Dance Hall Dreams

 

 2026 Charity Shop Purchases #24 - Rosie Flores - Dance Hall Dreams

I've got a good few songs by Austin based rockabilly, blues and country musician Rosie Flores in the music folder but up to now I didn't have any of her albums.

This has now changed as I picked up Dance Hall Dreams her 6th studio album, on Rounder Records, from 1999 at the same time as The Arlenes in Oxfam in Troon. I suspect that they were both probably handed in by the same person.

County Standard Time gives the album a brief review pointing out that it highlights the versatility of the Queen of the Honky Tonks.

I still need to give this one a proper listen. Who's Gonna Fix it Now referencing her father's passing is highlighted by most reviewers so I've gone for that along with the Bluesy It Came From Memphis 

Had I held this one back to 31st August it could have featured  on Rosie Flores Day in Austin

Rosie Flores -Who's Gonna Fix It Now

Rosie Flores - It Came From Memphis

Bloodshot Records Sampler 2017

 

Number 44 in the attempt to post 50 Americana Compilations on Sundays. It is going to be a close call but a bit of barrel scraping and Bloodshot Records Samplers just might get us over the line.

Bloodshot samplers from 2002, 2015 and 2016 have already featured. Today it is the turn of Sampler 2017.

A quick glance at the tracklist shows that by and large it sticks with the usual suspects with a couple of newbies thrown in for good measure.

It should come as no surprise that I'm sticking with the usual suspects!

Lets start with track 12 where we have Robbie Fulks with Alabama at Night taken from his album Upland Stories.

From his album Slingin' Rhythm  we have Wayne Hancock and Killed Them Both, track 15 on the Sampler.

We conclude with the late Justin Townes Earle and perhaps his most famous song Memphis in the Rain - track 19 on the Sampler and taken from his album Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now.

I've seen all three perform albeit that Wayne was playing a short lunchtime set in Glasgow's Virgin Megastore and Justin was playing guitar as part of his dad's band.

Only six more to go. Can we do it???

Robbie Fulks - Alabama At Night

Wayne Hancock - Killed Them Both

Justin Townes Earle - Memphis In The Rain

Saturday Shuffle 156

 

We are off to Canada to touch base with this week's cover star.

Ladies & gentlemen I give you Ms Lindi Ortega with the title song from her 2012 album on Last Gang Records namely Cigarettes & Truckstops. It is her debut on the Shuffle.

Squeeze have appeared here on a few occasions but never before with Another Nail In My Heart,

Fay Fife has appeared here before as a member of the Rezillos . From 2022 and the album Star of the Sea here she is with Wandering Star from her fully merited new title The Countess of Fife.

More random Wandering Stars next Saturday

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Lindi Ortega - Cigarettes & Truckstops

Squeeze - Another Nail In My Heart

The Countess of Fife - Wandering Star

Bellshill Bands - Teenage Fanclub

 

This week it is the most famous of the Bellshill bands and the one that most folk would come up with if asked to name one, namely Teenage Fanclub.

They formed in 1989 with a line up of Norman Blake (Guitar/Vocals), Raymond McGinley (Guitar/Vocals), Gerard Love (Bass/Vocals) and Francis McDonald (Drums - replaced by Brendan O'Hare)  A more detailed list of members is included here

The first three shared the song writing duties until Gerry Love left the band in 2018. The band has continued since then but it is generally agreed that they have never been quite the same.

I've seen them a few times and have the vast majority of their records with 1997's Songs From Northern Britain being my favourite. They had a terrific run with Bandwagonesque (1991), Thirteen (1993), Grand Prix (1995) and Songs From Northern Britain all being essential must haves.

I've seen them a few times recently but found Endless Arcade (2021) and Nothing Lasts For Ever (2023) a bit disappointing. They are touring later in the year to promote their new album Do Not Dare To Dream. I was unaware of this until recently and the concerts near me are now sold out. I can't say that I am too disappointed.

Teenage Fanclub - Everything Flows

Teenage Fanclub - Star Sign

Teenage Fanclub - Sparky's Dream

Teenage Fanclub - Ain't That Enough

The Arlenes

 2026 Charity Shop Purchases #23 - The Arlenes- The Arlenes

The Arlenes were a UK/American husband and wife Americana duo  (Big Steve Pulford and Stephanie Arlene) who first caught my ear when the gorgeous Lovely Won't Leave Me Alone  featured on a 2003 compilation Loose Selections.

This led me to track down their 2002 Loose album Stuck on You.

I picked up the 1990 eponymous album from Oxfam in Troon. From 1990 on the Lido label in has only 6 tracks .It comes in at a few seconds under 25 minutes so I'm considering it as an album as opposed to a CD singles

The couple relocated to America in  2003 and as far as I'm aware they have released one one further album 2004's Going to California also on the Loose label. I'll keep my eyes open for that one

Not to be confused with Arlene Foster!

The Arlenes - She Ran Me Down

The Arlenes - Springboard

Relegation Material

 

A couple of recent acquisitions of Americana CDs has led to the necessity to downgrade a couple of burns to downloads to free up some space. Yes, the Blue shelves are creaking at the seams.

The first to get the chop is Where The Killers Run an album by the band Viarosa from 2005 on the Pranoia Records label. They are described as Alternative / Indie and Folk. It is quite possible that I confused them with  Glasgow Americana band Vera Cruse

Here is a review of the album courtesy of Drowned in Sound

The second one being culled is definitely a case of mistaken identity. Bought by mistake by my pal Gordon  Marc Olsen, formally a guitarist with Seattle trio Sage and who has worked with Mark Lanegan, was confused with Mark Olson of Jayhawks fame.

Had the E been replaced by an O it would still be on the shelves!

Viarosa -Where The Killers Run

Marc Olsen - Martian Romance

A.I. Let's Go

 

My brother sent me this You Tube clip with the instructions get on this for the Blog

My first thoughts were Skaramones is a great name and an EP of Rocksteady and Ska covers of Ramones songs could be interesting.

Then I clicked on the video.

Things were going well into I noticed a small circle with the letters AI in it. Clicking the circle led to to the words generated and made with AI.

Hang your heads in shame Roll and Toast "Records".

1.3K  views so far with the great quote in the comments C” Mon Man it’s so obvious you are the SKAMONES!!!!

Be careful out there.