Today we have a special dedicated to one LP album. In fact, I will try to make this somewhat of a series whenever I stumble on an LP that sounds great and that I found sitting somewhere completely forgotten in a bargain bin of a record store. This is precisely what we have now. Peter Isaacson Sings is a completely strange folk album that gathers songs by Dylan, Donovan, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchel and others covered by some mysterious singer. On the record that I have, the mysterious singer is Peter Isaacson. On a different release that people mention here and there on the Internet, his name is Greg Lee. In any case, we have no clue who that person is and what is his real name, but he has a very beautiful voice and guitar style, all recorded what appears to be a single microphone. His voice is somewhere between Gordon Lightfoot at its weakest places and Sid Selvidge at its best parts. I am completely fascinated by this beautiful and mysterious record, and in this show we will hear nearly all cuts from it, along with the originals not just for comparison sake, but also because it makes one really rich playlist!
Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now;
Peter Isaacson – Both Sides Now;
Peter Isaacson – Blowin’ In The Wind;
Bob Dylan – Blowin’ In The Wind;
Peter Isaacson – Lalena;
Donovan – Lalena;
Peter Isaacson – Trouble In Mind;
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Trouble In Mind;
Peter Isaacson – Threw It All Away;
Bob Dylan – I Threw It All Away;
Cher – I Threw It All Away;
Peter Isaacson – Ribbon of Darkness;
Peter Isaacson – I Shall Be Released;
Bob Dylan – I Shall Be Released;
Peter Isaacson – Black Sheep Boy;
Tim Hardin – Black Sheep Boy;
Peter Isaacson – Catch The Wind;
Donovan – Catch The Wind;
Peter Isaacson – Affair On 8th Ave;
Gordon Lightfoot – Affair On 8th Ave.
UK label Acid Jazz has started re-issuing rare ep records and demos of the garage rock legends from England. In today’s show we represent two of those eps, both dealing with the past of Small Faces – Ian McLagan’s Muleskinners and Steve Marriot’s early solo work. Another cool reissue is the legendary Gibson Bros. LP from 1986 Build A Raft together with a busload of extras. Loretta Lynn has a new tribute album that gathered a mottle crew of artists. Logically, the tribute’s title is Coal Miner’s Daughter. Our good friends from the early days of the show, San Francisco duet ing, is back after a few years of silence with a luxurious CD/DVD release of Dial which is a musical that in parts deals with a loss of Mark Smotroff’s life partner Jack. John Wesley Coleman, a singer-songwriter from Austin is busy lately with putting out albums quite frequently. This time we listen to a track from his latest album Bad Lady Goes To Jail. And we also have one brand new band today, they are very loud and their name is Bottle Up And Go. So let’s go!
Here we are for the 100th time at Radio SC in Zagreb. We have three new bands introducing today. Black Dub is a new band for Trixie Whitley and Daniel Lanois. Trixie is daughter of Chris and we trace the total of three of her recordings from the tender age of 9, ’till today. Kill Devil Hills are rocking out of Perth, Australia. Fawn are a melodious new band in Detroit that I’ve seen opening for the Electric Six here in Cleveland recently. Speaking of E6, they have a new album and they cover Spinner’s Ruberband Man on it. Greenhornes are also back with the new record which they call Four Stars. We give it five. And at last, we have Richard Thompson’s new live record called Dream Attic.
This is one of the heaviest shows with new materials if you consider what rockers we have with new records this time: Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Mike Watt, Steve Wynn and Greg Cartwright. What a line up, huh? So, let’s see – the Boss dug out old sessions for the Darkness at The Edge of The Town album and has them out now as a double disc called The Promise. Costello recorded an album called National Ransom with T. Bone Burnett in LA and Nashville. Mike Watt has a new conceptual record called Hyphenated-Man and it’s about his life as a middle aged punk. Steve Wynn gathered his Miracle Three over in Richmond to record a new album which they call Northern Aggression. That one’s somewhat of a loose concept too – Yanks belting out in the Southern man’s land. Greg is here with a new band called The Parting Gifts, apparently an one time gig for him and Coco Hames of The Ettes.
Billy Ruane was a promoter and music event organizer in Boston. He had a huge impact on the Boston rock’n’roll scene and many Bostonians and others remember him fondly. Sad news came to us last Thursday that he has passed away in the age of 52. Today’s show is dedicated to him, as well as the beautiful song by Varsity Drag which bears his name. Besides this dedication, we also present some new music in this show. Gentleman Jesse has another 45 as well as the Memphis soul band Jump Back Jake. Croatian garage rockers Erotic Biljan and His Heretics have also a great new single. Jim Jones Revue are here for the first time, so we play two of their songs – one from the new album Burning Your House Down and the other from Mojo Magazine’s tribute to The Beatles album Let It Be. Underscore Adia sent us their song Buick. They come from Pittsburgh and they can really rock. Excellent Australian power-poper Dom Mariani is back with a new album and so is Susan Cowsill who calls her new album simply Lighthouse. I have a crazy fantasy that she named her album after my show… Am I right?!
Today we begin with two obituaries. I’ve only recently heard that Kenny Gethway has passed away in April this year. He was very young and practically at the beginning of his musical career with two of his brothers in this band called Monstrous. I really liked their 2006 album Mother Nature’s Slaves. Somewhat silently they published another album in 2009 called Brothers Gethway, but I only got it now. In any case, my hope is that the other two brothers will continue to make music as great as it was with Kenny when they recuperate. Another loss for rock’n’roll is Ari Up from The Slits, who cause quite a stir back in the days of post punk with their record Cut. Ari Up passed away last week, she was just 48. Today’s show is dedicated to Kenny and Ari. We also have a few new things today. Giant Sand have a new record called Blurry Blue Mountain and Howe Gelb just celebrated his 54th birthday. Other two big rockers, Brian Wilson and Neil Young also have new records out. Neil Young has a noisy guitar album called Le Noise and Brian Wilson has an interesting record where he reimages and reinvents old George Gershwin songs.
Sad news comes to us that the soul legend Solomon Burke died last week in Netherlands. This happened in the middle of the times when his revived career saw new heights. However, in his honor, we play some of his classic hits from the sixties and we dedicate this show to him. We also have some new stuff in today’s show. Australian band You Aim I is back with a self-titled album and Kim Simpson with a new ep which he entitled The Price Is Right. The new name in today’s show is Stephanie Finch, collaborator of Chuck Prophet. The album is called Cry Tomorrow. We also feature the new recordings for Tim Lee and Sweet Apple that one can find on Internet (or as a Japanese only bonus in the case of Sweet Apple).
Folks, here it is, second show for this season! We continue filling out gaps that happened while we were gone over the summer. One of the most pleasant surprises that happened recently is the return of Dan Stuart of Green on Red with his new band The Slummers. He, producer JD Foster and two Italian musicians created this new band and a ultra fun record called Love Of The Amateur. Australian band smrTs that we know from their demos last year are finally out with the first official CD. They call it Sun Sets On A New Tomorrow and it’s full of catchy instrumentals. Satin Gum from Pittsburgh are once again here with another extremely catchy EP which is once again self-titled. Clevelanders The New Lou Reeds have an LP out called Hit Songs. Another Cleveland band Scarcity of Tanks is back with another disc, which they call Bleed Now. And, we also have two débutantes, both from Canada, Strange Attractor and Red Mass and they share a cool split-EP. But the whole show starts with Dax Riggs who has a new album out called Say Goodnight To The World.
Here we are again after a summer long hiatus. Students are back to school, cold days are here and hot rock’n’roll selections too. This show is filled with some of the most exciting music that came out while we were gone. We have Eamon McGrath from Canada for the first time in our show. Interesting character who recorded tons of music alone in his bedroom for years until last year when his album 13 Songs of Whiskey and Light broke out internationally. Eamon is unusually talented songwriter that has a great future. We hope that his new album Peace Maker is just as good as 13 Songs. Another new songwriting name in today’s show is Pat Hull. He also wrote a number of songs back in his old hometown of Chico in California, until he moved to New York City recently. He has a new album called Fable Names. Spampinato brothers, Joey of NRBQ and Johnny of The Incredible Casuals recorded a new solo album called Pie In The Sky together with another Incredible Casual Aaron Spade. They are touring USA and keep your eye on the events in your town. Their shows are outstanding. Endless Boogie, blues gods from Brooklyn are also here with a new album Full House Head. Limes, Memphis band fronted by Shawn Cripps is also back with the new album Rhinestone River, which comes a few years after their Internet-only album Tarantula, which we loved five years ago. We love the new one too. One of the most exciting album this summer was the new album for Peter Case, who teamed with DJ Bonebreak from X to record Wig!. Case reinvented himself as a hot rocking bluesman and it totally works. Come tune in next week after you hear this one and don’t forget our bonuses!