Junior Wells live at Theresa's in Chicago

 Junior Wells performing at Theresa's Lounge in Chicago in the mid 1970s. Buddy Guy and Phil Guy are on guitars. Here

The Fall - Kicker Conspiracy (Perverted By Language, UK, 1982)

 As it is #FallFriday and because of the football tonight ... 

10 years anniversary of Animals and Men's US Tour

 

Animals and Men at Seattle

This was what was on the cards beforehand. Remember the bands we played with - very good. Thanks to Alex Yusimov  for organising and facilitate  it. 

JUNE 23rd PORTLAND at EAGLES HALL w/Future Less Vivid (members of Tyvek, Little Claw), Light Brigade (ex-Quack Rainbow), and Sad Horse

FRI JUNE 24th SEATTLE at FUNHOUSE w/Evening Meetings (members of A-Frames, Love Tan), Witch Gardens, Partman Parthorse SAT JUNE 25th OLYMPIA at NORTHERN w/Morgan And The Organ Donors, Western Hymn SUN JUNE 26th PORTLAND at TONIC LOUNGE w/Psychic Feline, Cat Fancy TUE JUNE 28th SACRAMENTO TBA WED JUNE 29th OAKLAND at SUGAR MOUNTAIN w/Brilliant Colors, English Singles THUR JUNE 30th L.A. at THE SMELL w/Dunes, Wounded Lion, KIT FRI JULY 1st SAN PEDRO TBA SAT JULY 2nd SF at BOTTOM OF THE HILL w/Grass Widow, Rank/Xerox

Help Me - Sonny Boy Williamson II 1963

 This was the first Sonny Boy song I heard. On a compilation in the listening booth at Duck Son and Pinkers. 

The song, a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues, is credited to Williamson, Willie Dixon, and Ralph Bass and is based on the 1962 instrumental hit "Green Onions" by Booker T. and the MGs. "Help Me" became a hit in 1963 and reached number 24 in the Billboard R&B chart.

Frome Grammar centenary

CENTENARY OF FROME GRAMMAR SCHOOL/COMMUNITY COLLEGE

From 5th August 2021 Frome Museum will be collaborating with Frome College to commemorate the centenary of the Grammar School/Community College.  This is an exciting as we want to exhibit uniforms, reports, magazines, photographs, even an old desk, that recall 100 years of education on the site.  We appeal to anyone who attended either of the schools to lend us any memorabilia that they may have so as to enrich our displays further.  Just telephone the museum and arrange to deliver at your convenience before the exhibition opens.  A centenary is a special milestone and we want to recognise it in as spectacular and comprehensive way as possible.

 

Choctaw Ridge compilation

 This is an interesting new collection of songs.

On Ace Records - see tracklisting etc here

Placebo - Pure Morning 1998

 Susan likes Placebo. She had a gift of a DVD from Celia for her birthday. 

Jonathan Richman - That Summer Feeling Live 1983

 Heard this on the radio last night and it reminded me of how good it is.

Stereolab - French Disko 1993

 On the show The Word. Great song. Stereolab wiki

Irma Thomas - Anyone who knows what love is (will understand)

 "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)" is a 1964 song written by Jeannie Seely and Randy Newman. It was recorded by Irma Thomas that same year and released as the B-side to "Time Is on My Side". It has come to prominence in recent years due to occasional appearances in the television series Black Mirror.

I have never seen Black Mirror I just love the song.

Wang Dang Doodle - Koko Taylor w Little Walter 1967

 A greatt clip that also has Hound Dog Taylor on guitar. Single version here

Koko Taylor wiki

The Coasters Dance 1958

 I woke up this morning with this song on my mind.  It's great. 

Kirby Hall 25th anniversary

 

Howard Giles on his reenactment nostalgia Facebook group has noted that it is 25 years since the first Kirby Hall. This was a big multi-era reenactment event that spanned from Romans to WW2. I attended the first one manning a recruiting stall for the French and Indian war group I had started (see pic). The following year we were invited to do a display. Good times. See more pics of the late 90s French and Indian war group go here

Never bought never sold art

 We liked this artwork by Icky for Mississippi records in 2008. We reproduced it on a t-shirt design. There used to be a website for his artwork but I can't find it anymore but he did a lot of record sleeves.

Daughter Celia

Grace Brim w/ John Brim Combo Strange Man (1950)

 Bio from Allmusic

Grace Brim

b. 20 July 1924, Biscoe, Arkansas, USA, d. 15 June 1999, Gary, Indiana, USA. One of the few female musicians active on the post-war Chicago blues scene, Brim appeared with her husband John Brim’s group, the Gary Kings. At her first recording session in 1950, she played harmonica and sang, demonstrating a pleasant, though not especially expressive, vocal style. Later she took to the drums, although on at least one record she also sang and played harmonica. Some records appeared under her own name, some as Mrs John Brim, but mostly she played a subordinate role on John’s records, and can be heard lending very solid support on his fine topical blues, ‘Tough Times’, with Eddie Taylor and Jimmy Reed. She continued to play for many years, both with her husband and with other groups, and they appeared together on a single in the 70s.

John Brim Ice Cream Man 1953

 Susan and I were having ice creams when this came on the playlist. Great song for the summer. 

Robert Wilkins - That's No Way To Get Along 1930

 This is a great song - play it and see if you like it. . Biography

Hey Sah-Lo-Ney · Mickey Lee Lane 1965

A truly great song.  

John Brim, Be careful what you do

 John Brim biog. Think it's Little Walter on harmonica. 

Drip Drop - Drifters (1958)

The original and best version in my humble opinion.  Lead singer Bobby Hendricks.

Rocket From The Tombs - Sonic Reducer 1975

 The original and best version of this punk classic. Rocket from the Tombs

The Coasters - What Is The Secret Of Your Success?

 The Coasters are the greatest vocal group ever. All you need is this Atco collection. 

Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley alternate take 2

 From 1955. From I'm A Man: The Chess Masters, 1955-1958

Bukka White - Aberdeen Mississippi Blues (1967)

 Some blues for you. 

Howlin’ Wolf, Jody Williams, Earl Phillips, Hubert Sumlin!

 

The Troggs - Jingle Jangle 1966

 Susan has requested some Troggs.

Happy birthday Susan

 

Weekend - The View From Her Room 1982

 We bought the 7 inch version. Really cool vibe. 

Howlin' Wolf - Shake It For Me

 Howlin' Wolf's birthday today - also mine. 

More Mud Dogs

 The Mud Dogs 10/6/00 -  my 40th birthday. The venue is Glastonbury Rural Life Museum - we were filming about the Monmouth Rebellion. With Richard Kesteven on harmonica we let rip during a pause in filming. Drum and bodhrain by Matt and Janet. We won the Kilmersdon village day busking competition!😄

Priddy Somerset

 

Susan picked up this book today in a local charity shop. Priddy is a fascinating village on the Mendips. If you ever visit the Mendips it's worth a look. There is a good pub there called the Queen Vic that Susan likes. In August there is the Sheep Fair which has a lot of horse and sheep trading. We went once. Been held in Priddy since the 1380s. There is also a film festival that we went to once. 

Ralph at the Queen Vic Priddy 2019

Recorded in Lyon 'Oh Death!' (traditional) Animals & Men 2009

 Got asked yesterday if someone could use this on a drama series of the same name. We consented as our stuff on the Free Music Archive is for this purpose - creative commons etc. We were glad someone liked it. Some interesting photos by Caryne of our trip in Lyon. They had a studio there and we had some spare time so we did some songs and they came out fine considering the engineer was still finding his way. It may seem a bit gloomy to do a song Oh Death but that was where we were at at that time with my parents dying and all. Based on the version by Charley Patton and Bertha Lee. Lyon was a lovely experience. The crowd knew our material and went for it - I used to have a clip of us doing Oh Death and everyone going mad singing but I was not allowed to put it on Youtube as the people were a bit embarrassed by their antics. Shame. Original here

Elmore James - Look on yonder wall 1961

 Was a big fan of this song as a teenager. Sammy Myers on harmonica. Elmore James wiki

The Byrds - Don't Make Waves 1967

 Susan fancied hearing some Byrds as it is getting summery and this came on.

Claudia Cardinale, Sharon Tate, Tony Curtis & Dave Draper in "Don't Make Waves." (1967) Music by the Byrds.

The Sonics - The Witch

 The Sonics - The Witch.....Released on Etiquette in 1965 and shown here on a Canadian release

We used to cover this when Bos payed bas with us. He was fond of it.

Serge Gainsbourg - Requiem Pour Un Con 1968

 One of my favourite Serge Gainsbourg songs. Scene from Georges Lautner's film Le Pacha, 1968.

Howlin' Wolf Evil Is Going On

 Good clip. 

JImmy Reed - Natural Born Lover

 I am a big Jimmy Reed fan. This is a good example of his appeal.

Sonny Boy Williamson - From The Bottom

 Sonny Boy Williamson And His House Rockers

Trumpet Records 1954 B/W Empty Bedroom Blues

The B-52's - Good Stuff 1992

 I have pleasant memories of when this album was current. 

American soldiers board LCVPs at pier in Weymouth, county of Dorset, England

 6th June post. Remembering the sacrifice of so many British, Americans and Canadians.

Oblivians Part of your plan

 I think this is from about 1996. Very good. Oblivians wiki

Susan Wells 1973

 Susan has given me permission to post this pic from when she was 15 or 16. The cat was called Tao and the statue she made in art. She got the top in a boutique on Cheap Street. 

Trio - Sunday Need Love Monday Be Alone c1981

 First encountered this song from a cover version by the Oblivians. 

Free Music Archive Animals & Men

 Here for free downloads. 

Mud Dogs 'Dog with the No-Bone Blues'/'Sun and the Moon'

 You probably will need to turn this up. A lo-fi recording done in our front room in about 2001, Me on guitar Rich on harp and vocals. We rewrite the songs Rich doing the lyrics. Oz on bass and Johnny Rench on drums. We put it on the Tyning Inn jukebox - the pub in the video and it got played a fair amount. We put out a very small run of cds and if you want it - it's on the Free Music Archive.

1970 Fleetwood Mac - Peter Green - The Green Manalish Live Sweden

 

Various - Blues Southside Chicago

 Great record of 1960s Chicago performances. 

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 HandThank you Nighthawk.

Animals & Men/terraplanes bandcamp

 Here for vinyl or downloads

We have a few mint copies of the Don't Misbehave rerelease on Danger Records up on ebay - post free £6. 

Ann-Margret - I just don't understand (1961)

 Heard this on the radio on Mickey Bradley last night. Wiki. Good song. Apparently one of the first songs with a fuzz pedal on it. Beatles covered it. 

The Mamas and the Papas Somebody groovy 1965

 I like this song. I never get tired of hearing it. Not a huge fan but this rocks. 

Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup (Elmer James) - Make A Little Love With Me

 Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (Credited To Elmer James) Trumpet Records 1952 B/W Gonna Find My Baby. Arthur Crudup (Voc),Sonny Boy Williamson (Hca),Joe Willie Wilkins (Guitar)

Social Security - Cider 1978

 Bristol punk band that we saw quite a few times. Their EP is worth getting - all good songs on it. Read about them here

Bill is Dead The Fall 1990

 For #FallFriday. From Snub TV. From the Extricate LP

ETTA JAMES - Seven Day Fool

 Chicago all time classic from 1961.

Elvis Presley "Love Me" on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 28, 1956

 

Animals and Men play 'John of the Sword' 2007

 This was filmed by James at our living room in 2007. There was a fun day at our rank of houses but it rained so we retreated to the front room. The song is about me getting called Napoleon at school. 

Happy birthday Jimmy Rogers

 Take it away man

Jimmy Rogers - Thats All Right - (1950)

 Jimmy Rogers (June 3, 1924 -- December 19, 1997) was a blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, best known for his work as a member of Muddy Waters' band of the 1950s.

Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe

The Song Can I do it for you? Here

Biography here
 

Geoff's red VW Golf

One of the problems we had with the Terraplanes was none of us could drive so it was very hard to do gigs and things. In 1982 Geoff left the Navy and came back to Frome. He had a cool car with a great sound system that played cassettes. My job was to provide the sounds. We had given up music due to the lukewarm reception Evil had got and he was keen to play again.

I have happy memories driving along with Lucille by Little Richard thumping out. Good times.

 

 

Days of King Monmouth by Ralph Mitchard

 if you are interested in the Monmouth  Rebellion then this self published booklet of approximately 45 pages gives you a day by day breakdown of events in a daily fashion. It all starts 11th June so now is a good time to get it from ebay.

Hound Dog Taylor - Sadie @ ABC Radio Australia, 1975.

 I reckon Hound Dog Taylor has an excellent singing voice.

I wish you would. - The Terraplanes (Animals & Men) 1981

 40 years ago at the Battle oof the Bands at the Granary we had to do one cover so we chose 'I wish you would' originally by Billy Boy Arnold in 1955 and is reckoned to be the first time an electric bass was used in Chicago, Original version here

The Golden Dawn - Starvation 1968

 

The Golden Dawn (American band)

Floyd Jones performing Stockyard Blues, from the movie Chicago Blues, in 1970.

Really like Floyd Jones.  

Bertha Lee With Charley Patton - Mind Reader Blues

 January 31, 1934 NYC. Bertha Lee Pate

Biography and lyrics of this song here

The Leaves Too Many People 1966

 Nice harmonica. 

Robert Nighthawk Eli's Place 1964

 Time for this again - one of the best clips ever. At Maxwell Street Chicago. 

Frome Somerset in the 1950s

 

This is good for people who remembers Frome before the Westway precinct was built. At the top is Singer's factory and the Clinic, a kind of health centre and then the cinema.

S.W.A.T. Theme (Intro)

 Something both Susan and myself said we liked in 81 was the S.W.A.T series. Shown late at night after the pubs shut. First aired in the States 75-76. We have this theme song on vinyl. It was the intro bit that we particularly liked plus the repetitive plots.

Nick Fury by Jim Steranko

 

I am not an expert on comics like our daughter Celia is but one of my likes from 40 years ago is Nick Fury by Jim Steranko. 

Mick Harvey / Anita Lane - Harley Davidson

 English translation of the Serge Gainsbourg classic. From 1996 apparently - we bought it. 

SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON W/ BUDDY GUY - DECORATION DAY - 1963

 Of course it is Memorial Day in the US which started out originally as Decoration Day. 

Sonny Boy Williamson - Vocals and Harmonica

Buddy Guy - Guitar Lafayette Leake - Piano Jack Myers - Bass Clifton James - Drums Jarrett Gibson - Tenor Sax Donald Hankins - Baritone Sax

DUST MY BROOM / ELMO JAMES (Elmore James)[TRUMPET 146]

 Anniversary for this track in August. Blues history.

TRUMPET 146 [DRC-53] DUST MY BROOM (Elmo James)

ELMO JAMES Jackson, MS, 5 August 1951 Elmore James(v/g), Sonny Boy Williamson(h), Leonard Ware(b), Frok O'dell(d)

Blow-up - (1966) Antonioni (Yardbirds Scene)

 Another one of my 'likes' is this film which is a fun take on 60a London. 

The Animals - Inside Looking Out (Live, 1966)

 Eric Burdon - vocals

Hilton Valentine - guitar Dave Rowberry - keyboards Chas Chandler - bass John Steel - drums

Terraplanes badge and booklet

 So with the Evil Going On single we included a booklet and a badge rather than a record sleeve. Click on the pic to see it larger. We were young I was 20 but Andy and Dave were still teenagers. 

 

Tav Falco's Panther Burns on Marge Thrasher 1979

 Turn it up. The Train Kept A Rollin. 

Tav Falco's Panther Burns - Bertha Lou 1982

 Have this 12 inch - an ep - one of the influences on the later Terraplanes sound.  Tav Falco wiki

Its Hip The Terraplanes (Animals & Men) 1981

 

So about 40 years ago we were coming to terms with the fact that our single Evil Going On/It's Hip was not doing well. I think Rough Trade only took 50 and other places were only taking minimal numbers. Peel only played it the once on June 30 and that was it. We entered a Battle of the Bands thing in Bristol which is where this video is from. Later in the year we gave up. But it's cool to have this video as a record of those days. 

Garbage Man - The Cramps

 We were all big Cramps fans. Don't think we ever saw them when they Bryan Gregory on guitar though. Saw them a good few times. We were members of the Legion of the Cramped a fan thing that meant newsletters and so forth. Dave had this on VHS. 

Etta James - Something's Got A Hold On Me (Live)

 Long intro but worth it I think.

PJ Harvey - Dress - HD Live (V Festival 2003)

 Someone rocking the Firebird. 

My Firebird copy

 In about 1982 I bought an expensive copy of a Firebird. Was over a couple of hundred and I had it on instalments. The Firebird is a bit unbalanced and it is hard to stand it up and one evening my brother accidentally knocked it over and the neck broke. I was devastated. It became totally useless in a heartbeat.  Was paying it off while it was not usable. 

Gibson Firebird

One of my favourite guitars is the Firebird. Came out in 63. Its history is interesting. Wiki

The Fall - Interview, Bombast and Cruiser's Creek

 The Fall - Interview, Bombast and Cruiser's Creek

The Tube, Channel 4 TV, 8th November 1985

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Recovery - 2 Kindsa Love/Flavor

 I like this. Band wiki

BOSS RADIO 66 STREAM!

 Boss Radio 66 – RRBS

listen for vintage rock and soul 24/7

The Ad Libs - The Boy From New York City

 Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the song peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the chart week of February 27, 1965. Though the group continued to record many other singles, they would never repeat the chart success of "The Boy from New York City", Wiki

Bob Dylan - Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat [Dublin, 1966]

 Interesting clip. 

Bukka White, Skip James and Son House at Newport Folk Festival

 Three legends on stage. 

Larry Williams - Bad Boy 1959

Great little rocker covered by the Beatles. 

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - BBC (1974)

 This I like. 

Rebel Scytheman 1685 by Ralph Mitchard

 I don't bother too much doing drawings any more but I felt inclined to do this figure based on the description that has come to light from John Taylor who wrote about the rebellion in 1687. Now Munmouth had in his Army 300 Sithers, armd with Sithes, pistols sticking in at their Girdles, and brod sords, in wast belts,  Read the article here

The Orioles - Baby Please Don't Go 1952

Doo-wop version 

Big Joe Williams - Baby Please Don't Go

 Song wiki here

Sonny Boy Williamson - Down Child

 Second go at recording this song by Sonny Boy. I have this on a vinyl 45. Reputedly a Robert Johnson song. 

Cedar Point '76 · The Dirtbombs

 2005. Good groove and about pinball. 

Goodbye Sounds Involved

 

Today we learnt the rehearsal room we have been using is not going to reopen. Which is a shame as we liked being there. Been using it for a few years I think.