The Return Of Friday Night Is Rockabilly Night 53

This picture is what turned up when I image searched 'rockabilly caravan'. Pretty cool, huh?

We're off to a caravan (not a rockabilly caravan more's the pity) for a week, largely paid for by vouchers from a major supermarket chain, so I'm shutting up shop for a week. Be good while I'm away. Tidy up after yourselves and turn the lights off when you leave a room.

To send us off on our way a rockabilly corker- Rochee and The Sarnos formed in London in the early 80s, inspired by punk and 50s rock 'n' roll. This is Rumble In The Jungle, and you'll love it. Very English sounding rockabilly.

Rumble In The Jungle

Can You Hear Them Talking 'Bout Us Telling Lies?

One of the best records I've heard recently, courtesy of one of Mr Weatherall's many radio shows, is Fuxa's cover version of Our Lips Are Sealed, utterly blissed out and very beautiful. It's out soon on limited edition 7" vinyl with a lp to follow in May. Watch it on Youtube here, but be prepared to have to re-play it several times. Gorgeous.

Our Lips Are Sealed is surely in any respectable list of tip-top pop songs of all time/the 1980s. As everyone knows it was co-written by Terry Hall and Jane Wiedlin (of Fun Boy Three and The Go Go's respectively), and released by both bands in different versions. The Go Go's was released first (I think, correct me if I'm wrong) and is down below. You could fill a tape with all the great versions and covers of this song.

Our Lips Are Sealed

If I Could Just Hold You

The new album (The Something Rain) by Tindersticks is shaping up well. Nine minute opener Chocolate has to be heard to be believed and this song, Frozen, has Stuart Staples intoning increasingly desperately the title of this post, set against urgent backing and collaborator Terry Edwards' trumpet squawks. I've never been a knocked out fan but this album has a load of songs that'll be there at the end of the year.

Frozen

As Recommended By Mr HSD

Someone reversed into me while I drove past their driveway this morning, which just about put the tin lid on it as far as the past week's concerned. Then my friend Mr HSD recommended this to me via the magic of the internets and all of a sudden... who cares?



Itchycoo Park, (If You Think You're) Groovy and Tin Soldier. With P P Arnold. Sigh.

I Can't Stand The Rain

And with this unseasonal heatwave we don't have to.
Ann Peebles sublime 1974 soul smash.

I Can't Stand The Rain

The download stats have plummeted since the temporary switch to 4 Shared. Apologies if it's a pain for people. I believe 4 Shared want an email address in exchange for d/ling. Boxnet should be available to me again in a day or two.

Close... But No Cigar

I didn't get the job. I performed well but...no cigar. Feedback was useful, some of it very complimentary. It was a good experience. I'm knackered. Thanks to everyone who offered best wishes. Here's some Arthur Russell, whose work ranges from new wave disco to avant-garde minimalism.

A Little Lost

One Day

Having been put fully through the wringer yesterday, poked and prodded and weighed and judged, I will hear later this afternoon about the job. Too tired and frazzled to post at length. Here's Bjork remixed by Sabres Of Paradise.

One Day (Endorphin Mix)

Down For You Is Up

A couple of weeks ago, partly on Drew's advice, a copy of the latest Kills single (on lovely 10" vinyl) dropped through my door. The ep has four songs, The Kills song The Last Goodbye and three covers. Their cover version of The Velvet Underground's Pale Blue Eyes is a stunner, Alison's vocal and the guitar sound especially. I thought about posting it but it's still available to buy and decided against it. Listen to it at youtube.

I went back to the Velvet's third album as a result, probably my favourite of theirs with it's smoky, after hours feeling and warm fuzz, nine out of the ten tracks being superb- including this one.

What Goes On

Last Kind Word

Jack White has a solo album out next month and I like Jack White, even though I didn't like everything The White Stripes did (especially towards the end), didn't get The Raconteurs and missed The Dead Weather completely. But when he's good, he's very good and there's no denying his heart's in the right place. The single Love Interruption a while back was a cool solo start.

Back in 2009 the Dex Romweber Duo recorded at Jack's Third Man studio, putting out a single. Dex Romweber has been playing rockabilly, blues and roots since the mid-80s, most recently with his sister on drums. Which sounds familiar. The A-side, The Wind Did Move, had Jack playing bass and backing vox and on the B-side Jack and Dex shared vox and guitar. This is the B-side.

Last Kind Word Blues

Hope

I've got a nervous knot in my stomach that's been there since yesterday morning when I heard I've got a job interview on Monday (a step up the ladder, at a different establishment).

Hope Sandoval has the kind of voice that can melt icecaps and which you can sink into. Here she is in solo mode from a film soundtrack (In The Air) that also featured The Chemical Brothers. Might help me relax a bit.

Wild Roses (Inedit)

The Return Of Friday Night Is Rockabilly Night 52

It's a bit difficult to imagine how this record made it past the censors and got any airplay when it was released back in 1958. Little Girl features twanging rockabilly guitar, slapback bass, John providing the singing and Jackie the bedroom noises. Written by rockabilly hero Gene Maltais who has featured in this series before, it's a Friday night special.

Little Girl

I've Got Those Going To A Go-Go, Working With My Mojo, Checking Out The Mini-Skirt Blues

So said Los Angelenos The Flower Children in 1967, over a squally organ, some bursts of guitar and production that could charitably described as crude. A garage goodie. Somewhat predictably it was loved and covered by Lux and Ivy.

Mini-Skirt Blues

Weddings, Parties, Anything...

Like a lot of people (I'm guessing) The Clash were my gateway into reggae. Them and Bob Marley. Everyone had Legend and the Marley live album. Investigating the reggae songs The Clash covered took a bit more digging, certainly before cds were commonplace and cheap. Revolution Rock is tucked away on side four of London Calling, a song where Joe Strummer urges the crowd to 'smash up their seats and dance to the brand new beat'. It's a classic Clash trash reggae moment, as is the fade out with Joe muttering about El Clash combo and their availability for playing gatherings. The original was recorded by Danny Ray and The Revolutioneers, co-written by Danny and Jackie Edwards, and released sometime in the mid-to-late 70s (the internet has different dates, '76 and '78 in different places). This is a wonderful reggae track and Danny Ray doesn't encourage seat smashing either.

Revolution Rock

Revolution Rock via 4 Shared.

Edit; I've exceeded my monthly bandwidth at Boxnet. Not my fault, it's you lot with your overactive clicking fingers. I guess if we all wait a few days my monthly limit will be reset and everything will be OK. In the meantime, 4 shared.

In Between

I was never that into The Cure. I mean, I liked some of the singles- Boys Don't Cry say, The Lovecats, Just Like Heaven- it'd be stupid not to. But I didn't buy them. It was their fans I think and those silly shapeless, holey jumpers and messed up hair. Irritated me. And they did spend some time ripping off New Order's sound. Pop-goths. Pah. Hence, I stood against The Cure, despite having the Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me lp on tape and playing it secretly. There's no denying some of their songs though two decades later, like this one.

In Between Days

Organ Music

I came across Glasgow based Organs Of Love a while back (ahem)and haven't yet got hold of anything by them so there's no mp3 with this post, but I keep returning to this song over at Soundcloud. Organs Of Love are Jim McKinven (plays organ) and Alicia Matthews (sings). Jim was previously in Altered Images and Bagging Area favourites One Dove. Not that Organs Of Love have too much in common with either Altered Images' jangly pop or One Doves' blissed out dub house; this is much darker, messier and more adult.

Disco Monday

Work seems to be, well, hard work at the moment. Mustn't complain I suppose, there's plenty of people out of work but still...

Here's something uplifting for the start of the week- DJ Harvey's Locus Solus album was one of my favourites from last year, a grower that included a great Andrew Weatherall dub remix. It also came with this remix by Lindstrom and Prins Thomas, where they turn the knob marked Balearic down and push the Disco button all the way to the top for nine minutes plus.

I Want It (Lindstrom and Prins Thomas Remix)

I'm A Man Of Means By No Means

Words cannot fully describe how great Roger Miller's 1964 hit is, or how much I love it. So I'm not going to even try.

King Of The Road

Move Over Rover

As a bonus extra to the earlier Hendrix post here's Billy Childish and The Buff Medways ripping through Fire (off Are You Experienced?). Garage style, no overdubs.

Fire

What a great hat. I believe it's known as a Gorblimey hat. Want one. Where did you get that hat Mr Childish?

I Stand Up Next To A Mountain

I heard this on the telly the other day and was struck by it's brilliance. Then I realised how long it was since I listened to any Jimi Hendrix other than inadvertently. I had a big Hendrix phase about, ooh, twenty three years ago. He was all the rage among the 60s heads in the late 80s, although now I suspect now he's just another dead rock star. I never ventured far beyond the records done by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and then mainly just the first two albums (Are You Experienced? and Axis: Bold as Love and a compilation of singles and B-sides called Smash Hits) and to be fair Electric Lady land was never my favourite but this song is a stunner. I think it's because of the wah-wah.

Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)

The Return Of Friday Night Is Rockabilly Night 51

Friday night grease and creeper action from Mr. Charlie Feathers, one of the rockabilly daddys. Get with it folks.

Get With It

I Went Down To The Local Hole

A belter of a garage-glam rock stomp from The Flaming Stars, from it's 'one-two, ah-one-two-three-four intro shout onwards, concerning some poor sod from the wrong part of town in the wrong pair of shoes who bumps into some heavy chaps with their thumbs in their belt loops doing the greaser's dance and are annoyed about spilled drinks. Turns messy.

Spilled Your Pint

Paul And Lauren

Things have gone Wellertastic all over recently. New single That Dangerous Age has been a grower and I'm looking forward to the lp. Yesterday he played a rocking set at Maida Vale for 6 Music's 10th birthday celebrations (below), introduced by the ever lovely Lauren Laverne (above).

PiLage

How do you fancy an example of the ancient art of the mash-up? Featuring PiL's debut single and Macy Gray? By Soundhog? It's a good 'un. There are more PiL mash-ups, John Lydon stuff and so forth at Fodderstompf.

Public Demons

X Rated 1950s Doo Wop Day

For no particular reason I offer you this 50s curio with a semi-interesting back story. In 1953 Joe Davis, owner of Jay Dee Records, persuaded r 'n' b doo wop group Blenders to record an alternative version of their new song Don't Play Around With Love. Davis' intention was to give local disc jockeys an under-the-counter, speciality item and create a bit of interest in the group. Twenty years later Davis issued the single in its own right in slightly more permissive times. Lux and Ivy were big fans apparently. On top of that one of the band went by the nickname Shaggs, as evident in the picture. Good record.

Don't Fuck Around With Love

I've Got My Motorcycle Jacket But I'm Walking All The Time

In 1985 Bernie Rhodes managed something that no previous line-up of The Clash had done; he made an almost completely useless Clash album. The Clash Mark II are not fondly remembered- no Mick, no Topper, the three new guys (not their fault I suppose, they were in an impossible position), Paul losing interest. Bernie had been brought back as Clash manager at Joe's insistence, partly leading to Mick's sacking. By the time they went into the studio to make an album Bernie got Joe to record various songs, then moved himself into the studio, ignored the band and went for the cheapest sounding drum machine he could find. The Cut The Crap album was in essence a Bernie Rhodes solo album with Joe singing. From it's cartoon mohicaned punk on the sleeve things go rapidly downhill. Apart from this song; the only song from Cut The Crap with any real merit. The recording and production aren't too bad to be honest and the swelling football crowd chorus works. Joe's bleak mid-80s lyrics make this song a home-based sequel to Straight To Hell in a way. It deserved better.

This Is England

Showbiz

There's too much Weatherall here. But it continues.

In 2004 Two Lone Swordsmen began to edge away from the purist electro-techno they'd pretty much perfected. This move would end up with the marvelous Wrong Meeting pair of albums in 2007, the last things they released. The Big Silver Shining Motor Of Sin record was a four track e.p., still plenty of machine funk and electro-dub but with vocals (from Weatherall) and a more song oriented slant. The two lead songs, Showbiz Shotguns and Feast, aren't the best things they did and were bettered later that year on the From The Double Gone Chapel lp but are still of interest to some of us.

Showbiz Shotguns

Pete Wylie's Imperfect List

'Adolf Hitler, the dentist, Terry and June...'

In 1990 this 12" came out on One Little Indian, a list of bad stuff, credited to Big Hard Excellent Fish.

'...fucking bastard Thatcher, Scouse impersonator, silly pathetic girlies, macho dickhead...'

It was shrouded in mystery, the chewy Scouse vocal incorrectly said by some to be actress Margi Clarke. It came with four versions, produced and remixed by Andrew Weatherall (Rimming Elvis The Andrew Weatherall Way read the sleeve).

'...lost keys, Stock Aitken and Waterman, smiling Judas, heartbreaking lying friend...'

The voice belonged to Wylie's then girlfriend Josie Jones and the track was written and recorded by an uncredited Pete Wylie along with Cocteau Twin Robin Guthrie.

'...The Sun newspaper, acid rain, AIDS inventor, Leon Britton, weird British judges, the breakdown of the NHS, Heysel stadium, homelessness, John Lennon's murder, anyone's murder...'

In 2004 Morrissey used it to arrive on stage to.

'...tasteless A&R wanker, the Jimmy Swaggart Show, Clause 28, Nelson Mandela's imprisonment, miscarriage...'

This is the lead version, seven minutes forty five seconds long.

'...where were you?'

The Imperfect List (Version 1)

7 Ways

I managed to sit down earlier today and listen to an entire album, from start to finish. Bit of an achievement to be honest. The album was Saint Etienne's second, So Tough. Very enjoyable it was too. I was going to stick Foxbase Alpha on but didn't get the time and space, but I was reminded of this record. In between their two albums Saint Etienne managed to put out some non-album singles (and one that didn't get released, Everlasting, which is on the cd re-issue of So Tough). They also wrote 7 Ways To Love and gave it to Cola Boy, a duo of Andrew Midgley and Janey Lee Grace. Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley were either a) trying to build a Brill Building style song-writing empire or b) worried that 7 Ways... rave cheesiness would kill their credibility (or c) both). Sarah Cracknell had sang on an earlier white label of the song but was contractually prevented from singing on the official release which by that point had been bootlegged widely. 7 Ways To Love came out in 1991, was a deserved proper hit. The follow-up, He Is Cola, wasn't. I like this song.

7 Ways To Love

Mugwump

Some dirty and funky dancefloor action for Saturday morning from the virtually ungoogleable Mugwump.

Ignored Folklore

I do miss being lost in a nightclub at one in the morning.

The Return Of Friday Night Is Rockabilly Night 50

Like many sequels the follow-up has gone on longer than the original, Jaws films and world wars included. The Return Of Friday Night Is Rockabilly Night has now lasted ten posts longer the Friday Night Is Rockabilly Night starting point. To celebrate reaching fifty here's some 'new' rockabilly from JD McPherson who made an album a year or two ago that sounded like he'd never listened to anything post 1960 (although that can't be true seeing as in interviews he mentions Talking Heads, The Clash and Bad Brains). From Oklahoma his Signs And Signifiers album (a most un-rockabilly album title) is full of rocking tunes like Wolf Teeth (here on Youtube) as well as some gentler rock 'n' roll. A mixed bag but worth a go. This one should get your feet tapping.

Fire Bug

Play That Song Again

Chuck Prophet was the guitarist in 80s drinkers/rock and rollers Green On Red, who recorded several good records, and has pursued a haphazard solo career since. If you can pursue something that is haphazard. This is the sort of straight up, life affirming, rip-roaring, clanging and chiming rock and roll song that makes you glad to drag your weary bones out of bed on a Friday morning, if only so you can play it again.

Play That Song Again

Dem Bones, Dem Dry Bones

I've been watching the re-runs of The Singing Detective on BBC4 for the last few weeks. It concludes tonight. The only other time I've watched it was when it was first broadcast, back in 1986. A gap of twenty six years seems pretty reasonable to revisit doesn't it. I've got to say I've got even more out of it more now than I did aged 16 (although it was engrossing back then. And for a 16 year old boy Joanne Whalley was diversion enough on her own, nevermind all the other stuff going on in it). If you don't know the series read this, then go and get the box set.

One of the scenes that had really stuck in my memory from 1986 was the one where Philip Marlowe is lying in his hospital bed, awful psoriasis and pain leading to hallucinations. The doctors study him and then begin to break into song as they diagnose. The curtain around Marlowe's bed is drawn back and the ward starts to dance, with nurses providing a chorus line and playing skeleton xylophone. Youtube here. The song playing that the medical professionals mime and dance to is an old spiritual Dry Bones (or Dem Bones or Dem Dry Bones), a song written by James Weldon Johnson to teach children anatomy which somewhere along the line got mixed up with the Book of Ezekiel. There have been scores of cover versions over the years. Eventually I found the one from the TV series, by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians. Apologies for the volume/quality on this mp3 but then the recording is many decades old and hasn't had the benefits of remastering.

Dry Bones

Hardware

The operation went fine, he's back on his feet and full of beans.

Drew posted a remix of the recent Free School single earlier today here. Coincidentally I was planning to post something by them as well. This turned up on a compilation by Nang Records, a Free School track called Hardware featuring a voice intoning 'This is what you want, this is what you get', which may or may not be a sample from Public Image Limited's album of the same name. Downtempo house? Nu-Balaeric? IDM? Brum electronica? Dunno, it just sounds good.

Hardware

I Have Known Love

Silver Apples are a hipster wet-dream. A minimalist, experimental, psychedelic 60s duo from New York using primitive homemade synths and live krauty drumming. What could be hipper? They reformed in the 90s to rapturous acclaim. They have that pulse beat and atonality. Beards are stroked. Heads nodded. Trainers shuffle slightly. Sorry if I'm being a bit sniffy, unfairly, because some of their stuff is great, and some of it is very of it's time, clearly influential but not always a great listen to these ears. This song is, however, gold plated.

I Have Known Love

In other news my son IT goes into hospital today for an op to remove the plates from his knees that have been straightening his legs. It's supposed to be a day case, in-and-out job. Fingers crossed.

Lights Out

I found this on the internet- Wooden Shjips remixed by Peaking Lights, a kind of super- hippy, analogue-long hair, face-off. It'll either appeal or send you running for the hills.

Lights Out (Peaking Lights Remix)

Note to self; too many hyphens.

No Big Thing

Bagging Area cult heroine and 50s/60s throwback Holly Golightly continues her recent adventures with Lawyer Dave by re-recording some of her favourite songs and biggest 'hits' from her extensive back catalogue in Holly and The Brokeoffs ramshackle country style. The album 'Long Distance' is out in March on Damaged Goods. This song is a cover of a 1965 Sam and Dave song and is very good.

(You Ain't) No Big Thing

Bird Scarer

Curse you Mr Weatherall. Why must you do these things?

Bird Scarer Records is Andrew Weatherall's new vinyl only venture, releasing it's first 12" single in two weeks time- a track called The Last Reel by Timothy J Fairplay with a Weatherall remix on the B-side. Limited to 300 copies. First 20 copies come with an AW lino print. Curse you Mr Weatherall.

Heart On The Staves

Mona, who runs the Exile On Moan Street blog, put this up earlier. I thought I'd repost it here in case anyone who might be interested missed it. The mid-80s pre- Mani incarnation of The Stone Roses ripping through their set at a warehouse party in July 1985. It includes a load of punky energy, a riffier version of I Wanna Be Adored, Sally Cinnamon B-side Here It Comes and debut single So Young, a sweaty Reni pounding the drums, Ian's early vocal style, original bassist Pete Garner and Andy Couzens on second guitar. The fluid, funky, chiming guitars of the debut album are four years/light years away. An interesting period piece if nothing else. Watch here.

Photo taken, if I'm not mistaken, in Didsbury's Fletcher Moss Park.

When You Call Me

This post should provide some balance to this post. Paul Weller gets it wrong from time to time, heads off down the wrong roads- that's the common consensus. Popular theory also has it that he never got it wronger than during the 80s when he formed The Style Council with former Merton Parka Mick Talbot. I love several Style Council records, including this fine 1985 stab at synth-soul.

(When You) Call Me

The Return Of Friday Night Is Rockabilly Night 49

Back to the 80s this week with rockabilly revivalists The Stray Cats. Brian Setzer continues to rock towns to this day. Have a good Friday night folks.

Rock This Town

Music's Not For Everyone

Andrew Weatherall's weekly radio show at XOYO reached episode 5 last night. I'm finding it hard to keep up with two hours a week but the shows have been uniformly excellent and are worth listening to. Last night's is here. Weatherall's show is named after a Chain And The Gang song (from the album of the same name) released last year, with Ian Svenonius pulling out all the stops. As usual.

Music's Not For Everyone

Wait Until Spring

Is today spring?

Chris Rotter has been Andrew Weatherall's guitarist, playing on both Two Lone Swordsmen and more recent solo stuff. I think he's played with Death In Vegas as well but might be wrong. The Bagging Area sub isn't here to fact check for me. Mr Rotter has his own band/project, The Bad Meat Club, who have released two e.p.s worth of material through Bandcamp. Try here and here where you can download nine songs for the cost of at least two British quid (one quid per e.p.). Mainly instrumental, a bit demo-ish in parts, there's rockabilly, garage, surf and post-punk influences going on, and a good dash of the Wrong Meeting and Pox On The Pioneers sound.

Wait Until Spring