Oasis v Beatles

It came as a mild surprise that, in the housewife-and-kids-driven top pop racks in the supermarkets I frequent, the new Oasis hits compilation seems to be consistently outselling the new Beatles release.

Neither album is likely to trouble the Music for Grown-Ups trolley, you understand - let’s make that quite clear.



Gerry Smith

Bjork – 10 recommended downloads

The Daily Telegraph, allegedly the favoured news source of ageing English Home Counties conservatives, has made laudable efforts to lose its fuddy duddy image in recent years, and nowhere more so than in its increasingly catholic arts coverage.

The Thursday edition carries a substantial, eclectic music section, which is always worth a glance on the web page. The Perfect Playlist feature, recommending ten tracks by that week’s subject, often covers music for grown-ups, among some ill-chosen riff-raff.

Last Thursday’s Perfect Playlist covered ten recommended tracks to sample the catalogue of the wonderful Bjork, from her early Icelandic days with The Sugarcubes, to 2004’s Medulla. Nice article, and the site invites you to download the tracks for about £10.

If you still think of The Daily Telegraph as merely a rest home for Olde Fartes, perhaps it’s time to think again.


www.telegraph.co.uk



Gerry Smith

Joan Sutherland celebrations

A contemporary of Callas, Joan Sutherland is preferred to the Greek-American by many hardcore opera buffs. The Aussie soprano, who’s celebrating her 80th birthday, had a voice with few equals, with consistency that her more celebrated contemporary could only dream about.

The BBC has been paying its respects to the great singer with a fine three and a half hour sequence on Radio 3 last week (you can still catch it via Radio 3’s Listen Again button), to be followed by a one-hour TV documentary on BBC Four this Friday.

The TV doc promises to rescue a new Legends series that has until now been a music for grown-ups-free zone. The first three nostalgiafests have featured '40s/'50s Britbabes Alma Coogan, Petula Clark and Vera Lynn. No kidding. Music for Very Very Olde Fartes.

BBC Four used to be a favourite channel of this column, with a succession of inspired, ground-breaking musical broadcasts. But it’s going down the pan, opting instead for lightweight, mainstream show biz. Someone needs to patiently explain to the Four Controller that, in music, “grown-up”, which used to be its undeclared target, isn’t the same as “ageing popster”, which looks like its new focus.


Gerry Smith

Themes/playlists for the Dylan-as-DJ series on BBC radio

Details of the themes of the 30-odd Dylan-DJ’d radio programmes to be re-broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, plus playlists for each episode, are available on the excellent specialist website, Not Dark Yet.

So you can savour the riches even before the broadcasts start in late December.

http://www.notdarkyet.org/themetime.html



Gerry Smith

BBC to broadcast Dylan’s US radio series

BBC Radio has bought the XM Satellite Theme Time Radio Hour series, for broadcast on both Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music (digital channel, on DAB and Freeview).

Radio 2 leads off, with six of the shows over Christmas - starting Saturday 23 December 2006 and running to Thursday 28 December at 1900 (except 1700 on Xmas Eve), and then weekly from 21 March. BBC 6 Music broadcasts the whole series first, starting on 31 December at 2100 and then Friday nights from 12 January.

Theme Time Radio Hour With Your Host Bob Dylan features an eclectic mix of music, interviews and commentary. Themes include weather, including an challenging range of classics, from The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix to Keep On The Sunny Side by The Carter Family. It's essential listening for those keen to understand the roots of Dylan's muse. And a coup for the BBC: in particular, it will raise 6 Music's low profile.

The good news for listeners outside the UK is that Radio 2 streams its output over the web, and then leaves programmes up for seven days after broadcast.

The Dylan juggernaut shows no sign of slowing down. None whatsoever. Yippee!


Gerry Smith

New issue of free MUSIC for GROWN-UPs newsletter - Nov 2006

Here’s a copy of the latest issue of the free MUSIC for GROWN-UPs newsletter, mailed to subscribers yesterday. To ensure you receive your own copy of future issues, please register as a subscriber, by typing your email address in the box in the left column of the web site - www.musicforgrownups.co.uk

It’s 100% music for grown-ups! It’s free! You can unsub at any time!



MUSIC for GROWN-UPs - celebrating the great musicians - from Sinatra to the Stones, Miles to Mozart, Dylan to David Bowie, Beck to Bjork, and Coltrane to Cole Porter.

Exclusive news and views, emailed to registered subscribers.
Editor: Gerry Smith (email: editorial@musicforgrownups.co.uk)

The articles listed in this newsletter are published in full in the DAILY UPDATE on the web site: http://www.musicforgrownups.co.uk


*** Please forward this issue to anyone who might be interested ***


NEW ARTICLES ON MUSIC for GROWN-UPs - http://www.musicforgrownups.co.uk

* Bryan Ferry tour? Naah!
* Springsteen in the Rustbelt
* Catch this: music for grown-ups highlights on radio this week
* Top 100 albums - a grown-up free zone
* Sunken Treasure - Jeff Tweedy live in the Pacific Northwest

* Neil Young - Phoenix rising from the ashes
* Lucinda Williams - aided by a very special guest - lights up London
* Digital radio - little music for grown-ups
* New Waterboys album (and label)
* New hits compilations filling the supermarket shelves

* Roger McGuinn's mesmerising London gig
* Anna Netrebko, continued
* Tonight's Netrebko/Villazon London gig: big mistake
* James Hunter - overnight sensation!
* Bob Dylan - the Musical

* An (almost) ideal free intro to the genius of Miles Davis
* Nailed at last: the recorded legacy of the Rolling Stones
* The Waterboys - The Platinum Collection: underwhelming
* Marvellous Miles Davis series on radio this week
* Five hours of Miles Davis on radio next week

* New Beck, Sting, Mozart, Sinatra releases
- cures for the autumn-time blues
* Rough Guide To Bob Dylan - competition winners
* Stones, Herbie Hancock, Shostakovich
- fending off the autumn-time blues
* Dylan's support to include Raconteurs
* The Rolling Stones in the Noughties - a wealth of new product

* Top Dadrockers Young and Morrison release heritage live recordings
* Boots of Spanish plastic?
* Van the Man in Spain
* Free copy of the new Rough Guide to Bob Dylan
* Win a free copy of the new Rough Guide to Bob Dylan

* Trilogy box sets from Warner now heavily discounted
* Beck celebrated on BBC 6Music
* A superlative Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
* Viva Bryan Ferry
* At last! Van Morrison on DVD

* Electric Mud - another prime Muddy Waters set
* The Byrds and Free reissues: why?
* Magnificent Mozart - must-hear new CDs
* Black pop music - then and now
* Prime Muddy Waters box - at a bargain price

* The Fall for Beginners
* Post-Punk under the microscope in recommended new book
* The Fall - finally, the penny drops
* High praise for the new Rough Guide to Bob Dylan
* Tupac's hip-hop legacy

* Buddy Holly's genius commemorated
* Viva Roxy! Roxy Music re-discovered


PREVIOUSLY ON MUSIC for GROWN-UPs - http://www.musicforgrownups.co.uk

* Last Night of The Proms - praying for rain
* A magnificent Mahler
* The Buddy Holly story on Radio 2
* Van the Jazz Man in new issue of Ronnie Scott's mag
* Radio for Grown-Ups

* Modern Times reviews: Slate the pick of the bunch
* Joe Zawinul, Roy Ayers, Allen Toussaint, De La Soul for Jazz Café
* New product from John Martyn, 'a huge talent'
* Raving about Modern Times: encore, encore...
* Raving about Modern Times # 2: The Independent

* More high praise for Bob Dylan's new CD, Modern Times
* Radiohead, Morrissey and Beck - victorious at V Festival
* A towering Shostakovich
* Compelling new Columbia Legacy releases
* Best by Miles?

* The decline and re-birth of rock
* Jazzwise 100
* Lowest prices for new Bob Dylan album, Modern Times
* Fopp bargains
* Arthur Lee

* Fopp - changing the face of music buying for grown-ups
* Elisabeth Schwarzkopf RIP
* Stones in France celebrated in special edition of Les Inrocks
* Scarlet Rivera and Rob Stoner, sometime Dylan sidekicks, booked for London
* Sympathy for the Devil: encore

* Pavarotti forced to curtail farewell tour
* More recent Miles product
* Sympathy for the Devil: Godard's Stones film now on DVD


*** NEW - THE DYLAN DAILY - NEW SISTER SITE ***
Just click on: www.dylandaily.com to check it out.

Music for Grown-Ups is fond of Bob Dylan's music - rather too fond,
according to some non-Bobfan correspondents! Because we always have loads of Dylan copy, but feel reluctant to burden Music for Grown-Ups readers who don't share our passion for Bob's art, we've launched a new dedicated sister blog site, The Dylan Daily (www.dylandaily.com).


ADMIN
Please "Forward" this issue of the monthly newsletter, with a
recommendation, to a few like-minded friends. Then, if they like what they see, they can register via the web site to receive their own free copy.

And why not bookmark http://www.musicforgrownups.co.uk, to make it easy to re-visit the site? New reviews and commentaries are added to the Daily Update page on the web site every weekday. And Gigs for Grown-Ups and Recommended Recent Releases bring you actionable, up-to-date news of live music and new products.

MUSIC for GROWN-UPs is delivered free, by email, once a month. You can access the full content of this newsletter much earlier - as it is published - in DAILY UPDATE on the web site:
http://www.musicforgrownups.co.uk

The newsletter is sent to you because you have subscribed via the web site. To unsubscribe your email address, please go to the web site (http://www.musicforgrownups.co.uk); you'll enter the site at the Daily Update page; in the Subscribe area at the top of the left column, please enter your subscribed address in the "Your Email" box; select "Unsubscribe"; and then click "Go"; you'll be automatically unsubscribed.



(c) Music for Grown-Ups Ltd 2006

Bryan Ferry tour? Naah!

When the ticket agent’s forthcoming gigs list included a short March 2007 English tour by the estimable Bryan Ferry, I was sorely tempted. For about five minutes.

After all, hadn’t I just got back into the wonderful Ferry/Roxy Music catalogue, after ignoring it for 20 summers? Platinum Collection 3CD set was my constant in-car companion in August. And the provincial venues – Sage Gateshead, Harrogate Centre and the like – are tempting, smallish gigs…

But wait a minute. The London venue’s the dreadful Albert Hall. And think of the probable setlist – it has to be a heritage nostalgia set, unless Bryan has some new recordings up his sleeve. So it’s likely to be a well-scrubbed Boomer poprock audience. The kind of ageing adolescents who attend Elton and Rod gigs. And clap to the beat, sway their fat hips, nod their grey/bald heads, singing along to the choruses. I’d rather mix with bag ladies.

And Bryan Ferry - solo - isn’t a patch on Roxy Music. Never was. The magic’s in the mix of disparate talents.

I’d jump at the chance to see a Roxy Music gig supporting a new release, but Bryan solo, singing oldies (which were oldies when he first recorded them)? No thanks: I’ll save the £50 and savour the inspirational back catalogue instead.



Gerry Smith

Springsteen in the Rustbelt

Thanks to Bernard McGuinn, Van Morrison aficionado who recently branched out:

“I went to see Springsteen last week at Sheffield Hallam Arena. I’d bought the tickets a lifetime ago, as a treat for my son, Adam, who'd expressed a wish to see him live. Of course, my son, the guitar hero, was clearly fixated on the E Street Band with Nils Lofgren and Steve Van Zandt - and Bruce is currently touring with his folk revival band performing the Pete Seeger stuff. So I was a bit wary about how he might respond.

“Of course, in the event, I needn't have worried: 17 people on stage, including Bruce, in a 14,000 sold-out hangar of a venue, and Bruce sang us home for a wondrous two and a half hour concert, with barely a second wasted.

“The band, and singers, well-knit yet loose, delivering the goods in a relaxed, happy fashion. The joy of seeing singer, band and audience all just loving it! He even included a nod to Sheffield's lost steel industry before performing Youngstown for the first time on this Euro tour, and a mention of wife Patti at home with teenage boys, before launching into Growin' Up. A memorable father/son moment for me.

“The highpoint of the concert was an unforgettable rendition of Devils and Dust. It really highlighted the power of live performance, in that the album of that name offers a good recording of a decent song, and yet, when I heard it live, it just connected emotionally on a whole new level.

“The song ended with a close-up shot of Bruce's eyes on the plasma screens. A heart-moving moment, so reminiscent of the way Van Morrison transported me in days of yore. And, irony of ironies, the pre-show gathering for a quick beer sported a healthier contingent of Van hardcore fans than has been seen at some of his UK shows lately. Try as I might, I couldn't spot where Bruce keeps his digital clock!”

Music for grown-ups on radio this week

This week’s recommended music for grown-ups on English radio (also available worldwide via the Internet and for seven days via Listen Again):

* Mon-Fri: 1200-1300: Composer of the Week: George Gershwin, BBC Radio 3

* Wed: 1930-2300: La Stupenda! Joan Sutherland Evening, BBC Radio 3

* Fri: 2330-0100: recent Dave Holland London gig, BBC Radio 3.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3



Gerry Smith

Top 100 albums – a grown-up free zone

It’s a struggle to find a single album for grown-ups in the latest Top 100, a ranking of poprock albums by UK sales compiled by the Official UK Charts Company for broadcast on VH1 at the weekend.

Maybe Bob Marley’s Legend qualifies, but it’s in a minority of one. Though I like it enormously, Abba’s Gold – Greatest Hits is hardly music for grown-ups.

Nothing by Dylan… the Rolling Stones… Neil Young… Van the Man… Joni Mitchell… Laughing Lennie.. the Smiths… Joy Division… Roxy Music… the Fall… you could go on listing the worthy missing for ages.

So, what makes the Hot 100? You really wouldn’t want to know - suffice to say it’s wall-to-wall crap. Further proof, if it were needed, that there really is no accounting for popular taste. Or, to put it more bluntly, most music buying is infantile.



Gerry Smith

Sunken Treasure - Jeff Tweedy live in the Pacific Northwest

Thanks to James Ketchell for his review of the new Jeff Tweedy DVD:

Sunken Treasure, a solo DVD from Jeff Tweedy, the Wilco frontman, has been released to tie fans over until the much-anticipated new studio album from the alt.country boys comes out in April.

Alone on stage with an acoustic guitar and harmonica, Tweedy’s vulnerability, sensitivity and love of performance shine through Christoph Green’s film. The cameras have a tendency to lovingly linger on the spotlit Tweedy. The quality of the filming is beyond reproach with the rich warm colours filtering through, in stark contrast to Wilco’s 2000 film, I am Trying to Break Your Heart.

The film follows Tweedy to Seattle, Portland, Eugene, Arcata and San Francisco, featuring performances from all of these concerts. In between we are offered mini-interview sequences and excellent travelling shots of the beautiful Pacific Northwest countryside. He answers questions on the art of and his approach to performing, his songs and the touring life. It all adds up to a compelling look at the life of Jeff Tweedy – musician and performer.

The song selection is eclectic, featuring material from throughout his career with Uncle Tupelo and Wilco. Minus the layered guitars, sounds and studio bells and whistles associated with modern Wilco, these become tender folk songs. Tweedy has previously stated that all of his songs start off as folk songs and this statement rings entirely true after seeing this DVD. ‘I am Trying to Break your Heart’, ‘Summerteeth’, ‘Theologians’ stripped to their bare bones seem to have lost none of their power. The songs in this context also allow the viewer to focus on the quality of Tweedy’s lyrics, which, as far as this reviewer is concerned, have no equal in modern popular rock music.

The later songs on this DVD, ‘Airline to Heaven’, ‘Heavy Metal Drummer’ and ‘War on War’ also feature Wilco’s drummer, Glen Kotche, and guitarist Nels Cline, to add some flavour and texture, but the mood remains ‘unplugged’, so to speak. The DVD ends with ‘Acuff Rose’ sung solo by Tweedy without a microphone to a concert hall in complete silence and awe.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of this film is in challenging and redefining the image of Tweedy as an arrogant, introspective and difficult performer. His on-stage banter is at times hilarious, and even if he loses his temper at the talkative crowd of Portland, one gets the feeling that he just wants to be the best entertainer possible.

Also featured are 24 exclusive audio downloads of the songs, along with some extra tracks. In the past Wilco have not been afraid of using the internet and new technologies to offer their fans more, and this DVD is no different.

Sunken Treasure is a must for any Wilco fan, country fan and music fan. You will be pleasantly surprised by the power and quality of this film. If there is one criticism of the DVD is that it ends all to quickly with the viewer longing for more. Still, with only five months or so to go until a new studio album in April, the wait won’t be too difficult to deal with.

Neil Young – Phoenix rising from the ashes

Neil Young has always been welcome on my sound system. I even stuck with him through his ‘80s drought. But in recent years his shrill preaching has turned me off - I don’t take Young seriously as a thinker and I’m not open to the political ramblings of multi-millionaire pop stars, anyway. So I wouldn’t give you threepence for Greendale or that CD written around an anti-US foreign policy rant

But Neil Young affairs are looking up again, with a desirable new CD this week, and a must-buy new DVD next week.

Live At The Fillmore East, the first release of the Neil Young Archives Performance Series, is a CD of Young/Crazy Horse concerts on March 6/7 1970 at New York's Fillmore East. The nights featured Young with the original lineup of Crazy Horse: Danny Whitten (guitar, vocals), Ralph Molina (drums, vocals), Billy Talbot (bass) and Jack Nitzsche (electric piano).

There’s a single CD album, and a CD/DVD, which has a Hi-Res Stereo version of the album, along with rare photos from the concert, handwritten song lyrics, archival press articles and memorabilia.

And then, on Nov 20, next Monday, there’s the release of Heart Of Gold, the DVD shot in Nashville last year.

Rave on, Mr Shakey…




Gerry Smith

Lucinda Williams – aided by a very special guest - lights up London

Thanks to Anne Ritchie for her report on Friday night’s rearranged Lucinda Williams show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire:

“Like many fans, daughter Lucy and I approached tonight’s rearranged Lucinda Williams show with some trepidation: would she cancel, like last time?

“No worries. Lucinda turned up, and she was in the form of her life. She gave one of the strongest gigs of the hundreds I’ve seen – a joyous, engaging, energetic, even voluptuous, performance, by a musician from the very top drawer.

“Despite (because of?) a heavy cold, her voice was even huskier than normal, the perfect timbre for her unique brand of whatever is the female equivalent of c*ck rock.

“She was up for this one from her entrance. She thrilled the rapt crowd by dipping into virtually her entire catalogue and even trailered some new material from West, the next album. I mis-heard it as “Lust” when she first announced the title. It seemed like a good Lucinda album label.

“The show was already in the ‘classic’ bracket when, towards the finale, she brought on a special guest: Bruce Springsteen, no less.

"Bruce, in London for his Seeger Sessions gig at Wembley, traded bluesy riffs on guitar. He didn’t sing, but his mere presence lifted an already great show into the stratosphere.”

Digital radio – little music for grown-ups

The new generation of Anglo radio stations – variously available via DAB Digital Radio, digital TV and the Net – have massively multiplied listening options.

But, as far as grown-up music is concerned, it’s another case of “97 channels and nothing on”. Of the dozens of newly available DAB poprock channels, only Planet Rock, The Arrow and XFM stand out from the legions of Top 40/easy listening clones. On Freeview, only BBC 6Music pulled me in to sample.

I won’t be listening to any of them.

And there’s no single jazz, serious classical or world channel to sample. Not one.

Digital radio presents a major opportunity for niche music programming. But, in England at least, it’s a major missed opportunity.



Gerry Smith

New Waterboys album (and label)

Waterboys fans will be pleased that the band have signed to West 14, part of Universal Records, who will release the new Waterboys album in Spring 2007.

I, for one, feel that Waterboys product is not as prominent as it should be. There is confusion in the catalogue. The 1980s album re-releases were overpriced. Product of the last five years or so has been weak. As a result, Mike Scott/Waterboys are punching below their weight. They're one of Britain's top bands, but you'd hardly know it.

West 14 is run by John Williams, who worked with the Waterboys during their time at Chrysalis Records, and who also produced a classic mid-1980s radio session for the band, later included on the album 'The Secret Life Of The Waterboys'.

It marks a return to a major label for the Waterboys, whose last two albums, 'Universal Hall' and 'Karma To Burn' were on their own Puck Records. Here's hoping it marks a return to form, too.

Mike Scott and co-producer (and Waterboys manager) Philip Tennant are currently close to finishing the new Waterboys album, which features ten songs, including "Everybody Takes A Tumble" and 'The Crash Of Angel Wings" both of which have featured on the band's recent concert tours. The album is as yet untitled.

Musicians include Steve Wickham, Richard Naiff, drummers Brady Blade and Jeremy Stacey, bassman Mark Smith, electric guitarist Leo Abrahams, long-time Waterboys alumni Roddy Lorimer (trumpet) and Chris Bruce (electric guitar), and members of Vancouver band Great Aunt Ida.


Gerry Smith

New hits compilations filling the supermarket shelves

Looks like Xmas is approaching, as the supermarket shelves have suddenly filled up with discounted new greatest hits CDs. Product which could tempt my plastic to peek out from my Filofax includes new compilations such as:

· Jamiroquai – High Times, Singles 1992-2006
· The Clash - Singles Box
· Charlatans – Forever, The Singles
· Moby – Go!
· (Paul) Weller - Hit Parade (DVD)
· Abba - Number Ones
· PJ Harvey - Peel Sessions
· Siouxie & Banshees - ditto
· REM – And I Feel Fine, Best of the IRS Years

This is an unusually strong week for new top pop product.



Gerry Smith

Roger McGuinn in mesmerising London gig

Thanks to James Ketchell:

“Legendary front man and lead guitarist of the Byrds, Roger McGuinn came to London on Tuesday night. Playing solo for the whole gig, he came on to the familiar strains of the Byrds’ version of Mr Tambourine Man, and the 500-strong crowd at the intimate University College London Bloomsbury Theatre cheered ecstatically.

“He then put the electric guitar to one side and played his custom-made seven string Martin acoustic guitar. Playing songs from throughout his career he prefaced them with little stories.

“McGuinn told us about meeting Dylan, his work with Peter Fonda and Dylan on ‘Ballad of Easy Rider’, his love of the Beatles and how they, in his mind, invented folk rock, and some jokes about banjos. (What’s the difference between a Harley Davidson and a banjo? You can tune a Harley). His immense heart, humour and warmth came through and, coupled with his excellent guitar work, could not have left anyone in the theatre unmoved.

“Highlights were an amazing ‘Eight Miles High’, where his guitar work was simply mesmerising. Mixing flamenco licks, Ravi Shankar-esque work and folk guitar picking, it was a musician’s tour de force and reminded everyone in attendance what a talented guitarist he really is.

“Other songs of note included ‘You Ain’t Going Nowhere’, originally by Dylan but played on their country record, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, a cover of Woody Guthrie’s ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ and an intense ‘St James Infirmary Blues’.

“He returned for the encore to much applause; picking up the electric guitar, he blitzed his way through ‘Chimes of Freedom’ and ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’, encouraging the crowd to sing along and participate. The “A time for war, a time for peace” line in ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ got a loud cheer from the ageing ‘hippy’ crowd.

“It was a wonderful way to spend a cold Hallowe’en night in London. Next time he visits these shores, be sure to get yourself a ticket. You will not be disappointed.”

Anna Netrebko, continued

Reader Penelope Farthing takes me to task for my dismissive report of last night’s Netrebko/Villazon London gig – “Anna is the best female singer alive today…”, she claims…

Well, Pen, you’re welcome to your received opinion. I don’t rate Netrebko quite that highly: yes, she has a beautiful tone, enviable range, and great control. And yes, I’ll book to see her whenever she’s cast at Covent Garden.

But, compared with my faves, particularly Cecilia Bartoli and Renee Fleming, on last night’s evidence, Netrebko lacks presence, she doesn’t engage as much with the material, and I found her diction, especially in French, difficult to follow.

A top soprano, but by no means THE top soprano.



Gerry Smith