Discography Year Two - Week 28

If things go as schedule Cyndi are going to have one of those insane days which defines travel.  We're going to wake up in Petra, probably a little blurry, after two days in the Wadi Rum and then two more exploring Petra.  Then we'll head north, stopping to swim in the Dead Sea, and finally making it back to Amman in the evening for one last meal (at the Al Quds Restaurant if I have any say) before being whisked to the airport for the endless flight back home.  Oh, and we'll see some of you on Monday.

Here's celebrating my valued colleague, dear friend, and titular little sister Cyndi Brandenburg, one part scientist and one mountain goat.

Doubtless the trip to Petra will include at least one adult scholarly beverage at the Cave Bar, which, well, defines itself.

Dave Wallace

Them - It's All Over Now Baby Blue

I'm going through a bit of a Dylan phase, and I probably should post a song by the man himself, but I'm a bit intimidated at the thought of following up on Gary Beatrice's epic post about Dylan in the first year of the blog.  Instead, I'm going with one of my favorite Dylan covers, It's All Over Now, Baby Blue by Them.  Them was Van Morrison's first band before he went on to his wildly-influential solo career.  Not surprisingly, Morrison just kills it on the track, and the atmospheric keyboards are the perfect complement to his vocals.

Kevin Andrews

Of course, Duane is Greggs brother. Duane died in a motorcycle accident in 1971, three blocks away from and 13 months before Allman Brothers bassist Berry Oakley died in a motorcycle accident. At least he didn’t live to see his brother marry Cher. Rolling Stone originally rated him #2 in their list of top 100 guitarists. They later moved him to #9. No doubt after complaints from Van Halen fans. I hate those lists.

Before the brothers formed a band, Greg was the go-to studio guitarist in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He recorded with Aretha Franklin, Wilson Picket, Percy Sledge, and Boz Scaggs among others.  Eric Clapton called his performance with Wilson Picket the best rock guitar on an R and B song he’s ever heard (or something like that). The solo sounds a bit cliche to me, but it was 1969. 

You can easily find his performances with his brother and the band, and they’re excellent. Here he is with Aretha and Wilson.

Phillip Seiler

Ultra Vivid Scene

Staring at the Sun

I seem to be in an early 90s rut but one must follow one's muse and that seems to be where I am now. 

Ultra Vivid Scene is the band name for musician and artist Kurt Ralske that he used in the early 90s. They/He put out a few albums but never really captured enough of an audience to survive. It's a shame as Kurt had great pop sensibilities as one can hear on the track I have shared, Staring at the Sun. Under 3 minutes with a wonderful hook right at the start, Kurt's breathless lyrics, all driven by a solid, insistent drum beat. It's just a beautiful little pop song with enough pieces to make it timeless and yet totally of the time in came from.

Dave Kelley

"Blues is My Business"   Little Steven

Consigliare to Bruce AND Tony Soprano, member of E Street and The Jukes, founder of The Underground Garage, writer and producer of so much great music, and an activist always on the side of the angels.  Not too fucking bad Stevie!

This cover of an old tune written for Etta James is on his last record.  He rarely gets to step out on guitar in E Street, but a listen to this shows the man has serious chops.  Throw in a great band, horns, and a bunch of backup singers and you get something blog worthy.

Gary Scudder

Bill Evans, Time Remembered

Why this was not the official theme of my two years of witless reflections on Proust's Remembrance of Things Past is beyond me.  Time Remembered originally appeared on an album of the same name, which has appeared in a confusing array of forms on album and CD, although this version is from the album Unknown Session (which I think was also the title of my dissertation defense).  In addition, it's also the name of a documentary on Evans.  It's a song I love, and it also seems like a nice selection as CB and I, inshallah, wake up in Petra and begin our long trek back to the unreal world.

A view of the Monastery from the souvenir shop at the end of the world.