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Friday 30 September 2016

Holiday Hiatus Rockabilly - Eddie Cochran


There has been a bit of a Rockabilly feel to the last couple of Fridays so let's keep that going with Eddie Cochran
He died in a road accident in Chippenham, Wiltshire aged just 21 but not before he had made some great music.
His songs tended to be short so you are getting three as opposed to two today

Eddie Cochran - Somethin' Else

Eddie Cochran - Twenty Flight Rock

Eddie Cochran - Nervous Breakdown


Thursday 29 September 2016

Holiday Hiatus - The Fratellis



From 2006 a couple of tracks from Costello Music the debut album from Glasgow trio The Fratellis and the one which saw them enjoying their 15 minutes of fame
Here are Jon, Barry and Mince
I have resisted the temptation to post the ubiquitous Chelsea Dagger

The Fratellis - Henrietta

The Fratellis - Whistle For The Choir

Wednesday 28 September 2016

Holiday Hiatus - Kate Rusby


I thought that the Barnsley Nightingale Kate Rusby had appeared on these pages more times than she actually has. So she is probably due a feature
A couple of songs from the compilation album 20 released in 2012 to celebrate 20 years of her making music
As is often the case she is joined by guests on these new renditions of old favourites.
Joe Rusby, Chris Thile and Jerry Douglas appear on the first one and The Grimethorpe Colliery Band on the second

Kate Rusby - The Good Man

Kate Rusby - Underneath The Stars

Tuesday 27 September 2016

Holiday Hiatus - Edwyn Collins


As is now tradition time to feature Edwyn Collins in the Holiday Hiatus interlude
Two years ago tracks from the single Keep on Burning and last year tracks from Gorgeous George.
This time round it is the turn of the predecessor to GG  1990's Hellbent on Compromise with a very young looking Edwyn seemingly wearing his pyjama trousers on the cover

Edwyn Collins - You Poor Deluded Fool

Edwyn Collins - Everything and More

Monday 26 September 2016

Holiday Hiatus - Carter USM



Straw Donkey by Carter USM or to give them their Sunday name Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine is undoubtedly one of the great Singles album compilations.
15 singles and every one a cracker - here are two of them

Carter USM - Sheriff Fatman

Carter USM - Bloodsport For All

Sunday 25 September 2016

Some Holiday Hiatus Sunday Soul


It is widely accepted that among the many great Stevie Wonder albums there are three absolute masterpieces and works of genius namely in chronological order Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life
My personal favourite is Innervisions which has previously featured. Today it is the turn of Talking Book.
Stay tuned for Songs in the Key of Life.

Stevie Wonder - You've Got it Bad Girl

Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Saturday 24 September 2016

Over to Skye For Our Holidays


As Clare Grogan nearly sang we are over to Skye for our holidays.
Or rather a week on Skye followed by a week in Tomintoul.

I am going to resurrect the by now semi -traditional Holiday Hiatus series for the next couple of weeks whereby you get a couple of songs from a randomly picked artist (with one or two not so random) but very little by way of words or "research"
The reasoning is that I don't want to keep you lovely people hanging on for a couple of weeks.
Also I was hoping to try and submit a  post for every day in 2016. However there was a day when technical problems defeated me but I think that is allowed,

Altered Images - I Could Be Happy

Altered Images - Dead Popstars

Friday 23 September 2016

Let's All Get Dixie Fried


I seem to be going through a Friday rockabilly phase at the moment.
Sadly I don't think that I'll close in terms of  quality and number of posts to Swiss Adam's epic Friday Night is Rockabilly Night series
Still we'll give it a short blast for a few weeks
This week we feature Carl Perkins best known for Blue Suede Shoes and one of Sun's legendary Million Dollar Quartet with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash

Paul McCartney once said if there were no Carl Perkins , there would be no Beatles but we won't hold that against him
The Beatles never came up with anything as remotely good as Dixie Fried

Carl Perkins - Honey Don't

Carl Perkins - Dixie Fried

Thursday 22 September 2016

Tuscon Songs


Our good friend George kindly sent me  a copy of Tuscon Songs : Exciting New Songs from Southern Arizona.
It is from 2012 and on the German label Le Pop Musik.
Tuscon is probably most musically famous for the desert noir sound of Giant Sand and Calexico and both feature on the record.
It is a safe bet that if you like the above bands you will like the rest
Here are a couple of tasters.
Excellent stuff

Gabriel Sullivan &Taraf de Tuscon feat. Billy Sedimayr - The Rust, The Knife

Courtney Marie Andrews -It's okay, I Understand

Wednesday 21 September 2016

The Boy Wonder


It's not very often that you see a Roddy Frame solo album in a charity shop.
Indeed, it has only happened to me once , recently in Stanraer, and needless to say I took the opportunity to grab Seven Dials with both hands.
From 2014 it is his first studio album since 2006's Western Skies and only his fourth in sixteen years.

Uncut gave it 8/10 and described it as being both instantly accessible yet full of detail and depth
I'm not yet sure as to what I think the best tracks are and have chosen these two pretty much at random.
Like Western Skies I suspect it will take a good few listens.

Roddy Frame - Postcard

Roddy Frame - The Other Side

Tuesday 20 September 2016

Please and Thank You


The polite people behind Please and Thank You are Cambridge's Broken Family Band.
Their final album from 2009 on the Cooking Vinyl label.
I bought it recently in a charity shop on the strength of one of their previous efforts 2002's The King Will Build a Disco.
I have TKWBAD filed under Americana but this album has a heavier rockier feel to it.
On reflection I think I prefer the earlier one and am grateful that I bought them in that order as had I bought this one first I couldn't see me going for trip two

The Broken Family Band - Please Yourself

The Broken Family Band - Don't Bury Us

Monday 19 September 2016

SMHAFF 2016




How time flies - it is that time of the year again folks. My annual post promoting the forthcoming Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival which is now in it's 10 year


SMHAFF 2016 trailer from SMHAFF on Vimeo.


From a musical point of view Rod Jones from Idlewild and Emma Pollock of solo and Delgados fame have been supporters of the festival from the start so it is only fitting that we feature some stuff from them.

Sorry to disappoint you but if you haven't  already got your tickets for the Lanarkshire Showcase Launch at Colville Park featuring the mighty Michelle McManus I suspect you may well end up disappointed.


Idlewild - When I Argue I See Shapes

The Delgados - Coming In From The Cold

Sunday 18 September 2016

Some Sunday Soul


Willie Hightower is the man who graciously gave way for The Drifters last week
Two tracks from an 18 track eponymous compilation on the Honest Jon label  which if you do not own already you should rectify that forthwith, immediately and at once
The Honest Jon record label is run by the shop of the same name in Portobello Road , Ladbroke Grove in that London in association with Damon Albarn.
They have also released similar must have compilations by Candi Staton and Bettye Swann

Some of the blurbs I have read compare his voice to Sam Cooke but I can hear a bit of Joe Tex in there. Both no bad things as I'm sure you'll agree.

Willie Hightower - You Used Me Baby

Willie Hightoer - Time Has Brought About a Change


Saturday 17 September 2016

Vintage Country Vinyl - Bobbie Gentry


Today's post comes with a Government Health warning.
If you don't like your music with a bit of snap,crackle and pop please move swiftly on.
My recently acquired copy of Bobbie Gentry's 1969 album Touch 'Em With Love is in dreadful condition.
I have cleaned it up as best as I can and it is just about playable.
I've yet to decide whether it is a keeper given it's condition.

In my defence - it was 50p which went to charity, it has a fantastic cover and it's Bobbie Gentry

This series has now been put to bed again

Bobbie Gentry - Greyhound Goin' Somewhere

Bobbie Gentry - Touch 'Em With Love

Friday 16 September 2016

Cadillac Mark II

In the comments section of my recent Cadillac Ranch post Spence gave a shout out for Warren Smith with A Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache.
So here you go Spence -happy to oblige.

It got me thinking about other Cadillac songs. kevinpat mentioned The Pointer Sisters and Mink DeVille but I have neither of these tracks.
Cadillac Elvis by Sid Griffin and Carl Perkins' Cadillac by the Drive-By Truckers have previously featured.
So who does that leave?
One I thought I had previously featured but it turns out I hadn't - the mighty Dwight Yoakam of course!

Nearly a Top 10 there Rol

Warren Smith - A Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache

Dwight Yoakam - Guitars, Cadillacs

Thursday 15 September 2016

Troubled by the Fire


Let's stick with the elements for a bit - yesterday water, today fire
Troubled by the Fire from 2003 is the third album by  American  singer -songwriter Laura Veirs on the Bella Union label.
I'd vaguely heard of her and liked a song from a compilation so I acquired this a year or so ago. After a cursory listen it was filed away as is often the case until I dusted it  down a few days ago.
Not bad - could be a grower.
With reference to the second song the internet tells me that John Vogelin is the name of a New Mexican rancher in the 1962 novel Fire on the Mountain by Edward Abbey.
I was blissfully unaware of this. All that I knew was that the song contains yodeling and that is good enough for me.
She is married to Tucker Martine the go to producer for Americana bands.

Laura Veirs - Lost at Seaflower Cove

Laure Veirs - The Ballad of John Vogelin

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Just Beyond the River


2004's  Just Beyond the River on the Domino label was the second album by James Yorkston and the Athletes and their most successful in chart terms reaching the dizzying heights of number 155 on the UK album charts.
The album is produced by Keiran Hebden aka Four Tet
A native of Fife Mr Yorkston has connections with the Fence Collective and was a childhood friend and neighbour of DJ Vic Galloway
He was working in a bookshop in Edinburgh when he sent a single to John Martyn leading to him supporting Martyn on tour where he was spotted by Laurence Bell of Domino Records.

A recent find in a Stranraer charity shop.

James Yorkston & the Athletes - Shipwreckers

James Yorkston & the Athletes - Hermitage

Tuesday 13 September 2016

The Sundays on a Tuesday



The Sundays are one of the many acts that I first really discovered via the blogging fraternity.
On the back of posts and comments from folk whose musical judgement I trust I first acquired the single Summertime followed by the album Static & Silence.
Them that know assure me that their 1990 debut Reading, Writing and Arithmetic is the one to have so when I saw it for a quid in a charity shop in Troon it seemed foolish not to.
Only Blind to go to complete the set.

The Sundays - Here's Where The Story Ends

The Sundays - Can't Be Sure

Monday 12 September 2016

Where Cairo rhymed with Giro


I took a wee bit of a punt when picking up the 12 inch version of Cairo by Amazulu which turns out to having been their first single from as far back as 1983.
I had a vague recollection of them having appeared on The Young Ones but couldn't really remember any of their music.
How could I have forgotten Too Good to be Forgotten?
Turns out that Cairo is a pretty pleasant if hardly earth shattering piece of British ska pop.
The b-side numbers are not too shabby either - the first paying tribute to the women from Greenham Common with the second being about God know's what.

Amazulu - Cairo

Amazulu - Greenham Time

Amazulu - Nuya Deya


Sunday 11 September 2016

Some Sunday Drifters Soul

One of many Drifters Line Ups


Not quite sure how this one is going to go down.It was originally not my intention to feature The Drifters this week but they were crooning as muzak in the background of a restaurant the other night when we were having a meal and it got me thinking that I had never featured a Best of that I got in a record library sale.

They have been on the go since 1953 in various formats with any number of members and around 60 lead singers. There are also any number of versions of the band doing the rounds under various monikers putting the likes of UB40 firmly in the shade.

The most notable main men have probably been Clyde McPhatter in the 50's and Ben E King and Johnny Moore in the 60's
I've gone for Johnny and Bennie (in that order) although there may well have been a Frankie in the mix at some stage.





Saturday 10 September 2016

Vintage Country Vinyl - Buck Owens


The death of this series has been temporarily exaggerated.
I had intended to put it to bed after last week's post but a couple of new charity shop purchases have persuaded me to extend it by one or maybe two weeks (dependent on the recording quality of the second purchase which is not in the best of condition).
No such problems however with The No. 1 Country Hits of Buck Owens & his Buckaroos
It contains 12 consecutive hits from 1963 to 1966 by the man from Bakersfield
it includes some songs that I and probably you are familiar with such as Act  Naturally and Together Again plus a good few that are new to me.
I've decided to go with two of them

More next week - possibly

Buck Owens & his Buckaroos - Before You Go

Buck Owens & his Buckaroos - Waitin' in Your Welfare Line

Friday 9 September 2016

Early Elvis Friday


How about some early Elvis to finish off your week and ease you in a pelvis twitching fashion into the weekend?
The first of these  two tracks comes in at under 2 minutes with the second one stretching to 2 mins 15 seconds
But hey good things come in small packages or so I'm told.
His first two singles on Sun from 1954 -just fantastic.

These two are taken from Red Hot Rockabilly - 50 Hard Hitting Rockabilly Classics one of many such compilations which you can pick up for a couple of quid in Fopp.

Elvis Presley - That's All Right

Elvis Presley - Good Rockin' Tonight

Thursday 8 September 2016

Cadillac Ranch



Just outside of Amarillo you come across Cadillac Ranch a public art installation.
Basically this consists of a number of vintage Cadillac's half buried in the desert and covered in graffiti as the above picture illustrates.
It is quite a sight.
Cadillac Ranch is also a track on The River by Bruce Springsteen.
So as not to annoy George further I will not post Brand New Cadillac by The Clash and I do not have the original by Vince Taylor to hand.
So here are another couple of songs which feature Cadillacs. There are plenty more out there.

Bruce Springsteen - Cadillac Ranch

Rosanne Cash - Black Cadillac

The Jesters -Cadillac Man

Wednesday 7 September 2016

Amarillo


In the comments section on The Chain over at Jez' place (probably the blogging highlight of the week) I made a brief comment on my one and only time in Amarillo, Texas. I was asked to expand so here goes.

A number of years ago I was travelling coast to coast in the States from LA to Boston with a couple of pals Matho and Donno.
We had spent the previous night in Gallup, New Mexico part of a Native American reservation in a motel so grubby that we slept fully clothes on top of the beds.
As we left Donno could not resist rolling down the window and asking a local "is this the way to Amarillo?"

We got to Amarillo that evening and checked into a Motel 6. We went for a meal and a few drinks being served by John the Vision Impaired Barman (his introductory words to us)
After a few we asked if there were any other drinking establishments nearby and were directed to a local bar.
Given all the motor bikes outside and the Guns'n'Roses music blaring out perhaps we should  have known better.One beer led to another and we got chatting to a guy I shall refer to as Zip Dog given that was the name on his business card which he gave to us.
He appeared to do general errands including returning your library book and bathing your bird. I've lost my card but Matho has his laminated and produces it when telling the story.
The bar was closing and Zip Dog suggested we join him for a cup of Hot Joe(coffee to you and me) so we piled into his El Camino truck
We noticed he has a gun in the truck (perhaps not unusual in Texas) and it was about this time he casually announced he was on the run from the law. He also announced we were taking a detour to see his girlfriend. It transpired that she was nothing of the sort but a woman he was fixated with who stayed with her partner in a run down motel with bullet holes in the windows.
As he went to the door we thought it was probably a good time to do a runner and took off in the pitch dark ending up in a nearby turkey compound.
We hid there for about an hour as he cruised up and down looking for us before driving off.
One of my pals had to evacuate his bowels. I would say it was down to fear if he hadn't done the same thing in Stockwell Street, Glasgow a few months previously.

We eventually tentatively left the compound and wandered about until we found a building with lights on.
It was a Care Home and when we rang the bell the lady who answered was from Kelso in Scotland!
We got a taxi back to our motel from there to end a somewhat memorable evening.

Emmylou Harris - Amarillo

Shaver - Leavin' Amarillo





Tuesday 6 September 2016

You Were Working As a Waitress in a Cocktail Bar


The above line earwormed into my head the other day leading to me dusting down Dare the 1981 Human League album from whence it came.
Probably the first time I have played it this millennium and a rather pleasant experience it was too.

Don't You Want Me was of course a phenomenally successful single (5 weeks at number 1) but one which was released against Phil Oakley's wishes
But this is Phil talking - Love Action (I Believe in Love) only peaked at number 3.
Thirty five years old for goodness sake


The Human League - Don't You Want Me

The Human League -Love Action (I Believe in Love)

Monday 5 September 2016

It's B.A.D. You Know


I am somewhat ashamed to say that Big Audio Dynamite have never graced  these pages before. So time to right that wrong.

You should all be familiar with who they are - the band set up by Mick Jones after he was ousted The Only Band That Matters
One of the first bands to combine guitar based rock with hip hop,sound bytes and electronic effects.
A  song from each of the first two albums for you
From 1985's This is Big Audio Dynamite and co-written by Mick Jones and Don Letts  we have E=MC2   followed by a Strummer/Jones composition V Thirteen from 1986's No. 10, Upping Street
For all things Big Audio Dynamite can I refer you to the ever informative Swiss Adam

Big Audio Dynamite - E=MC2

Big Audio Dynamite - V Thirteen

Sunday 4 September 2016

Some Sunday Soul Numerology


He's a man for his numbers is Mr Wilson Pickett
Nine-Nine and One-Half (Won't Do)  and The Midnight Hour have previously graced these pages.
Not content with that today he is giving us 634-5789 (Soulsville USA) a song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper. I wonder if this number has any significance - a telephone number perhaps?
We then head to the Land of 1000 Dances written by Chris Kenner. Sometimes Fats Domino gets a co-writer credit part of the deal when he agreed to record the song for half the royalties.
We'll save Soul Dance Number Three for a later date

Wilson Pickett - 634-5789 (Soulsville USA)

Wilson Pickett - Land of 1000 Dances

Saturday 3 September 2016

Namechecked - Del Shannon


Me and Del were singing Little Runaway

Another series which is getting put to the side for a while as I am finding it becoming  a bit of a chore which tells me it is time to stop.
It will be revisited at some stage when I can be bothered. as I'm sure that there is plenty of material out there

We end with a song that is even older than me (on not on a 78 before you ask) namely Runaway by Del  Shannon.
The lyric line above features in Runnin' Down a Dream by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
His first hit and an absolute belter and probably somewhat of a millstone round his neck as it must have been pretty hard to follow.
Certainly none of his other songs have lingered long in my memory.
Tom Petty on the other hand has produced a number of corkers.


Friday 2 September 2016

Vintage Country Vinyl - Emmylou Harris


The Emmylou Harris albums on the CC shelves stretch to double figures - however there is only the one on vinyl and that is 1977's Luxury Liner
Her fourth solo album and her second successive Billboard number one album after Elite Hotel
Let's start with the title track written by her former collaborator the late great Gram Parsons
At this stage in her career she wasn't writing much and the majority of the songs are covers including the second one below from Chuck Berry

I'm putting this series to bed now unless anyone is really desperate to hear Crystal Gayle or like The Swede and kevinpat The Eagles.
I may revisit it at some stage or come up with a Not So Vintage Alternative Country Vinyl Series

Emmylou Harris - Luxury Liner

Emmylou Harris - (You Never Can Tell) C'est La Vie

Thursday 1 September 2016

September Gurls



I suspect that I may not be the only one featuring this today.
I also suspect that you very probably will not hear a better record than this today.

From their second album Radio City released on Ardent/Stax in 1974. Like it's predecessor #1 Record and the belated follow up Third/Sisters Lovers it did absolutely nothing at the time selling around 20,000 copies.
Radio City features Alex Chilton on guitar and vocals, Andy Hummel on bass and Jody Stephens on drums and vocals.

Now of course Big Star are recognized as the prototype of indie rock  and as Rolling Stone would have it one of the most mythic and influential cult acts in all of rock'n'roll

Pure quality.

Big Star - September Gurls

Big Star -I'm in Love With a Girl