The Boy Wonder Returns

I'm off to see Roddy Frame tonight and I am looking forward to it more than just a little as this will be the first time in over a decade when he has been accompanied by a band. It's kind of hard to remember how good he is when electrified but we have had glimpses over the past couple of years when he was performing with Edwyn Collins, an amazing bit of a guitar wig out during A Girl Like You at the ABC springs to mind.

One thing for sure it will not be dull and let's hope that there will be some new songs showcased as well. i will also hopefully hook up with the Vinyl Villain who shall also be present. The last time the two of us met at a Roddy Frame gig he put the notion of doing this nonsense into my head so who know what might come of tonight?

Here is a track recorded twenty one years ago at the Barrowlands Ballroom in Glasgow. I had the good fortune to be there that night and when I exclaimed that's Mick Jones, the girl I was with just said in a rather bored voice "who?"

Aztec Camera - Good Morning Britain (Live Barrowlands)

Let Them All Eat Culture.

It has been far too long since the talents of the Boy Wonder have appeared on this blog.

In my book he is the finest song writer and one of the best guitarists of his generation. Hyperbole? maybe,  but you would have to come up with an extremely convincing argument for me to even begin to swither from this position.

There are very few songwriters amongst his contemporaries who could have written the lyrics to songs like  We Could Send Letters, The Birth Of The True,  Killermont Street and above all Good Morning Britain.

When you see him live you realise just how much of a virtuoso he is, especially when playing The Boy Wonders or Spanish Horses. If you are still to be convinced of his prowess, seek out the Vinyl Villain's footage of him letting rip during A Girl Like You at the ABC in Glasgow when he was playing guitar for Edwyn Collins.

After writing the last couple of paragraphs,  I've had to rethink the post I was in the midst of writing.

The post was supposed to bring to your attention the delights of the Frestonia album, much over looked and underrated in my opinion, I may do this at a later date. But now I just want to post Good Morning Britain as the lyrical content seem strangely pertinent in relation to goings on in the UK over the last couple of weeks but then again maybe that's just me.

Written in the darkest days of Thatcher's stranglehold on this country. Frame pens a state of the nation address in a verse for each of the four home nations of the UK. In it's original form the song was a rather powerful rallying cry made even more so with the aid of Mick Jones on rhythm guitar and vocals but later Frame would turn the song into a rather sad and moving lament. I've posted both version, see which you prefer.

Aztec Camera - Good Morning Britain

Aztec Camera - Good Morning Britain (Live From Ronnie Scott's)

Everybody Loves A Cover Version, Right?

I for one love cover versions and know from wandering around blog world that a lot of you feel the same. Covers are the cause for many a drunken discussion in the pub when my mates and I meet (an all too infrequent event these days), around the merits of even attempting to cover a certain song, how good the original was etc, you get the picture. A scene that has probably been replicated millions of times. To me a cover version doesn't even have to be radically different from the original it just has to be done well (subjective I know).

I am not an advocate for capital punishment but I do think that Michael Bolton should be taken out and shot for crimes against music for his woeful covers, especially Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay.

The first cover here is by a band and genius that need no introduction, Aztec Camera. The boy wonder has done some wonderful covers over the years most of which can be found on the b-sides of singles, so get searching on ebay, but this has to be his best. He takes a mediocre pomp rock tune Jump, complete with cheesy synth and turns it into a thing of beauty. The studio version can be found on the b-side of All I Need Is Everything but the version posted is on the flip of Somewhere In My Heart 12" and was recorded live at the Glasgow Barrowlands on 30th January 1988, a gig that I had the good fortune to attend.

Next up is Maria McKee with Lone Justice covering Sweet Jane. I have had arguments with people over this track, a mate once said that they had ruined it by turning a perfectly good 3 minute tune into an over blown mess, I however love it. You decide. This track comes from a long out of print BBC Radio 1 In Concert cd.

Aztec Camera - Jump

Lone Justice - Sweet Jane

BTW

How many soul fans does it take to change a light bulb?

One to change the bulb and 400 or so to spit vehemently that it is not as good as the original