Billy Nicholls - "Would You Believe" 2 x Vinyl, Compilation, Limited Edition, 2007/1968 (Immediate)

I had the CD of the original album but recently purchased a reissued limited-edition double-set, with the extra songs being demos and stuff that didn't make it on the original release in 1968.  "Would You Believe" is incredible.  Imagine the Psychedelic sounds of The Small Faces meeting The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds," and that equals Billy Nicholls.  I don't have that much information on Nicholls, but I believe he is sort of like Speedy Keen of Thunderclap Newman, who was a pal of Pete Townshend and helped out in the studio here and there.   Billy did the same thing for The Who in the 70s and afterward.  This comes to mind perhaps Pete hires people more talented than him!

The Small Faces helped out with the production and arrangement for the song "Would You Believe," and it clearly has their sound, but Nicholls' talent doesn't disappear in the mix whatsoever.  This album is full of brilliant British musicians of its time, with great arrangements by John Paul Jones and Arthur Greenslade, who even worked with Serge Gainsbourg.  My favorite cut here is "Girl From New York," which is the perfect combination of power pop melody with heavy 60s guitar groove that is total Mod-tastic.  The album comes from the sensibility of British Mod-era music as it went into the late 60s.  This album is the perfect sound and example of what was happening at that time, especially in London.  Try to find the double-album set, with the demos attached, because they to are fantastic.  Perfect record. 

Ennio Morricone "Veruschka" Album, OST, 2 x Vinyl (Dagored)

The ultimate Italian/Euro swinging set of melodies by Ennio Morricone, which is the soundtrack to the 1971 documentary "Veruschka - Poesia Di Una Donna." Veruschka was the first supermodel, and here, the music matches her beauty. The film is forgotten (unless your Tarantino) but the music is iconic and beautiful in that it conveys a textural Brazilian motif, yet, clearly Italian. The album features the breathy vocals of Edda Dell'Orso, who is the ultimate singer for Morricone. She comes off as Yma Sumac but even in a more mysterious landscape. This is a double-album vinyl set, and it is the first to be the complete soundtrack to the film. A must for the exotica fan, as well as anyone who appreciates the genius of Ennio Morricone.

Léo Kupper - "Electronic Works & Voices 1961-1979" Double Vinyl, LP, Compilation, 2013 (Sub Rosa)

Washes of electronic sound that sounds like a wave hitting a beach with a mixture of noise that reminds one of being in an exotic rain forest, or maybe an African landscape.  The imagination goes crazy as you hear Léo Kupper's "Electronic Works & Voices 1961-l979."  At one moment it can be ambient noise, but there are so many textures involved, and the only human sound is the voice in some of the pieces. One using Artaud's text.  

Kupper is a composer from Belgium.  There is an organic aesthetic involved in that electronically speaking there are no real instruments.  The hums, the washes of sonic sound, and electronics that at times sound like a string section is a soundtrack where one can forget time and space.  Although the music does convey a sense of placement, as mentioned before. It's a vague sense of being in nature, but maybe a natural outer space as far as I know. 

This is a very formatted and strict music.  I find it embracing me in a manner that is personal and therefore has an emotional presence.  Beautifully layered with textures within textures, I think this is the perfect music for a quiet evening at home.  Traveling without leaving one's room.  Exotica music for the adventuresome individual. 

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Electric Ladyland" Vinyl, LP, Album, 1968 (Track Records)

I was 15 years old when "Electric Ladyland" came out.  The original British cover spoke to the teenage heterosexual in a manner that was very direct, and perhaps more so than any other album cover of its time.  And the music wasn't bad!   I originally had the American version with Hendrix on the cover.  No way or in fashion would the British cover be allowed in the American market at its time.   If it was one naked lady, then that may have passed, but to have a dozen or so, on the front and back (fold out) cover, that is clearly a no-no.   Reportedly Hendrix hated the British cover.  In my teenage mind, I thought this was very much the lifestyle of Hendrix.  Perhaps the cover was taken in his home or bedroom.   It wasn't, but to a 15-year old, the fantasy outlives the reality. 

The music on this album is superb.   The Jimi Hendrix Experience was progressing from the first to the last album, which to me, is "Electric Ladyland."  I never bought any albums after his death, because I felt the unfinished work was not meant to be heard because Hendrix couldn't give its proper blessing due to his untimely death.    "Electric Ladyland" is both looking back, but very much a forward album.  Here, he works with other musicians and the music is more of a bigger canvas than the first two Hendrix Experience albums.    

Hendrix without a doubt is a genius guitar player, but he is also a fantastic arranger, lyricist, and record producer.  Technically an Experience album, but apparently Hendrix is thinking like a solo artist here.  The dreamy side of him such as "And the Gods Made Love" (goes with the British cover in my opinion), "Rainy Day Dream Away," "1983.." are all impressionistic paintings set to music.  One cannot separate the visual aspect of Hendrix, not only in his dandyism but also the colors that reflect in his music.  My favorite Hendrix song "The Burning of the Midnight Lamp" is perfection.  Psychedelic but holding on to the melody if life was about to be stamped out.  A great record, a great single.   Or was it ever a single?  

"Electric Ladyland" is a very sophisticated album.  When I first initially heard the album back in 1968, I felt it was opening up to new avenues, and I was excited to follow that Hendrix road.  His death was a major disappointment to me because I felt he would have gone on to make very interesting sounds.   And I have to add the importance of Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell in the band.   In fact, Mitchell as a drummer is simply amazing.  More jazz-like than rock n' roll.   Mitchell's professional life as a musician sounds incredible.  From having a rifle pointed at his head by Joe Meek to working with Jimi.  How perfect is that?

David Bowie - "Live Nassau Coliseum" 2 x Vinyl (Parlophone)

What an odd occurrence to purchase this live album today, that was recorded on March 23, 1976, at the Nassau Coliseum - and today's date is March 23.  I didn't realize that till I was half-way listening to this record.   So that is one surprise, the other shocking thing to me is that I never heard these recordings before. I know it's on the recent boxset that came out last year, as well as part of "Station to Station" package that included the original album as well as this live recording from the same period.   The third 'sort of' surprise is how much Bowie was influenced by American Black music.   Of course one hears it on "Young American," but for some weird reason, I never thought about it regarding the "Station to Station" album.

There is a strong funk element to these songs.  I have always thought that the material was 'rock,' as the foundation that has 'funk' or 'soul' touches, but I was totally wrong.  "Station to Station," the album, is very much a soul/funk work with rock touches.  'Word on a Wing" is a classic soul ballad, and of course "Stay" is a funk workout with these incredible textures mixed in with the overall sound.  The live recording of this album is very different from the studio versions.  The band here is fantastic.  

Carlos Alomar on rhythm guitar, Stacy Heydon on lead, George Murray on bass, Tony Kaye (one prog rock guy) on keyboards and the great Dennis Davis on drums.  They are not credited on the album sleeve, although Bowie acknowledges them on the disc/concert.   A good purchase for one's Bowie collection.