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As the lead singer and songwriting force behind Soul Coughing, M. Doughty combined a slam poetry, ironic sensibility with jam band-ish, arty Downtown grooves. That group was an apex of smart stoner rock. Since the mid ‘90s Doughty has gone it alone, and his first release for ATO combines two self-released solo recordings that flirt with the sublime. Recorded in a single day in 1996, Skittish nicely replicates his solo performances, minus witty banter. "Real Love/ It’s Only Life" collapses a Mary J. Blige song into a Feelies tune, so of course it’s perfect pop. The 2003 EP Rockity Roll is just as stripped-down as Skittish, but electronic drums and keyboards dominate the mix. Mike has become a beautifully mournful, smart-ass singer-songwriter in the vein of Richard Thompson. Doughty’s voice is a tightly controlled, slightly nasal croon that sounds like he learned to sing by listening to trumpet solos off old bebop records.Rejecting the term "folk" for what he does, Doughty prefers his own phrase, "small rock." Surely, it’s more restrained, slower and less flashy than Soul Coughing. It’s also much better. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Album Description

Subtitled - Without A Worry In The World. 2003 compilationfeaturing 22 tracks from the beat poetry poptraditionalist. BR Music. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Quite Disappointing
I have been a Rod McKuen follower since the 1970s and miss some of my early LPs that were unfortunately stolen years ago. So I ordered this CD in good faith but when I played it was amazed to hear that the sound and tempo of the songs (in my mind based from hearing them years ago) was faster, possibly to fit all the selections on one CD (I don't know). End product is a sound that is NOT romantic OR mood seting, not peaceful, rather racing through the selections to the point of annoyance. Save your money up to buy older and in good condition copies of the originals, like I am doing. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mixed Bag from a Master Raconteur
"The King of the Night People" spins his yarns and shares his insights in this, a wonderful collection of some of Shep's better bits.

I, for one, never really "got" the enthusiasm over Shep's preoccupation with Orphan Annie, a cut on this CD that I personally would skip. Where this late, underrated cult figure excelled, I believe, was in his trenchant social commentary and understanding of the human psyche. Here, two riffs - one related to Role Reversal, the other to the connection between male sexuality and autos - presaged societal trends, and they really hit their mark.

Shep was at his finest in the late Fifties to mid-Sixties, and this CD captures some of his better material quite nicely.

Long live Shep!
A long lost treasure comes to CD. Go ahead...just try to find a copy of this little beauty on vinyl...I double dog dare 'ya. This disc is made up of several of Shep's best bits captured live on stage in NY in the early '60s. No one...but no one tells a story better than Shep did...either on radio or in print. This disc is short...and there are a few very minor sound problems (remastered?)...but you will not regret picking this album up while you can. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Performed by a raucous sextet made up of beats, bass, guitar, cello, viola, and griot, Saul Williams hip-hop sounds like modern chamber music. It's music informed as much by Hendrix's star-strangled striations and Miles Davis's alchemical electric period as it is the krunk-krunk of contemporary hip-hop. On Amethyst Rock Star Williams exorcises urban music of its self-destructive excess, channeling its rowdy energy into a ritualized raising of consciousness. The single "Penny for a Thought" breaks into jacked-up breakbeats as Williams calls out those who sell their souls into artistic slavery for the same chump change paid to their chained ancestors. He makes like a soothsayer on "Robeson," reeling off a call for the heroic figures of the past to make their presence known in the future. Williams's singing voice is as robust as his words, soaring like a veteran rock croaker; on "Fearless" he attempts to dissolve the influence of an unnameable "she" on his psyche by spontaneously bursting into song. "Coded Language," a linguistic mantra first recorded for the DJ Krust album of the same name, makes a return appearance, sounding not a bit out of place with its warp-speed breaks and nitroglycerin orchestration. Saul breaks out on the epic closer, "Wine," a torch-burning call for collective empowerment that comes off like Purple Rain for the no-age generation. --Chris Campion ... Read more

Reviews (25)

saul williams 'amethyst rock star'
To be honest, i was somewhat frustrated with this material when i first listened to it. however, over the better part of a week i continued to listen to 'amethyst rock star,' and as i did both my interest in l and enjoyment of the material grew.

undoubtedly, it takes a few listens to appreciate williams' work. and a listener unprepared for williams' content and style is in for shock. williams is a poet to many, hip hop artist to some--his work being less entertainment than inspiration. of course for those who have seen him live--lyricst lounge, tours, readings, etc.--it is difficult to contend his presence and immediacy.

'amethyst rock star' is an important album. all the tracks are lyrically sound, though some of the production does not seem to fit. of course, the more i listen, the more i have come to enjoy the production.

in any case, enjoy, but be prepared to truly listen to this material. warning: this album is not conducive to Passive Listeners.

Stunning
Most assuredly, this is a fractured album: there are moments of simply amazing lyrical gymnastics, verses of sheer spoken-word brilliance, but there are also tracks where one simply wonders what in hell Saul was thinking, and why he chose to share it with us. Whether the confusion is due to Saul's being a tortured visionary far beyond our ken is debatable. Nevertheless, this disc is a tour de force spanning multiple genres and far outstripping most of its competition for top honours here.Saul Williams, star of the Sundance Festival favourite Slam (1998) and guest actor on HBO's wildly successful show "Oz," is neither a rapper nor a mere poet-he's a spoken-word artist, worlds apart from either of the other labels. On this disc his gifts are on display for all to see and appreciate; the listener is sucked into his philosophical and socio-political ideas with catchy beats ("Penny for a Thought"), heavy-metal guitars ("Omni American"), drum 'n' bass soundscapes ("Coded Language," featuring Krust), and ethereal choruses ("Tao of Now," featuring Esthero). There is also a toxic love story ("Fearless"), a hip-hop culture retrospective ("1987"), and a paean to fathers that features a monologue by Saul's father, an ordained minister.If you like Gil Scott-Heron, you'll recognise that Saul is his X-generation heir. If you like Public Enemy or KRS-One (with whom he collaborated on an earlier effort), you'll accept Saul as if he were their younger brother. If Rage Against the Machine and Living Colour are your style, you might notice the resemblance between them and him, as if he were their second cousin just now becoming ascendant. And if you enjoy Sartre and his ilk, you'll thrill to his existential flights of fancy.

wow
this is how god intended rap to be, meaningful lyrics to a beat, this almost has a beatnik feel to it, i cannot suggest this cd strongly enough, just grab a cup of coffee and sit down, you won't be able to do much else but listen to this one

As good as it gets
Though it's more than just hip hop, a hybrid of rock, trip hop, psychedilia, industrial, drum n'bass, all inbetween, it's mostly related to hip hop at it's core element. Being this it almost sounds like the farthest hip hop has gone. I dont think anyone could challenge Saul on this. Phenomenal.

Lighten up, dude!
I'm sorry this has to be said, as I used to be political and angry for no reason, too. But Saul Williams needs to lighten up.
The music is great - it's very imaginative, and Saul is a talented and intelligent writer, but stop picking on the commercial rappers for enjoying the finer things in life!
Saul is just too serious and pretentious, and weird for the sake of weird, like post-modern art (then again, I suppose that's what Saul and Rick Rubin, the producer, were going for.) He's obviously a skilled guy; he writes raps, spoken word, and he can even sing (though when he does, he sounds like Lenny Kravitz if he'd lost all hope in everything). I'm not heavy on bling bling party rap, and I enjoy some conscious rappers (my favorite rapper's Common), but I think Saul should take some of that talent of his and have fun with it! People like to DANCE to music, not sit and grow more and more miserable with each passing word. Saul sounds like he's condemning humanity at times on this album! He sins, just like the rest of us!
That aside, I don't think there's a bad track on the album, and I would recommend it to some, but not all. It's certainly an acquired taste. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the early 1970s Gil Scott-Heron's tough-talking jazz-rock came across like a slap in the face, fiercely filling the Establishment in on issues ranging from substance abuse to the poverty and desperation raging through the black community. Winter in America was his breakthrough, with pianist Brian Jackson's dense arrangements matching the words blow for blow on the uncompromising title track (actually a bonus cut), the stinging "H20gate Blues," and the grooving anti-alcohol warning of "The Bottle"--"Don't you think it's a crime," Scott-Heron riffs, "the way time after time, people hit the bottle?" Some of Jackson's music may now sound a bit dated, but the years have done little to dull what writer Nathan George called Scott-Heron's "uncomfortable truths." --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Poetry, politics and power
Gil Scott-Heron turned out during the '70s what may be the best body of overlooked work of the era. "Winter in America" followed the excellent "Pieces of a Man" and at least equaled the quality of that album.

"Winter in America" kicks off with what was to become one of Gil's best-known and most often played tunes, "The Bottle." The tune exemplifies the power of his work. He captures life in vivid, poetic images, and he joins the lyrics to street rhythms, in this case, Latin flavored. His often overlooked partner, Brian Jackson, contributes a fine, jazz flute solo.

There are, of course, politics aplenty in "Winter." The title tune itself is a dirge, a prediction of America's failure, which hasn't occurred, of course, if you take Gil literally. His goal -- and Brian's -- was never to predict a Marxist revolution, but to point out the inherent contradictions in a society that celebrates wealth at the same time that it turns a blind eye to the dispossessed and forgotten. And "H2OGate Blues" is one of the best commentaries on the disastrous second term of Tricky Dick Nixon that I've ever heard.

Lest one think that "Winter in America" is a purely political album, however, one should remember that Gil was also capable of penning and singing unabashedly romantic tunes like "A Very Precious Time." If there is any male who remembers anything at all about being 19 years old in the 1970s and can resist lyrics like "Was there a touch of spring?/And did she have a pink dress on?/And when she smiled her shyest smile/Couldn't you almost touch the warmth?" -- well, I guess we need to check that guy's pulse.

Great album -- toughness and tenderness from one of our best-kept secrets.

Gifts of hope from a warrior of love
Gil Scott-Heron puts the lie to the notion that there's something joyless or antihumanistic about political art. His voice --bluesy and hip, rich as molasses, and sexy as hell-- croons and barks with the righteous anger of a front-line revolutionary soldier, as well as the visionary tenderness of a prophet who truly believes that the "first minute of a new day" is really a-dawning.

The music, even in this relatively low-key setting, is funky enough to galvanize any feet on the planet, yet imbued with a spiritual power (as well as an iron determination to seek and reveal truth) that both soothes the soul and strengthens the resolve of the listener to carry on. And the "H2OGATE Blues" remains a jubilant celebration of brotherhood, solidarity, and good fellowship (am I the only one who thinks the fellows might have been passing around a bit of herbal inspiration as they riffed and belly-laughed their way through this inspired blast of street poetry?), as well as an evergreen social and political commentary.

The "young warrior" Bobby Smith was blessed to have men like Gil and Brian Jackson around when he was growing up -- even in today's world of shattered dreams and compromised faith, music like this gives one reason to hope.

Beautiful
The best jazz piano I've heard in a long time. Beautiful, heartfelt, emotional and remarkable. Brian Jackson is a master on the piano and Gil Scott-Heron's vocals are truly amazing.

Winter Of Discontent
Gil Scott-Heron was an innovator who combined, jazz, funk and soul sounds over which he spoke/sung messages of protest and outrage at the condition of Black America. His delivery is a forerunner of rapping. His music is heavily sampled by hip hoppers and his afro-centric attitude has a strong foothold in the hip hop community. For Winter In America he combines with pianist Brian Jackson for another set of songs of social commentary. While some of his lyrics are clearly dated, the song's power and fury are enduring. "The Bottle" is a stinging, open-ended question to the problem of alcohol abuse among urban blacks. This problem lingers today as there still are liquor stores on every corner in the ghettos. Mr. Heron's music can be shocking, but it forces you think.

livin in the bottle
While I didn't give it five stars, I still think this is one of the better cds I've heard. The bottle is the funkiest track, period. I just bought it, being a fan of Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers, and Bobby Humphrey, and it hasn't disapointed. The man's voice is crazy, and his poetry on watergate blues is flawless. A must own for fans of this type of music. People who don't like this music just haven't heard it or givin it a chance. ... Read more

Album Description

Our customers loved our first Jean Shepherd release, "Will Failure Spoil Jean Shepherd?," so much that we’ve arranged to release Shep’s other record for Elektra, "Jean Shepherd & Other Foibles," which actually preceded the other one by two years, having been released in 1959. And, like his other record for Elektra, and indeed like Shep’s late-night radio shows, this album is an intimate interlude spent with one of the greatest storytellers of all time, sort of radio’s version of Mark Twain spinning yarns in his own unique, leisurely fashion. Includes "Peter Pain," "Judson-6," "The Fun Funeral," "For Men Only," "Fellow Americans," "Controversial/Non-Controversial," "Monkey on My Back," "Better Living," "Balls" (a hysterical meditation on Cubs fans vs. White Sox fans), "Credit Cards," and "The Human Comedy," of which Shep was definitely an A student. If you only know him for "The Christmas Story," you have to check this out. A Collectors’ Choice Music exclusive! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not Representative of Shep's Greatness
Maybe I'm in a minority, but this disc really left me flat. While it had its clever moments, I found the presentation to be rather stagey, almost hoakey, like Shep wrote out his bits verbatim and gave them to Mister Rogers to read. Where's the inspired downtown 1950s hip ad libbing and quirkiness? You'll see what I mean if you compare this disc to the other Shep album that's been reissued on CD "Will Failure Spoil." That's the one to get.

Jean Shepherd was a radio genius, but you won't hear that here. ... Read more

Album Description

UNEDITED, UNCENSORED, UNAPOLOGETIC...The ultimate Lenny Bruce box set 10 years in the making!

Let The Buyer Beware is an unprecedented 6-CD boxed collection of Lenny Bruce’s popular recorded performances, never-before-released performances, and various private recordings that tell the powerful, funny, and ultimately tragic story of the man whose brilliance and convictions turned stand-up comedy on its head. Lenny Bruce (1925–1966) was a brilliant, outspoken satirist unafraid to speak about such then-taboo topics as sex, race, religion and politics. According to critic Nat Hentoff, "Lenny delighted in exploring why certain words were forbidden—and then demystifying them." Bruce eventually became a victim of his own talent; he was blacklisted by the establishment, but fought the laws of censorship until it eventually killed him.

Much of the public remains unaware of the wealth of personal recordings Bruce made over the years; he recorded everything from private rehearsals of new bits, to phone conversations and paranoid tirades. This collection is the first to tell the definitive Lenny Bruce story.

*This long-awaited box set is the ultimate tribute to a man that Comedy Central calls the #3 comedian of all time.

*Over 7 1/2 hours of performances, interviews, and wire taps, including: 69 previously unreleased recordings, 10 previously unreleased selections from Lenny’s personal tapes, and 4 previously unreleased radio interviews.

*Contains classic recordings of "Religions, Inc," "How To Relax Your Colored Friends At Parties," "Airplane Glue," "Jewish & Goyish," "Tits And Ass" and more.

*Also contains such unreleased material as Bruce’s WFMT Chicago radio interview with Studs Terkel, many bits from performances at the Jazz Workshop and Off Broadway in San Francisco, The Gate of Horn in Chicago, and The Den in New York and an unused radio ad for Zeidler & Zeidler clothiers.

*Luxuriously packaged in a unique 80-page hardbound book, containing unpublished photos and memorabilia, as well as essays by Lenny Bruce’s daughter, Kitty; Bruce expert Marvin Worth; set producer Hal Willner; and writer Paul Krassner; plus tributes, a chronology, a glossary, and much, much more. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're considering digging into the stack of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson reissues, this is the place to start. First Minute is one fantastic, seminal album--just bursting with Jackson's serious piano, Bilal Sunni Ali's deluxe woodwinds, and Barnett Williams and Charlie Saunders's relentless percussion. The entire Midnight Band, in fact, positively struts, cajoles, and freaks the funk out all over this 1975 powerhouse. Scott-Heron himself raps ("Pardon Our Analysis"), rocks ("The Liberation Song"), and rolls ("Alluswe") in that magic voice that critic Neil Tesser once described as "mahogany, sunshine, and tears." First Minute also boasts the Scott-Heron classics "Ain't No Such Thing As Superman" and "Winter in America." The 11-minute bonus track, "A Talk," makes this set nearly indispensable. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Impact!
This album/CD provided one the most impactful experiences of my life. I rate this cd up there with the best that Bob Marley or Stevie Wonder ever produced. Gil, Brian and the rest of the Midnight Band were really an all-time great unit whose music and social/cultural/vision stand the test of time. This album/cd was my first venture into their music and I have been hooked for 20 years. Start here if you want to hear the very best.

Magnifico! and timeless...
From the opening strains of "Offering" ("We have...something to offer you...") to the final crescendo of the touching "Alluswe", the music flows with sincerity and power. While I'm not as enamoured of the spoken tracks (a bit too preachy and dated), the music holds up well 25 years later.

This is a band with fine soloists (Brian Jackson on keyboards, Bilal Sunni Ali on sax, and of course, Gil Scott-Heron's soulful singing), soaring harmony (esp. on "Must Be Something"), atmospheric arrangements ("Western Sunrise", "Guerilla", "Offering"), and driving rhythm ("Liberation Song" and "Superman"). All this without any guitar in the group. But you really don't miss it...

I hear a strong Coltrane influence in Ali's sax playing, am hauntingly touched by Jackson's piano on "Alluswe" (my favorite track on this disc), and while the lyrical content might seem off-putting to a capitalist such as myself I am nevertheless reminded that we all must never lose touch with our innate humanity. (Stevie Wonder's music of this time also serves this purpose for me.) To paraphrase Casey Kasem, one must always keep "your feet on the ground", even while reaching for the stars!

The Midnight Band are eternal. I expect to be enjoying this album many years into the future, as I have over the past quarter century.

VEry Powerful
Gil Scott-Heron&Brian Jackson Get Right all thru here.The Words&Music have Genius all Over Them.I Have Never Heard A Bad Recording With these Two Great Minds on It.Very Straight Up&At You.another classic from this Dynamic Duo.&Most Important Uplifting Spirited Music.

A Soldier's Soundtrack
Excellence in musicanship & content. This is what conscious music is supossed to sound like. Gil is one of the pioneers in rap & hip-hop ( with James Brown, George Clinton & The Last Poets)."Must be Something","Ain't no such Thing as Superman","Winter in Amerika","Offering",&"The Liberation Song" and my personal favorites "Pardon our Analysis" &"Guerilla". Gil Scott-Heron & The Last Poets were my introduction into politically aware musicians.The artwork alone, by Brother Ron ( the Iceman) is worth more than the price of entry. "I believe we will see us in my lifetime, standing tall on a mountain letting our light shine"..............Buy anything with this Brothers name on it.

At the top of his form!
GS and BJ were a awsome duo.You don't have to agree with the politics in order to enjoy it. He is an powerful musical poet who recorded a string of jamming albums that moved your soul as well as your feet. GS is a balladeer of moving emotions just listen to "Winter in America". One only hopes that he can shake his demons and return to form! Buy It! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Another chapter in a long series of material being churned out by the"keep Tupac alive" cottage industry, this tribute album makes his private thoughts (written during his adolescence) available for mass consumption. Will Pac-friendly consumers get played as his estate gets paid, again? Not really, because thankfully these renditions are carried out by a multi-generational crew of pop-culture heroes. When the cast of The Lion King form a dreamy a cappella backdrop to Danny Glover and Afeni's reading of "A River that Flows Forever," it's like heavenly bliss. The same goes for the numbers interpreted by a holy trinity of spoken-word goddesses: Sarah Jones's"Why Must U Be Unfaithful", Sonia Sanchez's acoustic number, "When Ure Heart Turns Cold," and Nikki Giovanni's R&B-tinged interpretation of the title poem. But there are moments on the disc that are as dodgy as the investigation to find his killer. In light of Pac's socialist revolutionary swagger, how raving capitalist Russell Simmons ended up on this disc is anyone's guess. While some of Pac's thugged-out constituency will want to upchuck violently when they hear sentimental tuneslike Tre of thePharcyde's "What of a Love Unspoken," the material blessed bydead prez, Mos Def, and percussionist Babatunde Olatunji deserves a seriouslisten by music lovers across the board. --Dalton Higgins ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Tupac was BRILLIANT... this CD shows it.
He died when he was 25..... He wrote these words when he was 19.

This album is so real and although most of the tracks do not have the feel of a 2Pac album-- the "lyrics" by Pac certainly do. Although I've enjoyed other articles by Dalton Higgins (the guy who wrote the amazon.com official review for this CD) I think he kind of missed the whole point of this album-- AND Tupac's life in general. For Dalton to say that Tupac's "thugged-out constituency" will vomit when hearing the songs about love is totally ridiculous. Dalton!!: That "other side" of Tupac is what attracts people to him over you everyday thug rapper, like DMX (who is basically a Tupac without this depth.)

Fans!!: If you buy this CD, understand there will be songs you don't like. But there will be songs you love. For me the best songs are the interpretations by Dead Prez, Mos Def, Outlawz, Quincy Jones and Mac Mall, 4th Avenue Jones' and K-ci, Nikki Giovanni, Danny Glover and Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur. And all who enjoyed Tupac's words, clarity and eloquence will love this album and cherish the brilliant mind that was destroyed by this "dormant and uncaring society." Tupac would be proud of this CD and as you listen to it you remember the whole time that these are Pac's words.

This is the perfect Christmas gift for friends and family who have admonished you for listening to Tupac's music because of it's vulgarity and profane lyrics. It may convince them to start listening to his wonderful music, even if they don't like rap.

The media and white America were very confused when it came to Tupac------------------> to anyone that thinks "outside of the box" when it comes to life, and dreams of a better world, Tupac is nothing less than a true hero. They say a dead man tells no tales, but through this CD Tupac still talks to the masses. His memory lives on; heed his words.

Immaculate poetry album.
Back in about September of 2000, when I heard a new Tupac album containing 25 tracks would be coming out, I nearly jumped for joy. However, when I found out it was a CD of celebrities reading Tupac's poetry, and ESPECIALLY after learning there was only a few rap tracks, I was very skeptical about buying it. The truth is, the only reason I bought it was just so I could have all of Pac's albums. When I got home, I put it in my CD player, skimmed the album, and just placed it back on my shelf. However, the other day, for the first time, I just decided out of the blue to sit down and listen to it. And I loved it.

This isn't the type of CD you can bump in your car (with the exception of a few hip-hop tracks, but even they're not hardcore). It's the type of CD you sit down, listen to, and take in. It's certainly not for everyone, so don't be discouraged if you love Tupac and don't feel this album. It's completely different from any other Tupac CD. Gone is the hardcore beats and menacing voice of the greatest rapper ever. But that's not a bad thing at all.

Each performer truly gives it their all to make this album as powerful as it's turned out to be. Whether it be poetry, singing, rapping or even chanting, it's like heaven to listen to. This album also contains some of the most beautiful instrumental music I've heard in my life.

So whether you like Tupac or not, this album can appeal to everyone. You just need an open mind. Give it a shot. I can't wait to see how the other "Rose That Grew From Concrete" albums turn out. But I'm not going to get my hopes up. Amaru records would have to pull off a miracle to surpass the greatness of this wonderful album.

Proves that even a thug has feelings!
When I first bought it i was surprised by the poems tupac wrote! I reall didn't care much about the artist performing, but the lyrics are amazing! Every Pac fan should have it in collection!

Pac
awesome. Every 2Pac cd is an instant classic... even his nu-mixx klazzics. And this one, is really awesome. It just shows all of 2Pac's talent, like all of his cds do. 2pac is a talented writer, and this cd shows it alot. This is a must have. Amazing work.

The Rose
I Bought the Book first and later bought the album is a great
Cd & Book to have because it showed how pac really was like.

You Won't be Sorry ... Read more

Amazon.com

His Royal Hipness was as unique as they come, an eccentric white cat who made his mark by recasting familiar tales--from Shakespeare, the Bible, and beyond--in a frantic spray of black street lingo, jazz-speak, and hipster jive. In Buckley's mind, Jesus became "The Nazz," Gandhi "The Hip Gan," and explorer Vasco da Gama "Cabeza de Gasca." That would be adventurous now. It was simply unheard of in the 1940s and 1950s when Buckley was plying his trade, entertaining audiences he called his Royal Court. He was too weird to be more than a cult figure, but his defiant persona, deep individualism, and comic sense of cool certainly influenced the likes of Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, and even Bob Dylan. Gone, wailin' stuff. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Are you there?
I'm reviewing this item now because Oliver Trager's _Dig Infinity_ has just been published. I highly recommed Trager's biography, but if you want to meet His Lordship you'll have to listen to him. Trager's book includes a CD, and readers will want to know that there isn't much overlap between that one and this one.

"This one" is a re-release of _The Best of Lord Buckley_ and it includes some of his greatest raps (notably, of course, "The Nazz," deservedly his most famous). A different recording of "The Nazz" is also included on the Trager CD, and so is a different recording of "People." But that's as far as the overlap extends.

If you haven't heard Lord Richard Buckley before, I don't really know how to explain to you who and what he was. Was he an entertainer? A saint? A scoundrel? A bodhisattva? A con man? A raconteur? A shaman? A swindler? An evangelist? A shameless moocher? An artist? An agent of God? A prankster? A drunk?

Well, yeah.

Above all, His Lordship was a sweet cat who blew a solid ace lick, one of the gonest, wailin'est cats who ever stomped this sweet swingin' sphere. This CD -- so far as I know the only Buckley CD currently available -- includes the best of his best, though of course there's a lot of fine material that just isn't here. If you haven't met the Hip Messiah yet, do yourself a favor and give this a listen. And have a look at Trager's biography too.

On the Road with Lord Buckley
Plunging into Lord Buckley is like taking a leasurely swim through the mind of Jack Kerouac, or Sam Spade.

"Hey, Jonah?"
"What is it, fish?"

Everything with a time and a place, and this word is *it*, the thing and everything. Swoop this scene -- it's great.

A great *writer!*
For inventiveness with the spoken word, few even approach the genius of Lord Buckley. This recording is not hysterically funny (although it is not without laughs, either). What makes it so enthralling is not humor, but the sheer delight of Buckley's wordplay, and his thorough knowledge and love for humanity and for his subjects. The last track is among the most touching 40 seconds on record. If you buy this CD, you will find yourself thinking "What in the world did I do?" about 5 minutes into it. Twenty minutes later, you'll be thinking: "This is bloody marvelous!" ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great singer
North & South was the first CD I bought. Luciana's voice surprised me. I have never heard anything like this. After listened so many times I decided to know more about her and buy other stuff. The Poems of Elizabeth Bishop and Other Songs is a great album. The first track is my favourite. I play it everyday. She is a mature singer with a very solid background.

Really pretentious and boring
I got a copy yesterday and sold it today...Luciana's voice is difficult to hear distinctly, and the production is overdone. If you are looking for albums by good Brazilian singers, try anything by Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Zizi Possi or even newcomers such as Rosa Passos, Ithamara Koorax and Leila Pinheiro.

It Gets Better
It's not front-loaded, but stick with it & it'll draw you in.

An interesting choice of material
Singing in English, Brazilian-born vocalist Luciana Souza leads this jazz-drenched tribute to American poet Elizabeth Bishop, who lived as an expatriate in Brazil for nearly two decades in the 1950s and '60s, and was a figure of considerable controversy in Brazilian literary circles. On some of these tracks, Souza's amorphous, scatting approach may obscure the lyrics, although on other songs, particularly the slower ballads, Bishop's verses lend themselves admirably to musical interpretation. In addition to the adapted poems, this disc also features several straight jazz instrumentals, generally of a free-form, exploratory nature. An interesting project, and one which may help draw new attention to this contemplative, notoriously unprolific, and somewhat tragic writer.

Pulling the wool over the audience's eyes
This is pretentious, boring, self-conscious blather. The composing is downright bad. Anybody can hire great musicians to play on their CDs. I've heard a lot of of raves about Ms. Souza and I can't figure it out, but it seems that the public relations machine has done its job well. Avoid... ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Unexpectedly appealing
I came across this with the introduction from my roommate in my freshman year of college. The thanksgiving prayer is probably one of the most cynical and humorous tracks I've listened to in a long time. The music that goes with it adds to its sarcasm. Then there's Ah Pook the Destroyer; Everyone has to hear this once, it's going to change your day. All in all, this CD opened my life to Burroughs's poetry and beat poetry in general. Quite an inspiring CD that you can listen to whenever need inspiration to write. Also a fun thing to play when you're in need of a couple of bitter-sweet chuckles. The Apocalypse, the track before the last, still trips me out today.

Thanks for...this cd, and I'm not being sarcastic
A somnambulant, mood-swifting mindtrip into the world of William S. Burroughs...and what better than to hear arrousing and exciting tales of moral decadence, science fiction atroscities, the convictions of racism and prejudice, flowing dream imagery, political ideas & warnings, and frequent contradictions resulting in poetic tales that defy explanation and expand yr. conciousness. After being told in his deadpan spooky and signature voice to tape, they are adapted to an eclectic arrangement of classical orchestra, John Cale's keyboard weirdness, Sonic Youth's cataclysimc subway noise, and various other contributions that work well with the stories...

Some of the best are hard to pick out, but there are highlights: the reading of a particularly hanuting excerpt from Naked Lunch involving The Black Market Cafe done to shadowy chamber music will send chills down yr. spine, the short story Where He WAs Going which flows along at a snail's pace pulling you into the mind of a worried bank robber knowing death is creeping around the corner (and this one has great ending, plus organ music, and the overall effect will leave a mark on yr. mind), the readings of the Bible are amusing and not meant to be taken seriously, but the best prize here is his nearly 10 minute telling of the Apocalypse done to some sweeping mixes...basically sums up all his post apocalyptic desires in one amazing track.

The rest are just as interesting, his political theories are expressed in "No More Stalins, No More Hitlers" and the classic sardonic peice "A THanksgiving Prayer" which since Burroughs is neither a Christian or celebrates that holiday you can guess the idea. "Bryon Gysin's All-Purpose Bedtime Story" includes some great short philosophies: "Control is controlled by it's need to control." and the idea that this universe is a glob of spit on it's way to the floor...SPLAT! "Love Your Enemies" will send jollies down yr. loins and laughing devices if nothing else...when he says love your enemies, he means it in a different light. "Kill THe Badger" is just plain sad, "A New way To Measure..." is unsettling somewhat, and that German song he sings at the end is simply odd.

Basically, this is Burroughs' mind done to music. It's tour de force...whiter and redder than life.

"We're all here to go...!"
One of my favorite albums and I own thousands. Possibly the best setting of Burrough's words to music. Love the vintage TV orchestral cuts. Caution: I have bought this album for several friends who have never said a word about it! "What are we here for?"

Ode to apocalypse- the monsters behind the machine....
If you've never read Burroughs, or if it has been awhile and you would like to refresh your acquaintance, then this recording is what you are looking for. The old magician gives readings from a variety of sources including _Naked Lunch_, _Interzone_, and _The Western Lands_. He invokes his vision in the name of Pan, god of panic; Ah Pook, the destroyer; and even Jesu the Christ. "Invoke" is the proper word, for this is a work of magic. Burroughs is weaving a vision. He wants us to peek through the chinks and see the monsters that lie behind the machine- behind the great shining lies. His objective is no less than a basic disruption of reality itself. This is art as magic, artist as magician.

Remember: 1)Control is controlled by the need to control- just like a junky on junk, 2)Everything is permitted BECAUSE nothing is true, and It's the little touches that make a future solid enough to destroy.

CLASSIC BURROUGHS
Track number two (THANKSGIVING PRAYER) is alone worth the price of this CD. ... Read more

Album Description

1992 reissue from BMB of his 1981 album for Arista. Seven tracks, including 'Storm Music', 'Grandma's Hands' and 'Morning Thoughts'. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

four and a half
This would be a five star album if it weren't for two cover songs which are good but still covers,along with the b movie rap.the little bit of original actual music is top notch.Storm Music,Is That Jazz? and Gun are all great.By the way Re-Ron is not on this album.It was a single that came out two years later.

Midnight Band at its Peak !
Crisp horn arrangements, Robert Gordon's wicked DC style slap bass... and two of Gil Scott Heron's all time greatest staples GUN and RE-RON on this... (IS THAT JAZZ smokes as well.) - - Though one of his "later" albums, this captures the Gil Scott Heron we know and remember (last time I saw him he didn't even have a drummer and seemed even less lucid that usual... hopefully things have changed for the better by now... but who knows... He was always so drunk he'd be falling off the bench to his Rhodes when I'd go see him at the CHESTNUT CABARET in Philly, but until 10 years ago was backed atleast by a wicked band to compensate !) - - This is a trip back to the good old days... (Who ever thought anyone would call the Reagan 80's good ?)

Man Ahead of H is Time.
Purchased the orginial LP in the 70's. Love it during this period as a result of Gil style and believe that he was ahead of his time with his wording and approach to getting his message across, as well as, stating the facts of the time. By the way still have LP. I am a child of the 60's free love and all that. Lucky I made it until now. Oh, he was the man on the LP in Vietnam.

Gil's Great
Over twenty years ago I stumbled onto this (then) album. The music is great, the insights...even better. Some of his thoughts are even more haunting now that we can view them in retrospect. For example, "B-Movie" with its scathing, but melodic, indictment of America's reaction to Ronald Reagan. "Guns" with its discussion of...well...guns. "Inner City Blues" discusses being black in America in a way that attacks easy (and poorly thought out) white stereotypes.

Gil puts up a mirror to our attitudes on foreign oil (suddenly...very timely--maybe even prescient), guns, being black in America.

What he says is very honest, cannot be dismissed, and spares no-one.

On top of all this, the music is...I believe...his best. I've purchased many of his albums (looking for this one). None (that I've found) seem to hit the level of excellence as consistently as this one.

Reflections
This CD is another one of those gems from Gil Scott. Each song has it's on story that can be related to most people. Being fom Louisiana, I remembered that day when Mark Essex shot uo downtown New Orleans. It was indeed an Inter City Blues" This CD is a must for any Gil Scott fan. ... Read more

Album Description

When Love Speaks is a beautiful, classic gift of love inspired by the sonnets of William Shakespeare. A lovely 44-page book features all of the texts, with lovely original artwork and includes a single CD featuring William Shakespeare's love sonnets read by some of the finest actors in the world. Artists Rufus Wainright, Barbara Bonney, Des'ree, Bryan Ferry, Keb Mo, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Annie Lennox, and John Potter perform eight new, original songs. Much of the music was written and conducted by top film composer Michael Kamen. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Enough to make a girl swoon!!!
Beautiful music, beautiful words, read by the best actors in the world...it's enough to make a girl swoon!!! Alan Rickman's velvet voice alone is worth the price of this CD!!!

Mesmerising..
A fellow Rickman fan sent this as a gift and I was overwhelmed. I have always loved Shakespeare, but to hear the sonnets read by some of today's most accomplished actors is simply sublime. The passages are read with so much feeling and passion, it is easy to become hypnotized by their melodic voices. My 2 year old son also listens, enraptured, when I play this while doing household chores. Not a bad way to introduce him to Shakespeare.

Love doth speak, are you listening?
Shakespeare at it's best! There is something wonderful to be said of Shakespeare's Sonnets. They inspire, breed desire and set you on fire. Love will make us do strange things and to hear the sonnets being read by the best of the best of the best (are there better than Sir Richard Attenborough, Alan Rickman, John Hurt, Fiona Shaw...shall I go on?) is like waking up to the most magnificent sunrise. The music (Annie Lennox, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Rufus Wainwright...)is so inspiring! It makes you want to fall in love!

Rufus wainwright Sonnet 29
Sonnet 29 by Rufus Wainwright is an absolute work of art. I recommend this album highly. The beauty that will transcend you from listening to this song, is unparalleled by any other modern album.

Love speaks
This is one of the most stunning compilations I've ever heard. Sure to make a Shakespeare fan out of the most hardened skeptic. Alan Rickman is extremely compelling. John Hurt is brilliant. The Willow Song from Othello is sung, to perfection, by Barbara Bonney, and Bryan Ferry lends his voice to a beautiful rendition of "Shall I compare thee to a summers day". ... Read more

Reviews (9)

5 stars, after i did the math........
my musical consciousness is slowly being altered. i can feel it. once in a while, a record comes along that reorients one's perception of what else is out there. this is one such record. undoubtedly, scott-heron is a uniquely gifted poet, in the rich twentieth century american tradition of social activist poets, using the magical thrust of words to evoke a reaction from the depths of what i would call the "humanistic nucleus" of our mind-center. while most of the tunes on this album are poems of protest, and sociopolitical criticism, it is the underlying musical arrangements and scott-heron's lovely vocal flights that give the record a lasting power and freshness. the vocals fuse elements of jazz and soul in a particularly facile manner - i hear both marvin gaye and nina simone in scott-heron's voice. the musical arrangements mirror this eclectic approach. ron carter (bassist with miles davis on such seminal electric jazz records as "filles de kilimanjaro" and "live evil") works his bass effortlessly in the background, displaying an astonishing variety of rhythmic moods, providing ample room for the other musicians to strut their stuff. coming immediately after the brutally confrontational first track, the flute softens up and mellows out the musical space beautifully, as s-h settles into an impassioned plea to "save the children". the piano arrangements are particularly inspired, and flower into full blossom on the quieter, contemplative tracks right in the heart of the album - "pieces of a man", and "signs of our ages". the ominous last track effectively rounds out the record, and ensures that i will return many times to it in the future. i am sure of it. highly recommended.

Endless night to a new dawn.
This music ,these words, tell a story of despair, rage, outrage, and hope when the ghettos were still burning. It's in your face (The Revolution Will Not Be Televised), it's in your gut (The Needle), it's in your soul (Lady Day And John Coltraine), it's in your mind (I Think I'll Call It Morning). The times have changed but the message is still the same: The power of the human spirit will overcome. Thank you Gil for the light you brought to me on those many dark nights.

A true Poet
Gil Scott-Heron is one of the Greatest Poets The World Has Ever Produced.His Words still Hit Home.very Underrated when folks talk about Lyrical Genius.but he has written songs that are Timeless&Very Much in your Face&Mind.The Music is Great as well.Solid Production&Arrangements.It's Wonderful hearing somebody saying something.Home is Where The Hatred is Speaks Volumes.

Simply Brilliant
If they only gave me two words, they would be "BUY IT!" Few, if any, can match GSH at his best and this is, arguably, his absolute best. Nothing is missed and nothing is wasted. One of the tragically unappreciated artists of our time at peak form.

Best Entry in his Great Discography
This album is a terrific introduction to GSH's stuff and in my opinion his best album overall, edging out "Winter in America" and "South Africa to South Carolina," and the Flying Dutchman classic "The Revolution Will Not be Televised."

No, you will not hear Gil's poetry set to a spare percussion background, a la "Whitey on the Moon," "Brother," and "No Knock." That is a drawback, and be sure go to the Flying Dutchman record for that. But what you will get is beautiful writing backed by a strong band. And Gil's voice was in great form on this album; this is unfortunately no longer true.

There isn't a weak tune, but several stand out: the poignant "Home is Where the Hatred Is"; the uplifting "I Think I'll Call It Morning"; the spellbinding "The Prisoner"; and of course the classic "Revolution Will Not be Televised," which could teach any number of lame present-day rappers how it once was done.

Buy it, put it on, and then lean back and enjoy hearing one of the most compelling voices ever to come out of music. ... Read more

Album Description

Referred to as "The Minister of Information", Gil Scott Heron is one of the most diverse artists to emerge during the 70s and 80s.Many consider his unique brand of urban spoken word poetry a factor that lead to the development of hip-hop music.THE BEST OF GIL SCOTT HERON LIVE is a dynamic 2 disc set featuring some of Gil Scott-Heron's best known material, including "Johannesburg". ... Read more

Album Description

We at Collectors’ Choice Music continue our pursuit of the most eclectic, eccentric and unique recordings in pop music history with the release of this 1971 album from TV talk show host Les Crane! Les’ soothing rendition of the 1906 inspirational poem "Go Placidly Among the Noise and the Haste," set to a gospel soul musical background and retitled "Desiderata," caught the early-’70s self-help zeitgeist and shot to #8 on the charts, taking this album into the Top 40 with it. The rest of the record features top LA session musicians backing Crane’s reading of such works as Thoreau’s "Independence (A Different Drummer)" and "Nature (Wilderness)," "Maxim Gorky’s Esperanza (Hope)," the Native American poem "Vision," "Friends," "Beauty (Shining from the Inside Out)," "Happiness (I Got No Cares)," "Courage (Eyes That See)," and even an adaptation of Dorothy L. Nolte’s poem "Children Learn What They Live" entitled "Love." For collectors of the strange pathways of American pop culture (and aren’t we all?), this one’s a gem. Exclusively from Collectors’ Choice Music! ... Read more

Amazon.com

As a reader and performer of his own words, Kerouac wasn't as potent as his beat-generation pals. He lacked the greasy charisma of Allen Ginsberg or the razor squawk of William Burroughs. But what Kerouac did have was real joy, a certain innocence (despite his wild experiences), and an Everyman's charm. This last quality infects these historic recordings, making Kerouac's freethinking, beautiful words and images jump out of the past with as much potency as when he laid them down in the late 1950s. The Collection gathers Kerouac's three albums (which feature the author riffing alongside jazzmen Steve Allen, Zoot Sims, and Al Cohn) and a brace of bonus tracks. The performances are coupled with expansive liner notes, photos, and commentary. This set is required beat listening. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Melts your mind into the beat mind-set....
If you've read everything Kerouac ever published, then this collection is a marvelous review and memory jogger. If you've always heard of him and the beats but you've never read him, then this is a perfect first introduction. I've heard people say that they can't read his flow of consciousness style. Well, these recordings in his own voice shows how to read him- like a long flowing jazz riff. You've got to hear him like this in your own mind to get him. Put these recordings on and close your eyes, it transports you to a better place, a better time, a better mind-set. Of course, if you look for Kerouac's America it is still out there, here and there in certain forgotten corners, certain moments out of time....

I'm still absolutely amazed by Jack Kerouac. Who else could discuss Dostoevsky knowingly one moment, then without missing a beat, switch to the three stooges? Who else could instantly switch from Sanskrit to scat? Yet it works perfectly, for a great soul can encompass entire worlds without contradiction.

I damn near want to cry when . . .
This set takes me back so far in time, I can hardly consume the oxygen required to revive myself. I bought a copy of this at Cyrano's Book Store in Anchorage, Alaska on tape. I parted with it over the years but it was a mistake. I re-purchased it the other day, once more; but this time on the crisp delivery of CD. Kerouac's voice to me, is what I imagine god to sound like. If they would've made track 15 from the first disk available to listen to, you'd buy it too, without hesitation. Hearing Jack read the last paragraphs from On The Road, makes one realize that it stands to be one of the greatest passages ever written in Literature (of any genre).

Jack Kerouac with voice intact becomes reverant, gracious and invisible all at once. You'll read and hear him say how in his life, he was hated by most he met, even the musicians who play on the disk. Do we have to alienate ourselves so much to really 'see'? I'm just thankful that it took place and was released. I couldn't find a better way to live on.

Hoka hey, Jack.

joy & sorrow
The first album in this box set, which contains 15 tracks of Kerouac reciting prose while Steve Allen plays beautiful jazz piano, is dazzling. There is something magical and heartbreaking about the record.. Listening to it makes you feel as if you're sitting next to Jack himself at a bar, drinking, as he tells you these stories and talks to you. For any fan of Kerouac's writing, this album is a must. Once you've heard this, you will read his books knowing the sweet voice that is talking emphatically.

Jack's voice
Jack Kerouac is one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, and I beleive he also has one of the best voices. The difference between reading the book yourself and listening to Jack read it is all in his voice. It is, in a word, mesmerizing. I first heard some of this collection in my Beat Generation class in college, and I had to get the collection.

Salvador Dali said that Jack Kerouac was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. I don't think anyone can listen to his voice, see his pictures in this collection, and appreciate his writings without agreeing whole-heartedly.

This collection of works is more than a few good CDs--it's an experience.

Melts your mind into the beat mind-set.
If you are familiar with everything Jack Kerouac ever wrote, then this set is a great memory jogger. If you are new to his work it is a superb introduction. Or perhaps you've tried to read him but never got into his "flow of consciousness" style. Then, these recordings teach you how to hear him in your mind- as one long, sweet jazz riff. Just close your eyes and let him transport you to better times and better places. Of course, Kerouac's America is still out there, here and there, in forgotten corners, in special places and special people.
Kerouac was the soul of his age. Who else but Jack could go from commenting on Dostoeveky one minute, then switch to the Three Stooges without missing a beat? Or just as easily go from Sanskrit to scat. And it works. That is because a great soul can encompass entire worlds without contradiction.... ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Outstanding Reading By The Premier Beat Poet
If you've read any of Kerouac's books, and likely if you're reading this review and considering this purchase, you have - then you are truly in for a treat.

This is an excellent Spoken Word disc.

Hearing Kerouac reading his own words, the wonderful cadence of his voice, the slight Massachusetts accent coming through, the improvised jazz be-bop, and even the very crisp noise registered when he turns the page of his ever present notebook - this is the Kerouac you've wanted to hear since you first read "On The Road".

He expounds on San Francisco, Allen Ginsburg, Jazz and Be-Bop, and impressively The Beats.

Hearing him describe the "beat" in the opening track, the tempo he uses, the tonality in his voice, you'll hear what the "Beat Generation" is all about.

The excellent liner notes and packing, some of which are presented as postcards, indicate this recording was made sometime in 1958 or 1959 and Mr. Jack Kerouac is at his prime.

This is a treasure, a real gift for the Kerouac fan.

I strongly suggest you purchase this excellent recording. The production values are very high. The sound is crisp and clean.

Thank you Verve Records for this real historic find.

The King of Beat Defines Beat
Since I read On The Road, Kerouac has changed the way that I viewed prose and poetry. It is here in these recordings that I heard the voice of Jack himself. Often humorous--at times even daring to be silly, he shows how literature isn't dead and dusty meant to be spoonfed to school-children--But it breathes, slides jumps from the soul to the tongue to soul of others. These works are pieces of Jack's vision of the "American Night." They are real, gritty, and intense. Unedited, and bleeding. No cliches. No reliance on sentiment. So if your ready for real art, put down that Tom Clancy novel, and check this CD out for yourself.

"The angel bone is connected to the God bone...."
The words seem to flow from an other wordly source much as mantras flow from the mouths of tired old bhikkus. It's nice to hear Jack himself read his works not some later day rock musicians posing as "literary types" who probably read On the Road once just to tell their friends they are "hip." You can get stoned from this CD alone.

this be beat
Almost certainly (benzedrine?) charged by something illicit in the bloodstream Kerouac here rumbles and clear throatedly gives a word-slinging embrace to the microphone, there's power in these words, he punctuates it by stops and hesitations you can hear the paper rustling as he moves on. It was my first time hearing his voice and as that tired whiskey broken tone carried over the jazz and the beautiful women I can again understand the allure of beat again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The voice-over man from a thousand commercials, Ken Nordine registers in your subconscious instantly: Wait, I know that guy! Smooth as an ice sculpture and ringing with "the voice of our sponsor," Nordine has personified authority since the 1960s. It's disorienting at first to hear the way Nordine lets go on this record with a Beat-inspired, mellifluous-sounding, Dr. Seuss-like exploration of the meanings of different colors. Many of the pieces are parables on racism and human behavior, but they're also totally silly, and meant to be. Recorded in the late 1960s, the 34 tracks manage to be sort of psychedelically goofy but charming at the same time. "Absolute gray is the grayest gray / That's the same distance from absolute white as it is from absolute black," Nordine almost-sings to a delightful, freeform studio backing of hip jazz. All your mix tapes will be very happy that you've bought this strange record to flavor them with. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A pleasing pallette of punnery addressing social woes.
Ken Nordine's powerful anti-racism statement didn't quite explode like the loaded paint ball that it was supposed to.

Nonetheless, this record poignantly says a little something about you whatever color you might be.

Even if you're Puce.

The crazy ol' color that lives next to Red...
The cover promises 'a sensuous listening experience', and the promise is kept. Not only do you see the color in question before you, you also feel its texture and personality, it's that vivid! Brace yourself for an extraordinary listening experience...

It's a SPOKEN WORD album about COLORS by THAT VOICE GUY!
Life has its twists and turns; its paths, and music appreciation has
them too. For example, I love Robyn Hitchcock, and own all of his
albums. His most current, "A Star for Bram" (incidentally,
vastly superior to "Jewels for Sophia") contains a song
about Nick Drake. Good song. This prompted me to listen to Nick
Drake, who sounds like a prototype for those Scots Belle and
Sebastian. I put on "If you're Feeling Sinster," and when
it was over, I somehow had developed a wacky desire to listen to
Elvis. Costello, that is, and so I put on "Spike." The drum
intro on "Veronica" is the same as the intro to "James
K. Polk" by They Might Be Giants, so I listened to the album
"Factory Showroom." Having listened to two mediocre albums
by some excellent artists, I decided to continue the tradition and put
on "Respect" by Robyn Hitchcock. You see? Robyn Hitchcock
prompted me to listen to Nick Drake, from Drake to Belle and
Sebastian, to Elvis. Costello, that is, and then to TMBG and finally
back to Robyn again. I ended up worse off than when I started, but it
was a fun ride. I followed a logical path.

This is the
point--there is absolutely no logical path that leads to
"Colors." I mean, it's just out there... Fill in the
blank--"If you like ______, then you'll positively aDORE Ken
Nordine!" You can't! You just can't do it! I put the album in
the Jazz portion of my collection, but to briefly personify, I don't
know if good old Ken is getting on that well with Miles and Mingus. I
don't think Coltraine and Parker let him sit in very often. Even Dave
Brubeck is defensively indifferent... Maybe they're just jealous.

They could learn a lession by listening to the album. Essentially a
whimsical morality play in which one-dimensional Vices and Virtues
bang each other over the head, "Colors" would be a great
album to play for an emotionally developing child. Painting (if I
may) a resplendent and busily bustling picture of such sins as
racisism, envy, vanity, and sloth, "Colors" can at times be
a little heavy-handed as it oversimplifys. But within the social
commentary lies a celebration of color, of life; a wacky celebration
of wackiness.

Like this review, "Colors" sometimes
over-reaches. There is a consistency in theme (obviously--all the
songs are about colors), but the approach varies from song to song.
It's kind of like Disney--you know, Mickey keeps Pluto, a dog, as his
pet. Goofy, himself a dog, must be extremely open minded to be able
to be friends with someone who has disrespectfully reduced his blood
brother to the status of lowly, doghouse dwelling pet, and how come
one is able to speak and understand English and not the other, etc...
Know what I mean? Nordine's playful "Maroon" aims to rhyme
words with "maroon," whereas "Black" and
"White" are more conceptual and many songs personify colors
and assign them character traits. These transgressions are easily
forgivable due to the merit of the album as a whole, and there are
some KILLER lines (I paraphrase the following) "Only colors not
worth seeing/Is the grey way Beige likes things being."
Dude...

I've owned this album for over a year and I STILL haven't
really gotten over what initally drew me to it. It's simple really:
"Colors" is a SPOKEN WORD album about COLORS as performed by
THAT VOICE GUY!

That's all I really needed to say. It's wacky.
It's a great album to own. The inlay contains instructions for a game
you can play by listening to the album. You can sneak it into your CD
player when company is over and wait for people to go "What the
%#!@ is this?!?!" It's obscure, it's funny, it's off-beat, it
doesn't sound like anything else, it doesn't require assembly or
batteries, the MUSIC is excellent, the concept doesn't get old, it's
well written and well performed, goes great with milk, and MATCHES
anything you wear. If you're still reading this review, you probably
own the album anyway, so do the rest of the mental work yourself...
Rock on, Ken Nordine...

GET HIM OUT OF MY HEAD
very annoyingly annoying absolute annoying is as further away from absolute bliss as absolute hell listen to it once for the expierence dont bye it though get it at a tag sale

how can i possibly sum up this man's uniqueness in 1 line...
Ken is a true original, blending the lost arts of true storytelling with wit, pathos and sheer idiotic charm. He is above all others, a master wordsmith and poet.

I saw this artist perform live in London at Laurie Anderson's 'Meltdown festival 1997'. If you EVER get the chance to see some of this work performed live, with Ken backed by his orchestra or Jazz artists, then do so, It will be like nothing you expect. OK - i'll try... Imagine William S Boroughs crossed with Ivor Cutler by way of.... er..... Hong Kong Phooey? ... and you 're still nowhere near it....

The Colurs album should be sampled randomly and in bite sized amounts.... be patient and the silliness will slowly infect your soul... When you are ready, check out Word Jazz Vol 1 for a taste of the bigger Nordeine picture..

Finally, if Volume two ever surfaces, can someone send me a copy?

Pick a colour, any colour and smile..

My personal choices are , Beige, Puce, Russet, maroon and Orange.... ... Read more