R.I.P. Willie Colón, 1950-2026

His political views aside, trombonist/songwriter Willie Colón's significant contribution to Latin music history is beyond reproach. 

Numero Group knocks out a "soundtrack" for imaginary spy flick

Numero Group needed a hook to hang their most recent random collection of rare recordings and decided on a spy film soundtrack.

 

Here's the scoop from Numero HQ...

The opening act of Louis Wayne Moody’s mid-century spy caper trilogy, 1962’s Call Me Old Fashioned put a tail on Agent Cara Seaworth’s debut undercover operation, fresh out of the Eastern Star Spy Academy for Young Ladies. Her assignment: to pose as songbird and nest, one thrush-like performance at a time, deep under the skin of widower Jack “Frenchy” Hammerli, proprietor of Jack’s Riverside Inn supper club. Her quarry: both an unblemished 1822 American Half Eagle piece—gone AWOL since the Academy’s turbulent Reconstruction-era founding—and Jack’s own beating heart. When the mobbed-up Sauk City, Wisconsin, night spot proves a tough coin to flip, Seaworth’s estranged father and celebrated numismatist “The Man” gets called up to the Not-So-Big Leagues. Will Cara pinch the minted MacGuffin and cooly cash in on a couple dozen missed birthdays, or wind up feeding walleye at the bottom of Mud Lake?

Struck for circulation after 63 years in hock within the Lou-Mood Pictures vault, this previously unissued soundtrack traffics in the high-tone timbre and highball-sipping swoon of pop’s post-war years. Muddling together sugar-lipped divas, barrel-aged big bands, and “zoo be zoo be zoo” zest, with a Latin jazz Luxardo for garnish, Call Me Old Fashioned is a 40-minute stereo-sonic adventure for the 7 & 7 spy-fi fanatic. You can get a copy of Call Me Old Fashioned LP via Bandcamp right here or try the Numero Group site over here. 

Call Me Old Fashioned

1. Pony Sherrell - Don't Do Anything Til You've Heard From Me 

2. Margo Guryan - More Understanding Than a Man 

3. Charleen Houston - Just Like a Fool 

4. Dolores White - Lovers Paradise 

5. Charlene Knight - If My Dreams Come True 

6. Darla Hood - Un Momento Mas 

7. Manny Lopez - Terra Bella (Que Bonita Es Mi Tierra) 

8. Nun Plus - Walk About The Craters Of The Moon 

9. Arnie & Chise' Trio - Three Cherries 

10. Carmen - Ukulele Mambo 

11. Jeanne Hatfield - Time 

12. Doris Drew - Aba Da Aba Du 

13. April Yen - If and When It Happens 

14. Birdlegs and Pauline - Mist of a Dream 

Jim Cuddy & Friends "Country Classic" Benefit @ The Horseshoe, Sunday

The annual Country Classic fundraiser for the Daily Bread Food Bank feat. Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy and pals is now sold out. 

Lost 1968 recording by Nanaimo's Glass Cage finally gets released!

Marcus Pollard found a mysterious acetate in a Port Alberni thrift shop which turned out to be the 1968 demo of Nanaimo's Glass Cage. 

In the summer of 1968, five Nanaimo, BC teenagers recorded an exciting six-song demo of West Coast garage psych. Cut to an acetate then lost to time for 50+ years. Until now. Watch the story of the Glass Cage's lost recording right here and below. 

“A remarkable discovery. The Glass Cage show impressive creativity and versatility as they transition between hard-hitting, organ-driven Northwest R&B slammers and dreamy, harmony-based psychedelic numbers.” – Mike Stax, Ugly Things

“I LOVE the Glass Cage!” – Grant Lawrence, CBC Radio

“Newly unearthed garage rock classic ... terrific California-style psychedelia”

– Craig “Rockin’ Prof” Morrison, Ethnomusicologist

“A garage rock gem” – John Dwyer, Osees

Restoration & remastering by Peter Conheim, deluxe 8-page booklet with story, photos and posters. Cover art by Bob Masse Studios. Get a copy of The Glass Cage's 1968 recording released by Supreme Echo as "Where Did The Sunshine Go! via Bandcamp right here.

LINKS
Times Colonist Thrift store find leads to new life for Nanaimo band, The Glass Cage 

Happy Birthday Poison Ivy!

Raising a glass to Poison Ivy – The Cramps guitarist, composer and producer – with some interview & performance footage.

Here's a bonus shot of Poison Ivy with The Cramps featuring Miriam Linna on drums circa 1976. 

One For The Weekend: The Creation from Albuquerque, NM

Here's the scoop...

The Creation were a short-lived but regionally influential psychedelic garage band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, active in the late 1960s. Centered on brothers Al O’Donnell (lead/rhythm guitar) and Mike O’Donnell (bass) together with Ernie (Earnie) Phillips (rhythm guitar), the trio wrote and sang their material collectively while hiring session players for drums and keyboards. Listen to "No Silver Bird" off their second single for Centurion from 1968 –both sides of which were covered by Hooterville Trolley who didn't share any members with The Creation – recently reissued by Guerssen Records and available digitally here. Incidentally, The Creation's first single "What The Daises Know" b/w "Sun and Stars (I Miss Her So) was also on Centurion and issued in December,1967. You can read more about The Creation on the Garage Hangover site right here. 

Ryan Bingham's They Call Us The Lucky Ones out May 15th

Ryan Bingham's new album "They Call Us The Lucky Ones" is out May 15th. You can pre-order it here. Check the clips. 

Watch a video for Zsuzsa Koncz's Hungarian psych whumper "Visz A Vonat"

Here's a clip for Zsuzsa Koncz's head-noddin'' Illes collaboration "Visz A Vonat" which translates to "The Train Is Coming" 

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. 

Eleni Mandell discusses covering "Burma Shave" by Tom Waits

Singer/songwriter Eleni Mandell recorded and released her version of the Tom Waits classic "Burma Shave" off Foreign Affairs.

Punk Talks: Musicans of Toronto Punk Panel @ Peach Berserk, Feb 22

Tickets are moving fast for the Liz Worth moderated Punk Talks panel with members of The Curse and Cleave Anderson!

Here's the scoop...

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of punk with an intimate, interactive discussion with some of the most prominent artists in Toronto's first wave punk scene at Peach Berserk (1694 Queen St. West) on Sunday, February 22 from 2 pm to 5 pm.

Meet Mickey Skin and Linda Lee of Canada's first all-female punk band, the Curse, and Cleave Anderson, who has been the drummer of a number of early Toronto and Hamilton punk bands, including the Battered Wives, Viletones, and Forgotten Rebels.

Learn about storied punk venues and what it took to build Toronto's grounbreaking first-wave punk scene.

Moderated by author Liz Worth (Treat Me Like Dirt: An Oral History of Punk in Toronto and Beyond).

Hosted at Kingi Carpenter's famous Peach Berserk silk screen studio! Your entry fee includes refreshments. Tickets are $10... get 'em while you can via Eventbrite right here. 

Jack Pedler Celebration of Life @ Hamilton's Corktown Pub, Sunday

Join Jack's musician pals in a celebration of life event at the Corktown Pub (175 Young St. E, Hamilton) starting at 2 pm 

JACK PEDLER MEMORIAL CELEBRATION OF LIFE

On December 23 the Hamilton music community was saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Pedler. For almost 60 years Jack was at the heart of that community. Acclaimed for his peerless musicianship, his sense of humour and his loyal friendships he will be sorely missed by friends and fans alike. Over his long career he was a driving rhythmic force behind too many bands and recording sessions to list here, among them Teenage Head, Buxton Castle, Ray Materick, Dave Rave, the Rockets and many more, not to mention the popularity and originality of his own solo recordings. 

Today, Sunday (February 15), a musical celebration of Jack’s life will be held at The Corktown Pub (175 Young St) in Hamilton. The event gets underway at 2 PM. Reservations are not required and there will be no admission charge. However voluntary donations can be made at the door to the Bob Pedler Fund, a benevolent fund administered by the Hamilton Musicians’ Guild that helps local musicians who are unable to work due to medical reasons by providing cash grants. The fund is named for Jack’s father, himself a legendary Hamilton musician. This event will provide the opportunity for all of Jack Pedler’s family and friends to come together to play music and exchange stories and memories.

Gaijin Smash shares new video for "Mountain" in advance of Monarch Tavern gig

Gaijin Smash will be joined by Chinese Medicine & Ether Girls at the Monarch Tavern March 14. Watch the video for "Mountain"

From Gaijin Smash HQ... 

"The official music video for Mountain is out today. Filmed in London, UK by director Sam Harding with additional live footage in Toronto by Primal Note Productions. Hug."

Tickets for the Gaijin Smash, Chinese Medicine, Ether Girls show at the Monarch Tavern on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 pm are $22 advance and available right here. Watch the "Mountain" clip below. 

 

Listen to J.R. Williams' Call Me Cannibal Episode #14, Sunday

Cartoonist/collector J.R. Williams spins more greasy kid's stuff on Sunday, Feb 15 at 11 am on Boss Radio 66. It'll be archived here.

Playlist for Call Me Cannibal Episode #14

00:00 - Ennio Morricone - Intro: CANNIBAL (alt. version, excerpt)

00:28 - Keetie & the Kats - WAY OUT

02:51 - The Beats - THE BEATNIK BOUNCE PART 1

05:17 - The Rondels - SATAN’S THEME

07:25 - Louis Nye - TEENAGE BEATNIK

09:19 - The Champs - BEATNIK

11:13 - Johnny Zorro - BONGO GUITAR

13:06 - The Keymen - BOY BLUE

15:40 - The Caltones - THE BEARDS

17:43 - Frosty & the Diamonds - DESTINATION MARS

19:43 - George Duning (with the Candoli brothers) - ZODIAC BLUES (from the film “Bell, Book & Candle”)

22:02 - David Michael & Chorale - WOW!

24:46 - Doreen Davis & Bobby Lyons - YOU’RE CRAZY

26:37 - The Bikinis - CRAZY VIBRATIONS

29:01 - Ritchie & the Squires - BEAT PARTY PT. I

30:58 - The Planets - JUNGLE STREET

33:20 - Jack Paar - BLUE WIGGLE

35:18 - Dick Hyman - THE CAT

37:59 - Dickie Harrell - DRIVIN’ AROUND THE BLOCK

40:11 - Cozy Cole - NORTH BEACH

42:26 - Russ Haddock Trio - BOHEMIAN GIRL

45:08 - The Enchanters - CAFE BOHEMIAN

47:23 - Joe Dodo & the Groovers - GROOVY

49:52 - The Hollywood Persuaders - FORGET IT

51:53 - Doreen Davis & Bobby Lyons - PUNCH LINE

53:50 - The Honkers - DO YOU PROMISE?

55:59 - J. Hawkins et son Orchestre - BEATNIK BLUES

59:05 - Abie “Available” Baker - THE WEB

1:01:34 - Paul Leader/H. B. Barnum’s Circats - THE DEVIL’S PAD

1:03:11 - Moe Koffman Quintet - COOL GHOUL

1:05:32 - Bill Doggett - BLIP BLOP

1:08:16 - Earl Bostic - FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

1:10:25 - Joya Sherrill with Luther Henderson & his Orchestra - DESDEMONA’S LAMENT

1:12:28 - The Frankie Capp Percussion Group - PETER GUNN

1:14:46 - Warren Barker - 77 SUNSET STRIP

1:16:54 - Ray Anthony & his Orchestra - THUNDERBIRD

1:19:24 - Gloria Wood with Pete Candoli & his Orchestra - HEY! BELLBOY!

1:22:09 - Don Powell/Ennio Morricone - CANNIBAL (excerpt)

1:23:23 - Jack Kerouac - AIN’T WE GOT FUN

Remembering blues legend Magic Sam Maghett on his birthday

Remembering the amazing Magic Sam Maghett on his birthday with the trailer for the forthcoming doc Finding Magic and more. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Getting your Valentine's Day off to a swingin' start with T. Valentine (above) along with Cal Valentine and crew.  

R.I.P. Nashville guitarist/producer Jerry Kennedy, 1940-2026

Sadly, Nashville guitarist/producer Jerry Kennedy – who cut classics with Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Roger Miller, etc – has died at 85. 

LINKS
SavingCountryMusic.com A-team musician/producer Jerry Kennedy has died

The Tennessean Jerry Kennedy, known for his riffs, dies at 85

Jason Palma salutes Ghana legend Ebo Taylor & Strobe Records on Higher Ground

Ghana's legendary Ebo Taylor is remembered by Jason Palma on Higher Ground on Saturday at 4-6 am. Listen here.

Playlist for February 12th 2026: 

Celebrating the life and music of Ebo Taylor:

Ebo Taylor”African Woman” (Strut)

Ebo Taylor “Atwer Abroba” (Philips)

Ebo Taylor & Uhuru-Yenzu “Love And Death” (Essiebons)

The Apagya Showband “Tamfo Nyi E9kyir” (Dix)

Pat Thomas & Ebo Taylor “Mahuno”  (Pan African)

Super Sounds Namba “Yes Indeed” (Abotar)

Ebo Taylor & Uhuru-Yenzu “What Is Life?” (Essiebons)

Ebo Taylor “Peace On Earth” (Philips)

Ebo Taylor “Odofo Nyi Akyiri Biara” (Gapophone)

Ebo Taylor “Nga Nga” (Strut)

Ebo Taylor “Victory” (Strut)

Ebo Taylor & The Pelicans “Come Along” (Abookyi)

Ebo Taylor “Ohye Atar Gyan” (Dix)

Ebo Taylor “Heaven” (Dix)

Strobe Records 35 year mix:

Hayden Andre Project “Tribal Life (Vocal)” (Strobe)

Transcendence “Luv 'N' Happiness (Chapter 1)” (Strobe)

Ron Allen “Dark Melody” ((Strobe)

Nick Holder “ERotic Illusions” (Strobe)

Infra-Red “Metamorphasis (Hayden Andre Mix)” (Strobe)

Geneva “Uncomplicated” (Strobe)

Infra-Red “Love Honey” (Strobe)

Ron Allen “313 Jazz” (Strobe)

Kingdom Come “Jungle Bliss” (Strobe)

Helen Sharpe “Got 2 Have Your Love (Sweet Soul Mix)” (Strobe)

Kingdom Come “Groovy Baby” (Strobe)

Subculture feat. Marcus “The Voyage” (Strobe)

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GQ “Make My Dreams A Reality” (Arista)

Tony & the Kings “Jibaro” (Tiki Tumbao)

 El Gran Combo “Un Verano En Nueva York” (EGC)

Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound “Shades Of Time” (Fan International)

Salah Ragab And The Afro-Egyptian Ensemble “Ole (Cairo Version)” (Honest Jon’s)

Lydia Lunch & Marc Hurtado perform the music of Suicide @ Lee's Palace, Feb 13

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Lydia & Marc present the songs of Suicide at Lee's Palace on February 13th. Get tickets right here.      Photo by Helène Cazes

Here's the scoop...

After the Big Sexy Noise tour Lydia will be reunited with Marc, to perform the Suicide and Alan Vega songs, for the first time in Canada. Watch some recent performance footage below. 

Feb 13: Toronto - Lee's Palace

Feb 14: Montreal - La Sala Rossa

Feb 15: Ottawa - Club SAW

Happy 70th Birthday Peter Hook!

Raising a glass to Peter Hook on his 70th with his Limiñanas collaborations along with a few Joy Division & New Order faves.

One For The Weekend: OLD

Good to see Brian Taylor is still tearin' it up hardcore-style with Rick White in OLD. Check out "2025" off Not Dead Yet.

Writes Brian Taylor...

"Me and Rick made another OLD record. We made this video for one of the songs last weekend. Why? Because it's fun to do shit.

"Pretty pleased with how all of it turned out. No slow songs, no metal breakdowns, just fast hardcore."

You can get a copy of the latest OLD album Not Dead Yet via Bandcamp here or on vinyl at Rotate This while supplies last.

Remembering singer/songwriter Grant McLennan on his birthday

Raising a glass to Grant McLennan on his birthday with a few Go-Betweens faves played with longtime pal Robert Forster. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Trig Richards

Here's "Hollywood Cat" from Bay Area bad boy Trig Richards who penned "Lisa Marie" for The Beau Brummels' Sal Valentino. 

Lola Kirke @ Longboat Hall, Wednesday

Singer/songwriter & actress Lola Kirke plays songs from her Trailblazer album at Longboat Hall tonight at 7 pm. Get tickets here.

Chicago gospel & session singer Elsa Harris tells her amazing story

Along with her work with the Jessy Dixon Singers, Elsa Harris also sang backing vocals on Chess/Cadet sessions for Charles Stepney!   

Here's the scoop from Steven Krakow...

The new Secret History of Chicago Music has gone live! (This installment is not in the monthly/new format print issue.) I was blessed to speak with Gospel diva Elsa Harris (thanks to gentleman/scholar Bob Marovich) about her early days doing session work for Chess/Cadet--thus completing my mission to cover the backing vocalists on Minnie Riperton's stone-cold classic Come Into My Garden LP (listen to the magnificent "Les Fleurs" from that album below).

Harris was MUCH more than a session singer though, she also played phenomenal keys, and was part of the foundation of the famed Jessy Dixon Singers (who you've all heard featured on 70s tracks by Paul Simon).

Harris shared unheard tales of sessions with Phil Upchurch (and his python!) and Charles Stepney, and performing at hairy prison events (and blood puddles).

Get the whole divine scoop in the Chicago Reader right here. 

Dollar Bin Delights: Xavier Cugat's Mambo at the Waldorf

Check out three tracks from bandleader Xavier Cugat's "Mambo at the Waldorf" 10" from 1952 with snazzy Art Seiden sleeve art. 

Peter Case shares video for a dying democracy "Somebody Told The Truth"

Watch "Somebody Told The Truth" off Peter Case's forthcoming album My Life To Live - Live At McCabe's out April 24.

If you can't find Peter Case's new album My Life To Live at a record shop near you, get it digitally via Apple Music here. 

Happy Birthday Antonio Adolfo!

Celebrating the birthday of Brazilian pianist Antonio Adolfo with a few of his timeless recordings along with a performance. 

B-Side Wins Again: Bobby & The Denos

Smith, Arkansas' Bobby & The Denos do a fine version of "Fever" but the B-side rockabilly ripper "Just Like Me" takes the cake.

Remembering innovative saxophonist/clarinetist Joe Maneri on his birthday

Raising a glass to microtonal saxophone master and educator Joe Maneri with a couple of stellar performances. 

LINKS 

The Cleopatra Record Listen to an interview with Joe Maneri from Oct 21, 1997 right here