Later this week my dear friend Jonathan Field celebrates his 50th birthday. These days he is a highly respectable layabout and family man, but way way back in the early to mid 1980s he was an indie-folk troubadour going by the name Johnny "Conical" Field. He cut a swathe through the small but perfectly formed Dorset music scene of the time, and even made an appearance at the Cambridge Folk Festival before real life intervened and he packed it all in.
Back then he made some recordings for the Dorset-based DIY label Cuddly Records. The recording quality was pretty primitive to start with - it would have made what today's hipsters consider "lo-fi" look very hi-tech - and they were cassette only releases so the quality of my copies has deteriorated even further in the nearly thirty years since. But here are three of the slightly more audible highlights of his body of work.
"Chestwig Obsessional Vol. 4" - Johnny "Conical" Field
"The Navel Of A Policeman's Wife" - Johnny "Conical" Field
"Donovan Takes His Shirts To Mr. Wu's Chinese Laundry Now" - Johnny "Conical" Field
In case you are wondering: Yes the first one does nick the tune from Bob Dylan; the second one is his loose translation of a Georges Brassens number; and the third is what you might perhaps call a "mash up" of George Formby's "Chinese Laundry Blues" and this:
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Real Gone Duck
Very saddened to hear of the death overnight of the legendary Donald 'Duck' Dunn of Booker T. & The MGs. His friend and colleague Steve Cropper has described him as the best bass player ever to live, and I am not going to argue with him. Here they are in action together.
"Hang 'Em High" - Booker T. & The MGs
"Slum Baby" - Booker T. & The MGs
Both of those are on the fantastic 9-CD boxed set "The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1968-1971". It has over 200 tracks and there is barely a duff one amongst them. Here are a few more featuring some of the less well-remembered acts on the roster. I don't know whether Duck actually played on any of them, but there is a fair chance he did and they are all worth a listen either way.
"Love Changes" - Charlene & The Soul Serenaders
"Mighty Cold Winter" - Dino & Doc
"Electrified Love" - Ernie Hines
"Don't Mess With My Money, My Honey, Or My Woman" - L.V. Johnson
As you may have worked out, Duck got his nickname from Donald Duck. Donald has inspired other musicians as well, of course (if inspired is the right word in this case).
"Hang 'Em High" - Booker T. & The MGs
"Slum Baby" - Booker T. & The MGs
Both of those are on the fantastic 9-CD boxed set "The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1968-1971". It has over 200 tracks and there is barely a duff one amongst them. Here are a few more featuring some of the less well-remembered acts on the roster. I don't know whether Duck actually played on any of them, but there is a fair chance he did and they are all worth a listen either way.
"Love Changes" - Charlene & The Soul Serenaders
"Mighty Cold Winter" - Dino & Doc
"Electrified Love" - Ernie Hines
"Don't Mess With My Money, My Honey, Or My Woman" - L.V. Johnson
As you may have worked out, Duck got his nickname from Donald Duck. Donald has inspired other musicians as well, of course (if inspired is the right word in this case).
Friday, 11 May 2012
Tsonga/ Not Tsonga
Judging by the stats thingy on Blogger, Paul Ndlovu is one of the most popular artists we have ever featured here on 27 Leggies. A proud son of Limpopo Province, whose life was tragically cut short in 1986, he is considered to be one of the founding fathers of Tsonga Disco.
When I was out in South Africa earlier in the year I picked up a compilation from 2002 titled simply "Paul Ndlovu's Greatest Hits". I had most of the tracks already but there were two or three that were new to me. I've now got round to listening to it and, to be honest, you would struggle to discern any obvious Tsonga/ Shangaan influence on most of the tracks. Even those songs we have showcased here before, such as "Mina Ndzi Rhandza Wena", seem to have been remixed to make them more like pure Afropop.
So that was a bit disappointing. But one can't be too disappointed, because it is Afropop of the highest order. Here are a couple of selections, the first of which is a Ray Phiri song Paul recorded with an outfit called Ace.
"Zantinti" - Paul Ndlovu (with Ace)
"Khombora Mina" - Paul Ndlovu
Listening to that, some folks might cast doubts over Paul's heritage. But musicians the world over know the truth. For example, here is our old friend Elkie Brooks - fresh from giving evidence to the Leveson enquiry earlier today - to reaffirm what all right-minded people know: Paul's a Tsonga.
When I was out in South Africa earlier in the year I picked up a compilation from 2002 titled simply "Paul Ndlovu's Greatest Hits". I had most of the tracks already but there were two or three that were new to me. I've now got round to listening to it and, to be honest, you would struggle to discern any obvious Tsonga/ Shangaan influence on most of the tracks. Even those songs we have showcased here before, such as "Mina Ndzi Rhandza Wena", seem to have been remixed to make them more like pure Afropop.
So that was a bit disappointing. But one can't be too disappointed, because it is Afropop of the highest order. Here are a couple of selections, the first of which is a Ray Phiri song Paul recorded with an outfit called Ace.
"Zantinti" - Paul Ndlovu (with Ace)
"Khombora Mina" - Paul Ndlovu
Listening to that, some folks might cast doubts over Paul's heritage. But musicians the world over know the truth. For example, here is our old friend Elkie Brooks - fresh from giving evidence to the Leveson enquiry earlier today - to reaffirm what all right-minded people know: Paul's a Tsonga.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Black And White World
Fans of the old-fashioned virtues of good songs well played and sung are strongly advised to check out "I Climbed A Tree", the new release by (Dave) Gerard & The Watchmen, available now at Bandcamp and other outlets.
As regular readers know I am not very good at describing things, but it is a lovely, warm little record. The banjo on tracks like "Stables" and "Hesitate" makes them sound to these uninformed ears like a more masculine version of our favourites This Is The Kit, with a bit of mellow Neil Young thrown in for good measure. Today's selection, "Monochrome", is more like Tim Hardin with a pinch of Bert Jansch. Which can't be a bad thing.
Gerard & The Watchmen are gigging around the South East of England at the moment, including shows in Dulwich and Shoreditch this weekend. More details are available from their website.
"Monochrome" - Gerard & The Watchmen
And on the subject of monochrome:
"Eine Symphonie Des Grauens" - The Monochrome Set
"Black And White" - Moussa Doumbia
"Black And White World" - Elvis Costello & The Atractoins
"Hand Held In Black And White" - Dollar
"Black Stations/ White Stations" - Martha & The Muffins
As regular readers know I am not very good at describing things, but it is a lovely, warm little record. The banjo on tracks like "Stables" and "Hesitate" makes them sound to these uninformed ears like a more masculine version of our favourites This Is The Kit, with a bit of mellow Neil Young thrown in for good measure. Today's selection, "Monochrome", is more like Tim Hardin with a pinch of Bert Jansch. Which can't be a bad thing.
Gerard & The Watchmen are gigging around the South East of England at the moment, including shows in Dulwich and Shoreditch this weekend. More details are available from their website.
"Monochrome" - Gerard & The Watchmen
And on the subject of monochrome:
"Eine Symphonie Des Grauens" - The Monochrome Set
"Black And White" - Moussa Doumbia
"Black And White World" - Elvis Costello & The Atractoins
"Hand Held In Black And White" - Dollar
"Black Stations/ White Stations" - Martha & The Muffins
Monday, 7 May 2012
Gig Gallery
I am coming off the back of a busy week for gigs. Last Tuesday it was Michael Chapman and Hiss Golden Messenger at the Slaughtered Lamb. Friday was This Is The Kit, supported by Eliza Shaddad and De'borah at an extremely intimate gig in the chapel behind the Gallery Cafe in Bethnal Green.
I enjoyed both of those very much, but they were topped by the psychedelic extravanganza that was the Trembling Bells and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy at the Union Chapel last night. Support there was an acapella set from a quartet made up of Lavinia and Alex from the Trembling Bells and Katy and Harry from the traditional four-part harmony group Muldoon's Picnic. I am not sure this particular combination had a name, so let's call them the Trembling Picnic.
We featured tracks by Chapman and HGM last week. I don't have anything in my collection by Eliza Shaddad or De'borah. I intend to put that right but in the meantime would encourage you to click on their names and stream what is there - they both have very appealing voices. Which leaves us with the Kit, the Muldoons and Billy & The Bells. Here is one track apiece.
As a bonus I have added a track from "The Opposite Is True", the 2005 album by Morning Star (aka Jesse D Vernon, guitarist with This Is The Kit). It is a spiced-up traditional song so fits quite well.
"Fighting Talk" - This Is The Kit
"Thousands Or More" - Muldoon's Picnic
"Riding" - Trembling Bells & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
"Cuckoo" - Morning Star
And now, in a sad and misguided attempt to show that I am a man equally at ease with all the arts, here are a load of photos I took at the gigs followed, right at the end, by a clip of This Is The Kit doing that old favourite "The Turnip Turned" last Friday. Please forgive my self-indulgence.
I enjoyed both of those very much, but they were topped by the psychedelic extravanganza that was the Trembling Bells and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy at the Union Chapel last night. Support there was an acapella set from a quartet made up of Lavinia and Alex from the Trembling Bells and Katy and Harry from the traditional four-part harmony group Muldoon's Picnic. I am not sure this particular combination had a name, so let's call them the Trembling Picnic.
We featured tracks by Chapman and HGM last week. I don't have anything in my collection by Eliza Shaddad or De'borah. I intend to put that right but in the meantime would encourage you to click on their names and stream what is there - they both have very appealing voices. Which leaves us with the Kit, the Muldoons and Billy & The Bells. Here is one track apiece.
As a bonus I have added a track from "The Opposite Is True", the 2005 album by Morning Star (aka Jesse D Vernon, guitarist with This Is The Kit). It is a spiced-up traditional song so fits quite well.
"Fighting Talk" - This Is The Kit
"Thousands Or More" - Muldoon's Picnic
"Riding" - Trembling Bells & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
"Cuckoo" - Morning Star
And now, in a sad and misguided attempt to show that I am a man equally at ease with all the arts, here are a load of photos I took at the gigs followed, right at the end, by a clip of This Is The Kit doing that old favourite "The Turnip Turned" last Friday. Please forgive my self-indulgence.
Michael Chapman:
Hiss Golden Messenger:
This Is The Kit:
Eliza Shaddad:
De'borah:
Trembling Bells & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy:
The Trembling Picnic (with added Billy):
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Addis Here I Come
Much excitement in the Goggins household today. I have booked my flights for a holiday in Ethiopia in October. I am counting the days already. Which is why you a getting a song from some other folks who are off there, followed by some superb Ethiopian sounds.
"Get Ready To Ride The Lion To Zion" - Culture
"Afer Yemegneshal" - Alemeyehu Eshete
"Aweyo" - Techome Wolde
"Belaya Belaya" - Mahmoud Ahmed
"Mewdeden Lingeresh" - Tlahoun Gessesse
"Wetetie Mare" - Muluqen Mellesse
"Ynegal" - Hibist Tiruneh
And here are some more Abyssinians.
"Get Ready To Ride The Lion To Zion" - Culture
"Afer Yemegneshal" - Alemeyehu Eshete
"Aweyo" - Techome Wolde
"Belaya Belaya" - Mahmoud Ahmed
"Mewdeden Lingeresh" - Tlahoun Gessesse
"Wetetie Mare" - Muluqen Mellesse
"Ynegal" - Hibist Tiruneh
And here are some more Abyssinians.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Kings Of Chisinau
Time for some Moldovan magic from the mighty Zdob Si Zdub. I went to Moldova a few years ago, and had one of the best holidays I have ever had. The memories of duetting on Boney M songs with the local karaoke diva, playing air guitar with a mad keen Whitesnake fan to seal our eternal friendship and meeting women with giant vegetables on a ferry to Transdniestr will live with me forever.
"Bune Diminyatca" - Zdob Si Zdub
"Everybody In The Casa Mare" - Zdob Si Zdub
Here are the lads with their entry in last year's Eurovision.
And here is a bonus clip for you. I mentioned a few days ago that I was going to see a double header of Michael Chapman and Hiss Golden Messenger at the Slaughtered Lamb. That was last night and very good they were too. Here is Hiss (as is parents presumably call him) with a new and as yet unreleased song, the title of which he didn't see fit to share with us.
"Bune Diminyatca" - Zdob Si Zdub
"Everybody In The Casa Mare" - Zdob Si Zdub
Here are the lads with their entry in last year's Eurovision.
And here is a bonus clip for you. I mentioned a few days ago that I was going to see a double header of Michael Chapman and Hiss Golden Messenger at the Slaughtered Lamb. That was last night and very good they were too. Here is Hiss (as is parents presumably call him) with a new and as yet unreleased song, the title of which he didn't see fit to share with us.
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