Bedazzled!

Jukebox Record Sleeves

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Photo: The Shadows by Phillip Townsend

via The Swinging Sixties

The soundtrack of our lives...

(a tentative part one to a projected series from a personal selection of life meaning cuts... by Astro Le Mocker) :

 

Some of the music we listen to are evidently meaningful to our existence; I'm not talking only about the lyrics, but sometimes just the notes, a melody has meaning, an instrumental can underscore some pieces, moments of our lives... One such musical score is "the Fly" from David Axelrod's second album, I believe his best : "Songs Of Experience" released in 1969 on Capitol (SKAO-338).

Following a personal hurting, heartbreaking experience I just had, I find myself listening to this particular track out of the album, again and again, like it was expressing my private feeling better than words : a miserable Fly buzzing around from one shit to another bum experience. It is the soundtrack to how I feel now. The notes are so intense, the melody keeps resounding in my head, it's poignant and hearfelt.

Now, I know how easy it is to cite a number by an artist as hyped as David Axelrod among mixing DJs, Breakbeat fanatics, Trip-Hop/ Drums 'n'Bass music programmers and in various hip Rare Groove circles, from the late century's 1990's onwards. I don't need to talk about the artist, how great a Jazz arranger, producer and musical score writer David Axelrod is. Lord knows how I hate fake Fashionistas, being an underdog myself for years but... WTF, it's the Music that counts! And here, the notes are expressive enough to transcend mere hype. Just listen : It should speak for itself.

Starting with this choice, I think I will continue pointing out tracks and particular scores that have meaning enough to be part of the soundtrack of my life... Have a nice Sunday!

 

RIP Billy Strange (February 22, 2012) Legendary Session Guitarist & Songwriter

"Billy Strange was a much-respected guitarist, songwriter, and arranger who made an indelible mark on pop music as one of the top session players in Los Angeles during the 1960s.  And as a songwriter, he was no slouch either.  Born in Long Beach, California, Strange was just 5 years old when he performed on a local radio station – reportedly winning a yodel contest.  Roughly ten years later, he was given his first guitar, and within two years, he was on the road.  During the mid ’60s, Strange found himself as part of a collective of L.A. studio musicians known  as the Wrecking Crew, who would go down in history as the players on some of the most important pop, rock, and country records of the era.  Most famously, Strange played on landmark recordings by the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Nat King Cole, Nancy Sinatra, Willie Nelson, and Elvis Presley (whose “A Little Less Conversation” was co-written by Strange.  Others who recorded Strange-penned songs include Chubby Checker, the Champs, Hank Snow, and Glen Campbell.  In the early ’70s, Strange moved to Nashville where he co-owned and ran the Sinatra’s publishing company.   Billy Strange was 81 when he passed away on February 22, 2012." via The Music's Over

"Papa Was Too" & "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" - Live and In Color in 1969

It's Day 20 of Joe Tex Month over at the WFMU Rock 'n Soul Ichiban so I thought I would bust this out, I don't think this has been on the internets before. "Papa Was Too" & "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" (Gala De Clôture 3.14.69)

Leave It To Beaver - "Sweatshirt Monsters" Episode

Beaver & Friends on a "Big Daddy" Ed Roth trip.

Leave It To Beaver, the ‘Sweatshirt Monsters’ episode. via Teenage via Partners & Spade

James Brown Demonstrates The Boogaloo, The Robot, The Funky Chicken & More

Stupefaction Ephemera: Cool Record Label Poster

Record label poster available here. Previously published at Stupefaction.

Silent Footage from 16mm "Music Video" Shoot - 1960's - Color

Some very cool footage of 60's teens dancing and general "Hard Day's Night" style romping. Uploaded by XenonExplosion who notes: 

"Bought a box of empty 16mm and 8mm reels, with a few of them full of leader... and THIS footage!"

"If anyone knows what it is or who the band is, or even the date, please share... It looks like a student film or "music video." (yeah, I know, it's on Film so it's not a video...)"

"It has no soundtrack, and the sprocket side is very dark so I could barely make out --DACHRO-- on the edge, which leads me to believe this was shot on Kodachrome. The video doesn't do the colors or the sharpness justice, they're incredible!"

"I left the sound intact so you could hear the splices go through the projector. Some of the footage is continuous stock even though the angle/scene changes, but most of it is cement-spliced together. Fascinating stuff!"

The Five Americans - "I See The Light" (Sump'n Else Show 1967)

Uploaded by kyerabon