Cynthia Dall – Holland (1996)

Was just catching up on some recent music mags in front of the Second Test and was stunned to read a perfunctory obituary for Cynthia Dall (aka Cindy Dall) who died in April 2012 at the age of 41. Cause unstated and, possibly, unknown.

In the mid 1990s, she collaborated a lot with Smog who, along with Pavement and Sebadoh, were the best of all the classic American lo-fi indie bands of the early to mid 1990s. For a classic Smog track on the blog, check here.

In 1996, she released the first of her 2 LPs – literally titled “Untitled”.

This was always my favourite track off the LP and it features joint vocals from Smog’s Bill Callahan.

A suitably morbid piece.

Rest assured that this is not, as my many French followers might surmise, a quirky tribute to Francois Hollande

Suicide – Dream Baby Dream (1979)

Wildly influential proto-electronica/post-punk (oh, yes!) from Alan Vega and Martin Rev.

Suicide started performing in the early 197os in the New York scene of the New York Dolls which then prohed into the classic ear of The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, et al.

This track was recorded in 1979 and appeared on the reissue of their second LP often known as “The Second Album” …. Pop perfection as the boys employ a rudimentary drum machine to become the Transatlantic counterparts to the Kraftwerk revolution.

Subsequently covered in his live shows by Bruce Springsteen (for example, here).

The studio version then a very rough live version from the ROIR sessions of the 1970s then an even sketchier live version from 2010. The first is the one to go for!

Bruce Springsteen – Valentine’s Day (1987)

Probably should have waited until February 14th but (re) stumbled upon this tonight and thought it deserved an immediate posting. Final track from the Tunnel of Love LP released in 1987 …

I’ve always loved the more restrained side of Springsteen’s output – check here and here for previous posts.

The opening lines every much evoke my 1.7 mile drive home from Huntingdon railway station to Godmanchester in the winter in my X-Reg Renault Clio (1.2L Grande) ….

Driving a big lazy car rushin’ up the highway in the dark

Got one hand steady on the wheel, one’s tremblin’ over my heart

The LP version, then a fantastic live performance from 2005 then a rehearsal from 1988 …

 

Donna Summer – I Feel Love (1977)

A sad day today with the passing of Donna Summer. I have previously posted her sublime “Working the Midnight Shift” here.

However, this is the all time classic. One of the most influential records of all time; techno, house and all that follows is being invented here. The genius of Giorgio Moroder keeps the pulse going and Donna’s vocals soar ….

The original 12″ version; the Patrick Cowley 15 minute remixed opus and then a live cut …

Oasis – Slide Away (1994)

Less than 24 hours to go until Manchester City’s chance to clinch their first ever Premier League title (and first League Championship for 44 years)  …..

Over the years, I have watched an awful lot of tripe at Maine Road. When I dropped out of Imperial College in 1983, I decided to switch to Manchester University in the main because I wanted to be able to see City play every week ….. relegations and mediocrity subsequently followed.

The 1990s were an uneven time. Georgi Kinkladze looked like the best player who had ever lived (check here for proof) but, somehow, we and him managed to get relegated to the equivalent of the Third Division….

Throughout all this malarkey, how painful was it to have the rest of my family as Manchester United supporters.

City’s football this year has been inspirational – top scorers and the best defence in the Premier League … what could possibly go wrong?

To bolster morale, I just had to post a track by “uber-supporters” Oasis … ladies and gentlemen, I give you “Slide Away” ..

Err, hang on, that’s not going to work. Oh, bugger.

LP version then a live performance from Glastonbury in 1995 and, finally, a Noel acoustic version!

Desmond Dekker – Fu Manchu (1968)

Desmond Dekker will forever be remembered for the all time classic “Israelites”; a song I love to death.

But this is right up there in the pantheon of all time early reggae/rocksteady greats.

It make no sense at all to say where you used to work

It make no sense at all to say how much you used to earn

It make no sense at all to say what you used to do

This is the face of fu manchu..

The Books – Motherless Bastard (2002)

A few folk seem to regard the opening to this track as rather “cute” and “amusing”.

However, by 23 seconds in, the tone takes a decisive turn for the worse … Not quite on the scale of Lou Reed’s “The Kids” from Berlin where the kids being recorded have allegedly just been told that their mother has been killed ….

Nonetheless, uncomfortable sounding. The instrumental itself is sublime ….. taken from The Books “Thought For Food” LP of 2002.

Devo – Come Back Jonee (1978)

The first Devo LP “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We are Devo” remains one of my all time favourites.

So many great tracks to choose from … from the definitive reading of the Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” through “Space Junk”, “Mongoloid” (killer bass line) and “Uncontrollable Urge”.

The best track of all has to be “Jocko Homo”, perhaps the closest post-punk ever got to a Bohemian Rhapsody …. not really thought through the parallels but, rest assured, they will be many and convincing.

However, I wanted to start with Come Back Jonee on the blog. Mainly because the twangy guitar reminded me of a chum’s recent comment on my B-52s “Give Me Back My Man” post (here) that without the vocals, the B-52s backing music could have been Devo ….. here is evidence to support this thesis.

R. L. Burnside (with The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) – Poor Boy (1996)

The reinvention of the venerable blues genius RL Burnside was completed in 1996 with his stunning collaboration with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion …!

The “A Ass Pocket Full of Whiskey” LP was released on the wonderful Matador Records in 1996. Among the many highlights, the guitar on “Poor Boy” remains one of my all time favourites.

Virgo Four – In The Valley (1984-1990)

Previously unreleased track by one of the all time great artists of the Chicago House era.

Conclusive proof of the influence of Kraftwerk on US dance music of the 1980s and 1990s.

Forget the historical references and wallow – deep house perfection.

Never tire of this!