7 posts tagged “joe jackson”
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Where we last left off on my Star Trek music coverage, we heard from Brent Spiner (Data) , Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), and Leonard Nimoy (Spock) and William Shatner (Captain Kirk).
Today, I am happy to report that I have Tim Russ's self-titled 2000 album that I picked up used. Fans of Star Trek: Voyager will know Russ as Lt Commander Tuvok, but if you follow Star Trek closely, you'd recognize Russ in other Trek roles (like the movie Star Trek: Generations).
The album is largely jazz-style, but there is a blues song that really stood out for me: "Crossroads".
The most interesting thing about this song is that it's based on Robert Johnson's most popular song, "Cross Road Blues". Johnson had a short (less than two years), but very influencial career as a Delta blues musician... and many believe that he made a deal with the Devil to become a famous singer (and hence his untimely death at the age of 27).
I'm not sure if Russ was a fan before starring as Robert Johnson in Crossroads (1986), but it's evident that Russ loved Johnson's song that he recorded his version of it on this self-titled album.
What makes Russ' version more compelling is that it's actually based on an interpretation of Johnson's classic song from Eric Clapton when he was in Cream (from the album Wheels Of Fire). I love the Clapton's version as well, featuring some great guitar-playing and his blues-rock vocals.
Tim Russ will be making some rare appearance: September 20th at the Rhythm and Ribs in Sacramento, California and on October 11th at the Tri-State Convention in Washington.
Below are some more Star Trekkin' goodness.
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Links:
timrusswebpage.net
Maude Maggart is the sister of Fiona Apple. |
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If you've ever seen my DVD collection, you'll know that I am a pretty big fan of Star Trek. I have previously mentioned how much I love Data from Star Trek and was glad to see that the actor, Brent Spiner, had recorded Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back. The 1940's pop and showtunes standard album have been out of print for a while, and fans and collectors have paid a lot of money to own an original copy. I would recommend getting a copy of his new, just-released, album, Dreamland before it goes out of print or you'll regret it later.
Dreamland is an old fashion radio musical with already established jazz singer, Maude Maggart. We've previously used her cover of Cole Porter's "Night and Day". It is important that I mention the Porter tune, because Brent Spiner heard her Porter cover of "Looking at You" and fell in love with her voice.
The other star appearing on this CD is Mark Hamill (Star Wars). He plays the villainous boyfriend and the Spanish waiter, and I believe other character voices too. I'm not familiar with the other voice actor Pat Richardson, but I think she is a pretty famous TV actress.
This album was meant to be listened to from start to finish, like an hour radio program. I was surprise to see that you can download it as per song ($1.50), but to me, this doesn't make much sense because you're only getting 1/16th of the story.
I didn't realize that the story is actually a dream (if you think I'm spoiling the story, I'm not, the explanation is written on the liner notes), so at one point in the story I was pretty confused when Spiner woke up with (what I imagined based on the voice acting) a horrific and older lady. The story is a great idea and it keeps you listening to find out what will happen next.
As for the songs, if you love old big band/swing Frank Sinatra tunes ("In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", "Nice 'n' Easy"), you'll love these new recording from Spiner and Maggart. The songs that are excellent are the duets, especially on the last track "To Know You is to Love You".
For some reason, when I was listening to this album, the one song that I kept going back to was "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone". There's a sense of humor in the song ("What do you call a singer who breaks up with his girlfriend?" answer: "Homeless!") and some improvisation and it made me think of a live 1930 setting.
Check out this video "behind the scene" of Dreamland, it really shows off what a great fun time they all had while recording this album (and it translate to the album too).
Dreamland is available on amazon and iTunes, but I would recommend getting it directly from therealbrentspiner.com because you can get it personalized and autographed.
What's in store for Brent in the future? It looks like he's going to be filming a documentary? From reading his blog, it would seem that he's going to be traveling around and will personally make stops to people's homes.
Bonus: Let's not forget other Star Trek actors have recordings. Here are some songs that we've previously used:
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Links:
therealbrentspiner.com
myspace.com/realbrentspiner
maudemaggart.com
myspace.com/maude...
There are a ton of album releases today! Here are the ones that might interest you:
The Mars Volta - The Bedlam In Goliath
From the ashes of At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta releases their fourth album, The Bedlam in Goliath, today.
There's a bunch of "exclusives", so for die-hard fans, you will have a very tough time tracking down all the extra bonus tracks.
I know that Best Buy have an exclusive 2nd live disc and if you got your CD from Japan, it comes with a DVD and a cover song of The Sugarcubes' "Birthday".
Their version is very... er.. very strange. I have to say "good try" though.
Chris Walla - Field Manual
Ceji previously wrote the review for this album, I suggest you read it if you're at all interested in Death Cab for Cutie.
There's not much to add, except that there is a limited edition (with a bonus CD) and as pointed out by Dale, you also get a couple of extra songs for downloads.
Description from Barsuk:
Available in two versions: Standard digipak cd package, or limited-edition deluxe clothbound cd package. Both come with a 32-page booklet featuring Chris' original photography.
SPECIAL LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Order by February 4th and get 3 non-album MP3 bonus tracks!
Shelby Lynne - Just a Little Lovin'
There's a few country albums released today, but since I don't have Willie Nelson's A Moment of Forever, I'm just going to talk about Grammy-Winner Shelby Lynne's Just a Little Lovin'.
Her 10th album is an all Dusty Springfield cover album. I take it back, there is one original song on here, it's called "Pretend". This song is written by Shelby Lynne and is mostly acoustic... in the same vein as her Dusty covers.
I love the album artwork, I think it may have been inspired by the live album Dusty in Memphis.
If you get the Best Buy digipack version as it comes with a bonus DVD with two live songs.
Louis XIV - Slick Dogs and Ponies
The only thing I know about Louis XIV is that all their songs are about drugs and sex. Right?
I'm glad to see that their latest release does not feature old porno images, instead you get darken green pictures of the band (I think).
Anyway, according to wikipedia: There's a Traitor in This Room is the lead single for the album, but I couldn't find evidence of this anywhere. It's not even available on the US iTunes store. By all accounts, it looks like Guilt by Association is the single.
Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers
You may have remember seeing the disturbing album artwork for
A Promise. Trust me, it's an image you cannot unsee.
Their cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" is also equally as disturbing.
Anyway, I haven't listen to Women as Lovers, but I noticed that they did another cover on the new album. This time it's Queen's "Under Pressure".
This version is actually pretty good, I wish it would utilize more of that awesome bass that Vanilla Ice took advantage of.
Joe Jackson - Rain
Don't forget that the CD/DVD combo album Rain by Joe Jackson is released today! It looks like I may have to review the album as Ryan is computerless.
Besides from from the awesome DVD (please see my review), the album is reminiscence of his popular Night and Day album. Joe Jackson returns to his piano-driven music, which I'm calling the Joe Jackson Trio (all jazz trios are named after their pianist).
Listening to the album, I was drawn to "Rush Across The Road", a song about seeing a complete stranger and wanting to rush over to her to get to know her. It's very easy-listening reminds me of a more optimistic version of the very bitter Positively 4th Street.
Jackson's ability to tell stories in short pop/jazz songs can also be heard on "Invisible Man" which I think is about a famous person slowly fading into obscurity.
Like most of his songs, it's open for interpretation.
01/29/2008 17:24:35
vu
my♥posts
www.weheartmusic.com
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Further Reading
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Joe Jackson was sending out his demos before being picked up by A&M Records in 1978. The result was the amazing debut album Look Sharp! (1979), featuring his big hit "Is She Really Going Out with Him?"
In this article am going to talk about some of my favorite Joe Jackson songs, only because he has a new album coming out in a few weeks. A full review will be done by Ryan later (keep your eyes peeled for that).
"Steppin' Out" is one of Jackson's best-known songs. If you don't think you know this song - trust me: YOU KNOW THIS SONG. It's from his best-selling and critically acclaimed album Night and Day (1982).
He didn't actually cover the Cole Porter's song (see Jason's article: Night and Day), this album is kind of in the tone of Porter's style.
Although this album is more piano-driven, all of Jackson's lyrics are still there: "You dress in pink and blue/Just like a child/And in a yellow taxi turn to me and smile/We'll be there in just a while/If you follow me..."
Embarrassingly enough, for the longest time, I have always thought "Steppin' Out" was a Hall & Oates song - especially with the xylophone.
The song, "Look Sharp!", was never released as a single, but I am in love with this wonderful New Wave/Rock sound.
Check out that rebellious punky lyrics:
Okay, what you say
Tell me what they're wearing this year
Go on and laugh at me 'cause you don't see
That I got something going right here
Say I'm just a dreamer
Say I'm just a kid
Well ace, shut your face
Maybe you will see or hear
I gotta say, "wow"! The song is saying to the world, hey you may not see much in me but the new kid in town is going to show you something.
"You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)": Just the title alone, it really illustrate Jackson's lyric writing for Body & Soul (1984).
I especially love the saxaphone as it carries its long note when Jackson sings "You can't get what you want/Till you know what you want".
So, obviously, I am a fan of Joe Jackson's 80s releases. To be honest, I haven't heard much from Joe Jackson until he resurfaced on my radar on William Shatner's Has Been (2003). I am sure all W♥M readers already have a copy of this CD. It's certainly one of my favorite cover song, and I am almost certain that Joe Jackson was the driving force behind getting Pulp's song covered.
Which brings me to 2008, Joe Jackson has a new album coming out in a few weeks called Rain. Since the album is already being reviewed, I won't spend too much time on audio portion (although I can tell you it's certainly piano-driven just like Night and Day). I'll be focusing on the DVD portion of Rain.
You get about 20 minutes of live concert with three songs ("Invisible Man", "Wasted Time", and "Good Bad Boy") recorded at the Islington Academy in London (24th May 2007). The concert footage is excellent and very professional.
There's some interviews (conducted with Alan Bangs), which I thought seemed awkward.
The best part of the DVD is the Joe's guide to Berlin! This is just great, whoever thought of this idea should get extra points.
I'm only showing you an excerpt of Joe talking about the Wall of Berlin and his insight on the whole thing.
I don't know if the bonus DVD will be available on future pressing of Rain, but looking at the retail price (about $16), it's a very good price for CD/DVD combo. The more common prices I've seen for CD/DVD combos are about $20.
By the way, there is a limited edition (signed and numbered by Jackson) - but it is already sold out.
Expect Jackson to go on tour shortly after the album's release on Ryko Disc in the UK (Jan 28th) and US (Jan 29th). They've already announced the password for his concert presale (the password is Davidian).
01/11/2008 07:03:03
vu
my♥posts
www.joejackson.com
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Hey, I just found out that Adina started a blog: Adina Adina Adina.
In one of her entry, she uploaded the interiors of her accordion book, and also an explanation:
For my Media II class last semester. The assignment was to make an electronic book, but also to present it in some form. I chose to do an accordion book, when you ribbon is untied, the box pops open to reveal the accordion pages.
I also wanted to reminder you about press.weheartmusic.com. Here are some new press releases I've just added.
The first one is that Joe Jackson is releasing a new album, Rain, with a DVD:
Joe Jackson, first studio album in four years, “Rain”, released in Europe on January 28th (January 29th in North America), will now be released by Rykodisc as a two-disc set, including a bonus DVD directed and produced by Julie Gardner, the recording engineer who recorded Joe’s last two studio albums. With a running time of over 40 minutes, the DVD will feature recent live performance footage, behind-the-scenes footage and a rare television interview.
Michael previously mentioned DeVotchKa on W♥M. Apparently DeVotchKa signed with Anti-:
Grammy-nominated DeVotchKa, well known for their scoring of the 2006 Oscar-winning film Little Miss Sunshine, capture a grand sense of the dramatic flavor of the U.S southwest and impart it onto both their gallant, artistic take on Eastern European folk music and the most emotive part of the indie rock scene. Images of the serious intensity of a troika being danced in a smoky bar on a Siberian plain and the soaring sweetness of a mariachi serenading a Mexican wedding party are conjured by the band’s lively performances and singer Nick Urata’s evocative voice.
Moby is appearing on The Current TV.
Tune into Current TV's "The Daily Fix" this December to catch the first of two episodes featuring singer/songwriter Moby. Serving as a guest host alongside Douglas Caballero, "The Daily Fix's" resident host, Moby talks about creating the musical score of the recently released film Southland Tales. Directed by Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko), this apocalyptic film features Justin Timberlake, Mandy Moore, The Rock and Sarah Michelle Gellar. The second installment of Moby's co-hosting gig on "The Daily Fix" will feature an interview with the up-and-coming Swedish house band, "The Knife."
And that ends the easiest entry I've ever done. I wanted to end with some potential W♥M Business Cards. I know one of them is way too dark (I'll have to lighten it later), but let me know which one you like best. I'm planning on getting them printed for for anyone that might want them.
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11/27/2007 22:50:26
vu
my♥posts
adinaadinaadina.blogspot.com
If you were one of the three people that watched my Sony 400 Disc Changer Review, you'd probably noticed that I like Star Trek. Particularly The Next Generation.
Well, last week (Sep 28th), marked the 20th Anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which came on the television screen in 1987.
I was born too late for the original Star Trek, but I was lucky enough to have caught TNG from the beginning. My favorite character, easily, was Data, the android played by Brent Spiner.
It's good news (depending on who you ask), is that Spiner released an album, Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back in 1991. The album is mostly 1930-40 pop standards. From what I've heard of Spiner's songs, he actually does a pretty good job. However since he called it Yellow Eyes and had The Sunspots (back-up vocals, including LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, and Patrick Stewart), it just seems like a tongue-in-cheek joke, and I'm not sure if I can take it seriously.
Since we're on the topic of Star Trek actors releasing music, no one can ignore the awesomeness of Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner.
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Shatner's approach to music, isn't really singing, but acting his songs out. Although The Transformed Man is pretty much spoken words, his second effort, Has Been is more of a music album. This is partly because of his collaborator, Ben Folds and Joe Jackson. We're not exactly sure why a Canadian like Shatner would cover a Britpop song by Pulp ("Common People"), but I did quite like his version.
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Leonard Nimoy had a bunch of covers on his The New World of Leonard Nimoy, including "Proud Mary", "Abraham, Martin and John", "Put A Little Love In Your Heart", and "I Walk the Line".
Perhaps the most bizarre song from Nimoy is "The Ballad Of Bilbo Baggins" about Bilbo Baggins from "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien.
My favorite Nimoy album, which is the only one I own, is A Touch of Leonard Nimoy, which was a "serious" album. Most of the songs sounds very folk, which common for this time.
Half of Shatner's Transformed Man and Nimoy's pre-1970's releases were collected on Spaced Out.
Finally, did you know that Nichelle Nichols (the actress that plays Lieutenant Uhura) have released not one, but two albums ? I actually didn't know she was a recording artist until I started doing research for this article.
Nichols's 1995 song, "Rock the World", feels a little funky and has that 80s vibe to it. I couldn't help but imagined her in her Star Trek uniform singing "Rock the World" to an alien planet. This could really make a great episode.
Post Script: Check out even more Nimoy goodness on 6BaM and WB Mook. Also, there are a few spoken word albums that you may want to check out, such as Spock vs. Q.
Discography
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10/06/2007 16:16:49
vu
my♥posts
vu@weheartmusic.com
www.startrek.com
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| Sixbucksamonkey wrote: Oct 6, 2007 9:01 PM |
[das ist gut] Thanks! Delightful post as usual. I see a few things here I need to seek out. Nichelle Nichols is the QUEEN of awesomeness. She's like Shirley Bassey multiplied times T'Pau.
But, frankly the Spiner stuff creeps me out a bit.
I've just figured out that people who weren't on Star Trek sing about it. Yet another reason to live!
I will tell you why I love this version - because William Shatner does not sing the song. He acts it.
The original song was a huge hit for Pulp, and I believe is the Britpop theme (sorry, it's definitely maybe not Oasis). Oasis, to me, was more cock and roll, not pop.
v
