A plug for my favourite monthly music mag, the next edition is on the shelves from October 3rd.
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CONTENTS THIS MONTH
BLONDIE & THE A-Z OF NEW WAVE 30 years ago today, the world donned skinny ties, cranked up the nervy anxiety and – bingo! – punk begat new wave. Including: Blondie’s great pop moment, the disastrous second Stiff tour and the wonder of XTC. Plus: The Cars! By The Strokes! JOY DIVISION
Legendary rock lensman and director of Ian Curtis biopic, Control, Anton Corbijn on the band he helped define. SUICIDE
Drenched in blood amid a hail of hatchets and knives, Suicide taunted mainstream rock and punk fans alike with their revolutionary electro-rockabilly. Kris Needs was there… JOOLS HOLLAND
Van Morrison bought this man a gnome for his birthday, his first gig was (If You Don’t Want To Fuck Me) Fuck Off, and he has the best TV music show in the world. What else do you need to know? REVIEWED
Bruce Springsteen’s modern masterpiece / Robert Wyatt’s loveliest record yet / The Cult are born again / Mick Jones and Tony James ARE Carbon-Silicon! / Goffin & King compiled / The Shins, live and indirect / Green Man: the latest thing in festivals / Dusty Springfield on DVD / The incredible John Martyn story PLUS The record that changed Interpol’s lives / How to buy post-rock / Steel Pulse fall apart / Tom Waits’s piano tuner / Pylon appreciated by R.E.M.’s Mike Mills / In the studio with Lee Perry and Adrian Sherwood / Zep, La’s and Help! Return / Gwyneth Herbert revives British jazz / Ian Brown is an alien / Martha Reeves is saluted / Max Roach and Hilly Kristal are remembered |
Especially for Robert Campbell
Edwyn Collins' indefatigably eccentric recording career began in 1980 with "Falling and Laughing", Orange Juice's debut single for Glasgow's Postcard label. It was a giddy, ramshackle joyride of a song, and with its willingness to find amusement in infatuation and consolation in wit-- at the precise moment that Joy Division were approaching their spectacular dead end-- it may even have been a tipping point for British pop after punk.
Over a quarter of a century later Collins returns with his sixth solo album, and a closing track that might as well have been called "Falling and Crying". On the face of it, Home Again fits right into one the 21st century's most unexpectedly rewarding genres: the post-punk Euro-soulboy midlife redemption record; to be filed alongside Scritti Politti's White Bread, Black Beer and Roddy Frame's Western Skies. Right on schedule (Collins' pop career has operated on the elliptical, cosmic timetable of an errant comet), 12 years after "A Girl Like You" and 24 years since "Rip It Up", it could even offer him his third proper hit single in "You'll Never Know (My Love)".
Like the original Euro-soulboy midlife redemption record-- Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy-- it begins midway in the journey of life, lost in the woods. "I'd ask for directions, but my memory is shot and full of holes," he sings on "Written in Stone". "But my recall's near perfection when compared to the condition of my soul." And like Dante (I hope to god I'm speaking allegorically), Edwyn Collins had to go through hell to get back on track.
Home Again was written and recorded in 2004-- just as Collins' critical stock was at a 20-year high, with Simon Reynolds borrowing an OJ title for his comprehensive post-punk survey Rip It Up and Start Again, and the release of the definitive The Glasgow School compilation. It was mixed in 2006. In the year in between, Collins suffered two cerebral hemorrhages and an equally threatening bout of the hospital "superbug" MRSA. Even after he was discharged, he and his family were encouraged to try and "live within the limitations."
Consequently, it's impossible to review the album with a dry eye, or without hearing an ominous subtext to every song. In a year when we've already lost Lee Hazlewood and Tony Wilson (and I wonder whether Collins isn't spiritually a kind of missing link between the two), it's tempting just to be grateful that he's still with us. And though it's not a perfect record, and a couple of tunes feel like sketches that have still to be properly realized, Home Again is nevertheless undeniably one of the most affecting records of the year.
Opening track "One Is a Lonely Number" is a spooky ode to failing better in an indifferent world: "If life breaks your heart, you needn't fall apart, cos you've still got your mind..." Collins sings, his croon cracked with unusually direct sincerity. It's driven by banjo and sitar, swathed in spooky harmonies and Theremin, in that Joe Meek-goes-plastic-soul style he perfected on 1994's Gorgeous George. As such it's untypical of the album. Because though "You'll Never Know (My Love)" is a chill, autumn breeze take on the Isley Brothers, Home Again is mostly an odd kind of folk record.
"It's in Your Heart" and "Liberteenage Rag" have the acoustic lilt of Collin's childhood pop idol, Donovan, and strike a note of nostalgia for the Scotland of his youth. And the eerie, foreboding "Leviathan", all troubled seas and furious skies, seems to hark further back, to the folk revival of the 1950s and 60s and corny but effective groups like the Corries. The title track walks a similar line with heart-breaking results. A simple, delicate acoustic ballad, in a certain light you could almost mistake it for a rueful Jim Reeves song all about straying, betraying, and belatedly coming to your senses.
I interviewed Collins at his home in west London a couple of weeks ago, and though his recovery has exceeded all expectations, he was still frustrated with getting his words to work as fluently as they once did. A lot of the time he was happier singing to me: because of the structure of brain injuries, people recovering from strokes can often sing sentences impeccably they might have trouble simply speaking. So he started crooning "Home Again", over a cup of coffee and some fig rolls. Once started, he soon realized he was having too much fun to stop. "Outside on the street, I heard somebody singing/ And I heard the music ringing/ Rrom some clapped-out pirate station/ It was my unholy salvation." At the end he burst out laughing. "I've still got it, haven't I?" And you know what? He really does.
-Stephen Troussé, September 28, 2007
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/wwwmyspacecomedwyncollins
Source www.pitchforkmedia.com
The new Bruce Springsteen video for his new record Magic entitled "Long Walk Home," is out in the ether now.
The mood is understandably down as Bruce performs in a diner, at a carnival, a recording studio, a warehouse and at your local Safeway.
It has the same feel as most of his songs about America do, not necessarily painting a kind picture.
Another strong track off the album which comes out on next week.
LAST TO DIE©(Album’s version)
by Bruce Springsteen
We took the highway till the road went black
We’d marked, Truth Or Consequences on our map*
A voice drifted up from the radio
And I thought of a voice from long agoWho’ll be the last to die for a mistake
The last to die for a mistake
Whose blood will spill, whose heart will break
Who’ll be the last to die for a mistakeThe kids asleep in the backseat
We’re just counting the miles, you and me
We don’t measure the blood we’ve drawn anymore
We just stack the bodies outside the doorWho’ll be the last to die for a mistake
The last to die for a mistake
Whose blood will spill, whose heart will break
Who’ll be the last to die for a mistakeThe wise men were all fools, what to do
The sun sets in flames as the city burns
Another day gone down as the night turns
And I hold you here in my heart
As things fall apartA downtown window flushed with light
“Faces of the dead at five” (faces of the dead at five)
Our martyr’s silent eyes
Petition the drivers as we pass byWho’ll be the last to die for a mistake
The last to die for a mistake
Whose blood will spill, whose heart will break
Who’ll be the last to dieWho’ll be the last to die for a mistake
The last to die for a mistake
Darlin’ your tyrants and kings fall to the same fate
Strung up at your city gates
And you’re the last to die for a mistake
The original music from The Simpsons is now available on a CD entitled "Testify"
Next month sees the release of a new career spanning 2CD set entitled "The Complete Clapton"
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Disc 1 | |
| 1 | I Feel Free / Cream |
| 2 | Sunshine Of Your Love / Cream |
| 3 | White Room / Cream |
| 4 | Crossroads / Cream |
| 5 | Badge / Cream |
| 6 | Presence Of The Lord / Blind Faith |
| 7 | After Midnight |
| 8 | Let It Rain |
| 9 | Bell Bottom Blues |
| 10 | Layla |
| 11 | Let It Grow |
| 12 | I Shot The Sheriff |
| 13 | Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door |
| 14 | Hello Old Friend |
| 15 | Cocaine |
| 16 | Lay Down Sally |
| 17 | Wonderful Tonight |
| 18 | Promises |
| 19 | I Can’t Stand It |
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Disc 2 | |
| 1 | I’ve Got A Rock ’N’ Roll Heart |
| 2 | She’s Waiting |
| 3 | Forever Man |
| 4 | It’s In The Way That You Use It |
| 5 | Miss You |
| 6 | Pretending |
| 7 | Bad Love |
| 8 | Tears In Heaven |
| 9 | Layla (Unplugged) |
| 10 | Running On Faith (Unplugged) |
| 11 | Motherless Child |
| 12 | Change The World |
| 13 | My Father’s Eyes |
| 14 | Riding With The King |
| 15 | Sweet Home Chicago |
| 16 | If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day |
| 17 | Ride The River |
Whilst picking up tracks from Cream, Blind Faith and Derek & The Dominos it does omit crucial work with John Mayall and The Yardbirds hence can hardly be described as "Complete".
This early Clapton is my favourite phase of his career and along with his "Rainbow Concert" live album is well represented on the old iPod his "Armani" era work just leaves me cold as it to my ears is over produced and lacking soul.
Although he has recently been returning to his blues roots, which is an improvement, he still cannot recapture the glory days which gave rise to the "Clapton Is God" moniker.
The main purpose of the CD release is to help promote his Autobiography which is released at the same time, now I suspect that will be a good and interesting read.
Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert | |||||
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| Live album by Eric Clapton | |||||
| Released | September 10, 1973 Remastered edition: January 13, 1995 | ||||
| Recorded | January 13, 1973 | ||||
| Genre | Blues-rock | ||||
| Length | 34:48 | ||||
| Label | RSO | ||||
| Producer | Bob Pridden | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
| Eric Clapton chronology | |||||
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| 1995 remastered edition | |||||
Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert is an album recorded live at London's Rainbow Theatre on January 13, 1973, and released within the year. The concert was organised by Pete Townshend and marked Eric Clapton's comeback after the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. In the year after the Rainbow Concert, Clapton recovered from his heroin addiction and recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard.
A remastered expanded edition of the album was released on January 13, 1995, the 22nd anniversary of the original concert.
A bootleg edition, Eric Clapton and the Palpitations — The Rainbow Concert, 25th Anniversary Edition, was released by the underground label Empress Valley, four CDs of both concerts on January 13, 1973 (the official release has performances from only the early show).
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Background
The concert was held at the Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park, London, January 13,1973. The venue itself was popular during the 1960s and early 1970s, musicians such as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull and others performed there. The concert held the return of Eric Clapton out of isolation and inactivity with the help of Pete Townshend and others.
Track listing
Original 1973 release
- Badge (Clapton, Harrison) – 3:32
- Roll It Over (Clapton, Harrison) – 6:43
- Presence Of The Lord (Clapton) – 5:37
- Pearly Queen (Capaldi, Winwood) – 7:00
- After Midnight (Cale) – 5:12
- Little Wing (Hendrix) – 6:32
1995 remastered edition
- Layla (Clapton, Gordon) – 6:25
- Badge (Clapton, Harrison) – 3:18
- Blues Power (Clapton, Russell)– 6:03
- Roll It Over (Clapton, Whitlock) – 4:38
- Little Wing (Hendrix) – 4:36
- Bottle Of Red Wine (Bramlett, Clapton) – 3:51
- After Midnight (Cale) – 4:25
- Bell Bottom Blues (Clapton) – 6:25
- Presence Of The Lord (Clapton) – 5:18
- Tell The Truth (Clapton, Whitlock) – 6:04
- Pearly Queen (Capaldi, Winwood) – 4:55
- Key To The Highway (Broonzy, Seeger) – 5:46
- Let It Rain (Bramlett, Clapton) - 7:46
- Crossroads (Johnson)– 4:19
Personnel
- Eric Clapton - lead guitar & vocals
- Pete Townshend - guitar & vocals
- Ronnie Wood - guitar & vocals
- Ric Grech - bass guitar
- Steve Winwood - keyboard & vocals
- Jim Capaldi - drums
- Jimmy Karstein - drums
- Rebop Kwaku Baah - percussion
I have no real excuse for this one other than the fact that as a wee boy I bought this single from the upstairs record department of John Menzies and played it until it was almost worn out on my Bush mono record player, the poor man's Dansette.
Lieutenant Pigeon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lieutenant Pigeon was a British novelty popular music group, originating from Coventry.
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Career
Lieutenant Pigeon were briefly popular in the early 1970s, and a spin-off from the experimental music band, Stavely Makepeace. Fronted by Rob Woodward, Lieutenant Pigeon's sound was dominated by the heavy ragtime-style piano played by his mother, Hilda Woodward.
Lieutenant Pigeon achieved two UK hits: "Mouldy Old Dough", written by Rob Woodward and bandmate Nigel Fletcher, which reached number one in 1972, and "Desperate Dan" (number 17 in 1973). Both tracks were largely instrumental, with the titles providing virtually the only lyrics. "Mouldy Old Dough" (the title being an adaptation of the 1920s jazz phrase, "vo-de-o-do") became the second biggest selling UK single of the year, behind The Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards' bagpipe version of "Amazing Grace".
Thus, the two best-selling singles in the UK that year, were both basically novelty instrumentals.
In 1974 they had a further hit in Australia with a version of I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen. It reached #3 in the charts there in September that year.
Members
- Robert Woodward - keyboards
- Hilda Woodward - piano
- Stephen Johnson - bass guitar
- Nigel Fletcher - drums
Trivia
- "Mouldy Old Dough" was one of the choices of Jarvis Cocker when he appeared on the long-running BBC Radio 4 programme, Desert Island Discs.
- The track "Mouldy Old Dough" has since become almost a 'theme song' for the sport of British Banger racing, where it is played at the start of many races at tracks across Great Britain, as the racers begin their 'rolling lap'.
- "Mouldy Old Dough" was popularised in New Zealand in the 1990s, by its use in a television advertisement for Instant Kiwi scratchcards.
- "Mouldy Old Dough" is played over the tannoy at the end of Oldham Athletic A.F.C. home games.
References
- The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits - ISBN 0-85112-250-7
- Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
External link
The acclaimed director, whose documentary on Bob Dylan, “No Direction Home”, was released to critical acclaim in 2005, will also work with Olivia Harrison, who will act as a producer on the film.
Scorsese is keen to focus on the spiritual aspects of Harrison’s life, saying that the late Beatle’s “music and his search for spiritual meaning is a story that still resonates today”.
The Oscar-winning director also told Variety he was “looking forward to delving deeper”.
Harrison’s widow Olivia added: “It would have given George great joy to know that Martin Scorsese has agreed to tell his story.”
The guitarist died in 2001 from lung cancer which had spread to his brain.
Scorsese is currently working on a concert film of The Rolling Stones, titled “Shine A Light”. The film is set to be released in spring 2008.
There was a chill in the air when I was out with the dugs this morning,
Pictures taken with camera in phone hence the poor resolution, here's a couple of appropriate songs to compensate.
The gig at Asbury Park’s Convention Hall (September 24) saw The Boss reunited with the E Street Band for the first time in three years.
Taking to the stage, Springsteen promised the audience “a few new ones, a few old ones, maybe a few mistakes, but I doubt it”, before launching into “Magic”’s first single “Radio Nowhere”.
Throughout the course of the gig, which also featured staples like “Born To Run” and “The Rising”, Springsteen performed several new tracks, including
“Gypsy Biker”, “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” and “Last To Die”.
Springsteen and the E Street Band are set to begin their full US tour on October 2 at Hartford Civic Center.
They played:
“Radio Nowhere”
“No Surrender”
“Gypsy Biker”
“Empty Sky”
“Something In The Night”
“Girls In Their Summer Clothes”
“Night”
“The Promised Land”
“Livin' In The Future”
“Devil's Arcade”
“Candy's Room”
“She's The One”
“Lonesome Day”
“My Hometown”
“The Rising”
“Last To Die”
“Long Walk Home”
“Thundercrack”
“Born To Run”
“Darlington County”
“American Land”
Some classic live Springsteen below:-