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Unearthed Album: The Dragons – BFI
November 25, 2007
We wanted to direct your attention to ‘The Dragons’ BFI album notes as presented over at IODA Promonet. Alternatively you can read a fantastic article over at the LA Weekly which delves a bit deeper into the scene at the time:
Album Notes
There’s a story below and the moral of this story is: keep your master tapes. Whatever you do, keep your master tapes.
It’s the late sixties. Three brothers, Doug, Daryl and Dennis Dragon are living in Malibu, surfing and gigging around the Los Angeles area and having their minds blown by the music of The Beatles, Hendrix and The Doors. The multi-instrumentalist sons of a symphony conductor and an opera singer, the Dragon brothers decide it’s time to create their own psychedelic soul/rock masterpiece. A high school friend of Dennis, Donn Landee, is working as a recording engineer at Sunwest Recording Studios in Hollywood and they begin to go there to put tracks down in “off time” often working from 3am, when they finish their regular gigs, until morning.
They call the sessions “Blue Forces Intelligence,” find themselves layering their instruments in new ways, adding deep, bassy vocal lines and then ramming them up against falsetto harmonies, adding organs and space age sound effects, recording spirituals and pop and crazy rock opera. The effect is increasingly spacey and weird, but also funky — a missing link between new directions others are exploring in jazz and soul as well as rock music.
Unfortunately, the suits at the West Coast offices of the major labels aren’t ready, complaining that they don’t hear a hit. After shopping the record, now called just “BFI,” for a few months, the boys become disillusioned and focus instead on their session work. They all end up working in the Beach Boys’ backing band. Doug moves to Hawaii, tours Australia. Dennis becomes a successful record producer. Daryl hooks up with Toni Tennille and experiences international chart success as “The Captain.” The Dragons’ “BFI” is forgotten.
Jump on 37 years. Strictly Kev/DJ Food, influential mixologist, designer for Ninja Tune and obsessive record collector — picks up a new batch of vinyl from a record dealer he knows. In amongst them is a 500-run private pressing of the soundtrack to a surf movie called “A Sea For Yourself.” On it is a track called “Food For My Soul” by a band called The Dragons. Kev being a fan of all possible food-based puns and currently putting together the mix for his new “Solid Steel” mix CD for Ninja, drops the needle on the groove.
What he finds amazes him — a true psychedelic original from a band he’s never heard of. Using his extensive contacts in the world of vinyl mania, he manages to track Dennis Dragon down. He emails him, asks him if he can include “Food For My Soul” on the mix. Sure, says Dennis. There’s a whole album of the stuff if he’s interested. Dennis checks. Donn still has the master tapes. He converts them to mp3 and emails them to Kev. Kev is blown away. He forwards them to Ninja Tune. Ninja Tune think it’s a scam. But then they listen. And they listen again. And then, after nearly forty years sitting on a recording engineer’s shelf, Ninja Tune decide to release “BFI.”
Beautifully played and produced, full of crazy invention and a loveably naive lack of self-consciousness, “BFI” is a miniature masterpiece, a lost classic of psych-whimsy, West Coast sexiness and serious musical chops. Surely we’re ready by now..?
DOWNLOAD – “Food for My Soul” | SUBSCRIBE
Insomnia Radio #149: 81 Minute Time Machine (Enhanced)
November 25, 2007
From a self hosted bittorrent feed, handwritten RSS code, iPodio, Libsyn, the anti podsquad rant, AMP, the first 5 listeners, and most notably a ton of great music: The first 20 episodes of the show was a very memorable chunk of time for me.
DOWNLOAD IR 149 (Enhanced for iTunes/iPod)
Subscribe in iTunes: Get Future Shows Free
Insomnia Radio #149: 81 Minute Time Machine
November 25, 2007
From a self hosted bittorrent feed, handwritten RSS code, iPodio, Libsyn, the anti podsquad rant, AMP, the first 5 listeners, and most notably a ton of great music: The first 20 episodes of the show was a very memorable chunk of time for me.
TRACK LISTING
1) Mantis – Dildozer
2) Enter the Haggis – Gasoline
3) Estrela – Intramural
4) Manda and the Marbles – Ode to Rock
5) Steve Burns – Mighty Little Man
6) The Rosewood Fall – Again
7) Andrew Vladeck – You Can’t Kill Time
8 ) Radio 4 – Start a Fire
9) Tourist – Newradio
10) The October – Far Away
11) Lorenzo’s Music – Hot Water Avalanche
12) Retrograde – Letting Go
13) The Loved Ones – 100k
14) The Infinity Room – Dirty Little Secret
15) Mike Chappelear – I Didn’t Want to Leave You Standin’ There
16) Slim – Cortez & Pizarro
17) Spiraling – A Face for Radio
18) Berman – Lost Angeles
19) Chance – Taste of the Good Life
20) One Line Drawing – We Had a Deal
IR: The SoCal Sessions 19 – Slum of the Future
November 19, 2007
Step right up folks and witness the degentrification of Southern California one sweet track at a time.
Yes, in less than an hours time, you too can enter our musical blackhole and witness the fiery future of ‘the’ OC, listen to the punk-reggae ballads of the Dog-Faced boy and the Midget, and come away from it all with armloads of smut.
Yessir..all the happiness you can buy, and today.. well lucky you. It’s all available for free!
FEATURED ARTISTS
1) D.I. – OC’s Burning | e-music | cd
2) Time Again – Cold Concrete | itunes | cd
3) Dogboy – Return of the One Drop | e-music
4) Starving Millionaires – Smut | cdbaby
5) Joshua Lanes – Saxony & The Blackhole of Love | cdbaby
6) Bridget the Midget & Blakkout – Pi | e-music
7) Automatic 7 – All the Happiness You Can Buy | cd | e-music
8 ) The Skatom Bombs – Wicked Witch of the West
9) Ballyhoo! – Cali Girl | cdbaby
10) Slightly Stoopid – Thinkin Bout Cops | e-music
11) The Foundation – Am I Right (unmixed) | snocap
12) Moss Bluff – Ribbons | snocap
13) Mike Pinto – One More Time | cdbaby
*Bonus Toast
14) Mikey Dread – Jumping Master | e-music | cd
LINKS TO EXPLORE
Insomnia Radio: Baltimore
Insomnia Radio: San Francisco
Insomnia Video (new!!)
Wander Radio
IODA Promonet
Podsafe Music Network
The Skankin’ Hepcat Show
The Ska Parade
San Diego Soundscape CD Compilation (free)
Indie Radio Chattanooga
iProng Magazine
LA Podcasters
Mental Records
Insomnia Radio #148: Five More Reasons (ENHANCED)
November 19, 2007
Today’s episode has a catchy/rock/powerpop vibe, and these songs are simply outstanding. I’d suggest just buying every album.
CONTENTS
1) Admiral Twin – Good as Gold
2) Plans & Apologies – Metoo
3) Esquimaux – All Winter Long (original version)
4) Brer – Microwaveable
5) Quiet Life – Every Dime
Download IR 148: Enhanced for iPod/iTunes
Insomnia Radio #148: Five More Reasons
November 19, 2007
Today’s episode has a catchy/rock/powerpop vibe, and these songs are simply outstanding. I’d suggest just buying every album.
CONTENTS
1) Admiral Twin – Good as Gold
2) Plans & Apologies – Metoo
3) Esquimaux – All Winter Long (original version)
4) Brer – Microwaveable
5) Quiet Life – Every Dime
IR Chicago #13
November 14, 2007
This episode has some of the best Acoustic Folk Rock the midwest has to offer! Enjoy!
Set List
Dreams Aren’t Made Here – Rebecca Rego
Bad News – Owen
Seven Minutes in Heaven – Valentine
My Shoes – Daphne Willis & Co.
Tell Me – Daphne Willis & Co.
IR Chicago Replay
Ain’t Got Love – Todd Carey
IR Chicago #12
November 14, 2007
This episode is filled with good ol’ fashion Rock n’ Roll! Enjoy!
Set List
High School All Over Again – Certain Stars
Seven Sisters – Javelinas
Red Shoes – Javelinas
Audio and Murder – The Frantic
IR Chicago Replay
Fire – The Goldstars
Gimme Gimme – The Krinkles
SoCal Album Launch: Automatic 7 | At Funeral Speed
November 13, 2007
Today marks the triumphant return of Automatic 7 after a hiatus of over five years. After legal struggles, backbreaking cliff-diving injuries, and major record label mergers destroying smaller labels, the group reemerged and floored me with this new release, ‘At Funeral Speed’ on Mental Records.
Diving right into the album we offer up ‘Start Over’, the perfect song to launch this new chapter in the band’s career. The lyrics on this number are very telling and ultimately inspiring, reminding me specifically of Pegboy’s moving, ‘In My Youth’. Their sound fits somewhere on an axis between Jawbreaker, Face to Face, Social Distortion, Psychedelic Furs, and uh… Bruce Springsteen?!?
Thanks to IODA Promonet, we then delve into their back catalog, to late 1995 with the fueled-up track ‘Lucky One’.
Automatic 7 Website
Mental Records
CD Baby Store
iTunes – “At Funeral Speed”
IR San Diego Show #23: The Pensive Interview
November 10, 2007
An interview with IR Alumni and rising stars Pensive, including favorite tracks from their newest album “Artifacts” hand picked by the band.
IR Chicago #11
November 7, 2007
This episode is filled with more Rockin’ music from the Chicagoland area! We also say farewell to a band, Slingshot57.
Set list
Steal This Moment by Mindsight
This Love by Slingshot57
Liars Make Good Lovers by White Hot Knife
Collapse by Ash Avenue
IR Chicago Replay
The Rumours Are Flying by A Kidnap in Color
What She Wants by White Hot Knife
Insomnia Radio #147: Melancholy Revisited (ENHANCED)
November 7, 2007
When selecting and listening to the tracks contained in this episode, it became crystal clear that this music begs not to be interrupted. As such, there’s very little commentary from me. Looking back, I also find it fascinating that this TYPE of episode comes around every November…
Above all, enjoy this one preferably at night or anytime you’re feeling particularly moody.
6 REASONS INSOMNIA RADIO EXISTS
1) The Quiet Life – Niantic Bay Blues
2) Longacre – Target Market
3) Marla Hansen – Hollow & Bold
4) Fall of Snow – Fingernails
5) Bloomsday Rising – Ramona, Pt 2 (New)
6) The Quiet Life – Trying to Get Home
Insomnia Radio #147: Melancholy Revisited
November 7, 2007
When selecting and listening to the tracks contained in this episode, it became crystal clear that this music begs not to be interrupted. As such, there’s very little commentary from me. Looking back, I also find it fascinating that this TYPE of episode comes around every November…
Above all, enjoy this one preferably at night or anytime you’re feeling particularly moody.
6 REASONS INSOMNIA RADIO EXISTS
1) The Quiet Life – Niantic Bay Blues
2) Longacre – Target Market
3) Marla Hansen – Hollow & Bold
4) Fall of Snow – Fingernails
5) Bloomsday Rising – Ramona, Pt 2 (New)
6) The Quiet Life – Trying to Get Home
IR New Zealand: The Casuals Interview
November 3, 2007
Welcome to a very special Insomnia Radio: New Zealand Podcast – Which I have decided to step into doing my first ever Band Interview. As some of you may know I currently reside in Glasgow, Scotland and to cut a long story short I was out one Friday night a few weeks ago and met Tommy the Manager of THE CASUALS and he asked if I would record THE CASUALS tonight so here we are 29th of September at The Barfly in Glasgow with a very special show which is an interview with the band THE CASUALS for your listening pleasure…
Recent news THE CASUALS have their first official single release on today Monday 5th November. The Single is “CONFUSION” which can be purchased from 7digital.com or iTunes!! I have also included the official video at the end on my shownotes.
Plus even better still… The Casuals are headling the Xmas Special show at The Barrowlands in Glasgow which will be there biggest audience ever!! For more information on the Xmas Gig go to The Barrowlands Tickets.
And if there isn’t another Live Sessions from Insomnia Radio: New Zealand before Xmas have a great Rockin Christmas!!
Keep well and rock hard and keep a watch out for more Insomnia Radio: New Zealand – Band Interviews in the future as this interview has given me a taste wanting to do more.
And finally before I forget please checkout my new YouTube site InsomniaRadioNZ YouTube Channel as I will be posting videos of THE CASUALS Gig from The Barfly.
Laurie Stanbridge
The last mention for THE CASUALS is the video for the Single release that of “CONFUSION” so I was hoping to have the Official Video here for your convience but I don’t as I havn’t quite mastered YouTube html code yet. So click here to watch the the Official Video by The Casuals ‘Confusion’ directed by Leo McCrea
Other web links;
http://www.myspace.com/thecasualsmusic or http://www.thecasuals.co.uk/
Insomnia Radio #146: Rocking and Ranting (ENHANCED)
November 2, 2007
IR kicks back into rock mode with new music from Automatic 7, Beth Thornley, Lorenzo’s Music, and more. This episode also features a rare rant explaining why you are NOT hearing a certain band on this show.
TRACK LISTING
1) Beth Thornley – Mr. Lovely
2) Javelinas – Red Shoes
3) Ivy League – Only Escape
4) Vox Palma – Happy Dagger
5) Automatic 7 – Sunday Eyes
6) Lorenzo’s Music – After All
