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Santana Record Store Day Exclusive Release

Record Store Day is celebrated on Saturday April 13, 2019. Santana collectors will enjoy hunting for this new 7″ vinyl recording Breaking Down The Door (Concord Records). It offers a focus track from the forthcoming full length Santana album, Africa Speaks plus an exclusive bonus track.

This album was produced with the guidance of legendary Rick Rubin. It is due to drop on Friday June 7, 2019. CD Copies of Africa Speaks are free for Santana Global Consciousness 2019 tour ticket holders.

The RSD exclusive release features the artistry of songstress Concha Buika, known as the Queen of Latin Vocal Jazz.

The A side is “Breaking Down The Door”. Written by Carlos Santana, Concha Buika, Drew Gonsalves, Ivan Duran, Manu Chao, and Rafael de León.

”Breaking Down The Door” is an adaptation of the song Abatina by Calypso Rose (The song authors are listed in bold in the previous paragraph.) This will be one of the anticipated 14 to 20 Africa Speaks tracks.

The bonus B side is “Dolor De Rumba”. Written by Carlos Santana, Concha Buika, and Ebo Taylor. It is a derivative of the original song “Twer Nyame” by renowned afro-beat Ghanaian guitarist Ebo Taylor.


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Santana Album Cover Signed

I love music memorabilia. I collect tour programs, music pins, posters, signed CD and album covers.

One of my favorite pieces in my collection is the first Santana album signed by the original band members, Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, and Michael Shrieve.

I am hoping to get Michael Carabello and Jose “Chepito” Areas to sign this album cover someday.

Michael Carabello has shown up to play unannounced twice at live concerts I have attended. I saw him play with The Steve Miller Band and with Santana in Connecticut. I just didn’t have this album with me those evenings.

The quest continues 🙂

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Led Zeppelin – 50 Years Ago Today

The eponymous album Led Zeppelin was released in the United States on this day in rock history, 50 years ago, January 12th, 1969.

Picture courtesy of Led Zeppelin, Copyright 2018

I first learned of Led Zeppelin in the fall of 1968 from a friend in high school, Tom Stein. He had a friend or relative (can’t remember which) in England who shared the excitement Led Zeppelin was creating across the pond. Finally I heard the album in December on WNEW-FM New York City’s premier rock station. It was featured in heavy rotation on DJ Scott Muni‘s, “Things From England” show. I was hooked.

I bought this record straight away and took this 12″ LP everywhere I went for the next few months as you can see from the back cover.

I played Led Zeppelin again today through my iPhone XR via Apple Cloud Music and headphones on my morning walk. It still sounds fresh and brilliant as ever!

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Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson featuring Sean Ono Lennon with ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’

An inspiring performance from this superstar collaboration. The Electric Lady Studio Jimi Hendrix wall painting frames the setting.

Miley Cyrus’s vocal is captivating in its ascension. I love her War is Over green and white baseball t-shirt 🙂

Mark Ronson’s Wall of Sound reveres the original song’s producer, Phil Spector.

By Source, Fair use, Link

Miley’s endearing admiration for Sean Ono Lennon is evident. Sean stays focused as he sings the counter melody, paying homage to his Father and Mother’s timeless creation.

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Rock Critic Law: 101 Unbreakable Rules for Writing Badly About Music By Michael Azerrad

This is when best of music book lists appear to help readers with holiday gift suggestions.

I read these best music book lists to see if my purchases appear on critics radar screens. These lists point out valuable music books I have missed and wish to add to my music library.

I have read several best of 2018 music book lists in the past two weeks. I keep returning to  The 2018 Music Book Gift Guide from Paste Magazine Top 10 list.

The first music book on Paste’s list is, “Rock Critic Law: 101 Unbreakable Rules for Writing Badly About Music” written by rock journalist, Michael Azerrad. 

Michael Azerrad uses Twitter to cultivate his readership, https://twitter.com/RockCriticLaw I follow him primarily to improve my music writing skills.  His book helps recognize and avoid music writer tropes which impact effective communication.

If you are a music journalist you will appreciate this book’s tongue in cheek approach. (I’m sorry was that a cliche’?)  The use of illustration and narration create a novel method of writer reinforcement.

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Grace Jones: Bloodlight and BAMI

I am fortunate to have WPKN-FM/Bridgeport hosting the Music on Film series right in my  backyard.  I have previously attended films about the blues, Sidemen, Long Road to Glory and Chasing Trane  about John Coltrane.

This week Music on Film presents Grace Jones: Bloodlight and BAMI on Thursday December 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the Bijou Theatre in downtown Bridgeport.

A portion of the ticket sales benefits WPKN-FM my favorite public radio station.

I’m eager to learn more about Grace Jones 🙂


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Eric Dolphy, Musical Prophet

Record Store Day specialty recording, the 3LP, Eric Dolphy – Musical Prophet: The Expanded 1963 New York Studio Sessions on Resonance Records.  A must-have for any serious free jazz collection. Zev Feldman Co-President at Resonance curated this holy grail project. 

Eric Dolphy will also be featured as Downbeat Magazine’s January 2019 cover story, watch for its publication.


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Bobbie Gentry’s Reissues

Record Store Day, Black Friday 2018 shopping yielded this 1967 classic reissue.

This Bobbie Gentry song brings back memories of summertime listening to the transistor radio while “Ode to Billie Joe” became a natural number one hit.

According to Mojo Magazine (January 2019 issue), the Reissue of the Year is Ms. Gentry’s extensive eight CD box set, The Girl From Chickasaw County: The Complete Masters by Bobbie Gentry. 

Bobbie Gentry- The Girl From Chickasaw County box-set cover art by David Downton