Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Basement Crates: 37 & 38 (& 39)

King Sun: Coming Soon (Profile, 1989)
I've been having a good root around down there (the basement) and found a stack of stuff which, as far as I can make out, I've not played since the last time someone asked me to DJ. As you can imagine, that was a tremendously long time ago (with no major bookings on the horizon, either). So, I think I bought this at HMV in Guildford back when the very idea of owning a hip-hop LP was exciting. It's hard to imagine feeling like that now, isn't it? That craving for more, buying stuff that you know almost nothing about, but you're willing to take the risk because you might just luck out. Anyway, King is still banging away, working for his next break. Someone more cynical than me might say that he should have got over it all by now and found something else to do, but I feel rather generous, so, good luck to you KS. And, if you're reading, can I just mention that while I like Coming Soon's "I'm acting silly, she's just a lady...", a lot, I think "A nice dinner, on the spaghetti tip..." might just be my favourite lyric of all time. So thank you!

Isla Cameron and Jack Armstrong: My Bonny Lad / O Can Ye Sew Cushions (Concert Hall, 1970)
I remember buying this on eBay when I used to work at a rather downmarket dance music magazine. All the people who worked there were lovely, but the people who ran the gaff were utter, utter, um, something else. Anyway, I instigated Folk Music Fridays there and I would play Pentangle and Barry Dransfield and Toni Arthur records. How the young people screamed with joy when this collection of traditional Northumbrian folk music slipped from the envelope. Anyway, it's full of nice tunes, so why worry? And, while we're at it, why does no one write songs called O Can Ye Sew Cushions anymore? What's wrong with people? All this nonsense about cars and jewellery and the like when the real question is, what are your needle skills like? Can you handle a whole sheet? Apparently, Isla learnt this song from a Mrs Mackay - a Scots lady. It's an ancient Scots nurse's lullaby. I think it's safe to say Isla had a fairly sweet set of "pipes" on her.

BONUS POST
Big Daddy Kane: Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (UPSO mix) (Cold Chillin', 1989)
In 1989 this was the sound of The Future. UPSO were Blacksmith, the late 80s and early 90s remixers of choice for nearly everyone. Sounds ridiculous now, but in a good way.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lordy i used to love "Hey Love" with Mr King Sun and D Moet. I'm sure I've still got the 12" knocking around somewhere. Just off to Youtubeland to find its palimpest. Happy new one and that.

Fire Escape said...

Hey Love is an absolute peach. "Crate diggers" need not dig too hard, as it seems that every Record and Tape since 1987 has by law to stock at least one copy. For reasons I can't remember, I was about 9 years ago talking to a guy that used to run Rhythm King. I asked him why there weren't more King Sun records on RK. Something about Mr Sun not being arsed to do promotion or "deliver" more songs, I understand.

Anonymous said...

I also remembered "Come Clean" by Jeru the Damaja. Language a bit fruity but a fabulous tarck.

Rob said...

Hey FE: He's not the most prolific artist, no. And, let's be honest. there is a whiff of the poor man's Rakim about him too...
D: Jeru's album is in the same box - expect some Damaja ackshun soon as...

D4NIEL said...

I thought the "on the spaghetti tip" line was really funny too. This is lame but I just made it, maybe it'll make you laugh :
http://onthespaghettitip.ytmnd.com/
neat blog. later buddy