I raided the plastic crate again for today’s listening. All of the items I’ve selected are compilation
discs given away free with monthly British music magazines. The discs I own have been produced mainly by Mojo
and Uncut, although there have been ones issued infrequently by Q and Rolling
Stone.
Mojo and Uncut are now my preferred music magazines. Their editorial stance concentrating on new releases
and celebrated releases and acts from rocks rich history, allied with my age, place
me firmly within their target demographic.
The same applies to the freebie discs.
From what I can see each month both magazines use one of approximately
five types of themed discs that are allied in some way to a feature article in
that month’s edition.
The dominant form of freebie is a straight out compilation
of a particular music style, label or, in Uncut’s case, albums due for release
that month. Other types are discs
supposedly compiled by a muso, re-recordings of classic albums by a range of
acts covering each track, or albums that are claimed to be representative of
the music that inspired an act. I
suspect some of these discs are akin to old style primers put together by a
record label as an alternative form of advertising; however, each disc contains
a compiler’s credit. In the case of
Uncut’s disc, the compiler is inevitability it’s Editor, Allan Jones.
I’ve been collecting these discs ever since I heard an early
Mojo disc entitled The Devil’s Music, Keith Richards’ Personal Compilation of
Blues, Soul and R & B Classics. It
is one of about 10 that have made their way onto my iPod. Others include good overviews of African
acts, Post-Punk, Punk acts in the years before the term was coined and an
inspired re-recording of The Beatles Let It Be album, that is arguably better
than the original.
I like to stockpile the discs for listening as a batch. This produces an effect that is similar to
listening to a fantasy radio station or your iPod on shuffle. Today is no different. I start with:
Let’s Move (subtitled, A Heavy Blues Collection – Mojo
December 2012 edition)
This is a superlative collection of key blues tracks
including a number of the greats.
Howlin’ Wolf, Lightning Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Bo
Diddley, Elmore James and the mighty Hound Dog Taylor and the House Rockers are
all included. It also sores bonus points
for leading off with the now sadly departed R.L. Burnside, one of the very few
old bluesmen, I’ve actually managed to see live.
Bad Moon Rising (subtitled, 15 Tracks in the Spirit of
Creedence – Uncut February 2012 edition)
I’m not sure this one actually succeeded in its task. Not many of the tracks reminded me of CCR
but, ignoring that it’s a pretty enjoyable collection.
Let The Good Times Roll (subtitled, 16 Tracks of the Wildest
New Orleans Soul and R’ N’ B – Uncut March 2011)
How the hell did I ignore this one for so long? All of the tracks on this were recorded
between 1947-1960 and include a roll
call of the regions finest, Professor Longhair, Dr John, Allen Toussaint, Bobby
Charles, Champion Jack Dupree, Heuy ‘Piano’ Smith and Fats Domino
included. I’ll probably add it to the
iPod.
Tom Waits Jukebox (Uncut December 2011 edition)
A pretty good introduction to what I would imagine would be
the great man’s influences including Captain Beefheart, Jack Kerouac, Harry
Partch, Howlin’ Wolf, etc.
This Is Radio Strummer (subtitled 15 Brilliant Tracks from
Joe’s World Service Radio Show – Uncut October 2010)
Here’s proof that some things can stay in my crate for a
long time. I love discs like this one
where the compiler gets the opportunity to juxtapose a wild variety of
tracks. How else to justify a collection
where the likes of Jimmy Reed, Kitty Wells, World Music acts like Amado &
Mariam and Underworld appear on the same disc?
By the time this album has ended, its time for me to go home
and turn off this station. I’ll drop by
again later in the year. 
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