The random album shuffle on my iPod has chosen me a Bob Dylan shaped start to my day. Opening with ‘Pat Garrett and Billy the kid’, and now following that up with ‘Blood on the tracks’. I’m happy with that
Can't believe nobody else likes the fabulous Youssou Ndour? Obviously Peter Gabriel hasn't got any taste either
More from Talk Talk, I could play Live At Montreux at any time, but among the many fab tracks, this one stands out as one of Hollis' finest, its title not withstanding.
On my own for a bit and have put Bob Dylans Street Legal on for some nostalgia. Opening track a bit long but classic. Now down to Sěnor (Tales of Yankee Power).
Elton John’s debut album ‘Empty Sky’…. It’s not the best debut album in the world (Kate Bush ‘the kick in side’, Boston’s self titled first, Dexy’s ‘searching for the young soul rebels’, to name but a few, are undoubtedly better debuts IMHO) and Reg’s 1970s stuff definitely shows improvement…. But it’s worth a listen for sure and is starting my Friday in quite a relaxed way
Continuing with the theme, another of Youssou Ndour's live collaborations. Which, possibly, controversially, or not, might segway into a bit more Dido. There's nowhere to hide in a live performance, that's what I like about them, this one shows up what's both good and bad about Dido's vocals and how talented Ndour really is.
Off topic but I remember hearing Elton John and George Michael singing at a gig in Russia - GM's voice was so weak it was embarrassing. I saw Youssou in the late 80's - I is old but he somehow is still young!
Live performances lay performers bare. I recall a very fashionable Irish group of a decade or more ago, whose names escapes me at the moment, murdering one of Micheal Stipes'/ REM's famous songs; it wasn't until I heard their version I realized how much range and power Stipe has. It might not have even been live, come to think of it....memory is a fickle thing. Ndour doesn't seem to have aged, has he? Tho' that performance was a while ago, must be those excellent Senegalese genes, but that's another discussion.
It's all coming back to me, must be an age thing. OK, I reckon this was roughly a decade after Stipe first performed Everybody Hurts; tho I am happy to stand corrected on that; there might be better, earlier, versions, when his voice was younger, is my point.
And, I'll let the individual listener decide on this one, it was live, of sorts...draw your own conclusions.
Without being judgemental, and not preempting anyone else's opinion, I think they'd have been better off sticking to their own material. It sounds 'flat' compared to Stipe's rendition.