Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Frederick Douglass On Music: "The boundary of the human soul, the dividing line between the finite and the infinite..."


On first hearing a phonograph:

"The phonograph brought me nearest to a sense of divine creative power than anything I ever witnessed before. It raises the question as to the boundary of the human soul, the dividing line between the finite and the infinite."

Frederick Douglass, 1894

                                             Frederick Douglass with his grandson Jospeh Douglass

Abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1817 - 1895) loved music. In one of his autobiographies, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he wrote that music provided him with his “first glimmering conception of the dehumanizing character of slavery. I can never get rid of that conception. Those songs still follow me, to deepen my hatred of slavery, and quicken my sympathies for my brethren in bonds.”

Many of his political meetings and speeches ended in song; Douglass leading the crowd with his deep resonant voice. He was particularly fond of his grandson Jospeh Douglass, who played the violin. He promoted Joseph and supported his musical training to the fullest extent possible.

In the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 60s, we saw the importance of song.

Now it's time to rise up again, rise up singing...

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Cool, New Indie Music Playlist, June 2021 - "Not Just Boys Fun": Women Who Rock

 

The Linda Lindas burst on the scene in recent weeks, and it made us realize there is all kinds of GREAT music out right now by female solo artists and females who front bands, including several new, great ones from artists we first met in the 90s or earlier.

                                                                    The Linda Lindas "Racist Sexist Boy"


ALBUMS

Garbage No Gods No Masters. Great new album, listening also to the 2017 single "No Horses".

Sleater-Kinney Path Of Wellness

Liz Phair Soberish

Bachelor Doomin' Sun

St. Vincent Daddy's Home

Joan Armatrading Consequences

Angelique Kidjo Mother Nature

Portugal, The Man Ulu Selects Vol. #1 (Live)

Wolf Alice Blue Weekend


SINGLES

The Linda Lindas "Racist Sexist Boy"

Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen "Like I Used To" (also see Jeff Tweedy's cover)

Soccer Mommy "Kissing In The Rain" from the Dark Nights Death Metal soundtrack, which also includes a Manchester Orchestra song "Never Ending".

OTHER WOMEN WE'RE LISTENING TO:

Waxahatchee, Lana Del Rey, Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers, Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, Dry Cleaning, Big Thief, Adrianne Lanker, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert, Julien Baker, Wye Oak, Vagabon, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Norah Jones, Dry Cleaning, Courtney Barnett, and Marianne Faithfull...


I've been a Marianne Faithfull fan for a long time. I've always loved "As Tears Go By" and Broken English. I met her one time and she was lovely. Just discovered her excellent 2004 collaboration with PJ Harvey Before The Poison. I enjoyed 2018's Negative Capability and this year's She Walks In Beauty, a collection of her performances (with Warren Ellis) of some of her favorite poems, including Lord Byron, Keats, and Shelley

FROM BILLIE HOLIDAY TO BILLIE EILISH... MORE WOMEN ARTISTS OF NOTE: Billie Holiday, Memphis Minnie, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Mahalia Jackson, Carter Family, Odetta, Sister O.M. Terrell,  Lucille Bogan, Aretha Franklin, Elizabeth Cotten, Mavis Staples, Janis Joplin, Sandy Denny, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Laura Nyro, Barbara Dane, Phoebe Snow, Mimi Farina, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Grace Slick, Joan Jett, Karen O, Sinead O'Connor, M.I.A., Blondie, Patti Smith,  The Dead Weather/The Kills, Kim Gordon,  Carla Olson, Aimee Mann, PJ Harvey, Soccer Mommy, Ex Hex, Weyes Blood,  Y La Bamba, X, Valerie June, Cassandra Fairbanks,  Lucy Dacus, Mia Zapata, Susanna ... leading to today's Lorde and Billie Eilish...

OTHER RANDOM SOUNDS WE'RE LISTENING TO

Walter Becker & Donald Fagen Becker and Fagen: The Early Years. Demos from the future Steely Dan

Paul Weller Fat Pop (Volume 1)(Deluxe 3-disc Version)

Jeff Beck Truth (1968) First solo album with Rod Stewart

The Pretty Things Live At The BBC

Mdou Moctar Afrique Victime

Lord Huron Long Lost

Tinariwen Amassakoul (2004) and Elwan (2017)

Tom Morello The Catastrophists EP

The Mountain Goats Dark In Here

Dylan LeBlanc Pasttimes

Rory Gallagher Kickstart The Day

T. Rex Star King

Wavves "Hideaway". New album on the way.

George Harrison "Run Of The Mill". Outtake from All Things Must Pass 50th anniversary boxset out in August.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Matt Sweeney."Stay On My Shore" (Joan Shelley cover)


EAGERLY ANTICIPATED

Modest Mouse The Golden Casket (June 25)

Jackson Browne Downhill From Everywhere (July 23)

Prince Welcome To America (July 30). Lost album to be released for the first time.

Son Volt Electro Melodier (July 30)




Friday, June 11, 2021

Cool, New Sleater-Kinney Album "Path Of Wellness" Is Awesome!!!

 


We're sad to see Janet Weiss (drums) absent on this release, but despite that loss, Carrie Brownstein (voice/guitar/songwriting) and Corin Tucker (voice/guitar/songwriting) really triumph here.

Carrie, who comedic talents many appreciated on Portlandia, has also done a mockumentary on music and fame, The Nowhere Inn with Annie Clark (who performs as St. Vincent). It looks fun. St. Vincent also has a new rocking album currently out, the excellent 70s pastiche Daddy's Home.



Cool, "New" Song: "Run Of The Mill" from George Harrison Massive 50th Anniversary Boxset of "All Things Must Past" Coming in August; With Outtakes, Alternate Takes, Jam Sessions...


As The Beatles were breaking up in early 1970, George Harrison began recording what would become his three-disc opus, All Things Must Pass, feat. the smash hit "My Sweet Lord". 

Bob Dylan's influence appears on the album's first track "I'd Have You Any Time", a Dylan-Harrison collaboration, as well as on Dylan's "If Not For You" (which appeared here before Dylan's version was even recorded). The boxset contains two outtakes which are additional Dylan-Harrison collaborations: "Nowhere To Go" and "I Don't Want To Do It" (later recorded by George for the 1985 soundtrack of Porky's Revenge).

Produced by Phil Spector (some would say "overproduced", which this new mix by Dhani Harrison attempts to correct to some extent), the album featured Ringo Starr on drums, Klaus Voomann on bass, Billy Preston on keyboards, as well as Derek & The Dominos (with Eric Clapton), Badfinger, Peter Frampton, Gary Wright, Gary Brooker, Bobby Keys, Pete Drake, Dave Mason, and Alan White. 

It was as dramatic a Declaration of Independence as rock had yet seen. It immediately brought Harrison from out of the shadow of Lennon and McCartney and established him as a major solo artist. This boxset offers a glimpse into that process.





GEORGE HARRISON
ALL THINGS MUST PASS
SUPER DELUXE EDITION
(Capitol/UMe)
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 6, 2021


TRACKLISTING
(5CD/BR)
Disc One (Main Album)

1. I’d Have You Anytime     
2. My Sweet Lord    
3. Wah-Wah 
4. Isn’t It A Pity (Version One) 
5. What Is Life
6. If Not For You     
7. Behind That Locked Door  
8. Let It Down
9. Run Of The Mill

Disc Two (Main Album Cont.)

1. Beware Of Darkness      
2. Apple Scruffs     
3. Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)      
4. Awaiting On You All
5. All Things Must Pass      
6. I Dig Love 
7. Art Of Dying      
8. Isn’t It A Pity (Version Two)
9. Hear Me Lord     
10. Out Of The Blue *  
11. It’s Johnny’s Birthday *    
12. Plug Me In *
13. I Remember Jeep * 
14. Thanks For The Pepperoni *

* Newly Remastered/Original Mix

Disc Three (Day 1 Demos – Tuesday 26 May 1970) 

1. All Things Must Pass (Take 1) †
2. Behind That Locked Door (Take 2)
3. I Live For You (Take 1)
4. Apple Scruffs (Take 1)
5. What Is Life (Take 3)
6. Awaiting On You All (Take 1) †
7. Isn’t It A Pity (Take 2)
8. I’d Have You Anytime (Take 1)
9. I Dig Love (Take 1)
10. Going Down To Golders Green (Take 1)
11. Dehra Dun (Take 2)
12. Om Hare Om (Gopala Krishna) (Take 1)
13. Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) (Take 2)
14. My Sweet Lord (Take 1) †
15. Sour Milk Sea (Take 1)

Disc Four (Day 2 Demos – Tuesday 27 May 1970)

1. Run Of The Mill (Take 1) †
2. Art Of Dying (Take 1)
3. Everybody/Nobody (Take 1)
4. Wah-Wah (Take 1)
5. Window Window (Take 1)
6. Beautiful Girl (Take 1)
7. Beware Of Darkness (Take 1)
8. Let It Down (Take 1)
9. Tell Me What Has Happened To You (Take 1)
10. Hear Me Lord (Take 1)
11. Nowhere To Go (Take 1)
12. Cosmic Empire (Take 1)
13. Mother Divine (Take 1)
14. I Don’t Want To Do It (Take 1)
15. If Not For You (Take 1)

† Previously Released

Disc Five (Session Outtakes and Jams)

1. Isn’t It A Pity (Take 14)
2. Wah-Wah (Take 1)
3. I’d Have You Anytime (Take 5)
4. Art Of Dying (Take 1)
5. Isn’t It A Pity (Take 27)
6. If Not For You (Take 2)
7. Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine) (Take 1)
8. What Is Life (Take 1)
9. Beware Of Darkness (Take 8)
10. Hear Me Lord (Take 5)
11. Let It Down (Take 1)
12. Run Of The Mill (Take 36)
13. Down To the River (Rocking Chair Jam) (Take 1)
14. Get Back (Take 1)
15. Almost 12 Bar Honky Tonk (Take 1)
16. It’s Johnny’s Birthday (Take 1)
17. Woman Don’t You Cry For Me (Take 5) 

Blu-ray Audio Disc (Main Album Only; Surround, Atmos, Hi-Res)

1. I’d Have You Anytime
2. My Sweet Lord
3. Wah-Wah
4. Isn’t It A Pity (Version One)
5. What Is Life
6. If Not For You
7. Behind That Locked Door
8. Let It Down
9. Run Of The Mill
10. Beware Of Darkness
11. Apple Scruffs
12. Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
13. Awaiting On You All
14. All Things Must Pass
15. I Dig Love
16. Art Of Dying
17. Isn’t It A Pity (Version Two)
18. Hear Me Lord
19. Out Of The Blue
20. It’s Johnny’s Birthday
21. Plug Me In
22. I Remember Jeep
23. Thanks For The Pepperoni

For more information and other configurations go to GeorgeHarrison.com

                                                  George's cameo in Monty Python's Life Of Brian

Friday, June 4, 2021

"Not Just Boys Fun" - The Linda Lindas Rock Jimmy Kimmel with "Racist, Sexist Boy" & "Claudia Kishi"



America's new punkrock sweethearts, The Linda Lindas, rocked Jimmy Kimmel last night with their mega-hit "Racist, Sexist Boy", followed by "Claudia Kishi"; proving they are no one-hit wonders.

They've done a few covers of punk classics, but isn't it obvious they would do a killer cover of 7 Seconds' "Not Just Boys Fun" (from the legendary 1984 release The Crew, now celebrated with a deluxe edition on Trust Records)?