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Thursday 30 April 2015

The Only Way is Wessex


2011's England Keep My Bones is the fourth album by Frank Turner and the one which gave him a degree of national prominence.
As he correctly writes these are folk songs for the modern age.
Now in the same vein as Billy Bragg he may not necessarily be the most accomplished musician in the world or the best singer.But he believes and that's good enough for me.
Quite rightly he is fiercely proud of his Wessex roots and his English heritage but not I suspect in a UKIP sort of a way.
Frank is or was Straight Edge which I had to look up and is the abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs.
It doesn't appear to affect his performance though

Frank Turner - I Still Believe

Frank Turner - Rivers

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Emmylou and Walter





Today a bit of history is made on Charity Chic Music with my first guest post.
When I first mooted this series Walter of the ever fabulous  A Few Good Times in My Life blog offered to supply a guest post and he has come up with the goods.

It is an honour and a privilege for me to share Walter's words on Emmylou with you

In the late 60s / early 70s Keith Richards had a huge connectivity to Country music. For long times he hang around with an unknown guy from Florida not knowing that he once get a legend in Country Rock - Gram Parsons. I've to admit that I was always close with the country-/blues-infected songs by The Rolling Stones. Years later, when I began to read about rock music I got aware that Gram Parsons recorded 'Wild Horses' before RS did it. Keith Richards gave this song to his friend because the rest of the Stones weren't close to it to record in the times Mr. Richards wrote this song. Anyway I got me the first two records of Gram Parsons and they accompanied me for ages. Listening to the songs on these records was the first time I heard Emmylou Harris sing. Never before I heard a voice like her - crystal clear, warm, tender and feeling this should last forever. It was in the early 70s when I bought some records from Emmylou (Pieces Of The Sky, Elite Hotel) that shows her unique talent in writing and interpreting songs. It was not usual in these times to admit (female) country singers in a time where the big old R'n'R bands ruled the world. I'm glad that this little series started and I would like to give you some duets that are characteristic to her. First one is her and Don Williams interpretation of Townes Van Zandt's ' If I needed you' - the other one is from her collaboration  with Elvis Costello doing Johnny Cash's 'I Still Miss Someone'.

And here are the said songs. Many thanks my friend


Tuesday 28 April 2015

At The Age of Thirty Seven


Saturday's post of Nancy Sinatra singing As Tears Go By and had me thinking of Marianne Faithfull and reaching for her definitive 1979 album Broken English on the Virgin label..
Previously somewhat notorious for her relationship with Mick Jagger and for being caught in a famous drugs raid on Keith Richards home.
For a number of years drugs took their toll but thankfully she came out the other end.
The years of alcohol and drug abuse had an effect on her singing voice albeit a positive effect in that her voice now sounds richer and more sultry.
Broken English was critically acclaimed but didn't really trouble the charts to any great extent.
The album contains her classic song The Ballad of Lucy Jordan.
She also does a version of John Lennon's Working Class Hero somewhat ironic given that she comes from aristocratic stock namely the Habsburg Dynasty.
Probably more famous for her lifestyle and associations she deserves some recognition for coming up with some pretty good songs over the years

Marianne Faithfull - The Ballad of Lucy Jordan

Marianne Faithfull - Working Class Hero


Monday 27 April 2015

Alabama Bound



Alabama 3 hail from Brixton in South London as opposed to The Yellowhammer State.
They shot to international prominence when their song Woke Up This Morning featured in the opening credits of The Sopranos.
This probably means that they are financially sorted for life but I would argue that it has had a detrimental affect on their musical career.
Prior to this I witnessed a quite spellbinding concert by them at King Tuts in Glasgow with some fantastic music and terrific interaction with the audience including a mock marriage on stage by the holy Reverend Doctor D.W.A.Y.N.E. Love first Reverend of The First Presleyterian Church of Elvis the Divine.
I saw them at the then Carling Academy shortly after the success of Woke Up This Morning when they were clearly just going through the motions.
Similarly La Peste their second album from 2000 pales into insignificance when compared to their brilliant 1997 debut Exile on Cold Harbour Lane.
I gave it a listen the other day and was pretty underwhelmed. There is not a duff track on the first album but to be honest it was a bit of a challenge to find two from La Peste to feature but I just about got there.
The spoken words on The Thrills Have Gone are from Paddy Hill, one of the Birmingham Six, who often appears on stage with them to promote his Miscarriages of Justice campaign.
I shall spare you from their copy of Hotel California.

Alabama 3 - Too Sick to Pray

Alabama 3 - The Thrills Have Gone

As per my comment to Erik here is a picture of a Yellowhammer



Sunday 26 April 2015

Some Sunday Talcum Soul #6


And so the end is near ....
It's the final countdown ......
This is the end beautiful friend .....

Yup you get the picture - it is the final installment of Talcum Soul - Volume 6 to be precise.
I've enjoyed this opportunity to re-visit all 155 tracks and to share 13 of what I consider to be among the best with you.
I'm pleased to say that the quality does not diminish as the series progresses as is often the case. And here is the proof.
There is a Wikipedia entry about Alexander Patton a former mayor of Columbus Ohio but if you want some informative info on the  Soul man who better to turn to than Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven
Some of you will be familiar with Willie Hightower who recently popped up over at Scott's place.
I would strongly recommend the  compilation on Honest Jon records on which Nobody But You also features.

More Soul next Sunday

Alexander Patton - No More Dreams

Willie Hightower - Nobody But You

Saturday 25 April 2015

Saturday Lucky Dip


This weeks Lucky Dip is Stoned a MOJO compilation from September 2007.
It is a mix of original versions of songs subsequently covered by the Stones and also some of their songs recorded by others.
Before I had even listened to it I had decided that Sandie Shaw and Nancy Sinatra were going on. I mean, come on Sandie Shaw and Nancy Sinatra for goodness sake!!

First the good news. Nancy's version of As Tears Go By is not bad. Not as good as Marianne Faithfull's version granted but pretty good nevertheless.
Now for the not so good news. I'm afraid that Sandie's version of Sympathy for the Devil is pretty dire. But hey it is going on.

By way of compensation here are Turin Brakes with a lovely version of Moonlight Mile.

More random nonsense next Saturday

Nancy Sinatra - As Tears Go By

Sandie Shaw - Sympathy For The Devil

Turin Breaks - Moonlight Mile

Friday 24 April 2015

Who Knows Where The Time Goes



I think it was George who recently stated that about 20 or 30 years ago he could never have imagined listening to and enjoying the likes of Fairport Convention.
It is highly unlikely that he would have  listened  to Unhalfbricking and Liege and Leif when they came out in 1969 as he would have only been six at the time.
It is the type of music I suspect that you gradually grow into over time a bit like a comfy pair of slippers..
The two songs I have selected from The History of Fairport Convention are from this year when there was not one but two geniuses in their midst in the shape of Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson.

Sandy Denny's vocals on Who Knows Where The Time Goes are absolutely stunning and it is perhaps the most perfect and beautiful singing  performance ever.
In 2007 Radio 2 listeners voted this their Favourite Folk Song of All Time and they will get no argument from this quarter.
The version of the traditional song Matty Groves also contains Sandy's dulcet tones but also a powerful performance by the band with a virtuoso guitar performance by Richard Thompson.

Pure class.

Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes

Fairport Convention - Matty Groves

Thursday 23 April 2015

Emmylou and Mark


All The Roadrunning is a 2006 album by Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris which at the time completely passed me by despite it reaching number one in Denmark, Norway and Switzerland.
Apparently there had been a long term collaboration between the pair with the songs being recorded over a seven year period.
The majority of the songs are from the pen of Mr Knopfler with Emmylou only contributing two, the featured Belle Starr and Love and Happiness which she wrote with Kimmie Rhodes.

Perhaps one of the reasons it passed me by is that I have never been a particular fan of Dire Straits with the exception of Sultans of Swing which is a terrific song.
A few years ago I was working in a psychiatric hospital and we had a ward meeting with the patients to discuss some proposed changes. When we invited comments from the floor the first question  directed to my colleague was "Do you like Dire Straits?" Afterwards she confessed to being somewhat relieved in that it was a question she was able to answer.

Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris - Beyond My Wildest Dreams

Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris - Belle Starr

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Some More Danish Sizzlers


To the best of my knowledge the only other Danish artists in addition to Tina Dico to grace the CCM shelves are The Raveonettes.
They are a different beast altogether who make a somewhat splendid racket
Here are a couple of tracks from Whip It On their debut EP from as far back as 2002.
I saw them around then at King Tuts on the same bill as Razorlight. Needless to say they totally blew Johnny Borrell and his band away.
I know Drew is a big fan and I suspect that he is not the only one out there.
The Raveonettes are Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo and it almost goes without saying that being Scandanavian they are very good looking.
However, unlike Tina, they have never had a number one in their native land (or anywhere else for that matter, I suspect).
This will wake you up!

The Raveonettes - Attack of the Ghost Riders

The Raveonettes - Do You Believe Her

Tuesday 21 April 2015

Divided By a Common Language


Us bloggers are constantly looking for inspiration and often find this in the work of our colleagues.
The ever splendid and informative Vinyl Villain posted a piece on The Rockingbirds the other day.
This led to him receiving a comment from their lead singer Alan Tyler advising that the group were still going strong.
This in turn had me reaching for Divided by a Common Language  -A Collection of UK Americana a 2010 albums on Clubhouse Records on which Alan features.
At this point it is only fair that  I give a brief nod to George for having brought this record to my attention.
Along with Alan there are many bands with splendid names including Matt Gibson and the Falling Hearts, Dusty and the Dreaming Spires and Two Fingers of Firewater.
Redlands Palomino Company were the only band in addition to The Rockingbirds that I was previously familiar with and they have featured on CCM before.
After much swithering and dithering the second slot goes to Wild Pines with Tillie Hold On.
My only minor gripe is although it is billed as UK Americana there are no Scottish bands featured to my knowledge and there is a rich history of such bands as featured in my Tartan Texans series.

Well worth exploring.

Alan Tyler - No Easy Kind of Loving

Wild Pines - Tillie Hold On


Monday 20 April 2015

Dico-theque


About a decade ago my pal Harry talked me into going to see Tina Dico at the ABC2  in Glasgow.
I suspect that he was attracted by her Scandanavian looks as much as her musical ability.
For she is Danish, born Tina Dickow Danielson in Aarhus in 1973. She is credited as Tina Dicow on some of her records. At the time she was based in London.
At the concert I purchased Far an EP from 2004 which I got signed and from which these songs are taken.
I subsequently purchased her 2005 album In The Red which made number one in her native Denmark.Warm Sand also features on this album
She has had 3 subsequent numer ones and a number two in her native country but more international success appears to have  unfortunately eluded her.
She now stays in Reykjavik

Tina Dico -Warm Sand

Tina Dico - Back Where We Started

Sunday 19 April 2015

Some Sunday Talcum Soul #5


We're just about there now - with volume five of six
A wee bit more info this time around on the sleevenotes which is good but given the size of the writing reading glasses are essential.
First up are The Vontastics  a Chicago vocal group with Lady Love from 1967 on the Moonshot label.
Not just toptastic George but vontastic too.
This is followed by an astonishing vocal performance on the Veep label from 1966 by Elbie Parker entitled Please Keep Away from Me. An original copy will set you back between $500 and $700 apparantly

Early on in the series Scott commented that What Can Go Wrong? by The Thrills (not the rubbish Irish band)  on Capitol, from 1966, was his favourite track from the six volumes - so it would be a bit churlish not to play it especially as he is dancing to it above.

The final Talcum Soul installment next Sunday

The Vontastics - Lady Love

Elbie Parker - Please Keep Away From Me

The Thrills - What Can Go Wrong?

Saturday 18 April 2015

Saturday Lucky Dip


This week's random offering is Dream Pop a Mojo compilation from April 2010.
Full of hippy trippy ethereal stuff such as Panda Bear, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, Beach House and Sigur Ros - pleasant enough but I like a little bit more meat on my musical bones.
Half Asleep by School of Seven Bells passes muster and came close to being selected as did a lovely instrumental Sempiternal Darkness by Felt.
Bluebeard by the Cocteau Twins was always going to get the nod and after a wee bit of pondering Tell Me by Galaxie 500 was awarded the second slot.

I shall leave you with these words from Edgar Allan Poe
They who dream by day are cognisant of many things which escape those who dream only by night
Quote that to your boss the next time you get caught daydreaming!

Cocteau Twins - Bluebeard

Galaxie 500 -Tell Me

More random nonsense next Saturday

Friday 17 April 2015

Motherless Children


Something cheery for a Friday!
The Robster's recent excellent Memphis Minnie post had me reaching for Ramblin' the 1978 debut album by Lucinda Williams on Smithsonian Folkways. It is an album where she covers a number of Blues and Country standards including Minnie's Me and My Chauffeur which I have previously posted.
Another couple of tunes also caught my eye and indeed ear.
You know that way when you hear a song and know you have it elsewhere but can't remember where.
One such number is the cheery Motherless Children a traditional Blues number recorded by the likes of Blind Willie Johnson and the Reverend Gary Davis and latterly by Steve Miller, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan.
A quick search of the Blues section proved fruitless.
And then I found it in the Country Section on The List by Rosanne Cash.
To me a song which sounds much more plaintive when sung by a women.

I suspect that both Lucinda and Rosanne must have dueted with Emmylou at some stage but if they have I don't have anything so they will not feature in that particular series.
There will however by a further post in a similar vein featuring the Lucinda album.

Lucinda Williams - Motherless Children

Rosanne Cash - Motherless Children

Thursday 16 April 2015

Shakes Rattle and Roll


Alabama Shakes have a new album out Sound and Color (these Americans with their dodgy spelling!)
I figure that this makes it alright for me to post something by Brittany and the boys from their 2012 debut Boys and Girls for the four people on the planet who are not familiar with it.
I haven't heard the new one yet but from what I can gather from what I have read it is a wee bit more soulful than it's predecessor hardly surprising perhaps given that their Athens, Alabama base is only about an hour's drive from Muscle Shoals.
Good for them for not merely repeating a winning formula and being brave enough to try out some new stuff.
It will be interesting to see whether they retain their audience  or whether they were seen as that year's fad and folk have moved onto other stuff.
I had a minor panic when I couldn't find my copy of Boys and Girls.Turns out it was filed correctly in the Blues/Rock'n'Roll/Rockabilly section but incorrectly alphabetically in that it was in between Nic Curran and Dr John. That has now been rectified.

Alabama Shakes - I Found You

Alabama Shakes - You Ain't Alone

Wednesday 15 April 2015

Heroes No More


I suspect that Dirk's recent Stranglers posting led to me subliminally picking out No More Heroes The Stranglers second album from 1977 to play in the car.
And what a load of absolute tosh it is. The two singles are passable but everything else is a pile of pants.
I was going to say that unlike many of the contemporary new wave albums it hasn't really stood the test of time but I now suspect it probably wasn't very good in the first place.
I Feel Like a Wog is apparently a sarcastic attack on racism but still seems offensive whereas Bring on the Nubiles is blatantly sexist.
Subtle they were not.
Has not been played for ages and unlikely to be played again anytime soon.

The Stranglers - Something Better Change

The Stranglers - No More Heroes

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Percy Sledge RIP


Sad to hear the news that the great Percy Sledge has passed on at the age of 73
More than any other artist in history he is probably synonymous with the one song - but oh boy what a song!

Rest easy Percy

Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman

Emmylou and Steve



As threatened on my recent Gram Parsons post the first in a series of Emmylou and ...   featuring the great lady dueting with a variety of folk.
These two songs are taken from Train a Comin' Steve Earle's 1995 comeback album following his period of incarceration and one he is at pains to say that is not his unplugged record.
Probably my second favourite Steve Earle album after Guitar Town.
I saw them share a bill a few years ago at Hopetoun House, South Queensferry on the shores of the River Forth.
The first time I met Emmylou, she came in to sing on Guy Clark's first album. She gave me half of her cheeseburger. I wasn't the same for weeks. (Train a Comin' sleevenotes)

Steve Earle (with Emmylou Harris) - Nothin' Without You

Steve Earle (with Emmylou Harris) - Rivers of Babylon


Monday 13 April 2015

A Bolt From Bernie


Mrs CC came in the other day with a bundle of Charity shop CDs.
One was People Move On by Bernard Butler.
I've got that one I said. I wasn't aware of that she replied. Hardly surprising really given that I hadn't listened to it for absolutely ages.
So we gave it a listen and both agreed that it is an absolute cracker.
It's going on the blog I said.
And here it is.
The spare copy is going back to a charity shop for some other lucky person to acquire

Bernard Butler - You Just Know

Bernard Butler - You've Got What It Takes


Sunday 12 April 2015

Some Sunday Talcum Soul #4


Just over half way through this series and I have come to the conclusion that I will have to repeat it further down the line as there are so many good songs which require an airing.
First up is one that I suspect will be familiar to some of you . From 1968 on the Jubilee label here is Timmy Willis with Mr Soul Satisfaction. The great Sir Shambling provides much more information on this record than I ever could.
On  Josie records a subsidiary of the Jubilee label but this time from 1965 is the wonderful voice of Charlotta Tillman with Baby I'm Serious. I haven't much more information on this one I'm afraid and unfortunately Sir Shambling doesn't appear able to help me out.
All you really need to know that it is utterly toptastic.

More Talcum Soul next Sunday

Timmy Willis - Mr Soul Satisfaction

Charlotta Tillman - Baby I'm Serious


Saturday 11 April 2015

Saturday Lucky Dip


A quick pit-stop on the way back from Portpatrick to check out the three charity shops in Stranraer yielded meagre pickings.
Only one purchase - All That Is Now  -15 tracks from the best new albums an Uncut compilation from November 2013.
Being Uncut it is Americana heavy which suits me just fine..
First up are Okkervil River  one of the three Os - three bands beginning with the letter O who grace the O section of the Americana shelves the other two being Old Crow Medicine Show and Over The Rhine.

The O's are followed by a K , Mark Kozelek to be precise.A former Red House Painter and current member of Sun Kil Moon. Here he appears along with indie rock band Desertshore.
He also infamously recorded an album of AC/DC covers What's Next to the Moon.
A quick listen to the song will explain the relevance of the  Steve McQueen picture

More random nonsense next Saturday

Okkervil River - Walking Without Frankie

Mark Kozelek & Desertshore - Hey You Bastards I'm Still Here


Friday 10 April 2015

The Blues Collection - Lightnin' Hopkins


It's Lightnin' time.
Sam John Lightnin' Hopkins was according to Rolling Stone magazine the 71st greatest guitarist of all time.
He was also Houston's poet in residence for 35 years and was a mentor, friend and influence to Townes Van Zandt who in turn adopted the same role to Steve Earle -so an impressive legacy of quality music.

He allegedly recorded between 800 to 1000 songs during his long and illustrious career and reputedly recorded more albums than any other bluesman.
I'm not sure that Texas Blues is his best, indeed I'm not even sure that it is the best of the four Lightnin' albums that I own.
However it is part of The Blues Collection (number 31 of 90 in fact) so it is going on.
Recorded in New York on 15th December 1960 this album has him accompanying himself on piano and guitar.
It is easy to imagine him sitting noodling away and uttering the first words that come into his mind.
Indeed, the two songs chosen are somewhat rambling with unfeasibly long titles

Lightnin' Hopkins - Your Own Fault Baby, to Treat me the Way You Do

Lightnin' Hopkins - I've Had My Fun If I Don't Get Well No More

Thursday 9 April 2015

Hope and Glory


Tom Robinson's music career enjoyed a brief resurrection in 1983 following the success of the song War Baby a single  which reached number 6 in the UK charts and subsequently appeared on  his 1984 album Hope and Glory on Castaway Records which reached the dizzy heights of number 21.
I've just given it a listen to for the first time in ages and there are a couple of good songs on it.
I've never particularly been a fan of Steely Dan and indeed I much prefer Tom's version of Rikki Don't Loose that Number to the original (cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth)
Atmospherics: Listen to the Radio is pretty tasty too.
He is now a radio presenter

Tom Robinson - Rikki Don't Loose That Number

Tom Robinson - Atmospherics:Listen to the Radio

Wednesday 8 April 2015

A Pair of Loebs for Your Ears to Enjoy


Somewhere along the way I picked up what I suspect is a promotional single I Control The Sun by Lisa Loeb.
There are no further details apart from the fact that it is on Zoe Records. Subsequent research tells me it is from her 2004 album The Way it Really Is.
Somewhere further along the way, in a charity shop in St Andrews to be exact, I picked up two of her earlier albums Tails from 1995 credited to Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories and the follow up from 1997 Firecracker from which the second song I Do is taken.
Pleasant enough, if hardly earth shattering pop music.
Famous for her glasses and obviously someone who can spot an opportunity she set up the Lisa Loeb Eyewear Collection in 2010 based on her own designs.

Lisa Loeb - I Control The Sun

Lisa Loeb- I Do

Tuesday 7 April 2015

Quite Possibly The Best Pop Album of All TIme


A few months ago I started posting what I felt to be the top 10 albums of all time.
I posted five or six and then lost momentum and the series petered out.
However, had it continued The Lexicon of Love the 1992 debut album by ABC would definitely have featured as it is quite possibly the best pop album of all time.
Great songs, coupled with the vocals of Martin Fry, the production of Trevor Horn, the engineering of Gary Langan and the orchestration of Anne Dudley.
There is not a bum note on the album and no second is wasted - a number one album in the UK, critically acclaimed and an absolute classic.

Maybe one day Martin will find true love

ABC - The Look of Love - Part One

ABC - All of My Heart

Monday 6 April 2015

Ronnie and Neil - a History Lesson



The Drive-By Truckers ambitious 2006 double album Southern Rock Opera  covers a number of topics pertinent to the South through the context of legendary Southern band Lynyrd Skynyrd.
One such topic is the reaction in the South to Neil Young's Southern Man.
One can almost visualise Erik Bartlam sitting on his front porch, bourbon in hand surveying a pile of burning Neil Young albums.
So here are the DBTs (and in particular Patterson Hood) explaining the story, the offending song, Lynyrd Skynyrd's reposte and some further historical context.
Erik, I suspect, will be delighted that my copy of Sweet Home Alabama is from a picture disc featuring the Confederate flag.

Drive-By Truckers - Ronnie and Neil

Neil Young -Southern Man

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama

Drive-By Truckers - The Three Great Alabama Icons

Sunday 5 April 2015

Some Sunday Talcum Soul #3

Drew

Three volumes in and no diminution in quality - if anything the total opposite in that I am finding it harder than ever to select just two from the twenty five or so tracks each week.
A lot of great artists missed the cut this week - Bettye Lavette, Ike and Tina and Baby Washington. to name but three.
I have gone for two artists with the same surname but no relations as far as I can determine but no doubt I will be corrected if I have got this wrong.
Homer Banks is the better known of the two.A stalwart of Stax in the 60s and 70s and the performer of many classics including  the Isaac Hayes and David Porter number 60 Minutes of Your Love.
Barbara Banks is less well known.However River of Tears on the Veep label from 1967 is an absolute classic.
More Talcum Soul stonkers next Sunday

Homer Banks - 60 Minutes of Your Love

Barbara Banks - River of Tears




Saturday 4 April 2015

Saturday Lucky Dip


In the lovely South Ayrshire village of Ballantrae there is a Thrift Shop as part of BRICC (Ballantrae Rural Initiative Care in the Community)
When you enter it you would think that a bomb had hit it - stuff absolutely everywhere.
The CDs are  through the back , not on a shelf or a rack but thrown together in piles of various sizes here and there.
Not a great selection but at three for a pound I suppose you mustn't grumble.
Mrs CC purchased a china tea set for £2.50 and her mum got 7 teaspoons and a corkscrew for a quid!
A purchase that neatly fits the Saturday Lucky Dip criteria is Rise and Shine - The Best New Music of 2002 from Q magazine.
Some good stuff on there including the previously featured Mull Historical Society and bloggers favourites Minutemen and Dot Allison both of whom very nearly featured and who probably will at a later date.
Rather I have gone for Detroit garage rock band The Dirtbombs with Chains of Love from their album Ultraglide in Black.
My second selection is Ran for Miles by Irish singer songwriter Gemma Hayes. It is from her album Night on My Side which I have but this particular track has never jumped out at me until now

More random nonsense next Saturday.

The Dirtbombs - Chains of Love

Gemma Hayes - Ran For Miles

Friday 3 April 2015

A Wop Bop A Loo Mop A Lop Bam Boom



About a month or so ago I got Little Richard -The Birth of Rock'n'Roll by David Kirkby out the library.
He's no Peter Guralnick or Griel Marcus but it was a pretty interesting read.

His main contention is that Tutti Frutti the 1955 record by Little Richard Penniman is the greatest record ever written and he cites a Mojo article from June 2001 where it topped a list of the 100 Records that changed the World.
Keith Richards recalls that on hearing this it was as though the world changed suddenly from monochrome to technicolour.
I thought that I had best post this but to my surprise, horror and total shame it seemed that I did not have a copy. Needless to say this has now been rectified.
It is indeed a belting tune but the greatest record of all time I'm not sure.
60 years on however it still sounds fresh and has more raw energy and passion than most modern artists could ever dream of.
Plus at the time it must of scared the bejesus out of every single parent.

Altogether now - A Wop Bop A Loo Mop A Lop Bam Boom


Thursday 2 April 2015

Waxahatchee



I don't religiously buy Uncut and/or Mojo every month these days.
However, if I'm away for a couple of days I will usually pick up the latest one which I feel is most interesting.
So last week I picked up the latest Uncut and have just given the CD of new music a listen.
Of the 15 tracks by far the most interesting are three female artists who all go by nom de plumes as is the way these days.
There is Torres (aka Mackenzie Scott) and This is The Kit (Kate Stables) but the pick of the bunch was Waxahatchee (Katie Crutchfield)
Her new album Ivy Tripp is actually her third following 2012's American Weekend and 2013's Cerulean Sea.
She is a new name on me but one I will certainly be exploring further

Waxahatchee - Under a Rock

Waxahatchee -Air (Soundcloud)

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Faith, Hope and Charity


Whithorn is a small village and a former Royal Burgh in Galloway, South West Scotland.
It is also the cradle of Christianity in Scotland with St Ninian having popped over from Ireland to set up the first Scottish Christian  church .
The picture above is of the ruins of Whithorn priory.
There is one very part time charity shop appropriately called Faith, Hope and Charity with all proceedings presumably going to the church.
A somewhat strange place then to pick up a copy of Into the Wild a 2009 album by Glasgow indie folk favourites Sparrow and the Workshop. And for a grand total of 50p to boot
Here the dulcet tones of Chicago born but Glasgow based Jill O'Sullivan put me in mind of some alt country bands such as Freakwater and Trailerbride.
No bad  thing, I'm sure you'll agree

Sparrow and the Workshop - Into The Wild

Sparrow and the Workshop - Blame It On Me