Chess Records hits the road

Chicago's Chess Records has for the moment seen off its local challengers in the quest to find the greatest record label of all time. It seems we must look further afield and bring in the search's first international challenger. This label is known as the "Motown of Jamaica", which can either be seen as a blessing or a curse given the enormous stature of Motown Records, and what happened to Motown in our first musical beat-down.

Studio One was one of the pioneers of ska, rocksteady and reggae music in Jamaica, as well as helping launch Jamaican music onto the international scene. The man behind Studio One was producer and owner Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, who received the nickname after being compared to English cricketer Alec Coxon. Dodd has been described as "reggae's Phil Spector, its Berry Gordy, and its Dick Clark all wrapped into one."The other essential component of Studio One records was the studio musicians the Skatalites, who were the backbone of most of the recordings through the period of Studio One's success.

While Studio One housed an impressive stable of artists that stayed with the label, it also helped launch the careers of some of the genre's biggest acts including Dennis Brown, Toots & the Maytals and Bob Marley & the Wailers. Although those artists didn't produce their biggest hits while at Studio One, it was there that they got their start and with Dodd's help, learned how to turn songs into hits.

As per the conditions of the competition only the songs recorded on the Studio One label can be considered, so with that in mind, here's the Studio One line-up: (The Chess line-up can be found here)

Team Studio One:
Bob Marley & the Wailers: One Love, Bend Down Low
Toots & the Maytals: Never Grow Old, Six and Seven Books of Moses
Dennis Brown: I'll Never Fall in Love Again, No Man is an Island 
The Skatalites: Guns of Navarone, Phoenix City
Jackie Mittoo: Drum Song, Ghetto Organ
The Heptones: Country Boy, Pretty Looks
Burning Spear: Ethiopians Live It Out, Down By the Riverside
Alton Ellis: Rocksteady, Can I Change My Mind

Verdict: The drawback for Studio One was like Chess' previous challengers Sun Records, it was unable to keep it's biggest artists. But this was more because Dodd always seemed more interested in bringing in new talent, both artists and producers, into the label rather than the financial benefits of holding onto a smaller number of big acts. But like Chess the legacy Studio One left was perhaps larger than the music the label produced.

Same Sex marriage in Victoria

The legalisation of same sex marriage has been a hot button issue across all levels of politics in 2012, with divisions of opinion apparent even within political parties.

But while action at higher levels of government appears hard to achieve, a small number of Victorian local councils are working to effect change in their community

One such council is the City of Darebin, in Melbourne’s inner north. It has launched a new Action Plan to advocate for the rights of its same sex community.

The All-Australian team

All Australian 2012
source:theaustralian.com.au

It's that time of the year again the end of season awards seasons. And there's no more controversial selections than the 22 in the AFL All-Australian team, which is odd given it is a team that will never play a competitive game.
I've tried as much as possible to go by best player by position, and to pick a team which could actually function in a real game.
So without further ado, here is my All-Australian team for 2012.

Back Pocket: Brent Reilly (Adelaide Crows)
Who I hear you ask? Perhaps because of the Victorian bias in the media, we don't hear much about lower profile players in non-Victorian teams. Reilly had had an outstanding season playing a variety of roles including lockdown defender, creative loose man in defence as well as pushing into the midfield in defensive roles. The kind of player every team would love to have.
Full Back: Luke McPharlin (Fremantle Dockers)
The best example of how valuable he was to the Dockers this season was what happened last Friday night when he didn't play. Held a number of leading Coleman contenders (including winner Jack Riewoldt) goal less in games, while also using his speed and leap to help out his teammates in defence.
Back Pocket: Darren Glass (West Coast Eagles)
The most versatile defender in the AFL. Only missed out on the full back position because of his ability to play on both key forwards and small forwards. Has also used his ability to read the play to take more intercept marks and set-up counter attacking moves. As if he needed another string to his bow
Half-Back Flank: Grant Birchall (Hawthorn Hawks)
Super efficient half-back in the team for his raking left boot and cool decision making. That's not to say Birchall is a slouch defensively either. That mix of attacking creativity and defensive accountability makes him a lock in the back six of almost any All-Australian team you will see this year.
Centre-Half Back: Ted Richards (Sydney Swans)
There is not too much doubt about this one. Richards has had an outstanding season both as a one-on-one defender and as the marshal of the Swans defence. A great intercept marker who was rarely appeared flustered even under the most extreme pressure
Half-Back Flank: Beau Waters (West Coast Eagles)
The old-school footy fans favourite player. Tough defender, tough attacker, just tough all round. Was also a useful creative outlet for the Eagles this season and a great reader of the play. His leadership was missed by the Eagles on the weekend.
Wing: Dayne Beams (Collingwood Magpies)
Beams was Collingwood's premier midfielder this year, which is saying something considering the calibre of players Collingwood boasts. Career highs in almost all categories and kicked 27 goals to boot. Close to the AFL's most improved player.
Centre: Trent Cotchin (Richmond Tigers)
Pundits have been falling over themselves to drop superlatives when describing Cotchin who won many of the media player of the year awards. Incredibly skilful, clean, fast, agile I'm sure you've heard it all before. If the Tigers can win more games he'll be odds-on for a Brownlow.
Wing: Gary Ablett (Gold Coast Suns)
Refer to above for a description of Ablett, just replacing Tigers with Suns. Tried to take on too much early in the season, but when he gave his teammates more responsibility both he and the team improved dramatically.
Ruck: Dean Cox (West Coast Eagles)
Cox turned back the clock this season with a vintage home and away season. Rediscovered his around the ground mobility after some injury affected years, and was able to add some valuable goals when resting forward. Key part of one of the best ruck-midfield groups in the AFL.
Rover: Jobe Watson (Essendon Bombers)
Like his team, the Essendon captain got off to a flying start this season. But unlike the Bombers, Watson was able to hold his form over the course of the year. His big frame and strength made him a beast in the midfield contests, while his disposal around the ground has improved noticeably
Ruck-Rover: Josh Kennedy (Sydney Swans)
The AFL's contested ball animal led the tough Swans midfield division. Almost impossible to tackle and was good for a goal a game during the home and away season. Another big-bodied midfielder who may be a sneaky Brownlow chance.
Half-Forward Flank: Lewis Jetta (Sydney Swans)
Perhaps a controversial inclusion, but Jetta booted 40 goals to be the Swans leading goal-kicker in the regular season. Had a blistering start to the season, leading the Coleman at one point. Doesn't need many touches to have an impact, and would be used in this team one-out on the wing to bring the ball forward.
Centre-Half Forward: Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle Dockers)
I can't think of a forward who had a greater influence on their teams performance. No player kicked more goals in the second half of the season then Pavlich, a period where Fremantle dropped just two games. Would have won the Coleman if not for a late season injury.
Half-Forward Flank: Dane Swan (Collingwood Magpies)
Midfielder you scream and you'd be completely right. But in my defence Swan has been used as a genuine forward option in most of the Magpies games this year. And at more than a goal a game he has attacking capabilities, and you can't leave out a player who averages 36 touches a game.
Forward Pocket: Stephen Milne (St Kilda Saints)
Say or think what you like about Milne, he can play football. For the third year in a row he has kicked more than 50 goals in a season, which is quite remarkable for an opportunistic small forward. In a year when the key forwards dominated, Milne stood out like a sore thumb.
Full Forward: Jack Riewoldt (Richmond Tigers)
Wasn't getting much love from anyone despite winning the Coleman medal. Averaged three goals a game while only getting off the leash once, kicking 8 against St Kilda. That seems to suggest consistency, which is what everyone asks for. So why shouldn't he be rewarded?
Forward Pocket: Lance Franklin (Hawthorn Hawks)
Lead the league with 3.5 goals a game, although that is slightly skewed by the 13 he kicked against North Melbourne. As with the midfielders, no need to dip into the superlatives you've all heard before. In this team he'd be getting up the ground more and using his freakish athletic gifts. Just imagine Jetta on one wing and Buddy on the other.
Interchange:
Sam Jacobs (Adelaide Crows)
Toss up between him and Maric, but being a part of the best clearance team in the AFL gives him the nod. Excellent tap ruckman and good around the ground.
Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn Hawks)
Best midfielder in the top team in the competition. Chronically underrated, has great skills on both sides of the body and one of the leading goal assist players in the AFL.
Scott Thompson (Adelaide Crows)
Leading Brownlow fancy, suffering from Not-in-Victoria syndrome. Does the grunt work in the Crows midfield and is seecond only to Josh Kennedy in contested possessions.
Eddie Betts (Carlton Blues)
Top goal assist player in the AFL. Didn't kick as many goals as some of the other key forwards, but with three already in the team couldn't justify another one. Second best small forward in the game.

Of course if you don't agree with my selections, feel free to leave suggestions or abuse below.

When too much blogging is never enough...

Do you like your cricket news ill-informed and slightly out of date? If so check my brand new blog that is covering the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Check it out here: http://twenty20-12.blogspot.com.au/
It's a work in progress at the moment, but will be up and running by the start of the tournament.

A day at the footy

Quarter time at North Port Oval

Reigning premiers Port Melbourne have earned the chance to defend their title following a hard fought 34-point victory over local rivals Williamstown.

In front of a large and vocal home crowd at North Port Oval, the Borough kept the Seagulls to a solitary behind in the final term to record a 12.15 (87) to 7.15 (53) victory.

Port went into the game heavily favoured, having not lost at the ground since the start of the 2011 season, and got off to a great start courtesy of goals from forward Josh Scipione and VFL team of the year midfielder Shane Valenti.

Despite the ideal conditions, both teams struggled to provide quality ball delivery to their forwards in the first quarter, and the Seagulls had to rely on a booming goal from veteran Brett Goodes to stay in touch at quarter time.

Fletcher Roberts kicked three for Williamstown

Williamstown noticeably lifted their attack on the ball, and at times the man, in the second quarter in an attempt to wrest control of the game from Port Melbourne. Young AFL-listed forward Fletcher Roberts provided a focal point up forward for the Seagulls who were able to close to within a goal of the Borough. But Port steadied with a goal from former Seagull Wayde Skipper following a small melee in front of the Port terraces, to take a two-goal lead into the main break.

The game opened up in the second half as both teams tried to provide more opportunities to their forwards. Roberts took another strong mark before slotting his third from the boundary, while Port’s Dean Galea, the VFL’s leading goal kicker, was able to generate shots at goal from more one-on-one opportunities.

Towards the end of the third quarter, Port Melbourne was able to create a spare man in defence, which arguably was the turning point in the game. Ably executed by defender Sam Pleming, Port were able to nullify the threat of Roberts, while using Pleming as a launching pad for attacking moves.

Adrian Bonaddio kicks the sealer for Port

Down by sixteen points at three-quarter time, Williamstown needed a quick start in the final term to be any chance of causing an upset. The final quarter however, was to be the most lopsided of the game. The Port midfield, led by captain John Baird, Hugh Sandilands and Matt Dillon, assumed total control in the centre of the ground, and repeatedly forced the ball forward to the key forward Galea and Adrian Bonaddio.

Bonaddio, playing his one hundredth VFL game, took a number of contested marks and finished with two goals for the quarter.

In the end it was only Port’s inaccuracy which kept the margin close, although that is in no way to discredit the effort of the Seagulls who tried hard all day without ever really threatening to win the game.

Port Melbourne now advances next week’s final, to be played at Etihad Stadium, against the winner of Sunday’s preliminary final between Geelong and Weribee.

The Memphis avengers?

Courtesy raucousrecords.com

Last week saw Chicago's Chess Records assume the number one position in the search for the pre-eminent record label, taking the mantle from Stax Records of Memphis. But before Chess can get too comfortable in its position, lets put it to the test against another outfit from the musical melting pot that is Memphis, Tennessee. Today's challenger is one of America's rock and roll pioneers: Sun Records.

Distance from Stax (A)
 to Sun Studios (B)

Founded in 1952 by record producer Sam Phillips with the initial aim of popularising black music for a white audience, the emergence of other R'n'B labels (notably Stax, just a 10 minute drive away) led to Sun focusing on other musical genres. Sun then became a launching pad for the careers of many prominent country and rock and roll artists including Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. Phillips though, famously had to sell Presley's recording contract to a rival for $35,000 to alleviate Sun Records financial difficulties.

From elvispresleypedia.com

Sun's monetary problems were to be a recurring theme throughout it's history, with Sun being unable to hold on to many of the stars it created as a result of its modest financial resources. Along with Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Cash all left the label to sign more lucrative record deals. Perkins also had a long running dispute with Sam Phillips over unpaid song royalties. In 1969 Phillips sold Sun Records to Mercury Records producer Shelby Singleton.

So to the line-up then. What must be noted is that the only tracks recorded by the artists at Sun Records can be included.

Image courtesy of Sun Records

Team Sun:
Elvis Presley: Mystery Train, That's All Right
Jerry Lee Lewis: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, Great Balls of Fire
Carl Perkins: Blue Suede Shoes, Honey Don't
Johnny Cash: I Walk the Line, Jackson
Roy Orbison: Ooby Dooby, Claudette
Billy Lee Riley: Red Hot, Flying Saucers Rock 'N' Roll
Warren Smith: Rock 'N' Roll Ruby, Got Love If You Want It
Conway Twitty: It's Only Make Believe, Hey Little Lucy


Verdict: Sun Records ability to identify and nurture talent was almost unmatched, and for that reason it is a great record label. But despite the massive influence it had on rock and roll music, Sun's problems, partly financial and partly due to Sam Phillips abrasive nature, meant that it was unable to make the most of the talented artists that it had.

Coverage of the first two showdowns can be found here and here

If you like Eurovision...

Apart from Hitler documentaries and late night smut, one thing that SBS specialises in is high-camp television. Think Eurovision and French rom-coms starring Audrey Tautou. And if that kind of thing tickles your fancy, and you can't wait until next year for your Eurovision hit maybe you should check out this Hungarian film, appropriately titled Made in Hungaria.
If there were ever a Eurovision-style competition for films, this would be a certain winner. Loud-costumed caricatures acting out flimsy plot,(with some truly horrendous miming thrown in as a bonus),all neatly packaged into 90 minutes of so-bad-its-good fun. The only redeeming parts of this film are the '50s rock and roll inspired music and some of the hilarious 'special' effects.

Sounds like your kind of film? If your quick you can watch it online via the SBS website or wait for about six months, which is about the time it takes for SBS to rotate through its movie schedule.