dcclix. McCARTNEY, Paul: Beautiful Night

dcclix. McCARTNEY, Paul (1942-       )

Beautiful Night (1997)

PM, vocals, guitars, bass, percussion
Linda McCartney, backing vocals
Jeff Lynne, backing vocals, guitars
Ringo Starr, vocals, drums, percussion
Susan Milan, flute
(5:20)

from: Flaming Pie

dcclviii. DUKE, George: Missing You

dcclviii. DUKE, George (1946-2013)

Missing You (2013)

GD, keyboards, vocals
Jef Lee Johnson, guitars
Larry Kimpel, bass
Gordon Campbell, drums
Lamont Van Hook, backing vocals
Rachelle Farrell, vocals
Jim Gilstrap, backing vocals
(5:45)

from: Dreamweaver

Duke's 32nd and final album.

dcclvii. SMITH, Jimmy: There's a Small Hotel

dcclvii. SMITH, Jimmy (1928-2005)

There's a Small Hotel (1957)
JS, organ
Kenny Burrell, guitar
Art Blakey, drums
(11:55)

dcclvii. METHENY, Pat: Telescope

dcclvii. METHENY, Pat (1954-       )

Telescope (2016)

PM, guitar
Cuong Vu, trumpet
Stomu Takeishi, bass
Ted Poor, drums
(7:05)

from: Cuong Vu Trio Meets Pat Metheny

dcclvi. B Praak: Yaar Ka Sataya Hua Hai

dcclvi. B PRAAK (1986-       )

Yaar Ka Sataya Hua Hai (2023)

B Praak
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Shehnaaz Gill
Jaani
Arvindr Khaira
(5:20)

from: Yaar Ka Sataya Hua Hai

dcclv. SUN RA: Where Pathways Meet

dcclv. SUN RA (1914-1993)

Where Pathways Meet (1978)

SR, keyboards, vocals
John Gilmore, tenor saxophone
Danny Ray Thompson, flute, baritone saxophone
Eddie Gale, trumpet
Michael Ray, trumpet, flugelhorn
Marshall Allen, flute, oboe, alto saxophone
Luqman Ali, percussion
Michael Anderson, percussion
Artaukatune, drums, timpani
Disco Kid (Slo Johnson), guitar
Dale Williams, guitar
Atakatun Odun, congas
Elo Omoe, flute, bass clarinet
Julian Pressley, baritone saxophone
Richard Williams, bas
James Jacson, oboe, bassoon, flute, voice
June Tyson, voice
(6:32)

from: Languidity

dccliv. ZAPPA, Frank: Down in De Dew

dccliv. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

Down in De Dew (1996)

FZ, guitar, bass
Jim Gordon, drums
(2:57)

from: Läther

dccliii. THE CHIPS: Rubber Biscuit

dccliii. THE CHIPS

Rubber Biscuit (1956)

Charles Johnson, vocals
Nathaniel Epps, vocals
Paul Fulton, vocals
Sammy Strain, vocals
Shedrick Lincoln, vocals
(2:06)

from: Rubber Biscuit

Inspired Frank Zappa.

dcclii. BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS: Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie (1st and 2nd Movements -- Adapted from "Trois Gymnopedies"

dcclii. BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS

Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie (1st and 2nd Movements -- Adapted from "Trois Gymnopedies" (1968)
David Clayton-Thomas, vocals
Steve Katz, guitar, harmonica, vocals
Jim Fielder, bass
Dick Halligan, keyboards, flute, trombone, vocals
Fred Lipsius, alto saxophone, piano
Lew Soloff, trumpet, flugelhorn
Chuck Winfield, trumpet, flugelhorn
Jerry Hyman, trombone, recorder
Bobby Colomby, drums, percussion, vocals
(2:33)

from: Blood, Sweat & Tears

dccli. ZAPPA, Frank: We're Turning Again

dccli. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

We're Turning Again (1992)
FZ, guitar, vocals
Ike Willis, guitar, vocals
Mike Keneally, guitar, vocals
Bobby Martin, keyboards, vocals
Ed Mann, percussion
Walt Fowler, trumpet, flugelhorn, synth
Bruce Fowler, trombone
Paul Carman, soprano, alto and baritone saxophones
Albert Wing, tenor saxophone
Kurt McGettrick, baritone, bass saxophones, contrabass clarinet
Scott Thunes, bass, Minimoog
Chad Wackerman, drums, percussion
(4:56)

from: You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6

from Rosengarten/Mozartsaal, Mannheim, Germany, 5/25/88.

dccl. XG: GRL GVNG

dccl. XG

GRL GVNG (2023)
(1:56)

dccxlix. LUNATIC SOUL: Navvie

dccxlix. LUNATIC SOUL

Mariusz Duda, everything
(4:06)

from: Through Shaded Woods

dccxlviii. CHICAGO: Memories of Love -- Prelude/A.M. Mourning/P.M. Mourning/Memories of Love

dccxlviii. CHICAGO

Memories of Love -- Prelude/A.M. Mourning/P.M. Mourning/Memories of Love (1970)
Peter Cetera, bass, vocals
Terry Kath, guitars, vocals
Robert Lamm, keyboards, vocals
Lee Loughnane, trumpet, vocals
James Pankow, trombone
Walter Parazaider, woodwinds, vocals
Danny Seraphine, drums, percussion
(9:12)

from: Chicago

dccxlvii. COREA, Chick: The Hook

dccxlvii. COREA, Chick (1941-2021)

The Hook (1979)
CC, piano
Herbie Hancock, piano
(13:30)

from: CoreaHancock

dccxlvi. ZAPPA, Frank: The Florida Airport Tape

dccxlvi. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

The Florida Airport Tape (1988)
FZ, voice
Mark Volman, voice
Howard Kaylan,voice
Aynsley Dunbar, voice
(1:04)

from: You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1

dccxlv. ERSKINE, Peter: Marcheta ("A Love Song of Old Mexico")

dccxlv. ERSKINE, Peter (1954-       )

Marcheta ("A Love Song of Old Mexico") (2016)
PE, drums, percussion
Vardan Ovsepian, keyboards
Damian Erskine, bass
(3:33)

dccxliv. ZAPPA, Frank: The Idiot Bastard Son

dccxliv. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

The Idiot Bastard Son (2019)
FZ, guitar, vocals
George Duke, keyboards, vocals
Napoleon Murphy Brock, vocals, tenor saxophone, flute
Tom Fowler, bass
Ruth Underwood, percussion
Bruce Fowler, trombone
Ralph Humphrey, drums
Chester Thompson, drums
(2:17)

from: Halloween 73

from Chicago, 10/31/73, late show.

dccxliii. MEHLDAU, Brad: Brownie Speaks

dccxliii. MEHLDAU, Brad (1970-       )

Brownie Speaks (2012)
BM, piano
Larry Grenadier, bass
Jeff Ballard, drums
(8:13)

from: Where Do You Start

dccxlii. ZAPPA, Frank: For Duane

dccxlii. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

For Duane (1988)
FZ, guitar
Ray White, guitar
Ike Willis, guitar
Bobby Martin, keyboards
Allan Zavod, keyboards
Scott Thunes, bass
Chad Wackerman, drums
(3:24)

from: Guitar

Extracted from Whipping Post, Atlanta, 11/25/84.

dccxli. ZAPPA, Frank: Plastic People

dccxli. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

Plastic People (2012)
FZ, guitar, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black, drums, vocals
Ray Collins, vocals, tambourine, harmonica
Roy Estrada, bass, vocals
Billy Mundi, drums, percussion
Don Preston, keyboards
Jim Fielder, guitar, piano
Bunk Gardner, woodwinds
(3:41)

from: Understanding America

From 1967.

dccxl. SAMPLE, Joe: The Road Less Travelled

dccxl. SAMPLE, Joe (1939-2014)

The Road Less Travelled (1990)
JS, keyboards
Jerry Hey, trumpet, flugelhorn
Ricky Peterson, synth
Larry Williams, flute, saxophone
Marcus Miller, bass
Omar Hakim, drums
(5:30)

from: Ashes to Ashes

dccxxxix. ZAPPA, Frank: The Chrome-Plated Megaphone of Destiny

dccxxxix. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

The Chrome-Plated Megaphone of Destiny (1967)
FZ, guitar, piano
Roy Estrada, bass
Billy Mundi, drums
Ian Underwood, piano, woodwinds
(6:24)

from: We're Only in it for the Money

This magnificent piece of musique concrète is the last track on this album -- one of Frank's greatest.

Zappa provided an instructional text on how to proceed before listening:

1. If you have already worked your through In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka, skip instructions No. 2, 3, and 4.
2. Everybody else go dig up a book of short stories called In the Penal Colony.
3. DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS PIECE UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE STORY.
4. After you have read the story, put away the book and turn on the record player ... it is now safe to listen (DO NOT READ AND LISTEN AT THE SAME TIME).
5. As you listen, think of the concentration camps in California constructed during World War II to house potentially dangerous oriental citizens ... the same camps which many say [are now] readied for use as part of the FINAL SOLUTION to the NONCONFORMIST (hippy) PROBLEM today. You might allow yourself (regardless of the length of your hair or how you feel about greedy wars and paid assassins) to imagine YOU ARE A GUEST AT CAMP REAGAN. You might imagine you have been invited to try out a wonderful new RECREATIONAL DEVICE (designed by Human Factors Engineering Lab as a method of relieving tension and pent-up hostilities among the members of the CAMP STAFF ... a thankless job which gives little or no ego gratification ... even for the chief warden).
6. At the end of the piece, the name of your CRIME WILL BE CARVED ON YOUR BACK.

dccxxxviii. THE BEATLES: For the Benefit of Mr. Kite

dccxxxviii. THE BEATLES

Two versions

For the Benefit of Mr. Kite (1967)
Paul, bass, guitar, backing vocal, piano
John, vocal, organ, bass harmonica
George, tambourine, backing vocal, bass harmonica
Ringo, drums
George Martin, harmonium, organ, Mellotron, glockenspiel
Mal Evans, harmonica, organ
Neil Aspinall, bass harmonica

John wandered into an antique store and pulled out a poster from 1843, announcing Pablo Fanque's Circus. Mr. Kite, the Hendersons -- all names on the poster.

Thus was born the idea for one of the coolest songs on the album.

1. from: Anthology 2

2. from: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

dccxxxvii. TYNER, McCoy: Peresina

dccxxxvii. TYNER, McCoy (1938-2020)

Peresina (1970)
MT, piano
Woody Shaw, trumpet
Gary Bartz, alto saxophone
Wayne Shorter, tenor saxophone
Ron Carter, cello
Herbie Lewis, bass
Freddie Waits, drums
(10:22)

from: Expansions

This one's dedicated to my old friend, Jamie.

One beautiful Parisian day, Jamie put this on the ol' KLH turntable, and when Shorter's solo began (3:11), he played air-saxophone along with this incredible solo -- matching every subtle touch of Wayne's playing.

Ever since, Peresina has been ten minutes of magic for me.

**

A simple riff opens up the tune. McCoy then goes off into a fluttering, intelligent solo. A written-out ensemble riff enters unexpectedly. Tyner then continues, the initial monochordal riff disappears ... the ensemble returns with a new riff; returns to the original one ... and then Wayne enters along with my memory of Jamie's pantomime!

McCoy resumes -- flying gently above the rhythm section; the ensemble riff returns, trading fours and eights with Tyner.

Fade.

dccxxxvi. MITCHELL, Joni: Harry's House/Centerpiece

dccxxxvi. MITCHELL, Joni (1943-       )

Harry's House/Centerpiece (1975)
JM, vocals
Joe Sample, keyboards
Robben Ford, guitar
Max Bennett, bass
Chuck Findley, trumpet
(6:48)

from: The Hissing of Summer Lawns

This is one of Joni's very best!

The music moves from lazy-hot-summer-day feel to that pure jazz (Centerpiece) and back again ...

The lyrics are pure poetry -- and they tell a story with a devastating punch-line:

Heatwaves on the runway
As the wheels set down
He takes his baggage off the carousel
He takes a taxi into town
Yellow schools of taxi fishes
Jonah in the ticking whale
Caught up at the lights in the fishnet windows
Of Blooomingdale's
Watching those high fashion girls
Skinny black models with Raveen curls
And beauty parlor blondes with credit card eyes
Looking for the chic and the fancy
To buy

He opens up his suitcase
In the continental suite
And people thirty stores down
Look like colored currents in the street
A helicopter lands on the Pan Am roof
Like a dragonfly on a tomb
And businessmen in button-downs
Press into conference rooms
Battalions of paper-minded males
Talking commodities and sales
While at home their paper wives
And their paper kids
Paper the walls to keep their gut reactions hid

Yellow checkers for the kitchen
Climbing ivy for the bath
She is lost in House and Gardens
He's caught up in Chief of Staff
He drifts off into the memory
Of the way she looked in school
With her body oiled and shining
At the public swimming pool ...

**

The more I'm with you pretty baby
The more I feel my love increase
I'm building all my dreams around you
Our happiness will never cease
'Cause nothing's any good without you
Baby you're my centerpiece

We'll find a house and garden somewhere
Along a country road a piece
A little cottage on the outskirts
Where we can really find release
'Cause nothing's any good without you
Baby you're my centerpiece

**

... Shining hair and shining skin
Shining as she reeled him in
To tell him like she did today
Just what he could do with Harry's House
And Harry's take-home pay

dccxxxv. McCARTNEY, Paul: Pretty Boys

dccxxxv. McCARTNEY, Paul (1942-       )

Pretty Boys (2020)
PM, everything
(5:47)

from: McCartney III

dccxxxiv. WILCO: On and On and On

dccxxxiv. WILCO

On and On and On (2007)
Nels Cline, guitar
Mikael Jorgensen, organ
Glenn Kotche, drums, percussion
Pat Sansone, piano
John Stirratt, bass
Jeff Tweedy, vocals
Karen Waltuch, violin
(4:01)

This is one of my favorite Wilco songs -- the music and lyrics really work together; and Tweedy's lyric -- Please don't cry / We're designed to die -- well, that's some heavy-duty poetry!

from: Sky Blue Sky

On and on and on
We'll stay together, yeah
On and on and on
We'll be together, yeah
You and I will try
To stay together, yeah
On and on and on
We'll be together, yeah

Please don't cry
We're designed to die
Don't deny
What's inside
On and on and on
We'll stay together, yeah
On and on and on
On and on and on

One day we'll disappear
Together in a dream
And whether short or long
Our lives are going to be
I will live in you
Or you will live in me
Until we disappear
Together in a dream

Please don't cry
We're designed to die
You can't deny
Even the gentlest tie
On and on and on
We'll be together, yeah
On and on and on
On and on and on, we're going to try

Please don't cry
This world of words and meanings
Makes you feel outside
Something that you feel already
Deep inside
You deny
Go ahead and cry
On and on and on
We'll stay together, yeah
On and on and on
On and on and on

You and I
We'll stay together, yeah
You and I will try
To make it better, yeah

dccxxxiii. McPARTLAND, Marian: Hesitation Blues

dccxxxiii. McPARTLAND, Marian (1918-2013)

Hesitation Blues (2005)
MM, piano
Donald Fagen, piano, vocals
Walter Becker, guitar
Jay Leonhart, bass
Keith Carlock, drums
(3:28)

from: Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz with Steely Dan

dccxxxii. ZAWINUL, Joe: Introduction to Tower of Silence

dccxxxii. ZAWINUL, Joe (1932-2007)

Introduction to Tower of Silence (2002)
JZ, keyboards
Amit Chatterjee, vocals
(1:29)

from: Faces and Places

dccxxxi. METHENY, Pat: Better Days Ahead

dccxxxi. METHENY, Pat (1954-       )

Better Days Ahead

Three versions

1. Better Days Ahead (1989)
PM, guitars, keyboards
Lyle Mays, keyboards, accordion, trumpet
Steve Rodby, bass
Paul Wertico, drums, percussion
Pedro Aznar, voice, guitar, saxophone, percussion
Armando Marçal, percussion
(3:02)

from: Letter From Home

2. Better Days Ahead (1993)
PM, guitars
Lyle Mays, keyboards
Steve Rodby, bass
Paul Wertico, drums
Armando Marçal, percussion, voice
Pedro Aznar, voice, guitar, saxophone, percussion
(5:12)

from: The Road to You

3. Better Days Ahead (2021)

PM, guitars, bass
James Francies, keyboards
Marcus Gilmore, drums
(5:22)

from: Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)

dccxxx. SANTANA: Song of the Wind

dccxxx. SANTANA, Carlos (1947-       )

Song of the Wind (1972)
CS, guitar
Neal Schon, guitar
Gregg Rolie, organ
Douglas Rauch, bass
Michael Shrieve, drums
José "Chepito" Areas, percussion
(6:08)

from: Caravanserai