KOSMO's VINYL of the Week

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions, "Drop"

7/31/2020

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
Not sure where we are this week, but I suspect California in the year 2000 for Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions' version of The Jesus And Mary Chain's "Drop", first released on her "Bavarian Fruit Bread" album on Sanctuary in 2001...

"At the time of this release, Hope Sandoval had been best known as the singer for the duo Mazzy Star from Santa Monica. I can't remember how I came across this, but it was very soon after its release and I just played the hell out of it.

This version of William Reid's "Drop" is evocative of the whole record, which I would describe as beautiful and luscious and yes, the track does end that abruptly !" - KV

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Bronski Beat, "Smalltown Boy"

7/24/2020

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in The Garden Studios, East London in 1984, for Bronski Beat's debut single "Smalltown Boy", produced by Mike Thorne and first released on London Records...

"A visit from #1 son Jack carrying a bag of sounds, including this on 12", reminded me of what a great and important record it is. Bronski Beat were a trio of 2 Scots and an Englishman formed in Brixton in 1983. All being gay, they decided on a militant presentation of their lifestyle and politics. Naming their debut LP "Age Of Consent", Bronski Beat helped bring to a general public's attention the inequalities and outrages that homosexuals were suffering at the time.

The original line up with Jimmy Sommerville on vocals only lasted until 1985 but "Smalltown Boy", their first and biggest hit, is a tremendous combination of synthpop, dance music and serious content." - KV

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Chuck Berry, "Memphis, Tennessee"

7/17/2020

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are at 4221 West Easton Ave, St Louis for Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee", first released on Chess Records as a B-Side in 1959...

"Chuck Berry claims to have recorded this at his office, although it may have been taken to Chess Studios in Chicago for overdubs before its release. Re-issued in the UK as an A-Side in 1963 at the insistence of Guy Stevens, it went to #6 in the charts. Between late 1971 and early 1973, I must have played The Faces version of this song every single day, but it is Chuck's original I have preferred for over 40 years now."

"One of the greatest divorce records ever made." - KV

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Anderson .Paak, "Lockdown"

7/10/2020

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are taken to the recent Los Angeles Uprising by Anderson .Paak with his "Lockdown", dropped this past Juneteenth (19th June 2020)...

"I'm a fan of the Oxnard, Californian, Anderson .Paak and also a longtime fan of records that cover or comment on recent events. Here we get his perspective of what's been going down and also a guest verse from fellow Californian, the rapper Jay Rock, from Watts, that is not on the official downloadable release (why ?). Not sure if this is available as a physical record, but my #2 son Charlie sent it to me shortly after it dropped and I've been playing it a lot." - KV

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Elis Regina & Antonio Carlos Jobim, "Aguas de Marco"

7/3/2020

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week, although we are in MGM Studios, Los Angeles, in the Spring of 1974, we are in the company of two Brazilians: Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim, for their version of "Aguas de Marco", first released on the "Elis & Tom" LP on Phillips...

""Aguas De Marco" (Waters of March) was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim (AKA Tom) in 1972, and both he and Elis Regina had recorded the song separately before recording this duet. Being one of the most famous bossa nova tunes ever written, it is also amongst the most recorded, and this version is my favourite.

Sadly the very influential Elis Regina died of what has been described as an "accidental overdose" at age 36. It is said that at her funeral procession, over 100,000 people sang this song in the streets of Sao Paulo as tribute." - KV

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