Burnt Offerings 21

There have been several bands known as the Stingrays or The Sting Rays over the years.
The one you are getting today are a new wave band originally from Bristol but who nowadays are largely based in Japan.
Countdown was their debut single released on the splendidly named Fried Egg Records in 1980.Sadly it was never used as the theme tune for the daily TV quiz show of the same name.
I shall make enquiries with my brother as to whether he has anything by the London based psychobilly band of the same name that I can share

The Stingrays - Countdown

From Bristol to Vermont the home of blues rock band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

They hit the big time with their self titled third album in 2010.

Ragged Company however is taken from their 2005 debut Nothing But The Water

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Ragged Company

We shall finish off this week's selection with The Magnetic Fields.

A band fronted by Stephen Merritt, they were the subject recently of a fantastic  ICA at JC's place submitted by Rol

This song didn't feature but it is further proof, as if proof was needed, that I should extract the digit and acquire some of their stuff. I'll probably go for 69 Love Songs in the first instance given that it features Papa was a Rodeo and Kelly Hogan's cover version is just about my favourite song of all time

The Magnetic Fields - Born on a Train

More assorted nonsense next week

Some Commotional Music

Slim pickings from our recent trawl of the charity shops of Stranraer.
One CD I did come away with was Lloyd Cole and the Commotions 1984 -1989..
14 tracks of which I already owned 9 having both Rattlesnakes ( on vinyl and CD) and Easy Pieces (on vinyl) on the shelves..
That left 5 I didn't have - 4 from the third album Mainstream and You Will Never Be So Good the b-side of Perfect Skin.
Given the quality on offer I think that  acquiring these five for £1.99 was a pretty good piece of business.
Here are two of the four from Mainstream.

Lloyd Cole & the Commotions - Mr Malcontent

Lloyd Cole & the Commotions - Jennifer She Said

Gregg Allman RIP

A friend texted to advise as to the death of Gregg Allman. Another friend texted that he thought that he had died years ago.
Even having established that he was not confusing him with his brother Duane who died in 1971 aged 24 it was  a fairly easy mistake to make given his years of alcohol and drug addiction. Not many would have put money on him making it to 69.
A couple of years ago after having read his autobiography My Cross to Bear I sought out some Allman Brothers Band stuff by way of Midnight Rider: The Essential Collection.
Some excellent Southern Country rock on there.
He subsequently had a reasonably successful solo career culminating in 2011's Low Country Blues.

Rest easy Gregg

The Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man

The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post

Some Sunday Disco Allegedly

A second visit today to the Disco Legends compilation which first graced these pages on Friday.
In addition to the two acts who featured then the CD contains a number of acts that you would pretty accurately describe as Disco - Heatwave, Tavares, A Taste of Honey and KC & The Sunshine Band to name but four.
Then there are some who I feel are more accurately described as soul hence this second post.
The Jacksons, Billy Ocean, George McCrae and the Three Degrees for instance plus the two featured below.

I'll file it away now

The Isley Brothers - Harvest For The World

Ashford & Simpson - Solid

Springsteen Covered - If I Should Fall Behind

Well that was a pretty convincing whooping handed out to the Boss last week by Ted Leo with his version of Dancing in the Dark. It would appear that if you wish Bruce to get a trouncing you only have to feature something from Born in the USA.
Given that the scores have now narrowed to The Boss 7 The Rest 4 I won't resort to such desperate tactics - just yet.
This week will be more interesting (for me at least) given that it features two versions of a song that I am not at all  familiar with - If I Should Fall Behind.
Taken from Lucky Town one of two albums along with Human Touch released simultaneously in 1992 when for me he was in a bid of a slump prior to a resurgence with The Ghost of Tom Joad and The Rising
Up against Bruce this week is indie favourite and former Go-Between the late great Grant McLennan. His version was the b-side of his 1993 single Lighting Fires

It's a win for the Aussies for me this week. Others of course may choose to disagree.


Bruce Springsteen - If I Should Fall Behind

Grant McLennan - If I Should Fall Behind

Boogie Nights

On our recent visit to Galloway we popped into the newly opened Cat Protection League shop in Stranraer.
I came away empty handed but Mrs CC picked up Disco Legends.
A double CD featuring 40 tracks - some classics and some fillers and all for just £1.99
Here are a couple of the classics for you to shake your bootie to to get the weekend started

Drew - this is how to do Friday night dance music! Don't think you're quite ready for Baccara though

One, two, three shake your body down

Odyssey - Use It Up & Wear It Out

Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music

Weird Tales from Americana Royalty

We are ticking a good few boxes today by featuring Weird Tales the second album by Americana super group Golden Smog from 1998

The Jayhawks - Gary Louris , Marc Perlman, Kraig Johnson, Jessy Greene - check
Wilco - Jeff Tweedy - check
Soul Asylum - Dan Murphy - check
Big Star - Jody Stephens - check  BIG STAR!
Run Westy Run -  Kraig Johnson -check
Geraldine Fibbers - Jessy Greene - check

The lead vocals and indeed some of the instruments are shared around but as you would suspect if you are a regular to these pages I am opting for Messrs Louris and Tweedy.
I was convinced I had the Jayhawks singing Until You Came Along but apparently not. I've certainly heard them singing it live on more than one occasion

Your star crossed eyes. Your troubled mind, seems you were left just for me to find

Golden Smog - Until You Came Along

Golden Smog - Lost Love