North Fork Sound Top 20 - April 10th 2011

Imperial State Electric

1. Imperial State Electric: Leave My Kitten Alone
2. The 5 Royales: Think
3. Don Covay: Seesaw
4. Jeff Dixon: Super Bad
5. Louis C.K: Cell Phones & Flying
6. Jean Shepard: Many Happy Hangovers To You
7. Baaba Maal: Television
8. Half Man Half Biscuit: National Shite Day
9. Betty Harris: Cry To Me
10. William Tyler: The Green Pastures
11. Maceo & All The King's Men: Funky Women
12. Felt: Grey Streets
13. Joe Brown: Ain't Too Old
14. Smegma: The Sonny Liston Fan Club
15. Bob Marley & The Wailers: Stir It Up
16. Blind Willie Johnson: It's Nobody's Fault But Mine
17. The Tartans: Coming On Strong
18. The Blind Boys Of Alabama: Way Down In The Hole
19. Johnny Clarke & The Aggrovators: A Ruffer Version
20. The Edgar Broughton Band: Out Demons Out (live, Hyde Park, 7/70)

North Fork Sound Alb O' The Week

Robyn Hitchcock: Tromsø, Kaptein

North Fork Sound Legend Of The Month

Canned Heat

Last Week's Listener Favourites
The Band: 4% Pantomime
Bobby Charles: Grow Too Old
Carlton Alphonso: I Have Changed
Cliff Richard: Dynamite
The Clash: London's Burning

Ducks DeLuxe

Ducks DeLuxe: Dig It Deep
Eddie Hinton: Here I Am
The Flamin' Groovies: Shake Some Action
Fairport Convention: Si Tu Dois Partir
Flowered Up: Weekender
Gamelan Gong Sekar Anjar: Pemungkah
The Grateful Dead: It's All Over Now

Guadalcanal Diary
(l-r: Rhett Crowe, Jeff Walls, John Poe, Murray Attaway (far right) - w/ht & Kevin Patrick)

Guadalcanal Diary: Kiss Of Fire
I-Roy: Coxone Affair
Jackie DeShannon: Needles And Pins
Joe South: Games People Play
John Coltrane: A Love Supreme - Resolution (Pt. 2)

Louis CK

Louis CK: Currency
Michael Nyman: Pretty Talk
Mick Jagger: Memo From Turner
New York Dolls: Personality Crisis
The Ovations: I'm Living Good
Quickspace: Quickspace Happy Song #2

Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers
photo: Ashley Tanasiychuk

Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers: The Chelsea Clinic Physical
Teron Beal: Magic Mushroom
These New Puritans: Time Xone
The Velvet Underground: Candy Says

The Vigil
(X Factor, Andy R, Jo Connor, Gregg Maizel)

The Vigil: Whistle In The Yard
Willie Dixon: 29 Ways
The Wolfmen: Cat Green Eyes
X-Tal: Happy Americans
The Yayhoos: Monkey With A Gun
Zoot Horn Rollo: Cucamonga

North Fork Sound Top 20 - February 27th 2011

Robyn Hitchcock
photo: Michèle Noach

1. Robyn Hitchcock: August In Hammersmith
2. Dave Alvin: Harlan County Line
3. The Gibson Brothers: Dixie
4. Buddy Miller w/Shawn Colvin: That's The Way Love Goes
5. Bo Diddley: I Can Tell
6. The Jesus & Mary Chain: Bo Diddley Is Jesus
7. J.C. Lodge: Make It Up
8. Michael H. Price & His Bluesicians: The Best Ol' Fool
9. PJ Harvey: This Glorious Land
10. Eve And The Exiles: All I Want
11. Barry Biggs: Sideshow
12. Bob Geldof: Silly Pretty Thing
13. Irma Thomas w/Jon Cleary: Too Much Thinking
14. Clare Maguire: I Surrender
15. Beady Eye: The Roller
16. June Christy: Something Cool
17. XTC: Greenman
18. Julian Dawson: Gabriel's Hill
19. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx: NY Is Killing Me
20. James Blake: Lindisfarne II

North Fork Sound Alb O' The Week

Eden & John's East River String Band: "Be Kind To A Man When He's Down"

North Fork Sound Legend Of The Month

Lee Perry

Last Week's Listener Favourites

Bobby Fuller

Bobby Fuller Four: I Fought The Law
Bohannon: Bohannon's Beat
Brinsley Schwarz: Feel A Little Funky
Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band: Big Eyed Beans From Venus
The Drive-By Truckers: Pulaski
Eddie & The Hot Rods: Teenage Depression
Eddie Cochran: Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie

Elizabeth Cotten

Elizabeth Cotten & Brenda Evans: Shake Sugaree
Glenna Bell: These Days
Go-Kart Mozart: Fuzzy Duck
The Grateful Dead: Mr. Charlie (live)
Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me
Katy Moffatt: Stoned At The Jukebox

Lisa O Piu

Lisa O Piu: Simplicity
Lonnie Mack: Oreo Cookie Blues
Luna: Hello Little One
Marcia Ball: Strong Woman
Max Romeo: Iron Gate
The Maytals: 54-46 That's My Number
The Olivia Tremor Control: Glass Beard
Penguin Café Orchestra: Giles Farnaby's Dream

The Phobics

The Phobics: Make It If You Try
Procol Harum: Shine On Brightly
Randy Newman: Rednecks
Robert Wyatt: Pigs...(In There)
Sara Hickman: Mad World
Wanda Jackson: Thunder On The Mountain

Wanda Jackson

Wanda Jackson w/Dave Alvin: Rockabilly Fever

The Who: Relay
Willie Nelson: Nite Life

Dave Rawlings Machine

Dave Rawlings Machine w/Robyn Hitchcock
'Television'
Bowery Ballroom, NYC - June 3, 2010

North Fork Sound Top 20 - March 7 '10

Gene Casey
photo: Liz Malone

1. Gene Casey: Come Home With Me
2. Carlene Carter: Spider Lace
3. Johnny Otis: Willie And The Hand Jive
4. The Real Kids: Reggae Reggae
5. I-Roy: The First Cut Is The Deepest
6. The Wolfmen: Cecilie
7. Laura Cantrell: Kitty Wells' Dresses
8. The Beach Boys: Surfer Girl (vocals only)
9. Ersi Arvizu: Cruisin' To The Hop
10. Annette Peacock: Over.
11. Ike & Tina Turner: I Love Baby
12. The Smoke Fairies: Gastown
13. Joe Hampton & The Kingpins: Wheel Loose
14. The Gourds: Luddite
15. Carl Sagan feat. Stephen Hawking: A Glorious Dawn
16. Booker T Averhart & The Mustangs: Take Your Shoes Off Pt. 1
17. Billie Jo Spears: Get Behind Me Satan And Push
18. Kenny Hamber: Show Me Your Monkey
19. Ronnie Dawson: Chili Pepper Mama
20. Lou Reed: Doin' The Things That We Want To

North Fork Sound Alb O' The Week
Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3: Propellor Time

North Fork Sound Legend Of The Month
Captain Beefheart / Don Van Vliet
photo uploaded to Last.fm by Anastasia

Last Week's Listener Favourites
Addie Brik: Iwe

Angus Khan: Mr. Living Dead
Anne Peebles: I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down
Billy Bremner: Keep This House Rockin'
Billy Fury: Turn My Back On You
Bob Dylan: Ugliest Girl In The World
Count Basie & His Orchestra: Hang On Sloopy
The Damned: Problem Child
The Dandy Warhols: I Am Over It
Dip feat. Emiliana Torrini: Come Out
Eddie Cochran: Fourth Man Theme
Eric Clapton & Jimmy Page: Freight Loader
Ersi Arvizu: En El Tambo
The Faces: Ooh La La
Galactic w/Josh Cohen & Scully: Liquor Pang
Hamell On Trial w/Ani DiFranco: All That Was Said
Hayseed Dixie: Bohemian Rhapsody
Hot Chocolate: You Sexy Thing
Jerry Lee Lewis: What'd I Say
Joe Hampton & The Kingpins: '53 Merc
Johnny Rivers: Willie And The Hand Jive
Leonard Cohen: The Future
Lloyd & Patsy: Do It Sweet
Lulu: I'll Come Running Over
Madness: Dust Devil (Ashley Beedle Warbox remix)
Martin Belmont w/Johnny Nicky: Time For The Sun To Rise
Mickey Newbury: Frisco Depot
Roky Erickson with Okkervil River: Goodbye Sweet Dreams
The Rolling Stones: Little T&A
The Rolling Stones: Salt Of The Earth (live)

The Screaming Blue Messiahs
The Ritz, NYC
photo: ht

The Screaming Blue Messiahs: Twin Cadillac Valentine
The Star Spangles: I Don't Wanna Be Crazy Anymore
Tony Joe White w/Shelby Lynne: Can't Go Back Home
Toots & The Maytals: Louie Louie
The Ventures: Ram-Bunk-Shush

'Saturday Groovers'

Robyn Hitchcock - "Saturday Groovers"
Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY
July 11th '08

Robyn's new, and probably best album - ever - 'Goodnight Oslo' will be released February 17th on the always reliable YepRoc Records. The album features the Venus 3 (Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey and Bill Rieflin, + guests) and there's a killer version of this song on it.

Robyn Hitchcock

Robyn Hitchcock
Broadway @ 76th St, Nov 23rd '08
photo: ht

Last Saturday, Robyn Hitchcock performed (1984's) 'I Often Dream Of Trains' album at Symphony Space, along with a couple of tunes from his stunning new album 'Goodnight Oslo' (YepRoc Records, Feb/09). (Tune in to the station and hear the occasional NoFoSo exclusive between now and then). Robyn was brilliantly backed up by "Detective Inspector" Terry Edwards, "Captain" Tim Keegan and (occasionally) fellow cast-mates from Jonathan Demme's 'Rachel Getting Married', Iraqi trumpeter, Amir El Saffar and Syrian vocalist, Gaida Hinnawi. The show was filmed by John Edginton for the Sundance channel/dvd and 2009 will see Robyn on the road starting in the UK (Feb 5th - 19th), with trips to Australia and the US - in April - with the Venus 3 (Peter Buck, Bill Reiflin and Scott McCaughey). There's festivals lined up and talk of another US tour later in the year so one thing you can rely on, there'll be quite a few opportunities to see one of England's deepest and thoroughly see-worthy songwriters.
Last time he was in town, Robyn played the Manhattan Center with Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello and, after a quick change of shirt, zoomed downtown to the Knitting Factory where the music, poetry and art of Captain Beefheart was being honored by folks like Fast 'n' Bulbous, Alan Vega, Danny Fields and Kurt Loder. Robyn and Beefheart guitar-God/Monster Gary Lucas wrapped up the event performing 'Sure 'Nuff 'N' Yes I Do', 'China Pig' and 'Click Clack'.

Gary Lucas & Robyn Hitchcock
'Click Clack'
Knitting Factory, NYC April 9th 2008

Robyn Hitchcock

Robyn Hitchcock - "Queen Elvis"
The Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY,
July 11th '08

Robyn Hitchcock

Robyn Hitchcock
The Steven Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY
July 11th '08

"Heart Of The City"

Elvis, Nick & Robyn,
Manhattan Center, April 9th '08

Nick Lowe and Robyn Hitchcock played contrasting sets in the Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom, this past Wednesday night. Robyn's was bent, cerebral and had moments of righteous clarity while Nick's was brilliant, uncluttered pop with the occasional pervy twinge. They each backed themselves with just an acoustic guitar and both their voices get purer and better with age. Highlights of Robyn's set were Full Moon In My Soul, Daisy Bomb, Glass Hotel and a new commission called (I think) 'I Declare', honouring the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. Apparently, David Crosby was invited to supply a song to be sung at a festival in Holland but couldn't get it together.
Nick's set focused mainly on his YepRoc years and included I Trained Her To Love Me, Shelley My Love, Soulful Wind, The Beast In Me, Has She Got A Friend, When I Write The Book, Man That I've Become, Lately I've Let Things Slide, People Change, Long Limbed Girl, Cruel To Be Kind, (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding and I Knew The Bride. He debuted a tune called 'I Read A Lot' and for his encore brought out Robyn to assist him on a spin through Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' 'Hungry For Love'. Next, he brought out Elvis Costello for Indoor Fireworks and then they all did The Beatles' 'If I Fell' and Elvis Presley's 'Mystery Train'. A very successful, satisfying show and the audience left happy.
Robyn wasn't finished though, and after a change of shirt, a glass of wine and some handshakes, he sped off downtown to the Knitting Factory where Gary Lucas was curating 'A Celebration of the Music, Poetry and Art of Don Van Vliet', who is known to most as Captain Beefheart. A surprise guest, Robyn joined Gary and his National Steel on-stage to perform 'China Pig', 'Sure Nuff 'N' Yes I Do' and 'Click Clack' to the delight of the punters that were still there after a long night of Beefheartian artistry. Sadly, we missed Alan Vega reciting 'Orange Claw Hammer' but Gary said he done it good, Brooklyn-style.

Gary Lucas
23rd Street, 2000

Ian McLagan

David Greenberger, Ian McLagan, ht & Robyn Hitchcock
Kennedy's, NYC, April '02

Got a new cd - Never Say Never - from Ian McLagan in the mail, yesterday. The album features his usual crew, The Bump Band and this time, Patti Griffin guests on a righteous tearjerker called 'When The Crying is Over', no doubt about his wife Kim, tragically taken in a car crash last year. Glyn Johns does the honours on faders 'n' knobs and if you need more McLagan, he's all over Billy Bragg's new one, 'Mr. Love & Justice', too.

Mac, of course, first came to prominence as a member of the Small Faces. I became aware of them in 1965 when the band performed on 'Crackerjack', a noisy and chaotic kids' tv program the BBC broadcast from The Shepherd's Bush Empire. "It's Friday, it's five to five - and it's Crackerjack!" The show featured skits and competitions (where a Crackerjack pencil was a most coveted prize!) but, for me, the best thing about it was getting to see performers like Adam Faith, Billy Fury, The Who and The Spencer Davis Group in the early stages of their careers. When The Small Faces appeared, front-man Steve Marriott made a huge impression. I was 12, he was probably just 17. No one (in my tiny world-view at the time) had dressed sharper or looked cooler, and his voice - like Van Morrison's - cut through to the bone. He clearly loved what he was doing and, instantly, The Small Faces became one of my favourite groups, alongside Them and The Rolling Stones. Thank god my uncle worked at Decca! Back in 1988, the Georgia Satellites had Mac play some fierce Jerry Lee-style piano on their second album, 'Open All Night' and had raved about what great guy he'd been on the sessions (full of stories etc.), so I was always looking forward to the day when our paths would cross. 10 years later, when Billy Bragg came to New York's Irving Plaza with his Blokes, I finally got to meet Mac. Since then, I've run into him in Austin, TX a few times, caught him at ASCAP where he read from, and talked about his terrific book, 'All The Rage' to an invited audience, hung out at Kennedy's (a bar on 57th Street in Manhattan) and invited him to guest on The Star Spangles' 'Dirty Bomb' album. He's an immensely talented player, a gifted song-writer, remarkably funny, has stories for miles and can out-drink everyone I know (Guinness) without embarrassing himself. Diamond geezer.