(Funky) Friday On My Mind

It's about time we had a breather from my usual end o' the week guff and stuff. So instead,it's a guest blog spot for todays' FF as music writer, musician and compiler of the sharpest CDs John Medd punches the buttons and chooses the tunes...

Blimey, it’s Friday again! How did that happen? Not that I’m complaining, it’s just that these days all my timepieces appear to be moving at cartoon/sit-com speed – you know the sort, don’t you? Anyway, here’s three nuggets that should kick-start the weekend.

When I was in my late teens and discovering wine, women and song, my all time favourite song lyric went ‘tonight’s the night when I go to all the parties down my street’ from Joe Jackson’s Is She Really Going Out With Him: even though there were precious few parties down my street, those words held so much promise. And even now, a quarter of a century later, I still sing it myself when I’m going putting on my falling over trousers, ready to go and blow the froth off a couple of pints on a Friday night. Joe’s moved on, too; these days he’s got a train to catch. By the way, any similarities to The ‘In’ Crowd are no doubt well intentioned.

Joe Jackson: Uptown Train


Next up is a tune you’ll be whistling all next week – I promise. The Haggis Horns hail from Leeds and are reinventing UK funk. This brass-heavy 8-piece are the house band of choice for Ronson, Winehouse, Bailey Rae et al and are guaranteed to tear up any club they pitch up at.

Haggis Horns: The Traveller (Pt. 2)


Finally, rather than jam the anchors on, we’re slowing down Toyota style…slowly. James Yorkston is best known for his work as part of the The Fence Collective, a Scottish folk mafia, if you will, but his solo album Year Of The Leopard appeared on quite a few radar screens a couple of years back - not least for it’s mesmeric Woozy With Cider: a remixer’s dream (it’s even been given a dubstep makeover) though I’ve gone for the original. Dig it!

James Yorkston: Woozy With Cider