Today we have a brand new track from The Flesh Eaters, who reformed in their most notorious line up, featuring Chris D, Steve Berlin, DJ Bonebrake, John Doe, Bill Bateman and Dave Alvin. And it’s a cover of a lesser known Sonics tune! We also have the new tune from Emma DeCorsey of I Am The Polish Army from her new cassette Dream. Clara Engel from Toronto in Canada also has a new album A Shore Far From Any Prison. Clara will be playing live in Cleveland on December 7th at Euclid Tavern and on December 8th at The Whiskey Bar. Emma will be playing at Blue Arrow Records on November 10th at 3pm. Both of them are coming to Cleveland through a booking production of The Little Lighthouse. So that’s something new I’m doing and it would be appreciated if you all come and support the effort. Talking about Blue Arrow Records, new Jonathan Richman record is coming out today on that label and it’s called Sa. It features Jerry Harrison on keyboards, among others. We also introduce Maiorano from Berlin Germany, Michael Head from Liverpool, England and an older record that came on Ill In The Head Records by a Croatian band Gipps. On Numero, there is also a nice reissue compilation entitled Basement Beehive: The Girl Group Underground. We check it all out today.
Jesse Winchester – Neither Here Nor There;
Maiorano – Days in the Life;
The Flesh Eaters – Cinderella;
Sonics – Cinderella;
Thee Headcoats – Pocahontas Was Her Name;
Jonathan Richman – Alegre Soy;
The Belles – Melvin;
Hill Sisters – My Lover;
Joe Jack Talcum – Jellyfish Heaven;
Dead Milkmen – Somewhere Over Antarctica;
Gipps – Raspuce;
Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band – Wild Mountain Thyme;
The Byrds – Wild Mountain Thyme;
The Lemon Twigs – Never Know;
Willie Nile – Don’t;
The Jaybirds – Over Your Shoulder;
Emma DeCorsey – Gold;
Clara Engel – A Shore Far From Any Prison.
Peter Case is a long standing figure in the history of rock’n’roll. He indebted us with bands like The Nerves and The Plimsouls, plus his rich solo recording career and occasional production work. This year he returns with Wig!. Somewhat surprisingly (although pleasantly), Peter Case reinvents himself on this one as an uncompromising blues-man. Hallmark of this reinvention is the song New Old Blue Car, which artistically defines this record. Melancholic folk-blues tune Old Blue Car from his first solo record now has a very different taste. Let us also mention that this record is also embellished with several subtle quotations from rock’n’roll standards – for example Money in I Ain’t Got No Dough. That’s a wonderful trick that creates an immediate bound for a true rock listener. A hired gun on this album and someone who definitely left a strong mark on it is DJ Bonebrake with his rough beats. Another one who must be mentioned here is the guitarist Ron Franklin who even co-authored some songs on Wig!. I only wish the same line up was out there to tour with this record, as this kind of gritty blues is best consumed live.