So I talked myself into buying Four Horsemen Rockin Is Ma Business picture disc on Discogs the other day, I was writing about the band and it is my favourite track of theirs and hey, picture disc. I’ve got all their vinyl now*.
The picture disc is great, an ace picture of Haggis’ dental work from the very last shot of the brilliant video for ‘Rockin Is Ma Business’. Flip side are two album tracks, which is a touch irritating, but hey ’92, what you gonna do?
Due to some as-yet undiagnosed rapid clicking condition I have, I also bought another 12″ that I’ve wanted for 29 years too; Black Crowes Hotel Illness, on clear vinyl. You want more?
Yup, my favourite track from The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion, well at least in the top two maybe, on clear vinyl with a good cover pic and two proper bonus tracks, ‘Words You Throw Away’ and a cover of Bobby D’s ‘Rainy Day Women No.12 & No.35’. You want more?
Well, howsabout we throw in a 1993 calendar for you too? okay so it’s just a single glossy sheet** but the picture is just wonderful, glowering Southern gothic.
‘Oh powerful and mighty 1537’, I hear you say, ‘what use is a 1993 calendar to snivelling wretches like us in 2021?’
Fear not mortals, quite a lot of use actually, 1993 shares exactly the same calendar as 2021^ so for the next 50 days I am sorted. The Gregorian calendar repeats surprisingly often – on a pattern of 11, 11, 6 in this instance; so see y’all again in 2027. It’s something that I got quite interested in at one point and know a bit about. I know, I know, no wonder chicks dig me at parties.
But I digress, it was a real blast hearing ‘Hotel Illness’ for the first time in a while^* I forget just how good a band they were at that time and just how damned good George Drakoulias’ production is.
BUT it was even more of a blast being introduced to B-side ‘Words You Throw Away’ which could easily have displaced a track or two from the LP in my view, it is excellent stuff, from the first chopping notes on-in. It sounds to me like parts of this one were used as building blocks for ‘Remedy’.
The Crowes played their cover of ‘Rainy Day Women No.12 & No.35’ when I saw them at Sheffield City Hall on 13/10/91 with my mate Angela. As usual, I assumed it was a great new track of theirs until she disabused me. This version is a very good straight-forward chugger.
Daddy said, son, do what you should Rockin is ma business - business is good If it's so good - why am I still broke?
Umm, because I blew all my dough on 29 year-old 12″ singles? just a theory. Hey, I’m a happy man though.
1107 Down.
PS: I had absolutely no idea this existed – this version broadcast by the BBC has been shorn of all their cover versions (they did ‘Get Back’ AND ‘Whole Lotta Love’ too. It is so great to hear it again though! How great an opener is ‘Twice as Hard’?!
*if you ignore 7″ versions of singles I have on 12″.
**shame, I would have liked the full hit of a nice pic every month and a bonus one of them all dressed up in Santa suits for December.
^as did 1999.
^*I have a funny relationship with The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion and don’t play it very often.