Eagle Rock Entertainment’s New John Lee Hooker Live Recording Is A Welcome Addition To Any Blues Lover’s Library

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds

Eagle Rock Entertainment is helping audiences get their live music fix once again.  Following the releases of the latest Def Leppard and The Rolling Stones live recordings early this year, the company has teamed with Montreux Sounds to release two more live recordings from the famed Montruex Jazz Festival.  They come in the form of blues legend John Lee Hooker’s 1983 and 1990 performances alongside the Coast to Coast Blues Band.  The very presentation of the two shows together is in itself a clear positive to this presentation in its own right and will be discussed shortly.  The set lists featured in the concerts add even more to the recording’ presentation and will be discussed a little later.  The recording’s  production rounds out its most important elements and will be discussed later, too.  Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the recording’s presentation.  All things considered, they make the recording a welcome addition to any blues aficionado’s music library.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s new John Lee Hooker live recording Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is a presentation that will easily appeal to any blues aficionado.  That is proven in part through its very presentation.  Audiences get here not one but two separate concerts in one vinyl (and digital) presentation.  It would have been easy for Eagle Rock’s officials to split the concerts up (as they shockingly did recently with Def Leppard’s recent London To Vegas recording).  Thankfully, that did not happen here.  Instead, audiences get the two hour-long shows (the 1983 show is actually one hour, five minutes and the second is approximately one hour in length) in one complete package.  Essentially, audiences are getting two shows for the price of one, and not only on vinyl, but also on digital.  The only downside to the presentation is that it was not made available on DVD or Blu-ray, even though official video clips of the performances are streaming online.  Maybe that portion of the recording will come along in the not too distant future.  That aside, audiences who are okay with just owning the concerts’ audio recording will appreciate having the whole of both recordings at least in their existing platforms.  This is just one part of what makes the collective recording so appealing.  Its featured set lists add to its appeal.

As noted, audiences get in Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990, two separate live sets.  One clocks in at an hour in length and the other at an hour and five minutes.  That equals to a total of just over two hours.  That is the length of an average single concert for most acts.  In other words, audiences get overall content that is equal to pretty much every other single live recording here, only spanning two concerts.  Building on that, audiences get at least a healthy representation of Hooker’s catalog at the time.  There are some well-known songs, such as ‘Baby Lee,’ ‘Boom Boom,’ and ‘Boogie Chillen’ as well as covers of songs from Hooker’s blues counterparts, Howlin’ Wolf, Big Maceo, and Tommy Tucker throughout the course of the two set lists.  Hooker takes audiences all the way back to his formative days in his 1948 hit ‘Boogie Chillen’ and as recent as his 1989 album The Healer.  Along the way, songs, such as ‘Crawlin’ King Snake (from 1959’s I’m John Lee Hooker), ‘I’m In The Mood’ (a single from 1951, which was in fact inspired by The Glenn Miller Orchestra’s ‘I’m In The Mood’) and ‘It Serves Me Right To Suffer (from 1966’s It Serves You Right To Suffer) are also featured.  Some of the songs are repeated between the two sets, but audiences will note that the performances of those repeat songs are not themselves repeats.  Rather, they are their own unique performances.  To that end, what audiences get even in this case is still some originality.  When those performances are considered along with the other performances and the set lists overall, what audiences get in this element is content overall that will do just as much as the set’s presentation to keep audiences engaged and entertained.  While the overall content and presentation collectively do plenty to make this recording so appealing, they are just a portion of what makes it so enjoyable.  The recording’s overall production rounds out its most important elements.

Audiences will be pleased to know that the production of Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is just as impressive as the recording’s content.  The audio is crystal clear, with the audience noise and music expertly balanced throughout.  Even taking into consideration just the band’s performance, each performer’s part is just as well balanced with those of his band mates.  Hooker’s own vocals are just as clear throughout the course of the concerts.  The result is that audiences will find that very rarely throughout the two hour-plus recording will they ever have to adjust the volume or even strain to hear any part of the performances.  In other words, audiences get the best seat in the house once more thanks to Eagle Rock Entertainment, and will at times feel like they are right there at the concerts because the production resulted in such clear, rich sound throughout.  Between this positive, that of the overall content, and that of the set’s presentation, what audiences get in Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is a presentation that every blues lover will welcome in his or her music library whether digitally or on vinyl.  With any luck, fans will be rewarded with a full DVD/BD release of the concert sooner rather than later to make the experience whole.  Until such time though, audiences will still revel in the experience presented by this audio-only release of the noted concerts.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s new John Lee Hooker double live recording Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is a strong new offering from the company in its ongoing partnership with Montreux Sounds.  There is much to appreciate about the recording, not the least of which being that it is a double recording in one complete set.  Audiences get to own both shows in one package rather than being forced to buy them separately.  The overall content – from its set lists to their overall run time – adds even more appeal to the recording.  The recording’s  production puts the finishing touch to its presentation.  Each item noted and discussed here is important in its own way to the whole of this recording’s presentation.  All things considered, they make Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 a joy for any John Lee Hooker fan and blues aficionado alike to experience.  It is available now.

More information on John Lee Hooker Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is available along with all of the latest John Lee Hooker news at:

Website: http://www.johnleehooker.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JohnLeeHookerOfficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnleehooker

More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Eagle Rock Entertainment Announces Release Date, Specs For John Lee Hooker Concerts Set

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds

Eagle Rock Entertainment will take audiences back to the famed Montreux Jazz Festival again next month.

The company is scheduled to release John Lee Hooker Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 on Nov. 6.  The presentation will release on separate 2LP, digital video & digital audio platforms.  The 1983 set features fan favorites, such as ‘Boogie Chillen,’ ‘Boom Boom,’ and ‘Worried Life Blues’ while his 1990 show featured ‘I’m In The Mood,’ ‘Baby Lee’ and ‘The Healer’ as well as another rendition of ‘Boom Boom’ and ‘Boogie Chillen.’

On a side note, Eagle Rock Entertainment’s recent live recording from The Rolling Stones, Steel Wheels Live also featured Hooker performing ‘Boogie Chillen’ alongside Mick Jagger and company.  The recording is available now.

Hooker was joined by the Coast to Coast Band for each of the featured performances.  The 1983 show saw the group’s performance of ‘Boogie Chillen’ expand to a 13-person jam session that featured performances from famed blues figures, such as guitarist Luther Allison and harmonica great Sugar Blue.

The track listing for the recording is noted below.  Pre-orders are open now.  A trailer for the recording is streaming here.

LIVE AT MONTREUX 1983 – LP 1
SIDE ONE
1. It Serves Me Right To Suffer
2. I Didn’t Know
3. Hi-Heel Sneakers
4. If You Take Care Of Me, I’ll Take Care Of You
5. Boom Boom

SIDE TWO
1. Worried Life Blues
2. I’m Jealous
3. Crawlin’ King Snake
4. Boogie Chillen

LIVE AT MONTREUX 1990 – LP 2
SIDE THREE
1. John Lee Hooker Introduction
2. Mabel
3. I’m In The Mood
4. Crawlin’ King Snake
5. Baby Lee

SIDE FOUR
1. It Serves Me Right To Suffer
2. Boom Boom
3. The Healer
4. Boogie Chillen’

More information on John Lee Hooker Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is available along with all of the latest John Lee Hooker news at:

 

Website: http://www.johnleehooker.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JohnLeeHookerOfficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnleehooker

 

More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available at:

 

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

 

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Eagle Rock’s New Mingus Montreux 1975 2CD Set Is A Solid Audio Companion To Concert’s ’04 DVD Release

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Jazz great Charles Mingus is considered by most critics and aficionados alike to be one of the most important names within the jazz world. From Mingus Ah Um to Cumbia & Jazz Fusion to The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady and beyond, the impact and importance of Mingus’ works both as a composer and band leader have been felt throughout the ages. Sadly, the world lost the greatness that was Charles Mingus what seemed too early in 1979 as a result of Lou Gehrig’s disease, otherwise known as ALS. Luckily, his legacy has since lived on through a variety of re-issues and archived live recordings through various labels. This Friday, Feb. 2, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the latest of those archived concert recordings when it releases Live at Montreux 1975 on a new 2CD set. The companion piece to the concert’s previously released DVD presentation –released via Eagle Rock Entertainment in 2004 — this recording is such a critical piece of Mingus’ history because it would be one of his final live performances before being diagnosed with the disease, playing one of its most pivotal roles. The concert’s set list is just as important to the recording’s presentation as its back story. Last but most definitely not least of note to examine here is the band’s performance throughout the concert. It will be discussed later. Each element noted here is important in its own right. All things considered, Live at Montreux 1975 proves to be a recording that belongs in the home library of Mingus’ fans and jazz aficionados alike.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s mew 2CD presentation of Charles Mingus Live at Montreux 1975 is a critical piece of Mingus’ history. Even having been previously released on DVD in 2004, it doesn’t lose that importance. As a matter of fact, the very fact that 13 years have passed since that initial release renews that importance. It proves to be such an important recording in no small part because it would be one of his last live performances before ALS would eventually take away his ability to perform or even record. The 85-minute concert presents Mingus and his band mates (at the time) at the top of their game, often times seemingly untamed and at others so smooth yet throughout. This will be discussed later. What’s more, it presents the band performing two of Mingus’ critical albums in whole along with a pair of equally important covers. This will be discussed shortly. All things considered here, the concert itself proves to be a concert that presents Mingus and company at the top of their collective games. With any luck, it will eventually be complimented with a new Blu-ray re-issue that makes up for the concert’s previous DVD re-issue.

The new 2CD presentation of Charles Mingus Live at Montreux 1975 is an important piece of Mingus’ history in part because of its very background, which has been pointed out. That back story is only one element that makes it such an important recording. Its set list is important in its own way. The concert’s set list is its own important part of its presentation. Audiences will note that the 5-song, 85-minute performance lifts from two of Mingus’ most talked about albums — Changes One and Changes Two, both of which were recorded together in 1974 for Atlantic Records — while also adding in a take on Duke Ellington’s hit song ‘Take The A Train’ and Mingus’ own 1959 classic ‘Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.’ Given, it doesn’t encompass the whole of those two albums, but it does present at least three of the albums’ best works. Even more interesting is that while ‘Take The A Train’ is not included on either record, there is a cover of Ellington’s ‘Sound of Love’ included in Changes Two. That cover is replaced here with ‘Take The A Train.’ The inclusion of the Ellington cover — both on and off record — is important to note because during his life and career, Mingus was called the heir apparent to Ellington. Getting back on track, the songs pulled from Changes One and Changes Two get quite the extended takes — takes that are certain to keep listeners’ attention. That is thanks to the group’s performances, the last of the recording’s most important elements.

The performances put on by Mingus and company throughout the course of the concert definitely stand out, as was noted earlier. At times, the performances feel wild and untamed such as in ‘Cell Block F, ‘Tis Nazi U.S.A.,’ and ‘Sue’s Changes.’ At other times, such as in ‘Goodbye Pork Pie Hat’ and ‘Devil’s Blues,’ is so much calmer. Mingus’ calm, cool work on the bass on ‘Goodbye Pork Pie Hat’ couples expertly with drummer Dannie Richmond and pianist Don Pullen in this song to give it such an enjoyable, relaxed vibe. Saxophonist and trumpeter George Adams and Jack Walrath add their own touch to the song, making it even more smooth. Pullen’s wildly outrageous work on ‘Cell Block F, ‘Tis Nazi U.S.A.’ illustrates quite well the events of the Attica riots. The easygoing vibe of ‘Take The A Train’ from the group in whole stands out just as much. From the playful improved piano line to the time keeping to Mingus’ own work on the bass, listeners can close their eyes and so vividly see passengers getting on and off the train thanks to the group’s work here. It is just one more way in which the group’s performance proves its importance to the concert. Every one of the songs featured in this performance could just as easily. That being the case, it becomes obvious in listening through each performance, why taking in the musicians’ talents, why their performances are so important to this presentation. When they are joined with the recording’s set list and its back story, the end result is a recording that will appeal to jazz fans in general just as much as it will to Mingus’ most devout fans.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s new Charles Mingus Montreux ’75 2CD set is a presentation that is certain to appeal to any of the famed jazz bassist’s fans and to jazz aficionados in general. The companion piece to Eagle Rock’s 2004 release of the concert recording on DVD, it offers plenty for audiences to appreciate. That is especially considering it is the first time that the recording has been released on CD. The back story behind this concert, and Mingus’ eventual health decline not too long after, adds plenty of interest to the concert. The set list, while not wholly representative of Changes One and Changes Two, presents a rich picture of the albums. The group’s performance over the course of the show’s nearly 90-minute run puts the finishing touch to the recording. Each element, as has been made clear in the discussions here, is important in its own right to the recording’s whole. All things considered, Eagle Rock Entertainment’s new 2CD presentation of Charles Mingus Live at Montreux 1975 proves to be a great companion piece to the concert’s previously released DVD and another piece that Mingus’ fans will appreciate just as much as jazz fans in general. It will be available in stores and online Feb. 2. More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and new in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Toto Releasing New Live Concert Recording

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds have partnered to release another classic concert from the legendary music festival’s archives.

Toto: Live at Montreux 1991 will be released in stores and online on Friday, September 16^th.  It will be released on separate DVD/CD combo pack, Blu-ray + CD combo pack, and digital video.  The concert is a very special recording for fans to have in their home music libraries.  That is because it is one of the performances from what would be the band’s final tour with Jeff and Mike Porcaro alongside original members Steve Lukather and David Paich.  Jeff Porcaro sadly passed away only a year later.  The tour that included this performance was in support of its then new album Kingdom of Desire.  As an additional bonus for fans, the recording presented here was personally mixed by Steve Lukather alongside legendary engineer Niko Bolas (Boz Scaggs, Los Lobos, Johnny Cash, etc.)  The full track listing for Toto: Live at Montreux 1991 is noted below.

 

Track Listing:

1.)  On The Run

2.)  Kingdom of Desire

3.)  I’ll Be Over You

4.)  Africa

5.)  Jake To The Bone

6.)  Red House

7.)  Rosanna

8 )   I Want To Take You Higher

 

More information on Toto: Live at Montreux 1991 is available online now along with the band’s latest news at:

 

 

 

Website: http://totoofficial.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/totoband

Twitter: http://twitter.com/toto99.com

 

 

 

More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

‘Paco And John’ Is Another Impressive Entry In Eagle Rock’s Montreux Live Series

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds/Universal Music Group

Fans of John McLaughlin have new reason to be excited this week.  That is because Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds have released a new archived performance by the veteran guitarist.  Paco An John Live at Montreux 1987 was released this Friday, June 24^th.  The triple-disc set is not the first of McLaughlin’s Montreux performances to be released by the companies.  Five years ago, they released McLaughlin’s performance alongside fellow guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana at the 2011 Montreux Festival on Blu-ray.  This latest recording takes fans even farther back in time and presents him with another guitarist—Paco de Lucia.  There is plenty for fans of both musicians to appreciate in this new recording beginning with its set list.  This will be discussed shortly.  The duo’s stage presence is just as important to note.  It will be discussed later.  Last and most definitely not least of note in this set’s presentation is its companion booklet.  It brings everything full circle with this presentation and shows together with the previously noted elements why this recording is one more must have for any John McLaughlin fan.

Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds’ new archived concert recording Paco and John Live at Montreux 1987 is a new must have for any fan of Paco de Lucia.  It is just as much of a must have for any fan of John McLaughlin.  It is not the first of McLaughlin’s Montreux performances to be released by Eagle Rock and Montreux Sounds.  But it is unlike his previous released performances.  That is evident in the first of the set’s most important elements—its set list.  This concert’s set list features a mix of Mclaughlin and de Lucia’s own originals, and a number of covers, too.  McLaughlin makes note of this in the set’s companion booklet.  That will be discussed at more length later.  In all, the nine songs (technically ten since the set’s opener is a two-song medley of sorts) that make up the body of the concert total ninety-one minutes.  What’s important to note is that while nine (or ten) songs might not seem like much, each song’s arrangement is so in depth that each one must be truly experienced in order to be fully understood and appreciated.  In other words, the set list presented here is not one that one can just have on in the background when experiencing it.  It is one that requires full attention from one song to the next in order to be fully appreciated.  It is just one of the recording’s most important elements.  McLaughlin and de Lucia’s stage presence is just as important to note here as the show’s set list.

The set list featured in Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin’s new live recording is an important part of the recording’s presentation in its own right.  That is made clear simply by listening through the entirety of its ninety-one minute run time.  It is just one of the recording’s most important elements.  McLaughlin and de Lucia’s stage presence is just as important to note in this recording as the concert’s set list.  The duo’s stage presence is so important to note because of how little the pair does throughout the course of its performance.  Both men spend the length of their performance sitting down while they perform.  There’s no walking around on stage, pacing back and forth.  Even with this being the case, both men still manage to keep audiences entertained and engaged.  That is done primarily through each musician’s display of musical talents.  The precision and expertise exhibited in each man’s performance is impressive to say the very least.  Actually getting to see that expertise in the set’s DVD reveals just how impressive their talents are.  The pair’s facial gestures do just as much for their stage presence as their performance of the set’s featured songs.  This includes the moments when each is alone on stage and when the pair is performing together.  The sly little smiles that the pair share with one another as they perform speak volumes.  Those motions do just as much to entertain as do those of any performer’s more active behavior on stage.  That is a true testament to the power of the simplicity in the pair’s stage presence.  It shows that just as the old adage states, big things sometimes do indeed come in small packages.  Now, keeping this in mind, it should be clear why de Lucia an McLaughlin’s stage presence is so important to note in the overall presentation of this recording.  Their stage presence is so simple.  Yet it does so much for the experience even in (and perhaps thanks to) its simplicity.  When that simple and so entertaining stage presence is set against the recording’s set list, both elements prove even more their importance to this recording.  They are not its only important elements, either.  The companion booklet that is included in the recording is just as important to its presentation as the recording’s set list and its performers’ stage presence.

The set list featured in Paco and John Live at Montreux 1987 is its own important element in the set’s overall presentation.  The same can be said of de Lucia and McLaughlin’s stage presence.  Both elements are each important in their own way to the recording’s presentation.  They are, however, not its only important elements.  The companion booklet that comes with the set is just as important to the set’s presentation as those other noted elements.  The companion booklet should be noted in large part because of its liner notes.  The notes in question were written by John McLaughlin.  McLaughlin discusses in the notes the show’s set list and his friendship with de Lucia.  There is even a very small music theory lesson of sorts in the liner notes as he discusses Bulerias, which he states are “one of the pillars of the Flamenco musical traditions.”  The liner notes are brief, but also concise.  In the end, it brings the presentation full circle.  It rounds out the recording’s overall experience, proving once and for all why Paco and John Live at Montreux 1987 is one more must have for fans of both de Lucia and McLaughlin.

Paco and John Live at Montreux 1987 is a must have for any fan of Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin.  It is one of those rare presentations that does so much with so little.  This is evident in the show’s set list, which runs a total of ninety-one minutes.  It features compositions from McLaughlin and de Lucia but from their counterparts, too.  Those that listen closely will note the difference in sound and style between each song, too.  The duo’s performance on stage is so simple throughout.  As odd as it may seem, that simplicity actually makes a big impact on the experience.  The show’s liner notes are just as simple yet add their own depth to the experience, too.  Each element proves in the end to be important in its own right to the whole of this recording.  Altogether they make Paco and John Live at Montreux 1987, again, a live recording (and recording in general) that every one of de Lucia and McLaughlin’s fans should have in their own home music collections.  It is available now in stores and online.  More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

 

 

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks, and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Eagle Rock Entertainment To Release Jarreau’s ’93 Montreux Performance Next Month

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds

Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds have teamed up to release yet another classic performance from its rich history.

Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds will release Al Jarreau: Live at Montreux 1993 next month.  The concert, originally recorded July 6^th, 1993, will be available in stores and online on Friday, April 15^th.  It will be available exclusively on CD.  The concert was the fifth of his now eleven performances at the famed music festival.  The performance was part of Jarreau’s efforts to promote his then upcoming album Tenderness, which would be released nearly a year and a half later on December 6^th, 1994. The concert’s complete set list is noted below.

 

Track Listing

• We’re In This Love Together

• Try A Little Tenderness

• Summertime

• We Got By

• Mas Que Nada

• She’s Leaving Home

• You Don’t See Me

• Save Your Love For Me

• Your Song

• Alonzo

• Puddit (Put It Where You Want It)

 

Al Jarreau: Live at Montreux 1993 will be available in stores and online Friday, April 15^th.  It will be exclusively on CD for MSRP of $13.98.  More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

 

More information on this and other recordings from Al Jarreau is available online along with all of the Grammy Award®–winning artist’s news at:

 

Website: http://www.aljarreau.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AlJarreauOfficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ALJarreau

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Eagle Rock, Montreux Sounds To Release Classic ELP Concert This Fall

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds

Next month, veteran rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) will release its performance from the 1997 Montreux Jazz Festival on CD.

Live at Montreux 1997 will be released on Friday, September 11^th. It will mark the first time ever that the classic concert will have been released on CD. The concert’s thirteen-song set list is spread across two discs and features some of the band’s biggest hits including: ‘Karn Evil 9’ (‘Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends’), ‘Hoedown,’ ‘Take A Pebble,’ ‘Lucky Man,’ ‘Tarkus,’ ‘Pictures At An Exhibition,’ and ‘Fanfare for the Common Man.’ Also included with the double-disc recording is a handful of previously unreleased songs such as ‘Touch and Go,’ ‘Creole Dance,’ and ‘Carmina Burana.’

While the concert’s extensive set list will offer plenty of enjoyment for ELP’s fans, it’s only part of what fans will love about this newly released recording. Its companion booklet includes liner notes written personally by Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, and Carl Palmer. The complete track listing for Live at Montreux 1997 is noted below.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE:

1) Karn Evil 9 – 1^st Impression, Part 2

2) Tiger In The Spotlight

3) Hoedown

4) Touch And Go

5) From The Beginning

6) Knife Edge

7) Bitches Crystal

8) Creole Dance

9) Honky Tonk Train Blues

10) Take A Pebble

DISC TWO:

1) Lucky Man

2) Medley: Tarkus / Pictures At An Exhibition

3) Medley: Fanfare For The Common Man / Rondo / Carmina Burana / Carl Palmer’s Drum Solo / Toccata In D Minor

 

Live at Montreux 1997 will be available Friday, September 11^th on 2CD physical set and digital formats. The double-disc CD set will retail for MSRO of $15.98. More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online at:

 

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ZZ Top Live @ Montreux Is One Of 2014’s Top New Live Recordings

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Eagle Vision

Eagle Rock Entertainment has, over the years, earned the title from this critic of being the “Leader in Live Recordings.” Eagle Rock has long been the gold standard for live recordings with releases from the likes of Paul McCartney, The Raconteurs, Elton John, Stone Temple Pilots, Slipknot, and so many others across the board. Now yet again, Eagle Rock has proven yet again why it is that gold standard thanks to the brand new release of ZZ Top Live at Montreux 2013. This latest release in Eagle Rock’s ongoing partnership with Montreux Sounds is one more of this year’s top live recordings. It offers audiences a concert loaded with all of the Texas-based trio’s greatest hits and some lesser-known pieces, among which is a fitting tribute to the famed festival’s late founder Claude nobs. The concert’s combined audio and video mix make taking in each of those songs even more of a joy for audiences of all ages. And rounding out the whole thing is a pair of interviews that while relatively short, provide so much insight into the band’s respect for the Montreux festival, music in general and more. All three of these factors together show once again why Eagle Rock remains to this day, the “Leader in Live Recordings,” and why every classic rock and rock fan in general, will enjoy this concert.

The central point of enjoyment in ZZ Top Live at Montreux 2013 is the show’s set list, point blank. The veteran trio—Dusty Hill (bass), Billy Gibbons (guitar), and Frank Beard (drums)—churns out hit after hit throughout the course of the concert’s seventeen-song, eighty-minute show. Among those hits are the likes of ‘Sharp Dressed Man,’ ‘Gimme All your Lovin’,’ and ‘Tush’ just to name a few. As much as audiences will enjoy those favorites, they will also enjoy the band’s cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Foxey Lady’ and the trio’s tribute to late Montreux Jazz Festival founder Claude Knobs in the bluesy/jazzy ‘Kiko.’ The band even brings in a pair of special guest musicians to join in on this number and one other song. The band’s live take of ‘I Gotsta Get Paid’ is another wonderful highlight from this concert. Throughout it all, the trio’s unassuming demeanor set against such solid, driving songs makes for such an interesting experience. It goes to show that a band doesn’t need pyro and loads of special effects and more to make a concert memorable. As long as the band can get the audience moving with its music, that’s the most important factor to the show. And that’s exactly what the members of ZZ Top do in this case. That factor alone makes this recording more than worth the watch.

The set list that makes up ZZ Top’s by itself more than makes this recording worth the watch. It makes it well worth buying for the band’s fans of all ages. Just as worth noting is the concert’s combined audio and video mix. The sound and video are both crystal clear throughout the show’s roughly eighty-minute run time. This is one of those standards that has for the longest time, made Eagle Rock the gold standard in live recordings. Those with home theater systems will especially appreciate the painstaking efforts that went in to bringing this concert to audiences. From the soaring shots above the crowd to the close ups of the band to those of the audience happily singing along, the camerawork in this concert is on par with every concert that Eagle Rock has released in recent years. And the audio mix is just as solid. Again, those with a home theater system will hear this for themselves. That expert audio and visual work together with the show’s set list pushes this recording even more to the top. Putting the recording at the top is the addition of a pair of interviews with Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill in which the pair discuss what the Montreux Festival means to them, their thoughts on Claude Nobs and more.

The finishing touch to ZZ Top’s new live recording is the inclusion of a pair of backstage interviews with Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill. The interviews are short. They run about three minutes or a little more each. But even within their short run times, the thoughts shared by the pair speak volumes. They discuss the festival itself and its history and how much it meant to have been invited to perform. They also discuss their relationship with the festival’s late founder Claude Nobs. They spoke very fondly of nobs and how those positive vibes led to the band’s musical tribute to the man. Just as eye and ear opening is the pair’s discussion on how the festival really brought together so many people of different musical backgrounds. It shows a love for music and respect for all different kinds of people. And that sentiment, as short as it may be, makes one look back through the concert once again, gaining a whole new appreciation not just for this recording, but for the members of ZZ Top as people. All things considered, this latest live recording from Eagle Rock Entertainment proves to be one more in this critic’s list of the year’s best new live recordings. It will be the favorite of any other music lover, too when they purchase the Blu-ray or DVD for themselves.

More information on this and other releases from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online at http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt and http://www.eagle-rock.com. And for the latest on ZZ Top’s updated tour schedule and more, fans can follow the band online at http://www.facebook.com/ZZTop and http://www.zztop.com. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Eagle Rock Entertainment Releases Details Of Upcoming ZZ Top Live Release

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds

The partnership between Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds has led to the release of a number of archived shows from the festival’s decades-long history in recent years. Performances from the likes of Phil Collins, Carlos Santana, Etta James, and so many others have been released thanks to the companies’ partnership. Now another of music’s major names will see one of its Montreux Festival performances released this summer thanks to that partnership. The name in question is none other than classic rock trio ZZ Top.

ZZ Top: Live at Montreux 2013 will be released July 22, 2014 on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital formats. The new archived concert will be released alongside the brand new CD release of ZZ Top: The Very Baddest Of. That new CD release is a two-disc set containing forty of the band’s biggest hits. It will be released via Rhino Records. ZZ Top: Live at Montreux 2013 will see the band performing many of those hits live at the famed festival. Among the songs audiences can expect to hear are: ‘La Grange,’ ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’,’ ‘Pincushion,’ ‘Sharp Dressed Man,’ ‘Waitin’ For The Bus,’ ‘Legs,’ ‘Tube Snake Boogie,’ and ‘Tush’ just to name a handful of songs. Audiences can also expect to see the band’s performance of ‘Tres Hombres,’ ‘Fandango,’ ‘Eliminator,’ and ‘La Futura.’ Needless to say that this new archived performance is a definite career-spanning set. There is even a jazz-blues tribute to the late Claude Nobs, who founded the Montreux Jazz Festival decades ago. The performance features appearances by Mike Flanigin on Hammond organ and Van Wilks on guitar.

The concert’s DVD presentation will retail for SRP of $14.98. The Blu-ray will retail for $19.98. More information on this and other releases from Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds is available online at http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt and http://www.eagle-rock.com. More information on ZZ Top and all of its upcoming releases and tour news is available online at http://www.zztop.com and http://www.facebook.com/zztop. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

UB40 Live At Montreux ’02 Another Enjoyable Addition To Eagle Rock’s Montreux Concert Series

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds

UB40’s recently released live recording UB40 Live at Montreux 2002 is another enjoyable addition to the ongoing series of releases from Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds.  This addition to the companies’ Live at Montreux recordings will impress anyone that is a long-time fan of UB40.  Fans will be impressed first and foremost by the extensive set list chosen for this concert.  The set list boasts a grand total of twenty-one songs.  Among those songs are some of the band’s biggest hits and some that are only slightly less familiar to audiences.  The band deserves credit for its extensive set list chosen or this show.  It also deserves a certain amount of credit for its on-stage performance in general.  Eagle Rock Entertainment deserves just as much credit for continuing to present recordings boasting such high quality audio and video standards.  Those high standards and the equally impressive set list collectively show why this is yet another enjoyable addition to Eagle Rock and Montreux Sounds’ Live at Montreux series of recordings.

The Montreux Jazz Festival is one of the biggest music festivals in the world.  For any artist, group or band to be invited to perform at this elite festival is an honor.  It means that said artists, groups and bands must bring their A-game.  Fans of UB40 will be glad to know that the band has done just that with this recording.  The band’s set list runs twenty-one songs deep, two of which are encores at the show’s very end.  The show’s set list includes major hits such as ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘The Way You Do The Things You Do’ and even the band’s famous cover of Elvis’ ‘(I Can’t Help’ Falling In Love With You’ as well as plenty of others.  The entire twenty-one song set list runs just over ninety-minutes.  Considering that length, it makes twenty-one songs quite the mass of music.  And it’s a mass of music that the band’s long-time fans will enjoy every time they put on this recording.

The extensive set list chosen for UB40’s 2002 Montreux performance will impress the band’s long-time fans.  That goes without saying.  Anyone that has ever attended or watched a live concert will agree that the show’s set list is only one part of the equation.  Just as important to the show is the stage presence of the artist, group or band in question.  It can be said will full certainty about UB40 that the band’s stage presence in its performance definitely enhanced the show.  The whole band kept the energy flowing from beginning to end.  Even in its rare slower moments, such as in its two biggest hits, there was still a certain amount of energy exuded by the band.  There was so much energy in fact, that even audiences watching this recording for the first time might find themselves getting up off their couches, love seats, beds, or whatever else and moving to the music.  It shows that while this show is roughly twelve years old now, the band still had what it took to entertain audiences back then just as it does even now.  That stage presence alongside the show’s chosen set list makes the performance all the more enjoyable for anyone that is now or has ever been a UB40 fan.  Of course, what would the band’s stage presence and set list be without the show being recorded?  That is the last part of what makes this recording enjoyable for the band’s fans.

Audiences today take for granted that every live show ever recorded for public consumption will turn out to be a perfect ten.  Sadly, not every live recording ever released is like that.  There are those that have shown to have poor quality audio and video mixes.  Again though, UB40 is not in that mass with this recording. And neither is Eagle Rock Entertainment.  The video and audio mix are quite well balanced throughout the show.  Even at the show’s most energetic moments, no one member of the band overpowers the other.  And that is thanks to the work of Jean Ristori with MTX Mastering Studio Montreux Sounds.  Audiences with home theater systems will equally agree on just how impressive her work was in terms of the recording’s post-production work.  Of course, one would be remiss to ignore the work of Eric Glardon for putting the final touch on the work done by the show’s camera crew and director.  Glardon wonderfully captured the full experience from both the vantage point of the band and the audience that was in attendance.  The transitions from shot to shot and the choice of shots in general add so much depth and feeling to the recording.  Audiences will see and hear just how much work was put in by both he and Jean Ristori (and those that originally recorded the concert) to make this recording a reality and all the more worth adding to their own personal libraries.

UB40 Live at Montreux 2002 is available now in stores and online.  More information on this and other releases in the Live at Montreux series from Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds is available online at http://www.eagle-rock.com and http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.