Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 77

G-3 PITTSBURGI I POST-GAZETTE SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 1997 RECORDINGS r1 OJ JiJ I I vl 1 I (r nil qJi njiD) MTOwflihN 1 Wtl iW Ml 7 rJ fi rfo) i mi mliii an mini in ii ill i in iiiiiiiwiiilMmpwt I li inimniSw' i4v r'- Vf II 1 'S3i it I 1 1 U' sf I- fP-- Recordings are rated on a scale of one (poor) to four (excellent) stars. Country "The Best of the Sandla," Tlsh Hlnojosa. Watermelon, it This "best-of-Tish" album is appropriately named. The sunset in Hinojo-sa's beloved Albuquerque, N.M., paints the Sandia peaks red, amber and gold. And so, Spanish settlers named the mountains sandia watermelon.

This 18-song collection, which combines the best songs from three previous Hinojosa albums, is as colorful and refreshing as a watermelon. Throughout, her spring-water contralto is showcased by soft instrumentals, mostly mandolin, guitar, upright bass and piano. From the 1992 "Taos To Tennessee" album, the title song with easygoing major chord accompaniment and Hinojosa's clear expressive vocals rides the fence beautifully between country and folk. "Prairie Moon" captures the lonely life of a cowboy. For good measure, there's her beautiful cover of Irving Berlin's "Always," with lyrics in English and Spanish.

The accompaniment switches to Tejano for six Spanish-language selections from her 1991 album "Aquella Noche." From "Memorabilia Navidena," a collection she originally recorded for family and friends, comes four songs, including "Building No. 9." and "Everything You Wish." The Sandia collection also contains four previously unreleased songs, including "By the Rio Grande," a duet with Kris Kristofferson. Hinojosa will be in Pittsburgh for a free concert at 8 p.m. Friday at the South Park performance area. Jerry Sharpe "Back to the Future Now," Asleep at the Wheel.

Lucky Dogl-Epic. Ray Benson begins live concerts with the words, "Western swing ain't dead, it's Asleep at the Wheel." No doubt about it. When it comes to Western swing, the Texas-based band, which formed in West Virginia in the early 70s, is the successor to the famed Bob Wills' Texas Playboys. The newly released 1 2-song album, recorded live at Arizona Charlie's in Las Vegas, is an excellent sampler. For the occasion, founding member and band leader Benson, a former Pennsylvanian, is joined by originators Lucky Oceans and LeRoy Preston as well as alumni Floyd Domino, Chris D'Connell and Tony Gamier.

As a special bonus, the legendary McGuire Sisters join country stars Tracy -Byrd and Wade Hayes on the disc. With guitars, piano, fiddle, saxophones, drums and steel guitar, the group ro)ls out toe-tapping western swing that would make Wills proud. In fact, they salute him with "Ida Red" and "Roly Poly." Twir) fiddles and Byrd's vocal assistance give an extra whirl to Asleep's signature "Miles and Miles of Texas." Former member O'Connell sounds as good as ever as she revives her old hit "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read." You'll also find such Asleep staples as "My Baby Thinks She's a Train" and the red-hot boogie "House of piue Lights." Jerry Sharpe Oldies "Perfect Fit," The Nylons. Mnd-ham Hill. This is the 11th album for The pylons, the doo-wop a cappella quartet that has built a career on harmonizing the oldies.

While only tenor Claude Morrison and bass Arnold Robinson remain from the 1979 founders, the group has lost none of its fun or intensity. "Perfect Fit," a 14-track compilation of some of their biggest hits, is perfect for muggy evenings on the deck or on the stoop. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," The Together" and "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" are by far the most infectious tunes. Then they take us deeper into the classics archive: "Up on the Roof," "Poison Ivy" and "Duke of Earl." So haul out the boombox, fire up The Nylons, and if the neighbors complain just invite 'em over. This album is for partying.

Tom Waseleski Classical Mahler: "Das Klagende Lied," Michael Tllson Thomas, San Francisco Symphony. BMGRCA Victor. "Das Klagende Lied," which means "Song of Lament," is something of a stepchild among the works of Gustav Mahler. It's an early work, begun before the composer had established his career or his musical style. Like many works of youthful composers, it's impractically large: a sprawling, mythologically based libretto set for soloists, large chorus and orchestra lasting well over an hour.

No wonder it was never performed complete during the composer's lifetime. In many ways it's like Schoenberg's early super-cantata, "Gurrelieder," which had not yet been written when the 20-year-old Mahler unveiled "Das Klagende Lied" in 1880. The music, too, is uneven. Many pages foreshadow the Mahler of genius we know from "Songs of a Wayfarer, his. earliest fully successful opus.

Other passages ramble and miss! the mark in conveying the vr a i 1 i i frrrm kvTrwrjrf' airinirrirS "Wifnim vto JK-' Vwn it i CONDITIONS OFSAI.E: Price listed in U.S. dollars is equivalent too CDN $69.50 ticket, which represents approximately a 25 discount off the regular top ticket pnce of CON $93.00. All prices are converted by using an exchange rate of 39. Credit card orders may be subject to slight fluctuations depending on the exchange rotes on the day or the purchase andor credit card currency exchange tees. Lower priced sears are orrerea at iy discount and at the same conversion rate.

Price does not i 1 I CALL 1-800-CHELSEA 59X5 UiS4 iS (1-800-243-9732) ''1 DnJ ook fni WHEN IN TORONTO, STAY AT THE OFFICIAL 'RAGTIME' HOTEL. include service charges or handling tees. No refunds or exhanges. Promotional discount availabe for oil performances except Saturday evenings from now to August 31, 1997. Please quote the discount code MR US1 when ordering.

Ticket limits, seating restrictions, and black-out dates may apply. Not valid for previously purchased tickers. Offer may end without notice. Offer may not be combined with any other discount offer. mmmi The 'RAGTIME' Room Rate vj u' "fv i-i I essential emotions, Tilson Thomas, arguably the most I interesting and original conductor on fthe boards today, gives "Das Kla-t aende Lied" a new lease on life with CALL pitt5bur0lj post-gazette CLASSIFIED ADS JUST 11 QP 7 DAYS! (SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY) this new CD recording.

In a very short time he has made the San Francisco orchestra his own vehicle, an ensemble fully in the league of the top American orchestras. He also shows a personal feeling for this music, making its excesses viable by understatement, though never at the expense o' the musical tension and vitality i i Robert Croan FOR DETAILS Visa, MasterCard and Discover Card Accepted!.