today & Janis Ian

Just a quick one after the last one..which ended up with 8 songs on it.

Not much blogging recently - been hard times for everyone recently and a lot of grieving going on.

As Odysseus said 'Bear up, my heart.  You had worse to endure before this..'

I hope this is the worst of it for all you hep cats out there, there is still time for a sunny summer.

Not here and now though because the song I wanted to stick on here I heard for the first time in ages today and i sung it though the humid airless sky as i was forced to leave a very cherished friend...

Janis Eddy Fink (born 1951) changed her name at 13 to Janis Ian which also how old she was when she wrote and sang the infamous 'Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking),' about an interracial romance. She was signed to Atlantic at age 14 and this song was released 3 times between 1965 and 1967 finally becoming successful on its third release.  The song's lyrical content was too taboo for some radio stations, and they withdrew or banned it from their playlists.  She received death threats over it and apparently, a radio station in Atlanta was burned down after they played it. 

'Society's Child'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/617366008d8b9f61/

Very interesting, eh? But this isn't the song I wanted to include.  It may be commercial (it won a grammy in 1975 and I think it was her biggest hit in the States) but its incredible. She sounds so so sad. BEAR!

Still touring now and writing science fiction novels in the meantime this is..

'At Seventeen'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/617366422572108f/

Gregory Isaacs

A superstar of reggae with one of the finest most expressive voices which I love so so much, Gregory Anthony Isaacs was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1951, to Lester Isaacs and Enid Murray.  He started out as an electrician and cabinet maker with music as an ambition. In his teens, like many before him, he started his singing career working with a number of producers and entering various local talent competitions.  His recording career began in the late sixties with 'Another Heartache' for singer/producer Winston Sinclair. The record didn't do well and in 1969 he formed a group called The Concords with Penro Bramwell. They recorded a few 45s for (producer) Rupie Edwards. Again, success didn't follow so he became a solo artist and soon afterwards, started his own label, assisted by friend Errol Dunkley, around 1970/1971.  That was the beginning of the legendary African Museum record label. 

 

1971, 'Look Before You Leap'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/61676956af5cd73c/

1972, 'My Only Lover'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/617285874b70c238/

In 1972, Errol Dunkley went his own way and Isaacs continued with African Museum without him.  To finance recordings for the label, Gregory recorded for other producers, having a string of hits from ballads to roots reggae, including this one from 1974. For Alvin "GG" Ranglin at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle Studio....the first Jamaican no.1 single.  Its so good it always just gets me right there y'know?

'Love is Overdue'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/616417983c91d0c6/

In 1978 Gregory signed to Virgin offshoot, Front Line Records, releasing 'Cool Ruler' and 'Soon Forward' (amazing albums) but as they didn't do as well as expected, he didn't stay with them long despite the fact they are now considered to be some of his best work.  From 'Soon Forward'..

'Lonely Girl'

 http://www.zshare.net/audio/616419579a947837/

In 1981, he moved to Charisma Records (well, their offshoot Pre) and released 'More Gregory' which is one of those albums which has amazing tracks but not the consistency of some of his others. Such a shame! You know, that mix of diamonds and glass. He also produced a lot of this album himself.  From 'More Gregory'

'If I Don't Have You' 

http://www.zshare.net/audio/61641906af05df41/

'Hush Darling'

  http://www.zshare.net/audio/61641889183d4e40/

In 1982 he signed to Island and released the record that broke him through to a wider audience (although it wasn't a chart hit) and because what Simply Red did to it was so horrible, I have to include it here. From the album Night Nurse.

'Night Nurse'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/6164183666e6feca/

Around this time, Gregory got into a little trouble in Kingston which ended up in him having to serve a six-month prison sentence in Kingston in 1982 for possession of unlicensed firearms He claimed he had the weapons for protection...then it was discovered that this was his 27th arrest, that he'd become involved in drug dealing and was addicted to crack cocaine...but he'd pretty much lost me by here anyway. He continued to make loads of music but his drug addiction affected his voice. Most of his teeth fell out.  

So for the last Isaacs song I am going to include on here for now I am going back to 1975 and his cover of Ken Boothe's

 'Crying Over You'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/616418442d805c31/

(what a dude!!! *sigh*....)

The Slickers

The sun is coming up and I have company...the lovely Lucy and John and I are about to play a game of gin rummy before we retire. But there is time for a song. Always. Particularly one like this.

The Slickers are a mysterious bunch. jamaican rocksteady group late 60s early 70s. Everything about them is conjecture. Someone said so and so was in it....rumour and contradiction. The first Slickers single was reportedly by the Pioneers.

But whoever they were and whatever they did they made beautiful music.

One of these days when you hear a voice say come, who you going to run to? 

Good question.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/608292011342422e/

Stand By Me

From Playing For Change: Peace Through Music

"..a film that explores our connections in a world overwhelmed with division. Through the process of making this film we traveled around the world and discovered that music opens the door to a place where we can come together as a human race. Music helps us to persevere through struggles and celebrate our differences which changes the world into a more peaceful place"

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741

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'

http://www.zshare.net/download/59379744271bdd68

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.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/593782597a50b38b

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...

http://www.zshare.net/audio/59379099a3ee727d

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

http://www.zshare.net/audio/59379543027f6169

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...

http://www.zshare.net/audio/593805442b5ac7a9

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'

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNg7U9QrFQ

www.zshare.net/audio/5922416249a602b0

Breakdown

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi_WVklCzrU

www.zshare.net/audio/592244094b78c101

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...

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcgn3_traveling-wilburys-handle-with-care_music

 In 1989 followed his solo album (which a lot of the Heartbreakers played on) 'Full Moon Fever'

'I Won't Back Down'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/592284955ddd4ac8/

In 1991, Petty, back with the Heartbreakers, released Into The Great Wide Open. 

'Learning To Fly' 

www.zshare.net/audio/59227210ead6b737

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'

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1yqje_don-henley-boys-of-summer_music

http://www.zshare.net/audio/5922732243c39e19/

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.....

www.zshare.net/audio/5897740195958138