Beehive Recommends - Keb Mo

Keb Mo is a singer, songwriter and guitarist whose musical origins are firmly linked to the Delta blues.

His Grammy awards and nominations are testimony to his outstanding talent. Keb has a distinctive sound and yet embraces pop, rock, folk and jazz within his craft.

Having said all of that, his natural blues stripped down to just guitar and vocals is both refreshing and moving.

His new contemporary blues album is quite appropriately named Live & Mo. It features six awesome live performances from notable moments on the road, and four brand new studio recordings, including the anthemic song A Brand New America, a band version of the inspirational Victims of Comfort, the funky sound of Government Cheese, and the back-porch rhythm and blues of Hole in the Bucket. If you already know the mood and style past releases Keb’Mo, you’ll dig “Live & Mo”.

Listen:
'Am I Wrong'



MP3: Am I Wrong.
Website: Official Site.
Buy: Keb' Mo'

Otis Redding - Los Angeles 1966

This is Otis Redding live at the Whiskey A Go Go on Sunset Strip Los Angeles, California, USA back in the spring of 1966.

There have been two official releases of Otis Redding performing live at the venue in 1966. The first was titled 'In Person' and released back in 1968 (Atco). The second was 'Good To Me' which was released in 1993 (Stax).

Some 'Whiskey A Go Go' material also appeared on an Atlantic Records release in 1982 called 'Recorded Live - Previously Released Performances', however I understand these were included on the 1993 Stax release.

This is Otis on the 10th April 1966 from the late show at the venue.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps

Genre: Soul.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01 - Intro
02 - Your One and Only Man
03 - Security
04 - Good to Me
05 - Respect
06 - Ole Man Trouble
07 - I Can't Turn You Loose
08 - A Hard Day's Night
09 - These Arms of Mine
10 - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (intro then restarts)
11 - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
12 - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
13 - Outro

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

There is a little tape hiss on this recording but this does not distract. Classic songs such as 'Dock Of The Bay' may leave our memories of Otis as a more laid back soul singer, this live performance cuts right through that image, as Otis belts out some incredible high tempo and funky songs including covers of A Hard Days Night, and Satisfaction.

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk Otis Redding

10000 Maniacs - Greek Theatre 1993

This is 10000 Maniacs live at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California, back on the 3rd June 1993.

This concert was recorded for the Westwood One Radio Networks 'In Concert' series and was subsequently broadcast on October 25th 1993 .

The band had already recorded the MTV Unplugged concert a couple of months earlier, and that was of course released as an album around the same time as this concert was originally broadcast.

As was mentioned in the last 10000 Maniacs feature, Natalie Merchant had already informed the band she was leaving. This concert was part of the 'Our Time In Eden' tour that concluded with Natalie's final performance in the band a few weeks later in New York on the 29th July.

Source: Soundboard (pre FM).

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@160kbps.

Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

1. These Are Days
2. If You Intend
3. What’s The Matter Here?
4. A Campfire Song
5. Like the Weather
6. How You’ve Grown
7. Jezebel
8. Eat for Two
9. Trouble Me
10. Gun Shy
11. Stockton Gala Days
12. Candy Everybody Wants
13. Hey Jack Kerouac
14. Few and Far Between
15. My Sister Rose
16. Everyday is Like Sunday
17. City of Angels
18. Let the Mystery Be

Links: Official site HERE. Natalie Merchant Site HERE.

Comments:

The Greek Theatre concert was released on CD as a bootleg by various 'labels' and with Natalie departing the band these became a collectors item for many fans. This particular recording is from an Italian release that was titled 'Theme For Imaginary Canyon'.

Other CD titles of the same concert included, 'How You've Grown', 'Edens Children', 'Eat For Two', 'Our Time At The Greek', and a German record 'label' kept it simple with 'Live In Los Angeles'.

No doubt the bootleggers did quite well out of this CD with so many versions turning up in Europe and the USA. This is a good quality recording of a very good show, so enjoy (free of course).


Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - 10,000 Maniacs

Johnny Cash - American Outtakes 1993.

Johnny Cash was approached in 1993 by producer Rick Rubin and offered a contract with Rubin's American Recordings label, better known for rap and heavy metal than for country music.

Under Rick Rubin's supervision, Johnny Cash recorded the album 'American Recordings' in Rick's living room, accompanied only by his guitar.

For years Cash was often at odds with his producers after he had discovered with his first producer, Sam Phillips, that his voice was better suited to a stripped down musical style. Most famously he disagreed with Jack Clement over his sound, Clement having tried to give Cash's songs a "twangy" feel and to add strings and barbershop-quartet-style singers. His successful collaboration with Rick Rubin was in part due to Rubin seeking a minimalist sound for his songs.

A number of out-takes CD bootlegs have circulated, the following comprises a sizable amount of what has surfaced and importantly the 'copy' quality is very good

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps

Genre: Country

Set: Rehearsal Session

Session List:

01 For Heaven's Sake
02 I'm A Drifter
03 I Witnessed A Crime (with Billy Gibbons)
04 Banks of The Ohio
05 The Next Time I'm In Town
06 Breaking Bread
07 To Beat The Devil
08 Friends In California
09 The Caretaker
10 The Wonder of You
11 East Virginia Blues
12 Bury Me Now
13 I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I'll Be A Diamond Someday)
14 Go On Blues
15 If I Give My Soul

plus from a separate source in Nero music files.

16. Bad News
17. All Gods Children Ain't Free

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments: These out take recordings are reported to have taken place between the 17th and 20th May 1993. As mentioned above the location was Rick Rubins living room, clearly professional recording equipment was used. The stripped down 'bare' feel of the official album release is also captured here on these wonderful intimate recordings.

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Buy: - MP3's at Amazon.co.uk Johnny Cash

Beehive Recommends - Two From Cheap Lullaby Records

Cheap Lullaby Records have released a couple of fascinating albums in the last week or so both very different and also superbly crafted.

Josh Ottum are from Seattle, USA and have just released 'Like The Season'. It's not just the Beehive that's giving them a rather large thumbs up and unashamed plug, The Seattle Weekly recently stated - "Like the Season is one of the more adventurous musical offerings to come out of Seattle in years".

I'm not going to draw comparisons with other bands, Josh Ottum have a pretty distinctive sound and for me sit somewhere between Indie and Alt Rock maybe even a few country 'tinges' here and there. Thankfully you can check them out below!

Listen:
'It's Alright'



Website: MySpace.
Buy: Cheap Lullaby Store. MP3's at Amazon Josh Ottum

We seem to have escaped from Brooklyn regarding new music (just browse the recent recommendations & spot the trend) and 'remain' in Seattle for our second choice this week which is Ivan and Alyosha.

I really hope you take the time to give them a listen, particularly if you have a liking for uplifting indie or good old pop music. Citing influences from the extremes of Elvis Presley to ELO, or The Beatles to Bing Crosby, they are a real buzz. The promo adds 'Smooth, soaring guitar pop from Seattle duo that is plaintive and pristine' I tend to agree.

The new album 'The Verse, The Chorus' has just been released and will comfortably be in my personal top twenty for 2009.

Listen:
'Beautiful Lie'



Website: MySpace.
Buy: Cheap Lullaby Records. MP3's at Amazon:Ivan & Alyosha