Hey Joe

Does this little tune from 1962 ring a little bell? Good. Move over Jimi, and let Niela take over. This is the one and only original, you dig. Niela's boyfriend Billy Roberts 'borrowed' and rewrote it and the rest, as they say, is history.

Niela Miller - Baby Don't Go To Town

On My Mind

"I've been sitting here so long, just remembering that you're gone..." Just got word that the great George Jones has left us. He was one of the finest country singers ever. Rest in peace, Mr. Possum.

George Jones - You're Still On My Mind
George Jones - Just One More

Chasin' The Bird

"The midnight cry of a blood red bird brought this sleeplessness on..." Presenting part two of a feathered six pack. Bird is the word. Collage once again by the mighty Tinca. Buy some of her exquisite art why don't you.

Smog - Blood Red Bird

The Holy Modal Rounders - Bird Song
The Anomoanon - Bird Child
Fun Things - When The Birdmen Fly

The Upsetters - Bird In Hand

Ornette Coleman - Bird Food

Of A Feather

"There's a high flying bird way up in the sky, and I wonder if she looks down as she flies on by..." Presenting part one of a folky, chirping six pack. Artwork by the one and only Tinca. Stick together, y'all.

Judy Henske - High Flying Bird
Kieran White - Hummingbirds
Leonda - Zono My Bird
Mellow Candle - Messenger Birds
Michael Hurley - The Early Bird Always Gets The Worm
Carol Kleyn - Blackbird

Nobody Knows

Just got word that Scott Miller, boss man in Game Theory and the Loud Family, passed away. He had that jingly jangly powerpop sound down pat. Need proof? Meet Sheila.

Game Theory - The Real Sheila

Nomad Groove

Except when the great Ry Cooder is involved, I tend to shy away from projects like these. You know, Grammy winning American rocker produces genuine nomad from Niger... Hmmm. But Dan Auerbach and Omar 'Bombino' Moctar prove my gut feel wrong for a change. Nomad simply grooves and grooves and grooves.

Bombino - Imuhar

Don't Give It Away

"Well I used to go out in a Mustang, a 302 Mach One in green..." Yeah, that's what I call a southern song alright. "Me and your mama made you in the back, and I sold it to buy her a ring..."

Drive-By Truckers - Outfit

And since we're talking Mustangs, here are the mighty Vandals. Not the (cow-)punk ones mind, but the originals from the sixties. Wild garage and a whole lot of poontang.

The Vandals - I Saw Her In A Mustang

Pistol Pistol

Remingtons, Smith & Wessons, Magnums. "So much gun shot, some cripple, some turn fool..." Tell 'em again, mr. Rose. Won't hurt 'em none.

Black Uhuru - Youth Of Eglington

Who's Gonna Grieve

"Where's Willie John? Dead so long, born to fall, nothing at all..." That's Mark Lanegan of course, singing his own special kind of blues. Dude knows his classics, too: "She never knew how much I loved her, never knew how much I cared..." Indeed. Which bring us to Little Willie John (1937-1968), an exceptionally fine soul singer from the motor city. Just in case you didn't know: Fever (later made famous by Peggy Lee), and Need Your Love So Bad (covered by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac) were John originals.

Mark Lanegan - Like Little Willie John
Little Willie John - Need Your Love So Bad
Little Willie John - Home At Last

For Dancers Only

"Bad luck streak in dancing school, down on my knees in pain..." Presenting a Monday morning six pack for all you worn-out dancers out there.

Bunker Hill - The Girl Can't Dance
Warren Zevon - Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School
DM Stith - Pity Dance
Gedo - Dance Dance Dance

Pere Ubu - Ubu Dance Party
McCoy Tyner - Passion Dance

Deep Down

Going to see my man Matthew E. White tonite, so I'm cool. Here's hoping the bearded spacebomb from Richmond, Virginia takes it easy on the Jesus and turns up the white soul.

Matthew E. White - One Of These Days

Come On Down

"Is this the blues I'm singing?" Sure thing, Mac, sure thing. My fave single of 1980, hands down.

Echo & The Bunnymen - Rescue