The Brits really had a way with rural rock. They absorbed bits of Americana and folk rock while retaining strong elements of their classical tradition and lyricism. Heads Hands & Feet were the best band to follow the The Band. Starry Eyed & Laughing did a nice job picking up the Byrds trail. And here's another, the lead track from Keith Cross & Peter Ross' wonderful one-off album, Bored Civilians. It starts off unassumingly but you start to realize there's something a little more special going on when they hit the lilting, sublime harmonies of the first "chorus" at around 0:50. Then drums kick-in as the song elegantly shifts through several parts, culminating in its staggering guitar solo (starting around 4:15) that lifts the song through its climax, coda and conclusion. Here, it's critical to note that Keith Cross was, only two years prior, the dazzling 17 year old guitar prodigy for the Beatles meets Cream proto-prog powerhouse, T2. Here, Cross trades his Hendrix-meets-Fripp pyrotechnics and distortion for something far more restrained and understated. That he is able to retain such emotional intensity with such restraint is testimony to his genius. It's not clear what happened to him after this album...
Track of the Day: "Headache for Michelle," the Au Pairs (1981) →
#Trackoftheday. One the great post-punk trax. It has all the hallmarks of the best of this style: a tight, unstoppable, funky, dubby rhythm track, deadpan but intensely heartfelt vocals and atmosphere for days and nights. So evocative and hypnotic.
Track of the Day: "Like a Ship (Without a Sail)," Pastor TL Barrett & the YfCC (1971) →
#Trackoftheday. A soaring offering of Gospel/Soul/Funk. It has one of those rhythms and piano lines that feels like it could go on blissfully forever. Near "Black Gold of the Sun" level of depth. Holy stuff!
Track of the Day: "We Need Love," Johnny Osbourne (1979) →
#Trackoftheday. It's labelled "reggae," but it sounds like pure soul to me. I could imagine Al Green singing this, but even he wouldn't make it more perfect than it already is.
Track of the Day: "Somebody Like Me," Bobbie Gentry (1971) →
#Trackoftheday. Delightful sunny day song from the deeply underrated Country/Soul/Pop singer/songwriter, #Bobbiegentry. She was nearly Dusty's equal as a vocalist and wrote most of her (often sophisticated, intelligent and soulful) songs. Somehow never quite crossed-over into pop culture consciousness. She deserves to.
Track of the Day: "Midnight Theme" (Dopebrother 7" mix), Manzel (1979) →
#Trackoftheday. Sublime, stripped-down, and a bit quirky, spacey jazz funk. This is a rare kinda music that sounds perfect in warm daylight or late night. So simple yet so perfect. Haven't been able to get this out of my car for months.
Track of the Day: "Git Up," Brian Auger & Julie Tippetts (1978) →
#Trackoftheday. Fantastic funky, jazzy pop groover from Brian Auger and Julie Tippetts' underrated 1978 reunion album. Julie's in great soulful voice and the groove is as deep as anything either of them ever did. Motivational, too!
Track of the Day: "Vamonos," Elkin & Nelson (1974) →
Funky Soul-Folk from the Spanish duo, Elkin & Nelson (looking kinda glam-Romantic on the cover of their 1974 album). The groove just gets deeper and deeper as they jam it out, almost mantra-like, and then the drums kick in. Got this one on repeat throughout the morning.
Chris Squire (March 4, 1948--June 27, 2015) →
Chris Squire (RIP) was one of the greatest, if not THEE greatest, bass player in rock history: forceful yet graceful, unerringly melodic yet wallopingly rhythmic, virtuosic yet frequently funky. Not only that, but he was also a strong vocalist and a charming raconteur. While his work with Yes is clearly immortal, here's my favorite track from his wall-to-wall excellent solo album.