One thing that all 3 of us Wizards agree on is that “London Calling” by The Clash is one of the greatest albums of all time. We all chose it in our Top 50 albums poll that we did back in December 2012. In fact, at least one of the Wizards says it’s his all time number 1 favourite.
Of course, we’re hardly alone in this opinion. Rolling Stone famously named it as the best album of the 1980s. (Although it was released in 1979 here, it came out in January 1980 in the USA.) Listeners to our podcast number 5 might also remember Hull troubadour Ted Key paying tribute with this fantastic song.
We decided to conduct a little experiment and try to put the 19 songs from the album into some kind of order. We each ranked the songs giving 19 points to our favourite, 18 points to the 2nd favourite etc.
Here’s how the voting turned out.
Song
Rebel
Kicker
Chorizo
Total
Death or Glory
14
17
17
48
Spanish Bombs
17
18
12
47
London Calling
18
19
6
43
Clampdown
10
15
15
40
Lost in the Supermarket
9
12
18
39
Train in Vain
12
14
9
35
Rudie Can’t Fail
8
7
19
34
Card Cheat
11
11
11
33
Brand New Cadillac
16
10
8
34
Four Horsemen
13
6
14
33
Revolution Rock
19
4
10
33
Guns of Brixton
9
16
5
30
The Right Profile
2
9
16
27
I’m Not Down
6
13
7
26
Hateful
5
5
13
23
Koka Kola
4
8
3
15
Wrong Em Boyo
8
2
2
12
Jimmy Jazz
1
3
4
8
Lover’s Rock
3
1
1
5
Here’s a Spotify playlist of the album in the order we ranked them.
Of course, you’ll be wanting to see that in graph form, right?
Click to see in all its full size glory
Some interesting things about those results:
We’re reasonably in agreement about the “worst” 4 songs.
Lover’s Rock is collectively our least favourite song on the album. And yet we all agree that it’s a bloody awesome song and better than most bands’ very best song! Just listen to it.
2 of Chorizo’s favourite songs on the album (Hateful & The Right Profile) ranked pretty low overall.
2 of Kicker’s favourite songs (Guns of Brixton & I’m Not Down) ranked pretty low overall.
The title track is Kicker’s outright favourite and Rebel’s 2nd favourite. It would’ve walked this poll if it hadn’t been for the measly 6 points given by Chorizo, who blames over-familiarity with that particular song for his relatively low ranking.
All 3 of us unanimously agree that The Card Cheat is the 9th best song on the album. Weird.
Overall the favourite song is Death or Glory narrowly beating Spanish Bombs by 1 point.
Death or Glory wasn’t actually chosen in the top 2 by any of the Wizards! But it did score quite highly from all 3 of us. This is how democracy works. That’s how the UK ended up being run by one party that didn’t win an election and another party who didn’t even finish in the top 2! Or alternatively as Dennis from Auf Wiedersehen Pet would say “Everybody gets what nobody wants!” Isn’t democracy great?
Have we got it right or are we talking bollocks? Vote for your favourite here.
What’s that you say, dear reader? What a pointless exercise. What is this obsession with ranking? Why do music fans feel such a compulsion to put things in order of preference? Why not just accept that all of the songs are great and it’s a great album? Isn’t that just extreme nerdery? Well yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. We accept that it’s extreme nerdery but rest assured, it isn’t just extreme nerdery. We did have a reason for doing this.
We’re about to record our 2nd World Cup podcast which features a song for every one of the 32 competing nations. So that’s how we decided that “Death or Glory” would be the song to represent England. The winning song-title’s quite appropriate I suppose, and definitely a good job that “Spanish Bombs” didn’t pip it to the post then.
And remember kids, he who fucks nuns will later join the church. That is a fact and it has apparently been tested by research.
More Clash related articles on trustthewizards.com
With the World Cup just around the corner, it is no real surprise to find the wizards shamelessly jumping on that particular bandwagon and bringing you their own Football Special podcast AND World Cup song!
Look out for a footy-flavoured selection of songs that take in the highs and, mostly, lows of following Leeds United, Bolton Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers and of being a football fan generally, an inauguration for the Rock Song for London W12 AND our World Cup song!
There are numerous claims made for the ‘best football song ever’ as some unlikely stars get a mention AND there’s our World Cup song!
Due to some unfortunate technical glitches there will be notably less post song deliberation on show in the first half of the programme. This may well be seen by many [All? TTW Ed] as a good thing. It would, however, be a shame to miss out on the fact that Snide Swine is an anagram for one particularly loathsome short-arsed player.
Suffice to say, in a programme of two halves, the wizards done good so click here to have a listen.
Did I mention that our World Cup song is on there? Oh. Well, here it is:
On this day in 1959, the first edition of Juke Box Jury aired on the BBC with cool cat David Jacobs in the Simon Cowell role. To celebrate this fascinating fact, you, the listener, are required to use the cut out and keep ‘hit’ and ‘miss’ voting panels below as you work your way through this month’s selections. Either that, or let us know via the medium of writing a comment or two.
fun loving moptops fail to understand the concept of either/or
So, what have we got for you this fine footbally month of June? Well, no football songs for starters. They will all be discussed elsewhere on this blog very soon. We have got a bit of Motown swagger for you though with Little Iva’s top notch instrumental. It’s not clear what exactly the I-Unit brings to this piece, but I am going for the neat guitar solo. I believe we are encouraged to dance ‘The Continental’ to this too, so be my guest. Fading in after that it’s new Manc sensations, Purple Heart Parade (see what they did there?), with a great big slice of psychedelia. This track ticks lots of the right boxes for me with its reverbed vocals and building wall of sound. One to look out for. One to look back for is Orgone Box, whose fantastic Centaur album has been re-released in a slightly different form with a new track! It’s not the new track we have here though, rather my favourite piece of power pop perfection (for all you alliteration fans). Highly recommended even if you’re not into psychedelia. Another favourite track next from The Go-Betweens, who surely should have been huge. This track popped up on shuffle a few weeks ago and had me playing the Tallulah album over and over. Majestic song-writing throughout. If you haven’t heard much by them, do yourself a favour and delve into their back catalogue.
are you into psycho delia?
A new release next, all the way from L.A. – presumably via Dayton, Ohio. Yes, it’s Vertical Scratchers with a song from their Daughter Of Everything LP featuring a very fast vocal delivery from that Mr Pollard I may have mentioned before. Bobby Pop does a great job of keeping up on this frenetic little nugget and catches his breath to allow room for a splendid guitar solo just before the end. It’s back to the mid-80s after that with the jangly joy of The Brilliant Corners and a track from their Fruit Machine EP that I picked up on my recent record shop voyage. Only seven tracks in and it’s the second Brisbane band on display next with Blank Realm with a track from their Grassed Inn LP – an album that since its January release has continued to sit in my top albums of 2014 list. They sound like a cross between the aforementioned Go-Betweens and Talking Heads to me, but less messy than that might suggest. Hypnotic stuff. Then we have The Kinks, a band who I seem to have fallen in and out of love with over the years, going through phases of listening to loads of their stuff and then really not bothering. This B-side rekindled some of that old flame recently.
Another newie up next with the one song I really liked from the much heralded, but rather disappointing, Broken Bells release After The Disco. The album as a whole didn’t really do it for me, but I like the funny little guitar sound on this one and the huge chorus. I recently enjoyed a very convivial evening in the company of friend of the pod, Texas Paul, and a bunch of Liverpool musicians linked to the Viper Records label as they, the label, celebrated 15 years and their 100th release. The next track comes from one of their renowned themed compilations of early American oddities Don’t Take Your Guns To Town, which is subtitled, very informatively, US Gun Songs & Murder Ballads 1930 – 1960. Here Janis & Her Boyfriends make scarily accurate gun noises and great use of the phrase ‘to boot’, er, to boot. Another record label that recently held a party is the increasingly cool Fruits De Mer and after their marvellous Crabstock event I have been getting to grips with their May singles releases. Amidst some great covers on offer of tracks by Soft Machine, The Electric Prunes, Sandy Denny and, er, Yes, the standout single for me from this batch is the one from Schizo Fun Addict where they take on a couple of cult film soundtrack cuts. The track on the playlist originally featured in Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls and here takes on a new life of its own that deserves repeated listens. The other side of the record might just pop up on my best of the year mix. Yes, it’s that good. OK, so now it’s time for your monthly helping of Guided By Voices. This time it’s a favourite track from the Earthquake Glue album with Doug Gillard doing his quickfire guitar riff thing. You just have to feed on a stroke of brillance sometimes.
the Fulham manager’s mate suggests we should leave it alone
Another nugget from the Nuggets box set next, it’s The Third Bardo (there is scant mention of the first two anywhere) with one of only 6 tracks they ever recorded, but it’s a real doosey. Interestingly, singer Jeff Monn went on to have a solo career as Chris Moon. Eh? Oh. Anyway, a latter day classic follows with Athens, Georgia legend, Vic Chesnutt and my favourite track from his Is The Actor Happy? LP. There are great lyrics on many of his songs, but this one is particularly beautiful, I think. I belatedly came across the next band on my recent trip to the North East. The High Plane Drifters, for it is they, hail from Stockton on Tees, home of the magnificent Sound It Out Records and it was thanks to the shop that I heard the amazing bluesy thrash these 2 boys make. I was given this single on the shop’s own now defunct Don’t Tell Clare Records label as part of a package having asked about local bands and it is really rather great. Rather more reflective is the tale of Mrs Johnson as told by Jeannie C. Riley, who socks it to the hypocritical PTA members without recourse to loud electric guitars. Chorizo Garbanzo reliably informs me that this track is a particular favourite of Paul Heaton. So there.
bass player, Clint, is very unhappy about the band’s name being spelt wrong
A track from the Trade Post Recordings compilation The Big Takeover next and my pick from the 41, mostly excellent, tracks is by the band 10,000 Blades, which, you’d have to agree, is probably more blades than you really require. Describing themselves as “a words-rock band” and hailing from the wizards’ second favourite US State, Connect E. Cut, they also claim to “have played with some famous people in some cool places.” All I know is that there’s a nice Randy Newman reference at the end of the song. A bit of a classic follows with that nice margarine salesman saying ‘hello’ from the first, and, yes, Chorizo Garbanzo, the best PIL album. I think it must be law that this song is played loudly. Now, I have previously expressed my fondness for a Mark Kozelek record or two and his latest, under the guise of Sun Kil Moon, is a real cracker. However, the other wizards are far from convinced and so I hope they both manage to get this far on the playlist to hear an unusually upbeat effort that still has those deeply personal and darkly comical lyrics (especially the backing vocals on this track). It’s from the album Benji and this song is about Mark’s friend Ben. And guess who is on the final track this month? Only Mark’s friend, Ben, who is Ben Gibbard, of the band The Postal Service. I don’t know much about them to be honest, in fact I only really know this one song, which was, I believe, some sort of a hit, but is nevertheless a very likeable track and having hit Such Great Heights, an appropriate one to end on.
11. In The Long Run – Schizo Fun Addict – this is available (if you hurry!) on the highly recommended 7″ from our friends at Fruits de Mer, but there’s another great track from the band on the playlist.
12. Useless Inventions – Guided By Voices
13. I’m Five Years Ahead Of My Time – The Third Bardo
14. Guilty By Association – Vic Chesnutt
15. Trouble In Mind – The High Plane Drifters – also not on Spotify, but in recognition of the band featuring on Breaking Bad (look it up!) – the theme tune from that show is on the playlist.
This article is being published simultaneously here and on QPR fan site Loft For Words.
This Saturday I will watch my team QPR play at Wembley for the third time in my life. I was 11 years old in May 1982 when I watched us lose an FA Cup Final replay to a dodgy penalty and I’ve hated Glenn Hoddle ever since, years before I knew his views on disabled people or even heard “Diamond Lights”. I was back at Wembley in 1986 to watch a strong QPR team, who’d already knocked out the mighty Liverpool and the hated Chelsea, storm to certain victory in the Milk Cup Final against lowly Oxford United. The bloody underdogs stuffed us 3-0 and we’ve not played at Wembley since! 28 bloody years! Someone told me last week that every team in the top 2 divisions has played at Wembley more recently than QPR have, a stat made even more disappointing when you remember that we are the closest League club to the national stadium. We’ve only ever won there once and that was 3 years before I was born!
But this tale is about another final we played in and how an instrumental song came to replace the National Anthem and install itself as the official anthem for London W12.
Regular readers of our blog (hello to you both) will know that we have an ongoing campaign to find an official rock song for each county of the UK. We were inspired to start this quest after reading that, as well as having their own anthem, some states in the USA also have an official rock song. For example The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realise?” is the official rock song for Oklahoma and “Hang On Sloopy” is the official rock song of Ohio. You can see all the official rock songs announced so far on this map.
As all QPR fans know, we were relegated to League 1 in 2001, the lowest League position we’ve been in my lifetime. I remember going to a QPR 1st meeting at Ealing Town Hall where self-confessed “infectious little bugger” Ian Holloway delivered an incredible speech in which he promised us a team we could be proud of. True to his word, he set about gathering together a squad on a miniscule budget, recruiting West London locals like Marc Bircham, Kevin Gallen, Martin Rowlands and Paul Furlong along with other clubs’ rejects like Steve Palmer, Chris Day, Danny Shittu and Andy Thomson. From January 2003 onwards, we went on a great run to get into the top 6 and stay there to get into the playoffs for the first time ever.
QPR’s record from January 1st 2003 to end of the season.
P
W
D
L
F
A
22
15
4
3
38
15
Unfortunately, Wembley was closed for refurbishments in 2003 so we had to travel to the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff for the playoff final. That would’ve been fine except that our opponents were going to be Cardiff City. These days Cardiff is a reasonably friendly stadium to visit but back then the club’s fans were notorious.
I’d “enjoyed” the atmosphere at Ninian Park quite a few times, most recently a month earlier to see Richard Langley score a very late winner that sent the Rangers end absolutely barmy! Getting through the car park was even more of an adventure than usual after that!
The Bluebirds’ chairman at this time was the well-known dodgy bastard Sam Hammam. He’d successfully instilled an “us against the world” spirit with the so-called “Crazy Gang” at Wimbledon and was doing his best to engineer the same kind of feelings at Cardiff. But this time, the split was nothing to do with the route one tactics and thinly-disguised thuggery that made the Dons so universally disliked. At Cardiff, Hammam provoked and encouraged the pro-Welsh / anti-English sentiment. Personally, I think there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of national pride so long as it doesn’t then become the massive chip on the shoulder that the whole of Ninian Park seemed to be struggling under the weight of back then.
Apparently before the playoff final (and indeed any major cup final) they always play “God Save The Queen” (not the Pistols one, the other one). The poor sensitive souls at Cardiff City weren’t happy about this and amazingly, the Football League caved in to their demands.
I still find it astounding that nobody at the Football League thought to ask Cardiff how their proud patriotic hearts could stand the shame of making big coin from playing in the English League against English teams and if they were so anti-English why didn’t they fuck off and play against Cefn Druids and Total Network Solutions every week? The ridiculous thing is that “God Save the Queen” is not the English national anthem, it is the anthem for all of the UK, including Wales.
Anyway, having granted Cardiff’s silly request, some sort of compromise had to be made. Before the match the Cardiff fans sang “March of the Men of Harlech”, a jolly little number about fighting a battle against the English King’s forces. Harlech is a town in Wales that is nowhere near Cardiff. In fact Cardiff is closer to Shepherds Bush than it is to Harlech.
Having said all that, it is a great tune and a good stirring song to get the team and fans fired up for the battle ahead.
But it’s not just Wales that has a rich musical heritage, some of the greatest bands the UK has ever produced have their roots in West London. So what rousing words could the superhooped masses from W12 offer in response to this Celtic battlecry?
“Der der der der HOOPS! Der der der der!”
That was the sound of 33,000 Rangers fans singing and jumping about to “Reach Up”, the Paul Oakenfold remix of “Papa’s Got a Brand New Pig Bag” by Pig Bag, a number 3 hit from April 1982. It was kept off the top spot, pop pickers, by Macca and Stevie’s much derided “Ebony & Ivory” and “My Camera Never Lies”, a song so forgettable I suspect even Bucks Fizz themselves can’t remember how it goes!
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Some time in the 90s, following the invention of football by the Premier League and Sky TV in 1992, football clubs decided it would be a great idea to play music whenever the home team scored. Suddenly whoever wrote “Tom Hark” was getting significantly more substantial PRS cheques. Tinny speakers blared out “I Feel Good” in grim provincial towns beyond James Brown’s wildest PCP nightmares. I’m sure I even heard Ocean Colour Scene’s “Riverboat Song” at some ground or other. Not sure that particular tune really adds much to the home fans’ enjoyment and it really rubs salt in the wounds of the away fans. It’s bad enough that your team have just conceded but then the misery is ratcheted up a notch by hearing a song that reminds you of Chris Evans’ crimes against light entertainment.
I spoke to Pete Nuttall to find out how the playing of Pig Bag at Loftus Road came about. Pete is better known to Rs fans as the matchday DJ and announcer from 1997 – 2013. He’s the “This is Loftus Road, We are QPR” guy and he’s the man responsible for making The Clash’s “London Calling” a key part of our pre-match playlist.
Queens Punk Rockers
Pete said: “I remember a chat with the then marketing manager, Mark Devlin, where we settled on Pigbag, and thought we’d try it at a game. We all agreed that if it didn’t work, if it got a negative reaction, or if a significant minority didn’t like it, we’d kill the idea stone dead.”
But, as Pete explains “It worked far better than we anticipated. It galvanised our celebration and Loftus Road was bouncing.” By the time it was being played before the match at the Millenium Stadium, it had really become established and it’s still making us bounce this season.
We’re the famous Queens Park Rangers and we’re going to Wembley.
Having set the precedent in 2003, the national anthems are never played these days when a Welsh team are in any kind of final, apart from Portsmouth v Cardiff in the 2008 FA Cup Final at Wembley. On that day, a different kind of compromise was reached and both “God Save The Queen” and “Land of My Fathers” were played and both were predictably drowned out by mass booing.
The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham is apparently very proud to be the only borough with 3 League clubs in it so I suppose we can’t really make Pig Bag the anthem for the whole borough. Fulham fans have got enough to be miserable about right now whilst I don’t think any Chelsea fans will have been able to have read this far by themselves.
As Pete Nuttall says: “I know many football fans rally against the idea of goal music, artificially pumping the atmosphere and drowning out the actual cheers and in general I agree. Your striker has just hit a 30-yeard pearler that has sent you up, why not soundtrack that epic moment with DJ Otzi? But at Loftus Road, Pigbag just works. It’s us.”
So, as witnessed by 66,000 fans in Cardiff in 2003 and as will be sung loud and proud this coming Saturday, we are proud to declare “Papa’s Got a Brand New Pig Bag” by Pig Bag as the official rock song for Shepherds Bush.
Come On You Rs!
More QPR / Pig Bag videos
The “Supahoopz” version including commentary clips from promotion season in 2004
This week we’ve got an under-appreciated song from the great Chrissie Hynde paired with another band from Chorizo’s “bands from the early 90s who should’ve been massive” list.
As usual, all you need to do is work out the connection between the 2 songs and drop us a line to let us know.
Nobody’s guessed the link for a few weeks so we think this one’s a bit easier.
Doncha just love a Bank Holiday? It’s good that all those hard-working bankers get a chance to recharge before dumping us further into recession, isn’t it? Anyway, at least it means you’ve all got a few more hours to spend thinking about this week’s musical connection.
We’ve got one of my favourite bands, The Replacements, and the grandfather of grunge [really? – TTW Ed.] Neil Young. See if you can work out what connects both these cracking tunes.
Hint: it’s all about the albums these tracks come from.
It’s been a while [some say not long enough – TTW Ed.], but the wizards finally get round to reconvening and have put together ‘the best pod yet’. Possibly.
If you are one of those listeners who particularly enjoys the nonsense skits, silly voices, weak puns and crowbarred in quizzes [are there any? – TTW Ed.], then this is the show for you. On the other hand, if you are all about the music, then you’ll be pleased to learn that there’s a great dollop of that in here somewhere too. Honest.
crow bars
So strap in and prepare to learn more than you ever felt necessary about biscuits, food additives and Nick Cave ticket stubs. Then thrill to the sounds as the wizards take you on a musical journey that stops off at some of the less frequented stations.
no sound of Homeward Bound here
You can listen to the whole thing on the soundcloud link below or click here to download.
On this day in 1977, The ‘White Riot Tour’ kicked off in London at The Roxy with a line-up of The Clash, The Jam and Buzzcocks. Oh, to have been 10 years older. Now, although there’s no particular reason for mentioning this fact, it does mean we can legitimately start the blog with this:
So what else have we got in store for you this month? Well, how about some Santana? No, not that Carlos dude, I mean the cool sounds from Lucas Santtana who mashes up (yes, kids!) the 50s sound of Joao Gilberto with 21st century electronica on his fantastic album Sem Nostalgia (Without Nostalgia, irony fans). Maintaining the Latin start to the mix, we follow the Brazilian with the Spanish. In fact a Spanish/French singer who sings in French, Spanish, English, Italian, Arabic, Galician and Portuguese amongst others, Manu Chao, for it is he, soundtracked much of the late 90s for me and his albums, especially Clandestino, still keep on giving. Now for some Morrissey. No, not that one (Another seamless link – TTW Ed.), this is the real Irish Morrissey who Rebel and I saw supporting Damien Dempsey in February with his mate Marshall and moved me to buy their debut album And So It Began, which didn’t disappoint. Not sure how any of the songs so far link to Del Shannon, but it is he who’s up next with a creepy number that tends to get over looked behind the big hits Runaway and Hats Off To Larry, but really is quite fantastic.
that’s a big guitar, Del
Have you all picked up on the psychedelic resurgence or is it just happening here in the NW of the UK? Well, all the way from Kettering, new poster boys for the movement, Temples, have a great debut album, Sun Structures, out this year and up next is one of my favourite, albeit less psyche, tracks from it. Don’t let the Johnny Marr endorsement put you off, these boys are the real thing. Back in the day (before the pod) Rebel Rikkit and I saw Wire perform an incendiary set at The Roadhouse in Manchester. The support act that night were a couple of Belgians who were named after the Turkish for ‘fizzy water’, or something like that, and who made a tremendous noise. They were, and still are, Madensuyu, and a track from their great Stabat Mater album (it probably has something to do with forks) follows. Then it’s the first claim for song title of the month with Benjamin Shaw and his deliberately misspelt Goodbye, Kagoul World. I know it must be a deliberate misspelling because it comes from the correctly spelt Goodbye, Cagoul World EP, which is full of tremendous lo-fi paeans to the misfortunate and the like. It is definitely one of my favourites of the year so far. Time for an old favourite next, it’s The Flamin’ Groovies (one of honorary wizard, Chuck Prophet’s top Californian bands I am reliably informed) with my favourite song of theirs. I am sure Chuck must have played it at some time too. Good advice too, we should all Shake Some Action right now.
looking a bit wet, Ben, where’s yer mac?
New music from Leeds next with young pups Eagulls (I’m not sure about the quality of that band name) and one of the stand out tracks from this year’s self-titled debut album. Garbanzo might’ve seen them supporting his Manics at some point. Another old favourite that popped upon shuffle this month follows that and it’s this wizard’s favourite 80s popstar, Clare Grogan, with Altered Images and one of two tip top hits they had with the word Happy in the title – so obviously feel-good, but no less great for that. A more obscure cut next from (American?) noisesters, Violent Past, who came under the wizard radar by being on the other side of a split single with French faves, Sudden Death Of Stars. This isn’t that song, but is possibly even better. You can download it for free from the link below. And you should. Regular readers of the blog will be aware of my recent record shopping trip that took me to London and Newcastle amonst other places and one of my early picks on that trip was the not at all vinyl copy of the Good Vibrations soundtrack. A film and indeed soundtrack that I would highly recommend if for no other reason than that it includes the mighty Blood & Fire by Niney The Observer.
Mark Goldsworthy
I also picked up a late Marc Bolan album on that trip and it is with some embarrassment that I have to admit to a ‘gap in my wise’ (as a Czech friend once memorably put it) and the lack of any real knowledge of T Rex outside the hit singles and The Slider album. I intend to do something about this, but for now, here’s the title track from the only album I know. It’s great. A bunch of wizards recently caught Birmingham’s finest, Johnny Foreigner, giving it loads in a Liverpool basement. Highly impressive live, the band have also recently released probably their best album to date (so much for my first album theory, eh, Chorizo), the clearly ironically entitled You Can Do Better on the magnificent Alcopop label. Check it out. Oh, and check out currently my favourite track from the album right here now. Next up it’s another song that hit these wizard ears through the magic of shuffle, it’s that Dusty Springfield with a track I had always thought of as being by The Byrds, but seemingly they covered her. It’s Goin’ Back. A second claim for best song title of the month now as we have former Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, Euros Childs, with the track Costa Rita (see what he did there?) from the album Chops that has set me off on a hunt for the man’s back catalogue. Tremendous stuff.
the man’s got chops
Now, I hope you’ve all been listening to the Alcopop records monthly podcast – especially the April one as the wizards were all over it. If you have, you’ll have heard a couple of tracks by recent recruits Brawlers who have just released the neatly titled I’m A Worthless Piece Of Shit EP. Sadly, one of the wizards remains unconvinced by this lot, so I present exhibit A, the barnstorming Mothers & Fathers for the defence. That Nuggets collection is pretty good, isn’t it? You know, the one that Patti Smith’s guitarist put together collating the best garage sounds of the 60s? Well, it is. And this track by The Litter might just be the one to convince any sceptics out there. A new album from Damien Jurado is something to celebrate chez O’Elves and his latest offering, Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Sun, is a slow burner that has really got some beautiful stuff on it. Like the track here, Silver Timothy. No, me neither. Finally, it’s Robert Pollard. It’s Go Back Snowball. It’s Divine.
Another gig review podcast for your eager ears. Te Awamutu’s very own Neil Finn played The Lowry in Salford on Sunday night and Finn-atics Rebel Rikkit and Chorizo Garbanzo went along.
Wanna know what they made of it? No worries! Have a listen.
Some videos taken by Mrs Garbanzo (featuring guest appearance by a local legend):
And the obligatory poor quality photo:
A few other points that the Wizards were in too much of a hurry to mention in their post-gig review:
the amazing band, especially the brilliant vocalist Lisa Tomlins
Neil’s trademark red Gretsch guitar. Don’t know what distortion pedal he uses but it’s a great sound, really loud yet really clear. (Watch this clip with Eddie Vedder to hear what we mean)
Checking our notes we see that 9 of the first 15 songs were from the new album.
Great to hear “Only Talking Sense” from the first Finn Brothers album. One of their very best songs.
Forgot to mention the Split Enz songs. “Message to My Girl” was Chorizo’s favourite while Rebel enjoyed “I See Red”. Someone shouted out a request for that one early on but apparently his band didn’t know it. So Neil peppered little one-line snippets of it throughout the gig (the little tease!) before eventually singing the full song solo in the encores.
Last song of the night was a singalong acoustic runthrough of “Better Be Home Soon”. Chorizo seemed to have something in his eye during this one.
In our hurriedly recorded ending, we may have accidentally given the impression that didn’t like the song “Divebomber” but that’s not the case. If you think you’ve already heard enough of his music know what Neil Finn’s all about, listen to this because it might not be what you expect at all.
Bonus fact of only very mild interest:
One of Chorizo’s best mates emigrated to New Zealand and teaches at this school that the Finn brothers used to go to.
And so it was that our four young, ahem, intrepid explorers ventured far from their home in the city of two birds near the sea across unmarked territory to the mythical land of the druids (you do know Wales IS real, right? – TTW Ed), finding themselves beyond the ken of the Sat Navaho and deep into the place where the people who feed on the fruits of the sea come to pay homage at the feet of those they call the Sendelicans.
Yes, it was Crabstock! The now annual event showcasing the fantastic Fruits de Mer label and a mix of the best psychedelic/acid folk/krautrock/space rock bands currently releasing stuff on green, red, or in fact just about any colour you care to name (even black) vinyl, doing it live for the masses. This time in Cardigan.
the keenest punters
Listen as the travellers discuss what little they know about the bands on show before, fortunately, getting real information from an authoritative source. Then thrill as the tired few reflect on a full 7 hours of music, 5 bands and a lot of Crabstock beer (the Mantle Brewery is now in shortage crisis) from the friendliest show in this, or any, town.
a strange brew
What I mean is, have a listen to our review of Crabstock including an exclusive interview with Fruits de Mer head honcho, Keith Jones, and an explanation of why you should have to sign up for all future Fdm releases and any Crabstocks coming your way.
a typical goodie bag hoard
Just click here to listen and download and let the fun begin.
Here is the requisite pictorial evidence that this all really did happen (courtesy of the finely focussed camera of new friend of the pod, Alice Springs – boooiiinnnggg!!!!).
Whoop whoop, it’s the start of another goddam week.
To help ease you into things, here are a couple of classic songs from, at least, 39 years ago for you to enjoy. As ever. all you have to do is tell us what links the two and you can win yourself a point to take you up a notch on our table (leg) of champions.
I recently ran a marathon…. now I don’t say that to make you feel in any way inadequate or inferior…I am sure that you could do the same and are probably struggling to find the time to fit it in…or maybe it’s in the plan somewhere in the future…or maybe you just don’t fancy it or don’t see what’s so special about it. That’s fine, as I said I didn’t run a marathon through any sense of personal self aggrandisement and raising a 4 figure sum for homeless people in the developing world was merely a fortunate by-product of this endeavour. I am sure in your own way you make a positive contribution that is equally worthy and if not equal, then at least comparable. I certainly don’t hold with all those people who says it’s a super human effort that confers some superman status to those completing this mammoth task. We are all winners, right?!
Not Actual Rebel Rikkit
However, the key to running a marathon is preparation and bearing in mind that you will be spending 7 hours per week on your own pounding some street somewhere, the first priority must be to get the music sorted. Here is the answer to all those awkward questions about how to make the ultimate running playlist that will deliver you to that start line ready to become immortal!
You play lots of songs about running right?
Wrong! So Wrong! When you put on those trainers and leave the house you know what you are going to do. You’re doing it for 7 hours a week for 17 weeks. You don’t want to be reminded of the fact that you need to “Keep On Running”, that you’re “Running Up That Hill”, that someone might “Catch Me If You Can”, that you are in a very real way a “Road Runner”. No. What you need is music that allows you to forget that you are running, that is a sufficient distraction from the repetitive action, the pain, monotony and sheer boredom that running can be. Take for example, the opening track. Imagine the scene – you have got up long before anyone else in the house is awake, you have got the gear on, left the house to feel the cold and dank weather on your skin, it’s pitch black, the road is illuminated by orange street lights and the headlights of the few cars that are on the roads at this time. The wind whistles through the bushes and you are all alone. You don’t need inspiration and motivation if you have got to that place, you need solace and counselling. What about a man on Death Row grappling with the consequences of his crime and his imminent death? That’s just the ticket! Cue Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds with the Mercy Seat.
Do I play Music I know or new Music?
A difficult question. We should all be musical pioneers and strive to pay our dues to the musicians who push the envelope and search for new and exciting vistas of sound. That said, you don’t have the option of fast forwarding, pausing, searching, you’re on the move and whatever comes up next is what’s playing in your head whether you like it or not. Also, imagine the scene, 7am on Sunday morning and your one goal is getting this ordeal over with, but no, you’re struggling, getting your mp3 player out of whatever pocket / holder you have for it and then struggling to find a series of tracks that will work for you. Trust me, you don’t want to go there. So, I am sorry, but this is not going to be the day you discover the next Robbie Williams (that’s a joke!). The conscience assuaged, let’s get The Clash on – “I Fought The Law (And The Law Won)- by the way, listen to the rhythm guitar work on this track, great work by Joe there!
Top Tip: Cluster songs by the same artist or off one album as you will want to hear another track by whoever and you will not be able to stop. So, if you cluster 3 or 4 of your favourite artists / albums, you will have audio satisfaction and, hey, there is another mile and a bit gone!
Slow or fast songs?
Not so fast! (See what I did there?) It’s not about fast or slow, it’s about pace; about finding your pace and rhythm and finding music that has a beat that will get you to a state of running Zen. The perfect toe tappers, or trainer tappers, for this purpose are They Might Be Giants. Their use of tight efficient beats woven around riffs and intriguing lyrics provide the pulse to drive you along and the distraction required. They have, literally, hundreds of good examples and I would pepper your running mix with them, but to pick one, I would go for “When will you die”.
Running Zen! Cosmic Dude?
Don’t laugh, your brain needs to find ways to engage in flights of fancy for long periods and ideally enter a dream state so you are effectively on auto pilot for long periods. This could be engaging music that has a deep dreamy feel like Chorizos favourite from last year Give Your Love by Neat Beats. Equally, songs that have a story that will take a few listens to reveal their complexity work well. A good example of this is Panties in Your Purse by the Drive By Truckers and a song that comprises both of these features and benefits from being nearly 7 minutes long is the mighty Walk On By by The Stranglers.
You sound like a machine. What about all this life changing inspiration crap they talk about?
Fair play, by the half way mark you are getting a bit low on inspiration and could do with a bit of a pick-me-up, but nothing too contrived as even your exhausted, demoralised self will see through anything too obviously “motivational”. (A friend of mine had Simply The Best as their rallying call song. How awfu.l) No, get something that celebrates you and makes you feel good. I recommend Chuck Prophet’s Solid Gold from the Age of Miracles album, where he drinks a toast to all “Stand Up Guys” who “put up a fight”, which when facing a further 13 miles slog, is what you will need to do.
What about when you are ready to quit?
When the moment comes that you have nothing left in your legs, when mentally you are ready to accept that the task is beyond you, and you realise that whatever plan you had was hopelessly flawed – that’s the moment you need to play your ace, the song of pure defiance that can leave you no doubt that you will finish this thing if its the last thing you do (and let’s not be coy, it might be just that). Now’s the time for Dan Sartain with Fuck Friday! Rejoice as Dan lists days of the week and says Fuck Them and Fuck You!! That will get your legs moving again. Let’s face it, it’s a fucking pointless exercise, it’s just one foot in front of the other for 4 fucking hours, don’t dress it up like it’s a pass to sainthood, just keep running, you lazy cunt! (you can use this motivational mantra yourself if you like).
Bullet Point Summary (I guarantee you that every “How To Run A Marathon Book” has one of these)
Pick songs you love
Music for pace not speed
Aim for dream-like distraction
When you know you’re knackered, play songs to kick you up the arse
In the week running up to Record Store Day, I found myself on an eagerly anticipated and newly agreed to record shop based holiday. Having consented to attend various UK sites of historical interest with Mrs O’Elves, I had in return been given carte blanche to do some archaeological digging of my own in any local vinyl stores I could find. After much planning, well, a good couple of hours on the Internet, I had in front of me a plan to visit 11 record shops in 5 towns over 5 days.
Here’s how it went down.
Day 1 – London
Having drawn up a list of a dozen of the most highly recommended record shops in London, I planned to hit East and West London on the first day and then Central and North London the following, half, day. So, after bidding farewell to the family at St Pancras – they were off to some museum or other, I headed off to Angel (which in my head should be Angel Islington, but I’m not sure why – perhaps our chirpy cockernee wizard can help me out on this) and the first shop Haggle Vinyl, which was due to open at 9:30. It was closed. It remained closed up to 10:15 when I gave up and decided to travel further east to the world renowned Rough Trade East, but not before peeking through the window and deciding I probably needed to return at some point.
Just as well I had given myself plenty of time to get to Brick Lane as I managed to get lost coming out of Liverpool Street Station and had to revert to getting another, unnecessary, tube to get a bit closer. I then walked up and down Brick Lane at least 3 times before deciding to ask someone where the shop was. Unfortunately, not only did the person I accosted not know where the shop was, they didn’t seem to know any English either. Undeterred, I asked a likely looking lad with a very tidy quiff; it seemed to me he must be local as he looked liked Chorizo Garbanzo and so it proved.
KOE: ‘Scuse me, lad, can you tell me where Rough Trade Records is?
Local Herbert: See that facking sign behind you? It’s there, you muppet.
And it was. And it was good. Well, it was very large anyway. Walking in to what can only be described as an aeroplane hangar full of music, I was good to go. Here is what I found…
Second hand:
Tim Burgess – A Case For Vinyl (7″) – one of my songs of the year in 2012 – what an appropriate start to my haul.
Bronco Bullfrog – Never Been To California (7″) – I only know of this band because of their just released single on Fruits de Mer. If it’s good enough for Keith, it’ll be good enough for me I reasoned.
Man Or Astroman – Analog Series Vol. 3 (7“) – I love this band and have, literally, tens of tapes with songs/sessions recorded from John Peel shows. I only have a couple of records though and was really taken by the cover of this one. Defcon 0, eh? I understand there may be Astroman vocals on one of these tracks.
New:
Voo – Songs We Used To Dance To (LP) – a Liverpool band that I have been put onto by wizards’ favourites Mean Jean. Both the singles I have are excellent so I have high hopes for this LP.
Public Service Broadcasting – Inform Educate Entertain (LP) – I like what I’ve heard from this lot on soundcloud and the like and had this LP on my vague wants list. I also have their RSD14 single towards the top too.
Man Or Astroman – Defcon 5…4…3…2…1 (LP) – yes! More futuristic guitar twang.
Good Vibrations Soundtrack (CD) – I know, I know, it’s not vinyl, but, hey, there’s a lot of vinyl in the film so surely that counts.
A very pleasant record shopping experience despite feeling intimidated by the rather too cool for school youngsters behind the tills (do we still have tills, grandad?). The one lad I did speak to though – to ask for directions to the Soundtracks section, since you ask – was very pleasant and helpful and not in any obvious way scornful of my musical taste. Not a lot of bargains to be had, but loads of really interesting stuff and an excellent way to spend 2 hours.
Haggle Vinyl – 114 Essex Rd, Greater London N1 8LX
With a suitably stuffed record bag, I made my way back to Angel and a walk up Essex Road past the green to the now open Haggle Vinyl with its reassuring whiff of used vinyl and distinct lack of crowds. Yes, I was on my own, the coat was off, and I was digging…
Sadly, amongst a lot of records from the 1980s that I didn’t buy then and don’t need to now, there wasn’t that much of interest. Nevertheless, I had a very enjoyable time flicking through well organised crates and found time to chat with the owner, who was pretty keen to close up (you’ve only just opened, mate!), but didn’t in any way rush me. I also found a record I have owned in the past and am very pleased to again…
Green On Red – Here Come The Snakes (LP) – a bargain too: very nice condition and a classic that everyone should have at least one copy of.
Flashback Records – 50 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 8LR
Feeling a little deflated in having only secured a single further addition to my collection, I wandered back up Essex Road to the next shop on my list, Flashback Records, which had a couple of boxes of used vinyl outside and what appeared to be a few more inside.
Well, I was nearly right, the boxes outside were of little interest being mostly novelty records whose novelty (if there had really been any) had worn well away. Inside, the crates were full of new records and some pretty interesting selections too, but I had bought my new records for the day and wanted some proper digging material. A quick glance towards, but over, the CD racks, made it clear that thankfully there was more downstairs and it was here that I was not to be disappointed.
Au Pairs – It’s Obvious (7″) – VG+ in terms of condition and EX+ in terms of content
The Wedding Present – Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now? (7″) – with a great B-side too
The Human League – Travelogue (LP) – their second and therefore not quite their best album, but still fantastic squelchy stuff
The Brilliant Corners – Why Do You Have To Go Out With Him When You Could Go Out With Me (12″) – top title, of course, and at times quite a Go-Betweensy sound with surprisingly vicious guitar solos.
Milky Wimpshake – Heart And Soul In The Milky Way (LP) – bought purely on the basis that Garbanzo likes them and I liked the song he bought to the pod back in the day
Dead Mellotron – Glitter (LP) – no idea what this is like, but the cover is cool in a primary school sort of way and I like the band name.
All this excellent stock was being soundtracked by The X-Ray Spex LP that I hadn’t heard for years and it was definitely now at the top of my wants list for the next day. Just a shame that Flashback didn’t have a copy as that would have sealed the day. Still, a fantastic basement of records here on Essex Road and highly recommended.
Having only managed the 3 East London shops on my list, the plan was changed to hit the centre of town the next day and leave the delights of North and West London for next time.
Day 2 – London
So it was that day 2 began with X-Ray Spex in my head and central London, specifically Soho, record shops in my sights.
The first port of call was Sister Ray on Berwick Street, which, you’ll be relieved to know, I found without incident.
A really good range of new and used vinyl here with a couple of ‘sale’ crates to flick through too. This is what I came away with:
Goat – Run To Your Mama Remixes Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (2 x 12″) – have I mentioned I love Goat? Oh. Still some interesting remixes here from the likes of Gnod and Hookworms.
Frank Zappa – Joe’s Garage Acts II & III (LP) – to complement the Act I that I have had for years and never got round to completing. It’s about time to find out what happens to Joe. I reckon it’ll involve oral sex in some way.
Throwing Muses – Firepile EP (12″) – a bargain with a tremendous version of Hendrix’s Manic Depression. Kristin can sure play guitar.
So impressed was I by the set up and depth of interesting stock, I bought a T-Shirt to commemorate my first time inside a record store I have done plenty of business with online.
Further on down Berwick Street – now, officially, my favourite, easy to find street in Lahndahn, there’s Reckless Records…
… a full on digger’s paradise, this store had me from the first crate inside the door, in which I found, I kid you not, this fantastic copy of the X-Ray Spex – Germfree Adolescents (LP) – first press with laminate cover and lyrics on the inner sleeve.
The Clean – Vehicle (LP) – this is the album that has the track covered by Guided By Voices on their split single. I reckon the rest of it will be just as good.
The Replacements – I Will Dare (12″) – another band I really love. This is a very nice copy of the single with a couple of covers on the B-side.
Cover Me compilation (LP) – with the likes of Southside Johnny, Gary US Bonds and Johnny Cash covering The Boss. I think I know all these versions, but we shall see.
Just time for one more shop before leaving London, and it was Sounds Of The Universe, which can be found just round the corner from Berwick Street, now, officially my fave… etc. and so on, that had that particular honour.
As it turns out the shop name was apposite as I found myself presented with a lot of music by artists I had not only never heard, but had never heard of. I am guessing that a lot of the stock is dance related (not a genre I am very familiar with), but I can honestly say that upstairs the only artists I recognised were some of the more obscure Krautrockers – ex-members of can, Neu!, etc. but with nothing as obvious as a Tangerine Dream LP. [The shop is associated with Soul Jazz Records – TTW Ed.]
Downstairs, there were a couple of more familiar ‘post-punk’ crates and I was tempted by a very nice copy of PIL’s second LP. In the end though I went for a CD compilation, as much due to the relief I felt in recognising nearly all the artists on it as anything else, that I had seen both in RTE and Sister Ray, but that here was nearly half the price. There is no such thing as a poor record shop.
Punk 45: There Is No Such Thing As Society compilation (CD) – with The Users, The Mekons, Television Personalities, Swell Maps, Josef K and other well known acts.
So, that was the end of the first stage of the shopping spree and I reckon I’d done particularly well with the top finds being:
New: Man.. Or Astroman LP
Used: X-Ray Spex LP
Unknown Pleasure: Dead Mellotron LP
Back to Liverpool for the mighty live pairing of Lumerians and Boogarins and then it was time to Hit The North!
Day 3 – Newcastle
I had only ever been to Newcastle before to visit St James Park, or whatever it is called now, and have therefore only ever come across locals dressed as massed barcodes. It was with some surprise then that having parked in the Grainger part of Toon that the predominant football shirt on display seemed to be related to Gateshead. It was also surprisingly easy to find…
The unprepossessing doorway to Beatdown Records, formerly Steel Wheels (for you oldsters and, ahem, Saxon fans out there) gives the misleading impression that you are entering a tiny shop, but another surprise was in store (literally) as I ventured inside.
the good stuff is downstairs
Having eschewed the new stuff upstairs, this is what I found after 2 full hours in the basement.
Goat – Stonegoat (7″) – 2 non-album cuts here both are electrifying on the Live Ballroom Ritual LP
Kenickie – Nightlife (7″) – I was sold on the leopard print vinyl, I admit it.
Hotel Cleveland compilation (LP) – I have got Volume III in this series because it’s got tracks by Doug Gillard and My Dad Is Dead on it. This, the first volume, features Prisonshake, Ghost Sonata, Crash and the superbly named Starvation Army. It is bound to be great.
The Saints – The New Rose Years compilation (LP) – very pleased to find this as I do collect The Saints – this album compiles tracks from A Little Madness To Be Free, The Monkey Puzzle, Out In The Jungle and the classic Paralytic Tonight, Dublin Tomorrow EP amongst others. Top band. Top collection.
Paul Revere & The Raiders – Goin’ To Memphis (LP) – fairly battered, but only 2 quid, although I only know the title track so we’ll have to see if it’s a bargain.
Preston School Of Industry – Monsoon (LP) – isn’t this somehow connected to Pavement and Steve Malkmus? It’s got Scott McCaughey and Jeff Tweedy on it for sure.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Architecture & Morality (LP) – a nice cut out copy cover albeit the rereleased light blue version – for a quid – happy days.
Bee Gees – Best Of Bee Gees early compilation (LP) – my only purchase for under a pound. It features my favourite BG track – Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You. Their first album is a corker.
Kenny Process Team – Surfin With… (LP) – no, me neither, but what a cover (and cover story) “a most unlikely looking pop trio with unkempt appearance, shabby trousers and a penchant for baggy jumpers…” no less.Described as “seventeen first rate numbers” and seemingly from Leeds. I’ll report back.
Heaven 17 – Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry (Part I & II) (12″) – another sub £1.50 offer and you get parts 1 AND 2. “Liberation for the nation now!”
This was definitely the highlight of the record shopping experience to date, made even better by the lads throwing in not only a branded tote bag, but also a much needed slipmat that looks like this on my turntable:
RPM Music – 4 Old George Yard, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE1 1EZ
After a short food break (with a piece of pizza bigger than my face for £1.50 from the market!), it was back to it with a short trek across town to RPM Music an emporium neatly hidden round the corner from what appears to be a pub.
There I picked up one new record: Sean Rowe – To Leave Something Behind (7″) – me and Chozza saw this guy blow Josh Rouse off the stage last year and I’m hoping this single is as good as his album.
and a few top second handers:
a reduced 3 fer combo: Human League – Being Boiled / Elvis Costello – Radio Radio – pic sleeve / XTC – Statue Of Liberty (7″s) – late 70s classics all
They Might Be Giants – Don’t Let’s Start compilation (LP) & They’ll Need A Crane (12″) – as always some cracking song titles from the Johns: Hey Mr DJ, I Thought You Said We Had A Deal, Kiss Me Son Of God, We’re The Replacements…
Miracle Legion – Me And Mr Ray (LP) – it’s that Mark Mulcahy bloke. We like him.
Camper Van Beethoven – Eye Of Fatima (12″) – I have the Telephone Free Landslide Victory album, which is great, but failed to keep up with these boys over the years. This looks interesting though and features a very lengthy explanation of the 4 tracks in tiny print that I’ll need my readers for.
Reflex Records – 23 Nun St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5AG
Ignoring the CD stall in the market, I next head directly for another Geordie legend, Reflex.
Little in the way of second hand bargains here, but lots of really tempting new stuff. I was talked into the 2 x Neil Young LPs against my better judgement – it’s Trans era Neil for chrissakes – and I couldn’t resist yet more Space Rock / Drone/ Psychedielia especially if it is on the Rocket Recordings label.
Neil Young – Cow Palace 1986 Volumes 1 & 2 (2 x LP) – a radio broadcast from Brisbane no less. Should I have gone for the solo Neil circa 1970? I really don’t know what to expect from this collection.
Crystallized – Celebrating 15 Years Of Rocket Recordings compilation (2 x LP) – featuring Goat! Gnod! Teeth Of The Sea! etc. etc.
Newcastle had worn me out, but I was one happy wizard.
The top finds being;
New: Crystallized compilation
Used: Goat – Stonegoat single
Unknown Pleasure: I have high hopes for Kenny Process Team. Probably unwisely.
Day 4 – Stockton -on – Tees
Leaving our base in Northumberland to head for the North Yorkshire coast and Whitby, it only seemed right to stop off at the record collector’s Mecca that is Stockton on the way. Presumably, there is a bingo hall here, but little else seemed to be open on a Sunday afternoon. Luckily, the record shop was.
Sound It Out Records – Yarm St, Stockton-on-Tees, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland TS18 3DR
I’ve seen it on film, of course, but to be outside THE Sound It Out Records store was still quite a thrill. It was even better inside.
When I arrived there was one customer in the shop, deep in conversation with the staff about a 4am queuing for Saturday. Christ, this is hardcore stuff. It took a little while to work out what was in front of me. 20% off second hand records, you say.. I’ll have a look through everything you’ve got then – yes, the 2 tiers… This is what I found:
The Ventures – (The) Ventures In Space (LP) – Spaced themed Ventures? What’s not to like?
Marc Bolan – You Scare Me To Death (LP) – I really need to educate myself beyond the hit singles and The Slider LP and this gatefold houses a full discography to work through. The album itself seems to be posthumous (not the bloke in De La Soul).
Human League – The Lebanon (12″) – possibly my favourite hit of theirs, here in a longer version. Good.
David Thomas & The Pedestrians – The Sound Of The Sand And Others Songs Of The Pedestrian (LP) – one of two albums under this name that I had to decide between both featuring Richard Thompson. This appears to be their first collaboration. Pere Ubu + Fairport Convention? Pere Convention. Sounds like a meeting of fruit.
The further I went, the further I entered into the world of the unknown and it was now a matter of basing selections on the cover, the title and/or band name only…
The Dots & Stops – If I Look Uncomfortable, It’s Only Coz I Need To Do It (LP) – this was the album title that did it.
The Suncharms – Tranquil Day (12″) – the band name.
Alles Fuer Zuhause: Die Neue Deutsche Welle compilation (LP) – German new wave/synth pop – great cover. I recognise none of the artists. Extrabreit, anyone?
Stomu Yamashta – Go (LP) – not enough Japanese experimentalism in my collection obviously.
An excellent selection of new stuff that I know nothing about too? You’re spoiling me. OK, then… I’ll have some of your Ferrero Rocher, er, shiny 180mg vinyl.
New Build – Yesterday Was Lived And Lost (LP) – great album title + cover. I think it might be fairly miserable. Excellent.
Eternal Tapestry – A World Out Of Time (LP) – I love the cover and the fact it is on Thrill Jockey gives me great confidence that I’ll like the sound. I anticipate spacerock.
Cathode – Chad Valley (7″) – I picked this out of the ‘local bands’ box and was given the following local (non) recommendation: “you won’t like that”, which combined with the fact that is described as lo-fi electronica, sold it to me. Obviously.
Jacco Gardener – Cabinet Of Curiosities (LP) – not really an unknown this as I have come across this fella’s name in loads of articles, but I don’t know what he sounds like. I probably should. I think he’s part of the rising psych movement.
I had set this shop up as being the place I particularly wanted to visit in the North East and it really didn’t disappoint. Not only was there an unbelievable mix of affordable stock, but I left with the promise of a store T-shirt and compilation CDs of local acts to be sent on in the post. Legends.
Day 5 – Whitby
It’s fucking windy in Whitby, isn’t it? Anyway, I found time between visits to what I am happy to declare the best restaurant in the UK to pop in to the only record shop in town, the aptly named Folk Devils.
Folk Devils – 16 Sandgate, Town Centre, Whitby YO22 4DB
I say aptly named because there was predominantly folk music on offer. Now I’m not averse to a moment or two of yer hey nonny no, but there was a lot of stuff here that I really had no idea about. Some of the new LPs seemed to enter into electronica territory, but it was the second hand stuff that offered the real treasures.
The Imposter – Pills And Soap (7″) – my second EC pick of the week, this one has an extended version on the B-side
Darren Hayman – Minehead (7″) – part of the trilogy of EPs recorded at Butlins. I anticipate the sound of a ukulele.
Squeeze – Babylon And On (LP) – I am aware of fellow wizard, Rebel Rikkit’s current infatuation with late period Squeeze and it seems only fair that I join in. I only really know the opener here, but it’s a belter.
So, that was the end of the final leg and I returned to Liverpool with a good foot (12″) of vinyl to get through. As I do so, I will add comments below about the records bought, but if you know and love these records (especially the ones I know nothing about), please let us know too.
In the meantime, here’s a playlist with a selection of the songs from the record haul described above. And remember, a record shop is not only for Record Shop (let’s reclaim this, UK) Day.
We’re here again with your weekly dosage of great music videos. Let us know what the connection is between these 2 chunks of noisy brilliance and you could have your name carved into our Hall of Fame.
Elvis Costello once said that “Morrissey writes wonderful song titles, but sadly he often forgets to write the song.”
A great one-liner for sure but not sure it’s really fair. Earlier this week, Morrissey announced the tracklisting for his forthcoming album “World Peace Is None of Your Business”.
As usual with the Mozman, there are some great songtitles in there. My favourite is “Kick the Bride Down the Aisle”. I’m also intrigued by “Mountjoy”. Could this be an ode to the Welsh wizard of the green baize Doug? Possibly not.
Anyway, here’s a little something to keep you going until the album comes out in July, our playlist of the great man’s 20 greatest songtitles.
Everyone likes music that gets released in unusual formats, right? Welcome to part 1 in our occasional series celebrating the weird and wonderful items in our collections.
Our wizard Chorizo Garbanzo is very proud of his XTC CD single “King for a Day” that came in a crown-shaped case. From 1989 to 1995, record companies were allowed to release singles in multiples formats and sales of all of them would be counted towards a song’s chart position. “King for a Day” was released on 7″, 12″ and this CD single and reached number 82 in the UK singles charts.
The wizards were back at The Shipping Forecast again last night to watch some more great live music. This time around it was Californian purveyors of psychedelia Lumerians supported by fleet-footed Boogarins playing their debut gig in England.
Whilst Liverpool city centre was awash with the detritus of Ladies Day, our intrepid Wizards Chorizo & Kicker were getting geed up about an Alcopop double bill of Johnny Foreigner and Radstewart.
Listen here for a full report on all 5 (five) bands on the bill and much associated horsing around.
Hey, it’s April Fool’s Day! Enjoy this month’s mix of musical mayhem with the additional twist of one of the fascinating facts mentioned below being untrue. See if you can spot the errant information (in the tradition of newspapers in the UK making up stories (as if!) on 1st April). The answer is at the foot of the page.
p-p-picking up the pasta
I was reminded of this opening act by the very low roof in a Liverpool venue recently, having seen them smash a hole in the ceiling at The Roadhouse, Manchester in a not at all rock and roll and fully accidental way. Yes, it’s sons of Leeds, Black Star Liner, named after Marcus Garvey’s shipping line possibly itself influenced by the Scouse White Star Liner company that is linked to Titanic. Here we open with a track from their magnificent debut Yemen Cutta Connection. After them we have a mod stomper from pod favourites The Past Tense with one of the tracks on their latest split EP. The Past Tense, of course, from the city of Worcester, famous also for the record label Planet Mu. Next it’s everyone’s favourite flautist/flutist/flute player (all are correct!) him out of Jethro Tull. This track, the opener on Living In The Past came upon shuffle last week and sounded pretty neat to me. Taking us even further back in the past is Johnny Burnette, who was so rock and roll he named his son Rock.
so fuckin’ rock
All the way from my hometown of Leeds, next it’s Menace Beach, named after a Nintendo game and rocking out here with a track from the Alcopop compilation Alcopopular 6 (Highway To The Velodrome) that was available in the form of a racing bike. I got the CD. Another oddity follows from Gorlkeepers with a 2009 release featuring at least 2 OLO Worms and a borrowed piano. It really is quite beautiful, although I’m not sure it is “the sound of gardening in our football kits” they were apparently going for. It’s that Rotifer bloke after them with a rip-roaring number from The Hosting Couple album that celebrates the research going on in Aberdeen at 375 Victoria Road. Darren Hayman features on this track on bass guitar and wears a lab coat in the video. It’s that good. Time then for some Guided By Voices. This month’s track is a newie from the Motivational Jumpsuit LP and is one of five tracks on the album penned and sung by Tobin Sprout. How am I going to choose just one track from this album for my best of year list? And it’s only April.
almost certainly not in Aberdeen
Another release from this year is up next, in the form of the track on Suzanne Vega’s Tales From The Realm Of The Queen Of Pentacles that features a sample of the 50 Cent (50 Pence, in the UK) track Candy Shop. Then it’s back to the 80s with synth-legends The Human League and the original dub version of one of the many great tracks on Dare. This version is actually taken from the recent release on 180gm 12″ by Control Room Recordings, which is THE way to hear the sounds between the groove. It’s been 28 years since I last saw The League (as no-one calls them) play a matinee set at The Leadmill in Sheffield, but I have tickets to see them in Liverpool in November in the company of the tall half of synth baton carriers Stereo Electric Mistress. No other wizards will be participating.
good times
The sound of young Rennes next with Sudden Death Of Stars and currently my favourite track from their new All Unrevealed Parts Of The Unknown. This, as you may be aware, is a band who have already wowed me live this year. A band I never got to see, but really would have loved to is Big Star and it’s the Alex Chilton fronted Box Tops who follow. This follow up single to the smash hit The Letter was recorded with the 17 years old Chilton on vocals, but failed to chart in the UK (The Letter had made #5).
bloody grumpy teenagers
Right back to the present next with an hour of blues. In fact, it’s just over 6 minutes of a Blues Hour from those Mogwai types. Now, as I’m sure you know, the Glasgow band are named after the ‘good’ Gremlins, but did you know their Rock Action records is named after the recently passed Stooges drummer Scott Asheton, who changed his name to Rock Action back in the day? Oh. Anyway, enjoy the vocals on this one. Courtesy of the CASH Music Kickstarter Compilation, we have Shannon Rose Steele up next with her first solo recording away from Typhoon and it’s a cover of a Julie Doiron song to boot. Cleveland’s Death Of Samantha are up next with a track from their live-in-studio recording of a bunch of their original classics. The album If Memory Serves Us Well is a timely reminder of the power of the band and acts as a precursor to a new album slated for later this year. Listen out for the rock and roll call to arms to GBV man Doug Gillard. Psychedelic electronica next from the legendary Silver Apples. Here with a track from their eponymous debut album. Interestingly, the band’s self-made synthesiser is also eponymous, being named the Simeon.
the simenon playing/being played by the simenon
It’s a Joe Meek produced hit single next with Mike Berry (better known, perhaps, as Mr Spooner in Are You Being Served?) and the Outlaws, who at one time or another included Chas of Chasendave and Ritchie ‘Rainbow’ Blackmore. This, quite literal, Tribute To Buddy Holly was banned at the time for being too morbid. That would be the death of emo now, I guess. Talking of glum, how about a bit of Scott Walker? I found this track on a strange compilation of SW tracks made before The Walker Brothers called Looking Back With Scott Walker. This song was evidently heard by another actor, Tommy Sands, who went on to have a bit hit with it. Following Sing Boy Sing, we have The Boy Can Sing – see what I did there – from Easterhouse, the Manchester band named after the Glasgow suburb, and a band whose first album I would rate right up there in my all time favourites. Interestingly, their first live performance was supporting The Smiths. Finally then, we have a piece of progressive jazz rock fusion. Sounds great, eh? Well, it is. Of course it is, it’s that Hugh Hopper out of Soft Machine on the 1973 album 1984. Eh? I recently picked this up on near mint vinyl and, frankly, it is tremendous decidedly non-commercial genius.
See you next month!
cheer up moody chops
Those tracks in full:
1. Killah Connection – Black Star Liner – we start with another track from the top Yemen Cutta Connection LP on the playlist, but this is the one I really love.
2. What’s Coming Next – The Past Tense – you can get this single on red or yellow or even black vinyl here. You’ll be able to hear this particular track then, but in the meantime there’s another stormer from the Take Three LP on the playlist.
In the words of the Big Bopper, Hellooooooooooooo baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaby!!
As usual, we have 2 wonderful videos to delight and confound you. Work out what the link is between them and you could have your name writ large in our Hall of Fame.
TRUST THE WIZARDS 