Classic Artists, New Releases
jamie on July 12th, 2005
Lack of sleep and a lack of anything truly interesting on the radio this morning prompted me to see what new stuff might be available on my Rhapsody player- and within a few seconds I noticed a small pattern in today’s additions: New releases from "old" artists. "Old" is in quotes like that because these are artists that have been around a while- NOT becuase they are in any way too old to rock, worn out, past their time, or expired- well, at least not the first two.
First up:
Dire Straits - Millionaire Blues
Mark Knopfler has been busy since Dire Straits last album- three solo albums, and numerous film scores. But this is the first new music from the band in whole in over ten years- and it doesn’t sound like a day has passed since they released Brothers In Arms 20 years ago! This isn’t a bad thing at all- the style is nearly timeless. Dire Straits songs will stand the test of time- Romeo and Juliet, Money For Nothing, and Sultans Of Swing are true classics. Millionaire Blues evokes the same classic sound, the same smart and socio-pollitical lyricism, and the same fine musicianship that has been Dire Straits all along.
Next:
Eric Clapton - Revolution
Another artist who’s music stands the test of time, Clapton has moved through four decades making music with an amazing feel for different styles. Best known for blues-rock, Clapton was greatly influenced in the mid-70’s by reggae great Bob Marley, and this influence has shown through on tracks like High, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, in the classic versoin of Dylan’s I Shot The Sherrif, and even in Willie and the Hand Jive. On Revelution, Clapton returns to this love of reggae, and pulls it off with a smooth, silky tone.
Now two classic artists with new releases in one day is cool- THREE might be spectacular. And there was a third "classic" artist with a new release today… unfortunately, it’s:
Rick Springfield - The Day After Yesterday
The actor-turned-one-hit-wonder (Jessie’s Girl) put together an album of 80’s covers that plays like wonderful elevator music. Actually, Springfield’s take on 80’s hits sich as Dream Academy’s Life In A Northern Town, Mr. Mister’s Broken Wings, and For No One aren’t bad- they just aren’t terribly orignal. Yes, they’re covers, I get that, but if you’re going to do an album of cover songs, you shoul do something with those songs to really make them your own- not just sing them like it’s Tuesday night karaoke at the Blue Oyster.
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