13
9. "What He Don't Know" – 3:41
10. "Shell Shock" – 3:42

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26 June 2009

World Trade - World Trade (1989)

Decent rock album with a larger than life guitar sound (Keith Olsen). Word Trade is a band by Billy Sherwood, later to become an official member of Yes. This is their debut from 1989.









- Billy Sherwood / lead & backing vocals, basses
- Bruce Gowdy / guitars, vocals
- Guy Allison / keyboards, vocals
- Mark T. Williams / drums, percussion, vocals

1. The Painted Corner (1:44)
2. The Moment is Here (4:30)
3. Can't Let You Go (4:14)
4. Life-Time (5:01)
5. Fight to Win (4:26)
6. Sense of Freedom (5:40)
7. The Revolution Song (5:16)
8. One Last Chance (4:56)
9. Wasting Time (3:38)
10. Emotional Wasteland (4:32)
11. Open the Door (5:33)

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Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat (1976)

Year of the Cat is a 1976 album by Al Stewart. It features the hit single (and one of his best-known songs) also called "Year of the Cat", which runs for six and a half minutes and was co-written by Peter Wood. His other single from the album is "On the Border", which is also one of Stewart's most well-known songs. The album was produced by Alan Parsons.






Al Stewart: vocal, guitar
Tim Renwick: guitar
Peter White: guitar
Peter Wood: keyboards
Don Lobster: keyboards
George Ford: bass
Stuart Elliot: drums & percussion
Bobby Bruce: viola
Phil Kenzie: alto sax
Marion Driscoll: triangle
David Pack: backing vocals
Tony Rivers: backing vocals
John Perry: backing vocals
Andrew Powell: string arrangements
Graham Smith: harmonica

1. "Lord Grenville" – 5:02
2. "On the Border" – 3:23
3. "Midas Shadow" – 3:16
4. "Sand in Your Shoes" – 3:04
5. "If it Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It" – 4:30
6. "Flying Sorcery" – 4:22
7. "Broadway Hotel" – 3:58
8. "One Stage Before" – 4:41
9. "Year of the Cat" – 6:37

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Al Di Meola,Paco De Lucia,John McLaughlin - Passion,Grace & Fire (1983)

(On Request) Never has an album been so justly deserving of its title. In 1983, the guitar super trio of John McLaughlin, Al DiMeola and Paco DeLucia followed up their phenomenal live acoustic album Friday Night in San Francisco with this masterpiece of a studio recording. The prevailing opinion at the time was that the raw excitement of the original live recording could never be matched in the recording studio. Delightfully, the Trio answered all those who had questioned its potential with Passion Grace and Fire. Its greater dependence upon melodies may even make PG&F the superior release.
Each guitarist contributed two compositions, and all pieces feature the Trio playing written out parts and improvising over a theme. No player dominates, as the format does not provide for contests or duels. And best of all, the acoustic guitars are recorded flawlessly.

“David” is an enchanting John McLaughlin composition where he delivers a haunting and seemingly time-defying lead performance. McLaughlin is the very rare (or perhaps unique) musician who quite literally is able to bend or suspend time in his playing. It is really quite unexplainable.
DeLucia's brilliance is clearly heard in his piece “Chiquito”, in which he expands the language of Flamenco into all sorts of open spaces. DiMeola's strongest moments occur during his composition honored as the title piece. Timed in at just a little over 30 brief minutes, Passion Grace and Fire could have included a few more tunes, but it's still a masterpiece.

John McLaughlin - guitar
Paco de Lucia - guitar
Al Di Meola - guitar

Aspan
Orient Blue Suite (Part I,II,III)
Chiquito
Sichia
David
Passion, Grace and Fire

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25 June 2009

Rush - Moving Pictures (1981)

Moving Pictures is the eighth studio album by CANADIAN PROGRESSIVE ROCK band Rush, released in 1981. The album was recorded and mixed at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec.
A classic rock album, Moving Pictures became the band's first Platinum selling album in the U.S. hitting #3 and remains the band's most popular studio recording to date (certified Quadruple Platinum (4 million copies sold) on January 27, 1995).
Following the formula of their previous album, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures follows a more radio-friendly format and includes the hit single "Tom Sawyer", as well as other radio standards such as "Red Barchetta" and "Limelight".

Geddy Lee - Bass guitar; Mini Moog; Oberheim polyphonic; OB-X, Taurus pedal synthesizer, vocals
Alex Lifeson - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Taurus pedals
Neil Peart - Drums, timbales, gong bass drums, orchestra bells, glockenspiel, tubular bells, wind chimes, cowbells, bell tree, crotales, plywood

1. "Tom Sawyer" – 4:33
2. "Red Barchetta" – 6:06
3. "YYZ" (Geddy Lee, Neil Peart) – 4:24
4. "Limelight" – 4:19
5. "The Camera Eye" – 10:56
6. "Witch Hunt (Part III of Fear)" – 4:43
7. "Vital Signs" – 4:43

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The Beatles - Help! (1965)

Help!, the fifth album by the Beatles.











"Help!"
"The Night Before"
"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
"I Need You" (George Harrison)
"Another Girl"
"You're Going to Lose That Girl"
"Ticket to Ride"
"Act Naturally" (Johnny Russell/Vonnie Morrison)
"It's Only Love"
"You Like Me Too Much" (George Harrison)
"Tell Me What You See"
"I've Just Seen a Face"
"Yesterday"
"Dizzy Miss Lizzy" (Larry Williams)

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The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965)

On request, the sixth album by the Beatles.











"Drive My Car" – 2:30
"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" – 2:05
"You Won't See Me" – 3:22
"Nowhere Man" – 2:44
"Think for Yourself" (Harrison) – 2:19
"The Word" – 2:43
"Michelle" – 2:42
"What Goes On" (Lennon-McCartney-Starkey) – 2:50
"Girl" – 2:33
"I'm Looking Through You" – 2:27
"In My Life" – 2:27
"Wait" – 2:16
"If I Needed Someone" (Harrison) – 2:23
"Run for Your Life" – 2:18

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The Beatles - Revolver (1966)

Time for a Beatles album again. This is the seventh by the fab four.











"Taxman" (Harrison) – 2:39
"Eleanor Rigby" – 2:07
"I'm Only Sleeping" – 3:01
"Love You To" (Harrison) – 3:01
"Here, There and Everywhere" – 2:25
"Yellow Submarine" – 2:40
"She Said She Said" – 2:37
"Good Day Sunshine" – 2:09
"And Your Bird Can Sing" – 2:01
"For No One" – 2:01
"Doctor Robert" – 2:15
"I Want to Tell You" (Harrison) – 2:29
"Got to Get You into My Life" – 2:30
"Tomorrow Never Knows" – 2:57

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Planet P Project - Pink World (1984)

(On request) The second album, a concept album about a boy who acquires supernatural powers upon drinking polluted water.










Tony Carey - all voices and instruments except:
Reinhard Besser (4, 17), Helmut Bibl (6, 12), Robert Musenbichler (23) - Guitar solos
Fritz Matzka - Drums (2, 23)
Eddie Taylor - Sax (23)

1 In the Woods
2 To Live Forever
3 Pink World
4 What I See
5 To Live Forever (Part 2)
6 Power
7 In the Forest
8 A Boy Who Can't Talk
9 The Stranger
10 What I See (Part 2)
11 The Shepherd
12 Behind the Barrier
13 Pink World Coming Down
14 Breath
15 This Perfect Place
16 What Artie Knows
17 In the Zone
18 Behind the Barrier (Part 2)
19 March of the Artemites
20 This Perfect Place (Part 2)
21 A Letter from the Shelter
22 What Artie Knows (Part 2)
23 One Star Falling
24 Baby's at the Door
25 Requiem
26 A Boy Who Can't Talk (Part 2)

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24 June 2009

The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

Happy 42th anniversary!











1. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
2. "With a Little Help from My Friends"
3. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
4. "Getting Better"
5. "Fixing a Hole"
6. "She's Leaving Home"
7. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!"
8. "Within You Without You" (Harrison)
9. "When I'm Sixty-Four"
10. "Lovely Rita"
11. "Good Morning Good Morning"
12. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)"
13 "A Day in the Life"

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23 June 2009

Stephan Eicher - Carcassonne (1993)

A great, multi-language (French/English/Swiss-German) album by the Swiss singer-songwriter. And what a line-up! Sonny Landreth on slide-guitar...









Manu Katche (batterie, percussions)
Pino Palladino (basse)
Richard Lloyd (guitare électrique)
Sonny Landreth (guitare électrique slide, guitare acoustique)
Achim Meier (piano, orgue Hammond B3, claviers, accordéon)
Stephan Eicher (chant, guitare électrique, guitare électrique, basse, synthétiseurs, programmation)
Sophie Jacques de Dixmude (cornemuse médiévale, cromorne)
Guy Robert (harpe médiévale, chalemie, cromorne, oud)
Dominique Regef (vielle à roue, vielle à archet, violoncelle)
Jacques Khoudir (tambour provençal, taraicha, bendir, cymbalettes)
Patrice Brient (psalterion médiéval, tympanon)
Véronique Rivière (choeurs)
Violon (choeurs)
Sherazade Tamzought (choeurs)
Dominique Blanc-Francard (guitare 12 cordes sur "Hope" et "Ni remords, ni regrets")
Christian Demand (guitare acoustique sur "Hope").

1/ Des hauts, des bas (4:12)
2/ Hope (4:30)
3/ Ni remords, ni regrets (3:57)
4/ Swallow (2:57)
5/ La nuit debout (4:20)
6/ Goodbies (4:10)
7/ Manteau de gloire (4:42)
8/ Rivière (5:28)
9/ Baiser orageux (5:10)
10/ La mi los (5:00)
11/ Durant un long moment (3:40)
12/ Whatever (4:16)

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Chic - Dance, Dance, Dance (1991)

Watching the "Live in Montreux 2004" DVD last night thoroughly got me in the mood. This "Best Of", released in 1991 should do the same for you: Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah...









1. Dance, Dance, Dance(Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)
2. Everybody Dance (12in Mix)
3. Strike Up The Band
4. Chic Cheer
5. Le Freak
6. I Want Your Love
7. Good Times
8. My Feet Keep Dancing
9. My Forbidden Lover
10. Soup For One
11. Savoir Faire

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22 June 2009

Neil Young - Harvest (1972)

Harvest is an album by Neil Young, which was the best-selling album of 1972. The album featured several high calibre guests, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and James Taylor. Harvest hit #1 on the Billboard Music Charts (North America) pop albums chart, spawning two hit singles, "Old Man," which peaked at #31 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Heart of Gold," which peaked at #1.
In 1998 Q magazine readers voted Harvest the 64th greatest album of all time. In 1996, 2000 and 2005, Chart's polled readers to determine the 50 greatest Canadian albums of all time; Harvest placed second in all three polls (losing the top spot to Joni Mitchell's Blue in 2000, and to Sloan's Twice Removed in the other two polls). In 2003, Rolling Stone named Harvest the 78th greatest album of all time.

* Neil Young with The Stray Gators:
o Neil Young: guitar, piano, harmonica, vocal
o Ben Keith: pedal steel guitar
o Kenny Buttrey: drums
o Tim Drummond: bass
o Jack Nitzsche: piano, slide guitar

* John Harris: piano
* Teddy Irwin: guitar
* James McMahon: piano
* James Taylor: banjo-guitar, vocal
* David Crosby: vocal
* Graham Nash: vocal
* Linda Ronstadt: vocal
* Stephen Stills: vocal
* On tracks marked (*):
o Neil Young: piano, vocal
o The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Meecham

1. "Out on the Weekend" – 4:34
2. "Harvest" – 3:11
3. "A Man Needs a Maid"* – 4:05
4. "Heart of Gold" – 3:07
5. "Are You Ready for the Country?" – 3:23
6. "Old Man" – 3:24
7. "There's a World"* – 2:59
8. "Alabama" – 4:02
9. "The Needle and the Damage Done" – 2:03
10. "Words (Between the Lines of Age)" – 6:40

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Steve Morse - Major Impacts (2000)

"In 2000, Steve Morse released a fascinating album, both documenting his major musical influences and showing off his incredible versatility. The album is called "Major Impacts" and consists of original compositions each inspired by a particular musical "impact". In the tracklist below the "impact" is indicated in parentheses."







Steve Morse - guitars and overdubs
Dave LaRue - bass
Van Romaine - drums

1. Derailleur Gears (4:45) (Cream)
2. Well, I Have (4:20) (Jimi Hendrix)
3. Truth Ola (5:30) (Jeff Beck/Eric Johnson/Alex Lifeson)
4. Migration (4:02) (The Byrds)
5. Led On (5:52) (Jimmy Page)
6. The White Light (3:20) (John McLaughlin)
7. How Does It Feel? (4:29) (The Rolling Stones)
8. Bring It To Me (4:01) (Mountain)
9. Something Gently Weeps (4:35) (George Harrison)
10. Free In The Park (4:32) (The Allman Brothers Band)
11. Prognosis (6:01) (Kansas/Yes)

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Steve Morse - Major Impacts 2 (2004)

Volume 2 of Steve's major musical impacts.











Steve Morse - guitars, keyboard, various extraneous instruments
Dave LaRue - bass
Van Romaine - drums, percussion

1. Wooden Music (4:56)
2. Where Are You? (3:24)
3. Errol Smith (4:37)
4. Cool Wind, Green Hills (3:54)
5. Organically Grown (3:47)
6. 12 Strings On Carnaby St. (4:38)
7. Zig Zags (4:27)
8. Abracadab (4:12)
9. Tri County Barn Dance (3:50)
10. Air On A 6 String (2:20)
11. Motor City Spirit (3:00)
12. Ghost Of The Bayou (3:05)
13. Leonard's Best (4:17)

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Steve Morse - Prime Cuts (2005)

Good compilation of Steve's Magna Carta releases including a wonderful rendition of Steve Howe's "The Clap" and a Rush cover. "Led On" is a boring Vapourspace remix of the track from "Major Impacts".







1. Heightened Awareness (4:19)
2. Prognosis (6:01)
3. La Villa Strangiato (9:26)
4. The Clap (3:09)
5. Quantum Soup (11:03)
6. Busybodies (2:34)
7. Led On (6:31)
8. Air On A 6 String (2:20)
9. Wooden Music (4:56)

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Al Di Meola - Land Of The Midnight Sun (1976)

His stunning debut solo album. The J.S. Bach solo guitar piece is the sarabande from BWV 1002.










Al Di Meola: Guitars, synthesizer, percussion, vocals
Stanley Clarke: Bass, vocals (4)
Anthony Jackson: Bass (1, 2)
Jaco Pastorius: Bass (5)
Chick Corea: Piano, marimba (6)
Barry Miles: Electric piano, mini-moog (2, 5)
Mingo Lewis: Keyboards (1), percussion (1, 2, 4, 5)
Steve Gadd: Drums (1)
Alphonse Mouzon: Drums (5)
Lenny White: Drums (2)
Patty Buyukas: Backing vocals (4)

1. The Wizard (Mingo Lewis) – 6:46
2. Land of the Midnight Sun (Al Di Meola) – 9:10
3. Sarabande from Violin Sonata in B Minor (Johann Sebastian Bach) – 1:20
4. Love Theme from "Pictures of the Sea" (Al Di Meola) – 2:25
5. Suite Golden Dawn: (Al Di Meola) – 9:49
* Morning Fire
* Calmer of the Tempests
* From Ocean to the Clouds
6. Short Tales of the Black Forest (Chick Corea) – 5:41

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Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy (1977)

Elegant Gypsy is the second album by AMERICAN JAZZ FUSION guitarist Al Di Meola. This was a follow-on album to Al Di Meola's debut release, Land of the Midnight Sun. The distinctive music in this release is a speedy fusion of Jazz and Rock, with lightning-fast guitar riffs intermixed with lyrical acoustical passages.







Al Di Meola: Guitars.
Paco de Lucía: Guitar.
Anthony Jackson: Bass guitar.
Chick Corea: Piano, keyboards.
Jan Hammer: Keyboards, synthesizer.
Mingo Lewis: Keyboards, Synthesizer, Percussion.
Barry Miles: Piano, keyboards.
Steve Gadd: Drums.
Lenny White: Drums.

1. "Flight Over Rio" (Mingo Lewis)
2. "Midnight Tango" (Al Di Meola)
3. "Mediterranean Sundance" (Al Di Meola)
4. "Race With Devil on Spanish Highway" (Al Di Meola)
5. "Lady of Rome, Sister of Brazil" (Al Di Meola)
6. "Elegant Gypsy Suite" (Al Di Meola)

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Al Di Meola - Splendido Hotel (1980)

His fourth solo album.











Al Di Meola: Guitars, mando-cello, castanets (9), drums (8), vocals (8)
Les Paul: Guitar (9)
Anthony Jackson: Bass guitar (2, 3, 5, 9)
Tim Landers: Bass guitar (1, 5, 6)
Chick Corea: Piano (2, 4, 10)
Philippe Saisse: Keyboards, marimba (1, 2, 3, 6)
Peter Cannarozzi: Synthesizer (2, 3)
Jan Hammer: Synthesizer (5)
Robbie Gonzalez: Drums (1, 2, 5, 6)
Steve Gadd: Drums (3, 9)
Mingo Lewis: Percussion (2, 3, 5)
Eddie Colon: Percussion (1, 2, 5, 6)
David Campbell: Violin (10)
Carol Shive: Viola (10)
Dennis Karmzyn: Cello (10)
Raymond Kelley: Cello (10)
The Columbus Boychoir (10)

1. Alien Chase On Arabian Desert (Al Di Meola)
2. Silent Story In Her Eyes (Al Di Meola)
3. Roller Jubilee (Philippe Saisse)
4. Two To Tango (Al Di Meola)
5. Al Di's Dream Theme (Al Di Meola)
6. Dinner Music Of The Gods (Al Di Meola)
7. Splendido Sundance (Al Di Meola)
8. I Can Tell (Al Di Meola/Philippe Saisse)
9. Spanish Eyes (Bert Kaempfert/Charlie Singleton/Eddie Snyder)
10. Isfahan (Chick Corea)
11. Bianca's Midnight Lullaby (Al Di Meola)

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21 June 2009

Yes - 90125 (1983)

90125 is the eleventh album by PROGRESSIVE ROCK group Yes, released in 1983. It was the first album since the breakup of Yes in 1980. It is also the first album to feature Trevor Rabin, and also features the return of vocalist Jon Anderson, who quit the band in 1979. It also marked the first time in twelve years that original keyboardist Tony Kaye had appeared with the group. The album is notable for marking a radical shift in style, with Yes largely trading in their trademark symphonic progressive rock sound for contemporary, synthesized 1980's pop. The title of the album refers to its original catalogue number, not a USA zip code.



* Jon Anderson: Vocals
* Chris Squire: Bass guitars, vocals
* Trevor Rabin: Guitars, Keyboards, vocals
* Tony Kaye: Keyboards
* Alan White: Drums, percussion, vocals

"Owner of a Lonely Heart" (Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Trevor Horn) – 4:29
"Hold On" (Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) – 5:16
"It Can Happen" (Chris Squire/Jon Anderson/Trevor Rabin) – 5:29
"Changes" (Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson/Alan White) – 6:20
"Cinema" (Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Alan White/Tony Kaye) – 2:08
"Leave It" (Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Trevor Horn) – 4:14
"Our Song" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Alan White/Tony Kaye) – 4:18
"City of Love" (Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson) – 4:51
"Hearts" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Alan White/Tony Kaye) – 7:39

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Michael Franks - The Art Of Tea (1975)

For "The Art of Tea" singer-songwriter Michael Franks was teamed up with members of the Crusaders. With Larry Carlton on guitar, this remains many people's favourite Franks album.










Michael Franks - Vocals
Joe Sample - Keyboards
Larry Carlton - Guitars
John Guerin - Drums
Wilton Felder - Bass
Michael Brecker - Tenor sax on "Jive"
Dave Sanborn - Alto sax
Larry Bunker - Vibes
Jerry Steinholtz - Congas

1.: Nightmoves
2.: Egg Plant
3.: Monkey See Monkey Do
4.: St Elmo's Fire
5.: Don't Know Why I'm So Happy I'm Sad
6.: Jive
7.: Popsicle Toes
8.: Mr Blue
9.: Sometimes I Just Forget To Smile

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Mother's Finest - Live (1979)

Mother's Finest live in the seventies.











Joyce Kennedy - Vocals
Glenn Murdock - Vocals
Wizzard - Bass
B.B. Queen - Drums
Mike - Keyboards
Moses Mo - Guitars

1. Somebody to Love 5:55
2. Fire 4:10
3. Mickey's Monkey 6:03
4. Give You All the Love 6:30
5. Baby Love 4:13
6. Magic Carpet Ride 5:11
7. Love Changes 5:22
8. Watch My Stylin' 4:46
9. Don't Wanna Come Back 3:28
10. Can't Fight the Feeling 4:34

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The Alan Parsons Project - Stereotomy (1985)

"Stereotomy is the penultimate regular album by The Alan Parsons Project. Although generally considered better musically than its predecessor, Vulture Culture, it was not as successful commercially, perhaps due to much fewer vocals from Eric Woolfson (he only appears on a small section of the title track). The album is a break from Project tradition, containing three lengthy tracks (one the longest instrumental the Project ever made) and two minute-long songs at the end. It is a full digital production.
The word 'stereotomy' is taken from the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. It refers to the cutting of existing solid shapes into different forms; it is used as a metaphor for the way that famous people (singers, actors. etc.) are often 'shaped' by the demands of fame."

Keyboards, Vocals, Primary Artist: Alan Parsons
Bass: David Paton
Drums and Percussion: Stuart Elliott
Guitars: Ian Bairnson
Synths and Saxes: Richard Cottle
Pianos: Eric Woolfson
Vocals: John Miles, Chris Rainbow, Gary Brooker, Graham Dye, Steve Dye, Eric Woolfson
Orchestra Arranged and Conducted by Andrew Powell
The Philharmonia Orchestra: Leader Christopher Warren-Green

1. "Stereotomy" – 7:18
2. "Beaujolais" – 4:27
3. "Urbania" (instrumental) – 4:59
4. "Limelight" – 4:39
5. "In The Real World" – 4:20
6. "Where's The Walrus?" (instrumental) – 7:31
7. "Light Of The World" – 6:19
8. "Chinese Whispers" (instrumental) – 1:01
9. "Stereotomy Two" – 1:21

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Boston - Don't Look Back (1978)

Boston's second. Enough said.











Brad Delp – Vocals, Acoustic guitar
Tom Scholz – Guitars, Keyboards, Bass
Barry Goudreau – Guitars
Fran Sheehan – Bass
Sib Hashian – Drums

"Don't Look Back" – 5:58
"The Journey" – 1:46
"It's Easy" – 4:27
"A Man I'll Never Be" – 6:38
"Feelin' Satisfied" – 4:12
"Party" (Bradley Delp, Scholz) – 4:07
"Used to Bad News" (Delp) – 2:57
"Don't Be Afraid" – 3:50

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Boston - Third Stage (1986)

From the compositional point of view, this is my favourite Boston album. The Launch is great and My Destination is phenomenal. Third stage, third masterpiece.









Tom Scholz - guitars, organs, drums
Brad Delp - vocals, harmony vocals
Jim Masdea - drums, percussion
Gary Pihl - guitar

"Amanda" – 4:16
"We're Ready" – 3:58
"The Launch" – 2:55
"Cool the Engines" – 4:24
"My Destination" – 2:19
"A New World" – 0:37
"To be a Man" – 3:30
"I Think I Like It" – 4:07
"Can'tcha Say/Still in Love" – 5:13
"Hollyann" – 5:09

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The Alan Parsons Project - Vulture Culture (1985)

The Project's eighth album.











Vocals: Eric Woolfson, Chris Rainbow, Lenny Zakatek, David Paton, Colin Blunstone
Bass: David Paton
Drums & Percussion: Stuart Elliot
Electric & Acoustic Guitar: Ian Bairnson
Keyboards: Eric Woolfson
Fairlight Programming: Alan Parsons
Synths and saxes: Richard Cottle

1. "Let's Talk About Me" – 4:29
2. "Separate Lives" – 4:59
3. "Days Are Numbers (The Traveller)" – 4:31
4. "Sooner Or Later" – 4:25
5. "Vulture Culture" – 5:22
6. "Hawkeye" (instrumental) – 3:49
7. "Somebody Out There" – 4:55
8. "The Same Old Sun" – 5:25

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20 June 2009

The Alan Parsons Project - Gaudi (1987)

The Project's tenth album and the last of the "Classic Ten" where Parsons collaborated with Eric Woolfson. This album was inspired by the life and works of architect Antonio Gaudi.








Vocals: Eric Woolfson, Chris Rainbow, Lenny Zakatek, Geoff Barradale, John Miles
Bass: Laurie Cottle
Drums & Percussion: Stuart Elliot
Electric & Acoustic Guitar: Ian Bairnson
Keyboards: Eric Woolfson
Synths and saxes: Richard Cottle

1. "La Sagrada Familia" – 8:46
2. "Too Late" – 4:31
3. "Closer to Heaven" – 5:52
4. "Standing on Higher Ground" – 5:03
5. "Money Talks" – 4:26
6. "Inside Looking Out" – 6:22
7. "Paseo De Gracia" – 3:47

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Eagles - Eagles (1972)

Steeped in the country-rock sound of the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers (guitarist/banjo player Bernie Leadon had been a member of the latter) and the burgeoning So-Cal singer-songwriter movement (Jackson Browne contributes to a pair of songs on the album), the Eagles 1972 debut is full of breezy hit singles ("Take It Easy," "Peaceful Easy Feeling") and stinging rock ("Witchy Woman," "Take the Devil"). Thanks to Leadon's presence, there's a bluegrass feel to songs like "Nightingale" and "Early Bird." Mostly, though, the album offers a sampling of the L.A. scene's laid-back early-70s optimism, with just a hint of the darkness to come. - Daniel Durchholz


Glenn Frey - guitar, piano, vocals
Bernie Leadon - guitar, banjo, mandolin, vocals
Randy Meisner - bass, guitar, vocals
Don Henley - drum kit,drums, vocals

Take It Easy (3:29) (Jackson Browne/Glenn Frey)
Witchy Woman (4:10) (Don Henley/Bernie Leadon)
Chug All Night (3:13) (Glenn Frey)
Most Of Us Are Sad (3:33) (Glenn Frey)
Nightingale (4:05) (Jackson Browne)
Train Leaves Here This Mornin' (4:07) (Gene Clark/Bernie Leadon)
Take the Devil (4:00) (Randy Meisner)
Early Bird (3:00) (Bernie Leadon/Randy Meisner)
Peaceful Easy Feeling (4:16) (Jack Tempchin)
Tryin' (2:50) (Randy Meisner)

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Eagles - Desperado (1973)

Second album by the Eagles.











* Don Henley: Drums, percussion, vocals.
* Randy Meisner: Bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals.
* Glenn Frey: Guitars, Keyboards, piano, vocals.
* Bernie Leadon: Guitars, mandolin, banjo, vocals.

"Doolin-Dalton" (Browne, Frey, Henley, Souther) – 3:26
"Twenty-One" (Leadon) – 2:11
"Out of Control" (Frey, Henley, Tom Nixon) – 3:04
"Tequila Sunrise" (Frey, Henley) – 2:52
"Desperado" (Frey, Henley) – 3:33
"Certain Kind of Fool" (Frey, Henley, Meisner) – 3:02
"Doolin-Dalton (instrumental)" (Browne, Frey, Henley, Souther) – 0:48
"Outlaw Man" (Blue) – 3:34
"Saturday Night" (Frey, Henley, Leadon, Meisner) – 3:20
"Bitter Creek" (Leadon) – 5:00
"Doolin-Dalton/Desperado (Reprise)" (Browne, Frey, Henley, Souther) – 4:50

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19 June 2009

Focus - In And Out Of Focus (1970)

This marks the beginning of the Focus saga, Focus' first from way back with distinctly silly lyrics (written by Dutchmen...). However, I didn't realize what a good composition "Black Beauty" actually is until I heard the (instrumental) remake on Focus 9/New Skin. "Sugar Island" was banned from the American release because of the lyrics about Castro's Cuba... And yes, there is a hit: "House of the King".






Thijs van Leer : organ, flute, vocals
Jan Akkerman : guitars
Martin Dresden : bass
Hans Cleuver : drums
Picture left to right: Jan, Thijs, Martin, Hans

Focus (vocal) (T. van Leer; E. Cleuver-2:44)
Black beauty (T. van Leer; E. Cleuver-3:05)
Sugar Island (T. van Leer; M. Dresden; J. Staal-3:03)
Anonymous (T. van Leer; J. Akkerman; M. Dresden-7:00)
House of the King (Jan Akkerman-2:20)
Happy Nightmare (Mescaline) (T. van Leer; M. Dresden; M. Hayes-3:56)
Why dream (T. van Leer; E. Cleuver-3:57)
Focus (instrumental) (T. van Leer-9:45)

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Focus - Moving Waves (1971)

Moving Waves is the second album by Focus released in October 1971 and contained the hit "Hocus Pocus" which contained manic yodelling from Thijs van Leer combined with Jan Akkerman's heavy metal guitar sound, harmonicas, panflutes and much more. Even though the sound was highly experimental, it became very successful peaking at #9 in the Dutch Top 40 and later becoming popular in the United States with a #9 position on the Billboard Hot 100 and a #20 position in the UK Singles Chart.
One song dominates the album and that is "Eruption" which is a 23 minute long instrumental piece which is a hardrock version of the tale of Orpheus and Euridice and is an updated and more modern version of the Jacopo Peri's opera Euridice.

Thijs van Leer - Keyboards, flute, vocals
Jan Akkerman - Guitars
Cyril Havermans - Bass
Pierre van der Linden - Drums
Picture from left to right: Pierre, Jan, Cyril, Thijs

1. "Hocus Pocus" Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman 6:42
2. "Le Clochard" Jan Akkerman 2:01
3. "Janis" Jan Akkerman 3:09
4. "Moving Waves" Thijs van Leer, Inayat Khan 2:42
5. "Focus II" Thijs van Leer 2:56
6. "Eruption" Thijs van Leer, Tom Barlage, Jan Akkerman, Pierre van der Linden, Eelke Nobel 23:04
a. Orfeus (at 0:00) 1:22
b. Answer (at 1:22) 1:35
c. Orfeus (at 2:56) 1:20
d. Answer (at 4:16) 0:52
e. Pupilla (at 5:08) 1:03
f. Tommy (at 6:11) 1:45
g. Pupilla (at 7:56) 0:34
h. Answer (at 8:30) 0:21
i. The Bridge (at 8:51) 5:20
j. Break (at 14:11) 0:24
k. Euridice (at 14:35) 1:40
l. Dayglow (at 16:15) 2:02
m. Endless Road (at 18:17) 1:43
n. Answer (at 20:00) 0:34
o. Orfeus (at 20:34) 0:51
p. Euridice (at 21:25) 1:37

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18 June 2009

Focus - Focus 3 (1972)

"Focus III is a double-album by progressive rock band Focus, which was released in 1972. It includes "Sylvia", a worldwide hit that reached #4 on the UK charts and #33 on the US charts." - Wikipedia









Thijs van Leer – keyboards, flute, piccolo, recorder, vocals
Jan Akkerman – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, lute
Bert Ruiter – bass guitar
Pierre van der Linden – drums
Mike Vernon their producer - backing vocals on "Round Goes The Gossip"

1 - Round Goes the Gossip – 5:12
2 - Love Remembered – 2:49
3 - Sylvia – 3:31
4 - Carnival Fugue – 6:08
5 - Focus III – 6:04
6 - Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! – 13:55
7 - Elspeth of Nottingham – 3:06
8 - Anonymus Two – 26:19

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Focus - Ship Of Memories (1976)

For collectors: a collection of bits & pieces & leftovers, released after the Focus heyday.










Thijs van Leer : organ, flute, vocals
Jan Akkerman : guitars
Bert Ruiter : bass
Pierre van der Linden : drums

1. P's March
2. Can't Believe My Eyes
3. Focus V
4. Out of Vesuvius
5. Glider
6. Red Sky at Night
7. Spoke the Lord Creator
8. Crackers
9. Ship of Memories
10. Hocus Pocus (US Single Version)

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Focus - At The Rainbow (1973)

The only live album by Focus, released on the heels of "Focus 3", with Akkerman performing as sloppily (and out-of-tune) as ever. One thing is for sure though: Thijs has a way of announcing band members!









Thijs van Leer : Vocal, organ, flute.
Jan Akkerman : Guitar.
Bert Ruiter : Bass guitar
Pierre van der Linden : Drums

01. Focus III (T. van Leer) [3:54]
02. Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! (J. Akkerman; B. Ruiter) [11:38]
03. Focus II (T. van Leer) [4:27]
04. Eruption (excerpts) (T. van Leer; T. Barlage) [8:29]
a) Orfeus
b) Answer
c) Orfeus
d) Answer
e) Pupilla
f) Tommy
g) Pupilla
05. Hocus pocus (T. van Leer; J. Akkerman) [8:29]
06. Sylvia (T. van Leer) [2:48]
07. Hocus pocus (reprise) (T. van Leer; J. Akkerman) [2:47]

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17 June 2009

Focus - Mother Focus (1975)

The fifth studio album by Focus and clearly the beginning of the end. Bassist Bert Ruiter seems to have taken advantage of the "breakdown in communications" between Akkerman and van Leer to squeeze in no less than four of his own compositions (tracks 2, 4, 5 and 6). Track 2 has vocals which make you indeed need a bathroom and tracks 4-6 are kinda muzak, reminding me of Deodato. Tracks 8-9 are fairly typical Akkerman tracks, anticipating his later solo work. "No Hang Ups" is a good composition by an outsider, Paul Stoppelman and "Father Bach" an instrumental rendition of the St. Matthew Passion's (also by an outsider) opening chorus, a brief filler indeed... However what makes this album a must for Focus fans (after all) is the outstanding "Focus IV".

- Jan Akkerman / guitars
- Colin Allen / drums (2)
- David Kemper / drums
- Bert Ruiter / basses, vocals (2)
- Thijs van Leer / keyboards, flutes, vocals (1)

1. Mother Focus (3:04)
2. I Need a Bathroom (3:05)
3. Bennie Helder (3:32)
4. Soft Vanilla (3:03)
5. Hard Vanilla (2:35)
6. Tropic Bird (2:43)
7. Focus IV (3:58)
8. Someone's Crying... What! (3:19)
9. All Together... Oh That! (3:42)
10. No Hang Ups (2:56)
11. My Sweetheart (3:36)
12. Father Bach (1:33)

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Eagles - On The Border (1974)

Third album by the Eagles.











* Glenn Frey - lead vocals, lead guitars, piano
* Don Henley - lead vocals, drums, guitar
* Bernie Leadon - lead vocals, lead guitars, banjo, steel guitar
* Randy Meisner - lead vocals, bass
* Don Felder - vocals electric guitar,

"Already Gone" (Tempchin, Strandlin) – 4:13
"You Never Cry Like a Lover" (Souther, Henley) – 4:02
"Midnight Flyer" (Paul Craft) – 3:58
"My Man" (Leadon) – 3:30
"On the Border" (Henley, Leadon, Frey) – 4:28
"James Dean" (Browne, Frey, Souther, Henley) – 3:36
"Ol' 55" (Waits) – 4:22
"Is It True?" (Meisner) – 3:14
"Good Day in Hell" (Henley, Frey) – 4:27
"Best of My Love" (Henley, Frey, Souther) – 4:35

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Eagles - One Of These Nights (1975)

Fourth album by the Eagles. "Journey of the Sorcerer" was used as the title music for "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" radio and television series.









* Don Felder - vocals, guitar, slide guitar, organ
* Glenn Frey - vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonium
* Don Henley - vocals, drums, percussion, tablas
* Bernie Leadon - vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, steel guitar, pedal steel
* Randy Meisner - vocals, bass guitar, guitar
* David Bromberg - fiddles on "Journey of the Sorcerer"
* The Royal Martian Orchestra - strings on "Journey of the Sorcerer"
* Albhy Galuten - synthesizer on "Hollywood Waltz"
* Jim Ed Norman - piano on "Lyin' Eyes" and "Take It to the Limit", orchestrations

"One Of These Nights" (Henley, Frey) – 4:51
"Too Many Hands" (Meisner, Felder) – 4:42
"Hollywood Waltz" (B. Leadon, Tom Leadon, Henley, Frey) – 4:04
"Journey Of The Sorcerer"* (Leadon) – 6:39
"Lyin' Eyes" (Henley, Frey) – 6:39
"Take It to the Limit" (Meisner, Henley, Frey) – 4:48
"Visions" (Felder, Henley) – 4:00
"After The Thrill Is Gone" (Henley, Frey) – 3:58
"I Wish You Peace" (Davis, Leadon) – 3:45

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Eagles - The Long Run (1979)

Their sixth album and the last before the break-up.










* Don Felder: Guitars, organ, vocals.
* Glenn Frey: Guitars, synthesizer, keyboard, vocals.
* Don Henley: Drums, percussion, vocals.
* Timothy B. Schmit: Bass guitar, vocals.
* Joe Walsh: Guitars, Steel guitar, Slide guitar, keyboards, vocals.
* Jimmy Buffett - vocals, background vocals
* The Monstertones - background vocals
* David Sanborn - alto saxophone

"The Long Run" (Don Henley, Glenn Frey) – 3:42
"I Can't Tell You Why" (Timothy B. Schmit, Henley, Frey) – 4:56
"In The City" (Joe Walsh, Barry De Vorzon) – 3:46
"The Disco Strangler" (Don Felder, Henley, Frey) – 2:46
"King of Hollywood" (Henley, Frey) – 6:28
"Heartache Tonight" (Henley, Frey, Bob Seger, J.D. Souther) – 4:26
"Those Shoes" (Felder, Henley, Frey) – 4:56
"Teenage Jail" (Henley, Frey, Souther) – 3:44
"The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks" (Henley, Frey) – 2:20
"The Sad Café" (Henley, Frey, Walsh, Souther) – 5:35

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16 June 2009

Steve Hackett - Momentum (1988)

(On Request) Momentum is the ninth solo album by guitarist Steve Hackett. It is Hackett's second album comprised mainly of classical guitar pieces. Hackett's younger brother, John, plays the flute on the album.








Steve Hackett – guitars, keyboards
John Hackett – flute

"Cavalcanti" – 6:13
"The Sleeping Sea" – 3:27
"Portrait of a Brazilian Lady" – 5:15
"When the Bell Breaks" – 3:03
"A Bed, A Chair and a Guitar" (Steve Hackett/traditional) – 2:44
"Concert for Munich" – 4:55
"Last Rites of Innocence" – 5:28
"Troubled Spirit" – 2:30
"Variation on a Theme by Chopin" – 4:55
"Pierrot" – 2:53
"Momentum" – 2:38
"Bourée" (Johann Sebastian Bach) – 1:34
"An Open Window" – 9:02
"The Vigil" – 6:19

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Steve Hackett - Guitar Noir (1993)

Steve's 1993 solo album (initial Netherlands release).











- Steve Hackett / vocals, guitar, harmonica, Stepp & Rainstick
- Julian Colbeck / keyboards
- Aron Friedman / keyboards
- Nick Magnus / keyboards
- Nick Sykes / additional keyboards
- Dave 'Taif' Ball / bass
- Hugo Degenhardt / drums
- Bimbo Acock / clarinet

1. Take These Pearls 4.14
2. Dark As The Grave 4.38
3. Paint Your Picture 2.57
4. There Are Many Sides To The Night 7.23
5. Like An Arrow 2.51
6. Walking Away From Rainbows 3.10
7. Sierra Quemada 5.19
8. Lost In Your Eyes 4.56
9. Little America 4.55
10. In The Heart Of The City 4.34
11. Vampyre With A Healthy Appetite 5.29
12. Tristesse 4.01

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Steve Hackett - Blues With A Feeling (1994)

(On Request) Blues oriented solo album by Steve Hackett.










Steve Hackett / vocal, guitar & harmonica
- Julian Colbeck / keyboards
- Doug Sinclair / bass guitar
- Hugo Degenhardt / drums
- Dave "Taif" Ball / bass guitar on "Way Down South" & "Love of Another Kind"
- Jerry Peal / organ on "Love of Another Kind"
- The Kew Horns "Footloose", "Tombstone Roller" & "Blues With A Feeling"
- Matt Dunkley / trumpet
- John Lee / trumpet
- Pete Long / Tenor sax
- John Chapman / Baritone sax

1. Born In Chicago (3:57)
2. The Stumble (2:55)
3. Love Of Another Kind (3:59)
4. Way Down South (4:28)
5. A Blue Part Of Town (3:03)
6. Footloose (2:30)
7. Tombstone Roller (5:17)
8. Blues With A Feeling (4:22)
9. Big Dallas Sky (4:47)
10. The 13th Floor (3:29)
11. So Many Roads (3:15)
12. Solid Ground (4:27)

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Steely Dan - Gaucho (1980)

Gaucho was Steely Dan's last album before the band's 10-year breakup from June 1981 to October 1991. The album, originally released in 1980, was also the band's last studio album until the 2000 release of Two Against Nature. Despite exceptional difficulties in the album's production (e.g., Walter Becker getting hit by a car, a dispute over what company had the rights to the album, attempts to get the record company to lower the price from $9.98 to the original $8.98 and the accidental erasing of an entire track - "The Second Arrangement" - by a recording engineer), the album reached #9 on the charts and went platinum. "Hey Nineteen" reached #10 on the singles charts.


Walter Becker - bass, guitar, lyre, vocals
Anthony Jackson - bass
Chuck Rainey - bass
Chuck Sample - bass
Donald Fagen - organ, synthesizer, keyboards, lyre, electric piano, vocals
Don Grolnick - keyboards, electric piano, clavinet
Rob Mounsey - synthesizer, piano
Pat Rebillot - keyboards, electric piano
Joe Sample - electric piano
Hiram Bullock - guitar
Larry Carlton - guitar
Rick Derringer - guitar
Steve Khan - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Mark Knopfler - guitar, vocals
Hugh McCracken - guitar
Wayne Andre - trombone
Michael Brecker - tenor saxophone, vocals
Randy Brecker - trumpet, flugelhorn
Ronnie Cuber - baritone saxophone
Walter Kane - bass clarinet
George Marge - bass clarinet
David Sanborn - alto saxophone, vocals
David Tofani - tenor saxophone, vocal
Steve Gadd - percussion, drums
Jeff Porcaro - percussion, drums
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - drums
Crusher Bennett - percussion
Victor Feldman - percussion, keyboards
Ralph MacDonald - percussion
Nicky Marrero - percussion, timbales, vocals
Patti Austin - vocals, background vocals
Frank "Harmonica Frank" Floyd - background vocals
Diva Gray - vocals, background vocals
Gordon Grody - vocals, background vocals
Lani Groves - vocals, background vocals
Michael McDonald - vocals, background vocals
Leslie Miller - vocals, background vocals
Zachary Sanders - vocals, background vocals
Valerie Simpson - vocals, background vocals
Zack Snaders - background vocals
Toni Wine - vocals, background vocals

"Babylon Sisters" – 5:49
"Hey Nineteen" – 5:06
"Glamour Profession" – 7:28
"Gaucho" (Becker, Fagen, Keith Jarrett) – 5:30
"Time Out of Mind" – 4:11
"My Rival" – 4:30
"Third World Man" – 5:18

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Steely Dan - Aja (1977)

Aja (pronounced the same as "Asia") is an album by the rock band Steely Dan. The album was named after the Korean wife of Fagen's friend's brother. Originally released in 1977 (see 1977 in music), it became the group's best-selling album. Topping at #3 on the U.S. charts and #5 in the United Kingdom, it was the band's first platinum album. In July 1978, the album won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording. In 2003, the album was ranked number 145 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The album is considered to be quite ambitious and sophisticated. The eight minute-long title track features complex jazz-based changes and a solo by renowned saxophonist Wayne Shorter, as well as dextrous drum work by drummer Steve Gadd -- especially at the end of the tune.

Aja is also the subject of one of the Classic Albums series of documentaries about the making of famous albums. The documentary includes interviews with Becker & Fagen (among others) plus live in the studio versions of songs from the album and the opportunity to hear some of the rejected (but not credited to protect the egos of the guilty) guitar solos for "Peg" before Jay Graydon produced the satisfactory take.

Walter Becker - bass, guitar, electric guitar, vocals
Chuck Rainey - bass
Timothy B. Schmit - bass, vocals
Donald Fagen - synthesizer, keyboards, vocals, background vocals, whistle
Paul Griffin - keyboards, electric piano, vocals, background vocals
Don Grolnick - keyboards, clavinet
Michael Omartian - piano, keyboards
Joe Sample - keyboards, electric piano, clavinet
Larry Carlton - guitar, electric guitar
Denny Dias - guitar
Jay Graydon - guitar, electric guitar
Steve Khan - guitar
Dean Parks - guitar
Lee Ritenour - guitar
Pete Christlieb - flute, tenor saxophone
Chuck Findley - horn, brass
Jim Horn - flute, saxophone
Richard Hyde - trombone
Slyde Hyde - brass
Plas Johnson - flute, saxophone
Jackie Kelso - flute, horn, saxophone
Lou McCreary - brass
Bill Perkins - flute, horn, saxophone
Tom Scott - conductor, flute, tenor saxophone, lyricon
Wayne Shorter - flute, tenor saxophone
Bernard Purdie - drums
Steve Gadd - drums
Ed Greene - drums (on "I got the News")
Paul Humphrey - drums
Jim Keltner - percussion, drums
Rick Marotta - drums
Gary Coleman - percussion
Victor Feldman - percussion, piano, keyboards, electric piano, vibraphone
Venetta Field - vocals, background vocals
Clydie King - vocals, background vocals
Rebecca Louis - vocals, background vocals
Shirley Matthews - vocals, background vocals
Michael McDonald - vocals, background vocals

"Black Cow" – 5:10
"Aja" – 7:57
"Deacon Blues" – 7:37
"Peg" – 3:57
"Home at Last" – 5:34
"I Got the News" – 5:06
"Josie" – 4:33

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15 June 2009

Steely Dan - Alive In America (1995)

Alive in America is a live album by rock group Steely Dan, released in 1995.










Walter Becker - guitar, vocals
Donald Fagen - vocals, melodica, keyboards
with
Tom Barney - bass
Warren Bernhardt - piano
Cornelius Bumpus - tenor saxophone
Dennis Chambers - drums
Peter Erskine - drums
Diane Garisto - background vocals
Chris Potter - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Catherine Russell - percussion, background vocals, human whistle
Bob Sheppard - soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
George Wadenius - guitar
Bill Ware - percussion, vibraphone
Brenda White-King - background vocals
Drew Zingg - guitar

"Babylon Sisters" – 6:47
"Green Earrings" – 5:20
"Bodhisattva" – 5:47
"Reelin' in the Years" – 6:24
"Josie" – 6:12
"Book of Liars" (Becker) – 4:19
"Peg" – 4:19
"Third World Man" – 6:38
"Kid Charlemagne" – 5:16
"Sign in Stranger" – 6:34
"Aja" – 9:00

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Steely Dan - The Royal Scam (1976)

Many people's favourite Steely Dan album. Mine too, by far. With the legendary Larry Carlton solo on "Kid Charlemagne".










Walter Becker - bass, guitar, vocals
Chuck Rainey - bass
Timothy B. Schmit - bass, vocals
Donald Fagen - keyboards, vocals
Paul Griffin - keyboards, vocals
Don Grolnick - keyboards
Denny Dias - guitar
Larry Carlton - guitar
Hugh McCracken - guitar
Dean Parks - guitar
Elliott Randall - guitar
Bob Findley - horn
Chuck Findley - horn
Dick Hyde - horn
Slyde Hyde - horn
Jim Horn - saxophone
Richard Hyde - trombone
Plas Johnson - saxophone
John Klemmer - horn
Rick Marotta - drums
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - drums
Gary Coleman - percussion
Victor Feldman - percussion, keyboards
Venetta Fields - vocals
Clydie King - vocals
Shirley Matthews - vocals
Michael McDonald - vocals

"Kid Charlemagne" – 4:38
"The Caves of Altamira" – 3:33
"Don't Take Me Alive" – 4:16
"Sign in Stranger" – 4:23
"The Fez" (Becker, Fagen, Paul Griffin) – 4:01
"Green Earrings" – 4:05
"Haitian Divorce" – 5:51
"Everything You Did" – 3:55
"The Royal Scam" – 6:30

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Steely Dan - Katy Lied (1975)

The fourth album by Steely Dan.











* Donald Fagen - piano, keyboards, vocals
* Michael Omartian - piano, keyboards
* David Paich - piano, keyboards
* Walter Becker - bass, guitar, vocals
* Wilton Felder - bass
* Chuck Rainey - bass
* Denny Dias - guitar
* Larry Carlton - guitar
* Rick Derringer - guitar
* Hugh McCracken - guitar
* Dean Parks - guitar
* Elliott Randall - guitar
* Jimmie Haskell - horn
* Bill Perkins - horn
* Phil Woods - saxophone, vocals
* Hal Blaine - drums
* Jeff Porcaro - drums, dorophone
* Myrna Matthews - vocals, background vocals
* Shirley Matthews - vocals, background vocals
* Michael McDonald - vocals, background vocals
* Carolyn Willis - vocals, background vocals

1. "Black Friday" – 3:33
2. "Bad Sneakers" – 3:16
3. "Rose Darling" – 2:59
4. "Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More" – 3:12
5. "Doctor Wu" – 3:59
6. "Everyone's Gone to the Movies" – 3:41
7. "Your Gold Teeth II" – 4:12
8. "Chain Lightning" – 2:57
9. "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)" – 3:56
10. "Throw Back the Little Ones" – 3:11

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Larry Carlton - Singing/Playing (1973)

This is Larry Carlton's second independent recording, which has finally been reissued on CD. The trademark 'Carlton' guitar sound is evident throughout, as is his toneless singing. The tracks here have a more earthy feel, as opposed to the over-produced stylings he would later employ; however, the overall results are disappointing. The guitar playing is certainly impressive (especially the distortion-filled "Free Way"), but there is simply not enough of it. Regardless, this is an interesting part of Carlton's beginnings and there are enough moments here that foreshadow his evolvement into one of the most distinctive voices in the history of electric guitar. - Robert Taylor, All Music Guide

Toko notes: shown here is the LP cover. The CD cover has a different picture (Larry looks less serious) and states the album title as "playing/singing". Confusing... anyway this album remains a curiosity.
Larry Carlton - Vocals/Guitars
with a large crowd of studio musicians

Easy Evil
I Cry Mercy
One More Chance
With Respect To Coltrane
American Family
Wavin' And Smilin'
Captain, Captain
Free Way

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