Patti Smith - Divine Intervention (Roskilde 1996)

"Three chord rock merged with the power of the word."

So Patti Smith described her music on the 1975 release of "Horses", her celebrated debut album; and so she has continued to blend the spoken and sung arts in incantatory fashion with her latest work, "Twelve".

Impossible to categorize, moving easily between the literary and musical worlds, always unpredictable and impassioned, she is an idiosyncratically unique performer who has always remained true to her artistic vision.

Born in Chicago and raised in Woodbury, New Jersey, just across the state line from Philadelphia, Patti's mother, Beverly, was a jazz singer cum waitress. Her father, Grant,

worked at the Honeywell plant; she was the oldest of four siblings: her sisters Linda and Kimberly (the latter plays mandolin on Gone Again's "Ravens,"), and brother Todd. Unable to find her place in high school society, she took refuge in the images of Rimbaud, Bob Dylan, James Brown, and the Rolling Stones. Dropping out of Glassboro State Teacher's College, she headed for the bright lights - big city of New York.

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"Divine Intervention" (1996, Rupert 9681) is a recording of her performance on June, 30, 1996 at the Roskile Festival in Denmark. The performance and the sound quality are good, so enjoy another Patti Smith bootleg...

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Patti Smith - Divine Intervention (Roskilde 1996)
(192 kbps, front cover included)

VA - COMPAÑERO PRESIDENTE (1975)

Posted in September 2013:

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chilean coup d’etat that ousted the constitutional president of Chile, Salvador Allende, from office and gave rise to the vicious dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet 11th September 1973. We would like to share some more music from Chile and Latin America to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Chilean human and social tragedy brought about by Pinochet’s dictatorship.

Thousands of people were tortured and killed, others ‘disappeared’ at the hands of the authorities, the secret police and more were illegally detained. Men, women and children were rounded up by the military and taken from their homes. Most were never seen alive by their families again. One million people were forced into exile.

The album "COMPAÑERO PRESIDENTE" was released in 1975 honouring Salvador Allende and the Unitad Popular and features songs by Inti-Illimani, Soledad Bravo, Andrés Jiménez, Daniel Viglietti, Ali Primera, César Isella, Quilapayún, Oscar Chávez, Angel Parra and Pablo Milanés.


Tracklist:
01 - Chile Herido [Inti-Illimani]
02 - A Salvador Allende En Su Combate Por La Vida [Soledad Bravo]
03 - Canción Al Presidente [Andrés Jiménez]
04 - Por Todo Chile [Daniel Viglietti]
05 - Canción Para Los Valientes [Alí Primera]
06 - Che Salvador [César Isella]
07 - Compañero Presidente [Quilapayún]
08 - A Salvador Allende [Óscar Chávez]
09 - Canción A Salvador Allende (Compañero Presidente) [Angel Parra]
10 - Yo Pisaré Las Calles Nuevamente [Pablo Milanés]

VA - Companero Presidente (1975)
(about 256 kbps, cover art included)

Soleda Bravo - Vol. 4 (1972)

Spain-born and Venezuela-raised Soledad Bravo has been one of the leaders of the nueve cancion ("new song") movement that swept through latin America in the '70s and '80s. Although equally proficient at singing traditional and popular songs, Bravo made her greatest impact as a protest singer.

According to Billboard, "her voice is an exceptional instrument." The Diario, a newspaper in Madrid, claims "her voice captivates you, the range is so wide and its strength is amazing."
Bravo, who inherited her political convictions from her father, emigrated to Venezuela with her parents at the age of seven. While attending the Liceo Rafael Urdaneta, she began singing with a group. She continued to sing while studying architecture, psychology and literature at the Central University of Venezuela. Shortly after her graduation in 1967, Bravo was hired to perform every morning on a television show Buenos Dias. She remained on the program for years. Her debut album, "Soledad Bravo Canta", released in 1968, included her interpretation of Carlos Puebla's tribute to Che Guevera, "Hasta Siempre."

Between 1969 and 1976, Bravo continued to focus on the songs of Latin America, releasing three commercially successful albums and touring throughout Peru, Argentina, Chile and Mexico. In 1972, Bravo recorded a double-album, "En Vivo", featuring songs of the Spanish Civil war. Four years later, she was invited to perform in Spain. An appearance on Spanish television, with accompaniment by flamenco guitarist Manolo Sanlucar, helped to make her a nationally known artist. During the four years that she remained in Spain, Bravo recorded several albums including one with Spanish poet Rafael Alberti in 1977, and a collection of songs of the Spanish Jews, "Cantos Sefardies", that received a Grand Prix Du Disque award in France. Switching her attention to the tropical repertoire, Bravo traveled to New York to record "Caribe", produced by salsa musician Willie Colon. Four years later, she recorded a self-titled album with accompaniment by Eddie Gomez, Airto Moreira, Paquito D'Rivera, Jorge Dalto, Ray Barreto, Yomo Toro and Spyro Gyra.

Tracklist:                           

A1	Punto y Raya
A2	Entra y Sale
A3	Uno De Abajo
A4	Qué Dirá El Santo Padre
A5	De Qué Se Ríe
A6	Niño y Estrella
B1	Canción De Toribio García
B2	Canción De Pablo
B3	Volver A Los Diecisiete
B4	El Violín De Becho
B5	Patria Amada Idolatrada, Salve, Salve

Soleda Bravo - Vol. 4 (1972)
(ca. 224 kbps, cover art included)

Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – Sound Sun Pleasure

The first half-dozen cuts on "Sound Sun Pleasure" (1970) are thought to have been documented between 1958 and 1960, during Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra's residency in Chicago. Although Ra's arrangements are as intricate and involved as any from the era, the song list draws heavily upon standards. That said, it might be recommended as a starting point for parties not acclimated to the artist's later and exceedingly aggressive free and avant-garde leanings.

Hatty Randolph (vocals) joins the combo for a pair of refined vocals on the covers of "'Round Midnight" and "Back in Your Own Backyard." The Arkestra complement Randolph's full-bodied delivery with such finesse, it is a wonder there isn't evidence of more frequent collaborations like this. She adds a bluesy melancholia that nicely offsets the instrumentation. "You Never Told Me That You Care" - co-written by Ra and Hobart Dotson (trumpet) - stunningly demonstrates Ra's unmatched scoring and superlative sense of melody. The sweeping and languid tempo allows the tune to unravel organically. "Enlightenment" - another co-composition by the pair - is slightly more indicative of Ra's complex approach, as well as the style that would inform his later work, noted by the band's stridency around the comparatively progressive harmonics. When "Sound Sun Pleasure" was issued on compact disc in 1992, an additional seven selections were included. Chronologically, they are among the earliest known from Sun Ra, recorded at various times and locations between 1953 and 1956, yielding understandably sporadic sound quality. "Deep Purple" - from a session held in Ra's apartment -- features contributions by Stuff Smith, while Wilbur Ware (bass) duets on an emotive "Can This Be Love." Arthur Hoyle (trumpet) makes one of his first Arkestra appearances on the bouncy post-bop original "Dreams Come True" that also sports a rare Clyde Williams vocal.                

Tracklist:

1	'Round Midnight	3:55
2	You Never Told Me That You Care	5:37
3	Hour Of Parting	4:53
4	Back In Your Own Backyard	2:07
5	Enlightenment	5:09
6	I Could Have Danced All Night	3:11
7	Deep Purple	4:03
8	Piano Interlude	1:56
9	Can This Be Love	6:01
10	Dreams Come True	3:08
11	Don't Blame Me	2:53
12	'S Wonderful	2:18
13	Lover Come Back To Me	2:49

Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – Sound Sun Pleasure
(ca. 192 kpbs, cover art included)

Odetta - Christmas Spirituals (1960)

Wish you a peaceful Christmas!

This aren´t the Christmas songs you´ll hear in the malls or at the parades. No Santa Claus. No reindeer. No snow. But for me it would not be Christmas without this glorious album. (Although, to be honest, the music is so beautiful, I´ve put it on many times in mid-summer, and it doesn´t seem out of place.

Odetta's husky voice is often stunning, both in her a cappella performances and her songs with accompaniment. She says these songs are traditional spirituals, neither purely African nor American, but songs that emerged from the sufferings of slavery. Powerful stuff.                

Tracklist:

A1	Rise Up Shepard And Follow
A2	What Month Was Jesus Born In?
A3	Mary Had A Baby
A4	Somebody Talking 'Bout Jesus
A5	Virgin Mary Had One Son
A6	Go Tell It On The Mountain
A7	Shout For Joy
B1	Poor Little Jesus
B2	O Jerusalem
B3	Ain't That A-Rockin'
B4	If Anybody Asks You
B5	Beautiful Star
B6	Children Go Where I Send Thee

Odetta - Christmas Spirituals (1960)
(320 kbps, cover art included)

VA - Place Of Hope - Celebrating The New South Africa (1996)

"Place Of Hope" is an album with songs performed by musicians from the USA and South Africa. It was dedicated to the students of Funda Community College of South Africa. Founded in 1984, Funda is one of the oldest independent training institutions in the visual arts in South Africa, established in response to the inaccessibility of specialised training in the visual arts for black South Africans under apartheid. Built on land donated by the Urban Foundation and IBM, Funda continues to serve as a critical point of access to the visual arts sector for young black South Africans.

Tracklist:

1. Place Of Hope
2. One Love/People Get Ready
3. That's The Way Of The World
4. Place Of Hope
5. Now Or Never
6. Broken Wings
7. Thula Sizwe/I Shall Be Released
8. We Shall Overcome
9. Heal Our Land
10. Zulu Chant
11. Fragile
12. Now It's Your Turn
13. New South Africa
14. Shed A Little Light
15. Place Of Hope
16. Amazing Grace
VA - Place Of Hope - Celebrating The New South Africa (1996)
(256 kbps, cover art included)

Hein & Oss - Singen Volkslieder (1976)

Hein & Oss were born identical twins on September 17th 1927 in Pirmasens, Germany. Through the influence of their mother and their grandfather they found a very early interest in singing and in music.

They belong to the small band of German folksingers who are internationally famous through their various concerts, broadcasting and television appearances.

Through their extensive travels they got to know the world and its music; their repertoire is extremely varied and interesting and is drawn from nearly every part of the folk word. Shanties or chansons, soldier´s songs, protest songs or spirituals - the congenial twins from Pirmasens enthrall their audience in Berlin and Calcutta, Paris and Rome, Athens, Teheran, Munich, Bagdad,Hamburg and London.

Hein & Oss belongend to the founders of the "Chanson Folklore International", whose annual festival was held at Castle Waldeck, Germany and was considered as a meeting point of well known folksingers from various countries.

This double album was recored in Munich, August 1976.

Hein & Oss - Singen Volkslieder - Auf den Plätzen, auf, in den Straßen (1976)
(192 kbps, front cover included)

Witthüser & Westrupp -Trips & Träume (1971)

Apparently, Witthüser & Westrupp came into being at the Essen "Podium" folk club where Walter Westrupp worked as a DJ. Bernd Witthüser was already known as a protest singer, Westrupp was playing in a skiffle band, and when the two met they realised there was a magical chemistry between them. They busked and played in local clubs creating their own unique repertoire. Although working as a duo since 1969, their debut was released under Bernd Witthüser's name, as it contained music composed by him, with lyrics taken from the writings of politically minded poets and novelists, like Novalis, Heine and Brösel.

As a proper duo the Witthüser & Westrupp sound came on in leaps and bounds, their music was pure innovation, drawing on Westrupp's classical background, and enthusiasm from Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser, Witthüser & Westrupp became the cosmic buskers! With some of the finest session musicians in Germany, they went on to record three of the most original progressive folk-rock albums of the early-70's.

"TRIPS & TRÄUME" is, excepting a couple of shorter catchy folk songs, a very cosmic affair, with long spacious tracks oozing out atmosphere, like ancient folk diversions from Ash Ra Tempel. Up first is "Lasst uns auf die Reise gehn" which is such a moving tune for me, i´m so touched by this song. "Nimm doch einen Joint, mein Freund" is a (sort of) cover of THE FRATERNITY OF MAN"S "Don't Bogart Me" made popular by it's inclusion in the film "Easy Rider". This version is such a blast as we get English vocals for the first time as they sing about sharing weed and singing about hash and lsd. Humerous stuff.

The next two albums on the Pilz label developed the sound on an even richer more complex level with massed keyboards, a little more rock, more guitars and even choirs, many of the guests being from Wallenstein. After disbanding, both musicians went onto other folk and political bands: Baier Westrupp, Die Walter H.C. Meier Pumpe, etc. A double live album of Witthüser & Westrupp was also issued.

Tracklist:

A1	Laßt uns auf die Reise gehn	4:00
A2	Trippo Nova	8:55
A3	Orienta	7:35
B1	Illusion I	4:35
B2	Karlchen	9:05
B3	Englischer Walzer	1:38
B4	Nimm doch einen Joint, mein Freund	3:30

Witthüser & Westruppe - Trips & Träume (1971)
(192 kbps, cover art included)

Oscar Chávez – Nicaragua vencerá (1979)

Oscar Chávez was born in Mexico in 1935. He spent his early years studying theater at the Escuela de Arte Teatral del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, the Academia de Teatro del Maestro Seki Sano, and the Teatro de la Universidad. Chávez appeared in a number of films, including Los Caimanes, La Diosa de Plata, and El Heraldo. His film work led to opportunities in the emerging world of the telenovela. As an actor, vocalist, and director, Chávez participated in more than 200 radio plays for Radio Universidad.

Though a busy actor and director, his musical pursuits have earned him international fame, with more than 20 records to his credit. In his repertoire choices and compositions, Chávez has distinguished himself not only as an arranger and performer, but as champion of Mexican folklore. This preoccupation with preservation of tradition manifested itself throughout his work via the inclusion of not only traditional stories, but also protest songs. Viewing folklore as inherently political, Chávez would come to be known as the people's folk historian. Later in his career, Chávez added light political satire to his repertoire, including material that made light of current political situations and characters. Chávez continues to be an important player in the preservation of traditional Mexican music and culture.   

Here´s Oscar Chavez hommage to the Sandinista revolution against the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua.           

Tracklist:
01. Ya cayó Somoza
02. Con Sandino en Nicaragua
03. La Mama Ramona
04. Somos los libertadores
05. Dos palomitas blancas
06. Contra Moncada
07. Gratitud a Masaya
08. Caballo criollo
09. Corrido de Nicaragua
10. Hora cero-La Adelita

Oscar Chávez – Nicaragua vencerá (1979)
(160 kbps, front cover included)

Lee Perry - Megaton Dub Vol. 2 (1984)

Opinions (mine included) run hot and cold over this hard-to-find two volume set of Scratch dub. I don't think it is as excellent and crucial as many of its supporters claim, nor do I think it's as awful as its detractors insist. File it under odd and occasionally wonderful (but, ultimately not essential), especially if you like your Perry mix so loaded with echo it sounds as if it was recorded in a canyon. Extremely difficult to find.     - allmusic.com

More near nuclear versions, recorded at Black Ark Studio, Kingston, Jamaica. Maybe one should have no fear of atomic energy but this second round of word sound power plants deserve maximum respect. Upsetter at the apogee.
         
Tracklist:                                                     

A1	Traveling In Dub
A2	Fisherman Dub
A3	Zion In Dub
A4	Groovy Dub
B1	Dub Crisis
B2	Green Bay Killing
B3	Big Neck Dub
B4	Living In Dub

Lee Perry - Megaton Dub Vol. 2
(192 kbps, cover art included)

Hugh Masekela - Grrr (1966)

The South Afican-born trumpeter Hugh Masekela was playing world music before it had a name. On this album, recorded shortly after he moved to the United States and shortly before he became a worldwide star, he seamlessly fuses jazz ideas with the emotionally direct, rhythmically complex South African music known as Mbaqanga.

Masekela as a young trumpeter from the mid-'60s. Rare, but clearly his best format and playing.  - allmusic.com               

Tracklist:

01. U, Dwi (Masekela) (3:14)
02. Zuul and the Mexican (Masekela) (3:22)
03. Emavungweni (Xaba) (3:08)
04. Ntjilo-Ntjilo (Makeba) (4:12)
05. Sharpville (Masekela) (3:29)
06. Umaningi Bona (Nkabinde) (3:17)
07. Sipho (Mrwebi) (3:44)
08. Kwa-Blaney (Gwangwa) (2:12)
09. Mra (Christopher) (3:08)
10. Phatsha-Phatsha (Mabaso) (2:55)

Hugh Masekela - Grrr (1966)
(320 kbps, cover art included)