Blog Country 134 - Mozambique

 

Last time round we visited Ghana in the north west of Africa. This time we are in the south east and the country of Mozambique which looks out to the Indian Ocean

The flag was adopted in 1983 and the yellow star and the emblem of a book,hoe and an AK-47 rifle symbolizes the country's struggle for independence, natural wealth  and dedication to education and defense.

As we are still in Africa I am contractually obliged to Ernie's place where you will find many excellent posts referencing the music of Mozambique.

First up this time are the band Djaaka who were founded in the city of Beira in the early 2000's with the song Tchemerani

Next up is Fany Mpfumo who was considered to be one of the founders of the marrabenta music scene which combines traditional Mozambican dance rhythms with Portuguese folk music. Fany sadly died in 1987 aged 59. Here he is with Awupelanga.

Fany is followed by Luísa Zélia Sebastiana da Graça Madade.Fortunately she goes by the stage name  Liloca and her song today is Mabetele.

For some reason I appear to have downloaded two songs by Lisbo Matavel, the Grand Old man  of marrabenta. I've gone for the one with the shortest title namely Sati Wamina.

We conclude with the band Mabulu. Mabulu, as I'm sure you know,  means looking for a dialogue  in the Shangana language  - a reference to the fact that the group comprises members from different generations. Today's offering is Maldeyeni

We will remain on the African continent for our next Blog Country

Djaaka - Tchemerani

Fany Mpfumo -Awupelanga

Liloca - Mabetele

Lisbo Matavel - Sate Wamina

Mabulu - Maldeyeni

News of the World - 4

 

The Times is one of the oldest and most famous Uk newspapers. It began in 1775 as The Daily Universal before changing it's name in 1788. It is generally considered as a centre right and conservative paper but not as far right as the likes of the Telegraph, Mail or Express

Having said that it is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News UK so definitely not left leaning. I'm not sure whether Bob Dylan would be a fan although he has acknowledged that The Times They Are A' Changing

The New York Times is perceived as a liberal paper. It  endorsed Kamila Harris in 2024.  It is disliked by Trump who calls it the Failing New York Times. Simone Felice reads it all baby in the New York Times.

For the news but not newspaper related songs David Francey is still digesting Yesterday's News. Aimee Mann sadly is experiencing some Real Bad News

Will next week's news be good or bad?

Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A'Changing

Simone Felice - The New York Times

David Francey - Yesterday's News

Aimee Mann - Real Bad News

Winter Olympics Songs

 

I believe that the Winter Olympics are upon us once again.

Apparently it is in Italy which is somewhere you don't automatically think of for winter sports until you remember the Alps.

I must admit it is something that I take very little interest with the exception of the curling .

It got me thinking as to songs or artists who could however loosely be linked to the events on off .

Let's start with skiing and I have found two ski related songs.First up are Memphis with Apre ski . Laura Pallas on the other hand prefers Skiing in the Snow. 

Skating also proved to be pretty tricky. No Skater Boy be Avril Lavigne but rather Skater of the Surface by Karine Polwart.

Cinerama are fond of a Sly Curl

Ice Hockey is one of the more popular Winter Olympic Sports so here are Super Furry Animals with Ice Hockey Hair.

I was a bit surprised/disappointed that I couldn't come up with a Sledge related song. By way of compensation I give you Percy Sledge with the appropriately named Sudden Stop.

Over to you. I'm sure you will come up with some that I have missed.

Memphis -Apres Ski

Laura Pallas - Skiing in the Snow

Karine Polwart - Skater of the Surface

Cinerama - Sly Curl

Super Furry Animals -Ice Hockey Hair

Percy Sledge -Sudden Stop

The Clarkston Americana Haul - Scott Miller & the Commonwealth

 

2026 Charity Shop Purchases #7 - Scott Miller & the Commonwealth - Citation

That's us now 2/3rds of the way through the Clarkston Americana Haul. Scott Miller & the Commonwealth are the only one of the six acts that I didn't previously have an album by although I have the occasional track by them here or there.

Citation was released in 2006 on the Sugar Hill label. Amazingly it was still in its polythene wrapping some 20 years after its initial release.

Scott was previously a member of the V-Roys who were on Steve Earle's E-Squared label.. This is the 3rd of 4 albums released on Sugar Hill. He had a  number of later solo albums on the self released F.A.Y. label and a collaboartive album with Rayna Gilbert in 2012. Nothing in the last 10 years so it doesn't look like he's still on the go.

Citation is produced by the legendary Jim Dickinson who has appeared here a couple of times before. 

All Music give the album 3.5 with comparisons to Ryan Adams and Steve Earle's younger brother which I could go along with. Well worth 50p.

Two more to go.

Scott Miller & the Commonwealth - Wild Things

Scott Miller & the Commonwealth - 8 Miles a Gallon

I-Pod Playlist - State of the Union

 

This week's I-pod Playlist is State of the Union and let's face it  it is in a right old state. 

The idea is to feature songs including the name of one of the 50 states of the USA.

In 2019 George gave us a great series featuring posts on all 50 states. It's well worth hitting the search button and giving them a read.

Only three states today I'm afraid taken pretty much at random.

We kick of with Lissie and Oh Mississippi the final track on her great 2010 debut album Catching a Tiger.

Lissie is followed with Twa Toots with Please Don't Play a Rainy Night in Georgia taken from a Peel Sessions recording from 1986.

We conclude with the late great Joe Strummer and Tennessee Man from the 1987 album Walker.

Next time round it is Namechecked i.e. artists or bands named in the titles of other artists songs.

Lissie - Oh Mississippi

Two Toots - Please Don't Play A Rainy Night In Georgia

Joe Strummer - Tennesse Rain

NB

Yesterday Blogger quite correctly flagged up a warning concerning the title of a Tommy Womack song on the compilation which I referenced but never featured. It was clearly a no brainer for Rol's Cancel Culture series.

I tried to edit the post but the warning remains in place.

Twangfest - Edges from the Postcard 5

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Saturday Shuffle 132

 

I was looking at previous Shuffles during the week and a noticed a few things.

There are two numbers 23,43,53 and 54, no 32 and one with no number. Therefore this is, I think, actually SS138. I don't have the time of inclination to go back and correct the mistakes. Also it is a good while this there was an error so I appear to have become more dilgent (for the time being) .

Three songs this week which I don't think have appeared in this series before. Given the above, please don't quote me on that!

First up are The Frank and Walters surely the finest band ever to have come out of Cork. Here is probably their best known song Fashion Crisis Hits New York.

There are a couple of live albums by Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band on the MP3 player. This version of The Promised Land was recorded live in Passiac, New Jersey on 19th September, 1978.

We conclude with Steve Wynn who I recently saw live as lead of The Dream Syndicate. Here he is with Amphetamine  from the 2003 album Static Transmission by Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3.

SS 133 next Saturday ( or if you prefer SS 139!)

The Frank and Walters -Fashion Crisis Hits New York

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - The Promised Land

Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 - Amphetamine