1988 Prince Aftershow at the Warfield
I sound like a broken record with my Prince posts, so let me sum it up:
Prince + after-hours performance + 1980’s output = Best Prince
Hmm, I guess I have to conjure up a Not So Best Prince formula.
I’ll try: Prince + Tony M. + “Jughead” = Not So Best Prince.
“Jughead”, from ‘Diamonds and Pearls’, is THE worst Prince song of all time. Totally unlistenable. Not far behind is the title track from ‘Graffiti Bridge’. LOTS of good tunes on the album (“Question of U”, “We Can Funk”, “Joy in Repetition”), but “Graffiti Bridge” itself is cringe-inducing for sure.For the Comments section below: What are your Best and Not So Best Prince formulas [formulae?]. Worst song?
But back to the best of Prince. The Lovesexy tour was my first live Prince experience (two shows at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago, Sept, ’88). This aftershow came a couple months later. After playing the Oakland Coliseum, Prince and his band zipped across the Bay Bridge and set up at the Warfield Theater.
That evening, the lucky Warfield audience caught great versions of “Positivity” (the closing song on ‘Lovesexy’), “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker”, and the Temptations’ “Just My Imagination” (and a lot more). Question for the Prince fans…. “Imagination” turns into a refrain of “Sitting in this cafe, waiting for my baby.” I’m wondering about this song, namely what it is. The age old trick of plugging lyrics into Google gets me nowhere! Does .. not .. compute.
Prince
Warfield Theatre
San Francisco, CA
November 10, 1988 (aftershow){Explore & Buy the Music of the Purple Man}
Lineup:
Prince (everything)
Mico Weaver (guitar)
Levi Seacer (bass)
Sheila E. (drums, percussion)
Cat (eye candy)
Matt (Dr.) Fink (keys, synth)
Boni Boyer (keys, vox) [who sadly passed away in 1996 at age 38 due to a brain aneurysm]
Eric Leeds (sax)
Matt (Atlanta Bliss) Blistan (trumpet)1.
Positivity
2.The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker / Four (Madhouse)
3.Housequake > Take The A-Train
4.Housequake (ending)
5.Just My Imagination > Sitting In This Cafe (Waiting For My Baby)
6.I’ll Take You There > Take this Beat(from “I Wish U Heaven” 12″ version; it is hard to get funkier than this)
7.Cold Sweat
8.Prince Drum Solo > Sheila E. Percussion Solo
9.Lovesexy > It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night > Chain Of Fools > Beautiful NightUPDATE: I forgot to mention a web site I recently came across. Michael and Tobias have a very cool thing going with their Prince Podcast site. They have 4 podcasts so far, where they go deep into their thoughts and observations about different Prince albums, eras, etc. Check ’em out here: Prince Podcasts
1981 Flashback: Journey’s Escape
There were three albums I remember dominating my life in the very early 80’s. If you’re over the age of 35, it’s likely you had these too. They were: REO Speedwagon’s ‘Hi Infidelity’, Foreigner ‘4’, and Journey’s ‘Escape’. Are you with me? “Take it on the Run”, “Open Arms”, “Urgent”, “Don’t Stop Believin”, “Waiting for a Girl Like You” – they are classic arena rock / pop staples of that era. These three albums are like the holy trinity of early 80’s rock albums and probably helped usher in the “power ballad”era.
So lo and behold, I see that Columbia/Legacy is re-issuing the entire Journey late 70’s / early 80’s catalog, and I hurriedly got my hands on ‘Escape’ (which is an expanded edition, with four bonus tracks). Ah reminiscing…. Okay, it was released in July of 1981, which makes me 11 years old when I was enjoying this album, so my memories of ‘Escape’ lean more toward cranking up the little stereo in my room rather than, say, parked on top of Lookout Point with a hottie and letting Steve Perry’s voice do some of the dirty work for me (Prince would end up performing that same function a few years later – a lot less subtly).
Hearing this album in its entirety again does what all good music does (or at least the music that’s important to you): it takes you back in time. It also makes you wonder how Journey can make it without Steve Perry. But they tour on and on. The current lineup includes two original members: Neil Schon (lead guitar) and Ross Valory (bass), and Jonathan Cain (keyboards), who has been with Journey since 1981. I won’t judge the latest lead singer, Steve Augeri, because I haven’t heard him, but my guess would be that his M.O. is to sound as close to the other Steve as possible. Where is Steve Perry, by the way?
So sit back and take in a track from Journey’s golden era, when the tuxedo-jacket-with-coattail clad Steve Perry ruled the microphone at center stage. Where feather-haired vixens lifted their 3-quarter sleeved concert shirts to the sky. Where dark bespectacled burners named Russ and Dirk passed quality concert spliffs back and forth, with oversized handled combs sticking out of their back pockets. A simpler time, my friends, a simpler time.
Journey:
Stone in Love(mp3)- Buy the reissued, remastered, expanded version of Escape.
- Journey’s Official Site | Tour Dates
- For a much more comprehensive look at the complete history of Journey, check out this post on Jefitoblog.
How to Grow a Woman From the Ground
So who’s heard of Nickel Creek? They’re a tight progressive bluegrass trio that have been together since the 90’s. Alison Krauss produced their self titled debut on Sugar Hill Records in 2000 (the same year I saw them at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival). Well, their talented 25-year old mandolin player, Chris Thile, has released a few solo albums of his own, with another one due out September 12th. Chris has been playing mandolin since the age of 5, and was working on his first solo album by the age of 12 (I’m feeling like an underachiever here!).
The new record, ‘How to Grow a Woman from the Ground’, features old tunes and new. Thile gives the traditional treatment to the Strokes (“Heart in a Cage”) and the White Stripes (“Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground”), and also covers tunes by Jimmie Rodgers and Gillian Welch.
He brings in friends Chris Eldridge (guitarist and member of the Infamous Stringdusters), a couple members of Leftover Salmon – Greg Garrison (bass, vocals) and Noam Pikelny (banjo, vocals) – and fiddler Gabe Witcher.
It’s definitely recommended that you pick up this CD when it’s released next month. You can check out some tunes on Chris’ MySpace page (listen to his fingers FLY on “The Beekeeper”), and I’m going to play one for you here that steers right into beautifully written ballad territory. This tune wins me over to Chris’ side, showing that the man knows how to write a great song: lyrics that are simple, yet so poignant and powerful. Nice work Chris. Check it out.
Chris Thile:
You’re an Angel, and I’m Gonna Cry(mp3) – from the forthcoming release ‘How to Grow a Woman from the Ground’ (out Sept. 12)Chris Thile on: MySpace | Amazon | Sugar Hill Records
Highway Companion CD Contest
Who wants a brand spanking new copy of Tom Petty’s ‘Highway Companion?’
Leave a comment below with your best description of Tom Petty in 5 words or less (the man or his music). The most original, creative, and/or humorous wins a free copy. Make sure to leave your email address so I can contact you. Nobody will see it but me.
I’ll pick the winner on Monday evening. Good luck! (U.S. and Canada only, sorry world)…
POT SWEETENER: I’ll also throw in Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ set from this year’s Bonnaroo Festival.
Notting Hillbillies in Newcastle
Reading the paper this morning, I was informed that it’s Mark Knopfler’s 57th birthday today. I’ve been meaning to get this show posted, so what better opportunity than today? The Notting Hillbillies was Knopfler’s post-Dire Straits group that he formed with old friend Steve Phillips. They started playing gigs in 1986 and didn’t release their debut (and only) album until 1990. This gig is from 1993, after Dire Straits had released their final studio album in 1991 (‘On Every Street’). Their 1990 album, ‘Missing: Presumed Having a Good Time’, explores traditional country territories, and is a great listen (I particularly like “Blues, Stay Away From Me”).
So here they are performing Dire Straits & Hillbillies tunes in Newcastle during the summer of ’93.
THE NOTTING HILLBILLIES
Swan Hunter ShipyardNewcastle, England
July 6th, 19931. Intro
2. Calling Elvis
3. So Far Away (Calypso version)
4. Your Own Sweet Way
5. Run Me Down
6. Why Worry
7. Railroad Worksong
8. Feel Like Going Home
9. Setting Me Up
10. OutroMiles Davis, The Fillmore West, 1970
Seeing Airto Moreira last weekend in Telluride has me going back into Miles Davis’ early 70’s stuff. Airto was percussionist on ‘Bitches Brew’ and ‘Live/Evil’, among others, and toured with Miles. I came across this 1970 show from the Fillmore West in San Francisco – a lineup which included Airto.
They were opening for another group of musicians. Who were they? Well, let’s think about this. It’s 1970. San Francisco. Who could it possibly be? You guessed right, this April night in San Francisco, Miles Davis and his crew opened for the Grateful Dead. Can you imagine?? Well, we can try our best to recreate the night 36 years later.
Here’s Miles’ set, with this lineup:
Miles Davis – trumpet
Steve Grossman – soprano saxophone
Chick Corea – electric piano
Dave Holland – bass, electric bass
Jack DeJohnette – drums
Airto Moreira – percussionApril 12, 1970
Fillmore West Auditorium
San Francisco, CA1. It’s About That Time – 10:38
2. Directions – 11:58
3. I Fall in Love Too Easily – 1:46
4. Sanctuary – 3:46
5. Footprints – 10:23
6. Agitation – 1:46
7. No Blues – 7:40
8. Bitches Brew – 14:20
9. Spanish Key – 11:11
10. The Theme – 0:46To round out the evening, the Dead hit the stage. Now you don’t think I’d leave you high and dry after listening to Miles and company kick off the evening, do you? The entire Dead set, my friends, is streaming right here.
Is this cool or what? But wait, there’s more (I know, I sound like an infomercial).
- Check out Dark Funk for 3 more full Miles shows from ’68 and ’69.
- Also check out MoogPower for ‘Panthalassa’, a Bill Laswell mixed album of Miles’ early 70’s stuff. Very cool.
- Look into Miles’ music on Amazon. I recommend this.
Seeger Sessions: American Land Edition
The latest Springsteen / Seeger Sessions news is an October 3rd re-issue of ‘We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions”. It’s called the “American Land Edition”, and will include – you guessed it – “American Land”, which I guess we can finally confirm is a Springsteen original.
Also featured are studio versions of Blind Alfred Reed’s “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live” and Pete Seeger’s “Bring ‘Em Home” with modified lyrics by Springsteen, as well as “Buffalo Gals” and “How Can I Keep From Singing,” which were previously included only on the DVD side of the original DualDisc edition. – – from this Yahoo article
Hmm, is this a calculated ploy to get more money from the Springsteen faithful? Or is it a semi-spontaneous, good-will gesture of getting these songs “officially” released? To be fair, the extra songs will be available as individual downloads on iTunes, but like many Boss freaks, I need to hold it in my hands. So, I’ll be shelling out a few more bucks for this edition. *sigh*
Here’s “American Land” from the US tour finale…
Bruce Springsteen & the Seeger Sessions Band:
American Land(mp3) – live, June 25, 2006 in Holmdel, NJLyrics can be found at this previous post.
Crooked Still
I have some bluegrass to get out of my system. A few of my coming posts will lean toward the bluegrass / traditional side as I showcase some cool artists I’ve come across. First off is Crooked Still.
For those who had the pleasure of seeing Bruce’s Seeger Sessions tour, you undoubtedly noticed the banjo player with the bushy ‘do. His name is Greg Listz (Dr. Gregory Liszt actually, he has a Ph.D. in Biology from M.I.T.), and his full time gig is banjo man for Boston bluegrass outfit Crooked Still. Joining Greg are sweet singin’ Aoife O’Donovan (it’s pronounced “EEf-uh”), Rushad Eggleston on cello, and Corey DiMario on bass.
One of the free mp3’s offered on their web site is this forlorn bluegrass ballad. I like the dynamic of the instruments. The cello and banjo trading off riffs is a cool touch. And Aofie’s soft & sweet vocals add a lot to the tune as well. As you’ll hear, there’s some serious folkybluegrass goin’ down in Beantown. If you like what you hear, pick up one of their CD’s.
Crooked Still:
Look on and Cry(mp3) – from their debut CD, ‘Hop High’. You can check it out here.- Their new CD, ‘Shaken by a Low Sound’ will be released August 22nd on Signature Sounds, You can buy an advance copy here.
- Crooked Still’s Official Site | MySpace Site
Airto and Flora in Telluride
I just returned from a much needed vacation in one of the most beautiful spots on earth: Telluride, Colorado. That pic above is the view from my parents’ place. Not bad, eh? I timed my trip to coincide with the Telluride Jazz Celebration; three days of fun in the
sunrain featuring Herbie Hancock, Soulive, Terence Blanchard, Ernie Watts, and Regina Carter, among many others. Of those others were the guests of honor, Brazilian jazz legends, percussionist Airto Moreira and his wife, singer Flora Purim.
Airto met Flora in Rio de Janeiro in 1965. A couple years later, he followed her to New York City, where he met up with bassist Walter Booker, who introduced Airto to jazz greats like Cannonball Adderly, Lee Morgan, Paul Desmond, and Joe Zawinul. It was Zawinul who recommended Airto to Miles Davis for the Bitches Brew sessions in 1970. Airto and Zawinul also went on to form Weather Report with Wayne Shorter, Miroslav Vitous, and Alphonse Mouzon.
Watching Airto over the weekend was something to behold. I was a volunteer stagehand for the festival, and helped Airto and his band (Eyedentity) set up for a late night gig at the Telluride Conference Center. The man does absolutely amazing things with an assortment of latin percussion instruments, including his voice. Just really cool stuff. One of the songs that really hit me hard was “Tombo in 7/4”, an Airto original that really lets loose with the percussion. Every band member had percussion in hand, and away they went. The version here is a little faster paced than what I heard in Telluride. It’s one of those songs in which it’s humanly impossible to sit still (which I did see some people doing – they must have been dead).
Airto Moreira:
Tombo in 7/4(mp3)Bonus: Miles Davis (with Airto on percussion):
Sivad(mp3) – from Live/Evil- Airto’s Official Site
- Airto on Amazon