Saturday 23 February 2013

SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX! - BRAD - '20th Century'





Brad - '20th Century' (1993)
 
They say that big events in your life help you remember the music that was around at the time. 1993 had a massive event for me, one that was life changing. It was the year that Old Pa got a new job in the UK and we left Saudi Arabia. It was the only life I knew and I've missed it ever since. But if I was ever on Mastermind, I would ace being quizzed on songs released in 1993!
 
This epic song from Brad, although it was a minor hit in the UK was big for me. It surrounded the last few days being in Saudi packing all my childhood things, as it was on a mix tape Flycasual had at the time. One of the last days we spent in Jeddah, Flycasual took me along with his friends to an evening exploring in the city. I had never seen the real Jeddah, I was always in the safety and familiarity of the compound we lived on. I remember it was dimly lit, bustling with people everywhere shouting random stuff in Arabic in the market place. I was mesmerised by the razzmatazz and felt so small compared to everyone else. We hopped on a packed, dingy public bus and Flycasual turned to me whilst I was squashed up against all the other passengers, "You're not going to forget this moment". I was 11 years old then and not only remember that moment but that whole evening every time I hear 20th Century.


 
Brad actually released an album in April last year that I totally missed called United We Stand. Catch up with their movements on their site here...
 

Go back in time to relive some more SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX posts here! Or better yet, subscribe to my Spotify playlist now!


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SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX! - BRAD - '20th Century'
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6 comments

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23 February 2013 at 21:19

Great post and top tune Shell Hunter. I loved the first couple of Brad albums. Shawn Smith, what a voice! I met Stone Gossard after a Pearl Jam show in the mid-90's and he seemed really pleased that I was more interested in talking to him about Brad than PJ.

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24 February 2013 at 10:04

These last few day in Jedah!!!great post and top tune!

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24 February 2013 at 10:48

Wow TS, I'm impressed! I don't know what I would have said to him, I get so star struck! Did you listen to their album from last year? I was going to check it out...

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25 February 2013 at 08:23

I have to agree with Mr The Swede, I'm a huge fan of Shawn Smith and I'm gutted that I didn't know Brad were playing earlier this month in the UK until it was a week too late. I started listening to United We Stand last week funnily enough. No grabbers yet, but I'm sure that will change.
Love this track, and will take pleasure in listening to their old albums again

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sfw
26 February 2013 at 11:44

Great Post Shell Hunter and it evokes long, lost memories of the old days.

As a fan of Brad/Shawn Smith/PJ, I try to get hold of anything they do, though like LS I haven't been 'grabbed' by anything on their last album.

TS - I think if I met Stone Gossard, I would have lost my mind.

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28 February 2013 at 11:40

Love this post, I remember the last day's very well good times but always tinged with sadness. Knowing that you may be seeing or doing something for the very last time. Jeddah to Cranford, in hindsight, just try and fathom that move. That's like Glasgow Rangers being dumped into the 3rd Divison. As for the song, well it's Champions League, the whole package, voice, bass, drums, organ immortalised by the memories.

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