Thanks to Martin Cowan for his email sent Saturday:
“Just found out that the great Vic Chesnutt has died:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic_Chesnutt
http://pitchfork.com/news/37454-vic-chesnutt-in-coma/
http://cstrecords.com/
Wednesday 30 December 2009
Tuesday 29 December 2009
Changing Times radio series: enjoyable. (Part 4 transmits Wednesday @ 1900 GMT)
Inter-cutting all 10 tracks with comments by writers Howard Sounes and Sid Griffin, Bob Dylan: Changing Times, part 3 – 1989, 0h Mercy, which just finished on BBC 6 Music, was a largely enjoyable dissection of the 1989 album.
Like the previous pair, the programme strove to prove that years ending in “9” have been particularly significant in the Dylan story.
Many, me included, would dispute that.
Other voices heard were Dylan himself (short clip about live performance), Sean Penn (impersonating Bob, reading from Chronicles), Malcolm Burn, muso/engineer on Oh Mercy, and presenter John Wilson.
The programme’s strength was its focus on the music.
But, for those who know the music, that was also a weakness – we all possess the album and can play it whenever we want. More evaluation and some fresh insights would have been preferable.
Those reservations aside, programme 3 will send me back to the earlier two, via BBC iPlayer:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
Programme 4, unlisted in Radio Times, the woeful BBC listings mag, runs tomorrow, Wednesday 30 Dec, @ 1900 GMT. It looks as if it might be “experts” “chatting” about Dylan in the Noughties.
Hmmm…
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tempting new three-part BBC radio series to track the changing Dylan
Over the Xmas holidays, BBC 6 Music, the rock radio station, is broadcasting a tempting new three-part series surveying Dylan’s changing times.
Bob Dylan: Changing Times, a trio of one-hour programmes to be transmitted on successive evenings from Sunday 27 December (Sunday @ 2000 GMT, then 1900 on Monday and Tuesday), examines Dylan’s abrupt end-of-decade changes – country in 1969, Christianity in 1979 and a “return to large-scale touring” in 1989.
BBC 6 Music is a digital-only station, focusing mainly but not exclusively on post-Punk rock. It targets a younger audience than hoary old Radio 2 - the older brothers of pubescent Radio 1 listeners.
If you live in a territory where copyright allows, you might be able to hear the series online at:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
Gerry Smith
Like the previous pair, the programme strove to prove that years ending in “9” have been particularly significant in the Dylan story.
Many, me included, would dispute that.
Other voices heard were Dylan himself (short clip about live performance), Sean Penn (impersonating Bob, reading from Chronicles), Malcolm Burn, muso/engineer on Oh Mercy, and presenter John Wilson.
The programme’s strength was its focus on the music.
But, for those who know the music, that was also a weakness – we all possess the album and can play it whenever we want. More evaluation and some fresh insights would have been preferable.
Those reservations aside, programme 3 will send me back to the earlier two, via BBC iPlayer:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
Programme 4, unlisted in Radio Times, the woeful BBC listings mag, runs tomorrow, Wednesday 30 Dec, @ 1900 GMT. It looks as if it might be “experts” “chatting” about Dylan in the Noughties.
Hmmm…
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tempting new three-part BBC radio series to track the changing Dylan
Over the Xmas holidays, BBC 6 Music, the rock radio station, is broadcasting a tempting new three-part series surveying Dylan’s changing times.
Bob Dylan: Changing Times, a trio of one-hour programmes to be transmitted on successive evenings from Sunday 27 December (Sunday @ 2000 GMT, then 1900 on Monday and Tuesday), examines Dylan’s abrupt end-of-decade changes – country in 1969, Christianity in 1979 and a “return to large-scale touring” in 1989.
BBC 6 Music is a digital-only station, focusing mainly but not exclusively on post-Punk rock. It targets a younger audience than hoary old Radio 2 - the older brothers of pubescent Radio 1 listeners.
If you live in a territory where copyright allows, you might be able to hear the series online at:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
Gerry Smith
Monday 21 December 2009
Der Rosenkavalier: not my cup of tea
On reflection, struggling into town through snow and ice on Friday to see Der Rosenkavalier at London’s Royal Opera House was a silly mistake.
I generally like Richard Strauss/Hugo von Hoffmannsthal operas, but this sugary confection just wasn’t to my taste.
Having ploughed diligently through the operatic repertoire for the last fifteen years, I should have realized much, much earlier – lightweight fluffy costume drama just isn’t my cup of tea.
Der Rosenkavalier is one of the best-loved of all operas. I fail to see why.
The singers in Act 1 were OK, Sophie Koch the pick. I can’t tell you anything about Acts 2 & 3, though – I hotfooted it back to the ‘burbs at the first interval.
Gerry Smith
I generally like Richard Strauss/Hugo von Hoffmannsthal operas, but this sugary confection just wasn’t to my taste.
Having ploughed diligently through the operatic repertoire for the last fifteen years, I should have realized much, much earlier – lightweight fluffy costume drama just isn’t my cup of tea.
Der Rosenkavalier is one of the best-loved of all operas. I fail to see why.
The singers in Act 1 were OK, Sophie Koch the pick. I can’t tell you anything about Acts 2 & 3, though – I hotfooted it back to the ‘burbs at the first interval.
Gerry Smith
Thursday 17 December 2009
Tempting new three-part BBC radio series to track the changing Dylan
Over the Xmas holidays, BBC 6 Music, the rock radio station, is broadcasting a tempting new three-part series surveying Dylan’s changing times.
Bob Dylan: Changing Times, a trio of one-hour programmes to be transmitted on successive evenings from Sunday 27 December (Sunday @ 2000 GMT, then 1900 on Monday and Tuesday), examines Dylan’s abrupt end-of-decade changes – country in 1969, Christianity in 1979 and a “return to large-scale touring” in 1989.
BBC 6 Music is a digital-only station, focusing mainly but not exclusively on post-Punk rock. It targets a younger audience than hoary old Radio 2 - the older brothers of pubescent Radio 1 listeners.
If you live in a territory where copyright allows, you might be able to hear the series online at:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
Gerry Smith
Bob Dylan: Changing Times, a trio of one-hour programmes to be transmitted on successive evenings from Sunday 27 December (Sunday @ 2000 GMT, then 1900 on Monday and Tuesday), examines Dylan’s abrupt end-of-decade changes – country in 1969, Christianity in 1979 and a “return to large-scale touring” in 1989.
BBC 6 Music is a digital-only station, focusing mainly but not exclusively on post-Punk rock. It targets a younger audience than hoary old Radio 2 - the older brothers of pubescent Radio 1 listeners.
If you live in a territory where copyright allows, you might be able to hear the series online at:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
Gerry Smith
Friday 4 December 2009
Verdi’s Otello in London last night: my top gig of 2009
Verdi’s Otello at the Barbican last night was a fine concert performance of a top opera.
Take a great drama (Shakespeare’s Othello), edit it to a stunning libretto (Boito) and set it to music by a late-career master (Verdi) and you have a powerful piece of timeless art.
Add one of the great orchestras of the world – London Symphony Orchestra – and a cast of expressive solo voices, and you create unforgettable music, rich, subtle, moving.
Last night’s Otello was a stand-in, Simon O’Neill. He was a revelation, the definitive heldentenor. He was kept on his toes by the dependably resonant bass-baritone Gerald Finley (Jago) and the subtly tragic soprano Anne Schwanewilms (Desdemona). Young tenor Allan Clayton (Cassio), new to me, was impressive - we’ll be hearing a lot more from him.
The LSO and choir – 200 people on the stage – were outstanding.
Verdi’s Otello in London last night: my top gig of 2009.
Gerry Smith
Take a great drama (Shakespeare’s Othello), edit it to a stunning libretto (Boito) and set it to music by a late-career master (Verdi) and you have a powerful piece of timeless art.
Add one of the great orchestras of the world – London Symphony Orchestra – and a cast of expressive solo voices, and you create unforgettable music, rich, subtle, moving.
Last night’s Otello was a stand-in, Simon O’Neill. He was a revelation, the definitive heldentenor. He was kept on his toes by the dependably resonant bass-baritone Gerald Finley (Jago) and the subtly tragic soprano Anne Schwanewilms (Desdemona). Young tenor Allan Clayton (Cassio), new to me, was impressive - we’ll be hearing a lot more from him.
The LSO and choir – 200 people on the stage – were outstanding.
Verdi’s Otello in London last night: my top gig of 2009.
Gerry Smith
Wednesday 2 December 2009
The Complete MILES DAVIS Columbia Album Collection: Release of the Decade
A week after receiving it, I’m still drooling over it.
The Complete MILES DAVIS Columbia Album Collection is now the star of my music collection.
It collects together 52 Miles albums on 70 CDs.
The Columbia LPs are the pick of the Davis crop. The music is stellar.
The extras – 2 CDs, extra track versions of many albums, DVD, book - are compelling. The price (£140 at amazon uk) is very competitive – a legendary tightwad, I bought the box even though I already own more than half of the albums.
And the product is exquisite, the most beautiful artefact I’ve ever possessed. The CDs are packaged in miniature replicas of the original LP artwork. The box is a work of art.
The book, by a pair of French journalists from the fabulous Paris-based Jazz Magazine, is a must-have.
The Complete MILES DAVIS Columbia Album Collection is very highly recommended.
In fact it’s my Release of the Decade
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
THE COMPLETE MILES DAVIS COLUMBIA ALBUM COLLECTION
(Columbia/Legacy 88697 55852 2)
# Title Rec. Rel. Catalog
01. In Paris Festival Int'l De Jazz May, 1949 - 1949 1977 SRCS 9724
02. 'Round About Midnight - 1955-1956 1957 CK 85201
03. Circle In The Round - 1955-1970 1979 C2K 46862
04. Miles Ahead - 1957 1957 CK 65121
05. Milestones - 1958 1958 CK 85203
06. 1958 Miles - 1958 1974 C6K 65833
07. At Newport 1958 - 1958 1964 CK 85202
08. Porgy And Bess - 1958 1959 CK 65141
09. Jazz At The Plaza - 1958 1973 CK 85245
10. Kind Of Blue - 1959 1959 CK 64935
11. Sketches Of Spain - 1959-60 1960 CK 65142
12. Directions - 1960-70 1981 SRCS 9761/2
13. Someday My Prince Will Come - 1961 1961 CK 65919
14. In Person Friday Night At The Blackhawk, 1961 - 1961 C2K 87097 San Francisco - Complete
15. In Person Saturday Night At The Blackhawk, - 1961 1961 C2K 87100 San Francisco - Complete
16. At Carnegie Hall - 1961 1962 C2K 65027
17. Quiet Nights + "Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)" and "Devil May Care" - 1962 1963 CK 65293
18. Seven Steps To Heaven - 1963 1963 CK 93592
19. In Europe - 1963 1964 CK 93583
20. My Funny Valentine - 1964 1965 CK 93593
21. "Four" & More - 1964 1966 CK 93595
22. Miles In Tokyo - 1964 1969 CK 93596
23. Miles In Berlin - 1964 1965 CK 93594
24. E.S.P. - 1965 1965 CK 65683
25. At Plugged Nickel - V. 1 1965 1976 18AP 2067
V. 2 1965 1976 18AP 2068
26. Miles Smiles - 1966 1967 CK 65682
27. Sorcerer - 1967 1967 CK 65680
28. Nefertiti - 1967 1968 CK 65681
29. Water Babies - 1967-68 1976 CK 86577
30. Miles In The Sky - 1968 1968 CK 65684
31. Filles De Kilimanjaro - 1968 1969 CK 86555
32. In A Silent Way - 1969 1969 CK 86556
33. Bitches Brew - 1969 1970 C2K 65774
34. Big Fun - 1969-72 1974 C2K 63973
35. A Tribute To Jack Johnson - 1970 1971 CK 93599
36. Live At The Fillmore East (March 7, 1970): It's About That Time - 1970 2001 C2K 85191
37. Black Beauty: Miles Davis At Fillmore West - 1970 1973 C2K 65138
38. At Fillmore - 1970 1970 C2K 65139
39. # Isle Of Wight - 1970 2009 -
40. Live/Evil 1970 - 1971 C2K 65135
41. On The Corner - 1972 1972 CK 63980
42. In Concert - 1972 1973 C2K 65140
43. Dark Magus - 1974 1977 C2K 65137
44. Get Up With It - 1972-74 1974 C2K 63970
45. Agharta - 1975 1976 C2K 46799
46. Pangaea - 1975 1975 C2K 46115
47. The Man With The Horn - 1980-81 1981 CK 36790
48. We Want Miles + 3 bonus tracks from Miles!, Miles!, Miles! - 1981 1982 SICP 1235/6
49. Star People - 1982-83 1983 CK 38657
50. Decoy - 1983 1984 CK 38991
51. You're Under Arrest - 1984-85 1985 CK 40023
52. Aura - 1985 1989 CK 45332 indicates double-CD.
DVD
Miles Davis Quintet: Wayne Shorter, Herbie 10-11/67 2009 - Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams / Live In Europe '67
The Complete MILES DAVIS Columbia Album Collection is now the star of my music collection.
It collects together 52 Miles albums on 70 CDs.
The Columbia LPs are the pick of the Davis crop. The music is stellar.
The extras – 2 CDs, extra track versions of many albums, DVD, book - are compelling. The price (£140 at amazon uk) is very competitive – a legendary tightwad, I bought the box even though I already own more than half of the albums.
And the product is exquisite, the most beautiful artefact I’ve ever possessed. The CDs are packaged in miniature replicas of the original LP artwork. The box is a work of art.
The book, by a pair of French journalists from the fabulous Paris-based Jazz Magazine, is a must-have.
The Complete MILES DAVIS Columbia Album Collection is very highly recommended.
In fact it’s my Release of the Decade
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
THE COMPLETE MILES DAVIS COLUMBIA ALBUM COLLECTION
(Columbia/Legacy 88697 55852 2)
# Title Rec. Rel. Catalog
01. In Paris Festival Int'l De Jazz May, 1949 - 1949 1977 SRCS 9724
02. 'Round About Midnight - 1955-1956 1957 CK 85201
03. Circle In The Round - 1955-1970 1979 C2K 46862
04. Miles Ahead - 1957 1957 CK 65121
05. Milestones - 1958 1958 CK 85203
06. 1958 Miles - 1958 1974 C6K 65833
07. At Newport 1958 - 1958 1964 CK 85202
08. Porgy And Bess - 1958 1959 CK 65141
09. Jazz At The Plaza - 1958 1973 CK 85245
10. Kind Of Blue - 1959 1959 CK 64935
11. Sketches Of Spain - 1959-60 1960 CK 65142
12. Directions - 1960-70 1981 SRCS 9761/2
13. Someday My Prince Will Come - 1961 1961 CK 65919
14. In Person Friday Night At The Blackhawk, 1961 - 1961 C2K 87097 San Francisco - Complete
15. In Person Saturday Night At The Blackhawk, - 1961 1961 C2K 87100 San Francisco - Complete
16. At Carnegie Hall - 1961 1962 C2K 65027
17. Quiet Nights + "Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)" and "Devil May Care" - 1962 1963 CK 65293
18. Seven Steps To Heaven - 1963 1963 CK 93592
19. In Europe - 1963 1964 CK 93583
20. My Funny Valentine - 1964 1965 CK 93593
21. "Four" & More - 1964 1966 CK 93595
22. Miles In Tokyo - 1964 1969 CK 93596
23. Miles In Berlin - 1964 1965 CK 93594
24. E.S.P. - 1965 1965 CK 65683
25. At Plugged Nickel - V. 1 1965 1976 18AP 2067
V. 2 1965 1976 18AP 2068
26. Miles Smiles - 1966 1967 CK 65682
27. Sorcerer - 1967 1967 CK 65680
28. Nefertiti - 1967 1968 CK 65681
29. Water Babies - 1967-68 1976 CK 86577
30. Miles In The Sky - 1968 1968 CK 65684
31. Filles De Kilimanjaro - 1968 1969 CK 86555
32. In A Silent Way - 1969 1969 CK 86556
33. Bitches Brew - 1969 1970 C2K 65774
34. Big Fun - 1969-72 1974 C2K 63973
35. A Tribute To Jack Johnson - 1970 1971 CK 93599
36. Live At The Fillmore East (March 7, 1970): It's About That Time - 1970 2001 C2K 85191
37. Black Beauty: Miles Davis At Fillmore West - 1970 1973 C2K 65138
38. At Fillmore - 1970 1970 C2K 65139
39. # Isle Of Wight - 1970 2009 -
40. Live/Evil 1970 - 1971 C2K 65135
41. On The Corner - 1972 1972 CK 63980
42. In Concert - 1972 1973 C2K 65140
43. Dark Magus - 1974 1977 C2K 65137
44. Get Up With It - 1972-74 1974 C2K 63970
45. Agharta - 1975 1976 C2K 46799
46. Pangaea - 1975 1975 C2K 46115
47. The Man With The Horn - 1980-81 1981 CK 36790
48. We Want Miles + 3 bonus tracks from Miles!, Miles!, Miles! - 1981 1982 SICP 1235/6
49. Star People - 1982-83 1983 CK 38657
50. Decoy - 1983 1984 CK 38991
51. You're Under Arrest - 1984-85 1985 CK 40023
52. Aura - 1985 1989 CK 45332 indicates double-CD.
DVD
Miles Davis Quintet: Wayne Shorter, Herbie 10-11/67 2009 - Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams / Live In Europe '67
Wednesday 25 November 2009
Brava! Cecilia Bartoli in London last night
Cecilia Bartoli in London last night was a sheer delight.
The sell-out Barbican show, part of a European tour to promote her new album, Sacrificium, focussed on an obscure collection of Baroque pieces by unknown composers written for castrati.
So Bartoli’s set list was recherché, to say the least. And, let’s face it, some of the music was mediocre, forgettable.
Even so, the performances all evening were magical, demonstrating to the max the great Roman mezzo’s mellow tone, enviable range and peerless control. And her remarkable bond with a smitten audience.
Like all the best shape-shifting musicians, from Bob Dylan to Miles Davis, Bartoli bravely follows her muse, regardless. Her new collection unearths hitherto invisible musicians, just as she has championed unknowns like Salieri and Malibran in recent years.
Like Dylan, she chooses not to tour the world churning out crowd-pleasing hits shows. And her core fanbase thanks her for that – and for consistently challenging, extending them.
The band – the Milanese chamber orchestra Il Giardino Armonico - were spectacularly good foils: I’d be very happy to see them without a singer to support.
A perfect 10, then?
Not quite. Someone needs to have a quiet word about the diva’s cross-dressing. The concept might be appropriate for the role in hand, but the kit itself did the singer few favours.
And the Barbican management surrounded the players on stage with about 80 paying guests.
Mistake: they were a distraction. If the venue should ever repeat the error, it should at least vet the incumbents to ensure we’re forced to gaze only at hand-picked, stylish citizens.
Regular visitors to Music for Grown-Ups might remember reading similar glowing reviews here of other Bartoli London gigs over the years: Cecilia is a firm favourite of this website.
And last night confirmed what we already knew - Ms Bartoli is probably the leading singer on the world stage.
Brava Bartoli!
Gerry Smith
The sell-out Barbican show, part of a European tour to promote her new album, Sacrificium, focussed on an obscure collection of Baroque pieces by unknown composers written for castrati.
So Bartoli’s set list was recherché, to say the least. And, let’s face it, some of the music was mediocre, forgettable.
Even so, the performances all evening were magical, demonstrating to the max the great Roman mezzo’s mellow tone, enviable range and peerless control. And her remarkable bond with a smitten audience.
Like all the best shape-shifting musicians, from Bob Dylan to Miles Davis, Bartoli bravely follows her muse, regardless. Her new collection unearths hitherto invisible musicians, just as she has championed unknowns like Salieri and Malibran in recent years.
Like Dylan, she chooses not to tour the world churning out crowd-pleasing hits shows. And her core fanbase thanks her for that – and for consistently challenging, extending them.
The band – the Milanese chamber orchestra Il Giardino Armonico - were spectacularly good foils: I’d be very happy to see them without a singer to support.
A perfect 10, then?
Not quite. Someone needs to have a quiet word about the diva’s cross-dressing. The concept might be appropriate for the role in hand, but the kit itself did the singer few favours.
And the Barbican management surrounded the players on stage with about 80 paying guests.
Mistake: they were a distraction. If the venue should ever repeat the error, it should at least vet the incumbents to ensure we’re forced to gaze only at hand-picked, stylish citizens.
Regular visitors to Music for Grown-Ups might remember reading similar glowing reviews here of other Bartoli London gigs over the years: Cecilia is a firm favourite of this website.
And last night confirmed what we already knew - Ms Bartoli is probably the leading singer on the world stage.
Brava Bartoli!
Gerry Smith
Monday 23 November 2009
Two free Dylan exhibitions - London’s Trafalgar Square
Readers who happen to be in central London with half an hour to spare will be interested in two free Dylan exhibitions very near Trafalgar Square, the heart of London’s tourist district.
Hard Rain is a travelling open air exhibition (ie viewable 24/7) mounted on the Courtyard railings of St Martin-in-the-Fields church, juxtaposing each line of Dylan’s classic song with a striking photograph illustrating “Our Headlong Collision With Nature”. It closes on 13 December.
The project is documented in a book of the same name, by Mark Edwards; the third edition is on sale (discounted) in the shop in the Crypt, in normal retail hours.
www.hardrainproject.com
If you visit Hard Rain in normal gallery hours, you can also pop across the road to the National Portrait Gallery to view the small exhibition of Barry Feinstein Dylan photographs, Real Moments.
If you can make half a day for it, so much the better: the National Portrait Gallery has a breathtaking permanent collection, too.
www.npg.org.uk
And, from one of the newsagents in the area, why not pick up a copy of the new issue of UNCUT, which has yet another Dylan cover feature?
In central London at the moment, Dylan’s everywhere…
Gerry Smith
Hard Rain is a travelling open air exhibition (ie viewable 24/7) mounted on the Courtyard railings of St Martin-in-the-Fields church, juxtaposing each line of Dylan’s classic song with a striking photograph illustrating “Our Headlong Collision With Nature”. It closes on 13 December.
The project is documented in a book of the same name, by Mark Edwards; the third edition is on sale (discounted) in the shop in the Crypt, in normal retail hours.
www.hardrainproject.com
If you visit Hard Rain in normal gallery hours, you can also pop across the road to the National Portrait Gallery to view the small exhibition of Barry Feinstein Dylan photographs, Real Moments.
If you can make half a day for it, so much the better: the National Portrait Gallery has a breathtaking permanent collection, too.
www.npg.org.uk
And, from one of the newsagents in the area, why not pick up a copy of the new issue of UNCUT, which has yet another Dylan cover feature?
In central London at the moment, Dylan’s everywhere…
Gerry Smith
Monday 16 November 2009
Bob and Miles from Sony: Bootleg Series v Miles boxes
Thanks to Chris Gill:
“Good to know that there’s at least one other Dylan fan out there who’s also a serious lover of Miles’ music!
“I agree with your assessment of how Columbia treats its Dylan and Miles riches.
“Dylan fans have fared better than Miles freaks in one major respect: the Bootleg Series sets are more coherent, enjoyable and better value than the series of Miles boxes documenting every take, every false start, every cough and fart in the Columbia studio.
“I’m still grieving, though, over the way in which Warner, Miles’ last label, was forced to pull its eagerly-awaited box of late Miles gems.”
(13 November)
Bob Dylan and Miles Davis: Sony’s big box sets compared
As far as Bob Dylan and Miles Davis, its major assets, are concerned, Sony does a creditable job managing the treasures locked away in its priceless vaults.
However much hardcore fans might moan about the slow drip-feed of the unreleased Dylan riches, Columbia Legacy is to be commended on its Bootleg Series.
Columbia Legacy also manages its Miles Davis assets pretty astutely, though some Miles aficionados whinge that Sony has released too much inconsequential blathering by the Prince Of Darkness!
But the imminent release of the Complete Miles Davis Columbia Album Collection will leave Bobfans drawing unfavourable comparisons with the Zim equivalent, 2003’s Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series.
The two reissue projects are similar in key respects – all the albums in both collections have remarkable upgraded sound and both boxes reintroduce the original album artwork, in seductive card formats.
But, in other ways, the new Miles box is more compelling:
* it pulls together all of the label’s Miles albums – Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series was selective, with only 15 titles, against the Miles box’s whopping 52, many of them double albums!
* many of the Miles albums carry worthwhile bonus tracks – the Dylan reissues eschewed any.
* even if you already own most of the original recordings, the incentives to buy the Miles box are persuasive – a newly released live DVD, a couple of previously unreleased CDs-worth of music, a substantial 250 page book by two leading Miles experts, and striking packaging.
* value: the “street” launch prices of the two boxes are similar, but the Miles box gives you far more bang for your buck.
Bottom line: I already had virtually all releases by both musicians. I passed on the Dylan box; I’ve ordered the Miles box.
Gerry Smith
“Good to know that there’s at least one other Dylan fan out there who’s also a serious lover of Miles’ music!
“I agree with your assessment of how Columbia treats its Dylan and Miles riches.
“Dylan fans have fared better than Miles freaks in one major respect: the Bootleg Series sets are more coherent, enjoyable and better value than the series of Miles boxes documenting every take, every false start, every cough and fart in the Columbia studio.
“I’m still grieving, though, over the way in which Warner, Miles’ last label, was forced to pull its eagerly-awaited box of late Miles gems.”
(13 November)
Bob Dylan and Miles Davis: Sony’s big box sets compared
As far as Bob Dylan and Miles Davis, its major assets, are concerned, Sony does a creditable job managing the treasures locked away in its priceless vaults.
However much hardcore fans might moan about the slow drip-feed of the unreleased Dylan riches, Columbia Legacy is to be commended on its Bootleg Series.
Columbia Legacy also manages its Miles Davis assets pretty astutely, though some Miles aficionados whinge that Sony has released too much inconsequential blathering by the Prince Of Darkness!
But the imminent release of the Complete Miles Davis Columbia Album Collection will leave Bobfans drawing unfavourable comparisons with the Zim equivalent, 2003’s Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series.
The two reissue projects are similar in key respects – all the albums in both collections have remarkable upgraded sound and both boxes reintroduce the original album artwork, in seductive card formats.
But, in other ways, the new Miles box is more compelling:
* it pulls together all of the label’s Miles albums – Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series was selective, with only 15 titles, against the Miles box’s whopping 52, many of them double albums!
* many of the Miles albums carry worthwhile bonus tracks – the Dylan reissues eschewed any.
* even if you already own most of the original recordings, the incentives to buy the Miles box are persuasive – a newly released live DVD, a couple of previously unreleased CDs-worth of music, a substantial 250 page book by two leading Miles experts, and striking packaging.
* value: the “street” launch prices of the two boxes are similar, but the Miles box gives you far more bang for your buck.
Bottom line: I already had virtually all releases by both musicians. I passed on the Dylan box; I’ve ordered the Miles box.
Gerry Smith
Friday 13 November 2009
Bob Dylan and Miles Davis: Sony’s big box sets compared
As far as Bob Dylan and Miles Davis, its major assets, are concerned, Sony does a creditable job managing the treasures locked away in its priceless vaults.
However much hardcore fans might moan about the slow drip-feed of the unreleased Dylan legacy, Columbia Legacy is to be commended on its Bootleg Series.
Columbia Legacy also manages its Miles Davis assets pretty astutely, though some Miles aficionados whinge that Sony has released too much inconsequential blathering by the Prince Of Darkness!
But the imminent release of the Complete Miles Davis Columbia Album Collection will leave Bobfans drawing unfavourable comparisons with the Zim equivalent, 2003’s Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series.
The two reissue projects are similar in key respects – all the albums in both collections have remarkable upgraded sound and both boxes reintroduce the original album artwork, in seductive digipak format.
But, in other ways, the new Miles box is more compelling:
* it pulls together all of the label’s Miles albums – Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series was selective, with only 15 titles, against the Miles box’s whopping 52, many of them double albums!
* many of the Miles albums carry worthwhile bonus tracks – the Dylan reissues eschewed any.
* even if you already own most of the original recordings, the incentives to buy the Miles box are persuasive – a newly released live DVD, a couple of previously unreleased CDs-worth of music, a substantial 250 page book by two leading Miles experts, and striking packaging.
* value: the “street” launch prices of the two boxes are similar, but the Miles box gives you far more bang for your buck.
Bottom line: I already had virtually all releases by both musicians. I passed on the Dylan box; I’ve ordered the Miles box.
Gerry Smith
However much hardcore fans might moan about the slow drip-feed of the unreleased Dylan legacy, Columbia Legacy is to be commended on its Bootleg Series.
Columbia Legacy also manages its Miles Davis assets pretty astutely, though some Miles aficionados whinge that Sony has released too much inconsequential blathering by the Prince Of Darkness!
But the imminent release of the Complete Miles Davis Columbia Album Collection will leave Bobfans drawing unfavourable comparisons with the Zim equivalent, 2003’s Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series.
The two reissue projects are similar in key respects – all the albums in both collections have remarkable upgraded sound and both boxes reintroduce the original album artwork, in seductive digipak format.
But, in other ways, the new Miles box is more compelling:
* it pulls together all of the label’s Miles albums – Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series was selective, with only 15 titles, against the Miles box’s whopping 52, many of them double albums!
* many of the Miles albums carry worthwhile bonus tracks – the Dylan reissues eschewed any.
* even if you already own most of the original recordings, the incentives to buy the Miles box are persuasive – a newly released live DVD, a couple of previously unreleased CDs-worth of music, a substantial 250 page book by two leading Miles experts, and striking packaging.
* value: the “street” launch prices of the two boxes are similar, but the Miles box gives you far more bang for your buck.
Bottom line: I already had virtually all releases by both musicians. I passed on the Dylan box; I’ve ordered the Miles box.
Gerry Smith
Thursday 5 November 2009
More on: New Age rock: But Is This Music for Grown-Ups? #1
Thanks to Phil Swann:
“You ask: But is this music for grown-ups?
“I’d say – not a chance.
“An essential ingredient of music for grown-ups is that it’s original. This kind of stuff is just so derivative. How can people listen to this when they can spend the same time listening to the original music?”
“You ask: But is this music for grown-ups?
“I’d say – not a chance.
“An essential ingredient of music for grown-ups is that it’s original. This kind of stuff is just so derivative. How can people listen to this when they can spend the same time listening to the original music?”
Wednesday 4 November 2009
New Age rock: But Is This Music for Grown-Ups? #1
The record label have sent me details of a new album “which transforms popular rock bands like Bob Dylan, The Beatles and U2 into relaxing meditation music.”
But is this music for grown-ups?
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Information and song samples:
www.modernmeditations.com
FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:
Slated for release November 17, the ³Modern Meditations² series¹ ³Rock Classics² and ³Modern Classics² 12-track collections feature meditative renditions of some of rock music¹s best-known
and most beloved songs. Also available on November 17 is an album dedicated to the songs of The Beatles. Aimed at introducing a brand new, modern rock perspective on ³new age² music fare, the ³Modern Meditations² series will be available for purchase at all traditional music retail outlets and online services, as well as distributed to many high-end lifestyle retailers.
Featuring the work of renowned producers from across the globe, ³Modern Meditations² has transformed contemporary rock favorites into meditation music for the rock & roll generation. Shimmering rock guitars and warm percussion create lush instrumental soundscapes. While yoga, Pilates, and meditation have all entered the mainstream, the music has not. The ³Modern Meditations² series aims to introduce an alternative to traditional new age fare to the growing modern rock audience.
The first of two compilation releases, ³Rock Classics,² features serene instrumental versions of songs from classic rock¹s most revered artists including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Police, Led Zeppelin and many others. ³Modern Classics² dives into the contemporary rock catalog with tranquil renditions of songs by The Verve, U2, The Cure, Oasis, R.E.M., Nirvana and more.
But is this music for grown-ups?
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Information and song samples:
www.modernmeditations.com
FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:
Slated for release November 17, the ³Modern Meditations² series¹ ³Rock Classics² and ³Modern Classics² 12-track collections feature meditative renditions of some of rock music¹s best-known
and most beloved songs. Also available on November 17 is an album dedicated to the songs of The Beatles. Aimed at introducing a brand new, modern rock perspective on ³new age² music fare, the ³Modern Meditations² series will be available for purchase at all traditional music retail outlets and online services, as well as distributed to many high-end lifestyle retailers.
Featuring the work of renowned producers from across the globe, ³Modern Meditations² has transformed contemporary rock favorites into meditation music for the rock & roll generation. Shimmering rock guitars and warm percussion create lush instrumental soundscapes. While yoga, Pilates, and meditation have all entered the mainstream, the music has not. The ³Modern Meditations² series aims to introduce an alternative to traditional new age fare to the growing modern rock audience.
The first of two compilation releases, ³Rock Classics,² features serene instrumental versions of songs from classic rock¹s most revered artists including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Police, Led Zeppelin and many others. ³Modern Classics² dives into the contemporary rock catalog with tranquil renditions of songs by The Verve, U2, The Cure, Oasis, R.E.M., Nirvana and more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
