Robin Gibb - Islands in the Stream

This is a live performance by former Bee Gees member and singer-songwriter Robin Gibb. He is playing "Islands in the Stream" live with a big orchestra featuring both various percussive instruments, electric instruments, choir girls, and a string section. The performance is from the DVD "In Concert with..." available through Eagle Rock.
The song was originally recorded by country artists Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. It was written be the Bee Gees, but it was originally written for Marvin Gaye. Bee Gees then changed the style of it so Dolly and Rogers could record it.
It's a good pop song, from back when they knew how to make good pop songs with good melodies.

Enjoy ; )

Led Zeppelin - Kashmir

This is a live performance by the British hard rock band Led Zeppelin performing the classic song "Kashmir". It was written over a period stretching from 1973-1975 which was the release year for the song. It was on Zeppelin's album "Physical Graffiti". It was written by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Bonham. And the lyrics of the song date back to 1973.
The main guitar riff is played in Open Dsus4 tuning (commonly referred to as DADGAD-tuning). It has an eastern sound and feel to it, and Page has stated that he had a sitar, and that therefore the sitar was an influence on the song. It is one of the few songs from Zeppelin to feature session musicians as the album version has a string section and a brass section as well, and an added mellotron on top, and you get the distinctive sound of this song.
It's a great performance, Plant is singing his lungs off and Page is playing to the point where he starts sweating, and Bonham is as always just excellent on the drum kit. A great performance of a great song.

Enjoy ; )

The Doors - Touch Me

This is a performance by 70's rock band The Doors performing their classic song "Touch Me". A song more in the category of dance music, or maybe even a ballad at some points in the song, though it is a complicated progression, and it isn't just one genre throughout. It was released on the band's debut album "The Soft Parade", and was written by Robby Krieger.
The song is also notable for it's use of a string section, a horn section and a sax solo from Curtis Amy. It was released as a single in 1968, and did very well in the charts reaching no. 3 on the American Billboard chart.
It's a great performance, only made better by the accompaniment of the horn section and the string section which makes this a really good performance.

Enjoy ; )

Repost: B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone

I posted this once before, but the version I posted was taken down from youtube. I don't mind that however, because this is a better version in my opinion. (Click here to read the text from the old post, and a little background on the song).
This version is from BB's performance at the 1993 Montreux Jazz Festival, and it's just a smokin' version of the song. It starts out a little slower than the first version I posted, with BB playing at a very low volume level, with a lot of emotion. Then towards the end it picks up speed, BB turns up the volume, stands up and gives us the grand finale of his playing, and this concert. It's a great performance and a great show. (Can be purchased at Amazon.com, and is published by Eagle Rock, click here for product information).
It's a great performance, and the whole band is into it. The string section from the original recording is imitated beautifully on a keyboard, and the horn section do a fine job.
This is a great performance, and if not the best, then definitely one of the best versions of this song.

Enjoy ; )

Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son

This is a smoking performance from 70's progressive rock band "Kansas". They play their 1976 song "Carry On Wayward Son". The song was released in two versions a 5:26 album-version and a radio-edit cut down to 3:36. This live version is 6:43 with an extended ending of the song, and performed with a string section.
It's a great song, and the riffs driving the song are amazing. You can tell that the guys in the band are getting old, but they still play with the same energy and as good as when they were young. They all pretty much have white hair, and one of them even wears an eye-patch, now that's bad ass!!
It's a great performance, the singing is fantastic, the playing is fantastic and their energy is amazing.

A great performance, enjoy ; )

B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone

This is a performance from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", it features B.B. King performing his classic "The Thrill Is Gone". The song was written by Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins in 1951, but popularized by B.B. King in the 70's.
B.B. tells the story that he had been jamming on the tune for some time, and tried to work it out. When he finally recorded it he didn't know it would be one of the songs that helped to plunge him into mainstream music and cross over. The original studio recording from B.B. had an added string section that also helped with mainstream audiences.
A great tune!

Enjoy ; )