Back in December 1984 I was just about half-way through a Student placement in Whitehall. As with most work places they had an Office Christmas party to which all were invited to attend. Note I used the word 'invited' there and not 'expected'. My problem was that I had a ticket to see Big Country at Wembley Arena that night so as far as I was concerned it was no contest. When I told a senior manager that I would not be attending due to a previous engagement no comment was made. Well not to my face anyway.
So, I went with Susan and we enjoyed ourselves. The Cult were the support act and she had a great time wondering what wearing such a tight bandana would do to Ian Astbury's brain and musing on the revealing tightness of the trousers on display. However that was nothing to her observations of an unfortunate incident Bruce Watson had in his. They look to be the same pair he has on in the video below, so I hope they were washed and clean again by a week later.
On arriving home that night one of my other student placement friends collared me and I found out that I'd not missed anything at the Office do. There was some story or other about a cake baking competition and a mix up with the contents of some Quality Street tins. No Librarians chasing Store Men into Cold Stores or jumping on a pile of packing boxes to get their Christmas, ahem, 'kiss' (that'll be another two stories for some other SYNHOTR's no doubt).
I strolled in to work the next morning to find that I had been summoned to a meeting with the aforementioned senior manager. Apparently I'd been missed the previous night. I also found out that the Chief Librarian actually knew my name as it was her that made the fuss about me being missing, "How dare [I] not attend!!!". So I had to explain in detail why I had ditched the social event of the year for a "prior engagement". Where had I been, what time did I have to be there, who was I with, how long had I had the tickets etc. It was like being interrogated by your Mum after sneaking in the house past midnight without a pumpkin or singing Disney mice in tow.
It seems it was a criminal offence not to turn up to the party. I was not 'court martialed' only due to the fact that I could prove my ticket had been issued long before the date of the Christmas Party had been set. Much relief appeared on the face of the senior manager when that fact was revealed. This gave her a "credible story to placate [the Chief]" with.
As I indignantly left the Office the senior manager turned to me and said, "Were they really good? I've heard they're excellent live". "Yes", I said. "I would rather have been there too" she wistfully replied as she brought out the Quality Street tin and offered me one.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Pretentious? Toi?
I really don’t get much chance to listen to the radio nowadays, and mainly just dip into Steve Wright on the 2 or 3 mornings (I’m 5 hours behind) when I’m not at work.
Unbelievably after years and years of not hearing a peep out of Clifford T Ward, I’ve heard him played twice on that show in the past couple of weeks. Last week there was “Wherewithal” and today, just as I was getting into the shower, I heard an intro, immediately recognised it and thought “Bloody hell, that’s Clifford T Ward, AGAIN! Has he died?”.
I admit to never having liked the badly coiffed Clifford T. I initially laid the blame firmly at the feet of Mr Hague, our old english teacher, who used to think he was wonderful, perhaps because he was a fellow english teacher made good. Making us analyse his lyrics in class didn’t help endear him to us either.
With the maturity that comes with adulthood, I wondered if I would now better appreciate his flowery poetic lyrics? Today we had the leaking cistern in Home Thoughts from Abroad, last week it was nonpareil, elation and nonchalant, all in the same sentence. I’m sure next week the tray of nice things will be upset. Has he grown on me? Nope. I just cringed and thought “Pretentious, Toi?”
Oh and while we’re on the subject of pretentious, if you were called Clifford Ward, why would you add your middle initial instead of shortening your name to the snappier Cliff Ward, I mean it’s hardly a common name, is it???
So, here's "Home Thoughts from Abroad". Let's hope they've called the plumber.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s_rRHCOTXA
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Party Party!
My teens do embarrassingly bad things. I cringe. I never, however, cringe as much as I do when I think of this....
Cast your mind back to 1982. I am a student living with the Sevs*. The house is cold and dank. Sarah and Siobhan almost die of carbon monoxide poisoning every time they turn on their gas fire. The house reeks of cabbage. Miss Rose and Miss Lally's rosary drop off the cabinet every time Sarah leaves the house and slams the door. The poor woman on the floor above us doesn't realise she has a driving test until we pop her mail back on the table with her test card info a couple of days before her test date. We heat the whole floor with the gas oven on at max and Sue and I heat our room with a heater powered by a cord from Sarah's room where the electricity is free.... until the Sevs find out.
Worse than that though. Across the road is a nice modern centrally heated flat inhabited by 4 yuppie males...who Sue and I spy on...incessantly. Chevette man, Pork, Simon Slime and Jeckyll. One night Sue sees them unfurl a banner inviting us to a party, which we go to and which is waaaayyyy too embarrassing to contemplate remembering. Anyway, this is the song that was out at the time and reminds me of it, but which is a bit hard to track down. Seems Elvis Costello is as embarrassed of it as we are of the memories it invokes. For some reason it popped up on SiriusXM a few days ago.
Today I found it on youtube.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you "Party Party" by Elvis Costello. Enjoy, or cringe!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT1uASCsMiA
Cast your mind back to 1982. I am a student living with the Sevs*. The house is cold and dank. Sarah and Siobhan almost die of carbon monoxide poisoning every time they turn on their gas fire. The house reeks of cabbage. Miss Rose and Miss Lally's rosary drop off the cabinet every time Sarah leaves the house and slams the door. The poor woman on the floor above us doesn't realise she has a driving test until we pop her mail back on the table with her test card info a couple of days before her test date. We heat the whole floor with the gas oven on at max and Sue and I heat our room with a heater powered by a cord from Sarah's room where the electricity is free.... until the Sevs find out.
Worse than that though. Across the road is a nice modern centrally heated flat inhabited by 4 yuppie males...who Sue and I spy on...incessantly. Chevette man, Pork, Simon Slime and Jeckyll. One night Sue sees them unfurl a banner inviting us to a party, which we go to and which is waaaayyyy too embarrassing to contemplate remembering. Anyway, this is the song that was out at the time and reminds me of it, but which is a bit hard to track down. Seems Elvis Costello is as embarrassed of it as we are of the memories it invokes. For some reason it popped up on SiriusXM a few days ago.
Today I found it on youtube.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you "Party Party" by Elvis Costello. Enjoy, or cringe!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT1uASCsMiA
*Sevs - Short for Severite Sisters, an order of nuns, or so we thought. A quick google today, though, tells me they were in fact "Servite" Sisters!!! They were still mean though.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Alright ..... alright, alright
A real blast from the past today on Ken Bruce (he definitely gets a higher hit-rate than other R2 DJs)
Mungo Jerry - Alright, alright, alright
Mungo Jerry - Alright, alright, alright
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Time to pay the bill, to say fair's fair
Yes, someone has a bill to pay to me on this one. It'll never happen, either with or without interest. Back in 1993 I bought a ticket, along with my friend A*, to see Midnight Oil. They were playing in Frankfurt-am-Main and we thought we'd go along. We were quite keen to see them and also curious to know if there would be more people there than there were for a B-52s gig at the Festhalle the year before.
At the time I knew my contract would be coming to an end so I was flitting back and forth to the UK for interviews. So, as happened on more than one occasion at the time, I ended up back in the West Midlands sweating it out for a job and unable to go to the gig. As it turned out A* couldn't go either due to illness. We figured that it was more likely that we could recoup the cost of the tickets by selling them on as a pair at face value. M*, A*'s Partner at the time, reckoned he could sell them on quickly. Being a trusting pair of young ladies we decided to let him. All to no avail. As I heard it, he returned home saying no-one was interested and he'd ended up throwing the tickets away. Oh well, never mind. Or so we thought.
Years later it transpired that he had sold them. At an inflated price. He'd then splashed the cash on drugs and treating the girl he was seeing behind A*'s back. Impressive. Not.
Anyway, here's a tune we both missed:
http://youtu.be/lJiwLOUJOMA
*sometimes you need to protect the guilty (no, not her, him!)
At the time I knew my contract would be coming to an end so I was flitting back and forth to the UK for interviews. So, as happened on more than one occasion at the time, I ended up back in the West Midlands sweating it out for a job and unable to go to the gig. As it turned out A* couldn't go either due to illness. We figured that it was more likely that we could recoup the cost of the tickets by selling them on as a pair at face value. M*, A*'s Partner at the time, reckoned he could sell them on quickly. Being a trusting pair of young ladies we decided to let him. All to no avail. As I heard it, he returned home saying no-one was interested and he'd ended up throwing the tickets away. Oh well, never mind. Or so we thought.
Years later it transpired that he had sold them. At an inflated price. He'd then splashed the cash on drugs and treating the girl he was seeing behind A*'s back. Impressive. Not.
Anyway, here's a tune we both missed:
http://youtu.be/lJiwLOUJOMA
*sometimes you need to protect the guilty (no, not her, him!)
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Only Soldier Passing
Something from Simon Mayo the other night which I hadn't heard for ages and always reminds me of studying for Finals against a back drop of Handsworth and Janice Long on R1's evening session.
Suzanne Vega - Marlene On The Wall
Suzanne Vega - Marlene On The Wall
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Not The First Record I Ever Bought (But Not Far Off)
A bunch of us went out for lunch today to a Pub that usually serves good food and plays reasonable music over it's speakers. Either it's changed hands or the usual Chef is on holiday. Whoever was choosing the music was having an off day too. However, amongst some downright rubbish was this track which I really liked when it came out and it was nice to hear it so unexpectedly amongst the dross*
*all of which has since been sent to the recycling bin of my brain.
*all of which has since been sent to the recycling bin of my brain.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Facebook 30 Day Song Challenge - Days 21 to 30
day 21 - a song you listen to when you're happy -This is an absolute favourite Sophie-Ellis Bextor - Me & My Imagination and I think on reflection it probably should have been 'song about me'. I think my jaw just fell on the desk...
Also rans: Hearing the opening bars as these songs come on the radio/stereo/iPod make me smile Five - Keep On Moving ; Shanice - I Love Your Smile ; New Radicals - You Get What You Give ; Toad the Wet Sprocket - Walk On The Ocean ; Felt - Primitive Painters ; Guns n' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine ; Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama ; Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta ; The Sundays - My Finest Hour ; Warpaint - Billie Holiday ; Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno ; Aztec Camera - Oblivious ; Big Dish - Prospect Street amongst others....
day 22 - a song you listen to when you're sad - I first really listened to this properly when I was trapped in the car with it driving home for Christmas a few years ago. I got lost in the pitch dark trying to get from Calke Abbey via Swarkestone Bridge to the M1 and totally missing the A50. On my own on unfamiliar roads it sounded extra melancholic The Pale Fountains - Unless
Also rans : Altered Images - Don't Talk To Me About Love ; China Crisis - Wishful Thinking ; Warpiant - Undertow ;
day 23 - a song you want to play at your wedding - With a past that includes 2 questions, 1 sea urchin and no rings I don't exactly see this happening any time soon. The track I've always thought I would like doesn't have exactly the most apropriate lyrics for a wedding either. Then again what would you expect from someone who's been in a relationship where this was the 'Our Tune'. So, largely for the tune - Orange Juice - In A Nutshell
Also rans : Probably a more suitable tune might be this and a friend suggested that this one would be good too. Can't say I disagree with that at all and he clearly has taste.
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral - Unfortunately, I've had to think about funerals a lot in the last four years and I've spent literally hours going through the Wesley Music Lists looking to see if we could have the tracks we wanted. So, it's been on my mind. I'm pretty much sure I want to be carried in to Ian Brown - F.E.A.R. but when they let everyone out I'll be expecting audience participation to this. I haven't decided what I'm having in the middle of the service yet, for the 'reflective' bit, but I wasn't thinking sombre ....
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh -I saw this bunch at Coventry's Godiva Festival. Their equipment broke down, but they just carried on regardless and sang louder Milk Kan - Bling, Bling Baby
Also rans : This used to amuse me no end when it came on American Forces Radio in Downtown Frankfurt during '92/93 Meryn Cadell -The Sweater Song.
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument - It's been a long time since I played any instrument, but amongst other tunes one of my Mum's cousins wives (keep up at the back) taught me to play this song on the piano Johnny Cash - CampTown Races
day 27 - a song you wish you could play - This is from one of the many bands I love that never stayed the distance (The Climb, The Cherry Boys...). Clearly I love a bit of piano - Morning Runner - Frayed Edges
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty - This song was just about everywhere from the time of my Mum's death in March 2006 and through the events following that. I think it's meaning to me is probably too painful and personal to air in full here The Feeling - Sewn
day 29 - a song from your childhood - Another section where there could be loads but I've gone for Tom Jones - What's New Pussycat which reminds me of dancing with my Mum at my Uncle Derek's wedding. I eventually fell over and hurt my nose so had to sit it out for a while with my Nanny Rhoda who was very deaf. You had to crawl up onto her lap and speak into the box pinned on her chest.
Also rans: Harpers Bizarre - 59th Bridge Street Song ; New Christy Minstrels - Three Wheels On My Wagon ; Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons ; Des O'Connor - One Two Three O'Leary ; Keith West - Excerpt From A Teenage Opera ; The Seekers - Morningtown Ride ; Roger Miller - England Swings ; Tom Jones - Green, Green Grass Of Home ; Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes ; Robert Knight - Love On A Mountain Top ; Walker Brothers - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore ; The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset ; The Move - Fire Brigade ; Manfred Mann - My Name Is Jack (Paul Jones does Bill Nighy); The Hollies - Carrie-Ann ; Freddie & The Dreamers - You Were Made for Me ; Dana - All Kinds of Everything (and I can still remember the Class May Day dance) .... How much more time have we got ??? I could be here a while ....
day 30 - your favourite song at this time last year - Certainly nothing by the Cowell-styled 'Nation's Sweetheart". Radio-play-wise it was this Eliza Doolittle - Skinny Genes. Check out the light switch.
Also rans : Owl City - Fireflies ; Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind
Also rans: Hearing the opening bars as these songs come on the radio/stereo/iPod make me smile Five - Keep On Moving ; Shanice - I Love Your Smile ; New Radicals - You Get What You Give ; Toad the Wet Sprocket - Walk On The Ocean ; Felt - Primitive Painters ; Guns n' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine ; Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama ; Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta ; The Sundays - My Finest Hour ; Warpaint - Billie Holiday ; Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno ; Aztec Camera - Oblivious ; Big Dish - Prospect Street amongst others....
day 22 - a song you listen to when you're sad - I first really listened to this properly when I was trapped in the car with it driving home for Christmas a few years ago. I got lost in the pitch dark trying to get from Calke Abbey via Swarkestone Bridge to the M1 and totally missing the A50. On my own on unfamiliar roads it sounded extra melancholic The Pale Fountains - Unless
Also rans : Altered Images - Don't Talk To Me About Love ; China Crisis - Wishful Thinking ; Warpiant - Undertow ;
day 23 - a song you want to play at your wedding - With a past that includes 2 questions, 1 sea urchin and no rings I don't exactly see this happening any time soon. The track I've always thought I would like doesn't have exactly the most apropriate lyrics for a wedding either. Then again what would you expect from someone who's been in a relationship where this was the 'Our Tune'. So, largely for the tune - Orange Juice - In A Nutshell
Also rans : Probably a more suitable tune might be this and a friend suggested that this one would be good too. Can't say I disagree with that at all and he clearly has taste.
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral - Unfortunately, I've had to think about funerals a lot in the last four years and I've spent literally hours going through the Wesley Music Lists looking to see if we could have the tracks we wanted. So, it's been on my mind. I'm pretty much sure I want to be carried in to Ian Brown - F.E.A.R. but when they let everyone out I'll be expecting audience participation to this. I haven't decided what I'm having in the middle of the service yet, for the 'reflective' bit, but I wasn't thinking sombre ....
Also rans : Keane are a bit of an acquired taste for some but they do have the odd apropriate track, so A Bad Dream
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh -I saw this bunch at Coventry's Godiva Festival. Their equipment broke down, but they just carried on regardless and sang louder Milk Kan - Bling, Bling Baby
Also rans : This used to amuse me no end when it came on American Forces Radio in Downtown Frankfurt during '92/93 Meryn Cadell -The Sweater Song.
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument - It's been a long time since I played any instrument, but amongst other tunes one of my Mum's cousins wives (keep up at the back) taught me to play this song on the piano Johnny Cash - CampTown Races
day 27 - a song you wish you could play - This is from one of the many bands I love that never stayed the distance (The Climb, The Cherry Boys...). Clearly I love a bit of piano - Morning Runner - Frayed Edges
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty - This song was just about everywhere from the time of my Mum's death in March 2006 and through the events following that. I think it's meaning to me is probably too painful and personal to air in full here The Feeling - Sewn
day 29 - a song from your childhood - Another section where there could be loads but I've gone for Tom Jones - What's New Pussycat which reminds me of dancing with my Mum at my Uncle Derek's wedding. I eventually fell over and hurt my nose so had to sit it out for a while with my Nanny Rhoda who was very deaf. You had to crawl up onto her lap and speak into the box pinned on her chest.
Also rans: Harpers Bizarre - 59th Bridge Street Song ; New Christy Minstrels - Three Wheels On My Wagon ; Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons ; Des O'Connor - One Two Three O'Leary ; Keith West - Excerpt From A Teenage Opera ; The Seekers - Morningtown Ride ; Roger Miller - England Swings ; Tom Jones - Green, Green Grass Of Home ; Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes ; Robert Knight - Love On A Mountain Top ; Walker Brothers - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore ; The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset ; The Move - Fire Brigade ; Manfred Mann - My Name Is Jack (Paul Jones does Bill Nighy); The Hollies - Carrie-Ann ; Freddie & The Dreamers - You Were Made for Me ; Dana - All Kinds of Everything (and I can still remember the Class May Day dance) .... How much more time have we got ??? I could be here a while ....
day 30 - your favourite song at this time last year - Certainly nothing by the Cowell-styled 'Nation's Sweetheart". Radio-play-wise it was this Eliza Doolittle - Skinny Genes. Check out the light switch.
Also rans : Owl City - Fireflies ; Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Facebook 30 Day Song Challenge - Days 11 to 20
day 11 -a song from your favourite band - I bet some people thought they were going to see a track from Orange Juice or 10cc here. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Here's REM - Talk About the Passion
Also rans: I have quite a few REM favourites, but the ones that got edged out were Pilgrimage , Don't Go Back to Rockville and Near Wild Heaven
day 12 - a song from a band you hate - I guess hate is a strong word and I wouldn't call them a band, but All Saints - Black Coffee
Also ran: All saints - Pure Shores And you can just about guarantee I'll switch the radio off, mute or down if this comes on. What an a&$£ version of a great song!
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure - I've no idea what really counts here because if I like it, I like it and I'm not too bothered what anyone else thinks really. I chose The Association - Cherish which I first remember hearing during the film Pretty in Pink.
Also rans: This one (real bread, but lighter because it's full of holes), Andrea Ross - White Horses (the version I own is a bit jazzier than this one),
day 14 - a song no-one would expect you to love - I did ask but the choices that came back were more along the lines of those tracks which reminded people of me. Totally a different thing. So it has to be this one, which when it came through the car stereo from the iPod made the person snoozing in the back seat sit up and listen. I give you Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost?
Also rans: I was kind of hoping for this or this or this or maybe this. Oh well.
day 15 - a song that describes you - I got stuck here and chose Kaiser Chiefs - Everything Is Average Nowadays, but largely on the basis that "all I need is a ball and a wall, a sledge and a hill in heavy weather"
Also rans: Like I said, I was stuck.
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate - Newton Faulkner - Dream Catch Me. I have no idea why on either count.
Also rans: Don't quite hate it, nowhere near that, but it's lost some of it's appeal Nizlopi - JCB Song And it still reminds me of long Summer holidays helping my Grandad out with hay bails for the animals in the back of his grey mini-van.
day 17 - a song you hear often on the radio - Wonderland - Not a Love Song
Also rans: Bearing in mind that this was a few weeks ago now Taio Cruz (Feat. Kylie Minogue) - Higher, Katy Perry - Firework . Currently it would have to be Clare Maguire - The Shield and the Sword or Patrick Wolf - The City (or as I know it "that top o' the morning" song)
day 18 - a song you wish you heard on the radio - I'm not sure I will ever tire of hearing this Alex Cornish - Don't Hold Me Back. I first heard it on the end credits of an episode of The Big C and it was just lovely.
day 19 - a song from your favorite album - I wanted 'On the Razzle' from The Men They Couldn't Hang's album Domino Club, but couldn't find a link, so I chose Grave Digging in Gig Harbour instead.
Also rans: I have quite a few favourite albums so here are just some of the others - The Delays - Long Time Coming (from Faded Seaside Glamour) ; Electronic - Idiot Country (from Electronic); B.E.F. & Paul Jones - Ghost In My House (from Music of Quality & Distinction Vol.1 and be pleased you were spared Paula Yates singing 'These Boots Are Made for Walking')
day 20 - a song you listen to when you're angry - No idea why, but this one, maybe because you can shout it a bit The Adventures - Hold Me Now ...
Also rans: .... or maybe because I can never find the cassette I have of the album this is from In Tua Nua - Heaven Can Wait as there are some right 'shouty' numbers on it.
Also rans: I have quite a few REM favourites, but the ones that got edged out were Pilgrimage , Don't Go Back to Rockville and Near Wild Heaven
day 12 - a song from a band you hate - I guess hate is a strong word and I wouldn't call them a band, but All Saints - Black Coffee
Also ran: All saints - Pure Shores And you can just about guarantee I'll switch the radio off, mute or down if this comes on. What an a&$£ version of a great song!
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure - I've no idea what really counts here because if I like it, I like it and I'm not too bothered what anyone else thinks really. I chose The Association - Cherish which I first remember hearing during the film Pretty in Pink.
Also rans: This one (real bread, but lighter because it's full of holes), Andrea Ross - White Horses (the version I own is a bit jazzier than this one),
day 14 - a song no-one would expect you to love - I did ask but the choices that came back were more along the lines of those tracks which reminded people of me. Totally a different thing. So it has to be this one, which when it came through the car stereo from the iPod made the person snoozing in the back seat sit up and listen. I give you Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost?
Also rans: I was kind of hoping for this or this or this or maybe this. Oh well.
day 15 - a song that describes you - I got stuck here and chose Kaiser Chiefs - Everything Is Average Nowadays, but largely on the basis that "all I need is a ball and a wall, a sledge and a hill in heavy weather"
Also rans: Like I said, I was stuck.
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate - Newton Faulkner - Dream Catch Me. I have no idea why on either count.
Also rans: Don't quite hate it, nowhere near that, but it's lost some of it's appeal Nizlopi - JCB Song And it still reminds me of long Summer holidays helping my Grandad out with hay bails for the animals in the back of his grey mini-van.
day 17 - a song you hear often on the radio - Wonderland - Not a Love Song
Also rans: Bearing in mind that this was a few weeks ago now Taio Cruz (Feat. Kylie Minogue) - Higher, Katy Perry - Firework . Currently it would have to be Clare Maguire - The Shield and the Sword or Patrick Wolf - The City (or as I know it "that top o' the morning" song)
day 18 - a song you wish you heard on the radio - I'm not sure I will ever tire of hearing this Alex Cornish - Don't Hold Me Back. I first heard it on the end credits of an episode of The Big C and it was just lovely.
day 19 - a song from your favorite album - I wanted 'On the Razzle' from The Men They Couldn't Hang's album Domino Club, but couldn't find a link, so I chose Grave Digging in Gig Harbour instead.
Also rans: I have quite a few favourite albums so here are just some of the others - The Delays - Long Time Coming (from Faded Seaside Glamour) ; Electronic - Idiot Country (from Electronic); B.E.F. & Paul Jones - Ghost In My House (from Music of Quality & Distinction Vol.1 and be pleased you were spared Paula Yates singing 'These Boots Are Made for Walking')
day 20 - a song you listen to when you're angry - No idea why, but this one, maybe because you can shout it a bit The Adventures - Hold Me Now ...
Also rans: .... or maybe because I can never find the cassette I have of the album this is from In Tua Nua - Heaven Can Wait as there are some right 'shouty' numbers on it.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Facebook 30 Day Song Challenge - Days 1 to 10
On reflection I decided it was best to split the entries up as the orginal I drafted was way too long. Enjoy...or not.....
day 01 - your favourite song - One from a rotating rosta: St Etienne "Lightning Strikes Twice" From the album Tales from Turnpike House
Also rans: We'd be here all year....
day 02 - your least favourite song - This popped straight into my head, no messing. No other song was considered after that. I hadn't heard the track in 12 years and am hoping it'll be a much longer stretch til I next have the (yuk) 'pleasure': All Saints "Bootie Call"
Also rans: Are you kidding? This was it. Only it. The only other one that came near qualifying was the All Saints version of "Under the Bridge". I love that song, just not their version. So it doesn't count here. The same would apply to Motorhead's version of "Enter Sandman"
day 03 - a song that makes you happy - Nearly changed my mind when something else from my list of 'happy songs' came on the radio. However, I'm sticking with this (and no I've never sat down and translated it): Etienne Daho "Comme un Igloo" From the album Paris Ailleurs
Also rans: New Radicals "You GetWhat You Give" ; Edison Lighthouse "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes" (poor old Peter Marinello); Orange Juice "Rip It Up" ; Todd Rundgren "Bang On The Drum All Day"
day 04 - a song that makes you sad - It's more the melody on this one and the fact that the lyrics remind me of missed opportunities Joni Mitchell "For Free" From the album Ladies of the Canyon
Also rans: Picketty Witch "Same Old Feeling" ; The Feeling "Sewn" ; Peter, Paul & Mary "Leaving on a Jet Plane"
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone - There are a few songs attached to 'Sandy Roper', a person I used to er, 'hang around with'. This is the track that they would recognise the most in relation to me, Edinburgh and Hadrian's Wall (in particular): The Big Dish "Swimmer" From the album Swimmer
Also rans: Sydney Youngblood "Sit and Wait" ; Rick Astley "Cry for Help" ; Neneh Cherry "Buffalo Stance" ('Sandy Roper') ; B.A. Robertson "Knocked it Off" (my brother, mind you pretty much everything by Madness would qualify as well); Catatonia "You've Got a Lot To Answer For" ('TMWSTT80's') ; Alannah Myles "Black Velvet"; The Beatles "Lady Madonna" ; The Walker Brothers "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (all 3 for my Mum)
day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere - Bundesautobahn 5. There's a particular bit to the south that rises up fairly steeply with lorry crawler lanes to the left. On a very warm summers day, lie down on the back seat (obviously with someone else driving) with REM "You Are the Everything" on the Walkman. From Green
Also rans: Electronic "Get the Message" (Dornigheim) ; Shannice "I Love Your Smile" (IKEA Walldorf) ; The Selecter "On my Radio" (Bingley Five Rise)
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event - Wroxeter Open Day, June 1996. It was the weekend funnily enough Divine Comedy "Something for the Weekend" From The Frog Princess Maybe I should have taken the car and all of his money - apart from the fact that car hated me!
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to - One from my repertoire. Voice of the Beehive "Don't Call Me Baby"
Also rans: Paper Lace "Billy Don't Be A Hero" ; Jackie Lee "White Horses" ; The Seekers "Morningtown Ride"; Jackie Lee "Rupert the Bear" ; Limp Bizkit "Behind Blue Eyes"
day 09 - a song that you can dance to - A favourite in the Kitchen and not bad for singing along to in the car either Lightning Seeds "Sense" from the album of the same name.
Also rans: Gary Go "Wonderful" ; Martha & the Vandellas "Jimmy Mack" ; Charlotte Church "Crazy Chick"
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep - Moody Blues - Procession, in fact anything from this album Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. It used to be a running joke with 'StWB' that although I'd heard the whole album several times, I never remembered a thing.
day 01 - your favourite song - One from a rotating rosta: St Etienne "Lightning Strikes Twice" From the album Tales from Turnpike House
Also rans: We'd be here all year....
day 02 - your least favourite song - This popped straight into my head, no messing. No other song was considered after that. I hadn't heard the track in 12 years and am hoping it'll be a much longer stretch til I next have the (yuk) 'pleasure': All Saints "Bootie Call"
Also rans: Are you kidding? This was it. Only it. The only other one that came near qualifying was the All Saints version of "Under the Bridge". I love that song, just not their version. So it doesn't count here. The same would apply to Motorhead's version of "Enter Sandman"
day 03 - a song that makes you happy - Nearly changed my mind when something else from my list of 'happy songs' came on the radio. However, I'm sticking with this (and no I've never sat down and translated it): Etienne Daho "Comme un Igloo" From the album Paris Ailleurs
Also rans: New Radicals "You GetWhat You Give" ; Edison Lighthouse "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes" (poor old Peter Marinello); Orange Juice "Rip It Up" ; Todd Rundgren "Bang On The Drum All Day"
day 04 - a song that makes you sad - It's more the melody on this one and the fact that the lyrics remind me of missed opportunities Joni Mitchell "For Free" From the album Ladies of the Canyon
Also rans: Picketty Witch "Same Old Feeling" ; The Feeling "Sewn" ; Peter, Paul & Mary "Leaving on a Jet Plane"
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone - There are a few songs attached to 'Sandy Roper', a person I used to er, 'hang around with'. This is the track that they would recognise the most in relation to me, Edinburgh and Hadrian's Wall (in particular): The Big Dish "Swimmer" From the album Swimmer
Also rans: Sydney Youngblood "Sit and Wait" ; Rick Astley "Cry for Help" ; Neneh Cherry "Buffalo Stance" ('Sandy Roper') ; B.A. Robertson "Knocked it Off" (my brother, mind you pretty much everything by Madness would qualify as well); Catatonia "You've Got a Lot To Answer For" ('TMWSTT80's') ; Alannah Myles "Black Velvet"; The Beatles "Lady Madonna" ; The Walker Brothers "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (all 3 for my Mum)
day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere - Bundesautobahn 5. There's a particular bit to the south that rises up fairly steeply with lorry crawler lanes to the left. On a very warm summers day, lie down on the back seat (obviously with someone else driving) with REM "You Are the Everything" on the Walkman. From Green
Also rans: Electronic "Get the Message" (Dornigheim) ; Shannice "I Love Your Smile" (IKEA Walldorf) ; The Selecter "On my Radio" (Bingley Five Rise)
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event - Wroxeter Open Day, June 1996. It was the weekend funnily enough Divine Comedy "Something for the Weekend" From The Frog Princess Maybe I should have taken the car and all of his money - apart from the fact that car hated me!
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to - One from my repertoire. Voice of the Beehive "Don't Call Me Baby"
Also rans: Paper Lace "Billy Don't Be A Hero" ; Jackie Lee "White Horses" ; The Seekers "Morningtown Ride"; Jackie Lee "Rupert the Bear" ; Limp Bizkit "Behind Blue Eyes"
day 09 - a song that you can dance to - A favourite in the Kitchen and not bad for singing along to in the car either Lightning Seeds "Sense" from the album of the same name.
Also rans: Gary Go "Wonderful" ; Martha & the Vandellas "Jimmy Mack" ; Charlotte Church "Crazy Chick"
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep - Moody Blues - Procession, in fact anything from this album Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. It used to be a running joke with 'StWB' that although I'd heard the whole album several times, I never remembered a thing.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Unexpected Quality
I actually had quite a few candidates for this blog from the last few days including Street Fighting Man by the Rolling Stones and Are friends Electric by Gary Numan but Chris Tarrant has just eclipsed them all by playing Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd. Although a fairly regular feature on the likes of Radio Caroline it's never really been one to make the mainstream radio. What a song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11UUVzlI6hI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11UUVzlI6hI
Friday, February 4, 2011
Paper who ?
Paper Lace rarely come up and when they do it's usually the highly naff Billy Don't Be A Hero but the other morning Ken Bruce played The Night Chicago Died. Still a naff song by modern standards but we happily sang along to it on the top deck of our Greyhound double-decker on the way home from school and thought it was so cool.
How wrong we were :D
1974. Dig those haircuts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKNU2ocLxMY&feature=related
How wrong we were :D
1974. Dig those haircuts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKNU2ocLxMY&feature=related
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