 Arkland Parkes, aka Drumbago, was an acclaimed drummer and bandleader in Jamaica from the late 1940’s until his untimely death in 1969. He was behind many recordings, performing with the Skatalites to Derrick Morgan and Justin Hinds & The Dominoes.
“The Game Song” was released on Blue Cat Records in 1968 and was the B side to Dennis Walks’ “Belly Lick”. It was produced by the legendary Joe Gibbs and is a bombastic number, incorporating a wide breadth of musical genres and joyous energy. Happy summer everyone!
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 1983 is often considered one of the greatest years in popular music history. There were landmark albums from Michael Jackson, The Police, Men at Work and ZZ Top, as well as notable debut releases from Metallica, Whodini, and REM. The year’s singles also showcased a vibrant mix of genres including synth-pop, reggae, country, and funk, which is especially notable when compared to what is on the radio today.
One of my favorite singles from that year was “In a Big Country” by the Scottish band Big Country. Released forty-two years ago this month, it was the 3rd single from their debut album The Crossing, and was produced by the legendary Steve Lillywhite. It had blaring bagpipe-like guitars and a catchy chorus, and the newly formed MTV network also featured a great music video where the band three-wheeled across the Scottish Highlands in search of... something? I love this song, it was always stuck in my head and I would sit by the radio waiting to hear Casey Kasem call it on American Top 40.  It’s only a matter of time before this talented young singer songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia becomes a household name.
https://soundcloud.com/callmebabynova https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dvThKiNFqpd5CVFCtJuFf  Long before professional recording gear became cheap enough for bedroom musicians to create quality recordings, major labels dominated the industry as they had access to the finest equipment available and the producers and studios that housed them. Typically, these labels would force musicians to work with studios and producers to help guarantee that their financial investments would find their way to the airwaves and generate record sales.
In the early 70’s, an MIT graduate student named Tom Scholz, who was working at the Polaroid Corporation as an engineer, started collecting and modifying various used recording equipment. Over the next four years, he created his own devices, wrote songs, and recorded demos in the basement of the apartment he was renting. After years of rejection, Epic records signed Scholz to a recording contract with the stipulation that he fly out to LA and work with an established record producer. John Boylan was the producer, but little did Epic know that Scholz refused to fly out to LA, and Boylan looked the other way while Scholz recorded everything but the drums from Boston in the basement of his apartment. “More Than a Feeling” was the first single from that album, and is considered one of the greatest rock songs ever recorded, showcasing Scholz’s engineering prowess and powerful guitar sounds, and Brad Delp’s brilliant vocals. We lost Brad Delp under tragic circumstances eighteen years ago this month, but this song and its unlikely creation will never be forgotten.  Back in the days when musical recordings were released as singles, and more specifically as 45 singles with a song on each side, it was rare for the b side to be the standout tune. Such is the case with this month’s classic.
“Sh-Boom” was released in 1954 on Cat Records as the b side to “Little Maiden”. It’s one of the first Doo-wop songs to break into the Billboard top ten. It was also the last hit for the Chords as they would have to change their name to the Chordcats and fell into obscurity.  This month’s track is an unsung gem from a team of legendary behind the scenes musical heroes, producer David Axelrod and the Los Angeles musical collective The Wrecking Crew. Featuring the tasty drumming of Earl Palmer and the always melodic basslines of Carol Kaye, this track is an interesting mix of funk, rock, classical, and all things arranged.
 2024 is nearly gone and as I look back on the year, one record that stood out was Lutalo’s The Academy. Released in September on Winspear, it’s a standout effort from a musician who deserves more attention.
https://lutalo.bandcamp.com/album/the-academy https://winspear.biz/  This is another great song from a hidden gem of a songwriter.
Enjoy! https://maddiemoon.bandcamp.com/track/hold-drifting-away https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbl4SV407owVdhoNzJUdWVQ https://x.com/maddieemoons https://www.musicbed.com/artists/maddie-moon/45056  “Oh yes, the bread feels wonderful Ricky…”
Get out and support Bubbles and the boys! #bubblesandtheshitrockers #trailerparkboys #longhauler https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bubblesandtheshitrockers/i-only-got-eyes-for-you |
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