A Taste of India

A Taste of India is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle, and anyone who's reading this should have some dinner there if they ever find themselves in my neck of the woods. sprinkled with a variety of Indian and Indian-influenced delights, this mix was co-inspired by my new friend Raj, who moved to the Seattle area about a year ago from Delhi.

side one:
01. Kookaburra - Cocteau Twins
02. Milk and Honey - Jerry Cole & The Stingers
03. Water Here - Bodies of Water
04. Hanji Mara Lalou Sa - Musafir
05. Song of the Nile - Dead Can Dance
06. Before the Next Teardrop Falls - Tracy Haung
07. Sarasamukhi - Ravikiran
08. Jaate Hue Ye Pal Chhin - Ravindra Jain
09. First Avenue/Sculptor Bird - Trace
10. Wash the Day - TV On the Radio
11. Chamil - New Bharat Brass-Band
[ listen ]

side two:
01. Sir Dukh Da - Saqi
02. Thegg - Mahjongg
03. Blue Midnight - Tatsuro Yamashita
04. Cobra - Martin Denny
05. Likha Hai Teri - Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar
06. Is This the Way the Tigers Do? - His Name Is Alive
07. Indian Love Call - The Marty Gold Orchestra & Chorus
08. The Golden Horn - John Barry
09. Khwab Ho Tum - Kishore Kumar & Chorus
10. Bali Hai - Monty Kelly
11. Aj Bhangra Punjabia Na Pauna - Achanak
12. Disco Tango - Albert & Jenny Armen
13. No Goodbyes - The Andrews Sisters & Company
[ listen ]

Tracy Huang

Artist: Tracy Huang

LP: Feelings
Song: "To Know Him Is to Love Him"
[ listen ]

I hadn't heard of Tawainese singer Tracy Huang before finding this 1976 record a few weeks ago, but she's evidently a musical superstar throughout Asia. You can read all about her [ here ] and see all her album covers on the Tracy Huang website [ here ], along with lots of information in what looks to me like Chinese. (Google "Tracy Huang" and translate the first entry for English version of the site.) "Feelings" features quite a few covers, including ABBA's "S.O.S." and The Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." On YouTube I found a pretty slideshow made by Alvin EH Tan for "To Know Him Is to Love Him" and an incredible music video for another Tracy Huang song called "Inside of My Guitar," in which she invites her lover to "come inside of my guitar." (!)

Tracy Huang on YouTube:

[ "To Know Him Is to Love Him" ]
[ "Inside of My Guitar" ]

Night Force

Artist: Night Force

LP: 7" single
Song: "Dance (Part One)"
[ listen ]

Here's a great Hi-NRG disco song from 1980. The record says Made In France, but I swear both those guys were in my 4th period P.E. class at Wilson Junior High.

Dave Burgess and His Caribbeans

Artist: Dave Burgess and His Caribbeans

LP: Calypso In Hi-Fi

This Dave Burgess LP is one of my favorite calypso records. I first found a copy for $2 at an antique store during a visit to my hometown of Yakima, Washington, but it was pretty scratched up. the music was great though, so I looked online and found some guy in Ohio who was selling a better copy for a good price.

If anyone reading this blog knows the phone number or email address for that guy in the striped pants, please let me know. I'd like to meet up with him in Jamaica ("They Never Say No In Jamaica"), where we'd look at each other with "Fire In the Eyes" and retreat into his bungalow all "Day-O" where we'd "Pull the Curtain (Close the Blind)" and make sweet.... history. But I wonder, "Will His Love Be Like His Rum"--intoxicating all night long? If so, I'll be a "Happy Man."

Fred Panopio

Artist: Fred Panopio

LP: Awit
Song: "Awit (Killing Me Softly With His Song)"
[ listen ]

In the Philippines, you can evidently indicate that someone is killing you softly with their song by uttering a single word—"Awit!" There's a spot somewhere in the middle of Fred's version of this song where you can actually hear him dying.

Hurricane Jones

Artist: Hurricane Jones

LP: 7" single
Song: "Don't Leave Me Baby (He's My Guy)"
[ listen in English ]
[ listen in French ]

the b-side of this single from 1981 has "Don't Leave Me Baby (He's My Guy)" sung in French, where the lengthy title somehow becomes just "Blouson Noir." by doing a little web searching, I discovered that Hurricane Jones has completely reinvented herself and finally released a long-awaited follow-up single called "I'm Everything" earlier this year.

Robert Long

Artist: Robert Long

LP: Vroeger of Later
Song: "Het Leven Was Lijden"
[ listen ]

Here's a nice song from Dutch singer Robert Long's first solo LP in 1974, following his stints in bands The Yelping Jackals and Unit Gloria in the 1960s. According to Wikipedia, Robert became a popular Dutch TV personality and news columnist in the 1980s and '90s. In 1998, a revealing collection of his personal letters about life, death, love, sex, work and various colleagues was made public in a book titled Beste Robert, Waarde Cees. In December of 2005, he married his Belgian boyfriend/manager Kristof Rutsaert, but sadly, Robert died just a year later from cancer at the age of 63.

Last night I discovered a mysterious letter written in Dutch that had been folded and tucked inside the LP cover next to the record. I'm assuming it's one of Robert Long's personal letters to his boyfriend, Kristof Rutsaert:

My suspicions were confirmed after I used Altavista's Babelfish to get an English translation:

The day comes dearest, the day The sun by the gordijneu, Dromeu which verdwjieu I weet that you cannot bijua. Become wakkes dearest tis slightly, Your hasen on the kussau, your mouth and daas between shadow on your qezicht. Up to morning dearest mischien, Now softly down Do not crack with the tredau: M' n ousbest cannot your zieu. Because tide and all audese dearest probereu telkaus, for our at verauderau dearest in a lady and a lord. Those altja tidy blineu dearest and never queaar do lijk; Never hartstochl let through themselves drijuen dearest except zoms zoeu. Nevertheless gaau we dearest our pace, If I was possible dau faithfully I with your because that wanted I that weet you nevertheless already since this way laug. Also without dearest also dau, kawik vau keep you without marrying yourself Tired jej minus woman and I your maw. Love dear is strong, Stronger daw we meuse. That everything tidy weusen with by the weeks the matter, and Sunday church. I open the windows dearest The street is empty and suffocates, I see you running outside lierste our bed is empty enkil. Now you gone are I to dream dearest vow what I and pocket had. To your lerug komau litfsie I dream alleau vow you.

[If anyone knows Dutch and can give me a better translation of Robert's letter, please send me an email.]

Mike, Else and Mari

Artist: Mike, Else and Mari

LP: Scandinavian Smørgåsbord
Song: "Menu In Review (Matvise)"
[ listen ]

Here's one (here are two, actually) for my Grandma Bea [1919-2001] . She was a wonderful, warm Norwegian woman who regularly made delicious lefse for my brother, sister and me when we were kids. I'm also especially grateful to Grandma Bea for not carrying the "horse-teeth" gene that afflicts so many Scandinavians, as can be seen in the photo below.

Artist: Mike, Else and Mari

LP: Scandinavian Smørgåsbord
Song: "Just a Little Lefse"
[ listen ]

Mike and Else gave up the recording studio mic just long enough for little Mari to express her passion for lefse on this nearly unbearable ditty.

Ottawan

Artist: Ottawan

LP: 7" single
Song: "Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)"
[ listen ]

Ottawan's 1980 Euro-hit "D-I-S-C-O" has been a favorite find for my 45s collection for over a decade now, so imagine how thrilled I was last week when I discovered this 1981 Ottawan single in the dusty bins of Al's Music in the University District here in Seattle. this one's guaranteed to get stuck in your head - and maybe in your arms and legs too.

Rock Out With Your Clock-Out

Here are some rock-n-roll songs to listen to as you punch your time-card at the end of a long workday.

ps. I've sprinkled the mix with some helpful tips for dog-owners.

side one:
01. Old Age - Rhinoceros
02. Love Is a Rodeo - Golden Earring
03. 1-2-3-4 Rock and Roll - Rail
04. L'Elite - Trust
05. Tricky - Floyd Cramer
06. Honey - El Goodo
07. Going to Try - Ten Years After
08. Hard Drivin' Man - The J. Geils Band
09. Human Drain - Gorilla
10. Nerad Mám Ráno Dým - M. Efekt
11. High On the Starway - Omega
12. Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie - Truman Thomas
13. Evil Woman - Crow
14. Sable and Pearl - Bloodrock
[ listen ]

side two:
01. That Woman's Got Something - Juicy Lucy
02. Shotgun - Billy Preston
03. Furthest Sense - Ride
04. Big Boy (Let's Do It Again) - Angel
05. Getaway - KISS
06. Bold Marauder - John Kay
07. Stark Raving Love - Jim Steinman
08. Hot Summer Nights - Balance
09. Lead a Double Life - Loverboy
10. That's a Plenty - Tommy Ott
11. Queen of the Night - The Michael Wynn Band
12. Love Life - Trevor Rabin
[ listen ]

Roberto Delgado & His Orchestra

Artist: Roberto Delgado & His Orchestra

LP: Olé
Song: "Andalucia"
[ listen ]

It's incredible, but on my last trip to Spain I packed that exact same outfit.

Orquesta Mondragon

Artist: Orquesta Mondragon

LP: Bon Voyage
Song: "Soy Especial"
[ listen ]

this 1980 album from Spain doesn't sound at all like I'd expected. as my mother always used to say, "I like it!"

All Ears

Artist: Various

LP: All Ears - 10 New and Original Song Hits With a CB Theme
Song: "Hey Shirley (This Is Squirrely)" - Shirley & Squirrely
[ listen ]

If I was a serious country music artist asked to submit one of my CB-related songs for this Radio Shack compilation and then I found out they also included this horrible chipmunk song, I'd be pissed. Of course, as awful as it is, I can't stop listening to it. 

Update from October of 2015: The good news is I've managed to stop listening to it. The bad news is that if I hear one more country star singing about his 'baby' and then opting for a rhyme by reminding listeners that he doesn't mean 'maybe'...well, I'm just likely to hurt someone. I don't mean maybe.

Artist: Various

LP: All Ears - 10 New and Original Song Hits With a CB Theme
Song: "L.J.'s CB Radio" - Oscar Ray
[ listen ]

Here's a better track from the same LP, but I found it helpful to study this glossary of CB Radio terms found on the back of the LP so I could understand all the jokes.

Don Ralke

Artist: Don Ralke

LP: Bongo Madness
Song: "Calypso Cubano"
[ listen ]

the music doesn't quite live up to that LP cover and frankly, it sounds more like 'Bongo Nonchalance,' but I guess it's pretty good anyhow. Other musicians playing with Ralke here are Buddy Collette, Jack Burger, Don Tosti and Tom Wofford. LP liner notes for "Calypso Cubano": A happy calypso wanders the streets of Trinidad telling amusing stories. He stops, converses merrily with a friend, and goes on his way.

Jose Roberto

Artist: José Roberto

LP: José Roberto
Song: "Cambios"
[ listen ]

José Roberto would appear to be a perfectly normal (for the mid-'80s anyway) Mexican crooner/heartthrob... until you take a closer look:

as probably the first male singer ever to sport both extremely hairy arms and a diamond-flower pinky ring on the cover of one of his albums, José Roberto, we learn, was actually a trail-blazing activist fighting for gay rights and the deconstruction of gender stereotypes throughout the civilized world.

Javier Solis

Artist: Javier Solis

LP: Romance
Song: "Copa de Vino"
[ listen ]

Here's a nice song from a Javier Solis LP I picked up in Guadalajara a few years ago. I know they give you cancer and all that, but has anyone else ever looked this sexy smoking a cigarette?

Janos Sarkozi

Artist: Janos Sarkozi

LP: Gypsies' Songs
Song: "I've Fallen In Love With Zita"
[ listen ]

I'd just like to know what kind of shampoo and conditioner this guy uses.

080808

Here's a mix tape I put together for my birthday on August 8. I've always looked forward to when my birthday fell on 8/8/08, but then lately I forgot all about the weird numbers until my mom called me in the morning to say happy birthday and she pointed out all the 8s. My brother pointed it out too, but he called at around 7pm.

side one:
01. Twilight - The Raveonettes
02. I Put a Spell On You - Arthur Brown
03. The March of the Black Queen - Queen
04. The Air That I Breathe - Olivia Newton-John
05. They Should Not Be Disturbed [Im Nye Nadio Meshat] - Vladimir Troshin
06. Dolores - Edmundo Ros & His Orchestra
07. It's the Love - The Breeders
08. Figure It Out - Doll By Doll
09. Love Can Hurt - Alla Pugacheva
10. Keem-O-Sabe - The Electric Indian
11. Tennessee Waltz - Silver Blue
12. You Call Everybody Darling - Patti Page
13. If I Ever Get to Saginaw Again - Leapy Lee
[ listen ]

side two:
01. Al-Medina - Sikhara
02. Luton Airport Parkway - Chevron
03. I Feel a Song Comin' On - Judy Garland
04. Ciao! - Lush
05. Red Guitars - The Bluebells
06. King of the Jungle - Bananarama
07. Write Me a Letter - Aerosmith
08. Surfer Girl USA - The Dead Betties
09. ADDISI - Allison
10. Leather and Lace - Stevie Nicks w/ Don Henley
11. Urphee - Claude Dubois
12. Love Letters In the Sand - Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra
13. Signs Along the Path - Blonde Redhead
[ listen ]

Eavesdroppings

Overheard when: 6:03pm on Thursday, August 7, 2008
Overheard where: intersection of 15th Avenue West and West Dravus Street in Seattle, WA [ map ]
Overheard who: a young man dressed in military fatigues talking to another young man in military fatigues as they passed in front of my bike while I was stopped at a red light on my way home from work.
Overheard what: "I figured out how to change the screen saver on my phone, so now when I wake up I see boobs first thing in the morning. It's been awesome!"

Esther Egli

Artist: Esther Egli
LP: Jodelzauber
Song: "Hansli uf Brutschau"
[ listen ]

If ever you're feeling miserable, just listen to this song. It will either make you feel 100% better... or it will make you decide to shoot yourself in the face. Either way, your misery will come to an end.

Ponytone

[ visit Ponytone ]

If you've found my blog and like it, you'd better go visit Ponytone, since I'm basically ripping off all their ideas. Ponytone is a "gallop" through "lush, dewy meadows" where wonderful musical oddities and ghastly beautiful album art are harvested. I'd recommend the Gloo Gloo Water Trumpet single, just for starters.

Uri Geller

Artist: Uri Geller

LP: Uri Geller
Song: "Mood"
[ listen ]

I ruined seven spoons and a luggage key while listening to this record last night. But at least now all my clocks are working.

My Little Movaddw

Here's a musical mixture I threw together at the end of July as a tribute to a computer virus that had been plaguing one of my favorite websites.

side one:
01. Rock 'n Roll With Me - David Bowie
02. Since You've Been Gone - Cherie and Marie Currie
03. El Comandante - Banda Sinaloense
04. Murda - Scarface, Nokio from Dru Hill and T.O.K.
05. Love's a Merry-Go-'Round - Juicy
06. I'm So Glad It's Summer Again - Larry Graham
07. Make Me Shine - Echo and the Bunnymen
08. Baby, I'm-a Want You - Shirley Bassey
09. La Casa In Riva Al Mare - Lucio Dalla
10. Miner - No Age
11. I'd Love to Live In Loveland (With a Girl Like You) - Wayne King & His Orchestra
12. How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths
13. Got a Mile, Got a Mile, Got an Inch - Don Caballero
[ listen ]

side two:
01. El Boss Dicho - Bow Wow Wow
02. Les and Ray - Le Tigre
03. I Should Have Known Better - Rajah
04. Where Did Your Heart Go? - Was (Not Was)
05. Que Cosas Tiene El Amor - Peret
06. Higher Than Hell - The Sleepy Jackson
07. Come Home to Seattle - Primo Kim
08. Day By Day - Jo Stafford
09. Give Face - Tujiko Noriko
10. Say Goodbye - Tonio K.
11. Find My Way - Cameo
12. Tingo Tingo - Alberto Dogliotti
13. Deeper Than Love - Antony and the Johnsons
[ listen ]