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Mapleshade records: Pick the best of

I'm interested in purchasing a few Mapleshade discs just to check them out. I'd like some pointers as to what discs i should shoot for. They currently have a "4 for $40" type of deal going on, so i need to find four discs to obtain that pricing.

For some background, i'm basically a "rocker" that also enjoys "dynamic" Classical pieces and soothing Chamber music. Some "foot stompin" Blues never bothered me and "swing" type Jazz can be fun too. I'm not much up on "experimental" type Jazz as it sounds like a big cacophony to me. Pipe organs do nothing for me and choral recordings are in the same boat.

Obviously, i'd like "good" recordings, but i'm more concerned with "good" music. After all, i'd rather kick back and listen to some good tunes with "pretty good" recordings rather than try to impress myself with a great recording of a mediocre performance ( Holt's Law ).

Any of you's wanna cough up some advice? Sean
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sean
duanegoosen
355 posts
 
As you probably suspect, a good rock fix is not really on the menu w/ these guys. Ended up ditching alot of Mapleshade discs, some of em' hit me as the most sappy, maudlin, cliche ridden stuff i'd ever heard. There may be some land mines waiting for you on this label. I thought these four were solid keepers:
Thurman Green - Dance of the Night Creatures
Hamiett Bluiett - Young Warrior, Old Warrior
Euforia - (Smokin' bass/drums guit. trio Great sound!!)
Andy McKee - Sound Roots

Recommend going to the cd Baby website and digging through their $5 bin, (there are audio samples to click on for all the discs they have).
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,746 posts
 
Sean,

Greetings amigo. Mapleshade makes somes very nice sounding CD's. I started with their Mapleshade Music Festival sampler. This CD will give you a good roadmap as to what Mapleshade is all about. The CD is more than a sampler ... it also stands on its own.

I have also purchased (and like) the C-Nuts CD; Larry Willis "Sanctuary," and Douglas Allanbrook "Majesty of the Horn."

CD's that I think you might like are ... "13 Shades of Blue," Al Lee's (from 10 Years After) "Ain't Playing the Game," Midnight Blue's "Inner City Blues," and Bad Influence's "Live at the Bad Habits Cafe." Mapleshade's idea of rock is more R&B than pure rock (think horns); more BS&T than the Stones; more Chicago/DC blues than Delta blues.

If you go on Mapleshade's web-site and select an album, you can usually listen to certain tracks. While you are in this exploratory mood try Dave Grisman's Acoustic Disc web-site . The music is primarily bluegrass and country and is typically very well recorded. An excellent one to try is "Old and in the Gray."

Regards, Rich
spudcob5f3
6 posts
 
Bob Willoughby - Blues, Booze and Oldtimey Soul
The J Street Jumpers - Is you Is of Is You Ain't My Baby

I've tried quite a few of the Maple Shade recordings and find the production to be good to great. Both of these are fun recordings. Everyone always loves Bob Willoughby's music.
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