The World Wide Woozle is coming to you this morning from a cold and foggy national capital. I'd planned to be out cycling by now but, as it's the weekend, I'm waiting for the sun to appear!
It's ANZAC Day, a day when we pause to remember servicemen and women and their families. Kudos to the ABC and the Australian War Memorial for broadcasting a modified Dawn Service this morning. For many people, being stuck in whatever version of lockdown they have, this day will be very challenging. For a lot of veterans, current serving personnel and of course their families, ANZAC Day is a chance to get together and reflect, it has nothing to do with patriotic chest beating or glorification of war. So, if you know someone who has a connection with the military then reach out to them this weekend. Even a cheeky text or instant message can make a difference.
Noiseworks - Touch - https://youtu.be/tJ1ArRhwWV0
Five years ago now, my good mate Scot put together the music video for this next song. Commissioned by the Australian War Memorial it's a reflection on the military service of Indigenous Australians. Just watch it. Great song and a moving film clip.
John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew - On Every ANZAC Day - https://youtu.be/bXLL42oCFPI
I made a bit of a mistake on Facebook this week. DJ Bing asked me to share ten album covers that had influenced my taste in music. I missed the point though. What he was talking about was the actual album cover, not necessarily the music. Anyway, I'll carry on with listing ten albums that have shaped what I listen to and play. Later on I'll get to the album artwork itself. Safe to say that the second Baby Animals album won't be there; an extremely average effort! Here are tracks from the first three albums I've listed...
Jungle Book Soundtrack - I Wanna Be Like You (King Louie) - https://youtu.be/9JDzlhW3XTM
ABBA - Does Your Mother Know That You're Out (from Greatest Hits vol. 2 album) - https://youtu.be/WkL7Fkigfn8
Steve Earle - Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough) (from the Guitar Town album) - https://youtu.be/7uyZAj-J4MQ
In very annoying news, the acoustic guitar I use for recording has developed a really bad fret buzz. It needs to go to my favourite guitar tech for some love and a truss rod adjustment. That's not happening any time soon I expect. Luckily there are a couple of other options here, ha ha! And if I can ever get drum software to sound anything like real drums rather than a video game, a metronomic robot or a hip hop track then I'll have a new song for you all before too long.
John Hiatt - Perfectly Good Guitar - https://youtu.be/pzeoLe6nSrU
Jeff Beck has been a guitarist's favourite for years. His latest release is a cover of Lennon's "Isolation" with Johnny Depp on vocals. Yeah, I didn't expect it to work either but I was wrong. The guitar sounds amazing and Depp's vocals are rich and full.
Beck and Depp - Isolation - https://youtu.be/Ma-149FnSN4
You might remember me telling you that Australian band DZ Deathrays had hung out at Angus' place after their gig in Vancouver. That was pretty cool. Now they've released a version of the Choirboys classic, Run To Paradise. The original was, I think, the biggest selling Australian single of the 80s. The fellas from DZ Deathrays have put their own sound to the song but have retained the guitar solo. Rock on!
DZ Deathrays - Run To Paradise - https://youtu.be/k9lwZ-jN4O0
Glaswegian singer/songwriter Gerry Cinnamon has just released a new album called The Bonny. With little or no press, Gerry has become quite the sensation. He rarely gives interviews or does media preferring his music to standalone. Selling out a 50,000 seat venue is testament to his talent and persistence.
Gerry Cinnamon - Canter - https://youtu.be/QKzM0DBxNoo
Staying in the UK for a minute; during the week I watched a really boring documentary about the band Dexy's Midnight Runners. Given the fact that the group had a bit of a revolving door in terms of band members and a whole swag of good songs you'd think their story would be interesting. And it probably is, just not in this particular video! Their albums are a lot of fun packed full of soul, funk and rock influences.
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno - https://youtu.be/Z5KgMUgvtig
Rowland S. Howard was the original guitarist in The Birthday Party leaving the group as they morphed into The Bad Seeds. I'm not a fan of The Birthday Party; it's just not for me. I don't quite connect with the chaotic abrasiveness. This week I read an article about Rowland though (in The Guardian) and it prompted me to check out his solo work. It's not at all what I expected and I really enjoyed it. In fact I'd go so far as to say it moved me. There's a lot more for me to listen to as a result of this spark. You see, reading is good for you!
Rowland S. Howard - Exit Everything - https://youtu.be/NgxMdvFuavs
Lastly, comrades, I joined a union this week. Unions aren't perfect, in fact some of them are terrible but the fact remains that they serve an important part in employment relations. When I was a teacher, union membership was something I regarded as essential. The support that the union could provide if things went pear-shaped, especially in legal terms, was invaluable. And in these times of uncertainty I decided that the time was right for me to re-engage. I know that some of you are quite anti-union and that's ok.
Paul Robeson - Joe Hill (live in Scotland) - https://youtu.be/B0bezsMVU7c
Billy Bragg - There Is Power In A Union (live Peel Session, 1983) - https://youtu.be/meFRyBeod1g
Rock on,
Rob
"Have fun, stay clear of the needle, call home on your sister's birthday...", Outfit, Jason Isbell, 2003
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