Sunday, September 30, 2012
And Here They Come, the People From the Bible
Another strong mix from my friend. Back in the day we were all about industrial music. I don't think it mattered much who or what it was as long as it was aggressive and weird. Oh, and it had to say "Wax Trax." This isn't all industrial, and he's even got a great Nite Jewel tune on here to go along with some Harmonia & Eno and Faust.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Maybe Tomorrow
A new mix my friend from the U.S. sent over. He wrote and told me he found this great site Vinyl Obscurity and ended up putting on several songs from there. He'd wondered if I'd heard of it and, year, of course I knew it was a great site. I usually download 30-40% of what goes up on VO, so luckily there was plenty I hadn't heard. I liked The October Group and Graphic Shadows so much I went back and located those.
Incidentally, this photo looks like a beach with a factory towering over it. The umbrellas remind me a little of Haundae Beach in Busan, but the factory shadowing it reminds me of Il-kwang Beach, which is about 20 minutes north. Hard to find much of anything in English, but here's a photo. There's a large nuclear reactor there, right next to the beach.
Incidentally, this photo looks like a beach with a factory towering over it. The umbrellas remind me a little of Haundae Beach in Busan, but the factory shadowing it reminds me of Il-kwang Beach, which is about 20 minutes north. Hard to find much of anything in English, but here's a photo. There's a large nuclear reactor there, right next to the beach.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Summer Rockin'
Been thinking of doing an Yacht Rock mix for awhile, largely inspired by the site Hard Rock/AOR Heaven, off of which I've found a few gems that are included here and other places. The great thing about this recent wave of obscure file blogs (there must be a better name) is that all genres are fair game, so it stood to reason that there'd be some great Yacht/AOR/West Coast/Soft Rock jams out there to be found.
Angeles -- Prologue
As soon as I heard this I knew it was going to lead this mix. This album was actually made, as I understand it, by a Japanese guy who came over to the U.S. and hired a bunch of his favorite AOR/West Coast studio musicians and vocalists to put music to songs he wrote. That's such a Japanese thing to do.
The President -- Turn Me On
A two man Dutch band checks in with a classic sounding track that reminds me a little of Toto. This is off a Japan only re-release. Notice a trend here?
Fair Warning -- She Don't Know Me
This album really grew on me. Fantastic songwriting all the way through and when it came time to select a song off it I was torn between four before I finally decided it was ok to include two. Interesting snippit from the post:
Nielsen/Pearson -- If You Should Sail
Assumed this was somehow related to Harry Nilsson, but actually N&P were a duo during the 80s that made it to #38 with this song. Shades of Michael McDonald on the backup...have to assume that's Pearson. Songs about boats on the sea...how Yacht Rock can you get?
Glen Frey -- The One You Love
I know I've heard this sax line a number of times, but not sure if it's as a sample or if I just know this song. The backbeat is actually quite slick. I listened to this song on repeat about 20 times.
Jumpstreet -- Someone Else is On Your Mind
Included these guys on my last mix. Nice Steely Dan vibe, and, as much as I like S.D. I have to say the quality of this album does rival some of Fagan and Becker's lesser moments, which ain't bad.
Steely Dan -- Bad Sneakers
One of my favorite songs period. Seemed like a good way to follow up the previous song. Used to listen to this again and again while walking around NYC. Reminds me of my old boss Bernard, who was put in jail for hiring a kid to kill his ex-wife.
James Taylor and J.D. Souther -- Her Town Too
Smooooth song. Really nice combo here. Some goofy lyric meaning speculation here.
Lulu -- I Could Never Miss You
Scottish woman. This track comes off of Vol. 14 of a comp on the blog AOR/Night Drive. I'm not sure where the recording comes from, but there's some canned audience applause at the start. I was thinking of trying to edit it out, but it grew on me. If it's a live version it's very good.
The Beach Boys -- Match Point of Our Love
The one song credited solely to Brian Wilson off the M.I.U. album, released in the late 70s. Not exactly "soft rock," but the album, which is typically rated as the group's worst among it's "credible" work, is filled with mainstream late 70s production, so it fits here and fits well in my opinion.
Fair Warning -- Night and Day
Another terrific song off this album. Has a beachy mai tai kind of feel to it.
Stephen Bishop -- It Might Be You
Theme from Tootsie. Fairly underrated song in my opinion. Entirely schmaltzy, but in an affecting way.
Angeles -- Sayonara
The one overtly Japanese theme on this album. Not a great collection of songs actually, but the two tracks seemed to bookend things nicely.
Angeles -- Prologue
As soon as I heard this I knew it was going to lead this mix. This album was actually made, as I understand it, by a Japanese guy who came over to the U.S. and hired a bunch of his favorite AOR/West Coast studio musicians and vocalists to put music to songs he wrote. That's such a Japanese thing to do.
The President -- Turn Me On
A two man Dutch band checks in with a classic sounding track that reminds me a little of Toto. This is off a Japan only re-release. Notice a trend here?
Fair Warning -- She Don't Know Me
This album really grew on me. Fantastic songwriting all the way through and when it came time to select a song off it I was torn between four before I finally decided it was ok to include two. Interesting snippit from the post:
"Fair Warning" included a potential hit single penned by Avsec titled "She Don't Know Me". However, an upcoming band from New Jersey called Bon Jovi were recording their first album for Mercury Records at this time and needed a strong debut single, so "She Don't Know Me" was selected for them. This label executive move ruined the chances of the song being pushed as a single for Fair Warning.Just goes to show what a fine line there is between coke-snorting, babes-to-burn success and utter back-in-the-cubicle-you-go failure.
Nielsen/Pearson -- If You Should Sail
Assumed this was somehow related to Harry Nilsson, but actually N&P were a duo during the 80s that made it to #38 with this song. Shades of Michael McDonald on the backup...have to assume that's Pearson. Songs about boats on the sea...how Yacht Rock can you get?
Glen Frey -- The One You Love
I know I've heard this sax line a number of times, but not sure if it's as a sample or if I just know this song. The backbeat is actually quite slick. I listened to this song on repeat about 20 times.
Jumpstreet -- Someone Else is On Your Mind
Included these guys on my last mix. Nice Steely Dan vibe, and, as much as I like S.D. I have to say the quality of this album does rival some of Fagan and Becker's lesser moments, which ain't bad.
Steely Dan -- Bad Sneakers
One of my favorite songs period. Seemed like a good way to follow up the previous song. Used to listen to this again and again while walking around NYC. Reminds me of my old boss Bernard, who was put in jail for hiring a kid to kill his ex-wife.
James Taylor and J.D. Souther -- Her Town Too
Smooooth song. Really nice combo here. Some goofy lyric meaning speculation here.
Lulu -- I Could Never Miss You
Scottish woman. This track comes off of Vol. 14 of a comp on the blog AOR/Night Drive. I'm not sure where the recording comes from, but there's some canned audience applause at the start. I was thinking of trying to edit it out, but it grew on me. If it's a live version it's very good.
The Beach Boys -- Match Point of Our Love
The one song credited solely to Brian Wilson off the M.I.U. album, released in the late 70s. Not exactly "soft rock," but the album, which is typically rated as the group's worst among it's "credible" work, is filled with mainstream late 70s production, so it fits here and fits well in my opinion.
Fair Warning -- Night and Day
Another terrific song off this album. Has a beachy mai tai kind of feel to it.
Stephen Bishop -- It Might Be You
Theme from Tootsie. Fairly underrated song in my opinion. Entirely schmaltzy, but in an affecting way.
Angeles -- Sayonara
The one overtly Japanese theme on this album. Not a great collection of songs actually, but the two tracks seemed to bookend things nicely.
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