Saturday Shuffle 113

 

Another Saturday, Another Shuffle 

Three today which are guaranteed to blow away your cobwebs.

We start with the late great Poly Styrene and her band X-Ray Spex and the brilliant Germ Free Adolescents. If you don't have anything by X-Ray Spex  a) catch yourself on and b) get yourself a copy of The Anthology Your life will be better for it - guaranteed.

Some Rockabilly to follow I think, Once hailed as Rockabilly's Gen X Queen here is  Kim Lenz with her Jaguars with Cool Love taken from the Bloodshot compilation Hard Headed Woman: A Celebration of Wanda Jackson

Last but by no means least we conclude with the mighty Green on Red who are partaking of the Hair of the Dog

For those of you with hangovers play it loud

X-Ray Spex -Germ Free Adolescents

Kim Lenz & her Jaguars - Cool Love

Green on Red - Hair of the Dog

This Earthly Spell

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #36 - Karine Polwart - This Earthly Spell.

I think that I am on record on these pages in saying that I would take any opportunity to pick up any album by Karine Polwart that I haven't got

By my reckoning I now have 8 of her 9 albums although my copy of Fairest Floo'er is a burn so technically doesn't count.

I have picked up three so far this year all from the same charity shop on Glasgow's Battlefield Road. I wonder if they were all handed in by the same person.

The latest acquisition as you can see above is This Early Spell from 2008 released on her own label Hegri Music which is a subsiduary of Proper Music. It was released only thee months after Fairest Floo'er and contains original compositions with the exception of the first  track The Good Years which has words by Edwin Morgan and music by Karine and which appeared on Ballads of the Book project a collaboration between Scottish musicians and writers.

As you would expect from Karine the music and songs are of the finest order as demonstrated below.

Only an upgrade of Fairest Floo'er and 2021's Still As Your Sleeping with Dave Mulligan to get.

Karine Polwart - The Good Years

Karine Polwart - Rivers Run

A Ass Pocket of Whiskey

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #35 - R.L.Burnside - A Ass Pocket of Whiskey

I was pretty surprised to find out that this was the first album by Mississippi Bluesman R.L.Burnside that I had. I  previously had a few of his songs here and there primarily on samplers and compilations from the mighty Fat Possum label.

A Ass Pocket of Whiskey is his 7th album and it was released on June 18th 1986. The songs themselves were recorded at Lunati Farm in Holly Springs, Mississippi on 6th February of that year.

It's like the Curate's Egg - good in parts. Goin' Down South is absolutely blinding but it goes steeply down hill in places with R.L rediced to muttering and cursing. Perhaps that is why The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings (which may be well worth tracking down) indicating divided critical opinion. The album was recorded in conjunction with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. 

This review in Pitchfork is worth a read

I think I'll stick with the Fat Possum samplers and would recommend that you do to.

R.L.Burnside - Goin' Down South

R.L.Burnside - Snake Drive

Little Bird

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #34 - Kasey Chambers - Little Bird

Around the turn of the century when I was totally immersed in Americana I saw the Australian artist Kasey Chambers play on a couple of occasions and picked up her debut album The Captain (1999) and Barricades & Brickwalls (1991) 

I subsequently picked up her third Wayward Angel in a local charity shop in 2014. I am now following that up with Little Bird her 7th studio album from 2010, and on the Essence label, which again was a charity acquisition.

Similarities can, or have, been made with Kacey Musgraves in that they both started out more leftfield but have become more mainstream over the years. That is particularly true of Ms Musgraves.

In the case of Little Bird music critic Alex Eremenko writes in Allmusic -Little Bird is more old school, as it peppers the pop hits with honest to God country numbers, complete with banjo and fiddle... With Chambers, the music and the words sometimes tether on the brink of cliché, not archetype. But for the most part, she is still able to deliver her tunes with honesty that makes you think about feelings she's conveying, not her recording budgets, as is the case with many over-processed country stars out there.

I agree with that and it helps to cement her place on the Americana shelves (Blue) as opposed to the mainstream Country ones (white)

Kasey Chambers - Someone Like Me

Kasey Chambers - Train Wreck

Hotel , Motel ..... 2

 

Pedants may argue that this is the third post in this series but they would be wrong there.

Now that Holiday Inn has been rejected it is hotels and motels all the way.

We start with the legend that is Edwyn Collins with a song from his latest album Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation extolling the virtues of his local hotel in Helmsdale.

Not to be outdone Tarnation give us the low down from the Big O Motel. They are a band who have the honour of being the only band that I have never seen twice here and here

Check in for more hotels and motels next Monday.

Edwyn Collins -The Bridge Hotel

Tarnation - Big O Motel

New Highway

 

Last Sunday when I featured the Americana compilation Viva Americana I threatened to feature the whole album in its entirity over the next few weeks. I may well do that at some stage but I have decided that Sunday will now be the place to feature different Americana compilations of which I have many.

For the second post in this series it makes sense to feature New Highway - Return to Viva Americana as it was the 2001 follow up to last week's  featured album.

As you can see from the tracklist there is no reduction in the quality of the fayre on offer. I'm amazed that a copy went for as little as 50p and that the median price is £2.04 - an absolute bargain.

Again the vast majority of the tracks would be worthy of posting here but I have opted for the three below (all from acts I have seen live, although Neko Case and the Sadies were on seperate occasions). On another day it may well have been different .

Another compilation from the Blue shelves next Sunday.

Slobberbone - Engine Joe

Nadine - Closer

Neko Case & the Sadies -Make Your Bed

Saturday Shuffle 112

 

Three songs today from the late 70's/early 80s which for those of us of a certain age surely was a purple patch in our musical education.

We start with this week's cover star Ian Dury and his band The Blockheads  and the brilliant Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick a well deserved UK number 1 in January 1979.

I was going to say that The Fall never had much success in the singles charts. However, they charted 14 times but reached no higher than number 30 with There's a Ghost in My House. In another  and better world Totally Wired would surely have been a top 10 hit.

Searching for the Young Soul Rebels criminally was not a number one album for Dexy's Midnight Runners in 1988 although Geno hit the top of the Singles chart. Tell My When My Light Turn Green was not released as a single but could never be accused of being an album filler.

All killers, no fillers again next week on SS113

Ian Dury & the Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

The Fall - Totally Wired

Dexys Midnight Runners -Tell Me When My Light Turns Green

In Memory of Catholic Action

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #33 - Catholic Action - In Memory of Catholic Action (Promo CD Single)

Catholic Action are, or more probably were, a 4 piece Glasgow band led by Chris McCrory who  with Annie Booth  also released  the EP  Clean Living under the name Slow Weather in 2020. Thanks to JC  for the background information

The band themselves released two albums In Memory of Catholic Action in 2017 and Celebrated by Strangers (2020)

They are/were one of the many acts who I am more familiar with the name than the music. I was therefore curious to give the promo CD single a listen as it contains two tracks from the debut album.

I must admit I quite like what I hear and will now keep my eyes peeled for the album.

I also appear to have a song in my Music folder by them singing the praises of Rita Ora.

Catholic Action - Doing Well

Catholic Action - Black & White

Catholic Action - Rita Ora

More Blacks, More Irish, More Dogs

 

Niall Conlon

We are living in uncomfortable times.

My sister-in -law recently bought a print of the painting above for the living room in her new house.

It's an admirable sentiment that any right minded (as opposed to right wing) person would sign up for.

It is much preferable to No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs which just happens to be the title of the autobiography of John Lydon and look how he turned out.

My brother-in-law has had some new carers recently from Africa and Asia as few people from this country seem willing to work in the essential care services for the minimum wage.

In response to dog whistlers like  the Daily Mail, BBC, GB News, Farage and Starmer - Say it loud, say it clear, Refugees are welcome here

The Dream Syndicate - Black

Van Morrison & the Chieftains - Irish Heartbeat

David Bowie - Diamond Dogs

Hotel. Motel ....

 

I've slightly altered the raison d'etre of  this series

I had previously called it Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn  which some of you will recognise as a line from Rapper's Delight by the Sugarhill Gang. However I have no songs with Holiday Inn in the title

Checking for Motel songs it seems as I have as many, if not more, than Hotel songs so it is only fair that they have equal footing.

To kick off the reinvigorated series here are a couple of suggestions from Ernie 

Peter Case - Entella Hotel

Louden Wainwright 111 - Motel Blues

Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight

Viva Americana

 

On the back of Jason & the Scorchers appearance on yesterday's Saturday Shuffle I felt the urge to listen to the compilation Viva Americana in it's entirity

From 1998 on the Boka label I bought it along with its sister New Highway from the much missed Salvation Sounds record shop in Shawlands. There are few better as an introduction to some of the lesser known Americana acts

I an seriously tempted to subject you all to it in its entirety over the next few Sundays but that may just be self indulgence on my part.

While I swither about this here are three belters to whet your appetite.

Chip Taylor - Americana

Cathryn Craig - I Don't Believe It Yet

Sid Griffen -Cadillac Elvis

Saturday Shuffle 111

 

It's Nelson time as we reach Saturday Shuffle 111. For non- cricket lovers here is a brief explanation of the superstition associated with the number 111.

Glasgow band Savage Mansion might have a problem standing on one leg given that they appear to have The Shakes .Here is the title track from their latest album.

I would imagine that Bjork has quite probably performed standing on one leg. Here she is with Sweet Sweet Intuition one of the tracks from her It's So Quiet CD single 

From one of the great Americana compilations Viva Americana we conclude with Jason & the Scorchers who appear to have One Last Question.

In answer to your question Jason, Saturday Snapshots will return nex Saturday.

Savage Mansion - The Shakes

Bjork - Sweet Sweet Intuition

Jason & the Scorchers - One Last Question

The Calexico Conundrum

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #32 - Calexico - Garden Ruin

Wiki writes the following in respect of Garden Ruin the 5th album by Tuscon band Calexico from 2006 on the City Slang label

The LP is the first Calexico album to feature no instrumental tracks, instead relying on a more direct, pop-style approach. Forgoing what has been described as "indie-mariachi", the band took their music in a different direction, and the result is a more straightforward indie rock album.

Therein lies the problem. It's not that it is a particularly bad album, it's just that it is pretty generic and could be anyone. It sadly misses the desert noire style which defines the first four albums and also,I would argue the band.

I saw them play at the Glasgow Academy around then and came away with the same sense of disappointment

In addition to the first four I have the EP In The Reins and the album Years to Burn both recorded in collaboration with Iron & Wine which pass muster. The downloads of Seasonal Shift and El Mirador left me underwhelmed.

Judge for yourself from these two tunes which are my picks from the album.

Calexico - Roka

Calexico - All Systems Red

Love Story

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #31 -Lloyd Cole - Love Story

For the record I consider Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole & the Commotions to be a near Perfect Album (©SWC). The follow up Easy Pieces is none to shabby either.

To my shame Lloyd Cole pretty much slipped of my radar  fairly shortly after that and I have never really pursued much, if any, of his solo work.

I suspect that may well now change on the back of me listening to Love Story  his 4th solo album from 1995.Wiki has it on the Fontana and Rykodisc labels although mine comes up as on Mercury Records which is probably a subsiduary of one of them.

The voice is pretty much instantly recognisable and the lyrics are of a standard that you would expect from an artist of the calibre of Mr Cole, who is 6 months older than me, and who when not touring seemingly  spends most of his time in the States playing golf. Maybe they should make him President.

The three songs from the album  which were released as singles are Like Lovers Do, Sentimental Fool and Baby.

Prior to reading this I had selected another three which, to me, emphasises the quality of the singing and writing.

I shall certainly pick up more of his solo albums should the opportunity arise 

Lloyd Cole - Trigger Happy

Lloyd Cole - Unhappy Son

Lloyd Cole -For Crying Outloud

Too Much Pain

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #30 - Various Artists - King's Serious Soul : Too Much Soul

Whilst Mrs CC was at the opticians I took the opportunity to trawl through the many, many CDs in the Hander Kindl charity shop on Battlefield Road.

There are hundreds on sale for a pound a pop. However, most are the usual suspects and never appear to shift. Three for a pound may do the trick. After going through the shelves from top to bottom I came away with three (for three pounds unfortunately.

It is always good to get the opportunity to replace a burn with an actual CD particularly when it is a belter as this one undoubtedly is.

From 2003 on the Ace records subsiduary Kent the CD contains 24 belting Southern Soul classics from the 60's and 70's originally released on the King label

This album has featured here before in 2021 and 2023. Clearly I am now contractually obliged to feature it every three years. Another positive is that there still are plenty of tracks to choose from.

Robert Moore - Am I Wasting My Time

Marie " Queenie" Lyons - We'll Cry Together

Jimmy Braswell - I Can't Give You My Heart

Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn

 

When I featured the album  Hotel Radio last week in the last of the Radio,Radio series I commented on the potential of a Hotel related series.

Here it is! Something nice and easy which takes little effort and eases me into the Blogging Week. The same format as many previous series - three songs with Hotel in the title.

Here goes. We kick off with Deluxe Hotel Room which is the title track from a 2019 album by Canadian singer songwriter Lauren Gillies who also goes by the nom de plum Lucette. Bought in a charity shop on Great Western Road prior to a football match at Firhill it is one of my better random punts.

Next up we have the late great Nanci  Griffith with Late Night Grand Hotel also the title track of an album, in this case her 9th studio album, from 1991

We check out this week with Panama City Hotel from the third and final album by Sugar  namely File Under Easy Listening.

We will check back in next Monday all things being well. Hopefully the rooms will have been serviced.

Lucette - Deluxe Hotel Room

Nanci Griffiths - Late Night Grand Hotel

Sugar -Panama City Hotel

The Blues Collection -Fats Domino

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #29 - The Blues Collection 15 - Fats Domino -Be My Guest

Long suffering readers will know of my ambition to acquire all of the Blues Collection CDs which number between 90 or 93 depending on which source you tap into

I got of to a great start between Christmas and New Year 2013 when I picked up 39 of them over two trips to my local Charity Shop, The numbers have (very) gradually increased over the years  but have dried up since my last find namely Luther Allison in November 2023.

Then in Barnardos in Victoria Road a few days ago I saw the CD above. My first thoughts were Fats Domino is a Rock'n' Roll artist not a Bluesman. My second thought  was do I already have this.

I got out  my phone and checked my database (I have upgraded from the piece of card I used to keep in my wallet!) Sure enough numbers 15 and 16 were missing and it was duly purchased.

That takes the total up to 64. I'm under no illusion that I'll ever get them all, especially in Charity shops, and I can live with that.

For the record the CD is a recording of a live performance at the Flamingo Hotel. Las Vegas in 1965 and it is not that good. No matter - it is the thrill of the chase that counts

For track listings and recording details click on number 15 on the first link above

Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill

Fats Domino - Ain't That a Shame

Fats Domino - I'm in the Mood for Love

 

Saturday Shuffle 110

 

National treasure Claire Grogan is the only one of today's three main protagonists who is still with us. Long may that continue

Altered Images only previous appearance in this series was 108 posts ago. I'm sure it is worth the wait. Don't Talk to Me if you think it isn't!

Blues man James Lewis Carter Ford was born in 1923 a few years after the T-model Ford car which he adopted as his stage name was first produced. Sadly he left us in 2013 aged 89 which is pretty impressive for a Blues man

Sadly Errol Brown erstwhile lead singer of Hot Chocolate is also no longer with us passing in 2015 at the age of 71. Impressively Hot Chocolate had at least one hit single in the UK Singles chart every year from 1970 to 1984.Brother Louie was one of the earlier ones from 1973 peakingat number 7 and remaining in the charts for 10 weeks.

Cricket enthusiasts will be pleased to note that next week will see the Nelson edition of this series. Get practising standing on one leg!

Altered Images -Don't Talk to Me About Love

T-Model Ford - Cut You Loose

Hot Chocolate -Brother Louie

Radio Radio Albums

 

The dead horse has finally been flogged to within an inch of its life. That is, if it wasn't already dead!

I promise that this is the last of the Radio Related Posts and it focuses on albums with Radio in the title.

We start with Josh Ritter and Golden Age of Radio. There is a song with that title on the album but I don't want to push my luck so instead you are getting Me & Jiggs if only because it namechecks Townes Van Zandt.

Next up are Dundee band The Hazey Janes and their album Hotel Radio. That has given me an idea for another series! I may also store Toulouse away in case I ever get round to French or European cities. The latter probably has more purchase.

We conclude with the wonderful Big Star with the wonderful if slightly previous September Gurls from the wonderful Radio City album.

Josh Ritter - Me & Jiggs

The Hazey Janes - Toulouse

Big Star -September Gurls

The plug has now been pulled!

Home and the Wild Hunt

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #28 - Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers - Home and the Wild Hunt

The car was in for it's MOT so I took the opportunity to do some Charity Shop visiting once I dropped it off.

A walk to Shawlands proved fruitless as half a dozen or so charity shops yielded nothing. A  couple of buses saw me at Victoria Road where I was marginally more successful.

I saw this CD in Oxfam and swooped. Woodenbox first crossed my radar when Lloyd from Olive Grove Records threw in their album End Game following a purchase. I think George liked it!

The re-release of this album was mentioned in that post but I now have the original CD version from 2010 on the Stow College Electric Honey label which is famous for releasing Belle and Sebastian's debut album Tigermilk.

Here is a bit more information on the album courtesy of Bandcamp and The List

Oh, and the song Immigrant (Don't Think Nothing's Not Wrong) is as relevent as it was in 2010 and probably even more so given the Fascist uprising that we seem to be currently experiencing.

Woodenbox with A Fistful of Fivers - Life From Above

Woodenbox with A Fistful of Fivers - Immigrant (Don't Think Nothing's Not Wrong)

Blog Country 124 - Armenia

 

Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave Nakhchivan to the south.

It is most famous for never having beaten Scotland at football losing 2-0 in Scotland on 8th June 2022 and 1-4 in Armenia on 14th June 2022. I'm sure that they will probably win next time around and there will be a song to celebrate such a magnificent feat.

In the meantime you will have to make do with some songs I have plucked from the internet. It is a veritable A-Z starting with Anette Aghabekyan and ending with Zarton

Anette apparently is a gifted musician who is most recognized for her entrancing pop songs. Here she is with the song Yerani.

Harout Bayan is 46.Other than that I know no more apart from the fact that he has a song called Gtel Em which may or may not be the Armenian equivalent of Get Intae Them. We

The Bambir is an Armenian rock band from Gyumri.  Spanning 4 decades and with more than 50 musicians passing through its ranks, the band has moved into its second generation- as in, sons of the original members are operating as a separate four-piece that is still part of the original ensemble. Not to be confused with Bambi or Bamber Gascoigne.

Sarina Cross (also known as Sarina Sagherein) is a Lebanese Armenian singer who is partial to some Armenian Popurri.

Some Armenian  Prog you say? Zartong were a quartet of Armenian musicians who moved to France and released a self-titled debut album before promptly vanishing in the late 70's.

We are back in Africa next time round

Anette Aghabekyan - Yerani

Harout Balyan - Gtel Em

The Bambir - Lose Yourself

Sarina Cross -Armenian Popurri

Zarton - Dramone

The Eyes Have It -10

 

The picture above is of a Danish band who are (or more probably were) active around 2015. I have no further knowledge of, or music by, them.

I do have some stuff from the following three artists.

Some of you will be familiar with Red Lorry Yellow Lorry a band from Leeds who were on the go from 1981 to 1991 which the obligatory reunion in 2003. It seems that they are still on the go. Hollow Eyes from 1985 is down to Dirk as number 84 in his brilliant 111 Singles Series over at JC's place.

Some of you will be familiar with the Irish born/Scottish based folk singer/songwriter Heidi Talbot. Here she is with Let Your Eyes Get Used to This from her 2022 album Sing it for a Lifetime.

We thanked Dirk for the first number.Now it is time to thank Jez for bringing Country singer Loney Hutchins to my attention. From his 2022 album Appalachia here he is (Loney not Jez) with You Still Have That Look in Your Eyes.

You can get the eye wash out. Thanks for any of you who bourn with me for the ten posts and thirty songs. I'm off to close my eyes and sit in a dark room.

Red Lorry Yellow Lorry - Hollow Eyes

Heidi Talbot -Let Your Eyes Get Used to the Dark

Loney Hutchins - You Still Have That Look in Your Eyes

Teen Dream

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #27 - Beach House - Teen Dream

Fun fact - due to a variety of reasons in the first 6 months of 2025 we didn't venture beyond an approximate 5 mile radius of our house. This restricted my charity shop ventures somewhat but I still managed to pick up 27 from a  limited number of shops.

As you can  (maybe) see, the above cover of a CD looked interesting . The spine informed me that it was an album by Beach House called Teen Dream  which it transpires is the band's third album from 2010.

I had a vague thought that I already had one of their albums and it turns out that indeed I had namely their second album Devotion. 

For some strange reason it was filed in the Americana section whereas Beach House would seem to be a Dream Pop band. Dream Pop it turns out is  a subgenre of  alternative rock and neo psychedelia  that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as strongly as it does pop melody..So not Americana then.

I have no recollection of listening to Devotion before but have now. I can only assume that I mistook it for something else.

For the record Team Dream is not unpleasant. It's just not very inspiring . I would describe it as wallpaper music which you may happily have playing in the background although it is unlikely that you will have an urge to dance round the room. Maybe it is just the thing for a lazy Sunday.

I'll give Teen Dream the benefit of the doubt given the slim chance it may become a grower. Failing that I'm afraid it may be on the short list should space dictate that a cull is required

Here are two of the album's tracks taken pretty much at random

Beach House - Zebra

Beach House - Norway

Saturday Shuffle 109

 

A Rock'n' Roll legend who is no stranger to this series followed by two Glasgow bands one of whom are making their Shuffle debut.

We start with the Georgia Peach himself Little Richard with what I think may be his fourth song to feature in this series. When the song is as good as Good Golly Miss Molly I'm sure that you'll agree that you can never have too much of a good thing.

Next up are the debutants Hipsway with their epic song The Honeythief. So good that it has had a beer named after it.

Last but by no means least we have Toryglen's finest  Simple Minds from when they were good. From 1980 here is This Fear of Gods 

Have no fear that Saturday Shuffle 110 will not appear next week.

Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly

Hipsway - The Honeythief

Simple Minds -This Fear of Gods

Radio Radio Bands

 

After subjecting you to 30 Radio songs you might have that that the coast was now clear and that you could go back to scanning the frequencies again.

I'm afraid that is not the case quite yet as I have three Radio Related Bands for you this week.

I'm starting with the Scottish Americana band Radio Sweethearts a band I saw countless times supporting various Americana acts more  often than not at King Tuts.They always put on a good show. I have two albums by them (including the one pictured above) and their first single which just about constitutes their entire discography

I have more stuff by them than I have by Radiohead. I just don't get them. I've tried but to no avail.(I downloaded their ICA at JC's place  and picked up Amnesiac in a charity shop but they left me cold.I'm happy to accept that it is down to me and not them.

A band surely even more obscure than the Radio Sweethearts are the wonderfully titled Radiophonic Tuckshop. A project of guitarist Joe Kane  they released a 14 track album The Winter Garden Playtest and an eponymous EP on LNFG in 2017. I have the EP.

It's Radio Albums next and then I'll move on. I Promise!

Radio Sweethearts -Every Other Song

Radiohead -Paranoid Android

Radiophonic Tuckshop - Rockingham Palace Revisited

Rats

 

Following on from my relatively recent post featuring The Rat by The Walkmen I had a scout about for other Rat related songs in the Music file.

I came up with the following four songs but I'm sure that you could come up with a few more. Strangely although they have an album called Ratus Norvegicus and Rats Rally, as a subset of Down in the Sewer, as far as I am aware The Stranglers do not have a song with Rat in the title. I'm happy to be proved wrong.

Let's get one of the obvious one out of the way and it is a bit of a double whammy. I give you Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats.

Next up are Edinburgh band Honeyblood with Super Rat from their eponymous 2014 debut album on FatCat (as opposed to FatRat) Records.

The late great Kelly Joe Phelps gives us the story  of River Rat Jimmy from his 1999 album Shine Eyed Mister Zen.

We conclude with The Specials and Rat Race which I have taken from a compilation called Too Much Two Tone. A minor quibble as you can never have too much Two Tone.

I look forward to you filling me in with ones I have missed.

The Boomtown Rats - Rat Trap

Honeyblood - Super Rat

Kelly Joe Phelps - River Rat Jimmy

The Specials - Rat Race

Flaco Jiménez R.I.P.

 It was sad to read of the death of the legendary San Antonian accordionist Flaco  Jiménez  at the age of 86.

A member of the Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven he played with anyone and everyone.

An example was his 1992 album Partners when he played with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Ry Cooder and Linda Ronstadt among others 

The highlight was undoubtedly his version of Warren Zevon's Carmelita with Dwight Yoakam.

He helped convert many, including me, to the joys of the accordion and for that we should be grateful.

Rest easy Flaco.

Flaco Jimenez ft Dwight Yoakam - Carmelita

Flaco Jimenez - The Free Mexican Airforce

Texas Tornados -Who Were You Thinkin' Of

Flaco Jimenez - Viva Seguin

The Eyes Have It - 9

 

I would imagine that quite a few of you are gouging out your eyes as this series drags on.

Worry not as this is the penultimate post in this series. Only six pairs of peepers to go three of which will feature today.

We start with the Chickasaw Mudd Puppets (and why not?) with the song Nighttime (Ain't Got No Eyes) from the excellent Rough Trade Shops Country 1 compilation.

Another compilation next .From the not quite as excellent Mojo- August 2016  here are Destroyer, who I am advised are a Canadian indie rock band, with yet another Blue Eyes number.

We conclude with the second best artist from Leith Dean Owens,. Even Dean would argee, I'm sure, that Dick Gaughan is the best. From his 2022 album Sinner's Shrine I give you Summer in Your Eyes.

You will be glad to know that we finally close our eyes next week.

Chickasaw Mudd Puppets - Nighttime (Ain't Got No Eyes)

Destroyer -Blue Eyes

Dean Owens - Summer In Your Eyes

Salif Sunday

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #26 - Salif Keita - Moffou

We are off to Mali today,or more precisely to Paris, to hook up with The Golden Voice of Africa Salif Keita.

Recorded in 2001 at Les Studios de la Seine and released in 2002 Moffou is the 10th studio album released by the great man.

The opening track Yamore features the Cape Verdian singer Cesária Évora. There is an Exotic Disco Mix of the song Madan by French DJ and record producer Martin Solveig but don't worry I'll spare you from that and give you the original which I'm sure is miles better.

As another great man the Sexy Loser himself Dirk would say - Enjoy

Salif Keita - Yamore

Salif Keita -Madan

Saturday Shuffle 108

 

After the break last week to celebrate my Beatles Birthday the Saturday Shuffle retuns for  Chapter 108.

We kick off with The Jam and their cover of The Kinks song David Watts. It is hard to say which is the better version as the cover remains fairly true to the original. If it introduced some new fans to The Kinks then it's good enough for me.

Spiritualized are one of the many bands that passed my by at the time when I was deeply immersed in Americana. Indeed it took Blogging to bring them to my attention and I know that many of my comrades have a great affection for the band and in particular the 1997 album Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space.I eventually picked up a charity shop CD of the album which includes the song I Think I'm In Love

For the period 2015 to 2018, and maybe even slightly longer, the mighty Bloodshot Records released an annual Sampler CD .This week's cover star Lydia Loveless appears on all of them with Midwestern Guys featuring on the  2018 one.

More of the same or something completely different next Saturday

The Jam - David Watts

Spiritualized - I Think I'm In Love

Lydia Loveless - Midwestern Guys

Chain Gang of Love

 

2025 Charity Shop Purchases #25 - The Raveonettes - Chain Gang of Love

If you were to look up the word Scuzzy in the dictionary one of the definitions would surely read - the music of The Raveonettes.

I saw the Danish duo twice at King Tuts  and they completely blew me away.

I've picked up a few of their records over the years but for some reason I have only ever had a burn of their first full length album 2003's Chain Gang of Love. It is rare to see any of their albums in the wild and so it was duly snapped up.

The albums, while decent enough, are not a patch on their live performances.

While listening to this album reasonably loudly, which is recommended, Mrs CC was shouting at me from another room trying to attract my attention. I thought it was part of the music and therefore ignored her. Needless to say she was not impressed!

The Raveonettes - Let's Rave On

The Raveonettes - Chain Gang of Love

Largs

 

On Tuesday we took the ferry from Largs to Cumbrae to visit Mrs CC's sister and her family who were holidaying in Millport.

On the way back when we got off the ferry at Largs and were driving out of town  the song Largs by King Creosote off his From Scotland With Love album popped up on the USB player.

A coincidence like that surely deserves recognition on these pages.

King Creosote - Largs

Radio Radio 10

 

Argentina is obviously a big enough country to stretch to a Radio 10.

This is the final three of the thirty songs selected for this series. I could probably conjure up some more but I don't want to be accused of barrel scraping. Alternatively you can have too much of a good thing.

We start with the Clash and Radio One .They are, I think, the only act to have more than one song in this series. Indeed they have three and I could of/should of included them all in one post  had This is Radio Clash not quite rightly graced the first post in the series.

I've reached the stage that I'm even groping for songs with Radio in parenthesis. Here is Tom Robinson with his Atmospherics (Listen to the Radio)

We conclude with Eric Church and Hippie Radio one that Rol kindly brought to my attention.

Although there will be no more radio songs there will be a couple of further posts that are radio related either by dint of the act's name or album titles.

Just when you thought you had escaped!

The Clash - Radio One

Tom Robinson -Atmospherics (Listen to the Radio)

Eric Church - Hippie Radio

Attack, Attack, Attack

 

Seemingly there was an American band called Attack Attack! They never crossed my radar probably because they were a metalcore band. From that description I'm not tempted to track them down,.

However it got me thinking of Attack Songs as you do.

The first one that popped into my head was Attack of the Glam Soul Cheerleaders (Parts 1&2) by Carla J Easton when she was using the pseudonym Ette.

The Raveonettes on the other hand were more concerned with an Attack of  the Ghost Riders whereas The Fiery Furnaces sadly appear to be suffering from an Asthma Attack.

Finally it would be illegal to have an Attack Post and not feature Teardrop by Massive Attack

Ette -Attack of the Glam Soul Cheerleaders (Parts 1& 2)

The Raveonettes -Attack of the Ghost Riders

The Fiery Furnaces - Asthma Attack

Massive Attack - Teardrop

Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me

 

I turn 64 today.I've no idea how that happened.

When Paul McCartney wrote When I'm Sixty Four in 1967 he pictured himself being old and decrepit. I wonder how he feels now that he's 83.

Me? Sure sometimes the bones ache but I feel that there is life in the old dog yet. He's got the losing the hair bit right enough though!

I also still enjoy discovering new music and going to concerts if they are affordable and of course writing nonsense and subjecting you to my tastes in music here.

I've never really been that much of a fan of the Beatles. Mrs CC likes them though and I picked up a bundle of their albums in a charity shop in Broadford, Skye a few years ago. Sgt Peppers wasn't one of then though so I had to source this one from elsewhere.

I'm off to listen to Big Star.

The Beatles -When I'm 64 

The Shuffle will be back next Saturday