Square-Wax

X - Come Back To Me, 1982 Produced by Ray Manzarek, X’s...

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:09:45 -0600

X - Come Back To Me, 1982

Produced by Ray Manzarek, X’s autobiographical tale of death & loss seemed fitting as a late entry tribute.

Otis Spann - Blues For Hippies, 1972 A post-60’s slam on...

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:32:07 -0600

Otis Spann - Blues For Hippies, 1972

A post-60’s slam on hippies, or just a corny title for a killer tune?

The stories behind the music: Kiss’ Beth.

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:47:00 -0600

The stories behind the music: Kiss’ Beth.

Two commercials from last night’s television viewing that...

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:56:29 -0600

Two commercials from last night’s television viewing that would have broken my mid-90s, indie rocker heart.

William Bollinger - Tell Him Tonight, 1967 …and another...

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:50:00 -0600

William Bollinger - Tell Him Tonight, 1967

…and another track that requires that late night play on the jukebox. If only I had one. :(

His Name Is Alive - Can’t Go Wrong Without You (dir. The...

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:06:47 -0600

His Name Is Alive - Can’t Go Wrong Without You (dir. The Brothers Quay). A perfect example of video accompaniment that still haunts me 20 years after watching it on 120 Minutes. And on a side note, Wikipedia claims a majority of the music was sampled from Prince’s “Purple Rain?” WTF?

My new (old) turntable: a Sansui FR-1080. Nothing spectacular;...

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:43:37 -0600

My new (old) turntable: a Sansui FR-1080. Nothing spectacular; the simplicity of the flat 70’s design and the semi-auto features won me over.

Sam & Dave - If You’ve Got the Loving (I’ve Got...

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:33:00 -0600

Sam & Dave - If You’ve Got the Loving (I’ve Got the Time), 1966

Something about this song… it belongs on the jukebox of a “last call” setting in Nowheresville, USA.

“Here Come the Warm Jets!”

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:22:00 -0600

“Here Come the Warm Jets!”

Ernie DeHerrera and the Infal-libles - Memphis, 196? One of the...

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:48:37 -0600

Ernie DeHerrera and the Infal-libles - Memphis, 196?

One of the more eclectic 7” finds from the thrift store stockpile I’m still making sense of: a local rockabilly act ripping through Chuck Berry’s Memphis… en español!

Photo

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:07:44 -0600

West Street Mob - Break Dancin’ - Electric Boogie,...

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:07:00 -0600

West Street Mob - Break Dancin’ - Electric Boogie, 1984

Getting old school on a Friday and wishin’ I still had my parachute pants from 6th grade.

The Soul Clan - That’s How It Feels, 1968 Without a back story,...

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:42:00 -0600

The Soul Clan - That’s How It Feels, 1968

Without a back story, the idea of a super soul group comprised of the biggest hit makers in the Atlantic scene sounds like a quick cash grab. According to ringleader Solomon Burke, though, the intentions behind the conglomerate was based on a more selfless plan:

Our idea was “to pool our talents and resources, and become a positive force within the black community. We envisioned things like buying ghetto real estate and refurbishing it, providing jobs, building schools, and creating black-owned restaurant franchises that would knock the McDonald’s and KFCs out of the box… the possibilities were endless.”

Unfortunately, the project was doomed to fail like so many brilliant ideas backed by positive intentions… the record labels weren’t likely to relinquish that much power to a group of successful “black” musicians, and the lack of publicity successfully dismantled the group.

Photo

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:57:00 -0600

The Kinks - I’m Not Like Everybody Else, 1966 Ode to the...

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:50:00 -0600

The Kinks - I’m Not Like Everybody Else, 1966

Ode to the non-conforming youngster I strive to retain, but easily forgotten in this mundane existence of pre-middle age.

Misleading record labels.

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:16:47 -0600

Misleading record labels.

Pavement - Box Elder, 1993 17 years ago a good friend was taken...

Sun, 05 May 2013 23:36:00 -0600

Pavement - Box Elder, 1993

17 years ago a good friend was taken from me, survived by the town I managed to get out of. “Westing…” was the late night stoner soundtrack to the final years of kinship before he reached the astral plane.

Willie Mitchell - Mercy Mercy Mercy, 1968 Perfect serenade to...

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:36:29 -0600

Willie Mitchell - Mercy Mercy Mercy, 1968

Perfect serenade to the end of a shitty work week.

A film this ugly and mean juxtaposed with some of the sweetest...

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:02:00 -0600

A film this ugly and mean juxtaposed with some of the sweetest 70s soul shouldn’t work… at all. Fortunately, it’s the music that provides the only escape from the heat that permeates every frame of this movie. Since there’s no sign of a soundtrack release, here’s an incomplete Spotify playlist to fill the void.

Solomon Burke - What’d I Say, 1968 Double side of covers...

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:32:06 -0600

Solomon Burke - What’d I Say, 1968

Double side of covers that breathe new life for a couple of well-trodden soul numbers.