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Artist: Nico
Track: Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (from the LP, Chelsea Girl)
Label: Verve Records
Catalog#: 2353025
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: UK
Released: 1971 (originally 1967)
Credits: Producer - Tom Wilson, Arranged and conducted by Larry Fallon
This month sees a number of tribute concerts marking twenty years since Nico’s death, so I thought it appropriate to feature a track from 'Chelsea Girl', Nico's debut solo album.
So who the hell is this statuesque, German blonde equipped with a voice deeper than the foghorn on the Tirpitz? Nico (real name Christa Päffgen) was arguably the world’s first supermodel; a junkie muse, musical pioneer and formidable femme fatale – all rolled into one. Her music; folky and earthen – reminiscent of Mary Travers (Peter, Paul & Mary) – yet more elegant, isolated and inward.
For her debut album, 'Chelsea Girl', Nico recorded songs by among others; Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, Jackson Browne and Velvet Underground members... Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison. Lou Reed gave her the song ‘Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams’ (which did not surface as a Velvet Underground recording until it was included in the box set release, ‘Peel Slowly and See’) and for me this is the best track on 'Chelsea Girl'. Not bad for a gal who was tone deaf and couldn't hear in one ear!
The musical backing is hauntingly minimal, featuring one or two guitars. There are no base instruments or drums and the strings and flute arrangements (added in post) create a surreal, almost Baroque–Folk feel to the whole experience.
Nico’s life reads like a Shakespearian play, except her performance was equally romantic, tragic, dramatic…. complex, and for a girl of her fame, she died in rather mundane circumstances. On July 18th, 1988, in Ibiza, Spain, after enjoying a relatively rejuvenated stint (post heroin addiction), Nico suffered a minor heart attack while riding a bicycle, causing her to fall and hit her head. A passing taxi driver found her unconscious and had difficulty getting her admitted to local hospitals. She was incorrectly diagnosed as suffering from exposure and she died the next day. X-rays later revealed a severe cerebral haemorrhage as the cause of her death. She was 49.
Nico was buried in her mother's plot in Grunewald Forest Cemetery in Berlin. At her funeral, a few friends played a tape of ‘Mütterlein’, a song from the album, ‘Desertshore’.
Directions to Nico's grave 
Nico's Grave
Check these two great tributes; Life Along the Borderline — a Nico Tribute, curated by John Cale, Southbank Centre, London SE1, Oct 11 2008 and Nico tribute concert curated by Lutz Ulrich, Volksbühne, Berlin, Oct 17, 2008.
Chelsea Girl was reissued last year on the 4 Men With Beards label.
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Artist: Ellen McIlwaine
Track: Higher Ground (from the LP The Real Ellen McIlwaine)
Label: KOT’AI
Catalog#: KOT 3306
Format: Vinyl, LP
Released: 1975
Country: US
Credits: Drums – Christian St. Roch, Bass – Bill Gagnon, Guitar & Voice, Ellen McIlwaine.
Fresh Folk cover of the Stevie Wonder classic. Again featured on Giles Peterson Digs America – Brownswood U.S.A. LP comes in a gatefold sleeve complete with self-portraits by the artist, plus lyric sheet. Check Ellen out at www.ellenmcilwaine.com
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Artist: Maria Josie with Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines and his Orchestra
Track: He Does It Better (from the LP This Is Marva Josie)
Label: Thimble Catalog#: TLP4
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Released: 1973
Country: US
Credits: Too many to mention (she’s singing with an orchestra)
Great, versatile singer, still going strong. Check her out at www.marvajosie.net He Does It Better is featured on Giles Peterson Digs America – Brownswood U.S.A. – if you want to pick it up easily.
(Marva & Earl Hines)
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Artist: Galt MacDermot and his Mid Manhattan Rhythm Section
Track: Lady, You Look Good To Me (from the Shapes of Rhythm LP)
Label: Kilmarnock
Catalog#: K-1001
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Released: 90’s Reissue (originally 1966)
Country: Canada
Credits: Bernard ‘Pretty’ Purdie – Drums, Jimmy Lewis – Fender Bass, ‘Snag’ Napoleon Allan – Rhythm Guitar, Galt MacDermot, Pianist & Composer.
At the time of this recording Bernard, Jimmy and ‘Snag’ where thee three musicians to work with in New York. They could regularly be found in the studios around the middle of Manhattan putting together backgrounds to inspire and support the popular singers of the day. It was with these men that MacDermot decided to cut Shapes of Rhythm in 1966.
Legend has it, enterprising New York rap producers and record collectors, knowledgeable that MacDermot had released limited runs of Kilmarnock Records, sought out the producer at his Staten Island home. One of the first was Ghetto Professional V.I.C., of The Beatnuts fame. He called the composer out of the blue inquiring about Shapes of Rhythm and was informed that MacDermot still had original copies in his basement. MacDermot invited him to his home, beginning a mutually beneficial relationship. V.I.C. bought records and distributed them to collectors and producers in New York City. And MacDermot learned about hip hop through V.I.C. and the friends he brought with him, notably JuJu, one of The Beatnuts key members and Lord Finesse. By 1995, previously unheard MacDermot gems, circulated throughout New York. Take a look at www.galtmacdermot.com he’s is a bit of a legend really and still going strong. He even composed ‘Hair’ the musical for Christ sake!
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Artist: Calvin Keys
Track: B.K. (from the LP entitled Shawn-Neeq)
Label: Black Jazz
Catalog#: BJ/5
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Released: 1971
Country: Brazil
Credits: Calvin Keys: Guitar, Bob Braye: Drums, Lawrence Evans: Bass, Larry Nash: Electric Piano, Owen Marshall: Flute, hose-a-phone, misc. Producer/Engineer – Gene Russell
B.K. is the stand out track on this rare, leftfield, Jazz Funk release on Black Jazz. Powerful Jazz guitar playing by Keys over deep, moody backing arrangements, touches of twisted electric piano, supported by a bad ass bass and driving back beat. I admit to occasionally turning all the lights off, turning the bass up (a little) and listening to this entire 9 minute 21 second masterpiece in the dark. Give it a crack.
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Artist: Johnny Harris
Track: Ripsaw
Label: Wanted Records
Catalog#: 711
Format: Vinyl, 7”
Released: 1963
Country: US
Credits: Written by Johnny Harris
Don’t know much about this one, but it makes me want to break out the buckshot and go shoot meself a large raccoon. Yeehaw!
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Directions to Nico's grave 
Nico's Grave
