Live At The Roxy/Nicolette Larson

Today I finally received long-awaited "Live At The Roxy/Nicolette Larson" from Rhino Handmade by international mail. This is limited issue of only 5000 CDs. Mine is Limited Number Edition No.2504. Jacket is very simple, paper jacket with plastic case. No liner notes, no credits of band members. Just "Recorded live at The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA (12/20/1978), Originally issued as Warner Bros.Music Show promo #WBMS-103 (1979), Produced by: Ted Templeman, Engineered by:Don Landee and Jack Crymes" with other producer related credits. Of course "Special Thanks:Russ Kunkel". I have a CD-R copy of original promo vinyl (Thanks! Mr.S) but quality of this official CD is of course much better.

What I got last week

I didn't buy any CDs/DVDs last week. I just borrowed some CDs from one of my friends. He is collecting a lot of CDs/DVDs of Linda Ronstadt and Nicolette Larson, whatever Linda or Nicolette are lead vocal or backing vocal, which are available all over the world, including official albums, bootlegs or other private recordings. He told me he would almost complete his collection soon. What I borrowed from him last week are;

Shadows Of Love/Nicolette Larson
LOST ALBUM 1988 Recorded and mixed at Watermelon - Studios ( Milano ) and Obi Wan Studios ( Recco ) - Italy, Nicolette's voice recording : Steam Studios LA H-1310
Mimmo Bianchi: drums, keyboards, bass / Andrea Braido: guitar / Riccardo Luppi: saxophone / Gwen Aanti: vocals / Daniela Rando: vocals / Betty Vittori: vocals / Massimo Crestini: vocals
Love's Light (Nicolette Larson / V. Bianchi / G. Bianchi) / Stay With Me Tonight (B. Heatlie) / Work On It (Lauren Wood) / Let Me Be The One (Nicolette Larson / M. Paoluzzi) / Love Hurts (Boudleaux Bryant) / Rebel In The Rain (M. Paoluzzi / T. Touchton) / Where Did I Get These Tears (Lauren Wood) / Shadows Of Love (Andrew Gold / Graham Gouldman)
There are other version of this CD. It includes extra tracks not in original album : 9. Lotte Love ( Disco Version ) 10. Fool Me Again 11. Nothing But A Child 12. On This Christmas Night.

1000 Airplanes On The Roof/Music Composed by Philip Glass
Linda Ronstadt sings in this CD but humming only. There is credit of Linda's name in the booklet. Actually I don't know about Philip Grass very well.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas/Various Artists
Members are Dr.John,The Roches,Nicolette Larson,Eastern Bloc,Rob Mathes,George Post,Eugene Ruffolo,Acme Brass Ensamble. Nicolette leads "Nothing But A Child", "One Bright Star". One of my favorite musicians, Dr.John leads "Silent Night" and "Toyland".

Followings are what I ordered to Amazon Japan this weekend.

The Complete Recordings [BEST OF] [BOX SET] [DOUBLE CD]（Robert Johnson）
Pay the Devil（Van Morrison）

Horai & Nishinasuno Country Club

The other day I reported in my Japanese blog that I had to give up Hawaii golf tour during Golden Week (national holidays from the end of April and the beginning of May) in Japan. I could not get the air ticket to Hawaii. So I changed my mind to domestic tour. I called a friend of mine and he could arrange Horai & Nishinasuno Country Club in Nasushiobara City in Tochigi with play fee at deep discount. They are one of the best golf courses in Japan. I have played in Nishinasuno CC once before but I haven't in Horai. Golf nuts like me leave thier family at home and go to golf courses even during Golden Week.(Above picture is Horai CC No.10)

Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course

I got tee time at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course on March 20, which is a spot between Sunday and national holiday. I like weekday golf, maybe you too. This course is very famouse in Japan for its prestigiousness and was chosen for 2nd position of all golf courses in Japan by 1999 Golf Digest. I have played here twice before and I am always looking forward to playing here. However my recent actions might damned me, I don't know, anyway my salary paying company (A Co.) (I'm on loan to the company (B Co.) which I'm now working for) asked me to come to the meeting on March 20. I asked the A Co. to change the meeting schedule because I would be very busy on that day, but they could not. I had to ask an arranger of this booking to cancell. But as I will have two private golf tournament in March, I can save some money. Of course the arranger could give me a deep discount, but still expensive even on weekday.

Met Mr.M after one year absence

Last night I met Mr.M after one year absence. Five people gathered at a bar in Shinbashi, Tokyo. Mr.M was one of members of private and unofficial golf club "Silcon Valley Singles" which are not single handicap players, but just temporary bachelor. I used to play golf with him around northern California from Sea Ranch to Pebble Beach. He came back from Silicon Valley to Tokyo last last year but returned to New York again last May with his golf bag. Others include Mr.H, all-Japan senior swimmer, Mr.N, CEO of venture company, Mr.K who went to Pebble Beach with me last year.

A Tribute to Nicolette Larson: Lotta Love Concert

A Tribute to Nicolette Larson: Lotta Love Concert was just issued by Rhino, which I ordered to Amazon Japan. I received this CD on Feb.16. There are 4 CDs set available in the market but very rare. Finally it is officially issued. Nicolette's happy smile on the jacket is very good. Of course contents are excellent. Booklet inside includes short comments by Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Dan Forgelberg, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Gurian, Carol King, Paul Barrere, Emmylou Haris, Peter Max, followed by Russ Kunkel's( Nicolette's husband) essay and Puaul Gurian's liner notes.

In this liner notes I found new facts;

"Neil Young, urged by Emmylou and her producer-husband, Brian Ahern, ambled down malibu's Broad Beach to play some tunes for Linda and found her harmonizing with Nicolette. So were born the Bullets on American Stars'n Biars. The next year Nicolette backed up Young on Comes A Time"

However according to John Rogan's "NEIL YOUNG:The Definitive Story of his Musical Carrer", Neil asked Linda to find female singer for his new album, "American Stars'n Bars". Linda introduced Nicolette at Neil's ranch (I believe his ranch is in Woodside in northern California). And female vocal group, Linda & Nicolette was called "the Saddle Bags", not "Bullets".

So now I'm confused at following issues.

Issue 1:
Where did Neil meet Nicolette? Malibu or Woodside?

Issue 2:
Which is correct, "Saddle Bags" or "Bullets"?

I think biggest issue is "Why without Neil Young?"

I believe Neil introduced Nicolette to the music scene at that time by his "American Stars'n Bars". Further more he invited Nicolette for backing voclas for some of his following albums. Nicolette's biggest hit "Lotta Love" in her 1st album is by Neil Young. Neil should have been the most important guest in this concert. Liner notes say "Neil Young sent a bouquet of rose as big as the audience. He could only attend in spirit on the group encore of 'Lotta Love'", but there is no Neil's name in "Spacial Thnaks" on this booklet. Of course Neil had some relationship with Nicolette before her marrige. I don't want to suspect Russ Kunkel was jealous on Neil.

At the center of the booklet, there is a pic of the group member. I can recognize some of them, Russ Kunkel and daughter, Elsie May, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Carol King, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt. I also want to know who is who.

Proceeds from this CD go to The Nicolette larson Pediatric Endowment, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Chimay, The Art of Beer

On Saturday I had Chimay Beer (Blue). I had this beer long time ago, in Foster City, California, where I lived from 1999 to 2002. I found this beer in Joyful Honda, biggest Japanese home center last weekend. In Foster City, at that time, I usually went to buy beer to Safeway, supermarket chain, which sells alomost every country's beer in the world. I didn't buy Japanese beer and national brand in US, Budweiser or Coors, etc of course. I liked Anchor Steam in San Francisco and Gordon Biersch in San Jose best. When I returned to Japan in 2002, I started to buy imported beer at internet shop, but it costed too much and my salary was decreasing, so I finally stopped. However recently Jusco, Joyful Honda or other supermarket chain, home center or discount shop are selling some of imported beer. Now, I can buy Bass Pale Ale in Jusco, Newcastle Brown Ale and Chimay in Joyful Honda. I hope Japanese retail stores sell more imported beer, otherwise Japanese people won't know wonderful taste of world's beer.

What I got on Saturday

I got some CDs on Saturday. Actually this would not happen on this weekend but I had a lunch with my daughter on Saturday, because my wife went out for her business and my son went to highschool. We went to "kaitenzushi", which is a sushi bar where customers select their food from a revolving conveyor belt. After lunch my daughter asked me to bring her to Tsutaya, a rental AV shop. So I eventually rented some CDs. She, junior high school 1, grade rented some Jpanese Pop CDs and I, 40 something, rented followings.

(1)The Times They Are A-changin'/Bob Dylan
(2)No Secrets/Carly Simon
(3)Karka Bonof

(1) is Bob Dylan's 3rd album in 1964, which I have an LP. I have nothing to say about this record. I have an LP in 1972 of (2) as well. At that time her husband was still James Taylor, wasn't he? I haven't listened this record for a long time, but it is still very good, espacially "You're So Vain". Musicians on the back were excellent, Andy Newmark, Lowell George, Bill Payne, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins, James Taylor, Paul& Linda McCartney, etc. I found that Mick Jagger was singing in "You're So Vain", which I found in a liner notes. (3) Karla Bonoff is famous for her songs which were recorded by Linda Ronstadt. This is her 1st album in 1977 and sidemen were wonderful, Kenny Edwards, Russ Kunkel, Lee Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Andrew Gold, Dan Dugmore, Linda Ronstadt, Glen Frey, J.D. Souther, Wendy Waldman, etc.

In the afternoon, I went to City Library to return books, where I can also borrow AVs. I borrowed followings.

(4)Ramblin' Jack Eliot
(5)the Paul Butterfield Blues Band
(6)Restless Nights/Karla Bonoff

Jack Elliot recorded (4) in 1961 ,who was a 60's folk singer whom Bob Dylan had followed as well as Woody Guthrie. (5) in 1965 is 1st recording of The Paul Butterfield Bluse Band, which guitarists were Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. (6) in 1979 is her 2nd album and sidemen were
Kenny Edwards, Andrew Gold, J.D.Souther, Russ Kunkel, Wady Wachtel, Danny Korchmar, Don Henry, David Lindley, Rick Marrota, Garth Hudson, James Taylor, etc.

I also ordered (7) Bob Dylan's "Live at The Gaslight 1962" to Amazon U.S.A, which was sold last year only in Starbucks. I did't know about this because bobdylan.com didn't annouce. Gaslight was famouse bar where Dylan appeared in his early days in New York. I wonder how many unreleased source of his singing will be releasing even in these days.