A new feature I've decided to add to the blog... I kind of figured this was a more personal way of sharing some great tracks with you guys as apposed to just posting my ramblings and music! Kicking off with a completely random selection of LP's from my box, to be fair they all do happen to be some of my favourite artists, but definitely a bit of a mismatch! Let's be honest though, other than the excitement of finding a rare 45 or interesting label.. the best bit about collecting records is the artwork on LP's.. from cringe-ful 70s TOP HITS to 50s tittyshakers with scantily clad buxom beauties with huge bouffant's.. it adds to the fun.
Ma Rainey - Mother of The Blues Vol 1 (1924)
The original bad girl of music.. Ma Rainey was a pioneer in so many ways, I'd need to dedicate a whole post to her in order to fully get it out. Let's just say, she was sexually ambidextrous and her songs rang true in many ways, she had a no holds barred approach with her lyricism, definitely up there with Bo Carter for 20s innuendos, not to mention a voice so scorned that you know this woman has been weathered and worn. This woman has had a huge impact on music through the ages.. from Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin to Amy Winehouse.. they owe her a lot! I've chosen the track "Lawd, send me a man blues".
The Buddy Holly Story (1958)
A man who needs no introduction, more famed for his glasses than for his music, Buddy holly was highly underrated in my opinion, despite his short lived musical career, he's left an indefinite mark on the music world and won't ever be forgotten. With his southern drawl, Holly was a thoroughbread Texan man with charming lyricism and simple playing style, Holly paved the way for the beginning of the beat generation, there isn't too much to educate people on Buddy Holly, but share one of my favourite tracks "Raining in my heart", this melancholic song has so much heartfelt innocence to it, you'd have to be an Ice Queen not to be moved by his plea.
Joan Baez "Farewell Angelina" (1964)
By far one of my favourite female vocalists of the 60s, Baez has one of those undefinable voices that is timeless and yet classic. A topical songwriter through and through, Baez was at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement and sings every song with such conviction you can't fault her passion, even if she herself didn't write the song, in true Folk style she manages to re-create classic American folk songs with an edge that makes the era unrecognisable but the cause and effect undoubtably clear. I chose "A Satisfied Mind", a song which has been covered time and time again by numerous artists from Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley to The Byrds, the song itself is incredibly well written, and the lyricism well.. it's just perfectly apt. "Money can't buy back your youth when you're old, Or a friend when you're lonely, or a love that's grown cold. The wealthiest person is a pauper at times, Compared to the man with a satisfied mind"
The Dizzy Gillespie Story Volume 1 (1946)
Along with Charlie Parker, Dizzy was one of the pioneers of Bebop. One thing is for certain, his musical credentials and impact on jazz far surpass the public knowledge of such a pioneer. In my opinion, by far one the finest trumpeters the jazz genre has ever seen, inexplicably cool, calm and collected, Gillespie defines the jazz genre in a far out way. The track I've chosen from this LP is "Alone Together" which defines Gillespie's less sporadic jazz style towards his highest creative peak in the late 40s. Simply put, it's bloody cool and sets the right ambience for just about anything that involves solitude.
I hope you've all enjoyed the new segment... more to come shortly!
Enjoy.
Samira
