Abattoir Dogs Rock N Roll Weirdness

Now and again the compilation freebies given away with the music mags can throw up some real goodies and for me this was one is bang on. This compilation was give away with the now defunct Vox magazine in 1995 . A sort of imaginary soundtrack in tribute to Quentin Tarintino , I think Pulp Fiction had just come out at the time ,and there isn't a duff track on it . All tracks were licensed by Ace records so there is a strong slant to some brilliant rockabilly along with cajun , surf,Link Wray,The Cramps,garage, and a little country.There is a bit of Tarantino/gangster like narrative between some tracks which probably seemed like a good idea at the time but these can be safely skipped or deleted . Try here .

Link Wray - Deuces Wild
Johnny Allen - The Promised Land
Richard Berry - Big Break
John Lee Hooker - Hoogie Boogie
The Run-A-Ways - Night Creature
The Phantom Chords - Screaming Kid
Sparkle Moore - Flower Of M Hart
The Embers - I Waked All Nght
Link Wray - The Wild One
The Cramps - Everything Goes
The Gladiolas - Little Darlin'
Elmore James - Can't Sop Lovin' You
Margaret Lewis - Reconsider Me
The Fatback Band - (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop
Tommy McLain - Sweet dreams

BBC Space Themes

A collection of theme tunes released on BBC Records in 1978 based on more of a 70s' looking futuristic theme than space/sci fi specifically as the title implies . As well as containing some absolutely peerless classical music ,Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001 A space Odyssey) , Fanfare For the Common Man ( Apollo Soyuz ) , At The Castle Gate ( The Sky At Knight ) and Mars, The Bringer Of War ( Quatermass) ,all tunes which even those of who know next to nothing about classical music must surely love, it also contains some real gems . The Tomorrow's World theme tune by The Johnny Dankworth Big Band sounds like 1973 dreamt up by someone wearing a beige safari suit in an early 1972 cocktail lounge. " Space For Man And The Case Of The Ancient Astronauts " by Peter Howell and The Radiophonic Workshop has some great prog rock type moments with a dash of Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream thrown in . I had forgotten the theme tune to Blake's 7 but just listened to it ,"yeah that's how it went" even down to the last two wobbly synthesized notes . Also includes a bizzare rendition of the Star Trek theme incuding funky wah wah guitar and the classic Delia Derbyshire Dr. Who theme . Vinyl rip so a few clicks and pops here and there. Here.

The Stone Roses Live Manchester 30/05/89

Little known Manchester indie group The Stone Roses re-mastered debut album recently entered the top 5 . Now available as a 20th anniversary edition as a box set,USB stick (lemon shaped),vinyl,CD,DVD rereleased by Silvertone for the god knows how many times . I have so far resisted the temptation to buy it again on which will be the 3rd time , not counting the remixes CD. Seems to be a whole load of criticism against them at the moment by the cool kids focusing on the usuals: Ian Brown's singing , overrated , Byrds/Can copyists ,responsible for Brit Pop ,blah , blah ,blah. I suppose you either got/get it or you didn't/don't . We needed The Stone Roses in 1989. Wish they had stayed together longer but oh well it wasn't to be . Anyway here is a rip of a tape I picked up in 89 (Live Manchester 30/05/89) , not listened to it since probably then . Good quality audience recording (drops out a bit on "Going Down"), good performances all round especially "Waterfall","Sally Cinnamon" and "She Bangs The Drums". Hear Ian yelping like a dog and heckling the crowd , " I've come here to watch you" and after Ian loudly announces " I Am The Resurrection " it sounds like some wag in the crowd shouts "you twat" and another tells him to "fuck off" . All good stuff. According to thestoneroses.co.uk in attendance that night was John Leckie seeing them for the first time ,who would go on to produce the debut, and Liam and Noel Gallagher who attended the gig with the person who recorded this bootleg . Could it be him heard on intro to "I wanna be adored" saying "How's it going mate ?"'or "Fine and you?" or maybe"Trying to get backstage"? . I love hearing bits and pieces of the audience for me it adds to the atmosphere and intimacy of some boots , but not some twat yakking all the way through though . Just decided ,20th Anniversary Legacy Edition (2xCD, 1xDVD) is the one for me , you can never have too much of a good thing . Until Ian,John,Reni and Mani decide to get it together again , try this here ....

The Godfathers

The Godfathers were formed by Peter and Chris Coyne after the short lived Sid Presley Experience split up in 1985 . The band attracted a loyal following due to a fearsome live reputation in the UK , Europe and the USA where they made the Billboard top 40 with "Birth,School,Work,Death". The debut album "Hit By Hit" released in 1986 was a collection of their independent single releases contains top tunes " I Want Everything","This Damnation" and a monumental cover of Rolf Harris's "Sun Arise" which is almost as good as Rolf's original version . There is not a weak track on the whole album . The major label debut "Birth,School,Work,Death" is equally as good.Another contender for "shoulda been massive" ,real raw punk rock 'n' roll and out of sync of what was classed as rock in the 80s' , a good few years before the rise of Britpop and Oasis. Reformed and recording new material . Try "Hit By Hit" .

Crazyhead

Had a spot of ebay therapy recently and picked up a few late 80s' indie slices of vinyl one of which was Crazhead's debut " Desert Orchid".Crazhead were another midlands band lumped in with the so called "Grebo" scene of the late 80s' . As with fellow grebos' ,Gaye Bykers On Acid , Crazhead's debut album "Desert Orchid" was also seen as a bit of a dissapointment upon it's release in 1988 due to the slightly polished production .I was only familiar with the singles of the time , "Have Love Will Travel" and "What Gives You The Idea That You're So Amazing Baby?". Although the singles are the standout tracks on the album the rest of the album is much better than I had expected , the photo above should indicate how they sound , rock n roll maaaan , with a touch of the The Stooges , which is no bad thing . Was suprised to find out that they only split up as recently as 2000 and there is talk of some form of reunion . Named after the much loved national hunt horse, "Desert Orchid" is here .

Link Wray

Part Shawnee Indian one lunged former Korean war veteran Link Wray was as much as an innovative guitarist as Hendrix but hardly known outside the muso community . He was using distortion, feedback and overdriven guitar nearly ten years before Hendrix and Townshend .The US and British hit "Rumble" had the mighty distinction of being banned on many radio stations at the time for "glorifying juvenile delinquency" despite being an instrumental .Neil Young and Bob Dylan both witnessed Link play live early on and have both cited him as an influence as has Jimmy Page,Jeff Beck,Townshend,Hendrix,Marc Bolan,Billy Childish and Mark E Smith amongst many others.There are seven track on this compilation recorded in the eighties that really don't stand up (way too much drum machine) but the other sixteen tracks including Rumble,Ace Of Spades and the storming Jack The Ripper more than make up.Wiki here.Link Wray Original Rumble here.

Joe Gibbs African Dub All Mighty Chapter 3

Classic dub from 1978 recorded by The Professionals at Joe Gibbs studio engineered and mixed by Errol Thompson. The third in the African Dub series and along with the fourth chapter the most commercially successful due to its crossover appeal to the punky reggae party crowd and heads of the time . Featuring doorbells,buzzers,phones,whistling birds and gunfire added into the mix over popular rhythms and melodies dating from the late sixties to the mid seventies , listen out for the melody to Bread's soft rock classic "Make It With You" ! These track are less heavy than Lee Perry's work of the time down the road at Black Ark Studio and King Tubby's hypnotic dubs , certainly easier listening , some might say more , er ... " tuneful" but still managing to make the right impact . Anyway if you love dub , and you should , this is a must listen . Lookout for all four chapters in a box set currently available for a low price at the online retailer named after a mighty South American river , not orinoco.com , the other one . Try chapter three here.

Robert Johnson

Have recently been on a memorable road trip from Atlanta to New Orleans via Nashville,Memphis and down the Mississippi where one of the most influential musicians that ever lived spent most of his short life . Had this compilation for some time , this contains most of Robert Johnson's known recordings. Not much else to say but if you need more info on the legend and mythology surrounding Johnson go to the good old Wiki here and for some spooky voodoo,acoustic blues listening go here.