The Monkees - "Christmas Is My Time Of Year" & "Riu Chiu"

Two Monkees Christmas tunes: "Christmas Is My Time Of Year" is The Monkees Christmas Fan Club single from 1976. "Riu Chiu" is a traditional Spanish carol which the Monkees recorded in 1968.

Michael Nesmith - "Different Drum" - Manchester 10-29-2012

Nice arrangement of the tune Michael wrote for Linda Ronstadt in 1967.

Rodriguez - "Like A Rolling Stone" - Liverpool November 22, 2012

Great cover of the Dylan tune!

The Monkees (Nesmith, Dolenz, Tork) live, Escondido, CA. November 8, 2012 and the Greek Theater, Los Angeles, November 10th, 2012

A couple of clips from what may well be the last-ever Monkees tour.  "Last Train To Clarksville," "Sweet Young Thing" and "I'm A Believer" are from the third night of the 12-date tour at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA. "You Told Me", is from the opening night of the tour in Escondido, CA, as is the final clip, a very touching version of "Daydream Believer."

Here is a review from ROLLING STONE of the Escondido show.

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Ennio Morricone meets Pink Floyd: "Reel Ten" by The Plugz

This is the final track from the soundtrack to REPO MAN.  After the thrashing sounds of Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies, Iggy Pop and other punk-era bands featured in the movie and on the soundtrack, it's kind of nice to hear something chill.  I believe this tune is exclusive to this soundtrack.  The Plugz eventually gained a bit of fame (with a slight personnel change) as the Cruzados.

Overcome By The Call Of The Wild - The Music of Rob Jungklas

Rob Jungklas is an Memphis, Tennessee-based musician, singer and songwriter.

Jungklas worked in the Memphis-based music circuit for 15 years before signing a deal with Manhattan Records and releasing the album Closer to the Flame in 1986. The album contained the minor hit “Make It Mean Something” which reached #86 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another song, “Boystown,” had a video directed by Godley & Creme (in the same rapid-jump-cut style of their video for Wang Chung‘s “Everybody Have Fun Tonight“). “Hello Heaven,” another song on the album, appeared on the soundtrack of the 1987 movie The Principal.  "Memphis Thang," perhaps the strongest song on the album, still receives regular airplay in Memphis.

Jungklas recorded a second album for Manhattan that was not released; he then moved to RCA Records, where his album Work Songs for a New Moon, a far more introspective album, was released in 1989. The album was somewhat Christian-based (though not marketed as such) and not a commercial success, and he left the label. Jungklas then left the music business; he married, earned a college degree and got a job teaching English and science at the Hutchison School in Memphis. He moved to work at St. Georges Collierville working as a 7th grade science teacher.

Jungklas began playing music again in 2001, and released the excellent album Arkadelphia in 2003 on Memphis-based label Madjack Records. Its blues-based sound was a major departure from his rock-oriented 1980s releases.   His music took on a much darker sound, the lyrics still somewhat Christian-based, but certainly not joyous.  There were Hellhounds on his tail and the guitars sounded like they were being strangled while played.  Jungklas played several shows opening for Lucinda Williams in support of the album.

Jungklas released another impressive blues-based album, Gully, in 2007.  Some of the music on Gully would have fit in nicely on a Tom Waits album, and it rocked like hell.  In August 2010, he released the excellent Mapping the Wreckage.

Here are a couple of clips featuring Jungklas.  The first is the aforementioned "Boystown," which received some decent rotation on MTV in 1986.   The second clip is a live performance from April, 2009 at Otherlands in Memphis where Jungklas performs "X For My Name."

The Who - "Won't Get Fooled Again" - Keith Moon's Last Appearance With The Who

This is from the film "The Kids Are Alright", which was released in 1979.  Originally, the live version of "Won't Get Fooled Again" was going to be taken from a show filmed at Kilburn, North London late in 1977.  However, director Jeff Stein didn't feel he got the performance he wanted from the band.  The Who reconvened at Shepperton Film Studios on May 25th, 1978 to re-shoot the performance.  Pete Townshend was not happy, and this performance is the result of Townshend's frustration.  It's perhaps one of the top-5 rock & roll celluloid performances of all time.

This was Keith Moon's last appearance with The Who.  Moon died three months later.

    

Horslips - "Furniture," live 1973 & "I'll Be Waiting," live 2011

Two pretty cool clips from Horslips, who were Ireland's first major contribution to rock & roll.

"Furniture" is live in Dublin, 1973 (dig those costumes!) and "I'll Be Waiting" is live with the Ulster Orchestra in March of 2011.  Both tunes feature one of rock's best kept secrets:  guitarist Johnny Fean.

Chunky, Novi & Ernie - "Underground" - Warner/Reprise (MS 2146) 1974

Chunky, Novi and Ernie ("Ilene Rappaport," Novi Novog and Ernie Emerita) were a strange group who released a couple of LPs for Warner/Reprise in the 1970's.  Their first self-titled album, released in 1974 and selling about 18 copies...I'm one of those folks that bought it... is something of a forgotten classic, co-produced by Ted Templeman (Doobie Bros.) and John Cale (Velvet Underground).

"Chunky," who called herself "Ilene Rappaport" at this time, first came to my attention on Frank Zappa's GRAND WAZOO album, where she was a vocalist.  She was simply credited as "Chunky" on that album.  When I heard that John Cale was producing an album for her band, I had to check it out. 

"Underground," side 1, cut 1 on the first (and best) CN & E album is a tune that radio had no business ignoring.  In fact, Montrose covered the tune on their PAPER MONEY album, where it also resides as side 1, cut 1.

After the demise of CN&E, Chunky began calling herself "Lauren Wood," and had a sizable hit with "Fallen," which found its way onto the PRETTY WOMAN soundtrack.

Novi Novog plays the distinctive violin solo on the Doobie Brothers' "Black Water."

I don't know what the heck happened to Ernie.

Neither CN&E album as been officially released on CD, though it's rumored that their first album was briefly available as an expensive Japanese import.

What jogged my memory about CN&E is the previous posting on this blog featuring Rodriguez performing on Letterman.  I swear that the woman playing the keyboards in the center of the soundstage is Lauren Wood.  But I'm probably wrong.

Rodriguez - "Crucify Your Mind" live on David Letterman + Trailer for "Searching For Sugar Man"

Jesus "Sixto" Rodriguez is the subject of a new film called "Searching For Sugar Man."  Rodriguez released several critically acclaimed (but dismally-selling) albums in the 1970's before disappearing from public view.  He's now 70 years old and finally getting his due.  Fans of Arthur Lee's Love circa FOREVER CHANGES will enjoy this one.  Good stuff.  And see the film if you get the chance.




And here's the trailer for "Searching For Sugar Man."

Richard Thompson and Fairport Convention - "Hand Of Kindness" 1987

Richard Thompson with the FULL HOUSE Fairport lineup (minus Dave Swarbrick) live in 1987.

The Monkees (Dolenz, Jones, Nesmith, Tork) Soundcheck during UK tour 1997

This is pretty cool.  It's nice to see these four guys perform simply as a band.  It's not often you get to see a Monkees soundcheck/rehearsal!  Peter's a fine bassist.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - "Walk Like A Giant" - Red Rocks 8/6/2012

Another extended workout for NY & CH.

Flamin' Groovies - French TV 1972

A good, short set from a fairly undocumented time in the Groovies' history.  Roy Loney had just departed, replaced by Chris Wilson, who is doing his best Mick Jagger.  Drummer Danny Mihm would be the next to leave, replaced by David Wright.  This is pre-"Shake Some Action."

Charlie Burton & Rock Therapy - "Rock & Roll Behavior"

Hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska with one of the best live-in-a-bar shows you've probably never seen, this was the first (and best) single from Charlie Burton and Rock Therapy.  Charlie's shows were legendary in the Lincoln/Omaha area from the late 1970's into the 1990's.  Released in 1977, this is the 7" version of the tune, featuring Butch Berman on guitar.  "Rock & Roll Behavior" was subsequently re-recorded for the "...Or What?" album, which replaced Berman with Phil Shoemaker.  Enjoy.

  

The Monkees - One of the final shows as a quartet. "Last Train To Clarksville" from Manchester in 1997

The quartet would not survive the trip back to America. Nesmith left after the short UK tour, leaving the trio to perform for the US leg of the tour. The Monkees would never perform as a quartet again.

Monkees (Nesmith, Dolenz, Jones) - "Nine Times Blue" on the Johnny Cash Show in 1969

One of the few live television  appearances by the trio. "Nine Times Blue" was originally slated to be released on an unnamed double Monkees album featuring a side of music from each Monkee, including Peter Tork, individually. When Tork left the band, that project was scrapped and "Nine Times Blue" remained unreleased.

 

The Monkees - Vocal overdub mix for "Circle Sky"

The Move - Rare pre-"Shazam"

At this point The Move was a quartet consisting of Roy Wood, Carl Wayne, Bev Bevan and bassist Trevor Burton, who would soon be replaced by Rick Price for the SHAZAM! album.