Give me forty-three minutes and twenty seconds: Mixtape 01 is here

This is a project I have been thinking about ever since I started to collect the incredible mixes available over at ParisDJs.  And while those folks have mad performance skills behind the turntable, I have had to settle for a very deliberate (and slow) process of compilation and tweaking using Apple Logic 8.  I am, however quite pleased with the overall sequence, levels and imaging of the music.  I’ve only taken liberties to enliven some of the older recordings and keep overall volume constant.

The good folks at ParisDJs present their mixes as a single file, and I’ve done the same here.  In selecting these tracks, the only unifying theme was to have ‘all killer, no filler’, and hopefully to present you with things you mostly have not heard.  The selections span forty years and come from numerous styles (Jazz, Prog, Rock, Electronica, etc.) and regions (Canada, Brazil, France, India, UK, US, Poland, Sweden).  Future mixes will be more focused by genre and/or artist. There are definitely Zappa and Tangerine Dream mixes in the pipeline.

Feel free to stream over at mpomy.com (Hostrocket has hooked me up with LOTS of bandwith) or download and enjoy at your leisure.  Two of these titles are found on full length items posted at Blogerantz, so I’ve included the links.  Here’s what we got:

1.  Invocation/nonsense – Mpomy (2009)
2.  10538 Overture – Electric Light Orchestra (from The Electric Light Orchestra (No Answer) 1971)
3.  Get Your Snack On – Amon Tobin (from Supermodified 2000)
4.  Hummin’ – Cannonball Adderley (from The Country Preacher 1969)
5.  Willie – Cat Power (from FM broadcast of Cat Power & the Memphis Rhythm Band, Berlin June 11, 2006)
6.  Malandro Quando Vaza – The Ipanemas (from the collection Gilles Peterson Brazilika 2009)
7.  Transfert – Sylbat (from Mara 2008)
8.  Sunrise – SBB (from Iron Curtain 2009)
9.  On and On – Gungfly (from Please Be Quiet 2009)
10.  Pasanana’s Love – Trilok Gurtu (from broadcast (?) of North Sea Jazz Festival, July 2002)
11.  High Water (For Charley Patton) – Bob Dylan (from the collection Tell Tale Signs 2008, but the recording is from 2003)

As always, your feedback is appreciated. 

Here's the link:  Stick it in yer earhole!

James Booker with Jerry Garcia - Palo Alto Rehersals (1976) (mp3, 160kbps)

This is a nice, clear sounding recording of two monstrous talents jamming together.  I don't know the story of these shows, other than that in 1976 James Booker got to Palo Alto to play a few gigs with Jerry Garcia and his band.  And while Jerry obviously has a lot of respect for Booker's other-worldly boogie woogie, there are moments of disconnect - like when, after playing the song 'Classified' for about 9 minutes during these rehearsals (during which the title of the song is repeated numerous times in the refrain) Garcia says, "What do you call that?"  Huh?  You're jamming with James Booker and you don't know that song?

But it should all be forgiven for the opportunity to hear these two, not only jamming, but also sharing ideas during this unique rehearsal tape.  Booker teaches as he plays, and Garcia is tastefully restrained until the right moment.  I have a decent recording of on of the live shows which followed this rehearsal, and I will post that sometime, but the practice is even more fun as they work out the arrangements and jam in a more relaxed atmosphere.

1. Tico Tico (piano)
2. Tico Tico (organ)
3. Don't Try To Be Your Brother's Keeper
4. Don't Try To Be Your Brother's Keeper
5. Something You've Got
6. Something You've Got
7. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
8. Irene Goodnight
9. United, Our Thing Will Stand
10. Classified
11. Right Back Together (intro)
12. Right Back Together

The link is in the comments.

Steve Hackett - SHRP 09 (1983) (mp3, 160kbps)

Some live Hackett, as I'm trying to emphasize the strengths of my collection.  The SHRP (Steve Hackett Remastering Project) group does a nice job, and this is one of the best.  I'm not sure if this is an opening act, festival slot, or just an incomplete show, but a lot of the live Hackett you find from this area is short like this - under an hour.  But in that time, you have, not only exceptional sound quality, but pretty much everything you want to hear.  If nothing else, Hackett understands (and this seems to have always been the case) what his audience wants, and he gives it to them.

The high points are, well, ... they're all high points.  Narnia is nice, because that pretty much dropped out of the set a year or two later.  The Steppes, as always, hits like a ton of bricks.  This is basically my favorite Hackett song because it takes the genius of what he's doing at the end of Supper's Ready (w/ Genesis) and makes a whole song out of it.  Also, Hackett knows that the Moog Taurus bass pedals can never (and I mean NEVER) be too loud.  When this instrument is used correctly (go to a Musical Box show and you will see how that sounds) it can disintegrate the fillings in your teeth and rearrange internal organs.

Grand Casino - Montreux - July 13, 1980

Steve Hackett - Guitars
Dik Cadbury - Bass
Peter Hicks - Vocals
Nick Magnus - Keyboards
John Hacckett - Vocals / Flute / Bass pedals
John Shearer - Drums / percussion

1.  Slogans 05:24
2.  Every Day 07:49
3.  Spectral Mornings 06:33
4.  Time To Get Out 03:52
5.  The Steppes 06:35
6.  Narnia 04:48
7.  Acoustic Set 04:47
8.  Jacuzzi 05:37
9.  A Tower Struck Down 05:03
10.  Clocks 03:00

The link is in the comments.

Genesis - AV02 (1983) (mp3, 160kbps)

This one is for Phil.  Apparently, he's not going to be able to play drums anymore as a result of his long-standing back injury.  Well, I don't quite know what to say about that, but a lot of people have come back from a lot worse conditions, so don't necessarily count him out just yet.  In the meantime, I want to celebrate an incredible career behind the kit and otherwheres.

This is THE bootleg from the 'Mama' tour.  It may be 26 years ago, but it sounds like it was yesterday.  In fact, it sounds better than that.  It sounds like you are there.  It is certainly a better sounding recording than any sanctioned live record the band has ever released.

After all that praise, it should be noted that this is not a perfect selection.  The 'Mama' tour had highlights galore, and they are pretty much all here - but it also featured some of Genesis worst material ever.  'That's All' is simply a terrible song.  The 'Turn It On Again' medley is nothing short of embarrassing.  And while 'Afterglow' retains a lot of its emotion and punch, this tour is an example of Phil pushing the vocal too far for the finale - it ends up detracting from the song's beautiful simplicity.

But the good parts are SOOOOOO good.  'Home By The Sea' and 'Second Home', the whole 'In The Cage' medley and 'Los Endos' - these songs arguably never sounded better live.  And with the extraordinary A++ sound quality of this recording, those moments shine even brighter.

November 26, 1983 - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, PA (Pre-FM)

1.1 Dodo / Lurker 07:51
1.2 That's All 04:46
1.3 Abacab 09:06
1.4 Mama 07:20
1.5 Keep It Dark 05:33
1.6 Home By The Sea 05:16
1.7 Second Home By The Sea 06:47
2.1 In The Cage / Cinema Show / In That Quiet Earth / Slippermen 14:29
2.2 Afterglow 04:34
2.3 Drum Duet 03:08
2.4 Los Endos 06:26
2.5 Turn It On Again 09:03
2.6 Misunderstanding 04:02
2.7 Illegal Alien 05:30

The link is in the comments.

Albert King - Jammed Together (1969) (mp3, 320kbps)

Have I mentioned how much I love Albert King?  Have I mentioned how he's THE guy that put it all together for me?  How, when I heard his playing, it was like everything in the whole world all of the sudden made sense?  Have I mentioned that before?  I guess I kinda have, but I'm doing it again!

This is a great set because it matches big Albert with the soulful voice and vibrato guitar of Pops Staples (of the Staples Singers) and the rock solid fundamentals of ("HIT IT") Steve Cropper.  This is more than an Albert King record - this is a Stax record.  And it is all good.

1. What'd I Say
2. Tupelo
3. Opus De Soul
4. Baby What You Want Me To Do
5. Big Bird
6. Homer's Theme
7. Trashy Dog
8. Don't Turn Your Heater Down
9. Water
10. Knock On Wood

The link is in the comments.