A True Legend

Tracklist and infos here and here

As you'll see, a number of the tracks on this release are from the Barrett Tapes and as such I have left them out. Great archival piece which includes some collaboration with Ravi Shankar, a rehearsal with Paul Simon for their Saturday Night Live performance in '76, as well as George's thoughts on his black Gretsch. Definitely for the fan, as some tape noise and other audio issues preclude it from audiophile categorisation. Worth a listen, for sure!

As Nature Intended

Though certainly not the Complete Rooftop Sessions, still a very good stereo recording of the tracks listed. Add to that Glyn John's First Mix, and it's one very nice artifact of one of the finest rock and roll acts in the world.
Good info here and here.



Liner notes from the Complete Rooftop Session (a different item than this)
"The Beatles were going to make a documentary film of themselves producing a TV show and writing a bunch of new songs for their next album, which was to be a return to their roots of the rocking days. This was probably inspired by the emergence of The Band, straightforward, downhome and everyone's favourite name to drop at the time.With a working title of "Get Back" rehearsals began at Twickenham studios on January the 2nd, 1969. The project quickly ran into trouble, George Harrison walked out after eight days complaining of continual criticism from Paul McCartney. However, he returned a week later. The TV show idea had to be dumped because they couldn't find a suitable location. They thought about hiring an ocean liner, but somewhere along the line that idea was also shelved, along with a number of other exotic suggestions. But it was John Lennon's suggestion to record a selection of songs in the controlled atmosphere of a studio.At this time, plans were made to turn the roof at No 3 Saville Row, the Apple Corps HQ, into a tranquil roof garden, and so Ringo Starr and Michael Lindsay-Hogg decided to take a look. It seemed ideal for what they had in mind.The Beatles last ever public concert took place around mid-day on Thursday January the 30th and lasted a full 42 minutes, and may well have gone on longer had it not been for the complaints of the neighbour, Stanley Davis. The wool merchant next door was not a Beatles fan so it seemed. He was quoted as saying "I want this bloody noise stopped. It's an absolute disgrace". But the banker, Alan Pulverness, at the end of the street was kinder, he said "Some people just can't appreciate good music".The film won an Oscar for best musical score and it was presented to Paul McCartney by non-other than John Wayne, Big Leggy. But by the time it was premiered on May the 13th, 1970, The Beatles had split. The dream was over..."

Let There Be Thorns EP

Out of print, but still available from Rose McDowall's site (so please go support the artist directly.) Beautiful and concise. With support from Mssrs. Michael Cashmore and J. Budenholzer on two tracks, there is much here, though it is short.
A more fitting end to the project of Sorrow.
Tracklisting:
Let There Be Thorns
Despair
Devil's Plaything Featuring - Joseph Budenholzer
A Garland From The Moon Featuring - Michael Cashmore
Voices
The Poppy Head

Sorrow at Discogs
Rose McDowall

Rat Tapes One

Subtitled "an accumulation of discarded musical vermin 1983-2006 "

All tracks are untitled, save for their length. Track one is a mad manipulation of "Black Is The Colour..." from "She And Me..." that I warned you about with this post.

Fans will recognise sounds from throughout the years, all warped into and through each other. Nice twisted portions from the "Thunder Perfect Mind" sessions, crazy prog sensations, and musical oddities throughout, this is limited to 1000, and still available here and there; pick it up if you can.

Rat Tapes One At Discogs

From Brainwashed:

Sleeve Notes: artwork: Steven Stapleton layout: Matthew Waldron thanks to: Ken Garwood, Jim Haynes, Colin Potter , David Tibet special thanks to: Matthew Waldron (aw, shucks)
Notes: From James Schidlowsky: Track 14's lyrics are from Frank Zappa's "Trouble Every Day" off his 1966 debut album "Freak Out!"

Tiny Tim With The New Duncan Imperials Live In Chicago

Tracklisting:

1 Are You Lonesome Tonight

2 When I Grow Old

3 Mother

4 Tennessee Waltz / Back In The Saddle

5 Your Cheating Heart

6 Tip Toe Through The Tulips / Lollipop

7 Rock Around The Clock

8 Tip Toe (reprise)

9 Highway To Hell

10 Great Balls Of Fire

11 I Believe

12 When The Saints Go Marching In

Tiny Tim(wiki) with The New Duncan Imperials

From the liner notes:

"It wasn't hard to miss Tiny Tim at O'Hare International when I went to pick him up.

He was standing there with his ukulele in a shopping bag, looking confused, and wearing a bright polyester suit. His long gree-streaked hair was matted down from the 18-hour flight from Australia, where he had just finished a month-long engagement. He hadn't slept inthree days, but he was ready for two nights of live music in Chicago with my band, The New Duncan Imperials.

We jumped into my Honda and Tiny immediately pulled out his uke. Strumming it lovingly, he began to tell me about all the songs he would be playing with us. "These are the great songs, the wonderful songs from the teens, twenties, and thirties. Beautiful songs!" "Okay," I said, "sounds good."

We headed straight to the studios of WGN Radio, and while walking down Michigan Avenue, no less than two cabbies screeched to a halt to get his autograph. Tiny was polite and professional. When the television crew from Fox showed up he was natural and comfortable. Obviously TV is old hat for a star of his stature.

Everyone in town was geared up for Tiny's performance. A legend since 1969, Tiny pops up everywhere: old Laugh-In reruns, Conan, Howard Stern, Leno, etcetera. His fans have certainly not forgotten him. After two nights on stage with him i know why: Tiny Tim still rocks! By the end of the second night, during a demented encore of Tip Toe through The Tulips, Tiny was rolling around on the small stage, arms and legs in the air, eyes shut tight in ecstasy. Show business! I hope you enjoy listening to this fine document as much as we enjoyed making it. As Tiny would say, "Maestro, the key of A..." " - Skipper, March 1995

"Recorded Thursday night, December 9, 1993, at Quicksilver in Chicago. No Overdubs necessary or possible."

From Pravda Music / Bughouse Records: (and apparently still available there. Check It!)

"Tiny Tim! International recording star, television personality, master ukulele player, and film star has finally taken the plunge and consented to recording a live record - with a band! And not just any band, but the only band brave enough to share the stage with a living legend who uses no set list and calls out songs after he's started them - The New Duncan Imperials!
Back in 1993 - soon after meeting The New Duncan Imperials at a truck stop outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Tiny Tim came to Chicago to entertain his loyal fans and friends and put it all on tape for release on Bughouse. The hectic schedule of an entertainer with too many engagements and too little time limited his Chicago appearance to only two nights, and the best of those performances are compiled right here on Tiny Tim with The New Duncan Imperials - Live in Chicago. This is the second release on the Pravda subsidary Bughouse Records, a label devoted to rightcheous rock mayhem of the highest caliber. Where else can you hear "Tip Toe Through the Tulips", followed by "Great Balls of Fire" followed by AC/DC's "Highway to Hell", all played on ukulele?"

An artifact, for sure, but a rip-roaring one. Definitely not from the soundboard, so all ambience is preserved. If you like Tiny. a good piece to have. If you are new to Tiny, check out my other entries first. If you don't like Tiny Tim, why the hell are you still reading:)

May God bless the aeternal troubadour!

The World That Summer 20th Anniversary Bonus Disc

Please note: This disc is now available separately from Soleilmoon. (wassonii 6 Sept. 08)
Death In June

Tracklist:
Come Before Christ And Murder Love (2006)
Love Murder (Corn Years)
Break The Black Ice (Corn Years)
Rocking Horse Night (2006)
Torture By Roses (2006)
Rule Again (Corn Years)

The stone box edition is sold out and I believe this disc to be inherent to that release.
If you can find one, this is a beautiful presentation containing a nice artifact regarding the transitioning sound of DIJ. The "regular"reissue of TWTS proper is available either by itself through i-tunes, so check them out. Support your favourite artists if able!
The songs from The Corn Years have been remastered, but are otherwise identical to that release (way OOP). The 2006 tracks are beautiful and simply approached, allowing the songs and voice to be absorbed.
Check the killer mp3 player at the DIJ site.
Anyone have some Scorpion Wind to share?:)

Straight To Hell Bonus Track

I've been thinking about this for a few years; the coupling of industrial/drone with American Country music. Seriously:) It's always been there, hidden, from autoharp drone to sympathetic tones in the banjo and the multitude of sounds from other "traditional" instruments adapted to American song-styling (ala the route jazz took, has taken, is taking), but someone genuinely from the genre twisting their sounds while maintaining integrity- usually it comes off as a bad trip or some sort of novelty. While most country fans will/have tossed this track aside for those reasons, I ask that you take a moment to give a listen. "Hidden" as track 2, this 42 minute piece has found sounds and uneasiness giving way to spectral plectoral familiarity and soothing vox of times from a past likely to not be heard from again. Channeling Sr. at times, Shelton Hank Williams leaves the recorder going and among the chaos and manipulation, demos of a few of his tracks, a Wayne Hancock song, and a stellar cover of Up In Smoke, all surrounded by track manipulation and twists. Seriously, give it a gander. The rest of this album is straight-forward Hank III and worth every penny. If you are fortunate enough to catch his live show with The Damn Band and Assjack, go. For the first leg of this Summer's tour, Jim Goad's outfit will be opening. Then later, Hank opens for The Reverend Horton Heat.

You have been informed.

Hank III online