Peaceful easy feeling (The Eagles) (LP 1072)

The Eagles  Don Kirshner's Rock Concert '74 with Guests (CD,  RoxVox, 2016) *** 

Genre: Country rock 

Places I remember: The Warehouse

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Take It Easy

Gear costume: James Dean

Active compensatory factors: Not quite a bootleg, more a 'legendary radio recording' according to the cover, this is the audio version of what would have been broadcast on TV. So the recording suffers in the process. To be fair, you know that going in with these kinds of things.

As such it's okay but not a vital document for The Eagles. Instead Linda and Jackson steal the show in some regards. Looking Into You is terrific (no clip of this available unfortunately).

Having said that, this is my favourite period of the band - before they went mega. The more authentic country rock thanks to the presence of Bernie Leadon appeals to me more than the soft adult rock and Joe Walsh years.

The hits are rendered professionally - Peaceful Easy Feeling, Take It Easy, and Desperado (with Linda taking centre stage) but the songs from One The Border - Ol '55, Already Gone, James Dean are my favourites from the concert.

Where do they all belong? Back to the vinyl for the next round of albums.

I told you I couldn't stop (Jakob Dylan) (LP 1071)

Jakob Dylan  Seeing Things (CD, Columbia Records, 2008) ****  

Genre: Folk rock

Places I remember: Lindsay Hope's gift

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Valley Of The Low Sun

Gear costume: Something Good This Way Comes

Active compensatory factors: Jakob Dylan's first solo album is an assured folk rock collection. The acoustic guitars provide a consistent bedrock for Jakob's wordy approach.

It must be tough having a famous icon for a father but Jakob has managed to carve out a career in music without sounding like Bob or riding on that fame.

I prefer his solo material to the rockier version during The Wallflowers years. He feels more natural in solo mode, and Rick Rubin's sparse production works a treat as Jakob takes on guitar, bass and vocals pretty effortlessly.

Where do they all belong? A stand alone - I haven't followed his career too closely but I'm not averse to picking up more of his stuff at some point.

You'll survive (John Mayall) (LP 1069-1070)

John Mayall A Sense Of Place (CD, Island Records, 1990) ****  

John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers  Road Dogs (CD, Eagle Records, 2005) *** 

Genre: Blues rock

Places I remember: Vinyl Countdown (New Plymouth

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Black Cat Moan

Gear costume: Road Dogs

Active compensatory factors: The nineties version of Mayall on A Sense Of Place is still remarkably full of passion and commitment. 

It features some spirited songs and in Black Cat Moan - one of his all time best. Only slight blemish is an okay version of Let's Work Together (best left to Canned Heat that one, John).

By 2005's Road Dogs the Mayall vocal chops are showing some signs of wear and tear and the songs aren't as memorable. Mayall has always taken an autobiographical position in a lot of his songs. They sometimes work and sometimes they don't. An even split in this set.

It all sounds like good late period Mayall blues which is still better than most white boy blues albums, but he's sounded more inspired elsewhere (before and since).

Where do they all belong? Yes, there's more to come when we return to the vinyl.

The maze (Herbie Hancock) (LP 1064-1068)

Herbie Hancock  Takin' Off (CD, Blue Note Records, 1962) *****

Herbie Hancock  My Point Of View (CD, Blue Note Records, 1963) ***  

Herbie Hancock  Inventions & Dimensions (CD, Blue Note Records, 1964) ****  

Herbie Hancock  Speak Like A Child (CD, Blue Note Records, 1968) ***  

Herbie Hancock  The Prisoner (CD, Blue Note Records, 1969) ****  

Genre: Jazz/ Jazz piano 

Places I remember: Fopp (Covent Garden)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: The Maze (Takin' Off)

Gear costume: Firewater (The Prisoner)

Active compensatory factors: I came across this five original album CD package on my visit to Fopp last Christmas. It's a brilliant collection of five early albums from Herbie's career in the sixties.

Takin' Off is amazing, and it's his debut album! Five stars all the way. A hard bop classic.

Of course, it's well known for Watermelon Man, but that's just one brilliant track of six. Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard contribute stellar performances.

Second album, My Point Of View, changes up the personnel and sets the pattern of change. A stable workforce was not for Herbie, no sure. 

Instead, each album presents different instruments, different feels and different textures. MPOV has Donald Byrd on trumpet and he's not my favourite trumpeter. 

Inventions and Dimensions is fascinating - basically just piano, bass and various drums/bongo/timbales etc. It's terrific!

Speak Like A Child introduces some non-traditional horns into the arrangements: fluegelhorn, bass trombone, alto flute. 

All that doesn't work as well for me, but The Prisoner from 1969 sees Herbie employing an expanded horn section to great effect.

Where do they all belong? A great five album set this. The Herbie corner is complete.

Majestic dance (Return To Forever) (LP 1061-1063)

Return To Forever  Romantic Warrior (Vinyl, Columbia Records, 1976) ****  

Return To Forever  Musicmagic (CD, Columbia Records, 1977) ***  

Return To Forever  Live (Vinyl, Columbia Records, 1978) *** 

Genre: Jazz fusion 

Places I remember: Vinyl from Amoeba Records (San Francisco); CD - Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant (Parts I and II) from Romantic Warrior

Gear costume: Sorceress (Romantic Warrior)

Active compensatory factors: Return To Forever is an unusual jazz fusion supergroup, in that they worked well and often from 1972 until 1978, before reconvening for live outings 32 years later!

What talent! Chick Corea - composer, keyboards; Stanley Clarke - composer, bass; Lenny White - composer, drums; and Al DiMeola - composer, guitars.

Phew! They also seemed to operate without rampant egos getting in the way. Admittedly, they each had burgeoning careers outside of Return To Forever, but when they came together they produced some exciting albums.

Here are three - their last three as it happens.

I was immediately drawn to Romantic Warrior when I saw it in a book of record covers. That image grabbed my attention, so I bought a copy while working at Marbecks. It was part of a cull at some point - I have no idea why, so I bought a new copy on a visit to San Francisco for our eldest daughter's wedding.

It's intense, challenging, but it's accessible and rewarding. It also speeds on by breathlessly. The individuals' trademark sounds are all there - Corea's bright keyboards, Clarke's funky fluid bass, DiMeola's rapid flurries, and White's peerless drumming.

Musicmagic was their final studio album and for me it's a mixed bag as it's only Corea and Clarke on board with a large supporting cast, including brass section and vocals from Corea and his wife (Gayle Moran), which I'm not too fond of it must be said.

The live album features the Musicmagic cast, as they were touring following that album. My copy is a single record, it's been released in expanded formats subsequently.

It's a beefer, more arresting collection than the Musicmagic studio album. Stanley Clarke in particular seems to thrive in the face to face live duels with the other musicians. The brass really sounds good too in the live setting. But those vocals are still featured and they still don't do much for me.

Where do they all belong? Anthologies are probably your best bet if new to the band, or else jump in with both feet for Romantic Warrior.

Up, jump, spring (Benny Golson) (LP 1060)

Benny Golson  Benny Golson Quartet (CD, LRC Ltd, 1990) ****  

Genre: Jazz 

Places I remember: Slow Boat Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Voyage

Gear costume: Stable Mates

Active compensatory factors: Benny started recording in my birth year - 1957, and remarkably was still performing at the highest level in 1990.

There is plenty to enjoy here - from the developing groove of opener Up, Jump, Spring to the extended flurries on Stable Mates finishes off the album superbly.

The only track I'm not that found of is Gypsy Jingle Jangle but that's just a matter of personal taste.

Where do they all belong? Proudly sits in the jazz collection along with the bigger names.

Where are we now? (David Bowie) (LP 1057-1059)

David Bowie  Heathen (CD, ISO/ Columbia Records, 2002) ***** 

David Bowie  The Next Day (CD, ISO/ Columbia Records, 2013) **** 

David Bowie  Blackstar (CD, Columbia Records, 2016) ***** 

Genre: Pop/ rock 

Places I remember: Vinyl Countdown; The Warehouse

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: (You Will) Set The World On Fire (The Next Day)

Gear costume: Everyone says "Hi" (Heathen); Lazarus (Blackstar) 

Active compensatory factors: I found the Bowie catalogue from the nineties onwards a bit of a blur until he re-emerged with The Next Day in 2013, and, of course I bought Blackstar after seeing the Lazarus video and after his death was announced a few days after he released the album.

Blackstar floored me. I'd enjoyed The Next Day and played it a few times in the years between it and Blackstar, but his final album is a whole nuther level of extraordinary on so many levels.

While Heathen is superb (I back tracked to that after realizing I'd missed a gem), as it stands as a culmination of all his powers to that point, Blackstar launches a whole new version of Bowie, and then he's gone.

His passing for me is like Lennon's. I can't believe we live on Earth without him.

For more years than Lennon, Bowie soundtracked my life off and on from 1971's Hunky Dory (one of my first purchases) until Blackstar in 2016. That is one amazing career in music, with music constantly evolving along the way and maintaining an unbelievable quality.

Where do they all belong? R.I.P. David. A one off.

I had a dream (Audience) (LP 1056)

Audience  The House On The Hill (CD and vinyl, Charisma Records, 1971) ***** 

Genre: Prog rock

Places I remember: Marbecks Records for the CD, Vinyl Countdown for the vinyl (Aussie pressing with inside black and white gatefold cover).

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Eye To Eye

Gear costume: Jackdaw 

Active compensatory factors: I have three albums by Audience in the prog section: Lunch (see Where do they all belong?); Reflection (a compilation); and now the one I've been after for a while - The House On The Hill.

This is the one. Great songs, expansive prog explorations/ songs and main man Howard Werth's excellent vocal presence. 

It really benefits from repeat plays because there's so much going on with sax, flute, guitars and the aforementioned vocals from Howard. It makes for a heady, rewarding album.

Where do they all belong? Along with Lunch, which I discussed here.

Shines on everyone (Evermore) (LP 1052-1055)

Evermore Dreams (CD, Warner Music, 2004) ***  

Evermore Real Life (CD, Warner Music, 2006) ****  

Evermore Truth Of The World - Welcome To The Show (CD, Warner Music, 2009) *** 

Evermore Follow The Sun (CD, Universal Music, 2012) ****  

Genre: NZ music; pop rock

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records; JB Hi Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: The Light Surrounding You (Real Life)

Gear costume: Running (Real Life), That's The Way (from Follow The Sun)

Active compensatory factors: Evermore shirted around boy band status in NZ for a few years 2004- 2006. The three brothers from Feilding are talented as all get out and they looked good doing it. 

Those first two albums are like Volume 1 and 2 in some regards. By Real Life they had their brand of anthemic pop really firing and the hits came thick and fast for a few years.

They then decided to do a concept album about the news of the world media industry and the seriousness of the subject matter kind of disguised some good songs. Not a success overall in my eyes, as it's hard to sustain interest over a whole concept album unless it's Thick As A Brick.

Fourth album, Follow The Sun, was a return to pop songs but the quality was more mature and hinted at some exciting developments. But at that point they split up. 

That was a real shame as there are many great moments on the album. No hits though - so maybe that was a factor. Plus, NZ is a small town and the lure of assisting others in other sonic adventures was clearly a lure as well.

Where do they all belong? The boys haven't released anything as Evermore since 2012. Instead they've been off doing their own things. I'd love it if they'd reunite at some point and record some more songs. Sure be a pity to waste all that talent.

I'm coming home (Lionel Richie) (LP 1051)

Lionel Richie  Coming Home (CD, Island Def Jam, 2006) *** 

Genre: Soul 

Places I remember: I usually know precisely where I got my CDs and records, but I'm drawing a blank on this one. I have a vague feeling I won it in a competition, but it might have come from Lindsay Hope's collection, or else a bequeath from someone else along the way.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: All Around The World

Gear costume: Stand Down (an awesome Lionel Richie take on reggae)

Active compensatory factors: A bit of a shock this, I know. I own not one, but two Lionel Richie solo albums (and a Commodores' Greatest Hits)! The other one is a Richie compilation (called Back To Front) which doesn't qualify for the collection countdown.

Yes, I can be a music snob at times, and Lionel could be considered a guilty pleasure of sorts. But he should be celebrated for what he is - a brilliant singer!

This album sees him refreshing his sound for the new millennium by employing whip smart young folks to modernize his sound. And for me it works big time!

The smooth soul sound is most welcome! That voice is so easy!

Where do they all belong? The compilation is a great place to start as it includes his big hits with the Commodores as well as his solo successes.