LouieB

Here is a really super good article from this morning's NY Times. LouieB A Little Nudge, and a Soul Singer Is Back to Her Roots By LARRY ROHTER NORTH ADAMS, Mass. MAVIS STAPLES and Jeff Tweedy have long lived in the same city, Chicago. But until recently they occupied different musical universes: she a doyenne of American soul singers, with a recording career that began 58 years ago as a member of the Staple Singers, he the leader of the alternative rock band Wilco, formed in the mid-1990s. In 2009, though, Mr. Tweedy and Ms. Staples decided to collaborate, and for nearly a month las

I think the production is fantastic actually (in case anyone was wondering...) Another long term member of the Chicago music scene involved in this recording is Mark Greenberg of The Coctails who was also the assistant engineer. LouieB

Even though I have read a bit about Zappa I forgot or didn't know he was from Baltimore. Considering he talks about growing up in California and lived there most of his life, Baltimore didn't leave much of a stamp on his work. LouieB

How about Jeff singing about Jesus...I guess that doesn't hold that much appeal either. This is a very good album though. I like the bulk of the songs (although the jazzy ballad falls a bit flat) Someday I will chime in on each song, just for the hell of it (or the Jesus of it....happy Yom Kippur everyone....) LouieB

Back to the album for a minute.... This thing seems to have landed on Wilcoland with a thud. Very few people have come on here to say they actually bought it and express any opinions. Maybe streaming it on NPR wasn't such a good idea. LouieB

This has been a regular piece of her interviews in recent years. Apparently Bob was interested and spoke to Pops Staples about it and he said Bob should ask Mavis instead. I don't know when this happened but she tells this story frequently. Of course this must have been a long time ago...when you look at old pictures of the Staples you can kind of understand why. Mavis is somewhat, but not alot older than Bob. LouieB

That's valid...hence my somewhat snarky comment that alot of folks will buy this album because of the connection to Wilco, not because the music really speaks to them. In some ways this is true of me also, but I also really enjoy Mavis. Most times when we discuss her more recent work, no one picks up the discussion because few people have heard the last three albums, some of which are excellent (as I say, the one on Alligator is particularly good and started her late career resurgence...). The Hideout live album where Jeff met her is also excellent and the Ry Cooder civil rights album is in

Somewhat, but at least that album has mostly secular songs. 2/3 of this album are clearly religious in nature and the others sound gospel like, even the rock songs. The first Tweedy song is a love song but comes across as a religious song. Adminttedly I have not listened to the entire album yet, but I like Mavis no matter what she sings. LouieB

See my comment above...this is a very good gospel album, not a rock or soul album (although it has some soulful songs on it.) If you don't like someone singing about Jesus, you won't like this, but it has some great musicianship and the Chicago all star back-up session of Kelly Hogan and Nora O'Connor and of course the Wilcomen. Pretty cool all the way around and great sounding. LouieB Thanks for noticing...I figured that comment was good once and not again...many folks will buy this album because of the Wilco connection who never listen to gospel music ever.... LouieB

Lots of artists do the same songs their entire lives... Since most recording artists have a few hits, they are pretty much obligated to do those hits every night. LouieB

Okay, so I didn't exactly dis this song or these artists. Actually I heard the new "single" from this collaboration on WXRT yesterday and kind of dug it. It isn't a great song, but it does have a modertately catchy tune and good arrangement (which considering it has three great arrangers involved it better), but frankly the words are pretty mediocre. But again the tune does sort of stick with you for awhile. LouieB

Mavis Stapes new one....haven't had time yet to listen to Justin.... LouieB

Pretty cool album, double vinyl with a CD in a gatefold at a relatively hefty price (I guess we are getting used to that by now.) I have not had time to hear it all, but kudos to the Chicago female back-up all stars, Kelly Hogan and Nora O'Connor. It looks like this may be the one gospel record in a whole bunch of hipsters record collections.... LouieB

The tax thing is for those making over $250,000 and unless you live in a big city, I think you can live pretty comfortably on a quarter of a mil a year, but that is just me. Meanwhile I don't make anything near that and I make way more than your average worker. LouieB

Saw them last night at the Millenium Park show, really good performance. They were lively and the songs were great. (Seems like the show was undersold, but still a good crowd.) LouieB

Out today....nice review by Gret Kot... LouieB

I don't know specifically about this, but he sure thought other stuff Lou Reed was foolish... LouieB

Actually Dr. John is a guy who is getting LESS jive with age. I have not heard his new one, but he seems to be more sincere as he grows older. Kudos to him. With the passing of those who were his influence he is now the elder statesman of New Orleans rock. LouieB

Speaking of Leon Russell and how old he is..... I picked up a bunch of old 45s at the local Salvation Army and am listening to them today and one is Garry Lewis and the Playboys doing This Diamond Ring (written partially by Al Kooper of course...and running 2 minutes and 5 seconds) and Leon Russell is credited with the arrangement. Also he is credited with arranging an partially writing and arranging the B side Tijuana Wedding, which is a La Bamba riff. Gotta give the guy his props for his past work. (Also unrelated to Leon...Red Rubber Ball by the Cyrkle, partially written by Paul Simon

We are all fucked....governments simply are broke....ask Barack... LouieB

Yea, and how many of those 200-400 seats were filled? Guys like your father and me will always be Leon fans, because he wrote great songs back in the day and backed up some pretty terrific musicians at the time. But playing one hour is very sad. But when we have a stack of old Leon albums, why buy something new? The old albums fill the nostalgia for him that any new material can't fill. (and frankly I listened to those albums quite alot back in the day, as well as MadDogs and Englishman, Bonnie and Delaney, watching the river flow, etc. New material can't ever match that. LouieB

Well thank goodness I talk about this stuff since no one else does, even if my response is luke warm. Most everyone else here obviously could care even less than I do about these geezers. LouieB

Remember Richard J Daley?? I do. Richie certainly out did him. No one who has lived here for awhile (or forever) could not have a love/hate relationship with the guy. The last 20 years have transformed this city, but he did it with a certain amount of vision and a whole bunch of back room deals. Whp knows what happens next, but the guy sure knew how to run things, although never democratically. LouieB

Yea, the Syl thing is huge. I do think that the Eccentric Soul material is their strong suit. Check this one out though. Numero has some really crazy non-soul stuff that it has unearthed. LouieB

Just on Page 2....and not that interesting to anyone anyway...but admittedly the song stuck with me for about half an hour..then poof..... LouieB