Neko Case (repost)

reposting this after ifpi/blogger goons pulled it


♫ Middle Cyclone - Neko Case

♫ People Got A Lotta Nerve - Neko Case

both from Middle Cyclone (March 3 2009 on Anti)
buy | myspace

You can stream the entire album until it's released, at npr music.

I've been listening to the new album for a week or so now; initially it seemed a bit err underwhelming, and despite enjoying it very much, I'm still left with that sentiment for some reason. Partly that's just personal taste , no doubt, but also there's no one track that does a"Teenage Feeling" - grabbing my heart & saying "Play me, over & over". Every track on the album is good - they're all damned fine, in fact (well, the closer "Marais La Nuit" is a 'bit' long eh), but asked to pick just one & rave about it, tell my mates "you must hear this", I'd flounder somewhat, and listening again this morning hasn't altered that.

Soo - very much recommended, but not raved about (huh?) - that isn't meant as faint praise, just that a certain personal, emotional connection is missing, for me at least.

Anna Laube - Pool All The Love * Pool All The Knowledge

I had a very pleasant lunchtime yesterday, listening to the delicious, country-tinged voice of Anna Laube. She has a new album to be released soon - Pool All The Love * Pool All The Knowledge, already available to download.

Note I said 'tinged', since this isn't a 'country' album, any more than say, Neko Case's are; rock/indie/country/blues influences are all apparent, and all unmistakably American (nothing wrong with that); and since the comparison presented itself, yeah, if you like Neko Case, Jenny Lewis, Jolie Holland (just to pick three contemporary singers), then you may very well be as impressed by Anna as I am; frankly, she more than stands her ground if compared directly to them... one of those artists you wonder why you never heard before - maybe Anti should do a deal?.

I love this one, not just for the song - the excellent drums & acoustic bass, busy guitar, and a cracking harmonica/guitar 'solo' bring a unique feel to it.
♫ Hippie Boyfriend - Anna Laube

♫ Om Namah Shivaya (Ulysses) - Anna Laube
both from Pool All The Love * Pool All The Knowledge (March 2009)
buy | myspace


Here's an ace track from Anna's first album; with some very fine slide-guitar.
♫ Beautiful Boy - Anna Laube
Outta My Head (2006)
buy

Anna's got a few live dates coming up : well worth catching, if you can.

San Francisco, CA
March 12, 2009
8:30PM
The Hotel Utah
500 4th St, San Francisco, California 94107

SXSW
March 18, 2009
503 Neches Street, Austin, Texas
From 4-6PM

SXSW
March 19, 2009
503 Neches Street, Austin, Texas
From 4-6PM

Meanwhile, on Planet Earth

Getting High Like a Satellite - there's a phrase you don't hear much, particularly when rapped with a Scottish accent; but it's on this track from Tim London, with Mikey Mike providing the vocals. I'm finding it hugely addictive, in a subversive, groovy, rap/disco way; beyond that, I know nothing, save that there's more good sounds on the myspace link.

Don't Fuck with Timothy - good advice for this fine Friday.


As Mikey says - "Get witless & shake your antenna" to this - out on TIMS (Tim’s International Mobogram service)
♫ Meanwhile on Planet Earth - Timothy London feat. Mikey Mike

iTunes | myspace

What's Worse - a dumbbell or a wise-guy?

Well, unlike Curly in Key Largo, I'd plump for the dumbbell every time. So these are for those presumably impecunious numbskulls who somehow found it easier to bleat to blogger, rather than pay any mind to the notice, top-right.


♫ Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? - Al Jolson

And though they most probably weren't Spanish, and my life's hardly been blighted (not by such trifles, anyhow); this is quite the funniest version I know, & always brings a smile to my face.

♫ The Spaniard That Blighted My Life - Al Jolson & Bing Crosby

More from the Drawer : Bette Bright and the Illuminations

Yet again, I've been plucking pearls from the chest containing my badly kept 45 single collection. This time, it's a not very nautical-looking Bette Bright, from 1979, singing "The Captain Of Your Ship". A striking picture sleeve probably helped sales of this cover version of what was a UK hit for Reparata and the Delrons in 1968.

It's actually pretty good, as was Bette's first single - "My Boyfriend's Back", another 60's cover.

Bette Bright was the singer for Deaf School until they split in 1978, when she formed Bette Bright and the Illuminations, with Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols, Rich Kids), Rusty Egan (Visage, Rich Kids), and Henry Priestman (The Yachts, The Christians), and in 1982, got married to Suggs from Madness.

♫ The Captain Of Your Ship - Bette Bright and the Illuminations

♫ Those Greedy Eyes - Bette Bright and the Illuminations

more Bette Bright on myspace

But of course, we can't leave without the original...

More from Other Animals

I said yesterday there'd be more from Other Animals, because I love what they do. These three are quieter, & more jazzy(?) than those I posted before, but every bit as good; "One Bounce" is particularly fine to spend time with.

♫ Boxcar Blue _ Other Animals

♫ Machine Machine _ Other Animals

♫ One Bounce - Other Animals

all from the album - "Other Animals" which you can download for free, or hear more at their myspace.

If you happen to be within driving distance of Elgin, Illinois - Other Animals are playing live tonight at Mad Maggie's. Three-odd thousand miles makes it tricky for me, but maybe they'll make the UK sometime.

Hafdis Huld - last night's gig + prize competition

What a marvellous gig last night for Hafdis Huld in Portsmouth - I've no idea why it wasn't better attended, but if you could've gone & didn't... you missed a lovely evening of music & laughter. Great sound, great backing band, great atmosphere, a thoroughly good evening out.

Hafdis opened with what will likely be the title track of her new album, due in the autumn - Synchronised Swimmers, and we got a few more previews of songs from it too. I can't remember the names of new ones now, but there was one about a human spider-man - Könguló, one about Vampires, and a lovely song about pound-shop perfume & English boys. It should be a smashing album.

Naturally, Hafdis played favourites from her first album, Dirty Paper Cup including the charming "Who Loves the Sun" (with Flying V ukulele backing), Diamonds on My Belly, Ski Jumper, & Tomoko.

Regrettably, I've nothing to share in the way of new songs from Synchronised Swimmers, but here's her lovely version of a super Sam Brown song.
♫ Stop - Hafdis Huld
buy it on iTunes

Go see her if you get the opportunity - she's a great chatterbox between songs, genuinely charming, and very very funny; really highly recommended. Oh, and the "first album" is well worth buying; it's a truly nice thing to have.

Before the obligatory "I took my camera along" pics, I must mention the two support acts we saw - Becky Jerams and The B of the Bang, who were both excellent; I'll be looking out for more gigs from them.

Oh!... the competition, the prize?; well, as befits the status of this blog, it's hugely valuable, & unobtainable in the shops... a blue Hafdis Huld pin badge, that I had to give away my email address to get; but seriously(!), if you want it - email or comment & I'll pick the 'Big Winner' & post it on.

Yes! a Stylophone solo

Other Animals - free album download

Do I like Experimental Nu-Jazz?, Well, do I? - I'd have thought not, although I find genre-labels often serve more to confuse than inform, the potential listener. I really do like Other Animals though, and whatever label you slap on their brand of instrumental 'rock' (doh!), the fact is - they're bloody good at it; weaving a wonderful series of patterns & textures, both simple & intricate,  muscular & subtle, over hugely articulate drumming. Sounds range from a near-wall of intelligent, electric guitar, to the most delicate & gentle interludes; and always an underlying rhythm - all this recorded "95% live". 

Other Animals are from Crystal Lake,, Illinois, and were born from Somme, whose EP - Weight, I greatly enjoyed, especially Massless.
They've gone from a duo to a four-piece lineup, adding an extra guitar, & bass to Kenny Preski's drums & Daniel Medina's guitar - in the form of Daniel's two brothers, Noah & Tomas.

Here's the first three of their seven-track, eponymous album - they're outrageously good to my ears; what the hell, I'll post some more tomorrow, because listening is way better than my clumsy descriptions.

♫ Odin - Other Animals

♫ That Water Tower Sound - Other Animals

♫ Rumble Strips - Other Animals

There might be a vinyl release of the album, but you can get the whole thing as a great quality mp3 download.

Ryan Smith - I Just Want To Feel That Way (free album)

I got an email from Ryan Smith, about his album - "I Just Want To Feel That Way" - taking a punt on the title track, I was very pleasantly rewarded; stone me, it's good. I'd pitch it as kind-of Indie/Americana, and vocally, Richard Hawley & Elliott Smith, (with a twang) come to my mind. Ryan's website says the "music finds middle ground between the far reaches of the indie landscape and the familiarity of pop radio" - take your pick eh.

This song would certainly get some mainstream radio play over here; If you like it too, grab the whole album for nothing at Ryan Smith Online

♫ I Just Want To Feel That Way - Ryan Smith
I Just Want To Feel That Way (2008)
myspace | free album download


And this is Ryan's most recent single - with much more of an indie rock feel...
♫ Sleep Well - Ryan Smith

Hafdis Huld - gig tonight

Woo hoo doodly doo - another night out later, to see Hafdis Huld play. She's from Iceland, so it's a small mercy (so far) not to have read any pr guff saying "Bjork for the 21st Century"... hmm, there's still time for such musical compartmentalism though - perhaps the local press will oblige?.

Seriously though, this should be good; hopefully The Cellars won't start to empty after the local support acts finish, which seemed to be the case at Polly Scattergood on Monday; Hafdis has played there before, & went down a storm, apparently.

Expect lovely, breathy, pop - if her 2006 album "Dirty Paper Cup" is anything to go by - and yeah, most likely a reprise of that Mercedes advert song - "Stop".


♫ Who Loves The Sun - Hafdis Huld (Velvet Underground cover)

♫ Ice Cream Is Nice - Hafdis Huld

both from Dirty Paper Cup (2006)
myspace | buy


More from Hafdis tomorrow, + my grumpy git gig report; I'll rustle up some more recent mp3's, with any luck.

Union of Knives - We Are All Doing Drugs

Repost

What is it, Remix-Tuesday at Marvellous Mansions?; seems slightly that way, although this time it's an original & mix of a much more recent tune by Union Of Knives, who I hadn't heard of until a few days ago. UOK come from Glasgow, and make some excellent electro/Indie sounds. There are six newish tracks on their myspace, of which Doing Drugs is my favourite... not that the others aren't very good too; have a listen yourself.

Play very loud for best results - this is mighty fine.
♫ We Are All Doing Drugs - Union of Knives
The Anti-Fire (2009 tba)
myspace | UOK website


*** As for the remix, well, that was presumably the subject of a dmca takedown notice, and blogger pulled the whole post; so I'll not be including it. ***

Mirror in the Bathroom - original + remix

Being of a certain age, I've a soft spot for The (English) Beat, indeed, their album "I Just Can't Stop It" has sat in my meagre record collection for what? - it'll be thirty years soon enough, and been played regularly over that period.

It was bound to raise some interest then, when I read that Tantrum Records were planning a 2009 remix by DJ Tommy Tank. Ok, cynics might find it a little Stars on 45 at first, but noo, not me guv' - it's great, and it's free as well.

♫ Remix in the Bathroom - The Beat vs DJ Tommy Tank


♫ Mirror in the Bathroom - The Beat
I Just Can't Stop It (1980)
buy | myspace

Polly Scattergood - last night's gig

Is it possible, in the UK, for a youngish female singer, who can't be neatly piegon-holed, not to be described as Kate bloody Bush for the 21st century?. Probably not, and probably too, I'm a grumpy git, but it grated after hearing the comparison for, ooh... about the tenth time.

Yep, down at the The Cellars in Portsmouth, the comparisons & praise were coming thick & fast for Polly Scattergood, even if that cosy venue was way off being packed, and oddly, seemed half-empty by the end of her set.

Soo, was it any good? - well yes indeed, although if I hadn't heard the album first, I might have wondered what the fuss was about; due in part, to the sound man seeming to favour the drums & keyboards/effects over Polly's voice (sheesh, that's what we came for - do your ears get messed up after too long in the music biz?).

Polly did seem pretty nervous, likely due to it being just the second night of a (very) mini tour to promote the new single; in fact, she said it was just the second time they'd played "Bunny Club" together - one of the best tracks on the album for me. She needn't have worried - it was the best one in the set, certainly it showed Polly in the best light (you could actually hear her).

I'd really like to share "Bunny Club" with you now, but the album's not even released yet, and Polly's (extremely) enthusiastic management would probably come & let my tyres down, so hey-ho, you'll have to wait, & enjoy this instead.

♫ Nitrogen Pink - Polly Scattergood (link removed after this post got mysteriously pulled without notice, but find it loads of other places)
info at Mute | myspace


See yesterday's post for another mp3, and run over to Mute to get the excellent "Number 24" free (unless you count your email address as a form of payment?).

Nothing Rhymed : Gilbert O'Sullivan, Tom Jones, Morrissey, Dusty Springfield

I was thinking a lot about rhyming, in song lyrics & poetry, after a comment here recently. My own preference is very much for it, although I understand how forced it can feel to write with such constraints, and how forced, even trite, it can seem to the listener/reader. In some ways, that difficulty, a maze of hurdles to be negotiated gracefully, is exactly what I enjoy so much; the pleasure of both expected & unexpected rhymes & rhythms is what makes songs, and some poetry, such fine things to discover and revisit.

The choice of tune to accompany such thoughts might seem rather obvious, and perhaps it is; but for me, it's one that on first impressions, can easily seem to be a bit "rhymes for the sake of it", not helped perhaps by Gilbert O'Sullivan's typical delivery. Look/listen more closely though, and there's real quality here, more immediately obvious in Tom Jones' version (so long as Tom Jones' usual style doesn't put you right off...).

For me, Jones lends the words deserved gravity & feeling, easily overlooked in any of O'Sullivan's songs, due to both his voice, and (if you're old enough to remember him on telly), appearance. That's unfair, but true, I'd say - and accounts for him being greatly underrated as a writer.


♫ Nothing Rhymed - Gilbert O'Sullivan
Himself (1971)
buy | website

♫ Nothing Rhymed - Tom Jones
She's a Lady (1971)
buy

---

I found a very nice version, again with more obvious feeling, from the lovely Dusty Springfield - live on the Marty Feldman Comedy Machine show, in 1971, video below.
♫ Nothing Rhymed - Dusty Springfield


Morrissey covered the song live, and even introduced himself as "I am, for now, Gilbert O'Sullivan" - not a great bootleg recording here, but hey.
♫ Nothing Rhymed - Morrissey
live at the Ambassador Theatre, Dublin, Ireland (2002)
myspace






If I give up the seat I've been saving
To some elderly lady or man
Am I being a good boy
Am I your pride and joy
Mother please, if you're pleased. say I am

And if while in the course of my duty
I perform an unfortunate take
Would you punish me so, unbelievably so ?
Never again will I make that mistake

This feeling inside me could never deny me
The right to be wrong if I choose
And this pleasure I get
From say, winning a bet
Is to lose

When I'm drinking my Bonaparte Shandy
Eating more than enough apple pies
Will I glance at my screen and
see real human beings
Starve to death -
Right in front of my eyes

Nothing old, nothing new, nothing ventured
Nothing gained, nothing still-born or lost
Nothing further than proof
nothing wilder than youth
Nothing older than time
nothing sweeter than wine
Nothing physically, recklessly, hopelessly blind
Nothing I couldn't say
Nothing why 'cos today
Nothing rhymed


Listening to all the versions, and re-reading the lyrics, leaves me way more appreciative of the original performance; what do you think?. I'm impressed, even though I've always liked his work, and will return to Gilbert O'Sullivan again soon.

Polly Scattergood - gig tonight

I'm off down into Portsmouth tonight; The Cellars at Eastney have Polly Scattergood on, for a splendidly reasonable six quid.

♫ Unforgiving Arms - Polly Scattergood
Polly Scattergood (March 2009)
info at Mute | myspace

I think that's just marvellous - and the rest of the album's equally fine; back tomorrow with a gig-review of sorts, and another track. For now, if you can't make a live show... enjoy this video for the single "Other Too Endless", released today, and available to download from 7digital or iTunes. (Rarely have I been so up to the minute).

Your Mother Should Know...

I planned to do a belated review of the Maarten album - My Favorite Sheriff, which I just got around to playing this brightly grey Sunday morning; but frankly, I'm rubbish at that sorta thing, so I'll just say it's highly enjoyable pop, with a French accent, and just the ticket for a morning after a late night.

Not necessarily my favourite track, but the one I keep returning to, because of the title;


♫ Your Mother Should Know (O' Brother)  -  Maarten
My Favorite Sheriff (2008)
buy | myspace

♫ Your Mother Should Know - The Beatles
Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
buy


Bleedin' obviously - I'm getting a ton of other 'Mother' related songs in my head; more later, no doubt.

More from the Drawer : Linda Thorson (1968)

I found this in a charity (thrift - you guys) shop many years ago; not in '68 when it was released... I was far too young then.

Far as I can tell - it predates (just) Linda Thorson's first appearance in The Avengers, although later pressings did name-check Tara king, as you'd expect, and also came with sexier sleeve photos. The Philips release I have, does away with the orchestral intro on Here I Am that you'll hear below - and the song is way better for it, opening with a sultry-sounding "Here I Go, takin' it easy; takin' it s-low...".

It's a pretty enough piece of 60's pop, and can be had on CD, along with a few other tracks; a bit pricey, mind you. Buy

♫ Here I Am - Linda Thorson

♫ Better Than Losing You - Linda Thorson




I thought I'd dig out an Avengers pic for you - and in doing so, found that she'd been in the British soap - Emmerdale for a while in 2006-7; the thing you miss by not watching tv eh.

More from the Drawer: Mo-dettes - White Mice + Masochistic Opposite

Another gem from my record drawer - a Porky Prime Cut (like all the good ones were); self-released by the Mo-dettes & distributed by Rough Trade.

Punky & edgy enough to be cool, feminine enough to wow all the boys, and Oh!, that Swiss accent... what more could a fifteen year-old ask for?.

Mmm - Mo-dettes.

♫ White Mice - Mo-dettes

♫ Masochistic Opposite - Mo-dettes

Last year, Cherry Red re-released "The Story So Far", the Mo-dettes only album, along with bonus tracks. buy

myspace

Tim Fite - free album : Change Of Heart

As ever, late as hell with all the news that's fit to print... I draw your attention to the following- Tim Fite fans got a free Halloween album last year (& the year before), and woo hoo if he didn't go giving away a Valentine one too.

"It is a bit different from my other recordings, because it doesn't have anything to do with the outside world. I made Change of Heart while working on Fair Ain't Fair and sorting through the wide array of emotions that result from a broken heart. For this reason, I ask that you handle these songs with care, as they are very fragile."

Here's a couple from it...

♫ A Better Fence - Tim Fite

♫ Waiting For Nothing - Tim Fite
both from Change of Heart (2009)
get the album - free

It was "Over The Counter Culture" that got me into Tim Fite -

♫ Place Your Bets - Tim Fite

♫ I've Been Shot - Tim Fite
both from Over The Counter Culture (2007)
get the album free & legal

Tim Fite.com | myspace


For even more free stuff - there are two sessions from last year :
Daytrotter Session #1 (May 2008)
Daytrotter Session #2 (November 2008)


So, is there anything you can actually pay for? - well yes...
buy Tim Fite's "Fair Ain't Fair" from Anti-, and "Gone Ain't Gone" from Amazon or iTunes

Attention Stockholm - Virna Lindt

Rifling through my record drawer (I know, no respect) in search of the Dolly Mixture single I posted yesterday, I spotted another familiar, & very pleasing, picture sleeve from 1981 - by Virna Lindt.

It's way better than a cheesy sleeve though; a playful, yet straight-faced romp through a secret-agenty world of spies, that removes the cold from Cold War... sort-of Bond, Palmer & John Drake combined, in alluring female form; working undercover (naturally), in the world of International Haute Couture, with secret devices in make-up bags, Iron Curtain-Calls - glamorous indeed. The music's not bad either; some great electric piano & reverby tremeloed guitar.

Splendidly billed as part of the Ready To Hear Collection on Compact

♫ Attention Stockholm - Virna Lindt

♫ Episode One Virna Lindt

In 1983, these two tracks were released on an album - Shiver - which you can buy or play hunt-the-download for. Also listen to a few more songs at a myspace tribute site. There was a 1985 release too - Play/Record - details & purchase here, or at Darla.com.

Baby, It's You - The Shirelles + covers by Elvis Costello, The Carpenters, Smith, The Beatles, Dave Berry

Predictably, playing that Dolly Mixture cover of Baby It's You, sparked my interest in the original Shirelles version, & a few other covers. There's some crackers, I tell ya; & be sure to watch the Smith video below.


♫ Baby It's You - The Shirelles
Baby It's You (1962)
buy


♫ Baby It's You - The Beatles
Please Please Me (1963) but this is from Live at the BBC (1994)
buy

♫ Baby It's You - Dave Berry
1964 single - here from The Very Best of Dave Berry
buy

♫ Baby It's You - The Carpenters
Close To You (1970)
buy


♫ Baby It's You - Smith
A Group Called Smith (1969) but here from the Death Proof soundtrack
buy | soundtrack


♫ Baby It's You - Elvis Costello & Nick Lowe
Out of our Idiot (1987)
buy

♫ Baby It's You - Dolly Mixture

Dolly Mixture - too sweet?

Happy memories - I had this single back in 1980 (still in a drawer somewhere) & it's sweet, sweet, sweet. Maybe too much so for the band - Debsey, Rachel, & Hester ?, since apparently they disowned this Chrysalis Records 7" because it pushed 'em as a teeny-girl group, rather than... well, rather than what they really were I spose; certainly their other singles are quite different in style. I don't think I'd describe the cover art as "almost paedophiliac" though - would you?.

Enough debate. Championed & sessioned by John Peel during 1979, and with a number of gigs on the punky/new wave scene - they got noticed enough for Chrysalis to take a punt with a double A-side single, and get Eric Faulkner of the Bay City Rollers, and Roger Bechirian in to produce it. Sure, it's over-cute girliness, from one perspective; and sure; it's not really the sound of "Dolly Mixture" - but hey-ho, I liked it then & still do.


♫ Baby It's You - Dolly Mixture


♫ New Look Baby - Dolly Mixture


The second A-side's best - all bouncy & wonderful; false 'lashes, plastic shoes, lipstick, new haircut..."Bet you never knew she could be groovy"; and that's an original Dolly Mixture song, produced by Roger Bechirian; whereas Baby It's You was a Burt Bacharach, Mack David, Barney Williams tune from 1961 - made famous by The Shirelles, The Beatles, Smith, Dave Berry, and The Carpenters... among others.

I'd love to say "go out & buy it...", but yer can't, see? - there was a CD release of various Dolly Mixture singles/album tracks in the nineties, but I dunno where to find it. Splendidly though, I've got more to share - so leave us a comment if you want some.

Myspace links for: Dolly Mixture | Roger Bechirian | Eric Faulkner

Juicy Fruit - Rudy Greene

To be honest, I've no reason for mentioning this tune, beyond it being mighty fine, and very funny too. True, it sits well with The Last Meal - they're both joyful, swingin' rock n rolly, jumpy numbers which always bring a smile to my day. But err watermelons, pineapples... juicy fruit? - 'fraid not, or I'd be digging out Blackberry Way, amongst many others. We'll save the soft-fruit Top Five for another time eh.

I've got a car so long, I've got to park it in the air.

♫ Juicy Fruit - Rudy Greene
(1956)

Pineapple - Sparks

All that talk of food in "The Last Meal" must have made me hungry. That, or just mindless word-association from purple watermelons to pineapples.

It does make a nice point about song-writing though - and perhaps especially about Sparks, or in this (fairly rare) case; about Russell Mael's solo writing. Well, less about them in particular, & more about how different lyrics can look on a page, compared to how they sound on record. I mean, yeah... it's a song about bloody pineapples - growing them in Hawaii, selling 'em tinned, the various benefits of umm tinned pineapple, and so-forth.

I spose I'm trying to say, that despite yesterday's brief ramble about simplicity in sound & music, you can occasionally find the most surprising complexity & subject matter in nice catchy pop songs; lyrics that make you wonder - quite what inspired someone to sit right down & write what they did?.

We may presume that all song lyrics are borne of some emotional expression, or the urge to recount a story, or events - but it ain't necessarily so; sometimes they're just random phrases from a notebook filled over time with scribblings that later, in the context of a favourite tune, seem profound & full of meaning. It doesn't matter, of course - you can take what you want from a song, poem, any work of 'art', and who cares if it was written for a bet, to a deadline, or has just has words/colours/motifs that went together nicely?.

mp3 removed - Pineapple is available on Indiscreet (1975)
buy


Tropical air helps us harvest all year
And serves to promote the vitamin C content
In turn yielding greater demand

Pineapple: Got to send a case to the city jail
The warden likes it because it won't conceal
Any sort of handmade weapons
That are baked right into their buns
And the taste is delectable
But won't the prisoners hit the table and shout
Pineapple, pineapple, pineapple fulfills every need
Pineapple: shares are gonna divide
Pineapple: if in us you confide

Got a contract for all of the schools
They will use it for all of their meals
Sure, the kids will throw it real far
'Cause it ain't a milk chocolate bar
But you know it don't stain so bad
But won't the fling it at a friend and then shout
Pineapple: tastes too healthy to me
Pineapple: it's filled with vitamin C
Pineapple: fulfills every need
Pineapple: to all the ships at sea
Pineapple: for the English at tea
Pineapple: to the Siamese twins
Pineapple: to heal those who have sinned
Ship some to the Alpine skiing team
The coach won't have to worry 'bout the calories
Sure it ain't strudel (they're nice)
But it helps your balance on ice
Puts you back on the winning trail

But don't the players moan and groan and then shout:
Pineapple: we get it every old night
Pineapple: but we're winning all right
Pineapple fulfills every need
Pineapple: shares are gonna divide
Pineapple: if in us you confide
Pineapple fulfills every need
Pineapple: upward trends are forseen
Pineapple: so invest in Big P
Pineapple fulfills every need
Pineapple: and the tins can be used
Pineapple: for anything that you choose
Pineapple, pineapple

We'll jet you there, breathe the Hawaiian air
Where hula is life, and luaus are for the wife
So visit our factory soon

The Last Meal - You want fries with that?

Now I heard the warden say, I had one more day.
One last meal before they led me away.
And he said - if we ain't got it, We'll go out and get it.
You don't have to go 'til we come back with it.
So I said...

Give me two dinosaur eggs over easy.
Fried kooka-bird, not too greasy.
Mosquito knee , black-eyed bees.
An' a little bitty bowl of buttered bee-balm beans

A sabre-tooth tiger steak
A whole hippopotamus, well baked.
Two cross-eyed catfish
and some wavy gravy in the left hand dish

Now go, and get my dinner. Go,
and get my dinner.
You ain't got it?, go out an' get it.
I ain't goin', til you come back with it.


A captivating cup of crocodile dill.
A purple watermelon and an alligator pill.
A bottle of mellow mountain mist
An' a female banana I can't resist


Now go, and get my dinner. Go,
and get my dinner.
You ain't got it?, go out and get it.
I ain't goin', til you come back with it.

A heavy hunk of jelly and a fried rainbow
A rainwater cocktail and a breeze a la mode
A barbecued brick of chocolate ice cream
Bring me a plate of stewed moonbeam


Now go, and get my dinner
Go, and get my dinner
Hey Mr warden, gotta have my fill
I can't go without my last meal


♫ The Last Meal - Hurricane Harry
(1956)
buy

Finn Daniel - If I Got Good

Music's a bit like food, sometimes - simple, quality ingredients, nicely cooked & presented, regularly out-shine lavish, involved productions, supposedly fit for a king.

That's what sprang to mind when I heard the song below from the UK singer/songwriter Finn Daniel - it's a moving, beautiful tune; sung very simply, with just acoustic guitar & some understated strings; absolutely lovely, I've played it to bits.

♫ If I Got Good - Finn Daniel

Fascinating then, to hear the same song with just the strings backing : it has a very different, tranquil, yet  melancholy feel, and is surely my favourite from the Settle EP.

♫ If I Got Good (strings) - Finn Daniel

both from the "Settle" EP, which you can buy from iTunes or get the cd direct from Finn or CD Baby.




Settle EP : out on Stickman Records
Snap
If I Got Good
I Can't Tell If You're Joking
You Look Like You Mean It
Not All There
Cheer Up
If I Got Good (strings)
Not All There (strings)

Listen to more songs at Finn's myspace, and download several free ones from the Settle recording sessions at his website.




If I Got Good - lyrics

I head for yours and your ideas

I’ll want for more of yours I fear


If I could say myself in your words

I think I know how it would sound

If I got good at thinking forwards

I might not mind the falling down


Fought for your cause and your ideas

And for your applause, I try, I’m here

Country Life - swings & roundabouts

Petworth Park



Sometimes, it seems that big-city living has a lot going for it - when I see all the stuff going on that I'd like to get to : gigs, exhibitions, films & such. It's felt a lot like that lately - a lack of half-decent gigs I fancied, locally; and a lot I did fancy, bloody miles away.

There's advantages to living round here tho' - you're never far away from the countryside & all it contains, which I was reminded of while telling someone about the deer who pile into my Dad's garden & take great delight in eating his rose flowers.

Some years ago on a very narrow country lane, late at night; a friend & I (driving), came across some deer ambling around. All but one ducked into a field, but a silly one kept plodding along in front of the car, getting further & further from his pals - and would eventually have come upon a (relatively) busy road. Naturally, I wasn't gonna let that happen, but sitting in the stationary car for several minutes, achieved nothing - the little deer (dear) just stood there; so I got out & tried to chase it through a hedge, to safety.

Now, younger & fitter though I was; a deer could still easily outrun me (oh really?) - but he chose not to - keeping just a few steps ahead, so that I could actually touch him. After a huff & puffing couple of hundred yards, the rascal finally footed it through a hedgerow, & we could continue getting home.

I know all about Richmond Park (London) & the deer there; but occasionally, there's no substitute for the real thing.


♫ The Country Life - The Bees (they're now called The Silver Seas)
High Society (2006)
buy | myspace


ha! posted this not so long ago - but it bears repeating.
♫ I'm just a Country Girl - Anton Barbeau
Guladong (2004)
myspace | buy


This inquisitive one was just sitting in a field of corn

Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Kenny Rogers, The Killers, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Brennan & more

I was in two minds (only two?) over what to title this post : Ruby... was certainly a guilty pleasure during my childhood, not cool at all to enjoy country music. But it's an excellent, if understated, story song too - not the classic verse-after-verse sort, but one where your mind fills in all the details & history. 

You create your own image of a crippled ex-soldier, and of Ruby - contemplating a night out... all made-up, hair tinted & curled; even of the house where our story-snippet takes place. I don't know if there was ever a video to accompany the song, certainly I've never seen it - but imagination & the right lyrical cues provide all that's needed to construct my own private viewing - right down to the pained, resigned look & involuntary start when the door slams.

So it's a story song - a 1970's (not so guilty) pleasure; and of course I've got the odd one or two cover versions. Odd being the operative word for Walter Brennan's, but surprisingly not for Leonard Nimoy, who plays it dead straight. The song loses most of its impact with the Jerry Reed cover, but always a pleasure to hear him sing, & especially play guitar.

Jason and the Scorchers really rock the song up a lot - but don't sound like it's a cover for the sake of it, unlike say, some punk covers of other songs. But, and there's always a but - no-one here comes close to the chilling effect of Kenny Rogers' grave-sounding "Ruby - for God's sake, turn around".


♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town (1969)
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♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Leonard Nimoy
The New World of Leonard Nimoy (1970)
buy


♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Walter Brennan
Yesterday, When I was Young


♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Cake
Wheels EP (2005)
buy


♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Jerry Reed
When You're Hot, You're Hot (1971)
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♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - The Killers
Sawdust (2007)
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♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Jason and the Scorchers
Wildfires and Misfires (2001)
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and in case you thought I'd forgotten... yep, Mel Tillis wrote it in 1967 - and here he is performing it live, and on record.
♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Mel Tillis (live)

♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Mel Tillis
buy | website
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and honestly - I'm not trying to include every last version of this song, ever made... ( no, really!) but it was first released in 1967, by Johnny Darrell; so it'd be almost rude not to let you hear him, wouldn't it?.

♫ Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town - Johnny Darrell
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You wanna know which I like the most? - that'll be Kenny Rogers and Johnny Darrell - the first cuz it makes the most of the story, & is quite chilling at the end (what's he gonna do?) - and the second - well, just cuz I do. Oddly, I didn't like it at first; but the simplicity & honesty won me over. Which of these do you prefer?.

Repetition

Casual readers (sports jacket & slacks) may wonder at the interest in multiple-bloody-versions of one song. I can't really explain it myself - better ask all the people who come here & play 'em. I do know that digging out so many, does involve a willingness to listen again & again, to (sometimes) near-identical performances; and it's a puzzle how that sits with my restless search for novelty. But sit it does - I'll happily have one good thing on repeat - then cast off to find the next one.


♫ Same Song - Amplifico
See Heart See Muscle (2008)
myspace | buy | free EP (zip) : Logic Kills The Fire (2007), which is darned good, as is the See Heart See Muscle album


♫ Never be The Same - See You Soon
Don't Give Up (2008)
myspace | buy


♫ Never Be The Same - sweetbleeders
bzzzz. (2006)
myspace | buy


♫ There She Goes Again - The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
buy


♫ Chant - Public Image Ltd
Metal Box (1979)
buy

that sounds so weak on most versions (incl. the above) - you just cannot beat the original 45rpm vinyl. I bought it as a kid from a local record/photographic shop "It's the last one" said the owner - "So you can have it cheap". Woo!


Sarah Beintker : See You Soon

That's Just The Name of the Shop, Love...

I mean, look - they sell net-curtains

I should have titled this post " Neko Case album leak " or something equally inaccurate...One of my favourite "comedy applied to real-life" gags, that I bandy around whenever the situation presents itself, comes from The Bonzo Dog Band - "Shirt". It's four and a half minutes of music/sketch combined, and at one point our subject enters a "59-Minute Cleaners" & asks to have his shirt cleaned, express.

When told that it'll take three weeks, he complains - mentioning the sign outside... & well, you can imagine the rest, I'm sure.

As well as taking an absurd delight in coming across businesses & restaurants to which "just the name of the shop" applies, I also imagine being rich enough to open all sorts of misnamed establishments, purely so that I can inform a stream of customers about their, umm, misunderstandings.

"Everything Under a Pound", "Andy's Eight 'til Late" - there are endless possibilities, even if many have already been unwittingly done for real. "Perfect Pizza", "Mr Cheap", "Bay View Hotel"  - you've all found 'jnots'.

So that's my fave sketch - that and the Python cardinals... TWO! favourite sketches.


♫ Shirt - The Bonzo Dog Band
Tadpoles (1969)
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Image credits : Things from another World - pforbinesque
Garlic World - Hannah Clan
Smokers World - Emily Webber