Bob Dylan-Planet Waves

While on sabbatical from Columbia, Dylan played with The Band and "Planet Waves" appeared in very early 1974. Some rather exciting things followed. Dylan, in seclusion for years, toured for the first time since 1966 (and with the very same band). So, once again, fans had yet another "comeback" on their hands (1970's "New Morning" was also called a "comeback" as well as 1975's "Blood On The Tracks"; this speaks volumes about Dylan's repertoire). But this time the tour wouldn't stop. "The neverending tour" continues unabated to the present day.

On its appearance, "Planet Waves" divided fans and critics, and continues to do so. Some listeners outright hate it, calling it "rushed", "sloppy", and "obsessive". Others hail it as a hugely underrated masterpiece, calling it "edgy", "rough", "personal", or "from the heart". Most would probably agree that it isn't one of his worst, while conceding that it stands a little distant from his absolute best work.

A number of moods pervade "Planet Waves". The bouncy opener "On a Night Like This" will cause all still feet to twirl with glee. But the suicidal follow-up, "Going Going Gone" will plant those feet in concrete while perking up ears and brains. And then the very heavy and sandpaper rough "Tough Mama" (with the classic line "Today on the countryside it was hotter than a crotch") kicks the tempo up again, but in a very different way than "On a Night Like This." The album appears uneven but it actually conjures up a collective mood after repeated listenings. A straight reading of the lyrics reveals obsessions with love, death, the past, and youth. Dylan pleads with countless lovers on this album: "Tough Mama", "Hazel", "You Angel You", "Never Say Goodbye", "Wedding Song". Arguably, the songs on "Planet Waves" may explore the complicated dimensions of his deep love for Sara, his ex-wife. Perhaps all of the referents point to one person? After all, who hasn't felt both a deep passionate love and a self-deprecating hatred for the same person? "Dirge" demonstrates the latter, spewing invective such as "I hate myself for loving you." This intense love finally gets fed steroids on "Wedding Song". Here Dylan turns the phrase "I love you" into a dizzying mantra. And it's obvious by this point that he's hurting. Thematically, "Planet Waves" sits comfortably in front of, and in the shadow of, "Blood on the Tracks". That album also explored the many aspects of emotional and existential love (though "Planet Waves" arguably showcases more of the physical side).

Of course one exception shouts out: "Forever Young". And why do two versions sit side by side on this album? Apparently some friends of Dylan made fun of the slow version, and he decided to keep it off the album. But the engineer loved it and insisted that it remain. So maybe the two versions remained a compromise? Also, side one of the original vinyl lp ended with the first "Forever Young", so the CD somewhat ruins the affect of flipping sides. In any case, "Forever Young" has joined the ranks of classic Dylan.

"Planet Waves" stands as yet another complicated, sophisticated, and stratified Dylan project. His work always invites heaps of discussion that, for some people, never ceases. Not only that, "Planet Waves" was Dylan's first number one record (which seems impossible), though sales weren't as impressive as expectations. Though Dylan never regained the heights he attained in the 1960s, it doesn't seem like he really wanted to. In "Wedding Song" he sings "It's never been my duty to remake the world at large, Nor is it my intention to sound a battle charge." Dylan had openly abdicated the throne imposed on him by some of his fans. He instead retreated into the personal and complex world that "Planet Waves" continued to explore. And he kept going going. 



Just Us-Marshall Tucker Band

JUST US was Marshall Tucker's illustrious followup to the miserable TUCKERIZED, but, unfortunately, its last great album until 2004. This time the band produced itself, and blind keyboardist Ronnie Godfrey, now fully integrated into the band, proved that his blindness was no handicap, contributing greatly to the writing here. You would think that Godfrey would spur the band on to further masterpieces, but unfortunately, the group hit a slide immediately afterwards from which it would not recover until the astonishing BEYOND THE HORIZON, a problem caused by the departure of all but two of the band's members. Nevertheless, you shouldn't pass this CD up.



Midnight Moonlight- New Riders of the Purple Sage

Over the years the New Riders have put out a lot of music and influenced many other musicians. They started out as a country/bluegrass off-shoot of the Grateful Dead, then went on to develope their own legacy as the ultimate Cosmic Country Rock band. In the early 1980s, several key members of the band left, and many fans never took the time to listen to how good the lineup sounded. This album shows off the best of the later editions of the New Riders of The Purple Sage. No longer a "country rock" outfit, this is pure "unplugged" music.... folk festival music, living room music. The musicianship is superb, the vocals delightfull, the song writing the very best the band ever put out in their illustrius career. The remakes of the earlier chestnuts like "Glendale Train", "Lonesome LA Cowboy", and "Louisiana Lady" make your hair stand up. "Change In The Weather" makes me want to go back to an earlier, more idealistic era. When I first bought this album, I listened to it over and over, then bought a bunch of copies for friends who claimed that it had the same addictive appeal to them.
If you liked EmmyLou Harris live at the Ryman, or the Dead's Reckoning you will love and treasure this album.......peace
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This 1992 CD features original member John "Marmaduke" Dawson along with a couple other guitarists and various backing musicians. This is a very different group than the legendary 1970's version. However, take it for what it is, and it's a pleasant listen. Essentially, the group reworks a few classics, and plays a few standards and originals. However, the remakes do not measure up to the originals, in this fan's opinion. (The change of lyrics in "Lonesome LA Cowboy" doesn't work for me, for example). Still, "Midnight Moonlight" is a great song, no matter who's playing it, and the bagpipes on "Sutter's Mill" are neat. The musicianship is also top notch. This is not a disappointing CD, unless you are expecting the original group. Enjoy it if you are a fan of the NRPS. But if you are not familiar with this group, try one of their early albums first.

Chris Hillman-Slipping away

Chris Hillman never seems to get his due. His band mates and collaborators always seems to get more acclaim than he does, despite almost 40 years of creating excellent American music. This 1977 album came after Hillman, J.D. Souther, and Richie Furay failed to become the new Eagles and is one of the strongest outings of his career. That is saying a lot as Hillman was a key part of the Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo," the Flying Burrito Brothers "Gilded House of Sin," and "Manassas" with Stephen Stills. Yet Gram Parsons, Roger McGuinn, Emmy Lou Harris, David Crosby, and Stills sport stronger reputations than Hillman in the eyes and ears of many music critics. Maybe Hillman is just too nice a guy. Whatever, this solo album (the first of his career) features several great songs in the 1970s Southern California singer-songwriter mold. If the Eagles had covered "Slippin' Away," it would be in constant rotation today on classic rock radio. "Step on Out" is a great opener and later a country hit for the Oak Ridge Boys. "Love is the Sweetest Amnesty" is as sweet as its' title and "(Take Me In Your) Lifeboat" is a rousing gospel closer. Hillman is a fine singer, deft Mandolin and bass player, and a strong songwriter. His recent work with Herb Pederson and with Larry and Tony Rice is rich and rewarding. This album got lost in the country rock glut of the mid-1970s, but it stands out nicely today as one of the best solo efforts from a former Byrd.



Eye of the Hurricane- Flying Burrito Brothers

According to the liner notes, this is a reunion album of sorts. John Beland, Gib Guilbeau, Sneaky Pete, and Chris Ethridge are joined by Australian country-rocker Brian Cadd and legendary drummer Ronnie Tutt for a highly entertaining set of original tunes. The vocal harmonies are excellent, and the playing is superb (made even more so by Tutt's stellar performance). Particularly outstanding are "Wheel of Love", "Heart Highway", and "Jukebox Saturday Night", but this album has something for everyone, and re-establishes the Burritos as leaders in their genre. Long live the Burritos! 

Chriss Hillman Band-Main Point

Chris Hillman Band - 1975-09-22 - Main Point, Bryn Mawr, PA

The Chris Hillman Band
1975-09-22
The Main Point, Bryn Mawr, PA
Very Good Quality Audience Recording
mp3 @ 192 kbps

Here's Chris Hillman and his band in 1975, which could have been called something like the 'Firefallin' Burrito Brothers'. After the SHF band wrapped up their tour in late 1974 and head back into the studio to work on their 2nd album, it was clear that the personal differences within the band had become a major problem. Ritchie Furay's recent conversion and burgeoning enthusiasm for evangelical christianity (aided and abetted by Al Perkins) was an annoyance to Souther and Hillman, who formed the 'Heathen Defense League' in response to repeated efforts to 'save' them. They each wrote their own songs and only came together to record them. When the album, the aptly titled Trouble in Paradise, was finished and released in 1975, to generally lackluster reviews and sales, and a planned tour was cancelled (supposedly due to an injury to Furay's hand, but possibly also because the principals had just lost interest), the group quickly disbanded. Actually, although Trouble in Paradise couldn't match the excellence of their 1st, it is still a quite solid album, containing gems such as Souther's title track and 'Mexico' and Hillman's 'Follw Me Through'. After SHF, the 3 stars quickly returned to solo careers and each released a new solo album in 1976 (Souther's Black Rose, Hillman's Slippin Away, and Furay's I've Got a Reason). After the breakup of SHF, Hillman, in particular wasted no time getting back out on the road. He called up friend and former FBB alum Rick Roberts, who by now had formed a new band, called Firefall, which was practicing and playing together but did not have a record deal or any recordings yet. So, Roberts, along with his Firefall mates guitarist Jock Bartley (who also earlier played with Gram Parsons) and bassist Mark Andes (formerly of Spirit) joined Chris to form the temporary and hastily put together band dubbed the Chris Hillman Band for a series of concert dates in the fall of 1975. Actually, it was towards the end of these show dates, when Chris became ill, and had to dropout of the tour, that Firefall continued the shows on their own, and attracted the Attention of Atlantic record execs, who offered them their recording contract, and they almost immediately began recording their first album. But in this show, earlier in the tour, Chris was definitely in charge, playing a mixture of tunes from his various bands, from the Byrds, Burritos, Manassas, and SHF Bands. Here are both sets from his excellent Main Point show, and a very fine recording it is. Thanks to the excellent Rocking-byrd blog (rocking-byrd.blogspot.com) for this one, as well as so many other fine Byrds-related shows.

Chris Hillman
Rick Roberts
Jock Bartley
Mark Andes
Michael Wootten

Early Show
01 - Lazy Days
02 - Hot Burrito #2
03 - It Doesn't Matter
04 - Follow Me Through
05 - Heavenly Fire
06 - Sin City
07 - Fallen Eagle
08 - Step On Out
09 - Colorado
10 - Can't You Hear Me Calling
11 - Wheels
12 - The Race Is On
13 - Rise And Fall
14 - Mystery train
15 - So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star

Late Show
01 - Safe At Home
02 - Down In The Churchyard
03 - High Fashion Queen
04 - Four Days Of Rain
05 - White Line Fever
06 - Devil In Disguise
07 - Take It On The Run
08 - She Is A Song
09 - Step On Out
10 - Do Right Woman
11 - Bound To Fall
12 - Things Will Be Better
13 - Time Between
14 - Six Days On The Road
15 - Lies
16 - So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star
17 - Can't You Hear Me Calling

LINK HERE
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KTUMZMWP 

Byrds-farther Along

This album featured Roger McGuinn, Clarence White, Skip Battin. It was the last original Byrds album to feature this quartet. The Byrds produced it themselves and recorded it mostly in London, though it was finished in Hollywood. The overall feel of the album is country-rock in its truest sense, though some tracks have more of a country flavor than others.\

I particularly like America's great national pastime, a catchy song that pokes fun at consumer materialism. The Byrds also do an excellent cover of the gospel classic Farther along. The opening track, Tiffany queen, shows a Chuck Berry influence. Bugler, a song about ... a road accident, is considered by many to be the highlight of the album. Antique Sandy is an interesting hippie love song.

The three bonus tracks were recorded after the album was completed. Lost my driving wheel was actually a Roger McGuinn solo track intended for an eventual solo album. The other two bonus tracks were recorded by the Byrds - they are Born to rock and roll and Bag full of money.

While this album may not be the best Byrds album, it has much to commend it and should not be overlooked.