Doin' Things My Way

Thanks to the unsurpassed New York Taper, here's yet another fine live cover by my fave band of the last couple of years, Durham's Hiss Golden Messenger. These guys can boogie, lord. Most of you will know Lonesome, On'ry And Mean by way of Waylon Jennings, but it is in fact a Steve Young original.

Hiss Golden Messenger - Lonesome, On'ry And Mean (live Brooklyn 2015)
Steve Young - Lonesome, On'ry And Mean
Waylon Jennings - Lonesome, On'ry And Mean

No No No

Americana? Sure sounds like it, but no cigar, folks. Ernie Graham was a Belfast pubrocker who recorded the eponymous album pictured above back in 1971, with the great Brinsley Schwartz helping out. A true nearly-forgotten classic.

Ernie Graham - Don't Want Me Round You

Stop Your Lying

You may know Southern soul singer supreme James Carr from the immortal Pouring Water On A Drowning Man or You Got My Mind Messed Up, but there was much more to the man of course. How about these three beauties, you soul groovers you?

James Carr - Coming Back To Me Baby
James Carr - I'll Put It To You
James Carr - Forgetting You

By My Side

And then there's the ongoing joy of Zimmy's Bootleg Series of course. The new Volume 12 is probably the strangest one of the bunch so far. After all, it's made up of numerous works in progress: trial runs of songs that would end up in their final - and best - form on his classic sixties albums Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde On Blonde. Here you can find out how he got there: a fascinating look inside the mind of a musician in true peak form. Cutting edge? But of course.

Bob Dylan - Desolation Row (take 2 piano demo)

Lost In A Dream

Elyse Weinberg's second album should have appeared in 1969 but was was never released, a production role for Neil Young sidekick David Briggs and participation by such heavyweights as J.D. Souther, Nils Lofgren, and even Dinosaur Sr. himself notwithstanding. This year finally, the cool diggers over at the Numero Group have set the record straight. If you like a bit of a raw edge to your Laurel Canyon sound, Greasepaint Smile might be right up your alley.

Elyse Weinberg - It's Alright To Linger

Shepherd's Delight

Some more British freakbeat? Why not indeed. This beauty from 1967 comes courtesy of Yorkshire combo The Accent and has long been a personal fave, because it's just so plain weird. "I can see dawn breaking, what's that strange glow..."

The Accent - Red Sky At Night

Take A Drink

The Open Mind, a late sixties quartet from Putney, really lives up to its name here with a fine garage scorcher. "How do you feel? I feel fine..." The vinyl original must be nearly impossible to track down, but take a tip from one who tried: you can find it on the first installment of the famed Perfumed Garden series, too.

The Open Mind  - Magic Potion

Movin' On

Just got the sad news that Allen Toussaint has passed away. The godfather of New Orleans soul was 77. Miss him.

Allen Toussaint - Get Out Of My Life Woman
Allen Toussaint - The Chokin' Kind

Face It

"No matter where I go, I will always see your face..." Why the long face, people? After all, it's the return of the fabulous six-pack. Rejoice.

Love - Always See Your Face
Bobby Charles - Long Face
Mallard - Your Face On Someone Else
Emitt Rhodes - With My  Face On The Floor
Tortoise - I Set My Face To The Hillside
Smog - Your Face

Tasting It

Going Dutch today with Hallo Venray and a gently rocking track from their recommended 2005 album Vegetables & Fruit. Watch out for that wonderfully distorted guitar break. Are you the captain of this ship?

Hallo Venray - The Captain

Peril Was Done

Joanna Newsom's new offering sure is a tough nut to crack. Ambitious it may be, but Divers is so densely arranged it just might be too clever for its own good. Developed a weak spot for this time travelling folky ballad though. "Honey, where did you come by that wound?"

Joanna Newsom - Waltz Of The 101st Lightborne

Got A Good Thing

Also known as Stoned To The Bone. This, my friends, is da funk, with a capital F. Makes me feel real good indeed. Take it away, Godfather.

James Brown - Stone To The Bone