MAY PLAYLIST

1.  Mary Lou Williams – ‘Praise The Lord’ (1964)

Oh, everybody clap your hands with Mary Lou (pictured above). This is an amazing amalgamation of the sacred church and the smoky jazz/R&B juke joint in perfect harmony.

2.  Johnny Alf – ‘Samba Sem Balanco’ (1965)

His name might make you think of a 1950s East End bin man, but Brazilian Johnny Alf is known as the Father of Bossa Nova in certain circles. His eponymous 1965 LP was a purely speculative purchase from Fopp this month for the risk-free sum of £3; the sun immediately came out.

3.  Patrice Holloway – ‘The Thrill of Romance’ (1966)

The classic Kent comp On The Soul Side has now been released on CD with ten bonus cuts. Some are familiar but this, from the same session as ‘Stolen Hours’, is previously unissued. How and why is nothing short of a mystery. Wow.

4.  Jack McDuff – ‘The Boiler’ (1972)

Rather confusingly McDuff made two albums called The Heatin’ System – one in 1994 and the one we’re interested in, for Cadet, in 1972 which is a steamy, bluesy, funky, proto-Acid Jazz affair. Every track a Hammond and horns scorcher.

5.  The Soul Children – ‘It Ain’t Always What You Do (It’s Who You Let See You Do It)’ (1973)

Gritty singalong from members of the Stax family.

6.  Spiritualized – ‘Smiles’ (1992) 

The version on the first Spiritualized album, Lazer Guided Melodies is good but the five and half minute intergalactic flight on the ‘Medication’ single is the one to hear. Will Carruthers recounts his days in the band, and Spacemen 3, in wonderful prose in Playing The Bass With Three Left Hands, not only one of the funniest music books I’ve read for a while but one which refreshingly (and through necessity) places music and musicians as a countercultural force rather than a business. 

7.  The Schizophonics – ‘Make It Last’ (2017)

Got a stubborn lump of wax stuck in yer lughole? Let San Diego’s the Schizophonics dislodge it with their bone shaking brand of MC5/Stooges rawk and roll. The dial doesn’t go up to eleven; that’s where it starts. Blimey.

8.  Spinn – ‘Who You Are’ (2018)

A pleasant, gently jangling, pop tune from new young Liverpool beat combo.

9.  The Coral – ‘Sweet Release’ (2018)

The Coral seem to be defying the odds and are actually getting better. This rubbery new single could be classic Super Furry Animals. Praise indeed.

10.  Kamasi Washington – ‘Fists of Fury’ (2018)

After witnessing the current poster boy of jazz in a small arts centre last year I wondered how he’d make the transition to a larger “rock venue” such as the Camden Roundhouse. I needn’t have worried, Kamasi and his band – with a new set – were even more spectacular. For the Jackie Chan inspired ‘Fists of Fury’, Kamasi welcomed London saxophonist, Shabaka Hutchings, to the stage. A nice touch and an awe inspiring gig.

JANUARY PLAYLIST

Joy Marshall goes shopping. 

1.  Charles Mingus – “Moanin’” (1960)

I was fortunate to catch the Mingus Big Band twice at Ronnie Scott’s this week. Sounds extravagant but I’m pleased I did as each 90 minute set only had time for half a dozen treatments of Mingus material in a Big Band format. They were fantastic on both occasions (different sets) and I guess Mingus himself would’ve approved of hearing his music arranged and presented in a way which wasn’t always practical in his lifetime. Among the numbers aired were Gunslinging Bird, Song With Orange, Diane, Bird Calls, Sue’s Changes, The Child’s Hour of Dream, So Long Eric, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, Fables of Faubus (retitled Fables of Trump) and one of my favourites, from Blues & Roots, Moanin’.

2.  John Ashley – “Little Lou” (1960)

Ashley featured in many late 50s/early 60s TV shows and films (ones containing cars, werewolves or beaches appear to have been favourite) but it’s this rocking teen-drama which is of most interest. He’d later go on to produce the first four series of The A-Team and it’s his voice that narrates the introduction, fact fans.

3.  Little John – “Just Wait And See” (1965)

Fat horns, clinking keys, punching drums, call and response vocals, thumping, dog’s dangly bits floorfiller. Don’t even think about trying to find an original on Gogate. Sensational.

4.  Joy Marshall – “And I’ll Find You” (1968)

Recorded shortly before Marshall’s untimely death, Vicki Wickham’s sumptuous production for her Toast Records makes this fall somewhere between Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick.

5.  Glass House – “Touch Me Jesus” (1971)

Holland-Dozier-Holland get sanctified on their Invictus label with a 45 aimed at the dancefloor more than pulpit. The fact no members of Glass House appeared on the record, which was in fact recorded by Darlene Love’s group the Blossoms, didn’t appear to trouble their conscience.

6.  The Miracles – “Ain’t Nobody Straight In LA” (1975)

From the LP City of Angels which provided the Miracles biggest ever hit, “Love Machine”, this was a bold move. It took a couple of listens to catch which side of the fence they were with sitting – sounded like a piss take at first (“homosexuality is a part of society, well I guess they need more variety”) - but it’s supportive, embracing of diversity, with the group deciding “gay people are nice people too, man” before heading off to a gay bar. Cracking tune too.

7.  George Jones – “If Drinkin' Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” (1981)

From the song’s Wikipedia entry: The upswing in his professional life brought little peace to his personal one; dogged by a years-old cocaine addiction and a near thirty year drinking problem, he continued to miss shows, engage the police in high speed chases, and show up at award shows obviously inebriated to accept honors. The despairingly hopeless "If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will)" verged on topicality as Jones sang about falling out of cars at four in the morning and drinking "twenty bottles."

8.  The Stairs – “I Remember The Day” (1988)

Recorded by a young Edgar Summertyme during his time on a YTS scheme at Attic Studios with early evidence of his Syd Barrett/Strawberry Fields leanings. Now featured as one of many curios on a new odd and sods Stairs compilation, The Great Lemonade Machine In The Sky.

9.  Spiritualized – “She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)” (2003)

Hold tight as J. Spaceman launches this rocket.

10.  Paul Orwell – “Attack” (2016)

The songs are pouring out of Paul Orwell at the moment and Heavy Soul are catching them in a bucket and sticking them out as fast as their little arms and legs are able. This latest blink and you’ll miss it 45 is a simple yet effective acid rock Bolan boogie.

SPOTIFY PICK #6: MONKEY PICKS OF 2012

It’s time for the Monkey Picks of 2012 playlist. There are some notable omissions as I’ve only chosen songs available on Spotify which rules out the year’s highlights from Kontiki Suite ("Music Man") and Jacco Gardner ("Clear The Air") and there isn’t anything from Bob Dylan’s Tempest album as I couldn’t find a way to shoehorn him in without upsetting the rhythm of the sequencing (which was difficult enough as it was) or from Paul Weller’s Sonik Kicks as I wanted to keep it to 20 tracks and thought those interested would be familiar with “Green” already.

Kontiki Suite’s On Sunset Lake wins the Monkey Picks Album of the Year by a considerable distance and should be purchased forthwith. 

2012 Playlist:

Beachwood Sparks – Forget The Song

Dr John – Revolution

Two Wounded Birds – Together Forever

The Primitives – Turn Off The Moon

Jagwar Ma – Come Save Me

Hooded Fang – Tosta Mista

Willy Mason – I Got Gold

Stealing Sheep – Shut Eye

Mary Epworth – Black Doe

Shrag – Devastating Bones

Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

The Sunchymes – Aquarius Summer

The Junipers – Dandelion Man

The Sufis – Sri Sai Flora

Mysterious Monks – The Moneylender

The Lovely Eggs - Allergies

Lightships – Sweetness In Her Spark

Brian Jonestown Massacre – Panic In Babylon

Bobby Womack – Deep River

Spiritualized – So Long You Pretty Thing

Click  Monkey Picks of 2012 for Spotify Link.

MAY PLAYLIST

Current spins in Monkey Mansions include...

1.  The Combinations – “Voodoo” (1962)

Songs about voodoo – like songs about monkeys and chickens – are always worth investigating and the temptation to play this next to Charles Sheffield’s “It’s Your Voodoo Working” would be strong for many.  By the way, according to voodoo superstition, having a woman visit you first thing on a Monday morning will bring you bad luck all week.  Keep that in mind. 

2.  Mr. Wiggles – “Fat Back (Part 1)” (1965)

Take a half cup of Robert Parker’s “Barefootin’”, cook it in a Famous Flames style, have a young Jimi Hendrix throw some licks (for it was he), and you have yourself a fair club soul treat.   

3.  Pink Floyd “Lucy Leave” (1965)

Bob Klose was still in the band here and what a debut Floyd single this would’ve made.  It doesn’t have the uniqueness of “Arnold Layne” but Barrett rarely, if ever, sang as strongly again and the tough circular garage attack is as good as it gets.     

4.  Verdelle Smith – “If You Can’t Say Anything Nice (Don’t Say Nothin’ At All)” (1966)

It was the later upbeat version by Gia Mateo that had us spinning holes in our soul socks for nights and mornings on end but Verdelle’s slower, Bacharach and David style treatment is beautifully paced and delicately sung.  Gorgeous. 

5.  Lee Hazlewood & Suzi Jane Hokom – “Califia (Stone Rider)” (1969)

Light In The Attic have embarked on a major Hazlewood reissue campaign.  The first release, The LHI Years: Singles, Nudes and Backsides (1968-1971), does more than enough to show there’s more hiding behind that thick tache than “Some Velvet Morning”.  

6.  Action Pact – “Sixites Flix” (1982)

Nearly all my favourite 60s films savagely denigrated in 113 seconds. 

7.  The Very Things – “The Bushes Scream While My Daddy Prunes” (1984)

A memorable song paired with an unforgettable video (See here.)

8.  Two Wounded Birds – “Midnight Wave” (2011)

Two Wounded Birds are top of my To See list.  The souped-up rocking surf rumble of “Midnight Wave” being one reason why.

9.  Spiritualized “So Long You Pretty Thing” (2012)

In Spiritualized word bingo this was very nearly a full house: Help, Lord, Jesus, God, Soul, Tired, Blind and Mind all ticked off.  Only missing Drugs.  So close.  They probably envisaged making “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” but the lighted candle mood, the way the song creeps up and builds, the choir, the big crescendo half way through actually remind me more of a Pop Idol winner’s song.  Still like it a lot though.          

10.  Pony Taylor – “Videogame” (2012)
It's easy to be sniffy about The BritPop Years but a chap said to me the other day he felt he'd missed out, as in his lifetime there hasn't been a movement that "everybody" (his words) was into.  It didn't feel like a movement or particularly special at the time but he's probably got a point and like mods in the 60s or punks in the 70s its only when looking back they can truly see what was happening around them.  Had he been with us in 1995 h would've heard slashing chords and sustained organ every day of the week, so hearing French band Pony Taylor revisit it with aplomb in 2012 should make us both happy.  

SPIRITUALIZED at the HACKNEY EMPIRE

More bands should play the Hackney Empire. It’s a beautiful Victorian theatre offering excellent views even from the Upper Circle and a decent sound system. The only trouble is it’s in Hackney; great for us locals who can wander along but a right rigmarole for the rest of London who can’t be arsed to navigate their way using public transport; which might explain why I still was able to buy a ticket the day before and why more bands don’t play here. One assumes Spiritualized only played it to road test new material before hitting the bigger venues, making us among the first people to hear tracks from their forthcoming LP, Sweet Heart, Sweet Light.

As the curtain opened (see, I said it was a theatre) they set their dials straight to the heart of new nine minute single “Hey Jane” which encapsulates all the elements that make up Spiritualized: Velvetsy garage-rock, gospel choir, washed down with a gulp of druggy soup. The song, such as it is, only really lasts about three minutes; the rest is an elongated coda. That’s not an unusual occurrence, one idea or riff or chord repeated and repeated and repeated to create a hypnotic rhythm. There’s no point fighting it, it’ll drive you barmy, just feel it.

Later on, mid-way through a lengthy droning synth instrumental I started to hallucinate. My eyelids became made of stone and I swear to God the stage morphed into a giant white rug made from a polar bear and the monitors became its head and feet. I hadn’t been rummaging through Jason Spaceman’s medicine cabinet; this was a natural high, albeit one greatly assisted by two hours sleep the previous evening, a warm theatre, a thick pea coat, and a few cans of Guinness. Therefore I can only offer Spiritualized half the credit for this, if indeed nodding off at a gig deserves any credit at all.

I can’t tell you for certain what was new and what was old material as it’s a long time since I’ve played their early LPs and their aversion to snappy choruses and verses make recalling tracks, let alone titles, problematic. Jason isn’t one to say “Hey Hackney, how ya doing? This is a new one, hope you like it”. He of course says nothing; doesn’t even face the crowd, he stands sideways and plays across the stage to the other guitarist Doggen, who also stands sideways and faces him. There were a couple of times when the drawn out nature of unfamiliar songs did begin to test my patience but they threw in a few southern soul torch burners as relief. I’m struck by how many gospel and blues/heaven and hell references there are and wonder whether the fact everyone on stage right is dressed in white and everyone on the left black was a coincidence or divine intervention. Probably neither.

There was no “Come Together” which was a surprise, nor “Soul On Fire” which was a shame, nor “Death Take Your Fiddle” which would’ve blown my mind, but they did crank out “She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)” and “Electricity”, and ended with their finest fifteen-minutes-plus, the cinematic “Cop Shoot Cop”. On this showing Sweet Heart, Sweet Light might be a patchy album; bit like this gig.

OCTOBER PLAYLIST

October is almost over and I’ve not done a playlist. So, more out of obligation than enthusiasm, here is half arsed collection of songs that have made me either happy or sad this month. I’ll spare you the flannel that normally accompanies them.

1. Doc Starkes and the Nightriders – “Women and Cadillacs” (1954)
2. Brenda Holloway – “Hey Fool” (1963)
3. Eddie and the Tropics – “Don’t Monkey With Another Monkey’s Monkey” (1965)
4. Little Anthony and the Imperials – “Hurt So Bad” (1965)
5. The Zombies – “Friends of Mine” (1968)
6. The Kinks – “Days” (1969)
7. The Cramps – “TV Set” (1980)
8. Spiritualized – “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space” (1997)
9. Let’s Wrestle – “Tanks” (2009)
10. Box Elders – “Alice and Friends” (2009)

SPIRITUALIZED at the ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

There’s a fad at the moment for bands so far past their sell-by date the maggots eating their brains decree to play their “classic” album in its entirety. Only the other day I saw Ned’s Atomic Dustbin are to play their seminal (cough) 1991 album God Fodder in December. In fairness times are tough and if the Brummy binmen can put food on the table by cobbling together a quick run through of their cack to a bunch of stinking grebo inbreds who am I to bitch?

Now, of course, this does not in any way apply to Spiritualized and their revisiting 1997’s spacey-psychedelic-jazz-rock-fuzzed-mournful Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space. Not at all. No way. Completely different. For a start, I like it; thus it’s cool and beyond reproach. Plus there’s still some legs left in the band as 2008’s Songs In A&E proved. Also, Ladies and Gentlemen is such a complicated and intricate piece of work (piece of - dare I say - art even) performing it live, and doing it justice, is a logistic nightmare and not something to attempted lightly. So much so there are about 30 people on stage tonight tackling it: the band, a choir, a brass section and a sting section.

And the result? Absolutely amazing. Truly. The extended opening title track blows the original version to kingdom come. “All I want from life is a little bit of love to take the pain away” moans Jason Spaceman, then the choir kicks in and it makes infinite more sense and hits the heart far harder than ever before. And on it goes. You should know the album so I won’t list the tracks. The album highlights are the show’s highlights with the explosive intergalactic garage rock of “Electricity” almost knocking my head clean off with its G-force.

It isn’t much of a visual spectacle unless you watch the choir dancing but Spiritualized always make more sense with your eyes closed anyway. Mr Spaceman sits on a swivel chair sideways to the stage throughout and says nothing before, during or after. The original 70 minute LP is extended to a full 90 minute headfuck and credit to the sound engineer and the RFH as you could pick out every single individual note played by each musician.

One of those “you had to be there” nights. Me, I’m still floating somewhere over the Southbank.