KOSMOS's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are back at Sun Recording Studios, 706 Union Ave, Memphis on the 21st July 1955 for Elvis Presley's version of "Tryin' To Get To You" first released on the debut Elvis Presley LP on the 136h March 1956 on RCA...

"Although recorded at Sun, this cover of The Eagles' (a DC based R'n'B vocal group) 1954 b-side, was released after Elvis had moved to RCA. It must have been dear to him as he recorded it twice at Sun in 1955, this being the 2nd version. Then, many years later, on the 1968 TV Comeback Special, a black leather clad Elvis performed it in the round, wiping away any concern that The King had lost his mojo - it's worth checking out.

Some people get hit by lightning and a few actually become lightning, my life without Elvis Presley's influence is unimaginable." KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in the London of lockdown for the Sons Of Kemet's "For The Culture", featuring D Double E, from their latest album "Black To The Future", released last week on Impulse Records...


"When people ask me who do I listen to from now, my most likely answer is going to be Sons of Kemet. A Black British quartet led by saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings and featuring 2 percussionists and a tuba. This one features East London grime legend D Double E, the man who inspired Dizzee Rascal to pick up the mic.

This is Jazz from the 21st Century !" KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are spiritually in New Orleans for Dr. John's, backed by The Meters with Allen Toussaint arranging and producing, "Right Place Wrong Time". First released on the Dr.'s "In The Right Place" LP by ATCO on the 25th Feb 1973"...

"You can't get more New Orleans than this combination, even if it was not made there and the guitar solo was laid on later by the in-demand session player David Spinozza.

Mac Rebennack (AKA Dr John) grew up in New Orleans 3rd Ward and started recording at age 14 or 15, circa 1956. He soon became a writer and producer, but it would take until 1973, with this record, for him to front a big hit record of his own.

I think of it as one of the finest examples of someone being able to make a hit record without having to compromise their musical identity in any way - it's all about what he was always about - New Orleans R&B." - KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in Atlanta of 1994 for TLC's "Waterfalls", produced by Organized Noize and first released on their "Crazy Sexy Cool" album in November 1994 by LaFace/Arista...

TLC were an Atlanta based girl group made up of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (who was tragically killed in a car accident in Honduras in 2002). I cannot pretend that I really paid any serious attention to TLC until they released "Waterfalls" as a single.

Produced by the same team that was working with Outkast, it struck me and still does, as a successor to the socially conscious records The Supremes made for Motown and I rushed out to buy the 12". Turns out that CeeLo Green is one of the backing vocalists !" KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in Chicago on the 13th June 1928, with Henry Thomas and whoever recorded his "Bull Doze Blues", first released as 78 RPM 10" on Vocalion in January 1929...

Henry Thomas is believed to have been born into a family of freed slaves in Big Sandy, Texas in 1874. He was something of a traveling man and he recorded 24 sides in just over 2 years, before falling off the map circa 1930 - perhaps he died ?
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This song is better known to us as "Going Up The Country" by Canned Heat, and I have often wondered what Henry would have made of half a million hippies grooving to it at Woodstock, 40 years after he recorded it ?" - KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in RCA Studios, Rome, for Ennio Morricone's theme for Sergio Leone's classic western film "Once Upon A Time In The West", which was first shown in December 1968...

"Italian composer Maestro Ennio Morricone was born in Rome in 1928, the son of a professional trumpet player. The person 2 kids over to the right in Ennio's 1937 primary school class photo is Sergio Leone !

Ennio would record over 400 film scores in his lifetime, which ended in 2020. This soundtrack is one of the best selling of all time and the theme features Edda Dell'Orso on the wordless vocal.

I actually first knew this record as a 45 that belonged to a friend of my Dad's, she would play it with the record player arm up, so that it would repeat and repeat. I never saw the film until about 7-8 years later !" - KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are at 5 North Villas, Camden, London, sometime between September 1964 and January 1965, for Bert Jansch's "Needle of Death", first released on his self-titled debut LP by Transatlantic...

"Glasgow-born guitarist/singer/songwriter Bert Jansch has been cited as a major influence by many British rock stars who came of age in the 1960s, most notably Jimmy Page. He moved to London in 1963, aged 20, and soon became part of a then thriving folk scene.

This record was made in producer Bill Leader's makeshift 'studio' in his own home. The song has also been performed live Neil Young, who cited Jansch as an influence on his "The Needle And The Damage Done".

A heavy drinker, Bert managed to defy predictions of his demise from alcohol, dying from lung cancer in 2011 aged 67." - KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in A&R Recording Studios, Midtown Manhattan, in September 1975 for Television's "Marquee Moon", released as the title track of their debut LP on Elektra in February 1977...

"The New York City based band, Television, had originally featured both Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell, who had been to high school together in Delaware. But by 1975 they had settled down to this line up: Verlaine, Billy Ficca, Fred Smith and Jimmy Rip.

When this record came out, it was clearly considered a Punk LP, and I think it helps show how much variety there was available under the banner Punk at that time.

​An attitude or an approach, but never a formula." - KV

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are back in Stax Studios, 926 E. McLemore Ave, Memphis, on the 20th December 1965 for Wilson Pickett's "Ninety Nine And A Half (Just Won't Do)", first released on "The Exciting Wilson Pickett" LP by Atlantic in 1966...

"Alabama born in 1941, Wilson Pickett moved to Detroit in his early teens and soon became involved in the Motor City's gospel scene. He eventually came to the attention of Atlantic's Jerry Wexler as the co-writer of a Solomon Burke hit. Once teamed with the set up at Stax in 1965, and then with Muscle Shoals' Fame Studios in 1966, Wilson had a heap of hits of his own.

He also had his problems with alcohol, cocaine and a fiery temper and left us, aged 64. I once read an interview he gave which he concluded by saying "Don't write anything nice about me, remember I am known as the Wicked Pickett"." - KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in the Detroit of early 2020 for Moodymann's "Just Stay A While", first released on his "Taken Away" album by KDJ Records on 21st May 2020...
"Born Kenny Dixon Jr, to parents from Detroit, Moodymann has been releasing music since the early 1990s. He is fiercely loyal to his beloved but battered Detroit, saying "If Detroit's a dying city, I'm going to stay right here and die with it !", and that's about all l I know about him.
Another one that has come my way via my #2 son Charlie, when he plays something I like, I ask about it." - KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in Channel One Studios, Maxfield Ave, West Kingston, Jamaica, some time in 1975 for Junior Byles' "Fade Away", produced by Joe Hoo Kim and first released (I think) on the Well Charge label...

"Kerrie Byles Jr. was born in Kingston in 1948 and formed a vocal group, The Versatiles, in 1967, while working as a firefighter. They were soon discovered by Lee "Scratch" Perry and although they split up in 1970, Junior would continue to record for Perry until some time in the mid-1970s.

"Fade Away" was recorded at the Famous Channel One Studios and was an enormous hit in JA in 1975 and popular in London the following year. I never owned a copy until it was released as part of the soundtrack to the reggae film "Rockers" in 1978. Since then, Byles has suffered increasingly from Mental Health issues, sometimes living as a homeless person - a great talent who has been dealt a bad hand." - KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in Easy Eye Sound Studio, Nashville for Marcus King's "Beautiful Stranger", produced and co-written by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and first released on the "El Dorado" album on Fantasy Records in 2020...

"Greenville, South Carolina born, Marcus is the son of blues guitarist Marvin King, and he started playing on stage with his Dad at the age of eight!

This record was introduced to me last year by 'My Man in Manchester', Dave Bennett. There's nothing new here, just a fine country soul ballad well executed, and, for me, it hits that spot. There's also a nice acoustic version, easily found online, by Marcus and Dan Auerbach - worth checking out too." - KV

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in Musicland Studios, Munich, in late 1976 for Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", produced by Giorgio Moroder and first released on her "I Remember Yesterday" LP in 1977 on Casablanca...

"I'm not sure when in the 1970s, one could say that Disco Music had arrived, but in my mind it seems that it was around the same time that what became Punk Rock emerged. A part of the soundtrack of my own experience of those times was this record, blaring from radios and jukeboxes in pubs. It somehow transcended the banality of most Disco hits.

Italian producer Giorgio Moroder made "I Feel Love" as the part of a concept album that would represent the futuristic - the only 2 human things on it being Keith Forsey's overdubbed kick drum and Donna Summer's voice, which was supposedly recorded in one take." - KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in the then newly opened Record Plant Studios, 321 W.44th St. NYC on 2nd May 1968 for The Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", first released on their "Electric Ladyland" LP...

"In the realm of Jimi Hendrix, I must confess that I prefer his more formally structured records to his wilder, more 'free' sides. In fact, my favourite Hendrix LP remains his "Smash Hits". But it is this later track that is my all time favourite, where Jimi shows us (once again) that Blues Music can always be updated.

At the Fillmore East, NYC on 1st Jan, he introduced Voodoo Child as The Black Panthers' "national anthem". Play Loud !" - KV

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are once again in King Studios, 1540 Brewster Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio on the 6th May 1949 for The Delmore Brothers "Blues Stay Away From Me", first released as a 78 RPM 10" on King...

"These brothers, Alton and Rabon, were Alabama born into a family of poor tenant farmers. Their mother sang in the local church and so you have to think she was an influence. They had been sporadically recording since 1931 when Albert and Rabon recorded this with harmonica man Wayne Raney and the input of African American record producer Henry Glover. It's not only a great record, but also a great example of The Blues influence on Country Music.

I first heard the song on the Johnny Burnette Rock' n' Roll Trio LP and there are many other versions too." - KV

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in The Nola Penthouse Studio, 111 W 57th St. NYC, on either Feb 6th, 9th or 10th for "Killer Joe" by The Jazztet (featuring Art Farmer and Benny Golson) first released on the "Meet The Jazztet LP" on Argo in 1960...

"The Jazztet was a 6-piece band formed in November, 1959 and was co-led by trumpeter Art Farmer and saxophonist Benny Golson, who also wrote "Killer Joe". Both men had been playing professionally since the 1940s, Art Farmer leaving us in 1999 at age 71, but Benny is still with us aged 92! The LP also features McCoy Tyner, who would leave the Jazztet to work with John Coltrane.

There is a spoken word introduction, but I have left it off as, to me, it wears a bit thin on repeated listens." - KV

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are at Greene Street Recording studio, 112 Greene Street, Soho, New York City for Run DMC's "Rock Box", first released on their self-titled debut LP on Profile Records in 1984...

"Having got to know Russell Simmons through Kurtis Blow, I was aware of Run DMC from the get go. Here was a hip hop outfit that presented itself pretty much as it did on the street. Their debut was, for me, the first Rap LP that was strong from start to finish and I played the hell out of it, although mostly on a boombox cassette.

Who would have thought that my favourite Heavy Metal record of all time would be made by two African American dudes from Hollis, Queens, but it was and it still is !" - KV

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are back in the Stax Recording Studio, 926 E. McLemore Ave., Memphis, on July 9th or 10th, 1965, for Otis Redding's version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come", first released on the "Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul" LP on Volt...

"Sam Cooke wrote this song around Christmas 1963 and it was first released by him as a b-side. Cooke said it was unlike any other song he had ever written and may have only performed it once live. Otis Redding recorded his version in the year after Cooke's death and it is one of three Cooke songs on the "Otis Blue" LP.

Otis Redding is my favourite singer of all time and "Otis Blue" the first LP I ever owned, it is without a doubt one of the masterpieces of Soul Music - if you don't own it you should." - KV

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are near the village of Hyssington on the Welsh border with Shropshire, for Ronnie Lane's version of Derroll Adams' "Roll On Babe", first released on the "Anymore For Anymore" LP on GM in July 1974...

"I recently read that Yo La Tengo had just recorded this, and although their version is a faithful cover of Ronnie's arrangement, it is in fact a cover of a cover. Bass player, singer and songwriter Ronnie Lane was the foundation of both The Small Faces and the later, taller version. He walked away from The Faces at the peak of their popularity and also away from all the trappings of the rock star lifestyle. He was an unpretentious man, who wanted to live an unpretentious life, and made unpretentious music. Sadly he died of multiple sclerosis aged 51 in 1997, having lived with the disease for over 20 years.

The phrase "diamond geezer" comes to mind whenever I'm thinking of him." - KV
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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week, although we are in the London of 2015, we are also celebrating the current turn of events in the place of the song's title, "Georgia", recorded by Tiggs Da Author and first released in July 2015 by RCA...

"Tiggs Da Author is a Tanzania-born, North London-raised (by Ghanian parents), rapper/singer. I shall not pretend to know anything else about him, but it was one of my two sons that put him on my radar 2 - 3 years ago.

I do, however, know more than I care to about Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader in Waiting. To all the good folks of Georgia, I Salute You !" - KV

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in the New York City of 1957 for Jackie Wilson's "Reet Petite", produced by Dick Jacobs and first released on Brunswick in August 1957...

"Detroit-born Jackie Wilson first came to fame as a member of Billy Ward and His Dominoes, where he was Clyde McPahatter's replacement. His solo debut, "Reet Petite", (co-written by Berry Gordy) was a minor hit, but it did become a UK#1 in 1986, almost 3 years after Jackie's death. It is said that his acrobatic live performances would send the ladies in the Apollo Theater's audience into a frenzy.

In late 1975, Jackie fell into a coma as a result of a heart attack, and I am proud to say that The Clash played a benefit concert in Detroit to help with his medical bills." - KV

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark Studio, Washington Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica, for The Upsetters' "Bird In Hand", first released on the "Return of the Super Ape" LP in July 1978...

Until 1978, I don't think there were many (if any) reggae records made with the lead vocal in Hindi, but that's what this one is ! "Bird In Hand" (aka Milte Hi Ankhen") was written by the Indian film music legend Naushad for the 1950 Bollywood musical drama "Babul". The Perry-produced version features vocals by Sam Carty and I have read that his Hindi is far from perfect.

How it came to be recorded at Black Ark, I have no idea, but like the Upsetter himself, it is both baffling and brilliant ! I can't imagine anyone else having done it at the time." - KV