SOMETHING old, something new in rotation on the playlist:
1. Rolling Stones - Camden Theatre, March 19, 1964: Seven-inch vinyl EP included with new greatest hits compilation GRRR! Super Deluxe edition: 80-track, 4-CD boxset with bonus CD, 7" vinyl, hardcover book, poster and postcards (Universal).
The seven-inch EP included with the new Rolling Stones best-of compilation isn't the beginning of rock'n'roll but it's as close as anybody gets to source material. The genre was already a decade old and the nascent Stones had yet to release their first album when they recorded four tracks in "experimental stereo" at a 9: 30 a.m. BBC session on March 19, 1964 at Camden Theater with host Long John Baldry for the Blues In Rhythm program.
The show aired May 9, 1964 on Network Three (now BBC 3) and also featured Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames. Stereo broadcasts were not yet available requiring the BBC to broadcast one channel over their radio network and the other on TV. The audience moved their radios closer to their TVs and then positioned themselves in between to get the full stereo effect.
Baldry introduced the Stones as "charming deviationists" and complained about the early hour of the taping before the band went into their four-track session: "Route 66" (Bobby Troup), "Cops and Robbers" (Elias McDaniel/Bo Diddley), "You Better Move On" (Arthur Alexander) and "Mona" (Elias McDaniel/Bo Diddley).
Andrew Loog Oldham was badgering Jagger and Richards to write their own tunes but the band is still relying on covers at this point. Brian Jones plays blues harp on "Cops and Robbers" the only Stones recording of this song. Charlie Watts is already in the pocket establishing a rhythm anchor that never fails. Between the March taping and the broadcast in May the Stones released their debut album on Decca with studio versions of "Route 66" and "Mona" both making the cut.
Everything rocks in this very early example of the Stones developing their own sound. Thank God they figured out that stereo thing. Listen to it here youtube.com/watch?v=MjBft9rc2fc.
2. The Zolas - Ancient Mars (Light Organ Records); The Belle Game - Ritual Tradition Habit (Label TBA).
Two excellent local bands, The Zolas and The Belle Game, perform on a double bill tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway, Vancouver) as they near the end of a Western Canadian tour. The Zolas new album, Ancient Mars, is absolutely superb indie pop from the duo of Zachary Gray (vocals/ guitar) and Tom Dobrzanski (piano). Live version of "Ancient Mars" at: youtube.com/ watch?v=mO478WXrEEQ The Belle Game sent out review copies of their new one, Ritual Tradition Habit, but have delayed its commercial release until the spring of 2013 to co-ordinate an international campaign. The wait will be worth it. Check out "Wait Up for You" from the upcoming album youtube.com/watch?v=JwpBKnWzPj8.
3. Drawn Ship - Low Domestic (Scratch Records).
Brilliant album from East Vancouver duo Lyn Heinemann and Gregg Steffensen came out last year (nsnews.com/entertainment/Drawn+Ship +launches+debut+album/5375629/story.html) but it finally gets an international release this year. The world has been waiting for some Downtown Eastside noir. Check out "Body Parts" at youtube. com/watch?v=3EFTqCQnTG8.
4. Broadcast - Berberian Sound Studio (Warp Records).
Broadcast completed the soundtrack for Peter Strickland's cinematic homage to 1970s Italian horror before Trish Keenan's untimely passing in 2011. The film has just started making the rounds and the music will be made available from the U.K.'s Warp Records in Jan. 2013. Stream "The Equestrian Vortex" here: youtube.com/watch?v= H7zIfUwwoQ0&feature=youtu.be.
