Arthur Blessitt: The Jesus Witness

This is what we want! Crazy, Jeebus-freaked Arthur Blessitt. Found this in the suburbs of Sheffield, which seems as far away from the Sunset Strip as California is from Peckham. This album is two full sides of Arthur preaching; giving testimony and having a bit-o-a-laugh. This is on a loop at the moment on iTunes as I'm sampling bits left, right and centre. If you like a bit of Holy Joe meets GI Joe then  Arthurs your man.

When the Lord called him to preach, the then fifteen-year-old Arthur Blessitt hollered back, "I don't want to be some miserable-faced, sour, big old, puffy-cheeked, persimmon-looking', big, pot-belied, punchy bag o' bones! Lord, I Wanta' live!" But he found out how to be a preacher and still enjoy life. As a boy of seven, Blessitt got it all together with Jesus one night in a parking lot! (WHAT!). Now as a grown man who preaches the love of God to anyone who will listen and many who won't he says, "I'm naturally stoned, and Jesus puts it together forever." 

I've listened stoned and it rocks.

Chaquito And His Orchestra: Latin Favourites

Lovely, groovy. Not much more to say really. I Like.

Miki and Griff: Lonnie Donegan Presents Miki & Griff

The liner notes say that this recording is one of the successful Lonny Donegal Presents series. But, that this is not just a lesion of yet another record release, but the culmination of a friendship and a fostering of two brilliant vocal stars, now known to so many as Miki and Griff.

Apparently the couple were expert exponents of Folk and Country and Western music. They were said to have made a specialised study of these songs and performed tham in various mediums with individual charm and appeal. 

A husband-and-wife team, Miki was born in Rothesay, Scotland and Griff in the Welsh coastal town of Llandudno. They met while both were members of the George Mitchell Choir. 

That's about the long-and-tall of it for our performers. I've got to say they look like a couple of old toffs who run a guest house in Devon, called something like 'Brittania' or 'Reichhaus II'. Not really my cup-o-tea I'm afraid. It's all a bit too polite, although if you listen to them you wouldn't imagine these two lookers would sing they way they do. Worth a listen even if it's just for the scratchiness of the recording.

They perform with: Ralph Dollimore and his orchestra and The Lonnie Donegal Group. Skiffletasic. 

The Michael John Mood: Songs For Swinging Sweethearts.

The word 'Swinging', in this day and age, has taken on another meaning altogether, although this music would be perfect for an evening of kinkiness by those older and more mature in nature. The liner notes say: The Michael John Mood make their debut on disc with twelve delightfully performed songs which were very carefully chosen to ensure that the mood of 'Songs For Swinging Sweethearts' was one of melody and charm. That, dear reader, sums up this album perfectly. Inoffensive songs, tunes flecked with latin rhythms. The track 'You Do Something For Me' sounds a little like the singers have forgotten the words, as they scat 'shooby-doos' a little too vigorously for my liking. That aside this is perfect music for swingers of all types.

Zack Laurence Orchestra: A Taste Of Zack Laurence

The saucily titled 'Taste Of Zack Laurence' (oo-er missus) is one of those Silverline budget albums that were released if you couldn't afford the more pricey ones. Shame really 'cause this isn't half bad as an album. Yes, there's kitsch by the pound and some pretty ropey arrangements but, if you ignore the discrepancies, what you actually get is a decent bit of lounge. Stand out track: Mississippi Delta, which actually sounds very much like the work of any number of 'library' composers. 

Apropos nothing, the back of the album advertises a Danny La Rue album. So this month I've actually thought of, and blogged about Mr La Rue twice, which is something I haven't done in a long time. So here's another picture of Danny looking resplendent in drag.

Phil Tate: Let Phil Tate Play For Your Dance Party

I always find it a bit odd finding albums that Discogs hasn't got on its database. So duly, I did the decent thing and added what info I had from the album. Phil Tate was actually born here in sunny Yorkshire and became a band-leader after studying violin and then self-learning the clarinet and saxophone. The album is a jest-filled compendium of strangeness, what with versions of the Devil's Horn (a hunting song well known in these parts) and a cracking medley of 'faux Scottish' The Gay Gordons. I really like this album. 

Herb Alpert.

A couple of Herb albums that are standard fare from his catalogue. Not much more to say other than, the first is a little scratchy, the second seems ok. Perfect music for an after-work aperitif. 

1.Beat.

1.Whipped.