Groove On 22
Groove On – Bella’s radio show for the lockdown, is today in part tribute to Little Richard.
Little Richard, known as The Innovator, The Originator, and The Architect of Rock and Roll, passed away on Saturday 9th May. In tribute, we begin Episode 22 with three of the genre-defining hits he had for Speciality Records: ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ recorded in 1956 and released in 1958, ‘Rip It Up’, also from 1956, and finally the rollicking ‘Keep A-Knockin’’ from 1957.
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The regularly-scheduled show begins with ’50 Foot Woman’ by Hannah Williams & The Affirmations, a funk barnstormer from their new album, released in October 2019. It’s followed by ‘Dog On A Chain’, a 2017 track by The Cavemen that is pure hi-octane punk from New Zealand. The fast pace continues with a Small Faces obscurity, ‘Don’t Burst My Bubble’, that’s as brilliant as any of their hits.
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‘Time Be Kind’ by Revbjelde is from their new album Hooha Hubbub, and is typical of their sound which they have described as ‘industrial jazz psych motorik folk’. Another artist who has a tendency to experiment is Björk, however she did not do that so much on her debut album, on which you can find the track ‘Crying’.
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Canadian singer and songwriter Frazey Ford’s recent work has been greatly influenced by the likes of seventies soul singers such as Ann Peebles. ‘Golden’ from her new album U kin B the Sun showcases that sound succinctly.
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On Episode 21, we had Count Basie & His Orchestra doing a wonderful James Bond cover. It was such a delight we’ve got another now, his version of ‘Thunderball’. It’s followed by ‘Big Boy’ by Ki Ki Page, a fantastically parping sax romp found on the 2016 Jazzman Records compilation Follow Me to the Popcorn: The Untold History of the Belgium Popcorn Scene.
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After recently playing a Janis Joplin track recorded for television programme This Is Tom Jones, a recent further exploration of the show turned up his fabulous song ‘Whatcha’ Gonna Do’ from 1965. If only he’d recorded more like it!
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Since Ann Peebles was mentioned earlier, it is obligatory to play one of her tracks. This time it is ‘I Don’t Lend My Man’ from 1976, as rocksteady and sublime as any of the essential sides she recorded during that period.
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The Budos Band began their career playing Afrobeat, however their sound has mutated through the use of heavy metal-like tones, to become something uniquely there own. ‘Magus Mountain’ is from their 2014 album Burnt Offering.
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Three songs in a row now, beginning with ‘Spoonman’ by Underworld from their landmark album Dubnobasswithmyheadman. Groundbreaking for its techno/rock fusion, it mixed conventional song writing with the use of found material from overheard conversations. It is followed by ‘Agyapong’ by JD Twitch, a brand new track as featured recently on Bella Caledonia. It is from the May Day EP, which will have 100% of its proceeds be donated to Glasgow food banks, and is available for a limited time only. Last of the three is ‘Negative Thoughts’ by Canada’s Duchess Says, from their 2016 album Sciences Nouvelles.
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Another brand new track is ‘How Did I Get Here?’ by LaRose Jackson, that came out in April.
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A change of tone now brings us to ‘C’Mon Billy’ by PJ Harvey, from her brilliant 1994 album To Bring You My Love, and then ‘Seven Gypsies’ by Glasgow-based folksinger and songwriter Claire Hastings, from her 2019 album Those Who Roam.
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The tone changes again, with two reggae tracks. ‘Man Next Door’ is by Pama International from their 2017 album Love & Austerity, a song by written by John Holt and covered many times, not least by Horace Andy in 1978, who also sang it on Massive Attack’s 1998 album Mezzanine. ‘Babylon Falling’ by The Heptones from 1977 is based around another song featured on Episode 21, Steam’s ‘Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye’.
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Exploration of the Tom Jones tv show also revealed ‘Spirit In the Dark’ by Aretha Franklin, a stunning track that highlights her gospel origins.
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The episode ends with what may well be Little Richard’s best track, the amazing and immortal ‘Tutti Frutti’.