Mike Love, Not War
My friend Rachel was a master of mixtapes. Throughout middle and high school, I was forever trying to meet her level (and rarely succeeding). She designed her own covers and tracklists, dubbed television audio and poetry into the mix, and chose music that only years later I would really appreciate. And no matter how much I tried to emulate—mixing in lines from “Howl” and presidential addresses, switching from Brit pop to chamber music and back, pasting together silly collage covers—I never quite got it. One of my favorite tapes is called “Mike Love, Not War,” and on it is the song I always return to when I think of that early excitement of discovering new music: “We Love You” by The Psychedelic Furs. I really should digitize all these special tapes, but for now I’m happy to have this track:
“We Love You (Rachel Mix)” – Click to play
Please forgive the buzzy, warped sound. My Talkboy (jealous? You should be) is very old, and the tape has been through some warm nights and some bumpy rides. What a good song. Everything is wonderful: the pulsing bass, the light drums, the hypnotic and rough guitars, the shrill sax, and Richard Butler’s steady, slightly fey lyrics (“ooobabyloooove”). As I look up from my desk, my only photo is one of Richard Butler sitting on stage, dressed in a trench coat and pearls, shot by Rachel herself in 1999 or 2000 when The Psychedelic Furs came to a small club in Tempe, Arizona. It brings me back.
Nobunny - Love Visions
Artist: Nobunny
Album: Love Visions
Label: Bubbledump
I’ve been holding on this one, waiting to get my hands on the album, but I have as yet been able to find a copy. Sad face. From what I’ve heard so far, this is definitely worth the trouble of tracking down, so that will be my goal this week. Nobunny is a crazy dude who wears a bunny mask and makes songs that should have been played at every party I’ve ever hosted.
Nobunny – I Am a Girlfriend
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First of all, this is a damn catchy song. Second, he quotes Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs. There.
Nobunny – Boneyard
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This sounds a little like The La’s, you know, if they were crazy fey punks from the West Coast.
Love it! And you should, too. Check out Nobunny’s myspace and do your best to find a place to buy this album.
Technorati Tags: The La’s, Nobunny, Silence of the Lambs
Filed under cute, from the archive, new album, party | Comments (3)Dr. Boogie Presents Shim Sham Shimmy
Album: Dr. Boogie Presents Shim Sham Shimmy
Label: Sub Rosa
This here is the third installment of Sub Rosa’s growing collection of rare early-American recordings. This compilation of boogie-woogie, honky-tonk, and blues tracks captures a great spirit and sound, and it is wonderful to hear such soaring voices and such moving rhythms. Get a big room, turn this sucker up as loud as you can, and bring honky-tonking (which is an awesome word) back into your daily life.
Champion Jack Dupree – Shim Sham Shimmy
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This is the title track for a reason. A bouncing, thumping, driving beat makes it nearly impossible to stand still. I find myself two-stepping on the subway, wishing I knew the right steps to the Shim Sham Shimmy.
Morris Pejoe – Screamin ‘n’ Cryin
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The swaying horns, the piercing guitar, and the soulful voice make this a sure hit for me. I want more singing like this: loud and nearly swallowed, the voice sliding from the back of the throat and shooting resonantly into the air.
It is very hard for me not to post this entire album; it is filled with really great tracks. The album is worth tracking down for “I Haven’t Got a Home” by Ramblin Hi Harris and “I’m Off That Stuff” alone. Check out of the label site and buy the album.
Filed under from the archive, new album, retro-novelty, soulful | Comment (0)Jackie DeShannon
Album: Girl Group Sounds
Artist of Focus: Jackie DeShannon
Label: Rhino
My second post promoting Girl Group Sounds! This time I’m focusing on Jackie DeShannon, a singer most known for her mega hits “What the World Needs Now” (blegh) and “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” (blegh). She was, unfortunately, never adequately recognized for some of her earlier, grittier songs.
Jackie DeShannon - “Dream Boy”
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I love this song! Her wonderful raspy voice sounds great over the sputtering guitars. “Or just the way he stands, a smile up on his face, tears me up so bad, it’s so hard not to chase. Dream boy.” This was my subway soundtrack for several months.
Jackie DeShannon - “Should I Cry (alternate take)”
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A more typical, sock-hop jam that is redeemed by DeShannon’s great voice.
DeShannon:
As I said, this is a great compilation really really worth buying.
Filed under from the archive, retro-novelty | Comment (1)From the Vaults: One Kiss Can Lead to Another
To celebrate the weekend (perhaps I’ll do this every Friday/Saturday to herald the weekend), I will be playing selections from the best compilation I’ve purchased this year. I encourage you to research the artists and buy the collection.
Title: Girl Group Sounds
Sub: One Kiss Can Lead to Another
Label: Rhino
Today we have two songs by The Shangri-Las, well know for their song “Leader of the Pack.” They were rough, loud-mouthed girls from Queens who toured with The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, and James Brown. Pretty great stuff.
The Shangri-Las - “Out in the Streets”
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Specializing in teen melodramas, The Shangri-Las covered everything from gangs and rebellion to tragic death and love. The lead singer Mary Weiss (only fifteen when she signed with Red Bird Records) has that rough and sweet voice that makes you immediately sympathize with whatever tragedy she is wailing.
The Shangri-Las - “The Train from Kansas City”
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I miss songs that have recognizable back stories. Simple–it’s true–and a little silly, but this song has that tough sadness I can dig within seconds.
Filed under from the archive, retro-novelty | Comments (4)