the cure - love cats

This came on the radio while l was in the kitchen earlier on today, cooking up a right old feast. It's a song you really can't help singing and dancing along to, and if you don't do so, you are someone l won't have a lot in common with.
The Cure - 'Love Cats'.
Me and Mr Parrot certainly had a wild old time



Here was me, dancing  earlier.
I dressed Mr Parrot the same way.

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the bug - london zoo - angry, plus zig and zag - them girls all love me

The Bug - London Zoo - Angry.
Infectious (and angry), and featuring Tippa Irie.
Great stuff, and an angry song that makes you want to sing and dance in a happy way.
Maybe that's why it reminds me a lot of this.
Zig and Zag - Them Girls Them Girls (They All Love Me)



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robert vaughn and the man from uncle

I've just learnt from the BBC website that the actor Robert Vaughn has died. As the article states, to us older folk, he will always be remembered from his role as Napoleon Solo in 'The Man From UNCLE', which is one of the first TV shows that l really loved. I remember having a plastic lighter / gun combo that was part of their marketing, which brought me much enjoyment on the mean streets of Singapore (when l wasn't setting fire to my eyebrows or local wasteland), but prefered his partner in espionage foiling, Ilya Kuryakin (played by David McCallum). However, both of the stars were heroes to me at the time. I know he's had a good innings (as had Leonard Cohen), but it's still a sad day, and adds to the gradual erasing of my (not many to start with) happy childhood memories.

I blame God.

Here's two versions of the title sequence





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the chemical brothers - hey girl hey boy

Today's top tune.
The Chemical Brothers - Hey Girl, Hey Boy.
If the world is going to hell in a handcart, and being led there by the privileged few, we may as well party! (or revolt).
Where's my Ecstasy?



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a very happy man

From JB Barrington's twitter account.
This man is in his own world, and very, very happy.

Oi Oi @sleafordmods me Uncle Ray is on his way to Rock City, look after him won't ya....he's proper #GiddyOnTheCiggies pic.twitter.com/MHhvVZP9ic

— JB Barrington (@JB_Barrington) November 4, 2016

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todays tune - country joe and the fish - vietnam song

In commemoration of todays victory for Donald Trump and the rise of the idiots.
Country Joe and The Fish singing Vietnam Song at Woodstock.



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status quo at cardiff in 1976 and their live ep, plus richie malone meeting rick parfitt.

A short interview with Rick Parfitt and the non speaking John Coghlan of Status Quo before they played Cardiff Castle in 1976.
It's funny to hear the interviewer make such a big thing of the fact Quo had been together for 14 years, which, as he says, "Is quite unusual", and wondering how they have managed to stay together for so long. The year before, Quo had even issued a live EP featuring 'Roll Over Lay Down', 'Gerdundula', and 'Junior's Wailing' to celebrate their 13th year together.
Obviously l took the day off school to go and buy it on the day of release, as l was wont to do with bands l liked.
How times have changed. That is like looking as far back as 2002 from now. There are absolutely loads of bands who have been together since then, and many, many more who have been together a lot longer.



Here's the EP



And here's Richie Malone, Rick's replacement (due to Rick's recent heart issues), meeting him at a soundcheck in 2008, and now living the dream.




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ministry - jesus built my hotrod and pastor tl barrett and the youth for christ choir - like a ship (without a sail)

Today, l'll start with something rowdy and probably sacrilegious.
Ministry - Jesus Built My Hotrod.



But to head to the other side, here's Pastor T.L Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir -  Like a Ship (Without a Sail). A righteous bit of gospel that could easily be a Primal Scream song.



Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition.

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terence trent d'arby and sananda maitreya

It's a year old now (l like to try and keep up with what's happening), but there's an interesting interview with Terence Trent D'Arby by Kate Mossman in The New Statesman (to be found here), talking about his fame, and how it affected him. Plus a few thoughts on Lenny Kravitz.
In 1987, D'Arby was a superb looking black rock/pop superstar, with infectious hit singles and a magnificent crossover album (Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby).
Then it was downhill sales wise, and hello to Sananda Francesco Maitreya.
Still, he may well be a lot happier now, and if l had the money, l'd certainly do whatever l wanted, and sod everyone else.
Here's when he was red hot and sexy.

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the waterboys - fishermans blues and savage earth heart, plus the retreat - come alive

After the last post, here's some clips by The Retreat and The Waterboys








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luscious jackson - naked eye

Luscious Jackson - 'Naked Eye'
No reason for posting this, apart from the fact that it was a great single in the 1990's. Easily their best song (or at least the best one of theirs l've heard)



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bug powder dust - bomb the bass

A top tune from what doesn't seem that long ago,  but is in fact, over 20 years old.
'Bug Powder Dust' by Bomb The Bass, from their 'Clear' album..
To say l love it is an understatement.



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the putin and trump sexy love in and jo jo gunne - run run run

It's a bad state of affairs when Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could become the most powerful leaders in the world. An alternate future could also mean we are slowly heading towards a third world war.
Either way, the future's not looking too bright.
Photograph from here.

So to cheer everyone up, here's a catchy song from a few years ago.
Jo Jo Gunne with Run Run Run. I defy anyone to not like it.



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the sex pistols - anarchy in the uk - yawn!

Myself and a friend of mine (Stevie Boy / Tarren / Kitten), used to say 'Yawn' on an extremely regular basis whenever something was a bit boring, which to us, was on numerous occasions.
Yes - we could be annoying, but both loveable little rascals at the time, or at least we have convinced ourselves we were.
It is still used now and again, but l didn't realise we may have inadvertantly got it from here, because we can't remember how we started using it.
A review in National Rockstar on 4th December 1976 of The Sex Pistols first single - Anarchy in the UK.

And here is that ground breaking single, the first of a few excellent releases from them.
I'll have to try and dig my Sex Pistols singles out, but l've got a hunch that my brother buggered off to Leeds with them.



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surprised by the exorcist

I haven't started watching the new TV series of The Exorcist yet, as l'm recording them with a view to watching them all in one sitting. I did however, watch the film version of The Exorcist again recently, and saw something that surprised me - a demonic face appearing for a split second behind Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn). I've seen the film on many an occasion, got the video, DVD, and expanded DVD (with scary extras), but have never noticed this before.
I guess l must have been distracted during my other viewings, drunk, or hiding with terror behind the settee.
Either that or l need my eyes testing.

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empire of the sun - two vines and pink floyd - wot's uh the deal

Freaky psychedelic electronic rock alert! Here's Empire of the Sun's newie, 'Two Vines', from their album of the same name. Marvellous.
Pass the drugs (but don't touch the brown acid).



And on a related note, here's an 'Obscured by Clouds' Pink Floyd track, the largely ignored (but great song) Wot's...Uh the Deal. I would say it would be a great song to cover on solo acoustic guitar, but plenty of people have already had that idea on youtube.



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charlie watts is a happy man!

This makes a change as far as Rolling Stones photographs go. The band are looking sullen, while the notoriously dry witted and gloomy facaded Charlie Watts is actually smiling.
I wonder how long it took the photographer (unknown to me) to persuade them to do this shot.

And here's the classic response from Charlie about what it's like working with The Stones



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bastille - good grief and wet wet wet - wishing l was lucky

I love the Bastille song 'Good Grief' (see, l don't just listen to old stuff), but every time l hear it l want to sing Wet Wet Wet's 'Wishing l was Lucky' to parts of it. Is it only me that can hear some similarities?
It must be the stress of listening to recent records, and trying to keep up with the kids.
I need a lie down and a cup of Horlicks (and lots of medication).





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johnny burton - pole vault man

The song that Oasis should have covered, as it sounds just like them, only years ahead of it's time.
Johnny Burton - Pole Vault Man from 1972



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tom jones - detroit city

Although this is a shameless attempt to re-create the success of his 'Green Green Grass of Home' hit, with it's theme of returning home, it's spoken interlude and melancholy mood, but it's actually a pretty good song in isolation.
Tom Jones with 'Detroit City'.



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