World Wide Woozle episode #536

I'm still here folks. Just.

Yesterday I had a car accident and I don't do things by halves. The upshot is that my car may be written off and I have three broken ribs. And the other car involved was stolen! I had the joy of attendance by police, fire and ambulance and they were kind enough to take me off to hospital where I was imprisoned, poked, prodded and scanned for many hours before they let my mate Todd take me home. Look, not an experience I'd recommend but it is what it is.

On Friday night I played a few songs at the open mic night. It was the last one for the year but I do have a special set coming together for a New Year's Eve shindig. The support of a few people who read this blog as well as the crew at the open mic night has really helped me feel semi-confident about singing and playing by myself in public. And when a bar full of leather clad Veteran Motorcycle Club members clapped and sang along with a young woman (who had special needs) singing her heart out it wasn't me crying.

To tell you the truth, I'm pretty sore at the moment. Apart from the broken ribs I have excellent purple bruising on my hip and my chest is aching from the seatbelt. As a result I'm going to play you the songs that I played on Friday night with a brief commentary. That's about all my brain can cope with.

The first song I played was an easy one...on purpose. Get the nerves under control and the fingers working. I also really, really like the lyric, "hubcap, diamond star halo".

T-Rex - Get It On - https://youtu.be/A4o4Q9sd_y4

I played in a pub rock band years ago and this song was a favourite to play. Pretty funny for a tee-totaller...

Spy vs Spy - Hooligans - https://youtu.be/GdMCf28aX1Q

The next song was a challenge with only one guitar and my dodgy vocals but it was fun nonetheless. Every chord in the verse is a seventh! I needed the trumpet though.

The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's / With A Little Help From My Friends - https://youtu.be/P3DKACKz-jo

I recorded a version of Wellington by The Mutton Birds a while ago. I went to primary school just up the road in Tawa and I have fond memories of the place. My Mum and my Brother live there too so the song has special meaning. Also, the song evokes strong memories of Wellington's fairly average weather!

The Mutton Birds - Wellington - https://youtu.be/SiN0HsEI9TA

You heard this one last week and I was inspired to give it a bash. It's a fun song to play and the little bluesy guitar line is neat. I can confirm that you can substitute "Nikon" with "iPhone" and no one notices. Let's have some fun with it....

Dr Teeth and The Electric Mayhem - Kodachrome - https://youtu.be/6_01zRwJOPw

I started the set with glam rock so it made sense to finish with some as well....I wasn't sure whether the set would be folk music or glam rock. I think glam rock had it.

Slade - Cum On Feel The Noize - https://youtu.be/KaAgx4vUPME

There you go. It was fun.

Doc W; I got your message. Will call back when I'm more myself mate.

Rock on folks, I'm going to find some more painkillers.

Rob

"It's a song of the heart

A race in the wind
A light in the dark
That's freedom..." John Farhnam, That's Freedom, 1990.

World Wide Woozle episode #535

Surprise, I'm back. I got a bit disorganised in the last week or so but things are all back on a relatively even keel here at World Wide Woozle HQ.

I'm slightly disturbed that no-one out there spotted the mystery drum beat in the Roxette tune I played last time. I must admit that it really did hit me like a ten ton heavy thing. It's these guys....

Run DMC and Aerosmith - Walk This Way - Walk This Way - https://youtu.be/4B_UYYPb-Gk

Alice Cooper has announced a new album. That's a solid effort for him given that he's 72 years old. His secrets to longevity include Jesus, golf and clean living (eventually). Whilst we have to wait months for the album, Alice has released a single which to my ears is almost rock and roll perfection. I'll admit that I didn't realise it was a cover of a Velvet Underground tune until ten minutes ago. Off now to check out the original...

Alice Cooper - Rock & Roll - https://youtu.be/wmkf57yffT0

Let's talk about the new AC/DC album. Hmmmmm...the reviews are very, very good saying things like it might be their best long player in thirty years. I don't agree. If this was AC/DC's first album then they could be rightly proud of it. The production values are tip top, the guitars growl, the bass is full and the drums are rock solid. Brian's vocals undoubtedly sound better than they have for quite a while as well. But here's the thing...the hooks aren't really there. Shot In The Dark, the first single, is great. It swaggers and rocks like you'd expect from AC/DC but the rest really struggles in my opinion. It's good but not really memorable. OK, now that I've said that let me explain that those were my thoughts after listening to the album at least ten times through over a few days as well as selected tracks in no particular order. In 1988, AC/DC released the album Blow Up Your Video. I remember being super excited about it and getting the cassette as soon as I could. I was also underwhelmed and desperately disappointed. The two singles were great and the rest did nothing for me. However, I persevered with the album and you know what, those tracks became very familiar and they grew on me. 1988 was my final year of high school and Blow Up Your Video will always be linked with that. These days it's probably my favourite album with Brian on vocals. That's a very unpopular way to be if you talk to most AC/DC fans. And so, I thought that the latest album needed more time. Saying that it's their best in thirty years is a big call. So watch this space as I let the album seep further into my subconscious. Who knows? In a subsequent episode I'll discuss the great AC/DC moments from the last thirty years as I've been back and revisited classic albums like Ballbreaker and Stiff Upper Lip.

AC/DC - Kick You When You're Down - https://youtu.be/ksqTQ33ohWM

Bing very kindly gave me a couple of Bruce Springsteen CDs that he'd ended up with two copies of. I've no idea how he keeps track of his albums; it's like the National Film and Sound Archive at his place! I hadn't listened to Darkness On The Edge Of Town for many years and I think that the benefit of time made me realise how strong an album it is. There's a raw power, guts and gravel in the delivery that really draws you in. This one will be in the CD player for a while yet.

Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - https://youtu.be/ZOWIAXsfZus

Bruce Springsteen - Badlands - https://youtu.be/7T_6Ua6fd5s

I've been on a bit of a Paul Simon / Simon & Garfunkel trip these past few weeks. I just wish I could find one of their songs that I can actually play and sing at the same time. The ones I can play I can't sing and vice versa. I've taken a shine to these two particular tunes because they project such strong imagery to me. It's no secret that I'm very keen to visit the USA one day. There are so many places in song lyrics that sound so interesting (and may be in fact quite pedestrian). The New Jersey Turnpike, Saginaw and of course Route 66.

Simon and Garfunkel - America - https://youtu.be/Eo2ZsAOlvEM

Paul Simon - Kodachrome - https://youtu.be/qrRRhoS3KFk

I gave blood last week. I hate needles. I hate giving blood. But I go because I know that it's important. This time was possibly the worst experience I've had with a needle. It hurt a ton going in, it was sore the whole time I was bleeding into the bag as vampires hovered around and when the needle came out...oh boy...I hit the roof. As a result the lovely staff wouldn't let me go home for ages. Who knows what happened but let's hope it was a one off. I've got until February to psyche up for my next visit!

Franz Ferdinand - Shopping For Blood - https://youtu.be/CKo0MKm8e5Q

I heard a couple of tracks from the next guy a few weeks ago. It took a minute to tune my ear into what he was doing so hang in there. William has a quintessential Australian drawl reminiscent of John Schumann and John Williamson. If you like swampy, bluesy, folk with an Australian twist then spend some time with this...

William Crighton - 2000 Clicks - https://youtu.be/vJfT3lHEL34

Zoe is in isolation at the moment. Although her two most recent Covid tests have been negative, she was working with someone who tested positive so she gets a couple of weeks indoors. And so, here are a couple of songs for her. You might like them too.

Taylor Swift - The Man (live and acoustic) - https://youtu.be/F3aXpa1rQEY

Bears In Trees - It Gets Better - https://youtu.be/jxgVYpgwDTk

That's it. Keep smiling you lot!

Rob

"Everybody got a room
In God's Hotel
Everybody got a room
Well you'll never see a sign hanging on the door
Sayin' 'No vacancies anymore'..." Paul Kelly, God's Hotel, 1994.

World Wide Woozle episode #534

Welcome back everyone and thank you to those who continue to read these musings. I appreciate it greatly.

Kylie Minogue has a new album of disco tracks imaginatively entitled, Disco. I've listened to the entire album four or five times now. I wanted to make sure that once the initial sugar hit had worn off that I still liked it. And I do. This may be Kylie's best album since 1997's classic, Impossible Princess. Disco isn't the yawn inspiring "doof-doof" stuff that you hear coming out of clubs or from the huge stereos of crappy Mitsubishi Lancers. Disco is a well-crafted, smooth and danceable collection of tracks. If there's beauty in disco then it's on this record.

Kylie - Magic (live) - https://youtu.be/Gtiwrz9flSA

Hang on tight as on Friday (the 13th)  both AC/DC and Death Dealer will release molten slabs of rock music. Death Dealer are an international collective of great musicians who like their heavy metal in the classic style. If bands like Dio make you raise your fist and yell then this should be a no brainer for you. Expect the highest production quality as well as a band that engage really well with their fans. As for AC/DC…..you know it's going to rock.

Death Dealer - Running With The Wolves - https://youtu.be/mtIO5w2wFKs

My brother surprised me this week with a Spotify playlist he'd made from a mix tape I sent him in 1995. You can check it out here. All these years later I still think it's a decent collection of tracks. Here's a couple that I really enjoyed listening to.

Dave Graney and The Coral Snakes - I'm Gonna Release Your Soul - https://youtu.be/WJG6LtwgNZk

Painters and Dockers - The Boy Who Lost His Jocks On Flinders Street Station - https://youtu.be/ym2bvFrpQ6E

Billy Bragg has now rescheduled his concert tour all the way into the start of 2022. That's a long wait but at least it's not been cancelled yet. The bonus for me, seeing him in Wellington New Zealand, is that the show is now going to be at a seated venue. Old legs, knees and arms will be very thankful especially since we're going for two of the three nights.

Billy Bragg - The Marching Song of the Covert Battalions - https://youtu.be/9nr68LZcXM4

Roxette are releasing a series of albums containing outtakes, unreleased stuff and live tracks. The first is available now and it's not bad at all. This version of Joyride is tons of fun and even more so when you realise where they've borrowed the drum track from…

Roxette - Joyride (Brian Malouf US single mix) - https://youtu.be/w87G4qnVha8

Sad news the other day was that Midnight Oil's bass player, Bones Hillman, has passed away as a result of cancer. Bones joined the Oils for the Diesel and Dust tour and has played on all their recordings since including The Marrakatta Project which was only recently released. Whilst his bass work is excellent, the addition of his backing vocals gave many of the Oils' songs greater depth and beauty.

Midnight Oil - Barest Degree - https://youtu.be/y8C6jDWCMNY

Lastly, a quick word about TV. Star Wars fans should do whatever they can to ensure that they watch The Mandalorian which is into its second season on Disney+. It's fun, it respects the canon and did I mention it's fun? The other show which I believe everyone is already raving about is The Queen's Gambit streaming via Netflix. If you'd told me that I might enjoy a show about a young girl in 50s USA who plays chess then maybe I would've thought you to be misguided. It is, however, excellent, intriguing and enthralling. Watch it now.

Rock on,

Rob

"...one nation controlled by the media

Information Age of hysteria..." Green Day, American Idiot, 2004.

World Wide Woozle episode #533

Welcome back enormous listening world!

On Friday I had another crack at singing and playing at the Open Mic Night hosted by the Veterans' Motorcycle Club. And whilst it went really, really well I was so nervous that I completely forgot to play one of the songs I had prepared! Oh well, it can get an airing next time. It really is fantastic to have the opportunity to play live to a few people in an atmosphere that is very, very relaxed and supportive. These guys do heaps for the community at large. They're also keen to let anyone have a turn so if you're musically inclined or even just might try one song with a backing track you should come along.

So, I thought I'd play the songs here that I played on Friday night and try to explain why I chose them.

Some songs almost play themselves and Joelene is one of those for me. Since I learned to play a minor chord on the guitar I've been strumming this one. I don't really like The White Stripes version...too much screaming for me. What brought me back to this song was hearing Miley Cyrus sing it a few years ago. She has an amazing voice, a cracking band and she performed it with such conviction that I've listened to a bit of her work ever since. I managed to play this song in the wrong key on Friday night but it still seemed to work.

Miley Cyrus - Joelene - https://youtu.be/wOwblaKmyVw

In the early 90s I heard friends of mine play this song in their band. It was the first time I'd heard it and the swirling guitar lick at the start had me enthralled. Years later we played it a lot in Junk Sculpture. I chose it to play by myself because the vocal range isn't huge and I could fill out the sound with the guitar whilst still retaining that classic lick.

The Church - The Unguarded Moment - https://youtu.be/Z7ukwrKd8cA

When I was trying to choose songs DJ Bing suggested that I do a Billy Bragg number. That makes sense since I'm such a huge fan and Billy is a singer/songwriter. The problem is that I can play his tunes but I find them almost impossible to sing. And then I remembered this one. The lyrics were written by Woody Guthrie and the music by Billy Bragg and Wilco. Yes, I played this for you last week and maybe that's what made me think of it. Regardless, it's a simple song but it's a lot of fun.

Billy Bragg and Wilco - Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key - https://youtu.be/vwcQAlRn0Gs

And then I took a bit of a leap of faith. Last time around I listened to a Vietnam Veteran sing songs that he had written about his time there and subsequently. I figured that if he could sing a protest song then so could I. In my opinion it's just fine to be anti-war as long as you support the troops themselves. I learned this song from my Dad. I'm still alive so maybe no-one listened to the lyrics or perhaps they resonated.

Tom Paxton - Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation - https://youtu.be/uXcG3tXYNF8

The final song that I played was one I'd written myself. It's very new and still a work in progress. You'll all be able to hear it before too long I hope. It seems that I write a decent song every thirty years or so!

Let me finish this week with a song I'd love to be able to play live. The Mutton Birds were a great New Zealand band but I've only been listening to them for a couple of years....late to the party. This track is beautiful and the overdriven guitar in the chorus with the light tremolo effect is just perfect.

The Mutton Birds - Anchor Me - https://youtu.be/MyFn5wLO6GA

That'll do. It's been a busy weekend. Keep smiling...

Rob

"It's coming from the nor nor west

The endless eye warns
A hole in the sky mirrors
And the light that never never warms..." Radio Birdman, Hand of Law, 1977.