Gulf Coast Blues
Downright depressing, isn’t it? It’s unfathomable at the moment to take in the amount of havoc, destruction, and chaos that Hurricane Katrina caused along the Gulf Coast. My brother in law and his girlfriend, both residents of New Orleans, now…
I hear mariachi static on the radio
I feel compelled to post this song because it’s been a recurring one over the last week on my playlists. And I just found that the chords are real simple (just E, A, and B7) so I can grab my…
Into the Melting Pot
Speechless. How I went 35 years without discovering the wonder and brilliance of this song, I have no idea. I have a lot to learn. I’ve always been familiar with Booker T. & the MG’s, their role in the history…
Hey Joe, Happy Birthday
Joe Strummer should be a young 53 years old today, but as fate would have it, he was plucked from this world almost three years ago. Thanks to this post at Berkeley Place, reminding me of fact that Joe’s birthday…
Saturday Night Soul wiith Isaac
In the late 60’s, Jimmy Webb moved to LA and wrote the bittersweet tune “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”. Johnny Rivers recorded it soon thereafter, but it was popularized by Glen Campbell’s 1968 version. But me, I’ll take…
Get ready for it
Something is definitely up in Montreal. I recently posted The Arcade Fire, and tonight it’s Montreal-based The Stills. This is an example of a tune where the whole atmosphere changes mid-song, and you find yourself entranced and drawn into it.…
Big Night Music
I finally got my grubby hands once again on one of my favorite albums, Shriekback‘s ‘Big Night Music.’ Hailing from London, Shriekback was made up of Barry Andrews (vocals, keyboards), Dave Allen (bass), and Carl Marsh (vocals/guitar). Andrews was once…
I’ll have to go when the whistle blows
Tonight I hit you with Montreal’s Arcade Fire, with their version of “Born on a Train,” a Magnetic Fields song. This was performed on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. I love lead singer Win Butler’s voice, especially on this tune.
Brother Jack and Young George
During the month of July 1964, Hammond B-3 whiz Jack McDuff was in a New York studio with tenor sax player Red Holloway, Joe Dukes on drums, and a 21 year old George Benson on guitar. The tracks they recorded…
Sad News from Havana
RIP Ibrahim Ferrer. My wife and I were lucky enough to see Ibrahim and his large Cuban band at Gammage Auditorium (ASU) back in 2003. To get a better understanding of this angelic-voiced, gentle man, rent/buy Buena Vista Social Club;…
