TOMORROW ON OUTQ: THE BRITISH INVASION AND R&B

For those of you who are new to No Expiration, every Wednesday morning at 9 am ET I go on the SIRIUS XM channel OutQ and talk about music on The Morning Jolt with Larry Flick. This week and next week, however, I am moving to Thursdays.  In three weeks, I'll be back to Wednesday.

I'm going to talk about what I was supposed to talk about last week: the British invasion of the early '60s, and the American R&B of the era: how they influenced each other, and how that influence manifests itself today.  I'm adding one recent release that I didn't originally plan on: Otis Redding's Live On The Sunset Strip. It's a two CD collection of a few sets that he did over the course of a multi-night stand at the Sunset Strip in April of 1966, backed by his own band (as opposed to Booker T & The MGs) at the point where the dude was blowing up.  It is hot, and worth checking out. I've talked about Otis on the show before, but as far as I'm concerned, you can't talk about him too much.

I'll also be talking about The Kinks, in honor of the late Pete Quaife. I'll be talking about a newly released live Jackson 5 album. And new albums by Paul Weller and Bettye Lavette. But the main thing will be the recently released DVD version of The TAMI Show. I was talking with a friend of mine, we said it may be the best music DVD ever. And I never say that kind of stuff.  But it is a well shot concert from 1964 featuring a legendary performance by James Brown (see part of it here). Plus, The Rolling Stones (here), Marvin Gaye (here), Diana Ross & The Supremes (also here), The Beach Boys and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. Check out below, I've posted a joint performance by Chuck Berry with Gerry & The Pacemakers, and also Lesley Gore. This is incredible stuff.

OTIS REDDING COMING TO GUITAR HERO

I am a huge Otis Redding fan. I change my mind on these things, but I often feel that he is the greatest R&B or rock and roll singer of all time. I do worry a bit that people may not remember him as much as they should. He isn't marketed as aggressively as some other great artists who are no longer with us.  Is "worry" really the right word? Is this a cause for me to worry?  Yes, because I love music. If people aren't still listening to Otis' music... that's such a sad thing. The more influencial he is, the better music is. Not that anyone can duplicate what he did (and many of my favorites, including Bruce Springsteen, have certainly given it a go), but if his vocal and performance style is what you are shooting for, you are at least shooting in the right direction. So I'm really glad to hear (via Rolling Stone) that some of his songs are going to be available on Rock Band. I don't know how *I* would feel about desecrating "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)," "I'm Sick Y'all," "I've Got Dreams To Remember" and "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay," but I'm glad that people will have the chance to.  Hopefully it will lead them to picking up some of Otis' own music.

THIS WEEK ON OUTQ: GREAT LIVE PERFORMANCES

This week I'll be talking about great live performances that fall into two categories: one - performances that have been released before and two - performances that haven't.

In the previously released category is U2's Under A Blood Red Sky, a classic EP that introduced the band's live power to America. Then there's Johnny Cash's At Folsom Prison, one of his two concert sets recorded in front of a captive audience. And Roy Orbison's A Black And White Night Live, the TV special that re-introduced him to the public, and which featured Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, and Elvis Costello among others in the backing band.

Some of Otis Redding's Live In Paris and London was released on Live In Europe, but this contains full concerts. You can't beat the power of Otis in 1967. The Clash's Live At Shea Stadium is a classic (if you've seen the live video for "Should I Stay Or Should I Go," it's from that show), and I've already raved about Tori Amos Live At Montreaux 1991-1992.

THIS WEEK ON OUTQ: BOTH KINDS OF MUSIC

Yes, this week on OutQ, I'm going to be talking about both kinds of music: rhythm and blues. A couple of weeks ago, I planned on talking about James Brown's new DVD box set I Got The Feelin': James Brown in the '60s, and the reissue of Otis Redding's Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul. But Larry was on vacation, so there was no show that week.

So, I'm making up for it this week, by talking about both of those releases, along with B.B. King's new album One Kind Favor, which I love, and Buddy Guy's Skin Deep, which I like (but not love).

OTIS REDDING NEWS

First off, I can't believe that I haven't really written about the recent deluxe reissue of Otis Redding's Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul. I will talk about it on an upcoming OutQ show for sure.

The original album is a total classic, one of the best albums you could ever buy, one of the best things you could ever spend money on. The comination of gospel singing with popular music and rock and roll is totally taken for granted these days, but here's the guy who arguably perfected it.

Otis Blue is just an amazing album, everyone should have it. The reissue is a bit audiophiley, containing all the songs in mono and stereo, but the live tracks make it worth the price.
Here's some exciting news: Otis Redding Live In London and Paris is coming out on September 23 according to Antimusic. It will feature two performances recorded in March of 1967, backed by Booker T & The MGs and the Mar-Keys horn section. Classic Stax, classic soul.

It's good that Otis' legacy hasn't been belittled by crass commercialization of his image but at the same time, it's too bad that he isn't remembered as the true legend that he was.

And, as I often mention, historical context is often helpful in appreciating an artist like Otis Redding. But the real deal is that you could put on his records today at a back yard party, in your car, at the beach or wherever, and it rocks. That's the bottom line.

THIS WEEK ON OUTQ: ISAAC, OTIS AND JAMES

I'm actually on vacation this week (or, "stay-cation" in the parlance of the times), but I will be doing the OutQ show. Larry and the crew were on vacation last week, and I don't want to miss two shows in two weeks.

So, this week, I'll be talking about the late, great Isaac Hayes and his body of work - not just as a solo artist, but the stuff he wrote for Sam & Dave. Also, the newly released James Brown DVD box set: I Got The Feelin': James Brown In The '60s. And finally, the deluxe reissue of Otis Redding's classic 1965 album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul. It is one of the greatest albums of all time, no doubt. The reissue is cool, but a bit audiophiley: not everyone cares to have both the stereo and mono mixes. But there is some cool live stuff included as well. I do wish more people knew how great, and how influential, Otis Redding was. Listen to one of his albums and then see Bruce Springsteen in concert, it'll all make sense.

Speaking of Bruce, I may also talk about his concert: I'm going to see him again tomorrow night in Hershey, PA. Yes, I saw him three times this summer (read about it here, here and here) but my wife didn't because she was in Africa. I may also talk about last weeks' Rancid concert, which was pretty great too.