Welcome back everyone, to the RPM Record Club Seven Day Soundtrack, week ending Friday 22nd October 2021. Without further ado, let's get going! Over to....
"Here are my 3 for the week. Best wishes to everybody."
Mother Nature's Son by Harry Nilsson - "Harry and the Beatles were a mutual admiration society and this is a fine rendition of this Lennon/McCartney penned song."
Your Own Sweet Way by The Notting Hillbillies - "I got to see them when they toured and swung by the UEA, The laconic Mr Knopfler sidled onto the stage and announced "Here it is" before launching into their (very good) set."
Night Train by James Brown - "This is on a favourite album of mine which comprises songs by various artists themed on the geography of the USA."
"Here's my 3"
Yesterday’s Rebel by The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats -
Congratulations performed by Pinky & Perky -
Graveyard Stomp by The Meteors -
"Hi RPMers, hope you did not get too wet this week !!! Here’s my 3."
Shoot Shoot by KaitO -
Bubblegum by Magoo -
The Starter's Gun by Magoo -
"Hi RPMers, I hope you've all been jabbed and boosted and are keeping safe and well.
I think it would be great to meet up (as Jean and Tony have suggested) and I thought it would be good to uphold the RPM tradition and meet on the first Tuesday of the month (possibly 7th December) in Elsing at The Mermaid Pub. What do you think? (Another venue would have to be found...my southern spies have informed me the Mermaid has closed. Tim.)
Talking of meeting up, I had coffee with a friend on Wednesday and he brought along a book called 'Prophets & Sages - An Illustrated Guide To Underground And Progressive Rock 1967-1975'. He lent me the book and I've hardly put it down....well, only to change whichever Prog LP it had prompted me to play from my collection. Here are tracks from three albums (among many) that have hit the turntable over the past few days."
Things May Come And Things May Go But The Art School Dance Goes On Forever by Pete Brown & Piblokto! - "From the LP of the same name."
Gungamai by Quintessence - "From their debut LP 'In Blissful Company'."
Out-Bloody-Rageous by Soft Machine - "From their third LP called err..... 'Third'."
Beethoven Symphony No 6 in F Major Op.68 "Pastoral" - "When I drive round Farndale, this is the music in my head."
"As the weather has been very changeable this last week I have picked some favourite records from decades ago that reflect different aspects of our climate. Take care of yourselves everyone. Cheers"
Wild Wind by Johnny Leyton - ("He dropped the ‘ny’ later")
It Might As Well Rain Until September performed by Helen Shapiro - "Not the original but she was one of the youngest stars in the 60s."
Sunshine of Your Love by Cream - "Not as wild as their farewell concert in 1968 but still great considering the years between."
"This week I'm starting with a song from a new album that I'm due to receive next week. I think it's as moving- especially with its' accompanying video- as Johnny Cash's recording of "Hurt." Then I'll follow with numbers from my two latest acquisitions. Good health and best wishes to all RPMers, "
Help Me Remember by Hayes Carll - "As good a songwriter as Steve Earle, though Steve does not seem to agree (sour grapes for some reason perhaps?)."
Lost and Lonesome by Buffalo Nichols - "My second selection from his debut album. What a talent! His given name is Carl by the way. A quote from Mojo: "...part of a new vanguard of black musicians reclaiming the blues from middle-aged white guys and injecting it with a modern political and social voice."
Fine To Me by Pokey La Farge - "Another fine and entertaining new album by someone I've not listened to before."
"Good wishes to RPM colleagues; I hope everyone is well. Here are 3 groups of artistes I hope to catch this weekend."
Suo Gan/Ding Ding Dem by Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita -
Keraus (trad.) performed by Himmerland -
Volos by Justin Adams and Mauro Durante -
"Three from the wasteland that was the eighties this week..." (...steady on, Alan. That's the decade which ignited my interest in music you're talking about, there!! Tim 😉 )
"Early 1985 saw Husker Du decide that critical acclaim was all very fine but it wouldn't pay the rent! Generally viewed as one of (US) punks most intelligent bands, thanks to their 'Zen Arcade' concept double album, they drastically changed direction with the follow up, 'Flip your wig', but still managed to include a track which saw critics lambasting the band for its inclusion; one can only surmise that the initial idea for 'The Baby Song' (an ode to Grant Hart's newborn son) must have happened whilst watching 'The Clangers' and taking LSD at the same time!! A real 'Yellow Submarine/Octopus's Garden' moment on what was otherwise an almost perfect 'power pop' album."
Makes No Sense At All by Husker Du - (from 'Flip Your Wig' album, released September 1985. SST label)
"I've said it before (and I'll probably say it again a couple of times too), the Comsat Angels were one of the unluckiest bands around in the eighties. Signed to several major labels, the band toured Europe, the Far East and the US with Captain Beefheart, Depeche Mode, Gang of Four, Siouxsie and the Banshees and U2 and, in the latters case, an argument could be made that U2 'took on board' (i.e 'ripped off') the Comsats sound after their support slot on a Comsats headlined tour. The band were forced to be known as the C.S.Angels in the US thanks to the Communications Satellite Corporation (better known as COMSAT) but they were actually named after a short story in J G Ballard's novel 'Low Flying Aircraft and Other Stories', published in 1976. 'After the rain', in common with Husker Du's tune, is yet another pop gem, albeit in a more sombre mood."
After the Rain by Comsat Angels - (from 'Fiction' album, released August 1982. Polydor label)
"And so, on to the finale. Early 1981 saw Siouxsie and hubby/drummer Budgie experimenting with just voice and drums whilst recording the Banshees 'Juju' album. Satisfied with the resulting 'But not them' track, they decided to form the offshoot, The Creatures, and recorded the 'Wild Thing' double 7" single. They were rewarded with a number 24 chart placing and, to promote the package, the pair appeared on Top of the Pops on 15th October 1981 singing 'Mad Eyed Screamer' and its this rare outing I've included as the accompanying video. There was a further EP (with John Cale) and four studio albums before the unit was laid to rest in 2005. Neil Hannon, Jeff Buckley and P J Harvey have all praised the band's limited recordings."
Mad Eyed Screamer by The Creatures -(from 'Wild Thing' double pack 7" single, released September 1981. Polydor label)
"Probably back to the sixties next week✌........... in the meantime, stay safe (infections up to 50,000 per day at time of compiling SDS/43 with the biggest increase apparently, 20%, amongst 65+ year olds awaiting booster shots!!!)."
"I have been listening to quite a lot of ‘hat’ music recently, of the slightly ‘alt.’ kind, but being temporarily away from home, I shouldn’t be playing Gillian Welch when there is so much music from our current vicinity.
We have just got back from a happy stomp around the rather breezy, St. Ninian’s Isle. It really is one of the most lovely places I have ever been. We are in Shetland again for another Autumnal adventure. We are indulging ourselves with great food, fabulous views, and rather changeable weather. Over this entire weekend there was even a free folk festival, just around the corner, in the Main Street, in Lerwick."
"This artist has been a favourite of mine for a good few years now, and is from Fair isle, just a few sea miles from where I am writing, which we glimpsed through the sea mist, from the top of a hill by Sumburgh lighthouse…"
Cycle by Inge Thompson -
"I think that I had this tune in a slightly different version last year. Though things have changed! Yesterday we were at Eshaness, the village where the late, fiddler, Tom Anderson resided. He wrote this tune whilst in mourning for his wife and for the life he had known. At a time of severe depopulation, when there was little paid work on the island, with the fishing industry in decline, and before the oil boom, which was yet to come, looking out from his home he no longer saw lights in the windows of the crofts which lined the hillsides. Although the fishing industry has all but failed, the last thirty years have seen a renaissance in industry, and, strangely, due to unforeseen circumstances, in just the last two years, since the advent of COVID, there has been a huge regeneration in the population, as city folk, from the mainland, have come to Shetland seeking somewhere to ‘homework’ from. House prices are rocketing! I hope he would approve. ( Slockit - Extinguished)"
Da Slockit Light/Smith O’Couster/Da Grocer performed by Aly Bain and Tom Anderson -
"And, something that we will be doing on Thursday evening..."
Leaving Lerwick Harbour performed by Paul Anderson -
"Here's my three; a bit more acoustic this time than in previous weeks..."
Six Whiskies by Skinny Lister - "What a great album Down On Deptford Broadway is......."
La Isla de Paraguay by Richard Durrant - "Richard Durrant is my B+B cleaning music at the moment and this track really caught my ear this week whilst polishing the shower room taps....."
Paddy Taylor's / McFadden's Handsome Daughter / The Narrowback / Frank's Reel / Ester's Reel performed by Solas - "It was good to catch up with Seamus Egan's banjo playing last week via one of Jayne's choices. He's also just as good on the low whistle, btw. It got me playing the first two Solas albums, Solas (1996) and Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers (1997) on Monday, Egan being one of the founder members along with guitar maestro John Doyle, fiddler Winnie Horan and "box" player John Williams. The fine singer Karen Casey completed that original (and best in my view) line up...however, here's a set of instrumental tunes showcasing individual member's talents, finishing with an ensemble finale. Sheer folking class."
'Til Next Time...