Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Primitive Sound System at Maxwell's Tuesday 11-23-04

Hello Y'all,
It's a short work week so there is no reason you can't drink straight through until Thursday. I didn't really plan on any food songs and I don't own "Alice's Restaurant." The below songs seem to be very drum heavy... drum breaks... drum sticks. Ah, OK, there it is. That's about as close as I am going to get to a food song this week. I'll leave the theme sets to the pros this week. Happy Thanksgiving and remember eat till it hurts and that goes for giving as well.

- pat.

Primitive Sound System and the continuing food stylings of el Diablo Every Tuesday! (9PM - 2AM)

Maxwell's
1039 Washington Street
Hoboken New Jersey
(201) 653-1703


The 45s:

Panic Button - "Hitch It To A Mule" (Chalom Records cat. 101-A)
The opening of this 45 is a bit deceiving. It seems a bit more cheery than what is to follow it suddenly veers toward a raw groove and we're off. Maybe this is the result of trying to hitch something to a mule. Apparently it is a harder task than was first determined. As a drummer drums mean everything to me in a song to me. "Hitch it to the Mule" has some Duck's Ass tight drumming. No real breakbeat but skin snapping accuracy and a heavy handedness I can back.

Junior Wells - "Up In Heah" b/w "Junior's Groove" (Bright Star cat. 149 (BS-10470))
Junior Wells is too cool and this vocal version backed by the instrumental is reason e'nuff. One of the legends of 50's Blues Harp and he had a funk period as well. I was never a big fan of blues until I heard what Chicago had to offer. Loud production, loud drums and a signature harp solo.

Arlean Brown - "Impeach Me Baby" (LaNoRmAyA Records cat. 3939)
A Blues romp about getting impeached from a relationship is a pretty great thing especially when it comes with a nice open drum and guitar intro. "Stop treating me like Nixon at the Watergate." Damn that's good. Ms. Brown goes from admitting her cheating ways to throwing it in his face that she can get another man in a minute. "Her Man" strikes back with a campaign of his own but don't think Arlean ain't going to get in the last word. Her cheating and conniving ways don't me shit; just set her free.

Betty Davis - "If I'm n Luck I Might Get Picked Up" (Just Sunshine Records cat. JSA-503 (MB 2730 1-S-RE))
HOLY SHIT! I love this song so much. Betty Davis scared the shit out of Miles but not before turning him on to some great music, nuff said. Sweet Miss Mabry grew up to be one bad ass chic. She's wigglin' her fanny and raunchy dancing. OK, I'm game. Did I mention she is vicious trickin' as well and by the way it's just her night out. The band is down, dirty and mean but nothing can hold a candle to her. I have this with a picture sleeve thanks to my brother.

Ray Barretto - "Hard Hands" (Fania cat. 477 A)
Piano, Congas and horns pound the hell out of this tune with equal muscle. Basically a vehicle for Barretto to to what he does best GROOVE BABY! "Hard hands, get it together" what the hell does that even mean? One of Barretto's baddest grooves and he knows it, that's what.

Lonnie Smith - "Move Your Hand - Part 1" (Blue Note cat. BN-1955 (BN 4811 A))
Hands down one of my favorite Blue Note 7s. Dr. Lonnie has a very unique voice which works so perfectly with this tune.

All Points Bulletin Band - "Sexy Ways - Pretty Legs - Pt. 1" (Little City Records LCR-10102 (LCR-1942-M-1))
Gotta love a song that starts with the band conversing about what to do on a nice day, "I got, it let's go down to the playground..." "Yeah, yeah man..." WHAT? Despite having some short eyes this track kicks it in an Ohio Players way like no other. Nice ensemble funk playing with some fuzzy guitar, heavy drums and organ. Of course the vocals are punctuated with horns and thick cut bass. Great yet troubling.

Nilson - "Rainmaker" (RCA cat. 74-0761 (WPKS-0368))
Nilson was a very bizarre buddy of John Lennon. "Rainmaker" is proof of this bizarreness; Countrified, pop music, with an open drum break that ends up sounding like a heavy Bubblegum anthem. Perfect, it's a keeper. The song seems to champion the arrival of the "Rainmaker" on very hot Summer day Kansas but he comes for a price. OK, it's hot and they need the rain. Then what the hell is with the chorus' of "Rain rain go away?" Look this guy brought you water, one the elements important to survival. Ingrates. I hope it keeps pissing on Kansas.

1910 Fruitgum Co. - "Indian Giver" (Buddah Records cat. BDA 91 (BUD 5181))
Heavy drums lead of this Bubblegum classic, I guess we're on the warpath. It's a real tale of a broken heart. He really sounds duped by this thing called love. Thank God the sounds of a broken heart include buzzing organ lines and driving drums. The B-side is an ode to Howdy Doody. The lyrics are funny, happy and a bit crazy. "Bring back Howdy Doody, I've got to see it one more time!" Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the song is called "Pow Wow" and I always assumed it was a backward version of "Indian Giver." Silly me, tricks are for kids. Spin it backward. You know, how Satan listens to his vinyl.

Shocking Blue - "Acka Ragh" (Colossus cat. C 116 (CO 1023))
Don't forget to sign up early for open drum (break) night. WEEE! clocklike drums and electric sitar/guitar sounds. Grab the hookah and you're sitting on top of the world. Shocking Blue probably made other records than their wonderful S/T LP on Colossus (in fact I know they made several) but I have never heard any of them. "Acka Ragh" alone makes it difficult to seek the others out. If their other efforts are better some one tell me but for now this is bliss.

Bob Dylan - "From a Buick 6" (Columbia cat. 4-43389 (ZSO 11387))
This picture sleeve can't hold a candle to Betty Davis but the design is pretty awesome. Car songs are always great and Dylan dials in with one of the few Dylan songs I can sit through. Great instrumental romp backing (Bobby Greg, Mike Bloomfield, Harvey Brooks, Paul Griffin and Al Kooper) that could be the Stones with the strained voice of Bob Dylan barking out a story of his woman. "She brings me everything and more, just like I said!" I was once talking to the MCA Good Guy that worked at Downstairs Records. He was telling what was wrong with Dyke from Dyke and the Blazers voice. "Sounds like steam escaping a radiator. I don't know how you can listen to that..." I said "Do you like Dylan?" and he said of course. I believe I smiled and walked away.