Easy one this. Recommended one album for the summer hols – old or new.
Thanks!
Holiday sounds
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
Musings on the byways of popular culture
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Pirates Choice: Orchestra Baobab, still reminds me of a hot summer in 96 when my life changed (it was a cd I borrowed from the library and taped)
Oh yes. Utru Horas is a stone classic track!
That is a great album – need to play that when I get home from holiday.
Not quite on holiday yet, but playing it now:
Moondance
The Young Rascals – Groovin’
I always used to wonder who Leslie was….”Life will be ecstasy, you and me and Leslie groovin’…”
I thought that as well and actually think it sounds better.
“Groovin’ – on a Sunday afternoon
Gruyère – couldn’t get away too soon”
Must have been a particularly smelly one…
Beach Boys’ Party! Quickly recorded as a stopgap before the feast that is Pet Sounds, mainly using acoustic instruments. The last overdub was a playback to invited friends who joined in an generally whooped it up, giving a relaxed party atmosphere. The hit is Barbara Ann, but there’s also some other fine covers.
Legalise It by Peter Tosh gives me a kind of hazy summer vibe if you know what I mean.
Any Sly and the Family Stone compilation!
My top recommendation for a summer day would be From Gardens Where We Feel Secure by Virginia Astley – none more summery (if you can find a copy)…
For a summer evening, I’d go with Coltrane’s Ballads album.
The Astley album is beautiful isn’t it. I have a pristeen copy I found in a charity shop years ago for about 3 or 4 quid. Easily my best chazza purchase.
From Gardens is an absolute gem. And it’s there on YT for those who don’t know it.
Manu Chao’s albums have a wonderfully laid-back, summery feel. Polyglot pop to listen to in your hammock.
I recommend both Clandestino and Proxima Estacion: Esperanza.
The final album, Casa Babylon, by Manu Chao’s previous band, Mano Negra, was similarly polyglot-inlfuenced. A dry run for his solo career.
I’d also pack some Les Négresses Vertes, best described (by me, I think) as a French Pogues. I love them all but, at a push, second album Famille Nombreuse is my fave.
The first album soundtracked a work trip, driving down through France and Spain in July, late 80s, maybe 1990. No idea why but I never heard the second album.
Yeah, beautiful album. I’ve still got my 2003 Rough Trade CD copy of but I had to repair the digipak spindle a couple of years back. Might treat myself to a nice new copy from the website then!
Hope In A Darkened Heart is very good too but quite different to Gardens
Top Tip: This little gem is easily purchased via Virginia’s Bandcamp page – about £15 inc postage gets you your actchal brand new CD copy.
Avoid Discogs, where this goes for silly money.
Buy a CD from Bandcamp and you can download the wavs straight away (or usually just buy the wavs alone for a little less money).
Oh, and her album ‘Had I The Heavens’ is equally lovely.
Thanks, Foxy – that IS a top tip. My original vinyl is still in good nick – but I’ll definitely investigate her Bandcamp page.
“Had I the heavens”
That sounds like Yeats. Yeah, it is Yeats.
Brilliant tip as my vinyl is in poor nick.
Absolutely. I discovered this a few years ago and I go back to it time and time again (whatever the season !)
I have a copy but it is used vinyl and there are a few crackles but it is excellent and a good suggestion..
For those enjoying a well-deserved break on Rhodes –
The Lovin’ Spoonful’s first LP would do it for me. Or possible a twofer of the first two.
Marc Jordan – Blue Desert. Cool Left Coast jazz pop with delicious Steely Dan frosting. You don’t care. You like Roger Waters.
Carly Simon – Hello Big Man. Honeyed selection of beach sounds, her gorgeous contralto backed by Marcus Miller, Robbie Shakespeare, David Sanborn, Eric Gale, Michael Brecker, etc. You don’t care. You like Depeche Mode.
Lalo Schifrin/Dizzy Gillespie – Free Ride. Breezy soundtrack to daquiris on the deck at Saint Trop, or cruising PCH with the top down. You don’t care. You like Kevin Rowlands.
Michael Franks – pretty much anything, but Rendezvous In Rio suggests itself.
The (Mighty) Diamonds – Planet Earth. You will need some reggae. Pack this.
Miles Davis – Quiet Nights. Perfect for watching the lights along the shore from your yacht. Make sure your version has The Time Of The Barracudas.
Nara Leão – Dez Anos Depois. Hipper than Astrud. Gaston! Un otros cervecas!
Mmmm. I recall that I have ‘The Art Of Tea’ by Mr. Franks – haven’t played that for ages, thanks for the reminder, will spin it today.
That Nara Leão album is a total pearl of a thing.
Thank you.
You’re welcome, Mike!
Thanks, @H-P-Saucecraft – Quiet Night purchased, hunted for a copy with Time of the Barracudas.
What a fine LP…
The new Alison Goldfrapp album sounds like summer to me- it has sitting on a sunny terrace with a cool drink and cool shades on written all over it.
I seem to remember listening to a reggae playlist on holiday back in 2019 that was compiled by some bloke called Twang (afterword reggaecast). I’d definitely listen to that again.
Although it’s been a while since I played it, I immediately thought of Big Calm by Morcheeba. Skye Edwards’ dreamy voice and lush sounds.
Songs From the Argyll Cycle, Vol 1, never fails to get me in the mood for the sorts of holiday I enjoy best. Mountains and lakes/lochs/llyns usually involved. Jackie Leven sums up the glory of dreich like no other.
You’ve got to give a little, take a little,
And let your poor heart to break a little,
That’s the story of,
That’s the glory of…
…dreich
Is it cheating to recommend a compilation?
If not then Bob Stanley 76 In The Shade is a good one.
Drugdealer Hiding In Plain Sight has a nice summery 70s vibe.
Reggae – TOOT AND THE MAYTALS – Funky Kingston
African – REMY ONGALA – Matimila , actually either of the Real World albums
Funk – JAMES BROWN – The Payback
Country – WILLIE NELSON Red Headed Stranger for quieter vibes
Jazz ECM label EBERHARD WEBER Yellow Fields , quieter stuff
Aussie DADDY COOL’s Greatest Hits. Party time!
A great artist sadly died too young. Real World stuff always well recorded.
If you can find a copy, there’s also a great Remmy album – a compo of early tracks – that was put out as part of the series of ‘Talking Book’ follow-up LPs on the WOMAD label back in the day. The text on the back cover explains how hard it was at the time to source half decent recordings the band had made – hopefully you can read them here:
Can you rip this, Foxy? It’s not available at any Eel Market stall I’ve hunted through.
First chance I get, I’ll let you know when it’s done.
Still waiting for your CD Swap review. You’re a tardy chap and no mistake.
@gary
@deviant808
Oh gosh, I am so sorry about that. I’ll get on to it. I’ve been very ill these last few weeks, so pretty much everything except the occasional post here has been on hold. I’ll re-listen to your discs and put my reviews and my own track listing up asap.
I think “very ill” definitely scores high on the list of Acceptable Excuses, hope you’re on the mend now.
I’m quite relaxed anyway, as you’re almost certainly not going to like much of mine 😉
I don’t think anyone’s done tracklist reveals yet have they? At least, there’s not the traditional dedicated thread for that, not that I’ve seen anyway.
Reveals so far have all been on the reviews thread.
I get the impression the swaps are more about the compiling and inflicting aspects than the reviews and reveals. I know that’s what I participate for.
Ah right, thanks. Clearly I hadn’t looked properly!
Though I have definitely got the hang of the “inflicting” bit 🙂
A couple from this year:
Zimbabwean band Mokoomba’s ‘Tusona: Tracings in the Sand’ has a joyful upbeat sound. And Eddie Chacon’s album ‘Sundown’ has a lovely lazy summer vibe
I always turn to reggae in the summer and, for me, nothing beats the Soul Jazz album “100% Dynamite”.
I always go with Teenage Fanclub’s Grand Prix for those long summer evenings in the northern latitudes.
There’s a splendid Congolese soukous guitar compilation, Lightning over the River, which will put you in a happy, upbeat, summer mood.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/lightning-over-the-river-the-congolese-soukous-guitar-sound-mw0000666029
Here’s the opening track:
For something more relaxing, Cesaria Evora’s Miss Perfumado is just the job.
Two vinyl sampler albums from the ’80s that I have are “Sound D’Afrique” and “Sound D’Afrique II Soukous”, originally released here by Island. Haven’t played them in years and I really ought to.
That is interesting @Mike_H.
https://www.discogs.com/release/2286645-Various-Sound-DAfrique
Other than Youssou N’Dour a lot of new names for me.
Eba Aka Jerome sounds very moreish.
Here’s the track listing for Volume 2
https://www.allmusic.com/album/sound-dafrique-vol-2-soukous-mw0000201385
Moussa Doumbia is great fun.
Sadly my copies of both of these compilations are scuffed on one side.
I have a holiday soft spot for Athlete’s Vehicles & Animals. It is a perfect lazy summer vibe and it soundtracked, along with Nada Surf’s Let Go, a lovely week of swimming, eating and drinking in San Sebastián. Highly recommend all of the above.
I was also in San Seb a few weeks ago (what a great city). My time there was soundtracked by Stevie’s Innervisions which is an album of his I didn’t know too well. I now think its his best – and the opening track is as funky as f***
Discosis by Bran Van 3000
The Stoop by Little Jackie
are both absolute crackers
Wallpaper For The soul by Tahiti 80
Always reminds me of summers in Connecticut.
At the risk of loud howls of protest, I have to suggest that no summer is complete without some flamenco. And all those music-loving Danes who visited the Roskilde Festival a few weeks ago seem to agree with me.
Thousands of us turned our backs on Blur (a painful decision) and flocked to the enormous Arena Tent to see Rosalia give a remarkable show.
And then there’s C Tangana whose Tiny Desk session was a party in a league of its own.
Fancy something a little older?
Songhai was Danny Thompson. Toumani Diabate and Ketama: now there’s a supergroup fit to provide the soundtrack for any summer! They made two albums together.
Nice. You’ve made think a bit of fado would be good.
On the BBC Sounds player, if you can access it.
BBC Prom 9: Mariza Sings Fado
Accompanied by:
Luís Guerreiro -Portuguese guitar
Phelipe Ferreira – guitar
João Frade – accordion
Dinga – bass guitar
João Freitas – percussion
+ The London Contemporary Orchestra
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001nnzb
Thanks, Mike – I meant to listen to it live on R3, but failed miserably…forgot it was on. I’ve been watching the “telly” ones, but sometimes forget the “R3 only” ones…
Thanks Mike.
Fado star Mariza at the Proms! There’s a winning combination!
She’s going on the playlist for this thread:
And let’s have a few more favourites from Portugal. Two young bands who took the (sometimes rather gloomy) elements of fado and added energy and panache.
Orquestrada – Oxala de Veja.
Deolinda – Um Contra O Outro
Um Contra O Outro I thought that it may be a Portuguese version of the Bonzos’ Intro and the Outro.
Now you’ve got my imagination running overtime, Hubert!
What would a Portuguese version of the Bonzos look and sound like?
No, that’s Mission Impossible!
I’d already had it translated.
Olá, bom estar com você, feliz que você poderia ficar por aqui Gostaria de apresentar “Legs” Larry Smith, bateria Sam Spoons, bastão de ritmo E Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell, baixo E Neil Innes, piano Entre, Rodney Slater no saxofone Com Roger Ruskin Spear no sax tenor s… legal Princesa Anne no sousafone… mmm Apresentando Liberace, clarinete Com Garner “Ted” Armstrong nos vocais Lord Snooty e seus amigos, sapateando No groove com Harold Wilson, violino E Franklin McCormack na gaita Ali, Eric Clapton, ukulele… oi, Eric À minha esquerda Sir Kenneth Clark, sax baixo… uma grande honra, senhor E veio especialmente para nós, um gorila de na vox humana Bom ver Incredible Shrinking Man no eufônio Saia com Peter Scott na chamada de pato Ouvindo de você mais tarde Casanova, na buzina… sim! Curtindo o General de Gaulle no acordeon… realmente selvagem, General! Obrigado, senhor Roy Rogers no gatilho Sintonize Wild Man of Borneo nos bongôs Count Basie Orchestra no triângulo… obrigado Muito bom ouvir os Rawlinsons no trombone De volta de sua operação recente, Dan Druff, harpa E representando o povo das flores, Quasimodo nos sinos Maravilhoso ouvir Brainiac no banjo Damos as boas-vindas a Val Doonican como ele mesmo (Olá!) Muito atraente, Max Jaffa… mmm, isso é legal, Max Que time, Zebra Kid e Horace Batchelor na percussão
E um grande favorito, e um artista maravilhoso, de todos nós aqui, J. Arthur Rank no gongo
That has got to be one of the wackiest things I’ve seen on this site. Thanks Hubert!
Here’s one I made earlier. ….All you summer holidaymakers may be interested to see this playlist.
I’m sure that @Twang is hoping for even more suggestions
It’s the gloomy elements of fado that I like the most, KFD: I skip past the major key songs…
Completely agree there, fitter
If someone doesn’t like the gloomy songs, they don’t like fado. That blues and melancholy is what make it fado. I think of songs about black-clad fishermen’s wives waiting anxiously down at the harbour for their husbands’ return, knowing that the news will probably be bad.
While we’re in Portugal, I can’t resist posting a song by the wonderful Madredeus.
From the album Existir: O Pastor.
A band so wonderful that Wim Wenders based a whole movie on their music: Lisbon Story.
Fascinating. Teresa Salgueiro has done an album of Brazilian classics.
Josh Rouse
Anything by him really. This is from ‘1972’
Had this since it came out and it’s on the iPod. He got a bit bland later but this is a terrific album.
Jim – Love Makes Magic
My album of the year so far.
West coast vibes aplenty (IMHO)
Mishka. Above The Bones. Here’s the title track:
Thanks for this,@Gary. He’s really something special. Great voice. I’ll definitely be listening to the whole album.
What’s been very enjoyable with this thread is the many faces of summer the music has offered.
The joy of a Beach Boy beachside sing-song.
The security of a peaceful English country garden.
The dampness of a loch-side hike in pouring rain in Argyll.
Can I add..
The excitement of hiring a London double-decker and driving down to Greece.
Actually, in 2023 that is such a very bad idea. Even if you are Cliff.
And now the nocturnal August delight of exploring the back-streets of Rome or Naples after midnight and chancing upon a small jazz club where they are playing the late, great Pino Daniele’s album Bell’Ambriana.
His beautiful love song to Napoli would not go amiss either…
I had no idea he’d played it with that Clapton chap until this evening. Hats off to him: Eric is on very fine form.
Ooops! Sorry Twang! I’m going off-piste for a moment to post this rather surprising clip of Coldplay.
Chris Martin singing Napule e in front of a large Neapolitan audience and winning them over.
I bet they weren’t expecting that.
Well @Gary!
Thumbs up or Thumbs down for this?
Totes thumbs up! Covering that particular song in Naples was a great thing to do. Smart showmanship at its best. He also gave a nice little speech, partly in italian partly in Neapolitan dialect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4bm7j1oB5s.
Glad you agree with me @Gary. You are a gentleman of distinction and taste!
I’m no great Coldplay fan but they’ve really gone up in my estimation with this.
Hmm…. There’s considerable scope for a thread on Great Polyglots of Pop. I must give that some thought.
A few days ago @BryanD recommended Drugdealer’s Hiding in Plain Sight.
I can’ say that was an artist name that got me keen to listen BUT….
Having listened, I’ve really taken to his catchy, melodic AOR pop.
@Kaisfatdad glad you like it, you should definitely check out Sylvie if you don’t know them already, there’s a crossover with the people involved and it’s a very similar vibe. Searching on Sylvie can bring up all sorts so go for Further Down The Road. That or Falls On Me.
Thanks for the tip @BryanD.
That track is splendid. What a gorgeous voice she has.
While browsing through Drugdealer’s tracks on Spotify, I discovered he’d recorded with the wonderful Weyes Blood.
Some great suggestions, all down loaded as far as possible & working my way through them. Just loving the Jackie Levin.
Jackie Leven, @Twang, is a gift that keep on giving.
He left us far too early.
So many wonderful songs! Like this one from the album Creatures of Light and Darkness,
What a very amusing man!
Another wonderful, sunny, summer album for you, Twang.
Sacred Island by Taj Mahal.
What’s the next of his numerous albums I should be exploring?
I presume you are asking about Jackie, @Twang.
Here’s an introduction to him by his pal, Ian Rankin.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jul/20/jackie-leven-folk-singer-ian-rankin
This compilation might be a good starting point.
Then you could go on to these.
The Mystery Of Love Is Greater Than The Mystery Of Death
Forbidden Songs Of The Dying West
Fairy Tales For Hard Men
I got into JL thanks to @DuCo01. He’s currently counting seals on Fårö: the remote Baltic island which was Ingmar Bergman’s home.
But he’ll doubtless have some suggestions on his return.
Late entry:
Kinetika Bloco – “Legacy”. Find it on Bandcamp. Or stream it.
A Latin/Carribbean-themed carnival band born out of a South London arts project.
Loads of percussion and brass instruments, no basses because they use a tuba instead. Sometimes two tubas!
Live there can be up to 100 of them, including dancers. On the album there are about 20-30.
What a wonderful find @Mike_H! So vibrant, energetic and full of enthusiasm.
And their album out, Legacy, is on Spotify so they are now on the Holiday Sounds Playlist.
Best experienced live of course!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m0oke56Kb
A major player in providing opportunities for young people, they remind me of the Samba Schools of Rio and Marching Bands of New Orleans who rehearse all year round for the Carnival/ Mardi Gras.
Live events:
Senior Summer School Finale 2023 at the Southbank Centre, Clore Ballroom, on August 18th 7pm.
Also Notting Hill Carnival, August 27th from 10am starting at great Western Road.
Then Freedom Festival in Hull, September 2nd from 4pm at Princes Dock Street, and 8pm at Zebedee’s Yard. Again on September 3rd from 12:30 at Trinity Square and 2:15 at Queen Victoria Square.
I can imagine that they will go down a storm i Notting Hill and Hull,
There is something rather summery about a steel pan orchestra.
Even when they are playing a Joy Division cover. This is Steel Division playing in a Manchester procession orgaised y Jeremy Deller.