Plant, Kraus and Prine Kill the Blues
I was driving home from work last week, listening to Sirius Disorder while Howard was on commercial (sorry, I’m addicted), and was thrilled to hear a great song that I’d only previously heard coming from the raspy voice of John Prine. But this time it was emanating softly and sweetly from the mouths of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.
It turns out that Plant and Nashville bluegrass cutie Krauss holed up with producer T-Bone Burnett for an album of covers. They take on a broad sampling of some of their favorite tunes, ranging from the Everly Brothers to Tom Waits. The album, Raising Sand, will be out October 23rd. This should be good. Check out the track list (with songwriter in parenths):
“Rich Woman” (Dorothy LaBostrie/McKinley Millet)
“Killing the Blues” (Rowland Salley)
“Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us” (Sam Phillips)
“Polly Come Home” (Gene Clark)
“Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)” (Phil and Don Everly)
“Through the Morning, Through the Night” (Gene Clark)
“Please Read The Letter” (Robert Plant/Michael Lee/Jimmy Page/Charlie Jones)
“Trampled Rose” (Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan)
“Fortune Teller” (Naomi Neville)
“Stick With Me Baby” (Mel Tillis)
“Nothin'” (Townes Van Zandt)
“Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson” (Milt Campbell)
“Your Long Journey” (A.D. Watson and Rosa Lee Watson)The song I heard in the car was “Killing the Blues”. Silly me, not knowing that “Killing the Blues” isn’t a Prine-penned song at all, but rather a 1977 composition by Rowland Salley, who went on to play bass in Chris Isaak’s band. A great song, cool lyrics…
PRE-ORDER Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand on the Rounder Records Site or Amazon.
Funkcronomicon
The list of people involved in producer Bill Laswell’s 1995 Axiom Funk project is almost laugh-out-loud ridiculous, it’s so good: George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Herbie Hancock, Sly & Robbie, Sly Stone, Buckethead, Eddie Hazel, Maceo Parker, and a host of others. Reworked previously released tracks mix it up with new creations from Laswell and co.’s brilliantly imaginative minds.
The album is out of print, but can be found if you poke around online (including Amazon) – or if you know cool people like The Swiss Funkmaster – thanks b. 😉
You want a funky rhythm? Look no further.
Axiom Funk – Under the Influence (Jes Grew)
George Clinton: Vocals
Gary “Mudbone” Cooper: Vocals
Bootsy Collins: Vocals / Guitar
Herbie Hancock: Piano
Robbie Shakespeare: Bass
Sly Dunbar: Drum Programming
Anton Fier: Drums
Daniel Ponce: Congas
Aiyb Dieng: Cowbells / Percussion
Michael “Clip” Payne: Vocals
Debra Barsha: Vocals
Zhana Saunders: Vocals
Edwin Rodriguez: Tuba
Joe Daly: Baritone Horn
Ted Daniel: Trumpet / Flugelhorn
Janet Grice: Bassoon
J.D. Parron: Tenor Saxophon / Flute
Horns arranged and conducted by Henry ThreadgillBuy Funkcronomicon on Amazon.
All Music’s review of Funkcronomicon.
Check out a video from the album. Watch Bootsy & Buckethead cover Jimi’s “If 6 Was 9”:
Playing on “If 6..”
Bootsy Collins: Lead Vocals / Space Bass
Blackbyrd McKnight: Guitar
Nicky Skopelitis: Guitar
Robert Musso: Backward Guitar
Buckethead: Intro Guitar
Lili Haydn: ViolinRIP Luciano Pavarotti: 1935-2007
A Master has passed… RIP Luciano Pavarotti….
I really encourage everyone who sees this to watch this video. Regardless of what your perceptions of Pavarotti (or opera) are, the goosebumps will come, trust me.
Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma”…
Love for the Maestro around the blog world (this will grow throughout the days)…
- Luciano Pavarotti,1935-2007 (Hidden Track)
- Goodbye Maestro (The Muso)
- R.I.P. Pavarotti (Stereogum)
- Barry White and Pavarotti (2Serenity’s LastFM Journal)
- Luciano Pavarotti 1935-2007 (Local Vertical)
- Luciano Pavarotti:1935-2007 (Pirates of the Bargain Bin)
- Luciano Pavarotti, RIP (Crooks and Liars)
- Luciano Pavarotti: Remembrances (The Informed Reader – WSJ)
- All Good Things Come to an End (Brugo)
The Official Web Site of Luciano Pavarotti.
Charlie Rose interviews Pavarotti in October 2003:
Remembering Rick James
When Rick James died unexpectedly on August 6th, 2004, he was writing an autobiography, and working on a new album. Luckily, he had enough completed tracks to put together the posthumous and final studio album, Deeper Still, which was released earlier this year. The album includes some classic Rick James funk, some introspective tunes, and a cover – Crosby, Stills, and Nash’s “Guinnevere”. While it may look strange at first glance, there’s a connection there. What do CS&N and Rick James have in common? Many of you know the answer already. It’s Neil Young.
In the mid 60’s, When his musical ambitions outweighed his desire to fulfill his duty in the U.S. Naval Reserves, Rick left his hometown of Buffalo, NY, and went AWOL. He was off to Toronto with the stage name Ricky Matthews to pursue a career in music. It was there he formed a band called the Mynah Birds, which would soon enough add Neil Young as a member. The Mynah Birds ended up recording one album with Motown. The whole thing blew up when their manager pocketed the label’s advance money. The manager was fired, and in turn notified the authorities of Rick’s AWOL status. The album was shelved, and Rick spent a year in the Brooklyn Brig.
He moved to L.A. in 1969. During his eight years there, one of the bands he was involved in was Great White Cane. You can hear the song “Mother Earth”, with Rick on vocals, below.
It was 1978, with his debut Motown album Come Get It!, when the Rick James we all know emerged. The breakout single was the eight minute “You and I”. The album also included his ode to the green: “Mary Jane”. From there, it was smooth sailing for the next 10 years or so, as Rick busted out the hits on Motown. His peak came of course with “Superfreak”, from 1981’s Street Songs.
His dark years with cocaine abuse and legal problems are well documented. And of course, the Chappelle Show turned him into a cult hero for a new generation with the “I’m Rick James, bitch!” sketches. But it all comes back to the music. Rick James’ run on Motown in the late 70’s and throughout the 80’s was full of some classic funk jams and tender R&B ballads. We can forget his involvement in producing Eddie Murphy’s “Party All the Time” though, can’t we??
Great White Cane – Mother Earth – from their 1972 out of print album
Rick James – Cold Blooded – from Cold Blooded and The Definitive Collection
Rick James – Guinnevere – from Deeper Still
- Rick’s Official Site.
Amy Winehouse steps out at the Mercury Awards
Speaking of Ms. Winehouse, who Michael mentioned in his Sharon & the Dap-Kings post (the Dap-Kings also being Amy’s backing band on Back to Black), after going through what I would call a rough few weeks, she made an appearance at Tuesday night’s Mercury Awards in the UK.
I’m pulling for her. Though her voice harkens back to the 60’s soul singers, there’s something that’s fresh and original about her. I’m bummed that she cancelled her upcoming tour dates. I was excited about catching her in Austin. But the important thing is that she gets her shit straight, and judging by her performance of “Love is a Losing Game” Tuesday night, I think she’s on her way. Though I don’t think that classy husband of hers is doing any good.
New Video: Radio Nowhere
Amazon has the video exclusive of “Radio Nowhere”, the lead single from Bruce’s forthcoming album, Magic.
It’s dark and urgent, like a middle of the night pee.
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – Radio Nowhere (Amazon Video)
Ickmusic Live: The Clash – Buy or Die!
If you’ve been checking in with Ickmusic for a while, you know by now that I can’t go very long without a Clash or Joe Strummer post. So without much setup, here’s a great audience recording of a late 1978 gig at London’s Lyceum Ballroom. Find out a lot more background on the show at Black Market Clash (a fantastic live Clash / Strummer resource – click here for the home page with the frames).
RIP Joe. We miss you.
The Clash – Buy or Die !!!
The Lyceum
London
From the Sort It Out” Tour
December 29th, 19781. Safe European Home
2. I Fought the Law
3. Jail Guitar Doors
4. Drug Stabbing Time
5. Cheapskates
6. The City of the Dead
7. Clash City Rockers
8. Tommy Gun
9. White Man in Hammersmith Palais
10. English Civil War
11. Stay Free
12. Guns on the Roof
13. Police and Thieves
14. Julie’s Been Working for the Drug Squad
15. Capital Radio
16. Janie Jones
17. Garageland
18. Complete Control
19. London’s Burning*
20. White Riot** The last two tracks come from the 12/28/78 show at the Lyceum
Kala Good
M.I.A.
Her follow up to her very successful debut, Arular, was released a couple weeks ago. It’s called Kala, and I have to say, I’m enjoying it even more than her first. I love cool sounds. This album has ’em. She had originally planned to get in the studio with Timbaland for this album, but problems with her visa blocked her for a few months (he did end up producing one of the tracks: “Come Around”).
So, she took the label’s money and did some globe-trotting to pull in some tasty sounds. One of my favorites is her collaboration with Australian aborigine hip-hop group Wilcannia Mob, who are barely in their teens (if even that). That one’s called “Mango Pickle Down River” and features a wicked didgeridoo.
She’s also cool enough to incorporate the Clash into a song. “Straight to Hell” sets the tone on the Diplo-produced “Paper Planes”.
Here’s the album opener. “M.I.A.’s coming back with Power Power!” Crank it up and enjoy. Great album… tasty beats, bangs, and zooms. And she’s hot to boot.
I’ll be checking her out live in two weeks at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Who’s in?
Buy: Kala (Amazon)
Links: Her Seizure-Inducing Official Site (now defunct)
Come Over to Jeb’s Yard, Get Your Heaven Right Here
I heard another older song a few weeks ago that’s brand spanking new to me, courtesy of Sirius (where Steve Earle now has his own radio show on Outlaw Country – yipee!). This one is by Jeb Loy Nichols. Jeb made a unique musical journey from Austin, Texas to New York City to London. He’s been based out of the UK for some time now. In 2000, he traveled to Jamaica to record Just What Time It Is, a fusion of soulful pop, reggae, and a little country. The studio engineer was Stephen Stanley (Buju Banton, Burning Spear).
The song will reel a lot of you right in with its infectious sing-along chorus: “come ooon over to my yaard.” La la la la la… It’s a nice one!
Of the song, Jeb writes on his site:
I wrote this after the bulk of the album was already finished. Lorraine and I were cycling through Wadebridge, in North Cornwall, the lyrics came in a tumble, the whole thing was written in twenty minutes. I was pleased with the day, happy to be out of London, I’d recorded a record I liked and I was counting myself lucky. Things were looking up, I was doing what I wanted to do with people I admired, I was out of one thing and into another.
Take a listen (and don’t crap out before the chorus)…
Jeb Loy Nichols – Heaven Right Here (Come Over to My Yard) (mp3)
Buy: Just What Time It Is (Amazon)
Linkage: Official Site
Whatever Happened to Terence Trent D’Arby?
Why, he changed his name to Sananda Maitreya in 2001 after a series of dreams and moved to Italy. Duhh.
But seriously, he did. And he’s still active on the scene. You can cruise over to Sananda’s web site and see what he’s been up to.
One of the things you’ll find is a link to a full 2010 concert in Basel, Switzerland, including this one, “It Ain’t Easy”…
This song is one of TTD’s biggest hits from his great debut, Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby, and takes top billing as my favorite TTD tune. Enjoy. And go show Sananda some love.
Sananda Maitreya’s Official Site | Facebook
