I've been listening to a lot of Fats recently, and yesterday was his 82nd birthday! I've come to the conclusion he's not just a genius, but an underrated one. Heard "By My Guest"? The guy pretty much invented reggae. This is my current fave from 1961(famous for a nineties reggae version by Bitty Mclean). His version of "Four Winds Blow" was probably the first i heard - though that's bound to show up in the blog sometime later, as i've played that song to death live.
Here's some footage of "Be My Guest"
This book got me into Fats. It makes a pretty convincing case he was the daddy of Rock N' Roll and much more important to American Popular music that i had ever thought.
If you caught me playing recently on tour, i would've probably sang this old American traditional hymn. I first heard this tune on Harry's Smith epochal compilation of Prewar 78s, "TheAnthology Of American Folk Music". This 78 was recorded in 1928 by Bascom Lamar Lunsford, a folk song collector from North Carolina. Bascom is more famous for his incredible rendition of "I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground", which is also featured on the Anthology (i've also played this once or twice in the past). I've posted it below too because it is essential and damn rightly deserves a place on this blog.
BASCOM LAMAR LUNSFORD - I WISH I WAS A MOLE IN THE GROUND
How highly can i recommend this? It's a total work of art. A six-disc compilation of 78s recorded between 1927 and 1932. It's variety is astonishing as it's execution - blues, gospel, old-time dance music, traditional English ballads, cajun music and more. The effect this compilation has had on roots music thereafter, and the art of the compilation itself is immeasurable. I could talk about it for days(Greil Marcus already has), but i'm going to resist the temptation to waffle and tell you to find out for yourself.
The thing is pretty expensive to buy, best to look out for secondhand copies on Ebay or Amazon.
The sleeve notes are amazing - check them out here!
FOR MORE ON BASCOM:
see here for an essay & links
there is not much Bascom on CD - this compilation contains some of his twenties recordings and his later recordings for the Library Of Congress. It is fantastic, and contains the amazing "in the shadows of the pines", one of my favourite songs ever. There is a rumour that Locust Music are bring out a box set of further unreleased Library Of Congress recordings at some point.
Well, kind of. Just four religous and irreligous slabs of beauty.
THIRTEENTH FLOOR ELEVATORS - MAY BE THE CIRCLE REMAIN UNBROKEN
This song is from the Texan Psychedelicists' final album, Bull In The Woods. I'm not even sure if Roky Erickson sings this. The way the jewel falls together is sublime, it's in a world of its own. I think it's dated so much better than a lot of sixties psychedelia, so intoxicated in its own sound it doesn't want to do anything, and here that works. Millions of bands now living would die to sound like this. Me included.
SPACEMEN 3 - LORD, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I've never really been a fan of Spiritualised, and this song you might've initially heard by them. This was the original from Jason Pierce's previous band, and i think it works better. Low made me tearful when they covered this song live.
LINK WRAY - LA DE DA
Link Wray made a beautiful self-titled roots rock album in 1971. This is the opening track. If you've only ever heard Rumble, you'll be in for a shock. I guess this was the sort of thing the Stones had aimed for with Beggar's Banquet, and fair play to them, came pretty close. But Link here is totally sincere and i get carried away with the sentiment every time. Pretty amazing vocal performance from a a man with one lung.
SUICIDE - DREAM BABY DREAM
One of my favourite songs ever, from their second self titled album. It's an anthem. Suicide are a wonderful mix of the harrowing, uneasy and uplifiting. This mainly falls in the latter category. And like The Elevator's track - their music(BUY THE FIRST ALBUM IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT IT!) creates an entire world of its own. I would like to live there, but i'd be a bit on edge. Again, it's a sound that's much imitated. This song kills me - I watched the video for three seconds to see if it worked and a tear fell out just like that. If you've never seen Suicide, go to see them. It might sound more 80s eurotrash than 70s NYC but Alan Vega is still one of the most compelling performers i've ever seen. He hobbles around now as he's had trouble with his hip, which is another reason to go pay see them as there's no NHS in America, remember. Bruce Springsteen's live version of "Dream Baby Dream" is also worth checking out and at odds with the bombast that he's mainly known for.
I'm really fascinated by the secularisation of Black American gospel music in the 1950s and 60s, which was instrumental in creating what we now call "Soul Music". If you've ever listened to any black 1950s gospel recordings, you'll be surprised how raw, wild and utterly beautiful it can be. It was only a matter of time before some clever-dick thought let's take the feeling, the beat and the tunes but sing about "boys and girls" instead. Ray Charles perhaps was one of the first with "I Got A Woman" in 1954(which was based on a gospel hymn), and Sam Cooke, Solomon Burke and Little Richard(all from Gospel backgrounds) followed, amongst many others.
The fella I bring to your attention today was a gospel singer. Dave Walker, A.K.A. "Bunker Hill", sang in popular 1960s gospel group The Mighty Clouds Of Joy. On his nights off from singing to God, he got together with Guitar God Link Wray and recorded three of the wildest singles that Rock n' Roll has ever birthed: Hide & Go Seek", "Red Riding Hood & The Wolf" and "The Girl Can't Dance"
BUNKER HILL - HIDE AND GO SEEK PARTS 1 & 2 (1962)
BUNKER HILL - RED RIDING HOOD & THE WOLF (1963)
BUNKER HILL - THE GIRL CAN'T DANCE (1963)
Considering that Link Wray was involved, it's strange that the guitar isn't prominent on these records. It's just drums, bass and backing vocals hitting insistent almost trance like rhythms as Bunker screams over the top. And what a voice Bunker had, he sounds indestructable - as if Wilson Pickett had accidentally knocked back a bottle of sulphuric acid and decided to go on with the show. A perfect gospel voice, developed over years of training, designed to carry in big churches and to drive the congregations wild, but here, rather than praising god, he's now singing himself stupid over children's games and chasing virgins. I stop here.
r x
for more info on Bunker Hill, of which there isn't much it seems - check out this ace site.
Now feast your eyes on this television clippy. It's over 52 years old. And it is still more exciting, more dangerous, more dirty, than anything you'll find on ITV or Channel Four today. The breakdown is exceptionally classic. If i'd been a parent in 1957 i might've thought twice about letting my child see this bit of thinly veiled sex education. I can't believe "The Killer" is still playing live. But if you can do this a ten thousand times in your life and not keel over and die, there's hope that i might reach 60.
To kick things off easily for me, and making my best effort to sustain your interest, i 've decided to post some original versions of songs i've covered live. No kids, i didn't write this, but i wish i had. Belgian-Born singer Brel first came to my ears via the famous english language interpretations by Scott Walker, who recorded an album worth of his songs in the sixties. I remember many a wasted day as a student listening to a battered LP copy of "Scott", which featured this number. Amsterdam seems to lose nothing in English - the sentiment and the craft of Brel's words come through Mort Shuman's translation (well, i have no grasp of French, but i think so). Brel was a killer performer, as the above 1964 video attests, and more performers should aspire to that level of commitment.
As it's Valentine's Day - let's f*ck all the sugar coated crap and get to the reality. "Ne Me Quitte Pas" aka "If You Go Away" has been totally ruined by millions of bland supper club renditions, but Brel's version will totally floor you. There's already a tear plonked on my jacket as i paste the link. Brace yourself!
For Scott's interpretations of Brel, i would buy the first three Albums, imaginatively titled "Scott", "Scott 2" and "Scott 3". This is because i am a complete Scott Walker obsessive, but i must admit it may be a bit to much for a neophyte. If you want the cheap "all-killer no filler" option get this bargain £3 compilation of his Brel interpretations . More on Scott later in the blog, no doubt.
For other interpretations of Brel Songs in English - "Next" by Sensational Alex Harvey Band on The Old Grey Whistle Test is a HOOT. Alex won't take his eyes of you. And look at the guitarist! HA! The only decent version of "Ne Me Quitte Pas" i can think of is Momus' version, which is entitled "Don't Leave" - which originally came out on the "Nicky" EP but is compiled here. Vic Godard, after catching the end of one of my shows once told my friend that he thought my version of Amsterdam was better than Bowie's. And so i should think so. Bowie's version is toothless. Dave Van Ronk recorded a version, which i haven't heard, but i would imagine is pretty good - he's got the voice and temperament to slay it. Marc Almond did an OK album of Brel covers in the eighties.
Hello There. Welcome to my blog. In the coming time, i shall post here as regularly as i can, things which rock my boat, and which i think might rock your boat, too.
Enjoy.
Rich Diamler x
Current top 10 recurring listening habits, in no particular order...
Alex Chilton "Free Again" Porter Wagoner "The First Mrs. Jones" Big Star "Stroke It Noel" Walker Brothers "Fat Mama Kick" The Stooges "Down In The Street" Brian Eno "Baby's On Fire" The Pogues "Down In The Ground Where The Dead Men Go" Chris Bell - "I am The Cosmos" Electric Light Orchestra - "Livin' Thing" Guided By Voices - "Tractor Rape Chain"
