Phil writes: This great track by the Waterboys (from the album of songs based on poems by W.B Yeats) is due out as a single shortly.
SWEET DANCER by The Waterboys
Monday 29 August 2011
Sunday 28 August 2011
Skiffle
Phil writes: Joe's recent Leadbelly post reminded me of the British Skiffle movement of the 50's, very much influenced by Leadbelly, and itself an enormous influence on later developments. Lonnie Donegan was the leading proponent and his debut release broke records here and was also successful in the US. For anyone who wants to know more, the wiki article is informative.
Friday 26 August 2011
Waterloo Sunset/pain plus pop
Joe writes: Here's an article by Nick Hasted that nails what makes The Kinks' Waterloo Sunset such a great song - loneliness and melody; pain plus pop. You could say something similar about a lot of great pop songs (Nothing Compares 2 U and Crazy by Gnarls Barkley spring to mind).
Where Or When - surely one of the most haunting love songs ever written
Phil writes: I like this version by Harry Connick Jnr:
Lieber and Stoller wrote more than one kind of song
Phil writes: Is That All There Is? was based on a Thomas Mann story! It's hard to believe that anyone could have performed it better than Peggy Lee.
Jerry Lieber
Joe writes: This article by Richard Williams in the Guardian explains what a brilliant lyricist Jerry Lieber was, and what an amazing life he led.
Ben E King - Stand By Me
Ben E King - Stand By Me
Tuesday 23 August 2011
Monday 22 August 2011
"Come sail your ships around me, and burn your bridges down. We'll make a little history baby, every time you come around."
Joe writes: Some people think Nick Cave's The Ship Song is sad (apparently it's a favourite at funerals), but what could be more expansively romantic than that opening couplet?
I posted a great version of The Ship Song here. Now the Sydney Opera House have done a "BBC Lou Reed Perfect Day" on it.
I posted a great version of The Ship Song here. Now the Sydney Opera House have done a "BBC Lou Reed Perfect Day" on it.
Friday 19 August 2011
music from Fiji and South Africa
Joe writes: I love both of these tracks for their amazing energy and vocals, and they're both from the Southern hemisphere. Is that reason enough to include them in the same blog?
Holy Spirits - Bokang Modimo from South Africa
Black Rose - Raude from Fiji
Holy Spirits - Bokang Modimo from South Africa
Black Rose - Raude from Fiji
Thursday 18 August 2011
Leadbelly - Pick A Bale Of Cotton
Joe writes: I can't remember where I heard this Leadbelly track but I think it's one I Shazamed. There's a middle ground between Moby and Rednex that needs filling with a remix of this.
Wednesday 17 August 2011
ghetto stories
Joe writes: Two of my favourite Jamaican tracks of recent decades both have "ghetto" in the title
Ghetto Revolution by Sizzla
and Ghetto Story by Cham
here's Village Ghetto Land by non-Jamaican Stevie Wonder
Ghetto Revolution by Sizzla
and Ghetto Story by Cham
here's Village Ghetto Land by non-Jamaican Stevie Wonder
Tuesday 16 August 2011
Joe Cocker - Feeling All Right (live)
Joe writes: Pure onstage charisma and a great singing voice too. I wouldn't be surprised if Paolo Nutini had seen this video.
Saturday 13 August 2011
To Care by The Four Tops
There used to be a record shop in Manchester called Power Cuts that had a big annual sale, selling vinyl cut outs from the US for next to nothing - stuff like Bummed by The Happy Mondays, Mistrial by Lou Reed (probably not worth 50p), a Hank Williams Jr album, a pressing of the Sally Cinnamon single by The Stone Roses on Revolver Records (10p), and Testing Positive 4 The Funk, the fourth in George Clinton's Family Series of compilation albums. This album is hit and miss but it does contain To Care by The Four Tops from 1978 and not a fans' favourite but my favourite. The album also has a good front cover (see below), an amusing interview with George Clinton where he explains how cool The Four Tops are, and instructions for what to do if you want to sample any of the tracks on the album.
[The above is an update of a post from 14/01/08. The track in question is now available on iTunes and seems to be called Love Enough To Care featuring Levi Stubbs.]
[The above is an update of a post from 14/01/08. The track in question is now available on iTunes and seems to be called Love Enough To Care featuring Levi Stubbs.]
Wednesday 10 August 2011
Tuesday 9 August 2011
Friday 5 August 2011
Washed Out's Rough Trade mix
Joe writes: I just ordered Washed Out's album from Rough Trade. I am quite interested in Washed Out but really just wanted to get my hands on the mix that comes with it. Some classics, some lesser known songs by well known artists, but just about every track is a killer.
Tuesday 2 August 2011
Wolf Gang's best song
Joe writes: for me the best Wolf Gang song yet is their album closer Planets. It's an odyssey in melody of the kind you don't hear too often nowadays. It reminds me of ELO and my favourite Procul Harum track Salty Dog.
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