I first heard this on a sampler L.P. given away free with the NME way back in the mid seventies. It enhanced my already love affair with reggae. I still think it is the best possible introduction to Reggae and their are still various CD versions currently available. It should be made compulsory to listen to it in Schools.
It reminds me of a trip I had over in the UK with Flycasual we were coming back from Inverness and had a few hours to kill before catching a flight back to Jeddah so we decided to go to HMV in Oxford Street and get the supplies to bring back. I bought several reggae albums including U-Roy's Natty Rebel. album . Brilliant stuff.
It was coming back in the Tube to Heathrow that I will always remember. At a stop this guy got on and sat opposite us and he had the biggest nose you have ever see. It was a hooter to die for, Cyrano De Bergerac would have swooned. That guy would never ever be able to tell a lie.
I know it was cruel and all that, but I turned to Flycasual and said, ' It's a shame about the ears' that was it! he burst out laughing, I burst out laughing, we could not control it, the more we tried to subdue it, the worse it got. I only hope that the poor lad did not realise he was the reason for our hilarity.
A recent discovery, this track by Warwickshire raised, Singer/Songwriter Lucy Rose had me searching for more and I was surprised that I have actually heard her before. She has previously contributed background vocals on the Bombay Bicycle Club albums, Flaws and A Different Kind of Fix andreleased her debut 'Like I Used To' in 2012.
Early singles have received coverage from 6 Music and specialist DJ's on Radio 1 and she's about to play Glastonbury and a plethora of other festivals. Intimate songs, a beautiful voice makes Lucy one for the long term.
Five tracks we had under surveillance this week...
London Scouser:-
Poliça (featuring Justin Vernon) - Tiff (2013)
I'll start by saying I struggle to find and listen to new music. What I mean is that there is so much out there, that unless it's an artist I know of where do I begin. I'm not a musical snob, but I like what I like. Therefore I will listen to tracks that ate recommended by an artist I already know or as in this case if the track features someone I know. Poliça are totally unknown to me, but this track features Justin Vernon of Bon Iver so this was my way in. They are a four-piece from Minneapolis and fall into the electro-pop category which I'm a casual fan of. The first thing that hit me about the song is Channy Leanagh's great vocals and I love a track that casually drops the 'F' bomb. It's not big and it's not clever but neither am I. I also love a good memorable video and this is definitely one of those. I won't spoil it by saying why it's memorable so I urge you to watch it.
This fantastic performance by KT Tunstall on Jools Holland's Later reminded me why she entranced us all first time round. It features on her new album, Invisible Empire / Crescent Moon, and if it's half as good as this I'll be happy. I've always said, girls with guitars rule!
This track is dedicated to all you struggling home buyers out there and apparently Location Location Location megastar, Kirstie Allsopp is a big fan. It's the debut single from London duo T.W.I.N.S. (out June 10) and with a sprinkling of the Pet Shop Boys and Hot Chip in there, I've been hooked on it's catchy chorus and pogo stick like beat. Hugo and Laurence first cut their musical teeth by creating a soundtrack for a gay porn series called “Indie Boys”. A firm base then if there ever was one and I'll be interested in hearing more fo sho. I made that up about Kirstie Allsopp, too...crap I know.
Thanks to Sure Shot PR for the heads up and if you want to have a viewing of T.W.I.N.S. page on Facebook, click here.
Shell Hunter:-
Kodaline - 'Love Like This' (2013)
Yesterday was my first day back after 2 and a half weeks of being in Spain relaxing. Needless to say I had a serious case of the back to work blues. With my face like a smacked ass, I didn't even bother to plug my iPhone in. I just let the radio mumble away in the background until this song started that is, I miserably turned it up. It was the best musical medicine and like an adrenalin shot to the heart made me feel more upbeat. My day at work was an easy one thankfully and to wrap things up nicely as soon as I got back in the car to go home, the song was on the radio again! I found out it was kodaline whom I had a soft spot for last year with 'All I Want'. With their Coldplay-esque choruses, they can't fail to paint those blues a nice healthy pink again!
Old Pa's Corner :-
Lloyd Cole - Period Piece (2013)
This is vintage Lloyd Cole and it is from his new album Standards. This one could have easily slipped into his first 2 classic albums, Rattlesnakes and Easy Pieces. I have always had a soft spot for LC and have followed his career ever since he split with the Commotions. I will most certainly listen to the whole album. Welcome back Lloyd. Click for a classic Lloyd Cole track and story.
Subscribe to our 2013 Tracks of the Week Spotify Playlist
Here are a couple of takes of a not very often covered song from 'New Morning', If Dogs Run Free. It may well be one of the strangeest Dylan ones around. The first one is from Dave's True Story's album of Dylan Covers, 'Simple Twist of Fate : DTS Does Dylan'.
Who are Black Motor? you may well ask, they are new to me. They are made up of
Saxophonist Sami Sippols, Ville Rauhala on double bass and Simo Laihonen
on drums. They are joined by a couple of friends Rauli Rantanen and
Ville Pirinen. This is taken from a Dylan 70th birthday concert
at Telakka, Tampere, Finland 24.5.2011. I am not really a big Jazz fan, but this is pretty good.
If there ever was a Hip Hop act to encapsulate that classic vibe then J5 were it, they made some vintage tracks but this is my favourite and it is unashamedly old skool, with a brilliant burbling bassline, a great beat and slick rhyming. Their name itself is a nod to some of the Hip Hop veterans, pioneers with similar names such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5, Funky 4 plus 1 or the Treacherous Three. Their very style keeps in line with the original essence of Hip Hop, blockparties, two turntables and a microphone and smooth rhyming interplay between members of the crew.
From 1996 to 2005 they were a breath of fresh air amongst the bloated commercial mass Hip Hop had become. Like the song says, "we're taking you back to the days of yes y'allin', we're hanging on to what's golden", before a Chuck D sample booms in just to affirm that notion and you don't mess with the 'Gandalf' of rap!
Jurassic 5, popular with geologists
In Chali 2na (real name Charles Stewart) they also had one of the most recognisable and popular MC's in rap, certainly one of my favourites. The 'friendly neighbourhood baritone' not only gives Chuck D of Public Enemy a run for his money but he's also the voice of T-Rex in the kids Hip Hop super group, Dino 5. Much to the delight of my son and of course his father!
In the excited anticipation of the J5 gig in Brixton on Thursday June 13th, I have naturally been listening to their back catalogue and compiled a playlist of some of their classics cut on Spotify. Listen/subscribe to it here....Jurassic Classics.
Jurassic 5 - 'Concrete Schoolyard' (1997) (Live at Coachella, April 12th 2013)
Living way up in Inverness in the sixties was a million miles away from where it was 'all happening' in the music scene. There were no venues to see all the many new artists and groups that had exploded out of the blue.
The day finally happened, one of the new sensations was a young Cat Stevens and he was playing in Inverness. He had some excellent stuff out at the time Matthew and Son, I love my Dog. In fact early Cat music, before he became more famous for his 'more serious' output was in my opinion just as good or even better. Get hold of his early Decca recordings and you won't be disappointed.
The place was packed, the Caledonia Hotel Ballroom, The Cat came on to the stage to an enormous roar, I'm Gonna Get me a Gun, one of his best. In the middle of his second song, he was gone. He panicked, as the audience got too close. He did not come back on and it was announced that due to inadequate barriers the concert was cancelled.
The Move were due on the following week. I hope they got their act together.
Many years later I had a chance to get my revenge. Where we lived in Jeddah, there was a Men's club and one day I saw that they had a guest speaker. It was none other than Yousef Islam, Cat's Islamic name when he found his calling? after a near death swimming accident.
I was tempted to go along and when they got to the question and answer session. I was going to stand up and say you own me 7/6 pence from 1966. Wish I did!
Wild World is probably my favourite Cat Stevens song and comes from his Tea for the Tillerman (1970) album. I first heard Jimmy Cliff's version. Both are just great.
I originally thought it was a great break up song and was a little disappointed to read somewhere that it was about a father and his daughter, who was leaving home to go to University. Wish I never found that out.
Do you like Singer/Songwriters, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!
Mark Kozelek & Jimmy LaValle - What Happened to My Brother (2012)
I love the casio-esque sound to this track, it reminds me of Jet Set Willy / Manic Miner and if you are of a certain age, you'll know what that means.
I've a fan of Mark Kozelek for years now but he is an acquired taste. The frontman in Red House Painters, he has spent the last decade or so releasing mostly acoustic based material as Sun Kil Moon and more recently under his own name.
His most recent release, Perils from the Sea, is a collaboration with Instrumentalist Jimmy LaValle (of the Album Leaf) and is definitely worth a listen...but give it a few listens, it's a bit like olives!
We welcome back previous Guest Spotter "Whattalkabout" for another heartfelt musical memory. Has any song hit the spot for you? To submit your own Guest Spot click here, we'd love to hear it!
I saw a picture in the newspaper of this beautiful building and fell in love with it. It was lit up, surrounded by water fountains, and statues and beautifully shaped hedges and I decided I had to see it in real life. Problem was the picture had no caption and I had no idea where it was.
A lot of research led me to it. It was in Vienna. Ticket booked for five days.
I was happy when I finally found the building, but disappointed that a lot had been covered and boarded up for restoration work. Next time, I reasoned.
Five days in Vienna is a long time. I spent many hours in the hotel room, with this song on repeat. Gallagher’s genius song writing at its best: “All your dreams are made of strawberry lemonade…”
This song is for A. whom I miss every day.
“You and me see how we are.”
This track features on Daft Punk's latest album Random Access Memories and it has put a spring in my step. This video isn't official, so hopefully it stays up for a while, but it perfectly captures the grove of the song. Nile Rodgers guitar riffs, slap bass (???), Soul Claps and Pharrell Williams make it the song of the album and Track of the Week. If listening to this doesn't make you dance or tap your feet, you have no legs. (obviously, no offence is intended if you have no legs).
Flycasual:-
Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs - 'Be Glamorous' (2013)
'Be Glamorous', a bit like me at work with my boat like safety boots, sweaty polyester trousers and mucky hi-viz vest, getting high on aviation fuel but apart that, it's one of the stand out tracks from Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs debut album, Clarietta. They have only been going for just over a year and are being compared to the likes of 70's New York Post Punk heroes, Television (Marquee Moon blew my mind when Old Pa gave me a copy of it listen to all those years ago) but with a sound also firmly rooted to London. The excellent single also has hints of T-Rex, which, like the title suggests, adds some much needed glam to guitar music.
I've always thought Brazilian electro-rock group CSS (or Cansei de Ser Sexy) were a bit woo and a bit wey. This latest offering proves that they still are mad as ever. I love this aptly titled single and its equally amusing video (anyone can dance!). I say aptly because I'm nearing the end of my holiday in Spain and I've had to succumb to the hangover gods once or twice, I'll have to admit. This track, taken from new album Planta which will be released tomorrow is a bit of ragga meets mariachi and the more I hear it, the more I like it. Simple lyrics with hangovers and heartbreak in the same breath, both giving you an equally rubbish feeling in life makes for a great pop song. "Let's be happy and drink bloody mary!"
Check out their label SubPop's site to see more...
Old Pa's Corner :-
The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra ft Bitty Mclean - Fu Manchu (2013)
Here is an interesting one from an album by The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra ft. Bitty Mclean and is called The Benevolence of Sister Mary Ignatius.
Lee Thompson and Mark Bedford, two founder-members
of Madness, started this project trying to recreate the kind of music that had inspired
them as teenagers. To cut a long story short they enjoyed themselves so much the decided to do an album of Ska inspired songs and the result is pretty good. It is like listening to Two Tone revisited and do I love all that.
You can't beat a bit of Ska inspired reggae, Try this take of the Desmond Decker classic. The original is below.
At the risk of sounding repetitive I came across this song whilst listening to Scroobius Pip's xFM radios show via Mixcloud. Originally from New York, he now lives in Berlin via a stay in London. He has been described as the Kerouac of Rap and has been compared to a certain Q-Tip. Whilst I'm not so aware of the former, the latter is definitely good company. The chorus is instantly memorable and is accompanied by a great video. He is certainly one to watch and I will be keeping an eye fo' sho.
Reading Rivermead Leisure Centre on September 23rd, 2009 For music lovers out there, the ultimate thing to do is to see your
favourite artist or group live on stage. Now, I go to a lot of concerts
and for me the whole evening is an experience. Living just outside of
London means it's a dreaded disgracefully long trek but it is such an
amazing place, not only for music but for a night out so its worth it.
Sprinkled with individual bars and restaurants hidden in every corner,
it makes for a far more memorable experience! To save you hassling
around, see my Gig Watch tips below! This is not a normal gig review,
this is my experience.
Flycasual wanted to see big faves of his Massive Attack and offered me a ticket. I've always liked them and was really listening to Mezzanine a lot at the time. I thought a leisure centre was a bit of a strange venue to play for such a big band but I can't imagine we would have got tickets to their Brixton shows. Besides, sometimes the stranger the venue, it being smaller and rubbing shoulders with band members becomes a higher possibility! Reading was only a short train ride away and I had printed a map of where the centre was. it didn't seem that far....as the crow flies of course. It was an absolute trek from the station and we were so out of breath we absolutely had to stop for some refreshment in the form of a flavoured cider. It being a few years ago I don't remember if we got any preconcert chow but I do remember we were both disappointed that we passed a Lebanese restaurant but didn't have enough time to check it out. We just had enough time for a quick drink at the Toby Carvery next to the centre.
I have to admit, the venue was a bit of a disappointment. It was literally a like a school hall, with smelly portaloos in one room that you had to queue for ages for, volunteers selling drinks (expensive and closed too early!) and merchandise in another room and a stage at one end of the gym. We did manage to secure a decent vantage point just behind a waist high wall, perfect for leaning on and our drinks! Despite my reservations about the venue, it has to be said that the acoustics in there were excellent as were the band's light show depicting statistics of poverty and slave labour. It was harrowing but educational and particularly struck a chord with Flycasual who had just bought a band Tshirt and the label said made in Vietnam.
I was utterly impressed with the gig, everything played from Mezzanine was such a highlight and got a massive cheer from the nearly packed gym. Martina Topley Bird who was supporting the band on tour even made a brave attempt of singing Teardrop but its one of those songs that is all about the voice of Liz Fraser. The song that was the real clincher for me, which I liked before but is now my favourite MA track soully down to this performance, was Angel. The auditorium went dark and all of a sudden singer, Horace Andy appears in a white outfit which I remember as being traditionally African in style. The bass vibrated right through me and the claustrophobic pounding and ticking coupled with the illuminating visuals was mesmerising. It built and built slowly until it was fit to burst and the sound exploded, it was beautiful all consuming noise! The rest of the concert although great just paled into comparison to that mind blowing performance. Its for this song, that I would definitely see them again in a heartbeat.
Sadly I can't find footage of the Reading gig but here is an example of Angel a few days before at Brixton Academy!
ROGER McGUINN and GENE CLARK - You Ain't Going Nowhere
Here are two tracks from a Concert by Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark. It was recorded on the 1978-03-19 at the The Bottom Line, Late Show, New York, NY. and is taken from a WNEW-FM Broadcast. Definately worth a listen and the quality is excellent. Enjoy all you Byrds fans out there.
The Concert was advertised as “An Acoustic Reunion,” it was the first public appearance of Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark in more than a decade and it was hoped that this would spark a full Byrds reunion.
ROGER McGUINN and GENE CLARK - Knocking on Heaven's Door
Thursday I'm in Love, a chance to share some of my favourite songs, memories and B&B's.
Friendly Fire - 'Paris' (2008) Great performance, great Ian Curtis style dancing!
There's nothing quite like springtime in Paris, that is unless you go when it's cold, grey and wet like I did in April. But that hardly mattered as it was for my wife's 40th (I know, what a guy!) - a rare foray away, the joys of parenthood shelved for two nights. I was also hoping to take in some of the sights and sounds of Jazz Age Paris al la movie, 'Midnight in Paris', Woody Allen's love letter to France's capital and a firm favourite of mine. It was a semi-surprise, as I ended up telling her a few weeks early and that was for two reasons:
Firstly, on the advice of fellow blogger Sfw, who wisely stated that a woman needs time to prepare and that I should probably give my wife the heads up in case she turns up, to one of the most stylish cities in the world, in a tracksuit (highly unlikely but I couldn’t take the risk).
Secondly, as my wife has never forgiven me for the last time I booked a surprise trip and as a result now takes on all the responsibility for booking breaks to make sure the family doesn't get traumatised, I needed to double-check that I was on the right track.
Better than Blackpool Tower?
The aforementioned event was on the occasion of a friend's wedding when I decided to take the initiative and book a Bed and Breakfast. The website said that it was an idyllic cottage with a great breakfast, 5 minutes from the reception venue but more importantly it was cheap. It was also called 'Trade Winds'. I loved the name as it evoked the swashbuckling and romantic spirit of adventure, especially staying in a seaside town. Well, it was a crap adventure and it couldn't have been further from the truth. There were 2 single beds (romantic) with stains on the bed-sheets, a thick layer of dust covering the chintzy furniture with spiders ,dead and alive, lurking in the corners and quite clearly peeved that they now had to share their space with us. To top it all there was mould all over the (communal) bathroom. It made student digs look like the Ritz and, as everywhere else was full, it felt like we were well and truly shipwrecked. Furthermore, on reluctantly returning from a bizarre wedding reception (the groom ended up accusing his new bride of adultery), we were greeted by the B&B's owner, half naked in a dressing gown, gazing at us disapprovingly. It was like being in a creepy slasher movie. My wife was not happy!
My SEAL team 6 style logistical planning paid off, and despite not hearing Cole Porter or having a drink with Scott Fitzgerald, we had a fantastic time. A beautiful boutique hotel, immaculately decorated (no mould or spiders to speak of) with a bath in the room! (All above board I can assure you). In an area where we could take in the most spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower I have ever seen (Palais de la Chaiilot) and strolling along the vibrant La Marais (so many vintage record shops too). Memories of my first ill fated surprise expedition well and truly exorcised! I can't wait for my 40th now!
Got the moves like Curtis, oooh oooh oooh....
Friendly Fires' 'Paris' was one of my favourite songs of 2008, probably due to the fact it's about Paris, it's romantic and has some good lines in it. An amorous guy promises his girl, they'll move to Paris as soon as he has enough cash and that's his goal, "just hold on a little more". And when they get there they'll watch the stars and city lights, "they'll be out for us", ahhh it's so nice. "I'll find you that French Boy, you'll find me that French Girl"....ehrm, hang on a minute, swapsies? That's not very romantic. Oh well, I suppose the French are at it, so when in Rome and all that (or Paris for that matter).
The St Albans trio released their second album of 'Hawaiian shirt funk' in 2011, called Pala and have also released a Late Night Tales compilation. Check out their website here......
Have a listen to some of my favourite tracks on my Spotify playlist below or click here to read some more posts.
This is a great track from J.J. Cale, from his album Okie (1974).
I had just got into J.J. Cale and was visiting my late sister Carole in May 1980. I always brought her compilation tapes and this time I had several J.J. Albums with me.It was my big thing of the moment and I wanted her to share.
It was always a big drinking session when I visited and this was no exception. I remember through the haze with the Same Old Blues (pity it wasn't called the Same Old Reds Again) playing loud that Aberdeen had just clinched the Scottish League Title after a 5-0 win on final day of the season. It was only Aberdeen's second league title, the last one being in 1955.
Alex Ferguson was jumping around hugging his players. Aberdeen had beaten Celtic and Rangers for the League title. The rest of the Sir Alex story is now part of football folklore.
Aberdeen was the first football match I had seen. My uncle Morgan took me when I was 5. I cannot remember too much about him but I do remember I liked him he was gentle and was a fantastic artist.
Unfortunately he died very soon after.
J.J. CALE with LEON RUSSEL - Same Old Blues (Live)
Do you like Singer/Songwriters, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!
Evening Hymns - You and Jake (2012)
I've been away for a while and thought that this would be a perfect 'downer' for a Tuesday (Then again, returning to work after a couple of weeks in Thailand doesn't give me 'happy thoughts'). 'You and Jake', features on Evening Hymns 2012 album, Spectral Dusk and is a recent musical discovery that i've been kicking myself that I've never heard before. It is one of many personal, emotive, heartfelt songs that singer/songwriter Jonas Bonnetta has written in tribute to his late father. I read this and I wanted to sob:-
"This is one of the first songs that I wrote for Spectral Dusk and it was a turning point for deciding how personal I wanted to get with this record. Jake is my younger brother and Dad and him had a pretty amazing relationship. After Dad passed away, I went through a bunch of his stuff and found all these receipts he had kept from coffee shops and breakfast places and I had these strong images of him and Jake going out for coffee or breakfast before going to work on the sawmill for the day. The two of them always scheming a trip north to the moose hunting camp or dreaming of something. I’ve liked this idea of Dad still being here guiding me by setting a precedent in how he lived his own life. As if although he is gone, he is still there teaching me how to be a better man."
I know you've missed me, but I'm back and this week I have a corker of a cover (try saying that after a few drinks). If you have a favourite cover, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here
Back when Frankie Goes To Hollywood first burst onto the scene in the early 80's I was a young lad, and wasn't very clued up on innuendo and naughtiness so when I saw the poster for their single Relax, I didn't really think too much of it. I do however vividly remember seeing it when I went on a school trip to London to visit the British Telecom Museum (did I know how to live or what). There were loads of posters up everywhere, what must the BBC's Mike Read have thought !!
Is this controversial ??
My brother got the album Welcome To The Pleasuredome for Christmas in 1984 and I remember listening to it and loving Born To Run. It wasn't until years later I found out it was a cover. Even then I was a covers fan, without really knowing it !!!
Coo-eee, wanna watch a video with me ??
My other memory of the band from back in the beginning was when the video for Two Tribes was banned for god only knows what reason. Maybe that's where Mike Tyson got the idea to bite Evander Holyfield's ear off. One day at school I felt like I was the luckiest person in the world. I was probably only in the 2nd or 3rd year of seniors when I got invited (I don't know by who but who cares !!) into the 6th form common room. This was totally unheard of, and to us lowly non 6th formers, it was like getting into Fort Knox or Hugh Hefner's pad. When you saw the inside of the common room, you were accepted, you were cool, you were hanging out with the big boys instead of being ignored. Looking back now it could almost be a little suspect. A 12 or 13 year old boy being invited by a 17 year old to watch a banned video in a darkened room at an all boys school but I'll be buggered if it worried me then. Watching it now it seems very tame, my how the times have changed
NERD ALERT! - At the height of their fame, they featured in their very own computer game, which I bought and played (only once if I remember, as it was a bit pants) on my spectrum.
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This blog maybe about our favourite songs and memories but it's not just about us. We want to hear from you...what are your favourites? What are you currently listening to? What should we be listening to? Click on the guest spot link above and let us know.....go on!
