Cassandra Wilson Blue Light til Dawn
- Thread starter Bill Hart
- Start date
This record finally arrived. The sonics are a marvel. I am getting my head around her performance, which is a bit outre, highly recommended for recording quality at a minimum. Apparently most of the tracks were done at Sear Sound in NY.
Rockitman, are you paying attention?
Rockitman, are you paying attention?
Have you heard this reissue, Greg? It is quite a sonic showpiece. I listened to all 4 sides. It's the kind of performance that is going to make me go back and listen again, because it is not a standard cover of anything. The Chris Whitley guitar work on the record was also pretty amazing, I'm trying to track down his discography on vinyl as well.
It's on Pure Pleasure and was apparently back-ordered until now. My comments only apply to the vinyl, have no idea what the digital release (or re-release in other formats) sounds like.
I wouldn't put in the the class of New Moon Daughter
Being recorded at Sears Sound means it was recorded all tube. I like the PP records but they do have a "sound." Of course that varies since they use at least three mastering engineers, in this case Ron McMaster at Capitol. Also interesting to see who she thanks including Michael Cuscuna and Producer Craig Street.
"He has worked with artists such as Norah Jones, k. d. lang, Rebekka Bakken, Cassandra Wilson, Charlie Sexton, Meshell Ndegeocello, Joe Henry, John Legend, The Manhattan Transfer, Chris Whitley and others. Come Away with Me, which he produced for Norah Jones, won a Grammy for album of the year in 2002."
http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/credits/craig-street/498257
Of course, I think I first remember him from his work with Holly Cole.
My question is this the first time it was released on LP? I don't have an earlier copy and don't see it around either. Her other albums like NMD fetch a hefty used price.
Being recorded at Sears Sound means it was recorded all tube. I like the PP records but they do have a "sound." Of course that varies since they use at least three mastering engineers, in this case Ron McMaster at Capitol. Also interesting to see who she thanks including Michael Cuscuna and Producer Craig Street.
"He has worked with artists such as Norah Jones, k. d. lang, Rebekka Bakken, Cassandra Wilson, Charlie Sexton, Meshell Ndegeocello, Joe Henry, John Legend, The Manhattan Transfer, Chris Whitley and others. Come Away with Me, which he produced for Norah Jones, won a Grammy for album of the year in 2002."
http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/credits/craig-street/498257
Of course, I think I first remember him from his work with Holly Cole.
My question is this the first time it was released on LP? I don't have an earlier copy and don't see it around either. Her other albums like NMD fetch a hefty used price.
Give it a go, Myles, be interested in your take. I only got a chance to listen to the whole thing once through so far, but it is pretty impressive, and yes, some of the tracks sound different, owing perhaps to different studio/recording or mastering engineer (i don't have the liner notes in front of me right now). I don't know if it was released on vinyl before either.I wouldn't put in the the class of New Moon Daughter
Being recorded at Sears Sound means it was recorded all tube. I like the PP records but they do have a "sound." Of course that varies since they use at least three mastering engineers, in this case Ron McMaster at Capitol. Also interesting to see who she thanks including Michael Cuscuna and Producer Craig Street.
"He has worked with artists such as Norah Jones, k. d. lang, Rebekka Bakken, Cassandra Wilson, Charlie Sexton, Meshell Ndegeocello, Joe Henry, John Legend, The Manhattan Transfer, Chris Whitley and others. Come Away with Me, which he produced for Norah Jones, won a Grammy for album of the year in 2002."
http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/credits/craig-street/498257
Of course, I think I first remember him from his work with Holly Cole.
My question is this the first time it was released on LP? I don't have an earlier copy and don't see it around either. Her other albums like NMD fetch a hefty used price.
Oh I have it--got BLTD when the reissue first came out. Liked it but not as much as some of her others musically and many of the PP have a little thinness/ss sound to them IMHO.
Not to change the subject but the best PP release I've heard is Lightnin' Hopkins in NY. Have the tape also and it's a sensational recording.
Chris Whitley, Texas. Dead of lung cancer. Played gritty steel/slide stuff, on resonator-type guit-boxes.
http://www.chriswhitley.com/index.php
http://www.chriswhitley.com/index.php
i have this vinyl and like it. Cassandra has a style that i really like and the vocals really come thru nicely.
like Myles i do prefer the music of NMD as more involving to me (BLTD is a bunch or torch standards), but i don't have the vinyl of NMD.
like Myles i do prefer the music of NMD as more involving to me (BLTD is a bunch or torch standards), but i don't have the vinyl of NMD.
I don't do vinyl, but I love Cassandra Wilson and have most of her recordings. The majority are pretty good quality. I forget which album it's on, but she has a cover of Robert Johnson's "Come On In My Kitchen" with an odd, percolating guitar part that is just mesmerizing. Then she comes in singing this nearly 100 year old standard everybody in the world has heard, one that's been covered a hundred times, and she just owns it. A howling, whining, blues that she croooooons, baby.
That's when I like her best, when she's out there working the outter edges of a song or a whole genre. I can get the great American songbook with some studio guys doing their best Nelson Riddle behind every female jazz singer who ever recorded. From Casandra, I want the funk. I want the strong flavor scraped off the bottom of the pot. And I usually get it with really good sonics. That "Come On In My Kitchen" cover? Sounds like it has crawled in bed with you. Won't let you rest.
Tim
That's when I like her best, when she's out there working the outter edges of a song or a whole genre. I can get the great American songbook with some studio guys doing their best Nelson Riddle behind every female jazz singer who ever recorded. From Casandra, I want the funk. I want the strong flavor scraped off the bottom of the pot. And I usually get it with really good sonics. That "Come On In My Kitchen" cover? Sounds like it has crawled in bed with you. Won't let you rest.
Tim
This was released on vinyl, allegedly from the tapes. Anybody have it that can comment (I ordered it already, so don't hold back
Musical tio:
Check out Lizz Wright. All 3 or 4 of her albums are sublime.
A man of taste!!!!! I have a bunch of live recordings too and she can bring it.
Amazingly varied repertoire.
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