Music Review: The Doors: The Best of the Doors, 1985

 There are several best of the Doors C.D.s.  This is the 1985 version with 2 c.d.s  The Doors establish a pleasing beat with repetitive guitars, and then generally add the vocal melody on top of that.  It works well for most songs, but sometimes the back music is too repetitive.  

Most of their music I could live without, but there afre a few numbers that are very nice.  This would include, "Light My Fire," "Break on Through," "Hello, I Love You" and "Riders on the Storm" which is my favorite.  It is a very long song and goes on several tangents, but always comes back to "riders on the storm."

Music Review: Cher and Sunny and Cher: Greatest Hits

Cher and Sonny and Cher appears to have been released in 1998 as a compendium of their music after the death of Sonny Bono.  It includes many of there hit songs, and misses a few.  "I got You Babe" is their anthem and a concert version concluded the C.D.  I would have preferred a studio version because the concert antics got in the way of the song.  The two big hits of Cher were included, "Half-Breed" in which Cher talks about her Cherokee ancestry and "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" which has a very catching beat.  "Crystal Clear/Muddy Waters has a very nice message, one upon which I have reflected in my life.  It is the torrent that clears the muddy waters and sometimes in life it is the fire that heals.  "United We Stand" is also very nice with a relatable theme.  

A couple things missing.  I use to love seeing Cher sing VAMP on the Sonny and Cher show.  Also the son "The Beat Goes On" is missing.  

Music Review: Buddy Holly from the Original Master Tapes

This is a collection of Buddy Holly songs released in 1985.  Of course they were all recorded earlier as Buddy Holly died in 1959.  This anthology of course includes "That'll Be the Day," an early Holly hit that reached #1 on the charts.  Another successful song was "Peggy Sue" which reached #3 which is also included.  Also included are "Oh Boy," "Everyday" and Rock Around with Ollie Vee."  Buddy Holly accomplished a lot in such a young li ve.  He died the day "the music died" in a plane crash at 22.  One can only imagine how much more music he could have made.  Even so he influenced many subsequent artists including Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley and the Beatles. 

Music Review: Chicago Greatest Hits 1982-1989

 This C.C. collections starts off with the classic and personal favorite, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry."  The album starts with that violin melody that introduces this number.  It is just beautiful.  Chicago has never shied from using instrumentals in their numbers; in fact that is the trademark.  The use brass instruments frequently.  

Chicago describes themselves as a rock and roll band with horns.  The were formed in the late 60s in Chicago, first called The Big Thing, the Chicago Transit Authority and then Chicago.  Peter Cetera, Terry Kath and Robert Lamm provide most of the vocals.  Their songs seem to be about love and relationships.  "I can't go on if I'm on my own" the sing in "Will you Still Love Me."  In "Love me Tomorrow" they sing "She loves me, and thats all I need to know."

"Look Away" is a good song of the after effects of a break up.  "If you see me walking by, and the tears are in. my eye, Look away!"  Also included are the classics "You're the Inspiration" and "Hard Habit to Break."  These songs continue the general theme, "You're the meaning of my life, you're the inspiration.  

"What Kind of Man Would I Be" ius remixed for this album and is also very catchy.  

I find Chicago to be very pleasing to listen to and as I said before, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is one of my favorite songs of all time.  

Music Review: James Taylor: Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon

 This was James aylor's third album and his most successful.  It rose to number two on the pop 100 chart thanks in part to the strength of the song, "You've Got a Friend," which when released as a single is the only James Taylor song to reach num er one.  This song was written by Carole King.  Her album released the same year including the same song reached number one and kept the Taylor album from. claiming this spot.  King wrote the song as a response to James Taylor's song, "Fire and Rain" from his previous album in which he sings, "I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend."  Both these songs are two of my favorite of all time.  

The other song which mas ade a siungle from this album was "Long Ago and Far Away."  This song has a sad theme, dreams not turning out theme, which is a general feel of this album.  "Where do your golden rainbows end?  Why is this song I sing so sad?  Dreaming the dreams I dream, my friend. Loving the love I love to love to love to love.  Joni Mitchell provides backup vocals and Carole King plays piano.

The "Highway Song" was also made a single.  It is a traveling song, the life of a singer.  "You Can Close Your Eyes" is just James Taylor, his guitar and his song, with minimal back up.  It is the b-side of "Highway Song."  It is a lullaby where he is singing to his lover.  Taylor considered it a secular hymn.

James Taylor has a distinctive voice, and his own style of writing songs.  I enjoy the easy listening.

Music Review: The Mamas & the Papas: Greatest Hits

The Mamas & the Papas: Greatest Hits, MCA Records, 1998.

This  C.D. includes the favorite Mamas and the Papas songs.  This includes: "Monday, Monday," California Dreamin,'" "Go Where You Wanna Go," "Dancing in the Street," "Dedicated to the One I Love," "Words of Love," 'Creeque Alley," "I Saw Her Again Last Night," and

 "Dream a Little Dream of Me."  Creeque Alley is an autobigraphical look at how there musical group got together.  "Everybody's getting fat except Mama Cass."

As a group the Mamas and the Papas were short lived, 1965 to 1965 with a brief reunion in 1971.  They were John and Michelle Phillips, husband and wife (John wrote most of their songs), Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty.   

Mamas and the Papas has a unique sound which is very pleasing to listen to.  

Music Review: Josh Groban: Awake

 Josh Groban Awake was released in 2006.  It was Groban's third album and is a follow-up to his album Closer.  It is the third highest selling classical album of the 2000s.  Songs are in English, Italian and Spanish.

The song I most enjoy is "Un giorno per noi."  This is a "Time for Us" from Romeo and Juliet.  It is very beautiful.  The song "You are Loved" was made into a single.  The songs "Lullaby" and "Weeping" have a South African flavor and are recorded with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.  

I enjoy Groban's voice.  It is very evident that he works at shaping his words and tones.  Some songs he was singing very high.  It makes for an enjoyable album.  With Josh Groban you don't have to understand the words to enjoy the music.  This album also makes good use of orchestral music.

Music Review: James Taylor: Sweet Baby James

James Taylor: Sweet Baby James, Country Road Music, Inc., Warner Brothers, 1970. 

James Taylor is a singer and song writer.  This effort was his second album.  It reached number three on the billboard charts, and the song Fire and Rain also reached number three.  It was nominated for album of the year in the grammies.  Fire and Rain is a song that goes over and over again in my mind, especially the chorus, "I've seen fire and I've seen rain,  I've seen sunny days that I though would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, But I always thought I'd see you again."  It is one of my favorite songs.  It is very much biographical for James Taylor, describing he friend who passed away by suicide, and then his struggles with addiction.  I love that he could open up this way in a song.

Music Review: Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton

Ckapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton was released by Reprise Records in 1999.  It is a compilation album.  I really like Clapton's guitar playing.  It seems to be his forte, and he often adds a guitar section in his songs.  This C.D. includes some of my favorites, Layla, Change the Wotld and Tears in Heaven.  My version does not have my favorite Clapton song, Wonderful Tonight.  However that is included in the British version.  

Music Review: Carperters Singles 1969-1981

 This composite CD was released in 2000, after Karen arpenter had passed away.  It was released by Universal Music Company.  It peaked at number 45 in the Unitd States for record albums and was recognized as a Gold Album.  

The Carpenter sound is timeless as this shows.  Karen Carpenter's voice is a treasure, and this album helps to preserve that treasure.  I particularly like, We've Only Just Begun, Rainy Days and Mondays, Top of the World, Ticket to Ride (a cover of a Beatles song), Hurting Each Other, Yesterday Once More, Sing, I Won't Last a Day Without You and For All We Know.  I hear those songs go through my head with just hearing the title.  

But the songs are not just the vocals.  The instrumentation is also very good.  

Music Review: Judy at Carnegie Hall: Judy in Person, Judy Garland

 The Album Judy at Carnegie Hall was released by Capitol Records in 1961.  Judy Garland had recorded an earlier album, but this was in fact life to capture the energy og Garland entertaining.  Garlan plays many big band songs including, Over the Rainbow and Almost Like Being in Love from "Brigadoon."  Smile and the Whole World Smiles with you was a favorite.  The audience was obviously very much into the music as the demanded three or four encores.  This album won the grammy for album of the year.  It is very good and the energy is great.  Garland also talked considerably with the audience talking about songs and sharing stories.  It also won a grammy for best album cover, and Garland won entertainer of the year, the first woman to do so.

Music Review: Simon and Garfunkel: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

 This album was declared by Rolling Stone to be the 202nd  best of all time.  It begins with Scarborough Fair, which is of course a classic with the harmony of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.  I also really enjoy the concluding song, 7 O'clock News/Silent Night.  The feel of this song is very much like O Holy Night with the piano playing an arpeggiated counter melody with the duo singing Silent Night.  Then they put news excerpts over the top of this, with the Viet Nam War, and murder and death.  It is very effective.  Other popular songs are Homeward Bound and 59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy).  

CD Music Review: Gordon Lightfoot: Gord's Gold

Gordon Lightfoot" Gord's Gold, produced by Lenny Waronker and Joe Wissert, Warner Brothers, 1975.

This album includes many of Gordon Lightfoot's favorites, and his distinctive sound and voice.  I enjoy the Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Early Morning Rain, Sundown, Beautiful, Rainy Day People, If You Could Read My Mind and Carefree Highway.  In If You Could Read My Mind he is longing for something that he has lost in his relationship, "I don't know where we went wrong but the feelings gone and I just can't get it back."  Lightfoot has a very distinctive voice and this CD brings bak memories of listening to the radio when I was young.

Music Review: Andrea Bocelli: My Christmas

 Andrea Bocelli: My Christmas was released in 2009.  It includes many traditional Christmas songs with Bocelli's high tenor voice.  It is very relaxing and mellow.  Several of the hymns are duets, "The Christmas Song" with Natalie Cole, "What Child is This" with Maty J. Blige has a very nice arrangement, and "Blue Christmas" with Reba McEntire.  He performs the "Lord's Prayer" with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and "Jingle Bells" with the Muppets.  "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" includes a children's choir.  It is a very catchy arrangement.

Music Review: Billy Joel: ****^The Ultimate Collection (2000)

This is a compendium of Billy Joel hits released in 2000.  It is a double disc collection with most of the good songs on the first disc.   This is indeed the ultimate collection of Billy Joel songs.  He has quite a library of hits.  My favorite is one of his first, "Piano Man."  I saw him in concert many years ago and remember he played this song, as well as " The Entertainer."  He mixes harder songs and softer songs.  Some of my favorite include: "Just the Way You Are," It's still Rock and Roll to Me," "Street Life Serenader," "She's Got a Way," "She's Always a Woman," "Honesty, and "Uptown Girl."  This is some very good music, written by Billy Joel.  I really enjoyed it.  I got it at the Bellevue library.

Music Review: Chicago Greatest Hits 1982-1989

 Chicago is a band that formed in 1967.  First called The Big Thing, and then Chicago Transit Authority and then Chicago.  They self describe as a rock band with brass.  They have sold over 100,000,000 records.  

This album starts with "Its Hard to Say I'm Sorry" which is one of my favorite.  I always though it was an Air supply song but now I know.  written and sung by bassist Peter Cetera.  This is a slower song that explores a relationship ending.  Peter left the band in 1985 so only played in about half the songs of the album.  "Stay the Night has a harder rock feel."  I fins "Will You Still Love Me" also very nice; not too hard and not too soft.  The lyrics are a bit fatalistic.  I can't go on."  That is not a tru statement.  "Love Me Tomorrow" is also very nice.  You love me, that's all I need to know."  "You're the Inspiration" again is softer and catchier.   This song along with "Its Hard to Say I'm Sorry" I think are their best.  "Hard Habit to Break" again sings of love for a woman.  This is a common theme.  

This is a very special album.  It includes songs from Chicago 16, 17 and 18.  Chicago has their own sound with the horns added.  The also have good drums and guitars.  

Music Review: ****^Ultimate Air Supply (2003)

Air Supply had a soft mellow tone, and the lead singer, although a guy often sounds more like an alto voice.  It really confuses me.  However Air Supply sings some classic songs.  My favorites are "All out of Love," "Sweet Dreams," "Making Love out of Nothing at All," "The Power of Love" and "Without You."  I love the lyrics of the chorus in Sweet Dreams.  "Close your eyes

I want to ride the skies in my sweet dreams
Close your eyes
I want to see you tonight in my sweet dreams"

Love, that is not working out, or is ending is a common theme for Air Supply.  For example from "All out of Love"

I want you to come back and carry me home
Away from this long lonely nights
I'm reaching for you, are you feeling it too
Does the feeling seem oh so right...
I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you
I know you were right believing for so long
I'm all out of love, what am I without you
I can't be too late to say that I was so wrong

Great music on this album from start to finish.

Music Review: Michael McLean: Hold on the Light Will Come

Hold On, the Light will Come: And Other Lessons my Songs Have Taught Me.  (2003)

I have been enjoying a Michael McLean C.D. we gave ourselves for Christmas.  It is actually a book )read by Michael McLean) with songs.  McLean is someone with the talent I wish I had.  He talks about the ups and downs of his career.  However, from my perspective it has mostly been up.

Some of his songs really hit home, and a conversation of those I really like.

“From God’s Arms, to My Arms, to Yours:”  This is an adoption song from the perspective of the birth mother.  Tony, our adoptive son has really liked this song, as have Sheri and I.  It seems for my part, I cry more each time I listen to it.  I remember when I first help Baby Tony.  He was tiny.  They didn’t let him out of the hospital until he reached five pounds.  He started at four pounds seven ounces.  Sheri had visited him at the hospital, but I did not meet him until Sheri brought him home.  I was so proud (yes proud is the right word) of our little baby.  I felt he would be my boy forever, even though I knew that wasn’t true at the time.  However now it is true; and this song brings up those treasured memories for me.

“The Man of Many Names:”  This song I had heard before from “The garden” C.D.  I still enjoy it, and I am getting to where I can almost sing along.  This song is a testimony of Jesus’ love for us, and the price he pays for us.  This song comes with a story of Simon Peter and Jesus walking on water.  I really enjoy the insight.  Jesus will always save us if we cry out to him, and we should not doubt this.

“The Innkeeper Song” from Forgotten Carols:  This is a new song to me.  Now I am crazed with the idea of learning to sing it well enough to sing next Christmas, if I can find someone to let me sing.  What would the Innkeeper perspective be, and what would he sing now if he could.  This song gives a very good answer.  “Even a thousand years would not fully erase my shame.”  “Let Him in.”

“Which Part is Mine:” This song has quickly become one of my favorites.  It starts as a song about roles, and learning our own part; but it ends as a song about prayer, and that is why I enjoy it.  It helps me commit to being better at praying, which is something I really need.  This song has helped me improve my prayers.  “After I've done my best, I know you'll do the rest, Because You hear me.

McLean does very well with hardship, with love, with life in general.

UBOC Christmas 2017

Reed Hansen is at 18 minutes telling the story of the Littlest Angel.  Reed is a good friend.  He was the choral director at the high school.  He was often the music director for the musicals we presented in the Uintah Basin.  He was often an actor in the presentations along with his wife Julie.  

Music Review: Vivencia: Mi Cuarto

 

This is an album I purchased many years ago when I was in Argentina for my mission.  This group has the feel of Seals and Croft or Simon and Garfunkel, but a couple times get carried away with sound effects.  In my youth the son "Pequeno Pasajero" had a great influence on me becoming a social worker and wanting to do something for children.  It tells the story of a boy who rides the train selling candy in hopes of getting something with which to buy bread.  I actually saw these children when I was in Argentina.  Another song on a similar vein is is "Los Juguetes y los Ninos."  In this song the toys wonder why the children suffer with longing and they are stuck in the show window.  "Mi Cuatro" is the title song iin which the author seeks refuge in his room.

The duo has rhythmic guitar and acoustic guitar and adds harmonic at times.