Boz Scaggs - Middle Man

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:54
Size: 98,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:53) 1. JoJo
(4:37) 2. Breakdown Dead Ahead
(5:10) 3. Simone
(4:57) 4. You Can Have Me Anytime
(4:54) 5. Middle Man
(3:47) 6. Do Like You Do in New York
(3:41) 7. Angel You
(4:55) 8. Isn't It Time
(3:56) 9. You Got Some Imagination

1980's Middle Man was Boz Scaggs' last album for Columbia before an eight-year self-imposed sabbatical. Scaggs nonetheless caps off the decade with equal nods to his '70s hitmaking formulas and the newer, shinier production techniques of the coming decade.

The synthesizer rocker "Angel You" and the title track are given the full in-vogue androgynous (i.e., Hall & Oates) treatment, while the opener "Jo Jo" and "Simone" are pages taken from his Here's the Low Down-era grooves that wedded soulful vocals against a flurry of jazz changes.

His penchant for the ballad is explored on "You Can Have Me Any Time" and "Isn't It Time," while his seldom-seen rockier side comes up for air on the bluesy "Breakdown Dead Ahead" and "You Got Some Imagination," both featuring stinging guitar from Steve Lukather. Not his best album, but a very timely one. By Cub Koda
https://www.allmusic.com/album/middle-man-mw0000652253

Personnel: Boz Scaggs – lead vocals, guitar (1–8); David Foster – synthesizers (1, 3, 5, 7–9), acoustic piano (1–5, 7), string arrangements (1, 3–5, 8), electric piano (3, 4, 8), synthesizer programming; Don Grolnick – electric piano (2), acoustic piano (8); David Paich – additional synthesizer (3), organ (6), synthesizers (6); James Newton Howard – clavinet (6); Michael Boddicker – synthesizer programming; Larry Fast – synthesizer programming; Steve Porcaro – synthesizer programming; Ray Parker Jr. – guitar (1–8), bass (6); Steve Lukather – lead guitars (1, 3, 5–8), additional guitars (2), guitar solo (2, 7, 8), all guitars (9); Carlos Santana – guitar solo (4); John Pierce – bass (1); David Hungate – bass (2–5, 7–9); Jeff Porcaro – drums (1, 3–5, 7, 9)

Middle Man

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Boz Scaggs - But Beautiful

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:00
Size: 117,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:30)  1. What's New?
(5:06)  2. Never Let Me Go
(6:07)  3. How Long Has This Been Going On?
(5:14)  4. Sophisticated Lady
(5:36)  5. But Beautiful
(3:29)  6. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
(4:13)  7. Easy Living
(5:25)  8. I Should Care
(5:46)  9. You Don't Know What Love Is
(5:30) 10. For All We Know

Apparently, old rock singers who have exhausted their commercial appeal and have sung all the pop and soul standards have but one place to turn the American popular songbook. Linda Ronstadt pioneered this move in the '80s, Rod Stewart picked it up at the turn of the century, and, now no longer at Virgin, Boz Scaggs picks up the torch with 2003's But Beautiful, a ten-track trawl through standards like "What's New?," "How Long Has This Been Going On?," and "Sophisticated Lady." It should be no surprise that Scaggs is not deliberately following Stewart's footsteps in his liner notes, he says his old friend Jimmy Pierre initiated the project years ago with a list of songs he thought Boz should sing, and then pianist/arranger Paul Nagel later encouraged him to begin this project but it can't help but feel that way, given the number of old rockers turning to the music their parents loved. Scaggs, thankfully, doesn't take the lush, orchestrated route, choosing to record with a small quartet featuring Nagel, saxophonist Eric Crystal, bassist John Shifflett, and drummer Jason Lewis. They have a nice, late-night feel nothing adventurous, but well-done  and Scaggs is appropriately laid-back, which doesn't necessarily mean that he's well-suited for this material. His off-hand phrasing sometimes is too casual and he delivers the tunes predictably, never finding a way to make these much-heard songs sound fresh. That doesn't mean this sounds bad, because it doesn't; it's an entirely pleasant listen. But even longtime Boz Scaggs fans may not find a reason to spin this more than once. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/but-beautiful-mw0000025388
 

Personnel:  Boz Scaggs – vocals;  Eric Crystal – saxophone;  Jason Lewis – drums;  Paul Nagel – piano, arrangements;  John Shifflett – bass

But Beautiful

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David Garfield and Friends - Tribute to Jeff

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:34
Size: 157,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:55)  1. E Minor Shuffle
(6:02)  2. Let's Stay Together
(2:34)  3. Twenty-One Drum Salute
(6:27)  4. Lowdown
(7:06)  5. If Six was Nine
(5:37)  6. Bag's Groove
(5:31)  7. My Heart Wants to Know
(6:24)  8. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
(6:26)  9. Babylon Sisters
(1:30) 10. Stuffy
(5:52) 11. Jeff's Strut
(6:57) 12. Big Bone
(2:07) 13. Long Time No Groove

The tragic death of Princess Diana reminded everyone of the impact a single person can have, and in turn, Elton John's moving tribute at her funeral reflected the great role music can play as emotional catharsis. Tribute to Jeff by David Garfield & Friends achieves that for all those who participated, but is in many ways the antithesis of the rewritten "Candle in the Wind," vigorously celebrating the life of multiple Grammy-winning drummer and first-call L.A. session cat Jeff Porcaro rather than choosing to mourn the tragedy of his early death in 1992 at age 38. Though best known for his skinwork in the pop supergroup Toto, Porcaro's influence on the music scene ranged beyond the light pop/rock the band was known for; he grew up on jazz and his diverse timekeeping skills were tapped by everyone from Boz Scaggs, Bruce Springsteen, and Don Henley to Stan Getz and Larry Carlton. He was also the backbone of the longstanding L.A. club-hopping band Los Lobotomys, the fusion-oriented '80s and early-'90s answer to Tom Scott & the L.A. Express featuring pianist Garfield and Toto member Steve Lukather on guitar (Joe Sample would occasionally sit in on second keyboard). In his two decades on the scene, Porcaro made a wealth of friends from all genres, ranging from hard rock to soul, blues, and straight-ahead jazz. Garfield, a veteran of the L.A. scene known for his long-term stint as George Benson's musical director, recalls his late friend as "the ultimate team player, never a forefront kind of guy, with a special camaraderie with musicians." As ringleader, arranger, and producer of the project, as well as lead performer, Garfield succeeds in capturing that sort of ensemble spirit. With 75 musicians participating, the pianist faced a four-month logistical nightmare of studio schedule-crunching in L.A., Nashville, and New York, but, using Porcaro as a muse (by virtue of lighting candles and occasionally playing cassettes of the guest of honor's interviews), Garfield & Friends pull off the ultimate wake, a remarkably all-encompassing, frequently unpredictable overview that, well, Porcaro would have doubtless killed to play on. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/tribute-to-jeff-porcaro-mw0000026486

Personnel: David Garfield (spoken vocals, piano, electric piano, synthesizer, Mini Moog, Moog); Michael Landau (vocals, guitar); Will Lee (vocals, bass); Paulette Brown, Michael McDonald, David Pack, Jason Scheff, Boz Scaggs (vocals); Simon Phillips (spoken vocals, drums); Steve Lukather (acoustic & electric guitars); Paul Jackson Jr., Eddie Van Halen, Denny Dias, Fred Tackett (guitar); Tom Scott (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); David Paich (piano, electric piano, Fender Rhodes); David Benoit (piano); Emil Richards (vibraphone); Mike Porcaro (bass, cymbals); Nathan East (bass); Gregg Bissonette, Steve Gadd (drums); Luis Conte (conga, batas, percussion); Don Henley, Richard Marx (background vocals).

Tribute to Jeff

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Boz Scaggs - Speak Low

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:19
Size: 119.8 MB
Styles: Adult Contemporary
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[5:25] 1. Invitation
[3:51] 2. She Was Too Good To Me
[5:23] 3. I Wish I Knew
[3:43] 4. Speak Low
[4:03] 5. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
[4:03] 6. I'll Remember April
[5:14] 7. Save Your Love For Me
[5:33] 8. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
[4:01] 9. Skylark
[3:26] 10. Senza Fine
[3:51] 11. Dindi
[3:39] 12. This Time The Dream's On Me

Singer/songwriter Boz Scaggs enjoyed considerable solo success in the 1970's with several Top 20 Hits including "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" along with the top selling Silk Degrees album. Scaggs spent much of the 1980's in retirement, owning and operating the San Francisco nightclub Slim's and limiting his performances primarily to the club's annual black-tie New Year's Eve concerts. SPEAK LOW his 17th studio Album is the follow-up to 2003's BUT BEAUTIFUL. Songs on the album include Chet Baker's "She Was Too Good to Be True," Johnny Mercer's "This Time the Dream's on Me," the often recorded "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" and the Kurt Weill/Ogden Nash title track.

Speak Low

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Boz Scaggs - Hits!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:37
Size: 147.9 MB
Styles: Blue-eyed soul, Pop?Rock/R&B
Year: 1980/2006
Art: Front

[2:59] 1. What Can I Say
[5:51] 2. Jojo
[5:30] 3. Miss Sun
[4:30] 4. Hard Times
[3:12] 5. Slow Dancer
[5:56] 6. Harbor Lights
[3:02] 7. Dinah Flo
[5:17] 8. Look What You've Done To Me
[4:34] 9. Breakdown Dead Ahead
[3:32] 10. You Make It So Hard (To Say No)
[2:49] 11. It's Over
[4:12] 12. We're All Alone
[4:10] 13. Heart Of Mine
[5:15] 14. Lowdown
[3:41] 15. Lido Shuffle

Digitally remastered and expanded reissue of this classic compilation by the '70s solo star (and former bandmate of Steve Miller) , complete with new artwork! This new version drops 'You Can Have Me Anytime' but adds six more to take it's place: 'What Can I Say', 'Hard Times', 'Slow Dancer', 'Harbor Lights', 'It's Over' and 'Heart Of Mine'.

Hits!

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Boz Scaggs - A Fool To Care

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:02
Size: 119.1 MB
Styles: Soul-jazz vocals
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[2:57] 1. Rich Woman
[2:04] 2. I'm A Fool To Care
[6:13] 3. Hell To Pay
[3:39] 4. Small Town Talk
[6:23] 5. Last Tango On 16th Street
[4:11] 6. There's A Storm A' Comin'
[3:35] 7. I'm So Proud
[5:40] 8. I Want To See You
[3:33] 9. High Blood Pressure
[4:16] 10. Full Of Fire
[5:07] 11. Love Don't Love Nobody
[4:19] 12. Whispering Pines

A Fool to Care may not have a concept as linear as some of Boz Scaggs' other recent albums (2013's Southern-fried Memphis, the jazz standards on 2003's But Beautiful and 2008's Speak Low), but it sure does tell a story. These 12 songs map out a concise history of American soul, with a heavy dose of New Orleans strut — including the title track (a hit for Fats Domino) and Huey "Piano" Smith's "High Blood Pressure" — and a dollop of Chicago sweetness (the Impressions' gorgeous "I'm So Proud").

Backed throughout by a stellar group of studio aces — guitarist Ray Parker Jr., bassist Willie Weeks and drummer Steve Jordan, who also produced the album — Scaggs' well-worn, textured voice deftly navigates this range of styles. His lone composition on A Fool to Care, the sly blues "Hell to Pay" ("Between the bank boys and the lawyers/I don't know where it ends"), is a sparkling duet with Bonnie Raitt, featuring her signature slide-guitar mastery. Versions of Al Green's "Full of Fire" and the Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody" even recall the slinky, disco-fied grit of Scaggs' 1976 smash, Silk Degrees. The wild card, though, is the album's final track, an aching duet with Lucinda Williams on the Band's "Whispering Pines." So what if it's not an R&B song? The emotion conveyed proves that, in the end, soul is where you find it. ~Alan Light

A Fool To Care

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Boz Scaggs - Speak Low

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 52:16
Size: 119.7 MB
Styles: Adult contemporary
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[5:24] 1. Invitation
[3:51] 2. She Was Too Good To Me
[5:23] 3. I Wish I Knew
[3:42] 4. Speak Low
[4:03] 5. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
[4:03] 6. I'll Remember April
[5:14] 7. Save Your Love For Me
[5:33] 8. The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
[4:01] 9. Skylark
[3:26] 10. Senza Fine
[3:51] 11. Dindi
[3:39] 12. This Time The Dream's On Me

From his late 1960s days as the lead singer of the Steve Miller Band, Boz Scaggs has always had an undercurrent of jazz influence in his phrasing. Therefore, SPEAK LOW should come as no surprise to longtime fans. No mere raid on the Great American Songbook in the manner of Rod Stewart's adult contemporary albums, SPEAK LOW is a personal, canny follow-up to 2003's collection of standards, BUT BEAUTIFUL. These 12 tracks offer less familiar tracks like Duke Ellington's "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me" and Chet Baker's "She Was Too Good To Me," given abstract, cerebral arrangements in the manner of 1950s Gil Evans charts. ~Charity Stafford

Speak Low

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Various - New York Rock And Soul Revue: Live At The Beacon

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 66:33

Size: 152.3 MB

Styles: Soul, Blues, Jazz, Rock

Year: 1991/2010

Art: Front

[0:52] 1. Donald Fagen - Intro

[4:18] 2. Donald Fagen - Madison Time

[3:55] 3. Michael Mcdonald & Phoebe Snow - Knock On Wood

[4:39] 4. Donald Fagen - Green Flower Street

[3:40] 5. Phoebe Snow - Shakey Ground

[5:31] 6. Phoebe Snow - At Last

[5:25] 7. Michael Mcdonald - Lonely Teardrops

[5:30] 8. Boz Scaggs - Drowning In The Sea Of Love

[4:08] 9. Charles Brown - Driftin' Blues

[6:28] 10. Donald Fagen - Chain Lightning

[4:24] 11. Eddie And David Brigati - Groovin'

[6:12] 12. Michael Mcdonald - Minute By Minute

[5:18] 13. New York Rock And Soul Revue - People Got To Be Free

[4:58] 14. Donald Fagen - Pretzel Logic

[1:08] 15. Donald Fagen - Madison Reprise

Ain't no crime in having a good time and everybody partied at the New York Rock & Soul Revue held live at New York's Beacon Theater; the lineup of Phoebe Snow, Donald Fagen, Charles Brown, Michael McDonald, and Eddie and David Brigati (the Rascals) saw to that. While some performances come off as perfunctory and there's nothing you could label outstanding, the soul is real and heartfelt. Top performances come from Brown (the oldest person in the show), Snow and McDonald, Boz Scaggs ("Drowning in the Sea of Love"), and Fagen (a jazzy "Madison Time," which he performs accompanied by Jeff & the Youngsters in a full-blown reprise that closes the concert). ~Andrew Hamilton

New York Rock and Soul Revue: Live At The Beacon 

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