Listen: St. James Infirmary / The Graham Bond Organization
St. James Infirmary / The Graham Bond Organization

Around ’65/’66, The Graham Bond Organization were a most evil sounding jazz/blues mixture, not only as a band, but compared to any other group during the period. Their two albums, including the Jack Bruce / Ginger Baker / Dick Heckstall-Smith lineup, were released by Columbia UK but remained unissued in the US. In fact the only American release ever from this line-up and The Graham Bond Organization in general was this lone 7″ on Ascot, both sides from that Columbia UK period. The much covered ‘St. James Infirmary’, a single only A side in the UK from early ’66, likewise took on the A side position in the US.

This American folk song of anonymous origin dates back to early 1900 and has taken on many interpretations, one of which claims the song to be written about St. James Hospital in London, which was used to treat leprosy.

Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Big Mama Thornton, Billie Holiday, Bobby Hackett, Stan Kenton, Lou Rawls, Bobby Blue Bland, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Doc Watson, Janis Joplin and The White Stripes are amongst those who have recorded the track. Yet it’s this one that competes neck in neck with the Cops ‘N Robbers version as my personal favorite.

The soon-to-be direction John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Dick Heckstall-Smith would assume on BAREWIRES can be heard here.

Listen: Wade In The Water / The Graham Bond Organization
Wade In The Water / The Graham Bond Organization

‘Wade In The Water’, the band’s first A side single for Columbia UK was also included on their debut album, THE SOUND OF ’65. Here in the US, it was coupled, to complete this lone US single, as B side. I’m guessing Ascot Records had released it, with an option for an album, should they get any traction.

At the time, the label was having great success via Manfred Mann, during their initial RnB influenced period with Paul Jones as lead vocalist. They were also a Columbia UK act, and Ascot was releasing other singles from that label’s catalog, including those by Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, The Force Five and Madeline Bell.

The smooth mod rendition of ‘Wade In The Water’ from The Ramsey Lewis Trio stole all the airplay that same year, but this jazz leaning, late night version clearly counter balanced a then ubiquitous song that seemed insatiable to just about everyone in some form or another.

Listen: Egbe Mi O / Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa ’70
Egbe Mi O / Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa '70

It took the then mainstream famous Ginger Baker’s involvement to get a Fela 7″ released. He played on the live show recording from which this single was pulled. Some things never change.

I saw Fela once at the uptown Ritz. It was a loosely groovin’ show – all very enjoyable and comfortably rhythmic. At one point, he told the audience that his people had locked the doors and no one was leaving until he got his money. It was rather sobering, and took a while to resolve.

Recently Sly Stone pulled the same tired, I’m being ripped off by the promoters routine at Coachella, coming on five hours late after torturing the 600 (in a 5000 capacity tent) attendees with an hour long, screeching, fuck you, you’re lucky we’re here soundcheck. That crowd dwindled to 300 by the time Sly hit. Very disappointing and I would have thought, embarrassing.

It was old in the 60′s, and is beyond cliched now. As if Coachella singled out Sly Stone, and in the case of Fela, The Ritz did the same to him, insinuating the intention was let’s not pay these guys. It was just stupid.

Made the whole, we get stepped on routine very overplayed and tired.

Having said that, this was a fun single to find and own. I honestly think I have another Fela 7″ somewhere, but it’s not in the wall shelf filed properly at this moment – nor is it listed in the RECORD COLLECTORS PRICE GUIDE. Hmmm, a pleasant dream perhaps.

So I decided to post this – it’s clearly an edit but a nice one to have a toe tap to.

Listen: Chop And Quench / Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa ’70
Chop And Quench / Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa '70

Maybe more interesting is this B side. I do not have the live full length from which the A side was pulled, but this B side has no applause at the end. Maybe non-LP, despite it’s 7:56 LP length?