tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27377391485837999712024-03-13T04:11:51.509-07:00jukeFor music lovers.jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-28582619320986312982016-10-14T07:51:00.000-07:002016-10-14T07:52:11.000-07:00Warren Zevon<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">An Excitable Boy</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't think there's anyone who did wry, dark, impish, witty madness quite like Warren Zevon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A talented pianist and guitarist, blessed with a commanding and theatrical but by no means conventional singing voice, and a sense of humour too twisted for conventional tastes, Zevon can be a marmite musician, but if you love him, you really love him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">His early career is like a who's who of random rock trivia; he played with The Everly Brothers, wrote for The Turtles, lived with Buckingham Nicks and was produced by Kim Fowley.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From the mid 70's, collaborations with and contributions from Jackson Browne and others from that Laurel Canyon LA scene (Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, The Eagles, Lowell George) ensured his place as a new force to be reckoned with. The Boss himself Bruce Springsteen said, when inducting Jackson Brown into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, that if Brian Wilson had settled down early in a kind of hypothetical Californian world utopia and had two sons, Jackson would have been the well-tempered Abel, and </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Cain of course, would have been Jackson's brother in arms, Warren Zevon.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This sentiment has stuck with me for the years since I've seen it and I can't necessarily put my finger on why. Partly because it is delightfully poetic imagery, but partly because it reinforces this concept that Zevon was essentially one of the naughty ones. He obviously had an often difficult or wild nature, particularly when he was younger, but how much of that was a front? I feel the reputation may have overtaken the truth somewhat, as especially in the later years the romantic songs came as freely as the witty ones. They just were quite cloaked and witty still.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I was born to rock the boat</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Some may sink but we will float</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Grab your coat- let's get out of here</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>You're my witness</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I'm your mutineer</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">His hit song Werewolves Of London is often seen as a novelty song, a viewpoint that only makes sense if you haven't heard it alongside the rest of his output. A lot of it is daft, a lot silly, but there's commitment to the comedy, and to the darkness. Whilst he has written some incredibly tender and heartfelt love songs, he has created his own particular niche for classic rock and roll storytelling songs with great wordplay and a dry twist. A great example is 'Poor Poor Pitiful Me', a hit for friend Linda Ronstadt and later Terri Clark, a martyr's take on life's various dissatisfactions; "these young girls won't let me be, poor poor pitiful me......."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In fact he does a pretty good line in tongue in cheek woe-is-me tracks, as classic 'Lawyers, Guns and Money' is a more urgent appeal for help from the pampered hedonistic protagonist. I think also you could say he writes damn good love songs for people who don't do love songs. Self depreciating and never overly sentimental yet all the more touching for it, his particular brand of romantic expression has surely been the open door or translation tool for many likeminded folk to get their feelings out there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">His parting shot in his final months? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Enjoy every sandwich.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some tunes for enjoying.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lawyers, Guns and Money</span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP5Xv7QqXiM"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP5Xv7QqXiM</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jonny Strikes Up The Band</span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr0zWFKz4QE"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr0zWFKz4QE</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Frank and Jesse James</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVfRwyhBNXY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVfRwyhBNXY</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mutineer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU3e-dSY4v0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU3e-dSY4v0</a></span><br />
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<br />jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-8532698511224944872016-10-14T07:04:00.000-07:002016-10-14T10:05:25.735-07:00Joe Tex <br />
Soul Country<br />
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For those musical adventurers in search for something special that lies nestled in the rock/soul/funk/country categories, Joe Tex is a winner.<br />
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This is my copy of country soul. There's almost more crackle than melody, which I know would drive some people up the wall, but sound quality in that sense has never really bothered me, which is helpful (and appropriately suited) for my bank balance.<br />
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Along with other soul artists of his generation, he touched on many musical genres throughout his career, but this is the style I prefer him doing. Being based in Nashville he had plenty of access to country players, and as the sleeve notes say, one of his earliest idols was Hank Williams. It initially begins very much in soul territory (he covers Dark End of The Street, and Ode to Billie Joe) and ends side one somewhat bizarrely in country territory with Roger Miller's Engine Engine Number 9. Side two is mixed again with a lovely Green Green Grass of Home and By The Time I Get To Memphis, but let down by Set Me Free, which I think does not demonstrate his high vocal standard fairly. It's not tender enough and seems fairly throwaway.<br />
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So 9/10 ain't bad!<br />
His voice is mellow and warm, and this is a lovely set of songs.<br />
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If you would like to follow up on some more Joe Tex, you could take the direction of his earlier work, tracks like Pneumonia (he wasn't allocated a writing credit for the song 'Fever' so wrote his own answer song based on the same theme). His sense of humour is often evident.</div>
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Pneumonia</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbCf6YcMxEk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbCf6YcMxEk</a></div>
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Skinny Legs</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sdib6gd190">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sdib6gd190</a></div>
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Bear in mind it's very much of it's time lyrically. </div>
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Buying a Book</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU8JCzOKxKM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU8JCzOKxKM</a></div>
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Or follow his later soul funk period, where his and James Brown's feud rumbled along for years, a bitchy whirl of capes, splits and sequins. James Brown thinks he's No 1, Joe Tex is offended because he thinks Little Willie John is No.1, Little Richard wades in and says James Brown stole all Joe Tex's moves, Joe Tex thinks James Brown stole his ex and backing singer, James Brown is generally dismissive, yaddayaddayadda....</div>
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This song is is directly to James Brown, and it's downright rude. Most offensively to her.</div>
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You Keep Her</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWLyOSzBWgc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWLyOSzBWgc</a></div>
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I Gotcha</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qT4zTv_vVY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qT4zTv_vVY</a></div>
Check out the amazing Damita Jo Freeman, queen of moves on Soul Train<br />
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<br />jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-69802263101943198722015-04-15T04:07:00.000-07:002016-10-14T10:12:07.053-07:00The show must go onGreat songs with stuff going wrong, artists laughing, whether it be a great belly laugh, a creeping case of the giggles or a snort. Sometimes equipment breaks, sometimes lyrics are forgotten. The phone will often ring. It doesn´t matter.<br />
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I love them. It reminds us that our talented, mysterious music heroes are just normal folks, trying to hold it together.<br />
Or not, as the case may be.<br />
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Apart from Ella, she´s a pro.<br />
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Elvis - tons of laughing tracks.<br />
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Elvis´s recording of Are You Lonesome Tonight interspersed with some serious giggles (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvo6UVayW3U">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvo6UVayW3U</a>) became quite well known, but it wasn´t a one off. Elvis quite often had to contend with questionable lyrics, and gloriously failed to hold it together.<br />
These attempts at Beach Shack are lovely. Looks like we caught him at the "silly hour".<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdb2IWXUHD4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdb2IWXUHD4</a><br />
This attempt at Datin´never stood a chance.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGfFYuOJCQw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGfFYuOJCQw</a><br />
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George Harrison - Miss O´Dell<br />
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Miss O´Dell was Chris, an employee at Apple and general assistant to the Harrison gang. Harrison reportedly promised to write a song about her (as Leon Russell had, with Pisces Apple Lady) and instead came up with a much more insightful song about himself. It is rare in this period of Harrison´s career to be sounding so socially apathetic, or maybe it´s more of an exhaustion witht he pretence of the people around him. He has nothing to say about the war or poverty and is bored to tears of pollution. It´s not desolate, just tired, and maybe a little playful. Maybe he is just having a little fun with people´s expectations of him.<br />
Anyway, he says "rice" instead of "night", and the concept of rice "rolling on right up to his front porch" sets him off. He tries but fails, relapsing a few more times before the end.<br />
There´s an especially delightful chuckle at 1.17<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHFhDJHAGE0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHFhDJHAGE0</a><br />
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Led Zeppelin - In my Time of Dying<br />
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Right at the end there when plant is singing his last few notes, Bonzo coughs and splutters. Plant in a singing reply says "cough" and Bonham yells "That´s gonna be the one isn´t it?!"<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Dhz90oJXo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Dhz90oJXo</a><br />
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Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Woman #12 &35<br />
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Rather than one specific incident, it seems that this song was born out of one big laugh. Dylan himself cracks a few times and there´s numerous whoops from the party gathering in the background.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mk18aPydAU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mk18aPydAU</a><br />
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Ella Fitzgerald - Mack The Knife<br />
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"Oh whats the next chorus, to this song now.... it´s the one now, I don´t know"<br />
Ella can even make buying time and hoping for a prompt sound wonderful. She forgets the words but keeps it together and whips out a mean Louis Armstrong impression.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx2YSOcbFCs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx2YSOcbFCs</a><br />
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The Police - Roxanne<br />
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You´ve probably never noticed, but there´s a fluffed piano note and laugh in the first few bars.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1c7GkzRQQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1c7GkzRQQ</a><br />
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Genesis - Anything She Does<br />
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Just after the final note of this song Phil makes the exact noise my Dad makes when he fluffs a shot in golf. It sounds like a noise of dissatisfaction, but they kept the (wonderful) take, so who knows?<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfCDbWgKF8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfCDbWgKF8</a><br />
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The Kingsmen - Louie Louie<br />
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At 0.56 the drummer Lynn Easton says "Fuck!" apparently because he fluffed something. Also, after the guitar solo, singer Jacky Ely comes in too early and drummer Easton redeems himself by filling the time with some interesting drum work. Great song, but it´s all gloriously ramshackle, who knows what´s going on.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZJ4ESU52U">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZJ4ESU52U</a><br />
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The Mamas and The Papas - I Saw Her Again<br />
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Quite a well known one, this, but it did begin as a mistake. Doherty comes in too early for the chorus at 2.44, but it worked, so they kept it. It was written by John Phillip supposedly about his feelings on his fling with Mama Cass, which in turn was some kind of revenge for Michelle and Denny´s affair. Messy or what......<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zBMK5OAGyE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zBMK5OAGyE</a><br />
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The Rolling Stones FEATURING all hail the queen MERRY CLAYTON - Gimme Shelter<br />
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Merry Clayton was called last minute, in the middle of the night, to join this session. Hair still in curlers she decided to blow them out of the room.<br />
As her voice breaks the second time in her phenomenal vocal solo we hear Mick exclaim "wooo!" 3.02<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3rnxQBizoU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3rnxQBizoU</a><br />
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<br />jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-10076068418156172002015-04-10T04:10:00.000-07:002016-09-05T03:01:51.771-07:00There are music films, and films about musicThese are my favourites.<br />
It may be a direct musical theme, it may be just a really good soundtrack.<br />
Films for music lovers.<br />
Go!<br />
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Empire Records<br />
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Whether you´ve worked in a record store or not, this will make you feel like you have. It´s got everything; great tunes, great camraderie, quotable lines, a struggle, humour and a character for everyone. Also featuring a great young cast who went on to bigger fame.<br />
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If you want blood......<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2ukEhmetBE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2ukEhmetBE</a><br />
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Blues Brothers<br />
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Another great film about working together to pull something off. It´s offbeat, funny and totally unexpected. The lineup is frankly ridiculous. Aside from John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, you´ve got Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Donald " Duck "Dunn and Steve Cropper among many others. Buckets of fun.</div>
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What I would give to be a dancer in this scene.....</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdbrIrFxas0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdbrIrFxas0</a></div>
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Almost Famous<br />
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A beautiful semi-autobiographical film by Cameron Crowe, about his time as a young rock writer in the early 70´s. It´s warm, honest and sweet with a phenomenal backing track, changing songs almost every minute, but seamlessly. It is one of the films that has most accurately held up a mirror to my love of music and how the journey of discovery feels. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is heartbreakingly exquisite as Lester Bangs, Kate Hudson embodies the queen groupie composite, a perfect combination of life and soul of the party glamour and vulnerability. In fact everyone is glorious. Just watch it, you´ll fall in love.<br />
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Here, this scene didn´t make it in. It´s excellent.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRJhtCzOOQE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRJhtCzOOQE</a><br />
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Human Traffic<br />
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I don´t really know what the point is writing about this, I don´t really know what to say. It became so much a part of my youth and every time I watch it I realise more and more of what we say to this day is ripped from this film. Effectively a group of mates, a serious weekend in a Cardiff club and house parties. It doesn´t matter if you aren´t into clubbing or house music, there is so much to relate to, and it´s brilliantly well done. The record shop scene is perfection. The weekend has landed. Featuring a glorious performance from a young Danny Dyer.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc0kPAPNahU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc0kPAPNahU</a><br />
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High Fidelity<br />
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This is working in a record shop. It´s funny, it´s sad and it all rings pretty true. Our protaganist Rob is delving through his relationship history to understand his current, failed endeavour with Laura, all to a fine and varied soundtrack. Jack Black´s Barry, his record shop co-worker/employee is utterly perfect. Everyone knows a Barry (don´t worry, if you are self aware enough to worry it´s you, it´s not you). The top 5s, the arguments, competition, the recommendations, evreything. Spot on. How do you order yours? Chronological? Alphabetical? Autobiographical.<br />
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An excellent deleted scene.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ziBCarxEk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ziBCarxEk</a><br />
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The Last Waltz<br />
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This is a little different. It is a recording of a live concert, interspersed with interviews. Directed by Scorcese, and filmed at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, it is beautifully staged and lighted. It feels warm and grand, suitable for a farewell to such a well loved group. The concert included cameos from such delights as Van Morrison, Dr John, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan, cut with candid interviews with the band. It is indicative of, if nothing else, the pure joy they have inspired that so many glorious artists should take the time to come and play with them. For me, however, a lovely bonus is how these artists really raise their game to share an equal footing on the stage with these guys. Neil Young announces it´s one of the pleasures of his life to be on the stage with them, I´m pretty sure Dr John is thanking them profusely before his glittering performance of Such A Night but it´s rather unintelligable. Van Morrison wears sparkles, for god´s sake. There are delightful studio performances from The Staples and Emmy Lou too. Levon talking about travelling shows (Wallcott´s Rabbitfoot Minstrels) is lovely. Richard Manuel smiles discussing The Band´s less iconic previous names. The scene where Rick Danko plays a recording of his solo track Sip The Wine is bliss. Overall though, the solo performances by The Band are the ultimate demonstration that nothing and nobody else is needed but their talent, and their tunes.</div>
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<br />jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-45459582515179433332015-04-09T06:02:00.000-07:002015-04-09T06:02:48.219-07:00Travelling homeThere are many things you can call home, a country, a neighbourhood, a house, a van, a person..... or your local pub.<br />
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I am lucky, in that I have all those things to call home.<br />
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There are few things that render me such an emotional nostalgic wreck as the idea of coming home, and seeing as this feeling resonates with me in so many aspects, it´s a feeling I am well accustomed to.<br />
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Music gives this feeling a partner in sound, and these to me are the best examples.<br />
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Tim Buckley- Happy Time<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpMyogpnx0U">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpMyogpnx0U</a><br />
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Sweet and warm and light, the sound of spring......it´s a happy time inside my mind when a melody does find a rhyme, says to me i´m comin home to stay...... It´s beautiful, advising his mama to "let the morning sun warm your bed while i´m away".</div>
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John Martyn- Over The Hill<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwjL3ipBAhg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwjL3ipBAhg</a><br />
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This beautiful little ditty seems as conflicted and baffling as the man himself. On first listen it´s a yearning for a countryside home and his wife, but it seems the touring life isn´t going to let go too easily. It seems more that home seems to him like an easy escape from ´sweet cocaine and mary jane´, as "there´s just one place for a man to be when he´s worried about his life". Not so romantic then, but a charming tune nonetheless.<br />
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Bonnie Raitt- Home<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hmnRg1Q67E">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hmnRg1Q67E</a><br />
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I love this woman and will not rest till she is worshipped for the goddess she is. Her voice to me has a sense of mourning, and is put to great use in this song. "Home sings me of sweet things, my life there has it´s own wings", beautiful stuff, and great imagery.<br />
Travelling at night, the headlights were bright.....<br />
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Terry Reid- Faith To Arise<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd63GVczu-8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd63GVczu-8</a><br />
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This is such a sweet honest song. He describes being far away, away from his loved one and missing her, and he is on the phone to her and finds he has nothing to say, he just wants to BE THERE. Beautiful lyrics and gorgeous country slide in the mix.<br />
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Jethro Tull- Home<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG71S9VGKqQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG71S9VGKqQ</a><br />
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It´s so beautiful! So epic, slightly sad.....yet triumphant. Utterly romantic. Under 3 minutes of grand orchestration. "As the dawn breaks over sleepy gardens, I´ll be here to do all things to comfort you. And though I´ve been away, left you alone this way, why don´t you come awake and let your first smile take me home".<br />
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<br />jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-64640925419723052612014-04-14T10:48:00.001-07:002014-04-15T07:39:14.708-07:00If you got it, a truck brought it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another example of glorious artwork, a bootleg this time......<br />
Little Feat- On the other foot<br />
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Although the sound is slightly muffled, this recording undeniably catches the raw incendiary groove that Little Feat are so well loved for.<br />
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It is endearingly created, in very much a rough and homemade style. It is labelled as 'a big boot prod', and uses a name logo that I have never seen on other Little Feat releases.<br />
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jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-68714528855827635462014-04-10T08:49:00.000-07:002014-04-14T11:12:44.154-07:00The sensual stuffIf you grow up listening to listening to the kind of stuff I did, regardless of how varied it is, you are still presented with sexuality from a very skewed, and very 'male' point of view. Perhaps this is because the women who write and sing openly and confidently about sexuality have been historically suppressed, or tend to be more underground, simply because mainstream press get all uncomfortable about it? I can't think of any parent I know having any major objections to their child listening to say Led Zep's talk of lemon squeezing and juice running, or frankly everything by AC/DC, or the mythical fecundity of early British folk, or any of Leonard Cohen's musings. I don't know if that is because they are respectively, too cryptic, too jokey, too traditional or too artfully poetic, but however you look at it, male sexuality, whilst not necessarily 'celebrated', is very much the given lyrical content in classic pop music of the 20th century. Female sexuality in pop music lyrics has been harder to seek out, and still has an idiotic element of taboo, which is probably partly why I find it so fascinating.<br />
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It would be ignorant and patronising to one-dimensionally categorise relevant examples in the depressing way women often are in the music industry (predator, virgin, scorned harpee....? All relatively familiar) but it has been an exciting adventure to more recently discover such glorious and varied examples of honest and open female songwriting that do not play a role, and do not distinguish between topics of sex and of love, rather to weave them together in an honest reflection of life. It is wonderful to discover lyrical celebrations of wilder sexual fantasies and desires, of smiles at blissful memories, of humiliations, of insecurities and of desperation.<br />
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Within this spectrum, likewise, it comes packaged as cryptic, jokey and artfully poetic along with the wonderfully sly, and brass balls bold. The shame would be for anything to be enjoyed for the novelty..... but perhaps half of its effect comes from the fact that relative to male sexuality, it is still a novelty to hear about?<br />
I don't know.<br />
What I do know is, as much as I love music from a man's point of view, its thrilling to hear from the ladies.<br />
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Anyway, here's some stuff.<br />
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Joni Mitchell- Coyote<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2rfbuaMXKM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2rfbuaMXKM</a><br />
On this live version she really flies, and her face says it all, delicious memories, tinges of disappointment but no regrets.<br />
....dancing close and slow now he's got a woman at home, he's got another woman down the hall he seems to want me anyway, why'd you have to get so drunk and lead me on that way?....<br />
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Cowboy Junkies- Black Eyed Man<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFK6amxyGd8&list=PL_P9ZyOUxwnM0LUXmJQxMzlPjKtpf2Ms9&index=2">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFK6amxyGd8&list=PL_P9ZyOUxwnM0LUXmJQxMzlPjKtpf2Ms9&index=2</a><br />
Her face at this point :<br />
....and he did things to me, things of which I dream of still........<br />
Just elated, and ever so slightly fondly rueful.<br />
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Liz Phair- Flower<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZC-EOs_fyA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZC-EOs_fyA</a><br />
If I quote any sentence from this it will become a fairly X-rated post and I can't work out if this song has a predatory swagger or a 'sit outside your house with binoculars' kind of vibe but either way... brilliant.<br />
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Georgia White- Was I Drunk<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlwIHF45rY0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlwIHF45rY0</a><br />
Every time I think of him do I shiver?<br />
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Tori Amos- Precious Things<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi9NUoZmulU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi9NUoZmulU</a><br />
Resentful, insecure, angry, defiant.<br />
...So you can make me come it doesn't make you jesus....<br />
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Sippie Wallace- I'm A Mighty Tight Woman<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFUaGb4C1M">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFUaGb4C1M</a><br />
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Tori Amos- Leather<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccMSpf0YuQQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccMSpf0YuQQ</a><br />
..I can scream as loud as your last one, but i can't claim innocence....<br />
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Ani DiFranco- Dilate<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPi2FyzF9c8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPi2FyzF9c8</a><br />
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<br />jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-76262672309143366462014-04-10T08:46:00.000-07:002014-04-22T07:40:14.225-07:00Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash<br />
Michael Nesmith is an incredibly interesting and talented bloke, and this is a great album, but this post is focused not on the content but the sheer beauty of the presentation.<br />
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Anyone who knows me is aware that I shot myself in the financial foot long ago by falling in love with every musical medium (bar the minidisc... obviously.....), and in some cases have the same album on tape, mp3, vinyl AND cd.<br />
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This said, it is widely documented that vinyl just has that tactile advantage. Its a work of art. Or it can be, hence the point I'm making. There is so much potential with the size and layout of vinyl record that some just seem a bit wasted, from the visual point of view. Yes its almost all about the music, but no music fan can deny that they have fallen for a record on sight, with the desperate hope that the listening experience will match. It doesn't always work however, i.e. intriguing cover, sub-par sounds (Billy Swan, ahem). My friend Ed recently bought a trumpet based comp with a cover that implied life changing potential. Mild disappointment was the theme of that afternoon, and lives did not change, needless to say.<br />
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Anyway, in terms of vinyl presentation, I think this one might be perfection. It is in keeping (but not in a themey way) with the music and it very much suits the man and his humour.<br />
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Life size portrait of Mike on the cover. Ideal kissing size (not essential, but in this case helps). B+W Avedon-style photo, very honest. Clear text supports dry title.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-slkU--gM9Do/U0a40oNQypI/AAAAAAAAAQE/PeTH3rzTGG4/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-slkU--gM9Do/U0a40oNQypI/AAAAAAAAAQE/PeTH3rzTGG4/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Charming cheeky note.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_S_OOyfWtHg/U0a4oUNfv-I/AAAAAAAAAPI/YMV4ndv5QOk/s1600/IMG_0649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_S_OOyfWtHg/U0a4oUNfv-I/AAAAAAAAAPI/YMV4ndv5QOk/s1600/IMG_0649.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Back of sleeve is rainbow fade..... </div>
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Gatefold inner picture shows Michael looking like some Waylon styled badass cowboy in a lake surrounded by Pre-Raphaelite red headed sirens and lilies. </div>
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The gatefold text is a glorious stream of consciousness musing from Nesmith about the making of records, the artistic process and the industry generally, rounding off with: </div>
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<i>Well, what the heck, if there's no reason and it doesn't make any difference, then just don't do it... get a job, make something of yourself... as if yourself weren't something...why go through the thousands of dollars and aggravation of making a record to sell. I've thought about that a lot... I'm sure there's an answer, but it beats me. At least I'm prepared to accept anything...waxed fruit, tree surgery, whatever. And if I don't come to a fork in the round, I don't panic anymore, I just assume that one is the road and the other is a road off to the side.</i></div>
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With one final disclaimer, if you catch it</div>
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<i>After two or three months this album may lose potency although some aroma may linger.</i></div>
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Now that's how you do album design.</div>
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<br />jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-4841236919708431762013-03-14T06:43:00.000-07:002013-04-02T08:44:07.959-07:00Clifton Chenier<br />
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<i>King of the Bayou........</i></div>
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This Creole legend and blues accordionist was born in 1925 and grew up in Louisiana. In the 50's he had some mainstream success, the way paved by Prof Longhair and his popularisation of Louisiana's brand of R'n'B. Along with his band, the Zydeco Ramblers he toured for years, becoming beloved in his home state and critically acclaimed throughout the country. He found a new wave of mainstream popularity later on in life, winning a Grammy in the early 1980's and continuing touring until a Diabetes-related kidney disease ended his life in 1987. He was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame.<br />
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His energy was infectious, and his style of playing is hailed as revolutionary. He sang both in French and English, and his repertoire included various aspects of cajun and zydeco music, like blues, country, r'n'b, and boogie-woogie. Clifton's son CJ continues his legacy, performing his own energetic brand of Zydeco around the world.</div>
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'Tighten Up Zydeco'.... hear that spark</div>
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'Sont Pas Sales' Zydeco classic recorded live. Check out that washboard</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVwUf3O--s4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVwUf3O--s4</a></div>
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'When You Going To Sing For Me' ...serious blues accordian</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGnu9VYq-u8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGnu9VYq-u8</a></div>
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'I'm a Hog for You'.....live footage of a bluesy number in both English and French<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYkehxwpel4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYkehxwpel4</a><br />
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QI: Chenier (pronounced SHENeer) has been widely referenced by other artists, for example as the subject of the Rory Gallagher song 'The King of Zydeco', and in the Paul Simon song 'That Was Your Mother' from the massively popular 'Graceland'.<br />
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<br />jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-27922011924002059342013-02-06T09:38:00.000-08:002013-03-27T04:18:50.341-07:00Betty Davis<div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nDDtslzVmfo/URJ5hZ5EkJI/AAAAAAAAAHk/CaFMm5dhg80/s1600/hotpants-1973-betty-davis-shorts-boots-afro-seventies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nDDtslzVmfo/URJ5hZ5EkJI/AAAAAAAAAHk/CaFMm5dhg80/s320/hotpants-1973-betty-davis-shorts-boots-afro-seventies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Get ready for Betty...........</i></div>
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Betty never had the success she deserved at the time of her releases, but no doubt she was just too many miles ahead of the game for people to understand. Totally fierce, raunchy, confident and strong, she intimidated people who believed in more traditional gender roles. It's a shame, because although her lyrics and persona were seen as extreme and darkly predatory, it's actually really joyful. A musical celebration of openness, playfulness, confidence and sexuality. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64Y7MLSUYnQ/URJ4pe-c06I/AAAAAAAAAHM/qX3QoGTgObk/s1600/Betty-Davis-Photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64Y7MLSUYnQ/URJ4pe-c06I/AAAAAAAAAHM/qX3QoGTgObk/s320/Betty-Davis-Photo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Betty was born Betty Mabry in 1945, and wrote songs from a young age. At 16 she moved to New York, where she worked as a model and studied fashion and soaked up the booming folk scene. By the mid 60's she had written songs for the Chambers Brothers and The Commodores and she was good friends with Sly Stone and Hendrix. In '68 she met (and promptly married) Miles Davis, who was greatly inspired by her sound and her friends, and his experimentation with funk and rock began.</div>
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She released her first, self-titled album in 1973, produced by Greg Errico (the Family Stone drummer). This contained the single 'If I'm In Luck I Just Might Get Picked Up', clearly a funk classic, but neither the album or singles set the charts alight. She released two further albums 'They Say I'm Different' and 'Nasty Girl' but none of her efforts had mass appeal.</div>
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Her lyrical content seems explicit even by today's standards, ('You dragged my name in the mud… but I used to leave you hanging in bed by your fingernails' and 'He was a big freak, I used to beat him with a turquoise chain') and in the 1970's some religious groups took offence to this brazen woman who wrote about her sexual desires and exploits. Some radio stations were also uncomfortable with her attitude and banned her music. After one more shelved record for Island in 1976, a frustrated Davis left the industry for good.</div>
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Although she thinks of herself primarily as a songwriter and 'not a great singer', her vocal and performance style have been hugely influential, as has her image. You can hear and see it in artists such as Prince, Beyonce, Grace Jones, Ludacris, Lenny Kravitz, Outkast, Lil Kim and Erykah Badu. Many people have noted her influence on Madonna, although I enjoy Carlos Santana's observation, that Betty "was the first Madonna, but Madonna was like Donny Osmond by comparison." He also recalls Betty as "indomitable – she couldn't be tamed. Musically, philosophically and physically, she was extreme and attractive".</div>
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A few years ago the stars at label Light In The Attic re-released Betty's albums, so no doubt she will be influencing many more generations to come.</div>
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Here we go:</div>
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'If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up'</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2B0FBdzGis">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2B0FBdzGis</a> .....try not to pass out..... </div>
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'They Say I'm Different'</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKWPynScqgw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKWPynScqgw</a>.... getting off, humping to John Lee Hooker.......</div>
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'Nasty Girl'</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf5NUBIcEyU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf5NUBIcEyU</a></div>
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'If I'm in Luck' covered by Iggy Pop. Great fun.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H98t0-D4wlY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H98t0-D4wlY</a></div>
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QI: Without Betty's suggestion the classic Miles 1970 album Bitches Brew would have been called Witches Brew.......</div>
jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-40176979056823316512012-02-23T04:37:00.001-08:002013-03-14T06:56:56.158-07:00Dr Hook and The Medicine Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Well we're big rock singers, we've got golden fingers</i></div>
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<i>We sing about beauty and we sing about truth</i></div>
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<i>at 10,000 dollars a show</i></div>
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<i>We take all kinda pills that give us all kinda thrills but the thrill we never know</i></div>
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<i>Is the thrill that'll getcha when you get your picture on the cover of Rolling Stone......</i></div>
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You will rarely hear a more joyful, playful and entertaining band than this one.</div>
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There are often seen as being two musical sides to Dr Hook, mostly seen as the earlier, rougher country rock and the later slicker, safer, more romantic output. In my view, the division is not that clear as the band has been fairly multi-faceted throughout their career but either way, there is something for anyone who enjoys well crafted songs and the art of the gloriously chaotic rock and roll performance.</div>
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I have to admit, the early stuff is right up my cup of tea, so that is the area I will concentrate on. The band formed in New Jersey in 1968, and legendary songwriter (and children's author!) Shel Silverstein recruited them to sing alongside him in the Dustin Hoffman film 'Who Is Harry Kellerman And Why Is He Saying All Those Terrible Things About Me?' which, despite the film's lack of success, brought them some notoriety.</div>
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Shel is renown for his witty, bizarre and very very clever songs and much of the Dr Hook output were Shel covers, and tracks co-written with him. The band were named for singer Ray Sawyer's distinctive pirate- style look (he wore an eye patch having lost an eye in a car accident).</div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">My favourite line- up is Ray Sawyer and Dennis Loccorriere on vocals, with Billy Francis on keyboards, George Cummings on electric guitar, Rik Elswit on acoustic guitar, Jay David on drums and Jance Garfat on bass. The band had a very fluid set up though, and almost all the band members came up front to sing at some point or another. Rays voice is a country twang, and full of humour whilst Dennis switches from a gritty howl ('Cops 'n Robbers') to a sensitive vibrato ('Only Sixteen'). Both George and Billy have deep, sensual voices, put to best use on songs like 'Get My Rocks Off' and 'Penecillin Penny'. Rik has more than a passing </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">resemblance</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> to Garth from Wayne's World (watch him sing the live vocal in 'Everybody's making it Big But Me' and you'll get it).</span> </div>
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Part of what makes them so refreshing, and no doubt especially did at the time, is that they didn't take themselves too seriously. Many of their tracks reference and poke fun at the famed decadent rock star lifestyle with all it's trappings- one such song was 'Cover of Rolling Stone'..... announcing that the way to know you had 'made it' was to make the cover of Rolling Stone.</div>
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Most of the videos I have linked below are live performances. This is not to say that they aren't a great studio band, because they are, but Dr Hook and the Medicine Show live are a sheer celebration of performance and friendship and fun. What you may notice is that in most of these videos there seems to be an astonishing level of intoxication......... this is very entertaining, but never makes for a sloppy performance. There is footage where you worry that Dennis wont be able to stay upright, yet his voice never falters. Except to break out in a fit of giggles. Which he does, often.</div>
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'Carry Me, Carrie' on Shel's Houseboat. Beautiful performance.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Z50V7tadg&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Z50V7tadg&feature=related</a> <br />
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'Freakin At The Freaker's Ball'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGLERfPg178&list=FLzbckeWT2NODJdv4lJhZTUw&index=49&feature=plpp_video">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGLERfPg178&list=FLzbckeWT2NODJdv4lJhZTUw&index=49&feature=plpp_video</a> <br />
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'Everybody's Making It Big But Me' on the Old Grey Whistle Test<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv_TA2S2z34&list=FLzbckeWT2NODJdv4lJhZTUw&index=47&feature=plpp_video">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv_TA2S2z34&list=FLzbckeWT2NODJdv4lJhZTUw&index=47&feature=plpp_video</a> <br />
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'The Cover of Rolling Stone'- it worked!<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH_npzCeg30&list=FLzbckeWT2NODJdv4lJhZTUw&index=48&feature=plpp_video">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH_npzCeg30&list=FLzbckeWT2NODJdv4lJhZTUw&index=48&feature=plpp_video</a> <br />
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'Only Sixteen' Dennis shows his beautiful voice on this Sam Cooke cover<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7OxF3oQFzw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7OxF3oQFzw</a> <br />
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'Get My Rocks Off', quite a performance from Billy, throwing shapes. All splayed long legs. Like a sexy denim clad Praying Mantis.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aY6PFccu-k&list=FLzbckeWT2NODJdv4lJhZTUw&index=5&feature=plpp_video">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aY6PFccu-k&list=FLzbckeWT2NODJdv4lJhZTUw&index=5&feature=plpp_video</a> <br />
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QI: Shel Silverstein wrote Johnny Cash's hit 'A Boy Named Sue'jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-63174488670632312082011-03-30T09:37:00.000-07:002013-03-14T06:55:39.845-07:00White Mansions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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White Mansions was a country rock concept album written in 1978 by thoroughly interesting bloke Paul Kennerley and performed by some of country music's finest including Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter and with a guest spot on guitar from Eric Clapton.<br />
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The album is wonderful, but we will get to that....<br />
Englishman Paul Kennerley was working in advertising in 1976 when he first heard country music. He had an epiphany, immersed himself in the music, quit his job and started writing songs. His first project White Mansions, was picked up by A & M, and Jennings, Colter, Clapton, Steve Cash and John Dillon were recruited along with Glyn Johns (Dylan, The Beatles, The Band, The Who, The Stones, Fairport) producing. I am just astounded by that, and how someone can completely change their path and start their new career right at the top with some of the most respected people in the industry. Amazing. And lucky guy.<br />
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Anyway, the album topic is somewhat controversial, but it is executed with thoughtfulness and wit.<br />
The album is set at the outbreak of the American Civil War in the 1860's, and the situation as seen by various characters from the south, including the son of a wealthy cotton family, his partner who works in a hospital during the war, a drifter (a kind of weary impartial observer), self-professed 'white trash' poor southerners and (briefly) the slaves.<br />
It tries to put across the point of view of many in the south, their pride and macho attitude towards the war but also the difficult decisions and changes they were facing and the fear of the economic repercussions.<br />
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Everyone involved sings and plays wonderfully, and with real intensity. The songs range from slow ballads to classic country rock, battlefield singalongs, gospel and a waltz thrown in for good measure. It's an all round good album, and great for anyone like me who prefers music with country influences to out and out country. It's also great being able to hear artists like Jessi and Waylon, whose voices I have long appreciated, in more of a country-rock environment. There is unfortunately only a small input from the wonderful gospel voices that make up 'the slaves' characters, but I guess the album theme (the situation from the point of view of the white southerners) limits their involvement.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PekgnCXzyiw/TZG1VpyUhjI/AAAAAAAAAFk/sky_i4SH1FE/s1600/white+mansionsin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PekgnCXzyiw/TZG1VpyUhjI/AAAAAAAAAFk/sky_i4SH1FE/s320/white+mansionsin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you can get round the slightly uncomfortable concept (which you should) and see this as what it is, which is not a glorification of slavery in the south but a wonderful historically set concept album, you will probably find something you like in it.<br />
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The beautiful 'Story To Tell'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKUxiiCZeWI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKUxiiCZeWI</a><br />
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'Oh Dixie'<br />
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'Join Around The Flag'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EizLPLuATyo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EizLPLuATyo</a><br />
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'Praise The Lord'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziupJ0UXj6A&feature=BF&list=PL53721DB34D80EFE9&index=11">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziupJ0UXj6A&feature=BF&list=PL53721DB34D80EFE9&index=11</a><br />
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'Southern Pride'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZg3WKhk94k">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZg3WKhk94k</a><br />
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'Last Dance'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22DmyDovq9Q&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22DmyDovq9Q&feature=related</a>jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-66801318014641845962011-03-11T14:01:00.000-08:002013-03-14T06:54:56.447-07:00Delaney and BonnieOne of the most overlooked but glorious bands in rock.<br />
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As many sources will tell you, Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett were musician's musicians. That is to say that they didn't have much commercial success but they were very much admired and respected by some of the most celebrated artists out there.<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ESwNs7BDoHg/TXqUp2DiPqI/AAAAAAAAAFY/tNNdB3Z-UKk/s1600/delaneybonnieduane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ESwNs7BDoHg/TXqUp2DiPqI/AAAAAAAAAFY/tNNdB3Z-UKk/s320/delaneybonnieduane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Delaney found his early success playing with The Shindogs (house band of the tv show Shindig) and Bonnie sung from a young age, backing Albert King, Little Milton and Ike and Tina Turner (the first white Ikette). She moved to LA, met Delaney and they were married soon after.<br />
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They originally signed to Stax, but with their first album gaining little success, they moved to Elektra where they released their second, 'Accept No Substitute'. Once again it didn't fare too well commercially but found the band a small cult following of fans, many of whom were successful musicians themselves. After a tour supporting Blind Faith, Eric Clapton went on to join them full time, taking a reserved role in the group. They adjusted their name to Delaney, Bonnie and Friends, releasing their most successful album, 'On Tour With Eric Clapton'.<br />
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eoCD86EAbi8/TXqUmQD9HkI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/xmsXFDfiym4/s1600/delaney+and+bonnie+with+George.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eoCD86EAbi8/TXqUmQD9HkI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/xmsXFDfiym4/s320/delaney+and+bonnie+with+George.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The band were the envy of other many musicians, to the detriment of Delaney and Bonnie. In 1970 Delaney's old friend Leon Russell invited bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Keltner to join the awesome Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour with Joe Cocker, and Eric Clapton invited Radle, Keyboardist Bobby Whitlock and drummer Jim Gordon to make up his Derek and the Dominoes group, no doubt putting various spanners in the works for the couple. By this point anyway, their relationship was strained, and when Delaney and Bonnie broke up the band finished altogether.<br />
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To me they are a perfect example of all that is great about that period of music. The combination of soul, blues, funk and rock sung with loads of passion and presented with a great group energy.</div>
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'Poor Elijah' with Eric Clapton<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir2eAEhtXvE&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir2eAEhtXvE&feature=related</a><br />
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'Comin' Home' Great live performance! It really builds. Awesome.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EOxy3TF3OY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EOxy3TF3OY</a><br />
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'I Don't Know Why'. Gorgeous song with Clapton on lead vocals<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEYC1ZFwCtw&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEYC1ZFwCtw&feature=related</a><br />
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'Good Thing' with Kenny Gradney and Sam Clayton from Little Feat<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ofFxe03BVc&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ofFxe03BVc&feature=related</a><br />
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'Only You Know and I Know'<br />
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QI: In 1979 when Bonnie was touring with Stephen Stills, a drunk Elvis Costello was (according to him) trying to rile her by repeatedly making racist and offensive comments about Ray Charles. So she punched him in the face. Bravo.jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-87149972445667710462011-03-02T05:57:00.000-08:002013-03-14T06:47:15.682-07:00Os Mutantes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Os Mutantes are fun.</div>
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Formed in 1966 in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">São</span> Paolo, Brazil by the Baptista brothers and female vocalist Rita Lee, the band combined traditional Brazilian folk, and elements of the bossa nova and tropicalia genres with British style psychedelia.</div>
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Throughout the Mutantes' history there has been LSD breakdowns, break ups, members lost, members gained and members institutionalised, but they have remained one of Brazil's most highly respected and influential bands throughout. They have also been a huge influence on many American and British bands.</div>
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Kurt Cobain wrote them a letter requesting a reformation, Devendra Banhart asked to be their roadie, Beck named one of his albums after them and they played a glorious set in the sunshine at the Other Stage at last years Glastonbury Festival.</div>
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They are a bit bonkers, but in a really good way.</div>
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'A Minha Menina'</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEpSFOibJho">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEpSFOibJho</a></div>
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'Bat Macumba'</div>
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'El Justiciero'</div>
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'Panis at Cirences'- Sound quality not good but they look bloody fantastic.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-VMk71yy8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-VMk71yy8</a></div>
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jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-7616462383811316902011-02-24T03:14:00.000-08:002016-10-14T10:06:55.305-07:00Townes Van Zandt<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i>"Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that"</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><i>"It's goodbye to all my friends</i></span></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"></span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>It's time to go again</i></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>Think on all the poetry</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>And the pickin' down the line</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>I'll miss the system here</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>The bottom's low and the treble's clear</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>But it don't pay to think too much</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>On things you leave behind</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>I may be gone</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>But it won't be long</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><i>I will be a-bringin' back the melody</i></span></span></div>
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Townes Van Zandt was born into a wealthy oil family from the South and moved around for much of his youth. His guitar playing was heavily influenced by blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins and he honed his skills in the Houston folk clubs of the mid-60's. He released his first studio album in 1968, the beautiful 'For The Sake of the Song', where his elegant lyricism is somewhat drowned out by saccharine production. He had a productive next decade releasing 7 albums before taking a 10 year break from recording in 1978. He returned in 1987 with 'At My Window' and continued to release albums from then till his untimely drink-related death in 1997.</div>
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It's hard when just describing his output to fully convey the immense respect that Townes commands. His music is often stark, and introspective, and usually quite sad and haunting. His voice is not technically amazing in the conventional sense, but it is beautiful and bitter-sweet and affecting, and it can relate more raw emotion than most trained vocalists could manage.</div>
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He is revered among other musicians, and his songs have been covered by artists including Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Merle Haggard, Mudhoney, Willie Nelson, Cowboy Junkies, Manfred Mann, Lylle Lovett, Robert Plant and the Band of Joy, Jackson Browne, Jerry Jeff Walker, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Gillian Welch, Sufjan Stevens, Evan Dando, Alison Krauss, Mark Lanegan and Isobell Campbell, the list goes on......</div>
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'To Live Is To Fly' Gorgeous lyrics</div>
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Wow. This gets me every time. 'Nothin''</div>
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'Rake'- I'd welcome the stars with wine and guitars.........</div>
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'Pancho and Lefty'</div>
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'Mr Gold and Mr Mudd' Live at the Old Quarter. Classic opening joke.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkkNtU8VmU0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkkNtU8VmU0</a></div>
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QI: His manager was John Lomax III, grandson and son of the famous musicologists and folklorists John A Lomax and Alan Lomax.</div>
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jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-24825401234160272892011-02-11T11:44:00.000-08:002013-03-14T06:58:12.014-07:00Ike and Tina Turner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XuHLF1xjA5o/TVV9t9o-CBI/AAAAAAAAADs/NiVFKfDVKHg/s1600/ikeand+tinastripy+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XuHLF1xjA5o/TVV9t9o-CBI/AAAAAAAAADs/NiVFKfDVKHg/s1600/ikeand+tinastripy+dress.jpg" /></a></div>
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Sometimes its hard to separate the art from the artists.</div>
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As most people are now aware, much of Tina's life with Ike was a misery, putting up with his cruelty, manipulation and both verbal and physical abuse.When you know the stories behind the recordings and performances, some of their work makes for uncomfortable listening (her forced suggestive performance of 'I've Been Loving You' for one), but that doesn't take away from the fact that they were an amazing live and recording act, and that Tina is a legend. </div>
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Ike was a great guitarist too, but I don't really like complimenting him.</div>
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By the mid 1950's Ike Turner was a huge local star and renown playboy in St Louis, Missouri, with his band The Rhythm Kings. A 16 year old Annie May Bullock used to go along to his gigs, and one night managed to take the mike and sing a little with the band, a regular feature of the show. 'Little Ann' impressed Ike so much that he took her on as a backing singer, once he had convinced her mother of her safety. In the studio one day, she filled in for an absent lead vocalist on 'Fool In Love', Ike was blown away and changed her name, and the name of his band to the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, installing 'The Ikettes' as new backing vocalists.</div>
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What made such an impression on Ike, and no doubt everyone who hears her, is that Tina was one of the first women to sing with that much grit and feeling. Influenced by gospel and blues, she had a wild yet husky rasp that set her apart.</div>
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The revue had a set of hits in the early sixties with 'Fool In Love' and 'Work Out Fine', but then survived through their impressive live show reputation until their second spell of success occured in the late sixties. In between, Tina (and specifically not Ike, though he is credited- Spector paid him £20,000 to not be involved, on the basis that Tina could be) recorded the epic 'River Deep Mountain High', a huge hit in the UK but a relative flop in the US. Spector considers it his best work. </div>
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At the end of the decade they came back with their hit covers 'Proud Mary', 'Come Together', and the Tina penned 'Nutbush City Limits'. They supported The Rolling Stones and were very highly regarded among the new rock royalty, especially the British bands who had grown up on American R&B records. In 1976, one night before a show after one particularly vicious beating, Tina escaped Ike. In the divorce he got all their monetary assets, all she had asked for was the rights to the stage name he had pushed upon her.</div>
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After all her hardships she went on to forge a happy, successful career in the 1980's and 1990's, but ironically the recordings that I think are really mind blowing are the ones from her days with Ike.</div>
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She is a wild, wailing powerhouse of a vocalist, with unbelievable presence. Her song introductions are soft and familiar yet in seconds she transforms into something completely primal.</div>
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Everyone has heard the hits, so I want to recommend some songs or performances that might be a little less familiar..............</div>
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Ok, apart from this one. Classic, 'Proud Mary':</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54XRNQ2C2x0&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54XRNQ2C2x0&feature=related</a></div>
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'A Fool In Love' and 'Work Out Fine', an unusual performance for a woman at that time, so strong and tough, awesome.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI1EN6GCGc0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI1EN6GCGc0</a></div>
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'If I Knew Then' from the Feel Good album in 1972</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1uSav0dd-A">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1uSav0dd-A</a></div>
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This is wonderful older footage from Tina Turner and an exceptionally smooth Marvin Gaye.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcn18GVOG-g&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcn18GVOG-g&feature=related</a></div>
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Skip to 1.00 if you want to avoid random talking, but a glorious funky performance here, Tina channelling James Brown.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUcS_FTY9C4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUcS_FTY9C4</a></div>
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QI: Members of The Ikettes will look very familiar from time to time. Among their ranks were Claudia Lennear (of Joe Cocker fame), a young and partially disguised Bonnie Bramlett (of 'and Delaney' fame) and Venetta Fields (of The Blackberries fame).</div>
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jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-49045194451505084552011-02-05T04:24:00.000-08:002013-03-14T06:51:58.060-07:00Booker 'Bukka' WhiteBooker T Washington White, in the tradition of bluesmen, had a varied and interesting life. Thankfully his story is one of the happier ones. Born in Mississippi in 1909, his railroad worker father taught him to play guitar at the age of nine, and he spent much of his youth riding the rails and playing wherever he could.<br />
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His earliest known recordings are some gospel tracks cut with Memphis Minnie in 1930, although they did not bring him success and he continued to odd-job around, gaining some success as a boxer. In 1937 Big Bill Broonzy asked him to come to Chicago, however on the way he got in some trouble, ending up shooting a man and going to Parchman Farm Prison.... (it wouldn't be a proper blues story without some mysterious criminal activity, right?)</div>
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In prison he recorded some tracks for musicologists John and Alan Lomax, and by the time he was released in 1940 he had a full set of 12 songs to record. He went into facotry work during the war and somewhat off the radar, but when Dylan covered 'Fixin to Die Blues' blues enthusiasts John Fahey and Ed Denson went on the search for him and he was discovered in Memphis and brought to play in the coffee shops of the New York folk circuit.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TU03ost2oQI/AAAAAAAAADo/Jzxb8Iki7wc/s1600/bukka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TU03ost2oQI/AAAAAAAAADo/Jzxb8Iki7wc/s320/bukka.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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He gained notoriety as an exciting performer and influenced generations of musicians, playing and recording until his death in 1977.</div>
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You can see from the videos below, especially Aberdeen Mississippi Blues how he must have blown away the other guitarists at the time. Strong, powerful and adventurous in his playing, it doesn't sound like just one man and a National guitar. To me he is the perfect combination, all the rough masculinity of Howlin Wolf, with the presence of Son House and the playful humour of Sonny Boy Williamson. And that voice.....</div>
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Enjoy.</div>
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Awesome percussive style on Aberdeen Missippi Blues</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsMpHHSLSlc&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=MLGxdCwVVULXfO8s3gqdT0Mx2Nc16-ZTrr">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsMpHHSLSlc&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=MLGxdCwVVULXfO8s3gqdT0Mx2Nc16-ZTrr</a></div>
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Amazing Lomax video of Bukka and Chester Burnett AKA Howlin Wolf, sharing a laugh and a song</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIFPj9PfTu8&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIFPj9PfTu8&feature=related</a></div>
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'Jelly Roll Blues', classic scene and Booker in good humour.... 'Take it easy now Booker' at 0.22 seconds :)</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf-vK-kX6p8&playnext=1&list=PLD32645002DE707D2">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf-vK-kX6p8&playnext=1&list=PLD32645002DE707D2</a></div>
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'Fixin' To Die Blues'</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6TAt-2bYE0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6TAt-2bYE0</a><br />
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QI- He gave a guitar as a gift to a young cousin of his, later to be blues legend, BB King</div>
jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-32252155034997556732011-02-03T04:37:00.000-08:002013-03-14T06:59:50.306-07:00Mad Dogs and Englishmen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ze mad dogs, and ze Englishmen, and Joe Cock-air!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfc1r4h76I/AAAAAAAAADM/Ow3gILeRAXw/s1600/Joe+in+Bostoncrowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfc1r4h76I/AAAAAAAAADM/Ow3gILeRAXw/s320/Joe+in+Bostoncrowd.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="214" /></a></div>
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The story goes that in 1970, Joe Cocker had just finished a long and tiring promotional tour, and he ends up in LA with the aim of a little r&r, only to be told by his record company that he is expected to be on another tour in 8 days. Enter Cockers's friend Leon Russell, who hastily assembles a group of musicians (largely from Delaney and Bonnie's touring band) and organises some intense rehearsals. The tour now consists of Cocker, Russell, Don Preston now sharing guitar duties with Russell, Chris Stainton sharing keyboard duties with Russell, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Sandy Kornikoff and Chuck Blackwell all on drums and percussion, Bobby Keys on sax and Jim Price on trumpet. Rita Coolidge, Donna Washburn, Claudia Lennear, Pamela Polland, Denny Cordell, Matthew Moore, Daniel Moore, Bobby Jones and Nicole Barclay make up the wonderful Space Choir. Plus, joining the tour more often and not was Miss Emily, children, wives, husbands and pets (you can see Canina the dog, below on Leon's piano at rehearsals).</div>
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This big party travelled all over the states on a plane called 'Cocker Power' and, luckily for us, a crew filmed them as they went. The set mostly consisted of Cocker's staple covers or Russell songs, like 'She Came In Through The Bathroom Window', 'Honky Tonk Woman', 'The Weight', 'Feelin' Alright', 'Girl From The North Country', 'Delta Lady', 'Hummingbird', the list goes on. For many,me included, this is a perfect example of the brilliance of the sound from that classic musical era. Rock, soul and funk all tied together with an epic wailing gospel choir.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfc8lF6isI/AAAAAAAAADU/Yh7KG-6WLp4/s1600/leon+and+joe+organise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfc4HqjAeI/AAAAAAAAADQ/V9tx_JruEQ4/s1600/joecockercrowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfc4HqjAeI/AAAAAAAAADQ/V9tx_JruEQ4/s320/joecockercrowd.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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The atmosphere was exciting and infectious as you can see in the videos, probably because it was all fairly new for the musicians and they hadn't played the material to death. Plus, they were a group of friends and musicians, partying and playing music together, what could be more fun?!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfc4HqjAeI/AAAAAAAAADQ/V9tx_JruEQ4/s1600/joecockercrowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfdFQPQ4YI/AAAAAAAAADc/IOFHAb32nEo/s1600/Rehersal_Detroit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfdFQPQ4YI/AAAAAAAAADc/IOFHAb32nEo/s320/Rehersal_Detroit.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cocker is at the absolute height of his powers, each cover is a classic interpretation, but especially 'Honky Tonk Woman', 'Feelin' Alright' and 'The Letter' . But then he could sing you the phonebook....</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfc-juUu7I/AAAAAAAAADY/QgzAR1hEcSc/s1600/leon+play.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TUfc-juUu7I/AAAAAAAAADY/QgzAR1hEcSc/s320/leon+play.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="221" /></a></div>
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Now onto the fun bit.........</div>
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'Hony Tonk Woman', check out Miss Emily grooving away at 2.00</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqXK1TJPOVs&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqXK1TJPOVs&feature=related</a></div>
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My favourite 'Space Captain', written by Matthew Moore from the Space Choir, who you can see at 2.12 with the smile and the curls</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-407iUd_pFY&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-407iUd_pFY&feature=related</a></div>
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'The Letter', with Bobby Keys on saxophone and Leon as the ultimate in nonchalence</div>
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'Feelin' Alright' (written by Dave Mason of Traffic)</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RePEPznG1Fg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RePEPznG1Fg</a></div>
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For general having-fun-on-the-road tour footage and an awesome song, here's 'Sticks and Stones'</div>
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The band hanging out at a bar after a show, singing 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' and drinking</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWgpU6cQCQM&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWgpU6cQCQM&feature=related</a></div>
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These pictures were taken by the official tour photographer, who you can check out on <a href="http://www.lindawolf.net/">http://www.lindawolf.net/</a></div>
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QI- Space choir member Claudia Lennear is rumoured to be the inspiration for both 'Brown Sugar' and 'Lady Grinning Soul'.</div>
jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-37319497687176955092011-01-22T03:42:00.000-08:002013-03-14T06:53:40.518-07:00Little Feat<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TTSFCdHgacI/AAAAAAAAADA/qLtvcT0r2U4/s1600/lfeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TTSFCdHgacI/AAAAAAAAADA/qLtvcT0r2U4/s1600/lfeat.jpg" /></a></div>
Little Feat formed after future lead singer and guitarist Lowell George left Zappa's Mothers of Invention and through 1971 to 1974 made what I consider to be four perfect albums. They also did lots of lovely stuff after that, and still continue to record albums, however, the classic era is undoubtedly based around Lowell George.<br />
Little Feat is funk, soul, country and blues, all mixed together.<br />
Wonderfully.<br />
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As with any band there were complications, and the other band members were heading in a direction that was heavily interested by jazz fusion, which was of no interest to George. He wrote less and less for the band, and concentrated on his own solo album (the wonderful 'Thanks, I'll Eat It Here').<br />
Lowell died in 1979 at just 34 years old.<br />
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Little Feat have continued to play live since then, still consisting of classic lineup members Bill Payne, Paul Barrere, Kenny Gradney and Sam Clayton (even 'new' member Fred Tackett has been in the band since 1987), however drum LEGEND Richie Hayworth sadly died this summer. In a surreal twist, I saw them for the first time the day after Richie's death, and first heard the news via the band themselves. With drum technician Gabe Ford sitting in they played an amazing varied set with early and newer tracks and classic Little Feat jams. <br />
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So definitely check out 'Little Feat', 'Sailin Shoes', 'Dixie Chicken' and 'Feats Dont Fail Me Now' but dont dismiss the newer stuff. Even the newer albums like Chinese Work Songs are worth a listen if you're not afraid of a a little latin jazz fusion......<br />
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'Rock'n'Roll Doctor' on Whistle Test. The story goes that the band had flew over from America specifically for the show, turned up, plugged in and straight away played this. The ultimate professionals, but never clinical. Sam's backing vocals are classic.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEOlTZGuLKM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEOlTZGuLKM</a><br />
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Live performance of 'Cold Cold Cold' <br />
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'Roll Um Easy', gorgeous little song.<br />
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Plus, our new QI feature!<br />
Fact: Percussionist Sam Clayton is the brother of Merry Clayton of epic wailling on 'Gimme Shelter' fame. There you go, quite interesting.<br />
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More info: <a href="http://www.littlefeat.net/">http://www.littlefeat.net/</a>jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-75496754047375673692011-01-09T16:34:00.000-08:002013-03-14T06:48:28.502-07:00Greetings From L.A.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TSo9laH3dUI/AAAAAAAAAC4/iU8ulTUHLzc/s1600/tbuckleyplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TSo9laH3dUI/AAAAAAAAAC4/iU8ulTUHLzc/s320/tbuckleyplay.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Tim Buckley</div>
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Greetings From L.A.</div>
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1. Move With Me</div>
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2. Get On Top</div>
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3. Sweet Surrender</div>
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4. Nighthawkin'</div>
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5. Devil Eyes</div>
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6. Hong Kong Bar</div>
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7. Make It Right</div>
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Greetings From L.A. is Tim Buckley's 7th album, and in fairly typical unfortunate Buckley style didn't set commercial fires alight when it was released in 1972. It's a million miles from his early romantic folk albums, and doesn't exactly lead on from the experimental jazz sounds of previous album Starsailor either, so many previously established and recently acquired fans were left a bit baffled......</div>
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It is, however an epic, sensual masterpiece of an album, with a confident, strutting Buckley proving his mastery of yet another musical style. Wikipedia calls this his 'Sex Funk' era, which is pretty accurate actually, as you can gather from some of the titles.</div>
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The album actually begins with the lyric 'I went down to the meat rack tavern, and I found myself a big ol' healthy girl'. In 'Devil Eyes' he sings about wanting to 'lick all around those stretch marks, lay the tongue between the toes'. In 'Get On Top' he sings that 'When I love you mama I talk in tongues'. </div>
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Glorious.</div>
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This is pretty brash stuff, but he pulls it off. In the same sense as 'Foxy Lady'; it's an overtly confident display of male sexuality that just manages to come across as cheeky and playful, not sleazy (which, with lyrics like that, it probably should).</div>
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It feels like a celebration, and Buckley sounds like he's having the time of his life, indulging in random bursts of explosive scatting. The soundtrack is mostly classic piano-based funk with lots of horns and brassy backing vocals, but there's variety too, and gentler tracks 'Sweet Surrender' and 'Hong Kong Bar' offer some time out. </div>
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This is probably a bit of a marmite album. I love it, but I'm sure there are many who find it abrasive and cheesy and all a little bit much.<br />
There's only one way to find out how YOU feel about it.....<br />
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'Nighthawkin'' (Wonderful lyrics) and 'Devil Eyes'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Lvlpk6hMU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Lvlpk6hMU</a><br />
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'Move With Me'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR2bBnraTj4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR2bBnraTj4</a><br />
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'Sweet Surrender'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-qNBxXjbI4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-qNBxXjbI4</a><br />
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For more information go to <a href="http://www.timbuckley.com/">http://www.timbuckley.com/</a>jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-23272681470390371672011-01-01T10:29:00.000-08:002013-03-14T07:04:51.413-07:00Blues Run The Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jackson C Frank</div>
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His story is not a happy one, but his music is delicate and beautiful and definitely deserves a listen.</div>
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A fire at his school left 15 of his fellow students dead and an 11 year old Jackson with severe burns and trauma that would haunt him, affecting his mental stability for the rest of his life. He learnt guitar while recuperating and travelled to England on the large insurance payout. </div>
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At this time the English folk scene was thriving and Frank spent time with other Americans who had come to be part of the scene, such as Dave Van Ronk, Tom Paxton and a then unknown Paul Simon, who produced his eponymous album. Frank also befriended many British folk musicians like John Martyn, John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, using his money and position at the Cousins Club to help them out when possible. At this time he had a relationship with Sandy Denny and was championed by John Peel.</div>
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In 1966 his health began to deteriorate and he returned to the US with severe depression, which worsened after the death of his son in the 1970s. In the 1980's he began living on the street and through simple wrong-place-wrong-time bad luck, he was shot in the eye and consequently blinded. In the 1990s, a fan named Jim Abbot sought him out and helped him move into a retirement home in Woodstock where, with renewed enthusiasm, he began to record some new demos. Jackson C Frank died of pneumonia and cardiac arrest in 1999.</div>
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Although never really famous, his work has been known through the artists that have covered him; a list including Nick Drake, Bert Jansch, Simon and Garfunkel, Counting Crows and Fairport Convention.</div>
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Despite his many misfortunes in life he created some of the loveliest songs I have ever heard. Have a listen.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TR9k1ZYmEVI/AAAAAAAAAC0/zOF-BPKuL0U/s1600/jacksonclater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TR9k1ZYmEVI/AAAAAAAAAC0/zOF-BPKuL0U/s320/jacksonclater.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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Perfect little song, 'Blues Run The Game'.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgY4GnLGsLQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgY4GnLGsLQ</a></div>
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'You Never Wanted Me'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVx4Buw1qtk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVx4Buw1qtk</a><br />
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Raw and sound quality lacking but a wonderful much later track called 'Tumble In The Wind (Version 1)'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_4N05coN2g">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_4N05coN2g</a><br />
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There is currently no Jackson C Frank website, but an interesting account of his life is provided at <a href="http://www.folkblues.co.uk/artistsfrank.html">http://www.folkblues.co.uk/artistsfrank.html</a> through a phone interview with the man himself.<br />
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And more info at this Allmusic page <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jackson-c-frank-p182067/biography">http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jackson-c-frank-p182067/biography</a>.jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-34302831329249223132010-12-28T08:02:00.000-08:002013-03-14T07:06:20.357-07:00Nic Jones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TRoDsIlT5hI/AAAAAAAAACo/5tW0yrhh1_Q/s1600/nicjones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TRoDsIlT5hI/AAAAAAAAACo/5tW0yrhh1_Q/s320/nicjones.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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Nic Jones is one of the most respected and influential folk musicians in the UK, despite the fact that a car accident ended his performing career 28 years ago. An early member of The Halliard, Nic then built up a solo career throughout the 70's, culminating in the now-iconic Penguin Eggs in 1980. His distinctive percussive fingerpicking has been a big influence on many musicians and Radio 2 Mike Harding Show listeners voted Penguin Eggs the second best folk album of all time in 2001.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TRoG3BljrXI/AAAAAAAAACs/ZiSqwba8gsw/s1600/nicjonesssss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TRoG3BljrXI/AAAAAAAAACs/ZiSqwba8gsw/s1600/nicjonesssss.jpg" /></a></div>
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Due to high demand, a couple of compilations have since been lovingly produced, providing fans with live tracks and unreleased recordings, including 'Game Set Match' and 'In Search Of'. In a VERY VERY EXCITING twist, this summer Nic began to perform live again!!! I hope to be lucky enough to see him one day.<br />
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The classic: 'Canadee-i-o'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olplcsNuqyg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olplcsNuqyg</a><br />
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'Clyde Water' (Drowned Lovers)<br />
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A little fun with 'Wanton Seed'<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wcNkJuhrfc&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wcNkJuhrfc&feature=related</a><br />
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For more information and info on how to find these releases go to Nic's website...... <a href="http://www.nicjones.net/index.htm">http://www.nicjones.net/index.htm</a>jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-33612555221041539732010-12-09T05:04:00.000-08:002013-03-14T07:10:12.990-07:00Dreamer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TQDGdc6TbgI/AAAAAAAAACg/ggxIB2VuIJo/s1600/Dennis%252BWilson%252BDennis2bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TQDGdc6TbgI/AAAAAAAAACg/ggxIB2VuIJo/s320/Dennis%252BWilson%252BDennis2bw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dennis Wilson</div>
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As drummer for the Beach Boys, Dennis had already had considerable fame and success but apart from a few lead vocal roles ('Do You Wanna Dance?' 'This Car of Mine'), he didn't get the opportunity to show the full extent of his talent. He released a single in 1970, but it wasn't until 1977 that he released Pacific Ocean Blue, his first solo album.<br />
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It's wonderful!! Emotional ballads, funky soul songs and laid back California rock and Wilson's distinctive rasping vocal. Dennis loved the sea and this album has that theme throughout (he was the only Beach Boy that actually surfed).<br />
It opens with the epic River Song, worth the price of the album alone. Its a massive but heartfelt production, featuring the Little Rock Baptist Choir and brother Carl Wilson.<br />
There are many more highlights, my personal favourites being 'Dreamer', 'Rainbows', and the heartbreaking 'End Of The Show'.<br />
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Dennis was gregarious and fun-loving, and the unfortunate flip-side in his case was a growing problem with alcoholism and substance abuse. He died in 1983, but fittingly, he was buried at sea, where he was happiest.<br />
He left behind an unfinished album called Bamboo, which is now available as a box set with POB. It contains one of his most beautiful songs, 'Holy Man'. Although a final vocal track was not recorded in time, it has recently been produced with the original vocals sung by Taylor Hawkins, a fellow drummer from the Foo Fighters. Sit down, get comfortable, listen and drift off to Carl's guitar...........<br />
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River Song<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arQUVdjI2y0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arQUVdjI2y0</a><br />
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Holy Man feat. Taylor Hawkins<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNF73YSMpAI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNF73YSMpAI</a><br />
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Dreamer<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgiD6DLsmIY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgiD6DLsmIY</a><br />
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For more info go to the lovingly maintained fan site <a href="http://www.danaddington.com/denny/">http://www.danaddington.com/denny/</a>jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-25049437631004956962010-11-29T13:38:00.000-08:002013-03-21T06:50:55.716-07:00Givin' It Back<div style="text-align: center;">
Can't you see the soldiers?</div>
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I see them marching..... </div>
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1. Ohio/Machine Gun (Young/Hendrix)</div>
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2. Fire And Rain (Taylor)</div>
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3. Lay, Lady, Lay (Dylan)</div>
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4. Spill The Wine (War)</div>
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5. Nothing To Do But Today (Stills)</div>
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6. Cold Bologna (Withers)</div>
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7. Love The One You're With (Stills)</div>
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In many ways this record has fallen through the cracks. Released by the hugely successful Isley Brothers in 1971, it is an album solely made up of covers. The Isleys had, until this point, been a relatively straight soul group with hits like 'Shout', 'Twist and Shout' and 'This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You). The group had left Motown just a few years previously through frustration, and were hitting their stride with their new funk-based sound when they released this wonderful oddity. Covering so many white artists was a particularly brave move in these times where black and white audiences were still very much defined. Perhaps this is one of the elements that makes this album so special; with acoustic guitars, plenty of Latin percussion, emotive soul vocals and some wonderful soaring guitar solos from the newly inducted Ernie Isley, this album transcends genre stereotypes.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TPQZ4pKB7pI/AAAAAAAAACY/DZ7tH_qty_0/s1600/givin+it+back+toooo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TPQZ4pKB7pI/AAAAAAAAACY/DZ7tH_qty_0/s320/givin+it+back+toooo.png" width="307" /></a></div>
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Ohio/Machine Gun is epic, a big undertaking, although this is a passionate and emotional reinterpretation which hits equally as hard, in my opinion, as the originals. Fire and Rain is beautiful and mournful. Lay Lady Lay is soothing and gentle. Spill The Wine is awesome Latin soul. Nothing To Do But Today gives a funk groove that completely transforms the Stills original. For Cold Bologna, the band were joined by the song's writer himself, Bill Withers, on guitar. </div>
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Love The One You're With has always been a favourite song of mine, and I had previously thought that Aretha's version recorded live at the Fillmore was my favourite cover, now I'm not so sure.....</div>
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Anyway, do listen. It's a wonderful and rare thing to find an album you can listen to all the way through and love every second, and I have certainly found that with 'Givin' It Back'. I hope that you might take a shine to it too.</div>
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Love The One You're With</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S4KOwwvH_s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S4KOwwvH_s</a></div>
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Fire and Rain</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc5zjxAPFN0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc5zjxAPFN0</a></div>
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Spill The Wine</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFn_NK4f7-k">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFn_NK4f7-k</a></div>
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A live version of Ohio/Machine Gun from 1973</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mBW9bM9BEo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mBW9bM9BEo</a></div>
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jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737739148583799971.post-48733732844197822052010-11-21T08:06:00.000-08:002013-03-14T07:11:37.568-07:00Dick Gaughan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TOkpnvSFpHI/AAAAAAAAACQ/FjwyZTZORFk/s1600/dickgaughan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0wxKCap_EhI/TOkpnvSFpHI/AAAAAAAAACQ/FjwyZTZORFk/s320/dickgaughan.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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<em>'I raise up my glass and drink deep of its flame<br />
To those who have gone who were links in the chain<br />
And I give my soul's promise I give my heart's pledge<br />
To outlaws and dreamers and life at the edge'</em></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dick Gaughan ©Grian Music 2001</span></div>
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Dick Gaughan is a Scottish folk and protest singer, and a man who talks a lot of sense. A loveable troublemaker through and through, he is a writer of the some of the most witty and thought provoking modern folk songs but also a master of traditional balladry. His subject matter is gloriously varied (and often surprisingly educational!) ranging from the protestant preacher Jack Glass ('The Devil and Pastor Jack') to 18th century philosopher and revolutionary Thomas Paine ('Tom Paine's Bones').</div>
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For more info check out his website (built and maintained by Gaughan himself) <a href="http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/main.html">http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/main.html</a></div>
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'Craigie Hill'</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP15bKvUpdw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP15bKvUpdw</a></div>
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This is 'Now Westlin Winds' (words by Robert Burns), a particular favourite of Gaughan's.</div>
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.<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDB0P57nQds">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDB0P57nQds</a></div>
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Here is a more recent classic, (and a particular favourite of mine!) an interpretation of a Brian McNeill song that seems made for Gaughan, 'No Gods'. (skip to 5mins)</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4zuVY1Npb0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4zuVY1Npb0</a></div>
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jukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090713919098209514noreply@blogger.com0