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Monday 30 November 2015

Stranraer Americana -Uncle Tupelo


Mrs CC and I have often commented as to how good it would be if I stumbled upon a charity shop where someone had just handed in a slab of Americana.
Well it finally happened a couple of weeks ago when we walked into the Marie Curie shop in the South West Scottish town of Stranraer.
Some kind soul had handed in a dozen or so Americana CDs. I knew I had a few of them but left with 8 which I knew I didn't have or thought I didn't have. Turned out I didn't have any of them. Even better they were only 75p per pop.
I was as happy as a seagull with a stolen chip.
We start with the band and album which started a movement No Depression the first studio album from Uncle Tupelo from 1990 on the Rockware Records label.
I couldn't believe I didn't have it but suspect it may be because I have a good few of the songs on 89/93: An Anthology.
A first outing for Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar as well as Mike Heidorn on drums.
Terrific stuff

Uncle Tupelo - No Depression

Uncle Tupelo - Whiskey Bottle

Sunday 29 November 2015

Some Sunday Soul


Some funky Philly Soul for you today courtesy of the late great Teddy Pendergrass.

A recent Stranraer two albums on the one CD purchase - 1978's Life is a Song Worth Singing and 1980's TP for the grand total of 75 pence. 37.5 pence per album -a total steal.
Some great stuff from the former lead  singer with Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
Sadly he was badly injured in a car accident in 1982 resulting in him being paralyzed from the chest down.
Fortunately he was later able to continue his musical career prior to succumbing to respiratory failure in 2010 at the age of 59

More Soul next Sunday but in the meantime Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose

Teddy Pendergrass - Life is a Song Worth Singing

Teddy Pendergrass - Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose

Saturday 28 November 2015

Saturday Lucky Dip


Last week The Roots of Hendrix, this week Tom Wait's Jukebox
Last week, Mojo, this week Uncut.
I'm not really a fan of Tom Waits but there is one more of his albums on the shelves than Jimi  in Big Time a live album from 1998 a Mrs CC purchase.
I'm not really that enamored with the compilation either to be honest but I've come up with a couple.

I saw William Elliott Whitmore support Ray Wylie Hubbard and have a few of his albums burned as a couple of lads from my local are fans. I've never seen Old Blue Eyes.
Is it ok to feature Howlin' Wolf two Saturday's in succession? You're damn right it is!

More random nonsense next Saturday

William Elliott Whitmore - Not Feeling Any Pain

Frank Sinatra - One For My Baby (And One For the Road)

Howlin' Wolf - I Asked for Water (She Gave me Gasoline)


Friday 27 November 2015

I've Been Driving in my Car ...


I was scanning the shelves looking for something when I stumbled across Drive Time - 100 Classic Driving Anthems.
One of these box sets that you buy in a super market or a service station and not something I am guilty of buying so I suspect this one is down to Mrs CC.
A fairly eclectic but also fairly mainstream compilation ranging from the pretty good to the down right awful with all things in between.
Two or three caught my eye.
How's about a number one from 1972 courtesy of Chicory Tip?
Then there is 5-7-0-5 from City Boy. Funny how I can remember a number 8 from 1978 yet would be hard pushed to name a number one this Millennium.
Then we get all modern by dipping our toes into the 90's with The Farm
I'll spare you the other 97 - meantime!

Chicory Tip - Son of My Father

City Boy - 5-7-0-5

The Farm - Groovy Train

Thursday 26 November 2015

Bitter Sweet Symphonies


After yesterday's excitement back to the same old same old.

A few months ago I posted a couple of songs from The Collection a compilation of Kim Richey songs.
At the time I surmised that her fourth  album Rise from 2002 was probably the one to get as it has more of an Americana feel than it's predecessors.
However I was not about to pass up the opportunity to pick up her second album Bitter Sweet when I saw it going cheap in the Community Shop in Wigtown.
From 1999 it is certainly a wee bit more mainstream Country than some of her later stuff but that is not always a bad thing.

Kim Richey - I Know

Kim Richey - Let it Roll

Wednesday 25 November 2015

A Doubly Momentous Day for CCM


Today is a doubly momentous day for Charity Chic Music.
Not only are we celebrating our third birthday today but also our 1000th post.
I have been fervently praying over the last few days that none of my musical heroes would die thus necessitating a tribute post and buggering up this coincidental symmetry.

Sincere thanks as always to Mrs CC and to those of you who have contributed to the 2800 comments to date or who have taken the time to read and/or listen to any of the posts.
I intend to keep going but perhaps may not be as prolific as before as daily posting can become a bit of a chore when real life gets in the way.




Tuesday 24 November 2015

Prince



No, not that one!
Mrs CC put on a random CD the other day."Who is that?" I cried."Call yourself a muso" she replied."Give us a clue" I responded.
Several clues later including the initials TP and I was none the wiser.
Turns out it was Tim Prince  with the 2007 album Angel Songs on Lost Cat Records.
I've no recollection of how this came to adorn the shelves. It may have been an on spec purchase from the Fisherman's Mission in Mallaig. Or then again maybe not.

It appears from the very limited information that I can find that he is from Royal Leamington Spa but after some fairly extensive travelling he wound up recording this album in Athens, Georgia.His band may or may not be called Hazy Ray.

Nothing startling but pleasant enough. His voice reminds me a wee bit of Neal Casal.

Tim Prince -Cold Living

Tim Prince - The Father Song

Monday 23 November 2015

Sugar Cane



Friday's reference to Jamie Oliver's war against sugar and my recent acquisition of Elvis Costello's Secret, Profane and Sugarcane had me thinking about songs on the CC shelves about sugar, and about sugar cane in particular.
I've come up with three.
The ever cheerful Mary Gauthier, Fred Eaglesmith who I would have missed had I not recently featured him and of course old Declan himself

Not suitable for diabetics.

Mary Gauthier - Sugar Cane

Fred Eaglesmith - Sugarcane

Elvis Costello - Sulphur to Sugarcane

Sunday 22 November 2015

Some Sunday Soul


Some mid 60s Isley Brothers for you today from their Motown period when there were only three of them recording - O'Kelly Jr, Rudolph and Ronald.
This represented their first purple patch prior to the extended version going down  a more funkier route in the mid 70s.
Behind a Painted Smile is perhaps a portent of things to come
They have been performing in various guises since 1954.
Purchased in the Canine Rescue Charity Shop in Newton Stewart affectionately known to Mrs CC and I as the Smelly Dog Shop.

More Soul next Sunday

The Isley Brothers - It's Out of the Question

The Isley Brothers - No Place to Run

The Isley Brothers - Behind a Painted Smile

Saturday 21 November 2015

Saturday Lucky Dip



Confession time - and one which may result in me being drummed out the Brownies. I do not own any records by Jimi Hendrix.
I do however have a Mojo compilation The Roots of Hendrix -15 tracks that inspired the legend.
No doubt an opportunity for a 30 page article and a chance to feature some Blues standards in the public domain.
There are a few crackers as you would expect and I have selected Howlin' Wolf and Jimmy Reed for your listening pleasure.
The stand out however is Little Richard's cover of the Don Covay song I Don't Know What You've Got, But it's Got Me which was also covered by Hendrix.
I was initially going to save this for a Soul Sunday slot but it is so good that I felt compelled to post it now.

Howlin' Wolf - Killing Floor

Jimmy Reed -Bright Lights Big City

Little Richard - I Don't Know What You've Got, But It's Got Me (Parts 1&2)

Friday 20 November 2015

Cheap Pearls and Whisky Dreams

James or Craig?


A couple of weeks ago on the ever excellent Plain or Pan Craig featured James Grant in his Six of the Best series and confessed to having modelled his  late 80's quiff on James'
In the comments section I mentioned that I had seen James Grant play a 40th birthday party at a house in Eaglesham with half the guests watching him and the other half doing a Jona Lewie - you'll always find me in the kitchen at parties.

I suspect that the above was subliminally on my mind when I stumbled across Cheap Pearls and Whisky Dreams - the best of Love and Money in a charity shop in Stranraer.
Never mind Jamie Oliver and his war against sugar it's time to take a ride on the sugar train

Love and Money - Jocelyn Square

Love and Money - Candybar Express

Thursday 19 November 2015

Coati Mundi


Coatimundi is the name of a rather cute looking South American animal which is a member of the raccoon family.
Coati Mundi is also the stage name of American percussionist Andy Hernandez who pops up with Kid Creole and the Coconuts on Me No Pop I their debut single which reached number 32 in the UK singles charts in 1981.
The second of my Wigtown Community Shop purchases.

Billed as Kid Creole and the Coconuts present Coati Mundi the song appears on both the b-side and on the a-side where it segues with Que Pasa.
A real earworm -you will find yourself singing this for days!

Kid Creole & the Coconuts present Coati Mundi - Que Pasa/Me No Pop I

Kid Creole & the Coconuts present Coati Mundi - Me No Pop I

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Record Buying in a Book Town


The lovely small town of Wigtown in Galloway is officially Scotland's national Book Town here

You may not be surprised to learn that in my most recent foray there I came away with two records and two CDs but no books.The CD's may well feature at a later date.
The first of the records I picked up  in the Community Shop was the single Gold Rush by The Men They  Couldn't Hang from 1986 a song from their How Green is the Valley album.
The Ghosts of Cable Street features on the b-side and is a much better song.It was also released as a single in it's own right.
The track on the single jumps and so is not featured today. Rest easy as it has featured before.
The second acquisition will feature tomorrow

The Men They Couldn't Hang - Gold Rush

The Men They Couldn't Hang - Walkin' Talkin'

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Got The Riot City Blues



Country Girl by the Primals from their Riot City Blues album is  the first song I can remember dancing to with Mrs CC.
It is also the name of a pub in Birmingham near where George used to stay
The whole album is sort of Rolling Stoneseque and a bit of a return to rock'n'roll rather than their dancey stuff and is none the worse for that.
Former Bunnyman Will Sergeant features on the second selected track When the Bomb Drops but I haven't got him down as a junkie liar

Primal Scream - Country Girl

Primal Scream - When The Bomb Drops

Monday 16 November 2015

Scorchio


I was playing Viva Americana a terrific compilation the other day when I had the urge to share some Jason and the Scorchers with you. So here is One Last Question. 
The only other Scorchers stuff I have is a live version of Absolutely Sweet Marie which I have previously posted and a burn of the album Halcyon Times so you will have to make do with Sid Griffin for track number two.
More Scorchers music is clearly required.

I have a couple of Jason Ringenberg's solo albums but that's for another day.

Jason and the Scorchers - One Last Question

Sid Griffin - Cadillac Elvis

Sunday 15 November 2015

Some Sunday Soul



I was swithering whether to feature Solomon Burke or Joe Tex this week so it is only right that I give you one of each.
First up is the self proclaimed King of Soul with a Swamp Dogg song Sidewalks, Fences and Walls.
The big man is then followed by the wee man Joe Tex with Hold On to What You Got from the magnificent Kent album Skinny Legs and All -The Classic Early Dial Sides.

Initially it didn't register in my brain when these two names popped up that they had both been part of The Soul Clan which is a rather pleasant coincidence.

More soul next Sunday

Solomon Burke - Sidewalks, Fences and Walls

Joe Tex - Hold What You've Got

Saturday 14 November 2015

Saturday Lucky Dip

Broomfield


This week's Lucky Dip is Uncut's June 2007 compilation The New Frontier- Americana The Next Generation purchased in a charity shop in the New Frontier town of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.
Drew may be familiar with the picture
I resisted the temptation to include Oakley Hall's If I Was in El Dorado despite Eldorado being one of the many tonic wines of choice for the Airdrie denizens.

Rather I have gone for two artists I have long admired but don't have any albums from.
Conor Oberst better known as Bright Eyes has been around for a while .As far as I know he is still with us despite some articles on t'interweb to the contrary. Indeed Mike Batt even wrote a song about him which was sung by Art Garfunkel  -allegedly.
I also have a bit of a soft spot for The Felice Brothers although  I suspect that Simone Felice who has now gone solo is a bit up himself.

More random nonsense next Saturday.

Bright Eyes - Lua

The Felice Brothers - Mercy

Friday 13 November 2015

Zut Alors


Up until the other day when I popped into my local Charity Shop I was blissfully unaware that The Zutons had recorded a third album. Turns out they have and I am now the proud owner of You Can Do Anything their third and presumably final album from 2008.
Along with fellow Liverpool band The Coral they produced some fine guitar based jingly jangly pop music in the early 00's and unlike many a band they quit before they got too stale.

Nothing startling on You Can Do Anything but these two are pretty tasty.

The Zutons - Bumbag

The Zutons - Freak

Thursday 12 November 2015

Here's Grace


A number of years ago there was a stall in Glasgow's Barras market which sold huge posters which were designed to be put on advertising hoardings by Mr Bill Posters. It may well still be there for all I know.

Anyhow, I had a pretty much life sized poster of Grace Jones which hung proudly on my bedroom wall for  a good few years and which scared the bejesus out of any tradesman popping in to carry out some maintenance!

All of which is somewhat of a preamble to sharing with you a couple of tracks  from her 1981 Nightclubbing album on the Island label.

Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper

Grace Jones - Nightclubbing

Wednesday 11 November 2015

The Blues Collection - Blues Women



Last week's Billie Holiday post had me re-visiting The Blues Collection for some more female Blues singers.
Of the 92 albums in the series sadly only Bessie Smith, Koko Taylor, Memphis Minnie and Victoria Spivey merit a CD in their own right
However No 73 is a compilation of 20 female Blues singers and I suppose it gives a chance to hear some of the more obscure and less prolific artists.

Women by and large get a fairly rough deal in the Blues world often being portrayed of having loose morals and being of easy virtue. Indeed their main function in life appears  to be keeping their men  folk happy.
It has to be said that many of the songs sung by female singers conform to these stereotypes.

Here are Trixie Smith and Lizzie Miles with two songs, the second in particular,  which contain more innuendo and double entendres that an entire Carry On series

Trixie Smith - My Daddy Rocks me

Lizzie Miles - My Man o' War

Tuesday 10 November 2015

The King Will Build a Disco


It's time for this week's slice of obscure Americana that no-one will listen to courtesy of The Broken Family Band and their 2002 debut mini LP The King Will Build a Disco on the Snowstorm label.
Martin Green from Lau and Inge Thomson who plays with Karine Polwart both feature on the first track.

From Cambridge, England as opposed to Cambridge, Massachusetts they recorded about half a dozen records on labels such as Cooking Vinyl and  one of our favourite German labels Glitterhouse prior to splitting in 2009

I'll get my coat.

The Broken Family Band - Queen of the Sea

The Broken Family Band - Behind the Church

Monday 9 November 2015

Stories of Johnny


A few weeks ago JC featured The Days of Pearly Spencer by Marc Almond here
This led to a debate in the comments section as to the merits of many of his great solo sings.
At the time I put a shout out for Stories of Johnny and have only now got round to putting my typing fingers  where my mouth is
Twenty three years since his last top 20 single as JC pointed out. This one is thirty years old FFS but to these ears still sounds as good as ever.
One of the great voices who never really got the recognition he deserved

Marc Almond - Stories of Johnny

Marc Almond - Blond Boy

Sunday 8 November 2015

Some Sunday Soul


The Soul seam on the CC shelves is pretty much exhausted and urgently in need of some replenishment.
Until such times and indeed until finances allow we shall have to make do with revisiting some old favourites
And where better to start than with the excellent  sampler What's Happening Stateside surely 99p well spent.
16 tracks none of which would be out of place on these pages.
Three have previously featured around this time last year and today we feature two great artists who have also previously graced these pages Irma Thomas and the sadly departed Bobby Womack

More Soul next Sunday

Irma Thomas - Wish Someone Would Care

Bobby Womack - Lookin' For Love

Saturday 7 November 2015

Saturday Lucky Dip

painting by Jon Langford



When Uncut came up with the title Outlaw Blues, Murder Ballads & Prison Songs for their February 2009 compilation it was hardly surprising that Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash was the lead song.
After all he shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.
There are plenty of songs about these subjects to choose from.Indeed Jon Langford's Pine Valley Cosmonauts have released three volumes of The Executioner's Last Songs which have featured here before and will no doubt feature again.
The Uncut compilation focuses mainly on Country and Blues numbers so in addition to Johnny I am throwing in Mississippi John Hurt and Charlie Louvin for good measure.

More random nonsense next Saturday

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues

Mississippi John Hurt - Frankie

Charlie Louvin - The Little Grave in Georgia

Friday 6 November 2015

SOD It, It's Friday



As it's Friday I have a couple of sing-a-long shouty numbers for you courtesy of Spear of Destiny fronted by Kirk Brandon a one time love interest of Boy George. I was going to say allegedly but he lost the court case.

Taken from One Eyed Jacks their second album recorded in 1984. Whilst looking this out I discovered I also have the 1985 follow up World Service something that I was totally oblivious to until now. Must give it a listen sometime.

Apparently this is punk-influenced power pop with an anthemic feel.
The second song in particular has found its way onto many a mix tape.
Enjoy and sing along loudly!

Spear of Destiny - Rainmaker

Spear of Destiny - Liberator


Thursday 5 November 2015

Right Said Fred


I think I'll describe Fred Eaglesmith's music as Alt Country as Americana would be is misnomer given that he is Canadian and Canadiana is just plain silly.
Born Frederick John Elgersma in Caistor Centre, Ontario in 1957 he has been producing records since 1980.
These two songs are taken from his 2002 album Falling Stars and Broken Hearts the 11th of his 20 albums to date.
Despite the fact that it has been the warmest start to November in living memory Cumberland County gives us a salutory warning as to what's just around the corner.
Got to go now as there is a man at the door who wants to buy my truck

Fred Eaglesmith - Cumberland County

Fred Eaglesmith - I Wanna Buy Your Truck

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Jesus, This is Iggy


A generation were introduced to Lust for Life by Iggy Pop courtesy of it featuring in the chase scene at the start of the film Trainspotting.
The older among us however were familiar with the song as the title track of the album of the same name from 1977.
Good though it is it pales into insignificance when compared  with The Passenger a song that takes me right back to my teenage years
From the time that Iggy's career was enjoying something of a renaissance due to his association and collaborations with David Bowie.
Turn Blue is one such collaboration. Whilst no Passenger it is worthy of inclusion for the title line of this post alone

Iggy Pop - The Passenger

Iggy Pop - Turn Blue

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Lady Sings The Blues




I acquired Lady Sings The Blues the most recent record from former X Factor contestant Rebecca Ferguson in a charity shop the other day. As the title suggests it is a tribute to the great Billie Holiday. It is actually pretty good and no doubt will feature in due course.
It did however have me reaching for  Lady Day  herself on the basis that you can't improve upon perfection.
Sublime and a reminder that I  really need to get round to featuring the rest of The Blues Collection.

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

Billie Holiday - That Ole Devil Called Love

Monday 2 November 2015

This Week's Earworm



This week's earworm is What's The Frequency, Kenneth? by R.E.M complete with some fine and appropriate punctuation and a song which has been rattling round my head for the last few days.
The first single and indeed first track from their 1994 album Monster reaching number 9 in  the UK singles chart and number 21 in the Billboard Hot 100.
Like most folk I have a few R.E.M. albums but would not really count myself as a massive fan.
Monster was probably the last one I bought at the time.Automatic For The People was always going to be a hard act to follow but it is a valiant attempt.
As part of my research I gave it a listen for the first time in ages and rather enjoyed the experience.

R.E.M. - What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

R.E.M. - Crush With Eyeliner

Sunday 1 November 2015

Some Sunday Soul


In 1987 along with a  few million or so other people I bought Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby an album he modestly proclaimed as the most important album since Sgt Pepper.
Like a  few million or so others I never got round  to buying anything else by him and indeed had not heard anything until Scott on Spools Paradise thankfully back with us featured a couple of songs from the Neither Fish nor Flesh follow up album which I had mistakenly thought was called Neither Fish nor Foul.
These tracks were rather good but I have still to carry out my comment about following it up.

Terence is now known as Sananda Maitreya a name that came to him in a series of dreams and he is now produced around a dozen albums under these two names.

More Soul next Sunday

Terence Trent D'Arby -Sign Your Name

Terence Trent D'Arby -As Yet Untitled