Sweedeedee..!!
eMusic's extensive Michael Hurley collection was the reason i signed up, and i haven't looked back. I love how his voice sounded exactly the same nearly forty years ago. Do yourself a favor and let it grow on you.
Write a Review 6 Member Reviews
Strangeness and charm!
Whatever it is that Michael Hurley does, he's the finest living practitioner of it. I add my voice to the cry for Bellemeade to put up "Hi-Fi Snock UpTown" and the incredible "Lo-Fi" and "Redbirds" albums. The blue ghost is sinking!
Racoon Records lives on
At university in the 70s I had a "guru friend" - you know, the guy who knows everything there is to know about music and turns you on to loads of interesting obscure stuff. He had this album and many a night we would sit enwreathed by er... "fumes" as we enjoyed albums the only way you did, back then. Over one long winter I slowly grew to love this quirky and inimitable set, and it has stayed in my heart and mind ever since. When I saw it make an appearance in the MOJO 500 (their top 500 albums of all time, no less!) I was stunned but gratified. Download "Werewolf", "Troubled waters" and "Sweedeedee" - live with them awhile... I feel you may well be back for more, even if it's not necessarily the following day. (By the way, also investigate Hurley's then stablemates - The Youngbloods, and their solo excursions too. It's all different, way different, but something of the same desert prairie sunshine comes through).
Yes!
It took me a couple of listens to get into this album, but what finally did it for me was "Sweedeedee". Michael Hurley is really a charmer, somebody whose voice and style is so unique, there's nothing to do but love this album even if you can't put your finger on why. Cat Power has covered two songs off of this album, but Hurley's versions are way better.
Hi-fi Snock Uptown?
It's great to see this classic record up here but what about Hurley's equally classic follow-up, Hi-Fi Snock Uptown? Hopefully the folks at Bellemeade Phonics are doing their science to get this great record up on Emusic.
Great Album
Maybe the best album ever recorded by this sometime great artist. This is the best version of "Werewolf", with fiddling by Robin Remailly, a classic track covered by everyone from the Holy Modal Rounders to the Violent Femmes. The final cut, "Penguins", is all non-vocal mouthwork (no horns involved) by Hurley. Long out of print, do yourself a favor and download this classic!
