From 1971, please feast your ears on this explosive piece of soul from Clarence Lewis Jr, doing business for legendary New Orleans producer Wardell Quezergue as C.L. Blast, this is "What Can I Do," a song heretofore unknown to me, but one that became an immediate favorite.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. They just don't make records like this anymore.
(h/t Blake)
Mesopotamia- The B-52's
So Good To Be Back Home Again- The Tourists
Lover, What D'ya Put Me Through- Mansion Harlots
Ice Cream Song- The Dynamics
The Bright Mississippi- Allen Toussaint
Rains Came- Sir Douglas Quintet
Pincushion- ZZ Top
Something for everyone, I think, including a power pop gem from a young Annie Lennox, followed by another pop gem from the one and done Mansion Harlots. (The entire Mansion Harlots record is worth your time.)
The Dynamics into Allen Toussaint is an inspired one-two punch, if I do say so myself.
It's here, if you want it.
Are you ready to rock some more?
Well, grease up your download finger and prepare to unzip two more ass kicking playlists for your weekend listening.
I love these mixes!
And hopefully, you will too!
KOTJ Part 3
Let's Go Crazy- Prince & The Revolution
Welfare Boogie- The Four Horsemen
Bitch- The Rolling Stones
Clean Money- Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Achin' (Orig. 7" Mix)- The Plugz
Crawling From The Wreckage- Dave Edmunds
Betch Thought We Couldn't Do It- Gentle Giant
Bama Lama Bama Loo- Little Richard
Shout Bama Lama- Otis Redding
(Ain't Nothin' But A) House Party- J. Geils Band
Do You Feel It- The Young Rascals
Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes- Chuck Willis
The Fat Man- Fats Domino
Flat Foot Flewzy- NRBQ
My Baby Likes To Boogaloo- Don Gardner
Hey Bulldog- The Beatles
Sabotage- Beastie Boys
I Can See For Miles- The Who
I'm The Man- Joe Jackson
Hot For Teacher- Van Halen
Trampled Under Foot (Live From Earl's Court, 1975)- Led Zeppelin
Combination- Aerosmith
It's HERE
KOTJ Part 4
Sun King- The Cult
Making Time- The Creation
Satisfaction- The Rolling Stones
Everybody's Got Something To Hide...- The Beatles
Marie Marie- The Blasters
Selene Selene- King Mob
Alex Chilton- The Replacements
North Side Gal- JD McPherson
All The Kids On The Street- The Hollywood Stars
Bloodsucker- Deep Purple
Birth, School, Work, Death- The Godfathers
Coast To Coast- Ducks Deluxe
Tombstone Blues- Bob Dylan
The Big Light- Elvis Costello
The Blue Mask- Lou Reed
See No Evil- Television
Heart of The City- Nick Lowe
Shake It Up- Crash Street Kids
Tonight- Raspberries
All The Way From Memphis- Mott The Hoople
Suffragette City- David Bowie
It's HERE
As I begin preparing the second round of reader compiled mixes that rock, I thought I'd pay tribute to ZZ Top's groovemaster Frank Beard who passed yesterday at the age of 77. A number of ZZ Top tracks made my short list for these compilations, one of which was the Texas trio's first single "Salt Lick." Then, I realized, that first single from 1969 did not feature Frank Beard, but original Moving Sidewalks drummer Dan Mitchell.
Another track that absolutely rocks is "Pincushion," a song from later in ZZ Top's career, though still 32 years old. Then I thought, as much as I love the groove, the drums sound programmed, so not the best way to pay tribute to the late drummer.
The best example of just how groovy Frank Beard was on the kit, might be something obvious like "La Grange," which is a really badass shuffle that even I could not perfect the few times I tried playing it.
I finally decided to go with a deep cut. Whether it is a good example of Frank Beard's drumming or not, it is from my favorite ZZ Top album "Rhythmeen" and most likely a song that casual Top fans have not heard. The pocket is so deep on "Zipper Job" you'll need a miner's helmet to get out.
Until tomorrow, listen to Frank Beard rock today.
For most of the time our shop was in business, we had nice relationships with a number of record labels, including the owners of the excellent indie label Razor & Tie. Both attorneys originally, they named the label after the two things they hated most about being lawyers- shaving and wearing a suit. With these relationships came the occasional perks, like concert tickets, TV tapings, merch and advance copies of releases.
Another label was TVT who scored a coup by signing XTC in 1999. I would chat with TVT's rep Ben almost everyday about upcoming releases, and when he mentioned "Apple Venus," I just about plotzed. A year later, when the label was about to release "Wasp Star," I was told Andy and Colin would be in their offices for a few hours. I begged Ben to come visit, but was told neither wanted to have a meet and greet, but that he would get them to sign a CD. He made good on that promise.
But back in 1993, I was not only given tickets to see Aimee Mann, courtesy of Razor & Tie, at the long lamented Bottom Line in Greenwich Village, but was also gifted a reserved table, something truly rare at the club for anyone who wasn't someone. For this small tour, Aimee's guitar player was Dave Gregory of XTC, so that night, I wore my "Drums & Wires" t-shirt.
We arrived just a few minutes before show time, not having to worry about finding a good seat thanks to Razor & Tie's table, and seconds after sitting down, a gentleman behind me said, "I knew it!"
"Knew what?," I asked.
"An XTC reunion tonight! Come on. You know it, right? You're wearing the shirt."
I didn't know anything, I assured him. I told him I wore the shirt because of Dave Gregory, something fans of both Aimee and Dave knew was happening.
"Then why are you sitting next to Andy?"
I was confused, until I turned my head and saw that I was indeed sitting next to Andy Partridge.
Aimee Mann was great, and so was Dave Gregory's guitar playing. It's now encore time and Andy is no longer sitting next to me. Is this really going to happen?
"This is a song by one of Dave's bands, The Dukes Of Stratosphear."
The band began playing "Collideascope" and right before the first chorus, Andy Partridge enters stage left with a tambourine and sings harmony in the shadows about five feet away from Dave's microphone.
And that was the almost XTC reunion of 1993.
I get more excited now thinking about being there than I was actually being there.
The Beat Goes On- The Harvey Averne Dozen
The More That I'm Around You- Jules Shear
Sweet Sweet Heart- The Vibrators
Rainmaker- Harry Nilsson
Everything- Adrian Belew
Say Anything- Aimee Mann
Just Another Honky- Faces
It's HERE when you want it.
Enjoy.
