Jeff Beck, Steve Lukather, & Jan Hammer: "Freeway Jam"

No words can describe this one.  THIS is wild!  "Freeway Jam" by Jeff Beck, Steve Lukather, and Jan Hammer, with Doug Wimbish on bass.

Sonny Landreth "Native Stepson"

I have been digging back into one of my favorite guitarists in recent days, someone I love to listen to.  That is slide guitar maestro Sonny Landreth from Lafayette, Louisiana.  He's got a VERY unique sound and has utilized a Fender Stratocaster as his axe of choice for most of his career, even when he got started by playing with people like John Hiatt and Jimmy Buffett.  I think I posted a blog entry about one of his albums here.  I will have to check.  In the meantime, here is one of my favorite songs he does, entitled "Native Stepson". 

Paul Butterfield Blues Band "Last Hope's Gone"

A song of lost love called "Last Hope's Gone" by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band which puts their music into a real jazz sensibility but still has the mournfulness of the blues, except, this time relying on horns rather than on guitar and Butterfield's soulful blues harp playing.  David Sanborn on alto saxophone (who would go on to a stellar career in jazz, becoming a pioneer of the "smooth jazz" genre in the 1980s), is one of the featured soloists along with trumpets and flutes.  The band lineup for Butterfield's band at this time (circa 1968) included:

Paul Butterfield: vocals
Elvin Bishop: guitar
Nuffy Markham: keyboards
Bugsy Maugh: bass
Phil Wilson: drums
Gene Dinwiddle: tenor saxophone
David Sanborn: alto saxophone
Keith Johnson: trumpet

Check this out.

concert revisited: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, & Steve Winwood @ Target Center, July 23, 2008

This show still sticks out in my mind.  I had always been a fan of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and had a few of their recordings.  But, this show, made me a full on fan of their sound.  The band still retains its core members including lead guitarist Mike Campbell, and keyboardist Benmont Tench.  That night, the Heartbreakers were in top form, backing Tom Petty of course, who himself, is a good rhythm guitarist.  Steve Winwood opened the show.  At the time, I knew of his work from the '80s and was just getting into the material he'd done with The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith, respectively.  He played a lot of those numbers in his set, doing a great job on the Hammond B3 along with new songs from an album he had released that year called "Nine Lives", with a capable backing band.

The Heartbreakers came on next and played songs that I was familiar with, as well as numbers I hadn't heard.  The band showing why they still have staying power and legendary status to this day in the world of rock and roll.  I liked the fact there were some covers of blues and old rock standards thrown into the set, just to make things interesting.  Here is the set list at least for the Heartbreakers.  Having trouble remembering Steve Winwood's stuff except for the obvious songs like "Gimme Some Lovin' " with Spencer Davis, and "Dear Mr. Fantasy" done with Traffic. 

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers set list     Target Center     Minneapolis, MN   7/23/08

1. You Wreck Me
2. Listen To Her Heart
3. I Won't Back Down
4. Even The Losers
5. Free Fallin'
6. Mary Jane's Last Dance
7. End of The Line (Traveling Wilbury's cover: Traveling Wilbury's = the band Petty was in with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne).
8. Breakdown
9. Saving Grace
10. A Face In The Crowd
11. Honey Bee (Muddy Waters cover)
12. Learning To Fly
13. Don't Come Around Here No More
14. Refugee

Encore:

15. Runnin' Down A Dream
16. Gloria (Them, cover) (Van Morrison)
17. American Girl

Al di Meola "Egyptian Danza"

Today marks the birthday of one of my favorite guitarists, former, Return To Forever guitarist, Al di Meola, who I have mentioned on some occasions, especially in a review of his recording, "Elegant Gypsy" from 1977.  Happy Birthday, Al di Meola!  Here is a performance of his song, "Egyptian Danza".

record collection revisited: Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

I've got to confess that I am writing about yet another of my favorite guitarists of all time.  That's Stevie Ray Vaughan, who, with his band Double Trouble, made the blues popular during the early to mid 1980s when a lot of music was being synthesized, still believing in the power of the guitar to play music.  The band started out as a trio with Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar, Tommy Shannon on bass, and Chris Layton on drums, eventually, adding a fourth member, talented keyboardist, Reese Wynans on Hammond B3.  Wynan's started his career as a member of a band called The Second Coming (which he was in along with Dickey Betts, before the Allman Brothers were formed).  Just an interesting little factoid.

But, with SRV and Double Trouble, the B3 added more to the sound of the band in it's later incarnation before Stevie's unfortunate death in a helicopter crash in East Troy, Wisconsin, on August 27th, 1990.  So, Vaughan really had only about an eight year period of real success, winning Grammy Awards for a lot of his work.  His brother Jimmie Vaughan still performs today and has had a successful career, having started out in the blues band, the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

As most guitar enthusiasts know, Vaughan usually played Fender Stratocasters but was inclined to play a Gibson Flying V or ES335 as well.  He primarily used Dumble and Fender blackface amplifiers live and on recordings, cranked up to massive volumes, but with a very clean tone.  

Disc 1

1. Shake For Me (John Hammond Jr. cover) (Willie Dixon)
2. Rude Mood>Hideaway (Stevie Ray Vaughan:, Freddie King)
3. Love Struck Baby (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
4. Pride and Joy (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
5. Texas Flood (Larry Davis & Joseph Wade Scott)
6. Mary Had A Little Lamb (Buddy Guy)
7. Lenny (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
8. Scuttle Buttin' (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
9. Couldn't Stand The Weather (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
10. The Things (That) I Used To Do (Eddie Jones)
11. Cold Shot (Michael Kindred & W.C. Clark)
12. Tin Pan Alley (a.k.a. Roughest Place in Town) (Robert Geddins)
13. Give Me Back My Wig (T.R. Taylor)
14. Empty Arms (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
15. The Sky Is Crying (live) (Elmore James, Morris Levy, & Clarence Lewis) *live
16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Jimi Hendrix) *live

Disc 2

1. Say What! (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
2. Look at Little Sister (Hank Ballard)
3. Change It (Doyle Bramhall)
4. Come On (Pt. 3) (a.k.a. "Let The Good Times Roll") (Earl King)
5. Life Without You (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
6. Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix)
7. Willie The Wimp (Ruth Ellsworth-Carter, B. Carter)
8. Superstition (Stevie Wonder) *live
9. Leave My Girl Alone (Buddy Guy) *live
10. The House Is Rockin' (Stevie Ray Vaughan & Doyle Bramhall)
11. Crossfire (B. Carter, Chris Layton, Ruth Ellsworth-Carter, Reese Wynans, & Tommy Shannon)
12. Tightrope (Stevie Ray Vaughan & Doyle Bramhall)
13. Wall of Denial (Stevie Ray Vaughan & Doyle Bramhall)
14. Riviera Paradise (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
15. Telephone Song (The Vaughan Brothers) (Stevie Ray Vaughan & Doyle Bramhall)
16. Long Way From Home (Stevie Ray Vaughan & Doyle Bramhall)
17. Life By The Drop (Doyle Bramhall & Barbara Logan)

There was a limited edition third disc on one of the sets.  But, the one in my collection is the two disc version.  Wish I'd gone and bought some of the original albums.  Might still do that.  Check out Stevie Ray Vaughan if you haven't already.  He bridges the gap in a way between the old traditions and the newer generation of blues guitar players.  Here is the Wikipedia article as it tells of the third disc and what songs are actually on that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Essential_Stevie_Ray_Vaughan_and_Double_Trouble

SRV will always be one of the greatest guitarists of our time and of all time.

Chick Corea Elektric Band "The Overture"

Not to be confused with "Medieval Overture" by Return To Forever, this piece entitled "The Overture" was done by Chick Corea's Elektric Band.  Interestingly enough, hearing this song, it could have been, not an intro, but definitely, a fanfare as a conclusion to a concert.  Hmmm.  One can only wonder I guess.

concert revisited: Gov't Mule, Weesner Amphitheater @ the Minnesota Zoo July 15, 2009

For years I had known of Warren Haynes from his work with the Allman Brothers and had known of his solo band, Gov't Mule but hadn't heard them.  In 2009, I did get a chance to see them live at the Weesner Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota as a friend, his dad and I went to the show.  I knew of Haynes' prowess as a guitarist having seen him twice previously with the Allman Brothers.  But, the Mule (as they are known by fans) is a totally different kettle of fish.  The band was a trio for a long time with Haynes, bassist Allen Woody (who played in the Allman Brothers as well), and drummer, Matt Abts.  After Allen Woody's death in 2000 (since Warren had split from the Allman Brothers in 1997 with Allen Woody to focus entirely on "The Mule"), and also after Dickey Betts left the Allman Brothers in mid 2000, Warren came back into the fold with the ABB in 2001 and has been there ever since.

But, he still keeps the Mule active and touring, as well as recording.  This show at the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater (despite the confines of the bowl shaped stadium), was amazing.  Haynes along with band mates Abts on drums, Jorgen Carlson on bass, and Danny Louis on keyboards, delivered and threw down the jams in a big way as I remember.  One song would lead into jams or teases of other songs and the band had no limits as far as musical experimentation.  That was the cool part.  ...And, yes, there was the obligatory drum solo in the middle of the show, just like has been written about here on the blog before.  Jorgen, Danny and Warren all joined in the drum jam as well on assorted percussion instruments.

But it was the way the band connected as a unit that was amazing.  Danny's keys (he played Hammond B3, Clavinet and Wurlitzer piano most of the show), fit right in with Warren's guitar mastery while Abts and Carlson propelled the rhythm section like a locomotive.  The show was a real adventure to be sure and for anyone who hasn't heard The Mule on CD or live, definitely check them out.

Set List: Government Mule, Weesner Amphitheater @ the Minnesota Zoo  July 15th, 2009

Set 1:

1. Zoo Jam
2. Soulshine
3. She Said, She Said (Beatles cover)
4. Tomorrow Never Knows Jam>Gameface ("Tomorrow Never Knows is another Beatles song)
5. Wandering Child
6. If 6 Was 9 (Jimi Hendrix cover)
7. Larger Than Life>Gameface
8. No Need To Suffer
9. When Doves Cry (Prince cover)>Beautifully Broken>When Doves Cry>Beautifully Broken

Set 2:

10. I'll Be The One>Blue Sky tease
11. Banks of the Deep End
12. Trampled Under Foot (Led Zeppelin cover)
13. Fallen Down>The Other One Jam (The Other One Jam = Grateful Dead cover)
14. Drums (w/Warren, Jorgen and Danny on percussion + Matt Abts on drums)
15. Kind of Bird
16. Thirty Days in the Hole (Humble Pie cover) > Can't Find My Way Home (Blind Faith) keyboard intro tease

Encore:

17. Into The Mystic (Van Morrison cover)
18. Soulshine (reprise)

concert revisited: The Moody Blues U.S. Bank Theater @ Target Center, July 15th, 2007

My idea for seeing this concert by the Moody Blues five years ago at the U.S. Bank Theater at Target Center (basically, it was in half of the arena), was prompted by seeing one of their shows at Royal Albert Hall years before on television.  It must have been the songs that they sang on that broadcast that somehow inspired me to begin following the band.  A friend of mine had seen them years and years ago, too, and had told me about them.

So, I just had to see the show for myself and that is what made me a diehard Moody Blues fan even though I was probably THE youngest person in the whole audience at that show on that particular Sunday night, five years ago, today, believe it or not.  The Moodies have so many great songs that deal with a great number of emotions and are delivered passionately through the lyrics and the music alike, especially by their remaining original members (guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Justin Hayward and bassists/songwriter/vocalist John Lodge).  That night at the Target Center, in the theater, I knew many of the songs and heard others for the first time.  It's amazing how in a short period of time, you can become fixated on a band and their music even after not hearing them before.

It's all about keeping an open ear, and I sure have over the years.  Yes, I am one of the Moodies younger fans.  But, their music has undoubtedly had an influence on me and is still part of my life today, even after I found out about them as a 21-year-old who was still in the throes of their college education at the time.  I was a little green, but, I think seeing that concert, and furthermore, finding a rare, three disc, Dutch import compilation record of their many great songs, has made me a full on fan.  I have also looked into Justin Hayward's solo work which deserves just as much praise from music fans as his work in the Moody Blues.  Here is the set list from that memorable 2007 concert.

Set 1:

1. Lovely To See You
2. Tuesday Afternoon
3. Lean On Me (Tonight)
4. Never Comes The Day
5. Steppin' In A Slide Zone
6. The Voice
7. One More Time To Live
8. I Know You're Out There Somewhere
9. Story In Your Eyes

Set 2:

10. In Your Wildest Dreams
11. Isn't Life Strange
12. The Other Side of Life
13. December Snow
14. Higher and Higher
15. Are You Sitting Comfortably?
16. (I'm Just A Singer) In a Rock & Roll Band
17. Late Lament
18. Nights In White Satin
19. Question

Encore:

20. Ride My Seesaw

concert revisited: The Black Crowes @ the Basilica Block Party, July 10th, 2009

This was by far one of my favorite concerts I've ever attended.  The Black Crowes were the headliners on that Friday night along with opening acts Erin McCarley and Mat Kearney.  I don't remember too much of the first two sets except for Mat Kearney's performance being mostly acoustic, and for both of the opening band's keyboardists to be using the Hammond B3 that was set out on stage for Crowes keyboardist Adam MacDougall.  But, once the Crowes hit the stage, it became an epic gig.  The set list was a Black Crowes diehard fan's dream as they jammed on most of their hits opening the set with "Sting Me" from their 1992 "Southern Harmony & Musical Companion" record and steamrolling through a jam heavy set that amazingly, lasted only an hour and fifteen minutes.

It seemed longer than that, especially when, in the middle of their set, rain began to fall, and the roadies are out there, desperately trying to cover Luther Dickinson's and Rich Robinson's guitar amps with towels to keep from an electrical shutdown due to the steady rain which became not quite a downpour, but, it was heavy enough to be noticed.  Me, standing there in this parking lot where the stage had been constructed, absolutely soaking up (no pun intended), the music, my glasses soaked with raindrops, catching glimpses of the band, especially of the four main guys up there (MacDougall, Dickinson, and of course, the Robinson brothers).

The rain eventually stopped towards the end of the set.  But, talk about an almost spiritual experience relating to music and just being in the right place at the right time for magic to happen!  That's what it was for me on that night three years ago seeing the Crowes at the Basilica.  It was my second time seeing them in less than a year, having also experienced their August 30th, 2008 gig at the grandstand at the Minnesota State Fair.  But, this show at the Basilica Block Party was even more special.

Set list: Black Crowes, Basilica Block Party     July 10th, 2009

1. Sting Me
2. Thick N' Thin
3. Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution (from the "Warpaint" album)
4. Good Friday
5. Wiser Time
6. I Ain't Hiding (a new song at the time which was eventually released on "Before The Frost"/"Until The Freeze", that sounded like a cross between disco and rock)
7. Downtown Money Waster
8. Thorn In My Pride
9. Poor Elijah/Tribute to Johnson (medley) *their superb cover of a Delaney & Bonnie song written by Eric Clapton (this was also played in the set at the MN State Fair).
10. Hard To Handle (Otis Redding song that has become a standard of The Black Crowes catalog)

Encore:

11. Remedy

To have the set book ended with "Sting Me" and "Remedy" (which, I digress, are my two favorite Crowes songs of all time), was icing on the cake!  What a fabulous show that was.  Memories come flooding back (OK, another rain pun).  But it was quite the night.  That's for sure.

record collection revisited: J.J. Cale Anyway The Wind Blows: The Anthology

J.J. Cale is one of the greatest, and most prolific songwriters ever.  He is an innovator and originator of the "Tulsa sound" which is a combination of country, rock, folk and jazz.  He grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and has always shunned fame in a way even though he is aware of the significance of his great catalog of songs that he's written.  Some of the most famous being "After Midnight" and "Cocaine" covered by Eric Clapton, and "Call Me The Breeze" covered by Lynyrd Skynyrd. 

Other people to cover his songs include Randy Crawford, Maria Muldaur, Herbie Mann, Poco, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Dr. Hook, Redbone, Nazareth, The Jack Saints, Lee Hazelwood, Mark Gayden, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Pat Travers, Beck, Widespread Panic, Carlos Santana and others.  The album being put in perspective here is an anthology with 50 of Cale's best songs on it.

Cale has what is called a "laid back" sound.  It could be that he's disputed this title that the critics have given him.  But, he just has a unique style of singing and on his records has also handled guitar and keyboards along with a band that included several more musician friends of his from Tulsa including Christine Lakeland on guitar, Gary Gilmore and Bill Raffensperger on bass, Rocky Frisco on keyboards, and Jimmy Karstein on drums, just to name a few.

Disc 1

1. Call Me The Breeze
2. Crazy Mama
3. Magnolia
4. After Midnight
5. Lies
6. Changes
7. If You're Ever In Oklahoma
8. Midnight In Memphis (instrumental)
9. Cajun Moon
10. Rock & Roll Records
11. Any Way The Wind Blows
12. Crying
13. Everlovin' Woman
14. I Got The Same Old Blues
15. Woke Up This Morning
16. Cocaine
17. The Woman That Got Away
18. Ride Me High
19. Hey Baby
20. Durango (live)
21. I'll Make Love To You Anytime
22. Don't Cry Sister
23. Thirteen Days
24. Things Ain't Simple
25. Sensitive Kind

Disc 2

1. Carry On
2. Runaround (live)
3. Mama Don't (live) *Doc Watson cover
4. City Girls
5. Devil in Disguise
6. You Keep Me Hangin' On
7. Downtown L.A.
8. A Thing Going On
9. Don't Wait
10. Wish I Had Me a Dollar (live)
11. Money Talks
12. Hard Times
13. People Lie
14. Unemployment
15. Trouble In The City
16. Santa Cruz
17. Shanghaied
18. Change Your Mind
19. New Orleans
20. Humdinger
21. Lonesome Train
22. Jailer
23. Artificial Paradise
24. Long Way Home
25. Closer To You

Prolific might just be an understatement to describe the number of songs Cale has written.  Originally, he was going to be known by his given name of John Cale but could not do that because he would be confused with Welsh musician John Davies Cale who was a founder of the band, The Velvet Underground with Lou Reed.  So, he has been known as J.J. Cale and that's how fans have identified with him throughout his career.  He's written a bunch of songs and they have held up well whether they've been covered by other bands or performed by Cale himself.  Definitely look into the vast catalog of J.J. Cale songs.  Trust me, there will be at least a few that are automatically recognizable to most music lovers.

record collection revisited: Chick Corea Elektric Band

The self titled release by the Chick Corea Elektric Band in 1986 was a slight departure from Corea's work with Return To Forever, keeping that sound, but polishing it even more with the addition of '80s synthesizers and much production.  Still, this album is worth it's weight because the compositions are pretty fascinating to listen to just for what they are, blending elements of old school, "real" jazz, with those of fusion which are obviously on an electric plateau entirely.

Corea plays with many talented musicians on this album and each lineup is different (slightly), depending on the song.  The band members in the Elektric Band at the time of this recording in '86 (as Corea has had it as a side project and/or full-time band when not touring with Return To Forever), are:

Chick Corea: MIDI Rhodes, Yamaha TX816's, Yamaha KX88, Synclavier, Fairlight, Linn 9000, Yamaha KX5, Mini Moog, Yamaha GS1, Yamaha DX7 & gong

John Pattitucci: basses (upright & electric, including Smith/Jackson 6 string electric, Pollman acoustic, & Fender Jazz basses)

Scott Henderson: guitar

Carlos Rios: guitar

Dave Weckl: Yamaha, Simmons & Linn electric drums, drums 

This album is full of electronic instruments, but the sound of it doesn't really reflect that.  It's an enjoyable and adventurous recording to listen to as the songs have many cool grooves and do justice to classic jazz ("Got A Match") and electronic music/fusion jazz in the guises of songs like "Side Walk" or "Elektric City" as two examples.  Here's the full track listing.

1. City Gate
2. Rumble
3. Side Walk
4. Cool Weasel Boogie
5. Got A Match?
6. Elektric City
7. No Zone
8. King Cockroach
9. India Town
10. All Love
11. Silver Temple

Check out this record if you are a full fledged Chick Corea fan, or even if you are just interested in synthesizer driven music.

Chick Corea Elektric Band "King Cockroach"

More music from the Chick Corea Elektric Band.  This tune is "King Cockroach" also off the 1986 self titled album.  Scott Henderson on guitar and John Patitucci on bass really lock into a groove here.  Check it out.

Chick Corea Elektric Band "Elektric City"

A Happy 4th of July to everyone.  Here is some of what I've been listening to lately.  This is the Chick Corea Elektric Band featuring Chick Corea, John Pattitucci and Carlos Rios (among other musicians).  A full review of this album will be blogged soon.  But, in anticipation of that, here's my favorite track off the album so far.  This one is called "Elektric City".  Stay tuned for more songs from the Elektric Band and a full review of this album to follow later on.

record collection revisited: Miles Davis "Get Up With It"

As readers of this blog well know, I am a diehard fan of Miles Davis and most of his work, especially his groundbreaking fusion albums of the '70s.  However, by 1974's "Get Up With It", though Miles was in his prime and at the peak of creativity, there's something to this album that misses the mark.  A lot of it is just Miles, in a drug clouded haze, coming up with long instrumental pieces that can't really make a whole lot of sense to the listener's ear.

I mean, for a lot of the record he relies upon playing organ rather than trumpet and finds these odd sounding melodies that are worked with by both he and the band.  At this point in time he had a revolving door of different players he worked with as this album (like most of Miles' work in this time period), had sporadic starts and stops.  It is utterly one of the weirdest albums I've ever heard.  I'll admit it.  I am a diehard Miles fan.  But, this album, despite the fact that I bought it in order to discover what it was about, it doesn't really have much meaning.

The opening track "He Loved Him Madly" is a weird, Eastern sounding mishmash of guitar, organ and drums, trying to sound like an electrified version of a piece by Ali Akbar Khan or Raavi Shankar, but in the process, being haunting and very mysterious instead.  There is so much open space between the instruments that kind of drone in and out that include Miles Davis on organ of all things (he plays some trumpet, but not much), Dave Liebman on alto flute, Pete Cosey, Reggie Lucas and Dominique Gaumont on guitars, Michael Henderson on bass, Al Foster on drums, and Mtume, on percussion.

It's a modal, haunting song that stays in one spot for the duration.  "Maiysha", the second track does that same thing.  It's in a minor vamp and has a bit of a groove to it with guitar and percussion, but, there is also a lot of organ that though it fits the tune, is kind of incessant.  This is the same band for "He Loved Him Madly" except, changing flautists from Dave Liebman to Sonny Fortune.  Miles plays more trumpet here and the song changes in places, but not much, despite retaining what could be considered a reggae feel.

"Honky Tonk" takes some grooves from a couple of his other early '70s records (I think "Live Evil"), mashing them together.  So, Miles did use recycled material on some tracks.  "Rated X" is another haunting organ based piece that sounds exactly like something out of a cheesy haunted house scene on Halloween night.  "Calypso Frelimo" and "Mtume" (the name of one of the percussionists on the record), are both grooves that seem to work out OK to the ear, but can get tedious.

The only really cool tune on this record is "Red China Blues", and no, don't ask if it relates to Communism or not because Miles just gave a lot of weird titles to some of his tracks at this period in time.  What's cool about this track is the bluesy vamp and also the harmonica played by Lester Chambers of The Chambers Brothers, incorrectly identified as Wally Chambers on the liner notes of the record.  Wally Chambers was of course, a football player who played during the 1970s as a defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears and defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.   

Here is the track listing for "Get Up With It"

Disc 1

1. He Loved Him Madly
2. Maiysha
3. Honky Tonk
4. Rated X

Disc 2

1. Calypso Frelimo
2. Red China Blues
3. Mtume
4. Billy Preston

Chick Corea Elektric Band: "Time Track"

Here is a wicked track from Chick Corea's other main project aside from Return To Forever called The Elektric Band.  This footage and tune (entitled "Time Track") is from the late 1980s or early '90s.  The band features Chick Corea on keyboards, John Pattitucci on bass, Eric Marienthal on saxophones, Frank Gambale on guitar, and Dave Weckl on drums.

Mike Oldfield "Tubular Bells"

Here (for your listening pleasure) is an album that a friend of mine recently told me about.  Mike Oldfield, "Tubular Bells" from 1973.  Oldfield is interesting as he is a composer, keyboardist, and guitarist.  He writes and produces his own albums and this one particularly is of interest after hearing it.  In the middle of the composition, Oldfield name checks ALL the instruments used in the arrangement, too!  There are some amazing and utterly weird sounds that come from this record, especially towards the end of the record when Oldfield is acting like a raging monster because he gets angry about having a producer come in and tell him HOW to arrange and work on his OWN record.  Any musician can relate to that.  But, in posting this, I just thought it would be a real interesting thing to hear.

The track listing is simply Tubular Bells Part 1 and Tubular Bells Part 2.  Check it out.