Thanks! The more personal these discs are the more they risk alienating the audience, but if we have to err on one side or another I'd rather hear music people are passionate about than listen to neutral gray inoffensive ear candy.
The bands (mostly) make a living playing for contra dances. Most of what they play is a bit more raucous (especially live) but we use waltzes as cool-down laps before breaks, and as performance pieces. The others are classical (Ahn Trio, Portland Cello Project, Takehiro Kunugi) or Celtic traditional bands (Lissa Lynne & Aryeh Frankfurter, Abby Newton & Natalie Haas), with one odd duck, Chris Cunningham (who doesn't play for dances but he and his family dance) for good measure.
STEAM is (mostly) from Kansas. I first heard them at a dance in Ashland, OR. They are pretty big for a dance band 5 pieces) but I love their sound.
Chris Cunningham is a local singer/songwriter/recording engineer. This is from his first solo album, written when he was courting his wife.
I had never heard Elsie Gawler before being introduced to this solo effort, tho she has been part of a legendary family band forever. I like vocals in waltz music and I wish more bands would stretch those legs.
Wild Asparagus is a dance supergroup that performs with as many as 6 members. They are pretty expensive so they only play really big events, but they are so worth it. Early is by Greg Brown.
And yes, that's Fred & Ginger. I doubt I could keep my composure meeting Ginger Rogers long enough to ask her to dance, but I'm sure she'd make me look good.
excellent flow and this disc is very easy to take in and absorb
almost all of it was new to me, yet i just sponged it up
the sort of disc you could hand to anyone of any age and they would appreciate it
feels like a sweeping soundtrack to an epic movie or experience
great job m
The bands (mostly) make a living playing for contra dances. Most of what they play is a bit more raucous (especially live) but we use waltzes as cool-down laps before breaks, and as performance pieces. The others are classical (Ahn Trio, Portland Cello Project, Takehiro Kunugi) or Celtic traditional bands (Lissa Lynne & Aryeh Frankfurter, Abby Newton & Natalie Haas), with one odd duck, Chris Cunningham (who doesn't play for dances but he and his family dance) for good measure.
STEAM is (mostly) from Kansas. I first heard them at a dance in Ashland, OR. They are pretty big for a dance band 5 pieces) but I love their sound.
Chris Cunningham is a local singer/songwriter/recording engineer. This is from his first solo album, written when he was courting his wife.
I had never heard Elsie Gawler before being introduced to this solo effort, tho she has been part of a legendary family band forever. I like vocals in waltz music and I wish more bands would stretch those legs.
Wild Asparagus is a dance supergroup that performs with as many as 6 members. They are pretty expensive so they only play really big events, but they are so worth it. Early is by Greg Brown.
I figured I just wasn't into that genre of music enough to recognize the names, but finding out that they're special enough in their own way to make this concept collection means a lot. Thanks again!
When I first got this, I was a little skeptical thinking âthis ought to put me to sleepâ with lots of orchestrated tunes. I was pleasantly surprised. Now, Iâm not saying this would be to one to put on at work when I really need to produce. But it is a nice relaxing mix. I was ready to take the wife out on the dance floor...
I did find the ones with vocals my favorite numbers here.
And as Mr. D mentioned, Iâve never heard of any of these artists before.
I found some of their names quite unique... if not humorous. Toss the Possum. Wild Asparagus. Names I wouldnât think related to Ballroom Dancing
Some of my favorites...
"Tallgrass" by Steam. You put birdâs, crickets, bugs in songs and I will like the
"¾ Time" by Chris Cunningham. Hereâs one with vocals I really liked. Pleasant number.
"Dip and Sway" by Elise Gawler. More vocals. Very nice.
"Valse por Pele/ Early" by Wild Asparagus. Sweet.
Seems like a lot of Celtic influence going on here. Overall lots of Violins... not much Sax. I prefer the Sax.
Is that Fred and Ginger on the cover? I met Ginger once at an ice cream shop in Palm Desert.
Nice work.
Thanks! The more personal these discs are the more they risk alienating the audience, but if we have to err on one side or another I'd rather hear music people are passionate about than listen to neutral gray inoffensive ear candy.
The bands (mostly) make a living playing for contra dances. Most of what they play is a bit more raucous (especially live) but we use waltzes as cool-down laps before breaks, and as performance pieces. The others are classical (Ahn Trio, Portland Cello Project, Takehiro Kunugi) or Celtic traditional bands (Lissa Lynne & Aryeh Frankfurter, Abby Newton & Natalie Haas), with one odd duck, Chris Cunningham (who doesn't play for dances but he and his family dance) for good measure.
STEAM is (mostly) from Kansas. I first heard them at a dance in Ashland, OR. They are pretty big for a dance band 5 pieces) but I love their sound.
Chris Cunningham is a local singer/songwriter/recording engineer. This is from his first solo album, written when he was courting his wife.
I had never heard Elsie Gawler before being introduced to this solo effort, tho she has been part of a legendary family band forever. I like vocals in waltz music and I wish more bands would stretch those legs.
Wild Asparagus is a dance supergroup that performs with as many as 6 members. They are pretty expensive so they only play really big events, but they are so worth it. Early is by Greg Brown.
And yes, that's Fred & Ginger. I doubt I could keep my composure meeting Ginger Rogers long enough to ask her to dance, but I'm sure she'd make me look good.
Guess it's time for the big reveal. Hope everybody's gotten theirs.
This was, in more ways than one, a pandemic project.
Firstly because there was no dancing, and that left a huge hole in my life. It also left a hole in both the lives and incomes of musicians.
I had started this project shortly after finishing my first collection of waltz music, which has become the one of my mixes I've given out the most copies of. So some of these tunes came into my life back when I could still sneak off for a three-day dance weekend and hear a new band. The collection grew slowly, a couple of tunes a year. Then cam covid.
Boy howdy did I jones for dancing, and all the bands and musicians I had danced to retreated to the studio or the podcast booth or Patreon to get some income and express themselves. So I bought a lot of music.
One of the biggest influences on my tastes and attention was Julie Vallimont, who was part of a duo we had hired for our local weekend and had to cancel on...twice. She started a podcast called Stars In the Rafters where she highlighted music and poetry from friends and colleagues in the dance world, and introduced me to a bunch of new artists. She is also one of a select few musicians who are really good at writing waltzes. She appears on (if I'm remembering right) four of these tracks, but her fingerprints are all over this effort.
Not many words. This is music with a purpose—moving dancers—but if you're in the right mood it works just to listen to. f you get up and dance, well...bonus.
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Aug 12, 2022 - 2:49pm
When I first got this, I was a little skeptical thinking âthis ought to put me to sleepâ with lots of orchestrated tunes. I was pleasantly surprised. Now, Iâm not saying this would be to one to put on at work when I really need to produce. But it is a nice relaxing mix. I was ready to take the wife out on the dance floor...
I did find the ones with vocals my favorite numbers here.
And as Mr. D mentioned, Iâve never heard of any of these artists before.
I found some of their names quite unique... if not humorous. Toss the Possum. Wild Asparagus. Names I wouldnât think related to Ballroom Dancing
Some of my favorites...
"Tallgrass" by Steam. You put birdâs, crickets, bugs in songs and I will like the
"¾ Time" by Chris Cunningham. Hereâs one with vocals I really liked. Pleasant number.
"Dip and Sway" by Elise Gawler. More vocals. Very nice.
"Valse por Pele/ Early" by Wild Asparagus. Sweet.
Seems like a lot of Celtic influence going on here. Overall lots of Violins... not much Sax. I prefer the Sax.
Is that Fred and Ginger on the cover? I met Ginger once at an ice cream shop in Palm Desert.
Another fine add to the Club. very good for a first time effort.
Though I'm sure this is not your first time!
And it sounded good. A
* I'm very familiar with Bill Nelson. Well, at least the Be Bop Deluxe days. I was turned on to Be Bop Deluxe by KROQ â FM â Los Angeles. Back then they really didn't know what to play.
And I'm thankful for that. I have all of Be Bop Deluxe on vinyl and CD. Great add. * For some reason this song wouldn't play on my computer. But I'm familiar with this one. Thanks for putting this on the disc... even though I couldn't hear it! Thanks for reminding me I need to add some Warm Jets to my playlist. * Always kind of fonda of Lorde. Nice add. Nice song. * Sleep with Todd and Joe. Really can't go wrong with these two guys. * Soul Coughing has always been on my list. Another nice add! * A Chicago song I'm not familiar with! Like the deep cut-ness of this one. B
* Not a all familiar with Brian Protheroe. Thanks for letting me about him. Will investigate further. * Some of my favorite songs are from this era of Elvis. Again, nice add. * Kevin Gilbert- Another artist I'm not familiar with. Thanks for including this song.* Stevie Wonder is one of those artist that most of his music I don't particularly like. But.. some of my favorite music is by him. It's an enigma, I tell you.
This is one of the songs that I really liked by him. Probably because I didn't get played to death. * Alaska Suite- At first I thought this was one of those quirky Frank Zappa tunes. Well, I guess all of Frank's tunes could be called that.
It grew on me like the moss grows in Alaska. * That Manzanera Feeling sounds Pink Floydy. Not a bad thing though. I've never heard this one before. Thanks for the great effort you put in this disc.
My ears thank you.
slammed and i'd like to piggy-back on this sentiment
steely d turned me on to kevin gilbert and i've been a fan since
in fact when i think of steely d the first thing that pops up? the kevin gilbert intro
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Jul 18, 2022 - 5:06am
Steely_D wrote:
So weird to hear that some song didnât play or that there was artifact. I did everything on GarageBand using it to feed one song into another which is why each Side is more or less continuous. Then, exported the entire song sequence to a .wav file and burned that to disc. But, lesson learned. Next time everything will be MP3 on a playable disk. Thanks for feedback; it was my pleasure.
I've had a disc I sent out to Scott that lost a song in the process.
I still try to check each disc I do because of that.
I forgot to mention how I liked your flow of songs. Just like a radio station that flows a song right into the next one.
I do have the option with I Tunes to adjust the spacing between songs. I think I'll shorten the spacing my next go round.
So weird to hear that some song didnât play or that there was artifact. I did everything on GarageBand using it to feed one song into another which is why each Side is more or less continuous. Then, exported the entire song sequence to a .wav file and burned that to disc. But, lesson learned. Next time everything will be MP3 on a playable disk. Thanks for feedback; it was my pleasure.
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Jul 17, 2022 - 6:20pm
Steely_D wrote:
Headphones Only - June 2022
Side A
Photograph (A Beginning)
Bill Nelson
On Some Faraway Beach
Brian Eno
Tennis Court
Lorde
Sleep
Todd Rundgren w/ Joe Walsh
4 Out of 5
Soul Coughing
Now That Youâve Gone
Chicago
Side B
Every Roman Knows
Brian Protheroe
Green Shirt
Elvis Costello
Goodness Gracious
Kevin Gilbert
Heâs Misstra Know-It-All
Stevie Wonder
Alaskan Suite - Ascent
Lyle Mays
That Falling Feeling
801/Manzanera
Another fine add to the Club.
Not bad for a first time effort.
Though I'm sure this is not your first time!
And it sounded good.
A
* I'm very familiar with Bill Nelson. Well, at least the Be Bop Deluxe days. I was turned on to Be Bop Deluxe by KROQ â FM â Los Angeles. Back then they really didn't know what to play.
And I'm thankful for that. I have all of Be Bop Deluxe on vinyl and CD. Great add.
* For some reason this song wouldn't play on my computer. But I'm familiar with this one. Thanks for putting this on the disc... even though I couldn't hear it! Thanks for reminding me I need to add some Warm Jets to my playlist.
* Always kind of fonda of Lorde. Nice add. Nice song.
* Sleep with Todd and Joe. Really can't go wrong with these two guys.
* Soul Coughing has always been on my list. Another nice add!
* A Chicago song I'm not familiar with! Like the deep cut-ness of this one.
B
* Not a all familiar with Brian Protheroe. Thanks for letting me about him. Will investigate further.
* Some of my favorite songs are from this era of Elvis. Again, nice add.
* Kevin Gilbert- Another artist I'm not familiar with. Thanks for including this song.
* Stevie Wonder is one of those artist that most of his music I don't particularly like. But.. some of my favorite music is by him. It's an enigma, I tell you.
This is one of the songs that I really liked by him. Probably because I didn't get played to death.
* Alaska Suite- At first I thought this was one of those quirky Frank Zappa tunes. Well, I guess all of Frank's tunes could be called that.
It grew on me like the moss grows in Alaska.
* That Manzanera Feeling sounds Pink Floydy. Not a bad thing though. I've never heard this one before.
Thanks for the great effort you put in this disc.
My ears thank you.
Interesting that this simulation of the two-sided LP experience starts with a Max Headroom digital stutter!
The Bill Nelson tune sort of set the mood for this disc. New artist to me.
Brian Eno was a lot more familiar. And Phil Manzanera too...where's Fripp? Was on alert for the rest of Roxy Music as I listened.
Didn't expect to like Lorde but I did. Expected to like Soul Coughing and did. Was a bit crunchier than the rest of the mix.
Brian Protheroe was new to me. Dug his lyrics and the Monty Python-esque outro.
I have loved Green Shirt from the first time I heard it, but the solo acoustic version seems drained of the cold menace I liked so much in the original. The additional last verse didn't make up for the missing drum and organ outro.
Now the Kevin Gilbert tune had some edge to it. Another new artist to me. Reminds me of James McMurtry a little.
Did not think there was a Stevie Wonder song I didn't know!
Not sure it's possible to reconcile the CD format with the stop-in-the-middle effect of LPs without resorting to two discs. Tom Petty tried it on his Full Moon Fever album, where he had a short interlude with him describing why there needed to be a pause in fairness to LP listeners with a parrot squawking in the background. Looking back on it from the modern era (when the mere physicality of a CD is quaint) it's adorable, but I'm not even sure later pressings of the CD included that. Gotta admire the attempt tho.
So it's my turn next. Discs are burnt, just need you to pm me your address and I'll let them loose next week.
Side A
* Nice little short intro from Mr. Nelson. Don't know him, like his sound though.
* The way my player software (Media Monkey) presented the CD was as Side 1, Side 2. So I didn't realize the Eno song wasn't a continuation of Photograph. He and Nelson should collaborate
* I have mixed thoughts on Todd's White Knight but do like this selection. Forgot that Joe Walsh was on it.
* EXCELLENT CHOICE of a deep track from Chicago circa 1972
Side B
* I really, really liked the Protheroe, right in my wheelhouse. I explored a little (can't do that in the truck!) and found Pinball which was familiar (RP maybe, an old RPMCC mix?) I now have him on my list of artist's to explore more of. Made my day :)
* I'm a prog rock fan and haven't had the pleasure of hearing Kevin Gilbert before. He's GOOD!
* Wish I had headphones for the Lyle Mays offering, lot of cool layers happening here.
* 801 looks like quite the Super Group. Do you have this on vinyl I'm wondering?
Thatâs the first song on the first album by Bill Nelson, who went on to be BeBop Deluxe. Recommended: Live in the Air Age
Check the youtube of that Chicago tune live at the ranch. The epitome of Chicago, IMHO. Everyone hits their respective marks beautifully.
Iâm the guy who incessantly wanted Pinball on RP. Met Protheroe in London at few years ago after trading email with him for years. He and his writing partner Martin Duncan made some fantastic, creative, fun albums in the early 70s.
Kevin Gilbert is amazing. Check out âThudâ and read up on how Sheryl Crowe was his girl before she stood on his back and became famous. Or see if you can find the video of how he showed up at a Prog Rock convention and fronted a band playing all of The Lamb in front of that discerning crowd. Balls.
Lyle died recently, and itâs a damned shame. His work straddles prog and jazz. This is a potion of a longer tune from his first solo record.
And 801 has a legendary live album (you hear my TNK submission sometimes on RP) and then this subtle studio album with all kinds of greatness on it. Easily one of my desert island discs.
Despite my lack of Hi-Fidelity options I was able to thoroughly enjoy this mix sans Headphones. First time playing a mix on a computer instead of in the truck in the 10 years or so I've been in the club, different experience for sure but a treat actually. At some point in the very near future my next truck won't have a CD player so I'll have to do some upgrades to make the most of my computer listening pleasure. Enough about THAT, onto the music.
Side A
* Nice little short intro from Mr. Nelson. Don't know him, like his sound though.
* The way my player software (Media Monkey) presented the CD was as Side 1, Side 2. So I didn't realize the Eno song wasn't a continuation of Photograph. He and Nelson should collaborate
* I have mixed thoughts on Todd's White Knight but do like this selection. Forgot that Joe Walsh was on it.
* EXCELLENT CHOICE of a deep track from Chicago circa 1972
Side B
* I really, really liked the Protheroe, right in my wheelhouse. I explored a little (can't do that in the truck!) and found Pinball which was familiar (RP maybe, an old RPMCC mix?) I now have him on my list of artist's to explore more of. Made my day :)
* I'm a prog rock fan and haven't had the pleasure of hearing Kevin Gilbert before. He's GOOD!
* Wish I had headphones for the Lyle Mays offering, lot of cool layers happening here.
* 801 looks like quite the Super Group. Do you have this on vinyl I'm wondering?
Spectacular Debut to the club! Dare I say on a par with Can't Buy a Thrill? LOL we all wish. Look forward to your sophomore effort.