16 Jul 03 ·konsu: Claudine Longet did a great version of "God Only Knows" on her Let's Spend The Night Together LP from 1972 (BR-15001). Although her version is not what i'd call jazzy, more like meadow-flower California country? Nick Decaro arranged a lot of her 60's albums. 17 Jul 03 ·bobbyspacetroup: I've actually been looking for that LP. It seems to be one of the less common Claudine records... Thanks for the recommendation! 15 Mar 04 ·konsu: I was recently introduced to Four King Cousins version of "God only Knows", also an A&M product from 1967... It's more faithful vocally to the original arrangement, only it's four girls doing the harmonies! 16 Mar 04 ·Mike: James Warren (of The Korgis and Stackridge) has recorded a version of "Caroline, No" which I'd be very interested to hear. 28 Apr 07 ·artlongjr: I have this 45 by Nick DeCaro. What's weird is I heard
it before I heard the Beach Boys original, which I first listened to in 1996.
I came to Callier's music via arranger/producer Charles Stepney and delicado's recommendation of a Stepney-produced Ramsey Lewis track -- "Julia".
Well, Callier's "Ordinary Joe" (produced by Stepney) is a great track which I listen to over and over.
Of all the tracks I've recommended, this is probably the only one I would recommend by virtue of lyrical content alone: "Now politicians all try to speech you / Mad color watchers all try to teach you / Very few will really try to reach you / If you're lost in a stack / That's OK, come on back." Great stuff.
Thankfully the musical content is also very good. Kind of a pop-jazz style tightly arranged from Stepney. I say tightly, but it never really comes across that way. It really has a pretty breezy and organic sound.
Also, look for an earlier version on Callier's "First Light" which is a bit more mellow, but at least as good as the Stepney-produced version. Maybe better in some ways...
from Occasional Rain (Cadet), available on CD (Universal)
16 Jul 03 ·konsu: Brilliant! I love his What Color Is Love LP too.
I first heard this song sampled on 'The Truth' by Handsome Boy Modelling school, essentially the bones of the instrumental coffee cold, with new lyrics from Roisin Murphy (much better than Fergus MacRoy's on a alternate version of the original).
The song itself is piano based, and has amazing drumming. I am a musical goon and cannot explain it much more than that, but the song has a really nice dusty feel to it. The fact that this was sampled in a modern hiphop record and the drums remained unenhaced says a lot.
This is a great song and well worth tracking down for any fans of funk, jazz or hip hop.
from Shapes Of Rhythm (Kilmarnock Records) available on CD - Shapes Of Rhythm/Woman Is Sweeter (Kilmarnock Records)
29 Dec 03 ·konsu: I believe it's Bernard Purdie playing the drums. Possibly THE most sampled drummer in hip-hop...
The opening track on the 1972 album 'Quarteto em Cy,' this is an interpretation of a Chico Buarque song, written for the film of the same name by Cac� Diegues. I find this recording very affecting. It helps that the spectrum of sound is that kind of superb blend of strings, piano, bossa nova guitars, and female vocals that I find so perfect. But I think it's also just the fragile, melancholic atmosphere of the song that gets me. After the introduction, featuring a flowing string arrangement that reminds me of the work Claus Ogerman did with Jobim, the song gets going, and the mood becomes a little lighter. This album has just been reissued on CD in Brazil, and is highly recommended.
15 Mar 04 ·konsu: Yes! I've been hooked on their version of "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser" lately, from the same 72' LP. That year was great for brazillian recordings in general. Also check out Marcos Valle's "Vento Sul".
great version of this song from calypso-influenced soul singer billy stewart. the opening track from a pretty fun album named "billy stewart teaches old standards new tricks", wich i bought mainly because of its insane cover artwork. it consists of fun, sometimes inventive soul reinterpretations of various old chestnuts.
from billy stewart teaches old standards new tricks
30 Apr 04 ·konsu: Nice one! Not one of his best albums, but the best cut by far. He had some really nice minor hits in his time. "Sitting In The Park" always makes me swoon, and his version of "Summertime" has to be heard to be believed! 30 Apr 04 ·olli: yeah, i totally agree, his version of summertime is amazing. from what i heard, that was actually the track that brought him into recording, as he won a talent show with it in the forties. i'm currently hunting down some of his more "critically acclaimed" work. this lp (new tricks) was my first exposure to him, and i liked the glimpse i got from that enough to start looking for mp3's of his other work. now, to get that precious vinyl....
