musicology #311

Live&Direct #7

(Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Blockheads)

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Was intending on Slowing the tempo down for the next few cuts but then I came across this one from one of London's favourite son's Ian Dury featuring, of course, The Blockheads. So Influential were this group of Cats in themusicologist's early life that I can't overstate it. Not only that but in their earlier incarnation as Kilburn & the High Roads it was they, along with Doctor Feelgood and, for me, Steve Marriott that changed the trend, (at least on London's scene) from listening to overhyped, overpaid and overrated so called supergroups of which I'll mention no names to authentic, local, talent out of which sprung the attitude that became known as Punk. 'The High Roads' were vanguards and deserve recognition.

So without delay hold this, one of their classic cuts which brings memories flooding back..especially of my Uncle Phil who I can almost picture screaming the words..."BLOCK'EADS OI OI"...recorded live in 1990 showing that they had lost none of the energy and quality which saw them through from performing on the thriving 'pub scene', of the 70's (which has now almost dissapeared), up to concert hall venues both here and 'up and down a foreign'.

musicology #249

birthdaybashsoul&funk #4

(The Equals - Funky Like A Train)

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you know what … life is sweet like sugar at the moment and I’m enjoying it to the max. I would even go so far as to say it’s all good. I’ve got my mind right and it’s time for action. Over the past few weeks things and time have been synchronising harmoniously and ‘opportunity’ has been knocking hard on my door.

Iv’e let the kid in, we have sat down and reasoned, allowed our’self’ to let go and moved on, together, to face the dawning of the new day…where the sun is shining.

The music is courtesy of another London based group, The Equals, whose original members came from as far afield as Jamaica and Guyana but also included two locals from Holloway and Islington, (hence the name ‘Equals’) who tasted success in 1968 with a pop tune ‘Baby Come Back’, (which is about as far away from today’s cut as could be imagined),

Another BIG tune on the Rare Groove scene that was, for a while, one of the most sought after pieces of the day changing hands for around £50 which was a lot of money 20 odd years ago. themusicologist unearthed a copy of the 7″ in a ‘Junk-Shop’ in London’s ’salubrious’ New Cross for the princely sum of 10 pence !!! and rinsed it for the next couple of years. Can’t remember if it was ever on a LP and like I said this was LONG before the days of CD’s, Ebay and of course MP3’s so to find a copy was true to the genre’s name, RARE.

Can’t remember exactly but from memory I think that the year of release was 1976 maybe even 1974.

musicology #236

inmodwetrust #3

(The Miracles - Mickey's Monkey)

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another slice from the 1963 selection, the year that 'Mod' grew out of various shadows to establish it as more than a handful of 'dressers'/stylists/modernists into a movement. Same year that the (New) Scene opened it's doors in Ham Yard, (Soho), to become the premier London club and forum for all things 'mod' and hip in the capital.

The cut is delivered in fine style by legendary Detroit vocal group The Miracles with William 'Smokey' Robinson on lead supported by Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, childhood friend and, (along with Smokey), former 5 Chimes member Ronald White and female vocalist Claudette Rogers. The Miracles paved the way for Motown's success in the early sixties with cuts like 'Shop Around', 'You Really Got A Hold On Me' and this one apoun which the Berry Gordy empire was built.