fistula spume
Songs You Should Be Listening To
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I went to get a couple of gallon jugs of beer last Sunday at the local brew pub. I'm sitting there waiting for them to finish my order when I hear this really spooky sounding cover of Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon". It had this really groovy non-electric sound to it with this haunting flute. I was trying to think of how I would google to find this gem just on hearing it. Well as I was walking out I saw some girl was DJing in the corner. I ran up to her and asked her "What is that record!" She flashed the cover and said she thought it was a 1974 Czech record. I raced home thinking "String Beat 1974 Czech record" over and over in my head. The album was easy to find. It's actually a 1975 Polish jazz funk album that was put out by Henryk Debich. This is his only album of this style. He created it with the Lodz Radio Orchestra. It seems to be regarded as one of the top jazz funk records of Poland. Apparently there are quite a few others. The album is really laid back and just overall great (with the exception of a cheesy Beatles cover). There is also a tribute to "Black Moses" by Isaac Hayes titled "Melodia Z Filmu Shaft". The album was rereleased in 2008 (vinyl only) by the German record label Beaureau-B. That label also has a lot of other great looking reissues. I think if your into funky soundtrack music this will be right up your alley.
"Fistula..." "Yes ears," I replied. "Thank you for finding Misty's Big Adventure for us. Life is better now." "You're welcome ears," I replied.
Oh my god I've been waiting for this band for some time now and I didn't even know it. I was reminiscing about Birmingham groups Pram and Broadcast recently with someone and I thought I'd check out their discogs. When I read Pram's info I found out that Grandmaster Gareth of Misty's Big Adventure had done some string arrangements for them. "Who are they?" I wondered. Googling them brought me to a ton of really awesome videos by the group. I was hooked. I needed an album. I started by getting this first official release. It's such a fun wonderland of songs. Upbeat, quirky, ridiculous, fun, funny, and a cornucopia of other adjectives. I love the band! I feel weird saying it. I had been telling friends for a month now that I thought I was completely done with bands. I had been feeling a bit indifferent to the idea of falling for another band. Well it happened. The universe always delivers when I'm being a fool like that. This album was released in 2004 with production by Richard March of Bentley Rhythm Ace and Matthew Eaton of Pram. It was really hard for me to select songs I like for you to hear. I love just about every song on the album. Even the ones I'm not fond of are still great to hear. The album is one of those that I have played start to finish about 20 times since I've gotten it. I highly recommend them. I don't have the other albums yet but I'll be correcting that next month. Check em out. Your ears will thank you for it.
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Apparently the US completely missed out on French disco group Ottawan. I can't say I blame us but man if I cannot get their songs out of my head I'm going to freak out. It's craziness! They were fronted by Jean Patrick and Annette. They put out two albums. One in 1979 and the other in 1981. According to the wiki they were "created to appeal to the gay section of disco community" (get outta town!). They had 3 hits "D.I.S.C.O.", "Hands Up", and "You're OK". "D.I.S.C.O." reached #2 on the UK singles chart and "Hands Up" reached #3 (It hit #1 in New Zealand). All 3 of the hits also had French language versions. Personally I like those better. "T'es OK (You're OK)" is one of the top 50 selling singles in France of all time. From what I could glean online these songs have been a staple with weddings in Europe for a while. In fun and interesting news their main songwriters and managers were Daniel Vanguard and Jean Kluger. They were the creators of the crazy awesome 1971 French funky Japanese childrens opera Le Monde Fabuleux Des Yamasuki. I posted about that way back in the way back HERE. Also, Daniel Vangarde is the father of Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk fame. He was apparently helpful to the duo in the early years. Anyway the main reason for this post was to drop the videos on you. I find them almost impossible to watch and yet I cannot take my eyes off of them. The best is "T'es ok! (You're OK)" but imbedding is disabled on it. You can check that out HERE. Finding these tracks was a bit of a rabbit hole adventure and very fun. Enjoy (or tear your ears out)!
Hands Up
D.I.S.C.O.
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D.I.S.C.O. is pretty damn groovy! If it weren't for the vocals, I would really like it..but perhaps they will grow on me. Nice! It is hard to even fathom the amount of disco music there is in the world.Folks found out how cheap it was to make a record and everybody did it..Kinda DIY,but with sequins..
It is groovy! That's why I like the French versions better. Less english to muck it up. The vocals just come off sounding like melody.
"Kinda DIY,but with sequins.." You know I think I should learn to sew. I've got more chances to make the best outfits for a disco band than be in the best disco band.
MOG Meter
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Henryk Debich – Na Opak 4:31
Henryk Debich – Oscypka 3:53
Wow, cheesy jazz funk tributes to Black Moses and a John Paul George and Ringo cover? Damn I gotta find this one.