Vertigo Records Week, #2: Jimmy Campbell- Half Baked (1970)

 Campbell went on to form Rockin' Horse and release the excellent, Beatle-esque "Yes It Is" in 1971.

 

 

 

 

 

Vertigo Records Week, #1: Linda Hoyle- Pieces Of Me (1971)

Featuring Chris Spedding on guitar.

 

 

Songs Of The Week, 2026: 2/14-2/20

 

Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)- Third World
Little Lighthouse- The Dukes Of Stratosphear
Mistress And Maid- Paul McCartney
Sister Madly- Crowded House
World Outside My Room- Beady Eye
Wasn't It You- Peggy Lipton
Sugar Mama- Led Zeppelin

zip 

BW's Saturday #76

 

Phil Collins In Three

 

 

 

 

A "Fireball" From Double Wide

 

I first heard North Carolinian John Ellis in New Orleans. I don't recall if he was playing sax with Stanton Moore, Charlie Hunter, Nicholas Payton or Jason Marsalis. It might have been all of them at once. But I instantly became a fan and bought my first Ellis record, 2005's "One Foot In The Swamp," a terrific display of New Orleans jazz meets the avant-garde.

His first record released as John Ellis & Double Wide came out in 2008. "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" featured Jason Marsalis on drums, as well as New Orleans finest sousaphonist Matt Perrine, and it was as wonderfully twisted as I had hoped it would be. It has Mardi Gras rhythms that you can dance to, as well some demanding soloing that should keep jazz purists interested.

Two more records followed, but nothing new since 2015 had dropped, until "Fireball," the first Double Wide record in over ten years and it was definitely worth the wait. "Fireball" just might be the best music Johh Ellis has ever made. It's certainly the most accesssible. 

The press release says, "Ellis presents a new collection of music with his beloved Double Wide band that inspires dancing as much as analysis." I listened. I occasionally danced. I sat quietly and let the beauty of the melodies take over. 

The playing is simply stunning throughout, and the music covers a lot of bases without ever letting you forget about New Orleans.

Maybe you'll dig it. Maybe not. I think it's worth the time.  

 

 

 

Welcome To Music City

From Ireland, please enjoy some music from Music City and a few tracks from their debut, "Welcome To Music City."

The press release states,"Music City have toured with Sheer Mag and Parquet Courts, and recently returned from Spain and Italy supporting The Lemon Twigs. Put those names together and you'll start to hear where Music City are coming from."

 

Maybe.

I don't hear Parquet Courts, and if writing hook-filled pop tunes with fantastic harmonies is an automatic comparison to current hot shots The Lemon Twigs, well okay then. Music City, at times, reminds me more of the days of skinny tie power pop, while a few songs, the ballads, have a Laurel Canyon vibe. I had a difficult time finding a bad song on this record. And I was completely hooked after the gorgeous coda of "A Little Favour."

Your miles may vary. But you should listen.

(h/t Dr. Wu)