The Calvin Collection

My local second-hand record shop had one of its occasional 10 CDs for £5 offers going when I popped in  last week, so obviously I came away with 10 CDs. A fair few of them were by acts I had never heard of but you have to take a punt at that price.

One of the unknowns were an outfit called Dub Narcotic Sound System whose 1995 EP "Industrial Breakdown" was nestling in a corner of the cardboard box. Some cursory research revealed that the Dubs (or the Narrotics?) were led by Calvin Johnson, former head honcho of Beat Happening. Here is one from each of his ensembles.  

"Run Silent Run Deep" - Dub Narcotic Sound System

"Sea Hunt" - Beat Happening

It transpires that Calvin was also involved in a band called The Go Team, but not this one (they didn't have the all-important "!").

It's Off To Work We Go

Today we have songs from four men each named after one of the Seven Dwarfs. Apologies to Grumpy, Sneezy and Dopey for not giving you each a song of your own, but I have spoken to Zoot and they assure me you are the three fellows they are singing about. That sounds a bit unlikely in Grumpy's case to be honest, but let's not get into that.

"Martha Hardin" - Sleepy John Estes

"Black Smoke" - Bashful Brother Oswald

"Door Mat Blues" - Doc Sausage & His Mad Lads

"Going Down To See Bessie" - Happy & Artie Traum

"Three Jolly Little Dwarfs" - Zoot

Turkish Titan Time

One of my favourite record labels is Turkofon, a German based label dedicated to reissuing vintage Turkish psych, prog and pop albums, mostly from the 1970s. Their Bandcamp site is an absolute treasure trove, and as if the quality wasn't enough to recommend them most of the albums are available to download for £3-4.

One of the shiniest jewels in their heavily bejeweled crown is "Nedir Ne Degildir?", the 1976 album by Edip Akbayram & Dostlar. Blast your ears off to these two tracks, then when you have reattached them go off and buy the album. And then lots of other albums as well.

"Mehmet Emmi" - Edip Akbayram & Dostlar

"Ayrilik" - Edip Akbayram & Dostlar

From Edip to Edison. This is what appears alphabetically on my iTunes after "Mehmet Emmi". Apparently its now causing a sensation on TikTok. I don't know what that means.  

From Townes To Townes

According to my extensive records I've never featured Townes Van Zandt on here up to now. I'm not sure why - certainly not lack of appreciation, maybe I just thought other people had it covered. That Charity Chic is guaranteed to play him at least once a year, for example.  

I really ought to put it right, especially seeing as I managed to pick up a 4 CD box set comprising his first seven LPs and highlights from "Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas" for a mere £5 last year in a large barn near Preston that was full of bits and bobs. 

You'll all be familiar with the "hits", so here are couple of lesser known gems - one each from his 1972 albums "High, Low And In Between" and "The Late Great Townes Van Zandt".

"You Are Not Needed Now" - Townes Van Zandt

"Silver Ships Of Andilar" - Townes Van Zandt  

And here he is with a few of his fans.

All Downhill From Here

27Leggies is thirteen years old today.

Over the next few years you may find that I am frequently surly and uncommunicative. If that happens it will be your fault because you just don't understand and it's not fair. 

Until then, though, let's make a noise!

"Teenage Warning" - Angelic Upstarts

"Teenage Wasteland" - Ezra Furman

"Typically Teenage" - Milk 'N Cookies

"We Teenagers Know What We Want" - Amos Milburn

A Yellow Kind Of Fellow

The mighty King Yellowman celebrates his 66th birthday tomorrow. Only 600 more years to go until the Birthday of the Beast. Also celebrating his birthday this week is the equally great Johnny Clarke, who turned 67 on Wednesday just gone. To mark the occasions here's one track each from His Yellowness and Clarky.

"Lost Mi Love" - Yellowman

"Rockers Time Now" - Johnny Clarke

I should clarify for the benefit of any confused readers from Northern Ireland that we are talking about this Yellowman...

 .

and not the sweet treat you can get at the Lammas Fair in Ballycastle.

What If?

The mention of Colosseum in Monday's post prompted me to dig out my albums by their fellow titans of the late 60s - early 70s prog/jazz/blues scene, If. 

Here is one track apiece from their first two albums, the imaginatively titled "If" and "If 2". You'll never guess what their next two albums were called.

"Raise The Level Of Your Conscious Mind" - If

"Your City Is Falling" - If

If were very popular when they first burst onto the scene, but over time their fans began to lose interest in them.  Like that Roger Whittaker, for example.

PS Yesterday I received a request from a Portuguese goat herder of our acquaintance to give you some "Gentle Giant play the songs of Jimmy Shand". I'm unable to oblige, unfortunately, but it gives me an excuse to share the greatest mash-up known to man. Jimmy, Fiddy, take it away!