Fa Ya Rights

"Get up and fight for your rights, my brother, get up and fight for your rights, my sister..." Let's lighten up the weekend with a righteous six pack of the roots variety. Seek and you will find, amigos da musica.

The Abyssinians - Declaration Of Rights
Johnny Osbourne - Truths & Rights
Jah Lion & The Upsetters - Truths And Rights
The Defenders - Our Rights
The Mighty Diamonds - Go Seek Your Rights
The Upsetters - Dub Fa Yah Rights

That Same Old Story

So Alone should have been the title song of mr. Thunders' finest solo album, but inexplicably it didn't make the final cut. Glad the cd reissue put this right eventually, as it's a delicious chunk of characteristic junkie sleaze. Sounds quite a bit like the mighty Only Ones, but I'm not sure if Peter Perrett, who participated in the sessions, is indeed present here.

Johnny Thunders - So Alone

Thunder & Rain

"Stagger to the Greyhound station..." I'm on a brutal Mickey Newbury trip at the mo, having finally acquired the monumental American Trilogy box set. "Put me on that dog, take me away..."

Mickey Newbury - Mobile Blue

Blown Away

Move over, Shaggs, for this beauty just has to be my fave outsider album ever. There was a rumour going round a while ago that this rare private pressing from '71 would be reissued real soon, but nothing doing so far alas. Come on ladies, the world is waiting.

Dandelions - It's A Long Way To Heaven

Might Be Gone

The original 1970 vinyl of the Sir Doug-produced Rise is one of the holy grails among collectors, but I don't mind making do with the cd reissue of this excellent Chicano combo. Louie Ortega is the man alright.

Louie And The Lovers - I Know You Know

Make It Up To You

Make way for an unexpected Phil Spector production, with most of the famous Wrecking Crew sittin' in. Recorded in 1978, this beauty remained unreleased until the heartily recommended Complete Recordings of the Paleys saw the light of day last year.

The Paley Brothers - Baby, Let's Stick Together

Never Come Up

Taj and a truckload of tubas, covering a classic Sleepy John Estes blues live at the Fillmore East? Big fun I say.

Taj Mahal - Diving Duck Blues

Cars & Dogs

Looking for a nice read? Try Jay Farrar's Falling Cars And Junkyard Dogs, a cool collection of short and sweet trips down memory lane by the man of Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt fame. Thanks to Lance over at the always mighty Adios Lounge for tipping me off. Soundtrack: a couple of fine live tracks with Mark Spencer, recorded at Lee's Palace in Toronto.

Jay Farrar with Mark Spencer - Barstow (live Toronto '04)
Jay Farrar with Mark Spencer - Cahokian (live Toronto '04)

Treat Me Nice

Alex Chilton & co take on a Loudon Wainwright composition, live in the studio of a New York radio station. Song fits them like a glove. "What can a lonely rock & roller do?"

Big Star - Motel Blues

Kids Are Alright

400 pounds of joy in an inspired plea for black and white power. Say it loud!

Baby Huey - Mighty Mighty Children (Part 1)

Hey Hey Dude

High time for some recent stuff, amigos. Let's start off with the New Bums, who bring us understated neo-psychedelica that sounds remarkably close to the Kramer productions from the days of old. Which is another way of saying it's way cool of course.

New Bums - Black Bough

Next up, the esteemed mr. Tyler surprisingly covers krautrock great Michael Rother (of Neu! fame) on his brand new Lost Colony ep, and that sure is an excellent choice. Motorik beat for now people? You've got it.

William Tyler - Karussell

And we're signing off with Ryley Walker, a young cat from the Windy City who's got that pentangling early seventies folkrock sound down pat. The jazzy Clear The Sky could even be a long lost Tim Buckley outtake. Chapeau, dude.

Ryley Walker - Clear The Sky

I Take It

"I know I've got the best thing in town, baby..." A surefire hit? Apparently, Sam & Dave thought different, burying the brilliant Wrap It Up on the flip of their - admittedly also terrific - I Thank You single.

Sam & Dave - Wrap It Up

By Death

Granted, I don't play that old fashioned punk rock as much as I used to, but some days it's still all you need really. So here's a kbd ten pack of obscure punk tunes from back in the goodle days. Coming from compilations such as Where Birdmen Flew, Killed By Death, Outlaws In My Eye, Me Want Breakfast, and Back To Front, these are rare, lofi punk blasts that'll definitely blow you away. So long the sixties, and death to disco of course...

Mad - I Hate Music

Really Red - I Was A Teenage Fuckup
Eyes - Disneyland

K9's - Idi Amin

Thought Criminals - More Suicides Please

Nitwitz - I'm So Lazy

Chain Gang - Son Of Sam
Snots - So Long The Sixties

Babeez - Do Wanna Love

Jimi La Lumia & The Psychotic Frogs - Death To Disco