Five for Friday Showing 201-250 of 1,620

[David]

The Guralnick books are wonderful, as Nigey says. After reading them, I thought that if I was given the opportunity to travel back in time, I'd go to Memphis in the early 70s and advise Elvis to lose the hanger-on losers who lived off him parasitically, who flattered and preyed on his weaknesses and who did nothing, as friends, to help stop his food and drug indulgences.

His later years are tragic and Guralnick lays it all bare.

[Nigeyb]

^ Absolutely David. I'd also tell him to end his movie career after King Creole in 1958, and to stick to music after his stint in the army.


So David, are you off to Glasgow this weekend for the final? I heard that 40,000 Aberdeen fans are going down for it.

[Susan]

That was the biography I read Nigeyb. I would have suggested he got a new manager. The Colonel was a creep.

[David]

Susan, you're quite right. Col Parker was a conman who milked Elvis dry. Because he was an illegal immigrant, Elvis was never allowed by him to leave the US, despite his global fame. A despicable semi-pro human being.

Yes, Nigey, I will join the exodus at around 0800 on Sunday. The Creativity Wing of the Aberdeen support has come up with another gem in celebration of our Irish midfielder Willo Flood:

He's fast
He's Red
He sounds like Father Ted
Willo Flood
Willo Flood

The scamps. :D

[Nigeyb]

^ Another great song. I have a good friend who is a Cally Thistle fan so I'll have to stay neutral on this one. Have a grand day out.

[Greg]

Susan wrote: "Oh yuck! Poor guy, I felt so sorry for him though. He wasn't the brightest spark. I love his live albums though - great driving music :)"

Absolutely, it is terribly sad. There has been a few mega stars who started out an average working class guy born with a gift like a great voice who achieves super fame and fortune and can't live a normal life, can't just go for a walk to the shops.

[Greg]

On a happier note,

Durham Concerto - Jon Lord
Atom Heart Mother - Pink Floyd
Jack A Lynn - Jethro Tull
Within You Without You (Instrumental) Anthology 2 - The Beatles
Blues In F (Instrumental) - Spencer Davis Group

Durham Concerto is nothing like Smoke On The Water, more like smoke drifting from a cottage chimney.
Close your eyes and you are there.
The track parts are:
Part 1: Morning
The Cathedral at Dawn. Durham Awakes.
Part 2: Afternoon
The Road To Lindisfarne. From Prebends Bridge.
Part 3: Evening
Rags and Galas. Durham Nocturne.

[David]

Very eclectic, Greg. I must dust off my old Tull vinyl.

One from each of the first five live acts I saw as a nipper...

Free - Ride On Pony
Rory Gallagher - A Million Miles Away
Strawbs - The Antique Suite
Status Quo - Don't Waste My Time
The JSD Band - Galway Races

Hello, Friday. Where have you been all week?

[Greg]

David wrote: "Very eclectic, Greg. I must dust off my old Tull vinyl.

One from each of the first five live acts I saw as a nipper...

Free - Ride On Pony
Rory Gallagher - A Million Miles Away
Strawbs - The Ant..."

Oh ENVY, David. That's not fair.

I haven't heard of the JSD band. I will look into them. Would have loved to have seen Rory Gallagher.

[Greg]

David wrote: "Very eclectic, Greg. I must dust off my old Tull vinyl.

One from each of the first five live acts I saw as a nipper...

Free - Ride On Pony
Rory Gallagher - A Million Miles Away
Strawbs - The Ant..."

David, I remember very clearly the Tull's Thick As A Brick tour in Sydney in 1972.

"Never send to know for whom the Tull bells: It Tulls for thee."

[Susan]

Is it Friday already? I choose:

Porcelain Monkey by Warron Zevon (as we spoke about it yesterday)
Proud Mary by Elvis Presley (from Viva las Vegas, so we can remember how good he actually was)
As Tears Go By (by Marianne Faithfull, her first single)
Sugartime by Alma Cogan (because my kids like it and I was reading how she appeared on a show with Marianne Faithfull and how different the 'new' female singers of the Sixties were to those of the Fifties)
Walk With You (Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney - because they delight in writing songs for and about each other and this is one of the nicest ones...)

[David]

This could be a busy weekend checking all these out. Very interesting looking choices.

Greg I saw Rory 7 times and met him in 78 after a show. A humble, honest and modest man as interested in what I was about as I was in him. Somewhere, in the deep dark recesses of my brother's house, there is the can of Guinness he gave me.

Each of our mag's writers has been asked to contribute a 600-worder "It Started With A Disc". Rory was mine...

"Danny Baker (get well soon, mate), when interviewing Kevin Rowland before Dexys’ 2003 tour, was delighted when he found out that the Black Country soul visionary’s first record was a comedy 7”, much like Baker’s own initial purchase. “I hate it when everybody claims to have been listening to Big Bill Broonzy when they were 9 years old”, claimed Baker, a sentiment with which I concur wholeheartedly.

So, drawing a veil over my Ken Dodd (where, indeed WAS his shirt?) and Scaffold novelty singles, although I could argue that ‘Help’, a purchase for an older sibling’s Christmas present was my first buy, we move to 1972 and the first real purchase of something that I craved and which has lived with me for 38 years.

The same older and ‘Help’-owning sibling had a few LPs. Not all were platters I considered worth exploring, but the studio Wheels Of Fire, a Byrds compilation, Family’s Anyway, The Moody Blues’ Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Live Taste became regular spins on the house Dansette. I am still, sadly, fully fluent in the lyrics of ‘Pressed Rat and Warthog’, although I’m still unsure as to what an atonal apple is.

A paper round, the independence which the monetary spoils of 27s 6d (ask your parents, kids) per week afforded me, and the influence of a friend’s older brother who was Taste-besotted introduced me to the name Rory Gallagher whose energy and passion was obvious from the Live Taste album I’d been absorbing. This thing called blues was also making its mark on me, due mostly to a long-forgotten BBC series Sounding Out, which featured, in discrete episodes, BB King and Stone The Crows. The latter impressed me in particular, especially Glaswegian momma Maggie Bell’s story of singing ‘Penicillin Blues’, which she described as being the tale of a girl’s maidenhood being willingly and enjoyably sacrificed, whilst at the back of the church hall in which she (Maggie, not the virgin, even BBC2 would have blanched at that) was performing, a group of nuns nodded and tapped their feet to them dark rhythms, coyly oblivious to the fornicatory metaphor of “you got your needle in me baby”, which looked and felt alright to the defloweree, apparently.

In June 1972, though, I marched into the local branch of Clydesdale, a regional electrical retailer, and pulled triumphantly from its groaning, dusty racks the new release Live! In Europe by Cork’s favourite son, Rory Gallagher. The sum of £2.15 was handed over. It was on Polydor and at the time I even knew the catalogue number. Its sleeve captured Rory in evocative check-shirted, perspiring, Strat-strangling pose. Most importantly, it was my portal into an obsession that refuses to mellow or leave.

I still know every lick, breathless Gallagher acknowledgment and intra-band aside on that hallowed, scuffed, oft-taped 12” platter and its CD update. From the audible crowd stirring as the lights obviously dim and the MC’s five-word introduction, to the Wilgar Campbell tom tom salvo signalling the climactic coda of ‘Bullfrog Blues’, its seven tracks (nine on the CD remaster) of high octane rock, slow, bottleneck-powered blues, folky acoustic picking and Rory’s Guinness-marinated yelp mesmerised me. They also impressed my contemporaries in whose bedrooms we would gather to listen, absorb, learn and enthuse.

There was Brother Balgowan’s Led Zeppelin collection; the late Brother Mair’s two Strawbs albums; Slade Alive, the on-the-cusp-of-credible-rock contribution of Brother Theodoreson; Brother Ledingham introducing us to Neil Young via Harvest. Later on, we marvelled at Duane Allman’s fearsome bottleneck attacks on Live At Fillmore East and Layla. Formative listening experiences all, but, there was always the request for the live ‘Laundromat’ or ‘In Your Town’ from those of our close-knit collective, by now addicted to Gallagher. When eventually we all paid homage to this Hibernian genius at Aberdeen Music Hall in February 1973, he brought the house down, proving that despite the inability of a series of producers to capture the raw-toothed essence of Gallagher’s stage act on the studio albums, there was no finer, harder-working or – proven when I met him backstage after a frenzied 1978 show - studiedly-modest live performer. Live! In Europe, primitively recorded and presented in comparison with the technology available today, free from overdubs or studio-added patina, is the best record we have of the atmosphere and devotion Rory Gallagher inspired, and of his near-peerless mastery of his craft.

I only need to hear, “Thank you very much. A very warm welcome. Thanks very much indeed. Thank you”, acknowledging the applause for a wild, raw ‘Messin’ With The Kid’, leading to the four bar/sixteen stage stomps introduction to ‘Laundromat’, and I’m fifteen again, back at the beginning - for me - of the blues.
David Innes"

Sorry to ramble on.

[[deleted user]]

My five and why.
1. Hal - Worry About the Wind (to ease me gently into Friday)
2. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds -Carry Me (don't need a reason for this, it's just brilliant)
3. Young Heart Attack - Starlite (because it's loud, stupid rock and roll and I fancy a pint tonight)
4. Ronnie Lane - One for the Road (honestly just one, then I really must be going)
5. Lee Hazlewood (or the Tindersticks cover version) - My Autumn's Done Come (because by Saturday morning that's probably how I'll feel)

[Nigeyb]

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Greg, Eclectic is right. Some great tunes, as ever.



^ ^ ^ Lovely choices Susan. I didn't know that Paul and Ringo wrote songs about each other.

^ ^ Top notch rambling David - wonderful reminiscences. Thank you. I could your anecdotes all day.

^ CQM, splendid as ever. Have a great night out tonight. Loud, stupid rock n roll. Just say "Yes"

I have loads to do today but will be back with my five as soon as I can.

[Nigeyb]

It’s Friday - let joy be unconfined....



Congo Natty - Jah Warriors
The Lovin’ Spoonful - Summer In The City
Metronomy - I’m Aquarius
Tim Buckley - Make It Right
Sweet - Ballroom Blitz

Here's videos, along with the whys and the wherefores...

http://nigeyb.tumblr.com/post/7954427...

[Susan]

Great choices, Nigeyb. Great choices, everyone.

The members of the Beatles were/are well known for sniping at each other in songs - as well as writing nicer songs about each other. The most notorious example was Lennon's "How Do You Sleep?" although he later said that "Jealous Guy" was also about Paul - so some pretty conflicted emotions there! There was George's "Cheer Down," also about Paul. Paul's "Let Me Roll It," to John and countless other examples. I picked a nice one :)

[Nigeyb]

^ Hardly surprising really given that they were so young when they met and had been through so much together. Spend enough time with virtually anyone and you'll start to get on each other's nerves.

This is one of the loveliest little Beatles clips, the remaining three Fabs sitting on a blanket in George's garden singing together....that shows the affectionate side of their relationship. Ringo's comment at the end "I like hanging out with you" is very touching...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESv8e...

[Susan]

Going back to Elvis, on the Anthology they talk about meeting him and George says that he saw him again in Vegas, when he was all studded and caped and George said he felt like a grubby little hippie :)

[David]

Susan, I love the bit in Anthology where Paul, Ringo and George have met and fool round with guitars and drum kit in one of their kitchens. Ringo has to leave and he says in his best Island of Sodor commentary voice, "I really love hanging round with you guys". I nearly cry every time I watch that. they were all reconciled before December 1980 which heartens me.

The 'dacka-dacka-dacka' rhythm guitar part in Summer In The City is one of the great cherishable rock n roll performances, Nigey and Ballroom Blitz always takes me back to doing my homework in 73 as Radio Luxemburg played in the background and this song and The Jean Genie, with the same Willie Dixon riff, were in the Top Ten at the same time.

You people enrich my life, thank you.

EDIT: I see my comment and Nigey's synchonise! I was typing at the time.

[Susan]

I was watching on the news the other day about how the internet can be positive and not just negative - Goodreads is a good example of that. A really nice place to chat and Nigeyb is just brilliant in his organisation of this group and for always be utterly committed, positive and welcoming.

[Nigeyb]

^ Thanks so much Susan. I am very touched.



It feels only appropriate to reply with a song. So, here's Van the Man*, with "Wonderful Remark" ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhUDm...



*Frequently, when listening to Van, I am completely convinced he is the greatest popular music artist in the history of popular music, but that's another discussion for another day.

[Susan]

Only speaking the truth - which is bound to be a song title by someone :)

[David]

I concur with Susan, you are, in Billy Bragg's words, The Milkman Of Human Kindness, Nigey. I'm now spending nore time on the Five For Friday board than I am on football sites!

For the folk lovers who made terrific suggestions last week, Talking Elephant is a fantastic online shop, who unlike others, seem to pay their way tax-wise.

You can sign up for their newsletter here:

http://www.talkingelephant.co.uk/news...

They license and reissue some fantastic lost product and are just fans at heart.

I also recommend signing up to Mike Harding's Folk Music Show which 'casts at 1700 GMT/BST each Sunday.

http://www.mikehardingfolkshow.com/

If you get it via Mixcloud, it doesn't cost him a penny, and previous weeks' shows are all archived. There's also a very creative weekly quiz you can have access to by liking the show on Facebook.

[Val]

The first five singles I bought:
I Know Where I'm Going/Freight Train (I think) - Nancy Whiskey
Love Me Do/P.S. I Love You - The Beatles
You Were Made For Me/Send A Letter To Me - Freddie and the Dreamers
Dominique/Il Est Né, Le Divin Enfant - The Singing Nun
Tom Hark/Jai Jai - Elias and His Zig Zag Jive Flutes

Fairly eclectic for a infant school pupil, I think.
I also used to try to sing Mum's Karelia Suite - Sibelius.

[[deleted user]]

Elias and His Zig Zag Jive Flutes
I just want to know more!

[Susan]

Wow, Val - pretty good list. Wonder what happened to Freddie and the Dreamers? His dance moves probably wore him out!

[Val]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKz5k...

Good for dancing around the dining room table to.

[Susan]

I've got absolutely nothing done this morning - I've spent most of it on YouTube and Goodreads! Good song, Val.

[Val]

Susan wrote: "I've got absolutely nothing done this morning - I've spent most of it on YouTube and Goodreads! Good song, Val."
Thank you Susan.
I am spending time on YouTube too, but I ought to switch to LastFM and set up a playlist, so I don't have to rush back to the computer every few minutes.

Currently playing ElectoFolk, so here is a bonus five six:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avX5V...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFN7a...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exjVT...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFIbx...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyC5P...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atxyO...

[Nigeyb]

Val wrote: "Fairly eclectic for a infant school pupil, I think."

You said it Val.


Now then, I had no idea that "Tom Hark" was a cover.

Along with CQM, I say "All hail, Elias and His Zig Zag Jive Flutes". Marvellous..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFi-L...

I only knew Tom Hark through the version by (Brighton's own) Piranhas...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yssrj...

The singer, "Boring" Bob Grover is still a regular sight out and about in Brighton. Some great "pipe action" in the clip above. More pipes in pop please.

[Val]

...and one about an outsider winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fhkd...

[David]

Fabulous, Val, thank you. I even enjoyed the Morrismen.

[Nigeyb]

One for David. This was posted on The Human League's Facebook page...


For us to be waking up this morning to find ‘Don’t You Want Me’ at No.4 on the ITunes singles chart was absolutely amazing and has to rank as one of the biggest surprises of our career to date, which after over thirty five years in the music business is really saying something.

We are slightly stunned but at the same time very honoured that the fans of Aberdeen F.C. have chosen our song as their anthem to Peter Pawlett and their achievement in getting it so high in the charts in the space of just one day is a real testament to both their dedication to their club and to this player in particular.

Speaking as a band who have always enjoyed a deeply loyal and enthusiastic fanbase of our own we know just how important the fans really are and what a difference they can make.

We do of course wish the Aberdeen fans every success in their campaign to honour Peter by getting ‘DYWM’ to No.1 this week and regardless of whether they succeed or not we hope that both they and everyone involved with the club have a fantastic day at their League Cup parade this coming Sunday. As we believe the saying goes in Aberdeen…….. Come On You Reds!

It's a strange and wonderful world.

[David]

All in all, Sunday was quite a day.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ2VG3xvblM

[Nigeyb]

^ That's a great celebration.


Fans are now also calling on The Human League to come to Aberdeen to play the song - with the alternative Peter Pawlett lyrics included.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland...

What are the lyrics? Apart from "Peter Pawlett Baby, Peter Pawlett Wo-ooah"...

[David]

That's it, I'm afraid! The rest is left to Phil, Suzanne, Jo, Joanne and co. There are quite a few clips of it in various versions from Sunday....

http://youtu.be/n-k4DkRjXy0

[Susan]

David, I hope Aberdeen do well!

I enjoyed watching Liverpool beat Man U on Sunday...

[Greg]

It's Thursday Afternoon Fever.

Been listening to RORY by Rory Gallagher this week.

See you all tomorrow.

[David]

Greg wrote: "It's Thursday Afternoon Fever.

Been listening to RORY by Rory Gallagher this week.

See you all tomorrow."

That's my boy!

"What do you think of that? I'm sleepin down in the laundromat..."

Gerry McAvoy and Ted McKenna, faithful Rory lieutenants (Gerry from 71 and Ted from 75) have got together with a marvellous Dutch guitarist who IS Rory onstage. They are very busy date-wise and I hope to catch them up here again in May.

If they're coming your way, don't miss them.

http://www.bandoffriends.eu/

[Greg]

This week's Eclectic Dialectic is:-

Alabama Song - Marianne Faithfull
That Old Black Magic - Marilyn Monroe
Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin
Refuge of the Roads - Joni Mitchell
Ode To Billy Joe - Ellen McIlwaine

I also compiled a list of five pop songs:- 'What does it all mean?'
To be played backwards at half speed.

Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah
Sha-La-La-La-Lee
Be Bop A Lula

I haven't looked at any of last week's Youtube links yet, the internet is very slow at present.

David, I have one Rory Gallagher album. 'She Moved Thro' The Fair/Ann Cran Ull', and 'Amazing Grace' and 'Walking Blues', and 'Blue Moon of Kentucky' are my favourite tracks. I noticed today there is a five CD set of albums for $20 which I'm getting next week.
The Band of Friends Rory Celebration band you mentioned with the Dutch guitarist. They're probably not likely to tour Australia are they?

I cannot recall my first actual music purchases. I claim the excuse "If you can remember it, you weren't there." Ha, Ha.


Next week is an Electric Eclectic Dialectic.
Alternative versions of Iconic songs.

[Val]

Nice weather today.
At last.

"Here comes the Sun" - The Beatles
"Sunny Afternoon" - The Kinks
"Sunshine Reggae" - Laid back
"Sunshine Day" - Osibisa
"Sunshine (Adagio in D minor)" - John Murphy

Now I'm off to enjoy it.

[David]

Greg

I have nearly everything Rory recorded, most of it on vinyl originals and CD remasters. It'll be 19 years in June since he died. I'd seen him live for the last time about 2 years before and although he looked ill, he still performed like only he could.

On a happier note, here are my Five for Friday:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yY0AAVKIMPI
(Lyle and Nanci have always been favourites and this is a very early clip of her harmonising on his beautiful Closing Time.)

http://youtu.be/a64O6YJaen4
(My friend Finlay and I were changing a water pump on a battered old Mini around 1986 when this came on the radio. Spanners down, hankies out. A novel in a song.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOE2WJ...
(For Greg, a storming Rory live number, In Your Town, one of his best early songs.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynzgAx...
(The lovely and talented Emily Smith who I'm hoping to see live tonight.)

http://youtu.be/uPudE8nDog0
(I couldn't let this week's events pass without this.)

Play hard and rest well this weekend, Hamiltonies.

[[deleted user]]

The Rockingbirds - Only One Flower
Morphine - Buena
Ken Colyer Skiffle Group - This Sporting Life
Flanders & Swann - The Sloth
Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind

[David]

Ah, Flanders and Swann, CQM. They were always favourites on the radio when I was a lad (a tiny wee lad, as the song goes).

I bought a triple CD box set of their material about 5 years ago
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Complete-...
and on iPod shuffle, they are a fantastic respite from my staple tough rock and blues.

This is VERY clever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW_zi8...

[Greg]

David, in the book The Story Of The Fender Stratocaster, a celebration of the world's greatest guitar, has a section and a photo of Rory Gallagher playing his old battered 1962 sunburst Strat. It was his best friend. I wonder where that guitar is now.

On another couple of pages covers Chris Rea and his old battered pink Strat. Which reminds me of the old joke about the rumour of Chris Rea was joining Dire Straits and a Band name change.

[David]

Greg wrote: "David, in the book The Story Of The Fender Stratocaster, a celebration of the world's greatest guitar, has a section and a photo of Rory Gallagher playing his old battered 1962 sunb..."

Greg, Rory's brother and faithful road manager, Donal Gallagher has the Strat. Some leading players occasionally get to play it, but it is obviously priceless and kept under lock and key most of the time.

There is a "Rue de Rory Gallagher" in Paris's Orangis district which I didn't have time to visit last time I was there, but I will. I will also make the pilgrimage to Cork before I turn up my toes.

Dire Rea! Ha ha ha. I'll try to lose the image that that conjures up just before lunch.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Hamiltonians.



An absolute pleasure to consider your wonderful and eclectic selections.

Here are my Five For Friday...

Dreadzone - Little Britain
Faces - Bad N Ruin
Ramones - Swallow My Pride
Hector - Wired Up
Willy Moon - Yeah Yeah

http://nigeyb.tumblr.com/post/8025815...

PS:

Flanders and Swann, followed by Sugar...

CQM - that is magnificent.

[Miss M]

Nice work if you can get it...

Scritti Politti singer Green Gartside to be Faber's new artist in residence

Philosopher-musician pledges to champion music writing with a theoretical bent

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...

ETA: wow, I see he's actually the second one in this line

[Susan]

I haven't the foggiest who he is, but you do wonder what the point of an artist in residence really is? Sounds a bit hippy-ish...

[Nigeyb]

^ Yah. Think it's more about publicity for Faber and Faber than anything else. It was DJ Andrew Weatherall before Green Gartside. Both are quite interesting people but not quite sure what difference they really make.

Though this is a fun idea...

Julian Cope's first novel, One Three One: A Time-Shifting Gnostic Hooligan Road Novel, in June, Weatherall has also recorded a soundtrack to its story featuring songs by the fictional bands who appear in it.

If Julian Cope's novel is anything like as good as his two autobiographies Head On/Repossessed then we're in for a treat. And, according to JC's twitter feed.. In Julian Cope’s forthcoming Italia ’90 hooligan novel One-Three-One, Jim Morrison is still alive AND successful. .

He had me at "Gnostic Hooligan".