COLONIAL VIGOR
Port outward, starboard homeJONAH MOYO & DEVERA NGWENA “Too Cheap” (1983)
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Every time I think I’ve found the Zimbabwean track with the most insane guitar playing, along comes something else to prove me wrong. Viz, “Too Cheap”, which is all sweet vocals and super fast, crystal clear guitar. Not to be missed.
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART & THE MAGIC BAND “Lazy Music” (1974)
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Everybody hates Unconditionally Guaranteed– even Don Van Vliet disowned it– and in truth it’s not very exciting or ambitious or good, but I can’t get tired of this half-assed, sub-Allmans ’70s period piece at all.
BILL WYMAN “(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star” (1982)
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Oh hey, where the fuck has this Classic been hiding my whole life?!??
Asrestlessasweare just posted the video, which I urge you not to miss, particularly for Wyman’s pricelessly sheepish smirk when he sings we could go on the hovercraft/across the water/they’ll think I’m your dad/and you’re my daughter.
Amazing.
MANNIE FRESH “Like a Boss” (2009)
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The Mind of Mannie Fresh was one of my favorite rap albums of 2005 (yes it came out in ‘04 but I’m a little slow on the draw sometimes) so I’m way excited to finally hear some new Mannie Fresh.
“Like a Boss” lacks the brio of Mannie’s best solo work, but I can overlook that. The horrible album cover is less excusable. Where’s Pen & Pixel when you need it?
SIMON FINN “Laughing ‘Till Tomorrow” (1970)
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The Wiki entry for Simon Finn unintentionally reveals a basic (and irritating) truth about how quality is sometimes determined for older records when it describes Pass the Distance as having “attained legendary status as it was so hard to obtain”, rather than, you know, because it was so good. Many “great” rare records suffer from this disease.
But I really, really like Pass the Distance, and especially the noodly electric guitar Finn’s got going on here, so nevermind.
THE WANDERERS “You Can’t Run Away From Me” (1963)
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Is there a more crucial reissue label than Ace? If it had never released anything other than the Dave Godin Deep Soul comps, that would be enough…
I totally love their impeccable anthologies documenting the lesser known productions of famous and not so famous producers and songwriters.
I’m probably never going to get my hands on even one of these 45s, and without Ace I’d never have heard perfect little gems like “You Can’t Run Away From Me”. Ace does god’s work.
UPDATE: Incompetent hotlinking fixed.
YOUSSOU N’DOUR & LE SUPER ETOILE “Immigres/Bitm Rew” (1984/1988)
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In heavy rotation lately, what a killer. The break, with the hand claps and the talking drums, just knocks me out, and then the horns come sliding back in, so great.
MOONDOG “I’m This, I’m That” (1979)
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I know and love Moondog’s ’50s and ’60s stuff pretty well, but I’m much less familiar with the later records like H’Art Songs.
The absolutely crucial Mind on the Run hepped me to “Choo Choo Lullaby” from H’Art Songs back in February; I’m just now getting into the rest of the record…
I guess late Moondog is a lot less “weird” than the early records, but whatever, try and resist this sly number, you can’t.
TIMMY THOMAS “Love is Never Too Late” (1984)
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I’m always a little hesitant about the records ’70s soul guys cut in the ’80s, especially in the case of a guy like Thomas, since my knowledge of his discography basically begins and ends with “Why Can’t We Live Together”, but despite a few dated moments, this really delivers.
NINA SIMONE “Ain’t Got No/I Got Life” (1968)
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This is one of my favorite Nina jams, but I had no idea until just now that it’s a medley of Hair songs. The gaps in my cultural literacy are yawning chasms.
