It’s that time again to look back on what’s been playing in Monkey Mansions. Feel a bit guilty about not including a Bob Dylan track seeing as how I played over twenty of his LPs this month but competition is tough. Ten songs in 27 minutes and a winner every one.
1. Sister Rosetta Tharpe – “This Train” (1946)
Wonderful to see Tharpe gather a new batch of admirers this month. Easy to hear why.
2. Graham Bond Organization – “Long Legged Baby” (1964)
Mr. Bond, ably assisted by Messer’s Baker, Bruce and especially Heckstall-Smith, tears it up.
3. Melvin Davis – “It’s No News” (1964)
A clippity-cloppity dancer featuring the immortal lines “If a monkey rode a donkey on a trip to the moon and got back by noon – that’s news” is more than enough to secure a place in this month’s highlights.
4. Q65 – “Cry In The Night” (1966)
Few beat combos could out-punk the Pretty Things like Dutch delinquents Q65.
5. The Golden Dawn – “My Time” (1967)
This is the way to make a psychedelic garage record.
6. Jim Sullivan – “U.F.O.” (1969)
Jim Sullivan had the voice of a giant singing marshmallow. Maybe he still has, but he vanished into thin air in 1975. An alien abduction seems the most likely explanation.
7. New York Dolls – “(There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown” (1974)
My money’s on the other guy. Johansen and the other Dolls can hardly stand, bless ‘em.
8. The Sea Urchins – “Pristine Christine” (1987)
The Sea Urchins were hindered by having a singer whose voice peeled the paper from damp bedsit walls but with the jingle-jangle set to ten it provides just enough distraction.
9. Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan – “Hawk” (2010)
How can fair maiden Isobel be responsible for this junkyard howl “Green Onions”?
10. Lloyd Cole – “Westchester County Jail” (2010)
There were about four contenders from Broken Record. This is the most “instant”.
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Used to play Cry In The Night in the dark recesses of old Camden in my DJ days! Incidentally, Hurricane and Melanie are songs that came about when Graham Day tried to learn the song, then decided to write songs for The Prisoners along the same lines.
ReplyDeleteI know I shouldn't be surprised with it being you, but I'm always so pleased when someone has a good word to say about Q65.
I was introduced to their music in 1981, by acquaintances made on seeing The Jam in Amsterdam. Lucky enough to have a few releases on vinyl - including a reissue of Revolution.
For punky shambolic blues that even outdoes Kjoe, check out Gosch I'm Your Woman Not Your Wife by The Selfkick. An absolute joy of a record, but not really one for the dancefloor.
It was a toss-up between that one or "I Despise You". Never thought of the Prisoners rehashing but sounds so obvious now!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Selfkick tip - will try and have a listen.