Meanwhile in Memphis

This looks like a great film, about which I knew nothing until a friend posted a link to Facebook today. The great and the good of Memphis music appear here (I can't list them all here, you'll just have to work it out for yourself), and many of the sentiments expressed I have also stated or written myself virtually verbatim when trying to convey the essence of the abstraction known as "Memphis' approach to music."

Transformed Spotified!

Given that this humble bloglet has next to no readers, I guess this would qualify as extreme long-tail promotion, but here goes anyway. Yesterday, my elder daughter (it's always the kids first) informed me that the Linda Heck Transformed album is now available on Spotify! Check it out here.

I Found My Love in Memphis

I must have lost my mind somewhere. How could I have not posted the original version of this song, to which I have referred so many times in these pages? The formidable George Clappes, ladies and gentlemen.

Andy Kaufman meets Elvis

I remember seeing this as a dumbfounded 14 year-old, back when it first aired. I had no idea who Andy Kaufman was, and much like the rest of the audience, felt terribly embarrassed for him as he began his impressions. Then the Elvis transformation occurred, and everyone was stunned, as well as a bit relieved. This aired five months before Elvis died, so I guess we could argue that, as with so much of the rest of his work, Andy Kaufman was ahead of the curve, presaging the wave of tribute artists who followed in the wake of The King's passing.

Carry On London

So sphincter-clinchingly awful, you can practically hear the studio musicians cringing hopelessly as they hammer this one out before retreating home to contemplate suicide. I'm sort of surprised that this hasn't been dusted off to raise our spirits ahead of the Olympics, the Queen's 200th birthday, or whatever it is we're meant to be celebrating this year. And not a single mention of East Dulwich - despicable.

Robert Palmer Memorial Barbecue

Not sure what possessed me to do this, but working from home the other day, I was suddenly seized by a need to thrash this out very quickly over my lunch break. Wish I'd had the chance to get to know Bob better, but in the few brief encounters we had, he introduced me to a lot of sounds and ideas, and he was very funny.

Flaming Who

The Flaming Lips in rehearsal, attacking a condensed version of "Tommy" with gusto.

Unexpected find of the day

Have a psychedelic Friday!



This version of "Wind Chimes" is great, but I have always preferred the weirder and darker version released on "Smiley Smile."

Dread Zeppelin, live in Alaska, 2000

Unexpected find of the day

A short video of the Black Oak Arkansas compound, apparently discovered as the band was on the run from the police in 1966, having just been busted in Memphis.

Thought for the Day

How I Got to Memphis

I'm thinking maybe there's a compilation album in here somewhere. Presenting The Avett Brothers, with a harrowing tale of love gone bad, Memphis-style. The cello's a nice touch.

Scenes from London life

Another unusual Memphis song

The Cass Brothers, "Memphis"

"Lovely ladies, it's up to you and me, to make it in Memphis."

When The Levee Breaks

Founder's Day Parade

Because/You Never Give Me Your Money

Ween live at The New Daisy, Memphis, 2003

Camper Van Beethoven at Cat's Music Store, Memphis, 2005

Scenes from London life