Saturday, June 28, 2014

All Over Now





















Just got the sad news that soul singer supreme Bobby Womack died yesterday. He was 70. Amongst many other feats, he wrote and - as a member of the Valentinos - recorded the immortal It's All Over Now, which would be the first British #1 hit for the Stones back in '64. Miss him.

The Valentinos - It's All Over Now
Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street

Friday, June 27, 2014

Never Tired





















"You name them hustlers, killers, fiends, ex-cons, I call them cousins, aunts, pops, moms..." Truly fresh voices are a rarity in hiphop these days alas, but Ka's one of the exceptions to that sorry state. Relaxed yet vaguely menacing, his new mini album 1200 B.C. - for sale at his own site only at the mo - is the real deal.

Ka - To Hull And Back

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Get Her





















Girls in the garage time. It's 1966, and the Boots try to top the Shangri-La's, conjuring up all the melodrama they can possibly find. "No boy is worth the trouble that I'm in..."

The Whyte Boots - Nightmare

Monday, June 23, 2014

Forevermore





















The Quartet plays homage to George Gershwin, weaving together Soon, For You, For Me, Forevermore, Love Walked In, and Our Love Is Here To Stay respectively. Great vibes from Milt Jackson and co. Cool's the word.

Modern Jazz Quartet - Gershwin Medley

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Island In The Sun

















Shame Jamaica didn't qualify for the footy world cup this time around. To make up for that a wee bit, here's a rootsy six pack from the island, about the island. "C'mon and smile..."

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Smile Jamaica/Version
Culture - Down In Jamaica
Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - Down Jamaica Way
Jimmy Cliff - Miss Jamaica
The Gaylads - My Jamaican Girl
The Meditations - Running From Jamaica

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Blues Away





















Just got the sad news that Horace Silver passed away yesterday. A wonderful pianist and a true hard bop pioneer, Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva was 85. Miss him.

Horace Silver - Peace

Monday, June 16, 2014

Swinging Lost Paradise





















Didn't know the oeuvre of Rip Rig & Panic had finally been released on cd until I stumbled upon a copy of their I Am Cold album in a second-hand store yesterday. Snapped it up in a sec of course. Still the finest postpunk freejazz avant garde prankster hybrid around.

Rip Rig & Panic - You're My Kinda Climate

And by the way, here's where they found their moniker. Gets me hot everytime.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Rip, Rig, And Panic

Friday, June 13, 2014

Footlose Men





















A long and groovy '75 live version of ye olde Stones chestnut. Mick does his recepshun connecshun shtick to great effect, while Keith sings a ragged second as only he can. Ronnie Wood's the new kid on the block, there's a cameo for Bobby Keys on sax, and that's Billy Preston tickling the ivories. Get what you need.

The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want (live Los Angeles '75)

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Feel Like














Saw Graham Parker play live two times before, both a long time ago, and both excellent, but never backed by his original band: the mighty Rumour. That's right: Brinsley Schwarz and Martin Belmont on guitars, Steve Goulding on drums, Andrew Bodnar on bass, and Bob Andrews on keyboards. Now I'm not much of a reunion kinda guy, but I'll gladly make an exception for this legendary lot. Tonight all night all right...

Graham Parker & The Rumour - Pourin' It All Out

Monday, June 9, 2014

Foul White Light





















"There's flowers all around his feet, there's flowers in his heart..." The postpunk psychedelica of the Furs' first album definitely stood the test of time. Here's a cool early demo.

Psychedelic Furs - Flowers (demo version)

Friday, June 6, 2014

How It's Been





















"Lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire..." Dawn and Will delicately tackle John Denver by way of the Everlys. Hang around some.

Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie Prince Billy - Poems, Prayers And Promises

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Much The Same



















Ray Stinnett always wanted to have a huge hit record on his hands, and he got it in 1965 as a member of Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs, by playing on the immortal Woolly Bully. After biding his time in a California commune, the man they called Catfish finally got around to recording a solo album in his native Memphis in '71, which unfortunately wasn't released at the time. Thanks to the wonderful label of love Light In The Attic, A Fire Somewhere finally saw the light of day two years ago. Genuine hippie vibes seldom sounded so good.

Ray Stinnett - Salty Haze

Monday, June 2, 2014

Time Is Right





















Dug up my two Sneetches albums yesterday and was happy to find their stuff still stands. Pure pop sensibility never goes out of style I guess. Now take that ride.

The Sneetches - What I Know
The Sneetches - In My Car