Welcome to the last RPM Record Club Seven Day Soundtrack of 2023, week ending Friday 29th December. So, what's been a-bothering your lugholes this week?...Over to...
"Twixmas greetings to all RPMers.
Today's "I" newspaper includes an article on better ways to engage in cultural activities. It includes cutting down on streaming by subscribing to only one platform (I'm not sure I want to engage in streaming at all), listening to entire albums all the way through (no doubt RPMers do that anyway), tuning in to live radio, and finding music "organically" (ie. doing your own research rather than relying on streaming algorithms). There's a couple of things there that relate to recent discussions on recorded music delivery media.
Here are my week 52 submissions for the 7DS, selected from three of my five albums of the year."
Everything At Once by Rodney Crowell -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob2eVuthaEc
"Best wishes everyone."
"Some really great music last week, my thanks to you all and best wishes for one healthy and happy 2024. Three festive tracks this week relating (or not) to the Xmas phenomenon."
"Some time ago, I attended the Wilco Solid Sounds Festival in North Adams MA. I was of course delighted that Mr. & Mrs Wynn were on the bill."
Amphetamine by Steve Wynn and The Miracle 3 -
"However, it was a huge surprise to see Mark Mulcahy making a much appreciated comeback. Here he is with one of his earlier bands."
The Backyard by The Miracle Legion -
"Finally, I'm sure I first heard this version of a song covered by most of the British Invasion boys in the '60s and recorded originally by Barrett Strong."
Money (That's What I Want) by The Miracles -
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wkb0F9uDLFc&si=341TdNvctTf1PLr_
"That's All Folks."
"Trapped in the no mans land between Christmas and New Year, I find that there are a lot of tracks that I could post this week. But I have been looking back and thinking that it is funny how things tie together. A good few years ago Jayne and I attended the knitted Folk Festival… somewhere in Warwickshire. About a hundred people attended and we knew it was going to be interesting when two ladies knitted the festival wrist bands at the entrance gate. At the end of the garden, as well as a small stage for the performers, there was an even smaller one on which knitted 3D representations of the musicians, including Gerry Colvin and his band, were displayed concurrently with each performance. (There was a lot of coloured wool and pins available and Jayne lent a helping hand by knitting some bunting). There was some jamming and the lady knitters gallantly managed to knit some more folk to sit around on tiny chairs. A couple of old boys with acoustic guitars banged out a song I’d not heard before. “Bright Lights Big City”. (No not that one) I told them that it was a great song and they told me that it was a cover of one written by Gary Clarke Jr. I became a fan overnight.
I discovered Jackie Venson via Gary Clark Junior. So, had I not attended that rather quirky festival I wouldn’t be posting this… Like the whole Manouche/Sinti gypsy jazz movement that has grown out of Django’s playing there seems to be a genre developing which started when Hendrix was still alive with the likes of Steve Miller (who took to playing a left handed Strat in an attempt to achieve some form of Jiminess) and Rob Trower and after Jimi’s death the torch was taken up by Stevie Ray Vaughan. I much preferred SRVs earlier work, but I always admired his guitar strap as clearly does Jackie Venson. (Probably the only thing we have in common!) I love the way that she takes that Hendrix influenced vibe just a little bit further…"
Always Free by Jackie Venson -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t62CCTH-OlY
"BTW it is well worth checking out her acoustic version of this song."
"And while I am on the subject of Stratocasters - I really rated Robert Cray’s early albums too. He was even better live. There seems to be a bit of R.C’s influence (Not bad!) in Danielle Nicholes album Cry No More."
Cry No More by Danielle Nicole -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrOkW08km5Q
"Whist putting this post together, I have discovered a weird crossover between the two guitar-obsessed style-based movements mentioned above."
Little Wing performed by Benjamin Lavastre & Pierre Willimann -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNl5WfymOvA
"Happy new year all."
"Thank you RPMers for your contributions to this year's soundscape, and especial thanks to Tim for being such an excellent host, administrator and for initiating this community and for keeping it going. Wishing everyone good things in 2024.
I’ve been hanging around again in the world of late night Radio 3…so you know what to expect by now..."
"Hi RPM'ers. Thanks to you all for another year of superb music + biggest thanks to Tim for his creation + continued curation.
Here's my 3, very Happy New Year to you all + 'see' you in 2024."
"The soundtrack to our coffee in the Old Post Office cafe, Robin Hood's Bay...."
Son of a Preacher Man performed by Dusty Springfield -
Alright Now by Free -
"Happy New Year to you all RPMers, thanks for a great year of music. Here are my three for this week."
"Here's my 3, hastily assembled this week. Best wishes and happy New Year to you lovely lot."
Slippery People by Talking Heads - "I've probably picked this before, but coming across a copy of 'Stop Making Sense' this week reminded me of an album-full of great songs."
Go Dig my Grave by Lankum - "I'd never heard of Lankum - though they may be familiar to the cognoscenti here - until they came top of the Guardian's Top 50 albums of 2023. Very glad I found them. This album has a fab blend of traditional songs and tunes and contemporary music."
(Jayne has her finger on the pulse, forget the Guardian...week 11- Friday 17th March...Tim the Archivist.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhqpQiXnFx0&ab_channel=LankumDublin
A Walk in the Dark by David Byrne -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v27TugGSQpM&ab_channel=CesareVesdani
Twelve Joys of Mary by Tim van Eyken - "To see us through to Epiphany."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYpT1rwrZrQ&ab_channel=FolkABC-Americana%2CBlues%2CCountry
"Happy Year's End everyone!
"Hi RPMers, wishing you all a Happy New Year. Keep on rocking in the free world!!! Here are my 3..."
Leave House by Caribou -
Ok With My Decay by Grandaddy -
No 13 Baby by Pixies -
"The last three of '23...it's been a blast. Thanks for all your kind words, but if it wasn't for you lot, this (the 7DS) wouldn't happen, would it? Cheers!"
Stone Deaf in the USA by Motorhead - "Born December 24th 1945, died December 28th 2015, I've been playing a mix of Motorhead songs in remembrance of their founder, Lemmy Kilmister, a Capricorn and true December's child. All things must pass and although I really miss seeing the band live, at least there's the huge recorded legacy we can still bang our heads to. This is a favourite of mine and thought it an appropriate song to play as Lem loved America so much."
Carried In Sound by Smoke Fairies - "Another track from one of my top albums of the year.
And check out the the Top 5s of 2023 for more lists, published on New Years Day... submit yours ASAP."
Ashen Bowl performed by Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden - " Performed at their recent concert in Whitby, I'm leaving you with this wassailing song to wish you all a Happy New Year. See you in 2024..."
'Til Next Year.....