Vinyl Wednesday: Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman

Despite growing up with this album and hearing it almost every Sunday thanks to my father, it still happens to be in with my all-time favourite albums. Stevens just knows the way into my heart and what to say while he's there. If Cat Stevens was a preacher, I would follow him regardless of the religion. Ok, so he's chosen a different career, but I still love the guy.

With this collection of songs, you get to dive into another world and swim about in luscious harmonies and a very sweet man that loves you very much. I don't know what else to say about this album other than it will comfort you and give you peace. And it's a lot of fun.

Track Listing:
(Side I)

Where Do The Children Play

Hard-headed Woman

Wild World

Sad Lisa

Miles From Nowhere

(Side II)

But I Might Die Tonight

Longer Boats

Into White

On The Road To Find Out

Father & Son

Tea For The Tillerman

Vinyl Wednesday: Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980)

I can't get enough '80s lately, so here's some more... let's party! Adam Ant knows where the party is at, and he's saved you a slice, it's called Kings of the Wild Frontier. Aside from their outrageously amazing style, the music is just full to the motherfucking brim with anthem after anthem for the young, angry, ready-to-party, fruitful individuals. Mostly every song starts with a solid beat from what I would assume is a seriously fit drummer considering every moment of this album has a hard thump, but it keeps the energy up and flowing fast. God, I love New Wave Punk.

Adam Ant is one of the best frontmen I've laid ears on: teeming with energy, style, passion, fury... it's exactly what you need to front a band like this in the late 70s/early-mid 80s. He's got a voice that sings every lyric with so much conviction, and you really just cant help but get carried away with the whole band as they party away with heavy guitars and big beats.

I first fell in love with Kings of the Wild Frontier (the first track on Side II) when I was just out of high school; it's got enough beat to keep you up and rebelling for days, just gives us kids something to kick ass to (ha ha). The rest of the album has mostly up-beat songs, a couple are a bit slower, but they're no Simon and Garfunkel slow... still have enough to beat the shit out of your ears. Get ready to rock.

Track Listing:
(Side 1)
Dog Eat Dog
'Ant Music'
Lost Rancheros
Feed Me to the Lions
Press Darlings
Ants Invasion

(Side II)
Kings of the Wild Frontier
The Magnificent Five
Don't Be Square (Be There)
Jolly Roger
Physical (You're So)
The Human Beings

Vinyl Wednesday: Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair

 

I really love this album, it has to be in my top 5 of all time (as entire albums, not as artists or singles). It starts with "Shout", in my opinion one of their best songs... it begins with low synthesized tones paired with percussion that gives it a low mood... something is building up throughout the duration of the song. It just gets heavier and heavier with sax, guitar, synthesizers, lots going on and just giving good, powerful vibes: I wish all albums started me off with a bang like this one. The second track, "The Working Hour", mellows down with some solo saxophone and takes us into some great beats and percussion, a little keyboard/piano and it's just another sweet track! Tears for Fears just ace their build-ups EVERY SINGLE TIME.... guys, take notes on these climaxes.

AND THE LYRICS. I really enjoy musicians that can not only create a wonderfully-sounding piece of music, but can also make it a substantial addition to vocal literature. A great pop song is an art form, but to make an album that was this popular ["...certified triple-platinum in the UK and quintuple-platinum in the US (where it remained the #1 album for five weeks in the summer of 1985)," Source], with substance just gets number one in my books. "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is pretty much both of these things, if not a little more on the pop side compared to the rest of the album, and who doesn't love a good synth-and-electric guitar solo??

If you haven't heard this album (ON VINYL... not sure what it is about this one being on vinyl, it just has to be), then you must get your hands on this immediately. Sure, it's purely evocative of the 80s, but it's 80s New Wave with some twists and it might just leave you a little more satisfied with your life.

Track Listing:
(Part One)
Shout
The Working Hour
Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Mothers Talk

(Part Two)
I Believe
Broken
Head Over Heels
Listen

Vinyl Wednesday: Shirley Ellis - The Name Game

The original Name Game, Miss Shirley Ellis, brings some sweet rockin' tunes on this album. Her voice is powerful, but flirty, and the songs are upbeat and danceable. The best part of this album is her song "Nitty Gritty"; just pure NITTY GRITTY, you know? I love the album's style, just imagine a full dance hall in the early 1960s,  a full band on one end with the beautiful Shirley Ellis positioned upfront centre, the crowd ready to groove and shake, the drums start and then you hear Shirley and her band belting it the whole night, just giving it all their energy. Smooth sounds, great lead up to the funk era, and a good tribute to the Motown scene. Watch out, Supremes, this one is smokin' hot. Blast that shit! (Note: I'm feeling a little woozy from my cold so this post is a little thin)

Track Listing:
(Side 1)
The Name Game
Don't Let Go
Kansas City
Shy One
Stardust
The Nitty Gritty

(Side 2)
Such a Night
C. C. Rider
I Never Will Forget
Stagger Lee
Whisper To Me Wind
Bring It On Home To Me

Shirley Ellis - NITTY GRITTY:

Vinyl Wednesday: Harry Belafonte At Carnegie Hall, the Complete Concert

 

This is one of my all-time favourite albums, and I was lucky enough to have found it on vinyl a couple of years ago in a little shop on Wellesley just at Yonge. It's in extremely good condition (as it should be, I threw down $19 bones for it!). The double record set comes as a full live recording from his performance at Carnegie Hall on April 19th and 20th of 1959.

The inside cover gives a great look into brief moments of the concert, in black and white photographs as well as an illustrative rendering done in purple. It starts with some recording notes on how they were able to get the recording at such a performance and with Belafonte's permission (it was actually a Benefit Concert for The New Lincoln School on April 19th and Wiltwyck School on April 20th).

I tried to pick which songs are my favourite to showcase in this post, but it's honestly too difficult since it's such a fantastic collection of songs and his live performance gives each of them such life and character. The real treat, however, is the very last recording, Matilda, in an uncut extended version... pure velvet.

Track Listing:
(Side 1)
Act I - Moods of the American Negro
Introduction
Darlin' Cora
Sylvie
Cotton Fields
John Henry
Take My Mother Home

(Side 2)
The Marching Saints

Act II - In the Caribbean
Day O
Jamaica Farewell
Man Piaba
All My Trails

(Side 3)
Mama Look a Boo Boo
Come Back Liza
Man Smart (Woman Smarter)

Act III - Round the World
Hava Nageela
Danny Boy
Merci Bon Dieu

(Side 4)
Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma
Shenandoah
Matilda


Here is a recording of Matilda I found on YouTube.... it's nothing compared to the live version on the album!!!