EARTHLY MESSENGER - AYLESBURY'S TRIBUTE TO IT'S ADOPTED SON


Hello,  and welcome back.  It's been a while since I've done one of these.  Starting off today with the event that saw the unveiling of the Bowie sculpture in Aylesbury - Earthy Messenger.  You can find it in the Market Square - just across from Aylesbury Friars used to stand.

Created by Andrew Sinclair it's an amalgam of the various Bowie's we've seen down the years.  And if you're in the area it's well worth a visit - and yours truly made the trip up from South Devon especially to be there.

Enough talk then - here are the photos of from the event.

RAY'S MOVIN'! (THE GENIUS SINGS THE OTHER HANK)

Artist: RAY CHARLES; Title: I'M MOVIN' ON; Label: ATLANTIC; Format: 7"EP; 

Cat. No.: 21021; Year: 1961; Country: FRANCE.

Looking this time round at this 1961 French EP from the Genius himself - Ray Charles.

Side One kicks off with Ray's version of the Hank Snow tune "I'm Movin' On". The one thing that's noticeable to anyone that's familiar with the song is the version here has a different and slower train sound effect intro. As well as what seems like a slower tempo to the whole song.  Which makes me wonder if this is the original Mono single mix- and the better known version is the stereo LP mix.  Next up is the classic "I Believe To My Soul" which I first came to via The Animals version.  It's one of the few tracks that doesn't feature backing from the Raelets - all the voices you hear are Ray's.  Whether this was down to Ray falling out with Margie Hendrix (which happened on a regular basis by all accounts) I'm not sure - and perhaps that's who the song's written about.

Side Two opens with "You Be My Baby" - co-written by Ray alongside Doc Pomus and Mort Schuman is a bit of a good one! Featuring as it does that classic gospel inspired call-and response between Ray and the Raelets and a great tenor solo from Dave Fathead Newman.  The proceedings are rounded off with "My Bonnie" which is given the classic Ray Charles treatment - and again one that doesn't disappoint!

FOR BEN E. KING

Artist: BEN E. KING (feat. JIMI HENDRIX); Title: II'S ALL OVER; Label: ATLANTIC; Format: 7"; Cat. No.: AT 4007; Year: 1964; Country: UK

This is a post I've been meaning to do for a couple of weeks now - but've only just gotten round to, as a tribute to Soul legend and former Drifters frontman Ben E King who we lost recently.





Looking today at this 1964 release of his which features the classic Soul format of the period - big ballad A Side and more up-tempo B Side.  In this instance the A Side gives you "It's All Over" - co-written and produced by Bert Berns (using his Bert Russell moniker for the writing credit). It's another of those great slow-burning big soul ballads with some great backing vocals from the Sweet Inspirations (line-up around this time comprising Doris Troy, Dee Warwick, Cissy Houston, and possibly even Dionne herself).  Although not as well know as some of the better known Ben E King stuff - this is still well worth checking out.



As is the B Side - "Let The Water Run Down".  As already mentioned this is more up-tempo of the two sides on offer here.  Written again by Bert Berns as Bert Russell - and again with Doris Troy and Co. on backing vocals - it's another good one! And did I mention that the guitarist on this is none other than Jimi Hendrix? It's from that period when Hendrix did a lot of session work for Atlantic - alongside this he proivided the guitar-breaks on Don Covay's "Mercy, Mercy" as well the Isley's "Move Over And Let Me Dance" (which I've featured on a previous post a while back). An excellent track that's again well worth checking out!

WELLER'S TALES FROM THE RIVERBANK

Artist: THE JAM; Title: ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS/TALES FROM THE RIVERBANK; Label: POLYDOR; Format: 7"; Cat. No.: POSP 350; Year: 1981; Country: UK

First up - wanting to wish all you vinylheads out there - a happy Record Store Day and trusting that you managed to get at least some of what you were after! Onto today's post then!

Focusing today on this 1981 offering from The Jam - which was their first for that particular year and one that gives you two different styles of the band.  First up on the A Side is the Soul-flavoured "Absolute Beginners".  The title cones from Colin McInnes' book of the same (and made into the less than great film - Weller's subsequent group The Style Council contributing 'Have You Ever Had It Blue' to the soundtrack) and it's first to feature the augmented line-up which included the 2 piece horn section.  Weller's intention to build on this line-up into a live soul revue in a vein similar to the one that Stax toured with the 60's and ealy 70's.  And unfortunately scuppered to a large extent by the group's somewhat beligerent fans only wanting to hear the old stuff - rather than embracing something just that little bit different - but good nonetheless!

The flip is that other aspect of The Jam I really love - the psychedelic-tinged "Tales From The Riverbank".  It's the third of these psyche flavoured piece that they did - the 1st being 'In The Cowd' on 'All Mod Cons' in '78, followed in 1980 by 'The Dreams Of Children' - and I suppose you can throw in  'Start' for the same year as well - which makes four!  "Riverbank" is one of those songs that shows the burgeoning influence of Traffic's pastoral psychedelia - as well as Paul Weller evoking childhood memories from the area around Woking(as I seem to remember hearing about at one point).  What I love about the song is the way in builds from Bruce Foxton's opening bass-line followed by Weller's spectral guitar - and that Riverbank in question is as much a state of mind as a physical place.  It's one of those Jam songs that Paul Weller revisited in his solo career - the updated version shortened to "The Riverbank" popping up as the B Side to the 'Brand New Start' single in 1998.

ARETHA - THE EARLY YEARS

Artist: ARETHA FRANKLIN; Title: ARETHA; Label: CBS - EMBASSY; Format: LP; 

Cat. No.: EMB 31006; Year: 1961; Reissued: 1971 & 1983; Country: UK 

There are those out in the music critic world who'd have you believe that Aretha Franklin didn't record anything of worth before she signed to Atlantic in 1966.  One listen to this her debut for CBS/Columbia in 1961 shows that this is certainly not the case - as this cracking collection of Jazz flavoured Soul clearly show!

So okay some of her subsequent releases for CBS aren't as good as this debut - swamping her with strings and choral backing singers when a series of producers tried to make her into a jazz/cabaret singer.  Effectively missing what made Aretha Aretha.  Thankfully not the case here, as the production's handled by legendary producer and talent scout John Hammond - his signing to CBS include Billie Holliday, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, Son House, Springsteen to name but a few!

Onto the album then!  Side One kicks of with the superb "It Won't Be Long" which features Aretha on piano - back by member of Ray Bryant's group - as fine a piece of Soul/Jazz as you're likely to find, and impressed Dusty Springfield enough for her to include it on her solo debut LP.  Next up is a rather good version of "Over The Rainbow" - and takes it to a complete place compared with the Judy Garland original.  It's followed with "Love Is The Only Thing" with a harmony vocal from Paul Owens - which when I first heard I was convinced was a trombone only (it's actually both!).  "Sweet Lover" follows - and is one of those that wouldn't sound out of place alongside Aretha's subsequent Atlantic material.  The last two tracks on this side tow great bits of blues - first up "All Night Long" and  then the Billie Holliday penned "How Needs You" - and again featuring Aretha on piano.



Side Two opens with "Right Now" which sees Aretha backed by Ray Bryant and his band.  Next up is the one of the 2 show tunes on the record ('Over The Rainbow' being the other) "Are You Sure" from the 'Unsinkable Miss Molly Brown' (!) belvered with that distinctive Aretha gospel kick - and it's her again on piano as you've probably guessed!  She's again on piano for "Maybe I'm A Fool" - and again wouldn't be out of place on on of her Altantic LPs.  It's followed by a good of the jazz standard that is "It Ain't Necessarily So".  The penultimate track gives you "By Myself".  Whilst the album's closer is the cracking bit of Blues that is "Today I Sing The Blues" - the guitarist question being Lord Westbrook - and issued as a single here in the UK as well as in the US.



Incidentally the reason for the 1971 reissue being called "The First 12 Sides" is due to Columbia in the States issuing the whole LP as series of 6 stereo jukebox 45's as part of their 'Stereo Seven' series.  Other in the series included Miles Davis 'Someday My Prince Will Come'.

WHEN THE KAFTAN KING GOT FUNKY!

Artist: APHRODITE'S CHILD; Title: IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK; Label: MERCURY; Format: 7"; Cat. No.: 132508 MCF: Year: 1969; Country: FRANCE

Looking today on this post at this 1969 offering from the Greek trio that featured Vangelis alongside the 70's Kaftan King himself - Demis Roussos! And with the recent passing of Mr Roussous though it was time to feature this French 45 of 2 contrasting styles.



The A Side gives you "It's Five O'Clock" - the title track of the group's 2nd LP.  Featuring the unmistakable vocals of the Kaftan Man - it's very much in the style of their big European hit 'Rain And Tears'.  And musicwise there seems to be more than a whiff of Procol Harum's 'White Shade of Pale' about - though most likely sourcing the same classical piece that Gary Brooker & co used for their hit (the name of which eludes me at the moment), and with some Pyche style embellishments along the way as well!



The A Side's great if you like your Demis Roussos style balladry - a genre he very much made his own in the subsequent decade and the reason that Aphrodite's Child ended up splitting.  The B Side's a very different story - and the reason that the record's being featured on the blog at all - and one listen to "Funky Mary" will show that the there was whole other side to this trio of Greeks.  It can probably be best described as Psychedelic Hammond Funk with a bit of Jazz chucked in for good measure!  Not sure who's handling the vocals on this - but it's sure as heck not Demis, possibly Vagellis - or maybe the other bloke who's name I can't remember!  Well worth having a listen too!

SHAKIN' ALL OVER - A BRITISH ROCK 'N' ROLL CLASSIC

Artist: JOHNNY KIDD & THE PIRATES; Title: SHAKIN' ALL OVER; Label: HMV; Format: 7"; Cat. No.: 45-POP 753; Year: 1960; Country: UK

Last post of 2014 - and hoping all you out there in blog-sphere have had a excellent festive period!  Looking today at what has to be a prime chunk of bona fide British Rock 'n' Roll.  Namely this 1960 classic from Johnny Kidd & The Pirates.

The A Side gives you what has to be one of the best bits of home-grown Rock 'n' Roll (yes I know I'm repeating myself but it's a point worth making!) in the shape of "Shakin' All Over".  So what it makes it a classic?  For starters there's that opening guitar riff courtesy of Joe Moretti.  Then there's that clear, clean production - with not a single angelic chorus, or string section in sight.  In short everything a Rock 'n' Roll record should be.

And from the sublime to the downright bloody awful - as the B Side gives you the kitch-fest that is "Yes Sir, That's My Baby".  Which needs to be avoided like the plague!  Just wondering if that was the trade off with EMI - allowing them to do their own thing with the A Side, and then having to record this drivel for the B Side.  It's the type of thing that appears on the 'Can't Believe It's Not Better' slot on Graham Norton's radio show.

That's if from The Vinyl Consultancy for 2014!  See all you vinylheads in the New Year!!!!

I DON'T WHY - STEVIE WONDER'S FORGOTTON A SIDE

Artist: STEVIE WONDER; Title: I DON'T WHY I LOVE YOU; Label: TAMLA MOTOWN; Format: 7"; Cat. No.: TMG 690; Year; 1969; Country: UK

Carrying on the theme of singles flipped in favour of their B Sides which I mentioned in connection with the recent Shirelles post, looking today at what's probably one of the classic cases of this happening.  This 1969 offering from Stevie Wonder.

The A Side as it was originally issued is the rather excellent "I Don't Why I Love You".  Which finds Stevie Wonder in fine form on this excellent bit of late 60's Soul/Funk - and you can hear creative muscles beginning to be flexed - as the bosses at Motown were beginning to be aware of just what this blind kid was capable of.  I actually came to the song via the Stones cover of it that surfaced on the mid-70's 'Metamorphosis' set which they'd recorded around the time this came out - ie 1969 when their relationship with Decca had soured somewhat.

And what's on the B Side you may ask?  Only what went on to become one of Stevie Wonder's biggest ever hits. A little ditty entitled "My Cherie Amour".  Still prefer the A Side though!

BOWIE, BERLIN AND THE 3 HEROES

Artist: DAVID BOWIE; Title: HEROES; Label: RCA VICTOR; Format: 7"EP;  
Cat. No.: 60629; Year: 1980; Country: AUSTRALIA.

Inspired to do this post on after seeing BBC Newsnight last Friday - and their coverage of the 25th Anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down and guess whose song they used? Yep Bowie's anthem from his 2nd LP from 1977 - "Heroes".

So as a result of that, I'm today looking the 1980 Aussie EP that pulls together all three versions of the song.  Side One kicks off with the original English version - and one of those songs that can justifieably be called a classic! Next up is the less than brilliant french version - mainly due our David's french phrasing being ropy at best, and best regarded as acollectionj filler to be honest.

Side Two gives you "Helden" - the German version and probably the one that works the best. The German translation was handled by backing singer Antonia Maass, who was one of the lovers kissing by by The Wall that the song's about, and her lover? None other than producer Tony Visconti who she was having an affair with at the time.  The proceedings are rounded off nicely by Bowie's tribute to Kraftwerk's Florian Schneider - in the shape of "V-2 Schneider", and I really love the honking sax on the track.  Sounds like the band were enjoying themselves!

THE SHIRELLES - AND SHADES OF PSYCHEDELIC SOUL

Artist: THE SHIRELLES; Title: SHADES OF BLUE; Label: PYE INTERNATIONAL; 

Format: 7"; Cat. No.: 7N.25386; Year: 1966; Country: UK.

Looking today at this overlooked 1966 gem from from one my all time favourite Girl Groups of all time The Shirelles - and one of that records that reflects the changing times of this period in the mid 60's.

The A Side gives you the rather excellent "Shades Of Blue", and I suppose the easiest way to describe it as psychedleic-tinged Soul.  Which doesn't mean you'll find Shirley Owens and co backed by backwards-looped feedback guitars or droning sitars, but that sense of things of a more psyche-feel are certainly there in the arrangements and structure of the song.  And Shirley Owens herself is in particular voice on this one - and first heard by yours truly at a Northern Soul all-nighter up in Stoke many moons ago.

The flip side gives you the more standard Shirelles type sound with "When The Boys Talk About The Girls" - which in the US was the single's A Side.  It's an interesting thing that I've come across collecting Soul stuff over the years, in that the UK issue will more than often favour the more uptempo sides over the US preference for the ballady tune as the lead side for the single.  This one's good, but for me nowhere as excellent as the A Side - so top marks for the people at Pye who favoured "Shades Of Blue" as the A side for the UK market!