friday five - eyes on the prize

Darkblack - Vote For It

My mom used to be an occasional dancer on the old American Bandstand teevee show. She and a group of her friends would squeeze into a car and make the trek from Flatbush to Philadelphia, all ready to show off the latest moves. Eventually, dancing was pushed aside for motherhood, but she still carried the beat in her head. For as long as I can remember, she'd have the radio on, tuned to the local pop station. Whenever this Mary Wells song would come on, it was as if a hypnotic spell had been cast over her, she'd stop whatever she was doing and dance. For me, that's what the power of music is all about.

Mary Wells: You Beat Me To The Punch - 3.97MB

I must confess, I love 70s Rod Stewart/Faces, even more so since bands like The Black Crowes have made a career out of doing a rather poor imitation of them. Rod the Mod entered adulthood as a footballer and grave digger. Soon after, he helped start The Ray Davies Quartet, later known as The Kinks and played with musicians such as Long John Baldry, Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and Jeff Beck. He left Beck, taking Ron Wood along with him to join The Faces, a group that actually performed with a functioning bar onstage. Eventually, Stewart's burgeoning solo career spelled an end to the band, with Wood leaving for The Rolling Stones. Did Disco (Da Ya Think I'm Sexy) start Stewart's veer towards crass commercialism? Hard to say, but it was definitely the beginning of a creative decline. Here, Maggie Bell joins him on the tune that epitomizes the rough and ready sound of the Stewart of old.

Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells A Story - 10.34MB

The Kingbees came about during one of Rockbilly's umpteenth revivals. With the success of The Stray Cats, every record label were looking for their clone. About this time, Toronto-born singer/songwriter/guitarist, Jamie James, left Detroit and headed to Los Angeles, where he'd put together a Buddy Holly-styled Rockabilly trio. Unfortunately, success eluded them, but not before they'd left behind a catalogue of snappy tunes. I'm always a sucker for the crisp sound of a Strat through a Fender Twin Reverb - hopefully, with this song, you'll be as well.

The Kingbees: My Mistake - 5.45MB

This one has been posted often this week, but it's so good I want to jump right on the bandwagon because I fell in love with King Khan & The Shrines on first listen. This would sound right at home on the Nuggets collection, the tune is that authentic. Listen carefully and you can hear strains of The Strangeloves, Amboy Dukes, Them, Count Five, Question Mark & The Mysterians, and Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels.

King Khan & The Shrines: Torture - 7.27MB

In honor of the new Speed Racer live action movie, I've dragged out this old techno track, always good for a chuckle. Alpha Team were Chicago's Dane Roewade and Andy Adams, owner of Underground Construction records. Speed gives a new meaning to "Here comes Speed Racer" - I always knew that Trixie was a stone-cold freak!

Alpha Team: Speed (Hardcore) - 8.86MB (nws)

Now, enjoy the weekend. I pity the fool that doesn't.