Bob Harris Presents - Volume 4

 

"Whispering" Bob Harris is probably best known for hosting The Old Grey Whistle Test  on BBC2 in the 1970s

From the turn of  the century he presented a Country show on BBC Radio 2 on a Thurday evening  with a focus on Americana.

I think that there were 5 CDs in this series on Assembly Records. The only one I have is Volume 4 from 2005  - tracklist here which was a charity acquisition.

This one is right up my street given that I have albums  and / or have seen live more than half of the 15 acts who appear on the CD.

I've gone for Rosie Thomas, Rod Picott and Jon Dee Graham although there were a good few others on the long list.

Rosie Thomas - Wedding Day

Rod Picott - Torn in Two

John Dee Graham - One Moment.

Saturday Shuffle 134

 

Yeah, the Shuffle is back after having enjoyed a well deserved weeks rest.

We start with a man who never seemed to rest. I am of course revering to this week's cover star the legendary Pop Stables a pivotal figure in gospel and soul music and the leader of the incredible Stable Singers. He was born in 1914  the youngest of 14 children Down in Mississippi

Syl Johnson was another Mississippi man turning his hand to both Blues and Soul which clearly was just his luck. 

It's wall to wall legends this week as we conclude with Fairport Convention. Throwaway Street was the 1968 b-side to Meet On The Ledge and was also to be found on bonus editions of What We Did On Our Holidays.

Meet me on the Ledge next Saturday for some more shuffling.

Pops Stables -Down In Mississippi

Syl Johnson - That's Just My Luck

Fairport Convention - Throwaway Street

News of the World - 6

 

For years the Daily Record has been the most popular daily tabloid  newspaper in Scotland. For years it also sided with Labour though it has taken a more critical independent stance in recent years. Most popular for its football (i.e The Old Firm) it still adopts a centre left stance. I'm not sure that all of this was on Kathryn Edwards mind when she recorded For The Record.

I could imagine Mark E Smith sitting in a pub with a fag and a pint reading the Sunday People and wondering Why Are People Grudgeful.

 Simon & Garfunkel are up with the larks to get the Seven O'Clock News while Karine Polwart is just interested in the news in general.

The penultimate edition will be published next week.

Kathryn Edwards - For The Record

The Fall -Why Are People Grudgeful

Simon & Garfunkel - 7 O'Clock News -Silent Night

Karine Polwart - The News

He's Back

 

2026 Charity Shop Purchases #9 - John Prine - Live

He's back. Apologies for my absence.The main reason was that the internet router needed replaced. Plus an upgraded Tivo box led to much navigation on the Smart TV. Oh and the washing machine was not rinsing. Fortunately with the help of You Tube I was able to fix it saving a £95 call out charge.

Back to the music. The most outstanding Charity Shop purchase yet to feature is John Prine Live  a concert recorded live in The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano  and released on his Oh Boy Label in 1988. I picked it up in the Oxfam shop in Troon.

Now I like live music as much as the next person and don't mind a bit of chat from the artist(s) and I can even endure a small degree of audience participation . But when it is on an album and is subject to repetition well that's a different matter. I'm happy to hear the tales once but that's it. Sadly this album is guilty of that.

That's not to say that there aren't some great songs on the album. John is joined by Bonnie Raitt on Angel From Montgomery  and does a great version of Speed to the Sound of Loneliness. 

Sam Stone would have featured were it not for the preamble  of John talking about a visit to the war memorial in Washington. It's interesting but not something I want to hear every time I hear the song.

However my major gripe is the lyrics on the last line of the chorus of The Accident (Things Could Be Worse) here . I've not printed it lest I receive another warning flag

From 1988 but straight out of the MAGA songbook. It has pretty much ruined the album for me .

It has had me reflecting on my admiration for Mr Prine Some say it is satire and highlights suburban types who are scared of minorities (eg GB News listeners) I certainly hope so.

John Prine & Bonnie Raitt -Angel From Montgomery

John Prine -Speed of the Sound of Loneliness

Blog Country 135 - Burkina Faso

 

I couldn't tell you very much about Burkino Faso other than it is a country in Africa. It turns out it is a landlocked country in West Africa surrounded by Mali, Niger,Togo, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire . I  should now be able to point it out on a map.

Also it used to be known as Upper Volta which I vaguely recall from my stamp collecting days.

Again when it comes to African countries it is always best to refer you to Ernie whose knowledge of the music of the continent is far more detailed than mine. Nevertheless I've had a potter round the internet and have come up with five acts for your listening pleasure

A Google search for Abdoulaye Cisse initially points you in the direction of a former professional footballer or a Research Economist in the World Bank. A more detailed search flags up some music by the man born in 1948 in Sani, Burkina Faso. Here he is with the song Barika.

Amadou Balake was a popular singer during a carrer of  over 50 years prior to his death in August 2014 aged 70.Today's offering is Aminita Du Thé 

Next up is the splendidly named Floby  a Burkinabé singer and musician. He sings in the French and Mòoré languages. His music uses African sounds such as the kora and djembe but also rap and electric guitar. His contribution to today's post is Ouaga zeune.

Next up is our only female artist to feature today. Kandy Guira is a busy lady given that she is top model, actor and dancer as well as a singer.She is also committed to the support of hearing impaired children, the cause of women and the future of the African continent. Fortunately she managed to find the time to record Beogo (Demain)

Last but not least we conclude with Orchestra Volta - Jazz  and their song Djougou Malola.

We will be briefly stepping away from the African continent for Blog Country 136

Abidoulaye Cisse - Barika

Amadou Balake - Aminita Du The

Floby - Ouaga Zeune

Kandy Guira - Beogo (Demain)

Orchestra Volta-Jazz - Djougou Malola

News of the World - 5

 

We are now nearer the back pages than the front as we have our weekly flick through the papers and other news outlets.

This weeks feature paper is The Guardian. It started life as the Manchester Guardian in 1821 prior to moving to That London in 1959. It has a reputation for typos leading to the nickname The Gruniad.

It is probably the only left leaning of the UK broadsheets and therefore it is often the paper of choice for the sandal wearing, lettuce eating lefties and  is detested by the swivel -eyed, mustard trouser wearing far right bigots. 

Guardian Angel by the Stills-Young Band is probable more favoured by the former rather than the hippy haters. We are going international, and indeed continental, for our second paper name with The Style Council and The Paris Match a French -language weekly magazine that features a mixture of news and pop culture.

For the news as opposed to newspaper selections this week we have Broken Records with  If The News Makes You Sad, Don't Watch It and the second appearance by Billy Bragg with  It Says Here.

More news will be coming your way next Thursday.

The Stills - Young Band - Guardian Angel

The Style Council - The Paris Match

Broken Records - If The News Makes You Sad , Don't Watch It

Billy Bragg - It Says Here

The Clarkston Americana Haul - Eileen Rose

 

2026 Charity Shop Purchases #8 -  Eileen Rose - Shine Like It Does

I'm not quite sure how Eileen Rose first crossed my radar but I have somehow now managed to accumulate four of her albums.

Prior to picking up Shine Like It Does her 2000 debut album on Rough Trade I acquired Come The Storm (2005) and  At Our Tables (2008) via charity shops together with a download of the excellent Muscle Shoals (2020)

From the label it appears that HMV were charging £ 13.99 for this which is  a wee bit steep. I'm glad I only paid 50p but I would gladly have paid a couple of quid.

Among the quotes on another sticker the Sunday Times describe her as being like a beguiling hybrid of Patti Smith and Marianne Faithfull. Some excellent hyperbole there

Time Out call it a Great album , a subtly epic work of guts and guile, with a rich and classic timeless style. I'll let you judge for yourself

That's the C.A.H. completed. Three quid well spent.

Eileen Rose - Still In The Family

Eileen Rose - Lincoln Park