The Velvet Underground: Squeeze1973

Here’s something a bit different to restart the site with. It’s the first album to be posted on this blog.  

This is Squeeze, the fifth Velvet Underground album. Which seems to have been all but erased from the band’s official history? No tracks from it appear on any Velvet Underground compilations or box sets. Unavailable on vinyl since the seventies, it has never officially been issued on CD. The Kismet label has released it recently on CD unlicensed. The version here was taken from vinyl.

By the time this was recorded in 1972, Mo Tucker and Doug Yule were the only band members left. Doug Yule produced and played most of the instruments on it. Mo Tucker was stopped from playing on the album by the band’s manager. The drums are performed by Ian Paice, Deep Purple’s drummer. Hence many fans do not see it as a real Velvet Underground album. Doug Yule was not included in the band when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Despite the fact he played on three of their five albums. 

1. Little Jack
2. Crash
3. Caroline
4. Mean Old Man
5. Dopey Joe
6. Wordless

7. She'll Make You Cry
8. Friends
9. Send No Letter
10. Jack & Jane
11. Louise

Produced By Doug Yule

Doug Yule   Vocal, Guitar, Keyboards, Bass guitar

Ian Paice                                                  Drums

The Velvet Underground - Squeeze.zip  

Eggs Over Easy: Three Songs 1972

Austin deLone, Brien Hopkins and Jack O'Hara

Although the two founding members, Jack O'Hara and Austin de Lone were from New York, Eggs Over Easy were formed in California. They moved to London in 1970 to record an album. While there they played the London pub circuit. Many of the local musicians turn out to see a genuine American band playing at their local. Graham Parker, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello have all claimed to have been influenced by them. They are now widely acknowledged as being a major factor in the birth of the Pub Rock scene. The band had a set list that included over a hundred songs. The songs posted here are from their 1972 debut album. The one recorded in England was never released. The tracks are produced by Link Wray, at his brother, Vernon Wray’s studio in Tucson, Arizona.

Produced By Link Wray

Austin de Lone                    Piano, Guitar, Vocals
Jack O'Hara      Guitar, Bass, Harmonica, Vocals
Brien Hopkins           Piano, Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Bill Franz                                                   Drums

Home To You.mp3

Arkansas.mp3

Party Party.mp3

Charles Bukowski: Three Poems1973

 

Charles Bukowski was born in Andernach, Germany in August 16, 1920. His father was an American serviceman stationed in Germany. In 1945 he published his first poem. After failing to take the literary world by storm he retired from poetry and went on a decade long drunken “lost weekend”. After a spell in hospital for a near-fatal bleeding ulcer in 1955 he started to write again. By 1960 in order to support himself he took a job at the U.S. Post Office working as a letter filing clerk. He stayed there until 1969, all the time writing and publishing poetry. As his poems often deal with subjects like drinking, being hung over, gambling and sex.  Time magazine in 1986 called him the "laureate of American lowlife". He died of leukemia on March 9, 1994, in San Pedro, California, aged 73. These poems come from a concert recorded in City Lights Poets Theater, San Francisco in 1973. He gave up live readings by the late 1970’s.

**Warning recorded from vinyl, surface noise**

The Creation of the Morning Line.mp3 

Style.mp3 
Earthquake.mp3

Peg Leg Howell: New Jelly Roll Blues 1927

Henry Williams, Eddie Anthony, and Peg Leg Howell 

Peg Leg Howell was born Joshua Barnes Howell on March 5 1888 in Eaton, Georgia. Just twenty three years after the ending of slavery. His music comes from an era that predates the Blues. He worked as a farm worker until 1916 when he lost his right leg after his brother-in-law shot him with a shotgun during an argument. Hence, his nick name Peg Leg. He was sent to Prison for bootlegging in 1925 and 1930. Bootlegging was his primary source of income at the time. In 1926 he started recording for Columbia Records. New Jelly Roll Blues was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia on April 8, 1927. Beaver Slide Rag was the B-Side. After his friends and band members Henry Williams and Eddie Anthony died (Henry Williams in prison in 1930 and Eddie Anthony in 1934). Howell retired from music saying, “I just didn’t feel like playing anymore. I went back to selling liquor.” In 1952 he lost his other leg to diabetes. During the 1960’s blues revival he was “rediscovered” living on welfare and at 75 years old recorded again for Testament Record. He died in 1966 aged 78.

Peg Leg Howell      Vocals/Guitar
Henry Williams                  Guitar
Eddie Anthony                    Violin

New Jelly Roll Blues.mp3

Beaver Slide Rag.mp3

Johnny Cash: The German Connection

In the 1960’s and 70’s many musicians re-recorded their hits in various foreign languages to cater to different markets. Among them were The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Marvin Gaye. Johnny Cash pioneered the practice by dubbing German vocals for his song I Got Stripes in 1959. He also dubbed Five Feet High and Rising and I Walked The Line as well as recording two German songs in German, Besser So, Jenny-Jo and Kleine Rosmarie. His German connection goes back to 1952 when he spent two years as a radio operator with the U.S. Air Force stationed in Landsberg, Germany.  It was there he brought his first guitar and formed his first band the Landsberg Barbarians. Here’s Viel Zu Spät (I Got Stripes) and Wer kennt den Weg? ( I Walked The Line).

Viel Zu Spät (I Got Stripes).mp3 

Wer kennt den Weg (I Walked The Line).mp3

The People's Choice: I Likes To Do It 1971

 

The People’s Choice were formed in Philadelphia by Keyboardist Frank Brunson in 1971. The instrumental I Likes To Do It was their debut single, released on the Phil L.A of Soul label in the same year. It pecked at number 38 on the Billboard charts and 9 on the RnB chart. After signing to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff ‘s Philadelphia International Records they had an even bigger hit with Do It Any Way You Wanna. In 1989 I Likes To Do It was sampled by De La Soul for the track Trend Water on their album 3 Foot High And Rising. Big Ladies Man was the B-Side. Both songs were written by Frank Brunson.

Produced By Bill Perry and Rudy Wilson

Frank Brunson        Keyboards/Vocals
David Thomson                        Drums
Darnell Jordan                           Guitar
Johnnie Hightower                    Guitar
Stanley Thomas                          Bass
Marc Reed                                Vocals

I Likes To Do It.mp3

Big Ladies Man.mp3

The Carter Family: Three Songs 1928

 

The Carter Family are Country music royalty. Their influence on Twentieth Century music is well documented. A little less so is influence of Maybelle Carter’s guitar style. She was one of the first to play a bass line with her thumb on the bottom two strings while still keeping the chords playing the rhythm. Her rhythmic style and feel was so widely copied that today it’s considered the ‘Country Feel’. These recording are of the original Carter Family, before June Carter was old enough to join. All three songs were recorded on May 27 1928 in Camden, New Jersey, for the Victor Talking Machine Company.

Produced by Ralph Peer

Sara Carter            Vocals/Autoharp
Maybelle Carter         Vocals/Guitar
A.P. Carter                 Vocals/Guitar

I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Can The Circle be Unbroken (Bye And Bye)
John Hardy Was A Desperate Little Man

Montrose: Space Station #5 1973

In 1973, respected session musician Ronnie Montrose formed his own band, Montrose. He  had played on albums by Herbie Hancock (Mwandishil) and Van Morrison (Tupelo Honey & St. Dominique's Preview). The original Montrose line up included Sammy Hagar. But the reason I am posting this is more personal. When I was 17 one of my favorite bands was the Irish Punk band Stiff Little Fingers. Over the years I came to realise that some of their best ideas were not their own and that they were not the most original of bands. But I always thought their debut single Suspect Devise was a great song. One day someone told me to listen to Montrose’s Space Station #5. I finally tracked it down and put it on. After 50 seconds of spacey hippy noises on came the Suspect Devise riff. I was, as we say in my country, gutted. This is the song Stiff Little Fingers stole the riff for Suspect Devise from. The B-Side is a cover of the Roy Brown / Elvis song Good Rockin' Tonight.

Produced by Ted Templeman

Sam Hager               Vocals
Ronnie Montrose      Guitar
Bill Church                  Bass
Danny Carmassi       Drums

Space Station #5

Good Rockin' Tonight

As a bonus here's Stiff Little Fingers' Suspect Device. This is the Rigid Digits  Records single version. Which is different to the one on the album Inflammable Material.

Suspect Devise

Fear: I Love Living In The City 1978

Fear were an early Californian Punk band. They were formed in Los Angeles in 1977.  In 1981 they appeared in Penelope Spheeris’ film The Decline of Western Civilization. This lead to an infamous appearance on the 1981 Halloween episode of Saturday Night Live. Which coursed $20,000 worth of damage to the studio. This is their first single released on Criminal Records in 1978. It was the only recording to feature the original line up.

Lee Ving                 Vocals
Burt Good                Guitar
Derf Scratch              Bass
Johnny Backbeat     Drums

I Love Living In The City

Now You're Dead

Double O Zeros: Be A Zero EP 1984

The Double "O" Zeros were formed in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1982. Originally they had a more purer Power Pop / Punk sound and image. After the release of their first single, Pretty Women in 1983, they adopted a more glam look and sound. This is they second release, 1984’s Be A Zero EP. Released on Mountain Records. It was a 7”, 33 1/3 rpm, five track EP. Singer Sammy Serious wrote all the songs. In 1985 Double O Zeros spent six months in London, England. On their return to America they moved to Los Angeles and shorted their name to The Zeros.

Produced By Double O Zeros

Sammy Serious           Vocals
Joe Normal                  Guitar
Mr. Insane                   Drums
Mace Beyers                 Bass

***Warning recorded from Vinyl. Some Surface Noise***

Be A Zero EP

20/20: Giving It All 1978

Tulsa, Oklahoma natives Steve Allen and Ron Flynt moved to Hollywood California in 1977. There they teamed up with Mike Gallo to form 20/20. They played Power pop with strong melodies and harmonies. This was their first single. Released in 1978 on Bomp! Records. Fellow Tulsain Phil Seymour played drums on Giving It All. Which was written by guitarist Steve Allen. After this release they signed to Epic / Portrait Records.

Producer     G. Shryock and S. Ripley

Giving It All line up:

Steve Allen    Guitar/Vocals
Ron Flynt       Bass/ Vocals
Mike Gallo               Vocals
Phil Seymour           Drums

Under The Freeway line up:

Steve Allen        Guitar/Vocals
Ron Flynt           Bass/ Vocals 

Mike Gallo   Keyboards/Drums

***Warning recorded from Vinyl. Some Surface Noise***

Giving It All 

Under The Freeway

Gary Walker & The Rain: Come In You’ll Get Pneumonia 1969

Gary Walker was the other Walker Brother. The former The Standells drummer Gary Leeds joined The Walker Brothers in late 1964 and there after became known as Gary Walker. After their demise in late 1967 he founded Gary Walker and The Rain. Come In You’ll Get Pneumonia was their second single. Released in 1969 on Philips. It was a cover of an Easybeats song. The B-Side, Francis was written by the band.

 

 

Gary Walker                             Drums
Joey Molland                            Guitar
Charles "Paul" Crane    Vocals/Guitar
John Lawson                               Bass

***Warning recorded from vinyl. A lot of Surface Noise.***

Come In, You'll Get Pneumonia

Francis 

As a bonus here's their first single Spooky

Spooky

Blind Willie McTell: Three Women Blues 1928

William Samuel McTier was born in Thomson, Georgia, USA in 1898. He recorded under many names including Blind Sammie, Georgia Bill, Hot Shot Willie, Blind Willie, Barrelhouse Sammie and Pig & Whistle Red but is best known as Blind Willie McTell. From the early 1920’s, like many Blues Artist at the time, he made a living as a wandering busker. His recording career began in 1927 for Victor Records. Statesboro Blues from 1928 is his most well known song due to its many cover versions, including The Allman Brothers. It was originally the B-Side to Three Women Blues (Victor V38001). Which was his third release. By his death in 1959 he had recorded 149 songs.

***Warning taken from a 78. Surface Noise***

Three Women Blues

Statesboro Blues

As a bonus here's God Don’t Like It with his then wife Kate McTell.  Released in 1935 on Decca. Curley Weaver played the second guitar on the recording. 

God Don't Like It

All Night Workers: Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket 1965

During their time at Pickwick Records Lou Reed and John Cale worked on more that just the Primitives Do The Ostrich. They also wrote Why Don't You Smile. Which became the B-Side of the All Night Workers’ 1965 Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket single. All Night Workers were friends of Lou Reed from Syracuse, New York. They were also signed to Pickwick Records’ subsidiary Round Sound Records. The A-Side written by Bill Elmiger, was a regional hit and later a Northern Soul favourite. But the B-Side Why Don't You Smile is more of a drone.  Credited to Lou Reed, John Cale, Terry Philips, and Jerry Vance. It is not known if Cale or Reed played on the single. It was produced by Lee Harridan Productions.

Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket 

Why Don't You Smile

As a bonus here's the unreleased 1962 Bob Shed produced Merry Go ‘round. Listed as by Lewis Reed

Merry Go ‘round

Or here's all three as a .zip
All Night Workers & Lewis Reed

The Gun Club: Ghost On The Highway 1981

 

Formed in 1980 in Los Angeles by the president of the Blondie fan club, Jeffrey Lee Pierce. But The Gun Club didn’t sound anything like Blondie, in fact they didn’t sound like anyone else at the time. They mixed Blues, Country and Rockabilly playing them with the energy and simplicity of Punk. Their influence can be heard in bands from The White Strips to R.E.M. though a multitude of Alt Country bands.  Ghost On The Highway was their first single. Released by Beggars Banquet, licensed from Ruby Records. Both Ghost On The Highway and the B-Side (Sex Beat) were written by Jeffrey Lee Pierce.

Ward Dotson                       Guitar
Jeffrey Lee Pierce    Vocals/Guitar
Rob Ritter                              Bass
Terry Graham                     Drums

Produced by Chris D

Ghost On The Highway
Sex Beat

Or both as a .zip
The Gun Club

P: Michael Stipe 1995

P were a band formed in 1993 by Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers, Bill Carter and actors Johnny Depp and Sal Jenco. Designed as a part-time band that had to work around the other commitments of the band members. They only released one album (Self Titled) and this single. Which was about meeting R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe at a party. The B-Side is two covers, the first is Abba’s Dancing Queen, the second Rumble by Link Wray.

Produced by Andrew Weiss

Gibby Haynes                Vocals
Johnny Depp                   Bass
Bill Carter                       Guitar
Sal Jenco                Percussion

Michael Stipe

Dancing Queen

Mumble

Iron Knowledge: Show-Stopper 1974

Not a lot is known about Iron Knowledge. They were from Youngstown Ohio and played Hendrix influenced Funk Rock. The 1974 high energy Show-Stopper was their first release. They put out one more single after this (Give Me A Little Taste Of Your Love). Which like Show Stopper was released on Tammy Records. It sounds like the guitar on Show-Stopper is Drop D tuning. That is, instead of the strings being tuned in the standard way (E A D G B E) they are tuned to D A D G A D. Making the intro sound deep and dirty. The B-Side is the complete opposite, it is a slow burning groove.

***Warning recorded off of vinyl.  Surface Noise***

 Show-Stopper

Oh Love 

The Clique: Sugar On Sunday 1969

 

The Clique were a band from Houston, Texas. Formed by record producer Gary Zekley in 1966. Although their recordings featured mainly session musicians Jerry Cope, Sid Templeton and Tommy Pena formed the core of the touring band. Sugar on Sunday was their third single. It was a cover of a Tommy James & the Shondells song.  It was released on White Whale Records in 1969 and reached number 22 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the highest chart position they ever reached. They released one album and several more singles before disbanding in 1972. The Clique might have stayed an obscure little known 60’s Texan band. But in 1986 a group form Athens, Georgia called R.E.M. covered the B-side of this single (I am Superman) and now The Clique are famous for that. Forever linked to R.E.M.

***Warning recorded off of vinyl. Surface Noise***

Sugar On Sunday

I am Superman

As a bonus, here's their first single. A cover of the 13th Floor Elevators Slash 1.

Splash 1 

The Boyfriends: I Don't Want Nobody 1978

How good were New York’s The Boyfriends? The Ramones covered one of their unreleased songs (I Need Your Love) on their album Subterranean Jungle. This is they debut single released on Bomp! Records in 1978.  Sadly, this is pretty much it for The Boyfriends. Just after this was released they sign on to Malcolm McLaren’s management. After turning down good offers in order to wait for a great offer, he left them with no record contract and no management. Only 100 copies of their second single (Wrapped Up In A Dream) were pressed in 1981. 

Bobby Dee Waxman     Guitar/Vocals
Paddy Lorenzo              Guitar/Vocals
Jay Nap                                      Bass
Lee Crystal                               Drums

***Warning recorded off of vinyl. Surface Noise***

I Don't Want Nobody

You're The One

Raw Meat: Stand By Girl 1972

First up, thanks to Glorify The Turd for this very obscure gem. Raw Meat released Stand Up Girl on the label Blue Hour. Which was a small Milwaukee based label. I ‘m not sure how but 1972 has been agreed on as its release date. And that’s all the information known about this release. Nothing is known about the group. To me they sound like a band waiting for Punk to happen. There’s energy, aggression and attitude. They play Garage Metal with intent. The middle eight has the strangest backing vocals I have ever heard. He sings la la la but it’s the way he sings it. Both songs are played with a lot of energy and swagger. Should be huge.

***Warning recorded off of vinyl. Surface Noise***
Stand By Girl
Out In The Country