Alex Chilton - "Like Flies on Sherbert" CD Album

Alex Chilton – Like Flies on Sherbert

CD Album, Reissue, 1996, France

Last Call Records

Truly one of the great albums in my collection of greats. Alex Chilton's demented, wild, and perhaps insane album Like Flies on Sherbert is a like following a lighted fuse as it approaches the TNT. Instead of cartoon violence, we're getting psyche warfare where one doesn't know how this is going to end up. Half originals, and half covers, this album is a dictionary of ill will but not going silently into the night. If Sgt. Pepper is the grand point of pop, then Like Flies … is the very peak of rockabilly. To me it always represents the end of something, maybe even music?

Without a doubt, Chilton changed gears after this album. But what he left on the operating table is emotion, that I think only an artist like Sam Fuller can appreciate. “Boogie Shoes” is a perfect opening to this chaos. Throw-a-way, loose version of KC and The Sunshine Band's southern soul is the entrance that leads to the deadly “My Rival.” The distorted guitars fighting towards a blissfulness of revenge. “Hey! Little Child” is just brutal, with darkness lurking in its soul, and Alex sometimes sounds like a David Lynch villain. Nevertheless this is the end results of Big Stars' great “Third” album, it goes nowhere, and this is the sound of that state of mind. Masterpiece.

Barbara - "L'Aigle Noir" Vinyl LP, France, 1970

Barbara – L'Aigle Noir

Vinyl LP, France, 1970

Philips

My very first introduction to the French singer Barbara was the recording of her song “L'Aigle noir.” That song got me right between the ears. It was so euro-beautiful, and the arrangement by Michel Colombier convey a sense of grandness. Listening to the whole album, it reminds me of Scott Walker. If nothing else, Scott is very much a French Chanson singer than a British/American artist. One would think that anyone really into Scott, would eventually end up with a Barbara album. L'aigle noir is a beautiful arranged album, and it seems Colombier and Barbara are acting in one body.

Barbara had a hard life that resembles Serge Gainsbourg's childhood. Both Jewish, and both in consistent danger during the Occupation. That experience had added a sense of purpose to her music and career. Even though I don't speak French, I sense a great amount of edge in her work. If for nothing else, one has to pick up the title song “L'aigle noir” because it's so perfect in the way it builds and builds.

Badfinger - "The Very Best of Badfinger" CD Compilation, US, 2000

Badfinger – The Very Best of Badfinger

CD Compilation, U.S., 2000

Apple

For a band that was produced by the all-time greats of their era, such as Tony Visconti, Todd Rundgren, Geoff Emerick, Paul McCartney, Chris Thomas, and are actually on The Beatles label Apple, how did they become such a downer? By all accounts this should have been a happy narrative with plenty of hits on the side, but instead we get two suicides and sort of a text book in bad luck in the music business. So do I love this band? No.

Without a doubt Badfinger know their way in a recording studio, and they have that text book songwriting skills, yet something about them leaves me really cold. They're the Beatles but without the Beatle poison. In other words I hear the skills of putting a pop record together, but I don't hear a sense of passion. I can totally understand people loving this band, but also I feel they don't take any chances with their music, and for me, I need that scope on a pop record. By no means do I dislike Badfinger, I just wished there was something else added to the mix. But yeah for sure they know there way around a good melody. I can't fault them on that.

Babyshambles - "Down In Albion" CD Album

Babshambles – Down in Albion

CD Album, 2006

Rough Trade

It seems hard to believe, but Pete Doherty maybe the last white rock n' roll decadent figure. He's already a nostalgic presence, and very much a dandy in hell. So far what I have heard, this is the only album I like. I have heard his first band The Libertines, and actually saw them at Cochilla some years back, but to be honest I wasn't into them. Their image is very old-school romantic rock, which strange enough for me is a turn-off. Or at least that type of image – which at the time suggested a community of supporters, very much in the nature of The Clash (Mick Jones produced both of their albums, as well as this album) but I feel is bullshit. Nevertheless I think The Libertines are talented, but not brilliant. Doherty is a guy that I keep rooting' for because I really want him to succeed in his art, and for his vision – which is basically not a healthy lifestyle. But each to their own!

Down In Albion is Pete and his band's masterpiece. Its sloppy when it needs to be sloppy and one gets the whole picture of Pete's world within this album. In other words he doesn't need to make another record, because he says it all on this one album. The charm of the album is that it sounds like it will fall apart from the seams, but the songs are really really good. “Up The Morning” “Killamangiro,” “Pipedown,” and the classic “Fuck Forever” are pretty superb tunes. Also Pete gets good reference points for having a song called “A'Rebours.” If he devotes his time to his natural songwriting abilities, and less on the destruction side of his world, I think he can come up in aces.

Baader Meinhoff - "Baader Meinhof" CD Album

Baader Meinhof – Baader Meinhof

CD Album, 1996

Virgin

Luke Haines is a much needed thorn in the side of the pop music world. Saying that I don't enjoy everything by him, because a lot of his work is very 'forced' and often I feel like rolling my eyes upward, but alas, even that is perfectly OK. I feel there is a strong moral outrage in his viewpoint of the world, and I can identify with that. His strong points is that he knows the pop format, and even though I think he's on the wrong side of genius, in that he's very studied songwriter. Haines has an understanding how pop songwriting works, in many ways it is sort of a text-book example in how to do it or not to do it.

This album focuses on the German terrorist group from the '70's, which is an unusual theme for a pop songwriter. But Haines as a provocateur is what makes him so enjoyable in the end of the day. The arrangements on this album is pretty good – the mixture of electric guitar and strings is a winning situation and Haines has an understanding of that dynamic. So I am not crazy about this album, but I appreciate in what he is trying to do. I admire that in a man. 

The Associates - "The Radio One Sessions" CD Compilation

The Associates – The Radio One Sessions

CD, Compilation, 1994

Nighttracks

For the completest, which one has to presume I am one, when it concerns The Associates. Which saying is not necessary for the causal fan. As long as you get the major releases (Fourth Drawer Down, Sulk, etc.) then you are OK. The live stuff is amazing because it really exposes the voice of Billy and its not a studio trick. He was really magnificent. 

The Associates -"The Affectionate Punch (re-mixed/ re-recorded version)

The Associates - The Affectionate Punch (re-mixed / re-recorded version)

CD Album, 1997

Fiction Records

A total mystery to me why Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine went back to the studio to re-record or re-mixed this album. Contractual reason? The original edition is much better, with its guitar, bass, drums sound, processed with compression and other studio trickery. This version is very 80's orientated. “Paper House” is an Associates classic, and both versions can't do wrong. But I feel that the new recordings doesn't add anything to the mix. Perhaps its bad for any artist to go back to their older work to 'fix' it. Each recording or work of art is part of its time. Or even season. I think one has to respect that aspect of art as it happened.

The Associates - "Sulk" Vinyl Album

The Associates – Sulk

Vinyl Album, 1982

Beggars Banquet

The lushness of the album cover with Billy and Alan looking towards the camera pretty much expresses the sound of the album. Elegance with a twisted angle. “Party Fears Two” has to be one of the great pop records from the '80s. Mysterious, yet enticing with the images expressed in the song. Even the title is so beautifully expressed. “It's Better This Way” is a driving track that one wonders why this is not considered a pop classic. In fact why is this album not as big as “The Other Side Of The Moon?' Seductively recorded it is like laying between velvet walls with shag carpeting. Essential, and a very warm album. The tension is that it can explode any moment....

The Associates - "Popera The Singles Collection" CD

The Associates – Popera -The Singles Collection

CD Compilation, Remastered

Sire

This CD is the one to give to introduce that poor person to The Associates. 'Poor' because their lives are empty if they haven't been exposed to the world of Billy Mackenzie and Company. This is an excellent collection to start off one's obsession about this artist. It even has “Country Boy.”

That specific song may be my most favorite Associates/Mackenzie record. It is so over-the-top in its production and Pre War Munich, one would think it would be illegal to hear it or own the damn record. So yeah, one gets the 'hits' but also the oddities such “Country Boy.” His take on Blondie's “Heart of Glass” is almost exactly the same as the original, but somehow it seems more suited for Billy and his aesthetic. He's such a classic great singer, that whatever song he does, he naturally owns it.

The album is odd in its programming because it starts off the new stuff at the time of its release, and goes into the older and much more experimental music. I can see some would think the older material as being the masterpieces (and they are) but its best to go for the whole ride that is The Associates. The last of the great unique voices, Billy is someone to really miss.

The Associates - "Kitchen Person"/"An Even Whiter Car" Vinyl 12" Single

The Associates – Kitchen Person/An Even Whiter Car

Vinyl 12”

Situation Two

Chaos rules on this record. Its hysterical, nervous, and its heading towards a world that may self-destruct at any moment. Which, made it very exciting for a 12” single. At the time of its release I was totally in awe of The Associates, which at that time it was Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine. Like Fourth Drawer Down I bought this recording at Arron’s on Melrose. That and maybe Vinyl Fetish would not only carry their recordings but also someone on the staff would know of them as well. They made such brilliant noise, that its hard for me to understand why someone wouldn't like them. In the U.S. Market they are thought of as a band that's New Wave or maybe even New Romantic, but the truth is they were more experimental. Especially at this time in their non-career.

At the time I think I was working at Licorice Pizza in Reseda, but living on Martel in Hollywood. I have a strong memory of playing this record really loud, and looking outside my window which basically faced a huge tree. The whole single apartment was in a sense a tree house. At least that is what everyone called it when they visited me and my girlfriend at the time. I was also intrigued by the images of Billy Mackenzie. I knew he was campy in a sense, but he also had a 'I don't give a shit' attitude, which to me at the time was totally cool and totally my world. In fact I really needed to listen to someone like Billy Mackenzie with that attitude and even more important that voice that made poetry out of noise.

The b-side is basically the melody of “White Car in Germany” but done slow and sort of in a dub fashion. But it is very Germanic and dramatic.

The Associates - "Fourth Drawer Down" CD Album,

The Associates – Fourth Drawer Down

CD Album, Reissued, Remastered

V2

Originally, and like an idiot, I purchased all the 12” singles that pretty much makes up Fourth Drawer Down. But still, sometime in the '80s I needed to get this album, just to get that feeling that I have everything by The Associates. At the time I was living on Martel Avenue in Hollywood, just a little bit an above of Melrose Avenue. I'm pretty sure I bought the original vinyl of this album at Arrons Records, which at that time was still on Melrose. The furious experimentation of this record was a good soundtrack to the crumbling of my relationship with a girlfriend at the time. We both liked this album, but I don't think she knew that I actually loved this album more than her.

Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine were holed up at Playground Studios, which for these two its a pretty good name for a recording studio. Experimentation was the exception, with Mackenzie singing through a vacuum cleaner hose among other effects. All of it low-fi in that Joe Meek method, without the guns and madness. But saying that it was rumored that drugs was also in the forefront of the recording. Nevertheless one got an album (or is this a demented greatest non-hits album?) of perfect songs being fucked-up and sent out to the stars. Officially this was their second album, the first being a very moody guitar, bass, drums and spacey keyboards number. Here the sound-effects takes first place along with Billy's amazing and beautiful voice. In many ways the whole album reminds me of Bowie's “Look Back In Anger” off his Lodger album. Very compressed sound with soaring vocals fighting against the noise made by Rankine. Totally brilliant. 

The Associates - "Double Hipness" 2 X CD

The Associates – Double Hipness

2 x CD Compilation

V2

Even material that was left on the bottom of the barrow that was left for the dead turns out to be a good Associates album. Billy, Alan and others never fail. Even throw-a-way tunes & recordings are gold nuggets among the landscape of trash. Billy Mackenzie just had the 'it' quality in spades. He could write, make superb recordings, and god of course what a voice. Some compare him to Bowie or Russell Mael, and for sure those two are a major influence on him. But Billy was also a great admirer of various pop and jazz girl singers. Everytime he opened his mouth to sing, it comes out as blues with a strong European tinge added to it. One can imagine that there are singers like Mackenzie out there, but he was really one of a kind. Like Bowie and Mael, they can be imitated but can't surpass the masters. And Billy is up there with those two geniuses.

There are a lot of collectable recordings in this package, including The Associates' take on Bowie's “Boys Keep Swinging” which was unique because it was recorded hours after Bowie released the single. It was put out on their own label, and rushed to indie stores around the U.K. Almost Situationist like type of action, that was subversive but as well as honoring the artist that's Bowie. I believe that was their first record.

The package covers all eras of The Associates, and what is of interest is that there are recordings that he did with Alan, a come-back for the original two. Sadly it didn't last long. But Billy Mackenzie is not about lasting forever, but just making those moments special and memorable.

The Associates - "Wild and Lonely" CD Album

The Associates – Wild and Lonely

CD Album, 1990

Circa

By all concerns at this point of time The Associates is Billy Mackenzie. Wild and Lonely is his Avalon, all smooth, effortlessly performed pop, but still through his unique and overly seductive manner. I bought this particular copy of the album at The Wave in Roppongi, Tokyo. The six story building was torn town for the monster shopping complex Roppongi Hills. This album plus some others are my lasting memories of an once perfect music store. But alas, it is understandable why this album is such a sad affair for me.

The music being ultra-produced, even by Billy's standards reminds me of Tokyo's aesthetic of being in love with the surface. I think Mackenzie did play in Japan for either this album or maybe during the time of Perhaps but it is also a record that loves the surface. The one sonic aspect that breaks through the smoothness is Billy's remarkable and beautiful voice. Also there are top-notch songs on this album. One can't say this is a masterpiece or close to the greatness of Sulk, but it has its own fragile beauty among the surface of its melodies. 

The Associates - "The Radio Sessions Volume Two 1984-1985 CD

The Associates – The Radio Sessions Volume Two 1984-1985

CD Compilation, UK, 2003

Strange Fruit

Recorded 'live' for the radio, here we have the great combination of a fantastic song with the glory that is Billy Mackenzie's voice. “The Crying Game” is one of my all-time favorite records by Dave Berry, and here, Billy makes it the ultimate torch song. It seems effortless on his part, but its not only his voice, but he's also a fantastic songwriter, as well as a man of great taste, with respect to his choice of cover songs to sing. In some ways, and it is picking apples from the oranges, this collection may be the best of the two radio session series. Included is a rare recording of “Kites,” a song I know nothing about. Same as “Country Boy” (not on this album) – where does he find these songs?

The Associates -"The Radio One Sessions Volume One 1981-1983" CD

The Associates – The Radio One Sessions Volume One 1981-1983

CD Compliation, UK, 2003 (Recorded in 1981 thru 1983)

Strange Fruit

Once you fall into the charms and sounds of The Associates, then one is sucked into their world forever. Which really means the world of Billy Mackenzie. This album is not essential, but you will feel weird not having it in your collection, because it is live Billy recordings, and every breath he made one would want to own it. The beauty of these recordings is that it's an artist that I feel was not in love with the live performance. I am guessing that he would prefer to spend time in the recording studio more than a radio station or on the stage. And beyond that I think music was third down the list after raising whippets, and hanging out with his family. Making music may have been just to do something between those two other activities. Which brings to mind the humor of “A Severe Bout of Career of Insecurity,” which brings out all the post-punk sounds in one track. The great thing about Billy & Co is that they never rest on their laurels. In ways they remind me of the early PIL, in that they made records to challenge the medium, and I think that is what interested Billy with respect to making music.

The Associates - "The Peel Sessions" CD EP

The Associates – The Peel Sessions

CD Ep, 1989 (Recorded in 1981)

Strange Fruit

“Me, Myself And The Tragic Story” tells the tale of what one would think is Billy Mackenzie's life, but alas, who knows. These live sessions done for the legendary (and always helpful) John Peel radio show are the early works from The Associates. “It's Better This Way” burns into one's ears, because it is so perfect. The Peel Sessions are snapshots as it happened. And that's the beauty of these recordings.

The Associates - "The Glamour Chase" & "Perhaps" CD

The Associates – The Glamour Chase & Perhaps

2 x CD, Compilation, Remastered, 2012

Warner Strategic Marketing

Alan Rankine left because he couldn't deal with the world of Billy Mackenzie, and therefore Billy had to do it alone, of sorts. Rankine couldn't be replaced, nor should be replaced, because his talent was too great and what he offered was a solid right-hand figure for the Billy voice. But his leaving didn't make it a disaster, in fact perhaps (no pun intended) it opened up Billy for more adventure. After Sulk he went as far as he could in that direction, and like a tense rubber band being pulled back, it had to snap back. So what we hear after Rankine, is the rubber band's going smack against the forehead.

The Glamour Chase never officially came out till this collection was released in 2012. Recorded in the early '80s Mackenzie for whatever reason never finished the album, yet he used the songs in future collections or albums. It's a solid work for him with quite a few masterpieces in my opinon. “Take Me To The Girl” is a haunted melody and lyric that is both clever, lovelorn, and sexual at the same time. “The Rhythm Divine is a powerful slow-down rhythm (done with the Swiss band Yello) that's torchy as well as merky in its undergroundish feeling of dread coming up in a nightmare of some sort. But the strangest song is “Country Boy” which sounds like it was written in Munich before the war. A love of the country life? Billy was known to be drawn to the hills of Scotland, but this has a tad of a touch of Fascism in it. Perhaps its a very controlled nature.

Perhaps has the classic Billy ballads. “Those First Impressions,” “Breakfast,” “Don't Give Me That 'I Told You So' Look” and the title song are seemingly beautiful. Similar to a great Bowie ballad, these songs are more straight forward. Still smart, but very heart felt – and even a tad tender. But there is a bit of a cad approach to love, and it can be directed to a man or a woman. At the time very romantic for the New Romantic, but a tad real if one is bitten by the bittersweet of fainted kisses.

 

The Associates - "The Affectionate Punch" CD Album, Remastered, Reissue

The Associates – The Affectionate Punch

CD Album, Remastered, Reissue, 2005

Universal

One of the classic haunted albums for me. I think I bought it after reading an interview with the lead singer Billy Mackenzie, and the way the reporter described his voice as being similar to David Bowie and Russell Mael of Sparks. With that how could I refuse a listen. And when the needle hit the groove I was sent to another part of the world. A beautiful but sad world.

For this album the basic line-up was voice, guitar, bass, drums and some keyboard. The sound is very sparse but the vocals are on top of the melody. There is something very dramatic happening via the music, and the arrangements are tight. The moments when Billy lets it loose with his voice is when the universe breaks down. At least that's the way I hear it!

This is the first album, and the beauty of it is that the songs hint at things, but don't clearly state it. It is almost you wake up in the middle of a conversation and you are just picking up the threads of the last word you heard. You think you know, but the fact is you really don't know. The mystery in their work is one of anticipating a narrative of some sort, but it is only a trace of that work. In a way The Associates at this time reminds me of a Alain Robbe-Grillet novel, where you get the facts, but you have to pull it all together to see what's behind the door.

Billy Mackenzie

Alan Rankine

Associates

Arthur Lyman - "Taboo" CD Album, Reissue, Remastered

Arthur Lyman – Taboo

CD Album, Reissue, Remastered, 1996

Rykodisc

Two ways one can listen to artists like Arthur Lyman, Martin Denny, and 'exotica' recording artists. One, is to fall under the seduction of its imagery and the whole bachelor-space-pad movement thing with all the cocktails and sweet n' sour food attached to that imagery. The other is to take this music as the roots of avant-pop, or serious composition. Without the “Exotica” genre we wouldn't have certain musicians such as Brian Eno, Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, and some would argue Throbbing Gristle. Nevertheless this album is sort of ground zero for that movement with the surgery morning headaches.

Taboo conveys a paradise, but is it natural or man-made. The technology of stereo recordings plus the nature sounds adds up to a world that is blissful, till of course a natural disaster hits. But here we can forget the worry of that as well as any financial anxiety. I imagine that there must have been a ton of stressed-out Americans freaking out about the 1958-era cold-war, and the rise of the consumer class – here is a world that was perfectly painted for the listener. One didn't have to leave the house for this holiday. And on top of that one gets great music. Arthur Lyman (who also played with Martin Denny) is an artist of taste and it is like taking a dip into the bright blue water. But be careful of getting a cramp in the water where you may drawn facing the blue skies of Hawaii.

Art Blakey and Les Jazz-Messengers - "Au Club Saint-Germain Vol. 2"

Art Blakey & Les Jazz-Messengers – Au Club Saint-Germain / Vol. 2

Vinyl LP, Stereo Reissue, France

RCA

The grooves here are hard to deny, and the beauty of this recording is that it is done at one of Boris Vian's haunts in the Saint-Germain des Prés. The intimacy of the music with the crowd noise really puts you in a checkered table with a bottle of wine – and why I imagine that is probably from various episodes of Peter Gunn where Gunn sits at “Mother's” the jazz club in that TV show. I just imagine all jazz clubs looking like “Mother's.”

I don't know who Hazel is, but the fact “Moanin' With Hazel” she must have been or is quite a gal. The sensuality of that track rubs off the turntable into your hips and beyond. Of all the great Blakey albums that are out there, and god knows I haven't heard every one (at this time), Au Club Saint-Germain is my favorite, just due to the time of its recording (1959) and it has such a distinctive nightclub sound. And the playing is extremely tight, yet loose. Besides Blakey there's Bobby Timmons on piano, Jymie Merrit on bass, Benny Golson on tenor sax, and the great trumpet player Lee Morgan.

Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers Avec Barney Wilen - "Lis Liaisons Dangereuses 1960"

Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers Avec Barney Wilen – Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960

Vinyl LP, Stereo Japanese Pressing

Fontana

One of the last things Boris Vian did before his passing, was to appear in Roger Vadim's Les Dangereuses 1960. A great album with a fantastic soundtrack by Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers... I think. For some reason the film credits mentions Thelonous Monk doing the score, which as far as I know, is not the case. And also someone else has claimed that they did the score as well. So its a bit of a mystery to me, but on the other hand it sure sounds like Art Blakey.

The album by all means, is a classic. It really conveys to me the importance of Jazz in French films during the 1950s as well as the early '60s. One wonders why it stopped? Nevertheless this updated version of the Libertine classic is the gateway to the morals of the 1960s or at the very least one can hear the door opening to something forbidden. The music is very sexy, and like champagne it can go to one's head, and by next morning one knows you were hit by a small bomb behind the ear lobe.

Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - "Des Femmes Disparaissent & Les Tricheurs" CD Compliation

Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers – Des Femmes Disparaissent & Les Tricheurs

CD Compliation, 1988

Fontana

It starts off with the Blakey drums, dark, mysterious, and that goes into another world. Then the brass comes in and it welcomes the listener to something wonderful.  Jazz to me is a tremendous aspect of film soundtracks -that is not used anymore. Jazz conveys a mood and it seems the Europeans had a natural relationship with the (mostly) American sound which goes with whatever is up on the screen. Also TV shows from the 50's and early 60's had nice Jazz music for instance “Peter Gunn” written by Mancini, that's marvellous. This album is two soundtracks combined, one is the music to the 1959 French film Des Femmes Disparaissent starring Boris Vian's friend Magali Noel and the great French singer Philippe Clay.  The other is Les Tricheurs.

I never seen the films, but listening to this soundtrack I get images in my head, which is the best for me. I love soundtrack albums, but it doesn't necessary mean I would like the film or even how the music is used in that movie. No, I like it because it's abstract to me, it stands by itself and this album reeks of mood, that's smokey and obviously in the middle-of-the-night feeling. If one is to make choices in life, a soundtrack can supply the right melody with the right mood – and therefore its a life worth living.