Tag Archives: 1965

The Ramsey Lewis Trio – The In Crowd

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

swinging bop

Moods

Effortless cool, the quintessential jazz dinner-party album

Thoughts

I've been searching for this for unpretentious but engaging jazz and the trio here nails it. There's a comfortable loose feel to this, as if they know what they've got is gold.

When I refer to jazz dinner albums it means bop but not so technical that it's distracting. This succeeds with it's cool, samba like swing, busy downtown vibe and appropriate moments of somber builds.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Ramsey-Lewis-Trio-The-In-Crowd/release/4746742

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFST-7Hx-Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koSylsFxxpM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_SwYDL5Imc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm4-JSKi9k0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX8BS_nINfI

Spotify


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The Ramsey Lewis Trio – The In Crowd

Description: Album Review of The Ramsey Lewis Trio – The In Crowd


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

The Zombies – Begin Here

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

basic mod rock and roll with a slight whiff of psychedelia

Moods

Underrated mod rock weirdos

Thoughts

There's a refreshing simplicity to their sound that's aged well: melodic and just the right layer of keys. Capturing the rock and roll sound of a number of bands of that era (see early Beatles, Stones) but with a genuineness that's a little weird, they feel like unaccepted outsiders. Lots of highlights here, and some familiar covers, which true to the albums title does feel like the perfect place to begin with The Zombies.  

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Zombies-Begin-Here/release/1483789

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g49ckFpRheo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2hXBf1DakE

Spotify


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The Zombies – Begin Here

Description: Album Review of The Zombies – Begin Here


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Junior Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

scorching sax driven r&b

Moods

Motown at its most explosive

Thoughts

All hits on this LP of raw sax driven r&b. Walker's scorching solos screech out the sax, as if he can barely contain his sax playing. The result is an explosive swinging energy on every track. The recording has an appealing grit that likely results from the studio. It sounds it's age but doesn't feel dated.

Songwriting is kind of monotone but with energy this good it's hard to imagine the history of popular music without Jr. Walker.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Jr-Walker-And-The-All-Stars-Shotgun/release/6837125

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV27DtGUhnc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI7CtxlisCk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyGHXD3WQ-I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrDVZVBekcg

Spotify


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Junior Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun

Description: Album Review of Junior Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun


Rating: 5 out of 5