Mark Linkous Is Sparklehorse (video)

A rare and intimate 50 minute biography on the great Mark Linkous released in 1998.

Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left (1969)

Last weekend Friar Chris told me that a local record store had asked him to price a record collection full of "punk rock" records that the record store owner had just bought off a collector. Friar Chris asked me to come along with him to assist him in pricing of these records, since he knows I'm also knowledgeable about that stuff. It turns out the collection was full of more than just punk rock. There were original pressings of records by The Flaming Lips, Dinosaur Jr., Joy Division, The Meat Puppets, The Velvet Underground, as well as rare pressings of Neil Young albums and countless more rarities. Everything was in absolutely mint condition, and when I say mint, I mean mint, they were also all entirely original pressings. Every single record I looked at looked as if it was brand new off a store shelf. (If interested in purchasing and records from this collection or checking out the collection, go to  That Old Retro Store ) In exchange for helping with pricing of the records, the owner of the store, Wade, told Friar Chris and I that we were each allowed to pick out a few records that we wanted from the collection for ourselves. I took this album, the Dream Syndicate EP I posted last night, the Howlin Wolf album I posted earlier, and a original pressing of The Velvet Underground's self-titled album.

I think this rip, as well as the others I've put up from this collection are a testament to how truly taken care of these records really are.

Anyways, enough of the story of how I got this, and the sales pitch for That Old Retro Store. Now it's time to talk about the record itself.

I'm not entirely sure how Nick Drake didn't sky rocket to the popularity of artists like Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen during his brief life, though he has become extremely popular and well-noticed since. His music is hauntingly beautiful. This album, recorded in 1968, was his debut, and is said to be inspired by Leonard Cohen's debut album. On this album, Drake was accompanied by British folk-rock groups Fairport Convention, and Pentangle. Because Fairport Convention played on this album, much of the album was rushed during down time while Fairport Convention was busy recording their own Unhalfbricking album, and there does seem to be a sense of urgency to this album. It has been observed that Drake was "tight and anxious" during these recording sessions.


Tracklist:
1. Time Has Told Me
2. River Man
3. Three Hours
4. Day Is Gone
5. Way To Blue
6. Cello Song
7. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane
8. Man In A Shed
9. Fruit Tree
10. Saturday Sun

Download: mediafire

Various Artists - The Rain Don't Fall On Me: Country Blues 1927 - 1952 (2010)

It's not secret that I'm a huge fan of old country blues music, so when I found this album, released on Mississippi Records, I didn't have to think twice about picking it up. Many of the artists here can also be found on Harry Smith's Anthology Of American Folk Music.

Tracklist:
1. Gary Davis - You Got To Go Down
2. Sam Hopkins - Needed Time
3. Henry Thomas - Bull Doze Blues
4. Bukka White - The Panama Limited
5. Willie Mae Williams - Don't Want To Go There
6. William More - One Way Gal
7. Sonny Boy And His Pals - Don't You Leave Me Here
8. Eddie Head - Down On Me
9. Memphis Minnie - Frankie Jean
10. Texas Alexander - Levee Camp Man
11. Bayless Rose - Black Dog Blues
12. Garfield Akers - Cottonfield Blues Pt. 1
13. Lulu Jackson - You're Going To Leave The Old Home Jim
14. Willie Johnson - The Rain Don't Fall On Me

Download: mediafire

Howlin' Wolf - His Greatest Sides: Volume One (1967)

Howlin' Wolf's one of my favorite blues musicians. His sound's raw and gritty and I love it. Most of the songs on this LP feature Hubert Sumlin on guitar, who's famous for teaching Eric Clapton how to play. Hubert Sumlin's nephew, Gary Martin, lives in Calgary and plays in a really great band called Gary Martin And The Heavenly Blues, if you ever have a chance to check them out, I would highly recommend it. I've seen them about 20 times and they always put on a great show.

Tracklist:
1. Down In The Bottom
2. No Place To Go
3. Sitting On Top Of The World
4. Smokestack Lightnin'
5. The Red Rooster
6. Spoonful
7. Evil
8. Killing Floor
9. Do The Do
10. I Ain't Superstitous
11. Who's Been Talkin'
12. Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy
13. Back Door Man
14. Wang Dang Doodle

Download: mediafire

Chris Bell - I Am The Cosmos (1992)

Chris Bell from Big Star's sole solo album. Though this album recalls the energetic power-pop of Big Star, the songs on this album are much more reflective and highly personal. At the time this was recorded, Chris Bell had claimed he had dropped out of music, and took a management position at his fathers fast food restaurant in Memphis, while he continued to grapple with clinical depression. The only songs from this album ever released during Bell's life time are "I Am The Cosmos" backed with "You And Your Sister" (which features backing vocals from former band mate Alex Chilton). Though the "I Am The Cosmos" single was well-received, it wasn't until 1992, 14 years after Bell was killed instantly in a car accident after driving home from working at his fathers fast food restaurant, that these recordings were ever officially issued.

Tracklist:
1. I Am The Cosmos
2. Better Save Yourself
3. Speed Of Sound
4. Get away
5. You And Your Sister
6. Make A Scene
7. Look Up
8. I Got Kinda Lost
9. There Was A Light
10. Fight At The Table
11. I Don't Know
12. Though I Know She Lies

Download: mediafire

The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)

After I saw that Disney Girls video I posted here last night, I dug out my copy of Surf's Up. This is one of my absolutely favorite Beach Boys LP's. The final 3 songs are an absolute masterpiece.

Tracklist:
1. Don't Go Near The Water
2. Long Promised Road
3. Take A Load Off Your Feet
4. Disney Girls (1957)
5. Student Demonstration Time
6. Feel Flows
7. Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)
8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree
9. 'Til I Die
10. Surf's Up

Download: mediafire

mtt

"sure is! i was thinking about that song today and i think i had the lyrics all wrong-- it is not a song about a guy who thinks he can get these things (the old-fashioned girl etc) but rather that he knows it is all a FANTASY, --see the lyrics "reality, it's not for me"" - Probyn