| Tommy Steele - The Happy World Of Tommy Steele Vol. 2 Sleeve VG+, cut-out, Record VG+ |
 |
Decca 1971 | LP | 10.00 € Käytetty |
|
| VA: - A Magical Mystery Tour 1967-1971 David Fraser Tapes Volume One. 26 tracks: Strangers / Graduate / Perfection / Happy Together / Party Machine / Nineteen '87 / Love Affair /Autumn / Cam-Pact / Network / Bobby Bright / Phase Two / John Rupert Group / Ram Jam Big Band etc |
|
Canetoad Records | CD | 18.00 € |
|
| VA: - A-Square (Of Course) The Story Of Michigan's Legendary A-Square Records. 25 tracks |
 |
Ace Records 2008 | CD | 18.00 € |
|
| VA: - All Kinds Of Highs - A Mainstream Pop-Psych 1966-70 2CD Between 1967 and 1970, New York’s Mainstream label, a respected imprint known principally for its high quality jazz and soundtrack catalogue, recorded and released over two dozen full-length rock albums. “All Kinds Of Highs: A Mainstream Pop-Psych Compendium 1966-70” collects the best moments from these records, along with selected highlights from Mainstream’s singles inventory of the same period. It was still an era where there was no guarantee that even a significant hit single would grant an artist the luxury of a long-playing disc. Yet, in an assiduous move, company president and A&R chief Bob Shad single-handedly traversed the nation to assemble a roster of unknown rock bands, have them quickly record LPs in the styles of the moment, and then throw it all up at the proverbial ceiling, to see what would stick. At the time, and for some years after, Shad’s rock’n’roll splurge was viewed, somewhat cynically, as emblematic of the industry’s gross exploitation of the baby-booming psychedelic milieu. As popular music got more self-consciously cerebral and the Rolling Stone mindset took over, the rock album had become a sacred totem, an instrument of the “serious” artist. Which no doubt precluded any of the Mainstream acts getting taken seriously. I always did, however. Back in the 80s, a Mainstream album, when you were lucky enough to spot one in the vinyl hostelries of London, was a fascinating curio. Intriguingly cryptic names such as the Bohemian Vendetta or Tangerine Zoo, emblazoned upon garish pop-art sleeves, stood out in the racks. My friend Tom (later in Th’ Faith Healers and Quickspace Supersport) and I vied with each other to “collect the set”, as it were, but truthfully, at the time, the Mainstream psychedelic albums seemed too few and far between, and I was frankly too broke. It wasn’t until I later moved to the US that I caught up on classics from the Tiffany Shade, Jelly Bean Bandits and Growing Concern and also started acquiring some of the numerous non-LP singles on Mainstream and its subsidiary Brent – many of which, by Fever Tree, Paraphernalia, the Country Gentlemen and suchlike, are true gems. It always struck me that Bob Shad was a kind of unwitting patron of pop-psychedelia, or at least a chronicler of American rock at a grass roots level. He had a knack for frequently choosing groups that had something a little out of the ordinary, whether it be in songwriting chops, instrumental abilities, or just a unique slant, that to revisionist ears is a most appealing aspect of the label’s rock legacy. Mainstream artists in this era touch equally on Anglophile pop, folk-rock, world music, country and vocal harmony, in often thrilling manner. It also occurred to me as I collected Mainstream releases that, while each album had merit, there were always tracks that stood out. Using the “Nuggets” precept, it made sense to gather all these strongest moments together. Thus we have “All Kinds Of Highs”, which focuses squarely and unapologetically on the pop-psych end of the spectrum, eschewing the hard rock or horn rock stylings of later Mainstream acts such as Last Nikle, Josefus etc. That can be someone else’s compilation – in the meantime, revel in the glorious, groovy miscellany assembled here. By Alec Palao (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2012 | CD | 23.00 € |
|
| VA: - Before The Fall - 24 Prelapsarian Cuts f evidence were needed that all music is connected, this collection could well be it. You might think Australian punk, proto-Krautrock and Sister Sledge could only co-exist on a compilation called “Now That’s What I Call Utterly Unrelated”, but actually, beyond “Before The Fall”’s basic conceit, a few fragile connections start to present themselves. Henry Cow acted as support on a Captain Beefheart tour. Beefheart’s style was significantly influenced by bluesmen such as Leadbelly. Leadbelly and Pete Seeger hung out in 40s New York. What else? ‘There’s A Ghost in My House’ and ‘Jungle Rock’ were both hits years after their original release. Fall fans wouldn’t automatically associate ‘The Mummy’ and ‘Transfusion’, yet listening to the originals reveals both as satire at the expense of the beatniks. ‘Transfusion’, like ‘Kimble’, owes much of its uniqueness to the innovative use of sound effects. ‘Kimble’ and ‘People Grudgeful’ are connected thanks to the fractious relationship between the artists concerned. ‘Grudgeful’ and ‘$ F--oldin’ Money $’ both play parts in stories of apparently unscrupulous label bosses. ‘$ F--oldin’ Money $’, ‘Rollin’ Danny’, ‘Transfusion’ and ‘Pinball Machine’ were all the work of artists who died before their time, some a little more before their time than others. It’s fun to spot these connections but, as a Fall fan, I wouldn’t pin too much significance on them. Mark E Smith covered Monks’ tracks without even knowing their titles. He’s covered others without, by his own admission, being able to track down the publishing rights, knowing all the lyrics, or in the case of ‘War’, even remembering the tune. So while in some cases these originals will seem very familiar to Fall fans – the relative commercial success of ‘There’s a Ghost In My House’ and ‘Victoria’ is probably attributable to the fact the Fall didn’t muck about with the originals too much, while Smith’s vocal on ‘Mr Pharmacist’ is remarkably similar to Jeff Nowlen’s original – others are interesting as starting points for very different Fall readings. These originals also demonstrate a lack of Smith snobbery towards music to which other contemporary bands would rapidly turn up their noses. Pop, blues, prog and daft novelties are all accorded the same respect, or lack of it. As a fan of 60s garage, the Monks, Other Half and Sonics cuts on this collection were very familiar to me, but the journey into other genres has been a bit of a revelation. The habit of lifting rocksteady/reggae melody lines for retooling on other tracks led to a diverting trip which started with ‘People Grudgeful’ and took in related tracks such as ‘Longshot’, ‘Jackpot’ and ‘People Funny Boy’. Comparing versions of ‘Bourgeois Blues’, dipping a toe into the ocean of trucking music – all of this I would never have found myself doing had it not been for the cross-genre nature of Mark E Smith’s eclectic tastes. By Dan Maier (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2011 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Bo Diddley Is A Songwriter In his long and illustrious career, the late Ellas McDaniel portrayed his alter ego Bo Diddley as many things – a lover, a gunslinger, crazy, even a lumberjack would you believe (and as this is Bo we’re talking about, you would…) One thing that Bo seldom if ever proclaimed himself to be is ‘A Songwriter”. But over a period of 10 years, Bo crafted some of the most memorable songs of the rock ‘n’ roll and R & B era, including numerous Hall Of Fame perennials which many will be unaware are his songs. For instance, there can be few on this planet who’ve never heard at least one version of “Love Is Strange” – it was featured in ‘Dirty Dancing’, one of the most popular and biggest grossing films of all time, for goodness sake! How many of the thousands of young people who own that soundtrack album also know that the same man who wrote it also wrote “Mona” a 1990s UK chart topper for Craig McLachlan, and “No No No”, a Top 10 hit in 1993 for reggae artist Dawn Penn (both songs appear here, in other versions, under their real titles ‘I Need You Baby’ and ‘She’s Fine, She’s Mine’ respectively…). Not many, I’ll wager. Bo is so well known and loved as an R & B legend that his songwriting skills tend to get overlooked in comparison with his fabulous recordings. He may be seen by some as a left field entry in Ace’s ongoing ‘Songwriter Series’, but once the CD popped into the player, it won’t take but a few minutes (as his Chess colleague Chuck Berry once wrote) to realise that he’s here on merit, and not just because everyone at Ace loves Bo Diddley. Of course, anyone who lived through the R&B and British Beat boom will be familiar with any number of E. McDaniel copyrights – both those Bo wrote, and those that were written for him by others. And there’s considerably more variety to Bo’s songwriting than some might initially think. OK, so he did put together more numerous variations on the ‘shave-and-a-haircut, six-bits’ rhythm. But Bo’s catalogue of compositions also embraces doo-wop (‘I’m Sorry’), teen pop (‘Love Is Strange’, ‘Mama Can I Go Out’) proto-surf (‘Bo’s Bounce’), humour (‘Pills’) 12 bar blues (‘Before You Accuse Me’) straight ahead R&B (‘I Can Tell’, ‘Diddy Wah Diddy’) and so much more besides. As well as recording his songs, many of our stellar cast of artists were major league Bo fans and, indeed, most of those who are still around continue to be. The fact that the recordings on our CD span a period of 50 years gives a strong indication of the timelessness of his work as a writer – hardly surprising when his own early recordings still sound like they were recorded yesterday. If there’s still any shadow of doubt in your mind that Bo Diddley IS a songwriter, buy this CD immediately and let its contents rid you henceforth of such foolish supposition! By Tony Rounce (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2010 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Califia - The Songs Of Lee Hazlewood This is the latest addition to our high profile Songwriter series. Comprising familiar Lee Hazlewood fan favourites and scarcer titles in equal measure, the set spans Sanford Clark’s Top 10 hit of 1956 ‘The Fool’ (built on a memorable contribution from guitar wizard Al Casey) to 1970’s German language interpretation of ‘And I Loved You Then’ by transcontinental pop princess Peggy March (a song familiar to buffs via Lee's recording on his “13” LP). No such compilation would be complete without Nancy Sinatra and axe-meisters Duane Eddy and Al Casey, with each of whom Lee was inextricably linked. They’re all here. Hazlewood mavens should lap up the titles by the Darlenes, the Hondas, Rose & the Heavenly Tones (produced by Sly Stone, no less) and Lee’s frequent collaborator Suzi Jane Hokom (who gets two collectable cuts, including a duet with him), each of which is new to CD. One of pop’s genuine originals, Hazlewood is lionised by luminaries such as Primal Scream, Beck, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Pulp, Lydia Lunch and Sonic Youth. In 1999 he performed at the Nick Cave-curated Meltdown Festival on London’s South Bank backed by members of the High Llamas and Stereolab, while the “Total Lee!” tribute album of 2002 had the indie cognoscenti tripping over each other to record his compositions. Hazlewood was a uniquely versatile songwriter, equally capable of turning his hand to pop, country, psychedelia, R&B, folk, easy listening, burlesque, blues or twangin’ rock’n’roll – dig Don Cole’s wild ‘Snake Eyed Mama’ and Al Casey & the Bats’ reverb-drenched ‘(Got The) Teenage Blues’. His songs are truly beyond categorisation. He was also a pioneer in the mysterious art of record production and taught a thing or two to the teenaged Phil Spector, who hung around paying close attention while Hazlewood crafted magnificently cavernous guitar instrumentals for Duane Eddy. Of the 25 tracks on “Califia”, Lee wrote each one and produced all but four. As a performer, Hazlewood possessed an instantly recognisable bass drawl perfectly suited to his lyrical tales of low-rent heartache, self-deprecating comedy, picturesque nostalgia and mystical cowboy psychedelia. He sings on four cuts on this collection, including the folksy Shacklefords’ recording of ‘The City Never Sleeps At Night’, a song written specifically for Nancy Sinatra. As Dionne Warwick was to Burt Bacharach and Petula Clark to Tony Hatch, Nancy was Lee’s perfect muse. Theirs was a partnership created one velvet morning in pop heaven. The expansively orchestrated opening duet ‘Lady Bird’ – just one of the many masterpieces they made together – was personally selected for this compilation by the lady herself. A companion volume of Lee Hazlewood-penned instrumentals is also in the Ace pipeline, so watch this space. Meanwhile, check out the others in our Songwriter series, which include compilations based on the works of Randy Newman, Jackie DeShannon, Neil Diamond, Goffin & King, Bo Diddley, Burt Bacharach and many more. By Mick Patrick (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2010 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Come Together - Black America Sings Lennon & McCartney The unanimous acclaim for and success of Ace’s recent ‘How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan” project pretty much guaranteed a follow-up at some point. Its release immediately instigated a high level of consumer interest in whether or not we were planning any further volumes in the series. Truth to tell, it wasn’t meant to be a series originally, but the suggestion of Black America singing other notable rock icons of the 60s was too good to ignore. So it is that we now present a selection of interpretations by leading black American artists of the compositions of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. John and Paul’s songs perhaps did not carry the same degree of social significance for black Americans as those of Mr Zimmerman, but their superlative knack for words and music inevitably made each new Beatles album a potential source of future hits for others. It’s therefore no surprise to find enough superb examples to fill a few volumes. Here we present two dozen of their best-known songs sung by many of the leading names in soul from the 60s and 70s. As with the Dylan set, you’ll find the obvious (Otis Redding’s reconstruction of ‘Day Tripper’ and Aretha’s from-the-heart essay on ‘Let It Be’) rubbing shoulders with the blindingly obscure (West Coast blues giant Lowell Fulson wondering ‘Why Don’t We Do It In The Road’ and sweet soul quartet the Moments’ totally unexpected take on ‘Rocky Raccoon’). Unlike many pop songwriters, Lennon and McCartney reached out to a broad spectrum of black artists; you won’t find too many compilations where New Orleans’ rockin’ R&B man Fats Domino and his 60s near-namesake Chubby Checker feature alongside Motown’s first lady Mary Wells and king of 70s soul Al Green, and do so in such a seamless way. The common factor among all these covers is that they are never less than interesting. John and Paul are not on record as having expressed an opinion on too many versions of their songs, but we’d be willing to bet that the ones included here would have entertained them more than most. As always, the CD comes to you with a booklet featuring a huge amount of illustrative material and generous song-by-song annotations covering who wrote what (or most of what). We had originally thought that we might include versions of some Harrisongs as well, but in the end there was more than enough Lennon and McCartney material to fill this disc and more besides, so George will have to wait until another day and another CD. By Tony Rounce (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2011 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Damals In Hamburg Biisit vuosilta 1961-1972 |
 |
Bear Family 1999 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Delta Swamp Rock 2CD |
 |
Soul Jazz Records 2011 | 2-CD | 20.00 € |
|
| VA: - Destroy That Boy ! More Girls With Guitars “Destroy That Boy!”, the sequel to 2004’s “Girls With Guitars”, delves into the world of garage femmes and all-girl bands in a quest to prove that females of the species do indeed rock, roll and even snarl. In the post-Beatles beat boom, many an impressionable lass was inspired to take guitar in hand and toe the line with their male counterparts, with at least 160 touring female bands in the USA alone. A select few hit the recording studio to leave their aural mark on the decade, from which Ace has melded the cream of crop with some solo sisters to create another healthy 24-track dose of girl garage goodness. This time old Blighty has its share of representatives, including fully-fledged female groups She Trinity and the Liverbirds. She Trinity – whose original members hailed from the UK, Canada and the USA, hence their somewhat confusing moniker – appear with their first and last (and most acclaimed) singles. The Liverbirds’ success was limited to their adoptive home of Germany, where they recorded two albums of R&B and rock’n’roll covers, three of which are showcased here. Schoolgirl duo the Termites get their pincers into a Stones classic, while South African ex-pat Sharon Tandy and Coventry’s Beverley Jones give out some gutsy performances too. From across the Atlantic, alluring society girls the What Four open proceedings. The cover shows the Debutantes from Detroit, whose talents and glamorous image scored them a far-eastern tour and gigs alongside Motown’s finest. Another pivotal group was the Feminine Complex, formed by lead guitarist and songwriter Mindy Dalton, who achieved the rare feat of releasing an LP, but here we’re treated to two demos, including their wonderfully lo-fi version of the Monkees’ ‘(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone’, cut in their first incarnation as the Pivots. Elsewhere come the Starlets with an attitude-soaked take on ‘You Don’t Love Me’, Swedish bombshell Ann-Margret with both decks of her single for Lee Hazlewood’s LHI label and Raylene Loos and her cohorts the Blue Angels, who contribute a rollicking rendition of ‘Shakin’ All Over’. The Girls (nope, not the same gang as on “Girls With Guitars”) debut with an unreleased cut produced by Sly Stone, while woe betides the man on the receiving end of Aussie Toni McCann, who let’s rip with ‘No’. Jack Nitzsche protégée Karen Verros kicks off the mid-section with, a fuzz-laden mind-blowing gem written by Donovan. Project X (whose line-up included Scott McKenzie) delights with a jangly folk-garage affair and Cheryll & Pam wax lyrical in ‘That’s My Guy’. British Invasion off-shoots the Lady Bugs’ ode to the American fraternity is a hilarious romp and the wiggy Fondettes pay tribute to the mop-headed boys who started it all. Much more info on these artists is to be found in the glossy feature-packed booklet, which includes interviews with Jan McClellan of the Debutantes and Beverley Jones. So let the girls blow the dust of their guitars yet again and take a trip down to the tougher side of girl-groupsville. By MATT MEEK (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2009 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Don't Stop The Music - Pop from The Åland 1965-1971 2CD Ahvenanmaalaista Pop / Beat ja rock-musiikkia vuosilta 1965-1971 Åländska tonåringar var som alla andra när rocken svepte över världen på 50-talet. De hade hört Rock Around The Clock i filmen Vänd Dem Inte Ryggen, tjejerna höll på Elvis eller Tommy Steele och de som gick till sjöss kom hem med de senaste hitsen på vinyl från England och Amerika.Att spela dansmusik lönade sig. Den första generationen åländska popmusiker lärde sig hantverket på Solbacka och andra ungdomslokaler när dragspelet var ett viktigare instrument än elgitarren. På repertoaren stod schlager, vals och kanske någon litet snabbare jazzlåt då och då. |
 |
Riverside Records 2008 | CD | 20.00 € |
|
| VA: - Dream Babes Vol. 2 - Reflections 22 Brit Girls Classics From the 60s |
|
RPM 2001 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Fender - The Golden Age 1950-1970 Leo Fender’s contribution to the sound of modern music is immeasurable. The pop music explosion of the 1950s and 60s would not have happened without the electric guitar and, perhaps more importantly, the electric bass.” So begins Martin Kelly’s notes for the CD of his book about Fender guitars. A book about music of course lacks the medium that it describes, so Martin came to Ace with a proposal to produce an accompanying CD that would make his pages even more vibrant. We were more than happy to celebrate the great sounds that Leo Fender helped conceive through his inspirational instruments. As overseer of this CD, I was out of my depth in guitar minutiae, but was able to assist on the technical end and enjoyed a sharp learning curve in great guitar sounds. I thoroughly dug those ringing twangs of Bob Wills and Tennessee Ernie Ford. With Ike Turner and Otis Rush I was in more familiar music territory. The more poppy Crickets’ track ‘I’m Looking For Someone To Love’ was an inspired choice by Martin. It was the flip to the original ‘That’ll Be The Day’ which I’d managed to miss hearing for 55 years. ‘Suzie Q’ and the original ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ are better known numbers; listening to them in this guitar-based context gives them new relevance. Guitar-led instrumentals were a must for the compilation and it is wonderful to relive the splendour of the Ventures’ signature tune and to hear the mighty Shadows at their most melodic. Breakaway Shadow Jet Harris then moves the spotlight to the renowned Fender bass on ‘Besame Mucho’. Booker T’s ‘Green Onions’ and Dick Dale’s ‘Miserlou’ are at the pinnacle of their genres and Jack Nitzche’s ‘Lonely Surfer’ shows how an inspired producer can use the guitar within a bigger production. It is then back to basics with the Kingsmen’s ‘Louie Louie’, followed by Ronnie Hawkins’ ice-cold take on ‘Who Do You Love’. The Beach Boys and Bobby Fuller Four then demonstrate how to play straight down the middle pop: no frills but pure class. Then representing the awakening of British youth to the American dream, we have the Yardbirds’ take on Billy Boy Arnold’s ‘I Ain’t Got You’, a song that failed to score for its creator but became a belated blues classic once Eric Clapton had stamped his seal of approval on it. Speaking of the blues, ‘Rock Me Baby’ by Otis Redding reminds us all that the world lost a brilliant blues singer, as well as the ultimate soul man, when his plane crashed in December 1967. By the time of this recording, Lewis Steinberg had been replaced by Duck Dunn on Fender Precision Bass duties. As reflected by the Nashville-recorded Fender jingles, country music was always dominated by the guitar sounds of Fender. Buck Owens & the Buckaroos’ ‘Buckaroo’ features not only Fender electric and bass but acoustic too. The switch to the soul perfection of King Curtis’ ‘Memphis Soul Stew’ is surprisingly seamless and that city’s home-grown Willie Mitchell sound on ‘Soul Serenade’ shows how long-lived top flight R&B was down there. It is then just a year’s jump, but a small world away, to 1969 and the Velvet Underground’s 12-string Fenders. That is neatly followed by ex-Yardbird Jeff Beck on his Stratocaster and Stone-to-be Ron Wood playing a Telecaster bass; all in the admirable cause of helping Donovan’s ‘Goo Goo Barabajagal’ make musical if not literal sense. I still may not be able to pick a Fender out in a crowd, but I now know how much listening pleasure I have derived from them. Ady Croasdell (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2012 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Garage, Beat and Punk Rock 20 biisin hyvä ja halpa kokoelma. Mukana mm Sonics, Wailers, Tallboys, Zombies, Vibes, Riff Raff, Milkshakes, Prisoners jne |
 |
Ace Records 2005 | CD | 10.00 € |
|
| VA: - Girls In The Garage Vol. 12 14 charming french swinging ladies |
|
Saperlipotte Records | LP | 18.00 € |
|
| VA: - Guitar & Beat Vol. 2 24 biisiä |
|
Triola Records 1991 | CD | 15.00 € |
|
| VA: - Guitar & Beat Vol. 3 21 biisiä |
 |
Triola Records 1993 | CD | 15.00 € |
|
| VA: - Hei Vain My Only One - Westerlund & Emi Years Part One 2CD 2 CD = 44 biisiä |
 |
Emi Finland 2007 | CD | 12.00 € |
|
| VA: - Honey & Wine - Another Gerry Goffin & Carole King song colle As a kid Goffin developed a taste for Broadway musicals and began creating songs in his head. With a vague ambition to one day write a musical of his own, he enrolled at college to study chemistry. It was there that he met 17-year-old Carole, a keen amateur rock’n’roll songwriter in search of a lyricist. They hit it off right away, penned a few songs together and dropped out of college to get married. In 1960 they joined Carole’s pal Neil Sedaka as staff songwriters at Aldon Music, a fledgling publishing house headed by Al Nevins and Don Kirshner. Within a couple of years they were the most successful songwriters in the country. We like our original versions at Ace and a few are included here. Bobby Vee recorded ‘Go Away Little Girl’ before Steve Lawrence got his mitts on the song for example, while the Rising Sons (Ry Cooder’s early band) cut ‘Take A Giant Step’ before the Monkees did and stylish jazz diva Nancy Wilson’s reading of ‘No Easy Way Down’ was taped before Carole’s own version was released. If you’ve ever wondered how many Goffin and King compositions the Monkees recorded, the short answer is 18, the most successful of which was ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’, the couple’s restless ode to life in suburbia, included here. (The long answer is contained in the booklet.) While not all of Goffin’s lyrics are autobiographical, it is tempting to assume that ‘So Goes Love’, heard here by the Turtles, documents the breakdown of his and Carole’s personal relationship. Thankfully, they continued writing together after their divorce. As with our earlier volume, this set includes familiar hits (the Monkees, Maxine Brown’s ‘Oh No Not My Baby’, the Drifters’ ‘Up On The Roof’, Gene McDaniels’ ‘Point Of No Return’, etc), overlooked gems (Chuck Jackson’s ‘I Need You’, Jan & Dean’s ‘The Best Friend I Ever Had’, Freddie Scott’s ‘Brand New World’, ‘I Happen To Love You’ by the Myddle Class, to name just four) and some new to CD rarities (‘Stage Door’ by Peter James, ‘They’re Jealous Of Me’ by Connie Stevens, ‘The Boy I Used To Know’ by Andrea Carroll, Jody Miller’s very non-PC ‘He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)’ and Carolyn Daye’s ‘A Long Way To Be Happy’). BY MICK PATRICK (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2009 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Immediate Mod Box Set 3CD 3CDs = 50 tracks |
 |
Castle Music 2005 | CD-Box | 25.00 € |
|
| VA: - Jack Nitzsche Story 1963-78 - Hearing Is Believing 26 biisiä mm Jack Nitzsche, Frankie Laine, Round Robin, Paris Sisters.. |
 |
Ace Records 2005 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Love Songs Elvis, Jackie Wilson, Dino Desi & Billy, Tom Jones, Paul Anka, Bobby Darin, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Brooklyn Bridge,Lulu, Beatles, The Fifth Dimension, Smokey Robinson, The Carpenters, The Mamas & Papas. 63 min. 18 tracks. |
|
Eagle Vision 2004 | DVD | 9.00 € |
|
| VA: - Memphis Boys - The Story Of American Studios There can be few with an interest in the music of the American South who didn’t welcome the recent publication of Memphis Boys, Roben Jones’ essential history of American Studios. Established by songwriter-producer Chips Moman and his business partner Don Crews in 1964, it took a couple of years for American to find its true audio identity, but once the in-house group of key musicians – the Memphis Boys of Roben’s title – were all in place the steady trickle of hits and future classics quickly became a flood. Thanks to those players – Tommy Cogbill, Reggie Young, Bobby Emmons, Gene Chrisman, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham and others – the American sound became as important a part of recording history as that which emanated from the studios of Motown, Cosimo’s, FAME and Memphis neighbours Sun, Stax and Hi. The first Hot 100 biggies to be recorded at American – James & Bobby Purify’s ‘Shake A Tail Feather’ and Oscar Toney Jr’s ‘For Your Precious Love’ – were taped at the same session in March 1967, around the same time as Dan Penn was putting the Box Tops through their paces on ‘The Letter’, one of the biggest hits of 1967 and American’s first worldwide chart-topper. Not a bad year by anyone’s standards. How quickly American’s stock rose in the eyes of others – particularly the companies that used the studio and the Memphis Boys on a regular basis – can be assessed by the fact that, by 1968, American was entertaining a client roster that included Neil Diamond, Petula Clark, B.J. Thomas, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield and a local boy by the name of Elvis Presley who was looking to make his music as relevant as it had been 15 years earlier. Although this collection doesn’t contain every major hit that came out of the funky little studio on Thomas Street, Memphis (we’re saving some for a possible second volume), as a listening experience it’s hard to beat – particularly when enjoyed in conjunction with Roben’s brilliant book. By Tony Rounce (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2012 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Next Stop Is Vietnam - The War On Record 1961-2008 (13-CD set, LP-sized slipcase with 304page hardcover book. 334 tracks, playing time: more than 16h:49min). The most comprehensive anthology of music inspired by the Vietnam War ever released. Over 330 titles covering all facets of the war and its aftermath featuring The Doors, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Country Joe McDonald and dozens of other artists. Rarely heard documentary material including patriotic Public Service Announcements, field news reports and intercepted North Vietnamese radio transmissions of Jane Fonda and Hanoi Hannah. A heavily illustrated, full-colour 304-page book containing extensive artist/song notes, Vietnam War history and recollections by vets on their favourite songs. Two discs of music exclusively by Vietnam veterans. Never-before-released tracks recorded during the war by in-country soldiers. Mister, Where Is Vietnam ...NEXT STOP IS VIETNAM: The War On Record, 1961-2008 is a stunning, years-in-the-making anthology of the Vietnam War's musical legacy. Presented on 13 CDs with a 304-page book illustrated with numerous archival photographs, this collection examines the war in a powerful and unprecedented way. Over 330 music and spoken word tracks take the listener through a guided tour of this epochal period of modern history. From America's first, na‹ve impressions of a country called Vietnam through the spirited musical debate over the morality of the war to the healing meditations on the conflict's lengthy aftermath, this set captures it all and more. Bob Dylan, Joan Baez,Merle Haggard, Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Ochs, Johnny Cash, Yoko Ono, John Lennon, The Doors, Country Joe McDonald and dozens of other artists including many Vietnam veterans are the tour guides through this enlightening and entertaining journey. - The full-color book that accompanies the music is packed with information on the songs and the artists who recorded them by music scholar Hugo A. Keesing; a history of the war by Vietnam historian Lois T. Vietri; and an oral history of the tunes that 'incountry' vets loved best by authors Doug Bradley and Craig Werner. The introduction to this remarkable tome is written by the legendary Country Joe McDonald. Strap in for a long and fascinating ride ...NEXT STOP IS VIETNAM. |
 |
Bear Family 2010 | CD-Box | 200.00 € |
|
| VA: - Nippon Girls - Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-1970 The Big Beat International label returns with a bang and another celebration of the wonderful world of Japanese pop. After our acclaimed GS I Love You volumes, it’s the girls’ turn, as we examine the female side of the country’s remarkable pop scene with Nippon Girls. In the years between Elvis’ debut and the rise of Japan’s own Group Sounds scene in late ’65, the country’s pop artists were confined to a repertoire of rehashed Western chart-toppers. Kenji Sazanami was one catalyst for change. Fed up with the traditional songwriting establishment, he headed Stateside, where he obtained the rights for hundreds of American hits. His translations of ‘Johnny Angel’ and others launched the careers of Japan’s most revered female pop stars – the Peanuts, Mieko Hirota, Ryoko Moriyama, Mie Nakao and Yukari Ito. But, aside from a few winners, the bulk of these cover versions were twee reductions that lacked personality and pizzazz. The record sleeves featured the young girl stars in spaghetti straps and petticoats, looking very Shirley Temple and perpetuating a morally upright image deemed safe for the Japanese public. The Japanese media and monopolistic talent agencies were relentless in their pursuit of wholesome talent, but their plans were derailed by the Beatles’ incursion. Japanese teens too, had been seduced by the Liverpudlians’ DIY spirit and the authenticity that was missing from Japan’s manufactured pop. This new wave of rock bands swiped from the British Invasion and blurred their influences with dissonant chords and Oriental melodies, thus creating a unique brand of Japanese rock’n’roll called Group Sounds. The GS boom liberated many of Japan’s finest writers, who were sidelined by the tenured Enka (traditional Japanese music) songwriters and rendered useless during “cover-pops” mania. For example, pianist-cum-songwriter Kunihiko Suzuki had to adopt an alias in order to land writing gigs. Once the GS boom hit, however, he emerged from anonymity and penned ‘Koi No Hallelujah’, a monster hit for little-known Jun Mayuzumi. The record was the girl-pop manifesto. It replaced orchestras with organs and shrill electric guitars, upped the volume and vibrato, and showcased a yearning, mournful vocal that came to epitomise the girl-pop sound. Her two best records are undoubtedly ‘Black Room’ and ‘Douyou No Yoru Nanika Ga Okiru’. Both share booming bass lines, a tough vocal and a dancefloor readiness that’s already caught the ear of DJs and freakbeat collectors worldwide. Elsewhere on this lavishly illustrated comp, you’ll find Margaret, the protégée of guitar wiz Terry Terauchi, who co-wrote her two singles for Seven Seas. ‘Aeba Suki Suki’ is primitive girl punk, with its shambolic backing provided by Terry’s group, the Bunnys. Other highlights include ‘Taiyou Ga Kowai No’, the storming Crown debut of “the new voice of 1968” Kaoru Hibiki, the wild ‘Bazazz Tengoku’ by the Cupids and actress Mari Atsumi, who rose to fame in a series of flicks known as the “soft-bodied mollusk” series and cut a number of very sexy singles in the early 70s. Third single ‘Suki Yo Ai Shite’ is the most sensual of them all. The collection is the brainwave of noted girl group expert and latter day Japanese pop champion Sheila Burgel of Cha Cha Charming magazine, who provides a fascinating overview of this tremendous and compelling tributary of 60s pop. Highly recommended to girl group fanciers, GS groovers and anyone else with a keen ear for eclectic sounds. Sheila Burgel is editor of Cha Cha Charming magazine: (chachacharming.com) a journalistic tribute to girl-powered pop - past, present and future. (from ACE Records website) |
 |
Ace Records 2009 | CD | 18.00 € |
|
| VA: - Noch mehr Beatles Songs auf Deutsch |
|
Bear Family 2002 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Pop in Germany Vol. 1 |
 |
Bear Family 2001 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Pop in Germany Vol. 5 |
|
Bear Family 2004 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Rockabilly Psychosis And The Garage Disease 16 biisiä - Trashmen, Novas, Sonics, Hasil Adkins, Meteors, Milkshakes, Tav Falco.. |
 |
Ace Records 1989 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - Sassafras & Moonshine The Songs Of Laura Nyro Laura Nyro was famous for serving guests tuna fish sandwiches, her culinary repertoire being slim. I returned the favour: because I knew she’d named her publishing company Tuna Fish Music, I brought her a tuna fish sandwich backstage at the Troubadour in1969. Yes, I was an embarrassingly diehard fan of the singer-songwriter, one of those young college women (along with more than a handful of men) who mooned over her and her music. She was so passionate, so soulful, so womanly. We were girls still; she seemed to have already unlocked secrets of grownup life and love, even though she was only a couple of years older. She had something to teach us and we were eager to learn. It didn’t matter if we could understand her elusive lyrics; we felt them. Sassafras and moonshine? That felt to me like being high on liquor and a spice-filled sky. Buckles off shingles / off a cockleshell on Norway basin. That felt exotic and old-fashioned, all at once. Laura led us through a sensory wonderland and we followed, enchanted. And her music: it burned, it soared, it shuffled, it vibrated. She whispered, she belted, she screamed at times. And we adored every measure. So, it seemed, did many of the musicians of her time. Everyone wanted to record a Laura Nyro song, from Peter, Paul & Mary to the 5th Dimension, from jazz instrumentalists to all the other artists in this collection. Laura’s songs were gold – even if her own recordings never made a big commercial splash. And scores of other musical artists who didn’t record Laura’s songs were extraordinarily influenced by her. As singer-songwriter Wendy Waldman told me, Laura liberated musicians to employ all their influences in crafting a pop song – just as she had combined jazz, folk, classical, 60s soul, the Beatles, Dylan and Tin Pan Alley. “All of the great songwriters have combined certain elements, maybe three at a time,” said Waldman, “but [Laura] would combine ten of them. It was so ahead of its time that it’s still ahead of its time.” Those of us who loved her music worshipped her transcendent performances as well as her brilliant recordings. I was lucky enough to see her more than a dozen times, sometimes sitting just steps away from her as she pounded out her syncopated piano rhythms in a small club. She was like a shaman holding court in the early days of her career; in later years she was a wise and welcoming earth mother, enveloping us with her resonant vocals. On a hot August night this summer, Laura came back to her hometown,New York City, even though she’s been gone from us since her death in 1997. But Lincoln Center brought her back to life by sponsoring an outdoor tribute concert, featuring artists who variously knew, loved and worked with Laura. Her brother Jan Nigro sang ‘And When I Die’ – the precocious composition Laura wrote in her teens – while her son Gil Bianchini performed a rap to ‘Eli’s Comin’’. Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, who produced one of Laura’s albums, sang the summer-ready ‘Blowin’ Away’, while Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash – two-thirds of Labelle – performed several songs off their classic Nyro collaboration “Gonna Take A Miracle”. Melissa Manchester introduced ‘Stoned Soul Picnic’ by reminding us that Laura had asked a question no one had heard before: “Can you surry?” I was a teenage fan again in the muggy New York twilight, a wide smile stuck to my face. How perfect to hear that music in the city that shaped it – the city that Laura showed us to be, as Bette Midler put it when she inducted her into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this past spring, “an extraordinary place to be young, alive and in love”. But I was also that grown up woman now; I had even written a biography of Laura Nyro ten years earlier. Nonetheless, when someone’s music touches you so deeply, is engraved forever on your young heart, you can easily return to the age you were when you heard it the first time. I suggest that New York City hold a Laura Nyro night every summer from now on. I’ll be there, ready to surry on soul. And if I wasn’t a vegetarian, I’d be eating a tuna fish sandwich while the music played. By Michele Kort (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2012 | CD | 18.00 € |
|
| VA: - Summer Turns to Autumn British indie label Ember released a number of rock albums and singles between 1969 and 1972, which today are much sought after by collectors of psychedelic, progressive and folk rock sounds. Many of the best of these are gathered on Summer Turns To Autumn, the companion to Looking Towards The Sky (FVCD041). Foremost among the artists compiled here is progressive rock band Blonde On Blonde, represented by tracks from both of their Ember albums. Fantastic Voyage has salvaged two tracks from Blue Beard’s album. An early songwriting/production project for Bob Welch, who next surfaced in Fleetwood Mac, the album was only released in Italy, but the single Sly Willy was more widely available and is highly prized by collectors of funky rock. Tyrannosaurus Rex-style acoustic hippy duo Knocker Jungle and progressive folk group 9.30 Fly each managed one now highly collectable long player for the label. The remainder of the material ranges from the fuzzy psychedelic rock of Canadians The Dorians and the melodic folk rock of Paddy Maguire, backed by heavy friends Steve Winwood and Jerry Donahue (of Fotheringay), to the soul-rock fusion of Milt Matthews Inc, here interpreting a Blind Faith song, and a previously unissued folk rock rendition of East Virginia by Polly Niles. Summer Turns To Autumn and Looking Towards The Sky complement Fantastic Voyage’s existing, highly popular compilations of Ember Beat and Ember Pop, with no duplication of tracks. |
 |
Fantastic Voyage 2010 | CD | 9.00 € |
|
| VA: - Tee-Vee Tops Die Songs und Originale aus der TV-Werbung. 18 tracks |
|
Gee Dee Music 1996 | CD | 12.00 € |
|
| VA: - The Ramones Heard Them Here First There’s no mistaking a Ramones song. The funny thing is, throughout their career, the band paid tribute to their roots and influences by peppering their albums with versions of their favourites by other artists, making them sound like Ramones songs too. To see what I mean, try listening to this CD without lurching into ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’, ‘Carbona Not Glue’ or ‘I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend’. Sequenced in the order in which the Ramones cut the songs, this collection kicks off with Chris Montez’s original of ‘Let’s Dance’, which the band revived on their debut album “Ramones” in 1976. In some instances, rather than be pedantic about original versions, some songs are included in the renditions first heard by the Ramones. Hence ‘California Sun’, featured on their second album “Leave Home”, is heard here by the Rivieras (not Joe Jones); ‘Surfin’ Bird’ and ‘Do You Wanna Dance’, from 1977’s “Rocket To Russia”, are by the Trashmen and the Beach Boys (as opposed to the Rivingtons and Bobby Freeman); and ‘Needles And Pins”, from their fourth LP “Road To Ruin”, is by the Searchers (rather than Jackie DeShannon). In 1978 the guys teamed up with the Paley Brothers for an update of Ritchie Valens’ ‘Come On, Let’s Go’, a childhood favourite of Joey Ramone; the band’s 1980 album “End Of The Century”, produced by Joey’s hero Phil Spector, contained a revival the Ronettes’ ‘Baby I Love You’; and in 1982 Joey got together with Holly (of Holly & the Italians) to cut a version of Sonny & Cher’s ‘I Got You Babe’. ‘Little Bit O’ Soul’, here by the Music Explosion, and ‘Time Has Come Today’ by the Chambers Brothers were both revamped by the band on 1983’s “Subterranean Jungle”. The sessions also yielded a version of the 1910 Fruitgum Co’s ‘Indian Giver’, which sneaked out on the B-side of a 12-inch single in 1987. In 1993 the Ramones released “Acid Eaters”, an entire album of cover versions, represented on this CD by Jan & Dean’s ‘Surf City’, the Troggs’ ‘I Can’t Control Myself’, the Byrds’ ‘My Back Pages’, the Seeds’ ‘Can’t Seem To Make You Mine’, Max Frost & the Troopers’ ‘Shape Of Things To Come’, the Amboy Dukes’ ‘Journey To The Center Of The Mind’, Jefferson Airplane’s ‘Somebody To Love’ and Love’s ‘7 And 7 Is’. TheJapanandBrazileditions of the album also contained the band’s version of the Beach Boys’ ‘Surfin’ Safari’. “Adios Amigos”, the Ramones’ farewell album of 1995, included their version of Tom Waits’ ‘I Don’t Wanna Grow Up’. Waits repaid the compliment by contributing a cover of the band’s ‘The Return Of Jackie And Judy’ for the Ramones tribute album “We’re A Happy Family”. It’s not every day that one band records a tribute to another, but Motorhead did just that with ‘R.A.M.O.N.E.S.’ on their 1991 album “1916”. In return, the Ramones’ own version of the song was included on theJapanedition of “Adios Amigos”. The set concludes with the Stooges’ ‘1969’ and, poignantly, Louis Armstrong’s ‘What A Wonderful World’, as covered on Joey’s solo album “Don’t Worry About Me”, released in 2002, by which time he, Johnny and Dee Dee were dead. The Ramones were no more. See, poignant. By Mick Patrick (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2012 | CD | 18.00 € |
|
| VA: - Twist And Shout |
|
Weton-Wesgram BV 2003 | CD | 7.00 € |
|
| VA: - Where The Girls Are Vol. 6 30 biisiä 60s tyttöyhtyeitä |
 |
Ace Records 2004 | CD | 18.00 € |
|
| VA: - Wild Thing - The Songs Of Chip Taylor Chip Taylor is the subject of the latest addition to our songwriter-based series. He can boast two career songs – ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘Angel Of The Morning’ – both of which have been recorded countless times and are considered to be among the greatest of their decade. Chip’s collaborations with Ted Daryll, Al Gorgoni, Jerry Ragovoy, Wes Farrell and Billy Vera are no less revered. When Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield and Peggy Lee record your songs, you know you’re doing something right. The Troggs open our show with ‘Wild Thing’. The song is indelibly associated with Reg Presley and his cohorts, but Chip was commissioned to write it for the Wild Ones. He doesn’t care for the original, “They took the power of the song and diminished it,” but loves the Troggs’ recording, “A right funky record. You couldn’t beat that. It was like my demo, except they played it with an electric guitar.” (Find the Wild Ones’ version on our recent collection “You Heard It Here First” CDCHD 1204.) To many the most significant recipient of Chip’s compositions is Evie Sands. “She had this honey voice that was one of a kind. How could you ever not love that, every minute, working with her, rehearsing with her, producing her.” Given half a chance we’d have filled this CD with her tracks, but had to narrow the choice to just two – the feisty ‘Run Home To Your Mama’ and her stunning original of ‘I Can’t Let Go’. Three others represent her by proxy: ‘Picture Me Gone’ (in a splendiferous version by Madeline Bell), ‘Angel Of The Morning’ (Merrilee Rush’s hit rendition) and ‘Any Way That You Want Me’ (Evie’s breakthrough song, heard here in a recording by Tina Mason from three years earlier). All but three of our selection were recorded between 1964 and 1968. Closing the proceedings are three of Chip’s most important 1970s compositions: ‘Son Of A Rotten Gambler’ by the Hollies, ‘Blackbird (Hold Your Head High)’ by black country singer Stoney Edwards and Chip’s own recording of the autobiographical ‘(I Want) The Real Thing’. Chip can also be heard as Kathy McCord’s uncredited singing partner. Other highlights include Lorraine Ellison’s ultra-soulful ‘Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)’, the delicious ‘Make Me Belong To You’ by Barbara Lewis, the original demo of ‘Storybook Children’, sung by its co-writer Billy Vera with Nona Hendryx, and Walter Jackson’s version of the oft-recorded ‘Welcome Home’, one of Chip’s favourites. The booklet includes a 7,000-word essay, much of it in Chip’s own words. He comes across as not only one of the greatest songwriters in the business, but also one of the nicest guys. If this compilation sparks an interest in his more recent activities, his book Songs From A Dutch Tour, which comes with a disc of new songs, might be the place to begin. To hear some of the tracks he cut as teenage rocker Wes Voight in the late 50s, check out the Ace CD “King of Rock’n’Roll” CDCHD 975. As we go to press we hear that Chip has been ill. We hope that “Wild Thing” will serve as a get well soon card and help speed the recovery of one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the past 50 years. BY MICK PATRICK (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2009 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| VA: - You Baby: Words And Music by P.F. Sloan And Steve Barri Together with his writing partner Steve Barri, Phil (P.F.) Sloan effectively invented the concept of the self-contained singer-songwriter (as documented on “Here’s Where I Belong” CDWIKD 277). Sloan & Barri’s songbook was widely plundered for cover versions throughout the 60s and beyond. It’s this side of their work that makes up “You Baby”, the latest in Ace’s songwriters series. Sloan & Barri’s partnership was forged by producer Lou Adler in 1963, though the guys had each already released a number of sides as performers for a variety of labels, with somewhat limited success. Playing off each other’s strengths, they instantly formed a great working relationship, with Sloan as the more experienced musician and Barri as the studio head. From their surf’n’turf beginnings through era-defining folk rock and beyond, “You Baby” maps out a brilliant and fascinating career path packed with pop standards. While their best-known early numbers are hedonistic fun-in-the-sun anthems such as ‘Tell ’Em I’m Surfin’’ and ‘Summer Means Fun’, their remit was wide enough to encompass girl group influences in ‘You Say Pretty Words’ by Ramona King and the latin-tinged sounds of Betty Everett’s ‘Someday Soon’. Meanwhile, they also had to contend with a furious release schedule of their own, recording under a wide variety of guises including the Fantastic Baggys and Philip & Stephan, not to mention their in-demand status as session guys, appearing as musicians or singing backups on many of the tracks compiled here. Sloan had always been the more performance-oriented of the two and when folk rock hit it clearly affected his modus operandi more than Barri’s. The solo Sloan writing credit on hits such as ‘The Sins Of A Family’, ‘Let Me Be’, ‘Take Me For What I’m Worth’ and, of course, ‘Eve Of Destruction’ put a certain amount of strain on the duo. Nevertheless, the years 1965 and 1966 were their most commercially successful. Joyous, euphoric pop still poured out of them. Perfect pop gems such as ‘Can I Get To Know You Better’, ‘You Baby’, ‘Where Were You When I Needed You’ and ‘I Found A Girl’ were all major successes and are all featured here. Inevitably, it couldn’t last. The artistic and commercial pressure they were under – not to mention their increasingly divergent musical paths – forced a premature split. Steve Barri stepped in as replacement for the departing Lou Adler as staff producer at Dunhill, while Sloan’s burgeoning career as a singer-songwriter dissipated, though has recently undergone something of a renaissance. This marvellous collection of classics and rarities should seal Sloan & Barri’s reputation as key chroniclers of their time. By Harvey Williams (Ace Records) |
 |
Ace Records 2010 | CD | 17.00 € |
|
| Zombies - Decca Stereo Anthology 2CD 2CD = 48 tracks |
|
Ace Records 2002 | 2-CD | 25.00 € |
1 - 2
