Black GladiatorPlaylist for
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
February 22, 2008

Hosted by Greg Lyon on FRIDAYS at 2-4 pm
on WPVM Asheville (103.5 FM and www.wpvm.org)

This show is available for listening as an archive for one week after its airing at WPVM’s Archive Page (click on the STREAM button for this show–under the letter ‘G’)

Notes:

Justin Farrar was my co-pilot again today, and he brought his usual pile of excellent wax. We were still on a high after spinning records in public together this past Sunday at the Asheville Sound Swap, which, by the way, was a smash success for all involved. I think everybody who was there will be back next time around.

– "Foot-Stompin’ Music" by Hamilton Bohannon was a revelation for me. Detroit proto-disco at its primal best! All I have to say is B-O-H-A-N-N-O-N!

– You gotta love Bo Diddley the Funk God. Is that a good look or what???!!! A listener called up and gave us the straight dope: evidently Black Gladiator (1970) is the first of three funk records by the rock ‘n’ roll legend. I miss the square guitar, but the leather belts make up for it.

– Randy Holden’s Population II from 1970 was H-E-A-V-Y. Holden was in The Other Half, a 60s psychedelic/garage band from San Francisco known mainly for "Mr. Pharmacist", which you may know from The Fall’s cover (it also is still a staple of their live sets). And then Holden played in Blue Cheer briefly as the replacement for Leigh Stevens on the second half of their third LP, New! Improved! (1968). And then came the solo record, Population II, which Justin somehow unearthed. According to Randy Holden’s website, this monster has been remastered and is available there exclusively as of September 2007. The album features Holden on guitar and Chris Lockheed of Blue Cheer on drums. It’s the blueprint for all heavy guitar/drums duos (Hospitals comes to mind, among, ahem, others). Also check out the review by "The Seth Man" on Julian Cope’s Head Heritage website.

Background Music: Various Artists - German Beer-Drinking Music (Capitol International Series)

Artist Song Album Label Comments New
Bassholes Jack at Night Jack at Night 7" Solid Sex Lovie Doll Don Howland gave me this at the Asheville Sound Swap!  
The Jesus and Mary Chain Ambition Never Understand Blanco y Negro Justin pick, 1985  
Times New Viking End of All Things Rip It Off Matador Wow, that’s distorted *
Antietam Shipshape Opus Mixtum Carrot Top *
Steve Miller Band Dear Mary Sailor Capitol Justin pick, 1968  
The Zombies Just Out of Reach Live on the BBC 1965-1967 Rhino 1965  
Boeing Duveen and the Beautiful Soup Jabberwock Electric Sugar Cube Flashbacks Archive International 1968  
Almendra Cometa Azul Almendra RCA Argentina Justin pick, from Almendra II, 1970  
Cem Karaca & Apaşlar Suya Giden Alli Gelin Turkish Delights Grey Past Turkish 1967  
Dengue Fever Oceans of Venus Venus on Earth M80 Music *
Hamilton Bohannon Foot-Stompin’ Music Inside Out Brunswick Justin pick, 1974  
Betty Wright Mr. Lucky Eccentric Soul: The Outskirts of Deep City Numero Group 1967 *
Bo Diddley Elephant Man The Black Gladiator Checker Justin pick, 1970  
Jim Kweskin I Ain’t Never Been Satisfied Relax Your Mind Vanguard Justin pick, 1966  
Vashti Bunyan Winter Is Blue Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind Dicristina 1966 *
Brigitte Fonatine Le Goudron VA - Bearded Ladies Bird/B-Music 1971 *
Timmy Thomas Rainbow Power Why Can’t We Live Together T. K. Productions Justin pick, 1974  
Tolerance Pulse Static Divin Vanity Justin pick, 1981 (Japanese minimal electronic)  
Laddio Bolocko The Man Who Never Was Strange Warmings of Hungarian 1997  
Kak Electric Sailor Kak Epic Justin pick, 1969 from Davis, California  
Randy Holden Between Time Population II Flashback Justin pick, 1970 California  
Dead Meadow The Great Deceiver Old Growth Matador *
The Chesterfield Kings Sunrise (Turn On) Psychedelic Sunrise Wicked Cool Rochster, NY *
Little Feat Snakes on Everything Little Feat Warner Bros. Justin pick, 1971  
ZZ Top Give It Up (D.O.R. Remix) Give It Up 12" Warner Bros. Justin brought it. I insisted on playing it.1990.  

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