Arthur Lee [1945-2006] is looked upon in retrospect as a true 1960s rock visionary. He’s a fascinating combination of Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, Lenny Kravitz and Bob Dylan. His band Love, especially on ‘67’s Forever Changes, proved to be not only one of that year’s best albums, but has proven its timelessness over the decades. This is why the release of Black Beauty by Love in 2014 is reason to rejoice. Here, in all its psychedelic fury and soul, complete with jam-band glory, and prog-rock flourishes, is vintage Arthur Lee. Undaunted, unrestricted by genre limitations, forward-thinking and always with that rebel-yell of independence, Black Beauty is exactly that. Recorded in 1973, released finally in 2012 on vinyl, this is its CD premiere. Still looking for that one great rock album of 2014? This is it.
The best damn Christmas CD out there is It’s Christmas On Mack Avenue (Mack Avenue) because it’s so subtle. Rather than having to be tortured with the songs that are dusted off each year at this time, these various jazz artists combine for an hour of stunningly gorgeous interplay where, if spun as an environment enhancer, is absorbed through osmosis, the familiar melodies of, yes, those same songs that usually make me want to vomit, are almost there. They call it “re-imagined” versions. Like the interpretation of that great holiday favorite, “Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto” by James Brown wherein Christian McBride’s trio lists off the Philadelphia streets where Santa don’t dare go. Cyrille Aimee does “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” Hawaiian-style. Pianist Aaron Diehl does Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas. The Hot Club Of Detroit gets down gypsy-style with “Skating.” Diehl also chips in with “Christmas Star” by John Williams from the soundtrack to Home Alone. Subtle, man, subtle, that’s how I likes my holiday fare.
Country Music is dead. Long live country music. It’s just a matter of ignoring the crap and knowing what’s good. Sure, you can always go back a generation or two or three and listen to nothin’ but Waylon, Hank, Elvis, Tammy, Loretta, Conway, Lefty and Buck but they’re all dead. Nothing wrong with that (I’m always listening to dead people), but it’s hard to see ‘em in-concert. Enter Emma Hill all the way from Alaska to mend fences and farm the rich soil of a gorgeous tradition. “Denali,” on her own Kuskokwim record label, is her fifth. Fans of the real deal in the Lower 48 take heed. She’s a comin’! Hers is a folksy strain of country with alt leanings pureed through a trad blender and, yes, it is delicious.
Sing Out America: The Best Of Pete Seeger (Dynamic Nostalgia) is a two-disc 50-song set encapsulating the pioneering folk singer in a two-hour amalgam of all the songs you may know but don’t own. Therefore, for any self-respecting folk enthusiast, it’s a must. The Byrds popularized his “Turn Turn Turn.” The Civil Rights Movement co-opted his arrangement of “We Shall Overcome.” “If I Had A Hammer,” “Where Have All The Flowers Gone” and so many others came from him. Before he went solo, he headed The Weavers who had hits with songs written by Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie. Plus, hearing Pete sing “Erie Canal,” “Midnight Special,” “So Long (It’s Been Good To Know You),” “Wimoweh,” “When The Saints Go Marching In,” “Red River Valley,” “This Land Is Your Land,” “Oh Susanah,” “What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor” and “I’ve Been Working On The Railroad” put a smile on my face.
