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08-06-10 Footnotes
Show 245: Legacy of Chess Records and Danger Mouse/Sparklehorse Review
Listen to the MP3 Stream of this show: (link)
Download the Podcast: (Download the MP3)
1 American Idol is currently on summer vacation, but they’ve still been making quite a bit of news. The pop music contest and music industry juggernaut has decided to take its business to Universal Music and away from Sony. In years past, the show’s winners and runners-up released albums on Sony under the direction of powerhouse Clive Davis. Now it appears that Interscope executive Jimmy Iovine will become the new mentor. In addition, both Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres are out as hosts. Kara DioGuardi may also be leaving. In their place? Possibly Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. And, since it’s been years since Idol produced a Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson, hopefully these changes will mean more exciting winners as well.
2 It doesn’t look like we can count on an “Iranian Idol” anytime soon. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made a strong statement against music this week, proclaiming that it is “not compatible” with the values of the Islamic republic. Many are seeing this as leading to an outright ban of music in Iran and an expression of Khamenei's long-held mistrust of Western cultural influence. As rock evangelists, this attitude toward music is, of course, disheartening to Jim and Greg. For more on rebel culture in Iran check out Marjane Satrapi graphic novel and film Persepolis and the Cannes winner No One Knows About Persian Cats.
3 A couple of months ago Jim, Greg and some WBEZ listeners visited 2120 S. Michigan: the home of Chicago’s famed Chess Records. Unfortunately, this was a rare treat. Despite two recent movies, both the museum and the label often don’t get their due. Jim and Greg wanted to take an episode to talk about the history and legacy of Chess. During its brief 25-year run, it produced records by heavyweights like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Chuck Berry. That music went on to influence British rockers like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix. In fact, the Rolling Stones even made a pilgrimage to the studios to record with Waters. Here are the artists Jim and Greg highlight:
Muddy Waters
Willie Dixon
Chuck Berry
Howlin’ Wolf
Little Walter
Sonny Boy Williamson
Bobby Charles
Buddy Guy
4 A year after it was supposed to be released, Dark Night of the Soul is finally here. The record is a collaboration between producer Danger Mouse, singer/songwriter Mark Linkous, aka Sparklehorse, and director David Lynch. Sadly, Linkous committed suicide last year, as did one of the album’s contributors Vic Chestnutt. The finished product is disjointed, according to Greg. There are a couple of standout tracks (no thanks to Lynch), but he can only give it a Burn It rating. Jim agrees, noting that it’s sad that Linkous himself wasn’t able to sing more of the material. He also gives Dark Night of the Soul a Burn It.
Songs Featured in Show #245
Carrie Underwood, “Undo It” Play On, 2009, Arista Nashville/19 Recordings
Mahdyar Aghajani feat. Bahman Ghobadi, “Jouwani” Music from the Motion Picture No One Knows About Persian Cats, 2010, Milan
Muddy Waters, “I Can’t Be Satisfied” His Best 1947-55 (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection), 1997 Chess
Clarence Samuels, “Lollypop Mama” Chess Blues, 1993, Geffen
Muddy Waters, “Hard Day Blues” Muddy Waters 1941 – 1946, 2001, Document
Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats (Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm), “Rocket 88” 1951, Chess
Muddy Waters, “Rollin’ Stone” His Best 1947-55 (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection), 1997, Chess
Muddy Waters, “(I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man” His Best 1947-55 (Chess 50th
Anniversary Collection), 1997, Chess
Howlin’ Wolf, “Smokestack Lightning” His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection),1997, Chess
Little Walter “Blues With A Feeling” His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection), 1997, Chess
Little Walter “My Babe” His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection), 1997, Chess 1955
Sonny Boy Williamson, “Don’t Start Me To Talkin’” His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection), 1997, Chess 1955
The Rolling Stones, “I Can’t Be Satisfied” The Rolling Stones No. 2, 1965, Decca
Bo Diddley “I’m A Man” His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection), 1997, Chess
Chuck Berry “Maybellene” The Definitive Collection, 2006, Chess
Howlin’ Wolf, “Moanin’ at Midnight” His Best 1947-55 (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection), 1997, Chess
Foghat, “I Just Wanna Make Love To You” Foghat, 1972, Bearsville
Jeff Beck, “Let Me Love You” Truth, 1968, Epic
Bobby Charles, “See You Later Alligator” Introduction to Bobby Charles, 2006, Fuel 2000
Buddy Guy, “First Time I Met The Blues” Buddy's Blues (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection), 1997, Chess
Bo Diddley, “Who Do You Love” His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection), 1997, Chess
Dangermouse and Sparklehorse, “Dark Night of the Soul” Dark Night of the Soul, 2010, self-released
Dangermouse and Sparklehorse, “Jaykub” Dark Night of the Soul, 2010, self-released
Dangermouse and Sparklehorse, “Dark Augur” Dark Night of the Soul, 2010, self-released
Dangermouse and Sparklehorse, “Little Girl” Dark Night of the Soul, 2010, self-released
Dangermouse and Sparklehorse, “Every Time I’m With You” Dark Night of the Soul, 2010, self-released
Kevin Lyttle, “If You Want Me (Call Me)” Kevin Lyttle, 2004, Atlantic
Jimmie Dale Gilmore, “Dallas” Jimmie Dale Gilmore, 1989, High Tone
Pavement, “Range Life” Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, 1994, Matador
Funkadelic, “Can You Get To That,” Maggot Brain, 1971, Westbound
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