I'm baaack!!!

Yeah, I know it's been a really long time. Almost 2 years. Since my last post I've given up the job hunt and decided to retire. So I am learning to live on less money but without the stress of working full time - the commute and office politics. It's a trade-off I never would have made voluntarily but since it was made for me, I am generally much happier.

I am sure that most, if not all, of my old playlists have long been deleted. I no longer have them so I can not re-upload any of them. So in a sense I am starting over. Some of the songs on this playlist have been posted before. Once again I emphasize that this is not just about free music. If you like something, please think about purchasing it if it is readily available. While it's true that music is art, the economics of it are still a major factor in what gets released and made available. That is true even for most of those 'grey-area' comps. If whoever puts them out can't sell them, at some point they're going to stop.

And now a little plug. I do a once-a-month 1 hour radio show (usually the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 8 - 9 PM EST) on an online radio station Top Shelf Oldies. Not only on my show but every night of the week you will hear some great old R&R (almost all from the 50's and 60's) played by some of the most knowledgeable and entertaining disc jockeys around, most of whom are also fanatical collectors. And when the jocks aren't on, our automatic DJ Otto is also spinning some fine tunes. The best Rock & Roll on the internet only on Top Shelf Oldies.

Anyway, enough talk from me, let's get to the music. And needless to say, if anything here gives you the urge to leave a comment, don't be shy.

Alternative TV - Action Time Vision
Unlike a lot of UK punk from the late 70s which made a specific point of distancing itself from the past, this song is clearly influenced by what came before, in this case The Who and The Creation.
Bo Diddley - Hong Kong, Mississippi
For me Bo is the epitome of cool. I loved that scene in "Hail Hail Rock & Roll" when they are interviewing him along with Little Richard and Richard is getting all frenzied and Bo is just sitting there with this sly little smile on his face, like he was in on some cosmic joke that the rest of us just don't get. 
The Chentelles - Be My Queen
This was just one of the many 60's garage classics that was brought to our attention by the incredible Back From the Grave series. While there have been no new BFTG volumes since last century, I have it on good information that the maniacs at Crypt Records are working on 3 new volumes that are expected to see the light of day by the end of 2014.  I'm totally psyched!!
Lee Tillman - Tarzan
The only info I could find on this is that it came out on the Sonora label, possibly in 1962, and (if my ears are any judge) was recorded in New Orleans. Back in the pre-Beatles 60's records based on comic book heroes were almost a genre unto themselves and this was no doubt, recorded to cash in.
Roky Erickson & The Nervebreakers - Bermuda
This is not the original single version that came out on the fledgeling Rhino label back in 1977. Nonetheless, it's a fine live rendition. Roky's been touring the last few years, mixing in some of his solo material with songs from his 13th Floor Elevator days and if he ever plays anywhere near you, he is not to be missed.
Muck & The Mires - Caught In A Lie
Over the past 10+ years these guys have become one of my favorite bands. Main songwriter Evan Shore constructs these perfect pop songs and makes it sound like the easiest thing in the world (and as a frustrated songwriter myself I can tell you that it's anything but easy). Almost all of their CDs are out of print but you can buy most of their albums, like the one this song came from, "All Mucked Up" as mp3's on Amazon and some of their CDs and LPs can be found reasonably priced on Ebay.
Scott McKenzie - No, No, No, No, No
Sometimes an artist becomes completely associated with one song, and when that song is as overplayed as "San Francisco",  my curiosity as to whatever else he may have done is reduced to almost zero. It wasn't until I started listening to Top Shelf Oldies on a regular basis that I started hearing other records by Scott McKenzie that I liked a lot better. "No, No..." is from the "San Francisco" album that came out in 1967 and was not released as a single at the time as far as I know. Which is too bad because it's a much better song.  
The Five Satins - When Your Love Comes Along
Speaking of artists associated with only one song, that is certainly the case with The Five Satins as "In the Still of the Night" is a staple of oldies stations everywhere. "When Your Love..." was released in 1959 on the First label and promptly went nowhere.
Freddie Chavez - They'll Never Know Why
I love this song, especially that little guitar riff that is repeated  throughout the song. An original copy will set you back a good 3 figures - if you can even find one - but luckily, over the years this has been comped a number of times in good sound quality. I bet The Fleshtones would do a dynamite cover of this song. 
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Twisted
I first heard this song when I was in my early 20's when Joni Mitchell covered it on her "Court and Spark" album. While Joni did a more than credible job on it, for me this version from 1959 is the best.
The Dellwoods - (She Got A) Nose Job
This coulda/woulda/ shoulda/ been a hit is from the "Mad Twists Rock & Roll" album which was a big favorite of mine in my pre-teen years.
Jules & The Polar Bears - Sometimes Real Life
Jules Shear has had a long recording career to much critical acclaim. It's probably my loss but this is one of the few songs I've ever heard by him. I'm not exactly sure why but there is something about that chorus that always gets to me.
Andre Williams - Going Down To Tia Juana
Andre has to be THE most loveable dirty old man of Rock & Roll. This is but one of many fabulous records Andre recorded for the Fortune label back in the 50's. 
Dr. Feelgood -  Milk And Alcohol
Although this was recorded after the departure of guitar player Wilko Johnson, they were still at their peak when they played the show from which this was taken in 1979. Bluesy Rock & Roll at it's finest.
Buzz Cliford - More Dead Than Alive
Buzz scored a Top 10 hit in 1961 with the novelty tune "Baby Sittin' Boogie".  As happens so often, he never achieved anywhere near that success again despite the fact that a number of his subsequent releases were way superior. Like this one which never even cracked the Billboard Bubbling Under chart.
Sonny Rollins - St Thomas
One of the best concerts I've ever seen in my life was an outdoor free show that Sonny Rollins did in the summer of 1998 at Lincoln Center. It was jam packed and I couldn't get closer than maybe 100  feet from the stage. Nonetheless, his music was mesmerising on so many levels.

What's so strange when you know that you're a wizard at three?