LONG LIVE THE STRATEGIC EQUILIBRIUM

Apr 28 2009 ∞

THE ALPHA BAND "RICH MAN" (1978)

The Alpha Band’s an exciting new discovery. Formed by T-Bone Burnett and a couple of other dudes from Dylan’s Rolling Thunder band, they cut three increasingly Christian and almost wholly disregarded records in the late ’70s.

“Rich Man” is from their last one, Statue Makers of Hollywood, and it’s 7 minutes of horn swells, mandolin breakdowns, and a chorus heavy with reverb straight out of a mid-’70s John Cale record. WHOA.

The Alpha Band Rich Man

Apr 27 2009 ∞

HERBIE MANN "BEND DOWN LOW" (1981)

Let’s get this out of the way first: yes, this is a Bob Marley cover, and yes, it’s from a contractual obligation record of stems and seeds called Mellow, and YES, Herbie’s fucking singing and not really concentrating on the flute, but whatever.

It was like 90 here yesterday and I went cruising around Georgetown on foot schvitzing up a storm and I listened to this a bunch of times, totally perfect.

Herbie Mann Bend Down Low

Apr 26 2009 ∞

PLAYBOY TRE f/HOMEBWOI "OH MY LORD FREESTYLE" (2009)

There was a time a few years ago, when I was doing a radio show in College Park, that I was super responsible about keeping up with new mixtapes and new rappers coming up but now I have no idea about anything and I am a least a year late on Playboy Tre.

Dude’s in with B.O.B. and Bohagon, he used to be a weedcarrier for Youngbloodz and Jim Crow, so I’m comfortable with his pedigree. No clue on Homebwoi, but he’s pretty good too.

Playboy Tre f/Homebwoi Oh My Lord Freestyle

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Harry Nilsson with Ray Walston during the Popeye sessions.

Via For the Love of Harry.

Apr 22 2009 ∞

TWO HOT LEADS

From the bottomless well that is Dream Chimney:

The Incredible Broadside Brass Bed Band “Cocaine”

William DeVaughn “Be Thankful For What You Got (1980 version)”

Apr 21 2009 ∞

BOYOYO BOYS "MAPETLA 50" (1987)

Paul Simon got the idea for Graceland from listening to a Boyoyo Boys tape. “Mapetla 50” is a bit after their Township Jive heyday but is still craaaazy catchy.

Boyoyo Boys Mapetla 50

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BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW "BORN ON A DAY THE SUN DIDN'T RISE" (2009)

Dave Fridmann tones down the Goblinism on this great new BMSR jam.

With this, the new Dirty Projectors, the new Bill Callahan, new Mastodon, new Grizzly Bear, and a bunch more records I’m forgetting, 2009 is really shaping up to be a good year for cracker music.

Black Moth Super Rainbow Born on a Day the Sun Didn’t Rise

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MALCOLM MCLAREN & THE EBONETTES "DOUBLE DUTCH" (1983)

No clue how I managed to go so long without hearing this. McLaren’s vocals are so fucking deadpan, this song is NUTS.

Malcolm McLaren & the Ebonettes Double Dutch

Apr 18 2009 ∞

SALIS "LA RAGGAZINA DEL CORTILE" (1971)

Sort of an Italian Sir Douglas Quintet, heavy with organ, and at 2:38 about a minute too long.

Salis La raggazine del cortile

Apr 12 2009 ∞

J.B.'S INTERNATIONALS "J.B.'S DISCO" (1978)

Weird how little discographical information there is about Jam II Disco Fever on the Internet…

Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley had left the J.B.’s for Parliament/Funkadelic by 1978, leaving a rump of St. Clair Pinkney (who’s identified as “Sinclair” on the sleeve) and Jimmy Nolen. It’s a pretty spare and tight affair. I like the horns especially.

J.B.’s Internationals J.B.’s Disco

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