This coming Tuesday is the Mexican Day of the Dead - "Dia de los muertos".

In some way this has been, for me, the 'Year of the DEAD' - as in the Grateful Dead. Back in January I discovered a lot of music from the Jerry Garcia Band [see January 21st blog], and since then more great music has come to light. 

Starting with 'If I Had the World to Give' from the band's tenth album 'Shakedown Street' released in 1978 - it's very Beatles-ish I think you'll agree. 

So now I consider myself a 'Deadhead' - which is what all fans (and there are many famous people who are - Matt Groening of Simpsons fame for one) call themselves >

Coming this Tuesday - please log on for more Grateful Dead from the 'Europe 72' album. There's a real psychedelic video from YouTube to also blow your mind.

   

Today's Star Track is prompted by two thoughts.  

Our, soon to be, new local watering hole (more on that coming soon) has a gallery of old black and white photos on display, one being of a very young Mike Bloomfield, then guitarist with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. 

While the title of this particular track off the band's 1965 debut album seemed a good one for the lucrative world of the property market.  

"Shake Your Money Maker" was written by Elmore James in 1961 and is included in the list of 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. Covered here by Paul Butterfield (harmonica and vocals), Mike Bloomfield (lead guitar), Elvin Bishop (rhythm), Jerome Arnold (bass), Sam Ley (drums) & Mark Naftalin (organ) - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band > 

Check out other tracks from this album - especially 'Last Night' written by Little Walter.

Plus a 'live' recording from Monterey in 1967 - 'Drifin'Blues' > 

With Mike Bloomfield talking to camera as an introduction - click here  

  

Perhaps one of the lesser-known 'Brit Pop' bands are Elastica.

Formed when Justine Frischmann (lead singer) and Justin Welsh (drums) left the band Suede in 1992. This is their most successful single, released in February 1995, called 'Waking Up' - 

"Make a cup of tea, put a record on... "

Having listened to this you may think the song's riff sounded like The Stranglers 'No More Heroes', well so did The Stranglers ! Whose publishers took out a lawsuit, which was settled out of court after Elastica agreed to co-credit the band. So along with Frischmann, the members of The Stranglers are listed as songwriters. 

Interestingly "JJ" Burnel of The Stranglers said "Yes, it sounds like us, but so what? It's the first thing our publishers have done for us in 20 years, but if it had been up to me, I wouldn't have bothered."

Follow this:- 

with a track in a similar vein, released just a few weeks later in 1995, more morning upbeat happiness - the Boo Radleys and 'Wake Up Boo!' - [click now] 

   

The first James Bond movie 'Dr. No' had its World premiere at the London Pavilion on 5th October 1962, expanding to the rest of the United Kingdom days later. Then over the following months it played around Europe. While the North American premiere wasn't until 8th May 1963.

All this means, 60 years ago this week, we heard the 'James Bond Theme' for the very first time !

"Now, pay attention 007"

Many typical Bond film images were established in this first film. It begins with an introduction to the character through the view of a gun barrel as the main title sequence begins. It introduced the now famous theme music composed by Monty Norman. John Barry, who would later go on to compose the music for eleven Bond films, arranged the theme but was uncredited - except for the credit of his orchestra playing the final piece. The famous guitar riff was played by Vic Flick, as a member of the John Barry Orchestra. 

Every year the 5th of October is observed as "Global James Bond Day".

Sadly, Monty Norman passed away in July this year.

More Bond Music > [click here] 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' music by John Barry. These opening titles feature a reminder of the Bond films prior to 1969. 

Interesting Double 'O' Facts:

1)  Chris Blackwell (Island Records) was a location scout and production assistant on Dr. No. 

2)  The brilliant 007 logo with the added gun barrel plus the trigger at the end of the '007' made its first appearance in the US poster for Dr. No.