Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities

Picked up yet another pile of cheap CDs over the weekend including an unopened copy of Red Hot Chili Peppers last album for a quid. For some reason the Chili's seem to have attracted nothing but scorn from a number of music fans and critics recently but personally I'd rate them as one of the better bands of the last 30 years or so. Still with 186 million (and counting) views of Dark Necessities (a number 72 chart smash here in the UK in 2016...WTF are you kids listening to/streaming these days..jeez) on You Tube alone I suspect Mr Kiedis and co couldn't give a damn.

PS: Seriously...how can you not rate a band that came up with this...?! Answers on a chili pepper of your choice.

The B-52's - Private Idaho

Sometimes the only thing that really hits the spot is a bit of classic B-52's...today's one of those days. Check out Fred's ever so slightly creepy moustache too, he really should bring that back.

Frank Sidebottom - Queen Medley

Watched the wonderful and highly recommended 'Being Frank - The Chris Sievey Story' last night, an everyday tale of a bloke who donned a paper mache head and peg on his nose, covered well known pop songs in an utterly unique way (see the evidence above) and created his own little universe that eventually landed him a TV show, record deal and slot at Reading 1992 (attended by over 10,000 fans).



Sievey, the ever so slightly tortured/unhinged genius behind Frank, started out trying to make it in the music biz in a more conventional way, fronting The Freshies, but when that didn't work out Frank was born and seemingly took over his entire life. Whilst Sievey clearly had a number of demons (drink, drugs, philandering...Little Frank) he still comes across as an incredibly likeable soul with an almost unbelievable commitment to his art. Sadly, as his 5 year comeback plan was reaching its climax in 2010, he succumbed to cancer at just 54 playing his last show as Frank a mere 10 days earlier.

It sounds like a cliche to say that we won't see his like again but in this case I'd be prepared to bet a week in Timperley on it.

Swamp Dogg - Total Destruction To Your Mind

Good grief, where's the time going? Easter passed in a haze of vintage fairs and cider (oh so much cider) and now we're nudging close to May...which is practically Christmas in my book. Anyway, here's a fine slice of funk soul (or soul funk if you prefer) that pretty much sums up the state of my brain right now.

Living Colour - The Solace of You

Picked up a pristine copy of Living Colour's second album Time's Up on CD last weekend for just £1 and was transported back to this calypso tinged slice of summer time good vibes from 1990. What a freakingly great tune eh?

Moriarty @ Sound Preservation Society Records, Teignmouth, Saturday April 13th

What better way to celebrate Record Store Day than popping along to the opening of a brand new one eh? Bung in a live session from a cracking band, Moriarty, too and I'm one happy bunny.

A duo (drums and guitar) from 'the dark corners of Devon' Moriarty trade in high octane down and dirty garage blues with a side order of punk swagger that rapidly raised the temperature of Sound Preservation Society Records to near vinyl melting point. Sensing danger one of the band took the action out onto the street, quite possibly scaring the bejesus out of passing pensioners and seagulls alike. Mightily impressive squished into the confines of record shop you can see Moriarty being equally at 'holmes' (oh come on...it had to be done) on a ruddy massive festival stage and, if there's any justice in this world, that's where they'll be heading. Catch 'em somewhere sweaty and intimate while you still can.

PS: Loved the new Sound Preservation Society Records shop too.

A great selection of vinyl, neatly organised for your perusing pleasure, with some proper bargains (a copy of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band Live album for £1 anyone...oh yes) too.

Play that funky music...

Record Store Day again tomorrow and predictably there'll be queues of (mainly) middle aged men (hey, I can say that as I am one) across the country desperate to pick up that grey vinyl copy of some obscure indie track. Sadly I suspect most of the records that will be purchased tomorrow won't ever see a needle but then we're living in strange times. In celebration of the joys of actually playing the damn things though here's a neat a little northern soul mix from Andy Smith. Enjoy!

PS: Somewhat remarkably there's a NEW record shop, The Sound Preservation Society, opening just down the road from us in sunny Teignmouth. Looks pretty coolio too. I'll be popping along for a flick through their racks.

Prince - Funk Jam Session

Oh my, cop a load of this. Prince and his band du jour jamming the funk up. As some of the comments under this clip note isn't it incredible that this has had a mere 209,278 views since it was first uploaded in 2015? Well after this post I suspect it'll rise to the dizzy heights of at least 209,280.

Single file...

Picked up a bunch of 70s 7inch singles from an antiques fair at the weekend (yes I know things from the 70s aren't strictly antiques but the antiques world is a broad church these days...) including a cool cut from Hamilton Bohannon, Cozy Powell's drum-believable Dance With The Devil and a surprisingly tuneful number from Sid James...yes...really. Eclectic? Me? 





Other gems including an Ian Hunter 7 inch, some Suzi Quatro singles and picture sleeve copy of David Essex's Rock On. Not bad for just over 50p a pop eh?

UB40 - Sing Our Own Song

I'd forgotten what a lost gem this UB40 track was but I was reminded of it when I saw the photo below of Brian Travers, UB40's irrepressible sax man, someone who's quite clearly well and truly 'singing his own song' right now.

Here he is, just 6 days after brain surgery to remove two tumours back out on the Guinness (at least I think it's Guinness). What a dude. If he should ever read this all the best Brian, although it looks like you're pretty much back up and running already. He's quoted on Facebook as saying "I’m fine..i aint surrendering just because I’ve got tumors in my head, fuck that..Die on my feet NOT live on my knees x". Amen to that. As the old Irish saying goes, 'We're here for a good time, not a long time'.

PS: Here's Brian in a video from a track on UB40's latest album For The Many too.

Donny Hathaway - The Ghetto (The Supermen Lovers Remix)

I'm not generally a fan of many remixes but this one tickled my fancy as it's doesn't funk around with the original too much whilst adding a little late 70s/early 80s synth vibe to the whole shebang. Sadly the deeply troubled Mr Hatthaway never lived to hear it after falling to his death from a hotel room over 40 years ago but I'd like to think he'd approve.