Sunday, January 31, 2021
Another clipping from when i was involved with politics.
More stuff from when I was trying politics. I shaved my beard off to less like a Trotskyist. My Dad helped me with this press release. The leader of the local Labour group wasn't happy as it took the focus off him. From the Somerset Standard.
Animals & Men 'Dragonfly'
Just started snowing here so I was remembering this video Susan made.
Film made by Susan of Whitelands, Radstock and Waterloo Rd the day after the snowfall in the winter of 2010.
Saturday, January 30, 2021
The Lurkers 'I Don't Need To Tell Her' TOTP (1978)
Not may good clips of the Lurkers, sadly. They were good but they attracted a load of skinheads at their gigs. We saw them at Bath at a place the Brillig Arts Centre which was as it sounds a not very skinheadish place. Fulham Fallout Lp Spotify
Pere Ubu - My Dark Ages 1976
A b-side. If you have Spotify check out Terminal Tower - a compilation of tracks 1975-80
The Fall - Live Reading Festival 26.08.90 (Full Show)
You Haven't Found It Yet, Arms Control Poseur, Blood Outta Stone, Black Monk Theme, Hilary, Hit the North, Bill Is Dead, Wrong Place, Right Time, Big New Prinz, Zagreb, Life Just Bounces, Bombast, White Lightning, British People in Hot Weather, Jerusalem,
Clash on parole tour poster 1978
I used to have this poster. Large. Asked the shop Rival records in Bath if I could have it and they put my name on it. Probably chucked it away at some point. It is worth the best part of a grand nowadays. I attended the gig at the Locarno. Suicide got a hard time from the so-called punks and the singer carved his cheek open.
Friday, January 29, 2021
Charly Records
Who remembers this label? From about 1975. I first encountered it as a label being sold in a convenience shop. Sonny Boy l.p from Barrows! Bought quite a few from then, Downliners sect. Jungle rock was a hit from around 77. List of Charly releases.
Stepstone · Woody Guthrie
I was listening to the radio and the dj said he couldn't play Woody Guthrie as it sounded too historical. What rubbish. This will bring a tear to your eyes. With Sonny Terry on harmonica. Not sure of the date.
Bryan Ferry - Price of Love 1976
Everly brothers original. Susan was a Roxy and Ferry fan in her youth - I quite like the RnB songs he covered Let's Stick Together, Shame Shame Shame and others.
Happy birthday Eddie Taylor
Eddie Taylor is mostly remembered as part of Jimmy Reed's success story providing guitar and more to these recordings but he had some solo hits that are worth checking out.
Mance Lipscomb - Jack O Diamonds
Texas songster - Mance Lipscomb. (April 9, 1895 – January 30, 1976). \He is the subject of a documentary by Les Blanc.
Pere Ubu - Final Solution 1976
I have to thank Nigel for getting me into early Pere Ubu. I didn't really discover them until about 1978 so my version of this single is a reissue. I will post more over the next few weeks.
Subway Sect - We Oppose All Rock & Roll
Ambition ( Alternate Version ) Chain Smoking Stool Pigeon Parallel Lines Different Story Peel Sessions ,,, I Dont Split It Nobodys Scared Head Held High Watching The Devil Double Negative Make Me Sad
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Scars Adultery 1979
I think this was a b-side. Its scorching. From Edinburgh I believe. The a side is also good. It's called horror show and it's in Nadsat.
NEW YORK DOLLS LIVE ON AIR 1973
This is very good. What I remember listening to at Naish's street. Last few tracks are from OG WT
0:00 - Personality crisis
3:45 - Bad girl 7:03 - Stranded in the jungle 11:35 - Pills (Bo Diddley) 14:10 - Trash 17:21 - Looking for a kiss 20:35 - Jet boy 25:15 - Looking for a kiss 28:10 - Personality crisisNaish's street Frome
This is the shop we lived above in Naish's street before they renovated it. Opposite the Globe Inn which was a popular drinking hole for some of my friends. We used to go to the Off licence for crisps and chocolate. Sue's Dad was hiring the shop where he ran a tool hire business. Next door to us lived a witch and we heard regular chanting. It wasn't meant for habitation - it didn't have a bathroom or working toilet. It was freezing when winter came. Further down the street you can see an ice cream van. There was a shop and factory for Paniccia's who made lovely ice cream popular in Frome. All reisdential now.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Days of King Monmouth
A self-published booklet by me on the rebellion of 1685. Frome features in the story. EBay here
Virtual pinball
As you may know pinball has always been a feature of our lives and we used to have a couple but these days we play using pinball emulators. They aren't the real thing but it is a fun pastime. Our kids are very game savvy so have supplied us with a series of useful system. These days Susan used the Xbox to play tables. For a history of pinball emulators see this article.
Row Your Boat Charles Clark 1958
Has quite a line up backing this pop blues song. Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Rush and of course Willie Dixon.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Muddy Waters - Honey Bee (1970)
Otis Rush playlist
I put this selection up together based on ones that I really like. A left hander who didn't reverse his strings so played upside down his licks are hard to emulate. A great voice with really great backing he should have been a household name but he missed the boat a little. Plagiarised by a whole legion of white guitarists this I believe is much better. Wiki
Little Walter My Babe 1967
Rare clip of Little Walter backed by Hound Dog Taylor. Also a short playlist from me. Little Walter was a great singer - I think John Lee Hooker's favourite singer. His backing band was also always very good indeed. Little Walter is also credited as being the first person to choose distortion for its own sake if you catch my drift.
I just can't make it - the originals of Hound Dog Taylor
Spotify playlist I made of my favourite HDT songs on it. About an hour.
Monday, January 25, 2021
Serge Gainsbourg et Brigitte Bardot "Bonnie and Clyde" 1968
I don't remember this from the 50s and I used to listen to a lot of MOR radio but this is good. I suppose this was the first Serge Gainsbourg song I liked - I remember Je T'Aime and not being interested in that.
Gerry & The Pacemakers - I'm The One 1964
A belated tribute to the late Gerry Marsden. Wiki on the band.
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Ralph Mitchard in 1981
This is me December 81 on my wedding night. I was deejaying. It was just a few of us. It snowed and we had a snowball fight in the middle of what was a busy road normally. We had this great poster not pictured that was huge about 6 foot by 4 foot on the stairs for the Jean-Luc Godard movie with the Stones One plus One that we bought in Leicester square at a memorabilia shop.
Godzilla vs. Kong – Official Trailer 2021
This is out in March. My brother sent it to me - he loves his monster movies so he can't wait. Check it out
My Fall Playlist
This is about 4 hours of the Fall. My own personal collection as it is filled with ones that I like as opposed to a balanced overview of his career.
The Fall - Big New Prinz 1988
This performance is taken from Anthony H Wilson's show 'The Other Side of Midnight', Granada TV, UK
3 years ago today
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Mark E. Smith. He passed this morning at home. A more detailed statement will follow in the next few days. In the meantime, Pam & Mark’s family request privacy at this sad time
Pam Vander
The Fall – manager
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Various - Blues Southside Chicago
This LP I have, it is very good. if you like 60s blues this is one for you.
Shakey Horton Can't Help Myself
Johnny Young One More Time
Sunnyland Slim Everytime I Get To Drinking Poor Bob I Won't Be Happy Eddie Boyd Where You Belong Robert Nighthawk Merry Christmas Homesick James Crutch And Cane Johnny Young Little Girl Poor Bob The Sun Is Rising Homesick James Got To Move Sunnyland Slim I Got To Get To My Baby Ronda Mitchell And Mrs. Lovell J.F. Kennedy's Reservation Robert Nighthawk Lula Mae Eddie Boyd Losing HandShane Fenton and the Fentones 1962 That Old Yeah Yeah Feeling
I don't like British rock and roll much but this is good.
Friday, January 22, 2021
When i stood for the County Council in Frome
When I gave up music I gravitated to politics. My Dad had been a Labour politician and I was probably trying to follow in his footsteps. Here's a publicity for 1985.
Joni Mitchell in Frome
Susan likes Joni Mitchell. So we were surprised to learn she lived in Frome and used the studio at Beckington. Read about it here
Joni Mitchell Both sides now on Mama Cass Show 1969
Terraplanes history
pic from a fanzine piece from the time - wish I could find the fanzine |
So the next 40th anniversary event is March 25 which was the date we recorded Evil Going On. A mistake in hindsight - we should have done something with guitars but that is the folly of youth - I was only 20. My confidence as a guitar player was very low. None of us could drive so we persuaded Dave's sister's boyfriend Marcus to run us out and produce it.
The Fall - Totally Wired (Live in New York, June 1981)
#FallFriday. Nearly three years since MES died. (5 March 1957 – 24 January 2018)
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Adam and the Ants 1979
This is a great pic by Philip Grey. It's how I remember the Ants in the Zerox tour. We went to two gigs on that tour.
Glastonbury cancelled
It's a shame the festival is not on again this year. I know a lot of people rely on festivals to make a living so I feel bad for them. News article.
Although we live quite close we only went once in 1992 to see the Fall - set list here. Kind of nightmarish but also good fun but I have never felt the urge to repeat it.
Wire 12XU (1977)
Of course Wire were never a punk band. They only did the Live at the Roxy lp which is great.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Dr. Isaiah Ross - Feel So Good 1965
Some of the best records on Sun were by Dr Ross and that is saying something.
Papa Lightfoot - Mean Old Train (1954)
Wiki B-side on Imperial Records single X5289
Harmonica/Vocals/Songwriter: Alexander George Lightfoot A-side "Wine, Women, Whiskey" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUsPP...Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Radstock Rock'n'roll
One thing we miss with this dreaded lockdown are the rock'n'roll nights at Radstock working men's club. The photo is by Susan and is of Western Star act Delta 88 from Exeter who played there in 2017. It's a great venue and it was always good fun. One time we got my son and his lady to come and he tried strolling!
The Electric Prunes - The Great Banana Hoax 1967
A kind of bubblegum song this. I like the Prunes. Poppy but fun.
100 years of Britains Farm toys
Britains 1985 |
Frome used to be a market town with a livestock market in the centre and every Wednesday people would come to Frome from the villages to buy or sell. The pubs would stay open all day and the barber's would have queues of people. As a child I was more interested in toys and so it was in the Frome toy shops farm toys were very popular. Frome had about 5 or 6 toy shops. Farm toys were used to educate and inspire young would-be farm kids to get into tractors and haybailing or so I was led to believe. It is quite a surprise to see they are still going producing toy tractors and cows etc. This photo is from the Britain's farm toys facebook. Frome Livestock Market. Of course it's not like this now. One of the buildings is now a music venue the Cheese and Grain where we have seen Adam Ant and the Fall .
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps 2003
A band that we didn't see but should have as we liked them was the YYYs. Do you like them?
She's the One The Ramones 1978
I saw this for the first time yesterday. It's electrifying. We saw the Ramones about this time at the Locarno Bristol.
Monday, January 18, 2021
Sex Pistols series
I expect you have heard about the newly commissioned six-part tv series on the rise of the Sex Pistols? Danny Boyle directing based on Steve Jones' autobiography. Apparently Jordan is a consultant. Good news.
ALL THE BEATLES 1-2-3-4 COUNTING
1-2-3-4 is something associated with punk music but I believe it originated with the Beatles back in the early 60s. This was then taken up by the Ramones and it got copied by everyone else. Well that's what I believe based on things I have read.
The Monochrome Set - Eine Symphonie Des Grauens (M80 Concert Live 1979)
Like the Monochrome Set a lot. We saw them a bit later than this in Bath and went backstage and chatted to new bass-player Andy Warren about Adam and the Ants who he just left. Supported them a few years ago and got to chat to Bid a lot which was nice.
Junior Wells - Cryin' Shame
Junior Wells performing Cryin' Shame, with Buddy Guy, guitar, and David Myers, bass, from the movie Chicago Blues, in 1970.
Junior Wells You Don't Care 1960
Interesting track. Junior Wells made some great records with a modern sound.
RONNIE SPECTOR - Recording Walking in the Rain with Phil Spector
Posted as a tribute to Phil Spector.
Sunday, January 17, 2021
New York Dolls
Still sad about Sylvain Sylvain. To me the Dolls are up there with the Beatles and Stones, they are that important. Susan took this photo of David Jo at the Thekla in 2008 when they reformed for a spell. Great night. Read an interview on Rolling Stone with David Johansen on Sylvain Sylvain.
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Friday, January 15, 2021
Hooker N Heat (1971) full album
Released today (15th January) 50 years ago. This is a really good album - the best of its kind. Al Wilson's harmonica is superb.
TRACKLIST: Disc 1: (0:00:00) 01. Messin' With The Hook (0:03:23) 02. The Feelin' Is Gone (0:07:57) 03. Send Me Your Pillow (0:12:46) 04. Sittin' Here Thinkin' (0:16:53) 05. Meet Me In The Bottom (0:20:28) 06. Alimonia Blues (0:25:01) 07. Drifter (0:29:59) 08. You Talk Too Much (0:33:16) 09. Burning Hell (0:38:45) 10. Bottle Up And Go Disc 2: (0:41:15) 01. The World Today (0:49:03) 02. I Got My Eyes On You (0:53:31) 03. Whisky & Wimmen' (0:58:08) 04. Just You & Me (1:05:51) 05. Let's Make It (Boom, Boom, Boom) (1:09:58) 06. Peavine (1:15:06) 07. It's All Right (1:20:44) 08. Boogie Chillen' No. 2
Homesick James and the Aces - Dust My Broom 1970 France
TV session France 1970. Homesick James with the Myers Brothers and Freddy Below
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Hot Shot Love Wolf Call Boogie SUN 196 1954
Great sound great record. First encountered this on the LP Lowdown Memphis Harmonica Jam
The Cortinas (punk band)
Wikipedia I have a soft spot for these young punks from Bristol. Made some great singles.
The Cortinas in Bristol 1977 - Left to Right: Daniel Swan, Jeremy Valentine, Nick Sheppard, Dexter Dalwood & Mike Fewings |
Models - Man Of The Year 1977
This actually is a b-side but I think it is better than the A-side. On Step Forward with Marco Pirroni on lead guitar. Saw them at the Bath Pavilion supporting the Heartbreakers.
Gene Vincent Rock and Roll Singer (1969 UK Tour Documentary)
I know we have had this before but it's really good. Not too long 45 minutes but worth watching.
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
LIGHTNIN' SLIM & WHISPERING SMITH - Live 1972
From the American Folk Blues Festival 1972, live in Paris...
Van Morrison - Summertime in England - 6/18/1980 - Montreux (OFFICIAL)
Well I certainly didn't like this at the time - 1980 - but I have come to like it over the years. My brother got me into Van Morrison's solo stuff in the late 80s. I remember when I used to work nights playing this song and my workmates all complaining saying 'why why why!' Anyway give it a spin - you might like it!
Charley Patton - the Sound of the Delta Blues
Short compilation that serves as an introduction to the man.
Dockery Farms Home of Charlie Patton
Dockery Farms, between Cleveland and Ruleville, Mississippi: cotton plantation with original barns and machinery. Around 1900, there lived and worked about 2000 people, including many blues musicians. Dockery had a store, its own currency, its own doctor, and was to be known, to be good for the employees and that was rare. Dockery has produced many celebrities, including Charley Patton, 1890 - 1934, the first blues singer who was generally known, because there are 56 songs recorded of him. Narrator: Morgan Freeman
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Animals and Men "I" / "Sugartown" 2007
Film of a couple of songs when we played Bradford on Avon supporting Far-Cue. Didn't get much of a crowd so I asked daughter Bea to film one or two. The line up is Rachel violin, Paul Boswell bass, Geoff on drums and me on guitar and of course Susan singing. The first song Susan wrote on her 50th birthday. The second song the verses were by Susan and I wrote the chorus.
Monday, January 11, 2021
Fats Domino - Honest Papas Love Their Mamas Better - early May 1968
This is really great. Hope you enjoy it.
Rolling Stones - We Love You 1967
From the Imdb
The promotional film for the single was directed by Peter Whitehead. It included footage from recording sessions along with segments that re-enacted the 1895 trial of Oscar Wilde, with Jagger, Richards and Marianne Faithfull respectively portraying Wilde, a judge and Lord Alfred Douglas. Footage also appears of Brian Jones, apparently high on drugs with his eyes drooping and unfocused.
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Liverpool Cavern in the early 1960s
My son and Grandson live in Liverpool so I am interested in the history.
German documentary from the early 60's detailing Liverpool's music scene; featuring live footage in the original Cavern, footage from Nems and social footage from around Liverpool.
The terraplanes about 40 years ago
Here we are outside J W Singers factory. Factory is no longer there. Is houses. Article on the history of Singers
The Day Charley Patton Changed the Blues
Blues historian Rick Kennedy digs deep into musical history for this look at the moment Charley Patton changed the blues forever. (7 minutes)
Scouting the Delta: Charley Patton and H. C. Speir
Short film but a good one.
Blues researcher Gayle Dean Wardlow says that H. C. Speir, who had a music company on Farish Street in Jackson, was responsible for finding the talent of Charley Patton, Skip James, Tommy Johnson, Ishmon Bracey, Son House, the Mississippi Sheiks, and others.
Saturday, January 09, 2021
Yo La Tengo - Today Is The Day (Live on McEnroe) 2004
So I thought I would post a YLT clip with Georgia singing. As I mentioned they contacted us about this time to come and meet them. This we did = took the kids and went backstage. They are pretty big these days, but when Ira was djing on Wfmu he played our Evil Going On 45. Which was nice.
Me 40 years ago
The harmonica fronted sound that we started out with was pretty disastrous. I know that now but at the time I believed it be original and worth doing. I have had some positive comments for the set up since then. Unbeknownst to us Yo La Tengo were doing a cover of it and they played it at CBgBs in 1985. Journalist Byron Coley had made a tape for the band and included it. In about 2003 we actually saw them perform it at a theatre in Basingstoke. Georgia sang and Ira played harp. Was very moving. But in the whole it turned out to a bad move. We eventually gave up. John Peel didn't like it but we still went ahead and put a single out.
Friday, January 08, 2021
Animals & Men 2003
This is the line up that made Sugartown (see below) and Nag Nag Nag.
Susan and Geoff |
Phil Cass on lead guitar |
We used to practice quite regularly at a place in Bristol called Access to Music. Was good there and with two drummers we made a loud sound.
Dave Mackay with Thunderbird |
Andy Payne drums |
'Sugartown (You're dragging me down)' Animals & Men 2003
Me playing slide guitar on this - lead played by Phil Cass. Download this for free here
Thursday, January 07, 2021
Sue, Yan, Geoff and Ralph 1978
The Dug Out Club Bristol - my memories
When I was a teenager I went to printing college Bristol as part of my apprenticeship. We would stay in rooms Monday to Thursday. It was such that you wouldn't stay in so went out every night even if it was going to the cinema. I had a few mates there Steve from Trowbridge who was a punk and had seditionaries clothing something I'd not encountered before. This was 1977. Also friend at that time was Yan an old school friend who was living in Bristol at the time. So we would go out to clubs, discos and gigs when they were on. One place we used to go was the Dug Out in Park row Bristol. It was underground and was a Warren of small rooms. Mainly playing reggae they would occasionally put on live punk bands like the Android Pups.We got interviewed there once for a film on the local punk scene. This was before it was fashionable for the hip hop scene in the 80s. We would often get mugged as we roamed around Bristol in the middle of the night in rough areas (Yan lived in Easton) but it didn't phase us as we had little money on us anyway. The Granary was another place we would go and it was at a gig at the Granary where I met Susan when she came to Bristol with some people I knew. I remember our drummer Puddle thinking Bristol was scary but we never were scared. Living in Frome was much more scary!
Baby Boy Warren Hello Stranger
Known as a Detroit musician Baby Boy Warren also had played with Sonny Boy on the King Biscuit Time radio show.
Baby Boy Warren: vocals & guitar Sonny Boy Williamson: harp
Boogie Woogie Red: piano Calvin Frazier: guitar Washboard Willie: washboard. Recorded in Detroit, 1953.Wednesday, January 06, 2021
ELMER JAMES (ARTHUR CRUDUP) - MAKE A LITTLE LOVE WITH ME - GONNA FIND MY BABY - TRUMPET 186
Sonny Boy on harp. See below for more info on Trumpet Records
Avon Calling the Bristol compilation 1979
This we remember. Some great bands on this.
Avon Calling is an album of tracks featuring bands from Bristol, UK, on local record label Heartbeat Records, and was originally released in 1979. All but 2 of the tracks were recorded at Crescent Studios in Bath by David Lord and Glenn Tommey, when the bands were "neatly fitting in on "off days" from on-going sessions by the likes of Peter Gabriel, The Korgis & Kate Bush."[2]
At the time of the LP release Rick Joseph of the NME started his review of the album, "Avon Calling is the collective endeavour of 15 bands that live and languish around Britain's Most Unsung Major Metropolis. So, leaving aside any thoughts of the value of compilation albums in general, and digressions on rock geography in particular, it only remains to be said that 'Avon Calling' is a veritable riot of stunning pop."[3]
Radstock colourised by Kenneth Bowen-Jones
This is a photo taken by my Dad in the 50s. This area is now an industrial estate and agricultural food factory.
V-8 Ford - Willie Love And His Three Aces (Trumpet)
Another Trumpet release by piano player Willie Love. Great song about driving round at the lady's burying in his V-8 Ford.
Dust My Broom (with Elmore James) (1951 Trumpet Records Single Remastered)
Trumpet's biggest hit with Sonny Boy Williamson on harp.
Trumpet Records and Sonny Boy Williamson
Lillian McMurary's daughter Vitrice and blues researcher Jim O'Neal describe the complex and close relationship shared by Sonny Boy Williamson No. 2 and Mrs. McMurray as she ran Trumpet Records on Farish Street in Jackson. Trumpet was the first record company in Mississippi to achieve national stature through its distribution, sales, radio airplay and promotion.
The KLF - Last Train to Trancentral 12" 1991
Loved the KLF. Our kids used to love them too - they had that appeal. Now they are on Spotify.
Waterloo 1/32
https://waterlooonethirtytwo.blogspot.com
I have been doing this new blog for a few days. Haven't really gone public yet.
Tuesday, January 05, 2021
The Waitresses I Know what Boys Like
I liked this when it came out. I think I bought it but I remember Susan not liking it at all.
Susan vs Youthclub by The Fall, from The Fall vs 2003 EP.
Have fond memories of this song. It is based on a storyline from Neighbours - an Aussie tv soap that my daighters watched at the time. The plot has her going back to her teenage self after a bump on the head.
Our old car in the 80s
We aren't natural car drivers but back in the late 80s we had an old Passat estate for travelling about. Here it is with our twin domed tents at Allihies in County Cork.
My son's first reenactment - Boulogne 1990 |