portrait of this blog's author - by Stephen Blackman 2008

Thursday, September 30, 2021

AMY MacDONALD NEWS!

 AMY NEWS!

(MacDonald that is!)


She is SO sweet and has thanked all her fans on her Facebook page for achieving 100 Million views for her early single 'THIS IS THE LIFE' (Feb 2010) I love all her work and have most of not all of it and she is so honest and engaging. Wears her heart on her sleeve!

WE like HER!

 

and check out her reactions to playing live again . . . . . . . . girl is COOL!


So . . . . . . 
GLASGOW SEPT 2021


September 12, 2021 - Amy Macdonald at Glasgow Green, Glasgow, Scotland
 
We Could Be So Much More
The Hudson
Mr Rock and Roll
Dream On
Don't Tell Me That It's Over
Bridges
Slow It Down
Run
Poison Prince
This Is the Life
Statues

Let's Start a Band

Ben Lyonsmyth - guitar
Jimmy Sims - bass
Thom Kirkpatrick - keyboards, guitar
Adam Falkner - drums
Henry - keyboards

💜

NEW SINGLE from WET LEG!

"I GOT BUFFALO 66 ON DVD"

'WET DREAM'



Dangerous Minds asks 'Can they top their own best song of the year?' . . . . . Spoiler: the answer is 'YES!'


The Psychedelic World Of The 13th Floor Elevators (3 CD Box) 2002 - URBAN ASPIRINES

URBAN ASPIRINES - THE 13th FLOOR ELAVATORS - PSYCHEDELIC!

Another great tribute and remix remaster re-issue set of a classic early psychedelic masterpiece from the legendary Roky Ericsson and The 13th Floor Elevators from Kostas over at his blog-page! Four discs (count 'em) from this re-boot of 3 cd Box from Charly in 2002!?!?




Hailing from Austin, Texas, the members of 13th Floor Elevators were quite possibly the first artists to describe their music as psychedelic. Their lyrics and sleeve notes openly and religiously endorsed the use of drugs (particularly LSD) to alter human consciousness for the better. The band rattled to the middle of the Hot 100 in 1966 with You’re Gonna Miss Me, anchored by Roky Erickson’s unforgettable yelping vocals, Stacy Sutherland’s guitar, and Tommy Hall’s electric jug runs. According to myth, Tommy’s jug was tuned by the amount of marijuana stored in it


You're Gonna Miss Me! - The 13th Floor Elevators 




Wednesday, September 29, 2021

SOUND OF THE DAY: John Hiatt and The Goners

 "TENNESSEE PLATES"

In case you didn't download the Johnny Hiatt and The Goners t'other day well here's another taster of what your missing!


'I LOVE SONNY LANDRETH!'

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

NO DEPRESSION- Book review - John Hiatt

 

Determination and 'A Little Faith' Drive John Hiatt's Life Story

By Henry Carrigan, The Reading Room

John Hiatt set his sights very early on being a songwriter, singer, and guitarist and never lost faith in himself, even though he went through plenty of personal struggles that might have caused him to give it all up. Now, for the first time, ND contributor and DJ and music archivist Michael Elliott provides a glimpse into the windows of Hiatt’s life, his struggles, and his music in the captivating Have a Little Faith: The John Hiatt Story.

Learn More

Monday, September 27, 2021

John Hiatt - TEXAS 1987 - So Many Roads

 So Many Roads has got its act together and posted the corrected links to the fine set from another hero, John Hiatt Texas in 1987 (again with legendary Sonny Landreth on geetar!)

John Hiatt - Houston, Texas '87 - So Many Roads



So Many Roads says:
1980s - #6: On May 29, 1987, John Hiatt released the album Bring The Family, and quickly became an “overnight sensation”. Of course, earning that label was 13 years and 7 prior albums in the making. In fact, when Hiatt recorded Bring The Family, he was actually on the verge of quitting the business, having recently been dropped by his record label. Hiatt, with encouragement from John Chelew of McCabe's Guitar Shop who had heard some of the early versions of tunes that wound up on the album, decided to take one more crack at recording. Demon Records in the UK put up about $30,000 to help Hiatt record an album. Then old friends, Nick Lowe, Ry Cooder and Jim Keltner joined Hiatt in the studio. Due to budget constraints, the entire record had to be recorded in just 4 days. Hiatt and Lowe actually shared a hotel room at a local Holiday Inn to save money (Lowe, by the way, took no payment for his contribution). The result - Bring The Family became one of the cornerstones of Hiatt’s career, featuring songs such as Memphis in the Meantime, Thing Called Love, Lipstick Sunset Have a Little Faith in Me, Thank You Girl and Learning How to Love You. This soundboard recording captures Hiatt on September 26, 1987, 34 year ago this very day, in Houston, in support of his breakthrough album. 

Now THAT'S how to start the week!

A Lil Dab'l Do Ya!

LIZ PHAIR - WCSE Sessions 1996-1997 - Big O

 There's some pretty damned impressive Liz Phair over at Big O this morning and if you don't know her check her out. If you do then this is a real treat 


Liz Phair 1996/7



Look at that track listing! IT'S enormous!

Quality is ace too!

The uploader at DIME dbeamer407 noted:

This demo set has been a holy grail item to track down in lossless quality. They circulate very widely and it appears that even early CD-R copies often had been burned from MP3 files. This copy comes from a CD-R that was sent out by the original compiler. At long last I have been able to find this fascinating material in lossless quality. Now if someone could turn up the 4th Album Roughs in lossless quality (even if only the few tracks that circulate among fans as MP3’s). The few tracks known were originally downloaded in .aif format but as far as I can tell that quality has been lost to time but hey I never thought I would track down this set in full quality either.




Today . . . . . . . the new album 'Soberish' (there really is no such thing!?) has met with mixed reviews . . . . . . 
"In there" . . . . . . . . 

AQUARIUM DRUNKARD SIDECAR NEWS



From the Aquarium Drunkard Newsletter 'Sidecar'!



Is it possible that the latest in Dylan’s Bootleg Series feels…a little slim? Here’s what we get with Springtime In New York: two discs of rehearsals and outtakes from the tail-end of the so-called “Gospel Era”; two discs of Infidels session outtakes; and one disc with a smattering of live performances and studio alternates from 1984 and 1985. It clocks in at well over four hours, but it isn’t quite the immersive deep dive into this Dylan era that fanatics have been dreaming of for many years. But enough complaining. Springtime is still fantastic, with revelations and pleasures galore. What the 16th (!) volume of the Bootleg Series gives us is a chance to explore this odd era anew, to watch it all come together and occasionally fall apart.




John - with Magic Alex's 'Nothing Box'






 

John Lennon posing with Alexis Mardas’ ‘Nothing Box’, 

by Brian Duffy, 1965. 

A series of images of the Beatle smiling, having just had his teeth done in the United States. While in the U.S (presumably) John purchased several “Nothing Boxes” from inventor and associate Magic Alex, one of which is featured here. These boxes did just as they promised, nothing. Other than blink, of course, until their battery runs out.

Alexis Mardas, also known as Magic Alex, was a Greek electronics engineer who is best known for his close association with the Beatles. His nickname was given to him by John Lennon when he was involved with the group between 1965 and 1969, during which time he became head of Apple Electronics*


As is explored in the article linked below this may not be an invention of Magic Alex at all and there is much discussion online about The Nothing Box with some folks trying to make their own etc. But the extraordinary company  Hammacher Schlemmer and their 'unusual range sold these in the early sixties and it was either something John bought from there or Magic Alex may have bought them as gifts for the Beatles as we believe eight were around John's apartment at one time or another. Either way . . . . . I want one! ha  ha ha ha ha ha . . . . . . ..  .




*more on the Nothing Box here . . . .

Hammacher Schlemmer - still weird!

Sunday, September 26, 2021

SUNDAY MUSICS From DANGEROUS MINDS

TRAFFIC
 - LIVE in SANTA MONICA 1972 -

Dangerous Minds (check them out!) over on their blog has posted a beautiful video set from TRAFFIC this Sunday morning and what better to listen to to make your Autumn Sunday go with a smooth laid back vibe!? Here in '72 it is worth reflecting that Steve Winwood was still only 24. 

Nice notes too from Dangerous Minds to remind us what it was all about . . . . . . . . . . 


Traffic were at this time: Steve Winwood, vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass; Jim Capaldi, percussion, vocals; Chris Wood, flute, saxophone; Rebop Kwaku Baah, percussion; Roger Hawkins, drums; David Hood,bass.

Saturday, September 25, 2021

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC!

 A SONG TO BID YOU ALL GOOD NIGHT!

THIS MORTAL COIL - SONG TO THE SIREN (Re-Mix)


Long afloat on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle
And you sang
Sail to me, sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you
Did I dream, you dreamed about me?
Were you here when I was full sail?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks
For you sing
Touch me not, touch me not
Come back tomorrow
Oh, my heart
Oh, my heart shies from the sorrow
Well I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I'm as riddled as the tide
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Or should I lie with death my bride?
Hear me sing
Swim to me, swim to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you

Songwriters: Buckley Tim / Beckett Ralph Lawrence


From The Monkees TV Show 1968

Long afloat on shipless oceans I did all my best to smile 'Til your singing eyes and fingers Drew me loving to your isle And you sang Sail to me, sail to me Let me enfold you Here I am, here I am Waiting to hold you Did I dream you dreamed about me ? Were you hare when I was fox ? Now my foolish boat is leaning Broken lovelorn on your rocks For you sing 'Touch me not, touch me not Come back tomorrow Oh my heart, oh my heart Shies from the sorrow' I am puzzled as the oyster I am troubled as the tide Should I stand amid your breakers ? Or should I lie with death my bride ? Hear me sing 'Swim to me, swim to me Let me enfold you Here I am, here I am Waiting to hold you'

SONG OF THE DAY

 PAUL BRADY

'CRAZY DREAMS'



One of the finest appearances on 'Later With Jools' (Holland that is back in 1996) in my opinion!

and bringing it right up to date . . . . . . 


SMILE - 2021 
This is part of a globally streamed Paul Brady concert as part of the 'Imagining Ireland' live streaming series, no audience in the room, from Dublin's National Concert Hall on Nov 7th 2020. Thanks also to Culture Ireland and the National Concert Hall.


and perhaps my all time favourite song of Paul's again here taken and played around with from the same set on Later with Jools in 1996 'The World Is What You Make It' [play it at my wake!]

Friday, September 24, 2021

Lou Reed - Live on Letterman (and The BBC) - Floppy Boot Stomp

      And as a final treat to set up your boogie bone for the weekend Brother Jobe over at Floppy Boot Stomp has posted still more Lou Reed - a project assembled by his good self and it is a doozie! Selected works from the Letterman appearances which are obviously of broadcast quality and a smattering of his appearances at the BBC around the time of the Ecstasy album (2000) to flesh it out a bit (the Letterman consisted of 18 tracks which frankly is fine but Jobe decided to add to it and fascinating listening they make too!

Lou Reed - Live on Letterman+ FLOPPY BOOT STOMP



If you don't believe me just check out Dirty Boulevard and say Sweet Jane! Awesome!


+



Thanks Jobe!

Well it's Friday so this is for Jobe . . . . . . we gonna dance around our handbags now!

Sweet Jane

Dirty Boulevard


Joy Division: Heart And Soul 2009 - URBANASPIRINES

  



Now Kostas from The Urbanaspirines (no, me neither!  ha ha ha ha!) has been on holiday and had lovely time in Greece and he must be feeling suitably rested because he rejoins the ROIOZone with a peach of a project that is really worth reading (always) and downloading (too!) by looking at the work of Joy Division

Joy Division: Heart And Soul (4CD Box 1997) 2009



As thorough a look at Joy Division and Ian Curtis as it is possible to get really in written form and as comprehensive an audio selection as it is possible to get too IMHO . . . . . enjoy or Love Will Tear Us Apart


and of course this gives me the golden opportunity to feature shots of one of my favourite actors!
Samantha Morton plays Deborah Curtis' wife and she can do no wrong in my book and is eminently watchable in everything she has done






obsessed? moi?


Ian Curtis died by suicide (he hung himself in his kitchen where his wife, Deborah found him) on the eve of the band's first US/Canada tour in May 1980, he was 23





NANCI GRIFFITH 1997 - Big O

 Well everyone over in blogospheres land (its a place!) have suddenly kicked back into overdrive again this past 24 hours and to start with Big O have posted a nice set of Nanci Griffith here from Warwick University in 1997. Again if you can get past the torrents of filth and trolls pretending to be each other and legitimate visitors being harangued and bullied and your just going there for the music you can find many a gem and based as they are in Singapore they often post links to an extraordinary wide circle of material.

Nancy Griffith - Coventry UK, 1997 - Big O



Track 01. Everything’s Coming Up Roses 3:22
Track 02. Across The Great Divide 3:43
Track 03. From A Distance 4:43
Track 04. Gulf Coast Highway 4:07
Track 05. I Live On A Battlefield 3:37
Track 06. I Fought The Law 3:02
Track 07. Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness 4:11
Track 08. It’s A Hard Life 5:32
Track 09. Two For The Road 3:26
Track 10. Outbound Plane 3:39
Track 11. Late Night Grand Hotel 2:58
Track 12. Wouldn’t That Be Fine 4:03
Track 13. Not My Way Home 3:58
Track 14. This Heart 4:19
Track 15. Well Alright 2:47
58 mins

This is nice and pretty close to her last appearances in the UK. My wife and I saw her on the Once In A Very Blue Moon tour the years before

After repeated bouts of cancer On August 13, 2021, Nanci Griffith passed away in Nashville at the age of 68.

She is sorely missed

The Battle of Antietam 1862

 THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM



I was I think I have said obsessed with the story and history of the 500 Nations of America before it was called America and the indigenous populations therein and their tribal life. I studied and read and collected books on the subject for a long time and lots of stuff on the Old Wild West too so called but mostly from the earliest time Geronimo to Sitting Bull, Custer's Last Stand to Wounded Knee. I loved the movies about such things and times too. 
The side issue that fascinated me too was the American Civil War not least upon discovering that there were ancestors bearing my name on BOTH side of the war which astonished me to discover. 

So I found this t'other day and since its significance to me. The Americans today fascinate me too with their divisiveness and Trump's intent upon dividing and conquering which seemed to do an awful lot of very great harm. The notion that such a war like nation has killed more of it's own peoples than any of the World Wars and indeed any wars to date that it has continued to involve itself with from Vietnam to Afghanistan, the NRA and the gun laws meaning that it has literally killed and slaughtered more of its own than any overseas conflict is staggering to me and surely any right minded thinking 21stC person! 

This day, September 17th, marks the bloodiest day in American history.  In 1862, the Union and Confederate armies fought a day long battle for the control of Sharpsburg, Maryland at Antietam Creek. It was a brutal battle with the end result of Robert E. Lee saving his army from destruction.  But it was a very close run fight, and Lee maintained the battlefield long enough to retreat back into Virginia and bring to a close his first offensive on northern soil.

There were over 22,000 casualties this day with over 3,600 dead on the battlefield.  Many more would succumb to their wounds over the next few days.  Iconic photos of the dead taken in the aftermath of the battle would forever change the way Americans viewed the conflict. 


NAT MYERS: WILLOW WITCHIN' makes it twice to recodin' of the day!

 FRIDAY MEWSICS!

WILLOW WITCHIN' WOMAN!

Here from his Kentucky living' room you betcha!

Nat Myers

Here y'all! Nat say:
I wrote Willow Witchin' one day in June. Like all my hot takes, I wanted to do it in a single take, into my phone. So I laid a few down, and with the help of Ariane chose the one that felt the best.
Willow Witchin' got a hundred thousand streams now on snorify. Not that the numbers mean much, but the ears that hear my songs sure do. I appreciate it if you part of that cast.
Here's a take from late July, fore my show in Catskill, NY, cuz I'm in want of content because I'm like Curly Stooge doin whirligigs these past few weeks.
You can catch me doin along with a heap of others 'fore the blue warbler Willie Watson, who is sure to soothe all woebegones.


I got the album and you can too! Get it here, y'here!

https://natmyers.bandcamp.com


Gosh darn I love this song and the youngster singing' it! Show me where to dig my well!



 

Thursday, September 23, 2021

MURDER ON THE MED . . . . . .

 


This strikingly handsome young man with the piercing gaze caught my eye on Facebook this morning and of course wouldn't you know it there is a story and (and then some!) here:

This is Sudanese poet Abdel Wahab Yousif. He was one of 45 people who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea a few days ago when their ship was shot at by a group of men and caught fire. Authorities from Libya, Malta and Italy were all called but no one came to their rescue.


Abdel was well known among young poets in Sudan. Despite his poor upbringing he managed to get a degree at the University of Khartoum but even that wasn't enough to offer him a better life. He fled his home in desperate search of safety. But he knew of the dangers that lay ahead. In many ways, he predicted his own death at sea in one of his recent poems:


You’ll die at sea.

Your head rocked by the roaring waves,

your body swaying in the water,

like a perforated boat.

In the prime of youth you’ll go,

shy of your 30th birthday.

Departing early is not a bad idea;

but it surely is if you die alone,

with no woman calling you to her embrace:

“Let me hold you to my breast,

I have plenty of room.

Let me wash the dirt of misery off your soul.”


فى مقتبل العمر

دون أن تبلغ الثلاثين بعد .

ليس سيئاً أن تغادر باكراً أبداً ،

السيء، أن تموت وحيداً

دون امرأة،

تقول لك : تعال إلىَّ، حضنى يتسع لكَ،

دعني اغسل روحكَ مِن درنِ البؤسِ .


Абдель Вахаб ( вольный перевод  Helga Landauer  Ольшванг )


В море умрешь.

Голову станут качать твою

волны ревущие,

тела дырявую лодку клонить вода. 

В середине лет

сгинешь, тридцать едва-едва

не исполнилось.

Это неплохо придумано -  рано отбыть,

все же, конечно, 

когда умираешь один,

плохо, без той, кто звала бы обнять: «...прижмись,

много места в моей груди,

дай отмою, душа моя, 

дальше ты не страдай.»

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

THE DOORS - TV Appearance MURRAY THE K Show - So Many Roads

 



The Doors - Brooklyn Fox Theatre 1967- The Murray The K Show






So Many Roads say:

The Doors - 1967-09-22 - Brooklyn NY (FM)

The Doors 
1967-09-22
Fox Theater
Brooklyn NY
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

01. Murray's Introduction (Various Takes)
02. People are Strange (False Starts)
03. People are Strange (Take 1)
04. People are Strange (Take 2)
05. Murray Pleads & Jim Threatens
06. People are Strange (Take 3)
07. Directing the Doors
08. People are Strange (Televised Performance)
09. Light My Fire (Televised Performance)


1960s - #6: In the mid 1960s, one of the most prominent DJs in New York City was Murray Kaufman, better known as Murray The K.  He was an early ardent supporter of the Beatles, and one was one of the first DJs to greet and interview them when they arrived in America. He even  nicknamed himself the 5th Beatle! He moved to FM radio in the late 1960s and helped pioneer free form radio.  He also launched a TV program, called Murray The K In New York, featuring up and coming rock artists.This soundbaord recording captures his September 22, 1967 show, from 54 years ago today, featuring The Doors, who had burst on the scene earlier that year with their debut album and the single Light My Fire. By the way, this TV appearance took place just 5 days after the legendary Ed Sullivan show where the Doors also performed Light My Fire.  Jim Morrison, against Sullivan's, sang the line "we couldn't get much higher", resulting in Ed canceling 6 other scheduled appearances! When confronted and told the band would never play The Ed Sullivan Show again Jim smiled and replied "We just played it!"