LES PAUL & MARY FORD - 1962/1963

Original released on LP Columbia CS 8488

(US, 1962)

Les Paul and Mary Ford try to take their driftin'-and-dreamin' ballad style of the Silent '50s into the Swinging '60s, where all of the gleaming stereo sound cannot hide the stark fact that the formula had already been stretched very thin. The menu is mostly time-worn standards and other artifacts from then-dying Tin Pan Alley. The tempos are languorous, and Ford's vocals have little of the soul of her best, more fragile Capitol recordings; Paul is always worth hearing for his imaginative curling around the vocals, urbane harmonic sense, and quirky bent notes, and there is a nice nostalgic moment when they do a spangled remake of "It's a Long, Long Time" (his No. 1 hit with Bing Crosby) for the Space Age. Collectors' note: the whole album was also issued on 33 1/3 RPM 7-inch singles as part of an attempt to launch that instantly doomed format. Taken all by itself, this is a lovely record but there is a lot of better Les Paul and Mary Ford vinyl to be heard, even from their waning days at Columbia. (Richard Ginell in AllMusic)

Original released on LP Columbia CS 8728

(US, 1963)

Les Paul and Mary Ford's second trip to Nashville is far more invigorating than their first, a grittier immersion into the country music universe with a slight touch of rock & roll besides. Paul's involvement is far more evident here; his spectacular guitar and fuzz-tone effects are a match for the buzzing harmonicas and swaggering basslines, and there is more evidence of his trademark sound-on-sound layerings. Ford too sounds more deeply involved with the material and the tougher backings; she even offers a bit of a down-home growl. The high point of this album - and Paul's Columbia period in general - is his own jangly, madly swinging Saturday night whoop-de-do, "Les' Country Blues" (later adapted into a song "So Long Baby, Goodbye" that didn't emerge until 1991 on Capitol's The Legend and the Legacy box). Indeed, five of the 12 tunes here are by Paul, all of them interesting, a burst of creativity unprecedented for him on an album and not even approached since. Alas, this highly spirited outing would be Paul and Ford's last album together, as they began divorce proceedings later in 1963... (Richard Ginell in AllMusic)

WALLPAPER: "The Return Of The Vinyl"

WALLPAPER: "Relaxing Girl"

WALLPAPER: "Le Petit Disque"

ARE THEY... REALLY BAD?

Original released on LP Vitaphonic WS 1502

(US, 1963)

WALLPAPER: "A Clockwork Orange"

WALLPAPER: "Ludwig Van"

Viddy Well, Little Brother, Viddy Well

Original released on LP Warner Bros K46127

(UK, December 1971)

(VER COMENTÁRIO SOBRE O FILME AQUI)

WALLPAPER: "The Couple of Woodstock"

WALLPAPER: "The Volks-Wagen"

WALLPAPER: "Having Fun in Woodstock"

WALLPAPER: "Bette & The Girls"

WALLPAPER: "Triangles"

WALLPAPER: "Graffiti Girl"

WALLPAPER: "House Of The Rising Sun"

WALLPAPER: "London Bus"

WALLPAPER: "Psychedelic Swim"

MINHA TERRA É LINDA

Original released in LP Orfeu FPAT 6004

(PORTUGAL, 1979)

N'gola, 1483...

E no horizonte surgiu uma canôa gigantesca com velas brancas, que se aproximava veloz, cada vez mais, com o vento... Era o Homem Branco que chegava: numa mão uma cruz, na outra uma espada. Nos olhos, um brilho estranho de espanto, de cobiça, de triunfo. Ao som dos Kissanges, marimbas e Txingufos, ele desembarcou, calçando os pés com Terra Negra. Então N'gola viu a sua Terra esventrada gritar de dor e transformar-se. Viu seus filhos serem levados para outros mundos. Conheceu uma nova cultura, uma nova violência, a intolerância que se abatia sobre a sua Terra. N'gola adormeceu num sono longo e agitado, cheia de vozes no peito, crescendo, crescendo tanto que, num alarido despertou... e a Voz dizia: « não durmas mais... não durmas mais...» Era Novembro e as acácias vestiam-se de garrido vermelho. O sol vinha a nascer com um brilho novo, sobre a Terra perfumada de tamarindo e jambo... uma Lindeza! (Raul Indipwo)

A segunda metade dos anos 70 foi atribulada para o Duo Ouro Negro. Depois de participarem em 1974 no Festival RTP da Canção, com a canção "Bailia dos trovadores", lançam o single "Poema para Allende / Tentando ir mais alto" em 1975, e fazem a última gravação da década para a EMI-Valentim de Carvalho com o album "Epopeia / Lamento do Rei". No ano seguinte é lançado um disco ao vivo. Em 1979, voltam a gravar um novo album de originais, desta vez para a Orfeu, por sinal um dos LPs de maior sucesso do duo. Um álbum magnífico, que teve a participação de Mike Sergeant na guitarra e do já conhecido Zé Nabo no baixo. "Lindeza!", foi o nome escolhido pelos cantores para homenagear a Terra-Mãe («minha terra é grande mas será maior se eu a fizer crescer»). Não existem pontos fracos neste album, que pessoalmente considero um dos melhores da música portuguesa: quase 4 décadas volvidas, continua a ouvir-se repetidamente, com o mesmo prazer de sempre. Tanto quanto julgo saber, esta preciosidade nunca foi editada em CD, por isso têm aqui a oportunidade de aceder a uma cópia de grande qualidade, que Rato Records vos disponibiliza. Um grande obrigado ao Carlos Santos, pela ajuda dada na remasterização do vinil original.  

Músicos:

Vocais - Duo Ouro Negro (Raúl Indipwo e Milo MacMahon)

Acordeão - José Cid

Guitarra Acústica [Violão] – Mário Silva, Raúl Indipwo

Baixo – Zé Nabo

Guitarra – Mike Sergeant

Kalimba [Kissangi] – Raúl Indipwo

Guitarra de 12 cordas – D'Jilá Jr.

Vozes de Apoio (femininas) – Formiga, Pom

LES PAUL IN '68

Original Released in LP London SP 44101 
(US, 1968)

This album, originally released in 1968 on London / Decca UK's Phase 4 label devoted to high quality stereo recordings for the HiFi market at the time, is a classic in that it features Les being briefly coaxed out of retirement to record this album of stereo instrumental remakes of several of his classic hits including "How High The Moon," "Lover," "Sleep," "Tennessee Waltz," etc. recorded on his then new stereo 8-track multitrack tape recorder manufactured by Ampex under his standards and still playing great at the time on his Les Paul guitars made by Gibson Guitars. He also features 3 songs on this album that were not originally recorded for Capitol by Les, "The System," "Los Angeles," and "Golden Earrings." Because he has become an icon and has been a major force in the development of high fidelity sound, Phase 4 decided that he should be the first artist being recorded for the label, and this album is the result. (in Amazon)

WALLPAPER: "EVA"

ATOMIC ROOSTER THIRD ALBUM

Original released on LP Pegasus PEG 1

(UK, August 1971)

Atomic Rooster's preparation for their third album included the departure of two band members, so they did well to produce something as accomplished and dynamic as this. In came lead singer Pete French from Leafhound, guitarist Steve Bolton and drummer Ric Parnell. Previously, guitarist John Cann had handled vocals. 'Breakthrough' is a lively opener, but almost seems like a warm-up for the two outstanding tracks which follow, 'Break The Ice' and 'Decision/Indecision'. These and my favourite, 'Head In The Sky' suggest that this line-up are at their best as an uptempo unit in which Vince Crane's keyboards provide most of the colour without being over-dominant. 'Black Snake' is also superb, an insidious, twisting song which French struggles with at times. Nevertheless, 'In Hearing Of' is a near classic from a band worthy of greater recognition. (in Amazon)

Bought this album back in 71 and appeared to be in the minority who rated this highly at the time. 37 years later and my love of this album remains undiminished. Its one of a kind and in my opinion Rooster's best album, and can only assume it didn't receive greater recognition as it doesn't conveniently fall into any specific genre of music.

It's Heavy...but not the heaviest.

It's got Soul....but it ain't James Brown.

It Rocks....but it ain't Elvis.

You get my drift. But that doesn't mean it's not the best. It's the best heavy soul rock album by the best (and probably only) british heavy soul rock band, and who could ask for more than that? Whilst many rock albums of this era gave into excess and stereotypical lyrics (ELP and Deep Purple) Rooster played it relatively straight forward, with lyrics often relating directly to Crane's unfortunate tortured mental state, and for this reason is as relevant today as it was 37 years ago. The musicanship from all the band is superb, and Peter French is an overlooked treasure as a vocalist. If your looking for a classic 70's British rock album...then this is the place to start. (in Amazon)

WALLPAPER: "Psychedelic Beatles"

WALLPAPER: "Abraxas"

WALLPAPER: "B.B. King"

WALLPAPER: "The Beat of the Drums"