World Wide Woozle episode #507

Depending on your point of view, it may be good or bad news to hear that I have worked out how to use some drumming software. Granted, I can't do anything particularly complex but a decent sounding rock and roll beat is a lot of fun to play along with. Also, it's cheaper and more socially acceptable that a real drummer. I'm currently re-working a song that I was trying to record and my next challenge is to either record a bass line using a keyboard or to get my hands on a bass guitar. 

Twisted Sister - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It) (live 1982) - https://youtu.be/usvnTbsyeR4

Prince was an artist who played quite an eclectic range of music. He was equally at home with rock, blues, soul and funk. I read once that he mixed the live sound whilst performing on stage, but I'll have to go back and see how true that is. It wouldn't surprise me though. Here's Prince live in 1999 doing a song that he wrote but didn't make famous. Sinead did that for him with this one.

Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U (live 1999) - https://youtu.be/1NarDEEhOsM

The Rolling Stones have a new track available. As I've written before, I think the Stones write great singles but their albums just don't flow for me. This song is reminiscent of ska groups like The Specials and The Ruts while still including the rhythm and blues stylings that the Stones made their own. A ripper of a track.

The Rolling Stones - Living In A Ghost Town - https://youtu.be/LNNPNweSbp8

I wrote last time about listing 10 albums that have influenced my musical taste. I'll reveal the last one later today because, as Bing says, I need to give other people a chance on Facebook ha ha! Here are some tracks from the other albums. Remember, these aren't in any particular order. And they're not necessarily my favourite albums, just those that made a real impact on me. If you want a little commentary about why I chose these it's all there on Facebook.

Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant (1967) - https://youtu.be/m57gzA2JCcM (from the soundtrack album to the film of the same name)

V SPY V SPY - Soldiers (1988) - https://youtu.be/7Lg5Ja2qF6U (from the album Xenophobia (Why?))

Rollins Band - Disconnect (1994) - https://youtu.be/8KANoVk5CgQ (from the album Weight)

Billy Bragg - The Busy Girl Buys Beauty (1983) - https://youtu.be/tU6QUb1H8qM (from the 1987 collection Back To Basics)

Iron Maiden - Hallowed Be Thy Name (live 1985) - https://youtu.be/_BFXCgm5270 (from the album Live After Death)

AC/DC - High Voltage (1975) - https://youtu.be/Nnjh-zp6pP4 (from the album TNT)

Can we talk about tinfoil helmet wearing folks for a minute? I'm just a little bit over keyboard commandos who spend their lives on Facebook and Twitter complaining about the government's Covid-19 app. Seriously, if you're really worried about your privacy then delete your email accounts, get off all social media, never shop online and don't even read the news online. Amazon, Google, Facebook etc. all have far more data about you already than the government will get from the Covid-19 app. Sheesh!

Garbage - I Think I'm Paranoid - https://youtu.be/ypr18UmxOas

You may or may not like the proliferation of music videos being produced in isolation. I like them and for many musicians I understand the need for a creative outlet in tough times. This next one is rather special though. I'm not sure I've played a hymn here on the World Wide Woozle before but why not. This one came via my Mum in New Zealand on ANZAC Day. It's very, very moving. It's the hymn that's sung at the Dawn Service.

NZ Virtual Brass Band & Choir - Abide With Me - https://youtu.be/szjYUaF3nro

During the week I wrote a little piece about a gig we did back in 2015. It was when we played Jason Isbell's Southeastern album in its entirety. I won't steal my own thunder, but writing this did cause me to revisit the album. To be honest, it gets a fairly regular outing and is one of my all time favourites but I was forced to try and put some of the reasons why it was so great down on paper (well, it was an email but you know what I mean). I think the thing about Isbell is that he is a great storyteller. The songs don't have to be about him but you think that they are and that's a real talent. Can I encourage everyone out there to have a listen to these tracks and to pay attention to the lyrics?

Jason Isbell - Yvette - https://youtu.be/cDO9FhLFcaE

Jason Isbell - Cover Me Up - https://youtu.be/NaUCDqWzy1k

Jason Isbell - Super 8 (live) - https://youtu.be/7IUK0Ly6o1s

Going through hard times is made even tougher with the pandemic. I've had a few conversations with friends lately who just sound so tired. The thing at the moment is to keep talking, keep messaging, keep sharing silly videos and memes (within reason). With that in mind, I'll finish with a few songs that I use if I'm ever feeling a bit blue. Maybe they'll help you out too....

Roxette - Fireworks - https://youtu.be/EvpYdXjE0Rc (this just missed out on my top 10 influential albums)

Yothu Yindi - Tribal Voice - https://youtu.be/bBYHWKPLEnE (I was lucky enough to see these guys live twice)

Midnight Oil - Hercules - https://youtu.be/hih--64WkK0 (my air guitar song...and real guitar too as I love playing this track)

Stryper - Always There For You - https://youtu.be/0kiTy_rBtSk (sing along....it's a great track)

Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards - To Have And To Have Not - https://youtu.be/4qeAnOX-UCk (punk covering punk)

That's it folks. The temperature is above zero, the wind is howling and therefore it's time to get on my bike.

Rock on,

Rob

"Break-in, stake out, tell it in code
Everything is legal, anything goes
The nights get darker and the ill wind blows
Your life's in a databank at ASIO", A.S.I.O., Redgum, 1984