I had to get out of the house today before a busy three-sesh night, but I got to bed really late and got up really late. I’d been in with visitors which was nice, but I needed the sky and the sun, I needed a walk, even if walking in Porto at this time of year is winding your way through the crowds. So I was hurrying out to hurry back and then I picked up the ‘quick’ hoover. What is the quick hoover you may ask? It’s the one that sits on a charger and breaks into a smaller bit. The other hoover is for the mega clean, haha. Who has different hoovers? I mean, come on, really, I’m sorry.

I went down to Chico’s shop to scour the secondhand racks and, as usual, found some great things of interest – Ivan Holmes anyone? 1966 folky from India and Burma, a must for The Archive’s odd records section. Then there was the vinyl version of Aimee Mann’s ‘Til Tuesday – Everything’s Different Now (1988), nice to have a vinyl copy, as it is to have a vinyl copy of Nick Cave’s Push The Sky Away (2013). The rarest though was a Billie Davis album (1970), real name Carol Hedges. A forgotten pop singer from the sixties, she had a hit with Tell Him (1963) and I Want You To Be My Baby (1968). It’s an album you don’t often see (on Decca) and on Wikipedia, it’s not even listed, concentrating solely on the singles. It’s a Spanish release from 1970, not listed even on Discogs, alongside the UK versions. There was also Bulldog (1974), the second album from ex-Rascal Dino Danelli and Gene Cornish’s band after The Rascals broke up.

I went down to Tubitek (José is back with a new knee) but luckily they had nothing for me. It’s expensive to keep The Archive up to date with newer albums, but then they are so limited, you either get ‘em or miss ‘em…as I did with Aldous Harding’s debut, now on eBay for £100. I ran back up the hill, slipping between the mass of tourists, and got back in time to smash up a large avocado and half a smaller one and make guacamole. The clock in the kitchen was fast, I love fast clocks because when I sat down for the seshes, I had time to eat.

Some great new mixes to listen to from Craig and Blueburst, watch out for an album, hopefully in October. I recorded lots of guitars along with Craig on these songs in Dallas, Atlanta, Porto, and Penzance. Brian and Valley of Salt was next with mixes waiting to be analysed and tweaked, and then Ohio Jeff with moody electronics getting closer to the light.

Music today has been the self-titled Billie Davis (1970).

Music Of The Daze