Two more tracks from "Girl Sazanami Beat! Volume 1" for you, both with an Italian connection of sorts.
Italyaguitar are particularly splendid. "Bella Ciao" is pure surf-rock. Why it has that title is anyone's guess - Is the surf sound big in Bologna and massive in Milan? Are the Tiki Tiki Bamboooos labouring under the misapprehension that Italian is the language of Hawaii? I suspect we will never know.
"Shekena!" - Italyaguitar
"Bella Ciao" - The Tiki Tiki Bamboooos
Saturday, 7 September 2019
Thursday, 5 September 2019
Warning: Signs
After last week's selection of songs and artists with signs of the Zodiac in their names, young George kindly sent me an album called "Astrology Songs" by one Harvey Sid Fisher. I promised him that I would feature a couple of tracks, so here goes.
Then let us never speak of this again.
"Sagittarius" - Harvey Sid Fisher
"Aries" - Harvey Sid Fisher
The same post prompted Charity Chic to request something by Leo Sayer. I am delighted to bring you this old favourite. Many years ago a friend and I spent far too long trying to work out where this encounter took place, using the clues in the lyrics - for example, it is somewhere that is 310 miles from Gretna via the M6 and was sufficiently vibrant to have had a Mexican discotheque in the 1970s. After much painstaking research, we concluded it probably happened in Reading.
Then let us never speak of this again.
"Sagittarius" - Harvey Sid Fisher
"Aries" - Harvey Sid Fisher
The same post prompted Charity Chic to request something by Leo Sayer. I am delighted to bring you this old favourite. Many years ago a friend and I spent far too long trying to work out where this encounter took place, using the clues in the lyrics - for example, it is somewhere that is 310 miles from Gretna via the M6 and was sufficiently vibrant to have had a Mexican discotheque in the 1970s. After much painstaking research, we concluded it probably happened in Reading.
Tuesday, 3 September 2019
Tastemaker Time
I'm lucky enough to get sent loads of freebies to listen to by people labouring under the misapprehension that I am what these days is called an influencer. I'm not sure its true, but I won't tell them if you don't.
Here is a small selection of the small percentage of the recent freebies that I have actually had a chance to listen to. Three of them are broadly in the country/ Americana camp, the other one wings its way to you all the way from Malawi. The Faith Mussa and Whitney albums are out already, Jack M. Senff is out on Friday (6 September), and Dori Freeman at the end of the month. All are worth buying, with Dori the pick of the bunch for me.
The best free album I have received recently is Tyler Childers' "Country Squire". It is an absolute must have for fans of outlaw country. But it was sent by RCA Records with so many warnings about how they would obliterate me if I shared it that I'm not going to risk it. Enjoy the video instead.
"Go On" - Dori Freeman (from "Another Time")
"Friend Of Mine" - Whitney (from "Forever Turned Around")
"Somewhere" - Jack M. Senff (from "Good To Know You")
"Aphiri" - Faith Mussa (from "Kalilima")
Here is a small selection of the small percentage of the recent freebies that I have actually had a chance to listen to. Three of them are broadly in the country/ Americana camp, the other one wings its way to you all the way from Malawi. The Faith Mussa and Whitney albums are out already, Jack M. Senff is out on Friday (6 September), and Dori Freeman at the end of the month. All are worth buying, with Dori the pick of the bunch for me.
The best free album I have received recently is Tyler Childers' "Country Squire". It is an absolute must have for fans of outlaw country. But it was sent by RCA Records with so many warnings about how they would obliterate me if I shared it that I'm not going to risk it. Enjoy the video instead.
"Go On" - Dori Freeman (from "Another Time")
"Friend Of Mine" - Whitney (from "Forever Turned Around")
"Somewhere" - Jack M. Senff (from "Good To Know You")
"Aphiri" - Faith Mussa (from "Kalilima")
Saturday, 31 August 2019
Sazanami Saturday 4: Sweet Sounds
After a brief break last weekend, we are back with more tracks from our favourite Japanese all-girl garage bands compilation ever. I reckon we can get a couple of more editions out of it before the quality starts dropping off, so stand by for more super sounds next Saturday. In the meantime, here is some sugary sweetness for you.
"Sugoi Ninki Desu" - Deliciousweets
"Alright" - Chocomates
I was looking on YouTube for videos by either band, without much luck - there was one live clip of Chocomates but very poor quality - when I found this. I don't know who these women are, or who the gentleman in the red dress is, but they are magnificent.
"Sugoi Ninki Desu" - Deliciousweets
"Alright" - Chocomates
I was looking on YouTube for videos by either band, without much luck - there was one live clip of Chocomates but very poor quality - when I found this. I don't know who these women are, or who the gentleman in the red dress is, but they are magnificent.
Thursday, 29 August 2019
Open Wide
Yesterday was not what you would call a fun day for me, as I spent a large chunk of the morning having root canal treatment. There was an up side, however, as I discovered a new band.
Chatting to the woman on reception while I was paying generously for having been tortured, I discovered that in real life she was the singer in a band called The Other Ones (who are not to be confused with other bands called the Other Ones).
They already have some stuff on Bandcamp, and will shortly be adding more as they have a new EP coming out on 5 September. There is a launch event that evening in London's trendy Hoxton - details can be found on their Facebook page.
As for me, I should have taken Jean's advice rather than falling for Dr Dwight's standard dentist lies.
"It Won't Hurt" - Dwight Yoakam
"Keep Your Mouth Shut And Your Eyes Open" - Jean Wells
Chatting to the woman on reception while I was paying generously for having been tortured, I discovered that in real life she was the singer in a band called The Other Ones (who are not to be confused with other bands called the Other Ones).
They already have some stuff on Bandcamp, and will shortly be adding more as they have a new EP coming out on 5 September. There is a launch event that evening in London's trendy Hoxton - details can be found on their Facebook page.
As for me, I should have taken Jean's advice rather than falling for Dr Dwight's standard dentist lies.
"It Won't Hurt" - Dwight Yoakam
"Keep Your Mouth Shut And Your Eyes Open" - Jean Wells
Wednesday, 28 August 2019
What's Your Sign?
Today, half the signs of the Zodiac. Don't panic, I have no intention of returning with the other half at a future date.
The idea for this post came to me while in Cape Town last week when I picked up a copy of an album by one Junior Taurus. However, having now listened to it, it doesn't really do it for me so it hasn't made the cut. We've gone for hippies and reggae instead.
"Saturn In Pisces" - Rokurokubi
"Dunce Cap" - Herman & The Aquarians
"Aries" - Fairfield Parlour
"Gemini On The Way" - Maplewood
"Mi Caan Sleep" - Romain Virgo
"Song For Sagittarians" - Shawn Phillips
The Portuguese subtitles there were provided for George's benefit. Also for George, here is a Junior Taurus video to save him having to look it up (as we all know he will).
The idea for this post came to me while in Cape Town last week when I picked up a copy of an album by one Junior Taurus. However, having now listened to it, it doesn't really do it for me so it hasn't made the cut. We've gone for hippies and reggae instead.
"Saturn In Pisces" - Rokurokubi
"Dunce Cap" - Herman & The Aquarians
"Aries" - Fairfield Parlour
"Gemini On The Way" - Maplewood
"Mi Caan Sleep" - Romain Virgo
"Song For Sagittarians" - Shawn Phillips
The Portuguese subtitles there were provided for George's benefit. Also for George, here is a Junior Taurus video to save him having to look it up (as we all know he will).
Sunday, 18 August 2019
Single Song Sunday
Two series in two days, I'm not sure I have ever been this organised. It won't last.
After yesterday's Japanese jamboree, today sees the return of our long-running but infrequent Single Song Sunday series. And it is a bit of a corker if I say so myself - Barry and Robin Gibb's mighty "To Love Somebody".
You may think of it as a song that it is impossible to mess up. You would be wrong, as my extensive research for this column has found. Roberta Flack's decision to slow it down and get rid of the tune didn't really work for me, the less said about Jimmy Somerville's cod reggae effort the better. Also, both the Michaels (Bolton and Buble) have had a hack at it.
You'll find none of that stuff here. Instead we have pure pop from Gary Puckett and the Bee Gees themselves, soul from Nina Simone and James Carr, country from the Burritos and even a Mexican version! The Mandatory Reggae Version comes from Bunny "Rugs" Clarke, way back before he hit the big time with Third World.
"To Love Somebody" - Bee Gees
"To Love Somebody" - James Carr
"To Love Somebody" - The Flying Burrito Brothers
"To Love Somebody" - Nina Simone
"To Love Somebody" - Eric Burdon & The Animals
"To Love Somebody" - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
"To Love Somebody" - Slobberbone
"To Love Somebody" - The Sweet Inspirations
"To Love Somebody" - Grupo Tolerados
"To Love Somebody" - Bunny Rugs & The Upsetters
That's it from me for a little while - I'm heading off on my travels in a few hours, back in ten days or so. Stay groovy in the meantime.
After yesterday's Japanese jamboree, today sees the return of our long-running but infrequent Single Song Sunday series. And it is a bit of a corker if I say so myself - Barry and Robin Gibb's mighty "To Love Somebody".
You may think of it as a song that it is impossible to mess up. You would be wrong, as my extensive research for this column has found. Roberta Flack's decision to slow it down and get rid of the tune didn't really work for me, the less said about Jimmy Somerville's cod reggae effort the better. Also, both the Michaels (Bolton and Buble) have had a hack at it.
You'll find none of that stuff here. Instead we have pure pop from Gary Puckett and the Bee Gees themselves, soul from Nina Simone and James Carr, country from the Burritos and even a Mexican version! The Mandatory Reggae Version comes from Bunny "Rugs" Clarke, way back before he hit the big time with Third World.
"To Love Somebody" - Bee Gees
"To Love Somebody" - James Carr
"To Love Somebody" - The Flying Burrito Brothers
"To Love Somebody" - Nina Simone
"To Love Somebody" - Eric Burdon & The Animals
"To Love Somebody" - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
"To Love Somebody" - Slobberbone
"To Love Somebody" - The Sweet Inspirations
"To Love Somebody" - Grupo Tolerados
"To Love Somebody" - Bunny Rugs & The Upsetters
That's it from me for a little while - I'm heading off on my travels in a few hours, back in ten days or so. Stay groovy in the meantime.
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