They Also Served

Once again this year we have lost many fine musicians. For every Burt, Tina, Sinead or Shane whose deaths rightly hit the headlines there are many more who did not attract the same attention. This is my annual (woefully inadequate) tribute to some of those whose passing may have passed you by.

The obvious starting point is with the late, great Toussaint McCall's 1967 masterpiece, "Nothing Takes The Place Of You", the sentiments of which apply to everyone who is featured in today's post.

The obvious final selection, for the audio clips at least, is this seasonal track from the equally late and equally great Huey 'Piano' Smith. This will be my last post of the year, and I can think of nobody better than Mr. Smith and his Clowns to wave you into 2024. 

The tributes continue in the videos finishing, as is only right, with one of the finest records ever made. RIP Robert Haimer (aka Artie Barnes), all the others included here, and all those I missed.

 "Nothing Takes The Place Of You" - Toussaint McCall

"I Can't Be Satisfied" - Spencer Wiggins

"This Property Is Condemned" - Mike Henderson

"Golden Country Kingdom" - Pete Brown (with Piblokto!)

"Take Me To Aruanda" - Astrud Gilberto

"Malia" - Rigo Star (with Josky Kiambukuta)

"Yere Africa" - Peter King

"Independent Jamaica" - Lord Creator

"Bangarang" - Lester Sterling (with Stranger Cole)

"Happy New Year" - Huey 'Piano' Smith & His Clowns

The Mandatory Year End Review

It is that time of year when all music bloggers are contractually obliged to tell you about the music they have enjoyed in the last 12 months. So let's get it over and done with.

Favourite albums of the year

Ten albums in alphabetical order by artist, with Bandcamp links so you can consider them when deciding how to spend your Xmas vouchers. The usual caveat applies, i.e. half the list might be different if I did it again in a few days' time. I'm already thinking about the ones I left off.

"Back To The Swamp" - Bas Jan

"I Play My Bass Loud" - Gina Birch

"The Berlin Sessions" - Dur Dur Band International

"A River Running To Your Heart" - Fruit Bats

"Prestige" - Girl Ray

"Beautiful Dreams" - Acantha Lang

"False Lankum" - Lankum

"AGO" - Nana Benz Du Togo

"Joan Of All" - SBT (Sarabeth Tucek)

"Leisureland" - Wreckless Eric

I should also give a special mention to the Hominis Canidae series of monthly samplers of new independent Brazilian music. They are always interesting and are available on a 'name your own price' basis, so there is really no excuse for not trying a few of them. 

Gigs of the year

It has been a bit of a vintage year for gigs this year, so rather than the usual handful here are ten. Even with the expanded list there are plenty of others that missed out but which I enjoyed very much.. 

The Abyssinians @ Jazz Cafe

Gina Birch @ Oslo Hackney

Bonny Light Horseman @ Union Chapel

Bush Tetras @ New Cross Inn

Lonnie Holley @ Cafe Oto

Jeanines @ Shacklewell Arms

Lola Kirke @ Bowery Ballroom

Lankum @ Barbican

Spare Snare @ The Waiting Room

SBT @ Ramsgate Music Hall

Assorted sounds and visions

As is becoming traditional here, we finish off with some of my favourite tracks from 2023 that aren't on any of the albums mentioned above and have not previously been featured here during the year - if only to show that the zeitgeist is infinite.

"Nshingilile" - Witch

"Times Square" - Adele Bertei

"100 Weight Of Collie Weed" - Prince Fatty (featuring Earl 16)

"Pale Rider" - Cactus Lee

"Will You Follow Me Home?" - Meg Baird

"Iyeke Lent'oyenzayo" - Mthandeninonke

"Wi-Fi" - Spare Snare

"Feej" - Jantra

As well as being mostly mellow, I noticed after selecting the videos that two of them are animated and the other two feature fairgrounds. Make of that what you will. 

Kris Kringle Song Sunday

It has been a while since we have done a Single Song Sunday - one of the consequences of the tech problems I had a few months ago was losing all my playlists and having to rebuild them from scratch - but we're back in time for Christmas with a seasonal special. 

The good folks at Second Hand Songs have compiled a list of over 1600 versions of "Winter Wonderland". Obviously the only version you really need is Darlene Love's but that would not be in the spirit of Single Song Sunday.

I have waded through what seems like several hundred versions so you don't have to. The vast majority of them are rather dull, including some that appear promising on paper like Aretha, Goldfrapp and the Cocteau Twins. Many are dreadful, even if you discount versions by novelty acts like Pinky & Perky, William Shatner and Bob Dylan.  

The original hit version of the song was by Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians way back in 1934. I couldn't find a download of that recording so instead we have a 1946 remake from Guy and the guys featuring The Andrews Sisters on vocals.

Obviously all the crooners have had a go at the song over the years. The arrangements are all much of a muchness but as it is Christmas I feel we really have to go with old Bing. His rendition is followed by the only one that matters.

Next we have what were unquestionably the two coolest instrumental groups of the 1960s, Booker T & The MGs and Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. Linda Lewis's 1976 rendition fits in nicely after Herb.

After that it all goes slightly wonky. Unfortunately I could not lay my hands on Stryper's seminal 1984 version, but this later live recording captures its spirit. Grandaddy for some reason decided to cast Parsons (Alan) in the Parson Brown role in their take on the tune from 2000.

At least we can rely on Rosie Thomas to play things straight on this track from her 2008 album "A Very Rosie Christmas", before handing over to the mighty Beres Hammond to see us out with the traditional Mandatory Reggae Version.

"Winter Wonderland" - Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (with The Andrews Sisters)

"Winter Wonderland" - Bing Crosby

"Winter Wonderland" - Darlene Love

"Winter Wonderland" - Booker T & The MGs

"Winter Wonderland" - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

"Winter Wonderland" - Linda Lewis

"Winter Wonderland" - Stryper

"Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland" - Grandaddy

"Winter Wonderland" - Rosie Thomas

"Winter Wonderland" - Beres Hammond

From Johnny Mathis and all of us at 27 Leggies Enterprises:

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE!!!

 

Seasonal Shoehorning

As you may or may not have noticed, Christmas is approaching. Santa Claus will soon be coming to town.

The story has it that the figure of Santa Claus is based on the real life St Nicholas of Myra, known for his supposed habit of secret gift-giving (and for being the patron saint of - deep breath - Russia, Greece, charitable fraternities and guilds, children, sailors, unmarried girls, pawnbrokers, merchants and the city of Fribourg in Switzerland). He's a busy fellow.

St Nicholas is believed to have been born in what is now the Antalya Province in Turkey, and of course many of you may be tucking into the bird that shares its name with that country for Christmas lunch.

So clearly we need to share some music from Turkey to suit the season. Specifically we need some sounds from hairy Anatolian rockers Bunalim, whose name ('frustration' in Turkish) perfectly fits the mood of those of you hosting the family Christmas when the most irritating relatives just won't take a hint and leave.

Bunalim's only recordings were six singles released between 1970 and 1972. Those twelve tracks have been compiled in album form at least twice but as far as I can find out none of the compilations are currently in stock (although there are a few second-hand copies knocking about). 

"Ask Senin Bildigin Gibi Degil" - Bunalim

"Bir Yar Icin" - Bunalim

Where Eagles Dare

Last night I was listening to Bill Callahan's "Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle" album for the first time in ages, and I thought to myself "This is very good, I should post a couple of tracks".

There you have it folks - a unique insight into the blogging process.

"Jim Cain" - Bill Callahan

"Faith/Void" - Bill Callahan

Other eagles are also available, but not those ones because they are really boring.   

Come And See Siam

There will be a brief break in our African tour until after Xmas, but only because Ghana is next and its a biggie. I have roughly 50,000 square feet of funkiness to work my way through before settling on the final selections, which will take more time than I have available just now.

That doesn't mean we are staying at home though. Perish the thought. No, we are going on an exciting trip through space and time to Thailand in the 1970s.

Our travel agents for the trip are Soundway Records, and the itinerary is set out on their compilation album "The Sound of Siam Volume 2: Molam and Luk Thung from North-East Thailand 1970-1982". Here are just a few of the highlights from the tour. If this entices you to sign up for the full package it can be booked via Bandcamp.

"Bump Lam Plearn" - The Petch Phin Thong Band

"Teoy Salap Pamaa" - Ankanang Kunchai

"Fang Jai Viangjan" - Thepporn Petchubon

And now a word from our local guides...

The Last Bus Home

Two bus-themed posts in two days. I thought about asking this post to park up somewhere for a bit to regulate the service, but really we all just want to get home don't we?

Be warned, there are some abrupt mood changes en route, especially between the last two stops. If standing make sure you are holding on to a stanchion for your own safety. 

There is no Mandatory Reggae today, but Poser has stepped in to provide a Replacement Soca Service for that part of the route.

"A Transport Of Delight" - Flanders & Swann

"Bus No. 243" - Bobby Conn & The Glass Gypsies

"Mink Coat At The Bus Stop" - Rickie Lee Jones

"No School Bus In Heaven" - The Stanley Brothers

"Bus Conductor" - Poser

"On A Bus To St. Cloud" was always going to feature somewhere in this series, the only question being whether it would be the Jimmy LaFave or Gretchen Peters version. Then I thought "why choose when you can have them both?" - hence the first video (which also features Mr Tom Russell as the gooseberry).

As for the second video, I disagree strongly with the sentiments but the song is too good to leave out. And the third one is especially for George. We know he's a fan.

 

This series has now reached its last stop. Please remember to take all your belongings with you and enjoy a safe onwards journey.