Category Archives: Great albums

Great albums, Music Calendar, Paul Simon

Today: Paul Simon released the album Paul Simon in 1972

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PaulSimon-Front

Paul Simon is the second studio album by Paul Simon as a solo artist. It was released  14th of January 1972, nearly two years after he split up with longtime musical partner Art Garfunkel. The album represented the definitive announcement of the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel. Originally released on Columbia Records, it was then issued under the Warner Bros. label and is now back with Columbia through Sony. It was ranked No. 266 on the list of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  It is packed with classic songs.

 “…It was miles removed from the big, stately ballad style of Bridge Over Troubled Water and signaled that Simon was a versatile songwriter as well as an expressive singer with a much broader range of musical interests than he had previously demonstrated. You didn’t miss Art Garfunkel on Paul Simon, not only because Simon didn’t write Garfunkel-like showcases for himself, but because the songs he did write showed off his own, more varied musical strengths.”
– William Ruhlmann (allmusic)

Paul Simon – Me and Julio down by the schoolyard (live, 1992):

Paul Simon – Paul Simon (album, 1972):

– Hallgeir

David Bowie, Great albums, Music Calendar

Today: David Bowie released “Low” in 1977, 37 years ago

david-bowie-low The record company begged Bowie not to release Low, but it became a surprise hit and holds up today as one of his most intense and influential albums, inspiring two excellent Berlin trilogy sequels, Heroes (1977) and the insanely underrated Lodger (1979).
~Rob Sheffield (rollingstone.com)

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Following through with the avant-garde inclinations of Station to Station, yet explicitly breaking with David Bowie’s past, Low is a dense, challenging album that confirmed his place at rock’s cutting edge. Driven by dissonant synthesizers and electronics, Low is divided between brief, angular songs and atmospheric instrumentals.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine (allmusic.com)

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Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan albums, Great albums

Bob Dylan: The Times They Are a-Changin’, released 50 years ago today

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Dylan_The_Times_They_Are_A_Changin_front “The message isn’t in the words, …. I don’t do anything with a sort of message.
I’m just transferring my thoughts into music. Nobody can give you a message like that.”
~Bob Dylan (to Ray Coleman, May 1965)—-

Dylan’s third album reflects his mood in August-October 1963. It is also a product for his need to live up to and expand on the role he found himself in, topical poet, the restless young man with something to say, singing to and for a new generation.
~Paul Williams (BD performing artist 1960-73)

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Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Great albums, List, Stax, The Band, Van Morrison

The 5 Best box sets and reissues of 2013

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I am one of those old guys that still buy physical copies of art (albums). I say it is because I need it to play in the car, but that’s really just an excuse. I love the sensation of unpacking a new album, the feel, the artwork, the printed lyrics, the smell, hell, the whole package!

When the record companies have sold me all the classic albums, they release them again, with better sound, with more songs and bonus features, I don’t feel cheated, I feel blessed. I love archival music stuff, and long to hear studio outtakes, live takes and alternative versions of songs.

It has been a good year for music archivists, and my favorite reissues/archival releases this year are:

 1. Bob Dylan – Another Self Portrait (1969-1971) The Bootleg Series Vol.10

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This is from my post right after I bought the box set:

I have now had a few days listening to the new Bootleg series 10 deluxe box set. It is very interesting, and it is actually rather good. I am one of those few that kind of liked the original album, so I expected to like Another Self Portrait. I was not expecting that I would like it as much as I do.

That said, there are two things that stand out however. The first is the demo version of When I Paint My Masterpiece, it knocked me out. It is breathtakingly beautiful.

But the best of the release is the full Isle of Wight performance with The Band, and I really did not expect that!

– Hallgeir Olsen (Johannasvisions.com)

When I paint my masterpiece – Demo:

A fantastic historical document!

2. The Band – Live at the Academy of Music 1971

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A 4-CD/1-DVD box set chronicles Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel’s 1971 concerts at New York’s Academy of Music, featuring arrangements by New Orleans great Allen Toussaint.

One of the best live albums in rock history got the deluxe treatment, and yes, it got even better. Rock of Ages had 18 wonderful tracks, this upgrade has 56(!) tracks with The Band (and Bob Dylan) at their very peak. 56 best takes of songs from  four evenings in 1971 (including the New-Years eve show in its entirety). I have played Rock of Ages so much I thought that nothing could surprise me, but this set did. The sound, the packaging, the liner notes and the pictures, everything is top-notch.

Life is a Carnival (Live, 1971):

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Great albums, List

Best albums of 2013 number 5 to 1

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best albums 5-1

Also check out:
Best albums of 2013 number 25 to 16
Best albums of 2013 number 15 to 6

5. Holly Williams – The Highway

Holly WilliamsHolly Williams is not new in this game, she has released two (good) albums before, but there haven’t been enough people paying attention. The guest list on new album is impressive and includes Jackson Browne and Jakob Dylan. The record is co-produced by Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars) and Williams, and it sounds amazing.

“I think every artist has their coming of age record. This one definitely feels like mine in that there was such a shift with me through the process of this record. It was completed in exactly nine months to the day, feeling somewhat like a birth. These songs really brought a focus into my life personally. Since the last record, I turned 30, my grandparents are gone, I’m married now, I’m keeping doggies and gardens alive, I have a clothing store, I have a husband on tour with a huge rock band, so there’s a lot to keep up with. But the highway came calling and I suddenly had this serious longing for the road, the fans, the storytelling, and the life in that living. I’m ready to get back to those wheels and play these songs for everyone.”
– Holly Williams

Highlights
Hallgeir: Railroads, The Highway, Drinkin’
Egil: Railroads, Happy, Without You, The Highway

The Highway (official video):

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