Gregory Isaacs - Cream Of The Crop b/w Roots Radix Band Dub, African Museum
There’s virtually no information about this record - other than what is printed on the label. I wish I knew more about it. What I do know, is that the Cool Ruler was on his love game strong for this one. It’s such a smooth, sultry song.
Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al b/w Gumboots, Graceland, 1986, Warner Bros. Records
This is one of my all time favorite songs. I remember hearing it as a kid, and instantly being captivated by the organ and horns. The whole arrangement is captivating! The bass line is thick and pleasant, plus there’s the heavy-round-80’s style drum-kit. Then the horns backing the organ to bring the piece to a crescendo! Even though Paul is singing about a man in mid-life crisis, the composition is quite jovial.
The story goes: While attending a party, some french composer mistakenly called Paul, and his wife Peggy, by the names “Al” and “Betty.” Which prompted Al, I mean Paul, to write “You Can Call Me Al.”
Van Morrison - T.B. Sheets a/w Brown Eyed Girl, 1984, Rock’n Mania Records, CBS Inc.
*Recorded on March 29, 1967 for the album Blowin’ Your Mind!
While “T.B. Sheets” can be misconstrued as a romantic song, with its “starstruck innuendos,” the song is ultimately about death.
A despondent storyteller laments over a girl, named Julie, who is confined to a small room, dying of tuberculosis - hence, the title “T.B. Sheets.” The combined driving forces of organ, harmonica, and guitars only help to aggravate the pain and sorrow that the storyteller feels.
The most revealing, and yet subtle lyrics are:
“Open up the window, and let me breath”
“Looking down the street below, Lord, I cried for you”
“And I can almost smell your T.B. Sheets… on your sick bed”
Then the way that the storyteller harps on “I gotta go,” and “I want a drink of water” are particularly distressing.
According to legend, after the recording session (two takes), Van broke down in tears and was unable to continue the session. I believe this sentiment can be heard in the recording.
Consumer Rapport - Go On With Your Bad Self a/w Ease On Down The Road (The Wiz), 1975, Wing And A Prayer Record Co., Dejamus Inc.
Good Gawd! Do you, baby! Be somebody!
Go on with yo bad self!
Styx - Renegade b/w Sing For The Day, Pieces Of Eight, 1978, A&M Records, Inc., Almo Music Corp., Stygian Songs
I first heard this track on Chris Cole’s Dying To Live part. Blew my mind. Not only because of how gnarly Chris’ part was, more importantly because this song is bloody amazing! Tommy Shaw’s story of this “Renegade” is one for the ages. It’s a tale retold.
To find this 45 in near pristine condition in a dusty bin is equally amazing. Look at that label! Green and orange. Bow-tied lady finger. Forget Me Nots.
Incredible.
Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs - Li’l Red Riding Hood a/w Wooly Bully, 1966, Polydor Records, Band Of Gold Series
“Li’l Red Riding Hood” is everything that a big bad wolf could want.
That’s all that needs to be said.
Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs - Wooly Bully b/w Li’l Red Riding Hood, 1965, Polydor Records, Band Of Gold Series
Watch it now, here it comes!!! An all time favorite, “Wooly Bully” is a song that was initially a tribute to the “Hully Gully” dance. However, due to fear of legality (another song with similar title), Domingo “Sam The Sham” Samudio rewrote the lyrics, changing the name to “Wooly Bully.” Sam says, “The name of my cat was ‘Wooly Bully’, so I started from there.“
Basically, “Wooly Bully” is a song about two people, Matty and Hatty, talking about how they want to learn how to dance. Somehow a bull or bison (or a cat for this matter), who apparently is very wooly, is involved.
Uno, dos, one, two, tres, quatro
Matty told Hatty about a thing she saw
Had two big horns and a wooly jaw
Wooly bully, wooly bully
Wooly bully, wooly bully, wooly bully
Hatty told Matty, Let’s don’t take no chance
Let’s not be L7, come and learn to dance
Wooly bully, wooly bully
Wooly bully, wooly bully, wooly bully
Matty told Hatty, That’s the thing to do
Get you someone really to pull the wool with you
Wooly bully, wooly bully
Wooly bully, wooly bully, wooly bully
Interesting facts:
1) This recording was the first take of three.
2) The ‘Tex-Mex’ count down, and most of the lyrics (Here it come! Watch it! He get ya!), are Sam The Sham riffing.
3) “Wooly Bully” was the first American record to sell a million copies during the “British Invasion.”
The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin b/w Cities, Days Of Future Passed, 1967, Deram Records, London Records, Tro-Essex Music Inc.
An absolutely beautiful composition. Written by lead vocalist Justin Hayward at the tender age of 19, Nights In White Satin is a legend of unrequited love.
While the single was edited for time, this {2nd} edit does the song justice. The full album version contains an orchestral piece performed by the London Festival Orchestra, as well as a “Late Lament” spoken-word poem written by drummer Graeme Edge - which was spoken by keyboardist Mike Pinder.
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich - Zabadak b/w The Sun Goes Down, 1967, Imperial Records, Liberty Records
Strange band. Strange song. It’s eerily perfect.
Connoisseur of Vinyl. Philanthropist of Funk. Beggar of the Bargain Bins. What the mind's eye seeks, it will find in promising pressings. Travel well, and dig for blessings.
These gems are from an archive in Texas.
bargainbinbeggar@gmail.com
