tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112786612024-03-13T17:14:53.537-04:00VOCIFEROUS SLAMHandpicked music hand-picks by a group of music enthusiasts. All song files open in a new window.cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-15797479182101658792007-08-16T14:54:00.000-04:002007-08-16T14:55:32.421-04:00we be over here: <a href="http://vslam.com/">vslam.com</a>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1140891676569133272006-02-25T13:00:00.000-05:002006-02-25T19:36:19.780-05:00Cory Daye, Sister Sledge, Rainbow Brown, PrinceMusic!<br /><br /><center><br /><b>Cory Daye</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/coryandme.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Cory & Me (1979)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/greenlight.mp3" target="_blank">Green Light</a><br /><font size="1">Cory = the vocalist from Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Sister Sledge</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/sistersledge.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />The Best of Sister Sledge 1973-1985 (1992)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/mamanevertoldme.mp3" target="_blank">Mama Never Told Me</a><br /><font size="1">The best song ever -- I mean that. Released in 1973 and penned by <a href="http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Thom%20Bell.html">Thom Bell</a> and <a href="http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Phil%20Hurtt.html">Phil Hurtt</a>.<br /></font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Rainbow Brown</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/rainbowbrown.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Rainbow Brown (1981)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/tilyousurrender.mp3" target="_blank">Til You Surrender</a><br /><font size="1">Songs written/arranged/produced by Patrick Adams. Fonda Rae ("Over Like a Fat Rat") does lead vocals.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Prince</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/parade.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Parade (Under the Cherry Moon) (1986)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/ANOTHERLOVERHOLENYOHEAD.mp3" target="_blank">Anotherloverholenyohead</a><br /><font size="1"><i>Parade</i> is my favorite Prince album, easily, and one of my favorite albums in general. Words cannot express the passionate love I have for this man.</font><br /></center>phiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573923455435768124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1138345961877185482006-01-28T11:21:00.000-05:002006-01-28T14:29:56.356-05:00Jo Ann Campbell, Jackie Dee, Brenda Lee, Nedra Price...I promised a post of upbeat rockabilly ages ago. When I promise something, I do (usually) carry through eventually. This will be a long one; hold tight.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Jo Ann Campbell</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/imnobodysbaby.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />I'm Nobody's Baby (1959)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/wassamatterwithyoubaby.mp3" target="_blank">Wassa Matter With You Baby?</a><br /><font size="1">Self-penned 1958 awesome. Campbell is a hero.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Jackie Dee</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/comeandgetme.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Best Of...1958-1980: Come and Get Me (2000)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Buddy.mp3" target="_blank">Buddy</a><br /><font size="1">a.k.a. Jackie DeShannon. She recorded this in 1959 when she was fifteen and wore gold pants. Later, she'd be responsible for "When You Walk Into the Room," which is pretty much the pinnacle.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Brenda Lee</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/brendalee.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Anthology (1956-1980) (1991)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/bigelow6200.mp3" target="_blank">Bigelow 6-200</a><br /><font size="1">This song is penned by Don Woody, who is a pretty great singer <a href="http://www.hot.ee/donwoody/music.htm">in his own right</a>.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Nedra Price</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/sugardoll.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Sugar Doll (2005)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/letshaveaparty.mp3" target="_blank">Let's Have a Party</a><br /><font size="1">I want to meet this girl.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Lou & Ginny</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/sugardoll.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Sugar Doll (2005)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/doidoright.mp3" target="_blank">Do I Do Right?</a><br /><font size="1">yeah, I like <i>Sugar Doll</i>...</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Penny Candy</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/pennycandy.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />The Rockin' Lady (1959)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/therockinlady.mp3" target="_blank">The Rockin' Lady</a><br /><font size="1">Discovered this in a big bag of my dad's 45s a while ago. Became obsessed.</font><br /></center>phiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573923455435768124noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1127972337421908192005-09-30T16:14:00.000-04:002005-10-01T13:55:05.980-04:00Margaret Lewis, Coon Creek Girls, Betty Foley, Skeeter DavisWell, it's been a while since this has been updated.<br /><br />First, I'd like to encourage everyone (!) to download the <a href="http://www.alternativetentacles.com/bandinfo.php?band=haroldrayliveinconcert">Harold Ray mp3s</a> that Alternative Tentacles has put up. This band is ridiculously fun. If you ever have the opportunity to see them "live in concert," leap on it.<br /><br />I have an intense love of old rockabilly/country with female vocals. Although there's much more to learn and so many recordings I'm dying to get my hands on (check out <a href="http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/">this site</a> for a hint), I've managed to hoard a decent amount. I'll probably have several posts with this theme--but here's one to start things off. These are all sort of slow; the fiery ones to come.<br /><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Margaret Lewis</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/lonesomebluebird.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Lonesome Bluebird (1995)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Reconsider%20Me.mp3" target="_blank">Reconsider Me</a><br /><font size="1">Aw, so pretty... Lewis was born in TX and was inspired early-on by the sounds of gospel and R&B (cites Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe). Later, she got involved in the rockabilly scene, going to shows and befriending people like Buddy Holly. Um... I'm trying to summarize these liner notes, but basically she knew and performed with a lot of famous people. Margaret Lewis penned "Reconsider Me" with Mira Smith (who's playing guitar here), and it became a hit for Narvel Felts. I like Margaret's version a lot better.</font><br /><br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Full%20Grown%20Man.mp3" target="_blank">Full Grown Man</a><br /><font size="1">Another song penned by Margaret Lewis. This one was obviously intended to be picked up by a male singer, but gender-bending's fun, so here you are. Again, Mira Smith is on guitar.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Coon Creek Girls</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/earlyradiofavorites.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Early Radio Favorites (1982)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/PrettyPolly.mp3" target="_blank">Pretty Polly</a><br /><font size="1">This is from a collection of the songs Lily May, Rosie, Daisy, and Violet recorded in the '30s. I wish people still had names like that.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /> <b>Betty Foley</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/sugardoll.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Sugar Doll (2005)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/OldMoon.mp3" target="_blank">Old Moon</a><br /><font size="1">In the '50s, Betty Foley recorded a number of charting songs with her famous father Red. Like Margaret Lewis, she performed at the Shreveport, Louisiana Hayride. <i>Sugar Doll</i> is a fun compilation put out this year by Buffalo Bop. I might up more songs from it another time. Pretty cover art, huh?</font><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><b>Skeeter Davis</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/theessentialskeeter.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />The Essential Skeeter Davis (1995)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Silver Threads And Golden Needles.mp3" target="_blank">Silver Threads & Golden Needles</a><br /><font size="1">Yeah, so "Silver Threads & Golden Needles" is one of my favorite songs, actually. It was a toss-up between this version and Wanda Jackson's--both are amazing.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><br /><br />God, there are all these songs I'm dying to put up that I only have on vinyl. I will learn how to rip one day, promise.phiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573923455435768124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1125302854266107032005-08-29T03:56:00.000-04:002005-08-29T04:13:56.770-04:00June GardnerThis one is for billy, and the hurricane headed for New Orleans.<br /><br /><center><br /><b>June Gardner</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/june.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />99 Plus One (1965-70)<br /><a href="http://vslam.org/music/09%20Hang%20On%20Sloopy.mp3" target="_blank">Hang on Sloopy</a><br /><a href="http://vslam.org/music/07%20It's%20Gonna%20Rain.mp3" target="_blank">It's Gonna Rain</a><br /></center>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1125263554824352432005-08-28T17:02:00.000-04:002005-08-28T17:12:34.833-04:00Primitive Calculators, The UnitsI like quickies.<br /><br /><center><br /><b>Primitive Calculators</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/pricalc.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Primitive Calculators (1978)<br /><a href="http://vslam.org/music/02%20Do%20That%20Dance.mp3" target="_blank">Do That Dance</a><br /><font size="1"></font><br /><br /><b>The Units</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/units.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Digital Stimulation (1980)<br /><a href="http://vslam.org/music/01%20High%20Pressure%20Days.mp3" target="_blank">High Pressure Days</a><br /><font size="1"></font><br /></center><br /><br />maximum volume is recommended.cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1125106377834413612005-08-26T19:59:00.000-04:002005-08-26T21:32:57.843-04:00Casiotones for the Painfully Alone, The Enemy, L. Voag, Music Tapes, Television PersonalitiesI guess like everyone else around here I was in California for a week or something a few weeks ago and since I've been back work has been all over me; not to mention the silly personal crap thats been happening. So a large "sorry" to the vslam good guys. At least in the mean time I've been able to pile up a nice stack of tracks that I want to post about, so I have ammunition. There isn't really a theme going for this post or anything, besides being totally badass. <br /><br />Casiotones for the Painfully Alone is, uh I don't know...cute, sorrowful, innocent, hilarious and often all at the same time. The Enemy was according to legend the first Kiwipunk band to perform original songs, and more importantly (I think) was the very first band of the Chris Knox/Alec Bathgate projects (see also, Toy Love and Tall Dwarfs). I don't think there is enough I could say about L. Voag (aka, Amos, Vic Serf, Narki Brillians, "that guy from the Homosexuals", etc etc etc) a blatant mastermind, obvious weirdo, and DIY diety, if you don't own the Homosexuals Record stop right now and go buy it. Music Tapes are sort of part of the Elephant 6 family of bands (Neutral Milk Hotel, Apples in Stereo, etc), except way more otherwordly and juvenile in a great way, this album sounds like a what a surrealist tapestry would sound like if tapestries were inclined to make sounds. Finally, the Television Personalities; and I am tired of typing and you are tired of reading, but basically after the Swell Maps disbanded the members went off to other projects, Jowe Head went off to the Television Personalities. <br /><br /><center><br /><b>Casiotones for the Painfully Alone</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/casiotones.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Answering Machine Music: A Brief Album in Twelve Parts (2000)<br /><a href="http://vslam.org/music/08%20-%20Baby,%20It's%20You.mp3" target="_blank">Baby, It's You</a><br /><font size="1">I am completely, hopelessly in love with album since yesterday.</font><br /><br /><b>The Enemy</b><br><br />Pull Down the Shades (1978)<br /><a href="http://vslam.org/music/15%20Iggy%20Told%20Me.mp3" target="_blank">Iggy Told Me</a><br /><font size="1">Admittedly a pretty long song, but undisputedly one of the greatest punk songs I've ever heard.</font><br /><br /><b>L. Voag</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/voag.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />The Way Out (1997)<br /><a href="http://vslam.org/music/Kitchen.mp3" target="_blank">Kitchen</a><br /><font size="1">How can't you love a song about appliances?</font><br /><br /><b>Music Tapes</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/musictapes.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />First Imaginary Symphony for Nomad (1999)<br /><a href="http://vslam.org/music/09%20What%20the%20Single%20Made%20the%20Needle%20Sing.mp3" target="_blank">What the Single Made the Needle Sing</a><br /><font size="1">Indiepop to the max!</font><br /><br /><b>Television Personalities</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/tv.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />...And Don't the Kids Just Love It (1980)<br /><a href="http://vslam.org/music/08%20I%20Know%20Where%20Syd%20Barrett%20Lives.mp3" target="_blank">I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives</a><br /><font size="1">Like songs about appliances, how can't you love songs about Syd?</font><br /></center>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1123546557558412672005-08-08T17:15:00.000-04:002005-08-08T20:19:23.073-04:00Bettye LaVetteHey guys. I, too, am back from LA -- or rather, a tiny LA suburb. But here is music.<br /><br /><center><br /><b>Bettye LaVette</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/bluesoul.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Bluesoul Belles (2005)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Let%20Me%20Down%20Easy.mp3" target="_blank">Let Me Down Easy</a><br /><font size="1">Bettye LaVette is amazing.</font><br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/I%20Feel%20Good%20All%20Over%20%28Take%201%29.mp3" target="_blank">I Feel Good All Over</a><br /><font size="1">Bettye LaVette is amazing again.</font><br /><br /><b>Walter Gibbons</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/doing_the_best_i_can.gif" width="100" height="100"><br />Doin' the Best That I Can 12" (1978)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Gibbons%20Doin%20The%20Best%20That%20I%20Can.mp3" target="_blank">Doin' the Best that I Can</a><br /><font size="1">Walter Gibbons remixes of Bettye LaVette are amazing.</font><br /></center><br /><br /><br />Quick background: the lady hails from Detroit, and the first two songs I picked are off a brilliant compilation that came out earlier this year--<i>Bluesoul Belles,</i> with "the complete Calla, Port, and Roulette recordings" of Ms LaVette and another woman, Carol Fran. LaVette has a very interesting history, but I'm not in the mood to type it out right now (an edit is in the works, friends; I will elaborate on Gibbons too).phiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573923455435768124noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1120297850034878992005-07-02T05:06:00.000-04:002005-07-02T05:50:50.040-04:00summer is for loversI'm in a particularly sappy mood this evening.<br /><br /><center><br /><b>Lene Lovich</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/lene.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Stateless (1979)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/IThinkWereAloneNow.mp3" target="_blank">I Think We're Alone Now</a><br /><br /><b>Gal Costa</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/gal.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Gal Costa [Mercury #1] (1969)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Baby.mp3" target="_blank">Baby</a><br />granted, I only speak english and therefore understand all of "Baby, baby, I love you" but I've got a good feeling this is a love song. anyone want to enlighten me with a translation?<br /><br /><b>Sam Cooke</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/sam.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Sam Cooke (1958)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/YouSendMe.mp3" target="_blank">You Send Me</a><br /><br /><b>Old 97s</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/97s.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Wreck Your Life (1997)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/YouBelongToMyHeart.mp3" target="_blank">You Belong To My Heart</a><br />I hope this one doesn't get me thrown out, but their old stuff is really really great.<br /></center><br /><br />kiss somebody today.cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1118125591380686062005-06-07T02:23:00.000-04:002005-06-07T02:26:42.446-04:0015 Minutes of Filth & DepravityWithout further ado, I present to you: Jelly Roll Morton's, Make Me A Pallet On The Floor. There is a LOT I could say about this track, but half the fun of this song is not knowing what you are getting into until it's too late. So if you want to spoil the spontaneousness <a href="Javascript:onClick=PostPopUp();">click here</a>. Otherwise, listen to the song then click the "the review" link below.<br /><br /><center><br /><b>Jelly Roll Morton</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/anamule.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Anamule Dance (1938)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/JellyRollMorton.MakeMeAPalletOnTheFloor.mp3" target="_blank">Make Me A Pallet On The Floor</a><br /><font size="1"><a href="Javascript:onClick=PostPopUp();">the review</a></font><br /></center>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1117657323576558352005-06-01T15:33:00.000-04:002005-06-01T17:11:19.036-04:00Liza JaneDamn me, I had the post all typed up and hit the little red x and lost it. The gist of it was: there is this story about a girl named, Liza Jane. I knew about the Huey Smith version, then discovered there was also a Bob Wills version, then discovered there must be 100s of versions, a couple of which I had lying around. So here they are.<br /><br /><center><br /><b>Pete Harris</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/peteharris.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Black Texicans: Balladeers & Songsters of the Texas Frontier (193?)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/LizaJane/PeteHarris.SquareDanceCorner.mp3" target="_blank">Square Dancer Corner</a><br /><font size="1"></font><br /><br /><b>Pete Seeger & Woody Guthrie</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/americanroots.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />American Roots: A History of American Folk Music (194?)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/LizaJane/PeteSeeger.WoodyGuthrie.LizaJane.mp3" target="_blank">Liza Jane</a><br /><font size="1"></font><br /><br /><b>Bob Wills & His Texas Playoys</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/bobwills.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Collected 78s (1942)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/LizaJane/BobWills.GoodbyeLizaJane.mp3" target="_blank">Goodbye, Liza Jane</a><br /><font size="1"></font><br /><br /><b>Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/hueysmith.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Having a Good Time (1959)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/LizaJane/HueySmith.LittleLizaJane.mp3" target="_blank">Little Liza Jane</a><br /><font size="1"></font><br /></center>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1117493936207652722005-05-30T15:58:00.000-04:002005-05-30T19:09:08.613-04:00Encarnita PoloAnyone familiar with the site knows that Cha Cha Charming is full of gems. One of them, definitely, is the <a href="http://www.chachacharming.com/article.php?id=21&pg=1">marvelous article</a> on Spanish pop that alerted me to the existence of Encarnita Polo. She's wonderful. Recorded in the '60s and '70s, and apparently kicked off the flamenco-pop movement with her modernized cover of "Pepe Bandera" (streamable through RealPlayer <a href="http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/9376">here</a>). What I have for you here, though, is "Paco Paco Paco," a single recorded in 1970. It's glittering with handclaps and melodic glee, has a giddy sing-song chorus and an awesome flamenco-inspired bridge. What, honestly, is not to love here?<br /><br /><center><br /><b>Encarnita Polo</b><br /><img src="http://www.elmusiquero.com/images/PoloEncarnita.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Todas Sus Grabaciones (1963-1975)<br /><a href="http://s12.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1X5PR0STM0QQT1ZNSZY1UJFZ2U" target="_blank">Paco Paco Paco</a><br /><font size="1"></font></center><br /><br />I apologize for (a) the 96 kbps bitrate, and (b) the fact that I needed to upload this through yousendit.com.phiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573923455435768124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1115086443526418022005-05-02T21:57:00.000-04:002005-05-02T22:14:03.526-04:00Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra, Original Victoria BandBoth the Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra and the Orginial Victoria Band are revival bands from Europe; the Czech Republic and Holland, respectively. I didn't have a great deal of luck finding much information on the OPSO, but from the sound of a 2000 article I gather that they were still playing shows in the Czech Republic at that time. My friend Cornelius happens to have been the piano player (and occasional tap dancer) in the OVB and I know from him they disbanded in 1999 after nearly 30 years. The infatuation these foreigners have for americana is really infectious and the recording quality makes it easier to believe you are hearing live music in a 1926 dance hall.<br /><br /><center><br /><b>Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/OriginalPrague.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Collected Recordings (198?)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Terror.mp3" target="_blank">Terror</a><br /><br /><b>Original Victoria Band</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/OriginalVictoriaBand.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Collected Recordings (1989)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/HappyFeet.mp3" target="_blank">Happy Feet</a><br /></center>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1113119439637064022005-04-10T03:49:00.000-04:002005-04-10T03:50:39.640-04:00Bernice McClellan, Gertrude Morgan, Annette HanshawI had this post written the other day and it was much better but I misplaced it. It makes a better 2a.m. sunday morning post anyways.<br /><br />This first track is from the long out-of-print LP, Negro Church Music, recorded and edited by Alan Lomax. Sister McClellan lays down a real healthy sounding vocal backed by dozens in the congregation with a fantastic band (especially the piano player).<br /><center><br /><b>Bernice McClellan & Congregation</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/Negro.Church.Music.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Negro Church Music (1959)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/What.Do.You.Think.About.Jesus.mp3" target="_blank">What Do You Think About Jesus?</a><br /><br />This track by Gertrude Morgan is pure praise'n'worship; something like sermon, something like song, all power. By the time Let's Make A Record was released in 1970 (a decade after the recording was made) Sister Morgan had become well known around New Orleans as "...the eccentric figure best known for roaming the streets of the French Quarter in the 1950s and 60s and shouting invented spirituals through a megaphone..." After 1970 the record fell out of release and it wasn't until last summer that it was finally re-released (Preservation Hall Recordings). <br /><b>Sister Gertrude Morgan</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/Lets.Make.a.Record.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Let's Make A Record (1960)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Power.mp3" target="_blank">Power</a><br /><br />This last track is so very very out of place in this post, but I could not resist the temptation to post another Annette Hanshaw track.<br /><b>Annette Hanshaw</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/hanshaw.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Collected Recordings (1927)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/My.Idea.of.Heaven.mp3" target="_blank">My Idea of Heaven</a><br /></center>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1112470687302484392005-04-02T14:15:00.000-05:002005-04-03T11:47:16.810-04:00DJ Kool HercYesterday I was going somewhere in the auto and my already shaky cassette to iPod connection decided it would be a great time to stop working. Being more than just morally opposed to FM radio I went scanning the AM dial for at least some preaching or far-right rant; this attempt was fruitless. Finally, settling on NPR and was more than just pleasantly surprised to find that irritating woman who does that irritating show<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4567450" target="_blank"> interviewing DJ Kool Herc</a>. The moral of the story is never ever ever listen to FM radio. For those who don't know, Kool Herc is widely considered the father of (at least) the hip-hop dj and by some slightly overzealous critics the "Father of Hip-Hop." Many of you maybe wondering how did someone so influential go so unknown for so long? 1. DJ Kool Herc has never, and according to Herc himself, will never make a studio album and 2. the few bootlegs from him DJing parties are few are far between. So for your ass shaking delight:<br /><br /><center><br /><b>DJ Kool Herc</b><br />Live (197?)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Let.Me.Clear.My.Throat.mp3" target="_blank">Let Me Clear My Throat</a><br /><font size="1">As far as I can tell, this is not Kool Herc with the famed Hercilodians, but I am pretty certain that is Coke La Roc of the Hercilodians on the lyric.</font><br /></center>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1112225236486831402005-03-30T18:23:00.000-05:002005-03-31T11:57:45.940-05:001926From 1900, we jump ahead to 1926. These four tracks come from a record collector friend of mine in Holland, who for the past forty years has been collecting any old time recordings he could get a hold of (78s, 33s, tape, mp3, etc); and for about the past thirty years he has been in the painstaking process of restoring these recordings through a mix of digital and analog means (with some homemade equipment). The results are just incredible. Here is a sample of four of remarkably awesome tracks from artists who unlike Louis Armstrong, Ma Rainey, or King Oliver never managed to make their way into many (if any) of these big 1920s revival box sets you find in your local Virgin mega store.<br /><br /><center><br /><b>Billy Murray & Aileen Stanley</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/bill-aileen.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Collected Recordings (1926)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Any.Ice.Today.Lady.mp3" target="_blank">Any Ice Today Lady?</a><br /><font size="1">"Billy Murray (25 May, 1877 - 17 August, 1954) was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century. While he received star billings on Vaudeville, he was best known for his prolific work in the recording studio, making records for almost every record label of the era. He was probably the best selling recording artist of the first quarter of the 20th century."<br />"Aileen Stanley (died 1982, age 89) projected a blues-influenced sensuality that was rare in white female vocalists of that era. She was one of Billy Murray's regular singing partners in the 1920's. Aileen also recorded many hits with other collaborators and as a solo artist, most notably "Sweet Indiana Home" (Victor 18992 in 1922) and "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street' (with Gene Austin on Victor 19585 in 1925)."</font><br /><br /><b>Dixieland Jug Blowers</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/dixieland.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Collected Recordings (1926)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Banjoreno.mp3" target="_blank">Banjoreno</a><br /><font size="1">"Combining the sophistication of 1920s jazz bands with the raw energy of country string bands, the Dixieland Jug Blowers were in the vanguard of the early Louisville music scene. Their repertoire covered the spectrum of turn of the century American music - blues, rags, ballads, stomps, fiddle tunes and much more - in such performances as Barefoot Stomp, Blue Guitar stomp, Everybody Wants My Tootelum, National Blues and others."</font><br /><br /><b>California Ramblers</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/california-ramblers.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Collected Recordings (1926)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/She.Knows.Her.Onions.mp3" target="_blank">She Knows Her Onions</a><br /><font size="1">"The Ramblers adopted a slightly different playing style for the various labels they recorded for, thus enabling the record companies to have their own "sound". It wasn't until the development of electrical recording in 1925 that the true depth of the Rambler music became apparent and especially the Columbia company with its superb recording technique and smooth-surfaced records managed to capture the band in full glory. Although only one microphone was used and long before the days of dubbing, artificial reverb and stereo, the recorded sound has a tremendous perspective that even today baffles the listener. Also, these Columbia recordings were rather jazz-orientated, allowing for plenty of improvised solos and for what may already be described as "swing"."</font><br /><br /><b>Annette Hanshaw</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/annette.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Collected Recordings (1926)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Six.Feet.of.Papa.mp3" target="_blank">Six Feet of Papa</a><br /><font size="1">"Annette Hanshaw was a popular singer and radio star of the 1920s and early Thirties who had many Jazz overtones in her singing style. She stepped out of her role of a torch singer and improvised and had a great deal of swing that harkened to the Big Band singers of the 1930s. She was viewed by the public as the epitome of a flapper."</font><br /></center><br /><br />For more information the reader is strongly urged to go check out:<a href="http://www.redhotjazz.com/" target="_blank"> The Red Hot Jazz Archive</a> they have more information than most people probably need, and tons of tracks in streamable Real Audio format.cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1111699052822744982005-03-24T15:23:00.000-05:002005-03-24T16:17:32.826-05:001900Oh, oh, oh, I can barely type I'm so excited. I just got this collection of recordings from 1900, really 1900, not the 1900s but 1900! I am tingly. Enough typing, here are the songs.<br /><br /><center><b>Columbia Quartet</b><br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/campmeetingjubilee.mp3" target="_blank">Camp Meeting Jubilee</a><br /><font size="1">"The name Columbia Quartet was not used for early Columbia discs known as Climax discs. Instead, the Climax Quartet sang on early discs. After the record company switched from its early Climax disc label to the Columbia label, the name Columbia Quartet was cited in spoken announcements. As late as 1908 or so Columbia used the generic "vocal quartette" on labels for performances that had been cut years earlier and remained in the catalog, but by 1906 for new performances the company sometimes put Columbia Quartette on discs."</font><br /><br /><b>Edna May</b><br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/puritybrigade.mp3" target="_blank">Purity Brigade</a><br /><font size="1">"Few people today have heard of Edna May but 100 years ago she was the toast of London and New York. Millionaires sought her hand in marriage, train loads of admirers would follow her where ever she went, she commanded some of the highest fees of her day, and her exploits were reported on both sides of the Atlantic....Edna May first took to the stage at the age of 5, when she played Little Willie Allen in a production of "Dora". By the age of 7 she had joined a children's opera company and performed Gilbert & Sullivan productions in Syracuse." <i>This is so much what I imagine when I think of what music was like in 1900.</i></font><br /><br /><b>Dan W. Quinn</b><br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/vaudevillespecialty.mp3" target="_blank">Vaudeville Specialty</a><br /><font size="1">"The singer was born in San Francisco, perhaps in 1859 since Jim Walsh reports in the December 1961 issue of Hobbies that Quinn was 79 years old when he died. Posing with other Edison artists of 1900, Quinn appears to be around 40 years old in a photograph that is reprinted in the January 1971 issue of Hobbies. He was occasionally identified as a baritone but most often as a tenor. Quinn was a boy soprano in an Episcopal choir and was evidently a vaudeville performer when he was a young man. His photograph is on the cover of sheet music of the 1890s."</font></center>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1111622982986677162005-03-23T16:11:00.000-05:002005-03-24T01:24:01.856-05:00Tin Hueyhey, I'm Sophia, recent Vslam recruit. Though my main blog's <a href="http://soundkeeper.blogspot.com/">The Soundkeeper</a>, you'll likely be catching occasional updates from me here as well. Anyway, <i>on to ze music...</i><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.tinhuey.com">Tin Huey</a> formed in the early '70s in Akron, Ohio -- a scene that also birthed bands like Devo and the Rubber City Rebels. They're really cute -- geekish lyrics, huge melodies, gleefully messy, and obviously enjoying themselves a lot when they play. The enthusiasm of Robert Chistgau and a locally-popular cover of "I'm a Believer" got the band signed to Warner Brothers, where they released <a href="http://www.ccmusic.com/item.cfm?itemid=CCM03422">Contents Dislodged During Shipment</a> in 1979. Despite being a pretty fun slab of offbeat new-wave pop, the record sold disappointingly and the band was dropped from Warner Brothers, leading to its subsequent break-up. (Reunited in 1999, though, to record <i>Disinformation</i>.)<br /><br />Since I revel in all of those interesting band-connections... Chris Butler went on to form the Waitresses, record a handful of solo albums, and write "The Devil's Glitch," which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the longest recorded pop song (and was nominated for a Grammy in 1997). Stuart Austin worked on-and-off with Todd Rundgren. Ralph Carney played with the B-52s, Oranj Symphonette, Big Noise, and the Swollen Monkeys, as well as recording several solo albums.<br /><br /><br /><center><b>Tin Huey</b><br /><img src="http://vslam.org/images/tinhuey.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Contents Dislodged During Shipment (1979)<br><a href="http://vslam.org/music/02%20The%20Revelations%20Of%20Dr.%20Modesto.mp3" target="_blank">The Revelations of Dr. Modesto</a><br><a href="<http://vslam.org/music/02%20The%20Revelations%20Of%20Dr.%20Modesto.mp3>" target="_blank">Hump Day</a></center>phiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07573923455435768124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278661.post-1111565951384628842005-03-23T01:20:00.000-05:002005-03-23T21:13:09.220-05:00Centro-matic, Will Johnson, South San Gabriel, Varnaline, Slobberbone, Okkervil River, Peter Schmidtwill is the brains (& brawn) behind the legendary <a href="http://www.centro-matic.com/" target="_blank">Centro-matic</a>, the slightly less legendary (but no less great) <a href="http://www.south-san-gabriel.com/" target="_blank">South San Gabriel</a>; an open band usually consisting of at least will & scott danbom (the heavenly fiddle/cello/keyboard player) with notables like anders parker (<a href="http://www.varnaline.com/" target="_blank">Varnaline</a>), brent best (<a href="http://www.slobberbone.com/" target="_blank">Slobberbone</a>), howard draper (<a href="http://www.okkervilriver.com/" target="_blank">Okkervil River</a>), and so forth sitting in, and a few <a href="http://www.will-johnson-music.com/" target="_blank">solo</a> albums. oh and he was the drummer for the pretty well unknown funland band, prior to all this, with local good guy peter schmidt (genius behind the Legendary Crystal Chandelier) and clark something or other from the Toadies.<br />following in a long tradition of super-prolific texas songwriters, will has released 15 albums since 1997's release of redo the stacks, plus half a dozen 7 inches and tapes and a few singles turning up here and there on compilations. even more amazing than his seemingly non stop songwriting is the fact that every song is great. some are so great that you swear you've heard it before. it was maybe the most difficult thing i did all day to narrow it down to these three tracks. (guess i wasn't really in a rock out sort of mood, these are all pretty down-tempo.)<br /><br /><center><b>Centro-matic</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/Centromatic-Static.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />The Static vs. The Strings Vol. 1 (1999)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/centromatic-saysomething.mp3" target="_blank">Say Something / 95 Frowns</a><br /><font size="1">one of my favorites from an album i always forget about (its actually a collection of home recordings and leftover songs, not an album)</font><br /><br /><br /><b>Will Johnson</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/WillJohnson-Murder.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Murder of Tides (2002)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/WillJohnson-Re-RunPills.mp3" target="_blank">Re-Run Pills</a><br /><font size="1">listen closely and you can hear the cicadas in the background (god i love that)</font><br /><br /><br /><b>South San Gabriel</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/SSG-Carlton.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation's Through (2005)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/SSG-IFeelTooYoungToDie.mp3" target="_blank">I Feel Too Young to Die</a><br /><font size="1">i just got this album, and this song struck me from the first listen</font><br /><br /><br /><font size="2">other tracks from:</font><br /><br /><b>Varnaline</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/varnaline.jpg" width="100" height="100" border="1"><br />Songs in a Nothern Key (2001)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Varnaline-StillDream.mp3" target="_blank">Still Dream</a><br /><br /><br /><b>Slobberbone</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/slobberbone.jpg" width="100" height="100" border="1"><br />Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today (2000)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/Slobberbone-TrustJesus.mp3" target="_blank">Trust Jesus</a><br /><br /><br /><b>Okkervil River</b><br /><img src="http://www.vslam.org/images/okkervilriver.jpg" width="100" height="100"><br />Black Sheep Boy (2005)<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/OkkervilRiver-BlackSheepBoy.mp3" target="_blank">Black Sheep Boy</a><br /><br /><br /><b>Various Artists</b><font size="1"><br />[sorry no artwork available]<br /></font>Observer: Scene, Heard Volume 3<br /><a href="http://www.vslam.org/music/PeterSchmidt-AlltheUmbrellasinLondon.mp3" target="_blank">Peter Schmidt - All The Umbrellas In London</a><br /></center>cadethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12836865545414288950noreply@blogger.com1