The Nomads "Solna" 2012

Swedish Garage-punk godfathers join forces to release the first new Nomads album since 2001's Up-Tight.The Nomads were the Swedish band worshipping at the altar of garage rock when The Hives were merely a twinkle in Iggy Pop’s eye. Solna, their eighteenth album in a 31-year career, sees them on as effervescent form as ever – if anything, more so now that garage rock clusterfuck of a decade ago is a fading memory.
Despite helping found the scene in their home country, Solna finds The Nomads adding textures and flavours from elsewhere, pouring in pure Rolling Stones-inspired rock’n’roll (You Won’t Break My Heart), gothic atmospheres (The Bad Times Will Do Me Good), punkabilly (American Slang) and even, on 20,000 Miles, moments of Sugar-coated Bob Mould melodicism.
Proof, once more, that you can do an awful lot of good with three chords and a heart full of good intentions.trax:

01 Miles Away 02 Hangman's Walk 03 The Bad Times Will Do Me Good 04 You Won't Break My Heart 05 Can't Go Back 06 20000 Miles 07 American Slang 08 Make Up My Mind 09 Trying Too Hard 10 Up, Down Or Sideaways 11 The Bells

The Senders "Back to Sender Revisited" 2004

Formed in New York in 1977 by exiled French rock'n'roll singer Philippe Marcade and professional boxer-bassist Steve Shevlin. With much help from pal Johnny Thunders they quickly become one of Max's Kansas City's favorites. Joined in 1979 by guitarist Wild Bill Thompson (Robert Gordon band, Stray Cats Tour, Savoy Brown …) and drummer Marc Bourset (Victims) for their legendary next decade. After Steve Shevlin becomes deaf (!) they are joined by Richie Lure on bass (Brother of Heartbreaker Walter Lure) becoming one of New York's scene most popular bands by 1988. Well on their way to massive popularity in the US disaster strikes and they lose Marc Bourset then Richie Lure in drug related deaths. Battered but not beaten The Senders replace their two beloved lost members with legendary drummer Ned Brewster(Action Swingers) and bassist Danny Ly (The Bostwanas) for their current line-up. Singer Phil Marcade has also along the years taken part in various projects such as first drummer for Gang War (with Johnny Thunders and ex MC5 Wayne Kramer) and singer for blue eye soul band The Backbones (1983-1987). The SENDERS are still currently very active with their brand of raunchy rhythm'n blues in New York City and most of the east coast and have no immediate plans for stopping.(Sons Of The Dolls)
INFO
http://sonsofthedolls.blogspot.com/2008/03/senders-1.htmltrax:

01 Devil Shootin' Dice 02 Temperature 03 The Shape I'm In 04 Here Comes My Airplane 05 If Walls Could Talk 06 A Certain Kind of Style 07 Another Night Without My Baby 08 I'm a Stranger Here Myself 09 For Me Tonight 10 Too Late 11 Don't Make Me Mad 12 Part Time Love 13 You Can't Stay Away 14 My Shiny Red Dress 15 Takin' Dat Train 16 Creepy Crawl 17 Don't Fuck With Me 18 Ants in My Pants 19 Baby Glows in the Dark 20 You Really Piss Me Off

...served by Gyro1966...

Buddy Holly "Not Fade Away" Complete Studio Recordings & More 2009

The set has been spectacularly remastered and is accompanied by a full-color 80-page book (in fact the whole box looks more like a book than a 6-cd set). The 203 tracks are presented in chronological order and sound quality on the vast majority of tracks is better than ever. (The Guardian)In 1979, The Complete Buddy Holly gathered up all known Buddy Holly recordings in a six-LP box set, setting the standard for archival rock & roll reissues in the pre-CD era. Perhaps if this box never existed, the wait for a CD incarnation of Holly’s complete recordings wouldn’t have seemed quite so long, but chances are it would: as the CD revolution waned in the early days of the new millennium, every one of his peers saw their work boxed up in complete sets, leaving Buddy to the bootleggers, notably Purple Chick, who delivered an exhaustive set that covered the same ground as the 1979 box, adding fragments, overdubs, demos, and live performances for good measure, plumping up the collection to nine discs -- just enough arcane material to make it of interest only to fanatics. The same can’t be said about Not Fade Away: The Complete Studio Recordings and More, the six-CD box Universal released in 2009, just after they managed to clear away whatever legal and logistical hurdles were standing in their way. To a certain extent, the excitement generated by this long-anticipated item is undercut slightly by Universal’s two previous 2009 releases, Memorial Collection and Down the Line: Rarities, which together offered five discs and 109 tracks of Buddy, including all major items, but as an overall experience, Not Fade Away easily eclipses any other Buddy Holly collection, offering the best presentation and sound, its bound hardcover book packaging lending it stature.

Of course, at 203 tracks it’s also complete, nearly 100 tracks longer than either the 1979 box or the combined two 2009s collections, offering all the masters, alternate takes, early recordings, demos, and apartment tapes presented in chronological order, which means the posthumous overdubs are featured last. Some items on the Purple Chick collection are missing, but they’re mainly fragments and live cuts of rough fidelity, things that are no great loss and of interest only to obsessives, as this tells the entirety of Holly’s story. Sometimes, the detail may be too great for some listeners, particularly in the first act, which is filled with scratchy audio, tentative hillbilly, and formative rockabilly. Holly had a prehistory longer than any early rock & roller -- only Eddie Cochran, another tragic loss, came close to cutting so much music before his first hits -- which means that there are no well-known tunes on the entire 35-cut first disc, but when Buddy’s prime starts on disc two, the momentum increases considerably, as he starts to pile up classic songs and innovations at a rapid pace. Without a doubt, it’s easier to appreciate Holly’s overall impact in a condensed set like Memorial Collection, as it doesn’t bog down in the details, but the details are naturally the things that make Not Fade Away so valuable to hardcore fans and scholars. Those details reveal the extent of Holly’s vision -- how he absorbed Elvis, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry, creating some of the hardest early rock & roll; how he pointed the way toward folk-rock and the Beatles’ pop -- and they give this box weight by providing the connective thread in his music, which in turn illustrates just how monumental his too-short career was. It’s a career that needed a testament like this, and although it’s taken too long to arrive, Not Fade Away is almost more valuable because of it, with the years only adding a greater perspective on the accomplishments of this true pioneer of American music. (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic) (This Buddy Holly Box on Hip-O is now out of print and sells for over $200 when you can find it)

trax disc 1:

1-01 My Two-Timin' Woman 1-02 I'll Just Pretend 1-03 Take These Shackles from My Heart 1-04 Footprints in the Snow 1-05 Flower of My Heart 1-06 Door to My Heart 1-07 Soft Place in My Heart 1-08 Gotta Get You Near Me Blues 1-09 I Gambled My Heart 1-10 You and I Are Through 1-11 Down the Line 1-12 Baby, Let's Play House 1-13 Down the Line 1-14 You and I Are Through 1-15 Baby, It's Love 1-16 Memories 1-17 Queen of the Ballroom 1-18 Memories 1-19 Moonlight Baby [AKA Baby, Won't You Come Out Tonight] 1-20 Guess I Was Just a Fool 1-21 Don't Come Back Knockin' 1-22 Love Me 1-23 Midnight Shift 1-24 Midnight Shift [False Start_Alternate] 1-25 Don't Come Back Knockin' [Alternate Take] 1-26 Don't Come Back Knockin' 1-27 Blue Days, Black Nights 1-28 Love Me 1-29 Baby Won't You Come Out Tonight 1-30 I Guess I Was Just a Fool 1-31 It's Not My Fault 1-32 I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down 1-33 Changin' All Those Changes 1-34 Rock-A-Bye Rock 1-35 Because I Love You

trax disc 2:

2-01 Rock Around with Ollie Vee (Jul.) 2-02 I'm Changin' All Those Changes 2-03 That'll Be the Day 2-04 Girl on My Mind 2-05 Ting-a-Ling 2-06 Rock Around with Ollie Vee (Nov.) 2-07 Modern Don Juan 2-08 You Are My One Desire (false start) 2-09 You Are My One Desire 2-10 Gone 2-11 Gone 2-12 Gone (alternate take) 2-13 Have You Ever Been Lonely (incomplete alternate take) 2-14 Have You Ever Been Lonely (alternate take) 2-15 Have You Ever Been Lonely 2-16 Brown-Eyed Handsome Man 2-17 Good Rockin' Tonight 2-18 Rip It Up 2-19 Blue Monday 2-20 Honky Tonk 2-21 Blue Suede Shoes 2-22 Shake, Rattle and Roll 2-23 Bo Diddley 2-24 Ain't Got No Home 2-25 Holly Hop 2-26 Brown-Eyed Handsome Man 2-27 Bo Diddley 2-28 I'm Looking for Someone to Love 2-29 That'll Be the Day 2-30 Last Night (undubbed) 2-31 Maybe Baby (first version) 2-32 Words of Love 2-33 Mailman Bring Me No More Blues 2-34 Not Fade Away (alternate overdub) 2-35 Not Fade Away 2-36 Everyday

trax disc 3:

3-01 Ready Teddy 3-02 Valley of Tears 3-03 That'll Be the Day (Greetings to Bob Thiele) 3-04 That'll Be the Day (Greetings to Murray Deutch) 3-05 That'll Be the Day (Greetings to Bill Randle) 3-06 Peggy Sue (alternate take) 3-07 Peggy Sue 3-08 Listen to Me 3-09 Oh Boy (undubbed) 3-10 I'm Gonna Love You Too 3-11 Send Me Some Lovin' (undubbed) 3-12 It's Too Late (undubbed) 3-13 Oh Boy 3-14 An Empty Cup (and a Broken Date) 3-15 Rock Me My Baby 3-16 You've Got Love 3-17 Maybe Baby 3-18 Last Night 3-19 Send Me Some Lovin' 3-20 It's Too Late 3-21 Tell Me How 3-22 Little Baby 3-23 (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care 3-24 Look at Me 3-25 Mona (rehearsal) 3-26 Mona (version 1) 3-27 Mona (version 2) 3-28 Mona (version 3) 3-29 Rave On 3-30 That's My Desire (undubbed master) 3-31 Well ... All Right 3-32 Fool's Paradise (alternate take 1) 3-33 Fool's Paradise (alternate take 2) 3-34 Fool's Paradise (undubbed master)

trax disc 4:

4-01 Think it Over (rehearsal) 4-02 Think it Over (undubbed alt) 4-03 Think it Over (undubbed master) 4-04 Take Your Time (alt) 4-05 Take Your Time 4-06 Fool's Paradise 4-07 Think it Over 4-08 Lonesome Tears  4-09 It's So Easy 4-10 Heartbeat 4-11 Love's Made a Fool of You (undubbed) 4-12 Early in the Morning 4-13 Now We're One (fragment) 4-14 Now We're One 4-15 Come Back Baby 4-16 Reminiscing (undubbed) 4-17 True Love Ways (mono) 4-18 True Love Ways (stereo) 4-19 It Doesn't Matter Anymore (mono) 4-20 It Doesn't Matter Anymore (stereo) 4-21 Raining in my Heart (mono) 4-22 Raining in my Heart (stereo) 4-23 Moondreams (mono) 4-24 Moondreams (stereo) 4-25 You're the One 4-26 That's What They Say 4-27 What to Do 4-28 Peggy Sue Got Married 4-29 That Makes it Tough 4-30 Crying, Waiting, Hoping 4-31 Learning the Game 4-32 Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie

trax disc 5:

5-01 Slippin' and Slidin' [Slow Version #1] 5-02 Slippin' and Slidin' [Slow Version #2] 5-03 Slippin' and Slidin' [Fast Version] 5-04 Drown in My Own Tears [Fragment)_Buddy & Maria Elena Talking in Apartm 5-05 Dearest [Alternate Take] 5-06 Dearest 5-07 Love Is Strange 5-08 Smokey Joe's Café 5-09 Peggy Sue Got Married [Version 1] 5-10 Crying, Waiting, Hoping [Version 1] 5-11 That's What They Say [Version 1] 5-12 What to Do [Version 1] 5-13 Learning the Game [Version 1] 5-14 That Makes It Tough [Version 1] 5-15 Baby Won't You Come Out Tonight 5-16 Because I Love You 5-17 Changin' All Those Changes 5-18 I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down 5-19 It's Not My Fault 5-20 Rock-A-Bye Rock 5-21 Brown-Eyed Handsome Man 5-22 Bo Diddley 5-23 What to Do [Version 2] 5-24 Peggy Sue Got Married [Version 2] 5-25 Crying, Waiting, Hoping [Version 2] 5-26 That Makes It Tough [Version 2] 5-27 That's What They Say [Version 2] 5-28 Learning the Game [Version 2 5-29 Reminiscing 5-30 Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie 5-31 Dearest [Version 1] 5-32 Dearest [Version 2] 5-33 Slippin' and Slidin' [Slow Version]

trax disc 6:

6-01 Baby Let's Play House (I Wanna Play House With You) 6-02 Down the Line 6-03 Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie [Overdub Version 2] 6-04 Reminiscing 6-05 Flower of My Heart 6-06 Door to My Heart 6-07 Soft Place in My Heart 6-08 I Gambled My Heart 6-09 Gotta Get You Near Me Blues 6-10 Gone [Version 3] 6-11 Rip It Up 6-12 Honky Tonk 6-13 Blue Suede Shoes 6-14 Shake Rattle and Roll 6-15 You and I Are Through 6-16 Baby It's Love 6-17 Memories 6-18 Queen of the Ballroom 6-19 Love's Made a Fool of You 6-20 Wishing [Mono Version] 6-21 Wishing [Stereo] 6-22 Maybe Baby 6-23 That's My Desire 6-24 Have You Ever Been Lonely [Version 1] 6-25 Good Rockin' Tonight 6-26 Blue Monday 6-27 Ain't Got No Home 6-28 Holly Hop 6-29 Slippin' and Slidin' 6-30 You're the One 6-31 Love Is Strange 6-32 (Ummm, Oh Yeah) Dearest 6-33 Smokey Joe's Café

...served by Gyro1966...

Les Pickpockets "Demos" 1994

Les Pickpockets ne sont pas de Roanne, mais un groupe ami très mal raconté sur le net.
Aussi, voilà l'occasion de rendre hommage à cette formation culte des années 90....When we talk about surf music, and 90's surf music in particularly, some people forget to talk about a band which had represented a lot for some afficionados of the style in the mediterranean frontier at the beginning of the 90's.

I want to talk about the Pickpockets, this great band formed on the ashes of the Hawaï Men (two eps on Cinelux label), whose leader Franck Zwiller disbanded after two eps and an avorted album project. (no talking about an officious musical participation on the french promo of the great Tarantino's Pulp Fiction movie with their french adaptation of The Urge Overkil classic.) (!!) 

A dozen of gigs, some tracks published on different comps (one on Animal Records), some papers (a great one with photo on “Le Club des années soixante") and the story was done. 

Franck's gone ahead in a more anonymous and hilarous way (always deeper) in endorsing the Rat fink attitude (and cap) with his Lord Diabolik second identity. 

Here again, he put a superb k7 demo that only few fans have kept an ear on, and after some shows (opening for a memorabilia special Ed Wood's night, with go go dancers and horror films in background), the only shape remaining was a very strange and very collector ep I have already talked about in my other blog. ("Le Vampire de Bryghton Pear", limited edition of 100 vinyl ep only, with poster). 

Nota bene: The purpose of the Pickpocket's demo I propose here was originally to became a real album... but it never was. So it's not a polished product, nor a finished album, it's just a real kicking ass demo !! and it should have been too sad to let it take water on my cellar, so here it is, right from the cave. 

Well, once said that, all I can say, is... was it a dream, was it the reality? 

All you have to do is to judge by yourself, right now with this premier track, and soon after in dowloading the entire thing.

Enjoy a great band, a band which added humour with french hilarant words, in the tradition of Nino Ferrer and great dialogists like Michel Audiart (Franck was/is a fan), and the best of the surf/garage production. - by Hectorvadair from "Actiontime … and vision!! 2006 - link in the sitebar!

trax:

01 Intro 02 instru 1 03 Diabolikement vôtre 04 Instru 2 05 Ne nous fachons pas 06 Katalunya 07 Instru 3 08 Ghostrider in the sky 09 Instru 4 10 Instru 5 11 Les Tontons flingueurs (11) 12 Je veux ma photo en première page 13 Et si un jour tu dois partir 14 Je sais 15 La Touche 16 Reste toi-même 17 Je cherche

Wes Dakus & The Rebels "Surfs U Rite" [A BSS mono Single Collection] 1964

It's fantastic that this music is finally being re-released in its entirety. This is important Canadian music history, as well as being great instrumental rock music in its own right.Despite being quite successful in their day, Wes Dakus and the Rebels have been largely forgotten, although their music has begun to resurface in recent years, thanks to efforts such as this one. This one is a great collection of top-notch instrumental rock and some decent vocal cuts. These tracks offer a different perspective on the group, and give a bit of insight as to their live approach.

trax:

Wes Dakus & Club 93 Rebels

01 El Ringo 02 Creepy 03 Pink Canary 04 Road Block

Wes Dakus & The Rebels

05 Pedro's Pad 06 Sidewinder 07 Las Vegas Scene 08 Sour Biscuits 09 Walk Down 10 Cavalier Twist 11 Surfs U Rite 12 Dog Food 13 Shotgun 14 Love Me Again

Edwin Starr "Involved" '71

It's amazing that Edwin Starr had any voice at all after recording these songs. Producer Norman Whitfield had the explosive singer hitting incredible notes in the studio. A follow up to his #1 "War," the jammin' "Stop the War Now," which many fluffed off as a copy cat, is actually its own brand of poison. From Starr's opening line, "Make the Sign of Peace," and "Sing Now!" It's a nonstop rocker that suffered from comparisons to "War." Unbelievable, but "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" reaches even higher decibels. Norman had the session musicians playing fast, funky and reckless, as Edwin belted, at the top of his lungs, his love for low-down grooves. Whitfield recorded the same songs by different artists, so it didn't surprise me to hear Edwin doing the Temptations' "Ball of Confusion," which employs a motor-booty beat to drive home its socially significant lyrics. The Miracles' "Way Over There" was first released on Edwin's debut Motown LP; the brain trust at Hitsville U.S.A. decided to include it here also. And it's easy to see why, it has the same driving beat that is prevalent on this LP. The only cooling points are versions of Sly & the Family Stone's "Stand," and a soulful rendition of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord.”(Andrew Hamilton, Allmusic)trax:

01 War 02 Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) 03 Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On 04 Stop The War 05 Cloud Nine 06 Stand 07 Way Over There 08 My Sweet Lord

...thanks to clash for the Edwin Starr LP! served by Gyro1966...

Ruthie & The Wranglers "Life's Savings" 1998

This is the second release by this oh-so-twangy country group that is setting the Washington, D.C. country scene afire; and for that matter, Ruthie & the Wranglers are getting more and more airplay all over the country, as well they should. Ruthie Logsdon has written some of the most original and cheeky compositions, particularly the tongue-in-cheek "He's a Honky Tonk Man (But He Wants to Be a Honky Tonk Woman)." Just as a title it ranks right up there with "If You Divorce Me Baby Who'll Get the Pickup Truck" and, of course, the old Spooky Tooth song "She Broke My Heart So I Busted Her Jaw," and the words don't disappoint. Take her seriously -- even though she plays with words and your mind, she is writing some of the most witty and insightful compositions to be heard in a while. She wrote or co-wrote five of the 11 songs. Guitarist (and collaborator on two songs) Phil Mathieu wrote one instrumental, which really allows him to step forward and show off his licks. He is displaying some of the tastiest picking and is definitely a force to be reckoned with when one thinks of hot guitar players in the country/rockabilly genre. This group is solid all the way through. Mark Noone does some fine bass playing, providing the backing vocals and producing the disc. Joel App puts a definite, powerful beat into all the grooves. He is a drummer who plays country with a Chicago blues flavor. Ruthie's twang is from as deep in the heart as they come. She uses that heart to put some life into some of the covers and perk them up a bit. Listen to the very high-energy version of Loretta Lynn's "Fist City," a song that had grown as close to being lifeless as the last hacking breath before the spirit flees the body. This group is one that should be considered for sheer energy, and the band has the chops and intelligence to blast you out of any lethargy. (Allmusic)trax:

01 What Moma Don't Know 02 He's A Honky Tonk Man 03 A Dime At A Time 04 Thinkin' And Drinkin' 05 Don't Bug Me Baby 06 The Farewell Polka 07 Forgive And Forget 08 One More Lie 09 I'm Satisfied 10 Fist City 11 If It's The Last Thing I Do

...served by Gyro1966...

Crawling Walls "Inner Limits" 1985

GREAT PEBBLES STYLE PSYCH GARAGE!Recorded in Albuquerque, New Mexico and released in 1985 from Voxx (and Lolita in Europe). The band (never seen performing live, as mentioned in "Knights of Fuzz") maybe had the "curse of Voxx" i.e disbanding right after the release of their album, or maybe was an one-off only project.The album kicks off with "Fly Tonight", a crazed garage track, followed by the 6 minute-long title track, which speeds up and slowes down, complete with an eastern scale solo from the Vox organ of the leader Bob Fountain. The highlight is "She's so wild", another speeding-slowing track, with a superb guitar-organ dialogue. The speedy instrumental "Go-Go 85" closes the a-side. The b-side runs in the same vein with 3-minute songs, delivered straight from 1966, full of teenage fever and naive lyrics, with "Tell me why" and "One Last Kiss" outstanding, and closes with the calmed-down "Bittesweet", up-lifting, almost pop-psych tune that features a nice guitar solo.
This one stands side-by-side with the teenage garage anthems of the Pebbles or the Moxie records, which apparently the band had studied very well, alongside with the ? and the Mysterians. - bombmembers:

Bass, Vocals – Nancy Martinez / Drums, Vocals – Richard J. Perez / Guitar, Vocals – Larry Otis / Organ, Lead Vocals [Vox Organ] – Bob Fountain

traxfromwax:

01 Fly Tonight 02 Inner Limits 03 The Brain That Wouldn't Fry 04 She's So Wild 05 Go-Go '85 06 One Last Kiss 07 Day Glow 08 Tell Me Why 09 Run Inside 10 Falling Away 11 Bittersweet

Ruthie & The Wranglers "Wrangler City" 1996

Highballing frantic honky-tonk rockabilly from this Washington, D.C. four-piece combo. Bandleader/vocalist Ruthie Logsdon has a twang in her voice matched only by the twang in Billy Shelton's lead guitar. Of course, he is helped on two cuts by former Commander Cody guitar twangmaster Bill Kirchen. She also has the hiccups, chokes, and sobs that add true authenticity to a true country-rockabilly-torch group. The songs for the most part have a slightly offbeat sense of humor; the tearjerking ballads have an almost maudlin sensibility. They can slow it down with the best from Nashville, but Ruthie and the Wranglers do it with their own brand of twang. (Allmusic)trax:

01 Hot Potato 02 I'm A Little Confused 03 Gone But Not Forgotten 04 I Wanna Be Your Auctioneer 05 If You And I Were Strangers 06 Tomorrow We Will Ride (The Cowgirl's Prayer) 07 The Lonely Walk 08 My Car Knows Where You Live 09 Dirty Dirty Feelin' 10 Watch Your Step 11 Town Without Pity 12 Paper Roses 13 Rockabilly Song #10

...served by Gyro1966...

The Star Room Boys "This World Just Won't Leave You Alone" 2001

Straight country bands often wallow in the misery of heartbreak without sounding as if they've reflected on the subject with much depth, while run-of-the-mill alt-country acts are usually smart enough to mock this process without acknowledging the depth of their own hurt. Dave Marr of the Star Room Boys is one of the few singers and songwriters who has managed to have it both ways -- the guy is just jaded enough to write something like "Cocaine Parties," but there's no irony in his hurting songs, only the sweet, chronic ache of having the blocks knocked out from under your heart, and his voice (somewhere between Dwight Yoakam and Jay Farrar, but without the obvious mannerisms of either) was made to be heard on a jukebox in a dimly lit honky-tonk. The Star Room Boys' second album, The World Just Won't Leave You Alone, is a more than worthy follow-up to their fine 1999 debut, Why Do Lonely Men and Women Want to Break Each Others' Hearts?; if the band aren't quite virtuosos along the lines of the Derailers, they have the smarts to play within their limitations, and the clean, efficient lines of their arrangements are just the right approach for Marr's songs (and Johnny Neff's pedal steel work is right on the money). Ultimately, Dave Marr is the star of this show, and he carries it beautifully -- "Whiskey and You" and "When I'm All the Way Down" are weepers that George Jones would be proud to record; "The Daydreamer" turns up the tempo without losing touch with Marr's trademark misery; and the title cut is a masterful meditation on any number of agonies in this life. This World Just Won't Leave You Alone is hardly the album to listen to if you've needed to up the dosage on your Prozac recently, but if life and love have let you down and you want to hear someone who understands, Dave Marr and the Star Room Boys are just the drinking buddies you've been looking for. (Mark Deming, Allmusic)
trax:

01 White Lies, Blue Tears 02 If I Can Ever Get It Back Again 03 Whiskey and You 04 I Can't Stand to Be Alone 05 Cocaine Parties 06 The Daydreamer 07 When I'm All the Way Down 08 The 4_05 09 I'll Play Angel 10 Bars and Stone 11 Time 12 The World Just Won't Leave You Alone

...served by Gyro1966...

The Star Room Boys "Why Do Lonely Men And Women Want To Break Each Other's Hearts?" 1998

The Star Room Boys' debut album Why Do Lonely Men & Women Want To Break Each Others' Hearts spotlights the group's tight playing and songwriting, as well as Dave Marr's world-weary twang of a voice. Songs like "Was There Something In Her Eye?" "Both Our Towns," "Almost Doesn't Count" and the title track are down-to-earth yet atmospheric, and almost always lovelorn and bittersweet. A fine debut from a group unafraid to delve deeper into country's blue side. (Allmusic)trax:

01 Gastonia 02 Was There Something in her Eye 03 Both our Towns 04 Belongs to You 05 Why Do Lonely Men and Woman Want to Break Each Other's Hearts? 06 Souvenir 07 New York City Isn't Going Anywhere 08 The Liar in my Heart 09 Foolish 10 Tell Me About the Blues 11 Almost Doesn't Count 12 Blue Marie 13 Someone's Playing Our Song

...served by Gyro1966...

Troy Campbell "American Breakdown" 2002

Troy Campbell, former singer for the Austin Texas band Loose Diamonds, has a voice as sweet and smooth as whipped honey butter and a penchant for catchy, evocative songwriting. And on "American Breakdown," both are in evidence. Tracks such as "Sad Truth" and "Sorrytown"have a delicate melancholy that is hard to dismiss, while on the more revved-up "Rosebelle," Campbell proves that he can shake the rafters. (Jeff Wisser Chicago Sun-Times)Former Loose Diamond Troy Campbell offers up 11 mid-American heartland roots rock nuggets on his second solo album, American Breakdown. Expertly produced by bassist Gurf Morlix, Campbell's earnest voice creaks and croons stories of lost loves, lost memories, and long-gone locations, each with a different surprise ending or unexpected supporting cast. Like a stark Jon Dee Graham or Patty Griffin from a male perspective, his gritty, bittersweet songwriting captures not only the moment of heartbreak, but also the slow creep of realization when the loneliness settles in for the night. Campbell is at his most successful in the more stripped-down numbers (like the gentle "Sorrytown" and the lovely duet with Eliza Gilkyson, "Ruby"), but his fuzzed-up and layered songs certainly couldn't be seen as throwaways. With all of the doom and gloom occurring in the songs, Campbell still somehow manages to leave the listener with a sense of hope, as if all of the heartache and torment is only a passing stage, and he seems certain that there will be sunlight behind that last grey cloud. (Allmusic)

trax:

01 Sad Truth 02 World of Tears 03 American Breakdown 04 Sorrytown 05 Rosabelle 06 Sleeping Without You 07 The World Keeps on Ending 08 Blind 09 Pacific 10 Home After Dark

...served by Gyro1966...

"Platterpuss 45's" Vol. 2 - Everybody's Got A Little Something

Once again, here are some more 45's from my collection that I am recording to upload to my hard drive. As with Vol. 1 the main thing they have in common is that when I first heard them I decided they were worthy additions to my collection. Hope you enjoy 'em as much as I do. (Yankeeboy)
Don’t forget Volume 1 in this series!
http://twilightzone-rideyourpony.blogspot.com/2015/10/platterpuss-45s-vol-1-everybodys-got.htmltrax:

1. Too Much (Mercury 72693) (Prod. O. Redding) - Billy Young 2. Make Me Your Man (Tema  PXT 131B) - The Baskerville Hounds 3. If I Do (Dottie 1130-B) - The Ambertones 4. Then Suddenly (Columbia 4-43565) - Bob Morrison 5. Mister Moonlight (Okeh 4-7144) - Doctor Feelgood & The Interns 6. That's Life  (Federal 45-12493) - The Esco's 7. Careless Love (Jerand 401-2) - Humphrey & The Palookas 8. Ain't That The Way Life Is (King 45-5910) - The Impacs 9. Tennessee Waltz (Fury 5050) - Johnny Jones 10. Donald Duck (Kape 702-A) - The Kac-Ties 11. What's Your Name (RCA VIctor (Canada) 57-3414) - The King Bees 12. So Long Johnny (RCA Victor 47-8846) - King George 13. Big Boss Man (Private Label sponsored by Harlem Public Library in Holland - RC 166 - Edited) - The Lazy Bones 14. Back Door Blues (Capitol 5519) - The Lost 15. I Got A Funny Kind of Feeling (ABC-Paramount 10290) - Maxine Brown 16. Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind (Polydor (SWE) 59768 B) - Michael 17. Hold Me (London LON 9688) - P.J. Proby 18. Somebody's Gonna Want Me (Enjoy 5050) - Ricky Lewis 19. (Take a Look at my Guy) The Greatest Lover  (Atlantic A-6933) - The Shepperd Sisters 20. Daddy's Home to Stay (Blue Rock B-4014) - Sir Mack Rice 21. Count The Ways (Atco 45-6553) - Society's Children 22. Mojo Hanna (Cotillion 45-44135) - Tammi Lynn 23. Dance With Henry (ABC Paramount 45-10555) - Tommy Roe

...Many Thanks to Yankeeboy for this share! served by Gyro1966...

Loose Diamonds "New Location" 1994

Roots-rockers Loose Diamonds got their start in Dayton, Ohio as the Highwaymen, but changed their name after arriving in Austin, Texas, in the late '80s; the group, which consisted of "Scrappy" Jud Newcomb (guitar and vocals), Troy Campbell (vocals, harmonica and acoustic guitar), Mike Campbell (bass) and Ian Bailey (drums), blended influences including Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen as well as a wide range of blues, R&B and country musicians. In 1993, Loose Diamonds issued their debut LP, Burning Daylight, followed two years later by New Location. (Allmusic)trax:

01 Luck Runs Out 02 Broadkstrokes 03 Workin' On It 04 Enough To Know 05 Long Way Out 06 Hold On Tight 07 For Shame Of Doing Wrong 08 Back Down Blues 09 Devotion 10 Gone 11 New Location

...served by Gyro1966...

The Carpetbaggers "Sin Now... Pray Later" 1996

The band projects a more modern touch with a parody of "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" called "Suburban Boy" Nashville is all excited about BR5-49, but based on recent releases, The Carpetbaggers are mining similar turf much more enjoyably.After recording two fine albums for a small Minneapolis label, The Carpetbaggers move up to Hightone for their third disc. Although the vocals are sonically in the "alternative country" vein, musically, they're much more likely to appeal to country purists than most such bands. Using 50's style instrumentation (slap bass and no drums), The Carpetbaggers effectively harken back to the sound of that era. And with song titles like "My Jeannie's In A Bottle," "Don't Ask and I Won't Tell," and the title track, they feature lots of the humorous wordplay that made older country music so much fun. Mixed in are covers of some older country songs, (including one by Marvin Rainwater, a major hero of the group). (Country Standard Time)

trax:

01 Sin Now.Pray Later 02 No Such Luck 03 Absent Without Leaving 04 The Way You Left Me 05 Walking, Talking Dead Man 06 My Jeannie's In A Bottle 07 I Sure Do Love You Baby 08 War Between The States 09 Don't Ask And I Won't Tell 10 It's Nearly Over 11 You Stay There 12 I Guess I'm Crazy 13 Estranged Bedfellows 14 The Last Time 15 Suburban Boy 16 I Don't Care Too Much About That Kind Of Thing Today 17 That's That

...served by Gyro1966...

Loose Diamonds "Burning Daylight" 1993

Roots-rockers Loose Diamonds got their start in Dayton, Ohio as the Highwaymen, but changed their name after arriving in Austin, Texas, in the late '80s; the group, which consisted of "Scrappy" Jud Newcomb (guitar and vocals), Troy Campbell (vocals, harmonica and acoustic guitar), Mike Campbell (bass) and Ian Bailey (drums), blended influences including Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen as well as a wide range of blues, R&B and country musicians. In 1993, Loose Diamonds issued their debut LP, Burning Daylight, followed two years later by New Location. (Allmusic)trax:

01 Wake Up Baby 02 Last Ones 03 Advice 04 Jenny Please 05 725 06 All I Know 07 How Much I Lost 08 Kentucky Eyes 09 Side Of The Road 10 Downtown 11 Heavens To The Ground

...served by Gyro1966...

The RipTones "Buckshot" 2000

If Buckshot stylistically picks up where the Riptones left off with their previous album, Cowboy's Inn, it also finds the band refining their formula for the better. While the album favors the leaner sound that the three-piece edition of the Riptones brought to Cowboy's Inn, the addition of Michael Krasovech on lead guitar gives the arrangements some needed spark while letting frontman Jeb Bonansinga put his full attention on his vocals, which is where his greatest strength lies. But even though the band sounds fuller in this incarnation, the production still sounds tight and uncluttered, with a lean and muscular approach that fits the songs like a glove. And unlike most roots rockers who can't find much to sing about except cars 'n' girls, Bonansinga manages to write cool songs about radioactive fallout ("Rebel Rock Armageddon"), getting your life in order ("Get Me a Job"), and struggling to make it through an economic downturn ("Getting By"); it's rare to hear a rockabilly-influenced band actually deal with real life problems in their songs, and Bonansinga pulls it off pretty well. While the album falls a bit short on capturing this band at their best, Buckshot makes it clear the Riptones do what they do very well indeed, and anyone who finds their mixture interesting should enjoy it. (Mark Deming, Allmusic)trax:

01 Rebel Rock Armageddon 02 Treat Her Right 03 Pardon Me 04 Buckshot 05 Yvette 06 Getting By 07 Plastic Love 08 Gone To Bed 09 Army Blues 10 Get Me A Job 11 Burdett's Pond

...served by Gyro1966...

The Cactus Brothers "24 Hrs., 7 Days A Week" 1995

The Cactus Brothers shook up their creative roster quite a bit for 24 Hrs., 7 Days a Week, the band's sophomore album. Sam Poland and dulcimer wizard David Schnaufer were gone, as was drummer David Kennedy. The band added steel guitarist Jim Fungaroli and drummer Johnny Tulucci and carried on with pretty much the same sound that they had built their audience and reputation on, a high-energy blend of roots rock and traditional country. 24 Hrs., 7 Days a Week benefits from the evenhanded production of fellow musician Randy Scruggs, who brought the band's natural rowdy inclinations to bear on both original material and covers alike while also managing to add a slight commercial sheen to the band's rough edges. Singer/songwriter Paul Kirby's original songs are stronger and more expressive than much of his previous material; cuts like "A Woman's Touch" and "Secret Language," a duet with Matraca Berg, mine a familiar romantic vein in a lively and lyrically intelligent fashion. The Cactus Brothers offer a pair of red-hot covers here, delivering a spirited performance of the Creedence Clearwater Revival favorite "Lodi" while the band's honky tonk roots shine brightly on a rave-up reading of Red Simpson's classic "Highway Patrol." Producer Scruggs adds some choice six-string work to fill out a handful of songs, assisted in the studio by drummer Kenny Aronoff and keyboard player Reese Wynans. However, it was multi-instrumentalist Tramp who was the band's secret weapon, his fiery fiddle elevating songs like "You're the Reason" and the title track above the generic country-rock finding favor in Nashville in 1995. When Tramp leads the entire band through the rocking instrumental "Redhead" you realize that, unlike many country bands during the mid-'90s, the Cactus Brothers were no studio creation, but rather a working band of talented musicians. 24 Hrs., 7 Days a Week proved to be a swan song for the Cactus Brothers, a lack of commercial success and too many nights on the road taking its toll on the bandmembers. (Rev. Keith A. Gordon, Allmusic)trax:

01 This Love's Gonna Fly 02 Lodi 03 24 Hrs., 7 Days A Week 04 Highway Patrol 05 A Woman's Touch 06 Secret Language 07 Love Me Too 08 He Never Got Enough Love 09 You're The Reason 10 Redhead 11 Chains Of Freedom

...served by Gyro1966...

The Nomads "Raw & Rare (1983 - 1983)" 1996

RAW & RARE features remixed versions of songs originally recorded in 1983 but never before released, along with rare tracks from various singles and EPs. There is no overlap between RAW & RARE and the 2-CD compilation SHOWDOWN! 1981-1993 (Sympathy For The Record Industry 333).Here it comes baby... ten of the rawest most primal cuts ever laid to wax by Sweden's infamous garage/punk luminaries THE NOMADS! Over half of the thunderin' tracks on this sleazy slab were culled from the band's first recording sessions back in 1983 and it just don't get much rawer than this! Yeah, some of this sweaty swill turned up on the super limited "Stagger In The Snow" cassette-only release in 1984, but the "Raw & Rare" 10" / CD marks the first authorized release of these tracks ever... and each one has been re-mixed and remastered for maximum raunch specifically for this chub by Mr. 4-Eyed Thomas his'self. Yow! The flip or Òrare" side collects some of THE NOMADS coolest but hardest to find cuts taken from various singles and e.p. releases over the years, most notably the truly fuckin' amazing Scientists inspired noisefest "Nitroglycerine Shrieks"! And just in case yer wonderin' there is absolutely no overlap of tracks between "Raw & Rare" and the highly recommended "Showdown!" double CD released last year...in fact most of the tracks on "Raw & Rare" have never been available domestically before now! So get ready for some "Raw & Rare" psychotheraphy courtesy of THE NOMADS! - Estrustrax:

01 Lights Out 02 Come Back Baby 03 Weekend On Mars 04 I Wanna Come Back From The World Of Lsd 05 Double Decker Bus 06 Downbound Train 07 My Little Ruby 08 Nitroglycerine Shrieks 09 Esp 10 I Can't Use The Stuff I Used To Use

The Cactus Brothers "Crazy Heart" 1993

Originally formed as the twangier alter ego of popular Nashville cowpunks Walk the West, the Cactus Brothers soon took on an identity of their own, mixing weepy, pedal-steel punctuated honky tonk country with Walk the West's edgier roots rock sound. By the time of this self-titled debut for Jimmy Bowen's short-lived Liberty Records, the band's original four members had grown into a powerful seven-piece band that built a loyal following by constant touring. With producers Allen Reynolds and Mark Miller at the helm, this solid collection of songs did a fair job of capturing the band's live dynamic on tape. The disc mixes traditional country gems like Tennessee Ernie Ford's classic "Sixteen Tons" and the Everly Brothers' "The Price of Love" with originals penned by vocalist Paul Kirby such as the precious "Sweet Old Fashioned Girl" or the rollicking "Swimmin' Hole." Although Kirby's distinctive nasal-inflected vocals do a fine job of caressing his lyrics (which tend to lean toward the typical romantic vein), the Cactus Brothers' strength was always in the band's skilled instrumentation. Few country bands in the '90s could boast of players such as pedal steel wizard Sam Poland, fiery fiddler Tramp, and mountain dulcimer master David Schnaufer. Along with Walk the West veterans and brothers Will Golemon (guitar, banjo) and John Golemon (bass) and drummer David Kennedy, the band's multi-talented multi-instrumentalists added complexity and depth to every song. When allowed to take a song and run with it, such as on instrumental tracks like "Blackberry Blossom" or their popular take on the traditional "Fisher's Hornpipe" -- the accompanying video received constant airplay on several cable TV networks -- the Cactus Brothers stood without peer. (Rev. Keith A. Gordon, Allmusic)trax:
01 Sixteen Tons 02 Crazy Heart 03 Our Love 04 Devil Wind 05 Sweet Old-Fashioned Girl 06 Blackberry Blossom 07 The Price Of Love 08 Big Train 09 Swimmin' Hole 10 One More Night (With You) 11 Bubba Bubba 12 Fisher's Hornpipe
...served by Gyro1966...

The RipTones "Cowboy's Inn" 1999

The Riptones pared back the frills from their retro-country/rockabilly fusion on their 1999 album Cowboy's Inn, doubtless due to the fact that the band had been stripped down to a trio (singer and guitarist Jeb Bonansinga, bassist Earl Carter, and drummer Kurt Weisend) from the five-piece edition which recorded their previous album. And the opening cut, "I Can't and I Won't," suggests that some pruning was just what the band needed; a hot-rodded bit of updated rockabilly with some hot guitar from briefly returning guitarist Andon T. Davis, "I Can't and I Won't" is one of the most exciting things the band has ever cut; and if the rest of the album never quite hits the same level of energy, the other tunes show that a simpler approach serves Bonansinga's songs quite well. "Hey You're Gonna Pay" and "Go Be and Do" reflect an admirably unclichéd approach to rockabilly, "Jack's Last Time" is an old-school cowboy ballad given a sharp modern twist, and "Big Timber" discovers the lost link between roots rock and surf music. Cowboy's Inn offers intelligent and muscular proof that the Riptones are one band who've been able to find a niche within the alt-country scene while creating an approach that's all their own, and it captures the group at their best. (Mark Deming, Allmusic)

trax:

01 I Can't and I Won't 02 Crazy Charlie 03 Mama's Boy 04 Run Around Man 05 Go Be and Do 06 Jack's Last Time 07 Hey You're Gonna Pay 08 'Til the Bottom Drops Out 09 Big Timber 10 Otis Hayes 11 Barbedwire Scars

...served by Gyro1966...

The Meshugga Beach Party "Let's Go Shleppin'!" 2008

LEGENDARY! This album is so is so amazingly cooooool... it's CRYOGENIC! It is worth buying, just to see the reverse of the album cover alone. Quite simply, this album is a "Semitically Surreal" MASTERPIECE!! Oy Gevalt... All I need to do now, is find me a surf board that's KOSHER!!;o) - Michael LevyThe first CD was done by Mel all himself (with the aid of two different drummers), but this one is played by a real band - and you hear it. Especially the keyboard parts have improved vastly; also the arrangements: the interplay between guitars and keyboard is just marvelous. Don't make a mistake: Although this is a lot of fun and the stage costumes are outright silly, this is serious music superbly played, not just some novelty you are tired of after listening to it three or four times. You won't regret buying this cd! - Michael Koltantrax:

01 If I Were A Rich Man 02 Theme From Exodus 03 Jericho 04 Dark Eyes 05 S'vivon 06 And The Angels Sing 07 Borscht Belt Beet 08 Yishm'chu Hashamayim 09 Tzena Tzena 10 Frailachs 11 Mazel Tov Cocktail 12 Jezebel 13 Star Of David 14 Kosor Paziranu 15 Bashana Haba'a 16 Shmata Hari 17 Let My People Go 18 Sabbath Prayer

"Mambo In The Mainstream"

A creative collection of tracks documenting how mambo infiltrated the popular music of the 50s featuring mambo-inspired rhythm & blues, rock & roll and pop. Compiled and annotated by record producer and music historian Stuart Colman, this album includes hits such as the classic “House Of Bamboo”, alongside obscure singles and album tracks for a satisfying, wide-ranging and, above all, fun selection. (The Guardian)trax:

1. I Got To Learn To Do The Mambo - Ivory Joe Hunter 2. Mine All Mine - LaVern Baker 3. Mambostic - Earl Bostic 4. Out Of The Picture - The Robins 5. Mambo Italiano - Rosemary Clooney 6. Mambo Rock - Bill Haley 7. Honey Love - The Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter 8. Ay Si Si Mambo - The Dootones 9. Papa Loves Mambo - Perry Como 10. Do You Want To Dance - Bobby Freeman 11. Fever - Louis Prima 12. Mambo Baby - Ruth Brown 13. Se De Boom Run Dun - Mickey & Sylvia 14. Mamblues - Cal Tjader 15. House Of Bamboo - Earl Grant 16. Mambo Boogie - Ruth Brown 17. Mambo Sh-Mambo - Otis Williams & The Charms 18. They Were Doin' The Mambo - Vaughn Monroe 19. Love Me, Love - Janis Martin 20. Lonesome Tears In My Eyes - Johnny Burnette & The Rock And Roll Trio 21. Lover's Rock - Johnny Horton 22. All She Wants To Do Is Mambo - Wynonie Harris 23. Shake It Up Mambo - The Platters 24. Loop De Loop Mambo - The Robins 25. Mambo Jambo [aka Que Rico El Mambo] - Pérez Prado

...served by Gyro1966...

The RipTones "Extra Sauce" 1997

Splitting the difference between old-school country and high-attitude rockabilly, the Riptones work up a healthy twang on Extra Sauce, their first nationally distributed album (after a pair of hard-to-find self-released sets). While at times it sounds as if the band isn't sure just how hard they want to rock, guitarist Andon T. Davis and lead singer/second axeman Jeb Bonansinga know how to make their six-strings work together as a unit, while bassist Earl Carter and drummer Tom Harmon set 'em up nicely whether in third gear or fifth. And Jeb Bonansinga's songwriting really sets this band apart; the straight-ahead honesty of his more C&W-oriented tunes ("How Mean You Really Are," " "The Meanest Man in the World") suggest he could have a solid career as a Nashville tunesmith, and even when he's singing about such perennial roots rock themes as spicy food and equally spicy women, there's a light and un-self-conscious tone to his lyrics which is welcome. (And thankfully, "Motorcycle Man" doesn't celebrate biker culture so much as it casts a bemused glance at a lawyer playing hog rider on weekends.) Not quite perfect, but Extra Sauce shows the Riptones were a strong band with good ideas they would work out on future releases.(Mark Deming, Allmusic)ngles and album tracks for a satisfying, wide-ranging and, above all, fun selection. (The Guardian)trax:

01 Out All Night 02 (You Don't Know) How Mean You Really Are 03 Motorcycle Man 04 Good BBQ 05 The Meanest Man in the World 06 Evil Ways 07 County Fair 08 Extra Sauce 09 Crawfish Pie 10 I Forgot to Cry 11 Jill 12 Danny Jo Doss

...served by Gyro1966...

Willie Tee "Career Overview 1962 -1976"

Commercial success proved frustratingly elusive, but Willie Tee remains an institution of the New Orleans music scene. A powerfully expressive vocalist and pianist rooted in the traditions of Crescent City R&B and jazz, his mid-'60s soul sides are acknowledged classics on the Carolinas' beach music circuit. (Allmusic)trax:

01 Always Accused 02 All For One 03 I Found Out (You Are My Cousin) 04 Walkin' Up A One-Way Street 05 Teasin' You 06 Please Don't Go 07 My Heart Remembers 08 Foolish Girl 09 Thank You John 10 Dedicated To You 11 You Better Say Yes 12 I Want Somebody (To Show Me The Way Home) 13 I Heard Everything You Said 14 Reach Out For Me 15 Love Of A Married Man 16 I'm Only A Man 17 Take Your Time 18 Bring On The Heartaches 19 First Taste Of Hurt 20 I'm Havin' So Much Fun 21 Teasing You Again 22 Come To Me 23 I'd Give It To You 24 The Moment Of Truth 25 Your Love, My Love Together…Thanks to exooregon for the Willie Tee collection! served by Gyro1966...

Browning Bryant "Browning Bryant" 1974

This is reportedly the first album recorded at the Sea-Saint studio of legendary producer Allen Toussaint. Somehow Browning Bryant, who had gained fame as a country-pop singer at a young age, was paired with Toussaint, who was nearing his productive peak. The album was a commercial flop, but it is a very solid effort with interesting songs, predictably tight production, and top-level musicianship -- including the Meters, after all. When production began Browning was just 15, but his voice is remarkably mature and emotive. Forty years on the album sounds fresh and impressive; not a bit dated. But don't take my word for it. In Feb, 2014 Toussaint was asked what album he had produced that he though deserves more attention and replied thusly:
"Well, many years ago there was an album with a young white guy called Browning Bryant. A young white guy from south Carolina. A good looking young chap who played just enough guitar to support his singing. I remember feeling very good about the album but it didn't do very much at all. I didn't give very much thought back then to what should happen as I was always on to the next project. But thinking back that was a good one.” (No Depression)Browning Bryant can sing. Who? Browning Bryant.

Check it out:

"Browning Bryant attained success singing folk-pop that was uncharacteristically mature and introspective for a pre-teen heartthrob. In 1969, the first of his several songs to generate international sales was Games That Grown Up Children Play, leading to televised appearances on The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Kraft Music Hall (10 times), The Tonight Show (December 24, 1970), and a brief Las Vegas career. He was nominated "Best Boy Singer" in a reader poll by 16 Magazine, then a favorite with teenagers.

In 1974, Bryant's last commercial album was released. New Orleans hit-maker Allen Toussaint     

produced the record and wrote most of its songs. It featured backing by the New Orleans group The Meters. Though he was 15 and then 16 years old when the album was recorded, his mellifluous vocals are remarkably mature. His three self-penned songs also belie his age, with one, "Cure My Blues," being covered by blues singer Ellen McIlwaine. (Allmusic calls her version "majestic.") Despite recording in a style drastically different than his earlier work, it turned out that Bryant was well-paired with Toussaint's trademark syncopated funk." 

So yeah, Browning Bryant.

I found this record about 10 years ago while searching for anything related to Allen Toussaint. I have to say, I was more than pleasantly surprised. It didn't smack me in familiar places the way a classic, New Orleans release would. With both Toussaint and The Meters involved, I had expected it to. Though Toussaint's signature piano is right up front, and the band is tight, it reminds me more of what Stevie Wonder might have done had he recorded outside of Motown with these same people. The songs are strong and often, Bryant's vocals send a chill through me.

Listen to "Losing," one of his three self-penned tunes from the Allen Toussaint produced, 1974 release. The dude was 16. (Sal Nunziato, Burning Wood)

trax:

01 You Might Say 02 Say You Will 03 Leave The Rest To Molly 04 This Is My Day 05 Cure My Blues 06 Liverpool Fool 07 Blinded By Love 08 Cover Girl 09 Losing 10 Performance 11 Home

…Thanks to Lo-Fi Larry for Browning Brown! served by Gyro1966...

Richie Allen & The Pacific Surfers "Surfers' Slide" 1963

Richie Allen and his group brings back the innocent years of music and surf. His sound and his band are pure surf. Check out "Surfers' Slide" and "Malibu Run" as songs reminiscent of the era and darn good music. Pick up a CD and enjoy! - By E. J. EhrlicherRichie "Allen" (actually Podolor) has a couple of re-issues out, SURFER'S SLIDE and RISING SURF. Both are excellent but for a straighter surf sound, I like RISING SURF. SURFERS'S SLIDE has a little more variation - but nevertheless returns the listener to the innocent, pre-Beatles days of pop music, before the death of instrumental rock.

No gimmicks (outside of those regularly associated with surf music) here - just wet, wet reverb and twangy Fender goodness. If you miss the days of baggies, sand, surf & sun, stick 'ol Richie on the box and your coldest days will melt away.

Podolor was a much-in-demand studio guitarist for a variety of Southern California artists - surf & otherwise - and took on the alias "Richie Allen" to put out music with his band of "Pacific Surfers ". Capitalizing on the pre-eminent teen sound of the day, Allen made authentic surf music that stands up to any of the better-known bands of the period.

If you're nostalgic for the sound of cool rock music without the burden of vocals & lyrics - or if you just want to shut your eyes and, for a few minutes, find yourself on a sunny strand circa 1963 - then grab both of Richie Allen's re-issues. You'll be hangin' ten before you know it . . . - By Edwin W. Skinner, Jr.

trax:

01 Surfers' Slide 02 Sunday Surfer 03 The Lonely Surfer 04 Ridin' the Woodie 05 Swing Low 06 Surfers' Hop 07 A Touch of Blue 08 Malibu Run 09 Surf Man 10 Comin' Back to You 11 Undercurrent 12 Tidal Wave

Teddy Randazzo "The Ultimate Compilation Of All Labels" (Marginal 028)

To most "oldies" collectors, Teddy Randazzo is best known as a songwriter, having written hits for both Little Anthony & The Imperials & Steve Lawrence.However, he was once a moderately successful singer as the leader of The Three Chuckles. After leaving the group, he took a stab as a soloist.
This compilation is the first to feature his works. Notable for rock n' roll collectors are his works from the quickie rock n' roll musicals "Mr. Rock n' Roll" (the original version of "Kiddio", later to be covered by Brook Benton, "Next Stop Paradise", & "I'd Stop Anything I'm Doing"), "Rock, Rock, Rock!" ("We're Gonna Rock Tonight", with the Three Chuckles, "Hey, Let's Twist!" ("Mother Goose Twist"), as well as his own version of "Pretty Blue Eyes", which he wrote & became a hit for the previously mentioned Steve Lawrence.
Conspiciously missing are various other songs that he performed in those same movies. (A shame, as many of those, such as "You'll Have Everything Your Heart Needs" from the movie "Rock, Rock, Rock!" is a fine teen ballad.)
Perhaps a two-cd disc set would have been more definitive.
Regardless, this is a fine & long overdue compilation for one of the most successful songwriters in rock n' roll history, as well as the most underrated, yet highly talented vocalists of the 1950's & early 1960's.(Allmusic)trax:

01 the way of a clown 02 but you broke my heart 03 echoes 04 it's magic 05 be sure my love 06 cherie 07 pretty blue eyes 08 broken bell 09 dear heart 10 doo-dah 11 misery 12 one more chance 13 pagan love song 14 i'll stop anything i'm doing 15 mother goose twist 16 big wide world 17 be my little chicken 18 we're gonna rock tonight 19 little serenade 20 next stop paradise 21 journey to love 22 ooh-poo pah-doo 23 lady of spain 24 brazil 25 bo diddley 26 shout 27 late date baby 28 twistin to the locomotion 29 kiddio 30 triste pagglaccio

…thanks to the northern-madman for the share! served by Gyro1966...

Steve Alaimo "Hits and Rarities" (Marginal 026)

For someone who never had a Top 40 hit, Steve Alaimo sure got around. Big-name producers Felton Jarvis, Chips Moman, Ray Stevens, P.F. Sloan & Steve Barri, Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham, Henry Stone, and Bill Justis all worked on various tracks on this 33-song career retrospective. Like Bobby Darin, Alaimo hopped from genre to genre: blue-eyed soul and pop/rock,  were all ripe for investigation.“Hits and Rarities” by Steve Alaimo, released by Marginal Records from Belgium in 1995, contains 33 songs. I have compiled a detailed song listing (including album and singles label & number, chart position and release date) (BB Pop=Billboard Hot 100):

trax:

01 EVERY DAY I HAVE TO CRY (Checker 1032)(a-side, BB Pop 46/December 1962)

02 I WON’T LET YOU GO*from album “Starring Steve Alaimo” (ABC-Paramount ABC-501)(1965); rare gem; CD debut

03 FADE OUT – FADE IN (ABC-Paramount 45-10553)(b-side, May 1964)*rare gem; CD debut

04 STAND BY ME*from album “Starring Steve Alaimo” (ABC-Paramount ABC-501)(1965); rare gem; CD debut

05 NOBODY CRIES FOR ME (live)

06 ONE GOOD REASON (Checker 1024)(uncharted a-side, September 1962)

07 LITTLE GIRL (PLEASE TAKE A CHANCE WITH ME)(Checker 1032)(b-side, December 1962)

08 I DON’T WANNA CRY*from album “Starring Steve Alaimo” (ABC-Paramount ABC-501)(1965); rare gem; CD debut

09 DON’T CRY*from album “Every Day I Have To Cry” (Checker LP 2986)(1963); rare gem; CD debut

10 I TOLD YOU SO (Checker 1047)(b-side, August 1963)*a-side “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying” not included here

11 BIG BAD BEULAH (Checker 981)(uncharted a-side, June 1961)

12 HAPPY PAPPY (Imperial 66003)(b-side, November 1963)

13 BLUE FIRE (Dickson M 6444)(uncharted a-side, August 1960)*b-side “My Heart Never Said Goodbye” not included here

14 SOON YOU’LL BE GONE*from album “Starring Steve Alaimo” (ABC-Paramount ABC-501)(1965); rare gem; CD debut

15 YOU’RE DRIVING ME CRAZY*from album “Starring Steve Alaimo” (ABC-Paramount ABC-501)(1965); rare gem; CD debut

16 I DON’T WANNA CRY (SKA VERSION)*from album “Starring Steve Alaimo” (ABC-Paramount ABC-501)(1965); rare gem; CD debut

17 THE TWIST*from album “Twist with Steve Alaimo” (Checker LP-2981)(1961)

18 GOOD, GOOD LOVIN’*from album “Twist with Steve Alaimo” (Checker LP-2981)(1961)

19 LET’S TWIST AGAIN*from album “Twist with Steve Alaimo” (Checker LP-2981)(1961)

20 TWIST ALL NIGHT*from album “Twist with Steve Alaimo” (Checker LP-2981)(1961)

21 THIS LITTLE GIRL’S GONE ROCKIN’*from album “Twist with Steve Alaimo” (Checker LP-2981)(1961)

22 I’VE GOT IT!*from album “Twist with Steve Alaimo” (Checker LP-2981)(1961)

23 BOPPIN’ THE BLUES*from album “Twist with Steve Alaimo” (Checker LP-2981)(1961)

24 GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! (Steve Alaimo & the Red Coats)(Martin 6065)(b-side, 1959)*rare gem; CD debut

25 SHE’S MY BABY (Steve Alaimo & the Red Coats)(Martin 6067)(uncharted a-side, 1959)

26 HOME BY ELEVEN (Steve Alaimo & the Red Coats)(Dade 1800)(uncharted a-side, 1958)

27 BEHOLD*from album “Starring Steve Alaimo” (ABC-Paramount ABC-501)(1965); rare gem; CD debut

28 GOTTA LOTTA LOVE (Imperial 66003)(a-side, BB Pop 74/November 1963)*rare gem; CD debut

29 MASHED POTATOES (PART 1)(Checker 1006)(a-side, BB Pop 81/February 1962)*first charted single; b-side “Mashed Potatoes (Part 2) not included here

30 CAST YOUR FATE TO THE WIND (ABC-Paramount 45-10680)(a-side, BB Pop 89/May 1965)

31 OOH POO PAH DOO*from album “Mashed Potatoes” (Checker LP-2983)(1962)

32 THAT’S WHAT LOVE WILL DO (ABC-Paramount 45-10580)(b-side, August 1964)*a-side “I Don’t Know” not included here; rare gem; CD debut

33 UNCHAINED MELODY (Imperial X 5717)(b-side, January 1961)

…thanks to the northern-madman for the share! served by Gyro1966...

Richie Allen & The Pacific Surfers "The Rising Surf" 1963

Richie Allen and the Pacific Surfers recorded two albums, The Rising Surf, and Surfer's Slide in 1962 and were released on Imperial Records. This was a studio band, using a lot of L.A. session guys like Plas Johnson, Sandy Nelson, and Tommy Tedesco. Richie Allen (Podolor) went on to be a big Record Producer in L.A. Sundazed Records has now released his two surf albums on CD, which are collector's items on vinyl. - By COMPUTERJAZZMANThough I had heard some of the songs on this CD before, I had not heard of Richie Allen and the Pacific Surfers until I read about them recently in a review in an English music magazine. That review pronounced this reissue a "must have" and "the greatest surf record ever". While those statements are debatable, the review was so unrelentingly positive that I put it on my list and picked it up while shopping a favorite Encinitas music store.

If you were young in coastal Southern California in the 60s, then you'll find that The Rising Surf brings back days filled with surf and sun. While the sound is definitely dated, it is so evocative of that time and place that entertainment value should overcome any qualms about the simplicity of the music. Though I enjoy the entire CD, my favorite cut is definitely The Quiet Surf, followed by Put It On and the famous Rumble. Only the silly Swanee River Twang detracts from the beach party ambience of the CD.

There are a lot of early surf bands that modern pundits proclaim as "the best" or "essential". I won't say this CD is either, because I haven't heard them all. But I will say that if you like the twang of surf guitar occasionally joined by a funky honking saxophone, then check out The Rising Surf. I give it three stars for music quality, but five stars for its entertainment value which makes it a solid four-star value overall. - By Kurt Harding

Members:

Bass [Fender] – Ray Pohlman / Double Bass [String Bass] – Harper Cosby / Drums – Sandy Nelson / Bass [Fender] – Ray Pohlman / Guitar – Rene Hall, Richie Podolor / Piano – Eddie Beal, Lincoln Mayorga, Ray Johnson / Saxophone – Les Weiser, Plas Johnson, Steve Douglas

trax:

01 The Rising Surf 02 Surfer's Delight 03 Undercurrent 04 Foot Stomp U.S.A. 05 The Quiet Surf 06 Breakin' Out 07 Skeg-Along-Pete 08 Ground Swell 09 Push Off 10 Swanee River Twang 11 Put It On 12 Rumble

Mary Wells "The Other Side Of Mary Wells" Hits and Rarities (Marginal 004)

Time and legions of other soul superstars have obscured the fact that for a brief moment, Mary Wells was Motown's biggest star. She came to the attention of Berry Gordy as a 17-year-old, hawking a song she'd written for Jackie Wilson; that song, "Bye Bye Baby," became her first Motown hit in 1961. The full-throated approach of that single was quickly toned down in favor of a pop-soul sound. Few other soul singers managed to be as shy and sexy at the same time as Wells (Barbara Lewis is the only other that springs to mind), and the soft-voiced singer found a perfect match with the emerging Motown production team, especially Smokey Robinson. Robinson wrote and produced her biggest Motown hits; "Two Lovers," "You Beat Me to the Punch," and "The One Who Really Loves You" all made the Top Ten in the early '60s, and "My Guy" hit the number one spot in mid-1964, at the very height of Beatlemania.Mary turned 21 years old as "My Guy" was rising to the top of the charts, and left Motown almost immediately afterward for a reported advance of several hundred thousand dollars from 20th Century Fox. The circumstances remain cloudy years later, but Wells and her husband-manager felt Motown wasn't coming through with enough money for their new superstar; she was also lured by the prospect of movie roles through 20th Century Fox (which never materialized). It's been rumored that Wells was being groomed for the sort of plans that were subsequently lavished upon Diana Ross; more nefariously, it's also been rumored that Motown quietly discouraged radio stations from playing Wells' subsequent releases. What is certain is that Wells never remotely approached the success of her Motown years, entering the pop Top 40 only once (although she had some R&B hits). Motown, for their part, took care throughout the rest of the '60s not to lose their big stars to larger labels.
Wells' departure from Motown was so dramatic and unsuccessful that it has tended to overshadow the quality of her later work, which has almost always been dismissed as trivial by critics. True, it didn't match the quality of her Motown recordings -- Smokey Robinson could not be replaced. But her '60s singles for 20th Century Fox (whom she ended up leaving after only a year), Atco, and Jubilee were solid pop-soul on which her vocal talents remained undiminished. She wrote and produced a lot of her late-'60s and early-'70s sessions with her second husband, guitarist Cecil Womack (brother of Bobby), and these found her exploring a somewhat earthier groove than her more widely known pop efforts. She had trouble landing recording deals in the '70s and '80s, and succumbed to throat cancer in 1992.(Allmusic)trax:

01 Why Don't You Let Yourself Go 02 Everlovin' Boy 03 He's A Lover 04 Stop Takin' Me For Granted 05 Use Your Head 06 We're Just Two Of A Kind 07 My Mind's Made Up 08 Never, Never Leave Me 09 Ain't It The Truth 10 He's Good Enough For Me 11 How Can I Forget Him 12 I'm Learning 13 He Loves You 14 Please Please Me 15 I Should Have Known Better 16 Yesterday 17 I Saw Him Standing There 18 All My Loving 19 Love Makes The World Go Round 20 My World Is Empty Without You Babe 21 Dear Lover 22 The Boy From Ipanema 23 Old Love (Let's Try It Again) 24 I'll Be Available 25 Fancy Free 26 Me & My Baby 27 Me Without You 28 I'm Sorry 29 The Doctor 30 When Your Lover Comes Back

…thanks to the northern-madman for the share! served by Gyro1966...

Kiki Dee "The Sixties Collection" (Marginal 113)

Kiki Dee is mostly known for her brief period of commercial success in the mid-'70s and her association with Elton John. So it comes as a surprise to most listeners to learn that her recording history stretched back more than a decade earlier, and that she issued quite a few records before making the charts. This compilation does a phenomenal job of compiling the output of her first five years or so as a recording artist, jamming 32 tracks and 79 minutes of material onto one disc. Some foreign-language recordings she did during the time are missing, but otherwise it has everything, adding three previously unreleased tracks from a 1967 radio session. It may also come as a surprise to listeners familiar only with her mainstream '70s work to find that she was a pretty credible soul-pop singer in her youngest days, also mixing in elements of middle-of-the-road jazz, girl group, and early British Invasion sounds. She was at her best in this period, however, when working a somewhat blue-eyed soul vein, sometimes covering obscure American soul songs like "Why Don't I Run Away from You?" (originally cut by Tami Lynn as "I'm Gonna Run Away from You"). Much of this will appeal to fans of Dusty Springfield's lushly produced mid-'60s records -- uncoincidentally, as Dee often sang backup harmonies for Springfield at this time. True, she wasn't quite in Springfield's league as a singer, and didn't quite get the obviously hit-worthy tunes that Springfield did. Yet much of this is catchy, well-produced, and sung with commitment, making it a worthwhile and surprisingly consistent guilty pleasure for fans of this sort of British woman-sung '60s pop. The detailed liner notes include numerous comments from Dee herself.(Allmusic)

trax:

01 Excuse Me 02 Sunshine 03 Patterns 04 With A Kiss 05 When We Get There 06 Why Don't I Run Away From You 07 I 08 We've Got Everything Going For Us 09 I Dig You Baby 10 Stop And Think 11 I'm Going Out (The Same Way I Came In) 12 The Day Will Come Between Monday And Sunday 13 Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing 14 Jimmy 15 I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You 16 Oh Be My Love 17 Love Makes The World Go Round 18 Love Like A Warm Kind Of Sorrow 19 For Once In My Life 20 My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) 21 I Second That Emotion 22 I'll Try Something New 23 On A Magic Carpet Ride 24 You Don't Have To Say You Love Me 25 More Today Than Yesterday 26 There He Goes 27 Can't Take My Eyes Off You 28 I Was Only Kidding 29 Early Night 30 How Glad I Am

…thanks to the northern-madman for the share! served by Gyro1966...

Chris Clark "Soul Sounds" (Marginal 049)

Along with so many other artists on the Motown imprint, Chris Clark stood in the shadows of music giants, waiting patiently to get her turn in the spotlight under the magic spell of the Motor City music machine. Like many of these artists, Clark had her brief moment in the sun, then languished in near obscurity, save for the die-hard loyalists of the Northern soul scene, who relished every move she made from her Motown years and beyond. Thankfully, the folks over at the U.K. imprint of Motown had the good sense to include her in their recent onslaught of catalog reissues highlighting the minor players of Motown.There are several moments that would find the perfect home at a weekender in the Northern country, especially the stomper "Something's Wrong." It's another fine addition to the U.K. Motown series, and for those longing for the majority of her recorded works on compact disc, it's simply essential.(Allmusic)trax:

01 Love's Gone Bad 02 I Want To Go Back There Again 03 Born To Love You Baby 04 If You Should Walk Away 05 Whisper You Love Me Boy 06 Got To Get You Into My Life 07 Day By Day Or Never 08 From Head To Toe 09 Do Right Baby, Do Right 10 Until You Love Someone 11 Put Yourself In My Place 12 Sweeter As The Days Go By 13 Do I Love You (In Deed I Do) 14 Don't Be Too Long 15 I Love You 16 The Beginning Of The End 17 You Made Me So Very Happy 18 Get Back 19 One 20 In The Ghetto

…thanks to the northern-madman for the share! served by Gyro1966...