Keb Darge & Paul Weller Present Lost & Found: Real R’n’B and Soul

Here we are again with the second helping of 'Lost & Found' gems. This time the focus is on underground dance music from black artists in the fifties and sixties. The maestro’s for this ride through the glorious past: Keb Darge and Paul Weller. Personal collections revealed,a golden age revisited.

Keb Darge has compiled more compilations for BBE than any other DJ selling close to 200,000 CDs and vinyl over a 10 year period. The legendary out-spoken Scotsman has been around the Northern soul & funk scene since the start and began his career as a dancer. (In fact, he’s the one responsible for first bringing the scene to London). As time when on and tastes changed Darge landed at Madame Jojo’s (in London’s Soho Disctrict) where his weekly party quickly ascended (and remains to this day) to the leading funk night in London. In 1996 BBE and Keb Darge teamed up to start releasing the now infamous Deep Funk and Funk Spectrum series that spawned a whole host of imitators. Today he holds two weekly spots at the club (Legendary Deep Funk –Fridays / Lost & Found –Saturdays, where he focuses on his current passion – underground 50’s music), travelling around the world DJing and running the label Kay Dee Records with Kenny Dope. He has achieved legendary status by far with a 40's to 70's musical knowledge second to none that’s perfectly reflected on all of his BBE compilations.

Paul Weller is an acclaimed Rock star and Soul music collector. Starting out with the very successful punk-rock band The Jam (1976-1982), Weller then went on to branch out musically to a more soulful style with The Style Council (1983-1989). In 1991 he re-established himself as a successful solo artist, and continues to remain a respected singer, lyricist and guitarist, a fact reaffirmed by his recent awarding of the 2009 Brit Award for 'Best Male Solo Artist'. He is also the principal figure of the 1970’s Mod revival and is often referred to as the Modfather. Weller has stated a wide range of influences throughout his musical career, frequently listing The Small Faces, The Beatles and The Who, as well as 1960s and 1970s soul music. Paul is also no stranger to the world of compilations and has contributed to the Back To Mine and Under the Influence Series.

Keb and Paul met over music, of course. It was a Keb Darge DJ set at a friends birthday party where Paul first approached Keb and mentioned how much he was enjoying the set. The two struck up a friendship and began DJing together at Madame JoJo’s and in Europe. As he always does with DJs, Keb kept a close eye on what Paul was pulling out of his record box. 'Not a duff tune in sight, with records ranging from classic floor fillers to the super obscure. He was not tainted by any collectors’ scene attitude, just played the tunes he liked,' Keb says.

So here you have one great disc divided into two unmissible halves. Best of all, this music is selected by avid fans and great students of scene. It’s a positive education into where we are to day and how we got there. Enjoy!

Tracklisting:

Keb Darge’s choice:
01. Big Mama Thornton - They Call Me Big Mama
02. The Brothers Of Soul - Come On Back
03. The Tempos - (Countdown) Here I Come
04. Epitome Of Sound - You Don't Love Me
05. Daddy Cleanhead & C. Higgins Band - Something's Goin' On In My Room
06. The Casanova Two - We Got To Keep On
07. The Creations - A Dream
08. Elsie Wheat - Tippin'
09. Sarah Dean with Freddie Mitchell Orchestra - Long Lean Daddy
10. Billy Fair & Orch. - I'll Be True To You
11. The Cadets - I Want You
12. Velma Cross & Her High Steppers - I'll Be Oh So Good
13. Big T. Tyler - King Kon
14.The Flirtations - Stronger Than Her Love
15. The Great Experience - Don’t Forget To Remember

Paul Weller’s choice:
16. The Intruders - Hang On In There
17. Major Lance - Rhythm
18. Margie Joseph - One More Chance
19. Tammi Terrell - All I Do Is Think About You
20. The Dells - Wear It On Your Face
21. Bobby Bland - Honey Child
22. The Radiants - Ain't No Big Thing
23. Albert King - Crosscut Saw
24. Jimmy Witherspoon - Money Is Getting Cheaper
25. Billy Watkins - The Ice-Man
26. Eddie Giles - Losin' Boy
27. Emmitt Long - Call Me
28. Slim Harpo - I Got Love If You Want It

Keb Darge & Paul Weller present
Lost & Found – Real R’N’b and Soul
Label: BBE
Release Date: January 19, 2010

www.bbemusic.com
www.myspace.com/kebdarge
www.paulweller.com
www.myspace.com/paulweller

The Rifles give away a free live track

A live version of Romeo & Julie from the 7th of June 2009 at the Rock IM Park can be downloaded here and an acoustic version of History here (from a separate sesion) courtesy of our favorite East Londoners, The Rifles.

MP3 Daily: The Jam-Live At The 100 Club

View back cover

The Jam-The 100 Club, London UK, September 11, 1977

1. Intro - Change my Address
2. Carnaby Street
3. This Modern World
4. Time For Truth
5. So Sad About US
6. London Girl
7. In The Streets Today
8. Standards
9. All Around The World
10. London Traffic
11. Heatwave
12. Sweet Soul Music
13. Bricks and Mortar
14. In The City
15. Back In Arms Again
16. Slow Down
17. In the Midnight Hour
18. Sounds From From The Street
19. Takin My Love
20. Outro

Check it out here @192(kbps)

MP3 Daily: Noonday Underground

Noonday Undergound-Self Assembly (2000)

1. The Light Brigade
2. London
3. Hello
4. Hush
5. The Hooded Claw
6. Marvellous
7. When You Leave
8. Rock Steady
9. Where Have They Gone
10. On Sunday Noon
11. Inside
12. Never Go Away
13. We Saw the Midnight
14. The Good Old Summer Time
15. Wonderful Tonight

Check it out here @320(kbps)



Noonday Undergound-Surface Noise (2002)

1. The Surface Noise
2. Go It Alone
3. That Noonday Sun
4. Nobody But You
5. Windmills
6. Boy Like a Timebomb
7. Friends of the Garden Pt 1
8. I'll Walk Right On (Featuring Paul Weller)
9. When I Fall
10. Friends of the Garden Pt 2
11. Barcelona
12. Hitch Your Wagon to the Stars
13. Thunder Park
14. Closing Time

Check it out here @192(kbps)

MP3 Daily: The Kundalini Target

I realize this has been out for a few months and has circulated a bit, but after a long road trip, I was reminded of how great this album is. Steve Cradock, guitarist of Ocean Colour Scene and Paul Weller gives us a beautiful piece of work with his first solo album, The Kundalini Target.

Steve Cradock-The Kundalini Target (2009)

1. Something Better
2. The Apple
3. Running Away
4. You Point Your Picture
5. On And On
6. The Clothes They Stood Up In
7. Still Trying
8. It's Transcendental
9. Ask The Sound
10. Beware Of Falling Rocks
11. Kundalini's Target

Check it out here @192(kbps)

Weller At The BBC (Vinyl) Release Date Pushed Back

It will now be released on November 10th instead of November 3rd as we had previously been told. You can still pre-order the record from Amazon here.

Here's Paul performing Shout It To The Top in NYC.

Mr. Cool's Dream: The Complete History of The Style Council

The Complete History Of The Style Council’ is out this week in hardback with an exclusive foreword from Paul Weller. You can order here.

Flickr Find: Germany: Paul Weller October 6

Originally uploaded by buschenhenke
Found these great photos from Paul Weller 2 nights ago in Cologne. Great find!

Paul Weller: Straight From The Source

November 3rd is going to somewhat of a Weller fest with the release of 'Weller at the BBC' which will come out on the same day in a range of formats including hardbook 4 x CD, a standard 2 x CD and 3 x Vinyl LP. You can pre-order through HMV who are offering a free MP3 recording of 'Changingman' recorded back in 1998 if you order now. To pre-order click here.

Have a look at this trailer for the set.

Win tickets to see Paul live in Madrid

Paul has now kicked off his European tour and is now in Germany for a few dates, after that it's Austria, Italy and Spain. For those of you are making the trek and coming to these gigs, many thanks for your much appreciated loyalty and endless dedication!

Talking of European dates, we have a competition to win a pair of tickets to see Paul play live in Madrid on 18th October. As well as winning two tickets, the winner will also have travel and accommodation included too. On entering the competition please make sure you are free to travel on 18th October and returning 19th October.

To enter click here.

Paul Weller 22 Dreams/Sea Spray Track Info and Pre-Order

As we posted on October 2nd, Paul Weller's new single for 22 Dreams/Sea Spray will be released on November 3rd.

Tracks
1. A – Sea Spray – Live
2. B – 22 Dreams – Live from iTunes Festival

1. A – Sea Spray – Radio Edit
2. B – 22 Dreams – Album Version

1. Sea Spray – Radio Edit
2. 22 Dreams - Album Version
3. Have You Made Up Your Mind – Acoustic (Jonathan Ross Radio 2 Session)

You can pre-order a bundle (2 records and 1 CD) here.

Video Find: Carnation

Amazing video of Oasis, Paul Weller, Steve Craddock, Steve White and what appears to be Damon Minchella on bass performing Carnation from The Jam's 1982 album The Gift. Not sure exactly what this was done for, but it is nothing short of an amazing superstar mash-up.

New Paul Weller Single Out Novermber 3rd

Paul Weller's next single for Sea Spray/22 Dreams is set to be released on November 3rd. No further information on track listing, or pre-order at this time.

Spotlight: Life on Earth with Andy Crofts of The Moons

By Terence David

One listen and it’s clear that The Moons draw their musical ink from a different well. While their garage rock-abducted by UFOs sound spills with the spirit of the 60s, frontman Andy Crofts likes to sum it up as, “A giant bowl full of beautiful melodies and quirky guitars wrapped in tin foil and sent to outerspace....a field flashing with multi-coloured lights and fuzzy Rickenbacker guitar sounds!” Ever prolific and always busy these days (while also manning the keys for the legendary Paul Weller), Andy found some time to sit down with The Modern Republic to talk about The Moons, touring with Mr. Weller, his take on Mods today, and why his town’s music scene is “rubbish.”

Although backed by his mates, Chris Ketley (former band mate of The On-Offs and currently with The Rakes) who shares guitar and vocal duties, Ben Gordelier kicks the drums, and Adam Leeds does the electric bass, songwriting for Crofts has always been a “singular effort.” Growing up an only child he learned to do things on his own, and when his Grandmother bought him a guitar he was “determined to learn as quick as possible.” None of his friends were musicians and while they would rather thieve motorbikes, Andy sat in his room alone honing his guitar and songwriting skills. He always knew he would play music “when the right time came”, and that life changing moment arrived at the ripe age of 16 when he got his hands on The Beatles' classic Revolver, and The Beach Boys' timeless Pet Sounds. Right then and there he knew he had a direction he would “always follow in some way or another.” On songwriting Crofts quips, “It’s all about the standards you raise yourself to....great writers keep me on my toes.”

With the musical influences of The Beatles and The Beach Boys, Crofts was inherently armed with a heavy dose of pop sensibilities. The Moons sound is “real, rootsy...from the heart” and his love for simple melodies and harmonies really shine through on tracks like “Don’t Go Changin” and “Chinese Whispers.” The tracks ooze British soul and demonstrates Crofts' ability to pen a quirky,original tune while still giving nods to his many influences. From Otis Redding to The Small Faces, Booker T to De La Soul, and The Jam to Bob Marley, it’s apparent that Andy Crofts finds inspiration from a wide musical palette, underlining his unique sense of style.



Coming from Northampton, a town an hour north of London, Andy explains how the music scene is quite strong where he lives, but unfortunately “most of the music is rubbish.” He would love to see “hungry bands going for it and writing amazing music” but instead of “standing out” amongst the numbers, his local peers would rather follow each other rank and file, “get famous in their local pubs and that’s it.” “Some may disagree” he says, “but they can piss off!”

With a stale music scene in Northampton, and beyond, Crofts reckons “people would be excited by another ‘Britpop’ movement in England.” A tired label, well yes, sort of, but Andy continues to explain, “It’s been so long since ‘Britpop’ first hit, and it was a generally cool vibe everywhere...so many bands out gigging, and in the charts, it was brilliant. It only takes a magazine to come along and confirm it has come back and list a load of bands.” Too bad with a shit music industry, there doesn’t seem to be much help to fan this flame.

Andy observes that many bands have gone DIY, launching their own record labels out of necessity and reliability. And while he doesn’t totally dismiss the advent of Myspace for getting your music out there, he does feel it has “run it’s course” and is in need of a revamp in order to offer new things for the bands and their fans. In this internet, push and click, download generation, Crofts reveals a dying breed mentality of vinyl that’s usually reserved for somebody a decade his senior. “I love vinyl and don’t believe music is released until I see it on vinyl” he emphatically states. While he doesn’t see downloading as a problem, after all it’s “a modern direction”, he is most certainly a fan of hitting up the record shops, purchasing vinyl and “getting home and reading through the liner notes and looking at all the art work and pics.” This is the stuff he thinks people miss out on when they download. “It’s nice and all to have (the download) as an extra option, but I would always rather own a hard copy.” Crofts' selection of vinyl is on the rise, “I don’t have the biggest collection of wax, a few hundred singles and albums...I watch myself cause if I start buying it will get out of hand and I’ll be left with pennies in my pocket!”, and in addition to CD and download he would also would like to see all of The Moon’s releases on vinyl.

When asked about the status of Mods in England he’s frank in saying,

“The Mod scene is certainly not as strong as people may think. I believe plenty Mods and older Mods still rave on about The Jam and The Small Faces etc., which is totally fine and I adore these bands, but what I’m trying to say is that there needs to be modern bands who are popular to refer to Mod, or something linked with Mods to get the new youngsters interested and to keep the whole Mod scene alive.”

Then almost as if he regretted what he had just said, disclaims “This is only if you want it on a big scale” and continues to clarify,

“A real Mod is a Mod regardless of anyone else. It is a way of life. Although the whole thing has been watered down over the years, this ain’t a bad thing as it has moved with the times and picked out the good things from older and modern fashion. The Mod scene will never be the same as it was...it will always keep moving on and reforming.”

Speaking of Mods, Andy has had the rare opportunity to join forces with the ‘Modfather’ himself, Paul Weller. They initially met while Andy was still playing with his power pop outfit, The On-Offs. Crofts says “We gigged a few times and Paul liked our stuff, so we swapped numbers and stayed in touch. Then one day he just rang me and asked me to join the band...well you know what I said!” He continues to say “I love working with Paul Weller. A lot of artists at the same level don’t even talk to the band, but Weller is one of the lads because he includes everyone the same.” Weller, Crofts and co. recently completed a tour on this side of the pond and Andy exclaims that the U.S. was his favorite part of the whole tour. “It was my first time to go to the states so I was just amazed by the size of everything. As a band, the gigs were brilliant and everyone I met was very kind and polite.”

Paul and Andy Backstage in NYC at Nokia Theater

As for the The Moons, Andy feels “people should have a chance to listen and to make up their own minds.” For Crofts, the greatest thing about The Moons is “writing these melodies, with big choruses and quirky guitars, and just playing them, recording them, then performing them live and feeding off the energy of a live a audience.”

Andy Crofts: a man who is thankful and gracious for every song he authors, every fan he makes, and every Moons record sold. We here at The Modern Republic are thankful for him and his “bowl full of beautiful melodies.”

The Moons are scheduled to record their debut album with Paul Weller, set for release in 2009. Their new single “Don’t Go Changin” is available for download and limited edition white vinyl. To order, go to: www.myspace.com/moonsuk. In the meantime, enjoy Chinese Whispers, and Let It Go...MP3s below.

MP3: The Moons-Chinese Whispers
MP3: The Moons-Let It Go

Video Find: The On-Offs

This week, we'll have an interview with a man called Andy Crofts, formerly of The On-Offs, and a spotlight of his new band with Chris Ketley (also of The On-Offs and The Rakes) called The Moons. Crofts is also currently playing for Paul Weller. Stay tuned, and in the meantime, enjoy this video for This Town.

The Jam: Unseen

In 1981, Rick Buckler, appointed 21-year old Neil "Twink" Tinning to become The Jam's official photographer. For two years Twink documented life with The Jam on the road, live on stage and behind-the-scenes leading up until their farewell concert in 1982 at the Brighton Centre.

Twenty selected photographs from the forthcoming photographic book "The Jam Unseen" are on sale for the first time as a series of limited edition prints at London's The Movie Poster Art Gallery. They include rare never-before-seen photographs of the original Jam line-up: Bruce Foxton (bass, vocals), Paul Weller (vocals, guitar) and Rick Buckler (drums).

One of the highlights is a triptych of photos of each member of The Jam running and dancing on the spot - arguably superior unseen outtakes from the session that produced the cover of The Jam's final 1982 studio album "The Gift". Now, for the first time, fans and collectors alike will be able to buy all three classic images as they were originally photographed before the final album artwork was selected.

You can view them all and/or purchase them here.

Santogold Covers The Jam's Pretty Green

I'm sure most people in the hip current-day pop world already know this, but this was news to me. I've noticed a trend in music recently, regardless of the genre to give tributes (or insults) to older English tracks. Mark Ronson who was part of this Jam track with Santogold, also did the unforgivable with his version of The Smiths' Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before. Lethal Bizzle did a version of The Ruts' song Babylon's Burning, called Babylon's Burning the Ghetto. Either way, I think its both interesting and bad. Music has seem to hit a crossroads where different music is meshing like it hasn't in quite some time. This is a great thing for people that continue the exploration of music, but bad for the ears from where it stops.

To satisfy any curiosity...get a listen, you can check Santogold's version of The Jam's Pretty Green (below).

Weller Photo (above): The Jam Unseen: Photographs by Twink

MP3: Santogold-Pretty Green

Paul Weller At The BBC

Weller at the BBC gets its release on 3rd November and comes with a limited edition print exclusively available via Townsend Records. You can pre-order your copy here.

Along with the 4CD box-set 'Weller At The BBC' will also be released as a 3LP set, DVD, and double CD featuring 39 tracks.

The DVD features 30 tracks taken from the BBC's flagship programmes including 'Top Of The Pops', 'Later With Jools Holland' and most recently from the 'Electric Proms Festival' where he was joined on stage by Amy Winehouse, Carl Barat and Richard Archer.

The 3 LP set will feature 1 LP from session recordings, 1 LP from concert recordings and 1 LP from Sold On Song the radio session performace for Mark Lamarr - 11/02/2008 (TO BE CONFIRMED) - Please note this 3LP set will be very limited and it is unlikely to be pressed again after the initial limited run sells out - order early to avoid disappointment.

Both the DVD and 3 LP come with a bonus print which is different from the exclusive print which comes with the 4CD box-set, these prints will only be available with initial orders, order early to avoid disappointment.

Sessions:

Disc 1

1. Fly On The Wall (Johnnie Walker - Live 5.9.92) 2. Pink On White Walls 3. Amongst Butterflies 4. Wild Wood (Saturday Sequence - Johnnie Walker - 2.10.93) 5. Hung Up 6. Out Of The Sinking (band version) 7. Clues 8. Whirlpool’s End(Lunchtime Show - Emma Freud - 26.10.94) 9. Out Of The Sinking (acoustic version) (Lunchtime Show - 1.11.1994) 10. Broken Stones (band version) 11. Time Passes 12. The Changing Man 13. I Walk On Gilded Splinters(Evening Session - 8.5.95) 14. Broken Stones (acoustic version) 15. You Do Something To Me(Simon Mayo - 12.9.95) 16. Brushed 17. Peacock Suit 18. Up In Suze’s Room 19. Friday Street 20. Mermaids 21. The Poacher(Evening Session Live - 10.6.97)

Disc 2

1. Driving Nowhere (Mark Goodier - 23.11.97) 2. Friday Street - (acoustic version) (Kaleidoscope - Live In The Studio 19.9. 97) 3. Science (Jo Wiley – 1997) 4. Wishing On A Star 5. Thinking Of You (The Drivetime Show With Johnnie Walker – 1.9.04) 6. Corrina, Corrina 7. Early Morning Rain 8. Foot Of The Mountain (Mark Lamarr For Jonathan Ross – 8.1.05) 9. To The Start Of Forever 10. Out Of The Sinking (Janice Long – 4.3.05) 11. Paper Smile 12. Come On Lets Go (The Drivetime Show With Stuart Maconie – 28.7.05) 13. Amongst Butterflies 14. Frightened 15. That's Entertainment (Mark Lamarr: Sold On Song – 11.2.06) 16. All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You) 17. Cold Moments 18. Push It Along 19. Pretty Flamingo (Mark Lamarr: God’s Jukebox – 5.7.08)

Disc 3

Town and Country 5/12/90 1. My Ever Changing Moods 2. A Man Of Great Promise 3. Kosmos 4. Speak Like A Child 5. Just Like Yesterday 6. Work To Do 7. Pity Poor Alfie Royal Albert Hall 13/10/92 8. What’s Goin’ On 9. Uh Huh Oh Yeh 10. Hercules 11. Bull Rush/Magic Bus 12. Above The 13. Everything Has A Price To Pay 14. Headstart For Happiness 15. Into Tomorrow Phoenix Festival 13/7/95 16. Porcelain Gods 17. Stanley Road 18. Can You Heal Us (Holy Man)

Disc 4

Phoenix Festival 13/7/95 1. Shadow Of The Sun 2. I Walk On Gilded Splinters Finsbury Park 9/6/96 3. Out Of The Sinking 4. Hung Up 5. Sunflower 6. Broken Stones 7. Fly On The Wall 8. Tales From The Riverbank Victoria Park 8/8/98 9. Peacock Suit 10. Heavy soul 11. Science Radio Theatre 9/11/98 12. I Didn’t Mean To Hurt You 13. Brand New Start 14. Wild Wood 15. Friday Street 16. The Changingman

Source: Paul Weller and Townsend Records.

Video Find: The Jam-Move On Up (Live Performance)

Speaking of covers, I think this is one of the best covers ever. I came across this video some time ago. Its taken from a TV show in Granada from 1982, and shows The Jam belting out this Curtis Mayfield song with perfection. This illustrates the preface for Weller's next step to The Style Council. His progression was completely logical.

Video Find: Weller & Winehouse

I never knew much of Amy Winehouse other than what the Tabloid Rags say about her. Recently I decided to check her out, and was pleasantly surprised with the album Back To Black. Not only is she backed up by Brooklyn's finest, The Daptones, but she also has a brilliant voice. I came across this video on YouTube of Paul Weller and Amy Winehouse performing Etta James' Don't Go To Strangers.



Like most of the previous posts have stated, this too will also be a daily occurrence of posting a great video daily.



Below you will also find the MP3 of the day, which too, I will try to keep daily.

MP3: Amy Winehouse-Back To Black

Brand New Start

I'm getting back on the blogwagon. This will be my outlet on all things design, music, scooter, football, political, social, or what I feel are the important things to me.
I hope this proves to be an outlet for me, and offers some entertainment and/or pointless knowledge to your life.
This is a Brand New Start, and hopefully the beginning of many.
Cheers!