Unusual Beethoven

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Here are two recordings of lesser-known Beethoven from two of the greatest pianists.  First, the Rondo in G minor, Op. 51, No. 2  at the Schwetzinger Festspiele in 1963.



Here is a link to the Festval's website and a link to a nifty analysis of the piece.

Claudio Arrau

Next, Schnabel playing the Fantasia (same key) Op. 77in 1935 (?).

Artur Schnabel

Theme and Variations

 Vernon Duke's classic.  Read about it here.



Mel Torme.

Al Haig:

and The Modern Jazz Quartet:

In Memorium: "Searchin'" by Leiber and Stoller sung by The Coasters

Jerry Leiber.

Jerry and Mike

In Memorium: "Let's Go Get Stoned" written by Ashford and Simpson, sung by Ray Charles

Dave "Honeyboy" Edwards Dead at 96

The last of the great Delta bluesmen.  New York Times obituary here.
Honeyboy plays for the Lomax Library of Congress field recorder in 1942, "Wind Howling Blues."

Another great track recorded in 1950 during Honeyboy's stay in Texas, "Build Myself a Cave"

And finally, from the film "Walk Hard," young Dewey Cox, who has just cut his brother in half (accidentally), goes to the general store to buy a candle for the vigil, and gets a lesson in the blues from Honeyboy.

Dave with his Grammy for lifetime achievement last year.

Robbie Fulks kids Fountains of Wayne

Ofori Amponsah: "Babicue"

SONG OF THE SUMMER!  From the album ODWO, which you can purchase as an mp3 from Amazon.
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Read about Amponsah aka All4Real at this website.

Read Robert Christgau's review of the album at Expert Witness.

Farewell, Josef Suk

The great Czech fiddler (and violist) has died at the age of 81.  Read the NYTimes obit here.

The scherzo by Brahms from the "FAE" sonata with Julius Katchen.



The adagio from the Mozart concerto in G, K.216 (with the Prague Chamber Orchestra).

Doug Sahm "The Rains Came"

Doug's live cover of an old rocker.



And the original version by Big Sambo and The House Wreckers.

George Soule "Catch Me I'm Falling"

Not to snark too much, but the barrel-scrapings that indie-label soul reissue specialists have been foisting on some of us who are nostalgically drawn to Southern Soul have got me skeptical.  (Later, much, for Northern Soul.)  Every once in awhile, a lost gem does resurface.  (Jimmy Lewis! Jimmy Lewis!  OK, I'll save him for a later post.)  Check out the new album pieced together from demos from this tiny cat who played keyboards and drums for Malaco Records in the early days and then went on to Fame in Muscle Shoals.  He penned hits for, among others, Brook Benton and Percy Sledge.  Here he sings his own stuff in a voice that is by turns flexibly light and downhome gritty.  He slings the hooks, he tosses of a few cagy metaphors, he lets you know how hurt a man in love can be.  Thanks to Soulscape for another imaginative reissue.  (Find the CD here or here.)   Read an interview with gentleman here.

Laba Sosseh "La Bicycletta"

 

I've recently discovered this charming Senegambian salsero. He was a charter member of Star Band de Dakar and then formed Super Star (with whom he recorded this version of one of his signature songs).

More can be learned by clicking here.

Lloyd Price: "Frog Legs"

You may know him from "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy," "Stagger Lee," or "Personality," but his catalogue goes deeper.  I don't even think I heard this until yesterday.  Essentially it is in the tradition of the street cry genre including Gershwin's "Here Come de Honey Man" and the immortal "Peanut Vendor" (aka "El Manisero").  Gotta do a post on those street cry songs, I guess.  But for now enjoy the advert for a NOLA delicacy shouted by a true shouter.

Full Time Men: "Way Down South"

A slab of cowpunk from way back when...
"Way Down South," a mega-cool track from 3-song EP from 1985 featuring a super-group composed of members of REM and The Fleshtones.
 "I'll take you so far south you'll never come back."  Wee-haw!

R I P Remmy Ongala

An obituary from The Guardian here.
 
Here's a mixtape from his three best albums and his AIDS PSA "Things with Socks"  (condoms, get it?) that was banned from Tanzanian radio and became a hit nonetheless.  (Check track 6.)


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Here's a video of The Doctor performing in 1988:

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