Townes Van Zandt - Live In Berlin (1991) | Zero G Sound

 Townes Van Zandt - Live In Berlin (1991)

Zero hat gesacht: Townes Van Zandt's music doesn't jump up and down, wear fancy clothes, or beat around the bush. Whether he was singing a quiet, introspective country-folk song or a driving, hungry blues, Van Zandt's lyrics and melodies were filled with the kind of haunting truth and beauty that you knew instinctively. His music came straight from his soul by way of a kind heart, an honest mind, and a keen ear for the gentle blend of words and melody. He could bring you down to a place so sad that you felt like you were scraping bottom, but just as quickly he could lift your spirits and make you smile at the sparkle of a summer morning or a loved one's eyes — or raise a chuckle with a quick and funny talking blues. The magic of his songs is that they never leave you alone.

This album is a wonderful recording from Townes Van Zandt´s gig at the Berlin Independence Days, way back in October 1990. 

Thanks to Hellmut, who was a part of the enthusiastic audience on this shiny evening, for sharing this album with us. Rest in peace, old friend!

Tracklist:

1 Mr. Mudd And Mr. Gold 2:56
2 If I Needed You 2:51
3 Buckskin Stallion Blues 3:15
4 Short-haired Woman Blues 3:10
5 Ain't Leavin' Your Love 2:30
6 Pancho & Lefty 8:11
7 Dollar Bill Blues 2:54
8 Fraulein 3:13
9 Shrimp Song 2:03
10 Blaze's Blues 3:19
11 No Place To Fall 3:19
12 To Live's To Fly 3:28
13 Lungs 2:50
14 Nothin' 3:33
15 Tecumseh Valley 4:28
16 Dead Flowers 2:57
17 White Freightliner Blues 3:47
18 Catfish Song 4:02

Billy Bragg - The Internationale (EP, 1990) | Zero G Sound

 

Billy Bragg - The Internationale (EP, 1990)

Zero hat gesacht 

"The Internationale" is a 1990 album by Billy Bragg. Originally released on Bragg's short-lived record label, Utility Records, it is a deliberately political album, consisting mainly of cover versions and rewrites of left-wing protest songs. Although Bragg is known for his association with left-wing causes, this release is unusual; most of Bragg's recordings balance overtly political songs with social observation and love songs.

Billy Bragg's albums have always contained material with the strong political slant of classic folksingers in the Woody Guthrie/Bob Dylan mold. This release shows him at his most muckrakingly fervent and angry. Only "The Marching Song of the Covert Battalions" has music actually composed by Bragg -- and that selection contains a lengthy quote of the tune "When Johnny Come Marching Home." The rest are covers of songs (some of them pre-20th century) that either overtly or covertly deal with revolution, radical politics, or pacifist sentiments. The arrangements are a real departure for Bragg, and are most unusual and effective. "I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night" and "Nicaragua Nicaraguita" are for unaccompanied voice. "Marching Song of the Covert Battalions" features prominent clarinet and recorder passages supported by organ, accordion, and revival-meeting bass drum/cymbals combination. "Red Flag" is an energetic reel set sparsely for voice, whistles, percussion, and minimal guitar. The title track is given a grand, traditional, all-stops-out treatment, arranged for chorus, large brass ensemble, and percussion. The album's best selection, "My Youngest Son Came Home Today," is a dirgelike antiwar number that is very moving and effective. This album is a committed, deeply felt manifesto well worth a listen. Original pressings of this record came with a wide-ranging and enjoyable promotional 45 containing selections by Bragg, Clea & McLeod, Caroline Trettine, and the Young Fresh Fellows.

Tracklist:

1 The Internationale 3:45

2 I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night 1:27

3 The Marching Song On The Covert Battalions 3:59

4 Blake's Jerusalem 2:30

5 Nicaragua Nicarauguita 1:06

6 The Red Flag 3:12

7 My Youngest Son Came Home Today 3:04

Tom Robinson - The Winter of 89 | Zero G Sound

Tom Robinson Band - The Winter Of 89

Zero hat gesacht: This album was recorded live in 1990 by a re-formed version of the band without either Dolphin Taylor, who was playing with STIFF LITTLE FINGERS at the time or Charlie Morgan who was playing with ELTON JOHN. Basic tracks recorded at Central TV Studios for the Bedrock programme, which has subsequently been released on DVD. Studio post production by Tom.

"Motorway - Live In Concert" is a pirate version of 'The Winter of 89' thanks to an unscrupulous record company called Merlin exploiting a loophole in EU law. Having licensed the album for £3000 they sold it on to other dodgy record companies around the world. The album has now been pirated variously under the titles 'Motorway', '2-4-6-8 Motorway' and even (incredibly) 'Power In The Darkness' using different covers, crap photographs and duff or nonexistent liner notes. In some cases even the song titles have been altered. The band receive no royalties from sales of these albums. 

Lineup:

TR(bs), Danny Kustow (gtr), Mark Ambler(kyb), Steve Creese (drs) EXCEPT tracks 11 and 12 which feature Paul Harvey (gtr) Winston Blisset (bs) James McMillan (tpt) Mark Ramsden (sax) and on Track 12 Steve Laurie (dr)

Tracklist:
1. Number One: Protection
2. The Winter Of '89
3. You Gotta Survive
4. Too Good To Be True
5. Martin
6. We Didn't Know What Was Going On
7. Up Against The Wall
8. Glad To Be Gay
9. Power In The Darkness
10. 2-4-6-8 Motorway
11. Atmospherics: Listen to the Radio
12. War Baby 

Tom Robinson Band - Winter of 89 Live!

Tom Robinson Band  - 2 4 6 8 Motorway Live!

Woody Guthrie - Struggle (1941) | ZeroGSounds

 

Woody Guthrie - Struggle (1941)

Zero hat gesacht: This album was originally released by Moses Asch, founder of the Folkways label, on Asch Records in 1941 as "Struggle: Documentary No. 1".

It was re-released by him in 1976 to commemorate the bicentennial of the American Revolution with a special series of liner notes by Asch explaining the importance of Woody Guthrie's history of the working class through song.

Both Guthrie's songs and the liner notes are stuff of supreme cultural importance. In the notes, Asch lays out a theory that the American Revolution has not yet been completed and there is a need for a "continuing struggle for human rights and equality."

As a collection of songs, this is surely one of the best Guthrie collections, especially once it's known how important it was to him personally. In many ways, it seems as if this album was the fulfillment of a very personal vision, which starts with the songs but is only realized in their collectivity.

Included here are such excellent songs as the unsettling "Hang Knot," the elliptic "Union Burying Ground," and the finely spun "Pretty Boy Floyd." These songs define Guthrie at his best, never didactic in tone but supreme in import. The album also features the Cisco Houston (Guthrie's sometime tramping companion) number "Get Along Little Doggies," as well as his vocal accompaniment on several tracks. Sonny Terry guests on "Lost John," lending his harmonica to Guthrie's tale of a chain gang escapee. Both as a historical artifact and as an amazing Guthrie album, this is required listening.

Ramblin´ Jack Elliott - Jack Elliott (1964) | Zero G Sound

 Ramblin´ Jack Elliott - Jack Elliott (1964)

A re-post from 2015 at the G Sound Zero zero hat gesagt: "Nobody I know—and I mean nobody—has covered more ground and made more friends and sung more songs than the fellow you're about to meet right now. He's got a song and a friend for every mile behind him. Say hello to my good buddy, Ramblin' Jack Elliott."- Johnny Cash, The Johnny Cash Television Show, 1969.

 

"Jack Elliott" was Ramblin' Jack's Vanguard debut, notable also for the appearance of Bob Dylan (credited as Tedham Porterhouse) on harmonica.

When Ramblin' Jack Elliott's name comes up in folk magazines, he's usually identified as a Guthrie copy who later passed on his skills of impersonation to Bob Dylan. This is true to a point, but a listener doesn't have to check out but three or four tracks on Jack Elliott to find out what an original oddball he is. 

It's true, he does cover Guthrie's "1913 Massacre" here, and he tends to prefer traditional material like "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and "More Pretty Girls" over originals. But his extravagant vocals deliver this material in the strangest, most startling manner. The listener can never be sure whether he's sending up a song like "Roll on Buddy" or just determined to turn tradition on its head. The most fun and fascinating piece here is "Guabi Guabi," an African folk song that Elliott learned by copying the vocal inflections. Of course, in his typical fashion, he talks through part of song explaining that he couldn't understand a certain section of the original. In his off the cuff, just for the hell of it way, Elliott has more in common with the Holy Modal Rounders than traditionalists like Pete Seeger or the New Lost City Ramblers. "Jack Elliott" manages to pay its respects to public domain material while still being entertaining.    

Tracklist:

Roving Gambler
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Diamond Joe
Guabi Guabi
Sowing On The Mountain
Roll On Buddy
1913 Massacre
House Of The Rising Sun
Shade Of The Old Apple Tree
Black Snake Moan
Portland Town
More Pretty Girls

I was never a Ramblin’ Jack fan I don’t know he just didn’t seem to follow over to the UK the folk circuit and I found him rather faux especially later on somehow but hey an associate of Woody and our Bobby will do fer me!

Mo’ Mississippi . . . . (John Hurt that is) | ZERO G SOUND

 

Mississippi John Hurt - Worried Blues 1963

Zero hat gesagt: Together with 1963's "Avalon Blues" (as opposed to the similarly titled compendium of 1928 recordings), “Worried Blues "represents the best of Mississippi John Hurt's later work, following his rediscovery in the early 1960s.

As much a folk musician as a bluesman, Hurt included traditional and devotional music as well as blues in his oeuvre. His wide-ranging repertoire here is highlighted by "Farther Along" and "Oh Mary, Don't You Weep." Accompanied only by his guitar, Hurt is a compelling, engaging performer who eschews gimmickry. The ease with which he plays creates a peacefulness at the center of this music that's undeniably appealing. --Genevieve Williams

Tracklist:

1 Lazy Blues 3:20

2 Farther Along 3:51

3 Sliding Delta 5:09

4 Nobody Cares For Me 3:38

5 Cow Hooking Blues No. 2 3:46

6 Talkin' Casey 4:51

7 Weeping And Wailing 4:11

8 Worried Blues 4:43

9 Oh Mary Don't You Weep 3:26

10 I Been Cryin' Since You Been Gone 3:09

 an absolute favourite of my beloved brother Steve’s . . . . . I well recall him coming home with a Mississippi John album and I was hooked, mesmerised . . . . . that . . .  .lovin' spoonful  . . hmm that Maxwell house! I’m satisfied but these are EARLY! ☕️

Beyond the Wildwood – A Tribute to Syd Barrett V.A. (1987) | Zero G Sound

VA - Beyond the Wildwood – A Tribute to Syd Barrett (1987)

Zero hat gesacht: Like a supernova, Roger "Syd" Barrett burned briefly and brightly, leaving an indelible mark upon psychedelic and progressive rock as the founder and original singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist of Pink Floyd. Barrett was responsible for most of their brilliant first album, 1967's "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", but left and/or was fired from the band in early 1968 after his erratic behavior had made him too difficult to deal with (he appears on a couple tracks on their second album, "A Saucerful of Secrets"). Such was his stature within the original lineup that few observers thought the band could survive his departure; in fact, the original group's management decided to keep Syd on and leave the rest of the band to their own devices. Pink Floyd never recaptured the playful humor and mad energy of their work with Barrett.                

Beyond the Wildwood – A Tribute to Syd Barrett is a tribute album consisting of music written by Syd Barrett. The musicians performing on the album are British and American indie rock artists. The songs featured come from Pink Floyd's singles; the albums The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and A Saucerful of Secrets; and Barrett's two solo albums: The Madcap Laughs and Barrett. Although Barrett's productive recording career had only lasted from 1967 though 1970, his music had a great influence on the development of psychedelic rock, alternative rock and indie rock music.

"Beyond the Wildwood" is a must have for any serious Syd fan. This album of covers is a fine tribute, the songs are not at all "replicas"; they are all fresh and re-worked, some of them quite radically.  

1. The Mock Turtles - No Good Trying
2. Plasticland - Octopus
3. SS-20 - Arnold Layne
4. Paul Roland - Matilda Mother
5. Fit And Limo - Long Cold Look
6. The Shamen - Long Gone
7. Opal - If The Sun Don't Shine (Adaptation Of Jugband Blues)
8. The Ashes In The Morning - Baby Lemonade
9. The Lobster Quadrille - Wolfpack
10. The Paint Set - Golden Hair
11. Tropicana Fishtank - No Man's Land
12. The T.V. Personalities - Apples And Oranges
13. The Soup Dragons - Two Of A Kind
14. The Green Telescope - Scream Thy Last Scream
15. The Chemistry Set - See Emily Play
16. What Noise - Rats
17. Death Of Samantha - Gigolo Aunt

Mississippi John Hurt - Friends Of Old Time Music Concert, December 13, 1963 | Zero G Sounds

 Mississippi John Hurt - Friends Of Old Time Music Concert, December 13, 1963

Zero hat gesacht: No blues singer ever presented a more gentle, genial image than Mississippi John Hurt. 

A guitarist with an extraordinarily lyrical and refined fingerpicking style, he also sang with a warmth unique in the field of blues, and the gospel influence in his music gave it a depth and reflective quality unusual in the field. Coupled with the sheer gratitude and amazement that he felt over having found a mass audience so late in life, and playing concerts in front of thousands of people -- for fees that seemed astronomical to a man who had always made music a sideline to his life as a farm laborer -- these qualities make Hurt's recordings into a very special listening experience. 
Here´s the soundboard recording of the "friends of old time music concert", School of Medicine, Alumni Hall
New York, N.Y., December 13, 1963.

Tracklist:
1.Do Lord intro
2.Do Lord Remember Me
3.Since Ive Laid My Burden Down
4.C.C. Rider
5.Casey Jones
6.Nobody's Dirty Business
7.Richmond Woman Intro
8.Richmond Woman Blues
9.Let The Mermaids Flirt W Me
10.Spike drivers Blues
11.Stagger Lee
12.Pallet On Your Floor
13.Coffee Blues Intro
14.Coffee Blues
15.My Creole Blues
16.Franky and Jonnie
17.Talking Casey

Filler tracks from 1964:

18.Monday Morning Blues
19.Pallet on Your Floor

N.B.

Zero thanks a source so it behoves me too too!Arizona Jones who don’t seem to have posted since 2017 but acts as a resource to some great stuff and is well worth checking out . . . . . 

Patti Smith - Divine Intervention (Roskilde DENMARK 1996) | Zero G Sound

 Patti Smith - Divine Intervention (Roskilde 1996)

Zero  hat gesagt:

"Three chord rock merged with the power of the word."

So Patti Smith described her music on the 1975 release of "Horses", her celebrated debut album; and so she has continued to blend the spoken and sung arts in incantatory fashion with her latest work, "Twelve". 

Impossible to categorize, moving easily between the literary and musical worlds, always unpredictable and impassioned, she is an idiosyncratically unique performer who has always remained true to her artistic vision.

Born in Chicago and raised in Woodbury, New Jersey, just across the state line from Philadelphia, Patti's mother, Beverly, was a jazz singer cum waitress. Her father, Grant, 

worked at the Honeywell plant; she was the oldest of four siblings: her sisters Linda and Kimberly (the latter plays mandolin on Gone Again's "Ravens,"), and brother Todd. Unable to find her place in high school society, she took refuge in the images of Rimbaud, Bob Dylan, James Brown, and the Rolling Stones. Dropping out of Glassboro State Teacher's College, she headed for the bright lights - big city of New York. 

.

"Divine Intervention" (1996, Rupert 9681) is a recording of her performance on June, 30, 1996 at the Roskile Festival in Denmark. The performance and the sound quality are good, so enjoy another Patti Smith bootleg...

The Twinkle Brothers - Miss Labba Labba (1977) | Zero G Sound

The Twinkle Brothers - Miss Labba Labba (1977)

Zero hat gesacht: It seems as though the Twinkle Brothers have been around since the beginning of time, or at least the beginning of reggae.
Led by Norman Grant, the Twinkles began in the early '60s as a trio featuring Grant and his two brothers singing in the slick trio style similar to that of the Melodians and the Mighty Diamonds. In the early '70s, the group hooked up with the influential producer and arranger Bunny Lee, a union that produced a number of reggae hits including "We Can Do It Too" and "Miss Laba Laba." In 1975, the Twinkles released their best and most widely known record, Rasta Pon Top, a rasta-infused, roots-heavy demi-masterpiece that included soul and gospel vocal stylings within the deep grooves.

Although hardcore reggae audiences were the principal fans of the Twinkle Brothers, Grant and company were consistently releasing chart-topping records. As much as this brought great success to the band, it also created a significant amount of friction, as Grant began seeing himself more as a solo act and less as a member of a trio.

The album Miss Labba Labba was released in 1977 on the Roots Music International label.

Tracklist:                            

A1	Miss Labba Labba	3:21
A2	It's Not What You Know	4:46
A3	Different Strokes	3:21
A4	Feeling Irie	3:14
A5	Too Late	3:45
B1	There Is No Peace	3:10
B2	Self Praise	3:08
B3	Jah Army	3:28
B4	Love, Sweet Love	3:14
B5	Down Came The Rain	4:48
B6	Do Your Own Thing	3:56

oh you wanted even more Reggae in n’yah Jeggae?

This is lovely!

here . . .

Joni Mitchell - Newport Folk Festival 1969 | Zero G Sound

Despite my recent criticisms and distress over Joni and her position today pro-smoking nicotine addict and Maggellons proponent! I will always have a soft spot for early Joni and of course we bought Songs to Seagull, Clouds and everything since . . . . . . here’s an interesting one from Zero. Really good quality!

Joni Mitchell - Newport Folk Festival 1969

Zero hat gesacht: Here´s a recording from Joni Mitchells evening concert at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, July 19, 1969. Sounds like a good soundboard stereo recording, except track 9 which is of lesser quality from a different source.

Joni Mitchell also participated in an afternoon songwriters workshop at the Newport Festival,  along with Leonard Cohen, Judy Collins, Janis Ian, David Blue, Mike Settle, Tom Paxton, and Eric Andersen.

"THE LADY IN NEWPORT  By Lachlan MacLearn

In the summer of 1966 [sic, should be 1967] a relative unknown walked onto the stage at the Newport, Rhode Island Folk Festival, after being introduced by Judy Collins. It was a breezy summer's evening and the crowd was restless. I remember thinking that this newcomer, whoever she was, was stepping into some serious company. I can't recall the exact lineup. Probably Tim Hardin, Fred Neil, Odetta, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, and the like. As I said, `serious company...' She appeared to be carrying a tiny Martin Triple-0, but I couldn't be sure. She wore a long dress. I was too far back to decipher the face.
There was a round of light applause when she was introduced. A tentative strum rolled from the huge PA, then another, and she was beginning her opening number. 
The song was 'Michael from Mountains'. And by the end of the first verse, the crowd had gone from bordering-rude to pin-drop silence. I was riveted. 
When the song ended, the strangest thing occurred. For at least five seconds (look at your watch...try to imagine it) the place was dead-silent - ten or fifteen thousand people - dead silent - and then a huge release of cheers and applause. 
The short set included `Chelsea Morning', and I think she played `The Circle Game' before leaving the stage to a tumultuous and prolonged standing ovation. 
I remember feeling so grateful for this amazing new talent and feeling equally sorry for anyone unfortunate enough to be going onstage after her." 

Tracklist:

01 Chelsea Morning

02 Cactus Tree

03 Night In The City

04 For Free

05 Willy

06 The Fiddle and the Drum

07 Both Sides Now

08 Get Together

09 The Circle Game

Zero G Sound

 

Ready Steady Go - Rock Steady (Pama, 1968, vinyl rip) | ZeroG Sound

Ready Steady Go - Rock Steady (Pama, 1968, vinyl rip)

Zero hagt gesacht: Bill Vincent wrote in the original liner notes:

"This album is packed with fourteen tracks of first class SKA type ROCK STEADY numbers, most of which have been in the top ten Ska chart and are now put together to make what to my mind, must be the best R0ck Steady or Blue Beat album ever to be offered to the public at large. If you study the titles and artistes names listed below you will soon be convinced that this is a must for you and like me you will vouch always to make SOUL FOOD your very first meal of the day.”

Tracklist:

Lynn Taitt & The Jets - Soul Food

Alton Ellis - My Time Is The Right Time

Clancy All Stars - CN Express

Carlton Alphonso - Where Is This World

Earl St Joseph - Eastern Promise

The Groovers - You Were Meant For Me

Clancy Eccles - What Will You Mama Say

Tommy Mckenzie & His Orchestra - Fiddle Sticks

Monty Morris - Say What You're Saying

Clancy Eccles - The Fight

Ernest Ranglin - Heart Beat

Alton Ellis - The Message

Joyce Bond Show - They Wash

Lloyd Terrel - Bang Bang Lulu