Must Have Reissues from Colombia/Legacy

Posted by The G on March 5, 2011 under G Reviews | Be the First to Comment

Photos of album covers by G.

In the age where everything’s gone digital, Columbia/Legacy know how to appease the tactile generation.  Here’s a brief summary of some must have recordings that are due for release in March 2011.

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel: 40th Anniversary Edition.  On March 8, this classic album will released in a 1 CD/1 DVD package that features the original album as well as a DVD that features Simon and Garfunkel’s historic 1969 TV special “Songs of America.”  The documentary was aired on TV in 1969 and has never been officially released.  ”Songs of America” is comprised of footage of Simon and Garfunkel’s 1969 tour, intimate backstage concerts and historic news footage.  Also included is a brand new documentary entitled “The Harmony Game,” which talks about the making of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and includes 2010 interviews with Simon and Garfunkel as well as the key principles in making the album.  The 40th Anniversary Edition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” will be released on March 8, 2011.

Billy Joel – “Live at Shea Stadium” is a document of the final show ever played at New York’s Shea Stadium.  The Beatles played the first show at Shea in 1964 and Billy Joel played the last show in 2008.  The 2 CD/1 DVD set features the entire concert in audio plus a DVD of bonus performances.  At these 2 historic shows, Billy Joel played many of his classic hits including “Piano Man,” “My Life,” “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” “We Didn’t Start The Fire” and “River of Dreams.”  He had a little help from his friends and there are guest appearances by Tony Bennett (on “New York State of Mind”), Garth Brooks (on “Shameless”), John Mayer (on “This is the Time”), Paul McCartney (on “I Saw Her Standing There” and “Let It Be”), Steven Tyler (on “Walk This Way”), Roger Daltrey (on “My Generation”) and John Mellencamp (on “Pink Houses”). Billy Joel’s “Live At Shea Stadium” will be released on March 8, 2011.

“The Bang Years 1966 – 1968″ by Neil Diamond.  Collected for the first time are 23 original mono recordings that catapulted Neil Diamond into superstardom.  Included in the set are the original versions of well loved songs such as “Solitary Man,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon,” “Red Red Wine” and “I’m A Believer.”  ”The Bang Years 1966-1968″ by Neil Diamond is released on March 8, 2011.

Fifty years ago, legendary producer Phil Spector established his own record label Philles, and a new sound began to ring out of radio speakers across America. The sound Spector created lush, resonant, and dramatic, blending the sentimental swoon of string sections with the excitement of rock and roll was so different, so instantly recognizable, it earned its own name: The Wall of Sound. Through the 1960s, with songs like” Be My Baby,”  “Then He Kissed Me,” “Walking in the Rain” and “Da Doo Ron Ron.” He ruled the pop charts and made artists like Darlene Love, The Crystals and The Ronettes household names. For twenty years, no new collections of these artists, have been released, and only a limited amount of the tracks have been available digitally. The newly remastered greatest hits collections contain the best and most iconic recordings by these artists.  ”Wall of Sound: The Very Best of Phil Spector 1961-1966,” “Da Do Ron Ron: The Very Best of The Crystals,” “Be My Baby: The Very Best of The Ronettes,” and “The Sound of Love: The Very Best of Darlene Love” are all available now.

Make your ears happy and pick up these fantastic releases!

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Night One

Posted by The G on October 30, 2009 under G Reviews | 3 Comments to Read

All photos by G.

What can you say about a 6 hour concert where you see Jerry Lee Lewis (performing Great Balls of Fire), Crosby Stills and Nash (perform with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and James Taylor), Simon and Garfunkel (performing You Can Call Me Al, Bridge over Troubled Water, Cecilia, Mrs. Robinson, The Sounds of Silence and also performing with David Crosby and Graham Nash), Stevie Wonder (performing Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours, Higher Ground, Living for the City before being joined on stage by Smokey Robinson – performing Tracks of My Tears, and with Sting – performing Roxanne, and also solo performing Michael Jackson’s The Way You Make Me Feel – getting so choked up, the entire Madison Square Garden was crying), BB King (performing The Thrill is Gone) and Bruce Springsteen (performing w/ Sam Moore singing Soul Man, Darlene Love singing Da Do Run Run, with John Fogarty singing Pretty Woman and Proud Mary and with Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine performing The Clash’s London Calling, plus solo doing The Ghost of Tom Joad)?  INSANELY HISTORIC NIGHT!

Here’s a few pix to whet your appetite until next month when a highlights show of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary is aired on HBO.  After the jump.

Update:  Here’s the full setlist:

Jerry Lee Lewis :
Whole Lotta Shakin Going On

Crosby, Stills and Nash:
Woodstock
Marrakech Express
Almost Cut My Hair

Bonnie Raitt with David Crosby and Graham Nash:
Love Has No Pride

Bonnie Raitt and Crosby, Stills and Nash:
Midnight Rider

Jackson Browne with Crosby, Stills and Nash:
The Pretender

James Taylor with David Crosby and Graham Nash:
Mexico

 

Crosby, Stills and Nash with James Taylor:
Love the One You’re With

Crosby, Stills and Nash:
Rock and Roll Woman

Crosby, Stills and Nash with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and James Taylor:
Teach Your Children

Paul Simon:
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
You Can Call Me Al

Dion DiMucci with Paul Simon:
The Wanderer

Paul Simon with David Crosby and Graham Nash:
Here Comes the Sun

Paul Simon:
Late in the Evening

Little Anthony and the Imperials:
Two People in the World

Simon and Garfunkel:

The Sounds of Silence
Mrs. Robinson/Not Fade Away
The Boxer
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Cecilia

Stevie Wonder:

Blowin in the Wind
Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
I Was Made To Love You
For Once in My Life
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours
Boogie On Reggae Woman

Smokey Robinson with Stevie Wonder:
The Tracks of My Tears

John Legend with Stevie Wonder:
Mercy Mercy Me (the Ecology)

Stevie Wonder with John Legend:
The Way You Make Me Feel

B.B. King with Stevie Wonder:
The Thrill Is Gone

Stevie Wonder:
Living for the City

Stevie Wonder and Sting:
Higher Ground/Roxanne

Stevie Wonder with Jeff Beck:
Superstition

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
10th Avenue Freeze-Out

Sam Moore with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
Hold On I’m Comin
Soul Man

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band with Tom Morello:
The Ghost of Tom Joad

John Fogerty and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
Fortunate Son
Proud Mary
Oh. Pretty Woman

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
Jungleland

Darlene Love with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
A Fine, Fine Boy
Da Doo Ron Ron

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band with Tom Morello:
London Calling
Badlands

Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
You May Be Right
Only the Good Die Young
New York State of Mind
Born To Run

Darlene Love, John Fogerty, Tom Morello, Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, Peter Wolf and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher

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