It seems fitting having posted about The Quo to include them in The Soundtrack4Life Concert Series. So, here's a double hit of the band in action. Firstly at Wembley in 2013 on The Frantic Four Tour which brought together the original line up of the band.
And secondly, one I never tire of watching, The Aquostic Live Show from The Roundhouse.
Personnel Francis Rossi - guitar, vocals Rick Parfitt - guitar, keyboards, vocals Alan Lancaster - bass, guitar, vocals John Coghlan - drums
On the Level was the 8th Studio Album from Status Quo and their 2nd album to reach #1 (Hello in 1973 being the first). It went straight in at the top spot and spent only a week there before being toppled by Led Zeps' Physical Graffiti.
Late November 1974 they had released Down Down as a single (the only one to be featured on the album) and that became the band's only #1 single. It hit the top of the charts on the 18th January 1975.
When Van Morrison's 19th Studio Album, Avalon Sunset was released in the summer of 1989 it became his best selling album to date. Others that would follow would rise to higher positions in the charts: 2005's Magic Time reached #3 in the UK Chart and his highest placed album in the USA is a tie between Keep It Simple (2008) and Born To Sing: No Plan B (2012) which both peaked at #10. Whenever God Shines His Light (featuring Cliff Richard) became his first ever Top 20 single in the UK, can you believe that! Have I Told You Lately was not a hit for Van but Rod Stewart had a Top 5 hit with it both sides of the Atlantic in 1993. What's really interesting about this song is that it has generally been regarded as one of the great love ballads (and I'm pretty sure that's how Rod Stewart interpreted it) and the lyrics, with careful inspection, clearly show that it is a love song but a love song to God (who pops up here and there on this album). There's always been a hint of spirituality about Van Morrison's work but on this album it is an overriding theme.
Georgie Fame appears on the album and this begun a collaboration that lasted for many albums throughout the nineties.
The album was recorded over a two day period (they had rehearsed the songs only two days prior to going to the studio) and guitarist Arty McGlynn has said they were not sure if it was a demo for an album or an actual album they had recorded! My favourite track off the album is the one that closes it, These Are The Days. I've put the lyrics and singled out the song down at the bottom of the page. It has, I think, some of the most beautiful lyrics that Morrison has ever written.
Avalon Sunset - Van Morrison
Mercury
Produced by Van Morrison
Released 5th June 1989
UK Charts #13
US Charts # 91
Personnel Van Morrison - vocal, guitar Alan Barnes - baritone saxophone Clive Culbertson - bass Neil Drinkwater - accordion, piano, synthesizer Dave Early - drums, percussion Cliff Hardie - trombone Roy Jones - drums, percussion Carol Kenyon - backing vocals Katie Kissoon - backing vocals Henry Lowther - trumpet Arty McGlynn - guitar Stan Sulzmann - alto saxophone Steve Pearce - bass guitar Cliff Richard - vocal on "Whenever God Shines His Light" Georgie Fame - Hammond organ
These Are The Days
These Are The Days
by Van Morrison
Oh your smiling face, your gracious presence The fires of spring are kindling bright Oh the radiant heart and the song of glory Crying freedom in the night
These are the days by the sparkling river His timely grace and our treasured find This is the love of the one magician Turned the water into wine
These are the days of the endless dancing and the Long walks on the summer night These are the days of the true romancing When I'm holding you oh, so tight
These are the days by the sparkling river His timely grace and our treasured find This is the love of the one great magician Turned the water into wine
These are the days now that we must savor And we must enjoy as we can These are the days that will last forever You've got to hold them in your heart.
The Debut Solo album from Buddy Holly did infact feature The Crickets (Joe B. Maudlin on Bass and Jerry Allison on Drums) and was recorded between 8th April 1957 and 26th January 1958.
Back in March 1958 Buddy Holly was actually touring round England (Check out Buddy & The Crickets playing Ready Teddy somewhere in England from that Tour and also Oh Boy from the London Palladium - the track is from the show the rest is screen shots from it I presume. There's also some more footage here from that tour).
It's funny looking at this album all these years later because it is loaded with what we now consider to be Holly Classics. But back then it was all new, and the album didn't even chart!
I have a deep fondness for this album and the previous release The Chirping Crickets (1957). It's hard to fathom that a year later after the release of the solo album that he would die in a plane crash. Such a terrible loss.
I posted about Dion DiMucci the other day and mentioned that he was one of my earliest Musical Heroes. On top of the list sits Buddy Holly (I'm certain Dion wouldn't mind that at all).
I want to dedicate this piece today to my friend Wooders, he too has a deep and lasting love for the music of the Late Great Buddy Holly and it's nice to know I have company.
Buddy Holly - Buddy Holly
Coral
Produced by Norman Petty and Bob Thiele
Released 20th February 1958
Track Listing: A1 – I’m Gonna Love You Too A2 – Peggy Sue A3 – Look at Me A4 – Listen to Me A5 – Valley of Tears A6 – Ready Teddy
B1 – Everyday B2 – Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues B3 – Words of Love B4 – Baby I Don’t Care B5 – Rave On B6 – Little Baby
When you hear a cover song and reckon it's actually better than the original is a rare thing. There's a few that come to mind Dylan's I Believe You done by Sinead O'Connor, John Fogerty's Rockin' All Over The World by Status Quo, The Kinks' Better Things by Bouncing Souls, Bouncing Souls True Believers by Hot Water Music, John Holt's The Tide is High done by Atomic Kitten and Percy Sledge's When a Man Loves A Woman done by Michael Bolton....okay those last two I was joking about!
But there is one in particular that I think is way better than the original by The Beatles and that's Joe Cocker's version of With A Little Help From My Friends. That is today's song.
What Cover Versions do you think are better than the original?
I talk a lot about older music here on this blog, and why not, a lot of it has formed my very own Soundtrack4Life and I have no shame admitting that. Every now and again something new comes along that I'm happy to throw my weight behind as well (though not nearly enough as I would like though!).
Then there is someone from the past who is totally rooted in the present who, at his age should have his feet up, watching the TV or reading the paper and taking life at a more sedate pace and yet at the tender age of 76 (he will be 77 in a few months time!) releases a brand new album and still sounds as magnificent as he ever did. He's been one of my musical heroes since I was a kid discovering his records among my parents collection.
I'm talking about Dion DiMucci. He's been a performer for 60 years!! Can you believe that? You'd expect that of the old Blues masters like B.B. King etc but never of a man who started his singing career on the streets and clubs of The Bronx performing Doo Wop!
(*apologies for the quality of the video on this, it was the only version I could find)
The brand new album sees Dion revelling in his love for Rock and Roll and the Blues. Across the ten tracks (not a bad one in the bunch at all!) there's some reflection on seeing the Great Sax man Big Al Sears at The Apollo (King of The Apollo) and Visionary Heart is a look back to Buddy Holly (I think). The Gangster of Love throws up an image of Dion like his characters The Wanderer or The King of The New York Streets.
The title track is of course one that a lot of folks would look at as it's recorded with Paul Simon. Here's what Dion said about the song:
"Paul Simon
and I have been friends a long time. I was at his apartment back when
there was a terrible downturn in the country and Paul wanted to do
something special for the city. Well, he put together that wonderful
concert in Central Park. He thought the city needed a touch of
friendship. I thought it was off the Richter scale doing something for
our city. When I wrote “New York Is My Home” I thought this is a way to
have New Yorkers fall in love with their city all over again. I thought
of Paul. ... Early on I knew I had to sing it with Paul Simon. We share
a love for rock 'n' roll street music the way it was done when we were
kids. I knew Paul would get this song. And he did. Soon after I sent it
to him, he called and said he’d become obsessed with it. He added his
own distinct touches to the production. He’s from Queens, I’m from the
Bronx. We’re both at home in New York. What a trip, a labor of love for
us."
The album is up on Google Play and Apple Music if you want to go and have a listen (I don't have links as they are not services that I use). I highly recommend this album for your listening pleasure.
It's always nice to see someone you liked when you were younger getting back to doing what he does best. Eddie MacDonald is probably best known as the original bassist for The Alarm (Here's Eddie in action back in 1986 at UCLA. He had a lot more hair in those days of course!).
He's got a new band together and they have their Debut EP released via Pledge. Check it out.
Below there are two songs that feature on the new EP.
Sham 69 are one of those bands that are a bit like marmite, you either loved them or you hated them with a passion.
When they released their debut on Step Forward Records (I Don't Wanna / Ulster / Red London SF4) in 1977 I was quite impressed with them. And their Session for John Peel was pretty good as well. It included what would become their 2nd single: Borstal Breakout, Hey Little Rich Boy, They Don't Understand, Rip Off and a reworked version of What 'ave We Got?
When the Debut Album was released I was quite taken with it having both a Live Side and a Studio Side to enjoy. Their songs were quite simplistic dealing with stuff like getting ripped off whilst out shopping, poverty, crime, the police, and the mundane life of trying to get a job.
Whilst it was safe listening to their records at home, going to a show was another matter altogether. I saw them a few times in 1978 and again in 1979 and the levels of violence seemed to increase every time. At their gigs I first stumbled on Skinheads, or should I say they stumbled on me? The first time I ended up with a good kicking by a bunch of numbnuts who seemed to think that Sham were their band and that just because I was a punk I was invading their space. This was not a one off because I know of plenty of others who also were on the wrong end of steel toe cap boot.
If the Skinheads were a problem, a far greater issue was manifesting itself at Sham 69 gigs, and it was Right Wing Extremism mixed with lethal violence - an expolosive cocktail indeed!
Jimmy Pursey tried time and time again to put an end to this but it merely stoked their fire even more and they unleashed their violence on anyone who wasn't a Skinhead with the ferocity of a pack of rabid dogs!
Many people questioned whether Sham were aiding in the promotion of the National Front, and that was strenuously denied by one and all in the Sham camp. To prove it Pursey even turned up at the Rock Against Racism show in Victoria Park joining The Clash on stage for White Riot. At another Rock Against Racism show at Brockwell Park, Herne Hill the National Front had threatened to storm the place if Pursey appeared, and whilst people thought he'd stay away to prevent any violence at the concert he turned up and from out of nowhere it seemed the right wing thugs appeared and were beating on everyone they could get their hands on.
A gig at the Harlesden Roxy was pretty much the same. It was the night after they appeared on Top of the Pops doing Angels with Dirty Faces and you could almost smell the fear of those who were not Skinheads! Violence was everywhere in the venue and the security could do nothing about it, busted up Punks were carried out of the place and given first aid, whilst others were carted off to hospital! The Skins even got on stage!
At their Rainbow show in 1979 it was almost impossible to avoid getting beaten up as there seemed to be more White Power Skinheads in that place than ever. So braving it on the Underground to go to Finsbury Park was almost like a suicide mission. The Skins were beating up any punks and stealing their tickets and if you did manage to avoid the beating out on the streets there was no guarantee that you would avoid it inside The Rainbow!
All of this reminds me of those words penned by Paul Weller of The Jam in his song Down At The Tube Station At Midnight:
"I first felt a fist, and then a kick I could now smell their breath They smelt of pubs and Wormwood Scrubs And too many right wing meetings My life swam around me It took a look and drowned me in its own existence The smell of brown leather It blended in with the weather It filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth It blocked all my senses Couldn't see, hear, speak any longer"
Not all music conjures up good memories!
There was a BBC Documentary called Arena that spotlighted Sham 69 after they had released their 2nd album That's Life. In that you will see some of the violence that the atmosphere of fear that was present at their shows. Click Here to Watch.
Tell Us The Truth - Sham 69
Polydor
Produced by Peter Wilson
Released 18th February 1978
UK Chart #25
Track listing All songs written by Jimmy Pursey and Dave Parsons
Live side "We Got A Fight" "Rip Off" "Ulster" "George Davis Is Innocent" "They Don’t Understand" "Borstal Breakout"
Studio side "Family Life" "Hey Little Rich Boy" "I’m A Man, I’m A Boy" "What About the Lonely?" "Tell Us The Truth" "It’s Never Too Late" "Who's Generation!"
Personnel Jimmy Pursey - vocals, Dave Parsons - guitars Dave Treganna - bass guitar Mark "Dodie" Cain - drums
Much to the annoyance of some people, history records that the very first UK Punk Single was not put out by the Sex Pistols or The Clash but rather by a bunch of guys called The Damned. Infact, five weeks before the release of Anarchy in the UK by the Pistols on EMI, an upstart label called Stiff Records released New Rose by The Damned backed by an extremely fast paced version of The Beatles' Help. They had already had John Peel play the single two days before its official release on 22nd October 1976 and by the end of November they were recording their very first John Peel Session. Five songs make up their debut session, all songs that would later appear on their debut album. The Session was Broadcast for the first time on 10th December as John Peel's show that night was dedicated to the subject of Punk Rock. You can get a download of that show from this link! It's really worth listening to if you haven't heard it before. I'm grateful to The Perfumed Garden Blog Page for the link, check it out as there are many treasures to be found on it from John Peel's Shows. I still love Peel's introduction to that show: "Well, I think you’ll find this programme is in rather marked contrast to the programme that has preceded it, because tonight we are going to have a look at punk rock. Mind you, no two people seem to be able to agree exactly what punk rock is, as is evidenced by the fact that someone has been phoning us off and on during the day and trying to convince us that our guests tonight, The Damned, are not a punk rock band. And punk rock fairly clearly means something entirely different to Americans. Anyway, we’ll hear a lot of music that may be punk rock, and a lot that certainly is."
New Rose
22nd October 1976
Stiff Records
I've actually posted about this Debut album last year and so instead of repeating myself may you should go on over and read what I wrote back then. CLICK HERE.
Damned Damned Damned - The Damned
Stiff Records
Produced by Nick Lowe
Released 18th February 1977
UK Chart #36
Some copies of the album were released with a Eddie and The Hot Rods picture on the back cover! A deliberate ploy apparently by Stiff Records (who were distributed by Island Records home of Eddie and The Hot Rods).
When the album was released on 18th February 1977 they also released their 2nd Single Neat Neat Neat. What's remarkable about this is that The Pistols were nowhere near close to releasing their 2nd Single and were 8 months away from getting their one and only Album out on the streets (providing of course that they could find a new label to release it on!) and The Clash were still a month away from their Debut Single White Riot, and two months away from the release of their Debut Album.
For this edition of The Soundtrack4Life Concert Series I thought since we are in a bit of TV Smith and The Adverts mood today here on the Blog that it is only fitting to spotlight TV Smith live in action.
A little double header from TV Smith
First up is a show from Munich, Germany on 17th November 2011.
Second up is a small show from the Hope and Anchor in London 27th March 2014.
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