Tag Archives: Rolling Stones

Today: Bruce Springsteen released Darkness on the Edge of Town in 1978 – 35 years ago

darkness shoot 2

It is 35 years since one of the best albums in rock history was released, Darkness On The Edge Of Town is  number 2, (some days it has the top spot) on my list of favorite albums.

Today I think it is the best rock album ever released!

It came out three years after the incredibly successful Born To Run, and three years was an awful long time between albums in the 70s.  Bruce Springsteen had been tied up in a legal battle with his former manager Mike Appel but reached a final settlement in this year-long litigation with Mike Appel on May 28, 1977.

Darkness on the Edge of Town (Houston, 1978):

This meant that for the first time in a long time Bruce Springsteen was allowed into a studio. And he did. The recording of what was to become Darkness On The Edge Of Town began in June 1977 in New York City. He had a lot of material in various state of completion. Many of the songs were written or finished over the course of the sessions. He was in the studio for a long time.

Adam Raised a Cain (Paramount Theatre, 2009):

The material that didn’t make the album seeped out on a lot bootlegs through the years, it is of an incredibly high quality both sound wise and artistic. in 2010 we finally got a Darkness box that in many ways ended the need for Darkness bootlegs . There must still be a few unreleased gems in the vault, as of 2011, only 33 of more than 70 songs have been officially released.

darkness box

It consisted of 6 discs with the following content:

1: Darkness On The Edge Of Town (remastered )
2. Darkness on the Edge of Town (Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ, 2009)
3:Thrill Hill Vault (1976-1978) + Houston ’78 Bootleg: House Cut
4 and 5: The Promise (double album with outtakes and alternative takes)
6: 
The Promise: The Making of “Darkness on the Edge of Town”

In effect the most impressive and best box-set ever compiled.
Continue reading Today: Bruce Springsteen released Darkness on the Edge of Town in 1978 – 35 years ago

New documentary: Muscle Shoals

SundanceMuscleShoals_480x720

“You’re in rock’n roll heaven, man”
– Keith Richards

We can hardly wait, this is really the stuff of legends. The new documentary, “Muscle Shoals” will soon be released, it was shown on The Sundance festival 26th of January. The film was inspired by a magical visit to the town of the same name in Alabama. Camalier a self-taught filmmaker expresses his passion using his instinct, sensibility, and great appreciation of the art form. His original approach to this music documentary is clear in the mystical and evocative way he tells the story of Muscle Shoals.

From Rolling Stone Magazine:

Filled with interviews with a wide array of artists and never-before-seen footage, Muscle Shoals tells the story of this Northern Alabama town and the many hits that came out of its legendary recording spaces: Rick Hall’s FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, which was started by FAME’s former rhythm section, the Swampers. “Being there does inspire you to do it slightly differently,” says Mick Jagger in the trailer. “It was really funky; you know, that was the whole idea of it.”

The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett (keyboards), Roger Hawkins (drums), Jimmy Johnson (guitar) and David Hood (bass) (called The Swampers) left FAME Studios to create their own studio. The Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, as they became known, was the first rhythm section to own its own studio and, eventually, its own publishing and production companies.

MickJagger_and_JerryWexler

The distinctive accompaniment and arrangements have been heard on a tremendous amount legendary recordings, including those from Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, and the Staple Singers among others. Many artists have recorded hit songs and complete albums at the studio. (read more on Wikipedia)

A short clip of director  Greg Camalier  explaining why he made the movie:

Back in 2008, he was driving from the East Coast to New Mexico with a friend when Camalier saw a road sign for Muscle Shoals. Camalier was a music fan who had heard bits of information about the place for years, but didn’t know much about it. They decided to spend the night in Muscle Shoals, and he and his friend talked about why they had never seen a film about that small yet crucial slice of music history.

FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) Studios are located at 603 East Avalon in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They have been an integral part of American popular music from the late 1950s to the present. Artists who recorded there included Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Joe Tex, Duane Allman, The Hour Glass, Clarence Carter, Candi Staton, Mac Davis, Paul Anka, Tom Jones, Etta James, Andy Williams, The Osmonds, Shenandoah, and many others. The studio was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on December 15, 1997. (read more, Wikipedia)

From the recording of Saved
From the recording of Saved

From www.muscleshoalsmovie.com:
Located on the banks of the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of the most creative and defiant music in American history.
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Today: Steve Earle is 58

steve-earle-58

“I don’t really think in terms of obstacles. My biggest obstacle is always myself.” – Steve Earle

One of JV’s Greatest heroes

Steve Earle (born January 17, 1955) is  known for his rock, folk and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play.

Birth name Stephen Fain Earle
Born January 17, 1955 (age 58)
Hampton, Virginia United States
Origin San Antonio, Texas, United States
Genres Country-rock, Texas country, folk,Americana, heartland rock, alt-country,roots rock
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter, writer, actor
Instruments Guitar, mandolin, harmonica, banjo,bouzouki, bass guitar
Labels Uni. MCA Nashville, New West, E² Records, Warner Bros.
Associated acts Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Del McCoury Band
Website www.steveearle.com

Me and Egil have seen Steve Earle in concert several times and have followed him since his magnificent debut. We love the man.

He is always exciting to follow, as a musician, as a writer or as an actor. He has integrity. We’re always looking forward to his new albums and hope he will return to our shores as soon as possible.

Happy birthday Steve Earle!

Allmusic:

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

In the strictest sense, Steve Earle isn’t a country artist; he’s a roots rocker. Earle emerged in the mid-’80s, after Bruce Springsteen had popularized populist rock & roll and Dwight Yoakam had kick-started the neo-traditionalist movement in country music. At first, Earle appeared to be more indebted to the rock side than country, as he played a stripped-down, neo-rockabilly style that occasionally verged on outlaw country. However, his unwillingness to conform to the rules of Nashville or rock & roll meant that he never broke through into either genre’s mainstream. Instead, he cultivated a dedicated cult following, drawing from both the country and rock audiences. Toward the early ’90s, his career was thrown off track by personal problems and substance abuse, but he re-emerged stronger and healthier several years later…(READ MORE)

One of his best – Goodbye:

steve earle - 58 two

 Photo: Senor McGuire

Last year for his birthday we picked our favourite songs by Steve Earle.

Here is Egil’s list (follow link to read post)

Egil picked 20 songs:

  1. Fort Worth Blues (El Corazón)
  2. Goodbye  (Train a Comin’)
  3. The Mountain (The Mountain)
  4. My Old Friend the Blues (Guitar Town)
  5. Feel Alright (I Feel Alright)
  6. Guitar Town (Guitar Town)
  7. When I Fall (Transcendental Blues)
  8. Hard-Core Troubadour (I Feel Alright)
  9. Johnny Come Lately (Copperhead Road)
  10. Taneytown (El Corazón)
  11. Valentine’s Day (I Feel Alright)
  12. Billy Austin (The Hard Way)
  13. More Than I Can Do (I Feel Alright)
  14. The Galway Girl (Transcendental Blues)
  15. The Unrepentant (I Feel Alright)
  16. Over Yonder (Jonathan’s Song) (Transcendental Blues)
  17. Harlan Man (The Mountain)
  18. The Boy Who Never Cried (Transcendental Blues)
  19. Nowhere Road (Exit 0)
  20. Ellis Unit One (Sidetracks)

 

Here is Hallgeir’s list (follow the link to see videos)

 

I picked 10 songs:

  1. Fort Worth Blues
  2. The Mountain
  3. Guitar Town
  4. Copperhead Road
  5. Galway Girl
  6. Ellis Unit One
  7. My old friend The Blues
  8. Goodbye
  9. Devil’s right hand
  10. Telephone Road

For the album of today I have picked I Feel Allright from 1996:

Other January 17:

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