Turn the record over....

Sorry to be away for so long. I'm totally swamped with social obligations, have been all month. This will likely continue through Mardi Gras.

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Here's some of the many flip-sides I meant to post and never got around to. Just a little present for ya'll. I'll try to put up some more tomorrow.

1. "I Got Love" by Jackie Avery. A nice little funky number that may not knock you out like it's flip-side, but given how good "Understanding" is, it says quite a lot that this cut ever gets played at all. Is this recording available any place else?

2. "Something Ought To Be Done [About You]" by Jessie Hill. I'm a huge fan of everything Jessie Hill and Mac Rebennack recorded together and this is no exception. The flip-side, "My Children, My Children", was one of the first cuts I posted on the blog. Most copies you see of this 45 are one-sided promos pressed without this tune.

3. "Eddy's Go-Go Train" by Eddy Giles. I actually bought this 45 for this song in particular, but when I heard the flip-side, "While I'm Away", I fell in love with it...and thus that's the side that got posted. Always meant to get back to this one. Truly killer stuff.

Best wishes to everyone. Happy Holidays.

Soul feeling....

Rather like a story with two possible endings.....

Make no mistake, my hand has been hovering over the delete button for the past several weeks. But there are all these extraordinary comments being posted. Surprisingly, not a one of which have I had to censor. Not a single one.

Popularity doesn't influence me, just as heartfelt appreciation most assuredly does. My sincere thanks to everyone who bothered to comment. I am, to put it mildly, nonplussed by your responses....even somewhat embarrassed....but more than anything, I am exceedingly grateful.

Ya'll think I'm good at this? Really? All I've ever thought I had to offer was some interesting records. And ya know, in my book that makes the this whole enterprise somewhat suspect. Anyone with the time, money, and interest can gather a nice collection. That I enjoy hunting up useless bits of plastic does not make me an authority on anything.....in fact, it probably means I'm an idiot.

I should also mention that I received some very nice emails concerning my last post. My thanks to you folks as well. One of those emails correctly noted that my life has changed a great deal over the last two years. This is God's Own Truth and of more importance than I care to go into except to say that I am very busy these days. I didn't so much take on a new job in May as I took on a new [and very interesting] life. I would never downplay Baby Girl's role, but compared with the job, she's just along for the [wild] ride.

Anyway, we'll see how this goes. There are situations which will likely make me cut this revival short. Specifically, harassment from any one of several quarters.

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Shall we make a party? [my mama taught me to go formal when in doubt]

I really wouldn't know if this is the rarest of Eddy Giles 45s, but folks do often want some serious cash for it. Luckily, I scored my copy for cheap. Don't pass up Pt.2, it's the side I play most often.

Soul Feeling Pt.1

Soul Feeling Pt.2

I need your arms around me oh so tight...

Very good news from the Doc yesterday morning. I'm now on "modified best rest", which is more or less the equivalent of being under house arrest. And that's great, I'll take it, but I can't help thinking my new license to putter about the place has something to do with cleaning the toilets.

I've also been given some time off for good behavior. In a little while I'll be allowed to attend the usual family gathering. It'll be good to get out of the house.

Here's another killer tune by Eddy Giles from up by Shreveport. As far as I know, it made no waves at all. Which is a total shame, all of his 45's on Murco are unbelievably good, the man deserved better.

Hope ya'll enjoy the tune and have a very pleasant holiday.

Keep the faith....

I'm a big fan of Eddie/Eddy Giles' output on the Murco label out of Shreveport. In the 70's, he recorded some great stuff with Wardell Quezergue for the Alarm label, even worked with Allen Toussaint at one point, but it's the Murco sides that get my attention.

Giles' first single, "Losing Boy", was a fair sized hit in 1966. It was followed by six more 45's for Murco, none of which did much in terms of sales.

Oddly enough,"While I'm Away" was released on both Giles' second and third singles for Murco. Whether or not it was meant to be the b-side on either or both is difficult to tell. Murco didn't actually designate a&b sides, so I suppose it's possible "While I'm Away" was meant to be the follow-up to "Losing Boy"......and perhaps when the follow-up didn't sell as expected, a very funky flip side was added for a quick re-release???

The two singles were issued back to back with consecutive numbers, which even for a small label like Murco makes the release of Giles' third 45 appear rushed.

In case ya'll have never been there, Shreveport is in northern Louisiana, actually much closer to Dallas than New Orleans in more ways than one. As far as I know, all recordings on the Murco label were cut in Tyler Texas, which is about half way between Shreveport and Dallas.

Eddie Giles lives in Shreveport today.

Hope ya'll enjoy...