Finger Poppin' And Stompin' Feet - 20 Classic Allen Toussaint Productions For Minit Records 1960-1962

This blog has been semi-dormant lately. I might post a few things in the near future but the text would be brief.
Here's a compilation of Allen Toissaint's songwriting/producing work from the early 60s - that great New Orleans sound on the crossroads of blues, soul, girl-group pop, R'n'B, early funk... He is the great unknown figure behind the scene. I knew a few hours' worth of his songs before I first heard his name: "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" as covered by Ike and Tina Turner, "A Certain Girl" (Yardbirds), "Pain in My Heart" (Otis Redding), The Stones' version of "Fortune Teller," several covers of "Get Out of My Life, Woman", "Lady Marmalade" which I actually played in one of my bands, several superb tracks by Irma Thomas (It's Raining, Take a Look, Cry On) etc.etc.

AMG review: Allen Toussaint is a giant of American popular music, but his work was primarily behind the scenes as a songwriter, producer, arranger, and sessionman. Even as a leader, his songs and recordings became better-known through interpretations and assimilations from such artists as Glen Campbell, Lowell George, and Bonnie Raitt, instead of his darkly sensual, funky records of the '70s. That's why a collection like Finger Poppin' and Stompin' Feet: 20 Classic Allen Toussaint Productions is so welcome -- it shines a spotlight on Toussaint's most influential work as a producer and songwriter, all from the vaults of Minit Records. This is hardly the totality of Toussaint's contributions -- not only are his solo recordings nowhere to be seen, such brilliant work as his collaborations with Lee Dorsey are nowhere to be heard on this disc -- but it's an exuberant celebration of a musician at the top of his game. Plus, it's just a hell of a good listen, nearly a greatest-hits collection of New Orleans R&B as a whole, thanks to such classics as the Showmen's "It Will Stand"; Ernie K-Doe's "Mother-in-Law," "A Certain Girl," and "I Cried My Last Tear"; Aaron Neville's "Over You"; Jessie Hill's "Ooh Poo Pah Doo, Pt. 1"; Benny Spellman's "Fortune Teller" and "Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette)"; and Irma Thomas' "Ruler of My Heart" and "It's Raining." In addition to those, there are lesser-known gems from the same artists, plus cult artists like the Del Royals and Allen Orange, which add seasoning to a collection already bursting with flavor. Even if you already know Allen Toussaint's work and reputation, it's a revelation and a joyous listen. And, needless to say, it's also essential to any pop or R&B collection.


Finger Poppin' And Stompin' Feet
20 Classic Allen Toussaint Productions For Minit Records 1960-1962
REUP: 320kbps, 94mb on mediafire
1. The Showmen – It Will Stand
2. Ernie K-Doe – Mother-In-Law
3. Aaron Neville – Over You
4. Allen & Allen – Heavenly Baby
5. Jessie Hill – Ooh Poo Pah Doo, Pt. 1
6. Ernie K-Doe – Tain't It The Truth
7. Irma Thomas – Cry On
8. Allen Orange – True Love Never Dies
9. Aaron Neville – Let's Live
10. Ernie K-Doe – Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta
11. Jessie Hill – Whip It On Me
12. Benny Spellman – Fortune Teller
13. Ernie K-Doe – I Cried My Last Tear
14. Benny Spellman – Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)
15. The Del-Royals – Always Naggin' (Grumblin' Fussin' Nag Nag)
16. Irma Thomas – It's Raining
17. Ernie K-Doe – A Certain Girl
18. The Showmen – 39-21-46
19. Irma Thomas – Ruler Of My Heart
20. Jessie Hill – Ooh Poo Pah Doo, Pt. 2

The Daily WTF

For those who think they have seen everything: a german a capella metal group van Canto does Metallica.



Dennis Schunke - Lead Vocals
Inga Scharf - Lead Vocals
Stefan Schmidt – lower rakkatakka vocals, wahwah solo guitar vocals
Ross Thompson – higher rakkatakka vocals
Ingo Sterzinger – lowest dandan vocals
Dennis Strillinger - Drums

Their 2006 album A Storm To Come is available here or here

Richard Hell and the Voidoids - Destiny Street

I did not mean to continue the Quine retrospective, but there are some new developments with his recorded legacy.

It is well known that Richard Hell was unhappy with the Voidoids' second LP. Destiny Street was recorded in 1982, in a difficult period for Hell. ...the record is heavily guitar-laden - when I couldn't muster the self-possession to leave the house I'd call the studio and tell them to lay down another guitar track - says Richard himself in the original liner notes.
And this is from a Quine interview:
Q: I read that sometimes Richard Hell would cancel or even no-show when you were recording, and that you would just lay down more and more guitar tracks. If this is true, did you help mix these and decide which tracks were used in the final cut?
A: When we were working on Destiny Street in early '81, Richard did totally disappear for a week (that's the only time that ever happened). We had already done the basic tracks. But the time was already booked, so Naux and I went in and did a LOT of overdubs during that week (too many!).
Then Richard reappeared and did his vocals and fixed a few bass parts. Then over a year went by before the album was mixed. I was invited to participate but declined — I was busy, and couldn't face dealing with the nightmarish number of overdubs I'd done (backwards guitars, constant feedback, etc.). So I wrote down some of my opinions on how the record could be mixed, some of which were followed.
My one basic misgiving about the final mix is that many of the guitars on the "live" basic tracks were fairly inaudible, buried under overdubs that were only meant for adding subtle textures. But over the years I got used to that mix, and it's difficult for me to imagine the album sounding any other way, for better or worse.

Recently, Richard Hell came across the original tapes for the album and decided to do it justice: Using those original rhythm tracks as the foundation, Hell recorded fresh, new vocals, did some editing, gathered new musicians of the highest caliber for the lead guitars, and re-mixed all the elements to produce Destiny Street Repaired - says the official release. The new musicians mentioned are Marc Ribot, Bill Frisell, and Ivan Julian.

In general, I would be excited to hear a "second take" like this one, especially with the star guitar players Hell picked. I recently posted Gerry Mulligan's second take on the Birth of the Cool, and I think it's a great effort, very much worth hearing. However, there is one caveat: those second takes should be an addition, not a replacement - what would you say if Mulligan's Re-Birth of the Cool was the only version available? Unfortunately, this is the case with the Destiny Street Repaired. Hell, the copyright owner, deliberately allowed the original to drop out of print and has no plans for bringing it back. A number of fans voiced their concerns: both of the original guitar players, Naux and Quine, are dead, and messing with their legacy like this is unfair. I would agree, except for the fact that it allows me to post the original officially-out-of-print album without any misgivings. Perhaps it should be titled Destiny Street DON'T FIX WHAT AIN'T BROKE.


Richard Hell and the Voidoids - Destiny Street
High VBR, 60mb on depositfiles
1. The Kid with the Replaceable Head
2. You Gotta Move
3. Going Going Gone
4. Lowest Common Denominator
5. Downtown at Dawn
6. Time
7. I Can Only Give You Everything
8. Ignore That Door
9. Staring In Her Eyes
10. Destiny Street

PS See The Hound's posts with Quine's unreleased recordings from 2004, shortly before his passing: one, two. Also, a Hell ROIR bootleg, Quine plays on tracks #4-9 and did overdubs on #11 and 14.

Reader uploads

There's too much good stuff in the comments, I'll put the guest uploads in a separate post - all by the mighty Symbolkid, thanks a lot!


Howlin' Wolf's New Album, 1969
megaupload
The ElectriK Mud Kats Band with Cosey on guitar backs up Wolf. The music is crazy good, but I hate the cover.



The Muhal Richard Abrams Orchestra - Blu Blu Blu, 1990
megaupload


Muhal Richard Abrams - 1-OQA+19, 1976
megaupload


Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer - The Salle Pleyel Concerts, 1954

Vol.1 on rapidshare: pt.1 and pt.2 (via)


Vol.2 on megaupload

Muddy Waters - Electric Mud

I was looking through my Muddy Waters collection and stumbled (long live the search function on foobar!) on "Tom Cat" on a Psychedelic Jazz And Funky Grooves compilation. The song, a hypnotic stomper, really caught my ear. I tried to track down the source, and it turns out it's off the infamous Electric Mud LP with one Pete Cosey on guitar.

Guitarist Pete Cosey has a magic touch: any project he plays on, the critics seem to hate. His most famous achievements are, of course, on the electric Miles albums of the early 70s - Agharta, Pangaea, Get Up With It - the favorites of the lunatic fringe and pet peeves of the "real jazz" connoisseur. However, this one approaches the Miles LPs both in its underground popularity and in its notoriety.

Electric Mud was a brainchild of Marshall Chess, the son of Leonard Chess of the famed Chess Records, recorded and issued on the Chess subsidiary Cadet, which was an outlet for the unusual and experimental music. Electric Mud is an attempt to update the trademark Muddy Waters sound for the yound crowd by backing him with "the hottest, most avant garde rock guys in Chicago". Those "updating" attempts are not always successful, but they are often interesting. This one is nothing like the other Muddy Waters records; but if you appreciate Sonny Sharrock or Bob Quine, you should check it out. Electric Mud is not blues at all; it's a very tight and rocking psychedelic band with obvious avantgarde leanings fronted by Muddy and playing out of Muddy's book. Here's a Perfect Sound Forever review talking about "I Just Want To Make Love To You": The solo on this song is nothing short of phenomenal. The guitar starts playing some distorted melodic notes then morphs into this gigantic screeching feedback riff becoming louder and wilder then continues to morph from a tearing solo until it reaches this intense mind-bending groove that sounds on the brink of collapse.
Muddy himself seemed to have been ambivalent about this experiment at the time, but later he cooled down considerably, even calling it "dog shit" at some point. However, the record had its fans no matter what - most notably the rapper Chuck D, as well as, apparently, Miles Davis.


Muddy Waters - Electric Mud
256kbps, 74mb on 4shared (a ChrisGoesRock rip)
1. I Just Want To Make Love To You
2. I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
3. Let's Spend The Night Together
4. She's Alright
5. Mannish Boy
6. Herbert Harper's Free Press News
7. Tom Cat
8. The Same Thing

I would also recommend checking out Blowin Gold, a solo 1969 album by saxophonist John Klemmer, who played with Don Ellis group at the time. It's also on Cadet and with the same Cadet rhythm section as above - Cosey on lead guitar, Phil Upchurch (on bass instead of rhythm guitar), Morris Jennings on drums. Incidentally, not a critical favorite, either. Not as focused nor as exciting as his early '70s sessions, says AMG. I think it's pretty good, some of the noisier jams approach the Stooges in that demented wailing-sax-over-a-monster-riff intensity. Available at the very interesting Ile Oxumare blog.

Les Freres Dejean - Pa Gain Panne

More konpa. Highly recommended!
Also, you can (and should!) see them live on youtube.
History of the band


Les Freres Dejean - Pa Gain Panne, 1974
192kbps, 57mb on zshare, rapidshare, megaupload, badongo
1. Marina
2. Joyeuses Vacances
3. La Foi
4. Pa Gain Panne
5. Leogane
6. Alleluia

Buddy Emmons & Lenny Breau - Minors Aloud

Another Breau collaboration.
Lenny Breau was a jazz player influenced by country music; after all, he was Chet Atkins' protege. Buddy Emmons plays the most country of all instruments - steel guitar. One would expect this session to be a country-jazz hybrid (perhaps something along the lines of jazzy Atkins albums or Jimmy Bryant). In fact, there is not much country about this disc. Some of it is straight-ahead jazz (the covers of Killer Joe and Scrapple From The Apple); Compared To What is a bar-band rocker with jazz-rock breaks, Buddy's vocals only enhance the pub atmosphere; and the originals - Minors Aloud and On A Bach Bouree - are sublime instrumentals of no particular genre affiliation. An interesting album all around.


Buddy Emmons & Lenny Breau - Minors Aloud
REUP: 320kbps, 83mb on mediafire
1. Minors Aloud
2. Compared To What
3. Killer Joe
4. Long Way To Go
5. Secret Love
6. Scrapple From The Apple
7. On A Bach Bourée

See also a recent Buddy Emmons post at the great Broke Down Engine

Pierre Henri and Spooky Tooth - Ceremony: An Electronic Mass

Yet another, possibly the weirdest entry in the list of Catholic-Mass-as-pop albums. This is a brainchild of the french composer Pierre Henri, the XXth century classical/avantgarde artist, known for his experimental electronic music and musique concrete works. He enlisted a british blues-rock band Spooky Tooth as studio musicians. The end product sounds kinda like Hawkwind with Stockhausen instead of Dik Mik manning the electronics. The resulting LP was marketed as a Spooky Tooth album.

I got it at the wonderful Closet of Curiosities blog, but it is also available at the Mutant Sounds and Zappadalata.
Also, a review.


Pierre Henri and Spooky Tooth - Ceremony: An Electronic Mass on 4shared
1. Confession
2. Have Mercy
3. Credo
4. Offering
5. Hosanna
6. Prayer

PS I added a tag mass

Johnny Seaton with Danny Gatton - Uptown + Reaction

Two fantastic obscure albums from a rockabilly revivalist Johnny Seaton with the great Danny Gatton on guitar. Unfortunately, I could not find the covers.

Johnny Seaton with Danny Gatton - Reaction (1985)
192kbps, 42.5mb on sharebee
1. Reaction
2. The Wheels Start Turnin
3. Rough'n'Tough
4. Crazier Than Me
5. I Ain't Gittin Rid Of You
6. Rockin Man
7. I Wouldn't Do The Same Thing To You
8. Big City Baby
9. 59 Phantom
10. Stop Lovin All The World

Johnny Seaton with Danny Gatton - Uptown (1983)
192kbps, 36.4mb on sharebee
1. Uptown
2. I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down
3. Come On Little Mama *
4. Don't Play With Me
5. I'm Feelin Sorry
6. Get With It
7. All Messed Up With Raw Deal
8. Right Now
9. Blue Monday
10. You Can Bet Your Bottom Dollar
11. Willin And Ready *
(Gatton does not play on Come On Little Mama and Willin and Ready)

I added a tag rockabilly

David Axelrod - Messiah

A visitor suggested this album in the comments to the Schifrin post - much thanks for the tip!
A review: Axelrod had worked in the pseudo classical crossover field before-namely the Prunes' 'Mass in F Minor' and 'Release of an Oath' but in 1971 the Axe decide to take on Handel! The opening 'Overture' is one of the high points of an excellent album-a kind of mini overview of his bag of tricks. We get Fuzz Guitar, funky drumming and oodles of strings and brass. The vocal tracks don't work quite as well apart from the rather stirring version of 'Hallelujah'. This LP has already been sampled for its beats, which surely must be a first for a classics based record.


David Axelrod's Rock Interpretations of Handel's Messiah
VBR, 39mb on mediafire: get it at the Milk Crate Breaks blog.
Milk Crate Breaks is an excellent site, worth checking out in its entirety: more Axelrod albums, Maceo Parker, the JBs and other goodies.
You can also download this album and listen to several tracks over here.

Oranj Symphonette - The Oranj Album

The second album by the greatest instro band of the last 30 years; their first is here, everything I said still applies.


Oranj Symphonette - The Oranj Album
256kbps, 90mb on sharebee
1. Call Me Mister Tibbs (Quincy Jones)
2. The Magnificent Seven (Elmer Bernstein)
3. Satin Doll (Duke Ellington)
4. Beat Girl (John Barry)
5. Bananas (Marvin Hamisch)
6. Dreamsville (Henry Mancini)
7. A Man And A Woman (Francis Lai )
8. After The Fox (Burt Bacharach)
9. Arabesque (Henry Mancini)
10. Midnight Cowboy (John Barry)
11. Up, Up And Away (Jimmy Webb)
12. Chelsea Bridge (Billy Strayhorn)
13. Valley Of The Dolls (Andre Previn)

Red Snapper - Prince Blimey

A fantastic tripped-out instrumental album. If Elvin Jones, David Gilmour, and Flea were locked up in a padded room with ten sheets of acid and a sequencer, they may have come up with Prince Blimey. Ten years ago I listened to this album obsessively and thought this is what all music will sound like in the future. Now that we got to the future, I know that I was wrong - but I still think that all future music should sound like this.


Red Snapper - Prince Blimey, 1996
High VBR, 94mb on sharebee REUP 2/5/2014: depositfiles

1. Crusoe Takes A Trip
2. 3 Strikes And You're Out
3. Thomas The Fib
4. Get Some Sleep Tiger
5. Fatboy's Dust
6. Moonbuggy
7. The Paranoid
8. Space Sickness
9. The Last One
10. Digging Doctor What What
11. Gridlock
12. Lo-beam

Hawkwind - In Search Of Space

Hawkwind - In Search Of Space (remastered)
VBR, 96mb on megaupload
1. You Shouldn't Do That
2. You Know You're Only Dreaming
3. Master Of The Universe
4. We Took The Wrong Step Years Ago
5. Adjust Me
6. Children Of The Sun
7. Seven By Seven (Bonus)
8. Silver Machine" (Bonus, Live)
9. Born To Go (Bonus, Live)

Prog Is Not A Four Letter Word

This album was found at the great Astronation.
A good collection of prog from around the world; a few of the artists already made an appearance on this blog, namely the koreans San Ul Lim and the turks 3 Urel (AKA 3 Hur-El) and Baris Manco. I also heard Czerwone Gitary (Red Guitars - or is it Golden Guitars?), I think they are Czech. The other bands are new to me.


Prog Is Not A Four Letter Word
192kbps, 77mb on megaupload
1. Picchio Dal Pozzo - Merta
2. Visitors - Visitors
3. Illes - Nem Erdekel Amit Mondsz
4. San Ui Lim - Frustration
5. Egg - Fugue In D Minor
6. Baris Manco - Lambaya Puf De
7. Breakout - Powiedzielismy Juz Wszystko
8. Bran - Breuddwyd
9. Phillipe Besombes - Hache 06
10. Embryo - The Music Of Today
11. Czerwone Gitary - Coda
12. Jean Claude Vannier - Le Roi Des Mouches
13. Drugi Nacin - Zuti List
14. 3 Urel - Omur Biter Yol Bimez
15. Martin Kratochvil & Jazz Q - Toledo

Nigeria '70: The Definitive Story of the Funky Lagos

Nigeria '70: The Definitive Story of the Funky Lagos

Vol.1: high VBR, 95mb on sharebee
1. Koola Lobitos - Ololufe Mi
2. Monomono - Tire Loma Da Nigbehin
3. Blo - Chant To Mother Earth
4. Fela Ransome Kuti & The Africa 70 - Jeun Ko Ku (Chop 'n' Quench)
5. Tunji Oyelana & The Benders - Ifa
6. Bala Miller & The Great Music Pirameeds Of Afrika - Ikon Allah
7. Segun Bucknor & His Revolution - La La La
8. Peter King - Shango
9. Tony Allen & His Afro Messengers - No Discrimination
10. Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes - Akayan Ekassa
11. William Onyeabor - Better Change Your Mind
12. Bongos Ikwue - Woman Made The Devil

Vol.2: high VBR, 111mb on megaupload
1. Orlando Julius & The Afro Sounders - Alo Mi Alo (Parts 1 & 2)
2. Ofo The Black Company - Allah Wakbarr
3. Sahara All Stars Band Jos - Enjoy Yourself
4. The Funkees - Dancing Time
5. Afro Cult Foundation - The Quest
6. Joni Haastrup - Greetings
7. Gasper Lawal - Kita Kita
8. Lijadu Sisters - Orere Elejigbo
9. Fela Anikupalo Kuti & The Africa 70 with Sandra Akanke Isidore - Upside Down
10. Shina Williams & His African Percussionists - Agboju Logun
11. Sunny Ade & His African Beats - Ja Fun Mi (Instrumental)

Beastie Boys and some

Beastie Breaks
80mb on sharebee
1. Idris Mohammed - Lorens Dance
2. Gene Harris - Put On Train
3. Cedar Walton - Jacob's Ladder
4. Eugene Mcdaniels - Headless Heros
5. Funkadelic - I'll Bet You
6. Ballin Jack - Never Let Em Say
7. Jimmy Smith - Root Down
8. Sly Stone - Loose Booty
9. Jeremy Steig - Howling For Judy
10. Funk Factory - Rien Ne Va Plus
11. Jimi Hendrix - Gotta Have It
12. The Blues Project - Flute Thing

A great instrumental album from the b-boys. Verrry groooovy....
BTW, Eric Bobo, who plays percussion on this album, is the son of the great Willie Bobo.

Beastie Boys - The In Sound From Way Out! (1996)
High VBR, 58mb on zshare, mediafire, rapidshare.
1. Groove Holmes
2. Sabrosa
3. Namaste
4. Pow
5. Son of Neckbone
6. In 3s
7. Eugene's Lament
8. Bobo on the corner
9. Shambala
10. Lighten Up
11. Richy's Theme
12. Transitions
13. Drinkin' Wine

Lalo Schifrin - Rock Requiem

Another entry on the theme of lithurgical-music-as-pop, to continue New Hope Jazz Mass and Latin Mass.

Review: Out of print and hard to find, this was released at a time when "rock opera" and concept themes were popular (or interesting to consider). Deftly mixing elements of rock, gospel, jazz and secular music, Schifrin employs a choir and LA studio musicians in this unusual and fascinating tribute "for the dead in the Southeast Asia War." Rock Requiem stands strong as a sequel of sorts to Schifrin's cantata, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (1968) and the liturgical Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts (as recorded by Paul Horn in 1964). Worth the attention.
Detailed notes on the performances are here.

Also mentioned in a 1972 Time article Pop Goes the Bible.


Lalo Schifrin - Rock Requiem
320kbps, 86mb on sharebee
1. The Procession
2. Introit
3. Kyrie Eleison
4. Gradual
5. Tract
6. Offertory Verse
7. Sanctus Benedictus
8. Agnus Dei
9. Final Prayer

I'll throw in another Schifrin album I am currently listening to. They say it's one of his best. The uploads are not mine.
Review: Schifrin produced in 1966 what remains truly one of his greatest musical achievements. Essentially a baroque take on jazz, Schifrin creates his own beautiful variations on the classics here. His inspiration is diverse, even divine - Henry Purcell ("Aria"), Bach ("Bossa Antique"), Francis Hopkinson ("Beneath a Weeping Willow Shade"), Telemann ("Old Laces"), even Ramsey Lewis and the Rolling Stones ("The Wig"). The musicianship is first-rate too; especially Schifrin's graceful and evocative piano and Gene Bertoncini's lovely guitar. Without question, a unique, gorgeous and inspired statement and one of the buried treasures in 1960's jazz.
Detailed notes on the performances are here.


Lalo Schifrin — Marquis de Sade (1966)
Full title: "The Dissection and Reconstruction of Music From the Past as performed by the Inmates of Lalo Schifrin's Demented Ensemble as a Tribute to the Memory of the Marquis De Sade"
192kbps, 44mb on megaupload or mediafire - NEW LINKS
1. Old Laces
2. The Wig
3. The Blues For Johann Sebastian
4. Renaissance
5. Beneath A Weeping Willow Shade
6. Versailles Promenade
7. Troubadour
8. Marquis De Sade
9. Aria
10. Bossa Antique

Go Girl! Soul Sisters Tellin' It Like It Is

AMG review


Go Girl! Soul Sisters Tellin' It Like It Is
320kbps in two parts on rapidshare:
Part One (53.5 MB) and Part Two (56.3 MB) LINKS DEAD
01 I'm Gonna Make It - Janice Tyrone
02 Respect - Aretha Franklin
03 You Did Me Wrong (You Used Me For A Good Thing) - Priscilla Price
04 I'll Get Along - Ann Peebles
05 Your Good Thing (Is About To End) - Mable John
06 Dirty Man - Laura Lee
07 Seven Days - Apollas
08 You're The Dog - Irma Thomas
09 Wedlock Is A Padlock - Laura Lee
10 Soul Girl - Jeanne & The Darlings
11 Women's Love Rights - Laura Lee
12 The Day I Found Myself - The Honey Cone
13 Your Turn To Cry - Betty Lavette
14 Girls Can't Do What The Guys Do - Betty Wright
15 Think (About It) - Lyn Collins
16 Where Would You Be Today - Ilana
17 Needle In A Haystack - Velvelettes
18 Do Right Woman Do Right Man - Aretha Franklin

Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant - Stratosphere Boogie + Swinging On The Strings

An easy way to describe this would be to string a bunch of labels together - instrumental-country-jazz-rockabilly-blues-bop-blah-blah... The uniqueness of these recordings is that they exist outside of the style divisions. In fact, this music was created before the modern styles drifted apart; and by people who simply did not know that country cannot be jazz because "that's not done". Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant were two white hillbilly kids, and so they grew up with the sounds of bluegrass and country-and-western; they also were very talented, curious musicians, and their ears were open to the cutting edge of instrumental music in America, and in the late 40s - early 50s it was bebop. Finally, both played new, recently invented, futuristic instruments: Speedy West was a steel guitar player, and Jimmy Bryant was one of the first solidbody guitarists in the world, and the first one to get Fender Telecaster when it went into production. There is no self-conscious "breaking the rules" kind of feeling, as there were no rules. They were unconstrained by the tradition because there was none: they simply had to invent everything themselves from the ground up. Nothing like this have ever been recorded before, and soon after they walked out of the studio for the last time, the gates between different styles shut down for keeps.
The "starting-from-a-clean-slate" approach sometimes produces interesting results even in the hands of people completely devoid of talent - just look at the Shaggs or the Stooges - but West and Bryant were accomplished studio musicians, true musical geniuses, and these two collections might be some of the most far-out, unique stuff you might hear.

AMG says: Fans of country and jazz guitar will discover two new idols after delving into this 16-track collection [Stratosphere Boogie], which features the best of the genre-shattering sessions recorded by this legendary duo. Between Bryant's jazzy, lightning-fast leads and West's brash, groundbreaking pedal steel work, the two recorded some of the most astounding instrumental country music of all time. Whether it's the hilarious "Sleepwalker's Lullaby" or top-fuel classics like "Old Joe Clark" and "Arkansas Traveler," the pair's 1950s records were among the most experimental music being made anywhere in America. It doesn't hurt to add that they were extremely influential, and one spends nearly as much time laughing along with these songs as they do trying to figure out how the hell anyone ever got this good.


Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant - Stratosphere Boogie
256kbps, 67mb on depositfiles
1. Stratosphere Boogie
2. Blue Bonnet Rag
3. Cotton Pickin'
4. Old Joe Clark
5. Sleepwalker's Lullaby
6. Arkansas Traveler
7. The Night Rider
8. Low Man On A Totem Pole
9. Speedin' West
10. Comin' On
11. Bryant's Bounce
12. Midnight Ramble
13. Pickin' Peppers
14. Shuffleboard Rag
15. Bustin' Thru
16. Flippin' The Lid


Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant - Swinging On The Strings
256kbps, 94mb on depositfiles
1. Frettin' Fingers
2. Lover
3. Two Of A Kind
4. Yodeling Guitar
5. West Of Samoa
6. Opus 1
7. Truck Driver's Ride
8. T-Bone Rag
9. Skiddle-Dee-Boo
10. China Boy
11. Railroadin'
12. Jammin' With Jimmy
13. Deep Water
14. This Ain't The Blues
15. The Rollin' Sky
16. Whistle Stop
17. Hillcrest (Opus 3)
18. Pushin' The Blues
19. Swingin' On The Strings
20. Caffeine Patrol

Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
REUP: 320kbps, 99mb on megaupload
1. Astronomy Domine
2. Lucifer Sam
3. Matilda Mother
4. Flaming
5. Pow R. Toc H.
6. Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk
7. Interstellar Overdrive
8. The Gnome
9. Chapter 24
10. Scarecrow
11. Bike