Welcome to week 11 of the Isolation Room Listening Booth, songs as chosen by RPM club members week ending Friday 5th June. This time, in random order of how I typed the list, it’s over to……………
Morra –
Oh Well performed by Oh Well - “I’d never heard this song before I heard this version……..if I’d known the (Pete Green) Fleetwood Mac version, I’d have probably hated it like you all will😂, but I think this is a fantastic demonstration of how a brilliant song can rise above what is done to it.”
Velvet Goldmine by David Bowie – “The lost link between HUNKY DORY & ZIGGY STARDUST and I just love the sleazy lyrics……….”
Stand By Me (Live) by Oasis -.
“Simply because I sold my vinyl copy of ‘familiar to millions’, the live Wembley gig from 2000, a triple album I attended……..I included the ticket stub and it sold for £325, so god bless oasis 😂” (Jeez…the proverbial luck of the (London) Irish….Tim)
Nina – “Here's my choices, summer-y theme in honour of RPM summer jollies on the Albatros that are usually in June…… Rain's good for the garden, but here's to brighter days in all kinds of ways. Poet..innit 😉. Take care everyone”
Steal my Sunshine, by Len
Hot Hot Hot by The Cure
Here Comes the Sun, remixed Nina Simone version. Song by George Harrison (obvs)
Dave – “Hi RPMers, hope you are all well. Looking forward to hearing your picks of the week . Here’s my three …… ‘till next week!! ”
Goddess On A Hiway by Mercury Rev –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF3egYgM6jY
We Are All Prostitutes by The Pop Group –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnfKcZhbF_k
Cow Girl by Underworld -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feWNvGpWHLM
Sal – “Here are my 3 for this week.....”
The Staircase (Mystery) by Siouxsie And The Banshees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9c1Um74jFY
Terrible Love by Birdy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEt0YK1-eDo
Beautiful Alone by Strangelove
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb4yHKAKlEE
Piers – “I have been listening to Tim Laycock, concertina player from Dorset, but there aren’t any Youtube links to tunes of his I would have liked to post (but what there are, are very good), so…..It’s all pop music”
Susie Q performed by Dale Hawkins -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOomce7KV_E
Gangster Of Love by Johnny Guitar Watson -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhv2vvSCMf4
I Can’t Let Maggie Go by Honeybus -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih4zwp-0GeQ
Jean –“Sending best wishes to all the gang. I have a jazz theme this week. Here are my picks of the week………”
Angel Face by Coleman Hawkins from CD Hits of 1947 -
Nicknamed ‘Hawk’ he was an American jazz saxophonist born 1904. He was the first saxophonist to tailor his method of improvisation to the saxophone. He became known in the big band era with swing music and had a role in the development of bebop in the 1940s. He played with Louis Armstrong / Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie to name a few.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwTNWv0n-sg
In Search of a Dream by George Benson from ‘In your eyes’ Album 1983 -
“Guitarist/singer/songwriter born in Pittsburg USA. At 7 played the ukulele in a drug store: at 8 played guitar in an unlicensed nightclub and at 9 started to record. Later he started playing jazz guitar using a rest-stroke picking technique. In the 1960s he became popular as a singer of smooth love songs. He has won 11 Grammy awards and ‘Breezin’ was a triple platinum Album in 1976.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77rAIKuDE1Q
New Rising Sun by John Williams from ‘Bridges’ Album 1979 -
“Born in Australia his family moved to the UK in 1952. He’s considered to be one of the best guitar musicians in the world. He has recorded and performed mainly acoustic works but has a flair for the traditional Spanish and classical. This track is a bit different as it combines a modern jazziness to a traditional ballad. Of course, it’s ‘House of the Rising Sun’ which was a huge hit for the rock group The Animals in the 1960s.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4wQq4-F9tQ
Jayne –“I hope all RPM faithful can keep sane and safe. In more rational times I guess this week would have been an RPM holiday-themed meeting so here we go…sandwiches, thermos and hankie on head……….”
Pulling Mussels From The Shell performed by Kinvala -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvrYh5twoM
Holiday in Waikiki by The Kinks -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_NwNFiZUDg
Holiday by Happy Mondays -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ItfPU9Gggs
Philip – “Greetings to all RPMers, and I trust everyone is keeping safe and well. I know I said last week that I'd do a "spot the connection" without other comment, but I feel the need to comment on choice number one:
Abraham, Martin and John, performed by Mahalia Jackson – “It is to America's shame that this song resonates as strongly today as it did when first recorded by Dion Di Mucci (who apparently didn't really like it). It was written by an ex-rockabilly called Dick Holler, and Dion's version was followed by many other artists both black and white, from Marvin Gaye to Kenny Rogers, from Ray Charles to Andy Williams, and so on. Mahalia, a personal friend of Dr. King, takes it to church.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlxAFq_9Mak
“But what does it have in common with choices 2 and 3……………?”
The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton (1959 single) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v7CzfPUphY
It came Out Of The Sky by Creedence Clearwater Revival (from 1969's 3rd Creedence classic, "Willy and The Poor Boys").
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuPtOtGF4TY
“Sorry, but there's no prize for getting it right.”…….(Email your answer to me and you’ll get a special mention next week if you’re right – Tim.)
Alan – “A Young Mods Not Forgotten Story: especially for Phil, I presume my diatribe made an 'Impression' ...….. errr, Dexter Gordon, I know jazz was big with the original 'mod(ernist)s' in London in the early sixties but Donny in that period was all flat caps and whippets, with only an occasional outing to Harworth All Saints Jazz Club where the Dutch Swing College Band in the back room at the 'Blackies' was all that we 15 year olds thought was 'hip'. The only 'jazz' I picked up on, in the '64-'66 period, was the Jimmies Smith and McGriff and Jack McDuff. Meanwhile...…….....
54 years ago, almost to the day (8th June 1966) I saw the Small Faces at the Top Rank Doncaster for the second time. 'Hey Girl' had been released around four weeks prior to the show and had been in my collection since the day of it's release. I had seen them on April 5th and what a show that was! Two houses (as per usual) meant that the 'teenyboppers' had been cleared out around 8.30pm for the more 'hardcore' fans (which had given us time to seek out that nights, errr, refreshments) and also meant that the show could stretch out more. Here, for your delight and delectation are three of the songs they played that night…………..”
Almost Grown by The Small Faces – “First up, the opening number as the stage rotated the band into the ballroom: quite possibly one of the finest instrumentals ever!!! Even after all these years, when I'm 'air drumming' on my thighs and other bodily parts (sad... yeah I know!!), I still remember all Kenney's drum fills!!!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgI97jZ5x3w
Hey Girl by The Small Faces – “Next up (I think) was the 'A' side…..”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COnETV_VHnk
You Need Loving by The Small Faces - “…….and the highlight of their shows (eat yer heart out Led Zep!!!)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp0jZ4BGuDw
“Finally, if Tim allows it, a recognition of everything that's going wrong Stateside right now…………”
Trouble Everyday by The Mothers of Invention -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo4EnABWB4Y
Tony –“Here are my selections for week 11 (avoiding political commentary this time). Best wishes to all at RPM.”
Old and Wise by Alan Parson’s Project - “I've chosen one of my favourite tracks sung by one of my favourite singers from the many Alan Parsons Project albums that I have. This song, sung by Colin Blunstone is taken from the 1982 album "Eye In The Sky". Alan Parsons was always acknowledged as a great engineer - anybody with "Abbey Road" and "Dark Side of the Moon" on their CV can't be bad - and all of his brilliantly conceived concept albums were stuffed with the best musicians and singers in the business.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4HI1_LTWIk
Tennessee Stud by Eddy Arnold – “When I was growing up, I always looked forward to an invitation to my Uncle's at Christmas time as I had some older cousins who could actually afford to buy records. As soon as I arrived, I would commandeer the radiogram and plonk my two favourite singles on first. One was "Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price and the other was this one which put to music the many tales I read in the Wild West Annuals all boys seemed to receive for Christmas at that time. As we are apparently going to be forced to wear masks on public transport soon, I'd better look for my old "Lone Ranger" mask and see what the Judge has to say about that (whoops - political commentary - sorry)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFJtD3y3n08
Who Do You Love performed by George Thorogood and the Destroyers – “A Bo Diddley number given the full treatment by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. The only reason I picked it is because I absolutely love this version.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6fGcpp3KzE
John –“For my choices this week, I've gone back to stuff I'd enjoyed earlier in the lockdown but had not been able to find room for among my other selections (if that makes sense...).”
Eisengrau by Xmal Deutschland – “Back in the third week of the Isolation Room I mentioned that I was reading a book about the design company 23 Envelope. This prompted me to listen to various albums from my collection that were among their clients and in week three I chose a track by This Mortal Coil. I also listened to Xmal Deutschland's third album 'Viva' from which this track is taken.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfPIsXE-CQA
New Name by Ras Michael – “The 'Proper Music' tent at Cambridge Folk Festival is a great place to pick up CDs of the obscure and unusual at bargain prices. About fifteen years ago I picked up a few Reggae compilations on French record labels containing slightly more esoteric acts such as Israel Vibration, Winston McAnuff (big in France), Ras Michael etc. I love this track for its infectious tune and sublime bounce.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piwxy8bmZBk
Alwa by Imarhan – “Talking of the Cambridge Folk Festival.... I've been going on and off since 1973 and each time I've been captivated by at least one act I've previously been unaware of. A couple that spring to mind are Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys in 1992 and Tinariwin in 2005 but there have been many others. Last year I discovered Imarhan; wonderful! So, as soon as their set had finished, it was off to the 'Proper Music' tent to purchase their latest long-playing record. A few months later I managed to pick up their first LP for a fiver at the Norwich Record Fair..... result!!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI-aVmhHHyg
Tim – “A mix of old and new this week…………”
It’s About Blood by Steve Earle – “A new one to start with from Steve’s latest album Ghosts of West Virginia, just out and a bit of a fixture on the ol’ turntable at the moment…………songs written for a stage production about a mine explosion in 2010 which killed 29 men. He performed this solo for Radio 4s Loose Ends programme a few weeks ago (25th May) which can be found on the Sounds app.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKWPjr0NPQo
Whelan’s performed by Dervish – “Here’s an old one………I mentioned Dervish last week and what should turn up in the workshop CD box whilst having a rummage for some chair-repair music…….? Funny you should ask; a copy of their 2003 album, Spirit. The last track on the album is kind of an Irish trad psychedelic improv. number which I’ve always thought was great……..shame they didn’t pursue this path a little bit more, in my opinion. (Main track ends at 6.42…….then there’s a “hidden” a cappella track afterwards which you don’t have to listen to unless you really want to….Cathy Jordan used this idea to much better effect on earlier album At The End Of The Day).”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9OX-y0ND-Q
You Shoudn’t Do That by Hawkwind – “Here’s a new old one! I got an email from Alan a while ago flagging up the fact that the 1975 Hawkwind compilation album Roadhawks was being re-issued at the end of May. “Yes, I know,” I said, “But I’ve got the original.…with limited edition poster…. so will give it a miss.” Hhmmm, famous last words. It transpires that it’s been re-mixed by Dave Brock and re-mastered………and sounds great! Yes Alan, I bought it…..don’t say anything.
I don’t tend to listen to compilation albums much and had in fact forgotten what a super selection this actually is. I also love the way each piece of music merges into the next so there are no between-track gaps….just like a Hawkwind gig. Shouldn’t Do That is one of my favourite HW tracks (studio version found on my Mystery Album choice from March 2019), especially this live outing recorded at the same concert which generated much of the Space Ritual double LP, but left off of that magnum opus for some strange reason. This is one of a bunch of songs that at the time (early 80s), made me pick up the bass guitar……inspired here by the driving playing of a certain Mr Ian Fraser Kilmister. I couldn’t afford a Rickenbacker 4001 (like Lemmy’s…..and Chris Squire’s……and Geddy Lee’s……do you spot a fixation emerging?) so had to settle for a Westone Thunder 1a in light oak. Strangely, sometime around the early 80s, Hawkwind also became Westone guitar endorsees, Dave Brock using a Spectrum LX which became his main guitar for many years and a Paduak 1 (custom painted with the Warrior on the Edge of Time LP cover) and bassist at the time, Harvey Bainbridge, swapping his Fender Precision for a Thunder II….I suspect my instrument purchase was subliminally influenced, although the recollection is somewhat blurred by the mists of time. I wish I still had that bass….”