snuh (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} snuh) wrote,@ 2008-06-26 22:21:00 |
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friday fist jab five
In 1957, Memphis musician, Jim Stewart, tried hawking a two song tape to Sun Records, who turned him down. Undaunted, he started his own company, Satellite Records, to release it. After a few years of success, Atlantic signed them to a distribution deal. Satellite's first major hit was Last Night, which had been recorded by The Royal Spades, who upon release had their name changed to the Mar-Kays. It rose to number two on the R&B charts and three on the Pop. National prominence forced the fledging company to change their name - a California organization was already using the Satellite moniker. Last Night was reissued as the first record on Stax, the "St" taken from Stewart and the "Ax" from co-owner, May Axton. It's fitting that it was the inaugural release, since it's an early indicator of what would later become the Stax sound - fat drums, loud bass, front and center horns.
Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys have the distinction of being one of the first bands to be successfully promoted via MySpace. They also have a clever video to go with the song that I included below. Gotta love that Yorkshire accent.
Arctic Monkeys: Dancing Shoes
Burning Dervish is celebrating the two-year anniversary of the site's launch by reposting all 24 mixes from the last 24 months. These are the deepest of deep cuts, more rarities than I can totally list. You'll find Reggae, African, Jazz and World music, among other numerous genres. I found this delightful surprise, Roll Jordan Roll by the Wingless Angels, amongst the choice selections. After Keith Richards moved to Jamaica, he became friends with Ska pioneer, Justin Hinds, a member of Wingless Angels. They got together and recorded the band's only album, which Richards played on and produced. It's filled with primal drumbeats, chants and hymns from the Nyabinghi Rastafarian sect, to which the seven Wingless Angels belong. Allmusic called it "an utterly unique and refreshing listening experience" - I couldn't agree more.
I think I can count the number of good white Reggae bands with all the fingers on Django Reinhardt's left hand. Sublime is one of them. Most are aware of Bradley Nowell's heroin overdose just two months before the release of Sublime's self-titled third record, which ended up going platinum five-times over. Today's selection comes from that bestseller - how can you lose with lyrics like, "Mucho gusto, me llamo Bradley, I'm hornier than Ron Jeremy"?
Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller) was a mystery. By the time of his death in 1965, he'd been around long enough to have played with Robert Johnson at the start of his career and Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Robbie Robertson at the end of it - his first wife was Howlin' Wolf's sister. At various times, he called himself Aleck "Rice" Miller, Willie Williams, Alex Willie Williamson, "Little Boy Blue," "Buzzard Beak", "The Signifyin' Goat" and gave birth dates somewhere between 1893 and 1909. He made one last trip to England in the mid 1960s where he told blues fans he was the real Sonny Boy Williamson, a rouse he had carried on for more than 20 years. The original Sonny Boy Williamson was born in 1914, died during 1948 and was associated with Bluebird Records - ironically, they would both pass within a week of Memorial Day. Between 1951 and 1965 Sonny Boy Williamson II wrote, sang and played harp on some of the finest blues recordings of all time - he was nicknamed "King of the Harmonica" by his peers, here's a page about his harp playing with some sound samples. Rumor has it had he lived longer, he would have been a member of The Band when they joined Bob Dylan.
Listen, don't be a chump, slide your beach pals the terrorist fist bump (apologies to The Sunrays) and have the mother of all weekends!
In 1957, Memphis musician, Jim Stewart, tried hawking a two song tape to Sun Records, who turned him down. Undaunted, he started his own company, Satellite Records, to release it. After a few years of success, Atlantic signed them to a distribution deal. Satellite's first major hit was Last Night, which had been recorded by The Royal Spades, who upon release had their name changed to the Mar-Kays. It rose to number two on the R&B charts and three on the Pop. National prominence forced the fledging company to change their name - a California organization was already using the Satellite moniker. Last Night was reissued as the first record on Stax, the "St" taken from Stewart and the "Ax" from co-owner, May Axton. It's fitting that it was the inaugural release, since it's an early indicator of what would later become the Stax sound - fat drums, loud bass, front and center horns.
Mar-Kays: Last Night - 3MB
Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys have the distinction of being one of the first bands to be successfully promoted via MySpace. They also have a clever video to go with the song that I included below. Gotta love that Yorkshire accent.
Arctic Monkeys: Dancing Shoes - 4MB
Arctic Monkeys: Dancing Shoes
Burning Dervish is celebrating the two-year anniversary of the site's launch by reposting all 24 mixes from the last 24 months. These are the deepest of deep cuts, more rarities than I can totally list. You'll find Reggae, African, Jazz and World music, among other numerous genres. I found this delightful surprise, Roll Jordan Roll by the Wingless Angels, amongst the choice selections. After Keith Richards moved to Jamaica, he became friends with Ska pioneer, Justin Hinds, a member of Wingless Angels. They got together and recorded the band's only album, which Richards played on and produced. It's filled with primal drumbeats, chants and hymns from the Nyabinghi Rastafarian sect, to which the seven Wingless Angels belong. Allmusic called it "an utterly unique and refreshing listening experience" - I couldn't agree more.
Wingless Angels: Roll Jordan Roll - 9MB
I think I can count the number of good white Reggae bands with all the fingers on Django Reinhardt's left hand. Sublime is one of them. Most are aware of Bradley Nowell's heroin overdose just two months before the release of Sublime's self-titled third record, which ended up going platinum five-times over. Today's selection comes from that bestseller - how can you lose with lyrics like, "Mucho gusto, me llamo Bradley, I'm hornier than Ron Jeremy"?
Sublime: Caress Me Down - 6MB
Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller) was a mystery. By the time of his death in 1965, he'd been around long enough to have played with Robert Johnson at the start of his career and Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Robbie Robertson at the end of it - his first wife was Howlin' Wolf's sister. At various times, he called himself Aleck "Rice" Miller, Willie Williams, Alex Willie Williamson, "Little Boy Blue," "Buzzard Beak", "The Signifyin' Goat" and gave birth dates somewhere between 1893 and 1909. He made one last trip to England in the mid 1960s where he told blues fans he was the real Sonny Boy Williamson, a rouse he had carried on for more than 20 years. The original Sonny Boy Williamson was born in 1914, died during 1948 and was associated with Bluebird Records - ironically, they would both pass within a week of Memorial Day. Between 1951 and 1965 Sonny Boy Williamson II wrote, sang and played harp on some of the finest blues recordings of all time - he was nicknamed "King of the Harmonica" by his peers, here's a page about his harp playing with some sound samples. Rumor has it had he lived longer, he would have been a member of The Band when they joined Bob Dylan.
Sonny Boy Williamson: Bring It On Home - 4MB
Listen, don't be a chump, slide your beach pals the terrorist fist bump (apologies to The Sunrays) and have the mother of all weekends!
