Welcome to week 14 of the Isolation Room Listening Booth, songs as chosen by RPM club members week ending Friday 26th June. This time, names drawn one at a time from the magic hat, it’s over to……………
Philip – “Greetings and best wishes to all RPMers as usual. This week I thought I'd go for another "Spot The Connection" conundrum, but this time it might be a bit easier, especially as I'm offering some clues…….”
Desire by U2 - “This is of course from the period when U2 discovered that rock'n'roll was American. Thanks, Bono, for that insight.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1vFRn10Kt8
Along Came Jones by The Coasters – “There is also a version of this Lieber and Stoller number by Ray Stevens, that comes with a suitably silly cartoon.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFyr49TwuiI
Distant Drums by Jim Reeves - “A little MOR for my tastes but there's no denying the man had great pipes.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS8YgEwLdsQ
“Clues: 1. They're in that order for a reason. 2. I considered using "Pictures of Lily" and "Great Balls of Fire" but thought the connection was too tenuous. 3. This one is a real give-away: The answer is to be found in "Puttin' on the Ritz."
Everybody got it?”
Morra –
Live and Let Live by Love -
Honey If by Apple Mosaic -
Dogs on a Leash by The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats -
Piers – “It's hot so that….…… in those well-known words written by Willie Dixon for the immortal Muddy Waters to sing in their song 'You Need Love’; "You need cooling, Way down inside”! I don’t believe that there was a cooler guitarist in 1965 than John Renbourn, (and if there was it was his mate Bert Jansch). So from his debut album …..My first offering is………..”
John Renbourn - Plainsong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIlgb0CTCnU
Martha Tilston - Shallow Brown – “And following in that vein of strangely hybrid British folk music, A song from the Carribean which has long been a staple of English folk sessions. I have heard it all around this country over the last 50+ years, and it is as pertinent today as when I first heard it. This version recorded in 2014, made all the more poignant by the current necessity for peaceful Protest in support of the BLM movement. Even in sleepy Norwich, at the Forum at 2pm this coming Sunday (28th of June).”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKiJQ-BAQu8
Little Eva - The Locomotion – “And because it’s summer and we need a track to remind us of those evenings with coloured lights, Candy Floss, Hooking plastic Ducks for goldfish in plastic bags, The Waltzer, Hot dogs with mustard, The Big Wheel and feeling a bit sick…. “
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKpVQm41f8Y
Jean – “Here’s my choices…….I wish I had seen all these people live in concert while they were at their best. I never liked going to Wembley as it was quite a journey for me to get back home, and often I couldn’t afford the tickets anyway…..”
Elvis Presley Suspicion 1962 - “I didn’t grow up with his music in the house but as a young teenager I liked G I Blues and Blue Hawaii. It was only after his comeback concert in 1968 that I took some interest. By then I knew he wouldn’t be coming to the UK for concerts and had a notion that I would get to Las Vegas to see his show. However, life got in my way and he went off the rails and downhill quickly, sadly dying in 1977. I must admit that his antics during his cabaret show, particularly giving scarves to his female fans, made me cringe.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiTuGMC9FdM
Barcelona performed by Freddie Mercury and Monserrat Caballe - “What a frontman –strutting, posing and flamboyant. He wrote some great songs with Queen (I particularly liked the soundtrack to Highlander) and for his solo career. This song became the signature tune for the Summer Olympics and really showed the operatic quality of his voice. Sadly, died too young.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1fiOJDXA-E
Nutbush City Limits performed by Tina Turner – “She has always been an exciting artist but has improved with maturity and huge stadium venues. Her enthusiasm and energy never wavered. This clip shows that. She could do all genre of songs not just rock. I’m happy to say that she reached retirement and left the limelight to live a quiet life with her husband.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRZIzs9pE5o
Dave – “Hi every one, hope all’s well!! Not to sun burnt !!! Here’s my vinyl fix !!!!”
The Spirit of St. Louis by British Sea Power –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIypIOvzFfk
Plastic Plant by Thee Oh Sees –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boklk30lNA8
Instant Replay by Dan Hartman –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEbi-eV6YsE
Alan – “It's been a bluesy kinda week........quite a few of those I played whilst 'beheading' another 2000 or so daisies were from the late sixties/early seventies period ......... enjoy and keep well (or as Public Enemy warned ........ 'Don't believe the hype'!!!)
Black Magic Woman by (Peter Greens) Fleetwood Mac (Live at Boston Tea Party 5-7th February 1970. Released February 1985) – “First up, the best blues band of the period.... and one of the very best ever. This performance was recorded at the exact moment that life began to unravel for Peter. His 'experiments' with LSD had begun to fracture his probably already fragile psyche and this was beginning to show in his lyrics. February 1969's 'Man of the World', followed by Septembers 'Oh Well' (where Peter sees himself being guided by God) and their final single 'Green Manalishi', alerted the band to the potentially serious mental state that he was entering. This was confirmed with his new bearded look topped off with white robes, a crucifix and the start of a long running argument with his accountant regarding his earnings, which Green had instructed to be given away. Following the Tea Party, the band flew to Germany in March and Green was 'lured' to a commune in Munich where he was (allegedly) given an extremely large hit of very strong, laced LSD. Despite initially refusing to leave the commune Green eventually completed the tour but left the band on 20th May 1970. Full blown schizophrenia, ECT and stays in mental hospitals followed and it wasn't until 1979 that Green began to slowly re-emerge into the outside world but, even as late as 1988 Green was still saying that "I'm at present recuperating from treatment for taking drugs. It was drugs that influenced me a lot. I took more than I intended to." and even today he still seems very fragile on his occasional outings. A true genius, or as BB King once said, "he (Peter Green) was the only one who gave me the cold sweats.". Praise indeed!!!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqUZVnboh7c
Midnight Rider by Gregg Allman (From 'Laid Back'. Released October 1973) – “Lead-off single from the album, a US top twenty million seller and over here? Nada!!! This was recorded at around the same time that the band were laying down their fourth album (sixth if you include the two 'Hourglass' albums) 'Brothers and Sisters' and its eventual title quickly became the generic name for this type of relaxed blues. Here Gregg revisits a track from the Allmans second album ( 'Idlewild South'), filling out the sound with the occasional burst of orchestration leading to an even more 'laid back' vibe. I saw the Allmans Brothers, the Doobie Brothers, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Van Morrison, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Tim Buckley at the first ever Knebworth Festival ('The Bucolic Frolic' as it was known) on July 20th 1974 for £2.75!!! The Allmans proceeded to play a three-hour set (surely that's yer £2.75p's worth right there) but I must admit I can't remember if this track, in its band form, was part of that mammoth outing. All I remember is.... it was really late when we eventually turned into our sleeping bags!!!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJoBRMVzzMU
I Need a Man to Love (Take 3) by Big Brother and the Holding Company (From 'Sex, dope and cheap thrills' released 30th November 2019.) – “What a pity Janis had her head turned by Clive Davis at the Monterey Festival and a whispering campaign was started regarding the suitability of BB&HC to provide Janis with the kind of backup that she needed to break into the 'big time'. However, as this particular track proves (in my opinion anyway), the outfit were more than capable of going all the way as, surely, their musical skills would have improved alongside those of Janis? I've always loved bands in that 'not quite perfect' stage (Grace Slick and Great Society/Jefferson Airplane being another case in point) and here Janis shows all the emotion that she was capable of .... and the band? Well, they're in stellar form with Peter Albin and David Getz holding down a fine, funky bottom line and lead guitarists Sam Andrew and James Gurley filling in with great rhythm and lead breaks. Recorded April 29th 1968 for the 'Cheap Thrills' album, most of these alternate take's lay in the vaults for 50 years(!!) and, in many cases they seem to be at least equally as good as those released on the 'quasi-live' original album. Such is the band's enjoyment that you can hear the guys calling out encouragement for Janis to hit even greater heights, and Janis responds with one of her most impassioned vocals.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=517YogIr0FU
“A truly great re-issue and, if you want to hear more...it's at WEAREVINYL.COM Code: G3TH6Q6U9)”
Tony – “Here's my three for this week. Great stuff from everybody last time…….. Only just over two weeks to go before my first proper haircut since week zero. Best wishes to you all”
Famous Blue Raincoat performed by Jennifer Warnes – “…….with the title track from her album dedicated to the songs by or associated with Leonard Cohen. I could have picked any track from this album - it's so good. She had a minor hit with "First We Take Manhattan" from that album and this was the "B" side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPlpxHhzSp0
Cheap Pearls by Love and Money – “Love and Money are a Scottish band formed in 1985 and I often go back to their album "Dogs in the Traffic" when I want to just sit down with a nice drink and relax. Lots of great quality tracks on there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF1oPaYSCgc
He Made A Woman Out Of Me by Bettye Lavette – “Bettye Lavette didn't find much success until later in her career, but this is one of my favourite tracks of hers released in 1969.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KspFr4lNNOI
Nina – “Hope all's good. Hawkwind synergy last week; I agree with Tim about the YouTube video, but it was a good reminder of a pre-Criminal Justice Bill time. Have a good week, folks. Look forward to hearing your choices as ever………..”
Don't Be a Dick by Bowling For Soup – “Was looking for same titled track by a new & different band, but this will do……..”
Babylon's Burning by The Ruts – “….'cos the weather's very hot.”
Deus by The Sugarcubes – “…..'cos Bjork is a bonkers genius.”
John – “Last Friday morning, after I'd sent my Week 13 selections to Tim, I randomly picked a handful of CDs from the shelf. Most of them were albums I had not played in quite a while. Over the next few hours I worked my way through them and thoroughly enjoyed every single one....here are the highlights............. ....some of you are now probably wondering what the 'lowlights' were........”
Here I am (Come And Take Me) by Al Green
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTpDFXhgGjM
Haunted by Shane MacGowan & The Popes (featuring Sinead O'Connor)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1PUm3yANeg
Peaches En Regalia by Frank Zappa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFQKP3Ehucg
Jayne – “Thinking of RPM colleagues and trusting you are making the most (or not) of these times (whatever suits you best). My three tracks this week are, I think, simply strong songs.”
National Express - The Divine Comedy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_GLSgJ39Dc
Wild Wood - Paul Weller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgIw51zmiy8
Liverpool Revisited - Manic Street Preachers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex2Ip4aqpDo
Tim – “A mix of house music (….no, I don’t mean that type of House music……) and shed music again this week, hence the strange juxtaposition of genres; Irish trad in the shed to accompany the construction of my bodhrans and rock for back at the house as soundtrack to reading Ian Rankin’s Rebus detective novels, DI John Rebus being a bit of a 70s rock music fan (he even had a tape of Hawkwind’s In Search of Space in his car cassette player in one book I’ve just finished).”
Strut by Bad Touch – “Way back in week 2, I chose an old Bad Touch track…….so here’s a new one from the just released (white vinyl) album from the Dereham-boys-making-good.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYDdt86aMUo
Paddy Ryan’s Dream performed by Bobby Casey (fiddle), Danny Meehan (fiddle) with Reg Hill (piano) and John McLaughlin (spoons) - “Paddy In The Smoke is an album of music recorded in late 60s in The Favourite, a well-known pub frequented by Irish musicians in Holloway, north London. It was released in 1968 and I love everything about this record, especially the atmosphere. Even though microphones have been set up to capture the musician’s performances, they end up capturing the life and vibrancy of their surroundings as well, as this track suitably illustrates. The pub clientele are clearly treating this as just another drinking / music session and do not keep quiet as would normally be expected when the tapes are rolling and the red light is on, and therefore become part of the performance as well. High spots on this track are when the spoons come in and, when bizarrely, someone rings a bell halfway through! For me, this album is one of the stand-out recordings of Irish Music. It’s pretty much on repeat play in the shed at the moment, contributing to the fabrication this week of 3 bodhran shells, no less.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d00EcEuntl4
Never Reach The Stars by Underground Zero – “Finishing with a bit of space rock, then, it’s Norwich’s own cosmic musicnaughts with my favourite song of theirs from the session they recorded for Tommy Vance’s BBC Radio 1 Friday Rock Show in 1984. The first proper gig my band of the time played was supporting UZO (as they were known to their friends) at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds………to a crowd of about 30 people! I'm sure my Westone Thunder Ia bass was turned up to 11. A few months later it was a repeat performance at Colchester Sports Centre, of all places, where even fewer bodies rattled around in an even bigger hall. Heady days/daze. Btw, I always thought Adrian on keyboards exhibited a certain amount of Dave Greenwood (Stranglers) influences…….see what you think to the solo break at the end of the song. ”