Natural Love: The Scotti Brother Recordings (CD) By Petula Clark

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Natural Love, Petula Clark, Scotti Brothers

Natural Love: The Scotti Brothers Recordings

Petula Clark

Real Gone Music

Review by David Bowling

 

Even Ed Sullivan liked Petula Clark and there weren’t many 1960’s musicians that appealed to Ed. They were mostly vehicles to increase his television ratings.

Petula was a by-product of the British Invasion. While it was dominated by testosterone fueled male rock bands, she was a thirtyish female who produced a string of upbeat pop hits. Songs such as “Downtown,” “I Know A Place,” “I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love,” and “My Love” were bright and polished and made AM radio airplay of the day a little more listenable.

After the big hits ran out at the end of the decade, she recorded for a number of labels. One of her shortest label stops was during 1981-1982 when she was signed to Scotti Brothers. Her entire American output was four singles. Real Gone music has now gathered those eight sides with an English only single release plus two outtakes. The result is a fairly short 11 track album titled Natural Love: The Scotti Brothers Recordings.

The best song is “City Of Dreams,” which is the closest to her 1960’s hits. The lyrics are more dramatic than her earlier material but the production gives it a smooth pop feel. 1982’s single “Natural Love” reached number 66 on the pop charts and was her final chart single. It is an inoffensive piece of pop fluff. The most adventurous track is the classic country tune “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.” She toyed with country music during the late 1970’s and this is a leftover from those experiments.

Clark is now approaching her mid-80’s and continues to record and perform. Her material for the Scotti Brothers label has long been scattered and out of print so Natural Love: The Scotti Brothers Recordings fills in some gaps in her available catalogue of music. Still this is a release for hardcore Clark fans. If you want an introduction to her music, there are a number of releases from her big hit Warner Brothers years.

 

Rating: ***

 

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Charlie Faye & The Fayettes (CD) By Charlie Faye & The Fayettes

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Akina Adderley, BettySoo, Charlie Faye & Fayettes

Charlie Faye & The Fayettes

Charlie Faye & The Fayettes

Bigger Better More 2016

Review by David Bowling

 

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls; it time to enter the time machine and travel back to the pre-Beatle days of penny loafers, Frankie & Annette, and the girl group sound.

Charlie Faye & The Fayettes are a vocal group caught  between time periods. Their sound channels girl groups of the 1960’s such as The Ronettes, Crystals, Shangri-las, and the Crystals. The production is modern making it a nice blend of old and new.

Charlie Faye, with BettySoo and Akina Adderley, all possess excellent voices that are able to blend together to create classic harmonies. In addition Faye is an accomplished songwriter who wrote or co-wrote the 11 tracks. Her creations are made for the 1960’s girl style but through the use of guitars, sax, and keyboards; she is able to layer the music to create a nice fusion of eras.

Whether its the toughness of “Coming Round The Bend,” the sonic “Delayed Reactions,” the funky horn laden “East Side,” or the nostalgic “Heart”; it is a nice ride though the sound and music of a bygone era.

Charlie Faye & The Fayettes have created an album that may not expand the parameters of modern music but they have created an album that is a lot of fun, and sometimes that is enough.

Rating: ***1/2

Another Song On My Mind: The Motown Years (CD) By Bobby Darin

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Bobby Darin, Mack The Knife, The Motown Years

Another Song On My Mind: The Motown Years

Bobby Darin

Real Gone Music 2016

Review by David Bowling

 

When Bobby Darin signed with the Motown label in 1970, his career and his life were coming to an end. Due to a bout of rheumatic fever as a child, he lived with a damaged heart all of his life. He passed away December 20, 1973, at the age of 37, following heart surgery.

Today Bobby Darin is best remembered for his series of pop/rock hits during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Songs such as “Mack The Knife,” “Dream Lover,” “Splish Slash,” and “Queen Of The Hop” propelled him into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990.

When he signed with Motown in 1970, he was moving in a new direction. Leaving behind his teen pop and rock past, he was becoming an interpreter of songs. His voice had matured and his ability to adapt to a broad range of material was making him a Las Vegas favorite.

Unfortunately his Motown releases were not commercially successful and have long been out of print. Now Real Gone Music has gathered his last studio album and the one released after his death along with his single releases and some alternate takes and combined them under the title Another Song On My Mind: The Motown Years.

His Motown material was an eclectic mix of sounds and styles, which resulted in some hits and misses. He seemed most comfortable with what can be called singer/songwriter material. Randy Newman’s “Sail Away,” his own “Simple Song Of Freedom,” Tim Hardin’s “If I Were A Carpenter,” and Dylan’s “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight,” and “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right” are laidback and understated and fit his early 1970’s style well.

On the other hand, when he tackles such hits of the day such as “I Won’t Last A Day Without You,” “The Letter,” and “Someday We’ll Be Together” the results are less successful.

As with all the Real Gone releases the sound is clean and the enclosed booklet gives a nice history of Darin and the music.

Darin’s Motown years were a work in progress that was cut short. What is left is a glimpse into the music and mind of an artist in transition. It is music that should appeal to any fan of Darin.

Rating: ***1/2

Solid States & Loose Ends (CD) By Steve Dawson

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Solid States & Loose Ends, Steve Dawson

Solid States & Loose Ends

Steve Dawson

Black Hen Music 2016

Review by David Bowling

 

Steve Dawson has just released his seventh studio album titled Solid States And Loose Ends. It is an appropriate title as Dawson takes his brand roots music and travels in a number of directions including blues, folk, bluegrass, and even a little gospel. It all adds up to a relaxed affair as Dawson is creating music without a cohesive them, which makes it interesting and fun.

Dawson may not be a household name but he is one of the better guitarists on the music scene today. His technique combined with his story telling ability makes for well structured and very-listenable songs.

Whether it is the swamp rock of “Loose End,” or the fusion of soul and blues on “Final Words,” or the slide guitar virtuosity on “Monkey On My Back” and “You Got What It Takes;” it is a nice ride through the mind of a creative and mature musician.

Rating: ***1/2

 

Sounds Like The Blues To Me (CD) By Jeff Chaz

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Jeff Chaz, Sounds Like The Blues To Me

Sounds Like The Blues To Me

Jeff Chaz

JCP 2016

Review by David Bowling

 

“The Bourbon Street Bluesman” has returned with his first album in a decade titled Sounds Like The Blues To Me.

Jeff Chaz is a New Orleans bred blueman. He may incorporate a little rock & roll and some jazz into his sound but he is a heart a southern blues player.

Whether poignant (“Will You Be Mine”) or humorous (“I’m Goin’ After Moby Dick In A Rowboat”), the 12 original tunes take you though the mind, heart and soul of a veteran musician.

The album is propelled by his powerful guitar playing and soulful vocals. It is a reminder of a raucous night in a smoky southern bar where the energy if flowing and people are having a good time.

Jeff Chaz has created a modern day mini-blues classic that pays homage to his New Orleans predecessors. It is an album that is worth a listen or three.

Rating: ***1/2

 

Suburban Ghosts (CD) by Downes Braide Association

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Chris Braide, Geoff Downes, Suburban Ghosts

Suburban Ghosts

Downes Braide Association

Cherry Red Records 2016

Review by David Bowling

 

Progressive rock music veteran Geoff Downes (Yes, The Buggles, and Asia) and songwriter/singer/producer Chris Braide (Beyoncé, Brittney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and more) met several years ago and joined forces to release Pictures Of You. Now there busy schedules have allowed them to fid the time to release their second album titled Suburban Ghosts.

The lyrics are more somber and reflective than their first release but given the fact you have a songwriter/producer and progressive rock legend creating music together, the music is melodic, the harmonies tight, plus there is plenty of layering of the sound.

Songs such as the “Suburban Ghosts” trilogy, “Machinery Of Fate,” and “Dreaming Of England” are all pleasant, well produced progressive pop and rock. If Downes and Braide had more time, they could probably produce albums such as this on a regular basis as it has a laid back, smooth, and effortless feel.

In the last analysis, Suburban Ghosts may not change the course of rock music but it makes it a little more fun. A well-produced and excellent release by two veterans of the music wars.

Rating: ***1/2

Kings Of The Wild Frontier (2 CD + DVD + LP) By Adam And The Ants

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Adam Ant, Kings Of The Wild Frontier

Kings Of The Wild Frontier (2 CD + DVD + LP Box Set}

Adam And The Ants

Sony Legacy 2016

Review by David Bowling

 

OK – all you Adam And The Ants fans, and you know who you are; mark June 3rd on your calendars because that is the day the re-imagined, re-invented, and re-mastered box set of Kings Of The Wild Frontier will be released.

Adam And The Ants existed from 1977-1882 in two distinct incarnations. In 1980 guitarist Matthew Ashman, drummer David Bararoosa, and bassist Leigh Gorman left the band to form Bow Wow Wow. Enter guitarist Marco Pirroni, drummer Chris Hughes, and bassist Kevin Mooney with percussionist Terry Lee Miall in support and you have the foundation of one of the more influential British albums of the early 1980’s.

Kings Of The Wild Frontier came along at just the right time as it caught the end of the punk music era and the beginning of New Wave. Fusing elements from both traditions; it was able to a produce a sound that fit its time period perfectly. In addition to the music the band was able to convey a sexuality and swagger that made up for any musical short-comings. The album was a huge commercial success in their home country topping the charts and being named Album Of The Year.

The new box set moves far beyond the original album as it presents the music of the band in its entirety. Studio tracks, live performances, and promotional videos all combine to give a history of the band and of rock music in a transitional period.

CD disc one presents the original album, plus single B sides and four previously unreleased studio demos. Songs such as “Dog Eat Dog,” “Antmusic,” and “the title track are representative of a by-gone era. The music is fronted by Adam Ant’s energetic vocals but it is the mixture of drums and percussion that carry the sound.

CD disc two is centered around a 17 song live performance at Chicago’s Park West Club in April of 1981. It catches the band at its best and the only regret is it is a CD and not a DVD.

The DVd presents a number of promotional videos, which were important in the day but now seem dated. The highlight is their complete 1981 performance in Tokyo. It is a classic Adam and The Ants concert. Again, it is representative of an era but if you allow yourself to be transported back in time, it serves as an introduction to the band on stage.

The LP provides the flash. It is the original album issued on 180 gram gold vinyl. It is more to be admired than played. Throw in an extensive booklet, pictures, and some odds and ends and you have the definitive Adam And The Ants release.

This box set may not be for everybody but for aficionados of the band, it is a must.

 

Rating: ****

The Dixie Chicks Come To Vinyl

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Dixie Chicks

Four classic albums by The Dixie Chicks have just been released on vinyl. Wide Open Spaces (1998), Fly (1999), Home (2002), and Taking The Long Way (2006) collectively have sold 30,000,000 copies and earned the group 13 Grammy Awards. The music has now been remastered and issued on high-resolution 150-gram vinyl.

Emily Robinson, Martie McGuire, and Natalie Maines have always been able to fuse traditional country with modern pop and rock. Now their albums return in a new form with a pristine sound. Properly produced and played on the right equipment, vinyl can provide a stunning listening experience.

Wide Open Spaces remains the best selling album by a country group ever. Propelled by the number one singles “There’s Your Trouble,” “Wide Open Spaces,” and “You Were Mine;” the music is a smooth blend of American music at its best. Selling 12 million copies in the United States, it introduced the Dixie Chicks to the world and remains one of the better debut albums in American music history.

Fly was an extension of their first release and just as commercially successful, topping both the Country and Pop Charts and selling 10 million copies in the United States. It was a formula that helped them remain one of the leading vocal groups in the world.

Home found the Dixie Chicks moving in a new direction. They shelved some of their pop influences and returned to a more classic country sound. Now firmly entrenched on the pop and country charts; the album produced their first top ten pop single, a cover of Fleetwood mac’s “Landslide.”

Taking The Long Way Home was a statement that The Dixie Chicks had grown up and were now producing mature music. The lyrics had an edge and there was a cohesiveness to the message. It won five Grammy Awards and became the first country album to win Album Of The Year. It remains their most powerful release.

The music of the Dixie Chicks has retained its wide appeal. The music is readily available on CD and download, so people will have to decide whether they would like it in a vinyl format as well. Whatever the decision, the music remains some of the best country music of the last 20 years.

Ratings: ****

Beautiful Scars (CD) By Lee Harvey Osmond

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Beautiful Scars, Lee Harvey Osmond, Tom Wilson

Beautiful Scars

Lee Harvey Osmond

Latent Recordings 2016

Review by David Bowling

 

Tom Wilson is Lee Harvey Osmond and Lee Harvey Osmond is Tim Wilson. This is Wilson’s third release under his assumed name and why he chose this route is not really clear but he continues to produce an excellent brand of alternative or psychedelic folk if you will.

Beautiful Scars is a little more laid back than his previous releases as it incorporates a lonesome pedal steel and some tight harmonies along with some flutes and woodwinds.  The track “Black Spruce” even moves in a light jazz direction.

As with many folk artists he plumbs his own life experiences for many of his songs; hence the title of the album. Songs such as “Dreams Come And Go,” “How Does It Feel,” and “Planet Love” are representative of his inner thoughts.

Lee Harvey Osmond or Tim Wilson has created an interesting and melodic album relating to his life’s journey. It is a journey worth sharing.

Rating: ***

 

Memory Box (CD) By East Of Venus

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Michael Carlucci. East Of Eaden

Memory Box

East Of Venus

Omnivore Recordings 2016

Review by David Bowling

 

If there is such a thing as an under the radar super group, East Of Venus is it. Michael Carlucci (Winter Hours), Glenn Mercer (The Feelies), Stan Demeski (The Feelies), and Rob Norris (The Bongos) began playing together close to a decade ago and finally have released their debut album.

East Of Venus is an energetic alternative rock band that has a raw appeal. Fusing the styles of their former bands, they have managed to produce and ardent and passionate brand of rock that should please fans of any of the bands mentioned.

Consisting of two covers, Tim Hardin’s “Reason To Believe” and The Rolling Stones “Citadel,” plus eight originals; it is a romp through some of the best that alternative rock has to offer.

Sometimes fate is cruel as this will be the only release by this configuration as Michael Carlucci passed away at the end of 2015 leaving behind an excellent and poignant release.

Rating: ***1/2