Wild Weekend Vol. 38

Ready for the 38th installment of Wild Weekend? Thought so. And it´s a wild bunch again this week, featuring Japrock and Dylan, reggae inna loversrock style and the blues, old Ohio punk and new Salford trash. Just take your pick and don´t forget to have a wild one.

For a furious blast-off, we turn to a seventies Japrock powertrio called Gedo. Their nihilistic hi-energy rocker Kusatta Inochi, better known in the West as Rotten Life, will surely bring out the inner biker in you. Let it roar. And as I´m digging Dylan´s new Bootleg Series installment so much, we continue with a beauty from said collection. The whimsical All Over You is one of those Witmark Demos to treasure. "Well, you cut me like a jigsaw puzzle, you made me to a walkin´ wreck, when you pushed my heart through my backbone, and you knocked off my head from my neck..."

Gedo - Kusatta Inochi (Rotten Life) MP3

Bob Dylan - All Over You MP3

Pink Anderson was one of the two relatively obscure bluesmen who gave Pink Floyd their name (the other being Floyd Council). I can never get enough of his delightful He´s In The Jailhouse Now. "But when I went to pay that man, I found that lady's hand in my pocket, where my money was... that settled it..." Graveyard bound, that lady. Next we meet the Black Knights, who hail from Salford near Manchester, home of legendary poet John Cooper Clarke, the Dylan of punk. And their ´voodoo trash blues´ goes down a treat, too. Check out them spooky vocals and fuzz guitars, muchachos. Out now.

Pink Anderson - He´s In The Jailhouse Now MP3

The Black Knights - Saturday Night Succubi MP3

One of my fave early punkbands from the States are the Pagans from Ohio. No matter how rough and ramshackle their sound, there´s always a catchy chorus to pull you right in. Let yourself be seduced by the incendiary power of I Juvenile and buy their complementary compilations on the Crypt label (Shit Street and The Pink Album) forthwith. And we´ll conclude this edition of Wild Weekend with a loving tribute to Jamaican nightingale Gregory Isaacs, who sadly passed away last week. The Cool Ruler is no more, and that sucks. Now who's gonna make me feel the way he used to do?

The Pagans - I Juvenile MP3

Gregory Isaacs - Love Is Overdue MP3

You Can See It Shine

Iggy´s doin´ fine. He´s got his tight pants on, and he´s spoiling for a fight. But what´s up with his jacket? Those Naughty Lumps (´78) tell all. "Iggy Pop´s jacket, could it be the key? Will Iggy Pop´s jacket make a cult out of me?"

Iggy & The Stooges - Tight Pants MP3

Those Naughty Lumps - Iggy Pop´s Jacket MP3

A Custard-Coloured Superdream

Psychedelic invocations of Mata Hari at the station anyone? A few exceptions notwithstanding, Nick Cave´s post Birthday Party stuff never really did it for me. And then, out of the blue, a track appears on his brand new album with Grinderman that really bowls me over. The stately Palaces Of Montezuma, complete with lazy Gimme Shelter shuffle and over the top imagery, is prime Saint Nick. "The spinal cord of JFK wrapped in Marilyn Monroe´s negligee I give to you..."

Grinderman - Palaces Of Montezuma MP3

"Yeah I recognize that girl, she stumbled in some time last loneliness..." As a bonus, here´s a dark old Birthday Party favorite of mine. "Yeah I recognize that girl, I took her from rags right through to stitches... oh baby, tonight we sleep in separate ditches..."

The Birthday Party - Deep In The Woods MP3

Wild Weekend Vol. 37

It´s gonna be a Wild Weekend, issue 37. Where East meets West and the well known goes hand in hand with the obscure. What have we got in store for you this week? Some Britfolk, soul, and afro-reggae, a shot of dino-rock, an Indian ghazal, and a promising new Americana trio to boot. Have a wild one, y´all.

We´ll kick off with some shimmering soul featuring brother Ry and friends, who give the Maurice & Mac classic Why Don´t You Try Me a whole new coat of paint. From the mighty fine Borderline album (´80). Give it a try why don´t you. Time to go pentangling now. I was enjoying some beers with a friend of mine recently when he put an old Pentangle album on, and it amazed us all over again how fresh these British folkrockers still sound today. Bert Jansch and John Renbourn: a wiz guitar team if ever there was one. "Look around for someone lying in the sunshine, marking time, hear the sighs, close your eyes..." And in case you were wondering: that´s the underrated Jaqui McShee on vocals.

Ry Cooder - Why Don´t You Try Me MP3

Pentangle - Light Flight (Take Three Girls Theme) MP3

May we continue with a new band now? Thanks. Presenting Woodsy Pride, an Americana threesome all the way from Redhook, Brooklyn. Wasn´t that the birthplace of Joey, the famous mafioso Dylan wrote such a great but controversial song about? Cool. Anyway, they call their stuff ´southern gothic´ and I sure can live with that. Nice lap steel, too, which is always a good thing. Next we move all the way to India for a relaxed ghazal by a contemporary singer called Hariharan. If I´m not mistaken, the delicate Hasti Apni Habab Ki Si Hai was written by Mir Taqi Mir, the most famous Urdu poet of the eighteenth century. Yes, it´s that old. No idea what he´s on about though. Anyone?

Woodsy Pride - As Always A Good Thing MP3

Hariharan - Hasti Apni Habab Ki Si Hai MP3

On to Jamaica now, with one of the weirdest ventures in the Lee Perry catalogue: his collaboration with Seke Molenga & Kalo Kawongolo. These two singers from Zaire were brought to Kingston in the year when the two sevens clashed, by some malafide promotor who abandoned them almost right away. The duo didn´t speak the language and had no money, but did manage to locate Perry´s famous Black Ark studio somehow. Scratch then worked his magic and produced what was probably the first Afro-Jamaican crossover. Irie or what? And we´ll be off with a pastoral classic by Led Zep. This time Sir Percy´s in pursuit of a Californian beauty who´s never been born. "Meet you up there where the path runs straight and high..." Deal.

Seke Molenga & Kalo Kawongolo - African Roots MP3

Led Zeppelin - Going To California MP3

Drinkin´ Thing

"While she pours herself on some stranger, I pour myself a drink somewhere..." Presenting two delightful country songs about ´this drinkin´ thing´. Gary Stewart (1944-2003) was known as the King Of Honky Tonk during his seventies heydays, and with good reason. Check out that trademark vibrato, my thirsty compadres, and call that bartender pronto. "My heart is breaking, like the tiny bubbles, she´s actin´ single, I´m drinkin´ doubles..." Cheers!

Gary Stewart - Drinkin´ Thing MP3

Gary Stewart - She's Actin´ Single (I´m Drinkin´ Doubles) MP3

Kommen Nicht

"Meine Seele brennt,
Ich versteck mich, sitz in meinem Loch,
Und warte auf die Träume, die mich retten..."

The Teutonic blues, or: from a whisper to a scream with the Collapsing New Buildings. Ein Prachtexemplar from the mid-eighties.

Einstürzende Neubauten - Seele Brennt MP3

Wild Weekend Vol. 36

It´s gonna be a Wild Weekend, take 36. Eclectic mixes a specialty. From gospel to afro, from Togo to Mexico. Plus: a brand new Dylan live track from the days of old. Take it away, guys.

We´ll start off with the legendary Sam Cooke leading the Soul Stirrers, if only because the gospel according to Sam is always a joy to behold. Yes Sir! Next up: a charming cover of the Pete Townshend-penned I´m Free. Comes from an obscure ep from 1980 by Britgirls the Petticoats, their sole output as far as I know. Warning: more ramshackle than the Raincoats even. Which is cool of course.

The Soul Stirrers - The Last Mile Of The Way MP3

The Petticoats - I´m Free MP3

Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio was performed by such greats as the Texas Tornadoes and Los Lobos, but even they never managed to surpass the original by Mexican accordeon wizard Don Santiago Jiménez Sr. Guaranteed to make you smile. "Hay momentos que pareces el demonio, cuando mueves la cintura para bailar..." Run for the hills Santi, that dance-crazy she-devil will only bring you harm... Which is followed by a sensual duet between Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, from their recent collaboration called Hawk. A marriage made in heaven, I´d say. Check it out.

Don Santiago Jiménez Sr. - Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio MP3

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan - Come Undone MP3

Like some steaming afrobeat, Togo style? Ok, here goes. Napo De Mi Amor Et Ses Black Devils surely invented one of the finest bandnames ever, and their wild sounds are right on par. Bonus points for that funky organ, messieurs. Find it on the much recommended collection African Scream Contest, filled to the brim with raw psychedelic afro sounds from Benin and Togo. And last but not least, here´s some stop press material for ya. If you were smart enough to pre-order The Witmark Demos, the new volume in Dylan´s ongoing Bootleg Series project, you got a free disc containing a never even bootlegged before registration of a ´63 gig at Brandeis University. Received my copy yesterday, which made me a happy camper indeed. As a taster, here´s a particularly bleak take on ye olde Ballad Of Hollis Brown.

Napo De Mi Amor Et Ses Black Devils - Leki Santchi MP3

Bob Dylan - Ballad Of Hollis Brown (live Brandeis University ´63) MP3

Jonkanoo Ten Pack

Thought it was about time for a new dub ten pack, so here goes. All strictly roots, all killer no filler. Mixing board wizardry guaranteed. Don´t forget to turn up that bass, my brethren.

Jack Ruby & The Black Disciples - Slavery Days Dub MP3

Skin, Flesh & Bones - Boxer Dub MP3

Lee Perry - Fisher Man Dub MP3

Glen Brown & King Tubby - Termination Dub MP3

Augustus Pablo - Up Warrika Hill MP3

Impact All Stars - Jaro MP3

Tappa Zukie - Dub MPLA MP3

Revolutionaries - Jonkanoo Dub MP3

Ossie All Stars - Dub Down Babylon MP3

Techniques - Ghetto MP3

Wild Weekend Vol. 35

It´s Wild Weekend #35, which means another delicious cocktail of cool tunes from all around the globe. Northern Ireland, Jamaica, Persia by way of the Motor City, Jerez de la Frontera... Just have another wild one. I know I will.

After the demise of Northern Ireland´s finest punkpoppers the Undertones, most of their personnel ended up in a fine band called That Petrol Emotion. One Steve Mack, an American who worked in a London pizza parlour at the time, was drafted as a singer. The triumphant Big Decision was arguably their finest hour. All together now: "You rather sail the ocean, than make a big decision..." Meanwhile on the Island, Pete Weston sees misery all around and urges his rasta brethren to move out of Babylon pronto. Revolution´s not the answer, leave that to those guys in faraway China... Find it on Every Mouth Must Be Fed, another fascinating compilation from the Pressure Sounds label.

That Petrol Emotion - Big Decision MP3
Pete Weston and the Flames - Revolution Is For The Chinaman MP3

Obscure protopunk anyone? Good. Don´t know much about the Up to be honest, just that they recorded this prime piece of Detroit rifferama way back in ´72. And in case you were wondering: Hassan I Sabbah was a Persian missionary who founded the mythical Hashshashin movement sometime in the 11th century. Next up: former Dream Syndicate leader Steve Wynn. Nice to see he´s still at it. Nearly thirty years after he came on the scene with that beauty called The Days Of Wine And Roses, the remarkably Screaming Trees-like Resolution proves he hasn´t lost his touch just yet. From a soon to be released album called Northern Agression.

The Up - Hassan I Sabbah MP3
Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3 - Resolution MP3

And now it´s time for some flamenco puro. Santiago Donday is a veteran vocalist from Cadiz who debuted very late in life when master guitarist Paco Cepero finally managed to drag him into a recording studio. Expect a truckload of duende here, amigos. And we´ve come to the end of another Wild Weekend with the finest Prince song I know: the playful Ballad Of Dorothy Parker. "I took another bubble bath, with my pants on..." Dishwater blonde waitresses sure brought out the best in the ´skinny motherfucka with the high voice´. Sounds like a real man to me...

Santiago Donday con Paco Cepero - Malagueña De El Mellizo MP3
Prince - The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker MP3

Fast Cars And Chrome Parts

Despite all its bombast, the majestic Born To Run will always be Springsteen´s finest hour for me. If you agree, you´ll probably like Linda Let Me Be The One, a song that didn´t make the final cut for the album.

"Midnight's base is St. Mary's, midnight boys hide from the rain,
Stay with the stolen sisters, ´til the streets are dry again...
Talking fast cars and chrome parts, different worlds and strange girls,
Empty homes, busted hearts, and kneeling with Linda in the dark..."

Bruce Springsteen - Linda Let Me Be The One MP3

Now That I´m Home

"Although I´ve howled across fields and my eyes turned grey,

Are yours still the same? Are you still the same?"

One original, one cover. The rather manic Gun Club version stems from their masterful second album Miami (´82). Howl, Jeffrey, howl, you maniac you. Mark Lanegan´s equally intense, brooding acoustic take on the song can be found on his recommended I´ll Take Care Of You (´99).

"Carry home, I have returned,
Through so many highways, and so many tears..."

The Gun Club - Carry Home MP3

Mark Lanegan - Carry Home MP3

Since The Backstreets Of Toronto

Whoa, that new Neil Young album sure is something else. Just ole Shakey and his guitar, with a remarkably delicate Daniel Lanois in the producer´s chair. My current fave of Le Noise? A poignant ballad called Love And War. "I sang for justice and I hit a bad chord, but I still try to sing about love and war..."

Neil Young - Love And War MP3