MidwestRecord.com 3/14

JACKIE DESHANNON/Don t Turn Your Back on Me-This Is: Hopefully, this twofer will mark the beginning of a full scale Jackie DeShannon reissue program. Her Liberty catalog is the guts of her recorded output and the early part of it represents a wild girl that was a singer/songwriter without being a folkie; that hung with Jack Nitzsche and Randy Newman and wrote some dandy songs. They were trying to push her into the girl group mold, but at the time of these sides, she was unique enough to be picked to open the first Beatles American tour.

With at least one major hit here everyone knows, this is must listening for DeShannon s scattered but loyal fans.
SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM: Cats that have worked in or with Queensryche, Brother Cane and Alice Cooper band together for their own band to make the music they feel like making without corporate interference. The result is a hard rock record that acknowledges the need for some power ballads to get on radio but generally rocks out, heartland fashion.

Actually, if this is hard rock without corporate interference, it shows just how little the suits actually care about the record making process. Simply a nice set of old school rock, the way it sounded in the suburbs when the drinking age was lower and there were clubs on every other corner. Put it on and yell parrrrrrrrrrrrdddddeeeeeeeeeeee!

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DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER: After making her bones on Broadway and getting to step out of the shadow of some jazz/funk producers, Bridgewater was rolling with the times hooking up with Thom Bell to become a disco diva, just as disco was collapsing. With the kind of Philly set Northern soul fans love to find when digging in the crates, Bridgewater doesn t belie the full on diva she was to become, but she brings her pipes ready to sing.

Bell and James handle most of the behind the glass chores and this set stands up well, even of the industry behind it at the time didn t.
DEODATO/Somewhere Out There: Deodato made his bones across the jazz/soul/disco side of the spectrum without argument, but when it came to making his own albums, he didn t always get the push he deserved. Something of a stylistic chameleon, it made it hard for the public to peg him, but insiders knew him for the hipster he was.

This was a brave attempt for the stellar arranger to take his moves to the mainstream, but he was a little ahead of the adult contemporary curve. Super hip easy listening that goes well with early evening martinis today.
GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION: Bursting out of the remains of the Family Stone, Larry Graham knew he better get hot or go home and reacted accordingly.

WB was not really known for black music at the time of this original release and Graham helped put them on the map. Bass-ic heavy duty funk that was right for the times, when we needed to take out mid-off the high price of gas due to the Arab embargos (does anything ever change?).

High octane retro funk that has a contemporary enough feel to still be fun.
GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION/Release Yourself: Following up a hot debut right after getting sprung from Sly Stone s outfit, Graham and company take it to church a little bit where the funk is in tact and this has the feel of getting out of church and into the sun for the rest of the day. A solid piece of the 70 s when funk was in the air.

GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION/Ain t No Bout a Doubt It: Graham let the Jheri Curl drip and took it right to number one with Your Love and other funky specimens. With the kind of hits you needed to power an album on board at the time, this propulsive set has all the right goods in all the right places and it s more than a trip down memory lane.
GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION/Now Do You Wanna Dance: Parliament was setting the table for funk parties and GCS got right in step, but they did it their way.

Certainly a wild and funky good time, this set has held up quite well and seems like a lot more than a time piece. The band had really locked in their groove and wasn t afraid to spread the word, loud and proud.
LARRY GRAHAM Graham Central Station/My Radio Sure Sounds Good to Me: Kind of setting the stage for Graham to go solo and hit it with a ballad that hit home, you have an up tempo good time here that mixes hit singles and memorable album tracks in just the right groove.

Tasty, sweaty workout that was a good way for the group to top off it s tenure as a unit.
JOEY DEFRANCESCO/Organic Vibes: Sometimes it s hard to reconcile DeFrancesco is still pretty much of a young lion. After losing his B3 hero, Jimmy Smith last year, DeFrancesco turns his attention in a Blue Note direction by bringing back old school cats like Bobby Hutcherson and George Coleman and letting the B3 continue to burn brightly.

The sparks are really flying and anyone that loves the smoking sound of a Hammond on fire will be sure to see DeFrancesco chart this one to the top of all the polls and charts yet again. Hot stuff throughout.
JIM HUDAK/Bridging Textures: Former ASCAP exec tries something different for his fifth album, he puts his publishing through SESAC.

In addition to that, he gets Will Ackerman to produce, and he just happens to bring by a gaggle of old Windham Hill cronies and other jazzbos to make the right setting for Hudak s first set of almost all originals. With everybody pulling the in the same direction to move NAC to a new plain, impressionistic, contemporary piano fans will have something to sink their teeth into here. With welcome visits from old friends and smart playing throughout, you don t have to be an old new age fan to dig this.

DAVID GOGO/Skeleton Key: Blues rocking road warrior that was befriended by Stevie Ray Vaughn, won a Juno and knows how to kick ass turns in a new date that s just what the roadhouse rocker has been looking for. Cranked up fun rock that falls right out of the pocket where the Allmans meet the Fab T-Birds to party the night away with ZZ Top. You should keep an eye out for when this guy is playing at a joint near you because if he can t bring out beery bleached blondes in wife beaters, nobody can.

He knows how to crank up and out that kind of fun.
RED GARLAND TRIO/At the Prelude: It took 40 years of various recordings for all the material recorded on this one night to come out, but here it is under one cover at last. Piano man Garland had just left the first major Miles Davis quintet and was working with his own trio, putting himself in the front and center spotlight he well deserved.

Solid piano work that holds up overtime, this is a prime example of why Garland had such a fine rep in his time. The work is not pretentious, but it s anything but Plain Jane. There was a lot of competition between jazz piano trios at the time, but this set is a real stand out, for then or now.

JACO PASTORIUS BIG BAND/Word is Out: What started out as a good idea has now started showing signs of being an ongoing tribute to one of the great fallen jazzbos of contemporary times that left behind great music but cheated the rest of us by being his own worst enemy. With an incredible cross cultural/cross generational line up of musicians, not just on bass, this major blowing session just kicks ass. With an incredible load of guests playing for the love of it and to leave their mark on an important work, this is the kind of record that the guy who only buys one jazz record a year will want to own.

Contemporary jazzbos that love a great groove probably figured out how to download this from somewhere prior to the street date -it s that hot.
SLEEPER CELL/soundtrack: To those listening, the success of the Showtime show has triggered a renaissance for Nona Hendryx and Paul Hasliner who ve contributed some compelling new electronic music as well as picked out the creme of some contemporary artists that are out there, but pretty much flying under the radar waiting for the big break. A solid set that hangs well together on it s own, but is sure to be a wanted souvenir by the show s fans, this set sets a new benchmark for progressive minded soundtracks to follow.

MOVIES WITH HEROES/Nothing Here is Perfect: Veteran indy rockers with arena sentiments let it all hang out with their first set that isn t self released after years of kicking it out opening for some of the bigger acts that have since come and gone. With analogies that fall in the gulf between Coldplay and Foo Fighters, this is an American band that plays more toward the Foo Fighters side with a college radio ethic. Anyway you slice it, they are ready for their run for the roses.

BRIGITTE DEMEYER/Something After All: Demeyer can attract an impressive support cast, so much so that this alone is enough to make you sit up and pay attention. Sounding more like a rootsy Sheryl Crow than ersatz Lucinda Williams, the alt.country crew behind her pushes her singing and writing to a very special place that has you wondering how the majors missed out on this even with all their cutbacks.

If you are looking for a solid singer/songwriter that doesn t deserve to be off the beaten path that will become a fave in very short order, this is the place to dig in.
ROB LEVIT/Touch the Spirit: There s always a bunch of guitarists out there that think they are something they aren t, and then there s the ones that fly under the radar you wish wouldn t. Levit is one of the ones you wish that would come out from under the radar.

One of those guys like Billy McLaughlin that seemingly come out of nowhere with a sterling example of what you can do with six strings, this is a tour de force date for acoustic guitar fans. A fatly tracked set that tips the cap to his guitar heroes without diminishing himself along the way, this is a solid date that moves the art along nicely.
ERIN BODE/Over and Over: It doesn t look right on paper to call Bode Rickie Lee Jones lite, but she does that conversational jazz in the Jones style without the Jones neuroses and quirks.

That doesn t make her any less attention worthy, it just means you don t get the sturm and drang in the lyrics. The band runs enough deep grooves in some places that it wouldn t be surprising if Bode gets some left field extra recognition from these grooves being sampled. Over all, it s that welcome kind of cocktail jazz vocal that falls outside the cabaret realm, working just as nicely in the foreground or the background.

STEVE KHAN/Green Field: Khan must have paid for the date because how do you say he leads John Patitucci and Jack deJohnette?. It s not that they can t do the right thing, but these are three very strong players giving things a real work out.

Kind of a reflection on the evolution of a personal life, Khan and company are elegant and eloquent in their work painting broad strokes with economy and deliver the goods royally. Jazz guitar fans better get their ears cleaned out in anticipation of giving this a righteous spin.
PHISH/New Yar s Eve 1995: One of those magic evenings Phish fans refer to in hushed tones, this is the full extant of that evening on three discs with everything the Phish fan could want to have a real statement made.

Celebrating their 10th anniversary by covering everything from The Who to Chuck Berry with their own stamp on things, the Phish fan no longer has to wish he was there. A nice, solid contemporary jam band set that hits the mark.
TENGIR-TOO-Mountain Music of Kyrgyzstan-Music of Central Asia V.

1: When Moe Asch s estate first turned over the keys to Folkways to the Smithsonian, they did a good job of putting everything in print, but a sloppy job of putting it out there. This gatefolded cd/DVD combo package that is the companion piece to a tour currently under way highlighting this regional music rights some recent wrongs on a lot of levels. Superficially, it s a stunning looking package.

Artistically, it s a fine addition to the armchair traveler s world beat collection. A well paced collection of challenging and engrossing listening from forgotten corners of Asia, this ear opening set can knock down boundaries with the force of a Nonesuch Explorer.
MARSHALL CHAPMAN/Mellowicious: Chapman always seems to do her best work on her own imprint and after a decade away from recording, she s got the Tall Girl logo revved up again.

While there isn t a monster like Betty s Being Bad on board here, there s a bunch of contemporary takes that you might not expect a mature woman to be on top of. Well written as always, Chapman is just one of those artists that makes her best work when in control of her own destiny, even if it means not having the power of the machine behind it. Yep, she was alt.

country before alt.country was cool, and she still is.
EVGENY KISSIN-JAMES LEVINE/Carnegie Hall Concert-Schubert Piano Music for Four Hands: While we wait for someone to step up and offer the Lebeques a new recording deal, James Levine steps out from behind the conductor s podium to link up with Grammy winner Kissin for a program that shows the elegant power of four hands working 176 keys.

Running just a touch too long to fit on a single disc, this specially priced twofer is a power packed date, highlighting some of Schubert s lesser recorded works giving the date a fresher feel. Clearly a duet but with the synchronicity that makes it often seem as if they are playing as one, this is a dream date for classical piano fans that need something that simply hits the mark with every note.
NIKOLAUS HARNONCOURT/Mozart Early Symphonies V.

2: The coolest thing about this record is an intangible that won t hit you right away this feels like a classical record. You know what I mean, the kind of records your grampa used to listen to as he conducted the orchestra in the mirror after the family got together for lunch on Sunday afternoon. The music is great but the feel is what will sweep you up in this.

The set focuses on concerts Mozart wrote before he was 15 and that alone is enough to be impressive and give you an inferiority complex. Since a lot of newbies might be swept into the tent during the Mozart 250th birthday celebration, this set is a great place for the newbie to get his feet wet without feeling behind the curve or clueless. It s a killer twofer for everyone from the oldest Mozart fan to the newbie that wants to come along from the ride.

TEMPTATIONS/Reflections: With 45 years under their belts, Otis Williams leads a bunch of new pals younger than you through the best of Motown in this recording that keeps the ball rolling. This is just right to buy in the lobby of the casino to get autographed after the performance. Almost like a Motown review as opposed to a Temptations revue, this is a subtle reminder that when it s gone, it s gone and this is better than a lame tribute show.

The kids can download all the original versions, but it s nice to see welcoming records made for adults.
EMERALD ISLES-Music Inspired by Ireland Scotland/various: Pulled mostly from classical/crossover holdings by the label, this anthology goes down just right if you are looking for a toney St. Paddy s since it s full of symphonic treatments of some classic Irish melodies.

With a nice mix of something for everyone ranging from symphonic pieces to solo guitar, this is one fun, fine collection that can bring out the Irish in everyone.
MONTY ALEXANDER/Concrete Jungle: People forget that Alexander and Bob Marley were pretty much from the same neighborhood, so this trip down to Tuff Gong to record some jazzy takes on Marley tracks with some of the better cats of jazz and reggae communities makes perfect sense and probably gave him a chance to catch up with some relatives. It s not the kind of set the typical Marley fan will take to heart, but it s like the kind of sets in the sixties that introduced the Beatles to the older generation via music they could understand.

Alexander is a pro, the jazz flavor works nicely and the end result is an easy to like, upmarket party record just begging for the right summer evening to come along.
EMINENT LIVES-The Presidents Collection (read by Sam Tsoutsouvas): A grouping of three looks at Presidents, Grant by Michael Korda, Washington by Paul Johnson and Jefferson by Christopher Hutchens. Any history buff will enjoy these well researched and written looks at a few of the leaders that took this country from inception through the Civil War.

With the subjects being long dead enough that the writers could write freely without worrying about libel suits, they tell their tales, good and bad, pro and con and show that leadership isn t something that falls easily out of a text book. Real good stuff for American history buffs.
JAMES SWANSON (read by Richard Thomas)/Manhunt: Show of hands, how many of you thought they nailed Lincoln s killer at the scene of the crime.

It took 12 days to find him, at a time when things weren t as advanced as they are today. This well documented historical look at a tense time in the nation s history (oh, when wasn t it?) is brought to life by the well matched work of author and reader.

You ll certainly know more about John Wilkes Booth than you ever imagined after you take this trip into the Way Back Machine.
KIMBERLA LAWSON ROBY (read by Lynn Chavis and others)/Changing Faces: High concept, a black version of Desperate Housewives . Three long time friends with flaws are rolling along with their dysfunctional lives in check until the husband of one threatens to blow the lid off something his wife would prefer he didn t.

A nice bit of chick lit that contemporary women s fiction fans will enjoy as light entertainment.
GLORIA ALLRED/Fight Back and Win: Unless you watch the right tv channels, it s possible that you don t know who this power house attorney is. Once you do get a taste of her, one thing is certain, she won t leave you indifferent, and love/hate with her doesn t necessesarily run along gender lines.

A no nonsense look at 50 of her biggest cases and battles, and how to apply them to your own life, Allred is out to empower everyone with this biography/look back. Another reminder that life is a full contact sport and the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
DR.

HENRY CLOUD/Integrity: Syndicated radio host explains how integrity is more than honesty, what the elements of it are and how to make it work for you as a way of life to achieve better results in everything you do. It sounds like a tall order, but he makes a lot of sense. Certainly seekers and new age types will be drawn to this work, but it s a nice tap on the shoulder to anyone running around feeling frustrated and stuck looking for a way out.

KEVIN BAKER/Strivers Row: Unabridged version of some crisp historical fiction that follows young Malcolm X through the streets of 1943 Harlem with a take that Spike Lee didn t tell. This is the tale of two powerful men coming of age in the same cauldron and how their lives took different turns when really aiming toward the same end. The last installment of a trilogy, it might have been released in time for black history month, but it s something that holds a much larger scope.

Even though this is fiction, anyone interested in the civil rights struggle from a perspective other than looking at the South will find this a meaty work to bite into. Check it out, by any means necessary.
ROALD DAHL/Giraffe, Pelly Me; Twits; BFG; Witches: With a load of all star readers, four new unabridged editions of the children s word of Dahl come to audio.

Smelly, mean people, house cleaning giraffes, witches, friendly giants, it s all here, with Dahl s trademark twists and turns flowering in full effect, this British version of Shel Silverstein is going to be enchanting the young ones for generations to come and here s another helping of the proof.
JOHN CLEESE/Personal Best (71813); TERRY JONES/Personal Best (74517); TERRY GILLIAM/Personal Best (74518); GRAHAM CHAPMAN/Personal Best (74519): After getting their toe in the water and finding out the video greatest hits concept would work for the Python s, the rest of the Python crew gets to put their two cents in on hat they thought they did best, except of course, Chapman, who had his work picked out for him since he s long dead. There was a time when people thought Cleese was Monty Python (himself as in the flesh) and this snapshot of his commanding presence will show you why.

The other three Python s represented here weren t exactly cream cheese either. Gilliam s all animation set is a hoot, Chapman wasn t sabotaged by his mates and Jones brings his Welsh madness to the fore with The Lumberjack Song and more. The age of the video greatest hit has arrived.

ELLEN-Complete Season 3: America s fave non-threatening lesbian really hit her goofy stride in season three of her sitcom that took it s time getting around to answering the question about who was Lebanese. Running like a parallel universe Seinfeld, enough of America was ready for this other show about nothing, peopled by a bunch of loons, that knew how to bring on the laughs. A dandy addition to your comedy collection.

HILL STREET BLUES-Complete Season One: The 80 s were upon us and hippies were far enough away from their days of rising up angry to accept this new wave cop show that Ed McBain always claimed (probably rightfully) was a rip off of his 87th Precinct series. From the last age of giving shows time to develop, this show came along when NBC was in the toilet and they let Steve Bocheco have the room to let his quirky, vulnerable characters unfold. Using handheld cameras for added realism, this show launched a lot of the moves that would later be amplified by other cop shows but become cop show cliches.

This show has been a long time coming to any kind of home video so we hope enough people want to enjoy it again to get Fox to commit to the run of the series on DVD.
COMEDY CENTRAL ROAST OF PAMELA ANDERSON-Uncensored: There is no fine line between Pam Anderson and say, Anna Nicole Smith. Anderson is in control of the joke and knows how to roll with the punches.

As long as she never gets the urge to get on a soap box and shoot her mouth off in directions where it shouldn t be shot, she s fun to watch and hear. This DVD has out takes and extras that weren t on the broadcast version of the roast. With a later day collection of the Friars Club members of tomorrow ringing around the rosy, the laughs just don t stop.

All we really want to know is if Andy Dick is the new Foster Brooks?
GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK: Being an old Murrow fan, I had high hopes for this picture. Even though certain dramatic liberties were taken to move the story forward as a motion picture, I was not disappointed.

An offbeat entry from the Clooney/Soderbergh team, this is one of those one for us pictures that they made under the aegis of maverick Mark Cuban who seemed to give them the freedom to make a great pic. While some may easily be put off by this being a black and white documentary about some long ago controversy that doesn t matter now, it was a rocky time in American history when freedoms were at stake, broadcast journalism was being invented and a lot of things we take for granted today were being settled. A marvelous work created by a team that cared about what they were doing.

Even if you aren t a docu fan, you should make the time to check this out.
BLUE COLLAR TV Season one V. 2: The second half of the first season comes home as the three redneck amigos keep delivering white trash fun.

With Fax Bahr at the wheel, it shows just how much the Mad Magazine vet has a nose for humor since he s now worked every angle of the lower end of the socio-economic scale and generated big belly laughs. Laughter, like music, can be very universal. If you like being in on the joke, and you ve dug the concert films, this journey through the other side of the The Jerry Springer Show is sure to give you more than a few guffaws.