Sunday, 9 March 2014

Kenny Burrell Volume 2, recorded in 1956, is the second album by this jazz guitarist.  The cover art is by Andy Warhol, and as a result this album's value has taken off in the last few years.  Depending on the actual issue, label, condition etc. it could be worth up to $1500 range. This is a 1967 pressing, and not really collectible, but still is good music. I really like this piece, Moten Swing




From 1985, recorded with saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., Togethering is one of over 100 albums by Kenny Burrell, and over 40 for Grover Washington. Two jazz legends together for the one and only time on this album.  If you are a jazz fan, and particularly of what you might call smooth-jazz, then this is one album to add to your collection. On Blue Note BTC 85106, here is the title track, Togethering






A decade after appearing on the music scene with the huge hit Wuthering Heights, Kate Bush released her 6th album, a compilation, with a new version of Wuthering Heights as well as Experiment IV a previously unreleased track.  The Whole Story, from 1986, on EMI PWAS-17242, covers music from 1976 to '86.  A great way to get introduced to her Art Rock style of music, this is a fine album. My pick is Army Dreamers: (bit of a tick through this song ...)



"It was Dylan meets the Beatles"  was Roger McGuinn's description of the new Folk Rock band The Byrds.  Considered one of the most influential bands from the '60's and the inspiration for the term "Folk Rock" the Byrds had their own sound, unique from the popular music at the time.  From 1965 on Columbia CS 9172 comes their debut album Mr. Tambourine Man.  The title track was written by Bob Dylan, and also released in 1965 on Bringing it all back home. Dylan heard the Byrds version and reportedly said "Nobody could do it as well and they should record it".  This copy is the 1971 reissue of this famous album.  Here is one of four Dylan songs on this album, All I Really Want to do, with their characteristic 12 string guitar sound:


With David Crosby no longer a member of the band and with the addition of Gram Parsons bringing a stronger country influence to their music, The Byrds release another milestone album Sweethearts of the Rodeo.  Although not commercially successful when it was released this album is considered one of the more influential albums for later Country Rock bands like the Eagles and America.  From 1968 on Columbia CS 9670, this copy is the original issue.  My favourite from this album is another Dylan song You Ain't Going Nowhere followed by the Woody Guthrie tune Pretty Boy Floyd:




By late 1969 when Ballad of Easy Rider was released, Roger McGuinn was the only original member left in the band.  Roger along with Dylan, had written the title track from this album, for the movie Easy Rider, staring Peter Fonda, and used the connection to promote this album. The popularity of the movie help make this release their first top 40 album since 1967, even though the title track was the only song connected to the movie.  Of the eleven songs on this album only three were actually written by members of the band, the rest being covers and traditional songs.  A good album and considered to be one of The Byrds best from their later years, here is the title track:

Two veteran jazz guitarists, Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd, combine their talents on this album of bossa nova, blues and contemporary jazz pieces.
From 1965 on Columbia CS 9130. here is Carolina in the Morning:







Brazilian Byrd features the music of Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, famous for the song The Girl From Ipanema. Charlie Byrd was instrumental in introducing Latin music, specifically the bossa nova to the American music scene.  This album from 1966 on Columbia CS 9137, is a great example of that music genre; like this piece Corcovado:





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