Kano - Holly Dolly

Suspiciously familiar. Who knew it started here? Honestly, not us.

John Kongos - He's Gonna Step On You Again

Merry Christmas, everybody.

C&K Vocal - Ram Pristich Obrazu

Halina Frackowiak - Wodo, Zimna Wodo -

Ravi Shankar (4/7/20 - 12/11/12)

Shankar did a whole lot in his long life besides inspire and teach George Harrison, but this is still pretty cool.

Nancy Sinatra (feat. Hal Blaine) - Drummer Man

It cuts off a little bit at the end, but if he hadn't already said it in 3 minutes, he wasn't gonna say it.

Jacno - Rectangles

two early examples of the French synth/bubblegum hybrid

Lio - Banana Split

Cerrone - Rocket in The Pocket (live)

So many questions: Why would Cerrone ever play live? Who was in his band? What was the video supposed to be about? Why was the intro to 1978's live version of Rocket in the Pocket so much different than the studio version? Was he receiving radio transmissions from a year and a half into the future? This is just plain weird, if you really think about it.

80 years old today

happy birthday, you big weirdo.

5th Dimension - Puppet Man

Weird edit aside, we finally get to see a dramatization of the incomparable 5th Dimension recording one of our favorite songs, Puppet Man.

Barbara Mason & Bunny Sigler - Locked In This Position

Happy Saturday! Now go out and cause trouble.

National Coffee Association

I vaguely remember this ad from when I was a kid, and only because I remember seeing Cincinnati Bengal's then-quarterback Ken Anderson in it. What I do not remember is that David Bowie and Kurt Vonnegut and Heart were also in it. One reason is that I didn't know who any of those people were when I was that young.

Ghetto Brothers - Power Fuerza

This obscure landmark album is finally getting a proper reissue this month by Truth & Soul

Hansson & Karlsson

Our good buddies from Stockholm, the Amazing, were in town this past week on tour with Tame Impala. There was a lot of talk about their musical ancestors, like Mikael Ramel and Pugh Rogefeldt, and of course the father of the Swedish Hammond organ sound, Bo Hansson. Here he is in a rare television appearance with his old partner, Janne Carlsson, playing their composition Triplets. (There's also a guitarist, possibly Kenny Håkansson, Sr, but if he's playing, it's inaudible).

Denton and Cook - Quiller

Martin Circus - Je M'eclate Au Senegal

Before their 1978 hit, Disco Circus, they were a witty French prog band with a great sense of style

T.2 - JLT

late pass, etc. We're doing fine through the storm, btw

Terry Callier (May 24, 1945 – October 28, 2012)

Eye of the Sparrow

An inventive interpretation of our recent presidential debate.

Gene Krupa Quartet - Big Noise From Winnetka

great 1967 performance by the legendary drummer and his combo.

Alice Cooper - Hello Hooray (excerpt)

RIP Big Jim Sullivan

One of our favorite session guitarists and pioneer of the electric (or coral) sitar, Big Jim Sullivan died today. Here he is on an episode of Space 1999, doing what he did best for some weirdos who really did a poor job predicting the future.

Q & A with The Experience

5 Stairsteps - Ooh Child

Yes, it's lip-synched, and yes, it's their most famous song, but still and all, an incredibly compelling performance by one of the most underrated family bands in pop music.

Barefoot Jerry in the studio

Our good friend Morgan Phalen turned us onto this incredible band on our recent trip to Los Angeles. Here they are performing their stellar "Two Mile Pike" in Wayne Moss's Cinderella Studios for the film Heartworn Highways.

Street Life

It's difficult to imagine an historical period in which such flamboyant mincing could be used to depict the violent behavior of our nation's gangs.

Heart - Keep My Love Alive!!! (...and Barracuda)

Holy shit!

Inner City Jam Band - What I Did For Love

A very creative edit of a very creative cover version of the Hamlisch and Kleban chestnut.

A Number of Names- Sharevari

Just in case you didn't totally know, or weren't fully aware...

Catherine Ribeiro & Alpes - Paix

Our good friends Mattias and Sibille introduced us to this record on our recent trip to Stockholm. Kinda long, but worth the time. We guarantee it.

Turzi - Bogota

not bad, not bad.

Dramatics - Mary Don't Cha Wanna

The song of this and every summer since 1972. Written by the great Tony Hester.

HARUOMI HOSONO - BARA TO YAJYU

Hot Brazilian soul from one of the main minds behind Yellow Magic Orchestra.

The White Noise - Love Without Sound

How much do we really need to explain? !969 was a heady, experimental time. Especially for synthesizers. Just listen.

Patty Pravo - Il Mio Fiore Nero

Good Italian version of The Peddlers' "Girlie" from about 0:56.

The Peddlers - Walk On the Wild Side

The Peddlers take on Elmer Bernstein and Hal David's "Walk on the Wild Side". Lyrics!

The Peddlers - Tell The World We're Not In

After last night's episode of Breaking Bad featured the Peddlers' version of 'On A Clear Day', it seems necessary to post some of their other songs, for those who need a late pass on this iconic trio...

Whodini - Mr Magic's Wand

Their breakout single, and ode to local disc jock, Mr Magic. Produced by Thomas Dolby

Nine Circles - Twinkling Stars

We've been held up in Stockholm for a few weeks now, meeting good people and working on music, and DJ ing occasionally. Last night at Trädgården our new friend and Mariska Veres look-alike Tanya Byrne turned us onto this incredible Dutch rarity, one of three songs they ever recorded.

The Coasters - Soul Pad

Sequestered in an apartment in Stockholm, working on music, and relating very heavily to this song...

Thee Midniters - Love Special Delivery

Not only have we finally and at long last found footage of Thee Midniters, but it's also our favorite song, and it's being introduced by a young Casey Kasem. Talk about a red letter day.

FINALLY pt. 2

FINALLY

We've been waiting so long for footage of the Rotary Connection that even them miming and lip synching with this terrible hack of a host will do.

Madeleine Chartrand - Ani Kuni (Ani Couni)

Hot French version of the Iroqouis lullaby

Serge Gainsbourg - Love On The Beat

From Gainsbourg's 1984 album of the same name. Great song and video

The Bar-Kays (Mark I)

This is rare footage of the teenagers that had a hit with Soul Finger a few months prior, and would become Otis Redding's backing band, as well as STAX's second-string house band. Apparently this TV show appearance was taped the day before Redding and most of the band died in a plane crash.

Donald “Duck” Dunn 11/24/41 – 5/13/2012

One of soul music's greatest bass players, Duck Dunn, died last Sunday. Besides being the bassist for Booker T and the MGs, he also played on countless sessions as part of the Stax/Volt house band. Here he is on one of our favorite MGs songs, "Over Easy".

Burt and Dionne

Here's an incredible behind-the-scenes look at the inspired working relationship of Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick.

Maurice Sendak (6/10/28 - 5/08/12)

Here's a short that eventually became his last book, Bumble-Ardy. It isn't bad; in fact, it's fine. Thanks for all the great work, Mr Sendak.

Popol Vuh

While on a recent tour, Daniel broke his hand and was treated by a kindly doctor, Herr Langer, in Muenster, Germany. As the fractured bone was being set, the conversation inevitably turned to music, and the doctor was delighted to know that we were into "Kraut Rock" (his words). There was a lengthy discussion about Can and Neu, Faust, and Amon Duul II, but Dr Langer was surprised when Daniel brought up this band, one of our favorites.

Mick Jackson - Blame It On The Boogie

Maybe we need a late pass, but we're not totally ready to believe that this original version of the Jacksons hit isn't a hoax. It's a little too weird, to be totally frank.

Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind The Mask

Little kids covering Rammstein

Easily the best thing we've ever seen on Youtube. Pay special attention to the drummer and to the break at around 3:30. And the very end. Ok, just watch the whole thing.

Nohelani Cypriano - Lihue

Hot Balearic by way of Kauai. In a surprise maneuver, it turns out there's a promo video for this sought-after underground classic.
Props to our colleague Shante Sullivan from Oakland, CA

Harumi - Caravan

the Tom Wilson-produced original version by Japanese pop artist Harumi.

Walk The Night

We didn't know she did this live too! 12" release coming out this month.

New York Fashion and Skating

Tacko is where it's at.

Billy Joel - The Stranger

Cimarons - Struggling Man

Phenomenal Handclap Band and Peaches - Walk the Night

Our pals Gomma Records in Germany had us do a version of this disco classic. We had a blast working on this one.

Maya Rudolph

Maya's amazing, but I think I like her mostly because of her mom.

Mungo Jerry - Alright Alright Alright

Alright Alright Alright!

RIP Whitney Houston part 1

RIP Whitney Houston part 2

James Brown- World

It might be because we recently received a copy of his new biography, The One, out next month, but we've been having a James Brown renaissance period over here. This is an incredible video of his 1969 hit "World".

James Brown meets Alfred Hitchcock

Jimmy Castor Bunch - It's Just Begun

One of our musical heroes, Jimmy Castor, died earlier this month. Here he is with his band, playing his seminal breakdance anthem/psychedelic soul masterpiece/one of the best songs ever recorded, "It's Just Begun".
Footage courtesy our old friend Calvin at Soul School TV Archives.

Jackson 5-Life of the Party

Phenomenal Handclap Band "The Right One"

Our new video directed by Moh Azima.

Surfing, Skating, Hang Gliding

Jody Watley

Don Cornelius opened the door for Jody's career starting as a dancer for Soul Train, then a vocalist for the fantastic Shalamar and finally chart and Grammy domination in the 80s.

K.S. Chithra - Indha Vinnila

K.S. Chithra - Indha Vennila by Finders Keepers Records
Via Andy Votel via Duane Harriott

Sopwith Camel - Fazon

Happy 2012.