Ian Gillan "Gillan's Inn" 2006***

This time, Random Selection turned up something rare: the only Hybrid (DualDisc) CD/DVD release in my collection of (give or take) 7500 titles. Truth be told, very few albums were ever released on DualDisc. Less than 200 titles, spanning all musical genres, appeared between 2004 and 2006 before the format was ultimately abandoned. Today, dual CD/DVD editions come in the guise of box sets containing one or two audio CDs paired with a DVD or Blu-ray that may contain a variety of audio mixes, video content, or other extras. A DualDisc release, however, combined both formats on a single disc with two reflective surfaces: one side functioned as a standard CD, while the other contained the DVD content. Obviously, CD players could only read the CD side, while DVD/Blu-ray players would play whichever side was facing up. If at all - because that was apparently the problem with DualDisc: compatibility with CD/DVD players was not guaranteed; the disc's thickness means it was prone to get jammed or scratched when pushed in the slots of slot CD-players, multi disc CD changers, or car stereos. Also, while the DVD side was guaranteed to play on most DVD players, the CD side was not. I'm not sure how frequent these compatibility problems actually were: Both sides played perfectly on my BluRay player, laptop DVD, and former car stereo (R.I.P: why oh why did they abolish CD players from modern car entertainment systems? Now whenever I want to listen to one of my CDs on the road I need to rip it on MP3 and copy it to a USB flash disk or to my phone to play via android auto. Such a nuisance!)

But enough about the format—what about the content? The idea behind this release was to celebrate Ian Gillan's 40-year recording career by revisiting some of his classic songs with an all-star band. It sounds like the sort of project a rock star might undertake at the twilight of his career: revisiting former glories for the nth time because there's nothing new left to say. Which makes it all the more remarkable that, twenty years later, aged 80, Ian Gillan continues to front the latest incarnation of Deep Purple (Mark IX, by my count), playing sold-out arena tours and regularly releasing new music. Their most recent album, Splat just came out, and is garnering 4-star reviews. All DP members can be heard here, on multiple tracks: Ian Paice on drums, Roger Glover on bass, Steve Morse on guitar, and Don Airy and Jon Lord on keyboards. Despite DP being such a large part of Gillan's career, only four of their songs are revisited on Gillan's Inn. The perennial hit "Smoke on the Water" seems to resist all attempts at reinvention. Despite the addition of violin and extra percussion, and the use of two keyboardists—Jon Lord and his successor Don Airey—it still sounds like the same tired old warhorse. One nice feature on the DVD is the option to listen to alternate versions of the song featuring different guest soloists: Steve Morse, Jeff Healey, Joe Satriani, or Michael Lee Jackson. Lord also returns on "Demon's Eye", and it's a pleasure to hear him revisit the song. Jeff Healey's bluesy guitar work provides the main point of departure from the original version, but otherwise the arrangement stays close to its roots. A dizzying version of "Speed King" with Joe Satriani takes us back to that period of the band when the virtuoso guitarist temporarily replaced Ritchie Blackmore. The final Deep Purple track included here is the bluesy ballad "When a Blind Man Cries". Originally relegated to the B-side of a single, it was later included in Machine Head reissues and became a live staple after Blackmore's departure. Jeff Healey's expressive guitar playing and Jon Lord's Hammond B3 accentuate the song's blues credentials, while Gillan delivers one of the most soulful performances of his career. The result is quite possibly the definitive version of the song. Gillan's short-lived Black Sabbath period is acknowledged in a fine new version of "Trashed" featuring Tony Iommi on guitar. To me, these songs were all a little too familiar. While I enjoyed hearing the new interpretations, I ultimately found them somewhat superfluous. Most of the remaining tracks, on the other hand, were new to me and therefore much more interesting. The opening speedball "Unchain Your Brain", featuring Joe Satriani, is a particular highlight. Originally released on 1980's Glory Road, it matches the frantic energy of "Speed King" and sets the tone for the album in spectacular fashion. "No Laughing in Heaven" (from 1981's Future Shock) benefits from some fine playing by Gillan's DP colleagues, but I dislike his manic sing-speaking style on this track. Even his trademark high-pitched shrieks are wasted on what I consider a rather weak composition. "Men of War" (from Double Trouble, 1982) fares much better. Featuring blistering guitar work from Steve Morse, it alternates effectively between softer passages and explosive sections driven by Gillan's unrestrained vocals. "Bluesy Blue Sea" (from 1982's Magic) sounds like an update of the classic NWOBHM style. Not surprisingly, original Gillan guitarist Janick Gers—who also appears here—would later become a permanent member of Iron Maiden. Moving forward chronologically, "Loving on Borrowed Time" (from 1990's Naked Thunder) is a textbook power ballad in the grand 1980s tradition, featuring co-writer Steve Morris and former Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth on guitar. "Hang Me Out to Dry" (from Toolbox, 1991) combines soulful vocals, a catchy main riff, and excellent solos from Joe Satriani. Yet it ultimately it leaves me unimpressed; I simply don't find the underlying composition strong enough. 1997's Dreamcatcher is one of Gillan's more obscure albums, which is probably why he chose to resurrect not one but two songs from it. "Day Late and a Dollar Short" is a fine hard rocker featuring guest vocals from Ronnie James Dio. I can't help thinking that a duet between two of hard rock's greatest singers ought to be more impressive than it is; instead of the singers it's Uli Jon Roth on guitar that steals the show. "Sugarplum", meanwhile, is an enjoyable blues-rocker built around a catchy riff and a relaxed groove. It certainly deserved a second chance to find an audience, so it's just as well that Gillan decided to re-record it here. "No Worries" is a solid, workmanlike blues-rocker that even finds room for a few harmonica solos. It is the only new composition on the album, co-written with Michael Lee Jackson, who also plays guitar on most of the tracks. While agreeable enough, it lacks the spark needed to stand out among the album's stronger moments. The CD closes with a touch of nostalgia: a respectable country-rock cover of Bob Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight", performed as a duet with Def Leppard's Joe Elliott. The song was part of Episode Six's live repertoire back in Gillan's pre-Purple days, making it a fitting choice to bring the album to a close. A few words about the DVD extras before wrapping up the review. These include a 5.1 surround-sound mix, a short making-of documentary, a couple of live videos featuring the rarely seen Deep Purple lineup with Joe Satriani on guitar, photo galleries, lyrics, track-by-track commentary, and a bonus song: a new cover of the R&B classic "Can I Get a Witness", which Gillan used to perform with his beat group The Javelins in the mid-60s. All in all, the album succeeds as a celebration of Ian Gillan's musical career up to that point. It's an enjoyable listen, packed with strong performances and some pleasantly left-field song choices, particularly from Gillan's solo years. Twenty years later, I can't help wondering whether it's time for a second volume. Maybe it's even time to finally bury the hatchet and revisit some of Gillan's and Deep Purple's later material with Ritchie Blackmore as a guest guitarist. Now that would be something worth hearing. Come on, gentlemen— let bygones be bygones, we're not getting any younger!

**** for Unchain Your Brain, Bluesy Blue Sea, Day Late and a Dollar Short, Men of War, When a Blind Man Cries, Trashed, Demon's Eye, Speed King

*** for Hang Me Out to Dry, No Worries, Sugar Plum, Smoke on the Water, Loving On Borrowed Time, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight***

** for No Laughing in Heaven

Caravan "Cunning Stunts" 1975****

So this isn't really a random-selection review. I chose this album because I was recently in Canterbury on a short side trip from London. It's a beautiful medieval city, with a river running through it and plenty of excellent taverns and pubs. It's lively, too, thanks no doubt to the student population of the University of Kent. I noticed that many pubs hosted live music, mostly on Fridays and Saturdays, although we also caught a few bands on a Sunday at what is probably the town's most rock'n'roll bar, The Lady Luck. Usually, a visit to a new town is a chance for me to map out the local record-store situation for this blog. In this case, I was unlucky, as two of the four record stores (Canterbury Rock and Vinylstore Jr.) were closed on Sundays and Mondays—the very days of my visit. The third was a local branch of the HMV chain: rather large, with new vinyl and CDs, T shirts, books, and other items. A wide variety of books were on offer "2 for £9", also many LPs "3 for £66". Another shop, called Sounds, is situated at the main town road (9 St Peter's St) it sells mostly 2nd hand LPs (£10-30,a few offers for £5) as well as a few CDs and singles. They had an interesting selection of soul, jazz, and some dance 12', but I was more interestedvin buying something by one of the highly rated bands from the Canterbury scene. In this case, nothing caught my fancy. So, upon my return, I pulled out a bunch of CDs and LPs from this subgenre already in my collection and gave them another listen.

Caravan's Cunning Stunts stood out because of its Hipgnosis cover and its title. The band clearly intended a famous spoonerism, hoping that listeners would, amusingly and embarrassingly, mispronounce the title as "Stunning Cunts". For readers unfamiliar with the term, a spoonerism is a speech error in which consonants or syllables are inadvertently swapped between words, often producing a comic effect. The phenomenon is named after a certain William Archibald Spooner, an Oxford don and priest who was reputed to make such verbal slips. Discovering this sent me down an etymological rabbit hole. Where, I wondered, does the Greek equivalent, sardam, come from? As luck would have it, the answer involves a strikingly similar story: An actor named Madras was prone to the same kind of verbal mix-ups, prompting the public to immortalize his slips with an anagram of his name. Probably not the claim to fame he imagined when he went into show business. Back to the Canterbury scene: most people trace its beginnings to a mid-1960s group called The Wilde Flowers. Although their sound was not too different from that of other beat bands of the era, many of the members were more intellectually inclined, with a strong interest in jazz and a penchant for complex arrangements. These traits, combined with a distinctly British sense of whimsy, became the defining characteristics of what would later be known as the Canterbury scene. Of the two groups that emerged from the breakup of The Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine was the more adventurous and jazz-oriented, while Caravan leaned toward a more accessible, pop-focused sound. Some (i.e. prog purists) might argue that on Cunning Stunts is even a little too commercial, but I don't think anything essential was lost in the process. Opener "The Show of Our Lives" is a pleasant piece of orchestral soft rock, featuring well-played guitar solos and exquisite vocal harmonies reminiscent of Yes and perhaps even The Beatles. "Stuck in a Hole" is a short, upbeat tune highlighted by a Stevie Wonder-ish organ or Moog synthesizer solo. "Lover" is a heavily orchestrated ballad in the vein of the Moody Blues, or perhaps those solo Lennon tracks lavishly produced by Phil Spector. It segues into "No Backstage Pass", a beautiful and melodic song that recalls the soft psychedelia of Caravan's classic Land of Grey and Pink era. Hastings delivers a fine vocal performance, supported by tasteful violin work and a slightly heavier bass presence than on earlier albums. Bassist Mike Wedgwood takes over the lead vocals on the even funkier "Welcome the Day". Although it sounds nothing like classic Caravan, it remains one of my favourite tracks on the album: radio-friendly, soulful, and featuring excellent keyboard–violin interplay. Prog fans may dislike it, but side two offers plenty to satisfy their tastes. "Dabsong Conshirto" is one of those indulgent 18-minute song suites that progheads love so much. While it begins as another accessible soft-rock number—again probably featuring Wedgwood on lead vocals—it gradually develops into an extended Canterbury-style jazz-prog workout, showcasing superb violin, flute, keyboard, and ensemble playing. The musicianship throughout is consistently impressive. The album closes with the brief, humorous ragtime-style instrumental coda "The Fear and Loathing in Tollington Park". All in all, Cunning Stunts may not be Caravan's definitive statement, nor is it the most representative album of the Canterbury scene— I doubt that a typical Canterbury scene album exists, seeing as the term encompasses a remarkably diverse range of musical approaches. Nevertheless, it remains a highly enjoyable slice of mid-1970s progressive rock: melodic, expertly performed, and certainly considerably better than its middling reputation might suggest.

**** for The Show of Our Lives, Stuck in a Hole, No Backstage Pass, Welcome the Day, Dabsong Conshirto

*** for Lover, The Fear and Loathing in Tollington Park

Buzzcocks "Singles Going Steady" 1977-1979(rec) 1979(comp)*****

Over the last year, I've been lucky enough to catch some punk legends I loved as a teenager—and still do, for that matter. Last summer, it was The Undertones, The Damned, and the Sex Pistols. True, the Pistols without Johnny Rotten are a far cry from the original experience, but the new guy—I believe his name is Frank Carter—was enthusiastic and clearly determined to give the audience a good time. Let's face it: would you rather have a frontman who dives into the crowd and leads the audience in a chorus like a football chant, or a standoffish, sarcastic one? ("Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Ha ha.") Then, last March, it was the Buzzcocks' turn at Haarlem's Patronaat. I would have loved to see them with original frontman Pete Shelley, but unfortunately we lost him some seven years ago. Rather than hiring a soundalike, guitarist Steve Diggle took over vocal duties as well. His voice is harsher, which—combined with the band's high-energy playing—resulted in a noisier, punkier sound than the Buzzcocks had in their prime. His voice was a much better fit for the band's newer, more classic rock-oriented material. We enjoyed that too, even though most of the audience had come to hear the classic 70's punk-pop singles. When we returned home, I went looking for my copy of Singles Going Steady. In my youth, I had played the vinyl to death; later, I bought the CD edition, which included a handful of bonus tracks, though none I remember with much fondness. Imagine my surprise when I couldn't find either. During the Great Vinyl Purge, plenty of albums that I also owned on CD found their way to second-hand shops, but where had the CD gone? Never mind—I just had to have this album, so I went online and ordered the 45th Anniversary vinyl edition through my local record store. After a month, they admitted defeat and refunded my money. In the end, I visited the shop in person and picked up the standard Domino reissue instead: the same remastering, but on plain black vinyl, with none of the bells and whistles. It still comes with a nice booklet and is mastered at half speed for improved sound quality. Audiophile punk—Who knew it would ever come to this?

The story of the Buzzcocks actually begins with the Sex Pistols. In February 1976, Bolton students Howard Devoto and Pete Shelley read the first description of a Sex Pistols gig in the music press, and felt they had to witness the band first hand. They travelled to London to catch them live, and immediately decided they'd form a band. They managed to persuade the Pistols to come to Manchester for a historic concert. Hardly anyone attended, but many of those who did went on to form bands themselves - and those include Joy Division, New Order, the Smiths, the Fall, Magazine, and, of course, the Buzzcocks. After an independently released EP, Devoto left to form Magazine, prompting Pete Shelley to step into the vocalist role and Steve Diggle to take over on guitar. The band's first single, "Orgasm Addict", was an ode to teenage compulsive masturbation. The influence of the Sex Pistols is evident, both in its sound and its provocative subject matter. The Buzzcocks would soon outgrow their mentors and forge a distinctive style of their own, one that traded sarcasm for romance and combined the melodic instincts of the Beatles with the speed and power of the Ramones. Singles Going Steady was originally conceived as an introduction to the band for the American market and was initially released only in the United States. Side One collects the A-sides of the band's first eight singles in chronological order, while Side Two gathers the corresponding B-sides. The result is one of the strongest singles compilations of the punk era. Every track on Side One is a punk-pop gem. Shelley's lyrics focus on difficult relationships, romantic frustration and unrequited love, while the music's relentless energy is balanced by his high-pitched, tremulous voice, which lends the songs an unexpected vulnerability. Their arguably greatest song, "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've Fallen in Love With)?", perfectly blends sharp guitars, heartache and an unforgettable chorus. As was often the case with Shelley, the lyrics avoid specifying the gender of the object of affection, making the song more easily relateable. Morrissey would later use much the same trick with the Smiths. The emotional confusion and longing at the song's heart may be universal, but the title made even more sense to me when I later learned that Shelley was bisexual. Side One closes with "Harmony in My Head", another highlight. Written and sung by Diggle, it pairs an infectious melody with a slightly heavier, more stomping rhythm and soaring guitars. If Side Two, comprising the band's B-sides, is a little lighter on killer hooks, it makes up for it with a more adventurous sound. From the rude punk blast of "Oh Shit!" to "Something's Gone Wrong Again" and its (Stooges-inspired?) insistent one-note piano riff, to the relatively bright punk-pop of "Lipstick" and "Noise Annoys", the band displays a far greater stylistic range than the exquisitely crafted A-sides might suggest. They become even more experimental on the six-and-a-half-minute kraut-funk marathon "Why Can't I Touch It?", while "Autonomy" points towards a darker post-punk future, sounding closer to Magazine or Gang of Four than to the Ramones. Now, listening to the album again confirms my feeling that I needed to add this LP to my collection again, as soon as possible. Compilations are often afforded less importance than proper studio albums, but this is one of the exceptions. More than a collection of radio-friendly singles, it distils everything that made the Buzzcocks unique: punk's urgency tempered by vulnerability, youthful romantic confusion transformed into perfect pop songs, unforgettable melodies, and even a sense of experimentation for which the band is not always associated with. Seeing the Steve Diggle-led version of the band earlier this year made me realize that, in the space of just a few short years, the Buzzcocks built a remarkable songbook. Diggle is a very different singer from Pete Shelley, yet the songs lose none of their power in his hands. Partly because he clearly believes in them, but mainly because they are such brilliantly crafted pieces of songwriting. More than simply the distillation of the band's essence, Singles Going Steady is one of a dozen or so punk albums that no rock collection should be without.

***** for What Do I Get?, I Don't Mind, Love You More, Ever Fallen In Love?, Harmony In My Head, Noise Annoys, Something's Gone Wrong Again

**** for Orgasm Addict, Promises, Everybody's Happy Nowadays, What Ever Happened To?, Autonomy, Just Lust, Lipstick, Why Can't I Touch It?

*** for Oh Shit!

Mutantes "Live - Barbican Theatre, London, 2006" 2007****

Another band I never expected to see live, I discovered Os Mutantes around the turn of the millennium, when Luaka Bop released a compilation of their 1960s material. It received rave reviews, and after hearing it myself I couldn’t help but agree: this eclectic, whimsical and experimental yet often poppy mix sounded as exciting and unique as anything from the era. The band disbanded in the early 1970s, having achieved little recognition outside their native Brazil until the Luaka Bop compilation introduced them to a new international audience. A few years later their albums were reissued on CD — and eventually vinyl as well — while a partially reunited lineup celebrated the band’s 40th anniversary with a major London concert, documented on the CD/DVD release reviewed here. The following years brought sporadic new albums and live appearances by a version of the band led by original guitarist Sergio Dias. They rarely venture into Europe, so last year’s Amsterdam performance — their first Dutch show since 2016 — felt unmissable. They no longer wear outlandish costumes onstage, and, at 75, Sergio Dias isn't in great shape physically, singing and playing seated for most of the show, but his guitar work remained superb, with echoes of Hendrix and Santana throughout. The band alternated between proggy psychedelia and pure pop (e.g. "Baby"). The harmonies were as strong as ever, while Esméria Bulgari handled the lead vocals admirably. Rita Lee, of course, who left the band in 1972 and died in 2023 remains irreplaceable. The other great absentee was Sergio’s brother, Arnaldo Baptista: he has often struggled with mental health issues linked to his past excessive LSD use, and took his leave from the band, long ago.

He nevertheless can be heard on this live CD, alongside Dias, original drummer Dinho Leme, and guest singer Zélia Duncan. Esméria Bulgari was also present on this occasion, albeit only as a backing singer. As I mentioned earlier, Os Mutantes have always been a very peculiar band, drawing on everything from Beatlesy pop and bossa nova to ballads and psychedelic rock, all filtered through a lens of whimsy and anarchic humor not unlike that of the Bonzo Dog Band—while sounding nothing like them in practice. Such eclecticism often left them difficult to categorize. For many years they were mentioned—if at all—only as part of the Tropicália movement, which also included more celebrated Brazilian artists like Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and Tom Zé. This was too restrictive, since all of those artists were closer to Brazilian musical traditions, whereas Os Mutantes explored a much wider range of styles. This live CD manages to encapsulate most of them, making it one of the best entry points into the band's music. The performances are uniformly strong, while the arrangements benefit from a fuller band and generally sound more polished than the original versions. Some listeners may miss the rough edges of the originals, but I believe very little is lost in the process. Opener "Don Quixote" is an impressive psychedelic mess, incorporating everything from an orchestral fanfare to the band's signature harmonies and Dias' electric-guitar outbursts. This is followed by "Virginia", a charming Beatlesque ballad. The pace then picks up with a pair of upbeat Latin rockers: "Cantor de Mambo"—reminiscent of Santana and featuring some first-rate electric guitar in this live rendition—and "El Justicero". Hilariously, Tony Blair and "Jorge" Bush are portrayed as Old West gunslingers in the song's intro. The mood changes once again with the exotic, chilled-out bossa nova of "Baby" and "I'm Sorry Baby", both sung in English. Later, "Dia 36" and "Ave Lucifer" drift by as stoned psychedelic ballads awash in vocal distortion and spaced-out effects, while "Fuga No. 11" and "Balada do Louco" evoke a dreamlike meeting point between Gilberto Gil and John Lennon. The acoustic "Le premier bonheur du jour" adds a Rennaissence flavor, while "I Feel a Little Spaced Out" (original Portuguese title was "Ando Meio Desligado") perfectly embodies the sound of The Summer of Love: Imagine throwing The Zombies, Jefferson Airplane, early Pink Floyd, and the soundtrack to Hair! into a blender and ending up with something surprisingly coherent. As the concert nears its end, Os Mutantes showcase their riotous carnivalesque side on "A Minha Menina" and "Bat Macumba" before bowing out with an ecstatic English-language rendition of "Panis et Circenses" that once again recalls The Beatles circa Sgt. Pepper. The above track listing corresponds to my own (UK) version of the album, which combines a single CD and DVD video. There is also a US double-CD edition that adds five songs but omits the visual content. Those tracks are reinstated on my DVD, which also includes a short documentary, video clips from the concert and rehearsals, and a photo gallery. The DVD offers both stereo and surround-sound audio options, as well as subtitles for the lyrics. To be honest, neither the video quality nor the surround mix is particularly impressive, which means I find myself returning to the CD far more often than the DVD. Now, I know that many fans may find Rita Lee's absence difficult to overlook, English translation of the lyrics somewhat incongruous, and the band's live sound a little too down-to-earth for their liking. For myself, I believe that Live In Barbican, 2006 successfully captures the eclecticism, humor, musicianship, and sense of adventure that made Os Mutantes so special in the first place. For newcomers, it serves as an ideal introduction; for existing fans, it's a rewarding celebration of this unique band. Having finally seen the band in concert, I can confirm that, sixty years on, the magic is still there.

***** for Cantor de Mambo, Baby, I Feel a Little Spaced Out

**** for Virginia, El justiciero, I'm Sorry Baby,  Dia 36, Fuga Nº II, Ave Lucifer, Balada do Louco, A Minha Menina, Bat Macumba, Panis et Circenses

*** for Don Quixote, Le Premier Bonheur du Jour

Neville Brothers "Fiyo On The Bayou" 1980****

Did I actually know of this album before I spotted it in the bargain bin of my local record store? I’m not entirely sure. I remember thinking, “I should get this—it’s a classic New Orleans soul album”. But was I thinking of this record, or of Fire on the Bayou by The Meters? The mix-up is understandable: The song “Fire on the Bayou” appears on both LPs, they have almost identical titles, and both bands feature Art and Cyril Neville. Confusing, but no matter: whichever album one chooses to buy, it's money well spent. Fiyo On The Bayou opens with another Meters cover, “Hey Pocky Way,” a burst of New Orleans carnival energy—funky soul with Latin and Caribbean overtones. Side one continues strong with the groove-heavy “Sweet Honey Dripper” and “Fire on the Bayou.” The latter features backing vocals arranged by Cissy Houston, with her daughter (and future pop star) Whitney also contributing. Next comes “The Commandments of Love”, an old-fashioned 50s pop ballad. It may sound slightly out of place, but it gives Art Neville the chance to showcase a smooth, Sam Cooke-like vocal style. Side two highlights the band’s versatility. A soulful reggae take on “Sitting in Limbo” (originally by Jimmy Cliff) shows how comfortably they move between genres. They then return to familiar territory with a joyous Mardi Gras medley of “Brother John” and the Cajun staple “Iko Iko.” Dr. John, who had a minor hit with that old chestnut a few years back, guests here on keyboards, percussion, and backing vocals. After a fairly straightforward orchestral cover of Nat King Cole’s “Mona Lisa” the good doctor returns for “Run Joe”, a lively take on a Louis Jordan boogie-woogie number, spiced up with Caribbean flavors. Overall, this is an excellent album, notable for how effortlessly The Neville Brothers navigate different styles. I am especially fond of the traditional New Orleans elements here, which are executed very naturally, though the band is just as convincing when leaning into heavier funk The ballads feel slightly out of place, but they probably reflect Art Neville’s desire to pay tribute to his early influences. Now I just need to give a good listening to The Meters' Fire on the Bayou and decide which of the two I like best.

**** for Sweet Honey Dripper, Fire on the Bayou, Sitting in Limbo, Brother John / Iko Iko, Run Joe

*** for Hey Pocky Way, Ten Commandments of Love, Mona Lisa

Ella Mae Morse & Freddie Slack – Rockin' Brew 1942-1954 (rec) 1969 (comp)****

I found this LP in the bargain bin of my local record store. I wasn’t familiar with either Ella Mae Morse or Freddie Slack, but I did recognize several titles. Songs like “The House of Blue Lights,” “Money Honey,” and “Down the Road a Piece” are now rock’n’roll standards—I have versions by artists like Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, and Flamin' Groovies in my collection. These recordings, however, predate all of those covers—and even predate rock and roll itself. Despite the 1960s aesthetic of the sleeve, most of the tracks were originally released on 78 RPM records in the 1940s and early ’50s. The earliest, “Cow Cow Boogie” (1942), features a 17-year-old Ella Mae Morse backed by the Freddie Slack Orchestra. Slack, a pianist who had previously played with Jimmy Dorsey, appears on many of the recordings here, though not all. Although they are not credited on the album cover, some of the later tracks actually feature Big Dave's Orchestra rather than Slack's. Throughout the records one encounters country influences (e.g. "Cow Cow Boogie"), pop ballads (e.g. "I Love You, Yes I Do"), big band instrumentals ("Strange Cargo") and straight blues (e.g. "Buzz Me"). At its core though, this is danceable jazz music driven by rolling boogie-woogie piano. You could call it jump blues or boogie-woogie, but it often comes strikingly close to what would soon be labeled rock and roll. Tracks like “House of Blue Lights” (a 1945 Freddie Slack original) and “Down the Road a Piece” feature playful spoken interludes in ’40s hipster slang. "Money Honey" by Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters topped the R&B charts in 1953;  Ella Mae picked it right up, way before Elvis and the rest did. Interestingly, she was among the first white singers to appear on the “race records” (a category later renamed "R&B") charts: since radio listeners are oblivious to musicians' skin color, her music often crossed over more successfully with black than white audiences. She retired from recording in 1957, just as rock and roll was taking off. Despite considerable success in her time—according to the liner notes, her biggest seller “Blacksmith Blues” (1951) sold a million copies—she is not widely remembered today. There have nevertheless been a few reissues of her early work; this particular LP was released in 1969 by Specialty Records in the UK, as Capitol Records retained the rights in the United States. On, apparently, "Stereo Enhanced Mono" but also "playable on monaural gramophones". By now, of course, these recordings are -in Europe, at least- copyright free, so there are also some recent cheap CD reissues of her music available.

**** for Mister Five By Five, Blacksmith Blues, Pig Foot Pete, The House Of Blue Lights, Money Honey, Down The Road A Piece, Get Off It And Go, Have Mercy Baby, Cow Cow Boogie, Buzz Me

*** for Rock Me All Night Long, 40 Cups Of Coffee, Strange Cargo, I Love You Yes I Do

The Green Pajamas "This Is Where We Disappear" 2001****

Coincidentally, a few weeks ago I wrote about The Green Pajamas in a post on a Paisley Underground anthology box set—and thanks to random selection, here they are again. That compilation featured their early cult favorite “Kim the Waitress”; this time, we get “The Waitress at the Old White Lion.” (Really, does Jeff Kelly have some kind of waitress fixation?) This track is a tender ballad, built on gently strummed acoustic guitar, piano, and soft female backing vocals. It recalls early Pink Floyd pieces like “If” and “Green Is the Colour.” That same ’60s-tinged acoustic vibe runs through “Softly, Elizabeth,” “Would You Even Say Hello,” and “Spinning Away,” while “French to Japanese” adds a dash of McCartney-style pop charm with its old-fashioned jazzy piano. The lyrics, as in the excellent “Moorland Ghost,” often draw on the Gothic supernatural fiction of Wilkie Collins and Edgar Allan Poe, while musically the album leans toward British acid folk. It nevertheless doesn’t stay in that pastoral mode for long. Much of it expands into fuller arrangements that nudge things toward ’90s alternative rock—not grunge, but something closer to fellow Seattleites The Walkabouts. Drums and fuzzed-out bass and electric guitar appear often, most notably on the upbeat title track and garage rocker “Matilda,” while “Something’s Gone Wrong” even flirts with funk, complete with soulful bass and horns. “Downslide” stands out as an outlier: with Laura Weller’s vocals and electric guitar at the forefront, it resembles the goth/shoegaze sound of The Cranes. Elsewhere, “Sweet 16” plays it relatively straight as a pop tune, “Sweet Moth/36 Envelopes” drifts into darker territory, and “The Wave (It’s Becoming Very Clear)” closes things out with a neat trick—revisiting the opening lyrics but swapping fuzz guitars for something grander and more orchestral. The CD booklet includes enchanting original artwork by Susanne Kelly (the singer’s wife), along with lyrics and medieval woodcut prints. All in all, this is one of the most accessible albums from the incredibly prolific Jeff Kelly. By blending Paisley Underground neo-psychedelia with his fascination for Elizabethan folk and Gothic literature, he has carved out a distinctive, idiosyncratic style—one that should appeal to fans of Peter Hammill, Robyn Hitchcock, or Paul Roland.

**** for This Is Where We Disappear, Softly Elizabeth, The Moorland Ghost, French To Japanese, Matilda, Something's Gone Wrong, Spinning Away, Sweet Moth / 36 Envelopes, Downslide, The Wave (It's Becoming Very Clear)

*** for Secret Circle, Would You Even Say Hello, The Waitress At The Old White Lion, Sweet 16, Wild Desire