This is likely to be my last post for a week or so. If all goes according to plan I will be seeing Tom Russell at the Luminaire tomorrow night and will then head off to Ireland for two day's work followed by three day's leisure.
To get me in the mood, and to tide you over until I return, here are seven Irish recordings (one for each of the drunken nights the Dubliners sang about). They come in all shapes and sizes, from the literate indie pop of Microdisney and A House to the beautiful traditional singing of Cara Dillon, and culminate in Dickie Rock draining the life blood from the Pogues' "Rainy Night in Soho".
Here they are in chronological order:
"For Josephine" - David McWilliams (from "David McWilliams Volume 2", 1967)
"The Westmeath Bachelor" - Joe Dolan (single, 1968)
"Buffalo Gal" - Thin Lizzy (from "Shades of a Blue Orphanage", 1972)
"This Liberal Love" - Microdisney (from "Everybody Is Fantastic", 1984)
"Endless Art" - A House (from "I Am The Greatest", 1991)
"Brockagh Braes" - Cara Dillon (from "After The Morning", 2006)
"Rainy Night In Soho" - Dickie Rock (from "Sings Contemporary Irish Hits", 2007)
As a bonus, here is an excellent clip of the late lamented Joe performing "Westmeath Bachelor". I defy you not to jig along with this. I am trying to persuade Mister F that we should visit Mullingar this weekend to see the statue they have erected to their home town hero - which even has its own blog - but I am not sure I am going to succeed.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Soul On Sunday: JT
I haven't posted any soul music for a while, and there is no better way of putting that right than with a bit of Johnnie Taylor. Looking at the quality of his output over nearly 40 years there is definitely a case for saying he may be the greatest soul singer of all. Best known for his time with Stax from 1966 to 1974, he continued to make great records long after that, particularly with Malaco for whom he recorded from the mid 1980s up to his death in 2000.
Here are four cracking tracks, one from each decade of his recording career and two each from Stax and Malaco:
"Love Bones" (from "The Johnnie Taylor Philosophy Continues", 1969)
"Party Life" (from "One Step Beyond", 1971)
"Happy" (from "Lover Boy", 1987)
"Walk Away With Me" (from "Good Love!", 1996)
And here is the great man in action in 1976. Look at those threads!
Here are four cracking tracks, one from each decade of his recording career and two each from Stax and Malaco:
"Love Bones" (from "The Johnnie Taylor Philosophy Continues", 1969)
"Party Life" (from "One Step Beyond", 1971)
"Happy" (from "Lover Boy", 1987)
"Walk Away With Me" (from "Good Love!", 1996)
And here is the great man in action in 1976. Look at those threads!
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Nick Drake Tribute
Along wih students of many generations I was at the Barbican last night for "Way To Blue", a concert dedicated to the songs of Nick Drake.
An extra dedication was to Nick's arranger, Robert Kirby, who sadly died late last year after being involved in the first of these concerts in Birmingham last May. It is dedication and tribute he thoroughly deserved. For me it is the combination of his arrangements and Nick's voice that makes "Bryter Layter" one of my favourite albums of all time.
The concert was very enjoyable. The low key nature of most of Nick's songs means it was never going to be an occasion for high emotion and adrenalin rushes, but the ensemble did a good job in capturing the spirit of them. The band and string section were excellent, with stand-out performances by Danny Thompson on bass and Zoe Rahman on piano.
There was a cast of thousands handling the vocals including such relatively well-known names as Robyn Hitchcock, Vashti Bunyan and (for the younger generation) Scott Matthews. Individual highlights included Green Gartside's "Clothes Of Sand", Krystle Warren's "Time Has Told Me" and - best of all - Lisa Hannigan's mildly demented take on "Black Eyed Dog". But if I had to give a Man of the Match award for overall contribution it would probably go to Teddy Thompson, who in his own understated way brought everything he was involved in to life.
Here are a couple of covers of songs from Nick's 1972 album, "Pink Moon". You are probably familiar with the first one, which comes from Big Lucy's "Sweet Old World" album, but hopefully the second may be new to you. Tir Na Nog were an Irish group signed to Island Records at the same time as Nick, and this is taken from their 1973 album "Strong As The Sun", which may make it the first ever cover version of a Nick Drake song. Sacrilege I know, but I think I prefer this to the original.
"Which Will" - Lucinda Williams (1992)
"Free Ride" - Tir Na Nog (1973)
The concert last night was being recorded so will no doubt appear on DVD in due course. In the meantime, here is Nick's Uncle Charlie:
An extra dedication was to Nick's arranger, Robert Kirby, who sadly died late last year after being involved in the first of these concerts in Birmingham last May. It is dedication and tribute he thoroughly deserved. For me it is the combination of his arrangements and Nick's voice that makes "Bryter Layter" one of my favourite albums of all time.
The concert was very enjoyable. The low key nature of most of Nick's songs means it was never going to be an occasion for high emotion and adrenalin rushes, but the ensemble did a good job in capturing the spirit of them. The band and string section were excellent, with stand-out performances by Danny Thompson on bass and Zoe Rahman on piano.
There was a cast of thousands handling the vocals including such relatively well-known names as Robyn Hitchcock, Vashti Bunyan and (for the younger generation) Scott Matthews. Individual highlights included Green Gartside's "Clothes Of Sand", Krystle Warren's "Time Has Told Me" and - best of all - Lisa Hannigan's mildly demented take on "Black Eyed Dog". But if I had to give a Man of the Match award for overall contribution it would probably go to Teddy Thompson, who in his own understated way brought everything he was involved in to life.
Here are a couple of covers of songs from Nick's 1972 album, "Pink Moon". You are probably familiar with the first one, which comes from Big Lucy's "Sweet Old World" album, but hopefully the second may be new to you. Tir Na Nog were an Irish group signed to Island Records at the same time as Nick, and this is taken from their 1973 album "Strong As The Sun", which may make it the first ever cover version of a Nick Drake song. Sacrilege I know, but I think I prefer this to the original.
"Which Will" - Lucinda Williams (1992)
"Free Ride" - Tir Na Nog (1973)
The concert last night was being recorded so will no doubt appear on DVD in due course. In the meantime, here is Nick's Uncle Charlie:
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Drums
"The Drum" by The Impossibles is a minor gem. It came out in 1991 and I think I must have picked it up in a charity shop shortly afterwards. I can't imagine I bought it new as I don't remember having heard it before then, or ever having heard any more by The Impossibles before or since. I know nothing at all about them.
"The Drum" - The Impossibles
For years I believed it was a cover of a Bongwater song, because of the line "we're nothing yet but Bongwater". And, indeed, Bongwater did a version in 1989 which is obviously where The Impossibles heard it. But I have recently found out that it is actually a Slapp Happy song, first released in 1974 with the inimitable Dagmar Krause on vocals. Here is the original.
"The Drum" - Slapp Happy
I don't have the Bongwater version, but here is a freaky video of it:
And just to prove you can find absolutely anything on YouTube, here are The Impossibles:
On the whole I think I'll stick with The Impossibles.
"The Drum" - The Impossibles
For years I believed it was a cover of a Bongwater song, because of the line "we're nothing yet but Bongwater". And, indeed, Bongwater did a version in 1989 which is obviously where The Impossibles heard it. But I have recently found out that it is actually a Slapp Happy song, first released in 1974 with the inimitable Dagmar Krause on vocals. Here is the original.
"The Drum" - Slapp Happy
I don't have the Bongwater version, but here is a freaky video of it:
And just to prove you can find absolutely anything on YouTube, here are The Impossibles:
On the whole I think I'll stick with The Impossibles.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Afro Reggae
I featured in yesterday's post one of the Congolese rumba CDs I acquired in Musicanova in Brussels last week. One legacy of Belgium's colonial history - which was pretty appalling even by the standards of the competition - is that there is a large Congolese population in Brussels, so that is Musicanova's speciality. But they also have a pretty decent selection of music from other Francophone countries.
As well as the rumba CDs I picked up an excellent compilation of West African reggae on the Sono Africa label called "Reggae Times In Africa". Most of the artists are from Cote d'Iviore or Mali, with one each from Senegal and Guinea, and all but one of them are completely new to me. I will definitely be investigating further.
Here are a couple of selections:
"Deni" - Ahmed Faras (Cote d'Iviore)
"Banani" - Nahawa Doumbia (Mali)
Of course you don't need to go all the way to Africa for decent reggae when there is a lot of home-grown talent here in the UK. Take Paul Nicholas (please!) -
In the unlikely event you sat through all of that you would have spotted the clever reference to "Roll Over Beethoven". The same trick is played in this next song. All together now, wama lama bama lama...
As well as the rumba CDs I picked up an excellent compilation of West African reggae on the Sono Africa label called "Reggae Times In Africa". Most of the artists are from Cote d'Iviore or Mali, with one each from Senegal and Guinea, and all but one of them are completely new to me. I will definitely be investigating further.
Here are a couple of selections:
"Deni" - Ahmed Faras (Cote d'Iviore)
"Banani" - Nahawa Doumbia (Mali)
Of course you don't need to go all the way to Africa for decent reggae when there is a lot of home-grown talent here in the UK. Take Paul Nicholas (please!) -
In the unlikely event you sat through all of that you would have spotted the clever reference to "Roll Over Beethoven". The same trick is played in this next song. All together now, wama lama bama lama...
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Brussels 2: Papa Boni
Picking up where we left off yesterday, the Heavy Trash gig at Ancienne Belgique finished about 10.30 p.m. This seemed a little early to go back to my hotel, which was only ten minutes walk away, so I decided to stop off for a quiet beer somewhere before heading off to bed.
I had only gone about 100 yards when I came across the functionally titled Live Music Cafe which was advertising a gig by Papa Boni & Kundi Bora, a Congolese rumba ensemble. Looking in the window it looked half full and quiet - everyone was seated and a band were on the small stage at the other end but showed no sign of playing - so assumed they must have finished their set. I went in anyway.
No sooner had I settled myself at a spare table and bought a very nice pint of Blanche de Bruges than the band started warming up and the bar staff started moving the tables and chairs out of the central section of the bar to make space for standing and dancing.
I found myself chatting to four charming locals and a Dutchman who lives near Philadelphia, and when the band started we were the first of the floor. Not that we were there alone for long as Papa and the boys really know how to work a crowd, as you can see from this slightly shaky clip of them performing in Maastricht last December (it has been embedded so you will need another click, but it is worth the effort).
The bar got more and more crowded as the evening progressed, and by the time I finally headed off at about 1 a.m. there must have been about 100 to 150 people in the place and they were still going strong. Unlike the Heavy Trash gig earlier in the evening, this was perfect combination of band and venue. Toss in a friendly crowd and it was pretty fantastic.
Suitably inspired I went down to Musicanova near the Port Namur metro the next morning and picked up a few Congolese CDs for €5 a go. The pick of the bunch is probably King Kester Emeneya's 1997 album "Succes Fous".
Here are a couple of tracks from that album. These are dedicated to my new friends Marius, Maud, Alexandra, Sam and the anonymous Dutchman.
"Milonga Kwango" - King Kester Emeneya
"Kapudi" - King Kester Emeneya
As a bonus, here is Kester in action in 1991:
I had only gone about 100 yards when I came across the functionally titled Live Music Cafe which was advertising a gig by Papa Boni & Kundi Bora, a Congolese rumba ensemble. Looking in the window it looked half full and quiet - everyone was seated and a band were on the small stage at the other end but showed no sign of playing - so assumed they must have finished their set. I went in anyway.
No sooner had I settled myself at a spare table and bought a very nice pint of Blanche de Bruges than the band started warming up and the bar staff started moving the tables and chairs out of the central section of the bar to make space for standing and dancing.
I found myself chatting to four charming locals and a Dutchman who lives near Philadelphia, and when the band started we were the first of the floor. Not that we were there alone for long as Papa and the boys really know how to work a crowd, as you can see from this slightly shaky clip of them performing in Maastricht last December (it has been embedded so you will need another click, but it is worth the effort).
The bar got more and more crowded as the evening progressed, and by the time I finally headed off at about 1 a.m. there must have been about 100 to 150 people in the place and they were still going strong. Unlike the Heavy Trash gig earlier in the evening, this was perfect combination of band and venue. Toss in a friendly crowd and it was pretty fantastic.
Suitably inspired I went down to Musicanova near the Port Namur metro the next morning and picked up a few Congolese CDs for €5 a go. The pick of the bunch is probably King Kester Emeneya's 1997 album "Succes Fous".
Here are a couple of tracks from that album. These are dedicated to my new friends Marius, Maud, Alexandra, Sam and the anonymous Dutchman.
"Milonga Kwango" - King Kester Emeneya
"Kapudi" - King Kester Emeneya
As a bonus, here is Kester in action in 1991:
Monday, 18 January 2010
Brussels 1: Heavy Trash
I spent three days in Brussels at the end of last week. The first half of the visit was business, the second half pleasure. The pleasure was very pleasurable, particularly last Friday night when I managed to take it two good gigs. Just call me Two Gigs Goggins from now on. Or even Two Good Gigs Goggins if you prefer.
We will deal with the second gig tomorrow. Tonight let us concentrate on the first one - Heavy Trash at the Ancienne Belgique, with support from Bloodshot Bill. Heavy Trash, for those of you not familiar with them, are basically Jon Spencer's Rock 'n Roll Explosion. The Ancienne Belgique is Brussels' premier rock venue. And Bloodshot Bill is hard to describe - a one man band who combines the guitar sound of Link Wray, the hair of Elvis and a range of peculiar voices including Elmer Fudd and Vic Reeves' pub singer. He was quite fun but I'm not sure I would want to stand through a full set.
The Ancienne Belgique is a very civilised venue - a separate bar where you buy your drinks with "AB" tokens, lockers for your coats, a performing space that can be set up for different capacities depending on who is playing (850 capacity on the night I was there), that sort of thing.
Heavy Trash on the other hand are not a very civilised band (or, rather, they make a very uncivilised sound). And therein lay a nagging sense of dissatisfaction. It was a good band, a good venue, but the wrong combination. Heavy Trash were pretty impressive, but I imagine that if I had seen them in a venue a third of the size with a low ceiling, sweat dripping off us all and beers being passed over the heads of the crowd from the bar at the back I would have been completely blown away. Hopefully that opportunity will arise in the future.
Here are a couple of numbers. "In My Heart" closed the main set - they only did a miserly eight songs in the encore - went on from the best part of ten minutes, and was the stand-out moment of the set.
"They Were Kings"
"In My Heart"
And here is a rather peculiar video of theirs:
We will deal with the second gig tomorrow. Tonight let us concentrate on the first one - Heavy Trash at the Ancienne Belgique, with support from Bloodshot Bill. Heavy Trash, for those of you not familiar with them, are basically Jon Spencer's Rock 'n Roll Explosion. The Ancienne Belgique is Brussels' premier rock venue. And Bloodshot Bill is hard to describe - a one man band who combines the guitar sound of Link Wray, the hair of Elvis and a range of peculiar voices including Elmer Fudd and Vic Reeves' pub singer. He was quite fun but I'm not sure I would want to stand through a full set.
The Ancienne Belgique is a very civilised venue - a separate bar where you buy your drinks with "AB" tokens, lockers for your coats, a performing space that can be set up for different capacities depending on who is playing (850 capacity on the night I was there), that sort of thing.
Heavy Trash on the other hand are not a very civilised band (or, rather, they make a very uncivilised sound). And therein lay a nagging sense of dissatisfaction. It was a good band, a good venue, but the wrong combination. Heavy Trash were pretty impressive, but I imagine that if I had seen them in a venue a third of the size with a low ceiling, sweat dripping off us all and beers being passed over the heads of the crowd from the bar at the back I would have been completely blown away. Hopefully that opportunity will arise in the future.
Here are a couple of numbers. "In My Heart" closed the main set - they only did a miserly eight songs in the encore - went on from the best part of ten minutes, and was the stand-out moment of the set.
"They Were Kings"
"In My Heart"
And here is a rather peculiar video of theirs:
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