My partners Nan passed away a few weeks ago, 96 and a lovely, sweet lady to the end. During a very sad house clearance (64 years in the same house) we came across a couple of boxes of old records, singles and LPs. Very generously I was allowed to take them and I spent a short time the other day sorting through and there is some lovely stuff in there. I thought I would post one a day on this thread between now and Christmas and it may have some interest for some of you and may prompt sopme discussion. I’m a day late so I’ll do 2 in the comments today to catch up. I may need to use library photos for images but I’ll be as accurate as I can
Del Amitri, Their Facebook Fan Page & Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland
24/11/2016
A few months ago Justin Currie became involved with a Glasgow based charity offering to auction one of his songs to raise some cash. The Del Amitri fan page that I enjoy immensely under another of my on-line pseudonyms, picked up on this and a chain of events has unfolded that brings me to posting this notice here. This week there is an album of Del Amitri covers being released from which money will be raised to go to Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland. https://www.sbhscotland.org.uk/del-amitri-cd All chosen from a vast selection of songs sent in by professional artists, amateurs and just fans of the band. Ricky Ross, The O’s, Tom Mcrae, Naomi Bedford and Travis to name just a few. “Nothing Ever Happens” by Travis is being released as a Christmas single. Now I realise we can all become charity jaded but this album has come from a seed of an idea, developed by fans of the band, surpassed all expectations in sheer volume of songs recorded and quality and will give you a fine collections of songs “Pasted Beyond Recognition”. Of course I’m biased, I’m Dave Amitri but if you’re struggling for a gift for one of your music » Continue Reading.
Bands you love that passed you by
We simply must have done this before but something struck me today that made me feel the need to post this. On the wonderful 1982 Almanac thread @moose-the-mooche mentioned Madness and their run of 1982 hits. I loved them all, Madness are everything I Love in music. The right era, fun and joy filled cartoon like pop / ska, videos to die for, just right up my street. Yet I own nothing by Madness not a single or an album, nothing. I put that right today by buying for £4 a double best of cd with pull out booklet and poster. I had it on in the car on the way home and every track made me smile like a loon. How the hell did an Ian Dury album buying 80’s Dave never buy a thing by Madness? Now I’ve found this treat of a song too. It’s a shame and scandal surely this can’t have happened to you too? Has it?
Your favourite lyrical simile
This Monkees tune “Here Comes Tomorrow” is my current ear worm, in particular the line “lips like strawberry pie”. It is the sickly sweet Davy way of singing it that is so stuck in my head but what a pop tune and a typically fantastic Monkees clip. Having said that there must be better or if you prefer worse (but good luck with that). From what I’ve read about Leonard Cohen today he must have been a master. Anyway please share with us your favourite lyrical simile
Afterword Top Trumps
With the word “Trump” being on everyone’s lips lately I was trying to think of a way of shoe horning in a Top Trumps thread. I loved those cards, battleships and cars were my favourites. Anyway I think we should create some Afterword Top Trumps for Christmas. So I need your help with categories, bands, pictures etc. The Mahavishnu Orchestra would be top for longest tune but bottom for danceability. I’m sure you lot can take this seed of an idea and with your imagination take it onto the shop shelves in time it to become the essential stocking filler…….
EDIT: It appears you can actually make your own so if we get enough responses and ideas I’ll give it a go http://www.toptrumps.com/ever-wanted-to-make-your-own-pack-of-top-trumps/
Level 42
Venue:
Hammersmith Apollo
Date: 29/10/2016
It’s hard to believe that Level 42 began during the heady days of the British Jazz Funk movement in the early 80’s (whither Lynx and Shakatak) and for a short time in 1986 as “Running In The Family” topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic they could have been considered one of the biggest bands in the world. Now Mark King and Mike Lindup have taken to the stage again to remind us why. I’ve never been so aware of the mechanics of a band and what is neede to make an overall sound but in no way was it mechanical as they created some serious groove. We all know about Kings thumping bass but the intricacies of Lindups keyboards and vocals, alongside some exquisite guitar, the biggest drum kit I’ve ever seen and a sparkling, dancing trio of brass brought us all the hits and more. You can write Level 42 off as 80’s pap if you wish but to do so is to deny some musicianship and orchestration of the highest quality. “Lessons In Love” is one of the great pop songs, there is a back catalogue big enough to » Continue Reading.
A hypothetical question for the blogs football fans
Could Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho do a better job at Aston Villa and Cardiff than Steve Bruce and Neil Warnock and conversely could Bruce and Warnock do a better job at Manchester City and United? Just to be clear on my stance I am yet to be convinced by Guardiola / Mourinho especially as they both now have to rebuild teams rather than inherit one.
Justin Currie with the Scottish National Orchestra
Justin Currie played live last night with the Scottish National Orchestra in at Paisley Abbey in Glasgow. I couldn’t make it but the Del Amitri Facebook page has been alive with how stunning the whole thing was. Having had some positive responses to a “Can You Do Me Good” night in I thought I would share this shaky video of one of my favourite Currie songs from last night. Bleak as ever and another exercise in self flagellation it describes again a life seemingly wasted on a futile pop career that has left Currie broken. I suspect the truth is in there somewhere but he wouldn’t still be performing if it was as bad as all that. One day I would love to ask him how much is poetic licence and how much is really how he feels. Either way it’s powerful stuff and an astonishing piece of pop poetry that makes this listener feel things that no other music does.
I stand on a mountain of pitiful prose My mind is a fountain that pointlessly flows They give you a trophy if you make the kids scream But it’s such a joke to me how insipid I’ve been I » Continue Reading.
Ticket Tantrum the Bros version
Bros are back, not big news around here but for my lovely, kind, beautiful other half Bros were her thing back in the day, them and East 17. Anyway, she has sat through cricket with me (Lords when Ben Stokes scored the quickest test century) and we are seeing Level 42 in October, sometimes it’s good to share and a day in London followed by a party night out at the O2 will be a right laugh…… So perfect Christmas present opportunity I logged on to Live Nations website at 07.30 this morning and all the presale tickets had gone, a quick check of Ticketmaster confirmed that general sale was 11 am. Clicked the link to TM’s off shoot site “Get Me In” and there were hundreds of Bros tickets available at hugely inflated prices, this was a 07.40 am two and half hours before general sale. I am aware this is an old problem and it’s only Bros but that’s not the point. This really needs sorting out. Tantrum over because thankfully (really Dave?) they’ve added another night and I’ve got in early so August 20th we’re in. That’ll put a cat among the pigeons (Don’t do it Dave…..)
Fey 80’s elctronic pop duos. What’s not to love?
Join me in celebrating this rather “lovely” genre which is long overdue a reappraisal
Fantasy Cabinet
I hope that this thread can retain the sense of humour I intend for it. I was wondering if as in “Fantasy Football” where you can choose your best 11 from any team what would your “Fantasy Cabinet” be if you could select from all political party’s? Maybe you would install Corbyn as PM with Farage as Foreign Secretary? IDS as Chancellor? Boris in Transport? Maybe pick your “Fantasy Cabinet” from ex politicians Blair working for Maggie on education? I’ve attached a link of the current cabinet for your perusal…….. Remember it’s just a bit of fun…….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_the_United_Kingdom#Current_cabinet
Death
Sorry about this, I don’t want to bring the place down but as I race through my 52nd year death seems to be all around. 2 people I work with in the last year, James from here, friends getting cancer diagnosis, mum and aunt roaring towards 90. Then while watching the Paralympics there was an emotional interview with a Belgian athlete who’s degenerative disease will become so severe that she has chosen to end her life when she deems the time is right, as is allowed in Belgium. Monty Don was on the telly last night talking about his dog and how as owners we have responsibility for our dogs death as well as their lives. He bemoaned the fact that he had allowed a couple of dogs to live on too long while suffering. Then this morning I hear Zuckerburg wants to invest 2 billion dollars to eradicate disease by the end of the century. So here I am sitting, thinking and wondering. Are we all living too long, in Zuckerburgs utopia do we all live forever, we all know what that means. Should the day of our death be in our own hands as it is in Belgium » Continue Reading.
Is the weather forecast the most pointless thing ever?
I don’t know how much is spent annually on The Met Office and the myriad of forecasts on TV and the internet. The endless ways they use to portray a cloud or rain or the sun. However much it is it could surely be better spent elsewhere. They really seem to have no idea what’s happening, I am tempted to write down what the lovely Carol or Matt or whoever actually say. They baffle us with a stream of consciousness that I guarantee includes, showers, sun and cloud and it’s never right. Unless I missed it no one predicted the thunderstorms in the South last night, if they did I suspect it was after 6pm. It doesn’t make a difference to my day but it just seems a pointless exercise trying to predict the weather and despite satellites and technology they seem no better than they ever were. I’m going to the cricket tomorrow and brought tickets based on a forecast earlier in the week. I’ll never learn and won’t really know what the weather will do until I take my seat and look up. Does anyone know if the shipping forecasts that disturb Test Match Special are any better?
It was 50 years ago yesterday……….
That The Monkees was first screened on US TV. Great memories, great fun, great songs and some acting. Here’s episode 1 for those of us of a certain age…………..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Pv7CD2Ocs
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/50th-anniversary-monkees-tv-debut/story?id=42032877
What’s the game of your name?
We did something similar back at the old place and I was wondering with various name changes and newbies if it was worth doing again. So why did you choose the name you use as an Afterworder? Mine’s obvious, just the name of my imaginary tribute band, yours?
The Monkees or more likely Mike Nesmith advice please
I have stated my love of The Monkees here before (link to a Nights In what I wrote down there a bit) I thought I was a Monkees fan. It turns out I just knew of the singles and Headquarters really. Anyway I’ve been putting that right with one of those Amazon album collections and now I can call myself the 2nd biggest Monkees fan on The Afterword, maybe…. I’ve found myself reading up on them, their story and who did what (who knew Davy was the best drummer?) What I need to ask is where’s the best place to start to find more stuff like this? I know there are Nesmith fans here aplenty. Thanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSYJDNSUkN8
Del Amitri – Can You Do Me Good?
What does it sound like?:
Imagine a band from the 90’s who weren’t a boy band, weren’t Brit Pop, weren’t from Manchester, you couldn’t rave too and wrote songs, proper songs with lyrics that meant something. That band was Del Amitri. So uncool that they attracted a certain fan, a fan who didn’t fit anywhere else, a fan who was going through some personal drama and a fan who didn’t quite “get” the latest thing. Del Amitri had a number 11 hit and 4 albums in the 90’s and some really lovely songs but would probably generate a collective “Meh” from most music fans. So by the turn of the new century their music company was turning weary, the band were inclined to excess and in 2002 the released their last cheap shot at the dream “Can You Do Me Good”. As one of the aforementioned fans I was terribly disappointed by CYDMG. It wasn’t a real Del Amitri album, at time it felt like a piss take but time and age have changed my opinion and it’s now the Dels album I return to most frequently. Now I understand the frustration of Currie and Harvey who had made » Continue Reading.
Moeen Ali
As a white middle class man born in the 60’s and someone who voted out at the referendum I want to state that watching Moeen Ali make a century for England today at the Oval gives me the most overwhelming sense of pride and feeling of joy. It’s too much to ask of this young sportsman from the midlands who happens to be a Muslim who represents England at cricket to carry any sort of burden from the world he finds himself in but every time I see him wear the England badge I sense he is a wonderful example of what could be. It’s only a game and he’s just one man but what a wonderfully talented, humble, gracious man he is. The sight of him politely standing back when the rest of the team start spraying the champagne around just makes him more endearing. *Goes off singing Moeen Ali to the “No Limits” tune……..
I wish I was an Olympic Gymnast……..
I’d be a swinger on the rings, I’d pirouette on the pommel, fly on the horse, drink at the high bar and be murder on the floor. What Olympic sport do you wish you could do?
Elton John – Elton John
What does it sound like?:
So Elton John, It’s hard to think of him as a young man struggling to be heard, anxious and unsure of himself. Even harder when you listen to this musical work of art that takes you through a wide selection of styles in just 10 songs. We all know “Your Song”, the whole world knows “Your Song” it’s a hell of a way to start and almost perfect. “I Need You To Turn You” sounds like something you would have heard in a medieval court with those in attendance dancing slowly in time to Eltons court musicianship. Is that a lute? Who cares when “Take Me To The Pilot” kicks in with some old school honky tonk piano and Eltons astonishing voice (not in the way it’s astonishing now) rasping and rolling. Having done a 500 year round trip we’re back in a sleezy roadhouse on the side some US Highway for “No Shoe Strings On Louise”. Side one finishes with “First Episode at Hienton” which is a son Sam Smith or Adele would give their right arms for and great singers that they are neither of them could “Sing” it like Elton does. » Continue Reading.
“Idiot lead singers with big egos from bands…..”
I’ve been quiet on the Justin Currie front of late, but have some of this……..
https://vimeo.com/116993139
Parrot Ice
Whenever the word “Paradise” appears in a song I instinctively change it to “Parrot Ice”. Coolio and Stevies “Gangsters Parrot Ice”, that Coldplay song and tonight on “The Greatest Flower Power Ever” album Amen Corners “If Parrot Ice Is Half as Nice”. We’ve done misheard lyrics before but this is about words or phrases you change just to shake things up a bit. Just me then……….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf192nGowGY
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
I brought this album this week in Tesco, it’s a lovely collection of songs and listening to it this morning I thought he would be nice, yes nice, to have a YouTube thread of peace, love and understanding. So post your favourites from the first , or any summer of love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1GrJHe0yvU
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greatest-Ever-60s-Flower-Power/dp/B01CYC9OGM
As promised a thread about Howard Jones hair
It’s lovely isn’t it. Great song too. Very profound for these troubled times……..
Conservative Socialism or Socialist Conservatism
I’ve only recently started taking a real interest in politics. I’m not a complete novice but some of the more technical issues still sometimes elude me. Something however that I have considered is just how polarising the 2 major parties are. It’s either full on Conservatism supporting those at the top of the tree making the comfortable more comfortable or full on Socialism unions, benefits and sticking it up the system. It basically leaves people like me with nowhere to go so when a vote came along that said out or in, many like me went out. The house of cards that followed while not unwelcome is further evidence that the majority have nowhere to place their vote or their faith. Is it therefore not possible that someone somewhere could offer some sort of Conservative Socialism or Socialist Conservatism, if you prefer? It may well have happened before, New Labour? But with my simplistic view of life wouldn’t it be great if you could vote for someone who gave all their necessary support to big business, entrepreneurs and this with the drive and vision to help them create wealth, jobs and opportunity. While at the same time making sure those » Continue Reading.