Some Sunday Soul

The other day I stumbled across an album I have never knowingly played. In The Heat of the Night by British soul group Imagination. I am reliably informed that it belonged to Mrs CC's sister.
Surely a candidate for the worse album covers category.

In the Heat of the Night - could it be a cover of the magnificent song by Ray Charles from the magnificent film which featured last week?
Sadly not.
Nope it is one of their own and one which reached number 22 in the UK singles chart in 1982.
You will all be more familiar with the other track Just an Illusion which reached number 2 criminally denied the top spot by the Goombay Dance Band and Seven Tears. There were some quality songs released in 1982.

Imagination - In The Heat of the Night

Imagination - Just an Illusion

Namechecked - Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Whilst doing my extensive "research" for my recent Sister Rosetta Tharpe Sunday Soul post I discovered that there were two songs on which she is namechecked.
When I say discovered, reminded would probably be more accurate as I have the two songs and indeed one has previously featured. I have also seen the two bands in question perform tremendous concerts at King Tuts.
The one that has featured before is Sister Rosetta (Capture the Spirit) from The Noisettes which features on their album What's the Time Mr Wolf? The Noisettes - a band who do what it says on the tin.
The other one (which allows the previously posted one to feature) is Sister Rosetta from Alabama 3's quite magnificent debut album Exile on Cold Harbour Lane.My copy is a promotional copy which I picked up in Vinyl Exchange in Manchester.
They were fantastic when they started out but lost their way and became complacent following the success of Woke Up This Morning which featured as the opening theme to The Sopranos

More namechecking next Saturday

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Strange Things Happen Every Day

The Noisettes - Sister Rosetta (Capture The Spirit)

Alabama 3 - Sister Rosetta

Vintage Country Vinyl - George Jones

This week's featured artist is the one and only George Jones and his 1972 album on RCA Poor Man's Riches.
As the sleevenotes state The Jones Boy Has Done it Again! More Songs of misery and regret (ok I made up that second line)
The pick of the tracks is the great She Thinks I Still Care. However this has featured before so here are another two which I'm sure you will agree are pretty tasty.
Vocal accompaniment by The Jordonnaires in case you were wondering.
I've posted it before but here is a blow up of that natty green suit

More Vintage Country Vinyl next Friday

George Jones - Till I Hear From You

George Jones - Once A Day

Three For a Pound # 3

There is an argument that says that if I did not do this blog that I would not go out and sometimes buy semi random music.
I would counter this argument by stating that my life would be less complete.
An example being the purchase of Since I Left You by The Avalanches. It wasn't quite  what I suspected it to be at all and I was not that impressed on first listen. It has the potential however to become a grower.
The Avalanches are an Australian electropop band who dabble in plunderphonics which apparently means that they take one or more existing audio recordings and alter them in some way to make a new composition.
I was aware of Not So Manic Now by Dubstar but only relatively recently when it was featured at JC's place We'll let the great man do the talking. Mine is disc one
It's always good to feature The Proclaimers  and whilst King of the Road is probably not one of their better songs it is nevertheless entertaining to hear the Roger Miller classic being delivered in a broad Scottish accent

The Avalanches - Since I Left You

Dubstar - Not So Manic Now

The Proclaimers - King of the Road

Three For a Pound # 2

A recent foray to the Oxfam music shop on Glasgow's Victoria Road saw me come away with 6 CD singles from the three for a pound box.
So three lead tracks today and three tomorrow reserving the right to re-visit them in due course to share other tracks if need be.
Sadly I'm not as flush as the chap who left 46 quid cheaper but with two Fall vinyl albums under his arm (I Am Kurious Oranj and another whose name I did not get.)

So the first three of my meager pickings.
Sylvie by a band held in high regard by many a blogger Saint Etienne. From 2006 the first single from their fourth album  Good Humour and one which reached number 12 in the UK singles charts
Another hugely popular artist is the late great Kirsty MacColl. with 1995's Caroline from the Galore album which criminally only peaked at number 58
We are off to Wales for the final song in this first trio and the  cuddly Super Furry Animals with Hermann ♥'s Pauline the first single off their second album Radiator which reached number 26 in the UK singles chart in 1997.
Second installment tomorrow.

Saint Etienne - Sylvie

Kirsty MacColl - Caroline

Super Furry Animals - Herman Loves Pauline

Take Your Pretty Hands Off My Heart

This weeks slice of Americana comes from Stewboss with their 2006 album Take Your Pretty Hands Off My Heart recorded on  their own label Stewboss Records out of Calabasas, California.
Recorded over 4 days in Chaos Studios, Escondido, California.
Band members - Greg Sarfaty, Frank Lee Drennen, Jano Janosik and Luke Storey with Cindy Wasserman on harmony vocals.
All the above from the sleevenotes
Supplementary information from the internet  suggests that this is the 5th of 6 albums they have put out. There is also a free download of a track from their 2011 album Pilgrims and Runaways.
Nothing further to report other than these are probably the best two songs on the album.


Stewboss - Cheap Candy Disguise

Stewboss - Swing That Axe

Charlie Faye & the Fayettes

Some new music for you today seeing as how it is a new month.
Here are Charlie Faye & the Fayettes with a couple of tracks from A Modern Day 60s Girl Group on the Rise which is available to download on Noisetrade.
Some retro soul pop but with a modern feel.
They are from Austin, Texas and in case you are wondering the Fayettes are BettySoo and Akina Adderley 
Charlie I suspect is the one in the middle
Apparently they are Jewish, Korean and African-American and are all within half an inch of 5 foot 1 inch.
Good to know

Charlie Faye & the Fayettes - Carelessly

Charlie Faye & the Fayettes - Eastside