Remembering composer Gil Mellé on his birthday

Remembering saxophonist/composer Gil Mellé with his music for the Andromeda Strain soundtrack and more. 

Andy Warhol discusses chicken-fried steak with William Burroughs at the Chelsea

After Burroughs and Warhol chat about southern cuisine for a bit at the Chelsea Hotel circa 1980, Nico makes the scene. 

Peculiar To Mr. Bowie book & fragrance launching in London, UK

John Mendelssohn's new book Peculiar to Mr. Bowie – A Day with David Bowie in 1971 and scent is out soon.

Here's the scoop from Miriam Linna at Kicks Books...

Hey Metrobolists, I'll be in London for a week with John Mendelssohn and Paul Gorman on a wee press junket for the latest Kicks books-and-fragrance. We have a shindig at the Century Club and two book shop dates immediately following. Watch for a newsflash this week as we prepare for lift off. 

It's our privilege to bring this small book with fragrant trimmings to you as a memento / souvenir of John's day with David Bowie in 1971, when DB was on his first visit to the states, wearing a man-dress and tossing his locks during a cross-country press junket for his new footlong The Man Who Sold The World, which was a queen-size flop Stateside. 1971 was pivotal for DB (weren't they all). Following the release and said hype of TMWSTW came the recording and release of Hunk Dory, and by December, he had shorn and dyed the locks to become Ziggy Stardust. 

Our righteous little tome celebrates one small spot in time when man met dress and another man met the man in a dress and snapped a roll of film that has remained largely unseen for 64 years. The London junket (including photo show) runs Jan 23-27, followed on Jan 31, back in the States by a WPKN mega chat with Trident's Howard Thompson and Bowie collector king Kevin Patrick at the hallowed halls of WPKN - with record party and photo exhibition to folllow. Details erupt soon. Working on an NYC location, so we are calling in ye troops for a gangbuster blast. 

Incidentally, the book shindigs are tailgated by an exact replica of the legendary Mr Fish "Man-Dress"! We tried unsuccessfully to license a one sided flexidisc a dynamite '71 demo titled Miss Peculiar, but the title also leans toward the logo of Mr Fish's designs, and the line from Space oddity circa 1969. Oh, and yes, Kicks Books is the only publisher in history to produce a book-and-fragrance line. The fragrance of Peculiar is a unisex dose of old school English lavender. Of course.x miriam

You can pre-order John Mendelssohn's Peculiar to Mr. Bowie via the Norton Records site right here. 

BEDAZZLED... BESPOKE...BOWIE! A third  PECULIAR book event in London is now set in stone, dear ones, with the great map mavens at Herb Lester joining again with Kicks Books...  "Bowie in London and Hollywood" is at Word In Your Ear at 21Soho, 3-5 Sutton Row, London with hosts Mark Ellen and David Hepworth chatting with authors John Mendelssohn and Paul Gorman.... make the date? It's on Monday Jan 27 7-9:30 PM. We're at the launch at the Empire Club on Jan 23rd and at Tender Books on Jan 25th. See you all soon! Books-perfume-photos... watch for full pressola blast.. here's the info on the Jan. 27 blasteroo! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bowie-in-london-and-hollywood-tickets-1118845138929

We look forward to seeing you at one or all of the London gang meetings!

January 23 - Empire Club,  61-63 Shaftesbury Ave, London

January 25 - Tender Books, 6 Cecil Court, London

January 28 - Word In Your Ear at 21Soho, 3-5 Sutton Row, London

R.I.P. Jimmy Carter, 1924-2024

Sadly, 39th President of the U.S. Jimmy Carter – who helped save Canada from a nuclear disaster in 1952 – has passed away.

Easy AM 66 shares Top 25 of the year's smoothest hits

You can tune in to Rachel Lichtman's beautiful music station Easy AM 66 right here. Check out the Easy AM 66 Vol. 3 LP below.

 

Get a limited edition copy of Easy 66 AM Vol. 3 compilation on vinyl via Bandcamp right here. 

That time the Candoli brothers appeared in Bell, Book & Candle

Jazz trumpeters Pete & Conte Candoli appeared in the Zodiac Club scene in the film Bell, Book & Candle from 1958. 

Happy Birthday Marianne Faithfull

Celebrating Marianne Faithfull's birthday with a few interviews including one with Nick Cave and the 2007 South Bank

Rare 70s soul demos cut by Atlanta's Richard Marks are better than you'd think

Love Is Gone – The Lost Sessions: 1969-77 collects the unissued songs cut by Atlanta guitarist Richard Marks. Have a listen. 

Here's the scoop...

These songs, found on reels that Marks kept in his home, color Marks’ stylistic development – from his earliest work for the legendary Tuska label in the late ‘60s, through his more mature releases on smaller regional labels into the late ‘70s.

Marks’ story is that of an unsung soul and funk hero; he was a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter whose phone number was in Al Green’s, Barry White’s and Eddie Kendricks’ rolodexes, but his talents have only been heard in sporadic bursts. He and his music are unknown to the majority, but to an obsessive minority, he is a lightning rod: that singular point at which numerous Southern soul and funk musicians converged and exploded, spreading wondrous music in all directions.

Marks died of cancer in May 2006. His first album was our Never Satisfied anthology, released posthumously. He stands out as a most mysterious talent to originate from Atlanta, a city that birthed no shortage of genius, and Love Is Gone – The Lost Sessions 1969-1977 further makes the case for a reassessment of his talents and his place in the soul and funk canon.

Bonus second LP contains extra tracks and is available only to subscribers. It also contains an extensive booklet by Brian Poust detailing Marks’ story. Download card for WAV files included with LP. Check out a few tracks below. 

 

Catl kicks off the Farewell Concert Series @ Hamilton's Casbah Lounge, Sunday

Toronto's mighty Catl plays their final show at Hamilton's Casbah as part of the Farewell Series starting Sunday from 2 pm till late. 

CASBAH FAREWELL SERIES (NIGHT ONE)

SUNDAY DECEMBER 29

The Casbah (306 King St. West, Hamilton)

A day/night of goodbyes, good vibes & good bands

Hamilton's venerable night spot The Casbah Lounge is ending it's 24-year run as music community hub in the heart of the Hammer with a Farewell Concert Series starting Sunday (December 29) with an all ages, all-day event in the Main Hall starting at 2 pm and running until 12 midnight featuring performances by Toronto's blues rockin' gruesome twosome Catl (6:30 pm - sharp!) along with Blind Mule, the Carrie Clark Trio, Chelsea Reynolds Band, Sarah Good & The Bads and GEOFF. The cover is $20 with all proceeds going to the bands. Tell a friend. 

Check the Casbah site www.casbahlounge.ca for more info, upcoming events and merch. Check out Catl tearing through their whumpin' "Hold My Body Down" at the Casbah in 2018 and "Got A Thing For You" at This Ain't Hollywood way back in 2015. Watch Catl's version of "You Got The Silver" performed at the Casbah right here. 

Remembering Alex Chilton on his birthday

Raising a glass to singer/songwriter Alex Chilton with a couple of performances and interviews worth checking. 

That time Deke Dickerson joined The Surfrajettes on stage in Spain

Deke Dickerson tore it up with Nicole Damoff and her Surfrajettes at the Rockin' Race Jamboree in Torremolinos. 

You can catch Deke Dickerson – sans Surfrajettes – on tour with Whistle Bait in Finland this January! 

Bob Dylan actually went electric more than two years before Newport

Hear Bob Dylan's electrified rockabilly ripper "Mixed Up Confusion" issued on December 14, 1962 – long before Newport '65.

Whaddya mean you don't know The Koobas

Originally formed in Liverpool back in 1964, The Koobas should've been huge but split before releasing their 1969 debut LP.

Happy Birthday Karl Denson of Tiny Universe & Sexual Chocolate!

Cheers to Karl on his birthday who managed to fit in a Rolling Stones tour between cameos in Coming To America and the sequel. 

Midweek Mixdown: Retro Obscuro "Year End Special" w/Kitschy Mama

Check out what vintage rockin' gems Kitschy Mama's digging up for Retro Obscuro's Year End Special on WFMU-FM right  here.

Timothée Chalamet vs. Nardwuar

Timothée Chalamet, star of the new Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" got some gifts with a grilling from Nardwuar. 

R.I.P. Toronto singer Bradley Harder, 1960-2024

Sadly, Toronto-based singer Bradley Harder of Bradley and the Bouncers has passed away. He'll be greatly missed. 

Bradley's friends who'd like to make a contribution towards his funeral expenses can visit his GoFundMe page right here. 

Walter Daniels & Del Vale Trustees return with Work Release LP in January

Austin's harp-honkin' hero Walter Daniels has his new "Work Release" album with the Del Valle Trustees issued on Jan. 17

Have a Merry Shmenge Christmas!

Watch the Shmenge Brothers celebrate Christmas in Leutonia, salute John Williams and chat with David Letterman.

Remembering New Orleans bandleader Dave Bartholomew on his birthday

Remembering the great New Orleans trumpeter Dave Bartholomew who co-wrote and produced many of Fats Domino's hits. 

Gettin' Down For Christmas!

Here are a few funky Christmas 45 sides from lesser know artists Milly & Silly, Rose Graham and Ghana's Pee Pee Dynamite.  

Listen to Piero Piccioni's Smog OST from 1962 featuring Chet Baker

Since it's Chet Baker's birthday today, here's his brilliant soundtrack collaboration with Piero Piccioni for the 1962 film Smog. 

Happy Birthday Victoria Williams!

Cheers to the amazing Victoria Williams! Here's a performance with Lou Reed, one at Joshua Tree, a Christmas classic & more.

Proceeds from the Don Heffington tribute album benefit the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Find out more right here. 

Merry Christmas from Dale Watson!

Check out "Santa Bring Her Back"  and the big-rig gem "Santa and My Semi" by Austin-based honky tonk hero Dale Watson.  

Daily Bread Food Bank Benefit w/ Handsome Dick Manitoba @ The Horseshoe, Sunday

Handsome Dick Manitoba makes a rare Toronto appearance at The Horseshoe tonight to help out the Daily Bread Food Bank. 

Legendary Dictators front man Handsome Dick Manitoba is coming to Toronto to help out Bob Muck's benefit bash for The Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank. HDM is like a Punk Rock Santa!!!

From Bob Muck:

"Great things usually start in small ways; a friendly hello, a fun chat and then, suddenly, a new friendship. That's what happened with Handsome Dick Manitoba and me. Before we knew it we were talking about Dick coming to Toronto for a Christmas visit. It made sense that we put on a show for his many Toronto fans.

"Maybe it was the spirit of Christmas that convinced us a charity show to help the many who are struggling in Toronto was best. Dick agreed and a plan was set in motion.

"What happened next was truly incredible. Great people like the good folks at The Horseshoe Tavern, Gerry Finn of The Killer Dwarfs, Stacy Stray of The Intergalactic Rock Stars, Dave McMillan and Chuck Keeping of Big Wreck, A Bunchoffuckinggoofs and SAF all stepped up to pitch in. My wife Nancy and I are blown away by their generosity and kindness. We can't thank them enough!

"The show will be on the 22nd of December at The Horseshoe (doors at 7:30 pm). The cost of admission will be a cash contribution to The Daily Bread Foodbank. Their amazing team will be there to accept your donation and to thank you on behalf of those who need help at a time of year that can be very trying for many.

"We look forward to seeing you all there!"

Check out Handsome Dick Manitoba's performance of "Search & Destroy" along with a video for "Eve Of Destruction"

Late Show sleighs incoming US administration with "It's A Worm-Derful Life" cartoon

Just in time for the holidays, Team Colbert delivered a Christmas cartoon miracle, "It's A Worm-Derful Life" Have a look. 

R.I.P. Stanley Booth, 1942-2024

Music journalist Stanley Booth, who brilliantly chronicled the Rolling Stones and Furry Lewis, has died at 82. He'll be greatly missed. 

Writes music journalist Chris Morris...

Informed sources say that writer Stanley Booth has died in Memphis.

Sometimes all you need to do is leave a single book behind. Booth -- seen below pointing his shotgun in your face on the dusk jacket of his book “Rythm Oil" -- left one the size of a continent: his 1984 book originally titled “Dance With the Devil: The Rolling Stones & Their Times” and later retitled “The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones.” (Booth was annoyed that his publisher also used the title for a novel, by the actor Kirk Douglas.) It depicted, close up, the band’s fateful 1969 tour, which climaxed at Altamont, so intimately that it instantly rendered any other effort on the subject slight; it also delved deeply into the group’s history, and into Brian Jones’ sad fate. It was a work of personal journalism; the writer is as important a character as Keith Richards, whom he befriended over the course of his reporting. I bought it the week it came out, bought each succeeding edition of it, and bought used hardback copies to give to my friends. Best book on the Stones, best book on rock ’n’ roll, best book spawned by the inheritors of the New Journalism.

Booth managed to publish other books — an elongated version of his Playboy interview with Keith, "Rythm Oil" and its successor collection "Red Hot and Blue" — and the writing was invariably fine, flawless, funny. It is a marvel they appeared at all, for Booth was a reckless and hard-living man who cheated Death for decades. But he was claimed today, at the age of 82. You can talk about the others, those figures now passed like Bangs and Palmer, or the ones still living. Stanley Booth had no true peer among the observers of the music’s long dark trail. He was the pistol.

Watch Furry Lewis play "When I Lay My Burden Down." See the link below for Stanley's feature article "Furry's Blues" originally published in Playboy in April, 1970.  

LINKS

Memphis Commercial Appeal Stanley Booth Obituary

Joni Mitchell Library "Furry's Blues" by Stanley Booth

Remembering Travis "Harmonica Slim" Blaylock on his birthday

Raising a glass to Texarkana-born harp honker Harmonica Slim with a few R&B swingers you may have missed. 

One For The Weekend: The Teen Rockers

Here's the 1960 instro classic "Road Block" by the Teen Rockers aka Walter, Ricky, Billy & Barry – a Lux and Ivy fave! 

Darlene Love, Little Steven & Paul Shaffer continue a holiday tradition on the Tonight Show

Check out Darlene Love's stellar performance of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home" with Little Steven and Paul Shaffer. 

Happy Birthday Ed Kuepper!

Raising a glass to guitarist/songwriter Ed Kuepper of The Saints with a couple of interviews and performances. 

Jon Spencer collaborates with Deke Dickerson on new recording

While on tour, Jon Spencer and crew stopped by Deke Dickerson's studio to cut a couple of punk whumpers old school style.  

Here's the scoop from Deke...

"Well, that was fun and unexpected!  Jon Spencer (he of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, a quite-famous band a few years back) contacted me out of the blue a few weeks ago and asked to book a recording session at my studio, while they were on tour on the West Coast as part of a package tour with Samantha Fish and Cedric Burnside.  Of course I said yes!  I never get to record noisy, raw punk blues stuff.  This would be fun and, well, unexpected!

"I didn't know when we made plans to record that Jon also wanted ME to play on the songs.  I know the kids are all crazy about the "collabs" as they call it, so hell yes, that sounded like fun! Count me in!

"Jon and his current band (Kendall Wind, bass; and Macky Spider Bowman, drums) showed up at the house at noon, along with their road manager Dave Martin.  Within 30 minutes we were recording songs I had never heard before, and laying them DOWN.

"I think the tracks sound great!  I look forward to mixing these and seeing what happens.  I like doing stuff out of my normal wheelhouse.  Jon and the band couldn't have been nicer (or more professional, man we just got right down to work).  By 3 pm they were on the road to Ventura, where they are playing tonight at the Ventura Theater, along with Samantha Fish and Cedric Burnside.  Thanks again, Jon!  it was a pleasure!  And thanks again to Bloodshot BILL for putting Jon and I in touch!"

Watch a couple of clips from the session right here and over there. 

 

Rare Mario Molino sound library recording recirculated by Sonor

Mario Molino's Action Beat Group album also issued as The Diamonds Four is being reissued by Rome's Sonor Music Group.  

Here's the scoop...

Mario Molino

This exceptionally rare library album by Italian composer, musician, and guitarist Mario Molino was first released on the obscure library music imprint B.M.P. during the 1970s. It was later issued on the highly collectible Music Scene label rebranded as Action Beat Group (MSE-144), featuring different track titles and attributed to the pseudonym Luigi Ferracioli. 

Although much about him remains unknown to this day, Mario Molino was a prominent figure in the world library music, celebrated for his genre-spanning versatility. On one hand, he was a virtuoso classical guitarist, while on the other, he had a strong foundation in jazz and contemporary music. This duality, spanning from classical guitar solos to spaced out psychedelic rock with fuzzed guitars, eccentric funk-infused Hammond organ grooves, proto-hip hop (check out his hard thumpin' head-nodder "Traffico Caotico" from 1974), and orchestral compositions, is reflected in his discography. His catalog includes rare and sought-after releases like Antico e Moderno (C 364) on Fonit's Usignolo series, Love on Vroommm Records, Beat Gregoriano on Montecarlo, I Beats on Pentaphon, alongside numerous library and soundtracks releases. 

The Diamonds Four stands as a hidden gem in Molino's oeuvre, seamlessly aligning with his best releases, as it contains a superb blend of groovy psychedelic funk, breezy bossa nova, killer jazz beat tunes and expansive mood-music. With only a handful of original pressings ever surfacing over the years, The Diamonds Four (as well as the later issue as Action Beat Group) earned its status as a unique and widely valued record among library and soundtrack enthusiasts worldwide. 

Get a copy of Sonor's reissue of Mario Molino's recording The Diamonds Four via Bandcamp right here. Check out the uptempo organ-combo workout "Autostrada" aka "Motor-Road" and the laidback lounge swinger "Annalisa" below. 

Remembering Professor Longhair on his birthday

Remembering New Orleans piano great Professor Longhair with a 1974 show joined by The Meters, Dr. John & Allen Toussaint. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Galapagos Duck

Australian jazz crew Galapagos Duck originally came together a ski resort in 1969. Check out The Removalists OST from 1974.  

Remembering Blaze Foley on his birthday

Here's Blaze accompanying Townes Van Zandt on "Snowing On Raton" back in 1984 and few more performances worth checking.  

Okavango African Orchestra and special guests hit the Redwood Theatre, Friday

Okavango will be joined by sensational singer Lorraine Klaasen, kora master Diely Mori Tounkara and tama ace Pape Ndiaye. 

Okavango African Orchestra and special guests

The Redwood Theatre (1300 Gerrard St. East)

Friday, December 20

Doors: 7pm. Concert: 8pm.

Advance tickets: $20 or $25 door. 

Tickets available here: https://Okavango20Dec24.eventbrite.ca 

Enjoy the sensational sounds of Okavango African Orchestra at the Redwood Theatre on Friday December 20th. Come and celebrate with Okavango African Orchestra with special guests Lorraine Klaasen, kora virtuoso Diely Mori Tounkara, exceptional tama player Pape Ndiaye, soulful Congolese singer Mis Blandine and accomplished bassist Dally Dominic.for a concert presentation at the historic Redwood Theatre (1300 Gerrard St. East) on Friday (December 20). 

Multiple instruments, languages, and countries help define the music of Okavango African Orchestra, a Juno award-winning ensemble of seven African-born musicians who live in Toronto and Montreal.

“Our music is not static, it’s constantly evolving, and like the animals in the Okavango delta that migrate to greener pastures, the music of Okavango endeavours to reach new territory of migration and exploration. We are not just playing music, we are introducing new concepts, ideas and ways of working together.”

Okavango African Orchestra brings together the traditional music and instruments of several major African cultures, to create a common meeting place and a new musical language that harmonizes different tuning systems, rhythms, and timbres. Okavango represent a continuum of traditions and cultures from time immemorial to the present day.

Okavango African Orchestra looks ahead on its continuing journey to an “Africa without borders… before the borders were created.” 

Watch Okavango African Orchestra in action right here. Check out performance clips of Lorraine Klassen and Diely Mori Tounkara below. 

LINKS:

Okavango African Orchestra: www.okavangoorchestra.com

Batuki Music: www.batukimusic.com/site2

Redwood Theatre: www.theredwoodtheatre.com

Watch André 3000 chat with Nardwuar & Jimmy Fallon

See André 3000's recent chats with Nardwuar & Jimmy Fallon along with a performance – who knew he was a Mitch Marner fan?

Remembering New Orleans piano great James Booker on his birthday

Raising a glass to the amazing James Booker on his birthday with a BBC performance (audio) from 1978 you may have missed.