Feck!

Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed and the soul of R & B

For some reason, when an Australian artist lacks inspiration or sufficient incoming revenue (I don’t need to name the guilty parties do I?) they release an album of soul covers.

In a remarkably perceptive review of Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed and the True Loves CD Roll With You, Bernard Zuel wrote:

… R&B, it comes down to sex. Having it, wanting it, missing it. If you have that sexual undercurrent, you prickle the skin, pop the sweat glands and move the body; if you don’t have it, you’ve got pop music. It’s why Otis Redding had it and Jimmy Barnes doesn’t, why Renee Geyer can live R&B and why the sweet-voiced Guy Sebastian can’t, no matter how many Stax classics he covers

Even though Zuel was in praise of Reed’s album I was a little skeptical. Soul and R&B revivalists seem to come at regular intervals and disappear with the same frequency. But the accursed radio station ABC 702 kept playing his songs on the various show I listen to driving to and from work.

the songs weren’t bad. I became intrigued and got to the point where I decided to give the album a go. In fact, since I got the album off iTunes, the decision is that  Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed and The True Loves’ Roll With You is indeed mighty fine.

Big brassy horns, clean funky guitar and Eli’s remarkable soul infected voice make for one great band that put the rhythm and blues back into R&B and soul. It sounds like the real deal yet is not derivative.

The ballads have that aching and yearning that tug at your heart and the faster tunes stomp along propelled by fat horn blasts. It is joyous, good time music with no pretensions.

I have this CD ready for the car this week and I doubt I will take it off. Don’t just take my word for granted. Check out videos below. You’ll be glad you did.

Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed and the True Loves - The Satisfier

Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed and the True Loves - Take My Love With You

AC/DC album news

First bit of good news is that is apparently does exist. Secondly by next week it will have a name. ‘Black Ice’ is the front runner.

Thirdly, I believe one of the songs may be released next month in prep for the album in September and October.

What I want is concert dates. I’ve started saving because if it is their last tour, I’m gonna have one hell of a time.

Back in the beginning, back in 1974 Part 2

It is rare for an artist to emerge fully formed on their first album. Usually, influences haven’t been fully integrated into their sound and rough edges can be found. The one exception that comes to mind is Jimi Hendrix. Are You Experienced was stunning its in realization of a sound that was unlike anything else even if cobbled from blues and R&B.

Which brings us to the AC/DC photography exhibition, AC/DC Exposed, that has opened in Sydney. One of the photos pre-dates Bon and features a very glammed up AC/DC. The hard rockin’ sound of the lads did not spring out of nowhere. You can hear the sound in fermentation via a ‘74 I’ve blogged about before. Some of the songs ended up on either, High Voltage or TNT but it is still a mix of Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Free and other assorted blues rockin’ influences.

If you have a listen to High Voltage the band is still trying to get their sound. Sure She Got Balls and the cover of Baby Please Don’t Go sound like they are getting there but other songs, like Soul Stripper or Stick Around struggle with identity. And don’t forget Love Song which not only is the closest thing the band has done to a ballad, it also features acoustic guitar!

The photo below is form the exhibition. Angus and Mal are there but no Bon. Dave Evans is the chap with the scarf. Rob Bailey and Peter Clack are the other two blokes in the pic.

Deconstuction: Joe Pass Autumn Leaves Part 3

Check out part one and part two.

Apologies for the delay but I have part three all done. Combine all three parts and you have a complete run through the changes for Autumn Leaves. You may not play it as well as Joe (I fer sure don’t) but it will impress family and friends.

As usual there are quite a few nifty tricks. And they need some analyzing but I’ll save that for later. I just want to get the tab up for now which is over the fold. I’ll complete the tune though I’m tempted to digress into Mozart next for some fun.

Jebus built my muxtape

This idea for this muxtape was ripped off from inspired by Phineas at No Commercial Potential. The idea is simple. All the songs are about Jesus more or less. The sacred to the profane.

Go have a listen.

Steve Vai as Hank Williams?

This is Steve Vai.

This is how he sounds.

This is Hank Williams.

This is how he sounded.

Steve Vai plays Hank Williams in the movie Crazy. Which is about Hank Garland.

This is how he sounded.

Looks an interesting movie. Hope it gets a theatrical or DVD run soon.

Rock on Bo Diddley

One chord. One rhythm. One man. Spell M-A-N…man.

He walked 47 miles of barbed wire and had a cobra snake for a necktie. Had a tombstone hand and a graveyard mind. Just turned 79 and don’t mind dying.

Amanda pays her respects as does Dave Alvin with a rememberance of the night Bo banned the ‘beat.’

I’ve thrown together a Bo Diddley muxtape. Some Bo Diddley songs, songs that he wrote but performed by other artists and some copping that Bo Diddley beat. And a list of some more songs that have that Bo Diddley beat.

Bo Diddley - Who do you love?

Bo Diddley - Road Runner

Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley - You Can’t Judge a Book by The Cover

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Before You Accuse Me

Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy

George Thorogood and The Destroyers - Ride On Josephine

Ronnie Dawson - Rockinitis

The Who - Magic Bus

Jeff Lang - Half Seas Over

Track by track

Our Jeff fires up Lizotte’s

A test for strength of the material on a new album is to hear it live in relation to the artist’s previous body of work. That will tell you how good it is. Jeff Lang opened his Lizotte’s gig on Thursday night with The Savannah Way, Southern Highlands Daughter and Copper Mine from the new album Half Seas Over. Unfamiliarity with the tunes wasn’t an issue as it was the perfect opening. With bassist Grant Cummerford’s sympathetic and on the money accompaniment, the new songs melded perfectly with the old.