Fascinating Rhythm

I * II * III

Disc 1

01 - Prelude No. 2 For Piano - George Gershwin

02 - I Got Rhythm - Ethel Waters

03 - Oh Lady, Be Good - Buck & Bubbles

04 - Summertime - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra

05 - Nice Work If You Can Get It - Maxine Sullivan & Her Orchestra

06 - They Cant Take That Away From Me - Fred Astaire

07 - Swanee - Al Jolson

08 - Liza - Benny Goodma

09 - Someone To Watch Over Me - Frank Sinatra

10 - 'S Wonderful - Dinah Shore & Buddy Clark

11 - Do It Again - Jane Russell

12 - Soon - Dorothy Kirsten

13 - Facinating Rhythm- Someone To Watch Over Me - Morton Gould

14 - The Man I Love - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra

15 - Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - Fred Astaire

16 - Love Is Here To Stay - Gene Kelly

17 - How Long Has This Been Going On - Felicia Sanders

18 - Blues - Harry James & His Orchestra

19 - But Not For Me - Doris Day

20 - A Foggy Day - Rosemary Clooney

21 - I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise - Georges Guetary

22 - Third Movement (Allegro Agitato) - Oscar Levant & Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York

Disc 2

01 - Of Thee I Sing Overture - Buffalo Philharmonic

02 - They All Laughed - Tony Bennett

03 - Of Thee I Sing - The Hi-Lo's

04 - Promenade (Walking the Dog) - Los Angeles Philharmonic

05 - Ive Got A Crush On You - Ella Fitzgerald

06 - Somebody Loves Me - Alberta Hunter

07 - Love Walked In- Embraceable You - Maureen McGovern

08 - Mine - Dick Hyman

09 - Isn't It A Pity - Mel Tormé

10 - Introduction And Jazzbo Brown - André Kostelanetz & His Orchestra

11 - It Ain't Nessecarily So - Aretha Franklin

12 - Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Robert McFerrin & Adele Addison

13 - I Loves You, Porgy - Miles Davis

14 - My Man's Gone Now - Sarah Vaughan

15 - There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York - Cab Calloway

16 - Who Cares - Tony Bennett

17 - Rhapsody In Blue - George Gershwin

18 - Strike Up the Band - André Kostelanetz & His Orchestra

19 - Home Blues - Michael Feinstein

The Imposter

Continuing with the E Costello theme this week, here is some primo material: These are the bonus discs that came with Rhino's rerelease of his first 5 albums. Rarities, outtakes and live versions. More info on each track can be found here.

MY AIM IS TRUE: BONUS DISC

1. No Action (early version) (2:15)
2. Living In Paradise (early version) (3:00)
3. Radio Sweetheart (2:31)
4. Stranger In The House (3:04)
5. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (live) (2:27)
6. Less Than Zero ("Dallas version") (4:17)
7. Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver) (3:38)
8. Mystery Dance (Honky Tonk demo) (2:13)
9. Cheap Reward (Honky Tonk demo) (2:16)
10. Jump Up (Honky Tonk demo) (2:06)
11. Wave A White Flag (Honky Tonk demo) (1:58)
12. Blame It On Cain (Honky Tonk demo) (3:31)
13. Poison Moon (Honky Tonk demo) (1:53)

THIS YEAR'S MODEL: BONUS DISC

1. Big Tears (3:09)
2. Crawling To The USA (2:52)
3. Running Out Of Angels (demo) (2:02)
4. Greenshirt (demo) (2:20)
5. Big Boys (demo) (2:58)
6. You Belong To Me (Capital Radio version) (1:52)
7. Radio, Radio (Capital Radio version) (2:58)
8. Neat Neat Neat (live) (3:16)
9. Roadette Song (live) (5:38)
10. This Year's Girl (alternate Eden Studios version) (2:07)
11. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea (Basing Street Studios version) (2:57)
12. Stranger In The House (BBC version) (4:15)

ARMED FORCES: BONUS DISC

1. Tiny Steps (2:41)
2. Busy Bodies (alternate version) (3:47)
3. Talking In The Dark (1:55)
4. Big Boys (alternate version) (2:54)
5. Clean Money (1:57)
6. Wednesday Week (2:03)
7. My Funny Valentine (1:28)
8. Accidents Will Happen (live) (3:18)
9. Mystery Dance (live) (2:01)
10. Goon Squad (live) (3:42)
11. Party Girl (live) (3:19)
12. Stranger In The House (live) (3:52)
13. Alison (live) (3:08)
14. Lipstick Vogue (live) (4:26)
15. Watching The Detectives (live) (5:51)
16. You Belong To Me (live) (2:38)
17. Chemistry Class (live) (2:34)

GET HAPPY!: BONUS DISC

1. I Stand Accused (alternate version) (3:09)
2. So Young (3:26)
3. Girls Talk (1:55)
4. Human Touch (alternate version) (2:19)
5. Temptation (alternate version) (2:27)
6. Motel Matches (alternate take) (2:26)
7. Clowntime Is Over No. 2 (3:43)
8. B Movie (alternate version) (2:26)
9. Girls Talk (alternate version) (2:03)
10. Getting Mighty Crowded (2:07)
11. From A Whisper To A Scream (alternate version) (2:29)
12. Watch Your Step (alternate version) (2:01)
13. Dr. Luther's Assistant (3:26)
14. Ghost Train (3:05)
15. New Lace Sleeves (alternate version) (3:45)
16. Hoover Factory (1:44)
17. Just A Memory (2:15)
18. I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down (alternate version) (2:43)
19. New Amsterdam (alternate version) (2:29)
20. Black & White World (demo) (1:49)
21. Riot Act (demo) (2:48)
22. 5ive Gears In Reverse (demo) (2:31)
23. Love For Tender (demo) (2:05)
24. Men Called Uncle (demo) (2:04)
25. King Horse (demo) (2:43)
26. Seven O'Clock (demo) (1:58)
27. High Fidelity (live) (3:17)
28. Opportunity (live) (2:33)
29. The Imposter (live) (2:11)
30. Don't Look Back (live) (3:01) / CBS Radio Commercial (1:30)

TRUST: BONUS DISC

1. Black Sails In The Sunset (3:07)
2. Big Sister (2:15)
3. Twenty-Five To Twelve (4:03)
4. Sad About Girls (2:47)
5. From A Whisper To A Scream (alternate version) (3:24)
6. Watch Your Step (alternate version) (2:44)
7. Clubland (alternate take) (4:00)
8. You'll Never Be A Man (alternate take) (3:08)
9. Slow Down (2:23)
10. Big Sister (alternate version) (5:04)
11. Black Sails In The Sunset (alternate version) (3:05)
12. Hoover Factory (alternate version) (1:43)
13. Love For Sale (3:02)
14. Boy With A Problem (2:30)
15. Weeper's Dream (1:05)
16. Gloomy Sunday (3:12)
17. The Long Honeymoon (instrumental piano demo) (1:41)

Tears Before Bedtime

This is something interesting I found the other day. Called "Conversations With Elvis Costello", it's a 2 cd promotional edition of Elvis Costello's "Imperial Bedroom" in which he discusses each song in detail before you hear it.

This, along with his first three, is one of my favorite EC albums. As is mentioned often, it was produced by Geoff Emerick, who also worked on "Sgt. Pepper's" as well as Paul McCartney's solo stuff. Even though it does feel a bit overambitious, some might say pretentious, it is a very satisfying, varied album, and very different than the rest of his stuff. Its sensibilities are more Cole Porter than Randy Newman, I guess you could say.

Anyway, even though the chats break up the flow of the songs (which is a key component, particularly in this album), it is worth it to hear new insights and behind the scenes info.

Enjoy!

IMPERIAL / BEDROOM

or

IMPERIAL / BEDROOM

1. -chat- [10:05]
2. Beyond Belief [2:37]
3. -chat- [3:01]
4. Tears Before Bedtime [3:00]
5. -chat- [0:55]
6. Shabby Doll [4:50]
7. -chat- [2:07]
8. The Long Honeymoon [4:16]
9. -chat- [3:15]
10. Man Out Of Time [5:32]
11. -chat- [1:41]
12. Almost Blue [2:47]
13. -chat- [4:00]
14. ...And In Every Home [3:27]
15. -chat- [1:12]
16. The Loved Ones [2:51]
17. -chat- [0:34]
18. Human Hands [2:48]
19. -chat- [1:54]
20. Kid About It [2:49]
21. -chat- [2:39]
22. Little Savage [2:41]
23. -chat- [3:45]
24. Boy With A Problem [Costello/Chris Difford] [2:12]
25. -chat- [6:58]
26. Pidgin English [4:06]
27. -chat- [2:34]
28. You Little Fool [3:13]
29. -chat- [4:18]
30. Town Cryer [4:22]
31. -chat- [2:55]

Frankage

This is one of my favorite records of all time. The Descendents were (cue cliche) ahead of their time. Their pop punk stylings foreshadowed Greenday, the Offspring, Weezer and all the inane pap that was to follow (Blink 182 et al.).

After about 2 decades, I've been listening to this album a LOT again, and it's made me marvel at just how good they were. This to me is their best. It also marked the first appearance of lead singer Milo Aukerman, inspiration for the Milo character that was featured on most of their covers. And he was going off to college, hence the title (duh).


Later, they went more for the pop side of their sound, leaving behind their more creepy negative side - both in terms of lyrical content and the Black-Flag-influenced sound heard here.

Today I found out that founding member, guitarist, and the man responsible for their darker lyrics, Frank Navetta, passed away last Halloween (2008). He had quit the band back in 1958, burning all his gear to become a fulltime fisherman in Oregon.


So this entry becomes my belated tribute to Frank as well as to the Descendents. Rest in Peace.

TWO THINGS AT ONCE (MGTC, Bonus Fat)

1. "Myage" – 1:59
2. "I Wanna Be a Bear" – 0:42
3. "I'm Not a Loser" – 1:28
4. "Parents" – 1:38
5. "Tonyage" – 0:56
6. "M 16" – 0:43
7. "I'm Not a Punk" – 1:04
8. "Catalina" – 1:46
9. "Suburban Home" – 1:40
10. "Statue of Liberty" – 1:59
11. "Kabuki Girl" – 1:10
12. "Marriage" – 1:39
13. "Hope" – 2:00
14. "Bikeage" – 2:14
15. "Jean Is Dead" – 1:33

BONUS FAT:

1. "My Dad Sucks" - 0:36
2. "Mr. Bass" - 2:05
3. "I Like Food" - 0:16
4. "Hey Hey" - 1:35
5. "Weinerschnitzel" - 0:11
6. "Global Probing" - 1:08
7. "Ride the Wild" - 2:30
8. "It's a Hectic World" - 1:50

Quaye Redux

Hey. Long time no post, I know.

So here i am.

This was a request for a reup (from Dead Billy - check out his blog for some more Quaye tunage!), which i don't usually do, but what the hey.

This is the bonus disc that came along with Finley Quaye's "Maverick". Just 4 songs - 2 vershans of "Your Love Gets Sweeter" plus 2 more.

Enjoy it if you didn't catch it the first time round!:

MAVERICK A STRIKE Bonus Maxi

Blood and Roses

Well, today, being today, I was going to put up the Smithereen's christmas album from last year, but, respecting Totally Fuzzy's policies as I do, instead, here are two of their best albums, from 1986 and 1988. I first heard "Blood and Roses" as it played over the credits of some long-forgotten 80's movie, and I was instantly obsessed by the solo baseline hook throughout the song.

So, I bought the CD. I believe it was one of my first digital purchases, and I was awestruck by the crystal clear goodness of it all.

Anyway, "Especially For You" is a great, great pop album. "Green Thoughts", while not as good, has some amazing pop songs. Enjoy! Their latest two albums are great Beatles covers. As always, buy it/ if you /like it! (if you can)..

ESPECIALLY FOR YOU
1 Strangers When We Meet 3:46
2 Listen to Me Girl 3:00
3 Groovy Tuesday 2:39
4 Cigarette 2:30
5 I Don't Want to Lose You 3:20
6 Time and Time Again 3:09
7 Behind the Wall of Sleep 3:23
8 In a Lonely Place 6:19
9 Blood and Roses 3:36
10 Crazy Mixed-Up Kid 2:07
11 Hand of Glory 2:45
12 Alone at Midnight 3:41
13 White Castle Blues 3:57


GREEN THOUGHTS
1 Only a Memory 3:42
2 House We Used to Live In 4:02
3 Something New 1:56
4 The World We Know 3:47
5 Especially for You 3:07
6 Drown in My Own Tears 3:11
7 Deep Black 2:56
8 Elaine 2:32
9 Spellbound 4:11
10 If the Sun Doesn't Shine 3:32
11 Green Thoughts 2:28

Here's a more recent video of this New Jersey band. Like all of us, heavier in the gut but still rockin'!!:

here is the video for the duet with Suzanne Vega from the first album:



and a good interview with Pat Dinizio

Tones On Tails

Ok. First post in forever, I know. Just haven't felt like it in a long time, seeing as nobody leaves any messages (ok, with the odd random exception, and i thank you for those) so it feels like pissing into the ocean.

So, please, take a second, tell me where you are and who you are and whatever else you want to say.

Anyway, enough whining.



This is Tones on Tail, post-Bauhaus, pre-Love and Rockets and superior to both (blasphemy!). Silly, minimal industrialish pop genius. Enjoy.

Tracklisting:

1.01		Lions (3:57)
1.02		War (3:18)
1.03		Happiness (3:08)
1.04		The Never Never (Is Forever) (3:20)
1.05		Performance (4:12)
1.06		Slender Fungus (3:35)
1.07		Movement of Fear (3:51)
1.08		Real Life (5:06)
1.09		Rain (8:27)
2.01		Go! (Club Mix) (4:27)
2.02		Christian Says (3:42)
2.03		Twist (5:10)
2.04		Burning Skies (6:27)
2.05		O.K., This Is The Pops (3:03)
2.06		You, The Night And The Music (5:00)
2.07		When You're Smiling (5:47)
2.08		There's Only One (4:03)
2.09		Now We Lustre (4:29)
2.10		A Bigger Splash (4:31)
2.11		Copper (3:06)
2.12		Means of Escape (3:51)
2.13		Instrumental (3:29)
2.14		Performance (7" Version) (3:12)
2.15		Shakes (3:54)
2.16		Heartbreak Hotel (Live) / Interview With Daniel Ash (Hidden Track) (12:17)

1 * 2 * 3

Bizarro World

This was my first Wedding Present album. I bought it because I had heard "Kennedy" and "Brassneck" in the heyday of MTV's 120 Minutes show (which, despite its string of annoying hosts - most notably, Dave Kendall and Matt Pinhead .. er, I mean, Pinfield -, was really good). Not as good as Seamonsters, but definitely a great, great album. And David Gedge has a heart of gold and is supernice, so go out and get this if you likey.

BIZA
RRO

1. Brassneck

2. Crushed

3. No

4. Thanks

5. Kennedy

6. What Have I Said Now?

7. Granadaland

8. Bewitched

9. Take Me!

10. Be Honest

11. Unfaithful

12. One Day This Will All Be Yours

13. It's Not Unusual

14. Brassneck [Single Version]

15. Don't Talk, Just Kiss

16. Gone

17. Box Elder

Seamonsters

(from Sweetness Online)

Ok, technical problems all sorted out now. Back at ya with one of my favorite records of all time, The Wedding Present's Seamonsters. While their earlier work was punker and their latter work was some of the best pop rock ever, this strikes a perfect balance between the two. Recorded by noizemeister Steve Albini in just 12 days somewhere in the heart of Minnesota, Seamonsters is agreat cd full of texture, feedback not-for-feedback-sake, and excruciatingly personal lyrics. I read somewhere that WP frontman David Gedge's lyrics are like phone conversations with his lover, but I would say that they are more like breakup letters. Anyway, judge for yourselves:

The Wedding Present: "SEAMONSTERS"

1. Dalliance

2. Dare

3. Suck

4. Blonde

5. Rotterdam

6. Love Nest

7. Corduroy

8. Carolyn

9. Heather

10. Octopussy 11. Niagara 12. Dan dare 13. Fleshworld

David Gedge on Steve Albini:

He's a great engineer and apparently works pretty fast.
Gedge: It's weird because people say "how does he do it?" and it's very basic really, I mean it's kind of like old school in a way in that his heroes are people like George Martin and the BBC engineers. It's basically get a band, tune the drums, tune the guitar, it's all good equipment, it's an acoustically suitable room, great microphones, well-placed and he records it, and it's like, yeah it's kind of obvious really. Why change that? People spend six hours on the snare drum sound or longer and you've kind of lost the mood of a band playing together, you know?

"Bewitched":


"Brassneck" unplugged:


"Flying Saucer":