The Allstars From Charlottesville VA. - Tip Your Waitress [1978]

 

In late December, 1972, Richard Green alit Amtrak’s Southern Crescent from NYC to Charlottesville, VA., bearing his life’s possessions—four records, a backpack and a Stratocaster—planning on a quick visit. Ten years later (neither he nor anyone else can remember exactly when), he decamped for Washington, DC, having increased his holdings to include a box of books, two boxes of records, a second guitar and a trash bag full of clothes.

In the intervening years, he formed, led and ultimately dissolved what arguably was the most influential central Virginia band of its period, the Charlottesville Allstars. The Allstars was the first local band to tour extensively, ultimately working 250 to 300 one-nighters per year. The band broke open major markets such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and Atlanta for other local bands. Their sole album, “Tip Your Waitress,” was the only commercial LP released by any contemporary Charlottesville band. As many as 20 musicians passed through the Allstars lineup, including players who went on to notoriety in the Skip Castro Band and the Stoned Wheat Things.

Spurred by renewed interest in the 70s music scene inspired by the documentary film “Live . . . from the Hook,” the Allstars reunited in 2007 for a limited schedule of gigs. The current lineup represents the band’s definitive period, from 1976 to 1979. In addition to Green on guitar and vocals are virtuoso Doug Jay, harmonica and vocals; co-founder Steve Bliley, guitar; and the authoritative rhythm section of Paul Hammond, drums and vocals; and Steve Riggs, bass.

This re-release includes no less than 5 previously unreleased performances, all remastered for the digital domain.

• Lucille Schoettle: Vocals
• Dick Green: Vocals, Lead Guitar
• Doug Jay: Vocal Harmonica on "Mean Old Train"
• Steve Bliley: Rhythm Guitar
• Steve Riggs: Bass
• Steve Ramsay: Drums

Additional Musicians:

• Jimmy Thackery: Guitar, Backing Vocals
• Tom Principato: Guitar (Lead on cut 6)
• Sandy Gray: Guitar (cuts 17-20)
• Tony Pallagrosi: Trumpet (cut 20)
• Carlos Novi: Tenor Sax (cut 20)
• Dave Birkin: Tenor Sax
• Billy Clark: Alto Sax
• Paul Hammond: Drums, Vocals (cuts 17-20)

01. Bumble Bee (3:00)
02. Forty Days & Forty Nights (3:20)
03. The Fever (4:58)
04. Voodoo Woman (2:54)
05. My Love Will Never Die (5:05)
06. Wasn't That Good (2:59)
07. Ninety-Nine Pounds (3:52)
08. So Many Roads (So Many Trains) (4:03)
09. Hoodoo Blues (3:23)
10. Tell Mama (3:11)
11. Mean Old Train (3:06)
12. Tell Me All The Tings You Do (4:08)
13. I Pity The Fool (3:47)
14. I'm Tore Down (3:21)
15. Saturday Night Fish Fry (4:29)
16. Further (On) Up The Road (3:08)
17. 25 Miles (4:05)
18. You Don't Care (2:56)
19. Can't Hold Out (3:25)
20. Tell Mama (With Horns) (4:20)


Tracks 13-20 are bonus tracks.

VA- Day of the Dead [3 CD, 2016/320+FLAC]

 

Day of the Dead is the twenty-fifth compilation release benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Featuring fifty-nine exclusive recordings of covers of Grateful Dead songs by a number of independent artists as a tribute to the band and creation and curation by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National.

 

Janis Joplin & Big Brother & The Holding Company - Box Of Pearls: The Janis Joplin Collection (5 CD, 1999) [FLAC]

 

A limited-edition five-CD box set comprising both albums that Janis Joplin made with Big Brother & the Holding Company (Cheap Thrills and Big Brother & the Holding Company), both of her solo albums (I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! and Pearl), and a bonus EP with five previously unreleased recordings. Each of these four albums includes previously unreleased bonus tracks (including live material), and each is available separately with the same bonus cuts.

 

Bill Bruford - Making a Song and Dance: A Complete-Career Collection (6 CD, 2022/FLAC)

Over the past 50 years Bill Bruford has been one of the most original and innovative drummers across multiple genres. Making A Song and Dance: A Complete Career Collection is a 6CD Boxset that charts some of the many highlights of Bruford’s incredible career and is released on 29th April through BMG.

From early steps with progressive legends YES and a quarter of a century in King Crimson, to ground-breaking jazz fusion leading his own Bruford and Earthworks projects, Bill Bruford has always wanted to explore his chosen discipline to the full – and then push the boundaries further. This desire to challenge convention has created some breath-taking moments and made Bruford the drummer-of-choice for collaborations with leading musicians around the world.

For this anthology, Bruford has selected 70 tracks from across his whole career, comprising works from some 23 different artists and bands over a 40-year period. “I’ve deliberately avoided forcing them into industry categories such as ‘progressive rock’, ‘fusion’ or ‘jazz’,” Bruford adds, “on the grounds that most of the music I’ve been associated with fits very poorly into such straight-jackets. Round holes and square pegs come to mind.”

The 6CD boxset Making a Song and Dance includes tracks from YES, King Crimson, Bruford, Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, his work with iconic global guitarists Al Di Meola, Steve Howe and Kazumi Watanabe and collaborations with keyboardists Patrick Moraz and Michiel Borstlap and many others. The package also includes a detailed explanation in a 52-page hardback book, written by Bruford, featuring rare and unseen photos. The outer box artwork, gatefold CDs and booklet have been designed by Bruford’s long-time artist and graphic designer Dave McKean.

 

 

Grateful Dead - Ticket to New Year's (DVD 5, 1998/2012)

Ticket to New Year's is a concert video by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in Oakland, California on December 31, 1987. It was released on VHS video tape and on Laserdisc in 1996, and on DVD in 1998.

The December 31, 1987 concert was broadcast on pay-per-view TV. The broadcast included several sketches that had been recorded in advance with members of the Grateful Dead. These are included in Ticket to New Year's, between the first and second sets.