RIP Roy Morgan

 

Goddamit, this one hits hard, to say the least. Roy was the drummer for the Excessories and the Black Widows (among a huge list of other fab bands such as the Lazy Cowgirls, Neurotics and many more) and a damn good friend over the years. He was our brother....dammit...

Listen to some Ramones or Heartbreakers in his honor....

recommended gigs

 Friday 2-24-23 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Friday 2-24-23 - Shanda and the Howlers at Mabels in the Palms

Saturday 2-25-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 2-26-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 2-27-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday 3-1-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with Crimson Riot at the Double Down

Thursday 3-2-23 - The Double Whammys at the Sand Dollar Downtown for the High Rollers pre-party

Thursday 3-2-23 - Thee Hypnotiques at Cornish Pasty

Friday 3-3-23 - High Rollers Scooter Rally at the Usual Place with 16 Again, The New Waves, The Inciters, Chelsea Curve, Green Fuzz and the Double Whammys

Saturday 3-4-23 - The Unwieldies and the Devil's Duo at Cemetery Pulp

Saturday 3-4-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 3-6-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 3-11-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 3-13-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 3-12-23 - The Legendary Shack Shakers, Hillbilly Casino, Shanda and the Howlers and the Rhyolite Sound at the Usual Place

Friday 3-17-23 - Shanda and the Howlers at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 3-18-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 3-20-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 3-25-23 - The Devil's Duo, The Psyatics, Bear Supply at the Founder's Club

Friday 3-31-23 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday 4-5-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast at the Double Down

Friday 4-7-23 - Suburban Resistance, Blvd Bullies, Stagnetti's Cock at the Founder's Club

Saturday 4-15-23 - the Shakewells and the Thingz at Red Dwarf 

Friday 4-21-23 - The Psyatics with the Pine Box Dwellers and Uncle Dave at the Double Down

Saturday 4-22-23 - The Devil's Duo, the Pine Box Dwellers and Uncle Dave at the Huntridge Tavern

Friday 4-28-23 - the Unwieldies and Big Like Texas at the Sand Dollar Downtown

Saturday 4-29-23 - The Supersuckers , Throw Rag and the Hangmen at the Dive Bar

Wednesday 5-3-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast at the Double Down

Saturday 5-20-23 - My Birthday Show with The Implosions and special guests TBA at the Huntridge Tavern

Wednesday 6-7-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast at the Double Down

Sunday 6-25-23 - The Psyatics with Bob Log III and the Fat Dukes of Fuck at the Dive Bar

Tuesday 7-11-23 - The Psyatics with the Pine Hill Haints and Invisible Teardrops at Red Dwarf

Saturday 8-5-23 - The Psyatics with special guests TBA at the. Double Down

Wednesday 12-6-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast at the Double Down with special guests The Devil's Duo

Jeff Dahl - All My Friends Are Crows

 

I've dug Jeff's work ever since I first saw him in Vox Pop in the early 80's, through his time in the Angry Samoans and his lengthy solo career. He's played with a crazy amount of talented folks over the years (hell, I even had the chance to play a few super fun shows with him at one point) although since he has now more-or-less retired to his home state of Hawaii, the records that he has done have mostly been solo productions in his home studio. On this album he does everything except the drums (which he can also play, but sometimes defers to more experienced musicians) and here the beat is powered by Sam Bradley, who does an excellent job.

Jeff concocts his own brand of 70's-styled punk rock - y'know, the good stuff, before it got stupid and/or corporate. Stripped down, but real songs and the occasional sonic surprise here'n'there - a bit of wah, some slide guitar - along with solid vocals with plenty of harmonies'n'melodies without being pop-punk.

Starting off with the tough'n'snotty title track, we get razor sharp power chords, machinegun drumming, attitudinal vocals and crow-like backing vocals! This would fit in with any of Jeff's best solo work, as would the riff-infested "Atomic Any Invasion" - more staccato guitar chords behind some rollin' licks and sing-song-y melodies. "We Must Destroy" is appropriately somewhat Raw Power-ish, with chant-along lyrics, "Little Bird Said" is kinda garagey with young, loud, and snotty vocals and a cool slide guitar solo, "The Spider Sisters" has some hip syncopation mixed in with the punk rock power, while "Manahampeetah" is just damn fast'n'heavy while still being catchy as hell!

There's some 70's hard rock heaviness'n'riffage in "Let It Drool" mixed in with Dead Boys-styled punkiness, another slide guitar break and nice backing vocals, "Bat Shit Crazy" is aptly frantic until the brief half-time break followed by a simple'but'dynamic guitar solo, more memorable guitar licks dominate "Wild, Beautiful and Free" and I love the weird sounds just above subliminal level in the background - that adds a fab dimension to the already swingin' tune! The record closes with the moody "Saint Lucifer", reminding me somehow of a cross between "Gimme Danger" and the Lords of the New Church - or something like that! It then becomes a fast-paced garage-like punk'n'roller, before changing back to the original feel. Very cool piece of songwriting and production - a bit of variety without sounding out of place.

I don't think that there's any of Jeff's records that I don't like, although, natch, some are stronger than others, but this one is right up there. It's a limited edition and you have to order directly from Dahl, but I certainly recommend it - it's a keeper!

Roxy Music - In The Beginning

 

This is another collection from the radio broadcast series, similar to the great Patti Smith and Tom Waits sets that I've mentioned before and while the title is somewhat deceptive, there are some good performances here.

As I said, this is hardly "In the Beginning" of this band's career, as the earliest recording here is from 1975, a couple of years after Eno left the group, and the rest are from 1979 and 1982, after the band's initial breakup (they took a few hiatuses in their time). I had hoped for Eno-era concerts, but by 1975, "Love is the Drug" was already their biggest hit - which I do like, but it's not as great as their earlier work - although they do some of the earlier tracks here, as well.

While I'm not as familiar with all of the later tunes, there are a batch of earlier numbers that appear on almost every CD - "Out of the Blue", "Mother of Pearl", "In Every Dream Home a Heartache", rockers like "ReMake/ReModel", "Do The Strand", "Editions of You" and, of course "Love is the Drug".

There are a few odder numbers like a cover of Neil Young's "Like a Hurricane"and Lennon's "Jealous Guy" (was that on Ferry's solo album?) but I wish that there was a bit more variety between the CD's and, again, some earlier performances.

So, good, but not as great as it could have been. 

Suburban Resistance - Songs of the Dead

 

So, first a disclaimer - I've gotten to know the guys in Suburban Resistance (a little bit) and think that they're all damn nice guys - singer Kevin, in fact, is a super-rock'n'roll fan who knows more about good music than someone his age has any right to, and he owns several of my records and knew who I was before we met! So, there's that!

BUT, along with being good peeps, these cats can actually play'n'write some damn fine punk'n'roll! They are not afraid of melody - although I wouldn't call their stuff pop-punk (not that there's anything wrong with that!) - and always have a healthy dose of "whoa-whoas" and "heys" and other sing/shout-along-isms (ala the Misfits) in their tunes. They also show off their rock'n'roll roots without delving into thievery/parody with hints of 70's rock riffs, metal madness, punk rockness (natch) and real songwriting. 

I cannot keep track of how many records they have already put out in their short r'n'r lifespan, but there's been a few and this one, their latest, is a double album set! Jeez! People who can't stop writing songs make me crazy! (Although I guess I used to be like that when I was younger!) Guitarist (and former drummerz) Adam runs the label and does a nice job with packaging and this gatefold set comes in a purty blue vinyl with cool artwork, photos and (well written) lyrics included.

Of course, the songs are what makes an album and these are all solid tunes, utilizing the various forms I mentioned above in various formations. Every player is super solid, though no one is flashy and no one tries to steal the spotlight, and Kevin keeps the melody flowing while singing about numerous topics. The easily move from style to style, while still retaining their own sound, from wild punk rock to the closer, a truly heartfelt'n'touching (and damn purty) acoustic ballad dedicated to Kevin's deceased father - damn near brings me to tears listening to it!

So, yeah, I dig these cats and they are breaking/crossing boundaries and just playing good music! Just get it and if you're in Vegas, see them, as they play pretty regularly! 

recommended gigs

 Friday 2-17-23 - The Unwieldies and Big Like Texas at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday 2-18-23 - Will and the HI-Rollers, the Desperados, Duo Glides at the Sand Dollar Downtown

Saturday 2-18-23 - Suburban Resistance, 1/2 Ast, Skeleton Crew, ATS at the Dive Bar

Sunday 2-19-23 - Surfers of Mercy at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 2-20-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 2-24-23 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-25-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 2-26-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 2-27-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday 3-1-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with Crimson Riot at the Double Down

Friday 3-3-23 - High Rollers Scooter Rally at the Usual Place with 16 Again, The New Waves, The Inciters, Chelsea Curve, Green Fuzz and the Double Whammys

Saturday 3-4-23 - The Unwieldies and the Devil's Duo at Cemetery Pulp

Sunday 3-12-23 - The Legendary Shack Shakers, Hillbilly Casino, Shanda and the Howlers and the Rhyolite Sound at the Usual Place

Saturday 3-25-23 - The Devil's Duo, The Psyatics, Bear Supply at the Founder's Club

Wednesday 4-5-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast at the Double Down

Friday 4-7-23 - Suburban Resistance, Blvd Bullies, Stagnetti's Cock at the Founder's Club

Saturday 4-15-23 - the Shakewells and the Thingz at Red Dwarf 

Friday 4-21-23 - The Psyatics with the Pine Box Dwellers and Uncle Dave at the Double Down

Saturday 4-22-23 - The Devil's Duo, the Pine Box Dwellers and Uncle Dave at the Huntridge Tavern

Friday 4-28-23 - the Unwieldies and Big Like Texas at the Sand Dollar Downtown

Saturday 4-29-23 - The Supersuckers , Throw Rag and the Hangmen at the Dive Bar

Wednesday 5-3-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast at the Double Down

Saturday 5-20-23 - My Birthday Show with special guests TBA at the Huntridge Tavern

Wednesday 6-7-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast at the Double Down

Sunday 6-25-23 - The Psyatics with Bob Log III and the Fat Dukes of Fuck at the Dive Bar

Saturday 8-5-23 - The Psyatics with special guests TBA at the. Double Down

Wednesday 12-6-23 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast at the Double Down with special guests The Devil's Duo

Cordell Jackson - Live in Chicago

 

Quite frankly, I think that I forgot that this CD was in our collection and I have no idea when or where we got it, but it is a classic of minimalistic, Cramps-ian (although she predates that combo by several decades) rock'n'roll, done in Cordell's inimitable style. An originator and innovator, Cordell started her own record label after learning to record and produce and released her own performances in the 50's. Her style, thankfully, never evolved much from there and this 1995 recording shows her still rantin'n'ravin' with wild rockabilly, blues, some frantic boogie-woogie, an occasional ballad, and cool Link Wray-ish riffin'.

With her trademark ballroom gown and Hagstrom guitar'n'amp - no other musicians - she obviously charmed the audience with her primitive, raw, rockin' sounds. Like I say, it's a bit Cramps, a bit Link Wray, a bit Shaggs, a bit Panther Burns (she was a Memphis resident, after all), some instrumentals, some vocals, all short, and all fun!

You know it's gotta be cool cuz Miriam Linna did the liner notes! If you did your r'n'r stripped down'n'raw, primitive'n'groovy, with a charming older women presenting it all, dig this one!

RIP Raquel

Raquel Welch, One Million Years B.C. Actress and Hollywood Sex Symbol, Dead at 82 

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Not Brand Echh compendium

 

I have a few issues of Not Brand Echh from when I (or my brother) originally bought them back in the day, but I no longer have the entire series so when I discovered that this compendium existed, and at a reasonable price, I had to pick it up. This compiles the entire run of NBE for us geeks!

Not Brand Echh was, of course, Marvel's parody series - in the Marvel letters pages, "Brand Echh" referred to any other comic publisher and specifically DC Comics - which primarily lampooned their own heroes, but also took on DC's big names, along with some comparative lesser-knowns, like Tower Comics' Thunder Agents, as well as some TV shows and other pop culture icons. 

Most of the stories satirized current plotlines in the "official" comics, utilizing the same artists and writers, although they took things over the top, of course! There's an insane amount of internal jokes, incredibly detailed "graffiti" throughout the panels, and plenty of goofy, slapstick humor and wild exaggerations, but all done with style and all genuinely funny! 

Of course, there are some stories that had nothing to do with the original comic, such as the crossovers with characters from the other publishers  (long before they tried that "officially") and certain stories that just lampooned the characters without any real plot! And then, of course, there is their own "hero", Forbush-Man, featuring their mythical (?) mascot, Irving Forbush! 

There are some moments of extreme non-PC writing, especially when it comes to Asian characters - why was that one of the last bastions of racial "comedy"? - but other people of color, as well, on occasion, and, of course, the women characters are out-of-date, even for that time. That has been a problem with pretty much any of the comics published in this time period and it is kinda grating to today's sensibilities but there is a lot of greatness here if you can overcome this bad taste. 

The original mag ran for 13 issues and I guess there was some extra room so this collection also includes several "behind the scenes at the Marvel bullpen" goofiness that appeared in various annuals as well as issue 14 that appeared 50 years (!!) after the last ish but was an unfortunate, unfunny flop - appropriate to add in here, but not really worth your time.

But, that said, the original stories were (almost) all terrific, hilarious, clever and well drawn, so if you dig classic Marvel, you will dig this!

Here's some of my originals!

Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Surf Brunch, Sunday 2-12-23

 Red Dwarf hosts a Sunday Surf Brunch every weekend and while the musical guests are usually Thee Swank Bastards, at times other local surf combos, such as the Surfers of Mercy may fill in (among others). It's hard for us to carve out time on a weekend as we are usually jam-packed with chores and errands and sometimes our own gigs, but yesterday we made the effort (and ignored some household chores) to get out to see our fave incarnation of the Bastards with the lovely Heximers as the rhythm section behind guitar maestro Jesse Del Quadro. 

Denise has certainly come a long way since she first picked up the bass to play with the now-defunct Melanie and the Midnite Marauders and she is a rhythmic force to be reckoned with these days, especially when backed by hubby Clay. We got to Red Dwarf probably during their second set and while the Super Bowl Day crowd was a bit skimpy (thankfully, there are no TV sets in the bar! So civilized!), the Swanks put on a terrific show of their huge repertoire of classic surf mixed with their versions of the likes of Black Sabbath and Dead Kennedys! Jesse loves his wireless and too advantage of it to interact with everyone seated around the bar (that is centered in the space) and even in the outside patio!

Among the audience were several members of the Bastard auxiliary so folks like Mark Bartschi occasionally took over the drum kit, Jeff Murphy played both guitar and bass - he plays bass regularly with them but also knew the guitar parts for several numbers (he is a superior guitarist in his own right, as well) and Jesse moved to bass for a tune or two! I even got to solo a bit (quite poorly, I might add) when Jesse handed me the guitar for one number.

The Swanks are always a good time and we don't get a chance to see them often enough - usually just if we play a show together - so it was fun to get out and about and have some good pizza, as well! Thanks to the Red Dwarf for hosting and for Jesse for being up'n'about even after playing a late night set at the Red Dwarf just hours before! 

Suburban Resistance, The Psyatics, The Devil's Duo at the Huntridge Tavern, Saturday Feb 11, 2023

 I always enjoy the laid-back atmosphere (and cheap drinks!) at the Huntridge Tavern (and having Yukon Pizza open late right around the mall-corner from them is another plus!) and so I look forward to playing shows there. This evening I did a two-fer, with the Devil's Duo and the Psyatics.

The Devil's Duo opened, as we do, with our acoustic guitar/banjolele, drum machine set of old timey music (Bessie Smith/Oscar Brown/Tom Waits, etc.) mixed with like-minded newer tunes (2 Man Gentlemen Band/ Pine Hill Haints) and oddities from the likes of the Velvet Underground. While the crowd was somewhat sparse for our set, we got a good reaction from those who arrived early, despite some technical difficulties from Lou/Lucifer, our drum machine. We persevered, though, and managed to get some folks to singalong with some of the newer tunes. Looking forward to getting back here soon! (Of course, we couldn't take pix of ourselves, so nothing to show y'all of our beautiful countenances!)

Up next (so that there wasn't too much equipment changeover, although there was some general confusion, as there always seems to be) was the Psyatics, and we kept things reasonably on schedule as we ran through a set of Psyatic classics, covers and brand new tunes from our upcoming album that we were start recording in a couple of weeks. There was the usual garage/noize mayhem and terrorizing the length'n'breadth of the bar. (Thanks to John Armstrong for the pix!)

For the night's finale, Suburban Resistance brought their of singalong punk'n'roll, with plenty of hip guitar work, a powerhouse rhythm section, lots of "heys" and "whoa-ohs!" and singer Kevin stalking the floor of the bar. I dig these cats a lot as they do their best to deft simple categorizing and bring lots of influences to their musical table, with various speeds - not everything is punk rock fast'n'furious numbers although there is some of that - lots of melody and lots of 70's rock'n'roll-isms to satisfy an old fogey like myself! They have a ridiculous amount of records out for the short time they've been together (I picked up their latest, which I will get to as soon as I have some time to listen to a double vinyl release!), so get their music and check them out live, as they always bring it! 

Thanks again to the Huntridge Tavern and their fab staff for hosting a fun time and thanks to Suburban Resistance for rockin' the house with us! 

recommended gigs

 Friday 2-10-23 - Trevor and the Swinging Johnsons at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-11-23 - The Psyatics, The Devil's Duo and Suburban Resistance at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday 2-11-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 2-12-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Sunday 2-12-23 - Lady Luck Lexy and the Riverside Boys with the Hideaway at the Golden Tiki

Monday 2-13-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Tuesday 2-14-23 - The Rhyolite Sound, Paige Overton and Zach Ryan at Soul Belly

Wednesday 2-15-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at Founders Club

Friday 2-17-23 - The Unwieldies and Big Like Texas at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday 2-18-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-18-23 - Will and the HI-Rollers, the Desperados, Duo Glides at the Sand Dollar Downtown

Saturday 2-18-23 - Suburban Resistance, 1/2 Ast, Skeleton Crew, ATS at the Dive Bar

Sunday 2-19-23 - Surfers of Mercy at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 2-20-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-25-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 2-26-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 2-27-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 3-3-22 - High Rollers Scooter Rally at the Usual Place with 16 Again, The New Waves, The Inciters, Chelsea Curve, Green Fuzz and the Double Whammys

Saturday 3-4-22 - The Unwieldies and the Devil's Duo at Cemetery Pulp

Sunday 3-12-23 - The Legendary Shack Shakers, Hillbilly Casino, Shanda and the Howlers and the Rhyolite Sound at the Usual Place

Saturday 3-25-23 - The Devil's Duo and more TBA at the Foudner's Club

Saturday 4-15-23 - the Shakewells and the Thingz at Red dwarf 

Saturday 4-22-23 - The Devil's Duo, the Pine Box Dwellers and Uncle Dave at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday 4-29-23 - The Supersuckers , Throw Rag and the Hangmen at the Dive Bar

Sunday 6-25-23 - The Psyatics with Bob Log III and the Fat Dukes of Fuck at the Dive Bar

RIP Burt Bacharach

Burt Bacharach, master of pop songwriting, dies aged 94

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While some of his work was far too smaltzy for me, I can't deny that he wrote some amazing tunes.

Wendy Carlos A Biography by Amanda Sewell

 

The surprise success of the classical album Switched On Bach in 1968 came as a shock to essentially everyone - the record company, critics and even the creator. It also came at a time when Walter Carlos was transitioning to Wendy Carlos, a highly unusual and controversial situation at the time, although Carlos felt that it was insignificant and trivial and didn't want people to concentrate on it. Unfortunately for her, she was a true pioneer as well as a recording star and so this small part of her story was magnified to the extent that she basically went into hiding, although she did continue to put out work up until the 1990's.

This biography was written without Carlos' support or input and she even actively disparaged it before it was even released. That said, Sewell does her best to present an even-handed, respectful story of a musical and gender pioneer, with incredible research, copious footnotes and references from the few interviews that Wendy did consent to in the past.

From Sewell's description, Carlos was pretty much a genius at a young age and by her teens, she was building her own stereos and recording equipment, creating electronic music (influenced by the "music concrete" of Pierre Henry), and working on new musical concepts and scales, among many other innovations. In college she and the administration created a unique curriculum due to her unique visions, combining science and music, and she excelled and went on to graduate study in electronic music. From there she discovered an early synthesizer - the size of a room - and made initial contact with another inventor, Moog, and ended up collaborating on many musical innovations together.

At the same time, Carlos discovered ground breaking innovations in gender reassignment therapies and started looking into this for herself since her current existence, other than her musical work, was pretty solitary and depressing with continual thoughts of suicide. Harry Benjamin gave Carlos some relief and hope for the future. Sewell gives a bit of history of the medical side of gender transitioning, as well, which is pretty fascinating in and of itself.

While the transition is an important part of the story - if only for the ramifications on her career - which means that Sewell doesn't ignore it but does concentrate mostly on Carlos' music and her opinions on the continuing innovations in technology and music. Of course, none of her subsequent records match the success of Switched On Bach which frustrates Carlos, as it does most musicians who grow and who think their later work is superior to their earlier, more naive releases.

I think that Sewell does a terrific and respectful job throughout the book (although their is some repetition, as though the chapters were originally individual essays, as Melanie conjectures) and while Carlos is obviously a difficult and reclusive subject, she is also obviously brilliant, sarcastic, witty, and multi talented (she is renown for her eclipse photography, as well). She also does not want her work released on any current social media platform even though her CDs and LPs are out of print, so no new prospective fans can discover her work. Even her website seems to have fallen by the wayside.

In any case, until Carlos decides to tell her own story, this is well written, researched, informative and captivating. 

19 Classic Blues Songs from the 1920's Volume 9

 

I think I'm finally getting to the last volume of this series! Not that I want these to end, but I'm glad to be done with my reviews since I got so many at once!

Another classic collection with some familiar names and some that are brand new to this series (and to me!). This one starts out with two versions of the cover, title tune, "Mama Don't Allow No Easy Riders Here" - one by the terrific git-player Tampa Red and Georgia Tom and the other by Tampa and his Hokum Jug Band with vocals by Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon! Think I dig the more stripped down version, personally, but that's probably cuz the Jug Band take is fairly silly. Furry Lewis does some fine acoustic guitar picking in "Big Chief Blues", Ora Brown croons a mournful piano blues in "Jinx Blues", Charley Patton is depressing in "Jesus Is A Dying Bed Maker", Blind Blake impresses, as always, in the harrowing "Rope Stretchin' Blues Parts 1 and 2" and Blind Lemon Jefferson still does some fine playing in the funny "Fence Breakin' Yellin' Blues".

Ida Cox's "Fogyism" is, again, more orchestrated, horn-oriented and sultry, Harum Scarum (love the name!) gives us an upbeat, honky-tonkin' piano/guitar workout in "Come On In", Charley Spand changes course with the minor key piano blues "Evil Woman Spell", Teddy Darby plays some intricate guitar while singing "Lawdy Lawdy Worried Blues", Papa Charlie Jackson is absolutely goofy in the bouncy rag "Papa, Don't Tear Your Pants", "In That Pearly White City Above" is a sweet, gospel ballad by Blind Joel Taggart, who also provides upbeat gospel guitar pickin' in "Precious Lord" and "Little Black Train"- great stuff! Lane Hardin does a simple, almost drone-y (12-string?) guitar blues in "Hard Time Blues", the Robert Johnson-ish "California Desert Blues" and "Cartey Blues" and the compilation is completed by Jenny Pope's cartoon-ish, Munchin-like voice and kazoo-led blues, "Mr. Postman Blues" and the somewhat more straight-forward "Rent Man Blues" (although her bizarre vocals really stand out).

As I keep saying, I'm always gonna recommend anyone of this series cuz even if you already have a few of these cuts, you sure as heck don't have them all! Great job Blues Images!

18 Classic Blues Songs From the 1920's Volume 8

 Obviously, I love this series and have picked up the entire lot since they are discontinuing it, so I am still working through the last few collections. Always great, and always with some surprises and even some previously unreleased material, although Blues Images does have their favorites who often appear - Kokomo Arnold, Charlie Patton, Skip James, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Ma Rainey, etc. But, who can complain about hearing more from these stellar stars?

This comp opens with the fabulous Kokomo Arnold and his terrific slide guitar in "Sissy Man Blues" (not sure what the title refers to, as the lyrics seems to be a standard blues about missing his woman), Charley Patton gives us his "Pea Vine Blues", Furry Lewis does his classic interpretation of "Billy Lyons and Stock O'Lee", Blind Lemon Jefferson gives us the title cut in his unique way with fine guitar and raw vocals, and while I'm not familiar with Tom Dickson, his "Labor Blues" is another fine acoustic blues.

Hattie McDaniel and Papa Charlie Brown duet on the rather silly and over wrought piano blues, "Dentist Chair Blues Parts 1 and 2" (where cocaine and liquor are recommended and the final comment by Hattie is "oh doctor, you're rough but you're so good"!), Skip James is always exceptional as he shows on "Cherry Ball Blues", Papa Harvey Hull and Long Cleve Reed gives us a rapid-fire vocal on "Hey! Lawdy Mama - The France Blues", then the Mississippi Sheiks perform a sparse (for them) guitar/piano arrangement of "I'll Be Gone, Long Gone", a variation on their biggest hit, "Sittin' On Top of the World".

Ma Rainey's blues are always a bit more orchestrated, with bouncy piano'n'horns, such as in "Black Cat Hoot Owl Blues", Jabo Williams' "Ko Ko Mo Blues Parts 1 and 2" are scratchy but fun, movin' piano-backed pieces, Reverend J.M. Gates had many variations of his holiday sermon and here we have "Will The Coffin Be Your Santa Claus?", Charley Patton returns with "Tom Rushen Blues", followed by a previously unreleased - and great - take by Furry Lewis on "Cannon Ball Blues" and then his "Dry Land Blues" and another previously unreleased number, Tommy Johnson's test of "Lonesome Home Blues", which makes me wonder how much better the "official" version could be?! To close things out appropriately (considering the cover song) we get Rabbits Foot Williams (Jaybird Coleman) doing "Save Your Money - Let These Women Go" and "Mistreatin' Mama" - neat, harmonica'n'vocal blues.

Another fab comp - you know I'm gonna recommend it!

recommended gigs

 Friday 2-3-23 - El Vez, Priscilla Escobar, Los Pakalolos, Secret Agent at the Golden Tiki

Friday 2-3-23 - Marissa and the Hollenbacks at the Gold Mine Tavern

Friday 2-3-23 - Shanda and the Howlers at Mabel's in the Palms

Friday 2-3-23 - Bear Supply at the Double Down

Saturday 2-4-23 -  The New Waves at 9:00 and then Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-4-23 - the Unwieldies at Boulder Dam Brewery 

Monday 2-6-23 - The Psyatics with the Hickoids at the Sand Dollar Downtown

Friday 2-10-23 - Trevor and the Swinging Johnsons at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-11-23 - The Psyatics, The Devil's Duo and Suburban Resistance at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday 2-11-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 2-12-23 - Lady Luck Lexy and the Riverside Boys with the Hideaway at the Golden Tiki

Monday 2-13-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Tuesday 2-14-23 - The Rhyolite Sound, Paige Overton and Zach Ryan at Soul Belly

Wednesday 2-15-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at Founders Club

Friday 2-17-23 - The Unwieldies and Big Like Texas at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday 2-18-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-18-23 - Will and the HI-Rollers, the Desperados, Duo Glides at the Sand Dollar Downtown

Monday 2-20-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 2-25-23 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 2-27-23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 3-3-22 - High Rollers Scooter Rally at the Usual Place with 16 Again, The New Waves, The Inciters, Chelsea Curve, Green Fuzz and the Double Whammys

Saturday 3-4-22 - The Unwieldies and the Devil's Duo at Cemetery Pulp

Sunday 3-12-23 - The Legendary Shack Shakers, Hillbilly Casino, Shanda and the Howlers and the Rhyolite Sound at the Usual Place

Sunday 6-25-23 - The Psyatics with Bob Log III and the Fat Dukes of Fuck at the Dive Bar