Wednesday 29 April 2009

LaVern Baker

At some point, very soon, I am going to do a blog about atlantic, one on brunswick and one about northern soul. I just don't know how to do it without going into too many facts and details for the familiar and not enough for the uninitiated.
I was loving this song this morning and just had to put it on here for Jen.  It was released when LaVern Baker signed to Brunswick in the mid sixties.
'Wrapped, Tied & Tangled'


So I was just going to blog that song but I figured she is such a cool lady it was worthwhile writing a bit more about her.  It has been a back to front week so what if this starts back to front-ish. 
Dolores Baker used to sing in her church choir and although she was signed to Okeh in 1951, started her solo career properly in 1953 after signing with Atlantic (she was already LaVern by then) and this was her first single - Soul On Fire.



Her first hit was the twee 'Tweedle Dee' with backing vocals done (as with most of her hits) by 'The Gliders' who in reality were Atlantic's ubiquitous back up group, 'the Cues'.  When Mercury records had Georgia Gibbs cover the song note for note also using the Cues, LaVern took them to court. She petitioned congress for a law to make it illegal to copy an arrangement note for note without permission. The bill didn't pass but she was the first entertainer to try to make a suit of this kind back in 1955.

In 1956, Atlantic released 'Jim Dandy' which did really well...


and i really like this - 1959 'I Waited Too Long' (written by Neil Sedaka!)


She left Atlantic in 1965 and joined Brunswick. She released half a dozen records there including 'Think Twice' - duet with Jackie Wilson in 1966.... Then she disappeared.  She was doing a show in Manila when her manager left her and her husband divorced her. She remained at the Subic Bay Naval Base in the Pillipines as Entertainment director for 20 years.  She went back to performing in the late 80's and when her diabetes cost her legs, she toured in her wheelchair. One tough sexy cool lady.
At the end of their recording for 'Think Twice' she and Jackie made this live recording. Its introduced on the session tape as 'Think Twice Version X' and is filthy but great. Check out the way Wilson says 'ho'. It dissolves in laughter...

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Saturday 25 April 2009

Tom Petty, the Heartbreakers & more

Tom Petty met Elvis when he was 10 and fell in love with rock and roll. At 17 he started a band  called Mudcrutch and by 1970 moved to LA in hopes of getting a recording contract. They were offered one but split soon after and Petty didn't want to be signed as a solo artist. Over the next few years he drifted in and out of various bands then in 1975, hooking back up with Mike Campbell (Mudcrutch guitarist) and Benmont Tench (Mudcrutch keyboardist). At the time they were playing with bassist Ron Blair and drummer Stan Lynch. Petty got involved with the band, then called 'The Heartbreakers' and in 1976 released their brilliant debut eponymous album, 'Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers'. 
'American Girl'


Breakdown


Their second album did well then a legal battle arose when MCA bought ABC (which subsidiary, shelter records, they were signed to) and Petty tried to renegotiate his contact.. By mid-79 he filed for bankrupcy. After 9 months of litigation, they signed to Backstreet (MCA subsidiary) and their third album, Damn the Torpedoes, went platinum......many interesting things happened - another record company battle, his house burned down, you should look it up. I have to get on and finish this because I am on my way out.  
In 1988 Tom became a founding member of The Travelling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne...


 In 1989 followed his solo album (which a lot of the Heartbreakers played on) 'Full Moon Fever'
'I Won't Back Down'


In 1991, Petty, back with the Heartbreakers, released Into The Great Wide Open. 
'Learning To Fly' 


A quick note now on Mike Campbell, guitarist. He was also a producer. He co-produced a few Heartbreakers albums including Let Me Up and Into The Great Wide Open as well as Tom Petty's solo album and a few Roy Orbison songs from his album "Mystery Girl'.
Campbell was also a songwriter and his credits include songs for Johnny Cash, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks....and this one co-written with Don Henley. Released in 1984 from Henleys album 'Building the Perfect Beast'. The video was directed by Jean Baptiste Mondino and won best video in 1985. 
'Boys Of Summer'
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Tuesday 21 April 2009

I know what boys like..

Experimental new wave band from Ohio, relocated to New York the Waitresses, are best known for their December 1980 single, sung by Patty Donahue.  They'd disbanded by 1983 and Lucy and Lottie weren't even born then. But nevertheless, for those 2 and the still-too-brown Kelly who is showing off her tan against a white carpet.....

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Richard Hell & The Voidoids


Richard Mayers grew up in Kentucky and made his way to New York to become a writer . He bought a printing press and began to publish books and magazines and his poems were published in numerous magazines and periodicals by the time he was 21.
In 1969, his childhood friend Thomas Miller (Tom Verlaine) joined him to form the band Neon Boys whose 1973 demo 'Love Comes In Spurts' places them among the earliest punk artists. In 1974 they added a second guitar and changed their name to Television. 
In 1975 when Verlaine refused to play all but one of Richard's songs (Blank Generation) when they were recording, Hell quit/was fired from Television. That same week, Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan quit the New York Dolls and together they start a new band; The Heartbreakers. Hell and Dee Dee Ramone wrote Chinese Rocks and everything seemed to be going well but Hell got restless.
In 1976 he teamed up with Robert Quine (bald 33 year old law school graduate who hadn't played guitar since college), Marc Bell and found Ivan Julian through auditions. Richard Hell and the Voidoids released 'Blank Generation' in 1977. One of the best albums of the 70s? I am not going to try to decide that now. But worth listening to again as a reminder of just how good they were. I seriously love this man.

blank generation

Posted by at 1 comment:

Little Anthony & The Imperials


The Chesters (Clarence Collins, Tracy Ward, Nathaniel Rodgers and Robert Ross) were auditioned by Richard Barrett (who discovered the Teenagers, The Chantels....) and told if they could find a singer they could have a record deal. They became the Imperials, Ernest Wright took over from Robert Ross and Clarence Collins persuaded Anthony Goudine (former DuPonts singer) to join them and they signed to New York- based End Records in 1958.
Their first single was 'Tears On My Pillow' which sold over a million records and they got the nickname 'Little Anthony & The Imperials' which stuck.



and because its also so so good, 'Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop' (1959) which they hated but the record company insisted on.



But their successes dwindled by 1961 and the line up kept changing.  Some members left, including Anthony, until finally what is considered to have been the classic line up  - Anthony Gourdine, Clarence Collins, Ernest Wright and Sammy Strain got together in 1964 and released some real stompers before drifting apart again (although some of them are still touring today). The prototypes for the Delfonics and The Stylistics, here are a couple more to look at/listen to- its like listening to honey. 

'I'm On the Outside Looking In' 1964 (written by Terry Randazzo and Bobby Weinstein)


Hurt So Bad, 1965 (written by Randazzo, Weinstein and Bobby Hart- now better remembered for his songs for the Monkees)






Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday 19 April 2009

Pinball number count


Pinball number count
(sung by the pointer sisters)

Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday 14 April 2009

In the news....

Topical for a change, after a very full easter weekend..


Phil Spector, American songwriter and one of the most distinctive producers ever. He created the "Wall of Sound' - a music production technique. A dense, layered and reverberant sound was created - large groups of musicians would play and the music was then fed into echo chambers. I don't want to say much about him as i'll just end up rambling so LOOK HIM UP if you don't know much about him... and not in the news. Here are a few Spector gems.

'And Then He Kissed Me' The Crystals 1963


'Be My Baby' The Ronettes 1963 (fucking amazing)


'Imagine' John Lennon (co-produced) 1970
(and no religion either....EITHER!)


'Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio' The Ramones 1980


Procul Harem's Whiter Shade of Pale was today voted the most played song in public places over the last 75 years. Last year Procul Harum's singer Gary Brooker won his court battle to stop Matthew Fisher (who came up with the organ theme) getting 40% music royalties. previously Matthew had won the case but the Court of Appeal overturned the decision based mainly on the fact it had taken him 40 years to come forward and claim it. Because they are still fighting over legal costs and because its been played so much already, I give you King Curtis, Live at the Fillmore West 'A Whiter Shade of Pale'

Posted by at No comments:

Sunday 12 April 2009

Rock & Roll Circus


11 December 1968, The Rolling Stones put together a live audience for a concert on a circus stage, hosted by Mick Jagger.  It was intended for tv but it never made it.
Jethro Tull, The Who, Marianne Faithfull, Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell, John Lennon and Yoko Ono all performed - interspersed with footage of trapeze artists and fire eaters.
It finally made it to VHS in 1995 and then to dvd in 2004.

Here is supergroup 'The Dirty Mac' (Lennon , Clapton, Mitchell and Keith Richards) with 'Yer Blues'


And the Who. I love them so much. Perhaps this performance is what prompted this blog - 'A Quick One While He's Away'


Oh yeah... The Rolling Stones with a very glossy skinny Mick Jagger - 'Parachute Woman'


Posted by at 2 comments:

Friday 10 April 2009

Don Covay

(I am able to post like this because I am tormented, tormented with insomnia)


Donald Randolph came from gospel roots in Carolina and settled in Washington to begin his musical career.  His solo career started in 1957 but he achieved more success with songs he penned rather than he performed. That is not to say he was unsuccessful with 'Mercy' and 'See Saw' and the like - but his compositions have been recorded, covered, copied, borrowed by a whole range of other artists over the years. He's so good I think you should look him up.

1973 Its Better To Have And Don't Need (mercury)


And one of his, performed by Aretha Franklin. Listen to that beautiful intro.

1967 Chain Of Fools

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Phyllis Dillon


Born in Jamaica in 1948, Phyllis Dillon started singing for Duke Reid (Treasure Isle records) when she was 19. A lot of her recordings were covers of obscure american releases but she did write a few things including Alton Ellis' release 'Rocksteady'. Another one of the artists around the time that worked constantly but received no financial recompense, at 24 she quit the music business not to return for 20 years. 
Alberto Dominguez Borras wrote 'Perfidia' (spanish for 'perfidy') about betrayal of love in 1939 with the Engligh lyrics by Milton Reed. In 1960 it was first released on audio single by The Ventures. It had been performed many times before that and covered many times since and I love the Ventures.. but this is my favourite. 
(sock it to me baby)


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

The Artistics

The Artistics formed in 1958 at school and were reportedly 'discovered' by Major Lance (big time soul singer in the 60's) when he heard them rehearsing one day and introduced them to Carl Davis (then on the verge of becoming very successful, prolific, writer, producer A & R person in soul). They signed to Okeh in 1963. Their 4th lead vocalist was Marvin Smith and it was when he joined them they started to get on a bit better....when Marvin left a year after they signed to Brunswick label (1966 - with Carl) they took on Tommy Green... But Marvin often sang with them. Its very confusing.. see? 4 then 5.

.
But what is far from confusing is how brilliant they were. I can never decide my favourite Artistics track. Here are 3.

1964 - (b-side of 'Get my hands on some lovin'' ) 'I'll Leave It Up To You' (okeh)



1966 - 'Hope We Have' (brunswick)



1968 - (b-side of 'Hard to carry on') 'Troubles Heartache and Pain' (brunswick)

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Thursday 9 April 2009

Last Train To Skaville

Jackie Mittoo, born Donat Roy Mittoo, is another one who learned to play piano at 4.  He was a founding member of the Skatalites who, after they disbanded in the late sixties, got taken in by Coxone Dodd to be part of the Studio One facility.  Roland Alphonso (amazing tenor sax), Johnny Moore, Lloyd Brevett from the Skatalites and some younger musicians Dodd found, were led by Mittoo (arranger, keyboardist, soul master) 1965-67 churned out hundreds of Studio-One rhythms that Dodd would use for his singing artists. Occasionally these Soul Brothers would record their own instrumentals over the rhythms and that is what is on this album. More rocksteady than ska but I love this album.

(i hope this works - technology's not my strong point)

Jackie Mittoo arranged Marcia Griffiths' (The Queen of Reggae's) first 'hit'. More on her another day. Its not a great link- its just any excuse to play this and I will.. "Feel Like Jumping'  from 1968.



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Alice Cooper, 1989 and why I had to wait by the bus

We went on a day trip to Ayr when I was at school and I put some money in the jukebox..but it wasn't working. Stubborn as I am I put all my money in and then it worked. The same song again and again and by the fourth play of Alice Cooper's 'Poison' I was dragged out by my hear and made to stand by the bus for an hour. Maybe I deserved it. 'Black lace, on sweat'?
But forgetting that period, Alice Cooper was a great songwriter.
In 1970, (when Alice Cooper was a band) that first album 'Love It To Death' ....amazing! The following album, 1971's 'Killer'  was too -  and I can listen to these over and over and catholic school can't stop me. 

I'm 18 


This is great - very psychedelic 1972 performance

Posted by at 2 comments:

Dalida

Born Yolanda Christina Gigliotti born in Egypt (Italian family) moved to Paris at 21 to pursue a film career...which never really took off. But she had huge success as a singer. in 1957 she received the first gold disc. She toured extensively from 1958 and sold out an entire month of shows at the Olympia in 1961. 
More sporadic yet still successful in the 70's, in 1976 she released 'j'attendrai' which is considered to be the first French disco single.
She had a lot of suicide in her life. Her fiance, her former husband then her former lover killed themselves. Its how she died too - a barbituate overdose. She left a note that said "Forgive me, life has become unbearable for me"
I heard her 'Histoire d'un amour' tonight and I thought I was 5 again, at my grandmother's.

Dalida 1957 Histoire d'un Amour




Disco Dalida



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Wednesday 8 April 2009

Brenda Lee/Pet Shop Boys


Brenda Lee was big in 1958 with 'I'm Sorry' - at just 14 years old. If you don't know it, you'll know her 'Rockin Around the Christmas Tree'. She was her family breadwinner at age 10 by singing in events and for tv & radio. She had more chart hits in the States in the early-mid 60's than everyone but Elvis, The Beatles and Ray Charles. She left music for a while, remerging in the 70's a country singer. In June 1972 she released a song written by John Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Thompson - 'Always On My Mind'
Elvis released his version in November 1972, Willie Nelson 1982. But its not them I'm interested in.
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, Pet Shop Boys, are fantastic. They just...are. Rent, Its A Sin, Heart, West End Girls and here they are in 1988 making this country song their own.




Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels:

Al


Albert Greene started performing age 10 and used to mimic the voices of his heroes - Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke until he dropped the 'e' and started developing his own voice in 1969, signed to Hi Records. His first album, released that year, was a moderate success (Green In Blues) but his next (Al Green Gets Next To You) earned 4 gold singles in 1970. His next album was 'Lets Stay Together' in 1972.
In 1974 a girlfriend of his threw a pan boiling grits at him before shooting herself with her gun at his home. After that, Al turned to religion became an ordained pastor in 1976 and concentrated on gospel music. 
Back to 1970 though and Robin & Barry Gibb wrote 'How Can You Mend A Broken Heart' for Andy Williams but when he rejected it, they recorded it themselves and released it in 1971...Al Green covered it in his 1972 album 'Lets Stay Together'



Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Marvin

To describe Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. as 'troubled' doesn't really cover it. With a raging cocaine addiction, he sang ballads about love while beating the women he professed to care about. A depressed, complicated man who died by the hand of his father- who shot him in 1984.

I Heard It Through The Grapevine was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966 and first recorded by the Miracles. The version sung by Gladys Knight and the Pips was released in 1967 but it was Marvin's version of 1968 that went straight to no.1 became the biggest selling Motown single at that point.


Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Nina

I've got to thank Abi for this one.  She introduced me to it just over a year ago and it blew my mind.
Eunice Waymon played the piano at 4 and trained to become a classical pianist. To support her family she got a job in a bar where she was told she had to sing as well as play piano. In 1954 she became Nina Simone. In the late '50s she recorded some tracks for the Bethlehem label and one song 'I Love You' from Porgy & Bess became a hit and the rest, as they say, is history. I love so many of her songs, compositions and arrangements...
'You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To' was written by Cole Porter in 1943 for a film and Nina arranged and sang this at Newport Jazz Festival in 1960 which is where this recording is taken from. I recommend listening to it loud with no interruptions.

Under stars chilled by the winter
Under an August moon shining above


Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Gram

I'm not going to insult you by telling you all about this one time International Submarine, Byrd and Burrito brother; Ingram Cecil Connor III.
Last Thing On My Mind was a song written by Tom Paxton which he recorded himself in 1964 but was covered by about 50 artists - Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Marianne Faithful, Willie Nelson, Harry Belafonte, Chris de Burgh.......
My favourite version from my favourite alternative cowboy... 1966 - from the album Lost Recordings...oh Gram.




(I also love Flying Burrito Bros 'Wild Horses' 1971 cover)
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Tuesday 7 April 2009

evocative & beautifully crafted 1

I find Bill Withers incredible. He joined the navy at 18 and stayed 9 years before moving to LA to make it in music. He worked menial jobs while paying to make demos, distributing them and performing in clubs and kept on working as an assembler even while his first single was knocking about. His debut single.. Ain't No Sunshine, which won him a grammy.
Steven Stills played lead guitar on his first album 'Just As I Am'
Lovely day, use me, better off dead, grandma's hands, who is he and what is he to you and many more... and this one. Just the two of us? Me and Bill



This song makes me so happy and so sad. Got to be one of my top songs.
1965 Tamla Motown, the Miracles with singer Smokey Robinson
watch them they are amazing...




Steven Demetre Giorgiou then Cat Stevens sensationally converted to Islam at the peak of his fame in 1977 and gave up music - auctioning his guitars for charity in 1979 and participating in a more humanitarian, philanthropic life as Yusuf Islam. 
This and allegations of terrorist links overshadowed his music, which is unfortunate. From 1967 in his debut album "New Masters" that bombed in the UK -  when he was just 18 - a song he sold for £30 and went on to do well every time it was covered. I don't know if I agree with him.. but its said with conviction and a fine song 'The First Cut Is the Deepest'



Scott Walker joined John Maus and Gary Leeds in LA in 1963 to form the Walker Brothers. Their 3rd release 'Make It Easy On Yourself' (Bacharach/David) hit no.1 in 1965 and they had a succession of hits that followed.
They split in 1967 and Scott Walker had a solo career covering Jacques Brel songs and his Scott (I, II, III...) albums. In 1975 the Walker Brothers reunited and released this cover of Tom Rush's 'No Regrets'. It didn't do too well and they disbanded the band in 1978.
Despite not writing his own material I find Scott (Noel Scott Engel) to have such a fine voice he may as well have written every word.



Fuckity fuck fuck fuck - this will have to be part 1 as I just realised all the songs I'm neglecting. Ok one more before bed.. He got a scholarship to university in new york for his fencing prowess. He used to sing in a choir with Barbara Streisand and achieved his first successes as a songwriter - writing 'Sunday Me' for Jay and the Americans and 'I'm a Believer for the Monkees'
After signing to an Atlantic subsidiary (Bang), his first single in 1966 was 'Solitary Man'
I'll bring you flowers Neil!

 
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)