Iron Butterfly 'Get Out My Life Woman'

Iron Butterfly 'Get Out My Life Woman'

Psych-tinged cover of Lee Dorsey's hit single from 1967. As well as being one of the most covered songs of the era, the drum break from 'Get Out My Life Woman' became one of the most sampled beats of all time and the foundation for innumerable hip-hop tunes. The original is still the best, lean and direct song crafting from the great Allen Toussaint.

Holger Czukay 'Fragrance'

Holger Czukay 'Fragrance'

As opposed to trying to describe in a few sentences the ants-in-his-pants, forward thinking sonic weirdness of Can's main man, just check out the video for 'Fragrance' instead. 'Cool In The Pool' is  another solo effort that represents unbeatable potential for deck chair shenanigans.

Sir Victor Uwaifo 'Atete (Ekassa 38)'

Sir Victor Uwaifo 'Atete (Ekassa 38)'

Skillful and inventive guitar work from one of Nigeria's great musical exports, backed up by a patchwork of uplifting percussion and vocals. Soundway Records continue to rule the arena of afro-related re-issues.

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble 'Tightrope'

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble 'Tightrope'

There's not a lot left to be said about The Raygun that hasn't already been yelled from the mountaintops by his devoted following. A titan of the blues guitar in his time, this track is off his first and last solo album as a sober man. Having battled with serious alcoholism for the best part of the 80's, he released 'In Step' in 1989 having kicked the sauce. He checked out in spectacular fashion the following year, killed in a helicopter crash in 1990 - a sad but befitting end to a life walking the tightrope. Also check out youtube footage of the man covering 'Little Wing'

Swamp Rock, Country Funk & Road Songs mixtape

 Swamp Rock, Country Funk & Road Songs

A little mix for the open road...

Beaver & Krause 'Another Part Of Time'

Beaver & Krause 'Another Part Of Time'

Beaver & Krause were a pair of pioneering experimental musicians who tested the limits and capabilities of early models of the Moog synthesizer in the late '60's. They introduced said gadget to bands like The Monkees, The Byrds and The Doors. This track is taken off their 1970 album 'In A Wild Sanctuary' which also features a track called 'Spaced' - the end of which was the basis for the famous gliding synth soundtrack to the THX logo in cinemas. Another track off the album 'People's Park' was recently incorporated in an excellent mixtape called Purple Brain, for lovers of sonic weirdness and obscure musical marriages.

Erik Satie 'Trois Gymnopedies: Deuxieme Gymnopedie'

Erik Satie 'Les Trois Gymnopedies: Deuxieme Gymnopedie'

About as clued up on classical music as on advances in eye surgery here, but this little piano piece from avant-garde French composer Erik Satie is beautiful. Stripped of any pomp or grandeur whatsoever, its maudlin, reflective and uplifting all at the same time and liable to turn on the waterworks if you're in a delicate frame of mind. May also be conducive to beard growth and massive red wine and brie consumption.

Letta Mbulu 'Mahlalela (Lazy Bones)'

Letta Mbulu 'Mahlalela (Lazy Bones)'

Check out the voice on Letta if you haven't done so already. Lawd knows what she's inferring about lazy people, but this track is enough to get even the most entrenched couch potato up on two feet and busting a few moves.

Flying Burrito Brothers 'Hot Burrito No. 2'

Flying Burrito Brothers 'Hot Burrito No. 2'

Continuing from the country visions of Gene Clark yesterday, here's a band Gene was affiliated with for a while along with a raft of other heavyweights including Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke. Top draw country rock with added salsa picante.

Gene Clark 'Lady Of The North'

Gene Clark 'Lady Of The North'

In addition to an older post about Gene Clark's jaw-droppingly good solo album 'No Other', here's the parting shot to that masterpiece. Words can't really justice to the beauty of this track.

Bruce Springsteen 'State Trooper' (Trentemoller Mix)

Bruce Springsteen 'State Trooper' (Trentemoller Mix)

This re-rub of The Boss has been knocking around the interweb for a while now and garnering a degree of hype in the process. It's with good reason as Trentemoller teases the infectious low-fi groove of the original from the 1982 album 'Nebraska' into a floor-friendly stomper.

Annette Peacock 'Pony'

Annette Peacock 'Pony'

Annette Peacock married jazz bassist Gary Peacock, studied zen macrobiotics and was given one of Robert Moog's first prototype synthesizers in the 60's. These factors must have contributed to the wildly experimental and a bit mental album 'I'm The One' that stunned ears in 1971. The album has just recently been given a timely re-issue on CD available through her website.

Oil Tasters 'Emma'

Oil Tasters 'Emma'

The Oil Tasters were three blokes from Wisconsin on drums, saxaphone and bass guitar who ramped out a brand of jumpy, jazz-flecked, humorous and danceable music unlike any of their peers in the early 80's. This cover of Hot Chocolate's 'Emma' transforms the ponderous and mournful original into a kind of celebration of dreams that inevitably go south. Their self-titled album is crammed with great records like 'That's When The Brick Goes Through The Window' and 'I Don't Want To Be (An Encyclopedia Salesman)'. Click here for more background on the band.

Tony Joe White 'I Want You'

Tony Joe White 'I Want You'

The 'Swamp Fox' Tony Joe White lays down some trademark yelps and driving swamp blues guitar on this track from his excellent second album 'Continued...' from 1969.