I looked around,

the scene was changing

Do it again

I don't trust this tape recorder.

The way you been acting

is such a drag.

Between here and there

Last weekend, my wife made borscht (pretty good too). And I played BORSCHT by Eleventh Dream Day.

Chicago's WXRT broadcast a whole Eleventh Dream Day show from Lounge Ax. Atlantic Records pulled 7 songs from the broadcast to release on a promotional record called BORSCHT. It was a companion release to the BEET album.

The best song on the record is the furious "Bagdad's Last Ride" This is the one to get if you are only going to download one song. "Go" and "Testify" are pretty good, too.

There are also a couple of songs from EDD's previous LP on Amoeba Records. "Go" was originally on an EP called WAYNE and re-recorded for BEET. There's a studio version of "Between Here & There" from BEET as well. It was a promo record, after all.

If you don't already have a copy of BEET, go find one. It's a terrific LP. Check the used bins. The thing to remember about Eleventh Dream Day is you need to listen to them very loudly and over speakers. They don't sound as good on headphones, these guitars need space.

Sad news

R.I.P. Randy Bewley of Pylon. What a band they were, what a great guitar player.

More here.

Hell hell hell. This one really hurts.

He drives a black Cadillac,

whips and furs in the back

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There has been a couple requests for reposts of the songs that the Feelies covered.

Here they are.

One of these mornings, it won't be very long

gonna look for me, I'll be gone.

When it comes my time

How many times have you heard someone say
If I had his money I would do things my way
But little they know
That it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten
With a satisfied mind.

Once I was wading in fortune and fame
Everything that I've dreamed for to get a start in life's game
But suddenly it happened
I lost every dime
But I'm richer by far
With a satisfied mind.

Money can't buy back your youth when you're old
Or a friend when you're lonely or a love that's grown cold
The wealthiest person
Is a pauper at times
Compared to the man
With a satisfied mind.

When life has ended and my time has run out
My friends and my loved ones, I'll leave there's no doubt
But there's one thing for certain
When it comes my time
I'll leave this old world
With a satisfied mind.

- Red Hayes and Jack Rhodes

If I could see into your heart

then would I know just where to start?

Dubba dubba dub cha

A few years after they stopped having hits, The Troggs were trying to record a a song called "Tranquility". It was not an accurate description of the session. The band isn't even sure how the song should start, Reg Presley hadn't even finished writing it yet.

Most of the discussion is between Reg Presley and drummer Ronnie Bond. Did they ever finish recording (or writing) the song. I've never heard it.

BTW: Reg Presley has been busy lately. He's become a recognized authority on crop circles.

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There was another request for some Method Actors. It's been acouple months so here it is again. Some record company really needs to make this available again.

Louie Bellson

Go read the New York Times obituary for a surface look. I actually don't know a lot about this guy, but I love the record he did where the Louie Bellson Big Band backs up James Brown, Soul On Top.

Here's one track...a Hank Williams cover by a soul singer with a big band (led by a SMOKIN' drummer) backing him.

James Brown, "Your Cheating Heart"

He's a

real gone guy

Gonna shout my troubles over

I've done made it to the promised land

I've seen the beauty of the red, red rose

seen the beauty when the sky is blue
seen the beauty of the evening sunset
but the beauty of you

It's a futuristic modern world

but things aren't what they seem.

Doin' it again (part 3)

A&M rereleased the Feelies 1980 debut album in 1990. They included a live version of "Paint It Black" recorded in 1990 as a bonus track.

The Feelies last LP came out in 1991. TIME FOR A WITNESS also had only one cover. This time it was The Stooges "Real Cool Time".

There are some cover songs floating around on various promo singles and comps.

A third Neil Young cover "Barstool Blues" was on the "Doin' It Again" promo 12" along with The Modern Lovers "Now I Wanna Sleep In Your Arms". Both of them were released on a 45 in France too. "White Light/White Heat" was the flip of the "Invitation" promo single. I've never heard The Feelies version of the song.

And that's all.

Doin' it again (part 2)

In 1987, A&M Records started talking to The Feelies. While that was going on Coyote released an LP by Yung Wu, a Feelies alter-ego band (the difference is Dave Weckerman leads the band and sings). SHORE LEAVE had three cover songs - more than any other Feelies project. There was another Neil Young song - "Powderfinger" - and a great take on The Rolling Stones "Child Of The Moon". Best of all is the completely unexpected cover of Phil Manzanera "Big Day". That's Brain Eno singing lead.

ONLY LIFE was The Feelies first release on A&M. The album had Lou Reed's "What Goes On" and there were two more covers available as b-sides to the single. The "Higher Ground" single had a live versions of "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me & My Monkey" and Jonathon Richman & The Modern Lovers' "Egyptian Reggae" The "Away" 12" has a version of "Dancing Barefoot" that I like more Patti Smith's original.

Doin' it again

The Feelies had great taste in music. The songs they covered make a solid mix CD. And here it is:

"Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me & My Monkey" was the Feelies second single. The song was a new wave song when the Beatles recorded it in 1968 so it was perfect for The Feelies.

After the first LP wasn't a hit, Stiff Records dropped the band and The Feelies went into a long layoff. Several Feelies started playing with a band called The Trypes who released a 4 song EP in 1984. George Harrison's "Love You To" is the second Beatles song to get covered.

The Feelies became a working band again, playing occasional shows and in 1986 they made an LP and an EP for Coyote Records. No cover songs on THE GOOD EARTH but the EP had Neil Young's "Sedan Delivery" and yet another Beatles cover, this time it was "She Said, She Said".

Also in 1986, The Feelies appeared in Something Wild, playing the band at the prom. The soundtrack did not include the band unfortunately. In addition to some originals, they played "I'm A Believer" & "Fame".

Stay tuned!

Blossom Dearie, 1926-2009

Blossom Dearie, "Rhode Island Is Famous For You"

My favorite song by one of my favorite performers.
You may have known her best from the moody Schoolhouse Rock number "Figure Eight."
There's lots more out there. Look out for her collaboration with Bob Dorough, "I'm Hip", or her excellent, slow run through "Manhattan", or the marvelous "They Say It's Spring." That's just scratching the surface.

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Let me add one that I like a lot.

Too many people are leaving us...

- KS

One of these mornings

it won't be very long

------------------------

Heads up! Check out some of Lux & Ivy's favorites over at WFMU.

My my my my my my my my heart is calling

won't you stay with me?

Get out your magic decoder rings

I know you have a wake planned for Lux Interior this weekend. You'll need some appropriate mood music so here's an hour long radio show that Lux did in July of '84. It's a shame that Lux wasn't a DJ on Little Steven's Underground Garage. How cool would it be to turn on a radio and hear Earl Hagan, Mad Mike & The Maniacs and Billy Strange all in a row?

Lux had to have been the coolest record collector ever. Find a copy of the Incredibly Strange Music Vol. One book to read a swell interview with Lux & Ivy.

You wanna talk about the real junk?

Goodbye Lux Interior.

No room around here for a guitar man

Here's another record that I knew nothing about when I got it. The major selling points were the cover and Felix Pappalardi producing the LP. Corky Laing and Dino Danelli played on the LP too.

Turns out that Rea had a long history before this record. He started out in the Canadian folk scene, playing on recordings by Judy Collins, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Gordon Lightfoot. Neil Young & Joni Mitchell talked Rea into giving songwriting a shot. Ian & Sylvia played Rea's songs (he played guitar for them too), Mountain who recorded three Rea songs including their biggest hit "Mississippi Queen".

So Pappalardi produced two Capitol LPs for David Rea - MAVERICK CHILD and BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

The one I've got is the second one. It's an excellent record. Several songs are from the same swamp as "Mississippi Queen". Rea had met Jerry Reed while working on Ian & Sylvia's NASHVILLE record. On this album he recorded a fine version of "Guitar Man" for GRACE OF GOD. Even better is the one song Rea did completely solo.

I really want to find a copy of the first LP, if only to hear a song called "Cannibal Christians.

Shortly after BY THE GRACE OF GOD was released, David Rea replaced Richard Thompson in Fairport Convention. That didn't work out and he left the band after a couple months. Rea is still playing and has been releasing new music on his own label.

Many years ago

I was a simple man.

I saw the light come shining

I saw the light come down