Well I'm off again next week - no plans as such, just a bit of buzzing about, hoofing around and putting the handbrake on so to speak. And, if the evenings heat up, I may even have a stretch out and sip to this 'Lazy Sunday' mix - a medley of modish, acid jazzy, lower tempo beats and bobs - hope you do to.
I've also reloaded the 'Summer Sounds' mix up on the other side if you fancy grabbing that.
Mother Earth - Jesse Patricia Marx & 4Hero - Menino Jackie Mittoo - Stereo Freeze Little Barrie - Just Wanna Play Paul Weller - Always There Corduroy - Ponytail The New Jersey Kings - Dream Waves Beastie Boys - Ricky's Theme Handsome Boy Modeling School - Sunshine Lloyd & Devon - Push Push Pete Jolly - Plummer Park Aim - Original Stuntmaster DJ Z-Trip – 3rd Gear Soundhog - A Day In Tracy's Life
I'm on something of a Beatles buzz at the mo' - The White Album, Love and a self compiled CD being the most played albums on our recent Cotswolds run. The Fab's catalogue is something I occasionally drift away from distracted by other old stuff, odd stuff and new stuff but will always loop back to The Beatles at some point.
So what a result then, while bumbling around Broadway last week swerving the squall, to find that sixties scene snapper Tom Murray was in town to talk and chat about his set of previously unseen photos from the Beatles 1968 'Mad Day Out' (now being sold as limited run of signed prints), well we had to hoof along and lend an ear didn't we? You can see all 23 shots here - which look stunning blown up and framed (I bought 'Coming Apart' shown below) - but why just 23? Tom only got a last minute invite from Don McCullin (the centrefold photo on the Red and Blue greatest hits albums is one of Don's 'Mad Day Out' shots) to join a 'pop group' photo shoot, but wasn't told which 'pop group' - so only grabbed one camera and two rolls of film.
So, how about a barometric anthem for this summer - which ironically never popped into play on last week's roll around the Cotswolds. 'Rain' seems to be the tipping point as the Fabs go from loveable moptops to furry freak beaters. Points to check out are..
Maccas chipped tooth and puffy lip (the result of Scooter accident while on his hol's - and a reason for his 'Pepper' period 'tache).
I'm nipping off next week, (back to sunny Stow - again) but while I'm away - on August 15th - this piece of ol' puffery completes it's first year of orbit in the blogosphere (I'm discounting, but not deleting the first three directionless posts) - so to celebrate breaking the one year barrier, I've made a pick 'n' mix buffet of tasty treats and groovy goodies gathered from all around my hat.. err, blogroll.
So, a tip of the titfter and a 'thank you for the music' is due to all those on the '1YS' tracklist for the tip top tunes, and to anyone who's ever contributed or commented on this ol' blog, as well as a ton of cyberchums for chit chat, chippings in, inspiration and ideas like ...
And finally a special mention for all those silent peepers, prowlers and binge bloggers that arrive via random.com and spend around 12 hours necking down every page and piece without a whisper.
So my funky friends tuck in, fill your boots, raise a glass, shake a leg and here's to another fab year . 'One Year Souled Mix'
I Just Want To Celebrate - Rare Earth Ain't Nothing But A Houseparty - The Showstoppers Super Party-The Soul Hustlers - Fufu Vince Watch Your Step - Bobby Parker - Roman Empress You Can’t Go On - Lonnie Lester - Matt Beat Collector Cooking Catfish - Albert King - Larry F16 Corners Take Me - Betty Everett - Devil Dick Maybe I'm Amazed - Sunday's Child - Soul Shower (deleted blog) You're The Fool - The Three Degrees - Fufu Stew Crossword Puzzle (Say No Go)- Sly And The Family Stone Ally Funky Mississippi - Rufus Thomas Davey H 96 Tears - Aretha Franklin - Simon Lady Moogdonna - Soundhog Alive - Beastie Boys/Alan Hawkshaw - Soulwax Molotov Cocktail Party - Vivi Bach Und Dietmar Schoenherr - Rock Mother Soul Sitar - Sohail Rhana - Piley Spinout - Elvis Presley - Diddy Wah Dancin' Pain - Wynder K. Frog I Can't Get Next to You - Mongo Santamaria - Bitter Andrew Vertigo Leitmotiv - Bernard Estardy - Paul Blow Up Quittin Time - Big Maybelle - Mr Double Down Doin’ the Banana Split - The Banana Splits - F16 for track facts Talkin' 'bout Soul - Little Richard Do What You Did - Thurston Harris - Rob Do You Love Me - The Sonics Closing Motif
AND to think I was actually worried about running out of puff and stuff to stick in my cyberspace scrapbook.
Did You Know ? The colours on PM and are inspired by Swizzles Double Lollies and the fact that pink/orange/both seemed to be such a popular pallet in the 70s.
I've been getting in a fizz and a froth about Silvery and their Sparks/XTC hurdy-gurdy style jiggery-poppery for some while now, and it all seems to be coming together for them as speedily as quicksilver. Here's the news - and it's all good...
They've been played on Radcliffe and Maconie
Steve Lamacq's been raving about them in his Blog - and had them in session on his show.
The new album 'Thunderer & Excelsior' is out on the 11th, and will be featured as 6 Music's Album Of The Day on the 12th ( the'Devil In The Detail' single was also the winner of a recent 6 music Round Table )
The band have been invited to play at Rough Trade East's first Birthday Celebrations on August 15th
So if you are in the Brick Lane area on the 15th why not pop along and have a peep? The Silvery surfers always put on a fast and furious live set - it's like a gig, only on fast forward - where you'll be able to lend an ear and shake a leg to tunes like...
Axe Victim says 1973 is the summer of summers. But for me, the top pop year will always be 1977. It's an overlooked classic - and the year sound and vision went Concorde shaped and Skylab sounding - Bowie released 'Low', 'Heroes' (and clonked out 'Lust For Life' and 'Idiot' as hobby projects), Giorgio and Donna gave us deep space disco, there's Space - 'Magic Fly', Meco - 'Star Wars' and JMJ 'Oxygene' - see what I mean? And then you've got Close Encounters, 'Calling Occupants', Bond's Lotus Esprit, Saturday Night Fever, Star Wars, Punk wars, the deaths of Marc Bolan and Elvis - you just don't get designs, dynamics and dramatics like that in many other years.
My personal obsessions during the summer of 77 were...
Sharks (I saw Jaws 5 times). Skateboards (Fibreflex boards and Kryptonic wheels were the kiddies, Skudas were cool and affordable, but Surf Flyers? That's a no-no ) Starsky and Hutch. Admiral football togs.(the Coventry kit being my fave) Lord Anthony clobber (but never had a Parka) Dayvilles Ice Cream Parlours(32 flavours) Krazy Comic
And as I started to make the move from pick 'n' mix singles to adult size albums the record I wanted, really wanted - and got for Christmas was K-Tel's blistering 'Disco Fever'. You can enjoy the full track list here, and for MOR eye popping madness have peep at the cozy cardie coloured charts from 31 years ago - both of which are almost entirely untroubled by any punky doings.
Elvis 'Way Down' ( Alt take with added piano at the coda)
If you fancy a few more sounds from the summer of 77 hop on over to...
Track Lister for Giorgio Moroder - 'From Here To Eternity' (single version) Davey H for Donna Summer - 'I Feel Love' (12" version)
My selection for Book Of The year 1977 - Man Eating Sharks Always wanted one of these G and S Fibreflex boards (and a trip to Skate City or the South Bank), but never managed to get either.
1977 may have been the big bang/year zero of Punk, but while the world crash, burned and turned dayglo, the UK singles and album charts stayed strictly beige, and a gallery of beards and Bri-Nylon, not bondage and black leather. It may have been anarchy and white riots in the city, but the real sound of the suburbs was glam girls with Farah flicks in disco dresses and bouffant chaps in cheesecloth and satin.
I've read far too many books on the UK Punk scene - three on the bounce so far this year, but none of then have the same snap, sparkle, spit and polish as Barry Cain's 77 Sulphate Strip, which has gone straight in at number 1 in my 'pile high club' of rock reads.
Taking a year (1977) in the life of a Record Mirror's initially reluctant'Punk' reporter, 77 Sulphate Strip scrapbooks the combustion and contrast of Seditionaries Punk and 'Sing Something Simple' style Pop by prologuing each chapter with the best selling singles and albums for that month (there's hardly a spikey top in sight) followed by reviews and interviews from Barry Cain's original Record Mirror features on the Pistols, The Stranglers, The Heartbreakers, The Jam, The Damned and Demis Roussos while threading in offstage stories and anecdotes of scams, schemes, scary Dutch hells angels, dodgy raffles, girl chasing, globe trotting and living at home with mum and dad. I can't recommend it enough. It is simply, one the finest pieces of music writing ever published.
I was too young for Punk in 1977 and could only afford Pop at pocket money prices - so why buy just one real deal single, when you can have a full albums worth of soft focus sound-alikes?
Like these taken from 'The Best Of Top Of The Pops 77' I Feel Love
Phew what a blooming scorcher. I'm sneaking my 'Summer Sounds Like This' Mix up for a limited run. It's a bit more Balearic than the usual Mondomania - but never mind the Balearics, it just seems simpatico in this crazy heat.
*offline*'Summer Sounds Like This'*offine*
Variety Lab - London In The Rain Big Muff – My Funny Valentine Physics – Leaving Monte Carlo Scubba (featuring Moana) - Fool To Cry Rouge Rouge – L'amour Ohm G & Bruno – One Grandadbob - Hide Me (Al Usher Dance Mix) The Streamers – Zwing Ting 311 Porter - Surround Me With Your Love (Mental Overdrive Mix) Stigmato Inc. - Reality Check Nouvelle Vague – Ever Fallen In Love Patricia Marx and 4 Hero – Menino Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band – L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band - Think Twice Parov Stelar - Kiss Me Twice Nouvelle Vague – Dancing With Myself Pink Martini - Sympathique
This would be the end of office hours anthem. When clocking off time arrives (4 pm Monday - Thursday, 2:30 Fridays) whistles wouldn't be blown or hooters tooted. No,no, no. 'Soul Town'* would be piped through PAs as everyone drifts away from their desks and doings, heading for the park to waft through willow trees. The Motherhood - 'Soul Town'
All alarm clocks would kick off at the crack of 10am (Mondays to Fridays) with this ripstart stormer. The Fabulous Wailers - 'Wailin''
And The Gee-Cees would provide the offical opening fanfare for all Saturday night shindiggs, shakedowns and tear ups. The Gee-Cees -'Buzz Saw Twist'
Suggestions for parade music, event anthems and any other occasion motifs are always welcome.
And please, please, please pop over and say hello the Larry Funky 16 the King of Crate Diggers who's just reached 1 million hits - yes 1 million - and is celebrating with a special mix of funky Beatles covers.
*If I ever get round to doing a podcast (called-'Spodulike' ) I may use 'Soul Town' as the closedown tune
Piley put me on to this Bowie boggler years ago - when I discovered YouTube, this bizzaro Bowie-as-Pelham-Puppet performance of 'Boys Keep Swinging' was the first vid' I searched for, but some ol' spoilsport pulled it a week later - since then I've been trawling the 'Tube at least once a week hoping for the return of the Thin White Duke, only to find it on Yahoo/AOL video (no, I didn't know about it either).
Anyhow - while it's online,watch it, watch it and watch it again. - It is a pinocchio a go-go gem.
As a bonus here's Suzanna Hoff's rework of 'Boys Keep Swinging', which would be greatly improved by losing the squiddly diddly guitar solo (I don't think it's her hammering the frets). 'Boys Keep Swinging'
And, have a pop on over to I Should Be Working for another video version of Bowie and 'Boys Keep Swinging'.
Ding Dong! Avon calling (to the faraway towns). All the way from Devizes The Davey Brothers pollinated big beaty rock with sweet tooth pop to make this high energy hybrid - now if only I could find that pesky vid' for 'She's So Fine'.
Our town of sunny Southend is twinned with Sopot, a very dandy riviera affair, offering several accommodation options 'hotels, motels and campings' and a sprinkling of swinging 'Disco Clubs' for leg shakings, including the temptingly named 'Galaxy', 'Viva' and 'Derby' (eh?)
Well I'm off again next week - no plans as such, just a bit of buzzing about, hoofing around and putting the handbrake on so to speak. And, if the evenings heat up, I may even have a stretch out and sip to this 'Lazy Sunday' mix - a medley of modish, acid jazzy, lower tempo beats and bobs - hope you do to.
