SECRET SAUCES RADIO #018

Here are some notes on the eighteenth 'Secret Sauces Radio' mix, which can be listened to on Mixcloud here...

SECRET SAUCES RAIO INTRO IDENT

Drew Steele - Don't Worry We Won't Blow It

All of this show's samples are taken from the 1984 spoken word double LP 'Neighbourhood Rhythms (Patter Traffic)', released on Harvey Kubernik's Freeway Records. This record has never been reissued and only exists on vinyl, but is an interesting curio for fans of 1980s Los Angeles punk, and artists on SST's roster. Featuring names such as Mike Watt, Henry Rollins, Chuck Dukowski, D. Boon, Jack Brewer, John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Kid Congo, and Susan Gardner (later known as Suzi Gardner of L7), it's an interesting record for sure! Drew Steele was in the band Surf Punks, and contributed many spoken word pieces to records such as this one.

1) RIDE - Like A Daydream

The lead track from Ride's second EP 'Play', released in 1990 by Creation Records. You'll also find this on the 1990 mini-album 'Smile', which combines the 'Play' EP with their debut eponymous EP - though the 2022 '4 EPs' compilation is more comprehensive, as it also includes the 'Fall' and 'Today Forever' EPs.

Watch Creation boss Alan McGee being interviewed by Cherry Red's Iain McNay in 2013 here - at 9:40 he talks about his tenacity in signing the young band Ride: "I completely stalked them. It was stalking. And I'd probably get arrested for it now, chasing eighteen year-old boys around the country".

2) THE STONE ROSES - Daybreak

Taken from the band's 1994 second LP 'Second Coming'. I like Second Coming and I like this song, but the record still pisses some people off today for various reasons. But if you focus on that rhythm section of Mani and Reni, you can't help but love it. I have very little else to say.

3) TAKAGI KAN - Koi No Formula (Brixton Bass 12" Mix)

The original mix of 恋のフォーミュラ (Koi No Formula) can be found on 高木完 (Takagi Kan)'s 1991 debut album 'Fruit of the Rhythm', released on Major Force via Epic/Sony. There's a good 2013 Blu-Spec CD reissue with new liner notes from Takagi Kan (in Japanese) that includes this Brixton Bass Mix and the Bugged Out Mix of Koi No Formula - I believe it's still in print, so you should be able to track it down via some Japanese retailers online. The album has never been released on vinyl, though this mix is available on the original Major Force 12" release of Koi No Formula and the stunning 1997 box set 'Major Force: The Original Art-Form' released on Mo'Wax.

Velvert Turner - L.A. (A Reminder)

"L.A. - the only place in the world where everybody you meet is on their way to become somebody else"

Velvert Turner of The Velvert Turner Group, the alleged protégé of Jimi Hendrix, who only released one album.

4) SAVAGE REPUBLIC - Mobilization

First released on the legendary 1983 'The Radio Tokyo Tapes' compilation on Ear Movie Records. The 17 track compilation of Los Angeles bands were all recorded by Ethan James at Radio Tokyo studios, and contain many exclusive recordings of the legendary hardcore and Paisley Underground bands of '80s Los Angeles. Unfortunately the original album has never been reissued in its entirety on CD, but this track was included on 'The Best of The Radio Tokyo Tapes' (there were several volumes) compilation in 1987, and some (not all!) expanded reissues of Savage Republic's debut album from 1984, 'Tragic Figures'.

5) THOMAS LEER - Kings Of Sham

Originally released on Cherry Red's classic 'Perspectives and Distortion' compilation in 1981, you can find this on the expanded CD release of Thomas Leer's 'Contradictions' album, also released by Cherry Red. 'Perspectives and Distortion' is an essential purchase full of exclusive tracks from the exciting electronic fringes of post-punk. There is a track on there called 'What Stanley Saw' by Matt Johnson (The The) from his still unreleased 1979 album 'Spirits', and the compilation's title comes from an as-yet unheard track from that album. And the title of the track comes from a painting by Andy Dog (Andrew Johnson... RIP), Matt's brother.

6) THE LAST EMPEROR - The Monolith

Produced by Prince Paul, this comes from the unreleased debut album from The Last Emperor, an exceptionally talented MC from Philadelphia. His album was due to be released on Interscope in 2000 but label bullshit prevented its release, and his next album came in 2003 on Penalty/Raptivism. The full album hasn't leaked anywhere in full (to my knowledge), but plenty of tracks from the album and this period are out there if you look. This track (with additional Prince Paul samples... "fo' shizzle my nizzle, Prince Paul is on the wizzle of stizzle") is available on Paul's 'Hip Hop Gold Dust' compilation from 2005, but this is the original.

7) VIVIEN GOLDMAN - Private Armies Dub

A dub version of the already dubby 'Private Armies' by New Age Steppers, found on their 1981 album. Strangely this doesn't appear on any of the expanded New Age Steppers reissues, but it does appear on the 2015 Adrian Sherwood compilation 'Sherwood At The Controls Volume 1: 1979-1984', credited to the track's vocalist Vivien Goldman.

Danny Sugerman - Still Alive, Still Lucky To Be Young (excerpt)

The second manager of The Doors, who wrote several books about them.

8) FORUM BAND - Be-Bop Convention Theme (Instrumental)

Stones Throw put out a great compilation on vinyl and CD in 2004 called 'The Third Unheard: Connecticut Hip Hop 1979-1983', which includes a vocal version of this track. This is the instrumental, found on the vinyl-only instrumental version of the comp.

9) ALWAYS AUGUST - Spacin' Out

Taken from the Richmond, VA band's 1986 eponymous debut album released on SST Records. Only available on vinyl and cassette! Of the band's three releases (two albums and a mini-album), only their second from 1987 'Largeness With (W)holes' is available on CD, though long out of print.

10) S.O.A - Public Defender

Henry Rollins' first band State of Alert released their 'No Policy EP' as the second release on Dischord Records in 1981 - this is from it. Whilst their only EP and a first demo from 1980 (released decades later) have been reissued on vinyl and digitally, there is no S.O.A. CD to this day.

11) BENNY SIZZLER - So Much For Today

This is one of Rhode Island legend Gail Greenwood (Belly, L7, Gang of Four etc.)'s many bands. This track was released in 2022, was mixed by Paul Q. Kolderie, and you can find Benny Sizzler on Bandcamp here.

12) DEATH OF SAMANTHA - Coca Cola & Licorice

The opening track from the band's debut album 'Strungout On Jargon', released in 1985 on Homestead Records. The lead guitarist for Death of Samantha was Doug Gillard, later of Guided by Voices. This album has never been reissued and was only available on vinyl.

13) THE ZOMBIES - Friends Of Mine

From the St. Albans, Hertfordshire band's second album 'Odyssey and Oracle' from 1968.

14) BOARDS OF CANADA - Smokes Quantity

Taken from their debut album 'Music Has The Right To Children', from 1998.

Michael C. Ford - Belles

The Chicago writer contributes to Neighbourhood Rhythms too. Fun fact: of all the snippets from that record used on here, this is the only one from someone who is still alive (aged 86), though he was born much earlier than the others. Michael C. Ford also released an album entitled 'Language Commando - Tape Box Transitions' on New Alliance Records (in association with Freeway Records) in 1986.

15) MIKEY DREAD - DATC Masterpiece

First released in nearly 9-minute form on the 1980 Dread At The Controls compilation LP of Mikey Dread dub cuts 'Master Showcase', and credited to Roots Radix + Steelie. This shortened version appears as a bonus track on the 2002 CD reissue of Mikey Dread's classic 'World War III' album, as it is essentially a dub version of 'The Jumping Master' from that album.

16) DR. OCATAGON - halfsharkalligatorhalfman

On the first 1996 CD pressings of the first Dr. Octagon album, this is a hidden track. Upon its reissue by DreamWorks with a different tracklist, it's no longer hidden. Enjoy typically bizarre Kool Keith rhymes about being half shark, half alligator and half man.

17) THE JAGUARS - Dancing Lonely Night

A 1967 single by the Japanese garage rock band, which can be found on most of their compilation releases. British listeners may recognise this track from the closing credits of classic 2000s Channel 4 comedy betting show 'Banzai', which was the source of much controversy during its original broadcast run. You can still stream it on Channel 4 here, I guess it hasn't been stumbled upon by an unknowing viewer ready to be outraged.

Thanks for listening and reading. New 60 minute music mixes are uploaded to Mixcloud every once in a while and I will post accompanying notes, with pointless trivia and endless links for you to enjoy.