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ONCE UPON A TIME.....White City

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  PETE TOWNSHEND  White City  (Atco,1985) - Rock       White City  had the misfortune of being allied with the inscrutable short film of the same name, though outside of that context it’s a stirring album of top-notch material. Forgetting the movie for a moment (handily done), these songs represent the most polished rock tunes to come from  Pete Townshend ’s pen in some time. “Give Blood,” “Brilliant Blues,” “Hiding Out,” “Secondhand Love” and “White City Fighting” belong with his best: rousing, resilient rock songs that treat self-assessment as a contact sport. TRACKLIST : Give Blood                        Brilliant Blues                        Face The Face                        Hiding Out                       ...

ONCE UPON A TIME.....Just Like This

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  MICK RONSON  Just Like This  (Burning Airlines,1999) - Rock       This set of previously unissued recordings from former David Bowie and Mott the Hoople guitarist, the late, great Mick Ronson, is a testament to the unique and signature style of this often overlooked musician. Comprised of twelve tracks recorded in 1976 at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY, this was to be the first sessions of the then “new” Mick Ronson band, after the two solo albums  Slaughter on 10th Avenue  and  Play Don’t Worry . Mick’s crystal clear tone, dripping with sustain and emotion, distorted and dirty as well on occasion, is at the forefront throughout these songs, and his Bowie-esque vocals fit the music perfectly. Those expecting a similar sound to the Ziggy Stardust days, or even Mott’s “All the Young Dudes” will be in for a surprise, as  Just Like This  is unabashed hard rock, guitar hero music, squarely in the Frank Marino, Leslie West, Robin T...

ONCE UPON A TIME.....World's End

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  ANDWELLA  World's End  (Reflection,1970) - Psychedelic rock       Following the break-up of Belfast psych-blues trio The Method, teenage singer-songwriter David Lewis moved to London, formed Andwellas Dream and signed to CBS. Though their roots show with a fondness for Cream-like workouts, debut album Love And Poetry (1969) shows an emerging pastoral, psych-pop side, with standouts The Days Grew Longer For Love and Midday Sun.       After a move to Reflection Records, World’s End followed in 1970. It sounds like a lot of living was done in the interim – the grooves are deeper, the guitars stingier, the writing more worldly. The McCartney-ish ballad Lady Love and the blissful I’m Just Happy To See You Get Her show a burgeoning talent. TRACKLIST: Hold On To Your Mind                          Lady Love                       ...

ONCE UPON A TIME...Come From The Shadows

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  JOAN BAEZ Come From The Shadows  (A&M,1972) - Folk        While Baez was a force in the 60s anti-war movement and a civil rights advocate, politics hit her closer to home in 1969 when her husband, the anti-war journalist  David Harris ,  was jailed for draft evasion. The resulting album, Come From the Shadows, had Americana flourishes, a folk soul, and was unambiguously in conversation with 70s rock. In the Quiet Morning is an ecstatic elegy for Janis Joplin, the stately piano of Rainbow Road recalls classic Elton John, while To Bobby calls out Bob Dylan for his lapsed activism ( he was unamused ). Most stunningly, Baez is reinvented as a country empath in Prison Trilogy (Billy Rose), recruiting a cast of Nashville musicians in a call-out of police brutality and the inhuman treatment of undocumented immigrants, climaxing in a grave call to action: “Help us raze the prisons to the ground.” TRACKLIST: Prison Trilogy (Billy Rose)   ...

ONCE UPON A TIME.....Changes

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  ETTA JAMES  Changes  (MCA,1980) - Soul, Funk       This was released in 1980 and produced by the great Allen Tousaint.  This is classic soul music and Etta was a the top of her game despite this being a lost period for Etta.        Tousaint assembled and wonderfully funky New Orleans cast to back Etta.  He had her cover several of his great songs and she does them proud.  One of my favorite Tousaint songs is “Night People” and this Etta version is my all time favorite. She purrs, she growls.        If you are a fan of neo-soul, for example Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, you will love this album. TRACKLIST : Mean Mother                        Donkey                        Changes                        Don't Stop   ...

BASS CULTURE.....Bob Babbitt

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        Although the “Motown Sound” is greatly associated with James Jamerson, Babbitt was another a staple bass player on the Detroit R&B scene. During the late 1960s and early ’70s, Babbitt frequently recorded at Golden World Studios – a competitor of Motown at the time – with artists such as Edwin Starr and the Capitols. This led to touring with Stevie Wonder, who he then joined at Motown studios to record “We Can Work It Out” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”       Babbitt was quickly able to establish himself as an in-demand session player at Motown and contributed to hits by The Temptations, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, and many others.       After making his mark on the Detroit session scene, Babbitt relocated to New York and frequently commuted to the “City of Brotherly Love.” Working with producers Gamble and Huff at Philadelphia International, he laid down the bass on a number of Philly Soul hits. GLADYS KNIGHT Miss Gladys Kn...

ONCE UPON A TIME.....Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee

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  GILA  Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee  (WB,1973) - Kraut/Prog rock       "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" is a concept album about the destruction of the american indians during the mythic Amerian West. Florian Frike of Popol Vuh plays the keyboards accompanied by Conny Veit on the guitars. Here the Space rock tinged with psychedelic effects slightly leaves the place to touching folk-pop songs (dominated by ethereal female vocals). This one looks like more to a Popol Vuh album at their most acoustic moments. Easy and pleasant listening. TRACKLIST: This Morning                      In A Sacred Manner                      Sundance Chant                      Young Coyote                      The Buffalo Are Coming         ...