If You Had To Pick One Live Album?

If You Had To Pick One Live Album?

What would it be?

An impossible task would you say? Yeh of course it is but thinking about it I believe I can just do it only for atmosphere on full absolute and total power!

To be honest I’ve had a love hate relationship with the “live” recording. If you’re not there then how can you truly feel it’s presence? or is that the point? To feel like you are apart of recording, to be a member of the audience.
Other reasons against could be the tracks you’re used to, sounding less than vibrant or lacking in the arrangement they would receive in the studio. But this could go along way for some in enhancing that tune, to feel and hear a different version to what you have always loved. Say it be a little rough round the edges, or a faster tempo, different drummer, maybe even a full orchestra. I can see the “live” concept of a recording being a different buzz to many differing ears.

I don’t own many I freely admit, tending to steer clear of them or being a bit gutted when I’ve gambled on a record to only read on the back that it was recorded at a live performance. Off the top of my head I don’t know of any reggae or soul records being in my collection. Sure the jazz world is filled with classic performances. prog rock too, well theres gotta be some crazy shit going on in there for sure?

It’s only an idea and if I went through it properly, maybe I’ll come up with another.
But for a full on in your face bombastic “live” experience with energy in abundance, full crew of musicians blasting horns, sweaty vocals, pounding beating percussion and enough funk to propel you into the realms of outerspace. Then it’s got to be the one and only Trouble Funk. Rocking on the GO-GO Scene.

Trouble Funk – Say What! – 4th & Broadway Records – Recorded Live In London 1986

Side One
Gilly Intro
A-Groove
Funk By Numbers
Pump Me Up
Side Two
Let’s Get Small
Percussion Solos
Drop The Bomb

If you’re ever feeling down or instantly want to be in a party mood, this record is dug from the record shelf with one precise quick movement and placed on the deck, turning the volume to full throttle.

Now I’ve heard that their Saturday Night Live From Washington D.C from 1983 is better but I don’t have that but can’t image it can be far removed from this performance and it doesn’t have the final megaton Drop The Bomb which is crazy brilliant. You can’t help but sing along, bounce up and down and become one with the crowd.

You can get right behind the whole recording and enjoy the presence of this masterful group. Funk Soul Hip Hop Electro and buckets of percussion all fused together to bring the party.

Pump Me Up

Drop The Bomb

A close call would have to be Charles Earland – Living Black! Recorded Live At The Key Club, Newark NJ 1971

Rocking hard edged organ grinding from the keyboard giant. That organ madness especially from the 3 minute point.

Charles Earland – Key Club Cookout

Milestones

I know it’s very open for debate. Hard choice when it’s just one! Feel free to let me know what your contenders are, would be.

Thanks for reading.

All the best and happy vibes

Mike Mongos

Rory More – Looking For Lazlo – Sudden Hunger LP

Rory More – Looking For Lazlo – Sudden Hunger LP

Next project from pedal pusher finger wiggling keyboard master Rory More.

Been the soundtrack to my weekend and the perfect tonic to wash away the working week blues.

With it’s intriguing title Looking For Lazlo. Images in my head flicker, Who is Lazlo? I get the feeling whilst listening that it’s almost a story with that recurring harpsichord thing throughout the project. By the way what is that instrument? Could Lazlo be a playboy, spy, double agent? a funky fellow just walking the broad streets at night, a musician? Am I just thinking way too much? Yeh of course but that what makes a great record. A selection of tunes that conjure up stories and pictures in the music.

The only Lazlo I can think of I must add is Lazlo from Leo The Last? he was a weasel like fellow and a million miles from any cool featured in this soundtrack like record.

13 tracks too. Now that’s what I’m talking about. None of this 6 tracks for the vinyl and 13 for the cd nonsense which always gets my goat up.

Side One
Looking For Lazlo
Gabriel’s Theme
Sweet Are The Ways
Lost To The Blue
A.M Starlet
Lazlo Rides Out
Side Two
Lazlo Gets Close
No Air
Misty Atoll
Moving Through Shades
Free At Last
The Fond Look
Grazing Now

The title track Theme from Lazlo can only be properly enjoyed whilst dancing around the room in only your socks and underpants pulled up over your belly button shadow boxing like an old champion from an age long past. Barrel chested, slender legs, sparing with such grace and precision to every detail of the swinging beat!

Whatever mood you are in you are sure to come out the other end mellow, chilled and very relaxed . Whether its the laid back lullabys of the repeated “Oh Dreaming” vocal on Gabriel’s Theme. Or the floating in an imaginary world filled strings and sleepy vibes with the tune Sweet Are The Ways to poppy soft ditties of Lost To The Blue and No Air. Or nodding gently to the gorgeous sound of Cristina Di Bernardo plucking her harp on Free At Last.

Feelings of John Barry’s Ipcress Files, Ennio Morricone, Stereolab and Early Broadcast filter through and make this a wonderful companion piece to add to your collection.
Wonderful music, track after track.

Strings, feelings and images of better days.

There’s a big personnel involved with this project too. With his fellow Les Hommes members Tarek Abou-Chanab and Vladimiro Carboni popping up. Along side vocalists Anna Sheard and Gemma Ray. Plus you get some great instruments appearing. Not often you hear the bass clarinet in new music! Also the Harp, French Horn, vibraphone and a touch of Harmonica to name a few.

Believe there was only a limited number of Vinyl pressed so go grab yourself a copy as soon as. Nice heavy vinyl too I must add.
It can be purchased from JUNO or KUDOS or anyother good record supplier. Also available on MP3

Who is Lazlo? Well that is for you, Rory and your mind to work out. Enjoy this beautifully crafted work.

Rating can only be a 5 mongo stars out of 5. Top marks. An exceptional little journey.

All the best and happy vibes
Mike Mongos

Why Vinyl? A Documentary Short Film

Why Vinyl? A Documentary Short Film

This is a lovely 10 minute short film on people of the vinyl persuasion.
Featuring Phil Barton of Sister Ray Records, Abi Clarke from Sounds Of The Universe and the good man Raggy Ragnauth the man with his hands on all the quality TUNES on Raggys Off Limits Radio. Sign up for his radio show mail list here at Off Limits Radio

Made by Natalie Green. This is a sweet and insightful look at a passion, obsession, way of life and the prospect of a brighter future for the humble record!!

Documentaries on record buying are always gonna make me happy hope this one does for you too.

The opening quote

Somebody was trying to tell me that CDs are better than vinyl because they don’t have any surface noise……….
…… I said, Listen, mate, LIFE has surface noise.”

Film here

Easy On The Eye – Ladies of Easy Listening Record Covers

From the hundreds, thousands of easy listening cheese records you can buy in firth stores, charity shops and bargain bins for anything from a few pence to a grand sum of 50p one thing you can be certain of is the amount of covers aimed at selling to us fellas. Strings and orchestras under the influence of a band leader, conductor happily means you can get a sexy gorgeous lady selling the goods. Most of the records are pretty bad but I’m a sucker for a lovely looking girl smiling at me from the dusty boxes especially when my knees and back are hurting from the bending down record digging. So 50p for a sweet girl and maybe the chance of some super strings to brighten the day, the record has to be bought. Here’s a little selection of some of the records purchased over the years, some good some pretty bad but all have a certain charm that a vinyl junkie just loves.
Unfortunately the ladies rarely get a mention, so who any of them are? I won’t have a clue. Hope you enjoy the look at what only can be described as perv corner!! Hehe

The Latin Sound Of Henry Mancini – RCA
Jeez this girl is mighty fine!

The World Of Easy Listening Vol 4 – Decca
Not leaving much to the imagination, steamy. Not seen the other volumes of ladies!

Stereo Perspectives In Percussion – Marble Arch
Gatefold sauciness! Naked lady and a whole drum kit. Now that’s what I’m talking about. Photo By John Prosser.

Back To Brazil – RCA
Hello! Pretty good music on this one too.

Black Is Beautiful – Windmill Records
This has been one of my treasures. So love the design and used it as a logo since I first started Mad Mongos. Lovely lady, needlework and butterflies.

Stereo 99 Volume 2 – Polydor
Double vision of this lovely lady. Super cover design by Hamish and Gustav whoever they maybe?

Michel Legrand – Beautifully Yours – Springboard
Always worth picking up a Michel Legrand lp when you see it. Normally a few great arrangements on them. Plus some nice girls too. This record has some top tunes on, worth picking up.
Here’s three Legrand’s in a row.

Michel Legrand With His Orchestra And Voices – Lovers Concerto – Polydor Special

Michel Legrand And His Orchestra – Strings On Fire – Philips
Nice and bonkers cover. Sexy lady on one side, fire on the other?

Blues And Brass – Deacon Stereo
The exciting combination of blues and brass seems to have made this black chick rip her clothes off and grab a trumpet!
I love the quote on the back cover “A tremendous rhythm section! A terrific instrumentalist! A great brass section! It all adds up to excitement which is Blues and Brass!!”

The Hits Of Burt Bacharach By The Singers And Chorus Of Manhattan – Spectro – Stereo Dimension
Looking very thoughtful chilling in the ferns!

Gunter Kallmann Choir – Somewhere My Love – Contour
Wide eyed and fancy free!

Duncan Lamont – Summer Sambas – MFP
Everyone loves a bit of of samba when the sun starts shining and this gorgeous beauty would be mighty fine to dance with. As with all the covers there is no mention to the models. Photographed by Dick Swayne he did work for Duncan Lamont’s other lp below with the same girl on the same shoot day I can only imagine.

Duncan Lamont – Best Of The Bossa Novas – Music For Pleasure
She so nice I wanna see her twice! Unfortunately I can’t seem to stop the reflection when taking images of the covers so my hands seem to be an a naughty place?

Chico And His Orchestra – Mambos And Boleros – ARC Records
To march us out of here and finish the gallery of lovely ladies, here’s a dancing booty, shaking maracas, what’s not to like. Cha cha cha
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/madmongos/photo4-1.jpg?t=1394375390

Hope you enjoyed the pretty ladies. Not too steamy I hope? hehe

All the best and happy vibes

Mike Mongos

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