Midweek Mixdown: Groove Sounds in Nippon: Crazy Midnight

The 14-track Groove Sounds In Nippon: Crazy Midnight brings together rare Japanese 7" club swingers from the 60s.

Here's the scoop...

Originally issued by the P-Vine label in 1997, Groove Sounds In Nippon: Crazy Midnight is a hard to find Japanese 14-track vinyl collection of 60s Japanese groovers which includes the sought-after "Snake Hips" by Terumasa Hino and "Crazy Midnight" by The Mojo along with rousing renditions of "Time Of The Season" by Eru & GimuGin, "Chain Of Fools" by Mieko Hirota, "Hard To Handle" & "I Got The Feelin'" by Zoo Nee Voo, "Hello, I Love You" by the Golden Poppers and what is likely the freakiest version of "Amen" you've ever heard courtesy of Count Buffalo & The Jazz Rock Band. Check it out after the tracklisting below. 

Groove Sounds In Nippon: Crazy Midnight

A1 Crazy Midnight (クレージー・ミッドナイト) - The Mojo (ザ・モージョ)   00:00

A2 Doop (ドゥープ) - Flower Travelin' Band (フラワー・トラヴェリン・バンド)   02:21

A3 Futari No Shiizun (二人のシーズン) - El & Gimgin (エル＆ギムギン)   05:06

A4 Chain of Fools (チェイン・オブ・フールズ) - Mieko Hirota (弘田三枝子)   08:04

A5 Hakuchuu No Shuugeki (白昼の襲撃) - The Sound Machine (ザ・サウンド・マシン)   11:18

A6 Kemeko No Uta (ケメ子の歌) - Jiro Inagaki & All Stars (稲垣次郎とオール・スターズ)   14:21

A7 Snake Hips (スネイク・ヒップ) - Terumasa Hino (日野皓正)   17:28

B1 Amen (エーメン) - Count Buffalo & the Jazz Rock Band (カウント・バッファローとジャズ・ロック・バンド)  21:10

B2 Hard to Handle (ハード・トゥ・ハンドル) - Zoo Nee Voo (ズー・ニー・ヴー)   23:21

B3 I Got the Feelin' (アイ・ガット・ザ・フィーリン) - Zoo Nee Voo (ズー・ニー・ヴー)   25:24

B4 Afro Rock Theme (アフロ・ロック・テーマ) - Takeo Yamashita (山下毅雄)   27:52

B5 Hello I Love You (ハロー・アイ・ラブ・ユー) - Golden Poppers (ゴールデン・ポッパーズ)   29:35

B6 Akai Hoshi No Borero (赤い星のボレロ) - Kazuko Sawamura (沢村和子とピーターパン)   31:31

B7 otome (男と女) - Sharp Five (シャープ・ファイヴ)   34:44

Sublime Frequency uncovers Cambodian 78 gems for Mekong Shellac comp

The archival collection Mekong Shellac presents 13 extremely rare Khmer recordings from the '30s to '50s.

MEKONG SHELLAC: 

Cambodian Artifacts from the 78-rpm era

Mekong Shellac (out September 4 via Sublime Frequencies) is an extremely rare collection of classical and popular styles of Khmer music from the 1930s to the 1950s. Restored from the few original remaining copies, this compilation reveals a remarkable world of early 20th-century Cambodian folk music previously lost in time through war, cultural shifts, and modernization. These recordings were selected for their distinctive musical qualities, the physical condition of the 78 rpm records from which they were sourced, and the circumstances of their survival. 

The selections span a range of Khmer musical forms, including Chapey, Romvong, Lakon Basak, Pleng Khmer, Ayai, and Ayai Reung, as well as classical and court-derived traditions such as Pinpeat and Mahori, alongside popular and regional styles including Lamleav and Pleng Ka. It's a miracle these discs have survived at all throughout the past century. Restoration of these 78-rpm artifacts was a challenge, but considering that, of most songs appearing on the album, less than 5 copies are known to exist worldwide today - with only two known copies of three tracks presented here, the songs survive magnificently. 

Produced by Adam Fargason with the critical assistance of Sam Touch and Mai Viết Cường, this limited-edition vinyl pressing comes with a deluxe 16-page booklet insert including highly detailed liner notes, essays and historical information about the recordings, and a selection of vintage photographs. 

Listen to four tracks from the Mekong Shellac compilation and order a copy via Bancamp right here.

Bill DeMain chats about Steve Cropper, The Eagles and David Bowie

Music writer Bill DeMain recalls his interviews with Steve Cropper, David Bowie and tells the origin story of "Hotel California."

Jack Oblivian & Walter Daniels collaborate on new 4-song 7" EP

Walter Daniels & Jack Oblivian pay tribute to  Dave Dudley and others on their new Sailing The Concrete Seas EP out October 16.

Sez Black and Wyatt Records' boss Robert Jethro Wyatt...

We just announced the October 16th release of Sailin the Concrete Seas with Walter Daniels and Jack Oblivian et al. Accepting pre-orders now from our webstore. 

Snazzy sleeve art courtesy of Art Chantry.

Here's what Walter says about the record:

"Jack “Oblivian” Yarber is a rock’n’roll treasure- a great songwriter and capable of rocking on multiple instruments. So, I was jazzed when Jack and the Sheiks (Graham Winchester, Frank McLallen, Keith Cooper, and Seth Moody) agreed to help me record some great tunes with Andrew McCalla- a truly talented engineer and producer.

"I picked up Dave Dudley’s Truck Drivin’ Son of a Gun years ago - so it was a blast to record “I Got Lost,” and “Two Six Packs Away” at this session. We took a pass at the legendary Texas tune, “Drugs Will Kill Me” and the blues goof - “You Look Bad” finished the session. Greg Cartwright – from the Oblivians and the Reigning Sound – joined us on guitar for both the truckin' tunes. Sailin the Concrete Seas was the tagline from the Road Gang - all night radio just for truckers and country fans. CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!"

Listen to the original versions of the songs covered by Jack and Walter...

Watch Charlie Musselwhite with GA-20 on CBS Saturday Morning and more

Check out Charlie and GA-20's recent appearances on CBS Saturday Morning, Live From Relix and a Guitar World rig rundown. 

Grab a copy of Charlie's "Blues Now" collaborative album with GA-20 right here. Catch 'em on tour this fall!  

Jon Spencer and crew storm Canada in September!

Jon, Kendall and Spider are joined by Bloodshot Bill at shows in Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa! Check the dates after the clips.

Jon Spencer's new album Songs of Personal Loss and Protest is out now! 

Jon Spencer's September Tour

9.6 Sun No Fun Troy NY with Goons!

9.7 Mon L'Anti Bar & Spectacles Quebec City QC with Bloodshot Bill

9.8 Tue Bar Le Ritz Montreal QC with Bloodshot Bill

9.9 Wed Bronson Centre Ottawa ON with Bloodshot Bill

9.10 Thu The Great Hall Toronto Toronto ON with Thee Retail Simps

9.11 Fri Bridgeworks Hamilton ON with Thee Retail Simps

9.12 Sat Bug Jar Rochester NY with Harmonica Lewinski

9.13 Sun - Drom, New York NY with Daddy Long Legs, Kurt Baker, Jonathan Toubin, Lenny Kaye - Beauty Bar Anniversary Party

Russell deCarle joins Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays @ The Artful Dodger, Sept 6

Singer/songwriter Russell deCarle and steel ace Burke Carroll join Steve Briggs and crew at Artful Dodger today from 4-7 pm