33. Jazz Samba

Jazz Samba
Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd
1962

Amanda: The title is interesting enough.  Unfortunately, the album is not.  Now, please do not think this is just my dislike of instrumental tracks showing through.  This album, for lack of a better word, had no pizzazz.  "Jazz Samba" makes it seem like you will want to dance and learn Portugese at the same time (which is not an easy task).  Instead, it just kind of makes you lethargic.  The instruments are played skillfully enough but like I said: lackadaisical.  Are you here yet Beatles???

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Sorry this post is so short but that album did not inspire me to get off my ass let alone write lengthy paragraphs.

Brie: I liked this album a tad better than Amanda did, but not much better. I thought the guitar was very beautiful, but the music lacked the Portugese lyrics. Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd weren't Brazilian, were they? This album to me is a gray tribute album to Brazilian music compared to the vibrant colors of true Brazilian tunes. So, it was a good album, but when it comes down to it: why listen to an album that is a tribute to Portugese/Brazilian music when you could listen to the real thing?

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32. The Green Onions

The Green Onions
Booker T. and the M.G.s
1962

Amanda: This album is filled with tracks that sound kind of familar to you but you can't place where you heard it or who wrote it.  It was actually pretty satisfying matching names of songs to the distant memories.  In the early sixties, it was mostly vocal albums that were topping the charts.  However, when this album came out it was a massive hit.  I played this when my sister and my mother were cooking for one of those rare family reunions that we have.  They both really liked it (though they thought I was making up the album and band name).  I personally liked it though it was not very exciting.  I will probably forget about it in about a week.

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Brie: I really loved this album. You can hear that is heavily influenced by Jimmy Smith (who we just reviewed.) This music, specifically "Green Onions" really makes me want to put on my black fedora and just and listen to "The Green Onions". Just listening to it makes you feel cool!!!

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31. Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
1962

Amanda: Ray Charles is back!  I didn't exactly miss him; did you?  Anyway, this album was pretty good.  Sorry if I sound distracted while writing this review; I am watching Mildred Pierce (go Bette Davis; boo Joan Crawford!).

So anyway, back to the album.  I always liked Ray Charles' faster songs rather than his depressing ones.  I particularly liked "Bye Bye Love" even with the weird background singers.  You have to admire Ray Charles' balls for singing songs that white guys wrote before the civil rights movement.  This isn't motivation enough for me to see Ray though.  I hate biographical movies.

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I am so smart it's a disease!

Brie: I really liked "The Genius Of Ray Charles" way better than "Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music". The best song of the album for me was "I Can't Stop Loving You". I definitely wouldn't listen to it again, but I don't regret listening to it the first time. That being said, I still love Ray for his voice that is somehow smooth and scratchy at the same time.

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