Welcome to the RPM Record Club Seven Day Soundtrack, week ending Friday 27th September 2024. Here's this week's harmonious frequencies as curated by the collective. Over to...

Kevin -

"Another week gone already! Thanks everyone for last week's selections - another great, eclectic mix. 

Some oldies from me this week..."

Tony -

"Here's my 3 for the week with request for another bonus in lieu of going missing for a few weeks soon.

Thanks to David last week for marking the passing of J D Souther - I hadn't heard. I missed seeing him at Norwich Arts Centre in 2007 for some reason I can't recall - a very talented songwriter.

I've been invited to see The Last Dinner Party tonight at the LCR by my partners daughter who had a spare ticket - If any of you are there I'll be the one who's NOT

in fetching ladies attire."

Jayne -

"Greetings RPMers, here are three tracks that have entertained me this week whilst I’ve been housebound (bad back). Hope everyone’s OK."

Alan -

"Hmmmm....... rant warning totally unconnected to music ahead.

 I don't know about any other RPMer's but the sight of a 'millionaire' ascending a small step ladder to claim to be the first 'civilian' to 'space walk' did seem to be stretching it a little. This is, after all, not only the successful boss of two major charities, but also an accomplished pilot and astronaut with over 7000 hours flight time in military and experimental planes. I suppose the blanket coverage would be understandable if it had been totally correct that Jared Isaacson had been a 'civilian' it wouldn't be so bad but, bear in mind, the flight most likely helped the execrable Helium Dusk in his efforts to rule the world (at least, bearing in mind the threat if, God forbid, his organisation came into contact with the Klingons!) and push him ahead in his competition with Boeing especially when you have to ask just who would trust a Boeing go-cart at the moment?

Anyways, back to the occasional music posting (plus an early warning of a request for a 'bonus' please, Tim) and here's three 'space' related tracks from the Watson vinyl collection for your delectation:"

Jefferson Airplane- Have you seen the saucers (7" single b-side released May1970 RCA label.)

"Here's a strident JA with a post 'Volunteers' contract filling single only release with the Nixon baiting 'Mexico' drug song on the top side. Like most of the late sixties 'heads', the band were opposed to Tricky Dickies secret Operation Intercept which was designed to limit the supply of marijuana from Mexico and features the couplet " ....But thanks......You're a legend Owsleyfor your righteous dope". The operation involved increased surveillance of the US/Mexico border from both air and sea, but the major part of the policy was the individual inspection, mandated to last three minutes, of every vehicle crossing the border. However, on the US side of twin cities along the border, retail business dropped more than 50% and the United States-Mexican Border Cities Association organized protests against the operation in those cities. Because of further complaints from cross-border travelers and from Diaz Ordaz, the searching of vehicles was reduced after 10 days and completely abandoned after about 20 days. As for its success, statistics on the volumes of cannabis seized were way below expectations and did not exceed the average volumes that had been seized before the operation. Much of the US press publicized marijuana during the crisis as other temporary illegal smuggling channels were soon activated during the operation, such as high-potent marijuana shipped from Vietnam and of hashish from Northern Africa. A marijuana shortage throughout the country did, however, lead users to experiment with other drugs or to grow their own."

'Orbit around the moon' - Joe Meek and the Blue Men (AKA  Rod Freeman and Blue Men) (from 'I hear a new world' CD released 1991. RPM records)

One of the most (in)famous LP's in British recorded music history, I'll try and keep this short-ish. Meek was fascinated by space travel (remember 'Telstar' and 'Life on Venus' by the Tornados?) and set about recording a stereo album in 1960 (a time when stereo was considered extremely futuristic) which would " create a picture in music of what could be up there in outer space. At first (he explained) I was going to record it with music that was completely out of this world but realized that it would have very little entertainment value so I kept the construction of the music down to earth". The first four tracks were, due to financial constraints, issued as an EP (with just 99 copies pressed up!!) on his new Triumph label and when the financial situation failed to improve, the balance of the album tracks remained unreleased, although sleeves were printed up for a further EP prior to its abandonment. The EP became a collectors dream and so, in 1991, those fine Rotherham-ites at RPM (great name for a record label!!) prepared the full album for its first ever release. A vinyl version followed plus, in 2001, an expanded CD version complete with film clips and radio interviews with Meek explaining the concept behind the album. 

Several tracks were actually released, with suitably amended titles, on the 'Dream of the West' album by The Outlaws in 1961. The Wild West was yet another of Meeks fascinations, as was Buddy Holly, and it was the latter who inadvertently played a part in the tragic events of Meeks death (and the murder of his landlady) on February 3rd 1967, eight years to the day after Holly's demise. 

"From the ridiculous to the, errrr, sublime..."

'Pioneers over C'- Van Der Graaf Generator (from 'H to HE Who Am The Only One' released December 1970. Charisma label)

"I've wittered on many times about Peter Hammill and VDGG. Here's a track from one of their most 'challenging' albums, so challenging that, when I attempted to play it at a party in Felixstowe around the time of its release, it didn't clear the room...... it cleared the whole house!!! Years later, my friend Malcolm Stafford was still seeking reassurances from the partygoers that '"that Northerner ain't coming to this one is he?" 

And the title? 'H to HE' is "the fusion of hydrogen nuclei to form helium nuclei, a basic exothermic reaction that takes place in the Sun and other stars. The 'Who am the only one' refrain? No ideas on t'internet, none from yours truly either!!!

'Pioneers over C' , however, does relate to the space travellers in the song travelling faster than the speed of light (known as 'C' in scientific circles apparently!!).

To promote the album the band took part in the 'six bob tour' which featured Lindisfarne and, initially Genesis. However, by the time the tour reached Sheffield's hallowed City Hall, Genesis had scuttled off to the States (where their 'Trespass' album was showing some signs of success) and they were replaced by String Driven Thing whose violinist Graham Smith would later join both VDGG and various Peter Hammill bands..."

"And a  nifty 'bonus' please Tim? (How can I refuse after imparting all this info...? Tim)

Way back in January 1964 Andrew Loog Oldham was suffering something of a Phil Spector fixation. Phil had sat in on the Stones debut album sessions and, presumably, Oldham had questioned how Phil achieved his 'Wall of Sound' in the studio. Whatever Spector had told him, Oldham would have found it impossible to duplicate in London's then primitive studios where two track recording was the norm. However, he dreamed of producing an orchestral work of current, and newly composed songs. This single was the initial release by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra (four albums followed in the next 3 years) but there is some confusion over the top side. I'm certain it was 'There are but five Rolling Stones' that was the track played on the radio at the time, but certain listings show 'To know him is to love him' by Cleo as the Decca 'A' side (Trainspotters please note: if matrix numbers are the guide then Cleo's is, indeed, the lead track). However, both sides feature the Stones in their full 1964 glory, particularly on 'There are....'. 

After many years of wondering who Cleo was, the internet provided the answer.......... This 'unknown' turned out to be Cleopatra Mary Palmer (MBE), known professionally as Cleo Sylvestre or, on this occasion, just Cleo.

This lady has become something of a legend over the years. Born to a show business mother Cleo became the first black actress to play the lead role in the West End, was voted 'most Promising Actress' in 1967 and went on to feature in plays by Simon Gray and Peter Nichols. She played, and toured, at the Young Vic and, laterly, took the lead roles in many regional theatres and founded an organisation to help young children wishing to pursue an acting career. Her TV career was varied and included Dr Who, Poor Cow, Up the Junction, Kathy come home, Til death us do part and many others. After a brief spell in Coronation Street, Cleo became the first regular black actor to feature in a UK soap, Crossroads and she went on to appear in Grange Hill, Play School and, latterly, Channel 5's All creatures great and small.Not only that, when Brian Jones was sacked by Jagger and Richard, Cleo was the first name on the list as vocalist for the group he wished to form.  All in all, a hell of a career!!!

However, her recent death, 20th September, was preceded by an appearance on Antiques Roadshow in late August where she displayed a handmade Christmas card from Jimmy Page and, prominently displayed was this single, which saw me leaping excitedly around the living room.  So, in memory of a non hit wonder, here's Cleo."

David -

"On Sunday I attended the book launch of the first volume Steve Wynn's memoirs at Walthamstow Trades Hall. Steve was interviewed by Stewart Lee who turned out to be a big fan and a very knowledgeable muso. They talked about The Dream Syndicate and a number of Steve's side projects. Here are a couple of them."

Piers -

"As well as a lot more Miles Davis, this week I have been listening to Josephine Davies & Satori. I am currently very impressed with her new album but is hard to find without her talking over the tracks… I understand that she wants to sell her music but it does make it hard to post stuff here on RPM so this is an old track from her... I suppose that I should issue a warning to those of a delicate disposition...

This week my choices can be summed up by that one word - ‘Nice’."

"Finally - this isn't really a request for a bonus track as I know that it won't be to everyone's taste - but...

If you like the above tracks you might like to check out Kit Downes (new to me) and his track Children with Pitchforks - it's really  quite lively in parts."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbMHsnZD3co

Philip -

"Greetings from Swanton Morley. I've been watching the second series of "Sherwood," and am currently half-way through it (no spoilers please). It continues to refer back to events of 1984, and meanwhile I seem to keep coming across references to and quotes from the works of George Orwell in quizzes and in newspapers. This has led me to think about where I was living, what I was doing, and what I was listening to in 1984. Springsteen and Prince of course, and R.E.M. and Los Lobos, and one of the finest live albums of all time, "Nevillization," recorded at Tipitina's in New Orleans. Here are three songs from other albums I bought and listened to a quite a lot in 1984."

John -

"Hello Everyone. I'm at Deepdale Festival at the moment so I'll keep it brief. The first two of my three tracks are from performances on the opening night (Thursday) and the third is one of my all-time favourite songs which was played during the interval. (Tim the Archivist will tell us if I've picked this one before!) (You have...and not that long ago; week 30 this year. Tim the Archivist)

"Best wishes to all, as always."

Dave -

"Here’s my 3 tunes this week."

Tim -

"Three musical highlights from the past week...and not a bonus track in sight..."

'Til Next Time...