Baxter

Baxter

ASIN: B00000AG8D

Editorial Reviews
URB
Their easy, vocal-laden grooves may not appeal to those who like their drum & bass served pure, but for those who are prepared to be open-minded, Baxter's album makes for a pleasant listening experience.

Tracks:

The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil
A Small Package Of Value Will Come To Yo, Shortly
Young Girl Sunday Blues
Martha
Wild Tyme (H)
The Last Wall Of The Castle
Rejoyce
Watch Her Ride
Spare Chaynge
Two Heads
Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon
The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil (Live - Long Version)
Martha (Mono Single Version)
Two Heads (Alternate Version)
Things Are Better In The East

Album Description

Originally released in 1967 (same year but 10 months after Surrealistic Pillow), this RCA/BMG Heritage remastered reissue adds 4 bonus tracks 'The Ballad Of You Me and Pooneil' (live-long version previously unreleased), 'Martha' (single version-mono), 'Two Heads' (alternate version-previously unreleased) & 'Things Are Better In The East' (demo version-previously unreleased). Includes 12-page booklet with extensive liner notes, detailed track listing & rare photos. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

I'm Doin' Things That Haven't Got a Name Yet .......2007-06-16

Read the reviews below to get a sense of the emotional response this album evokes. It's not just a so-called psychedelic album, it's an album of great searching and yearning for an alternate path during times dark with the Vietnam war, the clunky Johnson administration (JKF was still a recent martyr, RFK not yet dead), and the very cold war (Nuclear annihilation anyone?). The baby boomers could not believe the cornucopia of new sounds and experiences available to them, as the radio got looser and everyone began to swap their monophonic record players for high end stereos. This album made no sense to people expecting a continuation of "Pillow", but true fans listened over and over to this record until the grooves were worn out. Something in this album, LSD influenced or not, resonated with a lot of music lovers, and it remains an iconoclastic "screw you" tip o' the hat to the music biz. The Airplane embodied the spirit of the antiestablishmentarianism of the times, a template of non-conformity during a very conformist time (next up, Richard Nixon). Grace Slick et al have become forgotten relics of a time of great passion and desire for a better reality, and god knows we could use a band as rebellious and expressive now. A great aural souvenir of a transitional time in Amerikan culture.

here we go.......2007-06-10

After Bathing At Baxter's isn't quite the outrageous trippy inspiration that many reviewers tend to make it sound. Surprisingly, much of the album is quite listenable and melodic. "Martha", "Wild Tyme", "Watch Her Role" and "Two Heads" are pretty normal songs. Nothing really outrageous about those ones.

The rest of the album is, however, pretty strange. It's also a pretty hard album to give a rating too, because all the experiments probably make it a tricky listen the first few times, but on the other hand, the songs that are melodic and memorable probably are some of Jefferson Airplane's best tunes.

An album worth hearing, and possibly owning. It would probably be wise to save this album for last in your Airplane journey. Just my opinion.

A Marking Point.......2007-06-06

This album was truly a marking point for the band. With the first album being a huge success under their belt, it sounds like they felt they could let the listener into their heads a bit. From start to finish this album is a friendly reminder that experience is what life is about.

Unsung Hero.......2007-05-21

Baxter's is probably the Airplane's finest studio album. No, really! They were at the height of their creative powers, and they took a lot of time in producing this album. They had asked Frank Zappa to produce it, but he was quite busy with his own projects, so they did it themselves. Coming off of their highly successful Surrealistic Pillow, they were clearly working together and developing their music as a unit. With more tracks to work with in the studio, they made full use of them without sounding too cluttered. The songs are well crafted without taking away the sponaneity of what they did in live performances. The album is clearly psychedelic, and the songs are weird, but this is what they were about. This album captures their sound at its finest. There are no real "hits" on this album, which is what I like about it. They were allowed to create music without worrying about Jefferson "airplay."

An indispensable example of psychedelia.......2007-04-18

After Bathing at Baxter's is uncompromising, drug-induced psychedelic music. It could have been produced only on the West Coast and only during the heady experimental era that begun in 1967 and ended before the decade was out. The band's Surrealistic Pillow, released at the beginning of 1967, consisted primarily of radio friendly songs. Baxter's is a wholly different kettle of fish. Although the record sold very well, the last thing that you would call it is commercial. It was never an easy listen. I find that many albums that I thought "out there" when released now sound more or less conventional. Baxter's still sounds as imaginative and avant-garde as it did in 1967. Jorma Kaukonen's guitar and Grace Slick's voice are unique in rock and roll. Whether they are harmonizing or playing off each other Marty Balin and Grace Slick are a perfect paring. Jack Casady really gives his base a good workout. Spencer Dryden shows why a talented drummer is worth his weight in gold (rejoyce). On this record the band members are consistently on the same page. This music is not for everyone. But for those who appreciate the psychedelic genre it is one of the indispensable recordings.

Average customer rating:

Baxterful!
Not what I thought it was
Trip hop/ electronica classic
Baxter Roxors
Very Good Album

Baxter
Baxter
Manufacturer: Maverick
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Drum & Bass | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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General | Rock | Styles | Music
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Details
A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular

ASIN: B00000AG8D
Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

Television
Fading
Love Again
I Can't See Why
Ballad Of Behaviour
Political
Possible
All Of My Pride
So Much I've Heard
Oh My Love

Customer Reviews:

Baxterful!.......2007-06-24

This is one of the best trip-hop cd's I've ever heard...This Cd is an awesome combination of Drum'n bass and trip hop beats...Trust me you won't regret this purchase...Get this cd right away if you can find it...

Not what I thought it was.......2007-05-14

I had high hopes after all the good reviews. I was disappointed with this cd. I've only listened to it once. It reminds me of underground club music of the early 90's.

Trip hop/ electronica classic.......2006-12-19

Baxter, one of the best female trip hop artists I've ever heard of in my life.
I remember when this album was released and couldn't stop listening to it, and still listen to it frequently..

Like a cross between Frou Frou meets Esthero with some Spicy Thievery Corp!
excellent.
=S=

Baxter Roxors.......2006-07-03

Ordinarily, I don't care much for vocal drum and bass or jungle, largely because I felt that many artists did not fit the vocals to the music well, but simply layered them on. Baxter is an excellent exception in that regard. The voice of Nina Ramsby blends wonderfully with the darkly energetic music.
Overall, I wanted to give this 4.5 stars. I reserve the perfect rating of 5 for an album that I will play all of the way through whenever I play it, whereas this has a couple of songs I didn't much care for and tend to skip. I definately recommend this album to anyone that likes vocal D&B, jungle, or darker trance(s).

Very Good Album.......2006-05-05

I Like this CD a lot because it is unique. Interesting songs and interesting use of electronics. I like her voice a lot. I would consider this one of the more advanced albums in the Trip Hop genre. I listen to the album in its entirety, and can't say one song is better than an other. It's a rare occasion when I buy a Trip Hop disc and almost every song is purely great and beautiful. The smooth performance, delicate lyrics and simple melodies are backed up by a great beat and deep bass programming. I would like to get more by them.

Ellisor: Conversations In Silence; Blackberry Winter; Barber: Canzonetta; Scearce: Endymion's Sleep; Mock: The Stone;

Average customer rating:

Mountain Dulcimer and the Orchestra!
Beautifully Moving and Imaginative
Get the best fast
wow!
Fresh & American!!

Ellisor: Conversations In Silence; Blackberry Winter; Barber: Canzonetta; Scearce: Endymion's Sleep; Mock: The Stone;

Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 22 ("City of Light"); Cello Concerto
Sejong Plays Ewazen
Yellowstone for Violin and Orchestra
English Country Dances
Appalachian Journey

ASIN: B000002NHW
Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

Conversations in Silence - I
II: Conversations in Silence - II
III: Conversations in Silence - III
IV: Conversations in Silence - IV
Canzonetta
Endymion's Sleep
The Stone
Adagio
Blackberry Winter - I
Blackberry Winter - II
Blackberry Winter - III

Customer Reviews:

Mountain Dulcimer and the Orchestra!.......2006-11-06

I bought this album because of the dulcimer concerto on it, and it didn't disappoint. Teh liner notes were outstanding and I am so glad to have this piece in my collection!

Beautifully Moving and Imaginative.......2006-05-27

I got to see "Blackberry Winter" performed live in Nashville a few years ago and it was awesome. I took violin lessons from one of the violinists in the orchestra for a long time, so it was a little extra exciting. I got to meet the conductor, Paul Gambill about a year later and he was a really nice guy. He also conducted us in a big youth-orchestra gathering where we played the soundtrack to "Lord of the Rings."
"The Stone" is by far my favorite track on the CD. The mysterious Scottish and Irish themes entwined with each other are simply fantastic. It pretty much just transports you to another world.
"Blackberry Winter" is awesome, too. There's not many great recordings of a mountain dulcimer with an orchestra to back it up. Plus, the melodies and themes in that itself are really uniquely beautiful.
Overall, it's great quiet time and thinking music. It's definetely worth it!

Get the best fast.......2006-02-19

I heard this recording on NPR radio and loved it. While it was out of the mainstream usually stocked at music stores, I found it on Amazon, ordered it, and received in a matter of days! The recording is a lovely collection of Tennessee / Celtic pieces with wonderful solo work. Ellisor is a Nashville musician and composer and her "Blackberry Winter" for Tennessee music box is a real delight. Other pieces on the CD are by Barber, Kodaly, Mock, and Scearce.

wow!.......2005-04-28

I absolutely 'love' this CD. INNOVATIVE modern music. One of my favorites indeed.

Fresh & American!!.......2002-01-13

This is one exciting CD for several reasons. For those looking for orchestral sound that is uniquely American, Conni Ellisor provides the sound that has been missing since the end of Aaron Copland's career. In addition to Ellisor's compositions, the other tracks on this CD are an unusual and beautiful fit that compliments the other pieces. As is frequently the case in music, artists (Nashville Chamber Orchestra) and composers (Ellisor) off the beaten path are a national treasure. I use this CD for inspiration, relaxation, and restoration. One of the top 3 in my collection.

Average customer rating:

Gilbert & Sullivan at their best!
Good later G&S
Definitive
the best choice so far

Gilbert & Sullivan: The Gondoliers

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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The Gondoliers: Vocal Score
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ASIN: B0000029KH
Release Date: 1993-10-19

Customer Reviews:

Gilbert & Sullivan at their best!.......2005-07-20

This is the best recording of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Gondoliers" ever recorded! The diction is excellent and the singers are amazing. It has really helped me get ready for the production of "The Gondoliers" I'm in with The Utah Light Opera Company.

Good later G&S.......2002-01-30

The Gondoliers was the last Gilbert and Sullivan opera to be a great popular success; listening to this version of the opera as performed by the D'Oyly Carte shows why: it is a highly entertaining score, with warm characters and a lot of humor.

This CD contains excellent performances by John Rath as Don Alhambra, Jill Pert as the Duchess of Plaza-Toto and the usual fine comic performance by Richard Suart as the Duke of Plaza-Toro.

The score is particularly fine, with Sullivan showing his mastery of many musical types, as the liner notes indicate, such as the waltz, the gavotte, the saltarello and the tarantello. It is a very vibrant and upbeat score.

The libretto is very clever, and Gilbert's sense of satire is never sharper than here. There are amusing songs as the democratic Gondoliers make Barataria into a model of social equality, and the Duke and Duchess relate the story of their product endorsements -- like the Mikado, all the satires are really about Victorian England, not about the land in which the stories are staged.

The story's plot relies on a typical Gilbert device -- babies "switched at birth" make one of the two Gondoliers -- no one is sure which one -- the rightful King of Barataria, promised to the Duke's daughter, Casilda. This interferes with the Gondoliers' plan to marry their sweethearts, and provides much of the humor as the Gondoliers attempt to adjust to their new social position. There is, of course, the usual Gilbertian plot twist at the end to resolve everything happily.

This is a very fun opera to listen to; with almost none of the wistfulness that haunts the Mikado, Pinafore, or the Yeomen of the Guard.

Definitive.......2000-07-01

Sullivan's score to The Gondoliers has been the object of a good deal of tampering over the years, and as is the case with all of the D'Oyly Carte's more recent efforts, an attempt has been made to return to the autograph. What we hear in this set is Sullivan's original introduction, minus the cachuca which was tacked on in the 1930s. The original is vastly more effective. There are other points of interest, such as the almost supernaturally crisp chorus - sample them in the "Thank you gallant gondolieri" in the first act. The cast is, as usual with D'Oyly Carte, first rate, with John Rath and Jill Pert standouts. Rarely have I heard Don Alhambra's arias sung with such panache. Rath even gives Donals Adams and Darrell Fancourt a run for their money.

Well worth the investment, even if you have the excellent 1960 recording.

the best choice so far.......1999-07-18

There are two strong rivals for this set. The early electric set transferred from 78 rpms onto Pearl CDs is suberb--the closest we will ever get to what Gilbert wanted in articulation and characterization and to what Sullivan wanted in vocal style--but is of course subjected to the sonics state of the art circa 1930. But to understand what this opera is all about, this is the choice of choices! The complete version on Decca has all the dialogue...which might or might not be a Good Thing on repeated hearings. And, no, you cannot program it out since Decca decided to contain it on the same tracks as the music that precedes it. So if all you want is the musical parts and stereo is a must, this Sony/Columbia set is wonderfully paced, well characterized (though not as well as the early electric set) and well conducted. And in case you do not know, this work is even more tuneful than "The Mikado"--which is saying a lot. And by the way, try the "Iolanthe" in this same series, but not "The Mikado" (which is far too rushed).

Ritual of the Savage/The Passions (With Bas Sheva)

Average customer rating:

Martini Mood Music!
Ground zero album for exotica along with wordless vocal masterpiece that makes Pink Floyd's "Great Gig In The Sky" seem tame

Ritual of the Savage/The Passions (With Bas Sheva)
Les Baxter
Manufacturer: Rev-Ola
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

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Tamboo!
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The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny

ASIN: B000FJHWAM
Release Date: 2006-07-03

Tracks:

Busy Port
Sophisticates Savage
Jungle River Boat
Jungle Flower
Barquita
Stone God
Quiet Village
Jungle Jalopy
Coronation
Love Dance
Kinkajou
Ritual
Bacoa
Despair
Ecstacy
Hate
Lust
Terror
Jealousy
Joy

Album Description

The amazing genius of LES BAXTER, MOR hitmaker, Jazz innovator, member of Mel Tormes innovative Mel-Tones, innovative and acclaimed A&R man and producer to everyone from Yma Sumac to a series of Biker movies.electronic music pioneer.and here, the Stravinskyesque grand master of EXOTICA in his acknowledged masterpiece album "Ritual Of The Savage"!! The inspiration for the entire EXOTICA genre all in one place, here coupled with Baxter's legendary and little heard tone poem "The Passions" where vocalist Bas Sheva goes absolutely nuts in a gamut of feelings, as Baxter's orchestra spirals to a crescendo of sound!!! The ORIGINATOR of Exotica, Mr. Les Baxter with his acclaimed career-defining album which also defined the whole EXOTICA genre, and his super-rare tone poem The Passions. Beautifully packaged by the master of outstandingly beautiful Photoshopping, Mr. Andrew Morten esq newly of the county of Zummerzet

Customer Reviews:

Martini Mood Music!.......2007-01-10

An excellent genre-creating album from the '50s before rock n roll came crashing. Really takes me back. Back where? How should I know? I was born in 1966! I was listening to Rubber Soul and Revolver in the womb! What I mean is this record conjures a mood as well or better than any of the exotica, ez, space-pop or swinger hep-cat sounds of the era. Martin Denny was my gateway to finding this great stuff...

Ground zero album for exotica along with wordless vocal masterpiece that makes Pink Floyd's "Great Gig In The Sky" seem tame.......2006-08-03

It is my hope that all of Les Baxter's exotica albums will soon have made it to CD, and this hope is becoming a bit more of a reality, thanks to the release of these two great pieces of impressionist mood music from the master himself.

Martin Denny may have had the minor Top 40 hit with 1959's "Quiet Village", but I still prefer the original, complete with lush orchestral strings and a myriad of percussion instruments, as is featured as easily the most famous and recognizable selection off of the first true exotica album, 1951's "Ritual of the Savages". Much of the album will remind anyone over 50 of the soundtracks of old movies set in tropical locales, such as "The African Queen", "Hurricane", "Drums of Tahiti", "King Solomon's Mines", or any number of Tarzan films.

The daughter of a wealthy and prominent Jewish family in Philadelphia, Beatrice Kurzman studied voice with the intent of honoring her family's wishes that she become a cantor. However, she veered off that course and into popular music, but adapted the stage name of Bas Sheva ("Bathsheba") to attempt to at least meet her family's wishes half-way. After performing in the Jewish resorts of the New York Catskill Mountain "Borscht Belt" in the early 1950's, in 1953, she recorded, in a brash, brassy and somewhat untraditional way, an album of traditional Jewish songs on Capitol Records, the long out-of-print "Soul Of A People".

Her powerful and unique voice caught the attention of fellow Capitol labelmate Baxter, who made her the voice of woman in his 1954 tone poem "The Passions". While I have always preferred Baxter's true exotica albums over this one, it still is a very interesting and unusual album. I love wordless vocals and this is something Les Baxter also uses to good effect on his mostly instrumental exotica releases. Sheva shows a true dynamic range on this album with "Lust" being an especially good cut, featuring Sheva at her most sensual, with sounds almost simulating orgasm. I would have liked to have seen the look on her parents' faces when they heard this album.

This and "Soul Of A People" are the only known recordings Bas Sheva ever made. She returned to live entertaining and died of diabetic shock while performing on a cruise ship off the coast of South Carolina in 1960. She was only 34.

Violin, Sing The Blues For Me: African-American Fiddlers 1926-1949

Average customer rating:

Some not so pretty, but mostly Great. I want more from Old Hat!
Stunning recordings, rare music
An album to live with
Great music - great supporting documentation
Simply magnificent

Violin, Sing The Blues For Me: African-American Fiddlers 1926-1949
Lonnie Johnson , Howard Armstrong , Mississippi Sheiks , Memphis Jug Band , Will Batts , Andrew Baxter , Jim Baxter , Tommie Bradley , James Cole , Louie Bluie , and Whistler's Jug Band
Manufacturer: Old Hat Records / Enterprises
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Folks, He Sure Do Pull Some Bow! Vintage Fiddle Music 1927-1935: Blues, Jazz, Stomps, Shuffles & Rags
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The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
Down In The Basement: Joe Bussard's Treasure Trove of Vintage 78s 1926-1937 (Digipak)

ASIN: B00000JC8X
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

Violin Blues - Johnson Boys
K.C. Railroad Blues - Andrew & Jim Baxter
Beaver Slide Rag - "Peg Leg" Howell & His Gang
Alma Waltz - Mississippi Mud Steppers
Window Pane Blues - Tommie Bradley
Travelin' Railroad Man - Alabama Sheiks
Pig Meat Blues - Whistler & His Jug Band
Right Now Blues - Frank Stokes
East Jackson Blues - Bo Chatmon
Memphis Blues - Mobile Strugglers
Vine Street Drag - Tennessee Chocolate Drops
Broken Bed Blues - Kansas City Blues Strummers
Lonesome Blues - Henry Williams & Eddie Anthony
Memphis Shakedown - Memphis Jug Band
Adam And Eve - Tommie Bradley
Tell Me Man Blues - Henry "Son" Sims
Blue Coat Blues - "Blue Coat" Tom Nelson
Salty Dog - Booker Orchestra
Baby, Please Don't Go - Joe Williams' Washboard Blues Singers
Stop & Listen Blues No. 2 - Mississippi Sheiks
Stealin' Blues - Cow Cow Davenport
The Moore Girl - Andrew & Jim Baxter
Highway No. 61 Blues - Jack Kelly & His South Memphis Jug Band
Ted's Stomp - Louie Bluie & Ted Bogan

Amazon.com

Nearly essential for anyone interested in old-time music, Violin, Sing the Blues for Me may be quite simply the best single-disc anthology of the early 20th century black string-band movement available today. The emphasis here is on the bluesy fiddle playing heard between 1926 and 1949, but the music boasts reams of diverse styles and playing that is simply impossible to pigeonhole. Andrew Baxter milks his fiddle for all its plaintive worth against brother Jim's guitar on "K.C. Railroad Blues," the Mississippi Mud Steppers' "Alma Waltz" is as sublime as they come (perhaps the greatest side ever recorded to feature a banjo-mandolin), and there are plenty of other tracks featuring the now-forgotten wail of the blues violin. But the lively tunes steal the show here: the Mobile Strugglers's previously unissued "Memphis Blues" from 1949 is a classic breakdown; the Tennessee Chocolate Drops's "Vine Street Drag" (featuring the fast fiddling of Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong) showcases some true violin virtuosity; and the Memphis Jug Band's "Memphis Shakedown" is a tour de force of energy and great playing. Truth is, there's not a weak track here, and the copious liner notes will keep you busy long after the CD has played out. If you want to hear the roots of the blues, don't pass this disc up. --Jason Verlinde

Album Description

"A top-notch compilation of classic performances with superb booklet and photos as well. This is an essential album for anyone interested in blues or string band music." Terry Zwigoff - film director Art School Confidential, Bad Santa, Ghost World, Crumb, Louie Bluie - oldhatrecords.com/ZwigoffInt.html

The violin played a significant role in the early history of recorded blues, with its crying vibratos and sliding notes creating a dramatic and soulful sound. Violin, Sing The Blues For Me offers 24 tracks of this rare music, played by many of the greatest black fiddlers who recorded before mid-century. From the sophisticated style of Lonnie Johnson to the raw Delta blues of Henry Sims to the rollicking tunes of the Memphis Jug Band, these musicians demonstrate the depth and diversity of African-American fiddle music. Included are two early instrumentals by the multitalented Howard Armstrong, also known as "Louie Bluie," whose career in music spanned seven decades. This unique collection presents 73 minutes of vintage fiddle music carefully remastered from original 78rpm records. In addition to blues, the album contains country dances, rags and stomps, folk songs and medicine show music. The CD comes with a 32-page, full-color booklet with detailed history, complete discography, and a host of rare photographs and illustrations.

Album Details

24 Tracks of Rare Blues, featuring Mississippi Sheiks, Lonnie Johnson, Memphis Jug Band, Booker Orchestra, Andrew Baxterm Mobile Strugglers, Peg Leg Howell and Many More.

Customer Reviews:

Some not so pretty, but mostly Great. I want more from Old Hat!.......2006-07-27

Inspired by my recent review of Sam Ku West's cd of Hawaiian steel guitar from 1927 and '28, and his version of Memphis Blues contained therein, I decided I need to review this disc which contains a killer Memphis Blues by the Mobile Strugglers.

What you get here is a very fine collection of mostly pre-war fiddle musics, covering a wide range of styles and abilities. From the abysmal toned, a-rhythmic atrocity of Alma Waltz (the very rare bad track) by the Mississippi Mudsteppers at the low end of the spectrum, to the bluesy drawl of Broonzy's fiddle, all the way up to the utter brilliance of the great Lonnie Johnson.

Still, the lesser-knowns are what this is about. Sure the titles of this and the "Folks, He..." disc put the emphasis on violins/fiddles but the music doesn't stop there. There are some seriously great bands here. Full-on killin groove units that will have you dancing on the couch as you listen... Memphis Shakedown and the "train impersonation" song, Moore Girl, for example. I've always found the latter interesting because, at least in my experiences thus far, I'm more familiar with black train-sound songs being done with harmonica, while whites seem to favor fiddle trains. A very cool track.

Also though, for me, Frank Stokes' Right Now Blues and the Alabama Sheiks' Travelin Railroad Blues give this disc a more pensive, vulnerable feeling than the "Folks, He..." disc.

Lots of stylistic variety, lots of great songs and playing. Had I reviewed this when it first came out I'd have probably given it 5 stars, but with the subsequent release of "Folks, He..." I do have to say that the "Folks, He..." disc has a touch better sound. A little less muffled. When I listen to these 2 right in a row, I listen to this one a few clicks louder to make it sound as good.

My continued thanks to all the collectors out there who saved this stuff, and to labels like Old Hat who've allowed people like me to enjoy!

Stunning recordings, rare music.......2002-07-27

It's pretty amazing, this late in the folkloric/historic reissues game, to find a whole album's worth of "undiscovered" old-timey music that is of such a high caliber. Old Hat Records, a tiny North Carolina indie label, packs its discs with some of the best music in the style that you're ever likely to hear. (You might also want to check out the "Lost Provinces" and "Folks, He Sure Do Pull Some Bow" CDs...) This disc highlights a rare style of African-American fiddle music, featuring rare recordings by the bands that dotted the southern landscape 'way back when. These groups mixed stringband styles and jazzy jug-band blues and, not incidentally, made some of the catchiest music ever. In addition to great sound quality and great material, the CD is handsomely packaged; the insert booklets include some really cool archival photos, as well as extensive liner notes of the sort that have been woefully absent on similar recent reissue efforts.

An album to live with.......2001-10-25

This has rapidly become one of my favorite discs. Excellent selection of tracks, excellent transfers, excellent booklet. My only complaint would be that the text in the booklet is not in the same order as the tracks on the disk.

Great music - great supporting documentation.......2001-03-01

As early as colonial times, free and enslaved blacks were widely known for their virtuosity on the fiddle, so it was only natural that the instrument would eventually find a home in the blues...even though most people probably don't tend to think of it there. And that's the beauty of this CD. It contains samples of the blues and many of the traditions that preceded it: country dances, rags and stomps, folks songs and medicine show music, all lovingly remastered from early recordings to create 73 minutes of vintage fiddle music. The 32-page full-color booklet alone is worth the price. This is a must-have for any student of African American culture in general, or anyone who just enjoys good music.

Simply magnificent.......1999-07-16

I don't believe this release can be improved. The song selection is terrific from both a musical and historical perspective. Sound mastering is excellant. The notes, artwork and photographs were not an after thought. They are very well done. OLD HAT has now released two top notch volumes and I really hope there is a lot more in the pipe. This is a mandatory disc for all blues and old timey fans. About the only negative is the sad fact that it probably won't get out to a wider audience. A reissue done by people who love and respect this music. Just superb.

Folks, He Sure Do Pull Some Bow! Vintage Fiddle Music 1927-1935: Blues, Jazz, Stomps, Shuffles & Rags

Average customer rating:

A delight for the ears and eyes
old time magic.
People Music for Real People
Phenomenal!
If you want to hear "fiddle" music don't buy this!

Folks, He Sure Do Pull Some Bow! Vintage Fiddle Music 1927-1935: Blues, Jazz, Stomps, Shuffles & Rags
Big Bill Broonzy , Charlie Pierce , Andrew Baxter , Clifford Hayes , Bubbling-Over Five , Memphis Jug Band , Mississippi Sheiks , Peg Leg Howell , Frank Stokes , Big Joe Williams , and Agusto Abreu
Manufacturer: Old Hat Records / Enterprises
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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Violin, Sing The Blues For Me: African-American Fiddlers 1926-1949
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The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
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ASIN: B000058TAS
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

Rukus Juice And Chittlin' - Memphis Jug Band
The Jazz Fiddler - Walter Jacobs And Lonnie Carter
Moanin' And Groanin' Blues - "Peg Leg" Howell And His Gang
Dance Hall Shuffle - Clifford Hayes' Louisville Stompers
My Four Reasons - Banjo Ikey Robinson And His Bull Fiddle Band
Wild Cow Blues - Joe Williams' Washboard Blues Singers
Knox County Stomp - Tennessee Chocolate Drops
Rustlin' Man - State Street Boys
Sister Maud Mule - Alec Johnson
G Rag - Georgia Yellow Hammers
Throw Me In The Alley - Peetie Wheatstraw And His Blue Blowers
If You Can't Make It Easy, Sweet Mama - Dixieland Jug Blowers
Bunker Hill Blues - Frank Stokes
I Got A Gal - James Cole's String Band
Sweet To Mama - State Street Boys
Doctor Medicine - South Memphis Jug Band
Cabo Verdranos Peca Nove - Abrew's Portuguese Instrumental Trio
Worried Man Blues - Joe Williams' Washboard Blues Singers
Georgia Crawl - Henry Williams And Eddie Anthony
Good Old Turnip Greens - Bo Chatman
Memphis Stomp - The Blue Boys
Get Up Off That Jazzophone - The Bubbling-Over Five
Rukus Juice Shuffle - Alabama Rascals
Lazy Lazy River - Mississippi Sheiks

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

A fantastic collection of old-time music, "Folks, He Sure Do Pull Some Bow!" captures vintage fiddle music at that rare crossroads where the blues, jazz, and something that would one day be called folk were all in their infancy. For fiddle virtuosos performing between 1927 and 1935, quite simply, anything goes. Banjo Ikey Robinson's red hot "My Four Reasons" swings with humor and pizzazz, the State Street Boys' "Rustlin' Man" features the down-and-out blues vocals and fiddling of Big Bill Broonzy , and the Mississippi Sheiks' jazzy, but blues-inspired "Lazy Lazy River" musically straddles both sides of the Mason Dixon Line. For many listeners, the more esoteric tracks will stick out: Bo Chatman (a.k.a. double-entendre blues king Bo Carter) is heard fiddling behind Alec Johnson's goofy vocals on "Sister Maud Mule" (and in the spotlight on his own "Good Old Turnip Greens"); the Georgia Yellow Hammers' "G Rag" is the product of a then-rare integrated recording session; and Abrew's Portuguese Instrumental Trio performs "Cabo Verdranos Peca Nove" with incredible fiddling on what must be one of the first attempts at a crossover world-music disc. It's all here--great remastering, in-depth liner notes, and wonderful playing. Each release from Old Hat--Violin, Sing the Blues for Me and Music from the Lost Provinces--feels definitive, and this gem is certainly no different. --Jason Verlinde

Album Description

"Beautifully assembled, meticulously annotated, Folks is yet another striking contribution by Old Hat to the reassessment, if not the rewriting, of blues history. This is wonderfully unexpected music which refuses to conform to any of the accepted conventions of 12-bar blues. It should serve as a reminder of why the world continues to be drawn to this music, described by early observers as something unaccountably wild and strange. Folks restores some of that wildness, strangeness, and incalculable beauty." Peter Guralnick - author Careless Love, Searching For Robert Johnson, Last Train To Memphis

"I love this CD. So much so that I am jealous and wish that I had done it!" Lawrence Cohn - producer American Odeon's Blind Willie McTell box set, Columbia/Legacy's Roots N' Blues Series

Customer Reviews:

A delight for the ears and eyes.......2007-01-04

Old Hat Records always goes the extra mile to present incredibly rare sides from vintage 78s. The sound quality is top-notch, and the generous booklet is packed with equally rare photography, highly-informative notes and thorough documentation.

There are lots of reissues of early recordings, but all the offerings from Old Hat are head and shoulders above the rest.

Sure, the pirates of the world can probably find this material in MP3 format, but despicable thievery aside, they're missing out on the complete package. The music combined with the ample booklet is the true prize. The true value is owning this release, holding it in your hand: listening, reading, viewing the rare photos.

Whether you're a hard-core collector or occasional enthusiast of early recordings of Jazz and Blues, you'll enjoy this truly superlative production.

old time magic........2006-12-26

a wonderful disc of old time fiddle/violin recordings. pianos, guitars, banjos, and vocals also are present on a 24 set of songs that all old time music lovers should possess.

People Music for Real People.......2006-07-27

Inspired by my recent review of Sam Ku West's cd of Hawaiian steel guitar from 1927 and '28, and his version of Memphis Blues contained therein, I decided I need to review Violin, Sing the Blues for Me which contains a killer Memphis Blues by the Mobile Strugglers. Then of course I had to review this, its equally compelling companion disc.

This stuff is history-come-alive. There's a fun tidbit for those folks who still think the blues began with Robert Johnson. Check Wild Cow Blues by Joe Williams' Washboard Singers, recorded in 1935... before RJ's earliest sides. RJ obviously listened to, liked, and studied this side. RJ's iconic vocal phrasings come straight from here, but RJ had the better voice, thus pulling them off more powerfully.

Rukus Juice features some serious fiddling over a hopping groove. Moanin' and Groanin' Blues has the best humming this side of one of the better Grateful Dead Candymans.

You also get Lonnie Johnson. You may largely think of him as one of the best lyricists and guitarists (both 6 and 12-string) the blues have ever known, or as one of the primal jazz guitarists, but had Lonnie gotten tired of the guitar he could have taken Stephane Grappelli's place in the QHCF with little problem. His Memphis Stomp glides and swirls through time in rather astounding fashion. Pre-war Lonnie Johnson was THE MAN. I still don't understand why there isn't a complete boxset of him from 1925-1932. But I digress...

From slow blues drawl, to a track like Peetie Wheatstraw's Throw Me in the Alley, which would have made King Oliver proud. There's a lot of ground covered here, much of it great. Just try to hold still during Doctor Medicine by the South Memphis Jug Band!

The heart and soul of both this and "Violin, Sing..." are the people you probably never heard of. People who may have only recorded a few sides total, and have rarely if ever before been presented on cd. The few tracks by the famous greats can be heard elsewhere, so it's those largely forgotten by time who make this such a gift.

Phenomenal!.......2005-12-05

Well, I completely disagree with the negative review below, and I have a feeling that the gentleman who wrote it, who claims to be a mediocre picker of several instruments, will remain mediocre for his entire life. Fiddle and violin are not the same thing. As the old joke goes, the difference between the two is that you shouldn't spill beer on a violin.

To expect rural and traditional black fiddlers from the Depression to play fiddle like classically trained modern fiddlers like Mark O'Connor or Allison Krauss is like expecting your country Grandma to make Hazelnut-crusted filet of Chilean Seabass with a Pomegranate and Wasabi reduction for Sunday dinner, instead of pot roast and mashed potatoes. It's an absurd expectation. This is the music of real people. Many of these musicians undoubtedly farmed or did other backbreaking labor all week, taking their only joy from the music they'd play on the weekend. Their faithful listeners were in the same boat.

Remember that for many of these recordings, the concept of "jazz" hadn't been invented yet. Bluegrass, for that matter, wouldn't be invented for a couple more decades.

Anyone with a genuine appreciation for American traditional and folk music will love this album. Yes, some of the recording quality is a little bit rough (many of the songs sound like they're playing on an old turntable instead of on a CD), but it's completely listenable, not nearly as difficult to listen to as many other re-released gems from this era. Listen to it with an open mind, and after you've heard the first few tunes, your brain will automatically tune out the static (which is minimal to begin with).

This album is one of the more brilliant re-releases and collections from this era. Get an idea of what real people were listening to and playing in this time period. You'll thank yourself for giving it a try.

If you want to hear "fiddle" music don't buy this!.......2003-04-13

This is a review for normal people. If you are a fan of standard fiddle do not buy this CD. It is a bunch of badly recorded, half hearted, boring and sloppy songs thrown together on an overpriced CD. Save yourself $... or if you like this type of music just go buy some old Little Rascals episodes on DVD. Then you will get the same music you hear on this plus the bonus of the Little Rascals. Now I know why we think of Blues guitar players not fiddle players when this music is discussed. The other reviewers seem to think some of the names on this CD will be familiar to you. Don't believe them, unless names like "Abrew's Portuguese Instrumental Trio" or "Dixieland Jug Blowers" are familiar to you. I am just hoping to prevent normal music lovers from stepping into this pile and losing $... like I did. I play banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer and guitar all badly, but I could get a gig with these bands and probably improve their sound. If you are the artsy type that digs this kind of stuff and you can't wait to grow a goatee, turn the lights down low, fill the room with smoke (oops, bad for your health), put your sunglasses on and crank this baby up; I hope you don't mind being stuck by yourself all the time because no one else is going to put up with this lousy music. Go find something with Chubby Wise in it if you want to hear some real fiddle playing. Help support some little known, up and coming fiddle players that need to buy food and pay rent with royalty checks by buying their music instead of making these labels, that get this junky music for free or almost free, super rich.

Average customer rating:

The Baxter
Original Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Milan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AAF21C
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Tracks:

Baxter Theme - Theodore Shapiro
Just A Body - King Of France
When Your Man Is Wild - Craig Wedren
Don't Melt - Rats With Wings
Put - Amy Miles
Don't Run Me Over Baby - Peter Salett
Coke Vs. Pot And Beer - Rats With Wings
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On - Various Artists
Od Blue - Craig Wedren
Hero - El May
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Album Description

IFC Films presents The Baxter, a quirky, contemporary homage to the classic romantic screwball comedies of the 1940's. The Baxter features quirky pop rock, jazz and '80s throwback music written by the film's composers, Theordore Shapiro and Craig Wedren, as well as songs from a wide array of artists including Rufus Wainwright, Amy Miles, Rats With Wings, Peter Sallet and others. The soundtrack also includes a selection of unforgettable dialogue from the film, woven between the music.

Average customer rating:

The not quite complete
crispy fruit
LP is source for Ports of Pleasure

The Fruit of Dreams
Les Baxter
Manufacturer: El Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000BAVX0K
Release Date: 2005-10-31

Tracks:

Tahiti: A Summer Night at Sea
Shanghai Rickshaw
City of Veils
Hong Kong Cable Car
Tramp Steamer to Singapore
Monkey Dance of Bali
Pearls of Ceylon
Harem Silks from Bombay
Sidewalk Cafes of Saigon
Gates of Annam
Procession of the Princes
Feathered Serpent
Fruit of Dreams
Pool of Love
Aquaducts
Games
Conquistadores
Gardens of the Moon
Temple of Gold
Pyramid of the Sun
High Priest of the Aztecs
Acapulco

Album Description

The Fruit Of Dreams is a fantastic combination of Les Baxter's rarest, best and most pure exotica albums, Ports Of Pleasure and The Sacred Idol. Both these records are rightly acclaimed as international masterpieces and this is their first release anywhere on CD. El. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

The not quite complete .......2006-03-17

This CD release is NOT complete in that 2 tracks are missing from "Ports of Pleasure": "Bangkok Cock Fight" and "Spice Islands Sea Birds". As the STEREO version of this album was used, those 2 tracks do not appear due to the Stereo mastering of early Capitol albums. A lot of early Capitol stereo albums are short 2 tracks from their mono counterparts.Sometimes the complete album WAS recorded in Stereo and the tracks with the best fit(due to stereo mastering) were chosen but leaving 2 tracks in the can- this also explains why the CD tracks do not match the mono track order. (See [...] for complete details in their Les Baxter Discography). Despite this, I bought the CD as I don't have the majority of these tracks. (Some are available on the "Exotic Moods of Les Baxter" 2CD set on Capitol, including one of the missing "Ports of Pleasure" tracks, "Spice Islands Sea Birds" which is the mono version).

Needle noise and LP source materials were not noticable to me.
It would be nice if Capitol or Collectors Choice would do some 2-fers of Les Baxter to experience a proper reissue of this material. For now, this CD is good to help fill some Les Baxter gaps on CD.

On other web sites for this title, it is listed as a 24 track CD with the 2 missing titles listed above as being on the CD. So, unless there are 2 different copies of this CD available, there is only the 22 track version available.

crispy fruit.......2005-12-21

This les Baxter is allright, however I'm disappointed to discover that a gammophone is used for making this cd.
Amazon: please inform customers about this kind of practise in future.
Sound quality is a bit poor. One can here needles an the high rank female voices at the end of the album sound crispy.

LP is source for Ports of Pleasure.......2005-12-16

Okay, I have the reel to reel of PORTS OF PLEASURE and it beats the pants off of the LP source used on this CD release. Somewhere on the package they should warn consumers that this is most likely not an officially licensed release of this music. Avoid it until either Capitol or Collector's Choice Music release it proplerly. I gave it two stars simply becuase it can serve the purpose of introducing people to Les' music, even if on a less than satisfactory LP transfer to CD.

More George Wright At The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Volume 3

Average customer rating:

Outstanding Organ Music

More George Wright At The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Volume 3

Manufacturer: Legacy
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ASIN: B00002DDON
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Organ Music.......2004-01-11

If you enjoy the sounds that the mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ can produce - you'll enjoy this album. George Wright is probably the best ever at mastering the multiple banks of keys and pedals of this complex instrument, and the music is very relaxing and entertaining. The sounds he coaxes out of the Wurlitzer on "Quiet Village" are remarkable. Easily one of his best - excellent on either a small office stereo, or played on a home theater system.

Album Review:

Album Review

Album Review