I'm Baaaaaack!

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

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

Less Talk More Music Pt. 3

Once again there's not a whole lot to report on in YankeeBoy land. Winter is definitely beginning to wear out its welcome but the good news is that Spring Training is right around the corner. One has to wonder though, with things being in the state that they're in, will there be anyone left who can actually afford to go to the new high priced stadiums here in New York. But that's another conversation for another time. For now I am sick of the economy, sick of job hunting, sick of thinking about job hunting and sick of talking about it.  So enough of this  - let's get to the music.

 

The Couriers - Feelings

This track comes off a comp called "Crude P.A." and crude it certainly is. Basically we're talking about yet another variation on  "Louie Louie" with a slightly different melody and new lyrics. Not that there's anything wrong with that. No siree.  

Dan Kibler - So Wendy Says

Last Sunday I went to my friends annual Anti-Superbowl party. It's one of the few things that makes the post-holidays winter tolerable as I get to hang out with friends I that I don't see as often as I used to. At one point my friend Wendy said that, with the exception of the Beach Boys song, there just aren't any really good Wendy songs out there. So Wendy, if you're out there, this one's for you. 
Bobby Freeman - Little Girl Don't You Understand

"Little Girl..." is your basic Chuck Berry/Little Richard influenced late 50s rocker. While it may never have been very 'innovative' or 'new', it still shakes some serious ass. 

The Kinks - Low Budget

A friend mentioned to me recently how he heard this song for the first time in a few years and how it really was quite relevant to these times. He's certainly right on that account. Ray Davies' understated sense of humor gets the point across without sounding pedantic.  
Len Barry - I Struck It Rich

Here's a little blue-eyed Northern Soul from the former lead singer of the Dovells. It was even a minor hit for Len, making it to number 98 on Billboard's Top 100 in September of 1966. 

Bob Dylan - Boogie Woogie Country Girl
Lou Reed - This Magic Moment

These 2 songs are being lumped together because they both come from the long out-of-print Doc Pomus tribute album. I've always loved Dylan's take on Joe Turner's hit and Lou Reed takes this old pop standard to places it's never been before or since. The list of records and artists that Doc Pomus was involved with goes on forever. I was lucky enough to spend a little time with him near the end of his life and he was always a gentleman with great stories to tell.

The Original Sins - Not Gonna Be All Right

The Sins were definitely one of the bright lights of the East Coast garage scene in the 80s and 90s. There was a point when it seemed that JT was writing songs in his sleep, so plentiful was his output. "...Alright" is from their first album "Big Soul", which I see is now out-of-print and selling for $40 on Amazon. Ouch!   
Big Boy Pete - Sheer Lunacy

The story is that BBP recorded a whole slew of songs, at least 2 albums worth, back in the mid-late 60s, most of which never saw the light of day. I hadn't heard of him until his music started being reissued about 5 or so years ago. This is from my favorite period of British psych, that short time when bands were just beginning to experiment but had yet to start to take themselves too seriously and get 'progressive'. 
The O'Jays - Deeper - In Love With You

"Deeper..." was recorded in the late 60s, a few years before they had all of those records on Philadelphia International. This too was a Gamble/Huff production, although with a grittier sound than their later hits.     
The Vertebrats - Left In The Dark

A little bit of power pop from the early 80's, although this has a few more rough edges than much of the skinny tie music being produced at the time. Fans of "Tim" era Replacements will surely like this. 
William Walker&The Ray O-Vacs - Party Time

This was totally unknown, at least to me, until it was reissued a few years ago on the "Black Huthia Cuthia" comp. Loud and crude with all the subtlety of  a bullet in the head, this is meant to be cranked up LOUD.

John Coltrane - Greensleeves

"Greensleeves" is an old folk songs that many of us have been hearing since childhood. I never thought of it as a vehicle for an extended jazz piece but then again I don't possess the genius of John Coltrane. Coltrane and his band, especially pianist McCoy Tyner, take this simple melody and turn it inside out in more ways than anyone could have dreamed possible. 

They're a size 28 but I take 34

This, That and a Little Bit of the Other

There's not much new going on in Yankee Boy land these days. Unemployment is playing absolute havoc with my sleep patterns and as I am somewhat of a compulsive overeater, that makes it harder to maintain any kind of healthy food diet. I still keep in contact with my old manager from my last job and every time we speak he tells me of more people that I know who are no longer with the bank, having been laid off. They keep calling this a recession but it's starting to feel more like a full-fledged depression to me.  A friend of mine said that instead of bailing out Wall Street who it seems are using much of that money to give themselves bonuses despite their lousy performance, we should give that money to all the crack heads and junkies out there. At least we know that they will spend the money and put it back into the economy which can certainly use the influx of cash. Maybe he's onto something. 

The Sonics - Psycho

Leading things off this go round is a pounding classic that is a favorite of just about any garage music fan out there. Many of you probably already have this record on one compilation or another but it's always fun to hear one more time. 
Aerosmith - Shame, Shame, Shame

Smiley Lewis' New Orleans standard has been covered by a number of artists over the years but this is the most flat-out rockin'est version I've heard yet. From their overlooked "Honkin' on Bobo" album.

Blondie - Look Good In Blue

Here's another song that most visitors to this blog have likely heard many times. For some reason I woke up singing it a few days ago so here it is. 
Bo Diddley - 'Deed & 'Deed I Do

This is one of Bo's lesser known efforts on which he is backed by a vocal group, probably labelmates The Moonglows. 

Bobby Moore's Rhythm Aces - Chained To Your Heart

Although I'd never heard this record until fairly recently, it's quickly become a favorite. Despite it's tailor-made Northern Soul beat I think that copies can be found fairly cheaply. Check Gemm Music if you're so moved.

The Epics - Louie Come Home

How many thousands of garage bands were inspired by "Louie Louie" to write and record their own 1-4-5-chord masterpieces? Here's one more in all it's scratchy glory.
The Finkers - Up To You

I'm not sure if Dom Mariani was involved with this record in any way but this Australian combo sounds like they definitely took a page from the Stems/DM3 book of Power Pop.  I don't know if it was originally released as a single (I'm guessing it was) but I got it off of the "Lost Weekend" comp which is now, unfortunately, out of print. 
Home & Abroad - Alison (Please Don't Fall)

"Alison..." is another record that my friend TweeKid turned me onto back in the 90s. I love this guy's voice. They released a few 45s and a cassette back in the day and I'm hoping that the master tapes still exist and that someone eventually puts everything out on CD as I have never heard a copy of this 45 without a fair amount of background noise.

Willie Tee - Walking Up A One-Way Street

I saw Willie Tee at a soul revue a few summers ago and his voice is still in fine form. This mid-tempo stroller was as close as he came to a hit back in 1965.

Los Baby Rocks - Me Nena

It's no secret that south of the border, just like in the US, crazy-assed Rock & Roll reigned supreme back in the late 50s and throughout most of the 60s. Over the years I've heard a few versions of Ron Holden's "My Babe" but this is the wildest one yet.   
The Meteors - Dance Crazy Baby

Speaking of insane crazy Rock & Roll, I've always been partial to The Meteors who manage to combine the rebellious spirit and basic sound of Rockabilly with the pumped-up angry energy of Punk better than just about anyone.   
The Greenhornes - Satisfy My Mind

The first time I saw The Greenhornes they were playing CBGBs on a bill that included The Mooney Suzuki and The Swingin' Neckbreakers and, not to take away anything from the other bands, they totally stole the show. Listening to this years later it's not hard to see why. 
The Primitives - Let Them Tell

There's nothing very original about The Primitives. The wailing harp, the snotty vocals and the double speed tempo are all de rigueur for  British R&B bands circa 1965. But that's precisely the point. So excuse me while I go put on "The Rolling Stones Now".
Doc Starkes - Love Me Like Crazy

"Crazy uhh!! Baby yeah!!" If this ain't a love song I don't know what is. I was going to save this for my next 3CLFS post but it seemed to fit in pretty well here so what the hell.

The Rich Kids - Ghosts of Princes In Towers

When Glen Matlock left the Sex Pistols, voluntarily or not, he hooked up with some guys who could actually play their instruments. I didn't pay the RKs much mind at the time but over the last 30 years (my God, has it really been that long ?!?!) this has aged quite well.      
Sounds Unlimited - Why Doesn't She Believe Me

According to the Garage Database there were at least 4 bands calling themselves Sounds Unlimited back in the mid-60s. These particular Sounds came from Hialeah, Florida. When I used to DJ this record could always be depended on to get the crowd off their butts.  

The New Pornograpphers - It's Only Divine Right

These guys have made 3 albums so far and as far as I am concerned, they are all must-owns for any power pop fan. This song in particular has always been a favorite with that gorgeous melody, those Left Banke styled vocals propelled along by a peppy backbeat and some nice guitar playing. For me this is heaven.

I'll give you some head and shoulders to lie on

Something Better Beginning

Like most Americans and indeed, many people around the world, I was (and still am) quite excited about the events of this past Tuesday and the promise of a new administration in Washington. Not just any new administration but this one in particular. On more than one occasion President Obama's inauguration speech actually gave me goosebumps, I was so moved. When I listen to him speak I get a real feeling that he has a genuine interest in fair play for everyone, that he is much less concerned about towing the party line and playing politics and that while he is definitely his own man, he will listen to and seriously consider the advice of the experts he has surrounded himself with, even when they disagree with him. I like the fact that he doesn't try to sugarcoat things and tell us that everything is going to be fine. From day one he has made no bones about the fact that it will be a long time before everything is fine again and that a lot of hard work and sacrifices lie ahead before that day comes. But with President Obama (it feels so good to be saying that instead of you-know-who) leading this country I believe that we have made a good start at setting things right again, not just with the economy here at home but with our standing with the rest of the world. So, for this posting I have tried to pick songs that are optimistic and celebratory in some way. History was made on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009 and something better is definitely beginning. President Obama, you have made me feel proud to be an American once again.   

The Kinks - Something Better Beginning

There can be no better way to start off this post than with a song by one of my all-time favorite bands. And I can think of no other song that captures that sense of cautious optimism that many of us are feeling better than this Kinks classic.

Barrance Whitfield - Rockin' the Mule

Barrance's take on this old R&B pounder doesn't stray far from the original but that's more than OK with me. When he really gets going nobody can rock the house like him.

The Who - I Can't Explain

From the first time I heard this song as a 13 year old tyke back in March of '65 I knew that these guys were special and that this record was the most incredible thing I'd ever heard up to that point. 40-plus years later it still gets my adrenaline pumping. 
Dave Edmunds - From Small Things Big Things Will Come

I've always loved the 'can do' spirit of this song and in these times it seems like an especially appropriate message.  
Fontella Bass - Safe And Sound

While she doesn't stray too far from the sound of her big hit "Rescue Me", I still love the sound of this. I'm guessing that "Safe..." is a big favorite among the Northern Soul crowd.  

Bobby Fuller - Keep On Dancing

Although this was recorded a few years before he hit it big, it's obvious that BF's sound and style was pretty much developed by the time he laid this one down. I'm not sure if it was released at the time but it did show up later, with some slightly different lyrics as "Let Her Dance" on his "I Fought The Law" LP.
Bull Moose Jackson - Big Ten-Inch Record

It's just a crazy hunch on my part but I don't think he's really talking about a record here - ha ha ha. While this is considered an R&B classic in the 21st century, I have to wonder how much airplay this got at the time back in the early 50's.
The Honeycombs - I Can't Stop

This was their follow-up to their Top 5 hit "Have I The Right" and it actually cracked the Top 50 on it's own, making it up to number 49 in December of 1964. For you shoppers out there, beware that there are 2 versions of this song and this, the US single version, is way superior to the other one.  
The Rocking Vickers - I Go Ape

Those of you who are as old as I am will remember when 'going ape' was a pretty common slang

expression. Unfortunately that didn't translate into any chart success for this cool Merseybeat styled raver, at least here in the US.
Ron Tyson - Oh What A Night For Love

I'm a total sucker for a nice upbeat Frankie Lymon-esque kiddie vocal rocker. Enough so that I paid about $25 for a M- copy of this about 20 years ago. I consider it well worth the money. Whenever this comes on the Ipod it always adds a little bounce to my step.  
Shirley & Lee - Feel So Good

This record should need no introduction to anyone reading this. Despite the fact that I've heard it hundreds of times (if not more) over the years it never gets old.
The Small Faces - Sha-La-La-La-Lee

"Picked her up on a Friday night, Sha la la la lee" and by the third verse "We invited just a few close friends". Remember when life really seemed that simple?  
The Soul Children - Bring It Here

I first heard this song as a cut on a Soul Children album that wasn't all that hot - at least I thought so at the time. I don't think it was ever released as a single so I decided to 'bring it here' for all to hear.  That was an awful rhyme, I'm sorry. 
The Sweet - Wig-Wam Bam

Glam was never as big here in the US as it was in Europe. I'm not sure why - maybe we were all too busy protesting the ongoing Vietnam War (er, I mean - conflict) and worrying about Watergate. While The Sweet did manage to have a few chart hits, this was not one of them but it's a fine record nonetheless. It's always been one of my favorites.
The Flys - Be What You Is

From McLean, Virginia The Flys had their 15 minutes of fame with this garage stomper back in 1966. I'm glad my English teacher at the time never heard this.
Throw That Beat In The Garbage Can! - Little Red Go Cart

TTB..., named after a song by the B52s originally hailed from Germany and had a number of releases both in the US and in Europe. While not quite as campy as their namesakes, it's not too hard to hear their musical influence.    
The Vacant Lot - Sweetest Sound

I've written about these guys here before so I'm not going to go into a lot of detail again here except to say that they did release a handful of CDs and 45s, all of which are well worth picking up and can probably be found online for not too much money. Check Amazon.
Adam Faith & The Roulettes - It's Alright

Adam Faith with the Roulettes was a totally different animal than when he was on his own. As a solo he was little more than a second rate cabaret singer (IMHO anyway) but with the band, he cut a handful of rockers that hold their own with the best of what was coming out of England back in the day.

There's a place where we could go

Back to the Drawing Board

I had a job interview this week for a Programmer/Analyst position in New Jersey. It was only my third actual interview since last August so it was kind of hard not to put a lot of emotional stake into it. I did quite well - I answered all the questions clearly and concisely, presented myself as an agreeable team player and asked a few relevant questions of my own. In short, I did everything right. I could tell that the interviewer liked me as, for one thing, he spent over an hour talking to me. Unfortunately, I don't think I am going to get the job. On one hand I am somewhat overqualified. This job is strictly writing or making changes to programs according to specs that have already been written. I am used to being the one who writes those specs, either to give to others or to do myself. On the other hand, their shop is totally DB2 (a type of database) and my DB2 experience is not that strong. Not that I couldn't learn it in a few weeks and bring myself up to speed - it's really not all that difficult. And I think my interviewer realized that. But with all the competition out there I am sure they will find someone with exactly the right type and amount of experience they need. My severance pay (and insurance) ends at the end of February and although I still have some options even then, I am feeling the pressure more and more. So, for the last two days I did little more than eat bad-for-ya's and watch TV but now it's time to rejoin the living. And there's no better way to get started than with a batch of cool tunes.

The A-Bones - Betty Lou Got A New Tattoo

Over the years I've seen the A-Bones play at least 50 times and some of my craziest, drunkenest evenings have been spent carrying on with various members of the band. They are all all about fun, pure and simple.   
Andre Williams - Didlee Didlee Womp Womp

I've also been fortunate enough to see Andre Williams perform on a number of occasions and he's never been anything less than a total blast.  He must be in his 70s at least, but age has not slowed him down one bit.  
The Bedforde Set - Girl Go Run Away

In God's perfect world some garage fanatic (like myself maybe) would be given free reign to go through RCA's vault of single masters from the 60s and put together a fantastic 1 or 2-disc set of some of the fiercest garage records known to man. They released a ton of 'em  back in the day and this is one of my favorites. I paid $20 for mine about 12 years ago but now I see it's going for almost $150 on Gemm Music. Luckily you can also find it on Fuzz, Flaykes & Shakes Vol. 3.
Couple - Gurl Stop It Now

A few weeks ago I posted an item about Couple's new album "Teenage Disc Fantastic" and while it is not yet for sale anyplace in the US, it has been released in Malaysia and has sold over 800 copies just at their gigs alone with no real distribution. Keep checking back and as soon as it's available I'll post all the relevant info. In the meantime, here is one of my favorite songs from the album.
Hot Boogie Chillun - You'll Never Know

I'm not too crazy about many of the newer Rockabilly bands playing about, but HBC are better than most. They've got a nice Stonesey R&B/Garage influence going on and they've even been known to cover an occasional Wailers or Sonics song.

Adrian Lloyd - Lorna

Here's another Garage classic that would sell for majorly big bucks if you could even find a copy. Like most of the Garage loving world, I first heard this screamer on Vol. 8 of Back From The Grave. God bless Crypt Records!

Jackie Moore - Precious Precious

In my last music post I talked about how not all 70s Soul music is about Disco. Here Jackie Moore sings in a pure Southern Soul style that sounds as timeless as anything that came out on Stax a decade or so earlier.    

Jefferson Airplane - It's No Secret

I'm generally not all that into live recordings (unless I was actually there) but JA's version of "...Secret" recorded at the Fillmore East is way superior to the one found on their first album.

The Jelly Bean Bandits - Generation

This Newburgh, NY combo sounds as if they either took "Star Trek" a little too seriously or perhaps there was something funny in the water. But either way "Generation" is 3 minutes of pure  demented, psychedelic genius.

Bevis Frond - He'd Be a Diamond

This is the original version of "...Diamond" which was covered by Teenage Fanclub and posted here last November.   

Kenny Lund - Rip It Up, Potato Chip

I heard this song on Dave The Rave's "Relics and Rarities" show on Top Shelf Oldies last Saturday night and was relieved to see that at least I had it on an mp3 when I couldn't find a copy on either Gemm Records or Ebay. If you are home on Saturday night from 10 PM to 3 AM EST, you should give Dave a listen as he has an incredible record collection and you never know what he's going to play. 

Manfred Mann - Pretty Flamingo

When I was learning to play guitar I used to play this song for hours on end. It's a testament to how great this record is in that I never got sick of it. I also never got to be any good on guitar either - unless you count air guitar. 
Nick Lowe - American Squirm

I've always loved this song. I'm probably way wrong but I've always had this idea that there was some deep sexual connotation to this song. I mean, how DID he make that American squirm?

Ronnie Bird - I Can Only Give You Everything

Them's version of this classic stompfest will always be the definitive one but Ronnie more than holds his own here. I've never thought of French as the language of Rock & Roll before but I guess there's always a first time.  

The Soul Brothers Six -You Better Check Yourself

These guys had a handful of singles in somewhat the same style as "Some Kind of Wonderful" which ended up being covered by Grand Funk Railroad. Most, if not all, of their classic 60s soul pounders came out on Atlantic so maybe one of these days someone will actually do a definitive SB6 package. 

Teenage Fanclub - Take the Long Way Round

From their "Songs From Northern Britain" album, "...Long Way Round" is TFC doing what they do best. Slightly wistful but not depressing and just upbeat and melodic enough to sing along to by the second or third chorus. I mentioned this once before but I hope at some point they decide to put out a box set that includes some of their single b-sides. 

Albert Ayler - Love Cry

This took me a few plays to fully appreciate. The first few times I listened to it I concentrated mainly on the melody he plays on his alto sax (which on its own is actually quite lovely) and gradually the rest of it fell into place. I purposely placed it at the end of the set so it is easy to skip but I strongly encourage you to give it a chance.

Look to the skies. The flying saucers will always be there.

Glad to see you go go go go goodbye

These days, politics is a part of life. For the most part I try to keep this blog about mainly music and keep my writings as to how that music has affected my life. But in these crazy times what happens politically affects us all. Which is why I spent so much time encouraging U.S. voters who read my blog to vote for Barack Obama. In case there is anyone who doubts the wisdom of that,  I encourage you to read this article I found online.  There's little or nothing in it that most of us don't already know but it does put things into an interesting, if eerie, perspective. More music to come soon. Thanks for visiting.