New Video: Oh Lord ( A Tribute to Eric Garner) - Smiley's Friends on Sunshine Corner (April 2016)

Taken from the third album by Smiley's Friends. Not exactly the easiest theme to write a song about so a big thumbs up to Smiley and Graham Turner. Below you can read their statement about how and why they wrote the song.

Oh Lord ( A Tribute to Eric Garner)

Smiley's Friends on Sunshine Corner

"Last year someone showed us a video of US citizen Eric Garner being choked to death in New York by police officers attempting to arrest him for illegally selling cigarettes in the street.

Prior to his arrest he wasn’t being violent or abusive, in fact, he was unarmed and his only action was to complain to police officer Daniel Pantaleo about what he considered to be a campaign of continual harassment against him by New York law enforcement officers.

In an effort to subdue Mr Garner, the NYPD officer put him in a chokehold and dragged him to the floor. As Officer Pantaleo continued to choke the life out of him, Mr Garner was heard to say eleven times: “I can’t breathe”.

He lost consciousness and remained motionless, handcuffed and unresponsive on the sidewalk for seven minutes while an ambulance was called. Attending paramedics did not perform CPR on Eric Garner at the scene because they claimed he was still breathing. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital approximately one hour later.

When we saw this video, we were physically moved to tears. We did some research and discovered that police brutality is a common theme in America today, with over 1000 deaths in 2015 alone. We were shocked, horrified and wanted to do something to expose the crimes the police are perpetrating allegedly for American’s safety.

Eric Garner’s death was eventually ruled a homicide, yet in as of April 2016 no charges have been brought on the officers who killed him. There have been a number of protests in New York City and across America by the people who believe this is wrong.

We (Smiley and Graham Turner) wrote this song to show our support for those people, and for all victims of police brutality.
RIP Eric Garner."

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 96 - 9 Below Zero

I must admit there's nothing more exciting for me when it comes to listening to music to hear a song by a particular band/artist and it takes you on a journey of discovery or rediscovery.

Let me give you a couple of examples: Gangsters by The Special AKA and One Step Beyond by Madness, I can remember hearing them for the first time and being drawn to investigate the music of Prince Buster which in turn led to other Ska artists and then onto music on Trojan Records. Or hearing Dr Feelgood perform 99 and a Half (Just Won't Do) and that leading back to the likes of Aretha Franklin and Etta James. There was also The Beat and Secret Affair covering Smokey Robinson and the Miracles tunes and that led of course to The Miracles and the wide world of 1960's Motown. Then there was Little Bob Story and their version of All or Nothing that led back to rediscovering the Small Faces and that amazing sound of Steve Marriot's voice. I could actually name loads more but you get the drift of what I'm saying...

South London based 9 Below Zero were very instrumental in me discovering the Blues. Hearing I Can't Quit you Baby for the first time, finding out it was an old Willie Dixon tune that Otis Rush had also performed (along with Led Zeppelin and Little Milton to name but two others) and that in turn led to a whole host of directions and hundreds of Blues Artists that I might never have heard of if I had just let the song wash over me with no effect.

In 1980 for their debut album they released a Live Album! Not always a smart move but on this occasion it was a great move. It captured the pure energy of a bunch of young guys who loved playing the Blues and adding their own mark to it in the process. 

Recorded at The Marquee, deep in the heart of Soho over two hot and sweaty sold out nights in the summer of 1980, it is I think of one of the best live albums on the planet.

Had a blast of this again last night and I'm almost transported back again, it's so good.

 Live at The Marquee - 9 Below Zero

A&M

Produced by Mickey Modern and 9 Below Zero

Live at The Marquee

Special Editon 2012

The 2012 Special Edition contained the whole concert with the 7 song encore being released for the first time ever.

1     Tore Down     2:55
2     Straighten Her Out     2:30
3     Homework     2:28
4     I Can't Help Myself     2:20
5     Can I Get A Witness     3:21
6     Ridin' On The L&N     4:32
7     I Can't Quit You Baby     6:03
8     Stop Your Naggin'     2:30
9     Hootchie Cootchie Coo     2:30
10     Wooly Bully     2:47
11     Got My Mojo Working     6:16
12     Pack Fair & Square     2:16
13     Watch Yourself     3:56
14     Swing Job     2:26
    Encore!
15     Rocket 88     2:58
16     (Just) A Little Bit     2:20
17     Twenty Yards Behind     1:59
18     Stormy Monday     4:47
19     Is That You     2:24
20     Keep On Knocking     5:25
21     Madison Blues     5:57

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

Happy Birthday Craig Adams

Happy birthday to one of my favourite Bass Guitarists - Mr Craig Adams.

He's always been a busy chap and is currently serving with The Alarm, The Mission and Spear of Destiny.

Craig Adams has played in the following bands:

    The Expelaires (1980)
    The Sisters of Mercy (1981–1985)
    The Mission (1985–1992, 1999–2002, 2011–)
    The Cult (1993–1995, 2002)
    Coloursound (1998–) with Mike Peters of the Alarm and Billy Duffy of the Cult
    Mike Peters and The Alarm (1998–)
    Spear of Destiny (2006–)
    Theatre of Hate (2007–)

First and Last and Always (1985)

The Sisters of Mercy 

God's Own Medicine (1986)

The Mission

Fade In, Fade Out, Fade Away (1998)

Coloursound

The Alarm

Liverpool Academy

8th March 2016

Temple of Love (Sisters of Mercy Cover) - Spear of Destiny 2015 (Craig on Vocals).

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 95 - Muddy Waters

Posting John Campbell yesterday I felt that maybe this week I'll turn the spotlight on The Blues and maybe share a few of my favourite albums over the next few days.

101 years ago on this day McKinley Morganfield was born (though some actually say there is evidence he was actually born in 1913!). You probably wouldn't know who on earth I was talking about if I failed to mention that he was better known as Muddy Waters. He is often cited as being the "Father of  Modern Chicago Blues".

He was born in Mississippi and raised by his Grandmother as his own Mother had passed away shortly after his birth. His nickname 'Muddy' came from his Grandmother because he liked to play in the muddy waters of of Dear Creek. He changed it to first Muddy Water and then later Muddy Waters. He had begun playing Harmonica but by the age of 17 was playing guitar at parties emulating the great Son House and Robert Johnson. In 1943 he moved to Chicago with the hope of becoming a full time musician.

Prior to this, in 1941, he made his first recording. Alan Lomax, who was the Director at the Archive of American Folk Song housed at the Library of Congress. The single that Lomax had Waters record was Country Blues backed by I Be's Troubled. Lomax recorded him again 1942 and released as Down on Stovall's Plantation (most of the songs are in that link, though one of them has been deleted) and the sessions were finally released on CD in 1993 as Muddy Waters: The Complete Plantation Recordings. The Historic 1941–42 Library of Congress Field Recordings on Chess.

In Chicago by day he worked in a factory and drove a truck and at night he got a helping hand opening for Big Bill Broonzy. By 1946 he had recorded some material for Columbia Records but that didn't see the light of day at the time. He did begin recording for a new label called Aristocrat Records set up by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess (and the label changed it's name simply to Chess Records in 1950). You can watch and learn more about the Chess Records Story Here!

Muddy Waters recorded and released more than 20 singles (45's were the way to do things in those days, albums didn't really begin for Muddy Waters until 1960).

I wish I had the time to dig deeper into Muddy Waters, the man who brought to the UK in 1958 probably the first Amplified Blues! There's a good number of albums I could have posted but have chosen a real special one from 1972.

I sticking this album up today as it's one of many that I really love of his. It's an amazing album full of so much talent. Chess had released a London Sessions album the year before in 1971  with Howlin' Wolf (that featured various Rolling Stones, a Beatle and Eric Clapton). Alongside Muddy Waters for this album would be Steve Winwood, Rory Gallagher, Mitch Mitchell (from Jimi Hendrix Experience), and Rick Grech (from Traffic and had also been in Blind Faith).

The London Muddy Waters Session - Muddy Waters

Chess

Produced by Esmon Edwards and Ian Green

Released in 1972

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 94 - Sunday Morning Favourites #12

Back in the early 90s I went to see Buddy Guy in concert for the first time. He had just put out the album Damn Right I Got The Blues (Silvertone Records), which is a really wonderful album and one that put him back into the hearts and minds of all who love the blues.

His support on that tour was someone I had never actually heard of before, another Bluesman by the name of John Campbell. All I knew about him afterwards was that he lived in New York City. There was not a lot of info to go on at the time but I found out that he had recorded two albums prior to one I'm spotlighting today. One in 1975 called Street Suite that was recorded in Texas and a follow up after he had moved (in 1985) to NY called A Man and His Blues, which was released on a small German label in 1988 (Listen here to Judgement Day).

He only ever recorded two more albums, One Believer (which is posted below) and 1993's Howlin' Mercy (Listen to Love's Name here). 

The same year of that last album he sadly passed away at the age of 41 due to heart failure. He was survived by his wife Dolly, two daughters (Paris and Elizabeth) and a son (William). There are some moving Obituaries for him gleaned from the music press here.

A couple of weeks after seeing him I managed to get hold of a copy of his One Believer CD and boy is it good! I stuck it on again last night just to remind myself of it and thinking that 25 years have passed since it came out and just how great it still sounds.

He was actually a really great guitarist (and steel guitarist) and the blues lost a good young soul when he passed away so tragically.

One Believer - John Campbell

Elektra

Produced by Dennis Walker

Released 1991

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 93 - Cocteau Twins

I don't think I'll ever tire of hearing this EP, especially Pearly-Dewdrops Drop. Alongside This Mortal Coil's Song To the Siren it is one of my favourite vocal performances by Elizabeth Fraser.

This was the first recording to feature bassist Simon Raymonde and to see the Cocteau Twins perform it live you really get to hear what a beautiful bass sound he brought to the song (Check out the Old Grey Whistle Test performance to get a wee hint).

All the songs were written by Robin Guthrie, Elisabeth Fraser and Simon Raymonde and were produced by Cocteau Twins. The EP/Single was huge on the UK Indie Charts and was #1for quite awhile. It was pretty cool seeing it crossover into the main UK Singles Chart, though it didn't get any higher than #29.

I'm sure I've said it before on here somewhere but this song always reminds me of Chelsea FC and in particular Pat Nevin. It's not really the kind of music you expect footballers to like but Pat Nevin was in a class of his own when it came to Indie Music.

The Spangle Maker EP

(This is the CD Version that was released in 1991. The Original 12" didn't include the 7" version of the single. The 7" only had Pepper-Tree as the B-Side)

The Spangle Maker EP

4AD

Produced by Cocteau Twins

Released 2nd April 1984

UK Chart #29

UK Indie Chart #1

Tracklist

 The Spangle Maker.

Pearly-Dewdrops Drop 12" Version.

Pepper-Tree.

Pearly-Dewdrops Drop 7" Version.

Pearly-Dewdrops Drop (Official Video)

Pearly-Dewdrops Drop 

Old Grey Whistle Test

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

New Video: Hospital Wing - Vinny Peculiar (April 2016)

(Album cover courtesy of Vinny Peculiar's website)

Vinny Peculiar has been a friend on FB for quite sometime now and I'm mortified that I've never posted about the music he's done before! Time to rectify that (and maybe see later if I can grab a few moments to ask a few questions for a wee interview for this page).

The brand new album (pictured above) is due out in June this year I believe and today a brand new video was released for the track Hospital Wing. A fascinating video as well I think and a subject of great difficulty to write about.

For more information on Vinny Peculiar regarding tour dates, album purchases etc please go and check out his rather informative Website...Click Here.

Also check out his You Tube Channel for more music.

Tedeschi Trucks Band: Tiny Desk Concert

Tedeschi Trucks Band are a band I've not featured on the blog before. A friend of mine shared a bunch of albums with me a few years back of Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi's respective bands  and I was quite taken with them. In 2010 the husband and wife team but their Solo careers on hold and put together this band uner the banner of Tedeschi Trucks Band and have released albums together since.

Posted at the tail end of last month on NPR here's their Tiny Desk Concert

Tedeschi Trucks Band Setlist

Just As Strange

Don't Know What It Is

Anyhow

The Soundtrack4Life Concert Series: Suzanne Vega

As one of the videos was no longer available on you tube I edited this post and added another show. Thanks.
 Doug 20/11/16

I only ever got to see Suzanne Vega in concert once, back in the late 1980's and it was a bit unsual for me as I was used to loud rock 'n' roll shows and I liked the quiet atmosphere that made you concentrate on the songs being sung.

Today's contribution to The Soundtrack4Life Concert Series is a full set by Suzanne Vega in 2014 filmed in Paris, France. Also a performance of Solitude Standing album at the Barbican in 2012 (this is just an audio version). I've also included a number of links to some other live shows at various concert venues and for Live Radio Performances.

There's also a link for a real special show, The Songwriters Circle TV Show with Suzanne playing alongside Richard Thompson and Loudon Wainwright III.

12th February 2014

Paris, France

Solitude Standing 

Live at The Barbican 2012 

Audio Only

Live 1986 (not sure where this was)

Berlin 1990 (German TV).

Munich February 2014 (Full Set).

Live at The World Cafe, Philadelphia 2014.

NPR Tiny Desk Concert (2014).

Live at KCRW Los Angeles 2001.

Live at KCRW Los Angeles 2005. 

Songwriters Circle with Richard Thompson, Suzanne Vega and Loudon Wainwright III.

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 92 - Suzanne Vega

Something a little different, though I have posted about Suzanne Vega before (I think I'm right in saying that!). There's a number of links in this post, click on them to hear more music from Suzanne Vega.

I remember her debut album being quite big here in the UK in 1985 and although it was a bit off the beaten path for me I got hold of a copy and loved it. I think it was actually the song Left of Center (with Joe Jackson) that appeared on the soundtrack of Pretty in Pink that made me sit up and take notice her voice. The single Marlene on the Wall from the first album was pretty good as well.

Although she was born in California Suzanne had moved with her family to New York when she was two and a half. She grew up in Spanish Harlem and the Upper West Side and by the age of 14 had written her first song.

In the early 80's whilst at Barnard College in she began playing in Greenwich Village and contributing songs to Fast Folk (which was a Folk music magazine that also released some Anthologies of Music that the young Suzanne appeared on with a few of her early songs). She was the first of the group of songwriters who met at Cornelia Street Cafe as part of Jack Hardy's Songwriter's group to get a record deal with a major label.

Her debut album dented the US Charts (#91) but in the UK it was a Top 20 Album, peaking at #11. Her second was a big hit Stateside reaching #11 and in the UK she was just held off the top spot peaking at #2.

Luka, Tom's Diner and the title track Solitutde Standing were all issued as singles in 1987 with varying degrees of success. Luka was huge in the States (#3) but in the UK didn't get passed #23 (which to this day I don't understand). Tom's Diner only made it to #58 in the UK! But when a Remix of the song was released by DNA in 1990 it was #5 in the US and #2 in the UK! Solitude Standing didn't really trouble the charts either side of the Atlantic (#94 US an #79 UK).

Luka is still an incredibly powerful song, and considering the time it was released it was not a subject that had really been dealt with. The song is written from the perspective of an abused child.

Luka won three Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Performance. Her Acoustic performance of it was quite striking I thought.

Solitude Standing - Suzanne Vega

A&M

Produced by Steve Addabbo (Lenny Kaye and Mitch Easter also Co-produced with Addabbo the song Gypsy)

Released 1st April 1987

US Chart #11

UK Chart #2

 Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!