Recent Discoveries in New/Old Music

Heads up on a few great slices of history

When I started Echo Locator, I heard from some skeptics that there wouldn’t be enough archival material to cover. Happily the exact opposite has been true: Almost every week brings too many releases of previously unreleased or long out-of-print titles that, just by existing, expand our understanding of music. Below are three that came out recently. All are highly recommended!

Creedence Clearwater Revival: At the Royal Albert Hall, April 14, 1970. Tracks from this show have circulated for years — it’s not merely legendarily energetic, it’s one of those nights when Creedence hit the precise tempo and the vibe sweet spot on just about every tune. Craft Recordings went to great lengths to create a serious immersion experience: The audio is crisp and refreshingly mud-free, and there’s an excellent documentary that includes a chronicle of the band’s fast rise as well as priceless footage of the Royal Albert Hall concert.

David Porter: Chapter One. Veteran R&B songwriter and producer David Porter has an enviable resume: During his long tenure at Stax, he produced hits like “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Coming” for Sam & Dave and worked on significant projects for other artists on the roster. He made a few records on his own during that period, but Chapter 1, which gathers tracks he produced for his Robosac Music imprint, is the first work under his own name in 50 years. To create these clever, gentle updates of Memphis soul, Porter tapped some veteran musicians who worked for Stax and Hi Records, and paired them with up-and-coming players and singers. The result is a lively, hooksmart discussion between the music city’s rich heritage and its future.

Joyce: Natureza. The centerpiece of this never-before-released 1977 album from Brazilian singer and songwriter Joyce is the first version of “Feminina,” an 11-minute samba thrill ride that, for reasons that only make sense to music business lawyers, never saw the light of day. Until last week. The tune, one of the rare sambas of the era to speak from a female perspective, became a hit when Joyce released a much shorter version in 1980, but there’s something absolutely magical about this one. Recorded in New York, the album features rhapsodic jazz-influenced melodies brought to life by an all-star cast of Brazilian and American musicians (including Michael Brecker, Joe Farrell and Mike Mainieri). The project was overseen by the legendary arranger Claus Ogerman, who created gorgeous orchestrations for some songs but wisely kept the orchestra silent for the entirely of “Feminina.” Rhythm this propulsive needs no sweetening.

Yes, we have a digital suggestion box. Please share your favorite overlooked/underloved records at: echolocatormusic@gmail.com.