Otis Redding - Merry Christmas Baby (1967)
24/12/2021
Seasons Greetings Santa’s Soundheads
Here we have quite probably my favourite Xmas track, Otis laying down Merry Christmas Baby.
Released in 1968 on a 45 after his death, doubled up with a version of White Christmas.
From that sweet sweet Booker T organ intro to the straight down the line Cropper guitar, keeping it direct whilst the brass just nail it and mail it to Santa.
Yeah, there’s Phil Spector et al, which of course… everyone loves.
But when I’ve just about heard maybe one too many Jona Lewie, this is the baby that roasts my chestnuts by the open fire.
If you’re old enough to remember when the decorations were fusty every time they came out of the box and a real tree couldn’t make it from Scandinavia past Trafalgar Square to wilds of Thornton Heath, South London, this beauty reminds me very much of that smell and yer Nan’s box of Newberry Fruits all rolled into one.
Just perfection.
As welcome as a purple hazelnut Quality Street choc when you still have the taste of a Brussel sprout that you just can’t shift after over indulgence at the Xmas table.
MERRY XMAS TO YOU ALL, OTIS BLESS US, EVERY ONE!
Have good ones y’all
RH xxx
The Deepest Blue - Pretty Little Thing (1966)
17/12/2021
Hola amigos
This weeks tasty morsel of rifftasticness comes in the shape of The Deepest Blue, from Pomona in 1966.
Raw and minimal, like a hybrid of early LOVE and some ragged STONES snarly sneering.
Apparently the guitar was overdubbed by a session musician after the band left the studio.
We can assume it wasn’t Page or Beck or even Big Jim Sullivan, and really… who gives a shit?
Not me!
The middle eight string wig out instantly evokes frantic frugging and wide striped strides.
Prime garage exhaust fumes permeate this, mixed with the weed you can smell on The Sunset Strip.
Get down mothers and daddy-o’s and wear some tread out on your Cuban heeled booties
You betcha!
Now, where’s that rum and coke?
Outtasight
RH xx
Jimmy Holiday - Love Me One More Time (1965)
10/12/2021
Welcome Soundheads,
This weeks slash and burn soul fire from 1965 comes with a price.
Just how many times can Jimmy hit that scream?
You just know he hit all the reds in the meters.
This is actually a B Side number. It’s the flip of ‘The New Breed’, a burner which gets the flares a flappin’ at Northern Soul joints no mistaking.
But I’m gonna listen to the screams of traitor and wallow in the absolutely ferocious ‘Love Me One More Time’ instead.
It’s a fucking belter and Jimmy knew it.
So, here ya go… from the man who co-authored ‘Put A Little Love In Your Heart’ by Jackie DeShannon and Randy Myers, put down that Brandy Alexander and step on the good foot
Later ya gators
RH X
The Artwoods - I take what I want (1966)
03/12/2021
Howdy Soundheads
Another mighty slab of 45 deep joy here in the shape of The Artwoods in 1966.
A soulish freakbeat fuzz joy stepper, which is a cover of the Issac Hayes written song by Sam and Dave.
A super tight snare snaps along with a classic bee in a jar fuzz guitar with a certain Mr Arthur Wood ( elder brother of Ronnie ) snarling on top like he was in a garage in Detroit, punking it with similar adolescent hoodlums.
Much underrated as a band, who couldn’t quite shake off the cover version like many of their peers, but fuck me this catches fire almost instantly as the intro hits.
Best served with a huge slug of bathtub gin.
Alright pop pickers, I’m outta here.
Have mighty fine weekends and I’ll catch you same time, same channel next week!
Love,
RH XXX
The Cobras - Restless (1964)
26/11/2021
Greetings and welcome to the world of THE COBRAS for this first single of the week.
A rare one-off stomper from the mighty Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn and Terry Johnson on STAX from 1964.
Basically, pretty much The Mar-Keys in other words.
I love me a two note guitar solo, and this magnificent bastard ticks all those boxes.
A hip shakin’, shimmy diggin’, frugtastic boogie bound slab of wholesomeness.
Does exactly what it says on the tin.
Perfect when accompanied by a very large Margarita.
Have wonderful weekends you beautiful bastards!
RH X