Tina Mason – Are You There

Tina Mason

Listen/Download – Tina Mason – Are You There

Greetings all.

Before we get started this week …

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It’s time for the 2017 Funky16Corners Pledge Drive.

Since Iron Leg, and the Iron Leg Radio Show podcast are dependent of the continued health of Funky16Corners, and continue under the banner of the Funky16Corners Radio Network, it behooves me to post these links here, too.

The pledging will also take a slightly different form this year, moving to Patreon (click here or on the logo below to go to the Funky16Corners page) , where you will be able to spread your contributions out over the entire year, which will help cover the ongoing server/broadcast/hardware expenses. This year has seen the upgrade of a couple of crucial pieces of equipment, and any help you fine people can provide will keep the machinery moving here at Funky16Corners central. So please dig deep so we can continue to do the same!

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The record you see before you made its way into my crates a few years back via the inclusion of an early version of the the song ‘What’. That tune, written by HB Barnum was originally recorded by Judy Street and went on to become a Northern Soul classic.

The version by Tina Mason (recorded/released shortly after the Street 45) is a slightly slower, more stylish affair, but still cool.

Mason had a short but interesting recording career, first with Tina and the Mustangs on Capitol, then on her one full album.

She had a certain amount of Southern California success, having performed at Disneyland and then becoming a regular on ‘Where the Action Is’ (where she met her future husband, Phil ‘Fang’ Volk of Paul Revere and the Raiders.

Her 1967 album ‘Is Something Wonderful’ was produced by David Axelrod and arranged by HB Barnum (no doubt the reason she recorded ‘What’) and features a wide variety of sounds.

Mason’s stuff walked the line between girl-group and soul, as well as a certain kind of sophisticated pop.

Today’s selection is a great cover of the Bacharach/David ‘Are You There (With Another Girl)’ (title truncated on Mason’s album), which was a hit for Dionne Warwick in 1965.

Mason’s version is a great showcase for her voice, backed with a lush arrangement, sounding like a kinder, gentler wall of sound. There’s a booming bass, shimmering rhythm guitar and understated strings and brass, with a female chorus backing Mason’s lead vocal.

The production by Axelrod is typically first-rate, and it’s a wonderful take on a great song.

The LP is apparently pretty hard to find these days, but it was reissued (with bonus tracks) on CD in 2008 by Now Sounds.

I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.

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Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #72

Why hello there!

Playlist

ILRS#72

Rod Stewart – I Wouldn’t Ever Change a Thing (Mercury)
Sweet Linda Divine – Young Girl Blues (Columbia)
Sweet Linda Diviine – I Love My Dog (Columbia)
Earth Opera – American Eagle Tragedy (Elektra) (45 Edit)
Little John – We (Epic)

Deviled Ham – Come On In (Super K)
McCoys – Beat the Clock (Bang)
McCoys – Like You Do To Me (Bang)
Ohio Express – Soul Struttin’ (Cameo)
Ohio Express – I Find I Think of You (Cameo)
Ohio Express – Try It (Cameo)
Super Dupers – Captain Marvel Jones (Design)

Ian and the Zodiacs – This Empty Place (Philips)
Richard Dawson – Apples and Oranges (Carnation)
Richard Dawson – His Children’s Parade (Carnation)
Christmas Spirit – Will You Still Believe In Me (White Whale)
Buzz Clifford – I See I Am (Dot)
Buzz Clifford – I Am the River (Dot)

Listen/Download -Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #72 – 157MB/256kbps

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Greetings all.

Welcome to this month’s episode of the Iron Leg Radio Show.

 

This month I have a very groovy collection of new and recent arrivals, going in all directions at once, treading on the borders of prog, digging into beat, psych, freakbeat, popsike, and baroque pop.

There are some very groovy things herein, as well as what I hope will be some surprises.

As always, I hope you dig it, and I’ll see you next week.

Make sure you subscribe to the podcast in iTunes!

Peace

Larry

 

PS Head over to Funky16Corners

Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #50

Why hello there!

Playlist

The Bold – Gotta Get Some (Cameo)
Jaywalkers – Love At First Sight (Laurie)
TJK and his PS13 Blues Band – Boo Goo Loo Baby (Parkway)
TJK and his PS13 Blues Band – Shades of Blue (Something Blue) (Parkway)
Waygood Ellis – I Like What I’m Trying To Do (Polydor)
Lee Montgomery – Season of the Witch (Liberty)

Norma Tanega – You’re Dead (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – Walking My Cat Named Dog (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – Waves (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – No Stranger Am I (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – A Street That Rhymes at 6AM (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – I’m Dreaming (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – I Am the Sky (New Voice)

 

Norma Tanega – Bread (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – Don’t Touch (New Voice)
Barry McGuire – Walking My Cat Named Dog (Dunhill)
Dusty Springfield – No Stranger Am I (Philips)
The Shangs – A Street That Rhymes at 6AM 
Art Blakey – Walking My Cat Named Dog (Limelight)

 

Dusty Springfield – Sweet Ride (Philips)
Feminine Complex – Love Love Love (Athena)
Dionne Warwick – This Empty Place (Scepter)
the Tangeers – This Empty Place (Scepter)
2 of Clubs – Heart (Fraternity)
2 of Clubs – My First Heart Break (Fraternity)
2 of Clubs – River Deep Mountain High (Fraternity)
2of Clubs – You Love Me (Fraternity)

Listen/Download -Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #50 – 155MB/256kbps

Greetings all.

Welcome to this month’s episode of the Iron Leg Radio Show.

This is – believe it or not – the 50th outing of the ILRS!

In a completely predictable move, I didn’t manage to put together any kind of retrospective/special, which is better because I wouldn’t want to do that anyway.

What you get instead is some groovy new arrivals, two sets focusing on the music of Norma Tanega, and some other greats from the crates.

As always, I hope you dig it, and that you stick around for the next 50.

See you next week.

Peace

Larry

 

PS Head over to Funky16Corners

Return of the Au Go Go Mixes!

Iron Leg Digital Trip Number Five – The Party

Playlist

1 Henry Mancini (The Party OST) – The Party (vocal) (RCA)
2 Keith Mansfield – Boogaloo (CBS)
3 Enoch Light – Over Under Sideways Down (Project 3)
4 Moe Koffman – Dr Swahili (Jubilee)
5 Mr Jamo – Shake What You Brought With You Pt1 (SSS Intl)
6 Dick Hyman – The Liquidators (Command)
7 Walter Wanderley – Kee Ka Roo (Verve)
8 Sweet Charity OST – The Pompeii Club (Rich Man’s Frug) (Decca)
9 John Philip Soul & his Stone Marching Band – That Memphis Thing (Pepper)
10 Andre Brasseur – The Duck (Palette)
11 Tony Newman – Soul Thing (Parrot)
12 Jimmy Caravan – Look Into the Flower (Vault)
13 Vic Mizzy (Don’t Make Waves OST) – Vox Box (MGM)
14 New London Rhythm & Blues Band – Soul Stream (Vocalion)
15 Dave Grusin (Candy OST) – Ascension to Virginity (ABC)
16 Henry Mancini (the Party OST) – The Party (instr) (RCA)

Listen/Download 46MB Mixed MP3 – MP3

Iron Leg Digital Trip #32 – A Not Unpleasing Splash of Colour

Playlist

Keith Mansfield – Soul Thing (Pronit)
101 Strings – Jesus Christ Superstar (edit) (Alshire)
Jimmy Smith – The Cat (45 edit) (Verve)
Enoch Light – C’Mon and Swim (Command)
Living Strings – Out and About (Camden)
Mariano and the Unbelievables – Sunshine Superman (Capitol)
Lady Nelson and the Lords – Soho Strut (Dunhill)
Louis Bellson – The Eel (Project 3)
Quincy Jones – Mohair Sam (Mercury)
Lloyd Green – Steel Blue (Chart)
Mike Sharpe – Spook A Lou (Liberty)
Dave Pike Set – You’ve Got the Feeling (Wagram)
Vic Mizzy – Daybreak In Malibu (MGM)
Andre Brasseur – Pow Pow (MFP)
Virtues – Meditation of the Soul (Andee)
Enoch Light – Bond Street (Project 3)
New London Rhythm and Blues Band – Soul Mate (Vocalion)
Freddie Scott and the Seven Steps – It’s Not Unusual (Marlin)
101 Strings – Spinning Wheel (Alshire)
Mohawks – Baby Hold On Pt2 (Cotillion)
Moe Koffman – Funky Monkey (Jubilee)
US Air Force Academy Falconaires – Day Tripper (USAFA)
Keith Mansfield – Funky Fanfare (KPM)

Listen/Download 102MB/256K Mixed Mp3

 

Greetings all.

This week sees the return (by special request) of two of my favorite Iron Leg Digital Trip mixes, #5 and #32, aka The Au Go Go Mixes.

The yearly Funky16Corners Pledge Drive is underway, and since Iron Leg is an important part of the Funky16Corners Blogcasting Network, and depends on the same paid storage space in which to function, I thought it made sense to tie this blog in with the goings on at that (blog).

If you dig what we do here (or there,or in both places) fall by Funky16Corners, click on the Paypal button and drop a coin (or two) in the jukebox (as it were).

It will be greatly appreciated.

Iron Leg Digital Trips numbers 5 and 32 really do belong together, with the latter being intended as a sequel to the former.
They are my take on the Au Go Go vibe of the swinging 60s, with all manner of groovy stuff stitched together from soundtracks, library music, jazz, pop, soul, funk and kitsch.

You can read the original manifesto here.

So mix yourselves up a cocktail, pull down the ones and zeros and I’ll be back next week with some garage punk.

Peace

Larry

 

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.

Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #37

Beep beep beep beep…..

Playlist

Alan Hawkshaw/Keith Mansfield – Action Scene (KPM)
Bobby Fuller Four – Gallancamps Shoes Commercial
Bobby Fuller Four – Let Her Dance (Mustang)
Bobby Fuller Four – Another Sad and Lonely Night (Mustang)
Bobby Fuller Four – KHJ Big Kahuna Theme
Bobby Fuller Four – Take My Word (Mustang)
Bobby Fuller Four – Never To Be Forgotten (Mustang)
Bobby Fuller Four – KRLA King of the Wheels Theme

Free Design – 2002 a Hit Song (Project 3)
Free Design – Kites are Fun (Project 3)
Free Design – Butterflies are Free (Project 3)
Free Design – Bubbles (Project 3)
Free Design – California Dreaming (Project 3)
Free Design – Eleanor Rigby (Project 3)
Free Design – Kije’s Ouija (Project 3)
Free Design – Where Do I Go (Project 3)
Free Design – My Brother Woody (Project 3)
Free Design – Stay Another Season (Project 3)
Free Design – Windows of the World (Project 3)
Free Design – I Found Love (Project 3)
Free Design – Jack In the Box Commercial

Paul Butterfield Blues Band – Mary Mary (Elektra)
Dave Clark Five – All Night Long (Epic)
Glen Campbell – Bowling Green (Capitol)
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – These Days (Liberty)
Donovan – Tangerine Puppet (Hickory)
Jake Thackray – The Black Swan (Philips)
The Beach Boys – Feel Flow (Brother/WB)
The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up (Brother/WB)
The Beach Boys – Til I Die (Brother/WB)

 

 

Listen/Download -Iron Leg Radio Show Episode 37 – 172MB/256kbps

Greetings all.

Welcome to this month’s episode of the Iron Leg Radio Show.

This month you get a set of groovers by the Bobby Fuller Four, a look at the sounds of one of my favorite pop groups, the Free Design as well as a set of new arrivals.

I hope you dig it all, and if you’re new to the Iron Leg Radio Show, take a dip in the archive.

See you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

PS Head over to Funky16Corners

Hal David RIP – Jackie DeShannon – Come and Get Me

Jackie DeShannon

Listen/Download – Jackie DeShannon – Come and Get Me

Greetings all.

I initially had something else prepared for today, but the weekend brought the news of the passing of lyricist Hal David.

David, i.e. the second half of the legendary Burt Bacharach/David* collaboration, next to Lennon and McCartney the defining songwriting partnership of the 60s passed away at the age of 91.

I’ve posted other Bacharach/David songs in this spot before (especially Tony Orlando’s ‘To Wait For Love’, I reposted the link to the song) and have gone on record saying that he team was responsible for creating some of the most sublime music of the era.

Certainly Bacharach’s brilliant melodic sensibility is what often made the first impression, but it was Hal David’s ability to construct lyrics that turned his baroque flights of fancy into memorable pop songs that made their’s such a powerful creative union.

The tune I bring you today is one of several songs the pair wrote for Jackie DeShannon in the 60s.

‘Come and Get Me’, recorded in 1966 was an emotionally powerful tour de force and a testament to Bacharach and David not only as songwriters but as record makers/auteurs as well.

Written and produced by the pair, and arranged by Bacharach, ‘Come and Get Me’ shows the kind of artistic heights the pair could reach when they matched a singer to a song, and then built up a sound around them.

I always found DeShannon particularly interesting in this respect because she got her start as a songwriter herself, yet found her greatest measure of fame as a performer, particularly as an interpreter of other people’s material (especially Bacharach and David).

She had a great voice, but even that is tempered by the fact that Bacharach and David wrote songs and made records from them that seemed to force the performers into a mold (at least part of the way), i.e. the structure of their songs and recordings were so distinct that what you ended up with was often less a Jackie DeShannon performance than a B&D record featuring Jackie DeShannon (or whoever the singer involved was).

Listen to the competing versions of ‘Alfie’ by Cilla Black (arranged/produced by Bacharach in a grueling, marathon session) and Cher (produced by Sonny Bono) for a look at how strong the composer’s hand was in shaping the interpretation of his song in the studio.

Oddly, despite its obvious quality, ‘Come and Get Me’ barely scraped the outer edges of the Hot 100 and DeShannon wouldn’t have another big hit until her own ‘Put a Little Love In Your Heart’ in 1969.

That all said, it’s a wonderful record, great Bacharach/David, great DeShannon.

I hope you dig it, and I’ll see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

*Interestingly, also the second ‘David’ in that equation, preceded by his older brother Mack, who worked with Bacharach first

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.