Thursday 31 December 2009

Happy New Year!




Forgot to post this at Christmas. It is the fabled (was when I was a teenager, thought that it was one of those urban myths) Hendrix Christmas/New Year medley recorded in Baggy's studio, New York, late 1969 with the Band Of Gypsies line up.

Jimi Hendrix - Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night/Auld Lang Syne

Hogmanay and All The Best When It Comes




I've never really been a fan of Hogmanay, well not since I got lifted aged 18 about 5 minutes after the bells and spent the night in the local cells. It is a long story and I will not bore you with the details, however I will stress that I was completely sober and eventually found innocent of all charges. Since then and until I got in tow with L I tended to avoid the celebrations. With L this was not possible as she rather enjoys this time of year.

Since M came along, what we have done is have our closest friends up for a meal and see in the New Year in the comfort of our own home. So tonight, I will be cooking, what on paper looks like a rather good 4 courses which will be critically picked at by 7 of our friends, one of whom happens to be a rather good Chef .

Another aspect to bringing in the New Year since after the arrival of number one son was to record Stuart Maconie's excellent All Singing, All Dancing All Night which used to be on straight after the bells for 3 hours on Radio 2,  as trying to listen to it was a bit ignorant when you had a house full of guests or so i kept being told.

I can't think of a better way to see in the New Year than with some good northern soul, so with that in mind here are the "three before eight", the final three tracks played at the end of every Wigan Casino all-nighter.

Tobi Legend  -  Time Will Pass You By

Jimmy Radcliffe - Long After Tonight Is All Over

Dean Parrish - I'm On My Way

All the best when it comes, as is said in these parts


Tuesday 29 December 2009

Just Because

Gary Mulholland in his excellent book " This Is Uncool - The 500 Greatest Singles Since Punk And Disco" reckons that everybody has one good single in them. I tend to disagree with this fact as their are countless artists, who in my opinion haven't released a half decent single in their careers. I will however agree with him in relation to today's posting.

Never really got Dinosaur Jr at all, those guitar solos hark back to a time that I have very little enthusiasm for. However Freak Scene is 3and a half minutes of pure joy even the guitar solos sound right.

Dinosaur Jr - Freak Scene.

Monday 28 December 2009

Kosmos




I'm sure that the first time I was aware of Kosmos was after reading a review of it in Mixmag, which must have got my attention as it's not every day that you get a review of a Paul Weller record in that journal.

I wasn't aware of the track in it's original 12 minute form as I didn't buy Weller's first solo album at the time. What I had heard of it,  apart from Into Tomorrow, didn't appeal to me.  I found it quite bland, like a lot of the solo stuff that followed if I'm being completely honest.

The Lynch Mob mix of Kosmos on the other hand I think is just brilliant. The track was originally released as a promo 12" on Go!discs in 1993. I eventually got my hands on it when it was released on the b-side of the Hung Up 12 inch the following year.

Paul Weller - kosmos (lynch mob bonus beats)

Sunday 27 December 2009

What to Do?




The 27th of December, what's it for?

For recovering from 2 days of excess, whether that be food, drink, relations or all 3? Or for contemplating the festivities of next weekend.

In this household, I have decreed that it is for doing sweet FA. Apart from maybe playing Mini Ninja's on the X-Box or being Boba Fett chasing Han Solo in what is a damn impressive Millenium Falcon with M. But what there will be is lots of music, of my choice,  played loud and there won't be a Christmas themed song in the mix.

I can't think of a better way to start than playing this, from a box set, that I didn't really need, as it contained about 8 tracks that I didn't own  but which was a much appreciated gift from L last Christmas.

The Jesus And Mary Chain - Just Like Honey (Demo Oct '84)

and as a bonus the Reid Brothers take on Leonard Cohen. I wonder what Christmas would have been like in the Reid household?

The Jesus And Mary Chain - Tower Of Song

Picture taken from M's bedroom window on Christmas Day

Thursday 24 December 2009

It's Christmas Eve . . . Let's Dance




Well. if I haven't got everything,  it's too late now.

Gone are the days when I used to go clubbing or an all night lock in, in the pub on Christmas Eve. These days I spend the night scraping M off of the ceiling and trying to get him to go to sleep.

When I do eventually get him down tonight I think that I will sit down with a G&T or my favourite new drink, Crabbies Ginger Beer and listen to some mellow tunes. I would love to crank up the amp and play the track posted at full volume as that is how it should be played but I would wake up the boys and the wrath of the better half is something I do not wish to incur on Christmas Eve.

Here is some sublime nonsense from the JAMS which I think has stood up to the rigours of the twenty two years (that's right 22!) since it was released.

The JAMS - Whitney Joins The JAMS

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Groovy Feeling




Shall we continue the upbeat vibes?

Here is Fluke with a really bouncy track from 1993. My mate Starkey used to go mad for this.

Fluke - Groovy Feeling (Lolly Gobble Choc Bomb)

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Sharia Don't Like It, But Then There Is No Accounting For Taste




I am starting to get a bit of demob fever and I still have, officially, 2 days left to work. This evening I have been listening to old tunes which get me in the party spirit and I suspect that nothing except more upbeat, dancey tunes will feature around here for the next week or so.

Thee first time I heard Mustapha Dance, would probably have been in the Mudd Club in Aberdeen around 1987, it was certainly Aberdeen. I thought that somebody had remixed the Clash, as in 1982  I didn't buy 12" singles and neither did anybody else I knew, so I was unaware that the track had been the b-side of Rock The Casbah, a single which I had bought but to be truthful was never that fond of. From the singles released from Combat Rock I much prefer straight to hell.

But this dubby, dancey,  b-side mix is a different story I love it and it always gets me in the mood for a good jig although there won't be much chance of that this Christmas. The reality will be more like me spending my days helping M build Lego creations. Still there is the prospect of playing with a rather large Millenium Falcon to look forward to.

The Clash - Mustapha  Dance

Monday 21 December 2009

Oh, Okay Then




Just for chocolategirl64

Amazon II - King Of The Beats

From This Day On




I was first introduced to the song posted today when it was used in Cut Chemist and DJ Shadow's live mix of exclusively 7 inch singles, Brainfreeze.  Being a lover of all things Shadow I searched for the cd everywhere, eventually tracking down  a copy in Fopp on Cockburn Street of all places. After considerable research ie looking up Wikki,  I have ascertained that my copy is in fact one of 1000 repressed bootlegs which were sold to local record shops in California, so how a copy wound its way to Edinburgh is anyone's guess..

The cd is a mix of mainly old soul and R&B records, more than a few of which I had never heard of before and which I had great difficulty in identifying as there was no track listing.

A couple of months later I came across a cd called Brainfreeze Breaks in the same shop. Someone had the clever idea of compiling a cd with 26 of the tracks in the mix, in complete form and releasing it, illegally I think, which begs the question as to why it was on the shelves in Fopp.  This is when I learned that the outstanding song for me on the mix was called From This Day On by Eddie Bo.

Eddie Bo was a musician from New Orleans, whose career started in 1955. Over the years he recorded for over forty labels, knocks the Fall into the shade. He was so popular in his hometown, that the Mayor Of New Orleans decreed May 22nd 1997 "Eddie Bo day".

Bo died of a heart attack on March 18th this year.

Eddie Bo - From This Day On

And The Christmas #1 2009 Goes To . . .



SONY BMG

Congratulations,  all those who paid their 79 pence to stick it to the Man. Feel happy, satisfied in the knowledge that you helped to more than double the profits that Sony thought they would make off of the Christmas number 1?

Still, we have a song with the word fuck in the lyrics at number one, radical!

Merry Christmas

Chumbawamba - Revolution (HMV side)

Chumbawamba - Revolution ( Fence side)

Sunday 20 December 2009

Just Because . . .




I think that this is the finest thing that Paul Weller ever wrote, tucked away on side two track three of The Jam's second album This Is The Modern World. I have no explanation why I like this more than say Down At The Tubestation, Going Underground or That's Entertainmet, I just do. Every time I hear the opening bars I get goose pimples and I never get sick of hearing it.

The Jam - I Need You (For Someone)

Saturday 19 December 2009

Last Festive Tunes, I Promise




Here we have a couple of festive tracks that I've not seen posted anywhere and I really like.

Weather Update - Mental snow up hear with thunder & lightning. Supposed to be going to friends for dinner tonight but they live in the back of beyond, the chances are looking slim at the moment.

Klaus Says Buy The Record & Josie Vanders - Winter Wear

The Wedding Present - Holly Jolly Hollywood

Wasn't I Your Babysitter?

Sitting in the dentist yesterday morning, I was asked "Are you . . . ., I used to babysit you?" Very strange moment. I thought that I recognised the girl opposite when I walked in but couldn't place her. It must have been nearly twenty years since I last saw her.

Back then I had just turned a teenager I had a major crush on her for a good couple of years.

Jesse Malin - Wendy

Friday 18 December 2009

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance



I've been in a bit  of a dilemma over this Friday's post. It being Christmas party season, (L is away to another one tonight), do I post a banging house track which hopefully people will like or do I go for something cheesy which will definitely put a smile of folks coupons? Or play it straight with an out and out northern dancer.

I really couldn't decide, so I've decided to give you a choice, well it is Christmas after all.

Firstly, a bit of cheese. This is another of those Oxfam Music finds. It is a white label in a plain white sleeve, with the words "Kenny Dope Gonzalez mix of Shirley Bassey Light My Fire, Tune!!!" scrawled on it. I got it home and played the Gonzalez mix, which is good but the belter is on the other side. Not beingt hat familiar with Dame Shirl's back catalogue I consulted the oracle that is Discogs where I discovered the song is called Where Do I Begin and the remix is by The Away Team, echoes of The Day Before You Came for me.

Shirley Bassey - Where Do I Begin (Away Team mix)

Track two is by Jersey Street and was released on the Glasgow Underground label in 2001. An absolute stormer of a deep house tracks with great horns, for some reason it reminds me of the Ballistic Brothers

Jersey Street - Born Again (classic vocal)

To finish with we have a track which is up there with the best northern soul tracks ever. Number 34 in the Northern Soul Top 500. If you've heard it and can't quite place it, it was used last year in a slightly bastardised version in an ad for a credit card. Here it is in its original, should not be tampered with form.

Don Thomas - Come On Train

Thursday 17 December 2009

Now it Feels Like Christmas!




We've had about 4 inches of snow here today which is still lying, yipee.

I took the day off, went into Glasgow and finished my Christmas shopping. I am now in the festive spirit and thus will post probably the most miserable seasonal song I own. I have a certain Mr Peel to thank for bringing this song to my attention quite a few years ago now. One night while I was wrapping presents he played this and I got over emotional, it must have been the rum.

BTW - Has anyone tried Crabbies Alcoholic Ginger Beer?  It is the business.

Okkervil River - Listening to Otis Redding At Home During Christmas

Allo Darlin' - New Single




Elizabeth Morris first came to my attention nearly 2 years ago with her brilliant rendition of You Shook Me All Night Long which unfortunately I was too slow off the mark to acquire a copy of, since then there have been a couple of releases and another great cover, this time of Atlantic City for a Springsteen tribute album earlier this year.

Anyway, her band Allo Darlin' have just released a new single as a free download, which is well worth a listen to, in fact it is worth forking out the 3 quid for it on 7" as well.

http://www.fortunapop.com/

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Raveonettes Again




Saw the Raveonettes last night and again they did not fail to meet expectations. The sound was great although due to the venue not quite as loud as usual. I'm still in two minds over the ABC 2 as a venue, after a good few years, sometimes I quite like it, for example when I saw Isobel Campbell there, it was great as I had a seat. However when the music,  like last night is that bit heavier it sort of loses something when the place isn't quite as closed in as King Tut's. One good thing for oldsters like myself is the fact that the main band comes on at 8:30pm a whole 2 hrs before the Wah Wah Hut, meaning you get to your bed at a reasonable hour on a school night.

My fears as far as the live Raveonettes experience losing its bite due to the poppier direction of the new album were unfounded. All of the tracks were still drenched in the reverb and distortion of old. There wasn't a great deal of reliance on the the new material with  tracks spanning all the albums and the first ep being present; including Bowels of the Beast, the first time i've ever heard that track live.

I really like the sound of new line up made, especially the extremely primal Moe Tucker style drumming. A couple of tunes including Little Animals had a really bizarre arrangement, just vocal and extremely distorted guitar which just about worked. My only gripe about it being that the show was too short running at just under an hour and another 10 mins of encores. It is not as if they are lacking in material these days.

Still can't complain too much as got a set of rather fetching Raveonettes mugs from the merchandise stall where I was served by the very lovely Sharin herself.

Walking up Sauchiehall Street, Stiff remarked that we must be getting old, he never thought he would see the day that we would buy souvenir mugs at a concert and be chuffed about the purchase. Changed days indeed.

The Raveonettes - Ode To L.A.

The Raveonettes - Get Lost

Apologies.

It seems that I may have been a little hasty and jumped to some misguided conclusions on my last post regarding the culprit of the complaint to boxnet over my posting of the Withered Hand track. I own Dan an apology, as he was unaware of this blog's existence so was not in a position to complain. I also received rather a nice email from Ed at SL Records, Withered Hand's label, saying that they were happy for me to post the material.

I apologize to Dan unreservedly for jumping to conclusions.

If you haven't already done so, you owe it to yourself to buy the Withered Hand album, it can be purchased here.

I Am Kloot - Proof

Monday 14 December 2009

Copyright Infringement Again

Seems like Dan from Withered Hand objects to me posting Oldsmobile Car, fair do's really, if I had been informed of this I would have pulled the track right away and apologized most profusley, however I was mailed by  Boxnet, stating that I was in copyright infringement as someone had complained which I suppose is also fair enough, however it may have been a little more civil to have emailed me direct.

No tune or picture as I'm presently in Manchester.

Joe Gibbs


Here is a little bit of dub to brighten up and hopefully warm you up if the weather where you are is anything like what it's been here over the weekend, still could be worse could be in the Mid-West of the States.

Joe Gibbs was an influential Jamaican producer, who started off working with Lee Perry in 1967 until Perry left to start his own Upsetter label. Gibbs was responsible for many rocksteady productions during the early 70's.

In 1973 he released the first of his African Dub series of albums with his in-house band The Professionals which included Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare . A further 3 albums followed in the series. Both tracks posted are taken from these albums.

The first track is from Chapter Two and is a remake of a track by Alton Ellis called I'm Still In love and was later used as the backing to a major hit single.

Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - Angola Crisis

The second track is from Chapter 3 and is a remake of Rockfort Rock by Sound Dimension.

Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - Dub Three

Sunday 13 December 2009

Random





L had the girls up for the yearly cack factor final party last night.  For someone who saw the Smiths in the early days, was right into Nirvana and has a very good taste in music, the Killers being an exception, she really has got an unfathomable interest in such pish.

I went out for a few pints with my mate and the two of us moaned about the music, we moaned about the pubs and how they weren't like they used to be etc etc. For years people have been telling me that I'm turning into Victor Meldrew but I just didn't believe it. Unfortunately I think it may be true.

This tune was running through my head all evening.

The Rolling Stones -  Waiting For A Friend.

Saturday 12 December 2009

Mr Pharmacist




If there is one thing that MES likes doing, it's covering, some would say murdering other peoples songs. Everything from rockabilly to heavy metal  to disco is up for grabs. Some of the time it is just a godawful mess for example White Line Fever; more often than not, the re-interpretations are at least interesting if not wholly enjoyable. The list of diverse artists the Fall have covered include, Deep Purple, Gene Vincent, Franki Valli and William Blake.

The Other Half were a psych-rock band from, where else but Southern California who formed in the mid 60s and released one eponymous album in 1968. The track Mr Pharmacist was released as a single that year on GNP Crescendo Records and was later picked up and included on one of the Nuggets lps in the 80s.

The Fall recorded it for the Bend Sinister album and also released it as a single in 1986 and got to the heady heights of number 75 in the charts. I remember this and the gruppe's cover of There's A Ghost In My House being played at many a scooter dance around 86 - 88 both being tracks that could be slammed to.

The Other Half - Mr Pharmacist

And for those who haven't heard it, the pretty faithful cover version.

The Fall - Mr Pharmacist

Friday 11 December 2009

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance



Today's track comes courtesy of my latest haul from Oxfam music on Byres Road. Somebody had obviously got sick and tired of the sounds of Mu as there was a job lot of mint KLF twelves all going for a song at 99p each. So I treated myself to 3 that I didn't already have.

There is not a lot for me to add to the myths/facts already published elsewhere regarding the inventors of "Stadium House".

3 AM Eternal was the second single from the KLF and originally came out in 1989, can you believe that it was 20 years ago! The version posted comes from the 1990 remix 12inch and is mixed by the Moody Boys (Tony Thorpe)and is typically spaced out and dubby,  not a million miles away from something the Orb would produce.

KLF - 3A.M. Eternal (Wayward Dub Version)

Not bad for under a quid.

Thursday 10 December 2009

Only Lies




We continue on the northern soul vibe with a single that,  had it been discovered at the height of the scene's popularity in the mid to late 70's would have been a monster due to the stomping beat and incredibly powerful vocal . However the fact that it only came to light in the early 90's means that although popular with those that have heard it, the tune has yet to get the recognition it deserves.

Only Lies by Reatha Reese was released on the Dot label and is as rare as hens teeth as only a few copies have surfaced. I recently saw a copy going for £450. So if by chance you ever see a copy do not hesitate.

I can find out absolutely nothing about Reatha. This single seems to be the only thing she has released which is a pity and a waste of a voice like that.

Reatha Reese - Only Lies

Wednesday 9 December 2009

Drew's Concession to Christmas Songs




Contrary to popular belief at my work and amongst my friends I'm not against Christmas songs, I love the Phil Spector Christmas Album, and yes the man is a lunatic and murderer but still produced some amazing music, I'm not making excuses for him but I will still listen to the music but I digress. I just hate the ubiquity of Christmas music, it is fucking everywhere, shops, cafes even piped down our main street on speakers from lamp posts and most of the time not even the original or very good cover versions of the songs but this decade's equivalent of Top Of The Pops does Christmas album, those of you who grew up in the 70s will know what I'm talking about.

The other day over at 17 Seconds, Ed posted my favourite all time festive tune, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love,  some rather good covers and also a version by Bonzo and the other 3, that I have not heard and will try to avoid at all costs as I already have enough against the self righteous, short arsed, stupid hat and sunglasses indoor wearing git to be going on with.

I remember last year being excited by the prospect of the Raveonettes covering Baby Please Come Home, I thought that if anyone apart from the Jesus and Mary Chain could do the song justice then it would be them. I was rather disappointed with the lackluster result, judge for yourself but it falls a bit flat to these ears.

The Raveonettes - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

My second favourite christmas song

Tom Waits - Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis

something a bit thought provoking

Simon & Garfunkel - 7 O'clock News, Silent Night

and some nonsense and brilliance from the Fall

The Fall - Jingle Bell Rock

The Fall - (We Wish You) A Protein Christmas

Come Go With Me




I'm back on a soul tip this week, after digging out Frank Beverley last week I have been listening to a lot of the stuff. It had taken a back seat here recently.

Here is Gloria Jones, who is probably best known for Tainted Love, which until recently I didn't realize that she recorded when she was only 18. The track posted today is the title track from her 1966 album recorded for the Uptown label and was originally recorded by the doo-wop group the Del Vikings.

Gloria Jones - Come Go With Me

Thanks to both Davy H and Danny for putting me on to 2 brilliant versions of the song Giving Up which was sampled on yesterday's post. The versions are by the Ad-Libs and Gladys Knight & The Pips.

Tuesday 8 December 2009

Givin' Up




I know very little about this track apart from it is on Gusto records, I bought it in 2000 and it has a Van McCoy sample which I'm not familiar with.

If anybody out there can help me with the track the sample comes from, it would be most appreciated.

Hairy Diamond - Givin Up

Sunday 6 December 2009

Why Have I Never Heard This Before?



Yesterday L and I decided to take a trip in to Glasgow, more specifically Byres Road much to the consternation of M who is realising far too early that weekends are for doing as little as possible.

On loading up the car with more kit than a platoon of soldiers would need for a week in the field, I found out that I had left my keys in the ignition of the car all night, which due to the fact that the car is a Saab meant that the battery was flat, those clever Swedes. What a twat, was lucky that nobody had noticed the keys in the unlocked car. So had to borrow a set of jump leads before we could go anywhere.

On arrival in the West End after a quick look around Fopp, which is bloody difficult with a push chair; and for the umpteenth time not finding anything that I wanted to buy, we headed down to Oxfam music, which had similarly proved fruitless on the previous visit.

What a difference yesterday, within 10 minutes I had a potential 15 12" singles without checking the 2 other "dance" bins that some geezer with an extremely stupid looking ethnic hat was hogging, thanks btw. By this time M was bored, Ly was looking slightly dischuffed and L was starting to get restless, meaning  "feed me", so I decided on 11 of the 12" singles, which came to a very reasonable £11.49. Not a bad haul.

One of the singles was on Junior Boy's Own and by Lemon Interupt. I was in 2 minds over this, as when I first looked at it, I thought I had it. But on closer inspection, the track I thought was the a-side was actually the AA and the A side was a track that was totally unknown to me, so decided that it was worth the 99p, even if just to fill a gap in my JBO twelves. Thank fuck I didn't put it back or an absolute belter of a track would have remained unknown to me.

When I got home and played back my purchases, I left the Lemon Interupt 'til last. When I put it on, it started pleasantly enough but as the tune progressed it just got better and better. A bit of a Balearic feel to it, not unlike Fallen by One Dove or Come Alive by JB Orchestra. I'm a sucker for spoken lyrics and a laid back vibe. I still can't believe that I haven't heard this before. It is, however a bit different from anything else by Lemon Interupt or Underworld.

Enjoy!

Lemon Interupt - Eclipse

Saturday 5 December 2009

Tracks of My Year




I've thought long and hard about this and whether to post on not. I know that best of lists are totally subjective and that nobody will be in the slightest bit interested in what I deemed to be good this year but what the hell. I like lists even if it is just to shake my head and tut tut at in a very condescending manner.

Anyway, I make a best of compilation up for my mate and his 2 brothers every year and thought that I would share the results with anybody who can be arsed to read. The number of tracks is down to how many I can fit on 2 cds.
 
1 - Meursault - Red Candle Bulb
2 - La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Mix)
3 - The Third Degree - Mercy
4 - Withered Hand - Oldsmobile Car
5 - Chew Lips - Solo
6 - Jamie T - Chaka Demus
7 - Withered Hand - I Am Nothing
8 - The Jezabels - Disco Biscuit Love
9 - Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo
10 - The Joy Formidible - While The Flies
11 - Unknown - Unknown (Wax 20002 side two)
12 - The Big Pink - Velvet
13 - Burial & Four Tet - Moth
14 - Andrew Weatherall - Brother Johnston's Travelling Disco
15 - Real Estate - Fake Blues
16 - The Fall - Slippy Floor (mark mix)
17 - The Wave Pictures - If You Leave It Alone
18 - God Help The Girl - Come Monday Night
19 - Dark Star - Aidt's Girl's A Computer
20 - Slow Club - Trophy Room
21 - Myron and E with the Soul Investigators - Cold Game
22 - Fuck Buttons - Olympians
23 - Speech Debelle - Spinnin'
24 - Raveonettes - Last Dance
25 - Gui Borrato -Take My Breath Away
26 - Clubroot - Sempiternal

I know tracks 1 and 4 are the same song but they are both brilliant and technically the Jezabels came out at the end of 2008. But it's my list my rules, you are all free to make up your own.

Friday 4 December 2009

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance




Here's a bit of speed garage sampling Nina Simone from 1997. This sub genre of garage was basically sped up garage with mega heavy baselines  and timestretched vocals and effects. It was popular for about a nano second during 1996/97 before the next hip genre came around. A couple of other fine examples of speed garage were 187 Lockdown's Gunman and Armand Van Helden's remix of the Sneaker Pimps Spin Spin Sugar.

If I remember correctly the Epic mix of this was flogged to death at the time, the mix posted here is remixed by Rob Bee.

huff & herb - feeling good (Rob Bee's Sub For Murray mix)

Wednesday 2 December 2009

If That's What You Wanted.




Far too much going on right now. I haven't had a chance to think about the blog this week. Should be able to get things on an even keel by the weekend.

In the meantime . . .

I haven't posted any northern soul for quite a while, so here is one of my favourites and number 9 in the Northern Soul Top 500. Frank Beverly would later find fame as the lead singer of the band Maze but here is the best thing that he's ever done, in my opinion.

Frank Beverly and the Butlers - If That's What You Wanted

Monday 30 November 2009

Mix/Tapes




Here is another guy that I found courtesy of John in the Morning on KEXP, if you have never listened to it, give it a go.  I have never found another radio station that plays as many records that I like, 6 Music doesn't come close, apart from when Weatherall is guesting on the 6Mix but that's different.

Rocky Votolato, don't let the name put you off, started playing in a band called Waxwing, a rock band with punk leanings, however he began writing mellower songs which didn't fit in with the band's style and decided to go it alone. To date he has released 7 albums and the track posted today comes from the 2003 album Suicide Medicine, which is the best of the 3 albums I own.

Rocky Votolato - Mix/Tapes

Orange Sky



The first time I heard this track I reckon was early afternoon a good few years ago. At the time I was office based and to break the tedium, when not in meetings and such like I would listen to KEXP Seattle over the net. This radio station put me on to a good few bands, as I've probably mentioned before.

John in the morning which over here in the UK is actually Jon in the afternoon is exceptionally good. If only we could get these kind of tunes at that time in the morning, instead of Chris Moyles inane drivel and what ever has been deemed to be on the Radio 1 playlist that week.

One day John played this track and it totally stopped me in my tracks.  It sounded not unlike John Martyn but with better pronunciation. After playing the track John mentioned that this was the first time that he had been able to play the track since asking for it to be played at his mother's funeral a few months before, not the sort of revelation that you are expecting over the airwaves on what to all intents and purposes is a drive time show.

For a couple of days after I found myself going back to the KEXP website and playing the track over again. Through the wonders of the internet I found a copy of the 4 Songs ep and purchased it. Later, after extolling its virtues to friends late one drunken night I was informed that it had been played on the OC,  a series until then  I had been oblivious to.

Not the worst way to start a Monday.

Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky

Saturday 28 November 2009

Candie Payne




Candie Payne was a lady I had high hopes for after hearing her first single, All I Need To Hear.  The cool sixties stylings of the track sounded like something from a film soundtrack from that era bringing to mind sharp suits and girls in mini skirts, bobs and too much eyeliner. She was a bit more poppy than Amy Winehouse, whose Rehab had yet to be released but which I had heard on The Funk And Soul Show when Eddie Pillar was sitting in for Craig Charles as he had been a naughty boy and actually was in rehab at the time.

I went to see Candie Payne in King Tut's a couple of months later and I don't think that I have ever seen anybody so scared of an audience in all my life, she was shaking when she started, however her voice was something else, understated but boy could she carry a tune and as I said at the start, I thought that she was destined for the kind of attention that Amy Winehouse got for her music before she became tabloid train crash  fodder.

Another couple of singles were released, Take Me and the download only By Tomorrow but she didn't get the breaks she deserved and both sunk without a trace. In May 2007 she released her debut album I Wish I Could Have Loved You More which charted in the UK album charts and a single with the same title which crashed into the charts at number 84! Her next single One More Chance was a desperate attempt by her record company to break the charts, Payne left the track off of her album as she didn't think that it fitted with the rest of the tracks. The record company however thought that with the assistence of Mark Ronson, producer of the moment , they would be on to a winner. Candie was proven to be right as the highest position the single reached was # 122. An injustice in my book as the track is good, especially in it's original form before Ronson did his thing to it.

Since then, nothing which is a real shame, as she has a better voice than Duffy, Adele and that Leona Lewis combined. Let's hope that she comes back with something soon.

Candie Payne - All I Need To Hear

Candie Payne - One More Chance (original)

Candie Payne - One More Chance (single Ronson mix)

And as an extra, the b-side to One More Chance, the other vocalist may be familiar and he also wrote the track.

Candie Payne - Shopping

Friday 27 November 2009

Just Because




My second favourite version of this song after Chuck Jackson's.

Scott Walker -  Any Day Now

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance




ere is track 2, as there are no track listings on this 12" from the first Bassbin Twins ep. The track has more samples than you can shake a stick at. The break I think is from Justify My Love, although maybe madge nicked it from somewhere else. But there are quite a few to try and place. The rest of the ep is quite diverse, some ragga, a bit of ska and reggae.

The Bassbin Twins have recorded for a few labels associated with the big beat sounds, such as Skint and Southern fried.

Bassbin Twins - Track 2

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Bloody Weather



When all else fails there's always the weather.

Haven't got much to say apart from when will this bloody rain end! I am in danger of losing my sunny disposition.

I popped in to see a mate yesterday on the way home from work to give him copies of both Fall gigs from the other week. He told me he had spent the morning chopping down trees. It wasn't 'til this afternoon that I thought about it, I suspect he may be building an ark.

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Nine Million Rainy Days

Deacon Blue - Raintown

The Just Joans - Lookin' Like Rain

No shortage of Scottish bands with songs about rain, funny that.

Monday 23 November 2009

New Music - Super U




Some new music for you from a band who hail from Brighton,  Super U. They release their debut album, We Live In Bazakhstan on the 1st of December on Sack The Juggler records.

I don't really know how to describe their sound, there is a bit of everything in the mix, a bit of hip 60's, a lot of indie and quite a bit of folk. I've seen them being compared to Belle And Sebastian and a bit like Camera Obscura;  on a couple of tracks there is a nod in the general direction to B&S but they are not quite so fey and I just can't see the Camera Obscura comparison myself. I really like the album, there are a couple of melodies which I keep finding myself humming and the lyrics are witty, not sure about the flute though.

See what you think.

Super U - Dillinger 

Super U - We Hang On

The Bard Of Salford




Have been meaning to feature John Cooper Clarke for some time, ever since the Radio 4 programme about him. He has lived quite a life. He first came to prominence in the late 70's in the wake of punk and is usually referred to as a punk poet which doesn't do him justice.

He has supported many of the original punk and post punk bands, such as the Pistols, Souixsie and the Banshees, Joy Division and of course the mighty Fall, coming from Salford as he does. He has released 6 albums as far as I know. The backing band on most of these releases was was The Invisible Girls which included Martin Hannett, Pete Shelley, Bill Nelson, Paul Burgess and Steven Hopkins.

Last year I was really looking forward to seeing him support the Fall at the Queen's Hall, unfortunately he called of at the last minute due to a cold and I had to endure nearly 2 hours of Patti Smith, the soundman's choice, before the Fall took to the stage. Still, it could have been worse I may have had to put up with Safi Sniper. Just one of the joys of going to see the Fall.

I think that Cooper Clarke is a fashion guru to all goths.

I forgot to mention that in the Radio 4 programme it was revealed that for a while during the 80's Clarke was shaked up with Nico, yes that Nico and appeared on several Sugar Puff adverts, the man is a legend.

Here are a couple of my favourite tracks/poems.

John Cooper Clarke - Marjorca

John Cooper Clarke - Conditional Discharge

Links now working apologies if you couldn't download but that amongst other things is what the comments are for.

Sunday 22 November 2009




At the moment I'm re reading Fuel Injected Dreams by James Robert Baker for the umpteenth time. I have to thank the girl who also put me on to the Pale Fountains song  after which this blog is named for also introducing me to this book. About a year after I left Aberdeen I was up visiting friends when I bumped into her and she gave me her copy as when she had started reading it she thought that it would be something that I would find interesting.

The story revolves around an LA DJ, who has a chance encounter with a reclusive, megalomaniac record producer who was responsible for some of the biggest hits of the early 60's with the bands he created and famed for his production techniques but by the end of that  decade had dissolved into a gun toting, drug induced psychotic who keeps his wife prisoner in his mansion, sound familiar to anyone? This chance encounter has the DJ revisit his teenage years and one summer in particular and try to solve a mystery which happened then with some very strange and extremely disturbing results.

The book is kind of trashy and a bit dated now,  as it is set in the mid eighties but I think that it is still worth reading. On discovering that Baker was a screenwriter it did not surprise me as the book reads like a movie and it is easy to picture it as such. I always had Dennis Hopper down for the drug crazed producer.

As I said I have read this book several times and years ago I gave it to L when she was going overseas to visit her sister. I was rather hacked off when  L arrived home sans book, don't get me wrong very pleased to see her but slightly distraught about the missing novel. To this day she argues that she brought it back. I searched for this book but to no avail, this was pre or very early internet days and to make matters worse the book was then out of print, the author having committed suicide and subsequent major wrangles over his estate meaning that it was not available. Eventually after a few years searching and improvements on the web I tracked down a copy in a second hand book shop in southern California and payed quite a bit of money for it. It has, however been re-printed since and copies can be found on Amazon for as little as one pence, which may put you off, however it is worth the investment if you ask me.

All of this was just an excuse to post a couple of tracks produced by a deeply flawed genuis, who bears no similarity to the character in the book.

The Ramones - Baby I Love You

The Checkmates - Love Is All I Have To Give

and a cover of Spector's first ever single which he recorded when he was 17 and the title of which comes from the words etched on his father's gravestone.

Amy Winehouse - To Know Him Is To Love Him

Saturday 21 November 2009

When Two Tribes Kind Of Co-exist




This post is inspired by a comment DVD made last night on The Ghost of Electricity and a review I read yesterday in the Guardian.

When I  was a youngster I was quite a confused individual, I initially didn't realise this until I moved to the town in which I still reside, as where I originally came from they had a more open minded approach to the things that mattered in life, ie music, for inconsiquential matters such as religion they were positively archaic but as a ten year old  I was not aware of this . Nobody batted an eyelid if you replied,  when asked about your musical preferences that you liked say the Clash and AC/DC for example. This, I found was not the case when I moved to Lanark, a conservative town in lots of ways including musical preferences, no blurring of the boundaries here.

My first day of Primary 7 would have been daunting enough, being at a new school but combined with a headbut from a boy who even then had "wee man syndrome" and a lack of knowledge of books of the bible it was nearly insufferable. The only think that made me want to go back was finding 2 at least slightly like minded individuals

I was sat behind 2 boys who were as thick as thieves and at play time it was these two that started the interrogation of my musical tastes. Stiff asked me who my favourite band was to which I replied Motorhead and the two of them looked at me as if I had some horrible contagious disease. Span then asked me who else I liked  and I said SLF which certainly got a better response but neither of them could understand how I could like both heavy metal and punk. With them it was either one or the other and the preference certainly wasn't heavy metal. During the subsequent questions it turned out that both Stiff and myself originated from the same town and all threeof us supported the same,  not so local football team, Airdrie, which helped secure a lasting bond.

The reason for my schizophrenic taste in music was due to the fact that I had 2 older cousins who influenced me, one into punk and one into NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) as it was called at the time in Sounds. Kevin, his real name, but not a real cousin was into punk and had got me listening to the Skids, SLF, The Clash etc, never did like 999 though and the fact that he was an Aberdeen supporter was always a mute point. Then there was Stuart, real cousin, long hair, half length Cuban army jacket and into all things metal from Zeppelin on. My main problem was that I liked some of what I heard from both but not all of either which meant that I never really felt like I could be partisan about things.

Over the next couple of years Stiff's older brothers replaced Kevin in my education of what is now termed as post punk but to us was just punk or if you wanted to be wanky,  new wave. Stuart however remained a constant and took me to my first half dozen concerts for which I am eternally grateful and taught me about Hendrix and all that late 60's stuff , however I never could get his adoration for The Doors and Jim Morrison in particular, I always thought that he was a bit of a cock.

Anyway to the point of the post,  Stuart took me to see Motorhead at the Glasgow Apollo on the Ace of Spades tour, which was my first ever concert and my abiding memory is of going to school the next day and not being able to hear as my ears were still ringing. We were on the second row of the balcony and I remember being a little scared when you could feel the whole thing moving up and down under you.

For the next 2 years every birthday and Christmas I got a concert ticket from my aunt Lily and Stuart took me to the Apollo to see Whitesnake, UFO etc.

I really loved Motorhead and had every single, album and the two 12 inch singles (much under used format in heavy metal) which were released until Iron Fist the last album to feature Fast Eddie Clarke after which I stopped buying their records.

When I read the review in the Guardian, I smiled to myself and I do think it is great to see Lemmy still at it at the age of 63, although the  misogyny and the collection of Nazi memorabilia cannot be condoned. Not sure, from the comment, if DVD saw the band in Leeds but I think that if I got the chance I would go and see them again.

A couple of years after L and I got together we were at a gig and we were discussing the worst support bands we had ever seen and both of us named the same band, Girl. It turns out both of us were at the Glasgow Apollo to see UFO the same night many years before, which probably explains L's love of guitars although she would probably like me to mention the fact that she saw the Smiths 3 times, first in 1984 to keep the record straight as she really is an indie chick.

As for the 2 friends  from primary, we stayed mates and we disagreed about music lots over the years, Span's ventures into New Romantacism being something neither me nor Stiff could get our heads around. Later on, it  was probably easier for Stiff to understand Motorhead than when I came to him in 1986 with Marshall Jefferson's House Music Anthem and told him "this is the future" but that as they say is another story.

Motorhead - Motorhead

and a song written by Holland/Dozier/Holland and originally recorded by Eddie Holland

Motorhead - Leaving Here

Friday 20 November 2009

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance




Shall we have a little bit of Ska infected Big Beat today from the man with more aliases than a con man  with loads of snidey names?

Here we have Norman Cook in the guise of Fatboy Slim, remix a release by Norman Cook in the guise of the mighty dub katz with writing credits to Norman Cook in the guise of Pizzaman. This track was originally released on the Southern Fried label in 1995 and entitled Son of Wilmot. I wonder if you can guess why?

Speaking of Wilmot, it appears that I have misinformed you, as I have been corrected by Curtis, the track that I posted on Wednesday as Wilmot's Last Skank is really Wilmot Meets Lord Scruffage, for 15 years I have gotten the tracks mixed up as my 10" has the labels back to front and nobody, until now has informed me of this. I have to confess that Last Skank is not one off my favourite Sabres tracks

mighty dub katz - magic carpet ride (fatboy slim latin ska acid breakbeat mix)

and now the correct version of

Sabres of Paradise - Wimot's Last Skank

Is anybody else bored with dance on a Friday?

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Wilmot Revisited.




There was a comment over at Ctel's excellent Acid Test blog on one of his postings on the genius known as Andy Weatherall's Sabres of Paradise requesting Wilmot's Last Skank, a track I hadn't played for quite some time. It is the b-side of the Wilmot remix 10" single.

To be honest with you it is not that different from the version I posted here a couple of months ago, a bit  sparcer than the original and nearly a couple of minutes shorter, still very very good.

Sabres Of Paradise - Wilmot's Last Skank

Tuesday 17 November 2009

World Destruction




Following on from yesterday's post with the first collaboration, at least that I can think of, between rap and punk. Here we have Lydon collaborating with African Bambaataa on the single World Destruction,  produced by Bill Laswell who would go on to produce PiL's Album two years later.

For a fifteen year old preoccupied with the imminent threat (I thought and I don't think that I was alone in that view at the time) of nuclear war and the lasting effects of a nuclear winter if you were unlucky enough to survive, this track did not instill in me a sunny demeanor or fill me with hope for the future; what with lines like "this is a world destruction, your life ain't nothing", references to Nostradamus and chemical warfare it isn't your typical party tune. But it is brilliant, at the time there was nothing like this and Lydon's near manic vocals used to send a chill down my spine. The video is pretty effective as well, in fact I think that the first time I heard the track was when I saw the video on the Tube.

I've posted both sides of the 12" that I picked up on one of my recent visits to Oxfam music, where the near mint copy was floundering in the racks for a mere 99p and which means I no longer have to play my scratched to death 7" copy.

Timezone - World Destruction

Timezone - World Destruction (dub)

And the rather brilliant video

Monday 16 November 2009

Anger Is An Energy




When I first heard this single in 1986, it totally blew me away. At the time of the release of Rise, I, for one had kind of forgotten about PIL and the last thing that Lydon had done was his amazing collaboration with African Bambaataa but that had seemed to have been a one off as it was 2 years previously and very little had been heard from or about him until this single, which came as a bolt out of the blue to me but had probably been all over the inkies. It was a breath of fresh air and Lydon as scary sounding and looking in the video as he had ever been.

Twenty three years on and the song still packs a punch.

The design for the single and album cover was borrowed from the film Repo Man by Alex Cox, who the same year as Rise was released  Sid and Nancy.

PiL - Rise

Sunday 15 November 2009

Tagged





chocolategirl64 tagged me so I had better comply.

The rules are
1 You have to post a song that makes you happy
2 You can tag as many people as you want
3 Say one thing about the blog that you tag that will make them smile.

I'm gonna tag The Ghost of Electricity, as Mr H is always a gent, has an impeccable taste in both music and alcohol and bears a passing resemblance to a famous actor.

Roddy Frame - The Boy Wonders

What A Way To Spend A Sunday

I've spent the entire day trying to avoid doing something that should have been done weeks ago but I can always find excuses to not do.

I hate this time of the year at work, November/December always get incredibly busy and also there is the looming end of year review. I dread this more than anything else to do with work and therefore procrastinate over it until it really is too late and I end up writing the biggest load of crap and emailing it off the night before my review, which doesn't endear me to the line manager as they have had no time to review it and I start the torture on the back foot from the off, before I even start my excuses (reasons) for why my productivity isn't what it should be. So I have spent the last 6 hours on and off trying to big up my contribution to the corporate entity, a task which I can't really get enthusiastic about and which unfortunately shows.

Roll on tomorrow afternoon when its all over and I can forget about it, well until next June when it's mid-year review time.

Ted Hawkins - Ladder Of Success

Couldn't be arsed looking for a witty picture.

Saturday 14 November 2009

The Outlaws




I think that I've only posted one other mash-up on here before, the Arctic Monkeys/Destiny's Child one. I'm quite partial to these if they are done well and it's a couple of artists which you would never think of together which is certainly the case here.

I have a couple of good albums, The Best Bootlegs in The World Ever, which compiles the best of the early mash-ups including A Stroke Of Genius, One Minute Lovecat etc. The other album, Too Many Fools Following Too Many Rules is mixed by the Outlaws, not as slick as Soulwax in their Too Many DJs guise but entertaining none the less. It pitches the likes of Michael Jackson against the Baron of Techno, Dave Clarke and Donna Summer and Josh Wink.

So if you ever wondered how Abba would sound if they had become junglists give this a listen.

The Outlaws - Chiq

Friday 13 November 2009

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance





Before deciding to use this song for the proverbial dance track on a Friday, I knew absolutely nothing about this record apart from the fact that I thought that it was a funky as fuck when I bought it and have played it on and off ever since.
I thought that I better try and find something out about the track before posting it, so headed, as you do to Discogs. I had a suspicion that it was too good a track to be tucked away as the first track on side 2 of a load of remixes and apparently the track was released  in it's own right. The version I have is on a 12" of remixes of Minus 8 on the Compost label from Munich, was recorded by Robert Jan Mayer and came out in 2001.

I have no recollection of where I bought it but did buy it after listening to it and on the strength of this track, the others are okay but this is the standout.

See what you think.

Minus 8  - Badman & Throbin'

Did I mention that I'm going to see The Fall tonight?

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Lost In Music




In celebration of the forthcoming Fall Fest which will take place this Friday and Saturday at the Renfrew Ferry. I present for your delectation a couple of re interpretations by the Gruppe.


First up we have probably my favourite Fall cover, Sister Sledge's Lost In Music

The Fall - Lost In Music

and White Lightning, originally by The Big Bopper which must be a fave of MES as it has been a constant in the set list over the past few years.

The Fall - White Lightning

The Airborne Toxic Event gig was pretty wonderful the other night, they have come on leaps and bounds in the course of the past year. Their gig in January at King Tut's, I thought would be hard to beat  this year, however I found  the February one a bit lack lustre in comparison but Tuesday night was something a bit special, what with acoustic Springsteen covers and spontanous verses from Smiths songs it just shaves the January one for gig of the year for me but I'm sure that this weekend the mighty Fall will step up to the challenge.

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Blue Eyed Soul




Here is a bit of blue eyed soul courtesy of Tony Galla to brighten up a Tuesday.

This track was the first single that Galla recorded and came out on the Swan label in 1964. Unfortunately, I have heard nothing by the man since which comes close to this track. He later became the singer of the blues band,  Raven and had a famous friend in Jimi Hendrix who helped to get the band a deal with Columbia.It was not unknown in the late 60's to find Galla on stage jamming with the likes of Hendrix and Joplin in clubs in New York. He is still performing and has released 3 albums of Italian music in the last few years.

If you have a spare 300 quid you may be able to get your hands on the original 7" or you could spend £9 on the dodgy re pressing.

Tony Galla - In Love

I'm off to see The Airborne Toxic Event tonight, so no post tomorrow.

Monday 9 November 2009

Airport Girl




This is just the thing for a Monday morning all jangly guitars and occassional horn stabs. In fact everything you would expect from an indie pop classic apart from the fact that in clocking in at over 6 minutes it hasn't got the brevity normally associated with the genre. The track, however,  never over stays it's welcome and I guarantee that when it finishes you will want to play it again.

To me it is full of optimism and joy and makes me smile and want to dance, what further recommendation do you need on a Monday?

Airport Girl - The Foolishness That We Create Through Love Is The Closest We Come To Greatness.

I forgot to mention it has a great title as well.

Sunday 8 November 2009