Ce titre (notez la cohérence avec le look du bonhomme à gauche) reprend un thème de la bande originale du western “Et Pour Quelques Dollars de Plus” (Per qualche dollaro in più) de Sergio Leone [fr] composée par Ennio Morricone [fr].

Babe Ruth was a prog-rock band active in the 70s. Formed in Hertfordshire, England, this band whose leaders are singer Janita Haan and guitarist Alan Shacklock and whose name refers to the legendary baseball player, had a certain success in North America thanks to their first effort, “First Base”, and its hit single “The Mexican” which was the band’s classic song.

It includes a theme by western soundtrack composer Ennio Morricone [en] from Sergio Leone [en] movie “For a Few Dollars More” (Per qualche dollaro in più).

“The Mexican” :

Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Babe Ruth on MySpace
Acheter First Base sur Amazon.fr

Swedish singer Jay-Jay Johanson has just released his sixth album in his ten year career. A birthday he celebrates by a synthesis of the different musical ways he’s been through. We recover the trip-hop rhythms, his fetchingly crooner voice and jazzier arrangements. A beautiful record that will whisper words of comfort to your sadest winter evenings.

“New Year’s Eve” :

Plus d’info sur Wikipedia [fr]
Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Jay-Jay Johanson on MySpace
Acheter The Long Term Physical Effects Are Not Yet Known sur Amazon.fr

There’s nothing better than a touch of disco to start the week-end off, with this Los Angeles, Calfornia based band, A Taste of Honey (not to be mixed up with the song of the same name).

“Do It Good” :

Further information on Wikipedia [en]
A Taste of Honey on MySpace
Acheter Anthology sur Amazon.fr

He may be the most brasilian french in France as he calls himself. Pierre Barouh, born in Paris in 1934, singer-songwriter, loves Brasil, where he exiled himself a few years (he will later become the founder of the oldest indie label in France, Saravah, which launched the careers of, among others, Jacques Higelin [en] and Brigitte Fontaine [en]). In this cover of “Samba de Benção”, a song composed by the guitarist Baden Powell [en], he pays homage to the music he loves : samba (this typical syncopated rhythm of brasilian music). “I’d like to tell you about my love for samba, like a lover which, not daring to talk to the one he loves, would tell anyone he meets about her.”

“Samba Saravah” :

Plus d’info sur Wikipedia [fr]
Acheter Singing Paris: The French Pop Compilation sur Amazon.fr

L’album (”I Am a Wallet”) dont est extrait “An MP Speaks” est un bijou de spontanéité et de romantisme 80’s qu’expriment avec une fragilité certaine le son de la guitare douze cordes de Tim Gane et la batterie qui l’accompagne.

McCarthy is a British indie pop band formed in 1984 in Barking, Essex, United Kingdom by schoolmates Malcolm Eden, Tim Gane, John Williamson and Gary Baker. The band may be compared to The Smith [en] for many reasons, mainly the wisftul tone of singing and melody. But it would be a more politicized version of The Smith (as their name may suggests). The words by Malcolm Eden are indeed influenced by communism (as he was himself), while the 12-string guitar of Tim Gane gives it the necessary shades…

The record (”I Am a Wallet”) from which the song “An MP Speaks” comes from is a spontaneousness and 80’s romanticism gem with its 12-string guitar by Tim Gane and the drumming that goes along with it.

“An MP Speaks” :

Further information on Wikipedia [en]

Voici le premier single de leur troisième et dernier album “Where the Wild Things Are”, pour le coup franchement pop ! C’est très bien et uniquement en vente chez eux.

C-Mon & Kypski are two dutch DJs (that’s the reason why they often appear as a 4-guys band on the major part of their promo pictures). They are awesome DJs, of the turntablism kind, Kyspki is 6 times Dutch National Scratch Champion. On record, C-Mon & Kypski is a melt of many things, always based on a hip-hop, trip-hop flavor, original samples that confers a funny atmosphere to their music, though always with class.

Here is the first single of their third and latest album “Where the Wild Things Are”, a real pop song ! It’s really good but only available at their place.

“Bumpy Road” :

C-Mon & Kyspki on MySpace

You probably don’t know her name, however a few others inform about her carreer : The Brand New Heavies [en], The The [en], Deee-Lite [en], Mo’ Wax [en], Curtis Mayfield [en], etc. Nicole Willis hasn’t been out of work before she released her third album which is a real success, reviving the Motown sound as never before. This made-in-finland record is a must have…

“The Invisible Man” :

Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators on MySpace
Acheter Keep Reachin’ Up sur Amazon.fr

On pensait le frère Williams plus occupé à son image qu’à ses productions, pourtant on retrouve ici la fraîcheur des temps passés. Ou serait-ce que Chad Hugo serait plus indispensable au duo qu’on a essayé de nous le faire croire ! On retrouve donc avec plaisir la touch minimal-groovy qui fait si souvent mouche.

It’s been four years now since their first album was released. The Clipse, sandpit mates of the more famous Neptunes, are back with their new record, “Hell Hath No Fury”.

Although we thought brother Williams was more busy now with his proper image than with his productions, we recover the coolness of the good ol’ times. Or may Chad Hugo be more useful to their duet than we’ve been told? Anyway, we’re back with the minimal-groovy touch of their own which often scores a hit.

“Ride Around Shining” :

Further information on Wikipedia [en]
The Clipse on MySpace
Acheter Hell Hath No Fury sur Amazon.fr

One of the biggest standards in american music, “You Go to My Head” was written in 1938 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie (one of Tin Pan Alley writers). It has been recorded by such Marlene Dietrich, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. I chose this live version by Judy Garland, because, actually it’s the only one I’ve been listening to.

“You Go To My Head” :

Plus d’infos sur Wikipédia [fr]
Further information on Wikipédia [en]
Judy Garland on MySpace
Acheter Judy at Carnegie Hall sur Amazon.fr

Wilfully lost in anonymity by the time when the New York folk scene of the Village was seething in the 60’s, Karen Dalton could have become an icon. She didn’t write songs, but each one of her interpretations was enough to make her a major voice along with the one she’s often compared to, Billie Holiday. This cover of the famous “How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You” surely is one of her lightest interpretations.

“How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You” :

Plus d’infos sur Wikipédia [fr]
Further information on Wikipédia [en]
Karen Dalton on MySpace
Acheter In My Own Time sur Amazon.fr