MONKEY PICKS

Apologies for standing you up on our date a coupla weeks ago.  Would like to say it won't happen again but it probably will.  Will endeavour to keep the Picks fortnightly.

So, a quick rummage in the lucky dip and out pops...

1.  Ray Charles - "Lonely Avenue" (1956)

If you listen to what Atlantic were putting out around this period, a lot of it was schmultzy teen-pop; this just sounds so "grown-up" by comparison.  Credit to Doc Pomus for the pen and Brother Ray for the delivery.

2.  Esther Phillips - "And I Love Him" (1964)

I'd be quite happy to never hear the Beatles ever again in my life.  But this?  Wow.  Almost too much to take.  She loved "him" a heck of lot more than they loved "her".  Truly amazing.

3.  The Ronettes - "Do I Love You?" (1964)

I can't believe cuddly Uncle Phil shot that woman can you?  Doesn't seem the type...  But in the world of music I'm quite happy to overlook any alledged misdemeanours if folk have come up with stuff as uplifting and joyous as "Do I Love You".

4.  Rufus Thomas - "Stop Kicking My Dog Around" (1964)

Dogs, Monkeys, Penquins, Chickens.  They were all welcome in Thomas' Memphis Soul Zoo.  Despite the title he plays it surprisingly straight.  Rhythmic wise it reminds me of Sam Cooke but it probably won't you.

5.  Freddie Hubbard - "Backlash" (1966)

Title track from the LP that also contains the Mod-acid-jazz-club classic "Return of the Prodigal Son".  In jazz parlance I guess both would be smokin' or cookin'.  

6.  Neil Young - "On The Way Home" (1971)

If you like your Neil Young you gotta get the just released "Live at Massey Hall 1971" set (comes with a DVD of the show too - but I've not watched it yet).  This old bouncy Buffalo Springfield track is stripped down to just Neil and his guitar.  "Tell Me Why" is cool as well.  And "Old Man".  And that's just the first three songs of the show.  (One thing though:  The cover says "Neil Young Archives Performance Series Disc 03".  Anyone know what 01 and 02 were?).

7.  Booker T. & The M.G.s - "Fuquawi" (1971)

What the devil is a "fuquawi"?  No idea but Booker and boys prove it possible to do funk elegantly.

8. The City and Horses - "Little Finland" (2007)

It's staggering the amount of friend requests I get from shitty bands.  Most go straight in the bin but very occasionally a little gem pops up that makes it all worthwhile.  "Little Finland" starts as Teenage Fanclub and ends as Belle & Sebastian yet has a homespun charm all of its own.

9.  Manic Street Preachers - "Underdogs" (2007)

If, as a young teen, Paul Weller was my older brother, since 1991 the Manics have been like a best mate.  This one-sided 7 inch harks back to the Richey glory days.   "This one's for the freaks...".  And as it was in the beginning.

10.  Pete Doherty and Carl Barat - "Don't Look Back In To The Sun" (12th April 2007)

Delighted to say your intrepid Monkey was there on Thursday to witness the "historic" reunion of Pete and Carl.  This single was the very peak of the Libertines - after the promising first LP and before the disappointing second one.  Pete and Carl's busked their way through 45 minutes and this one, for me, was the highlight.  Good to see Pete in such fine fettle too.  Keep it up.