Today’s show is dedicated to Larry Ramos, the singer who was a part of The Association, starting with their third album Insight Out. He passed away last week. We remember him with two tunes, but we also celebrate some new music as well. We introduce The Record Company, a band from Los Angeles. On the other band, in Brooklyn NYC we have a new really fun band called Screamin’ Rebel Angels. Greg Oblivian’s Reigning Sound have a new single. Los Puchos is a new name from Phoenix AZ. They put their music out exclusively on cassette tapes. Tame Impala have a new live LP. We also check out two recent LPs by Brimstone Howl. They were a great band from Omaha who broke up some 7 years ago, but before they split, they recorded two albums. One back home in Omaha and the other one in Detroit with Jim Diamond. Those albums were shelved and waited until recently only to show up in limited edition vinyl. John Ziegler, vocalist from that band also has a new band called The Lupines.
J Henry Burnett – Sliding By;
The Record Company – Baby I’m Broken;
Screamin’ Rebel Angels – Saved;
Elkie Brooks – Saved;
Oblivians – Pinball King;
Reigning Sound – Falling Rain;
Denney And The Jets – Darlin’;
Mississippi John Hurt – Here I Am, Oh Send Me (Blues Alphabet);
Brimstone Howl – Crosswind;
Brimstone Howl – Nothing New Under The Sun;
The Lupines – Maria (Where’s Yr Man);
Lawson And Four More – Halfway Down The Stairs;
Trashed Romeos- Halfway Down The Stairs;
Todd Rundgren – I Saw the Light;
Los Puchos – Sophie;
The Association – Are You Ready;
The Association – Like Always;
Natural Child – Train Coming Round The Bend (Live in CLE)
Tame Impala – Desire Be, Desire Go.
Oblivians are a band from Memphis, the godfathers of the garage underground scene in that city that just broke up when they were getting to be known worldwide in the late nineties. They called it quits after a great collaboration with Quintron in 1997. The band went separate ways, Greg Cartwright established himself as one of the most important songwriters with the new band Reigning Sound, Jack Yarber became the king of the minimalist garage and Eric Friedl was busy running the famous Goner Records label and playing gutter punk with True Sons of Thunder. This year they decided to ditch their real surnames again and return to The Oblivians.
It’s like all those years of separate careers did not even happen. The new record is a classic Oblivians chaotic mix of dirt and melody. Timeless quality comes form the fact that they recorded the whole thing on scotch tape, at least that’s how it sounds like. Inputs to the record are brotherly divided up by all three of them and among the excellent originals that already threaten to become classics, there are some hilarious cover choices: Paul Butterfield Band, Andy Griffith and probably the catchiest song on the record Call The Police which brings back Quintron and Miss Pussycat and it was written by Stephanie McDee – a popular local hip hop entertainer from New Orleans who mixes rap and zydeco traditions.
A few technical notes on the vinyl release. Cover on the font is a great photograph, but it’s a low resolution digital photo blown up to the 12×12″ record cover. Inside photography is beautiful. There is no clear information on the record or on the cover where it was mastered or pressed. I can’t say much about the vinyl cut, after all, the whole record sounds like it was recorded on a scotch tape. But that sort of visual and aural lo-fi chaos is what represents The Oblivians authentically. Anything more polished would be a disaster.
The first block in today’s show is dedicated to the three (fake) brothers – Eric, Greg and Jack Oblivian. We know Jack has a new album Rat City, but the other two brothers are shaking the rock’n’roll scene with new records as well. Greg’s Reigning Sound has a new digital record called Abdication For Your Love and Eric has a really exceptional new record with his band True Sons of Thunder. Their older colleague from Memphis, legendary Steve Cropper has a tribute record, dedicated to Lowman Pete Pauling of The “5” Royales fame. New Jersey singer songwriter Neal Casal is back also with the new record. Canadian lady Kathleen Edwards is a new name for us, but we really like what she’s doing.
The Mamas and Papas – Dedicated To The One I Love;
Tony Joe White – Scratch My Back;
True Sons of Thunder – Tony Joe White;
AAAA New Memphis Legs – Wild About You;
Oblivians – How Long;
Jack Oblivian – Girl with the Bruises;
Reigning Sound – Lyin’ Girl;
The 5 Royales – Dedicated To The One I Love;
Steve Cropper – Dedicated To The One I Love;
Kathleen Edwards – Sidecar;
Ana Egge – Motorcycle;
Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tells A Story;
Neal Casal – I Will Weep No More;
Neal Casal – Let It All Begin;
The Masticators – With A Litte Luck;
The Action Is – My Hero;
Dave Davies – This Man He Weeps Tonight.
Podcasting from Cleveland, Ohio. Broadcasting on Radio Kragujevac, every Sunday from 4-5pm (Central European Time). Streaming on Rock XS every Thursday at Midnight (Eastern European Time).