"Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions" by LINDA RONSTADT and EMMYLOU HARRIS (August 1999 Duet CD Album on Asylum Records 7559 62408-2) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...All I Left Behind..."

 

Gorgeous song choices (covers and originals) - beautiful production values and a strangely uplifting languid flavour running through it all. 1999's "Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions" by Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on Asylum 7559-62408-2 (Barcode 075596240825) is a 13-Track winner (50:49 minutes total play time). 

 

Multi-instrumentalists Ethan Johns and Greg Leisz make up the core of the band, and I can't stress enough just how gorgeous the audio is (the famous and much-experienced Glyn Johns did the Production). The album title song is a Rosanna Cash tune - "Western Wall".

 

Guest spots include - Amen Corner's Andy Fairweather-Lowe playing Bass and Electric Guitar on the cool sinister opener "Loving The Highwayman", Bernie Leadon of The Eagles is on the brilliant "Raise The Dead" (an Emmylou original) while Jackson Browne's masterpiece "For A Dancer" from his 1974 album "Late For The Sky" gets a makeover here with both Bernie Leadon and Neil Young Harmonizing and playing Harmonica.

 

The haunting "1917" has Kate & Anna McGarrigle and Bernie Leadon while Paul Kennerley plays Lead Guitar on his own "He Was Mine". Leonard Cohen's "Sisters Of Mercy" has three - Bernie Leadon, Andy Fairweather-Lowe and the McGarrigle sisters. And on it goes to the final song, a cover of Springsteen's "Across The Border" with Neil Young, Andy Fairweather-Lowe and Leadon in attendance.

 

The first two are obvious winners, but it's gems like their cover of Patty Griffin's "Falling Down" with its huge shimmering electric guitar rattling across your speakers and Bruce's better-half Patti Scialfa sees her carnival town tale of "Valerie" get done with Emmylou on Lead Vocals. There is a fantastic and surprising choice in Sinead O'Connor's gorgeous and moving ballad "This Is To Mother You" that first appeared on her stunning 4-Track "Gospel Oak EP" in 1997 on Chrysalis Records – two years before this album appeared. Almost like a hypnotic hymn of sorts, "This Is To Mother You" is done here with the two voices harmonizing on every line like some beautiful secular church-like rendition (Sinead would love this).

 

And across it all is their sublime voices - swirling and caressing good songs. A forgotten sweetheart of an album and one that grows and grows on you, like all the best sets do...

"If I Could Only Remember My Name" by DAVID CROSBY (November 2006 Rhino CD and DVD-A Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Music Is Love..."

Although slammed by many press types on its 1971 release – David Crosby’s debut solo album "If I Could Only Remember My Name" has gone on to become almost mythical amongst its many devotees – including me. Featuring an astonishing line up that included Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Members of The Grateful Dead, Santana and Jefferson Airplane - some have even suggested that in hindsight it's the best solo effort to come out of the mighty Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young camp. I'm not so sure about that but "...Remember..." is certainly up there and somehow its trippy Rock seems to grow and re-captivate new generations as the years pass.

This superb US-released November 2006 2-disc reissue of "If I Could Only Remember My Name" by DAVID CROSBY (a CD and DVD-Audio) on Rhino R2 73204 (Barcode 081227320423) goes back to the original tapes once again and with spectacular effect (the last CD version was in 1990). The new 2006 version gives us a genuine audio overhaul on the CD with an Advanced Resolution Surround Sound Mix for the bonus DVD-A (96K/24-Bit). It also adds on a lone but superlative lengthy outtake – "Kids & Dogs". The 16-page booklet advises that a team of bodies handled the Audio Remixes, Remasters, Surround Sound and DVD-Authoring – STEVE HALL and STEPHAN BARNCARD principal among them.

The vinyl album of Crosby's debut solo "If I Could Only Remember My Name" was originally released February 1971 on both sides of the pond (Atlantic SD 7203 in the USA and 2401 005 in the UK) and peaked at 12 on the American Billboard Album charts. With DC on Lead Vocals and Guitar – the album also features the aforementioned stellar guest list on its 9 tracks. In order to get a grip on the sheer talent array we're dealing with here's a track-by-track layout:

1. Music Is Love [written by David Crosby, Graham Nash & Neil Young] – features Graham Nash on Guitar and Vocals with Neil Young on Guitar, Bass, Vibraphone and Congas

2. Cowboy Movie [written by David Crosby] – features Gerry Garcia on Guitar, Phil Lesh on Bass, Mickey Hart on Drums and Bill Kreutzmann on Tambourine (all from The Grateful Dead)

3. Tamalpais High (At About 3) [written by David Crosby] – features Graham Nash on Guitar, Gerry Garcia on Guitar, Phil Lesh on Bass and Bill Kreutzmann on Tambourine (all from The Grateful Dead) with Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane on Guitar

4. Laughing [written by David Crosby] – features Gerry Garcia on Pedal-Steel Guitar, Phil Lesh on Bass, Mickey Hart on Drums and Bill Kreutzmann on Tambourine (all from The Grateful Dead) with Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell on Backing Vocals

5. What Are Their Names [written by David Crosby. Gerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Michael Shrieve and Neil Young] – features Neil Young on Electric Guitar, Gerry Garcia and Phil Lesh of The Grateful Dead on Guitar and Bass, Michael Shrieve of Santana on Drums with Paul Kantner, Grace Slick and David Freiberg of Jefferson Airplane on Backing Vocals as well as Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell

6. Traction In The Rain [written by David Crosby] – features Laura Allan on Autoharp and Backing Vocals with Graham Nash also on Backing Vocals

7.  Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves) [written by David Crosby] – features Gregg Rolie and Michael Shrieve of Santana on Keyboards and Drums, Jack Cassidy and Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane on Bass and Electric Guitar, Gerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead on Guitar with Graham Nash on backing Vocals

8. Orleans [a Traditional song adapted by David Crosby] – Vocals and Guitars by David Crosby only

9. I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here [written by David Crosby] – All Vocals by DC

Housed in a gatefold card sleeve the remaster is gorgeous and hasn't dampened any of the hiss that is so evident on tracks like "Tamalpais" and "What Are Their Names". It's not been ramped up for effect either – it's just right – full of presence and that extraordinary build of instruments that fills so many of the songs. Wonderful stuff.

Even now it's hard to imagine who the two 45s taken off the record were aimed at – "Music Is Love" b/w "Laughing" in April 1971 on Atlantic 2792 and "Orleans" b/w "Traction In The Rain" in July 1971 on Atlantic 2809. But all 4 tracks are magical to me now. And yet despite all the starry names listed above – one of the biggest contributions to a song comes from the lesser-known musician LAURA ALLAN who plays gorgeous licks on an Autoharp on "Traction In The Rain" (she sadly passed away in 2006). And there's the sublime harmony vocal Joni Mitchell puts in on "Laughing" with Graham Nash (sends me every time). And of course - the two stunning Acapella finishers "Orleans" and "I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here" - with Crosby soloing to ethereal effect – both clocking in at less than two minutes each but with the impact of ten.

The seven-minute outtake "Kids & Dogs" is hissy for sure but what a nugget. Fabulous stuff. I do however think its a damn shame that the live version of "Traction In The Rain" on Disc 3 of the stunning David Crosby "Voyage" Box Set of 2006 – is absent here. It was recorded in 1971 and sounds glorious. Still if that absence steers you towards that amazing overhaul of his career then that's a job well done (the entirely unreleased Disc 3 is unbelievably good).

"If I Could Only Remember My Name" is the kind of album that you turn to – it's peaceful on your brain – lifts your spirit up and evokes a warmth that never fades with time (Carole King's "Tapestry" has the same kind of magic – and again from 1971).

A wonderful album and a top quality Rhino reissue then. Makes me mushy just looking at it…

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"Songs For Beginners" by GRAHAM NASH (October 2008 Rhino CD and DVD AUDIO 2-Disc Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I Watched You Go Through Changes That No Man Should Face Alone…"

With Stephen Stills and David Crosby having produced absolute storming debut albums in November 1970 and March 1971, Graham Nash's quietly lovely opener didn't disappoint either. In fact in the early Seventies - it seemed like everything the combined and individual talents of CSYN did was magical.

This October 2008 2-Disc DELUXE EDITION of "Songs For Beginners" by GRAHAM NASH on Rhino/Atlantic 8122-79949-3 (Barcode 081227994938) celebrates his June 1971 debut album with a Remastered Stereo Remix of the stand alone first disc - while the second disc is a 5.1 DVD Audio Mix. You need a DVD player to hear the second disc that contains a DVD Interview about his Photography featuring a Gallery of Stills, Photo-Backed Lyrics & Web Links.

"Songs For Beginners" was released in June 1971 on Atlantic SD 7204 in the USA and Atlantic 2401 011 in the UK. The album featured many famous guests (one is uncredited), so here's a detailed breakdown (33:47 minutes):

1. Military Madness 

[DAVE MASON of Traffic on Guitar with RITA COOLIDGE on Backing Vocals]

2. Better Days 

[NEIL YOUNG (credited as Joe Yankee) on Piano, SEEMON POSTHUMA of THE FOOL on Clarinet, RITA COOLIDGE on Backing Vocals with DALLAS TAYLOR of CSYN and MANASSAS on Drums]

3. Wounded Bird 

[GN all instruments and voices]

4. I Used To Be A King 

[NEIL YOUNG (credited as Joe Yankee) on Piano, JERRY GARCIA on Steel Guitar with PHIL LESH on Bass (both of THE GRATEFUL DEAD) and DAVID CROSBY on Electric Guitar]

5. Be Yourself 

[RITA COOLIDGE on Piano, Electric Piano and Backing Vocals]

6. Simple Man 

[DAVID LINDLEY on Fiddle, DORIAN RUDNYTSKY of THE NEW YORK ROCK & ROLL ENSEMBLE on Cello with RITA COOLIDGE on backing Vocals]

7. Man In The Mirror 

[NEIL YOUNG [credited as Joe Yankee] on Piano, JERRY GARCIA of THE GRATEFUL DEAD on Steel Guitar, CHRIS ETHERIDGE of THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS on Bass]

8. There's Only One 

[RITA COOLIDGE on Piano & Backing Vocals, CHRIS ETHERIDGE on Bass, BOBBY KEYS on Saxophone with VANETTA FIELDS, SHIRLEY MATTHEWS, CLYDIE KING & DOROTHY MORRISON on Backing Vocals (The Blackberries)]

9. Sleep Song 

[DAVE MASON on Guitar with RITA COOLIDGE on Backing Vocals]

10. Chicago 

[DORIAN RUDNYTSKY on Cello]

11. We Can Change The World 

[RITA COOLIDGE, VANETTA FIELDS...DOROTHY MORRISON on Backing Vocals]

The 20-page booklet has an essay on the album and its star-studded background by noted writer DAVID FRICKE - it features Session Photos, Lyrics, Detailed recording and reissue credits - and even a picture of the master tapes.

But for fans the big news is the SOUND. The CD album has been Stereo Remixed & Remastered and the quality isn't just good - it's fabulous - BREATHTAKING.  "Better Days" has a very quiet Piano and Vocal Intro - it's spotlessly clean - and when the band kicks in - it's an absolute wow! The mastering is credited to DOUG SAX and SANGWOOK NAM at The Mastering Lab, Ojai - and they should both be Grammy nominated for it. "Days" is followed by the Acoustic and Vocal-only of "Wounded Bird" (a song for Stephen Stills and Judy Collins and their troubled relationship) and it's a lovely as it gets - BEAUTIFULLY restored. The delicately aching Cello work of Dorian Rudnytsky combines with Rita Coolidge's Backing Vocals on "Simple Man" to genuinely touching effect, while Jerry Garcia's Steel Guitar on "Man In the Mirror" adds a lot from an instrument you wouldn't expect from him. And on three tracks there's Neil Young - plinking away - putting in genuinely superb Piano work (he was credited as Joe Yankee for legal reasons). 

I find the 2nd disc, however, problematic. I don't have a DVD AUDIO player and 99% of the planet doesn't either - it's a dead format. Disc 2 features the entire album in Advanced Resolution 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital & DTS - wonderful stuff guys - if I could play it! But the really disappointing part is the complete lack of anything new - no outtakes, no demos - not even a live recording. However - and although it's completely unrelated to the album - things improve on the DVD part of the disc - it contains an interview with Nash about his lifetime obsession with black and white photography - and its fascinating - a lovely man, intelligent, sensitive - and you suspect a real peacekeeper among huge egos that often got out of hand. Then there's the gallery of images (he explains many of them in the interview) - I won't spoil it too much for those who are going to buy this except to say that there are captured moments on here of Joni, Neil, Stills and especially his lifetime pal David Crosby that will reduce some people to tears.

To sum up - a beautifully realized first disc - with a slightly odd and unrepresentative 2nd. Still - for fans of the album - this is a no brainer - the gorgeous remaster means you simply have to own it...

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