With the sad news of soul giant Wilson Pickett’s demise, here is Hempstead NY, Nov 6 1973 — from an era which arguably saw Zappa’s most soulful line-up…
Month: January 2006
Wolfgang’s Vault
Very cool: a bunch of Zappa/Mothers posters and handbills for viewing and purchasing (IF you have the money!). Some postcards and original “fine art prints” there as well. (Thanks Danny!)
The Groupies
For those with an appetite for bizarre recordings, here’s mp3s of the entirety of “the astounding, disquieting” 60s record ‘The Groupies,’ a collection of actual interviews with Manhattan groupies discussing their depraved post-gig activities.
It’s not quite what you would expect — sometimes the girl’s experience slips into tragedy, as when one of them describes a beating at the hands of a lover. But for those looking for a peek into the wild nights of the Age of Aquarius, this is it, raw and uncensored.
Music Biz Lament
Rolling Stone reports on a very bad year for the music industry. Overall, consumers bought 48 million fewer albums than in 2004, marking a disastrous twenty-one percent slide from the industry’s peak in 2000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. “It was arguably the worst year in the music business’s history,” says Steve Bartels, Island Records president. (Gee, I wonder why…)
2 Out Of 5 Stars
Another review of Joe’s XMaSage:
Overall, while I enjoy the musical moments of this CD, there is simply too little music, and too much talk. In fact, there’s only about 20 mintues of music on this sucker. Come on ZFT, you can do better.
Yup, that pretty much seems to be the consensus. Meanwhile I’m reading the first reports here and there of people that have received Imaginary Diseases, although this release appears to be unavailable currrently.
Count Zappa
A painting by an Anonimous Actor from the eighties (maybe). Buy it!
Ponty Talks
Interview with Jean-Luc Ponty in which he talks, among other things, about Frank Zappa:
Some of his pieces were a total musical patchwork; a few measures of basic rock suddenly moving into jazz then into a Stravinsky like written section. He was a true pioneer of fusion but I preferred his pieces that were in one style from start to finish, some were very inventive, intricate yet melodic.
Impeaches En Regalia
The Impeachment Project: “If you feel George W. Bush should be impeached, paint a sign that says ‘Impeach.’ and post it in a public place.” Read the blog for more guerilla marketing. Related: Al Gore’s speech in Washington yesterday and this dead-on article from The Nation.
Could it be?
RIP Alex St Clair
Some rather sad news for Cpt. Beefheart fans: Alex St Clair passed away last January 5th. St Clair – real name Alex Snouffer – was one of the original guitarists with the group and helped shape their sound from their inception in 1964 via their deranged cover of Bo Diddley’s “Diddy Wah Diddy” single released in 1966 and on to the groundbreaking Safe As Milk.
I Got It From The Toilet Seat
Dear KUR,
I ran across this video on Google video. Some kids making a video about “Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?”. It’s a noble effort.
It certainly is. Thanks Scott!
Vienna Wighalle ’74 (2)
Last week we offered the early show, now it’s time for Vienna Wighalle ’74, Late Show. Oh and could someone ask the janitor to have a look at the central heating? It’s friggin’ cold in here!
Pride & Prejudice
What people in the world are known for, according to Google. Typical: poor old Argentina doesn’t get a mention since its place on the map is overlapped with a little square needed to describe Brazil! Belgium, quite fittingly, simply disappears underneath the G of Germany.
Top 50 Music Videos Of 2005
Had no time to check them all. Did you, maybe?
“Stand slow!” a voice rang out with hollow ubiquity
All true excerpts from stories submitted to Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, such as:
Instinctively, without thinking about it, he grabbed the woman and hugged her and then gave her breasts a couple of playful pinches. “Commander please,” she said as she blushed and began yodeling.
Ads from the Eighties
But: from the eighties of Hungary! Jeezis, I’ve grown up on these! :-) You won’t understand a word, but you’ll have fun, I’m sure!