Love That Album Podcast Episode 154 - Joni Mitchell's Hejira

 

The late 60s to early 70s saw a popular run of troubadours, aka singer / songwriters who were usually known for performing acoustic songs, often of a confessional nature or trying to make sense of the world through their work. The best ones sought out new musical territory as they progressed through their work.

Welcome to episode 154 of Love That Album podcast.

Joni Mitchell’s run of albums from the late 60s onwards were beloved of fans of songwriters. She had a way with unusual chord progressions and very personal storytelling. Very much a part of the Laurel Canyon scene, albums like Ladies of the Canyon and Clouds were well received acoustic guitar and piano based records. She evolved stylistically from folk based pop to pop with jazz leanings over a run of albums in the 70s.

In 1976, Joni released Hejira, a collection of songs related to travel – flight, hotel rooms, the musician’s life versus domesticity, affairs had on tour. Many people consider her earlier album Blue with its songs of love and its failings to be her masterpiece. As great as that is, I’m on team Hejira. It was written while Joni was on the road, and it sounds like the wide open plains and deserts it was probably written in. The compositions are incredibly dense, but the real secret weapon to the success of the album is Weather Report bassist, Jaco Pastorius.

Once again, I am thrilled to be joined by film writer, Kerry Gately Fristoe and guitarist, Shane Pacey. We look into Joni’s history, the themes behind Hejira, compare the differences between that album and Blue, and we also find time to diss each other’s musical tastes in other areas…..as you do. These two fellow music enthusiasts always bring something great to the conversation....looking forward already to their next appearance.

Have a read of Kerry’s excellent essays at https://prowlerneedsajump.wordpress.com/author/echidnabot/ and https://www.brattleblog.brattlefilm.org/author/kerry-fristoe/

 Shane has just released a wonderful album with his new band Pacey, King, and Doley. You can order a copy of Better Together from their Bandcamp site, https://paceykingdoley.bandcamp.com/album/better-together

Download this episode of LTA from wherever you prefer getting your podcasts.

Love That Album is proudly part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Go to http://pantheonpodcasts.com to check out all their great shows.

You can send me feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review I’d be immensely grateful. However, it’d be even better if you told a friend about the podcast and Pantheon – at a barbecue, over coffee, on social media….whatever way you choose, consider me grateful.

Proudly Pantheon.

Download episode 154 from here.

Love That Album podcast Episode 103 - Sienna Dahlen “Ice Age Paradise”

Welcome to episode 103 of Love That Album podcast.

In July 2017, I went with my family to the other side if the world - Canada to be precise - to take in the magnificent musical experience that is the Montreal Jazz Festival. We heard jazz fusion, free jazz,bop, soul, New Orleans funk, bluegrass.....and then there's the shimmering beauty that is the music of the Juno-winning British Columbian songwriter, Sienna Dahlen. Her performance with a rhythm section, a string section and a horn section in front of hundreds (maybe thousands) of music fans in the Place Des Arts was nothing short of breathtaking.

I was astounded to learn that her latest album Ice Age Paradise, from which the concert material was sourced, was recorded in a mere two days. Upon my return to Australia, I contacted Sienna to discuss her album, her musical development, and winter.I was also fortunate that her father Laine was with her. Laine is an amazing artist and a songwriter to boot - one of his songs appears on Ice Age Paradise. It was a fascinating chat and I hope that you enjoy it and discovering her music.

Eric Reanimator returns with his Album I Love segment to talk about Carla Bozulich and her track-for-track interpretation of the classic Willie Nelson album Red Headed Stranger (and Willie is so impressed, he even graces her with his presence on three songs).

You can download the show by searching for Love That Album in the iTunes store or downloading streaming directly from http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com.

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.


You can order a download copy of Ice Age Paradise from https://siennadahlen1.bandcamp.com/releases or you can email her at siennadahlen@gmail.com to order a physical copy of the album (either CD or vinyl). Order a copy....you'll thank me later.


Check out the amazing artwork and music of Laine Dahlen at https://www.lainedahlen.com/

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune into the podcast.

Right click to download and save Episode 103 from here.

Love That Album podcast Episode 95 - Jazz Mystery Box #2

Welcome to episode 95 of Love That Album.

To some folks in the podcasting world, we’re in the month of Shocktober. At LTA headquarters, it’s Jazztober and Maurice is celebrating by doing the second Jazz Mystery Box episode (Check out LTA #84 with Terry Frost for the first one). Maurice has picked three jazz albums from his collection he wants to notify the podcast listening world about, and then proceeds to do just that. What are the albums? THAT is the mystery. Download the show and find out.

Maurice make no claims to being a jazz expert – there are people who know a ton more than he does, both in the history and the music theory of jazz. All he's doing is using his enthusiasm for these albums to get some recommendations across.

Eric Reanimator gets his jazz mojo working with his Album I Love segment to talk about the jazz soundtrack for the 1988 Mike Figgis film, “Stormy Monday”.

You truly don’t have to be a jazz fan to dig this episode….but of course if you are, you should still enjoy.

You can download the show by searching for Love That Album in the iTunes store or downloading streaming directly from http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group 

at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, we’d be immensely grateful.

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune in.

Right click to download and save Episode 95 here   

Love That Album episode 84 - The Mystery Box #2 - Great Jazz Albums

It’s time for episode 84 of Love That Album podcast and Mystery Box #2.

What is the Mystery Box? In March of this year on episode 73, Michael Pursche and David Blom joined me to talk about a number of great Australian albums worthy of your attention, but no one knew up front what albums the others would discuss.

For the second Mystery Box episode, I am joined by Paleo Cinema and Martian Drive In Podcast host Terry Frost to talk about bebop, swing, fusion, trad, big band, and free-jazz – in short, we will discuss a number of jazz albums we dig and think you listeners need in your lives if you don’t have them already there.

In relation to one of my picks, I also present an interview with incredible Australian jazz drummer, David Jones. A veteran player of both the rock and jazz worlds, David has much to say about his time spent in one of the great Australian jazz fusion bands of the late seventies and early eighties, as well as his passion for the music and making sure audiences come away laughing as well as digging on the music. My huge thanks to Carmen Warrington for arranging this interview with me.

Eric Reanimator is back with another Album I Love segment to talk about a couple of albums by beatnik jazz performer Ralph. Who is Ralph? Tune in and find out.

Even if you’re not a jazz fan, tune in for the great chats I have with Terry and David and get a feel for the diversity of our selections.

Send the show feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum.

If you’d consider writing an iTunes review or recommending the show to a friend, I’d be immensely grateful.

If you enjoy what you hear, please tell a friend or ten to tune in.

Right click to download and save Episode 84 here.

Love That Album podcast episode 50 - Beneath The planet of Shooting The Shit

Love That Album is baaaaaaaaaaccccckkkkk. Did you miss us??????

Not only that, but the podcast turns 50 episodes old.

It took a while, but with (most) technical difficulties overcome, I can now happily lay episode 50 of Love That Album on you – 6 weeks or so after it was originally due. I dub the episode “Beneath The Planet of Shooting The Shit”.

To celebrate this milestone in the show, I invited the members of the Shooting The Shit Crew- Tim Merrill, Eric Peterson, John Stirrat, and Michael Pursche to join in a discussion on our favourite box sets. Are box sets a dying breed? What was their purpose in the first place – to create interest for the novice or give unknown treasures for the long time fan? What makes for a great box set? The big one: what are the greatest box sets released? These life enriching questions are all discussed on the program. It was a fascinating discussion, and I thank these fine people for giving of their time and expertise. A special thanks should be given to Geoff Smith who was available for the show, but Skype gave us difficulties in letting Geoff onto the conversation, Rest assured, he will be back on the program soon.

Fittingly, to accompany the discussion of garage, blues, punk, Americana, pop and jazz, music for the show is provided courtesy of Scriabin, Beethoven and Chopin.

At this mini milestone for the show, my thanks go to anyone who has ever guested on the show, provided feedback and encouragement, or just listened to the damn thing. I love doing this podcast and am gratified that a bunch of you out there enjoy listening. Here’s to the next 50 shows.

You can download the podcast at iTunes by searching for “love that album”. You can stream or download it at “http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com”.

The podcast can also be listened to via Stitcher Radio. Download the app from stitcher.com, and listen to any episode streaming over your Android or Apple device after searching for “love that album”.

Send me any feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum and start a discussion on your favourite box sets.

Right click to download and save Episode 50 here