V/A - "Til Things Are Brighter...A Tribute To Johnny Cash" (1988)

This is an early tribute album before the glut of them. I remember I had this around the time of "The Bridge", the Neil Young tribute and that NME Sgt. Pepper one. I thought it was a cool concept til it got done to death. Not to mention tributes to people who really didn't deserve one...
But no-one's gonna argue with a Johnny Cash tribute. Especially one as good as this. Put together by John Langford of the Mekons (who also did the fine cover painting). While many of the names may not jump out at you as instantly recognisable, you may know them from their bands: Steve Mack from That Petrol Emotion, Stephen Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaire, David McComb from Triffids, Marc Riley of The Fall and Creepers... Anyway, in the iTunes comments I've listed them all and where from.
Oh, and this came out before the whole Rick Rubin/Johnny Cash revival. Before the hipsters thought it was "cool". I remember seeing Johnny and Merle Haggard at The Ritz in NYC in '86 and it was all old people and country fans deigning to make the trip into the city for this great bill. A couple of them commenting to me and my friend that they were surprised and happy to see us whippersnappers getting into Johnny and Merle. I commented back that hey I grew up on this stuff (as well as a lot of crap but good stuff is good stuff and will always shine through if you're not an idiot).
Then a few short years later that same NYC audience at the new Ritz (the old Studio 54) now had plenty of spiky green mohawk'd crusties in the audience. And good thing, too.
But I digress. Back to the record (I don't know if it's ever been on CD or not):
I think it's basically the Mekons backing everyone up, and they do their own real nice version of Folsom Prison Blues.
Get it HERE.

Tracks:
01. One Piece At A Time (Michelle Shocked)
02. I Walk The Line (Stephen Mallinder)
03. Rosanna's Goin' Wild (Steve Mack)
04. Cry, Cry, Cry (Sally Timms)
05. Country Boy (David McComb)
06. Wanted Man (Marc Riley)
07. Straight 'A's In Love (Peter Shelley)
08. Ring Of Fire (Cathal Coughlan)
09. Five Feet High And Risin' (Tracey and Melissa Beehive)
10. Home Of The Blues (Brendan Croker)
11. Boy Named Sue (Mary Mary)
12. Folsom Prison Blues (Mekons)
13. Man In Black (Marc Almond)

The Original Sins - "Just 14" b/w "Sugar Sugar" (1986)

I used to see these guys open for lotsa bands at Trenton City Gardens, etc. I think they were from the Allentown/Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) area. Good basic garagey rock, nothing extraordinary. But this single is, just cos it's so wrong. The music's a straight-up unabashed Lust for Life rip-off, but the lyrics...I don't think you could get away with it so easily today. Not without ending up on some scary database. So I won't quote them. But download and enjoy. Cos it is a great single, even the Archies' cover flip-side. Which kinda sorta fits in with the theme.
Incidentally, for years I only had this on a cassette that a friend made me that had gone all wobbly from being in the car. So not too long ago I set out on an internet search to find a copy, and when I finally did I had to send away to Italy for it! For 3 Euros! And the guy gave me an even exchange rate which was very nice.

REUPPED 2/20/11 on Mediafire, HERE.

Tracks:
01. Just 14
02. Sugar Sugar

M.A. Numminen - "In English" (1974)

Here's an album by Finnish avant-legend M.A. Numminen in, as the title makes clear, English. If this is a good thing I do not know. To say M.A. is an acquired taste is an understatement. But the first song, American Patrol is loopy fun (and I've even included the loopier Swedish version from the Swedish version of this album. I got that single track off WFMU's great blog ages ago). And it's not even all in English, with one track apparently in German.
Anyway, thought I'd put this up as a companion to the Arctic Hysteria comps and be done with it.
Get it HERE.

Tracks:
01. American Patrol
02. I'm In The Mood For Love
03. Society Rock
04. What The Young Husband Must Remember
05. I Saw Miss Helen In Bath
06. Da-Ga Da-Ga
07. La Donna E Mobile
08. Little Broen Jug
09. When You Wish Upon A Star
10. An Die Musik (To Music)
11. I Sat With My Woman Outside The High House Of Ministry
12. All Of Me
13. I Want To Be Free
14. Wovon Man Nicht Sprechen Kann
15. What Is?

V/A - "More Arctic Hysteria/Son Of Arctic Hysteria" (2005 Love Records comp)

Here's the second part of the "Arctic Hysteria" post. Actually second and third as this is a 2-disc two-in-one sequel. Lots and lots more Finnish weirdness! I neglected in my last post to mention that this is an overview of early Finnish avant garde. Indeed, it is amazing to me that a lot of this stuff was recorded around the same time The Beatles were whining "She loves you yeah yeah yeah", haha. Many on these three discs are legends in certain circles, M.A. Numminen, Erkki Kurenniemi (who invented his own electronic instruments in the early 60's) and The Sperm, to name a few. And god bless the legendary (and sadly defunct) Love Records (also home to prog titans Wigwam) for supporting this music!
Get Disc One, "More Arctic Hysteria", 1964-1982, HERE.
Tracks:
01. Olen väsynyt (Pekka Streng)
02. Kahella sarvella (Karelia)
03. Kiven poiminta (Samsa Trio)
04. Democracy (Omar Williams Experience)
05. Ritual (Osmo Lindeman)
06. Electrocomposition I (Jarmo Sermilä)
07. Kaukonen ennen vanhaan (Åke Andersson)
08. A (Gandhi–Freud)
09. Bhupala I (Jone Takamäki Trio)
10. Y – part V (Lauri Nykopp)
11. Maailman reuna (Edward Vesala)
12. Virkamiehet (Matti & Pirjo Bergström)
13. Kahlaaja ('Wader') – excerpt (Ilkka Volanen)
14. W (Kaj Chydenius)
15. Oigu-S (M.A. Numminen)

Get Disc 2, "Son Of Arctic Hysteria", 1978-1990, HERE.
Tracks:
01. Tähtien rauha (Kollaa Kestää)
02. Rakkaudella sinulle (Aavikon Kone Ja Moottori)
03. Puinen koira (Kari Peitsamo)
04. Apatian tanssi (Yhte)
05. Do You Wanna Dance (Silver)
06. Schrecklich (Hefty Load)
07. Alkuasukkaiden lääkkeet (Vaaralliset Lelut)
08. Musiikki ja urheilu (Jaakko Kangosjärvi)
09. I Love It (Tapa Paha Tapa)
10. Baggage Claim (Swissair)
11. Lippukunta (Harri Tuominen)
12. Mihin sie meet Keijo (Suomen Poliisit)
13. Kalinka (Kansanturvamusiikikomissio)
14. Empty Faces (Joan Bennett Museo)
15. Pallokentällä (500 Kg Lihaa)
16. Olet valloissasi (Super Ladex)
17. Gagarin-Kombinaatti (Raskas)
18. Le Petomane (380v) (Jimi Tenor & His Shamans)
19. Snorkkelijenkka (Reinin Myrkky)

"Mt. Doom", Tongariro National Park, North Island, NZ (Somehow this snuck into my rearview mirror and gave me a bit of a start...)

V/A - "Arktinen Hysteria: Suomi-avantgarden esipuutarhureita" (2001 Love Records comp)

So I'm driving around the Fiordland region of the South Island (NZ for non-followers) and I'm amazed at how, at first it's very Alpine (the Southern Alps are a bit to the north) but then, true to it's name, it's very Nordic. At least to me. So before I set out to Milford Sound this morning I loaded this up in the iPod. Buncha crazy Finnish weirdness, somehow appropriate. The weather's been great after enduring a drenching antipodean winter, and the crowds haven't started yet with their "campas" that they can't drive and probably half the time on the wrong side of the road...so I've been really enjoying the time out of the city. New Zealand is very beautiful!

I got this from an online shop in Finland, along with the double-CD sequel which will follow real soon.
I figure it's been a long time since I posted any Finnish stuff and my friends over at Progressive Globe blog must be getting antsy, haha, so here ya go!
A Google search only turns up a bunch of hits for an art exhibit exhibit called "Arctic Hysteria" at P.S.1 in N.Y.C. (L.I.C., actually) which pissed me off that I can't go see it but oh well. Can't do everything. Oh, and it's also a Residents song title so I guess this was all ripped-off them!
Get it HERE.

Tracks:
01. Eleitä kolmelle röyhtäilijälle (M.A. Numminen, Tommi Parko, Pekka Kujanpää)
02. Kaukana väijyy ystäviä (Sähkökvartetti)
03. Hysteriablues (Tommi Parko)
04. Information Explosion, Prologue (Salmenhaara Erkki)
05. Shivers of Pleasure (Blues Section)
06. Antropoidien tanssi (Erkki Kurenniemi)
07. Mikä aika on (Jukka Ruohomäki)
08. Vallankumouksen analyysi (Jouni Kesti & Seppo I. Laine)
09. 3rd Erection (Sperm)
10. 1962 (J.O. Mallander)
11. Kuoleman puutarha live (otteita) (Sperm)
12. Pieni sienikonsertto - A Little Soup for Piano and Orchestra op 46,8 (Pekka Airaksinen)
13. Spirea (S. Albert Kivinen)
Milford Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand, September 19, 2008

V/A - "Get A Haircut - 31 of the Best New Zealand Rock'n'Rollers Ever!" (2004 comp)

I'm sitting in a camper-van park halfway to Christchurch, the ocean behind me, the craggy beauty of the Southern Alps before me. Last night was a beautiful full moon on the serene ocean...

Here's a different concept in compilations: all-out Kiwi rockers from 1958 to 2001, chronologically arranged. While there would certainly be a much different track list had I compiled it, I didn't and this is what we got. Still, remarkably consistent. Plus there's not one but TWO songs with motherfucker in the title. How rock 'n' roll can you get?!
Nevermind that 11-year gap when Kiwis apparently weren't rawking at all...I guess they were noodling around proggily with the rest of the rock world (except AC/DC, of course).
Amazon says it's discontinued with none used for sale, though there's a Buy It Now on eBay at a fair price right now...
Or just get it HERE.

01. Johnny Devlin And The Devils – Nervous Wreck (1958)
02. Clyde Scott And The Zanyopolis – Gravedigger Rock (1959)
03. Max Merrit And The Meteors – Get A Haircut (1959)
04. Peter Lewis And The Trisonic – Four City Rock (1960)
05. Glyn Tucker with Ian Lowe And The Tornadoes – I’m In Love (1960)
06. La De Das – Little Girl (1965)
07. Chants R&B; – I Want Her (1966)
08. The Bluestars – Social End Product (1966)
09. The Smoke – No More Now (1967)
10. Ray Columbus and The Art Collection – Kick Me (1967)
11. The Scavengers – Mysterex (1978)
12. The Enemy – Pull Down The Shades (1978)
13. Proud Scum – I Am A Rabbit (1979)
14. The Terrorways – Short Haired Rock And Roll (1979)
15. Toy Love – Sheep (1980)
16. The Spelling Mistakes – Feels So Good (1980)
17. The Androidss – Auckland Tonite (1981)
18. The Dum Dum Boys – Let There Be Noise (1981)
19. Bored Games – Bridesmaid Again (1982)
20. The Henchmen – Bitch Goddess (1983)
21. Flesh D-Vice – Flaming Soul (1985)
22. The Warners – Night Of The Iguana (1988)
23. Sticky Filth – Maybe A Lover (1988)
24. The Axel Grinders – Don’t Hurry Be Happy (1990)
25. SMAK – Aunt Sally (1991)
26. The Rainy Days – Uh Huh (1995)
27. Nothing At All! – Busted (1995)
28. Shaft – Playing With Our Selves (1996)
29. The Rock And Roll Machine – Rock And Roll Disease (2000)
30. The D4 – Rock And Roll Motherfucker (2001)
31. The Datsuns – Motherfucker From Hell (2001)

Cardinal - "Cardinal" (1994/2005 Wonderland reissue)

I could discern two kinds of Cardinal fans—the ones who hear what’s on the surface and think they’ve got it, and then there’s the ones who keep listening and start to discover the mystery of it, and I think they’re more rewarded. The fans who are a little mystified are our equals, because we don’t quite know how we did it either.
—Richard Davies

Cardinal was a one-off project of The Moles' Richard Davies and Eric Matthews. Davies wrote most of the songs, Matthews took care of the lush orchestral arrangements. The album is a classic and early example of the chamber pop / orchestral pop genre. Originally released in 1994 on the now-defuct label Flydaddy, this is from a 2005 reissue by UK's Wonderland and includes 11 bonus tracks in addition to the original album's 10. It was released in a numbered limited edition of 500.
Get it HERE

Tracks:
01. If You Believe in Christmas Trees
02. Last Poems
03. Big Mink
04. You've Lost Me There
05. Public Melody #1
06. Dream Figure
07. Tough Guy Tactics
08. Angel Darling
09. Singing to the Sunshine
10. Silver Machines
11. Forest Theme
12. If You Believe in Christmas Trees (Demo)
13. Willow Willow
14. You've Lost Me There (Demo)
15. Out-Take
16. Tribute to a Crow
17. Tough Guy Tactics (Demo)
18. Say the Words Impossible (Demo)
19. Poolside '75
20. Sweatshirt Gown
21. Say the Words Impossible

The Moles - "Untune the Sky" (1991/1999 Flydaddy Reissue) & "Instinct" (1994)

This is a great, sadly neglected Australian psychedelic pop album. Seemingly influenced equally by Velvet Underground and Brian Wilson (note: the bonus track Surf's Up is not the Beach Boys song), The Moles on this album take you on a trip that is pure pop bliss. From the opening track, Bury Me Happy, which would have been a massive hit in a just universe, to the album's harrowing closer (well, for such blissful pop anyway) Nailing Jesus to the Cross and all that lies in between, we are treated to probably the best unknown album of 1991.
Tacked on to the end are a couple tracks from their Aussie-only 12" of Tendrils and Paracetamol and the complete "What's the New Mary Jane" EP, the title track being a staple of The Flaming Lips' mid-90's live set which is, incidentally, how I was turned on to this band. Wayne Coyne often prefaced the song with the tale of how they heard it between sets at a club somewhere and inquired as to who the hell that was you just played and their subsequent search for the then (and once again) hard-to-find Moles records.
Get it HERE.

Tracks:
01. Bury Me Happy
02. Tendrils and Paracetamol
03. This is a Happy Garden
04. Breathe Me In
05. Lonely Hearts Get What They Deserve
06. The Crown Souls
07. Rebecca
08. Europe by Car
09. Curdle
10. Wires
11. Nailing Jesus to the Cross
12. Accidental Saint
13. Rich Man [original mix]
14. Surf's Up
15. What's the New Mary Jane
16. Going Down
17. Saint Jack
18. Let's Hook Up and Get Some


This second (and last) full Moles LP, from '94, is basically a solo album of bandleader Richard Davies, the band apparently having broken up after the EP. This is a natural progression from the psych-pop of the first LP to the nascent chamber pop which Mr. Davies had a big hand in starting. He also released the genre's acknowledged masterpiece, "Cardinal", as Cardinal with Eric Matthews. But I prefer this one. It's short, sharp and sweet. It's perfect.
Get it HERE.

Tracks:
01. Minor Royal March
02. Eros Lunch (1963)
03. Already In Black
04. Instinct
05. Cars for King's Cross
06. Cassie Peak
07. Raymond, Did You See the Red Queen
08. Treble Metal
09. Crasher

This album also features The Moles' fiercest rocker, Already In Black, which you can see below in a video from '95 I shot of Mr. Davies backed up by the aforementioned Flaming Lips at a CMJ show at Brownies in NYC.
Check out this video: Already In Black (Richard Davies w/ Flaming Lips

Mo-Dettes - "Paint It, Black b/w Bitta Truth" + flexi (1979)

This is one of my favorite singles, a great Stones cover by London band Mo-Dettes. Mo-Dettes had a sort-lived career, releasing a handful of singles and one LP, "The Story So Far". Of those, the White Mice single, their debut, is awesome as well and I'll try to get that posted soon.
What I like best about this single, besides the spare production, is the French-Swiss singer's charming accent. Simple as that, folks! I've had this since it came out and can listen to this anytime, anywhere and often still do.
Also included is a flexi that came free with the single.
Right HERE.

Tracks:
01. Paint It, Black
02. Bitta Truth
03. Twist and Shout (flexi)

The Mekons - "The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen" (1979)

The debut album by one of my all-time favorite bands. The title derives from the "Infinite Monkey Theorem" which holds that an infinite number of monkeys typing on an infinite number of typewriters would eventually produce Shakespeare (the title is from "The Merchant of Venice" and the monkey has misspelled strained). There are many references to this in popular culture, my favorite being on "The Simpsons": Monty Burns has a roomful of monkeys at typewriters and he chastises one for typing "It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times?! You stupid monkey!"
Anyway, back to the LP! The Mekons originated in Leeds, England, also the home of Gang of Four. And not coincidentally, this has much in common sonically with early Gang. In fact, the back cover has a photo of the Virgin labelmates instead of the Mekons, kinda like Stiff putting a photo of Eddie and the Hot Rods on the back of the first copies of The Damned's debut LP. I imagine they came up with the basic sound organically, together, being friends and all.
The bonus tracks at the end are from a 1980 double 7" and finds them developing a more PiL-ish dubby sound. The Mekons moved all over the post-punk map before settling on the post-Gram Parsons honky-tonking for which they became famous, single-handedly inventing alt.country. For good or ill depending on your point of view. I love the band and basically feel they can do no wrong. They are one of the most entertaining live bands I have ever seen. I have in fact shared the stage with them as a rabid fan not once but twice - at NYC's Central Park in '91 when roadie Mitch pulled several of us up onstage to dance (this after passing me a pitcher of ice cold beer - it was crowded and hot as fuck) and at DC's 9:30 Club in '94 where I joined them for the shouted chorus of "Rock And Roll!" on Memphis, Egypt and even a verse after Tom gave me the nod to take it! There ya go, my rockstar moment-in-the-sun!
Anyway, this is outta print, on sale used on Amazon for an obscene sum, blah blah.

UPDATE 8/31/09: Reupped! Mediafire:
Get it HERE!

Tracks:
01. Like Spoons No More
02. Join Us in the Countryside
03. Rosanne
04. Trevira Trousers
05. After 6
06. What Are We Going to Do Tonight
07. What
08. Watch the Film
09. Beetroot
10. I Saw You Dance
11. Lonely and Wet
12. Dan Dare
13. Teeth
14. Guardian
15. Kill
16. Stay Cool
17. Work All Week
18. Unknown Wrecks

Tracks 1-11 from the original 1979 LP, Tracks 12-16 from 1980 double 7", Tracks 17-18 from 1979 single. All tracks from the out-of-print Virgin (UK) CD reissue.

Neil Pye (Nigel Planer) - "Neil's Heavy Concept Album" (1984) & Bad News - "Bad News" (1987)

Here's a nice double post of "Young Ones" (the British TV comedy series) related albums. First up is "Neil's Heavy Concept Album" by Nigel Planer's hippy character Neil Pye. It's got covers of Sixties stuff by Pink Floyd, Traffic (Hole In My Shoe was a UK hit), Donovan, etc. as well as originals and lotsa Neil's funny/inane spoken bits. A hard-to-find one for hardcore Young Ones/Neil fans (like me).
Get it HERE
Tracks:
01. Hello Vegetables
02. Hole In My Shoe
03. Heavy Potato Encounter
04. My White Bicycle
05. Neil The Barbarian
06. Lentil Nightmare
07. Computer Alarm
08. Wayne
09. The Gnome
10. Cosmic Jam
11. Golf Girl
12. Bad Karma in the UK
13. Our Tune
14. Ken
15. The End of the World Cabaret
16. No Future (God Save The Queen)
17. Floating
18. Hurdy Gurdy Man
19. Paranoid Remix
20. The Amoeba Song
21. Brown Sugar
22. Cassette Jam
23. Go Away

Next up is a lesser-known project of most of the Young Ones (minus Mike): Bad News. This was a Spinal Tap-ish metal spoof band done for a British TV series, and actually pre-dates the Tap by a year (1983, though this Brian May-produced LP came out in '87). I was turned on to this only a year or so ago by downloading the totally awesome track Warriors of Ghengis Khan (with the chorus "Burning, looting, raping and shooting!") from the totally awesome WFMU blog (link on the right).
Get it HERE.
Tracks:
01. Bad Dreams Rehearsal
02. A.G.M.
03. Introducing The Band
04. Bad News
05. Hey Mr. Bassman
06. Hey Mr. Drummer
07. Masturbike
08. Trousers
09. Drink Till I Die
10. Vim Is Angry
11. Warriors Of Ghengis Khan
12. Excaliber
13. Bohemian Rhapsody
14. Double Entendre
15. Cashing In On Christmas
16. Life with Brian
17. Pretty Woman (with Brian May) (bonus track)

Z-Rock Hawaii - "Z-Rock Hawaii" (1996)

If you hurry over to Amazon right now you can pick up a brand new copy of this great Ween/Boredoms collaboration for a mere $299.98! Don't dilly-dally, though cos once that's gone there are only two used ones left for $499.99--"DISC AND COVER ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION! First Class shipping!" You better send that shit first class, motherfucker! Christ...
Or just fuck those deluded, greedy bastards and download from The Pessimist Club!

Not much to say about this. I mean it's Ween. It's Boredoms. Together. Loud burping rudeness as well as Eye incoherently screaming over pretty melodies. A song titled Love Like Cement. Can't you just wait?

It's right HERE, right now. And don't forget to leave me $99.00 or so via my PayPal Donate button on the NZ Psych comp post. I mean, I'm not greedy...

Tracks:
01. Chuggin'
02. Bad to the Bone
03. In the Garden
04. Love Like Cement
05. Tuchus
06. Piledriver
07. I Get a Little Taste of You
08. God in My Bed
09. Meadow
10. Sunset Over Osaka

V/A - "Verschwende Deine Jugend - Punk und New Wave in Deutschland (1977-83)" (2001 comp)

I don't know much about this great comp and what I can find about it on the web is in German and I don't speak German...
I do know that this is a 2 CD set that came with a book on German punk/new wave of the same title by Jürgen Teipel. I know that the title translates to "Waste Your Youth" and is from a DAF song which is included. There is also a film of the same name which apparently has nothing to do with this book/CD. It's got the greats like Einstũrzende Neubauten and Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft, and other greats I've discovered via this comp like Mittagspause and Abwärts. In fact the whole comp is awesome and a good entry point to the Neue Deutsche Welle and once you're hooked you can then go find tons of cool stuff on other blogs. Like I did. Mutant Sounds is a good starting point (link is on the right).
My German friend in Tucson, Jörg (nom de radio The Jorgenator) burned this for me years ago and it has brought me much listening pleasure.
Disc 1 is HERE, Disc 2 HERE.
So get your Sprockets on and DANCE. And touch the monkey!

Tracks:
Disc 1:
01.Testbild (Mittagspause)
02. Innenstadtfront (Mittagspause)
03. Risikofaktor 1:X (Male)
04. Zensur, Zensur (Male)
05. Zurück Zum Beton (S.Y.P.H.)
06. Industriemädchen (S.Y.P.H.)
07. Lachleute & Nettmenschen (S.Y.P.H.)
08. Eisenleer (Depressiv) (Neonbabies)
09. Blaue Augen (Neonbabies)
10. Man of Stone (Hans-a-plast)
11. Stumpf Ist Trumpf (Der KFC)
12. Herrenreiter (Mittagspause)
13. Abenteuer & Freiheit (Fehlfarben)
14. Sei Lieb (Östro 430)
15. So Froh (Ede und Die Zimmermänner)
16. Wir Werden Immer Mehr (Der Plan)
17. Ich und Die Wirklichkei (Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft)
18. Kebapträume (Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft)
19. Ich Liebe Metall (The Wirtschaftswunder)
20. It Always Rains In Wuppertal (Pyrolator)
21. Waschsalon Berlin (Frieder Butzmann)
22. Herzschlag (Mania D)
23. Zuckendes Fleisch (Einstũrzende Neubauten)
24. Computerstaat (Abwärts)
25. Wir Kriegen Sie Alle (Horst Herold)

Disc 2:
01. Da Vorne Steht 'Ne Ampel (Der Plan)
02. Sehnsucht Nach Dem Osten (Andreas Dorau)
03. Der Kommissar (The Wirtschaftswunder)
04. Angriff Auf's Schlaraffenland (Die Radierer)
05. Apokalypse (Ernstfall) (Fehlfarben)
06. Gott Sei Dank Nicht in England (Fehlfarben)
07. Wie Lange Noch (Der KFC)
08. Dosenbier (ZK)
09. In Der Ecke Stehen (ZK)
10. Was Kostet Die Welt (Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle)
11. Telephon (Palais Schaumburg)
12. Tulpen und Narzissen (Andreas Dorau & Die Marinas)
13. Fred Vom Jupiter (Andreas Dorau & Die Marinas)
14. Wahre Arbeit, Wahrer Loh (Die Krupps)
15. Wir Bauen Eine Neue Stadt (Palais Schaumburg)
16. Kalte Sterne (Einstũrzende Neubauten)
17. Sieben Tödliche Unfälle Im Haushalt (Die Tödliche Doris)
18. Your Turn to Run (Malaria!)
19. Ich Will Gewinnen (Tommi Stumpff)
20. 180° (Pyrolator)
21. Etre Assis Ou Danser (Liaisons Dangereuses)
22. Verschwende Deine Jugend (Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft)
23. Happy New Wave (Xao Seffcheque)
24. Jürgen Engler Gibt 'Ne Party (Die Toten Hosen)

"To Sir, With Love" (1967 Original Soundtrack)

This is one of my favorite soundtracks and not coincidentally one of my favorite films. I've had the film on VHS, it was one of the first DVDs I ever bought and I've had a scratchy old vinyl of the soundtrack since I was a kid. But don't worry, this is from the out-of-print CD release.
The film is a total classic and is basically a remake of "Blackboard Jungle" with Sidney Poitier's graduating from the juvenile delinquent character in that film from about 10 years prior to the teacher character in this one. Except in this one he's a Trinidadian and the setting is moved from the States to London in its mod Carnaby Street heyday, allowing lotsa great fashion watching and even a lesson from the kids in Cockney!
This soundtrack has 3, count 'em!, versions of the massive hit theme song by Lulu. None of them are the super-slick single version, these having a rawer, rougher production that accentuates the thwacking drums and that great bass line. The second (Track 6) version is my favorite. It's also got one of my all-time favorite song titles: Thackeray Loses Temper, Gets an Idea. I know I get my best inspirations in moments of rage, don't you?
It's also got some seriously great psych courtesy of The Mindbenders, particularly Track 2 with Lulu belting the shit out!
The rest of the LP is incidental music all based on the song's melody. Basically it's all over the film, prompting a friend of mine to remark while viewing the DVD at my house, "Man, I am getting real sick of that song", to which I replied "At least it's a good one", which prompted a strange look back...
A must-have, get it HERE.

Tracks:
01. To Sir, With Love (Lulu)
02. School Break Dancing "Stealing My Love from Me" (Lulu with The Mindbenders)
03. Thackeray Meets Faculty, Then Alone
04. Music from Lunch Break "Off and Running" (The Mindbenders)
05. Thackeray Loses Temper, Gets an Idea
06. Museum Outings Montage "To Sir, With Love" (Lulu)
07. Classical Lesson
08. Perhaps I Could Tidy Your Desk
09. Potter's Loss of Temper in Gym
10. Thackeary Reads Letter About Job
11. Thackeray and Denham Box in Gym
12. Funeral
13. End of Term Dance "It's Getting Harder All the Time" (The Mindbenders)
14. To Sir, With Love (Lulu)

A Couple Early(ish) Ween Shows (1991/1992)

The first time I saw Ween it was all the way back in 1985, about five years before their debut LP, "GodWeenSatan - The Oneness". It was at City Gardens in Trenton which looking back had an embarrassment of riches show-wise, back then. We would go several times a week and I won't get into all the bands that would play there as I think I did in a previous (Johnny Thunders) post. They were on the bottom of a bill headlined by Butthole Surfers. In between were Malcolm Tent and the awesome Cleft Palate. As my acid-addled memory of that night reveals (we usually did acid for the Buttholes, wisely or not) still as clear as yesterday, they were completely wild and blew me away. They must have been about 14. Deaner on guitar, Gener screeching screaming and squirming and some pal of theirs on backing tapes, lying on the drum riser with a microphone held up to the cheap cassette player, stopping starting and RW/FF'ing. Quite a site. And let me assure you their future greatness was evident, clear as day, and I told them as much.
They were local kids often seen at shows there, and after that show I remember heading to see The Cramps in my friend Tim's (R.I.P., buddy) school bus and stopping for gas on the way at the Mobil in New Hope. The bus was full of us miscreants at various stages of being extremely fucked-up on any number of substances and I can't recall which drug(s) I was on but I remember there was a keg in there and it was very smoky and Tim pops his head in the door while fueling and goes "Pete! Ween! Ween!". I hopped out to find Mickey filling the bus and telling us to please believe him The Cramps have cancelled (you can hear his tale of working at the Mobil on the excellent Working 4 the Man on Ween's 1992 "Pure Guava" LP). Of course we didn't/couldn't/wouldn't believe him and headed to the show anyway. Of course he was right and I don't remember what else happened that night cos well, you know...
Mickey still talks about this night when I run into him usually at shows these days.
Another slightly less outrageous but sublime tale is years later Tim (R.I.P., buddy) and I were at a later Buttholes show at the Troc in Philly. Tim had by then become pals with the Buttholes and we hadn't paid for a show in ages. We were hanging out with the band backstage, just Tim, me and the band. After a while someone else walked in; it was Mickey. We kinda looked up and said "Hey, Mick" and went back to our conversations and doing lines or whatever. Paul was a bit taken aback by our nonchalance and asked us "You guys not into Ween?" at which point Tim opens his jacket to reveal a massive Boognish collage t-shirt I made for him and says "Ween fucking rule, man". Also shows off his home-made Boognish tattoo...

As for these shows, I prefer the '91 Court Tavern show. It's rawer and wilder. The Wetlands show sounds much better, though both are ok. The Wetlands show was a pre-major label debut showcase at CMJ.
Court Tav is HERE,
Wetlands HERE.
Both highly recommended.

Tracks:
Court Tav:
01. The Wind
02. Bumblebee
03. Seconds
04. Cover It With Gas and Set It On Fire
05. Sketches of Winkle
06. Marble Tulip Juicy Tree
07. Tick
08. Weed Whore
09. Papa Zit
10. Boing
11. Fat Lenny
12. Cold and Wet
13. You Fucked Up
14. Tastes
15. Pork Roll Egg and Cheese (partial)

Wetlands:
01. Fat Lenny
02. Don't Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy)
03. Puerto Rican Power
04. Cover It With Gas and Set It On Fire
05. Big Jilm
06. Sweet Texas Fire
07. The Goin' Gets Tough From the Getgo
08. Marble Tulip Juicy Tree
09. You Fucked Up
10. LMLYP
11. Freedom of '76
12. Pork Roll Egg and Cheese
13. Tick
14. Demon Sweat
15. Captain Fantasy

V/A - "Those Were Different Times: Cleveland 1972-1976" (1997 Scat)

A cursory web search reveals this great comp as "discontinued by the manufacturer", and nary a one for sale at even inflated prices on Amazon. So get it here now, folks!
This collection features three essential though lesser known (than Pere Ubu and Dead Boys/Rocket from the Tomb, anyway) Cleveland bands that spanned the post-psychedelic / pre-punk era of rawk. The apparently Velvets obsessed Mirrors, the proto-punk of the Electric Eels and the proto-New Wave of the Styrenes. Though all these tracks are raw, they are bristling with life. I can only imagine that these bands suffered in obscurity even in their hometown at the time, all going to each others shows and playing in each others bands. The Eels are the only ones I had heard before I got this (there's plenty on the web by them as they are legends), but I like all the bands here. An awesome CD if you can find it, those screws in the pic actually hold a book together with the CD.
At the time anyway all these tracks were exclusive to this release.

Get it HERE.

Tracks:
01. Annie (The Mirrors)
02. How Could I (The Mirrors)
03. You Me Love (The Mirrors)
04. Living Without You (The Mirrors)
05. Beaver Girls (The Mirrors)
06. Frustration (The Mirrors)
07. Hands In My Pockets (The Mirrors)
08. Sweet Refrain (The Mirrors)
09. I'm Going To Wyoming (The Mirrors)
10. We'll See (The Mirrors)
11. Safety Week (The Electric Eels)
12. Wreck & Roll (The Electric Eels)
13. Splitterty Splat (The Electric Eels)
14. Stucco (The Electric Eels)
15. Circus Highlights (The Men From UNCLE [Electric Eels])
16. Now (The Electric Eels)
17. You Crummy Fags (The Electric Eels)
18. Mustard (John Morton & Paul Marotta)
19. The Big "O" (Dave E. McManus)
20. No Nonsense (The Electric Eels)
21. Spinach Blasters (The Electric Eels)
22. Flapping Jets (The Electric Eels)
23. Thirtyfour (Styrenes)
24. Draw The Curtain (Styrenes)
25. Mr. Crab (Styrenes)
26. You're Trash (Styrenes)
27. Pleasure Boating (Styrenes)
28. Grey Haired Rats (Styrenes)
29. Nineteen Sixtyseven (Styrenes)

Killdozer - "For Ladies Only" (Links deleted; sorry)

Killdozer were the Kings of the Awesome Cover Version. Period.
Each album had at least one classic that Killdozer stomped and ground into the dirt in supreme fashion. Therefore it was only natural that they would do a whole wonderful album of them. This originally came out as a box set of five 7" singles in 1989, then was released on CD and picture disc (with a far sexier pic) LP in 1990.
For some reason, probably bullshit publishing reasons, their cover of Buffalo Springfield/Neil Young's Mr. Soul was not included in the reissue.
I searched the web for it since I only have the CeeDee, to no avail. I suppose it's available on SoulSeek, but I grew impatient. I did however find several other covers, and along with covers from my Killdozer CeeDee collection, I assembled an "addendum" of bonus tracks that I call (very cleverly) "Bone-Us Covers" geddit? So in addition to the original 8 there's 14 more! Note that these will come up in iTunes as their own album with their own art, not scattered around. So if you have one or three Killdozer albums on there, they won't get mixed up. To find where they came from originally highlight the track and click "info" (apple>i on a Mac sorry but I don't know squat about PCs nor do I care to). I put the info in the "comments" section, and the original artist in the "composer" section, even though they may not be the, ah, composer (Like Hush, a hit for Deep Purple but written by country singer Joe South).

Note:
I've tried re-upping several times, but links are continually deleted. I am beginning to suspect this is the Touch and Go Internet Police. They are, of course an awesome label deserving mad respect (if you haven't read "Our Band Could Be Your Life", do so!), and I was recently saddened to read they are going out of business! Where would us noise rock fans be without them!
Anyway, I have run into this with other blogs posting T&G; stuff. So I will not re-up again. It gets tedious anyway.
You can find the Bone-Us stuff that is not T&G; (tracks 3, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14 on other blogs. [Disco Inferno is from the Killdozer Tribute "We Will Bury You", which is pretty easy to find]).

Tracks:
For Ladies Only:
01. Hush (Deep Purple)
02. Good Lovin' Gone Bad (Bad Company)
03. Burnin' Love (Elvis Presley)
04. You've Never Been This Far Before (Conway Twitty)
05. One Tin Soldier - The Legend of Billy Jack (Coven)
06. Take the Money and Run (Steve Miller Band)
07. American Pie (Don McLean)
08. Funk #49 (James Gang)

Bone-Us Covers:
01. I'm Not Lisa (Jesse Colter)
02. I Am, I Said (Neil Diamond)
03. Conquistador (Procol Harum)
04. Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young)
05. Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
06. Run Through the Jungle (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
07. Hot N' Nasty (Black Oak Arkansas)
08. I Saw the Light (Hank Williams)
09. Unbelievable (EMF)
10. Nasty (Janet Jackson)
11. Let Me Put My Love Into You (AC/DC)
12. When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin)
13. Aquarius/Let the Sun Sine In (from the Broadway musical "Hair")
14. Disco Inferno (Trammps)

The first time I saw Killdozer, '88 or '89 at Khyber Pass in Philly, they did American Pie, and in the middle of the song Michael Gerald leans over the audience and drops a big stringy loogie over some girl's head then sucks it back up at the last second! (Better than what happened to my friend Jesse at a Cows show: the bassist hocked a big loogie right onto his cheek). The next time I saw them, also at Khyber, '94, they opened with Unbelievable. The mic stand was set like eight feet high with a step ladder to it so Micheal would step on and off to sing his lines! Even then it was high, so he had to do the Lemmy-thing where you crane your throat up (and open) to it. F-ing hilarious! The last time I saw them, at Coney Island High in NYC on their "Fuck You, We Quit!" farewell tour, they did Levee, Sweet Home Alabama AND Cinnamon Girl! I videotaped that for my public access show (TV KiLL, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Sundays 5pm, 1995-2000) and here's a taste:Check out this video: Cinnamon Girl (Killdozer)


Sorry it's a crappy Myspace link, but like I said in my Ruin post, the corporate pricks at Youtube deleted my "channel" for terms violation thanks to NBC crybabies...
(More vids I shot on my profile page! Or just click on something at the end of this vid...like the awesome Jesus Lizard New Years '97 show at CBGB!)