Sunday 8 January 2012 - Mitch's Musical Review of 2011

The Surfaris - Wipeout
Album: Wipe Out, Surfer Joe & Other Great Hits
1973 Compilations (out of print) Reissued 2005: Magic

Adele - Someone like you

Album: 21

2010: XL

John Barry - James Bond Theme

Album: John Barry - The Best of the EMI Years

1999: EMI

Etta James - I just want to make love to you

Album: The Very Best of Etta James: The Chess Singles

2005: Spectrum

Jessie J - Price tag

Album: Who You Are

2011: Lava

Quincy Jones - Soul bossa nova

Album: Big Band Bossa Nova

1998: Verve

Adele - Rolling in the deep

Album: 21

2011: XL

Buddy Guy - Skanky

Album: Living Proof

2010: Jive / Sony

Charlie Haden Quartet West ftg Melody Gardot - If I'm lucky

Album: Sophisticated Ladies

2010: Universal

Tinariwen, K'naan and Los Lobos - Tamatant tilay / Exodus

Album: Herbie Hancock - The Imagine Project

2010: Hancock / Sony

Michael Buble - Haven't met you yet

Album: Crazy Love

2009: Reprise / Warner

Bob Dylan - Don't think twice, it's alright

Album: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

1963: Sony / Columbia

ARTISTIC LOSS of 2011 - RIP Amy Winehouse

Rehab

Album: Back to Black

2006: Universal Island

+

With Tony Bennett - Body and soul

Album: Tony Bennett Duets 2

2011: Sony

+

Our day will come

Album: Lioness: Hidden Treasures

2011: Universal Island

Chris Barber's Six-Piece ftg Jools Holland - Winin' boy blues

Album: Memories of my Trip

2011: Proper

Beverley Knight - Mama used to say

Album: Soul UK

2011: Hurricane

Ben Waters ftg PJ Harvey - Lonely Avenue

Album: Boogie 4 Stu, A Tribute to Ian Stewart

2011: Eagle

John Legend & The Roots - I wish I knew how it would feel to be free

Album: Wake Up!

2010: Sony

Mavis Staples - Wonderful Saviour 

Album: You Are Not Alone

2010: Anti

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Midnight in Harlem

Album: Revelator

2011: Sony Masterworks

Sunday 27 December 2009 - Mitch's Musical Review of the Year - Extended Playlist

REVIEW OF 2009:
Lady Gaga: Poker face
Album: The Fame
2009: Polydor

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Gone, gone, gone
Album: Raising Sand
2007: Decca

Adele: Chasing pavements
Album: 19
2008: XL

Black Eyed Peas: Boom, boom, pow
Album: The E.N.D
2009: Polydor

BB King: Sitting on top of the world
Album: One Kind Favour
2008: Geffen Records

Florence & The Machine: Rabbit heart (Raise it up)
Album: Lungs
2009: Island

Jamie Cullum: I'm all over it
Album: The Pursuit
2009: Decca



Susan Boyle: I dreamed a dream
Album: I Dreamed a Dream
2009: Sony

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys: Empire state of mind
Single: Empire State of Mind
2009: Roc Nation

Duffy: Stepping stone
Album: Rockferry
2008: Polydor

Michael Jackson: Thriller
Album: Thriller
1982: Sony

Gabriella Cilmi: Sweet about me
Album: Lessons to be Learned
2008: Universal / Island

Blur: The universal
Album: The Great Escape
1995: Food

Little Boots: Remedy
Album: Hands
2009: 679 / Atlantic



Bellamy Brothers: Let your love flow
Album: Number One Hits
2008: Curb

Taylor Swift: Love story
Album: Fearless
2009: Mercury



The Shangri-Las: Leader of the pack
Album: Leader of the Pack
2003: Hallmark

Patrick Swayze: She's like the wind
Album: Dirty Dancing OST
1987: BMG

Whitney Houston: Million dollar bill
Album: I Look to You
2009: Arista



Michael Buble: Haven't met you yet
Album: Crazy
2009: 143 / Reprise



Melody Gardot: Baby, I'm a fool
Album: My One and Only Thrill
2009: Verve / UCJ

The Third Degree: Mercy
Album: Uncovered (Various artists)
2009: Ministry of Sound

Sunday 15 February 2009 Chat

Pleased as I was to see Duffy, Estelle and Adele receive Grammy honours, I was chuffed to bits that BB King, now 83 years of age, has been recognised for his brilliant album, 'One Kind Favour'.
Possibly his best work of the past 10 or more years, this album compares favourably with the all-time best Traditional Blues Albums.
Incredible work justly rewarded.
As if that wasn't enough, the Blind Boys of Alabama won their fifth Traditional Gospel Grammy for the fantastic 'Down in New Orleans'. What an amazing legacy for gospel music.
But it was Robert Plant who with Alison Krauss (now winner of 26 Grammy awards!) who picked up 5 awards and stole this year's show.
The blissful harmonies and delicate production by T Bone Burnett rightly won 'Raising Sand' Album of the Year, plus Record of the Year for Just Read the Letter, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Rich Woman, Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album & Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, for Killing the Blues. Some haul!
And Alison Krauss is now just one Grammy away from Quincy Jones's living record of 27 Grammy wins.
Finally, because it was released earlier in the States which brought it into the eligibility period, my current album of the month, the fabulous Dr John & the Lower 911, with their album 'City that Care Forgot', won the gong for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Happy? If there had been a chandelier handy I would still be swinging from it!

* * * * * * * * * * *

After the success of ValeFest's pilot music festival, Winterval (25-31 January) here in the Vale of Belvoir (pronounced 'Beaver'), I've received some quite humbling comments and testimonials from children, bands and others involved in the project.
Taking on the task without payment, if anyone ever asks whether all the effort to bring the community together through music, promote local musicians and help the local economy was worthwhile, I have only to look at those messages.
Some are or will be featured the ValeFest website shortly. Meanwhile, here's an example from a Vale of Belvoir venue manager;
"After talking to Mitch at length about the idea of ValeFest I decided it was a great idea and I'm glad we got involved.
"We thought at The Manners Arms that we would be best suited to an acoustic session held in our bar and lounge area, partly due to the night we chose and also the question would we fill it?
"Well, what can I say? - we had the busiest Thursday in months! We were full from 7.30 til close and a great night was had by all.
"This is definitely something we'd do again and help to support the ValeFest vision."

Paul Hoad,Chef Manager
The Manners Arms, Knipton

How cool it that?!