[ Music ]
For Linda
“Back In The U.S.S.R.”
Living Colour
2014
((( song )))
— Alan Aldridge
The Wonderful World of Living Colour
n Vernon Reid (guitar)
n Corey Glover (vocals)
n Will Calhoun (drums)
n Doug Wimbish (bass)
AS ALWAYS, DELIVERING A SHARP-TONGUED, SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS MESSAGE, NOW, MORE AGGRESSIVELY HONESTLY THAN EVER.
n 1985 — Out of Downtown New York City’s darkest shadows, Vernon Reid and his band Living Colour caught the attention of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger who punched their E-Ticket to ride.
n 2000 — After a seven-year hiatus, Living Colour reunited, and prepared to enter the New Millennium, together again.
n 2001 … — In the “Post-Apocalyptic” Area, with renewed verve, and a sharpened edge, Living Colour never had more to say. And then came Fox News and Donald Trump … a newer, anti-American, Cult of Personality.
Where can we find light / In this never-ending shade?
— Amanda Gorman
National Youth Poet Laureate reading at President Barack Obama’s second inaugural.
Forty-five years ago renowned British illustrator, Alan Aldridge, AKA “The man with kaleidoscope eyes”, designed the ‘Beatles Illustrated Lyrics’ book. And now, to celebrate that unique project, the 65th anniversary of the “45” and The Beatles’ 50th anniversary, the celebrated artist has created a 2014-2015 eighteen-month calendar of unreleased images on which milestones grace the pages and song titles such as ‘All You Need is Love’,‘Blue Jay Way’, ‘Day Tripper’ and many more are reimagined through dreamy, face-melting graphics.
This 7″ box also contains an EP entitled Music For Linda, Beatles and McCartney Classics, which boasts five impressive covers. Guitarist/arranger Robert Johnson (Flying Mojo Productions) helmed the diverse arrangements and played guitar on four of the five cuts. ‘Come and Get It’ is the leader of the pack. The warm, sonorant voice of Caroline Pennell presides, and it’s definitely a far cry from the rhythmic Badfinger version but no less effective. ‘I’m Looking Through You’ features Tackhead and lead vocals by Bernard Fowler, a 25-year recording and performing vocalist with the Rolling Stones, and on numerous solo projects with Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ron Wood, as well as with Little Axe and Steve Lukather. Fowler’s blissful baritone forges a fascinating edge to this contemplative classic. The McCartney-penned Peter and Gordon hit, ‘World Without Love’ is interpreted by the legendary “Little Anthony” Gourdine. When fronting the do-wop group, the Imperials,’ Tears on My Pillow’ became their first million-seller, followed by another big hitter, ‘Shimmy Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop’. Since 1975, this 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has worked as a solo performing artist, songwriter and actor. His vocals on this essential track prove that the Brooklyn-bred entertainer gets better and better with time. ‘Back in the U.S.S.R.’ features Living Colour. In another departure from tradition, Corey Glover’s exciting voice and Vernon Reid’s bright riffs remake this tune into a riveting rollercoaster ride full of jolting stops and starts. Then, McCartney’s ‘Mrs. Vandebilt’, pumped up by Rapper’s Delight, featuring Wonder Mike and Master Gee, of Sugarhill Gang, comes in for the kill. With zany music effects by DJ Rampage and humorous freestyle references, the standard morphs into a brilliant new animal. (By the way, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ recorded in 1979 by the Sugarhill Gang has been considered by many to be the quintessential song which globally popularized hip hop.) Most importantly, this Reviver Records project, in conjunction with the Arizona-based The Women and Cancer Fund, will use funding to raise awareness and provide much-needed financial support to cancer patients. Sir Paul McCartney has offered his “whole hearted” blessings to the foundation in honour of his late wife, Linda McCartney. But the other reason to purchase this collection is that it is a visual, aural and sensorial treat of the highest order. Aldridge’s images are evocative, whimsical and nostalgic. The covers are wildly imaginative and make brilliant use of modern recording techniques without sacrificing quality or authenticity, and the vivid contrasts between the vocalists also impress. My only wish is that it could have gone on a bit longer…
• “Back In The U.S.S.R.” b/ The Beatles
“I’m living this shit everyday,” Corey Glover says of his life today, as he lives it. “We’re no less relevant today, than we ever were.”