Sound Like More Fun than Dealing With My Aching Siatica

From the NY Times.

NEW ORLEANS — Men whooped and hollered, rasped and preached. Women sassed, strutted, hurled accusations and wailed away tears. Guitars twanged and cackled, horns laughed, and drums pounded backbeats and chattered with funk. Tuesday was the first of two nights of the seventh annual Ponderosa Stomp, a party on its way to becoming an institution. The Ponderosa Stomp is an oldies marathon as dreamed up by record collectors: the kind of music fans who prize soul veterans’ rare B-sides and limited-edition garage-rock singles, the wilder the better.
...
The Stomp is officially dedicated to “unsung heroes” of rock and R&B: people like Wardell Quezergue, the arranger behind New Orleans R&B classics from the brass-band mainstay “It Ain’t My Fault” to Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff,” and the Green Fuz, a three-man Texas garage band that released one single, “Green Fuz,” a song that was revived by the Cramps. “Green Fuz” was recorded in 1969 in a diner under renovation, and reverberation from bare walls gave it a memorably murky sound. Band members didn’t like the recording and shot BB guns at part of their lone pressing of 500 copies. The Green Fuz was scheduled to be reunited, after 40 years, at Wednesday’s half of the Stomp.
...

Funky Jazz (as opposed to jazzy funk)

Great artists, great tracks, nothing not to like. Go check out Funky 16 Corners.

Playlist

Herbie Hancock – Wiggle Waggle (WB)
Buddy Rich – Chameleon (Groove Merchant)
Ray Bryant – Doing My Thing (Cadet)
Lou Donaldson – Sanford and Son (Blue Note)
Eddie Harris – Listen Here (Atlantic)
Mongo Santamaria – Windjammer (Atlantic)
Barry Miles – Woodstock (Mainstream)
Houston Person – Cissy Strut (Prestige)
Freddy McCoy – Huh! (Prestige)
Reuben Wilson – Cisco Kid (Groove Merchant)
Ramsey Lewis – The Unsilent Minority (Cadet)

Absolute Classic - Don't Sleep

Eddie Kendricks' People ... Hold On from 1972. Thanks to Lost In Tyme. You'll need an UnRar program to unzip the file.

Surely one of the most impressive albums to come out of Motown during early 70’s was “People – Hold On”, only the second album from Mr. Eddie Kendricks since his split from The Temptations some three years ago.
He is noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style and was one of the lead singers of the Motown singing group The Temptations during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Simply amazing album.Tracks

A1 If You Let Me (3:10)
A2 Let Me Run Into Your Lonely Heart (2:59)
A3 Day By Day (3:07)
A4 Girl You Need A Change Of Mind (7:30)
A5 Someday We'll Have A Better World (3:35)
B1 My People... Hold On (5:40)
B2 Date With The Rain (2:42)
B3 Eddie's Love (3:20)
B4 I'm On The Sideline (2:56)
B5 Just Memories (5:50)

Jay-Z Will Not Be Left Behind - Smart Move for Live Nation as Well

From the NY Times.

By JEFF LEEDS
Published: April 3, 2008

LOS ANGELES — In a move that reflects the anarchy sweeping the music business, the superstar rapper Jay-Z, who released his latest album to lukewarm sales five months ago, is on the verge of closing a deal with a concert promoter that rivals the biggest music contracts ever awarded.
Jay-Z plans to depart his longtime record label, Def Jam, for a roughly $150 million package with the concert giant Live Nation that includes financing for his own entertainment venture, in addition to recordings and tours for the next decade. The pact, expected to be finalized this week, is the most expansive deal yet from Live Nation, which has angled to compete directly with the industry’s established music labels in a scrum over the rights to distribute recordings, sell concert tickets, market merchandise and control other aspects of artists’ careers.

As CD sales plunge, an array of players — including record labels, promoters and advertisers — are racing to secure deals that cut them in on a larger share of an artist’s overall revenue. Live Nation has already struck less comprehensive pacts with Madonna and U2.
His first undertaking with Live Nation is his current 28-date tour with Mary J. Blige, his biggest live outing in more than three years. After that, Live Nation envisions integrating the marketing of all Jay-Z’s entertainment endeavors, including recordings, tours and endorsements.

“I’ve turned into the Rolling Stones of hip-hop,” Jay-Z said in a recent telephone interview.
...
The deal answers a question that had been circling through the rap world for months: Where would Jay-Z take his next corporate role? As part of the arrangement, Live Nation would finance the start-up of a venture that would be an umbrella for his outside projects, which are expected to include his own label, music publishing, and talent consulting and managing. Live Nation is expected to contribute $5 million a year in overhead for five years, with another $25 million available to finance Jay-Z’s acquisitions or investments, according to people in the music industry briefed on the agreement. The venture, to be called Roc Nation, will split profits with Live Nation.

The overall package for Jay-Z also includes an upfront payment of $25 million, a general advance of $25 million that includes fees for his current tour, and advance payment of $10 million an album for a minimum of three albums during the deal’s 10-year term, these people said. A series of other payments adding up to about $20 million is included in exchange for certain publishing, licensing and other rights. Jay-Z said Live Nation’s consolidated approach was in sync with the emerging potential “to reach the consumer in so many different ways right now.” He added: “Everyone’s trying to figure it out. I want to be on the front lines in that fight.”
...

If You've Ever Been Curious About the Grateful Dead's Appeal...

Check out this 1977 recording of Scarlet Begonias paired with Fire on the Mountain. From Art Decade.

Gregory Issacs, Moishe hyped for show

Stream Yesterday's My Morning Jacket SXSW Concert

Another chance to hear new songs from their upcoming album, this time with great sound quality. From NPR.
Update: big words from Rolling Stone.

What once sounded like Lynyrd Skynyrd-to-the-moon — and that is a high compliment — is now even bigger in heave and bolder in color and texture. At the Austin Music Hall,”Run Thru” was a Kentucky “Kashmir” and “Whole Lotta Love” combined: a slow, heavy riff; a hellbent middle of unison-guitar excitement; and a hard u-turn back to that messy, majestic grind. You could keep biting your nails, waiting for a Zeppelin-reunion tour. Or you can see My Morning Jacket, here and now, make their own Physical Graffiti in your face.

Another Update: Now you can download the concert in mp3. Here.

New My Morning Jacket Songs

Decent sounding videos from Breakfast on Tour of MMJ's show last night. They debuted eight new songs from their forthcoming album. Cool.
Update! Better yet, here is a concert from 2 days later broadcast by NPR.

Don't Front on Willie Nelson

This is a great mellow tune here, "Night Life."

Noooooo!!!!!

From Glide Magazine.

Led Zeppelin will not play live again together, according to a source close to the band’s singer, Robert Plant.

The Sunday Mirror newspaper quotes an anonymous source as saying that the band have turned down a £100 million offer to tour, with Plant’s own non-Led Zeppelin musical plans the reason for the decision.

The newspaper quotes the source as saying: “Despite the enormous offer, the decision did not come down to money. They always said they would do the one-off show and then see how they felt.

“Jimmy [Page, guitarist] enjoyed the concert in December enough to want to tour. He argued they still had something to offer. He likes the idea of another chapter in the band – the grown-up tour.

“John [Paul Jones, bassist] sided with Jimmy. He loved making music with the others again. But Robert [Plant] wanted to leave last year's concert as their legacy. They had proved they could still do it and that was enough.

“He has other commitments and is happier looking forward to those. Robert put the mockers on the tour.”

Longtime No Music Post

Here is a great mp3 mix from Bending Corners, for fans of that 70's cosmic jazz sound heavy on the Fender Rhodes. Check the play list:

1. Alphonso Johnson - Pandora's Box
(from: "Moonshadows" 1975)
2. Pete Jolly - Plummer Park
(from: "Seasons" 1970)
3. Olli Ahvenlahti - Breeze
(from: "Bandstand" 1975)
4. Harold Alexander - Quick City Revisited
(from: "Are You Ready" 1972)
5. O'Donel Levy - Sierra Lonely
(from: "Simba" 1973)
6. Hysear Don Walker - Children of the Night
(from: "Complete Experssions Vol. 2" 1972)
7. Bernie Senensky Trio - Beloved Gift
(from: "Ready or Not 2" (comp) - recorded 1975)
8. Leroy Vinnegar - Doin' That Thing
(from: "The Kid" 1974)
9. Second Direction - Peace
(from: "Four Corners" 1976)
10. Weldon Irvine - The Power and The Glory
(from: "Spirit Man" 1975)
11. Cannonball Adderley - 74 Miles Away
(from: "Phenix" 1975)
12. Nat Adderley - Electric Eel
(from: "You, Baby" 1968)
13. Ramon Morris - Lord Sideways
(from: "Sweet Sister Funk" 1973)
14. Norman Connors - Carlos II
(from: "Love From The Sun" 1973)

And check out some past music posts that Morty and Moishe Recommend...

Has Morty Mentioned That He Loves Cover Songs?

First up is Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings with the funkiest version of This Land is Your Land you will ever hear. And next is a country-rock version of the Aretha Franklin tune, Do Right Woman, by the Flying Burrito Brothers

Dear Record Companies, It's Not Rocket Science

From 60 Second Science. And here is another great music biz post that Morty and Moishe Recommend...

Blog Chatter Can Triple Future Sales of Music Albums According to New Study from NYU Stern
Thursday February 7, 9:42 am ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In his new research paper entitled, “Does Chatter Matter,” co-authored with former student Elaine Chang, NYU Stern Professor Vasant Dhar, an expert in the strategic implications of information technology, finds that the volume of blog posts featured on the Internet before an album’s release can significantly affect future album sales, and in turn predict sales for record labels. This is the first study to quantify the economic impact of user-generated content for the music industry.

Based on a sample of 108 albums released during the first two months of 2007, Professor Dhar found:

* When legitimate blog posts exceeded a threshold of 40 before an album’s release, sales were three times the average
* If the albums blogged about were associated with a major record label, sales increased five-fold
* When blog activity reached more than 250 posts, sales were six times the average regardless of an association with a major or independent label
* The number of an artist’s MySpace friends also contributed to higher future sales, but had a weaker correlation as compared to blog chatter

Professor Dhar tracked changes in the volume of online chatter—blog posts and the number of friends an artist has on MySpace—four weeks before and after an album’s release date.

The full working paper is available at: https://archive.nyu.edu/handle/2451/23783

You like Psychedelic Music? And You Like Funk? So What's Not to Like?

Follow the link for two "Stankadelic" mixes of psychedelic funk from the fantastic fellows at Lost in Tyme. You will need an UnRar freeware to unzip the files. Here are some other music posts that Morty and Moishe Recommend...

First the Stones, Now Scorcese to direct a bob marley documentary (first showing.net)

Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese is incredibly busy these days, finishing a Rolling Stones documentary titled Shine a Light due out in a few months and starting pre-production work on a thriller titled Shutter Island. Announced today is the addition of another documentary in Scorsese's line-up, this one about legendary reggae musician Bob Marley. The currently untitled film has been authorized by Marley's family and is aiming for release on February 6th, 2010, the same day as Marley's would be 65th birthday. I only need one word to describe this: awesome!

Bob Marley's oldest living son, Ziggy Marley, is a well-known reggae musician as well. Ziggy enthusiastically commented on the announcement, saying, "I am thrilled that the Marley family will finally have the opportunity to document our father's legacy and are truly honored to have Mr. Scorsese guide the journey." The same production team behind the Rolling Stones documentary Shine a Light will be again working with Scorsese on this documentary.

If you don't think that there is that much of a story to tell about Bob Marley, then you are severely wrong. Marley was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1945 and went on to form one of the most popular and influential reggae bands in history. Marley was regarded by many as a prophet of the Rastafarian religion and he also spoke strongly on public issues in Jamaica with as much power as a political or religious leader. In 1976 Marley was wounded in an assassination attempt at his home, but went on to perform at a political concert two days later. He died in 1981 at the age of 36 after cancer from a soccer injury in his toe had spread throughout his brain, lungs, liver, and stomach. "Marley was a pioneer not only because he single-handedly brought reggae to the world, but because his passionate, socially observant music has become a yardstick against which all reggae will forever be measured."

I really appreciate what Scorsese is doing by immortalizing some of these classic bands and musicians. Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones deserve it and so does Bob Marley. I wonder if Scorsese will just keep making documentaries about great classic musicians for as long as he can. There are plenty of other great musicians that I'm sure Scorsese could make a fantastic film about. For now I'll just keep my interest set on Shine a Light and his upcoming Bob Marley doc, in between his other feature films that is.

If You Want to Know What the Kids Were Listening to in 2007

From the music blog Art Decade. Download their all-2007 mix.
1) Philip Glass – I Enjoyed the Laughter
2) Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling Into Place
3) The Field – A Paw In My Face
4) Panda Bear – Good Girl / Carrots (excerpt)
5) Jens Lekman – I’m Leaving You Because I Don’t Love You
6) CocoRosie – Animals
7) Cass McCombs – Lionkiller
8) Beastie Boys – 14th Street Break
9) Paul van Dyk – Fall With Me
10) Chromatics – I Want Your Love
11) Spoon – Don’t You Evah
12) Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma
13) Amy Winehouse – Love Is A Losing Game
14) Jay-Zed – Roc Boys (And The Winner Is…)
15) Beirut – In The Mausoleum
16) Slaraffenland – The Run Up
17) Caribou – Irene
18) Air – Mer du Japon
19) Bon Iver – For Emma
20) FrYars – Happy
21) Sweet Piece – RJD2
22) The New Pornographers – Myriad Harbour
23) Modest Mouse – Education
24) The National – Apartment Story
25) Black Kids – I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again)
26) The Black Lips – Katrina
27) Bryan Ferry – If Not For You
28) (Bonus track) Radiohead – The Headmaster Ritual

Simply Put, My Morning Jacket Rawks

Seriously, they do. Click on the link in the headline, as always, for a live concert in Philadelphia as broadcast by WXPN. Morty was at this one, and they are about as classic as you can get in Rock music these days.

File this under, it's gangster out there on the streets of Florida

Arrested for singing profane lyrics within earshot of children

FEBRUARY 5--A 19-year-old man was arrested Sunday night for singing the lyrics to a profane rap song as he walked on a Florida street. Christopher Holder was nabbed after a woman complained to police that her two children (ages five and 14) heard Holder repeatedly reciting the words "mother fucker," according to a Hernando County Sheriff's Office report, a copy of which you'll find here. When questioned by deputies, Holder "immediately began arguing that he did nothing wrong," and explained that he was merely covering a song by Louisiana rapper Lil' Boosie, whose most recent album, "Bad Azz," includes cuts like "My Nigga" and "Fuck You." But Holder, pictured in the below mug shot, added that he "agreed that he did not believe children needed to hear language such as that being hollered down the road." Holder was charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

Sorry, Jim Morrison, Al Green Does Your Song Better Than You

Morty loves cover tunes. Here's Al Green doing Light My Fire...
Update! More covers here.

This is straight up Philly - Live from Septa