The Recoup

SINCE 2013: Books and books and books and books and occasionally other things

Song of the Day

  • 3AM Eternal: Climax Blues Band “Couldn’t Get It Right” (1976)

    Isn’t it funny how a band can establish its style and sound, and then, in the spirit of doing something completely different, wind up having a career-defining hit? So it was for British-based blues-rockers Climax Blues Band, a group that started out as a straight up Chicago blues/jug band group, morphing into a heavy, hard… Read more

  • 3AM Eternal: Jimmy Eat World “Sweetness (Demo Version)” (1999/2000)

    The story of how a leaked demo changed the world. Read more

  • 3AM Eternal: The Go-Go’s “Turn To You” (1984)

      The upbeat “Turn To You,” the second single taken from The Go-Go’s  sophomore album, Talk Show, was bittersweet; it was a more mature, grown-up, sophisticated style, yet, sadly, it would prove to be the band’s last successful Top 40 hit, peaking at 32. Though the band would split up not long after the album’s release,… Read more

  • 3AM Eternal: The Freewheeling Mark Arm (1990)

    In the long and storied Mudhoney discography, this little single is an anomaly. Surprisingly, it’s lead singer Mark Arm‘s only solo release, and it’s a corker. Yes, it’s designed as a parody of Bob Dylan‘s album of the same name, but that’s where the parody ends. His take on “Masters of War” is surprisingly straightforward,… Read more

  • 3 AM Eternal: Doug Martsch “5 on 3” (1998)

      This little single, a split with Michael John,  was released quite quietly in 1998, and featured the first solo tracks from the Built to Spill frontman. “5 On 3” is classic Martsch; if his band’s records had taken a move towards slicker rock, this song, about a preschooler doing drugs, finds him returning to… Read more

  • 3 AM Eternal: Tobin Sprout “Let Go of My Beautiful Balloon” (2001)

    ” Understated” is perhaps the best adjective to use when describing Guided By Voices guitarist Tobin Sprout. Though his offerings in the GBV catalog are few and far between, those offerings have been recognized as some of the band’s better moments. His solo releases pale in comparison with Bob Pollard, which, again, is okay, because… Read more

  • 3AM Eternal: Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark “Fountain Filled With Blood” (1979)

    Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark was the second daughter of Gospel legend Mattie Moss Clark, as well as a member of the Clark Singers, the highest-selling female gospel group to date. In 1979, Twinkie took some time off from the band to record her solo debut, Praise Belongs to God, an album of fine, gorgeous, contemporary Gospel… Read more

  • 3 AM Eternal: Gerard Alston “Take Me Where You Want To” (1988)

        Gerald Alston, lead  singer for popular soul group The Manhattans, decided to step out on his own in the late 1980s, and had moderate success. His self-titled album was a top-twenty charting album, and debut single “Take Me Where You Want To” went to #3 in the Hot R&B charts. Though he’d later… Read more

  • 3AM Eternal: John Frusciante: DC EP (2004)

      In 2004, On-again/off-again Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante took on an ambitious project: to release six records in one year’s time. Almost all of them were solo affairs, with Frusciante showing off his songwriting skills and instrumental acumen. Surprisingly, all of those releases are high-quality, no-filler records. The best of the lot… Read more

  • 3AM Eternal: Paul McCartney: McCartney (1970)

      The solo album shot heard ’round the world. The album appeared almost overnight, to the surprise of the world, and heralded the death of The Beatles. Considering the songwriting and arranging  of his Beatles work, McCartney felt like a bit of a disappointment. It was still a moderately successful record, but reviews were not… Read more