THE WILD MAGNOLIAS : Meet The Boys (On The Battlefront) (1974)

R.I.P. Fird 'Snooks' Eaglin (Jan. 21, 1936 - Feb. 18, 2009)

Obit:
R&B singer/guitarist SNOOKS EAGLIN has died, aged 72. Eaglin, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, was hospitalised in New Orleans, Louisiana last week (Feb.09, 2009). He passed away on Wednesday (Feb. 18, 2009) after suffering a heart attack.

Losing his sight not long after his first birthday, Eaglin was a self-taught musician who learned to play the guitar by listening to the radio. He became a fixture in the New Orleans jazz and R&B music scenes over the last 50 years, counting platinum-selling musicians Eric Clapton, Sir Paul McCartney and Robert Plant - and local artists including pianist Allen Toussaint - among his fans. Paying tribute to Eaglin, Toussaint tells the New York Times, "He played with a certain finger style that was highly unusual. He was unlimited on the guitar. Folks would assume, "I can do this or I can do that", but Snooks wouldn't. There was nothing he couldn't do. It was extraordinary." Eaglin was scheduled to perform at April's (09) New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. His survivors include his wife of more than 30 years, Dorothea Eaglin, and a daughter.

A mainstay of the New Orleans jazz and blues scene, Snooks was considered a guitar hero by many. One of his many sessions included working on the first Wild Magnolias album, with the late keyboardist WILLIE TEE and his group THE GATURS. The Wild Magnolias themselves were a group of Mardi Gras Indians led by Bo Dollis, and they handle the vocals and percussion. This track is a funky version of a traditional New Orleans song, with a reggae feel. Note the excellent guitar licks of Snooks, and bass playing by Julius Farmer.

Song : "Meet The Boys (On The Battlefront)" by The Wild Magnolias
From the CD "THE WILD MAGNOLIAS" (Barclay) (recorded 1973, released 1974) ; track was not on original LP, but on CD reissue

LINEUP :
The Wild Magnolias (Bo Dollis, Monk Boudreaux, 'Gator June' Johnson, 'Crip' Adams, 'Quarter Moon' Tobias, 'Gate' Johnson, 'Bubba' Scott, James Smothers) : vocals, percussion

The New Orleans Project : rhythm section (basically The Gaturs with Snooks Eaglin)
Willie Tee : keyboards, percussion, background vocals
Julius Farmer : bass
Fird 'Snooks' Eaglin : guitar
Larry Panna : drums
Alfred 'Uganda' Robers : congas

LILY ALLEN : The Fear (2008/9)

Yes yes, Lily Allen. In the current state of pop music, this song surprisingly stands out for me. With a catchy hook, add some '80s synthpop and a Mockney accent, and boom : instant hit. But very crisp production, and fun lyrics, make it a decent chartclimber.

Song : "The Fear" by Lily Allen
Single A-side (Dec. 9, 2008) ;

also from the LP "IT'S NOT ME, IT'S YOU" (Parlophone/Capitol) Feb. 9, 2009

Get it here : The Fear

TURNQUIST REMEDY : Reno, Nevada (1970)

This one-shot group from LA was kicking around for a few years playing country-blues-psych-rock, and they finally made an album before splitting up. Mike Woods went on to play in the group, America (yikes!). This track has a nice rural groove to it, with sweet guitar playing, and Mike Woods has a nice rasp.

Song : "Reno, Nevada" (written by Richard Farina)

From the LP "IOWA BY THE SEA" (Pentagram) 1970

LINEUP :

Mike Woods : guitar, vocals

John Maggi : drums, percussion

Scott Harder : bass, vocals

Murphy Scaarecchia : guitar, vocal

Get it here : Reno, Nevada

DJ SHADOW : Midnight In A Perfect World (1996)

This is one of the main tracks off his classic debut album, using a multitude of samples. In particular, his use of a David Axelrod sample turned a lot of other DJs onto the producer. In fact, this album is in the Guiness Book of World Records for being the first record to be created entirely out of sampled music!

Song : "Midnight In A Perfect World" by DJ Shadow
From the LP "ENDTRODUCING....." (Mo'Wax) Nov. 19, 1996

LINEUP:
DJ Shadow : samples
Gift Of Gab : vocals

List of samples:
"Soul" by S.O.U.L.
"Outta State" by Akinyele
"Sower of Seeds" by Baraka
"Life Could" by Rotary Connection
"California Soul" by Marlena Shaw
"The Human Abstract" by David Axelrod
"The Madness Subsides" by Pekka Pohjola
"Dolmen Music" & "Gotham Lullaby" by Meredith Monk
"Releasing Hypnotical Gases" by Organized Konfusion
"Summer Breeze" by The Isley Brothers

Get it here : Midnight In A Perfect World