Lal Waterson & Oliver Knight: A Bed Of Roses

Completed after Lal Waterson's Death, "A Bed Of Roses" is a almost as good as "Once In A Blue Moon" (which I consider a true masterpiece), and I think we could never ever thank her own son Oliver for completing this beautiful output, this worth work.
Lal's songs are haunting me sweetly these days, I find myself humming them wherever I go, specially (from this LP) Memories and Foolish One. Actually what really happens is this: I take my guitar, strum some chord and I try to sing some Lal-Waterson like melody, but with no success at all. This woman and her voice has been an inspiration to me for quite some time now, I hope it will be to you too. If so, go and find (and wishfully buy) more.

A Bed Of Roses

Dick Gaughan: Handful Of Earth

Some time ago I luckily bumped into an used book, some old italian guide to UK folk spanning from the folk revival of the 60's till the late 90's and I slowly started digging and looking for some of this old (but new for me) stuff. I obviously was aware (and in fact was a great fan) of some of the most known names: the whole Fairport Convention family. and the Watersons.. But now I also know the lots and lots of remarkable artists whose career is worth much more than some mp3's in my hard disk. Some names: John Martyn, Nic Jones...at least there are those I'm starting to know. So, I'm not pretending to know a whole lot about Dick Gaughan, but I do know this one, "Handful Of Earth" is supposed to be his best album (and up until now I have no reason whatsoever to doubt this notion) and it contains some songs that I just can't get out of my head (first of all the trad The snows they melt the soonest). So what can I tell you:I love the nasal sound of his voice, his simple (as simple as a talented top class folk guitarist can be) guitar playing.
I'm thinking of uploading some more stuff like the already mentioned John Martyn and Nic Jones (though I know Time has told me had some troubling after having uploaded Jones)..., so let me know what you think of this one and then I'll consider the others. (Or maybe Lal Waterson's "A Bed Of Roses"...)

Here's a diy Youtube video with Gaughan's Song for Ireland:



Handful Of Earth

Robert Forster: Live In Copenhagen (2008-09-28)

Yes, people sometimes do tend to go back to the "crime scene": in this case RobertForster got back to Vega, Copenhagen where he performed with The Go-Betweens during the 2000 tour (I posted the Vega 2000 boot, btw) and I'm SO glad he did because this soundboard recording bootleg of that gig is really a treat, a gift to all GBs fans out there: we're talking about a long set (over 2 hours!) spanning through Forster's whole career, including also some of gbs' least frequently live played songs (I'm allright and Rock'n'roll friend), Robert singing one of Grant's GBs' songs (and one of his best: Quiet heart, I think a regular one of The Evangelist tour), an Heart out to tender (from the "Danger in the past" LP) I didn't remember so fine, several numbers from The Evangelist, and many many others (my fave bits: a Something for myself never so intimate before, a When she sang about angels with a brand new and really beautiful acoustic guitar solo in the middle).
In short terms: a topnotch bootleg (both for the the performance itself and for the quality of the recording), of which I have no problem saying it would probably fit among a Top 5 of all the go-betweens-oriented bootlegs I've posted.

And there's also more stuff to come...

Live In Copenhagen Part 1
Live In Copenhagen Part 2

The X: Live At the Whisky a Go-Go

Well, I meant to say a lot of things to say about this nice live (and official) recording of the X, like: this is one of my fave bands, one of the best rocking bands etc etc. But these last days sucked, so I'll cut it short and just post this.
I'll try to be better next time around.
The next post is supposed to be on Robert Forster.

Part 1 Part 2

The Go-Betweens: Live @ Wellington, New Zealand, February 12, 1985

First of all I'd like to thank Uli for giving me this wonderful boot. Because it is a great boot: excellent sound, plus it includes one of the rare live recordings of River of money (as final song: the cd from which it was ripped had some damage hence the noises at the end, still a great thing).
But what is most intriguing of this whole performance is seeing the Go-Betweens right before becoming a more pop-rock-oriented ensemble: in fact many of the songs performed can still be considered inside the new wave "canon" (many from "Before Hollywood", and then -as I said before- the brave spoken word of River of money).
I also hope you enjoy the nice picture I managed to find (from one of my old music magazines). And if any of you has any image of the gbs that can be of some interest feel free to upload it and give me the link, it'd be highly appreciated.

Tracklist:

1. Cattle & Cane
2. Part Company
3. Unkind & Unwise
4. On My Block
5. Right For Him
6. Bachelor Kisses
7. Rare Breed
8. Five Words
9. Right Word
10. Draining The Pool For You
11. That Way
12. People Say
13. A Bad Debt Follows You
14. Man O'Sand To Girl O'Sea
15. I Need Two Heads
16. Hammer The Hammer
17. River Of Money

Live @ Wellington 1985

Bob Dylan: A Tree With Roots 3 & 4 (The Genuine Basement Tapes Remastered)

And in the end...I've uploaded this one too. So now just go listen to I'm not there, what are you waitin' for? C'mon.

A Tree With Roots Vol. 3
A Tree With Roots Vol. 4

And at last I've made it: I've re-upped Vol 1.
Hope it'll last.

Bob Dylan & The Band: A Tree With Roots 1 & 2 (The Genuine Basement Tapes Remastered)

I don't know if there is any need to go and explain what the basement tapes are (btw, after dylan's famous motorbike accident -probably an exaggereted one- his Bobness himself decided to take some time for himself, some time in the country -Woodstock was the place, just playin' round with The Band some old american music -some would call it Americana these days- and improved some new tunes, the most of it in a totally free way, with no push whatsover), but the fact is, and this has to be stated clear, the basement tapes which later got to be released through Sony were never intended to be for the public audience and, more important to us, they were just the tip of the iceberg.
Meaning there were loads of songs (and songs and songs...) left in Dylan's archives (want me to name one? The stuning "I'm not there", which gave the name for Todd Haynes's bizarre biopic last year), and all of that soon came out labelled as "Genuine basement tapes", a 5 CDs collection full of interesting material though not lacking flaws(i.e. the recording quality being the major one, and then, well, maybe too many takes or some not-so interesting short bits or sketches of songs, but hey, de gustibus...).
So what is "A Tree With Roots" then?
Quite easy to tell: the same genuine tapes, remastered, but with an order which kind of tries to make some sense out of the mass of pretty random music compositions. All of it compressed in a 4 volumes edition, and here am I giving you the first two (what'll you find in these? I'd say some little gems like Lock your door, Bonnie ship the diamond, or Dylan and the Band covering Bells of rhymney...but these are just some of my faves, and there are 58 in here, so knock yourself off and your own ones). And wait for 3 & 4 (with Going to Acapulco, the now famous I'm not there and the very core of the basement tapes, I'd say)

Want to to know more on ATWR? Check this page here (for the complete tracklist, the story and some notes). Or wiki for the whole story behind the basement tapes.

Enjoy, enjoy.
Next (ça va sans dire): Vol. 3 & 4.

A Tree With Roots Vol. 1 (New Link)
A Tree With Roots Vol. 2

(Re-Up) Lal Waterson & Oliver Knight: Once In A Blue Moon

...and this is what I wrote when I firs posted it:

This is step 2 in my mission of digging into british folk(rock)music. After step 1 (Shirley Collins some weeks ago. And that one won't be my only post on her) this is on one of England's most talented songwriters, the late Lal Waterson. She was co-founder of the Watersons (altogether with her siblings Mike and Nora), a band that mostly sang english tradionals acappella.
A couple of months ago I went through some of the Watersons' catalogue (both the bands' and the solos', i.e. Norma's, Mike's, but also Martin Carthy's) but I was soon won by this "Once In A Blue Moon", with some of the best acoustic guitar playing I've ever listened to and with simply a masterful songwriting skill (the initial At first she starts, with that pizzicato that is pure magic, and Cornfield, dramatic and evocative and as close to blues as english folk can get -not close musically speaking: it is a matter of suggestions, of evoked sensations).
But there is so much excellent music in here that citing one single song is maybe a shame. So these two are just the ones that are striking me the most at the moment. I could give you different titles in 5 minutes.
If you want more there's also from her (with Mike) the much acclaimed "Bright Phoebus".
By the way, Oliver Knight is her own son.

PS
If any of you has the "A bed of roses" album please upload it (i can't find it).

More on Lal Waterson @ FoxyTunes

Once In A Blue Moon

Grant McLennan: Live Sydney, AUS (10-06-91)

As promised I've uploaded a Grant McLennan solo bootleg, an audience recording of an acoustic performace @ Rose, Shamlock and Thistle in Sydney back in 1991. The audio quality, being taped by some fan in the audience, has obivios flaws, yet listening to McLennan playing basic guitar-and-guitar or guitar-and-bass is always worth it (I must have already mentioned how I found hard to like certain of his live electric arrengements). Btw McLennan is supposed to be accompanied here by Phil Kakulas on stand-up bass.

But don't worry, there'll be one more boot of Grant's solo material a-comin', just be patient: I'll post some non-go-betweens stuff before (but also some great -great!- gbs' bootlegs I've just got my hands on...).

PS

One more call to Go-Betweens' fans out there: do you have any person pictures of the band (from the 80's, 90' or present days)? I start having troubles finding the right photo for the right bootleg (i.e. the picture being more or less of the same period as the recording), so any help is appreciated. If you will just upload it and give me the link or let me know through the comments.

Thank you in advance.

Tracklist:

01. Head Over Heels (cuts in)
02. Easy Come Easy Go
03. Stones For You
04. Black Mule
05. Making It Right For Her
06. Right Here
07. Bound To Fall
08. Sally's Revolution
09. Just Get That Straight (cuts out right at end)

Live Sydney, AUS (10-06-91)

Robert Forster September 15, 2008 Joe’s Pub

As stated also by our friend Bob @ That Striped Sunlight Sound NYCTaper had uploaded the last Robert Forster's gig in New York City, a marvelous soundboard recording you can go download both @ NYCTaper (a bit slow though) or @ Striped Sunlight (via rapidshare).

For those interested in lossless FLAC files (the quality is so good it's good considering burning this into CD) you can also go download them file by file by asking NYCTaper for the direct link.

Next: a Grant McLennan boot.

Bloggers of the world unite!

One of blogger's latest updates is following, that is: "Would you like to know who enjoys reading your blog? Or stay updated with your favourite blogs right from your Blogger dashboard? You can do these things and more with Blogger's new Following feature."

As blogger states. Anyway, I've just put this following feaure here on the right. So, if you're a fan go click the FOLLOW THIS BLOG tag on the right column, or if you're simply interested in this feature go see what blogger has to say about it.

Karen Dalton: Green Rocky Road

Some time ago I posted Karen Dalton's wonderful first album, just shortly after I fell madly in love with it; and now, or anyhow in these last months, two albums of live recordings came out, one being the double "Cotton Eyed Joe", and the other one this great "Green Rocky Road" which collects a bunch of songs Dalton herself recorded (overdubbing often presumably either the banjo or the guitar)  at her home (at one point you can hear the phone ringing!).

It is incredible how she almost became the singer that time forgot: hardly anyone has ever sung the blues so well, a blues so streched down, so back to its core that figuring her in the sixties playing this music almost doesn't seem real: where or when does this voice come from? Doesn't it sound like some relic of old New Orleans? Folksters or bluesmen sat on the porch playing some music belonging to everybody as the day gets old.

And here's a video of Dalton performing "Blues Jumped The Rabbit" you can also find in "Cotton Eyed Joe" bonus DVD.

Green Rocky Road

Re-Up: The Go-Betweens - Fools In Love (Live Cabaret Metro, Chicago, 1st April 1989)

As soon as I knew this one wasn't avaible anymore I decided I had to re-upload it, being "Fools In Love" one of my favaourite boots of the Go-Betweens, not because of the quality of the recording (which is pretty good, though), but because of the performance itself: some of the renditions of true GBs' classics here are outstanding. I'm thinking of Quiet heart with the "oceanic" drums, or "Clouds" with that guitar/jingle jangle guitar/tambourine that is SO much 60's flower pop...

In short: probably one of the best 5 GBs' boots ever. Enjoy.

PS

A call for all australian GBs' fans out there from a non-australian one: can anyone record and upload the SBS broadcast of "Great australian albums" dedicated to "16 Lovers Lane" that will air on saturday 6th September? Please? For more info see GBs' news page.

Fools In Love

Bon Iver: Live @ NPR

Bon Iver's "For Emma, Forever Ago" was definetely one of my favourite albums of the last year (it made number 4 in my Best Of 2007 chart from January, oh nevermind my fixation with end of the year charts...), and so I've been looking for quite some time for some bootleg in order to easy the pain of having never been to one of his gigs, and this one (broadcast by NPR in February) covers the whole album traclklist (minus the instrumental Team, and alas minus the great Re:stacks).
For those who don't know Justin Vernon's music (shame on you, first of all) you might want to take a look at his website and at Vernon's performance @ Jools Holland's show down here.



Tracklist:

1. Flume
2. Lump Sum
3. Skinny Love
4. The Wolves (Act I and II)
5. Blindsided
6. Creature Fear
7. For Emma

Live @ NPR

Robert Forster & Grant McLennan: Live Stockholm, Sweden, November 4, 1991

The "Live Stockholm 1991" from the Forster-McLennan duo during their Go-Betweens intermission of the nineties is a nearly copycat version of "Live Copenhagen 1991" I posted last march: almost the same tracklist and same year. Yet it's a joy to listen to it over and over again, as it always is to me with Forster & McLennan playing as an acoustic duo. Moreover this version of Forster's The river people, much slower than in "Copenhagen '91", is particularly moving.

Tracklist:

1-Cattle and cane
2-The river people
3-Baby stones
4-Was there anything I could do
5-Clouds
6-Easy come, easy go
7-Spring rain
8-Love goes on!

Live Stockholm, Sweden, November 4, 1991

Grant McLennan: Radio Shows

It's been a while since my last go-betweens-oriented post, and so I checked my archives, looked for some stuff I haven't uploaded yet and came up with McLennan's radio shows from the '90s. Then I remembered most of it had already been uploaded by "That Striped Sunlight Sound", so just go there to find the rest of the stuff...here I've added 3 more songs from some radio broadcast dating 30 08 1994.

Tracklist:

- don't you cry for me no more
- simone and perry
- one plus one


Radio Shows

A Go-Betweens' Re-Up (Misha's Picks)

By the way, I've re-uploaded the Go-Betweens' "Fools In Love" bootleg: you can find it on the brand new "MISHA'S PICKS" column on the right side.
You'll find among these picks some of my favourite uploads. Enjoy.

The Specials: S/t

I'm no big expert on raggae and such but a friend of mine told me about The Specials a couple of weeks ago and when I first got to listen to their omonimous debut I fell in love with it just like that. So what can I say: they were part of the late 70's ska revival but the music they made (labeled 2 Tone after the name of the same record company) was also -and not lightly- influenced by punk (they shared The Clash's management, and Strummer was a big fan).

PS
Probably Doesn't make it alright is my song of the week.

PPS
There's no doubt you already know their hit (which is also the first track here) A message to you Rudy, but just in case...check this out:



If you want to know more see their wiki entry.

The Specials

Radiohead: House Of Cards (Video)