Single Song Sunday

Single Song Sunday has returned - I would like to say by popular demand but that may be pushing it a bit. Anyway, this time out we have James Taylor's "Fire And Rain". 

James's original version came out in 1970, reaching the Top 3 in the US, and almost instantly became a modern-day standard. Johnny Rivers and R.B. Greaves had minor hits with it in the same year, which is also when Blood, Sweat & Tears released their version. 

In 1971 there was a whole wave of cover versions from soul stars, and it was also when our Mandatory Reggae Version appeared - it's not the only MRV out there by any means, but it's my favourite.

We round things off with Willie Nelson, some 70s English rockers, some punks and a man called Stoner who released his version on an album called "Ain't Nothin' Freaky". He was right, but compared to the efforts of Dido, Marti Pellow and Cliff Richard his is positively unhinged. 

"Fire And Rain" - James Taylor

"Fire And Rain" - Blood, Sweat & Tears

"Fire And Rain" - The Isley Brothers

"Fire And Rain" - Gladys Knight & The Pips

"Fire And Rain" - Bobby Womack

"Fire And Rain" - The Gaylads 

"Fire And Rain" - Willie Nelson

"Fire And Rain" - Hookfoot

"Fire And Rain" - Me First And The Gimme Gimmes

"Fire And Rain" - Geoffrey Stoner

 

Funky Turkish Friday

Today: some smashing sounds from Derdiyoklar (sometimes known as Derdiyoklar Ikilisi - maybe they dropped the Ikilisi when they became famous enough to be known by their first name only). 

Derdiyoklar were a couple of cool Turkish dudes living and working in Germany in the 1980s where they became the toast of the local ex-pat community, and many more right-minded people besides. These tracks are both from their "Disco-Folk" album. If anyone is expecting Donna Summer doing "The Gypsy Rover" they are in for a bit of a surprise.

"Seker Oglan" - Derdiyoklar

"Ciftetelli / Mavilim / Ankara Oyunu" - Derdiyoklar

Just in case there is anyone out there who got their hopes up when I mentioned Donna Summer doing "The Gypsy Rover", here is something that may help you get over the disappointment. Dedicated, for reasons that will quickly become obvious, to No. 1 Reader George.

"Drink Up Thy Zider (Disco Version)" - The Wurzels

Derdiyoklar released "Disco-Folk" in 1980. Here is what other disco folk were up to that year - in two parts.

Arctic Hysteria

Pete Brown is probably still best known for writing the lyrics for Cream. Personally I have never cared for Cream very much. His own stuff, on the other hand, is excellent.

His first proper band was Pete Brown & His Battered Ornaments, but the battered bastards sacked him so he formed Piblokto! instead. Here are the A and B sides of their first single from 1969.

"Living Life Backwards" - Pete Brown & Piblokto!

"High Flying Electric Bird" - Pete Brown & Piblokto!

I'm pleased to say Pete is still going strong, and will turn 80 later in the year. After Piblokto! he made albums with Graham Bond and then Phil Ryan, released a very entertaining autobiography called "White Rooms and Imaginary Westerns" in 2010, provided lyrics for Procol Harum and others, and he's still touring (when touring is allowed). Keep it up, Mr B. 

The Long Goodbye: Part 17

It's Part 17 of the Grand Tour, and Part 2 of our Baltic double-header. We've left Latvia behind us and hopped over the border to Lithuania.

I've visited Vilnius for work a couple of times and on one occasion tagged on a long weekend in Kaunas. Both cities are well worth a visit, and if you get to Kaunas the Devils Museum is a 'must see'. It contains many delights such as this one:

 

Musically this has turned into one of the unexpected highlights of the tour so far. I hope that doesn't sound patronising, it's just that the CDs I bought on my visits in no way prepared me for the sheer variety and quality of music that has been and is being made in Lithuania.

Special thanks to Shishi,"a trio of Lithuianian mermaids" if their promo blurb is to be believed, who very kindly sent me their excellent new album "Mafitishei" which comes out at the end of July. You should buy it when it does, and in the meantime go to their Bandcamp page to pick up their 2018 album "NA x 80", from which today's track comes.

And while you're on Bandcamp, make sure to make a beeline for the Zona Records page where you can find Antis, Ministry of Echology and many other gems at bargain prices. 

"Slight Tension" - Shishi

"Sveika, Aš Myliu" - Antis

"Laikas Meilei" - Ministry of Echology (featuring Eazystyle MC)

"Ar Nebuvai Miške?" - Nerija

"Lapela" - Atalyja

A Different Bobby

Me and my friend Mr Perfect - I've mentioned him here before - have been bonding over Bobby Womack lately. I thought you might want to join us, so here are a couple of tracks from Bobby's 1975 album "Safety Zone".

"I Wish It Would Rain" - Bobby Womack

"Love Ain't Something You Can Get For Free" - Bobby Womack

The best known track on "Safety Zone" is probably "Daylight". Being an old fart I am normally a bit sniffy about attempts by modern so-called pop stars to update old soul classics, but I have to concede that Kelly Rowland of That Destiny's Child made a decent fist of "Daylight". Not sure about the fellow's headgear though.

 

Double Digital

Part 2 of our belated tribute to the late Bobby Digital. Today's tracks are from the "Serious Time" compilation on VP Records. 

"Kingly Character" - Garnett Silk

"How Them Flex" - Cocoa Tea (featuring President Brown)

Bobby Digital RIP

I heard earlier this week the sad news that Bobby Digital passed away in late May. Bobby was one of the most influential reggae producers of the last 30 years or so, working with the likes of Shabba Ranks, Garnett Silk, Sizzla and many more.

If you want a good introduction to his work I can recommend two 2-CD compilations released on VP Records in 2018. The first is called "X-Tra Wicked" and the second "Serious Time" (although confusingly the song "Serious Time" appears "X-Tra Wicked").

Here are a few selections from the extra album, we'll add some from the serious one next time.  

Belated R.I.P., Mr Digital.

"Sweet Jamaica" - Tony Rebel

"Little Sound Boy" - Johnny Osbourne