05/05/07-Happy Cinco & Derby Day
UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND/20th Century Masters: An hour of Duane, Dicky and Gregg from their golden decade when it was still all about the music. Pure, no fat, non stop hits that defined a time and place and still sound as fresh as all outdoors and the wild times that shaped and informed them. A tasty set for modern era rockers of all stripes that want to be powered by some of the most joyful rock ever.
(Polydor)
ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM/20th Century Masters: Jobim made some of the quietest records ever so the remastering of the 40 year old tracks is nice as you will get to hear music you never heard before. The set focuses heavily on the 60’s but has smatterings from the 70s and 80s which show he never faltered. One of the reasons you know anything about Brazilian music today, for the longest time, Jobim was the definition of Brazilian music. A very classy serving of the basics and essentials.
(Hip-O/Verve)
CAT STEVENS/20th Century Masters: Even if you think he was basically a mush mouth, he made some nice singles in the 70s and if you are dating an old hippie check, this collection could do you better than a Barry White collection. Super stacked with Stevens’ tour through the top 40, when you look back over 30 years, it always hard to argue with the hits.
(A&M)
ERNEST TUBB/20th Century Masters: Time proves every time that even legends need to be refreshed once in a while in order to stay relevant and remembered. A lot of the country/white man’s blues cliches were actually original and novel when first propagated by Tubb many long years ago. A seminal collection from a country legend that still has the juice to turn your head. I can hear the next generation of alt.country kid’s necks snapping in the distance.
(MCA Nashville)
FREDDY FENDER/20th Century Masters: If his Texas Tornado days were wasted on you, this no fat collection of his solo hits from his ABC days is just enough to fill the bill. With all the right moves in all the right places, the stars lined up for Fender to hit it out of the park with these tracks and confirm his status in the country firmament. Tasty commercial stuff that has held up well.
(MCA Nashville)
Volume 30/Number 186
May 5, 2007
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
(c)2007 Midwest Record