The Jam - "Zoo 5-track EP" (Promo CD, Polygram Greece - 1999)

It took me a little to actually like Paul Weller, you know I'm a huge Clash fan ("They got Burton suits, Ha! you think it's funny... Turning rebellion into money"), but it was a prescribed route actually... The Small Faces and The Who influences, the American Soul/R&B worships, the Mod ethos and The Kinks totally British pop sensibilities... You know, I fell in the end (sorry Joe).
Once in a conversation we had with Brian Young (where are you man?) for the upcoming then 'Good Vibrations' movie, he wrote me this:

"The punk bands lied a lot more and made a lot of promises they never kept - or intended to..in fact for me the only punk I ever saw put his money where his mouth was - was Paul Weller who bankrolled several indie bands/labels/publications...but then Weller wasn't a spoilt rich brat like most of the so called punk spokesmen....oh and live the Jam could wipe the floor with all the other UK punk bands..believe me. Their singles are pretty flawless...."


I remember taking Joe Strummer's side and setting up a 'controversy' just to drag Brian more into this and tell me more of his brilliant memoirs (this guy must write a book, he's a great storyteller!!!) than anything else, he-he. Anyway, that's an official digipack Promo-CD from 1999, given away with the now defunct (and MOJO equivalent) ZOO magazine. It doesn't have something rare within its digital grooves, but I guess the existence of such a thing it's quite rare by itself, right?! And it has five of the best Jam songs ever as well.

Nevermind The Strypes, Here's The 45s!

These 45s fellas are from Carlisle, England and they wore their influences quite proudly on the jacket and the title of their latest EP, "Teenage Depression"! Right?! Tanked up, high octane R&B - the way legendary outfits like Eddie and The Hot Rods and Dr. Feelgood reminded once to the world with mod suits, mop-top haircuts and incredibly good playing for mid teens (all members reportedly are 16)! Great to see young lads pickin' up on rock & roll, instead of corporate precast shit! I mean, GREAT!
Anyway, don't know if there's a 'competition' with The Strypes or something, I guess the media are always in search of such 'rivalries' but I tell you this, if you dig the Ireland's finest you're gonna lose your mind with the 45s! No wonder why Wilko Johnson got them under his wings... As far as I know, they only have two singles on their backs (both great I've download them and they're on a loop in my iPod since) I'm waiting for the "Depression" EP to come one of these days on ma doorstep (use the link on the right to order yours) but I'm still in search of their first one double A-Side killer, "It Ain't Over / Devil of a Woman". White Trash Soul approved combo, can't wait really for a gig and a proper full release!

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Cosimo Matassa, RIP

Cosimo with Jimmy Clanton, 1958

Sad news unfortunately run on.. Cosimo Matassa, the legendary New Orleans recording studio owner,
engineer and rock 'n' roll pioneer has died yesterday at the age of 88. A true unsung legend, Cosimo was responsible for virtually every single R&B record in New Orleans for almost three decades and it isn't far from the truth to say that without him city's R&B wouldn't have been the same!
At his J&M studios, engineered inter alios Fats Domino, Little Richard, Smiley Lewis, Loyd Price, Guitar Slim, Professor Longhair, Earl King and Art Neville! In 1955 he moved to the bigger Cosimo Recording Studio, where acquainted Alain Toussaint and Lee Dorsey. At Toussaint's (now washed up by Katrina hurricane) studios, Sea-Saint, recorded artists such Paul McCartney, The Neville Brothers and Dr. John during the 70s. I'm sure with a little google search from your side, you're gonna know why Cosimo even at this age, was a huge loss for Rock & Roll...

Wreck-ommended listening:  The Cosimo Matassa Story (Proper Box 129) 4-CD set / 2007
and the brand new one from Ace: Cracking The Cosimo Code: 60s New Orleans R&B And Soul

Rob 'Throb' Young, RIP

With grief read this morning the tragic news of Rob 'Throb' Young's death. The former Primal Scream guitarist was the original guitar hero in a band I grew up with and still has a special place in my heart. Rob was present in every zenithal Scream moment, especially on 'Screamadelica' and 'Give Out But Don't Give Up', both personal favorites of yours truly. A proper rock & roller indeed. We all gonna miss those licks and riffs...

Livin' Out Rock 'n' Roll: The Story of the Babysitters & The Last Of The Teenage Idols - 100% legally online viewing!!!

Like many of the stuff you've found in here all those years, I was too young too for the mighty Babysitters and The Last Of The Teenage Idols. What d' you mean who the fuck are they? OK mate, I'll tell you this, they were among the very few flame keepers of the Johnny Thunders meets Mott the Hoople true rock & roll tradition, in a time full of neo-romanticism synth crap, totally silly clothes, Wacko-Jacko, Boy George and Milli Vanilli stupidness plus an MTV at its most powerful... Is that enough?
They looked like some Tigertailz-like average pop metal group, but no sir, they were pure at heart and dirty in mind, Chuck Berry influenced rock & rollers! "Living Out Rock'n'Roll" was the title (if my memory serves me well) of their first shot on the now classic Flicknife Records 1983 "Trash on Delivery" compilation (my good friend Midnight Rambler have posted this and all Babysitters related stuff on his brilliant Sons of the Dolls space, check here for what's still available), and it was as shit hot as any Hanoi Rocks toon at the time! Unfortunately they never had the success or even the cult recognition of their Finnish comrades but that's why we love 'em so much, right?
I haven't checked it yet cause I rushed myself to offer you what Paolo (the documentary's director) mailed me for all you White Trash Soul readers, so this is not obviously a review of this but no one cares I'm sure. I'm definitely sure on the other hand that all you glam punkarollers out there, gonna like it. And I'm hoping for names like the Soho Roses, Gunfire Dance or Dogs D' Amour to march through our screens too... Fuck man, I picked the wrong period to quit drinking and smoking!
Anyway, this is a 100% legally online free viewing of the film. Buttz sang in his Elvis mannerisms then, "Everybody Loves You When You're Dead"... Better late than never pal! Now where's that T-Rex shirt of mine, woman!?

“Potentially the worst rock ‘n’ roll band in the whole world. They’re that good!”

Sounds Magazine

The Jesus and Mary Chain - "Cutmedeadnailmedownandkickmyhead" (LP, No Label JMC 10 - 1985)

For the Mary Chain diehards, probably THE BEST ever bootleg on vinyl! And quite rare as I checked on the net. I found many requests, many questions but very little information about it. Allegedly a 'Live at Westminster Abbey' recording but as I far as I know actually from a mini Creation Records tour of 1984. Anyway, I'm a big Mary Chain fan but not as huge to know such details, so if there's something wrong here, please advice. No track-list printed on the beautiful psych-punk sleeves or the labels, but it's almost sure that contains recordings from two (still unknown) different venues. Overall, a brilliant sounding boot (with an even better rip courtesy of Jean Philippe as usual!), from the classic line up (I assume) of Reid/Reid/Hart and Gillespie with great guitar mix and well chosen covers ("Barracuda", "Ambition", "Vegetable Man") alongside classic now toons. Early Chain at its most chaotic and fuzziest! Dig now, thank us later!

-Early Chain with McGee-