Week 17 - Fri 23 Apr
"Here we go again; another aural trip around the music systems of RPMers, picking out their faves of the week. Yes, it's the Seven Day Soundtrack...........and compiled once again as each arrived...........you can tell who the eager bunnies (using a word from Mr Johnson's erudite vocab) are by now, can't you? Over to........"
Alan -
"Following on from last week, here's ano................. hold the front page!!! One of the most legendary lead guitarists of all time has just passed away. Responsible for taking a calypso/latin style rewrite of the Rhythm Rockers version of 'El Loco Cha Cha' by Richard Berry and the Pharaohs (and transforming it into proto punk, proto garage, proto metal and most other 'proto' rock forms you can think of), the song was infused with real menace and went to number two on the US charts on no less than five occasions in late 1963/early 1964. Recorded for just $52, and banned by the FBI in all US schools because of its unintelligible, supposedly ponographic lyrics, the song has been covered over 100 times and was voted number 55 in the top 500 singles of all time in the Rolling Stone magazine.
The song..... 'Louie Louie' of course, and the guitarist responsible for the corruscating intro and 'devil may care' guitar solo? Mike Mitchell, who passed away on Monday aged 77. Generally viewed as one hit wonders (who cares when that 'one hit' has such influence over so many guitarists who followed) they did actually hit the lower reaches of the singles charts on four other occasions, recorded six albums between 1963 and 1966 and continued gigging until Mitchell's demise this week.
So, here's three 'Louie Louie' songs......... with a twist of course!"
You Know He Did by The Attack (Unreleased demo. This from Final Daze' semi-legit release on Get Back label 2002) - "So, a cover version of a rewrite of a rewrite to begin with! Here's the Hollies Clarke/Nash b-side (to May 1965's 'I'm alive'), a flagrant copy of the Kingsmen's classic suitably modded up by the then desperate Attack. Formed in 1966, the band had debuted with a cover of the Standells 'Try It' in early 1967 and followed that with 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' (released before the Jeff Beck version) and 'Created by Clive' in the same year. Despite plenty of radio plays, all the singles, plus the equally worthy follow up 'Neville Thumbcatch' failed to chart and the band folded in late 1968 with enough material for another single ('Feel like flying') and an album which all laid in the can until 1990's 'Magic in the air' comp gathered together many of the unreleased tracks for the first time. Passing through the ranks were David O'List (soon to be poached for the Nice), John Du Cann (later in Atomic Rooster and Andromeda) and Alan Whitehead (soon to be drummer with Marmalade)."
Wild Thing by The Troggs (7" single released May 1966. Fontana label) - "What can I say about this ultra-primitive pounder, so obviously based on 'Louie Louie'? Not a lot!!! The Troggs went on to cover 'LL' on their 'From Nowhere' debut album as did the Kinks who had earlier taken the same route in 1964 after hitting with the 'LL' inspired 'You really got me' single by including their version on their debut album 4 months later. Of course, Jimi Hendrix took 'Wild Thing' and made it his own and, in doing so, actually turned the rewrite into the lascivious monster the FBI had worried about several years earlier. Rumours persist 'Wild Thing' was initially offered by composer Chip Taylor to The Hollies who turned it down!!!"
Louie Louie performed by Motorhead (7" single August 1978. Bronze label) "Motorheads only incursion into the Watson collection.......... and one I could hardly resist!!! Initially a member of Blackpools 'legendary' Rockin' Vicars (who we saw at the Mount Hotel in Fleetwood in 1974-ish, probably sans Mr Kilminster), Lemmy then went on to roadie for the Nice and Jimi Hendrix before joining some half assed 'space rock' combo.... errr, make that the the very wonderful, Hawkwind. Sacked from the band in 1975 after being arrested for drug possession (Hawkwind worried about drugz......... phew, rock and roll!!) he formed Motorhead just as the NWOBHM began to coalesce and, due to the bands 'f*ck 'em' attitude, they were also embraced by the concurrent punk audiences. In addition to his acknowledged bass guitar technique, Lemmy was also something of a 'sex machine', fathering two children in his teens and, according to Maxim magazines poll, was number eight in their 'Living Sex Gods' chart having apparently slept with (somewhere between) 1000 and 2000 women. He also figures 'largely' in Paul Miles 'Sex Tips from Rock Stars' book, one which I haven't yet had the pleasure of reading (One for the collection there Tim?)."
"So, there you have it, almost! Hopefully Tim will once again grant a bonus and, if so, it has to be the Kingsmen on 'Hollywood a go go' in all their live glory."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL20vPIXs-A
"Stay safe, loving all the choices and, next week, part two of my 1971 purchases (probably)........"
Philip -
"Still working my way through the 70s and I've now reached 1974, when I left school and started work so that by Christmas I was able to afford to buy my first record player. My tastes up to that point were largely formed by listening to the likes of Johnnie Walker and Anne Nightingale on Radio 1 and to Radio North Sea International. My three selections this week are from albums released in 1974, which I bought during 1975.
Best wishes to you and all RPMers as ever."
Tattler performed by Ry Cooder - "Paradise and Lunch is still my favourite Ry Cooder album. This song was written by gospel-blues singer Washington Phillips."
Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues) performed by Frankie Miller - "This is from Mr. Miller's best, but sadly commercially unsuccessful, album. Entitled "Frankie Miller's High Life," it was recorded in Georgia and Alabama and produced by Allen Toussaint, who wrote 7 of the 10 songs including this one, and played piano.
The first recording of it was by the disco singer Sylvester in 1973 (which I've not heard), and it was a hit in 1974 for Three Dog Night (I'm not keen on this version). Maria Muldaur included it on her album "Waitress In a Donut shop" (excellent version featuring James Booker), and Little Feat recorded it during the sessions for "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" but it remained an outtake. Mr. Toussaint can be heard performing it himself on the album New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 1976."
Tell Me Something Good performed by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan - "Apparently Stevie Wonder dropped by a Rufus session and was so impressed by Chaka Khan that he gave them this song. Pretty generous if you ask me - I think it could have been a hit for Stevie himself."
Piers -
"My choices.........
I recently moved my pile of hi-fi black boxes, from one end of the living room to the other, and the first CD that I chose to play, to test the system, once everything was plugged in, and the little red lights had all lit up, was by the Iguanas! (No not the awful ones, but the band from New Orleans).
A perverse choice really, as they are fairly lo-fi! Very possibly it is remembering those gorgeous Spanish tunes that Nina flagged up last week, combined with Jayne’s having, played Ry Cooder’s ‘Bop ’til you Drop’, who knows !?!
As I lower myself onto the couch……. “Well doctor, I guess that it all started with ‘Wooly Bully’ and ‘She’s About A Mover’……”.
The subconscious is a deep and worrisome place! And, that ‘Sir Douglas’ has a lot to answer for….
The three tracks have I have chosen this week throw me back to the sunnier side of a goodtime/psyche/latin vibe that I easily slipped into back in the late 90s."
Oye, Isabel by The Iguanas -
All The Time In The World by The Subdudes -
Crayon Sun by Latin Playboys -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72dMNxHHIyU
Bonus Track - "Please grant the indulgence of including a favourite track of mine, which fits in perfectly and always reminds me of the very early days of my relationship with Jayne……."
He’ll Have to Go by Ry Cooder with Flaco Jimenez -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Zfk2seVVQ
Jean -
"This week I have actually booked tickets for a live concert at Dereham Memorial Hall in July! As we are seeing our local Jazz Band, I thought I should provide a video of them and 2 other types of Jazz from other Bands that I grew up with. Keep fit and well everybody. "
Up a Lazy River performed by The Dixie Mix Jazz Band -
Midnight in Moscow by Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen -
Petite Fleur by Chris Barber and The Big Chris Barber Band - "Apparently he died very recently RIP."
Morra -
"3 tacky 70s pop hits......"
Bye Bye BabyBay by City Rollers -
Glass of Champagne by Sailor -
The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace -
Jayne -
"Good wishes to RPM comrades as we start to get out and about and meet up with others - at a respectful distance of course. Here are three tunes I heard (and saw) played live in the open air on a freezing cold Wednesday night this week. What a treat!"
Rosa’s Lovely Daughters by Robb Johnson -
634-5789 by Wilson Pickett -
Silver Swan by John James -
Tony -
"Here are my 3 tracks. Things feeling a lot more pleasant as the lockdown eases but can't wait to get rid of these masks. I bought another batch of shellac at a car boot last weekend and the guy threw in over a hundred 45's which turned out to be very good condition and, like our weekly submissions, a really good mixture.
Best wishes to everybody as ever."
Tuff Enuff by The Fabulous Thunderbirds - "Formed in the 1970's, this Texas band didn't do great as far as charting was concerned despite having a good frontman in Kim Wilson and Stevie Ray Vaughan's brother Jimmie on lead guitar but nevertheless they are a really tight outfit."
I Got You by Split Enz - "Originally formed in New Zealand, the band included Tim and Neil - the Finn Brothers who went on to form Crowded house. This single dates from 1980."
She's Leaving Home by The Beatles - "This is one of my favourite Beatles tracks (just one of many) and features only the song's composers singing (McCartney verses and with Lennon on the chorus) and is also notable for being one of a very few Beatles recordings on which none of them play any of the instruments. Poignant lyrics, impeccably delivered."
John -
"Before I give you my three for this week, a few observations on the excellent choices (and comments) from the last few weeks....
I have to agree with Alan regarding David Crosby's 'If I Could Only Remember My Name'. It's an album I've owned for about fifty years (in all three formats starting with cassette, then LP and then CD; the low quality US cassette has bitten the dust but the LP and CD are still going strong). I, too, have insisted that friends should have this record in their collection; in some cases even hardened CSN&Y fans were unaware of it's existence!
As for the amazing Hugh Lloyd Langton 'lick'.... yes Alan, it does sound a bit Frippish but it's also ringing other bells. Leave it with me.....
1971. What a year....! Nine of the albums on Alan's list would also be in mine but I would certainly have to add many others from such a fantastic year. Among them, deserving a special mention, would be 'Nina And The Dream Tree' by Andy Roberts and 'The House On The Hill' by Audience.
I have only three Van Der Graaf Generator albums in my collection ('The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other','68-71' and 'World Record') but it looks as if I'm going to have to seek out 'Pawn Hearts'.... I saw VDGG on January 15th 1971 in a very cold college hall in Lowestoft. Despite the small crowd and uninspiring surroundings, they were excellent.
From Week 14: Jayne, what an incredible collaborative performance of The Hour of the Blackbird - sublime! (And thanks for recommending 'Augustown' - I read it during the second lockdown - wonderful)
Anyway, enough of this, here are my three for this week...."
This Little Bird by Marianne Faithfull -
My Only Guarantee by Cowboy Junkies -
New Rose by The Damned -
Dave -
"Hi ya all, hope you all have had a good week . Here’s my 3 tunes. Cheers."
Rattlesnake (live in London, 2019) by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard -
Just Like Arcadia by Psychic TV -
Tim -
"Here's three taken from this week's listening."
Cumberland Gap & Waiting For The Federals performed by Kevin Lees and Sebastian Bloch - "Working my way through the guy's Good Tune Youtube channel, here's my favourite folk tune of the week."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=612f8yV0eJs&list=RDMM&index=2
Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan - "The soundtrack to my haircut..........seriously. Within a few minutes of taking the chair, Nikki had put a SRV playlist on, this being the first track up. It calmed her down when she was a bit stressed, apparently. Here's SRV from his second appearance at Montreux in 1985. Coincidentally, Tony, I recommended both Jimmie Vaughan and the Fabulous Thunderbirds for further listening in the barbers shop. Gotta spread the word."
Sonic Prayer by Earthless - "A short snippet from the new Live in the Mojave Desert offering from my favourite stoner jam band. Awesomely out there, man."
......'til next time.......keep spinning those discs.