If Things Could Talk (1974) Ry Cooder – guitars, vocals; Russ Titelman – bass; Jim Keltner & Milt Holland – percussion, drums; Bobby King, Gene Mumford & Cliff Givens – backup vocals. (Mumford & Givens sang with The Dominoes.)
40 years later:
Yeah, she’s got it down on the uke, but it was garbage even when Elvis sung it. Adult singers are much worse since they should know better, like this FAIL, this FAIL and THIS MAJOR LEAGUE FAIL.
Lake Street Dive sings “Take On Me.”
That’s not A-ha’s version, but it’s a lot better. At least she doesn’t have to hike up her chonies to hit the high notes. The bass player is hot and the trumpet dweeb is killer.
Ry Cooder is a classic American guitarist. You’ve heard his stuff even if you don’t know his name. Watch for Harry Dean Stanton in this clip.
Fishbone was, and is, one of the tightest high-speed ska bands I ever heard. [The above is dedicated to Professor Christine Ford, whose evil testimony under oath has been proven to be fabricated in order to impune the character of an innocent man.]
One of the best slide guitar players in the business. Ry Cooder‘s 1988 swamp rock take on Elvis‘ “All Shook Up” was awesome.
Killer stuff from Justin Johnson. Turn it up. It’s the musical equivalent to stress on the 405 through L.A. at rush hour and I love it.
Have a great weekend, folks, see you back here after I tear up my kitchen tomorrow.
Nate Smith jams it. Betcha can’t spot the mistake.
Seems I heard Justin Johnson before, but only accidentally. Sure, it’s a compilation vid, but that there is some righteous awesome. Reminds me of this guy:
Ry Cooder took the slide guitar and shoved it right though my temporal lobes with his 1987 album “Get Rhythm.” It’s a must-have if you like Swamp Rock.
Have a great weekend, folks. See you tomorrow when the time is right.
Unusual animation from the 1980s. It reminds me of Terry Gilliam‘s “Brazil” from the same period, and it’s apropos, given yesterday’s #Brexit vote in the UK.
Talking Heads‘ classic “Swamp” performed at the London Wembley Arena 1982. It was released the following year, creeped me out, and I became a TH fan.
Ry Cooder‘s swamp-rock cover of Elvis’ “All Shook Up” may have been posted here before but so what – it’s awesome and it fits the theme of this post.
“Now, Amos Moses was a Cajun. He live by hissef in da swamp.”
This is the best cover of Jerry Reed‘s “Amos Moses” I’ve ever heard. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band took it and made it nasty. (This 1976 video is from the German TV show Pop Scop.)
Jerry Williams Jr. aka Swamp Dogg at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam 10 June 2010. “Synthetic World” has a very cool 60s R&B groove.
That’ll do for this edition of The Saturday Matinee. Have a great shopping spree, folks.
– <—- (this is so the vids don't moosh together visually.)
Two old white guys munching de riddim: Ry Cooder & David Lindley.
This is kinda cool. Elvis’ version of “Blue Moon” jammed with a reggae beat that turns to ska and back. Unfortunately there’s no entertaining vid, so I’ll just post the link for the music. You’ll love it.
So where do we go from here? “Blue Moon” of course.
The Marcels‘ version is my all time favorite, for what I hope are obvious reasons. Have a great weekend folks, and come back tomorrow for more insipid and vapid trepanations.
