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Bruddah Chrispy
Lokahi
USA
164 Posts |
 Posted - 03/08/2002 : 11:07:54 AM
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Aloha kakou,
What albums are required in the library of a slack key fan? Here's my cut at a list:
- Anything on the Dancing Cat Label
- Okay, I don't actually believe that statement. We owe a great debt to George Winston for capturing some of the masters on CD and creating an archive for future generations, and I wanted to tip my hat before I really got into da list.
- Rabbit Island Music Festival
- What can I say, this one is worth owning just for the album cover alone. Pops Pahinui, Sonny Chillingworth, Atta Isaacs, Bla, Cyril, Martin. Wow, get chickenskin just thinkin' about who's on dis one.
- Sunday Manoa - Guava Jam
- I guess there could be some debate about *which* Sunday Manoa album to put on the list. I went with Guava Jam. The Caz and Peter Moon just sound so tight on this.
- Keola and Kapono Beamer - Honolulu City Lights
- Sigh. Probably the definitive Hawaiian album. If not for this what would we play before taking someone to da airport?
- Country Comfort - We are the Children
- Yeah, some of it sounds very dated, very 70's, but c'mon how could you possibly dis the intro to Waimanalo Blues by leaving it off the list? I took up slack key, just so I could learn that intro.
- Olomana - Seabird
- Such a sweet album.
- Peter Moon - Cane Fire
- Like Honolulu City Lights, this is an absolutely flawless album. For those of us living on the mainland Far Too Wide is both a comfort and knife in the heart.
So, that's a start. I need to get back to work. Someone else pick it up from there.
Aloha a hui hou,
Chris P.
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2002 : 2:34:05 PM
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Sonny Chillingworth - _Waimea Cowboy_ has been reissued on CD and it's thrilling.
Keoki Kahumoku and Herb Ohta, Jr. - _Hawaiian from the Heart_ is really a vocal album with uke, but Keoki is laying down some fine guitar accompaniment.
Gabby Pahinui - _Pure Gabby_, what can you say.
Gabby and Atta Isaacs - _Two Slack Key Guitars_ has classic songs, classic playing, classic singing.
Hui Ohana - _Young Hawaii Plays Old Hawaii_ - Not what we think of as slack key, but a real eye opener for me in listening to Hawaiian music. Ledward is playing electric and sounding great, Dennis Pavao sings like an angel.
When I started listening to slack key I didn't expect to turn into a Hawaiian music nut. These days I hardly listen to anything else, and I've only started to scratch the surface of this wonderful tradition.
Fran
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2002 : 7:41:45 PM
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 Posted by Admin on behalf of Ozzie Kotani:
Here is my list of "must have" slack key albums - I will have overlooked some for sure. Can you post for me?
Not in order of preference:
In the Real Old Style
Keola Beamer
The album that caught my ear back in the 70's
Two Slack Key Guitars/A Livin' On a Easy
Gabby Pahinui/ Atta Isaacs
BEST slack key duets
Slack Key
Black and White Cover
Leonard Kwan/Ray Kane
Not duets but great traditional stuff
Slack Key
Red and White Cover
The other classic
Rabbit Island Music Festival
Gabby Pahinui and group
GREAT arrangements, acoustic band sound
Gabby Pahinui
What we call the "Brown Gabby" album due to the cover color
Classic
Pure Gabby
Dancing Cat just put out the version completely solo w/out the
overdubs
Must have
Gabby Pahinui's Hawaiian Band
All of Gabby's recordings are great - the ensemble sound he achieved with his group will never be replicated.
Guava Jam and Crack Seed
Two albums by Peter Moon and the Sunday Manoa
Peter's prime recording period with virtuoso stylings on ukulele, tiple, and slack key. Influenced me a LOT!
Waimea Cowboy
Sonny Chillingworth
Like Gabby, most if not all of Sonny's recordings are great listening. This one is a classic. Reflects Sonny's unique virtuosity and stylings besides the great vocals.
Kanikapila/ Let's Play Music/ Volumes I and II
Try and get the vinyl version - the re-releases do not have all the songs from these great recordings. The group is called the Maile Serenaders, who in actuality are:
Peter Moon on ukulele and slack key with Gabby Pahinui on steel guitar - all instrumental. Great work by both artists - tremendous skill and unique and classic arrangements. Atta Isaacs on slack key guitar, Eddie Kamae and the Sons (with Feet Rogers on steel) - all instrumental and just as terrific! I forget which volume has who on it. They are both must haves.
Auntie Alice Ku`uleialohapoina`ole Namakelua Plays Old Fashioned Slack Key
Auntie Alice Namakelua
Lucky if you can find a copy. Auntie played in the true old style - and well! A must have for reference to where the tradition stems from.
There are many more but I have to run off now.
Ozzie |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2002 : 9:40:28 PM
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Aloha, Ozzie,
Thanks for the list of CDs. I finally got a copy of "Real Old Style" a few weeks ago and have kept it in the car player ever since. In a certain sense this album has everything Keola has done since, foreshadowed. It's also wonderful to hear how he used ki ho`alu in a pop context without dishonoring the music.
And it's fun to hear what sounds to me like a strong Cat Stevens influence in places, maybe?
Your new CD is a masterpiece. What a wonderful way to honor the queen.
Fran
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2002 : 10:28:20 AM
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Aloha kakou,
One of my favorites is Slack Key Tradition (mentioned by Auntie Maria): slack key Big Island style.
Two other newish albums I find inspirational for the singing and the slack key that is in some of the numbers are Brother Noland's "Hawaiian Inside" and Willie K's "Awihilima". Both musicians return to traditional music after a long time away doing popular stuff, jawaiian or whatever. And both are welcome back with big hugs!
aloha no,
Sarah
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wdf
Ha`aha`a
USA
1153 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2002 : 2:42:28 PM
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Doug & Sandy McMaster have 3 wonderful CDs available. Doug plays in the old nahenahe style. http://www.alohaplentyhawaii.com
Dusty |
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