Bust Out!

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Updated: April 5, 2018

Song of the Day:
Material Featuring Nona Hendryx – Bustin’ Out (1980)

This hardcore dance track, a collaboration between Bill Laswell‘s experimental pop/funk/jazz band Material and Nona Hendryx formerly of LaBelle, has long been a staple party rocker here at Infinite Jones.  It’s crisp, pounding beat, Laswell’s insistent, funky bass line and, Nile Rogers’ tough guitar form a firm bed for Nona to wail over.   It’s a dance track Rockers and R&B lovers can both dig.  So, dig it and Bust Out of the ordinary today.

Meet the Devil on a Black Night

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Updated: April 4, 2018

Song of the Day:
House of Freaks – Black Cat Bone

Our Song of the Day today is a pounding, frenzied rocker from relatively unknown 2 man band (guitar, drums) House of Freaks.  From their 1988 debut album Monkey on a Chain Gang, it’s the perfect song to blast on the 8-track in your Cadillac as you race to make your midnight meeting with the Devil at the Crossroads.  Crank it!

 

 

 

 

Carlene the Duet Queen

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Updated: April 3, 2018

Videos of the Day Starring Carlene Carter

Carlene Carter is Johnny Cash’s step-daughter and Nick Lowe’s ex-wife and somehow still not as well known as she deserves to be.  Her catalogue is filled with under heard gems but, she had a couple of major career highlights as a duet partner.

First up, this obscure Infinite Jones favorite featuring the even more obscure Robert Ellis Orrall from 1983:

Robert Ellis Orrall and Carlene Carter – I Couldn’t Say no

Next, we have this Country Rock Classic featuring her future ex-husband Lowe’s soon to be future ex-partner Dave Edmunds:

Carlene Carter and Dave Edmunds – Baby Ride Easy

And, here is a great Live version (apparently, it is from some Kid’s TV show so you will have to excuse the weird signage in the background):

And, since we really like this song, a slow version introduced by Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott:

All Hail Queen Carlene!

 

 

 

 

Soul’d Out

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Updated: April 3, 2018

Song of the Day:
The BusBoys – Johnny Soul’d Out

The BusBoys had a tricky concept to pull off.  Their service industry stage wear and their Black guys doing old fashioned Rock & Roll walked a thin line between parody and “um, I don’t get it”.  But,  their first album, Minimum Wage Rock & Roll from 1980 contained some strong material and manged to mostly pull it off.  They were pioneers in their way although mostly unknown ones.  They did have a minor hit with The Boys are Back in Town (not the Thin Lizzy song) from the 1982 film 48 Hours but, then quickly faded into undeserved obscurity.  This song, one of the album high lights serves as a Mission Statement of sorts and is a lot of fun to boot.

 

 

 

 

Duet Magic

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Updated: April 3, 2018

Video of the Day:
Elis Regina & Tom Jobim – Aguas de Março 1974

Perhaps you are familiar with this song from Art Garfunkel’s cover version which he translates as Waters of March.  It is beautiful but, it can’t quite match this, the original.  Elis Regina is one of the most beloved and masterful singers in Brazilian history and Tom, better known as Antonio Carlos Jobim is a towering figure of Brazilian and indeed World music.  Together they create magic.  Their classic album together Elis & Tom is in almost every record collection in Brazil and it should be in yours too.

 

 

 

Turn on the Endless Night

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Updated: April 4, 2018

Song of the Day:
Graham Parker and the Rumour – Endless Night

This frantic rave-up is from Graham Parker‘s last album with his great backing band  The Rumour (until their 2012 reunion),  The Up Escalator (1980). We are featuring it because it is a song even some  Parker fan’s may not be familiar with, a shoulda been hit that somehow slipped by completely unnoticed.  This is strange as it is a hard-hitting catchy rocker that features a guy named Bruce Springsteen on backing vocals.  Anyway, if you missed it before, here is your chance to catch up.  Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Where’s Aretha?

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Updated: August 13, 2018

Video of the Day:
Aretha Franklin sings Bridge Over Troubled Waters at the 1971 Grammys

Question:  Where is Aretha on this stage?  Her sisters and cousin walk out to the middle of the stage to sing back up, in front of them is an empty church pew.  We see a man’s hands (probably Billy Preston’s) in close-up playing the organ and then Aretha, behind another organ, appears super-imposed across the screen.  But, we cannot see her anywhere in the long shots.  Nor, for that matter does the other organist seem to be anywhere on stage.  Strange.  But, what is not in question is the beauty of this performance.  Paul Simon”s Bridge Over Troubled Waters swept the Grammys that year winning Song of the Year, Record of the Year,  Best Contemporary Song and Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists while the album took Album of the Year.  This was the first year the Grammys were broadcast on TV live so maybe they were still working out the kinks but, wherever she was, Aretha sure did the Song of the Year and, Paul Simon proud.

 

 

 

The Last of the Rock Stars?

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Updated: April 1, 2018

Song of the Day:
Elliott Murphy – Last of the Rock Stars

Elliott Murphy was one of the dozens of “New Dylans” back when that was a (slightly) more common thing.  As with most who were saddled with that designation, it was not very accurate and it may have hindered his career more than helped it.  In any case, his first album, Aquashow (1973)is considered a lost classic and is one of our faves.  Last of the Rock Stars is the lead off track and it’s a doozy.  It shoulda been a classic rock staple but, since that didn’t happen we are doing our tiny part to sing it’s praises.  Try it, you’ll like it!

 

 

 

 

Funny Jesus

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Updated: April 1, 2018

Video of the Day:
Listen to Jesus, Jimmy from Reefer Madness (The Musical)

In honor of Easter, The Stranger from the Manger lays down some good advice for you.