Alby's Latest Posts
Song of the Day 4/26: Van Morrison, “Real Real Gone”
This is Van Morrison’s best soul rave-up since “Jackie Wilson Says.” It was originally recorded in 1980 but wasn’t released until Van re-recorded it for 1990’s “Enlightenment.” At this tempo the song is worthy of all those soul greats he quotes in the outro. The slower original version was released on “The Philosopher’s Stone” in […]
Song of the Day 4/25: Buddy Holly, “Oh, Boy!”
I was reading about Ed Sullivan the other day and came across a tidbit I never heard before. I knew the legendary variety show host was known for holding grudges against performers who angered him, including Bo Diddley and the Doors, but I never realized he also feuded with Buddy Holly. When Holly and the […]
Can You Feel the Joementum?
The Democratic frontrunner for the 2020 presidential nomination reportedly will make his candidacy official tomorrow, either on video or in person, either someplace or in cyberspace. His heart is really in it — you can tell by how eager he’s been to declare himself a candidate. The public is treating it with all the enthusiasm […]
Take the Biden Challenge
It’s simple: Name something Joe Biden has been involved with that he didn’t fuck up. The Anita Hill hearings, the “new Jim Crow” crime bill, his first two presidential runs, trying to figure out where to announce he’s running for president again — fucked up, every one of them. So see if you can find […]
Song of the Day 4/24: Charles Bradley, “Changes”
When Charles Bradley was discovered by Daptone Records around the turn of the millennium, he was nearly 50 years old and performing a James Brown impersonation as Black Velvet. (Earlier he billed himself the Screaming Eagle of Soul.) Once he hooked up with Daptone’s Tom Brenneck he became an international success, partly because Brenneck steered […]
Song of the Day 4/23: Taj Mahal, “Queen Bee”
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicks off Thursday, and if this doesn’t make you wish you were there I don’t know what would. A local media outfit had the idea of getting musicians to play in the back of mule-drawn carriages while riding through town. Taj Mahal and his rhythm section were filmed […]
Song of the Day 4/20: Ben Harper, “Burn One Down” Live at Bonnaroo
Though there are enough weed anthems to make a playlist that lasts 4 hours and 20 minutes, my favorite is Ben Harper’s Jamaica-flavored proclamation of the freedom to fire up. Harper included the song on his second album, “Fight for Your Mind,” in 1995, and it’s been a staple of his live set since. Like […]
Song of the Day 4/19: Frank Zappa and the Mothers, “Son of Orange County/More Trouble Every Day”
Once upon a time in America, government oppression inspired protest. Lots of it was angry. Frank Zappa’s was, too, but his mode of expression was mockery, as in this oblique but incisive critique of our 37th president. The track as it appears on “Roxy and Elsewhere” was mostly recorded at Edinboro (Pa.) State College May […]
Song of the Day 4/18: Poole, “Superamerica”
Another forgotten power pop band from the ’90s, Poole hailed from northern Virginia, which helps explain why they shot this video in Ocean City, Md. “Superamerica” was the opening track of their first (and most critics think best) CD, the self-produced “Alaska Days.” “Oregon” pointed toward the sound they’d explore on their later discs. By […]
Song of the Day 4/17: Nat Turner Rebellion, “Laugh to Keep From Crying”
You might have seen the headline at Philly.com or the article in Rolling Stone about the Philadelphia soul-funk band whose LP finally is being released, 50 years after it was recorded at Philly’s legendary Sigma Sound Studios. The Nat Turner Rebellion was active during the heyday of Philadelphia soul. It was led by Joseph Jefferson, […]
Downstate Dumbfuck Does Delaware Proud
State Rep. Richard Collins has been a festering boil on Sussex County for a long time. Now he’s getting nationwide attention. Raw Story picked up audio of him spewing his ghastly philosophy of male supremacy and selfishness on WGMD, the Voice of Dumbass Delmarva. “You know, we have a massive problem in this country,” Collins […]
Song of the Day 4/16: Al Green w/ Lyle Lovett, “Funny How Time Slips Away”
Funny how I’m always finding new old stuff on YouTube. I knew Al Green recorded a solo version of this Willie Nelson song in the 1970s, but I didn’t realize he had re-recorded it in a more uptempo version with Lyle Lovett. Serves me right for not paying attention to the Grammy Awards; Green won […]
Song of the Day 4/15: Junior Parker, “Taxman”
George Harrison’s ode to Great Britain’s 95% marginal tax rate always gets a workout this time of year. The lead-off track on “Revolver” embellishes George’s bitter lyrics (written after someone explained why he was seeing so little of the money the Beatles earned) with a bouncy beat and a searing-for-its-day lead guitar break by Paul […]
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