The Smiths have been described, among other things, as 'miserablists'. It is something of a joke that most of the songs before you even get to the chorus there's been mention of panic, murder, being dragged down, corrodes my soul, dreaded sunny day, bludgeoned, murderous desire, feel so lonely, so sad. I'll stop there, but you get the idea…. However their songs were often as not far more cheerful and full of life, almost Merrie Melodies (looney tunes) > no not that !!

'Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want' from 1984 by The Smiths was only 2 minutes long, this version by the band's guitarist Johnny Marr features some beautiful guitar work. (You don't get Morrissey's voice here but instead you get Marr's astonishing guitar work) > mellow out everyone, and get what you want

KCRW session from 2013: [KCRW is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California]

More Summery sounds this week.

Tristen Gaspadarek was discovered via Cerys on Radio 6 when I heard her version of 'A Case of You' - a cover of a Joni Mitchell song [though very different from her original] containing some nice laid-back guitar. Known simply as Tristen, I then came across 'Glass Jar' with it's wonderful Rickenbacker Guitar Sound (guitars known for their bright jangle and chime) and it immediately feels like Summer and a jingle jangle morning - hope you like it 

- She has a new album just out called 'Aquatic Flowers' 

We have waited long enough for some Summer sunshine, so finally I can spin this track and greet the day with a warm outlook and recount this tale from yester year.

From the John Peel column in 'Sounds' - September 1976

He writes of a new ritual at his home .... "Whosoever rises first - and this is usually me - goes straight to the stereo and cranking the decrepit machinery up to full volume, fills the house with the stirring strains of Poco's 'Rose of Cimarron'. 

Naturally, being decent, god-fearing folk, we eschew the mildly beastly edited single version and go instead to the full-blooded 6 minute and 40 second version. As soon as the ecstatic guitar break has faded away, the rest of the house rise from their beds, their eyes shining with a strange light, the spirits uplifted. 

I suspect that repeated exposure to 'Rose of Cimarron' could raise you to a similar state of bliss." 

So here it is [remember full volume] > Poco - and one of my favourite tracks ever -

"Hey Joe"- famously the first single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience is also a real 'Whodunit' ? The authorship of the song is contested by quite a cast of writers and the credits roll at some length.
Californian-based folk musician Billy Roberts registered the copyright in 1962. Scottish singer Len Partridge claimed he helped write the song. Friend of Roberts, Dino Valenti also copyrighted the composition in 1963. All this while claims of inspiration to various earlier works with similar lyrics and chords plus the assertion that "Hey Joe" was a traditional song. Which includes Tim Rose, who recorded the song in 1966 and said he'd learned it in 1960 from folk singer Vince Martin, but added his own arrangement to the traditional song.
Either way the Jimi Hendrix version, most of us know, was inspired by Rose's rendition. While in the year 2000: 'Total Guitar' magazine ranked it as their 13th greatest cover version of all time.
All that said today's Star Track is another cover of "Hey Joe" - this one an extraordinary performance from 1976 'live' in Austin, Texas by Roy Buchanan. A pioneer of the Fender Telecaster sound he never achieved stardom in his life but is definitely a highly influential and versatile guitar player. This almost languid run through showcases his style and ends with a brief tribute to Jimi, from Roy Buchanan > 

> Check out "The Messiah Will Come Again' - it's a must ! [here] - with no effects pedals !

Plenty more on YouTube, including a 1973 OGWT, with three songs and an interview with 'Whispering Bob'. [link to]