Ernie's El Dorado Pt 15 - Mexico

Normally I open each episode of our tour of the Americas by telling you a bit about the country we are visiting. But I am going to assume that you all know enough about Mexico to make that unnecessary this time.

I am also going to assume that if you were asked to name a well-known Mexican tune many of you would choose "La Cucaracha". If instead you chose "Speedy Gonzalez" you are disqualified - that was written by David Hess, a songwriter from New York City who was also a bit part player in horror films.

"La Cucaracha" on the other hand is the real thing, so we are going to open with an interpretation by Lila Downs from her Grammy-winning 2004 album "Una Sangre = One Blood". Ms Downs comes from a family of high achievers. Her sister Ida is very big in the bedding industry.

We will follow up that traditional Mexican tune with some traditional Mexican disco. Actress and TV host Veronica Castro also dabbled a bit as a disco diva. This track comes from her 1978 album "Sensaciones". You may recognise it as a version of  "What's Your Name, What's Your Number", a minor hit for Andrea True Connection written by Roger Cook (or Roger Cocinero as he's known in Mexico).

On the subject of cover versions, our next act are probably best known outside Mexico for teaming up with Neville Staples on a version of  "The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum". Los De Abajo - for it is they - also made a couple of albums on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label around the turn of the century. This track comes from "Cybertropic Chilango Power" (2001).

Los De Abajo formed in 1992 and it is quite possible that they were partly inspired to do so by Maldita Vecindad (full name La Maldita Vecindad y los Hijos del Quinto Patio) and their blend of rock, ska and local music. La Maldita were at the height of their powers then, with their "El Circo" album topping the charts in 1991. Today's selection is from that album. 

A few years ago Rolling Stone rated "El Circo" at #8 in a list of the 50 best Latin American rock albums of all time. Further down the list at #48 was the eponymous debut album by La Revolución De Emiliano Zapata. Released in 1971, Rolling Stone says that it "reproduced the acid-rock haze of Cream, Creedence and Quicksilver Messenger Service with touching devotion... [and that] there is a homemade charm to the rough production". See what you think.

From 1971 we step lightly into 1972 where we find Manny Perez y Los Cachiros bashing out some norteño music which sounds like it may have been recorded in the same garage used by the local garage rock bands. This one definitely has a homemade charm to the rough production and Manny's even rougher voice.

We will stick with norteño for our penultimate selection. I found this track by Norteno Solido on a 2016 compilation called "Club Corridos Presenta: La Mentira de Tu Amor". I have not been able to find out anything about Norteno Solido other than they are not to be confused with the allegedly better known Solido. Please don't make that mistake.

As always we finish with some MAR. On this occasion it comes courtesy of a band whose name will resonate with all sports fans - Antidoping. They were formed in Mexico City in 1992 by brothers Pedro and Manuel Apodaca, which I suppose makes them the Mexican equivalent of UB40. This track is from their 2004 album "Esfuerzo Universal" and translates as "United Brothers". It is presumably the Apodacas' theme tune (but not the Campbells).

"La Cucaracha" - Lila Downs

"Cuál Es Tu Nombre Cual Es Tu Número" - Veronica Castro

"Si Existe Ese Lugar" - Los De Abajo

"Mare" - Maldita Vecindad

"At The Foot Of The Mountain" - La Revolución De Emiliano Zapata

"El Chamaco Moderno" - Manny Perez y Los Cachiros

"Por las Calles de Ojinaga" - Norteno Solido

"Unidos Hermanos" - Antidoping

We'll start off the video section with another cover version. This one's nothing to do with Roger Cocinero or Andrea True Connecton though.

Words Of The Prophet

We haven't had any reggae here recently other than of the Mandatory American variety, so we have recruited the late great Michael Prophet to put that right. 

If you have 50 minutes to spare you could do a lot worse than watching the video of a Mr Prophet live show with Scientist on the mixing desk as a bonus. It took place in October 2017, two months before his death and when he was already battling health issues - not that you'd have guessed that as his voice sounded as good as ever.

That's all. Enjoy the weekend.

"Righteous Are The Conqueror" - Michael Prophet

"Trouble Nobody (12" Mix)" - Michael Prophet

Annie And The Boys

I am delighted to be able to bring you news of an old friend of the blog, Annie Dressner. 

When Annie first featured on these pages way back in 2013 I described her sound as "Brooklyn hipsters storming the Brill Building". As you can see, I was prone to pretentiousness back then. I really just meant that she made - and continues to make - smart pop music. 

According to my search function Annie last appeared here way back in 2018, which means I have done a great disservice to all of you and more importantly to her as she has had a few records out since then. Sincere apologies all round.

In a belated attempt to put things right I am here to tell you that Annie has a brand new album in the works. No name or release date yet but the lead single "Dumb Boy" came out last week. Charity Chic may be interested to note that the album is being produced by Peter Bruntnell who also plays on the record along with one Peter Noone. I've checked and its not the one from Herman's Hermits.

Annie will also be touring the UK during April supporting Kris Drever, including gigs in Inverness and Norwich which may be of interest to certain bloggers of my acquaintance - further details are on Annie's website, where you can also find a link to her Bandcamp page. If you do go along tell her Ernie sent you. I have already bagged a ticket for her headline show in London in October.

It is probably unlikely that the dumb boy in the new single is one of the Hardy Boys about whom Annie sang on her 2011 album "Strangers Who Knew Each Other's Names", but for scheduling purposes I am going to pretend they are. In addition we have a track from "48 Hours With...", Annie's 2022 collaboration with a real boy, David Ford.

"Dumb Boy" - Annie Dressner

"Hardy Boys" - Annie Dressner

"Easy Falling" - David Ford & Annie Dressner

As for the videos, we have one from Annie, one from the correct Peter Bruntnell and one from the wrong Peter Noone.

A Bit Of Brazil In Brussels

Last Wednesday night I paid what has become my traditional annual visit to the Witloof Bar in Brussels. It is tucked away in the basement of the Botanique cultural centre - accessed via the coatracks - and it is one of my favourite small venues.

The official headliner was Nyron Higor, but in practice we what were treated to was a show by the North Eastern Brazil hipster community's equivalent of CSNY. Nyron was joined by Brune Berle and Batata Boy, both from his hometown of Maceió, and Phylipe Nunes Araújo from up the road in Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, who performed double duties as the opening act.

All four of them are recording artists in their own right (click on their names for their respective Bandcamp pages) and have appeared on each others records. Nyron and Phylipe are also now labelmates, both having released an album through Far Out Recordings last year. If you are not familiar with Far Out, they specialise in Brazilian music and their back catalogue is well worth checking out.

It was a three part set. The starting line-up was Nyron on drums, Batata Boy on keyboards, Bruno on bass and Phylipe on guitar. Nyron led them through a few of his tunes and they were pretty good. He moved on to bass then guitar, shedding band members as he went, and treated us to a solo set. That was even better.

And then the boys came back for a party jam, with Bruno and Phylipe leading on some of their own crowd pleasers as well as Nyron who by this point was back on drums. That was the best bit of the night. They seemed to be having even more fun than the audience.  

If any of the gang turn up round your way in the future it would be well worth popping along. If they turn up mob-handed you should definitely go.

Here's one tune from each of them for you:

"São Só Palavras" - Nyron Higor

"Ziz" - Phylipe Nunes Araújo 

"Tirolirole" - Bruno Berle

"Amelia Rosa" - Batata Boy

If all of that has whet your appetite here is an hour of the three lads from Maceió playing in a French record store last year, followed by a few minutes of Phylipe with Batata Boy in tow. 

Something For The Ladies

It was International Women's Day on Sunday. I don't work weekends and I had urgent pun-based business to deal with yesterday so this is the first opportunity to mark the occasion 

The words of Ivor Cutler's "Women Of The World" are as relevant today as they have ever been. We have the original with Linda Hirst from 1983 and a version featuring Tracyanne Campbell from Camera Obscura from an all-Scottish Ivor tribute album released in 2020.   

They are joined by the great Dick Gaughan (also from Scotland) and Wee Baaba McMaal (Senegal via Saltcoats). 

This goes out to all you top international women out there, not just the Scottish and Senegalese ones.

"Women Of The World" - Linda Hirst & Ivor Cutler

 "Women Of The World" - Citizen Bravo (feat. Tracyanne Campbell)

"Strong Women Rule Us All With Their Tears" - Dick Gaughan

"A Song For Women" - Baaba Maal

This will be my last post for the week as I am off to Brussels first thing tomorrow for a few days work. Combining tomorrow's destination with today's theme, here are some videos of Belgian women, starting with the woman born Sabrina Tack belting out the old Bellamy Brothers hit.

Pun Fun 4: The Results

Ladies and gentlemen, we have another winner! Topping the Body Parts chart is...

George with "Penis In Furs"

Previous votes have been pretty close but this time we had a runaway winner. Congratulations go to George for correctly calculating that the more depraved members (no pun intended) of the voting panel would be unable to resist a knob gag. But I am frankly disappointed in the rest of you. So much so that I may have to rethink my plans to follow this up with a related round on bodily fluids and emissions. 

Incidentally, in George's adopted homeland of Portugal the song's title would be "Pénis em Peles", which makes it sound quite lyrical.

While on the subject of other languages, a shout out to our good friend Walter in Germany. I am impressed by his ability to come up with decent puns in his second language. It is not something I would even attempt to do.

Walter's AC/DC pun was just a few points short of a Top 5 position this time out. But who did make it? These folks, that's who:

1.      Penis In Furs – The Velvet Underground (George)

2.      Livers Of Babylon - Boney M (C)

3.      Wood Beez (Pray Like Urethra Franklin) – Scritti Politti (Alyson)

4.      Just The Humerus - Grover Washington Jr (Ernie)

5.      God Save The Spleen - Sex Pistols (John M)

Thanks to all of you who submitted a pun and/or voted, your enthusiasm is much appreciated. The current plan is to announce the theme for Pun Fun 5 on Monday 6 April. Until then, we will hand it over to Os Veludo Subterrâneo to see us out with the song that smashed the charts.

All In A Good Caucasus

Apologies for the terrible pun in the title. While on the subject, a quick reminder to anyone who wishes to vote on Pun Fun 4 but hasn't yet done so that the deadline is this Sunday.

Now on with the post.

Recently I've been exploring the back catalogue of the estimable Ored Recordings label. Its primary mission is to promote the traditional music of the various ethnic groups from the northern Caucasus region. Once upon a time this was the country of Circassia but it is now mostly part of modern day Russia. The region includes the likes of Abkhazia, Chechnya and North Ossetia - fun holiday destinations all.

The two main attractions of the back catalogue are the quality of the recordings and the fact that everything is available on a 'name your own price' basis on Bandcamp. You would be foolish not to have a rummage around. Perhaps start with the 2023 sampler album "Noqua" to help get your bearings.

I have picked a track from "Qorror", one of several albums by Jrpjej - please don't ask me how to pronounce their name - and one from "Apere Oredxer" by Myst. Jrpjej are based in Nalchik, which as I'm sure you all know is the capital of the Kabardino-Balkaria republic and is also where the label began, while Myst hail from the mystical land of Krasnodar. 

"Хъудымыд иорэд" - Jrpjej

"Абихъан иорэд" - Myst

Just along from old Krasnodar is the Republic of Adygea which is where these funky dudes are from.