Double Scots

On Sunday I went to Bishops Stortford to see my nephew star in the title role of a local production of 'Aladdin Jr - The Musical'. Needless to say I thought he was brilliant. 

If I had any clips I would subject you to them, but I don't. So instead you are getting some music I acquired from the always interesting Ecco charity shop while I was there.They had a 5 CDs for £1 offer on, and having found two that I would happily pay 50p each for I added three others that were selected purely on a whim.

One of the big two was "Dirt Track Date", the 1995 album by Southern Culture On The Skids, often referred to as SCOTS for short - indeed, the writing on the CD proclaims proudly that it is "Powered by SCOTS". They are responsible for one of the greatest party records of all time which I have added to two tracks from "Dirt Track Date". 

Having nabbed the SCOTS album I thought I should try to get something especially for the many Scots among our readers. I spotted a 20 track compilation of the works of The Alexander Brothers on the esteemed Music For Pleasure label further along the shelf. The many Scots among our readers will be delighted to know I nabbed that too.

I thought about dedicating "My Aim Folk" to the Caledonian diaspora but was worried that poor Parsley and Anita might be alarmed by the sight of a lachrymose George so I have chosen something chirpier instead. No need to rush to thank me.  

"Fried Chicken And Gasoline" - Southern Culture On The Skids

"Voodoo Cadillac" - Southern Culture On The Skids

"Liquored Up And Lacquered Down" - Southern Culture On The Skids

"Cock O' The North" - The Alexander Brothers

Other Scottish folk songs aimed at the diaspora are available.

Real Sounds Of The Sahara

Before we get started, a quick reminder for anyone wishing to take part in our latest exercise in interactive blogging (as explained here) to send me a number between 1 and 26,482. Closing date is this Thursday, we'll share the results on Friday.

Now to the business of the day. On the Friday just gone I used a tenuous link to the Sahara as an excuse to share some music from somewhere nowhere near the mighty desert. This time round you are getting some proper Saharan sounds.

If you were asked to identify the musical hotspots of the world Niger might not be an obvious choice but there seems to be a never ending number of fantastic bands from that embattled country (possibly even more than 26,482). We have featured many of them already, including on the African Odyssey last year, but not yet today's guests.

Tal National produced three stunning albums in the mid 2010s, each of which are currently available for a bargain £7 in either CD or digital form on Bandcamp - something for you to think about when Bandcamp Friday rolls around at the end of the week. The band has been quiet on both the recording and gigging front since Covid, so it may be they have disbanded.

Today's selections come from their second album "Zoy Zoy" which came out in 2015. I have no doubt that you will enjoy "Zoy Zoy".

"Sey Wata Gaya" - Tal National

"Kodaje" - Tal National

From The Sahara To Sunset

WARNING: Extremely contrived link ahead

Earlier this week Adam from the Swiss Canton of Manchester enthralled us all with photos of his recent trip into the Sahara. 

If you linger in the Sahara for any length of time there is a fair chance you will bump into some bedouin. You are far less likely to bump into the singer-songwriter Bedouine (Azniv Korkejian to her dear old Mum). 

I did warn you it was contrived.

Like her near namesakes Bedouine's origins lie in the Syrian desert - she was born in Aleppo of Armenian stock - but these days she hangs out in LA. There she makes music that is suitably mellow for the end of a week that, for me at least, has been full of minor irritations. 

We'll start with an original song from what I think is still her most recent album, 2021's "Waysides", and follow it up with covers of Elton John and Big Star. On the latter she has roped in a couple of pals to help out.

"It Wasn't Me" - Bedouine

"Come Down In Time" - Bedouine

"Thirteen" - Bedouine, Waxahatchee & Hurray For The Riff Raff

If that leaves you wanting more, here is half an hour of Bedouine live and unaccompanied back in 2018. I saw her around then with a full band behind her and enjoyed that very much but I think I would have enjoyed this solo set even more.

PS A late and inadequate addition to this post but I could not let another sad parting yesterday go unacknowledged. RIP David Thomas.

"Caligari's Mirror" - Pere Ubu

Missed Off The List

In the continuing absence of inspiration I decided to look at the list of my most played artists on Last.fm and work out the highest placed act that has never featured on these pages. The data is nor wildly reliable as only picks up certain devices and platform but it will do for these purposes.

It turns out that most of alleged favourite artists have appeared here at one point or another, which is probably not surprising after more than sixteen years. I had to go all the way down to No. 149 which is where I found The Stylistics. Here they are with two of their finest moments.

I briefly met the then line-up about 25 years in a jazz club in Cape Town where they were relaxing after a show nearby. Three of the five original members are still performing, including Russell Thompkins of the famed falsetto, but as is customary they have split into two competing groups.

"You're A Big Girl Now" - The Stylistics

"Hurry Up This Way Again" - The Stylistics

The Last.fm list goes all the way down to 26,482. If anyone wants to get involved in a bit of citizen blogging just stick a number between 1 and 26,482 in the comments and when we have a few I'll find out who you've chosen and put them all in a post.

Currently in last place: Larry Joe Miller & His Rockabilly Rockets. If this video is anything to go by Larry Joe deserves to be a bit higher, maybe somewhere in the 22 thousands.

Larry Joe managed to fit a total of nine people in the back of his car (the six pretty girls and the three members of the Rockabilly Rockets) beating Paul Evans' previous record by one.

Single Song Sunday

It is the first Single Song Sunday of the year and one that breaks what up until now had been one of my cardinal rules. There is no Mandatory Reggae Version.

That is not for the lack of trying. This song has been on the list for a long time but I have held off in the hope of finding a MRV but after spending many hours over many months searching I have to concede defeat. I am surprised because there are plenty of reggae versions of other songs by this artist but there you go.

I'm not sure whether to feel ashamed or liberated by this omission, and apologies to the purists out there. But I hope you will agree that with or without a MRV we have a stonking selection.

The song in question is a psychedelic standard, Donovan's "Season Of The Witch". Never released as a single, his original version opened Side 2 of the "Sunshine Superman" album in 1966. It wasn't long before the covers started coming along, one of the first being by Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll & The Trinity, of whom more later. 

It is a song that seems to appeal to TV and film directors. Versions by Richard Thompson, Joan Jett and Lana Del Rey were respectively used in the soundtracks as the TV series "Crossing Jordan" (2003), "The Sons Of Sam" (2021) and the film "Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark" (2019). 

From Lana we skip on to Luna, whose 1996 version first appeared on a compilation album called "I Shot Andy Warhol" which features "music from or inspired by the motion picture" and was subsequently released as a single. The album features another Donovan cover but as it is Jewel taking on "Sunshine Superman" I think I'll stick to the single.

Next up we have a couple of fairly recent covers from the UK courtesy of folk-rockers Tamesis (2020) and Mr Billy Childish hiding behind one of his many aliases (2022). And we finish off with assorted Americans - Lou Rawls (1969), Cindy Lee Berryhill (1996) and a prolific individual called Jack who styles himself as Telyscopes (2014).

"Season Of The Witch" - Donovan

"Season Of The Witch" - Richard Thompson

"Season Of The Witch" - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

"Season Of The Witch" - Lana Del Rey

"Season Of The Witch" - Luna

"Season Of The Witch" - Tamesis

"Season Of The Witch" - The William Loveday Intention

"Season Of The Witch" - Lou Rawls

"Season Of The Witch" - Cindy Lee Berryhill

"Season Of The Witch" - Telyscopes

I mentioned the Julie Driscoll version earlier in the post. With a video this magnificent to go with it I wasn't going to fritter that away on mere audio. Gaze in wonder.

Not Ready Yet

Earlier this week I had lunch in Cafe Caribbean in fashionable Loughton. I would recommend it if happen to be in the area.

As I was tucking into their excellent value weekday meal deal someone put a smooth soul compilation on the sound system. The first track was "Yes I'm Ready" by Barbara Mason. It may be her signature tune but in my experience it is a very misleading one.

I had a ticket for the concert Barbara was meant to give at the Islington Assembly Hall in October. October 2012 that is. When it was postponed I got an email saying they would be in touch with a rescheduled date. I'm still waiting for news. It appears that after more than twelve years she's not quite ready yet.

It is probably time to accept that it isn't going to be rescheduled and move on with my life. While Barbara is thankfully still with us at 77 she only gigs very infrequently these days and it seems not at all outside the US. Never mind, we still have her magnificent back catalogue to enjoy.

"The Ghetto" - Barbara Mason

"He Wants The Two Of Us" - Barbara Mason

"You Blew It" - Barbara Mason

Other Romeos Are Available

I don't know whether it is the delayed effect of all the many long haul overnight flights I have taken recently but I am currently struggling to persuade my mind and body to turn up in the same place at the same time. 

One consequence of that is an inability to come up with interesting ideas for posts. So in the absence of anything approaching inspiration I latched on to 'Romeo' from the Max Romeo tribute in my previous post.

Here are loads of songs about Romeos (with and without Juliets) and a couple by Romeos. Enjoy!

"Romeo's Tune" - Steve Forbert

"She Took Off My Romeos" - David Lindley & El Rayo-X

"Romeo And Juliet" - Michael & The Messengers

"Romeo Had Juliette" - Lou Reed

"Weathered Romeo" - Sis

"I'm No Romeo" - Billy Stewart

"Goodbye Romeo" - Tara Priya

"Romeo" - Lord Kitchener

"Mulamba" - Romeo Dika

"Undercover Kept" - Roneo Void

Max Romeo RIP

Another good one has gone. The mighty Max Romeo left us on Friday aged 80. RIP Mr Romeo.

Perhaps regrettably best known in the UK for his 1969 Top 10 hit "Wet Dream" - of which he later said "the devil made me do it" - he went on to make some of the finest roots records of the 1970s. Here are just a few.

"War Ina Babylon" -  Max Romeo

"Chase The Devil" - Max Romeo

"Socialism Is Love" - Max Romeo

"Tacko" - Max Romeo

Meet Me In Port Louis

I got back from my trip to Mauritius yesterday. Between the work and the wet weather I didn't get to see a huge amount - just the capital Port Louis, Mahebourg in the south and their surrounding areas - but I liked what I saw in my time off and would graciously accept an invitation to go back. 

I took a few snaps which you can find here if you are interested. There are a lot of shots of bays which start to merge into each other after a while, but then there are a lot of beautiful bays to admire.

The abundance of bays was not matched by an abundance of local music. I had been quite optimistic before arriving as my research had identified four record shops, two in Port Louis and two a short metro ride away in Rose Hill. Unfortunately two of the four have shut up shop completely and one has gone into a different line of business and no longer sells records.

Even the fourth emporium on my list, Harbour Music in Port Louis, is now predominantly a clothes shop. I had an good old natter with the proprietor who pined for the old days of wall to wall albums and blamed his current predicament on a combination of Covid and computers.

The music selection in Harbour is now limited to a small number of local compilations. More or less at random I choose "Nouvo Compil Sa!!" from 2015. Today we bring you the opening track by Dr. Boyzini, a man whose name suggests he ought to be on a 1980s Eurodisco revival package tour somewhere.

More positively I did stumble across the Ah Kaye Music Shop in an alley in Rose Hill. But judging by the stock on the shelves the owner sees his mission as bringing international music to the local audience - if anyone in Mauritius is looking for a 7" or "Mississippi" by Pussycat then Ah Kaye is the place to go - rather than promoting local music. 

There were only a few Mauritian CDs to choose from. I opted for "Ouvert To Lizie", the 2021 album by local MAR stalwart Ti Blakka. On the back cover it proudly states that the album was sponsored by the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, making it even more mandatory than usual. 

"Mon C Val" - Dr. Boyzini

"Coler Froter" - Ti Blakka

I subsequently learnt that the owner of the Ah Kaye is called Fred and he has been a stalwart supporter of reggae music for many years now, so much so that Errol Dunkley wrote a song in his honour. 

Jabu, Jozi And Me

I returned from my family visit to South Africa a couple of days ago. My immediate priority was to get the washing on before heading off on a tedious work trip to Mauritius on Thursday, but I had some time during the spin cycle to prepare this post.

I started the visit in Cape Town where I popped into the second hand record shops in the Observatory district. Among the goodies I found was "Mmalo-We", the first album by the second version of Bayete. 

Jabu Khanyile was the drummer and lead vocalist in the original Bayete between 1984 and their break-up in 1992. After the split he recruited a new line-up and stuck his name on the front. This 1993 effort was the first of a series of albums they made up until his untimely early death from cancer and diabetes in 2006.

The second part of the trip involved a culture packed couple of days in Johannesburg. One of the highlights was a visit to the Apartheid Museum where there is much to learn, even (or perhaps especially) for those of us who lived there during that era. 

I was particularly taken by this poster about the workings of the race classification system, a reminder that as well as being cruel apartheid was inherently nonsensical. The sting is in the tail.

While in Joburg I acquired a copy of  "Marabi Nights", a book about the growth of the local marabi jazz scene (sometimes also called "township jazz") from the 1920s to the 1950s. I've not read it yet so can't give you a review, but it comes with a CD of recordings rescued from old 78s that the author discovered in the course of his research. Two selections are below, from 1933 and 1945 respectively. 

Finally on my last night the local Gogginses and I took in a show at the excellent Untitled Basement venue in the hip Braamfontein district of the city. Star of the night was local nu-soul diva Ayanda Jiya. Personally I found a lot of her material a bit samey, but she has a great voice and a winning personality. One of the younger members of the clan was quite starstruck when she met her afterwards.

That's all for now. Stand by for some fine Mauritian sega when I return around the end of next week.

"Ubugwala" - Jabu Khanyile & Bayete

"Ntebejana" - W.P. Zikali

"Marabi No. 2 Jive" - Hot Lips Dance Band