Under the Red & White Sky/Closing of TH

Under the Red & White Sky/Closing of TH

Track Listings

1. Into The Night

2. None So Beautiful

3. Thirteen Days

4. Waiting For The Sun

5. She Said No

6. The Last Night

7. To Reach Out

8. Rome Is Burning

9. Our Hero

10. What You Really Want

11. Cuttin' The Tree

12. Silver

13. Right Here Inside Me

14. To Share A Dream

15. Alone-Together

16. In Ohio

17. Say Goodbye To The Pale Blue Eyes

18. A Long Way Down

19. Death Of A Friend

20. Right Here Beside Me

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Reissue featuring two solo albums, 'Under The Red & White Sky' & 'Closing Of The Pale Blue Eyes', paired together by this singer/ songwriter who has toured extensively with Marillion (over 230 shows!). Both were first released in 1995. A combined total of 20 tracks. Double slimline jewel case.

Tracks:

Gloria
11 O'Clock Tick Tock
I Will Follow
Party Girl
Sunday Bloody Sunday
The Electric Co.
New Years Day
'40'

Amazon.com

There seem to be two major camps of U2 fans now: Those who dig the early albums (good and sensible people), and those who only like the ones from the '90s, putting everything previous down as "classic rock." But U2 only became a classic rock sort of band in 1984, with The Unforgettable Fire. The real early stuff, from '80 to '83, still comes off as edgy--and it's comparatively ignored. Here's a sampler: Under a Blood Red Sky is from a U.S. tour (1983's) in which U2 still thought of itself as a hungry little band from Ireland--and draws (fairly wisely) from the band's first three albums. There's nary a misstep on the entire disc, although it could stand a few more tracks. --Gavin McNett

Customer Reviews:

Agree about the repackaging.......2007-03-31

I'd take it further and have a box set from the first 3 tours, include "Under a Blood Red Sky" video UNCUT with U2 Commentary (it's long overdue), US Festival, and the TV appearances from 1978-1983.

I have noticed U2 starting to go backwards in putting their live shows on DVD. We've got Popmart now, but Zoo TV, the 1988 windup show of the Joshua Tree/Rattle and Hum tour, the Unforgettable Fire live performances (making of is part of "Go Home") and this one still have yet to be released. It is interesting to see how they've gone through a lot of changes as live performers.

It might have to be something similar to what Neil Young and KISS are planning, a multidisc retrospective.

A good look at the first three album.......2007-03-25

This album contains the best from U2 from the three first album.
The choice of song is quite good and the songs are played with energy by the band. The highlight are "11 oclock Tick Tock", "Sunday bloody Sunday", "New year's day" and "40"

It's U2's early years... enuff said!.......2007-03-09

Classic U2 - the band that continually gets better with every album released. My only 'gripe' with this one is the poorer "live" recording quality of the time.

Good .......2007-01-12

This album was my introduction to U2 many years ago and I've been a U2 fan ever since. Even though I'm not a big fan of live albums I think this one captures the essence of U2's early years. My only complaint is the short song selection. For those who have U2's early albums perharps the best treat here is the 2 non-album tracks 11 O'clock Tick Tock and Party Girl. For those who don't have those early albums this is a nice compilation of the very basics. In some cases I actually like the live versions better than the studio ones, such as in 40 and particularly Gloria. I would give this album ***1/2 but that's not possible.

U2 - 'Under A Blood Red Sky' (Island).......2006-10-08

Review no. 73. Another classic '80's alternative CD reissue. Unless I'm wrong,I believe this very show took place literally a few days after their 'War' tour hit my hometown.Liked the way that Mtv,VH1 Classic and Nightline used to run music videos for this album endlessly.I seem to remember a one-time 2am TV special that aired songs from this very show that WASN'T on the lp.Would love to have a complete recording of this 1983 concert.Tracks that more than hold their own here are "Gloria",their first ever hit "I Will Follow",the political "Sunday Bloody Sunday","New Years Day" and "40".By today's standards,this album might be considered to be more of a live EP than an lp.Recommended.

Average customer rating:

not to great
Not so bad, 100 tunes for 4$
You get what you pay for.
Now I know why there were no song samples to listen to ...

100 Favorite Patriotic Songs

Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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United We Stand: Songs for America
America's Favorite Patriotic Songs
America's Bugle Calls
American Pride: Sixteen Stirring Patriotic Themes
Patriotic Country

ASIN: B0000A1HT8
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Tracks:

America the Beautiful
All Quiet on the Potomac Tonight
Ballad of the Green Berets
On Top of Old Smokey
Coyote Warrior
Semper Fidelis
Breeze from Alabama
Onward Christian Soldiers
Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
Patriot
Sweet Betsy from Pike
Marines' Hymn
America Is
When Johnny Comes Marchin' Home
Happy the Soldier
American Trilogy
Home Sweet Home
Washington Post March
Enraptured I Gaze
Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair
Yellow Rose of Texas
Over There
Simple Gifts
Liberty Bell
Star Spangled Banner

Tracks:

God Bless the USA
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Katy Cruel
I Vow to Thee My Country
King Cotton
Beautiful Dreamer
America
American Patrol
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Beauty
Mohican Dream
Red, White and Blue
Some Folks
Liberty Song
Pomp and Circumstance
Hail to the Chief
Bennington Rifles
Peace on the Battlefield
I've Been Working on the Railroad
Under the Double Eagle
Red River Valley
My Country 'Tis of Thee
Camptown Races
Wild Blue Yonder
Hands Across the Sea
Fanfare for the Common Man

Tracks:

Stars and Stripes Forever
Living in America
Home on the Range
Old Colony Times
Clementine
Invincible Eagle
Ring Ring de Banjo
Yankee Doodle
Largo from "The New World"
To a Wild Rose
Hail Columbia
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Gettysburg
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
Capitan
Prairie Daughter
Little Brown Jug
Marching Through Georgia
Entertainer
Steamboat Around the Bend
Revolutionary Tea
Cassions Keep Rollin' Along
Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
Amazing Grace
Grand Old Flag

Tracks:

God Bless America
National Emblem
Soldier, Soldier Won't You Marry Me
Anchors Away
Oh, Susannah
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
Toast
Dixie
St. Louis Blues
Appalachian Spring
Bonnie Blue Flag
Old Hundreth
Swanee River
Battle Cry of Freedom
U. S Field Artillery
Sidewalks of New York
Chester
Auld Lang Syne
Kingdom Come
My Old Kentucky Home
Hail to the Spirit of Liberty
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Shenandoah
Abraham's Daughter
This Land Is Your Land

Customer Reviews:

not to great.......2007-04-04

We were disappointed with this CD, but for the price I guess we can't expect much. I didn't care for the new style presentation of the songs. I like a more traditional rendering.

Not so bad, 100 tunes for 4$.......2005-06-22

I red the comments of two other people who have bought this 4 CD BOX SET and it is not really so bad. I will even add that there are some excellent tunes. However, I must agree with the fact that few tunes seem to have been recorded 40 or 50 years ago, mainly when you hear the scratches of an old turntable but it is just 2 or 3 tunes. Furthermore, if you do not know American music, it is a good BOX SET to buy if you consider that you received 4 CD for 4$ including 100 tunes. On these 4 CD, I have heard some orchestration that I have never heard before and I consider that they are different but interesting. Any way, after hearing these 100 tunes, you will say to yourself that you like this tune, this other tune, this other tune and so on and you will be able to buy a more expensive CD with the tunes that you like. However, I have bought many CDs in the last few weeks and as you know, there are always some tunes that you like and some tunes that you do not like on every CD that you will buy. So, don't buy it at 25$ but at 4 or 5$ dollars, it is a very good choice for 100 tunes.

You get what you pay for........2004-07-04

You get what you pay for. The singers put their own spin on the singing of each song. If you didn't hear the words you would not recognize some of them. Even some of the music sounds like a bad recording of music played on a turntable. Definitely not worth the price.

Now I know why there were no song samples to listen to ..........2004-07-04

I wish this review had been here when I was thinking of purchasing it. I guess you get what you pay for. If you are thinking of buying this, you are better off recording your own CDs (or at least buying one that you can listen to a sampling of the songs). This album includes songs that were mere recordings of the songs playing on an old record player. It's almost so unbelievable that it is funny.

Average customer rating:

almost great dylan. excellent music and vocals. silly lyrics
Dylan's Worst Album
Poor Bob, victim of himself!
Lost and found under the red sky
call a dog a dog

Under the Red Sky
Bob Dylan
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Down in the Groove
Knocked Out Loaded
Good as I Been to You
World Gone Wrong
Shot of Love

ASIN: B0000027DR
Release Date: 1990-08-21

Tracks:

Wiggle Wiggle
Under The Red Sky
Unbelievable
Born In Time
T.V. Talkin' Song
10,000 Men
2 X 2
God Knows
Handy Dandy
Cat's In The Well

Customer Reviews:

almost great dylan. excellent music and vocals. silly lyrics.......2007-04-23

great tunes, excellent vocal performance, bizzarre (and or) silly lyrics. that sounds like a description of many great bob dylan albums. so then, what's not to love about this one? it fits the same description. if the silly lyrics bother you, forget them. check out the music and vocals instead. they're excellent. this underrated cd is both lively and fresh sounding. and somewhat catchy. it's much better than most of his 1980s output. ardent dylan fans should at least check it out. i love it. 4 and 1/2 stars.

Dylan's Worst Album.......2007-04-01

His alimony payments must have been due, or something. Despite guest appearances by the likes of Elton John and George Harrison, this album never gets off the ground. The songwriting is the worst of Dylan's long and fabled career. (The single was called "Wiggle Wiggle," for God's sake!) Consistently lackluster performances fail to inject any energy into what is worse-than-mediocre material to begin with. In my opinion, there are only two reasons to actually own this horrendous album: either because you are a fanatical Dylan completist (I am), or because you're morbidly curious to see just how far a great singer/songwriter can fall in an off-year. Dylan promises that the much-anticipated second volume of his memoir, "Chronicles," will deal in part with the sessions at which this travesty was recorded. I can't wait to hear his excuse for such an unmitigated disaster.

Poor Bob, victim of himself!.......2007-01-23

Awful. I mean, really awful...and I liked "Self Portrait" because you knew Dylan was just trying to have some fun with his image. This album is just a disaster. The lyrics are OK on most songs (I've seen worse by Dylan), but the music is unexciting, not very creative, and downright embarrassing on some tracks. Why, oh, why did you have to make an album like this, Bob? Such talented people at your disposal for these sessions, and you threw it away on garbage arrangements. Shameful. Really sad.

Lost and found under the red sky.......2006-06-28

I had lost track of Bob Dylan after his 80s gospel albums (which I loved and still do) until my son tunneled his way up through the Beatles to Dylan in his 2nd-generation interest in the music I had listened to 20--OK 30 years ago.

Then I got a 20GB iPOD and started loading it up with all the music I had, and all the music he had, and I was back onto Dylan. Then I bought Love and Theft (yes I know, that's a different album than I'm reviewing here, but I'll get there, really!) and after listening once put it away. Dylan had COMPLETELY LOST HIS VOICE!!! How could he put this out?

Then I went with my son to a Bob Dylan concert in May of this year. Yep same thing, NO VOICE AT ALL--but it worked!! He had a tight well-rehearsed band behind him, and he laid down 90 minutes of solid classics. His version of "Masters of War" left shivers running down my spine.

So now I get it. He can no longer sing like Bob Dylan 20 years ago, but he uses his new voice to sing the old songs new again. I went back to Love and Theft, and found several great gems there.

Then I bought Under the Red Sky. I find this one of Dylan's best albums, with great backing musicians (you've already read the other reviews, you know their names)--and his lyrics are so many layers deep I keep listening for more.

I approach Dylan's lyrics from a Christian worldview, and from my view, as both a converted and an unconverted Jew, Dylan's best songs have always been about salvation (what else could you find on Highway 61?). So where other reviewers here hear nursery rhymes or nothing good at all, I hear great depth of spiritual insight.

"Wiggle wiggle wiggle" is about man's attempt to justify his sin while trying to wiggle away from its consequences. I don't know, maybe its nothing more than a silly song, but I also make this connection in justification of my interpretation: Slash from Guns N Roses plays the lead on this song, which mines the same vein as "Welcome to the Jungle."

"Unbelievable" is about the desperate loneliness of life being nothing more than the satisfaction of every desire and lust and how empty and "unbelievable" it is that people will live for just that!

"Handy Dandy" could be about Ronald Reagan as others here claim, but I picture a celebrity surrounded by his "posse" and afraid to live without them or the mansion on a hill where he can hide in fear from the world he's afraid of (even though he protests too much his fearlessness).

"God Knows" is an awesome hymn to the presence and peace of God in a life and a world no one can understand or control. In case we didn't get the message of the only source of peace, 'Born in time" follows up: "You don't get nothing you don't deserve, where we were born in time"--no you don't, but from 2000 years ago, when HE was born in time, we get what we don't deserve, God's grace that saves and keeps us still today in our born-in time.

Are these interpretations a stretch? Probably. Am I completely insane? Maybe. But regardless of what Dylan may say now, I believe he is a committed Christian AND a committed Jew. His depth of genius needs no bounds of orthodoxy like the rest of us who rely on well-worn pathways to make sense of our most heartfelt spiritual or philosophical thoughts. The Apostle Paul writes of the goal of Christians to have the "mind of Christ." Dylan has it, and he gets it!

call a dog a dog.......2006-02-21

Come on now you other reviewers, try being honest. I know it's Dylan but three stars?? No way. If some other schmoe puts this dreck out there, you be saying,"well, it's interesting"? Of course not! This is awful, bad, unlistenable, a waste of time, serving no purpose. He using Nursery Rhymes as a format! And you're stupid enough to listen to it? I think Dylan's having the last laugh here.

Under One Sky: Native American Flute & Rhythm

Average customer rating:

Excellent

Under One Sky: Native American Flute & Rhythm
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Red Feather
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wind Riders: The Renaissance of the Native American Flute
Canyon Trilogy: Native American Flute Music
Mythic Dreamer: Music For Native American Flute
Tribal Winds: Music From Native American Flutes
Authentic Native American Music

ASIN: B00005KIZF
Release Date: 2001-06-19

Tracks:

Popay Runner - Robert Mirabal
Yuba - MAry Youngblood
Night Of The Sun - Gary Stroutsos
The West - R. Carlos Nakai/Peter Kater
Hoskinnini Plateau - John Huling
Sanish Remembered - People Of The Willows
Meadowlark Sunrise - Joseph Fire Crow
Walking On The Water - Keith Bear
Night Of The Mockingbird - John Huling
Sioux Traditional - John Rainer, Jr.
Free To Climb - Jeff Ball
Flying Free - Andrew Vasquez

Amazon.com

Under One Sky is an effort to revitalize and reinvent traditional Native American flute in modern settings that include contemporary instrumental, world, ambient, and even a little country. Intriguing backdrops are found on Robert Mirabal's atmospheric "Popay Runner," Mary Youngblood's dreamy "Yuba," People of the Willows' gently swelling and subsiding "Sanish Remembered," and Jeff Ball's hopeful "Free to Climb." While uneven, Under One Sky should nevertheless draw new listeners to the beguiling sounds of the Native American flute. --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2003-12-22

I personally love this CD, i happened upon it by accident. I was looking for Robert Mirabal CD. But in turn found a great variety of Flute Music. I love having a great variety of FLute Music and for me it's relaxing for sitting and just relaxing from the night shift. If you like flute music this a great variety of FLute players. It's Excellent in my opinion.

Average customer rating:

My favorite live album.
All the energy of the real thing
PURE RAW TALENT!
A "Live" recording at its best!
Michael Been is a god

Live Under the Red Moon
The Call
Manufacturer: Conspiracy (Sumthing
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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To Heaven And Back
Reconciled
Into the Woods
The Walls Came Down: The Best of the Mercury Years
On the Verge of a Nervous Breakthough

ASIN: B00004XR3U
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Floating Back
A Swim In The Ocean
This Is Your Life
I Don't Wanna
You Run
Family
Same Old Story
Even Now
Red Moon
Oklahoma
You Were There
I Still Believe (Great Design)
Let The Day Begin

Album Description

Live Under The Red Moon, produced by lead singer Michael Been, is the first official live album released from The Call and was recorded during the acclaimed Red Moon tour in 1990. The album features 13 tracks including "Let The Day Begin" and "I Still Believe".

Customer Reviews:

My favorite live album........2002-08-02

The Call live rates up there with the best live album by anyone.
They manage to bring that passion and communicate it to this listeners heart. But that's what the Call were all about, music that delves deep into the human soul. Great experience. Any CD by these guys is worth checking out. Take care!

All the energy of the real thing.......2002-03-16

I saw this tour at the now defunct Bogarts in Long Beach, and in fact, it was the show they did a couple days before (or after?) the one used for this recording. Though that show went on for almost three hours (!) and this recording is substantially shorter, one nevertheless gets all the energy and the best moments (including Michael slapping out a bass solo) on this excellent recording. Know that it is raw in parts and no overdubbing was done, but for me that just adds to the charm.

PURE RAW TALENT!.......2001-03-01

THE BEST LIVE CD EVER PRODUCED! I only wish I could have seen the group in person. I will always regret that - but at least I have this CD and what a CD it is! THE CALL IS THE MOST UNDERATED BAND OF OUR TIME!

A "Live" recording at its best!.......2001-02-16

I've heard a lot of live CDs and albums, but this is the best. There is no mixing or over-dubing to improve the quality of the sound. It is The Call 100% raw, as they would sound if you were there hearing them in person. It almost sounds like some boot-legs of bands in concert that I have heard. Yet another feather in the cap of one of the greatest bands of all-time. The Call deserves the title, "Best band you aren't listening to".

Michael Been is a god.......2000-12-20

I saw this tour at the Bottom line in NYC. They played an amazing show. Michael Been has such a great voice and writes beautiful lyrics. It was like seeing the band play in my living room. Listening to this disc brought me back to that show 10 years ago....

Tracks:

Under the Bridge - Tallywood Strings
Californication
Other Side - Ya Baby!!! String Quartet
Fortune Faded - Ya Baby!!! String Quartet
Higher Ground - Tallywood Strings
Breaking the Girl - String Vindaloo
Scar Tissue
Soul to Squeeze - Ya Baby!!! String Quartet
By the Way - String Vindaloo
Aeroplane - Ya Baby!!! String Quartet
Can't Stop [*] - String Vindaloo
Suck My Kiss [*] - String Vindaloo

Product Description

1. Under The Bridge
2. Californication
3. Other Side
4. Fortune Faded
5. Higher Ground
6. Breaking The Girl
7. Scar Tissue
8. Soul To Squeeze
9. By The Way
10. Aeroplane

Bonus Tracks:
11. Can't Stop
12. Suck My Kiss

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

HUGE Chili Pepper Fan.......2006-12-14

I enjoy this album very much. I am a RHCP fanatic although sometimes I am in the mood for light relaxing music and this fits perfectly. So, I get to enjoy the best of both worlds with this excellent tribute to their work. Might I add that Under the Bridge is beautifully composed here, and is my favorite track of all time and on this album as well.

Not-so-loud Chili Peppers' songs.......2006-10-30

First and foremost, The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a hard rock band. Nobody is going to buy this album in order to hear the Chili Peppers- that would be stupidity. There are only two reasons anybody would purchase this album:

1. You love the Chili Peppers' music and You want a change of pace.
2. You love listening to string instruments (such as the violin).

Buy this album if you love the Chili Peppers' music and you love strings. That sounds like a no-brainer...

enjoyable.......2005-03-10

I realy happend to enjoy this CD. I just bought it recently and every time i listen to it i feel like its the real thing because its so similar. I Love just relaxing to this cd. I think it is worth hearing.

Just my opinion.........2005-01-19

..but I just feel indifferent about this CD. I bought it thinking it would be an orchestrated-type stuff, which it is but I was hoping for something I could relax to. Whenever I hear the music in this CD, I think of weddings. Don't get me wrong, it's a good CD, but just not what I was expecting (which was a more relaxing kind of orchestration).

oh man.......2004-06-29

i bought this cd when i went looking for the last elusive cd that was missing from my rhcp collection(freaky styley, you should buy that one too)...i ended up walking out with this one as well and i rocked it all the way home with my windows open. this isn't an orchestral arrangement, it is a true to the original quartet: every solo, (almost) every fill, and every vocal que is present. The basslines jump from Persiani's prodigious upright (bass) and u can almost picture flea bouncing around. this work brought a whole new breadth and life to th emusic that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end; and for that, i applaud the string quartet.

Average customer rating:

I was dead wrong
It Was Worth The Wait !

Days of Horses
Aztec Two-Step
Manufacturer: Red Engine Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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See, It Was Like This
Highway Signs: The 25th Anniversary Concerts
Of Age
All the Roadrunning
Living With War

ASIN: B0002VNZ18
Release Date: 2004-09-15

Tracks:

Days of Horses
Dad Came Home
Stargazers
Better These Days
Scotty Moore, Bill Black and Elvis
Tonight I Wish I Was in Texas
Fools Like Us
Sunday in the Afternoon with You
Everybody Knows
Down Home
I Don't Believe in Jesus (but I sure do like his songs)

Album Description

"Back in the days of horses, around one hundred years, before Corvettes or Porsches, Henry Ford shifted gears..." from the title track, Days of Horses

On Days of Horses, Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman peer under the hood of their American experience. They sing about going to a double feature and listening to top ten radio (Dad Came Home), contemplating the night sky on a warm summer night (Stargazers), and about having anti-depressants, tranquilizers and coffee for breakfast (Better These Days).

They imagine riding from Memphis to Shreveport with Scotty Moore, Bill Black and Elvis Presley, and on a wintry New York City day, they yearn for a mythic Lone Star State.

Customer Reviews:

I was dead wrong.......2005-01-10

Over the past decade it seemed as though Aztec Two Step had drifted into the abyss of many good acts: annual reunion concerts that trudged through the play list of best hits and fan favorites.

As an on/off follower of the group for nearly their entire 30-year partnership, I enjoyed these reunions but felt increasingly saddened when driving home after each concert. The duo - Rex Fowler and Neil Shulman - was living in the past and what limited new material they presented seemed to fall flat with me and the crowd. I resigned myself to acknowledging that Aztec Two Step was not much more than a nostalgia act - regardless of how highly proficient they played played guitar and sang. The only thing they seemed to have lost since their last collective album was the ability to rekindle the creative magic they once had.

Well, I was dead wrong.

Fowler and Shulman have delivered an extraordinary set of songs in Days of Horses. The theme throughout is cohesive (no, it's not about horses), the lyrics intelligent and alternatively witty and poignant, the instrumentals among the best they've ever performed, and the entire production by Paul Guzzone absolutely first-class.

Whether you're an old fan or you never heard of A2S before, this is a keeper for any listener who's drawn to folk-with-a-beat and lyrics that evoke personal reminiscing while you're listening to the tunes.

It's highly unusual for two talented performers to pick up after so many years of reunion tours and create something out of fresh cloth that's not only so fresh, solid and timely, but retains their original roots. Fowler's voice has never been clearer and distinctive; Shulman's guitar work retains its technical excellence; their harmonies can melt butter.

The title song, "Days of Horses," will get you humming the melody in the middle night when you go for a drink of water. Shulman's "Better These Days" gives us the intelligent wit that he typically displays in concerts between songs, but sadly is not displayed in his previous music. "Everybody Knows," written by Fowler, is my gem of the disc and you'll be hitting the REPLAY for this cut `till you finger wears out.

I was wrong about these guys; there's so much left in them and I hope they can figure out how to reach an audience that doesn't know they exist but would love their 30 years of collective talent.

It should give us all hope that we're never washed-up in something we once did well and loved.

It Was Worth The Wait !.......2004-09-19

Most everyone my age (old) probably remembers the group Aztec Two Step. Their albums have been highly prized in the Folk and Folk/Rock collections of music fans throughout the country. Featuring well-written songs, strong harmonies, and excellent guitar work, many of their "hits" are easily recognizable anytime we are lucky enough to hear one on today's restrictive radio station playlists. Rex Fowler and partner Neal Shulman have released a new Aztec Two Step CD, "Days Of Horses," on Red Engine Records (RER003). Their first studio release since 1993's outstanding "Of Age," "Days Of Horses" is a fine collection of well crafted songs that will leave new and old fans alike hoping that it doesn't take another eleven years for the next album! The title song, along with "Stargazers" & "Scotty Moore, Bill Black and Elvis" rival anything Rex has written down through the years, and Neal contributes a couple of instant A2S classics in "Better These Days" and "I Don't Believe In Jesus (but I sure do like his songs)". Do yourself a favor and add this to your Aztec Two Step collection. Or, introduce yourself to a duo that has entertained fans for 31 years - and counting!

Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers: Under The Covers

Average customer rating:

Fun CD of covers
Five stars for the music, but of limited value.
You just can't top them!
cover me!!!!
the Red Hot Chili Peppers higher grounds

Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers: Under The Covers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000635D
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Tracks:

They're Red Hot
Fire
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Higher Ground
If You Want Me To Stay
Why Don't You Love Me
Tiny Dancer (Live)
Castles Made Of Sand (Live)
Dr. Funkenstein (Live)
Hollywood (Africa)
Search And Destroy
Higher Ground (Daddy-O Mix)
Hollywood (Africa) (Extended Dance Mix)

Customer Reviews:

Fun CD of covers.......2006-08-26

WARNING: Half of the tracks are available on other albums and EP's.

Released in 1998, this was part of series of "Essential" CD's to celebrate Capital records 100 year anniversary. It must not have been that great of a proomotion, I didn't hear about it after the fact, when I picked up some of these Essential CD's in the cutout bins. Capital used to be one of the major forces in the recording industry. They were the ones with the building in Hollywood that looks like a stack of LP's piled up on a record changer. Capital Records was bought out by EMI.

The Essential CD's were nicely packaged. They has a slick cardboard jewel case and came in a cardboard slipcover. They had some extensive liner notes. Other groups had "Essential" releases. A very good one came from Blondie, featuring two live shows.

This is a CD of cover tunes. They come from periods throughout the Chili Peppers Career. They do songs by Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Hank Williams and George Clinton. It is 43 minutes long and the sound quality is variable, depending on the song. None of it is excellent. It is a little rough on a few songs, but none of it is really bad.

The perfomances of the songs range from great to why bother. Some of the songs have already been on other albums or EP's. Some of the songs are live concerts, where they were just fooling around.

Red Hot Chili Peppers had a huge hit with Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground. That original version is included here. Also, included is a dance remix of the song which might even be better than the original (and I usually don't like dance remixes).

They do a good version of Jimi Hendrix's Fire, but a rather bland version of Hendrix's Castles Made of Sand. There is no way the group comes anywhere close to matching the guitar on the Hendrix originals. But, what makes Fire good is that they sing it with fire and passion. There isn't any kind of that emotion on Castles.

Other songs that aren't that great are Elton John's Tiny Dancer, except how they joke about it being a punk influence on them and Clinton's Dr. Funkenstein, which is only a minute long.

But, along with Higher Ground, there are other winners on this CD and there is nothing that is really bad. All in all, it is a fun CD and you can listen to it a number of times without being bored.

one other note: My daughter's soccer team voted to call themselves the Red Hot Chili Chicks. The coach was too embarrassed to turn the name into the league, so the team showed up in the standings as having no name.

Five stars for the music, but of limited value........2005-09-28

A collection of covers by the Red Hot Chili Peppers-- mostly previously released-- blending studio and live recordings, "Under the Covers" makes for a unique and fun portrait of the band.

The Peppers are a fearless cover band, tackling everything from Hank Williams to Robert Johnson to Jimi Hendrix to Sly and the Family Stone without flinching. One thing that can be said about them is that they make everything their own-- even though this was recorded over a span of eight years, there's a remarkable sense of consistency to the sound and the music, with everything being assimulateed into the Chili Peppers' funk/punk sound-- Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" sits comfortably next to Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground". There's a remarkably high level of consistency. But more importantly, it's still really quite listenable.

But nonetheless, it's important to note that most of this material is available elsewhere, with seven tracks drawn from albums (and one further added as a bonus track to an album) and four b-sides (including the one added to "Mother's Milk"). That leaves basically two previously unreleased songs-- it's hard to justify spending an enormous amount of money for this, and it causes me to dock the rating because this lacks value.

Admittedly, nothing will deter fans, but if you're more casual, this is only worth getting if you have cash to blow or see it cheap.

You just can't top them!.......1999-04-30

Their energy permeates every song, especially the covers! Once you hear them you can never go back. I love Stevie, but higher ground is just that.

cover me!!!!.......1999-04-02

the peppers have been known to cover many bands through out their time(their first big hit was a cover)so it is fiting for them to finally release a cover album.most of this stuff can be found on either their studio albums or imports but it is still cool cause of the book of rare photo that comes with it.not a place for new fans to start out but it's a good cd for a fan of cover songs(i really wish they included their cover of the ramones blitzkerg bop on their...oh well)-jason harshman

the Red Hot Chili Peppers higher grounds.......1999-01-16

"There are only two kinds of music...good and bad or soulful and non-soulful..." You'll find good and soulful music through the whole album. You won't believe it till you listen. (From a RHCP fan, but more a MUSIC fan)