From Far I to Faro

Until a couple of weeks ago I had never heard of Rachel Faro, then a happy accident happened and I'm now a devoted fan.

I was online trying to find out more about Risa Potters, a 1970s singer-songwriters who I have one song by but about whom I know nothing. I still don't but my search led me to an online forum in which someone was raving about Rachel's debut album "Refugees" which came out in 1974. I tracked it down and was soon raving too.

Ms Faro's subsequent career is a textbook definition of "interesting and varied", as her biography explains. After one more album she moved mostly into production, working with Latin, folk and blues artists and many more besides, which in turn led to her setting up her own label. I'm pleased to say she's still going strong. 

Here's a couple of songs from "Refugees", and a live performance of a song originally produced by Rachel (and now brought to you exclusively by DJ Neno),

"Smooth Sailing" - Rachel Faro

"Time Passes Slowly" - Rachel Faro

  

As Far As I Can Tell

Two tracks from the great Prince Far I for you today, both from his 1980 album "Jamaican Heroes". 

The album features an eclectic bunch of musicians. Some of them you would expect, like Sly & Robbie. Some are not completely surprising when you consider the era, like Ari Up from The Slits. And then there's all the Flying Lizards apart from the woman with the weird posh voice.

"Natty Champion" - Prince Far I

"Golden Throne" - Prince Far I

The Lad Thad

An old favourite of mine has finally made a long overdue return. Thad Cockrell's first album under his own name in eleven years - "If In Case You Feel The Same" - came out last month. You can pick up a digital copy on Bandcamp for as little as $7, where it is also available in a tasteful pink vinyl version.

It wasn't meant to be this long a wait. Thad originally started raising the money for the album through Pledge Music way back in 2016, and was one of those still waiting to receive the money he was due when it went into administration last year. He has now managed to finish the record and despite not receiving a penny has sent CD copies to all of us who pledged - presumably leaving himself out of pocket as a result. He's an honourable man.

Thad has long since moved on from the country sound of his first couple of albums. It's still there on "If In Case You Feel The Same" but there is plenty of pop, rock and gospel in the mix as well. If you go back to the beginning and then listen to 2009's "To Be Loved" and the albums he made as part of Leagues you can see how it has been a progression to this point. 

To help you do that, here is one from the first album, one from "To Be Loved" and - in the video - a live version of one of the highlights of the new album.

"How Far Can I Drive Tonight?" - Thad Cockrell & The Starlite Country Band

"Rosalyn" - Thad Cockrell

The Long Goodbye: Part 19

Part 19 of our grand tour of the EU brings us to Malta. I am dedicating this edition to my sainted mother, who was born there. She's not Maltese - my grandfather just happened to be working there at the time - but its the closest connection I have with that enchanting island (at least until I can raise the €900,000 needed to buy one of their passports).

One of the challenges with preparing a post on Malta is that is virtually impossible to find any music online from before the last 10-15 years. In other countries we have visited there are often labels dedicated to reissuing old favourites, sometimes by buying up the rights to the old state record labels like Hungaroton and Balkanoton, but there does not seem to be anything of the sort in Malta.

Which means all those of you hoping for a burst of Freddie Portelli or Joe Grech will be disappointed. However we do have a decent selection of more modern tunes, compiled once again with the help of George and Bandcamp. Let's get the show started with some singalong summery sounds. Even Old Ma Goggins will be tapping her toes to this one.  

"Vile Putrescent Dilapidated Mortal Remains Lying in the Morgue" - Abysmal Torment

"Xemx u Xita" - The Travellers

"The One I Love" - Bark Bark Disco

"Mur Imma Mur" - Mana Tapu

"Astroboy" - Beangrowers

Cause And Effect

One leads inevitably to the other.

"Lonely Eyes" - Frankie Miller

"Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson

The Goosen is Loosen

What better way to start the week, I can hear you say, than with some Afrikaans singer-songwriter stuff. Happy to oblige. Here's Anton Goosen.

"'n Vis Innie Bos" - Anton Goosen

"Pamperlang" - Anton Goosen

Here's Anton performing in two very different settings. He is nothing if not versatile.

Givin' It Back Again

Last weekend I featured various versions of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" in the latest edition of our "Single Song Sunday" series.

There was a fair bit of enthusiasm for The Isley Brothers' version, which was on their 1971 album "Givin' It Back". It is an early example of the "covers album with tracks chosen to enhance the artistic credibility of the performer" genre, and still one of the very best. Its up there with "Russ Abbott's Krautrock Klassics" as far as I'm concerned.

Here are a couple more choice cuts from the album, one by Stephen Stills and the other by Neil Young (with a bit of something by an obscure former member of their tour band tucked in the middle).

"Love The One You're With" - The Isley Brothers

"Ohio/ Machine Gun" - The Isley Brothers

Other cover versions of "Love The One You're With" are available.