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^ ^ I love the Rooney song - I can guess the tune too.


I hope Aberdeen get to lift a cup this season. Good luck.

I spent a season going to about 15 home and away matches with some Partick Thistle fans who I met in Glasgow in the mid 1990s - very enjoyable it was too. Not to Pittodrie alas - though I have visited that fine city on a couple of occasions.

For what it's worth I follow the Arsenal - though with considerably less passion than I did in the 70s, 80s, and 90s - I had a season ticket from 1990 until the last match at Highbury in 2006. I actually still have the season ticket but someone else uses it. I have only been to the Emirates once. It's just not the same for me now - though I am always closely following their progress from a distance. Thankfully with far less stomach churning anxiety, and despair at their now regular near misses.

Susan wrote: "I am a huge fan!"

...of The Beatles. Never a truer word.

Susan would clean up on Mastermind were the Fabs her specialist subject.

I shall keep an eye out for Tune In in my local library. Thasnk Susan.

I have only read a couple of books on the Beatles, including Revolution In The Head: The Beatles Records and the Sixties by Ian Macdonald which I thought was magnificent. One of those great books which is about so much more than its core subject.

Philip Norman's Shout is a good, if slightly sanitised biographical overview and can be read in a day (in the life).

I have been sent a Kindle-friendly copy of the first Lewishon volume by a Beatle freak who describes its strength as filling in all those little gaps that you always wondered about. Intriguing.

A propos The Small Faces' box set, I've been sent a review link by Uncut, which I don't buy very often



£208 on Amazon! I thought that with their laissez-faire and cabinet-indulged approach to corporation tax they might knock a few quid off.

David wrote: "£208 on Amazon!"

Nope. Nothing. I'm speechless.

^ Weird as you can buy it direct for £95 + shipping.

Nigeyb wrote: "^ Weird as you can buy it direct for £95 + shipping. Here's all the info."

So long as you're not in the UK, though.

Mark wrote: "Nigeyb wrote: "^ Weird as you can buy it direct for £95 + shipping. Here's all the info."

So long as you're not in the UK, though."

Alternately you could get this, , for £40, I got this when it was released and while it may not have books and posters and other stuff it does have the music.

CQM wrote: "Mark wrote: "Nigeyb wrote: "^ Weird as you can buy it direct for £95 + shipping. Here's all the info."

So long as you're not in the UK, though."

Alternately you could get this, ..."

Yes, that's done a lot. There was a bit of a row a few years back when the deluxe and expensive re-release of Micky Newbury's remarkable American Trilogy (he wrote the Elvis hit of that name) was bought by eager fans only for the stripped-back CDs only version to be released a few months later.

Likewise, you can now buy the Stax/Volt Complete Singles 59-68 as 9 single CDs rather than the box (albeit you miss out on a marvellous Peter Guralnick booklet), but if that helps spread the love of Otis and Barbara and the Browns around, who am I to quibble, especially since I scored my box set for a niggardly (mistaken price tag, I think) 480FF in the Champs Elysees Virgin Megastore in 2000.

...


Whatevershebringswesing by Kevin Ayers
Debris by Faces
It Hurts So Good by Millie Jackson
Let The Music Play by Barry White
I'm Still Waiting by Diana Ross



Not the usual upbeat mix perhaps that's because I've put it together on a Thursday and the weekend still feels some way off. Ah well - they're all still classics.

Have a great weekend.

It Hurts So Good by Millie Jackson"

So there's more than me worships at the diamante-encrusted stilletoed feet of Millie Jackson?

I will leave my Five for Friday until Friday, but if I'm permitted a Thingle For Thurthday, poody tats, I nominate "If You're Not Back In Love By Monday" from Millie's sublime Feelin' Bitchy album. A soul concept album!

^ Ah yes "If You're Not Back In Love By Monday" - I have that on a compilation called "21 of the Best (1971-1983)" which is splendid.


I'm by no means a completist but everything I have I like a lot.

I've got another Millie Jackson compilation by Kent Records - "Soul For The Dancefloor"which continues their tradition for excellence by taking the best dance tracks from her impressive 16 album Spring catalogue. Some of the tracks have been edited to add to their danceability and yet the music is pure soul you can dance to, rather than dance tracks with soul vocals. The compilation is also surprisingly varied with tracks by George Jackson, Bobby Womack, Phillip Mitchell, Ashford and Simpson and more. A fine compilation and highly recommended for lovers of great soul music.

I've also got Caught Up and Still Caught Up on one CD - another great pair of albums.

By the way, and back to "Debris" there's shades of Alexander Baron in the back story to "Debris"...

"Debris" is about Ronnie Lane's father (Stan Lane Snr) and growing up in a bombed out area of east London...

"Debris is basically about my old man. The Debris was adjoining Petticoat Lane - which is famous, everybody knows about it - it's another market called Club Row, and that was all on Debris. People just used to come out there with all their chuck-outs and flotsam and jetsam and spread it out on the Debris, you know? And my father used to go down there every Sunday. Every Sunday morning, he'd take me down there and he'd root around for hours in all this shit! (Laughter) And, uh, it wasn’t until I was in New York that I realized that I quite missed it! I was feeling homesick at the time."

Good old Plonk and his dad.

Bless them.

The only time I ever saw him was when he was Eric Clapton's support at Glasgow Apollo on 9 April 1980.

During Ooh La La, Mrs Lane and the lovely Patti Boyd-Harrison-Clapton did some rather fetching can-can dancing in appropriate costumes which impressed everyone hugely.

^ Wow. There's so much to love about that anecdote that I don't know where to start so I'll leave it at "Wow".


I never saw Plonk.

Still the music lives on - and there's a splendid documentary called "The Passing Show" that was shown on BBC4 about 6-7 years ago that I daresay in on DVD, YouTube etc.

Nigeyb wrote: "...and there's a splendid documentary called "The Passing Show"..."

I was just about to post something shouting about 'The Passing Show.' Long before it had been released on dvd, I'd given up completely on "rockumentaries," as they all, without exception, bled and blurred into one another. 'The Passing Show' is indeed a very welcome exception to that rule, and I can recommend it quite highly.

My friend Graham, who as a fellow fan of Patrick Hamilton may be a member of this bijou gathering, has a Passing Show anecdote, to which I'll try to do justice.

Apparently the show was run exactly like a circus, everyone pulling on the guy ropes to erect the big tent, the ticket seller walking the high wire, the ringmaster doubling as a clown stooge and so on.

Apparently, two of the younger members of the cast did That Hormonal Thing that young people do and became a travelling couple.

One morning, they were nowhere to be found, and I think the takings were missing too. All that was left was a note in their caravan which read along the lines of, "Had enough of this circus, off to join life".

^ Splendid - and well worthy of the guffaw that greeted the punch line at this end

What is the reason for the nick-name Plonk?

A great selection by David earlier. Todd Rundgren, Graham Parker and The Rumour, Percy Sledge etc…

I saw Todd Rundgren in Sydney last July '13. He was great.
I would love to have seen The Rumour in concert.

A friend sent me a link last week to a Daryl Hall 'Live at Daryl's House' session jam with friends. The song 'I Can't go For that'.
Funky. It's got a great groove.

That's a fun video, Greg...

Wow...Looks like Graham Parker 's touring, though not Down Under.


I don't have much - a while back was talking with Nigeyb what the last live show I saw was - Lloyd Cole, Chicago, 2010ish...anyway, friend recently sent me this article with video featuring Lloyd's 18 year old son. Takes me back to NY in the 80's...
And him with a grown son now. Sigh.

I was almost addicted to Heat Treatment when it was released in 76. I saw the band 4 or 5 times back then. Always a terrific live experience.

They got together again in 2012 and recorded a splendid album Three Chords Good and when last year's tour was announced, there was no way I was missing out and made the trek to Glasgow's ABC in September. They were astonishingly good, wholly relaxed and straight into the groove they'd vacated in 79. Sad man that I am, I noted thr setlist on my phone as each song started:

Fool's Gold
White Honey
Howlin Wind
Thunder and Rain
Snake Oil Capital of the World
Lady Doctor
Old Soul
Black Honey
Stop Crying About The Rain
A Lie Gets Halfway 'round the World
Long Long Emotional Ride
Hotel Chambermaid
Soul On Ice
Discovering Japan
Don't Get Excited
Watch. The. Moon. Come. Down
Protection
Stupefaction
Local Girls

Passion Is No Ordinary Word
Hey Lord Don't Ask Me Questions

Soul Shoes

Birmingham on 31 May for some more. I can hardly wait.

Duh. I forgot my Five For Friday...

Plucked randomly from nowhere.

She Loves You - The Beatles. 51 years on from when I first heard it, that energy salvo still staggers me and heartens me, no matter how grumpy I am. Astonishing.
Lay Down - The Strawbs
Driving Away From Home - It's Immaterial
Crawling From the Wreckage - Dave Edmunds (a Graham Parker song)
This, which will have you grinning from ear to ear:


Have a fab gear weekend, kameraden.

Ah...God bless Tom Snyder





Happy weekend, all

I think I will just nominate a whole album - I recently discovered Joe Brown's "The Ukelele Album" with such delights as "The Ace of Spades" played on a uke!

David - good to hear someone nominate an early Beatles song :) My seven year old daughter loves "This Boy", it's her favourite. She recently played it to some of her friends and they all thought it was by a boy band. It was, I suppose - as George Harrison said, they were the SpiceBoys!

That Joe Brown album is delightful, Susan. He and George were neighbours and great friends and his part in the Concert For George is one of the many highlights.

I attended one of Stuart Maconie's shows about The People's Songs last night. I missed the Radio 2 programme where he first broadcast this, but the songs he chose were to illustrate fundamental UK cultural and political change.

The first illustration he used was She Loves You. His iPhone was cabled into the house PA and when he switched it on, that rush of energy took me by as much surprise as it did when I was 6 and initially enthralled by The Beatles on the few occasions the Light Programme played contemporary pop. Watching the Shea Stadium show in grainy monochrome one Saturday night in 1964 (?) changed my life.

I love the fact that great timeless sounds like these transcend the generations. My daughters are now 28 and 23, but were brought up on the strict maxim "No Beatles? No food". It's worked.

lol David! I loved the Stuart Maconie series/book about The People's Songs. I am a Beatles fanatic and always have been - well, since I was about 7. Sadly, my eldest is not keen, but my two youngest children love them - perhaps I should have tried the No Food suggestion, then I wouldn't have had to sit through a Justin Timberlake concert with him :(

When you hear She Loves You, you realise what Ringo brought to them as a drummer. That start really kicks it off. Hope you like Tune In - I loved it and enjoyed the extended version even more.

Susan, I read that whenever George had dinner at Paul's house they used to get the Ukeleles out after dinner. On Paul Mc's album RAM he plays Ukelele on the song Ram On.

My other four songs….
Marianne Faithful - Trouble In Mind (the return) on a 12" 45rpm
Fischer-Z - Marliese (the liner notes say 'this record owes a lot to Brighton')
Francoise Hardy - Tous les garcons et les filles
Edwyn Collins - Coffee Table Song

Yes, I believe George left Paul the ukulele he always plays Something on during his concerts.

Ok, it is half term, so I am off to take my kids to the Museum of London. Have a great Friday everyone :)

Greg wrote: "What is the reason for the nick-name Plonk? "

Every account that I've read points unreservedly to the bulge in his britches. You asked.

Now then, make my own Five For Friday this one, played five times...

Mark wrote: "Greg wrote: "What is the reason for the nick-name Plonk? "

Every account that I've read points unreservedly to the bulge in his britches.

Really? I admire the fella even more now.

I had assumed it was either due to The Faces' fearsome wine consumption or due to the fact that he was the bass player, plonking along with Kenney. Your revelation is far better. Bless him.

....and, as if Plonk's looking down on us from somewhere, the new Mojo (April 2014, subscriber copy just in) has an 8 page special on his Bassness.

Not only that, the CD review section gives 3 stars to a double CD of Ronnie's best Island stuff.

For the connoisseur of butter-wouldn't-melt jangly girl pop, the regular Hello Goodbye feature is about Susannah Hoffs and The Bangles. Is this



the best tribute song written since Marvin's Abraham, Martin and John?

Ahhh, I luurve girl pop - some of it, anyway.

Strawberry Switchblade



That tribute is great.

Miss M wrote: "Ahhh, I luurve girl pop - some of it, anyway."

Despite appearances, a portion of Tempura Kidz are boys.

Mark wrote: "Miss M wrote: "Ahhh, I luurve girl pop - some of it, anyway."

Despite appearances, a portion of Tempura Kidz are boys."

Ha - didn't realize, need to go back and look.more closely - only had one out of the five viewings so far!
Actually posted that one per David's Bangles ref...

Miss M wrote: "Ha - didn't realize, need to go back and look.more closely..."

I can probably save you a whole lot of time by letting you know that I've seen that clip hundreds of times and still can't make the distinction!

As far as girl pop goes, make mine The Ronettes every single time!

Mark wrote: "As far as girl pop goes, make mine The Ronettes every single time! "



I had you down as more of a man Mark.

This is a great compilation...


PS: Just back from a couple of days away and new Mojo was there on the doormat - looking forward to reading those eight pages on Mr Ronnie Lane.

Don't get me wrong... I love The Shangri-Las every bit as much as the next guy, and that particular compilation of their recordings has been in my collection since it was released. There's just something about The Ronettes... I've always been a massive fan of Phil Spector's work.

Speaking of which, are you hep to Jerri Bo Keno?

No?

Hardly shocking.

In the mid-1970s, Spector thought that the path back to fame for him might just be the emerging disco fad. His attempt at success in the disco market rode on one lone single, by a female singer named Jerri Bo Keno. Unfortunately, Phil's stubbornness got in the way of chart success... but did manage to result in an absolutely brilliant track which, quite sadly and inexplicably, has now been long lost and forgotten. The problem? Phil's only concession to the times was to incorporate the regulation disco beat -- everything else about the track is pure, unmittigated, Spector Wall Of Sound genius.

Like I said, the single has been completely forgotten, and has been airbrushed out of history -- or, as the kids today might say, Photoshopped out of history.

Knock a lobe here, and if it don't turn you on, you ain't got no switch...

Coincidentally, my iPod shuffle, from over 22000 songs on it, randomly selected a song from Ronnie Spector's The Last Of The Rock Stars as I waited for the bus this afternoon.

Inspired by that, here are my rather premature Five For (Girl) Friday selections. I'll give that link a listen, Mark, but I'm up over my head in review CDs right now.

OK.....

Girl From The Ghetto - Ronnie Spector
Real Live Bleeding Fingers And Broken Guitar Strings - Lucinda Williams
Kitchen Man - Bessie Smith
Good-Hearted Man - Tift Merritt
Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff - Julia Lee

Enjoy the weekend Hamiltonies.

What I've been listening to this week.

Little Feat - Dixie Chicken album, highlight 'Two Trains', 'Roll Um Easy'.
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get album, highlight 'Happy Ways'.
Joe Walsh - "But Seriously, Folks…" album, highlight 'Over and Over' & 'At the Station'.
Nina Simone - Baltimore
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas Mr. Laurence

I like Tift Merritt. I haven't played any Bessie Smith for while. Thanks, David for the memory jog.

It's the weekend. Hurrah.



Here is my five for this Friday...

St. Vincent - Birth in Reverse
Primal Scream - Jailbird
Chairmen of the Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time
Tarrus Riley - Five Days (feat Big Youth & Mr Cheeks)
Les Negresses Vertes - Zobi la mouche (William Orbit Remix)

You can watch videos, listen to the tunes, and read the rambling rationale for each and every tune here....



Have a fine weekend fellow Hamilton appreciator.

Chairmen Of The Board. Great choice, Nigey.

Listen to that strangled, soul/heavy yelp and then imbibe Searching For The Young Soul Rebels. Lucky Rowland owes the late General Johnson an acknowledgement.

Have a Friday freebie

David wrote: "Coincidentally, my iPod shuffle, from over 22000 songs on it, randomly selected a song from Ronnie Spector's The Last Of The Rock Stars as I waited for the bus this afternoon."

Not a bad effort, really. That album was produced by Daniel Rey, who produced our last two albums and is currently producing our forthcoming album.

You've probably already managed to stumble upon this, but I think it's worth pointing out... the isolated vocals are nothing short of majestic...

Thanks for the Wah video David. That set me off on a bit of Wah! nostalgia-fuelled odyssey. The video for "Come Back" making me feel slightly sad, and very nostalgic. Doesn't this epitomise so much that was good, and perhaps not so good, about the 1980s...



Now then, having pulled myself together again, Ronnie Spector's "The Last Of The Rock Star" completely passed me by. Sounds like I should be investigating this one. "Be My Baby", being, of course, one of the great works of art of the twentieth century. And, lest we forget, contributing to the cinematic perfection that is the opening sequence of "Mean Streets".

Forthcoming album? Exciting news Mark. Please tip us the wink when this thing emerges, blinking and beautiful, into the world. I for one shall embrace it.

My Five for Friday was inspired by Greg who mentioned his love of folk music in another group:

Fairport Convention - Now be Thankful
Steeleye Span - Bachelors Hall
Jim Moray - Across the Western Ocean
Ruth Notman - Roaming
Jim Causley - Rewind

Mark wrote: "You've probably already managed to stumble upon this, but I think it's worth pointing out... the isolated vocals are nothing short of majestic...

"

Thanks Mark. I'd never heard this before. Majestic is right. Sublime also covers it.

^ ^ Splendid stuff Sarah.





For anyone with an interest in British Folk, I can recommend...

Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music by Rob Young

It's the definitive work.

There's a blog too...

Greg was nice enough to invite me over for the "five on Friday". Thanks everyone for having me. I brought along five deep cuts that deserve more exposure.

I think you'll find them worth the effort

THE CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND


"ARE YOU GONNA BE THERE?(at the love-in)" 1967

^ ^
the best song the stones never had

OTIS CLAY


"POURING WATER ON A DROWNING MAN" CIRCA 1968

^ ^
not as famous as the other Otis, he was just as soulfull

DEADSTRING BROTHERS


"27 HOURS" 2003

^ ^
the best country song the stones never had

JERRY REED


"I FEEL FOR YOU" 1967

^ ^
strange mix of folk & jazz elements (drums at odds w/guitar)

EDDIE COCHRAN


"NERVOUS BREAKDOWN" CIRCA 1960

^ ^
too soon gone (check out the phase effect on vocals at the chorus)

^ Welcome T.A. Epley


Always good to hear a bit of The Chocolate Watch Band - sends me straight back to "Nuggets" (surely a contender for greatest (and most influential) compilation of all time).

Nigeyb wrote: "^ Welcome T.A. Epley


Always good to hear a bit of The Chocolate Watch Band - sends me straight back to "Nuggets" (surely a contender for greatest (and most influential) compilation of all time)."

I've edited in my other four weekly contenders, just FYI.

(and yes, God bless nuggets & Lenny Kaye for all his efforts)

Splendid selections T.A. Thanks.



And what a great selection of photos to illustrate each selection too.