Weepin’ Willie Robinson passes

“Weepin'” Willie Robinson, a blues singer who performed with the likes of Steven Tyler and Bonnie Raitt but also spent time homeless, has died at age 81. Mr. Robinson had been a sharecropper, an Army veteran and a friend of performers, including B.B. King. “He was truly the elder statesman of the (Boston) blues. He was our godfather. He was the most dear man,” Holly Harris, host of “Blues on Sunday” on WBOS radio, told The Boston Globe for Monday’s editions. When he sang, “you knew he meant it because he had passion,” Harris said. Robinson died Sunday in a fire started by a cigarette he was smoking in bed, the Boston Fire Department said. He had worked a benefit concert with Tyler and two Boston Music Awards shows, in 2005 and again earlier this month. Robinson was born in Atlanta and picked cotton and fruit with his family up and down the East Coast. After spending time in the Army in the 1940s, he became a master of ceremonies and doorman at blues clubs in Trenton, N.J., where he met King and other legends and eventually sang with King’s 21-piece orchestra. His daughter, Lorraine Robinson, told the Globe her father found his place on stage. “A great smile would come on his face and he would be in his own little world, like he’d tune everything out,” she said. “He just, like, felt the music. It was so much in his soul.” Robinson settled in Boston in 1959 and played in clubs, but by 2005 he was living on the street and out of touch with his family. Blues performers learned of his situation, held a benefit concert and made sure he was fed and clothed. Robinson later performed everywhere from local clubs to the hallways of the rest home where he lived.

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This is the end of the year

well almost. 4 hours and I still didn’t get a chance to play ALL the albums that I wanted to ….So, to those who I left out…my apologies….but man, there was some good music made in 2007. Tomorrow I will post my top albums of 2007, a condensed version of todays show with artist and album listed in some form of numerical order.

ClassicISH- Deviants of Reality
Bring me Back- the Mighty Underdogs
Change Da Game- Deviants of Reality
Think Back- Galactic w/Chali 2na
Man I Used to Be- K-OS
Infinity- Ill Chemistry
Too Big for my Skin- Desdamona
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From Elsewhere to Nowhere- MarsMobil
Sir your fashion has the Cold Heart of a Killer-the Beautiful Girls
Bring Back your Love (Shrift mix)-Bebel Gilberto
Beauty- Wax Poetic
1000 Ways- Zap Mama
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Only Love, Lets Celebrate-Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party
War Pigs (live)- Cake w/Steven Drodz
Girl you have Magic Inside of you-Outrageous Cherry
Love in the Harbour- A Band of Bees
Take it Off- the Donnas
Ooh Mama Ooh- Moby Grape
Dazed and Confused (live)- the Yardbirds
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My Friend- Pedro Arevalo (unreleased)
Sugar Sweet(live)-Geoff Achison & the SoulDiggers
Oreo Cookie Blues(live)- Stevie Ray Vaughn/Lonnie Mack
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Courage- Vieux Farka Toure (UFO over Bamako remix)
Cler Achel- Tinariwan
Occapella (Have a Beer)-Slavic Soul Party
Its all Over Now- Dirty Dozen Brass w/Dr. John
Crawl- Nikki Armstrong
Hypnotized- A.K.A.C.O.D.
Revolution- Sirsy
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Instant Messenger Dream- Secretary
Soulfunksticat- Cameron Mizell
Left Coast Boogie- the Greyboy All Stars
100 Days 100 Nights- Sharon Jones & the Dapkings
His Girl- the Budos Band
How Does the Brain Wave- Baby Elephant w/David Byrne
Yes We Can Can- Marc Broussard
Love is the Answer for World Peace-Lipbone Redding
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C’mon Down- John Lisi & Delta Funk
Como, MS- Cashman
Let it Rock- Davis Coen
War- JJ Grey & Mofro
Diamond in your Mind (live)-Tom Waits
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Fading in c# minor- Una
Guvna Dub- Guvna Dub
Scratch to Win- Ticklah
Funky Hats- Skeebo Knight
Balls- Charlie Hunter Trio
Ghetto Fireworks Part 1- Karl Denson Trio
B for my Name- the Beastie Boys
Talk to me- DJ Vadim w/Sena
Life of the Mind (live)- Club d’Elf
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a Style called Crying Chic- Pop Levi

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in a backup studio

With only one cd deck working properly in a back-up studio as the man behind the technology did some well needed maintenance in Studio A, the show was different for sure..After each song I had to either do a mic break or play a PSA…..for smoothness I give myself a C+, but the overall show came out looking like this on paper:

Say my Name- Superchunk
I Drink- Southern Crush
Riddles- Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Lay me Down- Laura Cheadle
Childe- Dana Varon
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Train Bound for Nowhere- Crazy Mary
Cross my Palm w/Silver- Sir Richard Bishop
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Vibin’ & Bala in’- Man de ng
Abele Dance- Manu DiBango
I’m no Fool- Sierra Leone AllStars
Ray Ray- Fat Freddys Drop
Funk N Bop- Mutiny
Hippest March part II- Clyde Stubblefield
Live Wire- the Meters
Credits- the Aquarium
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Burnin’ for You- Mike Watt
Why you Wanna Bring me Down- Honeytribe
New Values- Pale Moon Gang
New Agenda- MS Led
So Romantic- the Charms
It’s all About you- the Goldstars
Sunday Bloody Sunday- Saul Williams
Long Shadow- Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
Butts Wigglin’- the Tragically Hip
Tied to the Tracks- Treat her Right
Every Hungry Woman- the Allman Brothers (live)
Where are the Angels- Tony Tyler Trance
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Hollywood (Africa)- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mala Vida- Mano Negra
the Lover- MMW
Walking Through Babylon- Thievery Corporation
Gotta Have Rain- SOL
Soweto Funk- Aiyb Dieng
Gimme Shelter- Angelique Kidjo w/Joss Stone
Agni- Tom Rossi
Red Sun- Anoushka Shankar
Panorama- the Yoshida Brothers
Hang Tan- Toubab Krewe
Towering Inferno- the Green Arrows
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Everything I ever Wanted- Life as Monster
Get Bitchy- Terry Garland

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Benazir Bhutto assassinated

Charismatic, striking and a canny political operator, Benazir Bhutto, 54, was reared in the violent and turbulent world of Pakistani politics and became the country’s and the Muslim world’s first female prime leader. A deeply polarizing figure, the “daughter of Pakistan” was twice elected prime minister and twice expelled from office in a swirl of corruption charges that propelled her into self-imposed exile in London for much of the past decade. She returned home this fall, billing herself as a bulwark against Islamic extremism and a tribune of democracy.
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a sad day around the world as another hope is taken away.

Omar Sosa-aFREEcanos

With his roots deeply embedded in Africa, Omar Sosa brings together musicians from Africa, Cuba, Brazil, and France to celebrate the rich heritage of African music in Jazz as well as Latin music. The arrangements on this album, set to be released in early 2008, combine the folkloric with the contemporary-the ancestral with the urban. You will be able to not only hear but feel the spirit voices and pulsing percussion instruments of Africa and the Americas fuse with Sosa’s lyrical and adventurous piano stylings. I want to be sure to thank my friends over at Ota Records for making certain I get to share this album with you.

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Omar Sosa-Afreecanos-Ota Records-2008

R.I.P. Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson, whose early talent and speedy fingers made him one of the world’s best known jazz pianists, died at age 82. During an illustrious career spanning seven decades, Peterson played with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. He is also remembered for touring in a trio with Ray Brown on bass and Herb Ellis on guitar in the 1950s. Peterson’s impressive collection of awards include all of Canada’s highest honors, such as the Order of Canada, as well as a Lifetime Grammy (1997) and a spot in the International Jazz Hall of Fame. His growing stature was reflected in the admiration of his peers. Duke Ellington referred to him as “Maharajah of the keyboard,” while Count Basie once said “Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I’ve ever heard.” He was also influenced by Nat King Cole, whose Nat King Cole Trio album he considered “a complete musical thesaurus for any aspiring Jazz pianist.” In 2005 he became the first living person other than a reigning monarch to obtain a commemorative stamp in Canada, where he is jazz royalty, with streets, squares, concert halls and schools named after him. A jazz player is an instant composer,” Peterson once said in a Canadian Broadcasting Corp. interview, while conceding jazz did not have the mass appeal of other musical genres. “You have to think about it, it’s an intellectual form,” he said…..and maybe today for a moment, think about the life of Mr. Oscar Peterson.

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a 4 hour World Bridge connection

I first want to make sure I give “props” to one of the major influences in my “World Music” know-how….please check out my good friend and brother Richard over at one world radio, he is the man with the global vibe and shed a little of that light my way over many years….without his input and output, I would never attempt such a show.

Grassfire- John Trudell
Rock el Casbah- Rachid Taha
Teknochek Collision- Slavic Soul Party
Everybody Loves you- Hazmat Modine
Win my Train Fare Home- Robert Plant (live in the desert)
Afours Afours- Tinariwen
Chatma- Tinariwen
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No Alternative- Saritah
Fly Away- Sara Wasserman/Aaron Neville
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Jingo- Manu DiBango w/King Sunny Ade
Crathadh t Aodaich and Zbadba- Mouth Music
Spirit of the Forest- Baka Beyond
Ti Citron- 3 Mustaphas 3
Cuban Connection- Outback
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Don’t Look Back- Peter Tosh/Mick Jagger
Girlwatcher- Yellowman (live in S.F.)
I gotta Woman- Toots & the Maytals
Hey Brotha- Zap Mama w/Michael Franti
I feel awake even tho this is a Dream-Suphala/Edie Brickell
Nivedan- Anoushka Shankar (live)
Palmistry- Tabla Beat Science
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A Love Supreme- Carlos Santana
A Love Supreme- Rufus Harley
The Invergarry Blues- Peatbog Faeries
Colonel Fraser- Jerry O’ Sullivan
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Courage- Vieux Farka Toure
Connection-Sean Noonan Brewed by Noon
Bara- Tonight’s African Band
Devil Woman- Toubab Krewe
Tibidi Waka- Vusi Mahlasela w/ Derek Trucks
Tshungane- ABAJI
Pirates- Super Rail Band de Bamako
Dee Moo Woor- Orchestra Baobab
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Dos Caminos- Omar Sosa (live)
Una broma seria- Habana Abierta
Che Che Cole Makossa- Antibalas
Yanbando- Juan Carlos Formell & Son Radical
Leonel el Feo- Melingo with Florencia Bonadeo
Lip Smacker- Poncho Sanchez
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Balkan Trilogy- Terrafolk
3rd Stream- Jake Shimabukuro
T Boli- Dr. Didg
Kaluli Groove- Global Drum Project
The Hop- Radio Citizen w/Bajka
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Paraiba- Forro in the Dark w/Miho Hatori
Kiyakiya- Babatunde Olatunji
Incaldido- Bonga
Hende Baba- Thomas Mapfumo
Hearts Desire Dub- Eccodek

a 4 hour World Bridge connection

Ice isn’t so nice…

Lovelife- the Mighty Underdogs feat. LadyBUG Mecca
World of Vibrations- Blackalicious
Thick Shake- Chow Nasty
How Does the Brain Wave-Baby Elephant w/David Byrne
Gettin’ into it- King Britt/Brother ? mix
Mushaboom- K-Os/Feist
Life Shine- TH White
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Santa’s Pissed off- Andy Dick & the Bitches of the Century
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Spoon- Cibo Matto
Smells like Teen Spirit- Patti Smith
Down in Mississippi- Mavis Staples
Easter Flesh- Legendary Shack Shakers
The Way You Do- Devil Doll
VooDoo Woman- NRG Band (live)
Mystery Track#14- Ron Lasalle
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Ooh Baby Ooh- Moby Grape
Come Back baby- Jefferson Airplane
Train Kept a Rollin’-the Yardbirds (live)
You’ve got the Best in Town-Buddy Miles/Billy Cox
Expressway to your Heart- Merl Saunders & Friends (live)
Tied to the Tracks- Treat her Right
Damn Good- Crazy Mary
Love in the Harbour- Band of Bees
Dirty Old Man- Neil Young
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Christmas Memories/Wheels- Tommy Emmanuel
Greensleeves- Andy Timmons
Marley’s Ghost- Andrew York
Jingle Bells- Adrian Legg
Richard Nixon Orchid- Glenn Jones
Run Rudolph Run- the Dillingers
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Learn to Cook- Clyde Stubblefield
You’ve got me Rockin’- Carl Palmers PM
Whole Lotta Lovin’-L.Kravitz/Rebirth Brass Band/Maceo Parker
Turpentine- JJ Grey & Mofro
Coffee-Papa Mali
Get Behind the Mule- John Hammond
She just Wants to Dance- Keb Mo
Gina- Chuck E Weiss
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Chick A’ Roo- Ricky Wayne and the Flee Rakkers
Crazy Legs- Jeff Beck and the Big Town Playboys
Huskie Team- The Saints
Summer Blue- Money Mark
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Two Plains- LDHamrock
Winter Wonderland- Mimi Fox
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Extra Set**********
Comfortably Numb- David Gilmour/David Bowie (live)
Is there Anybody out There- Motor Industries
Nothing Less Than You- Stan Harrison
Better People- Xavier Rudd
Fountain of Youth- the Subdudes
Bad Weather- AKACOD
Up in the Hills- Bernie Worrell/Mike Gordon

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the work just to get there

Fusion anyone…

a Friday night fill in of funk and jazz fusion.

2% Body Fat- Robert Walter
The Plain Truth- Karl Denson Trio
Boxer’s Fracture- Liquid Soul
Mambo Sinuendo-Ry Cooder/Manuel Galban
Descargate- Gino Castillo
Shotgun- Poncho Sanchez/Maceo Parker
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Snap Back Jack- Jeremy Baum
Kenny- MMW
Dirty-Bernie Worrell w/Warren Haynes
Special Shirt- Charlie Hunter Trio
Comfortably Numb-David Gilmour w/David Bowie (live)
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Drums of A Siko- Asiko
Res E Yo- the Afromotive
Beans for Breakfast- BLKTOP Project
Girl & Boys- Marcus Miller feat. Macy Gray
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Steady- Brazz Tree
the Strange Parade- Invert
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Keep on Looking- Sharon Jones & the Dapkings
Scorpion- the Budos Band
How Glad I am- Greyboy Allstars w/the Living Sisters
Zimbabwe- Dr. Lonnie Smith
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Mississippi Rising- Floratone
Dana’s Lick- Ripplegroove
Red Moon- Al DiMeola
Flatbush & Church Revisited-Vernon Reid & Masque
Crack it Way Open- G.Howe/V.Wooten/D.Chambers
Baghdad Cafe- Liquid Soul
Hunk O’Funk- McLemore Ave.
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Top Floor Bottom Buzzer- Morphine
Take me With You- Morphine
Sweet Life- Karen Gibson Roc

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Indie bands Sue Camel/Rolling Stone

So it turns out that Indie bands Xiu Xiu and Fucked Up filed a class action lawsuit against Camel cigarettes’ parent company R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Rolling Stone, and the magazine’s parent company, Wenner Media, according to a Daily Swarm report. The suit– filed on December 17 on behalf of 186 artists whose names appeared in Rolling Stone’s “Indie Rock Universe” feature, tucked conspicuously within a fold-out advertisement for Camel’s indie-friendly “The Farm” campaign in the magazine’s November 15 issue– accuses the defending parties of “unauthorized use of artists’ names; unauthorized use of artist names for commercial advantage (right of publicity); and unfair business practices.“. Yeah, I mean how can something like that be overlooked when so many people have such an eager eye to scrutinize? Xiu Xiu and Fucked Up essentially claim that Rolling Stone created and presented their feature with full knowledge that it would appear part and parcel with the Camel ad. The plaintiffs ask that the magazine print a follow-up feature equal in size to the original clarifying that artists’ names were used without consent. They’re also seeking financial recompense for damages. While this marks the first time Rolling Stone has found itself the subject of legal action following the ad scandal, nine states’ Attorneys General have already filed lawsuits against Camel for using cartoons to sell tobacco products. So, it is just get away with as much as possible until someone catches you up, you get all kinds of publicity and a chance to make amends…it’s all a game…but you knew that.

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-you’re just a player in the game to the industries.

Sure to be in this years TOP…..

Most likely I am going with a TOP 20 something this year. But this is one of the great releases of 2007 for sure.
GOIN’ HOME: A Tribute to Fats Domino
Icons from the world of rock, blues, reggae, pop and country music have joined together to salute the genius of legendary piano man FATS DOMINO. This stellar tribute to one of the cornerstones of rock n’ roll music will help raise desperately needed funds specifically earmarked for instruments to be donated to New Orleans’ public school children. Monies raised from the sales of Goin’ Home will also go toward Domino’s neighborhood by creating a community center in the Crescent City’s still ravaged Lower 9th Ward. Proceeds of Goin’ Home will fund additional community related programs. The Tipitina’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving the cultural legacy of New Orleans through music education for the youth and providing programs that support working musicians of New Orleans and the Gulf Region, conceived and executive produced Goin’ Home. With so many great artists and people being a part of this album, I thought I’d dangle the set-lists in front of you to make your mouth and thirsty ear-holes water some more…

Disc 1:
1. John Lennon: Ain’t That A Shame
2. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: I’m Walkin’
3. B.B. King with Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk: Goin’ Home
4. Elton John: Blueberry Hill
5. Taj Mahal & The New Orleans Social Club: My Girl Josephine
6. Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Joss Stone and Buddy Guy: Every Night About This Time
7. Paul McCartney featuring Allen Toussaint: I Want To Walk You Home
8. Lenny Kravitz with Rebirth Brass Band, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker: Whole Lotta Loving
9. Dr. John: Don’t Leave Me This Way
10. Bonnie Raitt & Jon Cleary: I’m In Love Again/All By Myself
11. Art Neville: Please Don’t Leave Me
12. Robbie Robertson with Galactic: Going To The River
13. Randy Newman: Blue Monday
14. Robert Plant with Lil’ Band O’ Gold: It Keeps Rainin’
15. Corinne Bailey Rae: One Night (Of Sin)

Disc 2
1. Neil Young: Walking To New Orleans
2. Robert Plant with The Soweto Gospel Choir: Valley Of Tears
3. Norah Jones: My Blue Heaven
4. Lucinda Williams: Honey Chile
5. Marc Broussard featuring Sam Bush: Rising Sun
6. Olu Dara & The Natchezippi Band with Donald Harrison Jr.: When I See You
7. Ben Harper with the Skatalites: Be My Guest
8. Toots & The Maytals: Let The Four Winds Blow
9. Willie Nelson: I Hear You Knockin’
10. Irma Thomas and Marcia Ball: I Just Can’t Get New Orleans Off My Mind
11. Bruce Hornsby: Don’t Blame It On Me
12. Herbie Hancock with George Porter Jr., Zigaboo Modeliste and Renard Poche: I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday
13. Los Lobos: The Fat Man
14. Big Chief Monk Boudreaux with Galactic: So Long
15. Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Walter “Wolfman” Washington & Theresa Andersson: When The Saints Go Marching In

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2007 Vanguard/Tipitina’s Foundation

5 Hours is what I’d Like

Well, with students going home for break and snow falling every other day, I managed to have 5 consecutive hours and must say if I was a little more prepared, that would be the right amount of time. Here is what the right amount of time looked like this time around:

Cave Man- Club d’Elf (live)
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Dogg Starr- LadyBUG Mecca
Nickel Bags- Digable Planets
Paper Planes- MIA
Amorphous Form- Bassnectar w/Souleye
Weasel Potpie- that 1 guy
Hot Sticky Nikki- Chow Nasty
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Happy Hour- Whiskey & Co.
Oh Billy!- SIRSY
The Way You Do- Devil Doll
Hypnotized- A.K.A.C.O.D.
From the Bottom up- Dayna Kurtz
—————————————————————–
Honey Dove- Lee Fields & the Expressions
Fly- Eymarel
How Glad I am-Greyboy Allstars w/the Living Sisters
Everyday People-Maroon5 w/Sly & the Family Stone
Soulfunksticat- Cameron Mizell
Ghetto Fireworks prt1- the Karl Denson Trio
Balls- Charlie Hunter Trio
Brownie, Leo, Gus & Boo Boo- Skeebo Knight
September- Celia Baron
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Gina- Chuck E. Weiss
Old Man- Johnny Trama
420 Louis- Leon Stevenson
Commotion- CCR
She got me when she put her Dress on- Masters of Reality
Moonburn- Jon Cleary
My Girl Josephine-Taj Mahal/N.O.Social Club
My Feet Can’t Fail me Now- Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Jeepster- T Rex
Girl You Have Magic Inside of You-Outrageous Cherry
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Magnificent Seven theme-the Dillingers
Take a Break Guys- Brain Setzer Orchestra
This is Hip- John Lee Hooker
Nobody’s Fault but Mine- NO Blues
Dimba- Ousman Toure
Moose- Toubab Krewe (live)
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Dune Buggy- the Presidents of the USA
Missing my Baby- G-Love & Special Sauce
Dream- Alice Smith
Take my Hand- Jennifer Gentle
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Love Potion #9- Herb Albert’s Tijuana Brass
Baby it’s You- Smith
Ruby Baby- Donald Fagen
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the Sniper at the Gates of Heaven- the Black Angels
Naturals Not in it- Gang of Four
I Slept Through It- Twinemen
Bad Weather- A.K.A.C.O.D.
Gotta Keep Movin- Willy Mason
Be My Guest- Ben Harper & the Skatalites
Secret Agent Man- Johnny Rivers
Mindreader- Ten High
Revolution- SIRSY
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Down in Mexico- the Coasters
Beautiful- G.Love w/Tristian Prettyman
Orange & Blue- Desdamona
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Nightlife- Whiskey & Co.
Bemsha Swing- Dr. Lonnie Smith
Tres Negros- Omar Sosa
Tempo Perdido- Pink Martini
Working Sunday- Dorado
Prelude- Fort Pastor
Gotta Clean up the World pt 2-Funky Music Machine
Left Coast Boogaloo- the Greyboy Allstars
Round Oak Blues- Skeebo Knight
I Want to Take You Higher-Sly Stone/S.Tyler/R.Randolph
————————————————————-
Getting Crazy Up in Here- Jon Cleary
Saturday Night Fish Fry- Chuck E. Weiss
Fly- Eymarel
I hear Music- Swingsett & Takuya’s Mighty Fine Remix

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Chuck E Weiss

With the re-release of The Other Side of Town on Select Records, people can be re-introduce, re-member or simply rejoice in nine songs that are meaningful and important. He grew up in Denver, Colorado, where his parents owned a record store (Record Center). Through his parents, and by spending time at the local blues bar Ebbett’s Field, he met Lightnin’ Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins was impressed with his drum playing and took him on tour, where Weiss had the opportunity to play with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Roger Miller, Dr. John, and other great musicians. Weiss released “Extremely Cool” in 1999, featuring extensive collaboration with Tom Waits, who co-produced the album for his longtime acquaintance (they met in 1972 at Ebbett’s Field, where Weiss played in the house band) and appears on at least two tracks. The style is heavily reminiscent of Waits, both in composition and vocal approach. Either could have influenced the other. “Old Souls and Wolf Tickets” was released in early 2002, perhaps less reminiscent of Tom Waits and more redolent of Delta blues acts decades older. Weiss’s music includes strains of every rhythmic style from nursery rhymes to zydeco. Weiss was the subject of Rickie Lee Jones’s hit “Chuck E.’s in Love” from her 1979 debut album, in which she claims “Chuck E.” is in love with “the little girl who’s singing this song” (Jones says the song was fictional). At the time Jones was linked romantically to Tom Waits. All three lived at the time at the Tropicana Hotel in Los Angeles, in the middle of a fertile musical scene including Jackson Browne, the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, and the one and only Mister Frank Zappa and others. Weiss has also played with legendary bassist Willie Dixon, who was quoted on the original packaging of “Extremely Cool” (“Ain’t ya got ears son? That little Jew boy with the big old head be one of the best musicians in this town, this country even.”) “Down the Road a Piece,” from “Old Souls & Wolf Tickets,” is a 1970 recording of the two playing together. Chuck E. Weiss has been associated with Los Angeles and Southern California for years, saying he does not like to travel by airplane. Weiss played 11 years of Mondays at a club called the Central before it fell on hard times. Weiss and his friend Johnny Depp (who executive produced the first track on “Extremely Cool”) were instrumental in resuscitating it as the Viper Room, which became immediately trendy when River Phoenix died there in 1993. “Extremely Cool” makes reference to Canter’s Kibitz Room, a small nightclub in a larger diner in Los Angeles’s Fairfax District, where Weiss has also played habitually. His regular band is called The G-d Damn Liars.

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Remember the music of Ike Turner

A Billboard bullet, “Rocket 88”, was penned by a 19-year old boogie-woogie boy and his back-up band, “The Kings of Rhythm”, for their first Sun Studios session in March 1951. B.B. King introduced the kid to Sam Phillips, but he did not have a song – yet. So, on that rainy ride up Highway 61 to Memphis with their gear strapped on top, inspiration and lightening struck. The first muscle car – a highway cruiser – the hot, new, Oldsmobile “Rocket 88” was the subject and title of that historic #1 Hit. His lead vocalist, Jackie Brensten, and his side band, “The Delta Cats”, were mistakenly credited with the song by Chess Records, who released it. But those that know Rock history know The Kings of Rhythm were the real rockers toiling in the shadows of their own success. That kid is referred to by Little Richard as “The Man”. B.B. King proudly echoes, “He’s the best band leader I‘ve ever seen.” The kid who became “The Man” is Ike Turner. He won a Grammy in 2007 in the traditional blues album category for “Risin’ With the Blues.” Which in my opinion is a well deserved rock and roll blues album. Ike Turner passed away today at his home in suburban San Diego. He was 76.

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Balkan Beat Box = OH YEAH!

With a group of musicians rotating around the Israel-born New Yorkers Ori Kaplan and Tamir Muskat, Balkan Beat Box plays Mediterranean-influenced music that incorporates traditions from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and New York electronica. Both men had plenty of experience playing in various eclectic bands before starting BBB: saxophonist Kaplan came to the U.S. to play jazz but soon fell into the underground, immigrant-driven scene, hooking up with Gogol Bordello and others, while percussionist Muskat played in Firewater for a while as well as flexing his production muscles (which he also uses with BBB) in projects with Gogol Bordello among others.

Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks

The High Noon Saloon was the spot for the Holidaze in Hicksville as Mr. Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks graced our Madison grounds with a true treat, as a matter of fact, this one goes down as a classic. Not only was it the season for holiday cheer as only Dan Hicks can share (I believe the one phrase in the show was lets get these Christmas songs out of the way, hey hey) , but it was also Mr. Hicks’ birthday. There was even a cake. Oh yeah there was a show. As expected except better, the show seemed to be more than a show, an experience. Folk swing is somewhat the style of the music, but man…..there was some kicked up blues riffs, so finely timed dance steps and a barrel, check that, a building filled with a humor so sincere to this night that you couldn’t go home without feeling connected. There were plenty of old classics to rejoice in….from I Scare Myself (which really blew the top off the place)and the nights closer of How can I Miss You When You Won’t go Away, but for me the stopper was the rendition of the Tom Waits song The Piano Has Been Drinking. While this show can be compared to others in the long and brilliant career of Dan Hicks, there was so many thrilled audience members that I would have sworn this was there first time witnessing the event that is Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. I also noticed that while the room was filled up nicely, there was plenty of room for some younger ears, I really think that this music and the way it is presented to a crowd is something for the younger crowds to share in. Madison’s own Harmonious Wail and their Gypsy Swing music opened the show and was all that I have heard people say and more. Be sure to check them out also.

Listen to my first conversation with Dan here.

Listen to my second conversation with Dan here.

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Mr. Dan Hicks and MisterG 12/09/07

What I feel like hearing

Therapy- Winzenried
Dreamin’- G Love & the Special Sauce
Smoke 2 Joints- Sublime
Love my Guitar- Prince
JuJu in Those Strings- Eccodek
Baby Elephants-n-Thangs- Baby Elephants w/George Clinton
The Craft- Blackalicious
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Love and Happiness- Marc Broussard
Shoes- George Soule
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Who Cares What the Question is- Band of Bees
Sanctified- Mama’s Cookin’
Angelina- the Tony Tyler Trance
War- JJ Grey & Mofro
Broken Down Piece of Junk- Brian Setzer
Little White Lines- Shooter Jennings
Are You- Bob Seger
The Fat Man- Los Lobos
It’s All Over Now- Dirty Dozen Brass Band w/Dr. John
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Debbie’s Dance- Skeebo Knight
Get Down Tonite- Melvin Sparks
Thank You Nation 1814- Janet Jackson/DJ Reset
One Love Let’s Celebrate- Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party
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Solid- Soulive
Miami Blues- Akashic Record
Fellin’ Good- Bama and the Family
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Sun in Your Head- Dust Galaxy
Fading in C# Minor- Una
Cinnamon Girl- Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs
My AK-47- Hot Tuna (live)
Rebecca, Rebecca- Mojo:Saint (live)
Caress Me Baby- Omar Kent Dykes/Jimmie Vaughn/COTTON
Tell me Something I Don’t Know- Geoff Achison & the Souldiggers (live)
Suits me Fine- King Johnson
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Lost and Found- Al & the Transamericans
Tailspin- Moe
Soulshine- Gov’t Mule (live)
Fallujah Dub- Guvna Dub
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the Good, the Bad, the Ugly- the Dillingers

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HOPE THIS FIT…..your needs.

Youssou N’Dour in Madison

One of the most electrifying shows I have seen in a long time. Youssou N’Dour et le Super Etoile de Dakar brought West Africa, heck all cultures present together for an unforgettable night of dance, positive rhythms and shared spirit at the Wisconsin Union Theater. This was a few hours of community led by a powerful sermon by one of the most powerful voices on any continent. Carrying his storytelling and roots of Senegalese music, Youssou N’Dour does create a sound that is a force strong enough to combine all into one. The Griot Percussion mixed with Afro-Cuban arrangements is a sound that can flourish in any land, there is nostalgia in those songs and even I, who knows only a slight peek into the French dialect can feel it. It is a celebration.

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