Two weeks ago we made a bold claim that “Summer of Soul” was the best music documentary we’ve seen in years.
“The Sparks Brothers”, directed by Edgar Wright, might run it close though. At 2 hours and 20 minutes long it provides an exhaustive account of the Ron and Russell’s 50 year career.
Here Edgar Wright talks about his life – from child to auteur – in terms of the music he listened to. There’s a heavy debt to 70’s K-Tel and Ronco compilations.
And if you were expecting a Sparks laden playlist on the back of all that you are going to be disappointed. Not a Mael tune in sight. You’ll have to go back to a Joint from 4 years ago instead.
Catchy, joyful, upbeat, fuzzy and beautifully quirky song of the week (and inspiration for the blog title) goes to Woody and Jeremy‘s “My Old Bassist”.
And if that’s your… ahem… cup of tea… sorry… allow us to thoroughly recommend the album it comes from, Gravy in My Coffee.
Both open with The Chamber Brothers’ “Uptown” and the climaxes are identical (because we ripped the last 5 minutes directly from the soundtrack).
That ending does feature a snippet from a ripping Sly & The Family Stone performance and some wistful, tearful, bemused and resigned reminiscences as to why the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was forgotten whilst other (lesser) festivals from the same period stole the limelight.
We’ve not seen a better music documentary for years but don’t just take it from us, watch BBC Radio 5 Live’s Mark Kermode sing it’s praises.
And for those who are counting – that’s two versions of “Gloria” that have made their way onto the The Joint playlist in just over a month. When we gave an outing to the 1979 Umberto Tozzi original 6 weeks ago we didn’t know Angel Olsen was planning to release her own cover in July. You can’t keep a good tune down.
Tyler, The Creator. He likes his classic cars. He likes his speedboats. He likes his bicycles. And apparently he likes attaching bike racks to Rolls Royces.
The musical remembrances of Camera Obscura and Cocteau Twins on the show today were from comedian Alan Davies’ new podcast Seven Pillars with Alan Davies and his chat with former footballer Pat Nevin.
Great to talk to Pat Nevin for Seven Pillars. Recorded earlier this year so this is one piece of content that is not concerned with the Euros… https://t.co/mEnitOqRKT
