You may recall us covering this dirty Spanish band with sharp edges before. They have a new single out called “Casino El Camino”, and it’s a two-parter. Listen up!
Good stuff and available for free download. How many people do you know who love you enough to give you good stuff for free?
An important dispatch from Rick Saunders:
JiM O’NEAL (second from the left in the above photo) – Founder of Living Blues Magazine & Rooster Blues Records Has Cancer and No Insurance. Please Help!
Jim O’Neal, the founder of Living Blues Magazine and the late great Rooster Blues Records has been diagnosed with Lymph cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Like so many in the music industry, and blues in particular, Mr. O’Neal does not have insurance. You can help Mr. O’Neal and his family by sending a donation and helping to spread the word. It’s good karma, baby!
A fund has been set up at Commerce Bank in Kansas City.
Checks may be sent to:
Jim O’Neal Blues Fund
P.O. Box 10334
Kansas City, MO 64171.
You can also donate at www.paypal.com to the account “onealbluesfund@aol.com”.
Of course, musicians being who they are are always quick to help their own and a series of benefit shows are being arranged. If you live near any of these locations please show up for a night of great music for an even greater cause. The good that Jim O’Neal done for blues music and musicians can hardly be repaid. But here is your opportunity to try.
THE JIM O’NEAL BENEFIT CONCERT SERIES
OCT. 20, 2011
SURF CLUB, HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND
With Memphis Gold and others
OCT. 28, 2011
KNUCKLEHEADS, KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
Kenny Neal, Memphis Gold and others
NOV. 19, 2011(date is tentative)
BUDDY GUY’S LEGENDS, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Kenny Neal, Memphis Gold, Eddie Clearwater, Eddie Shaw, Billy Branch, Elmore James Jr., Nora Jean Bruso and others
For further details and confirmations of time and artists, please check www.Stackhouse-Bluesoterica.blogspot.com.
photo: Panny Flautt Mayfield
Regular readers of our blog will recognize the Dead Exs from previous posts by my co-blogger Jennifer and our friend @Popa2unes. Jennifer has described their sound as “a delicious blues-funk stew lightly seasoned with garage-rock flair”, and their dirty, fuzzed-up grooves fit in well here.
Now Popa has generously donated a signed copy of the Dead Exs’ CD Resurrection for one of you lucky people to own. All you need to do is drop a comment below that includes your name or preferred internet handle and a reliable e-mail address and then wait patiently. The giveaway will close on October 24 at 5 PM EST, and the winner will be chosen at random and announced on October 25.
And while you’re here, you can download the song “More Stuff” by right-clicking on the link below. Enjoy!
Not only do I personally approve of and encourage the writing and performing of dirty songs (rock ‘n’ roll was built on some smutty songs, y’all), but I love to watch collaborations come together. If you feel the same, you’re going to love the new video preview from the folks at Don’t Follow Me (I’m Lost), the upcoming Bobby Bare, Jr., documentary.
A word from Lee Baker, the producer:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCLUSIVE BACKSTAGE ACCESS! BOBBY BARE JR. & HAYES CARLL
CHECK IT OUT! A clip from the new rock documentary DON’T FOLLOW ME (I’m Lost) — a film about BOBBY BARE JR. – featuring Hayes Carll!
Go to: www.indiegogo.com/dontfollowmeimlost AND click the GALLERY tab to watch!
AND please help us reach our goal-we have 18 days left!! Every $ counts! We can’t do it without you.
Thank you for your support.
I am half-Italian/Sicilian-American on my father’s side. As such, I feel both a deep part of and an alien to my family’s culture. I’ve never been to Italy, though my heart clenches like a fool in love when I see an Italian landscape. I have taught myself a bit of proper Italian, though the first Italian I learned was the end-vowel-clipping tones of those who came to seek the American dream from the lower calf of Italia’s boot. As such, I have a love/hate relationship with the fake Italian songs so popular in the early 1950s, before rock ‘n’ roll really took hold of America.
Arguably, the greatest practioner of fake Italian songs was one of my great loves, Dino Paul Crocetti, i.e., Dean Martin. Dino’s story reflects my own father’s story in some ways. Like my father, he was born in Ohio (my father from Cleveland, Dean from Steubenville), and part of his family came from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Like my father, he spoke mostly Italian until he was five years old, like my father, he loved to sit in his favorite chair and watch Westerns. And, like my father, a handsome man (I am told I look just like my father, so this compliment may be self-serving).
So here, per voi, this Friday slackday, is a selection of the best fake Italian songs of that Italian-loving era. Per voi, cafones. Va’ fa’ un culo! (Don’t translate that.)
The greatest of fake Italian songs:
Here’s Rosemary Clooney, of Irish descent, telling the story of how Mitch Miller talked her into singing one of the biggest hits of her career, a song which was actually written by the great Armenian-American author William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian (creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks). (Thanks to Rick Saunders for the illuminating information.)
Dino and Rosemary duke it out on this fake Italian song, “Mambo Italiano”.
I was going to include Sergio Franchi’s “Pizza-zza” here – despite the fact that Franchi was native Italian, this song sounds ridiculously fake – but there are no videos for it available. So here instead is the only mildly fake Italian “Buona Sera” by the inimitable Louis Prima.
The October installment of the Feel Bad For You mix is here, with contributions from music makers, pushers and lovers. Free for you to stream or download and enjoy while imbibing the libation of your choice.
Nota bene: Due to an oversight, my contribution was not included this month. If it had been, you’d be hearing Little Walter’s “Juke” in this mix. Take your grievances to Matt.
Title: For Stormy
Artist: Chelsea Crowell
Album: Crystal City (2011)
Submitted By: Mando_lines
Comments: For Stormy is an instrumental track off of Chelsea Crowell’s upcoming record, Crystal City. The song originally had lyrics, but Ms. Crowell made the decision to jettison the lyrics and had her producer, Loney Hutchins, play lap steel in place of her vocal track. A Tennessee thunder storm (and tornado siren) are in the background, if you listen closely. Conveniently, the siren was in the same key as the song.
Title: Twilight On Sometimes Island (SoulQuest 17)
Artist: Lil’ Cap’n Travis
Album: Twilight On Sometimes Island (2007)
Submitted By: Erschen
Comment: Love me some Pedal Steel
Title: Fortune Cookie
Artist: Los Straitjackets
Album: The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets (2009)
Submitted By: @popa2unes
Comments: Everyone’s favorite Mexican wrestling mask-wearing, Chuck Taylor-clad, surf and garage instrumental rock band, we had these guys play at a traditional Hot Rod Show I was involved with a couple summers ago, they know how to have a good time and get everyone dancing.
Title: Townsend, TN
Artist: The Royal Court of China
Album: Self-Titled (1989)
Submitted by: toomuchcountry
Comments: The Royal Court of China was a Nashville-based, Elliston Place/Rock Block staple band in the late 1980s who later took a shot at the big time with a relo to LA. Bands such as The Questionnaires (featuring great songwriter Tom Littlefield), Government Cheese, Will & The Bushmen (fronted by Will Kimbrough), and RCC were among the second and larger wave of memorable bands that followed the original Nashville rockers, Jason & The Scorchers. The band got its name from a magazine interview with Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers. In the interview, the two of them mentioned that they had rejected RCC as a name for their name and instead chose The Firm. RCC’s second album, Geared & Primed, was hard-edged and included their only hit – Half The Truth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4JNLthoQRU). But their first and self-titled release included a wider range of guitar playing, a mandolin, some slide to give it a distinctly-Nashville touch, a few more harmonies, and this instrumental named for one of the most beautiful, tranquil parts of East Tennessee.
Title: Hobo’s Blues
Artist: Paul Simon & Stéphane Grappelli
Album: Paul Simon (1972)
Submitted By: Phil Norman | @philnorman
Comments: I’ve been on a Paul Simon binge lately, and I was already thinking of submitting a gypsy jazz track when I remembered this little ditty with the master himself, Stéphane Grappelli.
Artist: Japancakes
Song: Only Shallow
Album: Loveless (2007)
Submitted by: Corey Flegel (This Is American Music)
Comments: featuring Pedal Steel God John Neff of DBT before he was
John Neff of DBT…always a badass.
Title: Drivin’ South
Artist: The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Album: Radio One (1989)
Submitted By: BoogieStudio22
Comments: What else is there to say?
Title: Maggot Brain
Artist: The Volebeats
Album: Bloodshot Records: Making Singles, Drinking Doubles (2002)
Submitted By: Truersound
Comments: in the pantheon of great rock instrumentals, Funkadelic’s maggot brain is certainly near the top. This is a killer version with some absolutely necessary steel guitar.
Title: A New Life
Artist: Willy Vlautin & Paul Brainard
Album: Northline (Soundtrack To The Book) (2008)
Submitted By: Simon
Comments: Love Willie Vlautin’s writing for Richmond Fontaine and his books are equally fantastic – the book and soundtrack idea works wonderfully well.
Title: Into the Lungs of Hell
Artist: Megadeth
Album: So Far, So Good… So What (1988)
Submitted By: Gorrck
Comment: Having sent instrumentals the last 2 months, this actually was a challenge this month. Pulled up Glenn Miller’s “Goin’ Home†— way too mellow and sad. Fired up some Xavier Cugat and remembered I had a cover of Ray Charles doing “One Mint Julepâ€. Then I realized I submitted the Cugat in 2008. Dammit. So here’s some Megadeth. Enjoy!
Title: Ghost Song
Artist: Slithering Beast
Album: Werewolf Ballads (2006)
Submitted By: bootlegend (In My Basement Room)
Comments: One of my favorites from a criminally underexposed band out of Louisville.
Title: Arkansas Traveller
Artist : Norman Blake
Album: Live At McCabes (1976?)
Submitted By: Bowood
Comments: This could be why I play guitar, or it could be why I don’t.
Title: Stairway to Heaven
Artist: Rodrigo y Gabriela
Album: Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006)
Submitted By: Rockstar Aimz
Title: Bombs Over Baghdad
Artist: Outkast
Album: Stainonia (2000)
Submitted By: Autopsy IV of ninebullets.net
Comments: Bob your head. Rag top.
Title: Squid Omelet
Artist: The Queers
Album: Grow Up (1990)
Submitted By: annieTUFF
Comments: Ok, so when I think instrumental I automatically think surf music. and I LOVE surf music. Dick Dale and the Dale Tones, The Ventures, Frogmen, Sentinals, The Rumblers, Beach Boys (although honestly I don’t listen to them as much as the others I’ve mentioned). I could go on and on about surf music. BUT I wouldn’t have ever gotten started listening to surf music if it weren’t thru a weird backdoor way of getting exposed to it, thru punk. So, I decided to put up the song that got me started really listening to surf instead of one of the other surf bands I mentioned. The Queers are a great band that are pretty heavily influenced by surf music, and you can really hear it in their songs, I love them. Although I had heard surf before I didn’t really appreciate it until after getting into punk. Confused now? Me too. By the way, this song ends kind of abruptly, because it’s supposed to lead right into the next track…so this might not really be the greatest pick for a random mixtape….but I’m telling a story with this song, so, suck it.
Title: Good Grease
Artist: Mark III Trio
Album: Single
Submitted By: @mikeorren
Comments: Off a great bootleg instrumental soul compilation that sadly seems to be unavailable on now. The comp disc was called “Bucket o’ Greaseâ€
Title: Si Paloma
Artist: Sun Kil Moon
Album: Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003)
Submitted By: Trailer
Comments: I’m not a big fan of instrumentals, but that’s the theme…so here’s a submission from one of my favorite albums of all time.
Title: Moanin’
Artist: Ray Charles
Album: Genius + Soul = Jazz (1961)
Submitted By: Adam Sheets
Title: Cissy Strut
Artist: Butch Cassidy Sound System
Album: Butches Brew (2004)
Submitted By: noteethleroy
Title: Peace in Mississippi (Jimi Hendrix cover)
Artist: Earth
Album: Pentastar: In the Style of Demons (1996)
Submitted by: TheSecondSingle
Comment: Stoner rock at its best. This may not be most people’s cup o’ tea, but you have to admit: it’s pretty badass.
Title: Green Onions
Artist: Booker T. & the M.G.s
Album: Green Onions (1962)
Submitted By: TheOtherBrit
Comments: Thanks to TheSecondSingle for the inspiration via spotify!
Shooter Jennings and the crew at Give Me My XXX are on a roll, and the latest Southern Independent compilation may be the best yet. Not only do they have a team-up from Waylon Jennings and the Old 97s, a song off of Scott H. Biram’s upcoming album, Bad Ingredients (a song inspired by a true life incident involving John Wesley Myers), my favorite Austin Lucas song and a great Brett Detar song, but there is some goddamn hip hop! A great track from Waylon Jennings’ grandson Struggle, along with Yelawolf, featuring a sample from Waylon’s “Outlaw Shit”.
You can get it all for free by signing up over at Give Me My XXX.
Here’s the tracklist for further enticement:
1. The Other Shoe / Waylon Jennings & The Old 97’s
2. I Want My Mojo Back / Scott H. Biram
3. Officer Guererro / Lucky Tubb
4. What Happened Last Night? / Amanda Shires
5. Another Love Song / Ted Russell Kamp
6. To The Victor Go The Spoils / Have Gun Will Travel
7. Run Around / Austin Lucas
8. Hard Times / Tyler Childers
9. Nola / High or Hellwater
10. Gettin’ By / Six Shot Revival
11. Lesson In A Bottle / Blackberry Smoke
12. The Devil’s Gotta’ Earn / Brett Detar
13. Jumping The Sharks / Carter Falco
14. Heaven Anywhere / Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real
15. Outlaw Shit / Struggle feat. Yelawolf
First off, I swear on all my grandparents’ graves, plus the graves of Joe Strummer and Mark Sandman, that this wasn’t fixed. I put the names in a jar, and the NTSIB intern/helper monkey/my son picked a name at random. I repeat, at random.
So, as you’ve likely already figured out if you looked at the comments on the original giveaway post, the winner of the signed copy of the V-Roys lovely compilation album Sooner or Later is popa2unes. Congratulations, popa, and thanks to Jason and Ben for participating.
The V-Roys – Scott Miller, Mic Harrison, Paxton Sellers and Jeff Bills – only released two studio albums (and one live album), but they garnered much acclaim and some very enthusiastic fans in their short lifespan. On September 27, Sooner or Later, an 18-track V-Roys compilation, drops. It’s a nice primer for new listeners and includes 5 previously-unreleased tracks to please old fans (my favorites are the V-Roys’ take on Lieber and Stoller’s “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” and an original called “Someone to Push Around”).
Like the sounds of that? How do you like the sound of winning a sexy signed copy of the CD? Just drop your name (and don’t forget an e-mail address where you can be reached) in the virtual bucket (i.e., the comments section of this post) by September 26 at 5 PM EST for your chance to get you some. A winner will be chosen at random and announced on September 27.
(Note: Despite what’s going on between popa2unes and “HAL” in comments, ballot-box stuffing and flirting with the blog owner will not increase your chances of winning.)
