Welcome to the RPM Seven Day Soundtrack, week ending Friday 11th February 2022. The snowdrops are shivering in the breeze, daffy bulbs are poking their first green shoots through the earth and on the allotment, the rhubarb is just starting to force pale pink tips upwards towards the bright Yorkshire sunshine. And if all that wasn't life affirming enough, here's another weeks listening from the sound systems of RPMers to get your sap rising. Over to....
"Three techno/acid/dub singles this week..."
3 Nudes in a Purple Garden by Hawke - (12" single released mid1993. Hardkiss label US import)
Xes Noiz Track B3 (untitled) by Nation of Noise - (12" EP released summer 1992. White label/private pressing)
A Night On E (Where Nightmares Never End) by The Nights Of Pan- (12" single released early 1992. MFS label. German import) NB: As Peel used to say "this one fades in quietly!"
"Here's my 3 for this week. Best wishes to you all as ever and keep 'em coming."
I'd Love To Change The World by Ten Years After - "Great stuff from lead Alvin Lee..."
Sympathy by Rare Bird - "Rare Bird had one UK chart hit - this is it - but they were a good band back in the day and achieved more success abroad than they did here."
Tomorrow Night by Atomic Rooster - "I recall somebody selecting an Atomic Rooster track sometime - hope it wasn't this one but if it was, enjoy again."
"Here's some songs that I think of when I'm walking Tess up the hill behind our house."
Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel -
Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush -
Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush -
"Oh dear. Liz Truss in Russia. Perhaps she should have tried to sell them some cheese.
Three songs this week that have something in common. All used in early '70s "revisionist" Westerns. Not sure I agree with the widely held view that revisionism began in the '60s and '70s as a response to Vietnam and the Civil Rights Movement, or with Peckinpah's mix of elegiac poetry and cynicism and Leone's attitude of "this is what we think of your Western heroes." I think that a great many Westerns had criticised and questioned "frontier myths" over the years rather more than is generally recognised. Think of the great comedians of the early years of cinema for example- they made comedies that satirised and subverted the idea of the Western hero (Keaton- "The Paleface" and "Go West," Chaplin- "The Gold Rush," Laurel and Hardy- "Way Out West").
Best wishes and good health to all, "
The Good Times Are Coming by Mama Cass - "The theme song from "Monte Walsh," (1970) a slow moving but rather beautiful Western starring Lee Marvin in the context of which the song is clearly ironic since for Monte the good times are gone."
The Stranger Song by Leonard Cohen - "Used in "McCabe and Mrs Miller" (1971). There are a number of Cohen songs on the soundtrack of this Robert Altman "mud and rags" movie starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie."
Knocking On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan - "Only a part of which is heard in Sheriff Baker's death scene in Peckinpah's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973), which starred James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson. (Slim Pickens was Sheriff Baker)."
"Good wishes to you RPMers and thank you for your consistently great selections. I’ve a bit of a French theme this week…..tunes that have been, respectively, remembered, re-encountered and played by me in the last few days."
The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan performed by Marianne Faithfull -
La Valse d'Amélie by Yann Tiersen -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07xTvC5a9YQ&list=OLAK5uy_lmQQgG50xt5GkVn8xwT1kq_b4a79dOQpo
Brian Boru by Alan Stivell -
"Hi RPMers, hope you're all keeping well. What a great selection of music you supplied us with last week; excellent tributes to Norma Waterson, three superb versions of Louie Louie with a bit of a Reggae/Dub-Fest going on as well! I will also check out some more tracks by Spencer Cullum's Coin Collection."
Pilgrim by Gerald Moore - "Gerald Moore was once a member of Heron and also the leader of G.T. Moore and The Reggae Guitars. In 1972 he recorded a Demo of this old school assembly favourite 'To Be A Pilgrim' by John Bunyan. It finally saw the light of day via the excellent 3CD box set from 2015, 'Dust On The Nettles'. The notes in the accompanying booklet relating to this track concludes with the line 'Should have been a massive hit; wasn't even released'. Well.... 1972 was a foreign country, things were different back then so it may well have been a hit. I'm wondering if any of my fellow RPMers agree!"
My Old School by Steely Dan - "I've always felt that Steely Dan's early albums were far superior to those recorded after 1977. This track is from their amazing second album, 'Countdown to Ecstasy'. Released in 1973, it was not as commercially successful as their first album, 'Can't Buy A Thrill'. Core members Becker and Fagen were unhappy with some of the performances on the record and believed that it sold poorly because it had been recorded hastily on tour. Judging by the superb performances by every man and woman that contributed to this track, I don't think they should have been too worried.....!"
Jungle Dub by Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - "Once again one of my selections has been influenced by a previous choice by a fellow RPMer. After hearing Alan's pick from last week by Joe Gibbs & The Professionals from the album 'African Dub All-Mighty Chapter 3', I was prompted to pull my copy of that LP off the shelf and give it a spin. Wonderful stuff."
"Have a good week everybody and stay safe and well. Here are my three choices."
Tusk by Fleetwood Mac - "Watched Fleetwood Mac – The Dance on Sky. It was their reunion that took place 20 years after Rumours was released. They played several songs I’m not familiar with but ended with ‘Tusk’. This featured an American Marching Band of about one hundred people who positioned themselves all over the stage and even in front of the audience. It looked like everyone had a great time though."
Blackbird by Paul McCartney - "I’ve been listening to ‘Good Evening New York City’ by Paul McCartney while I’m exercising. It’s live and you know how loud US audiences can be. So I’ve chosen a nice quiet acoustic track."
Who Wants To Live Forever by Queen - "While I was at The Theatre Royal yesterday I managed to get my original ticket to ‘We will rock you’ from 2019 changed to June 2022. Better late than never. Therefore, a Queen track is needed."
"Hope you're all keeping well. Here's my 3...Take care, all. Cheers!"
Come Alive (The War of the Roses) by Janelle Monae (at Glastonbury 2011) - "This vid's got it all; high energy, funky dancing, "la la la-ing", daring pyramid balancing..."
Too Good to Lose by Rebecca Ferguson - "Not my usual, but heard on Radio 2, The Piano Room this week & was blown away by her voice."
Warrior (Stand Up) by Hidden Citizens & Rayelle - "Last one's a bit different for me too, lots of wind this weekend and beyond - this is a good "psyche up" track for kitesurfing..."
"Hi RPMers, hope you guys are all rocking! Here’s my picks this week."
L.O.V.E. by Irving -
Matterhorn by Jason Lytle -
Feeling Yourself Disintegrate by Flaming Lips -
"What with American big business funding an attempt to take down the Trudeau Government by blocking roads in Ottawa it is time for an audial glimpse at some Canadian music."
Le Champ de Pois by Les Frères Brunet - "I first came across Les Freres Brunet (Andre and Rejean) through a CD by La Bottine Souriante released in the early 90s. Great on record and a fabulous live band. Since then, Jayne and I have seen Les Frères again live at various festivals, once as a duo and several times, as leaders of their band Le Vent du Nord. If you ever get a chance to see them live don’t miss it. They are one of the most exciting bands on the planet.
Reel du Forgeron (The Blacksmith's Reel) by La Bottine Souriante -
Élise by Le Vent du Nord -
"Hi all....two new ones and an oldy this week....."
Cuckoo's Nest / Old Oxford performed by Sam Sweeney - ".....from Mr Sweeney's new Solo EP, recorded in St Martin's church, Stoney Middleton in the Peak District. Sublime English fiddle music."
Carpe Diem (Seize The Day) by Saxon - "I have realised what RPM has been lacking all this time are metal songs about Hadrian's Wall, performed by aging rockers playing guitars that aren't plugged in whist stood upon said windswept ruin. Oh look.....the new Saxon album readily obliges!....and visiting York in November."
Anya by Deep Purple - " From 1993s The Battle Rages On album, last one to feature the "classic" (reformed) MkII line-up before Richie Blackmore "put his parts on" again and left the band for good mid-way through the European leg of their tour. Purple continue to this day with the amazing Steve Morse on guitar, whilst Blackmore plays twee mediaeval folk rock in his Blackmore's Night project.........I know which I'd sooner listen to."
'Till Next Time...