Pekka Pohjola

I just read that Finnish musician Pekka Pohjola passed away, aged 56. I always loved his 70's instrumental work. He was also the bassist of Wigwam and The Group. He also worked with Mike Oldfield. I love his "B The Magpie" album.

Suzi Quatro

Last weekend, I found a paperback copy of the recent Suzi Quatro autobiography at a new bookstore near my GF's place - "Stories". This bookstore also serves coffee, so must give that a try sometime. I am still reading "Unzipped" - the tale is good, but it's not my favorite style of writing. It makes me want to read Noddy Holder's book.

Next week, we have some silly lists to take a look at. I'm off to enjoy my Thanksgiving holiday! See you next week!

Phil Manzanera

11-25-08 Phil Manzanera

I never had the same trouble with Phil Manzanera that I did with Eno albums – for one, Robert Wyatt was on “Diamond Head”, the debut Manzanera solo album!

CD DIAMOND HEAD kami ARCANGELO JPN ARC-7288

LP DIAMOND HEAD ISLAND UK ILPS 9315

LP 801 LIVE (Various artists) ISLAND UK ILPS 9444

On CD as a part of a Kevin Ayers collection

CD LISTEN NOW kami ARCANGELO JPN ARC-7290

LP LISTEN NOW POLYDOR UK 2302 074

CD K-SCOPE kami ARCANGELO JPN ARC-7291

LP K-SCOPE POLYDOR US PD-1-6178

LP PRIMITIVE GUITARS EG US EGED 14

LP GUITARISSIMO EG US EGLP 69

CD MANZANERA ARCHIVES - RARE ONE EXPRESSION UK EXPCD 21

Which has material pertaining to their first four P.M. solo albums

And to this list, I supposed you could add Quiet Sun “Mainstream” (which I have on both LP and CD) – genuine ‘progressive rock’.

If I bought “Diamond Head” because of Robert Wyatt, I got the next two albums because of Split Enz members. Mr. Manzanera, of course, produced the UK Split Enz debut “Mental Notes” (not to be confused with the Australasian album of the same name, where the UK Enz LP is called “Second Thoughts”). And if we tack on another 20 years, I would’ve bought ‘em because of the involvement of Godley & Crème!

After “K-Scope”, I sort of gave up on P.M. – I recall that “Primitive Guitars” was an album of instrumentals and “Guitarissimo” was a collection. However, I have been getting his newer solo works (the ones on Hannibal / Rykodisc) and enjoying them.

I can reconcile buying Phil Manzanera solo albums while ignoring Brian Eno and Bryan Ferry solo albums. I never heard anybody go ‘over the top’ when talking about the Manzanera LP’s; the fandom thereof seemed dignified. I listened with open ears, and liked what I heard.

It was also via the Phil Manzanera albums that I heard Random Hold, an amazing British progressive rock band. Their debut record was produced by Peter Hammill, and featured members of Phil Manzanera’s band.

I do not think I will write about the 5 x Bryan Ferry solo albums that I have, I have not heard them enough to really know of any nuances worth writing about (it’s the first 5, FYI).

Coming next week, next month...."Rock Album Best 100" from the Japanese "Record Collector Magazine 25th Anniversary" special issue.

Brian Eno

11-24-08 Brian Eno

I believe Mr. Eno was one of the people responsible for helping me determine how I viewed music fandom in the 1970’s. Coming from a background of psychedelic music and King Crimson, I was onto Roxy Music pretty quickly. I had read about this new group being touted by the management of King Crimson, with a debut album produced by Pete Sinfield, the lyricist of King Crimson. With the first two Roxy’s under my belt, I quickly snapped up the debut RM solo LP, “Here Come The Warm Jets” by Brian Eno. Who were the “Warm Jets”, an imaginary rock band, a take-off on the “Spiders From Mars”?

Well, after the pop-prog rock of the first two RM albums, “Here Come The Warm Jets” seemed ‘light’ to me, a snob at 16 already! Did I need fluffy pop music if my favorite record of the moment was “Larks’ Tongues In Aspic” by the mighty King Crimson?

In my limited access to the retail music world, I began to see what I found to be ‘knee-jerk’ reactions to Eno’s debut solo album, I could over-hear people saying that it was the greatest record ever made etc. I saw Eno T-shirts. How could Iight and fluffy pop music create such extreme fandom? Even before Eno’s 2^nd album came along (which wasn’t long), I was already ‘finished’ with it, considering it to be an item of derision – my band even made fun of “Baby’s On Fire”, creating “Eno’s On Fire” (as in “Eno’s on fire, better throw up in the water…” etc.) – it seemed to me that the artist (and fans) were taking things way too seriously.

So, at the time Eno solo albums #2 & #3 were released – I ignored them. After “Warm Jets”, the only other one I heard when it was new was “Before and After Science” (album #4) – I got some new open ears, once I started working in record stores. It remains my favorite solo Eno album (I was 19 when it was released).

Truth be told, I got both Fripp & Eno albums when they were released, but…by the time both “(no pussyfooting)” and “Evening Star” walked down the pike – I was even kind of ‘done’ with Robert Fripp.

But it’s 2008, I’m 50 years old – and I should probably listen to all 4 x Eno ‘rock & roll’ albums again, now that I have re-mastered CD’s of them. I’ve spent the better part of 3 decades hearing about how wonderful they all are. I confess that I have enjoyed what I have heard from them, thus far. “Warm Jets” has a touch of ‘glam rock insincerity’ feeling to it! Of course, I am much more “OK” with British 70’s glam rock now than I was at that time. “Warm Jets” is neither ‘prog rock’ nor (really) ‘glam rock’. At times, it sounds like Eno is imitating Bryan Ferry when he’s singing!

Is it important to enjoy Robert Fripp when listening to “Warm Jets”? Lots of the guitar sure sounds like Phil Manzanera! Oh, it is. I never had a problem with his solo albums. But I also never heard anybody ‘rave’ about them. And I’ve only recently come around to the first 5 or so Bryan Ferry solo albums! Of course I have both Andy Mackay solo albums. Roxy Music solo album time now!

Dr. John

Last night was a "Dr. John - The Night Tripper" night. Thankfully, I could reach this by having CD's of "Gris Gris" and "Babylon" (which I had never played until last night!). Must go out and get a CD of "Remedies" now. Oh, and the MFSL gold disc is rockin', too.

Track Records: Backtrack

11-21-08 Backtrack

Track Records U.K. low-priced sampler LP’s from approx. ’69 / ’70:

LP BACKTRACK 1 POLYDOR NZ SP 137

1970 12 TRKS Arthur Brown etc. – Jimi Hendrix cover

LP BACKTRACK 1 TRACK UK 2407 001

1970 12 TRKS Arthur Brown etc.

LP BACKTRACK 2 POLYDOR NZ SP 167

1970 12 TRKS Arthur Brown etc. – Jimi Hendrix cover

LP BACKTRACK 2 TRACK UK 2407 002

1970 12 TRKS Arthur Brown etc.

LP BACKTRACK 3 TRACK UK 2407 003

1970 13 TRKS The Who & Jimi Hendrix

LP BACKTRACK 4 TRACK UK 2407 004

1970 13 TRKS The Who & Jimi Hendrix

LP BACKTRACK 5 TRACK UK 2407 005

1970 13 TRKS The Who & Jimi Hendrix

LP BACKTRACK 6 (Mixed Bag) TRACK UK 2407 006

1970 12 TRKS U.S. R&B material, licensed to Track

LP BACKTRACK 7 (Mixed Bag) TRACK UK 2407 007

1970 12 TRKS

LP HOUSE THAT TRACK BUILT, THE TRACK UK 613 016

1969 13 TRKS

I recently completed this set of sampler records, finally finding a UK copy of Volume 1. It only took me about 27 years! These samplers feature all of the great acts of Track Records – The Who, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Marsha Hunt, Thunderclap Newman etc.

For volumes 1 and 2, in New Zealand, the photo of the child smoking a cigarette apparently didn’t cut it, so they substituted a nice color photo of Jimi Hendrix, usually found in the interior of his “Electric Ladyland”.

“The House That Track Built” is the most desirable LP of the batch, having a Who cut not available otherwise (the true original stereo studio version of “Young Man Blues”).

I have only recently embarked upon the Track Records UK “Allsorts” series. They are only slightly different from the Backtracks – only a few years later (’72 or so?), but it’s the same idea.

I know I’ve written often about Track Records UK – but I find them a fascinating set of folks – one label having all that talent (that specifically appealed to me and many others). All of these Track Record UK “Backtrack” sampler LP’s are very easy to listen to – as the material is nearly all fabulous. Listen and believe!

Mainframe

Thinking about the British 80's band Mainframe today. I posted a bit of everything I have over on Flickr. Jim D points out that they are covered on Discogs. Looks like I am missing one early LP on MC2 and a 12" called "Into Trouble with The Noise of Art". I want to hear any other work they did around the time of "5 Minutes"! Great stuff!

A Certain Ratio

11-20-08 A Certain Ratio

The sun and moon did not align, we did not see A Certain Ratio play live last Sunday, 11/16/08 @ The Echo / Echoplex in Los Angeles.

CD GRAVEYARD & THE BALLROOM, THE CREATION UK CREV022CD

1979 14 TRKS originally a cassette-only release

LP GRAVEYARD & THE BALLROOM, THE SOUL JAZZ UK USLP 20

1979 15 TRKS ('04 issue), LP + 12"

CD TO EACH re UNIVERSAL SO UK US CD21

1980 11 TRKS (2 x bonus tracks)

LP TO EACH FACTORY UK FACT 35

1980 9 TRKS 1st

CD LIVE IN GRONINGEN 26.10.80 LTM UK LTMCD 2443

2005 9 TRKS Live 10/80

CD SEXTET re SOUL JAZZ UK USCD 22

1981 11 TRKS 2 x bonus tracks ('04 issue)

LP SEXTET FACTORY UK FACT 55

1981 9 TRKS 2nd

CD I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU AGAIN re LTM EU LTMCD 2438

1982 13 TRKS 5 x bonus tracks ('05 re-issue)

LP I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU AGAIN FACTORY UK FACT 65

1983 8 TRKS U.K. pressing

LP FROM ITALY pirate PIRATE CR 0016

1985? ? TRKS Live, #270 of 900

CD LIVE IN AMERICA DOJO UK DOJOCD 47

1986 10 TRKS Live

LP LIVE IN AMERICA DOJO UK DOJOLP 47

1986 10 TRKS Live

CD LIVE AMERICA 1985 MELODIC UK MELO 029CD

2005 10 TRKS Live '85

CD OLD & THE NEW, THE (Collection) FACTORY JPN CY-3105

1989 11 TRK Collection (first CD issue)

LP OLD & THE NEW, THE (Collection) FACTORY UK FACT 135

1986 11 TRK Collection, LP + 7"

CD FORCE FACTORY FR FACD 166

1986 11 TRKS 3 x bonus tracks

LP FORCE FACTORY UK FACT 166

1986 8 TRKS U.K. pressing

CD GOOD TOGETHER A&M UK CDA 9008

1989 12 TRKS 3 x bonus tracks

LP GOOD TOGETHER A&M UK AMA 9008

1989 9 TRKS U.K. pressing

CD M.C.R. A&M UK 397057.2

1990 8 TRKS remixes

LP M.C.R. A&M UK 397057.1

1990 8 TRKS remixes

CD UP IN DOWNSVILLE ROB'S UK CDROB 20

1992 11 TRKS 2 x bonus tracks

LP UP IN DOWNSVILLE ROB'S UK LPROB 20

1992 9 TRKS U.K. pressing

CD LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN RATIO CREATION UK CRECD 159

1994 11 TRKS remixes (3 x bonus tracks)

LP LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN RATIO CREATION UK CRELP 159

1994 8 TRKS remixes

LP LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN RATIO (12" x 2) CREATION UK CRELP 159b

1994 8 TRKS remixes, 12" x 2

CD CHANGE THE STATION ROB'S UK CDROB 50

1996 13 TRKS CD-only release?

CDx2 EARLY (Collection) SOUL JAZZ UK SJR CD 60

2002 24 TRK Collection / CD Extra (70's/80's recordings)

USA, 1968

11-19-08 USA, 1968

The big hits of 1968 in the USA:

JOHN FRED & HIS PLAYBOY BAND – Judy In Disguise

LEMON PIPERS – Green Tambourine

PAUL MAURIAT – Love Is Blue

OTIS REDDING – (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay

BOBBY GOLDSBORO – Honey

ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS – Tighten Up

SIMON & GARFUNKEL – Mrs. Robinson

HERB ALPERT – This Guy’s In Love With You

HUGH MASEKELA – Grazin’ In The Grass

DOORS, THE – Hello, I Love You

RASCALS, THE – People Got To Be Free

JEANNIE C. RILEY – Harper Valley PTA

BEATLES, THE – Hey Jude / Revolution

DIANA ROSS / SUPREMES – Love Child

MARVIN GAYE – I Heard It Through The Grapevine

I am OK with most all of these hits – in 1968, you couldn’t miss ‘em. Even at 10 years of age, I was already more interested in albums than singles. I was also exposed to slightly “underground” bands, like Frank Zappa, Country Joe & The Fish, The Fugs etc – groups that did not trouble the charts. Paul Mauriat and Hugh Masekela were both instrumentals, OK in my book. Otis Redding, Archie Bell & The Drells, Diana Ross & The Supremes and Marvin Gaye are soul music, so not my #1 focus (I like Otis the best of the four).

Of the above listed artists, I have all the LP’s by Simon & Garfunkel, The Doors and The Beatles. I will call John Fred & His Playboy Band and The Lemon Pipers “singles artists”.

So, one French guy, one South African and one British act. Certainly a different line-up than it was in 1964! Sorry, I don’t know if there are any hidden Canadians present.

Oldest Stuff in My CD Collection

11-18-08 The Oldest Stuff in My CD Collection

ADDERLEY, JULIAN "CANNONBALL"SOMETHIN' ELSE, BLUE NOTE US jazz

BELAFONTE, HARRY AT CARNEGIE HALL, RCA US

BELAFONTE, HARRY CALYPSO, RCA US

BIG BOPPER CHANTILLY LACE, MERCURY US

BRYANT TRIO, RAY RAY BRYANT TRIO, VICTOR JPN jazz

CLARK, SONNY COOL STRUTTIN', TOSHIBA JPN jazz

CLARK, SONNY DIAL 'S' FOR SONNY, TOSHIBA JPN jazz

CLARK, SONNY SONNY CLARK TRIO, BLUE NOTE US jazz

CLARK, SONNY SONNY'S CRIB, BLUE NOTE US jazz

CLARK, SONNY STANDARDS, BLUE NOTE US jazz

CRISS, SONNY JAZZ U.S.A., TOSHIBA JPN jazz

CUTLER, IVOR AN ELPEE AND TWO EPEES, DECCA UK spoken word

DAVIS, MILES ASCENSEUR POUR L'ECHAFAUD (O.S.T.), FONTANA US jazz

DAVIS, MILES KIND OF BLUE, COLUMBIA US jazz

DAVIS, MILES / QUINTET RELAXIN' WITH…, PRESTIGE US jazz

FRUSCELLA, TONY TONY FRUSCELLA, ATLANTIC DE jazz

FUNICELLO, ANNETTE ANNETTE, BUENA VISTA

HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD HARMONICATS, VARESE SAR US

HARMONICATS / JERRY MURAD HARMONICATS' SELECTED FAVORITES, UNIVERSAL JPN

HOLLY, BUDDY CHIRPING CRICKETS, MCA US

JAZZ MESSENGERS AT THE CAFÉ BOHEMIA Vol. 1, BLUE NOTE US jazz

JAZZ MESSENGERS AT THE CAFÉ BOHEMIA Vol. 2, BLUE NOTE US jazz

JONES, SPIKE DINNER MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VERY HUNGRY, RHINO US

LEGRAND, MICHEL NEW 'I LOVE PARIS', SONY JPN easy listening

LEHRER, TOM EVENING WASTED WITH TOM LEHRER, REPRISE US comedy

LITTLE WALTER BEST OF, MCA US

MELEE, GIL PATTERNS IN JAZZ, TOSHIBA JPN jazz

MINEO, ATTILIO "ART" MAN IN SPACE WITH SOUNDS, SUBLIMINAL

MINGUS, CHARLES MINGUS AH UM, COLUMBIA US jazz

MORALES, HUMBERTO & NORO MAMBO BY MORALES, SONY JPN

O.S.T. MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM (O.S.T.), TRAX UK Elmer Bernstein

O.S.T. MY FAIR LADY (O.C.), COLUMBIA US

POWELL, BUD AMAZING BUD POWELL Vol. 1, BLUE NOTE US jazz

POWELL, BUD BUD POWELL TRIO, TOSHIBA JPN jazz

POWELL, BUD SCENE CHANGES, BLUE NOTE US jazz

PRADO, PEREZ HAVANA, 3 A.M., RCA US

PRADO, PEREZ MAMBO MANIA, BMG JPN

PRADO, PEREZ PREZ, RCA EU

PRESLEY, ELVIS ELVIS PRESLEY (1st album), RCA US

ROLLINS, SONNY SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS, JVC JPN jazz. mono

SILVER, HORACE BLOWIN' THE BLUES AWAY, BLUE NOTE US jazz

SILVER, HORACE FINGER POPPIN', BLUE NOTE US jazz

SILVER, HORACE FURTHER EXPLORATIONS BY…, TOSHIBA JPN jazz

SILVER, HORACE HORACE SILVER & THE JAZZ MESSENGERS, BLUE NOTE US jazz

SILVER, HORACE HORACE SILVER TRIO, BLUE NOTE US jazz

SILVER, HORACE SILVER'S BLUE, PORTRAIT US jazz

SILVER, HORACE SIX PIECES OF SILVER, BLUE NOTE US jazz

SILVER, HORACE STYLINGS OF SILVER, TOSHIBA JPN jazz

TJADER, CAL LATIN KICK, FANTASY US jazz

Mostly jazz and a liitle bit of rock & roll, soundtracks, spoken word etc. All of this stuff is pre-1960 (I think!). The Spike Jones LP is one of the earliest things I ever heard. As a child, I was given the Harry Belafonte LP’s – and I have a few more LP’s than this, but they’re aren’t dedicated CD’s of them. This list is entirely CD’s of original pre-60’s releases.