Albums
6.2.08
Freddie Roach - Down To Earth
1. De Bug
2. Ahm Miz
3. Lujon
4. Althea Soon
5. More Mileage
6. Lion Down
Rusty Bryant - Night Train Now!
1. Cootie Boogaloo
2. Funky Mama
3. Funky Rabbits
4. Night Train
5. With These Hands
6. Home Fries
Reuben Wilson - Love Bug
1. Hot Rod
2. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
3. I Say A Little Prayer
4. Love Bug
5. Stormy
6. Back Out
7. Hold On! I'm Comin'
Leon Spencer - Louisiana Slim
1. Louisiana Slim
2. Mercy Mercy Me
3. Close To You
4. Our Love Will Never Die
5. The Trouble With Love
6.1.08
Power of Attorney - From the Inside
1. Life is Nowhere in the Ghetto
2. Loving You
3. I've Been Thinking
4. The Children
5. Buck Naked
6. Turn Around
7. Jelly Roll
8. I Wanna be Free
9. No More
4.28.08
Bo Diddley - Hey! Good Lookin'
1. Hey! Good Lookin'
2. Mush Mouth Millie
3. Bo Diddley's Hootenanny
4. London Stomp
5. Let's Walk Awhile
6. Rooster Stew
7. La, La, La
8. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
9. Rain Man
10. I Wonder Why (People Don't Like Me)
11. Brother Bear
12. Mummy Walk
4.27.08
Bo Diddley - The Originator
1. Pills
2. Jo Ann
3. Two Flies
4. Yakky Doodle
5. What Do You Know About Love?
6. Lazy Woman
7. You Ain't Bad
8. Love you Baby
9. Limbo
10. Background To A Music
11. Puttentang
12. Africa Speaks
4.26.08
Bo Diddley - 500% More Man
1. 500% More Man
2. Let Me Pass
3. Stop My Monkey
4. Greasy Spoon
5. Tonight is Ours
6. Root Hoot
7. Hey Red Riding Hood
8. Let the Kids Dance
9. He's So Mad
10. Soul Food
11. Corn Bread
12. Somebody Beat Me
4.24.08
Big John Patton - Oh Baby
1. Fat Judy
2. Oh Baby
3. Each Time
4. One to Twelve
5. Night Flight
6. Good Juice
Leon Spencer - Sneak Preview
1. The Slide
2. Someday My Prince Will Come
3. Message from the Meters
4. First Gravy
5. 5-10-15-20
6. Sneak Preview
4.23.08
Born Losers
(Soundtrack to the first Billy Jack movie)
1. Billy Jack's Theme
2. The Loser's Bar
3. Forgive Me
4. Gangreen's Fight
5. The Born Losers Theme
6. Alone - Never To Love Again
7. Billy Jack's Theme
8. Born Loser's Stripper
9. Vicki's Theme
10. The Born Loser's Dirge
Melvin Sparks - Spark Plug
1. Who's Gonna Take The Weight?
2. Spark Plug
3. Conjunction Mars
4. Alone Together
5. Dig Dis
2.17.08
Leonard Nimoy - The New World Of
1. Time to Get it Together
2. Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
3.
The Mayor of Ma's Cafe
4. I Walk the Line
5. I Finally Saw the Two of You Today
6. Mary's Near
7. Abraham, Martin & John
8. Proud Mary
9. Let it Be Me
10. Everybody's Talkin'
11. The Sun Will Rise
12. Put a Little Love in Your Heart
This is the fourth and final Nimoy record - look for a box set later on in the spring, now that I finally have them all. This album features the only Nimoy composition "The Sun Will Rise", and it might be the best track on the whole album.
Overall, it's not a spectacular album, and nowhere near either of his two best. It's just missing that certain Nimoy feel that makes me extra special happy.
That said, there are still several worthwhile tracks. The one mentioned above, penned by the man himself, could easily be included with any of his best songs. It's great, and you can hear how much he needs to sing it.
"The Mayor of Ma's Cafe" is also a nice song, especially for those of you who are spending some extra time living in your parent's basement. It's your song, dudes. "Mary's Near" is maybe a bit too short, but nice and soft and quiet and comfy, like Nimoy's whispering directly into your ear, just for you.
God bless you, Leonard Nimoy, and thank you for all your generous contributions.
2.8.08
Leonard Nimoy is a great great man, and worthy of praise like few other singer/actors.
This is his album from 1968 on Dot Records, and the record most consider to be his worst. Worst maybe, but that doesn't make it bad. It's an immature record, much in the same way Bob Dylan's first record was immature. It was a time of growth for Nimoy, one where he seems to be struggling to find out who he is when he's in the studio, and we get that rare glimpse into the soul of a true American genius. Listen to the heart that pours into "Love of the Common People". Listen to the soul that fills "Gentle on My Mind". Listen to the earnestness of "Miranda". If these songs don't move you, you have no business being a fan of music.
[sorry the recording is so scratchy - not only does this album get regular play in the Joe de Vivre household, I also need a new needle]
Leonard Nimoy - Two Sides Of
1. Highly Illogical
2. The Difference Between Us
3. Once I Smiled
4. Spock Thoughts
5. By Myself
6. Follow Your Star
7. Amphibious Assault
8. The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins
9. Cotton Candy
10. Gentle on My Mind
11. Miranda
12. If I were a Carpenter
13. Love of the Common People
2.6.08
I'm kind of a big fan of Bob Dylan's God albums. I think they're all pretty good. Not great, but better than most people think. But, what was especially grand about that period were the concerts that accompanied those albums, and here's one of my favorites. It's from Massey Hall in Toronto in 1980.
Bob Dylan doesn't come in until the 8th track, but the first 7 are still worth hearing.
Bob Dylan - Born Again Music
1. Introduction
2. If I've Got My Ticket Lord
3. Hold On
4. The Rainbow Sign
5. Show Me the Way Lord
6. Freedom at the Wall
7. This Train is Bound for Glory
8. Gotta Serve Somebody
9. I Believe In You
10. When He Returns
11. Ain't Gonna go to Hell for Anybody
12. Cover Down, I Break Through
13. Man Gave Names to All the Animals
14. Precious Angel
15. Slow Train
16. Stranger in the City
17. Walk Around Heaven All Day
18. Do Right to Me Baby
19. Solid Rock
20. Saving Grace
21. Saved
22. What Can I do for You?
23. In the Garden
24. Are You Ready?
25. Pressing On
2.1.08
Here's an album from an unfortunately mostly forgotten Danish band (although still active, I guess), and this is their fourth album, released in 1971.
It's a nice, sprawling album that combines elements of country, psych and hippie, sounding like it could have come out of San Francisco at roughly the same time - it has a very Moby Grape/Jefferson Airplane/Grateful Dead sound, if one of them had had Joana Newsom singing for them, sans harp, of course.
And, aside from one over-indulgent over-long instrumental near the end of the album, it's pretty much gold.
The Savage Rose - Your Daily Gift
1. Sunday Morning
2. Listen to This Tune from Mexico
3. Unfold
4. Speak Softly
5. The Poorest Man on Earth
6. The Waters Run Deep
7. Lightly Come, Lightly Go
8. Tapiola
9. Your Daily Gift
1.24.08
This is another rare jazz album that hardly ever comes into the store. I ripped this just so we could play it there because it doesn't last more than a few hours out on the floor.
This has a nice loungy, kinda dirty feel to it, and should be in every great bar's juke box.
It goes well with mixed drinks and worthy well-worn trollops, if you're into that sort of thing.
Ivan Joe Jones - Sweetback
1. Confusion
2. Trouble In Mind
3. Sweetback
4. Have You Ever Been Mellow?
5. Jamaica Farewell
6. You've Got It Bad, Girl
1.23.08
Today, we bring you three albums from the Baron of Country Music: Dick Curless. Just listen to "Loser's Cocktail" and you'll end up grabbing all three albums. There's also an odd song, called "Watermelon Man" about a boy who travels with his watermelon salesman father, who trades watermelons for sex. Pretty good gig, I imagine.
Dick Curless - Comin' On Country
1. Loser's Cocktail
2. Snap Your Fingers
3. Old Ramblin' Alabama Me
4. Sweeter Than the Honey
5. Come Sundown
6. Woman, Don't Try to Sing My Song
7. I Gave Up Getting Over You Today
8. Bully of the Town
9. Hot Springs
10. Carter Boys
Dick Curless - Doggin' It
1. Juke Box Man
2. Please Buy My Flowers
3. Homing Pigeon
4. Leaving it All Behind
5. Coastline Charlie
6. Rocky Top
7. The Lonesome Road
8. Golden Girl
9. Waiting for a Train
10. Watermelon Man
Dick Curless - Long Lonesome Road
1. You Can't Go Back Again
2. Wrinkled, Crinkled, Wadded Dollar Bill
3. Bury the Bottle With Me
4.
End of the Road
5. Just for the Record
6. Shoes
7. I Ain't Got Nobody
8. The Heartline Special
9. Bummin' on Track 'E'
10. When Dad was Around
1.19.08
Today we have an out of print ep from the Handsome Family who, at the time of this record (1997), were at their absolute creative peak.
This ep features "Tin Foil", a song with an opening couplet that rivals Shane MacGowan at his best, and a quieter, sweeter version of "Cathedrals" than can be found on Through the Trees.
Handsome Family - Invisible Hands
1. Tin Foil
2. Grandmother Waits For You
3. Bury Me Here
4. Birds You Cannot See
5. Barbara Allen
6. Cathedrals
1.18.08
Here's a nice little gospel album that features three incredibly strong tracks. The first is a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Salt of the Earth". It wasn't uncommon in the late 60s and early 70s for gospel groups to take songs by current, popular artists and cover them, probably in hopes of grabbing a younger, hipper audience. Most of the time, these attempts failed miserably. Here, however, is an exception that makes the rule.
The other two strong tracks on this are the funky "Old Time Religion" and "The Whole World is Watching". If you don't want to hear the whole album, at least grab those three.
And then listen to the Monk Higgins 45. It rules.
Violinaires - God's Creation
1. Salt of the Earth
2. I'm Satisfied with Jesus
3. God's Creation
4. When the Evening Sun Goes Down
5. The Man Jesus
6. Old Time Religion
7. It'll Be All Over After A While
8. When Jesus Comes
9. Do You Know Him?
10. He's All You Need
11. The Whole World is Watching
1.16.08
Last year's Levon Helm release was my favorite album of the year, and got me to search out this one, which I'd heard was his previous best. It definitely has a few gems, and also one creepy song about a New Orleans hurricane, but still isn't as good as the latest, which you should all go get.
When I first saw the song titles, I was hoping beyond hope that "China Girl" was a cover. Boy oh boy, what a cover that would be. Anyway, it's not, so don't get all crazy with excitement - it'll only lead towasted reverie, and who needs that?
Levon Helm - American Son
1. Watermelon Time in Georgia
2. Dance Me Down Easy
3. Violet Eyes
4. Stay with Me
5. America's Farm
6. Hurricane
7. China Girl
8. Nashville Wimmin'
9. Blue House of Broken Hearts
10. Sweet Peach Georgia Wine
1.14.08
It's Freakwater day here apparently. As some of you know, my ipod crashed just before Christmas, so I have a new one now, and I need to load it full of songs and albums, many of which I only have on vinyl. Like Freakwater, for instance. So, here are the two albums I'm going to record and load today, along with a couple singles. Whle End Time is a bit slow and seems to drag some of the time, it's still worth having and pulling out every few months. Old Paint, though, man what an album. It's become, over time, my favorite of all of their albums, and I listen to it probably once a month now. It's gold from start to finish, highlighted by one of the strongest first sides I've ever heard.
Freakwater - Old Paint
1. Gravity
2. Smoking Daddy
3. Gone to Stay
4. Little Black Train
5. Waitress Song
6. My One Desire
7. White Rose
8. Out of this World
9. Kentucky House
10. Hero/Heroine
11. Ugly Man
12. Burying Geraldine
Freakwater - End Time
1. Good for Nothing
2. Cloak of Frogs
3. Sick, Sick, Sick
4. Just Like You
5. Cheap Watch
6. My History
7. When the Leaves Begin to Fall
8. Written in Gold
9. Dog Gone Wrong
10. Queen Bee
11. Raised Skin
12. All Life Long
1.11.08
Today's record is one that's surprisingly hard to find. It comes into the store every few months, and when it does, we play the crap out of it. It's one of the best jazz/funk albums ever.
Because there's no real break between the first and second song, I left them as one, which covers all of side one.
Donald Byrd - Ethiopian Knights
1. The Emperor/2. Jamie
3. The Little Rasti
1.10.08
Today we have a repost of one of my favorite albums of all time . It could take a lifetime of searching to find a happier record, from start to finish. It's short, but that just means there's not a second wasted.
Johnny Cash & His Woman
1. The Color of Love
2. Saturday Night in Hickman County
3. Allegheny
4. Life has its Little Ups and Downs
5. Matthew 24 (is Knocking at the Door)
6. City of New Orleans
7. Tony
8. The Pine Tree
9. We're for Love
10. Godshine
1.9.08
Hey everybody, it's a Moby Grape country album a la Poco! But better - I think they must've had superior drugs and less interest in Civil War- themed albums.
Moby Grape - Truly Fine Citizen
1. Changes, Circles Spinning
2. Looper
3. Truly Fine Citizen
4. Beautiful is Beautiful
5. Love Song
6. Right Before My Eyes
7. Open Up Your Heart
8. Now I Know High
9. Treat Me Bad
10. Tongue-Tied
11. Love Song, Part Two
1.3.08
Wow, Bo Diddley covers three CCR songs and one Elton John song on this somewhat deservedly forgotten album. Still, it's Bo Diddley, so worth hearing.
Bo Diddley - Another Dimension
1. The Shape I'm In
2. I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
3. Pollution
4. Bad Moon Rising
5. Down On The Corner
6. I Said Shut Up Woman
7. Bad Side Of The Moon
8. Lodi
9. Go For Broke
Singles
6.22.08
Andre Williams - Cadillac Jack
Lunar Funk - Mr. Penguin Pt. 1
Mongo Santamaria - Son of a Preacher Man
Freddie Scott - Am I Grooving You
3.22.08
Seems to me, there's a lot of talk on the internet about Hank Williams of late. We'll, I'm never afraid of jumping on a bandwagon. Especially, when I've got some killer tracks about someone's death.
Jack Caldwell - The Death of Hank Wiliams
Jimmy Logsden - The Death of Hank Williams
Jimmy Logsden - Hank Williams Sings the Blues No More
and, best one of all:
3.21.08
Hey kids, you know what day it is? That's right, it's Hog Killin' Day!
Hog Killin' Day, part 1
Hog Killin' Day, part 2
It's like a skit from Hee Haw as performed by Ed Gein.
3.20.08
Here's great 45 I found in the store the other day. It covers all the bases: good whiskey, bad women, and grandma.
John Kasandra - Down Home Ups/Good Whiskey and Bad Women
Sorry for not being around for a while. I was sick for a little while, and then out of town for a little while, and now I'm making my way through about 1100 honky tonk 78s, to see which ones are worth posting.
Today, I'll post some country stuff - some from 78, some not, but all swell.
The first is an upbeat George Jones number that's just too good to not share.
The next three are all different versions of a great little trucker tune called "Diesel Smoke Dangerous Curves".
George Jones - No Blues is Good News
Tiny Hill - Deisel Smoke Dangerous Curves (my favorite version)
Doye O'Dell - Deisel Smoke Dangerous Curves
Bobby Sykes - Deisel Smoke Dangerous Curves
Red Simpson - Deisel Smoke Dangerous Curves
I'll be back later tomorrow with some soul 45s and some more honky tonk 78s.
2.26.08
Today we have a promotional 45 from the Trouble is a Lonesome Town album. It's 11 minutes of Lee talking about himself.
Lee Hazlewood - Autobiographical 45
2.16.08
Marlena Shaw - Woman of the Ghetto
2.15.08
Amazing Farmer Singers - I Have A Telephone In My Bosom
Sarah Simpson - Never A Dull Moment
2.4.08
Betty Wright - Let Me Be Your Lovemaker
Bobbie Gentry - Mississippi Delta
The 8th Day - If I Could See The Light
Dean & Jean - Thread Your Needle
Lee Dorsey - Everything I Do Gohn Be Funky (From Now On)
Joe Tex - Sweet, Sweet Woman
Joe Tex - Looking For My Pig
2.2.08
Ronnie Butler & the Ramblers - Midnight Cowboy
So, the last Ronnie Butler song I posted, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" wasn't credited to Simon & Garfunkel, but rather R&R, whoever that is. This one, also great by the way, is not only not credited to Fred Neil, or even Nilsson - it says Bacharach - but isn't even the correct title. It, obviously, should be "Everybody's Talking".
I used to think that Luna had the best cover of this, but I was wrong. So very very wrong. Thank you, Ronnie Butler, for existing.
KoKo Taylor - Instant Everything
KoKo Taylor - Egg or the Hen
Two great soul/funk tracks from someone I'd sort of tossed aside for being a strict blues dame. I guess this is why it's a good idea to listen to stuff you don't think you're going to like.
Alvin Robinson - Something You Got
Jessie Hill - I Need Your Love
1.31.08
Don Garnder - My Baby Likes to Boogaloo
1.29.08
Staple Singers - Cottonfields
Staple Singers - This Land
Darrell Banks - Our Love (Is in the Pocket)
Ronnie Butler & the Ramblers - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Ruby & the Party Gang - Hey Ruby (Shut Your Mouth)
Louie Parker - How Do I Quit Drinking Wine?
1.21.08
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - I Put a Spell on You
Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun
Johnny Jones & the King Casuals - Purple Haze
Whistling Jack Smith - I was Kaiser Bill's Batman
Albertina Walker and the Caravans - Put a Little Love in Your Heart
Morris Albert - The World Today is a Mess
Status Quo - Gentleman Joe's Sidewalk Cafe
Vickie Baines - We Can Find That Love
Vickie Baines - Sweeter than Sweet Things
1.18.08
Dyke & the Blazers - Funky Walk (East)
1.14.08
Freakwater - South of Cincinnati
1.8.08
Stewart Family - Whiskey Widder
Bobby Roberts & the Ozark Drifters - I'm Gonna Comb You Outta My Hair
1.5.08
Prairie Ramblers - Pool Playin' Papa
Sons of the Pioneers - Too High, Too Wide, Too Low
Fats Waller - Oooh! Look-a-There, Ain't She Pretty
1.2.08
Recent 45s:
Johnny Moore - Just My Way Of Loving You
Nancy Sinatra - The Last of the Secret Agents
Mixes
1.4.08
The following mix was made for my recent drive to Nebraska. I was hoping I'd be able to use my ipod, and even had it all set up with about 20 hours of sweet-ass cruising material. And then it died. Kaput. Dead. Gone. Sucks.
So, here's what I made instead, as I was getting ready to take the Blue Line out to O'Hare to pick up my rental car for the week. I think it sounds all right.
Oh, and there just happened to be a blizzard during the drive, which turned an 8 hour drive into and 11 1/2 hour drive.
Oh, and the Packers lost. That sucks too.
The drive to the Big 'O'
Track List
1.1.08
Let's start the new year off with a bang of a mix, featuring such stars as: Quiet Riot, Sam Cooke and Leonard Nimoy.
God bless and, for all our sake's, don't mess this year up as badly as you did last year.
