As good as The Stooges‘ version was, this cover by Australia’s Radio Birdman, legends themselves, blows the original out of the water. Rob Younger just had the voice and the howl to make this into a vicious slab of vinyl.
70s
[Music] Tony Allen – African Message
A lot of press covering Nigerian music rightfully goes to Fela Kuti, yet he’s not the only innovative figure to gain international fame. His percussionist, Tony Allen, has spent a good part of five decades making music which was influenced by funk and jazz as well as Highlife. The Afrobeat sound he was instrumental in creating continues to inspire musicians like Brian Eno and Blur’s Damon Albarn.
[Music] Jacula – In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum
Before I developed a love for Rock-In-Opposition bands like Art Zoyd and Univers Zero, I had a deep interest in the schlock-laden works of Antonio Bartoccetti, composer of the band Jacula. It was cheesy, silly, doom-laden music of the best sort. I wonder whatever happened to him?
[Music] Roger Damawuzan & Les As Du Benin – Wait For Me
Many thanks to Hot Casa Records, who introduced the music of Roger Damawuzan, the ‘James Brown of Lomé‘, to the world. You can definitely see where he gets his inspiration from!
[Music] Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells (Live at Montreux 1981)
Tubular Bells, performed by Mike Oldfield and his band, is a masterpiece of progressive rock. Here is it in a live context.
[Music] Rodriguez – Sugar Man
Sixto Rodriguez’s story is a pretty incredible one. A Mexican-American folk singer from Detroit who didn’t sell too many albums, but did manage to have a good tour of Australia, and then fell into obscurity, or so he thought. He ended up outselling Elvis Presley in South Africa, and fans from there hunted him down. The movie Searching For Sugar Man documents his rise, fall, and rise back to popularity.
[Music] Can – Geheim (Half Past One) [Peel Sessions]
[Music] War – Slippin’ Into Darkness
My friend Owen made the pick of the night. War’s classic is a meaty, visceral tune which, if memory serves me right, would influence Bob Marley in making Get Up, Stand Up.
[Music] Catherine Ribeiro – Paix
Catherine Ribeiro is France’s psychedelic chanteuse. From what I understand, she is still making music. This is from her peak period, and it still sounds stunning.
[Music] Kraftwerk – Europe Endless
I’ve yet to hear a bad track from Kraftwerk. Thanks the my incredible friends on my Facebook feed who pointed me to this lilting piece of electronic music.