Welcome to the RPM Seven Day Soundtrack, week ending Friday 15th December 2023...the-run-up-to-Christmas edition. Let's see if anyone's getting seasonal or festive yet; over to...
"Here are my selections for the week. Regarding the subject of download versus physical musical formats that you and Philip raised last week, I will certainly be putting in my two-pen'orth and, spoiler alert, I might not be on the side of downloads. Everyone's thoughts will be turning to which downloads they might be bought for Christmas soon but I send best wishes to everyone, including a very belated welcome to Kevin."
Travelling Riverside Blues Led Zeppelin -
Birdsong Robin Trower - "From a 2022 album. No James Dewar on vocals alas but Robin has found yet another singer that suits his style."
Fearless Pink Floyd - "From Meddle of course which remains one of my favourite Floyd albums."
"Hi folks.
Thanks as ever for the fab selection of music + special mentions to Piers + John for having consummate good taste in poetry and Tim for his glowing endorsement of Big Country's 1st album, the Crossing. I completely agree - Big Country were the 1st band I was a "proper" fan of, starting from when I was 12 to the present day. Stuart Adamson was an incredible guitarist, lyricist, lovely + genuine bloke, vastly under rated + sadly left us too soon. Saw them live several times, their performances always blew me away + stonking atmosphere, jubilant crowd - check out their live stuff on YouTube from the 80's.
Here's 1 for you; a live version of The Storm from 1986, with the classic line up of Stuart, Bruce Watson (who he met welding in Dunfermline) and the rhythm section of Tony Butler (bass) + Mark Brzezicki (drums). There were tensions between the 2 Scots and non-Scots as time went on, but as this performance shows when it was good they were on fire.
In memory of the Penlee lifeboat disaster also. Mousehole + Newlyn switch on their harbour Christmas lights with great celebration + pageantry this week including the arrival of Santa on the lifeboat, but it will always be a sad time of year for some in those communities."
The Storm by Big Country -
No Me Toques Mal by Las Hienas - "Cover of song by La Muchacha I've included previously. Las Hienas are a bunch of Spanish speaking musical lasses who reside in Rotterdam, I met Anoushka their keyboard player at a jungle lodge in Brazil (as you do)."
Carol of the Bells by Big Moon - "Love this arrangement."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xy2TMuHLiU
"Have a great weekend, folks.
Cheers!"
"This week I’ve chosen musicians who have been featured on TV recently.
I want to wish everyone involved with RPM a very happy time at Christmas and New Year. I’ll be missing for a few weeks as I shall be having a marvellous time in the Caribbean. Maybe I’ll pick up a few tracks of local sounds that I can use in SDS during 2024. Cheers everyone."
Shakespeare Sonnet 29 performed by Rufus Wainwright -
Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen with Adam Lambert -
Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen -
"Greetings everyone - and many thanks for the kind words of welcome you sent me last week. It's great to be in such company and to explore so many new sounds."
Juicy Fruit by Coleman Hawkins - "Haven't listened to this classic Hawk number for years, but what a fresh joy to return to it. And that amazing circular breathing technique on the trumpet (starts 40 seconds in) is still great fun. The whole number is wonderful jazz chamber music."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8iFY2SKON4&ab_channel=ColemanHawkins-Topic
Anything by Adrianne Lenker - "The final two offerings this week are a Compare-and-Contrast pairing. Both feature the fabulous Adrianne Lenker. The first is from her solo work and this live performance illustrates the fragility of her voice, coupled with her fluid fingerpicking. She favours non-standard tunings. A beautiful, delicate song."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og6mVQ5c5M0&ab_channel=WFUVPublicRadio
Not by Big Thief - "Adrianne Lenker again, but with her bandmates. She is the main songwriter of this great band. If you didn't know it, you'd be surprised to learn this is the same vocalist and guitarist. Check out her amazing solo (3:30) - worthy of prime Neil Young / Crazy Horse!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKmD6-piK2A&ab_channel=BigThief
"…it’s that time of year…..we’re nearly there….just one more week to the winter solstice. Best wishes everyone."
Eli, The Barrow Boy by The Decembrists -
Winter Chimes by Joanna Brouk & Bill Maraldo -
Winter Love by Robyn Hitchcock -
Beautiful Star performed by Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden - "We saw Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden's wassailing Christmas show at Whitby last week, so here's something from that, also found on their new seasonal album."
"Thanks to all for some really great music last week. A veritable cornucopia of tastes and styles. My thanks especially to John for his reminiscences of Starry Eyed and Laughing and so for John, here is a boat song from Chris Knight who hails from Slaughters, Kentucky a location which I feel might resonate with Philip."
Send A Boat by Chris Knight -
"Next, a very old favourite of mine who influenced many a young musician in the early 60's."
Parchman Farm performed by Mose Allison -
"And finally, Jutta Hipp, the 'first lady of European jazz' as styled by Blue Note with Zoot Simms."
Almost Like Being in Love by Jutta Hipp with Zoot Simms -
https://youtube.com/watch?v=svMrnpSmWmc&si=jhjKGsUzgkaYQ8XE
"That's All Folks."
"This week’s outing to The Crown was fun. The performance by a select few of my friend Lind's choir 'Harmonise' made it seem a lot like Christmas. I wasn’t really on form but eventually I fumbled my way through a few nice melodies. I had fully intended to play ‘Banks of Green Willow’ on my concertina, but despite rehearsing it extensively this week and (hoping that muscle memory would do the trick), extensive twiddling on the night, I had no recollection of the tune even though only drinking Zero alcohol Guinness. Another time I hope! Nic’s version is lovely though… "
Banks of Green Willow performed by Nic Jones -
Mad As A Hatter by Larkin Poe - "I was going to post Honey Honey by Larkin Poe which I have listened to this week but came across this song which as Megan Lovell introduces is about mental illness."
Richland Woman Blues performed by Jim and Fiona Kweskin - "And whilst on the subject of grand-relations… here’s a song that I did perform with my friend John Fincher last Sunday afternoon at the regular, monthly, Sunday afternoon session at the 'Blakeney Harbour Rooms'. I have long been a fan of Jim Kweskin and here he is with his grand daughter who, as she has a has the same relaxed approach to the blues, draws obvious comparison with Maria Muldaur who long ago was his partner in the Kweskin Jug band."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAA8lI0IGHg
"I had a discussion this week with one of my new-found walking football playing friends, a man of my age (67 since you asked) who said he didn't rate The Beatles as anything special and that he regarded the 1980s as the best period for pop music. I was very polite. He's a Chelsea supporter: does this explain anything?
This in turn reminded me of another discussion a few months ago with a couple who were 40-odd years old. I tried to argue that The Beatles were indeed very special as there had never previously been a worldwide pop music phenomenon on the scale of fame, immediate and lasting cultural impact and both popular success and critical acclaim that they achieved, and that their achievement (including writing their own songs) was unrepeatable because they were trailblazers who opened doors that everyone since has gone through. Their response was to say that in their view there are many people who could be regarded as trailblazers, and gave as their example- wait for it- Queen! I may have been less polite on that occasion. Sorry.
Anyhow, thinking of these conversations made me contemplate the question of who had been the most famous and influential pop stars of each succeeding era of pop history. I came up with Bing, Frank and Elvis, The Beatles, Bowie(?), and Michael Jackson. Notice anything they all have in common? Yep, they're all male.
So what about the biggest stars of the the end of the 20th and start of the 21st century, who might also be regarded as trailblazers? I suggest that Madonna, Beyonce Knowles and Taylor Swift fit the bill. Am I twigging something here?
Hence this week's selections."
Ray of Light by Madonna -
Daddy Lessons by Beyonce -
Exile by Taylor Swift with Bon Iver -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osdoLjUNFnA
"Best wishes to all RPMers."
"Seasons Greetings Everyone, here are three tracks I've listened to this week...."
It's A Shame by First Kit -
13 Dead by Benjamin Zephaniah -
Boogie Woogie Waltz by Weather Report -
"Hi everyone, hope all is well. What a wet week again !!!! I guess it’s better than snow. Here's my 3."
Welcome To My World by Jim Reeves -
Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts -
Disk Hat All Prepared 1 mixed 13 by Aphex Twin -
"Here's my tune trinary this week."
Sparks by An Dannsa Dub - "Here's another serving of Scottish folk dub...."
Tiny Galaxies by Gong - "....followed by a psychedelic soupçon..."
Mantra by Skinny Lister - "...and rounding off with something a little more thoughtful from the purveyors of shanty punk."
'Til Next Time...