our pals The Spires have a new album out and the cover features a photo taken by yours truly. it was taken last winter when they played on air at KCSB. it looks like this:

i’m proud to be a small part of this project. you can pick up a copy for yourself straight from Beehouse Records

here’s their video for Tam:

 

man, it’s been a while eh?  a lot has happened since our last entry, where do i begin?  

my son and i were living in Austin, Texas for about a year waiting for my wife and daughter to join us when they finished school.  

that was the plan.

well, life doesn’t always go according to plan.  

and thank goodness.  

the distance was incredibly hard to bear.  it was completely heartbreaking being away from the ones you love for so long.  so my wife ends up getting a job back in Santa Barbara, so we came back. and our only plan now, is to never do anything as ridiculous as that ever again.  

we travel as a team now.  

but anyway, i’m back in Santa Barbara with a new attitude and a new-found appreciation for this town.  now that we are settling in to our new place, i can think about getting back on the radio and posting my shows here for you fine people to listen to and download.  i will keep you updated, i promise. 

 

today’s track o’ the day is Bonnie Prince Billy’s beautiful take on Cycles
and just because i care…
i’m posting the Sinatra version as well.
enjoy…

love,
djmark

 Bonnie Prince Billy - Cycles: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Frank Sinatra - Cycles: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

i just heard the sad news that one of my all-time favorite singers has passed away.

Alton Ellis had one of the smoothest, creamiest, most soulful voices in rocksteady/reggae in my humble opinion.  rest in peace Godfather…

from BBC News:

 

Reggae star Alton Ellis, known as “the Godfather of rocksteady”, has died at the age of 70.

The Jamaican-born singer, who moved to Britain in the 1970s, achieved fame with a number of hits, including I’m Still in Love and I’m Just a Guy.

He was a leading pioneer of the more laid-back “rocksteady” sound, which came out of Jamaica in the 1960s.

Ellis was still performing until August this year, when he collapsed after a concert in central London.

His manager and agent Trish De Rosa described him as “my guiding star and my inspiration”.

“His life was the music and the stage,” she said. “He was getting a tremendous amount of work right up to the end - it was very difficult to get him to slow down.”

The Jamaican authorities are considering giving Ellis a state funeral, Ms De Rosa added.

The prolific singer, who began his career in the 1950s and fronted vocal group The Flames, was diagnosed with cancer in 2007.

Ellis underwent chemotherapy before returning to the stage, but died in London’s Hammersmith hospital on Friday night.

He leaves more than 20 children.

 

in memory of Alton Ellis, enjoy today’s Track(s) O’ The Day… 

 

 Alton Ellis - I'm Just A Guy: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Alton Ellis - Live And Learn: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

so i finally got around to hearing the latest collaboration between Brian Eno and David Byrne, their first in thirty or so years.  it’s good! real good! i’ve only given it a couple listens but i gotta say, so far i’m digging it!  i’m not sure why i’m surprised at how much i like it, afterall, it is Brian fuckin’ Eno and David Byrne. these two ain’t exactly slouches and they do tend to make magic when they work together.

the album is called Everything That Happens Will Happen Today you can stream the entire album HERE. oh, and today’s track o’ the day is the song Everything That Happens.  enjoy…

 David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

sad news today.
soul legend Issac Hayes died early this morning.
his contribution to popular music cannot be overstated.
R.I.P. Issac.

 Isaac Hayes - By The Time I Get To Phoenix: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 ”Sound of Young Scotland is dedicated to bands and artists of the early 1980s music scene in Scotland. Posts will mainly be visual -mostly based on vinyl artwork of that era- and will feature labels such as Postcard Records, Fast Product, Creation, etc. and bands such as: Orange Juice, Josef K, Scars, Primal Scream, The Jesus & Mary Chain, etc. etc.”

today they are featuring a photo and Orange Juice tribute i recently posted to my coffee du jour gallery on my flickr account. check it out.

 

 

a belated happy birthday to Steven Patrick Morrissey who turned 49 yeasterday!

we love you!

 

 The Smiths - Unhappy Birthday: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

oh man. it was hot today. my first triple digit day here in Austin. i tell ya, the summer is gonna kick my ass. so in honor of today’s heat and that which will undoubtedly come, our track o’ the day will be City Too Hot by Lee “Scratch” Perry. the song deals with the heated political situation in late 70’s Jamaica and is chock full of crazy rhythm and warped production, the sonic equivalent of heatwaves coming off asphalt.
enjoy.

 Lee Perry - City Too Hot: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Happy Birthday to Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA fame, born April 25th, 1945.
with sweedish pop being so hip these days, we’d better give props where props are due eh?

so let’s all sit back and enjoy this video of the german language version of Waterloo.
if only all pop music was this good.
happy friday all.


as a bonus i’m also gonna throw in the French version of Waterloo as today’s Track O’ The Day!
you’re welcome.

 Abba - Waterloo (french version): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download