We continue our impromptu continental tour today. After visiting Germany and Slovakia, we stop off in France, but only long enough to bundle Johnny Hallyday onto a plane bound for Nashville.
That's right. Johnny Hallyday, the man often referred to as the French Shakin' Stevens - I am sure you all remember his seasonal smash "Joyeux Noel, Tout Le Monde". In 1975 Johnny went to Nashville where he teamed up with the great Shelby Singleton to produce the album "Le Terre Promise" (The Promised Land). Incidentally, if you are not familiar with Shelby Singleton, this obituary gives you some idea of his contribution. He was a man worth knowing.
I don't think I could in all honesty call "Le Terre Promise" a great album, but it is a lot of fun. As you would expect there is a fair amount of country on there, including a nice French version of "Help Me Make It Through The Night" ("Reste Avec Moi Cette Nuit"). But Johnny is le rocker at heart, as he shows on these renditions of a pair of Elvis and Buddy Holly standards.
"Promesses" - Johnny Hallyday
"C'Est Bon" - Johnny Hallyday
We have a couple of bonus tracks for you today. The first is another cover of the same Buddy Holly song, this time in the English folk style. The second is a belated tribute to the late Fontella Bass. This is in response to a request from our old friend Mr Jackson. When I asked which track he wanted, he replied "I'm leaving the choice to you". So that's what he is getting.
"Rave On" - Steeleye Span
"I'm Leaving The Choice To You" - Fontella Bass
And, if you can get past Cher's ludicruous look, here is a surprisingly good cover of that - not a patch on Fontella and Bobby though.
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Bratislava Boogie
It's Saturday night. If you are getting ready to go out dancing, here is a little something to get you in the mood - some fine slices of Slovakian disco, courtesy of Mr Brano Hronec and his Branjo Sound.
Both tracks come from their seminal 1977 album "I Wanna Dance Bump". I had hoped to include a picture of the cover here, as that contributes significantly the album's unique charm, but there seem to be some new problems with uploading photos on Blogger unless you have a Picasa Web album (what I don't). But I would encourage you to click on this link to see for yourselves.
Let's pause for a moment while you do that...
As you will have seen, someone in Hungary wants €21 for that copy. While it would be worth every cent, I only paid €1 in a second-hand record shop in Halle for mine, so got an even better deal.
As well as the cover and the music, the album boasts excellent English language sleeve notes by one Lubos Zeman. He explains that Brano Hronec started out as a jazz musician and composer, and you sense that Lubos doe not entirely approve of the move to disco. Is it just me, or is there an undertone of regret when he notes that "bump, hustle and disco seem to be heard all over the world, and clubs are filled with young people dancing. This is a social phenomenon which has acquired also a musical expression, and the history of pop music will have to register it".
Whatever his views on disco, Lubos makes it clear that Brano's music remains "on an admirably professional level, maintaining high aesthetic criteria and laying stress upon the synthesis of art and entertainment". Cynics may think this is a bit excessive when referring to tracks such as "Cock A Doodle Do" - on which a woman sings "cock a doodle doodle do" over and over again on top of a Silver Convention type beat - but to them I say (paraphrasing David Christie): Get off your high horse and ride!
"I Wanna Dance Bump" - Branjo Sound
"Wind Is Blowing" - Branjo Sound
Both tracks come from their seminal 1977 album "I Wanna Dance Bump". I had hoped to include a picture of the cover here, as that contributes significantly the album's unique charm, but there seem to be some new problems with uploading photos on Blogger unless you have a Picasa Web album (what I don't). But I would encourage you to click on this link to see for yourselves.
Let's pause for a moment while you do that...
As you will have seen, someone in Hungary wants €21 for that copy. While it would be worth every cent, I only paid €1 in a second-hand record shop in Halle for mine, so got an even better deal.
As well as the cover and the music, the album boasts excellent English language sleeve notes by one Lubos Zeman. He explains that Brano Hronec started out as a jazz musician and composer, and you sense that Lubos doe not entirely approve of the move to disco. Is it just me, or is there an undertone of regret when he notes that "bump, hustle and disco seem to be heard all over the world, and clubs are filled with young people dancing. This is a social phenomenon which has acquired also a musical expression, and the history of pop music will have to register it".
Whatever his views on disco, Lubos makes it clear that Brano's music remains "on an admirably professional level, maintaining high aesthetic criteria and laying stress upon the synthesis of art and entertainment". Cynics may think this is a bit excessive when referring to tracks such as "Cock A Doodle Do" - on which a woman sings "cock a doodle doodle do" over and over again on top of a Silver Convention type beat - but to them I say (paraphrasing David Christie): Get off your high horse and ride!
"I Wanna Dance Bump" - Branjo Sound
"Wind Is Blowing" - Branjo Sound
Friday, 4 January 2013
At Large in Leipzig
A belated Happy New Year to all of you out there in Leggiesland. My old mate Mister F and I have just returned from a very enjoyable few days in the lovely city of Leipzig. After enjoying the ad hoc firework displays that marked the end of the old year, we retired to an absinthe bar to hang out with the local goths. We felt quite decadent and edgy until someone put on "Rivers of Babylon" and all the goths started singing along.
Needless to say I picked up some goodies while I was away. There was some vintage vinyl, some of which you will undoubtedly be subjected to shortly, including a couple of album by the Puhdys - the hardest rocking band in the DDR - and some classy Slovak disco from 1977.
For something more recent, I snapped up a copy of "Who Put The L In Leipzig", a compilation that came out in 2007 featuring a couple of tracks each from six local bands. I have only had a chance to listen to it once so far but these are the two tracks that stood out on first hearing.
"Breakfast For Cyborgs" - Brockdorff Klang Labor
"Illusion" - Acid Milch & Honig
One of the other bands featured on the album are Pepe Mula. Here is a clip of theirs from round about the same time. This one goes out to all the party animals in the late-night Wurst Meister.
Needless to say I picked up some goodies while I was away. There was some vintage vinyl, some of which you will undoubtedly be subjected to shortly, including a couple of album by the Puhdys - the hardest rocking band in the DDR - and some classy Slovak disco from 1977.
For something more recent, I snapped up a copy of "Who Put The L In Leipzig", a compilation that came out in 2007 featuring a couple of tracks each from six local bands. I have only had a chance to listen to it once so far but these are the two tracks that stood out on first hearing.
"Breakfast For Cyborgs" - Brockdorff Klang Labor
"Illusion" - Acid Milch & Honig
One of the other bands featured on the album are Pepe Mula. Here is a clip of theirs from round about the same time. This one goes out to all the party animals in the late-night Wurst Meister.
Friday, 28 December 2012
TW3
We'll finish off the year with a quick run-down of my recorded and live music highlights of 2012. Bear with me, folks, while I pretend you are interested and not just after the freebies.
Best pop single of the year - and, to be honest, one of the few I heard - was "Sawa Sawelegn" by Ziggy Zaga and Teddy Yo, which ruled the airwaves when I was in Ethiopia a couple of months ago.
Best album of the year by some distance was "I Like To Keep Myself In Pain" by Kelly Hogan. Now, Kelly is one of my favourite singers of all time and we have had to wait eleven years for a new album, so to be honest she could have released a tribute to the Teletubbies and it would probably have made my top ten. Fortunately she rejected that option and instead treated us to the best album of her career.
The rest of the top ten, in alphabetical order only (and allowing for the fact that half of them would probably be different if I did this again tomorrow) are:
One Day I'm Going To Soar - Dexys
The Lion's Roar - First Aid Kit
Depending On The Distance - Jimmy Lafave
Traveling Alone - Tift Merritt
Leaves From The Family Tree - Polly Paulusma
Temple Beautiful - Chuck Prophet
Ghosts Of Browder Holler - Chelle Rose
Harmony Springs - Snowgoose
The Bravest Man In The Universe - Bobby Womack
Gig of the year is a much tougher choice, because 2012 has really been a vintage year. After much thought, I have decided I can't split first spot, so it goes jointly to two soul legends and long-time heroes of mine who I got to see for the first time this year: Betty Wright at the Jazz Cafe in July and Bobby Womack at the Forum last month.
Honourable mentions go to Chuck Prophet at Dingwalls, Trembling Bells with some promising support acts at the Victoria in Dalston, First Aid Kit at the Scala, Selda at the South Bank, Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat at the Applecart Festival, and Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby in a tiny room above a wine bar 100 yards from where I work. And I could easily have added half a dozen more.
We'll sign off for the year with a selection from some of those mentioned above. As well as the four winners I have added Chuck Prophet and First Aid Kit as they appear in both lists, and two acts that did not get the attention I felt they deserved - Chelle Rose and Snowgoose. All tracks were released this year with the exception of Betty Wright, which was on last year's "The Movie".
There are then - forgive the self-indulgence - a few of the more acceptable photos I took at gigs this year, before we finish off with a topical clip from another fine gig I was at, courtesy of one Phil Oxus.
"Sawa Sawelegn" - Ziggy Zaga featuring Teddy Yo
"Sleeper Awake" - Kelly Hogan
"Whatever Happened To The Times" - Bobby Womack
"Grapes On A Vine" - Betty Wright
"Temple Beautiful" - Chuck Prophet
"In The Hearts Of Men" - First Aid Kit
"Caney Fork Tennessee" - Chelle Rose
"I Will Wait For You" - Snowgoose
Photos: Josh T Pearson at the Applecart Festival; Sir Richard Bishop at Cafe Oto; Betty Wright at the Jazz Cafe; and Rodriquez at the Royal Festival Hall.
Best pop single of the year - and, to be honest, one of the few I heard - was "Sawa Sawelegn" by Ziggy Zaga and Teddy Yo, which ruled the airwaves when I was in Ethiopia a couple of months ago.
Best album of the year by some distance was "I Like To Keep Myself In Pain" by Kelly Hogan. Now, Kelly is one of my favourite singers of all time and we have had to wait eleven years for a new album, so to be honest she could have released a tribute to the Teletubbies and it would probably have made my top ten. Fortunately she rejected that option and instead treated us to the best album of her career.
The rest of the top ten, in alphabetical order only (and allowing for the fact that half of them would probably be different if I did this again tomorrow) are:
One Day I'm Going To Soar - Dexys
The Lion's Roar - First Aid Kit
Depending On The Distance - Jimmy Lafave
Traveling Alone - Tift Merritt
Leaves From The Family Tree - Polly Paulusma
Temple Beautiful - Chuck Prophet
Ghosts Of Browder Holler - Chelle Rose
Harmony Springs - Snowgoose
The Bravest Man In The Universe - Bobby Womack
Gig of the year is a much tougher choice, because 2012 has really been a vintage year. After much thought, I have decided I can't split first spot, so it goes jointly to two soul legends and long-time heroes of mine who I got to see for the first time this year: Betty Wright at the Jazz Cafe in July and Bobby Womack at the Forum last month.
Honourable mentions go to Chuck Prophet at Dingwalls, Trembling Bells with some promising support acts at the Victoria in Dalston, First Aid Kit at the Scala, Selda at the South Bank, Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat at the Applecart Festival, and Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby in a tiny room above a wine bar 100 yards from where I work. And I could easily have added half a dozen more.
We'll sign off for the year with a selection from some of those mentioned above. As well as the four winners I have added Chuck Prophet and First Aid Kit as they appear in both lists, and two acts that did not get the attention I felt they deserved - Chelle Rose and Snowgoose. All tracks were released this year with the exception of Betty Wright, which was on last year's "The Movie".
There are then - forgive the self-indulgence - a few of the more acceptable photos I took at gigs this year, before we finish off with a topical clip from another fine gig I was at, courtesy of one Phil Oxus.
"Sawa Sawelegn" - Ziggy Zaga featuring Teddy Yo
"Sleeper Awake" - Kelly Hogan
"Whatever Happened To The Times" - Bobby Womack
"Grapes On A Vine" - Betty Wright
"Temple Beautiful" - Chuck Prophet
"In The Hearts Of Men" - First Aid Kit
"Caney Fork Tennessee" - Chelle Rose
"I Will Wait For You" - Snowgoose
Photos: Josh T Pearson at the Applecart Festival; Sir Richard Bishop at Cafe Oto; Betty Wright at the Jazz Cafe; and Rodriquez at the Royal Festival Hall.
Sunday, 23 December 2012
If I Had A Hammer
Today I bring you the latest in the intermittent "Single Song Sunday" series, in which you gets lots of versions of the same song. On a Sunday. This time round it is Tim Hardin's much-covered classic, "If I Were A Carpenter".
This is also doubling as the Christmas post. What, you may ask, have loads of versions of "If I Were A Carpenter" got to do with Christmas? Well, Jesus was raised by a carpenter, and we have managed to dig out TWELVE different versions - one for each day of Christmas. That's good enough for me.
We'll start off with the original, followed by the two hit versions by Bobby Darin and the Four Tops, before gradually descending into chaos. Country, soul, heavy rock, reggae, sax solo, Czech pop - it's all here.
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Tim Hardin
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Bobby Darin
"If I Were A Carpenter" - The Four Tops
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Johnny Cash & June Carter
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Bert Jansch
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Lee Dorsey
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Chicken Shack
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Emmylou Harris & Johnny Hallyday
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Winston Groovy
"If I Were A Carpenter" - King Curtis
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Los Buenos
"Kdybych já byl kovářem" - Petr Spálený
We'll be back between Christmas and New Year with a brief "Best of 2012". Until then, on behalf of all us at 27 Leggies Productions, let me join with some other Carpenters in wishing all our readers a very soppy Christmas.
This is also doubling as the Christmas post. What, you may ask, have loads of versions of "If I Were A Carpenter" got to do with Christmas? Well, Jesus was raised by a carpenter, and we have managed to dig out TWELVE different versions - one for each day of Christmas. That's good enough for me.
We'll start off with the original, followed by the two hit versions by Bobby Darin and the Four Tops, before gradually descending into chaos. Country, soul, heavy rock, reggae, sax solo, Czech pop - it's all here.
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Tim Hardin
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Bobby Darin
"If I Were A Carpenter" - The Four Tops
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Johnny Cash & June Carter
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Bert Jansch
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Lee Dorsey
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Chicken Shack
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Emmylou Harris & Johnny Hallyday
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Winston Groovy
"If I Were A Carpenter" - King Curtis
"If I Were A Carpenter" - Los Buenos
"Kdybych já byl kovářem" - Petr Spálený
We'll be back between Christmas and New Year with a brief "Best of 2012". Until then, on behalf of all us at 27 Leggies Productions, let me join with some other Carpenters in wishing all our readers a very soppy Christmas.
Saturday, 22 December 2012
Still Here
Bloody Mayans! I was so convinced the world was going to end yesterday that I never bothered buying any Christmas presents. Needless to say, I'm now in a bit of a panic.
On balance, though, it is probably a good thing that the earth was not shattered by earthquakes or consumed in flames or whatever it was that was meant to happen. So here are some tunes to celebrate yesterday's non-event.
"The World Still Turns" - Ukulele Jim
"World Come Back To Life" - Scritti Politti
"Anew Day" - Mary Margaret O'Hara
"New World In The Morning" - Roger Whittaker
"Beginning Tomorrow" - Joy Of Cooking
"Worlds They Rise And Fall" - The Incredible String Band
On balance, though, it is probably a good thing that the earth was not shattered by earthquakes or consumed in flames or whatever it was that was meant to happen. So here are some tunes to celebrate yesterday's non-event.
"The World Still Turns" - Ukulele Jim
"World Come Back To Life" - Scritti Politti
"Anew Day" - Mary Margaret O'Hara
"New World In The Morning" - Roger Whittaker
"Beginning Tomorrow" - Joy Of Cooking
"Worlds They Rise And Fall" - The Incredible String Band
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Unlucky Dip
Last week I was in a second-hand record shop - not in itself an unusual experience, it must be said - and they had a selection of "lucky dip" bags. For 50p you could acquire, sight unseen, 20 seven inch singles. I thought to myself, "well, whatever I get, that has to be a bargain".
It turns out I was wrong. I now have more Shakatak singles than I could ever want (one), and Neil Reid's "Mother of Mine" must have been sitting on the shelves for the best part of forty years before being palmed off on me.
These three are a pick of a not very inspiring bunch. They are OK. Apologies about the condition.
"Playground Romance (demo)" - Bakery Girls
"All The Myths On Sunday" - Diesel Park West
"Gold Rush" - Geezers of Nazareth
Amongst the other top hits I received was "Sit And Wait" by Sydney Youngblood. While searching for that on YouTube I came across his, er, reinterpretation of an old Etta James standard. Oh dear, oh dear. I feel I owe Elkie an apology. Compared to this, her disco version of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is a stone cold classic.
It turns out I was wrong. I now have more Shakatak singles than I could ever want (one), and Neil Reid's "Mother of Mine" must have been sitting on the shelves for the best part of forty years before being palmed off on me.
These three are a pick of a not very inspiring bunch. They are OK. Apologies about the condition.
"Playground Romance (demo)" - Bakery Girls
"All The Myths On Sunday" - Diesel Park West
"Gold Rush" - Geezers of Nazareth
Amongst the other top hits I received was "Sit And Wait" by Sydney Youngblood. While searching for that on YouTube I came across his, er, reinterpretation of an old Etta James standard. Oh dear, oh dear. I feel I owe Elkie an apology. Compared to this, her disco version of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is a stone cold classic.
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