In the world of compilation albums, it is very hard for me to find one that I enjoy all the way through. Then I found The Greater Antilles Sampler. Designed as a 99¢ introduction to the Antilles label, Island Records' now defunct in-house jazz/funk/electronica/dub label, this 1976 record is 22 tracks of some of the most incredible music you've never heard.
Normally I wouldn't bore you guys with the track listing, but this is too fantastic of a record not to give you all the details!
Side A
1. Northern Sky- Nick Drake.
2. R.F.D.- Quiet Sun. Quiet Sun was Phil Manzanera's progressive jazz and rock group prior to Roxy Music.
3. Never Too Far- Tim Hardin. This song features Peter Frampton on guitar.
4. Take It While You Can- Grimms. This band includes members of the Bonzo Dog Band, Monty Python and Scaffold. If anyone has the entire Grimms album, Rockin' Duck, please please please hook me up! This song contains one of my favorite lines: "My mama used to tell me, now she was very wise, remember son that living is dying in disguise'".
5. The Time is Right- Gay & Terry Woods. The Woods were founding members of Steeleye Span.
6. Albion Sunrise- Albion Country Band. Essentially a folk supergroup, ACB featured Martin Carthy, Ashley Hutchings (of Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention), John Kirkpatrick and Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention) among others.
7. Cajun Theme- Allen Fontenot & The Country Cajuns.
8. Roses for a Sunday Morning- Country Gazette. A Bluegrass group featuring Byron Berline of The Flying Burrito Brothers.
9. Just as the Tide Was A'flowing- Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band.
10. Grey Daylight- Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick.
11. Pull Down Lads- June Tabor.
Side B 1. I Get A Kick Out of You- Gary Shearston. A funky, folky version of the Cole Porter standard. 2. Benzaiten- Osamu Kitajima. Experimental rock performed with classical Japanese instruments. 3. Evensong- Fripp/Eno. From the second Robert Fripp/Brian Eno collaboration, "Evening Star". 4. Sad Sing- Tom Newman. This song features Mike Oldfield, Mick Taylor and Neil Innes, among others. 5. Love Without Sound- White Noise. Read Julian Cope's review of this wild 1968 electronic album here. 6. Irin-Ajo- Winwood/Kabaka/Amao. From the album "Aiye-Keta", Steve Winwood's collaboration with the Traffic percussionist Remi Kabaka and Abdul Lasisi Amao. 7. Tibet- Don Cherry Trio. Don Cherry playing gamelan, gong and something called the rkan-dung? How awesome is that? 8. Cloudless Sky- Morning Glory. From an album featuring six pioneers of progressive jazz, including John Surman and John Taylor. 9. Experiences #1- John Cage. From a Cage EP released through Brian Eno's Obscure Records. 10. White Light- Tibetan Bells. 11. Hallelujah- Portsmouth Sinfonia & Choir. Formed by a group of Portsmouth art students, this live track is an example of their attempt "to take classical music out of the hands of the 'tuxedo-Nazis' and return it to the people."
I found my copy of The Greater Antilles Sampler at Goodwill for $1.99. Do a little digging and i'm sure you can find one too!
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That sounds like one ridiculously cool compilation.
Lucky you.
jk
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Side B is phenomenal. On the lookout.
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I remember this one. It's aces, though that Gary Shearston song sounded pretty ghastly to me at the time.
I don't want to be a tease (oh, go ahead, dear), but I used to have Rockin' Duck and may still, though I doubt it. Much of my old vinyl has vanished. I promise to pore through my remaining album collection this weekend to see if I can dig it up.
(By the way, a related LP I know I still have, though it ain't in the greatest shape, is Neil Innes's and Eric Idle's "Rutland Weekend Songbook," which has early versions of a couple of Rutles songs as well as the wonderful protest song ("My name's Ron Onassis. I've suffered for my art, and now it's your turn....")
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Ooh! You have the "Rutland Weekend Songbook"! I used to watch that movie ALL THE TIME. "Cheese and Onions" is a favorite of mine... If you find "Rockin' Duck" I will send you any music you want (by saying that, you know I am trying to ensure that you do find that album, even if you have to conjure it out of the ether).
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Thanks, glad to be here! Excellent site.
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so kate, how can i help you to dispense copies of these tracks to the hungry masses? (i.e. me)
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that is to say, how can i help you to help me?
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Well, you are so in luck! In addition to the 2 tracks I posted above, I have a CD copied from the vinyl I can pass on to you. Good thing you're sitting right next to me.
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HI-5!
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My parents used to listen to the Don Cherry Trio when I was a kid. I oughta check them out again now that I'm not 4.
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Don Cherry is pretty rad for for a 4-year old to be exposed to! Sounds like your parents had a little hipness in 'em.
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Weird, I've never seen Benzaiten anywhere else before. We have a Japanese LP of his from my boyfriend's boss (a pro bassoon player who lived in Japan after he was shipwrecked and left for dead, or something like that... Mr. Crazylife!). I dig it. My friend Dan made a semi-joking psych EP called Danzaiten a couple of summers ago, after listening to that. It now exists on myspace as Skullfucker... the high harmonies are Galen. Wankers.
That whole comp sounds awesome, though! I'll keep an eye out.
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Rita Lee! ho ho ho! :)
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Kate, if you'll forgive my being anal-retentive (for the second time in the last five minutes, it's time to shut down and get myself a martini), on track 2 wasn't Quiet Sun was the name of Phil Manzanera's group, and RFD the song? Or have I been living a lie for the past 20 years?
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No, thank you for being anal-retentive! You are totally right. For some reason the G.A.Sampler has it listed this way, and not having any Quiet Sun stuff, I didn't know enough to correct it. So thanks, and i'll go edit my post now.
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I heard that White Noise album and didn't think to seek out the label. Thanks.
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I had that album once. Great stuff indeed.
The Albion Band continue to exist - at least they did last i heard.
The Grimms were fun; i'd forgotten them (it's been a long time since anyone could afford to put out a sampler LP for ninety-nine cents).
Mention of Rutland Weekend TV reminds me (or stimulated me, a'cos i hadn't thought of it before) to ask if anyone can provide me with a copy.
Another album i'd love to get a copy of is Bonzo dog (doo dah) Band member Roger Ruskin Spear's Electric Shocks.
I had a CD of Brit comedy - including all of Peter Cook's "Judge/Miner" routine - that featured tracks by what i'm fairly sure was the Portsmouth Sinfonia; the liner notes said that anyone who showed up with an instrument was automatically part of the rchestra, even if you "...didn't even know which end of the violin to blow into..."
Current National Terror Alert Level
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Kate says:
Ooh! You have the Rutland Weekend Songbook! I used to watch that movie ALL THE TIME . "Cheese and Onions" is a favorite of mine…
You had a copy of Rutland Weekend TV on video?!?
Oh my oh my - be still my fluttering heart.
Though the mention of Cheese and Onions sort causes me to wonder if you have it confused with The Rutles, which was a spinoff from the BBC production...
Current National Terror Alert Level
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Oh, no I was thinking of the Rutles. But I think my uncle has that Roger Ruskin Spear album- i'll see if I can make a cd of it if he does.
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This collection is truly wonderful, Kate, from way back when the Island imprint meant quality and creativity. (I have a vinyl copy tucked away somewhere. Ha!) Along with Virgin and Chrysalis, Island and its subsidiaries were British boutique labels dedicated to releasing great, even important music - commercial considerations be damned. What da feck happened?!? (And how about a "Hell, yeah!" for the Rutles? Anything that can draw together elements of Monty Python, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and the Beatles - not to mention actual members of same - is something special.)
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Neil Innes toured the States last year in a "solo" evening. I was lucky enough to catch him at a small club in Philadelphia and he was absolutely superb and just hilarious. Hasn't lost a step. If he decides to do it again (please God) do not pass up the opportunity.
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What a great find! The Benzaiten and Don Cherry sound especially tasty (tried to download the Benzaiten now and couldn't access the page, will have to try later). And you've got me off on a web hunt to find out what a rkan-dung is. Haven't found out yet but I'm finding a lot of interesting sites about other unusual instruments. I think I'm going to have to get a copy of that Cherry album.
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Found one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Greater-Antilles-Sampler-record-album-Frampton_W0QQitemZ330029871010QQihZ014QQcategoryZ306QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
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Sometimes I even wonder if I like music.
I know so little...
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You are in the right place. I think I only know what I do because I am slightly (ahem) obsessed. Lots of folks on here like way less obscure stuff than me, and that's cool too. The good thing about MOG is that everyone is welcomed with open arms (and ears!)
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Kate, I tried to find "Rocking Duck," but no luck (yet). Still trying....
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Wow, that comp sounds absolutely fantastic! I'm gonna have to add that to my list of acquisition missions.
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hi back!
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Island was such a cool label in those days. BTW, Quiet Sun was a side-project for Phil Manzanera while he was in Roxy, not before. He also had 801 at the same time. And I just learned from The Rocking Vicar's newsletter that his name isn't Manzanera. I'm crushed. It's such a great rock star name.
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I just pulled this album out of my collection last night for the first time in years. Lots of great stuff. You'll likely appreciate the write-up I gave it at Rock Town Hall:
http://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/index.php?title=dugout_chatter_lemgthe_greater_antilles_&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1