Saturday, October 31, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 31st October '09 - Nick Drake - Fly

Nick Drake is someone whose music has played in the home I live in over the years but whose work I never really paid attention to until this January when I randomly bought the album 'Bryter Layter' (I liked the cover)and instantly fell in love with his music.

Dying in 1974 aged only 26, Nick Drake only produces 3 studio albums - all of which sold no more than 5,000 each on original release. However, over the years his influence and popularity has grown and, after the title track of his final album 'Pink Moon' was used in a Volkswagen advert in 2000, he sold more copies of his albums in that year than he had sold in total over the previous thirty years!!

Though his career and life were brief, his influence is still felt by musicians today and he certainly deserves his place in any list of the most influential artists of all time.

If you haven't heard his stuff before I truly recommend you check him out!

Enjoy!

Nick Drake - Fly

Please give me a second grace
Please give me a second face
I’ve fallen far down the first time around
Now I just sit on the ground in your way

Now if it’s time for recompense for what’s done
Come, come sit down on the fence in the sun
And the clouds will roll by
And we’ll never deny
It’s really too hard
For to fly

Please tell me your second name
Please play me your second game
I’ve fallen so far for the people you are
I just need your star for a day

So come, come ride in my street-car by the bay
For now I must know how fine you are in your way
And the sea sure as I
But she won’t need to cry
For it’s really too hard
For to fly

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 24th October '09 - The Doors - The Soft Parade

The Doors are, without a doubt, one of my favourite bands of all time. From a young age their music enticed me with its almost magical presence. The songs all have great melodies - whether they be standard pop ones or more intriguing flights of musical fancy - and they lyrics often paint pictures beyond the standard ones found in most songs.

Thanks to the near mythical status achieved by their charismatic lead singer Jim Morrison as well as the catchy Robby Kreiger song 'Light My Fire', The Doors were propelled into the spotlight in which they shone for a mere 54 months before Morrison's untimely passing in 1971.

Last weekend, as part of the British Film Festival, I went to see a new documentary about The Doors called 'When You're Strange'. It is a fantastically put together documentary and features footage from 'Feast Of Friends' and 'HWY', both previously unreleased, in full and glorious technicolour. The footage from 'HWY', in particular, is so breath-taking with Jim looking so 'real' and 'alive' that you feel like you could just reach out and touch him. Having seen 'HWY' in its entirety online, but only in the form of scrappy pre-production footage, it's just wonderful to see it as a 'final cut' and I only hope that the Morrison-Courson estate see sense and give this the proper release it, in my opinion, deserves.

Though I love all their music, the album 'The Soft Parade' has always been my favourite and the title track of this album is certainly my favourite Doors song. With its many sections it's like the 'mini rock-opera' style that was developed around that time by Pete Townshend of The Who and shows, in musical form, The Doors’ theatricality that was as much part of the music as it was the performance.

I hope you all enjoy it!!!

The Doors - The Soft Parade

When I was back there in seminary school
There was a person there
Who put forth the proposition
That you can petition the Lord with prayer…
Petition the Lord with prayer…
Petition the Lord with prayer…
You cannot petition the Lord with prayer!

Can you give me sanctuary?
I must find a place to hide,
A place for me to hide.

Can you find me soft asylum?
I can't make it anymore
The Man is at the door.

Peppermint, miniskirts, chocolate candy,
Champion sax and a girl named Sandy
There's only four ways to get unraveled —
One is to sleep and the other is travel at dawn.
One is a bandit up in the hills,
One is to love your neighbor till
His wife gets home.

Catacombs,
Nursery bones,
Winter women
Growing stones,
Carrying babies to the river
Streets and shoes,
Avenues,
Leather riders
Selling news,
The monk
Bought
Lunch.

He he he, he bought a little.
Yes, he did
Woo!

This is the best part of the trip.
This is the trip, the best part
I really like.

What'd he say?
Yeah!
Yeah, right!
Pretty good, huh
Huh!
Yeah, I'm proud to be a part of this number!

Successful hills are here to stay,
Everything must be this way.
Gentle streets where people play,
Welcome to the Soft Parade.
All our lives we sweat and save,
Building for a shallow grave.
“Must be something else”, we say
“Somehow to defend this place.”
Everything must be this way,
Everything must be this way, yeah. Aah, yeah!

The Soft Parade has now begun
Listen to the engines hum.
People out to have some fun,
Cobra on my left,
Leopard on my right, yeah.

Deer woman in a silk dress,
Girls with beads around their necks,
Kiss the hunter of the green vest
Who has wrestled before
With lions in the night.
Out of sight!

The lights are getting brighter,
The radio is moaning,
Calling to the dogs.
There are still a few animals
Left out in the yard,

But it's getting harder
To describe sailors
To the underfed.

Tropic corridor,
Tropic treasure,
What got us this far,
To this mild equator?
We need someone or something new,
Something else to get us through, yeah. C'mon!

Callin' on the dogs,
Callin' on the dogs,
But it's gettin' harder
Callin' on the dogs,
Callin' in the dogs,
Callin' on the dogs,
Callin' on the gods.

You gotta
Meet me Too late, baby!
Shoot a few animals аt the crossroads Too late!
Left out in the yard.
But it's getting harder Whoa!
Gotta meet me You’ve done great, hey!
At the edge of town, Having a good time.
You’d better come along
Outskirts of the city Let’s fun!
Just you and I
And the evening sky. We are so alone.
Better bring your gun You’d better come along.
You’d better bring your gun.
We’re gonna have some fun!
Tropic corridor
Tropic treasure.

When all else fails,
We can whip the horse's
Eyes and make them sleep
And cry

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 17th October '09 - Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant

As a kid I knew who the Sex Pistols were and their music from an early age, but my first real memory of seeing any of them in action was at the Rock Circus which used to be at the London Pavilion (part of the Trocadero center) when I was about 9 or 10. They had there, as part of their exhibit, an auditorium where you'd sit down and then the seated area would rotate around the auditorium so you would see several animatronic figures of famous bands and performers. One of these, the closing 'performer', was Sid Vicious and in addition to the animatronic figure there was a large screen behind him showing footage of the video for his cover of the song 'My Way'. At the end of it he 'shoots' the audience....I was, from then on, fascinated.

Roll forward a few years to 1996. Finsbury Park on a gloriously sunny Sunday in late June. With an abundance of fantastic acts on the bill, including Iggy Pop, Skunk Anansie & The Wildhearts to name but a few, I went with my cousin Claire to see the Sex Pistols. I'd already been listening to their music for a long, long time but to see them live was just amazing. John Lydon is one of the funniest and most entertaining people I've had the privilege of witnessing live. That day, for me, was one of the highlights of 1996 - a year which is still, for me, the best year of my life to date.

That night I truly fell in love with 'Pretty Vacant'. The song is so much fun and brings back great memories of jumping around in a huge crowd of people just having a really good time.

The importance of this band and it's effects on music going forward from punk cannot be underestimated, both for bands around and shortly after that time who saw them perform and were inspired to for bands as a result (notably Joy Division & The Fall) and then bands such as Oasis, Nirvana, Green Day & Guns 'N' Roses who acknowledged the inspiration that the Sex Pistols had on them.

If you've not given them your full attention before I think you should do. This week's accompanying video is from that very first time I saw them in 1996.

Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant

There's no point in asking
You'll get no reply
I just remembered, I'm terribly sorry
I've got no reason, there is no "Why?"
Say "No future!" and that's just fine

Oh we're so pretty
Oh so pretty we're vacant
Oh we're so pretty
Oh so pretty
A vacant

Don't ask us to attend
'Cos we're not all there
Oh don't pretend 'cos i don't care
I don't belive illusions
'Cos too much is real
So stop you'r cheap comment
'Cos we know what we feel

Oh we're so pretty
Oh so pretty we're vacant
Oh we're so pretty
Oh so pretty we're vacant
Ah but now and we don't care

There's no piont in asking
You'll get no reply
Oh just remember a don't decide
I got no reason it's all too much
You'll always find me out to lunch
We're out on lunch

Oh we're so pretty
Oh so pretty we're vacant
Oh we're so pretty
Oh so pretty we're vacant
Oh we're so pretty
Oh so pretty ah
But now and we don't care

We're pretty
A pretty vacant
We're pretty
A pretty vacant
We're pretty
A pretty vacant
We're pretty
A pretty vacant
And we don't care


Saturday, October 10, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 10th October '09 - Slade - How Does It Feel?

When you mention the group Slade to people, chances are they'll all instantly think of 'Merry Xmas Everybody'. If not that then probably they'll think of tracks like 'Cum On Feel The Noize', 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now', 'Coz I Luv You' or 'Skweeze Me Pleeze Me'. They'll think of images of Noddy Holder in his top hat, often bedecked with little glass mirrors, and his HUGE sideburns or Dave Hill with his daft haircuts and over the top outfits that almost made him appear like he was from another planet, all done with a daft wee grin on his face while he pranced about during their performances on Top Of The Pops. With all these thoughts in mind, you wouldn't have them pegged as a serious band and as the people who recorded, in my opinion, one of the greatest songs of all time....but, I think they did.

This week’s song is, in my opinion, the second greatest song ever recorded. I know opinion on such things is all about personal opinion and I'm sure many wouldn't agree with me so don't, dear reader, worry if you don't share this view of mine...but I hope it makes you think a little differently about Slade all the same.

I first heard this song in 1998. I had recently gotten into Slade having disregarded them as a youngster only to be introduced to them in a, perhaps, more easy to appreciate set of circumstances when they featured on the soundtrack to the Todd Haynes movie 'Velvet Goldmine'. This lead me to hunt out anything I could get featuring Slade and, on Sunday afternoon at a local car boot sale, I chanced upon the soundtrack to their movie 'Flame' (more commonly known as 'Slade In Flame' and really a 'must see' movie...dark, gritty and not what people expected from Slade...a reason why it may not have done so well at the box office).

When I got home and popped the vinyl onto the turntable and set the needle on it, I was greeted with just sheer magic coming at me through the speakers. Here was something that didn't sound anything like what I'd heard from Slade before. Starting with simple piano leading into Noddy Holder's vocals which, for all their gruffness, still brought out the poignancy of the lyrics. It then slowly builds into a passionate combination of powerful vocals, uplifting guitars, bass and drums and then soaring brass while all the time being underpinned by the piano.

Shockingly, to me at least, it was their worst performance on the UK singles chart in four years only reaching number 15 after a run of twelve tracks to chart in the top four, with the majority being number ones!!

I feel sad, in a way, that Slade are seen as a 'novelty' band by so many people as they are missing out on something as beautiful as this.

The video this week has footage of the band performing the song on the Russell Harty show but with the original recording dubbed over it as there was no clips of them performing the song in it's entirety...but I felt that it had to be heard in its entirety for you, the happy reader, to truly experience it (and I felt the stock footage was more entertaining to watch than a static image)

'Til next week, folks, enjoy!!

Slade - How Does It Feel?

How does it feel runnin' around round round?
How does it feel watchin' from upside down?
'Cos many years from now there will be new sensations
And new temptations
How does it feel?

How does it feel right at the start?
And how does it feel when you are thrown apart?
'Cos many years from now there will be new elations
And new frustrations
How does it feel?

Oh! Oh!

Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' in your own time
All your attempting experimenting all on the climb
Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' and suddenly find
All your illusion, all your confusion all left behind

How does it feel turnin' away?
And how does it feel facing another day?
'Cos many years from now there will be newer poisons
And new horizons
How does it feel?

Oh! Oh! Oh!

Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' in your own time
All your attempting experimenting all on the climb
Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' and suddenly find
All your illusion, all your confusion all left behind

'Cos many years from now there will be new tomorrows
And still some sorrows
How does it feel?

Oh! Oh! Oh!

Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' in your own time
All your attempting experimenting all on the climb
Oh!
Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' and suddenly find
All your illusion, all your confusion all left behind

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 3rd October '09 - Kajagoogoo - The Lion's Mouth

I loved music from a very early age and it has always been a big part of my life. I cannot imagine life without it. I was 3-years-old when Kajagoogoo had a huge hit with 'Too Shy' and I loved them a hell of a lot. I thought I was going to grow up and marry Limahl with us living happily ever after in our very own castle, perhaps a slightly unrealistic expectation but, like I said, I was only 3. It didn't seem to take too long, however, before the cracks appeared and then Limahl was off doing solo stuff and the rest of the band seemingly disappeared. In reality they carried on without him and had other chart singles which must have just passed my young self by. However I always remembered them with great fondness and affection and, as I got older, I began to discover the music they had produced after Limahl's exit and grew to really love it.

Roll on to 2004, sat at a friends place watching VH1 and a show comes on called 'Bands Reunited'. The premiss of the show, finding members of bands who were once popular and bringing them back together in the hope of getting them to perform a one off gig for the show, seemed interesting so I decided to watch it....only to be confronted with them trying to reform Kajagoogoo. They did, for one night only, before the age old problems set in and they went their seperate ways again with Nick Beggs, Steve Askew and Stuart Neale carrying on as a trio to record a new album in 2007. Having seen that I'd missed possibly my only chance to ever see the original line-up live was gutting (I'd obviously been way too young to see them perform when I was 3) so imagine my sheer delight when, earlier this year, they announced that they'd finally all grown up and gotten over their issues and that the original line-up were to tour again!! Well, i made sure that I got my hands on a ticket and spent the next 5 months waiting somewhat impatiently to see them.

Wednesday night I finally achieved that childhood dream and it was magical. Hearing songs that I'd gotten to thinking I'd never hear live with the original line-up performing them was, indeed, a dream come true. The new material was fantastic too which made it even better. Now I'm just hoping that it won't be my only time seeing them and that they'll tour again because they're just really great...but if it is the only time that i'll happen in my life then I'm greatful because in the 26 years since I first fell in love with this band it was a day I never thought I'd see.

This week's song is one that was recorded after the departure of Limahl when Nick Beggs had taken over lead vocals. On Wednesday night they did a great job of bringing in Limahl on shared vocals on this and other songs that were recorded after he left as those songs have their place in the bands history and are just as good as anything recorded when he was there.

This song is so catchy and I've been humming it all week. Hope you like it!!

Kajagoogoo - The Lion's Mouth

Take away my prime from the
Mouth of the lion
Savage jaws are the price we pay
Take away the lies,
Let me see with my own eyes
Walk along the narrow way

Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
Oh what a waste (oh what a waste)
Your sword is no use when your standing face to face
(Standing there face to face)
Oh what a waste
Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
A mystic human race
Your sword no use to you when standing face to face
(Standing there face to face)

Say
Hey you fool watch out!
You'll get mauled by the lion's mouth

Hey you fool watch out!
You'll get mauled by the lion's mouth

Ohhhh

Take away my chains,
Don't want to see 'em again
Take away my misery
Take my blindfold,
Don't want to belong to the o-o-old
Take them off and set me free

Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
Oh what a waste (oh what a waste)
Your sword is no use when your standing face to face
(Standing there face to face)
Oh what a waste
Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
A mystic human race
Your sword no use to you when standing face to face
(Standing there face to face)

Say
Hey you fool watch out!
You'll get mauled by the lion's mouth
I don't think so

Hey you fool watch out!
You'll get mauled by the lion's mouth
I don't think so

Hey you fool watch out!
You'll get mauled by the lion's mouth
I don't think so

Hey you fool watch out!
You'll get mauled by the lion's mouth

Ohhhh

Hey you fool watch out!
You'll get mauled by the lion's mouth

Hey you fool watch out!
You'll get mauled by the lion's mouth
I don't think so


The Lion's Mouth

Kajagoogoo | MySpace Music Videos