Critical Junctions

Californication - Red Hot Chilli Peppers

2009-06-24T18:32:00.000+01:00

1999 saw the release of The Red Hot Chili Peppers seventh studio album "Californication", an album that brought loyal fans back to the fold after the mixed reaction to its predecessor "One Hot Minute", as well as winning the band armies of new followers. It has currently sold over fifteen million copies worldwide, making it the band's most successful album to date. More importantly it also saw the return of ex-guitarist John Frusiante, who had left the band in 1992 while the group were in the middle of touring 91's "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" release.
The record was a change of style for the Chili Peppers, especially compared to "One Hot Minute". Although "Californication" still contained elements of their once unique "punk funk" sound, it leaned towards more melodic riffs (for example, "Scar Tissue" and "Otherside") and focused on songs with structure rather than jam sessions.

"Around the World"
"Parallel Universe"
"Scar Tissue"
"Otherside"
"Get on Top"
"Californication"
"Easily"
"Porcelain"
"Emit Remmus"
"I Like Dirt"
"This Velvet Glove"
"Savior"
"Purple Stain"
"Right on Time"
"Road Trippin'"

Figure 8 - Elliot Smith

2009-06-11T08:55:00.002+01:00

Released in 2000 Figure 8 was Elliot Smith's 5th Studio album and the last before his death.

Never the most upbeat of men, Smith manages on this album to smile his way through the melancholy. This may have more to do with the fine lush arangements and studio craftsmanship of the album than to any change in Elliots disposition.

Highlights include Son of Sam, Pretty Mary K, Everything Reminds Me Of Her and Wouldn't Mamma Be Proud.

It's as close to pop muisc as Smith ever came, and a sad reminder of what music and the world lost with his death.
Track Listing

"Son of Sam" – 3:04
"Somebody That I Used to Know" – 2:09
"Junk Bond Trader" – 3:49
"Everything Reminds Me of Her" – 2:37
"Everything Means Nothing to Me" – 2:24
"L.A." – 3:14
"In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost" – 4:32
"Stupidity Tries" – 4:23
"Easy Way Out" – 2:44
"Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?" – 3:25
"Color Bars" – 2:19
"Happiness/The Gondola Man" – 5:04
"Pretty Mary K" – 2:36
"I Better Be Quiet Now" – 3:35
"Can't Make a Sound" – 4:18
"Bye" – 1:53

"The Jungle Book" Original Soundtrack

2009-06-03T18:13:00.000+01:00

The soundtrack to the 1967 Disney film “The Jungle Book”, about a feral child named Mowgli and based on stories from the book of the same name written by Rudyard Kipling, is a mixture of old-fashioned classical and jazz music and contains a number of much-loved songs, including “The Bare Necessities” and “I Wan’na Be Like You”.
Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, it was the last to be produced by Walt Disney, who died during the making of the film. Sterling Holloway provides just one of the many recognisable voices in his role as Kaa the python (he was also the voice of Winnie the Pooh in the Walt Disney featurettes), along with Bruce Reitherman, son of director Wolfgang. However, it is Phil Harris, the voice of everyone’s favorite hip bear Baloo, who steals the show with the slacker anthem, “The Bare Necessities”, but his scat match with legendary jazz trumpeter Louis Prima on “I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)” is also not to be missed.
Most of the songs featured in the film were written by the Sherman Brothers, Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, whose other numerous Disney and non-Disney credits include “The Aristocats”, “The Parent Trap”, “Bedknobs & Broomsticks”, “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”. Longtime Disney collaborator Terry Gilkyson was originally brought in to write the songs for “The Jungle Book” and delivered several finished pieces, but Walt Disney felt that his efforts were too dark and kept too true to Kipling’s book. The Sherman Brothers were brought in to do a complete rewrite, on the condition that they not read Rudyard Kipling’s book. The only piece of Gilkyson’s work that survived to the final film was “The Bare Necessities”, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1967 but lost out to “Talk To The Animals” from “Doctor Doolittle”.
The four vultures featured in the movie were originally based on The Beatles and were to be voiced by the band. However, due to problems with their schedule, this didn’t happen, but the moptop haircuts and Liverpudlian accents remained.

1. Overture
2. Baby
3. Colonel Hathi’s March (The Elephant Song)
4. The Bare Necessities
5. I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)
6. Monkey Chase
7. Tell Him
8. Colonel Hathi’s March (Reprise)
9. Jungle Beat
10. Trust in Me (The Python’s Song)
11. What’cha Wanna Do
12. That’s What Friends Are For (The Vulture Song)
13. Tiger Fight
14. Poor Bear
15. My Own Home (The Jungle Book Theme)
16. The Bare Necessities (Reprise)

With the re-released version also including;
17. Interview with the Sherman brothers
18. Baloo’s Blues
19. It’s a Kick
20. Brother’s All (Demo Recording)
21. The Song of the Seeonee (Demo Recording)

Cast:
Bruce Reitherman- Mowgli
Phil Harris- Baloo the bear
Sebastian Cabot- Bagheera the panther
Louis Prima- King Louie the ape
George Sanders- Shere Khan the tiger
Sterling Holloway- Kaa the python
J. Pat O'Malley- Colonel Hathi the elephant/Buzzie the vulture
Verna Felton- Winifred, Colonel Hathi's wife
Clint Howard- Junior, Colonel Hathi's son
Chad Stuart- Flaps the vulture
Lord Tim Hudson- Dizzie the vulture
John Abbott- Akela the wolf
Ben Wright- Father Wolf
Darleen Carr- the Human Girl

Let Love In - Nick Cave

2009-05-27T20:35:00.004+01:00

“Let Love In” is the eighth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in April 1994. It contains all of the elements that make Cave and his band great; love, death, the blues, booze and murder, and yet it is also more accessible than some of their other work. Although several masterpieces of gothic imagery abound, this album, for the most part, focuses on love.
The two versions of “Do You Love Me?” star as the bread in this dark musical sandwich, a chilling look at child prostitution and reportedly based on what Cave observed while living in Brazil. The compulsory piano-led love ballad of course also features in the form of “Nobody’s Baby”. “Jangling Jack” is a cheerful tale of death and bar-room brawling. “Lay Me Low” sees Cave musing on his eventual end with his own unique irony and black humour. “Loverman”, with its demonic fury, is perhaps best known by many as one of the stand-out tracks from Metallica’s “Garage Inc.” covers album. The (nearly) title track, “I Let Love In”, paints a bleak picture of the darkness, pain and frustrations that often accompany the most overused word in any song; ‘love’. The album’s highlight is easily the creepily-catchy “Red Right Hand”. Cave’s songs have been sadder on some albums, or have been grubbier in production on others, but on the whole “Let Love In” hasn’t been bettered. Cave is on searing form both lyrically and vocally, and the Bad Seeds have never sounded this electrifying. Flooded with emotions, this album is hard-hitting, powerful and reveals all its charms and nuances after repeated listens. If ever there was a record that will lead you to pursue other releases in an artist’s catalogue, this is the one.

“Do You Love Me?” – 5:56
“Nobody’s Baby Now” – 3:52
“Loverman” – 6:21
“Jangling Jack” – 2:47
“Red Right Hand”– 6:10
“I Let Love In” – 4:14
“Thirsty Dog” – 3:48
“Ain't Gonna Rain Anymore” – 3:46
“Lay Me Low” – 5:08
“Do You Love Me? (Part 2)” – 6:12

Madness - One Step Beyond

2009-05-20T12:45:00.001+01:00

Released in 1979 the début album by Madness does exactly what it says on the tin

Track Listing

"One Step Beyond" - 2:18 (Campbell)
"My Girl" - 2:44 (Barson)
"Night Boat to Cairo" - 3:31 (Barson, McPherson)
"Believe Me" - 2:28 (Barson, Hasler)
"Land of Hope and Glory" - 2:57 (Foreman, Thompson)
"The Prince" - 3:18 (Thompson)
"Tarzan's Nuts" - 2:24 (Barson)
"In the Middle of the Night" - 3:01 (McPherson, Foreman)
"Bed and Breakfast Man" - 2:33 (Barson)
"Razor Blade Alley" - 2:42 (Thompson)
"Swan Lake" - 2:36 (Tchaikovsky arr. Barson)
"Rockin' in A-flat" - 2:29 (Wurlitzer)
"Mummy's Boy" - 2:23 (Bedford)
"Madness" - 2:38 (Campbell)
"Chipmunks Are Go!" - 0:51 (Smyth)

There Goes Rhymin' Simon - Paul Simon

2009-05-13T11:31:00.004+01:00

Released in 1973 a mere 16 months after his debut solo album, There Goes Rhymin' Simon was the best thing Paul Simon would do until Graceland in 1986.

There is a big rhythm and blues influence on the record with gospel singers performing on tracks such as Love Me Like A Rock and Tenderness.

St Judy's Comet is a beautiful lullaby while the big statement on the record is American Tune. Its Simon's very own state of the union address.

Kodachrome, Something So Right and of course Love Me Like A Rock all flesh out the very fine music on one of Paul Simon's best works.

All in all There Goes Rhymin' Simon is an upbeat, positive album, full of optimism and romance - all the things we have come to expect from a Paul Simon album.

Track List

Kodachrome – 3:32
Tenderness – 2:53
Take Me to the Mardi Gras – 3:27
Something So Right – 4:33
One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor - 3:44
American Tune – 3:43
Was a Sunny Day – 3:41
Learn How to Fall – 2:44
St. Judy's Comet – 3:19
Loves Me Like a Rock – 3:31

Invisible Touch - Genesis

2009-04-29T21:33:00.001+01:00

Released in 1986, Invisible Touch went straight to number one and spent 96 weeks in the charts. I could waffle on about the significance of the album, and what it did for Genesis, however I feel its best to turn to fictional psychopath Patrick Bateman to more eloquently describe it for you all.

"I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as, uh, anything I've heard in rock. "

Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)

Track Listing

"Invisible Touch" (lyrics: Phil Collins) – 3:27
"Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" (lyrics: Phil Collins) – 8:53
"Land of Confusion" (lyrics: Mike Rutherford) – 4:45
"In Too Deep" (lyrics: Phil Collins) – 4:58
"Anything She Does" (lyrics: Tony Banks) – 4:07
"Domino" (lyrics: Tony Banks) – 10:42
- "In the Glow of the Night"
- "The Last Domino"
"Throwing It All Away" (lyrics: Mike Rutherford) – 3:49
"The Brazilian" (instrumental) – 4:49

Electric Warrior - T-Rex

2009-04-22T12:39:00.005+01:00

Glam rock never sounded or looked so cool as it did in 1971 when T-Rex released their sixth studio album, Electric Warrior.

Glam Rock is often seen as disposable, bubble gum pop with a few guitars thrown in, not so here. Electric Warrior has stood the test of time, partly due to Toni Visconti's careful production and the back to basics song writing of Mark Bloand.

There are a couple of big hitter on the album, Get It On, Jeepster and Cosmic Dancer however it holds little gems inside too such as Rip Off, Monolth and Girl.

The album sleeve was designed by British art design group Hipgnosis is pure cool, and years ahead of itself.

Electric Warrior is the beginning of the dark party of the seventies distilled in an album, Get it On? Don't mind if I do!

Track List

"Mambo Sun" – 3:40
"Cosmic Dancer" – 4:30
"Jeepster" – 4:12
"Monolith" – 3:49
"Lean Woman Blues" – 3:02
"Get It On" – 4:27
"Planet Queen" – 3:13
"Girl" – 2:32
"The Motivator" – 4:00
"Life's a Gas" – 2:24
"Rip Off" – 3:40

Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

2009-04-15T14:42:00.005+01:00

Easily the most modern album we have featured on Critical Junctions. Back to Black was realised in 2006 and saw Amy Winehouse catapulted to fame for good and bad. We here on Live Drive are not part of a tabloid institution and will not waste what little time we have on the trivialities of Miss Winehouse's personal life. So on with the music.

Never has a modern artist come so close to re imagining the Motown sound so well as on Back to Black. Produced by Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi the album saw Amy move away from her Jazz side into a more R&B sound. It suited her perfectly. 7 singles were culled from the album including Rehab, Love Is A Losing Game and the jaw dropping Tears Dry On Their Own

She may say No, No, No but we say Yes Yes Yes and its this weeks Critical Junction

Track Listing

1. Rehab
2. You Know I'm No Good
3. Me and Mr Jones
4. Just Friends
5. Back to Black
6. Love is a Losing Game
7. Tears Dry on Their Own
8. Wake up Alone
9. Some Unholy War
10. He Can Only Hold Her

Violator - Depeche Mode

2009-04-08T07:44:00.004+01:00

In a week where Depeche Mode are Fartist it's only fitting that we should feature one of their albums on Critical Junctions.
In 1990 Depeche Mode released their seventh studio album, Violator and finally gained international superstardom. Yeilding four singles, Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence, Policy Of Truth and World In My Eyes, the album achieved huge critical acclaim and is on the Rolling Stones top 500 albums of all time list and is featured in the book 1001 albums you must hear before you die.

Track Listing
"World in My Eyes" – 4:26
"Sweetest Perfection" – 4:43
"Personal Jesus" – 4:56
"Halo" – 4:30
"Waiting for the Night" – 6:07
"Enjoy the Silence" – 6:12
"Interlude #2 - Crucified" – 1:42 (hidden song starting at 4:30)
"Policy of Truth" – 4:55
"Blue Dress" – 5:41
"Interlude #3" – 1:23 (hidden song starting at 4:18)
"Clean" – 5:28

Closer - Joy Division

2009-04-01T17:46:00.002+01:00

Joy Division’s second and final album “Closer” was posthumously released on July 18th, 1980, two months after the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis. Produced by Martin Hannett, who also produced the band’s debut album “Unknown Pleasures”, its sound has been described as being lusher and more sombre than its predecessor, with more use of synthesizers and studio effects. Many of its songs have a despairing, funeral feel, with its cover art appearing to reflect this, although it was chosen by English graphic designer Peter Saville before he had heard any of the music; both the photo and the bleakness of the music and lyrics amplified the already strong mystique surrounding the album after Curtis’s suicide.

The opening track, “Atrocity Exhibition”, shares its name with “The Atrocity Exhibition” by British author J.G. Ballard, one of Curtis’s favourite books. Several of the songs on “Closer” are dominated by a down-tempo vibe and droning synthesisers, such as the albums’ final two tracks “The Eternal” and “Decades”. The band’s reverberating combination of minor-key lines and Curtis’s tremorous bass voice are grim enough on their own, and the lyrics reveal references to blacker-than-black stories by Ballard and Polish novelist Joseph Conrad. Keyboards are featured predominately on four of the album’s nine tracks, a trend that would follow the remaining members of the band into its later incarnation, New Order. The confessional “Isolation”, “A Means to an End”and “Heart and Soul” paint a picture of ever-growing bleakness; broken dreams and lost love. This peaks with “Twenty Four Hours”, a song of dreams lost to destiny, leading right into a pair of slow, gentle, requiem-like songs; “The Eternal” and “Decades”. The lyrics to “The Eternal” suggest Curtis might have been envisioning his funeral, while “Decades” suggests someone looking back over a life that ended all too soon, a tragedy which befell Curtis a mere two months before this album’s release.
“Closer” is desolate yet hauntingly beautiful. Arguments will more than likely continue until the end of time as to whether it was Joy Division, Bauhaus, or even Siouxsie and the Banshees who first turned punk on its head and in doing so created goth, but by 1980 the movement was clearly visible and “Closer” may just be the first great goth record.

1. “Atrocity Exhibition”
2. “Isolation”
3. “Passover”
4. “Colony”
5. “A Means to an End”
6. “Heart and Soul”
7. “Twenty Four Hours”
8. “The Eternal”
9. “Decades”

A Night At The Opera - Queen

2009-03-24T13:41:00.011Z

Queen's 1975 masterpiece, A Night At The Opera is over blown, pompous and absolutely fantastic.

It manages to straddle the worlds of 70's metal, prog rock and pop and make them all sound as if they were born to played together.

Produced by RoyThomas Baker and Queen the result is impeccable. The production is perfect in every way. Added to this the sheer delight Queen have in playing with every song makes this album stand heads above anything prog music was creating at the time.

I won't go through each track but needless to say they are streets ahead of the usual rock muck shovelled out throughout the 1970's.

Track Listing

"Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to..." (Freddie Mercury) – 3:43
"Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" (Mercury) – 1:07
"I'm in Love with My Car" (Roger Taylor) – 3:04
"You're My Best Friend" (John Deacon) – 2:52
"'39" (Brian May) – 3:30
"Sweet Lady" (May) – 4:03
"Seaside Rendezvous" (Mercury) – 2:14
"The Prophet's Song" (May) – 8:20
"Love of My Life" (Mercury) – 3:38
"Good Company" (May) – 3:23
"Bohemian Rhapsody" (Mercury) – 5:54
"God Save the Queen" (trad.; Arr. May) – 1:13

The Wizard of Oz - Origional Soundtrack

2009-03-11T11:46:00.009Z

We're off to see the wizard!

Sign ☮' the Times - Prince

2009-03-11T11:32:00.014Z

“Sign O’ The Times”, released on March 31st, 1987, was Prince’s first solo album following his departure from The Revolution. Originally put together as a three-LP album entitled “Crystal Ball”, the musician was forced by his record company to pare it down pre-release, the result of this being a double album that quickly became widely regarded as Prince’s masterpiece. Though selling modestly, somewhat akin to “Parade”, “Sign O’ The Times” was almost universally applauded by critics and fans and has since been frequently identified as Prince’s finest album, and a standard of comparison for all of his albums to follow.

“Sign O’ The Times” wasn’t exactly the historic merger of rock and R&B that the world had been expecting. Instead, it plays like the ultimate mix-tape as Prince jumps from genre to genre, from the grinding, house music-inspired funk prototype rap of “Housequake” to the sweet pop fare of “Starfish And Coffee”. Yet the man’s singular outlook can constantly be identified and as varied as the music gets, that outlook works as a uniting factor. Thematically, “Sign O’ The Times” covers the depressing state of the world in the title track, party funk in “Housequake”, sexual lust in “It”, and spiritual enlightenment in “The Cross”. “Sign O’ The Times” was regarded as ‘less polished’ than Prince’s earlier efforts. However, the double album was also Prince’s most diverse release to date, featuring such a wide array of musical styles; rock, pop, soul and funk, with dance, electronic, and jazz also thrown in for good measure. The album marked a return to Prince’s self-contained recording process, with the artist performing and arranging almost all of the music single-handedly. As a result, many of the tracks have a sparser, more funk-oriented, sometimes more electronic feel than Prince’s previous recordings with The Revolution. In addition to the album’s eclecticism, many have labelled the record as one of Prince’s most adventurous, with minimalist, experimental arrangements on songs like “Housequake”, “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker”, and “Forever in My Life”.

Widely heralded as ground breaking at the time of its release, some of the 80s-style synthesisers sound a little dated. Yet it is clearly the sound of a performer at the height of his career. On songs like the title track, “If I Was Your Girlfriend” and “The Cross”, Prince proves why the hype was justified and made an album that reflected his evolving musical vision rather than the Revolution’s signature sound, though that sound does still rear its head occasionally on “Sign O’ The Times”, particularly on “Play In The Sunshine”. “Sign O’ The Times” is undoubtedly among the apexes of Prince’s career. Every track has a unique charm and even the less obvious ones are growers. It has been said many times that “Sign O’ The Times” would have made a fantastic single album but those that take the time to properly listen will discover a truly amazing double album.

Track Listing:

Disc 1:

1. “Sign O’ the Times”

2. “Play In the Sunshine”

3. “Housequake”

4. “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker”

5. “It”

6. “Starfish and Coffee”

7. “Slow Love”

8. “Hot Thing”

9. “Forever In My Life”

Disc 2:

1. “You Got The Look”

2. “If I Was Your Girlfriend”

3. “Strange Relationship”

4 . “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man”

5 “The Cross”

6. “It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night”

7. “Adore”

Blues Brothers Origional Soundtrack

2009-03-04T11:12:00.004Z

"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses, Hit it!"

1980 John Landis, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd got together and took a Saturday Night Live Sketch and made it into one of the great musical comedies of all time The Blues Brothers.

The cult film is jam packed with stars of both stage and screen (a full list of cast members can be found at the bottom of this post). Yet the real hit is the music. Almost every track is a stand out and the album is not only fun but excellent to boot.

Aretha Franklin storms her way through Think, Gimme Some Lovin and Everybody Needs Somebody to Love are superbly done by Jake and Elroy Blues. Let alone Cab Calloways Minnie the Moocher.

As sound tracks go this is one of the finest, on a mission from god indeed!

Track Listing:

"She Caught the Katy" (Taj Mahal, Rachell) – 4:10
- The Blues Brothers with lead vocals by Jake Blues
"Peter Gunn Theme" (Mancini) – 3:46
- The Blues Brothers Band
"Gimme Some Lovin'" (S. Winwood, M. Winwood, Davis) – 3:06
- The Blues Brothers with Jake Blues, lead vocals
"Shake a Tail Feather" (Hayes, Williams, Rice) – 2:48
- Ray Charles with the Blues Brothers (Jake and Elwood, backing vocals)
"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" (Wexler, Berns, Burke) – 3:21
- The Blues Brothers (Jake Blues, lead vocals; Elwood Blues, harmonica and vocals)
"The Old Landmark" (Brunner) – 2:56
- James Brown and the Rev. James Cleveland Choir (additional choir vocals by Chaka Khan credited in the film)
"Think" (White, Franklin) – 3:13
- Aretha Franklin and the Blues Brothers with backing vocals by Brenda Corbett, Margaret Branch and Carolyn Franklin (real-life sister of Aretha) and Jake and Elwood
"Theme from Rawhide" (Tiomkin) – 2:37
- Elwood and Jake and the Blues Brothers Band
"Minnie the Moocher" (Calloway, Mills) – 3:23
- Cab Calloway with the Blues Brothers Band
"Sweet Home Chicago" (Johnson) – 7:48
- Dedicated to the musician Magic Sam
"Jailhouse Rock" (Leiber, Stoller) – 3:19
- Jake Blues and the Blues Brothers (Over the closing credits in the film, verses are sung by James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and "crew".

Blues Brothers Band:

"Joliet" Jake E. Blues – vocals
Elwood J. Blues – harmonica, vocals
Steve "The Colonel" Cropper – lead and rhythm guitar (former Booker T & the M.G.'s)
Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass guitar (former Booker T & the M.G.'s)
Murphy Dunne – keyboards (brought in to act in the film due to Paul Shaffer's commitment to perform with Gilda Radner in Gilda Live!, Toured with the band in the summer of 1980)
Willie "Too Big" Hall – drums, percussion (formerly of the Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes' band, appears in the movie)
Steve "Getdwa" Jordan – drums, percussion (Saturday Night Live Band, appears only on the albums)
Tom "Bones" Malone – trombone, trumpet, saxophone (Saturday Night Live Band)
"Blue" Lou Marini – saxophone (Saturday Night Live Band)
Matt "Guitar" Murphy – lead and rhythm guitar (Howlin' Wolf, other artists)
Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin – trumpet (Saturday Night Live Band)
Paul "The Shiv" Shaffer – keyboards, arranger
Tom "Triple Scale" Scott – saxophone (doesn't appear in the movie, though his saxophone can still be heard on the soundtrack)

Cast of the film

Cab Calloway as Curtis
Carrie Fisher as Mystery Woman
Aretha Franklin as Mrs. Murphy
Ray Charles as Ray
James Brown as Reverend Cleophus James
John Candy as Burton Mercer
Kathleen Freeman as Sister Mary Stigmata, "The Penguin"
Henry Gibson as Head Nazi
Steve Lawrence as Maury Sline
Twiggy as Chic Lady
Frank Oz as Corrections Officer
Jeff Morris as Bob
Sheilah Wells as Claire
Charles Napier as Tucker McElroy
Steven Williams as Trooper Mount
Armand Cerami as Trooper Daniel
Chaka Khan as Choir soloist
John Lee Hooker as musician on Maxwell Street
John Landis as State trooper
Stephen Bishop as State trooper
Joe Walsh as Prisoner
Paul Reubens as Chez Paul waiter
Steven Spielberg as Cook County Assessor's Office Clerk
Layne Britton as The Cheese Wiz
Joe Cuttone as Lloyd
Toni Fleming as Mrs. Tarantino
Carolyn Franklin, Brenda Bryant Corbett, and Margaret Branch as Soul Food Chorus.

Dance The Devil - The Frames

2009-02-25T13:10:00.005Z

The third studio album from The Frame s saw them pick up where they left off after 1996's Fitzcarraldo. More of the same I hear you say! Well yes and no, its still the sound of a happy go lucky Irish Wilco but now with a generous helping of The Pixies and the wonderful Deus. Yet it also has more mature and rounded song writing on it, we see once more on Dance The Devil the ever growing potential of this Irish band.

Stand out tracks are, the irrepressible Pavement Tune and the soft melodic Star Star. God Bless Mom and Rent Day Blues are more fine examples of The Frames penmanship.

Track Listing

"Perfect Opening Line"
"Seven Day Mile"
"Pavement Tune"
"Plateau"
"Star Star**"
"The Stars are Underground"
"God Bless Mom"
"Rent Day Blues"
"Hollocaine"
"Neath the Beeches"
"Dance the Devil Back into his Hole"

Tuesday Night Music Club - Sheryl Crow

2009-02-19T06:43:00.005Z

Released in 1993, Sheryl Crow's debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club was named after a loose colection of musicians who met once a week to write the album with Crow. However after the success of the album there was the ineveitbale acrimonious break up of the group over songwriting credits.

The album is packed with hits, Run Baby Run, Leaving Las Vegas and the monster, All I Wana Do. Selling 7.6 million copies in the nineties and winnig three Grammy's it launched Crows career and changed Tuesdays for ever.

Track Listing:

1. Run, Baby, Run
2. Leaving Las Vegas
3. Strong Enough
4. Can't Cry Anymore
5. Solidify
6. The Na-Na Song
7. No One Said It Would Be Easy
8. What I Can Do For You
9. All I Wanna Do
10. We Do What We Can
11. I Shall Believe

The Tueday Night Music Club Members:

Sheryl Crow
David Baerwald
Bill Bottrell
Kevin Gilbert
David Ricketts
Dan Schwartz
Brian MacLeod

The Wall - Pink Floyd

2009-02-12T06:42:00.005Z

1979, Pink Floyd, The Wall

Narcistic physchedelic rock opera, about a dissilusioned rock star named Pink, ok so it's not exactly subtle. Not content with talking about himself, Roger Waters also has a swipe at the British education system, groupies, drugs, and World War II. All spread over an unnecessary 4 sides of vinyl!

Track listing

Side one

1."In the Flesh?" 3:19
2."The Thin Ice" 2:27
3."Another Brick in the Wall (Part 1)" 3:21
4."The Happiest Days of Our Lives" 1:46
5."Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" 4:00
6."Mother" 5:36

Side two

1."Goodbye Blue Sky" 2:45
2."Empty Spaces" 2:10
3."Young Lust" 3:25
4."One of My Turns" 3:35
5."Don't Leave Me Now" 4:16
6."Another Brick in the Wall (Part 3)" 1:14
7."Goodbye Cruel World" 1:13

Side three

1."Hey You" 4:40
2."Is There Anybody Out There?" 2:44
3."Nobody Home" 3:26
4."Vera" 1:35
5."Bring the Boys Back Home" 1:21
6."Comfortably Numb" 6:24

Side four

1."The Show Must Go On" 1:36
2."In the Flesh" 4:13
3."Run Like Hell" 4:19
4."Waiting for the Worms" 4:04
5."Stop" 0:30
6."The Trial" 5:13
7."Outside the Wall" 1:41

IV - Led Zeppelin

2009-02-04T12:57:00.002Z

Led Zeppelin’s fourth album was released on November 8th, 1971. No official title is printed anywhere on the album, and it is generally referred to as “IV” after the band’s previous three numbered albums. It is also known as “Zoso” (which the first of the four symbols that feature on the album cover appears to spell), “Sticks” and “Runes”, to name but a few.

After the lukewarm critical reaction Led Zeppelin’s “III” had received in the autumn of 1970 (the media labeled the band as “hyped and overrated”), Jimmy Page decided that the next Led Zeppelin album would not have a title, but would instead feature four hand-drawn symbols on the inner sleeve, each chosen by a band member to represent themselves. “We decided that on the fourth album, we would deliberately play down the group name, and there wouldn’t be any information whatsoever on the outer jacket”, Page explained at the time. “Names, titles and things like that do not mean a thing.” Page designed his own symbol. Sometimes referred to as “Zoso”, he has explained that it was not in fact intended to be a word at all. John Bonham’s symbol, the three interlocking rings, was picked by the drummer from Rudolph Koch’s Book of Signs and represents the trinity of mother, father and child. John Paul Jones’ symbol, chosen from the same book, is a single circle intersecting three vesica piscis (a triquetra) and symbolises a person who possessing both confidence and competence. Robert Plant’s symbol was his own design and is based on the sign of the ancient Mu civilization. There is also a fifth, smaller symbol chosen by guest vocalist Fairport Convention frontwoman Sandy Denny representing her contribution to “The Battle of Evermore”; it appears in the credits list on the inner sleeve of the LP and is shaped like three triangles touching at their points.

At one time, “IV” was going to be released as four separate EPs, but because of various delays a single album was produced. Upon its release, “IV” was a huge commercial and critical success and turned the band from simple superstars into giant behemoths of the rock world. On tracks like “Black Dog”, “Misty Mountain Hop”, and “Rock and Roll”, the combination of Robert Plant’s banshee wails and Jimmy Page’s frenetic guitar playing forever altered the template for hard rock music. The foreboding “When The Levee Breaks” demonstrated that Zeppelin could play the blues straight if they felt like it, the opening drum beat of which has become one of the most sampled drum tracks ever. Yet everything on the album ultimately took a back seat to its magnum opus; the classic “Stairway to Heaven”. Jimmy Page was a top London studio guitarist before he got rich and famous as the musical leader of Led Zeppelin. Arguably the group’s finest album, “IV” is as much a tribute to his technique as a monument to his versatility. Page produced the album, co-wrote all eight songs, and played mandolin as well as all the guitars. Musically, it ranges from acoustic English folke (“Goin’ to California” and “The Battle of Evermore”, which carried on the band’s acoustic tradition as displayed on “III”) to the bone-crushing centerpiece, “Stairway to Heaven”. The chiming “Four Sticks” aside, it is the Little Richard-inspired “Rock and Roll” and the tricky and unexpected time changes - a Zeppelin trademark - of “Black Dog” that elevate this album to lofty heights.

Every song is a winner, and you still here echoes of this album influencing new artists today.

1. “Black Dog”
2. “Rock and Roll”
3. “The Battle of Evermore”
4. “Stairway to Heaven”
5. “Misty Mountain Hop”
6. “Four Sticks”
7. “Going to California”
8. “When the Levee Breaks”

Funeral - Arcade Fire

2009-01-28T18:44:00.004Z

The word hype, doesn't even come close to describing how this album was talked about before it came out in 2004. Everyone was talking about it and by January 2005 it was everywhere.
Arcade Fire at least had an album to back up the column miles that were taken up by critics spouting on and on about it.

This dramatic album re-wrote the rules for indie bands pretty much everywhere and as per usual spawned many half hearted wannabe soundalikes.

Fronted by the husband and wife team of Win Butler and Regine Chassagne Arcade Fire crafted an album that reminds listeners of the healing power of music. Funeral is a journey through despair and loss to hope and joy, unadulterated joy.

Track Listing:

"Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" – 4:48
"Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)" – 3:31
"Une Année Sans Lumière" – 3:40
"Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" – 5:12
"Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)" – 4:49
"Crown of Love" – 4:42
"Wake Up" – 5:35
"Haïti" – 4:07
"Rebellion (Lies)" – 5:10
"In the Backseat" – 6:20

Innervisions - Stevie Wonder

2009-01-14T19:51:00.005Z

1973 Stevie Wonder aged just 23 released his 18th album, Innervisions. Considered part of Wonders classic period Innervisions is a tour de force of everything the Stevie Wonder does best.

The album is crafted with all of Wonders talents. He comments on many of the social issues topical in the early seventies, drugs, politics ethics and life in an American city and still manages to make us dance.

On Living For The City, we are taken on a journey as we follow a young man from Mississippi to a city and all the perils that wait for him there. Too High is a cautionary tale on drug use. Higher Ground, Jesus Child Of America are unusual takes on Eastern Religious philosophy as heard through Wonders easy gift for funk and pop. Stevie Wonder even has a go at Richard Milhous Nixon on He's Mistra Know It All.

Who knew that the same man would go on to write I Just Called... Sigh...

Track Listing

"Too High" – 4:37
"Visions" – 5:22
"Living for the City" – 7:22
"Golden Lady" – 5:00
"Higher Ground" – 3:42
"Jesus Children of America" – 4:10
"All in Love Is Fair" – 3:42
"Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" – 4:44
"He's Misstra Know-It-All" – 5:35

Faith - George Michael

2008-12-11T06:26:00.005Z

You gotta have it....

Ogdens Nut Gone Flake - The Small Faces

2008-12-01T14:29:00.006Z

Concept albums tend to be weird, or at least some fun. The Small Faces 1968 album Ogdens Nut Gone Flake is both. There were plenty of psychedelic bands knocking out albums around the end of the 60's and The Small Faces had shown they had some flair for the sound. But when they released this album they pushed the boundaries for everyone.

Ogdens Nut Gone Flake was something of an amalgamation of all the little hallmarks of the concept album. It certainly had the right cover and packaging. Coming in the shape and design of a circular tobacco tin, it was a parody of a tobacco produced in Liverpool in the 19th century.

The album contains the strange little story,e of Happiness Stan. Stan is in search of half the moon. On his quest he saves a fly, who then grows into a giant fly who Stan rides to a cave to meet Mad John the hermit. Mad John explains to Happiness Stan that the moon will come back again. Mad John then sings Stan a song about the meaning of life. Weird eh?

The best tracks from the album are Afterglow Of Your love, Song of Baker, Rene and of course Lazy Sunday.

The album was a huge commercial and critical success staying at number 1 for six weeks. However the Small Faces did not last for much longer. It seems a shame, if they had of created more albums like this thye might have had the praise the Beatles so easily and often unnecessarily achieve.

Track Listing

"Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake"
"Afterglow (Of Your Love)"
"Long Agos and Worlds Apart"
"Rene"
"Song of a Baker"
"Lazy Sunday"
"Happiness Stan"
"Rollin' Over"
"The Hungry Intruder"
"The Journey"
"Mad John"
"Happydaystoytown"

Armed Forces - Elvis Costello

2008-11-25T11:33:00.009Z

Elvis Costellos third album Armed Forces, was yet another triumph. He had only just finished touring the wonderful This Years Model, when he went right back into the studio with The Attractions to record this edgy articulate record.

The album begins perfectly with the line, "Oh I just don't know where to begin" This is of course, Accidents will Happen, one of Castillo's finest songs. It rattles along at his usual frenetic punk pace, but has all the lyrical and melodic intrigued you would expect from the man. Just to show a sense of humour the single was printed inside out.

The big hit off the album is without doubt Oliver's Army. Often mistaken as an anti Irish song, it is in fact the opposite. It is a scathing attacking on the way the British army conducted itself in Northern Ireland in the 1970's. The controversial line "only takes on itchy finger /one more widow one less white nigger"

The production on the album is a big step forward for Costello. It has more layered vocals and guitars and the synth sound is often replaced by pounding rhythmic piano. Goon Squad and Senior Service see him at his sonic best. The beautiful Party Girl is yet another classic from the pen of Mr Declan Patrick McManus.

Armed forces is both political and emotional and sees Elvis Costello finally step up and take credit for his abilities as a song writer.

Track Listing

"Accidents Will Happen" – 3:00
"Senior Service" – 2:17
"Oliver's Army" – 2:58
"Big Boys" – 2:54
"Green Shirt" – 2:42
"Party Girl" – 3:20
"Goon Squad" - 3:14
"Busy Bodies" - 3:33
"Sunday's Best" - 3:22
"Moods for Moderns" - 2:48
"Chemistry Class" - 2:55
"Two Little Hitlers" - 3:18

Screamadelica - Primal Scream

2008-11-18T13:55:00.012Z

"Just what is it that you want to do?
We wanna be free
We wanna be free to do what we wanna do
And we wanna get loaded
And we wanna have a good time
That's what we're gonna do
We're gonna have a good time
We're gonna have a party"

(Peter Fonda, Wild Angels as heard on Loaded)

OK so it's 1991, Nirvana have put out Nevermind altering the field of play for rock music and Primal Scream release Screamadelica, changing the rules for dance music to this day.

Screamadelica brought techno, acid house and the whole rave scene into the mainstream. It also ripped up Primal Screams own rule book. Before the release of the album they were a mediocre indie rock band, forgettable in almost every way, but boy did they change that. That's not to say that Screamadelica doesn't tip its hat to their penchant for Detroit rock and the Rolling Stones. One listen to Movin On Up the opening track is clear proof of this, it is unmistakeably a giant leap forward for this little Scottish band.

The great debate about this album is who is actually responsible for it. It is such a monumental change for Primal Scream that it would, on paper, seem clear that producer Andrew Weatherall is the prime innovator here. Primal Scream have however taken responsibility for its innovations. True enough, they are the writers, but one can't help but feel that Adrew Weatheralls production role is of significant importance to the success of the album.

It is trippy, imaginative and almost certainly of its time, but it has also stood the test of time. Its influence on British music cannot be understated. It brought the psychedelic weirdness of the 60's and rocking 70's onto the 90's dance floor. Don't forget your groove thang this Thursday morning, for the Critical Junction is a floor filler.

Track Listing

"Movin' on Up" – 3:47
"Slip Inside This House" – 5:14
"Don't Fight It, Feel It" – 6:51
"Higher Than the Sun" – 3:36
"Inner Flight" – 5:00 (instrumental)
"Come Together" – 10:21
"Loaded" – 7:01
"Damaged" – 5:37
"I'm Comin' Down" – 5:59
"Higher Than the Sun [A Dub Symphony In Two Parts]" – 7:37
"Shine Like Stars" – 3:4