Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

My weekly ride through music history continues with some all time classics.

1977: Elvis Costello

1977: Sex Pistols

1977: Garland Jeffreys

1969: Neil Diamond

1971: Carole King

1971: Marvin Gaye

1967: Cream

1971: Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

1979: The Records

1985: Fine Young Cannibals

1969: Sly and the Family Stone

1959: Sam Cooke

1988: Patti Smith

Thin Air

 

It is always worth to give a listen to a new release by Bristol Archive Records. They are known as the label that features various Bristol music from the 80's and their compilations of Bristol punk, new wave and reggae were extraordinary great and shows what a vibrant scene there was. From time to time they also release records by solo artists. This happened yesterday once again when they released a retrospective by Thin Air, a band that was originally featured on a mod sampler by BAR a few years ago. And it is another gem of a forgotten band. Thin Air stand in the tradition of mod and power pop. Formed in 1982 they only existed a few years but the song writing talent of the leader Paul Sandrone was far over the average and could be compared to Paul Weller or Elvis Costello. I can't understand why they didn't got big because many of their songs are ace and many of other bands would die for.

What Happened To A Former Indie-Rock Band?

 

20 years ago a Sheffield based band appeared with thrilling guitar sound with a mixture of post-punk and garage rock on the scene. Arctic Monkeys and their debut album reached very high places in the charts and many called them the next big thing in music. I have to admit that I liked a few of their songs but they didn't really fascinated me. Now they returned with their seventh album The Car and they got a lot of critical acclaim. That made me starting listening to them once again. And after listening to this album I am not sure what I should think about this album. Is it a masterpiece of brit-pop and great songwriting or just another arty album showing their abilities in songwriting and ending in a Coldplay-like disaster? There are songs on this album, written and arranged well like I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am but overproduced where Alex Turner can't decide if he plays a guitar like Mick Ronson or if he would wallow in a wah-wah-sound. On the other hand he tries to be a crooner like Elvis Costello trying to play an Bacharach-song. All in all every song was heard before in better quality. Sadly I am disappointed by this album. But this is only my opinion - maybe other people would like this one.

A Good Year For The Roses

 

It was 40 years ago when a new wave hero released a record that was far away I and probably everyone expected. Elvis Costello was always an artist that had antennas for different kind of popular music for example when he produced folk-punks like The Pogues. But with his fifth album he surprised me a lot because he turned into country music. I bought this record because I thought you can't go wrong without a new album by him. But listening to this album I was irritated a lot because I didn't expected that this sound wasn't close to me at these times. For a long time Almost Blue was a part of my collection but was played at my place very seldom. During the last decades this album became a close friend of mine because the older I got the more I could see the beauty in this songs. And this album became one of those I will never miss - not only because of Elvis' authentic versions of country classics.

Elvis Costello - A Good Year For The Roses

Labeled

The title shows one of the provocative marketing slogans for a record label in the late 70's. Stiff Record was formed by Jake Riviera and Dave Robinson, both enrooted in the pub-rock scene of the early 70's by managing pub-rock legends like Dr. Feelgood or Brinsley Schwarz. The legend tells that both founded the label by a loan on £400 from Lee Brilleaux of Dr. Feelgood. So it is nearby that their first single was by a veteran of the scene: Nick Lowe. They signed a lot of artists I could agree with and I bought a lot of records only because they was released on Stiff Records. It was also a label that had open ears for the dawning of new kind of music and musicians raised in the pub-rock scene got a panel to develop a new sound. Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, Wreckless Eric on the one and The Damned, Madness and Tenpole Tudor on the other side were the bands I connect with this label. Always good to listen to them from time to time.

Labled

If it ain't STIFF it ain't worth a fuck was the labels' claim. It was a message to all of those who were interested in new music. Formed in the era of punk in 1976 by Jake Rivera and Dave Robinson they signed a lot of artists with pub rock roots trying to make their own sound based on the basics. STIFF records were a trademark in these days bringing quality and new music to me. Most of the releases showed artists that became famous during the years. The quality of their producers, especially Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello made this label famous. They were alive until the mid 80's and vanished afterwords. STIFF introduced me into so many new music like none other label. They opened my ears to very new and great music in the late 70's. It is hypothetical question if my musical taste would be different without them. But I think they were at the hight of the musical taste in new music in these days. So let's get a journey back in the early days of STIFF were music was new, fresh and exciting. Not everything of this song are the music I listen now but it was a very pleasurable journey back in time.

So enjoy.

Whole Wide World

Since a couple of weeks I have a contract in a local gym to do something for my old bones and body. Never thought that it could make fun to do the exercise course. It's a good feeling to take a shower after workout. A few days ago this song shuffled on my mobile phone when I sat on the bicycle ergometer in the gym. I'm sure most of you know this song by Wreckless Eric thinking his version is the final one. I don't know where I got this file/version from, neither were or when it was recorded but for me it on the same level. Massive guitars playing the chords, the drums make a perfect beat and Mr. Costello sing the verses with his very special voice.

Elvis Costello - Whole Wide World

Flying Nun # 1

Our mate Dirk needed some help a few days ago. After all he's happy to have all the bands and songs named on Iris' tape. The requested song was on a compilation of Flying Nun records, released in the late 90s. I knew that I've heard this song before and thought by myself it sounds a little bit like The Go-Betweens. I searched for the record and finally I found it.

Flying Nun records was a small label located in Christchurch, New Zealand. It's another post-punk label that was formed in these years. Their main intention was to record the original local music of Christchurch, but soon the label rose to national prominence by championing the emerging music od Dunedin, the second-largest city in the South of New Zealand. Flying Nun tried to make their music popular in Europe by the release of two compilations 'Tuatara' in 1985 and 'In Love With These Times' in 1990. While listening to those compilations again I decided to make a little series out of it because there was a lot of stuff on it that still didn't lost his charm over the years.

Hope you'll enjoy this little series and come with me to New Zealand:

The Chills are a guitar and keyboard rock band based in Dunedin and formed by Martin Phillips. Their sound reminds me on early Joy Division and Simple Minds. Anyway this song would be great when it would have got more airplay. So it's just a gem. I love this bass-line with them guitar licks and them more spoken that sung words.

The Chills - Pink Frost

Another Dunedin based band are Sneaky Feelings. Named by Elvis Costello's song they did a very fine mixture with jangle guitars and harmonies that sounds similar to The Byrds.

Sneaky Feelings - Throwing Stones
Sneaky Feelings - Trouble With Kay
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Spanish Mary

Lost in the River was a band project by producer T-Bone Burnett. Together with Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford, Rhiannon Giddens, Jim James und Taylor Goldsmith he recorded the songs of the legendary sessions from Bob Dylan and The Band originally recorded in the late 60s near Woodstock. I wasn't sure if it will work to record these old songs (most of them never released on a record) 45 years later but I was surprised how good they work today. The group plays the songs not only, but interprets this in her quite own manner. I am sure that Bob Dylan would have arranged these songs in another kind. But exactly this puts out the charm of this record. From good songs become still improves made. Seldom the interpretations of old songs have as taken in me as these relaxed and with feeling interpreted songs.

Lost in the River - Spanish Mary

Inflammable Material - First Records That Impressed Me Much # 5

It was 1979 when everything in music was possible. You could choose to reggae, punk, new wave or what ever. Then an artist appeared on the scene who combined the best of this genres in it's own kind of music. Look Sharp was not only the title of the first record of Joe Jackson, but also the motto of man from England. Sharp dresses, sharp appearances, sharp sound and pin sharp texts completely acerbity and cynicism. On the first hearing the fantastic new wave rock; just the sound of the hour ; unrestrained guitar reef, quickly massive percussion beat, impetuous melodies and the whole album then also still puts through inexpensive with reggae and Ska loans - at that time every New Wave acts belonged to the basic equipment. There are fantastic songs in this time, but less of them had that piano parts in it. On this record wee many magnificent, dirty small songs about the demented grannies who stagnate in her apartments (Sunday Papers), shy men at the window (Is She Really Going Out With Him), simple couples (Happily Loving Couples) and everything what offers the life so. There was much pun by their raw and direct kind.  There were only a few artists at this time that are able to combine music and words he did on this record - I just want to name The Clash and Elvis Costello. I played this record so many times that I had to buy it on vinyl again. And the greatest compliment I can give to this record is, that the songs on it stood the test of time and sound fresh like on the first day. And even when  he drifted to another musical genres I followed him as well. I saw him several times live and was astonished how good the band played their songs. Awesome concerts I remember so well.

Joe Jackson - One More Time
Joe Jackson - Sunday Papers
Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him
Joe Jackson - Fools In Love

RIP Charlie Haden

It seems like I have to write every day a little tribute to musicians who died. First Tommy Ramone died and now I got the news that Charlie Haden one of the most skilful and adventorous bass players in jazz history died on Thursday night at the age of 77. He played the traditional double bass and had a long time collaboration with Ornette Coleman and pianist Keith Jarret. I liked the way he played and whenever he has plucked the strings of his bass I have felt a pleasant feeling of the relaxation. In his later years he worked with Pat Metheny on Beyound The Missouri Sky and Elvis Costello. 

RIP Charlie

What Happened To Pub Rock # 17

There are some bands from the pub rock era that had their few years of popularity to vanish as soon as they came. One of them were Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers. They reached the peak of their fame while touring with Dr. Feelgood and Kokomo (another forgotten band from this era) in 1975. The band split and some members were found later in the bands from Elvis Costello and Graham Parker. Their main influence was original Country rock music added with ingredients of classic British rhythm and blues.

Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers -  Desert Island Woman
Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers -  Midnight Bus
Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers -  Jungle Song

What Happened To Pub Rock # 15

As already is mentioned it is a tightrope walk if you write about bands from this times. One are already ascribed the punk or New Wave scene other are to be assigned unambiguously the pub rock scene. What is common, however, to all that they had their roots in the pubs where had to be played live. Todays artist Elvis Costello has definitely his roots in the pub rock scene. But he is also the link to the upcoming punk and new wave scene in Great Britain. There are many words written about him and his career, his collaboration with other great musicians and his affinity to the classic Country Music to bore you with more words. I would only like to say that he is an artist I follow over more than 25 years now. And there are so many songs I would like to post. But which one should I select? Shipbuilding with Chet Baker on trumpet? Something from his jazz influenced Almost Blue? Some of his mid/end 80s records? I decided to give you some songs you might know well. They are from his debut My Aim Is True. For me it is one of the best debut albums ever (I am thinking about a new series about debut albums that impressed me much). On this record he showed us what talent he has in writing songs and performing them. Sadly I didn't see him live yet - but I've got a ticket for his concert in October this year. And I am looking forward to it.

Elvis Costello - Miracle Man
Elvis Costello - Alison
Elvis Costello - Less Than Zero
Elvis Costello - I'm Not Angry
Elvis Costello - Waiting For The End Of The World

What Happened To Pub Rock # 7

If we talk about pub rock and I have recently written about Nick Lowe, the name Dave Edmunds cannot be remained unmentioned. Dave Edmunds is a Welsh guitarist, singer and producer. Although he was named with pub rock and New Wave his natural leaning has always been leaning to 50s style an rock and roll. He's became known in the late 60s with his band Love Sculpture as he scored a hit by a cover from Khachaturian's Sabre Dance as a high speed-crazed rock number. He was always torn backwards and I know him as a type that was born 30 years too late. His next project was to make an album that would have a Phil Spector-sound. Subtle as a Flying Mallet could be a record that was produced by Phil Spector. Most of the instruments were played by Dave Edmunds and it is still a superb record. After this record he became linked with the pub rock movement in the early 1970s, producing Brinsley Schwarz, Ducks Deluxe and The Flamin' Groovies. One of his trademarks was using a stripped down, grittier sound mostly reduced to a leading guitar. In this time he started his collaboration with Nick Lowe and their band Rockpile. Until the 1980s they couldn't act as a band because they signed to different companies. Also the line-up on their solo records were nearly the same over the years. Dave Edmunds had several hits through the 1980s covering songs from Elvis Costello, Graham Parker and Nick Lowe. In the 1980s he produced acts carrying his musical influences into today like King Kurt and The Stray Cats.

Dave Edmunds - Born To Be With You
Dave Edmunds - Crawling From The Wreckage
Dave Edmunds - Get Out Of Denver
Dave Edmunds - Trouble Boys

What Happened To Pub Rock # 6

As I wrote on this series punk and new wave music had it roots in bands that used to play live pubs. One of those bands were Brinsley Schwarz named by their guitar player. Other members were Bob Andrews on keybords, Billy Rankin on drums an the magnificent Nick Lowe on bass and vocals. On their first records they played a kind of The Band inspired country with a little bluesy and pscychedelic touch. They got a bigger fanbase about playing a laid back country rock in later times. In the mid 1970s they played the backing band on Frankie Millers debut and started a collaboration with Dave Edmunds who produced their last records The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz which is the best one for me. After this record the band split and the members started solo careers or were found in other bands or as session musicians in the following years. Maybe their biggest legacy was one song written by Nick Lowe and made famous years later by Elvis Costello: What's so funny but peace love and understanding.

Brinsley Schwarz - Ballad of a has been beauty queen
Brinsley Schwarz - What's so funny about peace, love and understanding
Brinsley Schwarz - The look that's in your eye tonight

Although Brinsley Schwarz was named by their guitarist the mastermind of the band was Nick Lowe. He wrote the most songs - especially the ballads and his distinctive voice. He and Ian Gomm (who joined the original set up from the second record) started solo careers - but really successful was just Nick Lowe. According to my opinion he is the connecting piece to the new fresh upcoming music. He signed to the STIFF-label and his single So it goes was the first release of the label. In the following years he made some great records with very good ballads, songs with perfect hooks and he transported the power of Rock 'n' Roll into the upcoming punk and new wave era. The story of his collaboration with Dave Edmunds should be told another time.

Nick Lowe - I love the sound of breaking glass
Nick Lowe - Nutted by reality
Nick Lowe - Heart of the city

The Look Of Love

As many of you out there I spend a relaxed and comfortable Sunday. Also belongs to it to pick out the musical priming coat fitting to it to myself. Therefore I often grab out some jazzy tunes. This one is from the amazing Diana Krall, a Canadian jazz pianist and singer. I saw her live about ten years ago and it was wonderful. If you ever get the chance to see her live - go for it. She's married since ten years to one of my beloved artist ever - Elvis Costello (and I ask myself why does he always get the best girls).

Diana Krall - The Look Of Love

Gone, But Not Forgotten # 3

One of the few artists in the so called New Wave era Ian Dury impressed me much. Handicapped with Polio he went on stage, singing his songs and had fun playing that new sounds. He managed sexual equivocal ones with in fantastic songs. You can read more about him, his life and his career on Wiki. For me he was an artist who gave all in his concerts to the audience. I saw him one in a small club in the very early 1980s and I was so impressed about his physical presence while he performed. He was one of the first acts signed to STIFF-records and was on the first tour together with Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and the underrated Wreckless Eric. His first record New Boots and Panties was very successful and his single Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll was banned because explicit lyrics. His first record is remarkable for me because his winking lyrics embedded in fantastic songs that doesn't stuck in that whole New Wave thing. He also tried to combine different influences funk, jazz, soul,R'n'R and typically British musical background to his own personal sound. In 1996 they diagnosed colorectal cancer and underwent surgery, but the tumours were later found in his liver, and he was told that his condition was terminal. Upon learning of his illness, Dury took the opportunity to marry his girlfrien, sculpture Sophy Tilson, with whom he had two children. His legacy is one of the best British albums of the 1980s which carries the spirit of New Wave and the message, that a handicapped one is also able to play and live the spirit of Rock and Roll. He died on March 27 in 2000. May you rest in peace, Ian.

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Wake Up And Make Love With Me

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Sweet Gene Vincent

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - What A Waste

 

What Happened To Pub Rock?

The short break is over - I'll have to go back to my desk in the office. I don't wanna know how much mails appeared in the last days that wanted to be answered. Anyway I think I'll answer them step by step. A few days ago I was in contact with Mr. Mondo via twitter. We talked a little bit about Mickey Jupp and his early record 'The Flaming Red Boot'-record. Mickey Jupp played guitar and piano in his band Legend. The released a few records in the early 1970s. They were all very good but too less people bought the records to be successful and the band split. In 1977 he started a career as a solo artist and made some good rhythm and blues records again. A lot of his songs was covered by Elkie Brooks, Joe Cocker, Kursaal Flyers, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds. The most success he had when he signed to STIFF-records.
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In the days STIFF-records were founded they signed a few bands from the so called pub-rock era as Dr. Feelgood , The Tyla Gang and Nick Lowe. All these bands were hardly trained playing in pubs for local audience. That might be the reason why they know how to handle their instruments and their feeling for good songs. In this background could raise also acts like Elvis Costello and The Pogues.

I remember the days in the early 1980s in my hometown when there were five or six pubs local bands could play. But more and more pubs like these disappeared or changed their style. Well, it might sound sentimentally but sometimes I miss these days when you go out for a beer and listen to some bands.

So enjoy these songs:

Mickey Jupp - Another Guy
Mickey Jupp - Lorraine (Part One)

Thanksgiving

Just came back from an invitation to a traditional thanksgiving diner. The boss of my brother in law Ed invited us to his family and some friends. My god - how much to eat - from starters over the turkey to dessert. All tasty but so much to eat. Now we go out to grab a beer and watch the European League.

Enjoy

Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello - What the world needs now is love

What's so funny bout peace, love and understanding

Hi,

back from some hard days at the office. Not that I have too much work, but I have to work through so many new things and I have also to represented my colleague who is gone for some weeks on vacation.

Therefore I spent an evening on the couch, surf the Internet a bit, listen to some music and have casually keep an eye on the Champions League. Not that I'm a fan of Bayern Munich, but if even a German team plays internationally, I will continue to to support them.

As I previously viewed the news, I had to think, in what times we live. Just rotate through all? The Middle East is in turmoil, Muslims are calling for war and I wonder where all this will end yet. If we internalize the three words from the title, we were on a good step towards a better future.

Therefore one of my favorites in a live version

If we at it, then I put on yet another song from the past.

Enjoy and have a good time.