My favorite of the Fat Possum Records blues records of the ’90s, this one is from 1998. Some is just him on acoustic, other tracks are the Fat Possum trademark drums and electric guitar.
A rare 1961 comedy album by West Coast jazz trumpeter Jack Sheldon. He was also an actor and bandleader who led the house band on the Merv Griffin Show. These are jazz informed comedy monologues, usually with a hip beatnik punchline at the end of each bit.
Next I listened to this 1969 Chess Records lp that collects Elmore James and John Brim material from 1953 through 1960. I believe this is all the Chess Elmore James sides. I had never heard John Brim before, so he was a pleasant surprise. Some great tunes on here including the song Ice Cream Man that Van Halen covered.
Outtakes from the 1971 Stones lp. Raw versions of songs like Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, Tumbling Dice, All Down The Line, often with different lyrics. Tumbling Dice has very different lyrics, and actually, being more of a ’60s Stones fan, this is the first time I paid close attention to the lyrics of Brown Sugar. I had no idea it was about slavery.
Bad ass hard rock from 1969 Connecticut. Crazy fuzz leads all over, I thought it was two guitarists. Songs weren’t all that memorable, but this LP is solid.
After that last one, I needed to listen to something with some truer jazz content. Pete and Conte Condoli are both leading ’50s jazz trumpeters, they teamed up on Mercury Records for albums like this. This LP was heavily written and arranged by Pete Condoli, the solos aren’t the focus as much as the tight breakneck arrangements with each brother in a different stereo speaker. Jimmy Rowles and Howard Roberts feature prominently as well.
Simultaneously ridiculous and horrifying, this 2 CD set’s full title is Propaganda Swing, Dr Goebbel’s Jazz Orchestra, The Music of Charlie and his Orchestra. The Nazi’s hated jazz and swing, but then figured they could use it for propaganda. So they had these hack German guys, Charlie and his Orchestra, record American swing hits, then after a chorus or two the lyrics change to Nazi propaganda. Fascinating history, bigoted lyric content and as wooden and stiff as music can be played.
After listening to the Violators, I gave a spin to this 1980 demo from LA’s T.S.O.L. Raw early recordings, some of the tunes show up rerecorded on later releases, some don’t. I want to hear some recordings of pre-TSOL Vicious Circle.
In the ’70s & ’80s Denver seemed to have a Detroit Stooges/MC5 influence that led to the powerhouse that was The Fluid in the second half of the ’80s. This CD on Rave Up Records with rare recordings from 1978 by Denver’s Violators seems to be the root of this. Singer Augy Rocks (here still called Tom Pop) seems to tap into that same son-of-Iggy vibe as LA’s Rik L Rik. Great sound for recordings that were not intended for release.
NY punk band known for their KBD 45 of the same name from 1980. This is their ROIR cassette from 1981, recorded in North Carolina. Not bad, they play great, I just don’t find their songs all that memorable.