Beatlephobia

That the Beatles were a cultural phenomenon is beyond doubt. The cult of Beatlemania, and the immense impact that the group had on an America suffering from post-JFK trauma are things that almost certainly will never be repeated on anything like the same scale if at all. Their iconic status as the embodiment of the [...]

Album: HAUSCHKA - Room To Expand (Fat Cat / 130701 CD1306 2007)

Hauschka is an alias of German pianist and composer Volker Bertelmann, a third of Music AM (alongside Luke Sutherland and Stefan Schneider). His music under this moniker consists of sparely accompanied piano pieces which adopt the “prepared piano” technique most famously utilised by American avant-garde composer John Cage. This process involves the transmutation of the way that [...]

Mixed Up Records

In the last half decade Glasgow has seen a haemorrhaging in the music retail trade after shop after shop has closed its doors. Some have been missed more than others, but the number of independent traders is now down to single figures in the city. The second-hand sector has been particularly badly hit. One survivor [...]

Atlantic 45 of the week: Kandeda Montgomery - Where Have You Been Today, James Rector? / July 5th (The Cuckoo) (Atlantic 2672 1969)

Every week I will print an entry from my forthcoming book “US Atlantic Singles 1947-77″. This week is the turn of protest folk singer Kandeda Montgomery’s solitary release for the label:
2672 KANDEDA MONTGOMERY
Where Have You Been Today, James Rector? (Montgomery) / July 5th (Montgomery)
Billboard Pop: none
Billboard R&B: none
Recorded: 1969.
Released: Oct 1969.
Other issues: none.
Available On: Currently [...]

Album: NEIL YOUNG - Live At Massey Hall 1971 (Reprise 43328 2007)

It was typical of the man’s contrariness that the Performance Series of archive live Neil Young recordings should start with volume 2 - last November’s 1970 Fillmore East electric set recorded with Crazy Horse (Reprise 44429). Young obsessives grumbled that the acoustic set from the same night should have been included, but perhaps the reason [...]

Atlantic 45 of the week: Little Johnny Jones - Hoy Hoy / Doin’ The Best That I Can (Atlantic 1045 1954)

Every week I will print an entry from my forthcoming book “US Atlantic Singles 1947-77″. This week is the turn of blues pianist Little Johnny Jones’ solitary release for the label:

Hoy Hoy (Jones) / Doin’ The Best That I Can (Jones)

Billboard Pop: none       
Billboard R&B: none

Recorded: 9th Nov 1953

Released: Oct 1954.

Other issues: none

Available On: Messing [...]

Coming soon: US Atlantic singles 1947-77

It’s been nearly two years in preparation, but I’ve almost completed work on my first magnum opus. US Atlantic Singles 1947-77 runs to more than 300,000 words, so it’s not small! Basically the book traces the first 30 years of Atlantic Records through every 45 and 78 the company released during that period - from [...]

Gig: KRISTIN HERSH / THE McCARRICKS. Oran Mor, Glasgow, 11/3/07

The last time I saw a Kristin Hersh solo show was at the Primavera Festival in Barcelona in 2005. She was battling gamely with a throat infection but, ultimately, lost out. It was a depressing experience to watch. Nearly two years later, she’s back with a new album, Learn To Sing Like A Star. Some [...]