BARRY REYNOLDS - "I Scare Myself" (1982)

 

Barry Reynolds had a whole lot to do with the Marianne Faithfull LP "Broken English," and without a doubt, he's some kind of a musical genius.

The "I Scare Myself" album title and song came from a Dan Hicks classic titled "I Scare Myself" from ten years earlier.

BARRY REYNOLDS - "I Scare Myself"

 

 

And here's the awesome original version from 1972.

DAN HICKS & HIS HOT LICKS - "I Scare Myself"

MARIANNE FAITHFULL - "Broken English" (1979)

 

Well, I never planned on this being a musician's obituary blog, but when I found out that Marianne Faithfull just passed away, I felt compelled to do this since I had already planned on it anyway. I've always been a big fan of Marianne from the 60's when she had the sweet and demure hit, "As Tears Go By" and into the 70's and beyond.

By the time "Broken English" came out in 1979, she had been through a lot, the innocence was gone, and years of smoking had changed her voice. Her version of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" on this album is amazing. She will be missed, and this song is just as relevant today as it was in 1979!

MARIANNE FAITHFULL - "Broken English"

JOE LIGGINS & HIS HONEYDRIPPERS - "The Honeydripper" (1945)

 

 "The Honeydripper" by Joe Liggins first came out in 1945. It is possibly one of the catchiest songs of all time. This song is so insidiously good that I have had to stop listening to it because it's addicting, and if you're not careful, it can get stuck in your head for weeks!

A honeydripper is either a hand tool used to get honey out of a jar, or it's a very cool and suave guy, or maybe both!

It's infectious, and I've warned you. If you listen to this song you just might find yourself  jumping for joy, and not know why!

JOE LIGGINS & HIS HONEYDRIPPERS - "The Honeydripper"

HANK III - "Risin' Outlaw" (1999)

 

I've seen Hank III perform 'live' two times. Once was a horrible outdoor noise mess, and the second time was one of the best country shows I've ever seen. Hank Williams III emulates his grand daddy much more than Hank Jr. He doesn't care about the country music industry, he just makes good country music and sometimes just does whatever the Hell he wants to, and this CD called "Risin' Outlaw" from 1999 just proves it! Stuff like this......

HANK III - "87 Southbound"

THE COWSILLS - "Global" (1990)

 

My buddy Rich Arithmetic sent me a song from this 1990 album by The Cowsills the other day, and we both had the same opinion, who knew The Cowsills were so good? We'd both written them off as forgettable 60's pop, and now we both agree, they were pretty damn good. 

Judge for yourself and see if you agree!

THE COWSILLS - "She Said To Me"

JOE FARRELL QUARTET - "Follow Your Heart" (1970)

 

Sometimes music just moves you, and that's how I feel about this 1970 album and group of musicians.

Joe Farrell is a master of the saxophone, and he's joined here by a quartet of some of the finest jazz musicians on the planet, Chick Corea playing Piano, Jack De Johnette on Drums, Dave Holland on Bass, and the phenomenal John McLaughlin on Guitar.

Here's some of best advice you'll ever get.....

JOE FARRELL QUARTET - "Follow Your Heart"

BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY - "Down On Me" (1967)

 

Now here's a real head scratcher for you, and a song off of this 1967 self-titled album by Big Brother And The Holding company.

How is it feasible or possible that Janis Joplin is in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but the band she was in isn't. Janis made a handful of records before her early demise at the age of 27, but to me some of her best work was with Big Brother, like this early song.

BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY - "Down On Me."

DOLL BY DOLL - "Remember" (1979)

 

Doll By Doll is one of my favorite bands, and this album is brilliant. Jackie Leven is one of the best vocalists ever, it's just that simple. This album called "Remember" from 1979 is stellar, and this song is amazing. The lyrics are a little morbid at times, but overall, this is one of the finest songs ever written or performed!!

DOLL BY DOLL - "Butcher Boy"

THE GODFATHERS - "Birth, School. Work, Death" (1988)

 

I don't know a whole lot about the band named The Godfathers, but what I do know is there's a song on this album that I never get tired of listening to.

This album was called  "Birth, School, Work, Death," but I think they forgot one more word, sex! 

It's just like the Hokey Pokey, "That's what it's all about!"

From 1988. here's

THE GODFATHER'S - "Birth, School, Work, Death"

LARRY CORYELL - "Coryell" (1969)

 

In 1969 Jazz Guitarist Larry Coryell came out with this album simply titled "Coryell." I had never heard any guitar work like this before, and with drums and bass being supplied by Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, and Chuck Rainey, there is music on this album that is beyond description. Well, I could describe it, but it would take a whole lot of writing.

Here's a song that is one of my favorite instrumentals in any genre. Larry does what he does best, and Bernard and Chuck brilliantly supply the perfect background to keep it going.

 Wind it up, let it loose, bring it back, and let it go again, and again!!

There are some more structured songs on this record with other players like Ron Carter and Albert Stinson, but the real deal is this!

LARRY CORYELL - "Morning Sickness"

JULIE DRISCOLL/BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY - "Open" (1968)

 

This album by Julie Driscoll/Brian Auger & The Trinity titled "Open," was too cool in back in 1968, and it's just as cool to this very day. The sound, the arrangements, the selection of tunes, were all choice. 57 years later, I still have this album, and for good reason. Soulful and funky, this record has stood the test of time but is appreciated by so few.

 

 Here's a song that was written by Roebuck "Pops" Staples of The Staples Singers, and Auge and Jools with the help of Clive Thacker on Drums, and Dave Ambrose on Bass, do it up right!

JULIE DRISCOLL/BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY - "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)

COUNTRY JOE & THE FISH - "Electric Music For The Mind And Body" (1967)

 

"Electric Music For The Mind And Body" by Country Joe and The Fish came out in 1967. Personally, I can't think of any other groups that have ever sounded like this, because that's how unique this music was, and now here it is some 58 years later, and nothing's changed.

COUNTRY JOE & THE FISH - "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine"

LINK WRAY - "God Out West" (1971)

 

Here's a song that will show you that Link Wray is one of the most underappreciated musicians in history. Most people just know Link from his classic instrumentals like "Rumble," but Link was so much more multi-dimensional than that. This record came out in 1971, and I've worn out my copy over the years.

This was a classic family production recorded in a backyard 4 track studio.

 Link sang and played guitars, bass and dobro, and was joined by his younger brother Doug playing the drums and doing some background vocals, his other brother Vernon Aubrey Wray (aka Vernon Wray & Ray Vernon) doing the engineering and producing, and rounded out with Bobby Howard, Steve Verroca, and Billy Hodges doing everything else.

I like every single song on this LP, so it was extremely difficult to choose just one, so listen to this one, and if you like it as much as I do, go and listen to the rest of the whole album on YouTube.

LINK WRAY - "God Out West"

BILLY COBHAM - "Spectrum" (1973)

 

One of the most intense records of 1973, and maybe any year for that matter, was this album by Percussionist Billy Cobham titled "Spectrum." Joining Billy is Jan Hammer on Keyboards, Lee Sklar on Fender Bass, and the phenomenal Tommy Bolin playing guitar. You might want to sit down before listening to this, because it just might make you dizzy!

BILLY COBHAM - "Quadrant 4"

ROY BUCHANAN - "Live Stock" (1975)

 

Roy Buchanan was one of the most underrated guitarists of all time in my humble opinion. He did things with a guitar that no one had ever done before, and I'm sure he did some things that have never been done again. That's just how unique of a talent he was. Roy's story is a tragic one and he was gone way before his time, and it just wasn't fair.

 Here's one of my favorite songs with a message for us all from this 1975 album called "Live Stock" with the fabulous Billy Price on vocals.

ROY BUCHANAN - "Can I Change My Mind"

THE STANDELLS - "Dirty Water" (1966)

 

I always thought that "Dirty Water" from 1966 was the first album released by The Standells, but they actually had an earlier record in 1964 called "In Person At P.J.'s" that was mostly all the standard cover tunes of the time that a whole lot of bands recorded like "Louie, Louie," and/or "Money."

 

The Standells are one of those bands that I can't for the life of me figure out why they are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On this album alone, they had two of the most iconic songs of the 60's that people still listen to today, "Dirty Water," and "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White," and just like Paul Revere and the Raiders, it just doesn't make sense. 

The lead off song on this album is one that you don't hear often, or even at all, and I think it's a good one!

THE STANDELLS - "Medication"

 

Cool tune, but I think I like this instrumental version better! 

THE STANDELLS - "Medication" (Instrumental Version)

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - "The 5000 Spirits Or Layers Of The Onion" (1967)

 

I bought this album by The Incredible String Band titled "The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion" back in 1967 or 1968, and to this day I still remember where it came from, and that's because I don't think I've ever heard another album quite like this one in my whole life.

From the incredible album cover to the incredible songs within, this record is just something else, and I don't even know what that something is, it's that baffling!

So many crazy songs, it was really hard to choose just one, but this one I've never gotten tired of listening to, something we've all experienced at one time or another,

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - "No Sleep Blues"

FELA AND AFRIKA 70 - "Zombie" (1977)

 

This tremendous 1977 album from the Fela and Afrika 70 is a in league of it's own! Period!

Fela's full name was Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti and his voice went silent in 1997. Fortunately he left us with recordings like this!

 FELA AND AFRIKA 70 - "Zombie"

THE YOUNGBLOODS - "Elephant Mountain" (1969)

 

The Youngblood's 1969 album "Elephant Mountain" is one of those kinds of records I never get tired of listening to. It's happy, well played, goofy, and serious all at the same time. It's just a lot of fun to listen to, and here's a beautiful example of what I'm talking about.

THE YOUNGBLOODS - "Beautiful"

THE REEKERS - "Don't Call Me Flyface" (1964)

 

Even though this record came out sixty-one years ago, I just found out about it a couple of years ago.The band was from Garret Park, Maryland, and they were called The Reekers, and because they wanted a hit, they decided to release this song called "Don't Call Me Flyface."

This song is a truly maniacal and fascinating instrumental, and what I like to call the ultimate chase song that will just reach out a grab you, so enjoy.... 

THE REEKERS - "Don't Call Me Flyface"

DAN HICKS & HIS HOT LICKS - "Where's The Money?" (1971)

 

One of the most talented and underrated artists of all time has got to be Dan Hicks. I was fortunate enough to see Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks right after this album came out, and it was a night of pure magic. The songs, the vocals, the musicians, the harmonies and arrangements were all brilliant.

There's not a bad song on this album, so why not go with the title tune?

There's Dan on vocals and guitars, and then you have the amazing Maryann Price and Naomi Ruth Eisenberg on vocals, the incredible Sid Page on violin and mandolin, and, the oh so solid Jaime Leopold on bass.

I love this record!

DAN HICKS & HIS HOT LICKS - "Where's The Money?"

BETTY DAVIS - "Nasty Gal" (1975)

 

I've owned this 1975 album titled "Nasty Gal" for years, and there's not a whole lot to compare it to. Betty Davis was something else, and she's plenty happy to let you know all about it. The bass of Larry Johnson drives it all home.

Betty was born Betty Gray Mabry, but kept the last name Davis after being married to one of the most amazing jazz musicians of all time, Miles Davis for two years. 

If I could go back in time, I'd probably choose having Thanksgiving 1969 with the Davis family.

I can't even think of what it was possibly like.

Take it from a gal who knows, here's

BETTY DAVIS - "F.U.N.K."

THE METERS - "Rejuvenation" (1974)

 

"Rejuvenation" by The Meters is probably one of the funkiest albums ever recorded, period!

In the mid 1970's I was fortunate enough to see The Meters, Bob Marley and the Wailers, and Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson "Live" in the course of just a few months. Those were some good times!!!  

Mix horseradish and hot salsa together, and you might get close to as hot as The Meters were!

With Joseph "Ziggy" Modeliste on the Drums, George Porter, Jr. on Bass, and Leo Nocentelli on Guitar, it just doesn't get any better.

THE METERS - "People Say"

THE EQUALS - "Baby Come Back" (1968)

 

From 1968, here's a song that is just simply infectious. If you can listen to this without tapping your foot, then you probably need to make a doctor's appointment.

Written by Eddy Grant, this song did have some success having reached the top 10 in Belgium and the Netherlands, and got to number 32 on the U.S. Billboard Charts in 1968.

So just in case you never heard it before, or just need to hear it again, here's

The Equals - "Baby Come Back"

VIVA L'AMERICAN DEATH RAY MUSIC - "Smash Radio Hits" (2002)

 

Well, technically, this album is from the 21st century since it came out in 2002, but it was still freakin' twenty-three years ago. Besides, who cares?

American Death Ray, as they were sometimes called, hailed from Memphis, Tennessee, and if you don't keep up, this song will beat you into the ground. I think the correct description would be something like 'insanely intense.' 

Take a deep breath and hold on to your seat!

VIVA L'AMERICAN DEATH RAY MUSIC - "Miss America (What Goes On)"

C.B.I. - "Big Tears" (1987)

 

I was going to give you something from one of my very favorite bands of the 70's, Doll By Doll, but while I was trying to figure out which one of their amazing songs to showcase, I ran across this song I'd never heard before from 1987 by a band called C.B.I. (Concrete, Bulletproof, Invisible) called "Big Tears."

 

C.B.I. was basically Doll By Doll along with Glen Matlock, the original bassist in The Sex Pistols, with one of my favorite vocalists Jackie Leven on vocals, Joe Shaw on guitars, and musical elements from what sounds like about fifteen different songs. I'm pretty sure this should have been a big hit!

C.B. I. - "Big Tears"

RANDY BACHMAN - "Axe" (1970)

 

Most people know of Randy Bachman as being in the hard driving, hard rocking Canadian band known as Bachman-Turner Overdrive, or BTO, and their big hits like "Taking Care Of Business," and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," so when I bought this album years ago, it really surprised me that it was full of jazzy instrumentals like this simple Wes Montgomery/George Benson/Santana sounding song!

From an album simply titled "Axe" in 1970

RANDY BACHMAN - "Tally's Tune."

THE WIND - "Guest Of The Staphs" (1984)

 

The Wind album titled "Guest Of The Staphs" is one of the best records of the 1980's in my humble opinion. It's only got six songs on it, but they are all good ones, and here's one of my favorites.

THE WIND - "If  I Go One Way"

MICHAEL HENDERSON - "Solid" (1976)

 

Here's the title song from too cool bassist Michael Henderson's LP from 1976 titled "Solid."

I still have this record because I never get tired of hearing this endless groove. 

It's redundant to overstate the obvious, but this tune is just solid!

MICHAEL HENDERSON - "Solid"

SIMON T. STOKES - The Metamorphosis Of "Big City Blues" (1966-1970)

 

Now here's some good music to start this new year, and just like what lies ahead, it's a

 "Ball Of Confusion."

 I bought this album back in 1970, and I never really knew anybody who knew about it except myself until today. It was called "Simon Stokes and The Nighthawks, and here's a manic example of Simon's style.

SIMON STOKES AND THE NIGHTHAWKS - "Big City Blues"

 

Interesting enough, here's what I learned today. This was not the first time Simon Stokes recorded this song.

In 1966, Simon released a single version of this same song in a more of a folk/rock style without The Nighthawks.

SIMON T. STOKES - "Big City Blues"

 

And if that ain't enough, the same year he released this completely different version on Hanna Barbera Records, yeah, the same company that brought you Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, and The Flintstones.

SIMON T. STOKES - "Big City Blues"

 

Believe it or not, there's still more! In 1967, Simon came out with yet another version, and as the times were a changing, this one's psychedelic!

SIMON T. STOKES - "Big City Blues"

  Don't try and tell me the world isn't crazy!