Prayers for better weather answered for now, so you can find me on the corner again, wearing my Vote For Miles shirt. Still amazing after all these years, this is. And that fat bass - courtesy of Michael Henderson - is boss. Miles Davis - One And One
"May the roads rise to meet you, and the wind be always at your backs..." Getting mighty desperate for some real summer ambiance, so let's try and soften up the weather gods with a tropical soundtrack of sorts. Which should be a roots reggae one of course, my brethren. Presenting yet another red, green, and gold ten pack. Take warning, but swing easy. Twinkle Brothers - Barabas Soul Vendors - Swing Easy Ralph Haughton & The Ebony Sisters - Take Warning Little Roy - Hardest Fighter [...]
Hey, a piggy bank. That calls for ye olde Soft Machine methinks... Soft Machine - Save Yourself Soft Machine - Pig
"I am a racing horse, I am a grazing horse, I am your favorite horse..." Plain and simple brilliance from the Oldham stable. Palace Brothers - No More Workhorse Blues
Have I ever told you how much I love this beauty? Leo's debut, from back in '69. Released on John Fahey's famed Takoma label, and for obvious reasons also known as the Armadillo album. Here's a taste of the magic of the 6 and 12 strings therein: a 'prayer for the demise of the canoe and the radar trap without which Federal prisons will have to be rebuilt to accommodate prepubescence', as the liner notes rightly claim. Leo Kottke - Crow River Waltz
Merry Clayton sings Carole King. The one they called Baby Sister sure had soul to sell. Oh yes-sir-ree. Ballad time! Merry Clayton - Same Old Story
Secretly out now: charming new living room recordings by Shrimper Records head honcho Dennis Callaci and Omaha, Nebraska's finest Simon Joyner. Lofi never goes out of style I guess. "Cause when you're saving for the future, you might as well be living free..." Dennis Callaci & Simon Joyner - The Frayed End Of The Rope Dennis Callaci & Simon Joyner - San Antonio
Throw away your folly, as this is some righteous roots. Just go deh. Freddie McGregor - Rastaman Camp
Looks sure can be deceiving sometimes. On the cover of last year's Añoranza album, Jésus Méndez doesn't resemble a full-blooded flamenco singer at all really. In his slick cream coloured suit, complete with pretty pink hanky in the left front pocket, you'd expect him too croon the lighter stuff and nothing but. The man from Jerez de la Frontera is the real deal alright though. Try him por bulerías to hear what I mean. Jésus Méndez - La Luz De Tus Ojos Grises
Memphis scenester Jim Cole was such a cool guy apparently that even the mighty Oblivians were green with envy. So much soul... Oblivians - Jim Cole
"One foot, another foot..." Finally got my copy of the new HGM album, and I'm glad to say it's a stunner once again. Sweet as John Hurt indeed. Hiss Golden Messenger - Sweet As John Hurt And while we're on the subject, here's the blues master from Avalon himself. Mississippi John Hurt - Stack O'Lee Blues One more? Why not. Golden Gunn happens to be a limited edition, vinyl only collaboration between New York picker Steve Gunn and Hiss Golden Messenger's M.C. Taylor. Their lazy but oh-so-funky desert [...]
"Fruitless and free! No symmetry!" Guided By Voices - I Am A Tree
Gospel the soulful way. When the Reverend Johnny L. Jones gets going in Atlanta’s Second Mount Olive Baptist Church, the angels rejoice in heaven. Raw and lofi, but oh so inspired. Rev. Johnny L. Jones - Sometimes I Feel Like I'm Almost Gone Rev. Johnny L. Jones - I Got Drunk For The Lord/Train Is Moving On
Heard that cacklin' fresh Tunng track yet? If So Far From Here is anything to go by, Turbines will be one more mesmerizing freakfolk masterpiece. Out in June. Tunng - So Far From Here
Somewhat belatedly got the sad news that Cedric 'Im' Brooks, renowned Jamaican sax player and flautist, passed away earlier this month. He was 70 years old. Brooks played on numerous albums by Count Ossie & the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, Light Of Saba, and the Skatalites, but I specifically urge you to track down his irie '77 instrumental solo album Im Flash Forward . Cedric 'Im' Brooks - Right On Rasta
Check out what I bought when in Catalunya recently. ArteSano is the latest offering from Miguel Poveda, the singer from Badalona who's widely regarded as one of the truest voices in flamenco today. Take it away, maestro . Miguel Poveda - El Alfarero Miguel Poveda - Hondo Y Sin Soga
Exactly twenty five years ago today, Chet Baker fell to his death from an Amsterdam hotel room. Chet Baker - I Remember You
"They say that whiskey ain't the best way, but then I ain't too smart..." Back with a bang alright. Amongst other things, I happened to visit many a barroom in the Ciudad Condal , so here goes with a thirst-inducing four pack. ¡Salut, amics! Steve Young - Broken Hearted People (Take Me To A Barroom) Gillian Welch - Barroom Girls Ramblin Red Bailey - 8 Weeks In A Barroom Hank Snow - The Face On The Barroom Floor
And fun galore. "You go to Satan, little darlin'..." Gonna ride that hobo train, all the way to hell. Well, just flying out to my beloved Barcelona actually, but you get the point. Adios , back in a week or so. Rube Waddell - Go To Satan
This in rememberance of Crawdaddy magazine founder and rock critic par excellence Paul Williams, who passed away recently. If you're talking books on His Bobness, Williams' three Performing Artist tomes are definitely among the cream of the crop. The following tracks stem from one of his fave shows, the excellent Dortmund 1987 with the Heartbreakers. Temples in flames alright. Bob Dylan - Shelter From The Storm (live Dortmund '87) Bob Dylan - I'll Remember You (live Dortmund '87) Bob Dylan [...]
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