Re- Up As Requested

Tremendous Efforts – The Sadies (2001)

http://www.mediafire.com/?jzq4zyyzmd4

Any Sadies record will blow you away with it's wild eclectic blend of surf, country, garage, boogie woogie, psychedelia, rock-a-billy and rock and roll.On their second long-player, the Sadies further explore their signature stew of surf, soul, and country. If it weren't for the wit and punch of tunes like "The Creepy Butler" and "Pass the Chutney," this might all seem like smart-assed referencing. But there's real gusto in their delivery and they even pull off a cover of "Wearin' That Loved on Look," immortalized by Elvis in his '69 comeback album. A twangy feast.

Choochtown – Hamell On Trial (2001)

http://www.mediafire.com/?1m1mww2ku5m

Choochtown is a collection of songs about drunken, disaffected characters that Ed Hamell met while tending bar back in his hometown of Syracuse. Musically, it's all out assault on an acoustic guitar, It's truly amazing how much sound can come out of one guitar. Catch him live if you can, you won’t regret it.

There’s No Place Like America Today – Curtis Mayfield (1975)

http://www.mediafire.com/?tctmnnymwmj

This was probably the last great Curtis Mayfield album. If you like soul/funk music, songwriters, or mellow music, you will not be sorry if you listen to this. It excels in each of those areas.

I Don't Like Mondays

Monday morning up bright and early at about 5.30am. Always best to get up early to miss the crowds flocking away. Rain was pissing down and there already seemed to be a surprisingly large numbers packing up and leaving. The trudge back to the car begins and it is every man for himself, stepping over weeping women and screaming children I am single minded in my task, nothing and nobody will stand in my way. Back at the car, get it loaded, and we are on our way, another year of Glastonbury done. But no, we’ve moved ten yards and find ourselves in a line of traffic, this isn’t usual at this time of the morning. Never mind we will slowly move along. 5 minutes pass, 10, 15, 20, 25, and still no movement. By this time the field we are in is full of stationary traffic wanting to leave. No steward to ask what the hold up is all about. We tune into the festival radio station Worthless FM who kindly inform us that there is a traffic jam and there may be some delay in getting off the site. How useful, no reason why or how long but wait a minute there is an update – an expected time of 3 hours to leave the site!!!! Looking along the line of cars loaded with belongings we resemble a group of refugees fleeing a war zone. 1 hour passes with no movement, 2 hours, no movement 2 ½ hours and suddenly there is a light at the end of the tunnel as we slowly move forward. Out of the field we were in and into another to be faced with the same situation. Fuck this I have had enough of being British and queuing. I am off across the field weaving my way in between parked cars towards what it is the exit. My action is noticed by others and they start to do similar. Looking like a scene out of Wacky Races there are cars careering across the grass. But having a head start I manage to get near the front of the queue from a different angle and slowly but aggressively ease myself in. I think people in other cars can sense I am not in the mood to be challenged and at times it helps to own a clapped out old banger, one more scratch on it won’t matter unlike their new Audi/Mondeo/4x4 (delete as applicable). Within minutes we are off the site and free after 3 ½ hours of trying.
So Glastonbury is finished for another year, 5 days of self abuse with a little bit of music thrown in. I will return again next year even though it is not the festival that it was. Geared more now to the young and those with money any pretence of it being an alternative culture festival has long gone. No more freaks and weirdos like years ago, too packed, too expensive but if you go with right sort of friends and do not buy into all the shit that they are trying to sell you and just do your own thing it is still okay. Musically it stopped my heart pounding years ago but come September there is The End Of The Road Festival, what a line up for that.

The End

Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills (1970)

http://www.mediafire.com/?yijmtk0yzjm

The opening track ‘Love the One You’re With’ is worth the price of this album alone. A 1970 masterpiece showcasing the multi talented Stills in various styles never veering from the raspy, soulful, folky, bluesy Southern roots growl that remains his mark of distinction.

Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down

Sunday started with the sun blazing through my tent and with me lying in a pool of sweat and also a pool of something else but I thought it best not to examine that so closely. Easing my creaking bones out of the cess pit I was in I was greeted by a mate who had indulged in a night of Class A intake. he had not slept all night and it appeared he wouldn't for another week. Looking like I imagined Jacko was looking at that moment in time he rambled on incoherently, although I did catch that he spoke to a guy all night who spoke to him in chicken noises. Unable to move much myself I had to get my shit together first before heading off to see some bands. Eventualy getting up the strength I went up to the Park Stage with a mate to see Alberta Cross. Five of our other group went off to see Status Quo and Tony Christie. Why these are my friends I will never know. We left our drugged up mate to his own devices and probably to soil himself.
Managed to catch a band called Chief before Alberta Cross, who played a combination of rock/folk rock. They hailed from california and took great delight in telling us numerous times that they did. But they were good. Next up was Alberta Cross who delivered in fine style, clearly influenced by Neil Young. Went off after them to catch up with my mates at the Pyramid Stage and to catch some of Amadou & Mariam's set, and a most pleasant experience it was as well.
After nearly 5 days of abusing a body that was already out of shape and out of condition I was pretty fucked by this time and the thought of dragging my dilapidated frame to other stages was beyond me. So I took root for a bit, I was looking forward to seeing Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds anyway on the Pyramid Stage. Before them though I had to put up with Tom Jones. It wasn't good. Don't get me wrong I like Tom Jones and have many of his L.P.'s on vinyl. (for you youngsters that is a 12" black thing that can be played on both sides with the aid of a record player). But these are records from the 60's when Tom Jones was a whole lot better than he is now 40 years later. It felt like I was in a giant open air Workingman's Club. When he briefly stopped I expected the bingo to start.
Madness followed Tom Jones. With Madness you get what it says on the can, nothing more, nothing less. They were okay, taking me back in years to a time when i didn't mind gigs finishing after the last bus home had gone.
Nick Cave was great, his mere presence seemed to scare the young nubile girls who had come to see him. Finding myself recharged after Nick Cave and with a little help from my friend 'Billy' I headed off to catch a bit of the Aliens and then some of Roger McGuin.
Which headline act though to see to close the festival with? Blur? Prodigy? Black Eyed Peas? Echo & The Bunnymen? Well none of these actually, I chose to see Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames. Even though Fame must now be pushing 145 years old he played a stonking jazz orientated set.
On the way back to my tent I caught a bit of Robyn Hitchcock, which was appalling. By now my body was screaming for mercy, so like a 90 year old paraplegic I dragged myself back to the campsite where I sat in a chair consuming the last of the alcohol and hurling abuse to the young who walked by.

To be continued...

Cool Cat Blues – Georgie Fame (1991)

http://www.mediafire.com/?ikdqcxknnly

Mr Fame is a legend in his own right, with a career spanning over forty years, he needs no introduction. Originally a blues aficionado his skills began to lend to the jazz genre in the early eighties. Mr Fame is indeed a talented man and has that rare pleasure of being not only a first class vocalist but a talented musician too. This includes an excellent slower re-working of Mr Fame's original Yeh Yeh . Moondance, with Van Morrison, is a delight. The line up on this also includes guest vocals from Jon Hendricks and Boz Scaggs.

Henry’s Dream – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (1992)

http://www.mediafire.com/?gqawync1hif

A weird and insane release. Cave has said that he doesn’t like it but who cares a fuck, I do. Dark, gut-wrenchingly powerful and highly lyrical, Nick Cave will shag your mind while stroking your hair telling you that you've been a good boy. And you'll like him afterwards.

Re- Up As Requested

Those who have requested re-ups, they will be dealt with at the weekend, just be patient.

Saturday of Glastonbury started horrendously. My 18 year old son had gone off by himself the night before to see The Blockheads. He had too much to drink and some low life stole his bag which contained all his money, his phone and more importantly his insulin to control his diabetes. His mother found him at 4.30am in a Medical Tent wired up to an I.V. as his blood sugar levels had gone through the roof. Thankfully he had managed to ask for help from a steward who acted promptly. Trips throughout the day to the Lost Property building revealed that nothing had been handed in. What kind of bastard would not hand in insulin even if they nicked all the money and the phone. My one wish is that this piece of scum dies a slow and painful death. Anyway getting that out of the way, the first band I went to see was The Broken Family Band. On at 11.00am it was a bit early bearing in mind the state I was in the night before (and yes I do see the irony of like father like son). As usual they put on a cracking show with a mix of old and new material. Next up was The Low Anthem who I though was excellent and certainly deserve the attention they are getting at the moment. Sadly both acts did not draw the crowd that their talent deserved, although I heard Rolf Harris drew a large crowd, Fuck Me!
Bombay Bicycle Club was the next turn I saw, never heard anything by them before, but they played a fairly decent set of Alternative/Indie Rock and seemed popular with the Middle Class young kids. Down with the kids that’s what I was. A lot of my time was then taken having to go to the Medical Centre to pick up some supplies for him. Now for those who have never been to Glastonbury this involves a hike to the highest point of the site. At one point I thought that by the time we got there that it would be me who would need medical attention. Puffing and gasping for air I could only just manage to smoke 3 cigarettes during the walk. Supplied up we decided to sit away from the site as it would have meant walking through the crowd of Dizzee Rascal and listening to the shit he was belting out. Next band I saw was Crosby, Stills and Nash. When compared to Fleet Foxes the previous day they showed those upstarts just how to do it. An ageing audience, the young had gone off to see some here today and gone tomorrow band. Escaping the horror of what would have been Kasabian who were due on after CS&N I headed to catch Lonnie Liston Smith and get a bit of funk down myself, before moving onto to the fantastic Tindersticks. They never fail to deliver and they did not let me down. I could listen to Stuart Staples just singing the alphabet. Staggered off into the night after them to be pushed and barged by youngsters who had drunk 5 Strawberry Ciders and had lost all control and were all following each other like lemmings to an area where I believe the terminology they use is 'to have a banging night'. I obviously met up with my friends for a night of deep intellectual discussion.

To be continued...

Peel Session 63 – Tindersticks - 28.05.93

http://www.mediafire.com/?2yjddzzf4mr

Recorded: 27.04.93 Transmitted: 28.05.93

Tracklisting: 1. Raindrops, 2. Tye Die, 3. Her, 4. Drunk Tank

The first of three sessions this fantastic band did for Monsieur Peel.

Daytrotter Session 8 – The Low Anthem 18.06.09

http://www.mediafire.com/?xnjyjyhemjg

Tracklisting: 1. The Ghosts Who Write History Books, 2. Cage The Songbird, 3. Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Round, 4. Ticket Taker

Hello Love – The Broken Family Band (2007)

http://www.mediafire.com/?wgzmwxdijhm

People have misconceptions about TBFB because they are a supposedly country band but this isn't a country (or even alt country!) album - its just damn good indie rock. This band can no do wrong in my eyes. Constant high quality release after another, this is no exception to the rule.

Back On The Chain Gang

Absolutely fucked! think my body is telling me that I am not in my twenties anymore and that 5 days of very little sleep along with copious amounts of oral intake of various things is not recommended for a 50 year old. For the next few days I will be posting music of some of the acts that I saw at Glastonbury.
On the Friday I was dragged along to see The Rakes first by a mate who was interested in them, absolute shite! we lasted about 3 numbers before escaping to see James Hunter. Caught a band on the way in the Radio 1 unsigned band tent. Wish I could remember there name as they were excellent James Hunter dished out a set of superb 50's style r&b, sadly played to only a smattering of people. Fuck me shit like The Rakes was packed whilst quality like this was overlooked. Then a long trudge to see Fleet Foxes. They sounded pleasant enough but did not blow me away, actually I was so fucked I lay in the mud to rest my weary body and fell asleep during their set. They whinged and whined though as they seemed to feel they were not getting the response they expected from the audience. Success so quickly gone to their heads and thinking they are something they aren't ? By the time I woke up the field was packed with what appeared to be just female embryos. Every young girl at the festival seemed to have congregated for Lily Allen. Had to fight my way through the crowd to get to see Steel Pulse. Unfortunately this took quite a few numbers of her set, awful music from an awful woman. Steel Pulse delivered a cracking set and got the whole field up on their feet. Did not see the whole set though as wandered back to the Pyramid Stage for The Specials and then Neil Young. The Specials were competent enough, Terry Hall looked as miserable as he always does. I was well off my head by this stage so got into it as though I was a 20 year old again. Neil Young just tore the place apart, a blistering set of rock and self indulgent guitar playing.

To be continued...

Handsworth Revolution – Steel Pulse (1978)

http://www.mediafire.com/?httmdgtzwry

This album is a milestone in the development of reggae music. It demonstrated that although the sound of British reggae was different to the sounds coming from Jamaica, it was just as thought provoking and melodic. Handsworth Revolution resurrects the spirit of the time; Rock Against Racism marches, Anti Nazi League protests all rounded up with a party of punks, dreads and like minded people in unison! It has stood the test of time; smooth vocals over original dub bass representing the struggle of that era. It was a shame that the band were never able to match this with their further releases

People Gonna Talk – James Hunter (2006)

http://www.mediafire.com/?jvmmxctlyzm

Hunter sings like Sam Cooke and plays guitar like Hubert Sumlin. The horns sound like early James Brown and the Famous Flames. The arrangements are classic, relatively simple R&B arrangements that had a strong Memphis and Southern feel to it. Just as Richard Hawley creates albums that seem beamed in directly from some time during the 1950s, James Hunter equally pulls off the trick of rekindling the vibe of some long forgotten soul album, without appearing cliched, ironic or cabaret.

Off To Glastonbury

Have decided to continue with the blog, thank you to all those who asked me to carry on and who were so complimentary in their comments, helped sway my decision. There will be no more posts until I return now from Glastonbury so depending how fucked I am next Monday it may not be until the Tuesday following the festival.

The Sash My Father Wore and Other Stories – Ballboy (2003)

http://www.mediafire.com/?azwmnnmnnmf

This was different from the previous Ballboy collections - rather more acoustic material and in fact it comes across as virtually a Gordon McIntyre solo album. It's still the same wry, reflective look at life though, with some class lyrics and for the first time a couple of songs written by other people - the version of Springsteen's 'Born in the USA' is excellent. On early listens, the LP may seem a little flat and disappointing but it is very much a slow burner

Peel Session 62 – No Means No - 25.05.088

http://www.mediafire.com/?d0zjomznntm

Recorded: 17.05.88 Transmitted: 25.05.88

Tracklisting: 1. Little Creep 2. Body Bag 3. Stop It 4. Mamma’s Little Boy

The first of two sessions the band did for Peel.

La Question – Francoise Hardy (1971)

http://www.mediafire.com/?ig2rdyjwtzt

The combination of the Brazilian flavor (guitarist Tuca is Brazilian) within the French pop idiom is stunning. Sparsely produced effort, Hardy’s voice is backed by not much more than acoustic guitar, a touch of bass and subtle orchestration. Being English I obviously refuse to learn another language so have no idea what she is singing about but it sounds good nonetheless.