Various bits and pieces with a vague summer theme/feel. Very vague mind. Enjoy.
ZOMBIES - CARE OF CELL 44
BYRDS - HAVE YOU SEEN HER FACE?
JACK NITZSCHE - LONELY SURFER
GINNY ARNELL - DUMB HEAD
JAN & DEAN - SURF CITY
DIANA RAY - PLEASE DON'T TALK TO THE LIFEGUARD
THE PARAGONS - ON THE BEACH
BLUES BUSTER - LITTLE VILMA
SUGAR BOY CRAWFORD - JOCK-A-MO
THE PARAGONS - ON THE BEACH
THE LEFT BANKE - SOMETHING ON MY MIND
DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TITCH - WE'VE GOT A GOOD THING GOIN'
MAMAS & PAPAS - MONDAY MONDAY
VASHTI BUNYAN - 17 PINK SUGAR ELEPHANTS
IKETTES - (HE'S GONNA BE) FINE FINE FINE
GENE PITNEY - SHE'S A HEARTBREAKER
QUESTION MARK & THE MYSTERIANS - 96 TEARS
PINK FLOYD - LUCIFER SAM
DAVID HEMMINGS - BACK STREET MIRROR
BEAU BRUMMELS - I'M A SLEEPER
HOPETOWN LEWIS - TAKE IT EASY
LOVE - QUE VIDA
ROGER NICHOLS & A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS - KINDA WASTED WITHOUT YOU
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Ten Unsung Songwriters In No Particular Order - #6 Otis Blackwell
SOUNDS LIKE - The unsung king of pop?
Otis Blackwell, as a songwriter, has sold almost 200 million records worldworld wide, but he's hardly a household name. Chances are you own at least one of his records yourself.
FOR MORE TRY THESE: Otis does have some recordings out there, but by no means do these sound quite as good as the artists who original did them. Unfortunately, there is no retrospective of his songs in their original recordings available.
LITTLE WILLIE JOHN - FEVER
Everybody knows the Peggy Lee version - but the original by Little Willie John kicks even bigger ass. A key record in the development of r&b and soul music.
DEREK MARTIN - DADDY ROLLIN' STONE
This was Otis Blackwell's very first "hit" song, in 1952. This version was recorded in 1962 by jamaican singer Derek Martin.
ELVIS PRESLEY - DON'T BE CRUEL
Blackwell wrote three mega hits for Elvis, "All Shook Up", "Return To Sender" and this classic.
JERRY LEE LEWIS - GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
I think in the very first post of this blog i posted some Jerry Lee. Good excuse for two more!
JERRY LEE LEWIS - BREATHLESS
JIMMY JONES - HANDYMAN
Unsung Songwriters In No Particular Order - #5 Jackson C. Frank
SOUNDS LIKE: Obviously he wasn't the first singersongwriter - but his stark melancholic work sets a precedent.
American Songwriter Jackson C. Frank released one eponymously titled album during his lifetime in 1965. It has however got to be one of the most influential singer songwriter albums of the Sixties. Simon & Garfunkel recorded "Blues Run The Game (Paul Simon actually produced this album)", Sandy Denny(who for a while was Frank's girlfriend) covered "Milk & Honey, Bert Jansch has covered so many of his songs live over the years and Nick Drake recorded no less than three of his songs on the home recordings that were recently released).
FOR MORE, GET THIS - Like others in this blog(Townes Van Zandt, Judee Sill), Jackson had a troubled life. I've decided to avoid bringing up their heartbreaking stories here and concentrate on their music. Jackson never released another record in his lifetime, although this current compilation collects his Jackson C Frank record and adds an extra CD of later demos. If these demos don't bring a tear to your eyes, then perhaps nothing will.
Here's 4 songs from the fantastic Jackson C Frank album.
BLUES RUN THE GAME - Jackson C. Frank's most famous song, due to it being covered by Simon & Garfunkel.
MY NAME IS CARNIVAL
MILK AND HONEY
I WANT TO BE ALONE (DIALOGUE)
American Songwriter Jackson C. Frank released one eponymously titled album during his lifetime in 1965. It has however got to be one of the most influential singer songwriter albums of the Sixties. Simon & Garfunkel recorded "Blues Run The Game (Paul Simon actually produced this album)", Sandy Denny(who for a while was Frank's girlfriend) covered "Milk & Honey, Bert Jansch has covered so many of his songs live over the years and Nick Drake recorded no less than three of his songs on the home recordings that were recently released).
FOR MORE, GET THIS - Like others in this blog(Townes Van Zandt, Judee Sill), Jackson had a troubled life. I've decided to avoid bringing up their heartbreaking stories here and concentrate on their music. Jackson never released another record in his lifetime, although this current compilation collects his Jackson C Frank record and adds an extra CD of later demos. If these demos don't bring a tear to your eyes, then perhaps nothing will.
Here's 4 songs from the fantastic Jackson C Frank album.
BLUES RUN THE GAME - Jackson C. Frank's most famous song, due to it being covered by Simon & Garfunkel.
MY NAME IS CARNIVAL
MILK AND HONEY
I WANT TO BE ALONE (DIALOGUE)
Monday, 24 May 2010
10 unsung songwriters in no particular order #4 - Michael Hurley
Sounds like: A great night somewhere under the stars. Like Townes, i'm totally confused as to why Hurley(or "Snock", as he's nicknamed) isn't on the cover of Uncut every other week. Let's put it this way, my Michael Hurley compilations i've made for people have been the most-loved. Snock is still out there, so if you EVER get the chance to see him - do not miss it!
For more, get this: Virtually all of Hurley's albums have their fair share of delights. Armchair Boogie, Long Journey, Hifi Snock Uptown, First Songs, are all great. The b*tch is they are pretty hard to get hold of - you can get LPs and some Cd-rs from Honest Johns and Hurley's website respectively. Somebody please sort this out! There's also a new Hurley album out, with the band Ida, which sounds lovely. PS - Hurley's artwork for his albums is always great.
THE WEREWOLF
Probably Snock's most famous song. It should be a standard. From his second LP, Armchair Boogie.
BE KIND TO ME
Again, from Armchair Boogie. Puts me in a good place.
TROUBLED WATERS
I can't get off Armchair Boogie! It's too good! This song was covered by Cat Power, i believe...
SLURF SONG
From Snock's collaboration with some of the Holy Modal Rounders in 1976, "Have Moicy". My favourite song about food, ever.
HOG OF THE FORSAKEN
From the album "Long Journey".
For more, get this: Virtually all of Hurley's albums have their fair share of delights. Armchair Boogie, Long Journey, Hifi Snock Uptown, First Songs, are all great. The b*tch is they are pretty hard to get hold of - you can get LPs and some Cd-rs from Honest Johns and Hurley's website respectively. Somebody please sort this out! There's also a new Hurley album out, with the band Ida, which sounds lovely. PS - Hurley's artwork for his albums is always great.
THE WEREWOLF
Probably Snock's most famous song. It should be a standard. From his second LP, Armchair Boogie.
BE KIND TO ME
Again, from Armchair Boogie. Puts me in a good place.
TROUBLED WATERS
I can't get off Armchair Boogie! It's too good! This song was covered by Cat Power, i believe...
SLURF SONG
From Snock's collaboration with some of the Holy Modal Rounders in 1976, "Have Moicy". My favourite song about food, ever.
HOG OF THE FORSAKEN
From the album "Long Journey".
10 Unsung Songwriters In No Particular Order #3 Townes Van Zandt
Sounds like : The best thing you never heard. Townes is, without doubt, one of the greatest songwriters to have ever graced this old rock, but, relatively unknown. I scratch my head in confusion. I hate all notions of authenticity being applied to music, but this is, in my head at least, true country music. Don't let that put you off.
For More, Get this: Townes left a lot of music behind, but frankly his discography is a bit of a mess. A lot of songs were rerecorded on consecutive albums, drowned in strings, cheesy country music and even choirs. The best introduction to his work is the 2-cd Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas. Recorded in 1973, this contains solo versions of many of his greatest songs. Very wonderful. In terms of studio recordings, i'd possibly start with Our Mother The Mountain, as some of the arrangements (The title track, Kathleen) work well. For the adventurous, and the bargain hunters of you, you might want to pick up the 4-cd Texas Troubadour from Play.Com - which compiles a lot of his key studio recordings from the late sixties & early seventies - for a bargain £9.99!
WAITING ROUND TO DIE
Incredible footage from the film Heartworn Highways
TECUMSEH VALLEY
How much i wish i could write a song quite as good as this. Truly heartbreaking.
OUR MOTHER THE MOUNTAIN (NO VIDEO)
....and this one. One of the first townes songs i heard. I must've fell over.
IF I NEEDED YOU
I covered this song once. Beautiful.
For More, Get this: Townes left a lot of music behind, but frankly his discography is a bit of a mess. A lot of songs were rerecorded on consecutive albums, drowned in strings, cheesy country music and even choirs. The best introduction to his work is the 2-cd Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas. Recorded in 1973, this contains solo versions of many of his greatest songs. Very wonderful. In terms of studio recordings, i'd possibly start with Our Mother The Mountain, as some of the arrangements (The title track, Kathleen) work well. For the adventurous, and the bargain hunters of you, you might want to pick up the 4-cd Texas Troubadour from Play.Com - which compiles a lot of his key studio recordings from the late sixties & early seventies - for a bargain £9.99!
WAITING ROUND TO DIE
Incredible footage from the film Heartworn Highways
TECUMSEH VALLEY
How much i wish i could write a song quite as good as this. Truly heartbreaking.
OUR MOTHER THE MOUNTAIN (NO VIDEO)
....and this one. One of the first townes songs i heard. I must've fell over.
IF I NEEDED YOU
I covered this song once. Beautiful.
Ten Unsung Songwriters in no particular order #2 Judee Sill
Sounds like: Female Symphonies To God. Joni Mitchell meets Brian Wilson in Catholic church, perhaps.
For More, Get this: There's three albums (one posthumous) - but the arrangements and productions on the first two are a very acquired taste. Perhaps the best place to start, i think, is the BBC Recordings/Live In Concert CD, which has Sill playing songs from both her albums,accompanying herself on piano and guitar.
JESUS WAS A CROSSMAKER
(no video unfortunately, just a live recording of the song)
THE KISS
(Live from the Old Grey Whistle Test)
THE LAMB RAN AWAY WITH THE CROWN
(Rare live footage from 1973)
For More, Get this: There's three albums (one posthumous) - but the arrangements and productions on the first two are a very acquired taste. Perhaps the best place to start, i think, is the BBC Recordings/Live In Concert CD, which has Sill playing songs from both her albums,accompanying herself on piano and guitar.
JESUS WAS A CROSSMAKER
(no video unfortunately, just a live recording of the song)
THE KISS
(Live from the Old Grey Whistle Test)
THE LAMB RAN AWAY WITH THE CROWN
(Rare live footage from 1973)
Ten Unsung Songwriters In No Particular Order - #1 JAKE THACKRAY
Sounds like: George Brassens if he was born in Otley.
Listen More, Get This: Jake In A Box (4CD Box Set, pretty much complete recordings). You can download the mp3s of the box dead cheap(£7.49), but there's also lots of very cheap compilations which serve as decent introductions.
ON AGAIN, ON AGAIN
THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF JAKE THACKRAY
BROTHER GORILLA
Not strictly his song(written by George Brassens), but i love it.
Listen More, Get This: Jake In A Box (4CD Box Set, pretty much complete recordings). You can download the mp3s of the box dead cheap(£7.49), but there's also lots of very cheap compilations which serve as decent introductions.
ON AGAIN, ON AGAIN
THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF JAKE THACKRAY
BROTHER GORILLA
Not strictly his song(written by George Brassens), but i love it.
Monday, 26 April 2010
French Top Ten, 26th Avril 2010
A handful of (mainly) Sixties French Pop, in no particular order...six for now, ten for later.
Francoise Hardy - Tous Le Garcons Et Le Filles
Great great song. Brilliant Video.
Sylvie Vartan - L'oiseux
An obscure bit of French pop put my way by DJ Justin Spear
Nino Ferrer - La Telefon
I shake my head and think, is this real? Is this serious?
Brigitte Bardot - Contact
Psychedelic pop don't get much better than this. What a groove!
France Gall - Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son
If only Eurovision kicked ass like this now.
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin - La Decadanse
Wouldn't it be great if people did "La Decadanse" at the Two Pigs?
Francoise Hardy - Tous Le Garcons Et Le Filles
Great great song. Brilliant Video.
Sylvie Vartan - L'oiseux
An obscure bit of French pop put my way by DJ Justin Spear
Nino Ferrer - La Telefon
I shake my head and think, is this real? Is this serious?
Brigitte Bardot - Contact
Psychedelic pop don't get much better than this. What a groove!
France Gall - Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son
If only Eurovision kicked ass like this now.
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin - La Decadanse
Wouldn't it be great if people did "La Decadanse" at the Two Pigs?
Doctor Feelgood
Doctor Feelgood - You Shouldn't Call The Doctor (If you can't forget the bills)
I just saw the Feelgood movie "Oil City Confidential" on iplayer, and it's well worth watching. This footage is from a particularly legendary gig in Southend in 1975. Whatever you want to call it, R&B, Pub Rock, Punk Rock, in their heyday this band were stunning. Wilko Johnson is one of the most exciting guitarists ever -his style was hugely influential on people like Andy Gill from Gang Of Four, who themselves became very influential a few years later. Watch the man move! And that stare! And no less striking is the late vocalist Lee Brilleux, one of the most intense frontmen i've ever come across on screen. I love the fact his suit is a complete utter mess and he doesn't seem to care. There's some sort of attitude here that's really sorely missed these days. Or maybe i'm not looking in the right places. Or i'm too old to see it.
I just saw the Feelgood movie "Oil City Confidential" on iplayer, and it's well worth watching. This footage is from a particularly legendary gig in Southend in 1975. Whatever you want to call it, R&B, Pub Rock, Punk Rock, in their heyday this band were stunning. Wilko Johnson is one of the most exciting guitarists ever -his style was hugely influential on people like Andy Gill from Gang Of Four, who themselves became very influential a few years later. Watch the man move! And that stare! And no less striking is the late vocalist Lee Brilleux, one of the most intense frontmen i've ever come across on screen. I love the fact his suit is a complete utter mess and he doesn't seem to care. There's some sort of attitude here that's really sorely missed these days. Or maybe i'm not looking in the right places. Or i'm too old to see it.
Saturday, 10 April 2010
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