Tormato [Import]

tormato [import]

Track Listings

1. Future Times/Rejoice

2. Don't Kill the Whale

3. Madrigal

4. Release, Release

5. Arriving UFO

6. Circus of Heaven

7. Onward

8. On the Silent Wings of Freedom

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Japanese HDCD remastered reissue of their 1978 album. Packaged in a limited edition miniature reproduction of the original LP sleeve.

Tormato,Yes,Album Rock,Pop/Rock,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock/Pop

Tormato [Import]

Average customer rating:

Dedicated to experts?
Zappa Attempts Stockhausen
The Yello Shark, performed by the Modern Music Ensemble
ZAP!
A Frank Zappa Treasure. Better than many of his CDs

The Yellow Shark

Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jazz From Hell
Make a Jazz Noise Here
The Grand Wazoo
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
The Perfect Stranger

ASIN: B0000009VU
Release Date: 1995-05-30

Tracks:

Intro
Dog Breath Variations
Uncle Meat
Outrage At Valdez
Times Beach II
III Revised
The Girl In The Magnesium Dress
Be-Bop Tango
Ruth Is Sleeping
None Of The Above
Pentagon Afternoon
Questi Cazzi Di Piccione
Times Beach III
Food Gathering In Post-Industrial America, 1992
Welcome To The United States
Pound For A Brown
Exercise #4
Get Whitey
G-Spot Tornado

Amazon.com

Released shortly after his death in 1993, The Yellow Shark represents one of the only accurate performances of Frank Zappa's "serious" orchestral music--at least as far as the composer was concerned. Assembled from a series of sold-out performances in Germany by the Ensemble Moderne, the set includes re-workings of old favorites like "The Dog Breath Variations" and "Uncle Meat," live arrangements of some of his hairiest computer music like "The Girl in the Magnesium Dress" and "G-Spot Tornado" and new works by Zappa composed specifically for the event. The performances are astonishing and the music? Pure Zappa. --Andrew Boscardin

Album Description

The 26-member Ensemble Modern performs FZ's 'most-humanly-impossible-to-play' compositions. Piano duets, string quintets & small ballets. Simply exquisite, with a 60-page booklet to explain it all. Originally released in 1993, it stayed on the classical chart for most of `94. Includes the tracks 'Outrage At Valdez,' 'None Of The Above,' & 'Welcome To The United States', plus arrangements of some of the most fiendishly difficult pieces from FZ's back catalogue & even a 'greatest hit' or two (some would pick this as the definitive version of 'Dog Breath Variations'). Sadly, this was the last album released by FZ during his lifetime. The didipak and the booklet are housed in a slipcase. Rykodisc.

Customer Reviews:

Dedicated to experts?.......2007-06-25

Frank Zappa was very proud of this great and difficult work done at the end of his (too short) life.
It requires also great concentation and a capability that probably I don't have to well understand this kind of experimental classic music.
It goes beyond the experimental rock that is typical of many of his works, leading him to the level of great contemporary experimental classic composers.
Given such a level of difficulty I don't know how much I can suggest to buy it. You just should try to hear at this music and decide if it does fit with your soul (how could I believe just a few years ago that today I would like so much 'Your funeral my trial' of Nick Cave?)

Zappa Attempts Stockhausen.......2007-02-13

FZ goes to Germany to upstage Karlheinz and tries an avant garde stage performance which is an elegant and popular form of expression in Germany. The Germans have perfected this type of marriage between romanticism and neoclassicism. In this case it's an overly technical performance, a display. The orchestra all sound good yet Zappa has given the music to another conductor, Peter Rundel. There is no rhythm section and without a background the result is too intellectual.

The Yello Shark, performed by the Modern Music Ensemble.......2007-01-19

This CD addresses the more serious, compositional aspect of Frank Zappa's career, and it could not be addressed in a more suitable manner. It includes some of FZ's more difficult works, such as "Bee Bop Tango", "Uncle Meat", and "G-Spot Tornado". The conductor is Peter Rundel, and as Zappa says himself, he is a fine conductor. This is highly recommended for anyone who has already developed a taste for Zappa's complex and imaginative arrangements.

ZAP!.......2006-01-20

Trying to define this album to my good friend was hard. "Well it's Zappa's songs done with an orechestra, but's not really classical sounding . . . it's just Zappa." And my friend just simply nodded and said "Sounds awesome." and i realized that if any reviewer would've just said 'It's Zappa!' it wouldn't take much more to sway me. so - It's Zappa! And it's damn near perfect it's so good! Riveting!!!

Be warned! You may like nobody (musically or real life) or anything (musically or real life) ever again after listening to this album, but it's not that big of a deal!

A Frank Zappa Treasure. Better than many of his CDs.......2005-07-29

`The Yellow Shark', with words and music by Frank Zappa is a collection of `chamber music' pieces recorded in 1993 in Germany, performed by a German orchestra, `Ensemble Modern', which, I believe, commissioned Herr Zappa to assemble these pieces for their concerts. In the accompanying booklet, Frank is pictured with a baton in hand, but the credits only have him conducting three pieces, those with a very significant spoken word aspect (all spoken in English). He also makes a brief appearance at the beginning of the CD where he introduces the Ensemble Modern conductor, Peter Rundel.

This recording is probably one of the very last to be done by Zappa himself, before his unexpected death due to illness. Of all the musical figures of the 1960s lost to us over the years, I miss Zappa almost as much as I miss John Lennon, and I am very happy that if we had to lose them, it was not to drugs or any other kind of self abuse.

There are fourteen musical pieces and three `spoken word' pieces on the recording. I confess that the spoken word pieces may actually be a bit dated, especially the `Welcome to the United States' track on a questionnaire for immigrants which makes a reference to terrorism which may seem entirely too glib in our current environment.

Two of the earliest tracks `Dog Breath Variations' and `Uncle Meat' are instantly recognizable from their music and titles as `quotes' from earlier albums, with very little `classical' varnish over their strongly jazzy sound. Most of the other musical pieces have more subtle quotes from earlier Zappa works, and demonstrate influences from George Gershwin, Kurt Weill, the movie music from `Spartacus', and his old mentor, Edgar Varese.

I noticed that the applause on these tracks was louder than the music and I was wondering whether the audience was appreciating the music itself or the presence of that formidable 1960's icon, Frank Zappa. I'm sure it was a little bit of both, but Zappa and audience couldn't resist quoting from one of his best albums, `The Mothers Fillmore East - June 1971'.

I think this quote was entirely appropriate, in that we owe so much musical innovation to the popular musical performers who were nutured by 1960's, producing such wonders as Zappa and the great bands such as The Rolling Stones and The Who, who are still scoring our artistic perceptions on both commercials and dramatic themes on TV.

This may not be Zappa's greatest album, but it is one of his cleanest. Like `Hot Rats', there is very little `throw away' material. And, it is one of the very few pop or classical recordings by a major musical figure where you will hear the performance of a didgeridoo (Australian aborigonal flute).

Highly recommended for Zappa fans and fans of 1960s music in general.

Average customer rating:

Great Stuff
Most Promising Blues Musician of Our Time!!!
Wow. This guy rocks.
Excellent Blues!
Richard Johnston knows how blues should sound!!!

Foot Hill Stomp
Richard Johnston
Manufacturer: Tornado Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mississippi Hill Country Blues
You Better Run: The Essential Junior Kimbrough
Shaker
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All Night Long

ASIN: B00006IK2Y
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Tracks:

Miss Maebelle
Do The Romp
Coal Black Mattie
Catfish Blues/I Feel Good Little Girl
Work Me Baby
Come On In
That's No Way To Get Along
The Shaggy Hound
Chicken And Gravy

Customer Reviews:

Great Stuff.......2006-05-23

I walked up on his street show in Helena. I came from behind and could see the crowd before I could see Richard. The crowd was about 75 to 100 people. They were in what I could only describe as a zombie trance. Some were jumping like they were being given shock therapy. Others were moving with eyes rolled back in their head. I later learned Richard's style is Northern Mississippi Blues,, trance music,,zombie music to some folks. Go to his web site and look around if you want to learn about this guy. Oh yes and get this cd....

Most Promising Blues Musician of Our Time!!!.......2005-07-11

Richard Johnston has become arguably the most recognized street musician in America and his 2002 W.C. Handy nominated, self-produced debut album entitled, "Foot Hill Stomp" has proven to be one of the top-selling independent blues albums in history. This CD is unbelievable, a definite must for every blues lover! Be prepared to be completely blown away. This CD was released in 2002 but it is such a gem that I will just have to allow it to be submitted in my top 10 CD's of the year and I can almost promise it will be the #1 Blues/Rock CD you should buy in 2005.

Richard is a one man show playing the guitar, drums, harmonica and singing all at the same time. He must be something to really see, ( I personally haven't seen him live yet) but just ask anyone who has ever visited the famous Beale St. in Memphis and they will peel your ears back telling you about this guy with a homemade guitar that looks like a cigar box with two broomsticks for a neck that will leave a crowd of thousands totally mesmerized by his music within minutes. This is gritty-muddy blues at it's best, some of my favorite trance-inducers on this CD are of course the Junior Kimbrough classics 'Catfish Blues/I Feel Good Little Girl' and 'Work Me Baby' this tune is awesome and you must put the volume on maximum, and 'Do The Romp' will get your blood a pumping, also the R.L Burnside song 'Come On In' is the icing on the cake! Man I can not stress enough what a awesome display of music by such a talented genius this is. My words are almost useless in trying to describe the sounds on this disc by this incredible artist!!! What are you waiting for buy this CD, no wait, buy three of them and give one to a friend, and then keep the other two for yourself, you'll need two of them because you will wear one of them out!!!!!!!

The Bandit

Wow. This guy rocks........2004-06-18

A friend who recently moved from my hometown of Boston to Rio Grand of Texas returned home on vacation with this CD is his discman. I played it in my car and within 24 hours bought it for myself. Fantastic blues! You can't help but want to tap your foot or nod your head to the raw power and pervasive energy that runs throughout the album. I know diddly about blues music or artists. But I know what I like and this album is now one of my favorites. Can't wait for more to be released.

Excellent Blues!.......2003-10-29

I first saw Richard Johnston at the 2002 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. He was awesome! Unbelievably, the CD is just as good. Buy it.

Richard Johnston knows how blues should sound!!!.......2003-10-02

Somewhere around the beginning of September, I was walking down Beale Street, and on one end there was a large crowd gathered. I checked it out, and what I found was a guy playing guitar, harmonica, drums, and singing all at the same time. There were people dancing in the street, and immediately, you could tell that Richard Johnston not only knows how to feel the blues, but plays them better than most. If you have the chance, see him live, but if not, get this CD! I bought it from him on the street, and I still listen to it on a daily basis. I'm ready for the next CD to come out, hopefully it will include a song called "201 Poplar" that he played live, but is not on his first CD. If you like country blues with power behind them, then this CD should be a part of your collection!

Average customer rating:

Fantastic!
The Return of Wayne Douglas
REVOLUTIONARY WAYS
One of the best CDs I have
Sir Doug At His Best for the Last Time....

The Return of Wayne Douglas
Doug Sahm
Manufacturer: Tornado Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hell of a Spell

ASIN: B00004TM19
Release Date: 2000-06-20

Tracks:

Beautiful Texas Sunshine
Oh No! Not Another One
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
You Was for Real
Cowboy Peyton Place
They'll Never Take Her Love from Me
Huggin' Thin Air
Yesterday Got in the Way
I Can't Go Back to Austin
Dallas Alice
I Don't Trust No One When It Comes to My Heart
Texas Me

Amazon.com

This is probably the last new music we'll hear from Sahm (who recorded an early-1970s country single as Wayne Douglas), and since he began his career as a 13-year-old country singer and steel guitarist, it takes him full circle. The man put his inimitable stamp on everything he did, and this is no exception; shuffling rhythms, crackling guitar, pining steel, and Gypsy-swing fiddle cushion his frayed, weary, dusky vocals. Only Doug Sahm could conceive a putdown of "new country" as sidesplitting as "Oh No! Not Another One," only Doug could do Bob Dylan's "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" the way Ray Price might, and only Doug could conjure up lines and imagery ("as the leaves turn backflips on the farm") like those on "Huggin' Thin Air." He'd probably have recut some of these vocals had he been able, and nearly half the tracks are new versions of his old songs, but you can't help but wish the album went on forever. --John Morthland

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!.......2006-12-16

This CD blew me away! The pedal steel guitar by Tommy Detamore is great!
The production is very good, and this is one of my favorites now. If you like Doug, you'll love this CD. If you don't know Doug Sahm's music, you'll love this CD! If you hate pedal steel guitar, then you'll hate this album. I'm buying one for all my friends (both of them).

The Return of Wayne Douglas.......2005-09-09

The music wasn't exactly what I expected for the western swing sound. I did enjoy the songs he wrote that were on the CD, but prefer a more modern artist like George Strait.

REVOLUTIONARY WAYS.......2004-12-03

Doug did many types of music, and did them all well. Personally I like his Tex-Mex tunes best, followed by the Blues/R&B stuff and the psychedelic Rock stuff last. I also knew he had a strong Country soul from his Atlantic sessions (Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone, I'll Be There, Poison Love etc.) but always wished he would let it out more often. I like to think he realized this was the one style of roots music where he hadn't already been there, done that and said what he had to say. He made up for it with this CD, which serves as the musical epitaph of a man at peace with his creations. If there were any taste and justice in contemporary country music, songs like these and those recorded by Joe Ely, Delbert McClinton, Wayne Hancock, Justin Trevino and Hank Williams III would dominate the charts.

One of the best CDs I have.......2003-09-11

This is one of the best CDs I've ever bought. Not a bad track on it. Doug was a real cool cat.

Sir Doug At His Best for the Last Time...........2002-11-23

Doug may disagree with me but there aren't too damn many things he did wrong in his career and this album just goes to prove it. As vesatile as a musician and songwriter can be. I'm sure sorry he's gone but I'm awfully glad he made this album before he checked out...What GREAT versions of "Dallas Alice" and "Texas Me" Thanks for all the great times, Doug, we sure do miss you.

Average customer rating:

Great find
Something worth noting.
addictive and beautiful
Aproach with caution
Muses at their peak

House Tornado
Throwing Muses
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hunkpapa
The Real Ramona
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In a Doghouse
Limbo

ASIN: B000002LDZ
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

Colder
Mexican Women
The River
Juno
Marriage Tree
Run Letter
Saving Grace
Drive
Downtown
Giant
Walking In The Dark

Album Description

Compilation for U.S. indie icons includes the 1988 album, House Tornado & the 1988 EP, The Fat Skier (o.o.p in the U.S.). Featuring Kristin Hersh & Tanya Donelly. 17 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Great find.......2006-07-25

It's always great when you can find "new" material from a band that doesn't exist anymore. Even though I already have "House Tornado," I didn't hesitate to buy this CD for "The Fat Skier" ep. The songs are excellent and the production is very good too (wasn't sure what to expect from an ep). An earlier reviewer had commented that "Soul Soldier" wasn't included, which is true, but it can be found on "In a Doghouse."

Something worth noting........2006-02-21

I bought The Fat Skier EP on vinyl back in the mid 80's & liked & listened to it alot. I'd still be playing that vinyl, but my cartridge is shot. So I was very happy to see it come out on the CD along with House Tornado.

I ordered it almost immediately. It wasn't until I had it in my hands though, that I was shocked & very disappointed to notice that my favorite song off of the EP was not included. Soul Soldier is NOT on this release. Though I am happy to get House Tornado which I had never heard, I honestly don't know if I would've bought it had I noticed beforehand that Soul Soldier was missing from the EP.

I did a quick scan of the other reviews & didn't notice any of them mentioning this fact, & I thought it worth mentioning.

addictive and beautiful.......2005-08-13

I bought the Ep cassette of "The Fat Skier" based on an interview in some low-rent alternative rock rag of the day. I remember reading how they would mock the then popular song of the day (won't name names) and think "These girls have something going on ..." When I bought the Ep I was really intrigued by the difficult nature of the music. Its complex and really simple at the same time, which while it might not impact you immediately, has a tendency to grow on you. So much so that I played that thing over and over and over ...

When House Tornado was released, I must have gotten it the first week of its release. No one I knew had a clue who this band were, but this album has remained one of my favorites for years and years. Kristin Hersh's lyrics are so impossible to understand, like some synaesthesias (A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a color.) nightmare vision of the tedium of daily life. Words and phrases that seem just thrown together that create an image in your mind. Add to that mixture Tonya Donnely's cute oddities, the feminine power of the band is undeniable. Until this time, I had wondered (in my post-feminist way) why there weren't any good girl rockers. The Throwing Muses are an example to them all. A real artist's approach to music.

Even today ... as I'm writing this in 2005 ... I am playing "House Tornado" continuously in my car. Normally I'll move on after an album ends, but this is one of those records that just demands continuous play. Almost as if it has no end or beginning and no matter how hard you try, you can never get to the bottom of the music to find a place where you can sum it up and put it away.

These two records will always be favorites of mine.

Aproach with caution.......2004-12-16

There was always always a beautiful antiphasis that made both Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly such exciting artists to follow : Back in her Belly days , Donelly was one of the cutest girls to grab and electric guitar and was so damn happy while singing about dead lovers locked in the cellar and decapitated dolls . Hersh , a mother of four , living a quiet family life , rocks even harder and more aggresive now with her new band 50th Foot Wave . Back in the 80's though , the Throwing Muses sounded and were according to interviews , deeply troubled .

THere are many things one can admire in 1987's House Tornado . First of all the brave , unsettling songwriting , consantly changing speeds and moods and ofcourse Hersh's risky , raw vocals . The music shouts out loud ' allergic to top 40 ' . " Juno " and " Gaurux de Larmes " are out of control and wonderful , " A Feeling " a dark , beautiful love song while " Pools In Eyes " finds Donelly all childlike hysteric singing aboout how " i found a little squierel , little dead , little neck , little fist / why did i think of you ? " In a world of global culture where cd releases often focus more on sex-appeal ( r'n'b ) or style ( teen pop ) the Muses can and should be proud of the fact that the made music with personallity, stuff one can use as self defining .

Ofcourse there's another way of looking at it ... people unfamiliar with the Muses' sound will find House Tornado simply too difficult to embrace . It takes a lot of energy and petience to get into their music in generall and it's hard to guess how many listeners will be willing to bother . The lyricsare charmingly mad for some yet totally uncomprenhensible for others . " Marriage Tree " starts off with the line " an old man in a dress / treat me like an 12 year old man " . The tricky confessions continue in " Soap And Water " . " I caught 3 stars and grilled them " declares Hersh . The themes of the songs are blurry . The group often seems to be on this other world of theirs . Ofcourse for many , that is exactly what makes them so essential .

There are no bad tracks in this album there's nothing though as captivating as Hunkpapa's " Bea " or as exceptional as " Hook In Her Head " from The Real Ramona , arguably the band's best offering which every rock fan with a good taste and not necessarily a Throwing Muses fan can enjoy .

A hate-it-or-love-it case then , House Tornado might not be the masterpiece devoted Muses followers claim it to be but is surely a challenge for the listener , something that gets more and more rare to find in a genuin form as years go by .

Muses at their peak.......2003-09-12

I need to start this quote with another amazon user's take on this disc:

"But seriously, HOUSE TORNADO is just a rehash of the Muses' first album. The same eccentic vocals, wailing guitars, and odd time signatures are here. However, HOUSE TORNADO is of significantly lower quality than the first album. David Narcizo's drumming is often astoundingly great, but the songs are not written to emphasize it and it disappears quite a bit in the poor production."

Because you can take most of what he said, invert it, and you'd be correct. First, House Tornado is quite different from anything that preceded or came after it. It's really a dressed up acoustic album. An album of quiet songs that are played hard and passionately. The production on the record is beautiful. It was done with Paul Kolderie of Dinosaour Jr, Buffalo Tom, Hole, etc. fame. I particularly enjoy the emphasis on the acoustic guitar which was pretty rare for this era. You can actually hear the Muses guitar strings as they strum and change chords.

The real reason to get the import version of this is "The Fat Skier." It's just about impossible to find, and it's just as essential of a part of the Throwing muses catalog as any of their best music.

As for the comment that Kristin Hersh has "eccentric vocals" on this record....well, that's about as telling as commenting to someone that "its so boring that Jimi Hendrix played his guitar with so much distortion."

Gradually Going Tornado
Average customer rating:

Palewell Park

best Bruford album

The pinnacle of the three classic Bruford studio albums

Well, you HAVE to get it.

the unknown John Clark does an incredible job

Gradually Going Tornado
Bill Bruford
Manufacturer: E.G. Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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One of a Kind

Feels Good to Me

U.K.

Danger Money

Do They Hurt?

ASIN: B000003S19
Release Date: 1990-08-30

Tracks:

Age Of Information
Gothic 17
Joe Frazier
Q.E.D.
The Sliding Floor
Palewell Park
Plans For J.D.
Land's End

Customer Reviews:

Palewell Park.......2007-01-24

This is a great album. Bruford, an incredibly sophisticated percussionist, is wonderfully paired with the melodic yet funky Jeff Berlin on bass, Dave Stewart on keys and John Clarke on guitar.
I titled my review "PALEWELL PARK" (Track #6 on the CD) because I'm hoping some audiophile and out there might be able to help me. I've heard this sublimely beautiful piece of music before and have been looking a particular version of it with EBERHARD WEBER on bass. I don't know if Eberhard put it on one of his albums (with a different title perhaps?) or if he was playing on an album by another artist when the song was recorded.[...].

best Bruford album.......2007-01-10

This the best of the three Bruford albums. While Allan Holdsworth is a spectacular guitarist, John Clark does an amazing job replacing him and the songs are much better than on the other albums. I saw the same group live at the time and they were tremendous.

The pinnacle of the three classic Bruford studio albums.......2005-11-09

"Gradually Going Tornado" completed the ascent to great, inventive and clever jazz/rock fusion that Bill Bruford began with "Feels Good To Me" (4-1/2 stars) and "One of a Kind" (4-3/4 stars). Yep, this was the complete album from these guys that I had been looking for. Believe it - this is a masterpiece in its genre.

You can't ignore the unique keyboards from Dave Stewart on this - they are upfront, all over, and feature a "wall of sound" effect more often on this album. "Palewell Park" is soft and beautiful on the piano, but his playing everywhere else is fast, surprising, cool and fun - even "urban"-sounding in spots.

I'm a huge Allan Holdsworth fan, but I think replacement John Clarke is FANTASTIC on this album. (And if you ever listen to the live "Bruford Tapes", you'll hear Clarke nailing Holdsworth's solos with perfection.) Here, he impresses most on "Land's End", "q.e.d." and "Gothic 17".

Fretless bass demigod Jeff Berlin is incredibly inventive and original on this album. His "Joe Frazier" still blows my mind with its combination of speed and virtuosity, while his melodic accompaniment to Stewart's piano on "Palewell Park" is simply sublime. And he sings on four of the songs with a slightly nasal, droll and friendly tenor that's not far from John Wetton or even - I've gotta say it - crooners Frank Sinatra and Andy Williams in places! (Think about it.)

Bruford himself never sounded better than on this album (in my humble opinion). And the songwriting and production is superb; a great mix of soft and ambient atmospheres along with solid grooves, pop hooks and world class soloing from all members.

Do this for me....no, wait - Do this for YOURSELF: Find a comfortable chair, strap on your headphones, put this cd on and close your eyes for 46 minutes. Focus on the BASS, because you'll hear the keys, guitar and drums easily enough. And as the last song fades into the ether, I bet that you'll open your eyes and say, "Whoa, man, that really was one of the BEST albums I've ever heard!" (O.K., maybe you don't talk quite like that, but you get the idea....;-)

It's a great, GREAT album. I speak the truth.

I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 9.5/10; Performance = 9.5/10; Production = 9/10; CD length = 8/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 9.3 ("5 stars")

Well, you HAVE to get it........2005-10-11

First things first. There is no human alive today who is a greater Bruford fan than myself. He is my all time favorite drummer PERIOD!

Now with that said..

This CD is ummmm pretty lame.

There are 2 reasons to buy this CD. If you don't have this CD, you will never be able to hear "Age of Information" or "q.e.d". "Joe Frazier" is another excellent arrangement, but if you look carefully, that selection is also on Bruford's "Master Strokes" CD.

So there you have it.. Age of Information and q.e.d. As for the remainder.. just horrible. The WORST has to be "The Sliding Floor" which has a Holiday Inn / Coco Cabana feel to it and it's just embarrasing to play to anyone else.

I've read reviews about "Land's End" and while I will agree that it is the 4th best song on here, the beginning is cheesy, it's about 5 minutes too long, and it doesn't really start get interesting until the piano solo (BEAUTIFUL piano solo). There are some great moments in this song, but those moments should have been segregated from this song and written into another, more interesting and musical piece.

Still, it's a Bruford album, and his drumming is fascinating, so whether you want to or not, you HAVE to get it.

the unknown John Clark does an incredible job.......2004-06-27

who is the unknown, should you ask?
it's all there on the sleeve credit: THE UNKNOWN JOHN CLARK (guitar).
to fill the shoes of the WELL-KNOWN alan holdsworth on this BRUFORD album, i must admit, any guitarist worth his weight would shudder at the thought of the task. however, JOHN CLARK does a heck of a job, and perharps, if he were the EQUALLY WELL-KNOWN John Clark,
he would not stay unknown long.
alas, art has never been a medium where those deserving credit get
their due. if you were an objective listener who knows no different either John Clark or Alan Holdsworth, I bet my money that you think John Clark rules. the tunes on this album
are all praise-worthy. fine team-work, without sacrificing a single phrase. with band-members like stewart, clark and berlin, bruford leads a fine band where ego is left hanging by the
coat-rack at the studio-entrance, where it belongs.
time has worn well with this album... a fine vintage.

Average customer rating:

Joe The KING

Joe "King" Carrasco
Joe "King" Carrasco
Manufacturer: Tornado Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Bordertown/Viva San Antone/Bandido Rock
Tales from the Crypt
Anthology

ASIN: B00006J41W
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Tracks:

Jalapeno Con Big Red
Mezcal Road
Black Cloud
Tell Me
I'm A Fool To Care
Rock Este Noche
Funky Butt
Every Woman (Crazy About An Automobile)
Please Mr. Sandman
Just A Mile Away

Customer Reviews:

Joe The KING.......2007-04-12

This album was made before Joe formed the Crowns, his backing band for quite few albums after this one. It was recorded with the then cream of San Antonio "West Side" musicians including the great Rocky Morales on sax. I bought this on album when it was first released and was overjoyed to find it on CD. There's no "Extras" on this which is disappointing but it still rates 5 stars for it's rockin' good-time, bluesy, tex-mex ragged but right music. This is the stuff for parties and drinking. I cannot say that this is a technically great album or has any social or philasophical merit, it's just an album I truly LOVE. Visit Joe's website and find out more about him.

Average customer rating:

Mislisted tracks on your system
The 1972 "Van Dyke Parks Album" Returns At Last

Hot + Sweet
Mighty Sparrow
Manufacturer: Tornado Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Calypso | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

Trinidad | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

Soca | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music
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Volume One
Volume Four
Volume Two
16 Carnival Hits
First Flight: Early Calypsos from the Emory Cook Collection

ASIN: B00009YXKV
Release Date: 2003-07-08

Tracks:

Chinese Love Affair
English Diplomacy
Hello People
Jane
Maria
Memories
More Cock
Mr. Walker
Sparrow Dead
Who She Go Cry For

Customer Reviews:

Mislisted tracks on your system.......2004-09-09

I had the original vinyl with this title. The songs on this version are from many vinyls and the titles listed are out of order and misnamed.

The 1972 "Van Dyke Parks Album" Returns At Last.......2003-10-17

Although it's not evident, this is a straight reissue of the 1972 Warner Bros. album produced by Van Dyke Parks and reportedly recorded in a single overheated evening during a hurricane, with much later fiddling by Mr. Parks. These are remakes of established Sparrow classics, but it's one of the all-time sublime remake albums, with the dense arrangements, horn sections, chorus singers and the rest of Parks's Beach-Boyish studio fantasy swirling gracefully around Sparrow's bravura vocals. A calypso record unlike any other. (For some reason, the track list is a mess and does not reflect the song sequence on the disc. But all 10 tunes are there.)

Average customer rating:

Great find
Something worth noting.
addictive and beautiful
Aproach with caution
Muses at their peak

House Tornado/The Fat Skier
Throwing Muses
Manufacturer: 4ad
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Hunkpapa
The Real Ramona
Red Heaven
In a Doghouse
Limbo

ASIN: B000024766
Release Date: 1993-04-07

Tracks:

Colder
Mexican Women
River
Juno
Marriage Tree
Run Letter
Saving Grace
Drive
Downtown
Giant
Walking in the Dark
Garoux des Larmes
Pools in Eyes
Feeling
Soap and Water
And a She-Wolf After the War
You Cage

Album Description

Compilation for U.S. indie icons includes the 1988 album, House Tornado & the 1988 EP, The Fat Skier (o.o.p in the U.S.). Featuring Kristin Hersh & Tanya Donelly. 17 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Great find.......2006-07-25

Something worth noting........2006-02-21

addictive and beautiful.......2005-08-13

Aproach with caution.......2004-12-16

Muses at their peak.......2003-09-12

I need to start this quote with another amazon user's take on this disc:

As for the comment that Kristin Hersh has "eccentric vocals" on this record....well, that's about as telling as commenting to someone that "its so boring that Jimi Hendrix played his guitar with so much distortion."

Average customer rating:

Black Tornado, my review from Barcelona

A work of great artistry

Magic Slim Live and up close = fantastic

Black Tornado

Big, fat blues

Black Tornado
Magic Slim & the Teardrops
Manufacturer: Blind Pig
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
General | Blues | Styles | Music
Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music
Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Snakebite

Anything Can Happen

Raw Magic

Gravel Road

Blue Magic

ASIN: B000005ZJQ
Release Date: 1998-05-19

Tracks:

Jealous Man
Wake Me Up Early
Still A Fool
Black Tornado
Playin' With My Mind
I Can't Trust My Woman
Magic Boogie
You've Got Bad Intentions
Crazy Woman
Young Man's Blues
It's Alright
Love Like I Wanna

Customer Reviews:

Black Tornado, my review from Barcelona.......2007-06-07

Don't know how to explain how great are both this record and MAGIC SLIM, but I'll try. Perhaps two themes don't play in the same league as the others (the one which gives its name to the album, "Black Tornado", and the Blues-rock "It's alright" even though also are good) but the rest is absolutely exceptional, in his habitual line, with some infectious and unforgettable Blues that you're going to listen endlessly, like a cover of Muddy Waters' "Still a Fool", or "I Can't Trust My Woman", or the righteously houserockin' "Magic Boogie", or the magnificent slow Blues "Crazy Woman" and so on. In general all the CD from first to last cut, is intense, marvellous, Blues without second thoughts, without breathless, powerful, magnificent. Slim's singing is extraordinary and powerful, and his guitar play is as exceptional as ever, with clarity, incredible, one of the best, really sensational. The Teardrops,commanded by his brother Nick Holt are also very good with high instrumental level. Slim's style is very concise and in some moments very similar to one of his mentors Freddie King. In a few words, it's an essential record and it should be in the collection of all blues fans. I give it 5 stars.Finally I want to add that most of the records of his large discography are really great.

A work of great artistry.......2006-10-25

Whenever I think that the blue flame is flickering low, I put on "Black Tornado." On this CD, Magic Slim--who has been turning out great work for years--turned out a CD that exemplifies the best of electrified but down-home blues. From first to last cut, this CD is intense, powerful, and always surprisingly musical. Slim's vocals are excellent, and his guitar work shows that the Fender Jazzmaster makes a great blues instrument. The guitar tone in particular is noteworthy for its combined power and clarity. Overall, the CD has that same quality of absolute, unadulterated authenticity that marks the great Chess, Robinson, and Bihari recordings of the 1950s. It should be in the collection of all blues fans.

Magic Slim Live and up close = fantastic.......2005-04-11

To be quite honest I don't actually own this CD, but I will recommend it anyway. I saw Magic Slim live just a few weeks ago, he was playing down in Greenwich Village (New York City, for all you out of towners) and was fabulous. I was thoroughly impressed. His style is very tight, similar to Freddie King's later style. It's loud, sharp, and powerful. He certainly is an excellent guitarist. He has a beautiful voice that just bellowed throughout that little blues club and I imagine he sounds great on this album. The Teardrops are also very good- I had a chance to talk to the second guitarist, I think his name is John Mcdonald, and besides being a really chill guy was an excellent guitarist. This CD will be my next purchase, and it should be your's, too.

Black Tornado.......2003-02-22

what can i say See my Review for Blue Magic this not Blues for the Girl Friend

Big, fat blues.......2000-06-08

He may not be "slim" any longer, but "magic" is woven all through Morris Holt's sensational "Black Tornado." This not only is Magic Slim's best album, it is one of the top 10 (top 5?) blues discs of the 1990s. Like the tornado of the title, Magic Slim's rough and tumble blues could blow a 2x4 through a brick wall; he could tear your heart out and show it to you while it's still beating. (OK, I'm getting carried away). "Black Tornado" is slow to get going, but the third cut, a cover of Muddy Waters' "Still a Fool" is sensational, and there's more to come. "I Can't Trust My Woman" is great, and I defy you to sit still during the righteously houserockin' "Magic Boogie." Whew! And on the magnificent slow burner "Crazy Woman," Slim sings: "I got a crazy woman, she got a mind just like a goose; I think I'm going down to buy me a toolbox, I believe that woman she got some screws loose." I don't know what the hell that means, but ... YES! Get this baby.

Average customer rating:

Blown Away
Easily one of the greatest albums of the 1980s
Far too good to be a great success
Pleasantly Surprised
A criminally under-rated band...

Tornado
The Rainmakers
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
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Steve, Bob & Rich - Balls
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Police Squad! The Complete Series

ASIN: B000008JQE
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Snakedance
Tornado of Love
Wages of Sin
Small Circles
No Romance
One More Summer
Lakeview Man
Rainmaker
I Talk With My Hands
Other Side of the World

Customer Reviews:

Blown Away.......2007-01-09

Bob Walkenhorst and Co. are in fine stride on "Tornado". It has both the trademark reflective honesty and the biting wit and sarcasm that we've grown to know and love by The Rainmakers. Walkenhorst is one of the most brilliant lyricists anytime anyplace anywhere. Give one listen to "Tornado" and you'll see what I mean. If you've never heard the Makers, Bob's strong midwestern accent may take you aback at first, but after the 1st few tunes, you couldn't hear these tunes any other way and it becomes a beloved character of the band. The expirementation of the band is also to be commended.

Easily one of the greatest albums of the 1980s.......2006-04-21

Cutting edge stuff by a band with some very clever and catchy hooks and lyrics. Not a weak song on the album. "Rainmaker" and "Wages of Sin" go down as two of my favorite songs ever. They should have been huge. However, their sound is still alive today in a ton of other pretender bands, trying to capture that soul. Damn, I wish they would re-release this album, because $40 for a used one is silly.

Far too good to be a great success.......2006-01-28

Ever since I heard my first Rainmakers song, probably Downstream, I have loved them. Everyone I know that has ever seen them, loves them. But, they could never get the following they deserve. Yes, WAGES OF SIN, and TORNADO OF LOVE are fantastic.

But, at this point in my life, I was re-listening, and SMALL CIRCLES hit home...

Now we make money and we're alright
And we drive cars and wield our might
We make love to people that we don't even like
As we move in small circles.

Pleasantly Surprised.......2004-10-26

I wasn't sure what to think when a friend of mine (from Norway of all places) let me listen to three tracks from this album. I was hooked halfway through the first song I heard from them (track 9 to be exact). The strange thing about this is that I'm not a country/western/rock kind of guy. I was more of an 80's clubber at that time. But that doesn't matter because this isn't your normal bluegrassy music.

The songs I fell in love with in this album had strong beat to it. This is especially true for I TALK WITH MY HANDS, which blew me away. It's definitely a powerful dance track made even more interesting with the southern twang in the singer's voice. OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD is another catchy tune that I think more pop and dance oriented people would enjoy. TORNADO OF LOVE and NO ROMANCE are the other two songs that I fell in love with immediately.

The other songs are okay last I checked. Maybe SMALL CIRCLES will be added to my list. Still the four songs I mentioned above are more than enough to merit getting this CD.

A criminally under-rated band..........2004-05-09

I found this cd in the used cd bin and i picked it up because I have heard the song "Snakedance" before. It was worth every penny, i'm suprised the Rainmakers weren't popular at all back when they came out. Highly recommended.

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