Rob's Pages

Sunday, September 29

New Chris Stamey & Peter H projects

HEARD THESE YET?
  
A new album of newly-composed, old-school songs
Don't expect a typical Chris Stamey solo album.
Vinyl-only live EP by the Peter Holsapple Combo.
Limited-edition release; grab it before it's gone.

ROB SEZ: For some weeks now, I've been embarrassed not to be quicker off the mark to spotlight Chris Stamey (and company)'s album, New Songs for the 20th Century, which came out in the summer via Omnivore Recordings. Recently, however, Peter H came to the rescue, with his combo's new live EP — Amplifier: Live at Q Division — giving me cause to spotlight both releases. At this point, the latter is a vinyl-only run, limited to 250 copies. Grab one before they're gone. 
  
Will, Peter & Glenn = Peter Holsapple Combo
Hear, hear!
In my caption for Chris' album above, I added: "Don't expect a typical Chris Stamey solo album." The album title gives you a tongue-in-cheek clue: these are songs for the last century, not this one. Don't expect a dB's redux, or the type of solo material we usually hear from Chris. Think "popular music" a few generations ago — especially the intersection of jazz & pop — and you'll be close. Chris enlisted a slew of talented musicians, including numerous lead vocalists, to record the double-disc set. The goal was to create Chris' own contributions to the Great American Songbook — and I think he's pulled it off. AllMusic's Mark Deming agrees, giving the collection a 4-star review.
  
Here's a video gallery to give you a taste for both releases. 
THANK YOU Marcus Slade & Larry Tucker!
Please leave a comment to let the rest of us know what you think of the music

Manhattan Melody (That's My New York), feat. Django Haskins
composed & produced by Chris Stamey

There's Not a Cloud In the Sky, feat. Ariel Pocock
composed & produced by Chris Stamey

LIVE PERFORMANCES by the Peter Holsapple Combo in 2019
(Peter Holsapple, Will Rigby & Glenn R. Jones)








Friday, September 27

Shack - Liverpool, UK 2006

Liverpool Academy
Liverpool, UK
May 12, 2006
  
web stream capture via Livegigsonline 
  
sound quality: VG to VG+ (audio equivalent of a nice audience recording; vocals are somewhat distant at times)





























01 crowd, intro
Shack live in Bristol, UK 2003 (photos by X Hits the Spot)
02 Black and White 
03 Pull Together
04 Miles Apart
05 Cup of Tea
06 Streets of Kenny 
07 X Hits the Spot
08 On the Terrace
09 I Know You Well
10 Tie Me Down
11 Butterfly
12 Miles Away
13 Meant to Be
14 crowd, welcoming Shack
     back to the stage
15 [unidentified]
16 Comedy
17 Neighbours
18 Queen Matilda



ROB SEZ: I had wanted to close out this month's run of Shack & Michael Head posts with something a bit more spectacular, but I think this will suffice. It's a hometown gig that's got plenty of energy and features a horn section on several songs. I only wish the recording by the (now-defunct) Livegigsonline was sharper, with vocals more to the fore. That said, this is one of the very few full-length Shack shows I know of, and Shack / Michael Head fans will probably eat it up. BIG-TIME THANKS to Shacknet, my source for this share. (If anyone can identify the title of song #15 — or has a different full-length Shack recording to share, please leave a comment.)


MP3@320 (lossy source; no FLAC this time)

Friday, September 20

Michael Head & The Strands - The Olde World (rare promo CD)

The Olde World
promo-only CD
recorded c. 1993-1995
  
* VERY RARE ALBUM; exclusive to this blog *
  
studio recordings (sound quality: Ex)
  
   
OLDE WORLD is a companion to this CD

ROB SEZ:  This is not the authorized, officially-released Magical World of the Strands, but it is the nearly mythical companion collection from the same 1993-1995 recording sessions. It contains outtakes as well as alternate mixes of the commercially-released tracks. Originally, the plan was to release Olde World along with with a remastered & expanded version of Magical World. The latter appeared in 2015. Promo copies of Olde World were pressed and sent out to reviewers as planned (find reviews of both collections HERE). But then came an unnamed sticking point between Michael Head and Megaphone, his Paris-based record label. Today, Olde World remains a very rare, promo-only item. Recently, I paid dearly for a copy I bought online, which gives me the chance to share it with you here. Fans of Nick Drake and similar artists will want to check out the official album, but fans of the Head brothers' 21st century musical projects will also love this collection. The download folder includes extras such as reviews and a track-by-track rundown from Piccadilly Records in Manchester. Please enjoy.
  
FLAC
  
MP3@320
  
Learn more about the music of Michael (Mick) Head 
at AllMusic and this FB page
    

Friday, September 13

Michael Head & Shack - Demos, Rare & Live

Michael Head & Shack
demos, rare & live mega post
1990-2012 
via shacknet.co.uk

* 2 SEPARATE DOWNLOADS *
  
FM & web stream captures (sound quality range: VG- to VG+)
  
  • Shack - Radio Clyde Session 1990 - 4 songs
  • Shack - BBC Radio 1 Session May 1999 - 4 songs
  • Shack - BBC Radio 6 Session Sept. 2003 - 3 songs
  • Shack - BBC Radio 2 Session Sept. 2003 - 3 songs
  • Pale Fountains - BBC Radio Merseyside Session Jan. 2008 - 2 songs
  • MH & Red Elastic Band - BBC Radio Merseyside Session Sept. 2008 - 2 songs
  • MH & Red Elastic Band - BBC Radio Merseyside Session Feb. 2012 - 2 songs
  

    MP3@VAR (varying bit rates, 128 - 320 kbps)

    ROB SEZ: I've admired Michael ("Mick") Head's music, usually partnering with his brother John, since their days in the fabulous alt-pop/rock group Shack. I'm especially fond of Head's Nick-Drake-esque Michael Head & The Strands project. A couple of years ago, I collected all the Head-related rarities I could find, including some from the Shacknet.co.uk site. But the latter now appear to be gone or inaccessible. So here they are for those who might enjoy them: in-session live tracks plus interviews. BIG THANKS to Gary Foreman & all at Shacknet for sharing.
      
    Michael Head & The Strands
    Michael Head - lost in the music, 2016
    Demos & Alternate Takes
    c. 1993-1995
      
    soundboard recordings (quality: VG to VG+)
      
    01 Glynys & Jaqui 
    02 The Prize
    03 And Luna
    04 Fontilan
    05 X Hits the Spot
    06 Poor Jill
    07 Wanda
    08 Hockens Hey
    09 It's Harvest Time
    10 Poor Jill 2
    11 Queen Matilda
    12 The Prize (der der)
    13 Glynys & Jaqui
    14 Green Velvet Jacket (B-side) 
    15 Queen Matilda (Alt. Take 3) 
    16 Queen Matilda (Alt. Take 4) 
    17 Queen Matilda (Demo) 
    18 Something Like You (Live 1998)
    19 (mystery bonus track)

    MP3@192 (best available bit rate)
       
    Learn more about the music of Michael (Mick) Head 
       

    Friday, September 6

    Wondermints - Live 1995 + 2000 (Rehearsal Room & Borderline)

    WONDERMINTS - Nick W. (center)
    Live at the Rehearsal Room 
    1995 (exact date unknown)
      
    soundboard recording (quality: VG++)
      
    ROB SEZ: Fans of classy pop lost another hero recently with the sudden, unexpected death of Wondermints co-founder Nick Walusko, who became an important part of Beach Boy Brian Wilson's musical world in the 21st century. Here's a wonderful essay in tribute to Nick from someone who really "got" him. I've posted several other Wondermints collections here in the past, but here are two more. Like most of the others, these came originally from Angelo at Powerpop Criminals. All thanks to him!
        

    The Borderline
    London, UK
    Nov. 11, 2000
        
    audience recording (sound quality: VG+; a club show with great sound)
      
      
    MP3@320 (no lossless source available for these)
      
    Learn more about the Wondermints' 
    music at AllMusic or this FB page