just came back from the record store. good news for go-betweens fans: jetset records, the label that released the friends of rachel worth, has just reissued the first three albums. these remastered editions feature a second disc of rarities, b-sides, etc. i bought before hollywood; send me a lullaby was also released this week, and spring hill fair will be issued in two weeks and its bonus disc will contain "after the fireworks," that storied collab with nick cave & the birthday party.

i also bought the new solomon burke album, the very one i spoke of last week. for those of you indie fans who'll buy it because it's on epitaph, and for you rock n' rollers who'll pony up cos there's an unreleased nick lowe cut on it, here's a quick primer on the former wonder boy preacher, the least known of the great soul singers:
-at the tender age of 7, he began preaching the Lord's word on the radio.
-between recording sessions, he had a gig driving a snowplow in philadelphia.
-when he'd tour with stars like paul anka, he'd attempt to sell concessions on the tour bus; when he headlined the apollo theatre, he did the same between sets, until he was banned.
-he is the man behind "solomon burke's magic popcorn."
-he is also the proprietor of his own mortuary, and bishop of his own church.
-during his heyday, he had dancing girls and a coronation onstage with a replica of the crown jewels. his man-servant was a midget whom he called "little sammy" because he could sing just like sam cooke and he would drive all the women crazy. when burke was finished with his cape, he would throw it on little sammy, who would proceed to scamper off stage, giving one the impression that the cape was moving on its own.
-he has twenty+ children and 60+ grandchildren.
-on occasion, he sings, and here's a crash course:
"just out of reach (of my two open arms)", 1961 - nearly two years before ray charles, burke invented country-soul on his debut single.
"cry to me," 1962 - probably his most known single. featured in dirty dancing and on its soundtrack. was also covered by the rolling stones on out of our heads, and slowed down to a crawl in melodramatic fashion by soul screamer freddie scott.
"everybody needs somebody to love," 1964 - rousing uptempo number covered better (shh!) by wilson pickett and, again, by the stones on now!.
"the price," 1964 - the best example of the burke style: the singing is a mixture of monologue and testifying, while the subject matter, love as always, is given the gravitas of the crucifixion.
"proud mary," 1969 - his biggest hit.
"a change is gonna come," 1985 - the first comeback, of sorts. similar to "the price" in style and intensity.

so, get downloading. or, better yet, BUY IT!