S4L Radio Show 2018 Playlist #3: Sunday Morning With Mum

I don't often do really personal stuff here on the blog apart from spotlighting the music that has played and continues to play a part of my life but this week I thought I would go a little bit of a different route with the S4L Radio Show Playlist.

Our Mum passed away on 28th December 2017 and on Wednesday 24th January we had her funeral down South in Blue Bell Hill, Medway.

One of the things we were reminded of during the service was that my Mum had a bit of a Sunday Morning ritual of playing her records quite loud (that's where I get it from then! 😀) irrespective of the fact that others in the house might have only been in bed a couple of hours after partying or clubbing hard on a Saturday Night! My brother expressed his great dissatisfaction particularly of her love for Country and Western Music and said how much he hates Country Music to this day, which is quite funny really because I am the total opposite and have a real affection for Country Music that I never really had when I was younger apart from the likes of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and in small doses even Jim Reeves (though I do have to confess that I now own his complete catalogue... 😁)!

Mum had a love for music that took in all sorts of sounds from the lame pop of Barry Manilow (I honestly couldn't bring myself to include a song of his on the Playlist!) to Soul, Rock, Big Band, Blues, Rock and Roll, Doo Wop, Show Tunes, Film Soundtracks, Crooners, Balladeers, Classic Rock and more besides. 

So, for one more Sunday Morning, I dedicate this post to Kim, Paul, Julie and Scott + Neices, Nephews, Grandkids and our Extended Family spread out across the UK and abroad.

I present to you 19 songs that were often played (the choices could have been many more of course!) breaking the sound barrier and disturbing the peace of the day of rest!

The final song on the Playlist is one that is much newer and was played during the funeral service and is by The Ginger Kid, Ed Sheeran, who somehow managed to encapsulate in a song some of the sense of feeling of gratefulness and loss that we all share as we have said our goodbyes to our Mum.

As Noddy Holder and Slade used to sing: Thanks for the Memory!

The Playlist

On the Playlist

Radar Love - Golden Earring

"The Radio plays that forgotten song..."
This was one that was played in our house a lot when it came out in 1973! (Wow, can hardly believe it is that old!).

Some of the songs on the Playlist might be considered by some to be "forgotten songs" but they are imbedded in my memory so clearly!

Junior's Wailing - Status Quo

Found this particular song on an album that was in my Mum's vinyl collection but the album actually belonged to me! It was released in 1975 (I was 12 years old) and was one of those cheap albums you could pick up in Woolworths for just over a Pound or something like that. It was an album that I loved a lot and obviously my Mum did also!

Hard Working Woman - B.B. King

Found this one on one of my Mum's CD's. It was a German Release called Portrait from 2002 that included a whole bunch of B.B. King songs recorded at various sessions between 1949-1952. 

I Get The Sweetest Feeling - Jackie Wilson

Soul Music was something my Mum loved and I mean real Soul Music not that plastic stuff that you would often see on Top of the Pops when we were younger and Jackie Wilson (not Jocky Wilson...the darts player, though he was loved in our household when we were kids as well! 😉) was one of many who could be heard on Sunday mornings.

The Great Pretender - The Platters

I recall this one and others by The Platters getting a spin. I remember I quite liked this one after watching the Rock Around The Clock film on the TV when I was knee high to a grasshopper!

Happy Talk from South Pacific

My Mum had a Soundtrack album in her collection and of course this was years before a certain chap called Captain Sensible had a hit single with it! I'm not sure what Mum would have made of that version!

Nobody's Child - Hank Snow

The picture sleeve above is exactly the same EP that my Mum had. It was originally released in 1958 on RCA in the UK. Nobody's Child is a song that The Traveling Wilburys would record and release in 1990!

I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton

Another RCA release and the original recording from 1974 of the song that would be a huge hit for Whitney Houston (another of Mum's favourites). The version on the Playlist is from a Country Music Television Special with Dolly playing and singing the song live after giving the reasons for writing the song in the first place.

Honky-Tonk Girl - Johnny Cash

I could have chosen many more famous tracks by Mr Cash but opted for this one which was originally a B-Side to the 1960 Single Second Honeymoon. The reason I chose it was because it was a Compilation of Cash's music that my Mum had (and now I have).

True Love Ways - Buddy Holly

Another B-Side orginally of Bo Diddley from 1963 (though not on the UK release which was It's Not My Fault). I picked this one because it was played just prior to the start of the funeral on Wednesday. Also, the music of Buddy Holly has always been special to me. His song Rave On is my Favourite Song of All-Time! 

The Whole Town's Laughing At Me - Teddy Pendergrass

Pendergrass was once involved with Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes (whom Mum also liked) so I guess it was a given that she would take note of Teddy's Solo career (and she had quite a number of his albums even though 1988's Joy was the only album to have charted in the UK!). I picked this one mainly because it is one of his most widely known songs, though it only peaked at #44 in the UK back in 1977.

Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Mama Cass with The Mamas and The Papas

My love for The Mamas and The Papas traces directly back to my Mum. She had a Greatest Hits LP of theirs and I cannot even think how many times I heard it growing up and would never tire of hearing those sweet Californian Harmonies. As soon as I was able to afford it I bought copies of the all the albums (now long lost), and have over the years got CD copies, Boxsets, Anthologies and Reissues of everything they have played on. Still thrills me whenever I hear the opening line of California Dreamin': "All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey".

(If Paradise is) Half As Nice - Amen Corner

Another record as a kid that I loved and was often played in the house. A #1 record as well. Still sounds excellent as well. Andy Fairweather-Low joined Roddy Frame to record a version by Aztec Camera which is pretty tidy as well and was released on the album Covers and Rare that was a Japanese release back in 1994.

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison Lighthouse

Another #1 single in the UK (#5 US) and they never bettered this at all. Here's a piece of trivia for the Pub Quiz if it ever comes up: Lead Vocalist Tony Burrows would also have hits with The Pipkins (Gimme Dat Ding), White Plains (My Baby Loves Lovin') and with an early version of Brotherhood of Man (United We Stand), who with an entirely different line up would win the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976!

Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell

One of the last albums I bought for my Mum was Adios! by Glen Campbell a few weeks after his passing out of this world. This particular song was a favouite of hers as was Gentle On My Mind. 

Some Kind of Wonderful - The Drifters

Mum had a few albums by The Drifters, she seemed to enjoy these types of groups with the matching suits and snazzy dance moves! Chose this one because it is one of those great songs penned by Carole King and Gerry Goffin and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Get Ready - The Temptations

Another of those great "Suit" Groups and once again there were so many songs to choose from but I decided to go with the 1966 Single that reached #10 in the UK when reissued in 1969.

Do You Love Me - The Dave Clark Five

Do You Love Me was the first charting single for The DC5 back in 1963 and they followed it up with a #1 Single in Glad All Over.

The Parting Shot Part 1

One More For My Baby (and One More For The Road) - Billie Holiday

Taken from the 1958 album Songs For Distingué Lovers. Mum had a 1997 CD Remastered Version of the album that had been expanded from the original six tracks to twelve.

The Parting Shot Part 2

Supermarket Flowers - Ed Sheeran

From the 2017 album  ÷ (Divide).

As I mentioned above this was played during the Furneral Service and was actually very emotional listening to the lyrics as they are pretty powerful and so I'll post a few of them to close: 

And I hope that I see the world as you did 'cause I know
A life with love is a life that's been lived

So, I'll sing Hallelujah,
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
When I fell down you'd be there holding me up
Spread your wings as you go, when God takes you back
He'll say, "Hallelujah, you're home."

Hallelujah,
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
You got to see the person I have become
Spread your wings and I know
That when God took you back, he said, "Hallelujah, you're home."

Eileen Watson

Mum, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Auntie and a Friend 

20th May 1939 - 28th December 2017

New Music For 2018: Encore - Anderson East (12th January 2018)

Encore - Anderson East

🌟🌟🌟🌟
Elektra
Produced by Dave Cobb
Released 12th January 2018

The Playlist doesn't contain the whole album but selected songs performed live* or are a Promo Video**.

On the Playlist is:

King For A Day*

This Too Shall Last*

House Is A Building*

Sorry You're Sick*

Girlfriend**

All On My Mind**

Side 1

 Sorry You're Sick is a Cover Version of a Ted Hawkins song from the 1982 album Watch Your Step.

Side 2

Somebody Pick Up My Pieces is a Cover Version of a Willie Nelson song that he performed with Emmylou Harris.

*************

So, the first album of 2018 that I'm giving some props to comes from Anderson East. I was aware of him a little as he co-wrote a couple of songs and sang on Miranda Lambert's latest album (The Weight of These Wings) and also has connections with Chris Stapleton and Holly Williams.

 

His own music I have to confess I am quite unaware of before this latest album (he has two self-released albums and his major label Debut Delilah from 2015).

 

What drew me to him at first was I had heard a cover of Sorry You're Sick, which is an old Ted Hawkins song (and I love the music of Ted Hawkins) and was struck by how soulful it was and how it sounded almost borderline like "Wicked" Wilson Pickett! For a guy who is connected to the world of Country Music to sound that good meant I should further investigate.

 

Hopefully from the short Playlist above you'll get a bit of a feel for how good this album is. It's a real combination of sounds ranging from Southern Soul, R&B, Country, blues and folk roots rock. It's fascinating stuff and I think even from the first month of the year that this is going to be an album that is going to get a lot of play in our house.

Great songwriting and musicianship and another feather in the cap for producer Dave Cobb, who has produced Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Zac Brown Band and Amanda Shires (to name but a few) and also he produced the excellent Southern Family album that was released in 2016.

 

Anderson East, remember that name!

 

 New York Times Review.

 Paste Magazine Review.

S4L Radio Show 2018 Playlist #2

Lots of new music this week on Playlist #2 covering many different musical sounds. Hope you enjoy it.

On The Playlist

Play This Song On The Radio - NOFX

From the 1992 album White Trash, Two Heebs And A Bean.

In Memory of the Recently Departed
 

Question - The Moody Blues
Ray Thomas was a founding member and served with the band until 2002. He passed away 4th January 2018. 

When You Don't See Me - Sisters of Mercy
Chris Tsangarides was a Producer of some renown having worked with the likes of Gary Moore, Judas Priest, Tom Jones, Depeche Mode and The Tragically Hip to name but a few. He passed away 6th January 2018 from Heart Failure after a bout of Pneumonia.

  

Motörhead - Motörhead
"Fast" Eddie Clark, guitarist with Motörhead passed away 10th January 2018. He had served with the band from 1976 through to 1982. After Motörhead he had formed the band Fastway. 

Zombie - The Cranberries
Dolores O'Riordan passed away 15th January 2018, so far the cause is unknown. She was 46 years old.

New Music for 2018

Echo - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
From their brand new album Wrong Creatures on Vagrant Records released on 12th January 2018.  

The Signal and The Noise - Simple Minds
Taken from the brand new album Walk Between Worlds that will be released 2nd February 2018.

We Fight - Dashboard Confessional
Taken from the brand new album Crooked Shadows that is due for release 9th Febrauary 2018. It is first new studio album since 2009's Alter The Ending.

Always Ascending - Franz Ferdinand
Title track of their brand new studio album (first one since 2013) due out 9th February 2018.
 

The Joke - Brandi Carlile
From the up and coming album By The Way, I Forgive You due for release 16th February 2018.
 

International Blue - Manic Street Preachers
Taken from the new album Resistance Is Futile that is due in April 2018.

Year of The Tiger - Myles Kennedy
Title track from the Alter Bridge frontman's Debut Solo album that is due for release in March 2018.

  

Like A Motherless Child - Moby
From the brand new studio release Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt that is due for release in March 2018.
   

Connected by Love - Jack White
From the new album due in March 2018 Boarding House Reach.

  

Lie To Me - The Number Ones
Taken from the Another Side of The Number Ones EP released 5th January 2018 on Static Shock Records.

Disappear (feat. Lynn Gunn - Tonight Alive
Taken from the album Underworld released 12th January 2018 on Hopeless Records.

Some Oldies But Goodies:

 
In A Rut - Ruts
Released 11th January 1979. The video on the Playlist is a live performance from 1980 in Paris. 

King Rocker - Generation X
Released 5th January 1979. 

  

The Lion and The Lamb - TV Smith.
From the 1992 album March of the Giants.

The Parting Shot

Hello, Goodbye - The Beatles.

Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries) - 6th September 1971 - 15th January 2018

Dolores O'Riordan 

1971-2018

(Getty Images)

Have to confess to being in a bit of a state of shock after only just hearing of the passing of Dolore O'Riordan, lead vocalist of The Cranberries. She was only 46 years old and the details regarding her death are still being investigated.

I was quite pleased last year when The Cranberries returned to releasing music after a five year layoff, Something Else was their second studio album since reuniting in 2009 (the first album, Roses, was released in 2012). Although the album was new acoustic and orchestral versions of some of the older songs by the band it was still nice to hear that familiar sound of O'Riordan's voice again (I have mentioned before on here about how I love singers with an accent like Amy MacDonald and Sinéad O'Connor).

Plans were afoot to tour last year in Europe and North America with the band playing tracks from The Cranberries catalogue and from Dolores' solo releases but those plans came to a grinding halt not long into the European leg as the band were forced to cancel the remaining dates of the tour due to O'Riordan having some health issues. Whether this was related to the Bipolar Disorder, which she had been diagnosed with two years before but only spoke of it for the first time in May 2017, I do not know.

She was in London for a recording session and she passed away in a hotel in Central London. As I said there are no other details regarding the cause at present.

I had planned to include the album Something Else in part two of The Best of 2017: The Honourable Mentions. But it seems fitting to place it here as a stand alone album in honour of the short life and musical legacy of Dolores O'Riordan.

The Cranberries 2017

Something Else - The Cranberries
BMG
Released 28th April 2017

UK Chart #18

Irish Chart #17

US Independent Albums #5