World Wide Woozle episode #602

Hi everyone, the rock and roll express is leaving now so dodge the ticket inspector and climb aboard!

Yesterday I had my fifth Covid injection. It didn't even hurt. But at about 9pm I started to feel really, really weird so I called it a night and went to bed. What followed was no fun at all. There's no need for me to whinge any more about it but let's just say that it was a relief after lunch today when I started to feel almost normal again. Still, I'd rather have all that than a dose of Covid.

Queensryche - The Needle Lies - https://youtu.be/9iVan8egsxw

Jimmy Barnes has teamed up with some rather well known rockers for an album and band called The Barnestormers. The first single is a Johnny O' Keefe classic that some of you will know from the Iggy Pop cover. What I really like about this track other than the undeniable energy is that it may be the first time I've ever heard Jools Holland play piano on something where he isn't completely overplaying and musically verbose. His work here is stellar.

The Barnestormers - Real Wild Child - https://youtu.be/s2AeE7kVdmA

I got sidetracked by the Bee Gees this week into listening to some soul and funk music. And then this popped up. Queen is a band that I reckon you need to be very brave (or foolish) to attempt to cover. Scary Pockets have hit this one out of the park (or for six if you like). It's like James Brown and The Black Crowes had a baby. 

Scary Pockets - Crazy Little Thing Called Love - https://youtu.be/lCnZCGl9qjw

Alice Cooper fans should be quite excited as he's about to release the classic albums KIller (1971) and School's Out (1972) with remastered sound, live extras and more. I got to experience Alice playing live here in Canberra a few years ago now. That guy with the makeup, dressed in leather and a straitjacket, waving a sword around and being guillotined on stage is also a tee totalling, born again Christian golfing fanatic. 

Alice Cooper - Gutter Cat vs. The Jets (live 1990) - https://youtu.be/qM9IvInEsPg

I've been watching a TV series called Rogue Heroes. It's a very recent dramatisation about David Stirling and the founding of the Special Air Service. It's a slightly irreverent look at the whole thing and that approach works well. There are definite serious moments too. Other than being well written (based on a book) and cast, the soundtrack is great. One of the first songs you hear in the whole thing is AC/DC's Live Wire. There's a definite hard rock vibe throughout the series alongside some period correct music including the inimitable George Formby! If you're in Australia it's available on SBS' streaming service which is free.

AC/DC - Live Wire (live from Atlantic Studios, 1977) - https://youtu.be/ylX1zKcfq0g

George Formby - Out In The Middle East - https://youtu.be/2KqUFSTkeqE

I was rather chuffed to get a vinyl copy of King Stingray's album from Angus for my birthday. It's on bright lime green vinyl as well. Unlike the CD, the LP comes with a lyric sheet and explanations of the songs. This is a good thing as many of them are in the Yolngu language. It's a fantastic album for making you feel good about life.

King Stingray - Lupa - https://youtu.be/3x1Yry8HucA

That'll do for another episode. Thanks for listening.

The Woozle

"But I don't ride in no fast car, I ride in a bus.

You can stick your Mercedes right on up your arse..."

The Mark of Cain, Degenerate Boy (X cover), 1997.

World Wide Woozle episode #601

Welcome back and thanks for reading and listening along with me. Tinkerbell isn't here to tell you what to do but I'm sure we'll all cope just fine.

In the last week I've made a concerted effort to listen to new music that I probably would have ignored in the past. I got onto a mailing list from a little record shop in NZ and their lists of recommendations are particularly well thought out; so much so that I present the next track to you. It's all the way from NZ but the influences are very clear. Nile Rogers (Chic) is on guitar on a few tracks as well. Play this one if you enjoy New Order, Spandau Ballet or Bowie. To be honest with you I've spun this album about five times now and it gets better with every listen.

Jonathon Bree - Pre-Code Hollywood - https://youtu.be/RCv1OC4Z1n8

Sabaton have just released an EP called Stories From The Western Front. If you enjoy their particular brand of power metal combined with a keen interest in history then you won't be disappointed. The lead single is a cover of Motorhead's track 1916. I think they've done a good job. Each version is quite different with the original being stark and emotional. Sabaton have added their trademark sound and production but the song still hits home. You might spot the two surviving members of Motorhead in the clip too. 

Sabaton - 1916 - https://youtu.be/HgGhhnQB1gw

The band We Will Ride Fast describe themselves as psychedelic post punk. I'm really not sure what that means, maybe Iggy Pop songs sung by the mailman whilst he wears a Pink Floyd shirt? Regardless, the noise they make is interesting and it held my attention for longer than a couple of songs. They are another band from NZ making music that's left of centre. Very cool indeed. Maybe there's something in the water.

We Will Ride Fast - Bing Bong Dong - https://youtu.be/nPcssvgebgg

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have a new album due to drop in June. As is the way of the world, the album is recorded but we have to wait through a few months of single releases, new articles and the like. Here's the second release. Not only is Isbell a fantastic guitar player but he's a wordsmith as well. I can feel the story of whoever it is he's singing about and evoking that kind of emotion is a rare talent. 

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Middle of the Morning - https://youtu.be/zSI0uuKGhTk

Regular readers will know that I really quite like the ABBA / Scooby Doo metal mashup that is Ghost. They're about to release an EP that includes this little gem. Fans of progressive rock or middle of the road boredom may recognise it as one of Genesis' more excellent tracks (ie: not one of their MOR yawn fests). The original is here.

Ghost - Jesus He Knows Me - https://youtu.be/BE3kJeBr9QI

Steve Earle is doing a solo acoustic tour which sadly doesn't include Australia. That's a real shame. I get it, we're a long way away and touring is expensive but for one guy and a guitar maybe he could reconsider. The last time I saw him in Sydney the venue was pretty much sold out and extremely enthusiastic.

Steve Earle - The Galway Girl (live) - https://youtu.be/CqI6slo_IWg

It's a birthday week here with Angus hitting 25 and me somehow reaching 52. I'm very fortunate to have good friends to lean on because on days like these it's terrible being the only one left in Canberra. Angus has had a big few weeks including being concussed at football, getting reported and sent off as well as locking himself in an electrical cupboard at work by mistake. How he ever made it to a quarter of a century is a mystery! 

Lastly, Painters and Dockers are playing in Sydney (at The Factory in Marrickville) on Saturday July 29th. I'm planning on going. If anyone else out there is keen to come along for what promises to be a great evening then please let me know soon so that I can secure tickets and prepare to "Dock On".

Painters and Dockers - Die Yuppie Die (live) - https://youtu.be/ATi9d76vWCw

That's all folks. Rock on.

The Woozle.

"All the kings and queens in the Bible

They could not turn back time
So what chance have I, of a miracle
In this life of mine?"

Paul Kelly, If I Could Start Today Again, 1997.

World Wide Woozle episode #600

Hi everyone and welcome to the 600th episode of the World Wide Woozle. 

For those that came in late; this all started in 2008 with a small email list and one song a week. Since then it's rolled along, gathered moss, been cancelled and restarted twice, and provided me with a lot of joy. Thanks for playing along. So it's a happy 15th birthday I guess. 

A couple of weeks ago now I was fortunate enough to get along to the Street Theatre here in Canberra to see John Schumann & The Vagabond Crew play what turned out to be a particularly awesome show. The current tour is a retrospective of John's work with the iconic Australian band, Redgum. DJ SAB had organised the tickets and, for the first time in my memory, I was in the front row! John and the band played for almost two and half hours and at the end, it felt as if we'd only just started. I'm not sure I expect to see professional touring musicians struggling to find the music charts on their iPads though. Regardless, it was a great gig and it felt as if the band enjoyed themselves as much as we did in the audience. Redgum's music, the collision of folk and popular stuff, was important to me growing up and it still has a lot to say.

Redgum - Gladstone Pier - https://youtu.be/ENt45zn_Ha4

George (aka Bing); my good mate, music advisor, twice landlord and all around legend has released a new album and it's a ripper. The Perfect Thing To Do sees George and his collaborators in what I think is his most focussed collection of songs. That's certainly not meant to detract from any of his previous long players, but this one really hangs together, for me, as a complete body of work. It's one to listen to non-stop. I've watched as George has moved from demos (and gigs) recorded on a phone, to his embryonic efforts whilst learning to use Garageband and now the way he uses the music software Logic as another instrument and extension of himself. These eight tunes are all catchy in their own way and, for those willing to take more than a fleeting moment, they provide much to think about inside the lyrics. I'm biased, of course, as I appear in the background on a couple of tracks and I heard most of these tunes (over and over and over) as they were being recorded and mixed. The Perfect Thing To Do represents about a year of hard work, give it a good listen because it really is a grand collection of songs.

George Huitker & Junk Sculpture - Brother From Another Mother - https://georgehuitker.bandcamp.com/track/brother-from-another-mother

Independent, emerging and self-funded artists need all the support we can give them. The reality is that listening to all the music you like, essentially for free, using Spotify, YouTube or whatever your poison is, means that many artists either go broke trying to get their music out there or simply can't manage it. So, I implore you to listen and then cough up for some of the music that you like. Or go to a show and buy the album (or a shirt). Otherwise we're doomed to whatever big corporations decide can be in the Top 40 alongside all the old stuff from when people actually cared about music.

Teenage Dads - Video Killed The Radio Star - https://youtu.be/a-aSv9UIOEU

I've been slowly working my way towards having enough original songs to record my own album. And I'm almost there. A couple of weeks ago a new song popped into my head whilst I was doing some work. I had to drop everything for a few minutes, pick up the guitar and write it down and record the melody so I wouldn't forget it. I sat on a rough demo for a week or so, tweaked a few words here and there and then recorded a proper demo a few days ago now. You can have a listen at the link below if you're brave (all my recordings are here). Remember that it's a demo recorded in a living room, on my eight year old Mac, with everything played by me. My aim is to get all my songs recorded properly before too long. And whilst I'll try to write something a bit more upbeat, the truth is that if I sit and try to write something it simply doesn't work. I need some kind of inspiration like a phrase or a couple of chords and then suddenly it all spills out. This tune came from a quote I read on Instagram combined with hearing about someone having a bit of a hard time. Tell me what you think.

Rob - Infinite - https://soundcloud.com/robwoozle/infinite

Right then, humour me in episode 600 as I play tunes you've no doubt heard before. These are a few of my absolute favourites. 

Let's start with a fun song that has one of the best ever guitar solos in it.

Lionel Richie - Dancing On The Ceiling - https://youtu.be/ovo6zwv6DX4

And then there's this one. When I realised how simple the main riff is I was very pleased with myself. It's fun to play...loud.

Queen - Tie Your Mother Down - https://youtu.be/LvB2MnIIdMw

Finally, the song that has saved me from many, many bad days. I first heard the cover version by The Proclaimers (which is sublime) but the original has a rawness and grit that moves me. I recorded this myself on a cassette many years ago when I was extremely sad. The tape is long gone but I should try it again one day.

Steve Earle and The Dukes - My Old Friend The Blues (live) - https://youtu.be/VGkHnMtp_MU

Thanks to everyone who's still reading these. The honest truth is that writing and sharing music with all of you really helps keep me mentally on the straight and narrow.

The Woozle

"You've got to try a little kindness
Yes, show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness

Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets"

Glen Campbell, Try A Little Kindness, 1969,