World Wide Woozle episode #509

If you like rock 'n' roll then Little Richard probably had a hand in it. Maybe you've never heard him play but his influence is weaved through the fabric of popular music. Artists such as The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly all recorded versions of his songs. Little Richard died this week aged 87. My introduction to him was via a song he recorded with the band Fishbone for a compilation album celebrating the music of Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly. Here it is...

Little Richard and Fishbone - Rock Island Line - https://youtu.be/2aPmGqcafKw

I heard the next song during the week and it's a real toe-tapper. A bit of a cross between ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd and as it turns out. Little Richard. It's a cover of a Little Richard track which I didn't realise.

Blackberry Smoke - Southern Child - https://youtu.be/LiN0Q3ULbKY

Cinderella may be from Philadelphia but they understood where Little Richard was coming from and included him in this tune from their excellent album, Heartbreak Station, released in 1990. On a side note, if you like bluesy, country tinged rock with great guitars then that Cinderella album comes with my stamp of approval.

Cinderella and Little Richard - Shelter Me - https://youtu.be/fgi5xdftOIA

Jerusalem was the school song at one of the institutions I worked at. I'd heard it before courtesy of Billy Bragg as it's on his album, The Internationale, and as a result I always rather enjoyed singing it on a weekly basis at Assembly! Here's the man himself. Sing along.

Billy Bragg - Blake's Jerusalem - https://youtu.be/KYKODFOnmWs

From Bragg to Monster Magnet. There's probably not a decent segue here but I'd been listening to tunes in the car in random order today and this one came along right after The Pogues. Powertrip is an album that is almost the perfect commercial blend between stoner rock and heavy metal. That doesn't mean it's watered down at all, it's just a great listen.

Monster Magnet - Tractor - https://youtu.be/HWnC1BeY40k

I haven't played any Motorhead for at least a couple of episodes so let's fix that. This is from the record 1916 which also happens to be one of my all time favourites. I saw Motorhead live on this tour with DJ DJ and that's where I learned the value of earplugs at loud gigs. I've worn them ever since and never regretted it. Why did I choose this particular track? Well, because it's fast and it's funny.

Motorhead - Angel City - https://youtu.be/TgnRyhOGwWQ

There is outrage on social media this evening because apparently our Kylie got paid a lot of money to appear in Australian tourism advertisements that now won't get used. Is that her fault? No. The headlines, if there have to be any, should read something like, "Kylie does her job and gets paid". Good grief.

Kylie Minogue - Did It Again - https://youtu.be/jDKPvy-ZXC8

DJ SAB pointed this link out to me at least 48 hours before The Guardian published an article about it. It's a website with links to innumerable recordings of the classic Peel Sessions. You can listen to bands like Billy Bragg, The Sisters of Mercy and Bob Marley recorded live in the studio by John Peel. Don't go there if you're short on time.  - https://davestrickson.blogspot.com/2020/05/john-peel-sessions.html

Reading back I have noticed that I mention the band Kyuss quite a lot. They are certainly influential when it comes to heavier, slower music. I like to think of them as the next natural progression on from Black Sabbath, The Doors and early Pink Floyd. They've got four albums for you to listen to. I also saw them live supporting Metallica back in the 90s - trippy. 

Kyuss -  Thong Song - https://youtu.be/CtFuXV5FEvI

Looking through my LPs yesterday I decided to throw on the album that the next track is from. I'm aware that there is also a Roxy Music version of this song but it's far inferior in my opinion. From the great electric piano at the start to the locked in bass and drums this is such a smooth, laid back yet insistent track and that's before you get to the vocal performance and the saxophone. 

Bryan Ferry - Casanova - https://youtu.be/yhcyrelsPMY

Well folks, that's it. Apologies for this episode being a day late. Angus has just had shoulder surgery and after being released from hospital in the morning, was back there later in the day conveyed by ambulance. That's what happens when the nerve block stops working. He's improving now and back at home thankfully. 

Sleep tight,

Rob

"I'm a wheel, I'm a wheel
I can roll, I can feel
And you can't stop me turning
Cause I'm the sun, I'm the sun
I can move, I can run
But you'll never stop me burning..." Man On The Silver Mountain, Rainbow, 1975. 

RIP Ronnie.