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 Pun 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 cpnclude 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