Various Artists - "Full Time Lovers, Songs The Fabulous Thunderbirds Taught Us" (WAILCD 02 and a Half)

I've made this comp about a year or so back if my memory serves me well but I didn't posted it at the time because of the following two reasons: I didn't have all songs in FLAC (still don't - so not all songs ripped by me) and I've ran out of ideas for the back cover (all you get is this so-so front sleeve). The whole thing/project was to gather up all Rhythm and Blues, Soul and Funky sides the original Fabulous Thunderbirds line-up have covered (plus some more, I mostly focused on things Wilson/Vaughn touched later), and in this at least I succeed. I really love the T-Birds man! Their manic fusion of sweaty rock & roll, electric Texas barbecue of Chicago blues, nasty Memphis Soul and Louisiana Zydeco was (still is actually) a very good reason (if not, the only) for having any respect on white skin rhythm & blues gangs. Boy, even Muddy Waters was impressed back then when he caught one of the band's first shows in 1975 and hyped them Thunderbirds boys to club owners and interviewers across the country, loudly! Anyway, you got it I guess already. So, this is exactly what its title says. A 26 song gathering of all original sides the archetypal T-Birds chose and recorded (from Lazy Lester to Slim Harpo and from Sam & Dave to Bobby Patterson) for their first six albums, hope you dig it!

The Hard Stuff... (Chess Records Vintage Series ad - 1969)

Various Artists - "Mihaleez's Rockin' Blues" (WAILCD 01)

 

Hey there! Is it already 'next year'? I guess so... 
And I guess as well that there's no better way for a first post than a handmade White Trash Soul party CD, right? I know it's been a while since the last WAX thing and it's been a little longer since a Greasy Soul and a Dirty R&B comp courtesy of yours truly have landed to your hard disks but you know, the lack of personal time, the work, blah-blah-blah... 

I'm sure some of you notice that I didn't used the "we" pronoun, right? That's because JP wants to make a pause for a little and I didn't blamed him to tell you the truth. There's a time when you want to do other things but I have to testify also his bitterness for the lack of comments on our posts. I mean for me it's OK, I don't care if someone wants to tell thanks or something else cause I'm doing it for my soul self satisfaction first, even if this sounds a little egotistical but I do understand JP's side cause it's always great to see how people reacts on your thoughts and posts...

Anyway, I want to thank him one more time for everything he did for WTS all these years and they were A LOT as you know. Keep the rocks rollin' buddy!

On our subject, WAIL it's the new WTS subsidiary. And since WAX was a baby that belongs to both of us I thought it was proper to use another trademark and logo. For the R&B/Soul sect of our tribe, I'm dead sure, everyone understands that I drew inspiration (aka ripped) Ace Record's idea from "Gaz's Rockin' Blues" well known compilation!!! I'm not cocky enough to put myself on the cover so my beloved Young Jessie took proudly place in it!

The procedure was the well known. No second thoughts or deep diggin' for THE obscure track even though I'm sure for some of you some toons may be 'obscure'. I was having a ball myself and what I wanted to listen that very moment, was being ripped too for your listening pleasure. Don't know if it's gonna work for you, but for me it was a blast!
You can have a preview in case you wanna know what's what by clicking the back-sleeve up there (I made it look like a long play - don't know if I succeed it was the first time without JP's magic hands). As usual share and dance freely! No fuckin' bootlegging's allowed!! This is strictly made by fan for fans shit!!!

Cheeers
Mihaleez

 

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

Doo doo doo lookin' out my back door...

-Check in comments to see why does the Dude hate the Eagles...-

Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers - "Natural Boogie" (Alligator, 1974)

I like to think of Hound Dog Taylor (Theodore Roosevelt Taylor his real name) as the punked up version of Elmore James or John Lee Hooker. I think he equally borrowed things from both. The slide from the first and the economical (at times minimal) boogie of the second. He was unique. Really now, not only in sound. He was six fingered but the extra bone never really utilized for guitar playing. But hey, that's fuckin' cool! He had very difficult child years and the six fingers was an added problem to all the others. And he picked up guitar first time at his twenties. What i go in for Hound Dog is that he had absolutely nothing in terms of musical skills. And that's what i dug always in real rock & roll. Somehow, the best, the rawest and highest in energy levels tracks produced by people who actually didn't know how to really play their instruments. Hound Dog knew this. He knew his advantages were his drawbacks. He used to say "When i die, they'll say i played like shit--but it sure sounded good!". And boy, he sure sounded GOOD!
The House Rockers were the perfect companion. Just another guitar and a drum set. No bass. Pure primitive rawness. Sloppy and drunken, at times in speed an sometimes kinda laid back, were the last of the Mohawks. The last true blues combo. Hound Dog Taylor had virtually nothing before the two CLASSICS he recorded for Alligator (there were more to come after death). A single for Bea & Baby ("Baby is Coming Home" / "Take five"),  another one for Firma ("Christine" / "Alley Music") and a  last for Checker ("Watch Out" / "Down Home" ).  Anyway, for a cool piece on Hound Dog Taylor check Hound's blog. 
What i have to offer it's his second Long Play, "Natural Boogie". As wild as the first, as primitive as few in the blues' history. I must do a t-shirt with his 6 fingered hand immediately... 
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 Roll Your Money Maker

Jerry McCain - "Turn Your Dumper Down With..." (Black & Allright LP - 001, 1996)

Jerry McCain is for harmonica just what he's for guitar Link Wray and for piano Esquerita! A wildman. If you'll ever have a chance to meet an alien and this green lamp headed creature ask you the one million dollars question, "What's Rock & Roll you back-warded scum?" you should say, "Jerry McCain, Link Wray and Esquerita"! That's right. OK you should add next Bo, Chuck & Little Richard but we 're flapping our mouths now. Anyway, if you ever wondered by whom barfed the wildest sides and then putted on vinyl plastic, that's the unholy trinity!
Jerry "Boogie" McCain is a key figure for this devil's music. He speed-ed up the blues in a way that make them instantly and without knowing it, punk! On  the well known label of Excello created mayhem. The same thing happened and a little earlier for the Trumpet. And what I'm offering here it's a whirlwind bash. Raw as hell and bad to the bone. Don't know if the young Rolling Stones or Pretty Things have known then, Jerry. I'm pretty sure though that even if they knew him, they wouldn't want to touch their hands on. Cause he's DIRTY!
I used the word "punk" somewhere. That happened not only for the attitude of his music. McCain purchased and cut by himself with a cheap record machine (remember, we're talking about the 50s, OK?) his earlier tracks like the one that sent to Trumpet Records, Little Walter's "Crazy 'Bout You Baby". He took Uncle John's side on "Run, Uncle John, Run!" as an answer to Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" ("Gonna tell aunt Mary, about uncle John..."), recorded a session with the Shindings (better known now as Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs!) and to this day along with Kid Thomas, are the coolest cult figures of Rhythm & Blues and the punks of the idiom. D'ya really need more?
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Run, Uncle John, Run! 

The Fabulous Thunderbirds - "Girls Go Wild" (Chrysalis, 1979)

I can't see really why people go nuts for Stevie Ray Vaughan. I mean OK, may he was an A grade guitarist, but it never worked for me. Too fanfare and all things i hate generally on the "white blues" bands of the last 30 years, gathered under his wings. More pretentious and poseur than anyone could handle. When i was a little kid, got busted from the hype of SRV and got two albums. Even then, it was difficult to like his Hendrix like mannerisms and by the time heard him destroy (the bad way & with the help of Dick Dale for crisshake!)  "Pipeline", got a marker and once and for all deleted him from my mind's database!
I always  though dug his brother, Jimmy. And yes people, this one is the right one! He really got a huge admiration and respect for Rhythm & Blues, he really played them simple and powerfully and most of all, created a band that at the time (lemme think, why not even today?) were a sunbeam on the hodgepodge! Yes, the Fabulous Thunderbirds got all right elements for picking on a band that played the blues even if their skin were Caucasian. A manic fusion of Rock & Roll, R&B and Blues, with a wailin' harmonica and a tough enough rhythm section. Kim Wilson is another reason to pick on them. Cool as fuck and stormy, lead a band that in a way or another, kick started the whole 80s 'blues revival' thing. Don't know if we should blame T-Birds for this, but one thing's for sure, this debut has enough fire to warm up a city in the winter! If you haven't done it already, well give it a play. They sure blast your speakers off!
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Girls Go WILD!!! 

The Red Devils - "King King" (Def American/This Way Up, 1992)

Don’t know yet if the Red Devils were a cult band or should be enrolled now with the ones with a legendary status. To tell you the truth I don’t know yet either, what evil force drive me to pick up their record many years ago. Cause it’s definitely a devil’s work and at the time didn’t know shit about them. It was one of these strange feelings that made me grab this little plastic thing. Maybe their name and the instant connection my brain made for my favorite football club but I’m sure I impressed also by the mic and the amp photo on the back.

Anyway, the Red Devils were one of the last (if not the last) white colored pure Chicago blues band, even though they came from L.A. A pure harmonica wailed tunnel back to the 60s and the legacy that’s left by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. You know, playing the blues it’s the same thing as to play punk rock. You don’t need really technical skills, but heart, guts and balls. Easily a dude like Joe Satriani can play these ancient licks, but believe me without the heart and the balls; the results will be at least pathetic. And that’s what we are talking about here. A band that got “it” for good. No fancy bullshit and no pale imitations here, sir.

Their one and only official release had the responsibility of Rick Rubin and his (then?) company, Def American. I think that Rick lost it over the years. He’s a master behind the board of course but money makes the world go round, so I really consider this live capture and Johnny Cash’s Def recordings as the last great offerings by him. By the way, the Red Devils backed the Man in Black in some sessions. Def American put this stuff a few years ago in a box under the title of “Unearthed”. And I tell you guys, they’re fucking haunting! Yeah, that’s the word. Haunting. But remind me talk about them later in a different post.

There’s also a mighty fine and well known bootleg (with many different sleeves) of the Devils doing Chicago classics having as vocalist some Mick Jagger. If you’re a Stone fanatic I’m sure you’ll know about already, but remind me again to talk on this later (I know, I already owe you two more Red Devils posts). This record made California looked like a big swampy land. Wail and sorrow it’s all over the place. Howlin’ Wolf’s “Mr. Highway Man”, Junior Wells “Cut that Out”, Little Walter’s “Quarter to Twelve” or Sonny Boy Williams’ “Cross Your Heart”, here breathing through a tough monster’s body. The great late Lester Butler (harmonica/vocals, 12 November 1959 - 10 May 1998) was sadly the last of the Mohawks. A force of nature destined to play the blues and blow an harmonica like no other. At least the last 20 years...but for one more time hedonism betrayed talent. So be it. This is the last truly great rhythm & blues record. I'm no blues expert, but i haven't listen to something like this since then and that's A LOT of time. So here's your chance. 

PS1: This in out of print record. That's not a reason for smart ass dicks to sell it for 60 bucks on eBay. I mean, for fucks sake this is a compact disc...

PS2: I can't measure on how much i do love the Blasters. Bill Bateman (drums) and Gene Taylor (piano) were of course Blasters' old members. And the first name of the Red Devils, was The Blue Shadows, just like the Blasters' same title song. If this detail didn't said something to you, well give up. 

320Kbps

King King

Ducks Deluxe - "Ducks Deluxe" (RCA, 1974)

It's hard to pick up a favorite record among so many others and twice as hard is to pick up a band as your fave among all those out there. True as it is from all the so called 'Pub Rock' scene for me at least,  it's not hard at all to pick on on Dr. Feelgood, the Count Bishops and Ducks Deluxe.
And you can't do no wrong with a band that had Sean Tyla (at the time ex Help Yourself) and a bunch of ex roadies (Martin Belmont road-ed for Brinsleys, Nick Garvey for the Flamin' Groovies!). I strongly believe that Ducks should have been bigger! I'm sure i read somewhere sometime, that Keith liked them so much that offered them a record deal with the Rolling Stones Records but... they were too punk rock even for an opportunity like this! On a good night Ducks were a "straight ahead hard driving punk rock band, drawing on the uptempo drive of the MC5, the true street drawl of Lou Reed, and the precocious teen angst of Eddie Cochran!" (source: Mojo magazine, May 1996). They sure not invented anything. A friend once moaned about them as a Chuck Berry recycling band... OK. I agree. But i can't see a bad thing on this statement! And that's what they were. A great band with a strong loving on American rhythm & blues and boogie! Dave Edmunds produced them (I'm pretty sure you might guess the end results, huh?), the Stones tried to grab them and the fans (what else?) adore them. They put out three classic albums, and when they finally split out, they transformed into great outfits like the Tyla Gang, the Rumor and the Motors! A couple of years ago re-united and still plow every little city across  Europe. An 'odds and sods' album is out there ("Side Tracks & Smokers") if anyone's interested.
That's their same name debut. Still the best, still the strongest of the three. Give a shot a lemme know...
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Ducks Deluxe 

Various Artists - The Devil's Music Keith Richard's Personal Compilation of Blues,Soul And R&B Classics (Uncut 2002 12)

The title says it all: Keith Richard's Personal Compilation of Blues,Soul And R&B Classics! This CD came out with Uncut magazine on November 2002 (December's Issue). Uncut's still a good mag. For a period of 3-4 years, i was buying it every month but i lost interest since I don't dig that much Dylan and they cover every side of his life every two months...Anyway, that's a VERY GOOD compilation indeed! One of the best you were able to catch along with a mag. How many times you bought a magazine and the included CD isn't just to put up your bottles of beer? It supposed to be compiled by Keef himself (on the issue says clearly it was Keef's selections) but on the inside liners i read "compiled by Roy Carr and Allan Jones"...And it has no Chuck Berry for Christ's sake! But it could have been easily Keef's selections. Twenty six classics in every meaning of the word and not only "Blues,Soul & R&B" but as well country and reggae.
I decide to go on this this time for two reasons:
1st) As i said earlier it's a very good comp, contains undisputed classics and it's a good way for a young lad to start searching for Amos Milburn, Ike Turner, Jimmy Rogers or Howlin' Wolf.
2nd) A friend of this blog mailed me and asked me if i got it. He told me that many assholes tryin' sell it now in very HIGH prices not only on eBay but on many other sites (Amazon included) and i wonder why the wiseacres of the major labels still go hunting for bloggers and not on these blood suckers. I mean, it supposed to not be sold this thing OK? I noticed that even the guys at IORR fan club wants it. So here it is. Ripped at 320 Kbps as usual.

Tracklist:

01. Amos Milburn - Down The Road Apiece
02. Jackie Brenston - Rocket 88
03. Robert Johnson - Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)
04. Muddy Waters - Rollin' Stone
05. Jimmy Rogers - Goin' Away Baby
06. Leadbelly - The Midnight Special
07. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown - Okie Dokie Stomp
08. Clifton Chenier - Ay-Te Te Fee
09. Professor Longhair & His Shuffling Hungarians - Mardi Gras In New Orleans
10. Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly
11. Billie Holiday - He's Funny That Way
12. John Lee Hooker - I'm In The Mood
13. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Jah Is Mighty
14. Hank Williams - You Win Again
15. Ike & Tina Turner - I Can't Believe What You Say
16. B.B. King - Everyday I Have The Blues
17. T-Bone Walker - (They Call It) Stormy Monday
18. Howlin' Wolf - Moanin' At Midnight
19. Blind Willie McTell - Talkin' To Your Mama
20. Clarence 'Bon Ton' Garlow - Bon Ton Roulet
21. Aaron Neville - Tell It Like It Is
22. Albert King - That's What The Blues Is All About
23. Irma Thomas - Ruler Of My Heart
24. Otis Redding - Pain In My Heart (alt. take)
25. Booker T. & The MG's - Baby, Scratch My Back
26. Al Green - Take Me To The River

 

The Devil's Music

Dr. Ross - Boogie Disease (Arhoolie - 1992)

OK, I'm no Blues expert, in fact I'm no expert at all in everything. But i do have on my record collection some things from the masters of blues. Muddy Waters was my first love, Howlin' Wolf & John Lee Hooker are on my pantheon and if i have to dance to some i sure pick on Sonny Boy Williamson and his wild harmonica!
But my favorites if i had to pick some are Dr. Ross, Hound Dog Taylor and Eddie Taylor!
Let's concentrate on the first. Dr. Ross was a one man band in every sense of the words. He played the guitar, harmonica, bass drum and hi-hat at the same time and with unreal results! Primitive, as you might think it's the word - synonymous if we had a book or a dictionary for this bad ass!
He had a very hard life, witnessing murders, racist attacks plus a world war service...
He recorded for monsters such as Sun and Chess and his influence on rock n rollers like the Flamin' Groovies was huge. The Groovies remake his own "Boogie Disease" as "Doctor Boogie" on their "Teenage Head" masterpiece! If you already heard it, you know what I'm talking about!
I read somewhere that a little before his death, the assholes in music industry gave him a Grammy but this is not an information you should hold on your brain hutch...What you should is to take a listen loudly on this compilation and run after on Norton's or Crypt's mail orders to catch it while is still around!
File Under : Hot Shit, Bad Ass, Fire-burning


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Click here to Boogie!