Black Friday hodgepodge #1

Though I’ve (semi-) resisted turning this into a long-winded version of Facebook, from which I fled two years ago, today I must succumb. Perforce….

Today’s soundtrack

Workingman’s Dead (2013 Remaster), The Grateful Dead.
It seems impossible to avoid these remasters in today’s streaming world. Thankfully, this one does justice to The Dead, pulling out voices with clarity and adding a high-fidelity punch to the guitar playing.

17-11-70 (UK-Release Mix), Elton John.
This has to be one of the best live albums from my teen-aged years (though the American version was titled 11-17-70 to reflect our peculiar dating system). Elton’s piano and vocals are accompanied only by Nigel Olsson on the drums and Dee Murray on bass. The performance occurred at A&R Recording Studios in front of fewer than 200 audience members, but was broadcast on radio. This mix has more reverb than my original vinyl–which I still have, by the way. I think the extra reverb mostly sounds better to my ears. The vocals are clearer than my overplayed vinyl too. After this Elton’s style began to change from a piano-ballad style; this represents the only live album of his to reflect what he sounded like in the early years. Wish I could stream the expanded version released a few years ago, 17-11-70+.

Captured Live At The Forum, Three Dog Night.
Sticking with the great live albums from that time, and predating Elton’s performance by a year, this album highlights an interesting vocal group of the time. One of the great concert lines occurs a short way into the recording: after listening to some shouts from the balcony, one of the stars (look, I don’t know who’s who) says, “what’s that? you can’t hear us?” and another bandmate steps forward to say, “See? You shoulda bought the five-fifty tickets up front!” Fresh humor and remarkable that front row seats cost only $5.50!

After that? I’m thinking to stick with live pop-oriented stuff, so I think one of the greatest live albums is out: Live At Leeds by The Who just rocks too much. Likewise for Near The Beginning by Vanilla Fudge or Steppenwolf’s Live! Hmmmm…. what about Yessongs? That should do nicely. Later, folks.