• Funk,  Pop

    Funky Music a la Wild Cherry

    Once in a while it’s necessary to indulge my not-so-guilty pleasure appetite. This one took the charts by storm in ol’ 1976 – America’s Bicentennial, and the year I turned the big 6. Led by singer, guitarist and songwriter Rob Parissi, Wild Cherry rose out of Steubenville, Ohio in the early 70’s. They headed to Pittsburgh, PA and played around town for a couple of years before Rob broke up the band to manage a Bonanza steakhouse or two. But the music pulled him back in when he felt the industry going back toward the rootsy side of Rock n Roll. Well, it wasn’t long before the rock clubs began to be replaced by discos, and he got more and more requests to “play something funky.” Rob sat down and wrote this song.

    From the One Hit Wonder catalog, I give you… Wild #&@ Cherry!! Sure, you’ve heard it at every wedding you’ve ever been to, but still a great tune almost 30 year later.

    Those outside of the U.S., does this song make it into your local wedding play list?

    Wild Cherry: Play That Funky Music (mp3) – buy on Amazon

  • BritPop

    You Say You Want a Revolution?


    From the Arizona desert to the frozen tundra of Minneapolis, a guest post tonight from Britpop diggin’ Mark……

    Shh. Be very quiet. If you listen closely you can hear the sound of good music coming from across the pond. It’s tough to hear, I know, over the American Music Industry’s insistence at flooding our ears with the drivel of Jessica Simpson, Clay Aiken, and the latest plastic pop icon. But if you really want to hear something great, check out the UK music scene.

    Most people think that Brit Pop is over. Done. Blur vs. Oasis. Who cares? It all ended in 1997 when Oasis released “Be Here Now.” The truth is that for the last 4 years there have been dozens of bands that have been churning out music in the UK that is nothing short of spectacular. Sure, American record companies let through some bands occasionally like Coldplay or Franz Ferdinand.

    For the most part, however, these nitwits feel that you and I and the American listening public wouldn’t like Doves, The Stereophonics, Starsailor, The Coral, or Snow Patrol. Their support of these bands when they come to America is minimal and many of you probably haven’t even heard of them. And yet, they have made some of my favorite music over the last decade. So how do I learn of this music awash in a land of mediocrity?

    I read the UK music magazine NME (New Musical Express). They have been around since Elvis and are very plugged in to what is cool and what is not. Their writers actually go to underground gigs, get to know the bands and their fans, and write about the music that is still making the land of the Beatles radiate sonic waves of grooviness. It is from NME (www.nme.com) that I get most of my information about the latest and greatest UK bands.

    The biggest band in the UK right now is The Arctic Monkeys. They have two singles out, “Fake Tales of San Francisco” and “I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor” and they are stunning. They sound like a cross between early Who and kick ass funk. They have tons of energy, youth and irreverence, everything a good band should have.

    I would also check out The Subways (good power pop trio), Babyshambles (ex-Libertine Pete Doherty, produced by Mick Jones of The Clash), and The Kooks (jangly guitar pop). These are just a few of the many great bands that are jamming away in the UK, making great music unbeknownst to most Americans. I urge you to get plugged in to the UK music scene through NME or staying in contact with me (solidbond@mn.rr.com) to hear about what’s new and cool.

    And for the record, I am a fan of some American bands like the Strokes, The White Stripes, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Of course, I read about them first in NME.

    Arctic Monkeys: Fake Tales of San Francisco (mp3)

    The Kooks: California (mp3)

    All you readers in the U.K., what do you think? Any other recommendations?

  • Acoustic,  Country Rock,  Latin

    Sunday Grab Bag 2

    Another random sampling of some music I’ve been particularly enjoying of late.

    Though a ton of artists have recorded this Boudleaux Bryant classic, I first heard Nazareth’s version as a kid, then the Everly Brothers (who did the original in 1961). It wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally heard Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris do things to it that make me quite content to never hear another’s version again.

    Gram Parsons w/ Emmylou Harris: Love Hurts (mp3) from Grievous Angel (1973)

    A Cuban friend at work was kind enough to turn me on to legendary conguero Carlos “Patato” Valdes, thought by many to be the greatest Cuban conga player. This one comes from ‘The Legend of Cuban Percussion’, a 2000 release. With a flute, piano, bass, and Patato on the congas, it is most definitely headphone worthy.

    Carlos “Patato” Valdes: Luz (mp3)

  • Pop,  Rock

    Jack Bruce

    I watched part of the Cream reunion at the Royal Albert Hall from this past May. It was a treat to sit and watch this legendary trio wail through some of their tunes. Ginger Baker on drums, Clapton on guitar of course, and Jack Bruce on the bass.

    I haven’t followed Jack Bruce’s solo stuff or other work through the years, but there is one tune of his that I love. It was released on 1993’s ‘Something Els”. It goes a little something like this….

    Jack Bruce: Waiting on a Word (mp3)

    Waiting on a Word
    Standing on the highway
    Watchin’ all the cars go by
    I’ve been searching the horizon
    Wind is blowing dust in my eyes
    You’ve been gone such a very long time
    Seems like a hundred years have passed
    I left my heart down at the pawnshop
    Can’t afford it anymore, no more
    Now I’m feeling such a space inside of me
    Every time there’s someone at the door
    I’m not living till I hear you on the line
    and then you got to fly so very fast

    Ooh, waiting on a word
    Ooh, fires still burning
    Ooh, baby turn around
    Ooh, you gotta
    Come on home

    All those promises
    That we drove

    Together With nowhere to go
    Well we started out so fine
    Now the flame is all but dying

    Ooh, waiting on a word . . .