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

Seagull Attacks

 

On both Saturday and Sunday when I was going for the papers I was dive bombed by a seagull at the same spot on the journey there and back. I wasn't even eating a kebab!

It looked a right vicious sod but thankfully it didn't come too close. Close enough though and it made a hell of a racket!

I've been on Wiki which states that Seagulls typically nest and raise their young between April and August with chicks hatching in June. During this breeding season, the adults can become highly aggressive and protective of their young.

There is a slightly longer way with less of a hill which I might use for the next few  weeks. I may even take the car.

All the above is basically just a  preamble for some Seagull songs.

Joni Mitchell - Song to a Seagull

Be-Bop Deluxe - Sister Seagull

Overton & McCann - Seagull

A Flock of Seagulls - Wishing ( I Had a Photograph of You)

The Blues Collection - T-Bone Walker

 

Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker (May 28, 1910 – March 16, 1975) was an American blues musician, composer, songwriter and bandleader, who was a pioneer and innovator of the jump blues, West Coast Blues  and electric blues sounds. In 2018 Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 67 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

On the Blues Collection CD number 16 Stormy Monday Blues recorded in 1970 he draws on a lifetime of musical experience to retrace some of the most illustrious steps of his career. He also shows his willingness to adapt to new trends as he updates songs such as Glamour Girl and Stormy Monday Blues to suit modern recording techniques.

The acquisition of number 16 means that I now have a continuous run from number 1 to number 32 in the series .

Thankfully today's weather forecast is sunny as opposed to stormy 

T-Bone Walker - Stormy Monday Blues

T-Bone Walker - Glamour Girl

The Horse Whisperer

 

There is perhaps a bit  of controversy around this appearing on my Sunday Americana series.

Firstly it is Songs From and Inspired By The Motion Picture The Horse Whisperer here as opposed to the Original Score

The Horse Whisperer is a 1998 American  neo- western drama film directed by and starring Robert Redford, based on the 1995 novel  The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans. I think that I would rather have pins stuck in my eyes than watch the film.

I picked this up from a charity shop some years back as the songs looked interesting. This in turn has led to two further controversies.

Up until now the CD has been filed along with further soundtracks and the like a fair distance from the Americana shelves.Also it seems to be a mixture of mainstream Country and Americana so which genre should it be filed under?

Also is there enough Americana to justify inclusion in this series. Just about, I think, but there is probably also an strong argument that it isn't

Surely though, anything which has tracks by The Flatlanders, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch and Steve Earle is worthy of inclusion?

The jurys out.

The Flatlanders - South Wind of Summer

Lucinda Williams - Still I Long For Your Kiss

Gillian Welch - Leaving Train

Steve Earle - Me And The Eagle

Apologies I've just realised that these are MP4 as opposed to MP3 files. I hope that doesn't cause too much inconvenience.

Saturday Shuffle 149

 

Let's kick of with The Temptations who in this picture look like they have just about mastered The Slosh. They maybe have a wee bit more work to do as they are Too Busy Thinking About My Baby.

Hill County Review were a band formed by North Mississippi Allstars  member Cody Dickinson and as this article in Vintage Guitar states rock 'n' roll doesn't get much grittier. You want proof? Here is Make a Move

From one extreme to another  here is the Glasgow based American singer/songwriter A Wesley Chung with Helen from his excellent Neon Coast album.

In a remarkable coincidence two of the three acts today also appeared on Saturday Shuffle 94

Stay tuned for the century and a half Shuffle next Saturday.

The Temptations -Too Busy Thinking About My Baby

Hill County Review -Make a Move

A Wesley Chung - Helen

World's Gone Wrong

 World's Gone Wrong - Ain't that the truth?

Fortunately we are still blessed to have Lucinda Williams to put her view on things.

World's Gone Wrong is her 16th studio album and was released towards the end of January (23rd to be precise) on her own Highway 20 label.Like the rest of us she is dispairing at the state of things but being Lucinda she is willing to share her tuppence worth.

Jim Beaugez in the Oxford American writes World’s Gone Wrong articulates the anger, hope, and inspiration she’s carried since the protests of her youth, with songs that explore the struggles of race, poverty, and trauma that continue to shadow America today."

John Amen of Beats Per Minute writes that Lucinda  "examines the 'dark age' we’re currently traversing but refuses to surrender to despair". 

The world would surely be a better and safer place were Lucinda occupying the Oval Office (with Mavis as Vice President). There would be no cage fighting on the lawn, that's for sure.

Lucinda Williams -How Much Did You Get For Your Soul

Lucinda Williams (ft Mavis Staples) So Much Trouble In The World

Coral Riffs

 

Swiss Adam recently featured a post on 388 the most recent album by The Coral. His enthusiasm and eloquence were enough for me to download it for a listen and very good it is too.

I have their first three albums from the early part of the century but after that, apart from the odd song here and there, they gradually slipped off my radar.

I've just given their eponymously 2002 debut album a listen for the first time in forever. It was rightly critically well received and as Alexis Petridis wrote in The Guardian it was a  mass of remarkable contradictions", with the band "exploring 1960s rock's extremities, areas too strange for Britpop's crowd-pleasing conformity". 

Don't be surprised if Magic and Medicine (2003) and Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker (2004) appear here in due course

The Coral - I Remember When

The Coral - Dreaming Of You

The Coral - Skeleton Key

The Blues Collection - Phillip Walker

 

Spoiler alert - The Blues Collection is likely to feature more regularly than  it has been over the last few years. This is because I have probably exhausted the most popular ones which occasionally feature in Charity shops but have found a new source in the appropriately titled Missing Records.

Steppin' Up In Class is number 77 in the Blues Collection featuring recordings from1969 to 1984.

Phillip Walker (1937 -2010) was an American electric blues guitarist most noted for his 1959 hit single Hello My Darling.

The blurb on the inset reads Material from some of the greatest -ever Blues song-writers jostle for position against Phillip Walker's own compositions and joint-compositions. He makes everything his own, though, bending and shaping the notes to fit his version of how the blues should be played.

Whether stretching out a slow blues, getting into a high-speed groove or accommodating a set of horns, Walker has the ability to stamp his own identity on the music. It's an identity that has made him one of the most distinctive voices in modern blues.

More to follow shortly.

Phillip Walker - If My Tears Must Fall

Phillip Walker - Steppin' Up In Class

If It Ain't Stiff 5 ....

 

The fifth and final installment of the tracks from If It Ain't Stiff (A Stiff Records Collection) released in 2001 and covering the period 1976 to 1986.

I've been struck by the variety of the music on the label run by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera, something I didn't appreciate at the time. Plus when you look at the list of artists who graced the label you could easily justify some more compilations. Indeed A Bunch of Stiffs and Hits Greatest Stiffs require further exploration.

That's for another time as it's time to concentrate on the final four tracks. The Equators are a Ska and Reggae band from Birmingham who are still going strong. You should all recognise Baby Come Back a cover of the song written by Eddy Grant and originally recorded by The Equals.

Dirty Looks were an American power-pop trio from Staten Island, New York who signed for Stiff in 1979. Dirty Looks was the title from the first of the two albums they recorded for Stiff and it includes the track Let Go.

Max Wall was an English actor, music hall singer and comedian.Here he covers the Ian Dury song England's Glory.

Finally we conclude with a live version by Dr Feelgood and their song Back In The Night.It is appropriate that the album began and ended with a live number by Canvey Island's finest.

The Equators - Baby Come Back

Dirty Looks - Let Go

Max Wall - England's Glory

Dr Feelgood - Back In The Night (Live)

Outlaw Country

 

Apologies - this should have appeared here last Sunday but technical problems got in the way.

Outlaw Country is the second burn compilation I have from Fab 14 records after Texas Troubadours. Again it the first time I've ever seen the cover. It seems that these are two of many budget compilations from the label

Here is the tracklist courtesy of Discogs. I'm pretty surprised that it is fetching up to 6 quid 

When it comes to Outlaw Country your first thoughts should by Waylon and Willie but most,if not all, of the artists are from a later era. I am probably familiar with, and have music by, about half of the 14 artists Two out of the three Flatlanders make an appearance with Butch Hancock missing out.

I've gone for three artists that I am familiar with, the latter two of whom I've seen live and who graced my Friday Three Names series back in 2016/17.

Heather Myles - Sweet Talk and Good Lies

Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Georgia Rose

Ray Wylie Hubbard - If Heaven Is Not a Place To Go

Saturday Shuffle 148

 

We kick off the Shuffle this week with a debutant, namely the band Glasvegas with their song Geraldine. I'm pretty sure that this is the only song I have that features a Social Worker but am happy to be proved wrong.

Little Richard (who would probably be a Social Workers worst nightmare) is no stranger to the Shuffle. This time round he is suggesting that we Rip it Up.

We conclude with something reasonably appropriate.From their 2020 album The Unraveling here are the Drive-By Truckers with Armageddon's Back in Town. Ain't that the truth? It seems that things are getting worse rather than better.

Stay tuned for another Shuffle next Saturday if we are spared

Glasvegas - Geraldine

Little Richard - Rip It Up

Drive-By Truckers - Armageddon's Back In Town

Blog Country 144 - Bermuda

 

From Afghanistan we head to the North Atlantic Ocean and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda an archipelago of 181 islands with a population of around 64000 which is less than East Kilbride.

I was under the impression that it was somewhat idylic until I read a couple of posts by SWC. It has maybe more in common with East Kilbride than I thought!

Enough nonsense, let's get on with the music.

It's always good to have a tune which references the country and even better if it is included in the band's name. We start then with The Bermuda Strollers , lead by Ted and John Ming and the song Bermuda is Another World.

Next up we have someone who I already had something by in the Music folder. Heather Nova is a Bermudian singer-songwriter. Born in Bermuda to a Canadian mother and Bermudian father, she spent most of her childhood aboard a sailboat, sailing throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans. Here she is with Ghost In My Room.

Collie Buddz is a reggae singer. He signed with Columbia Records to release his self titled debut album in 2006 which included the single Come Around.

Mishka is another reggae artist who has been on the go since 1997. Oh My Days is the title track from his latest album which was released in February .

We conclude with Old Uncle Joe by The Talbot Brothers of Bermuda  a 1950's calypso band not to be confused with The Talbot Brothers from Nebraska as I initially did.

It's back to Africa next time round.

The Bermuda Strollers - Bermuda Is Another World

Heather Nova - Ghost In My Room

Collie Buddz - Come Around

Mishka - Oh My Days

The Talbot Brothers of Bermuda - Old Uncle Joe

Jonathan, Jonathan

 

I was listening to the 1989 epoymous album Jonathan Richman the other day and it got me thinking about his solo work as opposed to his stuff with The Modern Lovers

From this album I have opted for Fender Stratocaster for all you guitar geeks out there.

Next from the 1992 album I, Jonathan I give you I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar a song that was first brought to my attention by Andy Kershaw.

From the brilliant 1990 album Jonathan Sings Country I've gone for Reno.

You cannot feature Jonathan Richman without referencing Roadrunner in this case Roadrunner (Twice).

Finally I hand you over to the Rockingbirds who pay homage to their hero.

I will be forever greatful for him taking the time to perform at King Tuts on Friday 26th July 1996 to commemorate my 35th birthay!

Jonathan Richman - Fender Sratocaster

Jonathan Richman - I Was Drinking in the Lesbian Bar

Jonathan Richman - Reno

Jonathan Richman - Roadrunner (Twice)

The Rockingbirds - Jonathan, Jonathan

The Soup Dragons

 

I had an urge to play The Soup Dragons so I dusted down their Past Night From Glasgow compilation Raw Products -Singles & Rarities.

The Soup Dragons were yet another band to come out of Bellshill in the early 80's. They consisted of Sean Dickson (laterly HiFi Sean) on vocals,keyboards and lead guitar, Jim McCulloch (guitar, vocals), Sushil K Dade (Bass) and Ross Sinclair/Paul Quinn (drums)

They were active from 1985 to 1995 with the obligatory comeback from 2003. I'm grateful for that as I missed them first time round

The first two songs are taken from the above album with Whole Wild World being taken from Disc 4 of Big Gold Dreams- A Story of Scottish Independent Music 1977 -1989

The Soup Dragons - Can't Take No More

The Soup Dragons - Head Gone Astray

The Soup Dragons - Whole Wide World

If It Ain't Stiff ... 4

 

Disaster very nearly struck on Friday afternoon.

An aborted Windows update led to what looked like me losing all my documents, downloads,pictures and 14657music files.

I could see on Google Drive that the music files were still there and I could play them from there meaning they hadn't disappeared completely  but I didn't know where they were.

Fortunately it seem to resolve itself fairly quickly but not totally as I have to access my files in a round about way and Express Rip CD Ripper is no longer working. I may be required to shell out some hard cash to get that fixed.

Back to If It Ain't Stiff 4 - the penultimate post featuring tracks 14-17.

Track 14 is Wunderbar by Tenpole Tudor  and not Wonderbra as some folk are prone to sing. You know who you are.

Track 15 is Killer Joe by the Tommy Chase Quartet. Yes we're talking Jazz - Nice!

Track 16 is Suffice to Say by British band The Yachts who were Power Pop/New Wave exponents as opposed to Yacht Rock - sorry Alyson

Any Trouble were a British Rock Band from Crewe who were led by Clive Gregson.According to anytroble.net they an underappreciated bright spot on Stiff Records. Here they are with Girls Are Always Right.

In the unlikely event that anyone is still following this series you will be glad to know that it concludes next week

Tenpole Tudor - Wunderbar

Tommy Chase Quartet - Killer Joe

The Yachts - Suffice To Say

Any Trouble - Girls Are Always Right

Saturday Shuffle 147

 

I may well be wrong but I think that on the week that the Shuffle weighs in with a maximum break we have three acts making their Shuffle debut something which I don't think has happened since the early days.

First up is American singer songwriter Tim Hardin and no it's not with Reason To Believe but rather Hang On To a Dream.

Next we have the Danish  but London based band Kid Wave with the title track from their 2015 album Wonderlust on Heavenly Records. A band brought to my attention by Drew from the much missed Across The Kitchen Table blog.

Finally, and I find this hard to believe, we have the first shuffle offering from  Belle and Sebastian. Even better it is If Your Feeling Sinister the title track from their 1996 second and best album.

More shuffling with debutants or seasoned veterans next Saturday

Tim Hardin - Hang On To A Dream

Kid Wave - Wanderlust

Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

You Can Call Me Al

 

If you would be my bodyguard, I can be your long-lost pal

I can call you Betty.and Betty, when you call me, call me Al

In addition to Pub Landlord Al Murray and Paul Simon's lyrics I have identified a few musical Als

We kick off with Al Garner Selma, Alabama born but Detroit based Soul singer with Just a Touch of  Your Hand.

Al Kent was born in Scotland but ran off to New York. Here he is with The Disco Love Orchestra  on Where Do I Go From Here

You should all be familiar with Al Stewart of Year of the Cat fame. Today's tune is Sand In Your Shoes.

Please be upstanding for the Reverend Al Green and the classic Soul number that is Let's Stay Together.

Our penultimate Al is Al Montgomery with It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.

We conclude with Al Simmons and Old Folks Boogie.

That's Al Folks!

Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al

Al Gardner - Just a Touch of Your Hand

Al Kent -Where Do I Go From Here

Al Stewart - Sand In Your Shoes

Al Montgomery - It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels

Al Simmons - Old Folks Boogie

 

Coffee Culture

 

I was having a cup of coffee and it got me thinking.

When we were kids there was no such thing as a coffee culture. Yes, you maybe had a cup of Mellow Birds or Nescafe at home with milk and sugar after your dinner. There was no such thing as coffee shop chains, decaffeinated coffee was unheard of and nobody had a job as a Barista.

Now it is a huge industry. You can't move for coffee chain shops flogging an entire range of coffees from Flat Whites to Mocha Chocas at exorbitant prices. Me, I'm a black coffee man preferably in a normal sized cup as opposed to a bucket.

I blame the Americans.

Here are some songs for you to listen to over your coffee

All Saints -Black Coffee

Squeeze - Black Coffee in Bed

Blur - Coffee & TV

Lightnin' Hopkins - Coffee House Blues

Bridgid Mae Power - One More Cup of Coffee

The June Brides

 

I had originally planned to post The June Brides yesterday on the 1st of June but a hectic weekend got the better of me 

Not to worry though as Martin and Swiss Adam  both pitched in with June related posts

The June Brides are a South East London indie pop group active from 1983 to 1986  and 2012 until present.. The band unusually, but similar to The Muldoons, include a brass section. This is their debut on these pages.

One of the many bands which passed me by at the time until they eventually crossed my radar courtesy of some of my more switched on Blogging colleagues. We are charged with bringing good music to the masses. It may be a forlorn challenge but nevertheless we continue to bang the drum, and indeed blow the trumpet, in our dark and distant corner of the wordwide web. We do it for the love not the money.

The June Brides - No Place Called Home

The June Brides - Josef's Gone

The June Brides - In The Rain

If it Ain't Stiff ... 3

 

Welcome to If It Ain't Stiff chapter three which concentrates of the slightly more obscure tracks 10 to 13.

At number 10 we have The Untouchables an LA band who are credited with being the first American Ska band. They are probably best known for their 1985 single I Spy For the FBI which reached number 59 in the UK Singles Chart. I saw them play at the Strathclyde Union around then. Unbelievably Amazon are trying to sell a copy of the 12 inch for £146.91. Aye, good luck with that!

Rachel Sweet started out as a child prodigy in her native America. Her debut album Fool Around was released by Stiff in 1978. They received some criticism for pushing a Lolita-like image for her. Who Does Lisa Like? is a track from this album.

Larry Wallis stands out by having long hair! He was a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motorhead which goes to show that Stiff were indeed a broad church He became the in-house producer at Stiff and released the single Police Car/On Parole which was produced by Nick Lowe.

Mick Farren was an English rock musician, singer, journalist, and author associated with counterculture and the UK underground, who had a significant influence on the development of British proto punk garage rock music. Another strange bedfellow for Stiff then. Along with his band The Deviants he gives us Outrageous Contagious

Tracks 14- 17 next week for the penultimate post in this short series.

The Untouchables - I Spy For The F.B.I.

Rachel Sweet - Who Doe Lisa Like?

Larry Wallis - Police Car

Mick Farren & the Deviants - Outrageous Contagious

Texas Troubadours

 

Texas Troubadours from 2004 is a 14 track compilation from the Fab 14 label.

It is one of two Fab 14 compilations I have on burns and this is the first time that I can recall seeing the pretty basic cover

It is available from £4 to £12 on Discogs or £49 on Amazon if you are totally stupid and have money to burn. Amazon teases you with 9 of the tracks whereas Discogs gives you all 14.

The majority of the artists are no strangers to this Blog and indeed to this series

Encouragingly 6 of the 14 tracks are by female artists.  3 of the 6 namely Caroline Herring, Terri Hendrix and Angela Strehli have never graced these pages before so it is only fair that they are given an airing.

I shall return next Sunday with my other Fab 14 compilation

Caroline Herring -MGM Grand

Terri Hendrix - Hole In My Pocket

Angela Strehli - Can't Stop These Teardrops

Saturday Shuffle 146

 

All three acts that feature today have graced the Shuffle before but with different songs.

We start with the Icelandic band Sugarcubes featuring a certain Björk Guðmundsdóttir OTF (Order of the Falcon) It's a Hit  they proclaim and indeed it did reach number 1 on Billboards Modern Rock Tracks in the US and number 2 in the UK Indie Chart in early 1992

Jesus, Etc is a song taken from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot which many folk consider to be the best album by Wilco. They are wrong of course as that honour goes to Summerteeth

Last, but certainly not least we have the late, great American Soul Singer Wilson Pickett with In The Midnight Hour from 1965 which is possibly his finest song.

More fine songs next Saturday

Sugarcubes - Hit

Wilco - Jesus, Etc

Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour

The Blues Collection - Charles Brown

 

The Missing Records Blues Collection Haul continues with Drifting Blues by Charles Brown which is number 71 in the series.

Not to be confused with Snoopy's pal Tony Russell "Charles" Brown  (September 13, 1922 – January 21, 1999) was an American singer and pianist whose soft-toned, slow-paced nightclub style influenced  West Coast Blues  in the 1940s and 1950s. Between 1949 and 1952, Brown had seven Top 10 hits in the U.S. Billboard R& B chart

The blurb on Drifting Blues reads Charles Brown has always remained consistent in his commitment to restrained classy Blues.His music has never fluctuated widely to suit fashion and has never failed to retain a basic dignity

This is borne out by these tracks which were recorded either side of his 70th birthday (1990-1994). Whether a fresh composition or an imaginative reworking of one of his old-time hits, he brings a degree of relish ti his work that few others could imagine after a lifetime in music.

Number 77 in the Collection will be along shortly

Charles Brown -Bad,Bad Whisky

Charles Brown - Just a Lucky So & So

Blog Country 143 - Afghanistan

 

I anticipated that Afghanistan would be tricky and so it proved. Kudos goes to the individual or individuals who managed to defy the Taliban and visit my humble blog.

It appears that in addition to having no time for human rights, women and education that the Taliban have no time for music. It just goes to prove that they are a dodgy lot.

To my surprise I was able to find a lot of Afghan music on You Tube. I was unable to convert the videos to MP3's which is my usual method for this series but fortunately I am able to share the videos.

Unfortunately, but perhaps understandably, I was unable to find any female singers

Farhad Darya is an Afghan singer, composer, music producer, and philanthropist. Active since the 1980s, Darya has been one of the most renowned and influential Afghan pop musicians of the modern era, contributing to establishing new wave in Afghanistan and blending urban and rural styles. Probably sensibly he left the country in 1990 and now lives in Hamburg, Germany.

Here he is with Hamesha Tanhaa

Ahmad Wali is an Afghan Ghazal singer. He began his career in the 1970s, becoming popular in his native country before he was forced to flee by political upheaval in Afghanistan. He continued his work after resettling in Germany, performing throughout Europe and North America.

Dr. Mohammad Sadiq Fitrat, born Sadiq Fitrat Habibi, known professionally as Nashenas, is one of the oldest surviving musicians from Afghanistan. His fame began in the late 1950s, and since then he has produced many albums consisting of Pashto, Persian, and Urdu songs. He is known as "the Afghan Saigal".

Jawad Ghaziyar is a popular Afghan singer. He is one of the 1980s era singers who took refuge in United States after the fall of Afghanistan government in 1992. Jawad was also a special judge in Season 8 of Afghan Star.

Again - apologies for the slightly different format and the lack of information and  MP3s. I blame the Taliban. 

We are off to the North Atlantic Ocean next time round.

Hot, Hot, Hot!

 

It may have escaped your attention but it's rather hot out there.And it's only May!

Us Scots find it hard to cope with this sort of weather. We start of blue, then go white before ending up red. It's definitely Tapps Aff weather.

It does make you worry a bit about Global Warning 

Anyway before the planet turns into a fire ball here are a few songs while we are still here.

Brian Setzer - Red Hot

The Specials - Too Hot

The Soul Lifters - Hot, Funky & Sweaty

The Fall - British People in Hot Weather

James Edwyn & the Borrowed Band

 

James Edwyn & the Borrowed Band were an act which first came to my attention with the release of  their album Highlights of Low Nights on Last Night From Glasgow in 2022. It wasn't on my allocated bunch of albums but it was one that I took a punt on.

It seems that this was their third album. I was suitably impressed enought to track down their secend album High Fences released by Dead Records Collective from 2017. This label also released their debut album The Tower back in 2014

Americana UK describe Highlights as a record that single handedly destroys the myth of the difficult third album;possibly forever and the blog Blabber'n' Smoke also waxes lyrical about this album.

Sadly I  can find nothing new about the band since 2022 so I suspect the they may have faded into the ether which is a shame.

I would be delighted if anyone could tell me differently.

James Edwyn & the Borrowed Band - Buy Me a Ticket

James Edwyn & the Borrowed Band - Because of You

If it Ain't Stiff -2

 

I once wrote to Bloodshot Records proclaiming that they were the best label in the world. They replied thanking me and saying that Tamla Motown, Chess and Stiff Records were better

By way of proof here are the next four tracks on the compilation album If It Ain't Stiff...

We start with the Welsh legend that is Dave Edmunds. At 82 years of age he has now retired from the songwriting , guitar playing and record producing game. His contribution to the compilation(try saying that without you teeth in) is a cover of the Chuck Berry song Jo Jo Gunne.

Next up is actress cum comedian cum singer Tracey Ullman with the song My Guy a cover of the Madness song My Girl with suitably altered lyrics.

Who will you always find in the kitchen at paries? Yup Jona Lewie is up next!

The final contribution this week comes from Theatre of Hate with the brilliant Do You Believe In The Westworld?

Another fine foursome for you next Monday.

Dave Edmunds - Jo Jo Gunne

Tracey Ullman - My Guy

Jona Lewie - You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties

Theatre of Hate - Do You Believe In The Westworld?

Americana 2004

 

Welcome to the 35th Sunday Americana compilation. We shall easily achieve 40 but 50 may prove to be a bit of a stretch.We shall see.

As you can see from the picture above this compilation came courtesy of Uncut magazine from August 2004.

The tracklist gives you details of the 15 tracks and if they float your boat you can probably pick it up for just over a quid should you be so inclined.

For me Americana was beginning to peak around then.There are still plenty of songs and artists on it that I like but there is a sense that the guards are changing.

Jim White had long been a favourite of mine with Static On The Radio being taken from his 2004 album Drill a Hole in the Substrate and Tell Me What You See a title that trips lightly off the tongue!

Richmond Fontaine were another favourite but I don't have the album Winnemucca from where the song Western Skyline is taken .

I do however have the 2004 album Oh ,My Girl by Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter on the Fargo label from which the haunting The Dreaming Dead is taken

I'm afraid that you are too late to receive a fantastic CD by The Cure which was on offer to anyone subscribing to the magazine for  £9.99 every 3 months. A single monthly magazine would now set you back 11 quid!

Jim White - Static On The Radio

Richmond Fontaine -Western Skyline

Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter - The Dreaming Dead

Saturday Shuffle 145

 

A cornucopia of genres for you today to ease you into the weekend

We start with some Glam Rock with Coz I Luv You courtesy of Wolverhampton's finest Slade.There music may be good which is more than you can say about their spelling. I only ever saw them once at the Glasgow Apollo  but sadly that was during their later rock phase.

Gregg Allman's entire career could probably be described as rock although Wiki lists Blues/Rock/Southern Rock/Gospel/Country to name but 6. All bases covered there I think, He was married 7 times, one being to Cher ,and had 5 kids. Midnight Rider seems an accurate descriptor.

To conclude we have the great Billie Holiday who effortlessly straddled the Jazz/Blues divide with songs such as Lover Man

More Glam Lovermen and Midnight Riders next Saturday.

Slade - Coz I Luv You

Gregg Allman - Midnight Rider

Billie Holiday -Lover Man (Where Can You Be ?)

The Boxing Mirror

 

The other day I pulled out The Boxing Mirror by Alejandro Escovedo for a long overdue listen.

I have a promo copy with a different cover (below), and I noticed that the release date for the album was 1st May 2006. That makes it just over 20 years old. How did that happen?

On the Back Porch label it was produced by John Cale who also contributes with guitar and keyboard.This might explain why Alejandro delves into the worlds of avant guard and post punk with only shades of Americana. Rest assured, however, that this in no way detracts from the quality of the album.

It was the last of his albums that I bought although I do have a couple of burns/downloads from later albums

Alejandro has experienced some significant health issues over the years including Hepatitis C and I'm happy to report that he appears to be going strong at the age of 75.

Alejandro Escovedo - Arizona

Alejandro Escovedo - Deer Head On The Wall

Alejandro Escovedo - Sacremento & Polk

The Blues Collection - Furry Lewis & Frank Stokes

 

Long suffering readers will remember thay my Blues Collection obsession began between Christmas and New Year in 2013 when I picked up two job lots in my sadly departed local charity shop

Thereafter over the years I would pick them up in dribs and drabs in various charity shops. These were usually the early numbers in the series which featured the most popular artists

These eventually dried up leaving me to find only one or two every year and then every couple of years. A new source was required and Missing Records duly stepped up to the plate with any they have selling for a pound or two. Prior to my latest haul I had 66 out of the 90 in the series

My 67th one is number 61 in the series Beale Street Blues featuring Furry Lewis (tracks 1-8) and Frank Stokes (tracks 9 -18) with a series of songs recorded in 1928 and 1929 when Frank Stokes was just over 40 with Furry Lewis in his mid 30's. Here Discogs gives details of the tracklist.

One each from Furry and  Frank where they give themselves name checks I think.

Stay tuned for some more from the Collection...

Furry Lewis - Furry's Blues

Frank Stokes' Dream