Best Music of 2012 - The Compilation CD

At this time of year it is traditional among a group of friends to each compile and share CDs of what we consider to be the best music of the past year. Despite the fact that we share similar tastes in music, it is surprising how much variation there can be on the discs and I look forward to receiving them as I often discover something new that I have overlooked myself.

Anyway, here is my tracklist for 2012.

1. Ships - Anais Mitchell
2. Ice Age - Dr John
3. Jesus etc. - Bill Fay
4. Hold On - Alabama Shakes
5. Time - The Mastersons
6. Missing Pieces - Jack White
7. Crazy to Love You - Leonard Cohen
8. Sure 'nuff 'N Yes I Do - Ralph Stanley
9. Church Falling Down - Little Feat
10. Jonathan - Fiona Apple
11. Banker Bets, Banker Wins - Ian Anderson
12. Ghosts That We Knew - Mumford & Sons
13. Can't Make Me Run - Alejandro Escovedo
14. Mosaic - Patti Smith
15. Goatlord - Goat
16. Puerto - Calexico
17. Come Back Little Star - Patterson Hood
18. Wide River To Cross - Diana Krall

For 2013, I believe there will be a new album from Richard Thompson and I already have my ticket to see him live in March. I am of course looking forward to the Family reunion gig at Shepherd's Bush Empire in February and I also have a ticket to see Neil Young & Crazy Horse when they play Newcastle in June. What a night that will be!

I am sure there will be plenty of other goodies also, both on record and in the form of live events. Here's wishing you all the very best for 2013.

Keep on rocking.

Best Albums of 2012 - My Top 3

And so we come to my choice of the best three albums of 2012.
In traditional fashion, I shall present them in reverse order.

3. Bill Fay - 'Life is People'
Read here what I wrote earlier this month - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/bill-fay-life-is-people.html

A wonderful follow-up album released 40 years after its predecessor!

2. Goat - 'World Music'
I don't recall how I came to hear of this band but I was intrigued by the story that surrounds them. It is alleged that they stem from a collective of townsfolk from the village of Korpilombolo in the north west of Sweden. Wearing masks on stage, they shun individual attention but prefer to focus on the songs rather than the song sources. The village itself is alleged to have been visited by a travelling witch doctor several hundred years ago and ever since has had strong connections with voodoo.
I'm not sure I hold with all of that but what I do know is that this album slowly sucked me in until I found myself totally hooked. Described elsewhere as a cross between Can, Faust, Spacemen 3, Fairport Convention, Fela Kuti and the Edgar Broughton Band they are clearly very difficult to define. The opening track the instrumental 'Diarabi' begins hesitantly but finds its groove with a repetitive guitar phrase picked up by the other instruments until it ends in a squeal of feedback leaving just the drums to take the song to it's conclusion.
Several tracks feature a female (?) singer with a voice that is again difficult to categorise. Part Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex), part Renate Knaup-Krotenschwanz (Amon Duul II) and part Bjork (Bjork) she howls and wails her way through the lyrics. It takes a few listens but soon becomes quite mesmerising.
'Let it Bleed' strikes me as having a Velvet Underground guitar influence but soon evolves into something more akin to Tinariwen. Then a honking sax turns it into something different again.
The most commercial song (if such a thing exists on this album) is 'Run to Your Mama' which starts off with thunderous Black Sabbath-like chords and continues over an insistent beat. There are three songs with a goat theme - 'Goatman', 'Goathead' and 'Goatlord' but each is very different from it's predecessor. Maybe the band just have a thing about goats. The middle of these songs has a driving rhythm, a fuzzy bass and strident guitar parts including Hendrix-like feedback, then suddenly it turns into a sublime version of the melody played on a lone acoustic guitar over the sound of waves crashing on a shore.
On first hearing I never dreamt that this album would end in my top three but there you go. It just goes to show that persistence pays off. I will be fascinated to hear what this lot come up with next time around.



1. Anais Mitchell - 'Young Man in America'
I first wrote about this album back in May and you can read it here - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/anais-mitchell-young-man-in-america.html

Since then, as promised, I have fully explored her back catalogue and it reaffirms my opinion that Ms Mitchell is a major talent who has progressed steadily with each piece of work released. Part of me wonders when the rest of the world will catch on to the fact that she is a sensational songwriter though there is also a selfish part of me that hopes this never happens or I will be unable to see her live again at intimate little venues such as Newcastle's Cluny 2 where I saw her in June.
In my view this album is the best of the year - no contest!

So that's my list. I'd love to hear your own views.

Just one more post to come before the start of 2013.

Best Albums of 2012 - The Contenders

It's always fun to look back over the past year and consider which have been the best new albums released in that period. I say new albums because of course, reissues, of which there are many these days, do not count.

I should say at the outset that I have not heard every album that has been issued in 2012, so the following are merely my favourites of those I have listened to. I confess to having had a sneaky look at some of the other lists that have begun appearing on the 'net, just to see how some of my own favourites have fared elsewhere. I see that there are a number of albums that seem to feature heavily in the other lists, but as I have not had time to listen to them, they will not appear here. These include 'Channel Orange' by Frank Ocean, 'Love This Giant' by David Byrne & St Vincent and 'Allelujah, Don't Bend, Ascend' by Godspeed You, Black Emperor. I have listened to 'Lonerism' by Tame Impala and I'm afraid it left me cold while the debut album by Jake Bugg sounds promising but I have not had the chance to give it sufficient attention to feature on my list. I may regret this in time but I guess that's the way of the world. There are just not enough hours in the day to listen to everything.

So, to the records that might have made my top three but failed to do so. Nevertheless they are all fine albums.

Bruce Springsteen - 'Wrecking Ball'
I was fortunate enough to see Bruce live twice during 2012. Obviously he performed quite a number of songs from his latest album but for me they were not as strong as many of his past songs. These days he is hard to beat as a live act but this album would fall way down my list this year.

Bob Dylan - 'Tempest'
To be honest I had almost given up on Bob. I last saw him live in 2004 and my anticipation of new albums diminished to such an extent that I was almost apathetic towards the release of 'Tempest'. Imagine my surprise when I found myself listening to it almost non stop for a three or four week period after its release. 'Long and Wasted Years', 'Pay in Blood', 'Scarlet Town' and 'Tin Angel' are among the best songs he has written for many years and what voice he has left is used to good effect on most of this album. So why doesn't it feature in my top three? Two reasons! One it is too long and two, the fourteen minute title song and the following 'Roll on John' are total rubbish. Remove these two songs and the remaining 45 minute album is a pleasure to listen to and might have been pushing for a place in my top three.

Patti Smith - 'Banga'
It's great to have Patti back writing terrific songs and sounding in superb voice. What more can I say other than that more people should have bought this album?

Little Feat - 'Rooster Rag'
In my view, this is their best effort since 1979. Read more about it here - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/little-feat-rooster-rag.html

The Decemberists - 'We All Raise Our Voices to the Air'
The only live album to feature on my list but they are currently one of my favourite bands. Read more here - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/decemberists-we-all-raise-our-voices-to.html

Neil Young - 'Psychedelic Pill'
Following on from the 'rehearsal tapes' that made up 'Americana' Neil Young & Crazy Horse gave us the real thing with this double album. Soundwise, you know what you are going to get when Young saddles up the Horse, but what lets this album down somewhat is the quality of some of the songwriting. 'Ramada Inn' is lovely but is countered by the 26 minute long opening track 'Driftin' Back' in which Young rambles on about a number of issues including the sound of digitised music and wanting to get a hip-hop haircut. 'Nuff said!

Fiona Apple - 'The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do'
What kind of title is that? Let's just call it 'The Idler Wheel' shall we?
I confess that I came to Ms, Apple cold this year, not having heard any of her previous stuff.
Having said that, I will now be seeking out some of her back catalogue because this album has knocked me sideways. It is certainly not easy listening and requires a bit of perseverance but it is worth the effort. Comparisons must be made with Tori Amos.
So why is it not in my top three? Purely because it is an album that, like fine wine, needs to be given time to savour its delights and as yet I feel I have only scratched the surface. Retrospectively I may revise my opinions on this album and it could go either way.

The Alabama Shakes - 'Boys & Girls'
A very fine debut album which I wrote about in May - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/alabama-shakes.html
I can't wait to hear how they follow up this gem.

Alejandro Escovedo - 'Big Station'
When is Alejandro Escovedo going to get the recognition he so richly deserves? This is now his 11th studio album and the third to be produced by Tony Visconti who stamps his mark all over this album in the form of handclaps and female backing vocals. Co-written with another of my favourites, Chuck Prophet, there is not a weak song on the album, in fact I rate it more highly than Prophet's own 'Temple Beautiful' which was also released this year. This almost made my top three, but not quite, as we shall see.

Calexico - 'Algiers'
Yet another of my Americana favourites, Joey Burns, John Convertino and colleagues do what they do best. Relocating from their native Tucson to New Orleans to record this album, one might have expected them to come out sounding like Dr John. Not so! Despite the album title, these songs are clearly set in the California/Mexico region that gave the band their name. In my opinion the album is not quite as strong as 'Feast of Wire' or 'Carried to Dust' but it is a good album nevertheless. The deluxe version is worth getting for the bonus live disc 'Spiritoso'.

Dr John - 'Locked Down'
Having just mentioned Dr John, it is only fitting that I mention this album. Produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, this album finds the band in great form and Mac Renennack in fine voice. There is not a weak song on it. Oh, and I also enjoyed seeing him live in July.

Leonard Cohen - 'Old Ideas'
Another 'oldie' who released an album this year, I feel that Cohen has outshone both Dylan and Young with this offering. Strong songs that are thankfully uncluttered by the synths that dominated some of his later albums. Beautiful female backing vocals and even some sublime Leonard Cohen guitar on 'Crazy to Love You' that harks back to his very first releases. True, I could have done with more from his touring band instead of the one meagre song on offer ('Darkness') but perhaps now I'm being picky.

Jack White - 'Blunderbuss'
Despite the fact that ex-wife Karen Elson contributes backing vocals, this album is being touted as White's 'divorce album', Certainly there are bitter feelings being put on display here, such as during my favourite track, the opening 'Missing Pieces' in which White sings "When they tell you they just can’t live without you/They ain’t lying, they’ll take pieces of you/And they’ll stand above you/And walk away". As so called 'divorce albums go, this ain't no 'Blood on the Tracks' but it's still a mighty fine album.

The Mastersons - 'Birds Fly South'
Husband and wife team Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore have really caught my eye this year. Having met at a music festival they soon found themselves both working as part of Steve Earle's backup band (The Dukes & Duchesses). Their musical pedigree suggests that they are great musicians but additionally they are both terrific singers and harmonise beautifully. A very fine debut album indeed.

Patterson Hood - 'Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance'
I wrote about this in November - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/patterson-hood-heat-lightning-rumbles.html

Among the other albums I have enjoyed this year have been:-
Ian Anderson - Thick as a Brick 2' - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/so-what-did-become-of-gerald-bostock.html
Mumford & Sons - 'Babel'
Mark Knopfler - 'Privateering'
Diana Krall - 'Glad Rag Doll'
Nick Cave & Various Artists - 'Lawless Original Soundtrack'
The Shins - 'Port of Morrow'

However for my top three albums of the year, you will have to wait until next time. Meanwhile have a very happy Christmas. See you soon.

Box Sets #5 - Family: Old Songs New songs

 

 I reported last month that a new box set featuring Family will be issued early next year to coincide with their live reunion after 40 years. Billed as the ultimate Family box set, the package will be named 'Once Upon a Time' and will contain all of their released albums plus many alternate versions and demos. For full information about the package, check out my earlier post - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/box-sets-4-family-once-upon-time.html

 

It would seem a good time therefore to have a look back at the last box set to feature this excellent band. 'Old Songs, New Songs' is essentially a four CD package although early buyers were also treated to a fifth CD of more rare material. It is not strictly accurate to refer to this as a box set as it comes in hardback book format with the CD's housed in the inside front and back covers. CD 1 is the original 'Old Songs, New Songs' album which was issued at a budget price (just under £1.50) in March 1971. This served as an opportunity for the band members to remix some of the material from their first three albums, with which they had been unhappy. Additionally it gave them the chance to include some singles and B sides that had not previously featured on albums. Incidentally the title of the album is taken from a song that appeared on the first album, but curiously is not included on this album or in the box set. I should add that some of the remixes are radically different from the original versions and include Roger Chapman singing on 'Observations From a Hill' in place of Jim King who by then had left the band.

 

 



Until the issue of this box set the album had never been released on CD and it was promised that it would only ever be available in this set. Sadly that was not to be the case and the album is now available separately and will also feature in the forthcoming box. Nevertheless, I purchased the set and had no regrets.

Disc 2 begins with a previously unreleased demo of 'Drowned in Wine' and then features four songs taken directly from the third album 'A Song For Me'. There are then another couple of demos including a lovely version of 'No Mule's Fool', followed by some unreleased live songs and material from 'Anyway'. The remaining two discs then mix live material with stuff from the final three albums. The centrepiece of the package is a 26 page book featuring an article by Pete Feenstra that is interesting but not without it's typographical errors, and finally a reproduction of an article from Issue 34 of esteemed rock magazine 'ZigZag'.

As I have said previously, I was fairly pleased with the package and had no qualms about forking out something like £30 for it. It is unfortunate that quite a lot of the material was already available on other official albums but it was worth my money to get my hands on those previously unavailable tracks. Oh I should add that I also received the bonus 5th CD which has five more demos and a clutch of live songs from a concert in Munich in November 1970. The quality of the sound on these is sub standard but to be fair the record company point this out on the cover and explain why this was not included in the box itself.

The package seems to be a bit difficult to find now though I have just seen it on Amazon.com for $150.00 so maybe it has been a decent investment. I understand that the forthcoming ultimate box set (in a real box) will be limited to 2000 copies, so perhaps that will become a collector's item in due course, but at £125, I think I will give it a miss.

Bill Fay - Life is People

I am currently listening to what I consider to be the best albums of the year in an attempt to decide upon my top three. More on this in due course but one album that is sure to make the final cut is 'Life is People' by Bill Fay.

I first became acquainted with his name through a 3 CD compilation set entitled 'Strange Pleasures: Further Sounds of the Decca Underground', which features three of his songs, one of which was the title track from his 1971 Deram album, 'Time of the Last Persecution'. I quickly sought out that album and immediately became a 'fan' of this critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful gem.

As a massive fan of American band Wilco, I was intrigued by a song performed by Jeff Tweedy during the excellent documentary DVD 'I Am Trying to Break Your Heart'. The song in question turned out to be called 'Be Not So Fearful' which was written by Fay and appeared on his first album in 1970. So what became of Bill Fay after 1971? Well, not a lot it would seem. Dropped by his record company, he did return to the studios in the 1970's but the results were not released until 2005 when 'Tomorrow, Tomorrow & Tomorrow'  appeared on a small independent label, credited to The Bill Fay Group. In the same year a wonderful collection of demos was issued entitled 'From the Bottom of an Old Grandfather Clock'. And although Fay has continued to live in London and write songs, that has been the sum of his recorded output until earlier this year.

'Life is People' is a collection of twelve songs, eleven of which were written by Fay. Comparisons have been made to Randy Newman, Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen but musically this album offers so much more. The hymnal 'The Healing Day' evokes Procol Harum while the following 'City of Dreams' begins like something from Pink Floyd. After 'The Never Ending Happening' in which Fay sounds world weary over his own beautiful piano accompaniment, the more upbeat 'This World' features Fay and Jeff Tweedy taking the lead vocals on alternate verses.

Religious themes recur throughout the album and the organ and choir on 'Be at Peace with Yourself' is almost churchlike. It seems appropriate therefore that the following track should be a cover of Jeff Tweedy's own 'Jesus etc.'. With just Fay singing the beautiful melody over block piano chords, the result is simply astonishing.

At 69 years of age, Fay is a contemporary of others who have released albums this year. Namely, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen. He has never attained their level of success and I suspect he now never will. Forty years is a very long time to wait for a follow-up album but hopefully we will not have to wait much longer for his next effort. Until it comes, I suggest you immerse yourself in this album and his meagre, but wonderful, back catalogue. I hope and trust you will not regret it.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland - Bamburgh

You will be aware of my passion for walking and this is not just confined to the summer months. Yesterday I took advantage of the cold but dry and calm conditions to accompany a group of friends on a ten mile walk from the Northumbrian village of Warenford to the historic village of Bamburgh.

The ground was frozen solid but this made walking easier and more pleasurable than some of the muddy conditions we have had in recent weeks. Three days earlier, one of our group had been walking in the region of Los Gigantes on the west coast of Tenerife and he commented that the scenery had been stunning, yet the scenery that we saw as we approached Budle Bay was in its own way, just as spectacular. The North Sea had the appearance of a lake as it stretched out before us, a glorious blue colour and as calm and flat as I can ever recall seeing it. From our viewpoint close to Bamburgh Castle Golf Course, we also saw seals basking on the nearby rocks.

Bamburgh Castle was first built during Norman times and still stands on an imposing rock overlooking the sea and the magnificent Northumbrian coastline towards The Farne Islands and Lindisfarne. As we approached, the late afternoon sun cast a beautiful orange glow an the castle walls. These were photo opportunities not to be missed.

The walk was enjoyed by all of us, as were the pints of Alnwick Amber Ale we enjoyed in the welcoming Castle Hotel afterwards. I'm now looking forward eagerly to my next walk.

 

Is Vinyl Really So Good? Are MP3's Really So Bad?

Those of you familiar with the recent out-pourings from Neil Young, will be aware of his views on the quality of modern, digital music files. In his book 'Waging Heavy Peace' and on the opening track of his album 'Psychedelic Pill', Young rages repeatedly against the quality of the sound on CDs and particularly on MP3 files. In fact he goes so far as to say that 95% of the sound is lost when recorded music is transferred to such formats.

So strongly does Young feel about this matter, that he has developed his own system for storing and playing files digitally whilst retaining the quality of the original recordings. His PONO system is due to be released next year and is said to be compatible with existing music files but will enhance the sound considerably.

Now, far be it from me to disagree with the illustrious figure of Neil Young, of whom I have been a lifelong fan. However, I just cannot believe that 95% of the sound is lost when files are transferred. In my lifetime I have purchased my music on vinyl, tape, CD (including many so called variants such as SACD) and MP3. Oh, and I have also used so called 'lossless' formats such as FLAC. I was never a huge fan of music cassette tapes although I appreciated their portability and the fact that it was possible to record music onto them, something you obviously couldn't do with vinyl. However, I generally steered clear of buying pre-recorded cassettes as I was unconvinced by the quality of the sound when compared to vinyl. Ironically, this applied particularly to the first album by Neil Young which was absolutely dreadful on cassette. The sound was muddy and Young's voice was almost buried in the mix.

When I started buying CDs in the mid 1980s I was swayed by the hype that surrounded this new way of listening to music. True some of the digital recordings were crystal clear when compared to the warmer sound of some of my vinyl albums, but at the end of the day, the only true difference between vinyl and CD lies in the longevity of the latter. Of course, that is only my opinion. You may disagree.

The emergence of MP3 files has brought about a revolution in the way we listen to music. Being so portable, it is now possible to carry around huge music collections on a wide variety of MP3 players that are available. In fact mobile phones now fulfil this function and I can now use my own mobile to play anything from my music collection wherever I happen to be. And the music is not even stored on my phone, but is held somewhere magical that is known as a 'music cloud'! What the hell???

Consequently I would say that the majority of my time spent listening to music is done so in MP3 format. I have literally tens of thousands of music files stored on my computer (and backed up on an external hard drive) and they take up no room at all. Unlike the racks of vinyl that I used to possess and the shelves of CDs that I still do.

So, we now come to the difference in the sound.

Well frankly, I can't differentiate between an MP3 file, a CD and a song on vinyl. Well actually I can usually spot the vinyl because of the distinctive surface noise. Otherwise - no difference. Possibly this might be because my ears are now 61 years old. If yours are younger, you may have an advantage over me and be able to tell MP3s from MP4s but returning to the gentleman who started me off on all of this. Neil Percival Young has a pair of ears that are six years older than mine and I suspect that standing in front of speaker stacks for much of his adult life has not left them undamaged. Yet, he dares to berate me for listening to only 5% of the sound of his 26 minute opus 'Driftin' Back'.

I look forward to hearing Young's PONO system when it does hit the streets and I will gladly revisit this subject in a post if I find myself convinced that I have been missing out. Meanwhile I will carry on listening to my MP3 files most of which sound superb to me. Anyhow, I'd love to hear what you think. Let me know.

Jess Roden - Another Hidden Master

The latest track to be streamed from the 'Hidden Masters' anthology is a Jim Capaldi/Steve Winwood composition that was recorded by Jess Roden in June 1974. The song is called 'Let Me Make Something in Your Life' and according to Jess himself, it was recorded at Muscle Shoals with the resident musicians providing the backing. Collectively they were known as 'The Swampers' but individually were Roger Hawkins - drums, Barry Beckett - piano, Jimmy Johnson - guitar, Spooner Oldham - Hammond organ, Pete Carr - guitar, Ronnie Eades - baritone sax, Charlie Rose - trombone, Harrison Callowa - trumpet, Harvey Thompson - sax and David Hood - bass.

Incidentally it is pure coincidence that a few posts back I should have been talking about Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, because his dad is David Hood from the above session.

While this song was recorded by Jim Capaldi and featured on the first solo album by Steve Winwood, this particular version by Jess never saw the light of day - until now of course, as it will feature in the forthcoming anthology.

For more on the Jess Roden 6 CD anthology see previous posts from 31 October, 12 November and 23 November.

More on this subject in due course.

Box Sets #4 - Family: Once Upon A Time

Described as the 'Ultimate Family Box Set', this package has been promised for some time now and is set to coincide with the reunion of Family, forty years after they last performed together in 1973. To say that I was excited about this, is probably something of an understatement. I wasted no time in obtaining my ticket for the live show at Shepherd's Bush Empire on 2nd February next year. Billed at the time as 'One Night Only', it appears that demand was so high that a second night was added. The only problem is that the second night actually precedes the first night, as it is to be held on 1st February. Consequently it seems that I will not see Family play for the first time in forty years! Oh well, what's one night when I've waited all this time.

And so to the box set itself. The details have just been released and the set is now available to pre-order. Here is the detailed description of what is included:
* 14 Disc set strictly limited to 2,000 numbered copies
* 72 page hardback book tracing the history of Family featuring many previously unseen photos & memorabilia reproductions
* 8 Original Albums in mini LP Japanese Style gate fold sleeves (6 re-mastered from recently discovered master tapes)
* 2 CDs of previously unreleased alternative versions and rarities
* 3 CD singles reproduced in original picture sleeves
* Live Disc capturing the band on the Fearless tour in 1971
* Numbered Certificate of Authenticity signed by Roger Chapman
* Recreation of a contemporary music weekly featuring historic articles spanning the band's career.

As I took in the details of what's available in the set, I felt my excitement ebbing away. Of the fourteen discs, eight of them are the official Family albums released between 1968 and 1973, which I already own. Granted some have an additional bonus track but then most of my CD copies have several bonus tracks, such as singles, B-sides and live versions. One of the CDs is a live concert dating from 1971 which was originally released in 2003 and which I already own. Three of the remainder are CD singles two of which date from the 'It's Only a Movie' era, my least favourite period. Then finally we come to the last two CDs which contain alternate versions and outtakes. These feature several versions of songs, many of which are instrumental or guide tracks. So for my hard earned £125 (plus postage & packing) I would get a load of stuff I already have plus two discs of unexciting outtakes, a 72 page hard back book and a certificate signed by Roger Chapman. Oh yes, of course I would also be the proud owner of a set limited to 2,000 numbered copies. I think not!

Several years ago I felt similar excitement when 'Old Songs, New Songs' was released as a box set (this will be a theme of a future post). At that time the actual album was not available on CD and it was promised that it would only be available as part of this box set. Not so! The CD version of the original album is now available separately.

Now don't get me wrong, I have no regrets about purchasing the box set as it features some great material unavailable elsewhere. If my memory serves me well I paid about £30 for a five CD set (I was one of the lucky ones who got a bonus 5th CD) and I considered it good value for money.

I also own the three CD's which were issued a few years ago and feature almost all of the Family live BBC sessions between 1968 and 1973. Here we have versions of songs many of which were recorded for the BBC before they were fully developed and released on albums. Hence we have a totally different version of 'Holding the Compass', stunning live versions of 'Drowned in Wine', 'A Song For Me' and 'Wheels', which are far superior to the versions on 'A Song For Me', a live version of the J B Lenoir song 'I Sing 'um The Way I Feel' and Poli Palmer's showpiece, 'Here Comes The Grin'.

None of these appear in this latest 'ultimate Family box set'!

I suspect that this latest set will sell out easily and I feel a little sad that as such a huge fan of Family, I will not get to own one. However, times are hard and I have to consider value for money. I am still looking forward immensely to seeing them live and before I head down to London, I will be dusting off my old CDs and rocking to one of the most exciting and adventurous bands I have ever seen or heard.

If you are a Family fan and happen to stumble into this blog, I'd love to hear your views.
If you want to pre-order the set, you can do so here:  http://www.familyonceuponatime.com/

Keep on rocking.

Newcastle City Hall - Threatened Closure

Opened to the public in 1927, Newcastle City Hall is an iconic building which has hosted many great concerts by some of the finest recording artists in the world. To me personally it played a huge part in the development of my love of music. Graduating from listening to music on the radio, through taping episodes of Top of The Pops directly from the TV, to buying my very first vinyl records, the next logical step was to go to see live acts performing. Initially this was done at small 'dancehall' venues but eventually I began attending larger concerts and that all began at Newcastle City Hall.

It would be impossible for me to even begin to list all of the artists I have seen there over the years but suffice to say that the place holds a very special place in my heart. It should also be mentioned that there have been a number of live albums recorded in that venue, most notably, 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Emerson, Lake & Palmer (March 1971), 'No Sleep 'til Hammersmith' by Motorhead and 'Slade on Stage' by Slade both in 1981. Of course it was also the scene of the regular Lindisfarne Christmas concerts and was a venue that they themselves played 132 times. In July this year, a plaque was unveiled on the wall of this historic building, commemorating the late Lindisfarne leader Alan Hull.

Now I hear that as part of the local council budget cuts, Newcastle City Council are considering closing the venue and selling the building off for redevelopment.

To close this venue would be a travesty and I have just signed an online petition to try to prevent this from happening. If you feel like I do, regardless of where you live, please get online and do likewise.

Here is a link to the petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/newcastle-city-council-save-newcastle-city-hall

Thanks for taking the time to read this and please support this worthy cause.

Jess Roden - Hidden Masters: First Taste

It would appear that sales of the Jess Roden 6CD Anthology are going quite well. As I write this, PledgeMusic have achieved over 75% of their target pledges in little over a week. It is clear from the comments being left on the website that the Jess Roden fans out there are eagerly awaiting the eventual release of this item.

To whet our appetites and as a thank you for our pledges, a few of the tracks from the collection have been made available for us to stream. The first of these was an unreleased demo of 'Love Me' by The Alan Bown Set recorded on 19th December 1966. Using an arrangement similar to the underground hit by Billy Stewart, it was the first recording to feature new guitarist Tony Catchpole.

The second track 'Can't Get Next to You' features The Jess Roden Band playing live on a stormy night at London's Marquee Club on 20th May 1976. The accompanying notes detail how this version has been put together using parts from three different tapes that exist. The detail of the work that went into producing this version whilst retaining the essential live atmosphere is absolutely fascinating and the end result is awesome! This nine minute rendition of a song from the album 'Play it Dirty - Play it Class' is perhaps one of the best live recordings I've heard by anyone. As someone else has commented on the website, it sounds like Jess and the band are in the room with you. To quote someone else, "Oh this is very fantastic."

Finally (for now) we have been treated to 'In a Circle' a previously unreleased recording from sessions produced by Steve Smith that were long thought to have been lost or destroyed. Recorded by The Jess Roden Band at Island Studios in St Peter's Square, Hammersmith on 9th August 1975, this particular track also features Steve Winwood on Hammond organ. The sessions were to be for the first Jess Roden Band album, but sadly this was never released. Fortunately the tracks have been recovered thanks to great detective work by Neil Storey, and they will now feature on this much anticipated anthology.

All of the music released so far has been accompanied by very interesting and informative notes including many comments from Jess who has worked closely with Neil throughout the project. Consequently I am looking forward to reading the hardback book that will accompany the package, almost as much as the music itself.

As the pledges keep coming in, I look forward to more tracks slowly becoming available for our listening pleasure. It sounds like this is going to be an awesome collection.

Patterson Hood - Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance

I first began following the Drive-By Truckers about ten years ago. My first experience of them was the 2003 album 'Decoration Day' and I then quickly bought 2001's 'Southern Rock Opera'. Being totally hooked I have since obtained each of their five studio albums since, as well as catching them live whenever I've had the opportunity. Their last two albums 'The Big To-Do' (2010) and 'Go-Go Boots' (2011) seemed to come hot on the heels of each other, but so far this year, they have been quiet as far as recordings go.

Thankfully however, the gap has been filled by the release of a third 'solo' album by front-man Patterson Hood. 'Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance' was released in September this year and for fans of The Truckers or Patterson Hood, I can guarantee that this will not disappoint.

Originally conceived as a semi-autobiographical novel, the songs on this album cover a low period in the life of their composer. In the early 1990's at the age of 27, his marriage ended, his band broke up and he left his home in Northern Alabama to travel to Memphis. As Hood himself says: "My car got stolen, our band's truck got stripped and I fell in love. I fell out with my family (who I was very, very close to) and had my heart broken. I seriously pondered killing myself several times but instead wrote literally over 500 songs in a three-year period."



It all sounds like listening to this album could be a very depressing experience but this is not so. Hood can now look back at that period from a perspective of being a happy family man with a relatively successful band  and this is reflected in some of the songs. Although all of the Drive-By Truckers appear on the album, this is clearly the work of Hood himself and despite the distinctive vocals, the album could never be confused as being by the band. Musically the album may at times sound like Hood laying down song demos for the band but lyrically Hood proves yet again that he has a keen grasp of imagery and observation. Personally I like the stripped down feel of the record as it allows the words to stand out, provoking all kinds of feelings and emotions. I found myself making comparisons with the recent album by Neil Young ('Psychedelic Pill') in which on one track ('Driftin' Back') Young drones on about a range of fairly boring subjects over 27 minutes. Patterson Hood on the other hand tells a story with feeling in a fraction of the time. I know which I prefer.

I would not wish to single out any particular track but should mention the poignantly beautiful 'Come Back Little Star'. This is a tribute to the late Vic Chesnutt who himself was a tortured soul and suffered his own demons, something I am sure Hood can relate to.

Unlike 'Psychedelic Pill' this is an album I find myself listening to regularly and I have little doubt that it will be up there in my top ten records of 2012.

Jess Roden - Hidden Masters: An update

Over the past week I have had little time for writing new posts or anything else for that matter. Among other things, some home decoration has kept me busy, and kept me covered in paint!

Anyway, to update all those Jess Roden fans out there regarding the exciting news I posted last week, I can now report that as of today orders are being taken for the long awaited CD anthology. And as if that wasn't enough, it has also been announced that the anthology has now been upgraded to a 6 CD set rather than the 5 originally planned. It would seem that there was so much material available that an extra CD is now included within the set.

For me. that's brilliant news and I placed my order earlier today. Although I may still have to wait a while, I can't wait for the postman to knock on my door. Patience was never my thing but this is worth waiting for.

This issue of the set is strictly limited so those interested in grabbing it while it lasts had better place their orders soon. Here are some further links for you.

http://www.hiddenmasters.net/jess-roden.html
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/jessroden

Jess Roden - Hidden Masters

On 1st September I wrote about the 1970's band named Bronco that were fronted by one of the finest British vocalists ever, Jess Roden.

I first became aware of his work when he sang with a Northern Soul band The Alan Bown Set. They released a few singles and one side of an LP record which was recorded live at the famous Marquee Club in London. The album, released in 1966 was entitled 'London Swings' and the other side featured Jimmy James & The Vagabonds. I played the Alan Bown side to death and loved it for its high energy as the band tore through several soul based numbers which then formed part of their stage repertoire. After that I never missed an opportunitiy to catch them live when they played in the north east of England.

As pop music became more psychedelic, the seven piece band featuring trumpet, saxophone, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums, changed their image and renamed themselves as The Alan Bown! With Jess Roden on vocals they released one more album, the imaginatively titled 'Outward Bown' but then having recorded the follow up album in 1969, Roden decided to leave the band. His replacement was none other than Robert Palmer who recorded new vocals for the UK version of the album, though the US version was released with the original Jess Roden vocals.

Roden subsequently went on to form Bronco, then played with two surviving members of The Doors under the name The Butts Band. A band called The Rivits followed and then a trio of albums under Roden's own name. Despite being critically acclaimed as they say, none of the albums were commercially successful and for a time, Roden left the music business altogether. He re-emerged in the mid 1990's as Jess Roden & The Humans, but after one album, he disappeared again.

At the end of my last blog on the subject of Roden, I hinted that there was some very interesting and exciting news for the hard core of Jess Roden fans out there. In 2010 almost 800 pieces of music recorded by Roden were discovered in the archives. These included released works (most of which have been deleted) and many that have never seen the light of day. From these tapes, a five CD anthology has been lovingly compiled and restored and I am now told is due to be released in the very near future. This covers all of his career and the release will be strictly limited to 950 hand numbered copies. The collection will not be available through the usual outlets. For more information and a full track list, check out the Jess Roden website at http://www.jessroden.com/news.html 

Books#3 - Waging Heavy Peace by Neil Young

Neil Young certainly doesn't like to sit still. Having given up alcohol and drugs, he found himself unable to write songs. So what does he do? He decides to write a book instead.

While this book will be immensely readable to those who are already fans of Neil Young, I'm not sure that it will attract many new followers. This is by no means an autobiography of the man, though we do get insights into his life at various times. There is no clear sequence of events as Young jumps randomly from one era or subject to another in much the way he might while having a conversation. And that's the way the book comes across to me. Very conversational. It's almost as though one can hear Young himself speaking the words on the page.

Subjects which get mentioned are his two sons Zeke and Ben who were both born with cerebral palsy, his relationship with his on-off band Crazy Horse, particularly original member Danny Whitten who died from a drug overdose in 1972, his obsession with cars, model trains and his preoccupation with the quality of recorded music these days. It is in some of these areas that I have slight problems with the book.


For example very early in the book, Young forcefully offers his opinion that the quality of CDs and digital music files such as MP3, are significantly inferior to those provided by analogue recordings on vinyl. He even goes so far as to suggest that up to 95% of the total sound is lost when transferring to other formats. Whether you agree with these statements or not (I feel this may be a subject for a future blog), it is a subject that Young returns to several times during the book. Then of course, we discover the reason why. Young has himself developed a portable system which he claims retains the original quality of the recordings. Originally called Puresound, it has now been renamed as PONO (it rhymes with Ono) and it is intended that his device will be marketed in 2013. So effectively Young is using his book to publicise his own product. Nothing wrong with that I hear you cry, but it is irritating when he returns to the same issue several times within the 500 or so pages.

Notwithstanding that, I have to say that I did find the book enjoyable. I liked the conversational style and the way he writes affectionately about characters who have shared his life but who are no longer with us. He is generous in his praise of the talents of others and acknowledges when he himself might have handled things differently. Easily read in short. manageable chapters, I suspect that this book will be devoured by Neil Young addicts. But don't expect to learn anything new.

Rolling Stones - Crossfire Hurricane

Last night I took myself off to a local cinema to see a live broadcast from Leicester Square Odeon of the premier of this film to celebrate 50 years of The Rolling Stones. The first hour was extremely tedious as we were treated to a series of people parading up and down the red carpet, posing, pouting, squeezing hands, signing autographs and generally soaking up the adulation from the crowd lined up behind the rope barrier. That crowd may have known who some of those people were, or like me, they may not. Frankly I couldn't have cared less! Thankfully after an hour it ended and so to the main event - the film itself.

I have to say that director Brett Morgen has done a fine job of piecing together the story of this band from early beginnings emulating their black American blues heroes, to the strutting, posing arena filling machine it ultimately became. Bill Wyman told how he witnessed 'waterfalls of urine' cascading towards the stage as screaming teenage girls wet themselves in their excitement. Conversely Mick Jagger explained that on the continent (Europe) the audience in the early days were largely male, who came not just to see the band, but also to riot against authority in the guise of the police. They left behind a trail of destroyed theatres. For a period of two years, the band rarely finished a concert before they were mobbed on stage, the plugs were pulled and the band members made a hasty exit. As Charlie Watts dryly explained, he hated being chased by hoards of screaming girls!

To be honest, the film included nothing that we did not already know. The band's history has already been well documented elsewhere. Where the film succeeded was in the film clips used, most of which I had not seen before, and the way that they were edited together to give a feeling for the frenzy that took place whenever The Stones were in town. There was a certain poignancy as we witnessed the end of Brian Jones's tenure within the band and shortly thereafter, the end of Brian himself. Also the infamous December 1969 Altamont concert was covered well. No punches were pulled as we witnessed the graphic scenes of violence leading to the death of Meredith Hunter at the hands of the San Francisco Hell's Angels. The band were visibly shocked by what they witnessed just yards away from the stage.

The drug fuelled early 70s followed with Mick Taylor becoming a victim of the excesses and deciding to quit before he lost his sanity or his life. Ronnie Wood slotted in nicely both musically and in terms of the lifestyle. He loved the rock and roll party life and was a great onstage foil for Keith.

Then, suddenly the film ended. I had expected to be taken at least up to the departure of Bill Wyman in 1993, but that was not to be. In all honesty I was quite relieved as the film had already covered what for me (and most others I suspect) was the period when the band was in their prime, both on record and on stage.

Overall the film does what it sets out to do and I would say that it is an entertaining couple of hours. Of course those rich enough to afford tickets for their forthcoming London and New Jersey shows, will also be guaranteed an entertaining couple of hours. Having already witnessed the boys strut their stuff twice before, I'll pass on this one.

Zidane Butting In

After a rash of music related blogs I feel it is time for something completely different.

While Zinedine Zidane should perhaps be remembered for some wonderful football skills, it is regrettable, and self inflicted, that he is in fact best remembered for the infamous headbutt against Italian Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup Final. Not something that should be celebrated you would think, but that is exactly what the French have done.

Erected outside of the Pompidou Centre in Paris is a brand new five meter high bronze statue of that disgraceful episode.



Whatever next I wonder. Perhaps a statue of Vinnie Jones putting the squeeze on Paul Gascoigne?

Love Me Do - A right mix up

Following my post on 5th October regarding the release of The Beatles 'Love Me Do' on vinyl 50 years after the initial release, it seems that EMI have fallen foul of the confusion surrounding the different versions of that recording.

As everyone must now know, George Martin was initially unhappy with the version recorded by The Beatles on 4 September 1962 with Ringo Starr on drums. The boys returned to the studio a week later on 11 September and session drummer Andy White was drafted in while Ringo was relegated to playing tambourine. Nevertheless the version released as a single was in fact the version featuring Ringo and the version that appeared on the 'Please Please Me' album and every subsequent LP release since, featured Andy White.

The replica single released last week to commemorate the 50th anniversary, should of course have featured Ringo. However, it didn't. The version that came out was the 11 September version featuring White. Consequently that single has been hastily withdrawn and the correct version is to be issued on 22 October.

Red faces all round for EMI I would say though I'm sure that some people who did buy the single last week might find that they have a future collector's item on their hands.

Makes me wish I had bought one after all.

Magical Mystery Tour revisited

It was with some trepidation that I sat down to watch 'Magical Mystery Tour' screened on BBC2 on Saturday night. My disappointment upon watching it on Boxing Day in 1967 was still too fresh in my mind. Yes, even after forty five years!

I can now report that my worries were unfounded. It actually wasn't too bad.

Why the difference I wondered. Well, to start with, this was the first time that I viewed the film as it was meant to be - in colour. And what a difference that made. The sequences for 'Flying' and 'Blue Jay Way' simply did not work in black and white which was how I originally saw them in 1967.

Then perhaps the difference may have been down to my expectations. In 1967 I expected everything The Beatles did to be brilliant. Look what else they did in that year. 'Sgt. Pepper', 'Penny Lane', 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'All You Need is Love'. On Saturday night my expectations based upon my original experience of the film were very low indeed.

Of course the film was also very much of its time. In retrospect we now look back at that period with a degree of fondness. The very idea of a magical mystery tour was so very British and so much a product of the 50's and 60's. Back then fewer people owned cars and so a coach trip was a way for working class families to get out of the city for a day. Crates of beer would be stowed in the coach and everyone would 'enjoy' a good singsong on the journey. This had been part of growing up for the individual members of The Beatles and so the film represented a little bit of a backward glance at their own lives. And why not? They were at that time clearly searching for some other meaning in their lives. Their success when it came, came fast and left them little or no time for reflection. Hence their involvement with the Maharishi and with their increased use of drugs such as cannabis and LSD. They had also had their first collective close hand experience of death when they lost their manager Brian Epstein soon before filming began. Such things tend to make people look back at their own lives and the film does include things which The Beatles had enjoyed in their own younger days. And let's not forget that in 1967 they themselves were only still in their mid 20's.

It is true that there was no plot to the film and by their own admission, the script was made up as they went along. The film has the quality of a home movie and there were clear signs that The Beatles were far more comfortable in front of the camera than behind it. Yet now, viewed as a period piece, I think the film has a lot of quirky charm about it. And of course the music remains wonderful, as fresh today as it was then. I may not watch this film frequently but I suspect I will not leave it forty five years before I watch it again.

It was 50 years ago today. 'Love Me Do' reissued.

Incredibly it was exactly 50 years ago today (5th October 1962) that The Beatles released their first single 'Love Me Do'.



Where have those years gone?
I can still recall the first time I heard the song being played on the radio in our front room, probably in November or December 1962. I would be a few months past my 11th birthday.

I assume that it was the distinctive harmonica sound that made me stop whatever I was doing to pay closer attention, or perhaps it was the deeper voice (Paul's) singing the title words at the end of each chorus. Whatever it was, the song certainly caught my attention and I mistakenly thought the DJ at the end said that the group was called The Beatniks. Within weeks I had learnt the correct name of the group (yes, they were all called groups then, a band being something completely different) and before long we all knew the individual names of each member; John, Paul, George and Ringo.

Being a school boy with a limited amount of pocket money to spend, I could not afford to buy records then but it wasn't long before I received a present of an EP called 'The Beatles Hits' which featured 'Love Me Do' along with three other hit songs 'From Me To You', 'Please Please Me' and 'Thank You Girl'. To the annoyance of my parents, I played it constantly and so began my love affair with the music of The Beatles.




In fact, there began my love affair with music. I had always liked music and can actually remember songs that I liked when I was about three or four years old. But there is a difference between like and love as I'm sure you're aware. The Beatles opened up a whole new world for me and a love affair with music that exists to this day.

Since that first chance encounter, I have of course bought most of The Beatles singles and LPs on vinyl and then again on CD. Having first heard their records in mono, it was essential that I purchased the Mono Box Set when that came out a couple of years ago. I was not disappointed.

Now, of course the remastered albums are due to be released as they were originally - on vinyl. And of course a vinyl single is being released today of 'Love Me Do' coupled with its original B-side 'P.S. I Love You'. I won't be buying it, but I have to confess that for old time's sake, I was very tempted.

To you, the 5th October 2012 might just be another date on the calendar but to me it represents something very special. I know it is only an anniversary, but such things encourage you to look back at the past and the past happens to be a huge place. Today, I will stick on my mono version of 'Love Me Do' and will fondly look back at the years that have elapsed since I first heard the song. Where the hell did that time go?

Magical Mystery Tour - A Second Chance 45 Years On

It was Christmas 1967. They tell me now that we had just gone through the summer of love though as a sixteen year old kid, I don't remember much in the way of love. Anyway Christmas is the season of good will to all men so I played on that to get my parents to allow me to watch the TV screening of 'Magical Mystery Tour' on Boxing Day. To say that my parents were not exactly great fans of The Beatles is something of an understatement, so I deemed it a magnanimous gesture on their part, that the family gathered round the black and white telly in the living room that evening to witness this great event.

Having endured the sneering comments of my dad while we watched the former lovable mop tops end the international satellite television broadcast entitled 'Our World', six months earlier (25th June 1967 to be precise), I was expecting the worst. He had clearly not been impressed by The Beatles mimed rendition of 'All You Need Is Love'. For 'Magical Mystery Tour' I hoped he would be on better behaviour. It was Christmas after all.

You can probably guess the outcome. I suspect that what played out in our household that evening was being replicated in hundreds or even thousands of households throughout the UK. To be fair I think my dad was fairly quiet for the first half hour or so. He was probably too stunned to speak. I know I was.

I kept my eyes glued to the screen not daring to make eye contact with anyone else in the room. Inside I was squirming with embarrassment and quietly praying that it would get better. Surely it had to get better. It didn't! There's a lot to be said for the current trend of having a TV in your bedroom. At least then you can squirm in private. Back in 1967 ours, like most others, was a one TV household.

Granted the music was quite wonderful but that was it and as I had been given the gate-fold covered double EP as a present the previous day, I could play the music whenever I liked. I still can and still do. However I had no desire to sit through the film ever again.



Now, to commemorate an enhanced version of the film being issued on DVD and Blue-ray, the BBC are screening a documentary about the making of the film followed by the film itself. I admit to being curious to see the documentary but a little reluctant to sit through the film again. It was shown once before in 1979 and I chose to ignore it on that occasion. The pain of Boxing Day 1967 was probably still fresh in my mind.

I suspect however, that when it is broadcast on Saturday evening I will give the film a second chance. After all, this will be the first time I will be viewing it in colour. Forty five years on, I am perhaps mature enough to appreciate it for the art masterpiece it probably is. Surely it can't be as bad as the first time. Can it?

Family Reunion

There has been a shortage of posts over the past two weeks as I have been relaxing in Spain. While I was there a friend kindly notified me of the reunion of Family that is taking place at the Shepherd's Bush Empire next February.

While still at what would today be known as High School, a few of us would spend lunchtimes hanging out in the music room when it was too wet outside to play football. People would take in recently purchased albums and I can still recall walking in one day to hear what I believe was 'Me My Friend'. Whatever track it was, it came from the debut album by Family, 'Music in a Doll's House'. Being unable to afford to buy many albums in those days, I managed to borrow a copy and record it onto my Philips reel to reel tape recorder. From then on, I was a devout fan of Family and eagerly awaited every one of their releases. I also made sure that I saw them live on almost every occasion that they happened to play in the north east of England.

Although I never really took to their final album 'It's Only a Movie', I was still devastated when they announced their decision to split in 1973. Now, forty years on they are to reform for what is I believe to be a one-off reunion concert. Featuring a line up of Roger Chapman, drummer Rob Townsend, Jim Cregan and John 'Poli' Palmer, they will also be augmented by Geoff Whitehorn on guitar, Gary Twigg on bass, John Lingwood on drums and percussion, Paul Hirsh on keyboards and Nick Payn on sax and harmonica. They will perform a selection of material from each of their seven albums released between 1968 and 1973.



It is a little sad that the line-up will not feature John 'Charlie' Whitney who was the songwriting partner of Chapman and who played some great guitar throughout the career of the band. In fact, Chapman and Whitney continued their partnership beyond Family, in what became known as The Streetwalkers. Unfortunately something went wrong in their relationship and since Streetwalkers split in 1977 after releasing four studio albums, the pair have never played together.

Despite the passing of the years and the absence of Whitney, I am excited by the prospect of hearing the band play live again. My ticket has been secured so expect to hear more on this subject in February 2013.

Patti Smith at Newcastle Academy

Patti Smith and her band took to the stage at Newcastle Academy on Tuesday evening (4 September 2012) and launched straight into 'April Fool' from her current album 'Banga'. It sounded fine to us in the audience but clearly Patti was not happy with the sound and apologised at the end of the number, even suggesting they play it again later (they didn't).

Here we go again, I thought recalling the last time I saw Patti live, at The Sage, Gateshead about four years ago. Then she was clearly not a happy bunny as she constantly complained about the sound and the fact that the audience remained seated for most of the set. My concerns were unfounded however as whatever was niggling Patti disappeared and she and the band gave us a superb performance. Three tracks in and the familiar piano intro to 'Free Money' brought a cheer from the crowd. Soon the band were rocking and Patti was spitting and snarling as she belted out the lyrics. In between songs she talked at length about her experiences in our great city. A photo shoot earlier in the day in which she had to pose with a 1976 copy of NME in which she appeared on the cover. The irony, as Patti explained, was that inside, the paper had slated her album 'Radio Ethiopia'. Another rap was about her visit to the hairdressers. She fingered her long unkempt hair as she told the story, obviously very much tongue in cheek. Patti will take the piss out of anything, including herself.

Obviously the tour is to promote her latest record and selections from that were bound to feature throughout the set. Patti told us that she didn't care that only about ten copies had been sold. Frankly she didn't care what we listened to as long as we were happy. And we sure were happy when she treated us to old favourites like 'Gloria' and 'Power to the People'. At the request of someone at the front of the audience she dedicated 'Pissing in the River' to Janis Joplin while during 'Banga' the band had us all barking and yelping like dogs. Guitarist Lenny Kaye brought a cheer from the Newcastle crowd by making mention of Kevin Keegan and north east punk outfit, Penetration.

Finally the band encored with a rousing rendition of 'Rock'n'Roll Nigger' that almost brought the house down. As she ripped the strings from her Statocaster to hand out to folks in the front row, Patti said that she had had fun playing in Newcastle. I, for one, believed her.

Hidden Gems #2 Bumpers West by Bronco

Bronco - Bumpers West

Bronco unfortunately only released two albums during the early 1970's, 'Country Home' from which this track is taken, in 1970 and 'Ace of Sunlight' the following year.

They were fronted by vocalist Jess Roden who early in his professional career joined white soul outfit The Alan Bown Set. Moving to a more psychedelic pop format, the band changed their name to The Alan Bown! and with Roden released only one album, the imaginatively titled 'Outward Bown'.

Despite recording a second album with the band, Roden decided to leave and his vocals were re-recorded by his replacement, Robert Palmer. Incidentally the original version of the album with vocals by Jess Roden was released in the US and today it is pretty hard to come by.

Roden then spent a couple of years with Bronco before joining forces with two members of The Doors, releasing an album under the name The Butts Band. He then formed his own outfit but after a few highly regarded albums he left the music scene altogether and turned his attention to graphic design. His re-emergence in the mid 1990's as Jess Roden & The Humans was sadly short lived and he now appears to have retired from the music business. In my opinion, it is a sad loss as he possesses one of the finest and most soulful voices I have ever heard. Listen to the track and let me know what you think.

To the best of my knowledge both Bronco albums have been deleted but I managed to obtain an import copy of both albums on one CD.

There will be more about Jess Roden in a future blog and for other fans of his music out there, some very interesting news!!

Meanwhile, enjoy this hidden gem.

Little Feat - Rooster Rag

Incredibly it's been a full nine years since the last album of new original material from Little Feat. Admittedly they followed 2003's 'Kickin' at the Barn' with 'Join The Band' in 2008 but that was something of a stop gap being a trawl through their back catalogue with a host of guest vocalists and musicians. Now they've released 'Rooster Rag' which features mainly original songs and happens to be the first album with new drummer Gabe Ford who replaced Richie Hayward following his death two years ago.

I happen to be one of the many who believe that Little Feat were at their best during the ten year period (1969-1979) that Lowell George fronted the band. Since then their output has been somewhat patchy but I believe this new album is something of a return to form. With only Bill Payne surviving from the original 1969 line up and Paul Barrere, Kenny Gradney and Sam Clayton surviving since 1972, the trademark Little Feat sound remains intact. Additionally I should add that Fred Tackett remains present from the 1987 line up and on this album he adds some very fine mandolin, slide guitar and trumpet.



It has always been hard to categorise the music of Little Feat as they freely switch between blues, boogie, jazz-funk, country and good old rock'n'roll. This album is no exception with Mississippi John Hurt's 'Candy Man Blues' getting things off to a rollicking boogie-woogie start. This is quickly followed by the bluegrass style title track. And so it goes on.

The sensual 'Church Falling Down' features lush mandolin and spooky organ and vocals aside could almost be mistaken for a recent offering by Dr John. 'One Breath At A Time' seems to hark back to 'Rock and Roll Doctor' from 1974's 'Feats Don't Fail Me Now' and one could be forgiven for thinking that it and 'Salome' were out-takes from the 1970's line-up.

I know I'm making a bold statement by daring to make comparisons with the Lowell George incarnation of the band but I really do think that with this album, Little Feat have come very close to producing another great album. Not quite up to the standard of the 70's material but not far off.

It's been a long time coming but it's been worth the wait.