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"This..this is one of those groups who are going to keep it going a long, long time, they've got a great sound, the J. Geils Band!" so it is proclaimed by Bill Graham himself to begins this fantastic show from the Fillmore East in 1971. I found a blurb about this particular show from Wolfgang's Vault: "Going onstage after Mountain and before the Allman Brothers was certainly no easy task, but this set finds the J. Geils Band more than capable of rising to the occasion. According to Graham's autobiography, this group was among his favorites ever presented at the Fillmore East, and this set captures them performing with a ferocity few bands could match." Covering songs from their excellent debut album The J. Geils Band and their even better follow up The Morning After they kick the show off with a raucaus 'New York City Breakdown'and and keep up a pace that can only be described with a a few more f-adjectives, 'frentic' and 'furious' and finally culminating with an absolutely fucking killer version of my favourite song of theirs "It Ain't What you Do (It's How You Do It!). Highly recommended this be played at a near ear-splitting volume.
The Quireboys, or the London Quireboys as I first got to know them, were one of my favourites in the early 90s. Between A Bit of What You Fancy and The Black Crowes' Shake Your Moneymaker I scarcely listened to little else circa '90-91. If one were to inspect the photographic evidence of that time period it was black jeans, untucked pin-striped shirt and jacket with the occasional headband. That album cover might have been the single most influential thing on my sense of style. Whether that was a good thing or not is certainly debatable.
This is a live set from 1990, recorded at the Town & Country in London. Quality is excellent, kicking off with an all time favourite: 'Man on the Loose'. The latter song, '7 O'Clock' and the Crowes' 'Twice as Hard' fairly accurately showcases the first few songs that started off about 800 of my mix tapes in the early 90s. They also do the Stones proud on 'Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)'. It's a fun set, good exhuberant rock and roll that pairs well with your second Jack & Coke, your third rum & coke or possibly a 4th gin & tonic. These are merely suggestions you are free to test this out with your own variations.
1. Man on the Loose
2. Whippin' Boy
3. Roses & Rings
4. Long Time comin'
5. Sweet Mary Anne
6. I Don't Love You Anymore
7. Sex Party
8. Take Me Home
9. Hey You
10. There She Goes Again
11. 7 O'Clock
12. Mayfair
13. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
14. Please Me
15. Hoochie Coochie Man
The first time I ever heard Slade was via their early 80s comeback hit 'Run Runaway' from Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply, which still kills me and is turned up to full volume whenever I hear it. I still haven't heard that album, which I should probably remedy soon. Of course the 80s covers by Quiet Riot were also inescapable. I also like this one story about Slade from Danny Sugarman's almost certainly fictional 'autobiography' Wonderland Avenue. In it he's riding in the front of a limo to go and see Iggy Pop or something and Slade are in the back practically raping a young fan who as it turns out was Mackenzie Philips. Danny the hero tells them to knock the shit off and somehow Slade listens to them. Bullshit of course, because Slade probably would have pulled 15 year old Danny back in there and passed him around for dessert. Still, a great story. As for this bootleg from '73, it's been getting some serious play. Sound is great and the shit he yells at the crowd here is beyond belief, literally ordering everyone to MAKE..SOME..NOISE!!!! ENJOY YOURSELVES!! ALLRIGHT??? Nobody talks like that anymore, especially in the modern era, with the silent and ambivalent performer who typically ignore their audience. Not Slade. They tear it up here, some pure ol' rock 'n roll with excellent versions of "Gudbuy t'Jane" and "Mama Weer All Crazee Now".
John Fred & his Playboys tend to be remembered mainly for the hit'Judy in Disguise', one of my favourite singles from the late '60s. Sadly ignorant of his actual albums I went looking and usenet kindly provided, as it usually does. 34:40 of John Fred, their second album, was released in 1967 (iTunes suggests it might more accuractly be titled called 34:20...) the year before he hit big with that aforementioned hit. There's a few covers on the record (Otis Redding, Animals, the Beatles), but they deliver well enough. This album was evidently a flop back in '67, which perhaps might not be too surprising considering the other notable albums released that year. This is fairly straight forward rock and roll. Highlights are 'Sun City' and 'Down To The Boogalo'. Definitely worth checking out.
Bring Me My Shotgun: The Apartment Demos is an acoustic set of early recordings from the late Ron "Pigpen" McKernan of the Grateful Dead. Recorded in San Francisco in 1966, the quality isn't bad considering the home recording. Blues, gospel and soul were always Pigpen's best contribution to the band, and this is what you get here, just him and his guitar. It's not essential listening to a casual listener but fans of the Dead, particularly Pigpen's contributions, will definitely enjoy it. Pairs well with a glass of Southern Comfort and a dark room.
I only heard the Blasters a few years ago and was duly impressed, but to be honest it was Dave Alvin's solo songs heard on a few choice mixes that put me on the search to hear more. Lucky as usual, usenet provides and in this case, doubly so. The debut albums of both brothers, Phil Alvin's Un-Sung Songs from 1986 and Dave Alvin's Romeo's Escape from 1987. Plenty to recommend on both, the straight country that Dave has blew me away 'Every Night About This Time' could be a Don Williams song (close enough that I actually went and checked to verify), plus the basic perfection of '4th of July' makes this an excellent country rock album. Phil's album is qualitatively different but no less impressive, with the dip towards more blues, jazz and 50's style rave-ups. Not generally my thing, but damned if this didn't get under my skin, particularly 'Daddy Rollin Stone'. I mainly wish it was Saturday because this album and Dave's need to be played at around 9pm with some folks over and drinks being served. Also, Phil's album seems to demand cigarettes, lots of them. The pops of the vinyl rip seem to give a puff of sweet menthol every time.
Inspired by the recent country-rock discussion on the obner board, this seemed to be a logical choice. The first two solo albums from Don Everly, the self-titled Don Everly from 1970 and Sunset Towers from 1974. I believe this may be currently available as a bundled disc, but the single albums themselves are long deleted. Which is a shame because it's some first-rate country-rock. 'Don't Drink the Water' and 'Februrary 15' are both standouts from the debut album, the latter being a weird folk-rock with a surprising modern feel. 'Warming Up the Band' from Sunset Towers has a surprising near funky groove while 'Let it Rain' could easily be My Morning Jacket's best idea for a cover. Recommended for your Son Volt, Wilco and My Morning Jacket fans.
