WZBC 90.3 FM Newton

Far away lands at Gulls Window Circus. In order of appearance we have Trinidad, Turkey, Berlin, Miami, Ecuador, unknown (Crossed Wires – I suspect Scotland), Japan, Poland, Cologne, Zambia, Austin, East LA, SF, India and Brazil – match up the locations to the artists and kick back and listen!

The last Carl’s living room show was mostly bands from far away lands, so this show formalizes that concept into yet another Gulls Window Circus series ‘Far away lands’. That said, the first 6 tracks are 4 that didn’t first into last weeks CD spinnin’ show, and 2 that didn’t fit into show #514. After those 6, the first hour is Zamrock, then the second hour jumps around with the connective tissue being superior sounds from other places.

This week’s show debuts a new series, CD spinnin’. When you are used to spinning vinyl, doing a CD-only show is challenging, so this one was more work for me that usual, but I think the fruit it yielded is individual! Almost every track is ONLY available as a CD. There are a handful of tracks from 2 compilations I like very much: ‘Another Record Compilation 2021’ and ‘Hits & Missiles’. The 4 latest CDs newly energized Harriet Records are introduced, as is the new EP from Boston’s Violet Nox. Boston’s Field Day and Rochester’s Painted Birds shine, the elusive non-LP Pussywillows track ‘Vindaloo’ and tracks from Airport Girl, Jackass and Gilded Lil do as well.

Carl’s living room (vinyl LP tracks) with a non-rock show. We start with the Dave Pike song that was cut-off at the end of the last show, then move to a track from the classic 1970 Moog Indigo LP, picking up with Barbados, UK, El Salvador, Edinburgh, to Jakarta Indonesia, before closing the first hour with 3 tracks of Italian soundtrack. The second hour travels through Africa, including a bunch of Zamrock. This show suggests a future Gulls Window Circus series ‘Far away lands’.

Carl’s living room series continues with LP tracks, this week changing to non-rock, including latin, reggae, balearic, jazz, ambient, gospel and re-edit. All woven to fit together in the usual Gulls Window Circus fashion: two songs in a set, musical pairings that embrace each other.

Several paths appear in this week’s Carl’s living room show. Noisy gazey indie at the start, some electronic punk, folk, then into Chromatics dreamy Simon & Garfunkel cover starting the second hour, followed by hidden indie gems, sandwiching 4 songs of stone cold classic 80s. Where do I want to send you in the ‘must hear’ category? All – listen to all.

Carls living room week 4 is filled with stuff I want to point out: Heartbreakers LAMF LP has been re-packaged almost countless times, but last year a tape was found in the attic of passed away Track Records director Daniel Secunda – it was a clear un-muddied master. What a difference – this time you DO need a new LAMF copy. Someone who lived an LAMF life, Donna Destri, sister of Blondie keyboard Jimmy Destri, was briefly a MainMan artist and recorded a version of Rebel Rebel. Manikins has early Kim Salmon, Michael Monroe of Hanoi Rocks with his new band paired with current band The Struts, the awesome Ramones-ish Beatnik Termites. All tracks deserve an intro, and I give each one its due in the show.

Carl’s living room series means vinyl LP tracks played on a real turntable in real time – a bunch here. We start with prog rock, move to private press, Dutch reggae, Texas reggae… Ramones reggae. Many surprises, all held together by an invisible thread that runs through my mind and into the selections. Hope you enjoy!

Carl's living room week 2 of 7 - LP tracks played in real time from physical copies on a turntable. I love every track here (by definition), but urge you to be sure to hear the ALRN (early Scott Miller of Game Theory) and The Students, a one-off French band that should have more ears on them, current band Johnny! And the non-LP Tom Verlaine track 'Call Me The' - very glad to bring every track in this show to you.

Carl’s living room returns – we listen to LP tracks spun on vinyl in real time, no real pattern or rules – just listening to some tunes as if you were in my living room with me. The Pussywillows is early April March. The Chord Rockers are a one-off collaboration between Bostons Unnatural Axe and Italy’s The Nasties. There is a run of hard rock tracks in the middle that will appeal to anyone that grew up to Grand Funk or Deep Purple, but wants to go deeper (WAY deeper…). The Beachwood Sparks track just won’t leave my head, and I am glad to play one 7″ track at the end (had to find a track to fit the time remaining) and bring you a cut from the one and only To Damascus 7″.

3rd week of rock 7″ compilation boxsets, closing out the series. The Hooterville Trolley and The Iguanas from the Mind Destruction – Maximum Garage Psych Vol.1 boxset are superfine. The Desmond Dekker track Israelites just pulls you up and in. The Hollywood Squares ‘Hillside Strangler’ is a Killed By Death classic, but is even more: one of the handful of best punk rock songs EVER. After the boxsets are completed, there was time for 3 more songs, so we briefly visit single artist rock 7″ boxsets: ‘Pooh Sticks 7″ Box Set’, Slade’s ‘Feel The Noize The Singlez Box!’ And T.Rex ‘Electric Warrior 6×7″ boxset’.

Week 2 of rock 7″ compilation boxsets – one more week will follow. The Dutch private press punk 7″s of the Punk Elää series continue to impress, sublime perfection in a much mellower persuasion can be found in The Loft – Why Does The Rain, and the artists in the Ten Big Stiffs boxset demonstrate how Stiff Records lived outside of time. As for ‘time’, going back to the 60s in the Mind Destruction boxset which starts today’s show is super-enjoyable. Sitting in a time of their own are the Creation artists glowing bright in the Creation Artifact 45 boxset.

3 weeks of rock 7″ compilation boxsets starts today. We will hear tracks from Punk Elää Vols. 1, 2, and 3, Creation Artifact 45 – The First Ten Singles (1983-1984), ¡Scrapple! (A Philadelphia Compilation, With A Touch Of Class), Punk 45 : Approaching The Minimal With Spray Guns, Mind Destruction – Maximum Garage Psych Vol.1, and Ten Big Stiffs [we won’t reach that set till next week]. Every B-side from all the singles in each set will be played. That brings quite a few treats. Next week we will complete the B-sides, then start on the A-sides.

Week 3 of the 7″ compilation boxsets series completes the non-rock sets with the A-sides of Moton Records Inc Limited Edition Box Set and The Mr. K Edits (The Garage Box), then completes the show with four 12″ singles on Most Excellent Unlimited and four on Moton Records Inc. I’m glad to bring you these extra 12″ singles – Danny Krivit touches rock tracks as he transforms Simple Minds and John McLaughlin, and all tracks keep quality level at the highest.

Week 2 of the 7" compilation boxsets series finds us still in non-rock sets, and still listening to the B-sides of all the singles in each of the sets. Willie Williams 'Armageddon Time' as covered by The Clash is the most recognizable song int he show, but every track shines fully on its own and they are all waiting to spend time with you today.

The start of a new series: 7″ compilation boxsets. What are they? Themed boxes that contain multiple (in this series from 3-10) singles where each single has different artists on it. The format is that we will go through the B-sides of each single in each boxset, then start again with the A-sides. You have a lot of good music coming your way. The first 3 weeks are non-rock, the following 3 weeks are rock. This week covers Brazil45: Mr Bongo x DJ Format, Funk 70, Down Beat Special, New Orleans Funk (The Original Sound Of Funk), Brazil45: Mr Bongo x DJ Marky, and The Mr. K Edits (The Garage Box). A voyage awaits.

Special show – Soul Is My Salvation: Gospel (Disco, Boogie, & Soul) selected by Tone B. Nimble, the guy behind the Al-Tome Edits series of 12″s. There are nine split 7″ in this series, and we hear all of it in this show. The show starts with a Mukatsuku track that didn’t fit into the 3 week series. This show ends with 5 tracks outside of this 7″ set, that play well with the nine singles. Many completely awesome tracks: Pink Family’s ‘Don’t Give Your Life Away’ sets us up really well. Spiritual Souls ‘We Came To Show You The Way’ is the #1 pick (of mine) for the whole show – untouchable!

The third and final week in the Mukatsuku series runs from Mukat 55 – Mukat 80. The label has new artists as well as artists from the past, with tracks that span continents and genres. Even with all that leeway, Mukatsuku’s sound works well throughout.

The second week of the chronological Mukatsuku special takes us from Mukat 036 – Mukat 053. The label’s identity is clear at this point (official mission statement is “strictly vinyl only, singles only record label” and “Jazz, soul-jazz, and other black music record label”). So many highlights that I would say just to close your eyes (unless you’re driving) and listen to the music. The series will wrap up next week.

Mukatsuku Records is a vinyl-only, singles-only label from the UK. It has 80 releases, though about a quarter of them, those before 2013, are from an early period I had never followed. It also has two sub labels: Guynamukat, with 6 releases from 2010-2012, and Murat Edits, with 9 releases, 2012-2014. Today starts a 3-week Gulls Window Circus special where all releases I have access to will have at least one side of the record played. Discogs describes the label’s sound as “Jazz, soul-jazz, and other black music record label” which I will use so you know what is in store. This is the first show in 2022 and is the landmark 500th show (yay!).