Various Artists - Soundtrack 1

Compilation of some of my memorable nostalgic musical moments made for films, TV etc...Some beautiful, some that will raise a smile...and a good selection to use for a pub quiz...
The atmosphere of track 17 'Medication Valse', takes me back to the hospital/asylum ward of Nurse Ratched, where everybody is in a prescribed-drug-haze except for McMurphy -
( Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest...a classic ! ) 
From my CD's except for track 1 which I got from the net...I had been after this version for years...One of my favourite TV shows as a boy in 1960's London.  
'Dangerman'...better than James Bond !  - Gus  

Get It Here :

 https://mega.nz/#!OI9FxA5T!7MGB1nzA5FuRm1KGZD4mzE2hyBp1EPQWcanWO8c6MnQ

Various Artists - Classic Funk Moods

Graham Central Station

Sly & The Family Stone

Donny Hathaway

Compilation of some Funky Stuff ! From my CD collection - PARRRRTY !!! - Gus

Get it Here : 

 https://mega.nz/#!zMlhWKqJ!vqxmD0yn9GXP2gUdQFwZPjLIwcIKOVyI5kDV5A4ylCo

Various Artists - Live 1

Live performances from some great acts...from my CD collection.

James Taylor, along with Joni Mitchell, Crosby Stills & Nash, Jackson Brown and others supplied a softer more lyrical side of the late 60's/early 70's musical scene, to contrast with the beginnings of Rock. These tracks appear on his 1982 double CD 'Live'.
Santana have been one of my favourite bands since their debut release in 1968. Here from the double CD  'Viva Santana' (1988).
Eric Clapton has been an inspiration to me since the early 60's - Here is a great Blues performance of the Freddie King classic, from the 2 CD 'One More Car, One More Rider' live in 2002.
Little Feat were another fave band with Lowell George as front-man,vocalist and slide guitarist supreme. These tracks come from their double CD 'Waiting For Columbus' (2002) recorded in 1977.
The Neville Brothers from New Orleans, are another great live band that evolved out of the Meters and consisted of 4 brothers all with unique talents. 'Voodoo' comes from the CD 'Live On Planet Earth (1994).
King Curtis was a major session player and band leader during the 60's Soul scene. Here is a moving rendition of 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' (originally a hit for Procol Harum) from his CD 'Live At Fillmore West' (1971). He was tragically murdered on 13 August 1971.
Steely Dan Were a class act from their first album. Here is a live version of 'Babylon Sisters' from the CD 'Alive In America' (1995).
Van Morrison has been around since the early 60's with the band Them. He still releases good albums that continue to satisfy his many admirers. 'Into The Mystic' comes from his 1974 album 'It's Too Late To Stop Now'.
George Benson started as a fine bluesy Jazz guitarist in the late 50's. His vocal only came to prominence  on the album 'Breezin'. 'On Broadway' (originally by The Drifters)  comes from the CD 'Weekend In L.A. (1978).
Stevie Ray Vaughan was a brilliant blues based guitarist/vocalist that gave Blues music a shot in the arm from his first album 'Texas Flood' in 1983, until his tragic death in a helicopter crash on 27 August 1990. This wonderful version of 'Riviera Paradise' comes from the show he played the night he died. Fom the CD  'Sacred Sources - Live Forever'.

 Get It Here :  https://mega.nz/#!nQUAjYaI!XmBB24LDDgE6ozilN2i5u-_9sBX6C-LsDy6UlO7PRTw

The Best Of The Crusaders (1976)

The Crusaders was an American jazz fusion group that was popular in the 1970s. The group was known as the Jazz Crusaders before shortening its name in 1971.
In 1960, following the demise of a few short-lived Houston-based groups called The Swingsters and the Nite Hawks, Joe Sample (piano), Stix Hooper (drums), Wilton Felder (saxophone), and Wayne Henderson (trombone), relocated to Los Angeles. After changing their name to "The Jazz Crusaders," the group signed with Pacific Jazz Records, where they would remain throughout the 1960s. Employing a two-manned front-line horn section (trombone and tenor saxophone), the group's sound was rooted in hard bop, with an emphasis on R&B and soul.
The group shortened their name to "The Crusaders" in 1971, and adopted a jazz-funk style. They also incorporated the bass guitar and electric guitar into their music. Bass guitarist Robert "Pops" Popwell and guitarist Larry Carlton joined the band, and featured on the group's albums throughout most of the 1970s. With this new style came increased crossover appeal, and the group's recordings started to appear on the Billboard pop charts. (Wiki)

One of my favourite bands ...Double vinyl rip of 'Best Of' from 1976, which provided the material that I like the most from their lengthy history...This band were my 'go to' to from the early 1970's...I still listen to The Crusaders probably more than any other artists (and I LOVE so many !). Their material has Blues Jazz R&B Soul and Funk elements, with memorable songs and melodic, gutsy solos.
They also introduced me to their guitarist Larry Carlton who I loved...including his solo albums and guest appearances on Steely Dan albums among many others...I had the pleasure to see him at London's Jazz Cafe...and we got to chat after the show...a friendly humble gent...I gave him a Django Reinhardt CD as a gift of gratitude ... - Gus

Get it Here  :   https://mega.nz/#!7MFVlTaY!tg_DCRtzp3mnufWfMxN-x5esgZ6ri4n_CF6xaj4omTo 

Larry Carlton & Me

Various Artists - Soulville 1

Another of my compilations sourced from my CD collection - 30 classic soulful tracks with only 2 above 3 minutes ! Enjoy - Gus

Get it here  : 

  https://mega.nz/#!qUdBRKbY!pz0hFnNzSjoAcldwSLGavyz9xEtpy_CUklUSQkbkwhs

Various Artists - Rock 'n' Roll Days 1

Chuck Berry

Elvis Presley

Fats Domino

Another of my past compilations, from my CD collection, concentrating on the Rock 'n' Roll days (1954-59)...which was based on earlier African/American Rhythm & Blues music and taken up by numerous white artists (Fats Domino, to put things into perspective, was the best selling artist at the time after Elvis)  ...It was largely seen in the USA as degenerate music by the mainstream media...(but not by the hip...or teenage kids ).
Pat Boone and others supplied insipid covers for the masses...and the USA popular music scene was soon coerced back to forgettable pap...awaiting the 'British Invasion' (started  by The Beatles - 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' in 1964)...which itself began as R&B and R&R covers or imitations initially. 
This was the good stuff ! - Gus 

Click on the cover above for a larger image

Get It Here :

https://mega.nz/#!qZsDlTxQ!UyAAhgjZSHg6Xpat0wkUQJqV9DW2x2jKZpTF2zD0FAc

King Curtis - King Curtis Collection

Curtis Ousley (February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophonist known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, blues, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer. Adept at tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, he was best known for his distinctive riffs and solos such as on "Yakety Yak", which later became the inspiration for Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax" and his own "Memphis Soul Stew".
Curtis was killed on August 13, 1971, when he was stabbed during an argument with a pair of drug dealers he discovered on the steps outside his Manhattan apartment. Curtis was attempting to carry an air conditioner into his apartment when Juan Montanez refused to move from the entrance. A fight ensued and Montanez stabbed Curtis. Curtis later died at Roosevelt Hospital. In March 1972, Montanez was sente
nced to seven years for second-degree manslaughter, but was released in late 1977 for good behavior. (Wiki)

I love King Curtis...I made this compilation many moons ago...Rega-Planar deck with a decent Ortophon cartridge/stylus and dubbed direct to Yamaha Digital Recorder.
At the time most of these recordings were unavailable on CD and I hadn't even heard of a download ! Some come from King Curtis albums, others  were lifted from popular Soul compilations on vinyl. I've just ripped the disc I made (from same digital recorder) ...and it sounds great...A minor tick here and there...but nothing to spoil the listening experience...Personally I hate ticks and if a record was too ticky I wouldn't record it...They were never part of the music and shouldn't be there ! 
Anyhow I've just played the whole  recording and really enjoyed this wonderful man and his saxophones all over again...My favourite (of all tracks, that I get the pleasure to play to someone who has never heard it ), is King Curtis' 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale ', his Live version of the 1967 Procol Harum hit...and included here. It usually astounds !...Such soulful beauty from the soprano sax. And King Curtis can 'sing' a soulful classic (equal to Aretha and Otis) like no other player on saxophone...There are plenty examples right here Enjoy - Gus

Get it Here  :   https://mega.nz/#!2JFEEQhK!8PPVvDyAvx0UVG7v6wBQpFatMm5XQmxQHiYRT95yjQo

Lowell George / Little Feat - Miscellany 1 & 2

Lowell Thomas George (April 13, 1945 – June 29, 1979) was an American songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, who was the primary guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.
On June 15, 1979, George began a tour in support of his solo album. On June 29, 1979, the morning after an appearance at Washington, D.C.'s Lisner Auditorium where the bulk of Waiting for Columbus had been recorded, George collapsed and died of a heart attack in his Arlington, Virginia, hotel room at the Twin Bridges Marriott. His heart attack was caused by an accidental drug overdose. George's body was cremated in Washington, D.C., on August 2. His ashes were flown back to Los Angeles, where they were scattered from his fishing boat into the Pacific Ocean.   (Wiki)

Another of my musical gods...I still miss this guy...One of my lasting heroes...The coolest Slide player around...a wonderful voice...a true R & R songwriter and poet...I have all the original vinyl and the cds and wish there was more !

I put together these compilations some years ago, just for me ...(called it Miscellany but thought Lowell would prefer Miss Ellany !)...using a Yamaha digital recorder ...Most of the tracks come from my own cd collection  with some downloads... Lowell here with Little Feat in a live setting, solo and guest appearances with some classy artists. - His Slide solos on Jackson Browne's 'Your Bright Baby Blues' are bliss...for me...even his understated backing vocal on the same track is perfect...The Chico Hamilton tracks on M2 are little more than jams...but reflect the experimental times...And here with Robert Palmer (his finest hours)...from his earliest solo albums with The Meters plus Lowell and Little Feat ! - Gus

Oh I am just a vagabond, a drifter on the run
And eloquent profanity, it rolls right off my tongue...
(Lowell George - Roll Um Easy)

CD1 Here :  

  https://mega.nz/#!rMEnwaiZ!PTxrACnTn8TnCULhZKRrLjuo8BKF57R4wgCJwMOoe4o

CD2 Here :

https://mega.nz/#!7ZsmzDAS!aDIxEhH8x5nDgCGjkeHNqW2klo6FtxpOBOgSsJrlQWw

Robert Cray - Selected Rarities

Here is an old compilation of mine from one of my fave guitarist/vocalist 

Robert Cray - Selected Rarities

Tracks 1 to 7 have been dubbed by me fom 12" singles RC released in the UK, direct to Yamaha Digital Recorder. They do not appear in this form on any of his albums. (1985-88)

Tracks 8 to 11 are from an FM broadcast of Eric Clapton's Blues Night at the Royal Albert Hall on 03 Feb 1990 - From my tapes.

Tracks 12 to 19 are from an FM broadcast recorded in London on 20 May 1992 - From my tapes

It's a great listen from a master ! - GuitarGus

Get it Here  :  

 https://mega.nz/#!DcVyEboT!51yWof0ILGaGUmgDbRo9LOE5VweMoAEoTtzkiUAb_bA

Can There Be Better Advice ?

Do not put faith in traditions, even though they have been accepted for long generations and in many countries. Do not believe a  thing because many repeat it. Do not accept a thing on the authority of one or another of the sages of old, nor on the ground that a statement is found in the books. Never believe anything because probability is in its favour. Do not believe in that which you have yourselves imagined, thinking that a god has inspired it. Believe nothing merely on the authority of your teachers or of the priests. After examination, believe that which you have tested for yourselves and found reasonable, which is in conformity with your well-being and that of others.
The Buddha - from the Kalama Sutra tr Alexandra David-Neal

What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow : our life is the creation of our mind.

Dhammapada - Translated by J.Mascaro

Cease to do evil, learn to do good, cleanse your own heart

This is the teaching of all the Buddhas.

Dhammapada . verse 183 - Translated J.Austin

And some considerations...

Either god wants to remove the evil from this world , and cannot, or he can , and does not want to; or he neither wants to nor can; or he wants to and can .  If  he neither wants to nor can, this is impotence , which is contrary to the nature of god ; if he can but does not want to, this is wickedness , which is no less contrary to his nature; if he neither can nor wants to this is at once wickedness and impotence; if he wants to and can ( which is the only one of these possibilities fitting for  god )  whence then comes the evil which is on earth?    Lactantus Firmianus - On the Wrath of God - ca 300

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

1969 - Memories of Musical Good Times - Led Zeppelin

1969 - S E London...I was 15...Cream had split (it was 50 years ago today !)...We felt rudderless ! But we had Taste, Free, Jethro Tull. Canned Heat (USA) et al...and Led Zeppelin released their first 2 albums in this year,,,I also saw them live at the Royal Albert Hall...incredible ! 
Blind Faith, Santana & Johnny Winter's first CBS album was our summer listening amid an enjoyable mix of funk music from JB,Sly. Kool &The Gang & others...There was the Woodstock festival, The Stones and Blind Faith at Hyde Park...And for the first time Albums outsold singles.
To me Led Zep were the last of the great rock bands that were Blues based...Although I had a liking for Deep Purple ( I saw them twice in their early 'In Rock' days - And they were great) 
As a reminder of these far away but influential days...here is a Led Zep bootleg of their gig at the Paris Olympia 10 October 1969...Not Hi-Fi but considering the times very listenable,,,Historic...including some photos from this performance...Thanks to the original poster, Get it here : 
https://mega.nz/#!TEF3jSIa!1uLZAc5wy3g0tZQvC-Y4zA5mijjm7usLftLv5VtIjNs

Free - Live Fairfield Hall Croydon 13 September 1970

Free were an English rock band formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums. Lead guitarist Paul Kossoff formed Back Street Crawler in 1975, but died from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 25 in 1976. Bassist Andy Fraser formed Sharks. (Wiki)

In the UK we had Cream with their extravagant busy musical showmanship...That ended in 1968...Come 1968 onwards, we were charmed by Free ...a 4 piece blues-rock band that had another angle...with space, soulful vocals and another great,original guitarist...Paul Kossoff...His influence on me, aged 14 and beyond, was essential...His bends and vibrato (which we called 'The Koss Wave') were so expressive and exciting to us youthful bluesniks. Andy Fraser's bass was melodic and creative too.
Me and my friends were lucky enough to witness almost all of the 2 sets played this day. We had tickets for the 2nd show...and like typical young fans we got to the venue hours before our set began. We sneaked into the hall after a few minutes of the first set and nobody questioned us... Here are recordings of this gig from these 2 sessions (Some do appear on the original album 'Free - Live') Thanks to the original poster -  Cheers Gus  
Click on link: 
 https://mega.nz/#!ecsFnIbJ!yz4EBv956N9WZBJYynSDT1deT4Am7jdTlyawIutTnok

Here is their first album 'Tons Of Sobs' (1968) ...Blues/Rock at its best...Raw Soulful and Real !...Japanese CD with extra tracks 

https://mega.nz/#!HIdQ2QaZ!2KX8McvUyS4fl4nD1dRTy8mDJDt8CwnRcnXFFFB4nsY

Remembering Rory Gallagher 1948-1995

William Rory Gallagher (2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish blues and rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. Born in Ballyshannon, 
County Donegal,and brought up in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste during the late 1960s. 
His albums have sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
Gallagher received a liver transplant in 1995, but died of complications later that year in London at the age of 47. (Wiki) 


Following on from my Goodbye Cream post...I was inspired by the memory of Rory Gallagher another artist that left us too soon...Taste and the first two Led Zep albums kept this period of Blues/Rock alive, amongst a few others (F.Mac,Mayall,Free,Ten Years After et al).
After the Cream gig me and my mates would check out the listings at The Marquee, then in Wardour St. We would hop-off school to sit outside (this now famous venue) for hours before the door opened, in order to get front seats just feet away from the band. I/we were at many gigs here...even Rory would spot us and say Hi... He always put 100% into his astounding performances...so exciting and heart-felt every time...bucket loads of Blues and sweat...It was magic !
Taste would split and Rory would go on to have a much more successful solo career...
I never saw him live as a solo but have all the remastered CDs and have seen many videos etc.He always gave his all !
As  mentioned in my last post we spotted him at a Johnny Winter gig and I have his handshake as an abiding memory of the joy and excitement he created for us to witness. Cheers Gus

Here is the first Taste album from 1969 as MP3@320...The same songs that made up their live set :  

https://mega.nz/#!SZ8xVQBR!nrg5vbXrnnvZuYbc_7TEORLfY7dgTsnWMGGYKzqXN60

2019...I still fondly remember the Marquee days...late 60's early 70's - Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig. Groundhogs and many more...But Rory remains my Cherished fave ! Such talent and grit ! Listen to this album, that has grit and honesty in bucket loads !  


See here for a live clip of Taste at the 1970 IOW festival :   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdf-QKyLeOs

Here for a good live taste of Rory from 1976 :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unUzoVjA7Ig

And here for a great docu of Rory's life and career :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbOlUWlU2j0&list=LLwAB0LnUVu1d5C7nTRUhrBQ&index=3&t=2505s

Cream - Farewell Concert / November 26, 1968 - Royal Albert Hall, London + (Narration & Interviews documentary) ...Plus !

Cream were a British rock power trio formed in 1966 consisting of drummer Ginger Baker, guitarist/singer Eric Clapton and lead singer/bassist Jack Bruce. The group's third album, Wheels of Fire (1968), is the world's first platinum-selling double album. The band is widely regarded as the world's first successful supergroup. In their career, they sold more than 15 million records worldwide. Their music included songs based on traditional blues such as "Crossroads" and "Spoonful", and modern blues such as "Born Under a Bad Sign", as well as more current material such as "Strange Brew", "Tales of Brave Ulysses" and "Toad". (Wiki)

This was the band that got me into playing music and changed my life 

I was lucky enough to get tickets for Cream's farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall 

(what a great venue!). I was 14 and loved this band like I loved the Beatles (and still do !)...But I wanted to play improvisations like these guys...For rock music this was new !

As support I heard Yes and Taste (featuring Rory Gallagher) and hence became a Rory fan...Later I had the pleasure to shake Rory's hand and tell him I was an admirer...outside the RAH again at a Johnny Winter gig... Here is and old docu featuring this great pioneering band Cream :   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG_hzyLBdew&t=483s

Here is one of the best sounding Bootlegs of Cream that I've come across...Two gigs in the USA in 1968..

  

Thanks to the original poster...Get this 2cd Here :  

https://mega.nz/#!iIEUhIzD!DLEsqWrBgE-1Own3Fi6aGu7QM3hkY2Z2inbtCmj0--Q