BAN-LON ROCK

About a week or so ago, when I was powering down different versions of "Coming Home Baby", the Peddlers were one band that I had never followed up on, not even for a casual personal interest. When I did, I found the gem "Girlie". Blame the seventies, this one is like some nightmarish Tom Jones-Barry White hybrid, by a jazz trio. Incredibly laughable, though other then the dated lyrics there is nothing specifically shitty about the song. But those lyrics, and the delivery, are a chuckle pill. Then I found this video and was all kinds of screwed up:

When I looked further I found "Gassin'", a six minute instrumental. Kicks ass. What are these guys? This is what I know: the Peddlers are a trio, bass, drums and organ. And vocals. God, those vocals. They remind me of Ban-Lon shirts or cheap men's cologne. Zip ankle boots. There's lots more on YouTube. If you dig any of these go there. A warning though, when it comes to these guys. it's a mine field.

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Listen:
The Peddlers - Girlie mp3 at Jo Cortez (?)
The Peddlers - Gassin' (streaming) at YouTube

"NAME?" "JOE THOMAS...PLUS FOUR."

Please join me in welcoming the Joe Thomas Group to the "Comin' Home Baby" Club. The damn song just won't die. Versions by Mel Torme, El Chicano, Syvie Vartan, Dee Dee Sharp and the Peddlers have been posted here before, and I'll just keep right on posting versions of the song until I get sick of it. Joe Thomas Group's version is an instrumental, slightly funky happy hour soul jazz, which may or may not be your bag. It features a long flute solo by Thomas, a little too long if you ask me. But, you know, every part of every song doesn't have to knock your socks off. Just consider it upbeat going about your business music. Brush your teeth during the flute solo. I don't care.

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Listen:
The Joe Thomas Group - Comin' Home Baby mp3 at Groove Addict
Mel Torme - Comin' Home Baby mp3 at Everlat Caucasus (?)
Sylvie Vartan - Ne t'en vas pas (Comin' home baby) mp3 at Discos y Monstrous
El Chicano - Comin' Home Baby mp3 at Groove Addict
Dee Dee Sharpe - Comin' Home Baby (streaming) at YouTube
The Peddlers - Comin' Home Baby (streaming) at YouTube
The LP:
The Joe Thomas Group - Comin' Home at Groove Addict

THE VELVET FOG AND THE SOUL GIRL

Holy hell. Mel Tormé, aka the Velvet Fog, not someone I thought I'd ever cop to liking. Until a few years ago, he represented old fogey music, the stuff your parents might listen to. Never really listened to him, except for the odd telethon or Johnny Carson appearance. That's not to say I'm a fiend, because only one of his songs has made the rotation, because it's old school cool. The song is "I'm Comin' Home", originally released as an instrumental by the David Bailey Quintet in 1961. A year later, Tormé added lyrics, and because of that his version is essentially what all other vocal versions are based on. And a swingin' take it is. Not just his singing either, the organ solo slays.

One of the other versions is by the UK trio the Peddlers, who I better brush up on, because I never heard of them until yesterday (the cover of "Little Red Rooster"). That's how things sometimes work around here, some forgotten band starts popping up again and again out of nowhere. 

The other version, by Dee Dee Sharpe, was posted by The Soul Girl, who must have every Northern Soul related record ever, because her blog always pops up in searches. You ought to check out her blog, it's basically a diary of, well, a soul girl. But her writing is awesome. She's self effacing, funny, loves soul, and really knows soul, icing on the cake. If that sounds like someone around here has a crush, you're right. What's not to like? I was going to cut and paste a few good quotes, but there's so many, really. Note: The home page takes a while to load, but go to the can or something and come back. It's worth it.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Mel Tormé - I'm Comin' Home mp3 at Loudat 
The Peddlers - I'm Comin' Home mp3 at De Discos de Monstruos
Dee Dee Sharpe - I'm Comin' Home mp3 at The Soul Girl
Visit: 
The Soul Girl