Boppin' In Bosaso

As we all know, there are times when nothing suits the mood except vintage Somali disco music. If this is one of those times for you, you're in luck. Here are a couple of hip-wiggling hits from the magnificently titled "Mogadisco: Dancing Mogadishu (1972-91)". 

"Mogadisco" was released last year on the always excellent Analog Africa label. Among many other triumphs, Analog Africa were responsible for drawing the world's attention to the band with the greatest name ever in the history of great band names. Click on the link and see if you can work out who I mean. Then buy their album. And "Mogadisco".

"Geesiyada Halgamayow" - Bakaka Band 

"Check Up Your Head" -   Mukhtar Ramadan Iidi

And then, when you've finished checking up your head, don't forget to check up on your baby.

The guitarist in that clip is one Jesse Ed Davis, whose version of Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" was featured in our recent "Single Song Sunday". By happy coincidence, Van is equally diligent when it comes to checking on things.

Two Sides Of The Story

I don't know about you, but I can't help thinking there may be some history between Denise and Geater.

"Why Does Is Feel So Right" - Denise LaSalle

"Why Does It Hurt So Bad" - Geater Davis

Jerry Jeff Walker R.I.P.

Very sad to learn over the weekend of the death of the great Jerry Jeff Walker, one of the founding fathers of the Texan outlaw country scene. 

I saw him live while on a work trip to the States in the mid 2000s. When I found out he was playing in the area I extended my trip by a couple of days so I could go along. I was richly rewarded - not only was it a great show but I got a chance to chat to Jerry Jeff and Bob Livingston of the Lost Gonzo Band afterwards. A memorable night. RIP Mr Walker. 

"Leavin' Texas" - Jerry Jeff Walker

"Movin' On" - Jerry Jeff Walker

Single Song Sunday

It has been a while since we had a Single Song Sunday. Let's rectify that with Van Morrison's "Crazy Love".

I've taken an executive decision not to include Van's original. He and his people get agitated about that sort of thing, and he is already highly agitated about Covid-19, lockdown and the like. I would not want to be responsible for tipping him over the edge.

So instead we'll kick things off with Jesse Ed Davis, a Native American session man who hung about Leon Russell, as you may be able to tell - his version has a certain Leon feel to it. It came out in 1970 and, as far as I can tell, may have been the first cover version to be released.   

Also released in 1970 was Esther Phillips' version. Esther did Van's "Brand New Day" around the same time, and that is well worth checking out. I suspect whoever arranged Rita Coolidge's rendition in 1971 may have been listening to Esther judging by the guitar work on the two versions. 

We follow Rita with two soul dudes, Nolan Porter and Eddie Floyd, and then we're off on a mini-tour of Europe - I'm clearly struggling to let go - which takes in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland and Italy. All four artists have appeared here previously, Helena Vondráčková as a member of The Golden Kids, the others in their own right.

We end as always with the Mandatory Reggae Version, but with a twist - it's Japanese reggae! You can find it along with many other gems on the evocatively titled compilation, Jap Jam International Volume 3.

"Crazy Love" - Jesse Ed Davis

"Crazy Love" - Esther Phillips

"Crazy Love" - Rita Coolidge

"Crazy Love" - Nolan Porter

"Crazy Love" - Eddie Floyd

"Život S Njim" - Josipa Lisac

"To Se Ti Pouze Zdá" - Helena Vondráčková

"Rakkauden Sain" - Kirka

"Amore Pazzo" - Furgone di Piufiglio

"Crazy Love" - Sister Kaya

U Too

Last time out we featured a single called "U". How better to follow that than with an album called "U", especially when its by one of my all time favourites, the Incredible String Band.

"U" is a double album that was first released in 1970. It is the studio version of a stage show they put on with dance troupe Stone Monkey. Apparently there was a plot although you can't tell that from the album - or from the show itself, according to the few who saw it. Possibly one for the fans only, but I'm a fan so I can't judge.

"Queen Of Love" - The Incredible Strong Band

"Puppet Song" - The Incredible String Band

I can't find any clips from the "U" era, but here are the lads a couple of years earlier on the Julie Felix Show. Marvellous stuff.

 

Long Goodbye, Short Return

We finally finished our musical tour of the EU last week, which featured 133 songs from 27 countries. For a brief period we are making them all available at the link below. There truly is something for everyone, and very possibly a few things for nobody (Yes, I'm looking at you, Absymal Torment from Malta).

The Long Goodbye: The Complete Series

There is a big gaping hole in the middle of Continental Europe that we skirted round on our tour  without going in - Switzerland. To plug the gap, here are two tracks from my favourite Swiss band, one under each of their names. Dig the groovy whistling on "Die Matrosen", its like The Raincoats teamed up with Roger Whittaker.

"U" - Kleenex

"Die Matrosen" - LiLiPUT

Out on the unvisited fringes we find Iceland. If all was well with the world they would have romped home at this year's Eurovision with this splendid piece of pop.

Scott Of The Anarchic

 A bit of Scott Walker for you today. Both tracks can be found on an excellent compilation called "Boy Child 67-70". Any resemblance to current events real or imagined is entirely coincidental.

"The Plague" - Scott Walker

"The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated To The Neo-Stalinist Regime)" - Scott Walker