It’s the Dave Brubeck Quartet and the album is “Tlme Out” …
The Music Thread
- Thread starter KevinJS
- Start date
The Music Thread
- Thread starter KevinJS
- Start date
My second (and only “real”) audio system was based on a Sony STR 7055. It, and similar devices, were called Receivers because they had integrated FM tuners.
Complementary Sony components, a turntable and speakers, comprised the rest of the system. No reel-to-reel tape deck.
All components were tastefully clad with walnut. Spec-wise, the system fell at the lower end of the power scale. Aesthetically, it was at the top.
I couldn’t find any decent pics of the turntable or speakers, so I’m posting a pic of the receiver only.
The first album I bought to play on the new system was by America, mainly for the song “ Tin Man.” I was happy! …
Complementary Sony components, a turntable and speakers, comprised the rest of the system. No reel-to-reel tape deck.
All components were tastefully clad with walnut. Spec-wise, the system fell at the lower end of the power scale. Aesthetically, it was at the top.
I couldn’t find any decent pics of the turntable or speakers, so I’m posting a pic of the receiver only.
The first album I bought to play on the new system was by America, mainly for the song “ Tin Man.” I was happy! …
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More TV theme songs on my “playlist.” The first one is notable for the music and opening (film) sequence. It still looks good today. (Keep in mind the show began in 1968.) Hawaii Five-0:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
A more recent “spawn”- Law&Order, first season. Love the twangy guitar:
One more “crime” show theme, The Closer. It’s the closer for The Closer, but too short! It has a kinder and gentler twang:
And, I’ll close with two current reality series openings. First, Survivor - unfortunately, an abbreviated version is used today, minus the closing kettle drums (just like Hawaii Five-0’s). I bought the soundtrack on CD. (The CD player on my desktop and a “dollar store” headphone comprised my “audio system” at the time.)
The second is from the Amazing Race.
Survivor is the original version which has the Hawaii Five-0-like ending. The Amazing Race is this year’s.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
A more recent “spawn”- Law&Order, first season. Love the twangy guitar:
One more “crime” show theme, The Closer. It’s the closer for The Closer, but too short! It has a kinder and gentler twang:
And, I’ll close with two current reality series openings. First, Survivor - unfortunately, an abbreviated version is used today, minus the closing kettle drums (just like Hawaii Five-0’s). I bought the soundtrack on CD. (The CD player on my desktop and a “dollar store” headphone comprised my “audio system” at the time.)
The second is from the Amazing Race.
Survivor is the original version which has the Hawaii Five-0-like ending. The Amazing Race is this year’s.
.
Two favorite collaborations with orchestras:
Uninvited, Alanis Morissette -
Dark, haunting melody backed by discordance, ending in cacophony. I love it!
I have no idea what she’s singing about, but her voice (regarded as a musical instrument) is enough for me.
I looked up the lyrics; it seems like I’ve been missing out! Now I feel compelled to look up the lyrics for all my favorite songs. A daunting task, but I’m intrigued.
In the same vein - Elton John’s Madman Across the Water. Love the integration of classic and modern, both masterworks:
Uninvited, Alanis Morissette -
Dark, haunting melody backed by discordance, ending in cacophony. I love it!
I have no idea what she’s singing about, but her voice (regarded as a musical instrument) is enough for me.
I looked up the lyrics; it seems like I’ve been missing out! Now I feel compelled to look up the lyrics for all my favorite songs. A daunting task, but I’m intrigued.
In the same vein - Elton John’s Madman Across the Water. Love the integration of classic and modern, both masterworks:
This album was introduced to me by a good friend way back. (He also introduced me to Ravel’s Boléro.) We were sharing an apartment in a high-rise overlooking a beach at the time. I had my aforementioned Sony Audio System; he had a Pioneer-based system. (We used my system for this listening session.)
Google AI aided search:
“Rick Wakeman famously collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) on his highly successful 1974 live album Journey to the Centre of the Earth. The album was a landmark progressive rock recording that combined a rock band, choir, and full orchestra.”
David Hemmings narrated; it was recorded by A&M Records.
I had previously seen the movie and had visited Sonora Caverns, Texas (where I thought the movie was filmed), so I was “primed.”
Listening to this recording now takes me back through several periods of space and time— a virtual movie in my mind …
This link is 40 minutes long and contains ads …
Google AI aided search:
“Rick Wakeman famously collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) on his highly successful 1974 live album Journey to the Centre of the Earth. The album was a landmark progressive rock recording that combined a rock band, choir, and full orchestra.”
David Hemmings narrated; it was recorded by A&M Records.
I had previously seen the movie and had visited Sonora Caverns, Texas (where I thought the movie was filmed), so I was “primed.”
Listening to this recording now takes me back through several periods of space and time— a virtual movie in my mind …
This link is 40 minutes long and contains ads …
Bolero, what can I say? When a friend first introduced me to it, he said, “Listen, it sounds like an army marching towards you.” And indeed, it did sound like an army in the far distance marching towards me. I never bought a recording of Bolero, but the haunting melody stuck.
Because of this thread, I re-discovered this treasure—in a roundabout way. I first looked up flamenco guitar interpretations, classical guitar interpretations, cello, etc. Finally, I listened to various symphony orchestra performances, one with explanatory commentary. I looked into its history and viewed some ballet performances, since a ballet was the original commission.
I favor a symphony orchestra performance; I think it’s the best (and possibly the only) way to fully express as well as experience the musical concept of the composition.
I was amused by a story that the music supposedly tells. This scenario was printed on the premier’s program by the choreographer and set decorator according to Wikipedia:
“Inside a tavern in Spain, people dance beneath the brass lamp hung from the ceiling. [In response] to the cheers to join in, the female dancer has leapt onto the long table and her steps become more and more animated.”
I can buy this, but it was not Ravel’s vision; he had a factory and its repetitive mechanical sounds in mind.
I prefer my friend’s interpretation, at least to start.
Yes, there is a caravan of soldiers approaching from a barely audible distance. The soldiers are on foot, on horseback, or on camels. Victorious but wounded. Their heads are hung low, their bodies are slumped; the toll of battle. As they near, their heads start to lift, their bodies straighten. As they get even closer to the apprehensive crowd, the soldiers are marching at full attention, in a confident rhythm, proud.
As the crowd greets the soldiers, all emotions break loose and a glorious celebration ensues! Ta, da! …
(Not posting a link. There are many and easily accessible.)
Because of this thread, I re-discovered this treasure—in a roundabout way. I first looked up flamenco guitar interpretations, classical guitar interpretations, cello, etc. Finally, I listened to various symphony orchestra performances, one with explanatory commentary. I looked into its history and viewed some ballet performances, since a ballet was the original commission.
I favor a symphony orchestra performance; I think it’s the best (and possibly the only) way to fully express as well as experience the musical concept of the composition.
I was amused by a story that the music supposedly tells. This scenario was printed on the premier’s program by the choreographer and set decorator according to Wikipedia:
“Inside a tavern in Spain, people dance beneath the brass lamp hung from the ceiling. [In response] to the cheers to join in, the female dancer has leapt onto the long table and her steps become more and more animated.”
I can buy this, but it was not Ravel’s vision; he had a factory and its repetitive mechanical sounds in mind.
I prefer my friend’s interpretation, at least to start.
Yes, there is a caravan of soldiers approaching from a barely audible distance. The soldiers are on foot, on horseback, or on camels. Victorious but wounded. Their heads are hung low, their bodies are slumped; the toll of battle. As they near, their heads start to lift, their bodies straighten. As they get even closer to the apprehensive crowd, the soldiers are marching at full attention, in a confident rhythm, proud.
As the crowd greets the soldiers, all emotions break loose and a glorious celebration ensues! Ta, da! …
(Not posting a link. There are many and easily accessible.)
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Journey was the first album I ever bought. Still a masterpiece. Arthur and Henry are both worth a look too.
I think my favourite piece is his church organ part in Yes’ Awaken on Going For The One.
Edit: Incidentally, Rick played on Elton’s Madman Across The Water that you featured above.
There’s an interesting version of Bolero on this album, played on organ and percussion.
Just became aware that he had more recordings. Must give them a listen. Came across the Rick Wakeman/Elton John connection on one of their Wiki pages.
I think he has about 100 solo albums. Some are religious, reflecting his longstanding affinity with Christianity. I already mentioned his membership of Yes. He has quit and rejoined the band on numerous occasions and features on many of their albums. He has also worked as a session musician and collaborator for many groups and artists; Cat Stevens, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Jeff Wayne and Kevin Peek (Sky), etc.
Have fun exploring. Who did what with whom is one of my favourite musical pastimes. The above list only scratches the surface. By the way, there’s a long standing rumour that he can’t read music. In fact he can and the rumour persists mainly as a result of his habit of playing with his eyes closed.
Thanks for all the fascinating information. I have a lot of homework to catch up on! Knowing the lyrics, along with the story behind the music and/or song, makes the melody sound better.
I listened to the Yes-Awaken selection you shared. I looked up the lyrics (which I still haven’t fully deciphered) and some of its historical background, primarily through reviews.
It falls under one of my favorite categories: Middle Eastern music. I like exotic “cultural” sounds. This song reminds me of Dead Can Dance’s Rakim. However, in this case, the Christian sounds of organ and choir are added, which makes me think “Crusades.”
The singing has a prayer-like quality. A song of hope perhaps? …
Did someone mention Middle Eastern music? Here’s one that was on my desktop’s iTunes playlist. Unfortunately, my desktop died, which is one of the reasons I own an iPhone now.
Never saw this video before - I also like belly dancing! …
Never saw this video before - I also like belly dancing! …
According to Jon Anderson, the singer with Yes, the lyrics don't mean much at all and were chosen to fit the music. Interestingly enough, there is an early version of Awaken called Eastern Number, with different lyrics to the eventual album version of the song. It appears as a bonus track on an extended 2-disk version of Going For the One.
The band had an extra couple of weeks to work on the album. When they arrived in Switzerland, they found that Emerson Lake and Palmer were in the studio, recording their album Works, meaning that they would have to wait. They put the time to good use and polished the album up a bit prior to recording.
Wakeman's organ part was played live, by running data lines from the church to the recording studio. Remember this was pre-Internet, so it was quite a big deal. His earlier church organ contribution, on Close To The Edge, was recorded in the church and added later to the other band members' parts.
Wow, that’s quite a story! Thanks for the bit about the lyrics; it takes a load off my mind …
‘Tis the season - Here are a couple of songs from my Christmas playlist. I like the first one because it’s different. I like the Irish flavor. The origin of the band’s name is funny …
For a long time, the Bing Crosby/David Bowie version of the following song was my favorite. I found another one I like just as much. It’s a short film; the beginning is not an ad …
Both these songs are beautiful; presented as short movies, they have the potential to be tearjerkers. I’ll conclude with a song that is a little more festive …
For a long time, the Bing Crosby/David Bowie version of the following song was my favorite. I found another one I like just as much. It’s a short film; the beginning is not an ad …
Both these songs are beautiful; presented as short movies, they have the potential to be tearjerkers. I’ll conclude with a song that is a little more festive …
