Talk about coincidence! I recently grabbed some CDs off the stack before driving to a Chuck Prophet show and instantly fell in love again with FREAKWATER’s awesome ‘Feels Like The Third Time’ Thrill Jockey album from 1993. Then the next day - to my surprise - I see the album on display in the window of a record shop! Turns out that this album has been reissued on vinyl on the opportunity of Record Store Day! I used to be a huge ELEVENTH DREAM DAY fan (I even managed to book the band in my village in 1990) and was very curious at the time when I heard about a new band founded by ELEVENTH DREAM DAY’s drummer girl Janet Beveridge Bean. For one reason or another (stupid me), I didn’t really pay much attention to FREAKWATER although I once saw the band play a great show as opening band for CALEXICO in Brussels (2002). ‘Feels Like The Third Time’ was a way influential record in the early days of the No Depression movement and still deserves your utmost attention! More info about the band on Freakwater’s excellent website!
Later on that night, I was dumbstruck to find out what an amazing artist CHUCK PROPHET still is! His show at Café Den Trap in Kortrijk was a blast from start to finish and reminded me of the good old days when guitar bands could let their guitars go roam, groan & creak (think Giant Sand, Thin White Rope, Green On Red etc.). After this perfect show, I bought Prophet’s latest album which is really excellent. As with FREAKWATER, I feel the urge to bury myself deep in CHUCK PROPHET’s comprehensive discography!
World Circuit has recently reissued both of its essential CUMBIA collections from 1989 and 1993. Although there are no extra tracks and everybody I know who likes cumbia already owns both albums, this reissue is essential and definitely a must-have for the uninitiated! This irresistable dance music was recorded between 1954 and 1972 in Cartagena and Medellin and licensed from Discos Fuentos. Soundway Records has recently issued 2 other essential cumbia collections: CARTAGENA! CURRO FUENTES & THE BIG BAND CUMBIA AND DESCARGA SOUND OF COLOMBIA 1962-72 and THE ORIGINAL SOUND OF CUMBIA: THE HISTORY OF COLOMBIA CUMBIA & PORRO AS TOLD BY THE PHONOGRAPH 1948-79 COMPILED BY WILL “QUANTIC” HOLLAND. Very addictive stuff to say the least!
Every now and then, I buy myself a bunch of CDs from the unsurpassed ACE RECORDS. Not only because every cd is a quality release but also because I like funding labels that make my day and do hate dorks who think it’s normal to rob record labels and artists through illegal downloading. Labels like Ace Records really need my cash in order to survive! I placed my ACE order at Red Lick Records who do have a wonderful mailorder service (good communication, quick & correct) and whose prices are competitive. Here’s what I recently ordered, all are fantastic hoo-ray!
- Your On The Hour Man: The Modern, Dolphin & Downey Recordings 1952-1960 – LITTLE CAESAR (Ace)
- I Am The Lord – LORD LUTHER (Ace)
- THE GODFATHER’S R&B: JAMES BROWN’S PRODUCTIONS 1962-67 (BGP)
- SALSO MUNDO: COLOMBIA – MUSIC BORN OF CONFLICT (BGP)
- SHATTERED DREAMS: FUNKY BLUES 1967-1978 (BGP)
- Hot Like TNT: The Best of the Early Years – JOHNNY “GUITAR” WATSON (Ace)
- I’m Living Good 1964-1974: The Soul of ARTHUR CONLEY (Kent)
- MUSIC CITY SOUL: FROM NASHVILLE’S BLACK CATS (Kent)
- On With The Show Volume 2 1957-1974 – THE JOHNNY OTIS SHOW (Ace)
- IKE TURNER STUDIO PRODUCTIONS: NEW ORLEANS AND LOS ANGELES 1963-65 (Ace)
I end with one of the first CDs I bought at the time when the release of a new album was promoted by means of including the artist's former album. The CD I am talking about collects the first two albums by Houston's PAIN TEENS ('Case Histories' from 1989 and 'Born in Blood' from 1990). Both albums mix industrial noise, weirdo rock, Middle Eastern strings & tape loops to full effect. All Music says: "The Pain Teens' core was the husband-and-wife team of Bliss Blood and Scott Ayers; Blood played the role of goth chanteuse, while Ayers' murky, ultradistorted guitar work veered from creepy psychedelia to pure avant-garde noise, with occasional hints of Texas blues filtered through the Birthday Party." Right on! I think it's about time to rediscover both albums!
By the way, I am working on a Dutch-only books blog. I'll let you know when it's ready! In the meantime: Stay Cool!
