Santa's Helpers

Here's my favorite Christmas song, a few b-sides and a few variations...
























Download: GONE mp3
by Chuck Berry, 1958.
available on The Chess Box :Chuck Berry
























Download: GONE mp3
by Chuck Berry, 1958.
available on The Chess Box :Chuck Berry






















I'm pretty familiar with the Dave Edmunds catalog, but I had no idea of the existence of this record until I walked into House of Oldies on Carmine Street asking for an Earl King 45, and walked away with this. I had no intention of buying any Christmas records, but must have been an easy mark since I reached into my pocket and bought the record without any hesitation when the proprietor suggested it instead.














































Download: GONE mp3
by Dave Edmunds, 1982.
available on Party PartyOST
























And finally, Keith's Christmas single from 1978. Here he is joined by Ronnie Wood and Sly and Robbie. The b-side, a Jimmy Cliff classic, is not a holiday number but is too great not to include. In it, he recreates his four note"Sympathy For The Devil" solo at about a quarter of the speed and all of the soul.












































Download GONE mp3
by Keith Richards, 1978.
non scratchy version available @ itunes store.
























Download: "The Harder They Come" mp3
by Keith Richards, 1978.

Jews On 45

Happy Hanukkah... a little late but not too late.

Below we have eight records that are in some way associated with my people. Bookended by a record by a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn singing about a gospel tent show, and a noted disturbed and not Jewish anti-semite backed by Yo La Tengo, who celebrate the eight nights of Hanukkah in Hoboken almost every year with a star-studded Festival of Lights. In between we get noted Yids: The Lovin' Spoonful, The Clash (singer Mick Jones); The Strangeloves, who pretended to be Australian brothers, but were in fact the songwriting team of Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer; Joey Ramone AKA Jeffrey Hyman singing a song co-written and produced by psycho-Jew Phil Spector, Leslie West (nee Weinstein) fronting Mountain in a guilty pleasure of mine as well as my second favorite cowbell song; and a semi-rare B-side by Mr. Zimmerman himself.

Spin your dradles and rock.

Download:























"Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" mp3
by Neil Diamond, 1969.
available on The Neil Diamond Collection























"Nashville Cats" mp3
by The Lovin' Spoonful, 1966.
available on Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful
























"Gates Of The West" mp3
by The Clash, 1979.
available on Super Black Market Clash























"Baby, I Love You" mp3
by The Ramones, 1980.
available on End of the Century























"Angels Flying Too Close To The Ground" mp3
by Bob Dylan, 1983
available on UK Single "Union Sundown"
























"Mississippi Queen" mp3
by Mountain, 1970.
available on The Best of Mountain























"Cara-Lin" mp3
by The Strangeloves, 1965.
available on I Want Candy: The Best of the Strangeloves























"Speeding Motorcycle" mp3
by Daniel Johnston with Yo La Tengo (via telephone)
from Nicholas Hill's Music Faucet on WFMU, 1990.
available on Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo

Fever In The Funkhouse

One of the cooler things I picked up at the WFMU Record Fair last month was a pretty common record. The Stones' 1972 US single of "Tumbling Dice." What is extraordinary about it is that they issued it in Mono. The B-Side, "Sweet Black Angel" is stereo. To do this in 1972, was probably not a self-conscious retro pose, as much as the realization that the record should be mixed to be heard through the speaker of a Delco radio on the dashboard of a Pontiac. FM radio was still optional in those days. So, aside from any geeky discussion of Mono vs. Stereo, this is in my opinion the Stones finest moment. Originally kicked around in 1969 sessions for Sticky Fingers as "Good Time Women," it was recorded and remained unfinished until the riff and the groove coalesced into "Tumbling Dice" in the sweaty basement of Keith's Chateau Villa Nellcote on the French Riviera during the sessions for Exile on Main Street. What is great about this record is pretty simple: there's the groove, the riff, and great lyrics from Jagger when he was still a credible voice. Mick is on rhythm, Keith takes the solo and Mick Taylor plays bass. The Mono mix has a more lively drum sound and more subdued background vocals.

Dig it...


Download:

"Tumbling Dice" mp3 mono mix
by The Rolling Stones, 1972.
Single RS-19103


BONUS:

The genesis of a groove....


"Good Time Women" mp3
by The Rolling Stones, 1969.
unreleased




"Tumbling Dice #1 & #2" mp3
by The Rolling Stones, 1971
Mick Taylor on lead guitar
unreleased



"Tumbling Dice" mp3 stereo mix
by The Rolling Stones, 1972
available on Exile on Main St.



photograph: © Robert Frank, 1972.

Let Us Now Praise James Burton Pt. 1

In case you haven't noticed, guitar players have a special place here in Fluvile. James Burton holds an esteemed distinction among guitarists. Not only is he the quintessential sideman, but he has played with both Elvis'.

Hum Susie-Q for a bit.

It's the riff you're humming, right? James Burton wrote that. He was already a veteran of the Louisiana Hayride when he recorded it with Dale Hawkins at the ripe age of 15, before migrating to Bob Luman's band and then being snatched up by Ricky Nelson who was recording next door. Burton then went on to play on hundreds of records, mostly uncredited. We'll get to those in another post.

In the meantime, dig this...


















Download: "Susie-Q" mp3
by Dale Hawkins, 1956.
available on Oh! Suzy-Q: The Best of Dale Hawkins



















Download: "Don't Treat Me This Way" mp3
by Dale Hawkins, 1956.
available on Oh! Suzy-Q: The Best of Dale Hawkins.

Download:

"Red Cadillac And A Black Mustache" mp3
"Wild Eyed Woman" mp3
"Blue Days, Black Nights" mp3
"Whenever You're Ready" mp3
"Make Up Your Mind" mp3
"Your Love" mp3

by Bob Luman, 1957.
available on Let's Think About Living - His Recordings 1955-1967

"This Is The Night", with Bob Luman from Carnival Rock, 1957.

























Download: "Stood Up" mp3
by Ricky Nelson, 1957.
available on Ricky Nelson - Greatest Hits

























Download: "I Got A Feeling" mp3
by Ricky Nelson, 1958.
available on Ricky Nelson - Greatest Hits























Download: "It's Late" mp3
by Ricky Nelson, 1959.
available on Ricky Nelson - Greatest Hits























Download: "Hello Mary Lou" mp3
by Ricky Nelson, 1961.
available on Ricky Nelson - Greatest Hits


"Believe What You Say", with Ricky Nelson, 1958.

























"Fireball Mail" mp3
By Jim & Joe, 1963.
James Burton and Joe Osborn
Out of Print

Photograph: © Ted Barron, 1997.
James Burton with Kenny Lovelace and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Bird Is The Word

Happy Thanksgiving.

Download:

"Carvin' The Bird" mp3
by Charlie Parker Septet, 1947.
available on The Legendary Dial Masters Vol. 1-2



















"Bird's Nest" mp3
by Charlie Parker Quartet, 1947.
available on The Legendary Dial Masters Vol. 1-2

"Bird of Paradise" mp3
by Charlie Parker Quintet, 1947.
available on The Legendary Dial Masters Vol. 1-2

"Bird Feathers" mp3
by Charlie Parker Quintet, 1947.
available on The Legendary Dial Masters Vol. 1-2


BONUS:

"Surfin Bird" mp3
by The Ramones, 1977.
available on Rocket To Russia

"I Thank You" mp3
by Sam & Dave, 1968.
available on The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1959-1968

"Thankful 'N Thoughtful" mp3
by Sly & The Family Stone, 1973
available on Fresh

"Be Thankful For What You Got"
by William DeVaughn, 1974
available on Be Thankful For What You Got

"Be Thankful For What You Got"
by Yo La Tengo, 1998.
available on Little Honda

"Thank You Friends"
by Big Star, 1974.
available on Sister Lovers

Along with Miles Davis, (as heard in the above Charlie Parker Quintet) here's a few perspectives on Thanksgiving from two more of St. Louis' finest....

Download:

"Thanksgiving Pussy"
by Redd Foxx
available on Fugg It!!


"Thanksgiving Prayer",
William S. Burroughs, 1986.
directed by Gus Van Sant

Bob's Not There

The other night I was lucky enough to see the Dylan tribute concert at the Beacon Theater, a benefit/tribute thing that was as formless as Todd Haynes' much ballyhooed and forthcoming film I'm Not There promises to be. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to see the film, I'm just not expecting much. The concert was kinda a big mess, but sprinkled with some outstanding performances by John Doe, Jim James, Dan Hicks, J. Mascis, Al Kooper, Calexico, and others. After a while, I was overcome by the feeling that I'd rather hear Dylan do these songs than the steady stream of performers that took the stage. Anyway, I've compiled a little playlist of recordings of Dylan covers: more versions of Bob Dylan done by others, I know. Somehow it's easier to take it at home. There's an endless well to choose from - literally thousands - here's a few interesting ones.

Have a good weekend.

Download:

"Like A Rolling Stone" mp3
by The Soup Greens, 1965.
available on Pebbles Volume 1

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" mp3
by Chris Farlowe, 1966.
available on Out Of Time

"Wallflower" mp3
by Doug Sahm with Bob Dylan, 1973.
available on The Best of Doug Sahm & Friends

"I Threw It All Away" mp3
by Yo La Tengo, 1987.
available on President Yo La Tengo/New Wave Hot Dogs

"Girl From North Country" mp3
by Link Wray, 1965.
available on The Swan Singles Collection

"Baby, I'm In The Mood For You" mp3
by Dion DiMucci, 1965.
available on King Of The New York Streets

"Going Going Gone" mp3
by Richard Hell and the Voidoids, 1982.
available on Destiny Street

"If You Gotta Go" mp3
by The Flying Burrito Brothers, 1970.
available on Burrito Deluxe

"I'll Keep It With Mine" mp3
by Fairport Convention, 1969.
available on Meet Me On The Ledge

"Kingsport Town" mp3
by Cat Power, 2000.
available on The Covers Record

"I Shall Be Released" mp3
by Nina Simone, 1969.
available on Sugar In My Bowl

"Mama You've Been On My Mind"
by Rod Stewart, 1972.
available on Never A Dull Moment

"Wallflower" mp3
by Buddy & Julie Miller, 2001
available on Buddy & Julie Miller

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" mp3
by The 13th Floor Elevators, 1967.
available on Easter Everywhere

"Like A Rolling Pin" mp3
by The Replacements, 1990.
available on Don't Sell Or Buy, It's Crap
(out of print)

***********************************
BONUS
***********************************
"Baby, I'm In The Mood" mp3
"Dylan Story" mp3
by Dion, 2007
available on Son of Skip James

Five Guys Named Slim

There's something in a nickname.

Some guys are called "Tex."
Some guys are called "Shorty."

These guys are all called "Slim."

Download:



















"I'm A King Bee" mp3
by Slim Harpo, 1957.
available on The Excello Singles Anthology



















"Cement Mixer ((Put-Ti-Put-Ti)" mp3
by Slim Gaillard Trio, 1945.
available on Cement Mixer, Putti, Putti



















"Life Is Like That" mp3
by Memphis Slim, 1951
available on The Very Best of Memphis Slim



















"Sugar Plum" mp3
by Lightnin' Slim, 1955.
Out of Print



















"New Arrival" mp3
by Guitar Slim & His Playboys, 1951
available on: Guitar Slim 1951-1954

****** Bonus Slim *******


















Download:

"Hate This Town" mp3
"Cooler Then" mp3
"Nowheres Near" mp3

by Slim Dunlap, 1996.
available on Times Like This
Out of Print
burned copies available from Twin/Tone Digital