Anyone remember 'The Beat'?

Back in the early 80's, on Saturday nights, instead of watching the Canadian video shows, I was watching 'The Beat'.  You see, for reasons I still don't fully understand, back in the day the local cable provider in Ucluelet got our US stations from Detroit.  Detroit?  Why not Seattle?  That would've made more sense, given the geography but nope we got Detroit.

Well lucky me, cuz on Detroit PBS (WTVS) on Saturday nights I got to watch 'The Beat'.  It was a video show hosted by Doug Podell, a local radio DJ, and for me it was the number one source for all the best videos of the time.  Also they weren't afraid to play the metal.  If I think back to all the great 80's metal videos, I saw them first on 'The Beat'.  Motley Crue, Ratt, Priest, W.A.S.P, Iron Maiden and Scorpions to name a few.  I've searched the web trying to find clips of the show but nothing has sprung up so instead I've got a picture of Doug from back in the day.

As far as a musical post I'm torn what to pick.  I watched so many videos on that show it's hard to really pick one, but if I have to choose this is one that to this day sticks out in my mind. It's Aerosmith's video for 'Let The Music Do The Talking'.  I first saw it on the show and it quickly became my favourite video for a long time.  I'm really not sure why.  Enjoy!

By the way, this video is the reason I love Dan Armstrong's clear acrylic guitars!

Make up your mind!!!

I can't seem to stop thinking about cover songs lately!!  First I hate Santana's version of 'Dance The Night Away':
http://thisvinyllife.blogspot.com/2011/01/dance-night-away.html

Then I talk about how I love Robert Palmers version of a couple of Lowell George tunes:
http://thisvinyllife.blogspot.com/2011/02/robert-palmer.html

Then what do I do?  Post King Curtis' cover of Led Zeppelin:
http://thisvinyllife.blogspot.com/2011/02/king-curtis.html

Is it just me or does that seem like a lot?  Well in order to really milk this whole cover thing for all its worth I now present to you a Paul Simon cover by 'The Persuasions'.



These Brooklyn boys started their careers in the early sixties singing a cappella interpretations of gospel and popular songs of the day.  It was actually Frank Zappa that first got them into a studio!  He heard them singing over the phone while they were in a record store in Jersey and flew them out to LA to record their first album 'Acappella' in 1970.

This cover of Paul Simon's song is from the album 'Comin' At Ya' released in 1979.  I picked up this album at Apollo Records and once again it was one of those 'take a chance' purchases.  Didn't know anything about them but it looked good so there you have it.  When it comes to music you really should push it a bit and try to listen to a bit of everything.

So I guess I don't really have a problem with covers.  I guess when I hear a bad one it just really jumps out at me.  And yes I'm talking to you Carlos.

Billy Preston

Who was the fifth Beatle?  Was it George Martin because of the way he helped them shape their sound?  Stu Sutcliffe the original bass player when they were a 5 piece?  The original drummer Pete Best?  George Harrison was quoted once as saying there was 2 'fifth Beatles', Derek Taylor their PR man and Neil Aspinall their road manager.  Paul McCartney stated that if there was a fifth member it was their manager Brian Epstein.

Or was it Billy Preston?

Billy received joint credit on the song 'Get Back'.  He also played on 'Let It Be', 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)', and 'Don't Let Me Down'.  In 1969 Harrison brought him into the studio to help diffuse the tension that was felt amongst the other band members. It was suggested by John or George (differing stories about who said it) that he even join the group.  Rumour has it Paul said that if we can't get along as a 4 piece, how would adding another member help?  Whatever the outcome, the album 'Let It Be' lists the song credit on 'Get Back as 'The Beatles with Billy Preston'.  This stands as the only time a joint credit was ever given on a Beatles album. The wording separates him from the group but places him higher than a regular session musician.  When they performed their final 'rooftop' concert he was there playing with them.

Some people prefer to call him 'The Black Beatle' that way he doesn't fall into the whole fifth Beatle argument.  I think I'll go with that.

Now logic would dictate that after all this Beatle talk I should include a Beatle/Preston tune in the post.  'Get Back' perhaps?  But by just mentioning it, it's probably already in your head right?  Beatle tunes are easy.  And Billy provided the world with lots of other great music.  'Will It Go Round In Circles', 'Nothing From Nothing' and lots of others.  So I'm pickin' a tune from his 74' album 'The Kids And Me'.

The song I've chosen is 'Struttin', which blew my mind when I first heard it.  Enjoy!

PS - After his time with the Beatles, Billy went on to play with the Stones.  Played keyboards on 7 of their albums, starting with Sticky Fingers.  But that will have to wait for a another time.

King Curtis

I first heard the name when Duane Allman mentioned it on a live version of Soul Serenade that the Brothers did.  He talks about how it was a beautiful service, Stevie played and Aretha sang.  He then goes on to say that whoever did what he did will get what he deserves.  So my introduction to King Curtis was a speech by a guitar legend talking about his murder before he launches into one of Curtis' legendary songs.  I listened, processed, and then really didn't give it much thought for a long time.  Fast forward a number of years and I was trolling YouTube and came across a video of 'Memphis Soul Stew'.

Now this video started me on my quest to learn more about the man.  Curtis Ousley, born Feb 7, 1934, was a sax player that was at various stages in his career, a bandleader, session man, band member, producer and music director.  He gained his first major bit of notoriety for providing the sax solo on the Coaster's song 'Yakety Yak'.  The amount of people he played with is too long to list here, but a partial list includes the names Buddy Holly, Sam Cooke, The Drifters, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Herbie Mann and Aretha Franklin.  Her backing band 'The Kingpins' was led by Curtis.

In the 70's during his time with Aretha he played on 'Aretha Live At Fillmore West'.  During these shows he also recorded 'King Curtis Live At Fillmore West' with his band, along with Billy Preston on organ and The Memphis Horns.

This is the first King Curtis album I bought.  The tracks are a mixture of originals and covers of popular songs of the time.  If you haven't heard this album you owe it to yourself to check it out.  It would eventually become King's biggest selling album.  The track I've decided to showcase from the album is his cover of Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'.  Re-interpreted as a saxophone song it easily ranks up there as one of my favourite covers.  Like I mentioned in an earlier post, a cover should bring something new to the table.  This one does.

Now for the sad part.  In August 1971, he was murdered during an argument on the steps of his apartment, with a couple of drug addicts who were in his way.  Asked them to move and then dead.  

Tragic.

The Heptones

I was crate digging at a local used book store and came across this.

Now when I picked it up I had no idea who they were.  But looking at the cover I'm thinking 3 things:
1) Reggae
2) Jamaica
3) 70's

So I took the risk.  The one thing I've realized in the last few years is you have to take a chance on an album because the reward is so worth it sometimes.

The Heptones: Leroy Sibbles, Earl Morgan and Barry Llewellyn came together in Kingston in 1965. They spent their early career recording for numerous major Jamaican producers, as well as doing session work.  In 1975 they signed with Island Records and released 'Night Food' in 1975.

Now these guys were a early example of reggae and rocksteady music that was around Jamaica in the 60's and early 70's.  They moved from their rocksteady roots into reggae and this album, although reggae, is a very laid back version of their earlier styles.

When I finally got home and spun this album it proved once again that taking a chance is worth it.  It's a great album for a lazy day with some great harmonies and slow relaxed reggae.  Nothing like the reggae of Marley or Tosh, where the music had political or social overtones, just music meant for relaxed listening.

For your pleasure I present song 1, side 1, Country Boy.

Robert Palmer

Confession.  Until recently if you said Robert Palmer I would say, "Addicted To Love".  Maybe "Power Station" if I was feeling like I wanted to show off the ol' musical knowledge.  Turns out I didn't know sh!t!!

If you go back to the beginning Mr. Palmer was a good English boy who released music that sounded like he had lived in New Orleans his whole life.  His first solo album "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" was him backed by funk band The Meters and produced by Little Feat leader Lowell George.  It is filled with track after track of great rock funk fusion and featured songs penned by Palmer, Lowell and the great Allen Toussaint.

On his second album "Pressure Drop", he was backed by Little Feat and even went on tour with them.  Once again, the album had a mix of song by Robert, Lowell, Toussaint, and he even covered the classic Maytals reggae song that is also the album title.

What I love about discovering all this early music that I didn't really know about is I've developed a new respect for Robert as an artist.  The music he made in the beginning of his career is in heavy rotation on the turntable right now and because of that I've turned a few friends on to it as well.  And that is the great thing about digging into the past.  You uncover stuff you had overlooked or weren't even exposed to.  I am smart enough to understand that I don't know everything about the music that is out there and when I find old songs that are new to me I get a great rush.  It's all about the journey and the exploration of music.  And the sharing.  Friends getting together and discovering, or re-discovering, music is one of my favourite things in the world.

In honour of the two great albums, I present to you one track from each.  From 'Sneakin', side 1, track 1, the Lowell George song 'Sailin' Shoes'

And from 'Pressure Drop', another Lowell track, from side 2, song 2, 'Trouble'

Enjoy, and if you hadn't heard these before, go out and find these albums, you won't regret it!