Welcome to the RPM Seven Day Soundtrack, week ending Friday 12th February, Chinese New Year. What's been played this snowy week to warm the cockles of RPMer's hearts.....? Let's turn up the musical heat and see; over to.........
"Hi RPMers, hope you all have a good week . Here’s my 3 tunes....."
"With a virtual wave to RPM friends, here are my three choices for this week."
Among Angels by Kate Bush - "It was too difficult to ignore a snowy track or two so here's something from her 2011 album 50 Words for Snow.
Cantus Arcticus: Melancholy by Einojuhani Rautavaara - "I haven’t played this in ages. If you like it, it’s worth seeking out the whole piece which is only around 17 minutes long but make sure you’re somewhere warm when listening…"
Long Time Gal by Edward II - "A new release from Edward II from their forthcoming album Dancing Tunes."
"What's today again? Thursday? Are you sure? What's on the to-do list for today then? Hmm. Sort sock drawer. Again.
No- wait a minute- I can select some tunes for the 7-Day Soundtrack.
After last week's Gram-fest, it's off to California again - specifically to Bakersfield for some more West-coast country.
Best wishes to everyone...and following on from Tony's comment last week regarding instrumentals, let's start with......."
Buckaroo by Buck Owens and The Buckaroos - "........featuring Don Rich on Telecaster duties."
Honky-Tonk Night Time Man by Merle Haggard and The Strangers - "........with solos by Roy Nichols (Telecaster) and Norm Hamlet (Dobro?). Hag shows his strong Jimmie Rodgers influence here. Some may know the song via Lynyrd Skynyrd's cover version."
Streets of Bakersfield by Dwight Yoakam with Buck Owens - "Dwight helped to keep the Bakersfield sound alive in the 80s and 90s. Here he is with one of his heroes... who seems to have enjoyed himself."
"Hope that this finds you all ok. Here's my 3 for this week. Best wishes as always to fellow RPMers."
Don't Let Go by Roy Hamilton - "Here's a US hit from 1958 which I was reminded of when going through an extensive series of cd's I collected called "The Golden Age of American Rock'n'Roll". Roy recorded mostly for the Epic label and this song was apparently the very first chart hit recorded in stereo."
Feelin' Bad Blues by Ry Cooder - "A track taken from an album soundtrack I have, called Crossroads."
Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson - "I really admire Kristofferson's gift with song lyrics and along with Sunday Morning Coming Down, this song really gets to me - especially the lines "....And I'd trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday, holding Bobby's body next to mine". Powerful stuff."
"Today is Chinese New Year......."
Un Bel di Vedremo from Puccini's Madama Butterfly performed by Maria Callas -
Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Chinese New Year celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar....so an excuse to play another song I really like."
"My 3."
The Great Pretender by The Platters -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEzfhclKO8Q
"The name may be the same but...........
Since the advent of Sky Arts on Freeview it seems like the (other) Eagles are on every week with their 'Live from the LA Forum' concert and it got me thinking about bands who share the same name. Luckily, I have just three instances in my collection so, as we are only allowed three selections each week (plus the 'occasional' bonus of course, thanks to Tim!!!) here's this weeks goodies........As usual, stay safe and remember........ this vaccination doesn't make us immune to the disease."
Squeeze me Baby by The Crystals (B-side to 'Come to me Darling' single, original release Luna records, June 1954. This from 'unofficial' blue vinyl 1980's re-release.) -
"Initially released by The Crystals, a NYC r&b doo-wop group, Luna pulled the disc after just a few weeks after finding there was another group by the same name (not the well known girl group) recording for the De-Luxe label. It was then reissued as by The Opals but even this change didn't improve its chances and it slipped into obscurity, despite the top side being a fine ballad backed by this uptempo r&b thumper. The group returned to the studio in October to record and release 'Ooh but she did' on the parent label Apollo Records and that appears to be the entire output from the outfit. Lead singer Ernie Wade went on to become a member of The Cadillacs who hit the US charts with 'Speedo' in 1955 and 'Rudolph the red nosed reindeer' in1956 before splitting into two separate entities under different lead vocalists. The better known version (with Wade) appeared in the r&r cash in movie 'Go Johnny Go'* in 1959 before further splits and reformations in the early sixties.
The record did become a favourite in the eighties r&b/doo-wop revival and I picked this copy up from Lincolns long running 'Back to Mono' record shop.
* 'Go Johnny Go' also features the only film appearance of Richie Valens, Eddie Cochran in his third and final film, Chuck Berry, Jackie Wilson, The Flamingos and Jimmy Clancy amongst its galaxy of stars."
Barbara by The Temptations (Top Rank single, released mid 1960) - "Initially The Four Temptations, that line up split when lead vocalist, and soon to be famed producer and label boss Artie Ripp decided he would like to move out of live performances. However, he soon signed four singers, who had earlier backed Paul Anka on his biggie 'Diana', for the (now truncated) Temptations and issued this disc on the NYC independent Goldisc label in June 1960. The disc hit number 29 on the Billboard chart and the group followed it up with further singles which, although popular on the local charts, didn't cross over to the national listings. By 1961 the doo-wop era had been replaced by the blander 'Bobby's' and, despite a change of name to the catchier Neil Slaven and the Temptations, the band folded that year. However, due to its success stateside, here in the UK, Top Rank took a chance and released it but were rewarded with only minimal sales. In the States copies of the single can be picked up for 30c but, in Britain, a mint copy would set you back around £30!!!"
The Desperados by The Eagles (Pye single, released 1962) - "Formed in Bristol in 1958 by lead guitarist Terry Clarke, the band were named after the Eagle House Youth Club. They concentrated on Shadows style instrumentals which they plied around the Bristol area dance halls and youth clubs until, in 1962, musical arranger and composer Ron Grainer spotted them and signed them up to appear in a film called 'Some People' about a Bristol beat group trying to make it big through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. They recorded the film's theme song with vocalist Valerie Mountain and a soundtrack EP which reached number 2 in the EP charts, but the singles sales suffered from covers by Jet Harris and Carol Deene. The EP, single and several other Eagles tracks were also bundled together under the film's title but still only achieved minimal sales. The group were actually awarded the D of E Award for their work on the film (life reflecting art!!) and followed that with a support slot on 1963's mammoth Del Shannon/Johnny Tillotson tour before returning to the studio to record 'The Desperados'. That single carries the unusual composer credit of Roger Roger, a French composer and studio owner whose opera conductor father, Edmond Roger, humorously gave him the double christian name appellation. After several other singles, continuing public apathy to the Eagles now outdated sound, combined with drummer Rod Meacham's mental problems and producer Ron Grainer's sudden onset of blindness, the group folded in late 1964."
Bonus Track -
Mary Wilson:
"Florence was the beautiful founder, Diana was the voice and Mary, well, she was the heart and soul of the Supremes. Here's one of the few lead vocals Berry allowed her."
"Well, if I’m not confined enough – now it’s by the snow and ice. Anyway, RPM will ease my mind and soothe my soul.
I thought I’d highlight some USA TV theme tunes and series that I have enjoyed. Keep safe and well everyone. "
Streets of San Francisco -
"As usual I hope all is well.
One of our regular walks is along the Wensum way and around the Sparham Common lakes at Lyng. Recently the paths have become almost impassable due to the flooding. The Wensum valley has been pretty much full to overflowing and although I love the sight of snow, when it melts the flooding is only going to be worse. We're relieved to be a little way above the flood plain!
This week Jayne and I are really busy, decorating, here in Bawdeswell, and so it has been a welcome distraction to get involved with my selection. The perfect displacement activity and a sound track for the day….Peace and Good Health to you all. "
It’s So Easy To Slip by Little Feat - "I don’t think that there is much that I can say about just how good Little Feat were. In my opinion the definitive 'Rock Band’. A perfect combination of talent and attitude, and nobody summed up more talent and attitude than the brain behind the band, Lowell George! Determination sensitivity and musicality but ultimately it was about timing… It took me a great deal of time to choose this track, because I started listening to them all, all over again. But then, after I had made my selection, (like a hurled snowball) the message leapt out at me! Watch out on those icy pavements folks….."
Black Betty performed by Larkin Poe - "I could have chosen Feat's beautiful 'Six Feet of Snow’ to follow that, and it was also tempting to go with with Little Richard’s ’57 classic Slipping’ & Sliding but I (just) managed to stay my hand! This is just a great performance
"I believe that there is an almost direct line between Little Feat and Larkin Poe. I am a huge fan. (The Dr. says I should lose weight!)
If you like the LP track, it is worth checking out later their more mellow acoustic ‘Porch Picking’ vids."
PORCH PICKIN’ - Larkin Poe
Late Swallows by Frederick Delius - "I am sure that we are all looking forward to summer skies, but this also goes with snow."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXKCb9l5YNg
"Hi all, being snowbound is another reason to stay at home and listen to some great music..... having said that, a leisurely walk through the snow is wonderful! Stay safe everyone."
The Poet And The Witch by Mellow Candle - "I recently purchased a 3CD box set called 'Sumer Is Icumen In' (not a typo - this is 13th Century English) sub-titled 'The pagan sound of British and Irish folk 1966-75'. 'Sumer Is Icumen In' has hardly been off the CD player since it arrived from Cherry Red Records, so all of this week's selections will come from this collection.... but it's hard to pick just three from the sixty tracks available, so I may be getting a bit more pagan in the weeks to come! This is by Mellow Candle, originally from their extremely rare LP, Swaddling Songs."
Tam Lin by Fairport Convention - "This one picked itself...."
Sanctuary Stone by Midwinter - "Another band featured is Midwinter. Their leader was a chap called Ken Saul who I was at school with in Caister-On-Sea. We also attended a small Methodist Youth Club and I'm sure it was Ken who introduced me to the delights of 'Revolver'. I lost touch with him after we left school but a few years ago we met again at a Caister School Reunion and we now exchange the occasional email. Also included is a track by a band called Stone Angel; another of Ken Saul's projects, still active as a gigging and recording band (Covid permitting). Ken informs me that a new Stone Angel album is in the mixing stage and will be released soon."
"Three faves from the past week........"
Knepp (The Return) by Richard Durrant - "As mentioned a few weeks ago, Richard Durrant's new album is heavily influenced by the Rewilding project at Knepp in Sussex. This track conveys the burgeoning re-emergence and wild abandonment of nature, especially through the last repeating musical crescendo. Almost finished reading the book Wilding written by Isabella Tree, one of the owners of the Knepp Wildlands.....if you are at all concerned about the English countryside, you need to read this book."
The Wandering Boy performed by Adam Hurt - " It's not often the words 'delightful' and 'banjo' are used next to each other in the same sentence !........but, here's a tune from Adam Hurt's delightful banjo playing upon his fretless gourd banjo from his album Earth Tones. Not for him the frenetic clawhammer frailing associated with much American banjo playing, but a more considered and zen-like approach for a cool laid back vibe, enhanced by the mellowness of the gourd banjo's natural tone."
Eight Miles High by The Byrds - "Keeping up with the Byrds tracks, here's my all time favourite from the Fifth Dimension album, from whence Wild Mountain Thyme also came for Burns Night a couple of weeks ago. Twelve string noodlings don't get any better than this."