KOSMO's VINYL of the Week

Booker T and the MG's, "Time is Tight"

6/26/2020

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are at Stax Recording Studio, 926 E. McLemore Ave, Memphis in 1968 for Booker T & The MG's "Time is Tight", first released in Feb. 1969 as a single on Stax Records...

"Booker T & The MG's recorded two versions of "Time Is Tight" for the soundtrack of the 1968 Jules Dassin flick "Uptight" (a black remake of John Ford's 1935 "The Informer"). It is the slower Stax 45 version that became the hit, and I think rightly so. Surely one of the greatest bands ever, led by the deceptively talented Booker T (he studied classical music composition) and featuring my favourite drummer of all time, the late Al Jackson, perhaps now better known for his contributions to most of Al Green's hits."

"How could anyone not like this record ?" - KV

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Ray Price, "Invitation to the Blues"

6/19/2020

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in the Nashville, Tennessee of 1958 for Ray Price's (Roger Miller written) "Invitation To The Blues", first released as a b-side on Columbia Records...

"Born in Peach, Texas in 1926 and a WW2 U.S.Marine (Pacific Theater), Ray Price was one of the great 1950s Honky Tonk singers. In Nashville, not only did he share a home with Hank Williams, but his band at various times included Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck and Buddy Emmons.

Many of his 50s records were famous for their tempo called the 'Ray Price Shuffle', which he claimed to have picked up from the sound Honky Tonk dancers made on the hardwood floors. He was on the country charts for over 30 years but I prefer his 50s and early 60s output." - KV

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Run the Jewels, "JU$T"

6/12/2020

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in the Atlanta, Georgia of right now for Run The Jewels' "JU$T", from their recently released "RTJ4" album...

"Ever since my #1 son Jack took me to hear Run The Jewels' Killer Mike talk at NYU in 2015, I have tried to pay attention to what he/they are up to. I haven't listened to their latest RTJ4 that much, and they don't make records with someone like me in mind, but this track is the first stand out for me and it features both Pharrell Williams and Rage Against The Machine's Zack de la Rocha.

I'm not going to pretend I am on the frontline of any of the current protests, but I bet some of those who are will be listening to this. All Power To The People !" - KV

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Groucho Marx, "Lydia the Tattooed Lady"

6/5/2020

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in MGM Studios, Culver City, California in 1939 on the set of The Marx Bros. film "At The Circus" for the Groucho Marx rendition of "Lydia The Tattooed Lady"...

"Although "At The Circus" is hardly the Marx Bros' finest hour, it has its moments, including this gem written by Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen, who also wrote the songs for "The Wizard of Oz". There is also a great version on the 1972 live "An Evening With Groucho" double LP, where an 81-year-old Groucho is accompanied by Marvin Hamlisch.

Either version should lift the spirits, something the Marx Bros. have done for over 100 years." - KV

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