Rodriguez – The Second Coming
Not even the tears in heaven could wash away the injustice bestowed upon the Mexican spirit of a street poet called Sixto Rodriguez. With two brilliant albums Cold Fact and Coming From Reality – unfortunately only reaching the ears of the southern hemisphere (Australia / South Africa) – Rodriguez became a scapegoat for the skulduggery of double-minded record officials. What should have been an American legend became a rich folks’ hoax. The earthy style of beat poet Rodriguez would crucify your mind at every note. His testimony has been fraudulently labelled as dead / burnt alive / or overdosed. Around the turn of the millennium, thanks to the determination and faith of a small group of determined South Africans – Brian Currin, Craig Bartholomew, & Steve Siegerman (Sugar), Rodriguez was rediscovered and raised to life.
The first strike by Detroit born Rodriguez was twelve tracks released as Cold Fact in1969, which literally froze before release. The Fact’s psyche fuzzed “Sugarman” (On Prentis) remains his most sizzling application with its chilling vibrato that slams like a diesel machine. Beyond the vibrating “Sugarman”, the Rodriguez Holy Trinity carries the cross through the blues shuffling “Inner City Blues”, “Janis” ( For Joplin) and the bass rolling “I Wonder”- remembered; for it’s sexually subconscious – ‘I wonder how many times you’ve had sex’. The undaunted Rodriguez recorded Comin’ From Reality, which in essence was a finer set of compositions, even though less confronting. The album cracked open with the rhythmic “Climb Up On My Music” with Battered Ornaments Chris Spedding stabbing profusely at the vocal tradeoffs, his most triumphant ambush. Definitive traits of Tim Hardin flutter through the hazy “It Started Out Nice” which could have travelled straight out of a Woodstock field. Sixto’s riveting street poetry had a course confrontation that cries from the gutter, leaving its echo in the sodden sewers of NYC.
This was Dylan with the cap off, and its earthy beat poetry would leak into the alleys and side streets literally unnoticed. Steve Rowland & his Family Dogg included “Janis” and “I Wonder” into their obscure sets. Of note the children street harmonies were the youthful pangs of a future group called Dawn- “Tie A Yellow Round The Ole Oak Tree”. Too many production cooks resulted in an inconsistent repertoire shifting between string arrangements, folk and staggering psyche. “Heikki’s Suburbia Bus Tour”, a tale of hippies on a quest for a friend, (like Owsley ‘s Further) returns to the raw driven poetry that Sixto was recognised for. Over and above clear lack of production Sixto still draws from the Fact through the “Sandrevan Lullabye” and “Cause”. (Those fucking strings!) Unbeknown to most his debut surfed through the Australasian belt creating cult “Sugarman” status in every state. The sugar even reached South African shores sweetening the pockets of greedy record mogul’s. The local release of Comin’ From Reality was now relabelled After The Fact to entice fresh converts.
The man’s cult status and drug reference on his epic “Sugar Man” only now find fortitude amongst the grunge dissidents of the nineties. Sixto Diaz Rodriguez was found working as a labourer on a construction site, oblivious of the fact that he was actually famous. His loyal gravedigger’s promptly arranged a revival tour in Southern Africa … after having to buy him a guitar for the tour.
Added: October 8th 2008
Reviewer: shiloh noone | See all reviews by shiloh noone
Category: Music
Location: South Africa
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Related Link: Seekers Guide To The Rhythm Of Yesteryear