mp3: Noble Watts - Hard Times

Last year I posted Dave Bartholomew’s cover version, now here’s the original. Hard Times was the biggest hit from tenor saxophonist Noble "Thin Man" Watts & His Rhythm Sparks. In 1957 it climbed into the pop charts for 9 weeks, peaking at #44. They even got to play it on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Watts was a hot honker in the ‘50s and early ‘60s, playing with a who’s who of R&B and early rock’n’roll; Tiny Bradshaw, Amos Milburn, Ruth Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, the list goes on and on.

 
You don’t need a weatherman to know that it was a chilly London night in March when Lady Kamikaze joined us for Heavy Sugar at The Alibi. In no time though, she had the whole club positively sizzling with this eclectic mix of vintage tunes. From swinging soulful shimmyers to spicy Latin shakers, Lady Kamikaze had us in the palm of her hand all the way through. The tracklisting below is not wholly complete, there’s a large slab of Cumbia in the middle which you won’t miss. It was a massive privilege to share the decks with such a connoisseur of dancefloor dynamite.
 
Willie Mitchell - Slippin' & Slidin'
Bill Black's Combo - Don't Be Cruel
Solomon Burke - Maggie's Farm
Ted Taylor - I Don't Care
The Raelettes - One Room Paradise
Betty Everett - Hands Off Little
Junior Lewis - Can She Give Me Fever
Jackie Wilson - Baby Get It
Chubby Checker - Twist It Up
Roy Orbison - What'd I Say
Rosco Gordon - Torro
Cumbia Band - Cumbia Music
Ella Fitzgerald - Ol' Man Mose
Ella Fitzgerald - Can't Buy Me Love
Nina Simone - Come On Back, Jack
Gene Pitney - Quando Vedrii La Mia Ragazza
Rhythm Addicts - Oomp Boomp
The Chimes - Zindy Lou
The Pearls - Zippity Zippity Zoom

mp3: 'Cile Turner - Crap Shootin' Sinner

Crap Shootin’ Sinner is a gospel-style ditty about a gambler trying to get into heaven. So far so normal. It’s sung by ‘Cile Turner, who was born Lucile Turner in Virginia in 1895. Apart from today selection being an entertaining tune, what’s interesting is that Turner was a white woman who from a young age embraced African-American folk songs and spirituals. This was an against the grain cultural choice that, at the time, would have challenged many in the deep South on both racial and gender grounds. Turner performed all over the US in the 1920s, 30s and 40s and made her first recording in ’47. Crap Shootin' Sinner was recorded and released in ‘59. It’s included on ‘T-Bird Party! - A Swangin' Slew Of Greasy R&B’, a great compilation CD called that I have in a box somewhere in Melbourne. On this website, you can read a bit more about ‘Cile Turner, sample some of her recordings and buy a double CD that has all of her commercial recordings on it.

I’m super excited to announce that legendary DJ Gaz Mayall will join Fritz and I at our next Heavy Sugar club night. Gaz’s Rockin Blues is London's longest running one-nighter club. It’s been going since 1980! I’ve always had a rollicking time there, dancing the night away to incredible tunes every time. I can’t wait to hear what heat Gaz brings for Heavy Sugar.

Friday May 24th is the date we’ll be back at Dalston’s funnest late night party spot, The Alibi. It's an ideal way to start a long weekend in London. Come early to avoid queuing and be ready for an incendiary mix of original R&B and early rock’n’roll. Also, it's a clever idea to let us know you’re coming so that we can prep the door girls to treat you and your friends like the kings and queens of Kingsland Road that you are. More details can be found on the Facebook event page. Don't miss this one. I'll see you on the dancefloor!

mp3: Faye Adams - Hurts Me To My Heart

Wow, what a strong, powerful voice Faye Adams has. No wonder that around the time of this recording she was known as Atomic Adams. Released in 1954, Hurts Me To My Heart was the third and final in string of #1 R&B hits for Adams. That run started with Shake A Hand, which, through its use in the moving and poetic Killer Of Sheep film, is the song that introduced me to Adams' immense talent. Hurts Me To My Heart was written by the fruitful songwriting partnership of Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton.

mp3: Bill Doggett - Ram-Bunk-Shush

Bill Doggett was pianist and organist who worked with Louis Jordan, Ella Fitzgerald, Wynonie Harris and Johnny Otis among others. He also spent some time in the band of Lucky Millinder, the guy who wrote and released Ram-Bunk-Shush first in 1952. Doggett's version came out in '57 and, thanks largely to Clifford Scott's honking lead sax, made both the pop and R&B charts, peaking at #10 on the R&B. Ram-Bunk-Shush was also released by surf group The Ventures in '61. Louis Jordan & The Tympany Five played a sizzling version of this instrumental jiver for television in '66. There's a great clip of that performance here.

I'm going to be treated to a couple of nights of top-shelf garage rock'n'roll this coming weekend. On Friday May 17th, yours truly will be joining DJ Phil Istine behind the decks at Deviation Street, a night held every month at The Alleycat in Soho. We'll be spinning records between and after The Ladykillers, Thee MVPs, Limozine and Kepler Rising.

Then, the very next night, I'm heading to the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston for the Dirty Water Club. I'll be rocking out to the Hollywood Sinners, The Ricky C Quartet, Plastic Pals and ANO before serving up a feast of 45s with Dirty PJ till 3am.

So, if you're in the vicinity, join me at one or both of these tremendously rockin' gigs, you won't regret it.