EDIT: drfeelgoed contributes a swell cover [below left - Ed.] for the collection!
The first thing I ever heard from the Bonzos. It amazes me that I still find it funny - 55 years later - especially "Val Doonican as himself". Horace Bachelor will reappear a couple of years later on "Keynsham" but we will never hear their like again.
King Crimson - Elephant Talk
The Crims redux with a guitar-heavy line up. This features Adrian Belew singing about talking and making a right brouhaha. I'm in awe of everyone here - Bruford's restraint is inspired, and the bass and guitars mesh beautifully.
The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! - To Everything There Is A Season
Quintessential Byrds - the soaring harmonies and that Rick 12 jangle. For a few albums back then, there was no-one to touch them. Gene Clark's harmony line is truly beautiful.
Simon & Garfunkel - At The Zoo
From the stellar "Bookends" album. This started out with lyrics complaining abut Rice Krispies not tasting the same and ended up as a dystopian reply to "Going to the Zoo". Eventually a breakfast cereal got a mention elsewhere on the album. This is the punchier mono mix.
Ry Cooder - 13 Question Method
Originally by Chuck Berry, Cooder's solo acoustic version of this relatively obscure composition has a sly charm all of its own, and the slide guitar playing is up to Ry's usual high standards.
Paolo Nutini - Pencil Full of Lead
A sort of vaudeville feel here, with a list of all the things he's got - but, best of all, his baby. Yes, pencil full of lead is a saucy metaphor. Nutini is possibly the top Scottish solo singer today, but his fame has yet to reach the rest of the world. He's worth checking out - "Pencil" isn't at all typical of his output, although it's great fun!
Tom Waits - Soldier's Things
Classic Waits - just voice and piano - with a list of a soldier's possessions that have found their way into a car boot or yard sale. Everything is a dollar - even his medals. Perhaps the narrator is the soldier. Not depressing - that will come later in my list - just incredibly sad and poignant.
John Hiatt - The Way We Make a Broken Heart
A series of lessons detailing how a love affair can hurt the betrayed partner. The twist here is that the lovers know exactly what they're doing, but it's just an inevitable part of the whole situation - collateral damage, as it were. From Hiatt's breakthrough "Borderline" album. Ry Cooder did a great cover, but Roseanne Cash made it into a hit.
Ian Hunter - All-American Alien Boy
Mott the Hoople's Ian 'Unter with a farewell to the UK and a hello to the US. Great bass solo from Jaco Patorius and the whole thing concludes with a list of Native Americans for no good reason that I can see. In between there's a bizarre name check - "I'm an All-American Alien Boy - look out Mary Tyler Moore".
Divine Comedy - Gin Soaked Boy
A little rockier than Neil Hannon is usually, this is a list of all the things the narrator is, but I'm guessing it's just the gin talking. The Divine Comedy *is* Hannon and worth checking out if you like pop with a more orchestral feel and a fair helping of sarcasm.
Mike Bloomfield - The Altar Song
In which the late great guitarist namechecks a plethora of blues artists over a gospel backing with his slide guitar wailing away. From the classic "If You Love These Blues" album, which is virtually a primer of blues stylings. Bloomfield was so much more than the guitarist with Butterfield and Dylan.
Ella Fitzgerald - These Foolish Things
One of those songs I once assumed was a Berlin or Porter composition - but it's not. It's by Jack Strachey and Eric Maschwitz (who???) and has been covered numerous times - and not always very well. Here's the peerless Ella F, who does things to the melody that bring me out in goosebumps. A list of how trivial things can bring back overwhelming memories.
Bob Dylan - Everything Is Broken
If you can get past his sometimes "individual" voice, the later period Dylan catalogue has some hidden gems. A fairly uptempo rocker with downbeat lyrics, it makes its point well.
Leonard Cohen - Everybody Knows
I've never been a Cohen fan, and I've yet to hear a bleaker and more depressing song by anyone, but it's one of my all time favourites ever, by anybody. It's hard to pick out a favourite line, so I won't. Everything is broken here, too.
John Cooper Clarke - Beasley Street
Punk poet Clarke lists all the things which make up life in an inner city slum street. This poem is over 40 years old but it describes life today for many waiting for trickledown to start...so yes, Cynthia, everything is still fucking broken.
Ian Dury & the Blockheads - Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3
Self explanatory - Ian and the chaps list all the things that make them happy, including "being in my nuddy" and "lighting up the chalice". This is the 12" version with all the great guitar stuff. After all the "broken" things above, it's a relief to hear something cheerful!
The Bonzos - The Intros & Outros
Not the same as the first track! This is recorded off the TV and comes from a children's show called "Do Not Adjust Your Set", which included many future Pythons as well as the Bonzos as regular guests. It segues into something the name of which escapes me. Any ideas, anyone?
Lists - love them or hate them, we probably all make them, so here's a list of songs that all include lists. Some you'll know, some you won't!
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - The Intro And The OutroThe first thing I ever heard from the Bonzos. It amazes me that I still find it funny - 55 years later - especially "Val Doonican as himself". Horace Bachelor will reappear a couple of years later on "Keynsham" but we will never hear their like again.
King Crimson - Elephant Talk
The Crims redux with a guitar-heavy line up. This features Adrian Belew singing about talking and making a right brouhaha. I'm in awe of everyone here - Bruford's restraint is inspired, and the bass and guitars mesh beautifully.
The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! - To Everything There Is A Season
Quintessential Byrds - the soaring harmonies and that Rick 12 jangle. For a few albums back then, there was no-one to touch them. Gene Clark's harmony line is truly beautiful.
Simon & Garfunkel - At The Zoo
From the stellar "Bookends" album. This started out with lyrics complaining abut Rice Krispies not tasting the same and ended up as a dystopian reply to "Going to the Zoo". Eventually a breakfast cereal got a mention elsewhere on the album. This is the punchier mono mix.
Ry Cooder - 13 Question Method
Originally by Chuck Berry, Cooder's solo acoustic version of this relatively obscure composition has a sly charm all of its own, and the slide guitar playing is up to Ry's usual high standards.
A sort of vaudeville feel here, with a list of all the things he's got - but, best of all, his baby. Yes, pencil full of lead is a saucy metaphor. Nutini is possibly the top Scottish solo singer today, but his fame has yet to reach the rest of the world. He's worth checking out - "Pencil" isn't at all typical of his output, although it's great fun!
Tom Waits - Soldier's Things
Classic Waits - just voice and piano - with a list of a soldier's possessions that have found their way into a car boot or yard sale. Everything is a dollar - even his medals. Perhaps the narrator is the soldier. Not depressing - that will come later in my list - just incredibly sad and poignant.
John Hiatt - The Way We Make a Broken Heart
A series of lessons detailing how a love affair can hurt the betrayed partner. The twist here is that the lovers know exactly what they're doing, but it's just an inevitable part of the whole situation - collateral damage, as it were. From Hiatt's breakthrough "Borderline" album. Ry Cooder did a great cover, but Roseanne Cash made it into a hit.
Ian Hunter - All-American Alien Boy
Mott the Hoople's Ian 'Unter with a farewell to the UK and a hello to the US. Great bass solo from Jaco Patorius and the whole thing concludes with a list of Native Americans for no good reason that I can see. In between there's a bizarre name check - "I'm an All-American Alien Boy - look out Mary Tyler Moore".
Divine Comedy - Gin Soaked Boy
A little rockier than Neil Hannon is usually, this is a list of all the things the narrator is, but I'm guessing it's just the gin talking. The Divine Comedy *is* Hannon and worth checking out if you like pop with a more orchestral feel and a fair helping of sarcasm.
Mike Bloomfield - The Altar Song
In which the late great guitarist namechecks a plethora of blues artists over a gospel backing with his slide guitar wailing away. From the classic "If You Love These Blues" album, which is virtually a primer of blues stylings. Bloomfield was so much more than the guitarist with Butterfield and Dylan.
Ella Fitzgerald - These Foolish Things
One of those songs I once assumed was a Berlin or Porter composition - but it's not. It's by Jack Strachey and Eric Maschwitz (who???) and has been covered numerous times - and not always very well. Here's the peerless Ella F, who does things to the melody that bring me out in goosebumps. A list of how trivial things can bring back overwhelming memories.
Bob Dylan - Everything Is Broken
If you can get past his sometimes "individual" voice, the later period Dylan catalogue has some hidden gems. A fairly uptempo rocker with downbeat lyrics, it makes its point well.
Leonard Cohen - Everybody Knows
I've never been a Cohen fan, and I've yet to hear a bleaker and more depressing song by anyone, but it's one of my all time favourites ever, by anybody. It's hard to pick out a favourite line, so I won't. Everything is broken here, too.
John Cooper Clarke - Beasley Street
Punk poet Clarke lists all the things which make up life in an inner city slum street. This poem is over 40 years old but it describes life today for many waiting for trickledown to start...so yes, Cynthia, everything is still fucking broken.
Ian Dury & the Blockheads - Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3
Self explanatory - Ian and the chaps list all the things that make them happy, including "being in my nuddy" and "lighting up the chalice". This is the 12" version with all the great guitar stuff. After all the "broken" things above, it's a relief to hear something cheerful!
The Bonzos - The Intros & Outros
Not the same as the first track! This is recorded off the TV and comes from a children's show called "Do Not Adjust Your Set", which included many future Pythons as well as the Bonzos as regular guests. It segues into something the name of which escapes me. Any ideas, anyone?
Steve sent me this link which he swears is to the music, and not his porn stash like the one he sent me by mistake. Let us know if it works for you!
ReplyDeleteI used to have a porn stash, but my wife made me shave it off.
DeleteD'oh! Stash, not 'tache! *descending harmonica bleat*
DeleteThat darned jonder!
Deletefor some reason my memory is telling me they went from intro outro to look out there is a monster coming but probably wrong
ReplyDeleteInteresting list, and descriptions, Mr. Shark!
ReplyDeleteFeeling a bit listless at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI think we should all pile in on Clar and give him a good pantsing for this.
DeleteThank you, Steve! (And, phew, it really was a link to the music,
ReplyDeletenot to the you-know-what.)
You mean my well-thumbed copies of "Health & Efficiency"?
DeleteListening to it now, very enjoyable, nice mix of known & unknown trax, thanks!
ReplyDeleteA little remark; 3 tracks (Dylan, Byrds, & Crimson) are FLAC files, but were easily converted to mp3.
I'm sucker for compilations such as these, sometimes even design a cover for them...
Go ahead!
DeleteI'll make sure anything else I post is an mp3 - I didn't realise FLAC was a problem. Guess you wont like my *.shn and *.ogg files then...
DeleteSorry, FLAC or ogg are no problem to me at all, but perhaps others might have...
DeleteAs for a cover, sure, just let me know where to send it to.
'Freemake Audio converter solves all my FLAC issues' says UK hottie Myriam Margoulies
DeleteFor Mac, Mediahuman audio converter is astonishingly fantastic, free, and fighting mankind's heedless rush to extinction.
Deletedrfeelgoed: send cover to elsonquick @ gee male and I'll bolt it into Steve's screed.
DeleteCool!
DeleteRe "These Foolish Things" - Strachey and Maschwitz are far more interesting than I could guess they were. the latter in particular.
ReplyDeleteHere's his Wiki entry...Dr Who fans may find it of interest!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Maschwitz
Excellent theme and excellent selection. I'm racking my brains to come up with some lists to bat back at you, membee later tonight...
ReplyDeletePlenty there that I haven't heard before, particularly looking forward to the Crimso. I have owned every single lp upto USA (even Earthbound) since the seventies but have never ventured into the later stages. I confess to buying Discipline at a charity shop a few years ago, but have never played it, maybe the time has come?
That incarnation of the Crims - the electric gamelan - made 3 albums and the whole lot would make one fantastic album and a great bonus EP. Discipline is the strongest of the three.
ReplyDeleteI'll be giving it a go then, but the waiting list on the Times Winged Carrot's 8 track is getting longer and longer.
DeleteI can't get enough of Fripp's guitar sound. Not sure about his latest reincarnation during the Covids with Mrs Fripp on youtube,though.
I agree with SteveShark re the Discipline album.
DeleteHaving loved 21st Century Schizoid Man, in 1982 a newly reformed KC were playing at a nearby venue, so me and a couple of friends went along. I was slightly disappointed, they played all of their new album (Discipline) that we’d not heard yet, and I believe the track Red from 74. But was this even King Crimson, there was an American(!) fronting the band, not a beard in sight and four very smart haircuts and suits to match…AND they didn’t play Schizoid Man.
A few months later I purchased Discipline and although it is very different from the previous albums, is still one of my favorites of their discography. Also many albums made in the 80's sound really dated by the awful production (Pink floyd Momentary lapse of reason, maybe?), Discipline sounds wonderful and modern still to my ears.
Fine Old, Mrs Fripp does seem very fond of her mammalian protuberances, and has been very popular during the Covids, probably for the same reason. Also I've rarely seen Mr Fripp (aka Mr Grumpy) smile so much.
DeleteHa ha, yes I quite enjoyed the novelty of seeing the lighter side of Fripp, but then Toyah seemed to take over with her protuberances as you say, and it got a bit boring.
DeleteWhy Bambi dear ....., one could clearly do Shakespeare from those balconies.
DeleteIn tribute to Steve's hardwork, I've thrown this together, without half the expertise that he has shown, but I hope there's something of interest.
ReplyDeleteI've Got a Little List
https://www.imagenetz.de/i4z9Z
01 = The Scaffold = Ide be the first
B side of the first single I ever owned, bought for me by my father, lists the things they would like to do, "climb mount Eiger on a tiger" etc.. recording is off my original 45 and has a nasty whine on it I'm afraid
02 = Dexys Midnight Runners = Dance Stance
Thejr first single - Lists of Irish authors and playwrights
03 = The Kinks = Celluloid Heroes
Don't step on Bela Lugozi as he can give you a nasty bite
04 = John Cooper Clarke = Gimmix! Play Loud
Everything from hulahoops to Mahatma Ghandi's loincloth
05 = Pink Floyd = Astronomy Domine
Do I need to tell you?
06 = Spike Jones & His City Slickers = William Tell Overture (Beetlebaum)
Racing commentary listing the horses including the winner Beetlebaum.
07 = Alabama 3 = Woke Up This Morning
Made famous by the Sopranos, but comes from my favourite lp of the last 20 years, Exhile on Coldharbour Lane - "So long Muddy Waters, So long John Coltrane" lists of departed jazz and blues musicians.
08 = Dave Goulder & Liz Dyer = The January Man
The months of the year in a folkie stylee
09 = The Smiths = Panic
Panic on the streets of Carlisle and other such places
10 = Elvis Costello & The Attractions = Battered Old Bird
A tour of the dodgy occupants of a dwelling house
11 = The Clash = (White Man) in Hammersmith Palais
Delroy Wilson cool operator among others
12 = Television Personalities = Part Time Punks
A guide to cool records that pretend punks should buy, but as they weren't on red vinyl they bought The Lurkers instead.
13 = Skids = TV Stars (John Peel Session 16_5_78)
Albert Tatlock - specially for our English visitors
14 = Billy Bragg = A13, Trunk Road to the Sea
I was going to put in Route 66, but I thought this would make a change for all who want to visit Shrewburyness.
16 = The Scaffold = Thank U Very Much
A side of the first song "Thank you very much for playing this record"
17 = Bonus
"Made famous by the Sopranos, but comes from my favourite lp of the last 20 years, Exhile on Coldharbour Lane -"
DeletePlease, do go on. I picked that album out of the bargain bin. Never could get into it much. So I would be interested to hear about what I might not hear...
Spin it a few more times, it's one of those records, that will grow on you. I wasn't crazy about it the first few listens, either.
DeleteIn a word : humour
DeleteFirst heard the single Aint going to Goa being played a lot on Radio One, and just thought it was hilarious especially the line
"Spandex, psychedelic trousers" in the verse:
Cause the righteous truth is, there ain't nothing worse than
Some fool lying on some Third World beach wearing
Spandex, psychedelic trousers, smoking damn dope
Pretending he gettin' consciousness expansion. I want
Consciousness expansion, I go to my local tabernacle
An' I sing
The whole album is like a concept album (but in a good way, no Topographic Oceans here) based on how people try to find their own peace either through alchohol, drugs or religion but all sung in a really fun way and the music is a weird mix of 'sweet, pretty, country acid house music' with some blues and jazz thrown in.
Three things to like about them : They were originally known as The First Presleyterian Church of Elvis the Divine, they aint from Alabama and there's more than 3 of 'em.
There's also a belting version of John Prine's Speed of the Sound of Loneliness on it.
I've got a few of their other albums, but they've never got close to this one, so if anyone wants to give it a go, here it is :
Exhile on Coldharbour Lane
https://www.imagenetz.de/mqvXJ
Thank 'ee! (That file host is blindingly quick ...)
DeleteThat looks like a good one too, thanks in advance!
DeleteDownloaded it just now, will listen to it later.
p.s. Nice artwork + I like that you used 'I've Got A Little List' as album title for all tracks.
I use musicbee as my music manager, which allows you to do all sorts of wonderous things, 99% of which are way out of my limited technical knowhow.
DeleteThe main reason I use it (other than its free) is that its easy to mess around changing track names, artists, artwork etc.
E.G. every Christmas I collect a load of my wife's favourite tracks together and compile them into a new volume to play on her very basic mp3 player. To get it to work for her, I need to copy tracks from my main library, change the track name to include artist and track,change the artist name to "various artists", reorder and renumber everything, add some artwork, name the volume and add a bit of tinsel. Once you get to grips with it all of this is really easy to do on musicbee, apart from the tinsel.
Max will work for metadata, too, with Mac. MediaHuman changes file formats (anything to anything, pretty much), converts bitrates, splits flac cue files automatically, squirts everything into iTunes direct, and clears up after itself.
DeleteOh, nice looking compo, AFOEN!
DeleteI agree with Fine Old, Exile on Coldharbour Lane is a wonderful album, but it takes a few listens to "get" it. They were also a superb live act, however since I last saw them one of the main characters in the band The Very Reverend D.Wayne Love has died. I believe they are going to tour the uk in April, and usually play quite a few festivals.
DeleteYep, a great live band, and forgot to mention that they're bound to appeal to all inhabitants of Foam Isle as they all have wonderful nom de plumes (not that I'm saying everyone here would fail a passport test if the border guards got off their backsides once in a while ).
DeleteLarry Love - vocals
The Very Reverend Dr. D. Wayne Love (First Minister of the First Presleyterian Church of Elvis The Divine (UK)) - vocals
The Mountain of Love - analogue terrorism, harmonica, jaws harp & vocals
Sir Real 'Congaman' Love L.S.D. O.P.T. - percussion, acoustic guitar
Mississippi Guitar Love - guitar
L.B. Dope - drums
The Spirit - keyboards
The Book of Love (Security), I.V. Lenin (Socialism In The Mainline), Lady Love and Little Eye Tie - D. Wayne's Ladies
Thank you, Dr F. I'm now using Musicbee and loving it. Like iTunes, but way better.
DeleteI may have been confused...many thanks to AFOEN for the Beemusic recommendation.
DeleteNo probs - I had to move from itunes when I realised the sony mp3 player had much more to offer me than my ipods. Best thing I ever did. If I need help, I just google it and can usually find an answer. I then just have to try and understand it as I am only an amateur geek, at the best of times.
DeleteGeographically, this is a fair list:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw&ab_channel=MargrietAskew
I should warn viewers that this video contains some Goatse content.
Delete"To-Do List" The Felice Brothers
ReplyDeleteNothing but list, and a great song.
Okay, somebody had to do it and it's going to be me:
ReplyDeleteEthel Merman - Anything you can do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn8PSd_6bq4