PANIC OR BLISS? IT DEPENDS ON THE DAY.
"Burning Wood" is a daily dose of truth. We will focus on music, and just about anything else that may wander into our streams of consciousness.
"Radio Shack opened at 5AM this morning,'cuz ya know, kids are always asking Santa for RF switches and cr2024 batteries."
Giving thanks is officially out of style. It's time to throw an elbow in some woman's face and grab that duvee set for 30% off. Ah yes, Happy Holidays.
I found this mix earlier this week. It was labelled "July," but I am pretty sure I never used it. After some minor tweaking, it sounded ready to go. With the exception of a live version of "Black Friday" from Marian McPartland's radio show, I see no real theme here, except it all sounds great together.
Would love to hear what you think after you listen.
TRACK LIST
Go To Mexico - Cassandra Wilson Baby, It's You - Smith Hum Along And Dance - Rare Earth Love Child - Booker T. & The MGs Baby Please Don't Go - Mary Flower Waitin' Guilty- The Black Crowes I've Got Your Love - Boz Scaggs It Ain't Gonna Work - World Party Heartbreaker - The Booga Just Dropped In... - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings Since I've Been Loving You- Corinne Bailey Rae Feel Up - Grace Jones Hot For Teacher - David Grisman Black Friday - Steely Dan
Here is Paul Leary, guitarist of the Butthole Surfers, explaining the origin of the band's name:
"Well, we started out being called Nine Foot Worm Makes Own Food, and we were like---no, I'm sorry, it gets complicated. We started out as the Dick Clark Five in San Antonio. We had this deal about wanting to change the name of the band for every show we did, so the next show we were the Dick Gas Five, and then we were Nine Foot Worm Makes Own Food. Then we were Vodka Family Winstons, and we were Abe Lincoln's Bush. Then we were The Inalienable Right To Eat Fred Astaire's Asshole, and then the next show we were just plain Right To Eat Fred Astaire's Asshole. Then one night we were playing as something really ridiculous, I think it was Independent Worm Saloon. We had a song that Gibby (Haynes, the singer) wrote called 'Butthole Surfer,' and we were getting ready to play, and some guy got up and introduced us as the Butthole Surfers. At the end of the night we got paid a hundred and fifty bucks, so we thought we were going to get rich, and we stuck with that name, and well, here we are."
(Taken from "Rock Names: From ABBA To ZZ TOP" by Adam Dolgins.) HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Scottish phenom releases her first album full of big melodrama and sweeping strings. Includes such showstoppers as "I Dreamed A Dream," "Wild Horses," "Daydream Believer" and "Silent Night." No, really. Deluxe edition comes with a box of Kleenex and a coupon for bon bons.
"Long awaited 2009 six CD box set from the influential Rock 'n' Roll legend containing all of his official studio recordings. The 203 tracks range from his earliest recordings when 12 to 15 years old to demos with Bob Montgomery; from his earliest recordings with The Crickets and a set of garage recordings to his first studio recordings for Decca in Nashville; from the Coral and Brunswick recordings and hits that made him famous to his heralded apartment tapes. There are 6 previously unreleased tracks, including most of an August 1955 session, plus another 11 recordings previously unreleased in the U.S. Furthermore, all of the original, locatable undubbed original recordings are here as well as all 57 of the overdubbed versions recorded both in New York City and Clovis months and even years after the 'day the music died."
I listened to this record last week on the strength of the song "Time For Miracles," which might as well be Cheap Trick, AND the fact that I have never seen a single episode of American Idol. I am sorry to say, I liked it. I mean...you know...as far as pop albums go, he has something. You know? But then apparently, a little show by the name of the American Music Awards aired and suddenly this kid is the antichrist. Ok, I didn't see the show, but from what I understand, people are now wishing for Adam Lambert's death or at least an immediate exile to Pluto. Next...
Just got mine in the mail, and so far have only read the liner notes. (Did you know Tom Petty was from Florida?)
Here is the tracklist:
Disc: 1 1. Nightwatchman 2. Even The Losers 3. Here Comes My Girl 4. A Thing About You 5. I'm In Love 6. I'm A Man 7. Straight Into Darkness 8. Breakdown 9. Something In The Air 10. I Just Want To Make Love To You 11. Drivin' Down To Georgia 12. Lost Without You 13. Refugee Disc: 2 1. Diddy Wah Diddy 2. I Want You Back Again 3. Wildflowers 4. Friend Of The Devil 5. A Woman In Love (It's Not Me) 6. It's Good To Be King 7. Angel Dream (No. 2) 8. Learning To Fly 9. Mary Jane's Last Dance 10. Mystic Eyes Disc: 3 1. Jammin' Me 2. The Wild One, Forever 3. Green Onions 4. Louisiana Rain 5. Melinda 6. Goldfinger 7. Surrender 8. Dreamville 9. Spike 10. Any Way You Want It 11. American Girl Disc: 4 1. Runnin' Down A Dream 2. Oh Well 3. Southern Accents 4. Crawling Back To You 5. My Life/Your World 6. I Won't Back Down 7. Square One 8. Have Love Will Travel 9. Free Fallin' 10. The Waiting 11. Good Good Lovin' 12. Century City 13. Alright For Now
2009 UK 'Limited Deluxe Collectors Edition' Multi-Format Box consisting of 5 CDs, 2 DVD, 1 Blu-Ray and 1 vinyl LP - Comprising 4CDs of recordings drawn from thirty years of incredible live performances from around the world, representing the best tracks as chosen by producers Tom Petty, Mike Campbell & Ryan Ulyate, along with a Bonus 5th CD of 14 exclusive additional live tracks; 2 DVDs consisting of the previously unreleased New Years Eve 1978 Santa Monica, CA concert and the '400 Days' documentary film made during the 1995 Wildflowers Tour; a Blu-Ray Disc containing all 62 tracks in both stereo and surround sound; a vinyl LP of the remastered 1976 Official Live 'Leg bootleg album. Presented in deluxe packaging [designed by famous artist Shepard Fairey who became widely known for his Barack Obama 'HOPE' poster in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election] complete with a deluxe book with liner notes offering personal perspective by Tom Petty, Warren Zanes, Bill Flanagan, Robert Hilburn, Joel Selvin, Austin Scaggs, and Phil Sutcliffe; a 12" x 12" Lithograph reproduction of Shepard Fairey Cover Art; a 8" x 12" Reproduction of 1997 twenty night Fillmore stand concert poster; the 'Live Anthology' notebook; and assorted authentic vintage backstage satin passes! Universal. 2009.
2 CD set compiled from the 2008 tour, features a 36 minute bonus disc highlighting Tom's brilliant skills as a raconteur, entitled "Tom Tales," which I'm feeling may be even more exciting. Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't give you the option to buy the second CD as a download.
THE COWSILLS- THE COWSILLS First official release of the pop band's debut, remastered from the original mono source with 8 additional tracks, none of which feature Beyonce.
RIHANNA- RATED R "THE WAIT IS OVA. Rated R is the fourth studio album by Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna. The album's first single, ''Russian Roulette,'' was written by Ne-Yo and Rihanna, and produced by Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony. Album includes collaborations with Young Jeezy, Slash, Will.I.Am." Heh. Barbadian.
WAIT, THERE'S MORE....
SHAKIRA- SHE WOLF She Wolf, Shakira’s 6th studio album, was written and produced by Shakira with some guest collaborators, and features mostly English compositions. “The worst that can happen to me is repeat myself and repeat the same old formula,” said Shakira in a Rolling Stone interview. Producer John Hill (Santigold), Lil’ Wayne, and Pharrell are among the many to collaborate with Shakira for this culture fusion album."
(So many things to choose from for my Amazon Wish List.)
ANGIE STONE- UNEXPECTED "Brand new from Angie Stone, first single hitting the airwaves is ''I Ain't Hearing You'', she is appearing in a new film this November, ''Pastor Brown and the School Girls''"
Wrecking Ball (with Curt Ramm) The Ties That Bind Hungry Heart Working on a Dream Blinded By the Light Growin' Up Mary Queen of Arkansas Doe This Bus Stop at 8nd Street? Lost in the Flood The Angel For You Spirit in the Night It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City Waitin' on a Sunny Day The Promised Land Restless Nights Surprise, Surprise Green Onions Merry Christmas Baby (with Curt Ramm) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (with Curt Ramm) (I Don't Want to) Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes Boom Boom My Love Will Not Let You Down Long Walk Home The Rising Born to Run Tenth Avenue Freeze-out (with Curt Ramm) I'll Work For Your Love Thunder Road American Land (with Curt Ramm) Dancing in the Dark Rosalita (with Curt Ramm) Higher and Higher (with Curt Ramm) Rockin' All Over the World DISC ONE
The first half of Ray Davies' performance last Thursday at NYC's Town Hall was charming, if a bit familiar. Opening with an acoustic guitar and just his lead guitarist accompanying him, Davies ran through a pat set of Kinks favorites that included "I Need You," "Ape Man," "I'm Not Like Everybody Else," "Sunny Afternoon," and "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion," a run of songs that has not changed much from his last few tours. Ray was in fine voice, good spirits, and though looking more and more like Jack Warden every day, still had more energy than people I know half his age. After a few more acoustic numbers, including a couple off of his most recent solo record 'Working Man's Cafe," the band took the stage, with 70's Kinks' member Ian Gibbons on keys, to rock but ultimately rush through a few more gems. I was excited about the choir too, but we were all already there. Play the songs like you mean it.
It was after the brief intermission when this show was lifted from average to special. Taking the stage while the house lights were still on, the Dessoff Chamber Choir Of NYC, filed into their chairs, and minutes later, Ray & the band performed selections from "The Kinks Choral Collection," the recently released album of Kinks' classics, reworked to include this wall of sound. Every song was a triumph. Not in a "big marching band, cheer on the team way," which is what I had originally expected to feel once I heard about this record. But more like a "sit on the edge of your seat wondering how this will come off, then being fulfilled to the point of goose bumps" kind of way.
There's a subtle but important line that shouldn't be crossed here. It's the same uncrossed line that makes a New Orleans brass band funkier than a mosquito's tweeter and NOT some halftime extravaganza at the Ohio State/Michigan game. This project could have been very wrong. Instead, it was very right. It was all just wonderful.
Take a look.
(my pictures, but not my video)
Then on Friday, just a few restaurants and Asian caricaturist tables away at Times Square's Nokia Theatre, another rock legend, Roger Daltrey took the stage with Simon Townshend, Phil Entwistle and Warren Moon (ok, not rea...nevermind) and put on a should-have-been-great solo show. Through no fault of the excellent band or the killer set list which included some rarely performed Who tracks such as "Pictures Of Lily," "Tattoo," "Naked Eye," and one of my favorite Pete Townshend songs "Blue Red & Grey," this show suffered a bit more than a bit, thanks to Daltrey's misguided storytelling.
After listening to some performances from the early part of the tour, I had been dreading this evening, company excluded. Daltrey's voice was going from bad to worse, sounding about as musical as Jack Webb after a pack of Luckies. Thankfully, Daltrey kicked his bout with "the grip," and sounded better than ok. This wasn't the problem. The problem was that for every song, there was a 3 minute story about the song; a gimmick that might have worked in a sit down setting, with some prior notice. But standing nuts to butts with maniacal Who fans in a sweltering theatre was not the time to wax nostalgic about your early days with "The Ox." One friend commented, "It's not a Who show. It's a Daltrey show. He can do what he wants. He's not a smart guy, but he's sincere." All true, but it still doesn't change my feeling that, what could have been a very fine evening, suffered from awful pacing.
There were more than enough highlights though, including kick-ass versions of "I Can See For Miles," "Young Man Blues," and "The Real Me." Plus, my favorite moment of the night, Simon Townshend's flawless take on "Going Mobile."
Good weekend of music, despite some minor complaints.
Here's Ray On Letterman.
Eerily similar review below, which posted 30 minutes after mine, by the way.
"Sal, with all the Deluxe packaging these days, will you please do a weekend mix of your all-time top 20 favorite alternate mixes? Thanks, Bill"
Sure Bill. How about 14? And what if they aren't my all time favorites, but at least alternates I really like...a lot? (Most of'em, anyway.)
It's not often I get requests that I want to honor or am able to do physically. So Bill, this one's for you.
TRACKLIST
Grapevine (Remix) Gladys Knight & The Pips (This Questlove remix of the Motown classic couldn't be any funkier. I actually play this one and like this one more than the original.)
Such A Night (False Starts) - Elvis Presley (I'm pretty sure I first heard this on Scott Muni's show long before outtakes and studio chatter became commonplace on reissues. Love hearing him instruct the band. Still a Top 5 Elvis song for me.)
You're So Good To Me (New Stereo Mix) - The Beach Boys (Self-explanatory really. Just a big, bright, new stereo mix of a Beach Boys classic.) Baby Blue (Single Mix) - Badfinger (Todd Rundgren's production gets a bigger drum sound for the single mix.)
Dear God (Band Demo) - XTC (Speaking of Todd, this is the pre-Todd demo of the "Skylarking" hit." Doesn't sparkle like the finished version, but worthy of inclusion nonetheless.)
Walking In The Rain (Rare Stereo) - The Ronettes (The super-rare, and "super-irior" stereo version) It's Different For Girls - Joe Jackson & Elaine Caswell (Found on the b-side of JJ's "Stranger Than Fiction" single, this acoustic piano duet is a killer and truly one of my all-time favorites "alternates.") Twilight (Alternate) - The Band (I think this alternate works much better than the steel-drum infected single version.) You Can't Resist It (remix) - Lyle Lovett (The drums get pumped up, the tambourine gets louder, and the overall feel of this remix makes the album version seem flat.) Lady Stardust (Demo) - David Bowie (A piano and a double-tracked Bowie vocal. That's it.)
Alison (US Single Version) - Elvis Costello (I know many who hate this version, but I am a sucker for harmony and strings.)
Once In A Lifetime (Extended) - Talking Heads (Longer? Yes. Better? Don't think so.)
Bold As Love - Jimi Hendrix (Longer? Yes. Better? HELL YEAH!!!)
Born To Run (Alternate) - Bruce Springsteen (Interesting and maybe amazing. Decide for yourself on this one.) ZIP FILE
ENJOY THE WEEKEND.
See ya Monday with reviews of both Ray Davies and Roger Daltrey live (at least in Ray's case) in Times Square.
DISCLAIMER: All music on this site is for promotional purposes only. Burning Wood encourages EVERYONE to legally purchase music from your favorite record store or online shop.
This Wheel's On Fire: Levon Helm & The Story Of The Band- Levon Helm w/ Stephen Davis
Neon Rain- James Lee Burke
What I Am Listening To Now
She Smiled Sweetly- v/a
Frank Sinatra- New York
The Kinks- Lola Vs. Powerman
David Rawlings' Machine- A Friend Of A Friend
Slayer- Reign In Blood
The Revillos- Attack
Paper Zoo- E.P.
Tom Petty- The Live Anthology
About Me
Sal Nunziato
From The Big Apple To The Big Easy, United States
I listen to music more than most people sleep. All music, not just the current trends or the sacred stars of the past. I've written liner notes for all the
major labels. I have been published in the New York Times and Newsweek. I am a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post. There's nothing I like more than telling it like it is. Don't believe the hype. Believe me! I KNOW! I want you to care, or at least pretend to. I'm funny that way.
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