| OK. Let’s get the King of Pop’s best-of out of the way.…
Michael Jackson’s new release is titled Number Ones (Epic). It’s got 17 previously released tracks, including a live version of "Ben," and one new song, "One More Chance," which is a rather insipid retro-feeling ballad.
Now, I will admit that there are moments (especially during the Thriller tracks) that take me back to when Jackson was the coolest thing on the whole damn planet. I think the word "back" is key, though – this stuff feels pretty dated now, and some of it (see "Dirty Diana") just wasn’t very good in the first place. As well, in place of real liner notes, there are still photos of Jackson dancing, album catalogue numbers, and a bunch of Jackson thank-yous. These last items strike me as a little bit weird – why does he always have to use his last name? And does he really have a child named Blanket?
So what is this album good for? Well, it does demonstrate that despite all his cosmetic changes, MJ’s singing voice has stayed the same over the past quarter-century. And yeah, in the right context ("Billie Jean," "Beat It," even "The Way You Make Me Feel"), it’s a pretty decent voice. Other than that, you could probably coaster-ify Number Ones without feeling too guilty.
Moving on, then….
The trio known as the Sundowners didn’t write their own songs. They didn’t tour beyond the confines of their adopted hometown of Chicago. They recorded almost nothing in the studio. Fer cryin’ out loud, they didn’t even have a drummer. Yet despite all these seeming drawbacks, lead guitarist Don Walls, rhythm guitarist Bob Boyd and bassist Curt Delaney managed to draw a fan base that included Sting, Mickey Mantle and Robert Duvall, not to mention a loyal following of hometown supporters.
Sadly, Boyd and Delaney didn’t live to see their first album, The Sundowners: Chicago Country Legends (Bloodshot). But I suspect they’d be proud of the tribute they’ve been given.
Chicago Country Legends features 23 live tracks captured at the Bar RR, the Chicago bar the group called home between 1960 and 1971, as well as one studio track from 1988. The album has a real honky-tonk feel to it – the songs range from country classics such as "It’s My Way" and traditional folk songs like "Clementine" to George Harrison’s "Something," and the tunes are regularly punctuated by the background rumble of laughing bar patrons.
The Sundowners never lose their composure, though – their playing is tight and professional, and their three-part harmony is as good as any you’ll hear. The band’s history is outlined in a reverent essay by Dave Hoekstra, a Chicago Sun-Times staff writer as well as a longtime fan. All in all, Chicago Country Legends captures an accurate picture of many a working musician’s life – smoky bars, rowdy patrons, songs you’ve made your own and the companionship of good friends and great players.
Sony keeps adding to its Essentials collection, putting out two-disc best-of compilations for many of its legendary (and not-so-legendary) artists. Two new releases in this series showcase two very different American musical legends: Bruce Springsteen and Simon and Garfunkel.
The meat of The Essential Bruce Springsteen consists of 30 previously released tracks from the 30-year career of New Jersey’s favourite son, from "Blinded By The Light" right up to the 2002 album The Rising. The really juicy part is the 12-song rarities disc, which features home recordings of "The Big Payback," live tracks including "Held Up Without A Gun" and covers of "Viva Las Vegas" and Jimmy Cliff’s "Trapped."
What I like best about this set, though, is how understated it is. There are no grandiose liner notes, as one might expect from a superstar – instead, there are short notes about the origin of the rarities, full lyrics for every song, and full credits for every musician who played on the tracks. Excellent for both the new convert and the fan from way back.
The Essential Simon and Garfunkel is even more understated, though. There are no lyrics and only limited credits – most of the text space is taken up by discographical information and chart positions. No rarities either, so true Simon and Garfunkel fans will likely have all of these songs already. But the hits are here – everything from "Mrs. Robinson" to "Cecilia" and "The Sound Of Silence." If your parents’ vinyl versions have finally worn out or you know a youngster who needs a music history refresher, consider this set as a last-minute stocking stuffer. |
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