V/A feat. BLUES EXPLOSION
- UNUSUAL SOUNDS FOR LEVI'S
SELECTED BY TAHITI 80 (CD, JAPAN) |
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DATE: 23.NOVEMBER.2005 |
LABEL: Victor/JVC | CAT. #:VICP-63211 |
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01. Tahiti 80 - Chinatown
02. Fugu - Here Today
03. The Posies - Ooh Child
04. Todd Rundgren - Wolfman Jack
05. The McCoys - Hang On Sloopy
06. Elvis Costello - Less Than Zero
07. Blues Explosion
- Hot Gossip (Jay Braun Remix)
08. Nico Gomez & His Afro Percussion Inc - Baila Chibiquiban
09. Cymande - Pon De Dungle
10. Marcos Valle - Mentira
11. Tahiti 80 - Changes (Finchhatten Schaffel mix)
12. Mouse On Mars - Mine Is In Yours
13. Cornelius - Another View Point
14. Ginji James - Honey Babe
15. The Newcomers - The Martian Hop
16. Otis Clay - Slow & Easy
17. Tahiti 80 - Give It Away
18. Curtis Mayfield
- No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song)
19. Al Green - Have You Been Making Out OK
20. King Tubby/Roots Radics - Hungry Belly Dub
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Limited edition compilation in Digipak with two booklets; The red booklet contains
notes [in English] on each track by Tahiti 08 and the blue booklet contains the
same notes in Japanese and complete lyrics in English.
Includes 'Hot Gossip' (Jay Braun remix) originally released in Japan on 'Snack Cracker'.
See lyrics section for
Hot Gossip lyrics. |
 
 
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SONG CREDITS: |
Unusual Sounds selected by Xavier
Boyer for Tahiti 80 & Wallpaper 4
This compilation (p)&© 2005 Victor
Entertainment
01. Tahiti 80 - Chinatown
Music: Tahiti 80
Lyrics: Xavier Boyer
Editions: Atmospheriques Editions/Wallpaper 4
(p) 2005 Atmospheriques
Recorded: Tahiti Lab
Engineered: Pedro Resende
Produced: Tahiti 80
Mixed: Tony Lash at Mandible Studios
Run Time: 3:05
02. Fugu - Here Today
Writers: Mehdi Zannad/Xavier Boyer
(p) 2005 Fugu under exclusive license to Third Side Records
Run Time: 3:04
03. The Posies - Ooh Child
Writer: Stan Vincent
(p) 1992 licensed from The Posies
Run Time: 3:31
04. Todd Rundgren - Wolfman Jack
Writer: Todd Rundgren
(p) 1972 Bearsvillie Studio
Run Time: 2:56
05. The McCoys - Hang On Sloopy
Writers: Berns/Farrell
(p) 1965 Licensed by Charly Licensing ApS
Run Time: 3:52
06. Elvis Costello - Less Than Zero
Writer: Elvis Costello
(p) 1977 Elvis Costello, issued under license from Demon Music Group Limied
07. Blues Explosion - Hot Gossip (Jay Braun Remix)
Writers: Blues Explosion/Carlton Ridenour
Published by: Dirty Shirt (BMI)/Terrordome Music Publishing, LLC and administered
by Reach Global, Inc.
(p) 2004 Blues Explosion
Featuring: The Negatones:
Jay Braun - Moog
Justin Braun - Bass
Jessee Wallace - Percussion
Jun Takeshta - Vibraphone
Producer: Steve Jordan
Remix: Jay Braun
Run Time: 2:51
08. Nico Gomez & His Afro Percussion Inc - Baila Chibiquiban
Writer: N. Gomez
(p) 2001 Licensed by Blues Interactions, Inc.
Run Time: 3:05
09. Cymande - Pon De Dungle
Writers: P. Bonzales/D. Gibbs/S. Kelly/P. Patterson/M. Rose/Steve Scipio
(p) 1973 Licensed from Santuary Records Group
Run Time: 3:39
10. Marcos Valle - Mentira
Writer: Marcos Valle/Paulo Sergio Valle
(p) Licensed from TOSHIBA-EMI LTD.
Run Time: 3:40
11. Tahiti 80 - Changes (Finchhatten Schaffel mix)
Music: Tahiti 80
Lyrics: Xavier Boyer
(p) 2005 Atmospheriques
Remix: Peter Hintze, Berlin, Germany www.konsensrecords.com
Run Time: 3:57
12. Mouse On Mars - Mine Is In Yours
Writer: Dodo Nkishi/Andi Toma/Jan St. Werner
(p) 2004 Sonig Germany
Run Time: 5:28
13. Cornelius - Another View Point
Writer: Keigo Oyamada
(p) Licensed by TRATTORIA/POLYSTAR CO., LTD.
Run Time: 5:36
14. Ginji James - Honey Babe
Writer: Gary Jackson
(p) 1971 Brunswick Records
Run Time: 3:26
15. The Newcomers - The Martian Hop
Writer: Spirit/Rappaport/Rappaport
(p) 1973 Stax Records Licensed by Fantasy, Inc.
Run Time: 2:55
16. Otis Clay - Slow & Easy
Writer: E. Randle
(p) 1973 Cream/Hi Records, issued under license from Demon Music Group Limited
Run Time: 3:17
17. Tahiti 80 - Give It Away
Writer: Eugene Record
Editions: Warner - Tamerlane Publishing corporation
(p) 2005 Atmospheriques
Recorded: Tahiti Lab
Engineered: Pedro Resende
Produced: Tahiti 80
Mixed: Tony Lash at Mandible Studios
Run Time: 3:15
18. Curtis Mayfield - No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song)
Writer: Curtis Mayfield
(p) 1972 Custom Records
Run Time: 4:53
19. Al Green - Have You Been Making Out OK
Writer: Green
(p) 1973 Cream/Hi Records, issued under license from Demon Music Group Limited
Run Time: 3:43
20. King Tubby/Roots Radics - Hungry Belly Dub
Writer: P. Love
(p) 1981 Licensed by Green Sleeves Records Ltd.
Run Time: 3:48 |
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SLEEVE NOTES: |
"Unusual
Sounds for Levi's selected by Tahiti 80
Call me schizophrenic, call me eclectic, when I'm home I can go from Sweet Soul
to Eletronica, with the occasional detour via Rock Land or what’s unfairly labelled
World Music. Sometimes the language or the sounds may differ, but in the end I'm
just looking for a great song.
Dear Friends, welcome to the land of Unusual Sounds where Frenchmen sing about Chinatown,
where Brazilian big bands do it the Spanish way or more simply where friendly Martians
yodel & dance like a Motown revue...
Tahiti 80 / Chinatown
We were at Tahiti Lab working on an unreleased track called Brooklyn Bridge, and
we were getting nowhere. We took a break, I read a review of Fosbury that really
pissed me off. It said we were making "gentle pop" ...I went back, plugged my guitar,
Pedro played keyboard/drums and we came up with our most powerful, soulful pop since
Puzzle. Then, I saw a picture of Sylvain and I (with '50 Cent' Panda puppet) hanging
out in Kobe's Chinatown, and that was it, really. No Sleep Till...Chinatown!
Fugu / Here Today
Mehdi visited us during the Fosbury sessions - he even sang on King Kong (Pedro
didn't like it and discarded the tracks...oops sorry Mehdi). He played us some demos
from the next Fugu album. It sounded like he had found a long - lost classic album
buried in his garden. Right away, we wanted to be involved in it. For me it's a
bit like our 4th album, as we were the backing band and Pedro & I co-produced
it. I even sang lead during pre-production when Mehdi had to get his appendix removed,
but that's another story...
The Posies / Ooh Child
This song opened up a new direction for me, I had always loved guitar bands but
I also had a thing for R&B acts and wrong thought that the two worlds were irreconcilable.
Then came "Definite Door E.P." by The Posies, my favourite band at the time,
with astounding covers of tracks by The Small Faces, Chris Bell and The Five Stairsteps.
I think Ken's ad lib is incredible, I still remember my brother calling me saying
"the Blonde guy from the Posies sings like Michael (Jackson)" Thanks again guys.
Todd Rundgren / Wolfman Jack
Taken from arguably his best album, Something/Anything, Wolfman Jack shows that
Todd can virtually do anything: sing ballads & hard rock anthems, and write
this Northern Soul/Motown Song, with the Runt's specific tricks: varispeed female
vocals, syncopated drumbeats and great songwriting.
The McCoys / Hang On Sloopy
When I play this song during parties, the reactions are "Sacrebleu! Is this the
song from Grease?" or "Non, c'est Louie Louie/Wild Thing", it sounds Immediate-ly
familiar to people. By the end of the song everybody is sing about Sloopy. Don't
forget to listen to the unstoppable rhythm section.
Elvis Costello / Less Than Zero
It took me some time to surrender to the other
Elvis. As a Robert Wyatt fan, I loved
"Shipbuilding", and just like everyone else,
I had read Bret Easton Ellis's book, but the turning point was the "My Aim Is True"
album. I still don't know if the sound of this record good, I think it just sounds
so incredibly different. It's one of the rawest records I've ever heard. Songs from
the 70's record in the late 50's, or vice versa...if you see what I mean.
Blues Explosion / Hot Gossip (Jay Braun remix)
There's definitely a Beastie Boys flavor on this track. I always loved
how The (Jon Spencer) Blues Explosion embodied the values of Rock'n'Roll and put
them into a modern context without sounding fake. Nobody else combines Hip Hop dynamics
with Old School Blues technique in such an original & personal way.
Nico Gomez & His Afro Percussion Inc / Baila Chibiquiban
Senor Gomez's record sleeves are quite deceptive: you might expect something inevitably
kitsch given the half-naked girls in exotic settings on the cover. When you put the
record on, though, you just want to order a cold cerveza and dance to this suave
version of South American rock.
Cymande / Pon De Dungle
I remember talking to a friend of mine who was obsessed by the tambourine on The
Beatles' Rubber Soul and Revolver albums (yes, some of my friends are crazy...).
Anyway, I'm sure he heard this song by UK based multi-ethnic act Cymande, he would
rave about their unique flair for percussion or maybe he would actually be speechless
on finding a new idol in the shape of their super-groovy bass player.
Marcos Valle / Mentira
Marcos Valle is up there, with all the great mavericks like Arthur Verocai or even
Shuggie Otis. Their inspiring work was only known to a few privileged connoisseurs
until recently. In Valle's case, the combination of Soul Dynamics and European Harmonies
make it sound like a post-modern Brazilian masterpiece. In 1973, no keyboards or
drums sounded quite as groovy and poetic.
Tahiti 80 / Changes (Finchhatten Schaffel mix)
This reworking of Changes was our personal favourite from The Changes Remix Contest,
adn eventually one of the 3 winners. The selection was harsh, some versions were
better than others, but all were refreshing. It felt great to listen to so many
alternate version of our song. On this one, we particularly appreciated the simplicity
of the groove; everything goes out of sync, in time.
Mouse On Mars / Mine Is In Yours
For obvious reasons, the first thing we heard from Germany's Mouse On Mars was the
'Iaora Tahiti" album. It's hard to precisely define their sound: at times the electronica
roots will come out, then for a moment a twist of frozen soul will pop up, only
to end on a 60's four part harmony note. Intriguing stuff.
Cornelius / Another View Point
During our first trip to Japan, we were lucky enough to meet with Keigo Oyamada
for a joint interview at his studio. We got a chance to hear some tracks from his
then - forthcoming record, "Point", which felt like listening to "Smile" from the
Beach Boys, as if Brian Wilson had grown up listening to Grand Master Flash &
Devo instead of The Drifters or Phil Specktor's production. It was quite a shock.
During our DJ sets, everybody goes ape shit on the dancefloor after "The Deja-vu
Experience" breakdown.
Ginji James / Honey Babe
Stylish, classy soul,. I can almost hear the voice of the late Eugene Record on
the opening "Honey Babies". It has a Jacksonseque vibe, not the "5", more like The
Jackson Sisters. Ginji sounds and looks (sitting on a merry-go-round on the album
cover) like a very innocent girl, I love the line "before I met you honey, I was
a robot".
The Newcomers / The Martian Hop
Speaking of science-fiction...If you wanted to find out how Indiana's most famous
5 siblings would have sounded had they recorded with The Bar Kays and got their
records release by Stax. Ladies & Gentlemen, here's The Newcomers! Ok, it's
quite a strange scenario, but listen to the introduction of this song: "The martians
plan to throw a dance for all the human race..."!
Otis Clay / Slow & Easy
"Slow & Easy" tastes like gumbo, though I've never actually tried it. This song
also sounds as if Otis Clay and Hi Records' backing band had taken some time off
in Jamaica. You can really sense the Caribbean vibe on this number. I love the guitar
chunks, the female vocalists... That's the way we like it, that's the way we get
it.
Tahiti 80 / Give It Away
I think this was one of the hardest songs we've ever covered (the other one being
Desiree by The Left Banke, now I know why they called it Baroque pop!). It sounds
so deceptively simple and easy at first that don't imagine it's going to
take you hours (or days) to get all the chord changes right. Somebody New and Fallen
Down from Sotomayor E.P. were recorded during the same sessions, you can easily
tell that we were going through a reggae & dub phase at that time
Curtis Mayfield / No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song)
'Sure it's funky', as the king himself sings on "No Thing On Me (The Cocaine
Song)". It's sensual as well, I guess it's one of those soundtracks that you can
listen to over and over again, without ever wanting to see the movie. The pictures
in the booklet give you an idea and Curtis's words & music do the rest.
Al Green / Have You Been Making Out OK
during an interview, somebody asked me if I had a recurring dream, I answered that
I often dreamt of Al Green and that would love to touch people with only silences
and whispers. That's why I love this song so much: you get two Al Greens singing
& harmonizing together for the price of one. The breathtaking moment being when
he duets with himself on the strongest "baby" you'll hear on this collection!
King Tubby/Roots Radics / Hungry Belly Dub
No need to take anything to trip to this sound! I think it's the sonic equivalent
to the first Star Wars episodes, lo-fi effects, that may sound dated (?) but still
manage to sound mind-blowing & poetic to this day. This song remains a mystery,
when it reaches the end, it's hard to tell what happened.
Special thanks to:
All at Levi Strauss Japan K.K.,
Kayoko Ohkubo, Yoko Nakamura and all at JVC, all at Atmospheriques, Paule Thonon,
Vicky Millar." |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: |
ARTWORK:
Art Direction/Design: Shun Kawakami (artless)
Design: Yukari Kono/Chieko Zaitsu (artless)
BARCODE: 4 988002 492930
MATRIX: "VICP-63211-2 1F V IFPI L232" |
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RELATED LINKS: |
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jvcmusic.co.jp /
artless.gr.jp /
konsensrecords.com |
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