I'm Heavy Duty!

“Groovie Movie” is the most life-affirming nine minutes of video I have ever seen. This is a short flim that takes hilarious look at the hot dance of the time, the Jitterbug. I had the benefit of seeing it on TCM in higher resolution. It’s harder to see the humorous facial expressions in this YouTube clip, but most the vibe comes through. It really gets going after the five minute mark, but watch the whole thing. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.

My favorite dancer is the brunette because of her willingness to be completely silly. Check out those funny faces she makes and those wacky-jerky moves she throws in there. And that jumper dress she’s wearing is the business! Please ladies, consider running that look today.  Other highlights the below-the-glass-floor footage so you can see those flying feet, and the frequent use of one of my favorite jive terms, “solid.”

“Solid, Papa!”

This is another record I inherited from my friend Bob Bob(ala). I’ve posted so many of his old records already that I think he needs his own tag. I confess that when I first looked at Ray Charles Live (1973, recorded in ’58 and ’59) I thought it was a decent addition to the collection, but didn’t expect it to rock my world. I was wrong. I’ve played this entire double album many times since I got it a few years back.

Ray Charles can tear the roof off any place and in a variety of styles. There is everything here from some swinging hard bop jazz instrumentals to classic blues soul numbers like “The Right Time.” In fact, there are two recordings of that song on here and it’s still not enough for me. When the Raylette Marjorie Hendricks starts screaming “BAAAY-BAAAYeee” repeatedly I get the goosebumps. The excellent notes inside the gatefold cover describe her singing as “powerful soulfulness-bordering-on-hysteria.” It doesn’t get any better than that for me.

I will respond to anyone who suggests some music. But if you quote MC5 in your note to me I will respond a little quicker than usual. That’s what B-Sides singer Michel “Mick” Moreau did and that alone qualifies the band for a post to this site. Fans of garage-punk-rock-and-roll should check out their music at the B-Sides MySpace page.

Thanks to KP for picking up my slack. That girl is nuts.

Brother, this Judas Priest record is so “very metal.” British Steel (1980) is not the most consistent record but it contains a couple true classics. “Breaking the Law”? You know it. One of my first garage band covers, with me on drums. “Living After Midnight,” check. And I’ll also throw the lesser-known, but anthemic gem, “United.” The band had really found their groove at this point, with that locked-in driving metal sound that got right to the point.

Check out this “Breaking the Law” video and watch for the moment that caused Beavis and Butthead to call singer Rob Halford a “wild and crazy guy” a la Steve Martin.

The latest Plastilina Mosh record came out just in time for my birthday a few weeks ago. After the first full listen of All U Need is Mosh I was stunned that is wasn’t the greatest record ever made, because I’m huge, huge fan. I guess it’s bound to happen, but it’s always a downer when a band seems to take a step backward. I know, it’s all in my head. After several more complete listens I do love more than at first. There are a large number of great tunes and the whole world should buy it. My favorites in general are the more electronic stuff, but the punk-pop single “Let U Know” is totally fun. Other standouts include the slow electro-funk “Paso Fino” and the pretty “Pervert Pop Song.”