KOSMO's VINYL of the Week

Nina Simone, "Mississippi Goddam"

11/30/2018

KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week technically we are in the New York City of 1964, but the focus of Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddam" needs no explanation - first released on the "Nina In Concert" LP recorded at Carnegie Hall....

"I don't often choose records influenced by current events but this week, this is what I've been playing more than anything else. Sadly, Cindy Hyde-Smith won the Mississippi Senate election earlier this week and the mighty Madame Simone, as relevant as ever, captures the mood (for some of us). When they released it in 1964, they had to edit out the word "Goddam" for radio play !" KV

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Cab Calloway, "Hard Times"

11/23/2018

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in the New York City of 1940 for the sound of Harlem, Cab Calloway's "Hard Times" (aka "Topsy Turvy") first released as a b-side of a 78 RPM 10" on Vocalion...

"Through the 1930s, Cab Calloway was Harlem Royalty, holding his own against Duke Ellington at The Cotton Club. His wild presentation left it's mark long after his popularity faded - Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix and Prince are all offspring of Mr. Hi-De-Ho. By the way, Dizzy Gillespie is on this record, so I assume that's him taking the trumpet solo. Hep Hep!" - KV

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Bob Dylan, "Seven Curses"

11/16/2018

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are in New York City of 1963 for Bob Dylan's "Seven Curses", unreleased until 1991...

"This first jumped out at me from the "Bootleg Series Vol 1-3" box set as an out-take from "The Times They Are a Changin" LP, and I soon learned of a live Town Hall version also from 1963. Was it Dylan who said that "one man with a guitar could blow an entire army off stage" ? Whoever it was, their case is proven here. He was only 22 at the time - damn !" - KV

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Don Drummond, "Confucius"

11/9/2018

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
This week we are back in Kingston, Jamaica on Brentford Road, probably in 1964, for Don Drummond's "Confucius", first released as a single on Top Deck...

"Don Drummond was Jamaica's top trombonist, a composer and an original member of The Skatalites, who back him here. At some point it became apparent Don was suffering from mental problems and in 1965 he was convicted of murdering his girlfriend and found to be criminally insane. He died 4 years later in Bellevue Asylum. Kingston. I first became familiar with "Confucius" when I got "The Best of Don Drummond" LP on the Studio One label. I suggest you get a copy too." - KV

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Elvis Presley, "Crawfish"

11/2/2018

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KOSMO's VINYL of the Week:
Technically, this week we're still in Hollywood (Radio Recorders Studio) but spiritually, we're in New Orleans French Quarter, either way it's 1958 and the record is Elvis Presley's "Crawfish", from the soundtrack of "King Creole"...

"This record should really have a credit for its female vocalist Kitty White, but it's hard to imagine Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, allowing that. Still, not only is it yet another killer vocal from The King, but the production by Walter Scharf is absolutely superb too. I bet Tom Waits owns a copy. A tv/movie music journeyman, Walter also wrote the music to Michael Jackson's "Ben." - KV

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