Mod-A-Day: Quincy Jones

At first glance, the producer of Michael Jackson's "Thriller", and "We Are The World", may not seem like much of a candidate for recognition on a mod website. But, Quincy Jones best work came from a deep love of jazz, blues and soul, all of which played a big part in his early career. And, since Suave HQ is in Washington state, and Jones grew up here and attended Garfield High School, famous for its jazz bands over the years, I figured the local connection cinched the deal.

Jones got his start touring with Lionel Hampton's big band, but then in the 1950sstarted writing and arranging for some of jazz musics greatest stars like Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Gene Krupa, and Ray Charles. In the 1960s he became a VP at Mercury records and his view shifted to popular music. He helped discover Lesley Gore, and was one of the key composers and arrangers for Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Maybe more importantly, he was the arranger for Sinatra's collaborations with Count Basie, including much of the music during the Rat Pack era.

The song here, "Call Me Mister Tibbs" is taken from They Call Me Mister Tibbs the sequel to In The Heat Of The Night, with Sydney Poitier reprising his famous title role. Jones scored both soundtracks, but I prefer the second which is funkier, looser, and more free flowing coming as it did in the early 70s. The organ dances wildly, constrained only by the funky bass and guitar riffs, and a sort of Batmanesque flourish repeated throughout.

Quincy Jones -- Call Me Mr. Tibbs

Mod-A-Day: The Hawaiians

The Hawaiians are a garage rock trio from Germany, playing a surf sort of pop punk. They owe as much or more to the Ramones and the Groovie Ghoulies than they do to the Beach Boys, but all were obviously influences. From the fratrock sound of "Hully Gully" and the Beach Boysesque "Waikiki Playbat Club" to the more Ramones-like "Vampire Girl", the band has a simple sound that nevertheless is fun to listen to and might inspire a road trip if not a trip to the beach. The Hawaiians have two fun-filled, garage rockin' full CDs to their credit, and the song here, "Wild Cat Stomp", comes from their latest, 2007's Hula On Mars.

The Hawaiians -- Wild Cat Stomp

Modcast #148: The Mods Are All Crazy Now

Bienvenue au monde de M. Mod Suave's Mod, ce qui était français mod Beat Band Sheetah et Weissmüller ouverture du salon. Or, as we say in English, -- which I have to since my French is really terrible, Welcome to Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World. This week's show is opened by a swingin' freakbeat bit of a piece from French mod combo Sheetah & les Weissmüller. The track here is from their brand new album which is all in French, but does sport one song in english, a blistering cover of "My Little Red Book". Lots more brand new stuff on the show from Lucky Fish, Dwight Twilley, The Rifles and Reel Big Fish, as well as some old faves from Elton Motello, Elastica, The Len Price 3 and more.

Sheetah & les Weissmuller -- Pire que le Silence (2009)
Lucky Fish -- Lights Out (2009)
Dwight Twilley -- Little Sister (2009)
The Rifles -- The Great Escape (2009)
The Len Price 3 -- Lai-Ha Lam (2005)
Elastica -- Waking Up (1995)
Elton Motello -- Pogo Pogo (1978)
The Fleshtones -- Late September Moon (2005)
Mystic Eyes -- Enough of What I Need (1984)
Wild Fang The Band with 1001 Names -- Like Ringo (1984)

Reel Big Fish -- Mama We're All Crazy Now (2009)

Sheetah and Weissmüller -- le Vengeur Masqué

The Rifles -- Repeat Offender

Mod-A-Day: The Mod Generation

Music and clips from Brighton beach riots in the sixties.

Mod-A-Day: The Chocolate Watchband

If The Standells were the godfather's of punk, than The Chocolate Watchband were the rougher, tougher, probably drunker, uncles of punk. A decade ahead of the Ramones and well before The Stooges, here was a garage punk band in the mid-60s belting out blues tinged rock and roll with serious attitude. They never had a hit, they never made TV appearances, and they lasted only five short years. But, ever since they have been the bar against which all garage punk are measured, and against which almost all fall short.

The band went through a few lineups and released only three albums before breaking up in 1970. Arriving jsut at the peak of the British invasion, they managed to ride that wave with a hard-edged R&B sound that incorporated pop rock only enough to keep the band from falling into further illrepute with the then gentler eared listening public. They covered a number of songs, "Come On", "I'm Not Like Everybody Else", "In The Midnight Hour", turning each into their own buzz-sawed guitar bit of garage goodness. Thier originals were even better, especially "Let's Talk About Girls" (later a bona fide punk rock hit for The Undertones), and the bluesy pscyhadelia of "Gone and Passes By". One of my faves was the title track to their first album, "No Way Out" and is a sort of psychadelic blues number with a Doors-like vibe to it.

The Chocolate Watchband -- No Way Out

Mod-A-Day: Klark Kent

From the obscurity files it's Klark Kent, or if you're in Japan it's Klerk Kant. Either way it was all a goof for The Police's Stewart Copeland. He'd penned some songs that the big man -- Sting -- didn't deem to be Police-like, and so Copeland along with his IRS Label head brother Miles created the post-punk power pop band Klark Kent. They produced this single in 1978, "Don't Care" and followed that up with an eight track EP in 1980. Don't expect to ever hear The Police breakout any of these songs in concert, as they weren't written by, nor do they further the adolation and career of, Sting. You know if it isn't about him it isn't worth wasting time on.

Klark Kent -- Don't Care

Mod-A-Day: The Smiths

Still on the road so this is short and sweet. Oh so sweet. One of my favorite instrumentals and what finally turned me on to The Smiths, years after they broke up. They were more mod friendly than I had ever realized.

The Smiths -- Oscillate Wildly

Mod-A-Day: The Sorrentinos

When I first listened to this CD it was so achingly familiar that I couldn't say exactly what band it reminded me of. I have to admit that this is my first taste of The Sorentinos, who have been around for a number of years making "Americana" music, which may be part of why I've never run across them before now. That's usually a sign that a band is a little more honky tonk than what I am looking for. My loss. Their latest album, number ten, "If Not Now When" is exactly that, an album of American influenced rock. It has more than that to offer though, including hints of sixties pop, garage rock and folk. And over all there's a nicely honed indie vibe, not surprising for a band that's been making music for nearly two decades (check out the documentary about them on Youtube). "Troublebound" could be a Mike Ness or John Doe penned piece of country punk, without the punk, but with all the melancholy and cynicism you might expect. Both "Fifty Year Old Punk" and "Change Isn't Always Good" are garage rockers that, for all their polish and softened edges, would do most aging power poppers and punk rockers proud. There's also a great instrumental, "Santo on the Beach", a twangy, slow, surf piece with exotic overtones, that is a great way to finish off a long day. Next to a bottle of scotch. The song here is probably the most power pop like of the lot, "Summertime", with a sort of Smithereens on dude ranch feel to it. The Sorentinos may not be my normal cup of ... whiskey ... but a change is good every now and then.

The Sorentinos -- Summertime