Rainy weekend music

Extreme weather was forecast for last weekend in southern Finland. Well, in most of Finland. Could rain more in one day than during a full usual month of July, they forecasted. Unreal. Climate change can be felt everywhere, all over Europe and the wider world. 

People die this summer of extreme heat in Europe. And even in still quite cool Finland we have had extreme showers of rain.

So, my plan was to stay indoors most of last weekend. And for that I was prepared. Music-wise at least. Bought some great albums to enjoy inside if it would rain. And walked 12,7 km on Thursday and 11 km on Friday, great, as much shorter walks were expected during last weekend. 

The weather, however, was ok, except on Saturday evening and night. So outdoor activities were both possible and enjoyable on Sunday and on Saturday at least up until early evening. Needless to say, to listen to the newly-bought ”heavy rain weekend” records therefore took a few more days.

This was my rainy weekend music (last weekend):

Miles Davis: Miles at the Fillmore (4 CD), the bootleg series vol. 3.  

Oktober: En ny tid är här (CD). 

Oktober: 2:a oktober (CD).

Jaco Pastorius: Invitation (CD). Live in Japan.

Gil Scott-Heron: Reflections (LP).

The Rock Steady Crew: (Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew (12”).

Plus Mixtape-CD by DJ Street Kobra & Kroco-Roc, bonus with Madventures debut-movie DVD Monte Rosso.

Yes, a jazzier brew than usual and with some artists I really respect. Miles, of course, and I have - of course - all his legendary Columbia-boxes, and then some. This 4 CD box includes four full concerts plus over 30 mins bonus extras. Marvellous music, brilliantly performed live. First cut on the first disc is a blasting version of Directions that really sets the tone. Genius. And price-worthy, just over 20 euro on CD, a bargain.

Jaco Pastorius is in turn one of the greatest bass players ever and the bass players’ equivalent to Jimi Hendrix on guitar. Invitation is a very fine live-album, recorded on tour in Japan. Jaco and band are in well-spirited form here. Wonderful performance.

Oktober is a classic early Swedish progg-rock band. Their first album is one of the very first rock albums with lyrics  in Swedish (Pugh was first, though). November’s first is very expensive on vinyl and this was actually the first time I have even seen their two early albums on CD. The debut-album is a legendary, well-performed Swedish classic and 2:a November is also a very fine album by this highly gifted trio, but perhaps not quite as good as the debut. Both albums are definitely worth listening to.

Gil Scott-Heron is no less than fantastic on this album filled with pointed social commentaries, performed in strong proto-rap style, set to funky beats or just to thrilling piano. Reflections is an excellent album. And legend Gil Scott-Heron is an influential inspiration to many aspiring rap, hiphop, soul, funk or (social) spoken word artists.

The Rock Steady Crew was a famous early breakdance crew that also performed a hit single, the one naming them. Quite catchy, actually, and here in it’s extended version. The bigger the better.

And last, Finnish Madventures debut movie on DVD that came with a mixtape-CD by DJ Street Kobra & Kroco-Roc as bonus. Had no expectations about this one, just some curiosity, but, actually, it was better than I imagined. A fine mix of original sounds connected to the film, and some old school Finnish schlager-iskelmä cuts and then some. Not superb, but, yes, quite interesting and fun.

Quite a list, huh? 

Enjoyed every minute listening to these albums. And yes, they work well in sunshine or night darkness too.