Two-Lane Blacktop – You Can Never Go Fast Enough

Some said it was an answer to the commercial success of Easy Rider. Released exactly two years after the “first ever” road-movie directed by Dennis Hopper (read here), Universal Pictures asked Rudolph Wurlitzer and Monte Hellman to build a story around a journey of two friends from West to East USA, the name: Two-Lane Blacktop.
In both movies you’ll find a lot of similarities: bikes/cars, two bikers/two drag racers, two main protagonists (Dennis Hopper + Peter Fonda / James Taylor + Dennis Wilson), who picked up a hitch-hiker during the trip (Luke Askew / Laurie Bird) and are joined by a third character (Jack Nicholson / Warren Oates), etc, etc…
The only difference is the soundtrack, unlike Easy Rider Two-Lane Blacktop music is not a major actor of the movie (except the original version of Me and Bobby McGee performed by the song's author Kris Kristofferson), and no soundtrack had ever been released which is a surprise when you know that, the two stars of the film, James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, could contribute with some very good music.
So, we had to wait April 2003 to find a Tribute album to Two-Lane Blacktop this definitive road movie that I saw again on public television one night two weeks ago. It is call You Can Never Go Fast Enough; you’ll find the Tracklisting here. I was happy to purchase one copy, Yeap! A special mention to Roy Montgomery for his contribution.

More: Wikipedia and All Music or Two-Lane Blacktop Tribute Website

James Taylor - Fire And Rain .mp3
James Taylor - Sweet Baby James .mp3
James Taylor - You've Got A Friend .mp3
Roy Montgomery - Sterling Morrison Corner 10th And First 1966.mp3
Roy Montgomery - Zabriske Point (Part 1).mp3

Dennis Wilson – Pacific Ocean Blue

“…Loneliness is a very special place
To forget is something that I never done.
Silently, silently you touch my face.”
Thoughts Of You – Dennis Wilson, Pacific Ocean Blue (1977)

There was a time, in the ‘70s, when records came from nowhere and knocked you down for ever. I mean records like Berlin (73) by Lou Reed, No Other (74) by Gene Clark, What’s Going On (71) by Marvin Gaye, Time Fades Away (73) by Neil Young, All Thing Must Pass (70) by George Harrison and, of course, the one and only Pacific Ocean Blue (77) by Dennis Wilson.
All of those LPs mean something very personal for all listeners who had the chance to share and experience the music of those masterpieces at that time. Each one built a very strong and rich relation between the artist and the listener based on the music and the lyrics. Maybe because all of them have in common one simple link: the loneliness. Since, Gene Clark, Marvin Gaye, George Harrison and Dennis Wilson passed away.
I was a little bit scared of what will come from the digital treatment of this first time ever (official) released of the first solo LP to be released by a member of the legendary Beach Boys, Mister Dennis Wilson. I bought the deluxe 2 CD Legacy Edition and I must admit that I am amazed by the sound and the packaging. Just, I have only two slight comments, first, Bambu (The Caribou Sessions) and all the Bonus Tracks should have been released separately in a special CD later on, second, I miss the moment after Thoughts Of You (end of side A) when I had to stand up from my coach and turn the record and put the needle on side B… a moment of silence and meditation.
So June 17 is a special day and like the liner notes say: “Newcomers will be amazed as they discover the musical treasure within one of rock’s cult classics.” Please be one of them, don’t hesitate and enjoy.
Oh, by the way, my vinyl copy won’t be anymore a collector now… shit!

Web: pacificoceanblue.net

Dennis Wilson - River Song .mp3
Dennis Wilson - Thoughts Of You .mp3
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass .mp3
Berlin - Sad Song .mp3 via The Rising Storm

Head To Head - Radiohead vs. Portishead

We’re only in June and so far since the beginning of the year I listened to more attractive records that during 2007. Thanks to Sun Kil Moon, to Gregor Samsa, Shearwater, MGMT or to Tindersticks. Also, I discovered promising or confirmed talents like, to name but just a few, Emily Jane White or Jeffrey Foucault.
I didn't mention Radiohead, In Rainbows (the CD!), which I bought on New Year’s Eve and never reviewed here on Leaky Sparrow. To be honest it’s the record that I have listened the most frequently since the beginning of the year; it's never boring even after dozens of listening. Portishead, Third, was very much expected and didn’t disappoint me at all. The record is just too good, full of incredible ideas and perfectly produced. It’s a very strong work exactly like the Radiohead one. Those two records were made by artists who work on a very very high level of creativity.
Of course, I am far from having heard everything that was released during the six first months of 2008 - thanks for my ears! Sure I missed some jewels here and there, please let me know which ones.
In few days, the Dennis Wilson, Ocean Pacific Blue, will be out. It's one of my favorite LP of all time. I said LP because vinyl is the only version that I have of that masterpiece. As soon as I will purchased it next week in CD (June 16th), I'll tell you why it is so important to spend your next summer with the music of Dennis Wilson.

Web: www.radiohead.com/deadairspace
Web: www.portishead.co.uk

Portishead - The Rip .mp3 (Third) via Music Is Art
Radiohead - The Rip (Portishead Cover) .mp3 via Music Is Art
Portishead - Machine Gun .mp3 (Third)

Bonus: Radiohead - Life In A Glass House .mp3