Crossed Combs - retro, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, tiki and all that jazz.

In memory of Roger Eagle

Next Monday, May 4th, is the tenth anniversary of the passing of Roger Eagle. The nice people over at Caught by the River have contacted people that knew Roger Eagle, and collected lots of memories. All of this, and also including a selection of music from the Eric’s jukebox will be sent out to Caught by the River subscribers via e-mail on May the 4th. Illustration and graphics by Kavel Rafferty.

Roger Eagle played great 45s back in the days at the Twisted Wheel club in Manchester. Loads of obscure black American rhythm'n'blues and soul records were hunted down by Eagle and then played at the club. Later on he was one of the founders of Eric's in Liverpool, which has bands like Big In Japan, Echo & The Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes on stage more often than not. Roger Eagle was something else. Simple as that.

Read more about Roger Eagle and the memory pack over at Caught by the River

Set your phaser on blu-ray

April 28, 2009 sees the release of Star Trek: The Original Series, season 1, on blu-ray. A set of 7 discs in a box, with a total runtime of 1460 minutes.

If blu-ray is the final frontier or not is anyone's guess. But it's what's top notch at the moment. And somehow it seems logical to watch science fiction on a very modern format. I have not run that one by Spock though.


Read more about Star Trek TOS on blu-ray at Amazon.com

Sam & Dave the early years

Sam Moore and Dave Prater are soul legends, and very associated with the Stax label.  But they didn't start working at Stax until the mid-sixties. Before that, they had released two singles on the Marlin label and were Roulette recording artists. In case you've yet to hear those recordings, here's your chance!

This little-known 1966 album is actually a key collection from the career of this all-time great soul duo, as it collects the A and B-sides of all six singles Sam & Dave cut for Roulette between 1962 and 1964. Some of these were produced by legendary producer Steve Alaimo, and Sam Moore claimed that Jackie Wilson appears uncredited as a backup singer, too. This is vintage Sam & Dave, with Dave Prater taking most of the lead vocals (as opposed to the stuff on Stax). A very interesting reissue courtesy of Collectors Choice Music!

This is what we love!

Compilations of raw, raunchy, obscure and great music from the 50's and 60's. That is what we love! And here are two recent comps that we'd like to recommend that you check out. The track listing should make your mouth water and feet start tappin'.

Music to get smart by: Do The Dive Vol. 2 is a release by Jury Records in USA. Limited edition so don't sleep on this.

SUGAR & SWEET Do The Dive
THURSTON HARRIS One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer
SARAH VAUGHN Mama
LEON AUSTIN Turn Me Loose
THE IKETTES I'm Just Not Ready For Love
GINO PARKS Same Thing
BETTYE SMITH Much Too Much
HORACE SILVER Psychedelic Sally
BILLY STORM & THE TEMPESTS Apologize
BETTY HARRIS Mean Man
CRYSTALS I Got A Man
TED TAYLOR Somebody's Always Trying
ARETHA FRANKLIN Rough Lover
THE TROOPERS Get Out

Grandpa's Gully Rock - 25 Dynamite R&B Gems comes from Floridita Records, and contains some mighty fine tunes. Any compilation with Every Dog Got His Day by the late great Eddie Bo is worth its money.

The Zodiacs - "T" Town
The Ebonettes - Wild Man Walk
Larry Dale - Big Muddy
Jeanette (Baby) Washington - Move On
The Supremes - Don't Leave Me Here To Cry
The Off Beats - Have Love Will Travel
Larry Birdsong - I'm Pleading Just For You
Eddie Bo - Every Dog Got His Day
Arlando King & Earthquakes - Baby Only You
El Pauling, Royal Abbitt & The Royalton - Please, Please, Be Mine
Tiny Topsy - You Shocked Me
Pearl Woods - Sippin' Sorrow
Bobby Marchan & Clowns - You Can't Stop Her
Chico Leverett - Work Work
The Jaguars - Fine Fine Fine
Joe Tex - Ain't I A Mess
Lulu Reed - Say Hey Pretty Baby
Mickey Denton - Dance With Me Mary
Floyd Smith & Montclairs - Granpa's Gully Rock
The Metallics - Get Lost
The Utopians - Dutch Treat
Roger Ballin - Look'a Who
Lillian Offitt - My Man Is A Lover
Tal Miller - B-A-B-Y
The Valentines - That's It Man

We recommend Soundflat mailorder as a way of getting copies of these records.

Via Modculture

Oil City Confidential - upcoming Dr Feelgood movie

Today it is 15 years since the passing of Lee Brilleaux, lead singer of Dr Feelgood. We thought it could be a nice tribute to his memory to mention the upcoming movie Oil City Confidential.
Julien Temple is the man behind the Dr Feelgood documentary coming out this fall.

Roy Lee Johnson - When A Guitar Plays The Blues - Bear Family

The first, long overdue, collection of rare but sought-after singles by Roy Lee Johnson, the underground hero of guitar freaks and deep soul fans. Includes 'Mister Moonlight', known to millions by the Beatles but originally by Dr Feelgood and the Interns (vocal: Roy Lee Johnson) and the first version of 'When A Guitar Plays The Blues', since revived by Albert Collins and Roy Buchanan. Eleven previously unissued tracks including four by underrated soul man, Curtis Smith, Johnson's fellow singer-guitarist in the Interns. The most soulful of Sixties soul packaged with all Bear Family's meticulous attention to detail including a lavishly illustrated essay by über-fan and soul authority, Martin Goggin.

Everything he recorded for Okeh, Columbia, Josie and Philips is here.
More info at Bear Family.