Ian Hunter - Welcome to the Club: Live CD

Welcome to the Club: Live buy CD music After working his way through loss and chaos on the brilliant TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT (recorded in 1973, but not released until 1975), Neil Young deftly exorcised any lingering demons with 1974's ON THE BEACH. The album opens with the saunter of the aptly titled "Walk On," followed by the utterly gorgeous, Wurlitzer-tinged "See the Sky about to Rain." The set also features a trio of scathing songs--"Revolution Blues," "Vampire Blues," and "Ambulance Blues"--that address issues important to Young, both social and personal. It is good to hear Young back with such bite and vitriol, especially after the broken desperation of TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT. But while ON THE BEACH is edgy and deeply felt, it also manages to sound liberating and relaxed, with glimmers of hope and humor peeking through the spare, evocative arrangements. Inexplicably unreleased on CD until 2003, ON THE BEACH is both unflinching and resilient, and easily stands as one of Young's finest albums. Recording information: Broken Arrow Studios, San Francisco, CA; Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA. Photographer: Bob Seidemann. Guests:Graham Nash/Rick Danko/ David Crosby/Levon Helm Personnel: Neil Young (vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica, Wurlitzer organ); Neil Young (Wurlitzer piano); Ben Keith (vocals, guitar, slide guitar, steel guitar, dobro, Wurlitzer piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, drums, background vocals); Graham Nash (vocals, Wurlitzer piano, Wurlitzer organ); Ralph Molina (vocals, drums, background vocals); Tim Drummond (bass instrument, drums, percussion); Rick Danko, Billy Talbot (bass instrument); David Crosby (vocals, guitar); Rusty Kershaw (guitar, slide guitar, violin, fiddle); George Whitsell (guitar); Joe Yankee (harp, tambourine); Levon Helm (drums). Liner Note Author: Rusty Kershaw.

Welcome to the Club: Live CD music All tracks have been digitally remastered using HDCD technology. Released right after the career albums TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT and ZUMA and right before the big-selling COMES A TIME and RUST NEVER SLEEPS, this country-rocky 1977 album is often forgotten. But it introduced the sensational "Like A Hurricane," which has remained a staple of Young's concerts, and such quirky favorites as "Homegrown," an ode to marijuana, and "Old Country Waltz," which is exactly what it says it is. As Neil Young's legendary 1970s albums go, it might be a bit of a tossed-off affair, but most country-rockers can only dream of making one album this good. 2003 remastered reissue of 1977 album. This roots 'n' rock album features guests, Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt, & the fan favorite 'Like A Hurricane'. The album initially peaked at #21 & achieved gold status. Nine tracks. Reprise. Personnel: Neil Young (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica); Ben Keith (vocals, guitar, steel guitar, dobro); Ralph Molina (vocals, drums); Emmylou Harris, Nicolette Larson, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Talbot (vocals); Frank "Poncho" Sampedro (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, strings); Carole Mayedo (violin); Tim Drummond, Karl Himmel (drums). Director: Elliot Roberts. Unknown Contributor Roles: Crazy Horse; Frank "Poncho" Sampedro. Personnel: Neil Young (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Frank Sampredo (acoustic & electric guitars, synthesizer); Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Nicolette Larson (background vocals). Ben Keith (steel guitar, dobro, background vocals); Carole Mayedo (violin); Billy Talbot (bass, background vocals); Tim Drummond (bass); Ralph Molina (drums, background vocals); Karl T. Himmel (drums). Producers: Neil Young, David Briggs, Tim Mulligan, Elliot Mazer.

Welcome to the Club: Live songs After issuing three consecutive studio double LPs, Chicago topped themselves with this four-album live box set. As the title suggests, At Carnegie Hall, Vols. 1-4 (Chicago IV) (1971) finds the band at the venerable New York City venue during a five-night stand (April 5-April 10) in the spring of 1971. The septet -- which includes the respective talents of Terry Kath (lead guitar/vocals), Robert Lamm (keyboards/vocals), Peter Cetera (bass/vocals), Danny Seraphine (drums), Lee Loughnane (trumpet/vocals), James Pankow (trombone), and Walter Parazaider (woodwinds/vocals) -- were at their unquestionable peak of initial popularity. Their previous three double LPs continued extended runs on the pop album chart and likewise spawned a number of hit singles. So by the time the group hit the Big Apple for these shows, they were among the hottest things happening. Chicago's set list is wholly representative of the material from Chicago Transit Authority (1969), Chicago II (1970), and Chicago III (1971) and includes several extended multi-song medleys from each. The band winds its way through muscular versions of the epic "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon," "Travel Suite," as well as lengthy renderings of deeper cuts such as "South California Purples," "Fancy Colours," and the ten-minute-plus opening "In the Country." One of the set's most notable highlights is the politically charged "For Richard and His Friends." The lengthy and well-jammed-out cut is both groovy and propulsive. However, the acoustics at Carnegie Hall are quite frankly not (and really never have been) properly suited for heavily amplified music. While the percussion and electric guitars are clearly audible, the woodwind and brass section come off sounding extremely thin and devoid of any real timbre. This is unfortunate, as a primary component of the band is the contrasting textures between the two. Enthusiasts seeking a much more sonically accurate portrait should by whatever means necessary locate the Live in Japan 1972 two-CD set -- which also includes tracks from Chicago's fifth effort. ~ Lindsay Planer Includes a bonus disc of previously unreleased tracks. Chicago: Lee Loughnane (vocals, guitar, trumpet, percussion); Terry Kath (vocals, guitar); Walter Parazaider (vocals, woodwinds, percussion); Robert Lamm (vocals, keyboards); Peter Cetera (vocals, bass guitar); James Pankow (trombone, percussion); Daniel Seraphine (drums).

Welcome to the Club: Live album for sale Digitally remastered by Tony Cousins (Metropolis Mastering, London, England). Recorded live on WABC-FM, 11-17-70 would become the fourth of John's records to simultaneously land in the Top 10, making him the first act to do so since The Beatles. Drawing mostly from his self-titled second album, John's set included a sweeping "Sixty Years On," a gospel-soaked reading of "Take Me To The Pilot" and a funked-up "Honky Tonk Women." Dee Murray and Nigel Olson's background vocals and solid rhythmic support on songs such as "Bad Side Of The Moon" and "Can I Put You On" made this a particularly potent trio that would set the stage for such groups as Ben Folds Five 25 years later. The centerpiece of this show was a roof-raising, 20-minute version of "Burn Down The Mission" that found John throwing in covers of Arthur Crudup's "My Baby Left Me" and The Beatles' "Get Back." Recorded live at A&R Recording Studios, New York, New York on November 17, 1970 for a live radio broadcast on WABC-FM, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by John Tobler. Personnel includes: Elton John (vocals, piano); Dee Murray (bass); Nigel Olsson (drums).

Welcome to the Club: Live CD music While former Mott the Hoople singer/songwriter Ian Hunter's solo career started out strong, he stumbled on his third album, OVERNIGHT ANGELS. One of the reasons might have been the absence of longtime guitar foil/fellow Mott man Mick Ronson, who happily reappeared on the follow-up, YOU'RE NEVER ALONE WITH A SCHIZOPHRENIC. Perhaps not coincidentally, Hunter's fourth solo effort features some of the strongest (and most beloved) songs in his catalog. "Cleveland Rocks" is a hard-charging, Mott-like tune (many years later it would have a second life as the theme of TV's Drew Carey show), while "Ships" is a sweeping, romantic ballad, one of Hunter's loveliest (it would eventually be covered by none other than Barry Manilow). From poignant down-tempo tunes to tough-sounding rockers, SCHIZOPHRENIC is one of Hunter's most consistent solo albums. Recorded at the Power Station, New York in 1979. Personnel: Ian Hunter (vocals, guitar, piano, organ, ARP synthesizer, Moog synthesizer, percussion); Mick Ronson (vocals, guitar, percussion); Ellen Foley, Eric Bloom, Rory Dodd (vocals); George Young (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Lew Del Gatto (saxophone, baritone saxophone); Roy Brittan (piano, organ, ARP synthesizer, Moog synthesizer); John Cale (piano, keyboards, ARP synthesizer); Roy Bittan (keyboards); Max Weinberg (drums). Recording information: Power Station Studios, New York, NY (1979). Illustrator: Rod Dyer. Photographer: Georgina Karvellas. Unknown Contributor Roles: Garry Tallent; Roy Brittan; Ian Hunter; Max Weinberg; Roy Bittan. Arrangers: Roy Brittan; Ian Hunter; Mick Ronson. Personnel: Ian Hunter (vocals, guitar, piano, organ, keyboards, percussion); Mick Ronson (guitars, percussion, background vocals); George Young (tenor saxophone); Lew Delgatto (baritone saxophone); John Cale (piano, keyboards); Roy Bittan (piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals); Gary Tallent (bass); Max Weinberg (drums); Eric Bloome, Rory Dodd, Ellen Foley (background vocals).

Welcome to the Club: Live buy CD music Though he's destined to be forever known as the man who made UK glam-rock history in the '70s with Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes," Ian Hunter has spent his professional life from 1975 on as an acclaimed solo artist. Hewing mainly to the path of straight-ahead rock & roll over the years, he's rarely strayed too far from the stylistic template he established with Mott. 2007's SHRUNKEN HEADS, however, is Hunter's most organic and rootsy effort to date. Awash in acoustic strum and electric twang, it makes clear the extent to which Hunter is influenced by American roots music. Having guest vocals by Wilco mainman Jeff Tweedy on a number of tracks doesn't hurt either, and the explicitly American subject matter on several songs finds longtime U.S. resident Hunter farther from his glam-rock days than ever. Personnel: Ian Hunter (acoustic guitar); Dannis Dunaway, Jeff Tweedy, Jesse Hunter (vocals); Mark Bosch (guitar); Andy York (acoustic guitar); Jack Petruzzelli (electric guitar); James Mastro (baritone guitar); Soozie Tyrell (strings); Andy Burton (accordion); Peter Moshay (keyboards); Graham Maby (bass instrument); Tony Shanahan (upright bass); Steve Holley (drums); Rick Tedesco (steel bowls); Christine Ohlman, Mary Lee Kortes (background vocals).