Yo la Tengo Swing for Life 1992

 YLT are always busy at this time of year doing their Hannukah shows. This is a favourite of mine. 

Little Richard - The Commandments Of Love (Okeh) 1965

 Powerful ballad. Give it a listen it's ace. 

Ant Rap Adam and the Ants 40th

 Today 40 years ago this came out. I think we bought it but mainly out of curiosity. Friends was the B-side. We were probably getting ready for our wedding in December. It got to number 3. Had an advent calendar style sleeve. 

Photos of Lower Whitelands

 These pics are from about 10 years ago with our old dog Leroy a Staffie cross. The houses are from about 1830 and were miners' cottages. We lived there for 25 years. 

The 'batches' are spoil heaps which have been landscaped and trees planted 

PJ Harvey - Dress 1992

 I think this was her first single. Read about it here

Napoleon Film Festival

 If you live in Paris and like Napoleon then this December is the first film festival dedicated to the Emperor. The film's they are showing are Waterloo and Austerlitz (1960) which isn't as good as you might expect. Read about it here

The Beach Boys "Do It Again" on The Ed Sullivan Show 1969

 As everybody is going on about the Beatles I thought we should have some Beach Boys. 

The Coasters Dance 1958

 Brilliant Leiber and Stoller song. 

Wire - On The Box (live at rockpalast 1979)

00:41 Another The Letter 01:53 The 15th 04:36 Practice Makes Perfect 07:26 Two People In A Room 09:20 I Feel Mysterious Today 11:20 Being Sucked In Again 13:54 Once Is Enough 16:42 Blessed State 19:41 A Question of Degree 22:27 Single KO 24:54 Mercy 30:40 40 Versions 34:45 Former Airline 35:52 A Touching Display 42:07 French Film Blurred 44:41 Men 2nd 46:15 Map Ref. 41°N 93°W 50:06 Heartbeat 54:39 Pink Flag 57:42 "THANK YOU" 58:05 Interview

The Clovers Little Mama

 The Clovers

Bo Diddley Doin' the Jaguar 1962

 This is a great song which I have as a b-side to Bo Didley is a Lover. Fantastic guitar solo. It appears on the Bo Diddley is a Twister l.p.

Happy Holiday - the Fall

 lovely bass by Steve Hanley. About 93. 

Sonny Boy Williamson 2 Peach Tree

 This is a good one. Not sure of the date, late 50s I expect. Blues Records lists it as unknown session. 

We used to do a version of this 40 years ago. Look-a here our version was.

Chuck Berry Don't You Lie To Me 1960

 This is good.

Arthur Alexander Pretty girls everywhere

 Great song.

Charley Patton documentary

 </

BBC documentary from recent times. I maintain that Patton was the most influential musician of the 20th century.  Born in 1891. You do the maths.

Italian CV-33 tankettes in Libya

 Wiki on this tank

Fleetwood Mac Peter Green - Black Magic Woman (Live Boston Tea Party) 1970

 Love the drumming on this. 

Early Bo Diddley playlist

 

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers New England

 On Top of the Pops. Happy thanksgiving to our American friends.

The Italian Army in North Africa, 1940-43: Luck Was Lacking, But Valor Was Not Hardcover – 15 July 2021

This book by Helion looks worth getting. Don't think it is out yet. Amazon 
 

AS 42 Sahariana

 I occasionally get interested in World war Two. Last time I got interested in the Italians in North Africa in the desert. I bought a model of this reconnaissance vehicle. It lies unfinished but recently there has been some tempting Italian figures that will go with it. So I might restart it. Watch old newsreel with this vehicle here

Celia's Place

 Daughter Celia was wearing her Animals and men t-shirt so I had to get a picture. She is in Midsomer Norton on the High street and has a ton of comics, graphic novels, posters, action figures pins, badges etc so ideal for Christmas gifts. It's by Wetherspoons you can't miss it. It is also a hair salon but she doesn't use noxious substances so it doesn't smell. 

Rainbow Gene Chandler 1963

 I know all these songs thanks to the Charly label who acquired the rights to these songs in the late 70s. This is a classic - was a humble B-side initially then in 65 a live version came out. I love this song - it's great for singing along to. Gene Chandler wiki

Elmore James 12 year old boy

 Another Vee-Jay classic. Lead guitar is by Wayne Bennett who was in a lot of recordings around that time. I remember sitting there trying to learn that solo. Nearly got.it. 

The Five Keys - Ling Ting Tong

 I like the Five Keys. They made some great records. 

Frome school capers

 As you can see from this photo the main part of the school was based around two quadrangles. A few of us discovered that by climbing on top of some lockers we could access the hatch to the roof space. We spent hours up there with candles and cigarettes. We could hear the lessons going on below. Up there was stored some empty water containers from a Sahara expedition and these we used to urinate in when the need arose. Of course it didn't last - someone put his foot through the ceiling as you had to keep to the rafters. So people were despatched to catch us which they did. It wasn't the end of the skiving though.

High and Lonesome Jimmy Reed 1953

 This was Jimmy Reed's first record. His first hit was You Don't Have to Go

Sentimental songs Freddie 'parrot-face' Davis

 Here

Battle by Charles M Grant

 When we as a band in 79 had recreation we used to wargame the Battle of France 1940, that was me Nigel and Geoff. We used these rules. They now have been reworked and republished by Caliver Books. A version is available to download here

Charlie Murray Grant is the third generation, son of Charles Stewart, and he, too, has inherited a passion for the wargame hobby. Charlie, with his own 20mm World War Two armies, has developed his late grandfather's rules, added to them, and provided a play sheet and instructions for refighting one of the original scenarios. In addition, Charlie has added six chapters which were not in the original publication, but which appeared in the Mecanno Magazine. In his own words: "Battle has stood the test of time and, with new content and play sheets, it provides an excellent set of rules for up to company-level actions."

Happy 80th birthday to Pete Best

 

 The 5th Beatle. Apparently a nice guy. Wiki. His mother Mona also deserves credit for her role as a promoter in Liverpool.

Howlin' Wolf London Sessions art 1971

 I think this artwork was done by the same people as the Robert Johnson vol 2  album cover - see below. Not crazy about the London sessions album (rather listen to Hubert Sumlin than Eric Clapton) but I like the artwork. 

Adam and the Ants demos 1978

00:00 Kick 01:34 Day I Met God 04:50 Christian Dior 08:10 Song for Ruth Ellis 12:14 Boil in the Bag Man

Some of these songs went on the Dirk album but these are possibly better versions.

Elvis Costello and the Imposters Magnificent Hurt 2021

 New song. Audio here. It's good. Album due in 22.

CHRIS STRACHWITZ REMEMBERS SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

 Found this very interesting reminiscence of the great Sonny Boy here. Strachwitz was responsible for the below photo and recording his radio performance which was on Arhoolie. If you want to hear them they are songs 17 and 18 here

King of the Delta Blues singers volume 2

 I got this album before volume 1. Maybe it was this artwork that I love. But anyway Document Records just posted this.

On this day, November 23rd, 1936, Robert Johnson had his first recording session in room 414 of the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, TX.

8 songs were record that day including “(I Believe I’ll) Dust My Broom” “Sweet Home Chicago” “Ramblin’ On My Mind” “Come On In My Kitchen” and others.

Robert Johnson along with Sonny Boy Williamson were my first blues loved but it was easier to get too tracks by Johnson as it was in CBS and as he died early recorded no later tracks to confuse the issue. Sonny Boy did play with Robert Johnson and there used to be a Sonny Boy website that had a theory that Sonny Boy was the person who poisoned him!

Art by The Daily Planet, Don Wilson & Peter Amft.

Susan Wells in 1983

 This is a photo of Susan with my brother Neil at the reconstruction of the Kennet and Avon canal at Midford. Susan is pregnant with our first child. I took the picture. My brother was 17 and had just learnt to drive and had the works van. A Sunday trip out. We had given up music by then. My brother was a good bass player.

Frome Trinity area

 Frome Museum posted this. It is the 1960s before the renovation was started. 

The VeeJay Records Story

 The story behind the Black-run label that brought you Jimmy Reed among others. Vee-Jay wiki

Slim Harpo Excello Singles Anthology

'' Around ’59 or ’60, I did a song my wife wrote called ‘Rainin’ in My Heart.’ . . . . My wife do just about all my writing for me.”

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - New Amsterdam

 One of my favourite EC songs. 

Slim Harpo documentary trailer

 Here. Slim Harpo I love so I will be trying to watch this. 

The Sydney Gardens Anomaly

 A great paranormal tale centred on a park in central Bath. You know I wouldn't suggest you read it if it wasn't interesting. It deals with a parallel dimension no less! In Anomalous Bath

The Shangri-las - Out In the Streets c1965

 He grew up on the sidewalks. Wiki

Thirteenth Floor Elevators - "Tried to Hide" [Rarely Heard Alternate Single Version] (1966)

 This is a good version of this great song. 

Today at the Frankenstein House Bath

 Susan, Bea and Shane visited the Frankenstein House, Bath's newest visitor attraction. There is a pinball there (which is free but you can't see the scores). They enjoyed the visit but I think they were too scared to visit the basement. Photos by Bea and Susan.

Blondie In The Sun 1976

 Of course summer is a  long way off for us but we can still listen to Blondie. 

Comanche (Demo Take 5) Link Wray 1959

 Greta version of this song. 

Space - Magic Fly (Original Video) - 1977

 This is on the Jon Savage comp. I remember it as I bought it for my brother with my first wages from B&T's. I remember picking it up from Woodmansey's on the way home. I was 17 my brother was 11. He was into Dr Who, Star Wars that sort of thing.  The band were French I believe. 

THE SUZANNES - hippie

 This is on the Jon Savage compilation (there is a playlist on Spotify copying the tracklisting) and this was on there. Haven't heard it for years. Diitch I think. We had it maybe still do.  Discogs say  Punk band from Enschede, Netherlands, active in 1976-'78. Suzanne 'Fedde' van der Spoel - vocals. Suzanne 'Loek' Stolwijk - guitar. Suzanne 'Dick' Pekelharing - bass. Suzanne 'Klaas Sikkema - drums. The name of the band is taken from the song 'Suzanne' by Leonard Cohen, that was in their repertoire in a punk version.

Fred Below

 

A great blues drummer who played on some of Chess Records best songs. He did a shuffle backbeat reflecting his Jazz origins. Wiki on the man. Watch him play with the Aces  in 1970 here. Also watch him with J. B. Lenoir here

Symbols crashing everywhere - Various artists

 A punk compilation on Ace compiled by Jon Savage featuring his favourite punk and post punk. Some good ones on here. Tracklisting etc.

Pigbag on Top of the Pops 1982

 Saw this band in Bristol about this time. Liked them. Some of their other singles were fun and the l.p. was pretty good. 

Jesus and Mary Chain - Head On 1989

 Lovely track. They could be quite commercial sometimes.

Gretel Hänlyn - It's The Future, Baby (Official Track) 2021

 Susan picked this - we heard it on Steve Lamacq and she liked it. It's dead new. Good video too. 

Al Green - Tired Of Being Alone

 Susan likes Al Green. Is playing some as I type.

Van Morrison - (Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball 1971

 Off Tupelo Honey which is 50 years old. Was released as a single but didn't do too well. I like it - see what you think?

Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup So Glad You're Mine 1972

 Time for this one again. The song Presley covered.  Arthur Crudup wiki

Van Morrison Wild Night 1971

 A great song from the Tupelo Honey l.p. released 50 years ago.

Sad news for Frome

Photo  https://www.destinationsdetoursdreams.com/2016/01/discovering-frome/

 The veteran Landlady of the Lamb and Fountain Freda Searle affectionately known to Frome drinkers as 'Mother' has passed away. 

It is with great sadness I have to tell you that mother passed away peacefully during the night.  As per her instructions it is business as usual at the L&F.  Sue

Not sure how old she was  - about 98.  She was landlady from 1969. The Lamb and Fountain is reckoned to be the oldest pub in Frome (1753) and is an unchanged cider house. Well worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Frome. Raise a glass to her memory. Article on the pub from 2020 here

Photo Frome Nub News

Hubert Sumlin in Manchester 1964. Photo Brian Smith.

 Happy birthday Hubert Sumlin. Read an article on the man at Please Kill Me.

Ramones 1976 at M.P.C.S TV studios.

 0:00 Loudmouth

2:10 Listen To My Heart 4:06 Blitzkrieg Bop 6:20 California Sun

I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better Byrds

 Susan is a bit of a Byrds fan. 

1921 Miners Strike, Mobilisation of Regular Army Reserve

 As I have mentioned before my Gtandfather was a tunneller during the First World War.  After the war he went back underground but during the 1921 Miner's strike he was called up for the army reserves and sent to the Kent coalfield. They planned in their barracks that if they had to fire on colliers they would shoot the officers first but it never came to it. There is not much on the web about the 21 strike most of it is about Black Friday. 

Wire The Lowdown 1977

 Great early Wire song. 

I'm on Fire Jerry Lee Lewis (1964)

 This is great. A current single at the time. Wiki. Granada TV (UK) show 'Don't knock the rock'

Mick Jagger and Howlin' Wolf

 

Dave Barbarossa's Youtube channel

 One of the greatest punk drummers has his own YouTube channel. Check it out of you like quality drumming. Dave Barbarossa wiki.

Paranoia Paradise 1978

 Wayne County from the movie Jubilee which I like. Plays a character Lounge Lizard if I remember correctly. Saw it at the cinema which had people cheering the Adam bits.  Watch clip

Dunkirk - starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Simon Russell Beale - Trailer

 Ttailer for the 2005 BBC docudrama.

Take a movie Leave a movie

 This is in Midsomer Norton. It's the first in the UK. The idea started in the US using VHS but this was set up by local resident Joe Simons and is DVDs. It's in the High Street by my daughter's salon slash comic shop Celia's place. I exchanged League of extraordinary gentlemen for a copy of Dunkirk (BBC version) and I feel good about the swap. Read about it here

Shellshock Animals & men 1980

Mike Reynolds played this on his show last night.  This video was done a long time ago (2006) with help from our son and it is our most popular video with 30 k views. 

American Werewolf in London 1981

 This is forty years old. Watched it at the cinema. Wiki. Watch the trailer here.

Max's Kansas City · Wayne County & The Electric Chairs

 I don't know much about this band  but they did some great songs that still stand the test of time. 

Rev Gary Davis pt 1

 From 1967.

Freddie & The Dreamers - You Were Made For Me [Blue Peter 1964]

 I would have been four. I enjoyed pop music as a tot. Dave Clark Five, Manfred Mann and of course the Beatles. I wonder if my Grandson would like Freddie and the Dreamers?

STEREOLAB PING PONG 1994

 Bought this LP at the time. 

The Irish Rover - The Dubliners & The Pogues 1987

 We bought this single when it came out. 

Howlin' Wolf - Commit a Crime 1966

 Stones covered this a few years back. I just love the guitar on this. 

Ladytron - Seventeen 2002

Like this. Ladytron wiki

Nico Sings Chelsea Girls in the Chelsea Hotel 1981

 From a documentary about the Chelsea Hotel.

Ernie K Doe -- A Certain Girl 1961

 I first encountered this song done by the Yardbirds. Ernie was known mainly for his hit Mother-in-Law. 

The Strangeloves - Cara Lin (Shindig 1965)

The Flashing Blade TV programme Opening Credits

 The Flashing Blade - Wikipedia

I used to watch this as a kid as well as Desert Crusader by the same people. The theme tune was the best bit and was a single -  'fight' by the Musketeers - it's on Spotify. The last episode wasn't shown due to a strike and no one cared as the plot was inconsequential - more about the sword fighting. 

Can't Set Rules About Love - Adam Ant 1990

 An Ant/Pirroni composition - a follow up to Room at the Top. I remember I was in Rival Records in Bath and they played this and I thought - 'I quite like this' and looked at who it was and it was Adam Ant!

Psych-Out 1968 Full movie

 This movie is worth watching. Stars Jack Nicholson and with music by Strawberry Alarm Clock and the Seeds. László Kovács is the cinematographer. 

Max Frost And The Troopers The Shape Of Things To Come 1968

From the Youtube page:

 This is Max Frost and The Troopers video of their hit song "The Shape Of Things To Come". Max Frost and The Troopers were a fictional rock group made up for the 60's movie Wild In The Streets. This was their big hit taken from the movie. The movie was about a young man named Max Frost who supports a senator played by Hal Holbrook. Max wants to lower the voting age to 14. He gets elected as president of the USA and ends up banishing all old people to camps where they are fed LSD.

The Shangri-Las- I'll Never Learn 1966

 Perhaps their saddest song. You decide. 

Johnny Cash - Wanted Man (The Best Of The Johnny Cash TV Show)

 Good clip from when I know not. 

Elvis Presley - Hard Knocks HD (Roustabout 1964)

 Just heard this on Bernie Keith. A good one. 

Ike Turner and The Kings Of Rhythm. Party Time-Complete-1959

 Great stuff this. 

Ike Turner 90th anniversary

 I like Ike Turner. He would have been 90 today.

Kaiser George Marionettes Christmas cards

 'We're pleased to launch the 2021 KGM Christmas Card Set, featuring 10 full colour Christmas cards with envelopes.'

AVAILABLE NOW from our KGM online stores.

UK & USA click here: https://kgmmarionettes.bigcartel.com

EU: click here: https://folksy.com/shops/KGMMarionettes

Card size = A6 (105mm x 148mm).

Sets will ship from 15th November. All orders sent 1st Class Signed For via Royal Mail.

#kgmmarionettes #christmas2021 #ChristmasCards2021 #christmascards #rocknroll

BBC celebrates Nirvana

 Imagine seeing NIRVANA for £6! 😮

30 years ago today, the rock legends played the Bristol Bierkeller.

The band were promoting 'Nevermind' - and it was the first date of their European tour 🎵

Hear memories of that infamous, "crazy" gig 👉 bbc.in/3bDHTLF

Billy Boy - Here's My Picture 1956

 Jody Williams on guitar. Billy Boy Arnold book

Junior Wells - Messin' With The Kid 1974

 

with Buddy Guy. 

The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God

 This album in 1988 was the Pogues biggest seller. I wasn't that keen I was a little disappointed by there are a couple of decent songs this being one. 

Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug 1975

 Wiki on the song Biggest selling single in the US/ Susan was a fan. 

(Big) Joe Williams - King Biscuit Stomp

This is a fun one. Original Sonny Boy doing the harp. 

 Columbia Records 1947 

Joe Williams, (voc, guitar) Sonny Boy Williamson,( hca) Ransom Knowling, (bass) Judge Riley, (drums) 

Somerset Coalfield Connections

 Research your coal mining ancestors. Go here and enter a name.

Ralph Mitchard in 2002

 

Photo by Dave Allen. Location Westerham Kent the boyhood home of General Wolfe

The Fall - Service 1993

 'winter is here'. Lovely slow paced piece with thunderous bass by Steve Hanley.

Scars - Horrorshow 1979

 This is great. Saw the Scars. Lyrics are Nadsat. Horrorshow means good excellent. Dictionary