it was a chilly autumnal night when, at the birthday party of a mutual friend, I first heard My Lithium & Me (a.k.a. Leah Kardos) first perform 'Lady Grinning Soul'. As our friend, like us, was a Bowie fan she had put together a set of her own take on Bowie songs and the haunting quality of her performance of 'Lady Grinning Soul' was just captivating.
Since then she has continued to do her own take on Bowie songs at various parties until she decided to turn these casual, fun performances into a project. The end result is My Lithium & Me's 'You Can't Hide The Beat', a set of six amazing Bowie covers that are free to download from the website http://youcanthidebeat.com/ as well as some fantastic videos for several of them, and I do encourage you to watch the wonderful video for this song, animated by the talented Izzy Foster.
The songs from this project have been on loop on my mp3 player this week as I soak in every single piece of these songs. From the subtle samples from other Bowie songs to the wonderful vocal harmonies the six tracks are just such a wonderful treat for the ears and everyone should give them a listen.
My only hope is that this is just the beginning for My Lithium & Me and that there will be more to come in the future, whether it is more Bowie or some original material, as it would be a shame not to hear more from this seriously talented young lady.
Hope you all enjoy this week's song and I'll catch you all next week!!
My Lithium & Me/David Bowie - Lady Grinning Soul
She'll come, she'll go. She'll lay belief on you
Skin sweet with musky oil
The lady from another grinning soul
Cologne she'll wear. Silver and Americard
She'll drive a beetle car
And beat you down at cool Canasta
And when the clothes are strewn don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast. Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
She'll come, she'll go. She'll lay belief on you
But she won't stake her life on you
How can life become her point of view
And when the clothes are strewn don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast. Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 19th February '11 - Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Town
For this song being in my head I have to place some of the blame on the gorgeous little head of actress Zooey Deschanel. If it wasn't for her singing it in the movie '(500) Days Of Summer' (an excellent film by the way) then I might well have never heard it. Also it would have meant that whenever I think of the film this song instantly pops into my head and, as I've been thinking about the film a lot this week, I've been thinking about the song. So it's all Zooey's fault!
Nancy Sinatra was born in 1940 and is the eldest child of the late, great singer Frank Sinatra. Despite her lineage, Nancy's career didn't automatically take off. Despite signing to Reprise Records in 1961 and releasing several singles they all failed to do particularly well and by 1965 Nancy was on the verge of being dropped. Then she began to work with Lee Hazlewood, a renowned producer, songwriter and arranger who had been making hit records for stars such as Duane Eddy for a decade by that point. Hazlewood changed Nancy's sound and singing style and, along with a Carnaby Street-esque make-over, she began to have hits, leading off in early 1966 with the anthemic 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin''. A flurry of hits soon followed including 'Sugar Town' which became her second single to sell over a million copies.
Nancy continued to make music, as well as work in both film and television, until the mid-70's when she slowed down to concentrate on being a wife and mother. Periodically since the early 80's she has made music and even appeared in Playboy magazine in 1995!
'Sugar Town', for me, is a great little song that I just haven't stopped singing to myself all week. It's such a happy little ditty that you have to smile when you hear it. And it's still all Zooey's fault!
Hope you all enjoy it and I'll catch you all next week!
Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Town
I got some troubles but they won't last
I'm gonna lay right down here in the grass
And pretty soon all my troubles will pass
'cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
I never had a dog that liked me some
Never had a friend or wanted one
So I just lay back and laugh at the sun
'cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
Yesterday it rained in Tennessee
I heard it also rained in Tallahassee
But not a drop fell on little old me
'cause I was in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
If I had a million dollars or ten
I'd give to ya, world, and then
You'd go away and let me spend
My life in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
la-la-la-la to end
Nancy Sinatra was born in 1940 and is the eldest child of the late, great singer Frank Sinatra. Despite her lineage, Nancy's career didn't automatically take off. Despite signing to Reprise Records in 1961 and releasing several singles they all failed to do particularly well and by 1965 Nancy was on the verge of being dropped. Then she began to work with Lee Hazlewood, a renowned producer, songwriter and arranger who had been making hit records for stars such as Duane Eddy for a decade by that point. Hazlewood changed Nancy's sound and singing style and, along with a Carnaby Street-esque make-over, she began to have hits, leading off in early 1966 with the anthemic 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin''. A flurry of hits soon followed including 'Sugar Town' which became her second single to sell over a million copies.
Nancy continued to make music, as well as work in both film and television, until the mid-70's when she slowed down to concentrate on being a wife and mother. Periodically since the early 80's she has made music and even appeared in Playboy magazine in 1995!
'Sugar Town', for me, is a great little song that I just haven't stopped singing to myself all week. It's such a happy little ditty that you have to smile when you hear it. And it's still all Zooey's fault!
Hope you all enjoy it and I'll catch you all next week!
Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Town
I got some troubles but they won't last
I'm gonna lay right down here in the grass
And pretty soon all my troubles will pass
'cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
I never had a dog that liked me some
Never had a friend or wanted one
So I just lay back and laugh at the sun
'cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
Yesterday it rained in Tennessee
I heard it also rained in Tallahassee
But not a drop fell on little old me
'cause I was in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
If I had a million dollars or ten
I'd give to ya, world, and then
You'd go away and let me spend
My life in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
la-la-la-la to end
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 12th February '11 - The Bangles - Going Down To Liverpool
Formed in December 1980 by Susanna Hoffs and sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson, The Bangles went on to be one of the most successful girl groups of the 80s.
'Going Down To Liverpool' was the band's big breakthrough single. Written by Kimberley Rew and recorded by her band Katrina & The Waves, it was covered by The Bangles for their debut album 'All Over The Place' in 1984. With the help of its video featuring 'Star Trek' actor Leonard Nimoy as well as an opening slot on Cyndi Lauper's 'Fun' tour that year.
All of this helped them reach a wider audience as well as capturing the attention of Prince who went on to write their first massive mainstream hit 'Manic Monday'. That reached number two in the US and UK and was featured on their second album 'Different Light' which also contained their global number one smash 'Walk Like An Egyptian'.
Despite the huge success of the band, by 1988 tensions between the girls were at an all time high. Though the vocal duty was shared equally between the girls both the media and, to a degree, the record label were pushing Hoffs as the 'lead singer'. Shortly after the release in 1988 of their biggest selling single, 'Eternal Flame', the group disbanded.
After many years working on solo projects the girls got back together in 1999 to record a song for the soundtrack of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' and have worked together and toured ever since. This year will see them release a new album and, I hope, do an extensive tour to plug it as I would love to see them live.
In the meantime I'll leave you with footage of a live performance of 'Going Down To Liverpool' from 1984 which I hope you'll all enjoy and I'll catch you all next week!!
The Bangles - Going Down To Liverpool
Hey now
Where you going with that load of nothing in your hand
I said, hey now
All through this green and pleasant land.
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
All the days of my life
All the days of my life
Hey there
Where you going with that UB40 in your hand
I said, hey there.
All through this green and pleasant land
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
All the days of my life
All the days of my life.
Hey now
Where you going with that UB40 in your hand
I said hey now
All through this green and pleasant land
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
All the days of my life
All the days of my life
'Going Down To Liverpool' was the band's big breakthrough single. Written by Kimberley Rew and recorded by her band Katrina & The Waves, it was covered by The Bangles for their debut album 'All Over The Place' in 1984. With the help of its video featuring 'Star Trek' actor Leonard Nimoy as well as an opening slot on Cyndi Lauper's 'Fun' tour that year.
All of this helped them reach a wider audience as well as capturing the attention of Prince who went on to write their first massive mainstream hit 'Manic Monday'. That reached number two in the US and UK and was featured on their second album 'Different Light' which also contained their global number one smash 'Walk Like An Egyptian'.
Despite the huge success of the band, by 1988 tensions between the girls were at an all time high. Though the vocal duty was shared equally between the girls both the media and, to a degree, the record label were pushing Hoffs as the 'lead singer'. Shortly after the release in 1988 of their biggest selling single, 'Eternal Flame', the group disbanded.
After many years working on solo projects the girls got back together in 1999 to record a song for the soundtrack of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' and have worked together and toured ever since. This year will see them release a new album and, I hope, do an extensive tour to plug it as I would love to see them live.
In the meantime I'll leave you with footage of a live performance of 'Going Down To Liverpool' from 1984 which I hope you'll all enjoy and I'll catch you all next week!!
The Bangles - Going Down To Liverpool
Hey now
Where you going with that load of nothing in your hand
I said, hey now
All through this green and pleasant land.
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
All the days of my life
All the days of my life
Hey there
Where you going with that UB40 in your hand
I said, hey there.
All through this green and pleasant land
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
All the days of my life
All the days of my life.
Hey now
Where you going with that UB40 in your hand
I said hey now
All through this green and pleasant land
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
I'm going down to Liverpool to do nothing
All the days of my life
All the days of my life
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 5th February '11 - The Wonder Stuff - The Size Of A Cow
Released in March '91, 'The Size Of A Cow', was the first single by Stourbridge band The Wonder Stuff to hit the UK top 10. It really pushed them into the mainstream spotlight and, after a couple of further single releases, their third album 'Never Loved Elvis' was released that June and peaked at number three on the UK album chart.
For the next few years, until they split in '94, The Wonder Stuff were one of the biggest bands about releasing several more hit singles and their fourth album, 'Construction For The Modern Idiot', which got to number four on the UK album chart and was supported by a 78 date tour of Europe & the US.
One of my favourite memories from the annual summer holiday trip to Scotland to visit the relatives is of being in the back of the car with my younger sister as we were driving back down south from Scotland. 'The Size Of A Cow' was playing on Radio 1 and my sister and I were singing along in the back of the car. Part way through the song we had to drive through the Tyne Tunnel so my sister and I carried on singing and when we resumed radio contact on the other side we were still in time with the song. I remember at the time how cool we felt for being able to achieve that feat. Now whenever I hear the song it brings back that memory of those happy times of childhood and I can't help but smile.
In 2000 the band reformed and have, since then, recorded further material and toured in between band members - primarily singer Miles Hunt - doing solo work. The new stuff has been fantastic but nothing will again be quite like those magical days of the early days where it was all about the size of a cow.
Hope you all enjoy this week's song & I'll catch you all again next week!!
The Wonder Stuff - The Size Of A Cow
Don't you think it's funny that nothing's what it seems
When you're not looking forward?
Me, I'd like to think life is like a drink
And I'm hoping that it tastes like bourbon
You know that I've been drunk a thousand times
And these should be the best days of my life
Life, it's not what I thought it was
Damn blast, look at my past
I'm ripping up my feet over broken glass
I said, Oh wow, look at me now
I'm building up my problems to the size of a cow
The size of a cow
You know it would be strange to live life in a cage
And only believe the things you see that are written on thepage
How easy would it be home in time for tea
And stop feeling like a sailboat rocking on the sea
You know that it's been sunk a thousand times
And these should be the best days of my life
Life, it's not what I thought it was
Damn blast, look at my past
I'm ripping up my feet over broken glass
I said, Oh wow, look at me now
I'm building up my problems to the size of a cow
The size of a cow
The size of a cow
You know that I've been drunk a thousand times
And these should be the best days of my life
Damn blast, look at my past
I'm ripping up my feet over broken glass
I said, Oh wow, look at me now
I'm building up my problems to the size of a cow
The size of a cow
Damn blast, look at my past
I'm ripping up my feet over broken glass
I said, Oh wow, look at me now
I'm building up my problems to the size of a cow
The size of a cow
The size of a cow
For the next few years, until they split in '94, The Wonder Stuff were one of the biggest bands about releasing several more hit singles and their fourth album, 'Construction For The Modern Idiot', which got to number four on the UK album chart and was supported by a 78 date tour of Europe & the US.
One of my favourite memories from the annual summer holiday trip to Scotland to visit the relatives is of being in the back of the car with my younger sister as we were driving back down south from Scotland. 'The Size Of A Cow' was playing on Radio 1 and my sister and I were singing along in the back of the car. Part way through the song we had to drive through the Tyne Tunnel so my sister and I carried on singing and when we resumed radio contact on the other side we were still in time with the song. I remember at the time how cool we felt for being able to achieve that feat. Now whenever I hear the song it brings back that memory of those happy times of childhood and I can't help but smile.
In 2000 the band reformed and have, since then, recorded further material and toured in between band members - primarily singer Miles Hunt - doing solo work. The new stuff has been fantastic but nothing will again be quite like those magical days of the early days where it was all about the size of a cow.
Hope you all enjoy this week's song & I'll catch you all again next week!!
The Wonder Stuff - The Size Of A Cow
Don't you think it's funny that nothing's what it seems
When you're not looking forward?
Me, I'd like to think life is like a drink
And I'm hoping that it tastes like bourbon
You know that I've been drunk a thousand times
And these should be the best days of my life
Life, it's not what I thought it was
Damn blast, look at my past
I'm ripping up my feet over broken glass
I said, Oh wow, look at me now
I'm building up my problems to the size of a cow
The size of a cow
You know it would be strange to live life in a cage
And only believe the things you see that are written on thepage
How easy would it be home in time for tea
And stop feeling like a sailboat rocking on the sea
You know that it's been sunk a thousand times
And these should be the best days of my life
Life, it's not what I thought it was
Damn blast, look at my past
I'm ripping up my feet over broken glass
I said, Oh wow, look at me now
I'm building up my problems to the size of a cow
The size of a cow
The size of a cow
You know that I've been drunk a thousand times
And these should be the best days of my life
Damn blast, look at my past
I'm ripping up my feet over broken glass
I said, Oh wow, look at me now
I'm building up my problems to the size of a cow
The size of a cow
Damn blast, look at my past
I'm ripping up my feet over broken glass
I said, Oh wow, look at me now
I'm building up my problems to the size of a cow
The size of a cow
The size of a cow
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