Alvin Robinson, 1969

 

Alvin "Shine" Robinson had a career as a New Orleans session musician, and then had a few hit singles himself, cut for the Red Bird label. But what intrigues me most are the tracks cut in 1969, half of which didn't get released until years later on various soul comps in the U.K.. From what I could piece together, the majority of those tracks were co-written with Mac Rebennack, aka Dr. John, along with either Jessie Hill or King Floyd, and all of those tracks, nine to be exact, smoke. Two were released on the Pulsar label, but I could find little info on the rest.

Coming in at a little over 22 minutes of recorded music, Robinson's output of 1969, is to my ears, lightning in a bottle.  

What makes this stuff so appealing to me is that it’s not just novelty. We all fall into the trap of finding the most ridiculous low rent garage rock or garage soul 45s. The more obscure and harsh sounding, the better. These tracks are not that. Here we have New Orleans' legends creating magic that somehow fell through the cracks, as far as I could tell.

Check out the two videos, and if you feel like I do, you can unzip all of them below. 

 

 

1969 TRACKLIST

Better Be Cool
I've Never Been In Love
We Got Love
Cry, Cry, Cry
Empty Talk
Soulful Woman
Sho 'Bout To Drive Me Wild 
Tuned In, Turned On
Serpent Woman 

zip 

Songs Of The Week, 2025: 9/6-9/12

 

Joan Crawford- Blue Oyster Cult
Jesus Is Just Alright- The Doobie Brothers
Smoke & Fiction- X
I Know It's A Sin- Rocket Morgan
Pardon My Heart- Neil Young w/Crazy Horse
Little Green Bag- George Baker Selection
Bongo Man (A Come)- Jimmy Cliff

zip 

 

Joan Crawford- Blue Oyster Cult
(I was never a fan of novelty songs, but this classic is much more than that.)

Jesus Is Just Alright- The Doobie Brothers
(I prefer the Doobies version over the Byrds)

Smoke & Fiction- X
("I still pray a little bit, but there's no saint for this.")

I Know It's A Sin- Rocket Morgan
(This one is from deep in the swamps of Louisiana. Rocket Morgan recorded a few excellent records before finding God and giving up music. Idiot.)

Pardon My Heart- Neil Young w/Crazy Horse
(My fave off "Zuma." Am I the only one who thinks "Cortez The Killer" belongs on a different album? Great song, but it ruins the flow of this album...for me.)

Little Green Bag- George Baker Selection
(Been a minute since I heard this one.)

Bongo Man (A Come)- Jimmy Cliff 
(Many versions of this track, including of few by Cliff himself. This one is the one.)

BW's Saturday #64

 

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The 2025 Prince Crap Years Challenge

 

Between 1980 and 1992, there were few artists I loved more than Prince. 1994-1999 was a shakey stretch, but there was enough to keep me on board. But then it was a slow and painful decline from 2000-2016. It was bleak. I know there will be plenty of Prince apologists ready to tear me a new love symbol when I say, those 16 years were crap. Even Questlove has said how he's pretty much only on board for Prince's first ten years. I was loyal longer than Questlove.

Earlier this week, my old pal cmealha sent me an email with the above song attached. He said, "Thanks to you, I periodically go back to records I dismissed. It's how I came around to Elvis Costello's 'Momofuku.' I heard this on Prince's 'Planet Earth," and wow!"

Yeah, "Somewhere Here On Earth" is kinda wow. The rest of "Planet Earth," not so much.

My reply was, "There must be some patient Prince realist out there who could create two amazing records out of 16 years of garbage." 

I am a Prince realist. But I have no patience. I am just coming out of a COVID fog, so I don't need to risk going back under by sifting through "Musicology" or "Art Official Age" for a gem or two.

But maybe someone reading would find this project a fun challenge.

Prince apologists need not apply. I am not looking for "not bad."

Your sources begin with 2001's "The Rainbow Children" and finish with 2021's gold-plated dreck "Welcome 2 America."

Two albums, each running no longer than 45 minutes.

 

 

Health Update

Four days in and I am happy to report, I can now hold a spoon.

I'll do my best to work something up for tomorrow. But let me say this first.

If you really believe that COVID is "mild, flu-like cold symptoms," you're either not paying attention or just being difficult. My guess is you are paying attention.

Stay healthy kids. Vaccines work. Go get one.

 

Well, I've dodged the COVID bullet for five years, and I have no doubt it's because of Science and Medicine. BUT, just my luck, they pull the restrictions off the new booster so everyone is eligible, and before I could get the jab, I get sick. 

Missed it by that much.

Posting will be sporadic this week. Wish me luck. To quote Withnail, "I feel like a pig shat in my head."