Diana Krall - Night Train

This is a live performance by contemporary jazz musician Diana Krall playing her version of the Oscar Peterson jazz song "Night Train". The performance is from the TV-show "Spectacle" normally hosted by Elvis Costello, but for this special artist hosted by none other than Elton John. I watched the interview and saw all of the performances from the show just yesterday, and I can honestly say that from just that till to day Diana Krall got herself a new fan. Everything from the way she talked about the music, her upbringing and her only beginning to sing seriously at age 26 due to insecurities on her behalf. It was just fascinating and she's truly a musician who loves music and wants to interoperate it for herself.
Before she started playing this song she talked about Oscar Peterson and about how big an influence he was on her and her music. She also talks a little bit about that following the performance posted in the clip above.
But this is a great performance and I definitely recommend checking out both Oscar Peterson and Diana Krall. I know I will.

Enjoy ; )

AC/DC - Highway to Hell

This is a live performance by Australian hard rock band AC/DC playing their classic song "Highway to Hell" live at Donnington '91.
The song is the title track of the album and the album was released in 1979. This was band's sixth studio album (It was the 5th international release by the band). This was also the last album to feature singer Bon Scott, at this performance Brian Johnson who replaced Scott is singing. The album is one of the band's best selling ending at 7x platinum which was very very good, though they outdid these numbers with their following releases.
It's a great song and it's all that rock 'n' roll and hard rock is supposed to be. The lyrics reflect the hard life style of being on the road and Angus Young does a solo where he borrows heavily from Chuck Berry. Doesn't get much better than that.

Enjoy ; )

Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy

This is a live performance by blues legend Muddy Waters playing the classic song Mannish Boy. It was released by Waters in 1955 on Chess records.
The song is an arrangement of and an answer song to Bo Diddley's song "I'm a Man". (Click here for a previous post of this song) Diddley's song on the other hand was heavily inspired by Muddy's song "Hoochie Coochie Man" written by Willie Dixon. "Mannish Boy" borrows the one chord stop-time arrangement and is also partially credited to Diddley.
It's quite a famous song and it's been done by other artists as well. It's been done live by both Roger Daltrey and Queen. Also Jimi Hendrix has done a version of this song. And it was recently featured in a H&M commercial sung by a woman who quite frankly slaughters the song. It's just so wrong to see a blues number covered and featured in a fashion commercial, plus why the hell did they hire a woman to record it. Does it make much sense for a woman to sing "now I'm a man"? No of course not!
So yeah listen to the original and listen to both Diddley's and Waters' version of this great composition. And avoid the H&M commercial like the plaque!

Enjoy ; )

Howlin' Wolf - Love Me Darlin' (Stevie Ray Vaughan)

These are both live performances of the classic Howlin' Wolf song "Love Me Darlin'". The top video is a performance by Wolf who also wrote the song. The performance is from 1964 and next to Howlin' Wolf performing we have Hubert Sumlin, Sunnyland Slim on piano, Willie Dixon on bass and Clifton James on drums.
Stevie Ray Vaughan covered the song in the studio on his 1989 release "In Step". I love his take on the song. This was Stevie's last album with Double Trouble. It sticks to the original, but brings something to it at the same time. And that was Stevie's expertise: interoperating classic blues songs and adding his own thing to them.
I love both versions of this song, but I'm such a big SRV fan that I might like Vaughan's version a little better. But both versions are definitely worth listening to.

Enjoy ; )

Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love

This is a live performance by the remaining members Barry and Robin Gibb of the group Bee Gees performing the classic song "How Deep Is Your Love".
It's a pop song obviously, but it's from the era of good pop music, so it's okay. The song was originally recorded and released in 1977 on the soundtrack to the film "Saturday Night Fever". Also it was released as a single on vinyl. It did very well on charts in both Europe and USA. And it is #20 on Billboard's All Time Top 100
It's been covered by a large number of artists. My favourite cover, not better than the original, is the one done live by guitarist John Frusciante. Embeded below:

He sort of knows he can't really sing it. So he just does his best and somehow it doesn't seem cheesy nor bad, but just respectful to the original. Also love the simplicity of just an electric guitar through a clean channel and singing, this set up really fits the song. So a good cover and a great original.

Enjoy ; )

ZZ Top - What's Up with That

This is a live performance by Texan blues rock band ZZ Top performing the song "What's Up with That" live on Jools Holland in 1996. He also gives the band a fitting introduction as a rock 'n' roll band and protectors of rock 'n' roll which I can only agree with him on. On this performance they're joined by a choir and James Harman plays the blues harp on this number. Also I love how Holland actually introduces and mentions him. He's a musician himself and you always feel that in his hosting, you feel his genuine respect for his fellow musicians.
The song is off ZZ Top's 1996 album "Rhythmeen", so I assume they're doing a promotion tour or something on this performance.
Any ways a great song and a great little performance.

Enjoy ; )

The Black Crowes - Hard to Handle

This is a live performance by American rock band The Black Crowes performing their version of the classic song "Hard to Handle".
The song was originally recorded by Otis Redding in 1967. This version was released posthumously in 1968 on the album "The Immortal Otis Redding". This version was produced by Steve Cropper.
It has become a very popular song and it has been covered by a large number of artists. Artists such as: Tom Jones and of course the band The Black Crowes who's version is perhaps the most successful and well known.
This version was released in 1990 on the band's debut album "Shake Your Money Maker". The melody for this version of the song is taken from a Buddy Guy song named "A Man of Many Words". Two versions of the original recording by The Black Crowes exists: The original album version and the single mix which adds an overdubbed brass section to the song.
They also use a brass section at this live performance which just makes it sound sweet. The performance is from the recently released DVD "Live in San Francisco" . This DVD features the concert footage from the band's reunion concert in 2005. It's a really great performance, front man Chris Robinson delivers an amazing and energetic performance, Rich Robinson delivers a solid and funky rhythm guitar and Marc Ford does an amazing job on lead guitar. This added to the horn section makes for one hell of a performance. Really an awesome performance!

Enjoy ; )