Albert Ascona: Punk Rock and Everything Nice

 Punk Rock and Everything Nice

Albert Allan Ascona 

Oct 5, 1975

- Aside from his main band Bad Omen, is also /has been a member of elite bands such as Vagabonds, Gut Reaction, Communion, Prevail, Throw, Music Front, Nemodav, The Beauty Of Doubt and a couple a hundred more

A prolific songwriter who can't seem to contain the Punk Rock blood in his veins.. Albert is also a good conversationalist, who can easily make a great interviews and of course the guy is all guns blazing when it comes to issues that concerns National interest. He writes some good stuffs of different subject matter as well.

Side note:

prior to this pandemic,  i was fortunate enough to get  Albert's Red Fender Telecaster (yep the one on the photo),  It was one he use for some gigs and Communion MV... 

I was planning and looking for a Tele for years suring that time,  that fits my budget and how cool is that finally owning a Tele that was previously used by a local Punk Rock icon..

Richard Hell: Of Television, Heartbreaks and Voids

 Of Television, Heartbreaks and Voids

Richard Hell
02.Oct.1949

Richard Lester Meyers, better known by his stage name Richard Hell, is a singer,songwriter, bass guitarist and songwriter. Hell was in several important, early punk bands, including Neon Boys, Television and The Heartbreakers, after which he formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Their 1977 album Blank Generation influenced many other punk bands. Its title track was named "One of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock" by music writers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listing.

Discovering Punk as music to me had different phases... initially it was The Pistols bridge me to punk music. But it was actually the american hardcore /punk thing ( plus a couple of local too) that really got me into it. Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Minor Threat... Dead Ends, G.I. + Idiots then Brit punk, The Pistols, The Toy Dolls, The Exploited...
As the information during that time was scarce, with a few zines, i rely on peers recommendations .. The Compilation albums did wonders as well and helped in a lot of ways.. Punk and Disorderly series, Dischord hardcore Compilation, BYO's "Someone's Gonna get their head into something" , "Oi' Chart Buster series" .. and a particular album that represents the early CGBG / proto-punks
"The Blank Generation" The New York Scene 1975 -1978... All of these albums were important as it lead me different bands to listen and while most would give me the idea of the things that went together geographically and time line wise.... The Cassette connected me to some bits and pieces that i heard before The dead Boys, Johnny Thunders and The Ramones... The heralded me a new hero Easily Richard Hell ... The Album title, incidentally was a Richard Hell song was compelling enough that there's something about the guy.. though far from the really fast and aggressive music Ian McKaye or Jello Biafra.. ..but absolutely the anti thesis of what whats happening around him during their time..
This time it wasn't only the music , it's how the music evolve and how certain individuals would would take the unpopular path that would carve history and influence significant people that would took what they had to a different level...

Jaco Pastorius "That Incredible Chops"

  That Incredible Chops

Jaco Pastorius In Memoriam
December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987

Jaco was widely regarded as perhaps one of the best Technical to play the low end.

He was popularly known as a jazz bassist mainly as a member of Weather Report from 1976 to 1981. but has have worked and collaborated with so many artists like Pat Metheny , Herbie Hancock and Joni Mitchell. He also have recorded albums as a solo artist and band leader. 

His bass playing employed funk, Precision timing, and innovative harmonics. in 2017 He was inducted in the  DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame, and has been lauded as one of the best electric bassists of all time.

I learned about Jaco through, and shortly after i discover Dondi Ledesma, it was just an overheard conversation from fellow fan , that he's the local Jaco Pastorious when it comes to technical playing on Bass Guitar.... from that point on, the name Jaco never left my mind, thinking, who on earth supposed to be was Jaco Pastorious?
it wasnt easy to find his record, and that yearning took sometime, before i finally hear Jaco's work myself... admittedly i had so much different expectation on his music that i almost dissed listening to him.. until one day, i was playing his record, and it was "Havona" by Weather Report, while lying idle...(perhaps a good time to listen closely ) that literally i fell , and thought, dang! That was sick bass line...
And that sparked my love for Jaco's works...

The thing about incredible chops is that there is always going to be someone that comes along that is "great" in some different way. and will do something incredible technically .
But Jaco... he’s so much more than just his impeccable technique. His phrasing, those lines, his melodicism and his rhythmic sensibility. It was next level at the time and somehow still is. Jaco was like Hendrix, he blew the door open on a technical level but also played with such emotion and sensitivity it’s hard to match even if you’ve got the chops for it

Manny Pagsuyuin: The Answer Is You

 "The Answer Is You"

Manny Pagsuyuin





That would be my response if you ask a seventeener me, how i would love to see my future self would be.
Musician, DJ/Radio Host, Writer/Columnist
(Daydreaming having an on-air conversation with a legend)

It was a lifelong dream since i was a kid.
And as much as i had many inspirations along the way. It's cool to realize there are few people who actually accomplished all of that significantly..

Manny "Pags" Pagsuyuin
Drummer for Legendary Punk Band ( Betrayed)
FM Radio Announcer/DJ- as Jimmy Jam
Writer, Columnist and a Music Guru

I wouldn't dare attempt to tell your history because there's so much to know about, that i would rather hear from the most credible person... and "The Answer is you"

An inspiration in a lot of ways (as a musician yourself, as a Radio Disc Jock and even by just sharing your broad and impeccable taste in music in whatever art form; as a writer, or even by just speaking your thoughts, and your oneliner sometimes that gives me something to ponder on..
i may never be as good as you, but i thank you, by just sharing your stuffs , enjoying it every bit , that gives encouragement to me to atleast try and do these things i love to do.. and keep working on my dreams...

Keith Flint : "Fire Starter"

 "Fire Starter"

Keith Flint in Memoriam

09.17.1969 - 03.04.2019

Keith Charle Flint was an english Singer, Dancer, and Motrorcycle racer  best remembered as a member of Techno Dance/Rock Prodigy. Started out as a dancer and later became the co-frontman of the group with Maxim Reality.

Flint performed on the group's two most popular hits "Firestarter" and "Breathe" both released in 1996.

 Keith Flint's other musical venture was with the Punk Rock Band "Flint" which obviously he fronted and released an album titled "Device #1" in 2003. 

He owned a motorcycle racing team, Team Traction Control, which won four Isle of Man TT races throughout 2015 and 2016, and competed in the British Superbike Championship.

Prodigy was an instant hit to me,  Their beat was just compelling. and it wasnt surprising,  i listened to C and C music factory before i got deep into Rock music and heavier stuffs,,., beat box and those break dancing stuffs early in my musical development.

Heck...i even trace this love for this kind of music to one of most fave Beatles song "Tommorow Never Knows"

"The Fat Of The Land" was such a solid album.

And would remain one of the albums i'll never get tired of listening.

The Prodigy describe their style as "electronic punk", being the pioneers in this rhythm, with a punk conceptual expression in many of their albums accompanied by strong and groundbreaking rhythms.

... it was actually my first impression after first hearing "Breathe"  and noticing the similarity of the line "bye... bye .. bye" to The Sex Pistol's "Anarchy In The U.K."..  was it just only me .. but definitely there was a Pistol feel on that.

And i love the overboard connections... and if the Pistol connection was just my imagination.

The Ska and Reggae connection was definitely obvious as The Prodigy worked on a Max Romeo song "Out Of Space" and The Specials' "Ghost Town".

Keith was quite a dark character.. and in the pre internet days, his mysteriousness and peculiarity pulls so much interest that i look around for imported mags and stuffs featuring an article about Prodigy.. that wouldn't come until the advancement of technology that made information available at your very fingertips.

 the music is enough reason though for Prodigy to remain constant on my Playlist.

Boyet Miguel: The Boy and his Legacy

 The Boy and his legacy

Boyet Miguel
Betrayed /The Beauty of Doubt / Ocean Zoo / Ethic Faces / Tame The Tikbalang/ Nonentities

The 80s was an amazing era, at least musically . There was a lot of things happening , as the local airwaves started to get a dose of Seminal Punk and new Wave bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, XTC, The Cars, The B-52’s, Devo, The Police, Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello, and The Clash.

That music stirred a lot of personalities, it has been a calling of sort, as those who have heed to that call, paved way to our own musical revolution. after it found its way through Legendary DJ "Howlin' Dave's" Dante David Radio Program .

Soon after, history started to unfold , and "Brave New World" concert series became one of the most important event in the local punk rock history , that perhaps it's success paved to something bigger
twas a time where great minds meet, it was a platform of brave ideas that prior to this happening was called radical..

from that pack, there was "Jolt" ( As Boyet was findly called then), Guitarist for the band Zoo,
their music was obviously inspired by what was the revolution that was happening at that time , The Zoo's sound and aesthetics was unique. No other band was like them, originality wise.

However some great things never last, as the band folded shortly after their independently produced ( Insect Dance) EP "Animal Party", Jolt and the Amazing Jack Sikat would Join forces with another Legendary group "The Lost Boys" and that band would become "Ethnic Faces"

Ethnic Faces would join the Pepsi Punk Band Contest, a battle of the bands televised over PTV 4's then-noontime variety show Ito Yun, Ang Galing!,
the band would stormed out the competition and ran away with the trophy, edging other Future significant bands that includes Betrayed, Wuds and Dead Ends.
Ethnic Faces was one the heavily popular among new wave enthusiasts. (and would also make a comeback in the mid90s releasing "Dekada")

Boyet also became a part of the reformed Betrayed

Betrayed released it's self titled debut album
The B-Side lineup includes: Dominic “Papadom” Gamboa (formerly of Absolute Zero) on vocals, and Manny Pagsuyuin (of Ironic Trauma) on drums ( Also known as “Jimmy Jam” ,his Disc Jockey moniker), Buddy Trinidad on guitars is the only remnant of the original Betrayed. as Boyet Played Bass

It's amazing, how he had became an integral part of the scene/ Revolution in such a short span contributing for the bands that would gain significant success and legacy soon after.

like most of his contemporaries, Yetbo would find time away from the scene as slowly faded at the dawn of a new decade (90s)
But the music wouldn't keep him away for long

in 1997, Betrayed Founder Eddie Siojo Betrayed would make a comeback with Boyet on for a ride subsequently releasing an album "Again" . (Buddy Trinidad , wouldn't come back until 2001 and took the lead role and from thereon would remain active since.) The Legendary band recently released a stellar album "why must everything involve politics?" in 2018

Betrayed aside, Boyet would be also part of notable bands which are actively playing on a high level and is still visible putting up great shows.

"Tame The Tikbalang" Who easily made their mark , showing such aggressiveness easily caught my attention in the earliest day i saw them on Junior Jam, the band would rose to prominence and released an album in the early 2000s "Forever Shall Be"

"The Beauty Of Doubt", another amazing Punk/Hardcore outfit which i first saw i believe sometime 2012 at the Ten02 Bar, after college friend Erwin Toledo plays guitar for this band. ( which incidentally supporting TTT's farewell show if i recall it right) - Boyet would join the band soon after.

"No(n)entities"
Another Ron Schandller / Boyet Miguel collaboration which boast heavy melodicly driven guitar and crazy drum parts, With the recently released full album Autonimbus, easily became my most fave album of recent years. The band's unparalleled intensity Literally threw me off the wall. just right off the bat.. the adrenaline was instantaneous.

Boyet , is also one of the amazing people behind Counterflow , a non-profit community /Organizer , which have constantly putting up amazing shows and uses the music/community for admirably great cause, most notably raising funds for individuals or groups in need. perhaps the only pay-what-you can gigs that sets up highly commendable great sound , but also consistently amazing venues

Nothing but Mad respect and admiration

Disclaimer: This is just my personal account to the best of my knowledge. i do not claim to be a music historian.

Kap Marvel: Skarlet Brown

Kap Marvel

Skarlet Brown

Myra David , who would later be known also as Skarlet Brown, is one of the amazing artist that came out for Malabon. an exceptional singer and stage performer , fronted seminal bands like Ardourn Delirium, Put3Ska and The Brownbeat Allstars. and is acknowledged as The Queen of Philippine Ska music.

My Kap. Marvel in the music Industry... Personally the most captivating performer ever to set foot on a local stage . saw her first time sometime in '95 as the flamboyant frontwoman of the Ska band, Put3Ska. who would not only gain significant commercial success, but would later develop a cult following up to this day.

I have been a witness how the band set standards for a live performance., The music, the band, and Myra is just an overwhelming presence on the stage : The way she presented herself (and the rest of the band for that matter) , be it on a 2Tone Mohair suit or a pretty rude girl is such a classy act to watch

plus her compelling Persona onstage. She knows how to utilize her gift of music , the spunk, the charisma , the energy.

an amazing spectacle, and definitely a showstopper.

As one of the band's song goes.. She'll make you "rip you off your seats" with whatever beats she plays compellingly...

Her departure from the band, was initially a sad news, but artist like Ska , still need to grow musically . she did great in Put3ska, but i guess it only proved one thing... She's definitely something more

we have seen her capability as a performer , her post P3K ventures would show her more diverse side of her artistry, from the spunky, electrifying performer , to a more complex sound ( Neo Jump swing, Samba, Mambo Afro Latin sound of The Brownbeat All Stars, and Skarlet Swing Machine , and the classy Skarlet the jazz artist

Crossing genres and expanding the horizon in her artistry just make this woman such an exceptional one... the "more than that" i believe would attributes better on her advocacies.

Perhaps her personal sad experiences carved a deep longing of helping others , especially women which inspired her to be a strong advocate of "Women's Rights"

..

I have been fortunate to follow her career even after P3K: exchange of emails during that period; her IKon stint, Ten02 Bar opening, Her advocacy and information regarding "Women's Right" and her "Powder Room Stories" Album..

which i was one of the fortunate first to hear the song "Babae Ako" with the attached MP3 she sent along with the promo/invitation. during my time away from the scene ( incarceration /manufacturing years)… i would slip once or twice just to catch my ultimate Heroine.

with the recent brief reunion of Put3ska, and the reformation of Browbeat All-stars.. or Ska the Jazz artist..

after all these years i still look forward of seeing Skarlet on stage, and would always get the goosebumps as if it's the first time.....

That Man is Forward: Rico Rodriguez in Memoriam

That Man is Forward
Rico Rodriguez In Memoriam

Born as Emmanuel "Rico" Rodriguez , a Cuban-born Jamaican ska and reggae trombonist. Was known as one of the first ska musicians. Beginning in the 1960s. recorded with producers such as Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd Daley. perhaps his most popular work was with the 2Tone Ska Band The Specials

Stop your messin' around... Better think of your future....
Time To Straighten Right Out ...
Creating Problems in Town..
Sans "A Message To You Rudy"

The Specials presented Rico in a such Special was, adding that "Featuring Rico" on some of the songs that he contributed in, makes it there something more specials. and it indeed it was the vibes that was imparted , perhaps because that mere mention made personally me as a listener , put more consciousness about his part. a big deal in a much sensible term, which he delivered.
I wasn't a fan of wind instruments, Sax, trumpet nor Trombone.
But Rico made it cool, sophisticated.
it was a different expression of emotion through the instrument , the same as how would play solo guitar, or groovy bass line, or aggressive drum part..
it was great having to finally appreciate something that was has long been underappreciated . and Ska music has opened somewhat like a Pandora's Box thing but in a positive way.

It is with his collaboration with The Specials that i noticed Rico , perhaps one of the key musicians that made me appreciate other instruments and understand the importance and role of every music instrument on the records, Sax, Trombone and Trumpets that would later led me to some jazz artists like Sax Player John Coltrane, Trumpet Players Louis Armstrong , and Miles Davis and got me started listening to Spyro Gyra (which my dad have a CD on his collection) and further led me to listening to Ella Fitzgerald , Billie Holiday.. etc
Through the years the love for such underrated music like Jazz, Delta Blues, and Reggae have essentially grown and would find its place in my crowded soul of music inclination..
And once that ear was opened to that underrated essentials in music... It made me see music in a deeper perspective .

Al Dimalanta: And The Noise Continues

 And The Noise Continues

Al Dimalanta

Is a songwriter, Guitar /Vocalist for Trash Hardcore band Throw. Since it's inception in 2000 has already released 4 full albums "Throw" (2001), "Unwavering" (2008), "Believe" (2010), and "Stand" (2014) plus an EP "Wag Kalimutan ang Ingay "(2010)

More significantly, his previous band, Dead Ends was one of most prominent local Hardcore/Punk band and considered as one of the main pillars of the punk movement in the 80s.
As early as that time, Al was an extremely prolific songwriter, as Dead Ends was the only band to release more than one album under Tommy Tanchangco's label Twisted Red Cross, spawned three albums impressively; "Complaints (1985)", "Second Coming(1986)" and "Damned Nation"(1987)...aside from contributing songs on compilations..."Brave New World Live" and "Fatal Response Compilation"...
The band would resurface in 1995 with a new sound , after a long lull, since 1987, the heavier, and more trashy sound and for the first time featured tagalog songs "Mamatay Sa Ingay"... The band's resurgence would be cut short by Bass Wizard Jay Dimalanta's sudden demise .

Aside from his current band, Throw, Al also formed The Trash /Crossover band As We Defy and had released a digital EP " Forged In Defiance" in 2018

***Trivia, Al had a one off Blues band, Left hook agenda

A visual artist, columnist and a Professor,
With a Spawning decades of music that wrote history
An amassed 8 albums 2 ep's and a number of compilations albums,
A knowledgeable host and an articulate interviewee
a man whose works and perspectives continuous to be an inspiration and an influence to many.

Dead Ends were influential for me getting into punk and hardcore. The album "Damned Nation" along with Gi +Idiots' "Fascinating World Of Garbage" , Dead Kennedys "Plastic Surgery Disasters/In God we trust" , Circle Jerks' "Groups sex /Wild In the Streets" were essentially game changer for me.
The message was clear from day one, and that created a stir .
it was some sort of a calling. the lyrics were eye opener. and the music , became the adrenaline that wanted change.

Al still remains active today, not just creating music. he uses his platforms such as social media to share his perspectives , stands on remain dissent on issues and ideas that called for

Nothing but mad love and respect for the man

12 Essential Lennon Post Beatle Tracks

 In memoriam John Winston Lennon

October 9, 1940 - Dec 8, 1980

Lennon. will always be my ultimate Hero... well i guess i am not the only one would claim such

41 years since his shocking demise. rather than making a poem. i list down my 12 favorite Lennon's Post Beatle Tracks as my tribute to the man's Legacy

12. Real Love (Demo)

From: Imagine:John Lennon Soundtrack (1988) -released Post Humous

- As much as John was,  i believe more articulate on the piano..  John was such a great guitar player.. no. not the way Jimi Hendrix would do...but simply how the way John (even Paul and George during Beatles time) construct Chord progression and the use of the Major 7th , Augmented,  Diminished chords are simply amazing. And for someone who didnt have formal lesson. adding even more to my amazement

Hearing John's stripped down voice is very much compelling. Here is a version of a song that can stand on its own.. i would prefer this version anytime over the Anthology Version

11. How Do you sleep?

From: Imagine (1970)

- While Lennon can write an anthemic tune as "Imagine" to a seem hilariously track "Crippled Inside" .... John was most of the time later in his career known for his wit and Sarcasm... Paul wasn't spared of course. after the turbulent relationship of the Beatles that consequently lead to Paul Quitting the Telsbi ... The relation has gone sour for sometime.

Here's a song obviously John wrote for Paul.. 

the lyrics is easy to figure out

So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise

You better see right through that mother's eyes

Those freaks was right when they said you was dead

The one mistake you made was in your head

You live with straights who tell you, you was king

Jump when your momma tell you anything

The only thing you done was "Yesterday"

And since you're gone you're just "Another day"

A pretty face may last a year or two

But pretty soon they'll see what you can do

The sound you make is muzak to my ears

You must have learned something in all those years

And one more thing about John.

 Although Lennon would say a lot of shitty things about The Beatles and MaCa through prints and interviews.. John would always defend The Beatles'  accomplishments and Legacy especially when other artists tries to take shot on them.. and yes not even Mick Jagget and Keoth Richards were spared by Lennon's sarcasm.

Later , Lennon would admit that it was out of resentment of The Beatles break up after renewed relationship with McCartney.

Yes. It's true...

Lennon and McCartney would eventually settle their differences in 1974. Though they haven't  worked together again creating music.. there were a couple of private events that the two of them would share. Check out "A Toot and a Snore"

A Toot and a Snore in '74 is a bootleg album consisting of the only known recording session in which John Lennon and Paul McCartney played together after the break-up of the Beatles in 1970. First mentioned by Lennon in a 1975 interview, more details were brought to light in May Pang's 1983 book, Loving John, and it gained wider prominence when McCartney made reference to the session in a 1997 interview. Talking with Australian writer Sean Sennett in his Soho office, McCartney claimed the "session was hazy... for a number of reasons".

10. Happy Xmas (War is Over)

From: Sometime in New York City (1972)

- This give me the chills when i was a kid... there's a certain amount of energy that tells me that it is the time of the season. as early as that time i wasnt into the grandiosity... especially when The Gulf war was happening.  the song meant to me more.. its like John Carolling to the world and asking for peace. Thats my impression atleast and adding the fact that Lennon was dead around that time and that song was still significant... and that song was just transcending

He wasnt just a working class Hero...

He became "My  little self's Hero" as well ...

9. Woman

From: Double Fantasy (1980)

- Lennon Wrote a lot of songs for Yoko.. and i dont need to explain why..

Perhaps the best one,  as he attributed it as well to women in general, as he explained it himself,  it suddenly Hit him. what women do for us (men).

An obvious Beatle-ish song.  and again the use of captive melody and being minimalist..  as the chorus suggest and yet it is powerful enough to capture our attention and go deep into our hearts... Lyrically it is an ode of a child to his mother (i felt some Julia Tribute as well) ..as he lost his mom at an early age.

8. Bless You

From: Walls and Bridges (1974)

- Personally the other highlight of the album aside from #9 dream. It was another classy Lennon Track with a Jazzy feel.

John as a musician was i believe was the daring among all the Beatles..

as he would  explore his (and Yoko's) artistic and creative freedom and could care less (or later) what other people think..

Sans that noise experimental albums he made with Yoko ( Two Virgins /Life with the lions /Wedding album) and Revolution 9 few years back that was included on the Beatles' White Album..

Had Lennon lived as long as McCartney...

Its crazy to think that Lennon might have done musically.

7. I'm Losing You

- From: Double Fantasy (1980)

Simply a glimpse of what an 80s Lennon Rock Track could have been..

The Guitar Track was awesome..

it wasn't surprising as It was Earl Slick (Who also played woth David Bowie) and Tony Levin provided the Bass..

Another version though was Rick Nielsen and Bun E Carlos of Cheap Trick  and Tony Levin as his backing band.

It was a song per Lennon Anthology written in 1978 in Bermuda and Lennon couldn't reach Ono through the phone. It's original title was "Stranger's room".

6. Instant Karma!

From:  Single (1970)

John was just Beilliant coming up with

anthem-like chorus such "We all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun"  .. and use as catchphrase or mantra as if to convey his message or to make an "Instant Hit" 

5. Mind Games

From: Mind Games (1973)

- A song surfaced as early as 1969. during the Let it Be sessions. originally titled "Make Love Not War". Yes The Outro... John is very good at making an old tune into a better one.. Some of his songs were an old tunes. and the lyrics would make the difference. Another great example is 1968's "Child Of Nature"  which impressively became what most of us know now as Jealous Guy... It is a great admonition actually for people who try to write songs like me.. great songs wasnt written in 5 minutes... some took years finding the right time and the right words and turning something into something great.

Ahh The importance of the melody and putting the right words to it 

4. #9 Dream

From: Walls and Bridges (1974)

- Any Beatle or Lennon fan would know John's obsession with what he calls his lucky Number 9 ... Number 9 .. Number 9.

John Lennon had this fascination with the recurrence of the number nine throughout his life, which included:

Lennon was born on October 9. 

His first home was 9 Newcastle Road, Wavertree, Liverpool - three names which each contain nine letters. 

The Beatles' first gig at The Cavern Club took place on February 9, 1961.

Brian Epstein, The Beatles' manager, first saw them perform on November 9 that same year.

The Beatles' contract with EMI was confirmed on May 9,1962.

The Beatles' debut single, "Love me do," was on Parlophone R4949. 

Lennon's son Sean shared his father's birthday. 

John sings the foreign-sounding phrase "Ah! böwakawa poussé, poussé" which According to John,  doesn't mean anything...it is just a phrase that came to him in a dream and he decided to base a song around it.

Damn ... Humour and Wit.

3.  Love

From: John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band (1970)

The lyrics may seem simple... but the use of the words are simply genial

the perfect compliment of the two different words.. or how he put them together on a very captivating melody

"Love is free, free is love

Love is living, living love

Love is needing to be loved.. "

2.  Give Me Some Truth

From: Imagine (1971)

- .I would assume John wrote the song  during his time being pro active as peace advocate and him hovering  around political issues at that time.  or just maybe a precutssor to that. Since the album was said to be released in 1971.

- but after seing Peter Jackson's "Get Back" , it seems just like some of his Post Beatles songs ive mentioned above,  it was already written 

 but the again the agressiveness and changing the lyrics gave the song such an anthemic appeal

1. Nobody Loves you When you're down and out

From: Men Love Ave. (1986- Posthumous release)

- Pesonally,  the most honest song Lennon had ever wrote. Lyrically it was such a sad predicament that some of us went through ourselves ... failures, and set backs, leading to depression

This was originally a song from Walls and Bridges in 1974 . exactly must have written during John's "Lost Weekend"

The Song version here was much better stripped down. and most likely it is how it was really written. The melancholic song had john seemed wailing, screaming,  describing the emptiness he felt as well as his disillusionment with show business.

Photo:ctto

Review: Terry Hall The Collection

 Album:The Collection

Artist: Terry Hall

Released:1993

Label:Chrysalis

Terr Hall didn't find its way on our local record bar 'till local Ska band Put3ska achieved huge success with their debut self titled album, wherein they cover a ska version of local Punk Legends Urban Bandits song "Manila Girl"  in the mid 80s. 

Put3ska label Octo Arts, seemed to acknowledge Put3ska's success as soon after they released some ska related albums such as "The Specials- The Singles Collection", "The 2 Tone Story- Various 2 Tone Artists",  The Specials current album that time "Today Specials" and This Terry Hall Collection album.

... for someone who would walk around inside a record bar on a daily basis, these releases will definitely not passed me by. And with enough allowance i had, i was able to get all the aformentioned records in Isettan Recto. 

While i would always incline to be an album guy more than the "Greatest Hits" CD /Casette. At a time of album availability scarcity. I'll take it anytime.. though i would later realize that yes an artist's greatness most of the time (especially with huge catalouge) is not possible to compress into one album... but on the other hand would be a good introduction and career retrospect that creates a different vibe especially for the ones who are just discovering the artist.

Take this Terry Hall album for instance. I love the Specials and i was already deep into The Specials when i bought this particular album.

While i am aware of his "Post Specials" works such as "Fun Boy three" and "The Colourfields. i didn't have too much information. (Pre Internet age, the sources of stories were if not for imported mags, were reposted articles from mags on our local zines, MTV -hardly though, album sleeves) nor i was able to hear it prior to me finally getting this...

So how this album helped me understand Terry Hall's career retrospect? Well the album tracks started with some of The Specials hit singles "Gangsters", "Night Club", "Ghost Town", and "Friday Night saturday Morning" which i believe are strong tracks to start with. Personally i was looking fotward on tracks 5 to 18 which are all songs after his departure from The Specials.

- which would bring me to one of the album's downside. There was no information, No Story on the album sleeve.. it's in a way bad or lack of publicity to sell or to introduce the man's legacy. . I'm not sure if the US Version is the same but i felt bad thinking atleast a short guide through small information could've made the album better. But instead lost the connection there for both as Terry Hall fan or just on the process of discivering the artist.. it was a big let down. Especially that was already mid 90s.. a lot of album sleeves and artwork at that time have long been progressed since. 

The song choice were pretty safe and of course this is a collection album. Singles and hits were most obviously a shoo-in. Which leave a lot of things to look forward to when you get the albums. There were songs surprisingly that i knew (that i already heard that i didn"t know was Terry Hall's) . So 2nd part of the Tracks were hits From "Fun Boy three"  , the 3rd part are tracks from "The Colourfields" and the last part was from his solo ventures.

Overall it was good. But i felt it could have been better.

Personal.

Seing Terry Hall in the flesh was a dream come true, and it happened  some 3 years ago. When Fred Perry brought Terry Hall for a one night spinning /DJ gig  in makati. It was a night of the Rudies and ska afficionados and it was a blast he didn't performed but that was understable. He was so engaging for the fans signing LPs and some photo taking (though the man hardly ever smile that night).

Rating: 7/10