New Music Friday: The Specials
Our picks, er, pick, this week. Click the link to order discounted items from Amazon.
Pop Culture Roundup: Kiss mini-golf; Joe Kubert; DC Comics; Marvel Comics
ITEM! Kiss mini-golf in Las Vegas! What's not to love? (via Atlas Obscura.)
ITEM! Check out Joe Kubert's little-known 1940 superhero, the Zebra (via Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine.)
ITEM! A fantastic DC Comics promo poster by the fantastic Jose Garcia Lopez (via Rip Jagger's Dojo.)
Plus one for Marvel, by the great John Romita!
ITEM! Check out Joe Kubert's little-known 1940 superhero, the Zebra (via Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine.)
ITEM! A fantastic DC Comics promo poster by the fantastic Jose Garcia Lopez (via Rip Jagger's Dojo.)
Coming Up: The Seeds - Pushin' Too Hard Soundtrack
Our March 8. Order from Amazon now.
Details from Ace Records:
Big Beat's series of reissues dedicated to the Seeds reaches its apex with the compilation 'Pushin' Too Hard: The Seeds', the accompanying soundtrack to an acclaimed rockumentary tracing the rise and fall of these 60s garage icons. Directed by GNP Crescendo's Neil Norman and written/produced by Ace's own Alec Palao, 'Pushin' Too Hard: The Seeds' is an extensive trip through the career of the exemplary quartet, and its eccentric front man, Sky Saxon. Aficionados will be glad to note that several of the group's own selections are presented here as alternate takes or different versions, providing more evidence of the driving, hypnotic brand of rock'n'roll the Seeds pioneered.
Coming Up: This Is Lowrider Soul 1962-1970
Out Feb. 8. Order from Amazon now.
Details from Kent Records:
The Mexican and central and South American immigrants and their descendants who originally settled mainly around East Los Angeles have had an affinity for sweet soul love ballads for many years. In recent times the collecting scene has intensified and spread to soul fans around the world who, already sympathetic to the music, were intrigued by the titles that were finding such favour among this very hip scene. Scene classics are provided by the Whispers, Barbara Mason, the Ambassadors, Brenton Wood and Lee Williams & the Cymbals, most of which are quite well known in Europe, too. More esoteric picks are provided by the Endeavors, Aesop's Fables, Jimmy Conwell, the Vows and the Interpreters. Being Kent, we suggested some previously unreleased masters to the selectors and they were knocked out to include the Lovers Bay Area-recorded 'When You're Poor' and the Billy Terrell, Ray Dahrouge and Tony Camillo-written-and-produced gem 'I'm Just Passing Time'; their inclusion has caused a buzz around the scene.
Tracks:
1. Take a Step - Aesop's Fables
2. Why'd You Put Me on - Bobbi Row & the Englishmen
3. I Wanna Chance - the Vows
4. Where Were You - Brenton Wood
5. Second Hand Happiness - Jimmy Conwell
6. 'Til You Come Back to Me - Lee Williams & the Cymbals
7. Oh How It Hurts - Barbara Mason
8. I Really Love You - the Ambassadors
9. As I Sit Here - the Whispers
10. One More Chance - the Four Tees
11. No Doubt About It - the Esquires
12. It's Not That Easy - Reuben Bell with the Casanovas
13. It's So Hard to Break a Habit - the Webs
14. Pretending Dear - the Lovelles
15. Find Me - the Attractions
16. Shattered Dreams - the Endeavors
17. Be Kind to Love - the Interpreters
18. When You're Poor - the Celestials
19. Never Gonna Let Him Know - Debbie Taylor & the 4 Hesitations
20. As Long As I've Got You - the Charmels
21. Don't Forget About Me Baby - Jeff Dale
22. I'm a Lonely Man - Bobby Burn Aka Bobby Wilburn
23. Crying All By Myself - William Bell
24. I'm Just Passing Time - Melvin Hicks & the Versatiles
Time Capsule: The Beatles' final live performance, Jan. 30, 1969
The Fabs climbed to the roof of their Apple Corps HQ in London on this day 50 years ago to perform a set of tunes captured by cameras for inclusion in the "Let it Be" film. It would be the last time the band played live in public.
New Comics Day: Wonder Woman; Steve Canyon
Our picks:
Diana is on a journey back to Paradise Island in search of rest and relief with her mother, Hippolyta, and the other Amazons. When fellow Amazon Leda attempts to take herself and Diana back to the dimension in which Paradise Island now exists, their journey goes awry and they end up on the world of Chalandor, battling black-hued beings called Shadowmen.
Just when they think they're safe, a Chalandorian craft lands and its crew intends to bring both Amazons back to their arena to fight as gladiatrixes. There they meet a fellow captive, a barbarian called Ranagor. Diana and Ranagor end up in the arena facing the gnarth, a vicious beast, but will they make it out alive? Find out in Wonder Woman by Walt Simonson & Jerry Ordway, collecting stories from these two legendary creators. Collects Wonder Woman #189-194.
Just when they think they're safe, a Chalandorian craft lands and its crew intends to bring both Amazons back to their arena to fight as gladiatrixes. There they meet a fellow captive, a barbarian called Ranagor. Diana and Ranagor end up in the arena facing the gnarth, a vicious beast, but will they make it out alive? Find out in Wonder Woman by Walt Simonson & Jerry Ordway, collecting stories from these two legendary creators. Collects Wonder Woman #189-194.
Six white horses laid a President to rest as a nation wept, but Milton Caniff knew that a man-and a nation-must carry on. In these stories from 1963-64, the globetrotting Steve Canyon foils diabolical enemy plots in half a dozen countries. Steve goes undercover in Turkey, tries not to get clawed by his old "friend" Cheetah during an encounter in western Mexico, and tackles a communist plot in Africa. After being embroiled in a royal family feud in the fictional kingdom of Mahnay, Canyon has his first brush with military action in a small Indochinese country-Vietnam! Things are no quieter on the home front, as Copper Calhoon and Summer Olsen have it out, while cousin Poteet helps uncover a foreign agent planted at the 1964 World's Fair. It's action, humor, and mystery in the distinctive Caniff style in these never-before-reprinted daily and full-color Sunday comics.
Coming Up: Reggie Young - Session Guitar Star
Out Feb. 8. Order from Amazon now.
Details from Ace Records:
During his six-decade career as a session man, predominantly in Memphis and Nashville, Reggie Young's unique guitar work has embellished 45s and albums by just about every major artist who cut tracks in those two hotbeds of recording activity. There were plenty of lower profile names, too, who made great records without necessarily over-working the chart compilers. To Reggie it didn't matter; he always did his best to provide what he felt was right for the song, very often just some personalised licks and fills here and there, but he would cut loose on a scorching solo if he thought it added to the overall performance. This CD contains a healthy mixture of both, and much in between.
Tracks:
1. Slip, Slip, Slippin' in - Eddie Bond & His Stompers
2. Carol - Bill Black's Combo
3. A Touch of the Blues - Bobby Bland
4. Dream Baby - Jerry & Reggie
5. I'm Movin' on - the Box Tops
6. The Champion Pt. 1 - Willie Mitchell
7. Meet Me in Church - Solomon Burke
8. Chicken Crazy - Joe Tex
9. In the Pocket - King Curtis & the King Pins
10. More Love - James Carr
11. Don't Forget About Me - Dusty Springfield
12. Stranger in My Own Home Town - Elvis Presley
13. I Wanna Roo You - Jackie de Shannon
14. Drift Away - Dobie Gray
15. Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life) - Sonny Curtis
16. Victim of Life's Circumstances - Delbert McClinton
17. Lover Please - Billy Swan
18. Morning Glory - James & Bobby Purify
19. Cocaine - J.J. Cale
20. I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink - Merle Haggard
21. The Highwayman - the Highwaymen Aka Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson
22. Griselda - Natalie Merchant
23. Whenever You Come Around - Little Milton
24. Where Do We Go from Here - Waylon Jennings
Out Now: The Pop Genius Of Mickie Most
Order from Amazon now.
Details from Ace Records:
Making hits seemed all too easy for legendary producer Mickie Most who attributed his success to his extraordinary ability to spot a hit tune, combined with unbridled common sense. American record companies sat up and took notice and, with his career in the ascendancy, Most extended his run of hits on both sides of the Atlantic with artists such as Donovan, Brenda Lee, Lulu and Jeff Beck. He turned down the chance to produce the Monkees, Elvis and Barbra Streisand because it clashed with his scheduling. Here then is a hand-picked representation of the man's best or most significant work. Incidentally, both 'I Love Rock'n'Roll' and 'Living Next Door To Alice' are the original flop versions of songs that went onto become huge hits for Joan Jett and Smokey, respectively. The CD comes in a deluxe package with rigid slipcase and a separate memorabilia-laden 72-page booklet with in-depth notes by Rob Finnis.
Tracks:
1. Motorbikin' - Chris Spedding
2. Tobacco Road - Nashville Teens
3. The House of the Rising Sun - the Animals
4. Hi-Ho Silver Lining - Jeff Beck
5. Journey - Duncan Browne
6. Brother Louie - Hot Chocolate
7. Is It True - Brenda Lee
8. Sunshine Superman (Single Version) - Donovan
9. Dance with the Devil - Cozy Powell
10. No Milk Today - Herman's Hermits
11. Walking - C.C.S
12. Little Games - the Yardbirds
13. Gin House - Paul Williams & the Big Roll Band
14. The Boat That I Row - Lulu
15. Jailhouse Rock - Jeff Beck Group (Feat. Rod Stewart)
16. 48 Crash - Suzi Quatro
17. Living Next Door to Alice - New World
18. I Love Rock 'N' Roll - Arrows
19. Mellow Yellow - Donovan
20. Days of My Life - the Seekers Feat. Judith Durham
21. Bread and Butter - Barry St. John
22. Flight 2 - Angelo and Eighteen
23. To Sir with Love - Lulu
24. Some Girls - Racey
Coming Up: The Byrds 1973 reunion album, remastered
Out March 1. Order from Amazon now.
Details:
Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a new re-mastered edition of the legendary 1973 reunion album by THE BYRDS; “Byrds”.
Released on the Asylum label in March 1973, “Byrds” saw the classic line-up of GENE CLARK, CHRIS HILLMAN, DAVID CROSBY, ROGER McGUINN and MICHAEL CLARKE fully reunited for the first time since 1966 (when Clark departed the group due to his fear of flying) and following the departure of Clarke and Crosby in 1967 – Clarke to the Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby to Crosby, Stills and Nash (and Young).
Recorded at the Wally Heider studios in Los Angeles during October and November 1972, the album featured compositions by Gene Clark (‘Full Circle’ and ‘Changing Heart’), Roger McGuinn (‘Sweet Mary’ and ‘Born to Rock n’ Roll’) and Chris Hillman (‘Things Will Be Better’ and ‘Borrowing Time’) along with David Crosby’s ‘Long Live the King’ and a new version of ‘Laughing’ (originally recorded by Crosby on his 1971 solo album “If Only I Could Remember My Name”).
The album also featured a cover version of Joni Mitchell’s ‘For Free’ and two Neil Young compositions; ‘Cowgirl in the Sand’ and ‘(See the Sky) About to Rain’, the latter not released by Young himself until 1974 when his version appeared on the album “On the Beach”.
This re-mastered edition of “Byrds” restores the original album artwork and features an illustrated booklet with essay.
1. FULL CIRCLE
2. SWEET MARY
3. CHANGING HEART
4. FOR FREE
5. BORN TO ROCK N’ ROLL
6. THINGS WILL BE BETTER
7. COWGIRL IN THE SAND
8. LONG LIVE THE KING
9. BORROWING TIME
10.LAUGHING
11. (SEE THE SKY) ABOUT TO RAIN
Video preview: "The Collected Topi"
Volume one, "The Enchanted World," is out Feb. 5. You can order it now from Amazon.
Details:
Presenting the first in a seven-volume library of works by master illustrator Sergio Toppi. This first volume collects eleven short fantasy tales previously collected as Black & Tans, Krull, and A Minor God.
New Music Friday: Big Star; The Beat; Buzzcocks; Eric Dolphy; The Ides of March; Ringo Starr
Our picks. Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.
Pop Culture Roundup: The Phantom; Doctor Who; Jazz '59; George Perez retires; Jimi Hendrix and Moebius
Item! Phantom Big Little Books!
Item! Former "Doctor Who" David Tennant has a new podcast, and one of his first guests is the new "Doctor Who," Jodie Whitaker.
Item! A new photo blog celebrates 1959, one of the greatest years in modern jazz.
Item! The great comics artist George Perez, known for his detail-, character-packed work on Teen Titans, Justice League of America, The Avengers and more, has announced he's retiring (mostly) from the field. I'm surprised he didn't retire after drawing this picture:
Item! Speaking of comics' greats, here's some Jimi Hendrix art by Moebius.
Coming Up: I’m A Freak 2 Baby - A Further Journey through The British Heavy Psych & Hard Rock Underground Scene 1968-73
Out Feb. 1. Order from Amazon now.
Details:
Released in 2016, I’m A Freak Baby – Grapefruit’s 3-CD overview of
the UK’s late Sixties/early Seventies nascent hard rock/proto-metal
scene – received rapturous acclaim from pundits and punters alike, with
The Guardian’s “grim, grey and glorious” summary succinctly capturing
the general response to the set.
Three years later, the woodwork squeaks and out come the freaks again. And, like all good follow-ups, I’m A Freak 2 Baby expands upon the original while simultaneously tightening the stylistic mesh.
In addition to further selections from some of the subterranean stars of the first volume (Iron Claw, the semi-housetrained Stack Waddy, the even more semi-housetrained Wicked Lady), we feature many of the genre’s pioneers, with key tracks from The Jeff Beck Group, Edgar Broughton Band, Atomic Rooster and High Tide.
Our scope ranges from Top Five hit singles (Love Sculpture’s manic, heavily influential ‘Sabre Dance’ and the original brass-free demo version of The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown’s gothic masterpiece ‘Fire’) to a clutch of bands (Thor, Tonge, Tarsus and several others) that were active during our timeframe but didn’t get beyond locally-recorded demos. We also feature tracks from some of the rarest albums of the era (Red Dirt, Leaf Hound, Dogfeet, Bodkin, Human Beast, Astral Navigations etc).
During our journey, we stumble across Sabbath acolytes, Zeppelin wannabes, musicians’ cooperatives, future legends, Satanism, shamanism, sham-Satanism, industrial-strength levels of reassuringly non-PC attitude and more cowbell than any sane individual could reasonably tolerate.
Boasting a lavish 40-page booklet full of rare photos and memorabilia from the era, many recordings making their first appearance on CD and several cuts gaining their first-ever release in any format, I’m A Freak 2 Baby is another essential addition to Grapefruit’s ever- increasing catalogue of UK late Sixties/early Seventies genre anthologies.
DISC ONE:
1. GUTS – Budgie
2. SHAPES OF THINGS – Jeff Beck
3. RUN THE NIGHT – Wicked Lady
4. THE MAN WHO PAINTS THE PICTURES – Stray
5. ROSIE – Slowload *
6. TURKISH TRAM CONDUCTOR BLUES – The Move
7. CHOCOLATE PIANO – Orang-Utan
8. CLAWSTROPHOBIA – Iron Claw
9. PLASTIC MAN – Bodkin
10. LET’S ALL WATCH THE SKY FALL DOWN – Andromeda
11. MOTHER GREASE THE CAT – Ancient Grease
12. ROSALYN – Stack Waddy
13. HORSE – Sam Gopal
14. SABRE DANCE – Love Sculpture
15. DOG MAN – Monument
16. FREELANCE FIEND – Leaf Hound
17. LOUD GREEN SONG – Patto
18. WINTER OF MY LOVE – Sam Apple Pie
* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
DISC TWO:
1. WOMAN FOR SALE – Tear Gas
2. DEATH WALKS BEHIND YOU – Atomic Rooster
3. APACHE DROP OUT – Edgar Broughton Band
4. TURN ON, OR TURN ME DOWN – N.S.U.
5. BRAIN WORKER – Red Dirt
6. EARLY IN SPRING – The Rats
7. SOMEWHERE TO GO – The Deviants
8. ARMAGEDDON – Dogfeet
9. DOWN AND OUT – Pluto
10. BRUSH WITH THE MIDNIGHT BUTTERFLY – The Human Beast
11. R.C.8. (DEMO VERSION) – Dark
12. WAIT A WHILE – Purple Haze
13. DAZE – Three Man Army
14. OLD FATHER TIME – Tonge *
15. ASHEN BESHER – Mouse
16. FUSSING AND FIGHTING – Sunday
17. GOING DOWN – Freedom
* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
DISC THREE:
1. FUTILIST’S LAMENT – High Tide
2. YESTERDAY – Lightyears Away
3. WOMAN – Samuel Prody
4. CONFUSION – Eugene Carnan
5. SO LONG I’M MOVING ON – Hard Horse
6. FIRE! (DEMO VERSION) – The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown
7. EARLY MORNING SUN – Tarsus *
8. IS THERE ANY DOUBT?– Natural Gas *
9. BACK IN TIME – Warhorse
10. NAME OF THE GAME – Little Big Horn
11. SINISTER MINISTER – Bullet
12. I NEED SOMEONE – Frozen Tear *
13. THE NYMPH – Sardonicus
14. HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN – 9.30 Fly *
15. SOMEONE’S BEEN AT MY WOMAN – Clark-Hutchinson
16. BIG JIM SALTER – Stone The Crows
17. PARANOID – Thor *
18. LUCIFER CORPUS – Writing On The Wall
* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
Three years later, the woodwork squeaks and out come the freaks again. And, like all good follow-ups, I’m A Freak 2 Baby expands upon the original while simultaneously tightening the stylistic mesh.
In addition to further selections from some of the subterranean stars of the first volume (Iron Claw, the semi-housetrained Stack Waddy, the even more semi-housetrained Wicked Lady), we feature many of the genre’s pioneers, with key tracks from The Jeff Beck Group, Edgar Broughton Band, Atomic Rooster and High Tide.
Our scope ranges from Top Five hit singles (Love Sculpture’s manic, heavily influential ‘Sabre Dance’ and the original brass-free demo version of The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown’s gothic masterpiece ‘Fire’) to a clutch of bands (Thor, Tonge, Tarsus and several others) that were active during our timeframe but didn’t get beyond locally-recorded demos. We also feature tracks from some of the rarest albums of the era (Red Dirt, Leaf Hound, Dogfeet, Bodkin, Human Beast, Astral Navigations etc).
During our journey, we stumble across Sabbath acolytes, Zeppelin wannabes, musicians’ cooperatives, future legends, Satanism, shamanism, sham-Satanism, industrial-strength levels of reassuringly non-PC attitude and more cowbell than any sane individual could reasonably tolerate.
Boasting a lavish 40-page booklet full of rare photos and memorabilia from the era, many recordings making their first appearance on CD and several cuts gaining their first-ever release in any format, I’m A Freak 2 Baby is another essential addition to Grapefruit’s ever- increasing catalogue of UK late Sixties/early Seventies genre anthologies.
DISC ONE:
1. GUTS – Budgie
2. SHAPES OF THINGS – Jeff Beck
3. RUN THE NIGHT – Wicked Lady
4. THE MAN WHO PAINTS THE PICTURES – Stray
5. ROSIE – Slowload *
6. TURKISH TRAM CONDUCTOR BLUES – The Move
7. CHOCOLATE PIANO – Orang-Utan
8. CLAWSTROPHOBIA – Iron Claw
9. PLASTIC MAN – Bodkin
10. LET’S ALL WATCH THE SKY FALL DOWN – Andromeda
11. MOTHER GREASE THE CAT – Ancient Grease
12. ROSALYN – Stack Waddy
13. HORSE – Sam Gopal
14. SABRE DANCE – Love Sculpture
15. DOG MAN – Monument
16. FREELANCE FIEND – Leaf Hound
17. LOUD GREEN SONG – Patto
18. WINTER OF MY LOVE – Sam Apple Pie
* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
DISC TWO:
1. WOMAN FOR SALE – Tear Gas
2. DEATH WALKS BEHIND YOU – Atomic Rooster
3. APACHE DROP OUT – Edgar Broughton Band
4. TURN ON, OR TURN ME DOWN – N.S.U.
5. BRAIN WORKER – Red Dirt
6. EARLY IN SPRING – The Rats
7. SOMEWHERE TO GO – The Deviants
8. ARMAGEDDON – Dogfeet
9. DOWN AND OUT – Pluto
10. BRUSH WITH THE MIDNIGHT BUTTERFLY – The Human Beast
11. R.C.8. (DEMO VERSION) – Dark
12. WAIT A WHILE – Purple Haze
13. DAZE – Three Man Army
14. OLD FATHER TIME – Tonge *
15. ASHEN BESHER – Mouse
16. FUSSING AND FIGHTING – Sunday
17. GOING DOWN – Freedom
* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
DISC THREE:
1. FUTILIST’S LAMENT – High Tide
2. YESTERDAY – Lightyears Away
3. WOMAN – Samuel Prody
4. CONFUSION – Eugene Carnan
5. SO LONG I’M MOVING ON – Hard Horse
6. FIRE! (DEMO VERSION) – The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown
7. EARLY MORNING SUN – Tarsus *
8. IS THERE ANY DOUBT?– Natural Gas *
9. BACK IN TIME – Warhorse
10. NAME OF THE GAME – Little Big Horn
11. SINISTER MINISTER – Bullet
12. I NEED SOMEONE – Frozen Tear *
13. THE NYMPH – Sardonicus
14. HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN – 9.30 Fly *
15. SOMEONE’S BEEN AT MY WOMAN – Clark-Hutchinson
16. BIG JIM SALTER – Stone The Crows
17. PARANOID – Thor *
18. LUCIFER CORPUS – Writing On The Wall
* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
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