Welcome to the Modslist Music Picks page for March 1998. This page will be updated monthly with contributions from modslist subscribers. All modslist subscribers are welcome to participate. Write me at modslist@mindspring.com for more info.

March Contributors:

Here are this month's contributors. To save some time, you can click on the name of whosever list you'd like to read, then skip back to the top from the bottom of said list. You can still scroll down as before, as well if you choose. Clicking on a contributor name at the top of their list will enable you to send an email to that person, if they've specified that they wanted their email address included with their list. So, if you want to find out more about something they've listed, send them an email!

Music Picks contributors for February

• David Robles
• Tinkerbell
• Ed Lowe
• Justin Warring
• Andrew McCullough
• Greg Langel
• Monique
• Bill Luther
• Desdemona
• Nick Rothstein
• Brian Poust

David Robles:

Incredible sound, you can feel it, what a hammond sound behind his voice

Additional Comments: Ahhhh.... 2nd Maximum Mod Weekend........2,3,4 and 5 April´98, with Brenda Holloway..................!!!!!!!! León (Spain)

Tinkerbell:

Arrrh- the original indian vibes! An oldie but unbelievably funky!

Actually, the B-side has to be my current listen - kangeroo in my garden! Phantastic french band with full hammond power. Tunes full of swirls and sitar along with fun and frolics!

I didn't know who to label this under! Vocals by Sharon Tandy, though i supose the band was known at the time as 'Ruperts People' but generally known as Les Fleur De Lys. Brilliant psychadellic song from around 1967 can't get enough of it!

My roots have to be in Northern Soul! When this hits my stereo, my feet just can't keep still!

Obscure freakbeat classic! (got hold of the album 'Freakbeat, Freakout' which is a touch better than most freakbeat albums out there!)

I just like it, it can't be helped! Other good tunes by Jools have to include; Indian Rope man, Save Me and Let The Sun Shine in...a cool lady!

I've spelt that wrong haven't i? well i'm tired, but if you have some of their stuff you'll know the tune i mean. SDG are just pure class everyone knows and loves tunes like 'I'm a man', 'High Time', 'Trampoline' and 'searchin' Definately all good stuff!

Can't get enough of the Northern Soul!

The Creation are indiscibably fantastic. Words just can't say how great this band is (or was or whatever!)

May be not specifically Mod, but what an album. Air are a band who've taken basic 60s themes and made them into current post-ambient easy listening music! A sure revelation for elevator music! Songs like 'Sexy Boy' and 'All i Need' just have you wanting to hear more!

Additional comments:

I had too much music to mention but forgot it all when it got to sitting at the computer! Generally northern soul, freakbeat and some hammond grooves are my type of thing!

Ed Lowe:

A beautiful, uplifiting song - even if a *little* remeniscent of "This Old Heart Of Mine". Which is also beautiful and uplifting, of course.

...but he sounds so happy about it

An amazing voice. The track most in favour currently is "Stay Mine For Heaven's Sake", but there are so many other good ones.

An incredibly big, powerful sound.

Recent discussion on the list prompted me to dig this out again, and it's great.

Justin Warring:

Wow! Thirty years old and they still keep it real. This disc has some great re-released old stuff on it. Check out "Swing Easy".

This is by far the greatest Hepcat release ever. Tons of reocksteady and reggae for all of those beat addicts out there.

All of my favorite stuff on one album. Who could ask for anything more?

This has some great Booker T. and the MG's and other funky/jazzy kind of stuff on it.

Well...it's been a hard day's night...and I just can't get enough of this record.

Great chillin' music...kiler bass...lethal riddims!

I just picked up this four record set and it rocks. Nothing more to say...just get it.

There's some great old Skinhead reggae on this disc that's sure to please any ska fanatic.

Toots has one of the best voices in ska music I have heard thus far. They are like no-one else...I couldn't live without this record.

This has some killer tunes by the Specials, the Clash and the Jam...I'd suggest checking it out.

Andrew McCullough:

Additional comments: All the above are thanks to Brian Poust's tape!
[*blush* (-ed.)]

Greg Langel:

Monique:

The Feminine Complex was this all girl band from the 60's that was orginally from Nashville. This great album was re-released on TEENBEAT RECORDS along w/ 11 previously un-released tracks.

I actually found this double disk at (believe it or not) Best Buy for a VERY reasonable price. (I think for abt $17 or $18) This collection has many songs that I've been trying to get a hold of but, haven't been able until now.

This CD is full of pure bossanova pop goodness...not to mention solely contructed of love songs...it's just the cutest thing

only the best from this label...

probably my favorite thing the mAKE UP has put out...

This LP contains the best Alton Ellis song ever!

This album is quite good...not to mention I find the song "Open season...is closed" to be pretty humorous.

Bill Luther:

Maybe a bit heavy for some, flip of the mundane "hit" "Race with The Devil".. "Sunshine" chucks along with some heavy guitar and MINIMAL (can I stress that enough?) lyrics repeated incessantly, but the hooks/chorus are damn catchy and get stuck in my head like a mantra. Try to spot the French horns.....

The flip of their excellent "Long Cigarette" (recently covered by The Insomniacs on their latest long player)with ace electric piano interplaying with buzzing Gretsch guitar licks, it sort of has a Booker t-ish quality to it....on their Edsel comp. "Russ,Bob,Pete And Mod" or as a bonus cut on B.G.O's C.D. re-issue of their impossibly rare "Stakes And Chips" lp.

Acetate unreleased '66 gem from the vaults turned on to me by fellow NYC modslister Nate, simple four chord basher was throbby (out of tune) bass and catchy vocals. On their lp comp. "In The Beginning".

A projected '67 single for Deram that was rejected and remained unissued till Davie dyed his hair orange and got some hits. The lyrics and vocals are seductive without being cheezy or cheeky and the plodding bass, phased acoustic guitar and sawing strings gift it an ethereal effect. On the CD "The Deram Years" or "The Gospel According To The Laughing Gnome".

One time blue eyed soul boys who took a break from copying American pop/soul and went all out pop psych. The sawing strings and horns scream "I Am The Walrus" and even the vibes can't help shake the freaky but beautiful crescendo that it builds up to....Reissued way back when on the lp comp. "Broken Dreams Vol.5" or you can hear the 1967 Deram 45 spun monthly at Hub City soul.

The third and final brilliant single on Deram by this incredible mod/soul act. It manages to successfully combine a slightly (then) contemporary psych tinged sound almost akin to a British version of Vanilla Fudge while retaining a modicum of soulful vocals and classy brass. Oh and dig the Gregorian chant vocals on the intro! Reissued on the C.D comp. "Psychedalia:Forgotten british Flower Power Gems" (don't let the title fool you..take some it won't hurt you..).

Clive's amazingly subtle yet magnificent remake of this track never fails to yank a few strings in my heart or bring a tear of joy to my eye. On the CD comp. of later 60's tracks "The Hit Singles '67-'71".

A Hub City Soul mod/soul fave which has just been reissued on Sequel's decent Cd comp. "Freakbeat". It's got all the usual Brit soul arrangements, nice beat, funky organ and very danceable....

A Rod Argent keyboard showcase as Rod noodles away on his piano and follows each bit up with some truly groovy Hammond. Possibly one of the catchiest 60's instrumentals ever. Reissued on their godsend of a boxed set "Zombie Heaven".

From the CD of the same name by these now defunct Frenchmen. This organ/guitar groover manages to out do the Prisoners AND The Small Faces on their finest piss take instrumental efforts. Catchy, and if it doesn't move you you must've been sleeping when you heard it.....

Desdemona:

Additional comments: Seek out and enjoy!

Nick Rothstein:

Wonderfully groovy collection of 60s British secret agent-type themes, including the classic themes for "Danger Man" and "The Saint," plus Patti Seymour's wonderful take on "The Silencers," which has been on repeat for a while. Other standouts include "Mexican Flyer" by Ken Woodman & His Piccadily Brass and "Fade Out" by the John Shakespear Orchestra.

Mainly for the Italian version of "Long After Tonight Is All Over" by Jimmy Radcliffe!

Good, solid power pop for the 90s. "Take It Away" does it right. How come I've never heard of them before?

Ah, nostalgia. Makes me feel like I'm still living in Long Beach in the mid-80s. Chardon Square, Manual Scan, The Question (who remain one of my all-time favorite bands): damn, it's like being at Fender's again!

One of the best bands on the planet right now.

Mix tape from Buxton, one of Germany's top Northern DJs. Nice balance between classics and semi-obscurities. Excellent for playing in the car on the way to gigs or niters. Standout tracks: "This Love-Starved Heart of Mine" by Marvin Gaye, "Suspicion" by Pat Rames & The Prophets, and "Too Hot To Hold" by Betty Everett.

Brian Poust:

This isn't the cool theme song "Tra-la-la la-la-la-la..." but a fun sing along bubblegum type tune from our Hanna-Barbera heroes. TV just isn't like that anymore. Somebody tell Sid & Marty Kroft they should have made naugha Splits characters.... :^)

Some will find interest in knowing that there's a U.S. pressing of this record, which is absolutely brilliant, dark, and bone rattling. A UK copy books for £100, so the U.S. should be cheaper. The problem is that my favorite record dealer has great taste in music and can't decide if he wants to sell this to me or keep it himself! I'm really biting my nails over this one. If you ever see it, don't listen to it first, just buy the damn thing!

Made famous by Aretha Franklin, made amazing by Etta James, here's a British singer's take that will blow you away. The backing band is really tight, with an incredible bass player. Velez's voice is not unlike Julie Drischoll's, and she really belts it out with an incredible amount of soul, but not quite to the level of Etta's scream. The flip side is a fairly decent heavy guitar laden psych. number called "Swamp Man".

In case I didn't go on enough about Bob Crewe last month, here's another go. This is the flip side to "Music To Watch Girls By", a relatively common easy listening song of the time, even issued on 45 by Diet Pepsi. Anyway, here we have more of the Generation's calling card fuzz guitar and soundtrack styled hipster listening, not unlike what you'd hear on a Sound Gallery comp. This certainly rivals another Bob Crewe fave "Miniskirts In Moscow or ____", also from '66.

Gene Pitney was an extremely bland New Jersey balladeer who catered himself mostly to middle America. My mom thinks he's just swell. Somehow, he came to record this storming soul number. I'd like to know who talked him into this (or his weird connections to the Rolling Stones)! It's an easy 45 to find, but unusual all the same. Those with access to old Beat Club footage will enjoy looking for the episode with Gene performing this song.

This is the flip to "Hi-Ho Silver Lining", and one of the Attack's greatest sides. The guitar work by Davy O'List is absolutely amazing.

A good pop song can go a long way, and the Roulettes were definitely on the ball. Both sides of this 45 (the other being "Can You Go") are quite good, but "Bad Times" is extremely well written, considering its simplicity.

This is one of the Chess label's classics as far as I'm concerned. Gene Chandler just never really got the hits he should have. Much of his work for Constellation was better than his Checker sides, but this particular track is stands up with the best of them.

A staple band of the Florida 60's garage scene, the Birdwatchers were slightly more poppy than their counterparts such as Evil and We the People. This song is definitely a career hilight. Great hooks, cool guitar, basically just an all around well written song. There's a pretty subtle similarity between this and Tommy Scott's "I Can Only Give You Everything" as well.

Another forgotten Seattle band, this song is a pretty tongue and cheek answer to the same band's earlier single "Somethin'". Fake British accents make up a mock "arguement" in the studio about how good the song is and what it should be called. A tad repetative maybe, but light hearted and still suitable for a early dancefloor mood lifter.