In the summer of 1980 as a trembling teenage punk - and some several years below the age requirement of an X Certificate - I managed to blag my way in to the local Odeon (wearing a homemade Who Killed Bambi T-shirt) to see the Sex Pistols cinematic release - the Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. A rambling, scrappy and ultimately disappointing ninety minutes that could have offered so much more (are the hours of unseen out takes and extras ever going to be released?)
Although the opening moments had me wide-eyed and gripped, seeing live(ish) Sex Pistols actually moving around - in an era when the only snatched exposures of musical heroes and idols were frozen monochromatic music press photos - intercut with Helen of Troy collecting together the Swindle lettering while the Pistols auditioned for a Johnny Rotten replacement. A role that eventually went to the manic, erratic Ed Tudor-Pole -
The date of my visit to the flix is documented hereabouts (19th). So a mind-frying Friday night lies ahead tonight as I'll be sharing a stage for a few tunes with ex-Pistol himself - Tenpole Tudor!! It's a return visit to Southend's most rock 'n' roll local The Railway for Ed TP, on a bill that also includes J.D Smith, BONE and Thomas Truax And finally Dave Deville and myself will be joining Mr Pole for a few covers and of course....
If you're round and about Southend way swing by and come on down for a Friday night bounce...
Chapter Six (well my half) of the Podrophonic Alphabet sets controls for the
heart of funk playlisting naught but nifty footed-nuggets and unlikely places to
find The Funk: onions, fever, trips. Also an unreleased Motown rarity and a Georgie Fame outtake.
Lend an ear here from 9 for a fistful of funky gubbins and an all out super-power
con-funk-tation. Also nipping in from 9 is Fi Jacobs for a Railway Round Up - did
anybody manage to eat/beat the Crass Burger Challenge...? Find out tonight on Radio Podrophenia.
Artwork by Peter Blake - yes him of the Sgt Pepper cover
The Blockheads come to sunny Southend this Saturday, heading up a bill that features Camera Obscura and Billy Bragg's Big Busk (I'll be taking my Martin DX1 along for that. Although live music is just one segement of an all day arts festival known as Village Green, taking place in Chalkwell Park - literally a five minute walk from home.
Last time I saw The Blockheads dear ol' Ian Dury was still out front and on his final visit to Southend during the Mr Love Pants tour. For all their punk/pub rock roots and associations the Blockheads are really proto Acid Jazzers (fatback drums, squealy synths, soaraway solos and finger-blistering basslines) twinning the free form flow of Jazz Funk with the sweaty energy of Punk, and able to switch between either without missing a beat. They are simply the finest set of sizzling of musicians you'll ever see live. So if you're round and about Southend way this Saturday why not pop along - the full programme of events is available here.
The Stranglers are live in Southend tonight, and being one of the first handful of bands I actively collected (along with the Pistols and The Damned) there's no question of not trotting along. I know Hugh Cornwell's long gone from the line up - but it's still 75% original Strangulation. The other three are present and correct: Ol' Beardy, Ol' Pudding Basin and JJ Burnell, one of the coolest punk bass cadets (actually punk bass players were typically the snappiest member of the band) - all karate moves, monkey boots, motorbikes and that thunderous rumble underpinning the 'men in black's' signature sound. It's a 'greatest hits' gig, so hopefully these B-side babies may be somewhere in the setlist...
Blimey O'Riley, it seems like a lifetime since we got on the good foot here on Planet Mondo, but there's plenty of tasty treats on offer today.
Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings franticly funky rework of - 'I Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)' - orginally a Psych Rock groover by the First Edition featuring Kenny Rogers - set to a display of spectacular fruggery.
A crazy ace clip of the First Edition, performing 'Condition' with Kenny Rogers looking for all the world like a gripping hands Action Man.
And a stunning bass masterclass, with a home made vid' of a 'have a go hero' playing the bassline along to MVP's Northern Soul stomper 'Turning My Heartbeat Up. If you don't know 'Heartbeat', it's a simmering starter that goes through the gears to an eventual giddy tizz and fireworks finale. I'd never noticed the bass run on 'Heartbeat' until watching this clip, seeing it in almost isolation is stunning.
If you've only got time for one clip, to quote James Brown "please, please, please" watch the bass vid.
In the mood to bust some moves like these? Then get on over James Brown dance class here at the marvellous Landcroft House blog.
After seeing how many downloads the Merry Clayton track received (almost as popular as Los Punkrockers). I’m going to sprinkle some sparkle over Fridays by sharing a few funky nuggets on the Blog.
For openers here's a hair-raisingly rare track I managed to grab while the online goldmine Winmx was up and running
So, who's James Jamerson? Well he's not the shouty, cigar chomping editor from Spider-Man. But the bass playing virtuoso with Motown’s in-house band, The Funk Brothers - a band who heard on more number one's than Elvis,The Beatles,The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones combined.
James Jamerson was (he died in 1983) one of those rare talents that crackle with natural ability and genius.
And like all genuine geniuses the usual rules don't apply. He rarely changed the strings on his bass "The Funk Machine", its neck was notoriously bowed with a crazy high action between the strings and the fret board. He didn’t rake the strings (the standard spider like hand movements bass players employ). Instead - and possibly from his beginnings as an upright bass player - just used his index finger, which he nicknamed "The Hook",
Try re-listening to I was Made To Love Her, Bernadette, or What's Going On to hear this Funk Brother bounce around the Fretboard
Fever in The Funkhouse is James Jamerson's own composition and is still unreleased
