Emmylou (live) - First Aid Kit

Picked up a copy of First Aid Kit's second album, The Lion's Roar, the other week primarily for this one track, arguably their finest few minutes to date. This performance is extra special though as they got to play the song to its inspiration, Emmylou Harris herself. Clearly the experience was pretty moving for both parties. 

I Am Damo Suzuki - The Fall

The recent passing of Damo Suzuki reminded me of this great track by The Fall. 

And here's the man himself performing one of his most well known tracks, Vitamin C, in Can.

Two classics for the price of one. 

You're welcome.  

Man Dance - Ronald Shannon Jackson and the Decoding Society

It's Friday! So what better track to kick off the weekend than a little funky jazz...or jazzy funk...from...deep breath...Ronald Shannon Jackson and the Decoding Society.  

Matt's the way to do it...The Trail Of Matt Philip Hale

 

Adding to his already enviable body of work Matt's back with another fine cache of tracks from, on this album at least, the Black Country's answer to Bob Dylan. Albeit a Bob Dylan that can actually carry a tune. Sorry Bob. There are 11 tracks to dive into, Absolutely Outta My Mind's my current favourite, closely followed by Ashamed to Admit and Unique or Ten a Penny, but the whole thing's a bitter sweet treat from start to finish. 

I'm Your Slave - Harmonica Red and Clarence Williams

Picked up this amazing blues harmonica CD from a local charity shop last weekend for...wait for it...10p. The era of cheap CDs is clearly still with us but bidding on eBay's heating up, with one or two Bowie albums on the RCA label fetching a wallet/purse melting £100 recently (David Bowie - RCA CD -The Man Who Sold The World . | eBay). As I've been banging on about for a few years now, the CD revival was inevitable. People like to collect stuff...music's cool...CDs are pretty resilient...they sound great...they have cute little booklets...awwww bless 'em...and you can pick up a half decent second hand portable CD player for £10-£20 as well. Trust me, get stuck in now before the hipsters do. 

Misty's Big Smile

Is it just me or does the new track by The Smile remind you a little of Misty's Big Adventure classic The Black Hole, especially the gentle build up to the song's crescendo? I doubt whether Mr Yorke's a Misty's fan but if he ever happens to read this I can heartily recommend that he checks out their entire back catalogue, starting with the aforementioned (yes, I've been reading dictionaries again) The Black Hole. 

My Golden Years - The Lemon Twigs

Ever wondered what a collaboration between The Beach Boys and The Beatles may have sounded like? Wonder no more thanks to The Lemon Twigs latest. The Beachles anyone? Nope? Just me again then. 

British - Dembo Konte, Kausu Kuyateh & The Jali Roll Orchestra

Would I have ever heard this if I hadn't picked up a sealed copy of the album on CD for 50p the other day? Nope, probably not. Picked up an intriguing Afropop Festival album (also sealed) for the same price too. The era of bargain CDs might be slowly coming to an end but they're still out there...  

Bad Friend - Gruff Rhys

He's done it again. Another instant classic from Gruff Rhys, possibly the most chilled out sounding dude on planet earth. If that's put you in a Gruff mood give Skylon! a spin too. How the hell can this be 17 years old?

West Coast House Party (album) - Kid Ramos

Another great 50p CD from a local charity shop, this time from blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Kid Ramos. It sounds pretty good on You Tube but, as with most stuff, 100% better on CD and decent stereo. 

PS: Popped into a record fair for the first time in a few years a week or so ago and the CD stalls were pretty busy, as were the racks in the many charity shops of Exeter. Granted it was mainly old duffers like me rifling through 'em, but that's how the vinyl revival started. I should know...I was that odd bloke buying bags full from car boot sales in the 90s when everyone was swapping over to CDs. Regular readers will know I've been banging the CD drum for a while now but, with vinyl prices getting silly, and younger collectors looking for a way to start building up a physical collection the clock's ticking on the bargain prices. 

Eli's Pork Chop - Little Sonny

Despite picking up 60+ CDs over the weekend (yes...I know...) I couldn't resist a compilation called Shattered Dreams - Funky Blues 1967 - 1978 for 50p from one of my local charity shops. It's a blinder (you can buy a copy for £10+ on eBay and it's still well worth it at that price) and this is one of the best tracks on there. Has the harmonica ever sounded so funky? 

ANNALENA - Daniel Ogren

Heard this on 6Music yesterday and it put me in mind of lazing on the beach on a tropical island somewhere...instead of freezing my bits off in sub-zero Devon. 

Hunger Games - Bob Vylan

Bob Vylan are straight out of the blocks with another kick in the goolies for what's left of this country. I'm pretty pissed off with the mess that those in power have made of things (has it ever really been different though?) so lord knows what the younger generations make of it all.   

Bad Day - Carmel

Ahhhh, January 2nd...if there's a worse day in the year I'm not aware of it. I know I'm lucky enough to have had eleven whole days off over the festive season but the downside of all that slack time is the shock of getting back to the 'real' world again. Oh well, only 11 months and 23 days until we can do it all again. Happy New Year and all that jazz by the way...

It's Christmas and I'm Crying - Du Blonde

Here's a very 2023 Christmas song to end this year's blogging nonsense on. Amazed to see that the blog's just clocked up 700,000 hits. Hurrah! It's only taken 17 years...

Whatever you're up have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Funky Christmas - Various funky folk...

Struggled to find a new funky Christmas mix this year but I did stumble on this album from 1976 that should do the trick. Enjoy!

A Stupid Xmas - The Sensible Gray Cells

 

I've been meaning to post this for a couple of weeks now but as we're just a week away from the big day I'd better get on with it. It's a instant new Christmas classic from Captain Sensible and chums, with a video filmed in my home town too! Apologies in advance if this track gets stuck in your brain for the next few weeks...it makes a change from Slade though eh? 

December (Bongo Mix) - Kate Bush

Apparently recorded for a 1979 ABBA Snowtime Special here's the rarely heard Bongo Mix of Bush's festive classic December to jingle your bells. Next year Kate embarks on 360 date world tour unveiling 40 new songs planned for a triple album release...you never know...if could happen.   

Just Friends - Charlie Parker with Strings

Didn't pick up many CDs over the weekend but I did find Charlie Parker with Strings on CD for £1. Bargain. If you're in the market for a copy HMV are currently knocking 'em out for just £3.99!

And if you like your jazz a little faster try this for size...

Benjamin Zephaniah RIP

Exactly a week after losing one 65 year old poet we lose another, this time fellow Brummie Benjamin Zephaniah. His loss is far more of a shock that Shane's passing though. Benjamin looked a lot younger than his 65 years and, by all accounts, only his close family and friends knew he was ill. There's a campaign to get Fairytale of New York to Christmas number one right now, how about getting this folk banger into the charts too?