KOSMO's VINYL of the Week

Archibald, "Stack-A-Lee"

2/22/2019

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studio on Rampart Street in 1950 for Archibald's version of "Stack-A-Lee", under the direction of Dave Bartholomew and first released as a 78 on Imperial...

"The story of Stack-A-Lee (AKA Staggerlee) has been told and sung many times and it is based on a real one. Anyone interested to learn more should pick up a copy of Cecil Brown's book "Stagolee Shot Billy". Archibald was a New Orleans pianist singer (born John Leon Gross) who was active from the 1930s until he died in 1973. I first heard his version on Charlie Gillett's Sunday lunchtime radio show "Honky Tonk" in 1975 and it was more expensive than I had expected - but worth it !" - KV

0 Comments

Vashti Bunyan, "Train Song"

2/15/2019

0 Comments

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in 'Swinging London' for Vashti Bunyan's "Train Song", released as a single on Columbia on May 20th 1966...

"I first heard of Vashti Bunyan a few years back on some obscure East Coast radio show, but it wasn't until I was record shopping in Baltimore's The Sound Garden that I saw "Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind (singles and demos 1964 to 1967)" and became a fan. I would have bought it for the cover alone ! I wonder if "Train Song's" producer is the same Peter Snell who produced the original "Wicker Man" film in 1973?" - KV

0 Comments

The Who, "Magic Bus"

2/8/2019

0 Comments

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are at Advision Studios, Fitzrovia, London on the 11th October 1968 for The Who's studio recording of "Magic Bus", first released on the ever-stylish Track Records...

"Written in either 1965 or 1966 and produced here by Kit Lambert, "Magic Bus" was not a hit, but it did become a fan favourite. In a nutshell, it's The Oo do Bo Diddley ! I first owned it on The Who singles compilation LP "Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy", released in 1971, and although I am, for the most part, a pre "Tommy" fan, it is my favourite Who album. A true testament to Townshend's talent." - KV

0 Comments

Mose Allison, "Young Man Blues"

2/1/2019

0 Comments

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in the original Rudy Van Gelder studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. The year is 1957 and we are in the company of Mississippian Mose Allison for his first recording of "Young Man Blues" released on the Prestige label...

""Young Man Blues" is best known as a cover version on The Who's "Live At Leeds" LP - like myself and many mods, Pete Townshend is a huge Mose Allison fan. I first met Mose in London circa 1981, when I checked with him that he was getting royalty payments for The Clash's cover of his "Look Here". He was ! A gentleman, a wit and a true talent, I always went to see him play whenever I could. Mose quit living in 2016, four days after his 89th birthday. Got no Mose - start with "Mose Allison Sings." - KV

0 Comments