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Archive of previous FEATURE items

2000 Feature Archive 2001 Feature Archive 2002 Feature Archive 2003 Feature Archive 2004 Feature Archive 2005 Feature Archive 2006 Feature Archive
January 2006......Joe Cocker   •   Live at Montreux 1987  DVD
February 2006......Blowin' In The Caribbean Wind
March 2006......Wilko Johnson   •   Red Hot Rocking Blues
April 2006......T.J. Johnson   •   Hustler's Paradise
The Monthly Feature page was discontinued after April, 2006

January, 2006 Joe Cocker  •  Live At Montreux 1987  [DVD]
(Eagle Rock Entertainment EE39080-9,  ©2005)

Joe was in fine form for this concert at the 1987 Montreux Jazz Festival, the first of several appearances he's made at the festival.  On this DVD, released in 2005, Cocker includes three Dylan songs among the concert's 13 songs.  Opening the video is  Dear Landlord, with  Seven Days  played mid-show.  The last song before the encore is a rousing 8½-minute Watching The River Flow,  featuring blues legend James Cotton on harp and some vocals.  The 3 Dylan covers total almost 20 minutes.  Even without the covers this is a Joe Cocker DVD worth having.

Tracklist:  Dear Landlord / You Can Leave Your Hat On / Feeling Alright / Civilised Man / Inner City Blues / Just Like Always / Up Where We Belong / Seven Days / Shelter Me / With A Little Help From My Friends / You Are So Beautiful / Watching The River Flow / Guilty

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February, 2006Blowin'  In  The  Caribbean  Wind
This month's Feature is for all you, like me, who are in the middle of a cold winter!  These calypso & steel drum tracks from the sunny Caribbean islands of Barbados, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Antigua should warm you up.  I did not intend to do another all  Blowin' In The Wind  feature  (see the July 2005 Feature,) but that was the Dylan song of choice for all these records. 
Little Sparrow and His Singing Steel Pan
Barbados, 1963 (instrumental)   LP: Carib LP-2027

The Merrymen  •  Introducing The Merrymen
Barbados, 1966     UK LP: Columbia/EMI SX6056

Duke Hanna and His Caribbeans • A Perfect Day At Small Hope Bay
Bahamas, 196?     LP: Elite Records OE6
Duke Errol and The Lords  •  Nassau Island
Bahamas, 1964     LP: Tropical Recording CLP-2418

Ronnie & His Ramblers  •  Calypso Bamba
Bahamas, 19??     LP: Elite OE-14

Richie Delamore  •  More of Delamore
Bahamas, 1964     LP: Bahamian Rhythms BRH-44
Little Joe & His Calypsonians  • At The Royal Victoria
Bahamas, 196? (instrumental)     LP: Elite Records OES4

Duke Harris  •  Fun Under Jamaica Sun
Jamaica, 196?     LP: Federal 207

Hell's Gate Steel Band  •  This Is Antigua
Antigua, 196? (instrumental)
This track has been reissued on the 2005 compilation “Sand & Steel: The Classic Sound Of Jamaican Steel Drums”
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March, 2006 Wilko Johnson  •  Red Hot Rocking Blues
Jungle FREUDCD083  (2005)  /  previously released in Japan  (2003)

Wilko Johnson, former member of Dr. Feelgood, recorded several Dylan covers in the '70s and '80s (see the Dylan Covers DataBase.)  On this more recent album, first released in Japan in 2003 and two years later in the UK,  he covers From A Buick 6  and  To Ramona.  Also on the album are several Van Morrison covers.

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April, 2006 T.J. Johnson  •  Hustler's Paradise
CD: Loco Records  LOCOCD009  (2001) - UK

Another Johnson from the UK this month, this time pianist T.J. Johnson.  His style is best described in the liner notes of this 2001 CD: "a subtle but highly infectious mix of swing, blues, soul and saloon songs. It has a powerful, swinging piano lead rhythm with soulful, bluesy vocals. If you like the blues you'll love this album, it stamps T.J.'s unique style on many of the classics, from Dylan to Cash."
Included are three Dylan songs: To Be Alone With You, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, and Don't Think Twice.
Other songs on the very enjoyable album include Johnny Cash's  Folsom Prison Blues, three songs written or co-written by Mac Rebennak (Dr. John): New York City Blues, Such A Night, and Better World Somewhere, and the blues classic Times Getting Tougher Than Tough.
There is also a live version of I'll Be Your Baby Tonight on T.J.'s 2003 CD “Live in Germany,” recorded with his band Bourbon Kick.
Unfortunately it's not easy to find this CD,  I suggest starting at T.J.'s website  www.tjjohnson.co.uk
The Monthly Feature page was discontinued as of May 1, 2006

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5/01/2006