Dumb and Drummer...

For a variety of reasons I don't go to anywhere near the amount of gigs that I used to. Last week,due to bad planning on my behalf,  I somehow managed to be at two within a couple of days of each other. The first one was really just an excuse for a night out as we hadn't seen one of the guys since his wedding last years and it seemed a good chance to grab a few beers while the second of the two gigs was one I had been looking forward to for a while. Strange how things work out with the one I had been really looking forward to turning out to be a bit disappointing, whilst the other one was one of the best gigs I have been to for a while.

Both gigs were in Nice'N'Sleazy in Glasgow with the first one being perennial Peel faves, The Nightingales, supported by Spools' fave Ted Chippington. I have to admit before Wednesday, despite many years listening to Peel, I could probably only have named you one or two Nightingales songs. Somehow they seemed to just pass me by in the days of lying under my covers furtively listening to Peely. Not really sure why as they played an absolute blinder at Sleazy's. Reminiscent throughout of Pere Ubu and The Fall and, more so, Captain Beefheart with a fantastically tight rhythm section comprising Andreas Schmid from Faust and one of the best drummers I have ever seen in the lovely Fliss Kitson. Top off with the angular guitar playing of former Prefect, Alan Apperley and the caustic word play of Robert Lloyd and you end up with a gig that was an absolute triumph from start to finish. Just a pity that Sleazy's was not busier as this will easily be in my top gigs of the year come the end of 2014. There is something a bit odd about a "comedian" who doesn't really tell jokes or have punchlines but Ted is just a naturally warm, funny bloke with an uncanny ability to make the most mundane thing like a tin of cheap meat sound funny (you probably had to be there !!). Still the true genius of British alternative comedy.

Two night later I was back in Sleazy's to see the return of former Goodbye Mr McKenzie singer, Martin Metcalfe. I had been anticipating this gig for a few weeks but left feeling underwhelmed and a tad disappointed. Whereas The Nightingales gig was full of energy, Martin and his band, The Fornicators, just seemed a bit lacklustre. Didn't really help that they were seated throughout and as anyone who has been to a gig in Sleazy's will know the stage is almost at the same level as the audience. Being 6ft I could see slightly but any vertically challenged punters would not have seen a thing unless they were right down the front. The set comprised all of Martin's career with Goodbye Mr McKenzie, Angelface and Isa And The Filthy Tongues, and whilst there were some great songs played on Friday - The Rattler, New Town Killers, Blacker Than Black and encore closer, Goodwill City - it just seemed to be lacking in oomph.

Dumb And Drummer

One Hell Of A Singer...

 

There are not many singers who could put on their C.V. that they that they have sang backing vocals for Ray Charles, Aretha, Donny Hathaway and Wilson Pickett. Quite why Judy Clay ended up as a backing vocalist instead of being as well known as all of them is one of music's great mysteries.With a recording career that started in the 50's with gospel group The Drinkard Sisters and took in labels such as Ember, Lavette, Scepter and Stax throughout the 60's it is astonishing that she had very few hits to her name.

Today's track from 1964 on Scepter perfectly showcases a great singer who never got her due. Hope you enjoy...

Lonely People Do Foolish Things

Drowning On Dry Land...

As with many of the best soul singers O.V. Wright started singing in the church before making the transition to more secular recordings. Unlike most other soul singers, however, he remained a spiritually troubled man with most of his work having a strong gospel structure to them. His career was split between his years at Back Beat and his years at Hi, with the one constant being producer and musical director,Willie Mitchell.

After achieving huge success for fellow Hi artist, Al Green, Mitchell tried to build upon Wright's hits whilst at Back Beat but to no avail. A truly wonderful singer, but deeply troubled man, who never achieved the success he so richly deserved. Although his few successes were at Back Beat, his recordings for Hi are as good as anything released by any soul singers from that era.

Contrary sod that I am however, the track posted today is a great track from his Back Beat days. Hope you enjoy.

Drowning On Dry Land

This Ain't No Party...

When I think of perfect Sunday morning records I quite often think of Canada's finest, The Cowboy Junkies. I have written a few times in the past about the beauty of their music, in particular 1989's "Trinity Session" which would easily be in a list of my fave albums of all time.

The follow up, "The Caution Horses" is almost as good and includes some of their best songs including "Cause Cheap Is How and Feel", "Sun Comes Up It's Tuesday Morning" and a stunning cover of Neil Young's "Powderfinger". There is a vulnerability and honesty to Margo Timmins vocals that just draws you in and keeps you listening. It was also the album that her brother, Michael, really came into his own as a songwriter, with a collection of lyrics that would not be out of place in the works of some of North America's best short story writers.

Certainly not party music, but for fans of great,timeless songwriting, there are few better.

Where Are You Tonight

More Okeh...

Starting out as vocalist for The Cadets and The Jacks, Ted Taylor starting releasing solo tracks in '57 and was still recording into the mid 70's, including a short spell on the legendary Okeh label. There is a cracking compilation available of all his Okeh recordings, including today's tune "Somebody's Always Trying", which showcases his falsetto vocals perfectly, with hints of Smokey and Jackie Wilson in there.

Somebody's Always Trying

Walk Like A Man...

Considered by some to be the ultimate Northern Soul anthem, Johnny Moore's "Walk Like A Man" is another great tune released on the Date label in '67. Don't know much more about the track other than it being a firm favourite at The Torch in Stoke-On-Trent in the early 70's. Perhaps Drew at the ever excellent Across The Kitchen Table can fill in the blanks. There is a great compilation that you can buy here that Grapevine released for our listening pleasure back in 2005.

Walk Like A Man

Stay In My Corner...

Not many bands can say that they released records in 5 different decades. What is more remarkable is that The Dells did so with nearly all the same members. The Dells formed in 1953 in Illinois, Chicago and released their first record the same year on Checker records, scoring their first hit with Oh What A Nite three years later.

It would, however, take until the mid to late 60's before their career really took off with the classic Stay In My Corner making the Top 10 second time round. Initially released on Vee Jay in '65, it wasn't until Cadet released an expanded version in '67 that The Dells began to experience the success they richly deserved.

Quite simply one of the best vocal groups ever. Just a shame about Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys, NSync and any number of bands that cite The Dells as an influence but who are not fit to be in the same room.

Stay In My Corner

For Your Precious Love...

Today's tune is one of those tracks that just sends a shiver right down my spine each time I listen to it. I have featured the glorious vocal talents of Garnet Mimms previously back here in 2011 when fewer people viewed the blog but when this tune came on the MP3 player today I thought it was a perfect opportunity to spread the word again about this great singer.

Originally recorded back in '58 by The Impressions, the best known version of For Your Precious Love is probably Otis Redding's version from 1965. Garnet got there a couple of years earlier and recorded my fave version which showcases his gospel inflected voice perfectly. Mimms loved Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson and you can hear their influence in his vocal style.

For Your Precious Love

I See A Clinic Full Of Cynics...

The ominous atmosphere and barely suppressed rage of  "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum)" make it feel like the unofficial follow up single to the best Number 1 single in UK Chart history, "Ghost Town". In many ways it was as it was written with The Specials in mind and was Terry, Neville and Lynval's first single after the too early demise of one of the UK's finest ever bands.

The Fun Boy Three left the starting blocks with a single that painted a truly horrifying picture of the leaders of the free world and the policies they espoused. The lunatics truly had taken charge with Terry Hall's mournful vocals and lyrics lamenting the the fall of civilization as we know it. Makes you wonder how much has changed in the 33(!!!) years since it's release. Not a lot.

One of the truly great singles of the early 80's that would not grace the charts if released today...

The Lunatics(Have Taken Over The Asylum)

More Than Okeh...

For the last week or so I have been working 12 hour plus days so not had a chance to post anything. Normal service will resume soon but for now here is a corker of a track by Little Richard from1967 released on the Okeh label that somehow failed to chart. God, this is good...

A Little Bit Of Something

Tired Of Walking...

Take your Voice show BBC1 and stick it where the sun don't shine..this is a VOICE. Little Joe Hinton has a voice that just oozes soul. Wild, uninhibited and one to play at full volume. From the little info I can find on the web he only recorded three singles in the early 60's, two on the Arvee label and the one I am posting today on the Kent label.

Just great to hear such a raw, powerful vocal that should be played to all contestants on these vapid modern day karaoke "talent shows" at regular intervals until they understand.

Tired Of Walking