"I Got A Great Big Amount Saved Up In My Love Account..."

Shuffle Demons back cover detail, 1986.
(Blog title, picture, and blurbs are all unrelated...)

DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL is coming up this weekend: 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2011. 

Today's Snark is an all-jazz tribute to the 32nd annual DJF.

I'm pleased to tell you I'll be guest deejaying on THE JAZZ HACIENDA this SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd, from 6-8pm on the CJAM airwaves (99.1-fm in Windsor/Detroit), previewing many of the jazz artists who will perform at The Detroit Jazz Festival on the Sunday and Monday showcases. I've picked out some tremendous tracks. You'll want to go see these performers after you hear these songs. Tune in on Saturday!


The Snark jazz playlist for TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011.
(Artist/SONG/Album, etc.)


Stetsasonic -- TALKIN' ALL THAT JAZZ (Dimitri From Paris remix) -- Tommy Boy's Greatest Beats: The Remixes (Tommy Boy, 1998)
Tony Allen -- SECRET AGENT -- Secret Agent (2009, World Circuit)
Trio Bembe -- SAMBA DE AMBER -- Oh My Soul (2011, Trio Bembe)
Charlie Hunter, Chinna Smith, & Ernest Ranglin -- MESTRE' TATA -- Earth Tones (2005)
Ray Charles & The Count Basie Orchestra -- HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? -- Ray Sings, Basie Swings (2006, Concord/Hear Music) [Ray Charles vocals taken from 1970s live recordings]
Rufus Wainwright -- WHO CARES? (AS LONG AS YOU CARE FOR ME) -- Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall (2007, Geffen)
Gypsophilia -- BERCY -- Constellation (2011, Forward Music)
Lord Flea & His Calypsonians -- CALYPSO BE BOP -- Swingin' Calypsos (2009, EMI) [orig. 1957, Capitol]
Vinicius Cantuária & Bill Frisell -- CAFEZINHO -- Lágrimas Mexicanas (2010, Eone)
Ella Fitzgerald -- I'M PUTTING ALL MY EGGS IN ONE BASKET -- The Irving Berlin Songbook, Volume 2 (1958)
Shuffle Demons -- THE SHUFFLE MONSTER -- Streetniks (1986, Stubby)
Lillian Allen -- JAZZ MUSICIAN -- Freedom & Dance (1987, Verse To Vinyl)
Aurelio -- BISIEN NU -- Laru Beya (2011, Stone Tree Records/Subpop)
Osaka Monaurail -- CHANGES I WANNA MAKE -- Rumble'n Struggle (2001, RD Records)
Harry Beckett -- ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY? -- The Modern Sound of Harry Beckett (2008, On-U Sound)
Miriam Makeba -- THE NAUGHTY LITTLE FLEA -- Miriam Makeba (1960, RCA Victor/Gallo Africa)
Five Alarm Funk -- DON MEGA -- Five Alarm Funk (2006, Five Alarm Funk)
Jaga Jazzist -- I HAVE A GHOST, NOW WHAT? -- What We Must (2005)

Thanks for listening!

Here's the CJAM link to hear this show.  The link is only active for about a month or so after the original broadcast date.
The link starts up the show automatically, but be warned there's 2 full minutes of the show that precedes The Snark tacked on to my podcast and it's serious subject matter over there.

"It's A Kind Of Scratching, Collapsing, Irritated, Dissatisfied Kind of Music..."

Back cover detail from People Get Ready For The Fabulous Chambers Brothers, 1966.
No dissatisfaction with this record. It's got the quality seal of approval.

Today's blog-post title is a quote from Green Gartside of Scritti Politti, taken from Totally Wired: Postpunk Interviews and Overviews by Simon Reynolds (US edition, Soft Skull Press, 2009). Gartside was asked about the song "Opec-Immac," which we heard today on The Snark, and that's what he had to say about it. Completely accurate description. No wonder it's the Summer of Scritti.

The Snark playlist for TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011.
(Artist/SONG/Album, etc.)

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones -- SWEET POMEGRANATES -- Rocket Science (2011, E One)
The Skeletones Four -- TRAP DOOR -- Gravestone Rock (2011, Label Fantastic!)
Așa -- BRODA OLÉ -- Beautiful Imperfection (2010, Naïve)
Scritti Politti -- OPEC-IMMAC -- Early (2005, Rough Trade) [orig. 1979]
Mr. Chill & The Witnesses -- ROLLING THUNDER -- Cold Testament (2005, Mr. Chill & The Witnesses)
Charles Bradley -- NO TIME FOR DREAMING -- No Time For Dreaming: The Instrumentals (2011, Dap-Tone)
Invincible -- STATE OF EMERGENCY -- ShapeShifters (2008)
African Head Charge -- MYSTERIOUS HAPPENINGS -- Voodoo of the Godsent (2011, On-U Sound)
Johnny West -- MOTIVATION BEHIND THE METHOD -- My Hellhound Crooked Heart (2010, Tosteestostas)
10 Ft. Ganga Plant -- STRENGTH -- Shake Up The Place (2011, ROIR)
Gypsophilia -- ZACHARY'S CZARDAS -- Constellation (2011, Forward Music)
Dub Spencer & Trance Hill -- TRAIN IN VAIN -- The CLASHification of Dub (2011, Echo Beach)
Koola Lobitos -- OLOLUFE MI (MY LOVER) -- Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970s Funky Lagos (2009, Strut) [orig. 1964]
Ambition -- BETTER MAN -- Just For Kicks (2010, Backburner)
The Chambers Brothers -- SUMMERTIME (live) -- People Get Ready: For the Fabulous Chambers Brothers (1966, Vault)
Trio Bembe -- LA MUCURA -- Oh My Soul (2011, Trio Bembe)
U-J3RK5 -- EISENHOWER & THE HIPPIES -- U-J3RK5 (1979)
Dennis Walks -- BELLY LICK -- Trojan Reggae Brothers Box (2003, Trojan) [orig. 1968]
Smoove & Turrell -- IT'S THE FALLING IN LOVE -- Eccentric Audio (2011, Jalapeno)
Hollie Cook, Prince Fatty, The Moody Boyz -- MILK & HONEY (remixed by The Moody Boyz) -- Milk & Honey: 100% Dubstepper: Moody Boyz vs. Prince Fatty (2007, Mr. Bongo)

Thanks for listening!

Click to listen or download, for a limited time (about a month or so from original broadcast date).
Go on, click!

R.I.P. Jerry Leiber and thanks for the songs.

Above photo from Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography,
by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, with David Ritz,
Simon & Schuster, 2009.

I generally try to avoid writing about the music I play, but I couldn't help it -- I did two posts about Leiber & Stoller after I read their book.

"Donde Estabas Tu?" / "Where Were You?"

Art! Music! Food! Fun! From 2-10pm at Mackenzie Hall.

Here's an intriguing outdoor event for your weekend entertainment... and it's FREE!

COMMON GROUND ART GALLERY, a non-profit, non-juried, artist-run gallery, is celebrating it's 25th ANNIVERSARY on SATURDAY, AUGUST 2Oth, 2011, at MACKENZIE HALL, 3277 Sandwich St, on Windsor's historic west side. And you're invited to the party!

The music roster is fabulous! Some of the Snark's favourite local musicians will be performing in the gazebo located in the small park tucked just behind Mac Hall. There will be wholesome and delicious BBQ on the front terrace (vegetarian options available), and a great big retrospective art show in the little gallery that could.

Twenty-five years is an incredible achievement for a non-profit, volunteer-driven arts organization, and after hosting more than 500 art shows in this town, COMMON GROUND really does deserve to be celebrated.  A quarter century of tenacity!

The party runs all day -- from 2 o'clock until 10 o'clock.  Come out for some artsy good fun!

The Snark playlist for TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2011.

(Artist/SONG/Album, etc.)

Jose Silva -- UNCORRECTED (Rise Ashen remix) -- Uncorrected (2011, Balanced House)

Trio Bembe -- DONDE ESTABAS TU? -- Oh My Soul (2011, MFM)

George Manury -- DEAR ARLENE -- George M. (2010, VStuff)

Dubmatix, feat. Ammoye -- LOCK DOWN -- System Shakedown (2010, Fontana)

Roman Stewart -- WHILE I WAS WALKING -- Trojan Reggae Brothers Box (2003, Trojan) [orig.1982?]

Centro-Matic -- AGAINST THE LINE -- Candidate Waltz (2011, Undertow)

Gasper Lawal -- ERONU -- Ajomasé (1980, Cap Records) [Thanks to the very interesting blog "No Condition Is Permanent"]

Diamond Dust -- DOWN THE COAST -- Diamond Dust (2011, Diamond Dust)

Triodes -- CHICKEN STRUT -- Chunked (2009, Modica)

Sugar Minott -- THIS WORLD -- Stand & Give Praise: Roots Reggae (2010, Trojan) [orig. 1979]

An Isotope -- THE CHARMS OF ROUTINE -- Glass Bridges (2011, An Isotope)

Scritti Politti -- CONFIDENCE -- Early (2005, Rough Trade) [orig. 1979]

Fred Astaire & Johnny Green & His Orchestra -- (I'VE GOT) BEGINNER'S LUCK -- The Essential Collection (2006, Avid) [orig. 1937]

The Locusts Have No King -- LAST NIGHT IN MY FAVOURITE BAR & THE REPERCUSSIONS THEREOF -- Come One, Come All (2010, The Locusts Have No King)

Bassnectar -- THE MATRIX -- Divergent Spectrum (2011, Alpha Pup)

Googoosh -- BEMOUN TA BEMOUNAM -- Googoosh (2011, Finders Keepers)

The Schomberg Fair -- CAN'T GO HOME -- Gospel (2009, Hi-Hat)

Tubax -- L'UOMO PILA -- Il Mondo Stava Finendo (2011, Mega Sound)

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings -- HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOU? -- Daptone Gold (2009, Daptone)

Creation Rebel -- SPACE MOVEMENT SECTION 6 -- Historic Moments, Volume 2 (1995, Restless Records)

Thanks for listening!

Here's the show link, if you want to hear these songs right now.

This link is available for a limited time (from about a month to six weeks from the original broadcast date).

"If You Wanna Party Right..."

The Snark playlist for TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011.
(Artist/SONG/Album, etc.)

Brian Ferry -- ALL I REALLY WANT TO DO -- Dylanesque (2007, Virgin)
Clancy Eccles -- UNCLE JOE -- Trojan Brothers Reggae Box Set (2003, Trojan)
Gasper Lawal -- KOKOROKO -- Abio'sunni (1986, Hot Records) {Thanks to the Detroit expat blogger No Condition Is Permanent}
The Cortinas -- I TRUST VALERIE SINGLETON -- True Romances (1978, CBS)
Thievery Corporation -- CULTURE OF FEAR -- Culture of Fear (2011, ESL)
Shugo Tokumaru -- TRACKING ELEVATOR -- Port Entropy (2010, Polyvinyl)
Brown Bag Allstars -- DUMBIN OUT -- Brown Bag Season, Vol. 1 (2011, Nostomania)
Smoove & Turrell -- SLOW DOWN -- Eccentric Audio (2011, Jalapeno)
Aline Morales -- PRA QUE SAMBAR -- Flores, Tambores, E Amores (2011, Aline Morales)
Diamond Dust -- SOUTHWEST -- Diamond Dust (2011, Diamond Dust)
Big Sugar feat. Shane Murphy -- DONE SO MUCH IN THE DARK -- Revolution Per Minute (2011, Bread & Water)
Zapp & Roger -- (EVERYBODY) GET UP -- Double Dose of Funk: Lost & Found Oldies (1996, Thump)
Collections of Colonies of Bees -- LAWN -- Giving (2010, Home Tapes)
Michael Rose -- BORN FREE (DISCOMIX) -- Yabby You: Jesus Dread (1997, Blood & Fire)
Leif Vollebekk -- YOU COULDN'T LIE TO ME IN PARIS -- Inland (2010, Nevado)
ESG -- GET FUNKY -- A South Bronx Story (1991, Soul Jazz)
Herajika -- HIGURASHI -- Love Universe (2011, Herajika)
Scritti Politti -- DOUBT BEAT -- Early (2005, Rough Trade) [orig. 1979]
Eddie Harris -- LIVE RIGHT NOW -- What It Is! Funky Soul & Rare Grooves, 1967-77 (2006, Rhino/Wea)
The Souljazz Orchestra -- BBQ RIBS & FRIED CHICKEN -- Uprooted (2005, Fu Manchu Records)

Thanks for listening!

Here's a link to this show,  though it won't last forever.
(Patience, dear listener, the show that comes before me takes almost a full two and a half minutes of Snark time!)

A Talkbox is not the same as a Vocoder.
Roger Troutman used a custom-made
Electro Harmonix "Golden Throat" Talk Box.
(Not the one pictured above.)

The Freedom Of Music

Windsor Pride Festival, August 5-7, 2011.

This week's Snark starts off with a couple of righteous freedom songs, celebrating yesterday's Emancipation Day (on August 1, 1834 slavery was abolished within the British Empire).
Then after spinning a selection very interesting new releases from the CJAM library, we switch gears one more time.
During the last hour of the show, the Snark looks forward to the Windsor Pride Festival (downtown at the riverfront plaza this weekend), by featuring singers, musicians, and songwriters who are openly and proudly from the GLBT community.  Great tunes!

The Snark playlist for TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2011.

(Artist/SONG/Artist, etc.)

Little Richard -- FREEDOM BLUES -- King Of Rock & Roll: The Complete Reprise Recordings (2005, Rhino/Warner) [orig. 1970, Reprise]

Joe Higgs -- CAPTIVITY -- Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set (2003, Trojan)

Smoove & Turrell -- IN DEEP -- Eccentric Audio (2011, Jalapeno)

Selah Sue -- RAGGAMUFFIN -- Selah Sue (2011, Because)

The Funk Ark, feat. Asheru & Sitali -- FUNKY DC -- From The Rooftops (2011, ESL Music)

Andy Creegan -- VIOLA NO. 3 -- Andiwork II (2009, Bongo Beat)

Big Sugar, feat. Jay Malinowski -- A REVOLUTION PER MINUTE -- Revolution Per Minute (2011, Bread & Water)

Tom Robinson Band -- UP AGAINST THE WALL -- 1234: Punk & New Wave 1976-79 (1999, Universal)

Jimmy Somerville -- FROM THIS MOMENT ON -- Red, Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter (1990, Chrysalis)

Gang Of Four -- WE LIVE AS WE DREAM, ALONE -- Songs Of The Free (1982, Warner)

Ashley MacIsaac -- D-TROI-T -- Crossover (2011, So Plaid Music)

Rufus Wainwright -- ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE/THIS CAN'T BE LOVE (live) -- Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall (2007, Geffen)

k.d. lang -- SMOKE RINGS -- Drag (1997, Warner)

Frank Black -- SUGAR DADDY -- Wig In A Box (2003, Off Records)

Soft Cell, feat. Cindy Ecstasy -- MEMORABILIA -- Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing (1982, Some Bizarre Records)

Rufus Wainwright -- GAY MESSIAH -- Want Two (2004, Geffen)

Dusty Springfield -- BREAKFAST IN BED -- Dusty In Memphis (1969, Atlantic)

Big Boys -- HOLLYWOOD SWINGING -- The Fat Elvis (1993, Touch & Go)

Elton Motello -- JET BOY, JET GIRL -- Victim of Time (1978, Attic)

Les Negresses Vertes -- Red, Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter (1990, Chrysalis)

John Cameron Mitchell -- THE ORIGIN OF LOVE -- Hedwig & The Angry Inch (2001, Hybrid)

Thanks for listening!

Here's the show link, if you want to hear these songs. (Previous show overlaps Snark-time by about a minute and a half. So sorry!)

Thanks to Martin from CJAM's Wake The Town for a month's-worth of fill-in hosting. I really can't thank him enough.

John Cameron Mitchell may have said to his Hedwig collaborator Stephen Trask, "Could you write a song based on the story Aristophanes tells about the origin of love within the Platonic dialogue The Symposium?"

Boy, could he ever! To enjoy the spectacular result, please watch "The Origin Of Love" video (courtesy of a Japanese YouTuber) from the movie version of the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Animation by Emily Hubley.