I was going to use Up, Up and Away by Fifth Dimension for this entry, but Radcliffe and Maconie upped their game last night with a track that I have never heard on the radio. Certainly not before last night. It's a track I love and to hear it come on the radio so unexpectedly as I motored down the M42 last night just about made my day, if not my musical year.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
5705
Feeling particularly grumpy. House needs tidying, dinner needs to be made and I have to get my breasts squished and photographed this afternoon.
Then 5705 by City Boy comes on the Steve Wright show, and my day instantly improves.
If I could remember how to embed the video I would, but I can't, so you'll have to click on the link instead!
My good mood is sadly short lived. Michael Buble is the next record on....
Friday, December 11, 2009
Art for Art's Sake - 10cc
Everyone has an extreme guilty pleasure or a not-so-hidden obsession. Something herein is related to that (but I'll be leaving that particular tale or three until the right song comes up). The song for this entry reminds me of those Top of the Pops albums from Pickwick's that your Mum always tried to persuade you were by the Original Artists. I bought my first one when I was about 9 from Asda in West Bridgford and it cost 99p. It still has the price sticker on it. Laughable as they seemed at least they put the hits in your pocket-money sized budget and for the infant school childrent there was the 'Top of the Tots' companion series.
They were good alternatives for parties too as my late paternal Grandmother's collection reveals. Her Beatles collection is riddled with sticky alcohol stains and various other 45s show signs of having been left on radiators or drilled with cigarette butts. Not so the ToTP records. The only muck there is on the sleeves.
The other thing about these albums was that very often you could use them to work out the lyrics to a song much better than the original. As I drove home last night I was quite surprised to hear this tune on The Chain section of the Radcliffe and Maconie show:
Art for Art's Sake - 10cc
one of the first tracks I deciphered the lyrics for from the cheap-rate vinyl version.
They were good alternatives for parties too as my late paternal Grandmother's collection reveals. Her Beatles collection is riddled with sticky alcohol stains and various other 45s show signs of having been left on radiators or drilled with cigarette butts. Not so the ToTP records. The only muck there is on the sleeves.
The other thing about these albums was that very often you could use them to work out the lyrics to a song much better than the original. As I drove home last night I was quite surprised to hear this tune on The Chain section of the Radcliffe and Maconie show:
Art for Art's Sake - 10cc
one of the first tracks I deciphered the lyrics for from the cheap-rate vinyl version.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Where Have All The Flowers Gone - Marelene Dietrich
Anyone wanting to get a flavour of what Wednesday morning Hymn Practice was like at Greasley Beauvale Junior School between September 1970 and July 1974 should take a listen to roughly ten minutes before the end of this tribute programme to Pete Seeger from Mike Harding on Radio 2.
Beauvale Juniors was a brilliant School to be at for any number of reasons, as had been the Infant School before it. Mr Wooding, the then Headmaster of the Junior School, had a Vision for his Pupils. Every child that attended during his tenure seems to have awarded him some kind of legendary and mythological status. To us, firm, fair and fun must have been his watch-words. Unfortunately, it seems that those who taught under him don't necessarily share those views and are still stunned even now to hear of the reverance 'Wooding Children' accord him.
However, due to Mr Wooding, we're the children who grew up to sit amongst our contemporaries at Pub Quizzes and own the Classical rounds that come up (for example I've yet to meet someone from another School in the locality who can pinpoint 'Carnival of Animals' played on electronic tools at 50 paces). We knew more about the planes that saved Malta and the "night they bombed Coventry" than we did about what happened to the Bakery in Sneinton. We painted the Sorceror's Apprentice on the dining hall walls, wrote our own plays and rode on the Oregon Trail. We also had kick-ass Football and Netball teams. Mr Wooding's Vision was to give us a world view and to encourage our creativity but with a good basic educational grounding.
For all their bemusement at how we view Mr Wooding, his Teachers (whether they realised it or not) imparted that Vision well. Mr Kay had his own class, but was also the School Music Teacher and on the side he was a bit of a rebel. Four days a week he sat under the School Prayer, in the corner just by the Team Flagpole, and played the piano in Assembly. Wednesdays however, were very different. Wednesday Assembly was his. He'd start with the agreed Hymn, the large-print words to which would be up on a stand at the front. We'd have a go at that for a bit and then a few children would be nominated 'on watch' as they sat on the curtain side. He never said why. Then he would turn the largescale hymn-sheet down to reveal something that wasn't sung in Sunday School and got out his guitar. With that we were off on a musical journey of folk and protest but we didn't know it. To us it was Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, Peter Paul and Mary, The Byrds and some other bloke. That other bloke was Pete Seeger and going by tonight's programme on the radio, we must have soaked up a fair chunk of his and Woody Guthrie's back catalogues.
And the 'Curtain-side Gang'? If there was any movement from the Admin corridor running off the Hall to the left, the signal was made and the Hymn went up. It was all conspiratorial at the time and much as we loved him, being in on a "little secret" from Mr Wooding was harmless fun. He must have known about it - we couldn't have been singing any quieter than usual - and anyway he was probably planning world domination for the Choir that was being created.
So back to the programme. I wanted to actually put a link to Jackie Oates' version of 'Where Have All the Flowers' gone as played on the show but unforunately that doesn't seem to be possible, which is a shame. So, instead enjoy the following:
Where have all the flowers gone - Marlene Dietrich
or the more familiar version by Peter, Paul and Mary
Now imagine this lot in full voice and just about to compose the best version of the Twelve Days of Christmas anyone had ever heard - and if you can find a three-pronged pickling fork anywhere, do let me know :-)
Beauvale Juniors was a brilliant School to be at for any number of reasons, as had been the Infant School before it. Mr Wooding, the then Headmaster of the Junior School, had a Vision for his Pupils. Every child that attended during his tenure seems to have awarded him some kind of legendary and mythological status. To us, firm, fair and fun must have been his watch-words. Unfortunately, it seems that those who taught under him don't necessarily share those views and are still stunned even now to hear of the reverance 'Wooding Children' accord him.
However, due to Mr Wooding, we're the children who grew up to sit amongst our contemporaries at Pub Quizzes and own the Classical rounds that come up (for example I've yet to meet someone from another School in the locality who can pinpoint 'Carnival of Animals' played on electronic tools at 50 paces). We knew more about the planes that saved Malta and the "night they bombed Coventry" than we did about what happened to the Bakery in Sneinton. We painted the Sorceror's Apprentice on the dining hall walls, wrote our own plays and rode on the Oregon Trail. We also had kick-ass Football and Netball teams. Mr Wooding's Vision was to give us a world view and to encourage our creativity but with a good basic educational grounding.
For all their bemusement at how we view Mr Wooding, his Teachers (whether they realised it or not) imparted that Vision well. Mr Kay had his own class, but was also the School Music Teacher and on the side he was a bit of a rebel. Four days a week he sat under the School Prayer, in the corner just by the Team Flagpole, and played the piano in Assembly. Wednesdays however, were very different. Wednesday Assembly was his. He'd start with the agreed Hymn, the large-print words to which would be up on a stand at the front. We'd have a go at that for a bit and then a few children would be nominated 'on watch' as they sat on the curtain side. He never said why. Then he would turn the largescale hymn-sheet down to reveal something that wasn't sung in Sunday School and got out his guitar. With that we were off on a musical journey of folk and protest but we didn't know it. To us it was Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, Peter Paul and Mary, The Byrds and some other bloke. That other bloke was Pete Seeger and going by tonight's programme on the radio, we must have soaked up a fair chunk of his and Woody Guthrie's back catalogues.
And the 'Curtain-side Gang'? If there was any movement from the Admin corridor running off the Hall to the left, the signal was made and the Hymn went up. It was all conspiratorial at the time and much as we loved him, being in on a "little secret" from Mr Wooding was harmless fun. He must have known about it - we couldn't have been singing any quieter than usual - and anyway he was probably planning world domination for the Choir that was being created.
So back to the programme. I wanted to actually put a link to Jackie Oates' version of 'Where Have All the Flowers' gone as played on the show but unforunately that doesn't seem to be possible, which is a shame. So, instead enjoy the following:
Where have all the flowers gone - Marlene Dietrich
or the more familiar version by Peter, Paul and Mary
Now imagine this lot in full voice and just about to compose the best version of the Twelve Days of Christmas anyone had ever heard - and if you can find a three-pronged pickling fork anywhere, do let me know :-)
Monday, December 7, 2009
Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea*
(*Saturday 21st November)
I like Christmas. I always have. I don't mind the tunes either. However, I do like to hear them much closer to the Big Day than this.
We're sitting in Burger King at the London Gateway. Stopping off for some quick sustenance on the journey north from The Smoke. Christmas is four weeks away at least. It's not even Advent yet, let alone December. Then it happens. This comes soothingly, yet puzzlingly, over the airwaves
What on earth?
OK, so we are on our way home, but the best time to hear this fantastic tune is Christmas Eve on the car radio when I'm dodging the jam on the A42(M) by taking a diversion through Ashby-de-la-Zouch and then driving over Swarkestone Causeway against the on-coming maniacs. Think of this in the pitch dark (watch for the Bus at 2.03 in and multiply that ten-fold). 40mph? I doubt it.
I like Christmas. I always have. I don't mind the tunes either. However, I do like to hear them much closer to the Big Day than this.
We're sitting in Burger King at the London Gateway. Stopping off for some quick sustenance on the journey north from The Smoke. Christmas is four weeks away at least. It's not even Advent yet, let alone December. Then it happens. This comes soothingly, yet puzzlingly, over the airwaves
What on earth?
OK, so we are on our way home, but the best time to hear this fantastic tune is Christmas Eve on the car radio when I'm dodging the jam on the A42(M) by taking a diversion through Ashby-de-la-Zouch and then driving over Swarkestone Causeway against the on-coming maniacs. Think of this in the pitch dark (watch for the Bus at 2.03 in and multiply that ten-fold). 40mph? I doubt it.
Whole Of The Moon - The Waterboys*
(*Sunday 1st November - I think)
Blustery, wet autumn evenings when it's warm inside always remind me of far off safe and homely days. Today has been no different. Dark and dreich outside, but cosy, warm and mellow inside. It's also the time of year to bring out and dust down something that for me was an essential part of my Student possessions - a casserole dish. Any Student of the '80s who says they existed solely on beans on toast either had no fiscal nouse, no imaginative culinary disposition or didn't invest £1.95 in a copy of the much derided but still excellent 'Cooking in a Bedsitter' by Katherine Whitehorn.
Earlier in the day as I put the Washer on 'Jet' by Wings came into my head for no apparent reason. Johnnie Walker obliged me by playing it later in the day on Radio 2's Sounds of the Seventies. However, that's not my synhotr.
As I chop, fry and prepare for my casserole, I still have the radio on. Well, not technically. In reality it's radio via the TV as my DAB in the Kitchen doesn't run to QMusic. The Whole of the Moon comes on
I listen and it reminds me of things like the Christmas event referred to here. We surely missed a business opportunity there.
It reminds me of listening to it for the first time on the record player in my brothers bedroom but mostly, these days it reminds me of someone who used to work with and for me. I got to thinking about Jules, wondering what he's doing now and about the time he and his Partner decided to spend Hogmanay in (or around) Aberdeen at a Waterboys-related gig. Unfortunately, on that occasion the weather decided to cancel Auld Years Night on the East coast ....
Blustery, wet autumn evenings when it's warm inside always remind me of far off safe and homely days. Today has been no different. Dark and dreich outside, but cosy, warm and mellow inside. It's also the time of year to bring out and dust down something that for me was an essential part of my Student possessions - a casserole dish. Any Student of the '80s who says they existed solely on beans on toast either had no fiscal nouse, no imaginative culinary disposition or didn't invest £1.95 in a copy of the much derided but still excellent 'Cooking in a Bedsitter' by Katherine Whitehorn.
Earlier in the day as I put the Washer on 'Jet' by Wings came into my head for no apparent reason. Johnnie Walker obliged me by playing it later in the day on Radio 2's Sounds of the Seventies. However, that's not my synhotr.
As I chop, fry and prepare for my casserole, I still have the radio on. Well, not technically. In reality it's radio via the TV as my DAB in the Kitchen doesn't run to QMusic. The Whole of the Moon comes on
I listen and it reminds me of things like the Christmas event referred to here. We surely missed a business opportunity there.
It reminds me of listening to it for the first time on the record player in my brothers bedroom but mostly, these days it reminds me of someone who used to work with and for me. I got to thinking about Jules, wondering what he's doing now and about the time he and his Partner decided to spend Hogmanay in (or around) Aberdeen at a Waterboys-related gig. Unfortunately, on that occasion the weather decided to cancel Auld Years Night on the East coast ....
I'm Falling - The Blubells
I've been under the weather for a while and recently this has culminated in a nasty bout of laryngitis and post-viral listlessness. Nevertheless this evening, whilst preparing Tea, I made like Penelope Pitstop and skated in my socks across the Kitchen floor to pump up the volume as Radcliffe and Maconie "spun" the opening notes of this memorable tune.
(Un)Fortunately the lack of a voice meant I couldn't sing-a-long.
I can't remember when I last heard it and sadly I have no lasting memories attached to it as a song, not like a certain other track by The Bluebells ( and no, that would not be Young At Heart either by them or Bananarama ) .....
(Un)Fortunately the lack of a voice meant I couldn't sing-a-long.
I can't remember when I last heard it and sadly I have no lasting memories attached to it as a song, not like a certain other track by The Bluebells ( and no, that would not be Young At Heart either by them or Bananarama ) .....
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Loving You - Minnie Riperton
Isn't it amazing how your acceptance of (and tolerance for) certain songs changes as you age. In the Spring of '75 I avoided the subject of this entry like the plague. I honestly could not see what others did. It was a tune my Parents liked, but I could not particularly stand. It still doesn't resonate with me, but now I find I can listen to it longer without re-tuning. That said Minnie Riperton's "Loving You" was quite soothing as it came distantly across the airwaves in Spar this morning.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Excerpt From a Teenage Opera
My radio listening is all messed up this week as the radio programmes are all on at the wrong times, thanks to the UK putting the clocks back last weekend and the USA not changing until this weekend.
So, as Steve Wright in the Afternoon didn't start until 10am this morning, I thought I'd listen to the oldies part of yesterdays show that I missed while I was at work. It turned out to be quite an interesting half hour.
Three of the songs in the middle of the oldies were little gems, all depicting sad and lonely lives, and curiously all mention milk in their lyrics!
The first one I've always loved from the early days of hearing it requested on Ed "Stewpot" Stewarts Junior Choice. "Excerpt from a Teenage Opera" by Keith West is the official title, but I always thought it was the "Grow Sir Jack" song! Great lyrics about an old shopkeeper / milkman taken for granted, moaned about for not showing up for work one day, and then missed by all guilty townsfolk who wished they'd been nicer to him when they find out he's died. They don't write them like that any more. How many songs can claim a harpsichord solo in the middle? Pure class!
The video itself is very "of it's time". I turned 5 in 1967 and remember wearing the little dresses, cardies knitted by auntie, long white socks, t-bar leather shoes and the bow in the hair. As for the little boy in the collar, tie and blazer, awwww!!!
Next up were The Jam's "Town Called Malice", depressing lyrics set to a great motownesque dance beat and"The Days of Pearly Spencer" by David McWilliams, depressing lyrics set to a string backing track and sung down a payphone.
Enjoy!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Louie Louie - Julie London
I've always thought that Janice Long is a gem hidden away in the schedules. Alex Lester and Desmond Carrington too for that matter. If there is anywhere you are going to hear a synhotr, it's on their shows. As she's on so late I don't often get the chance to listen. Last night I managed to hear a section of the show and I wasn't disappointed when a Julie London track came on air. I have to admit that apart from "Cry Me A River" my only other knowledge of her is that it amused me that my paternal Grandmother had a record by Julie London on London records in her collection. Professionally speaking I don't usually recommend Wikipedia , but sometimes you just have to. So, without further a-do, enjoy this track, a one-time subject of an FBI investigation (but by the Kingsmen on that occasion):
So, next time I'm at a Record Fair, I'll be looking for the album it's from, where I'll also get a copy of this interesting cover Yummy, Yummy, Yummy . I can just picture Ms London in her '60s negligee waggling her alluring "come to bed" index finger.
Then to top that, a tune I most certainly have not heard since the 80's. The Blue Nile - Tinseltown in the Rain. It never charted in the UK as far as I know, but for me it evokes standing under an umbrella in the darkened but spangly wintery, rainy streets of London's West End on a Monday night, waiting for the rest of the "Cleveland Square Cinema Club" to turn up for the weekly cheap night out trip to the Pictures. We were all working in various Government Departments nearby but someone was always late or worse still was late, had no money and was subbed by the rest of us for the remainder of the week. Til pay day on Thursday at least. So, for all of you, wherever you are here it is. Enjoy. It will be a while before it comes around on the airwaves again:
There was a downside to all this. I only managed to last for three more tracks before giving in to sleep after The Stranglers - 96 Tears . So, I decided to look at the tracklisting during my lunch break today. I should have hung on for one more track - and anyone who knows me will know the pain I felt when I read the next track. Orange Juice - Rip It Up. Bum!!! Next time though.....
So, next time I'm at a Record Fair, I'll be looking for the album it's from, where I'll also get a copy of this interesting cover Yummy, Yummy, Yummy . I can just picture Ms London in her '60s negligee waggling her alluring "come to bed" index finger.
Then to top that, a tune I most certainly have not heard since the 80's. The Blue Nile - Tinseltown in the Rain. It never charted in the UK as far as I know, but for me it evokes standing under an umbrella in the darkened but spangly wintery, rainy streets of London's West End on a Monday night, waiting for the rest of the "Cleveland Square Cinema Club" to turn up for the weekly cheap night out trip to the Pictures. We were all working in various Government Departments nearby but someone was always late or worse still was late, had no money and was subbed by the rest of us for the remainder of the week. Til pay day on Thursday at least. So, for all of you, wherever you are here it is. Enjoy. It will be a while before it comes around on the airwaves again:
There was a downside to all this. I only managed to last for three more tracks before giving in to sleep after The Stranglers - 96 Tears . So, I decided to look at the tracklisting during my lunch break today. I should have hung on for one more track - and anyone who knows me will know the pain I felt when I read the next track. Orange Juice - Rip It Up. Bum!!! Next time though.....
Double Deutsch
Indulging myself last night with a little Janice Long "listen again" before Tom came home, I heard a couple of little gems I hadn't heard in ages.
First up was "Atmospherics: Listen to the Radio" by Tom Robinson from the Hope and Glory album. Takes me back to 1984, back when the walkman and the cassette ruled, Tom Robinson was still gay and I commuted to work at Heathrow with all the weirdos on the night bus. This is my favourite track from the album and is always a treat to hear on the radio as my cassette tape got mangled up many moons ago and this is one of those songs that still isn't on itunes, well not in the USA at any rate. So thanks Janice for playing it.
My second treat was "Drowning in Berlin" by The Mobiles. Can't remember the last time I heard that. Video from Top of the Pops is quite amusing. Vocal style pinched from Toyah, expresssive hands from Kate Bush and clothes from Moss Bros. Loved the hat and gloves so very of their time and I still have mine! Enjoy!
The "Double Deutsch" connection? Pretty tenuous I know, but both are British artists singing songs which mention german cities.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Great oldies on Steve Wright on R2 today
I wouldn't say that these are real synhotr's, but whoever picked the tracks today was truly inspired.
Started off with Thin Lizzy's "Whiskey in the Jar". Classic song. Dunno how long Phil Lynott has been dead, but for some reason his death and a shuttle disaster are filed away together in my brain!!
Then it was "November Rain", or at least bits of it. OK I wasn't expecting them to play all 10 minutes or so, but someone did an appalling hatchet and splice job on it during the instrumental bits. You could really hear the joins. The video is a must. Very OTT, ridiculous wedding dress, grotesque pinkie ring, Slash posturing outside the tardisesque church with his guitar, the hideous bowtie at the funeral and eventually the rain in the graveyard. Almost bad enough to be good.
"Hounds of Love", "Spirit of Radio", "Love Will Tear Us Apart" after and then the classic Smiths track "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now". The line "Why do I smile at people who I'd much rather kick in the eye" is just spot on and pure Morrissey.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Spoilt for Choice today!
Just been listening again to Janice Long's Sunday night into Monday morning and thought I'd hit gold when I heard the Robert Wyatt version of "Shipbuilding" just after pause for thought. Still a great song, still as relevant as ever today. Love the line "Diving for dear life when we should be diving for pearls".
Then almost at the end of the programme Janice topped it by playing "Chenko" by Red Box. Great song that I'd forgotten all about. Very gothic, very russian, very choral. Brilliant!
Wonder if Saskatchewan will ever get played?
Hurry Home - Wavelength
It must be my week for this already. After being happy to listen to a rare outing of New Radicals - "You Always Get What You Give" Radio Two then went on to serve up this as Ken Bruces' Love Song for the day:
I swear I don't recall it at all (I had more important things to remember in the Spring of '82 - like making sure I got in to College) but I am puzzling as to why I know more than half of the lyrics!
I swear I don't recall it at all (I had more important things to remember in the Spring of '82 - like making sure I got in to College) but I am puzzling as to why I know more than half of the lyrics!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
For Free - Joni Mitchell
Sunday is generally my shopping day and as I'm not a big fan of Elaine Page I have a range of CDs I slip on during the car journey instead (Mylo's "Destroy Rock n Roll" today). However, as I pulled away from Homebase this afternoon I didn't bother with it because the end of this tune was playing:
I've only ever heard it on my cassette player. Very pleasantly surprised to hear Johnnie Walker play it as part of his Joni Mitchell Focus.
I've only ever heard it on my cassette player. Very pleasantly surprised to hear Johnnie Walker play it as part of his Joni Mitchell Focus.
Songs You never Hear On The Radio (SYNHOTR)......but heard today!!!!
Ever heard a song on the radio that you haven't heard in donkeys years, and thought wow, I'd forgotten that one?
Or how about hearing a song you never knew you'd forgotten because you never even remembered knowing it, and yet somehow you know all the words... creepy.
This blog is dedicated to all those songs that pop up now and then and prompt us to email our friends and say "OMG!!!! You'll never guess what I heard on Pick of the Pops / Sounds of the Seventies / Today ...."
I'm off to turn on the radio now and wait.....
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