"The Harder They Come" Soundtrack (1972) (320)

This stands as the greatest reggae compilation ever put together. The music was selected by director Perry Henzell for his film, which stars Jimmy Cliff as the aspiring musician turned outlaw Ivan. Most of Cliff's tracks reflect the struggle of his character ("Many Rivers to Cross", "The Harder They Come"), but at the same time maintain a feeling of positivity - Cliff sings on "Sitting In Limbo", "They're putting up resistance, but I know my faith will lead me on." This line imitates Ivan's naive attitude in the beginning of the film, before he gets a gun and starts selling weed in Kingston. Toots' "Sweet And Dandy" is an entertaining family drama, and makes me want to try cola wine. The mixing is kind of odd to me in a few places - you can hear some of Cliff's vocals edited out of the verse on "You Can Get It If You Really Want". Just look at Jimmy doing his thing in the studio and wearing this awesome star shirt:



Tracklist:

1. Jimmy Cliff - You Can Get It If You Really Want
2. Scotty - Draw Your Brakes
3. The Melodians - Rivers Of Babylon
4. Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers To Cross
5. Toots & The Maytals - Sweet And Dandy
6. Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come
7. The Slickers - Johnny Too Bad
8. Desmond Dekker - 007 (Shanty Town)
9. Toots & The Maytals - Pressure Drop
10. Jimmy Cliff - Sitting In Limbo
11. Jimmy Cliff - You Can Get It If You Really Want
12. Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come

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João Gilberto - João Gilberto (1961) (320)

This is an early and fantastic self-titled release from Bossa Nova legend João Gilberto. With expert accompaniment and arrangements from the other Father of Bossa, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and Walter Wanderley e Seu Conjunto. The opening rendition is of one of my favorite Brazilian standards ever, "O Samba da Minha Terra". Gilberto employs his signature percussive singing (I would say its scat-like if I didn't know that would scare you all off) and expert syncopation to rethink the song. The rest of the album follows in these footsteps, with Gilberto's casual expertise lacing intricate technique with the expert ad deceptively difficult arrangements of Jobim. Most of these songs, if they hadn't already, quickly entered the Bossa canon after this album's release. "O Amor Em Paz" feels almost like a Bossa manifesto - sad, beautiful, complex, short, and relaxed. Equally appropriate to play at the moment of your next heartbreak or your next picnic in the park, this record is yet another confirmation of Jobim and Gilberto's total mastery and influence over the genre.

1. O Samba da Minha Terra
2. O Barquinho
3. Bolinha de Papel
4. Saudade da Bahia
5. A Primeira Vez
6. O Amore em Paz
7. Você e Eu
8. Trem de Ferro (Trenzinho)
9. Coisa Mais Linda
10. Presente De Natal
11. Insensatez
10. Este Seu Olhar

Odeon Brasil, 1961

Tracks 1, 3, 4, and 8 With Walter Waverley e Seu Conjunto.
Tracks 2, 5-7, 9-12 with Antônio Carlos Jobim (arrangements and piano).

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Édith Piaf - Edith Piaf: 30th Anniversaire (320)

A comprehensive best-of from the Little Sparrow, one of France's most important voices. This collection covers a good part of her body of work.

Tracklist:

Disc 1 -

1. La Vie En Rose
2. J'M'En Fous Pas Mal
3. Les Trois Cloches
4. Les Amants De Paris
5. Bal Dans Ma Rue
6. Plus Bleu Que Tes Yeux
7. Hymne A L'Amour
8. Jezebel
9. Padam Padam
10. Hymn To Love (Hymne À L'Amour)
11. Bravo Pour Le Clown
12. Johnny, Tu N'Es Pas Un Ange
13. La Goualante Du Pauvre Jean
14. Le 'Ca Ira'
15. L'Accordeoniste
16. La Vie En Rose (En Anglais)
17. C'Est A Hambourg
18. L'Homme A La Moto
19. Les Amants D'Un Jour
20. Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)
21. Dans Les Prisons De Nantes
22. Pour Moi Toute Seule
23. Il Y Avait

Disc 2 -

1. La Foule
2. Mon Manege A Moi (Tu Me Fais Tourner La Tete)
3. Fais Comme Si
4. Je Sais Comment
5. Milord
6. Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
7. Les Flonflons Du Bal
8. Le Vieux Piano
9. Mon Vieux Lucien
10. Mon Dieu (En Anglais)
11. Sous Le Ciel De Paris
12. Les Amants
13. A Quoi Ca Sert L'amour
14. Une Valse
15. Emporte-Moi
16. L'homme De Berlin
17. Legende (Inedit)
18. Un Dimanche A Londres (Inedit)
19. A L'enseigne De La Fille Sans Coeur
20. La Valse De L'amour
21. Les Mots De L'amour

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Disc 1
Disc 2

Albert Ayler - Spirits (1964) (320)

"'Trane was the Father...Pharoah was the son...I am the Holy Ghost."

Part 3 of 3. Now we finally hear from the Holy Ghost, and how appropriate with this "Spirits" recording. I don't have too much information on this one, and to be honest this one doesn't grip me as much as the other two have. I prefer the second half of Spirits: contrast the burning drums and demented horn playing on "Holy, Holy" with the last piece, "Saints", which to me is just plain spooky.

Tracklist:

1. Spirits
2. Witches And Devils
3. Holy, Holy
4. Saints

Personnel:

Albert Ayler, tenor saxophone
Norman Howard, trumpet
Henry Grimes (1,2,4) & Earle Henderson (1,3), basses
Sonny Murray, drums

All selections composed by Albert Ayler and recorded in New York City, Feb. 24, 1964

Notes by: Ole Vestergaard Jensen
Producers: Jürgen Frigaard & Robert Altshuler
Recording: Phil Iehle, Atlantic Recording Corp.
Cover design: Nina Aae

Breathless 52006

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Parliament - Mothership Connection (1975) (320)

Pretty much the quintessential P-Funk record in terms of electrobootylicious space funk, Mothership Connection was the breakthrough of George Clinton's mothership and his extraterrestrial freakshow. This record is chock full of classics, like the hit "Tear The Roof Off The Sucker", "Handcuffs" and "Mothership Connection (Star Child)". A necessary staple in any funk (or related) collection. Enjoy.

1. P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)
2. Mothership Connection (Star Child)
3. Unfunky UFO
4. Supergroovalisticprosifunstication (The Bumps Bump)
5. Handcuffs
6. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
7. Night of the Thumpasorous Peoples

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Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown (1988) (320)

We had some Large Professor big-ups earlier, so I figured props were due to his mentor, Paul C. This guy was one of the first to take sampling into the way we think of it today, innovating the "chop" and the "pan" and perfecting drum isolation in the late 80s. These days, folks make a lot of Dilla/Paul C comparisons, and I can't say I don't hear it. If your into the technology side of sampling, I suggest checking out David Tompkins' extensive history of Paul C and the exact techniques and gear that he hooked up, as well as about his work with Organized Konfusion, Large Professor, and, most famously, Ultramagnetic MCs.

Ultramagnetic MCs are fronted by crazy-ass Kool Keith, who was reported institutionalized shortly after the release of the group's debut, Critical Beatdown. I think that was just a rumor, but the whole group just rap beautifully about some random shit. More important is the production by Paul C and group member Ced Gee. Paul C's funky James Brown sample feature, "Give The Drummer Some", is seen as a turning point for mixing many samples smoothly and simultaneously. It is hard to believe it was only 1988 when this was released. The last six songs are bonus tracks that came out on the 2004 CD re-release. Enjoy!

Tracklist:

1. Watch Me Now
2. Ease Back
3. Ego Trippin' (MC's Ultra Remix)
4. Moe Luv's Theme
5. Kool Keith Housing Things
6. Travelling At The Speed of Thought (Remix)
7. Feelin' it
8. One Minute Less
9. Ain't It Good To You
10. Funky (Remix)
11. Give The Drummer Some
12. Break North
13. Critical Beatdown
14. When I Burn
15. Ced-Gee (Delta Force One)
16.Funky
17. Bait
18. A Chorus Line
19. Travelling At The Speed of Thought
20. Ego Trippin'
21. Mentally Mad

Next Plateau Records, 1988
Produced by Paul C, Ced Gee and TR Love

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Big Star - Third/Sister Lovers (1978) (320)

Rest In Peace Alex Chilton
December 28, 1950 – March 17, 2010

A great songwriter and musician has died. Nobody brought jingly jangly power pop to the level Alex Chilton did, the innovator and Big Star frontman who passed in New Orleans yesterday of what seems to have been a heart attack. Unfortunately the group never achieved the commercial success one would have hoped for, especially considering the universally appealing, deceptively simple rock ballads and pop tunes which characterized the band throughout the 1970s. Third/Sisters takes the Big Star sound perfected (and I mean they're actually perfect records) on #1 Record and Radio City and makes it a little spacier, with more instrumentation and back-up vocals. That doesn't mean the group abandons its pop sensibilities on this record, but rather they expand it to include synths, strings, backup vocals and slightly more melancholy lyrical content. For balance's sake, there are a few heart-wrenching acoustic joints as well ("Blue Moon" will make you cry or wish you could). I'd say its probably the best record to listen to as we mourn Mr. Chilton and celebrate his legacy, though you should really get the whole holy trilogy, for the sake of your own mental health. Enjoy.

Tracklist:

1. Kizza Me
2. Thank You Friends
3. Big Black Car
4. Jesus Christ
5. Femme Fatale
6. O, Dana
7. Holocaust
8. Kangaroo
9. Stroke It Noel
10. For You
11. You Can't Have Me
12. Nighttime
13. Blue Moon
14. Take Care

Rykodisc, 1978

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