Traffic - Mr. Fantasy (1967 - US stereo edition) (@256)

I'll confuse you a little bit with this one. It's the first in the series of rock albums released by Island. But, as you'll probably notice on the uploaded covers, the company that released the album is United Artists and not Island. Moreover you'll notice that the front cover is not the one you have used to see over the years; you'll also notice that Dave Mason is missing from both covers' band photos (even if two of the compositions, among which the band's second single in the UK "Hole In My Shoe", are his). Unfortunately this is the copy I own, which is the US (stereo) release by United Artists and especially the album's second edition there (released in 1968), after the album's title was changed from the initial (for the US audience) "Heaven Is In Your Mind" to "Mr. Fantasy". Even for this copy, Island is mentioned on the back cover as the licenser and the producer of this release. You can read the whole story with the different album versions here. And finally, apart from the trivia, it is an album that fully showcased the genius of Steve Winwood. Away from the restraints of Spencer Davis Group, Traffic's first lp release, an archetype in the British psychedelia, was in its most part his plot.

album review link: here

download link: here (link removed due to a relevant request

Nick Drake - Bryter Layter (1970) (@256)

This masterpiece is the final upload in the series of folk albums released by Island records.

album review link: here

download link: here (link removed)

Fairport Convention - What We Did On Our Holidays (1969) (@256)

I'm sure many of you guessed that the next upload would be a Fairport Convention record. A dream team of musicians including, among others, Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchings.

album review link: here

download link: here (link removed due to a DMCA)

Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (1974) (@256)

This is the second album of the tribute to Island records. Linda's vocals sparkle, Richard's music ranks this among the masterpieces of British folk, while the lyrics are simply devastating. Enjoy.

album review link: here

download link: here

John Martyn - Solid Air (1973) (@256)

OK, let's jump on the bandwagon of all decent rock mags this season, which contain tributes for the 50th anniversary of Island records. I'm thinking to divide my tribute to folk, reggae and pop/rock, but we'll see how it'll go. At first the best release of John Martyn who, sadly, left us recently. Normally, this should've been posted back then. More about the Island story on the posts to come. I'll try to post more often, since similar tributes are on the way for Motown, Warp and Definitive Jux. Oh, and your recommendations/contributions on all aforementioned upcoming tributes are welcome.

John Martyn was the first white solo act to join the roster of the, then, reggae-based Island records. The title track was written for Martyn's close friend Nick Drake.

album review link: here

download link: here (link removed due to a relevant demand.)

Bob Dylan - Interviews (@256)

It's the first time since 1970 (with New Morning lp) that Dylan reaches no1 in the hit parade of albums in the UK. For those that haven't bought his new album yet, I strongly propose the deluxe edition, which includes a whole broadcast of his Theme Time Radio Hour under the subject "Friends and Neighbors", as well as a dvd with Roy Silver, Dylan's manager during the Village years, interviewed. The album itself is simply a must-have.

This upload contains Dylan's interviews and is taken from the highly recommended book "The Bob Dylan Scrapbook: An American Journey, 1956-1966".

01-First radio interview, with Oscar Brand on "Folk Song Festival", WNYC, October 29, 1961
02-Interview with Cynthia Gooding on "Folksinger's Choice" for WBAI, January 13, 1962
03-Interview with Allen Stone for WDTM, October 24, 1965
04-Interview with Martin Bronstein for CBC, February 20, 1966
05-Interview from No Direction Home - On his first introduction to music
06-Interview from No Direction Home - On entertainment in Hibbing, Minnesota
07-Interview from No Direction Home - On meeting Woody Guthrie
08-Interview from No Direction Home - On understanding folk music
09-Interview from No Direction Home - On performing and the Village clubs
10-Interview from No Direction Home - On other performers
11-Interview from No Direction Home - On recording and songwriting
12-Interview from No Direction Home - On the response to the electric sound
13-Interview from No Direction Home - On playing with a band
14-Interview from No Direction Home - On fame

download link: here (mirrorcreator) or here (rapidshare)

Pete Seeger - Birds Beasts Bugs and Fishes (@256)

I'm really happy that I'm posting something about the 90th birthday (on May, 3) of Pete Seeger. His birthday was celebrated last Sunday at Madison Square Garden, and musicians such as Springsteen, Tom Morello, John Mellencamp, Ani DiFranco, Arlo Guthrie, Ben Harper, Billy Bragg, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Martha Wainwright, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Tom Paxton, Richie Havens, Roger McGuinn, Steve Earle and Taj Mahal (among many others) paid tribute to a musician whose contribution in the US culture is enormous. Quoting Tom Morello: "Pete Seeger is a tremendous inspiration, not just for activist musicians, but I believe for all Americans, and a shining example of someone who combines uncompromising activism with heart and soul and a generous spirit. And his enormous catalog of fantastic songs, mixed with his bravery throughout his ninety years of life in standing up for social justice, is unparalleled in American history. (...) I think that Pete is one of the first links in a chain of musicians—before him, maybe Joe Hill, and after him, not just folk musicians like Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, you know, Bruce Springsteen and, you know, those of us who—many on the bill today, including my own Nightwatchman, who try to follow—put our small feet in his big footsteps, but I also think he’s a link in the chain of groups like Rage Against the Machine and System of a Down and the Clash and Public Enemy, music that serves the purpose of social justice, but also music the stands on its own. (...) His antiwar stance, I think—you know, if one four-minute performance of a song could be credited with ending the Vietnam War, it was Pete Seeger on The Smothers Brothers Show, when he sang “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy” in defiance of the censors and in defiance of the blacklist. And I think that was a really heroic moment in the antiwar crusade."

Now, about this upload, since the last post was again overtly political, I chose not to post a protest album of Pete Seeger, but to urge you to discover a not well-known part of his discography. In his long career he has recorded some children's albums; this upload is a compilation from two of those ("Birds, Beasts, Bugs and Little Fishes" and "Birds, Beasts, Bugs and Bigger Fishes") recorded in 1955. I hope your children will enjoy this.

album review link: here

download link: here

Various Artists - Rebel Voices: Songs of the Industrial Workers of the World (@256)

Although I don't consider myself as a radical lefty I can't pass by the message of May Day. Especially this year, where it seems that workers worldwide are paying the greediness of some foolish executives. Check also this relevant post, from 2007.

album review link: here

download link: here