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!

In 1971, John and Rod each produced a side of Baldry’s most popular album, It Ain’t Easy (it made the top 100 of the US album charts). It featured “Don’t Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll” which became his most successful song in the states (his first tour of America was at this time).

In the late ’70s, Baldry was institutionalized for mental health problems. His 1979 album, Baldry’s Out, was recorded after his release — and was touted to be the public announcement of both his release and his homosexuality.

John played his last live show in Columbus, Ohio, on 19 July 2004, at Barristers Hall with guitarist Bobby Cameron. The duo played to a small group, with some coming all the way from Texas. His final British tour was with ‘The Long John Baldry Trio’ — the last performance being on Saturday, 13 November, 2004 in  Norfolk, England.

He last recorded with the Stony Plain label and his 1997 album, Right To Sing The Blues, won the award for Blues Album of the Year in the Juno Awards of that year.

John died on 21 July 2005, in a Vancouver hospital (he’d moved there years before) of a chest infection.  Despite his lifestyle (and he could be rather bold about it), the man had a commanding stage presence and singing style.  He was instrumental in not only the growing blues movement in the UK during the ’60s, but brought quite a few future superstars to the limelight.  If you ever get a chance to pick up one of his albums, do it … ’cause you’re in for some great music …

AUTISM SPEAKS

Autism Speaks — an organization that works on behalf of children with the disorder — held a fantastic and memorable Concert for Autism Tuesday night in Carnegie Hall.

This year’s event featured comedian Jerry Seinfeld, with a special appearance by … “The Boss”, Bruce Springsteen. Hosted by NBC’s Meet the Press moderator, David Gregory, the event benefits the families and individuals who live with autism every day by supporting research, awareness and family services initiatives.

Jamie Foxx, Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey, Conan O’Brien, Seth Rogen, Martha Stewart, Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, Glenn Close, Céline Dion, Will Ferrell, Edie Falco, Troy Aikman and Harry Smith were just a few of the committee members supporting this unprecedented, one-of-a-kind event. Serving as the evening’s honorary co-chairs were Sir Elton John, Senator Al Franken,  and Donald and Melania Trump.

Now, I’ve worked with autistic children over the years, and can tell you that they’re some of the most talented, genuine and loving kids you’d ever wanna know.  And it’s very cool to know that some of America’s top talent are involved in the fight against autism!
Wanna know more?  Just click into their Autism Speaks website and find out how you can help out!!

Okay … that’s all for this edition.  But stay tuned, ’cause there’ll definitely be more coming up in about 24!  Until then, remember to keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music …
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:

Lemme quote the email verbatim:
Dear Traiter
re youre blog
who do u thnk u r braging about being part them? if u so proud of it go on back over 2 them we dnt need ur likes here.

Hmph … now why do I get the impression this guy’s not a brain surgeon in his off-web life??

Man, I love the UK, and am honoured to have their blood running through my veins.  But I am American, and very proud of it!!

CONTRARY TO COUNTRY??

WAIT!  The story gets better!
Y’see, bein’ from the Appalachian foothills, where country music runs through the backwoods thicker than gravy over a plate of mashed potatoes, the people who know me as a music journalist expect coverage of their favorite twangin’ stars instead of this (quote) “bonga-banging s**t that kids are playing today” (man, I’ve gotta get better filters on my inbox!).

But, if ya listen to today’s “country” (no longer “and Western” since, according to Nashville, it doesn’t reflect the “Western” acoustic style — and because, they say, it almost “stereotypes the West”), you’ll find it’s based on … electric guitars, harmony, drums — and, often, a 4/4 beat.  Listen to some hits from Rascal Flatts, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban and others … and tell me it’s not basically the same as classic rock!  Just a different singing style, a couple/three extra instruments (fiddle/steel guitar or banjo/steel/fiddle) … but the tempo, rhythm, attack and even song structure is almost identical in many cases.

Now, when ya listen to The Fore do That’s A Lie, you can almost hear The Everly Brothers.  The Beatles covered Act Naturally — the Buck Owens classic — on the flip side of Yesterday.  McCartney put a very country-flavoured tune called Sally G on the back side of Junior’s Farm — in fact, there were some who thought it was a cut from some live country radio show (and, speakin’ of country:  Is it just me, or does anybody else see a resemblance between Macca and an early Bill Anderson?)!

And let’s not forget that one of the biggest hits of the Invasion era — the DC5’s Bits and Pieces (written by my friend [IMHO, along with Lennon/McCartney, one of the greatest songwriters in the UK] Ron Ryan) was a country song at first!

So, what I’m sayin’ to the lady who wrote is: Don’t Knock The Rock!!  If not for the classic rock and roll, you wouldn’t have country as you like it today!

Now, I’m workin’ on a piece on one of the most legendary blues/rock forces in history — a chap named Long John Baldry — and hope to have it on here soon.  If any of you have personal notes, acquaintances, memories or whatever of or with him, just send ‘em in to therockrelic@yahoo.com.

Okay … that’s it for now. But stay tuned, ’cause, along with info on LJB, I’m gonna be unveiling a brand new act that’s … well, lemme keep it a secret for now (don’tcha just hate it when someone does that?? But, trust me, it’ll be fab!).

I’ll see ya on the flip side …

Okay … now that we know Steven Tyler has left his post as front man for Aerosmith, what’s gonna happen to rest of the band?

As I reported on another post, Tyler’s gotten quite a rep for letting this “success” stuff go to his head — and, now, after the fall in Sturgis and his “less-than-100%” work on their last shows, he’s trying to put something together on his own.
But, according to lead guitarist and legend Joe Perry, they’re not gonna split just because he’s gone.

“As far as replacing Steve, it’s not just about that, it’s also four guys that play extremely well together, and I’m not going to see that go to waste. I really don’t know what path it’s going to take at this point, but we’ll probably find somebody else that will sing in those spots where we need a singer and then we’ll be able to move the Aerosmith up a notch, move the vibe up a notch.”

Apparently, they’ve just found someone, but they’re keeping it all under wraps for the time being.

HOWEVER …

It’s a different story for Brian May and the kings of Queen. They’ve allegedly found who they want to replace the late Freddie Mercury in the band (they’d already tried with Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers, but it apparently didn’t work out).

The new singer’s said to be the flamboyant runner-up on last season’s American Idol — the eccentrically gay Adam Lambert. Now, I’m not knockin’ his preference (though I don’t dig “that” scene), but, if the three surviving members of Queen hire him on, then the first sound you hear won’t be Brian’s guitar but the band shooting itself in the foot.

Y’see, this kid’s got an ego that’s sky high — and has hardly worked is way up from the trenches as Freddie did. That means he could end up playing rock “diva” whilst turning in less-than-perfect shows. Obviously, that could turn the three seasoned pros against him, and break up the reunion attempt.

And, though we all suspected Mercury of being “closet-free”, he still kept his private life just that: private! But Lambert, being a veritable rookie who hasn’t put in nearly as much time and effort into his career, is flamboyant about his preferences. That can hurt an established band like Queen.

In other words, there are some artists who just can’t be adequately replaced. And Steven Tyler and Freddie Mercury are two of them, IMHO.

Well, that’s it for now … but stay tuned, ’cause there’ll be more coming up sometime Tuesday evening! ‘Til then …

I’ll see ya on the flip side.

Hard to find these days, but, when you do, it sorta makes your mouth water even before you dig in.
No, I’m not talkin’ about sex (sigh!) … I’m talkin’ tostadas, man (at least for now …)

Here’s why:

Awhile back, in the back pages of an old, dusty Sanskrit manuscript that I found hidden in the top shelf of my library, Ye Untolde Saga of Rocque and Rolle, there was an interesting tidbit.  After removing it (it was part of that Archway cookie I lost last Christmas), I read a question posed to early performers by some obscure TV anchorman:

What do you do onstage to keep from getting stage fright?

Natch, that means so you won’t freeze up on the vocals or guitars, etc.  It was almost uninaninimouse:  The performers would think of something pleasant — something to look forward to after the show, for example — first.

One club singer said, I think of my girl, and how she’s waiting for me to come home.  She’ll have a hot meal and also some hot kisses waiting at the door.  Which is nice.  But a hot meal waiting at the door is an open invitation to every cat in the house to eat it before ya get there.

Another said:  A nice, hot cup of the finest coffee, two sugars, one cream.  I suppose “shaken, not stirred”.  Still another, You can’t tell if there’s an impresario in the audience.  I want to impress the hell outta him.

But the kicker was the young rocker who said:  Beefy tostadas.  I dunno, maybe he was doing a Tex-Mex act.  Nonetheless, they all had a valid point.

Look ahead of your gig … check the waters beyond, and give yourself something to look forward to after the show.  Score points toward the big reward by pulling your best set out, dusting it off, and doing it like you mean it!
Then, after the show’s over and the last fan’s gone … go out and enjoy!

Another question (being a mid-’70s, post-Watergate publication, it was after the ad for that deodorant that says it’s working but has its own agenda to cover up the tell-tale odours.  It was called Nix-On …) was How do you face the audience without being afraid?

Some said they looked just above eye level, checking the fans’ foreheads instead of their expressions.  Worked well with everyone except Manson followers.
Others?  We just imagine everyone sitting there in their underwear.  I believe this trick folded when mothers-in-law were invited to gigs …

John Lennon had a great concept on handling audiences:  “They’re out there, and they’re me, and I’m them, and she’s he, and he’s her and we’re all together.”  And, if we’re all together, we’ve got nothin’ to worry about, right??

Okay, the quarter’s up (actually, I still had some minutes left from the last one), so just remember to tune in tomorrow for more musical madness.  I’ll see ya on the flip side!

Ahhhh, November!  Along with the leaves, pumpkins and cooler weather, this week brings some of the most interesting memories in rock history:

5 November 1954 — Elvis Presley actually did a radio commercial — the only one he ever made, in fact. The product?? What else?: It was for Southern-Made Doughnuts, and was broadcast on the Louisiana Hayride radio program.

On 1 November, one year later, a local R&B group called The Famous Flames, led by an energetic and very soulful young singer named James Brown, cut their first demo called “Please, Please, Please”.  Recorded at a radio station in Macon, Georgia, it got the attention of King Records, which jumped at the chance to sign ‘em!

On that same date in 1957, Buddy Holly and The Crickets hit #1 on the UK singles chart — and stayed there for three weeks — with their biggest hit “That’ll Be The Day”.

Two days later brought the release of “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis. It turned out to be his biggest hit (now, who doesn’t know that??), and hit the musical trifecta, coming in at number two on the Billboard Pop chart, number three on the R&B and number one on the Country and Western chart.

Now, the fifth of November, 1960, added an eerie slant to this rundown as the C&W legend (back then, it was still called “country and western music”, btw) Johnny Horton (he did Battle of New Orleans, North to Alaska and a double-E fave, a cover of Ray Charles’ Busted) died (his Cadillac was hit by a drunken trucker in Milano, Texas).
What was so weird about that? Well, Johnny had just played his last show at the Skyline in Austin, where Hank Williams had played his last show (remember: Hank was found dead in his Caddy seven years earlier).
Oh … I almost forgot to add that Johnny Horton’s widow, Billy Jo, was also Hank Williams’ widow!

The folk/protest movement began blowin’ in the wind when the inimitable Bob Dylan played his first gig on November 4, 1961. It was at the Carnegie Chapter Hall in New York City, and only drew an audience of about 50 (most of them were Dylan’s friends).

Of course, there’s more — but, since I’ve gotta get to work in about an hour, lemme close off this post with the Fillmore West. Rock impresario Bill Graham opened the legendary venue in San Francisco to complement the original Fillmore East in New York. Now, it was this gig that launched the careers of the “hippie/yippie” bands (well, that’s what they were called by mainstreamers and Republicans! lol) like The Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Big Brother and The Holding Company and others.
Y’know, while that “mainstream” America thumbed their noses at the Haight-Asbury phenoms, it might do ‘em well to realise that many of these acts helped maintain the rock continuity between The Beatles and today’s music.

Okay … ’nuff said; my quarter’s about run out. Now … if I don’t get to work, I ain’t gonna have one for the next show later tonight. So …
I’ll see ya on the flip side …

So ya dig classic rock, huh??
Well, ya oughtta meet the creatures that inhabit this info superhighways’ fave rock oasis, a Sixties-and-beyond-and-before rock forum called, appropriately, Rock-Talk!

Now, you’ll not only get to talk oldies and more, but you’ll be able to listen to them through their “jukebox” page.  And dig this:  It’s the first actual community (not just names on a screen; these folks actually become your friends if you approach them gently and feed them right. lol) I’ve ever been involved with (and this bird has been around the pike a few times)!

Oh … and, after ya join, be sure to check out the tracks from the man who wrote some of the Dave Clark Five’s greatest hits and introduced Jimi Hendrix’s drummer to rock, Ron Ryan!  In fact, in the main forum, you’ll be able to talk a bit with him!

The membership is free, btw, and it doesn’t matter if yer a guy, a gal or a Martian: just come on over and check it out!

THE FORE TO (sorta) DOUBLE??

Well, not exactly (that is, as far as the band itself), but there are a few “additions” that require some serious and happy congrats and props:

First, to superstar guitarist Matt Hardy (center, on the Rickenbacker) , as he and his lovely wife are expecting their second child soon!  (Y’know, it proves the flexibility of math:  When two people get together, it shows that “1+1=2″.  But, when the lady luv gets in “the family way”, it shows that “1+1=1″!  [Think about it])  Anyway, Matt and Victoria, your children are just as blessed to have you as parents as you are to have them as your own!

And the band’s fearless leader (and amazing bassist and songwriter), Spencer Hannabuss, has just announced his engagement to the lovely Natalie (sorry, ladies!  But she is a treasure, and they complement each other so much …).  Hope they have a zillion years together in happiness and love …

BEHIND THE SCENES …

There are a lotta things happening over here in RockCentral, and even more great things going on in The Fore camp!  It’s a pleasure working with these lads (who’ve just come back from their respective holidays), and their star just continues to rise in the worldwide skies of rock …
Speakin’ of holidays:  I want to send out a special and heartfelt wish for the good health and recovery of the lady Annette.  She’s wife of Fore manager Neil, and, whilst he was away, she suffered a nasty fall.  With her hubby at side now, though, she’s recuperating well.  Still, keep her in yer thoughts and prayers, okay?

Me?  Gotta get off here for awhile.  My quarter’s about to run out …
See ya on the flip side …