Today we star of with Dany Laj and The Looks from Canada (Montreal and Toronto) and their new album Word On The Street. We continue with a 90s punks from California, an all-female line up, Red Aunts who recently have a nice double LP compilation album Come Up For A Close Look. Xaxaxa from Skopje, Macedonia, are lead by Vasko Atanososki who we also know from Bernay’s Propaganda. The Splits are three girls and one guy from Finland. Howe Gelb and his Giant Sand are back with one of their best albums in a rich career entitled Heartbreak Pass. They are now an international collective, more than a band – with 11 musicians (and one baby) on the record cover. Jackie DeShannon’s music from 1973 that was meant to be her second album for Atlantic record recently came out on a disc entitled All The Love – The lost Atlantic Recordings. It was recorded with Tom Dowd as a producer, but never came out in an integral version until now. We also have a new young band from Cleveland Daylight is the Dream and finish things off today with Movie Star Junkies – from Italy.
George Harrison – Don’t Make Me Wait Too Long;
Dany Laj and the Looks – I Know You Want Out;
Red Aunts – Detroit Valentine;
Redd Kross – Self Respect;
Bernay’s Propaganda – VIP In Paradise;
Xaxaxa – Siromasni i bogati;
The Splits – Rotten Me;
AAAA The Memphis Legs – Been Kinda Lost;
Oblivians – Final Stretch;
Bobby Blue Bland – Two Steps From The Blues;
Giant Sand – Hurtin Habit;
Jackie DeShannon – Easy Evil;
T Bone Walker – Blues For Marili (Blues Alphabet);
Tav Falco – Memphis Rumble;
Kim Fowley’s Psychedelic Dogs – 15 Years Ago;
Daylight is the Dream – Live in CLE;
Movie Star Junkies – Plain Gold Ring.
Some interesting stuff today. Erotic Biljan and his Heretics from Zagreb have a new single called Discgrace and we check it out. Also, Plastic Pals out of Sweden have a new single Riding With Elvis commemorating 80th birthday of Elvis Presley, which happened on January 8th. Also, out of Sweden, we have a new garage rock band The Vanjas. From Puerto Rico, we have Los Vigilantes singing in Spanish. Volume two of Jackie DeShannon tunes performed by other artists is out and we hear some rare acetates that she made as demos back in the day. We dedicate today’s show to one of the most original and interesting rock songwriters and organizers, one and only Kim Fowley who passed away last week.
We start of rocking hard. Mojo Magazine came up with the third instalment of their Heavy Nuggets and it sounds heavier than ever. Then we have a new name from Sweden – a hard rocking band Blues Pills fronted by Elin Larsson. Twin Peaks hail from Chicago and have a new album Wild Onion. Then we have a nice pair from Hozac – two singles and two new bands, 999999999 from the US and Southern Comfort from Australia, lead by Harriet Hudson and Angie Bermuda (also in Straight Arrows). One of the strongest albums this year so far is a duet by Lydia Lunch and Cypress Grove, entitle simply A Fistful of Desert Blues. They recorded a bunch of punky blues songs and it’s really strong. Then we have Richard Thompson with a new acoustic solo record in which he revisits his classics. But probably the coolest little bit today comes out in our Live in CLE segment. Today we have a brand new band from Cleveland called Monday Sound and it’s put together by Tom Fallon (New Salem Witch Hunters) and Brent Ferguson (Living Stereo). They covered no less than two Jackie DeShannon songs on their first gig ever and my recorder was handy…
We start off today with the new single for Sweet Apple. It’s a cover of Alice Cooper’s Elected. Then we check out the new band from Los Angeles, Blackfeet Braves. Los Straitjackets follow with their instrumental version of Nirvana’s Teen Spirit. Then we introduce new band from Australia, The Laurels. Shivering Timbers from Akron are in our Live in Cleveland segment. We also check out the new record for legendary Graham Parker. Some new reissues/archives are out as well. Jacke Deshannon’s final installment of her 60’s singles and Dan Penn’s soulful demos.
Today’s show is dedicated to one of the greatest songwriters ever – Jackie DeShannon. There is no particular reason for this celebration of her talent, I just felt like I needed some of her music. Back in the sixties it wasn’t so easy to be a female singer-songwriter. Somehow, musical industry at the time saw women either as performers or songwriters. So, women that wanted to do both at the same time had hard time breaking through these barriers. For example, Carole King had to wait for the entire decade to be over until she was given an opportunity to record her own songs properly. Jackie DeShannon was making albums and successful singles through the decade, but typically made hits with other people’s songs (Needles and Pins, What The World Needs Now). Her own songs she very often recorded just as simple acetate demos and passed over to other artists. These recordings are not easy to find these days, but some of these recordings surfaced. Today we have a concept where we play versions of Jackie’s demos and studio versions recorded by other artists that actually made charts. But most of all, it’s a chance to hear gorgeous Jackie’s tunes in her own inspired interpretation. Slight asperity of her voice is unmistakable and paired with her perfect songs, they stand as some of the most beautiful recordings laid on tape… umm acetate.