Friday night and I've uncorked a couple bottles for the session:
Michelle Shocked- Short, Sharp, Shocked (Mercury). The title is kinda misleading. This is really some poignant stuff. Reminds me some of Patty Larkin in the way she tells stories. Her band is sensational on this and well recorded to include some very nice organ work;
Allman Bros at The Fillmore East (Capricorn). Whipping Post is good to the last drop (where it's sensational). Seriously, the out-take is exquisite and not something you would expect from a bunch of gruffy lookin Southern white boys. And, the organ again. Love that mutha;
Bennie Maupin- Slow Traffic to the Right (Mercury). Excellent keyboards from Patrice Rushen especially on the note perfect opening track. Great and very accessible jazz album;
McLaughlin and Santana- Love, Devotion, Surrender (Columbia). The Life Divine is a rocket ship and Santana has never been as intense, that I've heard. Billy Cobham holds nothing back on drums. Wow! Problem is the mix almost kills it. Doug Rauch's bass is all but lost, too, but the energy on this track, in particular, is something seldom experienced in any recording, even Coltrane's most intense stuff. If the mix weren't so murky and dumbed down it might just kill you. Save it for when you can listen LOUD.
Aja- Steely Dan. The Cisco 180g release. Don't know if you've ever noticed (don't see how you could help if you've listened to much live muisc) but the drum heads sound like they have a blanket over them. Still, it's Steely Dan and the pressing is clean.
