Monday, March 31, 2025

Dylan Cover #675 Margaret Glaspy - In The Summertime

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune comes from Margaret Glaspy and is a live cover of "In The Summertime"  


Thoughts On Original:
When Dylan started moving out from his 'Jesus phase' he wrote songs that could be interpreted as religious, but tended to be more spiritual. These became Shot of Love. Could "In The Summertime" be a straight gospel song? Sure. Is it "clearly and unequivocally an eloquent exposition of relationship with God"? Hmm, not so sure anything Bob writes is clear. Could it just use some religious touchstones to move things languidly along? Probably. Musically the tune is slow moving, as Dylan keeps it calm, working though the spiritual while tying it to the human experience in his own way.   

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE just recently discovered Margaret Glaspy, a NYC based musician. We are going to dig into her catalog because she is fierce. 

Thoughts on Cover:
Anytime a cover makes RtBE go back and reexamine the original, or listen to a Dylan song with new ears, it is an instant win. This live cover from Glaspy and company is dynamite. Her singing, the  musical space, the phrasing (both musical and lyrical) all of it works well as it moves more towards a love song than a gospel proclamation. Also the live audio capturing is fantastic, the fades and delicate playing is top notch. 

A great live cover of a lesser known Dylan song. 
 

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Happy 55th Anniversary to Miles Davis' Bitches Brew

On this day 55 years ago, Miles Davis released one of his most iconic albums, Bitches Brew.


While jazz purists scoffed at the electro based release, the album is his second best selling of all time (only behind Kind of Blue), and opened the doors for jazz fusion (and more rock in general) to enter the jazz world. 

It is also one of RtBE's favorite albums of all time.

Friday, March 28, 2025

Full Show Friday: The Prodigy - Live Rock Am Ring 2009

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...The Prodigy!


Back to 2009 with The Prodigy live from Rock Am Ring for this week's Full Show Friday.

Pro shot, pro sound, enjoy!



0:16 World's on Fire 5:00 Their Law 10:30 Breathe 15:20 Breathe remix 16:50 Omen 20:45 Poison 25:35 Warrior's Dance 29:56 Firestarter 34:55 Run with the Wolves 40:15 Voodoo People 44:20 Comanche 47:05 Omen Reprise 48:00 Invaders Must Die 51:10 Diesel Power 54:25 Smack My Bitch Up 59:49 Take Me to the Hospital

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Album Review: The Paragons - On The Beach with The Paragons

The Paragons
On The Beach with The Paragons
***and1/2 out of *****


The UK based Charley Records specializes in reissues and earlier this year they re-released The Paragons, On The Beach. Originally available in 1967 on Treasure Isle, the rocksteady/reggae offering is a joyful listen with rich harmonies, great sound and flowing groove. 

Happy Opening Day!

I see great things in baseball.  It's our game - the American game.  It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism.  Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set.  Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us.  

~Walt Whitman


RtBE is here to wish you a Happy Opening Day! If you want to read a great piece about baseball check out this excerpt from Roger Angell's The Summer Game

Opening Day should be a national holiday, plain and simple. Once winter is gone (at least officially), Baseball can never arrive soon enough. Here's hoping your favorite team wins, especially if you are a fellow Mets fan. Let's Go Mets!

We know the ghost of Steve Goodman and Eddie Vedder are both rooting for those Cubbies...


Here are some more baseball inspired tunes to start the magical day, when we are all in first place:



Wednesday, March 26, 2025

New Single from Carolyn Wonderland "Sooner or Later"

The Houston, Texas based bluesy guitar playing, soul singing, Carolyn Wonderland has a new single out, "Sooner or Later" via Alligator Records.


Check out the steamin' track below:
 

Album Review: Silver Synthetic - Rosalie

Silver Synthetic
Rosalie
***and1/2 out of *****


For their sophomore release, Rosalie, the New Orleans based Silver Synthetic spiritually traveled west and exhaled under some California sunshine, cruising effortlessly from Bakersfield down to Laurel Canyon. Weeping guitars and added pedal steel twang around restrained songwriting, relaxing the band as the riffs and breathy vocals ease out.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

New Single from Upset Boy and the Queens "Amphetamine Queen"

The Nashville based trio Upset Boy and the Queens have released their new single, "Amphetamine Queen".

Album Review: Kinky Friedman - Poet of Motel 6

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here:

It is of Kinky Friedman's last album, Poet of Motel 6. Friedman passed away last year and this solid offering is a fitting send off.

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review and peeps some video below:


Monday, March 24, 2025

Dylan Cover #674 Daniel Widegren "Spanish Harlem Incident"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Daniel Widegren of the Dylan tune "Spanish Harlem Incident"



Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Easily one of my favorite early songs of Dylan's career, I love the sing-song playing of this tune and it's hints of his musical repertoire opening up.  "OnTheCliffsOfYourWildCatCharmsI'mRiding" combined is such a sweet phrase and how he strung it out it is fantastic.  You can see a young Bob becoming infatuated with a woman he saw, being inspired to write a tune that is filled with primal lust and sexiness.  A song I have always wanted to learn to play and cover...but that is for another post...    

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Band:
This is the first time we are checking out Daniel Widegren, a blues singer from Sweden. 

Thoughts on Cover:
A cool fairly straight ahead acoustic run through of a pretty little song. Well done. 


Saturday, March 22, 2025

Happy 60th Anniversary to Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home

RtBE celebrates Bob Dylan every Monday with our cover series, but today happens to be the 60th Anniversary of the release of his classic Bringing It All Back Home so we wanted to give it a shout out. 


A historic and amazing album. 

Friday, March 21, 2025

Full Show Friday: DIIV - Live @ Nox Orae 2022

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...DIIV!


We reviewed their newest back in August, this week they are our focus on Full Show Friday. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy!




Thursday, March 20, 2025

New Single/Video from Evidence of a Struggle "Give Us A Kiss"

The Chicago based Evidence of a Struggle have a new video/single "Give Us A Kiss" 



Check out the crunchy, throw-back, alt-rocker below:

Album Review: The Robert Cray Band - You Know I Feel Alright (Live in Chicago 1985)

The Robert Cray Band
You Know I Feel Alright (Live in Chicago 1985)
** out of *****


Robert Cray's was one of the best bluesmen to come of age in the 1980's and You Know I Feel Alright (Live in Chicago 1985) captures the artist during a very exciting period, just before his huge breakthrough album, Strong Persuader, which arrived the following year and brought Cray to legendary heights.  

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

New Single/Video from Daisy The Great "Ballerina"

The NYC based duo Daisy The Great have a new single out "Ballerina"


Regarding the song the band say:
“Ballerina represents a childhood dream of perfection: something that is unattainable, but real enough to give yourself something to compare yourself to,” explains the band. “You look for the ballerina in the search for beauty, purpose, talent, body, and success — and prescribe it to the people you see around you and on social media, who seem to have that air of flawlessness. But the truth is they are also looking for ballerinas because we live in a society that feeds you this idea that even though you’re not perfect, someone out there is.”

Check out the revved up, motoring rocker below:

Album Review: Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad - Jazz Is Dead 22

Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Ebo Taylor: Jazz Is Dead 22
**** out of *****

The newest release in Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad's Jazz Is Dead series finds the duo working with a 88 year old Ghanian highlife and Afrobeat pioneer. Ebo Taylor: Jazz Is Dead 22 captures the elder statesmen Ebo Taylor still creating at a high level. 

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

New Single/Video from Dead Pioneers "Mythical Cowboy"

The Denver, Colorado based rockers Dead Pioneers have a new video/single out, "Mythical Cowboy".


Click below to read the band's thoughts about the song and hear it yourself.

Album Review: ZZ Ward - Liberation

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here:



It is of ZZ Ward's newest release, Liberation.

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review and peep some video below:

 

Monday, March 17, 2025

Dylan Cover #673 Van Morrison-"Just Like A Woman" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Van Morrison playing "Just Like A Woman"


Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we covered a cover of this song:
There are a lot of songs about the greatest muse known to man, woman. This one may top the 60's generation when it comes to dealing with Mars and Venus. Respectful in one breath and slightly mocking the next, Dylan can sense the pain, and I think there is a clear honesty in those words. Well maybe "clear" is the wrong term to use, nothing is ever clear with this subject matter. Treating the topic honestly Dylan tackles the differences between the sexes and the difficulties of relationships. Bob nailed this one making it one of his all-time greats. 

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Van Morrison has some amazing albums and some not so amazing. RtBE are big fans of the era of Morrison that this song was recorded during. 

Thoughts on Cover:
A slowed down dramatic live rendition that works with Broadway like hits and builds. Van the man always loved the drama. RtBE also had to pick an Irishman to cover Dylan today. Happy St. Patrick's Day.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing everyone a happy safe and fun St. Patrick's Day from RtBE and we might as well throw in a self plug.


Here is Angels & Vagabonds Irish inspired tune, "Queens Boulevard Serenade":



The story goes...in the lead up to our first St. Paddy's Day gig our band (Angels & Vagabonds) were working on some traditional Irish songs to play and our lead singer/keyboard player Don McNally realized they were basically all the same chords just re-arraigned.

So the Irish American from Woodside, Queens, NYC dug into his past and crafted QBS. He brought it to the group and after a few tweaks it was ready for prime time, we actually played it only about a week after it was written. 

A little inside baseball into our process, now go celebrate by hoisting a pint....Happy St. Paddy's!