By Marcelo Costa - Alex with Big Star at Hyde Park

Now this is interesting and I only just spotted this but Aquarium Drunkard have posted a lovely and fascinating article on Alex Chilton. Now in terms of singles bought when they came (a current thread for posting music I have used for the past year or so) I bought the Box Tops' 'The Letter' when it came out and we adored it and played it to death. I was still at school but it was never off the youth club turntable for an age. I loved the blue eyed soul sound and Alex's voice belied his callow years.

 To know that he went on to become an enigma and the brains behind Big Star (alongside the tragic Chris Bell whose band it had been, killed in a car accident at 27 - yes, that age again 27 ) came to us Brits really slowly, we had thought the Box Tops a one hit wonder but this article shows a searchlight onto Chilton's ambitions, his tastes and his breadth of interest from the blue eyed soul of pop, to the later indie band retro sound beloved of REM and others, to an abiding interest and a serious one in jazz standards. Check it out here . . . . . 

Frame For The Blues: The Powerful Ease of Alex Chilton - Aquarium Drunkard

Big Star

The source . . . . . . 


more interesting stuff about the Big Star guitarist and guy who invited Alex to join his band [Chris Bell] here
Chris Bell -Big Star - Gay Cultureland

" Don't Think Twice It's Alright "

                             

                                                       

“Right from the start I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was the most erotic thing I’d ever seen. The air was suddenly filled with banana leaves. We started talking and my head started to spin. Cupid’s arrow had whistled past my ears before, but this time it hit me in the heart and the weight of it dragged me overboard… She had a smile that could light up a street full of people and was extremely lively, had a kind of voluptuousness—a Rodin sculpture come to life.”
– Bob Dylan

 

“Bob was charismatic: he was a beacon, a lighthouse, he was also a black hole. He required committed backup and protection I was unable to provide consistently, probably because I needed them myself. … I could no longer cope with all the pressure, gossip, truth and lies that living with Bob entailed. I was unable to find solid ground. I was on quicksand and very vulnerable.”
– Suze Rotolo

_ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ 

                                         

"The last great song on Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”. The first track on the second side, it could almost actually be the best thing on the whole album (it’s not, but it’s close), which is saying quite a lot. Dylan will go on to write a whole raft of break-up songs, but this is the template for all the rest of them. These are the cool lyrics, with an undercurrent of hurt, and with the false veneer that says ‘nothing really bothers me’. This is the kind of song that most people wish they could sing when they getting dumped, but few of them actually can.In the summer of 1963 Dylan was seeing both Joan Baez and Suze Rotolo (his longtime on-again off-again girlfriend who is hugging his arm on the cover of Freewheelin’). Baez performed this song during her set at the Newport Folk Festival, and introduced it, with Rotolo in the audience, thusly: “Here’s another Bobby song. This is a song about a love affair that has lasted too long”. Rotolo, of course, walked out." 

Long and Wasted Year

                        

                                      

Anybody remember THIS?



pretty sure I have this single and bought it from the bargain bins (again) of ex-jukebox vinyl

100 VAGINAS

Probably recommended viewing for every man I ever met! Most women already will have watched it I guess and if they haven't and are at all put off by the idea well then they should watch it too! 

Totally fascinating programme from Channel 4 last night and ready for viewing on Catch Up still over the next 29 days. Probably one of the best things I have ever watched on television in my lifetime! There I have said it! Ought to be compulsory viewing IMHO!

Even Big O my favourite music blog site mentioned here in their newsletter this morning (see below)

It shocked and entertained me so that there was laughter (literally LOL funny in places) and made me weep in others [10 women in this country are raped every HOUR!] I have never understood the power wielded by men over the fear of the female sexual organs that creates FGM and infibulation. I have often wondered what planet we are on that condones such violence to our female children 
for that is mostly what they are and the programme is brutally frank about this primitive, archaic and disgraceful disgusting act of let's name it Female Genital Mutilation.  But there are other truths explored here and though maybe not for the squeamish (sic!?) it pulls no punches and nor should it and there is joy to be found here too.

Channel 4 - 100 Vaginas

Laura Dodsworth - Channel 4

A PORTRAIT OF 100 VULVAS 

First it was breasts, then penises - now photographer Laura Dodsworth has taken portraits of 100 vulvas. Nothing is sacred.

"Towards the end of last year, I published an essay about my vulva - in a book, and then in the Guardian. At 25, I'd spent years considering labiaplasty and having sex with the lights off, because of things ignorant boys had said, as well as some of my friends. I felt a deep sense of shame about my body, which over time became crippling." - Liv Little

It's this shame that photographer Laura Dodsworth is aiming to overcome with her latest project, Womanhood. In a book and accompanying film for Channel 4, she tells the stories of 100 women and gender non-conforming people through portraits of their vulvas. It's the third instalment in a series: in Bare Reality and Manhood, Dodsworth photographed and talked to people about their breasts and their penises, respectively (both stories featured in Weekend magazine). The photographer has described the series as an "unexpected triptych"; she didn't know the project would take this direction at the start (and, when it was first suggested to her, she didn't want it to). But the more she thought about photographing women's vulvas, the more necessary she felt it was.

"I'd been considering this idea, but kept pushing it away," she tells me. "And then there were three things I read in a couple of months. One was about female genital mutilation. When I read about women around the world having FGM, I felt sick." She read a news story about girls as young as nine asking UK doctors for labiaplasty. Then there was a description in a health leaflet of the vagina as a "front hole" - language she felt was inaccurate and harmful. Finally, Dodsworth wanted to move on from the penis project, which had seen her hailed as a champion for men: "How am I, a card-carrying feminist, a champion for penises, but not women and vulvas?"

Read the full story here. [please note: this link goes to an article of the Guardian newspaper that contains graphic photographs of the female sexual organs]

The Making of Guernica

Dora Maar, Photos of  Pablo Picasso’s Guernica in progress

Executed in between May 4 and June 10, 1937, in Picasso’s Left Bank studio on the Rue des Grands Augustins. Picasso’s progress on the painting was documented by his then-lover, artist and photographer Dora Maar. Maar was a formidable talent in her own right and deserved of much more attention. Muse certainly but also independent artist, painter, poet and photographer (she once shared a studio with Brassai) who documented much of the era as well as exploring her own deep creativity.

Dora Maar in her studio 1946 by Brassai

Dora Maar in her studio with her portrait of Gertrude Stein's partner Alice B Toklas

 

Dora Maar portrait by Man Ray

ANOTHER DAY

Paul McCartney

Again I have this on a single and think I bought it when it came out though it could be one of my bargain bin ex-jukebox finds if not in 71 then very near.. Not sure until I checked the vaults but I loved this song and it show Paul at his best IMHO making up songs about the small stuff. Everyday, everyman issues, people on buses and going to work, telling an everyday story through song. In the vein of 'Penny Lane' and 'Eleanor Rigby' to my ears. The quote reply of John 'since you're gone your just another day' is well documented and unfortunate (see wiki for the documented argument and the kissing and making up!). Still it always struck me as shocking to find my hero was so small minded, petty, reactionary and the content of 'How Do You Sleep' was simply not true, just brothers trying to hurt each other . . . . . . shock horror headline reads "John Nastier than Paul! Who Knew?!'

On this day in music history: February 19, 1971 - “Another Day” by Paul McCartney is released. Written and produced by Paul McCartney, it is the first post-Beatles solo single for McCartney. It is written as a “thematic sequel” to “Eleanor Rigby”, describing a woman as she struggles to make it through the “drudgery and sadness” of her daily life. Recorded at A&R Studios in New York City in December 1970, it is cut during the sessions for his forthcoming second solo album “RAM”. Backed with the mid tempo rocker “Oh Woman, Oh Why”, the two tracks are released as a stand alone single. Picked for release by engineer Dixon Van Winkle, it is quickly mixed with acetates sent to one hundred radio stations who begin airing it immediately. The mono mix sent to AM radio stations features heavy compression with an elevated amount of bass, that is not present on commercially issued copies which are issued in stereo only in the US. “Another Day” peaks at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 17, 1971. Later in the year, John Lennon makes reference to “Another Day” in his song “How Do You Sleep?” (from the “Imagine” album), with him taking a swipe at his former Beatle band mate, with the lyric “The only thing you done was Yesterday, and since you’ve gone you’re just Another Day”. The song is his response to McCartney after he believes that the songs “Too Many People”, “3 Legs” and “Dear Boy” (on “RAM”) are critical of him. “Another Day” is not issued on an album until 1977 when it is included on the compilation “Wings Greatest”. “Another Day/Oh Woman Oh Why” is reissued in as a limited edition 7" single (packaged with a replica of the original Norwegian picture sleeve) for Record Store Day in April of 2012, and as bonus tracks on the CD reissues of “RAM”.

PATTI SMITH 

'Gloria'

When it was released the album 'Horses' totally blew me away, what a debut!! I was at Artschool! What else you gonna do!? Mapplethorpe on the cover, Patti on song and well, Horses . . . . . 

A fellow student bought it and played it  to us . . . . . we played it to DEATH
Then I got a 12" single of 'Gloria" and with a live version of 'My Generation' on the B-side with John Cale on bass! (Cleveland on 26 Jan 1976) 
we played it LOUD . . . . . window rattling loud! 'Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr John Cale!'



'Gloria' still sounds great to me even now, iconic and remember "Jesus died for somebody's sins . . . . . . but not mine . . . . . "

Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine
Meltin' in a pot of thieves
Wild card up my sleeve
Thick heart of stone
My sins my own
They belong to me, me

People say "beware!"
But I don't care
The words are just
Rules and regulations to me, me

I-I walk in a room, you know I look so proud
I'm movin' in this here atmosphere, well, anything's allowed
And I go to this here party and I just get bored
Until I look out the window, see a sweet young thing
Humpin' on the parking meter, leanin' on the parking meter
Oh, she looks so good, oh, she looks so fine
And I got this crazy feeling and then
I'm gonna ah-ah make her mine
Ooh i'll put my spell on her

Here she comes
Walkin' down the street
Here she comes
Comin' through my door
Here she comes
Crawlin' up my stair
Here she comes
Waltzin' through the hall
In a pretty red dress
And oh, she looks so good, oh, she looks so fine
And I got this crazy feeling that I'm gonna ah-ah make her mine

And then I hear this knockin' on my door
Hear this knockin' on my door
And I look up into the big tower clock
And say, "oh my God here's midnight!"
And my baby is walkin' through the door
Leanin' on my couch she whispers to me and I take the big plunge
And oh, she was so good and oh, she was so fine
And I'm gonna tell the world that I just ah-ah made her mine

And I said darling, tell me your name, she told me her name
She whispered to me, she told me her name
And her name is, and her name is, and her name is,
And her name is G-L-O-R-I-A
G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria
G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria

I was at the stadium
There were twenty thousand girls
Called their names out to me
Marie and Ruth but to tell you the truth
I didn't hear them I didn't see
I let my eyes rise to the big tower clock
And I heard those bells chimin' in my heart
Going ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong.
Ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong
Counting the time, then you came to my room
And you whispered to me and we took the big plunge
And oh. You were so good, oh, you were so fine
And I gotta tell the world that I make her mine make her mine
Make her mine make her mine make her mine make her mine

G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria,
G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria

And the tower bells chime, "ding dong" they chime
They're singing, "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine."

Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria
G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A,
Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A, G-L-O-R-I-A
Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria
G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A
Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria,
G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A
Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria,
G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A
Gloria G-L-O-R-I-A Gloria

Songwriters: Patti Smith

Gloria lyrics © Unichappell Music Inc., Carlin Music Corp., Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd., Bernice Music Inc.

UPDATE:

There's really good (or well fairly good!) ROIO over at Big O this morning (21/02) and it is really worth checking if not immediately downloading . . . . . . 

Patti Smith - Padova 2018 (Big O)

BERT JANSCH

Well here's a tasty treat for a Tuesday (you try saying that without your teeth in!) Big O have posted a lovely Bert Jansch set this morning. From The Palms Davis CA in '96 where Bert recalls playing before with Pentangle. This is simply peerless

Jansch meant a great deal to me and I grew up admiring his voice and above all his guitar playing, unique and always impressive. I wanted to play like him and sadly that was not to be and hardly anyone can match his style. Hence why Johnny Marr got to play with him before his untimely passing from lung cancer. Bert's 'Needle of Death' haunted me all my life . . . . his version of Davy Graham's 'Angie' was the first we all tried to emulate and copy but Blackwater Side and many other songs display his influence upon others too (Led Zeppelin) which never ceased to impress me too! I knew I was in good company. Bert's was one of the first albums I ever bought as a precocious teenager spreading his wings from the older Blues masters 

Bert Jansch - The Palms, Davis, CA USA 1996

check this out - it's a rare treat, Big O stays fairly to very good sound board and frankly it's superb! Highly listenable and one of the archive

1965

For those less familiar : here's wiki

Scottish folk musician Bert Jansch was a founding member of the band Pentangle and came to prominence in London in the 1960s, as an acoustic guitarist, as well as a singer-songwriter. He recorded at least 25 albums and toured extensively from the 1960s to the 21st century. Jansch was a leading figure in the 1960s British folk revival, touring folk clubs and recording several solo albums, as well as collaborating with other musicians such as John Renbourn and Anne Briggs. Jansch’s work influenced such artists as Al Stewart, Paul Simon, Johnny Marr, Elton John, Ian Anderson, Bernie Taupin, Bernard Butler, Jimmy Page, Nick Drake, Graham Coxon, Donovan, Neil Young, Fleet Foxes, Devendra Banhart, Neil Halstead, and Roy Harper. Jansch passed away in 2011, aged 67, at a hospice in Hampstead after a long battle with lung cancer. - wikipedia

And while we are developing a later night evening groove . . . . not content with Mr Robert Palmer and UB40 try adding a little Helen . . . . . . . .  



 . . . . . . . . a truly astonishingly seductive song from Sade here. One of the truly great love songs of all time

BOB DYLAN covers

I love this! What's not to love? - a  favourite Bobby track from 'John Wesley Harding' by two of my other favourites, the soul master hisself the much missed, Mr Robert Palmer, accompanied by reggae from Brum masters UB40!

Play this to your loved ones . . . . . . . it works wonders! In fact it's totally irresistible !