06/23/07
BLUENOTE
RON CARTER/Dear Miles: Carter is fairly late to the “I was with Miles and here’s my tribute set” party, but things like this aren’t about who wins the race first. A key part of the Davis pre-Bitches Brew progressive sound, this set focuses heavily on the lyrical side of Davis, and Carter, who probably can play anything, wraps his veteran bass lines around it all mightily. Not really a look back, not really a tribute, it’s an artistic statement by one of the important jazz elder statesmen that shaped a sound and is still here to tell about it. Sweet work that was made with coffee shops in mind.
92547
HIP-O SELECT
JAMES BROWN/The Singles V. 3 1964-65: In which we find Brown’s prime mid 60’s years swinging into force as this complete singles collection winds up with “I Got You”, “Poppa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and more of that right on that groove that everybody knows. Stocked with all the a sides and b sides from those turbulent Brown years, these sides encompass stuff from King, Smash and more. With instrumentals, soundtrack work and of course, hits, this next slice of the Brown evolution/revolution will take you to the sonic height of delight. 36 tracks of pure soul brother #1 in action, the package is rounded out with another great program book and pics. A limited edition of 5,000 copies, this is a soul train you better not miss before it leaves the station. Yeah!
8804
LOTOS NILE
STEEP CANYON RANGERS/Lovin’ Pretty Women: The stuff American success stories used to be made of a bunch of college pals form a band and become the genre’s newest break out act. Accenting voice as much as instrumental prowess, this is what separates them from the rest of the pack. That, and they choose to do different material than what has already been done by everyone. The spark ignites. On their second album, they still have the fresh vibe in tact and can relate to country audiences as well as jam band audiences. They just might well be the new standard bearers of acoustic music.
1824 (Rebel)
SUNDAZED
BUDDY ALAN OWENS/Best of: He couldn’t have looked more like poppa Buck if he was cloned, but the marketing powers that be decided to market him as Buddy Alan, with the Bakersfield sound. With Buck as a pop and Merle Haggard as a step pop, how far could this apple fall from the tree. Doing a better job that most relatives that get pulled/drawn into the biz, Owens had a nice 10 year run of hits under his own name that have pretty much fallen off the radar and are nice to have back in print. For the most part, a pretty no-fat collection of period hits.
11189
BUCKAROOS/Best of: Cranking out a mostly instrumental album every six months under their own tag, the Buckaroos were the Bakersfield sound and they are every bit as thrilling today as the MG’s. As important to Bakersfield as the MG’s were to Memphis, Rich, Holly and the rest heated things up with their mixture of dance hall sounds that were the hottest amalgam this or that side of Texas. Left to their own devices for what were probably thought of as throw away albums to put a little extra coin in their pockets, this hot crew can go toe to toe with any crew and come out proud. If you like hot licks, this is well worth discovering/rediscovering. Hot stuff.
11115
Volume 30/Number 235
June 23, 2007
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
(C)2007 Midwest Record