Exile on Vinyl Street

I feel compelled to land some type on this phosphorescent canvas before my eyelids close for the day. The reason is nearly 40 years old. A tale of too many drinks, drugs, deals and divas - across two continents, including chateaus used by the Nazis and tax exiles trying to make a bit of vinyl music.

So popular retelling has it. And today the wonderful people of iToons will re-re-release the Rolling Stones' double album Exile on Main Street, a wonderful, crazy, crankin', ragged double vinyl with cover layout by John Van Hammersveld (you know the Endless Summer poster) and photography by legendary lensman Robert Frank, himself an exalted chronicler of exiles on main streets.

JvH Poster courtesy of Audio Absinte

If you are in Brinetopia glue yourself to the original Tube and watch the documentary on ABC1 9:30pm Thursday 20 May 2010.

On the Road Again (again)

A couple of analogues to finish off 2009. Manual focus Nikonos 35mm, treading water, manual wind on film advance, bottom turn back when when boardshorts were short. When the road ended at the camping area at the end of Hastings Street. And yes, the surf was crowded then too.

Ah, the sweet 1968 mix of the south Indian tambura drone behind the harmonica, drums and guitars of Canned Heat. Never tire of this tune, which was an adaptation of an adaptation of an old blues standard sung by Blind Owl Wilson of American boogie blues band, Canned Heat. Wilson was a legally blind Boston graduate who played at the Woodstock and Monterey Festivals in the 1960's and was dead of a drug overdose at 27. The irony is that the old originator of the tune, Chicago Bluesman Floyd Jones, outlasted the young prodigy by 20 years. Now that's the blues.

Hoping you all continue to bury a rail and tap your toes in 2010.

HIPPY NEW YEAR