Happy 85th Birthday Irma Thomas!

Celebrating the 85th birthday of the legendary Irma Thomas, soul queen of New Orleans, with a few performances worth checking. 

Margo Price tears up The Phoenix, February 25

Rising country star Margo Price returns to Toronto for a show at the Phoenix on Wednesday, February 25. Get tickets here. 

Tommy Blake vs. Johnny Horton

When Tommy Blake pitched his best tune "Honky Tonk Mind" to Columbia in '57, they said "No thanks" and had Johnny Horton re-cut it as "The Woman I Need."

Remembering David McComb of The Triffids on his birthday

Remembering Triffids' mainman David McComb on his birthday with a documentary and a few performances worth checking. 

B-Side Wins Again: Pierre Rassin et Son Orchestre Antillais

Vogue snuck two Antillean creole swingers "Yoka" and "En Vespa" on the flipside of Pierre Rassin's Calypso, Vol. 1 EP. 

R.I.P. Robert Duvall, 1931-2026

Sadly, legendary actor Robert Duvall has passed away at the age of 95. He'll be greatly missed. 

Ranking Barnabas dub gem The Cold Crusher gets overdue reissue

Stanley "Barnabas" Bryan sadly passed away before his dub classic The Cold Crusher could be properly reissued. 

Here's the scoop from Helmut Philipps...

“The Cold Crusher” LP was released in the US in the 1970s by Phil Pratt in a mini edition and has never been reissued since. Now, for the first time, it has been superbly remastered by Dubplate & Mastering in Berlin and is now being distributed worldwide by the Italian label Cinedelic Records / Jamdung.  It also includes two pages with liner notes by yours truly and David Katz. I am delighted that David and I have worked together here for the first time, and I give thanks to Jamdung for the cooperation on this wonderful and long overdue reissue out February 6. Don't hesitate, the edition is limited. In memory of Stanley "Barnabas" Bryan, who passed away while we were working on the reissue. 

View Helmut's unboxing of The Cold Crusher LP right here. Get a copy via Bandcamp here here. 

Have a listen to the full album below.