Friday with Jon Spencer's Funky "Bellbottoms"
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A long time ago I didn't know what a remix was. A long time ago, most of us didn't have the internet, and some things remained a mystery that required further investigation. Often times lots of dead ends and reading a lot of different music mags (at a price) to get straight answers.
I actually discovered JSBE through the remix album "Experimental Remixes" and James Lavelle's "Bellbottoms (U.N.K.L.E (Old Rascal Mix)" of the song of the same name from the album Orange. Needless to say, Experimental Remixes was a Matador release, and in a digi-pak case, that offered little in the way of info on just who U.N.K.L.E. was. I recognised other names on the CD case like Mike Diamond, Beck, and Mario Caldato Jr.
For the life of me, I wasn't really sure what anyone was doing to the music. Were they writing the songs? Playing on them? I hadn't heard Orange, so I had no frame of refference.
I later purchased Orange and discovered Jon Spencer reductionist blues meets garage, and I enjoyed it. But nothing ever struck me quite the same way as the remix did.
So for your consideration, close your eyes, and remember a time before music was mashed up, the only thing you remixed was the powdered juice when it sat in the fridge too long and needed to be shaken up.
Comments (7)
This is a great track and JSBX was one of those zero (or 1) Mogged profiles. The remix album is great as is X-tra Acme USA.
An excellent project and Spencer was so carasmatic (sp?). Got to see 'em live quite a few years ago w/ Andrew Williams opening - he's a character as well!
I stand semi-corrected on the Moggless Explosion comment. Apparently, the news profile is all that shows up on the page but then there are an ample number of posts on these guy.
BTW - Russel Simmons (not Mr. Def Jam) is on drums I do believe.
They also toured years ago w/ The Roots and Beastie Boys. Interesting line up.
Russel Simmins (I believe that's the way it is spelled) was also a regular contributor to Grand Royal, the Beastie Boys most excellent magazine, that unfortunately is no longer around.
The Mike Diamond I mentioned is also known as Mike D, FYI
Classic track. I lurve it.
Amazing to think how controversial Spencer was back in the day. He actually makes his OWN music, and yet he was called a plagiarizer. I think Spencer would like a word with Greg Gillis.
Never understood why Grand Royal didn't thrive..great mag. Oh yeah, I liked it..no wonder it went under. Their piece on "Scratch' Perry was the schillznit.
It didn't survive because they couldn't meet the publishing deadlines and such that you are dependent on when you run a magazine. The 4 or so issues I have are like the Beastie Boys wikipedia - reference to their whole atmosphere of cool and refferences.