Jukebox Joints
This is a list of singles - seven inches, that I wouldn't want to be without. These are the records I'll will fill my Jukebox with, when I get one. I'm going to try and post about one a week. The most recent entry is at the top.
I am doing something more with this but it's a bit of an ongoing project and may take a little time...
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Bettye Swann - Make Me Yours
This is one of the all time classic Southern Soul records and the first few notes tell you why. It's astonishingly good. Bettye was one of 14 children, born in 1944 in Louisiana.
She had a couple of hits but this was the big one from 1967. SHe has some great singles and albums from the sixties, which are quite hard to find but worth the hunt.
Bettye Swann - Make Me Yours
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Rick Nelson - Garden Party
This is a story record that without knowing the story you might miss. So here it is.
Rick Nelson starting singing rock and roll and rockabilly in 1957. By 1964 he had shied a way from much of that music scene he was familiar with. With his big hits behind him he became a pioneer of the California country rock sound of the mid 60s.
In 1970 he played at a concert at the Madison Square Gardens in New York. The concert was full of old timers, like Chuck Berry. Nelson tried to play his new songs and was booed as the crowd wanted to hear the ones they knew from the old days. This really pissed him off and he wrote this song about it.
It's an interesting piece as many of the lyrics are really cutting about fellow artists and and the crowd but when sung in such a laid back smooth country rock style it feels so nice and easy going. It's fabulous.
Rick Nelson - Garden Party
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Georgie Fame - Somebody Stole My Thunder
Georgie managed to bridge quite a few musical styles during his considerable career which sees few breaks from 1963 until now. I would have to say I'm not really a fan but this stomper is an exception.
It's got a grinding groove that you just can't sit still to and a solid funk beat that does some damage. I'm just sad he didn't make more records like this....
Georgie Fame - Somebody Stole My Thunder
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The Trashmen - King Of The Surf
The Trashmen became pretty well know for their huge hit Surfin' Bird as featured in Full Metal Jacket.
This is the B-Side, King Of The Surf. Most of their records were instrumentals and I think that's a tragedy as they could do some killer vocals as demonstrated here.
The chorus is just greeeat. There are some amazing surf records out there if you just manage to root underneath the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean sludge.
Listen up:
The Trashmen - King Of The Surf
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The Sandpebbles - Forget It
This New York 1960s Soul group were apparently named after the film staring Steve McQueen that was doing the rounds in 1966.
In 1969 they changed their name to C And The Shells and moved south to be produced by Jerry Williams (AKA Swamp Dogg) for Atlantic but failed to produce much chart-worthy material.
There are a few tracks worth checking out and this is one of them:
The Sandpebbles - Forget It
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Swamp Dogg - Sam Stone
In the past I've perhaps mentioned how good Swamp Dogg (AKA Jerry Williams) is. I'm consistently blown away away by his emotionally tense voice and incredible production skills. This track, Sam Stone is about a soldier who's hooked on the morphine that kept him alive after he was injured.
It's actually written by the great song writer John Prine. The lyrics are electric. This is Southern Soul. Simply amazing.
Listen to the dogg:
Swamp Dogg - Sam Stone
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Wild Bunch - She's Guatemalan
Before Electric Six were Electric Six, they were The Wild Bunch. You can see why they changed their name. This is the first time Danger High Voltage was released.
The B side however has this killer metal track which I've been loving for a long time. She's Gutemalan jumps about like a wild beast on a leash thrashing this and way and that and it's all you can do to hang on.
I had a little thing for a Guatemalan girl once too which I expect increases my enjoyment of this track.
Listen like you mean it:
Wild Bunch - She's Guatemalan
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Jeffrey Lewis - Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song
Jeffrey Lewis is a genius lyricist. He's part of the anti-folk movement (if that even still exists?!). His songs are lo-fi lyric driven little rants.
He's had several albums on Rough Trade, they'll all good. From jokey songs about dreaming of Will Oldham to punk protest political offerings. They're all always tongue in cheek and very witty. This is the first track I heard from him and I think his first record on Rough Trade.
As far as songs that are stories go, I think Mr Lewis has the crown. He won it from Kenny Rogers...of course
Listen to this, too good to miss:
Jeffrey Lewis - Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song
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Jerry Williams - Shipwrecked
Jerry Williams is possibly my favourite male southern soul singer, he's fantastic. He first recorded as Little Jerry Williams, then Jerry Williams, then Swamp Dogg.
This is a hard to find single from his middle normal named period. Shipwrecked, has all the hallmarks of a classic southern soul record; broken hearts, strained vocals and of course a slight country or bluesly feel. Listening to it you can almost see the southern baptist churches...
Listen away:
Shipwrecked - Jerry Williams
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The Barracudas - I Want My Woody Back
The
Barracudas were an Anglo-Canadian band from the late 1970s. One of
those garage / punk bands that fell into the surf revival. This, which I think
is their first single, is a killer.
The first minute is a slow barbershop / Beach Boys style acapella recounting of how someone's Woodie (Station Wagon) got stolen last night. Then it explodes in a thrash punk surf mash up. It builds and builds into a fast paced dynamite record where the singer explains how they must have their Woodie back to go to the Beach, ride waves and score with chicks.
It was always really hard to play out anywhere as the massive slow vocal intro kills the atmosphere but it's a great record and definitely would make it into the jukebox.
Listen up sonny:
The Barracudas - I Want My Woody Back
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Johnny Cash - Daddy Sang Bass
This is definitely one of my favourite Johnny Cash songs. A little novelty but just a big hunk of fun. Written by Carl Perkins (part of Cash's live show at the time), it tells of Bible Belt families who would sing together after working in the fields all day. It really brings that sing-a-long spirit and makes me want to freakydeaky.
The song is actually quite dark referencing a dead brother and how they will one day sing together again in heaven. But then a lot of country is pretty dark when you get into it.
Listen here y'all:
Johnny Cash - Daddy Sang Bass
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The Count Five - Psychotic Reaction
The Count Five are freakin' awesome (dude). This garage band shone quite brightly for a short time in the mid-late 1960s in America.
The track Psychotic Reaction in particular shot them into stardom and the top 10. It's featured on most Psyche / Garage compilations.
Listen:
The Count Five - Psychotic Reaction
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Annette Poindexter - Mama
This is a reissue single put out by the Numero label. I can't find anything written anywhere about Annette Poindexter so I imagine the original is near impossible to get.
This track Mama, is the B-side.
The first time I heard this I was blown away the string arrangement is amazing. Coupled with Annette's soul / funk wailing it just sails.
Finding information is hard work but it seems Annette was the girlfriend of Sly Johnson (who produced this track). He was pretty much the only money making force on the all but forgotten Chicago soul label Twinight. It'll be a tragedy is more music as good as this is lost.
Listen:
Annette Poindexter - Mama
