Real Thing

Relaxed but funky vibes, all the way from Banjul, Gambia. Fly like a Super Eagle.

Super Eagles - Love's A Real Thing

In The Bottle

Two takes on an infectious ole tune. Fiddling royalty Albert Hunt's take was recorded back in 1928, while the mighty Rounders craftily revived it in 1964. "The rooster chews tobacco, and the hen uses snuff, the baby chickens don't take nothing, but they just strut their stuff..."

Prince Albert Hunt - Blues In A Bottle
Holy Modal Rounders - Blues In The Bottle

Lucky Luzia

"Luzia Luluza está lá me esperando..." Lucky gal, that Luzia. Strings, flutes, and horns galore. Hey, we're in Rio, and it's 1968. Tropicálismo rules. The setting: a taxi in heavy traffic. There's a new James Bond flick out. And it's raining. Come in, Gilberto...

Gilberto Gil - Luzia Luluza

Behind Me

"It's been a long long long way, I've got some more to go, don't look at my shadow, it's behind me..." Presenting a shadowy six pack for your listening pleasure. Like what you hear? Buy some albums why don't you.

Manassas - Don't Look At My Shadow

Bad Livers - How Dark My Shadow's Grown

Harry & Jeanie West - I'd Like To Be Your Shadow In The Moonlight

Bob Desper - Darkness Is Like A Shadow

The Fleshtones - Shadow Line

Screaming Trees - Shadow Of The Season

Sweeping Over The Land

Dig violins? Then look no further and let the Calexico gang satisfy you. This one's from their excellent Feast Of Wire album. "One man's close pursuit is another man's last chance..." Oh yes it is.

Calexico - Black Heart

Young Mods

"Shall I tell it like it is? Ain't none of your business... Yes it is!" An unforgettable story. Which is followed by another track from the same '69 soul gem, a great great song about that seven year itch. "I've got the girl I waited for, she's just a wife and nothing more..."

The Impressions - The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
The Impressions - Seven Years

Big El Looks Down

Drawing by Peter Pontiac, Dutch comic artist supreme. The Memphis Flash and Lux & Ivy share the soundtrack. "You've got me all tore up..."

Elvis Presley - Wearin' That Loved On Look

The Cramps - I Can't Hardly Stand It

Some Like It Dread

I know I do... So it's roots time once again on For The Sake Of The Song. Always harder than the rest, seen? Presenting one more ten pack straight outta Trenchtown. Ride on, natty... ride on.

Big Youth - Some Like It Dread

Rupert Reid - See The Dread Deh

Mighty Diamonds - Jah Jah Bless The Dreadlocks

Linval Thompson - Ride On Dreadlocks

Johnny Clarke - Dread A Dread
Prince Jazzbo - Dreadlock Corner

Evon Jones - 4 And 20 Dreadlocks
Lee Perry - Dreadlocks in Moonlight
Roots Rockers - Moses Was A Dread Locks
Jah Devon - Move Out Of Dreadlocks Company

Human Soul

Do buy that book on Bonnie Prince Billy/Will Oldham I told you about recently. Just finished it, and although we're talking about an extensive series of interviews with Alan Licht here, for a hardcore Bonnie fan like me it read just like a novel. Quite a remarkable guy, our Billy... Goes deep.
One cool quote out of many: "What is normally called religion is what I would tend to call music - participating in music, listening to music, making records and singing. I think records and music are more appropriate and more respectful of the human soul than the churches are. And more respectful of the needs of humans to communicate with the aspects of themselves that are neglected by language. I don't think people think about god so much as they think about themselves and how they're going to get through life." Right on, bro.
And while we're at it, here's the title track of Bonnie's most recent offering, the 4-track Hummingbird ep, which came out on the happening Spiritual Pajamas label. Song's a fine take on an old Leon Russell swamper.

Bonnie Prince Billy - Hummingbird, Pt. 1
Leon Russell - Hummingbird

Deal!

He may have been hyped quite a bit recently, but Willis Earl Beal seems to be the real deal alright, and I'm sad I had to miss out on his gigs here last week. Luckily, we've got his soulful debut Acousmatic Sorcery - think of a lofi ratatouille with bits of Tom Waits, Robert Johnson, Otis Redding, and Daniel Johnston thrown in - to listen to, out now on XL Recordings. With bonus points for framing the song & dance man who was just awarded a presidential medal of freedom on the album cover of course. Take it away.

Willis Earl Beal - Take Me Away
Willis Earl Beal - Evening's Kiss

Are You Satisfied

"I saw you smile when you walked in with a gun..." I'm pretty sure Wally and the boys had been listening to quite a few 13th Floor Elevators albums before recording this extraordinary garage punker back in '69. Do You Feel Allright sadly proved to be the last offering of Amsterdam's finest, which inexplicably sank without a trace. Strange things happening indeed.

The Outsiders - Do You Feel Allright