S4L Radio: Show #3 - And Your Name Is....?

It was including the song Jolé Blon by Gary U.S. Bonds in the last Playlist that I got the idea to do a show spotlighting names and so I've brought together 21 songs from various years scattered through Rock and Roll history and many different musical genres.

There seems to be more songs written about Girls than Boys so I have purposely included more songs that feature Boys names. Hopefully that will not raise the ire of those wishing equality! 😉 

There are links below to further musical delights for your enjoyment.

On The Playlist Today is...

Rex Bob Lowenstein - Mark Germino and The Sluggers
I've always loved this little tale about a DJ. Disc Jockey Roger Scott when he was working for the BBC prior to his death used to play this song quite a bit on his Sunday night show.

 Harry May - The Business
"What's his name?..." - A few years back I saw The Business supporting Good Charlotte in Glasgow and was among the few in the audience that night who could sing-a-long with every song by the band much to the amusement of the many youngesters present!

Gloria - Them
"And Her Name is...G.L.O.R.I.A." it has to be one of the most famous songs to feature the name of a girl. It has been covered by so many down through the years but the original is still the best. The cover by the way above is the 1965 French EP release and not the original 1964 Decca Release.

Joey's On The Street Again - The Boomtown Rats
Love 'em or hate 'em there can be no denying that The Boomtown Rats and Mr Geldof did actually write some quality songs. This one from their brilliant Debut Album on Ensign from 1977 I think is one of their finest they ever recorded.

Eloise - The Damned
Always a band who chose their cover versions wisely. Released inbetween their huge hit album Phantasmagoria (1985) and their not as successful Anything (1986) albums this Single became the best selling and highest chart placing of their long and distinguished career as it peaked at #3.

Suzy Is A Headbanger - Ramones
The Picture Sleeve above is for the Japanese Single release but most of us know it as a track on the Leave Home album or from the excellent New Wave Compilation that came out in 1977 on Vertigo Records.

 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) - Bruce Springsteen

I have included the live version recorded at Foxboro in September 2016 at the close of The River Tour.
It was of course not a hit for Springsteen and was only released as a single in Germany. The Hollies had a minor hit with it (#85 US, #12 New Zealand and #9 Netherlands).

A Tribute To The Heroes Of Rock and Roll

Just Like Eddie - Heinz

His tribute to Eddie Cochran released in 1963 and his second solo release after leaving The Tornados (who had a huge #1 hit with Telstar in 1962 on both sides of the Atlantic). It was his one and only solo hit reaching #5 in the UK.

Sweet Gene Vincent - Ian Dury and The Blockheads
Prior to his first chart success with What A Waste (1978) came this glorious slice of 7" black vinyl in 1977.
"Sweet Gene Vincent
Let the blue roll tonight
At the sock hop ball in the union hall
Where the bop is their delight"

Elvis Presley Blues - Gillian Welch

I have included a live version that was recorded for the BBC Four Sessions programme.
The original song appeared on her third album Time (The Revelator) released in 2001on the Acony Label.

Bo Diddley - Buddy Holly
First released by Bo Diddley himself in April 1955 and the Buddy Holly version was released posthumously in 1963 and taken from the album Reminiscing. It reached #4 in the UK Chart showing that four years after his untimely death that he was still much loved.

Roxette - Dr. Feelgood
Debut Single from the Canvey Island crew released in 1974 on United Artists. The band would not enjoy Single Chart success until three years later when Sneakin' Suspicion stumbled into the charts at #47!

Alison - Elvis Costello
The second Single release from Elvis Costello and one of his finest songs. It didn't chart for him though Linda Ronstadt had a minor hit with it in 1979 when it reached #30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in the USA and #68 in the UK.

Sally Maclennane - The Pogues
The second Single taken from their second Studio Album Rum, Sodomy & The Lash. It only made it to #51 in the UK Charts. Sally Maclennane is not actually a girl but a particular brand of Irish Stout!

Richard - Billy Bragg
From his excellent Debut EP/Album Life's A Riot With Spy Vs Spy. Jayne and Neil also get a name check in the song!

Terry - Kirsty MacColl
It's hard to imagine that this Single only reached #82 in the charts and was only her second charting Single ever (the first being two years earlier in 1981 - her third Single release There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis).

Simon Templer - Splodgenessabounds
The single reached #7 in the charts but largely due to the B-Side Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Please.

Whole Lotta Rosie - AC/DC
I had a bit of a soft spot for AC/DC back when I was younger and whilst I went off them for a long time this song reminds me of just how good they were. I heard Alter Bridge cover this when I saw them live a couple of times and whilst it was pretty amazing you can't beat the original!

Gudbuy T'Jane - Slade
As my buddy Leighton says, "You can never have enough Slade" and so here's their massive #2 UK hit Single. Teachers everywhere are still in a state of despair about Slade's poor spelling! 

Johnny 99 (Bruce Springsteen Cover) - The Loved Ones

From the 2009 Distractions EP released on Fat Wreck Records.
Dave Hause giving a punky tinge to Springsteen's Nebraska classic.

The Parting Shot

 Edie (Ciao Baby) - The Cult
Inspired by the movie Ciao Manhattan! and in particular actress Edie Sedgewick who was part of Warhol's crowd in New York City. The Single was taken from the Album Sonic Temple in 1989.