Welcome to the RPM Seven Day Soundtrack, week ending Friday 3rd March 2023. And normal service resumes this week, so Alan can stay up 'til after midnight (I'm sure there's a song there....) and if you get your 7DS fix first thing of a Saturday morning, this time you can indeed have music with your croissants and expresso. Also, the recent and coincidental Bob fest continues this week, so, over to...
"Greetings to one and all from Swanton Morley. Jacquie and I went on Tuesday evening to see "Girl From The North Country" at the Theatre Royal. I was not impressed by the play, though Dylan himself is said to have approved the script. I thought it highly derivative with nothing new to say - lots of warmed-over Steinbeck - and would rather have just heard the songs. Having said that, it was interesting to hear how several of the songs had been drastically rearranged as compared with Dylan's recorded versions, and how in some cases the changes altered the sense of the song. (This is of course something Dylan himself does in live performance). A good example from the stage production was "Idiot Wind," which comes across as quite a cruel song on "Blood On The Tracks," but was sung with tenderness on stage.
Anyway, that's a good enough reason to play my first selection."
You Ain't Going Nowhere performed by Roger McGuinn and Marty Stuart - "Interesting for guitar fetishists what with Mr. McGuinn's rare Rickenbacker and Mr. Stuart playing 'Clarence's Guitar'."
Going Down To Sing In Texas by Iris DeMent - "From her brand new album, which has been highly commended by several reviewers and damned with faint praise in CMP for being "too political." Seems to me that for anyone to be offended by the sentiments expressed here, their own politics must be somewhere to the right of Attila The Hun. A visit to HMV Ipswich may be in order this Saturday."
I'm A Hog For You Baby by The Coasters - "A choice inspired by a walk around the village this morning. I caught a brief glimpse of an animal that I did not immediately recognise- but I think it was a wild pig. There have been reported sightings in the Dereham area recently, about which I have been dubious, but now I'm inclined to believe them."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGn9TNsXECQ
"Best wishes."
"Here are my 3 selections for the week, with best wishes to all for keeping the music coming."
Somebody Changed The Locks by Tarheel Slim - "From an album by Tarheel Slim (real name Allen or Alden Bunn) and his sometime partner Little Ann, which surfaced from one of my boxes of records this week. He had some luck with 'Wildcat Tamer' and 'Number 9 Train' which I've chosen in the past sometime, I believe, and was a very good guitarist and vocalist."
Change For Change by Ray Davies - "This track from Ray's album 'Americana' which I bought several years back and gave another spin to (and enjoyed) this week."
Jokerman by Bob Dylan - "I went to the theatre last night to see 'Girl From The North Country' which I squirmed uncomfortably through, apart from the music which was sung very well by the cast but not necessarily with any context within the unfathomable plot. Anyway, they sang a snippet of this track which I always liked, so here it is."
(Oh dear, that's two RPM cultural connoisseurs failing to be impressed by this show, Tim)
"Hi RPMers, I hope you're ll keeping fit and well. Here are my three tracks from albums I've listened to in the past seven days."
Rising Sun By Medicine Head - "I first saw Medicine Head at Tiffany's in Great Yarmouth (formally The Tower Ballroom) in the early seventies. Although they were only a duo, they managed to captivate the audience in such a large venue with their mesmerising music. It was a different story the second time I saw them which was at The Oval Rockhouse on Dereham Road in Norwich in the mid-nineties. This time they had expanded to a four-piece (although only singer/guitarist John Fiddler remained from the original duo) and played to an audience that barely got into double figures. They still put on a brilliant show and joined audience members for a drink and a chat after the gig. Sadly, The Oval Rockhouse closed in May 1998 and Norwich lost a great venue. We had some great nights there during it's brief existence including an amazing performance by Wishbone Ash."
Pretty Vacant by the Sex Pistols - "It's ages since I listened to 'Never Mind The Bollocks- Here's The Sex Pistols' from start to finish, but the other day I relaxed with a cup of Earl Grey and enjoyed both sides of this seminal LP. What a joy..... although it may be a while before I listen to it again!"
Natty In London by Royal Sounds - "I'm sure most RPMers are by now aware of my soft spot for British Reggae, mostly the seventies roots and dub stuff by the likes of Misty In Roots, early Aswad, Capital Letters etc., but there are still some amazing bands emerging in the UK with that same spirit. Royal Sounds are one such band, adding rap and hip-hop influences to their rootsy reggae vibe."
"By the middle of the sixties many groups were beginning to view LP's as a totally separate entity, as opposed to the early sixties where LP's were merely a selection of songs tagged on to the groups latest couple of singles (sometimes just the one!). The Beatles probably started the trend (naturally) when they released the 'Beatles for sale' LP in December 1964 and included 'Eight Days a Week', a song which, if released as a single (as was initially planned) would certainly have hit number one in the UK charts. For once the US branch of EMI saw sense and released the track and were suitably rewarded with the top spot in February 1965. Not only did the LP contain three (!) tracks considered for single release (plus the stand alone 'I feel fine' single from the same sessions), it was released in a unique (reverse opening) gatefold sleeve sleeve which did not even feature the group's name. There were still several cover versions, hardly surprising bearing in mind the Beatles manic film commitments and touring schedule of 1964/5, but even here they managed to breath a freshness into Buddy Holly's 'Words of love' and Little Richards 'Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey' medley. By the end of 1966 the group would progress even further with 'Revolver', the Stones would release their first all group composed LP with 'Aftermath', the Who would follow their 'pop art' explosive debut with 'A Quick One' and the Kinks offered perhaps the first 'concept album' with Face to Face'. Over in the States the Beach Boys entered the fray with 1965's 'Today' LP and the groundbreaking 'Pet Sounds' (only a number ten charter..... a comparative failure compared to their earlier million sellers) in 1966 and the Byrds weighed in with 'Fifth Dimension'. However, over at Tamla Motown (and other soul labels), it could be construed that their familiar composing teams of , say, HDH, Smokey Robinson and Ashford and Simpson were struggling to maintain their output of classic tracks. Certainly Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye were generally pressing ahead with forging their own musical identity but the LP releases of some of Tamla's big hitters contained more than their fair share of lesser tracks. The Supremes 1965/66 LP's included '... sing Country and Western', '.... recorded Live, Live, Live' and '.... at the Copa' plus other less than essential discs. Marvin Gaye offered 'A tribute to the great Nat 'King' Cole' and the Four Tops followed their earlier primarily HDH composed first two albums with the disappointing 'On Top' release whose second side featured five poor cover versions from a total of six tracks. So, here's three Tamla Motown tracks which would probably never be played at a 'Northern Soul' night.
I'd love to say enjoy but..."
Four Tops 'Quiet nights of quiet stars' (from '...On Top' LP released July 1966. Tamla Motown label) - "Bossa Motown anyone? I wonder how many Top's fans play this side?"
Supremes- 'These boots were made for walking' (from '... A Go Go' LP released August 1966. Tamla Motown label) - "From one of the girls' better albums, albeit with most of the tracks being either earlier Supremes singles or cover versions. Here's a fairly lacklustre take on Nancy's growler and I could have just as easily selected an equally anodyne 'Hang on Sloopy'. Fine sleeve tho'."
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles- 'Yesterday' (from 'Special Occasion' LP released August 1968. Tamla Motown label) - "A later one here from an otherwise decent LP created from a mix of (three) recent hit singles, a couple of b-sides and several tracks from as early as 1966. Over-orchestrated and, to my mind, over-emoted too."
"Next week perhaps three genuine (obscure) Tamla goodies?
Great selections again last week....... don't know how everyone keeps the standard so high irrespective of genre or personal taste."
"Hi RPMers, hope you all have had a good week. Here’s my 3 tunes." ..
Peach Fuzz by KMD -
Let The Train Blow The Whistle by Johnny Cash -
Let’s Stay Together by Al Green -
"Had some photos of a concert in Melbourne from my mate in Australia. Spectacular lighting and she said he was amazing...therefore, here’s Ed Sheeran."
I See Fire by Ed Sheeran (❤ for Wellington NZ - 25 Jan 2023 - Wellington Opera House warm up gig) -
"Last weekend I watched the Beatles black and white film, A Hard Day's Night. How I loved it at the time and I still enjoy the music..."
Baby, What You Want Me To Do by Elvis Presley (Alternate Cut '68 Comeback Special) -
"Sky Premier Cinema has just shown ‘Elvis’, which won a BAFTA for Austin Butler as Best Actor. Looking forward to watching it soon. Love this TV Programme as Elvis looked and sounded his absolute best. Shame he couldn’t stay that heathy."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_t20f4PiRM
"Keep warm everyone...until next time."
"If you were at the Free The Green Man May Day Festival at Elsing Village Hall in 2014, you may remember Frankie and Ewan who played a wonderful set comprising traditional tunes. Whilst in Frome, Somerset this week, we caught up with Frankie who is now making waves on the folk scene, playing her last date of her debut UK solo tour at the Bristol Folk House. So here's some music from Frankie Archer; she is playing fewer tunes on the fiddle now and has discovered folk song..."
Close The Coal House Door performed by Frankie Archer -
Lucy Wan performed by Frankie Archer -
"Thanks for your selections RPMers….here are mine for this week."
Love and Affection by Joan Armatrading -
The Butcher and the Vegan by Merry Hell -
My People Have Deep Roots by Arushi Jain -
Hurdy Gurdy Man performed by Steve Hillage -
It's All Too Much by The Beatles -
Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie by Elizabeth Cotton -
"Here's part 2 of my Greil Marcus Folk Music: A Bob Dylan Biography in Seven Songs book based themed selection...."
Chapter 5: Desolation Row -
Chapter 6: Jim Jones -
Chapter 7: Murder Most Foul -
'Til Next Time...