World Wide Woozle episode #484

Hi everyone,

Lots to talk about this week so without further ado, here we go.

My foot; I get to keep it. Amputation was only a tongue in cheek remark. The outcome is that I have a bursa where a bursa doesn't belong and it hurts a lot. The good news is that the temporary orthotic removes the pain and with any luck the issue may resolve or at least become much less painful over the next couple of months. I'll have another scan after 12 weeks and then we'll see if I need a permanent orthotic or not. Regardless of what the final outcome is, the fact that the pain can be almost totally removed with a simple shoe insert is a huge bonus. 

We've got two very different albums this week from the top 100. 

Album 35/100 - Madvillain - Madvillainy (2004)

I had never heard of this group or album and also never knowingly listened one of their tracks. This is an album full of samples, scratching, rapping and a lot more in a fairly eclectic soundscape. The first time I listened to the album I must admit that I was very, very underwhelmed. It sounded derivative and quite bland. But then I listened some more and the feel of the record started to sink in. The lyrics are sometimes almost nonsensical but the million or so references to everyday things makes you listen more closely. As the record goes on the diversity of sounds grows on you and you never really know what's coming next. This is almost the free-form jazz version of hip hop except that the free-form jazz is more formulaic if that's possible. In the end I think that this is a great listen if you're prepared to give it some time. A lot of the grooves and samples are very Public Enemy-like so if you like their stuff then that's a springboard into the madness that is Madvillain. 

Madvillain - Bistro - https://youtu.be/PRRMPtkmJjA

Madvillain - Rainbows - https://youtu.be/yDpaCiXJTEk

Album 36/100 - Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall (1973)

Live albums are very hit and miss. This one is a huge hit in my book. Bill starts the show with one of his hits and even does an encore of it all before we get to the second song! The recording is such that you can almost feel the crowd in the room with you. And they love Bill. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the entire album; as a live concert it is amazing, some close listening revealed something extra for me. If you listen carefully on the left channel there is a wonderfully funky wah guitar (check out the second track from Bill below). Every now and then it comes a bit further forward in the mix but it's always there adding texture. In fact the whole band is just perfect. This is an energetic and joyous recording of what must've been a great concert to be at.

Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands (live 1973) - https://youtu.be/erARI_f9AvA

Bill Withers - Friend Of Mine (live 1973) - https://youtu.be/j3NkxLkVtKQ

Lou Gramm is well known as the original vocalist for the band Foreigner. The next song was a solo release in the 80s which I just loved. It was the guitar riff that hooked me in. Anyway; Lou suffered from a nasty brain tumour in the late 90s and for a while his singing voice seemed to have gone. Happily, recent live footage shows that Lou is getting his voice back and enjoying performing live although he's no longer in Foreigner. 

Lou Gramm - Midnight Blue - https://youtu.be/7cRdgIZgobs

Foreigner (with Lou) - Juke Box Hero (live 1985) - https://youtu.be/lPWGOvHBCZU

I shared this next track with a couple of people throughout the week and everyone gave it two thumbs up. What else can I say other than it's awesome...

Paul Simon & George Harrison - Homeward Bound (live) - https://youtu.be/UODI6JmUnMA

I've written enough about the band Ghost in the past. Their particular brand of heavy metal, KISS meets ABBA mixed with Alice Cooper, is a lot of fun. So when I found a couple of professionally recorded acoustic live tracks I was pretty pleased with myself. All the doubters will see (hear) that these guys are great musicians and not just a comic book show.

Ghost - Rats (acoustic and live) - https://youtu.be/neRhGoW3Kbc

Ghost - Cirice (acoustic and live) - https://youtu.be/TL-cgyWnPCM

This time next week I'll be in Vanuatu with DJ ZedBoots. She will have completed her university degree and is ready to be let loose on the world as a paramedic. At least if I need medical attention whilst we're overseas I'll be in good hands. I'm super-dooper proud of what Zoe has achieved. She's also stopped telling me some of the more graphic details which is really, really good. Not long now before she's whizzing through the streets of London with lights and sirens going full blast.

Ralph McTell with John Williams - Streets of London (live) - https://youtu.be/urtnT72dVnw

I was really tempted to play the Anti-Nowhere League's version of the above tune but I couldn't resist the presence of John Williams in the one I chose. If punk rock is your thing then click here.

Finally, a book recommendation. I recently read "The Quaker" written by Liam McIlvaney. I generally avoid crime fiction these days but this one is a cracker. Set in Glasgow and centred around a string of murders at The Barrowlands Ballroom in 1969 it does the trick of transporting you back in time. It would be lazy writing to simply say if you like Ian Rankin then you'll like this but it's true. I never know "whodunnit" and this one kept me guessing even longer than usual. I pictured the cast of "Life On Mars" transported north, and a lot less clean cut, as the main players in this book. There's a copy here if anyone wants to borrow it.

Gerry Cinnamon - Sometimes, What Have You Done (live at The Barrowland Ballroom) - https://youtu.be/gZYvFrGXw8Q

That's all folks, you may or may not get another episode next week. We'll see. Otherwise I'll see you back here for more mayhem in July.

Rob

"When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall", Kodachrome, Dr Teeth & The Electric Mayhem (Paul Simon cover), original version 1973