the Rock Report

He was, arguably, the greatest blues legend to come out of England during the Invasion era — yet most Americans still aren’t familiar with his music.

I remember the first time I’d heard of Alexis Korner. It was during the ninth grade, when a classmate (who was very much into the blues scene) told me about “Alex’s Corner”. Knowing that teen shows were all the rage (American Bandstand, Lloyd Thaxton Show, Kilgo’s Canteen), I thought he was talking about a new one.
Dave laughed and invited me over to hear an album by Korner and his band, Blues Incorporated. After a couple of tracks, I was hooked …

By the time of the British Invasion, Alexis (who was actually born in Paris) was already 37 years old. In fact, it’s said he was bitten by the blues bug after listening to a Jimmy Yancey record during a German air raid. According to Korner, “From then on all I wanted to do was play the blues.”

After the war, he joined forces with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band (later,Barber had an international hit with Petite Fleur), where he met Cyril Davies (now, if the name sounds familiar, I mentioned him earlier as a catalyst in Long John Baldry’s career).
They formed a blues duo at first, then, in 1961, expanded it into a band called Blues Incorporated. Starting out as a loose, “jam”-style outfit (where guests could come onstage and play along with them), the band included future legends like Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Long John Baldry and Graham Bond.

Sometimes, eager young fans would be allowed onstage to play with the band. These fans included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Rod Stewart, John Mayall (whose bio is coming up next in The Rock Report) and Jimmy Page.

One story is that The Rolling Stones went to stay at Korner’s house after a performance late one night in the early 1960s. They entered through the kit in through the kitchen window, to find Muddy Waters’ band sleeping on the kitchen floor.

Stay tuned for Pt. II, due tomorrow (Monday) afternoon!

Its the most absurd thing Ive ever heard.  How can that have happened since we started it?

And that, yardbirds, is the third sentence of an email I received just this morning!  It was from a guy in Nawth Cackalacky (North Carolina, to you purists) who could not beee-lieve that a bunch of English people came over here and changed our music!

Ummmm … NEWS FLASH:  Once before, as I recall, a bunch of English people came over here and changed things.  It was called … the settlement of America (like around, say, 1620 or so??  Got it … pilgrim??).

But I digress (??? I have … never … used that word before in a sentence!  Sumbuddy look it up quick!!).  Yes, the British Invasion took ahold of America (as it did every other country whose name started with a vowel or consonant!). 

Y’see, the Invasion bands hit with something that our rockers were lacking for the most part:  stage presence.  And they weren’t concerned about being formulaic — everything they did emitted spontaniety … excitement … LIFE!

Now, these same qualities … coupled with the strong backbeat, solid rhythm, great harmonies and song structures that made the Invasion famous … are being carried on in the new UK band, The Fore.  You’ve heard me talk about ‘em time and again, and many of you have become solid fans of Matt, Spencer, Si, and …

Nathan.  Now, I’ve talked a bit about the others (Spencer, the most tremendous tailor of tempo and tunes [bass player, vocalist, soon to have a lovely Mrs. by his side], Matt, a man who’s destined to give Clapton a run for his money [lead guitar, vocals; also destined to be a daddy again soon!] and Si, whose drumming would make Ringo jealous [and possibly Dave Clark.  If Dave played drums …]).
But Nathan (their rhythm guitarist/vocalist) adds a versatility, humour and creativity that makes this band the one to watch for in 2010!!  He’s multi-fingered as well as talented, has a voice that some have compared to Elvis, Gene Vincent and Liza Manelli

 NOW to see if he’s really reading this … lol …

(JUST KIDDING, of course!  I’ve also heard from mates in the UK that the pipes are somewhat like The Pirates’ Johnny Kidd).

Already with a great following and reputation (can that be done at the same time??), he and Spencer have also branched out into a new ELO-style venture called The 286 with Nathan “Roy Wood” Persad on the drums (he also plays bass, guitar, bass guitar, cello and stereos when the salesmen aren’t looking).  I’ll have more on them soon. 
No, make that on “The 286“.  I understand Van Morrison doesn’t want his old group promoted anymore …

But, next … the story of the legend of BritBlues … ALEXIS KORNER!  (Now, if ya dig the blues, you’re not gonna want to miss this!!)

So, stay tuned, and I’ll see ya on the flip side!

We’re gonna take a break from the series on Long John Baldry to get up-to-speed on the news:

One person heavily mentioned in the Baldry series has been Elton John — and he’s had to bow out from touring again!  He canceled a concert this past Saturday because his doc said he’s not fully recovered from the swine flu.
The remaining dates on his England-Ireland and the first three dates of his American tour have been 86ed as well.  Still, he’s expected to appear at tonight’s AIDS Foundation fundraiser in New York.

WHO’S DOING HALFTIME??

The latest buzz is that The Who (more appropriately, Daltrey-Townsend) will be playing halftime at Superbowl 44 (oh, alright … “XLIV”, then).
If they actually do play, they’ll also have Scott Devours on drums, guitarists Simon Townsend (Pete’s brother) and Frank Simes, keyboardist Loren Gold and bassist Jon Button. (but, let’s face it: Without Keith [Moon] behind the drumkit and “the Ox” [John Entwistle] on bass, it’s never really gonna be “The Who”, is it?).

HE IS/HE ISN’T/HE IS (MAYBE)

As I’ve reported (and you’ve already heard), Steven Tyler has left Aerosmith, and they’re looking for a replacement. Then he gets onstage with guitarist Joe Perry and says he isn’t leaving the band. NOW he’s tellin’ the world that he needs a couple years’ vacation from them (not a permanent vacation)!
Geez … stay tuned … who knows what’ll come up next??

WHO’S TO JUDD-GE??

While Taylor Swift walked away with Entertainer of the Year Award at the recent CMA shindig, another country star thought it was way too early.
Wynonna Judd is saying that Taylor’s too young to win the award!  She then goes on to remind us all (YAWNNNN!!! Again??) that she and her egomaniacal mom, Naomi, (formerly Diana Judd of Ashland, KY) traveled for hours in a station wagon, hawking their records.

OOOO-kayyyyy … so, umm, what does that have to do with being chosen top entertainer??  Sounds a little like Faith Hill’s reaction to Carrie Underwood’s CMA win a coupla years ago.  Yer ego’s bruised, Y … live with the decision!

(Geez .. some people …)

Okay … we’re closin’ up the Baldry story in tomorrow’s post, so stay tuned …

and I’ll see ya on the flip side!

This is Part II of our post on Long John Baldry.

We left off with the blues giant’s  Steampacket and, when it folded, Bluesology and Elton John.
In 1968, when that band called it quits, Baldry continued his solo career and Elton John formed a songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin.

In 1969, Elton tried to commit suicide after relationship problems with a woman. But, thankfully, Taupin (who’s straight) and Baldry (who’s openly gay) found him. Long John talked him out of marrying the woman and helped make Elton comfortable with his sexuality. In fact, his later hit, “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” (from Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy) was about the experience.

Baldry was openly gay during the early 1960s when homosexuality was still considered a serious moral crime. He supported Elton in coming to terms with his own sexuality and, in 1978, his album, Baldry’s Out, made his sexual orientation official as such. In fact, he addressed the issue on one of the album’s cuts, “A Thrill’s a Thrill”.

Now, we’ll be heading into Part III and the latter part of Baldry’s career in tomorrow’s post. Until then, grab the popcorn, sit back and dig the music, because this vid’s got Baldry’s Hoochie-Coochie Men (along with 19-year-old Rod Stewart singing counterpoint and much lead) doing Up Above My Head. (No, I don’t know why they keep re-playing the motorcycle clip. Been better with one of the band, right? Still, the music’s great)

See ya on the flip side.

He was one of the truest legends from the British blues scene of the Sixties — yet very few Americans have actually heard of him.
Long John Baldry (6′ 7″ — hence, the “Long” in his name), a strong-voiced blues singer from Northamptonshire, England. was born in 1941 and, by the early Sixties, had already established a name for himself by playing blues gigs in clubs like the Station Hotel in Richmond — one of the earliest venues of The Rolling Stones.

Then came a shot with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated (I’ll have a post on Korner next week).
In fact, with them, he  recorded the first British blues album in 1962, R&B at the Marquee.  As part of the band, he found himself occasionally amongst future superstars Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger (Stones) and Jack Bruce (Cream).  At times, Keith Richards and Brian Jones would appear with Blues, Inc. as well … and, as the fame of the Stones spread, so did John’s:  He appeared with them in support at their first concert at the Marquee Club, and was the announcer on their only live album, 1966’s Got Live If You Want It! He also became friends with Paul McCartney after a show at the Cavern, and was invited to play on one of The Beatles’ 1964 TV specials.

Baldry also had his hand in the careers of other superstars by way of the bands he either joined or created:  First, there was the Cyril Davies R&B All-Stars, which boasted a young Jimmy Page on guitar.

Then, at Cyril’s death, he took over and renamed the band Long John Baldry and the Hoochie-Coochie Men.  Jimmy left the band (Geoff Bradford took his place) and John found a new singer in a busker named Rod Stewart (Rod already had a taste of success with Jimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions, and occasionally busks, even today*.)
(*=for our stateside readers: busking was simply “street corner music”, usually with just a guitar, harmonica and a hat or box in front for donations. See the beginning of The Fore’s video, Love For Sale, as an example …)

By 1965, there was another name change for John’s band — it became Steampacket and included himself, Rod, Brian Auger (later of Trinity) and Julie Driscoll.  A year later, though, the band broke up and John formed a new ensemble called Bluesology. This included Elton Dean on vocals, John Baldry on vocals and guitar, and a young keyboardist named Reg Dwight … who, eventually, changed his name to reflect both Dean and Baldry and became … Elton John!

(Pt. II will be posted on Monday, so stay tuned …)  For more on Long John Baldry, just click the following link:

Someone once told me, “It ain’t the amount of stuff that hits the fan that gets to ya, but the size of the fan itself.”

Over the past coupla weeks, there’s been a lady who’s been bent on pluckin’ the feathers outta the Eagle’s hide … and it’s cost me in time, money, headaches and more!  Not to mention a bit of legal dealings to stabilize my own holdings

(DAMN!!  After all this, I’m wonderin’ if it wasn’t the Clarkster in disguise!  Naaah … she’s a woman, which means she ain’t got no … hmmm … maybe it was him, after all … anyway …) word up:  there are readers who already know who I’m talkin’ about.  The rest of you can email me if ya want in on it …

Anyway, fortunately, the fan was bigger than the poop thrown (she was also wantin’ to tax — or stop — my work.  And there ain’t no way in hell that’s gonna happen!  Makes me wanna rock it even harder!)  So, now … the trouble’s behind me, the smoke’s cleared and I’m still stadnin’, and back online with regular, everyday madnes … er, posts … like it usedta — and still oughtta — be!!  So (okay … maybe just a leeeetle wobbly … that shoulda read “standin’” …) let’s do it:

GETTIN’ BACK TO THE BIZ AT HAND

The new noms for the Songwriters Hall of Fame (Class of 2010) were announced this past Saturday, and, amongst the writers/performers, Dion, David Gates, Tommy James, John Cougar Mellencamp, Lou Reed, Leon Russell, Cat Stevens (finally!) and Earth, Wind & Fire. (I still don’t get it; I know these are all American writers/performers, but … look, if anyone deserves to be in the Songwriters’ HoF, it’s Ron Ryan!

But, amongst the writers, you’ve got Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Jackie DeShannon and Joe South (somehow, the SHoF forgot that these all performed at one time), as well as Mark James (”Suspicious Minds”), Luther Dixon (”Soldier Boy”) and the teams of Jerry Ragavoy and Bert Burns (”Twist & Shout”) and Paul Vance and Neil Pockriss (”Itsy Bitsy Bikini” … a song inspired by Paul seeing his three-year-old daughter in a “IBTWYPD Bikini” for the first time!).

Two performers and three non-performers are gonna be chosen and they’ll be announced early next year.

STAMPING IT OUT

One more quick woid: England, yer gonna have some new postal stamps coming your way in January! “Let It Bleed” by the Rolling Stones, “Led Zeppelin IV,” “Ziggy Stardust” from David Bowie and Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” are classic album covers destined to become stamps from Britain’s Royal Mail on 7 January 2010 (there’ll be ten album stamps in all!). Not guaranteed to get yer mail to its destination any quicker than regular stamps, but … hey, it’ll work better than if ya used none at all, right??

Well, that’s all the time we have on this edition. But stay tuned … we’ve got new lights and a coffee machine in the nearly-cat-free RockRoom (I did say “nearly”, right?) and will be back here later this evening with more …
So I’ll see ya on the flip side …

Awright … I know I’m a little behind. But, anatomy notwithstanding (hey … you started it!), the balding bird’s been bed-bug busy fittin’ piles of research into ten deadlined articles and gettin’ more Fore tracks into the hands of terra-radio stations around the US of A.
But, look … I’m back, so what’s to worry? We’ll get back to the regular schedule in a coupla days …

HOLD TIGHT!

Just a quick note: I never thought I’d miss Dave Dee and band so much until the new download of their hit, Hold Tight! arrived at the RockDesk. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich were fab rockers with the tightest in-group harmonies since The Hollies!
Oh … didja know that Dave (R.I.P., man …) was also the one on the scene of the crash that killed rock legend Eddie Cochran? He was still in training as a patrolman, but not only did he aid in securing the scene but also was directly responsible for getting Eddie’s guitar back to his parents!
Up until Dave’s death last year, the band was still performing. Here’s hoping they’ll keep it together, at least in the man’s memory …

ALL THAT GLITTERS AIN’T GOLD …

Hey … remember that jackass, Gary Glitter?? (WOW!  For just a minute, I felt like the President!!) Awww, this has-been jerk was the one who molested little kids overseas and didn’t get away with it (fortunately).
And remember how he was sent back to England and told to sit and stay?? (well, he is a dog, IMHO … wait … sorry.  Dogs shouldn’t be compared to this idiot …)
Well, yesterday (23 Sep) a British court refused to let him leave the country for a French vacation, saying that he was “still a risk to children.”
But get this: The police told the court that Gary’s real intent was to slip over the border and go to Spain — where the legal age of consent is 13.
(hmmm … earlier, I mentioned dogs. Which brings up neutering. I wonder …. naaah; gotta have ‘em to lose ‘em …)

ROCK HoF NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Here it is, straight from the ticker:

“The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame announced the nominees for induction as the Class of 2010. The Hollies, the Chantels, Darlene Love, ABBA, KISS, Laura Nyro, Donna Summer, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, the Stooges, LL Cool J and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were all named. Five will be announced in January and inducted March 15 in New York City.”

Okay … whaddya say we meet back here tomorrow about this time? Til then, Keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music …
and I’ll see ya (awww, you know the rest …)

With heightened interest in The Beatles (due, in large part, to the new Rock Band game bearing their name and, in part, the digital remastering of their music library), UK TV/radio presenter Sir Terry Wogan has put himself in a recording studio along with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and the Rolling Stones’ former bassist Bill Wyman to record covers of The Beatles’ classics.

These will be released on an album called Bandaged Together and will benefit the Children in Need program.

The idea was brought together by a group of Terry Wogan fans known as The TOGs (and ya gotta love the name: Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals).

“Last year, thanks to the TOGs, we raised about £3 million for Children In Need,” Sir Terry says. “We had Bandaged One which sold an awful lot and made hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity. The idea this year is Bandaged Two and we are hoping to raise even more money.”

The album will include Sir Terry’s version of the Beatle anthem All You Need Is Love and is set to be released next month.

THE ART OF ELYSIUM

Awhile back, I mentioned a non-profit group called Art of Elysium, which Hugh Laurie (pictured) and his Band from TV supports.
Since then, I’ve had a few emails asking the musical question: What is Art of Elysium?

Okay … here’s the official blurb:

“The Art of Elysium is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 which encourages actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions.
They provide artistic workshops in the following disciplines: acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing.
They work with numerous hospitals and hospices throughout Los Angeles and have just opened in New York City.
For more information on The Art of Elysium please visit www.theartofelysium.org.”

I knowww … “Well … what does “elysium” mean??”
Actually, it comes from the Greek word, Ēlysion, which means paradise!
And what better feeling to give a child, huh??

See ya on the flip side …

THIS JUST IN: Ellie Greenwich — singer and songwriter who composed such hits as Be My Baby, Da-Doo-Ron-Ron and River Deep, Mountain High with husband/collaborator Jeff Barry — has just died. More info as I get it, and I’ll report later this evening …

Ooooookayyyyyyy … so I got
word yesterday that The Who’s Pete Townshend’s gonna “floss”.
Ummm … good for him, I thought. Soooooooo??

Actually, the guitarist announced Monday that he’s writing a new musical (which is gonna premier in 2011) called “Floss.”

“As a 19-year-old, with ‘My Generation’, I wrote the most explicitly ageist song in rock. At 64, I now want to take on aging and mortality, using the powerfully angry context of rock’n'roll,” Townshend says.

The play’s gonna be about the marital difficulties of a middle-aged couple (geez … where’d he get that idea??). “Floss,” incidentally, is the wife’s name in the play.

Some of the songs may track on an upcoming Who album next year — which tells you that the band isn’t planning on giving up anytime soon.

JUST A FEW DAYS FROM NOW …

we’ll know the #1 Independent Artist of 2009 … and I’m bettin’ on The Fore! These fore lads from Kent and London (Spencer, Nathan, Si and Matt) serve up the best Mersey-dirty Hamburg rock this side of The Beatles (hey … that’s what their newest fans have told me!).
With a tremendous fan base, two top-selling indie albums, some great awards and honours from all over the rock spectrum, it’s time to put ‘em right where they belong: at NUMBER ONE!!
So do yerself, the lads — and all rock-n-roll — a favor:click the following link, dig some of their fab tracks, and vote by clicking “Become A Member!”.
And that link is http://www.jango.com/music/The+Fore?l=0.
On behalf of The Fore, thanks …

Talk about puttin’ the right title with the right film!

The new movie, It Might Get Loud, boasts a cast of characters but with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, U2’s The Edge and White Stripes’ Jack White as its shining stars.

Y’see, it brings together rock guitar icons from three generations — and they’ll tell their musical life stories through interviews and performance footage.

The film, which is directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), has a lot of behind-the-scenes and “how do they do that?” footage. It’s centered around a gathering of the three artists, with each one divulging his particular guitar-playing secrets.

It’ll be released on August 14, and just might turn up in a theater near

Roger Daltrey’s upcoming solo tour, called Use It Or Lose It, is a way for The Who’s lead singer to keep his voice in shape during the band’s hiatus.

Beginning October 10, and lasting until the end of November, Daltrey will play 29 North American dates.
“I’ve looked after my voice; because I sing so loud, I have to,” Daltrey tells Billboard. “I think my voice at the moment is better than it’s ever been.”

It’s been 17 years since Daltrey released a solo album (his ninth) but he says he thinks he has “one more really good album in me. I’m working on ideas.”
While Who guitarist Pete Townshend is working on new material, his brother, Simon, will be providing guitar and backup vocals on the tour.

The set list will include a mix of material from Daltrey’s previous solo albums, The Who’s catalog, and also a few covers.

OOPS!  I DID IT AGAIN!!  I dunno … mebbe I’m showin’ more age than I thought (hey … it’s appropriate; after all, I do turn a year older tomorrow …), but I fell asleep at the wheel at around 4 AM while workin’ on this!  So this edition is gonna be a bit short while I finish wakin’ up, do my ablutions and get on the road.
But I’ll be back this evening with more, so stay tuned …

the flip side’s gotta be a little earlier from now on, I reckon …