At the end of a week which hopefully sees the return of thoughtful consideration and common sense across the "pond", welcome to another RPM Seven Day Soundtrack, not only a beacon of common sense for the discerning listener, but also the place to discover thoughtfully considered musical choices, of course. And all without the need for twitter. So, make a brew, pour a beer and on her birthday, it's over to........

Jackie -

"Here's some favourite songs..."

Piers -

"As I have previously explained, I have become telly addicted. For the big event on the Telly this week…. I was hoping that the Marine band would at least play the John Phillip Souza march which I now only know as, ‘Nelly The Cripple’. Sadly I have been unable to remember what it is really called, ever since the early 1980s when I was introduced to it by that title, when serenaded with the ‘Rugby Song’ version by my dear wife. I just flipped through the intros to about 30 JPS marches on Youtube in the hope of finding it for you all, but I was to be disappointed! All a bit frustrating and they didn’t play it at the inauguration anyway! So I can’t include it !!! If anybody does know what it is really called - please let me know. We’ll have to have this instead…. "

"Despite never being one to cut a long story any shorter…. Back to my telly watching as detailed… On Saturday evenings, after my all time favourite Police procedural, ‘Spiral’ or (Engranages, in its original French), the BBC have been showing a documentary series. A cultural guide to ‘Paris’ on which there was a brief glimpse of ‘Origin of the World’, a painting by Gustave Corbet. Even though it was painted 150 years ago, and despite it having been on public display, where it now hangs, in the Musee D’Orsay, since the 1980s, the image is still considered controversial. (Well done Gustave!). Having heard Andy Cutting perform the tune entitled ‘Origin of the World’, (Which I can’t believe is a coincidence), on the Pier at Cromer, I was searching for his version, when I came across this lovely duet."

"And Jackie reminded me last week, (thanks Jackie, it is superb) of the Voyager space craft, which has carried a recording of ‘Dark was the Night’ by Blind Willie Johnson, etched onto a gold plated, copper, 33RPM Disc, (enclosed in an engraved, aluminium sleeve), and a phonograph to play it on, far beyond the gravitational pull of the sun!

The Voyager record contains,

• Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F. First Movement 4:40

• Java, court gamelan, Kinds of Flowers, 4:43

• Senegal, percussion, . 2:08

• Zaire, Pygmy girls' initiation song, 0:56

• Australia, Aborigine songs, Morning Star and Devil Bird, 1:26

• Mexico, El Cascabel, - Lorenzo Barcelata and the Mariachi México. 3:14

• Johnny B. Goode, - Chuck Berry. 2:38

• New Guinea, men's house song, 1:20

• Japan, shakuhachi, Tsuru No Sugomori (Crane's Nest,) - Goro Yamaguchi. 4:51

• Bach, Gavotte en rondeaux from the Partita No. 3 in E major for Violin, 2:55

• Mozart, The Magic Flute, Queen of the Night aria, no. 14. Edda Moser, soprano. 2:55

• Georgian S.S.R., chorus, Tchakrulo, 2:18

• Peru, panpipes and drum, 0:52

• Melancholy Blues, - Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven. 3:05

• Azerbaijan S.S.R., bagpipes, 2:30

• Stravinsky, Rite of Spring, Sacrificial Dance, Igor Stravinsky, conductor. 4:35

• Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Prelude and Fugue in C, No.1. 4:48

• Beethoven, Fifth Symphony, First Movement, the Philharmonia Orchestra. 7:20

• Izlel je Delyo Hagdutin, sung by Valya Balkanska. 4:59

• Navajo Indians, Night Chant. 0:57

• Holborne, Paueans, Galliards, Almains and Other Short Aeirs, The Fairie Round, . 1:17

• Solomon Islands, panpipes 1:12

• Peru, wedding song, 0:38

• China, ch'in, Flowing Streams, - Kuan P'ing-hu. 7:37

• India, raga, Jaat Kahan Ho, sung by Surshri Kesar Bai Kerkar. 3:30

• Dark Was the Night, - Blind Willie Johnson. 3:15

• Beethoven, String Quartet No. 13 in B flat, Opus 130, Cavatina. 6:37

Personally, I think they should have included a packet of garibaldis, a mug, a teabag, some long life milk, and instructions….

The Navajo Indians, Night Chant, is I admit, pretty funky, and I would have been able to explain that I once heard it played on very late night FM radio as I was driving though the Valley of Fire, by the Malpais lava flow, in the New Mexico badlands but I have to go with….."

John -

"Hi Everyone, I hope you're all keeping safe and well. Here's a sample of some of the music I've been listening to this week."

"With Comus clocking in at 7.35, I thought brevity might be appreciated with my other two tracks....."

Alan -

"Phil Spector: I could have picked almost anything Spector produced between 1960 and 1966 and I've actually omitted two of my absolute favorites', The Paris Sisters 'I love how you love me' and, as a performer, The Teddy Bears 'Don't you worry my little pet'. Those chosen represent, to me, the absolute apogee of Spector's 'girl group' recordings.... but let's not forget his short lived but phenomenal work with the Righteous Brothers on the male front. His work in the early seventies for the A&M label hinted at a return to form but his (re) recordings with the Beatles, Lennon and Harrison had fans and critics divided (not to mention McCartney!!!). And what about the now critically re-appraised albums with Cohen and Dion amongst others? I'll let others decide!!! Here's my three.... Let's remember his genius alongside his faults (many!!) but try and forget the wigs!!!

Stay safe everyone; keep the great tunes coming.............."

There's No Other (Like my Baby) by The Crystals (7" single released January 1962, Parlophone label) * - "One of a handful of Spector tracks covered by the Beach Boys whose leader Brian Wilson could regularly be found with his nose pressed against the Gold Star Studio studio window whilst Spector worked his magic inside!! The track features great vocals by Barbara Alston on their debut release for Spector's Philles label but, despite this, later Crystals singles regularly featured other uncredited vocalists as lead (see below). It's part of pop history that the girls attended the late night session fresh from their high school prom, still wearing the dresses bought especially for the dance. Despite this, and a number 24 placing, the girls remained unpaid by Spector for this performance."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQzWGUJjr8c

Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Heart by Bobb. B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans (7" single released March 1963, London American label) # - "Perhaps Spectors early attempt to form a 'super group' was too much too soon, or perhaps just misguided? Initially, the idea was for Northern Soul favourite Bobby Sheen to front the group but, after initial success with the Soxx/Sheen led 'Zip A Dee Doo Dah', Spector ensconced Darlene Love on lead vocals, alongside Blossoms compadre Fanita James. However, after just one further single (the excellent 'Not too young to get married') and a sole album, the trio (augmented live by Lillian Washington and soon to be Honey Cone Carolyn Willis) were dropped by the Philles label. Sheen went on to record solo and the Blossoms were reformed but, strangely, Love then became the 'ghost' lead singer on many of the Crystals later recordings as well as backing the Ronettes (again, see below), Shelley Fabares, Johnny Rivers and even Frank Sinatra but she was disappointed when Spector never followed through with the promise of a 'solo' album for her."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJOzCByG4c

Is This What I Get For Loving You? by The Ronettes (7" single released 16th July 1965, London American label.)** - "Girl group songs, in the main, tended to deal in boy meets girl and all the associated romantic permutations thereof. Occasionally, however, the subject matter became darker. Think The Shirelles 'Will you still love me tomorrow' (and its "Is this a lasting treasure, or just a moment's pleasure?" refrain), The Crystals with 'He hit me and it felt like a kiss' ("If he didn't care for me I could have never made him mad, But he hit me, and I was glad. He hit me and it felt like a kiss") plus several excellent tracks by the Shangri Las including the classic 'Past, Present and Future' ("(chant)The Present!....(whispers) Go out with you? Why not? Do I like to dance? Of Course, Take a walk along the beach tonight? I’d love to, But don’t try to touch me, don’t try to touch me....‘Cause that will never happen again…." ) And to that list lets add this epic of doomed eroticism with Ronnie Bennett emoting passionately in an effort to keep her boy and the depression which would follow if he left ("What would there be left for me? It's such a cruel world to be alone in, I always needed you to look out for me, and baby I'm gonna miss your loving arms"). It's a real change from their earlier singles which had generally featured a more positive outlook on teen romance. Here, on a fine Goffin/King composition, and featuring Spectors second greatest ever production, Ronnie's voice is given a cavernous echo on the entry to the chorus, where she is backed only by a set of bongos, before the famed 'wall of sound' makes its dramatic entrance. What a pity that girl groups had run their course by the time of its release in June 1965, a course perfectly charted (sic) by the performance of their singles. Major label debut single 'Be my Baby' had reached number 2 in Cashbox, but their following singles (with the exception of 'Walking in the rain' at number 23) had all achieved progressively lower placings with 'Is this....' hitting number 75 and its equally fine follow up 'I can hear music' a paltry 100!!

A year earlier, the girls had toured the UK with the Rolling Stones as support/co-headliners.... here's two stories about the tour:

Ronnie: "We must have been quite a sight in the Heathrow waiting room, three black American girls sitting with their legs all crossed the same way, our three identical, enormous hairdos piled a foot or so over our heads. When our young chaperon finally showed up, he was all smiles."

And finally, over to Keef (ever the gent!!) for his reflection....... "The first time I ever went to heaven was when I awoke with Ronnie Bennett asleep with a smile on her face. We were kids. It doesn't get any better than that."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmaVDsSvQiA

* My copy on 'The Crystals Twist Uptown' LP

** My copy on 'The greatest Hits Vol 2' LP

# My copy from original single purchased at time of release.

("And speaking of the Stones, John... I have all the singles, EP's and albums 64-70, but just a couple of each outside of that period. All too similar sounding, for me, once Brian Jones was ousted.")

Morra -

"Three girls."

Jayne -

"Hi RPM lovelies, I trust that you are keeping safe and sane. I’ve been revisiting ‘Our Friends In the North’ which brought to mind these three tracks."

Philip -

"Greetings to all, and I trust everyone is staying safe and well.

After listening to Mr. Biden's inauguration speech I nearly started this week's selections with "Uncivil War," the title track of Shemekia Copeland's new album.

However, I was listening to Sam Cooke the other day and was reminded of Bruce Springsteen's habit of referring to "Mary" in many of his songs. Is it always the same Mary or several different ones? No matter- this week's theme is There's Something About Mary."

Jean -

"Here’s my choices on a theme of ‘songs for different aspects in a love affair’. Keep well RPMers and for those of you – like me - in the ‘elderly’ group (Not my words) I hope you get your vaccine soon. Keep playing the music no matter what."

Nina -

"Hope all's good. Birrova random selection of listening this week, it's good to mix it up. Take care folks, we'll get there.."

Dave -

"Hi RPMers.......hope all is well . Here’s my 3 of the week."

Tim -

“Here’s part two of "My Folk Favourites", which I unintentionally started last week. I ended with Oysterband and spent a few days revisiting most of their albums….which continued my mind wandering through other folk music which has particularly impressed itself over the years…..might even be a part 3 next week…….”

Canadee-I-O performed by Nic Jones – “The first time I heard this song was Bob Dylan giving us his strangulated version on his 1992 acoustic reboot album, Good As I’ve Been To You. Tracking down where he’d got the song from quickly turned up THE definitive version by Nic Jones from his classic Penguin Eggs LP released in 1980. Like Gypsy Davy from last week, this song has been, and continues to be, a source of (re)inspiration for my own acoustic guitar playing. Other songs on Penguin Eggs also feature the playing of Norfolk’s own Tony Hall on melodeon, btw.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlFKwY_YgZ4

Lark’s March / Kilfenora Jig / The Cliffs of Moher performed by Martin Hayes – “Martin’s second solo CD Under the Moon came out in 1995 and properly started his one-man-mission to really "get inside" Irish Traditional music. Since the re-emergence of the genre thanks to bands such as the Bothy Band and Planxty in the 70s, the increasing tendency over the years with trad musicians, I felt, was to try and play the tunes…well, as fast as humanly possible. This album makes a statement with Hayes’s sublime fiddle palying; slow down and let’s hear the tune again. On this recording, he really does live and breathe each tune to reveal the soul and feel of Irish Traditional Music, also accompanied here by some tasteful, minimal and exacting acoustic guitar from Randal Bays. I’ve always felt that there are a lot of folk bands who think that to impress, they have to play at a million miles an hour and who are therefore really missing the point of the music. I would direct them to Martin Hayes and this CD in particular.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cc9P-mkjLs

Robbery With Violins performed by Steeleye Span – “As a beginner bass player in the early 80s, this was a particular OMG moment. A great tune played with mighty swagger by fiddler Peter Knight, but…..it features Rick Kemp’s WAH-WAH BASS!!! This is the closing track from side 1 (in old money) of Steeleye Span’s Parcel of Rogues LP from 1973. This album, chosen from Bury St Edmunds library primarily because I liked the cover, was the first time I’d heard the band. Return visits unearthed the first three LPs, which are still their best, in my opinion. This was a bit of a guilty pleasure at the time as I was a Hawkwind-loving hippy heavy metal kid and obviously shouldn’t have liked folk music. I’ve just discovered (40ish years later) that the tune is actually called The Bank of Ireland….every day a (music) school day. I recommend playing this about 6 times in quick succession...............now, where's that Dunlop Cry Baby.............?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_BXh6DL4lg