Archive for March 19th, 2013
Review: Elvis Presley, “Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite: Legacy Edition”
Elvis Presley never did anything small. When he stepped onstage at 1:00 a.m. at Honolulu’s International Center on January 14, 1973 for a scheduled 12:30 a.m. concert, satellites were beaming the most expensive entertainment broadcast ever to an audience of over one billion (yes, one billion) people around the world. The subsequent RCA album quickly was certified gold, and eventually went five times platinum. Now that world-famous LP, Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite, is the latest Legacy Edition release in Legacy Recordings’ series of expansions and consolidations of The King’s catalogue (RCA/Legacy 88765 43389 2). The new Aloha follows the same template as 2012’s reissue of Elvis as Recorded Live at Madison Square Garden. The 2-CD iteration of that set presented the original MSG album on one disc with the Afternoon in the Garden rehearsal disc as its companion. This set includes the original album on the first disc, with The Alternate Aloha rehearsal show of January 12 and five bonus tracks (recorded after the evening concert to be inserted in the delayed U.S. broadcast) on the second disc.
America said Aloha to Elvis in between a trip to the Dark Side of the Moon and a visit to the Houses of the Holy when the album earned a berth between Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin atop the Billboard chart. The infamously silly original cover artwork of a gyrating Elvis literally being beamed from space via satellite barely offers a hint as to the fiery and electric music within the album. The rear art (also reproduced on the CD booklet) better indicates the significance of the concert, with “We love Elvis” being transmitted in various languages. In his lifetime, Presley only performed five concerts outside of the United States: five shows in three Canadian cities in 1957. So the broadcast of Aloha from Hawaii was the only chance for many viewers worldwide to experience the Elvis Presley concert experience.
For Aloha, Elvis was backed by his regulars: the smokin’ hot TCB Band (including James Burton, Jerry Scheff, Ronnie Tutt, John Wilkinson, Glen Hardin and Charlie Hodge), Joe Guercio’s orchestra, and vocalists Kathy Westmoreland, The Sweet Inspirations and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet. All tickets for the concert and the rehearsal show were on a “pay what you can” basis benefiting the Kui Lee Cancer Fund, for which Presley raised more than $75,000.00.
Take a trip to the islands with Elvis after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Duane Allman, “Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective”
“I ain’t wastin’ time no more,” Gregg Allman sang following the death of his brother Duane at the age of 24 in October 1971, “’cause time goes by like pouring rain…and much faster things/You don’t need no gypsy to tell you why/You can’t let one precious day slip by.” Surveying the remarkable new box set Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective (Rounder 11661-9137-2), it’s evident that Duane Allman’s too few days certainly were precious, filled with soulful sounds that transcended genre tags like rock, blues, pop and R&B. It’s sobering to realize that the seven-disc box’s consistently surprising, dynamic and gripping licks were recorded in just six short years, between 1965 and 1971, and only three of its 129 tracks were recorded under the name of “Duane Allman.” Rather, as a leader of the Allman Brothers Band and anonymous session man for everybody from Lulu to Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman generously placed his gifts as a musician in the service of others.
Skydog tells the story of Howard Duane Allman’s transformation from journeyman guitarist in a number of bands to session pro and ultimately, rock star. (“Skydog” was his nickname.) It’s artfully crafted in chronological fashion by recording date, including all of the major touchstones in Allman’s career as well as a number of tracks that add color, context and a further understanding of the man’s art. All told, 33 of its tracks are new to CD or previously unreleased altogether, and each disc as so expertly curated by producers Bill Levenson and Duane’s daughter Galadrielle Allman creates a distinct chapter of a tragically too-short story.
Dive in, after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »
Release Round-Up: Week of March 19
Duane Allman, Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective (Rounder)
A massive seven-disc box set celebrates the life and work of a guitar legend, gone far too soon. Read Joe’s review here! (Amazon U.S.)
Elvis Presley, Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite: Legacy Edition (RCA/Legacy)
The classic best-selling live album, taken from the famed TV special, is paired with a newly-remixed version of The Alternate Aloha (a rehearsal show recorded days earlier) and rare bonus performances. You’ll find Joe’s review here. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Bing Crosby, Bing in Dixieland / Seasons: The Closing Chapter – Deluxe Edition / Return to Paradise Islands: Deluxe Edition / On the Sentimental Side / Bing on Broadway / El Señor Bing: Deluxe Edition / So Rare: Treasures from the Crosby Archives / Bing Sings The Great American Songbook / Bing Sings The Sinatra Songbook / A Southern Memoir: Deluxe Edition / Bing & Rosie: The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions (Bing Crosby Enterprises/UMe)
Originally released as part of The Bing Crosby Archive on Collector’s Choice a few years ago, these discs are reprinted by UMe for you to enjoy.
Bing in Dixieland: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Seasons: The Closing Chapter: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Return to Paradise Islands: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
On the Sentimental Side: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bing on Broadway: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
El Señor Bing: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
So Rare: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bing Sings The Great American Songbook: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bing Sings The Sinatra Songbook: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
A Southern Memoir: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bing & Rosie: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Lee Hazlewood, Trouble is a Lonesome Town (Light in the Attic)
A mightily-expanded edition of Hazlewood’s solo debut LP features a load of non-LP material and unreleased gems!
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
LP: Amazon U.S.
Del Shannon, The Complete U.K. Singles (and More) 1961-1966 (Ace)
Shannon was perhaps even bigger in England than Stateside, so it’s nice to see Ace lovingly anthologize his single sides on two discs. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Miles Davis, Live at Montreux 1991 (Eagle Rock)
Miles’ last appearance at the famed jazz festival, with the help of Quincy Jones and the Gil Evans Orchestra.
DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Blu-Ray: Amazon U.S.
Nat “King” Cole, Welcome to the Club / Harry Belafonte, Calypso (Audio Fidelity)
The newest hybrid SACDs from Audio Fidelity.
Welcome to the Club: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Calypso: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Various Artists, ICON (UMe/Capitol)
Available at the link above, another batch of the painfully thin Universal (and now EMI) compilation line, featuring a lot of comps by artists nobody needs and one actually worthwhile one by Belinda Carlisle with a new track.
The Second Disc 