Apt. #5 by Julie Ruin (1998)

In the ashes of Bikini Kill,  Kathleen Hanna was looking to do something different. So, she recorded the basic tracks for a new album by herself in her apartment. She then cleaned it up in the studio and released the album under a pseudonym, Julie Ruin. While the music was lo-fi, instead of punk, the lyrics and vocal delivery were just as powerful as ever. Here is my favorite track on the LP, Apt #5.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tZXNSyDxqs

Go, Go, Go by The Lurkers (1978)

Here's some classic English punk rock from the first band to release an album on Beggars Banquet Records, the Lurkers. This is off of their 1978 debut  release, Fullham Fallout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gdlL6efiU4

Split Second Feeling by Cabaret Voltaire (1981)

At about the same time that new wave was surging in popularity, a harder edge version of it was emerging from the underground. It became know as Industrial. To me, I prefer it to the former. And Cabaret Voltaire was one of the best of the genre. They had actually been together since 1973 making strange music for the time, but found an avenue to gain some recognition for their work by the early 80's. Here they are from their 1981 album, Red Mecca. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJgF9Hnus5Q

Evolution by Roy Ayers Ubiquity (1975)

Roy Ayers and his band have been playing jazz funk fusion for nearly fifty years. In fact, you can still see this band perform today. Check out some tour dates.

Here they are from the height of the fusion era with Evolution...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQP6Mtwjfok

Bullet Train by Apache (2007)

Here's a good ole rock n' roll band from San Francisco. Nuthin' fancy here, just good stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqT69QfAIuI

Jesus Was a Communist by Reagan Youth (1988)

Just heard this song the other day on local college radio and had to feature it in this space. So, here are 80's hardcore legends, Reagan Youth, pointing out the obvious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQxo3SuSQYg

Beyond the Fields We Know by Dead Meadow (2000)

Dead Meadow is a Washington D.C.-based stoner rock band that has had a relatively long career. Here they are off of their self-titled debut release from 2000. I'm not a big fan of the vocals here, but the music is right up my alley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSmBXLCmHq8

You Hit the Nail on the Head by Funkadelic (1972)

I could spend days featuring songs off of the first four or five albums by Funkadelic. Because not only is this music some of the best electric music ever created, but it is also massively under-appreciated. If you ever have the opportunity to pick up Funkadelic, Free Your Ass....And Your Mind Will Follow, Maggot Brain, America Eats its Young, and/or Cosmic Slop(to a slightly lesser degree), just do it. You will be taken on a funky, psychedelic ride worthy of your time.

Right now, Funkadelic's keyboardist, rock n' roll hall of famer, Bernie Worrell, is near the end of his days, fighting stage 4 lung cancer. So, enjoy this masterful piece of work off of Funkadelic's fourth album, written by Bernie, George Clinton, and Clarence Haskins. It captures a range of the band's styles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h7CSUFZu-U

You Don't Know Me by The Magi (1971)

I don't know much about this Florida band. It seems like they only had one single released. This was the B side. It seems, from the evidence of the song itself, that the band may have been a bit behind the times. This garage rocker feels like it would fit perfectly in 1966, not 1971. We are lucky to be able to hear the song at all, though, thanks to the Pebbles series. This track was included in Vol. 5 of that series released in 1979.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2xe5h31T40

Can't Nobody Love You by The Zombies (1965)

Today in Deep Rock Mining, the Zombies' version of the James Mitchell song first popularized by Solomon Burke is on the docket. What a great, soulful ballad done with feeling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHZg2lv2Doc

Metal Flake by The Young (2014)

Austin, Texas rockers, The Young, have already released three LPs in their relatively short existence. Their work has had mixed reviews, but I do like this tune that kicks off their third release, Chrome Cactus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbG-wR-oXq8

Stop and Check Yourself by Garnet Mims (1972)

For this Sunday, let's take some sage advice from Philadephia soul man, Garnet Mims...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOW1pHfd14s

Teenage Life by The Cowboys (1980)

I've never been much of an "indie rock" fan. Maybe I just need to spend more time in the genre, but I don't know. American Music Club is one of thousands of indie rock bands to get some traction in the 80's. The San Francisco' band's singer/songwriter, Mark Eitzel was in a punk band for a short spell before forming American Music Club. They were called The Cowboys and they released one single. Here is the B side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkfZXtvwm-0

The Turk by Heavy Metal Kids (1975)

The first thing that you should know about the band, Heavy Metal Kids, is that they do not play heavy metal music. They play rock, somewhat aggressively. I would describe their music as a combination of glam and hard rock.

This band is a good example of one of those bands that were good in a sea of great bands, thereby not getting much airplay. Here they are from their second LP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4shYPqBano

Capricorn by Orchid (2011)

San Francisco's Orchid, not to be confused with the late 90's hardcore band from Amherst, MA, could easily be accused of being a little too heavily influenced by Black Sabbath. But I'm a sucker for bands that aspire to sound like Black Sabbath.

Here is Orchid off of their first full length release, Capricorn, with the title track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxO2IRhYqmY

Oh My Lover by PJ Harvey (1992)

Polly Jean "PJ" Harvey is a singer/songwriter in the best vein, IMHO. Her music is dark, brooding, and brutally honest. I've only really dug into her earlier work, but I look forward to sampling more of her career in the future. Here she is from her 1992 debut album, Dry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lABPOmNiUqY

Lonesome Crow by Scorpions (1972)

Long before the 1980's got a hold of Scorpions, they were an excellent hard rock band. In fact, most people don't even realize that the band had been around since 1965, a full nineteen years before they would release their multi-platinum, Love at First Sting. That album was chock full of rock "anthems" like Rock You Like a Hurricane, Big City Nights, and Still Loving You. While that was a great payday for the hard working band, I prefer their earlier stuff any day of the week.

Here is the title track(an epic 13+ minute hard rock with a hint of prog) from their 1972 debut LP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRKTvZV1rkg

Mosquito Crucifixion by The Suicide Commandos (1978)

The Suicide Commandos were the pride and joy of Minneapolis' original punk scene. Here they are from their one and only studio LP, Make a Record from 1978.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGgnuZyiLjE

Lookout for Lucy by Mike Millius (1969)

Known more for his subsequent career in music publishing and his instrumental part in bringing Karaoke to the Western World, Mike was originally a singer/songwriter in the 60's and released a few albums. Today's song of the day selection is from his 1969 release, Desperado. 

Mike's scream towards the beginning of this song was sampled by Beck for his 1996 masteripiece, Odelay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LWQf9O_4fU

Zambezi by Charles Kynard (1973)

Charles Kynard is a lesser-known name, as far as prolific jazz/funk/soul musicians go, however his talent was no less. Many thought that he could have had a much bigger career if he would have only recorded more or even toured outside of Los Angeles.

He didn't promote himself more because he had an important day job taking care of special needs children in the LA area and he wanted to spend time with his family. No arguments here. We'll just have to be happy with the music he left us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEuJKe97imY

Madrigal Meridian by Tangerine Dream (1978)

Today, I'm throwing out all my normal preconceptions about the songs I should feature in this space. The other day, while I was folding laundry listening to my iPod on random, this track popped up. While I've heard it before, this was the first time I had done so with headphones. It was quite a different experience. Mindblowing!

RIP Edgar Froese who died about a year and a half ago. He made some unbelievable music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3NrJTeMPJU

Silence Ending by Truk (1970)

Truk must have been one of the heaviest bands in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the early 70's. Here is another example of a really good album that just never got much support. As a result, the band called it quits by 1972. Here is a short track off of the album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6duwPBKILE

I Travel by Simple Minds (1980)

Before they became forever attached to 1980's cult teen movie classic, The Breakfast Club, with their huge hit Don't You Forget About Me, Simple Minds was another new wave band making interesting music. These Scotsmen made a number of decent albums before their music took a decidedly pop turn. Here they are from 1980 off of their third album, Empires and Dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6MwzSaBBQY

Been So Long by Del Shannon (1968)

Del Shannon had the good fortune and terrible curse of having a major hit single at the outset of his recording career. He would never again have success like he did with the 1960 single "Runaway" as a young man in his twenties. He would, however, soldier on and keep recording music through the 70's and into the 80's. Unfortunately, battling mental illness and alcoholism, Del took his own life in 1990 at the age of 55.

Here is Del from his 1968 concept album, The Further Adventures of Charles Westover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjaBwvw6gsw

A Murder of Crows by Good God (1972)

Good God, the Philadelphia-based prog/fusion outfit made one and only one album. It was their self-titled release from 1972. The album probably leans a bit more fusion than prog, which is the perfect recipe for me. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBbRN5NdErA

Personal Riot by Brutus (2013)

How about some Black Sabbath-inspired hard rock from Norway for your Sunday morning? Well, here is a band that has been around for almost ten years at this point. They are soon? releasing their third album. I have not heard anything off of that, but here is a track off of their last release back in 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe8OJEAFnu8

Here I Go Again by The Eire Apparent (1968)

The Eire Apparent were a power psych rock band from Northern Ireland. They seemed to be, perhaps, slightly ahead of the times releasing this heavy track as the B side to "Follow Me" in January of 1968. The band has the distinction of being produced by Chas Chandler and later Jimi Hendrix. They also toured America with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Soft Machine. Despite the talent and good fortune, the band was only able to keep it together for one album and a few more singles. They broke up for good by 1970.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRXjH6KtgB0

Hidden Charms by The Delmonas (1985)

Before Thee Headcoatees, there was another Billy Childish-inspired girl group, the Delmonas. In retropect, they were a PG version of Thee Headcoatees. But that's okay. It fits the music. Here they are off of their debut album, Dangerous Charms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coPvnpxDE4U

Johannesburg by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson (1975)

I just picked up this little gem of an LP by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, From South Africa to South Carolina. When I picked this up at a yard sale, I thought that I'll probably re-sell it. But after one test listen, it is making the move to my permanent collection. So, what kind of music is it? I would call it "smooth funk", but still far enough removed from disco. Good stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTTIxV-EyW8

How About Me and You by The Carpettes (1977)

For today, I present two minutes and twenty seconds of pure punk pop joy...Here are the Carpettes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYcndxL_728