Neil Young - After the Gold Rush - Released this day in 1970.

Released on this day in 1970, Neil Young's third solo 'After the Gold Rush', on Reprise Records.

Listen to the complete album here.

Live at The Carneige Hall 5th December 1970.

Live at the BBC 1971.

01.- Out on the Weekend.
02.- Old Man.
03.- Journey Through the Past.
04.- Heart of Gold.
05.- Don't Let It Bring You Down.
06.- A Man Needs a Maid.
07.- Love in Mind.
08.- Dance Dance Dance.

Earlier in 1970 (March 11th), Neil Young had released 'Deja Vu' alongside Crosby, Stills and Nash. This was the first studio album from the quartet who went under the monicker CSNY (their second studio one would not show up until 1998's 'American Dreams'. The follow up to to 'Deja Vu' was a live album released in 1971 entitled '4 Way Street' (listen to the album here).

Listen to the full 'Deja Vu' album by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young here.

The Penny Black Remedy - Inhale...Exhale...OK, Now You Can Panic! (2013)

A couple of nights ago I trundled along to Pivo Pivo in Glasgow to watch The Penny Black Remedy play their first ever show in Glasgow. One of the main reasons for going was actually to catch up with bassist Paul Slack (who in a previous life was the bassist for the UK Subs). 

It was actually a nice bonus to be able to sit down and chat with Keith Thomson (Lead Vocals and Guitar), Wilco van Eijk (Drums and Vocals), Marijana Hajdarhodzic (Vocals and Percussion), and of course Paul Slack (Bass). The band are hard to pin down musically and their own personal tastes come shining through (everything from Ska, Punk, Country, Rockabilly and Rock 'n' Roll). I had told Keith that I thought they reminded me a little bit of Willy DeVille/Mink DeVille after watching some stuff on You Tube and so getting to see them live in person was a great experience because they were that and so much more.

Passionate, fun, great humour, beautiful singing from Marijana, intense yet almost freeing performance by the band (especially Keith), music with a great vibe that you cannot help but clap or dance.

As for the album, well it has the added joy of a horn section. When I played it my wife thought that it sounded a bit like Madness, I can see that in places.  All the songs are written ny Keith and some have brilliant titles: 'Putting the Mental into Sentimentality', 'Up to my Neck in a Hex', 'Hypochondria is not an Illness' and the most excellent 'Nice Things Happen When You Stop Complaining'.

Definetely worth getting hold of, and nice to find something new that is pleasing to the ear and worth spending money on.

For more information about The Penny Black Remedy check out their Official Website, or their Facebook page.

Putting the Mental into Sentimentality - Live.

Live in Rennes, France April 2013.

Live in Nantes, France April 2013.

Happy Birthday to Jerry Allison of The Crickets

Born on this day in 1939 Jerry Allison, Drummer of The Crickets. Click on the links to enjoy the music.

'The Chirping Crickets' (Full Album).

Jerry Allison Interview.

It's So Easy - Buddy Holly and The Crickets.

Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly and The Crickets.

That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly and The Crickets.

Real Wild Child - Ivan (Jerry Allison).

Now Hear This - The Crickets.

I Fought the Law - Sonny Curtis and The Crickets.

Happy Birthday Glenn Tilbrook

Born on this day in 1957 one half of the writing partnership of Squeeze, Glenn Tilbrook.
One of my favourite songwriters ever and a band that was grossly underrated in my opinion.
Besides playing with Squeeze, and performing solo he is also a member of The Co-Operative with Dennis Greaves of Nine Below Zero.

Glenn Tilbrook and the Fluffers Live in New York City.

Squeeze Live From The Artists Den.

Glenn Tilbrook at Tea and Sympathy, NY 2002.

One Day I'll Fly Away - The Co-Operative.

Take Me I'm Yours - BBC Documentary on Squeeze.

BBC In Concert 1981 (Audio).

BBC In Concert 1982.

VH1 Bands Reunited 2003.

 

In Honour of John Peel

In honour of what would have been the birthday of the late great John Peel it's time to remember a few of the great sessions that he had on his show down through the years. All dates are the broadcast date (where possible). Click on the links to enjoy the music.

The Cure 11/12/78.

1. Killing An Arab.

2. 10.15 Saturday Night.

3. Fire In Cairo. 

4. Boys Don't Cry. 

Swell Maps 16/10/78.

1. Another Song.

2. Full Moon In My Pocket / Blam!! / Full Moon etc.

3. Harmony In Your Bathroom.

4. International Rescue.
5. Read About Seymour. 

The Skids 01/09/78.

1. Dossier (Of Fallibility).

2. The Saints Are Coming.

3. Hope And Glory.

Girls At Our Best 23/02/81. 

(One of my favs).

1. China Blue.

2. This Train.

3. Getting Beautiful Warm Gold Fast From Nowhere.

The Ruts 18/02/80.

 1. In A Rut.

2. Secret Soldiers.

3. Staring At The Rude Boys.

4. Demolition Dancing.

The Lurkers 22/10/77.

1. Freak Show.
2. Total War.
3. I'm On Heat.

 4. Then I Kissed Her.
5. Be My Prisoner.

UK Subs 31/05/78.
1. I Couldn't Be You.

2. Tomorrow's Girls.
3. Disease.

4. C.I.D. 

5. Stranglehold.

The Beat 05/10/79.

1. Tears Of A Clown.

2. Mirror In The Bathroom.

3. Ranking Full Stop.

 4. Click Click.

 5. Big Shot.

The Specials 29/05/79.

 1. Gangsters 

2. Too Much Too Young 

3. Concrete Jungle 

4. Monkey Man 

The Mo-dettes 04/02/80.

1. Norman (He's No Rebel).
2. Dark Park Creeping.

 3. Kray Twins.
4. Bitter Truth.

Rollerskate Skinny 03/07/93.

1. Bow Hitchhiker.
2. Abba's Song.
3. Violence To Violence.

The Psychdelic Furs 30/07/79.

 1. Imitation Of Christ.
2. Fall.
3. Sister Europe.
4. We Love You.

Subway Sect 24/10/77.

 1. Chain Smoking.
2. Parallel Lines.
3. I Don't Split It.
4. Nobody's Scared.

Half Man Half Biscuit 20/10/85.

 1. D'ye Ken Ted Moult?

2. Arthur's Farm.
3. All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit.
4. The Trumpton Riots.
5. Ol' Tige.

Echo and the Bunnymen 22/08/79.

1. Read It In Books.
2. Stars Are Stars.
3. I Bagsy Yours.
4. Villiers Terrace.

The Members 13/04/81.

 1. Boys Like Us.
2. Chairman Of The Board.
3. Working Girl.
4. Birmingham.

Scars 06/03/80.

 1. She's Alive.
2. So Strong.
3. Author! Author!

4. Je T'Aime C'Est Le Mort.

The Rezillos 30/12/77.

1. (My Baby Does) Good Sculptures.

 2. No.
3. Fight Amongst Youselves (It Gets Me).
4. Top Of The Pops.

Teenage Fanclub 30/09/80.

1. God Knows It's True.
2. So Far Gone.
3. Alcoholiday.
4. Long Hair.

Billy Bragg 03/08/83.

 1. A New England.
2. Strange Things Happen.
3. This Guitar Says Sorry.
4. Love Gets Dangerous.
5. Fear Is A Man's Best Friend.
6. A13 - Trunk Road To The Sea.

 

Happy Birthday Glen Matlock

Born on this day in 1956, bassist of the Sex Pistols, founder of The Rich Kids with Midge Ure, frontman of Glen Matlock and the Philistines, bassist for The International Swingers and bassist for The Faces. He's a busy man. 

Click on the links to enjoy the music.

Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols (Live on the Late Late Show).

Rich Kids - Rich Kids (On Top of the Pops).

Born Running - Glen Matlock and The Philistines.

Ghosts of Princes in Towers - Glen Matlock (Acoustic).

Get It On - Glen Matlock and Sylvain Sylvain (Acoustic Live).

Glen Matlock guesting on The Ronnie Wood Show.

Gun Control - The International Swingers.

Stay With Me - The International Swingers (Live in Sydney).

Dancing with Myself - The International Swingers (Live in Sydney).

All The Young Dudes - The International Swingers (Live in Sydney).

Born to Lose - The International Swingers (Live in Sydney).

Happy Birthday Allison Rae Robertson of The Donnas

Born this day in 1979 Guitarist for The Donnas Allison Rae Robertson.

No word on when the next album from The Donnas is set to appear. Last year it was reported they were in the studio recording but nothing has come to light about how those sessions have progressed.

Take It Off.

5 O'Clock in the Morning (Live in Toronto).

I Don't Want to Know (Craig Ferguson Show).

Girl Talk (Live in Toronto).

Don't Wait Up For Me.

Round and Round (Live).

Wasted (MTV).

Hyperactive (Live).

Not the One.

Live at The Viper Rooms 2008 Full Set.

Happy Birthday Jet Black

Born on this day in 1938! And still playing with The Stranglers. These days though Jet doesn't play the whole set due to his health issues but he's out with the band and is one of the oldest drummers still playing live.

Something Better Change.

No More Heroes.

Always the Sun.

Live at Rockpalast 1983.

Live in Toronto 1980 (Audio).

 

Happy Birthday Elvis Costello

Happy Birthday to Elvis Costello (Born Declan McManus) who is 59 years old today.
Click on the links to enjoy the music from five full concert performances and a Documentary.

Live at Glastonbury 2013.

Live at Glastonbury 2005.

MTV Unplugged 1991.

Rockpalast 1978.

Montreal Jazz Festival 2006.

BBC In Concert 1983 (Audio).

Because It's A Lonely World Documentary with Burt Bacharach.

Born on This Day: Edwyn Collins

Dilemna.

Losing Sleep.

Too Bad (That's Sad).

Girl Like You - Live in Glasgow 18/04/13.

Understated - Live in Brighton 24/04/13.

Blue Boy - Live in Liverpool 20/04/13.

Pale Blue Eyes - Edwyn with Pete Wylie.

Born on This Day: Keith Moon

Would have been Keith Moon's birthday today.

Won't Get Fooled Again.

Baba O'Riley.

My Generation and Keith's Exploding Kit.

Who Are You.

Isle of Wight 30th August 1970. Full Concert.

Joe Strummer - Gone But Never Forgotten

Today would have been the 61st birthday of the former frontman for The 101ers, The Clash and his band The Mescaleros.

It is interesting that whilst there will be many people remembering Joe today that over in New York they have just recently torn down a mural that celebrates the singer in the East Village to make way for a clothes store! Thankfully there are plans afoot to recreate the image elsewhere but no details have emerged as to exactly where or when that will be unveiled.

Click on the links to enjoy the music.

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - 'Global A Go-Go' Full Album.

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Bizzare Festival, Germany 1999. Full Show.

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Roseland Ballroom, New York. Full TV Show.

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Coma Girl - Promo.

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - London Calling. Later with Jools Holland, 2000.

Vive Joe Strummer - The Story of The Clash.

Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer - Redemption Song.

Cast a Long Shadow Joe Strummer Tribute Show, Los Angeles 2007. Includes performances from Love and Rockets, Hellride and Zander Schloss and the Wilderness Years and much more.

Joe Strummer Celebration 22nd December 2003, Filmore East at Irving Plaza New York. Includes performances from Ari Up and Jesse Malin and loads more.

Joe Strummer - The Future is Unwritten EPK.

The 101ers - Elgin Avenue Breackdown Revisited. Full Album.

The 101ers - Keys to Your Heart (Single).

The Clash - Debut Album (1977).

The Clash - London Calling (1979). Full Album.

The Clash - Live in Tokyo, Japan (1982).

 The Clash - Live at Shea Stadium (supporting The Who). Full Album.

The Clash Live in Paris (1978).

The Clash - White Man in Hammersmith Palais (Live - from Rude Boy Movie).

The Clash - Armagideon Time/Justice Tonight/Kick It Over (Audio).

Stiff Little Fingers - Strummerville.

Into The River We Dive - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Things have been a bit quiet for me the past few days as I've been away camping and have had the chance to catch up on some listening. Just picked up the above show from 2009 of Bruce and the E Street Band. This is a newer recording (I have a few others of the same show) and is way better quality than I could have imagined.

It's a shame that he hasn't repeated the playing of the album as he has done with 'Born to Run', 'Darkness at the Edge of Town' and 'Born in the U.S.A.' as it sounded quite amazing hearing all the songs placed in their proper context.

 'The River' Album Played in Sequence at MSG

 

Audio of the Full Show

'Greetings from Asbury Park NJ' Album in Sequence 22/11/2009 Buffalo.

'The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle' in Sequence 7th November MSG NY (Full Show).

Happy Birthday Matt Johnson (The The)

Born on this day in 1961 frontman for the vastly underrated

The The.

Acoustic Performance from 2000 (Audio Only).

01 Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)
02 Soul Catcher
03 This Is The Day
04 Weary Blues From Waitin'
05 The Beat(en) Generation
06 Phantom Walls
07 Love is Stronger Than Death

I still consider this as one of the best albums ever made.

This is the Day/I've Been Waiting for Tomorrow - 1983 Switch.

Uncertain Smile - Later with Jools Holland 1993.

Love Is Stronger Than Death - Later with Jools Holland 1993.

Your Cheatin Heart (Live on French TV).

Dumb as Death's Head (Melody Maker Flexi Disc 1983).

1990 KROQ Interview.

Bluer Than Midnight (German TV 1990).

Kingdom of Rain (ft Sinead O'Connor) Audio 1989.

Sweet Bird of Truth (Live at Royal Albert Hall, London).

Heartland - Promo Video.

The The Live at Glastonbury 2000.

I Saw The Light - Promo Video.

The Beat(en) Generation - Promo Video.

Out of the Blue (Into the Fire) - Promo Video. 

Travis - Where You Stand (2013)

Five years is a long time to have been away and Travis return with a brand new album. Back in 2008 when they released 'Ode to J Smith' (the album only stayed on the charts for three weeks before sinking without a trace!) they sounded like they were on their last legs and a million miles away from the band who gained such success with 'The Man Who' back in 1999. The follow up to that successful album, 'The Invisible Band', aside from a couple of songs ('Sing', 'Side', and 'Flowers in the Window') already was charting their demise from public conciousness (despite it reaching #1 in the UK). '12 Memories' was a more edgy sound but only 'Re-Offender' of the three singles released from the album broke the Top Ten. It would be another four years until 'The Boy With No Name' appeared, and personally I think it's a much better album than the ones that followed 'The Man Who'. NME gave the album a mere 2 out of 10 and labelled it "impotent aural gruel" with "all the soul of a platform announcement".

And so a new album appears after another extended break and having only listened to it a couple of times I'm not convinced that they have made that much headway. Q Magazine in it's review (they gave it four stars) said, "The break has clearly done them good, here they sound determined to regain lost ground...Where You Stand finds the quartet catching up with themselves and displaying real depth and maturity." That maybe so but without a bunch of memorable songs they are not ever likely to enjoy the kind of success that they experienced in the light of 'The Man Who'.

'Where You Stand' - Single.

'Moving' - Single. 

'Another Guy'.

Travis T in the Park 2013 Full Show.

Review of the album featured in The Scotsman.

Happy Birthday Matt Thiessen (Relient K)

Be My Escape.

Chap Stick, Chapped Lips and Things Like Chemistry.

I So Hate Consequences (Acoustic).

Relient K In Concert (Part One) and (Part Two).

Must Have Done Something Right.

Pressing On.

Happy Birthday Chrissy Boy of Madness

Almost forgot, it's also 

Chris Foreman's birthday today.

Bed and Breakfast Man.

Wings of a Dove.

Drip Fed Fred.

Lovestruck.

Live at BBC Centre 2013 Full Show.

Live at the iTunes Festival 2012 Full Show.

Madness at Madstock Full Show.

Live in Paris 1979 (I think).

The Liberty of Norton Folgate (Live).

Happy Birthday The Edge and Scott Stapp

Born this day in 1961, Dave Evans or The Edge as he is known to the masses. Happy 52nd Birthday.

Van Dieman's Land.

Numb.

Born this day in 1973 and celebrating his 40th Birthday today, Scott Stapp, frontman for Creed.

With Arms Wide Open - Creed.

The Great Divide - Scott Stapp.

Otis Redding The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Collection 3CD Set (In Mono)

Otis Reddings' short but illustrious career included some of the most important singles to come out of R&B during the 60's. All of those singles have been collected on The Complete Stax/Vold Singles, out July 23 on Shout! Factory.
Every A and B side is included in this three-CD set, all in their original mono mixes.
Starting with 1962's These Arms of Mine / Hey Hey Baby and running through 1972's My Girl, the set includes all 17 of Redding's singles released prior to his 1967 death, the 14 released posthumously along with the four he recorded with Carla Thomas for a total of 35 singles and 70 sides.


Not all of the links are the mono versions but I'm sure you'll have great fun listening regardless. There are a couple of songs that there are no links for that is because they are not on You Tube.

One of the things that strikes you as you listen to this treasure trove of great music is the wide influence that the music of Otis Redding has had down through the years from The Queen of Soul Aretha through to The Black Crowes and even Public Enemy and Jay Z!


Track List:

Disc 1

• These Arms of Mine (1962 / #20 R&B / #85 Pop)
• Hey Hey Baby
• That's What My Heart Needs (1963 / #27 R&B)
• Mary's Little Lamb
• Pain in My Heart (1963 / #11 R&B / #61 Pop)
• Something is Worrying Me
• Come to Me (1964 / #26 R&B / #69 Pop)
• Don't Leave Me This Way
• Security (1964 / #23 R&B / #97 Pop)
• I Want to Thank You
• Chained and Bound (1964 / #6 R&B / #70 Pop)
• Your One and Only Man
• That's How Strong My Love Is (1964 / #18 R&B / #74 Pop)
• Mr. Pitiful (1964 / #10 R&B / #41 Pop)
• I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) (1965 / #2 R&B / #21 Pop)
• I'm Depending On You
• Respect (1965 / #4 R&B / #35 Pop)
• Ole Man Trouble
• I Can't Turn You Loose (1965 / #11 R&B)
• Just One More Day (1965 / #15 R&B / #85 Pop)
• Satisfaction (1966 / #4 R&B / #31 Pop)
• Any Ole Way
• My Lover's Prayer (1966 / #10 R&B / #61 Pop)
• Don't Mess With Cupid

Disc 2

• Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) (1966 / #12 R&B / #29 Pop)
• Good to Me
• Try a Little Tenderness (1967 / #4 R&B / #25 Pop)
• I'm Sick Y'All
• I Love You More Than Words Can Say (1967 / #30 R&B / #78 Pop)
• Let Me Come On Home
• Tramp (Otis & Carla) (1967 / #2 R&B / #26 Pop)
• Tell It Like It Is (Otis & Carla)
• Shake (Live in Europe) (1967 / #16 R&B / #47 Pop)
• You Don't Miss Your Water
• Glory of Love (1967 / #19 R&B / #60 Pop)
• I'm Coming Home
• Knock on Wood (Otis & Carla) (1967 / #8 R&B / #30 Pop)
• Let Me Be Good to You (Otis & Carla)
• (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay (1968 / #1 R&B / #1 Pop)
• Sweet Lorene
• Lovey Dovey (Otis & Carla) (1968 / #21 R&B / #60 Pop)
• New Year's Resolution (Otis & Carla)
• The Happy Song (Dum-Dum) (1968 / #10 R&B / #25 Pop)
• Open the Door
• Amen (1968 / #15 R&B / #36 Pop)
• Hard to Handle (1968 / #38 R&B / #51 Pop)
• I've Got Dreams to Remember (1968 / #6 R&B / #41 Pop)
• Nobody's Fault But Mine

Disc 3

• White Christmas
• Merry Christmas, Baby
• Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (Live at Whiskey) (1968 / #10 R&B / #21 Pop)
• Direct Me 
• A Lover's Question (1969 / #20 R&B / #48 Pop)
• You Made a Man Out of Me
• When Something is Wrong With My Baby (Otis & Carla)
• Ooh Carla, Ooh Otis (Otis & Carla)
• Love Man (1969 / #17 R&B / #72 Pop)
• Can't Turn You Loose (Live in Europe)
• Free Me (1969 / #30 R&B / #103 Pop)
• (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
• Look at the Girl
• That's a Good Idea
• Demonstration
• Johnny's Heartbreak
• Give Away None of My Love
• Snatch a Little Piece
• I've Been Loving You Too Long (Live in Monterrey)
• Try a Little Tenderness (Live in Monterrey)
• My Girl
• Good to Me

Rewind: 1993 Natalie Merchant Announces She is Leaving 10,000 Maniacs to pursue a Solo Career

August 5th 1993 Natalie Merchant told MTV that she was leaving She had been with the band since 1981, firstly as a vocalist alongside Rob Buck's ex-wife Terri Newhouse. Newhouse left the band in July that year and Merchant took over the lead vocals and songwriting duties at the tender age of 17.

Their first release was the March 1982 EP 'Human Conflict Number 5'.
In 1983 they released their debut album, 'Secrets of the I Ching'. The album was very well received among critics and even the legendary John Peel took a shine to the band. 'My Mother the War' (first UK TV performance) had some success on the Indie Chart as a result of airplay and touring in the UK.
The band got a real break in 1984 when they signed to Elektra Records and released 'The Wishing Chair'. The album included the most excellent 'Scorpio Rising'.

But it would be the follow-up, 'In My Tribe' that would gain for them the success they richly deserved.

The album, produced by Peter Asher, would contain many songs that would become fan favourites. My own choices from this album would be 'What's the Matter Here', 'Hey Jack Kerouac', 'Like the Weather', 'Don't Talk', 'City of Angels' and 'Verdi Cries'.

'Blind Man's Zoo' would follow in 1989 and became their most successful album chartwise reaching #13 in the USA and #18 in the UK. The album is loaded with so many great songs that it's hard to spotlight anyone of them. It's still one of my favourite albums of theirs.

Eat For Two.

Trouble Me.

Headstrong.

Dust Bowl.

The final studio album that Natalie Merchant appeared on with 10,000 Maniacs is the brilliant 'Our Time In Eden'.
'These Are Days', 'Candy Everybody Wants', and 'Few and Far Between' were the single releases. The other standout tracks for me are 'Stockton Gala Days', 'Jezebel', and 'Tolerance'.
One of the strange things about this album is that playing viola and providing backing vocals was Natalie's replacement Mary Ramsey. Merchant had already indicated to fellow band members in 1991 that she would be departing once she had completed recording on the 'Our Time in Eden' album, but it didn't become public knowledge until 1993.

One of the final acts to perform before leaving the band would the the MTV Unplugged show in April 1993 and the album would be released in October 1993 and it's a fine testament to just how good live they were.

These Are Days.

Eat For Two.

Candy Everybody Wants.

I'm Not the Man.

Don't Talk.

Hey Jack Kerouac.

What's The Matter Here.

Gold Rush Brides.

Like The Weather.

Trouble Me.

Jezebel.

Because the Night.

Stockton Gala Days.

Noah's Dove.