Here are two approximately half-hour discs, interspersing album excerpts with comments from the respective artists. Songs from The Capeman
and Orange Crate Art
might not be their creators' best works ever, but there is certainly great stuff to be found in both albums, and these discussions of the process involved in their creation should be interesting for fans. For an additional entry in the "Words + Music" promo series, see my Elvis Costello Interview Trifecta post. Oh yeah, and I try and say "The Rare Stuff" towards the end of every post -- so there, I just did! :^) Enjoy!
and Orange Crate Art might not be their creators' best works ever, but there is certainly great stuff to be found in both albums, and these discussions of the process involved in their creation should be interesting for fans. For an additional entry in the "Words + Music" promo series, see my Elvis Costello Interview Trifecta post. Oh yeah, and I try and say "The Rare Stuff" towards the end of every post -- so there, I just did! :^) Enjoy!Paul Simon:
Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks:
, the film made up of rehearsal footage from what would have been Michael Jackson's comeback tour, made it look like that tour would have been a great success and definitely answered the naysayers. It had some great moments but due to obvious circumstances was ultimately unsatisfying, building your anticipation like many "making-of" documentaries, but without the ultimate payoff that's the climax of such films. Plenty of foreplay, but no actual gettin' busy!
-- THIS is it!!! The ACTUAL soundtrack of the movie, boot-style, in pristine sound, all performances from the film itself. Some tracks here might not quite measure up to other versions, some (such as the medley of Jackson 5 songs) being just sketches, though they're all fascinating. But at least one track here, "Human Nature", is probably as good as any singing he's ever done, especially those keening "hey-yeahhh"s following the choruses -- and in the film you can see he wasn't even trying 100% in that particular rehearsal, but what he does while holding back is what other vocalists would work their entire lives to achieve! Don't let that long pause after the line "Reaching out..." fool ya, it's just for dramatic effect! The slow-burn intro to "The Way You Make Me Feel" is another highlight.
, a fascinating documentary relating how Paul was introduced to the exotic Tuvan throat-singing technique in the wake of his wife's death, and improbably, learned it almost instantly as a vehicle for expressing his grief. He mastered it so completely that he traveled halfway around the world to Tuva itself -- no small feat in itself for an ill and disabled man -- and went on to win an international competition. If you haven't seen the film, you must if you care about music. The 
is great too, featuring Paul melding his newfound throat-singing chops with his natural, acoustic blues-rock style, with plainspoken, personal lyrics just like "Airliner"'s.
was issued in 2000, and was a revelation. The album was produced by Steve Miller Band member Ben Sidran -- who turned Miller on to Pena's tune; the contrast between Pena's organic original and Miller's juggernaut is fascinating -- and features guest spots from Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders. Pena's soulful songwriting, singing, and picking cast a spell here. It's simply a classic '70s album, reminiscent of nothing so much as Van Morrison's Moondance. Get it and impress your friends.
