time on my hands

Land of the Rich and Privileged

2012-01-08T23:03:00.004-05:00

I wish I were rich enough to be a Republican. I like to think I wouldn't be one but it would be nice to have that option. Seeing as how it is very unlikely that I will vote anything but straight Democratic in the next presidential election I haven't been paying too much attention to the Republican debates. But what I have been hearing scares the crap out of me. The ignorance and the smugness. And the thing that scares me the most is that these raving idiots are being taken seriously by people - people who have the power to vote and keep these evil bastards in office. And so many folks are like sheep and they follow them. All it seems to take is a 30-second soundbite calling their opponent a tax-and-spend liberal and referring to universal health care as Obamacare and voters are eating out of the palms of their hands. Not that most Democrats are likely that much better. They must cow tow to the same lobbyists for the big campaign bucks as their counterparts. But in most cases I think they still have some desire to do the right thing. I still believe Obama is a good man trying his best to fix this broken country. And I still think he talks common sense most of the time. His biggest fault is that maybe he is too nice and needs to toughen up. I sincerely hope he can do that and that he gets the chance to for the next 4 years.

Another Sunny Day - I'm In Love With A Girl Who Doesn't Know I Exist
Along with Roky Erickson's "Nothing In Return",this song perfectly captures that desolate lonely feeling that only an unrequited love can bring.
Billy Rainsford - Magnolia
Until I found this song on an old comp of bluesy 50's R&B I hadn't the slightest inkling that Mr. Rainsford even existed let alone have come up with such a gem as this. It just goes to show how much amazing music is still out there waiting to be discovered. It's a beautiful thing!
The Bedlam Four - No One to Love
I believe this is the same Minnesota combo who did "Hydrogen Atom" which has been comped a few times. This song, to the best of my knowledge, has yet to be reissued. Certainly it's not due to unworthiness.
Jimmy Jones - I Want Action
Listening to his vocal I'm quite sure that this is not the "Handy Man" Jimmy Jones, but I really know nothing else about him other than that this record came out on the Twinight label out of Chicago.
The Clovers - Down In The Alley
Changity changity changity changity chang chang. This has always been one of my favorite Clovers records and one that you don't hear all that often these days.
Simon Dupree & The Big Sound - Reservations
This was a single for these guys in 1967 on Parlophone Records. In 1969 they split up with a few of their members forming prog rockers Gentle Giant.
Pat Benetar - I Need A Lover
Back in the punk era Pat Benetar was considered to be everything that was prefabricated and corporate and wrong with Rock & Roll music - at least in my circle. These days she doesn't sound bad at all and I've always liked this song - even when it wasn't cool to do so.
The Mods - I Give You an Inch (and You Take a Mile)
According to the Garage database, there were around 15 bands calling themselves The Mods. The Mods who recorded this snarly classic came from Toledo, Ohio.
Thelma Houston - Jumpin' Jack Flash
Of course it goes without saying that the definitive version of this song will always be The Rolling Stones' original, but I like Thelma's as well.
Dean Carter - Mary Sue
Dean is mainly known for his oft-comped totally over the top version of "Jailhouse Rock" but as his "Call of the Wild" CD definitely proved, there was a whole lot more craziness where that came from.
Chuck Brookes - Spinning My Wheels
I first became familiar with this song when The A-Bones started covering it some 20-odd years ago. Their version is pretty similar to Chuck's original.
Richard X. Heyman - Falling Away
Until I looked him up on Wikipedia I had no idea this guy had 7 albums under his belt. I may have heard bits and pieces of a few of them but this song is my favorite of what I have heard so far.
Sir Winston and The Commons - We're Gonna Love
Another 60s Garage favorite that was introduced to the world on Back From The Grave Vol. 3.
Bob Dylan - Can't Help Falling In Love
After Dylan signed with Asylum Records for 2 albums Columbia Records, where he'd been recording since 1962, decided to "punish" him by releasing the "Dylan" album which contained outtakes considered not worthy of release at the time they were recorded. I've always loved his version of "Can't Help..." from that album.
The Rogues - You Better Look Now
Here's a little minor-key jangly folk rock courtesy of our friends who released the "Teenage Shutdown" series. I think this was on Volume 5.
Rufus Thomas - Crazy 'Bout You Baby
Way before he recorded "Walkin' the Dog" for Stax, Rufus Thomas recorded a whole slew of jump R&B sides for Sam Phillips' Sun label. This was one of them.
Mose Allison - Your Molecular Structure
Mose Allison has always been a favorite artist of mine. I love that little spark of mischief in his songs. In an article I read once the author said that he sang "with a twinkle in his eye" and nowhere is that more apparent than on this particular song.

Like a river flows, surely to the sea

Last Platterpuss Broadcast of 2011

2011-12-30T20:09:00.002-05:00

In case anyone missed my broadcast on Top Shelf Oldies this past Wednesday, here it is for download to listen to at your own convenience. Now that Christmas is over, I say we skip New Years and head right into Spring Training. Play Ball.

AMOS MILBURN - CHICKEN SHACK BOOGIE (1955 Vers.)
MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS - NOWHERE TO RUN
THE SONS OF FRED - BABY WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO
LESLIE DAWSON - RUN FOR SHELTER
KYU SAKAMOTO - HANA SAKU MACKIKADO (HAT'S OFF TO LARRY)
STATUS QUO - ICE IN THE SUN
THE VELVETS - WILD LITTLE WILLY
LITTLE IKE - SHE CAN ROCK
THE YOUNG SAVAGES - THE INVADERS ARE COMING
THE VONBRELLAS - WINGS OF AN ANGEL
THE DIABLOS - SINCE YOU'RE GONE
DARROW FLETCHER - INFATUATION
THE MENACE - YOU DON'T EVEN WINK YOUR EYE
THE HOLLIES - BABY THAT'S ALL
CRABBY APPLETON - LUCY
MEL DORSEY & THE HEARTBEATS - LITTLE LIL
THE BLUES PROJECT - NO TIME LIKE THE RIGHT TIME
THE COBRAS - SINDY
THE SUGAR CANYON - ON TOP OF THE WORLD
THE MUSIC MACHINE - THE PEOPLE IN ME
THE KINKS - THIS IS WHERE I BELONG
THE MAR-KEYS - BLUE PEANUTS

Back Off the Chain Gang

2011-12-11T23:47:00.003-05:00

As of around 7:30 PM, Nov. 30 I am once again a member of the great unemployed. I can't say that it came as a great surprise and I also can't say that I am too upset about it. To be perfectly honest I grew to really hate this job over the last few months. After the first initial shock I felt like a weight had been lifted off my back. The economy still stinks out there and I don't have a lot of money saved up so I find myself having to make choices about things I used to take for granted but at this point in my life a little belt-tightening is probably not a bad thing to get used to.

I read an interesting article in the Huffington Post written by Steve Van Zandt. Now I realize that Miami Steve is not one of the great political commentators of our time but he does make a very interesting point. As long as politicians (both Democrat and Republican) are so dependent on campaign contributions, nothing is going to change. Biting the hand that feeds you is never a good career move. In his exact words, "We need to eliminate all private finance from the electoral process." I'm not sure I agree with him completely. After all, in the last presidential election I donated $50 to Barack Obama's campaign and I'm certainly not expecting any special favors to come my way because of it. But if I'd donated $50,000 I might feel differently. So he does raise an interesting point and something to think about.

By now, most of you reading this already know about the deaths of Howard Tate, Hubert Sumlin and Dobie Gray. Over the past week much has been written about them and many of their records have been posted on various blogs and on Youtube. So I have little or nothing to add really but I did feel the need to acknowledge them as I really loved their music. And now, on with the show.

Adam Faith - I Don't Need That Kind Of Lovin'
This song was on my very first playlist back on Sept. 25, 2008 and has long been deleted by Rapidshare. To these ears most of what he recorded, with and without the Roulettes is little more than schlock but he did do a few cool rockers.
Junior McCants - Try Me For Your new Love
One of these days I will get to updating my "Way to Go" section and when I do I will definitely be posting a link to Derek's Daily 45 which is where I found this nifty upbeat soul dancer.
The Sugar Canyon - On Top of The World
Back in the late 60's when psychedelia and long bluesy guitar solos ruled the roost, Buddah Records in NYC was merrily swimming against the tide, cranking out one bubblegum single after another. I doubt if The Sugar Canyon was a real band (were ANY of them?) but it doesn't matter. If bouncy, catchy pop is your thing, it doesn't get a whole lot better than this.
The Young Fresh Fellows - Rock'n'Roll Pest Control
Sometimes these guys come on a little too jokey for my tastes but this particular song, off their debut LP "The Fabulous Sounds Of The Pacific Northwest" has always been a favorite of mine.
Papa Lightfoot - Wine, Women, Whiskey
I don't know anything about Papa Lightfoot except that this song comes from a really fine 4-disc set called "Juke Joint Blues" which can be found at Amazon.
Downliners Sect - Lonely And Blue
Any of you who are readers of Ugly Things have undoubtedly been reading about Downliners Sect's goings on for the last 15 years as, along with The Pretty Things, they are a favorite of editor Mike Stax. Listening to this it's not hard to hear why.
Kenny Smith - I'm So Lonesome, Baby
Here's another record by an artist I know nothing about, in fact I never even heard of him until I got the CD "Keb Darge & Little Edith's Legendary Wild Rockers" which is also available pretty cheaply at Amazon.
The E-Types - I Can't Do It
I've always had a soft spot for this kind of mid-60's poppy garage. I'm sure that original copies of this record sell for unheard of sums but luckily, this was reissued by Sundazed a few years back.
Dick Dale- Jessie Pearl
Dick Dale is mostly known for his string bending instrumentals but here he turns in a vocal similar in style to some of Eddie Cochran's better records.
The Moving Sidewalks - Every Night A New Surprise
While these guys are mostly known (besides morphing into boogie rockers ZZ Top) for their monstrous garage rocker "99th Floor", this is another keeper by them.
The Cobras - Sindy
This was recorded in 1955 for the Modern label of Hollywood California. Primo slow doo wop complete with a spoken middle section. Perfect make out music.
DMZ - Rosalyn
Before he formed The Lyres, Jeff Connolly was in DMZ. Musically, both bands had pretty much the same approach although DMZ may have been a little rougher around the edges - never a bad thing. Here is a live version of The Pretty Thing's "Rosalyn".
The Disturbers - Coming To Your World
From somewhere in the wilds of Pennsylvania these guys show (to my ears anyway) a bit of a Dylan meets the Seeds influence. Some cool organ playing throughout definitely adds a nice touch. Good guitar solo too.
Norma Jenkins - Me Myself And I
Nice mid-tempo soul from this songstress that I must admit to having no previous knowledge of whatsoever until I heard this song on Kent's Carnival of Soul Vol 1 CD. With a lovely voice like she had it seems kind of surprising she never made it further.
The Spliffs - You Know What They'll Say
Power Pop lover that I am, this has been a favorite of mine for a really long time so I was really surprised when I did a search and found that in the 3+ years I've been doing this blog I had never posted this absolute gem of a record. So here it is. Enjoy.
William Penn Fyve - Blow Your Mind
It's hard to believe that this garage pounder by these 5 guys from Palo Alto, CA has never been comped. I don't remember where I got it from but it's a killer track.
Willie Tee - Teasin' You
I saw Willie Tee in concert a few years ago and he could still sing as sweetly as ever. Sadly he passed away from colon cancer not long after that show. "Teasin..." was released as a single in March of 1965 on Atlantic Records with the fabulous "Walking Up A One-Way Street" as the b-side but it only made it up to number 97 on the Billboard Top 100.

There's no place else that I can go

Norton Records Tribute

2011-11-20T23:48:00.002-05:00

For any of you who might have missed my tribute to Norton Records this past Wednesday on Top Shelf Oldies, here it is on a bright and shiny brand new MP3 file. Last weekend was a blast and for those of you who were unable to take part in the festivities, or those of you who were there but want to relive the good times, you can go to my pal and photographer extroadinaire Jeff Cuyubamba's page on Garagepunk NYC to check out his pics. I hope to get in another post or two before the end of the year so for now I will just wish everyone out there in Cyberland a Happy Thanksgiving.

NUMBER NINE TRAIN - DALE HAWKINS
THE WITCH - THE SONICS
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD LOVE - BIG MAYBELLE
I GOT EYES - ANDRE WILLIAMS & THE ELDORADOS
SONG FOR JANIE - TIM BUCKLEY
HOW CAN YOU BE SO MEAN - JOHNNY ACE
KEEP A KNOCKIN' - BOBBY FULLER
ALLEY RAT - KING COLEMAN
24 HOURS (EVERYDAY) - THE HEADSTONES
LET'S TWIST (SLOW & EASY) - TED JARRETT
THE JADES - DON'T BE A FOOL
? AND THE MYSTERIANS - I NEED SOMEBODY
CHARLES LOOPER AND THE LOOPS - SHE'S MY BABY NOW
LITTLE BABY - TOMMY FACENDA
I GOT TO KNOW HIM - THE KITTENS
WATCH ME - THE TRACERS
TEENAGE HEAD - THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES
I DON'T CARE - FRANKIE DAY W/ THE JIM BALCOM ORCHESTRA
IT WON'T BE WRONG - THE BYRDS
OUT OF THIS WORLD - GINO WASHINGTON
WHAT A WAY TO DIE - THE PLEASURE SEEKERS
JITTERBUG MARY - THE DEL-VIKINGS
CONGO BONGO - BEN LEONARD & THE FURIES

Happy Anniversary Norton Records

2011-11-16T00:20:00.004-05:00

November 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of Norton Records. The festivities were held this past weekend - from Thursday thru Sunday night and I have to say it was one of the best weekends I have had in a long long time. I will be paying tribute to Norton on my monthly radio show on Top Shelf Oldies tomorrow night, Wed., Nov. 16 at 8 PM EST. I apologize for the last minute notice but if you can't make it to the show I will be posting it online later in the week. Mucho thanks to Billy and Miriam for 25 years of some of the best Rock & Roll ever.

A Snowy Winters Day in...October?

2011-10-29T17:08:00.004-04:00

Mother Nature definitely woke up on the wrong side of bed here in the Northeast U.S. this morning. Normally this time of year we expect temperatures peaking at between 55 and 60 degrees but today it is not going to get out of the 30's. And when I look outside my window the ground is covered in ugly snowy slush. Looks more like December or January out there.

It's been awhile since my last regular post and a lot has been happening out in the world. By now the Occupy Wall Street movement has been written about and discussed in depth so I don't really have a whole lot to add except for this. The one knock against them that I have been hearing repeatedly is that they have no focus and they "haven't accomplished anything". For me, this is not OWS's purpose. For awhile now people have been disgusted with our government and the system in general which has been failing more and more of us. OWS is giving that discontent a voice and (in my opinion) it will continue to grow in some form or other. The movement which started out as a bunch of punky looking kids with signs is attracting more and more "legitimate" and well-known names and faces. The powers that be, both in government and business are just beginning to get the message that more and more of us are fed up and demand a change. OWS in itself may or may not last the winter but the ripples of discontent that they are generating will continue to grow in some form. And even in this short time there are some definite results. Just today Bank of America announced that it is rethinking its plans to charge a $5 fee to use their debit cards and some other banks such as Wells Fargo and Chase that were also planning to start charging fees have changed their minds, due to "customer feedback".

Anyway, let's get to what you came here for - gimme the downbeat maestro!

Al Urban - Gonna Be Better Times
Back in the mid-50s, in the wake of Elvis it seemed that every country boy (and girl too) with a guitar caught the rockin' bug and was going to be a star just like their hero. Al Urban waxed this tune for the Sarg label in 1958 looking for his share of fame and glory.
Bob Dylan - Boogie Woogie Country Girl
This comes from a long out-of-print Doc Pomus tribute CD. I love Dylan's laid back vocal and arrangement which doesn't stray too far from the original.
The Stoics - Enough of What I Need
Back in 1967 this San Antonio fivesome recorded this garage classic for the Brams label. Over the years this song has appeared on a number of comps, if not always with the best sound quality. But it sounds fine here.
Heavenly - Cool Guitar Boy
This is one of those songs I included in one of my earliest posts which is probably long gone by now. This has always been a favorite of mine since the moment I first heard it and Amelia Fletcher has never sounded sweeter.
Dion - Will Love Ever Come my Way
Recorded for Columbia in the mid-60s I'm not sure if this ever came out on a 45. If it did, it never cracked Billboard's Top 100. But that certainly wasn't due to a lack of musical merit as this has "hit" written all over it. Dion recorded a number of fine 45s for Columbia which went nowhere due to, in part I'm sure, lack of promotion by the label. There is one in particular I am looking for, "Two-Ton Feather" by Dion and the Wanderers. It was included on a few Dion compilations over the years but it's the 45 mono mix that I crave so if anyone out there has an extra copy for sale or trade, please get in touch via the comments section.
Mickey Murray - Shout Bamalama
Mickey's remake of this old Otis Redding rocker made it to number 54 on the Billboard charts in the fall of 1967. It's a bit more restrained than the original but it's a great dancefloor filler nonetheless.
The Nashville Teens - Find My Way Back Home
This is another perennial favorite I know I posted back in the early days of TOMH. After almost 50 years, this song still gets my adrenaline pumping.
Dave Edmunds - Dear Dad
Dave Edmunds turns in a pretty faithful to the original rendition of one of Chuck Berry's lesser known gems.
The Chants - I Don't Care
Like The Newbeats and Tim Tam & The Turn-Ons, The Chants seamlessly meld doo wop and garage into something totally fun and infectious. Despite the "you'll be sorry" nature of the lyrics, this is one of those songs that immediately brings a smile to my face every time it comes on the Ipod.
The Cordells - Annie Get Your Yo-Yo
Ritchie Cordell is the master behind this two-minute plus slab of bubblegum magic. As a look at his discography will show, he was involved with a whole slew of AM radio hits in the late 60's and early 70's. Sadly he died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 61 in 2004.
Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns - High Blood Pressure
If these guys ever made a bad record I have yet to hear it. Not only is lead vocalist Bobby Marchan one of my favorite singers ever, HPS&tC's 45s all have that infectious, good-time vibe that makes it virtually impossible to remain in a bad mood whenever I hear them, no matter how awful a day I've had.
Junk Monkeys - All In a Day
Junk Monkeys were one of many combos that were influenced by earlier bands like The Real Kids and Radio Birdman that seemed to come and go in a flash back in the 90's. As so often happens, in this case their anonymity is not deserved as there are a lot more terrific tunes where this came from, which in this case is their "Bliss" CD which is available for cheap on Amazon.
The Lynx - You Lie
Another Texas garage band, this appearss to be The Lynx's brightest shining moment, appearing on a number of compilations over the years.
Prentice Moreland - Holy Mack'rel
While Elvis may have convinced the white youth of 1950's America that stardom was only a few hip swivels away, it would also appear that Little Richard may have had the same effect on their African-American contemporaries. If you like your R&R loud and wild, here it is.
The Tams - Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy
The last chart entry for this Atlanta, GA quintet (#66 in June 1968), this seems like some pretty good advice.
Rob Hoeke R&B Group - Margio
While Bob Hoeke was primarily known as a boogie woogie pianist, he still managed to cut some R&B fueled garage records in his native Holland that are now regarded as classics. To me, this is the best of them.
The Kwyet Kings - You Say
If there were any justice in this world, Arne Thelin would be a name more people would recognize (along with Jeff Conolly of the Lyres and Dom Mariani of the Stems/DM3) but unfortunately his supreme talent is known only to a select few. Hopefully he is more appreciated in his home country of Norway. The Kwyet Kings is the latest (as far as I know) of his 3 bands and if you like what you hear here, you can find some of their CDs on Amazon. If the man isn't making much money from his music, he at least deserves a bit more respect.

Won't be home until half passed 2.

Double Your Pleasure

2011-10-23T22:36:00.002-04:00

For any of you out there who might have missed it, here is the link to my special 2-hour edition of my Platterpuss R&R Record Party. One link, 2 separate 1 hour MP3 files. Enjoy.

HOUR 1

BIM BAM - DON & DEWEY
THE STANDELLS - THE PEPPERMINT BEATLE
GWEN OWENS - I LOST A GOOD THING
JOE BENNETT & THE SPARKLETONES - BOYS DON'T CRY
THE POSSUMS - SHE'S LOVING ME
THE ORIOLES - SO LONG
JOHN LEE HOOKER - LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT
RY COODER - DO-RE-MI
STORMY GAYLE - FLIPSVILLE
GLEN CAMPBELL - ABOUT THE OCEAN
THE MARMALADE - BABY, MAKE IT SOON
THE TIDAL WAVES - ACTION (SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS)
THE EMPERORS - LAUGHING LINDA
ELMER PARKER & THE LIGHT LIGHTERS - YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU
JOHNNY NILES (A.K.A. HARRY NILSSON) - WIG JOB
THE STAPLE SINGERS - FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH
NOOKIE BOY - I'LL MAKE A BET
THE HONEYCOMBS - CAN'T GET THROUGH TO YOU
VINCE EVERETT - I AIN'T GONNA BE YOUR LOW DOWN DOG NO MORE
DION & THE WANDERERS - TWO TON FEATHER
THE CHANTERS - NO NO NO
LAURA NYRO - LUCKIE

HOUR 2

CHUCK BERRY - LITTLE QUEENIE
LITTLE ERNEST TUCKER - GONNA GET ME A SATELLITE
BOBBY HEBB - BREAD
THE RESONARS - IF HE'S SO GREAT
THE BEAU BRUMMELS - DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS
LAMBERT, HENDRICKS & ROSS - TWISTED
MIKE FERN & THE DEL ROYALS - BRAKE JAKE
THE WHEELS - MY HEART'S DESIRE
KATE TAYLOR - YOU CAN CLOSE YOUR EYES
NAPPY BROWN - OPEN UP THAT DOOR
THE LITTLE BITS - GIRL GIVE ME LOVE
HUEY PIANO SMITH & THE CLOWNS - FREE, SINGLE AND DISENGAGED
JIM BACHUS - CAVE MAN
TOMMY JAMES - ONE TRACK MIND
JANET & THE JAYS - LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO ME
LOS GATOS SALVAJES - EN TU CORAZON
TYRONE SCHMIDLING - HONEY DON'T
ETTA JAMES - TOUGH LOVER
SHOCKING BLUE - SEND ME A POSTCARD
THE SOUL CHILDREN - BRING IT HERE
THE RED SQUARES - YOU CAN BE MY BABY
THE DEL VIKINGS - COOL SHAKE
BOOKER T & THE MG'S - GIMME SOME LOVIN'

Twice As Much, Same Low Price

2011-10-18T00:44:00.002-04:00

It's that time of the month again and The Platterpuss is back on the cyber airwaves with a special 2-hour show this Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 9-11 PM EST on Top Shelf Oldies. Twice the fun, same low, low price! Tune in to hear some cool tunes and, if you're in the mood, come into the chat room and be part of my Mystery Oldies contests.

Just when you thought it was safe to go online.....

2011-09-20T19:07:00.003-04:00

...along comes another edition of the Platterpuss Rock & Roll Records Party on Top Shelf Oldies this Wednesday night from 8 - 9 PM EST. If I say so myself it's going to be a terrific show so be sure to tune in.

In Case You Missed It

2011-08-21T21:22:00.003-04:00

Last Wednesday was a special edition of my Platterpuss Rock & Roll Records Party on Top Shelf Oldies - it was the Platterpuss Rock & Roll B-Sides Party. And a pretty cool selection of tunes it was if I say so myself. My show is on once a month, the 3rd Wednesday of every month, from 8 - 9 PM EST. If you're around at that time, please tune in and feel free to join the chat room. We're a very friendly bunch of music fanatics. For those of you who missed it this time, you can listen to it by just clicking on the link.

SAM & DAVE - WRAP IT UP (I THANK YOU)
THE STANDELLS - RARI (DIRTY WATER)
THE DELLS - JO-JO (OH WHAT A NIGHT)
THE CHIFFONS - OH MY LOVER (HE'S SO FINE)
THE CRITTERS - WALK LIKE A MAN AGAIN (DON'T LET THE RAIN FALL
DOWN ON ME)
ADRIAN LLOYD - GOT A LITTLE WOMAN (LORNA)
J. FRANK WILSON & THE CAVALIERS - THAT'S HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU (LAST KISS)
THE FOUR SEASONS - SILENCE IS GOLDEN (RAG DOLL)
THE SUPREMES - REMOVE THIS DOUBT (YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON)
THE CRESTS - MY JUANITA (SWEETEST ONE)
RON TYSON - I'M NOT TOO YOUNG TO SING THE BLUES (OH WHAT A NIGHT FOR LOVE)
THE KAN-DELLS - CRY GIRL (CLOUDBURST)
THE LEMON PIPERS - NO HELP FROM ME (GREEN TAMBOURINE)
THE BYRDS - SHE DON'T CARE ABOUT TIME (TURN TURN TURN)
TICO & THE TRIUMPHS - NOISE (CARDS OF LOVE)
LITTLE WILLIE JOHN - I'M SHAKIN' (COTTAGE FOR SALE)
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL - BUTCHIE'S TUNE (SUMMER IN THE CITY)
SLIM HARPO - DON'T START CRYING NOW (RAININ' IN MY HEART)
THE COASTERS - THREE COOL CATS (CHARLIE BROWN)
THE STONES - WHO'S DRIVING YOUR PLANE (HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR
MOTHER BABY)
TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS - THUNDERBOLT (HANKY PANKY)

Better Late than Never

2011-07-23T17:12:00.002-04:00

The latest edition of the Platterpuss Rock & Roll Records party aired on Thursday, June 14 on Top Shelf Oldies. As you can see, there are some repeats from my recent posts from my TOMH but there are a number of songs I haven't posted here just yet. Unlike my TOMH posts this is one big hour-long file. There's not that much more to say about it and especially since I am dealing with a really bad toothache and I am waiting for the pain killers to kick in, I'm just going to say here it is. Enjoy.

BRUCE & TERRY - SUMMER MEANS FUN
B.B. KING - SUMMER IN THE CITY
JIMMY JONES - EE-I-EE-I-O
KENNY & THE KASUALS - NOTHING BETTER TO DO
CURTIS LEE - I NEVER KNEW WHAT LOVE COULD DO
JUANITA WILLIAMS - YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WAS GETTIN'
THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS - YOU'RE GONNA MISS ME
LARRY DALE - LET THE DOORBELL RING
THE RELYEAS - COUNTRY BOY
ERNIE MARESCA - PLEASE BE FAIR
JODY REYNOLDS - FIRE OF LOVE
CAT STEVENS - TROUBLE
SUN RA - DADDY'S GONNA TELL YOU NO LIES
THE POETS - THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GOT TO BE
RONNIE BIRD - OU VA T'ELLE
CURT BOETTCHER - I LOVE YOU MORE EACH DAY
FRANK GORSHIN - THAT'S THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE
DOROTHY PARKER - SHINDIG CITY
THE REDWOODS - PLEASE MR. SCIENTIST
SUGAR BOY WILLIAMS - LITTLE GIRL
THE BARBARIANS - YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND
JONI MITCHELL - RAISED ON ROBBERY
NAT KENDRICK - SLOW DOWN

Back on the Chain Gang Again

2011-07-14T16:18:00.005-04:00

For the last 3 few weeks I have been enjoying some much-needed down time. Miracle of miracles, despite company policy against such practices, I got a renewal of my contract at the ol' pickle factory. So, for the first time since October of 2008, I had time to myself with the luxury of knowing that I had a job waiting for me on the other end. It's a nice feeling. I'm not much of a traveler so I didn't go anywhere but living in NYC there is never a shortage of things to do. Being the procrastinator that I am I only accomplished about half of the things on my to-do list but that's OK - I can always take care of some of those things tomorrow hahaha.But since I have decided to keep Time On My Hands active and I don't know when I will have the time to do another post after this week, I decided to put up a new playlist. Once again you long-term visitors to TOMH will find some repeats from earlier (and presumably dead) posts, but I've thrown in some new goodies to make it interesting for everyone.But before I get to the music, if you are up and about tonight, from 11 - midnite EST, you might want to check out the 4th edition of my "Platterpuss Rock & Roll Record Party" on Top Shelf Oldies radio.

Artful Dodger - You Know It's Alright
Back in the mid pre-punk 70's when I was starting to tire of the usual radio fare, I read a review of Artful Dodger's first album in Rolling Stone and sure enough, they were like a breath of fresh air. Of course, once punk happened they sounded kind of tame but 30-something years later they still sound pretty damn fine to me.
Carla Thomas - Same Thing
I'm not sure if this was ever a hit single for Ms. Thomas but if not it surely wasn't for a lack of quality. Upbeat and danceable with an almost Motownish feel to it I wish I would have known about this one in my DJing days.
The Gentlemen - It's A Cryin' Shame
Many long-time garageniks remember this song as being one of the highlights of Pebbles 5. Here it is in primo sound quality taken from a privately pressed CD-R .
The Relyea's - Country Boy
What a wonderful cover of Billy LaMont's "Country Boy". I must admit to being a sucker for that kiddie vocal sound.
The Groove Farm - Red Dress
I was first turned on to these guys by my friend Matthew who, at the time, went by the name Twee Kid and was totally into that whole C-86 thing. But these guys always seemed to have a bit more bite to them than many of their indie-pop cohorts. I'm pretty sure "Red Dress" is a cover but I can't place where I might have heard the original.
The Redwoods - Please Mr Scientist
I heard this record online and went straight to Gemm Music and purchased an original copy of the 45 for $40. Money well spent in my opinion. Brill Building mainstay Jeff Barry was a co-writer and may have even sung on this little gem.
Curt Boettcher - I Love You More Each Day
Before his untimely death at age 43 in 1987, Curt had been the brains and inspiration behind a whole slew of incredible singles and artists, mostly of the soft-rock and light psych variety in the late 60's and early 70's. "I Love You More Each Day" was the single from his "There's An Innocent face" album which was released by Elektra Records in 1973.
The Outasts - Long Tall Sally
This has always been a favorite of mine. While many of the records that came out in mid and late 60's Japan and lumped in under the "Group Sounds" banner are hardly worth a second listen, there are definitely some diamonds among the dreck and this demented version of Little Richard's classic is certainly one of them.
Dean Kohler - Gooseberry Pie
According to Google there actually IS something called gooseberry pie although from the pictures, it doesn't look like anything I want to try anytime soon. But that didn't stop Dean Kohler from recording this ode to his favorite confection in 1968.
The Skunks - Dance With the Fuhrer
Back in the early daze of Punk it seemed that there were no rules at all and anything was possible. I'm not sure what, if any, kind of a statement these guys were trying to make or whether they just had a weird sense of humor but "Dance..." is a pretty catchy and cool tune if you don't have to hear it too many times.
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Twisted
I first heard this song on a Joni Mitchell album and while our lady of the canyon did a pretty good job of it, nothing beats the original as sung by Annie Ross.
The Rayders - I Feel Fine
I'm willing to bet that even in their homeland of New Zealand these guys never saw anything approaching that mystical 15 minutes of fame. Listening to this record objectively there is almost no justification for its existence except as a cheap Fab Four cash-in. Nonetheless I find myself really enjoying this slavish imitation of one of 1964's biggest hits.
Thea Gilmore - Ever Fallen In Love
"...Love' is one of my all-time favorite songs and while this arrangement is not something I would want to hear more than occasionally, it still works somehow. Listen and judge for yourselves.
Freddie Cannon - June July & August
Ever since I bought the 45 of "Palisades Park" on Swan Records and turned it over to find this rocker gracing the b-side, it's been a summer favorite.
The Booze - Ain't It the Truth
Ah, the power of the Internet. Had I not heard these guys on some blog or other I would never even know of their existence, which would be a damn shame. If the Greenhornes' or The Woggles' brand of loud, fast and snotty garage appeals to you then you definitely want to check these guys out. Their Myspace page is a good place to start.
Z.Z. Hill - Baby I'm Sorry
For whatever reason, despite being a first-rate soul singer, mainstream crossover success has always eluded Z.Z. Hill. This upbeat mid-60's dancer seemingly has got it all.
Ronnie Bird - Elle m'attend
For my French visitors, in honor of Bastille Day, here is Ronnie Bird's version of the Stones' classic "The Last Time". As much as I've always loved this record by The Stones, I also like Ronnie's version. He also does a nice version of The Hollies' "Come On Back" which I will be playing on my show tonight.

No more ifs or ands or buts

Here's to all us aging Rock & Rollers

2011-07-05T00:38:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago I turned 60 years old. Me. 60!! When I was a kid my grandparents - quaint, lovable, white-haired folk with these funny old-world Jewish ideas and accents were in their 60's. They were old and I was young and hip and cool and 'with it'. Now I'm 60! Last night I went to see the Baxx CC's, an 'in-their-twenties' Japanese-American garage band. I've seen them twice before already and as always, they were great. But unlike the last few times I saw them, for much of the time I was there last night I didn't see anyone else I knew. All around me were these younger people, just about all of whom were young enough to be my sons or daughters. I honestly can't remember the last time I felt so old and out of place. Ironically before the band started they were playing one of the "Nuggets" discs, filled with songs I remember hearing on my AM transistor radio when they were new. I am glad that the next generation of rock and rollers are still into all of the cool stuff that came out in the 60s. And I am also glad that there are lots of new bands out there (many of whom I've heard in my travels throughout blogland) that are just as good as the bands I used to go see every week or so back in "the day". But as my friend Jeff, who showed up a bit later said: "It's just not our scene anymore - it belongs to them now."

I hope he's wrong and that yesterday I was merely feeling a bit out of sorts. While I don't go out nearly as often as I used to, while I'd probably die if I tried to party like it was 1999 and while those nights of sex, drugs and Rock & Roll are decades old, I don't feel quite ready to trade in these Rock and Roll shoes for some sensible orthopedic footwear just yet.

A word or two about the music. First, I would like to thank my cyberpal and fellow blogger Glenn who despite his own troubles on his Born In Tyme blog is still going strong and is not letting the bastards win. Glenn, you, and all of the people who wrote such nice comments when I first decided to stop posting, have inspired me to keep going. Because of my work schedule and the fact that I am also now doing my once-monthly show on Top Shelf Oldies, (my next show will be at 11 PM EST on Thursday July 14 - Happy Bastille Day!) I don't know how often I will be posting. But Time On My Hands is definitely up and running - just a wee big slower than before - kinda like its 60 year old master of ceremonies.

Finally, some of you long-term visitors will notice a few repeats in this latest playlist. Since so much of what was out there has been taken down and many of my older posts are no longer available I have decided to start from scratch. So with all of that being said, it's time to strike up the band.

The BaxxCC's - Rock N' Roll Guitar
I first saw these guys about 3 or 4 months ago at a benefit for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Along with the A-Bones they were the highlight of the evening. This is from their already out-of-print mini-LP "Two Seconds To Mars!!!" which I am still trying to find on actual vinyl or CD. Hey guys, if you're reading this - got an extra copy?
The A-Cads - Watch Your Step
As I've written so many times before, back in the 60's, long before the internet made it so easy, all over the world guys (mostly) heard the Beatles, Stones, Kinks etc. etc. and decided to pick up some instruments and give it a go themselves. The A-Cads from South Africa were 4(?) more who heard the news that there was good rockin' tonight and heeded the call.
Barbara Lewis - I'm So Thankful
Barbara had a Top 10 hit with "Hello Stranger" back in 1963 but this song, which sounds as if it was recorded anywhere between 1968 and 1972 never cracked Billboard's Top 100.
DM3 - Caroline No
Generally I have mixed feelings about tribute albums and covers but I do enjoy this rather faithful re-creation of the "Pet Sounds" classic. Dom Mariani is a tribute-worthy artist in his own right and his love for the song is obvious in every note the band sings and plays.
The Overlanders - Summer Skies & Golden Sands
I think I probably heard this song for the first time on Dave the Rave's show on TSO (Sat. nights 10 PM - 3 AM EST) and it's definitely become a favorite. I'm not sure if it was released in the U.S. as a single back in 1963 or whenever but I can't help but think that it would have sounded incredible blasting out of my dad's 1963 Plymouth's tinny little radio speakers.
Paul Kelley - Chills And Fever
I'm pretty sure I included this song on one of my very first TOMH playlists and it's still one of my favorites. Definitely one for my monthly Platterpuss R&R Record Party show.
Fever Tree - I Can Beat Your Drum
Way before Fever Tree went all hippie on us with "San Francisco Girls" they cut this unknown (at the time) garage classic. Personally, I like this a whole lot better than their later material.
Mort Shuman - I'm A Man
Mort Shuman had a long and many-faceted career as an artist, writer, arranger and producer. Somewhere along the line he recorded this nifty little toe-tapper. I've got it loud and proud on a number of various artist compilations but I am still looking for an original 45.
The Flatmates - When I'm With You
One of the things I will always be grateful to my friend Matthew (Twee Kid) for is for turning me on to the Flatmates. A little Shangri-Las, a little C-86 and songs with hooks that grab you when and where you least expect them to. If you like this song, check out their best-of CD on Amazon.
Tyrone Schmidling - Honey Don't
I know I posted this song once before and I'll say the same thing now as I did then: With a name like Schmidling it's GOT to be good. I wonder what Carl Perkins thought of this over-the-top version of his hit.
The Painted Ship - Frustration
The Painted Ship recorded one of the nastiest songs ever with "Little White Lies" and while this one doesn't register quite as high on the Evil-O-Meter, it still has that same eerie and ominous vibe. A thousand times better than anything that spoiled bad boy wannabe Jim Morrison ever did.
The Resonars - If He's So Great
Even though TSO wants it's jocks to stick with 50's, 60's and early 70's sounds, every so often I like to throw in something a little newer. So far I've played tracks by The Lyres and Untamed Youth and they've both gone over quite well - at least in the chat room. I'm thinking of playing this song sometime and then following it up with a Hollies or Beau Brummels record.
Bo Diddley - Hong Kong, Mississippi
Hail Thee Mighty Bo! One of my favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite artists. She may say she's from Hong Kong but nobody fools Bo.
Gene Clark - Is Yours Is Mine
This is from Gene's very first solo album which he recorded with the Gosdin Brothers. Sadly, he left us way too young, never even reaching his 47th birthday, in 1991.
Willy DeVille - Every Dog Has Its Day
Willy "Mink" DeVille is another artist who died at way too young an age of 59. Unfortunately, while he was alive I never appreciated him all that much. I liked his first few albums on Capitol Records but I pretty much lost track of him after that. It wasn't until after his death that I started hearing some of his later recordings. He had a feel for classic soul music that few modern singers possess without having to imitate anyone in particular. "Every Dog..." is from his sadly out-of-print (and rather expensive) "Victory Mixture" CD. So enjoy it here folks.
The Channels - Now You Know
I've always been a sucker for some good upbeat doo wop and while The Channels are better known for their ballads such "The Closer You Are" and "The Gleam in Your Eyes", this song has always been a favorite.
Mose Allison - I Don't Worry About A Thing
I want to be Mose Alison when I grow up. While I actually know very little about him, I love that good-natured, twinkle-in-his-eye coolness that he projects. Even when he is singing a blues song he always sounds like he is in on some huge cosmic joke and never takes himself too seriously. And he is also one helluva piano player.

Can't wait another day I gotta move on

Platterpuss on the Radio 05/11

2011-05-22T18:04:00.003-04:00

For all of you who might have missed it, my radio show is available for downloading. It was a fun show and, as one good friend of mine so kindly pointed out, I definitely have the face for radio. Since I am now on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 11 - midnight, if you missed me last week you can catch me 'pre-recorded live' next month.

Otis Redding - Shout Bamalama
The Blues Magoos - (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet (stereo)
Jimmy McCracklin - The Wobble
The Beach Boys - In My Room
Vaughan Thomas - Need You Girl
Bill Cosby - Little Ole Man
Maurice & Mac - Lean On Me
The Little Boy Blues - I Can Only Give You Everything
The Jury - Who Dat
Sugar Pie DeSanto - Go Go Power (mono)
Tommy Todd - Tag Along
David Gates - Okie Surfer (Mystery Oldie)
Dorothy Williams - Watchdog
Baby Huey & The Babysitters - Messin With The Kid
The Cufflinks - Guided Missles
The Roulettes - Bad Time
The Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23
The Bobby Fuller Four - Baby, My Heart
Si Cranstoun - Chocoholic
Brenda Holloway - Just Look What You've Done
The Blue Jeans - Cool Martini

In other news, the job I started last June is due to end in 3 weeks - just in time for my 60th birthday ("Happy birthday, you're fired") so once again I will actually have some time on my hands - at least until I find another job. I've given some thought to reviving TOMH but I don't want to deal with the same crap I had last time. Taking the blog private isn't really an option as it defeats the whole purpose of trying to get the music out there for folks to hear. It seems kind of like preaching to the choir. So if anyone has any ideas or suggestions please feel free to leave a comment.

I'm Back (sorta)

2011-05-17T01:09:00.003-04:00

The good news (I hope) is that I am back but not in quite the way folks might expect. I am now doing a 1-hour pre-recorded radio show on internet radio station Top Shelf Oldies under my alter ego The Platterpuss, a name I used when I was writing record reviews back in the 90's. I will be on this Thursday (5/19) from 11 PM to midnite EST. It's a cool station with some really great and knowledgable DJ's, of which I am honored to be one. There is also a chat room that is open to all and really easy to join that is also filled with some really astute collectors and people who are really passionately into the music. Being that this is an oldies station you won't hear much new stuff but if you have liked my garage, soul, R&B and rockabilly selections in the past, I don't think you will be disappointed. So please join me if you can.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the folks who've left such nice comments over the last month or so. While I didn't get to post as often as I would have liked, coming up with my playlists and writing about the music was the perfect means of self-expression for me - especially as I do not play an instrument, paint or engage in any other type of artistic endeavor. It is gratifying to know that there are others of you out there who are on the same wavelength. Perhaps at some point I will decide to give it another try. But in the meantime I hope you will enjoy my show on Thursday.

Bye Bye So Long Farewell

2011-03-16T22:23:00.002-04:00

It has come to my attention that Multiupload has deleted all of my files from the last year. I'm not sure but I believe this action could have been triggered by a commenter in my last post. I really don't know. What I do know is that since I have to keep worrying about crap like this, TOMH has ceased to be fun for me. At some point I will probably dismantle the whole thing but for now I am saying that this is my last post.

Up until recently it's been a lot of fun and I like to think I've done some good by turning people on to some music they may not have heard before. Maybe I'm flattering myself but I also like to think that, despite the claims of the RIAA, blogs like mine actually help increase record and CD sales. But whoever or whatever has caused the removal of so many of my files has spoiled it for me. I'd like to thank the many nice people who took the time to post a comment or two. You made me feel like someone out there actually cared.

Perhaps I'll be be back with another blog at some point in the future but it will probably not be under my current nom de plume of Yankeeboy. For now though, this is goodbye.

There But For Fortune

2011-02-21T19:08:00.003-05:00

While I've always liked much of Phil Och's music, I've never been a really big fan so when a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go see "There But For Fortune", a documentary about the life and music of Phil Ochs I went more because it seemed a pleasant way to spend an afternoon than out of any real curiosity. It turned out to be much more interesting than I had expected. Phil Och's music was so completely tied to the politics and events of the 1960's and as such "...Fortune" is about the times he lived in almost as much as about the man himself. Like many great artists (and indeed like many of us) he was also deeply flawed and towards the late 60's, when he realized that his music was not enough to change the world, alcohol and depression started to take their toll. As the 1960's turned into the 70's, despite the fact that he created what I think was some of the best music of his career, he felt more and more marginalized and in 1976 committed suicide.

In my own life, as I've written about on these pages, it seems as if I am becoming more politically minded at the ripe old age of 59 than I was back when these songs were recorded. So while the names and places he was singing about were quite time specific, there's a feeling in his songs that still resonates very true in 2011. And even though I never believed that a folk song could ever actually change the world, I think that had he lived he would be creating some very interesting and compelling music today.

Big Martha - You Don’t Love Me Like You Used To
From the sound of it I'm guessing this was recorded anywhere between 1958 and 1962. This is the first and last I've heard of Big Martha but as one-song legacies go, she could do a lot worse.
The Endd - Out Of My Hands
Whenever I hear this song I have this fantasy that during the last Beatles tour of the U.S. in 1966, John Lennon escaped for a few hours and cut this record with a local garage band. That's how much the lead singer sounds like him.
Los Rialaz - Puppet
Despite their Spanish sounding name, these guys appear on the 2d set of the amazing 3-volume "Tsunami Attack!! Of The Japanese Garage Rock'n'Roll" collection which came out last year. When the A-Bones toured Japan in 2009 they came back raving about all of the great Japanese garage bands they heard and many of them are probably on these discs. If you search around you can probably find them out there in blogland or, if you have deep pockets and feel like taking a chance, you can grab your very own CD copies at CD Japan.
Jason Knight - Our Love Is Getting Stronger
Classic Northern Soul. As best I can tell this was originally released in either the UK or Australia and on a search for an original copy of the 45, the cheapest one I could find was $165. Luckily it is also on a number of different NS comps that have come down the pike in the last few years.
Jim Alley & The Alley Cats - The Great Pretender
I doubt that Mr. Alley will ever replace The Platters in the hearts of music listeners all over the world, but nonetheless I quite like his take on their mega hit "The Great Pretender".
Phil Ochs - I Ain't Marching Anymore
Phil Ochs - When Im Gone
Phil Ochs - Boy In Ohio
"....Marching" is from one of Phil's early albums and it's an antiwar anthem for the ages. Unfortunately, since this song was written there have been many more wars to add to the list. Listening to "When I'm Gone" I can't help but be struck by the irony of such life-affirming lyrics with his tragic end 12 or so years later. The autobiographical "Boy In Ohio" from the "Greatest Hits" album has always been one of my favorite songs. That line "the radio was always loud" gets me every time.
Couple -You Don't Have To Be So Nice
I've written about Couple a few times before on this blog and they remain one of my most loved bands. While they are building up quite a following in their home country Malaysia, they remain pretty much unknown in the rest of the world which is a damn shame. Check out their Myspace page to hear more.
Love - Can't Explain [mono]
Since the day I bought it on a whim at EJ Korvettes when I was 15 years old in the summer of 1966, the first Love album has remained on or near the top of my all-time best albums list. And of course, it always sounds just a little bit better in mono.
Bo Diddley - Hey Good Lookin'
This is the great Bo Diddley and there will never be another quite like him. What more do I need to say?
The Beach Boys - She Knows Me Too Well (stereo)
While "Pet Sounds" stands out, for many (myself included) as the Beach Boys finest moment, the second side of "Today" which came out about a year before is as perfect a practice run as you'll ever hear. Up to this point I was never that crazy about their ballads (remember I was only 13 or 14 at the time) but his was the album that showed me that slow could still be cool. And in an about face from my usual practice, I am featuring a rare stereo mix.
Percy Sledge - Baby Help Me
Speaking of ballads, they are what Percy Sledge is best known for - hits like "When A Man Loves A Woman" and "Take Time to Know Her" are staples of oldies radio. "Baby Help Me" takes him into upbeat dance territory and while it was not as successful for him chart wise, making it only up to number 87 on Billboard's Top 100 in Feb. of 1967, it's still a great record.
The Final Four - Hold On To Your Life
Other than the act that I first heard this song on a comp of Australian garage bands I found on another blog whose name I can't remember (sorry), I know absolutely nothing about these guys. Anyone with any info is encouraged to leave a comment.
S.J. & The Crossroads - The Darkest Hour
From Beaumont, Texas this track by SJ & Co. has appeared on a number of comps over the years. Most recently it was featured on a volume of Sundazed's Garage Punk '66 series in perfect sound quality.
Tico & the Triumphs - Noise
Before he was PAUL SIMON, Paul Simon was Jerry Landis and Tico & The Triumphs and he had a real talent for coming up with some of the catchiest teen pop ever that nobody heard at the time and is finally being appreciated all these years later.
Dionne Warwick - Reach Out For Me
Despite the fact that Dionne became something of a laughing stock with those "Psychic Friends" commercials, there is no denying what an incredibly talented singer she was and her involvement with Burt Bacharach and Hal David produced some of the best-loved and most enduring pop of the 60's.
The Shadows of Knight - Three For Love
I first discovered this song on the 2d Shadows of Knight album "Bad Little Woman". On an album filled with snarly garage tracks like the title song and "Gospel Zone", "Three..." always stood out with it's slightly gentler folk rock sound.

They don't believe it could be this way

Tragedy in Arizona

2011-01-09T17:53:00.004-05:00

Like most of the nation I am still half in shock over the tragic events that occurred in Arizona yesterday. I was all set to write about my own mid-winter ennui and the power of music blah blah blah but when tragedies like this occur it makes me realize how trivial almost all of my complaints really are. To the best of my knowledge Rep. Giffords, who according to reports was the intended target of the shooter, is expected to survive although there were 6 fatalities - including a Federal judge and a 9 year old girl who, ironically, was born on 9/11/01. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragedy and their families.

I have already read a few online conjectures that say the shooter was connected to various splinter political groups or had such and such an agenda. While I am sure there might be some truth to some of these theories, I think it is best for all concerned to reserve judgment until the facts are in. Guilt by innuendo or conjecture is never a good thing, even when that verdict is against people or political parties we don't like.

What really upsets me however is that whatever the shooter's motivation might have been, it's frightening that someone can feel so much anger and hatred that this kind of act is the only way he can express it. Not that I am feeling sorry for the shooter in any way, shape or form but but it really boggles my mind to think that we as human beings are capable of that level of desperation. I wish I had some optimistic philosophical bon mot to neatly sum things up and make it all not seem so bad but I don't. Sometimes we humans are capable of incredible acts of cruelty.

George Harrison - What Is Life
I had most of this playlist put together before yesterday but today I find myself needing some reassurance that there is still some sanity and love left in this world and to feel some connection to a power greater than myself. I can think of no better song to take me where I need to be today.
Herb Eimerman - Right Now
Once again I find myself not remembering where I first heard Herb Eimerman's music and not for the first time I suspect it was from one of the power pop blogs on my linkage section. Nonetheless, this is a beautiful song, as are so many on his albums, all of which are available on Amazon.
Little Willie John - Mr Glenn
Here's a little period piece from one of my favorite singers. I totally dig those little spacey sound affects.
The Bobby Fuller Four - Only When I Dream
Speaking of favorite singers, I can think of only a few who were as capable at rocking out one minute and singing so pretty the next as Bobby Fuller. Although his recorded legacy is already more than enough to guarantee him a spot in the R&R Hall of Fame (if the judges had any taste at all) it blows my mind to think of where he might have gone with his music had his life not been so tragically cut short.
Nick Lowe - Saint Beneath The Paint
I've only seen Nick Lowe in concert twice - once with Rockpile and again a few years ago when he did an acoustic solo set. Unfortunately for me I missed this show at the Ritz in NYC sometime in 1985. My bad for sure.
Thee Mighty Caesars - Wiley Coyote
Except for possibly John Lee Hooker, I don't think anyone has made as many records as Billy Childish either as a solo or with various groups. While not everything he records is essential listening, when he's "on" as he is on this one, it's easy to see why he is held in such high regard by so many people.
The Living Daylights - Let's Live For Today
Back in the early days of FM radio I remember Murray The K playing this record on his show before I had heard the US hit version by The Grass Roots. While both are great, I think I like the LD's record better. I'm not sure where this rip originated from but "LLFT" did appear on the very first Rubble compilation.
Vince Castro - Bong Bong
There's nothing like a little upbeat white boy doo wop to put a bit of bounce back into your step. In retrospect it seems like we were all so innocent back then - even though the reality is that we weren't. A bit more naive perhaps but that's about it.
The Red Squares - You Can Be My Baby
This record is fairly well known among garage fans and collectors as it's been on a number of compilations over the years, most recently Rhino's Nuggets Vol. 2 box. In listening to this back as I write I notice that there seems to be something appended to this particular rip at the end - sorry for the poor quality control.
Fred Neil & Vince Martin - Wild Child In A World Of Trouble
Although he did not achieve much commercial success as a recording artist, Fred Neil was a mainstay in the NYC Folk community of the early 60s. He is mostly known for the songs he wrote for others including "The Dolphins" which was recorded by Tim Buckley and "Everybody's Talking" by Harry Nilsson which was featured in the film "Midnight Cowboy".
Big Syl Barnes - Come On Back
An internet search turned up absolutely nothing on Mr. Barnes other than the fact that this record was on Corvair Records, is pretty expensive and may have been recorded in 1960. It definitely has that late 50's/early 60's R&B shuffle groove I love so much.
The Summer Suns - Girl In A Mexican Restaurant
I have to thank my old friend Matthew K. for turning me on to this pop gem way back when. Speaking of my friend Matthew, I want to send out my best wishes to him and his family on the birth of his lovely baby daughter yesterday. In the midst of all this tragedy it's great to witness this flowering of hope and love. I know that you and the missus will be great parents.
The Paris Sisters - I Love How You Love Me
Featuring an early pre-wall-of-sound Phil Spector production and Priscilla Paris' plaintive vocal there is something very haunting and powerful about this record in all its simplicity. Apparently the record buying public at the time liked it as well as it went all the way up to Number 5 on the Billboard charts in September of 1961.
The Stoics - Enough Of What I Need
Ever since it's appearance on the "Acid Vision" comp back in 1983, "Enough...", coupled with "Hate" on the flip has been one of the most sought after garage 45s of all time. If one were even available I'm guessing it would be selling for at least 4 figures. This rip comes from a privately pressed CD-R.
Ray Charles - I Don't Need No Doctor
Written by the team of Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, this was a minor hit for Ray Charles back in late 1966. Despite barely making the Top 100 at the time, it has become one of his best-known and most loved records from that era.
Hipbone Slim & The Knee Tremblers - Blind Eye
This is yet another band that I can't quite remember where I first found out about - some other blog I am more than willing to bet - but, upon hearing, became an instant fan. If you like The Cramps, A-Bones or The Meteors I can't help but think that you'd like hearing more by these guys.
The Emperors - Blue Day
The Emperors are mostly known for their 5-star garage classic "I Want My Woman" and while "Blue Day" is nowhere near as crazed as that, it's a fine slice of moody garage in its own right.

Did you see a pretty maiden from the planet of love?

Holiday Blahs

2010-12-26T21:24:00.002-05:00

For some reason, I've been in somewhat of a funk this holiday season. Considering where I was last year at this time, I "should" (God, I hate that word!!) be feeling great and believe me, I am not unmindful of how bountiful and privileged my life is compared with so many others in the world and even among my own circle of friends. But feelings are feelings and while it helps to be aware that they are not necessarily reality, they can't just be thought away. We own them and whether or not we choose to share them, we're stuck with them. It doesn't help that everywhere we turn at this time of year we are bombarded by false cheer. See how delighted Miss Amazingly Beautiful Lady Love is with her new diamond pendant from Shlomo's Jewelers and just look at that perfect family enjoying their new Phony HD TV in happy togetherness! The pressure to feel this fake sense of warmth and fuzziness is immense and this year I found it particularly oppressive. But like all feelings, this too shall pass and today, when New York City is in the midst of our first blizzard of the 2010 winter, I had to go outside to run some errands and the same neighborhood I've been living in for the last 11 years was magically transformed into something else. It really was beautiful and breathtaking and it touched me like nothing else has this holiday season. I know that by tomorrow it will all be piles of gray slush but today the world really is a winter wonderland. So, whatever holiday you celebrate, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Festivus (for the rest of us) or none or all of the above, I hope it's filled with prosperity, love, joy and good health.

Adrian Lloyd - Got A Little Woman
Adrian is so well known for his garage classic "Lorna" that this little gem of a b-side tends to get overlooked. It's a little slower and more brooding than his "hit" but it's no less addicting in its own way. With a 1-2 punch like this, I can't even begin to imagine what original copies of the 45 must sell for.
Flop - I Told A Lie
Back in the early 90's one of my favorite music fanzines was "Noise for Heroes, Music for Zeros" and I am pretty sure that is where I first read about these guys. Catchy pop-punk in a Ramones/Buzzcocks mode. This particular song comes from their "Fall of the Mopsqueezer" CD, copies of which are available from Amazon for as little as 1 penny (I kid you not!).
Bobby Womack - All Along The Watchtower
There are some songs that just lend themselves to interpretation and "All Along the Watchtower" is definitely one of them. It seems pretty obvious that BW spent a little time listening to Jimi Hendrix' version but when all is said and done he manages to come up with his own rendition.
The Cowsills - In Need of a Friend
Back in the day I would never admit to liking a Cowsills song but with 20-20 hindsight it's not hard to see that they had more than just a couple of pop classics in their repertoire. IMHO this was one of their best with an arrangement and lyrics that still speaks to people today.
The Royal Jokers - You Tickle Me Baby
I know next to nothing about these guys (if anyone has any info feel free to leave a comment or two) but this is pure loud and fast fun that can always get a smile out of me.
The Split Ends - Rich With Nothing
Another garage classic that probably needs no introduction to most readers of this blog. Pure snotty perfection.
Buddy Covelle - Lorraine
Buddy Covelle is anothere artist I knew nothing about (or had even heard of) before stumbling across this rockin' paean to his lady love. Again, I'm sure there is a story behind the artist and/or the record so if anyone out there knows a little more, please feel free to share.
The Long Ryders - Tell It To The Judge On Sunday
Despite being lumped in with the whole 80's Paisley Underground movement, of which I was an avid participant, I never paid much attention to these guys. But about a month ago I heard this song on Dave the Rave's Top Shelf Oldies show (Saturday nights from 10 PM till 3 AM) and I liked it so much that I just had to order the CD.
The Hollies - Nobody
"Nobody" was one of the lesser known Hollies 45s released in 1965. While it may not rank up there with classics like "Look Through Any Window" or "I Can't Let Go", it is still a nice record and I figured that if I never heard it before, it may be new to some of you visitors as well.
Warren Zevon - Johnny Strikes Up The Band
Despite all the horrible things I have read about his personal life and relationships, I have always been a major fan of WZ's music and one of my biggest regrets is that I never got the chance to see him live. I always thought that this was one of his better rockers and after reading that it was written as a tribute to Johnny Carson, I like it even more.
Steve Flynn - Mr Rainbow
According to Wikipedia, Steve Flynn was a pseudonym for writer/producer Mark Wirtz and this song comes from "A Teenage Opera" which is also where Keith West's "Grocer Jack (Excerpt from a Teenage Opera)" originates.
Roky Erickson & 27 Devils Joking - You Don't Love Me Yet
27 Devils Joking was a New Mexico punk band that had a couple of interesting records on their own but I have no idea how they hooked up with Roky Erickson. But hook up they did and managed to come up with a blistering version of one of my favorite Roky songs.
Major Lance - Gotta Get Away
Back in the mid-60s during his stay on Okeh records Major Lance recorded a ton of incredible records many of which have found a renewed popularity among the Northern Soul crowd in the UK. This stereo mix of "Gotta Get Away" comes from a 2-disc best-of that CBS released about 15 years ago that no home should be without.
Teddy Robin & The Playboys - Lies
Just like today, in the mid 60s, American and British Rock and Roll insinuated itself into many different cultures. Hong Kong was no exception and Teddy Robin & The Playboys was one of the most popular bands in the country. Their 45s are quite collectible today and fetch prices in the hundred dollar range on Ebay.
The Secret Service - What's Going On
It's impossible for me to write objectively about these guys as back in the late 80s and early 90s they were good friends of mine and I must have seen them play at least 100 times. "What's Going On" was a staple of their live set and as I am listening to it now I am seeing them on that tiny stage at The Dive on 28 Street and 8th Ave. in NYC. Hard to believe that was almost 25 years ago. It feels like yesterday.
The Wild Ones - Bowie Man
While this may be typical British R&B circa 1964, it doesn't take anything away from the little jolt of adrenaline I still get every time I hear it. This particular rip comes from a privately pressed CD-R made directly from the 45 and sounds a lot better than the reissue on the "English Freakbeat" series.
The Charts - Ooba Gooba
I'm not sure where I first heard this record - maybe a Las Vegas Grind comp or something of that ilk. Back in the late 50s and early (pre-Beatle) 60s there were literally hundreds of records like this coming out all the time. Not exactly novelty records but not entirely serious either, backed by some soulful riffing and a solo or two. Ooba Gooba baby!

They'll be rocking in the projects, walking down along the strand

I'm Mad as Hell....

2010-11-21T20:32:00.005-05:00

A few days ago I watched the 70's hit movie "Network" for the first time in over 30 years. Back when I first saw it, when I was in my mid-20's I'd probably smoked a few joins beforehand and it was all a big joke. But seeing it again now, with all that has happened over the last few decades, despite some aspects being a little dated (how odd it is to see an office with no computers), in other ways it rang more true today than it did back then. That scene where Howard Beale is in the room with the head corporate honho being totally hypnotized by that "There are no countries; no democracy - just corporations" routine was a big joke when we were all a lot younger. Yeah, we may have had our suspicions but none of us (people that I knew anyway) knew or really cared how true those words were. Now as we see what is happening in and to this country every day it is obvious where the real power lies. I could turn this into whole big rant about how the top 1 percent of this country makes 23 percent of the income or talk about what a disappointment President Obama is turning into (oh please prove me wrong Mr. Prez - I would gladly eat those words!!) but I won't. I'll just say that if you get a chance to see this movie again or for the first time, I think you'll find it rather eye opening.

One more thing before I get to the music. I'd like to thank all of the supporters out there who left such nice comments in support of TOMH after my little run in with the DMCA. So far I still don't know what the offending song was. Enjoy the music and please, leave comments. I love hearing what you have to say - good, bad or indifferent.

The Brigands - (Would I Still Be) Her Big Man
45 years ago this poor guy was worried that if his girlfriend knew he was "only" a poor laborer she might not love him anymore. These days, what with the recession and so many jobs moving overseas, he'd be considered a great catch.
Richie Barrett - Some Other Guy
Although here in the U.S., "...Guy" never dented the Top 100, back in 1962 a bunch of these 45s must have found their way over to England because, along with its b-side "Tricky Dicky", it became a staple of many budding young R&B bands repertoires.
Joan Baez - Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word
In her song "Diamonds and Rust" JB has a line about a genius being a pain to live with at home. Listening to this song, as brilliant as it is, I can see why. While I am not a fan of everything Ms. Baez has ever done, I applaud her mental fortitude for coming through the experience of being in love with a young Bob Dylan with her sanity relatively intact.
Larry Brinkley - Move Over Rover
I have no idea what LB may have done before or since, but "Move Over Rover" is enough to guarantee him at least a footnote in the history of Rockabilly and probably a huge dent in the wallets of Rockabilly collectors.
The Greenberry Woods - That's What She Said
While these guys are pretty well known among hard core Power Pop fans, they came and went generally unnoticed by the public at large. Needless to say, the CD that this song is on "Razzle Dazzle" is long out of print but there are still copies to be bought quite cheaply on Amazon.
The Fire - Fathers Name Is Dad
To fans of 60s garage and freakbeat "...Dad" needs no introduction as it's been recognized as a classic since its first appearance on a "Chocolate Soup for Diabetics" comp almost 30 years ago. It still sounds great today.
John Lee Hooker - Money
Some singers can sing any song and make it their own and there are some songs that are so classic and timeless that they transcend genre and style. John Lee Hooker singing "Money" is a perfect example of both of these coming together at the same time.
John Martyn - Don't Want To Know
I was never a really big John Martyn fan. It wasn't that I didn't like him, I just was pretty much unaware of him. Unfortunately, it wasn't until he passed away in 2009 that I started reading about him and became curious. I could make myself seem much more knowledgeable than I am by talking about his life and music, but you can read all that in the same article that I just read.
Monte Warden - Don't Know a Thing
Monte is a relatively new artist that I discovered on one of the power pop blogs that I have listed in the sidebar. In this song he wears his Buddy Holly influence on his sleeve but to me that is never a bad thing. Check out his Myspace page to hear more.
Grateful Dead - Box Of Rain
If I were to make a list of all the songs I have listened to most in the last 40 years, "...Rain" would certainly be in the Top 5. Besides being the soundtrack to one of my first unrequited love affairs when I was 19 (and we all know about those I am sure), in lines like "Look into any eyes you find by you, you can see clear to another day" there is that promise of all sorts of wonderful things happening at any time. Silly, I know, but if music isn't about taking us to a better place, even one that exists only in our own minds, then what's the point?
The Hides - Don't Be Difficult
From Pittsburgh PA, by the looks of it this was their one and only claim to fame. But a damn fine claim it is, good enough for an appearance on the acclaimed "Back From The Grave" series.
J.J. Jackson - But It's Allright
This song actually appeared on the Billboard charts twice, the first time in 1966 making it up to number 22 and then again in 1969 when it reached number 45.
King Khan & BBQ Show - Too Much In Love
These guys have managed to meld doo wop and garage in a way that I personally find irresistible. His other band The Shrines gets more into a James Brown kind of funky thing that I don't enjoy quite as much but I can listen to stuff like this all day long.
Kenny Dino - Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night
This Hicksville Long Island native made it to the Billboard Top 30 for the first and only time in 1961 with this peppy little gem. "..Ma..." may also sound familiar to some of you as The Turtles did a virtual note-for-note cover for the flip of their second single "Let Me Be".
Dee Dee Warwick - Suspicious Minds
Although Elvis Presley had a much bigger hit with this song, I think I actually like this version better. Her vocals are as soulful as it gets and The Dixie Flyers (I'm guessing) provide the perfect backdrop.
The Zombies - Don't Go Away
A quick check through my old posts shows that despite being one of my favorite groups of all time, I've only posted one song by these guys. Despite the box set that Ace/Big Beat released more than 10 years ago, it seems to me that these guys are totally underrated when compared to other British Invasion bands of the same ilk such as The Hollies and even The Kinks. My problem was not in finding a good song to post but rather eliminating all of the possibilities down to only one.

It's all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago

A Bloggers Rite of Passage

2010-10-31T15:50:00.011-04:00

After 2 years (Happy Birthday "Time On My Hands") I received my first DMCA takedown notice and I've got to admit, it has taken some of the wind out of my sails. I have no objection or issue with Blogger for taking down the offending post. That is their right and even their responsibility. If some musician, songwriter, publisher or label thinks that by having a song posted on this blog will hurt then in any way (although for the life of me I can't imagine why) it is their right to tell me to remove it. No problem there. In fact there are some artists who are known for not wanting their music posted who I like very much and I deliberately avoid them. "Time On My Hands" has always been about presenting music that may otherwise go unheard or be ignored in a different context than what may otherwise be expected. Nothing more and nothing less. If someone doesn't want to be a part of that I certainly respect their wishes. I believe I have made that clear from the beginning.

What does bother me however is that after more than a month (my takedown notice was dated Sept. 15) I still have no idea what song it was that somebody objected to. There is a site that is supposed to contain this information (http://www.chillingeffects.org/search.cgi) but so far I have not been able to find any info on my particular takedown. Looking over my post I see nobody who really has much (if anything) to lose by having the 150 or so people who normally download any particular post "stealing" their song. But what I do see is a really great set list (if I say so myself) filled with songs that I really wanted to share that will go unheard by a hundred or so people who might really appreciate them and maybe even be motivated to go out and buy something by one of the artists involved. As the lyric to a song whose title I've forgotten goes "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it" that bothers me.

In other news, I wasn't too upset about Texas beating my beloved Yankees in the playoffs this year. What surprised me more than anything was that the Yanks managed to win 2 games against a team that was obviously superior to them in just abut every way. This year the Yankees simply ran out of gas. I've not seen any statistics but it seems that since the All-Star break they barely played over .500. As far as I am concerned, the better team won and more power to them.

This Tuesday is Election Day and it looks as if the Democrats are going to take a beating. While things are slightly better than they were 2 years ago many people are disappointed that President Obama hasn't been able to accomplish more and despite the fact that they were the main cause of that, the Republicans are poised to take full advantage. This may prove to be a good thing for President Obama for 2012. If the Republicans take control of one or both houses of Congress this year and by 2012 times are still as tough as they are now for so many Amerricans, Republican politicians will have nobody to blame but themselves. I too have to admit some disappointment with the Obama administration. I still think he is a brilliant man with some great ideas but I think he perhaps could have been better prepared for the level of opposition he faced. But the fact remains that if he were running again today I would still vote for him.

Big Maybelle - One Monkey Don't Stop No Show

Including this one, I can think of at least three really terrific songs with the title "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show", the other two being by The Honeycones and The Animals. But Big Maybelle was the first and from the sound of this I'm guessing it was recorded in the mid-50's.

Ducks Deluxe - Coast To Coast

When I first got into Punk Rock, somewhere near the end of 1977 I started reading magazines like NY Rocker and Trouser Press religiously. It was in the latter where I first read about Ducks Deluxe and when I found their album with the blue background on the cover in an import bin I fell in love with this song. Hard to believe this was recorded in 1974 when singer songwriters reigned supreme.

Lesley Gore - That's The Way Boys Are

With songs like this one and "You Don't own Me" LG displayed a maturity that many of us (this writer certainly) lacked at that younger more innocent age when "...Boys.." was blasting out of AM transistor radio speakers.

Neil Young - Rockin' In the Free World

For me, after "Harvest" many of Neil's albums were hit or miss affairs. Total brilliance one minute and virtually unlistenable the next. "Rockin'..." has always been one of my favorites.

Tammi Lynn - Mojo Hanna

This could only have been recorded in New Orleans. Listen to that incredible drumming by, I'm guessing, the incomparable Earl Palmer.

Mouse And The Traps - Lie Beg Borrow And Steal

In their time (mid-60's) these guys released a handful of singles on the Fraternity label. This one and "Maid of Sugar..." are their best and are considered classics today by Garage fans everywhere.

Eddie Bond - Don't Tear Me Up

Listening to this I can hear where artists like Dwight Yoakam and Deke Dickerson may have found some of their own inspiration.

Roger McGuinn - Anna

Like many of us who came of age in the 1960's I'm willing to bet that Roger first heard "Anna" on the "Introducing the Beatles" album. And just like John Lennon's, Roger's voice is the perfect vehicle for "Anna's" melancholia and wistfullness.

The Byrds - She Don't Care About Time

When I was 14 and in 9th grade I remember buying "Turn Turn Turn" on a Columbia 45 and playing it over and over for at least an hour. Finally I turned the record over and was quite pleasantly surprised to find "She Don't..." waiting for me on the flip.

The Hi-Risers - Wild Romance

I love these guys! I've always been a huge power pop fan and The Hi-Risers do it as well as anyone and better than most. Upbeat and perky it's virtually impossible to feel sad when these guys are playing. I saw them a few months ago at Maxwell's in Hoboken NJ opening up for The Trashmen and they're just as much fun live as they are on record. They've got a whole slew of songs just as fabulous as this one so check out their myspace page to hear more.

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes - I Don't Want to Go Home

Anyone who has ever sat in a bar at 3 AM still searching for that potential love of their life or just someone to help keep the loneliness at bay for a few more hours will certainly be able to relate to Johnny's tale of woe.

The Scorpions - Hey Honey

When you mention Dutchbeat to fans of the genre, right away most folks think of The Outsiders and Q65. But, like music scenes everywhere, there were many many other bands involved who were not quite as well known. Meet The Scorpions.

Vicki Anderson - No More Heartaches No More Pain

I haven't updated my "Way to Go" section in awhile but when I do I will certainly include a link to the incredible "Derek's Daily 45" site which is where I first heard this fiery little gem. I've been visiting them for close to a year now and have lost count of how many times I've gone straight from there to Gemm Music or Ebay to add another amazing 45 to my collection.

The Wanderer's Rest - Don't Know What I'd Do

From the wilds of Milwaukee, Wisconsin The Wanderer's Rest released a handful of 45's before fading into obscurity. Virtually their entire recorded legacy is available on "Garagemental: The Cuca Records Story Vol. 2" on Ace/Big Beat.

The Lolas - Ballerina Breakout

I'm not sure where I first heard of these guys - most likely one of the numerous power pop blogs around - but their CDs have been out of print long enough for them to be fetching fairly substantial prices on places like Amazon, Gemm Music and Ebay. But I liked what I heard enough to warrant shelling out for pretty much their whole output including some Japanese CDs with bonus tracks.

Charles Mingus - East Coasting (Take 4)

Like Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus is reknown as much for his musical compositions as he is for being a bandleader and musician. Although I have read that he was a very angry man at times I hear a distinct sense of humor and playfulness in his music. "East Coasting" was recorded fairly early in his career in 1957.

I want you and I need you and I love you so much

The Gone-Away World

2010-09-12T20:14:00.006-04:00

I generally don't read a lot of science fiction but from what I have read it seems that the sci-fi author's task is two-fold. Not only does he or she need to have a storyline with a plot and dialogue but a good sci-fi novel also needs to create an alternative universe in which the story takes place. In "The Gone-Away World" by Nick Harkaway this universe is a post-apocalyptic society where much of what once was, suddenly no longer exists and what is left in its place is often a creation of the imaginings, delusions and fears of those who have survived. It is a world ruled by a huge conglomerate all-powerful corporation that is bent on preserving itself at all costs. Mr. Harkaway does an excellent job in bringing us into this world, slowly but surely letting the reader in on the details of it's creation and current reality. The parallels he draws between his Gone-Away world and ours are certainly made clear without his being annoyingly pedantic or preachy. The only problem for me was towards the end in the way he tied certain events and people together. It seemed somewhat artificial. It was as if he realized he was close to 500 pages and it was time to stop so he did it in the most expedient way he could. Unfortunately it just wasn't always very convincing, at least not to me. But over-all "The Gone-Away World" has a lot going on and much to say for itself. More than can be digested in one reading most likely. I don't do this very often but I'll probably go back in a year or so and re-read it. In the interim I would not be all that surprised to see "The Gone-Away World", the movie. And now, some music.

The Automatics - When The Tanks Roll Over Poland Again
I think I first heard of this record when I read a review of it in Trouser Press sometime around 1979 or so. Unfortunately the copy of the 45 I got at the time had the same distortion on it as this rip. Hopefully the master tapes still exist somewhere.
The Ceeds - Motherless Children
"Motherless Children" is a traditional blues song that has been recorded a number of times by folks ranging from Blind Willie Johnson back in 1927 to The Steve Miller Band, Roseanne Cash and Eric Clapton in more recent years. This 1966 version by The Ceeds sounds like it could have been a hit with the proper promotion and distribution.
The Tradewinds - Little Susan's Dreamin'
"...Susan.." was the b-side of The Tradewind's minor hit "Mind Excursion" in the fall of 1966. Unfortunately both sides were probably too drug related to generate much radio airplay. Funny how it all sounds so innocent now.
Barrence Whitfield & The Savages - Walk Out
In their heyday Barrence and company were one of the most exciting and dynamic live bands I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. He's mellowed some over the years but he's still always a pleasure to see and a super nice guy to boot.
Steve Forbert - Steve Forbert's Midsummer Night's Toast
I haven't kept up much with Steve Forbert's music over the years but I still love his first couple of albums from back in the late 70's. I remember seeing him in concert at some small club in New Jersey, just him and an acoustic guitar, and he was really warm and engaging and most of the women (and probably some of the men as well) wanted to take him home and mother him.
J.J. Barnes - Come On Back
J.J. released a slew of wonderful 45s back in the 60's and for all I know maybe even well past that time. Unfortunately most of them are only known to a handful of collectors.
Bill Johnson-You Better Dig It
I first heard " You Better Dig It" when I used to see The Swingin' Neckbreackers back in the 1990's. In fact, until quite recently when I stumbled across Bill Johnson's version I was under the impression it was one of their originals. Now that I know better, the reality is they pretty much stole the whole arrangement from BJ note for note.
The Easybeats - I'll Make You Happy
Amazingly I have never posted a song by Sydney, Australia's finest. This is but one of many many incredible records they released over their career. More to follow.
The Naked Eye - Recovery Time
Staying Down Under a little while longer but moving up in time a bit, The Naked Eye definitely sound influenced by fellow countrymen Radio Birdman. This particular track is from the "Antipodean Screams" compilation but they also have a few albums on their own.
Procol Harum - Too Much Between Us
Back in the days when albums were vinyl only there were certain album sides that stuck out in my mind as entities unto themselves. One of them was Side 2 of the British "Hard Day's Night" album and another was Side 1 of Procol Harum's "A Salty Dog" which is where I first heard "Too Much Between Us". To me, no other song so eloquently depicts that moment in a relationship when a parting of the ways seems sadly inevitable.
The Chiffons - Oh My Lover
It's hard to believe that it was almost 50 years ago that I first bought The Chiffon's "He's So Fine" 45 on Laurie Records at Larry's Records on Springfield Boulevard and the Long Island Expressway in Bayside, Queens. It wasn't too long afterwards that I discovered this gem of a tune lurking on the b-side. To this day it's still a favorite.
The Motifs - If I Gave You Love
From somewhere in the wilds of New Jersey, The Motifs gave us this moody garage classic. It's a little out of tune here and there and possibly a trifle off-key occasionally but it's certainly a classic nonetheless in 60s garage circles.
The Cavaliers - Hold On To My Baby
I goofed here - the real name of the band is The Cavaliers while the file shows it by The Naked Eye. Oops. Released on RCA in, I'm guessing 1966 or 67, copies of this Northern Soul staple now sell for well over $100.
Ros Sereysothea - Cry Loving Me
Starting out with a horn riff straight out of Stax Records and then launching into a note-for-note rip off of "Proud Mary" it's pretty amazing how perfectly the pieces all fit together. It makes me wonder if anyone on the Stax roster thought to cover the CCR hit and if nobody did, why not? I can just hear what it would have sounded like in the hands of someone like Eddie Floyd or Johnny Taylor.
Bill Ennis - I'm Hypnotized
Just as with Garage and Punk in the ensuing decades, back in the 1950's for every Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis riding high on the charts, there were a slew of also rans with varying degrees of talent vying for their share of Rock & Roll glory. While I can't honestly say that Bill Ennis coulda/shoulda been a chart contender, this is a fun little record nonetheless.
Material Issue - When I Get This Way
Back in the mid-90's these guys specialized in deliciously hooky if somewhat lightweight power pop releasing a handful of albums on Mercury Records (produced by Jeff Murphy of The Shoes) that sold in the hundreds of thousands. Tragically, lead singer and songwriter Jim Ellison committed suicide in June of 1996 putting an end to the band.
The 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me
One of the highlights of the movie "High Fidelity" was the opening scene when the needle drops on a record and "You're Gonna Miss Me" comes blasting through the theater. I bought the first Elevators album in March of 1967 on a whim after seeing and totally digging the psychedelic cover while shopping in E.J. Korvettes. This has always been and will continue to be one of my favorite songs ever.

Let him who fears his heart alone stand up and make a speech
Link removed due to DMCA request

The Agony and The Ecstasy

2010-08-22T20:37:00.003-04:00

If any of you readers/downloaders out there in blogland still haven't seen "The Agony and The Ecstasy of Phil Spector" it is definitely worth a few dollars and a couple of hours of your time. The man is entertaining, no doubt about that and he also never lacks for self-confidence as he compares himself to Galileo and DaVinci. The interview segments, which were taken in between his two murder trials are interspersed with courtroom scenes and videos of many of the acts he produced and if nothing else, one walks away with a renewed respect for his unique musical vision. Pop symphonies indeed! The question of whether or not he actually did murder Lana Clarkson is never pondered on anything more than a superficial level nor do they talk about what evidence in the second trial actually convinced the jury to find him guilty. While I fully believe he is capable of doing what they say he did, I oddly (and somewhat disconcertingly) found myself rooting for the guy. And, of course, the music and especially the live footage was absolutely breathtaking. Go see it.

The Astronauts - Come Along Baby
Despite the fact that these guys had a whole slew of albums and 45s on RCA back in the 60's I always found their music kind of lightweight. And while chart success does not always equal musical worthiness, apparently the American public also felt pretty much as I did as they only cracked the Billboard Top 100 once, in July 1963 when their version of "Baja" made it to number 94. One of their best records, "Come Along Baby" was recorded in 1962 before they actually signed with RCA and when they were still known as The Stormtroopers. It's probably a good thing for them that they changed their name.
Big Star - When My Baby's Beside Me
I never really bought into the whole mystique that saw these guys as demigods but that doesn't mean that they didn't have a bunch of really fabulous songs, of which this is but one.
Bobby Milano - Life Begins At Four O 'Clock
Another favorite of mine from long-gone more innocent days. If only life really were this simple - even if it didn't seem that way at the time.
Jerry And The Others - Don't Cry To Me
From Dayton, Ohio, Jerry and his pals recorded this 2 minutes and 52 seconds of sonic skronkiness and were, as far as I know, never heard from again. Nonetheless, as far as one-song legacies go, as the Scooter Phil Rizzuto would have said, this one's not too shabby. Not at all.
Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep-Mountain High
The Devil Dogs - Best Part Of Breaking Up
One of the highlights of "The Agony..." had to be the live footage of Ike and Tina performing "River Deep..." in 1974. Although this was, deservedly, a number one record in England, it got little or no airplay here in the states. At the time I remember hearing OF this record but never actually hearing it until a few years later. For a few years, back in the early 90's, the Devil Dogs were favorites in the NYC garage/punk scene. Despite the misogyny of many of their songs, those of us that knew them knew that it was really just a matter of the lady doth protest too much. At heart they were just a bunch of wide-eyed pop romantics and their super-adrenalized take on this Ronettes classic was always a crowd favorite.
The Resonars - I'll Keep It With Mine
I've always had a soft spot for a good Dylan cover and in this case, for years, the only version of "I'll Keep It With Mine" I was familiar with was the one by Nico from her "Chelsea Girl" album. On one of the many fine compilations put together by the folks at Power Pop Criminals (see sidebar for link) The Resonars turn in their own rendition, taking this song in a whole other direction.
Kangaroo - Such A Long Long Time
I first heard Kangaroo when they opened up for The Who and The Doors at the Singer Bowl in August of 1968. With such co-headliners as that it says a lot that I walked away from that show determined to seek out their first album, which had just been released and was reissued again a few years ago. By the way, The Doors were absolutely awful but that's another story.
The Jaguars - Its Gonna Be Alright
According to the Soybomb Garage Compilation Database there were at least a dozen bands calling themselves The Jaguars back in the 60's. These particular Jaguars came from somewhere in Michigan and while this may be their only 2 minutes-plus of fame, they can take pride in the fact that they were the only Jaguars to make it on to a "Back From the Grave" compilation 20 years later.
The Booby Traps - What A Guy Can't Do
"What A Girl Can't Do" is a garage classic that's been covered numerous times over the years. But this is the first time I'm hearing it from the girls' point of view. What's good for the goose is god for the gander.
Little Johnny Taylor - I Can't Stop Loving You
Besides the fact that it's on some comp I got from another blog I really don't know a whole lot about this particular record. Little Johnny Taylor had a handful of minor chart entries back in the early 60's but this wasn't one of them. Still, it's a fine record and if anyone out there has a little more info, please leave a comment.
Dion DiMucci - Drip Drop
I'm sure that Dion needs no introduction to anyone reading this blog as he's had so many hits over the years and so much has been written about him. This particular record, another remake of an old Drifters' song, came out after he had such a big hit with his definitive version of "Ruby Baby". While it did make it all the way to number 6 on Billboard's chart in the latter part of 1963, to me it just doesn't pack the same wallop as "Ruby...".
Dee Clark - 24 Boyfriends
Speaking of wallup, this Little Richard imitation/tribute has plenty to spare. For reasons I can't fathom this song may have never been issued as a 45, only appearing as an album track. I love that line "Bust 'em all in the head with a rolling pin". Pure genius!
The Gurus - Blue Snow Night
Although I can't remember exactly when (I'm thinking early fall of 1966) I remember very vividly being in this hardware store in Bayside, Queens where I grew up that sold records in the back. I picked this 45 up in its picture sleeve with those freaky looking guys, that big mandala and I was sold. Unfortunately for them I must have been the only one as "Blue Snow Night" never cracked the Top 100 and plans for an album were shelved, probably due to consumer indifference.
Teenage Fanclub - About You
I've written about these guys before here on TOMH so I'm not going to mention yet again how overdue these guys are for a definitive box set that includes all of their numerous non-album b-sides and other rarities. No, I'm not going to talk about it at all.
Warren Zevon - Bad Karma
Say what you will about Mr. Zevon - I've had his biography sitting on my shelf for 2 years and I am still afraid to read it - the man did have a sense of humor and his best songs were incredibly insightful while never taking themselves too seriously. What am I afraid of you ask? Once I read the details of what a horrible abusive violent jerk he was in real life I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy his music anymore which would really be a loss for me. Every time one of his songs comes on my Ipod, it hits me like the proverbial ton of bricks and I end up playing it 3 or 4 (sometimes more) times and the experience always leaves me feeling transformed somehow. I don't want to lose that so I am thinking that for now, what I don't know won't hurt me.
Dave Berry - Don't Gimme No Lip Child
I'm not sure how much UK chart action Dave Berry saw back in the day but here in the U.S. he was a virtual unknown. This was actually the B-side to "The Crying Game" which was featured in the movie of the same name years later.
Willie Mitchell - Monkey Jump
Sadly, Willie Mitchell is no longer with us, having passed away back in January. While he is mainly known as the producer of Al Green's and Ann Peebles' hits for Hi Records back in the 70's he had a rather extensive discography of his own. He will be missed.

How long can you search for what's not lost?

The World Without Us

2010-07-18T21:48:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago an interesting title caught my eye while browsing in my local bookstore. "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman talks about what would happen to the planet we all call home if, all of a sudden there were no more people - as in here today-gone tomorrow. He talks about how it would affect the animal kingdom as well as plant and mineral life, what would happen in the oceans, rivers and lakes, the biggest cities and the most remote spots on the globe. In order to talk about the future he goes into our geological history and while sometimes he gets a little too technical and scientific for my understanding, the scenarios he describes are nothing short of fascinating. The good news is that with 2 possible exceptions, most of the crap we left behind would be absorbed back into the earth within a few millenia. There could be a problem with all of the non-biodegradable plastic bottles, cups and what-not we've managed to scatter all over until some microbes evolve who could actually eat the stuff. But the biggest mess we'd leave would from all of our nuclear reactors which would eventually break down and all of the nuclear waste storage facilities we've got scattered about. When all of this radioactive chazarai started leaking or melting, it would cause quite a bit of havoc. With the possible exceptions of the cockroach (who as it turns out would not fare so well without humans) living things generally don't like radiation. But even that would dissipate over the next few million years or so. So the bad news, as many of us already know, is that we may be polluting the earth too much for human life to survive but the good news is that in the overall scheme of things, the whole human race doesn't amount to a hill of beans, radioactive or not.

Arthur Gunter - Crazy Me
Arthur recorded this song over 50 years ago but love can make us just as crazy today as it could back then. And that'll still be true in another 50 years. So sing away Arthur!
DM3 - T.V. Sound
I've written about Dom Mariani before here in Time On My Hands and it still amazes me (and not in a good way) that he's not a star. Or at least more widely recognized than by the small cult of rabid fans he has accumulated here and there.
The Palace Guards - Sorry
Not to be confused with the Palace Guard (singular) from Los Angeles, these guys came from Metarie, Louisianna and while they did have at least one other 45, this is what they'll be remembered for.
Little Eva - Keep Your Hands off My Baby
If the legend is true, Little Eva was Carole King and Gerry Goffin's baby sitter. Even if it's not it's a great story anyway and this is but one of a string of hits she had in the early-mid 60's on the Dimension label.
Mel Dorsey & The Heartbeats - Little Lil
Here is proof positive that you don't have to be a poet to come up with a great song. I'm too lazy to count but I'm guessing he sings "Little Lil" at least 50 times. Now that I think about it, what the heck am I talking about - this is pure poetry!
The Giant Jellybean Copout - Awake In A Dream
A quick Google search didn't turn up a whole lot of information on these guys(?) but it seems fairly obvious that they were heavily influenced by "Pet Sounds" and "Good Vibrations". And maybe a puff or two of some good herb.
Grin - Moon Tears
Nils Lofgren is best known for playing with Neil Young and, later, Bruce Springsteen but he also made a number of records both as a solo and with his 70's band Grin. "Moon Tears" has always been a personal favorite of mine.
James Carr - Stronger Than Love
James Carr was mainly known as a deep soul ballad singer but he also cut a handful of nice upbeat sides. Ace Records has re-issued a number of his albums and singles for anyone who wants to hear more.
The Magicians - An Invitation To Cry
Like most people of my generation (or at least those of us who gave a damn) I first heard "....Cry" when Lenny Kaye included it on his legendary Nuggets compilation. It blew me away then and I still really love it today.
Mayday - ???
Last year when I went back to school there was this young Taiwanese guy who sat next to me in one of my classes. One day I asked him what he was playing on his Ipod and he said "Here, listen". These guys are pretty hot stuff over there. Over the course of the term he played me a few more songs by these guys and while they were ofttimes too ballad-heavy for my tastes, they did come up with some bouncy power pop once in awhile.
Roy Orbison - Communication Breakdown
No, this ain't Led Zeppelin! "...Breakdown" was Roy's second to last 60's chart entry, peaking at number 60 in December of 1966.
Myracle Brah - I'd Rather Be
Like Dom Mariani, these guys deserve more fame and fortune than they've found so far. They've got at least3 albums chock full of guitar-heavy, hummable hook-fests similar to this. To give credit where it's due, I want to thank my old buddy Pat L. for turning me onto these guys.
The 13th Floor Elevators - You Don't Know (Live at the Avalon Ballroom, SF)
Since he's been touring again I've been lucky enough to see Roky Erickson in concert a few times and it's great that he still does a couple of old Elevators songs. Listening to this I can just imagine how incredible the Elevators were live back in their heyday.
Deon Jackson - Ooh Baby
Back in the mid-60's Deon's big hit was "Love Makes the World Go Round". Here he displays more of a Smokey Robinson influence on his last record to make the Billboard Top 100, sometime in 1967.
The Tourists - Let's Take A Walk
It's hard to believe that the folks behind this freakbeat sounding rocker were Dave Stewart and Annie Lenox who would find fame and fortune as The Eurythmics just a few years later.
Bo Dudley - Shotgun Rider
Somewhere along the line I heard that Bo Duddley was actually a relative of the more famous Bo and was mad at him so he made this record to piss him off. Like the Little Eva story it doesn't matter if it's true or not - it's just kind of fun to think it might be. Regardless, it's a damn fine record.
Hank Williams - Long Gone Lonesome Blues
It's like I said in the begining. Love has always been able to make a sane person absolutely crazy. Which is why, despite having been recorded about 60 years ago give or take a few months, this song is still so moving.

Ask me if it's right to love another guy

Back on the Chain Gang

2010-06-27T18:27:00.003-04:00

I've been back on the job now for a little over two weeks and things are going quite well. I like the work and the people I work with. Although my new function closely related to what I used to do, it is somewhat different and it's taken me a little time to adjust to my new role. Luckily the senior member on my team came over the same way and has been really helpful. My body is still trying to get used to waking up at 6:30 AM every day. I've always been somewhat of a night person and during my long period of unemployment it wasn't uncommon for me to stay up until 4 or 5 AM and then sleep until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. So it's a bit of a struggle going to bed around 11:30 when there is still so much prime nighttime (and "The Nanny" reruns) ahead of me. But I'll adjust I'm sure.

I was kind of surprised when I checked Multiupload earlier today to find that in the last two weeks my last posting only had 50 downloads. Especially as I thought it was one of my better collections. On the other hand, one of my posts from back in March, done when I was feeling pretty down about my situation has proven to be one of my more popular recent compilations. None of this is going to change my approach however. I've always known that my musical sensibilities are not very widely shared and if there are only 50 or so folks out there who get it I am grateful for each and every one of you. So 'hello' to all of you in the Nifty Fifty.

Big Star - In The Street
Big Star are probably just as renown for the slew of musicians they've influenced over the last 30 years as they are for their actual music. If my memory serves me correctly I bought their first record in a cutout bin for $1.99 as at the time nobody really seemed to care.
Bo Diddley - Cadillac
Nobody does Bo like Bo. I first heard "Cadillac" on the first Kinks album and while they do a fine version, it's like I said. Nobody does Bo like Bo. Dig that sax player about halfway through and again at the end.
The Chayns - Why Did You Hurt Me
Borrowing a riff from The Yardbirds' "I'm A Man" these San Antonio lads came up with their own brooding garage masterpiece. " I don't even want you baby." Yeah, you tell 'em!
The Plimsouls - Magic Touch
So much has been written about The Plimsouls over the years that I really have nothing to add. A classic song by a classy band. Enjoy!
The Stones - Hi-Heel Sneakers
Although they never included "...Sneakers" on any of their albums or singles, this was a mainstay of their live sets back in their early days. This comes from a bootleg of BBC recordings.
The Cordials - Dum Dum
Every tine this song comes on I never fail to play it over at least 4 or 5 times. It's such a happy, catchy song and whoever that lead singer is, I just love his voice. Sorry for the low bitrate on this one but believe me it sounds fantastic on the Ipod.
Felt - Ballad Of The Band
To me these guys sound like a C86 band who spent a lot of time listening to the Velvet Underground's "Loaded" album. They've got that same understated vocal style with much more of a jangly pop sound. Somehow it all comes out sounding very comforting but not too fey or sugary.
The Sidekicks - Ask Your Friends
Here's a band I know absolutely nothing about. They're not listed on the garage database (at least not for this song) and I have no idea where I stumbled across this song. But it's a nice one in a Tommy James and The Shondells mode.
Wanda Jackson - Money Honey
Wanda Jackson, the Queen of Rockabilly. I wasn't there but some friends of mine saw her in concert about 5 or 6 years ago and they all said she was fabulous. A little more country and Jesus and a bit less Rock & Roll but she still had all her vocal chops intact.
Sir Mack Rice - Mustang Sally
"Mustang Sally" is best known for the hit version by Wilson Pickett and the cover by The Young Rascals (and therefore a staple of every NYC area garage band's set) but this is the original by the guy who wrote it.
Jo Jo Gunne - Run Run Run
In the Spring of 1972 this was a Top 40 hit and one of the bright spots of AM Radio. Listening to it now I am picturing myself cruising around town in one friend or another's battered old jalopy with the radio blasting trying to light a hash pipe with the window open. Not an easy feat but yours truly always managed to find a way.
Ash - Girl From Mars
I haven't heard much more than this song from these folks but I like this enough to he inspired to purchase a singles compilation on Amazon that will hopefully live up to expectations.
Junior Wells - You're Tuff Enough
Junior Wells was a well-known Chicago bluesman but at some point back in the 60's he tried to expand his audience base with this foray into Soul. I don't think he had much commercial success with it but today the results sound more than fine.
The Underworld - Go Away
From Toronto, Canada this 2-minute plus slab of sonic wonderfulness is probably one of my all-time favorite mid-60's garage records. A modified Bo Diddley beat, some earnest yet snotty vocals and one of the wildest guitar solos this side of Jimi Hendrix and viola, perfection!
Screaming Trees - Other Worlds
Back in the early 90's I used to see these guys all the time. I guess being from the Pacific Northwest it was inevitable that they would get caught up in the whole grunge movement at the time but their music had a lot more of a psychedelic influence than that of their contemporaries.
The Olympics - Baby, Do The Philly Dog
A Northern Soul favorite and a favorite of mine as well. This was another guaranteed floor-filler from back in my DJing days.
The Sparklers - Bloodhound
Back in the late 50's and early 60's bands like this were a dime a dozen, playing bars, strip joints and frat parties all across the country. Oh, where are they now?

Look at granny getting in the groove

Welcome to the Working Week

2010-06-13T21:10:00.002-04:00

After 1 year and 8 months of unemployment I finally found a job which I started last Thursday. Ironically enough it is for my old employer, though as a consultant and not as a direct employee. In the financial data processing field contracting is the norm these days. But I am really happy to be back at work, no matter what the circumstances. This time around there will be no programming involved in my job at all. I am strictly a Business Analyst, which in a nutshell means I get to come up with the big ideas and then leave them for others to actually execute. Not quite but in a roundabout way as, depending on the level of programming expertise, I may also be asked to write specifications for and work with the programmers who are likely in India. Business as usual all over America these days.

I spent most of Thursday and Friday on the job going over documentation about the project I will be working on and was pleasantly surprised at how much of my prior business and processing knowledge I still retained. I think I am really going to like and do well at this job and as yesterday was my 59th birthday, I can't think of a better birthday present. I'm sure the local record and CD sellers are happy as well. In my heart I always knew I was doing the right thing by going for a BA position but I must admit that there were lots of times over the last 20 months when the rest of me was seriously in doubt. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Now I need to work on the weight that grew around my belly during that time but that's a another story for another time.

Los ShaIns - El Monstruo
Back in 1965 when "The Crusher" by The Novas spent 3 weeks on the Billboard Top 100, peaking at number 88, I doubt if anyone involved thought it would be heard by fans thousands of miles away in Peru. Not only was it heard but it actually even inspired a Spanish cover version.
Groovie Ghoulies - Hello Hello
The Groovie Ghoulies of Sacramento California have a huge discography but of everything, this Partridge Family cover is easily my favorite.
Muddy Waters - Let's Spend The Night Together
I remember reading an interview with Muddy Waters when "Electric Mud" came out and he talked about how much he hated it. But to my 18 year old, stoned-out ears this song in particular was one of the best things I had ever heard. It still sounds pretty damn good to me today.
The Kinks - Days
If we're lucky we get to have that one incredible love affair that comes on like a comet and fades away just as quickly. But those few days or weeks are nothing short of pure ecstatic joy and they change us forever.
The Diplomats - Don't Bug Me
I wish I had known about this record back in my DJing days as I'm sure this would have been a surefire dancefloor filler.
Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky
This was a big AM radio hit back when I was in college for the first time and most cars were not yet equipped with FM or tape players. I can't even begin to describe how good that fuzz guitar sounded coming out of those tinny little speakers at full blast.
The Dentists - You Make Me Say It Somehow
At this point I want to publicly thank my friends Bruce P. and Scott C. who, when they were working at Venus Records on 8th Street in NYC, turned me on to these guys. They play an energizing mix of psych, pop and garage and this song is but one example of what they can conjure up. If you're interested you can read more about them and listen to some tunes on their Myspace page.
Jimmy Crockett & The Shanes - Lovin' Touch
As most 60s garage music lovers know, back in the day Australia had more than it's share of bands who, inspired by The Beatles, Stones etc. were ready willing and (sometimes) able to try for the brass ring. According to the Garage Comp Database this was their only record but it's definitely a keeper.
Sugar Pie Desanto - Go Go Power
This is a very popular and (unfortunately) quite collectible record with soul aficionados these days. Although it's been reissued a few times over the years, it's always been the stereo version. This mono rip comes from an MP3 singles compilation that I found posted somewhere in Cyberland within the last year or two.
Suzi Quatro - 48 Crash
Most people know SQ as the actress who played Leather Tuscadero on "Happy Days" but before that she recorded some of the best Glam R&R singles known to mankind. Sometime later, after she toned down her style quite a bit she had a Top 5 hit with "Stumblin' In" but it pales in comparison with this.
The Twilighters - Spellbound
From Kirksville, MO comes this organ-fueled snappy little frat rocker. After their 1:45 of greatness I'm guessing they were never heard from again outside of their immediate area where I bet they must have rocked the house come Saturday night.
Little Moose & the Hunters - Granny Rock
I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff. Upbeat novelty doo wop with a touch of falsetto. I have no idea whatsoever who these guys were but with a name like Little Moose & The Hunters I'm thinking that they weren't taking their music career all that seriously. Granny does the Rock & Roll indeed!
The Raves - Billy The Kid
Speaking of novelty doo wop, back in the late 50's records celebrating the exploits of Western heroes and outlaws were prevalent enough to almost be a sub-genre in and of themselves.
James Hunter - The Hard Way
A little blue-eyed soul in the tradition of Van Morrison and Mink DeVille. Check out his web site here.
The Pooh Sticks - On Tape
Although I never considered cassette tapes a viable substitute for owning the actual record or CD, I love this song for it's catchy hummability and indie pop name dropping.
Miles Davis - It Ain't Necessarily So
"It Ain't Necessarily So" has been recorded by hundreds of artists over the years. Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, The Moody Blues, Ella Fitzgerald and countless others have interpreted this American classic. In 4 1/2 minutes Miles Davis takes this song to some interesting places.

I'm gonna go to the place that's the best

Back From the Ipod Pt. 5

2010-05-23T18:15:00.002-04:00

After a cooler than usual month of May, Spring is finally in full bloom here in the Big Apple. It's time to put away the sweaters and the hoodies and break out the short-sleeve shirts. And there's nothing I like to do more in weather like this than walk around the city with my Ipod cranked up to 11. If I say so myself I think this is one of my better playlists that is just about guaranteed to add a little bit of bounce to your step and chase away the blues.

Jo Armstead - I Feel An Urge Coming On

I don't remember where I first came upon this song - probably on one of the alt-binaries newsgroups a few years ago. A quick check around the net tells me that this was released on the Giant label out of Chicago sometime around 1966 or thereabouts. I'm guessing this must have been a favorite with the Northern Soul crowd.
The Chanters - You Can't Fool Me

These are not the same Chanters who had a minor hit with "No No No" on the Deluxe label back in 1961. These Chanters came from the UK and this song can be found on the "Mod Meeting Vol. 4" compilation, copies of which can be found on Ebay.
Mando Diao - Moonshine Fever

A few months ago I posted a song by these Swedish pop-rockers and here is another one. Apparently these guys have a rather extensive discography and it's a shame that they seem to remain relatively unknown outside of their home country.
Lazy Lester - Sugar Coated Love

It sounds as if Lester has it really good and knows it. I could sure go for some sugar.
The Tempests - Lemon Lime

I'm not sure if these are the same Tempests who recorded the garage classic "Look Away" but this is just as loud and insane in its own right.
Eddie Cash - Doing All Right

Unlike some other forms of Rock & Roll (such as garage) I'm not the worlds biggest Rockabilly fan. I only like the top say 20 percent and the rest just leaves me flat. "Doing All Right" easily falls into that top fifth. He's got an interesting story for anyone who feels like reading a bit more about him.
Groovie Goolies - We Go So Good Together

These Goolies are not to be confused with the Sacramento punk band Groovie Ghoulies. I'm guessing that these are the same Groovie Goolies from the Saturday morning cartoon show of the same name that ran in the early 70's. Which means that at the time I wouldn't have given this a second (or even a first) listen but now I can't get enough.
Herman's Hermits - It's Alright Now

Speaking of music I thought I was much too cool to listen to at the time, I've already written about how Herman's Hermits were a guilty pleasure of mine, one which I kept in the closet during my hippie years. Now, with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, it really amazes me just how many truly wonderful records these guys made.
Ray Charles - I Won't Leave

A few weeks ago one of the blogs I frequent (sorry I can't remember which one - but I'll keep trying) posted a collection of Ray's lesser known 45s and album tracks from his tenure with ABC-Paramount. Needless to say there were a bunch of incredible songs I'd not heard before that I couldn't believe were still so unknown. And I'm not just talking about second rate filler material. They were all of shoulda/coulda been a hit calibre. I'm not sure if this particular song was ever a single but this stereo mix comes from the long-out-of-print LP "A Portrait of Ray". A plea to the powers that be who own the rights to this material: Please PLEASE reissue these songs legitimately. I can guarantee you at least one sale right here. This is Ray f*&^ing Charles we're talking about! His legacy (not to mention his fans) deserve no less.

The Stones - All Down The Line (withdrawn single)

This week The Rolling Stones released their much-heralded remastered version of "Exile on Main Street". For me the jury's still out. So far I've only heard it on my computer speakers but I definitely hear things I have never heard before and the whole album sounds so much clearer than ever. On the other hand, the original muddy mix was always part of "Exile's" charm. So even though I got the CD the first day it was out, I'm not sure how often I'll actually listen to it. However, the second disc of outtakes definitely gets the thumbs down from me. I'm not going to go into a whole long spiel here but suffice it to say that there was so much other better material that they could have included. Like this withdrawn single mix of "All Down the Line". It's not all that different than the version that was released (maybe on some of the background vocals) but it sure sounds punchy as hell.

The Magic Lanterns - I Stumbled

These are the same Magic Lanterns that later had a hit in the U.S. with "Shame Shame". Legend has it that included in their lineup were future members of 10CC and Ozzie Osborne of Black Sabbath. Be that as it may, this 1966 single is a memorable piece of freakbeat-pop that stands out well enough on its own.

Jesse Allen - Love My Baby

This song is typical of hundreds, if not thousands, of black R&B sides that were cut in the mid-50's. The song itself is nothing special, the band is good though not outstanding and Jesse's vocals are in that basic blues shouting style that was so popular back then. But somehow, they all come together here in such a way that makes this record simply irresistible.

The Checkerlads - Shake Yourself Down

These lads hailed from Saskatchewan, Canada and this tune has appeared on a number of various garage comps over the years. At one time original RCA pressings of the 45 were available for a reasonable price. I love the little organ break in the middle.

The Brogues - Don't Shoot Me Down

"Don't Shoot..." is also fairly well known in Garage circles and has appeared on a number of comps, most recently "Allergic to Flowers". Over the years I must have heard at least 5 bands cover this song. It's almost impossible to do a bad version.
The Del-Vikings - Cool Shake

After having two Top 10 records earlier in the year, this cool rocker made it to number 12 in July of 1957.
The Scholars - I Need Your Lovin'

On the YankeeBoy scale of wonderfullness, it doesn't get a whole lot better than this. Two-minutes and twenty-two seconds of total garage-stompin' craziness and a wild sax solo to boot. I bet you can't listen to this just once.
Roky Erickson - Bo Diddley's A Headhunter

Saving the best for last, here is Roky Erickson paying homage to one of his own Rock & Roll heroes. There are a few recordings of this song floating around but this 8-minute plus live version, recorded with The Aliens back in 1977 is definitely the best. Sadly, the CD that this particular version comes from, "Mad Dog" is out of print and being sold for big bucks. So enjoy it here.

When we get together then we oogly-oogly-oo.

Less Talk More Music Pt. 5

2010-05-12T05:12:00.002-04:00

There hasn't been a whole lot going on in Yankee Boy Land since my last post. I had one job interview in April but since then there's not been much action employment-wise. Ideally my best career choice at this point is to be a business analyst - that is a liaison between the business and IT areas of a company. The problem is that every ex-programmer who is out of work is also looking to do the same thing. So I need to try and figure out what else I may be qualified to do that would pay me a decent salary. At this point I am still living off of the pension I cashed in last year so money is not the immediate problem (at least not yet) but the total lack of structure in my life is definitely getting to me. But for now all I can do is my best to accept life on life's terms and go on living. Music has always been a source of strength for me and it's also the reason why you're here. So let's get to it.

Brendan Benson - Tiny Spark

I'm not sure where I first heard of Brendan Benson - probably from either the Power Pop Criminals or Power Pop Overdose blogs. (see sidebar) Although these days he is probably best known for being part of The Raconteurs I really like the dreamy pop of his solo albums, all of which are available on Amazon.
Don Willis - Boppin High School Baby

Along with "Warrior Sam", "Boppin..." is Don Willis's best known record, recorded for the Satellite label in early 1958. With a frantic vocal and searing guitar solo, it's no wonder this is considered a classic.

Golden Earring - The Words I Need

Most Americans, if they have heard of Golden Earring at all, know them for their early 70's FM radio staple "Radar Love". While that's a fine record in its own right, their career actually started a decade earlier and extended long after. "The Words I Need" was the B-side of their second single from January, 1966.

Inez & Charlie Foxx - Baby Drop A Dime

Until I discovered this song online I had never heard it before. From the sound of it I'm guessing it was recorded a year or two after their big hit "Mockingbird".
The Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love

One of my favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite bands. What more can I say?
The Louvin Brothers - When I Stop Dreaming

If bands like The Beatles and The Hollies learned harmony from listening to The Everly Brothers, the Everly's in turn learned their craft growing up listening to The Louvin Brothers.
The Shanes - I Don't Want Your Love

According to the Garage Database Sweden's Shanes cut a slew of records back in the day but this is probably their most frantic - at least of the ones I've heard.
Tommy Roe - Sheila

Back in the Summer of 1962 when I was a wee lad of 11, "Sheila" was the number one record in the country. It was a favorite of mine then and remains so to this day. Check out the rhythm guitar playing in the left speaker.

GBV - Teenage FBI

At their best, Guided by Voices have a way of drawing the listener into their own peculiar world where reality is whatever they say it is. Coupled with their knack for conjuring up some of the catchiest Revolver-era pop sounds around, they can be pretty hard to resist.
Joe Tex - I Gotcha

While Joe Tex made a name for himself with his preachy styled ballads like "Hold What You Got", as"I Gotcha" shows, he could get down and funky with the best of them.
The Bondsmen - I've Tried And Tried

As far as I know, this record has only been comped on the "Let 'Em Have It" CD that came out about 10 years ago. Sadly, "LEHI"'s sound quality is bad enough to rival even the worst of the Moxie comps. This rip comes from a private CD-R and sounds a whole lot better.

Jesse Malin - Prisoners Of Paradise

Jesse almost had his 15 minutes of fame with D-Generation, a 70s glam inspired band that everyone thought would be the next big thing but somehow never was. Since then he's released a few albums under his own name.
Dossie Terry - I Got A Watch Dog

There's not a whole lot of info out there on Mr. Terry but from what I can tell, he spent a fair amount of his recording career in The Big Apple. Checking my own mp3 database he's got at least a half dozen other songs on various comps. According to the sellers on Gemm Music "...Watch Dog" came out on King.
William Penn & His Pals - Gotta Get Away

This originally came out on the Scorpio label which was also the early home of Creedence Clearwater Revival when they were still known as The Golliwogs.
Dion & The Belmonts - Where Or When

Despite the fact that this this song has been played to death by oldies radio, it's such a classic that I never get tired of it. Those harmonies, Dion's innocent and plaintive vocal and that little sax riff that pops up from time to time makes this a perfect record. For me anyway.

The Outlets - Best Friends

Despite the fact that this was recorded around 1980, Boston's Outlets are still together and actually feature this song on their Myspace page.

The Searchers - Umbrella Man

Recorded in 1968, long after their chart topping days were over, this is a nice slice of late-60s psych-pop. As far as I know the only place to find it now is on their 40th Anniversary Collection unless you score an original Liberty 45.

When I see you walking down my way everything's alright.

Young At Heart

2010-04-23T01:28:00.002-04:00

Last night I went to see the Young@Heart Chorus at the St. Ann's Warehouse Theater in Brooklyn, NY and I truthfully haven't had a more moving and stirring musical experience in quite some time. The chorus is composed entirely of elderly people (the youngest member at the moment is 73) but no way is this just an activity for some bored and lonely senior citizens. While they did throw in a few old standards, their repertoire is remarkably varied and rather contemporary with selections ranging from Neil Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sly & The Family Stone to The Replacements, Wilco, Joy Division, Nirvana and The Buzzcocks. I take my hat off to their directors Bob Cilman and Ken Maiuri for the depth of their musical knowledge as well as their arrangements. These remarkable performers don't try to hide their age by trying to look young. In fact, it is their age, along with some incredible vocal chops, that gives the music much of its power. One of the songs they performed was The Buzzcocks' "What Do I Get", a definite favorite of mine. and hearing it performed by a woman who was probably in her 70's instead of a guy in his 20's or 30's gave it a whole different perspective. Same goes for the incredible performance of Jerry Butler's "Only The Strong Survive" sung by a man who reminded me of a retired English teacher. One of the highlights for me was a rendition of Bruce Springsteen's "Missing" which originally appeared as a single in Europe (I told you their musical directors really know their stuff!) and when I got home, found the original online and listened to it, I was disappointed. I liked the Y@H Chorus' version so much better. The same goes for their version of Blondie's "Dreaming" which was sung by a frail looking elderly lady, someone you give up your seat on a crowded subway train to, with one of the most beautiful, crystal clear voices I've heard in quite some time. Although they didn't perform it last night, they have a pretty funny video of "I Wanna Be Sedated" on YouTube which is well worth watching. I went to the show expecting some kind of Sha Na Na for the Geritol Set but what I got was so much more and I was totally blown away. As we of the Rock & Roll generation grow older, it is heartwarming, inspiring, and quite frankly, reassuring to see that the music we love has the power to keep us feeling young even when our backs ache and our knees hurt.

The Lyres - Sick And Tired

Unfortunately, the Lyres (or at least Jeff Connolly) seem to be in retirement these days as I can't remember the last time they played. Jeff was always an incredibly soulful singer and this version of Chris Kenner's classic might be my favorite one of all.
Johnny Soul - Lonely Man

Here's another song I bet Connolly and Co. would do a great job on but even he would have to go some to make me forget Johnny Soul's rockin' original.

Spirit - I Got A Line On You

I've never been a fan of Spirit. To me, most of their music was little more than a whole bunch of noodling with very little real substance. This is the one exception and what an exception it is! Unfortunately, every mix of "...Line" I've ever heard has always sounded kind of weak and watered down, lacking the punch it needs to really send it over the top. I seem to remember The Fleshtones doing a really great version of this at some of their old shows.

Roy Orbison - Land Of 1000 Dances

Back in the 60's many artists would release albums with one or two singles and fill the rest up with some hastily recorded covers of current hits. I don't now if that was Roy's intention here but he really does a terrific job on this song. I especially love the organ playing. Check out this link to see a great live version, probably from around 1968 or so judging by the clothes and hairstyles.
Funkadelic - Hit It And Quit It

Back in the late 60's/early 70's I wasn't quite ready to fully appreciate George Clinton's unique brand of psychedelic, stoned-out funk. Sly & The Family Stone were about as far out as I was willing to go in that particular direction. Better late than never I always say.
The Nerves - When Ya Find Out

More often than not The Nerves are remembered for their original members' subsequent careerts rather than their own output. While that's totally understandable the truth of the matter is that they did record a handful of nice catchy upbeat power-pop tunes, this being one of them.
The Trolls - Don't Come Around

The garage comp database shows at least five bands calling themselves The Trolls back in the mid-60's. The "Don't Come Around" Trolls came from Pueblo, Colorado and had a handful of worthy singles at the time, including a remake of The Stones' "Stupid Girl".
Millie Vernon - Bloodshot Eyes

"'Uh uh! Don't roll them bloodshot eyes at me!" You tell 'em Millie. By the sound of things, she doesn't sound like anyone you'd want to cross. I think this is actually a cover of an Amos Milburn record. According to an undocumented online source, she died of Alzheimers about a year and a half ago. If anyone out there has any more info, please leave an update in the comments section.

Kim Fowley - In My Garage

I've always appreciated Kim Fowley more for his outside productions than his own records. But I've always had a soft spot for this Dylan cop that he did around 1979 or so.
Vashti Bunyan - Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind

I think I kinda screwed up in that the file has a different song title - this is the correct one. It's also a Jagger-Richards song that was probably deemed not suitable for The Stones. Listening to this as I write I can hear that this is not exactly the best rip. I'll try to find another one and repost it at some point.
The Toppers - I'm So Lovesick

Until I got this on a German beat group comp I had never heard of the band or the song. Whoever is singing really has quite a voice and the band does an admirable job backing him up. It's good enough that I have to hope this was a hit somewhere in the world. I also have to wonder what it would have sounded like had The Animals gotten their claws into it (bad pun I know, I'm sorry).
Teenage Fanclub - Escher

Long time followers of this blog know how much I love these guys. This is from their "Thirteen" album. Listening to it again as I write, I can't help but think that this might be a good song for the Young@Heart chorus to try. They have a new album coming out later this year and a link to one of their new songs (no download, just for listening) can be found in the comments section of one of my more recent posts.
Willie Ward And The Warblers - I'm A Madman

I love crazy crap like this! For me it's truly one of life's great gifts to be constantly discovering gems like this that fell through the cracks at the time and are finally getting the appreciation they deserve all these years later.
The Roosters – Ain't Gonna Cry Anymore

According to the garage database, although there were a number of bands called The Roosters, none of them had a record called "Ain't Gonna Cry Anymore" or if they did, it was never on any comp. I think I must have gotten it from one of Gyro's garage comps on the old Twilight Zone blog. For those of you who missed it, here it is in primo sound quality.

AC/DC - Big Balls

Only AC/DC could get away with singing a song called "Big Balls". Nobody ever said they didn't have a sense of humor.

John Coltrane - Straight Street

Recorded in May of 1957, not long after leaving Miles Davis' band, this is Coltrane still in his relatively formative years. Nonetheless, he's still developed his style enough to take the melody to some very interesting places.

From the dim and distant future I can hear the screams

Escape From Bellevue

2010-04-08T12:56:00.003-04:00

I just finished reading an amazing book that I'm sure will resonate with me for a really long time. The book is "Escape From Bellevue" by Christopher John Campion, who is also the lead singer of indie-rock band Knockout Drops. It's the story of the band's quest for success which went hand-in-glove with his worsening alcoholism and drug addiction. Written from a now clean and sober point of view, he pulls no punches and spares us few details. Over the course of his disease he sank about as low as it is possible to sink yet he tells his story with an honesty and sense of humor that never wallows in self-pity. In fact, at times I had to stop reading because I was laughing so hard. Truth be told, it was fairly easy for me to relate to this book. While I am a moderate drinker at most and haven't gotten high in over 20 years, I am a compulsive overeater. My drug of choice is sugar, usually in the form of chocolate. And while the effects of my particular brand of bingeing may not be as dramatic as with other vices, they are definitely there. I have on too many occasions eaten myself into a sugar stupor and have felt the headache-y effects of the hangover for a few days afterwards. So in a way, Chris' story is also my own, except that he hasn't touched anything in a few years. Powerful reading indeed.

I'm really excited about my latest playlist. Not only do I have a new song by one of my favorite bands, Couple, but I also have some demos by two really good friends of mine that, to the best of my knowledge, are making their downloadable debut here. So enjoy the music and please leave a comment or two. I really enjoy hearing from you.

Barbara Lynn - Oh, Baby (We Got A Good Thing Goin')

For many years the only version of "Oh Baby..." I knew was by The Stones from the "Now" album. And while I still prefer their version over the original, it's not hard to see why Mick & Co. were so taken with this song when they heard it back in 1964.

Christopher & The Souls - Diamonds, Rats, and Gum

This came out originally on the super-collectible Pharoh label out of McAllen, Texas. There's an in-depth write up on these guys on the Garage Hangover blogsite so there's not much more I can add here. Except that looking at their picture, you'd never think that these clean cut kids could ever come up with anything as dark and demented as this.

Jay Banerjee - Kate
Michael Lynch - Go To Her

Over the last few years the NYC garage band scene has dwindled to almost nothing. One of the last bright spots was The Anything People who could always be counted on to put on a great show with their mix of obscure covers and like-sounding originals. Unfortunately, the Anythings broke up last year but the good news is that their former members are still musically active on some level and two of them now have new projects going. Jay Banerjee recorded a 3-track CD last winter and "Kate" is my favorite song from that disc. He's got a new band together now called Jay Banerjee & The Hearthrobs who made their debut a few weeks ago at Mercury Lounge. They've got a really nice pop sense and a whole set worth of cool tunes, not to mention a few Beatles covers as encores. They've got another show coming up in a few weeks that's definitely worth your time if you're in the NYC area. Michael Lynch has been doing his one-man band recordings for a few years now and "Go To Her" is his latest. Hopefully he'll also be getting back into playing out live before too long.

Leon Russell - Roll Away The Stone

There was a point in my life when I was in my very early 20's that Leon was THE MAN. There was one scene in the "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" movie where he is being interviewed by an over-zealous reporter who stuck the microphone uncomfortably close to his face and Leon, without batting an eye gently pushes his hand away while continuing to answer the question. Maybe you had to be there but at the time it was the epitome of cool. In the almost 40 years since then I've listened to a lot of music but I still find myself going back to those first few Leon Russell albums occasionally.

The Sons of Fred - Baby What You Want Me To Do

I can't for the life of me understand why this wasn't a big hit over here. With that 'Oh..oh.. see ya later" chorus this was a ready-made radio smash just waiting to happen.
The Capris - Morse Code of Love

Despite the fact that this song has been played to death on oldies radio over the last 15 years, it remains a favorite of mine that I'll never get tired of. Luckily for all of you who can't bear to hear it one more time, all these songs are individual files and that's why computers have trash bins.

Inez & Charlie Foxx - Mockingbird

Here's another ditty in the hit portion of our program as "Mockingbird" made it all the way up to number 7 on the Billboard Charts in 1963. Unfortunately many people know this song only by James Taylor and Carly Simon's lame early 70's remake. This is the real deal folks.
Couple - Lagu Cinta Untukmu

A few months ago one of my favorite bands Couple released their third album "Pop Tak Masuk Radio". Unlike their first two, this one is sung entirely in Malaysian, which proves once again that Rock & Roll is its own language. I can't understand a word (although knowing Aidil who writes their songs I'm sure the lyrics are quite poetic) yet it still sounds terrific. Anyone who wants to hear more or score a copy of the CD for yourself can check out their blog.
Joe Ely - Musta Notta Gotta Lotta

It's 9 AM and the party's just ended so forgive me if I don't look my perky best. "Musta Notta Gotta Lotta" is of my favorite odes to the Rock & Roll lifestyle. One of the things I really like about it is that unlike a lot of songs on this subject, there's no hint of that "look at me I'm so cool" vibe. And whoever the band it, they are absolutely smokin'.

The Kooks - Always Where I Need To Be

I'm so out of touch with today's mainstream pop and rock audiences that I have no clue anymore what makes a song a hit. With few exceptions, most of the new bands that I like have some degree of retro in their sound. So I hear a song like "Always...." and think how fresh it must sound blasting out of a car radio speaker and how incredibly catchy it is. Therefore it makes no sense to me that it's not a big hit and that these guys aren't huge stars. And for all I know, maybe it is and they are and I'm so out of things that I have no idea. I just know what I like.

The Falcons - I Gotta See Her

According to the Soybomb Garage Database there were at least 7 groups from various points around the globe calling themselves The Falcons back in the day. But these Falcons actually were from my home state of New York. Snotty 3-chord garage punk at its finest.
Richard Berry - Watusi

I'm guessing that this was recorded to cash in on the success of "Stranded in the Jungle" by The Cadets as it is a note-for-note copy. In fact, it might even be the exact same backing track.
The Who - Early Morning Cold Taxi

Ever since I heard "...Taxi" on some crappy sounding bootleg back in the early 80's, it's been a particular favorite of mine. It was originally recorded during the "Sell Out" sessions but for whatever reason, wasn't included on the album.
Jimmy Patton - Let Me Slide

I've already posted Jimmy Patton's two other "hits" and as I promised a few months ago, this is his third. I'm not sure if he recorded anything else but if he did, hopefully somebody like Norton or Ace will see fit to release them all together at some point.
Edgar Winter Group - Round & Round

Edgar Winter playing power pop? A few months ago my favorite DJ on Top Shelf Oldies played this song as a mystery oldie and nobody could guess who it was. Once I figured out the song title I went looking through Gemm Music to try and figure out the artist. I saw Edgar Winter Group listed and thought to myself "No way it could be them". But this is actually from the same album that gave us "Free Ride" and "Frankenstein" way back when - which means I must have heard this song at least a few times back then and forgot about it.

And then you'll realize I'm not a bum

This Too Shall Pass

2010-03-22T00:45:00.008-04:00

I've been in somewhat of a funk lately. I'm not going to bore you with all of the details as after all, we've all got our problems and while mine might seem more serious than some, everyone's problems are always the most serious to them. Suffice it to say that unemployment, inactivity, ennui, stress and depression have been getting the better of me these past few weeks. One of my mother's favorite expressions is "This too shall pass" and I have been reminding myself a lot of that lately. Sometimes slowly, occasionally all of a sudden, things have a way of working themselves out. At some point things will turn around - for me and hopefully for all of us who have been whupped upside the head by the events of the past 2 years - be it the economy, natural disasters or whatever else. But right now I am in a more contemplative state of mind and my musical tastes of late have been somewhat reflective of that. So while I hope to be in more of a rockin' & rollin' frame of mind next time around, I hope that some of you will find some gems in this latest playlist of mine.

The Craig - I Must Be Mad

Luckily it hasn't happened too often but there have certainly been a few times over the years when I have been driven to this level of obsession over a love interest I thought I'd die if I had to live without. Now if I could only remember their names....
Felt - My Darkest Light Will Shine

I have trouble making out all of the lyrics but despite that, there is something I find very sad and reassuring about this song at the same time. When he sings "It's just a price we pay for such a lovely day" I'm reminded of how transient life's pleasures can be and how nothing can be taken for granted. "No gain without pain" as I seem to remember hearing somewhere.

Laura Nyro - Lazy Susan

While she is more remembered as a songwriter, having penned a number of hit records for artists like Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat & Tears and The Fifth Dimension in the late 60's, Laura Nyro was also an excellent singer. This song comes from her first album (where all of those aforementioned hits first appeared) and I really can't imagine anyone else singing this.
The Replacements - September Gurls (Customer)
The Box Tops - Neon Rainbow

As most of you readers know only too well by now, Alex Chilton died of a heart attack last week. So much has been written about him that there is really not much left to say. One of the best tributes was written by Paul Westerberg who was more than just a fan. "September Customer" was recorded one drunken night in 1984 at CBGB's . It's The Replacements' "Customer" sung to the tune of "September Gurls". Pure genius which I am sure Mr. Chilton quite appreciated. "Neon Rainbow" is my favorite song by Alex's first band The Box Tops, recorded when he was still a teenager. Thankfully I was able to find this mono mix which is way superior to the stereo which is what appears on all of the Box Tops compilations I've heard.
The Hi Numbers - Heart Of Stone

You try and try to get the love of your life to feel the same way about you but no matter what you do he/she still treats you like shit and it hurts like hell. Nobody said life was fair but on the bright side, if love didn't hurt so much, think of all the great songs that would never have been written. Like this one.
Mose Allison - I Don't Want Much

One of the things I've always loved about Mose Allison is his understated appreciation of the absurdities of life. Listening to him I get the sense that he knows life is unfair, that things are not going to go his way but what the hell, all you can do is laugh. One of my favorite quotes is from author Tom Robbins, "You can't change reality but you can change your perception of it" and Mose's music seems to embody that attitude.

Muddy Waters - I Won't Go On

My appreciation of the Blues is mainly where it turns into Rock & Roll and while I'm not quite sure which side of the fence this falls on, Muddy Waters has always had such a powerful voice that it really doesn't matter.

The Germz - No Easy Way Down

If we're lucky we get to experience a few streaks in our lives where things are going just about as perfectly as they can and we can do no wrong. But unfortunately Mama's maxim "This too shall pass" works in reverse too and nothing good lasts forever. Sometimes that downward spiral can be mighty painful.
The Music Machine - Trouble

"Trouble" is one of a handful of originals on the first Music Machine album and as much as I love the song "The People In Me", I always thought this would have been a better choice for their second single.
Gerry & The Pacemakers - Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cying

Permit me my 2-plus minutes of wallowing here. This is as perfect a late night crying-in-your-beer (or in my case, crying in my Hagen Daz) song as anything Dean Martin ever recorded.
Warren Zevon - Looking For The Next Best Thing

There are times when, as the song goes, you just can't get what you want so you have to settle for what you can. Sometimes second best is as good as it gets.
Maxine Brown - One Step At A Time

Although she is revered in Northern Soul circles, Maxine Brown never really got her due as her talent warranted. Despite having 15 records that made Billboard's Top 100, she only cracked the Top 20 one time. "One Step..." made it to number 55 in the summer of 1965.
Roky Erickson - Starry Eyes

Except to state that in my opinion "Starry Eyes" is one of the best 'love from afar' songs ever, there's not a whole lot to say about it as this song pretty much speaks for itself.

The Syndicate - She Haunts You

These guys definitely got it bad (and that ain't good - but that's another song). I'm willing to bet that whoever wrote this song never got anywhere near first base with his phantom lady love but, as I said before in not so many words, there's nothing like some serious frustration to produce some great Rock & Roll or in this case, some cool moody garage.
Sonny Criss - Early And Later Part 1

It's 3AM and there's no one left in the bar besides the bartender and a trio of drunks with bad hairpieces in the corner singing Jimmy Buffett songs. Sometimes you just got to know when to say when but what the hell, just one more couldn't hurt.

Some people want salvation, paradise and all that stuff

Back In The Loop

2010-03-01T00:42:00.004-05:00

Last week my Mac was in the repair shop for a few days. It was amazing how disoriented I felt without it. No emails, no chatting, no blog surfing, no Facebook - I felt so cut off from everything. It's amazing and kind of frightening to think of just how much these little machines have changed our lives and our way of relating to the rest of the world. When they called me last Thursday to let me know that my computer was ready to be picked up, I didn't care how much it was snowing and raining outside, nothing was going to stop me from retrieving my lifeline.

Dave Davies - Picture Book

"Picture Book" originally appeared on the Kinks' "Village Green Preservation Society" but this is a live version by Dave Davies recorded at the Bottom Line in New York City about 10 years ago.

Esquerita - I Need You

Although Little Richard may have held the title of the "all time queen of rock & Roll", as proclaimed by Leon Russell back in 1971, in his prime Esquerita would have surely given him a run for his money.
The Spliffs - You Know What They'll Say

These guys released a few singles back in the early 80's but this one is their most sought after, commanding pries of around $160. Way too rich for my blood but luckily it was included on Volume 6 of the fabulous "Shake Some Action" compilation series.
The Rumblers - I Don't Need You No More

The Rumblers were mainly an instrumental group, best known for their semi-hit "Boss" which was released on Downey Records and then picked up by Dot for national distribution in 1963. "I Don't Need..." was the B-side and is of much more interest to 60s garage fans. Oddly enough, when a Rumblers best-of CD was issued in 1997 this song was not included.

The Icicles - Whirling

With the organ in the background laying a gentle haze over the proceedings and those slightly melancholic vocals, I find this song to be incredibly comforting and relaxing. I can hear it being played in the background of some movie where the heroine wakes up safe and sound from a really scary dream.

Bob Dylan - It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry

I'm guessing this was recorded at the LA Forum in 1965 or 66 by Dylan and his touring group which included most of the members of The Band.
Alvin Robinson - Down Home Girl

Like almost everyone I know, I first heard this song when it was covered by The Stones on their "Now" album, but this was the original that inspired them.
Stiff Little Fingers - Gotta Gettaway

A few weeks ago my friend Naz who runs the Bleedin' Out blogsite did a little write-up on SLF and it reminded me of how much I loved their first few albums. I remember seeing them when they got back together about 20 years ago and while my most vivid memory is of skinheads starting fights with random members of the audience, I also remember that the band positively smoked.
The Smoke - High In a Room

The Smoke are mainly remembered for their single "My Friend Jack" but they actually had a rather extensive discography. This was their second single, the follow up to "...Jack".
Robert Parker - Sneaking Sally Through the Alley

I first heard this song when it was done by Robert Palmer on his first album but I'm sure this was the original version. With all due respect to Mr. Palmer, this one is so much better.

The Fleshtones - Killing By Degrees

This is from "The Angry Years 1984-86" album which for some odd reason was not released until a number of years after. Nonetheless, this is pure Fleshtones - a little soul, a bit of garage/psych and a touch of punk all melted together into a sound that is so familiar yet is uniquely theirs. Amazingly, these guys have been playing together for around 25 years and they're still going strong.

The Scots Of St. James - Tic Toc

I don't know much about these guys except for what I could find on Soybomb's garage database, which is that this Glasgow combo had at least one other single. I just noticed that the rip of this song is messed up so I've reposted it and at a higher bit rate.
The Uptowns - Here She Comes Again

I just ordered an original copy of this on Gemm Music and was surprised to learn that this originally was released by Laurie Records who were not really known for releasing a whole lot of R&B singles.
The Outlets -Not Too Late

I first heard "...Late" back in the late 80's when my friend was given a cassette of the "Let's Breed" compilation that we played over and over again while driving to and from shows in his olive green Oldsmobile. I'm sure this song serenaded us more than once on our numerous 3 AM White Castle runs.

Unknown Cambodian Group - Gloria

It always makes me feel good to realize how widespread the influence of Rock & Roll was back in the mid to late 60's. Probably due no doubt to the U.S. military presence in Southeast Asia. While it's hard to do a 'bad' version of "Gloria" these unknowns add a few exotic touches of their own to this 3-chord standard.

I can't help it if this train gets lost

Life is such a drone

Less Talk More Music Pt. 4

2010-02-15T14:04:00.007-05:00

Once again there's not a whole lot to talk about here in YankeeBoy land. The job search is plodding along and although I've gotten a few calls from recruiters, nothing much more than vague half-promises has materialized so far. For the most part I try to avoid paying too much attention to the news as it just aggravates me, and besides there is nothing I can do about any of it. So for now I really don't have any pearls of wisdom to share so just enjoy the music. And please leave comments - good bad or indifferent. I love getting feedback - even when people disagree with me.

One last thing. I've switched from Sharebee to Multiupload. From my side it's more reliable and easier to keep track of things. I've not heard any complaints so I'm guessing that for you downloaders it's working out as well.

Dorothy Moore - Misty Blue

Leading off this go round is one of my all-time favorite ballads and a Top-5 hit for Dorothy Moore. We've all felt this way at one time or other, especially around Valentine's Day.
Big Danny Oliver - Sapphire

"Sapphire" has appeared on a number of R&B comps over the years and it's also found its way onto a few of my own Ipod playlists. Whenever I'm walking around town and this song comes on it always puts a little extra bounce into my step.
The Gurus - It Just Won't Be That Way

"It Just Won't Be That Way" was originally an album track by The Critters before it was recorded by The Gurus for their second single, following up their minor hit "Blue Snow Night" on United Artists.
Dale Hawkin - Wild Wild World
The Knack - Just Wait And See

Sadly, this is the memorial section of the post. Since my last playlist our R&R community has lost two of its members to cancer. Dale Hawkins is mostly known for his 1957 Top-40 hit "Suzie Q" which can be found, along with "Wild Wild World" on the Ace Records CD "Rock and Roll Tornado". Doug Fieger was the main force behind The Knack who are also, somewhat unfairly, thought of by many as being a one-hit wonder, that hit being "My Sharona". "Just Wait..." is just one of a number of stellar power pop tracks they recorded over their career and is from one of their later albums "Round Trip" which is unfortunately out of print at the moment.
Dorothy Berry - Ain't That Love

Dorothy is best known for her remake of the Falcons' hit "You're So Fine" but this is another Northern Soul pounder that is just as worthy of attention.
The Humane Society - Knock Knock

This moody garage classic has been on a number of compilations over the years, most notably the Rhino Nuggets Box that came out a few years ago.
Joyside - I Don't Care About Your Society

About a month ago I saw this incredible documentary about the Punk scene in Beijing called "Beijing Bubbles" and Joyside were, in my opinion, the best of the 4 or 5 bands featured. While some of their lyrics might sound quaint or passe to our jaded Western ears, considering the society in which they live, there is a lot more on the line for these guys than there ever was for their U.S. or U.K. counterparts.

The Royal Guardsmen - Leaving Me

This was the original flip side to their first single, a remake of the Young Rascals song "Baby Let's Wait" which went absolutely nowhere. After all of their "Snoopy..." hits "BLW" was released as a single again with a different B-side. Too bad as this is easily their most garage-y and best record.
The Olympics - Baby Do The Philly Dog

From the late-50's thru the mid-60's The Olympics were no strangers to the Billboard Hot 100. "...Philly Dog" is a big favorite among soul DJ's and it was also their last chart entry from the fall of 1966.
Andy & David Williams - I'll Love You

Being the son and nephew of singer Andy Williams, these younguns were all primed and ready to be America's next favorite cutie pies back in the early 70's. I'm not sure if it ever worked out that way for them but they did leave a few nice records in their wake and I've always had a soft spot in my heart for this one. It may be a bit too sugary for some of my regular visitors so consider this my nod to Valentines Day.

The Artesians - Koko Joe

"Koko Joe" has been done many times but this is possibly the most rockin' version ever. Surpisingly, it was never released at the time but can be found now in all it's Hi-Fi glory on Norton's "Stomp! Northwest Killers Vol. 1 1960-1964.

Richard Berry - Baby Please Come Home

RB is best known for writing the Frat Rock classics "Have Love Will Travel" and "Louie Louie". While "Baby..." is more standard R&B fare for the period, Richard manages to leave his distinctive mark, especially towards the end of the song.

Mickey & Ludella - That Look You Gave To Me

Mickey & Ludella are part of that whole Medway group of musicians influenced by and involved with Billy Childish, who may even be playing somewhere on these sessions.

Frederick Delius w/Andre Kostelanetz (cond.) - On Hearing The First Cuckoo In Spring

Frederick Delius was a German-English composer of the late 19th and early 20th century. Unlike many of the Classical composers of the previous few generations, his music is much more impressionistic. It relies on setting an atmosphere more than having an identifiable, hummable melody. Personally I find it very relaxing to close my eyes and let myself be carried away on the gentle waves of sound.

They say you lied and that you'll never be true.

Who Were They?

2010-02-10T13:44:00.012-05:00

Being almost 59 years old myself, I definitely subscribe to the theory that one is never too old to Rock & Roll. Over the last 5 years I've seen The Stones, John Fogerty (twice), Brian Wilson and Nick Lowe in concert and in addition I still love newer works by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Petty and a host of others whose names escape me at the moment. So what I am about to say is not at all about ageism. But the other night during half-time I felt totally embarrassed for that travesty that was calling itself The Who. It's not that Roger Daltry (who I thought bore a striking resemblance to Mrs. Doubtfire) can't sing or that Pete Townsend, who I really wish would have finished buttoning his shirt before coming onstage, can't play anymore. My problems with The Who started right after Keith Moon died. To me, this band was truly always much more than the sum of its parts. Here we had 4 distinct and often conflicting personalities and styles that joined to form this electrifying, unique combination that was way bigger than any of them individually. When Keith died that synergy was gone and they became just another rock band whose best days were behind them. When "Face Dances" came out I heard a few songs on the radio and was unimpressed. It was the first Who album I didn't buy. And now that John Entwistle is gone they're even less The Who than ever. I think I'd respect them more if they called themselves "The Townsend-Daltry Band" or something like that. But they will never be The Who. To quote Pete Townsend: "We won't get fooled again".

The Who - My Generation

Now THIS is The Who! Snotty, angry, arrogant, pumped-up and in your face. Listen to Entwistle and Moon - nobody could play like them before or since. The Who is dead. Long Live The Who!
Beck - Devil's Haircut

Many of my fellow garage-heads dismiss Beck as just one more modern artist they can't relate to, but I enjoy a lot of his music in much the same way that I've always liked XTC. He's got a real appreciation of R&R's past (check out the intro stolen note-for-note from "I Can Only Give You Everything") to which he adds an engagingly skewed pop sense of his own.
Bo Diddley - Put The Shoes On Willie

This is somewhat of a novelty number for Bo, despite having his trademark Bo Diddley maracas-shaking beat. Novelty or not, I've always liked this song.
Johnny Winter - Highway 61 Revisited

If this doesn't get your adrenaline flowing, then probably nothing will. I've never read or heard anything one way or the other, but my guess is that Bob Dylan would heartily approve of Winter's take on his classic. You've got to love that slide guitar playing. This particular rip lacks a little in the volume department so you might want to crank it up a bit.
Jason Eddy & The Centremen - Singing The Blues

I've seen his last name spelled with both a 'y' and an 'ie' at the end so I hope I got it right. This is one of Joe Meek's more raucous productions and a pretty out-there version of this old Guy Mitchell country standard.

Ognir And The Nite People - I Found A New Love

Over the years Ognir & Co. have shown up on a number of garage compilations and, to these ears anyway, they're always welcome. I wouldn't be surprised if by this point in time, original 45s are going for close to 4 figures and way out of my budget.
Chuck Higgins - Motor Head Baby

While Chuck Higgins may not have been the most accomplished of musicians, he certainly had a long and successful career, playing shows well into the 1980's. This is from his earliest session for Combo records in 1952.
The Viletones - Don't You Lie

From Toronto, Canada this song is taken from their "Look Back in Anger" EP recorded in 1978. It's funny how a lot of the punk records from that era that sounded so outrageous at the time, nowadays sound like nice upbeat pop. Which is by no means a bad thing. What's also amazing is how many of these singles are commanding such super high prices - even more than original 60's garage records at times.
The Roulettes - Bad Time

Although these guys are mostly knows as Adam Faith's backup band, they released a handful of singles on their own, this being their best. Anyone wanting to hear more, can check out their CD here.
Little Caesar & the Romans - She Don't Wanna Dance

This was the flip side to their ballady hit "Those Oldies But Goodies". While the A-side has been played to death on oldies radio, "SDWD" remains relatively unknown.
The Stones - Connection

This is taken from a rare mono version of "Between The Buttons". To me it sounds a whole lot punchier than the stereo mix. Back in late 1966 the druggy connotations gave this song an extra shot of 'cool' but even without that, it remains one of their better songs from that era.
Shemekia Copeland - Breakin' Out

The last time I saw Ms. Copeland perform in concert at B.B. King's in New York she must have played for close to 2 hours and she was absolutely incredible. Whether she's playing a slow blues or an upbeat rocker, she's a bundle of pure energy with a voice that reminds me of a young Etta James.
The Stems - She's A Monster

It's hard to believe that Dom Mariani has been playing either in bands or as a solo for over 25 years and yet remains relatively unknown. "...Monster" is one of his first recordings with garage rockers The Stems. Most of their early recordings have been collected on "Mushroom Soup: The Citadel Years", available from Amazon.

Charlie Rich - Lonely Weekends

Recording for Sun Records back in the late 50's, Charlie was a lot more of a traditional country singer than most of his labelmates, which is probably why they stuck on that awful background chorus.
Spencer Wiggins - Love Attack

Although he never made Billboard's Top 100, Spencer was well known and loved in soul circles. Now that Ace Records is reissuing so much of the Goldwax Records catalog, perhaps he will finally get a little more recognition.
The Us Too Group - I'll Leave You Crying

From Fairfield, Ohio, this moody, minor-key opus appears to be their one and only claim to fame.
Roy Loney - Born To Be Your Fool

Along with Cyril Jordan, Roy Loney was the main impetus behind the original Flamin' Groovies. After 3 critically acclaimed but commercially disappointing albums, Roy left the band and went out on his own. Until last year most of his early solo material remained unavailable on CD but Raven Records in Australia has since rectified the problem with a nice 28-track best-of.

Put some bleachers out in the sun

A Little Blog Music

2010-02-04T01:53:00.004-05:00

There's not a whole lot going on these days in YankeeBoy land. Being unemployed with no regular hours is playing havoc with my sleeping schedule, as evidenced by the fact that I am writing this at 2 AM. I really need to find a job soon, not just for the money but for my own sanity. If and when I can ever retire I will need to find some activity to fill my time. But since I had to cash in my pension in order to pay for school and life in general, I figure that if I'm lucky I'll be able to retire sometime around my 98th birthday. At my last job I used to joke with my boss and tell him that if he wasn't nicer I would die at my desk and he would have to deal with my carcass. These days it doesn't seem quite so funny. But enough of this. Let's get to what we all came here for.

Badfinger - Rock Of All Ages

Although Badfinger managed to score four Top-20 hits back in the early 70's (this was the B-side of their first "Come And Get It") the band was beset by musical setbacks, internal disputes and mental illness resulting in the tragic suicides of two of their founding members.

Bob Dylan - Love Minus Zero (No Limit)

Back in the Spring of 1965, after "Mr. Tambourine Man" by The Byrds first hit the charts, my friend's older sister lent me "Bringing It All Back Home". Much of what I heard went over my 14-year-old head but this song really struck a chord with me. It remains one of my favorite Dylan songs.

The Broken Hearts - You Won't Find Me

This song is the leadoff track of their first (only?) album "Want One". Fans of upbeat, slightly garagey Power Pop would do well to check it out on Amazon as it contains 20 tracks of similar musical fare.

Billy Harner - Don't Want My Lovin'

I've always thought that The Fleshtones would do a great cover of this song. Unfortunately there has never been a comprehensive Billy Harner 'Best-Of' but the good news is that most of his singles can still be found for not too much money.

The Pleasure Seekers - What A Way To Die

Like most of the garage-loving world, I first heard this song on the comp of the same name. Back in the late-80's I sang a variation of this song called "What A Way to Diet" with Vince Brnicevic's Air Force.
Wayne Newton - Comin' On Too Strong

For almost everyone I know, this song is where interest in Wayne Newton begins and ends. This Terry Melcher produced masterpiece is a far cry from "Danke Schoen".
Madness - Bed And Breakfast Man

I've always loved the first Madness album and "B&BM" is one of its forgotten gems. I especially like that chunky little organ riff throughout the song.
John Lennon - Nobody Told Me

For me, this is the ultimate "coming of age" song. It so perfectly captures that moment in our lives when we realize that so many of the grand assumptions of our youth are not quite that way and that life is just...life.
Los 007 - No te Puedo Encontrar

This mid-60's Peruvian nugget is an interesting melange of styles. The guitars have this moody, slightly ominous feel and then the vocals come in sounding almost like The Vogues or The Lettermen.

The Woggles - Sayonara Blues

Along with The Lyres and The Fleshtones, Atlanta GA's Woggles put on some of the most energetic shows I have ever seen. For sheer danceability and fun, these guys are just about as good as it gets.
Ted Taylor - Everywhere I Go

Ted Taylor has one of the more distinctive voices in R&B/Soul. This is one of his more upbeat tracks, that I'm guessing was recorded fairly early in his career.
Warren Zevon - Johnny Strikes Up The Band (Live @ The Roxy 4-24-78)

I've always been a big fan of Mr. Zevon and this song, a tribute to one of his own heroes Johnny Carson, has always been one of my favorites.
Joe Frank & The Knights - Can't Find A Way

Hailing from Jackson, MS I am assuming that this organ-fueled pounder was their only 45 as, despite their appearance on a number of garage compilations, this is the only song of theirs that has come to light. Still, if you're going to leave a one-song legacy, you could do a lot worse than this.
Dale McBride - Prissy Missy

This primitive stomper has appeared on a number of online compilations over the years but a search on Gemm Music and Ebay could not turn up any copies of the original 45. Apparently Dale has had quite an extensive career as a country singer although this is the only record I know by him.

Ruby Johnson - Keep On Keeping On

Ruby was one of the lesser known artists on the Stax/Volt roster but her lack of crossover mainstream success should not be taken as a lack of artistic merit as she had a handful of quality records in the mid-60s before retiring from the music business.

The Beau Brummels - One Too Many Mornings

For many fans of their original folk-rock sound, after the Beau Brummels left Autumn Records to sign with Warner Brothers, their records were nowhere near as compelling, despite some interesting experiments like being one of the first Rock bands to record an album in Nashville. "OTMM" however hearkens back to their original sound and remains one of the best versions of this song ever recorded.
The Cordells - Annie Get Your Yo-Yo

Ritchie Cordell was one of the many unknowns of the Brill Building music scene back in the mid-60's and he penned a number of hit songs for acts like Tommy James & The Shondells and The 1910 Fruitgum Company. This was one that certainly deserved to be a hit but for some reason, failed to click. Sadly, Cordell died of pancreatic cancer in 2004.

Everybody's smoking but no one's getting high.

State Of The (Dis)Union

2010-01-30T02:18:00.005-05:00

As readers of this blog already know, I have been a supporter of President Obama from the beginning. So when 9:00 came on Wednesday night I was all primed and ready to listen to his State of the Union address. He said all of the things I wanted him to say and then some. He addressed the issue of outsourcing which is how I lost my job back in 2008. He chided the Republicans for saying no to everything and even went to far as to take a poke at the Supreme Court justices for their disastrous decision (see my previous post for details if you need to) last week. He explained the hows and whys of what he wanted to do and what he hoped his plans would accomplish. He took the blame for mistakes he had made. In short it was as near perfect a speech as could be. Yet throughout the whole hour and 10 minutes of it I found myself feeling an odd sense of disappointment. As good as it was, there was something missing. I wanted more.

At one point the camera panned to the Republican side of the House chamber and seeing all of them sitting there either stone-faced or with looks of contempt on their faces made me realize what the problem was for me. He was basically preaching to the choir and not reaching any of the people he needed to. While many people in this country are losing their jobs, their savings and their homes there is a large political faction in this country that seems wholly intent on nothing more than covering their own asses. And they attempt to do this by issuing a steady stream of negative rhetoric, offering few if any constructive suggestions of their own.

I'm not saying that President Obama is infallible. He's not. In order to get where he is he had to play the politics game as much as anyone. But we are living in very desperate times and the man does have some well thought out ideas, radical though they may seem to some, to get us out of the mess we find ourselves in. What we need now is a Congress that will work with him to solve these problems. That doesn't mean automatically saying 'yes' to everything he proposes but it does mean honestly listening to and impartially considering his plans and making intelligent suggestions. It means that Republicans and Democrats alike need to work together to try and fix things. The American people deserve nothing less.

Barbara Stephens - I Don't Worry

Although Ms. Stephens recorded this for the Stax label in Memphis, it sounds as if the session might have actually taken place in New Orleans as the drumming has that distinctive second-line feel to it. This must have been a B-side as it is not on the Stax box.
Even - End to End

I'm not sure where I first learned of these guys (probably on another blog) and there isn't a whole lot of info out there in cyberland other than their myspace page. They remind me of fellow Aussie psych-rockers The Lime Spiders who are also featured in this post.

Neil Young - Revolution Blues

Although personally I generally prefer his older music, I've got to hand it to him. NY has never rested on his laurels or been overly driven by commercial considerations. While some are more hit-or-miss than others, every new album is an adventure and one never knows what direction he will go in next.
The Trolls - Walking Shoes

According to the Soybomb Garage Compilation Database there were at least 5 bands calling themselves The Trolls back in the mid-60's. These particular Trolls came from San Jose and this was their big 2:07 claim to fame.
Wayne Worley - Red Headed Woman

"Red Headed Woman" has been on a number of Rockabilly compilations over the years and for good reason. It's a frantic balls-out rocker with a nifty guitar break halfway through.
The Plimsouls - Now

If I were to make a list, The Plimsouls would probably be way up there on my "Bands I Wish I'd Seen Live" tally. From the sound of things on this track from their "One Night In America" album, they must have really been something to see.
Pagliaro - What The Hell I Got

I first discovered Michel Pagliaro about 30 years ago when I spent Christmas vacation with a friend in Canada. I bought a K-Tel album of Canadian artists and he was the one that made the biggest impression on me. I'd love to hear some garage band revive this song, removing some of the slick production and giving it a more vintage Byrdsy sound. I apologize for the little glitch near the end of the song but unfortunately this is the only rip of it I have.

James Brown - Signed, Sealed, And Delivered

This isn't the Stevie Wonder hit of the same name. Back in 1963 this got up to number 77 on the Billboard charts and according to the Joel Witburn book, "SS&D" was a number 2 country hit for Cowboy Copas way back in 1948. I would have sworn this was a JB original.
The Revells - Midnight Stroll

Each Halloween it seems that every blog puts together a comp of scary music and inevitably "Midnight Stroll" is always on a bunch of them. But it's a terrific record and sounds just as chilling on a cold winters night.
The Outsiders - Touch

The (Dutch) Outsiders need no introduction to fans of mid-60's Garage and Freakbeat. This is one of their best singles and is available on a number of compilations and even as a reissue 45.

The Traveling Wilburys - Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger

All too often supergroups are little more than commercial ploys designed to revive sagging careers. The Wilburys were one of the exceptions as each artist involved brought his A-list material to the table and the result was a unique symbiosis where the whole was even more than the sum of its worthy parts.

Prince Conley - I'm Going Home

Here's another early outing on the Stax label, recorded before the label found their signature sound. With that exotic rhumba beat and Conley's understated vocals, this is an atmospheric masterpiece that surely deserved more attention than it received at the time.
The Lime Spiders - Beyond The Fringe

For a few years, back in the late 80's and early 90's these guys could do no wrong. I remember seeing them when they came to the US around that time and played Maxwells. They were unbelievable and as I remember they went over big with the whole crowd. They have a really nice website where you can learn and hear lots more.
King Alex & The Untouchables - Hutchia Cuthia Lovin' Man

Just like with garage bands (and almost every other genre of popular music) back in the 1950's there were many many talented young black Rock & Rollers trying for their shot at the big time. This particular track comes from a comp of the same name containing lots more crazy R&B sounds of the same ilk. A quick online search found it available here.
The Sonics - He's Waitin'

Here are The Sonics. Crank it up as loud as you can and just enjoy!
Scruffy The Cat - Never, Never

STC were one of the many hundreds of bands lumped in under the 'college radio/alternative' banner and so, never got the recognition and attention they deserved. They somehow always reminded me of a more punkified Lovin' Spoonful. They had more than their share of hooky, clever songs and they were all delivered with an easygoing confidence and warmth that was out of fashion at that time. Unfortunately their albums are all out of print but copies can still be found on Gemm Music.

You never see us 'cause we don't come around.

Does Anybody Know?

2010-01-24T16:28:00.013-05:00

In general I am not a very politically minded person. Don't get myself all worked up over something I can do little or nothing about has always been my philosophy. But lately, probably spurred on by my own state of unemployment and by seeing what's been going on in this country over the last few years, politics has started to feel a lot more personal. When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008 I felt that here was the possibility for a new beginning, a chance to set things right again. I still like and support President Obama today as much as I did when I pulled the lever to cast my vote for him two Novembers ago. What I (probably very naively) never counted on however was the fact that for most of the politicians in Washington, it was still business as usual. The Republicans have been fighting him every step of the way since day one. The good of the country be damned - as long as they can make him look bad that is all they want. Even many of President Obama's fellow Democrats have been reluctant to give him their full support, being fearful of a conservative backlash.

This past week two things happened that will have a potentially devastating effect on the future of this country. The first was the election of Republican Scott Brown as Massachusetts senator, replacing Ted Kennedy. Whereas prior to this the Democrats had a 60-40 majority in the Senate, now that majority is reduced to 59-41 which gives the Republicans a lot more filibuster power, making it much harder for President Obama to push through legislation on things like health care and restrictions on the financial services and banking industries. Even more ominous, especially over the long-term, is the Supreme Court decision which loosen the laws governing political contribution spending by industries and unions. What this does, in effect is to give Big Business even more control over the political process and more influence over the candidates who will surely be lining up and kissing ass for all this new corporate money. Just what this country needs - let's give the big corporations even more power than they already have.

So, forgive me if I sound more angry and cynical than usual. I'm certainly feeling that way and the playlist I've posted definitely reflects my state of mind. A few days ago I posted the song "Everybody Knows" on Facebook and a friend of mine commented that the big problem was that most people DON'T know. So many people just believe what they're told without question. Year after year the Republicans manage to bamboozle the people that they're screwing the most - the lower and middle-class working people.

I'll get down off my soapbox now.

Concrete Blonde - Everybody Knows

I first heard this song in the movie "Pump Up The Volume". Luckily I am not often in the mood to hear this song but when I am, this is the ultimate paean to resignation and cynicism.
Koko Taylor - Trying to Make a Living

Although for many of us it gets harder and harder, we're all out there just trying to make a living. Unfortunately, for many of our CEO's and corporate bigwigs making a living means obscenely large bonuses on top of seven or eight-figure salaries, which doesn't leave much left for the rest of us. Oh yeah, I forgot - it's all part of the trickle down theory. Silly me.
Randy Newman - Roll With The Punches

In anyone else's hands this song could be rather offensive but Randy sings it so tongue in cheek that it's real meaning is obvious. Yes, I still think the U.S. is a great place to live and I try never to lose sight of the fact that despite whatever problems I am facing I am still one of the privileged. But it does scare me to see where we could be going.

The Swamp Rats - Louie Louie

And now for something completely different. I realize I posted this back when this blog just started but what the hell. The ultimate mindless and loud version of the ultimate mindless and loud garage song. Sounds pretty good to me just about now.
Frank Evans & The Top Notchers - Gotta Get Some Money

Everybody's short of cash these days. If you want the honey you've got to have the money. Ain't that the way of the world?
The Electric Pop Group - Not By Another

These guys are my favorite new band - at least for this week. Think Jesus & Mary Chain meets Gene Clark and you're definitely on the right track. Check out their myspace page to hear more.
Etta James - Seven Day Fool

Etta James has never been anybody's fool so this guy must be something pretty special. "..Fool" has been reissued a number of times and for some reason they always use the stereo mix which lacks a lot of the punch of the mono version.
Phillip Roebuck - Jackass Blues

This is another song I am posting a second time (my bad - sorry about that) but just by its title alone it somehow seemed to fit my current mood. Taken from a wonderful 2-disc compilation "Attack of the One-Man Bands" which is available at Amazon.

Husker Du - Makes No Sense At All

I've always liked this song and have been meaning to post it for awhile. This seemed like an opportune time.
Jackie Wilson & Lavern Baker - Think Twice

Two of the best voices in Soul (or any other genre for that matter) combine forces here. I'm not sure if this was ever released as a single (although it's inclusion on a few different best-of compilations suggests that it probably was) but I'm thinking that once again, it sounds like the stereo mix dilutes a good deal of its punchiness.
The Montells - You Can't Make Me

As far as I know "YCMM" was the only release by this Florida combo but it's inclusion on one of the "Back From the Grave" comps insures them a place in garage band lover's hearts forever.
Los Valendas - The Clock Is Ticking

I know almost nothing about these guys besides what my 3 years of high-school Spanish all those years ago enables me to glean from their myspace page. They have a few albums that all seem to be out of print although you can probably track them down with a little internet detective work. Their lead singer sounds somewhat like George Harrison.
The Lovin’ Spoonful - Do You Believe In Magic

And now for the happy smiley part of our program. A friend of mine once described "...Magic" as a love song to Rock & Roll and that's exactly what it is.
The Factory - Try a Little Sunshine

I love the music from this brief period of British psychedelia. That time when bands were beginning to experiment and expand their musical ideas (often with the help of a few herbs or chemicals) but before they started taking themselves way too seriously and became "progressive".

Dr. John - Accentuate The Positive

When it comes down to it at the end of the day, the best anyone can do is to try and take the good Doctor's advice. Otherwise the bastards win.

I don't know why you want to tell me when I'm right and when I'm wrong.

Love Is A Mix Tape

2010-01-19T23:45:00.010-05:00

"Love Is A Mix Tape" by Rob Sheffield is one of the best books about Rock and Roll and its omnipresent effect on the lives of the people who love it that I have ever read. Although the art of the mix tape is slowly dying, for many of us who've been fans since before the digital age, it was a major part of our musical appreciation. Just like doing this blog is a means of expression for me, making a mix tape was a way to bare one's soul. We made tapes to woo, to console, to celebrate, to wallow or just to party. They were never merely a haphazard collection of songs. Each song had to be the perfect continuation of the last one, comprising a 45 minute suite that somehow said in music what we could not express verbally. And then we got to do it all over again on the other side. "Love Is A Mix Tape" is about one man's life, both with and without the love of his life as expressed through Rock and Roll. The fact that his musical tastes and mine were sometimes quite different made little difference to me the more I read. Most important to me was the reaffirmation of the power of music we love to not only chronicle our lives but to actually transform them.

Alex Chilton - Bangkok

I can't imagine what Alex was thinking of when he recorded this sometime in the late 70s (if my memory serves me right) but nonetheless it's a great song. New wave before there was any new wave.
The Bedlam 4 - No One Left to Love

I know absolutely nothing at all about this record. As far as I know it's only available as a reissue single. Copies might still be available through Bomp or Norton.
Clarence 'Frogman' Henry - Troubles, Troubles

Clarence Henry always struck me as a slightly more raucous version of Fats Domino which, come to think of it, is not a bad thing at all. This song was the flip side of his first hit "Ain't Got No Home".
Kate & Anna McGarrigle - Complainte Pour Ste. Catherine

I just heard the sad news that Kate McGarrigle lost her battle with cancer today. Back in the early 70s I was heavily into singer-songwriters and I remember buying the first Kate & Anna McGarrigle album mainly because they had written "Heart Like A Wheel" for Linda Ronstadt. At that point I was already starting to be bored with all of the samey-soundingness of much of what I was listening to. The McGarrigles were a real breath of fresh air and their album became a favorite that remains so until this day. My condolences go out to the McGarrigle and Wainwright families. Your loss is ours as well.

Pavement - Elevate Me Later

In his book, Rob Sheffield talks a lot about Pavement. He was and is a big fan. Having not paid them much attention up to this point, I got curious and decided to check them out. Much of their music demands more attention than I have had the time to devote so far, but there were a handful of songs that grabbed me on first listen. This was one of them.

Herman's Hermits - Hold On

Just this afternoon they showed "Hold On" on IFC. Unemployment does have its little benefits I guess. For much of my life Herman's Hermits were a guilty pleasure as they were considered way too teenybopper to really be taken seriously. The truth of the matter is that they had lots of great songs like this movie title song. And the movie itself was kind of cool as well - lightweight but fun.
Gary U.S. Bonds - This Little Girl

Produced by Bruce Springsteen, "This Little Girl" made it to number 11 on the Billboard chart in 1981 and gave Gary's career a well-deserved boost.
The Pretenders - Boots Of Chinese Plastic

Although they have been recording pretty steadily since the 80's, I had pretty much lost track of The Pretenders over the years. But a few months ago I read a really good review of their latest album "Break Up The Concrete" from which this is taken and I decided to hear what they were up to. What a pleasant surprise to find that either this was a return to their former greatness or perhaps they never lost any of their old fire to begin with.
Roger Collins - Promised Land

Roger is best known for "She's Looking Good" on Galaxy and from the sound of it, this funkified version of the old Chuck Berry classic was recorded a few years later, perhaps around 1970 or so for the Pompei label.
The Missing Links - You're Drivin' Me Insane

What can I say about this record? It's an absolute stone garage/freakbeat classic. So many incredible records came out of Australia in the mid-60's and this one was definitely one of the best.

The Replacements - Nowhere Is My Home

This was recorded during some sessions the boys did with Alex Chilton in the mid-80's but for some reason it only came out on the UK-only release "Boink". I think it is now a bonus track on one of their recent album reissues which is a lucky thing for us as I personally think it's one of the best songs they ever recorded. I love that little lead guitar riff.
Willie Hutch - Lucky To Be Loved By You

Although Willie is best known for his blacksploitation soundtracks "The Mack" and "Foxy Brown" his career dates back to the mid-60's when this northern soul classic was recorded for the RCA label.

Richard Berry - Have Love Will Travel

"Have Love..." has been recorded and played live by countless garage bands over the years but here is the original by the same man who not only wrote this but also "Louie Louie" as well. So why isn't he in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Flat Duo Jets - Needles And Pins

I'm so used to hearing this song with The Searcher's sugar-sweet vocals that I had to play this version a few times before it began to grow on me. Although it's definitely a little rough around the edges, Dexter Romwebber has a really fine voice.
Clifford Brown & Max Roach - The Blues Walk

Clifford Brown and Max Roach are two names that will always be associated with 50's bebop. I'm not sure who else is playing on this session. This is what I love about the best jazz. A bunch of guys (almost always) getting together and spurring each other on to greater heights of virtuosity, expanding on but never abandoning the original framework of the tune.

Illusion fills my head like an empty can

What's In A Download?

2010-01-12T21:12:00.010-05:00

As almost everyone is no doubt aware, since day one record companies have been waging war against downloaders, arguing that the practice not only cuts into their profits but hurts the artist as well. And every so often they succeed in shutting down a blog or a posting board. The latest casualty is the Rockhall Forum which specialized in 50s R&R. It was shut down after numerous complaints and threats by a certain German record label who are well known for their high quality and extensive reissues. Looking at it from the point of view of the record company, I can understand why they would be so up in arms. They go to great effort and expense to put out a quality product and they deserve to be rewarded for their efforts. Seeing their CDs offered for free is not only demoralizing, it also cuts into their bottom line. If people can download a 5 or 6-disc boxset for free with just a few clicks of the mouse, why would they shell out $100-plus dollars for the CDs.

Or would they? Speaking for myself, if I like something, owning it on an mp3 is not enough. I want the real thing. MP3s are fine for the ipod but when I'm at home listening to my stereo, they just don't cut it. I read somewhere that many downloaders actually spend more money on music than their non-downloading counterparts. That doesn't surprise me all that much. I can't begin to count how many albums I've bought that I first heard as mp3s. Albums or songs that I would have otherwise never heard of. And that includes some of the reissues by this particular label.

I am a music collector and I admit that I am totally obsessive about it. More so than 99.999 ad infinitum percent of the music loving population. For me, the worst thing that could happen would be if labels like the one in question here decide that it's just not worth their time and effort and decide to pack it in. In that scenario, everybody loses. And as long as the record companies see downloading as this big evil thing that is sucking them dry, they are going to either make it more and more difficult or just stop altogether. Every so often I get a comment from a reader who has actually gone out and bought something after hearing a song I've included. I'd like to see more of that. A comment or two might not mean all that much but it would be nice to show that downloading does not necessarily mean freeloading.

Big Walter - Pack Fair & Square

Although I love a good Robert Johnson or Charlie Patton record as much as the next guy, my love of the blues is mainly at that point where it starts to cross over into Rock & Roll. While Big Walter had a more old-school bluesy sound than Little Richard or Bo Diddley, there was no doubt that when he wanted to he could rock just as hard.
The Lurkers - Ain't Got A Clue

After I put together and uploaded this latest playlist I realized that I had posted this track a few months ago. That's probably because this song is such a favorite of mine. Play it again, Sam.

The Phinx - My Baby Don't Care

Hailing from Boonseville, Mississippi these guys cut this one terrific folk-rocker and were most likely never heard from again. As always, anyone with a little more info is welcome to enlighten us with a comment.

Mark & The Spies - Another Chance

Mark & The Spies are perfect examples of what I was talking about in my intro. I forget which of their two albums I "stole" online first, but once I got wind of them I knew that they needed to be in my collection. Check out their myspace page to hear more.
Bob Dylan - Dusty Old Fairgrounds

There's something about this song that makes me feel a yearning for something I can't exactly put my finger on. Maybe it's all of those carnival images conjuring up a vision of an older more exciting America I always vaguely sensed but never actually knew growing up in my nice little Queens, NY suburb.

Gene Vincent - Slippin' And Slidin'

I only heard Gene's rendition of Little Richard's classic for the first time fairly recently but it's quickly become an Ipod favorite. I'm not sure who's backing him up but whoever it is, they sound like they're positively on fire.
Chubby Checker - Karate Monkey

From the sound of it I'm guessing that this came out sometime in 1967 or 68. Unfortunately, despite being a big favorite with the Northern Soul crowd, ABKCO Records left it off their Chubby Checker Best-Of a few years ago. There were so many great records on the Cameo-Parkway labels back in the day and the ABKCO reissues pretty much only stick to the hits. I'd love to see them do a rarities box.
Randy Newman - Sail Away

Talk about conjuring up visions of an old long-gone America, this song always makes me feel kind of nostalgic, despite the fact that if you listen a little closer to the lyrics you can hear how tongue-in-cheek they are.
The Electras - Dirty Old Man

This has always been a favorite of the 60s garage crowd and with that pounding beat, soulful vocal and ominous sounding organ riff, it's truly not hard to see why.
Redd Kross - Heaven Only Knows

I saw Redd Kross on their last tour a few years ago and it was really kind of mind boggling just how many great songs they had. Not only in their originals but also their knack for picking great covers like this Shangri-Las B-side.

Jerry Reed - When You're Hot, You're Hot

And when you're not you're not. Truer words have never been spoken - or sung. This was actually a Top 10 hit for Jerry Reed back in the spring of 1971.

Muck & The Mires - Hang All Over Me

I've seen these guys a bunch of times and every time I do they totally blow me away. Nobody writes such great pop songs and makes it look so easy like they do. Visit their website and buy some of their albums. They deserve your support.

Sons Of Robin Stone - Got To Get You Back

Despite the fact that this has the same Philly Soul sound that proved so successful for The Spinners and The O'Jays, this didn't even crack Billboard's Top 100. Such a great record, I never understood why this wasn't a big hit.

Chad & Jeremy - Teenage Failure (Single-Version)

This is probably as rocking as C&J ever got in their career. Despite the fact that it's an obvious novelty song, it still has a kind of endearing charm.
Sandie Shaw - Nothing Less Than Brilliant

Although she had her biggest successes in the mid-60s, Sandie continued recording at least until the 80s. This song is from one of her later albums "Hello Angel". Once again, had I not downloaded the album on a whim from some other blogsite I would never have heard this lovely song and I wouldn't have gone out and bought the album which, incidentally, I wholeheartedly recommend.
Ronnie Bird - Ou va t'elle

I'm not sure how big of a splash Ronnie made outside of his native France, but at home he was a big star. Here he turns in a nice version of the Hollies' "Come On Back".
Robert Parker - Happy Feet

Although Robert is most well known for his hit "Barefootin'", he had a number of other records that were just as good. I scored a pretty nice vinyl copy on Gemm Music for $10.

Oh our clothes they was torn but the colors they was bright.

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T14:46:00.006-05:00

Another year done been and gone. I know many people who will be glad to see the last of 2009, hoping for better things in 2010. For me personally, it wasn't all bad by any means. I finally finished school - it took me 40 years but I actually got my BBA. I even managed to get a B+ in Calculus. Hopefully the job market will improve enough so that my diploma will actually help me get a decent job within the next few months. No matter how down I got over this past year, I tried (even if I didn't always succeed) to keep in mind the fact that despite whatever hardships and pressures I was facing, there were millions of people throughout the world who would happily trade places with me. Sometimes a little perspective helps. Tonight I will be celebrating the New Year (and decade as a matter of fact) with The A-Bones and The Detroit Cobras. Happy New Year one and all.

B.B. King - Woke Up This Morning

More often than not, I find B.B.'s music a little too clean for my tastes. But here he adds a little New Orleans styled Rhumba beat to spice up the proceedings.
Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Wake Up And Make Love With Me

What guy I know hasn't felt like this at one point or other? In anyone else's hands this would sound totally sleazy but Ian makes his point in his usual gentlemanly style.
Chad & Jeremy - The Truth Often Hurts The Heart

The first time I ever heard this song was when C&J made a guest appearance on The Patty Duke Show and as far as I know, it never got much radio airplay anywhere. It's a shame because it's one of their best records. Maybe the truth hurt too much.

Drafi - I Wanna Take You Home

Although Drafi was much more popular in his native Germany, he had a minor hit here with "Marble Breaks and Iron Bends" in the Spring of 1966. I like this one just as much.
Bram Tchaikovsky - Lullaby On Broadway

I seem to remember this song being issued as an import 12-inch single (remember those?) sometime around 1979 or 80 and it even got a fair amount of airplay on some "alternative" radio stations. Unlike a lot of music that got lumped in under the "New Wave" banner, this has aged quite nicely and still sounds fresh.
Bob Relf - Blowin' My Mind To Pieces

I first heard this song on a Goldmine Soul Supply compilation about 10 years ago and since then it has been reissued a number of times on a few different collections and even on a 45. Which is lucky for us as an original will set you back at least $100.

Puffy - I Don't Wanna

For a number of years Puffy were the darlings of the J-Pop crowd. For the most part I found most of their music a little too cutesy for my tastes but somewhere along the line, their producers decided to have them rock out more. Not a bad idea at all.
The Gaggas - Bright Light Big City

Besides the fact that these guys came from Sweden, I have absolutely no information on them. I don't even remember from where I got this mp3, as according to the Soybomb garage database, this song is not on any compilation. There is a video of them on Youtube however. If anyone out there knows anything more, please leave a comment.

Solomon Burke - Maggie's Farm

Another Dylan cover. This is as unlikely a pairing as I could ever have imagined but somehow it works. But then again, I don't think there's anything Solomon Burke couldn't sing.
Primal Sream - Ivy Ivy Ivy

Over the course of their career, Primal Scream have gone though a number of personnel and style changes. I personally like them best when they play straight ahead tuneful Rock & Roll as they do here. "Ivy Ivy Ivy" is from their self-titled album available on Amazon for pretty cheap.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins - You Ain't Foolin' Me

Screamin' Jay has one of the most distinctive voices in R&R. I saw him one time at an oldies show in Central Park and they had to stop the show for about a half hour as the police would not allow him to do his schtick where he would come onstage in a coffin. I don't remember how it was all finally resolved but he was great.
The Youngbloods - Sunlight

This is such a pretty song. Over the years it's always been a favorite, bringing out various emotions depending on my relationship status and state of mind at the time.
The Bush - Feeling Sad and Lonely

Hailing from California in the mid-60s, these guys made it big enough to open for The Stones back in the day. This moody R&B number is from their CD that was issued last year by Ugly Things magazine. You can buy a copy here.
The Undertones - Teenage Kicks

This Undertones classic will need no introduction to many readers of this blog. When I was attempting to learn to play guitar, this song was always a lot of fun to play - the 80s equivalent of "Gloria".
Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns - She Got Low Down

This must have been some crazy party until it got totally out of control. HPS & Co. never fail to provide the perfect good-time vibe, be it for a party or just walking around listening to the Ipod.
Alfred Brendel - Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ('Alla Turca')

This is some of that "longhair music" Huey Smith & his Clowns were singing about. When I was a kid I remember reading an Archie comic, the gist of it being that Archie's father walks into a record store and asks for some "short hair" music. For me growing up, Classical music was one of the things that got caught up in the 'Us VS Them' generation wars. Listening to this now, it seems to me that Mozart was his era's combination of Paul McCartney and Alex Chilton. His music is easy to listen to, incredibly hummable and, the more one listens the more hidden nuances make themselves heard. Alfred Brendel is one of the world's premier pianists and has recorded many albums of Mozart's music but this particular piece comes from this one.

I tried to quiet her down she threw her arms around my neck

Home for the Holidaze

2009-11-29T23:18:00.006-05:00

Is it just me or, this year, does it seem that the holiday season has sprung up out of nowhere? Maybe it was due to this years' November baseball - I was watching the World Series and then when I went out to the store, the whole shopping area was filled with Christmas decorations. Or perhaps it's because for the second year in a row, this holiday season finds me (and countless others) still unemployed. Whatever the reason, it just doesn't seem very Christmasy this year. Oh well, c'est la vie. Enjoy the music and leave comments. I really love hearing from people.

Bryan Ferry - The Times They Are A-Changin'

The more things change the more they stay the same. Bob Dylan wrote this song over 45 years ago and it still sounds apropos to our current time. Bryan Ferry's version has always been a favorite,so here it is.

Carl Perkins - Her Love Rubbed Off

Carl might not have been as wild as some of his Sun Records contemporaries but, as this song proves, he could be just as intense in his own somewhat softer, quieter way.
Casey Jones & the Governors - Don't Ha Ha

I've always loved this song by Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns and here, CJ & Co turn in a snappy sped-up version. Back when I used to see The Swingin' Neckbreakers, they always used to do this song and now I know from where they most likely got their arrangement.
Crabby Appleton - Go Back
Stories - I'm Coming Home

And now for the hit portion of our program. Back in May of 1970, Crabby Appleton hit the charts for the first and last time when "Go Back" made it up to number 36 on the Billboard Top 100. Two years later, Stories had their first of a handful of chart entries as "I'm Coming Home" climbed up to number 42. This song was written by Michael Brown who, a few years earlier, wrote "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina" for the Left Banke.

Fred Neil - The Dolphins

Fred Neil was very active in the early 60's folk scene and the list of songs he wrote for himself and others is quite impressive to say the least. "The Dolphins" has always been a personal favorite of mine.
Gino Washington - Out Of This World

I seem to remember playing this a few times in my DJ days and, if memory serves me correctly, it never failed to fill up the dance floor. Listening to it now on my computer, it still sounds damn fine.
John Fred & Playboy Band - Can I Get a Word In

Although JF & Co. are mostly remembered for their rather annoying hit record "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)", they had a handful of other singles, of which this is but one, that were so much better.
Little WIllie John - Talk To Me, Talk To Me

For my money, Little Willie John had one of the best voices in R&B and was second to none in the way he could put over a song. Sadly, he died while in prison in 1968 at the young age of 40.
The Lyres - You Won't Be Sad Anymore

Despite the fact that the vocals are somewhat muffled and it's hard to make out the words, this has alway been one of my favorite Lyres songs. At this point they are not as active as they once were which is a shame because when they were running on all cylinders, their shows were second to none.
Mando Diao - Cinderella

I don't remember exactly when and where I first heard of these guys although now that I have, I am definitely a fan. Hailing from Sweden it's not likely that they'll be playing NYC anytime soon but if and when they do, I will definitely be there to cheer them on. Check out their MySpace page.
Paul Revere & The Raiders - Good Thing

According to my friend and Top Shelf Radio DJ Dave the Rave, he is working with some folks at Collector's Choice Records on a multi-disc Paul Revere & The Raiders singles box. Although many of the single versions have appeared as bonus tracks on some Sundazed PR&TR album reissues, this will be the first time that they are all together in one place. I for one, can't wait.
Doris Troy - Special Care

This song is from the album she recorded for Apple Records which is now out of print and is selling for big bucks on places like Amazon and Gemm Music.
Willie Egans - It's a Shame

"It's a Shame" is pretty standard, straightforward mid-50s R&B. While it may sound like hundreds of other records made back in the day, and despite the rather crude recording, it's definitely got an extra spark of something that makes it sound fresh and exciting 55-plus years later.
The Cobras - I Wanna Be Your Love

While many of you will already know this song from the "Teenage Shutdown" series this version comes from a privately pressed CD-R, made directly from the 45s. And anyway, this is one of those songs you can never hear too many times.
Thelonious Monk - Boo Boo's Birthday

I always feel a little intimidated writing about Jazz. I feel like one of those people who say "I know nothing about art but I know what I like". But the fact is that I do like this song a lot. It's got an upbeat happy sounding melody and I like how the soloists go out on their own but never seem to stray too far from the tune.

When you kiss me tonight you pretend that his lips are mine

Falling Into Fall

2009-11-20T17:57:00.006-05:00

I guess it's a testament to my true procrastinating nature that here it is one month away from the start of winter and I'm first falling into fall now. The truth of the matter is that I've been kind of busy with school and dealing with a bit of depression these past weeks. Going back to school was an interesting adventure at first but now I am getting rather tired of it. After working for so many years, taking all these classes that seem so unrelated to the "real" world (whatever THAT is) with kids that are almost young enough to call me grandpa, is starting to get to me. But the good news is that in 6 weeks I'm all done and will be an official college graduate. Hopefully that will make finding a job a bit easier. Also, on the good (if somewhat old by this time) news side of the page is the Yankees winning the World Series. It was a great series and the Phillies were worthy adversaries. It doesn't always work out that way but this year the World Series really did match up the two best U.S. teams in baseball. So enough talk, time to strike up the band.

The Fowls - The Yanks Are Champs

Back in the mid-80s I spotted this record on a back shelf in Stan's Souvenirs Shop, which sits right across the street from the old Yankee Stadium. As soon as I saw the yellow Rotten Rat Records label, I figured it was worth a listen. So I handed over my $4 and hoped for the best. And what a fabulous record it is! Even Billy Miller, co-editor of Kicks Magazine and one of the most vehement Yankee-haters I know has admitted that this is one of the best sports related Rock & Roll records ever.

Bob Dylan - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (7-25-65)

I'm not sure from what album this particular recording originates although I'm guessing it was from one of the numerous bootlegs made from live tapes recorded during that period. Nonetheless, this is a splendid rendition of one of his best songs.

The Flatmates - If Not For You

I've always had a fascination for Dylan covers. His songs are so multi-faceted and open for interpretation. The best known version of "If Not For You" is probably George Harrison's but I've always liked the Flatmates' take on it just as much.

The Hoods - I'm A Dog

The Hoods hailed from Sweden and this 2-minute plus blast of snotty garageified R&B is one of a handful of great records they recorded in 1964-65. A quick Google search didn't reveal much so if anyone out there has any info on these guys, a comment or two would be greatly appreciated.

Jimmy Patton - Yah I'm Movin'

A few months ago I posted Jimmy' "Okie's in the Pokie" and this track is just as good. He had at least one more 45 "Let Me Slide" which I'll also post sometime. All three are available on a number of different Rockabilly comps that have come out over the years.

Jimmy Reed - Shame, Shame, Shame

Jimmy Reed has always been one of my favorite blues singers. This song is one of his best and has been covered a number of times over the years. Back in January I posted a wild version of this song by Aerosmith from their "Honkin' on Bobo" album.

The Lackloves - In Due Time

These guys embody everything I love about Power Pop - hook-filled songs with intelligent lyrics, lots of chiming guitars and confident yet not overly cocky vocals. They have at least 3 albums out, all of which are available on Amazon.

Lady Dottie & the Diamonds - Why I Sing the Blues

If Etta James ever got together with The Detroit Cobras, they'd probably sound a lot like Lady Dottie and The Diamonds. I can't remember the last time I heard such soulful blues rock so hard. Check out their album. I don't go to nearly as many live shows as I used to but if LD & Co. ever come to town, I'll be front and center.

Beck - I'll Be Your Mirror

I really love this new project of Beck's. He's going back with various friends and re-recording songs by some of his favorite artists. This is his first effort and here he turns in a beautiful version of "I'll Be Your Mirror" from the Velvet Underground's debut album. Best of all, he's posting them online for no charge.

Mike Furber & The Bowery Boys - You Stole My Love

Brisbane, Australia's Mike Furber & Co are fairly well known in 60's garage circles, most notably for their version of "That's When Happiness Begins" but I think I like this one even better.

The Beatles - Baby You're A Rich Man (alt.)

Considering that The Beatles broke up almost 40 years ago, all of the hoopla surrounding their latest box set reissues is truly amazing - and richly deserved. I've been a fan since day one and when I listen to these remasterings I hear things with a clarity I never experienced before. Because they were such perfectionists, for almost every song they recorded there are a number of alternate versions and outakes. I'm sure it's way too much to ask but I'd love to see a similarly mastered box dedicated to some of those. This version of "Baby You're a Rich Man" is not very different from the original single version but I think I detect a few slight changes here and there.

Frantic Johnny Rogers - Sassy

From the fabulous "T-Bird Party" compilation comes this delightful R&B stomper. Anyone with an extra $149. to spend can find a nice NM copy of this on Gemm Music. Or if anyone is looking for a nice graduation present to get me....

The Sting Rays Of Newburgh - Fool

These guys hailed from my home state of New York and as far as I know, this record was their only claim to fame. My apologies for the screw up on the file name. This is how it should read.

The Chaps - Remember To Forget Her

From the sound of this moody folk punker I'm guessing it was recorded in 1965 or 66. This particular recording was taken from the Psychedelic States: Arkansas compilation and if anyone has an original for sale or trade, please get in touch via the comments section.

Vivian Girls - Such A Joke

While this is not at all retro sounding, I can still hear a 60s garage influence in their music. Of course it's all filtered through a punk/post-punk sensibility that many garage purists might not like but personally, I really like both of their albums. Fans of Jesus and Mary Chain or Black Rebel Motorcycle Club take note.

Roger Miller - Dang Me

To many, Roger Miller is primarily remembered as a Country novelty act and this song will do little to change anyone's mind. Truth be told, he was a lot more than that and he was elected to the Nashville Songwriters hall of Fame in 1973. I've always liked his songs for their easy-going warmth and their sense of joie de vivre.

Z.Z. Hill - Baby I'm Sorry

Although Z.Z. never achieved Otis Redding's or Wilson Pickett's level of commercial success, it wasn't for lack of either trying or talent as this stomping soul toe-tapper clearly shows.

Strike one....strike two....strike three.....You're OUT!

What Is The What

2009-09-12T18:26:00.007-04:00

Every so often I read a book that really throws me for a loop and gets me to see my life in a whole new perspective. "What Is The What" by Dave Eggers, which I finished a few days ago, is definitely one of them. It's the story of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese refugee whose village was invaded when he was 7 years old. It's told in the first person and he tells how he had to trek hundreds of miles on foot to relative safely - not once but a few times over the next decade. He talks about his life traveling in the jungle, in the refugee camps, his struggle to be allowed to come to the US and about his life in Atlanta where he finally settled. What really moved me was how he always maintained his basic humanity - his compassion, morals and even (most of the time) his sense of humor while experiencing horrors I can barely imagine. It gave me pause to reflect, despite my own career woes of the past year, how relatively easy my life has been and how lucky I am. As a friend once reflected about her own life, all my problems are problems of privilege. I was also struck by the similarities of human nature between people who are so culturally different from myself. I saw many of my own character strengths and flaws in the people he lived and traveled with 10,000-plus miles away from me. Despite all of the bad things that happen, in the end I found this book quite uplifting.

Big Boy Pete - London American Boy

Supposedly Big Boy Pete (aka Pete Miller) was a hipster in the 60s London Mod scene but I've also heard it said that he is nothing more than the figment of someone's creative imagination. No matter. He's got 3 CDs chock full of those freaky beat sounds I love so much. And if it's all a scam, so much the better - I take my hat off to whoever it was that pulled the wool over so many eyes.

Big John Greer - Come Back Maybelline

You don't need me to tell you which record's popularity this one attempted to cash in on. Personally, I always thought originality was overrated and this is one fine slab of noise in it's own right.

Dar Wiliams - It's Alright

I've been a fan of Ms. Williams for a few years now. Stylistically I guess she's in the same camp as Lucinda Williams although her sound is generally a bit slicker.
Hank Williams - I'd Still Want You

I'm sure that HW needs no introduction to anyone following my blog. This is taken from the "Hillbilly Hero" box that came out on Proper a few years ago, copies of which are still available on Amazon.
The Litter - A Legal Matter

It's hard to imagine anyone improving on this classic by The Who but Minnesota's Litter give them a run for their money. I'd say it's a toss up.
Mort Shuman - I'm A Man

Mort Shuman had a long and varied musical career before his untimely death at age 54 in 1991. Back in the late 5o's and early 60's he wrote a slew of hit records wit Doc Pomus and somewhere along the line, recorded this rockin' shoulda-been hit.
The Move - I Can Hear The Grass Grow (Session Mono Mix)

The first I'd ever heard of The Move was back when I was a kid and I read in 16 Magazine about how they would blow up cars in their stage show. Needless to say I was quite intrigued. I didn't get to actually hear them until a few years later and I was not disappointed when I did. "....Grass Grow" has always been one of my favorites and I really love this mono mix.
Roy Loney - Hundred Miles an Hour

I recently read something about Raven Records in Australia releasing a CD of Roy's best solo material, also called "Hundred Miles an Hour". As far as I know none of his early material has been released digitally up to now so this will be a welcome addition to his many fan's music collections.
Ry Cooder - Do Re Mi

I've always really loved RC's version of Woody Guthrie's classic "Do Re Mi". This was one of the high points of Ry's debut album and, conveniently, it is also on his recently released 2-disc career anthology "The UFO Has Landed".
Black Tie Revue - Red Everywhere

BTR are, in my opinion anyway, one of the better newer garage-punk-pop bands around. This song is taken from their only (as far as I know) album "Code Fun" which I would definitely recommend to one and all. You can hear more at their myspace page.
Mickey Murray - East Of Nowhere

Mickey Murray is best known for his fantastic version of Otis Redding's "Shout Bamalama" and while "East of Nowhere" is a bit more subdued, it gives him a chance to show just how fabulous a singer he was.
Voodoo Lust - Story Of My Life

Unfortunately for the rest of the world, Voodoo Lust never really made any waves outside of their native Australia, as they released a couple of 45s and a mini-LP all of which are wonderful in a garagey melodic punk style. The good news is that someone took some videos of them performing back in 1987 and has been so kind as to post them on YouTube.

The Gentlemen - It's A Cry'n Shame

This song probably needs no introduction to any fan of 60s garage music. Ever since it appeared on Pebbles Vol. 5 it has been much sought after, with collectors happily paying in the high hundreds for a copy. This is one time when the collector's hype is actually backed up by the music as "...Shame" is a 5-star stompin' classic. This particular recording comes from a privately pressed CD-R made from a pretty clean 45. So crank it up and let it rip!

Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Twisted

Now we're getting into the jazz portion of this playlist. I first heard "Twisted" on a Joni Mitchell album back in the 70s and while she did a pretty good job of it, Annie Ross' beatnik jive vocal will always be the definitive version.
Dexter Gordon - The Blues Walk (Loose Walk)

I always feel at a loss when trying to write about jazz. I really like listening and I know a little about it but I am very conscious of the fact that there are so many people out there (probably some reading this blog) who know so much more than me. I just know that I really like this song so I will let a review I saw on Amazon do the talking: "This is a nice example of late-career Dexter, as this was recorded in 1981. Dexter is on top of his game and spurred to action by a great supporting cast: Art Blakey on drums, Percy Heath on bass and Cedar Walton on guitar, with guest appearances by George Benson on guitar and Woody Shaw on trumpet." Couldn't have said it better myself.

When you're a wizard at three, I knew that this was meant to be

The Yanks are Comin'

2009-08-31T00:51:00.003-04:00

It's good being a Yankees fan these days. Everyone is doing what they're supposed to do and they're running like a well oiled, perfectly calibrated machine. True, they've probably got the biggest payroll in all of professional baseball but high-priced free agents have not always been a blessing for them in the past. Randy Johnson (among others) comes to mind. On any really good team, whether it be a team of athletes, construction workers or scientists, there has to be the right chemistry. Everyone knows their role and is comfortable within that role. For me, the 1998 Yankees epitomized that chemistry. But this year I'm feeling it again. They're playing together as a unit and they're not only winning but having fun at the same time. I love the whole pie-in-the face thing when they get a walk-off win. I love how guys like AJ Burnett and Nick Swisher keep things loose. This is the first season in a few years where even when they lose a game, I never feel like they are out of it. Of course I have no idea what will happen over the next two months but I really think this could be our year. LET'S GO YANKEES!!

Artful Dodger - Wayside

I must have read about these guys in some magazine like Rolling Stone or something because, back in the mid-70s I certainly didn't hear them on the radio - at least not in New York City. Too poppy for the qualudes and beer crowd and not convoluted enough for the prog heads, their brand of power pop just didn't fit in back then. But they have certainly aged much better than many of their peers and 30-plus years later still sound fresh.

The Merseybeats - Shame

The Merseybeats are mostly remembered for their beat ballad "Really Mystified" but here they turn in a nice rockin' version of Jimmy Reed's "Shame Shame Shame".
Big Bob - Your Line Was Busy

This song has appeared on a number of 50s R&R comps over the years. My first memory of it was when my friend Mitro sang it with The Vince Brnicewic Air Force, a NYC garage supergroup of sorts that I actually had the privilege of singing a few songs with onstage a couple of times. My 15 minutes of fame for sure.
The Blue Hearts - Linda Linda

Back in the late 80's and early 90's these guys were superstars in Japan, selling out huge stadiums and selling loads of records and CDs. They never broke over here despite their best efforts, but I was lucky enough to see them a few times when they played clubs like Woody's and The China Club in NYC.

The Possums - She Loves Me

These are the Scotsdale, Arizona Possums (not to be confused with the Possums from Columbus Ohio) and this particular track can be found, loud and proud, on volume 2 of "Teenage Shutdown".
Captain Beefheart - Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles

For many people the Captain is an acquired taste. "Her Eyes...." is one of his few (maybe only) bonafide love songs although I can't imagine too many couples picking this to be played on their wedding day.
Chris Kenner - I Have News For You

This is so New Orleans I can just taste the gumbo. All my life I had always planned to visit N.O. but kept on putting it off. Tragically, after Katrina, so much of that rich history was lost forever.
Tommy James - One Track Mind

I saw Tommy a few months ago at B.B. Kings and he was just wonderful. His voice sounds great, he's lost none of his energy and it was obvious to all that he still loves playing. This is from his long out-of-print "In Touch" album and has a bit of a glam feel to it.
Dwight Yoakam - Fast As You

Although there's no doubt that Dwight Yoakam is a country singer he can still rock and roll when he wants to. I can picture Tom Petty doing this song.

Ian Dury - I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Ian Dury. He had a sensibility that was completely, uniquely his own and his songs always made me smile.

The Lovin' Spoonful - Alley Oop

The Lovin' Spoonful were another group whose music could always lighten my heart. "Alley Oop" was an outtake from their "Do You Believe in Magic" album and was included as a bonus track when it was reissued in 2002.

Major Lance - Investigate

"Investigate" is very popular in UK Northern Soul circles which means that scoring an original 45 is an expensive proposition. I won't even tell you what I paid for my copy. Making matters worse is the fact that on almost every ML Best-Of I've seen over the years, when this song is included at all, they use the inferior stereo version. Luckily, there's one collection that has the way better mono mix and it's available on Amazon.
Senseless Things - Standing In The Rain

Senseless Things were one of many incredible bands I first read about in the super fabulous "Noise For Heroes" fanzine back in the early 90's. If you like The Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers, you will love these guys. Especially recommended is their "Postcard C.V." album which can be purchased through Gemm Music.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - You Really Got Me

For some reason I never fully appreciated Tom Petty until I started hearing him on my Ipod. Better late than never, he has become one of my favorite artists. Like Bruce Springsteen, he is very conscious of his musical roots and always throws in some great covers in concert. Like this one.
The Thanes - That's The Story Of Your Life

In July of 2000 I went to the Las Vegas Grind garage festival for a 3-day weekend and saw a ton of great bands. By Sunday night I'd had my fill and was ready to pack it in when The Thanes hit the stage. I'm so glad I decided that sleep could wait another hour as they turned out to be one of the high points of an already incredible weekend. This is from their "Evolver" CD which I would totally and unequivocally recommend to any and all lovers of 60s influenced garage sounds.

He's the hully gully king of jive

(Son of) I'm Baaaaaack!

2009-08-17T00:25:00.008-04:00

It seems like I start off every posting lately apologizing for being away for so long. What can I say? I've been busy with school and my basic nature is to be a procrastinator. So be it. My summer has been relatively uneventful but that's OK. School is taking up more time than I thought it would. Not just going to class but doing the homework and studying. The good news is that I got A's in both my courses last semester and if I do well on my Business Management final (which I take on Thursday) it looks as if I'll ace this one as well. For any of you folks out there who have been in the working world awhile and are thinking about going back to school but don't know if you can do it - I say not to worry. I was pretty scared when I first went back in May after not being in a classroom for over 30 years but the fact of the matter is that whatever pressure there may be going to class, doing assignments and taking tests; it's nothing compared to the daily life of having a job where there are demands being made on you all the time. It's not that school is easy. In order to maintain my grades I have had to put in a good deal of work. But the stress level just isn't the same.

Another thing that's been keeping me busy these days is watching the Yankees. Despite losing today to the Seattle Mariners they are 7 1/2 games ahead of Boston for the lead in the A.L. East. It's great to see them running on all cylinders in a way that they've not done in a few years. But enough blabbing from me, let's get to the music.

Edwin Starr - You're My Mellow

This was Edwin's last single for the Ric Tic label and if it sounds a lot like his Motown hits, that's because all of the same session musicians are playing on it. I'm not sure if "...Mellow" was ever issued by Motown after they bought Ric Tic although given its rarity, I don't think so.

The Ugly Ducklings - She Ain't No Use To Me

From Toronto, Canada, these guys recorded a handful of mid-60s garage classics, all of which can be found on their album "Somewhere Outside". Years ago I was happy to pay $50 for a beat up original but since then it has been reissued and, last I saw, still available on Amazon.

The A-Bones - Outcast

This track is hot off the press from the A-Bones' new album "Not...Now" which I think might be their best ever. The song selection, production and overall sound - everything clicks together just right. They were always a whole lot of fun live and this album really captures that feeling. You can get it at Emusic or directly from Norton Records mail order. And for any of you bloggers from Japan, the ABones will be doing a couple of shows in Tokyo the last weekend in August. As part of that show, my buddy Jeff Cuyubamba will be displaying some of his photos at the Shimokitazawa and Eristika galleries that he took at the height of the 80s NYC garage scene. I wish I were going along but unfortunately, it's just not in my budget.

B.B. King - Summer In The City

"Summer..." was a huge hit for the Lovin' Spoonful back in 1966 and while their version inspires visions of stoned out hippies hanging out at Tompkins Square Park, B.B. takes it on the A train for a ride way uptown.

Billy Boy Arnold - Rockinitis

"Now I wanna go to heaven but I've been told that Rockinitis has got my soul." These words were sung about 50 years ago not much has changed since then. They remind me of just about everyone I know.

Del Shannon - She Was Mine

"...Mine" was the flip side of Del's version of "Under My Thumb" and while it's not quite up there with "Stranger in Town" or "Keep Searchin'", it's still a nice record. I'm sure it sounds better on the 45 (this version is taken from a CD) without all of the separation, in real mono the way God intended.

Jim Jones & the Chaunteys - If You Know How To Start

From Fort Worth, Texas Jim Jones and friends cut a handful of cool 45s back in the mid 60s. I don't really know any more than that but I do like this song. So here it is.

The Lurkers - Ain't Got A Clue

Back in the late 70s thee guys were one of the more popular punk bands in the UK. In fact, "...Clue" even made it to number 45 on the singles chart. According to Wikipedia, they actually recorded 8 albums, most of which I've never even seen, let alone heard. But their first two, "Fulham Fallout" and "God's Lonely Men" are really excellent.

Millie Jackson - Ask Me What You Want

This song really takes me back to the spring of 1972 when it was quite popular on many jukeboxes around town. She went on to have a very successful career as some kind of musical sex goddess - a cross between between Tina Turner and Barry White but for me her first few 45s are where it began and ended.

Nick Lowe - Love Gets Strange

"Love..." is taken from the sadly out-of-print "Pinker and Prouder than Previous" album. A few months ago he released a 2-disc Best Of but hopefully someday all of his 70s and 80s work will be readily available again.

October Cherries - One Fine Day

Here's a group I know very little about. They were from Malaysia and were around in the late 60s/early 70s. According to my Malaysian pal Aidil, even in their home country their records are next to impossible to find. "Dreamseller", the album from which this song comes was reissued in Holland about 10 years ago and that too is super rare. This came from an MP3 that some very kind person posted a few years ago.

It's OK - The Pointed Sticks

Best known for their pop-punk classic "Out of Luck" Vancouver's Pointed Sticks recorded a number of fine singles and an album back in the late 70s. They are still together and have a new album available from their website.

T.R. & The Yardsmen - I Tried

Although technically there's nothing special going on here, I've always liked this single a whole lot. It's been on a number of comps, most notably "Friday at the Hideout" on Norton (see link above to purchase). I don't know if these guys recorded anything else or even what the B-side of "I Tried" is because while they are on a number of garage comps, this is the only song that's ever included. So I guess that must tell us something.

The Tangents - Send Me Something

This is a record I know absolutely nothing about except that I just love that sound from the early 60s when doo wop was starting to evolve into soul music.

20/20 - Out Of My Head

No, this isn't "Touch Me" by the Doors, despite that riff in the beginning. Despite being part of that whole power pop 'skinny tie' contingent, 20/20 were usually a little too new-wave for my tastes. Maybe I've grown a bit more musically open-minded but today these guys sound pretty damn good.

Howard Tate - Ain't Nobody Home

If you're a fan of classic 60s soul and you don't have Howard's "Get it While You Can" album, you need to rectify that situation toot sweet. Recorded for the Verve label and produced by Jerry Ragovoy, his sound leans more towards gritty southern soul than the slicker grooves coming out of Motown. This is one of a handful of stone classic singles he recorded.

She's like a door without a key

Happy Birthday to Me

2009-06-12T15:34:00.009-04:00

It's been awhile since my last post and I apologize for that. Partly, I must admit, it is due to my own laziness but I've also been busier than ever these past few weeks. I have gone back to school to get my degree in Accounting. As it turns out, I only needed 18 credits to graduate. At first it was a bit of a shock to me as I hadn't been in a classroom since 1986 but I am adjusting well and enjoying my courses. This first summer semester I am taking a required English writing course for which I have to do a 5-7 page term paper and I am getting into it much more than I thought I ever would. I am also taking a Community Service class which in this case is a class in which we learn how to construct web sites and then design and put together a site for a non-profit organization. I am really getting into this whole web design thing and am actually thinking about pursuing it further and maybe making a career - or at least a lucrative sideline - out of it.

But today I turn 58 years old so I am treating myself. No work today - just fun stuff. And while doing this blog does involve a good deal of effort, it is also a lot of fun to do. When I was 8 years old I remember asking my father how old he was and he told me that he was 38. I remember my reaction - man, you are OLD! It's funny. Some days I feel like I am still 16 and other days, when my back or my knees hurt, I definitely feel my age. Rock & Roll has always my connection to whatever kind of higher power is out there and it also keeps me feeling young and fresh. I know that when I am 98 years old and hear those first few chords of "Brown Sugar" or that little organ riff that starts off "We Ain't Got Nothing Yet" I will still feel that same burst of adrenaline I felt back when I first heard them. So Happy Birthday to me and bless us all.

The Upsetters - Jay Walking

Little Richard's back up band (or so I've been told) steps out for a little session of their own. I love that New Orleans style back beat. "Ahhh...sing it baby!"

Adam Schmidt - World So Bright

If you're a fan of Matthew Sweet, I think you will also like Adam Schmidt. Pleasantly orchestrated power pop (with an emphasis on the pop), I must admit I am a sucker for this style of music, especially when listening on my Ipod.
The Animals - Around and Around

Although I still prefer the Stones' version, Eric B. & Co. do a fine version of Chuck Berry's classic. And I do love that little piano break in the middle.
Choo Choo Train - Big Blue Buzz

Paul Chastain and Ric Menck, under various guises, are responsible for some of the best pop music I have heard over the last 15 years. At this point I will buy anything that either of them are involved with and I have yet to be disappointed.
The Everyly Brothers - Rip It Up

Although the Everlys' take on this R&R standard is nowhere near as wild as Little Richard's original, they more than make up for it with those delicious harmonies. And it loses none of its dancability quotient.
The Fallouts - I've Been Waiting

I first heard this song on the fabulous "Havoc in Holland" LP compilation which is now out of print and has, sadly, never been reissued on CD. "Havoc..." has been posted in its entirety at some point on a few different blogs although I'm not sure if any of the links are still up. You might be able to find copies at some specialty mailorder places like Bomp or Get Hip.

The Lyres - In Motion

At this point in time The Lyres probably need little or no introduction to visitors to this blog. This was recorded at one of their shows back in 1980, when we were all a lot younger. The last time I saw them was about 3 years ago and I must say that they haven't changed much nor have they lost any of their old fire.

Patti Austin - Take Away the Pain Stain

"...Pain Stain" is very big in Northern Soul circles which makes scoring an original copy an expensive proposition. A check of Gemm music finds a bootleg single selling for $31.57. So here it is in pristine sound quality at 320 bps.

The Lonely Boys - Let Go Of My Heart

While there is nothing earthshakinly original going on here, these guys play an exciting brand of R&B infused bar band R&B in the tradition of Dr. Feelgood and Evan Johns & The H-Bombs. Whenever I hear this song I picture myself driving around in my friend's old Pontiac with the 8-track blasting away.

Larry Terry - Hepcat

Until I stumbled across this song on some Rockabilly comp that I found online, I had never heard of Larry Terry. My loss. This record embodies everything I have ever loved about Rock & Roll. Some unknown average guy going into a studio and for 2 minutes, rockin' out for all he's worth. In this case he does a better job of it than most and someone plays a pretty mean guitar solo about halfway through. I may have to break the bank to do it but this is definitely one I need to track down.

The Stones - Fanny Mae

What can I say about The Stones? I love love love these guys. I saw them for the first time back in 1966 and I've seen them about 5 times since, most recently about 3 years ago at Madison Square Garden. I think this particular track is taken from a bootleg of BBC material from 1964 or thereabouts.

Terry Timm - Got Nobody To Love

Listening to this song, I can picture her in some slinky dress, grinding her hips and shaking her butt on the stage of some sleazy, smoky dive on the 'wrong' side of the tracks. Music to strip for your husband/boyfriend/wife etcetera to.
Alastair Moock - My Famous Leaving Song

I don't remember where I first heard Alistair Moock but I became a fan almost immediately. He reminds me of vintage Steve Forbert in both the timbre of his voice and the temperament of his music.

Little John & The Monks - Black Winds

Fans of moody 60s garage are in for a treat here in this sad tale of lost love, deceit and murder. Oh Black Winds, take away my life.
Charles Mingus - Peggy's Blue Skylight

Like Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus is known as much as a composer as he was as a musician. While his music is not as easily accessible as The Duke's, a little extra effort on the part of the listener will pay off very well in the end.

Maybe just the shadow of a doubt

Back From the Ipod Pt. 4

2009-05-13T17:42:00.006-04:00

The last few days have been what spring in NYC is all about. Sunny, in the 60s, not too muggy - perfect weather for walking around or finding a favorite spot and settling in for some people watching. For me, all of these activities are much more fun with a cool soundtrack to go along with them. So once again, here are some selections from my Ipod in whatever random order Itunes decides to put them.

Roky Erickson - Bermuda

This is not the original single version which, as I remember was a good deal slower but it's a nice rendition nonetheless. LIke Brian WIlson, Roky has been to hell and back and the fact that he is still making music at this point in his life is a miracle for which I am truly grateful.

The Deflowers - I'm the One

Back in the 90s I was reviewing records for a number of small fanzines and while I don't remember who sent me this 45, I really liked this record and wrote it up whenever I could. Hopefully that might have sold an extra few copies for them although, judging by the fact that I haven't heard anything else by them since, I'm guessing probably not.
The Flatmates - I Could Be In Heaven

Back around that same time my friend TweeKid was really into the whole C86 thing and while much of that music was a little too fey for a tough-assed garagenik like myself, some of it definitely caught my attention. Subway Records' Flatmates were one of the better bands of that era. Amazon has a nice retrospective of their best stuff which is well worth picking up.

Joe Tex - I Wanna Be Free

Although Joe Tex was mainly known for his preaching style ballads, he started out as a Little Richard imitator and even later on in his career he could rock out when he wanted to. This was one of those occasions and even though this wasn't a chart hit for Joe, it's still a fine record.
The Royal Knights - I Wanna Know

Long-time readers of this blog are well aware of my fondness for mid-60s garage band sounds. This is a perfect example of what I love about it. It's not an especially memorable song, the musicianship is adequate at best and the singer can barely hit the correct notes. It's a bunch of snotty teenage kids from no place special going into the studio, giving it their all and somehow coming up with something magical despite all odds. To me, that is the real essence of what Rock and Roll is about. "...Know" has been on a few different comps including one volume of Teenage Shutdown but this particular rip is taken from Volume 3 of Norton Records' "Fort Worth Teen Scene" series which I highly recommend to anyone into garage bands.

Sonny Burgess - Itchy

This was originally recorded for Sun Records although I'm not sure if it was actually released at the time.

Roy Loney - Neat Petite

One-time member of The Flamin' Groovies, Roy went solo and released a handful of albums in the 70s and 80s. This song was always a favorite. I understand that original Groovies Roy L. and Cyril Jordan recently united with the A-Bones backing them down at Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans. Must've been totally amazing.

The Neanderthals - Rock The Universe

I've seen these guys a few times (although not in a few years) and they were never less than total drunken fun even when I hadn't had a drop. These guys never forget that when people come to their shows, they just want to forget their cares and cut loose. 3CLFS at it's best. Yee-haw!!
Bobby Marchan - Sad Sack

For the early part of his career Bobby sang with Huey Piano Smith & his Clowns. But despite cracking the Billboard Top 40 in June of 1960 with the ballad "There's Something On Your Mind", his solo career never really took off. This track was among a handful he recorded for Dial Records back in the 60s.

Fickle Pickle - Saturday

With such a stupid band name nobody could be blamed for dismissing these guys as a bad novelty act without even giving them a listen. In fact, when their album was reissued a few years ago, John from Rockit Scientist had to do some convincing to even get me to listen to it. Behind that ridiculous moniker however is a really pretty Left Banke influenced psych/pop album. Listen for yourself.

The One Way Street - See the Light

From the great state of Louisiana comes this slightly psych sounding garage rocker. From the overall vibe and sound of things, I'm guessing that a little bit of herb might have gone into the writing and recording of this little gem.
The Chevelles - She Don't Come Around

Since the late 70s Australia has spawned a number of really top notch power pop bands and The Chevelles are among the best. They actually played a show with the Stems at Maxwells in Hoboken, New Jersey last year and it was a night nobody who was there will forget.

The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight

The Soft Boys have always had their share of cult fans and "Underwater Moonlight" is the title song from what is probably their most popular album. For a history and discography of the band, check Wikipedia.
Jerry and the Playmates - Want-a-Love You

From Tulsa, Oklahoma Jerry and Co. probably recorded this organ fueled pounder sometime in 1966. Man, I love this stuff!
John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom

Like many people of the 60s generation, I first heard "Boom Boom" when it was recorded by Eric Burdon & The Animals". Back in 1964 I don't think white teenage radio was ready for Mr. Hooker.
Nick Lowe - What's Shakin' On The Hill

I saw Nick Lowe in concert a few months ago, just him and an acoustic guitar. While I was used to hearing him with a full band backing him up, listening to NL on his own made me realize just how clever and insightful so many of his songs are. While he's just put out a 2-disc best-of, his original albums from the late 70s and 80s remain out of print for the most part which is a damn shame.

My baby's got a touch of class

Confederacy of Dunces

2009-04-30T16:08:00.004-04:00

Every so often I come across something that is too good to keep to myself, something that needs to be shared so that in it's own small way it can perhaps make the world a more agreeable place for those who care to check it out. In this case that something is a book I just finished reading: "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. While Mr. Toole's style is definitely his own, he does share a healthy sense of the absurd and a somewhat skeptical worldview with some of my favorite authors like Carl Hiassen, Tom Robbins and Kurt Vonnegut. And, like these authors, he conveys that sense without resorting to silliness or being too obvious or preachy about it. Sadly, Mr. Toole committed suicide in 1969 at the age of 32 so this is his only book. In addition to the tragedy of anyone feeling so despondent that suicide seems to be the only answer, it is also sad to think of what the world lost as he would have no doubt become one of the premier authors of our time. But that tragedy doesn't take away from the fact that "A Confederacy of Dunces" is one of the funniest books I have ever read and one I am happy to recommend to all of my fellow bloggers. And now onto the music.

Apples in Stereo - The Rainbow

Here in NYC today it is sunny, about 65 degrees, flowers are beginning to bloom and the Yankees have won 2 in a row. So spring is definitely here in all its glory and this particular song is the perfect musical accompaniment.
Big Al Downing - Down on the Farm

Although "...Farm" is rather well known in collector circles, it didn't do all that much back in 1958 when it was first recorded. While he definitely took a huge musical cue from Little Richard, this is a fine rocker in its own right.

Foxboro Hot Tubs - The Pedestrian

By now it is fairly common knowledge that Foxboro Hot Tubs are really Green Day in their garage alter egos. I always think twice about posting anything by a popular major label band but I am doing so here in hopes that listening to this will encourage some of you garage heads out there to check out their album which came out last year. To me this more than holds its own when played next to anything by favorite modern-day garage bands like The Lyres, The Woggles or The Swinging Neckbreakers.

Nolan Porter - Ooh Baby

Until I discovered it on a Kent Records compilation I had never heard this particular record before. But it certainly sounds like it had hit potential and would've sounded fabulous blasting out of car radios in 1965 or 66 when, I'm guessing it was recorded.

The Kinks - Rosey Won't You Please Come Home

"Rosey..." is taken from one of my all time favorite Kinks albums, "Face to Face". Up to that point their albums were basically just collections of songs but "Face..." has a distinct stylistic unity and really shows Ray Davies' maturity as a songwriter and storyteller.

The Huntingtons - You Better Mend Your Ways

With their Beatlesque harmony vocals, these guys definitely don't typify what has come to be known as the Northwest sound of the 60s. But, hailing form Tacoma, Washington they were definitely part of the NW musical scene at the time. For anyone interested, this is taken from the Trip in Tyme Vol. 4 comp.
Lil' Bob & The Lollipops - Agent Double O Soul

If I had a time machine, I'd definitely be taking a trip to the early-mid 60s in Lafayette Louisiana to check out Lil' Bob and Co. wherever they were playing. Listening to them on record I can only imagine how exciting and fun they must have been live.

Miles Davis - Milestones

Like John Coltrane (who also played on this session) and Duke Ellington, Miles Davis' influence goes far beyond the world of Jazz. Ten years or so after this was recorded (1958) Miles would revolutionize the Jazz, Rock and R&B world with "Bitches Brew", his unique fusion of all three genres into something completely new. But for me, this is the Miles I like best. The album this is taken from, "Milestones" and his next one"Kind of Blue" are regarded as stone classics by just about anyone with an interest in Jazz or American music of the 20th century.

Mose Allison - Your Molecular Structure

While Mose does not have the same stature as Miles in the Jazz world, he is still one of my favorite artists. Like JK Toole as described above, his lyrics and wry understated vocals convey an appreciation of the absurdities of this world. Someone once said that he sings "with a twinkle in his eye" and that's about as apt a description of his style as I've ever heard. And he's also a wonderful piano player as well as you can hear on this track.

The Sands of Time - Come Back Little Girl

I'm pretty sure I've posted at least one other song off of the "Crude P.A." from which this song comes. Funny how at the time it came out, I didn't appreciate that particular compilation as much as I do now. Listening to this song, as much as I like it, I can't help but wonder how much better it would've been if they would actually have sung into the microphone.

Shirley Matthews - Big Town Boy

I remember hearing this song on the radio when I was a kid back in the early 60s, probably on WINS. Upon checking my Joel Witburn Billboard Charts book I was surprised to learn that it never even cracked the top 100. Too bad as it's a damn fine record.
The Spaniels -Play It Cool

In Doo Wop circles The Spaniels are regarded as almost God-like and their records such as "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" and "Baby It's You" among others, are rightly seen as vocal group classics. But like many Doo Woppers, they also had a more raucous R&B side to them as well, and "Play It Cool" is a perfect example of that.
Augustana - I Still Ain't Over You

I first heard Augustana last summer on a road trip when a friend played me a CD-R he put together of newer pop/rock bands he thought I'd like. On the basis of the 2 or 3 songs I heard that day I went out and bought both of their albums and I don't regret it. Featuring a commercially crafted Power Pop sound their songs resonate with a warm humanity that I find so easy to relate to. According to Wikipedia, this is their most recent single from late 2008.
The Magic Plants - I'm A Nothing

Over the years this song has appeared on a number of garage comps and has come to be regarded as a garage classic. My guess is that original copies of this record, if one can be found at all, are going for close to 4 figures at this point.
Major Lance - Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um

From 1963 to 1970 Major Lance was no stranger to the charts with 12 records that made it to the Billboard Top 100. This was his biggest hit, rocketing all the way up to number 5 in the early months of 1964.

Gary Lewis &The Playboys - She's Just My Style

Speaking of chart successes Gary L & Co. had their fair share as well, even making it to number one with their very first single "This Diamond Ring". "...Style" was always my favorite of all their records getting as high as number 3 in early 1966. Consumer note: Collector's Choice is coming out with a 2-disc package of all their 45s, complete with B-sides. In many cases the flipsides were just as good as the hit so if you are at all a fan of these guys, this might be well worth checking out here.

Take a look and see if you like it

It's Baseball Season!!!

2009-04-08T15:30:00.008-04:00

Baseball Season 2009 is finally underway and from my moniker I guess it's not too hard to tell where my loyalties lie. After an incredible spring the Bombers didn't look too terrific the other day against Baltimore but I remain optimistic nonetheless. After all, in 1998 when they had their best year ever they went 0-4 to start the season. CC Sabathia was less than stellar and there was some sloppy playing all around but I think they have the makings of a great team that could go all the way. Their pitching staff, both the starters and in the bullpen, is strong and they have a nice mix of proven veterans and hot prospects. Like many Yankee fans I have grown somewhat tired of ARod and his drama and it will be interesting to see what they can do with Cody Ransom playing third base. I think it is going to be a fun year.

The Beach Boys - Forever

"Fovever", written by Dennis Wilson, is from "Sunflower" which has always been one of my favorite Beach Boys albums. Whatever I can say about this lovely ballad doesn't begin to do it justice, so just stop reading and listen to it.
The Bluestars - Social End Product

I first heard "...Product" when it was covered by The Chesterfield Kings on (if I'm not mistaken) their "Don't Open 'Till Doomsday" LP. This is the original from the mid-60s. Over the past 10 years there have been a number of comps issued covering the mid-60s Australian and New Zealand garage scene and (not too) surprisingly there was a world of incredible music from down under just waiting to be discovered. For more info you might want to check here or here.

Dwight Yoakam - Same Fool

DY is one of a new breed of Country singers with a pronounced Rock and Roll sensibility to his music, even going so far as to cover songs by Cheap Trick and The Clash. He has close to 20 albums out (maybe even more - I've lost count) and for fans like me every one is worth owning. Newbies may want to start with his Greatest Hits package.

Eddie Boyd - Come Home

Bea and Baby was a Chicago blues/R&B label in the late 60s and early 70s. Until this 2-disc retrospective was issued a few years ago I had never heard of them but that was truly my loss. Featuring some well-known artists along with a handful of unknowns, if you like this song and want to hear more, this is well worth your time and money.

The Five Keys - Ling Ting Tong

Making its Billboard chart debut on Christmas day 1954, with a background chorus of "I smokum boo" this might have been one of the first Rock and Roll records geared for the teenage market with a pot reference. If it was I'm sure it went unnoticed by the white radio programers at the time as it actually made it up to number 28.

Gin Blossoms - Idiot Summer

I've always thought that these guys were one of the better and more consistent power pop bands around. They remind me of an American version of Teenage Fanclub. This is from their first album "Dusted".

Herman's Hermits - Don't Try To Hurt Me

Although Mr. Noone & Co were chart toppers back in the 60s, "real" music lovers like myself always kind of pooh-poohed them as little more than teenybopper pablum. Which doesn't mean that I didn't own a copy of "Herman's Hermits On Tour" from which this song comes. I just didn't admit it to anyone. Luckily for everyone concerned they are finally getting the respect they deserve.

Jack Green - So Much

Although at this point in time he is regarded as little more than a footnote in the annals of pop music, Jack Green does have a nice way with a tune. The album from which this is taken, "Humanesque", is currently out of print and someone is asking over $190 for the only copy being sold on Amazon. It's a great album but....

Jackie DeShannon - When You Walk In The Room

Just about everyone reading this probably knows the Searchers' hit version of "....Room" but here is the original as done by its original writer. Note the Phil Spector influence.
The Oxfords - Time And Place

From Louisville, Kentucky I sure hope these mid-60s rockers enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame. To me, this is the essence of what Rock and Roll is about. Yeah, the big hits are great and I love 'em but it's the little bits that fell between the cracks, many of which are almost totally forgotten by the original band members but are revered by a few fanatical collectors today, that get me even more excited.
The Stones - All Down The Line

Speaking of hit makers, this supposedly comes from a proposed live album that was supposed to come out after their 1972 tour. The sound quality is a little rough for an official album but the energy of their performance comes through loud and clear.

Sonny Rhodes - You Better Stop

As with garage bands, the world of 60s Soul is filled with snappy little records that for one reason or another, never made it much past the launching pad. A case in point is this punchy upbeat dancer recorded for the Galaxy label.

The Tell-Tale Hearts - Bye Bye Baby

Mike Stax is probably best known as being the driving force behind the "Ugly Things" fanzine but in the mid-80s he was the bass player, along with Ray Brandes, Bill Calhoun, David Clouden and Pete Miesner in this 60s retro-styled garage band. Over the last 20+ years many bands of this type have not aged all that well but these guys managed to put it all together in such a way that still sounds fresh today.
The Beatles - Think for Yourself (Dr Ebbets mono)

The stereo mix for "Rubber Soul" is one of the worst abominations ever in popular music, with the vocals all the way on one side and the instruments on the other. Ugh! Luckily for us there is Dr. Ebbets who not only remixed the stereo version of this album and made it listenable but also served up a punchy mono version as well. I just read that in September of this year EMI is releasing all of their albums newly remixed in both stereo and mono. If they are smart they'll hire the good Doctor to do that remixing.

Grandpaboy - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Grandpaboy is really ex-Replacement Paul Westerberg and here he turns in a stirring version of Hank William's classic. Next to the original of course, the best rendition of "...Lonesome.." I ever heard was when Patti Smith sang it at a free concert in Hoboken in 1996. Nonetheless, Paul really gets to the heart of it in his own starkly strung-out fashion.
The Kindred Spirit - Under My Thumb

To the best of my knowledge this version of The Stone's "Under My Thumb" has not been reissued on any commercially available compilation although it has circulated on a few privately pressed CD-Rs over the years. On first listen it doesn't sound like anything special but the geeky nerdiness of the singer and the

unprofessionalism of the production in general soon exudes its own charm.

I've got more important things to think about than you

I'm Baaaaaack!

2009-03-22T16:01:00.007-04:00

I know it's been awhile and I can't blame anyone who's given up on me and stopped checking in. Truth be told, there was no one reason I haven't been posting. Ennui, procrastination, other things on my mind and whatever else all had something to do with it but each time I'd think about doing another post, I'd just end up doing something else. Not much is happening on the job front. My severance ran out as of around March 7 but luckily I have some money saved up and I will continue to get medical insurance thru Cobra. Over the last few weeks I have noticed a few more Cobol jobs being posted but they have yet to turn into any actual interviews and I am seriously thinking about possible alternative careers. But enough about all that, let's get to what you came here for, mainly the music.

The Diplomats - Don't Bug Me

I'd never heard this record before until I got it on a Minit Records comp a few months ago but, being the fan of upbeat 60s soul that I am, this has been getting a lot of Ipod play lately. If anyone knows of an original for sale or trade, please get in touch.

The Argyles - White Lightnin'

Back in 1966 these young Texans recorded this stompin' version of the old George Jones favorite. By the sound of things, they might have had more than a little of that White Lightnin' in the recording studio at the time.
Bo Diddley - Bo Meets The Monster

I'm willing to bet that this was recorded mainly to cash in on the horror movie craze of the late-50s/early-60s but underneath all the gimmicks, this is pure Bo.
Bobby Sherman - Hey Little Girl

Before he was a chart-topping big star in the late 60s, Bobby was a regular on Shindig and I'm guessing that this was recorded around 1965 to try and take advantage of that exposure. It didn't do much for his career at the time but it's a really nice pop record nonetheless.

The Brogues - I Ain't No Miracle Worker

I never heard "...Miracle Worker" back in the day, but with it's "It-Ain't-Me-Babe" vibe, this is pure proto-typical mid-60s folk rock at its best.

The Del-Mars - Snacky Poo

I don't know if there ever actually was a dance called the Snacky Poo but it really doesn't matter. Total care-free, mindless fun is what's in store here.
The Lazy Cowgirls - Another Lost Cause

Through the years The Lazy Cowgirls have always been one of my favorite bands. Here they take a song which could be a serious downer in lesser hands and turn it into a celebration.
The Monkees - Take a Giant Step

This was originally the flipside of "Last Train to Clarksville" but I actually always liked this song better. I love that little fill someone (I'm sure it's not Mickey Dolenz, the alleged drummer of the group) does on the bass drum about 1:40 into the song.
Mickey Dolenz - Don't Do It

Speaking of Mickey Dolenz, this was something he recorded in his pre-Monkee days. While it's nothing you haven't heard before it's still a nice garagey rocker.
Tim Tiny - I've Gotta Find Someone

I've got to admit that until I got the "$15,000 Worth of Rockabilly" comp from which this comes I'd never heard of Mr. Tiny before. Which is actually kind of a shame because he has a better than average voice and with the right production and promotion he could've been "somebody".

The Stones - The Last Time

This is from their live show in Honolulu in July of 1966 which is about 1 month after I saw them at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in NYC. Except that the show I was at had to be stopped after 3 or 4 songs as the fans (girls and guys alike) kept rushing the stage.
Ruby Johnson - No No No

Although she may never have made a big name for herself, Ruby Johnson is well known and loved by soul fans around the world. And what's not to love? Gritty, passionate southern-style soul at it's best.

Senseless Things - Passions Out Of Town

Back in the early-mid 90s I honestly thought that these guys, along with the Mega City 4, had a chance of taking the Rock and roll world by storm. Intense, intelligent, tuneful 1977-style punk without that self-conscious, anti-social outrage that sometimes made the original punks a bit hard to take seriously. It never happened the way I thought but a lot of damn fine music was left in their wake.

Squire - Walking Down King's Road

Getting back to that Monkees connection one more time, if Dolenz, Nesmith & Co. had been British Mods in the early 80s, they might have sounded like this. And that is by no means a bad thing.

The Unrelated Segments - Where You Gonna Go?

After "Where You Gonna Go" appeared on the "Journey to Tyme" LP comp back in 1982 it quickly became a favorite of garage-heads everywhere. And 25-plus years later it's still gets the adrenaline pumping just a little bit faster every time it gets played.

Sonny Rollins - St Thomas

One of the best concerts I have ever seen in my life was a free show that Sonny Rollins gave at the park at Lincoln Center one summer night in 1998. The place was packed and even though at no time was I ever closer than a few hundred feet from the stage, it remains one of the most intense musical experiences I have ever had.

A shadow, a feeling deep in my mind

The 45.2 Minute Workout

2009-02-16T21:17:00.003-05:00

It's been awhile since I've posted here and the truth is that I've just been lazy. But I'm turning over a new leaf now. Although it may still be cold outside the warm weather is not all that far off. Pretty soon it will be t-shirt and bikini time. And as this winter has lasted for what seems like forever, many of us may have put on an ounce or two. So, as a public service and because no one wants to look at a bunch of flabby bodies, I've provided the 45.2 minute workout. Think of it as YankeeBoy's version of 'Sweating to the Oldies'. So get up offa that couch and shake that funky groove thang!

King Coleman - The Boo Boo Song Pt. 1

I realize that I already posted this song back in October but it seemed like such a perfect way to start this playlist that I figured 'what the hell'. Either that or I totally forgot that I had previously posted this song until a few minutes ago.

Billy Ocean - Love Really Hurts Without You

I'm pretty sure that this was Billy's first single back in 1976. He went on to have a whole slew of hits in the 80s but this Motown soundalike is definitely where my interest in him begins and ends.
Bobby Bennett - You're Ready Now

With Northern Soul being the rage in England for the last 30 years it comes as no surprise that they have their share of home grown talent. This track comes from a Goldmine Soul Supply compilation of British soul records.

Billy Butler - The Right Track

Billy recorded a number of tracks for Okeh Records in Chicago that are now rightly regarded as Northern Soul classics. "Right Track" has been included on a number of NS compilations over the years.
Chubby Checker - The Twist

This is probably the all-time ultimate dance record. Back when it came out it seemed that the whole world was twisting up a storm. I remember one Thanksgiving when I was about 9 or 10 watching some program on TV and every half hour Chubby would come on and give twisting lessons. In it's way and for a short time the whole twist craze was actually more popular than The Beatles would be a few years later. Of course The Beatles defined a generation. It was us young hip folks against the older generation of squares who just didn't get it. But back in the much more innocent early 1960s, literally everyone was twisting, young and old. I think even my parents might have tried a twist or two.

Dr. Feelgood - Baby Jane

Even Johns & The H-Bombs - Rollin' Through the Night

While each of these bands got their start and learned their craft on different continents, it's pretty obvious that they are both coming from the same place musically. Sun Rockabilly and Chess Blues nurtured by a steady diet of 3-chord loud and fast Rock & Roll. It work every time.
Joe 'King' Carasco - Caca De Vaca

I saw Joe with his band the Crowns a few times in the late 70s and they never failed to get the whole house dancing like lunatics. I always thought they should have been more popular than they were but for whatever reason they never really broke through.

Little Carl Carlton - Competition Ain't Nothin'

Carl had a Top 10 hit in 1974 with his cover of Robert Knight's "Everlasting Love" but this was his first chart entry back in 1968, making it to number 75 on Billboard's Top 100.
Chris Clark - Do I Love You

I'm not sure which one was recorded first but Chris' has the same backing track as the more notorious (i.e expensive) version by Frank Wilson. Both are great and I can't imagine why one of them wasn't at least a minor hit.
The Contours - First I Look at the Purse

This used to be a favorite at the Empire State Soul Club dances and it's just as infectious today as it was back then. And who knows, with the economy being what it is these days, these may be words to live by.
Sam the Sham & The Pharohs - I've Got A Voodoo Doll

"...Voodoo Doll"was, as far as I know, only an album track and never released as a single. But it has all of the ingredients that made their records so irresistible.

The Standells - Dirty Water

To me, "Dirty Water" was the quintessential garage record with it's 1-4-5 chord structure, pounding beat and snarly vocals. I still have my original copy on the brown Tower Records label and although I've played it to death, this is one record I'll never grow tired of.
The DC5 - Concentration Baby

This is one of the DC5's later b-sides although it went quite unnoticed at the time as, by 1967, they were generally considered to be passe. Nonetheless, it's a great dancer and one that I can imagine The Fleshtones covering and doing a great job of.
The Sonics - Money

Set the amps to 11 and let 'er rip. From the very beginning that's what the Sonics were all about and once you've achieved perfection, there's no need to ever change. I sorely regret missing them at last years' Cavestomp but I've seen some of the videos on Youtube and they were simply incredible.

The Soul Survivors - Shakin' With Linda

According to the garage database there were at least 4 bands calling themselves the Soul Survivors back in the 60s and this particular bunch came from Pittsburgh. I've always loved their version of the old Isley Brothers classic.
The Lyres - Help You Ann

"..Ann" has always been one of The Lyres' best known records, even making it onto Rhino's "Children of Nuggets" box a few years ago. The Lyres had their own unique sound and this song is them at their best.

To swing and dance where the swingers swung