A few weeks ago we featured a compilation of splendid Spanish sounds from the 60s and 70s. Now here's another one. There appears to be a treasure trove of little known Iberian gems from that era.
This compilation is called "Atenshion! Refleshion!" and it claims - with a high degree of accuracy - to contain "Spanish Psychedelic Grooves 1967-76". Here are a just a couple of them - there are many more corkers where these two came from.
"Vuestro Mundo" - Juan Muro
"Conquistador de Carton" - Barbara
A brief tribute to Dave Prowse, who died yesterday. While his most acclaimed role was as the original Darth Vader, for many of us of a certain generation he will always be the Green Cross Code Man.
I met him once in that capacity. Back in the mid-1980s I was a security guard at an exhibition hall in London and Mr Prowse was booked to make a personal appearance as the Green Cross Code Man. He parked his van on a blind corner and I was dispatched to ask him to move it.
In those days I was a young smartarse and made some remark about how he of all people ought to know it wasn't safe to park there. This rightly earned me a stern dressing down, during which he confirmed that I was indeed a young smartarse. Looking back, I got off more lightly than most people who cheek Darth Vader.
RIP Mr Prowse. I hope your crossing was a smooth one.
"Stop Look And Listen" - The Chiffons
"Crossing Over The Road" - Tom Robinson Band
"When I Cross Over" - Tift Merritt
I say, I say, I say. How do we know that Moses wore a wig?
"I've Got To Find A Way (To Hide My Hurt) (Part 1)" - Moses Dillard & Tex-Town Display
"Revolutionary Dream" - Pablo Moses
"Amos Moses" - Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown
There are points available to the first person to deliver the punchline to the joke and the first person to explain the choice of video.
I regularly rave about the magnificent Sahel Sounds label, and I'm about to do it again. They do a brilliant job of bringing artists from the Sahel region to the attention of the wider world.
One particularly fine example is Mamman Sani from Niger, who has been making eerie electronic and organ music for well over 40 years. Before Sahel Sounds got involved he had only ever released one album, but they have now released three compilations of recordings he made in the 1980s. All are worth a listen but my favourite is probably "Taaritt", from which today's selections come.
"Ya Bismillah" - Mamman Sani
"Zara Zarakoy" - Mamman Sani
Here's a mellow start to your Monday morning - a couple of tunes from Willy DeVille back when he was still known as Mink. Both come from his 1978 album "Return To Magenta".
"'A' Train Lady" - Mink DeVille
"I Broke That Promise" - Mink DeVille
He's not the only musical Mink of course.
I've been on a bit of a Warren Zevon kick this week. Here are just a few of the many reasons why. Hard to believe that he's been gone 17 years already.
"Excitable Boy" - Warren Zevon
"Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead" - Warren Zevon
"The French Inhaler" - Warren Zevon
Here's the last song he played on his last public performance. What a way to bow out.
