The Musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber. 1.

 

George writes:

Mr CC wrote “I'm lacking inspiration , new material and no ideas for new series'(suggestions welcomed!). “ I suggested something: It has occurred to me that none of the blogs I read show an appreciation of the genre of musicals, any musicals, not just those of the man in the title. And it’s about time someone corrected this, so here goes.

Mr Lloyd Webber has written at least a plethora of musicals. His first is based on a book by Leslie Thomas, not the Virgin Soldiers one but a biography of Thomas Barnardo (of children’s home fame), a man who was in no way related to the pioneering heart transplant chappie. And inexplicably, although written in 1965, when Mr Lloyd Webber was 17 (17, bloody hell I was doing my Highers when I was 17, and discovering the joys of Tennent’s lager),  it was not performed publicly until 2005. 

One of the tracks on The Likes of Us, that all-important first album, is Man of The World, and this is from when they were good:

This is the ALW song, and I dare you to listen to it all the way through.

“Going, going, gone” also graces the soundtrack:

………and here it is:

Did anyone meet the challenge and listen to it?

Big Big Train released an album called The Likes of Us, alas there is no title track. I do not know if this album relates to Thomas Barnardo.

Thanks to Mr CC, and to you for reading.

CC writes

Thanks George .

I think that this is the first time that Andrew Lloyd Webber has appeared on these pages.

I notice with a degree of apprehension that there is a number 1 attached!

If this doesn't snap me out of my writer's block, nothing will!

The Blues Collection - Jimmy Rogers

 

I'll start with an apology. I'm lacking inspiration , new material and no ideas for new series'(suggestions welcomed!). Therefore The Blues Collection and Blog Countries are likely to appear more frequently than I, and I suspect you, would like until I get some new material. 

I did get The Hanging Stars new album Just A Day which is excellent but probably to new to feature.

I still have half a dozen of the Blues Collection to subject you to following my recent excursions to Missing Records.

I'll start with the lowest number which is Jimmy Rogers with That's All Right - number 54 in the series.

The blurb in the inner sleeve reads Teamwork characterises Jimmy Rogers' numbers ,with everyone present contributing equally to the overall sound. As well as that, there is something else that is distinctive about his music. As Mike Rowe, historian of Chicago Blues (an excellent job!) remarks "you can guess what his record collection was"

His songs are full of references to the blues records of his youth, or ones made by older role-models in Chicago. But they are never simply cover versions . Rogers gives them a distinctive shape and weight that makes them at least jointly his.

One pound well spent!

Jimmy Rogers - Goin' Away Baby

Jimmy Rogers - That's All Right

Blog Country 145 - Togo

 

Let's start with a topical reference. Togo are currently number 119 in the FIFA rankings. They didn't qualify for the World Cup which is maybe fortunate as they could well have given Scotland a right good thrashing.

Next a musical reference: here is the Togo contribution to Ernie's African Odyssey music's equivalent of the African Cup of Nations

In alphabetical order let's kick off with Akofa Akoussah a Togolese singer who sadly died in 2007 aged just 57. Here is more on her revolutionary music from Far Out. Her song today is Tango.

Akofa is followed by Ali Bawa  born in1950 in  Basser  and  who died on October 16, 2019. He is considered an important figure in traditional and modern  Togolese music, for his work in modernizing the rhythms of the Bassar region.Here he is with Mola-mola.

Next we have Dogo du Toga and the Alagga Beat Band with Avoude. Dogo du Togo—is a Togolese singer/songwriter/bandleader who has lived between the Washington D.C. area and his birthplace in Lomé, Togo since 2000. His latest project is a return to his roots, and an effort to put genuinely Togolese music on the map.

I have found precious little about Houwenema the griot of Pagouda in northern Togo but I have discovered this wonderful Music Republic - World Traditional Music from LP's and Cassettes I suspect it may be a side project by Ernie!. Oh, and the song is called Manza Tom Halu

It is only appropriate that we conclude with the King. King Mensah, also known as "The Golden Voice of Togo", is a Togolese singer from West Africa. Though based in Lomé, he regularly records and promotes his albums in Paris, and has embarked on several world tours since 2005.

We don't have far to travel to the next country 1864 km to be precise.

Akofa Akoussah - Tango

Ali Bawa -Mola -mola

Dogo du Togo & the Alagga Beat Band - Avoude

Houwenema - Mandza Tom Halu

King Mensah - Egno

Bloodshot Records Sampler 2016

 

Bloodshot, Blue Rose and Loose are probably the three labels which have contributed most to this Americana Compilations series.

Bloodshot Records Sampler 2016 is the 5th compilation from the label to appear and the third Sampler.

From memory it was available from Bandcamp on a pay what you want basis and that still remains the case. Not available free as per Sampler 2015 but surely worth a quid or two of anyone's money.

The tracklist is also available on the link above and regular leaders will recognise a number of the acts.

I've decided to day to feature some of the artists from the label who are perhaps less well known

Luke Winslow-King is a singer and songwriter who dabbles in a number of musical genres. He has released seven albums from 2008 to 2022 including I'm Glad Trouble Doesn't Last Always from 2016 with the title track appearing on the Sampler.

The Flat Five is a Chicago-based pop vocal super-group — Kelly Hogan, Nora O'Connor, Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough, Alex Hall — made of five in-demand musicians who individually spend much of their time touring and recording with bands like Neko Case, NRBQ, The Decemberists, Andrew Bird, Mavis Staples, Iron and Wine, Their song on the Sampler is This Is Your Night. 

This one is for our dear pal Brian who was a childhood pal of Scott Ligon. Friend of the stars!

We conclude with Banditos a rock'n' roll band with with honky tonk, country, soul and garage rock influences.Originally from Birmingham,Alabama they are now based in Nashville. Surely worth Waitin' for?

Luke Winslow King - I'm Glad Trouble Doesn't Last Always

The Flat Five - This Is Your Night

Banditos - Waitin'

Saturday Shuffle 150

 

Saturday Shuffle 150 - how did that happen?

It seems that it was only last week when we had Saturday Shuffle 149.

To commemorate this occasion leat's start with Sir Reginald Dwight ,Ok , so he legally changed it to Elton Hercules John in 1972. Shortly thereafter he released Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting something which often happens when the Shuffle gets too much for some people.

Next up is Misunderstood the opening track from Wilco's second album 1996's Being There which is only bettered by their third Summerteeth. Any disagreement is likely to lead to more Saturday Night Fighting.

Finally lets calm the water a bit with the lovely Randy Crawford with the lovely Rainy Night in Georgia.

We could do with a Rainy Night in Glasgow any time soon.

Stay tuned for SS 151 assuming we haven't melted by then.

Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

Wilco - Misunderstood

Randy Crawford - Rainy Night in Georgia

Tanya and Co

 

Following on from the last post featuring some of Tanya Donelly's solo work I thought it might be worth following it up with some of the bands in which she was part of 

Lets start with Throwing Muses an alternative rock band founded in Newport, Rhode Island in 1981. In this band she was joined by her step- sister Kristen Hersh who also graces the above picture. Tanya was a member until 1991 prior to the occasional guest appearances.

From 1989 to 1992 she was a member of The Breeders joining Kim Deal of Pixies fame and her sister Kelly Deal amongst others.

In 1991 she formed her own band Belly who were active until 1996 with the obligatory reunion from 2016.

To have been a member of one of these great bands is pretty impressive. To having been a member of all three is simply extraordinary.

Throwing Muses - Slippershell

The Breeders - Canonball

Belly - Gepetto

This should have appeared here yesterday but I was having technical problems

Lovesongs For Underdogs

 

2026 Charity Shop Purchases #17 - Tanya Donelly - Lovesongs For Underdogs

It's been a while. My first Charity Shop purchase in over two months. This is largely down to family stuff and a bad chest infection. Having said that I've been in more than a dozen charity shops over the last few days and I've only come away with one from Barnandos in Troon. It's getting harder.

As you can see from the picture the CD in question is Lovesong For Underdogs the 1997 debut solo album by Tanya Donelly on the 4AD label which peaked in the UK Album Chart at number 36.

The Guardian (2/5) and NME (4/10) seemed unconvinced. Uncut (4/5) and Pitchfork (8.5/10) were more impressed.For what its worth I'm in the latter camp.

Ayrshire seems to be the place to go for Tanya's music in charity shops as I picked up The Bright Light CD Single and Whiskey Tango Ghosts in Ballantrae back in November 2022. I could have sworn that it was much more recent.

Tanya Donelly - Lantern

Tanya Donelly - Goat Girl