World Wide Woozle episode #539

Ho, ho, ho....here we go!

Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) - https://youtu.be/KIhIBFPtnoc

There are plenty of great rock and roll Christmas tunes for all of you out there who have had enough of Mariah Carey and Michael Buble to last you a lifetime. Here are a few to keep you amused and hopefully singing along...

Stryper - Winter Wonderland (live) - https://youtu.be/FwD57Y58s4E

Ronnie James Dio - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - https://youtu.be/bukhmxx88wo

Run DMC - Christmas in Hollis - https://youtu.be/OR07r0ZMFb8

Twisted Sister - Twelve Days of Christmas - https://youtu.be/4V8BmeFdbvA

No Doubt - Oi To The World - https://youtu.be/ZFLExwIQKto

The Dollyrots - The Dollyrots Do Christmas - https://youtu.be/DG3-ea_q5v8

There. If that's not enough then just throw on the Elvis Christmas album.

Paul McCartney has a new album out now. It's called III (as in the number three). Paul plays everything on the album apart from one guitar solo and one drum track. I will admit that I initially listened to the record thinking that, like his last band album, it'd have a good couple of tracks and the rest would be, well, just ok. I'm happy to report that I was wrong. Other reviewers certainly seem to disagree with me as, in my opinion, this is a fantastic collection of songs. Paul, at about 80 years old, sounds much better vocally than he has in other outings recently and the songs are interesting and catchy. What's not to like? This is one album that I will most definitely be purchasing as a hard copy.

Paul McCartney - Find My Way - https://youtu.be/2oSmP3GtOBk

Paul McCartney - Lavatory Lil - https://youtu.be/3GDgdgcME7E

Not to be outdone....here's the new one from Ringo which features Paul!

Ringo Starr - Here's To The Nights - https://youtu.be/S6oqrbFzLaU

It's a short episode this week. I've been spending a lot of time playing the guitar in preparation for a New Year's Eve gig rather than listening to other stuff. I do get a reasonable amount of time to listen whilst on public transport however and that's a bit of a bonus. I'll be back on my bike and off the bus on January 1st and not before time. The bus / light rail to work is quick and easy but I really do miss time riding. My bike is lonely too.

Let's finish with a couple of older tunes. The first was a hit in the 80s here in Australia for another group and I didn't realise that it was a cover version until this week. How very embarrassing. The original is super cool with a funky beat and groovy guitars. I'll follow that up with one of my favourite early rock and roll songs. 

Redbone - The Witch Queen (of New Orleans) - https://youtu.be/yQ03YMiEd0g

The Crystals - Da Doo Ron Ron - https://youtu.be/8vs6e8l6m9w

And on that note...have a great festive season everyone. For many out there it's going to be challenging with isolation, border closures and a ton of other stuff so look after yourselves and those around you. ANd a HUGE thank you to all those who have been keeping an eye on me this year; it's humbling and very much appreciated. 

Rob

"And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me

My brothers in arms", Dire Straits, Brothers In Arms, 1985.

World Wide Woozle episode #538

Groovers, skinheads, freaks, weirdos and music lovers everywhere....WELCOME! Hi to the stalkers as well.

When I published the last episode I was still in quite a deal of pain and discomfort. Sometime on Thursday night that situation improved markedly and I feel a lot better. I'm not jumping around, riding my bike or doing a lot of sneezing but I did manage two easy, flat walks today of about 30 minutes each and I feel good. I predict a lot of walking in the next few weeks.

Jimmy Rogers - Walking By Myself - https://youtu.be/qhjDXXEcocg

I was reminded recently of seeing The Radiators play in the main auditorium at the Defence Academy in December 1989. They are such a fun band with a rough sense of Australian humour. That particular gig ensured that rock bands were never allowed in that venue again!

The Radiators - 17 (I Wish I Was) - https://youtu.be/VP_e1UrdvZA

Phil Campbell (ex-Motorhead) has a band and it's rather good. More straight ahead hard rock than the punk edge that Motorhead had but it's head nodding, toe tapping stuff. 

Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons - Born To Roam - https://youtu.be/jprIokB6Xrc

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings play stripped back Americana, Blues and Folk music. Often they record the whole thing with only one microphone. I noticed a new album from them pop up on one of the streaming services during the week and I've now played the whole thing four times and will get a hard copy. What a ripper! It's 48 unreleased tracks recorded a few years ago and I wasn't bored or track skipping even once. Gillian normally plays a 1956 Gibson J-50 guitar and David a 1935 Epiphone Olympic. If you like the sparse feel of Springsteen's Nebraska then this may appeal.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings - Put Your Foot Upon The Path - https://youtu.be/lv53HeN1QQ4

Are there albums that you keep coming back to? Not just single songs, but whole albums? I have a few. One is called Folkways: A Vision Shared. Released in 1988, it's a compilation of Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie tunes by a range of artists including Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, U2, Little Richard and Emmylou Harris. I'd say without a lie that I've played this album a couple of times a month for over thirty years. The album won a Grammy Award but I wasn't aware of that until about five minutes ago. There's also a companion album which has the original songs on it. Here are two tracks that I really like although I could've happily played the whole thing for you. 

Brian Wilson - Goodnight Irene - https://youtu.be/80hWncr7XZU

U2 - Jesus Christ - https://youtu.be/A47WxX3FkwU

I was contacted this week and asked if I was interested in writing a book. It was like the LinkedIn version of a Nigerian money scam I think. Funnily enough I think the person contacting me had actually looked at the blog a couple of times. Needless to say I'll keep punching out episodes here but a book, I don't think so. Especially when they were suggesting a self help style thing. I can see it now...how to ride your bike too much and be a heavy metal and folk music fan all at the same time. Nope.

Laurel Brauns - I'll Be Your Sylvia Plath - https://youtu.be/szoY7_o7PbQ

Man that was a good track. I had to study Sylvia Plath in my last year of school. Hated it. I'll now have to revisit her work. If I could remember which poem we were tortured with I'd read it now!

After retrieving my old iPod from the car wreck I've got back into revisiting the Johnny Cash four CD compilation called Legend. I was once banned from playing this in the car. Apparently too much Johnny Cash is a thing. I was late to being a Cash fan but for the last twenty years I've made up for it. Johnny was far from a perfect individual but he admitted his faults, sang about them and kept on keeping on. This song says it all for me.

Johnny Cash - Man In Black (live) - https://youtu.be/B7DmvffTuS0

Speaking of men in black...check this out. Metal from the South Pacific sung this time in the Tongan language. The lyrics and translation are there; maybe not what you expect. This is serious headbanging stuff and I'd love to see these guys playing live.

Shepherds Reign - Aiga - https://youtu.be/X8fWTIUWU2U

Last up this week is Norwegian band, Motorpsycho. I'm not sure what I was expecting, maybe a cross between Motorhead and the Cosmic Psychos but in reality this band is much more dreamy, folky, progressive rock. Some of it reminds me of CSNY, Jethro Tull, The Beach Boys and Dream Theater. It's growing on me.

Motorpsycho  - The Same Old Rock - https://youtu.be/hmEwzcIGMw8

Thank you for reading to the end if you did. If you didn't you're not here so it doesn't matter.

Have a great weekend,

Rob

"And they try to tell us that we don't belong

But that's alright, we're millions strong
You are my people, you are my crowd
This is our music, we love it loud..." KISS, Crazy Crazy Nights, 1987.

World Wide Woozle episode #537

Welcome back groovers.

I won't lie to you, I have not had an enjoyable week. I managed to go to work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but the pain and nausea just kept getting worse. As a result I spent Thursday in bed asleep and also feeling sorry for myself! I'm feeling a bit better now but sitting around doing not much isn't a lot of fun! Many thanks to everyone who sent me messages, spoke to me and showed concern. It has all been very much appreciated.

I wasn't really sure what to make of the next song and video but it's rather cool. Old school animation combined with Elvis Costello style rock and roll and a gruff, positive message. Whatever it is, there's no doubt that it's a bit out there but well worth a look.

Idles - Kill Them With Kindness - https://youtu.be/SELdxmlg2Cw

And whilst we're over in left field how about this. What is going on here? A clip that reminds me of the TV show Shameless, an appearance from Action Man and, and...well I don't know. Maybe the description posted by the band says it all: "Mork n Mindy is the sound of the central heating and the dying smells of Sunday dinner in a house on an estate in 1982. Concrete, dinted garages, nicotine. Where beauty mainly exists in small cracks on the shell of your imagination." It's good.

Sleaford Mods - Mork n Mindy ft. Billy Nomates - https://youtu.be/iKcbSOjIzjQ

I found (finally) an old iPod I'd been searching for over the past month or two. Until very recently it was annoying that my car didn't have a CD player and I also couldn't find the iPod. Anyway, it's currently plugged into the rental tank that I've been given to drive around and I've been enjoying a range of different tunes. Rosalie is a great song originally played by Bob Seger and then re-invigorated by Thin Lizzy. Today I heard Motorhead playing it and it just goes to show that a good song is a good song. All three versions simply rock!

Motorhead - Rosalie (live) - https://youtu.be/1hFIx6vpVr0

Angus pointed out the next track. A re-working of one of the best soundtrack tunes of all time. It may or not be your kind of thing but I thought it was a lot of fun and it pushed me to listen to more of the band's output as well as revisiting the original track which you should do as well.

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - I Wanna Be Like You (from The Jungle Book) - https://youtu.be/bD0VpmaSBjs

I mentioned the new Kylie Minogue album a while ago. It's been on heavy rotation here at HQ Woozle and I think it's a very strong effort. There are countless nods to her influences as well as well crafted pop and disco hooks. The album version of the next song borrows a synth line from Queen (in my opinion) but I've chosen this stripped back version because it's a bit different. Enjoy.

Kylie Minogue - Say Something - https://youtu.be/FE4DHUPGq-I

Guns n Roses are coming to Australia next year. Interesting. Axl has shown by playing with AC/DC that he can show up on time for performances so it'll be interesting to see if he maintains that level of respect for his own audiences. Regardless, the Gunners are a hugely influential rock band and if they're on song the shows should be amazing.

Guns n Roses - Raw Power - https://youtu.be/YmtrFnRzn2s

How often do you listen to an album all the way through and think that every song on it could've been a single? I think that'd be very rare but humour me. Yesterday I had a couple of listens to The Angels rather fine effort from 1990 called Beyond Salvation. I submit that every song would've worked as a single and been a hit. Certainly it was a very successful record and I remember seeing the band touring behind it at the Queanbeyan Leagues Club! So many albums have a couple of great songs, a few OK tracks and some filler. This is not one of those albums.

The Angels - Dogs Are Talking - https://youtu.be/lSXYiZsajgI

The Angels - Love Waits - https://youtu.be/rkieMzHe648

That's all folks. Keep smiling.

Rob

"Now go out and get yourself some big black frames

With the glass so dark they won't even know your name
And the choice is up to you cause they come in two classes
Rhinestone shades or cheap sunglasses..." ZZ Top, Cheap Sunglasses, 1979.