The article on Wikipedia about White Zombie lists Soul Crusher (1987) as their first full length record, but there were a few EPs before this. I had one with a black and white cover, but I think I sold it when I had my own record store. I had read about them in Maximum Rock and Roll and decided to buy it when I saw the record at a store in NYC. Even though I knew better I decided to buy another White Zombie record, today’s offering.
This stuff is nothing like the stomping-metal-disco-monster-movie-rock that made the band famous. Their early work is more noise art than metal, although Soul Crusher did begin to introduce something akin to riffs. Still, it can be hard to listen to. I used to enjoy extreme music just because it was extreme, new, different. Nowadays I need something else, or more. The psychedelic album cover might make you think “stoner metal,” but don’t be fooled. This music is closer to Pussy Galore or the most irritating Sonic Youth than Black Sabbath. Rob Straker’s vocals (he wasn’t calling himself Rob Zombie yet) sound like a more angry and annoying version of Mark Arm (Green River, Mudhoney).
I’m not likely to ever play this again, but I might keep it as part of the White Zombie collection.
- Artist: Randy Weston
- Title: Bantu
- Year: 1960/1957, 1976 Reissue
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 9
- Owner: Tracy and Bob
- Acquired: 2005 - Bob Bobala Jazz Heritage Endowment
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
Bob Bob’s left-behind record collection is the gift that keeps on giving. Tonight’s album is a double from Randy Weston. Bantu comes in a nice gatefold cover complete with a lengthy article about these reissues and more significantly, the original program notes and lyrics by the late great poet Langston Hughes. Hughes collaborated on the first LP in this reissue. The second record was originally released in 1957 and consists of more straightforward, but excellent, jazz. The first LP contains “Uhuru, Afrika” which the album notes describe as his masterpiece.
“This four movement suite was one of the first acknowledgements of African roots among Afro-Americans and one of the first major jazz works to absorb that influence and use it honestly and creatively.”
I think that says it all.
Randy Weston
Langston Hughes
- Artist: Steve Weisberg
- Title: I Can't Stand Another Night Alone (In Bed With You)
- Year: 1986
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1988? - I think I got this at the record store my brother and I had.
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
I wasn’t sure this was going to be a keeper, but after playing it again, several times, I now remember how good it is. I can’t really remember how I got the record. Steve Weisberg is from the same town our record store was in so there must’ve been some awareness of him, maybe one of our customers told me about it. Anyhow, I Can’t Stand Another Night Alone (In Bed With You) is a very ambitious record. It’s hard to believe he was only 22 when this was recorded. And the list of contributing musicians is just as impressive. There are lot of jazz world big shots and just generally famous musicians like Hiram Bullock and Anton Fier. The music sounds somewhat like a film score, similar to The Cat by Jimmy Smith. It combines big band and jazz with Bullock’s shredding guitar and doesn’t sound the least bit pure. Which is great.
More about Steve Weisberg at Wikipedia.
- Artist: The Wedding Present
- Title: Ukrainian John Peel Sessions
- Year: 1989
- Format: Vinyl 10 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1989 - Got it at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
The Wedding Present is a British rock band and this is not a typical record for them. This is their version of Ukrainian folk music. There are couple titles on the record sleeve and Ukrainian John Peel Sessions is not one of them. On the front is УкраїнÑ?ькі ВиÑ?тупи в Івана Піла and on the spine Ukraïnski Vistupi v Johna Peela. This is record is an oddball size, 10 inch, and it comes in a handsome package with a nice booklet. I must admit that it’s a lot better than I remember. Or, maybe my taste in music is better than it was.
Etched in the vinyl margins:
That Side — “Should I worship at the feet…
This Side — …of this God like ferret?” (Traditional)
More about The Wedding Present and Ukrainian John Peel Sessions at Wikipedia.
- Artist: Weather Theatre
- Title: Bridge to Heaven
- Year: 1988
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 4
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: ?
- Keeper: No
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
I know… It probably appears one of my new year’s resolutions was to maintain my slackness in posting records, but it’s not true. I’m going to try to do better than every other day.
But this record by Weather Theatre isn’t that motivating. Even their fancy pants spelling of “Theatre” is offputting. I don’t know anything about these guys. They are a higly mediocre “alternative” band with some mild Echo and The Bunnymen wannabe thing going on. There’s a fancy pants fold out record cover, and the songs included are “Bridge to Heaven” and “Great God’s Gift.” It’s hard to believe this band came out of Seattle in the late 1980s.
- Artist: Muddy Waters
- Title: Rare and Unissued
- Year: 1982
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1982 ? Not sure where, this was near the beginning of my blues education.
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
I took the dog out for a minute after I started side 1. When I got back Mary told me I “missed the part about him waking up in the morning.” Good one. Anyhow, I just played the whole thing again, and then again.
The only thing better than a Muddy Waters record is two Muddy Waters records. So, I’m glad I have Rare and Unissued even if it’s not my favorite by the ultimate blues maestro. Still, I plan to keep it. You can never get rid of the blues.
There’s more about the original Mannish Boy at MuddyWaters.com.
- Artist: The Whigs
- Title: Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip
- Year: 2006
- Format: MP3
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 2006
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip by The Whigs starts off by sounding like the Beach Boys, at their best, and goes all over the place from there. I didn’t really like this record the first few times I heard it, and with me that’s usually a sign of quality music. Now though, the tunes are sticking with me. Rolling Stone uses some adjectives that I don’t really agree with, but the magazine also has them on the “10 Artists to Watch” list. I do agree with that.
My favorite song is the perfectly brief “Can’t Hear You Coming.” I’m a sucker for the horns, every time. Find out more about The Whigs at their site.
Thanks to Jeff for the tip on this one.
- Artist: Wolfmother
- Title: Wolfmother
- Year: 2006
- Format: CD
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy / Mary
- Acquired: Not sure.
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
These guys have been everywhere in the last few months. Letterman, Leno, movie soundtracks, and I even heard their first single “Woman” used in a recap of the women’s tennis competition one evening during the US Open. Cleverrrrr.
When I first heard Wolfmother’s self-titled album I thought it was the rock and roll equivalent of macaroni and cheese. By that I mean at a glance it was cheesy and familiar, but damn tasty! And of course you just want more and more. Now that we’ve had the disc for a while I can say that it’s much more than that. In fact, it’s a well-rounded meal of music with everything from heavy Sabbathy riffs to pretty pop pieces. Despite some obvious old-school influences and sounds, overall it’s still very modern.
I’ve seen a lot of stuff comparing them to the White Stripes, complaining about it even, but I think that is mostly because of singer Andrew Stockdale’s voice. That said, even my 10 year old son said “this sounds like the White Stripes” on hearing the frantic song “Apple Tree.”
This is a great album that I think will appeal to a lot of folks, even those oblivious to the older influences. And that album cover art in pure genius, hilarious. I was just about to call it “Frazetta-style” when I read the liner notes to see that it is in fact the real deal, a Frank Frazetta original.
- Artist: Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf
- Title: Muddy And The Wolf
- Year: 1984
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 2005 - Part of the inherited Bob Bobala collection
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
This record is the shiatsu! I suppose I could have filed it under “various” but here it is as today’s W record. I’m a big blues fan and this record doesn’t disappoint. I like the Muddy Waters side the most, but the Howlin’ Wolf side is also great. There’s a lotta help from a buncha younger white guys, including Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, and others.
Thanks Bob. Your record has found a loving home.
- Artist: The Waterboys
- Title: Self-titled Mini LP
- Year: 1984
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1984 - Maybe Tracks in Norfolk, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
What’s going on here? This record by The Waterboys in another oddball in the collection. Their original self-titled and full length LP (8 tracks) came out in 1983. This one was released in 1984. It’s labeled as a “Mini LP” and has only five songs, all of which were on the orginal record. They also released an album of new material that same year, “A Pagan Place.” I can’t find this five-songer on any discography I’ve seen. I’m guessing it was a US-only release designed to sell cheap and hype the band for their next full album.
Anyhow, I like it a lot more than I remember liking it then. Songs include:
“A Girl Called Johnny” (the hit, I believe)
“I Will Not Follow” (my favorite)
“It Should Have Been You”
“Savage Earth Heart”
“December”
Wikipedia article about The Waterboys
The Official Website of Mike Scott and The Waterboys
