Today’s mix contains some forgotten music by some musicians I’ve mentioned recently. The mix started of with the song “Long Afternoons” by Paul Seibel from the album Woodsmoke and Oranges. I always loved this song, years after this album Jerry Jeff did a nice cover on his 1977 A Man Must Carry On album and rerecorded it on the Gypsy Songman album. Here’s Jerry Jeff performing it in 2009
So Thursday’s eclectic mix started with three CDs I picked up at the Dollar Tree the other night. 
First up was a self-titled album Tribaljazz from a band that I had never heard of, but the sticker on the cover said it was John Densmore’s (drummer of The Doors) band so, aside from the price, that was good enough reason for me to pick it up. The band is a great eclectic jazz band lead by John Densmore on drums and Art Ellis on flute and the rest of the band is composed of musicians from around the world. John Densmore from the liner notes:
So in honor of St. Patrick’s Day and my McCloskey ancestors, yes, they are the ones that my wife keeps finding newspaper articles about often being arrested in Beverly. Mostly for drunk and disorderly behavior including, my great-grandmother Margaret McCloskey Ashton, I listened to some Irish blues men, Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore. Now Rory Gallagher is one of those artist that I’ve heard the name and never really listened to their music, while Garry Moore I’ve heard and really like. The Gallagher album that I chose was Live at Montreux and is a collection of recording made during his performances in 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1985.Overall, I liked the album, but it was a little more blues rocky than the blues I usually listen to. There was one song that stood out on my second listen “Out on the Western Plain”. That track had a really neat acoustic sounding guitar. Also “Last of the Independents” and “Mississippi Sheiks” stood out. There are some good reviews at Amazon from fans who know more than me about Gallagher. Sadly, Gallagher passed away from complications after a liver transplant in 1995 at the age of 47. Also, I was surprised to read at Amazon that Hendrix rated Gallagher second to himself as a guitarist. I guess I will have to listen to some more Rory Gallagher!
So according to my Avalon Ballroom calender today is not only St. Patrick’s Day but also, Paul Kanter’s birthday! Paul was born in 1941 so that makes him 69 years young, just remember 60 is the new 40 so says the man approaching 60! Anyway Jefferson Airplane was always one my favorite bands and 3/5 of a mile in 10 seconds – the live version from Bless It’s Pointed Little Head along with enjoy Grace Slick and Marty Balin’s vocals I always loved Jorma Kaukonen’s guitar work. I also am a fan of Hot Tuna! A few years ago Jorma got together a bunch of fine bluegrass pickers and put out a great bluegrass album Blue Country Heart. Since then he has put out two more fine albums Stars in My Crown and River of Time. But back to the Airplane has anyone listened to the self-titled reunion album put out in 1989. I really liked that album! Any thoughts?
I started the day today listening to Carrie Newcomer’s new album Before & After. Before & After is the 12th solo album for the Indiana native and I think maybe her best work ever! The album has a little of everything and it takes more than one or two listens to take it all in. On the first listen, which actually last week the first song that really stood out to me was “Stones in the River” I just loved the symbolism of the chorus:
One of my favorite bands from the 60’s and early 70’s was Ten Years After and not just because of Alvin Lee’s guitar wizardry. No, while I liked the overall blues rock feel of the band and loved tracks like “Good Morning, Little School Girl” and “Woke up this Morning”‘ I also liked that the rest of the bands members could play and the strong jazz influences on their early albums particularly 
on the second release Undead. I loved the track “Woodchopper’s Ball”. A cover of the Woody Herman hit. The band was the first band booked by the Chrysalis Agency and their performance at the Windsor Jazz Festival in 1967 led to their contract with Deram Records. I have their albums from the first release Ten Years After through Cricklewood Green. Which was their fifth album and contained the hit “Love Like a Man”. After that album the band took a more
commercial turn with A Space in Time which contained the song “I’d Love to Change the World and I kinda drifted away. The band ultimately broke up in 1974 when Alvin Lee embarked on a solo career.
So the first album that came out of the stack of vinyl here next to the old USB record player was Tom Paxton’s 1983 release Bulletin. While Tom is one of my all-time favorites this album never got a lot of spins. I guess because a few other things were happening in those years like Andrew being 1 year old and Nick being 4 and other stuff. Anyway Track 1 was “It’s Only a Game” a song about that wonderful Rubik’s Cube and the way it can frustrate you and leave you shaking your head saying “It’s Only a Game!”. The album was produced by Tom’s friend Bob Gibson and the second track I listened to from the album “Something’s Wrong with the Rain” feature’s background vocals by Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen. Tom, Anne Hills and Bob Gibson have recorded an album together and Tom and Anne recorded a great album together Under American Skies.
I was intrigued this morning when I logged on to Rhapsody and saw that there was a release of a new Jimi Hendrix CD, which I believe means now he has released more CDs dead than alive or maybe it just seems that way. 
Anyway I put the album Valleys of Neptune on the mp3 player and gave it a listen and thought it was pretty good but on the second listen my opinion rose to pretty awesome. All of the tracks were recorded in a four month period in 1969 after the release of Electric Ladyland and feature Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. These are the last recordings with these sideman who were shortly to be replaced by the Band of Gypsies, i.e. Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums. The tracks feature new unreleased versions of “Stone Free”, “Fire” and Red House” and a great cover of an Elmore James’ song “Bleeding Heart” (my favorite on the first listen) and an instrumental version of Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love”. Other good cuts include “Hear My Train A Comin'” and “Ships Passing Trhough the Night”. Overall it was a great listen definitely a 4.5 and maybe a 5 out of 5 after a few more listens.
