Various Artists - Quiet About It (A Tribute to Jesse Winchester)

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:03
Size: 102,0 MB
Art: Front

1. James Taylor - Payday (3:09)
2. Rosanne Cash - Biloxi (3:24)
3. Jimmy Buffett - Gentleman of Leisure (4:36)
4. Allen Toussaint - I Wave Bye Bye (3:33)
5. Vince Gill - Talk Memphis (4:28)
6. Mac McAnally - Defying Gravity (3:56)
7. Lyle Lovett - Brand New Tennessee Waltz (3:53)
8. Lucinda Williams - Mississippi You're on My Mind (4:25)
9. Emmylou Harris/Vince Gill/Rodney Crowell - Dangerous Fun (3:35)
10. Little Feat - Rhumba Man (5:52)
11. Elvis Costello - Quiet About It (3:10)

To many, Jesse Winchester is still best known for his ideals rather than his music in 1967, rather than join the military and fight in Vietnam, he emigrated to Canada, and spent most of the '70s as an exile of conscience. If Winchester had been a protest singer in the manner of Phil Ochs, this might have made him a hero, but his songs rarely reflected his political views, and instead were compact, painterly meditations on life in the South and the mysteries of life and love (though his physical and emotional distance from his birthplace in Memphis certainly provided a powerful subtext to his music of the '70s).

If Winchester's music never quite clicked with a mass audience due to his inability to tour the United States during the '70s or the shifting tides of popular taste, he's long been a favorite among his fellow songwriters, and 11 noted performers interpret some of Winchester's best songs on Quiet About It: A Tribute to Jesse Winchester. Quiet About It is that rare tribute album that gives each artist room to find their own musical personality in these songs, while the 11 tracks still cohere into a whole that reveals the depth and lyricism of Winchester's work.

This hardly represents every worthwhile tune in his songbook, but the 11 here are all winners, and the songs bring out the best in the artists. Lyle Lovett (who was clearly influenced by Winchester's vocal style) finds every bit of sad beauty in "Brand New Tennessee Waltz," Vince Gill brings just the right swagger to "Talk Memphis," Allen Toussaint's version of "I Wave Bye Bye" is lovely and heartfelt, Lucinda Williams is all rough-hewn grace on "Mississippi You're On My Mind," and Elvis Costello's lo-fi take on "Quiet About It" is stylistically bold but true to the song's nature. James Taylor gives one of his best and liveliest performances in ages with his cocksure version of "Payday," and Jimmy Buffett (who spearheaded the project) reminds us that he was a gifted singer before he discovered how well singing about aquatic alcoholism could pay with a sharp take on "Gentleman of Leisure."

Quiet About It came about when Winchester revealed he'd been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and the artists involved banded together as a show of support (and to generate some songwriting royalties); thankfully, by the time the album appeared, Winchester was in remission, and this splendid celebration of an underappreciated talent arrived while the man who inspired it is still around to take a bow. If you don't know Winchester's work, Quiet About It is a sure convincer of his talents as a songwriter, and if you're a fan, you'll revel in some top-notch interpretations of his songs. Either way, Quiet About It is a must, and one of the finest tribute albums of recent memory.~Mark Deming
https://www.allmusic.com/album/quiet-about-it-a-tribute-to-jesse-winchester-mw0002418862

Quiet About It (A Tribute to Jesse Winchester)

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Anne Sofie Von Otter & Elvis Costello - For The Stars

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:43
Size: 146,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:37)  1. No Wonder
(3:12)  2. Baby Plays Around
(2:50)  3. Go Leave
(3:56)  4. Rope
(3:12)  5. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
(4:06)  6. Broken Bicycles/Junk
(3:36)  7. The Other Woman
(5:03)  8. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
(4:37)  9. Green Song
(2:52) 10. April After All
(3:09) 11. You Still Believe In Me
(2:41) 12. I Want To Vanish
(2:00) 13. For No One
(3:46) 14. Shamed Into Love
(4:18) 15. Just A Curio
(4:38) 16. This House Is Empty Now
(3:17) 17. Take It With Me
(2:45) 18. For The Stars

For the Stars is the kind of record rock critics tend to instinctively praise because they just aren't sure if they get it, and they're afraid to lay themselves on the line. If they pan it, well, they're just junk-addled boors. If they praise it, they risk seeming uninformed, since they don't really know if it works as a classical work or not. The thing to remember is, that these kind of rock/classical crossovers belong to neither realm. They exist outside of both worlds, which is their charm and their curse. 

This is what plagued The Juliet Letters, Elvis Costello's 1993 collaboration with the Brodsky Quartet, which managed to delicately walk the line between chamber music and baroque pop. For the Stars, a collaboration with opera vocalist Anne Sofie von Otter, is more accessible, yet it isn't as successful, largely because its mannerisms are front and center. This is a deliberately "classy" project, pitched squarely at the NPR audience the very audience that embraced Painted From Memory because it helped put Bacharach in the context of the great composers. This won't likely do the same for von Otter, because its execution is a little haphazard, even if it is exactly what the two planned. For the Stars winds through a number of pop songs, ranging from new Costello songs to pop standards, from old Elvis favorites to covers of the Beach Boys, Paul McCartney, Ron Sexsmith, ABBA, and Tom Waits. Most of this is executed in a manner similar to The Juliet Letters, finding a middle ground between classicist pop and chamber music without bowing to the conventions of either. Above all, this is frequently interesting music, but that's not really the same thing as compelling. 

It's easy to appreciate the passion and craft behind this music, but it often feels unfulfilled, even when it feels complete. This is not the fault of either musician von Otter's performances are always impassioned, Costello's few vocals are strong, the selection of material always makes sense, and the production is suitably understated. Still, this is a record that clicks cerebrally, not emotionally, and while it has its own character, it's hard to envision fans of either artist returning to it all that often. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/album/for-the-stars-anne-sofie-von-otter-meets-elvis-costello-mw0000001209

Personnel : Elvis Costello (vocals, baritone guitar, Lowrey organ, bass); Annie Sofie Von Otter (vocals); Johan Lindstrom (acoustic & pedal steel guitars, clarinet, accordion, loops); Svante Henryson (celtar, cello, upright bass); Billy Bremner, Ola Gustafason (acoustic guitar); Bebe Risenfors (clarinet, tenor saxophone, accordion); Steve Naive (piano, celeste, organ); Mats Schubert (piano, harmonium, Moog bass); Bengt Forsberg (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Benny Andersson (piano, Synclavier); Magnus Pierson, Michael Blair (vibraphone, bass drum, percussion).

For The Stars

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Various - Adios Amigo: A Tribute To Arthur Alexander

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 52:53

Size: 121.1 MB

Styles: R&B, Country, Rock

Year: 1994

Art: Front

[3:05] 1. Roger McGuinn - Anna

[2:14] 2. Elvis Costello - Sally Sue Brown

[3:59] 3. Robert Plant - If It's Really Got To Be This Way

[3:10] 4. Graham Parker - Every Day I Have To Cry

[3:40] 5. Chuck Jackson & Mark Knopfler - You Better Move On

[2:22] 6. Frank Black - Old John Amos

[2:30] 7. Marshall Crenshaw - Adios Amigo

[3:34] 8. Sir Mac Rice, Michael Hill - Let's Think About It

[3:05] 9. John Prine - Lonely Just Like Me

[2:52] 10. Corey Glover - Johnny Heartbreak

[3:01] 11. Nick Lowe - In The Middle Of It All

[3:58] 12. Zucchero - From Now On

[2:57] 13. Frank Black, Gary U.S. Bonds - Go Home Girl

[3:01] 14. Felix Cavalieri - I Love You So

[4:18] 15. James Hudson - Baby Can't You Wait

[2:34] 16. Gary U.S. Bonds - Genie In The Jug

[2:25] 17. Dann Penn, Donnie Fritts - Adios Amigo

Among musicians, Arthur Alexander was always considered one of the greatest R&B songwriters. Both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones covered his songs, "Anna (Go to Him)" and "You Better Move On," respectively, early in their careers. But they weren't the only ones -- throughout the years, his work was rich source material for many blues, soul, rock, and country artists. He may have earned the recognition of his peers, but he remained relatively unknown to the general public, right up to his death in 1993. In order to raise his profile, Razor & Tie released Adios Amigo: A Tribute to Arthur Alexander in 1994, assembling a stellar and diverse lineup to record new versions of his songs. The diversity and the fresh arrangements illustrates the depth of Alexander's songs and how well they lent themselves to new readings. Like any tribute album, Adios Amigo is uneven, with a few tracks falling flat, but the best moments Elvis Costello's "Sally Sue Brown," Robert Plant's "If It's Really Got to Be This Way," Chuck Jackson's "You Better Move On," Frank Black's "Old John Amos," John Prine's "Lonely Just Like Me," Gary U.S. Bonds' "Genie in the Jug," Graham Parker's "Every Day I Have to Cry" and Nick Lowe's "In the Middle of It All" are affectionate salutes to a departed master, and they're damn enjoyable in their own right as well. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Adios Amigo: A Tribute To Arthur Alexander

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Various - A Tribute To Joni Mitchell

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 53:10

Size: 121.7 MB

Styles: Folk rock, Singer-songwriter

Year: 2007

Art: Front

[4:59] 1. Sufjan Stevens - Free Man In Paris

[5:05] 2. Björk - The Boho Dance

[4:56] 3. Caetano Veloso - Dreamland

[5:08] 4. Brad Mehldau - Don't Interrupt The Sorrow

[5:58] 5. Cassandra Wilson - For The Roses

[3:30] 6. Prince - A Case Of You

[2:46] 7. Sarah Mclachlan - Blue

[3:38] 8. Annie Lennox - Ladies Of The Canyon

[3:40] 9. Emmylou Harris - The Magdalene Laundries

[5:56] 10. Elvis Costello - Edith And The Kingpin

[3:58] 11. K.D. Lang - Help Me

[3:32] 12. James Taylor - River

Joni Mitchell covers dot the musical landscape the way Tim Hortons doughnut shacks line the highways of Ontario. It's a little surprising, then, that the first Mitchell tribute album to be released on a major U.S. label didn't emerge until 2007, which was coincidentally the same year Mitchell was scheduled to release Shine, her first studio effort to appear in some ten years. And as far as tribute albums go, A Tribute to Joni Mitchell isn't half bad. The compilation is split up between songs that were recorded specifically for the tribute album, such as Sufjan Stevens' "A Free Man in Paris," and those that were recorded and released previously, such as James Taylor's "River." The tracks that were recorded specifically for A Tribute are far and away the best. Stevens approaches "A Free Man in Paris" with his characteristic, and fitting, over-the-top irony and band geek sensibilities. Opening with a brass fanfare, the kind that wouldn't be out of place in the opening credits of a network news show, Stevens' cover tackles the original with an appropriate sense of theatricality and fun. Björk's lilting cover of "Boho Dance," lush with synthesized bells and whorls, arguably rivals the original. She does a very good job of allowing Mitchell's lyics to unfurl, even while she twists and transforms the song, fairy godmother-style, into something otherworldly. And Caetano Veloso's rendition of "Dreamland" is simply a revelation. It's not a huge stretch from the original, but Veloso's light, gentle vocals, augmented by the the warm, loose Brazilian instrumentation, somehow manages to grab Mitchell's narrative and bring it to life. Mitchell is a storyteller, and the best tracks on here are those that welcome and explore her narratives. The worst ignore or misinterpret them. Prince pays little attention to Mitchell's lyrics on "A Case of You," slashing the first two verses in order to cut right to the chase. This abridged version has a lot of soul, but it does little to pay tribute to Mitchell's original; Prince cut out the pathos and made the song sappy. To be fair, Mitchell's a difficult person to pay tribute to, let alone cover, seeing how she's one of those rare singer/songwriters whose abilities as a performer are equal to her compositions. This stands in stark contrast to someone like Bob Dylan, whose songs were often just as, if not more, enjoyable in their Jimi Hendrix or Joan Baez incarnations. But while she's ultimately the best performer of her own work, Mitchell, with her warbly soprano and idiosyncratic sense of composition, hasn't always lent herself to the unaccustomed ear. A Tribute to Joni Mitchell is thus a great listen for those who'd like to ease into the breadth and range of Mitchell's work by way of established, accessible artists like Prince, Sarah McLachlan and Taylor. Granted, fans will probably find themselves yearning for the original material after listening to this disc, but this is only another way in which A Tribute succeeds. These interpretations, imperfect as they can be, provide new vantage points from which Mitchell's original albums can be located, analyzed, and appreciated. ~Margaret Reges

A Tribute To Joni Mitchell

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Rosanne Cash - The List

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:57
Size: 91.5 MB
Styles: Americana, Country
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:11] 1. Miss The Mississippi And You
[3:04] 2. Motherless Children
[3:05] 3. Sea Of Heartbreak (Feat. Bruce Springsteen)
[3:30] 4. Take These Chains From My Heart
[3:19] 5. Heartaches By The Number (Feat. Elvis Costello)
[3:43] 6. I'm Movin' On
[3:01] 7. 500 Miles
[3:08] 8. long black veil (Feat. Jeff Tweedy)
[3:07] 9. She's Got You
[3:31] 10. Girl From The North Country
[3:40] 11. Silver Wings (Feat. Rufus Wainwright)
[3:33] 12. Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow

The List—an exploration of essential songs as selected and given to Rosanne by her father, Johnny Cash—was also named Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association. In addition, her best-selling 2010 memoir, Composed, was described by the Chicago Tribune as “one of the best accounts of an American life you will likely ever read.”

The List

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