Posted on Ephemera

In Heavy Rotation: Yachts – Love You, Love You – Radarscope

I Love You
I Love You, Love You, Love You, Love You, Love You, Love You!

Yachts – Love You, Love You

I don’t normally throw up older music in this category, but this is a song I’ve been searching for ever since hearing it on the mighty KALX on a trip back to the Bay Area (I was a DJ on KALX for about 4 years in the early part of this decade).  This is now my favorite pop-punk song of all-time, just a great great sound and the lyrics (and delivery) are pure perfection.

I wouldn’t climb any mountains for you,
Fjord every stream, that’s a daft thing to do,
Yes I’m cynical, cynical, cynical, cynical,
cynical, cynical, through and through

As a chorus, that’s bloody brilliant…

Posted on Dig Deep

Dig Deep: Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation – Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation – Blue Thumb (1968)

Dunbarcover

Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation – Memory of Pain
Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation – Watch’n Chain
Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation – Sage of Sidney Street

One of the many many sidemen associated with John Mayall, drummer Aynsley Dunbar fronted a very good band on his own. This self-titled record was their debut full-length, though it’s less well-known than their true debut, a single which includes the original version of “The Warning,” later covered by Black Sabbath. (more…)

Posted on Radio

Breakdown: 9/9/9 on KCRW

{Michael’s Note: For some reason this show never updated, but you do get to the hear the 9/2 show that begins with the full version of Bitches Brew…at least until 9/16 gets uploaded…All Apologies}

 
I probably should have thought of some mystical song to commerorate what a special date this show is on (09/09/09), but I’ve been overwhelmed lately with moving, beginning of the school year, life in general, and so this was an even more spontaneously combusting show than usual. Lots of heavy drums and psychedelic sounds in the early going, falling mostly into rock and funk camps. New music from the Phenomenal Hand Clap Band, The Heavy, The Pastels, Mayer Hawthorne (recently on MBE at KCRW), Kid Congo Powers, Tony Allen, Vivian Girls, and even KCRW’s very own Jeremy Sole’s Musaics! Make sure to make it all the way to the end for perhaps my single favorite pop-punk song of all time, Yachts 1979 classic “Love You, Love You,” which I originally heard on KALX but only recently tracked down. Show’s up for a week until the next one… (more…)

Posted on Ephemera

Gris-Gris: One Month Down…

Been away for a few weeks, sorting out our new digs and preparing for the brand new school year (I teach classes at CSU-Long Beach). I’m back this week with a bunch of posts and even a giveaway! Thought I start things off with some brief remarks on our weekly party, Gris-Gris, which you can catch every Sunday night at La Cita in Downtown Los Angeles.

Me and my co-resident partner in crime, Soul Marcosa (Mescalina / Masala Beat Club) have been slowly building through August and we’re hopeful that this month we’ll start to simmer. So far we’ve had Clifton aka Soft Touch (Funky Sole / Underground / Sonic),

Clifton and Music Man Miles at Gris-Gris
Clifton and Music Man Miles at Gris-Gris
(more…)

Posted on Dig Deep

Dig Deep: Byron Lee & the Dragonaires – Rock Steady ’67 – B.R.A.

Rock Steady!
Rock Steady!

Byron Lee – Rock Steady
Byron Lee – Can You Hear Me?
Byron Lee – Soul Ska

After having two DJs who I respect tremendously, namely O-Dub & Music Man Miles, recently inquire about this record after playing it out on Sundays, I thought it would be a good choice for Dig Deep. Byron Lee was one of the great ambassadors of Carribbean music and his group was one of the first to popularize Ska, Rock Steady and Calypso sounds throughout the world. (more…)

Posted on Ephemera

In Heavy Rotation: Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – Sunday Best

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – Honolulu Rock-A Roll-A

This record has been out for a while, but I only got a chance to hear it during our recent fundraiser at KCRW.  Siblings Kitty, Daisy & Lewis clearly favor 1950s vintage sounds, but have some interesting song choices, including a version of Canned Heat’s “Going Up The Country.” The song I’ve chosen is my favorite from the record, “Honolulu Rock-A Roll-A.”

As an added treat, here’s their recent session on Morning Becomes Eclectic at KCRW. Highly recommended viewing…

Posted on Radio

Breakdown: August 19th on KCRW

Many thanks to all of you who supported the station during our recent fundraiser. We raised a pretty penny for KCRW and have close to 20,000 subscribers to thank for it. Lots of new music this week and more funky tunes than normal. A call from O-Dub of Soul-Sides.com in the first hour may have influenced that, but hopefully you don’t mind. (more…)

Posted on Ephemera

Under Review: V/A – Sensacional Soul Vol. 2 – Vampi Soul

Vampi Soul's latest collection of Soul En Espanol
Vampi Soul's latest collection of Soul En Español

Los Bravos – Rudi’s In Love
Los Kifers – El Sol Es Una Droga
Los Roberts – El Saltamontes

This second volume builds on the deep sounds from vol. 1 and, for my money, exceeds the original volume, a feat fairly rare in the reissue game. Vampi Soul has for years been digging up obscured artists from Spain and Latin America, but they’ve really out done themselves with this series, with extensive notes on each of the artists on the comp and pictures of each of the LPs / 45s. That in itself will be a great help to collectors, crate diggers and DJs who love to play soul sounds from around the world. (more…)

Posted on Ephemera

Gris-Gris At La Cita: Every Sunday!

Gris-Gris A Night of Musical Hoodoo
Gris-Gris A Night of Musical Hoodoo

It’s been a couple weeks since we started doing Gris-Gris at La Cita. Soul Marcosa has now joined me as a co-resident for the night and we have a stellar line-up of guest DJs for the next month or so:

August 16th: Clifton aka Soft Touch (Funky Sole / Underground / Sonic)
August 23rd: Alberto Sol (Soul Syndicate)
August 30th: Mathieu Schreyer aka Mr. French (KCRW / Tuesdays @ Bar Marmont)
September 6th: Music Man Miles (Breakestra / Funky Sole / Root Down)
September 13th: Greg Belson (SoulSide)
September 20th: Renato (Supercuts / Funky Sole)
September 27th: O-dub (Soul-sides.com / Boogaloo[la])

Above is our latest flyer, designed by Soul Marcosa. So far, we remain a hidden gem downtown in Los Angeles, a perfect spot to come and chill on the back patio, kick back at the loooong bar, or groove out on the dance floor.

I hope you’ll join us one of these Sundays and come dance to the best mix of soulful, funky and rockin’ sounds in all the land…

Gris-Gris At La Cita

Posted on Radio

Breakdown: August 12th on KCRW

It’s fundraising week here at KCRW and even though we don’t get phone volunteers or snazzy premiums for the midnight shows, I feel compelled to do my part to raise money for this station. So, I’ve put together a show which features a number of CDs that are available within 4-packs put together by the “stars” of KCRW, including Jason Bentley, Tom Schnabel, Anne Litt, Henry Rollins and Chris Douridas. If you can, please  support KCRW, you can do so online right here. (more…)

Posted on Ephemera

In Heavy Rotation: Johnny Hartman

The Incomprable Johnny Hartman
The Incomparable Johnny Hartman

Johnny Hartman – I’m Glad There Is You

Generally, I like to choose brand new releases or reissues for my Heavy Rotation feature, but today is our 5th wedding anniversary and posting this would be what is most truthful to the concept of “Heavy Rotation.” This record (originally released in 1955 and Hartman’s debut as a leader) has been in heavy rotation for our entire relationship and it’s also been a frequent addition in the soundtrack to our dreams virtually every night. It’s in especially heavy rotation today on our anniversary. This track simply says it all…