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My new best friend: Pandora Radio
I know this site is about vinyl (ehhhhh, sorta), and vinyl people are supposed to hate digital music, but I have to tell you about a great discovery that I have been hearing a lot about lately: Pandora Radio.
Pandora is a free internet radio service. You can visit the website (http://www.pandora.com) and listen to music in your web browser, or you can take it to the next level of coolness, and listen to music on your phone. If you have one of the phones that works with the service, you can listen to music pretty much anywhere! I have an iPhone, so I just open up the app on my phone, put it in its dock (which is connected to my stereo), and I can listen to tons of music for free. I love this.
OK, OK. I know this site is about vinyl, but the truth is, I love music more than the format it is played back on. I know vinyl sounds better than CDs and digital music, but I must say that the sound quality from Pandora is excellent. I can’t always listen to my vinyl, and when I can, I sometimes don’t want to have to play DJ and make sure I flip and change the records when they’re done. With Pandora, I just launch the program, and let the music play.
I get into musical ruts all the time, and Pandora allows me to explore new music without having to spend any money. If I want to listen to jazz, I can. If I am in the mood for funk, I’ve got it. If I want to rock out, there is music for that too. If I ever want to discover something new, it’s just a few clicks away. I don’t like listening to the radio with all of the ads and commentary from the DJs. I just care about the music. With Pandora, there is plenty of music, very few ads, and mounds of convenience.
If you love music, you have to check out Pandora. If you have an iPhone, go download the app for it right now. You are going to love this!
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Rainy Day Music
It’s raining in Northern California today, and it got me thinking about music that is perfect for those rainy days. Of course, I’m just writing about what sounds good to me when it’s raining, and certainly wouldn’t expect any of you all to agree!
What makes a song good for a rainy day? I tend to like mellow music with slow beats. I like music that has a unique sort of sound. I particularly like the sounds of Rhodes pianos and organs. I also enjoy electronically generated sounds, as long as they are not too jarring. I like the occasional song that has the sound of rain in it, or just a sound in the background that reminds me of the constant sound of falling rain. I like music that fits the vibe of the day, mellow, relaxed and gentle.
Let’s look at some of my favorites:
One of my favorite rainy day songs is “Riders on the Storm” by the Doors. The sound of the rain and thunder at the beginning and end of the song is what sets the mood, but the melody and beat keep it going. The sound of the organ gives a trippy, underwater sort of effect, which is perfect for a rainy day. Riders on the Storm is on the album “LA Woman”, but the rest of the album doesn’t really work with my idea of what a rainy day album is.
I have also been enjoying the Herbie Hancock “Mwandishi” albums today. Crossings and Mwandishi have more of a rainy day vibe than Sextant, but Sextant has the song “Rain Dance”, which has a neat dripping-water sort of effect throughout the song. All three of these albums use electronic keyboards, which I think have a distinctive sound that reminds me of the rain. I realize that these albums are not for everybody, because they’re a little out there, but I like them.
Another album that I like for rainy days comes from similar roots as Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi albums, and that album is Miles Davis‘ “In A Silent Way”. This album is mellow, with a mood that reminds me of the rain. The first time I heard it, I was driving in my car in the rain, which further pushed the idea that it is a good album for rainy days.
So, there you have it. My picks for rainy day music. What do you think? What are some of your favorite rainy day songs?
Stay warm, and enjoy the music!
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Shuffle!
Sometimes I go through writers block on this blog. You can see there are times when I write lots of posts, then times when I don’t write for weeks. I think I found a solution: I shuffle all of the songs on my iPod, then I write about the first 3 albums that come up. If you can get them on vinyl, I’ll show you where…If you can’t, well, look for the CD, or buy it in a digital format online.
Ready? Here goes!
Album #1: Bo Diddley: His Best
Bo Diddley is the most underappreciated musician in rock and roll history. Why? Because he practically invented it, while Elvis took the credit. I don’t want to disrespect Elvis, because his accomplishments in music shadow pretty much everbody, but credit must be given where it’s due, and it is due with Bo Diddley. Bo Diddley was the first known musician that took the blues, gave it a harder edge and rhythm, and created what would be known as “Rock and Roll”. This sound has been deconstructed and imitated by thousands of musicians since.
Bo Diddley is great. This album that came up on my iPod is a collection of his most famous songs. It includes songs like “Who Do You Love” and “I’m a Man”. These songs all feature a fast-paced rhythm with hard-edged guitar parts. Some of the songs on the album have some humorous lyrics as well. There’s one with a percussive piano part with two guys just making fun of each other: The 1950’s version of the “snaps” we hear nowadays.
If you appreciate oldies, classic rock, and blues, you need to get some Bo Diddley in your collection. Pick up an album or two, and see where rock and roll began.
Album #2: Django Reinhardt: No Album
Well, I have a few tracks of Django Reinhardt on my iPod, but not from any particular album…I am not even sure they had albums back in his time! Anyway, Django Reinhardt is one of the world’s greatest guitar players. He was a gypsy from Belgium who learned to play stringed instruments from an early age. At age 18, he was injured in a fire which caused severe damage to his left hand. While many guitar players would have given up at this point, Django Reinhardt learned to play guitar again despite the injuries to his hand. His miraculous recovry has been an inspiration to guitar players ever since.
Django Reinhardt can swing, as they say. His playing is uptempo, skilled, and clean. His amazing talent has inspired people as varied as Jimi Hendrix, Tony Iommi (of Black Sabbath), and Willie Nelson. Having discovered Django very recently, I was immediately impressed with his skill and style. If you love jazz or guitar playing, do your ears a favor and pick up some Django, you’ll be glad you did!
Album #3: Vivaldi: Four Seasons
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is one of the most famous musical pieces from the Baroque period (roughly beginning in 1600, and ending around 1760) of European classical music, and no doubt one of the most famous European classical music pieces ever composed. Most people with access to modern media have surely heard the famous introduction to the Spring movement.
The four seasons is a 4-concerto piece, each concerto containing 3 distinct movements. The opening and closing movements of each concerto are faster, with the middle movement being slower. Each concerto (or season) has its own distinct feel. Spring, Summer and Fall are more lively and bright, with Winter being more dark sounding.
This is one of the greatest classical music works ever produced. If you can appreciate classical music (Even if you rarely listen to it), you need to have this album in your collection.
Alright people, I hope you enjoyed these quick glimpses at some of my favorite artists, and that you are enjoying the music!
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Album Review: John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
Classical music afficionados have Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Rock fans have The Beatles’ White Album. Jazz fans have A Love Supreme. If you’ve read my post about essential jazz recordings, you know that I ranked this album as #1. John Coltrane’s masterpiece is a winner on so many different levels. Let’s take a closer look.
The Concept:
A Love Supreme is an album written, recorded and performed by John Coltrane. Other musicians that perform on the album include McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. The album was seen by Coltrane as his gift to God. A humble offering that expresses a deep thankfulness, commitment and love to God. While many people speculate about which God Coltrane is paying tribute to in this album (Coltrane was apparently a deeply spiritual person who was raised Christian, but had an interest in many different religions), it is most likely a tribute to the “true” God, ie the one that really exists, whether Christian, Islamic or something else. I don’t believe Coltrane was making any statement about “which” God, but just about God. In other words, I think Coltrane is saying: “God, Whatever your name is, wherever you are, whoever you are, I present to you this humble offering of my love for you”. Some people believe that he is praising Allah, and have a problem with the album from a Christian point of view, but I think that Coltrane is just saying that he loves the creator, whoever it may be.
A Love Supreme is a suite, with four distinct parts. They are “Acknowledgement”, “Resolution”, “Persuance”, and “Psalm”. Let’s take a look at each part.
Acknowledgement:
Acknowledgement begins with a bassline that sounds like “A Love Supreme” spoken. This bass part continues throughout the song to give the song a forward moving kind of vibe. Almost like climbing a mountain. It is symbolic of Coltrane, remaining continuously faithful. The sax parts on this first movement are complimentary to the slower tempo. Towards the end of the first part, Coltrane begins chanting “A Love Supreme”. Symbolically, the song represents Coltrane’s acknowledgement of God, and his acknowledgement of his own talents, which come from God.
Resolution:
Resolution begins with a short bass solo, at which point Coltrane begins playing. This song is a nod to the atonal style that Coltrane would later adopt, although it is not nearly as atonal as Coltrane’s work would later become. The melody is still very catchy and melodic, and at times sounds like some of Coltrane’s earlier work. Symbolically, this song seems to say that thanks to God, Coltrane has resolved his personal difficulties. It reflects on his earlier work, while looking forward to the future.
Persuance:
Persuance is without a doubt the climax of the album. It begins with a lengthy drum solo that fades out, and Coltrane begins playing. After a short part by Coltrane, McCoy Tyner begins a fast tempo piano solo. I always feel like this part represents Coltrane mentally preparing himself for a highly passionate “peresuance” of the awesomeness of God. When Coltrane begins playing again, he is in top form. He is playing fast, passionately, and intense. There is no doubt to me that while Coltrane played this legendary part, he was having a highly spiritual moment. Every time I hear it, I can feel the intense emotions that must have been going through his head at the moment this part was recorded. This is one of the most magical musical moments ever experienced by me. Of course, after such an intense burst of emotion, Coltrane was exhausted. The song ends with a slow bass outro.
Psalm:
The final part of the suite is known as Psalm. This part is unique, because it is a musical narration of a devotional poem written by Coltrane and included in the liner notes of the album. The sax parts are “speaking” the poem. This part of the suite is slow and solemn, and reflects Coltrane’s very deep love for God. For those that take the time and attention to listen closely, this albums will leave you a changed person.
A Love Supreme went on to be one of the most highly regarded jazz albums in history. It has been on many “best of jazz” lists, as well as “best album” (in any genre) lists. Time Magazine recognized it, as did Rolling Stone. It has been covered, imitated and re-imagined over and over by many musicians, both known and unknown. A few notables who have taken a crack at it are John McLaughlin, Carlos Santana, and Branford Marsallis.
What sets A Love Supreme apart from just about anything ever released is just how magnetic and powerful it is. The emotions that come through the music are intense and real. The message is one of positivity and love and reverence, and a serious listening of this album is a mind-changing experience.
Let me say it right now: I don’t care who your favorite musician is, or what your favorite music is, or who you are, or where you come from. If you love music, you need this album. You will never hear music with this kind of power on anything ever written or performed to this date. In addition to A Love Supreme being the best jazz album ever released, it is no doubt one of the best albums released in any genre.
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The (Real) Secrets To Awesome Sound…
You know how live music seems to hit you on a deeper level than recorded music that is played back?
Why is this? Well, there are a few things at work here. First of all, live music has real, live people playing music. These performers are part of the experience. Because they are usually energetic when they perform, that energy is passed on to the audience. The energy of the experience affects us on a deeper, emotional level, making us feel better, and the music sound better. While I won’t deny that this is theorhetical and not really based in science, everyone who has seen live music be performed knows what I am talking about.
Another thing with live music, is that the volume is turned to 11. Like Spinal Tap. The sheer volume of everything is enough to heighten the experience…even if it is bad for your ears.
Also, since live music is not recorded, the sound is more pure. You are actually hearing a guitar played through an amplifier or a trumpet, not the sound of a guitar played through an amplifier into a microphone that has gone through a mixing board before being recorded onto an analog tape, which is then mixed, mastered, and copied to a CD, which is then read by a laser, amplified, and played out of a speaker. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.
In addition, musicians in the studio often have to do take after take, until they are bored with the music. This comes through on recordings all the time. They sound good, but the energy is sometimes missing. Live musicians are playing in the moment.
So, we all know that live music sounds better for many reasons. But, hey we can’t always enjoy live music, so how do we get the great sound of a live performance at home or in the car?
Here is the first secret: Power. You need to listen to your music a little louder to appreciate it. In addition, when you play your music through a powerful amplifier, you will enjoy cleaner sound. When the volume is turned up a little higher, you’ll also notice more of the subtle nuances in the music, and chances are that you’ll hear a little more bass too. Bass is important. You don’t see people getting hyphy to cymbals.
If you don’t have a decently powered amplifier or receiver that you play your music through, I would recommend checking out a new one. If you listen to your music on some sort of “all in one” stereo, you’re missing out. Also, look at investing in some sort of subwoofer. This will fill out your bottom end very nicely. You’ll find a new appreciation for all of your music. Subwoofers aren’t just for dance music and hip hop; every kind of music has sound on the lower registers, and a subwoofer will release that sound from your CDs, and bring it to your ears.
Don’t pay any attention to audiophiles who say you need to have 1/1000th of a percent less total harmonic distortion, and a really expensive Krell amp to enjoy your music. You can’t hear 1/1000th of a percent THD, and the real power behind the music when played through a Krell amp is the power in the amp. That’s it.
Here’s another secret: Passion and love. If you really love what a musician is doing on an album, you are going to enjoy the sound better. This is not about being picky and saying “I like this, but I don’t like that”. This is much more difficult. This is about gaining an appreciation for the work of all musicians. It requires being more open mentally and emotionally. It requires getting into the head of the musician, and feeling what they’re playing. Not easy, but once you get it, you’ll be amazed at how much more you love music, and how much more enjoyable it is to your ears.
The last secret: Seek out live recordings. A live recording is not necessarily a recording of a concert, but can also include recordings where the song was captured in one take, and was never cut or edited. The emotions of the musicians seem to come through more clearly on these types of recordings, and you’ll be amazed at how much feeling is there.
To wrap it up: Get loud, get into it, get a live recording. The secrets to awesome sound.
Enjoy the music!
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The Day The Music Died
Today is the 50th anniversary of the day the music died. This is the tragic event that ended the lives of three young and promising musicians: Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper.
It was February 2nd, 1959 when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper had performed at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. The musicians had a gig the next evening, and Buddy Holly was reportedly annoyed with the tour bus they were traveling on because the heater broke and the weather was cold. He suggested that some of the performers charter a flight, and avoid the cold bus for a night. After some shuffling of people, the ill-fated musicians boarded a small airplane to Moorhead, Minnesota.
Soon after takeoff, the owner of the airplane (who was the owner of the company that Buddy Holly chartered the plane from) saw the airplane’s lights descend toward the ground. The owner initially believed that it was an optical illusion, but after the pilot of the airplane never filed his flight report, and the owner of the airplane repeatedly tried to contact the pilot, he reported the plane missing. The next day, the charter company owner flew a plane over the intended path and saw the plane’s wreckage in a corn field.
This was the day the music died.
What makes this event so tragic was that the three musicians on board were so young, and had so much talent, and had such bright futures.
Ritchie Valens
As a kid, I loved the movie La Bamba as well as the soundtrack for it. I listened to it all the time, and while it didn’t actually feature the original Ritchie Valens versions of the songs, I loved it all the same.
Let’s take a look at Ritchie’s life, and the musical contributions he made to the world before most of us even knew who we are, and what we’re here for.
Ritchie Valens was born Richard Steven (Stephen?) Valenzuela on May 13th, 1941 in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles). He reportedly grew up listening to traditional Mexican mariachi music, flamenco, blues, and R&B. As early as 5, Ritchie expressed an interest in music. His father encouraged him to play trumpet and guitar, and Ritchie also taught himself to play the drums. Interestingly, Ritchie who was left-handed (aren’t all the greats?), learned to play guitar right-handed. He would bring his guitar to school in his teens, and soon enough was asked to join a group called the Silhouettes as a guitar player. After the group’s vocalist left the group, Ritchie performed vocals as well. His spirited performances left audiences in awe. In addition to his electric stage performances, he was highly musically skilled, and often improvised lyrics and guitar riffs while performing. He earned the nickname “Little Richard of the Valley” because of his energy.
Ritchie was soon discovered by Bob Keane of Del-Fi records. In May 1958, Bob invited Ritchie over to his home for an audition. Within a few weeks, Ritchie signed a recording contract with Del-Fi records. After a little time rehearsing and writing, Keane decided it was time for Ritchie to enter a recording studio. The first recoding date produced “Come On Let’s Go” and “Framed”. An instant success, Valens returned to the studio to record “Donna” and “La Bamba”. By the fall of 1958, Ritchie dropped out of school to focus on his career. Bob Keane had booked gigs for Ritchie Valens all over the country. He appeared on American Bandstand twice, as well as Alan Freed’s Christmas Jubilee in New York.
Ritchie’s career was going well, with much hope for the young musician’s future when he began the midwestern tour known as “The Winter Dance Party”. The tour was full of problems, from the tour bus’s heating system failing, to the illnesses suffered by the musicians, to the illogical routes traveled by the tour bus. Ultimately, the discomfort experienced by the musicians is what prompted Buddy Holly to charter a plane from one of the tour stops to the next. We are only left to ponder what could have been if the musicians experienced more comfort in the tour bus.
Ritchie Valens’s story is particularly sad because of his age. He was only 17 when he died, and he showed so much promise. Already proving himself as a very competent guitar player and vocalist, as well as magnetic performer, Ritchie Valens surely would have gone on to become a highly influential rock and roll musician in the 60’s. It is suggested that Ritchie Valens’ highly energetic rock and roll sound (as influenced by Bo Diddley), was the precursor to more bluesy rock and roll and classic rock such as Led Zeppelin, and even early punk rock such as the Stooges and The Ramones.
It hurts to see such talent come to an end so unexpectedly and so abrubptly. RIP, Ritchie Valens. We thank you for your contributions to the world. We love you and miss you.
Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley on September 7th, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas. His family was very musical, and Buddy grew up playing piano, guitar and violin. As a teenager, Buddy met Bob Montgomery, and they formed a duo called “Buddy and Bob”, where they played bluegrass tunes. In high school, Buddy Holly sang in the school’s choir, and became further interested in music.
Buddy Holly became more interested in rock and roll when in 1955, Elvis Presley performed in Lubbock. Shortly after, Buddy Holly performed on the same bill as Elvis. This caught the attention of Decca records, which signed him to their label. After signing this record contract, Buddy Holly recorded a version of “That’ll Be The Day”. He soon put together a group of musicians which would become known as The Crickets. With his new band, he recorded and performed more, including a famous series of gigs at the Apollo Theatre, where he gained acceptance by the largely African American audience. In 1958, Buddy Holly and his band toured both Europe and Australia.
Things were looking good for Buddy Holly. He married a young Puerto Rican woman named Maria Elena Santiago in late 1958. He was becoming more interested in working in New York, where some of the largest musical acts in the world were from. Unfortunately, at this point, Buddy Holly’s band was not as interested in the New York scene, and they split up. Buddy Holly continued with his music, earning a spot on the Winter Dance Party tour.
Buddy Holly, much like Valens, was young, talented, and showed much promise as a musician. He was only 22 when he died, leaving much speculation as to what he could have accomplished if he had lived. Buddy Holly already had developed his own style of singing, which is very distinct. Classic songs like “Peggy Sue” display his “hiccup” (or glottal stop) technique, where he adds extra syllables to words with a very abrupt hiccup sort of sound. You know it when you hear it, and it is a unique characteristic of Buddy Holly’s style. His songwriting has been celebrated as being very advanced compared to much of the popular music during that time. Buddy Holly had been playing music his whole life, and was cleary very committed and talented to his craft.
Buddy Holly’s legacy continues to this day. From his “appearance” in Pulp Fiction, to Nirvana dressing up in his style in their “In Bloom” music video, to the Weezer song “Buddy Holly”, he continues to influence and inspire musicians. Other notable musicians influenced by Buddy Holly include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan.
Buddy Holly’s tragic death on this fateful date is a sad moment in the history of rock and roll. We love the contributions he made during his short musical career. Buddy Holly, if you can see this somehow, we love you and miss you. Thanks for the music…
The Big Bopper
The Big Bopper was born Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr. on October 24th, 1930 in Sabine Pass, Texas. He was known as “JP” to his friends. As a child, JP was interested in sports, and played defense for his high school’s football team. In college, JP was studying pre-law, as well as participating in the school chorus and band. He was also working part-time at a local radio station. He soon accepted a full-time position at the radio station, and got married to Adrianne Joy Fryon in 1952. In 1953, Adrianne gave birth to their daughter, Debra Joy.
JP’s career in radio was beginning to take off. He was promoted to the position of Supervisor of Announcers. In 1955, JP was drafted into the military, and he served for two years. In 1957, upon release from the military, he returned home, and began his career as a radio personality. He took the name “The Big Bopper” during this time because of a popular dance at the time known as “The Bop”. As a radio personality, The Big Bopper broke a world record for the length of time he spent in one continuous broadcast. He broadcast for 5 days, 2 hours and 8 minutes. He played 1,821 records during this amazing spree.
The Big Bopper had always been involved with music, and did write and perform in addition to performing his duties as a radio personality. He didn’t have much success initially until “Chantilly Lace” was released in 1958. This song is a stunning example of The Big Bopper’s over-the-top, yet lovable personality. On this recording it is clear as to why he enjoyed such success in the radio business. With the success of Chantilly Lace, The Big Bopper took some time off from the radio gig to tour with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens for the Winter Dance Party tour.
The Big Bopper’s story is also tragic. At the time of his death, his wife was pregnant with his son. In addition, The Big Bopper was looking to furthering his career in the radio business by investing in a radio station. He also had pioneered the idea of a music video, and was possibly looking at the production of the then unheard of medium. He had also written several new songs, and was in the process of building a recording studio in his basement. The world is left to wonder what JP Richardson could have accomplished had he lived.
JP Richardson was a character full of life. From his boisterous on-air personality to his introduction to Chantilly Lace, he was adored by many. His legacy continues to this day with Chantilly Lace played daily on rock and roll stations across the country. His son, JP Richardson, Jr. continues to promote his father, and keep his legacy alive. The Big Bopper, RIP. We miss you.
It is a sad day remebering these three lives cut short, but we cannot feel sad forever. These musicians were about the joy of music, and all loved their craft. They did it because it made them happy and it made their audiences happy. To be happy while enjoying their music is the greatest way that we can pay tribute.
Some morals: Life can sometimes be cut short without warning. Always tell the people you love that you love them.
A moment of silence for these three amazing young perfomers.
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Topics: Artist Tributes, Musicians I Like, Rock | 2 Comments »