December 31

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 31:
Andy Summers from the Police is 66; Peter Quaife from the Kinks is 65; Burton Cummings from the Guess Who is 61; Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith is 57; Paul Westerberg from the Replacements is 49; Ric Ivanisevich from Oleander is 46; Scott Ian from Anthrax is 45; Mikko Siren from Apocalyptica is 33;

December 30

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 30:
Michael Nesmith, formerly with the Monkees, is 66; Davy Jones, formerly with the Monkees, is 63; Patti Smith is 62; Jeff Lynne, formerly with ELO, is 61;

On this date in 1999 former Beatle George Harrison fought off a knife-wielding intruder who broke into his mansion west of London and stabbed him in the chest.

New Releases

ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);
The Kinks...Life On The Road (DVD)

January 20
The Kinks...Beat, Beat, Beat (DVD)

January 27
Rush...Retrospective 3 (CD/DVD)
Neil Young...Neil Young Archives Vol. 1:1963-1972 (10 Disc blu-ray and 10 disc DVD)

February 3
Kid Rock...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus (VH1 Storytellers) (CD/DVD)

February 24
AC/DC...Classic Interviews Unauthorized (DVD)
MOTORHEAD...No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith

March 9
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...The Best Of What's Around, Vol. 1

March 23
U2...No Line On The Horizon

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 29:
Ray Thomas from the Moody Blues is 67; Dexter Holland from the Offspring is 43; Glen Phillips from Toad The Wet Sprocket is 38

ON THIS DATE
1942 Rick Danko is born in Greens Corners, Ontario. Danko died in 1999

December 28

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 28:
Edgar Winter is 62;

December 27

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 27
Mick Jones from Foreigner is 64; David Knopfler from Dire Straits is 56; Guthrie Govan from Asia is 37;

December 26

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 26:
James Kottak from The Scorpions is 46; Lars Ulrich from Metallica is 45; Peter Klett from Candlebox is 39; Chris Daughtry is 29;

Top 10 CD's/Downloads For This Week

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FORT THIS WEEK
1. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
2. AC/DC...Black Ice
3. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
4. GUNS 'N' ROSES...Chinese Democracy
5. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
6. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
7. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
8. DISTURBED...Indestructible
9. LINKIN PARK...Minutes To Midnight
10. SAVING ABEL...Saving Abel

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25, 2008:
Annie Lennox, formerly with the Eurythmics, is 54;

MERRY CHRISTMAS

December 24

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 24:
Lemmy from Motorhead is 63;

December 23

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 23
Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane is 68; Ron Bushy from Iron Butterfly is 67; Dave Murray from Iron Maiden is 52; Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam is 44;

ON THIS DATE
1987 Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue is pronounced dead, but is then revived with 2 adrenaline shots to the chest

New Releases

ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

December 23:
OASIS...(What's The Story) Morning Glory

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);
The Kinks...Life On The Road (DVD)

January 20
The Kinks...Beat, Beat, Beat (DVD)

January 27
Rush...Retrospective 3 (CD/DVD)
Neil Young...Neil Young Archives Vol. 1:1963-1972 (10 Disc blu-ray and 10 disc DVD)

February 3
Kid Rock...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus (VH1 Storytellers) (CD/DVD)

February 24
AC/DC...Classic Interviews Unauthorized (DVD)
MOTORHEAD...No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith

March 9
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...The Best Of What's Around, Vol. 1

March 23
U2...No Line On The Horizon

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 22:
Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick is 62;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #40. James Brown - Live at the Apollo (1963)

James Brown - Live at the Apollo (1963)
Label - King
Producer – James Brown
Art Direction - Dan Quest
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 31:33

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Introduction To James Brown
2. I'll Go Crazy
3. Try Me
4. Think
5. I Don't Mind
6. Lost Someone
7. Medley: Please, Please, Please/You've Got The Power/I Found Someone/Why Do You Do Me/I Want You So Bad/I Love You So Bad/I Love You, Yes I Do/Strange Things Happen/Bewildered/Please, Please, Please
8. Night Train

Mr James Brown. AKA - The hardest working man in showbiz! This recording at the famed Apollo theatre in New York is nothing short of an astonishing record. James is in top form as are his backing band the Flames.
In reading about the album (as I do with each record to learn more about each one) I was amazed to read that at the time King Records owner Syd Nathan flat out refused to fund this recording!! Too un-commercial. It will never sell. In his bravado style - Brown proceeded anyway, and paid for it out of his own pocket. His reasoning was that he had been out on the road night after night for a while, and he knew that the magic that was part of a James Brown show was something no studio record had ever caught. Hit follows hit without a pause — "I'll Go Crazy," "Try Me," "Think," "Please Please Please," "I Don't Mind," "Night Train," and more.
The reissue of this record is the one to get – as it is features the original audience track – not the one overdubbed at the time featuring POLITE clapping. This music is full of soul and the audience is as much a part of the recording as the band!
Highly recommended.

AC/DC - St Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida - December 21, 2008

Barr Music 101 ventured over to Tampa last night check out AC/DC. Here is what we saw:

Set list:

Rock And Roll Train / Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be / Back In Black / Big Jack / Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap / Thunderstruck / Black Ice / The Jack / Hells Bells / Shoot To Thrill / War Machine / Anything Goes / You Shook Me All Night Long / TNT / Whole Lotta Rosie / Let There Be Rock // Highway To Hell / For Those About To Rock

During the frantic “Let There Be Rock,” near the end of AC/DC’s set Sunday night at the St. Pete Times Forum, guitarist Angus Young sprinted down the catwalk to a small circular stage near the middle of the arena. As the stage rose, Young threw himself to the floor, playing his solo while frantically kicking his legs, a spectacle somewhere between a Three Stooges routine and a child’s temper tantrum. Young likely has done that leg-kicking routine during every AC/DC show since as far back as anyone can remember. It wouldn’t be an AC/DC show without it, or the cannons during the finale of “For Those About to Rock, We Salute You,” or the inflatable harlot during “Whole Lotta Rosie.” This time Rosie straddled the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train” which appeared to crash into the rear of the stage as the band opened with the song of that name. It was one of five songs AC/DC played from this year’s “Black Ice,” album, which must be some kind of record, considering that the 28 years between the new disc and the career-making “Back in Black” were represented by exactly two songs. Beyond that, any fan could have called most of the set list — nice to hear “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be” and “Shoot to Thrill”(easily the highlight song of the evening) in there. But no one goes to see AC/DC to be surprised. Do they?You go to see Angus go nuts; to hear his brother, rhythm guitarist Malcolm, and bassist Cliff Williams hammer out the riffs; to hear Brian Johnson growl and howl about rolling thunder and dirty women; and to watch drummer Phil Rudd smoke cigarette after cigarette – all the while never changing the expression on his face. And that’s what they did. Thank goodness!!.

December 21

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 21:
Brett Scallions, formerly with Fuel, is 37

December 20

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 20:
Peter Criss, formerly with Kiss, is 63; Alan Parsons is 60; Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes is 42;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #39. Charles Mingus - The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady (1963)

Mingus - The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady (1963)
Label – Impulse
Producer – Bob Thiele
Art Direction – Hollis King
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 39:25

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Solo Dancer
2. Duet Solo Dancers
3. Group Dancers
4. Trio And Group Dancers

So in reading up about this album I read the following line: “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is one of the greatest achievements in orchestration by any composer in jazz history.” All I can say to that is - what the HELL were they listening to. This record is pure torture to listen to. Just dreadful. You may notice that no tracks are listed as standout tracks as I would not recommend anyone ever subject themselves to listening to ANY of this horrible record.
The liner notes, penned by his psychologist, should be your first clue as to how uneven a work this is. It’s desribed as “Charles Mingus consciously designed six-part ballet, an examination of his own tortured psyche also a conceptual piece about love and struggle.” The only thing that fits the music (and I use the term lightly here) is the word torture. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady the first jazz album to rely on overdubbing technology. Unfortunately that is NOT a good statement. There is so much going on at times it’s hard to distinguish one instrument from another. Just dreadful. One reviewer wrote “Imagine free-jazz, now imagine it mixed with very slow, almost porn/gangster film like music and a dash of flamenco guitar.” Not as interesting as it sounds.
NOT recommended.

December 19

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 19:
Alvin Lee from Ten Years After is 64;

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
1. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
2. AC/DC...Black Ice
3. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
4. GUNS 'N' ROSES...Chinese Democracy
5. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
6. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
7. NEIL YOUNG...Sugar Mountain-Live At Canterbury House 1968
8. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
9. LINKIN PARK...Road To Revolution: Live At Milton Kenyes
10. LINKIN PARK...Minutes To Midnight

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 18:
Keith Richards is 65; Elliot Easton, formerly with the Cars, is 55;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #38. Sam Cooke - Live At The Harlem Square Club (1963)

Sam Cooke - Live At The Harlem Square Club (1963)
Label - RCA
Producer – uncredited
Art Direction - uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 36:05

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Feel It
2. Chain Gang
3. Cupid
4. Medley: It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons
5. Twistin' the Night Away
6. Somebody Have Mercy
7. Bring It on Home to Me
8. Nothing Can Change This Love
9. Having a Party

Sam Cooke is considered by music critics and fellow artists alike as the most important singer in soul music history. I’ve always KNOWN about Sam Cooke – but never really heard more than his greatest hits from time to time over the years. The title "the king of soul" is often over-used but Sam Cooke's legacy is undeniable. He had 29 Top 40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1965. He is therefore seen by many as "the creator" of the genre. But for those like me who only knew Sam Cooke's music based on those hit singles, this disc will be nothing short of a revelation. This is the real Sam Cooke, doing a sweaty, raspy soulful set captured live in his prime at the Harlem Square Club in North Miami, FL, on Jan. 12, 1963
This recording and one at the Copa were both recorded for a live album to be released at the time. The more generic, more pleasing , more polished “Sam Cooke at the Copa” recording (in front of a mainly white audience) was chosen to be released – and this recording went unreleased for almost 22 years!
In many ways this record is superior to Sam Cooke's studio recordings, the way in which he feeds off the public's attention and love is amazing. His interaction with the public make them as much part of the album as Sam himself.
Highly recommended

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #37. Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You (1963)

Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You (1963)
Label - Philles
Producer – Phil Spector
Art Direction - uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 35:11


Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. White Christmas - Darlene Love
2. Frosty The Snowman - Ronettes
3. The Bells of St. Mary's - Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans
4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Crystals
5. Sleigh Ride - Ronettes
6. Marshmallow World - Darlene Love
7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Ronettes
8. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Crystals
9. Winter Wonderland - Darlene Love
10. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers - Crystals
11. Christmas - Baby Please Come Home - Darlene Love
12. Here Comes Santa Claus - Bob B Soxx & The Blue Jeans
13. Silent Night - Phil Spector & Artists

As fate would have it – I was able to listen to this Christmas record – the week before Christmas! Nice! Featuring Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" in its prime – it features his early stable of artists, the Ronettes, Crystals, Darlene Love, and Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, they are all here.
In doing some reading about this record, it stands as arguably the greatest Christmas record ever to be made. Spector believed he could produce a record for the holidays that would capture not only the Christmas spirit, but at the same time be a pop masterpiece. He more or less succeeds with all the singers as they turned in some memorable performances – and as I mentioned – is considered the Christmas album by which all later holiday releases had to be judged.
On an interesting note – I read that Phil withdrew the album from release initially as it came out the week that John F. Kennedy was shot and he though it was in ‘poor taste’ to play this happy music while the country was in mourning. Kinda ironic that he may be an assassin himself now!!! The final track – Silent Night – features Spector's pleseant voice talking about love and harmony – actually pretty sad with hindsight.
Recommended for Christmas

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 17:
Paul Rodgers is 59: Mike Mills from R.E.M. is 50;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #36. Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)

Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)
Label - Columbia
Producer – John Hammond
Art Direction - Uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 50:04

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold
1. Blowin' In The Wind
2. Girl From The North Country
3. Masters Of War
4. Down The Highway
5. Bob Dylan's Blues
6. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
7. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
8. Bob Dylan's Dream
9. Oxford Town
10. Talkin' World War III Blues
11. Corrina, Corrina
12. Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance
13. I Shall Be Free

And here we have a almost pure only guitar and vocal album by Bob Dylan. A guy, his guitar and a harmonica. Considered one of the great craftsmen of our time, it may be hard to estimate the importance of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan record. It DID firmly established Dylan as an unparalleled songwriter. At the time, folk had been quite popular on college campuses and bohemian circles, but nobody had transcended the scene as Bob Dylan did with this record. There are a couple of covers ("Corrina Corrina" and "Honey Just Allow Me One More Chance") but it’s the originals here that everyone remembers. "Blowin' in the Wind," "Masters of War," and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" – all are staples in the Dylan canon. I’m not 100% sure – but this is probably the first album reviewed here where all but two songs are written by the performer. With the last entry by the Beatles and this one – it was truly the birth of the age of the singer-songwriter.
All of that said – this is actually a hard record to get through. Dylan can write a song like no other there is no denying that – but his vocals are just terrible in my humble opinion. Always have been. And his guitar and harmonica playing really aren’t that great either! Yet strangely though – it all works somehow. Perhaps it’s the craftsmanship of the songs that makes it all come together.
Oddly highly recommended.

December 16

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 16:
Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top is 59;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #35. The Beatles - With The Beatles (1963)

The Beatles - With The Beatles (1963)
Label - Parlophone
Producer – George Martin
Art Direction – Robert Freeman
Nationality - UK
Running Time – 33:24

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold)
1. It Won't Be Long
2. All I've Got To Do
3. All My Loving
4. Don't Bother Me
5. Little Child
6. Till There Was You
7. Please Mr Postman
8. Roll Over Beethoven
9. Hold Me Tight
10. You've Really Got A Hold On Me
11. I Wanna Be Your Man
12. Devil In Her Heart
13. Not A Second Time
14. Money

What can be said about the Beatles that has never been written before. Simply put – the greatest rock and roll group in history. Ever. Period.
I could select each track as a standout – as they are all just fantastic. There is an equal ratio of covers-to-originals, a familiar blend of girl group, Motown, R&B, pop, and rock, and a show tune thrown in for good measure. The Beatles could do it all. Straight ahead rock and roll, ("I Wanna Be Your Man") or twist it around with a little Latin lilt ("Little Child," easily one of their most underrated early rockers). John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote great ballads ("All I've Got to Do") and classic pop/rockers ("All My Loving"). Then there are the driving rockers ("It Won't Be Long") and melodic slower slower songs ("Not a Second Time"). Even George Harrison’s first song recorded ("Don't Bother Me”) is a standout!
The covers only pale slightly in comparison, (although "Devil in Her Heart" qualifies as a forgotten gem). With John’s vocals on "You Really Got a Hold on Me," this track is always an enjoyable performances.
It was clear that this record was head and shoulders above the music that was being released around the same time. The Beatles were rapidly turning into the icons they would become and the standard by which to measure all others from this point forward.
Highly recommended.

New Releases

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

December 16
Bob Dylan...Playlist: The Very Best of Bob Dylan 1960's;
Santana...The Best Of The Fillmore Years
MOTORHEAD...BBC Live In Session, Vol. 1 (LP Record)
MOTORHEAD...BBC Live In Session, Vol. 2 (LP Record)
SALIVA...Cinco Diablo
MOTLEY CRUE...Journals Of The Damned (Box Set) (LP Record)
DAVE MATTHEWS...Live At Miles High Music Festival
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...DMB Live Trax Vol. 13

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);
The Kinks...Life On The Road (DVD)

January 20
The Kinks...Beat, Beat, Beat (DVD)

January 27
Rush...Retrospective 3 (CD/DVD)
Neil Young...Neil Young Archives Vol. 1:1963-1972 (10 Disc blu-ray and 10 disc DVD)

February 3
Kid Rock...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus (VH1 Storytellers) (CD/DVD)

February 24
AC/DC...Classic Interviews Unauthorized (DVD)
MOTORHEAD...No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith

March 9
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...The Best Of What's Around, Vol. 1

March 23
U2...No Line On The Horizon

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 15:
Carmine Appice from Vanilla Fudge is 62; Paul Simonon from the Clash is 53;

December 14

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 14
Cliff Williams from AC/DC is 59;

December 13

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 13:
Believe it or not, but the Motor City Madman, Mr. Ted Nugent, is 60 years old today. Also 60 today is Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, formerly with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers. Amy Lee from Evanescence is 27

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #34. Ray Price - Night Life (1962)

Ray Price - Night Life (1962)
Label - Koch
Producer – Frank Jones; Don Law
Art Direction – uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 37:36

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold)
1. Introduction And Theme/Night Life
2. Lonely Street
3. Wild Side Of Life
4. Sittin' And Thinkin'
5. Twenty-Fourth Hour
6. Girl In The Night
7. Pride
8. There's No Fool Like A Young Fool
9. If She Could See Me Now
10. Bright Lights And Blonde Haired Women
11. Are You Sure
12. Let Me Talk To You

Something unexpected popped out when I played this album. I’m not a big country music fan (REAL country like this – not what passes as country music these days). And it WAS tough to get through this album. What surprised me is that this is a concept album. By Ray Price. In 1962. WHO KNEW! Certainly not me!
As I said – this is true classic country honky tonk music. Ray Price and his band – the Cherokee Cowboys were riding high when this record came out, and the toured regularly. His spoken word introduction lays out what is to come – songs about living in the night life – a side of life he saw on a regular basis. A life spent on the road full of hotels, bar rooms, one-night stands, heartache, and regrets.
Yet it’s not so much a story being told throughout the album as it is just a collection of simular themed tracks.
In reading about Ray Price I found that as the decade wore on, Price would go on to major superstardom as a mellow balladeer, (working with full string sections) which reached a more mass audience that most probably never even heard this music or his other honky tonk classics that preceded it. This album just may be Price's defining moment as an artist, but I just can’t get into the country of it.
Not recommended.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 12
Dickey Betts is 65; Eric Schenkman from the Spin Doctors is 45

Top 10 CD's/Downloads For This Week

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
1. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
2. AC/DC...Black Ice
3. GUNS 'N' ROSES...Chines Democracy
4. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
5. METALLACA...Death Magnetic
6. NEIL YOUNG...Sugar Mountain - Live At Canterbury House 1968
7. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
8. LINKIN PARK...Road To Revolution: Live At Milton Keynes
9. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
10. MUDVAYNE...The New Game

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 11:
David Gates from Bread is 68; Mike Mesaros from The Smithereens is 51; Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue is 50; David Schools from Widespread Panic is 44;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #33. Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba (1962)

Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba (1962)
Label - Verve
Producer – Creed Taylor
Art Direction – Olga Albizu
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 33:08

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)
1. Desafinado
2. Samba Dees Days
3. O Pato
4. Samba Triste
5. Samba De Uma Nota Só
6. É Luxo Só
7. Bahia

This is the definitive bossa nova record. Calling it Jazz Samba is actually quite misleading as it is less jazz and not so much samba, it’s bossa nova in a Jazzy context setting. With that said – it is a thoroughly enjoyable record and a good album. For those (like me) who know nothing of Brazilian music – this would be a good starting point. No so much a true reflection of ‘typical’ Brazilian music (minus the flare and most of all lacking any lyrics so predominate in Brazilian music). But I’m sure that was the point to begin with the fact that this was the first full-fledged bossa nova album ever recorded by any American jazz musicians.
And it was successful too. It topped the LP charts and produced a pop chart hit single in "Desafinado." (who knew!!!) It was the true beginning of the bossa nova craze that swept the nation around this time.
If I had to use one word to describe this record it would be “graceful”. Again this one falls into the category as absolutely essential for any jazz collection.
Highly recommended.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 10
Scot Alexander from Dishwalla is 37

December 9

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 9
Nick Seymour from Crowded House is 50; Jakob Dylan from the Wallflowers is 39; Tre Cool from Green Day is 36;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #32. Booker T. & the M.G.s - Green Onions (1962)

Booker T. & the M.G.s - Green Onions (1962)
Label - Stax
Producer – Jim Stewart
Art Direction – Haig Adishian
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 34:55

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Green Onions
2. Rinky Dink
3. I Got A Woman
4. Mo' Onions
5. Twist And Shout
6. Behave Yourself
7. Stranger On The Shore
8. Lonely Avenue
9. One Who Really Loves You
10. You Can't Sit Down
11. Woman A Lover A Friend
12. Comin' Home Baby

I will admit – other than the track ‘Green Onions’ I was not familiar with any of the work of Booker T and the M.G.’s , nor familiar with any of the band members. After looking them up – I stand corrected. Turns out they were the house band at Stax Records in Memphis. Booker T Jones and Steve Cropper were the anchors and they can be heard on classic hits by Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Carla Thomas, Albert King, and Sam & Dave, just to name a few examples. That alone would be enough of a resume, but on their own they were one of if not THE top instrumental outfits of the rock era, cutting classics like "Green Onions" – their first and biggest hit. So much so they’d have trouble recapturing its commercial success. That track kicks off this album – and the same can be said for this album as their career. “Green Onions” is a GREAT song – but they never capture that groove or feel again for the rest of the record.
For me personally, the organ sound in each song is just too much – even though at 35 minutes the record is pretty short – and mid way through I was really ready to stop it playing. Which is a shame. The second best track – “Mo’ Onions” – is simply that, more of “Green Onions”!! There is a cover of Smokey Robinson's "One Who Really Loves You," with a very nice lead performance by Jones on organ and Cropper’s guitar handling the choruses that was very nice, but the album is just to much filler around one great track.
Not recommended.

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

December 9
White Lion...La Nueva Kamada;
Bob Dylan...Changing Tracks (DVD);
Asia...Quadra (Box Set);
Oasis...The Lowdown Unauthorized
Europe...Almost Unplugged
Jimi Hendrix...At Last...the Beginning: The Making of Electric Ladyland (DVD)
Jimi Hendrix...Electric Ladyland (with DVD)
AC/DC...Church of Rock: The Bon Scott Years (DVD)

December 16
Bob Dylan...Playlist: The Very Best of Bob Dylan 1960's;
Santana...The Best Of The Fillmore Years

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);
The Kinks...Life On The Road (DVD)

January 20
The Kinks...Beat, Beat, Beat (DVD)

January 27
Rush...Retrospective 3 (CD/DVD)
Neil Young...Neil Young Archives Vol. 1:1963-1972 (10 Disc blu-ray and 10 disc DVD)

February 3
Kid Rock...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus (VH1 Storytellers) (CD/DVD)

February 24
AC/DC...Classic Interviews Unauthorized (DVD)

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 8
Gregg Allman is 61; Phil Collen from Def Leppard is 51; Marty Friedman, formerly with Megadeth, is 46; Ryan Newell from Sister Hazel is 36;

December 6

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 6
Peter Buck from R.E.M. is 52;

December 5

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 5
Little Richard is 76; J.J. Cale is 70; Jim Messian from Buffalo Springfield and Poco is 61; John Rzeznik from The Goo Goo Dolls is 43;

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
1. GUNS 'N' ROSES...Chinese Democracy
2. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
3. AC/DC...Black Ice
4. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
5. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
6. LINKIN PARK...Road To Revolution: Live At Milton Keynes
7. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
8. MUDVAYNE...The New Game
9. THE FIREMAN...Electric Arguments
10. LINKIN PARK...Minutes To Midnight

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 4
Chris Hillman, formerly with the Byrds, is 64; Gary Rossington from Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Rossington Collins Band is 57; Vinnie Dombroski from Sponge is 46;

December 3

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 3:
Believe it or not, but Ozzy Osbourne is 60; Mickey Thomas from Jefferson Starship is 59;

December 2

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 2:
Rick Savage from Def Leppard is 48; Nate Mendel from the Foo Fighters is 40;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #31. Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)

Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
Label - ABC-Paramount
Producer – Sid Feller
Art Direction – Flynn / Viceroy
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 39:51

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Bye Bye Love
2. You Don't Know Me
3. Half as Much
4. I Love You So Much It Hurts
5. Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way)
6. Born to Lose
7. Worried Mind
8. It Makes No Difference Now
9. You Win Again
10. Careless Love
11. I Can't Stop Loving You
12. Hey, Good Lookin'
Ray Charles was unhappy with Atlantic records and so he signed with ABC Paramount and took full advantage of his contract's "full artistic freedom clause" with this collection of revamped country classics on Modern Sounds in Country and Western. This was quite a gamble for Ray Charles and took plenty of guts not just for him, but for his new record label to release this record. Yet, this album featured Don Gibson's "I Can't Stop Loving You" and a Top Ten hit with a cover of Eddy Arnold's "You Don't Know Me," that helped this album remain at the top of the pop charts for nearly three months and more importantly brought Ray Charles international fame and made him a superstar. Charles’ covers of these songs actually have become the definitive versions of the tracks over the last 45 years.
It’s actually less country and more big band with a splash of gospel – with no steel guitars or fiddles – just lots of orchestral arrangements by Gerald Wilson. At times the tracks are overdone with orchestra and backing vocals which is a shame as they needn’t be. So while I prefer the ‘Genius of Ray Charles’ (reviewed earlier in this series) over this one as a definitive work of Ray Charles, this is still a good listen.
Highly recommended.